Maybe Now: Chapter Eleven: Two Beers

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. What can I say I am generous with the chapters. )

Thank you again Lucy and Suz for all your suggestions and help. Anyone else want in on the action, E-mail me (email's on the profile) I'd love to hear from any of you.

Disclaimer is still the same. If you haven't read it before, then welcome to the story, cause its on every chapter. Read it in one of the previous ones.

So Chapter Eleven. Never thought I'd see the day...and now on with it..

xxxx

As soon as Lorelai and Luke stepped foot into Sniffy's, Maisy spotted them. She made her way over to them immediately and snuck up on them.

'Oh, Maisy, I didn't see you coming.'

'Sorry dear. Lucas, oh my, I haven't seen you in forever, and Lorelai, my this is a treat.'

'Sorry Maisy, things just got busy...and I got caught up at the diner.'

'Right, Lucas.'

'Hey Maisy, still giving Buddy a rough time?'

Luke was trying to change the subject to anything but him and Lorelai's falling out. He didn't want to bring up the past anymore than they had already. And seeing as Lorelai's mom had just called her knew it was going to be a sore topic. Maisy going off Lucas's look dropped it.

'Oh always.'

'That's good. I know he wouldn't want it any other way.'

Luke grabbed Lorelai's hand and squeezed it making her look up at him and smile.

'Well you two, I should get you seated and we will talk more later.'

'Sounds good.'

'Follow me.'

Maisy led them back to 'their' booth, Lorelai scooted in, followed by Luke. Maisy was still standing by the table, Lorelai spoke.

'Hey Maisy do you think we could get two beers, please.'

'Beer, my dear child, no, this is no time for beer.

'But I really want a beer.'

'But you should have champagne.'

'why should I have champagne when i want a beer.'

'Because.'

'Because why?'

This was turning into a match of the two year olds. Luke decided to stop it before it went any further.

'Lorelai, Maisy you are making a scene.'

'Lucas...'

'Sorry Maisy.'

'Now that's better.'

'So where did we come to stand on those beers?'

'Lorelai, you are so incessant.'

'I tell her that everyday, Maisy, you won't win, no matter how long you stand here, she's not going to change her mind.'

'Oh alright, just this time. I will bring you two beers.'

'Thank you, Maisy.'

'I'll be back.'

Maisy then left to retrieve their beers. Lorelai had won and he silently thanked her.

'I seriously can't believe you won, Maisy is usually much more stubborn. She must like you.'

'Hah, I'm just more stubborn.'

'That you are.'

'Hey now.'

'What I was just agreeing with you, you are the one who said it.'

Luke and Lorelai fell into a comfortable conversation and were talking about Luke's childhood when Maisy returned. Maisy sat a beer in front of each of them.

'Here's your beer. Lucas have you told Lorelai about your mother.'

'No, he hasn't, not much anyways.'

'Oh dear, you would have loved Elaine. She was one of those women you just instantly fell in love with, very easy to talk to, incredibly loving of her two children. It was so hard on them when she died.'

Luke just sat back allowing Maisy to tell Lorelai all about his mother, every time he had thought about breaching the subject of his mother with Lorelai he got overwhelmed and then decided that, that part of him didn't need to be revealed yet. So this was easier, letting Maisy fill-in Lorelai on that part of his life. He scooted closer to Lorelai and motioned for Maisy to sit next to him so they could continue chatting. Maisy took her seat and continued to tell Lorelai all about Elaine.

'She was the nicest person I'd ever met, and we met back in high school, around the 9th grade. She met William around the same time we all kinda hung out together back then. I met Buddy a year later and then we were the fearsome foursome. A few years after high school we both married. William and Elaine first and then Buddy and I, then we lost touch for awhile and the next thing I know is Elaine is calling me up to tell me she's pregnant. Then Lucas here was born.'

