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Lorelai: Do you really believe something will happen with Luke and me?

Rory: Yeah I do. I really do.

Lorelai smiles at Rory. Her thoughts go to Luke and her smile gets bigger.

Rory: You're thinking of Luke, aren't you? (Lorelai nods) I hope everything works for you and Luke.

Lorelai: Thank you for that. (She looks at the clock and sees that it is after 3 o'clock) I need to get dressed and head to Sookie's to check on things before going to Luke's.

Rory: Ok.

Lorelai heads upstairs and gets dressed. She heads to Sookie's to talk about when reconstruction of the inn should take place.

Chapter 8: Talking To Sookie and then…Luke

Lorelai walks over to Sookie's home. When she gets there, she knocks on the door and Sookie answers. Sookie invites her inside and they go sit on the couch in the living room.

Sookie: How are you doing?

Lorelai: I'm doing fabulous.

Sookie: Really? What happened?

Lorelai: Luke happened.

Sookie: What do you mean Luke happened?

Lorelai: I mean that Luke and I told each other how we feel about each other.

Sookie (excited): Are you serious?

Lorelai: I am completely serious.

Sookie: Wow!

Lorelai: I know. I'm going over to Luke's tonight so that we can talk more.

Sookie: Oh. So that is why you're dressed like that. (Gestures to Lorelai's outfit) This is exciting.

Lorelai: Yeah it is, isn't it?

Sookie nods. A few minutes pass, with each of them in their own thoughts.

Lorelai: Ok. We need to get back to the main reason why I'm here. When are we going to start reconstruction of the inn?

Sookie: I don't know, the sooner the better.

Lorelai: That's what I thought, but it will have to be after I get back from Europe with Rory.

Sookie: Ok. That's fine with me. When do you and Rory leave again?

Lorelai: Our plane leaves on Monday at 9 AM. We have everything packed; we're just going through our lists to make sure we don't forget something. We can't exactly come back and get whatever we forgot once we get on the plane.

Sookie laughs.

Sookie: You're right about that.

They both laugh for several minutes.

Sookie: What will you two do if you actually do forget something?

Lorelai: I'm not really sure. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. (This causes both of them to burst into laughter again.) Honestly we'll either make do without it or try to find it in whatever country we're in at the time.

Sookie: Cool. Hey, are you hungry? I made a cake today, would you like a piece?

Lorelai: Sure, I would love a piece.

Sookie gets up and heads to the kitchen. Lorelai follows her. In the kitchen, Sookie goes to the cake holder and opens it. She grabs a knife from the knife holder and cuts two pieces of cake. She gets two plates from the cabinet and puts the slices on the plates. She hands one of the plates to Lorelai and takes the other plate. They sit at the table after Sookie gets some forks from the drawer.

Lorelai takes a bite out of the cake.

Lorelai: Oh wow! This is delicious Sookie.

Sookie: Thank you.

Lorelai: You're welcome.

Lorelai and Sookie talk for a few more hours until Lorelai tells Sookie she has to leave to go run an errand before going to Luke's.

Lorelai leaves Sookie's house and walks across the square to Doose's Market. When she walks past Luke's, she catches Luke watching her. She mouths "I'll see you later" to Luke who smiles and nods.

She continues to Doose's and goes inside. She grabs two travel toothbrushes, some travel shampoos, travel conditioners, and a few other items. She then heads to the front to pay for her items. She pays the cashier and then heads over to Luke's.

She goes into Luke's, sits at the counter, and puts her bag on the chair beside her. She looks around for Luke but doesn't see him. Just then Luke comes out of the kitchen and sees her sitting there. She looks at him and he looks back at her.

Lorelai: Hey.

Luke (smiles): Hey yourself.

Lorelai: It looks like your pretty dead in here.

Luke: Yeah. It's been pretty slow for the last hour or so. I was thinking of closing early.

Lorelai: Ok. (A few second pause) Can I have some coffee please?

Luke: How many cups have you had today?

Lorelai: Two. (Luke gives you a questioning look) What you don't believe me? I've been at home all day cleaning up from the party yesterday. I was home until I went to Sookie's a couple of hours ago.

Luke: Ok. I believe you. I know your house was a mess when I left last night.

Lorelai: Yeah, you're right about that.

Luke laughs.

Lorelai: I have never been so tired in my life.

Luke: If I had known you were going to be cleaning all day, I would have just called you on the phone.

Lorelai: That's ok. (Another few second pause) Hey Luke, I've been looking forward to this all day.

Luke: Really? (He pours her a cup of coffee and hands it to her.)

Lorelai: Yeah. (She takes a sip of the coffee)

Luke: Well how about I close the diner then maybe we'll both be more comfortable?

