AN: You know, writing this is very therapeutic. I recommend it for everyone. Thanks for the feedback! There will probably be just one more chapter. Hopefully before the finale airs, but it'll be tough! Damn job.

Luke sat there staring at her. Waiting for her to realize his presence. A horrible feeling came over him, like he wasn't supposed to be there. He was intruding. Like he wasn't welcome in this house any longer. But he couldn't stop staring at her. When had this started and how long had she been pretending that everything was fine? It occurred to Luke that he probably didn't want to know the answer. That knowing the answer would probably confirm his fears that this has been a long time coming, but that it could have been prevented. If he had only talked to her. If she had only talked to him.

She was awake. He knew that. But she wasn't moving. He wondered if he should say anything to let her know that he was there. But he stayed quiet. She started to move a little and groaned quietly in pain. Luke knew that her neck had to be stiff from her sleeping arrangement. He leaned forward slightly, instinctively reaching out to help. This motion startled her and she jerked back into a sitting position when she realized she wasn't alone. The motion hurt her neck and she grimaced and her hand immediately went to the base of it.

Luke saw the pain and anger in her face. She just stared at him disbelieving and silent, hand still resting on her neck.

Luke broke the silence carefully, "Sorry."

"What are you doing here?" Her tone wasn't as angry as he had expected. For that he was grateful.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." His words were carefully articulated.

"I shouldn't have slept down here."

He nodded grimly, "Your neck."

She sighed, "My neck."

He fought off the desire to sit beside her and rub her neck back into working order. He wanted to tell her that he was going to fix this and they would be okay. But he did neither.

"I'm okay." At this Luke was a little confused, she noticed and continued, "You said you wanted to make sure I was okay. I'm okay."

"Good," he said sadly. It wasn't what he wanted to hear. He wanted her to say she needed him, that last night was a mistake. That she didn't want things to end. But he knew those particular words would not be spoken. Not today. It was too raw, she was too tired; they had let things go too far.

"You don't have to do this. I'm not your responsibility anymore." She was bitter and he dropped his head.

It hurt to hear her say that. He wasn't there because he felt he was supposed to be. He was worried about her. He cared about her and hated seeing her upset. He didn't want to start another fight, so he decided he should just leave. It was wrong for him to be here, but he just couldn't get the image of her from last night out of his head. Her sadness, the ultimatum, her tears. Had it really come to this?

"I'll go," he finally said reluctantly. As he pressed his hands to his knees to rise, he stopped and looked at her hard. "I'm sorry."

It was probably one of the most sincere tones she'd ever heard him use. Tears once again pricked her eyes and he noticed, and didn't even realize he had stuck his hand out and was sweeping his thumb under her eye. They stayed like that, the love palpable in the moment. Suddenly, a knock at the door jarred them out of their trance. Lorelai immediately rose to her feet and was halfway to the door before Luke could even retrieve his hand. He pulled it back and stuck it in his pocket, guiltily.

Lorelai opened the door and Luke heard her gasp slightly. He couldn't see who was behind the door, but started to rise to investigate.

"Chris what are you doing here?"

Christopher. Luke froze. He hadn't seen him since Emily and Richard's vow renewal. He was struck by the awkwardness of the moment and stood still, unsure of what to do.

Chris' voice was syrupy and sweet, and Luke couldn't help himself from becoming angry. He clinched his fists at his side but remained out of view. "Sorry for dropping in like this. You just weren't answering your phone and I've been worried about you ever since the wedding."

Luke's fists unclenched, and his mind raced. The wedding? What had happened at the wedding?

Lorelai was extremely uncomfortable and glanced back at Luke. She saw the questions in his eyes and Chris curiously peeked in. Upon seeing Luke, he cleared his throat, embarrassed.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm interrupting. I'll go." He smiled grimly at Luke, apologetically. Chris was many things, but he wasn't stupid. He knew his presence was very unwelcome in Luke's eyes and the faster he left, the smaller the chance of him being on the receiving end of Luke's wrath. He didn't want to start trouble.

"Sorry Chris. Just not a great time." Lorelai said apologetically.

Chris nodded and glanced one more time to Lorelai and stopped at her face. He noticed her unshed tears and his face turned to one of concern. He leaned in, "Is everything okay?"

Luke's heart sank further at the realization that Chris would be there to catch her fall. From him. It would be him that she would turn to when she needed company, or someone to talk to. The thought made him sick. He selfishly wished Rory was there, or Sookie, or anyone else. Just not him. Not Christopher.

"Everything's fine." Lorelai lied. She took a deep breath and then surprised them both by finishing, "I think you should both just leave." She gave a regretful look towards Luke. He nodded sadly. Not today. There was so much left to say, but not today.

Chris nodded uncomfortably, understanding the unspoken weight of her words. He turned to go and heard Luke slowly walking towards the door behind him.

As Luke passed Lorelai he tried to look at her, but she looked away. And as he walked through the door to the outside, he heard it shut behind him.

Chris was walking towards his car but against his better judgment, he changed his direction and began to approach Luke, who was making his way back to the diner.

"Luke." Chris' voice was firm and surprised Luke. He turned around as Chris caught up to him.

Luke wasn't looking forward to what Christopher had to say. Residual feelings from the year previous started bubbling up and Luke stuffed his hands in his pockets as to not hit him. He glared at Christopher, waiting for him to speak.

"I know this is none of my business, but you have your chance with Lorelai and from the looks of it, you're screwing it up. I'm going to be here to catch her if you let her go." Luke eyes him angrily, but he continues, "I just thought that you should know that. She doesn't deserve this."

"I know what she deserves," Luke grips the inside of his pockets to the point he thinks that they might rip.

"You have a chance to fix this, but I'm telling you, you blow it, I'm here."

"You don't scare me. She's wearing my ring if you haven't noticed." For now, he adds bitterly in his head.

"Look I'm not trying to start trouble here."

"Could have fooled me."

"I just want to see her happy."

Luke grunts, "Me too." He eyes Chris warningly and fights the urge to hit him, again. Instead, he turns and walks away.

Christopher begins walking back to his car, and as his footsteps get farther away Luke replays the conversation. Christopher didn't know that technically they had broken up. But he was right, she didn't deserve this. How could he have been so blind? Sure Luke had said that he wasn't scared, but truthfully, he was terrified.

TBC