Reunion

Chapter Four - Missed Opportunities and New Chances

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After what seemed like the longest and quietest trip ever, Lorelai pulled the truck up along side the diner. She pulled the very sexist gear into park and twisted the keys until the vehicle was very clearly no longer running. Lorelai uncomfortably shifted to face Luke. He was asleep. His face was smushed against the window. Lorelai wanted to let him be, seeing as he was simply adorable. But, she knew that if he stayed like that much longer, he would have the worst pains in his neck later on. So, she got out of the car and walked around to Luke's side. She gently opened the door.

At the slightest movement of the door, Luke awoke. Not fully, but enough to hold his head up. He got to his feet and leaned on Lorelai. For the third time that day, his weight was on her. She helped him to the door of the diner. She opened it and struggled through the door. Caesar was behind the counter, and once seeing the state Luke was in, helped Lorelai usher his to the top of the stairs, and into his apartment.

"So, well, you're, uh, home. I mean, we're at the diner. Which you would know since you can see. God, I am stupid!" Lorelai rambled on.

"Lorelai, you aren't stupid." Luke looked down at his feet. He didn't know whether to look at her or not, so instead he decided to concentrate on a light wear in the pant leg of his jeans. In one fluid movement, he walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"I…" She started, but she didn't know how to finish the sentence. In fact, she didn't even have a sentence planned before she opened her mouth. She just wanted to talk, for him to hear her voice. She stammered out a few things which clearly weren't English.

"Lorelai." Luke started.

"You know, I need to get to the Inn. I mean, can't leave Michel alone for too long, we all know what can come of that. So, bye." Lorelai was back out the door. Once it was closed, Lorelai pressed her back to it. She stayed for a moment, and then went back down the stairs.

"Once again, a missed opportunity." Luke whispered to himself. He sat for a moment. And a moment turned into a half hour. All the while he was thinking about Lorelai. He finally came to the conclusion that the next time he saw her, he wouldn't fail to tell her his feelings. He wasn't going to let her get away again.

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All through that night, Lorelai tossed and turned. Her body was covered in a cold sweat, and the look on her face conveyed deep hurt.

In the morning Lorelai woke with a start. Her heart was racing and the cold sweat from the long night had left its residue on her hands and legs.

She climbed into the shower and cranked on the cold. She couldn't stop thinking about her trip with Luke, and his being slammed by a car. She longed to touch him again. To hold him and nurse him back to full health. But, she knew she couldn't. Once she finished her shower, she got dressed quickly and started her trek to find coffee at a place that was not Luke's. She knew that she wasn't needed at the Inn until later, but she was in desperation for coffee.

She made her way past Luke's, and not seeing him, was quite relieved.

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Luke woke that morning with Lorelai already on his brain. He knew that it had to be today. This would be the day that he attempted reconciliation. He felt good. He felt prepared. He got out of bed and after searching his closet for a shirt (a choice of blue, green, grey or brown plaid) he put on a green shirt and some old jeans. He trudged downstairs, and forced himself into his work. Looking up from time to time, trying to catch a glimpse of Lorelai. After what seemed like an hour, Luke gave up and assumed that Lorelai was back to work at The Dragonfly. He knew that she had to come by eventually. This was a very small town, and it was damn near impossible to avoid someone completely. He waited, he knew.

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Lorelai put herself to busy work. Sookie knew the routine by now. Lorelai would come to work and instantly start something. Helping the hands, trying to do something for Sookie. Reorganizing the already organized book shelf. Sookie feared for her, seeing as she was nearing a level of tidiness that Monk would envy. When she had done everything under the sun, and hours had passed, she realized that she had nothing left to do but go home. So, she grabbed up her things, and got into her jeep.

She grabbed her phone and dialed number one on the speed dial.

"Hello." A fresh young female voice answered.

"Hello, my offspring. What are you up to?" Lorelai replied.

"Oh, hey Mom. I am way busy trying to finish this story for the paper. I think I put it off a little too long this time, and I really need to get it done." Rory said.

"Oh, so there's no chance that you'll be able to come out here tonight? Darn, cause I really wanted to do something. We haven't had a movie night it how long? Yea… we need to…" Lorelai stammered.

"Missing Luke again?" Rory said.

"Ouch, am I that obvious?"

"No, but that's all you've been doing lately. Sorry, but I really need to focus on this story. I really gotta go, Mom. I love you, and I promise that I will come and have a movie night with you soon." Rory said quickly.

"Oh, alright. Love you too, kid."

"Bye."

"Bye." Lorelai clicked her phone shut and put it back into her purse. She placed her bag on the seat next to her and shut the car door. She pulled the seatbelt over shoulder and clasped it into the lock. She turned on the car, and pulled out.

After driving for a while, Lorelai found herself going in circles around the town square. She didn't really know what her destination was, but she knew that she didn't want to go home to an empty room again. She was so sick of going back to an empty house with its dark corners and creaky floors. She felt like the house was mocking her.

She finally settled on a place to park, choosing it at random. She got out and suddenly realized that she was in front of Luke's.

"Alright, Lorelai. This means something. This means you are supposed to be here. You can't avoid him forever. Just go in. Just walk in." she told herself. She took long, agonizing steps towards the diner. "Just walk IN, woman!"

She finally reached the front door, and without anything more to do than to walk in, she did just that. It was quiet, with only two people sitting in the corner. Lorelai sat at the counter, not really knowing what she was doing there. So, she kindly waited. She figured that she would order coffee as soon as someone appeared.

And as if on cue, Luke walked into the front of the store, seemingly from the store room. In his good hand he had a bag of ground coffee.

"Lorelai. You're… here?" Luke spit out, confused.

"Yea, I… uh" Lorelai started… not really knowing what to say.

"No, I want you to be here. In fact, I have been wanting to talk to you."

"Oh, I… uh." Again Lorelai stuttered stupidly.

"Lorelai, your mother came to talk to me." Lorelai tried to butt in. "No. Let me talk. Your mother came to talk to me. And in between more of those disguised insults, she managed to say that I am, decidedly, the one you want. Ahh, ahh, no. Let me finish. I don't know if what she said is true, and trust me, I am walking out on a limb here to even be saying this, but, you are the only one I want. I need you Lorelai. I can't bear it without you. I want to spend everyday with you, I… need your input now." He finished. Most of his words were rushed and awkward, but Lorelai most definitely heard him loud and clear.

"I... uh…" Lorelai stammered again, but this time, there was a sloppy grin plastered to her face.

"Yea. You said that before." Luke said, glancing back down at the wear in his jeans.

"No, Luke. I am so… elated. I have wanted to hear you say that for a really long time. I just guess that I…" Lorelai was quite ready to start another ramble, but she was cut off by Luke's lips on hers.

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