A/N: This A/N will be long ..so if you don't want to read it.. just scroll down : )
I had to post that chapter again, because I made a little mistake in the A/N ..sorry Biscuit for not thanking you… I mixed up some things
Patty – Thank you so much. Glad you liked that chapter and for not killing me cause I didn't wrote the dinner in the last chapter.
Lisa – Hehe I thought that Luke would figure it out to be late to give her more time to get ready. Glad you liked it and hopefully you'll enjoy the new chapter as well.
JoEySaNgEl1534 – Thank you. I´m proud too.. and good that it didn't sound dirty.. haha cause I sometimes have the feeling that everything I say sounds dirty –lol-
John – I knew you would get that dirty ;) Thanks. Yes I miss the Rory / Lorelai scenes and I thought that in my story I want Rory to be involved.
GilmoreHorseFreak04 – you say it .. freakouts rock! –grinning- haha funny story you posted .. haha I guess my mum would have called the psych lol
Emmzy-Lou – Thank you –blush- I hope it didn't take me too long to update
VeroSNM – Glad to know that the last chapter put a big smile on your face. About the next chapter… we'll see. Thanks for your review.
Pauline – sorry –sniff- but here is the next chapter.. hope you like it
Hanselel – glad you liked it. I loved writing that part
Anna – hehe I knew you were going to say that… sorry about not playing nice. I tried to update earlier.. but I had some kind of writers block and started to write only on Wednesday Thank god I couldn't sleep last night or I wouldn't post the new chapter today.
Kadda – yes that's better. I don't feel little anymore. Sorry about waiting a week but I hope it was worth the wait.
Kris- hehe glad you are squealing. Lol. Haha you think I would write a dirty part just now? Dinner will be in this chapter. I promise. Thanks for the review girl : )
Biscuit – bananas? Lol really? How does that work:D
Franala – Hehe It was fun to write the "Hit you" line... and I´m glad you liked it
Lukelaiandroryndean – I´m glad you liked it, hope you like this one too
Ronata – glad you liked it. Its always good to read positive reviews
shamelessOne – Hehe dirty? Lol well great that you love it. Thanks for teeling me my English is fine. its good to hear that.
Caro – yay it worked again. That's amazing. And you don't know why it suddenly works? I´m glad you liked it girl : )
Ok now we have a reviewer without a name – thank you. You review means a lot to me : )
Katie – wow I´m blushing. Its good that you loved it. Hope you will love the new chapter as well.
Gaby – Sorry about stopping there, but this chapter is a bit longer than the other ones. Hope you like it
Michele – aww thanks for thinking my story is cute. I really hope you will like the 4th chapter :)
falcons my daddy – hehe love ranting. Ok...as for me... I like chocolate, coffee, jeans (as long as they look good on me), talking... lol...yes of course, writing (obviously) oh I love old movies… what are your fav. Old movies? I have never seen the RHPS... but I want to. GG? I haha I figured ;)
Franzi – lol well I need some time to figure out what I´m going to write… hope you didn't wait too long. Thanks. Glad you like it
Irishdancingolfteamplayingchick – Thank you. Hope you like what will happen at the dinner
Omlet-Toast – omg what a great nick... love it. And thanks for the review
Gilmoregirlkk – thank you. Good to hear that you love it... hope it stays that way.
Becky – I´m sorry girl. Hope you are not mad. And please no capital letters, I hope I didn't take to long –lol-
Laurence – ok,.. now you can read the date. :) I hope you will like this chapter as much as you did with the ones before.
Sanna – hey, I was kinda surprised to see you review this story. Glad you like it .. and I hope that you won't miss any chapter.
Barbara – aww Its ok, I´m glad you reviewed this one tho, hope you will like the date.
Madzia – Sure I will forgive you girl. I´m glad you enjoyed reading the last part. I hope you will enjoy the next part too. After all it's the date ;)
ProFfeSser – Yes, that's really too bad sometimes when I watch old episodes I want to jump into the TV and change things.. but well now they are together .that's all we ever wanted :) thanks for the great compliment about my writing.
