Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in this final chapter, but I hope it was worth the wait. Thanks for the reviews. I have appreciated them all. I still don't own Gilmore Girls.

Luke returned from a morning of fishing and placed his pole by the door. He rubbed his hands together briskly in an attempt to warm up. The weather had taken a sudden turn and the crisp air stabbed at him like sharpened knives. He had a feeling that snow might be in the air. Lorelai would know for sure, but he didn't have the luxury of her presence anymore.

Luke walked over to the kitchen and filled the tea kettle with water. He sighed as he placed the kettle on the stove. It had been a long week. Jess had stopped by to bring him the items he'd left at his apartment. He told him that he'd placed the lease sign in the window as requested. Luke thought that he'd feel a sense of relief knowing that the diner wasn't his concern anymore, but he didn't.

Luke asked Jess if he'd run into anyone while he was in town. Although far from Stars Hollow Luke still thought about the little town that he'd grown to hate and love all at once.

"Taylor didn't give you a hard time did he?" Luke asked Jess.

"No," Jess replied. "I didn't see anybody actually."

"No one was around?" Luke asked quizzically. "What, did you go in the dead of night? I told you Rory was at school."

"No, I went during the day, but no one was around," Jess lied. "It's like the freakin' Twilight Zone there. No one disturbs the corner where Luke's sits as they wait for his return," Jess said ominously.

"Right," Luke scoffed. "They don't have to worry about that."

"You're really never going back?" Jess asked.

"I'm really never going back," Luke said. Luke tried to be gruff and unfeeling but Jess could hear the sadness in his tone.

"Not even if she wanted you too?" Jess pressed him.

"She doesn't want me to," Luke replied a little too quickly.

"You don't know that," Jess said.

"Trust me," Luke said. "I know her. If she wanted me to come back she would've found a way to make it happen."

"She did call you," Jess pointed out.

"Yeah, well she obviously didn't mean it because I haven't heard from her in days," Luke said avoiding eye contact and rummaging through the box Jess had placed on the counter.

Jess was about to open his mouth and say something. What it was Luke wouldn't know because he stopped him from speaking.

"Look, thanks for the stuff," Luke said. "I appreciate you going to pick it up."

"You're welcome," Jess answered.

"I'm sure you probably have a lot better things to do right now," Luke ventured.

"Yeah I don't need a full-time baby-sitting job," Jess agreed mischievously.

"Right," Luke tried to laugh. "Well thanks for the help."

Jess left and Luke thought that he should have asked Jess to stay a little while longer. Although Luke had never wanted for company or conversation he'd somehow gotten used to the idea of Lorelai talking his ear off and now the silence without her was deafening. That was until his cell phone rang.

"Hello?" Luke said.

"Luke, this is Harry Winchester over at Sunshine Realty," Harry said brightly. "I've got some great news for you, I think we've managed to lease your diner."

"It's only been on the market for 4 days," Luke said.

"Well it's prime real estate Luke, right on the corner of town," Harry said. "I've worked out a one-year lease and I wanted to make sure that was alright with you. I know you were looking for a longer contract, but the buyer seems adamant about keeping their options open."

"The buyer isn't Taylor Doose is it?" Luke asked scared that Taylor might be the person taking over the diner space for an entire year.

"No, actually it's a corporation," Harry replied.

"What would a corporation want with the diner?" Luke asked half-rhetorically.

"I don't know, but their lawyer was here working out all the details," Harry said. "They were in a pretty big hurry to get the papers signed. You told me it would be all right to drop by your cabin with the papers so I thought I'd call to let you know."

"Well great," Luke said half-heartedly. "What time will you be here?"

"Actually I'm on my way out for dinner with my fiancée, Valentine's Day and all," Harry explained. "I'm sending a courier service over within the next hour."

"Okay," Luke sighed. "Thanks I guess."

"You're welcome," Harry replied. "Have a good evening Luke."

"You too Harry," Luke said hanging up the phone. Luke sighed sadly and tossed the phone onto the couch. The diner, once his father's livelihood and then his own, was really going to be leased. Luke thought he would feel good about cutting the ties he had to Stars Hollow. In reality he felt lonely and longed to be able to go back, but he knew that he couldn't. He had made a decision and now he had to live with it.

