Summary: JJ. She let herself fall for him, even though he was with someone else.

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.

Because She Cares

Chapter Three: Simply Talking To You

He had been laying there for, God knows, how long.

He wasn't at all surprised when he turned on his side and found that the clock read 3:28 AM.

After a long sigh, he stood up and walked over to the sink, filling a glass with water. He continued to stand there, looking out the window, taking a few sips every so often.

He didn't think his divorce from Nicole would affect him this much. But honestly, it wasn't the divorce from her that hurt him. It was just the whole divorce thing in general. And then the lying thing and the cheating thing... he wasn't satisfying her. She needed more.

It was this that made him feel less confident about ever being with Lorelai.

That sounded awful to Luke, but he knew it was true. And he found himself guilty for emotionally cheating on Nicole. There were countless times when he imagined stumbling up the stairs to his apartment, Lorelai's lips attached to his the whole time, as she kissed him, hard. And then they would reach the door, where they would enter, and Luke would have his way with her.

That's all he could think about while in a relationship with Nicole. The 'other woman'.

Soon after making an early delivery, Luke was taking down the diner chairs. Just as always, he winced when he spotted Kirk waking towards the diner. It was to be expected though, seeing as Kirk had been coming to the diner at six o'clock in the morning ever since it opened. Much against his will, Luke turned the closed sign around, and opened the door.

"What'll it be, Kirk?"

"Well, when I woke up I was in the mood for eggs. But as the morning went on, I realized that I didn't like bacon. And well, eggs just aren't the same without bacon. So, I'm gunna have me a nice bowl o' oatmeal!"

"Right..."

"Oh, and Luke, make it snappy 'cuz I have to meet Lulu at the hardware store in Hartford in about thirty minutes. We need to buy some child-proof locks."

He winced, "You mean, Lulu's... pregnant?"

"What? Are you crazy? Mother doesn't even know we're having sex! Can you imagine what she would do if she found out Lulu was pregnant? She'd strangle me with rosary beads, that's what she'd do!"

"Why do you need child-proof locks, Kirk?"

"We need to keep mother from going through Lulu's dresser."

"What the hell is your mother going through Lulu's dresser for?"

"Well, you'll have to ask her that, Luke. I don't know why. She just walks out of the room every time I bring the matter up."

In a sarcastic tone, "Really?"

"Yeah, it's pretty serious. I mean, last night Lulu couldn't find her," Kirk begins to count his fingers, " great, great, great, uh- great, great Mama DaMaoe's wedding ring."

After a puzzled stare, Luke spoke, "So, you really think that child-proof locks will keep your mother from opening dresser drawers?"

"Yes."

"I'm not even gunna argue with you..."

"Well that's good, I wasn't looking for an argument, Luke."

"I'll be back with your oatmeal in a few minutes..."

"Don't forget to put the bits of apples in there. Gosh, I love those bits of apples..."

"Go sit down Kirk."

The diner quickly filled up, and the hours passed. It was almost noon when Luke decided to take his break. He called to Caesar, and went up the stairs. He sat at the kitchen table staring at the phone, contemplating whether to call her or not.

Lorelai and Sookie were in the kitchen. They were still trying to narrow down the chefs for the inn. It was then, when Michel entered the room.

"Lorelai... There is a man on the phone for you."

Sookie was slightly nudging her with a smile on her face, "Lorelai, there's a man on the phone for you."

"Yes, I heard..."

Sookie was very anxious, "Who is it Michel?"

"Just take the damn phone... I have yet to complete that hideous thing you call work." Sookie sends him a scowl.

Lorelai takes the phone, and walks into the empty dining room. "Hello?"

"Hey, Lorelai, it's Luke."

"Luke... Oh, hi."

"Yeah, I'm calling about that, test-run thing."

"Oh, can you make it?"

"This coming Saturday, right?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, I think I can make it."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

"Oh, good. That's, good. That's... so, you're coming?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay, well, umm..." She walks over to a table, and begins to fiddle with the plates and silverware, "you can come anytime you like. I mean, early is good, or - or late... whenever..."

