A/N: I know it's hard to keep up with all the GG post-finale fics going around but thanks to my readers and the girls over at TWoP.

Previously False Starts: Part 5

"No, Cesar's closing up for me. And don't worry, I'm being extra careful about our situation."

"Our situation?" Lorelai mocked confusion.

"You know—that we're," he sighed in frustration. "That you're my girlfriend."

Lorelai smiled so big she thought her cheeks would fall off. "You are the cutest thing."

"I am not cute," Luke huffed. Lorelai pulled him towards her and gave him a long kiss. "Ok, maybe I could be." He grinned, bending down to kiss her again, her body pressed into his.

Part 6: Wonder Woman Wears Flannel

They sat on the porch together, sipping wine out of plastic cups. Luke had picked up a bottle at the store. You really need to learn how to buy groceries, he had told her. I do! She had protested. Something besides marshmallows and peanut butter, he rolled his eyes.

Lorelai shifted towards him. "Last night, I couldn't fall asleep so I lay there thinking about well, everything. And I don't think I was just upset because Rory was gone or about what she did. I think I was upset because I finally realized I'm alone," Lorelai sighed. She had thought all night about what she was going to say to Luke, what she needed to figure out about their relationship. She was scared—she wasn't sure he knew that and she wasn't sure she could make him understand why.

"You don't have to be," Luke touched her hand and she wrapped his fingers in hers.

"I know. I don't. And it definitely would be nice to not come home to an empty house all the time." Lorelai breathed and took a sip of wine. "But--"

Luke frowned and his fingers slipped out of her grip. "This isn't what you had in mind?"

Lorelai looked at him. "I didn't say that, that's not what—just listen for a minute, okay?" She paused, looking out at the chuppah in the trees. "I've never really let anyone into my life, Luke. With Rory around, it was so easy to—to make excuses. She was getting too attached, he wasn't father material, but really that was just to hide it." Luke touched her shoulder. "I was the one that didn't want to get attached. I didn't want to get hurt." She shrugged, turning to Luke with tears in her eyes. "But I still did."

"Lorelai, I--"

"Can I finish?" Luke grew silent again. "I think, I want to—this is different. I'm going to try." She exhaled. "Ok, speak," she turned to Luke.

"Thank you," he whispered, hugging her to him.

"It's not going to be fun or easy," Lorelai reminded him. He just nodded. "And I'm doing this on my own, not because people are always telling or hinting how good we would be together or how I need to stop being Wonder Woman."

Luke chuckled. "Alright, Wonder Woman." Lorelai hit his arm but leaned in to kiss him at the same time. "And hey, you are amazing. I've practically watched you raise Rory," he said, stroking her hair. "I don't think I need to tell you that you did a wonderful job."

"Really?" Lorelai looked up at him. "Because sometimes I wonder about the examples I set and--"

"Lorelai," Luke sighed. Lorelai continued to stare up at him, amazed at the feelings swirling inside of her. The way Luke said her name, exasperated but tender gave her the chills. She nestled against him and closed her eyes.

Lorelai called Luke late one night.

"It's done," she breathed.

"The inn?"

"It's open. It's actually open. And we have guests."

"That's wonderful."

"We couldn't have done it without you," her voice softened. "I couldn't have. Thank you, Luke."

"Really, it's no problem, Lorelai."

"Are you at your apartment?"

"Where else?"

"Will you let me in? I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Of course." Luke switched off the baseball game he was watching and went downstairs to wait for Lorelai. He couldn't believe it had been over two weeks since he had kissed her on the porch of the inn. Or that so much had happened in between now and when he had taken her on their first date. But everything seemed hurried when you knew Lorelai Gilmore.

A rapping on the glass startled him out of his thoughts and he opened the door for her. Bustling in, she was all caffeine and adrenaline. "We did it!" She cried, practically jumping in his arms. "I wanted to see you—to celebrate. Got any beer?"

"Upstairs." Luke nodded towards the door that led up to his apartment. Lorelai swallowed. She hadn't been up there since—well, not since she and Luke had become an "item."

As soon as they stepped inside, Lorelai's eye was drawn to his bed. Dirty! She noticed with disappointment that it was still a single.

"Glad you take my advice," Lorelai said as Luke handed her a beer.

"What are you talking about?" Luke frowned.

"The bed, Luke." She went over and flopped down on it. Oh God, she thought, what am I doing? I'm sitting on Luke's inappropriately small bed right in front of him. The beer must have gone to my head fast.

"I don't have room for a full size one, you know that."

She squished her face up, looking as if she had just eaten something healthy. "I have to disagree."

"I've never needed one," Luke tried again.