The courier dropped the papers off an hour later just as Harry had informed him. Luke scrawled his name on the dotted line and it was a done deal. The only signature left to acquire was the president of the corporation that leased the building. The courier told Luke that he was on his way to collect the last signature and then it would be a binding agreement.

After the courier left Luke went to the refrigerator and grabbed himself a beer. He plopped down on the couch and turned on the tiny television hoping to find some sport to watch. Being out in the wilderness he had to settle for a fuzzy picture of an outdoor living show, but anything was better than the silence. Anything was better than Luke having to listen to his own thoughts. His gut was screaming that he'd made the wrong decision. That he should pack up and go back to Stars Hollow before it was too late, but he just sat there.

The sun had set and Luke was alone with the only the light from the small television. He didn't know how long he had sat there absently staring at the small screen. It was only when there was a light knock at the door did he realized that it was almost nine o'clock. Luke stood up and placed his beer bottle on the table. He walked to the door and opened it.

"Hi," she said.

"Lorelai?" Luke asked surprised. "How did you know where to find me?"

"It's a long story," she replied. "Can I come in?"

Her face was tentative and she looked almost nervous. Luke didn't remember ever seeing her this way. He stepped aside and let her in. He closed the door and noticed that the wind had picked up. The air felt colder than before and Luke wondered if it might snow after all. He flicked on the light switch by the door and the cabin illuminated.

"So, how have you been?" Lorelai asked running her fingers absently along the counter.

"Just peachy," Luke replied sarcastically.

"Right," Lorelai nodded. "Look I needed to see you. And before you say anything I know my actions completely contradict what I just said. I know I was helping Christopher and I didn't tell you and that was wrong. I know that even after I told you about Chris that you weren't happy about it, but I kept helping him anyway. I know all this adds up to me being a horrible girlfriend, but I didn't get it. I didn't realize how much I need you in my life. I didn't see how much I depend on you to make me feel...like me. I missed-- I miss you," she babbled on.

"I miss you to," Luke said quietly. "But that isn't really the point."

"Isn't it the point?" Lorelai countered. "If you miss me and I miss you then why are we apart?"

"No, I think the question is why were we together?" Luke responded. "If you don't feel for me what I feel for you then what the hell were we doing? I can miss you and you can miss me but the point is you don't feel what I feel."

Lorelai shifted uncomfortably on her feet. She crossed her arms across her chest and took a deep breath. She was finally going to let it all out. Like a balloon with a hole, everything she held inside for the last month was about to come pouring out.

"Do you know why I'm here?" Lorelai said.

"You missed me," Luke replied.

"Wrong," Lorelai said simply. "Yes I missed you, but I came here to tell you that I leased the diner."

Luke looked up at her and his eyes were wide. She could almost see the wheels turning while he tried to figure out what she was playing at.

"Sookie and I are now the proud leases of Luke's Diner," Lorelai stated. As if he needed further proof she pulled out a packet of papers from her purse and she tossed them on the counter that separated them.

"Why would you do this?" Luke asked. She sensed anger in his tone.

"So I can't get away from you? So I'm beholden to you?" Luke asked.

"No," Lorelai said softly surprised by his reaction. "You put the diner up for sale and you left. I can't live without you in my life."

"So you leased my diner in an attempt to what? Force me back to Stars Hollow?" Luke exploded. "I can't be there Lorelai! I can't live in a town where we co-exist without ever seeing each other. It killed me to hear about you from Patty and Babette. When Rory would stop by I could barely even look at her because she's so much like you. You couldn't have thought I'd be happy about this."

"I, Luke, I'm sorry," Lorelai struggled with her words. "But do you think you're the only one who was in pain? I hated not seeing you, not talking to you, but you didn't want to talk to me. You were the one who walked out on me."

"Yeah, because I'm the bad guy, right?" Luke said. "I was just supposed to sit around and feel myself fall more and more in love with you while you were off raising Christopher's daughter, while you weren't feeling a fraction of what I felt for you."

