A/N: Thanks so much for reading! Keep those reviews coming. And as always, a special thanks to my beta carrielynn.

Previously in False Starts, Part 6:

"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.

Part 7

"Wow, you're back already." Luke looked surprised as Lorelai returned to the diner for lunch.

"Don't act so surprised. I'll be back to my regular schedule." She leaned over the counter. "Plus I wanted to check and see how you were feeling."

Luke smiled to himself. "Better thanks." He excused himself to clear off a couple tables, before returning to take Lorelai's order.

"Cheeseburger please!" She lowered her voice, "And um, when can Luke Danes go out again?"

"Tonight?" He asked quietly. She nodded.

When he returned with her food, she slid a napkin across the counter: Where does Luke like to go? Or do? He had to stifle a laugh but scribbled down: Doesn't matter if I'm with you. Lorelai looked at it for a long time, blush creeping into her cheeks. When he wasn't looking, she folded the napkin and put it in her purse.

Luke showed up at Lorelai's after the diner closed, not sure what to expect. He didn't think she would have dinner on the table or anything. Actually, he'd be horrified if she did; it was Lorelai after all.

"Hey you," she said, flinging open the door.

"Hey," he replied, stepping inside.

"Come in, come in. Since you didn't give me many clues I rented some DVDs. But I think you'll like them." She passed him one and his mouth fell open.

"Lorelai! Where did you get these?" He stared down at the Outer Limits DVD in his hand. "And you remembered?"

Lorelai nodded, almost embarrassed. "I looked for Star Trek but could only find the newer ones."

He sank down onto the couch. "No! This is great. It's plenty." He pulled her towards him.

"Hey," she broke apart, a frown on her face. "Are you really okay?"

"I think I am." He stroked her knee with his thumb. "I just--" He didn't really want to talk about it.

"It's okay," Lorelai whispered. "I understand." She kissed him again. His fingers grazed Lorelai's hip and she let out a soft moan. "You are good, Luke Danes. I don't know if I told you that last night," she winked at him.

He chuckled. "Oh, I think you did."

"Oh and when the hell did you get that tattoo? I meant to ask last night but I was a little preoccupied."

Luke laughed again as Lorelai tried to peek under his shirt. "Oh geez, after high school I think. After my dad--" He broke off.

"Luke I'm so sorry," Lorelai said, her face full of concern.

"He was really a good guy."

"I'm sure he was. What about your mom?"

"I don't remember as much about her. I was only seven when she went into the hospital." Lorelai laced his fingers with his.

"I'm sure they're together."

"Yeah," Luke looked up at her. "They're happy, I know."

They fell quiet as they made their way through several episodes of The Outer Limits, Lorelai resting her head on Luke's stomach, her feet flung over the arm of the couch. As they started another episode, Lorelai tried to stifle a yawn. "Tired?" Luke chuckled.

"I think I may be sci-fied out for the evening. But it was fun. Very entertaining to say the least." She reluctantly got up to turn off the DVD player and Luke stood to stretch.

"Well, um, thanks for tonight."

Lorelai beamed. "We've still got half a season to go, buddy." They both stood there awkwardly for a moment before Lorelai spoke up again. "Do you, uh, want to stay? I mean, if you need to go, that's fine. I don't want to--"

"No, that'd be nice." Luke smiled.

"Oh, okay," Lorelai looked slightly surprised. "I'm not sure I have anything for you to sleep in, I can't really see you in rubber ducky pajamas." Luke chuckled as he followed Lorelai up the stairs.

When Luke got up to leave the next morning, Lorelai woke up and watched him as he slipped back into his shirt from the night before. "Hey," she finally said.

He looked towards her, surprised. "You're awake early."

"It's surprising how fast I get used to your arm around my waist, mister." Luke smiled and sank onto the edge of the bed.

"I'll start the coffee?"

"You're good," she said, capturing his lips with hers before Luke tied his shoes and with a wave and smile, crept downstairs. Lorelai sighed, a light, happy sigh as her brain swam with pleasure.

Since their relationship was still new and fragile, they both tried not to let on that they had been spending time together outside of the diner. They stuck to their usual routine, although Luke sometimes slipped away early and Lorelai still came in every day for one, if not two or three of her meals.

"Heard from Rory any?" Lorelai shook her head.

"I'm getting better about it. I mean what am I going to do in a few years when she's out being Christiane Amanpour?"

"Who?"

"A foreign correspondent," Lorelai sighed.

"You'll manage, I know it." He winked at her as he wiped down the counter. "So, I uh, heard from Jess."

"Oh really?" Lorelai felt a tinge of jealousy that Luke was talking to his nephew more than she was talking to her own daughter.

"Well, he got his GED this spring."

"Wow!" Lorelai sounded genuinely impressed.

"I know. He's actually taking a couple of summer school courses and even better, he's enrolling in the fall." Luke looked proud, a tint creeping into his cheeks.

"Luke, no way! That's amazing!" She beamed at him. "It's because of you." Luke shook his head. Lorelai caught his wrist, "Yes, it is."

"Nah, this was his decision." Luke shook his head. "He's moving to a new place tomorrow actually." He cleared his throat and leaned toward her. "I know you don't get along too well with him but it would be great if you could help. It's short notice so if you can't--"

"No, that's fine. I have no problem with it." She waved it off. She wanted to do something for him. He had been so good to her the past few weeks, heck, the past few years and he deserved something in return. She could be civil to Jess for a few hours and it wouldn't kill her.

"Really?" Luke looked shocked.

"If it will help you, of course." She patted his arm.

"Ok," Luke nodded.

"Ok," Lorelai smiled and with a bounce of hair, she was out the door and off to the inn.

Luke called her later that night. "You're going to kill me."

"Oh I doubt that, you're handy to have around."

"Cesar and Lane can't work in the afternoon tomorrow, so I'm going to have to stay and work the shift by myself. If you would do me a huge, huge favor, could you go ahead and help Jess with some stuff and I'll be there around six? I know you don't get along too well, but this is important to him and I hate that--"

"Luke, it's fine. I think we can manage for a couple hours."

"I really appreciate it, Lorelai. I'll call Jess and tell him to expect you. His place now is not much to look at at all, so be careful." He gave her the address and thanked her again.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine. I'm not promising that your nephew will be alive when you get there, but I'll try."

Luke chuckled. "That's all I ask. I'll see you there tomorrow afternoon."

"Yeah, I'll see you then." She found herself kind of sad that she wasn't going to get to spend as much time with Luke as she thought. She had been all set on leaving early for work to ride with him to New York. Now she would be driving by herself, something she hated to do. With a sigh, she decided to try and get some sleep, because the next day was sure to be a long one.