This takes place right after the confrontation between Lorelai and Emily in 517. Less humor because I felt it was a pretty serious event to joke about so soon. Hopefully not too fluffy!

He desperately wanted to go around the counter and hold her – he wanted to address what had just happened. He felt a sinking pain in his stomach thinking about his part in what had just taken place. Luke knew it wasn't his fault – they had talked about this last week when they got back together. Her mother was stuck in her ways – people who are part of Emily's world don't change their views overnight. In fact, they rarely change their views at all. Emily only believes what her culture, her class, her world, is supposed to – no, expected to – believe. He could build her daughter a house, buy her a car, and care for her if she got sick, but he still would never be good enough. Luke had accepted that this was simply the way it was.The night he went over to Lorelai's house to get her back, Lorelai had made it clear that she knew her mother would probably never give her blessing for their relationship. She told him, just like she had at Doosies, that it didn't matter. Lorelai said she knew he was worth it all and that he had given her more in their eight year friendship, and four month romance, then her mother had in all the 16 years she lived in that prison of a house.

You make me feel like I am good enough now, she had said as she cried in his arms. She has always made me feel like anything I accomplished was still less than enough. Never enough. I am never enough to her. I never will be. But with you, I felt like I finally was enough – I had everything I needed. And when we broke up, my world crumbled. I had finally felt like I was moving towards a world and a life where I am not trying to constantly fill in a void, or a missing link. I had found that in you. But losing that, losing you, the one who made me believe I was okay, just as I am – not to sound all Jerry McGuire here – but that left me completely lost. And to know my mother played a part in causing my pain, but even worse causing yours – that is why when I told you I was done with her I meant it. Luke, I never again want to let her hurt you or hurt us.

He remembered those words as he finished cleaning up the counter. No matter what she had said, he knew that after yelling at her mother like that, in front of him, hurt her. Luke knew that even though he wanted nothing more than to go over and hold her, talk to her, he had to give her time to her pull herself back together. So he just let her sit.

After a few minutes, he stopped what he was doing and looked over. Lorelai's face was white and her breathing was just starting to return to normal. He couldn't take seeing her like this. He went to the door and flipped the sign to closed. Slowly, Luke walked toward her and gently grabbed her hand.

"Come on," he said, pulling her up.

"Luke, I have to get back to work soon"

"I know. But after this unexpected turn of events, the Inn can survive 20 more minutes without you," he responded, placing his other hand around her back to guide her upstairs.

When they opened his door Luke walked her over to the couch and sat her down. The lack of words from Lorelai told him she was still overwhelmed.

"I am going to make you some coffee," he said, walking into the kitchen.

"As strong as possible, please"

He didn't try to get her to talk about Emily and the confrontation as he moved around, readying her drink. He knew Lorelai – she lived to talk. And she would –when she was ready.

When the coffee was ready, Luke poured her a cup and brought it to the couch.

"Here," he said softly.

She looked up and smiled. "Thanks."

She started, "Luke, listen. My mother – I didn't expect her to – I should have, again – but I," as her voice became more shaky, she stopped, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "I just hate that you had to deal with her again. I'm so sorry."

When she opened her eyes, he saw tears forming, quickly, like waves – pouring out of an ocean of blue perfection. As the first tear dropped, he gently wiped it off her cheek.

"Lorelai," he said, intertwining his fingers in hers. "I want to show you something."

He brought her over to his refrigerator. On it, three picture were up, two of which Lorelai had never seen before.

"You see this," he said, pointing to the first picture. In it, a petite, brown-haired woman was bending down next to a little boy. The young boy was leaning into her with a huge smile on his face that highlighted his distinguishably blue eyes.

"This was my mother." He spoke quietly, but with detectable pride in his voice rather than sadness.

Lorelai looked closer at the picture, and then over at him. When she turned to face him, Luke wasn't even staring at the fridge, but instead he was looking right into her eyes.

"Luke, you have never showed me her before. She's beautiful," she told him.

He smiled.

