Notes:
GMB loves Angel - Haha, I made you like Chris. That is quite a feat.
Caffeination - Wow, let me see how best to respond to it. First of all, I have no problem with ranting in your review, as I've told others. If that makes you feel better then feel free, as long as you're not ranting about how bad my writing is, which of course you weren't. I'm sorry to read that you lost faith in Lorelai in Partings, I was sad that she became podLorelai in the second half, but I do have faith that realLorelai will make a comeback. I may not agree with what Lorelai did in Partings, but I do understand what was going through her mind. You're not the only one who started reading fanfics just after Partings aired, I've read many reviews where readers said that they did that. I'm sorry that you think Chris only acted that way because he's got a girlfriend, that wasn't the reason that I had Rosanna show up. I personally think that Chris acted this way because he remembers what happened the last time she showed up at his house and he's still trying to make amends for that. I hope that I can do more to restore your faith in Lorelai, as I am a huge Lorelai fan.
Petite Quiet Harrison - That is quite a compliment that you can't hate the Lorelai/Chris moments. Really it is.
TheCoffeeBean - Hmmm... I'm not sure how to respond, but Lorelai is in no way falling for Chris. There was that part in the middle of the chapter when she wished that Chris was Luke, because she knew he'd be there for her. She wasn't crying because he has a girlfriend, she's still just upset because her life seems to be falling apart and seeing Chris didn't help. Plus she just left the place where Chris had attacked her just a year before, that's a lot of pent up emotion. Again, you just have to trust me.
Luke and Lorelai's House
Luke has gotten Liam into a Baby Einstein chair and Liam's keeping himself occupied while Luke feeds Olivia. Just as Olivia finishes, the doorbell rings. Luke is thankful that he's set the kids up in the living room so he doesn't have to go far to answer the door. Anna and April are standing in the doorway. Anna's holding a foil tray. "Heya Luke, our kid told me that you're attempting single fatherhood," Anna says.
"Just for a time," Luke adds, making sure that both Anna and April know that Lorelai's coming back, even though he's not completely sure she is.
"Right, but even then I thought you might need a hand," Anna says. Luke eyes her for a moment, trying to decide what to do when Olivia begins to whimper in his arms. Luke sighs.
"Come on in," Luke finally replies, motioning with his head for them to walk inside. Anna lets April enter the house, making sure to close the door tightly behind her. Luke walks over and grabs a burp blanket off of the edge of the couch and sets it on his shoulders. He tries to adjust Olivia onto his shoulder without setting her down first and is clearly having trouble before Anna hands April the tray and takes Olivia from Luke, resituating the infant on her father's shoulder. "Thanks."
"Guess it's a good thing I stopped by," Anna teases. Luke nods, a little unsure about the situation. "I brought lasagna," Anna adds as a bribe.
"Lasagna?"
"Vegetable lasagna." Luke grins. "There are a few things about you that stuck." Luke nods. "I just thought with Lorelai gone, you might need help with cooking."
"Ummm… just a hint to you, Anna, I'm not sure who you think Lorelai is but she's not Emeril. In fact, I'd be surprised if she knew how to turn on an oven," Luke responds.
"You cook for her?"
"She ate at the diner almost everyday. Or ordered pizza. Or Chinese. Or ice cream…" Luke shakes his head.
"Does she clean?" Luke shrugs.
"Not really…" Anna stares at him, a look of incredulity on her face.
"So you're telling me that Lorelai doesn't cook, she doesn't even eat health food, and she doesn't clean?" Luke nods. "I never thought I would be able to say this but Paula Abdul was right, opposites do attract." Luke chuckles. As he glances away, the photos on the mantle catch his eye, his smile slowly disappearing. Anna peeks a look at April, who is staring at Luke, a concerned look on her face.
"April, honey, why don't you go heat up the lasagna while your dad and I get these babies changed?" Anna suggests. She bends down and lifts Liam out of the chair.
"Okay," April agrees, taking the tray with her into the kitchen.
"Luke," Anna says softly, trying to pull his attention away from the photo he picked up of him and Lorelai. Rory had taken it at Christmastime with the new digital camera Lorelai had gotten her. Luke sits in the corner of the couch with Lorelai cuddled in his arms, both smiling and enjoying their new engagement. Anna jostles Liam in her arms. Luke glances over at her.
"Yeah…" He motions for her to follow him. They walk up the stairs into the nursery.
"Nice place you got here," Anna comments.
"Lorelai had a lot of time after the twins were born, when I was trying to keep her from doing too much. So she decorated, she's a decorator. She likes that kinda thing," Luke explains, staring at the ducks on the one wall. "But she only wanted ducks on one wall, she said it would draw the attention away from the rest of the room when it became a mess," Luke remembers. Anna stands in the doorway, holding Liam to her, letting Luke be with his memories for a moment. Luke looks down at the ground, sighing. "Let's get the twins put down."
"Do they need to be changed first?" Anna asks. Luke shakes his head.