Nicole- thanks dear. I normally always update on Fridays, once a week.. hope that's ok :)
Damnmydooah – thank you.. wow you really make be turning 5 shades of red.. hehe
Mel – Wow thanks:) and I finally got around to actually writing the date lol. Hope you like it
Marion – last but not least. Thanks for liking my style. That's good to know
WOW I´m done with thanking I know the A/N got pretty long but I think my reviewers deserve the attention.
Disclaimer: Still don't own them
Thanks to my betareader
And now FINALLY, enjoy the next part of "Whatever it takes"
- 4 -
"Here, let me get this," Luke told her and opened the passenger door for her.
Lorelai was touched. She would have never imagined Luke to be such a perfect Gentleman.
"Thank you." she said blushing a little.
Luke nodded, waited for her to get inside and closed the door. Then he walked around the car and got into it himself.
He sighed deeply.
"What's wrong?" Lorelai asked him, confused,
"Nothing ... It's just … nothing." Luke was nervous as hell, but he couldn't tell Lorelai, could he?
"Okay then." Lorelai looked out of the window.
Luke started the truck, pulled out of her driveway and drove around the corner.
"Where are you taking me?" Lorelai asked almost inaudible.
"You'll see," Luke replied without turning his eyes from the street.
Lorelai shut her mouth, playing with her fingers. She didn't know what to think. Luke was acting some kind of weird.
After almost half an hour Luke pulled into a parking lot beside a restaurant. She looked out of the window trying to catch a sign with the name of the restaurant on it.
"Sniffys" she finally whispered.
Luke killed the engine and looked at her. His fingers were trembling and his heart raising. He was afraid to mess this whole dinner thing up. And he was afraid to show her that it was more for him than just a simple payback dinner. Remembering Rorys words from this morning he took her hand. Lorelai liked him and he liked her, so what the heck was the problem about this situation?
Lorelai felt Luke's hand brushing hers softly and then lacing his fingers through hers. Her heart skipped a beat. Luke was taking her hand? Why would he do that? She started to shake and her breath caught in her throat.
"What… what are you doing?" she asked hoarsely.
Luke cleared his throat.
"I… I don't know…I just … God, this is hard."
"Well you are holding my hand!"
"I… I know."
"Why are you doing that?"
"Because I want to." Luke admitted.
Lorelai was speechless, for probably the first time in her life. Luke was holding her hand and she felt butterflies rising in her stomach. Her heart was beating faster by the second. Was Rory right? Did Luke really like her? She squeezed his hand to show him she was okay with it and he smiled at her.
"Can we go in now?" she asked with a nervousness she couldn't hide.
"No."
"No?" Lorelai was confused.
Luke looked down at their entwined hands.
"First I have to tell you something."
"Okay." Lorelai replied anxiously.
"This isn't just a payback dinner."
"So what is it?" Lorelai asked, feeling her heart beating faster and faster.
"Don't get me wrong, sure I want to thank you for everything you did for me last week when my uncle died and that why I had this idea with the payback dinner. I … just wasn't brave enough to ask you out on a normal date, and I thought that you at least would say yes to a payback dinner. But then I noticed your weird behaviour..."
Lorelai looked down blushing slightly.
"…and I had a little talk with Rory after you ran out the diner."
Lorelai swallowed the lump in her throat.
"She told me you liked me."
Lorelai was taken aback. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she had a chance to deny or to admit it, Luke spoke up
"And I told her that I like you, too."
"You did?" Lorelai was surprised, although she figured that he liked her already pretty much when he took her hand a few seconds ago.
"Yes I did."
"So you like me?" Lorelai grinned.
"A lot." He smirked.
Lorelai's smile grew wider and she continued to squeeze his hand, brushing her thumb over the back of his hand.
Luke cleared his throat.
"What I wanted to say is …. I'd like this dinner to be our first date, not just a payback dinner. And maybe you… you would like that too?" He stopped talking, impatiently waiting for her reaction.
