The crowd began to die down around 12:30am and only Lorelai, Rory, Sookie, and Luke remained. They stood in the kitchen, the girls each enjoying their third piece of cake for the evening as he watched in terror.

"Your arteries are going to clog and induce heart attacks by the time you're all 40," he said.

"Yeah, but at least we'll have eaten good," Lorelai replied, her mouth filled with cake.

"What she said," Sookie agreed, pointing at Lorelai with her plastic fork.

Rory set down her plate and walked into the living room, where she began to clean up the mess from the party. A few moments later, Lorelai walked in.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Just cleaning up," Rory replied.

"Didn't I tell you to stop doing chores earlier? It's your birthday! Go relax. I'll take care of it."

"Technically, it isn't my birthday anymore. Today is Sunday and my birthday was Friday."

"Listen, Miss Know-It-All. The party was for you so, no matter what day it is, you're not allowed to clean. Go hang out and enjoy your shiny new computer," Lorelai commanded.

"If you insist," she sighed dramatically.

"I do."

Rory rose on her toes to kiss her mom on the cheek. "Thank you, by the way. For the computer. You didn't have to do that."

"Yes I did, Rory. You deserve a nice, fancy, grown up present. And I'm sorry I haven't always been able to fill your birthdays with the best gifts but-"

"Don't go there," Rory interrupted her. "Don't you realize you've given me everything? The past 16 years, you've been the most amazing mom. You've never failed me. Not once."

Rory walked toward her bedroom before Lorelai had time to argue.

She resumed walking around the living room, picking up empty cups, plates, and party hats. She hadn't heard him walk up behind her and was startled by his voice.

"She's right, you know," he said from behind her.

She turned around to find him standing in the entryway. She flashed him a subtle smile and shrugged, returning her attention to the clutter on the table. He walked up behind her, his eyes fixed on the curve of her jeans. As the space between them became smaller, she sensed his presence behind her and her breath hitched as chills voyaged across her skin. She was so distracted that she didn't even notice Sookie walking out the front door, deciding to leave after having taken in the scene in the living room.

She remained motionless, still bent down over the coffee table, breathing loudly. His hand took on a mind of its own, reaching out and running its fingers through her soft, curly hair. The chills on her body peaked higher and he stepped closer, placing his other hand on her hip. He pulled her up and turned her around, pressing her body to his own.

"What are you-"

"Shh," he cut her off, pressing his index finger to her lips. "C'mon."

He gripped her hand firmly and led her through the breezeway, then the kitchen, and out the back door. He looked like a man on a mission, but she couldn't figure out what that mission was. He continued pulling her along with him until they reached the back door of her garage. He turned the handle and pushed the door open. She reached to turn on the light but he covered her hand with his own, pulling it away from the switch.

"Leave it off," he whispered, a commanding tone overtaking his voice.

"Luke I-"

"Didn't I say stop talking?" he said as he pinned her against the dusty inside of the door. He moved his hands up to hold her face and tilted her head upward until her gaze met his.

"You have no idea how amazing you are, do you?" he asked, an intense expression filling his eyes. "I mean," he lowered his face and left a quick, lingering kiss on her soft lips. "You've given everything to that girl." He kissed her again. "You're fearless," kiss, "generous," kiss, "and the most incredible mom I've ever met," kiss. He moved back, grinning proudly at the surprise that veiled her face. She opened her mouth to speak but he quickly moved back down, claiming her lips once again, deeply and lastingly. He pulled back, out of breath not because of the lack of oxygen, but rather because of the shock that she hadn't sprinted away from him yet. She just stood there, motionless, staring at him. "And I fall for you over and over again, every single day. You sacrifice everything you have, everything you are, for the well being of your daughter. But who's taking care of you?"

"I'm a big girl, Luke. I get by just fine on my own," she answered.

"That car behind me," he began, gesturing over his shoulder. "It that yours?"

"No, I stole it," she teased.

"It it locked?"

"I don't think so. I haven't used it since I got the Jeep. Why?"

"C'mon," he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the left rear door of the car.

He reached for the handle with his other hand and successfully opened the door. He brushed his palm over the small of her back, encouraging her to climb in. He followed, pulling the door closed behind him, then returned his attention to her. He slid nearer to her, closing the distance between them and let his lips fall to the soft spot just behind her ear. He licked the skin there and then lightly blew on it, sending another mass of chills forming across her body. She moaned at his touch but still remained motionless, not yet sure how to respond. He took her unresponsiveness as a good sign and moved his hands to hold her, his right fingers getting tangled in her hair while his left hand moved down to her hipbone. Gently, he rose up to his knees on the seat and hovered over her, laying her down. He noted a sign of omission in her eyes, but she still looked nervous.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

She nodded, never breaking eye contact.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded again.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No!" she spoke up quickly. "I mean...um...no. Keep...keep going. I'm fine."

He raised his upper body, sliding out of his flannel and lifting the tight shirt off of his toned body. She gasped at the muscular plans of his pecs and abs, her body silently begging to be held in the strong arms that he had just introduced to her.

He moved his fingers to the hem of her shirt, placing his other hand behind her back and pulling her up so he could slide it over her head. He tossed the shirt over the headrest of the front passenger seat and when he turned back toward her, he grinned at the sight of her pastel-yellow bra, covered in cartoon monkeys holding bananas.

"Cute," he laughed, nodding toward the clothing that covered her chest.

"I wasn't planning on having company tonight," she replied.

"Shhh," he replied, moving his face toward her right breast, taking her fabric-covered nipple between his teeth. "I find it incredibly sexy," he growled.

"Oh," she moaned, finally moving, threading her fingers through the hair on the back of his head, pulling him harder against her chest.

He moved to her other breast, showing it equal attention.

"Take it off," she commanded, her voice firm. She arched her back off the seat, giving him access to reach his arm around and release the clasp. He moved his teeth to her shoulder, pulling the strap down her arm, repeating the action with the other strap as well. He flung it to his left and it landed in the front, draping over the top of the steering wheel. He moved his face back to her chest, licking the valley between her breasts, nuzzling the soft skin there with his nose. As he moved his hands to cup both of her mounds in his palms, he kissed his way down her torso, stopping briefly at her belly button, tickling it with his tongue.

She began trembling in anticipation beneath him as his lips traveled closer to the waistband on her jeans. He felt her nails graze his scalp as her grip on his hair tightened. When he reached her belt, he stopped, remaining still for several tantalizing moments. Lorelai, in response, bucked her hips up at him, knocking his nose in the process.

"Ouch," he whispered.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," he said, looking up at her. He smiled as he slid back up until his face met hers. He reached both of his arms behind his head, taking her hands in his own and threading his fingers through hers, and laying their joined hands on either side of her head.

He leaned down, taking her lips with in his own and, just as his tongue glided over the seam of her lips, the light in the garage suddenly turned on. Her eyes flew open and she sat up in less than a second, covering her exposed chest with her hands. She looked through the window of the door to see her newly-turned 16 year old daughter standing there, jaw completely dropped.