Title: Hindsight
Author: Karleen
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Warner Brothers, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone. This was just written for fun.
A/N: I wanted the main focus on this story to be Luke and Lorelai, of how they interact after one year of not having contact. So really characters like Chris, April and even Rory are secondary to this plot. Freedom of a fanfic right? I mean this is an 'alternate-universe'. Anyway, Thanks for reading and for your feedback.

Chapter Four: A Call For What Is Needed To Be Told

Christopher, still in denial of Lorelai's evasions planned a 'romantic' evening for the pair of them. He figured she was too tired to go out so he ordered food, brought flowers and dressed up in a fancy suit for tonight. He needed this night to be perfect, to make her happy. He walked up to her door and was relieved not to find Paul anka near the window. He rang the bell and again there was no answer. 'hmm, she's probably still at work' he thought to himself. He got back in his car and drove to the Dragonfly.

- - - - -

She came back just as she promised, seven o'clock with dinner. She asked him if he wanted to eat but he only grunted in response.

"You didn't touch your lunch." she said as she looked over to where she left the plate of food that morning.

"I'm not hungry."

"I had Sookie whip up a turkey burger." she said but she didn't get an answer. "Or just tell me what you want."

"I don't want anything."

"But you haven't eaten." she placed the bag she held on the table and got rid of the plate on his nightstand.

"I didn't ask you to bring food and babysit me, Liz did." he said forcefully.

- - - - -

Sookie was still at the inn at eight thirty pm and finishing the last of her mise en place for the next morning.

"Hey Sookie." a guy said and surprised Sookie that she spilled the bowl of eggs that she just cracked.

"Christopher... what are you doing here?" he helped her pick up the mess

"I thought I'd stop by here since Lor didn't answer the door... so she's not here?"

"No... she just left." she didn't know why she lied but she did.

"Sorry for scaring you like that."

- - - - -

Three nights later, he still refused to eat and just drank water. So instead, she filled his glass with milk and carefully handed it to him.

"What the hell is this?!" he said as he spat out the liquid.

"It's milk."

"I know it's milk, why the hell did you put milk in my glass?"

"You haven't been eating."

"Well that's my problem, not yours."

"I'm responsible for you Luke, I can't let you shrivel up because you refuse to eat."

"Frankly that's none of your business." he snarked at her

"Just eat something please." with that she got up and left her seat. "Just pretend it's not me who's giving you food." she paused "If that's easier for you."

- - - - -

"Chris? Oh no she's not here. She... uh.. she just left a couple of minutes ago actually." she paused. "Alright I'll tell her." Sookie said as she closed her cellphone.

"Alright Sookie, I'm off for the night." Michel said.

"Didn't Lorelai say she was headed home?"

"Yeah, why?

"No reason."

- - - - -

Lorelai was relieved to find the food that she left him that morning was not left untouched. The plate was half full, 'better than nothing' she thought. But she didn't find him sitting on the couch where he usually sat by the time she brings him dinner.

"Luke?" she peeked around the apartment but he wasn't anywhere in sight. "Luke?"

"Bathroom." he opened the door and walked out with wet hair.

"Your bandage..."

"Waterproof."

"Oh."

"What? You thought I haven't been showering all this time?"

"No, I..."

"It's ok."

"Hungry?"

Short, simple and current seemed to work for them. If that's how it was going to be from now on, she had accepted it. At least now, she knew where he was going to be.

- - - - -

"What's wrong Sook?" she asked as her friend as she strolled in the kitchen the next morning. Sookie gave her a weird look.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" she asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you having problems with Christopher?"

"What...?"

"He's been calling nonstop and even dropped by to see if you were here last night."

"I don't want to talk about it now ok?" she pleaded.

"Lorelai, you seem to be doing well now, why are you doing whatever that it is that you are doing?"

"Sookie, it's nothing ok. I just don't want to discuss this, period." she walked out of the kitchen with her hands clutched around her coffee mug.

but there's no blame
for how our love did slowly fade
now that's its gone
it's like it wasn't there at all
and here i rest
where disappointment and regret
collide
lying awake at night

Death Cab for Cutie- Title and Registration

to be continued...