Lorelai: Sure.

Luke goes over to the door and locks it as the last customers leave. He then goes around the diner closing the blinds so that nobody could see them and suspect something.

Luke: Where is Rory?

Lorelai: She's been hanging out with Lane all day.

Luke: Oh.

Lorelai: She and I had a talk today.

Luke: What about?

Lorelai: We talked about you and I. I asked her if something happened between you and me, if she would be ok with it. She said she was ok with something maybe happening between us. In fact, surprisingly, she wants something to happen between us.

Luke: I'm really glad that she's ok with this. I know I don't want to be just friends with you. I also know I'm going to miss you while you're in Europe with Rory. I'm going to miss Rory too.

Lorelai: I'm going to miss you too, Luke. I also don't want to be just friends with you. Luke, we can get calling cards so we can call each other constantly while Rory and I are away.

Luke: That sounds good. How about I go by a couple of calling cards for each of us? I'll bring them by your house after I close tomorrow. That way I can say goodbye to you and Rory. Tomorrow is your last day before you leave for Europe.

Lorelai: That sounds good. I can give you money for them.

Luke: Don't worry about it. It's the least I can do for you. You've spent enough money on this trip anyway. (Lorelai opens her mouth to speak but Luke holds up his hand to stop her) Please Lorelai, let me do this.

Lorelai (relents): Ok, Luke. Thank you.

Luke: You're welcome. You know what? We've been talking this whole time and I haven't even asked if you've eaten any dinner yet. Are you hungry?

Lorelai: Yeah, I'm hungry. (Her stomach growls as if to prove her point)

Luke laughs when her stomach growls.

Luke: I guess that answers my question. So what would you like to eat?

Lorelai: Hmm. (She thinks for a few seconds) I guess I would like a cheeseburger with no onions and fries.

Luke: Coffee with that?

Lorelai: No, just coke.

Luke looks at her incredulously.

Luke: Are you serious?

Lorelai (laughs): Yes. What's so surprising about me not drinking coffee?

Luke: Nothing, it's just that you always seem to have a cup of coffee in your hands.

Lorelai: Well you're wrong. (She smiles at Luke to show she's joking)

Luke smiles at her.

Luke: I'll be back in a few minutes.

Luke walks into the kitchen to fix their dinners leaving Lorelai alone with her thoughts. He returns a few minutes later to find Lorelai staring into space.

Luke: Hey, what are you thinking about? (He puts a plate in front of her)

Lorelai is so wrapped up in her thoughts that she doesn't hear him come back until he speaks to her. His voice startles her and she shakes her head to clear it.

Lorelai: I was thinking of you and me. (Takes a bite of her burger)

Luke: You and me? What about you and me? (Takes a bite of his turkey burger)

Lorelai: I know that we've both said that we don't want to be just friends and I know we will call each other during Rory's and my trip through Europe, but where do we go after I get back? (Takes anther bite)

Luke: I don't really know at this point. All I can say is that as soon as you get back, I'm going to ask you out on a date. Takes another bite of his burger)

Lorelai: Really?

Luke: I'll ask you out when you get back and I guess we'll go from there.

Lorelai: Yeah, we'll go from there.

They both finish their meals in silence. Every once in a while, they give each other a smile. Lorelai finishes the last bit of her burger and wipes her mouth on a napkin.

Lorelai: Well, I guess I should get going. I've got lots of things to do tomorrow before we leave on Monday.

Luke: I'll walk you home.

Lorelai: You don't have to. I just gave you more work to do.

Luke: I want to. This stuff can wait.

Lorelai: Ok.

They walk to the door and Luke holds open the door for her. Lorelai smiles and walks out in front of him. They walk to her house in silence and except for the glances they shoot at each other, they stare straight ahead the entire walk.

They reach her house and Luke walks with her across the yard to the porch.

Luke: Well you're home.

Lorelai: Yeah, I'm home.

Luke: Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

Lorelai: Yeah, tomorrow.

Luke repeats his action from the night before; he leans forward and kisses her on the cheek. Lorelai smiles at him when he pulls back.

Luke: Goodnight Lorelai.

Lorelai: Goodnight Luke.

Luke turns and walks away. And just like she did last night, Lorelai watches him walk farther away until she can't see him anymore. She turns and goes into the house.

TBC

Authors Note: I will try to update within the next week or so, but if I don't, it may be a while before I can update again. My sister and I are moving to Shreveport, Louisiana during the month of June. Our cable, Internet, and telephone will probably be shut down by the beginning of June. So if I don't review before then, it might be after July before I get to update again. Anyways, please read and review.