Night and Day

by netherfield

LL. Originally written spring '04 before TTB aired and posted then. Slightly reworked now. Don't read if you don't like a big cheesey ending! Not for the lactose intolerant. Complete.

1. Night and Day I

Takes place toward the end of Season IV. I do not own these characters.

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May 5

"Okay Michel, you climb up the ladder and I will hand you the lanterns." Lorelai took hold at the bottom to steady it.

"No way. I am not climbing the ladder."

"Michel, we agreed that we wanted old-fashioned paper lanterns hanging in the trees around the Inn for the opening..."

"Yes, yes, they are very romantic, I agree..."

"Pretty, glowing, nighttime lights in the fragrant, Springtime, budding trees..."

"Yes, very Saturday Evening Post. But I did not agree to climb into a tree to hang them!" said Michel petulantly.

"Fine! Fine! I 'll do it," Lorelai moved to switch places with him "Just hold the ladder steady."

"You don't trust me."

"You say that like I'm supposed to respond somehow."

Lorelai began climbing the ladder. Once she was up in the tree, she lifted a leg over a branch, straddling it, and carefully righting herself.

"Alright, Michel, hand me the first string of lanterns," she called over her shoulder, waiting with outreached hand... Nothing. "Michel?!" Still nothing. "Stop fooling around and hand me the lanterns!" she turned her head to look down through the branches.

"He left." said a face suddenly close to hers.

Lorelai yelped and lost her balance. Luke reached over the branch and grabbed her waist with his right arm, steadying them with his left, from his perch atop the ladder.

"Jeez, Luke, you scared the life out of me!" said Lorelai, panting and holding on to his shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing up in this tree?" demanded Luke.

"Looking for Knuckle-backed Cuckoos! What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Knuckle-backed Cuckoos?"

"I'm exhausted. My hyperbole is weak."

"Cuckoos don't have knuckles."

Lorelai just looked at him. "Okay, weak and biologically implausible then."

Luke tried a different tack. "You should have gotten someone to do this for you. Are you trying to break your neck?"

"Yes, Luke, that was my brilliant plan all along----to dramatically break my neck the night before the Inn's opening," Lorelai snapped.

They looked at one another, both irritated and glad to see each other at once.

"Luke, what are you doing here?" Lorelai finally asked.

"Were we supposed to keep ignoring each other forever?"

"It seemed to be working..." she shrugged, looking away.

"Well, it wasn't for me. Not any more." said Luke quietly.

She turned back and they stared at one another again. The awareness of his arm around her, and hers around him, heightened.

Lorelai tried to ignore the good Luke smell coming with his closeness. She'd missed it.

"Oh, Luke..." she sighed.

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Eight Weeks Earlier

"Our place... Hmm, funny..." Nicole had said before turning and walking away.

Luke mulled it over, replayed it, and got angrier and more frustrated all afternoon. Damn. He was tired and the customers demanding today. And, why was this all happening, anyway?

Whenever he and Nicole were together these days, they fought. Or, 'discussed'. She called it discussion, anyway, trying to keep it calm and logical. He called it fighting. Fighting over stupid, little irksome things. It felt like they'd done nothing but argue for a week, and Luke just wanted it all to stop. But Nicole kept returning day after day to the diner "to talk" more but, as far as he could tell, things weren't getting any better.

He tried that afternoon as he worked, to logically narrow down her 'issues' the way she would want him to: She wanted him to spend more time at the townhouse with her. She wanted to go out more–they were supposed to be dating, she reminded him. She wanted to plan another vacation with him. Little things, these fights were over. But these little things kept stripping away layers and layers until nothing was left but Luke's raw nerves.

And they hadn't had sex in weeks. That didn't help things, either. But frankly he was just too annoyed with her to press that issue.

And later as he cleaned up the diner after closing, he tried to focus on the things he'd liked about Nicole in the beginning: She was always even-tempered. She was efficient and organized. Calming. She was ambitious in her career. She wasn't from Stars' Hollow. And there was never any drama with her (until lately, that is.) But generally, never any surprises. She never yelled when they disagreed. Luke always needed to yell a little before he could talk about anything rationally, and even then he didn't really want to talk about it at all. Nicole could detach herself and argue calmly.

Luke sighed. He was worn down and tired. Tired of driving back and forth to Litchfield. Tired of the 'dating'. He didn't want to date, he hated dating. He was sick of rotating his three ties to go to one of the five over-priced restaurants Nicole liked. The sommelier always looked at him like he had sneaked in the back door, until he suggested the most expensive bottle of wine, that is. Sixty-five bucks for that new white one with the weird name! Nicole loved it, of course. For crying out loud, that's something you do once a year on an anniversary, not two or three times a week! Geez. He hated too trying to make conversation in these places and usually just ended up listening as Nicole told story after story about unreasonable wealthy people who were constantly fighting, at great expense, in court.

And as Luke continued his inner rant---er, reflection, Nicole sat in Litchfield going over a few briefs with a glass of good Syrah. (Frederick had suggested it the other night and it was heavenly). She continued reading over some possible new cases. She enjoyed her work, after all, and she didn't expect Luke tonight---not after the scene at the diner this afternoon.

She read on: A interesting estate case. The relatives potentially at each other's throats. But, for her part, Nicole relished being the calm at the center of these sorts of storms. She enjoyed mediating. Being in the power position. Wearing down the opposition. She was proud of her ability and it was getting her ahead in Hartford quickly.

