This is an episode addition fic for 519, "But I'm A Gilmore." It can be placed in between night one and two of Luke cooking at the Inn. Most of the fics I have read that added on to the episode took place after Lorelai gets off the phone in night two, so I thought I would try something a little different. I had to throw another DC reference in here, I hope that doesn't deter anyone from reading!

The whole staff had gone home, and Luke was just finishing up in the kitchen. Sookie's notes dictated not only how to cook each meal but also exactly how to leave the kitchen at the end of the day. And not just where the pots and pans go – that would be too normal. The notes detailed how many spoons and forks can be stacked on top of each other, how many times to wipe the counter before turning the towel over, and on what shelf in the freezer each different kind of meat should be placed.

This woman is damn crazy, he thought. I really have to learn how to say no sometimes. Oh, who am I kidding? I can't say no to Lorelai. I never have been able to. But now, it is hardly an option. She and I both know that. At least now that we are together she has been making it more worth my while when I do these things for her.

Luke continued straightening up as his mind drifted off to the different ways Lorelai had rewarded him in the past. He snapped out of his day-dream as he felt someone's hands come around his waist from behind.

"Hey," he heard Lorelai say as she put her chin on his shoulder. "How is my savior doing tonight?"

Luke laughed, rolling his eyes. "I am not your savior. Just your really easily-convinced boyfriend."

"Oh, you don't give yourself enough credit. You left your diner to come save my panick-y ass. And you not only saved it, you had these boys in here following you around like you were their Buddha-chef. You impressed the hell out of them, and me."

He smiled, turning around to lean back against the counter.

"Please don't compare me to Buddha."

"Oh, come on, you run off and hang out in caves all the time. That apartment of your practically is a cave. And besides, I bet you would look hot wrapped up in nothing but a sheet. It would have to be a flannel sheet, of course, but –"

Luke cut her off with a quick kiss. This seemed to be the only way to get her to stop talking as of late.

"No Buddha, no sheet."

"Okay, fine. Geez, that is the second time tonight you stopped my mind from going to dirty places. You're no fun."

"Well, I just worked your kitchen for an entire day and dealt with your crazy partner calling me about how many times to strain the duck sauce, so I am a bit too tired to play along with your dirty mind right now."

Lorelai curled her lower lip, preparing to go into full pouting mode. "Oh, well then I guess you don't want to see the surprise I have for you upstairs? Damn. And I was all ready to reward you for a job well done too."

"You are just trying to get me to let you make more dirty cooking jokes," Luke said, placing his hands lightly on her waist and pulling her closer to him.

"Alright, if you say so."

Lorelai started to turn and walk away but Luke pulled her back. He wasn't sure if the 'surprise' she supposedly had planned was real or not, but he wasn't taking any chances.

"You are such a pain, you know that? Do I ever get to win in this relationship?" he jokingly teased, knowing very well the answer.

"Well, that was kind of the point of the surprise, silly. Come on, let's go," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the staircase.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Lorelai let go of Luke's hand to pull her key out and unlock the Inn's room where she had set up her surprise. She opened the door to reveal a blanket that was laid out in the middle with candles and food sitting beside it. There was music playing softly in the background. U2 of course - even though she knew it wasn't exactly 'mood' music, it was the only CD she had in her car.

"Tada!" she exclaimed, clearly proud of her work.

"What is this? An indoor picnic?"

"Something like that. I didn't think eating on the bed was a good idea. Especially since I have other plans for that bed, if you know what I mean."

"I think the dead ducks know what you mean, Lorelai."

"Oh! Speaking of the ducks, come here."

Grabbing him by the shirt, she pulled him over to the dinner she had setup and peeled open the tinfoil that had been keeping the plates warm.

"You can't be serious," Luke asked, noticing she had stolen courses from the meal he had been cooking all day.

"Oh, come on, I have been hearing such great things about your duck and salads I had to steal some to try."

"And you are actually going to eat this salad?" he questioned her skeptically.

"Well let's just say it will probably end up being a pretty decoration to add color to my plate, but just for you, I make take a bite or two."

"Good to know."

"Alright! You must be really tired, so let's sit."

They both sat down on top of the blanket. Luke laid down on his side while Lorelai sat up with her one of her legs draped over his.

"Hey hon?" Lorelai said as she handed him his plate.

"Yeah?"

"Don't you recognize this room?"

"It looks kind of like the rest of the rooms."

"Okay, yes, but this one in particular is…special."

He gave her a puzzled look.

"This room – it's room number 7."

Luke's mind finally caught up.

"Ah, the test-run. I guess it does look a little more familiar than the rest."

