Chapter 2 -Contracts and Confrontations

A/N:Just thought I would add in that Rory was dating Dean, but they are now broke up. the relevence of this will show in later chapters. Anywayz, here's the next chapter of my fanfic, sorry for the delay. Hope you like this next installment!

Lorelai spent the next few days thinking things over, and completely avoiding the diner. Many people had picked up on this un-Lorelai like behaviour, including Rory, who decided to confront her mother.

'Hey Mom, how 'bout we go to Luke's for breakfast? I'm dying for a blueberry pancake and some good coffee.'

Well Westons do good pancakes honey, we can go there.' Lorelai replied, trying to hide that anything was wrong. But with a daughter like Rory, this was nearly impossible.

'Mom, i know you're avoiding Luke because he came back with a baby.' She said matter-of-factly

'I-I am not avoiding him! I merely thought it would be nice to try breakfast somewhere else for a change, thats all!'

Mom we've eaten a at Westons and Sookie's for the last three days, and that was just breakfast. We ate dinner at Al's Pancake World yesterday, and had all the rest of our meals at the Inn. We've tried every place in town! Plus, I think Michel is getting sick of the sight of us at the Inn.

'Oh come on, what makes you think that?'

'Just last night he threatened to have you fired, and me escourted from the building if we were there for dinner tonight!'

'That's just Michel trying to be funny' Lorelai tried to reassure her daughter

'He called security on me so I would promise not to be there for food...EVER AGAIN!' Lorelai simply raised an eyebrow at this statement, which of course Rory noticed. 'He made me sign a contract! Mom just tell me whats going on!'

'Okay, okay. God you sound like my mother!' Rory immediately shot Lorelai an Emily like glare at this comment. 'Yes I am avoiding Luke, but not because of the baby - because I'm embarressed.

'Of what? It's only Luke Mom.'

'Of my behaviour the other day, of my attitude, my feelings-' Just then Lorelai realised what she had said, and attempted to hide her reddened face.

'And what feelings would they be then, my dear mother?' Lorelai simply hid behind the newspaper at the question. 'Oh come on Mom, you hounded me with questions about Dean!'

'I think I'm in love with Luke.' Lorelai mumbled, her now scarlet face still hidden.

'Sorry Mom, didn't quite catch that, you'll have to repeat it.' Rory said, unable to suppress a smile. Lorelai slowly lowered the newspaper, and turned to face her daughter.

'I said, I think I'm in love with Luke. Okay, happy now?' She replied sarcastically.

'I knew it! I knew there was something going on!' Rory replied, still smiling. She had always known that Luke had a 'thing' for her Mom, and that they were made for each other. She was just glad that Lorelai had finally realised it too! She noticed Lorelai did not have the same happy look on her face, and realised something was wrong. 'Mom, don't you see, this is a good thing!

Stomach churning, lost for words, pulse racing; it must be love thought Lorelai, as she laid eyes on Luke. 'Just walk over there and tell him you're sorry', she said to herself outloud. This was it, she was going to set things right. She had been so focused on Luke that she hadn't noticed Ceaser, carrying several orders of fries and ketchup, come out of the kitchen. CRASH! Lorelai, along with Ceaser and the food, had ended up on the floor, covered in ketchup.

'Lorelai! Are you O.K?' Luke asked her as her came running over, bending down to help her up. For a moment, their eyes met and time itself itself seemed to stand to still.

'I...I...I - Lorelai began before and angry customer stormed up to where the couple were still staring into each others eyes.

'HEY YOUR CLUMSY STAFF GOT KETCHUP ALL OVER MY NEW SHIRT!' Luke obviously didn't hear this complaint, which only irritated the customer further. Suddenly, the man was grabbing hold of Lukes shirt, forcing him to look away from Lorelai, a break of connection that brought Luke back to reality.

'What the hell do ya think you're doing?' Luke shouted at the man before pushing him, and turning back to help Lorelai. Before Luke knew it, the customer had grabbed hold of Lukes shirt and pinned him against the wall. Luke retaliated by punching the man square in his jaw. Soon, a full blown fight had broken out.