Now, if she could just get everything settled in her personal life too. She wasn't getting any younger, after all. She sighed as her thoughts drifted. All this stuff with Luke was distracting and time consuming. He puzzled her: Why couldn't he just see and do what needed to be done?

Yes, he was a diamond in the rough. She knew that when she took him on. But she was a patient woman and saw that the payoff could be great. Luke was a nurturer, she'd sized up quickly. He could be just the sort of man for her, to keep things running smoothly while she advanced to full partner, and later, hopefully, a judgeship as well.

And his homespun job and history were just different enough to make him an interesting asset when they bumped into other up-and-comers in the restaurants. There were only half a dozen worth going to and, in fact, one had to go to see and be seen if one was going to make full partner in record time.

She smiled to herself a she mulled this. A small town business owner could be quite an asset if she ever did decide to run for political office, too. She happily mused further. Besides, her conscience added, she really did like Luke. Maybe even loved him. She'd told him so anyway. It had been easy to believe on that ship. He could be so sweet and protective and was such a tender and attentive lover too. Put that in the big plus column.

She could get on with all this, her life, if Luke would just cooperate: He needed to move more clothes over to the townhouse, for one thing. Or, better yet, let her buy him some new ones. She didn't care about his furniture, it was all crap, anyway. But he definitely needed a more permanent presence in the townhouse. If she could just get him to rent out that apartment and commute full time, it would make it so much easier for going out evenings and, later, for entertaining clients at home as well.

Perhaps she'd go back tomorrow and try again. Maybe apologize, have some romantic time... If she could just get him to take another vacation, maybe he'd stop dragging his feet about really committing.

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The diner was clean and Luke was tired, but he didn't want to go up. Not yet. His head was still full of the day.

And so he let himself out the front door and headed across the park. It was deserted, thank God. The stars were out and it was warmer than it had been in some time. He took a deep breath, had a seat on a bench, and closed his eyes, but just couldn't shake off the turmoil of the day.

He heard a car then and turned his head to see a familiar yellow jeep drive slowly into town. It parked in front of the diner and he watched as Lorelai got out, walked to the door only to find it locked. He watched her shoulders slump in disappointment until she turned and caught sight of him looking at her from across the road.

She smiled.

And his heart lightened for the first time in, well, he didn't know how long.

She crossed the street and approached him with her easy long strides, but he noticed at the same time that she lacked her usual buoyancy.

"Hey, Luke, are you okay?" she asked, her head quirking to the side as she looked down at him.

He could see that her concern was genuine. That felt good.

"I've had better days," he acknowledged.

"Yeah, I hear ya.." she nodded, then peered more closely at his expression, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Are you just trying to get me up to make you coffee?" he cocked a brow at her but regretted it immediately when he saw a flash of hurt cross her face.

She hid it quickly though, "Sure, anything for coffee!"

She paused, then added "Why don't I leave you alone..." and turned to go.

"No, Lorelai, I'm sorry... bad day..." he took off his hat and rubbed his head.

She was immediately sympathetic, "Oh, Luke..." she sat next to him, "I don't know what to say and not make you more upset... It's Nicole, isn't it? I mean everyone was talking... But you don't need to hear that."

Luke sighed and groaned at once. That was answer enough for Lorelai.

"Luke, I want to help but I don't think..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay," nodded Lorelai, slightly relieved.

They sat in silence for awhile and Lorelai leaned her head on the back of the bench and closed her eyes.

Luke watched her a moment. She looked tired.

"I've never known you to give up on me so easily before. Usually you pit-bull me until I spill my guts."

A smile played around Lorelai's lips though her eyes remained closed.

"Maybe I'm growing up."

"Hmmm..." said Luke doubtfully and Lorelai's smile got broader. He liked that.

"So what have you been up to?" he asked her,"I haven't seen you around much."

And the smile instantly vanished.

"My grandmother died.. Funeral today." she said quietly and opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Oh, Lorelai, I'm sorry," he told her, and meant it, then automatically picked up her hand and squeezed it.

"Thanks, Luke." she sighed.

"Are you okay?"

"It was pretty bad." she admitted with another sigh, "My dad just fell apart and my mother... well...it's a long sordid story."

He nodded sympathetically, trying to understand without bothering her with questions.

"You know, I just don't get it..."

"Get what?" he asked.

"How people who should love each other and support each other just can't do it. How, in fact, they seem to have to intentionally try to hurt each other..." her grandmother's letter to her mother, her grandmother's humiliating inquisition of her own financial situation a few weeks back... all these ran around her head... and, as usual, she just couldn't sort it out.

"Family stuff can be bad..." allowed Luke, "Just look at me and Jess."

"Luke, you tried to help Jess."

"He thought I was trying to change him."

"Not change, Luke---help. There is a difference."

"There wasn't to Jess."

And they were quiet again, hands laced together and resting on the bench between them.

Lorelai leaned over and softly placed her head on Luke's shoulder then.

"You're a very good man, Luke Danes," she whispered and closed her eyes a moment.

"I am?" he asked knowing, in fact, that it wasn't true.

Lorelai nodded, "The best." she assured him from his shoulder.

More silence. More comfort in the silence.

Then Lorelai opened her eyes and turned her face up to Luke as he looked down at her. Just inches apart, they gazed into one another's eyes...

And when they both saw something there, when they both felt it, they broke the away quickly.

Lorelai dropped his hand and stood up.

"I need to get home" she told him.

He nodded and stood as well. When they got to her car, he pulled the door open for her.

"I'm sorry about your grandmother, Lorelai."

