I will always love you -Dolly Parton

If I should stay

I would only be in your way

So I'll go, but I know

I'll think of you each step of the way

And I will always love you

Lorelai gestures to her daughter as the words fly freely from her mouth. Rory smiles, and tells Lane that her mother's rendition of 'I Will Always Love You' is Dolly inspired. Rory wonders briefly what caused her mother to chose this song. She'd never thought of it as a mother/daughter song, but then again Lorelai wasn't exactly traditional.

I will always love you

Bitter-sweet memories

That's all I am taking with me

Lorelai's voice cracks a bit as she looks toward the door. Luke Danes was entering K.C.'s. She has to look at the screen because the moment she sees her ex the words escape her.

So good-bye, please don't cry

We both know that I'm not

What you need

I will always love you

I will always love you

Rory turns to see Luke, and realizes that this is why Lorelai had chosen this song. She probably had done it absentmindedly, but still. This song had to remind Lorelai of the man she would ALWAYS love.

Luke listens to the lyrics and feels his heart ache. Lorelai was what he needed, and she always would be. His love for her was still there, and he didn't see that ever changing. She was his soul mate. He knew that now more than ever.

Lorelai's gaze finally meets Luke's from across the bar. She tries to convey her feelings through the song, and hopes he understands. All the town's people are watching intently. Lorelai wasn't hiding her feelings at all. It was clear to everyone that the song was no longer directed at her daughter, but at Luke.

I hope life, treats you kind

And I hope that you have all

That you ever dreamed of

Luke and Lorelai's eyes don't move from each other. Her voice was touching his heart in ways he had almost forgotten. He can't wait for the song to be over so they can talk. All he wants is to get back on track with their relationship and move past the horrible year they'd spent apart. The pair share a small smile as the music continues.

And I wish you joy

And happiness

But above all of this

I wish you love

And I will always love you

Lorelai swallows. She feels tears start to form and is trying desperately to keep them at bay. She did wish him love, and she hoped he'd find it. She was so heart broken that he wouldn't have it with her, but she wanted him to be happy. That was no longer with her. Lorelai knew that, and she would respect it. Singing to Luke would hopefully bring the inn owner peace. Maybe she'd some day be able to move on.

Lorelai's love for Luke would always be there, but she couldn't force him to love her back. He's staring at her so intently that it brings Lorelai back to when they were happy. She can almost pretend that she's singing to him as her lover, and not her ex. Almost, but not quite. Her broken heart is too strong for that yet.

I will always love you

I will always love you

Lorelai hurries off the stage. She brushes past Rory, and makes some excuse about needing air. She can no longer hold back the tears, and needs to get out of the bar before she loses it completely.

The cold night air hits the brunette. She shudders, not quite sure if it's because she's chilly or if it's from the sob that racks her body. Someone comes out behind her. Lorelai turns expecting to see her daughter, but it's not. It's Luke.

"L-luke." She stutters. She brushes away her tears, hoping he won't notice, but it's too late. He takes a step closer. "W-what are y-you doing?"

"Will you just stand still?" He asks so softly she almost misses it. His fingers reach up and brush away her tears.

"I'm sorry." She sobs, not sure what she's apologizing for: the song, the cheating or the ultimatum. Maybe it's everything.

"Don't be sorry." Luke whispers pulling her close to him.

Lorelai cries into Luke's chest for a few moments. She knows she has no right to do this to him. She wasn't the girl who went crying to her ex boyfriend, but Luke was different. He was her weakness, and if she could be comforted by him one last time she was going to do it.

"Did you mean it?" Luke asks her gently. "The song...did you mean it?"

"It was meant for Rory at first." Lorelai admits. "But then you came in, and I just….I want you to know that I hope you find love. Luke, you deserve all the joy, and happiness in the world. I know I've hurt you, and you deserve so much better, but I will always love you, and I'll let you move on and find someone."

"God Lorelai, I don't want someone else. I want you, I always have. The things I said when we first broke up were lies. I was just hurt, and I took that out on you. We both made mistakes, but I will always love you too. I don't want to be apart anymore."

"Me either." Lorelai answers.

Just as Luke is about to lean down and kiss her, Rory comes searching for her mother. The pair pull apart, but Rory knows that she'd interrupted something. Luke sends Lorelai back to enjoy sometime with Rory. He promises he'll come by in the morning while Rory is with Paris. As much as Lorelai wants to finish her night with Rory, she also really wants to be with Luke, but she knows it'll have to wait.

As promised Luke arrives the next morning with coffee for both Gilmores. Rory had been so excited to hear about what had happened, and also glad to have Luke and his coffee back. Once Rory is gone, Luke and Lorelai sit on the sofa together. Both felt a little nervous, but also happy. They had a lot to work through, but it was clear they both wanted the same thing in the long run.

"So what do we do now?" Lorelai asks him.

"Well, we should probably take things slow, but I think we've spent enough time apart. I think I could be moved in here by the end of today." Luke answers. He'd spent the whole night thinking about this.

"W-what?" Lorelai gasps. "Luke...we have a lot we need to work through. We can't pretend the last year didn't happen."

"And we won't." Luke assures her, grabbing her hands. "But this time we ARE going to get through this. I was us to be together forever. I won't disappoint you this time."

"It wasn't just you, Luke." Lorelai sighs trying to wrap her brain around this. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. You should leave." Lorelai says. Luke's face falls, and Lorelai almost laughs. "I mean, how are you going to pack up all your stuff if you're here?"

Luke grins and pulls her into his lap. She lets out a giggle. The sound is music to Luke's ears. He gives her a passionate kiss on the lips. She kisses him back happily. They were probably crazy, but they didn't care. All they cared about was being together.

"Lorelai, I will always love you." Luke tells the woman in his arms.

"Oh Luke, I will always love you too."

A/N This scene still breaks me. Actually any scene where Luke and Lorelai aren't together breaks me. I'm still taking song suggestions :) Next up is Feels Like Home -Kaila