A/N: This, my dears, is the last chapter. Yes, I'm sorry about it too. I was having a blast writing this. I hope you will all read the short one-shots that I'm bound to write after this. I may work on sequels to a few of my other stories, which may turn into some multi-chaptered stuff. I just don't know yet. But I look forward to reading reviews from those who reviewed this on other stories.

Marcel-Marceau-chicken: Copper boom:D

Charmedchic72: I like Teddy Grahams!

xlostangelx: Well, originally, in chapter one I said that this could be at anytime as long as Luke and Lorelai weren't together. But soon after I realized that I had brought up Lorelai's grandmother's death. And that would mean I'm left with this story being in the tiny window between 4:17 (Girls in Bikinis and Boys Doin' the Twist) and 4:19 (Afterboom). During that time, Rory wasn't dating anyone. So there wouldn't be a reaction of her boyfriend. Which makes writing this a tad easier, because it leaves me more room to focus on the L/L story line!

J.Stone: Couldn't stay away, huh: )

As stated in the dedication in chapter one, this story wouldn't have been possible without the amazing J.Stone. He has offered so much encouragement and constructive criticism to the majority of my stories, and he deserves some credit. Thanks, John!

--

"How do you deal?"

"You just do."

-Greg Sanders and Nick Stokes, CSI (2:18 – Chasing the Bus)

--

By the time Luke reached the top of the stairs, the door to his apartment was open and he could see Lorelai sitting at the kitchen table, her face in her hands, fingers tangled in the roots of her hair. He entered the room, shutting the door softly behind him.

Slowly, he crossed the floor and sat opposite Lorelai at the table. Without lifting her head, she spoke. "How do you do it?"

Luke furrowed his brow. "Do what?"

"Deal with it." She knew he'd understand what she meant.

He took a deep breath. "You just do."

Lorelai sighed, raising her head to look into his eyes. "I feel normal. I don't want to feel normal. I shouldn't feel normal, dammit!" She exclaimed, slamming her palm on the table.

Luke knew deep down that she was trying to mask her sadness with anger. He exhaled slowly. "Life goes on. You can't stop that, you know."

"She was my daughter. Things shouldn't be able to just snap back to the way they were before."

He shook his head slowly. "They won't. Things will always be different. But you can't be sad forever."

Lorelai hung her head. "I know."

"She wouldn't want you to be sad." Luke spoke softly. They had an unspoken agreement: they never used Rory's name. Ever. They always just used the word 'she'.

And somehow they always understood whom they were speaking about.

Luke continued, even more softly, placing his hand over the one that rested limply on the table after her previous outburst. "I don't want you to be sad either."

Despite herself, Lorelai smiled, touched by his statement. This was a new side of Luke. She'd always known that there was a sweet, caring man under that gruff exterior of his.

And then Luke acted on something he'd never acted on before.

Impulse.

He gripped her hand in his and pulled her to her feet. "Let's go."

Lorelai smiled. She knew exactly where they were going.

--

She laced her fingers with his and rested her cheek on his shoulder as they gazed down at the smooth stone that marked Rory's grave. Lorelai had refused to let Rory be buried in the Gilmore crypt. She wanted Rory to have her own place, right here in Stars Hollow, where she belonged.

Lorelai held back tears, remembering Luke's statement from before. "She wouldn't want you to be sad."

She turned her head so that her forehead rested against the flannel of Luke's shirt. "You really think I'll be okay?"

He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist instead. "I really do." Luke kissed the top of her head lightly. So lightly, in fact, that she wasn't sure if he'd actually done it or not.

Lorelai sighed, and Luke could feel the warmth of her breath seep through the plaid he wore. "Thank you for being here." She whispered.

Luke smiled slightly as she pulled him in for a hug. "No problem." He whispered into her ear.

She took a step back and cocked her head slightly, seeming to examine him. His eyebrow arched in confusion. "What are you doing?" Luke asked.

Lorelai bit her lip in thought. "Making a decision." She tilted her head in the other direction, viewing him from a different angle.

"On what?"

She ignored him, continuing to stare.

"Lorelai. What are you making a decision on?" He was getting irritated.

"Whether it's worth it."

Luke rolled his eyes. She was being so cryptic. "Whether what is worth it?" Frustration was starting to surface in his voice.

Lorelai looked down at the grave for a moment, then back into Luke's eyes. The sparkle that had disappeared from her eyes all those weeks ago had returned. Little did he know, seeing that had returned the sparkle to his eyes too. She smiled and answered his question in a low voice. "This."

She leaned in and kissed him. Luke returned it immediately, closing the space between them in one swift step. After a moment, though, he pulled away.

Resting his forehead against hers, he looked her straight in the eye, his seriousness written in his gaze. "Are you sure about this?"

Much to his surprise, Lorelai laughed. Seeing his shock, she responded with a nod. "Positive."

Luke furrowed his brow, silently requesting an explanation for her amusement.

Lorelai grinned before sharing her recent realization. "Life is too short."

And she kissed him again, basking in the comfort he provided her.

--

The End

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