Title- Here Without You
Pairings- Luke and Lorelai (JavaJunkie all the way)
Set in the fourth season, after 'Afterboom' and before 'Luke can see her face'
Summary- Liz has cancer and she and TJ broke up. Who will be her savoir? And how will Lorelai react? It will start out a story then turn into a series of letters and each chapter will be in a different person's point of view. (Luke and Lorelai have been friends for 11 years.)
Disclaimer- If I owned it, there wouldn't even be an April or Christopher.
Chapter 10- Luke (June 4th 7:20 P.M)
God, life in Maine has been really boring compared to life in the Hollow. Nothing has been going on lately and my only action is taking Liz to her doctor appointments. Thankfully I have been keeping in touch with Lorelai, though. She's been calling at least every other day to fill me in on what's been going on with the inn and so far she hasn't heard anything from Rory.
Right as I was about to go and grab some water my cell phone rang. I checked the time and noticed she was calling earlier than usual. "Hey," I said into the phone as I picked it up and sat on the bed against the headboard.
"Hey," She said in an out-of-breath voice.
"What's up? You're calling a little earlier than usual,"
I heard her take a deep breath and release it tiredly. "You'll never believe who wants to have dinner with me at the Dragonfly tomorrow," She said with a sigh.
I tensed up a little, not sure what she meant, but then tried to relax and hope that she wouldn't notice a change in my voice. "Oh yeah, who's that?" I asked, clenching my jaw.
"It's," She paused for a dramatic affect, though I just thought it was annoying. "My father," She said way too dramatically.
"You're father?" I asked, puzzled as to why she was making such a big deal about this.\
"I know," She drawled out.
"What's so bad about that?" I asked with a small chuckle.
She paused and for a second the line was silent. "You cannot seriously be asking me what is bad about having dinner, at the Dragonfly, with just me. No buffers, no people who could interrupt, just me. I don't think I have ever sat and had dinner with just my father. It's just, it's not us." She cried into the phone.
"Well, when is this dinner?" I asked, trying to sound a bit sympathetic, though not succeeding that well.
"On Monday." She said dreadfully.
"If you didn't what to go then why did you say yes?"
"I just felt bad for him, with my mother gone and Friday night dinner's canceled I don't know id he's been social lately with anyone other than the people he work's with. I just felt obligated."
"It won't be that bad," I said rolling my eyes.
"Of course it will!" She cried frantically. "Unless..." She started in a mischievous tone.
I could already see the wheels turning in her head. "No," I stated firmly, knowing that it was best to decline what ever she was about to say.
"You don't even know what I was going to say!" She exclaimed.
"And I know you well enough to say no before you even ask." I shot back, shifting in my seat.
"I haven't seen you in awhile you know," She said in a sweet and sugary voice.
"I know,"
"So it would be like killing two birds with one stone," She said smiling.
"No," I said firmly.
"But Luke," She whined.
"I am not having dinner with you and your father, it'd go horrible. This is something you and your dad need to do." I said decidedly.
"But I miss you, and what a better time to see you then at a dinner."
"With your father," I added.
"Hey, you were just saying that this wouldn't be that bad so, please, Luke."
"Stop pouting" I said annoyed,
"I'm flipping my hair in that sexy way that always convinces you to do anything for me," She said in a low voice.
"Yeah, well, I can't see it so it's not working." I said, trying to brush the thought of Lorelai out of my mind.
"Please, Luke, I'll do anything, just don't make me have dinner alone with him," She whined desperately.
"It'd be too late to drive home, I'm sorry I can't come." I said flatly.
"Hello, we'd be at an inn, you can stay here."
I sighed, knowing that there was no way out of this. "Get me a room for one night, and I want a discount," I said gruffly into the phone.
She squealed in delight and began to thank me repeatedly. "Oh my god, we can make it a sleep over like at the opening. I'll bring movies this time so we have something to watch, sound good?" She asked.
"Peachy," I deadpanned.
"Great and remember, this is my father, no flannel." She said.
"I'll pick my suit up at the cleaners tomorrow." I remarked dryly.
"Thank you Luke," She said sincerely. "I owe you big time."
"Yeah, you do."
"How's this, dinners on me and you only have to pay half-price for the room?"
"Sounds good, I guess. So how has the inn been? Still running successfully?"
"It's awesome, a little stressful at times, but it's the beginning of a business, so I'll take what I can get." She said tiredly.
"Well you'll get used to it sooner or later. Any word from Rory?" I asked cautiously. Usually whenever the subject of Rory was brought up, she was dismissive about it and not-so-subtly changed the subject.
I heard a sigh come from the phone, "Nothing," She said sadly. "So dinners at six, think you could be there on time?" She asked with a tight voice.
"Yeah," I said reassuringly. "I'll be there on time."
"I'll call Sunday night to make sure you're coming, okay?" She said, probably not trusting me to be on time.
"You don't have to; you know I'll be there." I reminded her.
"I know, but it's nice to have someone to vent to. Even if it's over the phone." She said sadly.
"You know I'd rather be in Stars Hollow with you then here in Maine with Jess and Liz." I reminded her, it's like sometimes she doesn't know these things.
"Yeah, I know." She said with a hint of a smile in her voice. "How's Jess?" She asked uncomfortably.
"He's good, he makes snide remarks about us talking every other night and me visiting Stars Hollow so much, but he's good."
She laughed quietly. "That sounds like Jess, now I really have to go. I'll talk to you Sunday. Bye."
"Talk to you then." I said warily. After I hung up I realized how much my life had changed in less then a month and yet how it hadn't changed. I moved to Maine, but I'm still in Stars Hollow at least once a month because of Lorelai. God how I missed that woman. And now I have to have dinner with her and her father in three days. What joy.
Authors Note- I know, it sucks but I needed a filler in. I've got some ideas coming up and the next chapter is the dinner. At least 73 reviews total before next chapter. Check out my other story- 'Driving me Crazy' please, tell me how it is.