"Thanks." she paused, then looked him square in the eye to add, "Luke, I don't know what's going on, but if Nicole isn't doing everything she can to work things out with you, she's crazy."

And with that she got in her car and drove home without looking back.

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The next morning Lorelai sat in her kitchen going over the budgets for the Inn.

Cut-glass or blown? she debated for the thousandth time.

But was saved this agonizing decision when the doorbell ring.

Opening the door, she found Kirk standing behind a beautiful vase of spring flowers–daffodils, tulips and roses.

"Good morning, Lorelai. I am here in my official capacity as deliveryman for Vine's FTD arrangements. But, on a personal note, I'd like to offer my condolences to you upon the loss of your grandmother."

"Well, thanks Kirk," said Lorelai, taking the flowers from him.

"So, are you in the will?" he asked.

"Uh, I don't know..."

"Because your prominent rich families tend to keep their money pretty close to the chest, excepting charities, of course," Kirk commented.

"Of course," nodded Lorelai. "Well, thanks again, Kirk. Have a nice day!"

She shut the door and carried the flowers to the kitchen. They must be from Jason, she assumed. He was a flower sender and what with skipping the funeral and all... But it didn't look like Jason's usual kind of arrangement---no orchids, no exotic lilies. Lorelai puzzled as she lifted the card out of it's plastic fork from within the arrangement.

She opened the envelope and read the card:

'I'm sorry for your loss. Come for coffee soon—Luke'

Flowers from Luke?

Lorelai's heart skipped a little. Bless him. Bless his scruffy-chinned heart, she thought, a lump rising in her throat.

She walked to the phone and dialed.

"Luke's," she heard the familiar greeting.

"Luke, you are a golden-hearted man!".

"Lorelai?"

"Thank you for the flowers.".

"You're welcome."

She thought she could actually hear his sheepish smile.

"How did someone as grumpy as you remember all my favorites?"

"Have to have a good memory in my business," he said gruffly.

Lorelai knew better.

"Thank you Luke. I mean it. These really help."

"Well, good."

"It's nice to smell them and know that spring is around the corner..."

"Glad you liked them," enough already, he thought.

"Seriously, Luke, I've got a smile on right now that hasn't seen the light of day in a long, long time."

He had to smile at that.

"Are you coming in today? I mean for coffee?" he asked then.

"There is no where I'd rather be today than drinking your coffee and looking into your beautiful eyes," said Lorelai with a teasing lilt.

"So that's a yes, then?"

"No."

"Oh."

Did he sound disappointed?

"I want to, Luke, but my father called me this morning and he wants me to come over this afternoon... and well, recent events sort of dictate..."

"Sure, I understand."

"Maybe later this evening?"she offered.

"Good."

"Though I don't know how long..."

"Lorelai, whenever you can come will be great."

"Thanks again, Luke."

"Talk to you later."

"Bye." she hung up the phone.

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Lorelai's head was spinning a little as she drove back to Stars' Hollow from Hartford that evening.

She replayed the afternoon in her head.

"Lorelai," her father had said when she was settled with him in his study, "I want to talk to you about Trix' will."

"Oh, okay."

Lorelai shifted uncomfortably. Not what she was expecting. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but this wasn't it.

"Dad, isn't it a little soon... I mean, I know you're upset...We don't need to talk about this now..."

And why was she panicking? Babbling even? Money. That was it. Talking about all that Gilmore old money---it always made her feel... uncomfortable and twitchy---like a rash was coming on. She didn't know why. But there it was: 'That' feeling. It had always been there for her, for as long as she could remember being aware of 'the money'.

"I appreciate your concern for me, Lorelai. But Trix was a level-headed woman and would have wanted this all settled in an expeditious manner," said Richard.

Lorelai nodded.

"I won't go into all of the details now because they are numerous..."

Lorelai nodded again

"But will cut to the chase, so to speak. Your grandmother had a great deal of money, of course. She has generously endowed her charities and left the bulk of her estate to me as her only child."

"She adored you, Dad."

Richard cleared his throat and nodded, the memory of his last meeting with his mother still sharp in his heart. He reconstructed his professional demeanor, however, and pressed on.

"You also need to know that she left a large trust for Rory, as well as a generous sum for you. As my heirs, you and Rory will of course receive the remainder when your mother and I are gone."

"Oh Dad, I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything, Lorelai, this is what families do."

"Well, I will be honest and say that it's nice to know that Rory will have a cushion to protect her in the future. I mean I wish I could have provided it for her... Not that I don't have full confidence in her ability to take care of herself... I mean she is becoming a strong young woman... and I'm proud of that..."

"Lorelai," her father looked at her, "Rory is an exceptional person. You have done very well by her and Trix admired how you did it on your own terms."

"She did?" Lorelai was shocked by this.

"Yes, she did. She could be prickly, it's true: She was an opinionated woman who spoke her mind. But she appreciated your independence. She felt that was the Gilmore fire in you. That is why she never said a negative word to you about your choice to raise Rory on your own. She respected it."

Lorelai felt tears well, "Thank you for telling me that, Dad. It means a lot to me..." makes me glad I went and bought the underwear for the old lady after all, she thought with a sniff

"Well," Richard shifted, uncomfortable with so many openly displayed feelings, "You have a right to know these things, Lorelai. Now, about the money: It will be tied up in legalities for awhile---these things do drag on.

And I understand my cousin Marilyn is going to make some problems---her last husband was a gambler. So there's that to deal with. And, of course, most of Trix' things will go to auction and various museums, though I understand your mother is reserving some things for you and Rory. The houses will also be sold, of course. But, the important thing for you to know is that I have decided that I want to make you a personal advance on your inheritance."

