Part 4

Lorelai took a deep breath and forced her heavy eyelids open. The light filtering through the blinds made her squint and magnified the pounding in her head. She just wanted to stay in bed, but she pulled on her robe and shuffled downstairs.

"Hey," Rory looked up from the paper as she came in. Lorelai reached for the coffee pot automatically. It was full.

Bless you child, Lorelai thought, glancing at Rory. She sank into a chair with her steaming mug.

"So how was your birthday?" Rory broached.

"Not the best one I've ever had," Lorelai conceded. "I do not remember drinking this much wine." She rubbed her head in protest.

Rory couldn't keep the smirk off her face. "When's the last time you were this hungover?"

"When I turned sixteen," Lorelai guessed. "No, my bachelorette party."

"Sorry," Rory whispered. "Is that what you were upset about last night? Or was it because I, your favorite daughter, couldn't be here?"

"Who said I was upset? I wasn't. I just went a little overboard. Plus, Luke kept me company. He may not be as into the verbal sparring as you, but he's nice to have around." Rory's eyebrows rose at this, but she didn't comment, just kept reading the paper.

"Maybe he slipped you something." Rory joked, getting up for more orange juice.

"Maybe," Lorelai said slowly, remembering the events from the night before a little more clearly.

"Are we going to Luke's by the way?" Rory broke into Lorelai's thoughts. "We have no food."

"No Pop-Tarts? Toaster Strudel?" Lorelai stalled. Rory shook her head. "I'll get dressed then." Lorelai slowly climbed back up the stairs. She hadn't expected having to see Luke so soon. She wasn't sure she had completely digested the events of the previous evening. Just looking at the array of clothes in her closet made her head spin. She knew she probably looked like hell, but she wanted to look nice for Luke—kind of as an apology. It was sweet of him to take care of her, but it made her feel guilty that she had put him in a position where he'd had to. He should have just stayed at the diner. Everything would have been simpler.

"Mom, its just breakfast." Rory called from downstairs.

Khaki capris and where was her cute—ah, never mind. Lorelai checked herself in the mirror; she hoped she looked casual and carefree. "Let's go," she announced.

"Mom," Rory said quietly as they strolled toward town. "I know you got the divorce papers. I saw them in the kitchen. Are you sure that's not why you were upset last night?" She pressed.

"Honestly? I'd forgotten all about them until you said that."

"Oh." Lorelai could tell she felt bad for bringing it up.

"No, it's fine. We should be able to talk about it. Plus I need to actually look at them at some point."

"Is it going to be like Kramer v. Kramer?" Rory tried to lighten the mood.

"Hardly. Luke may love you, but you came out of me."

"Luke? What does he have to do with it?"

"Did I say Luke? Sorry, it slipped out—I mean, we're on our way there and I just" Rory was looking more and more baffled as her mom blabbered on.

"I think it's time for you to take a chill pill and lie down for a while," Rory gave her the look she always wore when Lorelai was acting especially crazy. "What's going on?"

Lorelai dropped her gaze to the ground and then squinted towards Luke's. "Uh, well, he doesn't—we kissed last night. There, I said it."

"Oh my God!" Rory grabbed her mom's hands and bounced on the balls of her feet. Lorelai just checked to make sure no one was watching. "When were you going to tell me?"

"Um, never? It just happened, we haven't talked about it and"

"You're totally freaking out." Rory replied knowingly.

Lorelai sighed in exasperation. "Of course I am! This is Luke, you know? And I'm—am I still married? Did I cheat? Oh geez, I'm a cheater."

"Mom, mom, calm down. I guess technically you still are married, but let's just worry about one thing at a time, okay?"

"But it still counts, Rory. It may have only been one kiss, but…" Lorelai trailed off. It had been one amazing kiss. She remembered that even through the haze of wine that had surrounded her by that point. Now she was glad it had been Luke. Any other guy might have tried to take it farther, but not Luke. He respected her boundaries, he understood the situation, and he was watching out for her.

"So was it good?" Rory teased.

"Will you be quiet? There will be no talk of this inside."

"But it's fun to torture you."

"It's my birthday," Lorelai pouted.

"Not anymore."

"Oh, you forget. I stretch mine out for a week." She paused, realizing they were two feet from Luke's. In or out, Gilmore.

"Mom, come on." Rory gave her a supportive look and Lorelai nodded, following her daughter inside.

Luke was waiting on a table when they finally came inside and Lorelai thought she saw a hint of a smile on his face.

"What can I get you?" He asked nonchalantly. "Some wine?"

Rory giggled and Lorelai shot Luke a dirty look. "Just coffee." He motioned for her to come up front so with a reassuring look from Rory, she followed.

"I think we"

"Luke, I" They started at the same time and then laughed.

"You go," she told him.

"We need to talk about…" he trailed off.

She nodded. "I know. We will. How about tonight? I would now but Rory has school and she's in a rush. I have work and so do you." She gestured to the almost full diner. Plus, I haven't had time to really think about it.

"Lorelai, it's okay." Luke replied nonchalantly.

But it wasn't okay. Lorelai hesitated and Luke glanced up at her still standing there. "I don't know—I don't want you to get the wrong impression though. It's…well, you know what a big mess everything is right now and last night was"

"I'll see you tonight." Luke was brisk in his reply and Lorelai was slightly stung.

"Okay," Lorelai said softly. "I did want to apologize, though. For you taking care of me, everything. You didn't have to do that, and I really appreciate it. I should have been more responsible, I don't know"

"Lorelai, can we do this later?" Luke didn't even look up from his order pad.

"Oh. Alright." Lorelai suddenly felt very small, so she slunk back to her chair and Rory.

"So?" She prodded.

"Uh, we're talking about it tonight."

"Well, good, that's good right?"

Lorelai shrugged, glancing back over her shoulder at Luke, who was wiping down the counter. "I hope so."