Thanks for the wonderful reviews gang!!

I do this for you, and for me…and for the good of all humankind! Now hold on tight cause it's about to get hot in here!!!

Meanwhile:

Luke and Nicole were in the midst of a heated discussion in their cabin

"I can't believe that you associate with such vile people. That Patty especially – vile, vile woman."

"Nicole, surely you don't mean that – I mean, Patty is a little overbearing at times, but… that's besides the point. This isn't about her or anyone else. This is about you and me and why I don't think we should see each other anymore." It hurt Luke to say it, but he spoke truly from the heart.

Nicole's anger overshadowed the pain she was feeling. She was beyond angry, furious even, at Luke, at the townsfolk, and yes, at Lorelai – most definitely Lorelai.

"I'll be damned if I'm going to allow you to end our relationship this way. I have far greater motive to end this than you Luke Danes. You've lied to me from day one!"

Luke was startled by her candour and more specifically her accusations. He hadn't expected this to turn into a yelling match, perhaps he should have. "What do you mean I lied to you? What the hell is that supposed to mean exactly?" Luke was letting his temper get the better of him.

"The whole time Luke…the whole time. You've been in love with her and you just dragged me along for the ride." Nicole's eyes were welling up.

Luke paused a little too long before responding, "I'm sorry if that's what you think Nicole, but you're wrong. I loved you and you never believed I did. Nothing was ever good enough for you, nothing ever will be – not with me in the picture."

Both adults had strained themselves and took comfort in the silence that ensued. Their argument seemed to have fizzled out, so too their relationship.

"Luke, just answer me this," Nicole began, "Do you have feelings for Lorelai?" Nicole waited briefly, "I'm not asking this to hurt you or to bring out any more demons…I just need to know – I just need closure." She was being sincere; she was being genuine.

Luke thought it best to be up front with Nicole, it was the least she deserved. "Yes Nicole…yes I have feelings for Lorelai." It was the first time he had uttered those words out loud and he felt tremendous relief.

Nicole had expected that answer and yet it stunned her still, hearing the words exit his mouth with such truth and conviction behind them. Her voice quivered as she spoke, "Thanks…thank-you Luke, for being…for…thanks."

"Thank you Nicole…for understanding. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know Luke. I know." Nicole carefully walked towards Luke, taking his hands into her own and embracing him one last time.

"I've already taken the liberty of asking the Captain's permission to depart the ship," she whispered into his ear. She had apparently been busy, following her dramatic exit from the ballroom. More notably, she had anticipated the outcome of her argument with Luke quite prematurely.

"What? Nicole no – I don't want you to leave…we paid for this cruise. And we only have four more days…"

Nicole interjected, "I told the Captain that my mother was ill and I needed to be with her at this time. He wholeheartedly agreed and permitted me to leave tomorrow morning." Either Nicole was very manipulative, or the Captain was very trusting – maybe both. "We'll be making a special dock on one of the Aleutian Islands. I have arranged for a private plane to meet me there, and the rest is just icing on the cake," she tried to smile.

Luke was always impressed by Nicole's attention to detail and her no-nonsense approach to things. It was what attracted him to her in the first place. There was no sense disputing with her. After all, she was a lawyer. "I'll miss you Nicole and I wish you all the best. You're a fine woman. Any guy would be lucky to have you."

Finally, a smile. "I'll miss you too Luke…and tell Lorelai the next time she decides to follow you on a trip, to make sure it's someplace warm! God, what were we thinking about when we decided on Alaska? It's like living in a freezer 24/7! I'll be quite relieved when I'm on solid, warm ground, thank-you."

Luke couldn't help but laugh. "Good night Nicole – and goodbye." Luke started towards the door then turned around, "The trip was your idea ya know?"

"Worst idea ever," she laughed. "Goodbye Luke Danes."

Luke closed the door behind him, and thus ended a chapter of his life. They had parted on amiable terms, and that pleased Luke more than anything. He glanced at his watch. The time was 11:54pm. Smiling, he walked briskly towards the Captain's Deck and what he hoped, the next chapter of his life. He arrived casually to the place of meeting at precisely 12 midnight. He didn't seem at all alarmed by Lorelai's absence. Naturally, because she was late for everything…

12:05 - Kirk's Cabin Scene Two:

"Kirk for the last time, I don't care about your stupid magazine. I just want to get out of here!" Lorelai was incredibly irritated and the clock was still ticking. "I thought you said that you called someone for assistance?"