Richard reached then for an envelope on his desk.

"Oh, no Dad, I couldn't..." Lorelai protested.

"Lorelai," her father looked her in the eye, "Please take it, if for no other reason than I need you to."

Lorelai blinked at this uncharacteristic remark from her father.

"What?"

"Your grandmother and I did not have a happy last meeting, you may recall." Richard glanced away at the memory, his eyes misting.

Lorelai nodded, it hadn't been too happy for her either.

"I've relived that day many times since your grandmother died, Lorelai, and I realized that many of the things she said were spot on."

"No, Dad, they weren't..."

"Lorelai, your grandmother did help me out financially when I was a young man. Again, this is what families do for one another. Of course I paid her back, but if I'd had another problem she would have helped me again.

Now, I'm sure Trix was right that your Inn is costing more than you expected, she was very shrewd about such things, though I'm sure you are handling it. You've always found a way to handle things. But more money can never hurt in assuring the success of these ventures, and can certainly ease tension and worry considerably."

"But, Dad..."

"Please, Lorelai, take it for me and for Trix. She would have wanted me to do this for you. It is your money anyway and soon there will be more for you, and Rory too."

"Well... Thank you, Dad."

She didn't know what else to say in light of this.

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And in the jeep driving home later, Lorelai realized that she had never had such a heartfelt conversation with her father before. That he had never come so close to expressing pride in her or love for her, as he had this afternoon. It was, in fact, downright affectionate by Richard Gilmore standards.

She sighed, no matter how hard she tried to escape, she just couldn't deny how much her parents' approval meant to her.

Her head was swimming over it all, but she thought... well, she thought she just might be happy about this.

And so she smiled.

The sun had set by the time she pulled back into Stars' Hollow, she had made couple of stops on the way home---once the wonderment in her head had cleared a little, of course.

But by the time she was parking in front of Luke's, her face felt like it was radiating electric light, her heart was singing, and she was hungry! Everything was good in her world as she jingled through the diner's door.

Luke looked up and saw her come in, a big bag in her arms.

"Hey, you're looking better," he greeted her.

"Thanks to well-meaning friends," she smiled as she walked to the counter where he was sorting receipts.

"Yeah, well..."

"Seriously, Luke, it's not just the flowers, it's the sympathetic ear, and the money-lending..."

"Don't forget the coffee." He poured her a cup.

"Oh, I was saving the most important thing for last---the coffee!" she smiled into her sip, knowing he didn't want her to embarrass him, yet pretty sure from his small smile that he'd received her message. Good, she thought.

"So, it's pretty quiet in here now," she noted looking around.

"Yep" he said placing both hands on the counter and looking at her.

"So, Luke, do you have a moment?"

"Sure."

"Could we go upstairs? I'd really like to talk for a little bit." she smiled at him, "Unless, you're on your way to Litchfield or something..."

She was trying hard to respect Luke's boundaries, confusing as they were to her.

"Nope. Let's go up."

"Hey, could I have a burger to go? I haven't eaten today."

"Sure. Hey Ceasar," he called, "make Lorelai's usual and pack it up, will ya? We'll be upstairs."

Lorelai climbed up the stairs ahead of Luke.

Once inside and settled on the couch, Lorelai smiled again and reached for the bag she had been toting.

"Luke, first of all, I want to thank you again for lending me the money."

"Geez, Lorelai, you've thanked me enough."

She pulled an envelope out and handed it to him.

"I want to pay you back now, with interest, of course."

"What? How can you afford this so soon?" he asked bluntly.

"Dead grandmother." she replied.

He nodded, a little bewildered.

"Open the envelope, Luke."

"What? Why?"

"Just open it."

He did. "Lorelai, this is too much..."

"I said I wanted to pay you back with interest...Just don't deposit it until Monday!" she laughed.

"But..."

"Luke, forget the check right now. Look back in the envelope."

"What's this?" he asked.

"That is a Jackie Robinson baseball card."

Luke looked at the card dumbly.

"The guy told me it was real. It's not exactly mint condition, but...Isn't it any good?" she asked, her smile-light dimming.

"Lorelai, I don't know what to say..." and he didn't. Nobody had ever given him anything so wonderful before, so frivolous, so... well, wonderful.

"Do you like it?"

He looked up at her face and got a hold of himself.

"Lorelai, this is the best thing I've ever been given."

She smiled so big at that he almost amended his statement.

"Oh, I'm so glad!" And she actually clapped her hands together.

He smiled, "But, I can't take it.. Way too expensive." he told her, trying to hand the card back.

"Oh, no you don't, Mister! It's for you. I want you to have it. What's the point in inheriting money if you can't spend it on the people you love?"

Luke caught his breath at this, but Lorelai had moved on, sticking her head into her large bag again.

"And here is that beer you worship," she said, pulling out a cold case and crossing to set it on the table.

"I don't worship beer," he grumped.

"And finally.." she ignored went back to her bag, "The perfect piece of flora for my prickly, unshaven, backwards-baseball-cap-man---May he never change!" And she pulled a potted cactus out of the bag and set it on the table as well.

"There! I am officially the blue collar Martha Stewart," she frowned, "Only not going to prison."

She then turned her radiant smile on Luke again, "This is all to say; Thank you, my dear, dear friend!"

Luke got up and crossed to the table, not having felt this way since he was a kid at Christmas.

"Lorelai, you didn't need to do all this."

"I wanted to, Luke."

