I own nothing….not these people….nor their quirky personalities….

Chapter Ten

Lorelai woke up a few hours later to the not so gentle sound of Luke's snoring. Most nights it was reassuring and soothing but tonight there was no way she could get back to sleep. She pulled on the robe her mother had left for her and headed down to the kitchen for a snack.

As she neared the door she noticed the light was on and someone was quietly talking inside. She pulled the door open not sure who to expect, and of course, it was the one person she didn't want to see.

"Lor, couldn't sleep? Hope we didn't wake you. GG woke up in a strange bed and I brought her down for a bottle."

"You didn't wake me. I was cold and thought I'd come down for hot chocolate."

"Luke not keeping you warm enough?"

"Luke keeps me very warm. He takes good care of all of my needs. I was just well, not dressed for such a cold night and …. Let me hold her so you can deal with that bottle." Lorelai took GG from her father's arms.

"Thanks. She's been off the bottle for a while but sometimes when she can't sleep I let her have one."

"I remember doing that with Rory. Soothing for them and then you can get back to sleep. You are learning."

"I'm trying."

They started laughing when GG clapped her hands at the sight of the bottle.

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Luke had woken up and reached out for Lorelai but she wasn't there. Luke pulled on his clothes and went downstairs to find her. He heard laughter in the kitchen and assumed Rory and Lorelai had met up there. He pushed the door open and quickly let it close again. He hadn't expected to find Chris and Lorelai giggling with the baby. They certainly looked like a cozy little family. Lorelai didn't see him but Christopher certainly had. Luke went back up stairs and into their room. He stood by the window and watched as the snow plow cleared the drive.

Lorelai quietly let herself back into her room and was surprised to find Luke at the window.

She walked up behind him and hugged him. "Beautiful sight huh?"

"Sure is, that plow just unburied us and we'll be able to get home first thing."

"I meant the snow silly."

"Yeah, the snow." Luke answered thoughtfully.

"Hey are you okay? You seem distracted. When I left you were snoring away."

"I got cold…my partner left."

"Well, your partner is back and …." Lorelai unbuttoned his shirt and worked her way down to the zipper on his pants.

Luke looked into her eyes and saw only love and affection. Whatever he had witnessed in the kitchen couldn't have meant anything. He knew how she felt about him and how she felt about Christopher.

Luke let her undress him and then he slipped the robe off of her body. He held her by the window and they watched the last few snow flakes fall. She shivered and he led her to the bed. He pulled her into an embrace and she molded her cold body to his warm one.

Luke took a deep breath. "So I went looking for you."

"Hence the clothes. I was in the kitchen, ran into Chris and GG. She sure is a cute little thing. You forget how small and sweet they are and so dependent."

"She looked pretty content with you two."

"She was happy about her bottle. Sort of like when I see you with my coffee."

Luke pulled her closer and kissed her. They made slow gently love, each thinking about other things. Luke about what he had witnessed; Lorelai about that little girl and her ticking biological clock. Afterwards they snuggled close until Lorelai spoke up,

"Hey, the plow went through and I'm sure the highway is clear by now. Let's get dressed and get out of here. I'll let you fix me breakfast back at our place."

"Our place?"

"Well, my house but it feels like our place. Especially now with that electronic monster you installed in my living room."

"You're crazy woman. But right now, nothing sounds better than getting away from here and going home."

They both jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed. Luke went outside to warm up the truck while Lorelai stuffed a note under Rory's door. They were soon on their way, happy to be escaping Hartford.

The roads were fine and the moon had popped out of the clouds making the middle of the night drive especially beautiful. They didn't talk much but Lorelai kept her hand on his thigh and they were comfortable with the silence.

They came through the front door feeling like they hadn't been there in days. So much had changed, not outwardly but inwardly for both of them.

"So breakfast or back to bed?"

Lorelai looked at the clock. "It's three thirty, I say back to bed."

They walked up the stairs arms locked around each other but somewhat disconnected. They quickly undressed and got into the bed. Luke pulled her close and kissed her goodnight.

Lorelai lay awake and she knew Luke was still awake as well.

"Hey, want to talk?"

"Sure, it's four o'clock in the morning. Nothing says talk like four in the morning."

Lorelai laughed, "Nice Christmas huh?"

"It had its moments…some better than others."

"Definitely."

"Next year let's stay home."

"Sounds like a plan."

"A good plan."