'LUKE!' Lorelai shouted called out, not knowing what else to do, while the man made another cut on Luke's lip. Dean, who had been passing when he saw the fight, ran into the diner, tackling the man to the ground and holding him there, until he had calmed down. When Dean finally let go of him, the man simple stood up and walked out, as if nothing had happened.

'Thanks Dean' Luke said to the boy, still trying to catch his breath.

'Oh my God, Luke are you O.K?' Lorelai panicked, running over to him, 'Your face is all cut and bruised.'

'I'm fine' he lied, wincing at the touch of Lorelai's soft hands on a particularly sore cut on his cheek

'Come on, lets get that face cleaned up', she said, taking his hand and leading up to his apartment above the diner.

'Seriously Lorelai, I'll be fine' he tried to reassure her.

'Will you just shut up for one sec, and come with me' Lorelai ordered him, 'That's a good boy, now up the steps', she added in an effort to cheer him up. And it worked; Luke had always loved Lorelai's sense of humour, it was the best thing about her, apart from her eyes that is. He could always get lost in those eyes, and had done many times before. He remembered when Lorelai had helped him choose the colours to paint his diner; they had hid behind the counter to give the impression that the diner was closed, and Luke couldn't help but look deep into her eyes, lost in her beauty. Luke had been so caught up in this memory, that he hadn't heard Lorelai call him or even realise that had reached the top of the stairs.

'Hey Luke, honey I kinda need ya to unlock the door' he heard her say, bringing him back to the present.

'Oh, yeah sure' He answered her, as he pulled the keys out of his jean pocket and unlocked the door to his apartment.The apartment was so quiet without Ellie here (Luke had arranged for Lane Kim to watch her today). The first thing Lorelai noticed, was the smell of the place, it was just like Luke. She loved that smell, it was a smell of aftershave and coffee, weird to some people, but sheer perfection to her. She had almost forgotten what this place looked like, but know it was all coming back to her. So many times had she sat up here with Luke, begging him for coffee, until he gave in; and then there were times when she and Rachel would have heart to hearts. She had never really accepted Rachel, and now she understood why; it was because she wanted to be that woman in Luke's life, the one that made him happy. And now was her chance.

'Here's all the first aid stuff,' His voice brought her back to reality 'It needs a little updating.'

'A little updating?' She copied 'Luke all you have in here are band aids and bandages, it needs more a little updating' she laughed.

'Yeah you're probably right, I'm gonna need a lot more stuff now I've got Ellie' He replied. The next thing he knew, Lorelai was running a clean cloth under the kitchen tap, and returning to where Luke was sat on the old couch. 'Hey, what are you gonna do with that?' Luke asked her as she brought the cloth closer to his face, cleaning one of the cuts, 'Ouch that hurt!'

'Don't be such a baby Luke, it's just water' Lorelai teased him.

'Listen Lorelai, I'm sorry for my behaviour the other day, I was out of ord-' Luke started, before Lorelai cut in

'What are you apologizing for? I'm the one who stormed outta here, without even giving you chance to explain, and I'm so sorry for that.

'Look can we just put all this behind us and go back to the way things were?' Luke asked

'Of course we can! You are one of my best friends, and you're so special to me, I would never want to lose you.'

'Well in that case, I have something really important to ask you. And I hope you don't think I'm being to forward with this, but it's something that needs to be said now' Luke requested.

'Yes of course, anything' She said quickly, not wanting to lose the moment. This is it she thought, he finally going to ask me out. Her face was getting closer to his now, it was so close, that he could count her eye lashes.

'Would you ummm..'

'Yeah anything' Lorelai jumped to conclusions.

'Great, so you won't mind helping me out with Ellie? It's just that I'm really finding it hard here, Rachel used to look after her'

'Oh, help with Ellie?' Her tone of voice changed immediately to one of disapointment.

'Why? Is that a problem? 'Caus it will not bother me if you can't or haven't got time' He asked, not wanting to get in her way, but not wanting her to say no. After all this was the only way to get close to her, to be with her.

'No, no of course it's fine. Sure I'll help ya out' She reassured him. Well, she thought to herself, is this is my best way to be near him, then I'm gonna take it.