I own nothing but my thoughts...and sometimes I'm not even sure about those!

Chapter Seven

Lorelai turned over and reached for Luke but his side of the bed was empty. She had been having the most wonderful dream about the two of them and she wanted to share it. Feeling the empty space, she realized it hadn't been a dream but more like his goodbye. She smiled to herself as she remembered....

Luke had kissed her gently several times, slipping his tongue in to meet hers. He had rubbed down her back and cupped her butt gently pushing her closer to him. Then he had peppered kisses down her neck, down to each breast, stopping to lick and nibble...then his hands had wandered down to her hips and his lips had followed. Finding their way between her legs, tickling and lunging...

Lorelai shivered with the thought and got out of bed to shower. As the hot watered flowed over her body, she thought of Luke. He really made her happy. He had always been there for her but the last few months he had showed her just how wonderful he could be. He opened the door for her and tried to do things she really liked to do. He let her pick the movies they saw, the places they ate and even had willingly 'met' the parents as the new boyfriend. He had kissed her openly in the diner and almost everywhere else they had gone. He had been great to Rory as he always had but now it seemed a little more intense. Which drove her crazy but she secretly loved it. Chris sure had never shown that much interest. He was trying to go with the flow of her crazy ways.... she knew that wasn't always easy. And he was an absurdly fantastic lover...he thought of her needs first, loved to experiment and was very skilled at the art of lovemaking. He was a gentleman during the day and a wild man at night and she loved all of it. She loved him plain and simple.

Lorelai dried herself off, quickly dressed and headed downstairs. She walked into the kitchen and saw that the coffee maker was filled and waiting to be turned on. There was a note next to it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lorelai,

Call me when you wake up. We have plans for tonight, right?

Last night was fun. Have a good day at the inn.

Luke

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She laughed. Just like Luke the note was short and to the point. She wished he had written Love, Luke, but she guessed he just wasn't there yet. Lorelai grabbed a mug of coffee and headed out the door.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Luke had a busy morning at the diner but while he was walking around filling coffee cups and clearing dishes, he thought of Lorelai. He'd left her warm and naked in her bed. He'd pulled the covers up over her after he had left his little 'gift'. He wondered if she knew how hard it was for him to leave her like that. Their nights were incredible...from the first night they had been fantastic lovers. Somehow they each just seemed to know what the other wanted and needed. But it was more than the sex; the friendship they had honed over the years had just intensified with their sexual union. Their lives had blended so naturally, it was scary. He had never felt quite like this with anyone before. Luke hoped someday that she would come to feel that way too. He was just trying not to rush it. Luke wasn't sure at this stage in her life that she needed a husband. She had proved that she was self-sufficient and could hold her own in any situation. Her melt down that night now seemed a mute point. The inn was up and running, somewhat a success and she really didn't need a man to make her life complete. Luke was happy for her and proud of her but he really wanted to mate to spend his life with. She didn't have to be a wife. But with Lorelai it was different, she was different. He wanted to share his life with her...his whole life...legally, morally and maybe even have a child. He figured that was a long shot at their age and stage in life but secretly he wanted it.

Luke snapped out of his daze and saw three tables by the window that needed clearing. He started the task and noticed Sookie and Jackson playing with Davey in the little park. Jackson was throwing the ball to the toddler and sometimes he would catch it but most of the time he missed. But then he would clap his hands and laugh, making his parents laugh too. Once Jackson threw the ball and it deflected off Davey and landed near some other little kids. His parents watched as he picked up the ball and then gave his attention to the other little guys. Jackson put his arm around Sookie and whispered in her ear. She said something back and Jackson placed his hand on her stomach. Luke caught himself smiling...he always thought he might have that in his life. A wife...going through a pregnancy together...raising a child. He usually pooh-poohed the idea but down deep he thought he might actually like shaping a life....

Luke took a load of dishes to the kitchen and came back to wipe off the table. He caught a glimpse of Liz and TJ standing on the street. Their arms were waving around and they were laughing and gesturing. TJ leaned over and kissed Liz and walked away whistling. Luke worried bout TJ's sanity sometimes but there was no doubt of his love for Liz. And no doubt that Liz was happier than he had ever seen her. Luke dropped the towel and yelled out to Caesar to take over for a while. He had some calls to make from his apartment.

It took Luke about an hour to arrange a special night for Lorelai, a dinner reservation, theater tickets, and a suite at a nice New York City hotel. Tonight was going to be special for them....tonight he was going to bite the bullet and tell her how he felt...and find out if maybe she could someday feel that way too.

Luke came back down the stairs feeling pretty proud of himself and slightly sick to his stomach. He knew it was just nerves but his whole life was on the line and he was scared witless. Luke had his back to the door when the little bell tinkled but he knew it was her. She just had a way of announcing her presence.

"Hey."

"Hey back."

"That was some goodbye this morning."

Luke smiled, "I try to be unique when I leave a lady."

They walked toward each other and kissed lightly.

"I got your note. Sorry, I guess you forgot. Tonight is that thing at the inn and I really have to be there. It's a small wedding and reception for some people I went to school with. I want it to be perfect. All of our parents hang in the same crowd and they are up and comers themselves. Could mean lots of good recommendations for future business."

"Plus (Lorelai winked at him) I want them to see that poor pregnant Lorelai turned out all right after all. I tell you I was the talk of that crowd for a long time."

"You're kidding right? I thought that was next week. I was sure we were on for tonight."

"Sorry, sweetie. But I'll save tomorrow just for you."

"But I planned something special for tonight."

"Hold on to those plans for tomorrow night. (Lorelai of course had no idea that he had made such special plans.) Right now I have to go home and change for this thing tonight. I'm hoping all the rest of that crowd is fat and bald. I plan to look fantastic."

Luke smiled slightly, understanding completely but still not happy

"Okay, maybe I'll sneak by later and see how it's going." Luke said disappointedly. Lorelai didn't pick up on the disappointment because she was in such a hurry.

"Lorelai, this event...will Chris be there?"

"I'm not sure. I just have a head count not the actual guest list. We're okay about that... if he is, right?"

"Yeah, sure, I guess. He's Rory's dad and nothing more."

Lorelai gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Nothing to worry about there. See you later."

Luke watched as she practically bounced out the door.

Yeah, nothing to worry about there....Rory's dad, your first love, maybe your only love....nope, not a thing to be concerned about....

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I just had to do it.