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

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.

Author's Note: The title of this chapter speaks for itself. ;)

Because She Cares

Chapter Five: When Kissing You

Lorelai walks over to the table occupied by Miss Patty, Babette and Luke. She struggles to breathe at a normal pace, let alone walk straight. She reaches the table, and finds Luke staring at his plate. Babette says something about her bathrobe slipping, and Luke looking at his salad ever since, but Lorelai isn't really paying attention. She is too occupied in gazing at Luke's profile. Admiring his beautiful eyes, and chiseled jaw line. He is very attractive tonight. In his sweater and dress pants, free of any flannel and baseball caps, not to mention the rugged day-old stubble she is hopelessly crazy about. He then looks up, and catches her gaze. At first she looks away in embarrassment, but she can still feel his eyes on her. So she looks at him again, and is trapped. It's almost as if she is under a trance, there is no chance of her looking away. She is mesmerized by this fine male before her.

If it weren't for Rory's 'clearing of her throat', Luke and Lorelai would have been that way for hours. Lorelai lightly jumps at the sound of her daughter behind her, and quickly turns around.

"Mother, may I talk to you in the kitchen?"

"Uh - yeah. Yes. Yes you may." She follows Rory into the other room.

"All I can say is you're lucky I stopped you before Miss Patty and Babette started printing the wedding invitations. Jeez, the googly eyes..."

"What? There were no googly eyes!"

"Whatever you say..."

There was no point in lying to herself, "There were some googly eyes... weren't there?"

"Yes, there were."

"Well I couldn't help it, I mean, have you seen him? He looks, amazing..."

"Yes, he looks very nice tonight. But you need to control yourself, woman!" When they notice Sookie walk in the kitchen, they move away from her a bit. Lorelai is determined to leave her, and any other citizen of Star's Hollow, out of this conversation.

"We almost... today..."

"You almost..."

She whispers, "Kissed."

"Oh... oh."

"Mhm."

"Well that's... good... I guess. But what's with the 'almost'?"

"Michel kind of interrupted."

"Figures. What are we gunna do with him?"

"Put him in a box, and send him to Timbuktu."

"Good plan."

"Yes, I think so too."

"Alright, well... you better get back to making the rounds, missy..."

"Oh, right. Okay, um, I'll just talk to you later then."

"Yes, you will. After..." Rory gives her mother a wink.

"Wow... wouldn't expect that from you."

"Times have changed, M'dear."

The rest of the night had gone perfectly. The dinner was a hit, and the guests definitely enjoyed an hour of board games and drinks. It was getting late, and pretty much everyone had gone to bed. Jackson was still having a conversation with Luke about the structure of the staircase, and Lorelai and Sookie were still marveling at the amazing job they did. But everyone else had gone upstairs to their rooms.

After Taylor came downstairs, complaining of Davey's crying, Jackson and Sookie eventually headed off to their room as well. Leaving Luke and Lorelai alone in the dining room.

"So, you enjoyed your dinner?"

"Yeah, yeah it was great."

"Good." After an awkward silence, Lorelai thinks of the only thing she can. Coffee. "I'm gunna make some coffee, you want a cup? Or, well, tea?"

He chuckles at this, knowing he would never drink coffee. "Yeah, sure." She smiles, and they walk into the kitchen.

He leans against the counter, watching her as she pours the finished tea in his mug, and the coffee in hers. She can't deny that the attention is causing her to blush. She gives him his drink, hands shaking, nearly spilling it. They share an uncomfortable silence, each of them staring at their shoes. He doesn't know how or why, but Luke begins to speak the words that haven been haunting him for days, "Lorelai, I know you're thinking about that night... in the church. I want you to know, it's fine if you want to just... forget it ever happened. Forget what I said..." It pains him to say these words. He is lying through his teeth.

After what seems like forever, she finally speaks, "I don't - I don't want to forget it. Any of it." She looks up at him.

"You don't?" His muscles loosen in relief.

"Luke, I know I rushed out of there. And I know I was avoiding you. But, I was just nervous, you know? This is... weird. Well, not weird..." she sighs in frustration and then lets it out, "I like you, Luke. A lot. More than a lot." she looks up at him, embarrassed, "You get what I'm saying, right?"

He didn't say anything for a while, just stared at her in admiration, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He neared her, suddenly feeling confident, "I like you too... More than a lot." Her eyes immediately close as his lips crash against her own. His presence overpowers her as she slowly slides into the kiss, her body tingling as he pulls her against him. She links her arms around his neck, the oxygen in their lungs begins to fade. They break apart, breathing heavily, resting forehead against forehead.

They stay this way, but only for a moment. His voice almost comes out as a growl, "We - that was-"

She finishes his sentence, "A long time coming." Lorelai urgently pulls at his sweater, reattaching her lips to his. She begins leading him out of the kitchen, and before they know it, they are stumbling up the stairs, their lips never parting. Luke smiles against her kiss.

They are finally at his door, and he pushes her against it, kissing her hard. A soft moan escapes from her mouth as his tongue skids over hers. She smiles against his lips, and lets out a soft giggle at the realization of how loud they are being. Surprisingly, Luke is grinning, and can't help but chuckle back. He begins to leave a trail of kisses down her jaw line, her neck, just below her ear. He feels her shiver at his touch, and continues to kiss her. She is reaching in his pocket for his room key, while tilting her head to give him better access. She raps her fingers around the key, when his lips are once again on hers, causing her to drop the key to the floor.

They then hear a gasp. A gasp neither of them have made. Luke pulls away to look at Lorelai, both sharing a look of confusion. They turn to see a startled Sookie standing outside her door. They immediately separate.

"I - I - I was heading... downstairs to - to get some warm milk for Davey..."

TBC

Evil cliff-hanger, I know! But don't worry, I'll update soon. The chapter's almost done.