A/N: Another installment. There will probably be more after this! Luke's POV as he and Lorelai meet for the first time.

Disclaimer: I still don't own. rolls eyes

Taking Off

You work systematically. Take order, make food, deliver food. It's the same thing you've been doing for a long time. You might like stability and routines, but you wish that something would change. Just a little change might be nice. A shift. Something to rid you of the monotony that is your life. Your life since she got on that plane.

You stand in the middle of your apartment. You are on a mission. You need to rid your living space of everything that reminds you of her. You start by stripping all the sheets of your bed. You'll buy more tomorrow. The next things to go are all the pictures she took. You can't bear to throw them away though, so you put them in a box. The box will eventually be sent to her. Into the box go some clothes she'd forgotten in her packing frenzy, some jewelry, and her shampoo. That's all that was in your apartment that still had remnants of her. Now those things are packed in a box. You put the box next to your door and go downstairs. You need to buy new sheets.

Emptying your apartment is probably the last stimulating thing you've done. You sigh and start to pour coffee into the cup of a waiting Kirk. The bells above the door chime loudly and the door itself bangs open. You jerk your head up to see who the idiot who tried to throw your door off its hinges is, and find yourself face-to-face with the most gorgeous woman you've ever seen. You're breathless, but apparently she isn't.

"Hi!" She exclaims. "Is that coffee? Can I have some? I really need some. See, we ran out at my house and my daughter didn't tell me and now I'm suffering withdrawal. Can I have some of that please?"

"Luuuuuke!" Kirk whines. You realize that you only filled his cup a quarter of the way. You bend down, finish pouring and walk over to take the orders of a couple waiting at a table. You feel a tap on your shoulder and turn around to see that woman standing there again.

"Hi." She says. "Can I please have that coffee now?"

"I have to get these peoples' orders." You tell her shortly and turn away.

"All I want is coffee! These people want a whole meal! It'll only take you a minute to get my coffee."

You sigh and glare at her. "These people were here before you. They've been waiting. Take a seat, I'll be with you in a minute." You are gratified to see that she takes your advice and sits down at the counter.

You take the orders and go into the kitchen to make them. Five minutes later, you come out and get the orders of the next people in line. As you pass the woman on your way back to the kitchen, she taps your shoulder again.

"Can I have my coffee now?" She asks.

"No!" You exclaim. "I have more orders to get, so just sit back down and shut up! I'll get to you when I get to you!"

She sticks out her lower lip in a pout and sits back down. You go back into the kitchen and emerge a few minutes later carrying plates. On your way back she calls out to you. "When's your birthday?"

You sigh. "Why do you want to know my birthday?"

"Just tell me."

"No."

"Don't want me to know your real age?"

"I don't usually tell strangers my birthday."

"Oh come on, just tell me!"

"Fine!" You exclaim. You bend down and whisper it to her. She smiles widely and thanks you.

Five minutes later you are about to go into the kitchen again when she stops you. She hands you a strip of newspaper. You read the words to yourself.

"You will meet an annoying woman today. Give her coffee and she'll go away."

You roll your eyes, walk over to the coffeepot, grab her a to-go cup, and fill it up. "Here." You say, handing it to her.

"Thanks!" She exclaims. She takes a sip. "Oh my God!" She cries.

"What?"

"This is heavenly!"

You smile slightly. You can remember the first time someone told you that.

You hand your dad the cup of coffee. The first cup you'd ever brewed. You watch as he takes a sip and relish the smile that crosses his face.

"This is the best coffee I've ever tasted." He declares. You grin proudly. It's a high complement coming from your dad.

You nod. "Thanks." You say.

She reaches into her purse and pulls out a crumpled dollar bill. "Here you go-" She starts, but stops short.

"Luke." You supply.

She grins. "Here you go Duke."

"Luke." You correct.

"Amazing coffee! Just what I needed! My name's Lorelai, bye the way! Bye Duke!" She calls and sails out the door. You sigh and watch her leave. You have the feeling that you'll be seeing her again. You ponder her words. "Just what I needed!"

That's right. You think. A splash of color. Unusual. She's just what I needed.

TBC…