A/n: Thanx to all who reviewed. Now I actually have a reason to do my happy dance. I'm just kidding…I don't have a happy dance. Really. Anyway, enjoy chapter 4.
Heather: I think you'll enjoy this chapter.
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The next Friday couldn't come soon enough for Luke or Lorelai. When it finally arrived, both were nervous. Lorelai had told Max she was going to Friday night dinner since she hadn't in so long. And Luke told Nicole he had an early bread delivery. both stuck to their stories, and the plan worked.
Lorelai came to the diner and stayed until it closed. Max often had to work late, so there were no suspicions from other customers that Lorelai was there alone.
After Luke had closed up, Lorelai called home and told Max that her car wouldn't start and that her mother had insisted she stay the night. Max knew not to argue with Emily Gilmore, so he told her he'd see her the next day. She then persuaded him to stay home until she got there. She didn't want him to see her car outside Luke's. He told her he'd be waiting and the conversation ended.
There was a silence, the guilt settling in on both of their minds. But one look in each other's eyes and it disappeared, or at least, floated to the back.
"Are you hungry?" Luke asked, never breaking eye contact.
"Yeah," she replied. "Kinda."
"I'll make us some dinner. Come on." He switched off the light. Grabbing her hand, he led her upstairs.
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Lorelai liked watching him cook. She had never seen him in the kitchen and she was enjoying her first time. She had seen Max cook before, but it just wasn't the same. Luke was…Luke. And Max was…Max.
Luke scurried around the kitchen, aware that Lorelai's gaze was fastened on him. He smiled to himself.
"What are you smiling at?" Lorelai inquired, a grin on her face. She was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed.
"You're watching me," Luke stated, simply and honestly.
"I like watching you." Lorelai's grin grew into a smile.
"I like you watching me." He wasn't facing her, but he knew she was smiling, because it seemed as though the room was a bit brighter.
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During dinner, any nervousness the two were feeling slowly dissipated as they got back into their banter routine.
"That was great," Lorelai told him after he had cleared the plates.
"It was just burgers," Luke replied humbly.
"But you make the best burgers in town," she answered, standing up.
"I do, don't I?" he replied jokingly. He set the plate he had been washing back in the sink and dried his hands on a towel before turning to face her.
She walked the short distance to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He in turn did the same. They embraced in a passionate kiss which lasted through the dangerous walk to the bed.
Once again, clothes were removed, kisses were shared, and moans escaped from mouths. Lying in each other's arms they were content. They were happy.
"Lorelai, I –" Luke started, but was cut off by the woman in his arms.
"I know. Me too. But we can't say it out loud. It would make this too hard." It hurt not to be able to say the words, but she knew it was for the best.
They awoke, their bodies still entangled. Lorelai rushed home in order to keep their little secret. No one could know.
This went on for weeks. Every Friday Luke told Nicole he had an early delivery, and Lorelai made up some excuse for Max. They sometimes had other meetings during the week when Max went out of town, or when Luke really did have an early delivery.
Both knew this couldn't continue, but neither could bring themselves to stop it.
The suspicions were rising in their spouses' minds as well as the townspeople's. Lorelai spent even more time at the diner (if that was possible,) and Luke had to "fix" a lot of things around the inn as of late. And since the feeling of being with each other wasn't there when they were with their significant others, the fighting between the two couples increased.
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Luke came home one Saturday after spending a night with Lorelai. 'Home.' He sighed. 'This isn't my home.'
Not 30 seconds after he had closed the door behind him, Nicole cam out of the bedroom with a serious look on her face. Luke knew better than to ask her what was wrong, so he let her speak.
"Luke, we need to talk." And without a breath she continued. "Is there something going on with you? Are you ok? Are we ok?"
"Sure," he replied flatly.
"Luke, we haven't had sex in two months!" she exclaimed, her voice close to the volume most would consider yelling.
Luke had had enough. Enough heartaches, enough lying, just enough. He looked her in the eye and said, in a calm voice, "I want a divorce."
Nicole's mouth hung slightly agape. She was shocked, but on some level, she knew this was coming.
"I'll have a colleague of mine draw up the papers tomorrow." She wasn't looking at him. She was staring straight in front of her, a glazy look to her eyes.
"Good," was all he said. He turned to the door and exited the small apartment. He didn't think it was right to stay.
$&$
Lorelai walked into the 'crap shack' as she and Rory had named it years ago, on a Saturday evening after a hectic day at the inn. She found Max sitting on the couch, staring at the wall in front of him. She studied him and she felt…nothing. There was no emotion that tied them together.
She decided not to disturb him and walked into the kitchen. Of course, the door closing alerted him to her presence and he soon followed.
There were no greetings, no pleasantries, only the tension in Max Medina's voice as he spoke to his wife. "I got a job offer in California."
"Oh." Lorelai had no emotion in her voice.
Max sighed. "Things aren't going very well between us right now. I mean we haven't made love in two months for Christ's sake." He paused.
'Made love? We never made love. You have to love someone to make love.' Lorelai was so wrapped up in her own thoughts she almost didn't catch what Max said next.
"I think I'm going to take it. Give us some time apart. Like a…like a separation." He was looking at the floor and dreading the words to come.
During Max's conversation-it was mostly one sided-Lorelai had gotten herself a cup of coffee. Max had made some. He always made sure she had coffee when she came home from work. She sat down at the table and looked straight ahead.
"No," she replied. Max let out a sigh of relief. "I want a divorce."
Max's jaw dropped to the floor, and he had to grab onto a chair to keep from falling. He was sure they could work this out, that's why he suggested the separation. But divorce?
"I have a meeting with the lawyer tomorrow. It'll be simple. You'll get your things, I'll get mine." Lorelai's voice was flat as she continued to stare straight ahead, her fingers circling the rim of her coffee mug.
"And our things? What about the stuff we got together?" Max had gone from shocked to angry in a matter of minutes.
"Take them. I don't want a reminder of what I've done." Sadness crept into Lorelai's voice.
"And what is that?" Max almost screamed. His voice rose with every word.
Lorelai looked him in the eye now, and she spoke, her voice steady and calm. "I married a man I didn't love."
Lorelai stood and exited through the back door. There was a tear in her eyes as she hit one on her cell phone for the speed dial. A familiar voice answered.
"Hey."
"Hey. Are you busy?"
There was concern in the voice on the other line. "Are you ok? What's wrong? Are you crying?" The questions came out in one breath.
The tears flowed down Lorelai's face as she spoke. "I need you, Rory."
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A/n: So? What'd y'all think? Please review! Reviews make me happy.
