Chapter Thirteen

"I love you."

Anger flooded Lorelai's eyes. I love you. She had just poured her entire soul to him, revealed to him a secret that no one—not even Rory—shared, and all he could say was that he loved her?

All he could say was that he loved her.

Max would have calmly and rationally explain all of her endearing qualities, citing them as proof that she was a wonderful human being, and that wonderful craziness was what had fascinated him when they first met. Chris, on the other hand, would have laughed and said she was perfect. Any imperfections were simply perfections that were unrealized by the general populace. Both of them, in their own ways, would have labeled this admission as one of her crazy moods. They never would have said they loved her. Luke did.

A warm glow filled her body. Luke said he loved her.

"So that's it?" Damn her mouth! She wanted to proclaim her love from the rooftops and run singing down the streets like Judy Garland or a Disney movie. Instead, she was making things worse by yelling at him. "I say that I'm the scum of the Earth and you say that you love me? Nothings resolved?"

"Well, I do love you." Luke seemed unfazed by her tirade. "And, we hit on what went wrong."

"You loving me broke us up?"

"No."

"Our poor self images?" He nodded. "Well, barring therapy, which you won't do and I can't do, I don't see a resolution in coming."

"There doesn't need to be a solution. Whatever I think about you doesn't matter." He made an odd shaking gesture at the candle. "I mean, it doesn't matter how amazing I think you are, or brave, or gorgeous. It doesn't matter if I think you really are Wonder Woman. Because, if you don't think that, then there's nothing I can do to convince you you're wrong. But, what I can do is tell you how much I love you and stay by you and hope one day you realize how wonderful you really are." He looked down at the table as a fierce blush colored his cheeks.

"You think I'm wonderful?"

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You and Rory both."

"God you talk good."

"The only question is do you love me?"

"Yes." Her voice came out as a whisper.

"Then what are we doing here?"

"I have no clue. We should fix that." She slyly slid from her chair and walked over to him. Her hands traced intricate patterns against his skin. Luke growled roughly as she stoked fires long gone to coals within him. He pulled her to hiss lap, lust and need emboldening him. "There's that naughty man in my bed." She nibbled the top of his earlobe.

He stood from the table, sending the chair crashing to the floor, and lifted her in his arms. "Let's go teach that him a lesson." His voice was deep and low, almost predatory. It sent shivers up her spine.

Neither of them slept that night.

The sun rose early the following morning, and Lorelai, despite a long night of talking and making up, was not tired. Just like in a movie, where the two estranged lovers meet on the pier as the sun sets, and the ocean sprays behind them as they come together for a passionate kiss, they had found their ways to each other. It was better than a movie. There was no music in the background, no Berlin or Six Pence None the Richer, no docks, and no ocean spray. There was a set of stairs in front of a beaten up old house, and instead of a sunset, they had the cold glow of the moon. It was real. That made all the difference.

"Hey."

His voice was rough from lack of sleep and resembled the low rumble of a pickup after a long day at the field. It was a strong voice; a voice that promised a lifetime of safety and love. She could listen to that voice forever.

"Hey," the voice said again. This time, large, work-worn hands traced circles against the skin of her back. She arched, cat-like, and purred as electric tingles coursed through her body. "Hey."

She purred again, "Hey."

"So, I was thinking that since I have the day off…"

"Day off?"

"Caesar and Lane are covering."

"Oh, that's nice."

"I just have to remember to forget Lane sneaks food to Zach and Brian." He paused, and kissed the top of her head. "I have to make sure you tell her what happened last night and today."

"There's going to be more today?" Lorelai demurred.

"Well, I was thinking breakfast." He grinned down at her as his hands gripped her hips tightly and held her above his waist.

She draped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair as she kissed him passionately. "Can we do a little more of what we did last night?"

"I'm fairly certain we can." He nuzzled her neck as his hands did the most amazing things to her hips and back.

"And then?"

He laughed. "You want more?"

"Oh yeah."

"And then I'm going to fix your porch."

"What?"

"And then I'm going to tighten your shutters." He kissed her neck. "And replace some shingles." He kissed her shoulder. "Your shower probably needs some work too."

"Is this some kind of dirty foreplay code?"

"Isn't all foreplay code inherently dirty?"

"Yeah, but this is especially dirty."

"Ah. Well, I noticed the porch and shutters yesterday. The shower's just a guess."

"Good guess. Pressure's been crappy for a week." She leaned down to kiss him again, but the rudely ringing phone interrupted her. "I'll just let the machine get that."

"Do that." His lips sought hers and his hands slipped up her sides. The ringing stopped as the machine clicked on.

"…Lorelai? It's Sookie. Um, not to freak you out or anything but, where the Hell are you?" Sookie's shrill voice pierced the morning calm. "The Lourghton's wedding is in four hours, and they're going to be in herein in forty minutes and you were supposed to be here over an hour ago! Okay. It's okay. I'm fine. Everything's fine. It's all fine. I'm gonna call your cell."

Lorelai's head jerked away from Luke as he rolled out of bed, her knee connecting with something very soft in the process. "Oh no! Oh no! No! No! No!"

Luke winced and gently cupped his wounded tenders as he stood from the bed. "You can still make it."

Lorelai winced at Luke's obvious pain. "Sorry, hon."

"Don't worry about it." He winced again. "You just made sure that Rory is an only child." He gently pushed her towards the door. "Now, go!"

Lorelai rushed into the shower, a grin plastered on her face despite her harried state. Yes, everything was going to be fine.