A/N: Last chap! The song.. the version by Buffalo Springfield is the one I love.. :o) anyway.. I hope you've enjoyed this.. posting more stuff soon..

anyway..

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Take Care

Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It

"Man, this place is great!" Lorelai exclaimed, watching Maisie and Buddy walk away.

"I know. I come out here 2 or 3 times a week. Breakfast, lunch, whenever I can swing it."

"Ooo. This is your version of Luke's! And Maisie and Buddy, they know you! Hermit Luke, you never cease to surprise me."

He rolled his eyes at her replying "Maisie was at school with my Mum, and after my Dad died, Buddy helped me set the diner up."

"They sound like good people."

"They are" he nodded. "The best." He said, a melancholic look in his eyes.

"But really, not letting us order?"

He laughed as Lorelai turned the conversation back to a lighter subject. "Don't worry, whatever they bring you will love. I promise you, they are the best cooks."

"I'll hold you to that promise mister."

He handed her the flute of champagne the waiter had poured for them. "Here's to you"

"I'll drink to that" she smiled, clinking glasses.

Luke pulled a face "Yep I definitely hate champagne" he said, setting the drink down with a look of disgust.

"I can't believe how long it's taken us to get here." She laughed, "Remember the day we met?"

"What you mean your crazed entrance to the diner with demands for coffee?"

"I wasn't crazed."

"God, you were annoying though. Seriously, I was about a minute away from picking you up and throwing you out the door."

"But I won you over with my wit and charm" she smiled, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

"Is that what you call it?" Luke smirked.

"Hey!" she exclaimed hitting him on the shoulder, making him laugh. "Do you remember the horoscope?" she asked suddenly remembering. "God, I would have done anything for coffee that day." She shook her head in embarrassment at the memory.

He just smiled, reaching to his back pocket and sliding his wallet out. He silent opened the leather wallet and pulled a scrap of paper from it, handing it wordlessly to Lorelai.

"What's this?" she asked unfolding it. She scanned the paper in silence, before looking up at him, eyes wide with surprise. "You kept this?"

He nodded, taking the piece of paper back and returning it to the wallet. "You said it would bring me luck if I held on to it. So I did."

"You kept this? You kept this for.."

"8 years."

"8 years." She said in amazement. "That's.. wow. Luke that's just.. I can't believe you kept it."

He smiled at her, putting the wallet back in his pocket and folding his arms. "Look, Lorelai, I want you to know, that this thing we're doing. Me and you. I'm in. I am all in." he held her gaze, "Does that, uh, does that scare you?"

Her eyes flicked down at the table top, momentarily, before returning to his. She shook her head, reaching across the table to take his hand in hers. "With you saying that, it doesn't scare me Luke. Not at all. I know you know my past, but this relationship, it's different. You know me. You know everything about me, better than anyone else. You know that this should scare me, but really it doesn't. Because with you, I'm in. I am all in too." She smiled, entwining his fingers with hers, her eyes shining brightly with emotion.

Luke smiled at her, leaning across the table, their lips meeting in a tender and meaningful embrace.

"Break it up mister, family restaurant here." Maisie's voice said, breaking through they emotion filled haze. Luke flushed red, as Maisie chuckled at his discomfort. "Enjoy the meal" she grinned at the pair, placing their plates of food in front of them.

"Thank you" Lorelai smiled at the proprietor, whilst Luke grinned sheepishly, his ears still red.

"8 years" Lorelai said softly as she picked her knife and fork up.

"8 years."

"You know what that says?" she asked with a smirk.

"What?"

"You were pining after me!"

"I was not!"

"You adored me, yearning after me, longing for me."

"I did not!"

"Oh, you romantic, holding a flame for me all this time, waiting."

"Whatever" he said gruffly, shovelling a forkful of food into his mouth.

"Luke?" she asked softly.

"What?" he asked, eyes softening in apology for his gruffness.

"I'm glad you waited." She confided, watching as a soft smile spread across his face.

"I'm glad I did too."