"Well..Thanks."

He was standing very near her now and looking down into her eyes.

And Lorelai felt a wave of affection hit her hard, so she put her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

Luke was surprised but responded automatically, his arms slipping around her waist, drawing their hips close...

They squeezed and breathed and Lorelai turned her face to his and placed a light kiss on his lips.

It was meant to be a friendly gesture, another thank you, but as soon as she pulled away and looked into his eyes again, it all changed.

They both saw it. They both stopped thinking. And they both closed in for more.

And there they were; kissing. Kissing. Each. Other.

Just like that. The whole ghastly teenage thing...

Moist lips, and tongues, and hands stroking backs and buttocks. Hips grinding against one another. Arousal growing. Moans...

They didn't even hear Ceasar until he was in the room with them carrying Lorelai's dinner and coffee packed to go.

Finally they broke apart at his delicate cough.

And when they saw his subsequent leering grin, they stepped even further away from each other.

Oh, Jeez, what just happened?

Lorelai recovered first, moving instantly into full Babble Mode: Thanking Ceasar for the dinner, struggling with her wallet and purse to pay him, mentioning inane details about what she had to do for the Inn tomorrow and how late it was.

Finally she grabbed her coat, never once making eye contact, and left in a hurry.

Luke sighed.

Then he turned to look at Ceasar who was still standing there, grinning and watching.

"What are you looking at?!" growled Luke.

"Nothing." said Ceasar, his face plastered with a big, cheesy grin.

"Go close up."

"Sure thing, boss."

Luke looked around without seeing anything...

Had he just been kissing Lorelai?

Oh, God, he had just been kissing Lorelai! Lorelai Gilmore. And groping her... Oh, Geez.

He sat down at the table and put his head in his hands.

He didn't know how long he sat there.

Not long enough to form any coherent thoughts that's for sure.

And then he heard the door open. He pivoted his head to see who was arriving now, because clearly the next of the seven signs was due any minute...

"Hey Luke! Ceasar told me to come on up. Boy, he's in a good mood tonight! Thought I'd drop by so we could talk some more..."

"Nicole..."

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Lorelai's wonderful day had completely eroded.

Once home she prepared for bed automatically, pausing only to look at Luke's flowers for a moment before collapsing into bed.

But once under the covers and in the dark, she cried.

She was bewildered. She was ashamed. Who was she? She was not this woman.

She would not be this woman!

I am not this woman, she tried to convince herself again. I am not this woman who kisses married men, no matter how strange the marriage... I am not this woman...

And then: My wonderful Luke-friendship!...What will happen to it now?

And the potential loss of this brought even more tears.

And above the diner, Luke sat at his table and watched as Nicole unpacked a large basketful of all the makings of a romantic night of cinematic proportions.

"So," a smile on her lips, (was that red lipstick she was wearing?) she began as she placed three large candles on the table, "I'm really sorry about all the arguing," next a vase and a single red rose, "It's just that I care about you so much, Luke," and then a bottle of chilled champagne.

"Nicole, you know I don't like champagne."

"Well, you can have a beer then," she conceded, noticing the case on the table and then the cactus too.

"Hey, what a cute cactus–is it new?" she tried to brighten the mood—Luke still seemed angry, or something.

"Yeah."

"We should take it to the townhouse. It would look nice in the kitchen." She commented and pulled a bakery box of chocolate covered strawberries out of her basket as well.

"I want to keep it here."

"Oh, okay." Didn't matter to her, she shrugged, just trying to lighten things up.

Luke got up and crossed to look out the window. Lorelai's jeep was gone, of course. His heart was still pounding with turmoil of their moment. The physicality of it. The emotion of it. He could still feel exactly how her breasts felt pressed up against him.

"Luke, what's this?" Nicole interrupted this reverie.

Luke turned back in at the cold note in her voice.

She was holding Lorelai's check.

"It's a check."

"Yes, I see that. May I ask why Lorelai Gilmore is giving you a check for over thirty thousand dollars?"

Luke sighed.

"Don't say it's none of my business, Luke. Although we don't share money, this is a pretty significant amount from a very beautiful woman."

Nicole waited for his answer.

"She's returning a loan I gave her." he finally said.

"You loaned a friend thirty thousand dollars?! Are you crazy? Never loan money to friends, Luke. It's always a bad idea, and you don't make enough to do it, anyway."

"Nicole, she needed it to get her business started. I may not have as much money as you, but it's mine. I earned it. And if I want to loan it to my friends, I will."

Luke lifted his chin and looked her in the eye. He was ready for confrontation.

And Nicole knew that getting what you want is rarely through a direct route . Strategy was a much more effective tool. Use the backdoor, Nicole, she told herself.

"Oh, Luke, you are such a generous man. Thank God Lorelai didn't take advantage of you," she soothed.

"Nicole, she wouldn't do that." sighed Luke.

"No, I'm sure she wouldn't."

Luke looked out the window again.

Nicole walked over and laid a hand on his arm.

"Hey," she said, "I came over to make up. Can we start again?"

Luke paused.

His whole life had been about being slow and steady. About working hard. About lowered expectations. About the bird in the hand. So this was hard. But when he looked down at Nicole, he knew that riding the tide was no longer enough. That this was not working. That things needed to change and, finally, that he needed to be the one to make the change.

"No, I don't think we can."

"What?" Nicole pulled back her hand as if it had just been burned.

"Start again, I mean. I don't think we can," he replied simply.

"Oh, God. Lorelai."

"This isn't about her. This is about us," he lied.

