5a

Luke started to say something, then stopped himself. He took a breath, then turned toward the kitchen door and started walking to the front door. Lorelai watching him for a few seconds, then followed, detouring only long enough to get her purse.

The ride to the Dragonfly was in silence. Lorelai could sense the anger in Luke – the way he sat in the seat, the way he gripped the steering wheel, the way he recklessly took the corners, and the way ran through the Stop signs.

The trip to the inn took Luke half the time it normally took Lorelai. But she rode in silence, not wanting to further aggravate him.

When they arrived, Luke cut the engine but didn't get out right away. Lorelai waited patiently for him to make the first move, or to speak first.

He looked over at her.

"Are we getting out?" he asked.

"If we're going to eat, we're going to have to. No curb service here."

They both got out, and Luke slammed the truck's door a little harder than he had to. Lorelai almost made a sarcastic remark, but held her tongue. She started toward the front porch of the inn when Luke suddenly was in front of her, cutting her off.

Lorelai looked into his eyes, trying to figure out what was coming next.

Then he roughly put his arms around her, holding her a bit too tight, and she slipped her arms around him, her head resting against his chest.

For half a minute they stood there together.

Without releasing her, Luke said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. I don't know what came over me. I couldn't have made it this far if it weren't for you. You're the only one I have to turn to, and I . . . ."

He stopped, unable to control the emotion in his voice.

"I understand, Luke. Really, I do. When Rory broke her wrist and was in the hospital, I remember how scared and angry I was. And I know it's not the same thing, but I know you're hurting and you're feeling helpless, and that's not you. You were always the strong one, and I thank God for that because you've been there for Rory and me so many times. And I know I'm babbling, but you need to realize that you can't be the strong one all the time, and that's okay. And I also want you to know that I am so thankful that I'm the one you . . . ."

Luke pulled back from her then kissed her hard on the mouth, and she hungrily kissed him back. Their roller-coaster emotions were turning into pure lust.

They continued kissing, their passion growing with each moment.

Someone, from somewhere, yelled at them, "Get a room!"

They barely heard the remark, but it was enough to make Lorelai realize where they were.

"We've got rooms," she whispered breathlessly between the kisses. "Hundreds of 'em."

"Damned good thing," he whispered back.

Reluctantly they released each other.

Luke followed Lorelai into the inn as she went behind the desk, grabbed a key, and led him up the stairs.

5b

Lorelai was lying on top of Luke, her head on his chest, their legs entwined.

Both were covered with sweat and their breathing still hadn't completely slowed to normal.

"Well," Lorelai said, still trying to catch her breath. "That was . . . something."

"It was . . . intense, wasn't it?"

"That's a bit of an understatement, but yeah, I'd say it was."

"Have I ever told you what an amazing woman you are, Lorelai Victoria Gilmore?"

"You may have mentioned it once or twice before, but don't let that stop you. Some things I never get tired of hearing."

Considering everything they had gone through the past eight hours, she was strangely happy and contented, for now.

"It's funny," Luke said after a while.

"What's funny?"

"It's hard to remember what my life was like before you came along. I mean, I can remember you not being around, but it's like a completely different life."

"So, I'm finally growing on you, huh?"

"Looks like it."

"Well, get used to it, Mister, because I'm not planning on going away any time soon."

"Not ever, if I have anything to do with it."

Lorelai smiled warmly and stretched up to kiss him. Which led to a second, and then a third, and then the dam burst again.

6a

When Sookie came in that morning, Lorelai and Luke were in the kitchen. Lorelai was finishing off a large stack of pancakes and Luke was eating a bowl of oatmeal.

"Oh, Luke, I just heard about the diner. I'm so sorry! Was there much damage?"

"Don't know yet."

"Why didn't you guys call me? I could have made you breakfast."

Lorelai winked at Luke.

"We couldn't wait," she said with a sly grin. "We just could NOT wait!"

Luke grinned back at her.

Sookie had a feeling they weren't just talking about breakfast.

Luke put the empty bowl into the sink.

"I think I'm going to head over to the diner."

"Me, too," Lorelai said to Sookie.

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Sookie told her.

"Why not?"

"Well, Michel called me when he couldn't get you at home. Paw-Paw is sick and he needs to take him to the vet and won't be in until later, so there won't be anyone to run the desk if you go."

Lorelai looked at Luke and started to apologize.

"Don't worry about it," he told her. "They probably won't let me go in anyway. But I just want to see what's going on."

"You'll call me?"

"Of course I will."

Luke gave Lorelai a quick kiss on the lips, but she put her arms around him, holding him tightly. She then caressed his cheek as they broke the embrace.

Their eyes locked for a few seconds, then he left.

"I love it when you guys do that," Sookie said. "It just looks so right."

"It feels so right," Lorelai answered. "I still can't believe it took us so long. Oh, don't let me forget -- the sheets in room six need changing."

Sookie didn't say anything but started preparing breakfast with a grin.

6b

When Luke got to the diner, there was yellow tape around the area surrounding the diner keeping everyone away from it.

Taylor was arguing with the Fire Inspector. He wanted the power turned back on before all of his ice cream melted.

"I'll lose thousands of dollars of inventory! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Mr. Doose, I understand your concern, but I also have an obligation for the safety of the surrounding buildings. If I have the power turned back on, the damaged wiring would probably restart the fire and the entire block could go up. And I know you don't want THAT! Don't you have insurance?"

"Well, of course I do! But that's not the point. . . . "

"Sorry, Mr. Doose, but that's the way it is."

The Fire Inspector turned from Taylor to Luke.

"Hi, Luke. Sorry, but we haven't finished the inspection yet. It's still going to take a few more hours."

"So -- so far, what does it look like? Any good news at all?"

"On the surface, it's not as bad as we first thought, but until we can make a thorough inspection of the supporting structure, we won't know anything for sure."

"So what about the other things?"

"What other things?"

"The things on the walls, the stuff that belonged to my dad, the equipment, the tables, you know, other things."

"Well, it looks like the fire started in the kitchen, so almost everything in the actual diner doesn't seem to have been burned, except where the fire burned through the ceiling. Of course, there is a lot of smoke damage, and everything was thoroughly drenched."

"So the fire was in the kitchen? Do you think it was electrical or was it the gas stove?"

"My guess, it was electrical. This is an old building, and the wiring is just as old. And that's something I need to take up with Mr. Doose – the wiring in every building in Stars Hollow needs to be inspected."

"What about the upstairs? Anything about that?"

"Luke, I know you're concerned, and I certainly don't blame you, but you need to give us time. Just as soon as we know anything, you'll be the first one I'll call."

"Okay, then. Thanks. I'll be at the Dragonfly. Either there or at Lorelai's."

"I'll call you, I promise. Oh, and one other thing."

"What's that?"

"I'm glad you and Lorelai finally got together. But if I had been a betting man, I would have lost my ass on you two. I was beginning to think it'd never happen."

"Yeah, well, so did I. But thanks, and I'll be waiting for your call."