Author's Note: Thanks to all the wonderful feedback! (shamelessOne: I can speak French, and I too ignored the French person on the phone cards like Lorelai did. It's too hard to understand!)

Once again, huge thanks to my betas Heather and Kelsey. I couldn't have done this without them.

The days leading up to her Thursday flight to Paris were a blur for Lorelai. She had back-to-back meetings scheduled most days. When she wasn't stuck inside a stuffy conference room the entire day, she was out in the field, visiting the local hotels and inns. She began to feel relieved that she had planned her little vacation. Her body was beginning to protest the long hours she forced it through, and a weekend of relaxation and of course, shopping, was just what she needed.

The only reprieve she felt was her conversations with Luke each night. In her last phone call to him, Lorelai felt almost giddy as she told Luke her plans for the weekend. He had laughed and warned her to be careful of all the Pedros in the big city. She had assured him that he had nothing to worry about since she wasn't traveling to Spain, but her French boyfriend Pierre would be waiting for her under the Eiffel Tower. She could just picture the exasperated look Luke would have on his face and had broken out in a fit of giggles.

Finally, on Thursday, she arrived at Charles de Gaulle in the late afternoon. Not feeling in the mood to deal with the trains, she climbed into a taxi and told the driver the address of her hotel.

She rested her head against the window and stared out at the passing buildings which slowed as they hit traffic. Lorelai mentally kicked herself. The trains would have been faster if she had considered how bad the traffic surrounding Paris would be. She watched as motorcycle after motorcycle zoomed through the creeping cars. "I need to get myself one of those," she thought.

At last, after what seemed like hours, the taxi stopped in front of her hotel. She quickly paid, thanked the driver, and made her way into the hotel.

Once she checked into the hotel and dropped her bag off, Lorelai felt a rumbling in her stomach. Also in dire need of caffeine, she quickly found a café and ordered herself a sandwich and coffee.

She watched the passing men and women as they hurried home after a long day's work. She admired the outfits of the stylish women, mentally noting some of the pieces that she should look for in the stores.

Some of the Parisians stopped at the café, greeting their acquaintances with a kiss on both cheeks. She glanced around the tiny restaurant. Realizing that she was the only one sitting alone, she soon felt out of place. The ache she felt every night after talking to Luke returned full force. This entire weekend, she would be alone. Eating, shopping, going to the museums, everything would be done alone. She blinked away her unshed tears before they could destroy her carefully applied makeup. That's just what she would need to blend in. Raccoon eyes.

After finishing her dinner, Lorelai didn't remain for her usual additional cup of coffee. Instead, she hurriedly made her way back to her hotel. Once inside her room, she grabbed the phone and dialed Luke, desperately needing to hear his voice. The sounds of his answering machine filled the line. Disappointed, she hung up.

Wiping away the tears that once again filled her eyes, she stepped out onto the tiny balcony. She could see the Eiffel Tower from where she stood. "Nice connections that Durham Group has," she thought. She leaned against the metal railing and watched the sunset, the sky filled with brilliant shades of orange.

Long after the lights of nightfall blinked on, she stayed on the balcony lost in her thoughts. The sounds of night engulfed her as she stood silently, observing the nightlife come alive. She was finally jarred from this state by the ringing of the phone.

Lorelai smacked her leg against the open balcony door in her hurry to reach the phone. Rubbing the assaulted limb, she breathlessly answered. "Hello."

"You okay?" he asked with genuine concern.

She smiled, instantly feeling better at the sound of his voice. "I'm okay, but I think that the balcony door has something against me. It practically reached out and grabbed my leg as I went by," she joked. "It's like something straight out of The Haunting. Do you think it's mad at me for keeping it open so long? "

"Yes, I'm sure the door is capable of human emotions and actions," Luke agreed. "Did you ask it what was wrong?"

Lorelai held her hand against her chest with a look of shock. She gasped. "You would mock me in a time like this? That door may very well kill me in my sleep. I'm going to have to sleep with one eye open. And let me tell you, that is not an easy task to accomplish."

Ignoring her comments, he changed the subject. "How was your flight?"

"Gee, that's pretty much akin to asking 'how's the weather?'," she replied dryly.

"You're the one going on about a door attacking you in your sleep," he reminded her gently. "I was just trying to get you to shut up. And since my usual way of kissing you to accomplish that is pretty much impossible at the moment..."

Lorelai immediately softened her tone. "Sorry. My flight was fine. It just that... I, well... I, uh, never mind."

"Hey. What's wrong?"

She knew she wouldn't have gotten her last comment by him unnoticed. His voice was dripping with concern for her. She sighed softly. Might as well just tell him the truth she urged herself. He'd see through anything else. "I miss you," she whispered. "It's so hard watching everyone else have a good time while I'm sitting here all alone." The tears were now flowing freely after being held back all evening. "I can't stand eating alone while the table next to me is laughing over God knows what. It doesn't matter. They're the ones laughing, and I'm not."

He remained silent for a moment. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have encouraged you to go to Paris."

She sniffed. "It's not your fault. It's the same way in Aix. It's just then I have some kind of work to distract me. There's always something that needs to be done."

"I wish that I could be with you right now," he paused for a moment as if contemplating his next words. Then continuing as if changing his mind, "I'd kiss away your tears in an instant. And, I'd kick that damn door for you," he added. "Keep it in its place."

She laughed through her tears. "I know you would." She felt exhausted. Her mind was tired and beginning to ache from her crying. "I don't want to say goodbye, but my body feels like its going to collapse any minute now."

"Get some rest. Try to enjoy yourself tomorrow."

"I will. I'm in Paris. All of these lovely stores will be calling my name!" she exclaimed. "My credit card will be more exhausted than me tomorrow."

He chuckled. "I don't doubt that. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you, Lorelai."

"I love you, too," she replied softly before hanging up.

She readied for bed, and then crawled under the stiff covers. She felt immensely better after hearing Luke's voice and soon drifted off to sleep.

To Be Continued... Please review!