"That was the night we – "

"First kissed," he finished.

"Yep, almost one year ago."

"It seems just yesterday."

"Well, you know what they say, time flies when you're having fun. Big fun. And lots of it."

Luke laughed. "There is a 'dirty' in there somewhere, I'm sure."

"Isn't there always," she admitted. "Hey, Luke. That night –"

She stopped, looking down and wondering if she should ask what she wanted to ask. He waited.

"That night - do you think we would have ever put this room to use? I mean, you know, if Kirk hadn't come running down the stairs naked?"

"Thanks for reminding me of that visual."

"Hey you're the one that ran after the naked man. Left me wondering if you weren't pulling a reverse Anne Heche for a second there," she teased.

"Oh give it a rest. You know very well I would have rather stayed there with you than chase that maniac through the street that night."

She laughed and patted him on the forearm. "I know, I know, hon."

Luke decided to reverse the question. Nervously (although he couldn't figure out why), he asked, "So, do you think we would have ended up here that night?"

"Honestly?"

"Please."

"I don't know. I just – well, I was just taken aback with the whole situation. The first time you kissed me, I pulled away because I was just completely in shock. And then I realized that I didn't get a chance to – to feel. To know. To understand what was happening. So that is why I moved in to kiss you again. I wanted to make sure the butterflies in my stomach weren't just from the shock of kissing your best friend after 8 years. And then of course I ended up pulling away again. But this time it wasn't about feeling surprised. I just realized how right and how amazing the whole thing seemed. This scared me."

"Feeling right about something scared you?" he interrupted."

Lorelai shifted so was lying next to him with her elbow bent and her arm propping up her head.

"Well, in a way, yes it did. It was all just so unexpected. But once we broke that second kiss, even though my thoughts were still clouded, I knew right away that I wanted a third one."

"Good to know."

"Of course, we never did get that third kiss until much later. Stupid Kirk."

"Can't argue with that assessment."

"Maybe if everything didn't happen with Rory that night, though, this room could have been put to use when I got back from my house." She gave him a knowing, yet embarrassingly awkward, wink. Those were her specialty.

"Ah, yes, the thing with Rory. Which, you still haven't told me about…"

"I know, Luke. I am sorry, I really wish I could let you know more of the details but –"

He put his hand over her mouth to stop her from talking. When he removed it, he pulled her head in for a slow kiss.

He pulled away, letting her know, "Lorelai, I get it. It isn't my place to know these personal details about Rory. I was just kidding around. Don't feel bad about it."

She smiled.

Thank God I found a guy who understands this kind of situation.

"You know even though I can't tell you about that night, I really am glad you have let me rant to you about Rory lately. I never really have had a man that I could do that with."

"Glad to be of service."

"Hey, Luke?" Lorelai said in a quiet, serious tone. He was surprise she hadn't already made his last comment into a dirty joke.

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"Thanks for what?" he asked, although he figured she was thanking him for covering for Sookie today.

"For being there to meet the kitchen sink."

Luke let out a small laugh. "For being there to what?"

"Don't you remember last year, when we were in the park and I had my little 'Meltdown 2004'? The night I asked you for the loan?"

"Ah, yes, I remember now."

He paused, thinking for a moment, and finally said, "You're welcome for being there to meet the sink." He spoke the words, but felt silly thinking about how they sounded coming out of this mouth.

"It's nice, you know."

"What's that?"

"To have finally found that person. A partner."

"You make it sound like we should be heading to Vermont to apply for a civil union."

"Oh, come on, you know what I mean. Someone who can bail you out when you need help. Someone who will make sure you are fed, even if that does mean I have to succumb to the occasional green food product. Someone to take care of you when you are sick. Someone to build you an ice rink because you and snow were having a bad day. Someone to get a T.V. for his room because you want to watch your Jon Stewart, even though he doesn't understand the brilliance that is infotainment. Someone who you can call when your chef is on bed rest and who will drop everything to come save the day. Someone who is…well, a partner."

As she saw the expression change on his face, Lorelai suddenly became very aware of everything she had just said. Luke just sat there, staring at her with his warm, blue eyes, but not moving at the same time.

Oh, shit. Did I just scare him by gushing like that? I feel like this is the Dawson's Creek episode where Joey and Pacey finally have sex and Joey rambles on about all of the things Pacey has done for her. Oh God, I hope I didn't sound like that girl from the Creek. Why isn't he moving right now? He is just staring. Silence. He knows I hate silence.

Luke finally broke the tension when he swallowed and then let a knowing smile creep across his face. He knew she was thinking a mile a minute in her head. He took her hand, leaned in, and gave her a kiss. "I know," he said. "A partner."