"I did. My voice must not have sounded urgent enough. I've always had problems expressing emotion."

Lorelai rolled her eyes and grumbled something to herself. "Kirk gimme the damn phone. If my voice doesn't sound urgent then I'm not worthy of bearing the 'Gilmore' name.

Kirk threw her the phone (it was cordless) and Lorelai dialed the main lobby for assistance – yes even cruise ships have lobbies. "Hello, yes we did call earlier…uh huh, yes – but you…but I…ok, alright – bye now." The conversation was worthy of an Oscar.

"So…?" inquired Kirk

"So - nothing! They said someone will be here to help us as soon as possible." There was anger in her voice

"Exactly what they told me, but you had to check for yourself because Kirk can't do anything right!"

Lorelai continued, completely ignoring Kirk's latest rant, "Apparently they have a more important situation on their hands," Lorelai stated with much sarcasm. "Seems that there is a small fire in one of the kitchens. I swear, if Sookie caused that fire…"

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave anyway? Is it the magazine? I hate that the magazine has come between us like this!"

"GOD! Kirk you are impossible. The only thing that has come between 'us' and will ever be between 'us' is this damn door! And if you say another word about that magazine…I'll start a little fire of my own in here!"

12:20 – Scene Three:

"…And that's why I never learned how to ride a bicycle." Kirk sighed, tears in his eyes.

"Compelling – I think you should write a novel…then I can burn it too!" Lorelai was behaving quite wretchedly, but Kirk could bring that out in the best of people.

12:45 – Scene Four:

"That's it – it's over…he's gone and now he'll never know how I truly feel." Lorelai was heartbroken. She knew how dissapointed Luke would be, standing there all alone, waiting and wondering…and hoping.

"Lorelai, what are you talking about? Just tell me what's wrong. I used to write an advice column, maybe I can help."

Lorelai was stunned. "You used to write an advice column? Who were you advising – dogs?"

"Sometimes yes…anything to feed the presses." Kirk was certainly an odd fellow…very, very odd.

She gave in, "Alright Kirk, you wanna know the real story, here goes…"

1:00am – Scene Five:

"And so here we are…right back where we started. Luke in one place and me in another. It's like the God's are against us or something." Lorelai had shared the entireity of their story with Kirk. Well, what else was there to do?

"Wow – I had no idea. Can Luke really dance?" Kirk was being Kirk again.

"Seriously, I need to get out of here while I have an ounce of sanity left! I need to go – I need to get to Luke. I need a freakin crow bar so I can kill that satanic door!" She started to cry then; she slid to the floor and rested her head against the door. There was nothing she could do, and that's what hurt the most. The feeling of utter helplessness.

Kirk went to her side…

1:00am – Captain's Deck:

Luke's patience was wearing thin, his confidence even thinner. He took one last glance around the premises and trudged away towards the confines of his cabin. Oh crap, that possibility was no longer an option he realized. Luke had forfeited all cabin rights to Nicole just moments ago. He would need to find alternate sleeping arrangements. The hurt, the frustration and the anger was almost too much to bear. How could Lorelai do this? Was this it? Had they come this far only to let it slip away once more? Luke was determined to get some answers. He wasn't ready to give up on Lorelai just yet. But he would sleep on it. He was far too drained at this moment to have another argument.

Jackson and Sookie's room was definitely not an option, nor was Babette and Morey's. Patty – certainly not…Oh no, that left Kirk, dear old Kirk, just the man Luke wanted to share a room with – this was a dream come true! Ha, Luke laughed aloud, yet he shrugged his shoulders and accepted his fate. It's just one night, he thought, by tomorrow night everything will be peachy again. And yes, Luke said peachy…well he at least thought the word.

So, with great hesitation, Luke began to walk in the direction of Kirk's cabin…

It doesn't get any better than this, does it folks! I'm so excited I just might not get to sleep tonight! Maybe some REVIEWS will help me rest a little easier so I can keep up my writing strength (wink, wink)