Disclaimer: These characters and Stars Hollow all belong to ASP and the WB and whoever the hell else has a copyright to it. However for this moment, this time and this place, they are mine. :)
One moment. One place. One time. That was all she needed, all that she had hoped for the past sixteen years after Rory. She had thought it was Max and for a while she was blinded by the only thing he was to her…mature. Christopher had never been mature and despite her best efforts the only thing that attracted her to him was his lack thereof, his free spirit. But when the strip turned pink her spirit had taken a back seat to maturity and unfortunately Chris' didn't. Of course she had been relaxed with Rory over the years, allowed herself a few screw ups seeing as she was still growing up herself and look what it got her. A wonderful, beautiful, private school going, Harvard-bound young lady. What more could she ask for? A partner. After almost seventeen years she still hadn't had the right moment at the right place at the right time. One thing was for certain however…after searching for so long and accomplishing nothing she was tired of searching. If she was meant to find the right person then they would have to find her, make that moment for the both of them. Little did she know that that moment, that perfect moment would only be a simple gesture.
The urge to stay at home over came her that Friday. Dreading the sure terror that would be tonight she chose to call into work claiming that the wedding the preceding week had been too much, which was very much the truth. The downfall of this day of hooky however was the lack of Rory. Going to Chilton of course required a lot of tests and it wouldn't be a Friday for the sixteen year old without at least three. So waking up at nine o'clock with a fierce determination to have a relaxing day. Showering and pulling her hair back into a pony tail she debated internally on what to do with herself so she could dress appropriately. After a moment she sided with a pair of blue jeans and Metallica t-shirt, figuring that it would be appropriate for about anything informal.
Rushing out the door she initially squinted at the sun and cursed it automatically. Then cursing herself for cursing the sun she noticed the beauty of the fall morning. A slight chill encompassed her as the dew glimmered in the morning sun. Various colors of red, orange, and brown leaves floated around her to the ground, seeming to carpet the path to Luke's in front of her. Gaining a slight lift to her walk she sauntered to Luke's, walking in to a semi-empty diner.
"You're late for work?" A gruff voice informed her from behind.
"I called in." She answered simply, heading towards the counter with Luke behind her. Going behind the counter he grabbed a cup and poured it full, watching as Lorelai turned on her stool to look outside.
"What's with you?"
"Is it always this gorgeous this time of year?" She asked, turning her head slightly.
"It's fall Lorelai…it's been like this since the beginning of time."
"Well I know that." She replied, turning to sip at the coffee that was beckoning her. "I just never took the time to notice it. Winter has always been my season."
"How can you not notice all the leaves? It's pure madness trying to keep the things raked, they just keep coming. You could rake for an hour and still there'd be more on the ground."
"I take it you had some bad memories involving rakes?" She asked, her eyebrows lifting.
"I had to rake the damn things growing up."
"It's not their fault." She informed him with a sigh.
"What's with you?" He asked her again.
"I don't know what to do today. I've got dinner with Stalin and Hitler tonight and I'd like to just relax today, have some fun before my day is ruined."
"Well then do something."
"But I don't have anyone to do something with. Rory has school and Sookie's with Jackson." She replied, hearing the bell above the diner signal the arrival of another customer as Luke refilled her coffee.
"Be with you in a minute." He said gruffly without looking at the customer. "You want something to eat?" He asked her gruffly.
"Yeah, surprise me ok?"
"Health food it is."
"Don't be like that Luke, just bring me something high on fat, cholesterol, and caffeine."
"One heart attack coming up." He replied, slightly smiling as their eyes met.
"Thank you." She smiled. "Um, can I get it over there?" She asked, pointing towards an empty table. "I want to admire the view."
"Yeah." He smirked, looking over to see a blonde headed woman waiting patiently at the end of the counter. "I'll bring your food over."
"Thanks Luke." She said, grabbing her coffee and walking over to the table, completely unaware that Luke was watching her walk away. Putting her order into Caesar he finally made his way to the customer. "Can I help you?" He asked, readying himself with his pen and paper.
"Just coffee for now Luke, is it?"
"Yeah." He grunted, looking up at the blonde from before.
"Alright, thanks Luke." Only grunting he poured her coffee.
"Tell me when you're ready to order." He grunted walking back into the kitchen to make Lorelai's food.
Walking out some five minutes later with a loaded plate of food and the remnant s of a pot of coffee he headed to Lorelai's table, sitting the steaming plate of fluffy pancakes and sausage in front of a beaming Lorelai. "I knew you wouldn't let me down." She smiled.
"Yeah well you looked all pitiful."
"Of course." She replied through a mouthful of pancake.
"That's disgusting." He informed her.
"So is that." She said pointing with her fork to the bowl of cantaloupe in his hand.
"No it's really good and it's mine."
"I never wanted it." She replied, holding her hands up. "Want to join me?" He nodded and placed the bowl on the table beside her.
"Luke?" A voice came from behind them. "I'm ready to order now."
"You know her?"
"No. I guess she read the sign outside."
"So did I but I still called you Duke."
"No need to relive that."
"She likes you."
"What? Just because she bothered to read a sign-"
"Just go take her order." She interrupted him, waving him away with her fork. Sighing he headed behind the counter. As Lorelai watched Luke ignore the blonde's blatant flirting she slowly became infatuated with orange fruit sitting beside her. Deciding that he would never know that a piece was missing she stuck her fork through a piece and popped it into her mouth, her mouth watering at the taste of the delectable fruit. Tilting her head in obvious enjoyment she grabbed another piece as Luke gave the woman's order to Caesar.
Finally making it back to the table he was surprised to see half his breakfast gone from the bowl. "I thought you didn't eat healthy?"
"Well I like cantaloupe."
"Since when?"
"Five minutes ago."
"You're awful."
"You should be thankful I ate it. That was my healthy intake for the year."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"Since when do you speak with proper English?"
"Good point." He gave up, picking up his fork and eating what remained of his snack.
"What's her name?"
"Who?"
"The woman who keeps glancing over here and was flirting with you."
"She was not flirting!" He exclaimed quietly.
"Yes Luke she was."
"Hush Lorelai."
"Why should I?"
"Because I don't want to hear it, ok?"
"Not your type?" She nagged, staring him down until he finally looked up at her.
"Not at all." He answered quietly, his eyes revealing too much. Slowly swallowing her pancake she forced herself to look away, a feeling unlike that of any other encompassing her body and soul, the rest of the diner seeming to fade to black in front of her. After a moment of awkward silence he cleared his throat loudly, the surprise of the noise causing her to whip her eyes up to meet his. "You know if you need someone to hang out with today I can get away." He offered.
"I'd like that." She replied, trying but failing to ignore the sudden feeling of anticipation overcoming her.
A/N: This is supposed to be a one shot but I think that their could be a little more to it. Not a lot though, this is just a breather from all my other ones. Three chapters maximum. What do you think? Review and tell me please.
