Notes:
Maybe I should be mean and prolong the summer a little longer... Just kidding, I wouldn't do that to you! I worked really hard at finishing this quickly because of all the reviews I recieved. All the reviews were much appreciated so here's the chapter you've all been waiting for!
In response to the review from chmelms (actually I think it was for my other fic), I am planning a longer fic for the summer. When Hearts Collide will probably go through the summer but I've been working on another longer one, not as long as this one but longer than a oneshot. I don't want to start posting it here until after season 6 is over though because I want to know where Luke and Lorelai are at the end of the season. But it's good, I'm really having fun writing it. And it's not the one I mentioned a long time ago called Generations because it's not a JJ fic and I wanted to write a summerlong fic with lots of Luke and Lorelai. So I'm not sure if I'm going to do any more short fics until this summer because I want to work on this new one and keep up the work on When Heart Collide. I hope you'll like it when I start posting it!
roywthepoodles and chmelms - Thanks for the info. I noticed that when my email box suddenly filled up today. Wow. And I guess I should have realized that when I wasn't being alerted about other fics.
bluedaisy05 - I think I was talking about the shirt in the scene with Sookie. I think it looked like the one in Welcome To The Dollhouse, or at least it looked that terrible.
RobinPoppins - Yes I noticed that too. My question is then did his dad die only 12 years ago or did Luke date her for a really long time or were they friends for a long time before dating? I too was yelling at Luke to remind Anna that Lorelai's his fiance not girlfriend as well as remind her that she kept April from him for 12 years.
LorLukealways - Christopher and Lorelai broke up in February if that answers your question.
coffeebean2007 - Thanks for the compliments! About Anna, you know, the first few times I saw her I thought I would like her, it seemed in other episodes that they were making her out to be a lot like Lorelai. But this time, even just her first moment dropping April off at the diner, something about her made me dislike her. It wasn't until later that I knew why...
And on to chapter 38...
Outside Luke's Diner
Lorelai and Rory are standing outside Luke's. Lorelai glances in the window and grimaces. "He looks busy," Lorelai says decidedly. Rory furrows her eyebrows and looks in the window.
"He does not look busy," Rory maintains. Lorelai pouts. She looks back in the window again.
"He looks like he's not in a good mood," Lorelai says. Rory looks at her like she's crazy.
"He never looks like he's in a good mood," Rory comments. Lorelai sighs, looking down and crossing her arms over her chest. Rory reaches out and rubs her arm. "Mom, you just gotta go in and rip off that band aid." Lorelai gives her a scared look.
"But I don't wanna!" Lorelai whines.
"Mom, if you never go in there, you'll never know what he's going to say, you'll never know how happy you could be, and you'll never be able to drink a decent cup of coffee again." Lorelai glances back in the window.
"Are you coming with me?"
"No, this is something you need to do alone. Besides, I have to go give Lane her present." Lorelai bites her lower lip, a little unsure. "Go!" Rory presses, pushing her mother towards the door. She walks away. Lorelai takes a deep breath, summoning all her courage before opening the door to walk inside the diner.
Luke looks up, hearing the bells ring. He smiles at Lorelai, who gives him a nervous smile back. He goes back to fixing the toaster as she walks up to the counter. "Hey," she says.
"Hello there," Luke replies.
"Miss me?" Lorelai flirts, tucking a hand under her chin and she settles herself onto a stool.
"Well the town was a lot quieter," Luke answers, still playing with the toaster. Lorelai watches him quietly for a moment as he fiddles around.
"And another one bites the dust," Lorelai teases. Luke looks up at her sighing.
"Yeah, Queen really knew what they were talking about." Lorelai nods, folding her arms on the counter in front of her.
"You know one day, that toaster's just going to get up and run away with how much you attack it."
"I wouldn't have to if it wouldn't break every morning."
"Aw, poor Toasty," Lorelai says, reaching out and petting the toaster. "Don't worry, Auntie Lorelai loves you." Luke gives her a look. She smiles and takes her hand off the toaster.
"Coffee?" he grunts.
"Yes!" she replies, excited. Luke puts a cup in front of her and pours the coffee in. Lorelai lifts the cup with both hands a satisfied look on her face as she drinks it. "Ah, I've missed this. We couldn't find coffee like this in Europe." Lorelai licks her lips, eyes closed as she sets the cup down. She opens her eyes and winks at Luke, who looks at her strangely.
"You couldn't find good coffee in Europe? The continent most well known for good coffee after South America? Didn't you go to Italy?"
"Yeah, but there's no Luke's in Italy," Lorelai contends. Luke shakes his head smiling. She reaches out and touches his hand. "There was no Luke in Italy." Luke stares down at her hand and then looks up at her, no expression on his face. He swallows.
"So," he begins, clearing his throat. "Is there anything left of Europe?" Lorelai feigns hurt.
"Of course! I mean, despite all the time we spent stalking Bono in England, we're not wanted for too many international crimes," Lorelai insists. Luke chuckles.
"Well let me know if you guys need a character witness," Luke says.
"Why, you'll vouch for me?"
"No, I'll be Rory's character witness, I'll explain that you drove her to madness with your incessant talking and insane ideas," Luke explains. Lorelai pouts.