"There are no bad guys Luke," she replied calmly tucking her hair behind her ears in an attempt to compose her thoughts. "I leased the diner because you were making a huge mistake. That diner is your life."

"In case you hadn't noticed I left my life in Stars Hollow behind," Luke said crossing his arms.

"And that isn't what I want," Lorelai tried to reason with him.

"It's not all about what you want," Luke mumbled.

"I know that," Lorelai said. "But I messed up with us. I couldn't live if you left your entire life behind just to get away from me. I leased the diner so you'd have time to think. I'm not planning on running Luke's or even opening it. I just didn't want someone else to lease it and then you'd have no option of coming back."

"How did you afford this?" Luke asked softening.

"I asked my parents," Lorelai replied simply.

"You asked your parents?" Luke asked shocked.

"I asked my parents for money to pay you back the money you loaned me for the inn," Lorelai explained. "I was going to pay you back, but then my mother, and her infinite ability to lay a guilt trip on me, said something that made me think. So I took the money my parents loaned me and I took a second mortgage out on the inn."

"You shouldn't have done that," Luke said wearily.

"I don't care," Lorelai said forcefully. "Luke I realized something over the passed month. I realized that I need you. I can live without you in my life, but I'm not me. Without you I have no one to listen to my lame jokes. There's no one to pick up my pop culture references. There is no one who will willingly sit through Glitter with me. There's no one to call when I get home from a long day at work."

"Lorelai—"Luke started to say before she raised her hand to silence him.

"You never asked anything of me," Lorelai continued. "The only thing you asked of me was to be honest with you about my feelings and I couldn't even do that. It's hard for me to accept that I'm not alone. I've felt alone since I was 5. I've never had anyone understand me or indulge me like you do. That's a scary thing because I keep waiting for something to happen that's going to throw it all off-balance. The funny thing is, this time it was me."

Lorelai took a deep breath and continued, "The thing is, I love you. I've loved you for a long time and I was just too scared to admit it. I should have told you a long time ago and I didn't, but I do honestly and truly love you Luke. I just don't know if you still love me."

Luke just looked at her. These were the words he'd waited to hear. He hesitated before he said anything as he tried to formulate his response.

Lorelai just looked at Luke waiting for his response. It seemed like an eternity in silence. She had thought that like some magic spell if she said these words veils would lift and all would be forgiven. That didn't appear to be the case. Lorelai swallowed hard and she suddenly felt very foolish.

"Well I guess I have my answer," Lorelai said. "I have to go," she said hurriedly.

Lorelai rushed to the door and threw it open into the cold night. She was quickly walking down the path to her car when she realized it was snowing. The snow, which had threatened all day, finally came and it started to blanket the ground as she walked. Lorelai couldn't help thinking that she used to think the snow was magical, special. Now it would only remind her of one of the worst days of her life.

"Lorelai," Luke called as he walked out of the cabin.

Lorelai continued to walk in the cold darkness. She was hoping that the night would swallow her and take her to a place where Luke couldn't find her. She didn't think she could bear to hear him tell her that he didn't love her anymore. His silence back in the cabin was enough of an answer for her.

"Lorelai wait," Luke called.

She could hear his footsteps coming faster behind her and she thought if only she could make it to her car she'd be able to drive away and pretend this hadn't happened. She thought she just might make it until she felt his hand on her arm. He stopped her dead in her tracks and turned her around to face him.

"You drop all this on me and you expect an instant response," he said.

Lorelai just stared dumbly at the ground.

"I, I don't know what to say," Luke said. "You leased the diner. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that."

They stood there for a moment the snow falling softly around them. The night was starting to get quiet like it usually did when massive amounts of snow fell. Lorelai was intently studying the patch on his green coat.

"You're not the only one who made mistakes," Luke finally said. "I was jealous of Christopher. I acted like I wasn't, but I was and that's why I needed you to say you loved me. I didn't want it to be an ultimatum, but I guess that's what it was and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," Luke said bending his head down to try to make eye contact with her.

"It's okay," Lorelai said lamely still not looking at him.