"No, this is about you fucking everything up!" Nicole's composure had finally cracked. Why couldn't this stupid man see how it was supposed to be?

"Maybe it is."

"So this is it then?".

"Yes," he sighed, "it is. I'm sorry Nicole. I don't want to live in Litchfield. I don't want to go to those restaurants..." She started to interrupt him here, but he wouldn't let her, "...And no, it isn't really about those things. It's about what you want in life, and what I want in life."

"Or whom," she shot at him.

"Maybe. I don't know."

It was too hard to dissemble. The truth was easier now.

"The point is that you and I don't want the same things. I want Stars' Hollow and..."

"Lorelai." she added waspishly.

He ignored this.

"...And you want something different. You want me to be different. And I'm too old to change, Nicole. And, more importantly, I don't want to change. Not for you."

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And later, after Nicole had gone, and after he had tossed and turned on his small bed for hours, he knew he'd done the right thing.

But there was no comfort in this. No comfort at all in being alone in a single bed knowing you are right.

No comfort in knowing he had dumped a woman who'd said she loved him, and scaring off his very-probably best friend all on the same night.

And, finally, no comfort either in being old and alone.

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Of course Lorelai stayed away from the diner the next day. No surprise there.

Stayed away for a week in fact.

No, no surprise.

Just as well.

He didn't know what to do, anyway.

He heard about the Dragonfly's progress as hewent through his days. He learns that Lorelai is painting rooms and wallpapering, and hanging the curtains she has made ('they are just darling, doll' Babette told him), and fighting with her landscaper.

But each night as he lay awake he has the damndest feeling that he is waiting for something, though he doesn't know what that something is. Can't put his finger on it.

It's crazy.

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Lorelai just tries to work it all away.

If she moves fast enough, gets sore enough muscles, maybe she'll finally sleep, she thinks. Maybe she'll stop obsessing about it all.

Clearly, she feels remorse. She knows that.

But, in light of this, she requires distraction. And work was the best thing for this while the sun shone, though it didn't help at all with the long dark nights when she only had her blasted busy brain for company.

So she was glad when Jason finally got back from Amsterdam.

They went out to a lovely restaurant with funky live music. And it was fun to shake all the Inn dust out of her hair and dress up again.

Fun too to order champagne to celebrate their reunion. But when they got back to her house afterwards, she just couldn't take him upstairs.

What was wrong with her?

She told Jason, truthfully, that she was exhausted and he believed her. So they sat quietly in her living room awhile.

"Look, Lorelai," he said, oddly serious, "I've been thinking about our relationship."

"Okay."

"We've been seeing each other for sometime now."

She nodded. Her head was starting to ache.

"And remarkably," he continued, "I've haven't done anything to screw it up.."

"You're doing fine Jason," Lorelai could see his insecurities rising to the surface again, and his hard-won effort to be honest with her as well. It was very touching.

"I haven't done anything to screw it up, yet," he amended. "Because let me tell you that I suck at relationships. I tend to do the wrong thing at the exact wrong time."

"No you don't, Jason," she smiled for him.

"Yes, I do. Believe me, Lorelai, when a woman tells you that she loves you, and you respond by saying 'Great, let's get pizza'–you know you suck at relationships."

Lorelai laughed. Jason is fun, she reminded herself.

"But, that's what therapists who cost five hundred dollars an hour are for."

"Just what kind of 'therapist' are you seeing, Jason?" Lorelai asked suggestively.

"Only the legal kind I assure you–with a very serious marble bust of Freud sitting on his desk."

"Oooo! Marble bust!–Freudian and Dirty!" Lorelai said with some glee.

"I was wondering if you'd like a key to my place?" blurted Jason.

"What?" asked Lorelai, caught off guard.

Jason sighed. He wasn't sweating exactly, but she could tell that this was difficult for him.

"I know I have quirks, Lorelai. I know I have intimacy issues, but I am working on them, I swear. And you are wonderful. You are great and we've had fun, and I was just wondering if you would accept a key to my apartment?"

Lorelai thought about what that apartment represented to Jason. And, with this reflection came the knowledge that this was a huge move for Jason Stiles.

"Sure, Jason, that would be nice," she smiled.

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But later, as she lay between sleeping and waking, she wondered if she had done the right thing. She didn't know what she wanted with Jason, and maybe that was all she needed to know. But she felt like she should give this man who was trying so hard to be better, for himself and for her, a chance.

Her mind then turned infuriatingly to Luke.

Why had she kissed him?

She knew why, of course. She'd wanted to, that's why. And it was wonderful and erotic and comfortable all at the same time. And perhaps with their friendship and that particular water always untested between them, it had been bound to happen. She'd had a helluva time lately, with the Inn-stress, and Trix' death, and Jason being gone too. She just hadn't been thinking clearly...

And Luke is married, she reminded herself unecessarily.

She sighed. She had to face him again. This, she knew. But how to do it?

Absolutely no idea.

And she fell asleep with the distinct feeling that there was something she needed to be doing. Something important that she had forgotten... but just couldn't remember...what it was....

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It was drawing to the end of the second week of Lorelai's diner non-attendance now.

Rory had noticed. Sookie had noticed.

Michel didn't care.

So one unusually warm day, in an effort to cheer up Lorelai, and make her take a break from scooting furniture around the Inn to find the best placement, Sookie planted Davey with Jackson at home, and made a special picnic lunch for them all.

After all, she told Lorelai, Rory is home for the day, you are ahead of schedule, and you are going through Luke's-diner withdrawal (not to mention Luke-himself withdrawal, she thought inwardly).