Happy that he was finally able to share this with her, Lorelai linked her arm through his. He pointed to the picture on the other side. "This is me and my father, a few years before he died."

The picture was of Luke as a young man. Set in his father's hardware store, both he and his dad were wearing button up flannel shirts. His father was smiling at his son with a look of pride. Even though he had seemed cold and tough with Luke at times, his father always found a way to let his son know he was proud of him.

"Wow, I have seen pictures of you two before, but you look like a spitting image of him here." Lorelai squeezed his arm a bit, pulling him closer to her. She wasn't quite sure why he had brought her up here to show here these new additions to his refrigerator, but she was happy about it.

"Lorelai. Now, see this picture here? In the middle?"

A huge grin came over her face. "Yes, this is my favorite picture of us."

It was taken at Miss Patty's Christmas party. Lorelai and Luke were together, sitting on a couch Patty had set up in the corner. She was nuzzled closely under his arm. Lorelai was, of course, wearing a red Santa's hat that partially covered her dark curls. She had convinced Luke to wear the special "red" baseball cap she had bought him, just for that night.

Miss Patty had been running around all night with her camera, snapping away. At the time she took their picture, they were unaware she was photographing them. She caught them just as Lorelai was smiling up at Luke. He was grinning back down at her. It was one of the only pictures in years where Luke had been caught with a wide, open mouth smile. Their faces were only inches apart from one another.

Lorelai stared at all three pictures he had showed her. Luke stalled for a moment, and then, wrapping one arm around her waist, he began to speak.

"Lorelai, I put these three pictures up here for a reason."

She linked her fingers into the hand that was around her waist, waiting for him to continue.

"My mother and father are gone, as you know. For the past 15 years, since my father passed, besides Liz and Jess, the only family I have had was composed of those in this town. I mean, as crazy as this town is and as much as I complain and argue with people, they have helped me feel like even without my parents, Stars Hollow is still my home – my extended family. Even so, I sometimes have felt like I was missing something after both my parents passed away."

Luke paused for a moment. Lorelai looked at his face. It was quite serious. She realized this may be the longest time he has gone on without her interrupting him in a very long time. She knew he was going somewhere with this, so she just waited for him to speak again.

"I know that right now things between you and your mother are not good right now. I know that everything going on is a long time coming and it isn't all my fault, but that doesn't make it any easier to see you hurting over the situation. I can't say that when Emily was yelling at me today I didn't want to go off on a rant and tell her what I thought – trust me, that is the most restraint I have been able to show in a while. But, when all is said and done, my relationship, however bad, with your mother is not what is important. I know that you wish things could be different, and of course I wish she could accept me…"

"Luke," she jumped in. "This was a long time coming. You didn't do anything…"

"I know, Lorelai. But regardless, it was our relationship that pushed you two over the edge. Look, all this I am getting to has a point. I still hope that one day, however far it may be away, you will be able to work things out with your parents. Because, trust me, I know what it is like to lose a mother or a father. I know the pain it causes, even if you won't admit it – I know it is on your mind a lot."

He looked into her eyes. There were tears forming, and he noticed how fragile she looked. It killed Luke to see her this way. He had to finish telling her why he brought her up here.

"You see," he said, pointing to the three pictures. "I lost my mother. I lost my father. Losing family is a part of life, but in some way, they always stay with you. Gaining new family is also a part of life, though. So that is why I wanted to put our picture in between the others. Lorelai – you are my family now. And I have faith that eventually you and your own family will be able to work things out. But until then, I just wanted to let you know that I will always be there for you – you and Rory. So I hope until that day that you and your mother are able to fix your relationship, you know I am here, and not going anywhere no matter what happens with her."

Lorelai was stunned. She knew how important his mother and father were to him, and for him to put their picture up along with the other two said volumes. He was in. He really was all in. Trying to hold back her tears, she reached her hand up and tucked one of his long, curly locks behind his ear. Gently stroking his cheek, she gave him a soft kiss before wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. He held her tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered. It was all she needed to say.