After returning from the mall, Rory sat down all of her bags and turned to her mother.

"Mom, you can't keep avoiding Luke." Rory scolded.

"I'm not avoiding Luke."

"You are. Ever since he stopped you outside of Al's Pancake World two days ago you've made it a point to avoid going anywhere near his diner. It took twenty extra minutes to get home from the mall, because you took the north side into town… so you wouldn't go by Luke's."

"I'm not avoiding Luke or his diner… I'm just..." Lorelai sighed. "Okay, maybe I am a little."

"See." Rory replied in a higher pitch. "What's up? I thought you wanted to talk to him?"

"I did." Lorelai frowned. "But that was before I knew Sookie left."

"Maybe Sookie left so you and Luke could be together…"

"Wow, that's very admirable… leave the one man you love more than anything on earth so your old best friend from whom you haven't heard from or talked to in 12 years can just swoop back in and take him…" Lorelai exhaled deeply. "No, Rory it's wrong."

Rory thought for a moment. "Do you love Luke?"

Lorelai looked Rory directly in the eye. "I don't think I ever stopped. Even when I left here… I was heartbroken and convinced he wanted nothing else to do with me… I still loved him."

"Mom, why are you doing this to yourself? He's already admitted he still loves you and Sookie has obviously realized it…"

Lorelai shook her head. "It shouldn't be so easy… it shouldn't be so right. Why am I getting this wonderful, wonderful gift? I don't deserve it." Lorelai began to tear up. "I don't deserve to still be loved and I don't deserve to have him… Sookie deserves him. She's been here for him and loved him unconditionally. Why should I get they pay off to all of her hard work? I feel like such a rotten and low person. I was mad when I found out they were together but now that they're apart I feel even worse about it."

Rory leaned over and hugged her mother. She didn't have an answer for Lorelai's questions, but she knew that whatever was meant to be, would always find a way.

Sookie took a deep breath and opened the door to the diner. She slowly walked behind the counter, keeping a careful eye out of Luke. She gazed around the back kitchen, no Luke in sight.

"Sookie?"

"Ah!" Sookie gasped as she turned around quickly.

Luke stepped out of the storage room. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." Luke replied.

"Uh, it's okay. I was looking for you actually… that's why I'm here… in this room." Sookie looked around nervously.

"I'm glad you're here." Luke smiled.

"You are?" Sookie asked, a small second of hope crossed Sookie's mind.

"Yeah, I've been wanting to talk to you about…" Luke licked his bottom lip quickly. "Do you still want to… work here?" he finally asked.

Sookie's bright expression quickly faded. "Oh… I … no." she ended. "That's why I came here. I was coming to quit."

Luke nodded his head. "Yeah, I figured you would."

"Yeah." Sookie faked a smile. "There's actually an inn that's hiring a chef just a little ways outside of town… I'm going to put my application in there."

"I'd be more than happy to give you a reference." Luke added.

"Sure… that'd be great. I could really use it." Sookie began to slowly sway back and forth.

"I'm glad to see that it's all working out well…"

"Yeah, I'm going to look at apartments this afternoon." Sookie paused. "Hopefully find something quaint and cozy."

Luke could tell Sookie was still upset. "I heard there's some apartment for rent on 3rd Ave." Luke replied.

"Really? Well, I'll have to look there… Thanks. So, I guess I'll see ya around."

"Yeah… see ya around." Luke repeated.

Sookie turned and left the diner. Luke watched her for several seconds as she walked down the street with her head hanging. He knew she wasn't as happy about the split up as she acted. He could tell she was heartbroken, but Luke had been heartbroken for 12 years. He felt he had a right to his own happiness. Besides, Sookie would find someone else. Someone who would love her… all of her.

Later that night, Luke had finally built up his courage to call Lorelai. He wanted to wait long enough to where he didn't appear desperate or clingy, but not too long so that Lorelai knew he truly cared.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Lorelai?"

"Yes." Lorelai answered

"It's Luke."

"Oh… Hi." Lorelai's tone quickly changed.

"I hope this is a good time to call."

Lorelai looked around at the empty townhouse. "Well, there's nothing else going on."

"Uh… Good." Luke paused. "So… how's everything?"

"Good." Lorelai answered shortly. "Everything's good. And you?"

"Oh, yeah… yeah, everything's good here too." Luke shook his head and closed his eyes. "Actually, Lorelai, everything's not so good."

"It's not?" Lorelai grabbed a jacket and walked outside on the porch.

"Look, I tried not to think too much about it but…"

"But?"

"Two days ago I told you that I still loved you and that was hard for me to do … I was scared to death to say those words. But what scared me more was that you didn't say it back… in fact you said you told Sookie you didn't love me anymore. I can understand if you don't. It's been so long and so much time has passed… but I have to know, Lorelai. It's killing me not knowing." Luke sat patiently as he awaited his answer.

Lorelai's heart was racing. For the first time in 12 years she felt her heart burst with love. "I've always loved you…" Lorelai's cracking voice replied over the phone as she tried to keep herself from tearing up. "But you and I are such completely different people now… and so much has happened."

Luke's heart bounced as he heard Lorelai's endearing words. All he had ever wanted, all he ever needed was to hear those words. "Well…" Luke began. "Let's get to know each other."

"What do you mean" Lorelai asked.

"Let's get to know each other… we're two different people, so let's get acquainted I want to know everything from the day you left to the day you returned. I want to know all about Rory… and London… and your grandmother that you stayed with. Leave out nothing."

"You're serious?"

"Of course I am." Luke said assertively. "You're the one for me, Lorelai. You're my match. I've known since I was a teenager… and I know it now. There wasn't a day go by that I didn't think about you… and when I saw you at Miss Patty's, I couldn't believe how incredible you looked and I fell in love with you all over again."

"It'll take time…" Lorelai said slowly beginning to agree with Luke's notion.

"We've got time." Luke answered. "We have plenty of time… I'll wait Lorelai." Luke was not going to make the same mistake twice. "I'll wait for you as long as it takes."