And finally Lorelai relented, agreeing to take a break.

The three women sat on a blanket under a tree in front of the Inn after consuming the delicious lunch. They drank coffee, ate brownies, and watched Michel play with Paw Paw and Chin Chin.

The women laughed at the dog's antics as they fetched expensive designer balls with their names embossed on them.

And that's when it all came out: 'The Cash, The Cactus, The Card, and The Kiss', as Lorelai called the upsetting event. She would have added the beer to the list but she couldn't think of an alliterative synonym for it.

'The Cold Ones' was the best Rory's literary mind could come with on such short notice, but it didn't scan right, and in the interest of veracity, the beer hadn't been Coors.

And they all sighed their disappointment.

"What am I going to do?" she asked no one and all of them at once and then leaned back against the tree to close her eyes.

Sookie and Rory exchanged looks, both thinking and knowing the same thing about Luke and Lorelai, and what Lorelai's reaction was when it was pointed out to her as if it were a nose on a face.

"Well," began Sookie cautiously, "You do know that they have re-started the divorce proceedings, don't you?"

Lorelai's eyes snapped open.

"What?"

"Yeah, it's over," nodded Sookie.

"How do you know?"

"Taylor. Nicole's his lawyer."

"Oh, Geez," Lorelai put her head in her hands.

"Mom," Rory continued the delicate maneuvers, "What is going on with you and Jason?"

"Me and Jason?" Lorelai lifted her head, puzzled, "What's that got to do with Luke's divorce?" And then, as realization dawned, "Oh, no, Rory! No. No. No."

"What?" asked Rory defensively innocent.

"And you!" she turned to Sookie.

"What?" Sookie's eyes were possibly even rounder than Rory's.

"No, this is not about me and Luke, and some unrequited passion..."

"Okay," said Sookie unconvinced.

"I mean it. I thought those rumors died out a long time ago."

"They did," confirmed Rory.

"Yeah, now everyone just thinks you're both pathetic," comforted Sookie.

Lorelai groaned and fell flat on her back on the blanket this time, her arms thrown over her face.

They were quiet for a moment, the only noise being Michel's cooing and coaxing to his 'babies'...

"Uh, Mom..." began Rory tentatively.

"What?" was Lorelai's grumpy, muffled reply.

"Have you sorted out that Luke thing yet?"

"Um, no Rory, I haven't." Duh.

"Well, hurry up with that would you?"

"Why?"

"Hi, Luke!" called Sookie over-brightly.

Lorelai sat up.

And there he was. Standing a few yards in front of them.

Clearly with a decision made.

"We need to talk.," he said with his hands on his hips and a glare in his eye.

Lorelai, uncharacteristically speechless, just nodded numbly.

And then the Chow darlings bounded over and jumped all over the women, licking their faces and nibbling for crumbs.

Coffee spilled, Lorelai fell back over, a triumphant Paw Paw standing on her stomach.... And soon it was just too silly and they were laughing. All of them except an indignant Michel who did not want his dogs' health endangered by the consumption of chocolate brownie crumbs.

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"Sorry about the Triplets of Belville back there," said Lorelai after she and Luke walked into the Inn.

"It's all right. It was funny."

He reached over and pulled a twig out of her hair. Lorelai felt a rush at the contact. They looked at one another a moment.

"So," said Lorelai turning away, "What do you think so far?"

Luke turned and looked at the Great Room of the Inn.

"Wow."

The empty room was beautiful already. He walked over and ran his palm over the hand-turned bannister newel.

"Lorelai, this is exceptional work. And the proportions..." he glanced at the wainscoting and fireplace, "...perfect."

Lorelai nodded, inexpressibly proud of the Inn and happy that he saw its beauty too.

"Come on, let me show you the rest."

And so they walked the public rooms and offices, the kitchens and pantries, and then went upstairs to look in the bedrooms. Lorelai showed him the old dumbwaiter they were expanding for human use, to accommodate wheelchairs and such.

Luke's observant eye did not miss any of the details. The salvaged fine old marble tiles around the fireplaces. The tin ceilings and plaster moldings. The beautifully restored wide planks of the floor.

"We only have a few pieces of furniture so far," she apologized, "The rest will be drifting in through the next few weeks."

"That's okay, you can really appreciate the builders' details this way."

She nodded and took him up to the attic then, with its beamed ceiling, floor to ceiling casement windows, and three-hundred and sixty degree view.

"I didn't know The Dragonfly was situated so high" said Luke admiring the vista across the Connecticut countryside.

Lorelai nodded again, "I know. We're going to make another lounge up here. Cozy overstuffed furniture, books, soft music, tea..." she reached out her arms enthusiastically, trying to indicate, to explain, her dream for the place. "I feel like Jane Banks stepping through the chalk drawing! It's going to be perfect!"

And then she actually spun around in happiness.

Luke watched, mesmerized by her enthusiasm.

"Just imagine, Luke: A warm summer night. All these windows open... Do you know how many marriage proposals could happen here? How many anniversaries celebrated? It's going to be wonderful!"

She looked over at him, her eyes shining. Then just as suddenly, her face fell and Luke's stomach dropped with it.

"Luke, I'm so sorry."

"Why?"

"For that night, of course. For kissing you. For screwing us up. If I contributed to your break-up with Nicole, I will never forgive myself."

"Lorelai..."

"I mean it, Luke. It's one thing if I've ruined our friendship, but if your marriage with Nicole has been jeopardized because of me..."

"It wasn't because of you, Lorelai..." he told her quietly.