He slightly chuckles, "Okay, I'll get there as soon as I can."

"Good." They were both aware of the awkwardness between them.

"Well, uh - I'll see you in a couple days, then?"

"Alright."

"Bye."

"Bye, Lorelai." She smiled at the way he said her name.

Lorelai then walked into the kitchen to find Sookie waiting at the entrance. In a daydreaming voice, Sookie began to mock her, "You can come anytime you like. I mean, early is good, or - or late... whenever..."

"Oh, my God! You were listening to my conversation!"

"Yes, I was."

"How long were you standing there?"

"Just walked in. So... who was that?'

"None of your business."

"What? Lorelai, I'm your partner and I have a right to know who is coming to the test-run!"

She began to walk into the kitchen to get herself some coffee, "Yes, but you don't care about that. You just want to know who it is, that makes me stutter... and lose my train of thought... and make me make a fool out of myself!"

"Damn right I do! Who is it?"

"Oh, I am definitely keeping that information to myself. I know exactly what you would say if I told you."

"Oh, my God, it was Chris!"

"Yeah... right..."

"Max?"

"What? Sookie, no."

"Oh, it was Alex? Really? I didn't think-"

"No, Sookie. It wasn't Alex."

"Well, who else would it be?"

"No one, it's stupid. Just forget it."

"Lorelai-"

"Sookie, nothing's going on. Now, just keep analyzing the chefs here. We really can't keep them all."

"It's not that kid that used to go to your community college, is it?"

"No."

"Good, 'cuz Luke would totally freak over that."

"Sookie! The test-run is in two days! Now I know that you find my love-life fascinating, but I'm telling you, nothing remotely interesting has happened. Now can you please just narrow down the damn chefs!"

"Lying doesn't become you, Lorelai Gilmore."

Closing her eyes in frustration, "Oh, my God!"

Sookie calmly spoke, "As soon as I narrow down the damn chefs, I can assure you, with a money back guarantee, that I will be narrowing down the damn men."

She rolled her eyes and began to walk out of the kitchen, "I need a break..."

"So, you said, 'I'll see you in a couple days' and he said, 'Alright', and then you said, 'Bye', and he said, 'bye' and-"

"No, no. He said, 'Bye, Lorelai.'"

"Oh, right. That does make a difference. I mean, he said your name. I know that deserves a pretty emphasized 'duh', but in the analyzation of the dating world, saying someone's name is a pretty crucial element."

Lorelai nodded at Rory's thoughts, "Yeah, makes sense."

"You know, no nickname, no 'Bye Skeeter' or 'Catch 'ya later sweet thang'".

"Right."

"No 'Peace out, mon' or 'Farewell Miss Gilmore".

"Rory..."

"I'm just naming the possible alternatives..."

"Okay, you've listened, and you've analyzed, and you've made many rude remarks that I shall punish you for later. Now... the outcome is..."

"It's look'in towards a one night stand. Featuring Miss Patty barging in on you, and then, well, you can you use your imagination..."

"Rory!"

She sighed, "Mom, what do you want me to say? You like him, and he likes you. And honestly, I'm getting a little tired of hearing all this complaining. Seriously, Mom, I really shouldn't have to point all of this out to you."

"I know. I'm being stupid."

"Yes, you are."

"Hey!"

"Mom, the test-run is coming up, and I expect to see some changes in this silly I'm-too-scared-to-look-you-in-the-eye, thing you two have going. And if I don't see any changes, then you may give me the term 'your worst nightmare'. Understood?"

"Understood."

"Alright, then," she turned to face the tv, "press play."

"We are such losers."

"You said it."

"It's turkey time." "What?" "Gobble, gobble."

Lorelai paused the movie and turned to Rory, "What the hell was that?"

"I wish I saw the acceptance speech for this movie's seven well-deserved Razzies."

TBC