"I'm gonna get going," Sookie announced as she walked blindly into the living room.

"You are not driving," Lorelai replied.

"I walked," she informed her. "It was nice to see you again, Mrs. Gilmore, or at least make out your shape," she said as she gestured.

"Call me in fifteen minutes or I'm sending out a search party," Lorelai said.

"And you call me if I need to come over and help you up the stairs or something," she replied.

"No, I'll be fine."

"Bye," she sang as she walked out the door.

Emily turned to Lorelai, an expression of concern overcoming her face.

"Why would you need help up the stairs?" she asked.

"No reason," she faked a smile. "Rory, let's go, your public awaits," she diverted as she called into the kitchen.

"Why aren't you moving?" Emily pressed on.
"I'm comfortable, that's all."

"Are you hurt?"

"I have a little back spasm. That's it. It's no big deal," Lorelai insisted.

"What sort of back spasm?"

"I don't know, mom, just a normal one."

"There is nothing normal about a back spasm. The very fact that it has the word spasm in it means it's not normal. How'd you get it?"

Lorelai's mind drifted to the events of the night before as her mother sat there and waited for a response.

"I need coffee," she said as she stormed into the diner.

"You need a therapist," Luke responded, not bothering to pick up his head.

"You need to be nicer to your customers."

He rolled his eyes as he cleared off a table in the far right corner. She made her way behind the counter and started pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"What the hell are you doing?" she heard him ask as he turned around.

"Making your job easier," she replied sarcastically.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to go behind my counter?"

"Every time you don't get me coffee."

"You should be glad that I don't want to see you drop dead of a caffeine overdose or die young of cheeseburger-induced diabetes," he said in a low voice.

"Yeah...oh well."

He walked back behind the counter and into the back room where he placed the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, started running it, and turned off the light. He stood in the walkway and admired her figure. She was tall and lean, her curves subtle yet tempting. Her curly hair cascaded down her back, ending just below the shoulder blades that were attractively defined by her tight sweater. He wanted to make a move. He'd been wanting to make a move for years. Something always held him back. Fear? Insecurity? Both? Who knows? But the way she fluidly walked back around the counter and sat down on the stool struck something in him that hadn't been struck before. The swing of her hips sent jolts of electricity through his veins. He wanted her. And he wanted her now.

He didn't say anything. He just walked to the door, flipped the sign to closed, and locked it.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he turned off the lights. He said nothing. He just walked over to her, took the cup from her hands, set it on the table, took her hands in his, and led her up the stairs.

She breathed heavily as they reached the door and he opened it, pulling her in. When he didn't turn the lights on, her instincts finally kicked in.

"Luke what are you doing?"

"Shh," he said, bringing his index finger to her lips while his other hand wrapped around her waist to pull her body flush against his. He dipped his head down to hers until their faces were level and kissed her hard and with passion. She moaned at the initial contact but he never relented. He worked his lips over hers in a mastered technique that she'd never have expected him to have. When she realized she wasn't stopping him, when she realized she was enjoying it, her body finally reacted and she began to kiss him back, wrapping her arms around his neck as she did so. Parting her lips, she invited him in, and he wasted no time slipping his tongue into her mouth, exploring every inch.

He pulled her in the direction of his bed and, as they walked, moved his hands up and under the hem of her shirt, gliding his fingers up her back and working the clasp of her bra undone.

"Take it off," she gasped during a quick break in their kiss. He complied, moving his fingers down to take hold of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. She finished taking her bra off and he instantly reconnected his lips with hers. Their tongues dueled as he laid he attempted to lay her down on the bed but he was so distracted by her presence that he missed the bed by just an inch and the two of them crashed onto the ground, a pained whimper escaping her lips.

He sat up immediately. Pleasure and want turned to worry and concern. Her eyes were clenched shut and she laid motionless, her top half completely exposed.

"Lorelai."

"Mm?" she moaned in pain.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh-huh," she said unconvincingly.

"I'm so, so, so sorry," he said, reaching for her hand.

"It's uh," she began as she struggled to sit up, "no big deal." She reached for her bra and shirt and put them back on. "Could you just help me get up?"

He stood and took one of her hands in his, his other supporting the small of her back as he lifted her to her feet.

"Thanks for the coffee," she whispered before making her way out of the apartment.

So close.

"Lorelai?" Emily urged.

"Yeah?" she replied, snapping out of her daze.

"I asked you a question."

"You did?"

"Yes. How did you get the back spasm?"

"Oh! Right! I um...I just fell while making Rory's dress for tonight. That's all. That's what happened. That's exactly what happened. None other than exactly that."