"It wasn't?"

"No. It was coming anyway," he sighed. "I just finally made it happen. And for the record, I was just as involved in that kiss as you were."

"You broke up with her?" checked Lorelai.

"Yeah."

"Oh, Luke, I am so sorry," she told him and meant it.

"Well, I'm not."

"You're not?"

"No. It's time for me to take charge of my life, Lorelai. Figure out what I want and to make it happen. Like you've done with this Inn. I really admire you for making this happen. I'm finally seeing that I need to change some things in my life too. Some big things," he looked at her meaningfully.

But she didn't get it.

"Thanks. But you have the diner. I mean, you love that diner. You made it. You are proud of it."

"Yes, I am," he acknowledged.

"Luke, do you want a different career?" Lorelai was confused.

"No."

"Then what changes do you want to make? I thought you hated change."

"Personal ones. And, I do.".

"Oh."

But she didn't really see.

And then they both turned their heads at a voice calling up the stairs, "Lorelai, are you up there?"

Lorelai jumped a little. Luke noticed.

"Yes Jason, come on up!" she called down.

Jason? Who was Jason?

And then Luke saw him as he came up the stairs. Oh, tailgating-guy. So this has been going on for awhile?

Shut up, Danes, you're married, he told himself.

Not for long was his own reply.

And so Luke met Jason.

And clearly Jason did not know about the kiss above the diner. Luke figured the guy out pretty fast and hoped to God that this was not 'The One'. Surely not. But clearly Lorelai was in her usual romantic oblivion and therefore... well, oblivious.

And for Jason's part, he was not a successful businessman without reason. Sure he had quirks, but he could read people exceptionally well. Especially potentially adversarial men. Something was up with Coffee Man and Lorelai. He didn't know what. But something.

They all walked down together then, meeting Michel, Sookie and Rory at the bottom of the stairs, looking decidedly casual.

"Okay, Nancy, Bess and George, we're back," pronounced Lorelai as she went past them.

They all stood in an awkward little circle then, each with various proprietary inclinations toward Lorelai.

Finally Jason jumped in, "So, Lorelai, I was hoping to surprise you with lunch! Give you a break."

Everyone looked expectantly at Lorelai.

"Jason, that is so sweet. But Sookie made us all a picnic and we've just finished."

Luke could tell that Jason was assuming that he had been part of the picnic party too. Good, he thought.

"Oh, bad timing," said Jason. "Well, it was just a whim. How about dinner later?"

"Well, Rory is staying over for a special treat tonight. Treat for me, that is." She smiled at her beautiful daughter, "And we're going to Luke's, and then watch movies. It's our special thing."

Lorelai felt bad about turning down Jason in such a public way.

Luke, however, actually grew taller, being publicly established as part of the Gilmore Girls' 'special thing'.

"Tell, you what," Lorelai spoiled it then, "Why don't you meet us later at Luke's?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose."

"No imposition, Jason. It'll give you and Rory a chance to get to know each other a little."

This will be good, she told herself.

"Well, if Rory doesn't mind... But I'll leave you two alone to your chick flicks afterwards."

"Yeah, Willy Wonka makes us both weepy," laughed Rory.

"Which is really not a good thing while you're wearing cold cream," frowned Lorelai.

"And painting your nails."

"While eating bon bons..."

"White flag is up now! My apologies for the presumption, ladies."

Lorelai turned to Rory, "He thinks we were joking."

Rory nodded sympathetically.

Things were looking up for Luke, though. If this guy has been dating Lorelai for awhile and didn't really know Rory, or about movie nights ...

The group broke up then, all saying their goodbyes, each gratefully going about their business, but not before Sookie could pull Luke aside...

She peered intently into his eyes then...

"Luke, this is breaking the cook's code, but..." she glanced furtively over her shoulder, lest anyone else hear.

"But what?"

"Spit in his soup!" she said and was gone.

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And so at the diner that night Luke had to endure Jason's charm. He brought the Gilmores chocolates and flowers. He told witty stories about himself and Lorelai and Christopher and some stupid rich kid summer camp.

And Luke listened to them laugh when he brought their food over.

And then Jason left a big tip.

Things weren't going the way Luke hoped at all.

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And the next morning when Lorelai and Rory came in for breakfast before Rory had to go back to Yale, Luke watched as Lorelai sat drinking coffee and adoring Rory just like the kiss in his apartment never happened.

So this is how she thinks it's going to be?

He was pissed now.

So, he packed up a couple of doughnuts then and brought a to-go cup of coffee for Rory to take with her and bided his time. Rory hugged him goodbye which was nice, and then turned to hug Lorelai too.

And they watched through the window as she drove off.

Now I'm gonna give her a piece of her mind, he decided. Set some things straight, but when he looked down, he saw that her eyes were full of tears.

She smiled apologetically. "I never get used to watching her go, Luke."

He nodded and sighed as she got up to leave.

No, Danes, not again! The status quo stops now!

"Lorelai, are you busy tonight?" he called before she could leave.

She looked back at him in surprise.

"Papering a bathroom wall. It's easier now that we have all the power working. I can get stuff done at night."

"I was wondering if we could talk... Maybe I could come by and help?"

"Oh."

She didn't know how to respond to this. She'd been hoping the kiss could just be forgiven and forgotten. But maybe this wasn't about the kiss at all. Maybe he has forgotten it already, she tried to convince herself. Maybe he wants to talk about Nicole... or something.

"Okay, Luke. Sure. Come by whenever you want. I'll be working late."