"Ok, not going there. But I know for a fact that yes, you have."

"Whatever." Luke sank back into his chair, flipping on the TV again.

"I'm not trying to imply or force anything on you," Lorelai said softly, walking towards him. "But if I'm adjusting--"

"I'll think about it." Luke interrupted, taking a swig from his bottle.

"Thank you," Lorelai perched on the arm of his chair. He wrapped an arm quickly around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. "Luke!" She threw her head back and laughed. Luke didn't think he had ever seen anything more gorgeous. He found his lips meeting hers. "Mmm," she melted against him, her arm going around his neck, her right hand firm on his chest.

"You're very conniving, you know that?" He asked as they broke apart.

A sly grin spread across her face. "All women are, Luke, think about it." She punctuated each word in her next sentence with a kiss. "But. Yes. I. Am." Luke was ready for the last one, pulling Lorelai so close to him that their weight made the footrest on the chair pop out and sent them flying back. "And maybe a better chair," Lorelai's breath was hot on his neck.

Her fingers found the buttons on his shirt as his hands ran over the slope of her stomach. He wrapped his arm around Lorelai's legs and back and lifted her, carrying her to the bed. Lorelai gasped, her teeth nipping at his lip as she struggled to pull the t-shirt from his pants. Luke tugged on his zipper, but Lorelai's hands covered his, unbuttoning and pulling down his jeans. Lorelai stood halfway, letting her own skirt fall to the floor. Luke pulled her to him, her leg wrapping around his own as she pulled him back onto the bed. He kissed her neck, allowing her scent to overwhelm him. Her hands were everywhere, on his back, in his hair, fingering his boxers. He broke away for a second, "Lorelai?"

"I'm covered." And the relief that went through him was the last coherent thought he had before letting out the years worth of pent up attraction.

An hour later he held Lorelai when suddenly a thought caused his breath to catch in his throat: We can't go back. We crossed the line. Luke had thought about what it would be like, but he had never imagined feeling so blissful and then having it whisked away as a wave of panic took over. He tried to regain his composure in case Lorelai awoke but he was safe, she was out. He studied her face in the soft glow from the television. Beautiful—a face that was so full of life—her eyes could throw daggers or light up a room. She had bared her soul, her fears about relationships and now he was having second doubts? This was not the way it was supposed to go.

As the hour crept closer to seven, Luke slid out of bed, pulling on different clothes. Lorelai stirred as the sunlight fell across the bed. She was dreaming about Luke, how safe she felt and woke up in a panic not feeling him beside her. Her eyes calmed as she saw him in his chair, dressed. She pulled up the covers, feeling very naked. "What are you doing over there?" She asked.

"Thinking."

"Uh oh," she said, letting her head flop back on the pillow. She couldn't seem to stop grinning. "So I was wrong last night."

"About what?" He asked, suddenly nervous.

"About your bed. It's a good bed." She patted it. "It's small but that makes it cozy," she teased. He didn't smile back, he barely reacted. "Luke?" She put hand to her face. "Is it hot all of a sudden?" He still didn't move. Lorelai recognized that look—the one of sheer terror after going too far. "Luke!" He finally looked up at her. "God damn it, don't do this! You're supposed to be the sane one here. You're supposed to tell me that everything will be fine and that things can't always be easy--" As she spoke, she pulled on his shirt from the night before and perched on the arm of his chair again. "Hey," she touched his hand softly. Luke laced his fingers through hers. Only then did she notice the tears in his eyes. She felt like the breath had been knocked out of her. "Oh Luke," she breathed, cupping his face. "I'm here. What's—what's wrong?" She choked out.

"Don't," he swallowed, starting over again. "You have to promise—you can't leave." He ran a hand through one of her limp curls. "I don't think I—everyone seems to--"

"I won't." She whispered, placing her head on his shoulder.

"Promise?" Luke's voice sounded so small and fragile. It was tearing her apart seeing him so vulnerable. Tears clouded her eyes.

"I promise," she nodded, kissing him on the cheek. Luke's hand squeezed her shoulder and she smiled slowly. "Hey, I think I look pretty good in flannel," she teased.

"Yeah, you do." Luke admitted as he pulled her towards him for a kiss.

She groaned as they broke apart. "I don't want to go to work."

"I'm already late." He replied, getting up from the chair.

"Hey Luke?" Lorelai called. He turned back to look at her. Lorelai hesitated. "I—Have a good day."

Luke nodded. "Oh, you too. And keep the shirt." Lorelai laughed. Luke shook his head as he shut the door behind him, heading down to open the diner. He wasn't sure what Lorelai was going to say, but it certainly wasn't that.