"I'd love to." She answered her eyes sparkling up at him.
Luke breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ok, then lets go."
He got out of the truck and again opened the passenger door for her. They walked up to the front door of Sniffy´s Tavern, both of them still nervous as hell.
"Lucas… good to see you!" Luke was greeted by and elderly woman after they had walked in.
"Maisy. How are you doing" He hugged her.
Lorelai stood there watching the scene. It was weird for her to see Luke hugging someone and actually smiling at a person except her. He wasn't grumpy at all, he was so… different.
"Uh Maisy, this is Lorelai."
"Oh, hello dear." Maisy walked up to Lorelai and shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you." Lorelai honestly stated.
Then she saw an old man walking up to them.
"Lucas, what are you doing here?" He smiled, shaking Luke's hand and hugging him briefly.
"Hey, Buddy." Luke hugged him back.
"We actually are here for dinner."
"We?" Buddy asked confused not seeing Lorelai.
"Yes 'we.' Lorelai and I. He walked over to Lorelai touching her shoulder briefly.
Buddys eyes widened. "Well, well, well. Luke never brought a girl in here. You must be very special."
I hope so. Lorelai thought and blushed.
"She is." Luke agreed while Buddy and Maisy led them to their table.
They sat down smiling at each other.
"What can we get you to drink? Champagne?"
"I'll take a beer," Luke answered and looked at Lorelai.
"Same here, please."
"Oh you can't drink beer on a date. Champagne it is." And with those words Maisy and Buddy left the table.
Lorelai took the opportunity to look questionaly at Luke.
"I come here often." Luke admitted.
"I figured."
"I've known the two of them almost my whole life. Maisy was best friends with my mother and Buddy helped me a lot when I first opened the diner. They are like parents to me."
Lorelai had never seen Luke that serious before. Again she took his hand and squeezed it.
"It's beautiful here. I like the place. I hope the food is good," she said after awhile, taking the menu from the table.
"The food is great; you can order what you want." Luke smiled at her wondering who that evening would continue.
xoxoxoxo
They talked a lot during dinner, about life, Rory, and Luke even told Lorelai some more about his parents. Lorelai couldn't believe that's she missed so many things about Luke. It seemed like she knew almost nothing about him, just the general things, he on the other side knew her so well. He knew her favourite food, her favourite movie, her favourite song. He knew almost everything. Lorelai was touched and almost speechless. She never met a man who actually cared for her and was interested in knowing all those things about her.
"Dinner was great," she finally said.
"I'm glad you liked it. See? You don't need burgers and chilli fries all the time." He laughed.
"I know, but I love your food and it's good to see you whenever I come around."
Luke grinned.
"So are you coming to the diner because of my food or because of me?" He asked only half joking.
Lorelai was quiet for awhile but then she spoke up.
"I guess it was always because of you. The food and your amazing coffee is just a bonus, a great bonus I might add."
"I'm glad to hear that." And he smiled again.
Lorelai had never seen Luke smile so much. He looked so much better when he smiled. Not that he looked bad when he didn't smile, but he looked younger, more relaxed, just handsome.
"You should smile more often." She looked up at him. "It suits you."
"Yeah?" he smiled almost showing his teeth.
"Definitely."
"Well other people don't give me much of a reason to smile; only you do."
Lorelai laughed out loud.
"Oh Luke, now you're getting cheesy."
Luke swallowed and his faced turned serious.
"Sorry, but it's true."
"No, I´m sorry Luke, I didn't want to…"
"It's okay. It must be weird for you seeing me acting like this. After all I´m grumpy most of the times."
Lorelai nodded in agreement.
"But it's good to see the real Luke."
"What makes you think this is the real Luke?" he replied his grin was back.
"Instinct."
He took her hand.
"I guess you have good instincts."
Her eyes sparkled as she laced her finger through his and slightly squeezed his hand.
His thumb laced slight circles around the back of her hand, feeling her soft skin under his fingertips. He loved the feeling, to finally being able to touch her.