They snuggled close but each was in their own world. Finally Lorelai murmured, "That GG, so cute. I just want to kidnap her and bring her home."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

They lay in an uneasy silence.

"Maybe we should try to sleep a little."

They kissed goodnight and each turned to their own side of the bed. A few minutes passed and Luke quietly spoke.

"Lorelai about Chris…"

"He's out of my life, Rory's dad nothing more."

"Well, if there is more now is the time to…."

"Luke I promise there is nothing."

"Old feelings take time to die."

"It's been twenty years….dead and buried, I promise. He'll always be in our lives because of Rory but that's it. I'm sure."

"Good. Guess I needed to hear that. Think your mom knows that?"

"I don't think my mom will ever give up that ship. Sorry. I am nothing like my mom."

Luke laughed, "Thank God. You know that old saying about men looking at their girlfriend's mothers to know how they will be later in life?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you two are the exception to that rule."

Lorelai returned his laugh and teased, "There's still time."

Luke kissed her goodnight and mumbled, "No way, you are your unique self Lorelai Gilmore."

"Thanks, I think." Lorelai kissed him and turned on her side.

They lay in silence a few minutes listening to the clock tick. Knowing she wasn't asleep yet, Luke spoke quietly. "GG is cute so little and all pink and sweet."

"She won't always be that way."

"I wouldn't know, never had one of my own."

"I've noticed that about you."

"Well, Rory was always around and of course Jess for a while."

"There are two opposites for you. It's different when they are your own though. You have no one to blame but yourself for how they turn out….until they turn into teenagers. Then I think the Devil takes over for a while."

Luke laughed. "Hadn't heard that theory before."

"I got lucky. I think even the Devil liked Rory. Guess he figured I had enough to handle with my own mother." Lorelai took a moment and then added, "Our children would be perfect of course."

"Our children would not be perfect. Our children would be willful and coffee addicted."

Lorelai gently kissed Luke. "Our children will be perfect."

Luke was silent for a few minutes mulling over their conversation.

"I wouldn't be opposed to having children you know."

"Good to know. For future reference….neither would I."

Luke and Lorelai snuggled together, feeling close and totally in sync again.

Lorelai woke to the sound of the shower. She turned on her side and saw Luke walk out of the bathroom drying himself off. She smiled, he smiled back….

"Morning sleepy head."

"Morning."

"Sorry I was in such a funk last night."

"No apology please. Yesterday was just one weird day."

"Yeah, weird all right. How about breakfast?"

"Sounds great, I'll be down in a while."

Lorelai showered and by the time she made it to the kitchen Luke had cooked everything in site.

"Wow, I feel special."

"You are special."

Somehow between the time they had gone to sleep and this moment, all the awkwardness had gone away. She kissed him and he pulled her close.

"I love you. I guess I was a little jealous last night."

"I love you too. Nothing to be jealous about, Chris is history….ancient history."

"Good to know." Luke released her and handed her a mug of coffee.

"And all is right with the world."

"Not really…we do still live in Stars Hollow."

She laughed in relief and they sat down to breakfast. Soon they were teasing and laughing, Neither understood the little weird period they had just gone through, but they were happy is was so quickly passed over.

They headed into the living room to tackle the new TV. Luke read the book and explained it all to her."

"Easy for you to say."

"Lorelai, it's not that hard to understand. You're just not trying."

"I'm trying…it's just…I liked my idea better."

Luke looked puzzled, "Your idea?"

"Yeah, the one about you moving in here."

"I'd drive you crazy in no time, getting up before dawn..."

"You do that when you stay over."

"But it would be everyday. And the snoring, you always complain about that."

"I love the snoring."

"You do not! You know when you lie, your nose grows."

"Does not."

"Okay maybe not but I don't think we're ready for that yet."

"You mean you are not ready for that yet. I seem to recall another situation….."

"Don't bring that up. We are so different, this is so different."

Lorelai smiled, "Yeah this is very different."

Luke kissed her goodbye and headed toward the door. "We'll talk about this tonight. We're still on right?"

"Yep, your not getting rid of me that easily."

"Believe me, I know that to be true." Luke laughed as he pulled on his coat. "Better call your mom. She'll probably be upset. Just tell her I had to get back to the diner."

"Ah, you do love me. Letting me put all the blame on you."

"Yep, sure fire way to say I love you, telling you it's okay to lie to your mother."

"I love you too. See you later."

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