"I'll bet your summer couldn't even compare," Lorelai hedges.
"I'll give you that. Flipping burgers and waiting on annoying customers doesn't make for an enjoyable summer," Luke concurs. Lorelai raises an eyebrow.
"That was your summer?" Lorelai asks, not actually surprised. "That wasn't any different than the winter." Luke shrugs.
"It was hotter," he figures.
"Well, probably cuz you're still wearing that flannel. I'll bet you're miserable underneath all those clothes." Luke raises an eyebrow.
"What would you know about that?"
"Dirty!" Lorelai exclaims, an eyebrow raised. Luke nods smiling. He goes back to fixing the toaster. Lorelai's expression gets serious as she watches him while drinking the rest of her coffee. "Oh hey, I brought you back a gift." She hands him a small tote bag.
"You didn't have to."
"Of course we did, we couldn't go traipsing all across Europe without bringing presents back for our friends." Luke nods. He reaches into the bag and takes out the jam with a bow stuck on top of it.
"Jam," Luke says, staring at it.
"Actually it's Fruits de la Terre," Lorelai corrects him. Luke looks over at her.
"So it is."
"That's French, it came all the way from Paris." Lorelai widens her eyes, hoping he believes her. He puts it down on the counter behind him.
"Thank you."
"That's it?"
"It's just jam, Lorelai."
"Actually, it's special jam! It was made by a blind jam maker." Luke raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms in front of him.
"Really? Blind?"
"Yeah, blind and orphaned. She was found, left for dead and raised by poor jam makers in the mountains of…"
"Paris?" Lorelai gives him a look.
"Yeah, exactly, the mountains of Paris. And her whole life she dreamed of making the perfect strawberry jam. And… You're not believing a word of this are you?" Luke chuckles.
"Not a chance." Lorelai pouts. "That wasn't even your best attempt." Lorelai sighs.
"We couldn't find anything that would be perfect for you," she explains.
"Well it was a nice gesture." Luke picks the screwdriver back up and goes back to the toaster. Lorelai swallows, her throat suddenly dry, as she knows this is her only chance.
"Did you do a lot of thinking over the summer?" Lorelai asks carefully. Luke puts down his screwdriver, looking up at her with one eye.
"Anna," he grunts.
"No, Luke, I'm Lorelai, remember me, the coffee addict, I've been mixed up with Natalie Wood and Jenna Elfman but never – " Luke cuts her off grabbing her hand that's lying flat on the counter.
"No – I – I meant that – Anna – I chose Anna," Luke says, with a blank expression on his face. Lorelai stares at him, slowly letting his words sink in. Her expression turns to one of chagrin as she struggles to maintain her composure.
"Oh," she whispers, biting her lower lip. She looks up at him. "Really?" He shakes his head.
"No, Lorelai, I choose you. I chose you a long time ago." Lorelai mouth drops open in surprise. Luke chuckles. "You're not the only one who can make a joke Lorelai."
"Yeah, but I don't joke about these kind of things," Lorelai whines, pushing his arm lightly. Then she pouts.
"Sorry," Luke apologizes, sort of smiling at her and a smile slowly forms across her face. "You had to know Lorelai, it was always you. I don't know why you ever thought it would be otherwise. I sat down with Anna and we talked things over, it was never going to work out with us. And we explained things to April, who was a little upset, but was mature enough to understand. And she says to tell you to come over anytime to play house." Lorelai smirks.
"So you're still Eddie Murphy-ing the kid care," Lorelai figures. Luke gives her a soft smile as he takes her hand, running his thumb over her soft skin thoughtfully.
"I'm still here," Luke assures her. She nods, as their eyes lock. Slowly he leans towards her, as she does the same, their lips capturing in a soft, sweet kiss.
"I'm all here too," she whispers, looking deep into his eyes, their faces barely separated, noses touching. She leans in, closing the distance between them again and they kiss slowly, lingering. Lorelai leans back, a smile plastered across her face, her eyes sparkling. Luke swallows, taken with her, completely removed from his surroundings.
"Should we celebrate?" he asks in a deep gruff voice. Lorelai grins.
"I would love to, but I can't." She purses her lips, a little sad that she can't. "Rory and I have so much to get done before she leaves for Yale on Saturday. She's probably waiting for me." There's a knock on the window between Luke's and the ice cream shoppe. They look over and see Rory standing the window, holding the poster of her as the ice cream queen. "And there she is," Lorelai says, motioning towards her. Rory points at the poster, and Lorelai's mouth drops open in shock. "I can't believe it!" Luke grimaces.
"It's Taylor, did you expect anything different?" Lorelai gives him a look and then sighs.
"Well I'd better go," Lorelai says sadly. She stands. "Hope you like the jam, the original label said it was good."
"Did it even come from Europe?" Lorelai shakes her head.
"Jackson's cupboard," she admits. Luke smiles. He reaches over the counter and takes her hand in his.
"Well I appreciate the thought. And I'll come help you load the truck tomorrow and we can make plans for another time?" Lorelai nods, playing with his fingers mindlessly.
"Okay." She leans in and kisses him and then walks towards the door. Luke watches her walk away. She glances back as she opens the door and winks. Luke smiles and she walks out.