"You want some desert?" Maisy interrupted them both.
Luke turned around feeling caught.
"Uh no… I´m fine. What about you?" He looked at Lorelai.
"No, thanks, I´m full." She smiled.
Maisy noticed the entwined hands and smiled.
"Okay, I'd better leave you two alone then. Dinner is on the house."
"No, Maisy. That's too much, I´m gonna pay."
"Stop it, Lucas. I don't want a discussion, dinner is on the house, period."
"Thanks, Maisy."
"Yes thank you, dinner was amazing."
"You're both welcome. Now enjoy the rest of your date." She smiled and turned around while both, Luke and Lorelai turned five shades of red.
xoxoxoxox
After another half an hour they left Sniffy's and went back to Luke's truck. Like before, he opened the passenger door, waiting for her to get in, before he got in himself.
Luke drove slowly, trying to extend the time he had left with her. She was silent, which was a new thing to him. She looked out of the window drawing circles on it with her fingers, a look on her face which he couldn't quite figure out. His mind started to wander. Did she enjoy the night? Was she as happy about how the date went as he was? He could only hope.
Twenty-five minutes later he pulled into her driveway, killed the engine and looked at her.
"Hey Lorelai?" He tried but she didn't answer.
"Lorelai, we're home." He gently nudged her
"Oh… already?" She snapped out of her daze, and turned to look at him
"We drove for over half an hour,"
"Wow, time flies."
"Well… yeah … you weren't really paying attention."
"Sorry, I was thinking."
Lukes hand started to shake. Hopefully she didn't regret anything.
"What about?"
"Us." She simple stated.
"There is an 'us'?" he asked hopefully.
"I hope there will be." She answered her lips turning into a smile.
He couldn't help but smile as well as he nodded.
Luke took her hand and they both walked up to Lorelai's front door.
"I really liked our first date." Lorelai whispered her voice shaking with emotion.
"Me too, I hope we can do it again ... sometime?"
"I'd love too."
Both smiled, and a weird silence followed.
"It's late… I should go." Luke cleared his throat.
"Yeah you should."
"Yeah." He didn't move.
"Or…"
"Or what…?" he asked not wanting this evening to end.
"We could... maybe ... go for a walk?"
"Sounds good to me., he nodded, leading her down the steps.
xoxoxoxox
They walked in silence for ten minutes when they reached the gazebo. It was shining brightly with small lamps hanging around it.
"Care to sit down?" Luke asked Lorelai, still holding her hand.
"Sure." Lorelai quickly answered.
They sat down, neither of them saying a word.
After a few minutes Luke broke the silence.
"I´m glad I asked you out." He admitted, playing with his fingers.
"Me too, and I´m glad it turned out to be a real date."
He smiled returning his gaze to look at her. He noticed her shivering.
"You're cold?"
"A bit."
"Here." He said getting out of his jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders.
"Why, thank you, Luke Danes. You are truly a real gentleman."
He blushed slightly.
xoxoxoxox
Luke and Lorelai talked for about an hour before Luke stood up.
"I think I should take you home." He offered a hand to her
She looked at her watch.
"Wow, I didn't notice it was that late, I´m sorry."
"No need to be sorry. I enjoyed it. Very much."
Lorelai took his hand and stood up. Fingers entwined they made their way back to Lorelai's house.
Again they stood on her doorstep looking each other deep in the eyes. Suddenly Luke leaned in. Lorelai closed her eyes and she felt her breath getting rapid. She felt his hot breath on her skin as his lips brushed her cheek. Her heart skipped a beat. He kissed her... not on the lips... but hey! it was definitely a good start.
"Goodnight." He whispered into her ear making her shiver
"Night." She whispered back leaning into him.
As Luke turned around and started to walk, Lorelai called out for him
"Hey Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"See you tomorrow."
"I´m the one behind the counter." He grinned.
"And I'm the one with the coffee addiction, so serve me a pot?"
He couldn't help but laugh. "You got it. Good night, Lorelai."
"Good night, Luke."
TBC
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