Maisy touched Lucas's arm as she said the last words. Luke was nearly blushing. Lorelai just smiled, enjoying learning a little more about the mysterious man beside her. Maisy continued.

'Then before I knew it, Elaine and I were inseparable again. I was even there when Lucas was born. William was working a lot at the hardware store so I kept Elaine company many nights.'

Finally Lorelai spoke up.

'Was Luke a quiet baby?'

'Lorelai...'

'What you never tell me this kind of stuff, and I want to know.'

'Fine. Maisy...'

'No, Lorelai, once Lucas started speaking, he wouldn't shut up. Completely different from the way he is now. He's calmed down a lot.'

'Really? I would have never suspected that.'

'Yea, he loved to talk. Of course he quieted down a lot after Lizzy was born.'

'She was an attention hog.'

'Oh Lucas, were you jealous of Lizzy.'

'No.'

'Right.'

'I wasn't. I'm not.'

'Anyways, Lucas quieted down a lot after Lizzy was born. I think partly cause he was getting older, he had made a few friends, he wasn't around the house as much. And partly because its around the time that Elaine got sick. Lucas was always the caring type. And anything his mother needed Lucas would go out and get. He doted on her constantly. Did he tell you that he sat by her bed everyday after school and talked to her, telling her about his day? I remember my last conversation with Elaine. She told me how much she enjoyed Lucas' talks and how much she was going to miss her two kids, she told me to look after them and William. Lucas that reminds me, I need to talk to you alone before you go.'

'Alright.'

'Well, I think I will leave you two now. Your food should be up shortly.

'Uh Maisy, we never order.'

'Oh Of course you didn't dear.'

That is when Maisy got up and left.

'We still haven't ordered.'

'It doesn't matter Lorelai, even if we did they'd just bring up something different.'

'Ah, so true.'

'So...'

'Yea, that was a lot to digest. I wish I could have met your mother.'

'I wish you could have met her to, Maisy's right she would have loved you. You remind me of her sometimes.'

'Really?'

'Yea, your enthusiastic look on life and all your words dripping with sarcasm. She also loved coffee.'

'Oh.'

'But you've met Maisy, she'd like my second mom.'

'Yea. I am so glad you are introducing me to all these people. People who know you. I am getting a better picture of why you are the way you are.'

'Yea?

'Yea.'

'Do you think we will end up like Maisy and Buddy?'

Lorelai knew that she could be stepping over some unspoken lines, but she really wanted to know if Luke thought about the future like that.

'You thinking of giving up your inn and coming to work at the diner?'

'No. But seriously, do you think we might end up like them...I mean still together and happy...after all those years?'

'Well yea. At least I hope so.'

'Yea? I hope so too.'

This was a big revelation for the both of them. As close to an 'I love you' as Lorelai had ever ventured. And for now that satisfied both her and Luke. She leaned over to kiss his cheek as he turned to look at her and she ended up kissing him, they deepened the kiss until someone cleared there throat. Both Lorelai and Luke looked up toward the sound.

'I have two medium rare steaks here, with baked potatoes.'

Buddy then slid the plates in front of both Luke and Lorelai.

'Hey Buddy, where you been hiding?'

'Been back there cooking. How have you two been, I haven't seen you in here for awhile?'

'Yea. we've...'

Luke wasn't sure what to tell Buddy, he didn't want to lie to him but what could he say. Luke was astonished when Lorelai stepped in.

'...we've been apart for some time now.'

'Oh.'

'But all's good now. And everything is in the past, right Luke?'

'Uh, right.'

'Well, that's good to hear. I am gonna leave you to your meal. If you need anything you know how to get our attention.'

'Bye Buddy.'

Buddy walked away and both Lorelai and Luke began to eat.

'Wow, this is really good.'

'Yea. Buddy makes the best steaks.'

'You can say that again.'

They fell into a comfortable silence and continued eating.

xxxxx

Lane stood in front of her old childhood home. She was debating whether or not she should knock.

xxxx