"No I changed them after Lane fed them." Luke takes Olivia over her to crib. He kisses her forehead and lays her down. Luke reaches a hand in, running a finger over his daughter's small fist. "Sweet dreams Baby Girl." He smiles faintly and then walks over to where Anna stands by Liam's crib. "Here," Luke grunts, holding out his arms for his son. He kisses Liam's forehead as well and then lays Liam down in the crib. He gently squeezes Liam's tiny foot. "Stay strong Kiddo." He winks at Liam and then turns the baby monitor on.
Luke grabs the other monitor and motions for Anna to follow him out. Pausing at the bedroom, Luke continues into the sewing room. "Luke, are you all right?" Anna asks.
"Yeah, I just – it would be weird – you know – odd – for you to be – that was Lorelai's room – you know – originally," Luke attempts to explain.
"All right," Anna agrees, laying a comforting hand on Luke's arm. "But you can't keep going like this. How long has she been gone?" Luke sighs, trying to figure it out. "It's Sunday, what day did she leave?"
"Early Friday morning," Luke whispers. Anna nods, concern showing on her face. Luke rubs his mouth. "Rory called a little bit ago, she said that she thinks she's found Lorelai."
"For sure?" Luke shrugs. "How does Rory know that?"
"I don't know. Lorelai wouldn't just leave…"
"But she did Luke," Anna reminds him.
"That's not what I mean," Luke responds quickly, glaring at Anna. "She'll come back eventually. She's upset. She needs some time to herself. But she'll come back." Anna folds her arms over her chest, wondering who Luke is trying to convince. "You don't know her," Luke repeats.
"What I don't understand is why you're not angry with her for leaving. You've got two babies to raise and she's off finding herself. Sure, clinical depression, I get that, you went through that too after your dad died."
"Judy Garland went through it too. At least Lorelai's handling it a little better," Luke responds. Anna stares at him. "But I can't get mad at Lorelai for taking a time out to make herself better, it would be like getting mad at my mom for stopping the chemo so that the symptoms would go away."
"Did you?" Luke sets the baby monitor on the table and shoves his hands in his pockets. He stares at the ground.
"Yeah," he admits. He turns and walks over to the window staring out. "But I hid it, I couldn't get mad at her, she was dying."
"And…?" Luke sighs.
"And I loved her," Luke adds quietly. He rubs his forehead. Anna walks over to Luke touching his sleeve. Luke has his lips pressed together, a fist tapping against his mouth as he tries to hold his emotions in. A solitary tear drifts down his cheek.
"I know you loved your mom, I know she appreciated that you understood."
"She did," Luke whispers. "She knew that I was angry with her decision and she told me I didn't have to keep it from her because she – she loved me to too much to watch me hurt, but I had to. She needed me to understand. She needed me to forgive. She needed me to just love her and let her make her decisions." Anna rubs his arm as Luke squeezes his eyes shut. He draws in a shaky breath. "She needs me to let her take her time. She needs me to love her. Then she'll come back." Anna pulls Luke's arm, slowly turning him so that he faces her. Luke stares down at Anna. "She'll come back."
"You sure?" Anna asks. Luke takes a deep breath and then runs both of his hands through his hair. "Why are you so sure?" Anna wonders, even though Luke never answered her last question.
"Because she…she…" Luke looks away, not sure or not wanting to admit his false hopes. "I love her," he finally says.
"Do you? Or are you just holding on because you have kids together?" Luke gives Anna a sharp look. "I can't believe you're settling down, you, Luke Danes, Butch Danes, the serial monogamist, the eternal playboy."
"I…" Anna cuts him off, cupping his face with her hands and pressing her lips hard against his. "Anna!" Luke yells, pulling back and stepping away from Anna. He wipes his mouth with disgust. But Anna doesn't seem upset, in fact there's a sense of awe in her eyes.
"Why Luke Danes, someone's finally gotten to you. I can't believe it, but it's true," Anna says, amazed. Luke gives her a look of repulsion.
"What was that for?"
"I just wanted to see if you were sure, and oh my God, you love her, despite everything," Anna realizes.
"I've loved her since the moment I laid eyes on her 8 years ago," Luke admits.
"Do you know if she loves you?" Luke draws in a breath but doesn't respond. "I see."
"She'll be back, I'm sure of that. And until then, I've just gotta keep things going. I need to take care of the diner, make sure things are going okay with the Dragonfly and take care of these kids. Until the moment she comes back, those are the only things I can concentrate on."
"We'll help," April announces, showing up in the doorway. Anna glances around at April in surprise, having almost forgotten April is there.
"Thanks, but I…" Luke responds quickly, glancing at Anna.
"Well, I'll help," April promises, not really understanding what's going on between her mom and dad. Luke grins. He walks over to April, gathering her in his arms.
"I'm so glad I almost knocked your mom over that day in the market. You're the most amazing kid," Luke tells April, who looks up at him and grins. "Did I ever tell you I love you?" April shakes her head. "Well I do, and I want you to know that. No matter what." April nods.
"I love ya too Pops," April answer. Luke groans. He kisses the top of her head.
"Okay, let's go try to swallow that lasagna your mom attempted to make." April nods and Anna follows her out of the room. Luke walks out, pausing in the doorway of the bedroom he shares with Lorelai, heaving a sigh. "Lorelai, wherever you are, please come home," he whispered.