"I just, I felt like I was losing pieces of myself to be with you," Luke said. "And it scared the hell out of me. I needed to know you were there with me and then it didn't seem like you were and I got defensive. I didn't want to get hurt, but I ended up hurting you and that's the last thing I ever wanted to do."

"I hurt you too," Lorelai said finally looking up. "I shouldn't have been so stubborn."

"No, I shouldn't have been so stubborn," Luke said. "I should've given you time to think."

"It's not easy when you love someone," Lorelai said.

"No it's not," Luke said softly. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"I'm sorry too," Lorelai said.

"And to answer your question," Luke said inching closer to her. "I do still love you. I love you when you're referencing Bangles lyrics in a conversation. I love you when you're baking your socks in the oven. I love you when you're venting about a horrible day at work. I even love you when you're making me watch some stupid show on MTV, which, by the way, probably hasn't actually shown a music video since 1985."

Lorelai threw her arms around Luke's neck and pulled his lips to hers forcefully and passionately. Luke gathered her in his arms and pressed her body close to his as if the contact had been magnetic. Lorelai felt the familiar stubble graze her lips and she deepened the kiss. Luke's tongue lightly tangoed with Lorelai's and they embraced as the wind kicked snow up around them.

Luke pulled back for a moment and looked Lorelai in the eye. "I love that you leased the diner because you knew I was being an impulsive jerk," he smiled at her.

"I love that you recognize that fact," she grinned back. Lorelai reached forward and took Luke's face in her hands and kissed him gently again.

"So did you order this snow storm straight from the weather gods?" Luke asked her as he held her close to him.

"Of course. You know only good things happen in the snow," she giggled thinking about how her earlier thoughts contradicted that statement.

"I missed you," Luke whispered in her ear.

"I missed you too," Lorelai replied softly.

"Thank you for coming to get me," he replied.

"Thank you for still loving me," she said.

"You never needed to doubt that," Luke said as he quickly bent down and grabbed Lorelai's legs in order to pick her up.

"What are you doing?" she giggled.

"I'm taking you inside," he said as he started walking.

"But it's so pretty out here," Lorelai whined. "Let's go for a walk in the snow."

"You didn't wear those jeans up here because you wanted to walk in the snow," Luke said suggestively.

"You noticed?" Lorelai asked excitedly.

"Of course I noticed," Luke said. "Good tactic by the way."

"I try," Lorelai laughed as she nuzzled into Luke's neck and placed small kissed down his jaw line.

"So technically you owe me rent for the next year even though I'll be working at the diner," Luke said trying not to get too wrapped up in her kisses just yet.

"Yeah I was thinking we might be able to work something out there," she replied.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" Luke replied.

"Maybe we could work something out in trade perhaps?" she replied in a tone that was anything but innocent.

"Interesting thought," Luke replied walking up the steps to the cabin door.

Luke pushed open the front door and set Lorelai down. Before he could turn to close the cabin door Lorelai had pulled Luke closer to her and her lips were pressed firmly to his as she ran her hands down his chest while removing his coat.

Luke responded by pulling on Lorelai's scarf and tossing it on the floor and tugging at the buttons on her coat as he back her away from the door. Luke kicked the door shut with his foot as Lorelai pulled on his shirt leading him to the bedroom.

The snow fell hard and fast that night. Luke and Lorelai woke up woke to find they were snowed in the next morning. They weren't too disappointed to find that they would have to spend the next day indoors. Lorelai was even more pleased to find that Luke had coffee in the cabin.

They spent the next day talking. They both admitted their fears about their relationship and they felt closer for it. Luke and Lorelai decided that once they got back to Stars Hollow they wouldn't take the little things for granted. They would allow themselves to feel vulnerable and insecure, but they'd share their thoughts and fears before things snowballed out of control.

Lorelai awoke in the arms of Luke, the man she loved, and she finally felt like everything was just as it was supposed to be. Luke watched Lorelai as she slept and he felt relieved that he had finally found the person who made him feel worthy, loved. They each knew that loving each other wouldn't be easy; it wasn't the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

The End.

Final quote/story title by Ambrose Redmoon.