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.

Chapter Nine: What If You Catch Me, Where Would We Land?

There were days when she brought Paul anka to keep him company, which he secretly enjoyed. The first time he met Paul anka, he recalled that he said that he didn't like dogs. As neurotic as that dog was, he grew fond of him and his weird habits. His mind always drifted to the night when he rushed Paul anka to the vet. He realized that he did everything and anything just to keep him alive, for her. He was there and that was what she needed.

She was distracted with her estrangement from Rory. She was emotionally detached at times and he was there to help her heal. But when he found out about April, he had forgotten about her and directed attention to his daughter and her alone. Everything else up to that point became a blur. It's moments like those that made him realize, that he left her fending for herself long before she presented the ultimatum that lead to where they were now.

He was the one who bailed first.

- - - - -

They reached a rhythm where Lorelai would stroll in his apartment carrying food for two. He would sit on the table as she took out the food containers and prepared him a plate.

"What did you bring today?"

"Sookie made Pasta Carbonara." she handed him his container.

"Sounds good and smells great."

"She's obsessed with making handmade pasta now. There was a point where the kitchen was covered in flour." he chuckled. "That's Sookie for ya."

"She's something." he said as he took a bite of the pasta. "Woah, this is really good."

"Good, I'll tell her you said so."

- - - - -

"Hey Lorelai, it's Liz! Sorry to call so late. I just called to tell you that we're coming back in about a couple of weeks. We cleared out faster than we thought. Anyway, Thank you so much again for taking care of Luke. Alright, I'll call you the day before we get home. I got to go, TJ is still struggling to put on Adam's diapers. Bye!"

After she heard the message for the third time, she was saddened that their ritual would soon be over. Luke was going to leave his apartment again, leave her again. As she thought about it further, the only thought that kept coming back to her was that kiss they had a few weeks back. Neither spoke about it and she surely didn't want to be the first one to bring it up. It was easier to shove away back then. Things between them were getting better and she needed to say something before it's too late.

- - - - -

"Why are you so quiet tonight?" he asked her as they both ate the meal Sookie prepared for them. She looked at him then looked back down on her plate.

"Liz called." trying not to sound dejected.

"Oh." the immediate thought in his head that she was happy to be rid of him, the constant burden that she was left to care for. "So I guess you're happy huh? You don't have to come by here anymore."

"What are you talking about?" a question that transgressed her pain across like no other.

"You won't be obligated to look after me."

"That's not how I saw this as Luke." she paused "Not ever." She placed her hand on top of his.

"Lorelai, don't." he hesitated but removed his hand.

"I'm sorry." He didn't need to see her facial expression, he felt her emotionally pull away.

"We're talking again." he said in a low tone. "I don't want us to reduce to nothing just because of something we did." there he'd laid it out on the table.

"The kiss?" she asked softly he nodded his head yes slightly.

"I didn't want to bring it up because you didn't talk to me for days." she reached for his hand again and this time he didn't budge.

"I don't want you to go away." He tightened his grip of her hands.

"Who said I'm going anywhere?" that's all he needed to say before she leaned in and kissed him. The reality of this moment struck them both in awe.

"So what now?"

"I want this." he said almost in desperation. "You, us."

"So do I." she said without hesitation as she held his hand. "I want to have a clean slate between us."

"I don't want us to start from nothing, Lorelai. We worked too hard to just go back to the way we were then." he intertwined his fingers with hers. "We just got side tracked..."

"By life." she added. "I want there to be an us again, and if it takes longer than before then I'll just have to wait."

When I was sure you'd follow through,
My world was turned to blue.
When you'd hide
your songs would die,
so I'd hide yours with mine.
And all my words were bound to fall.
I know you won't fail.

Remy Zero- Fair

to be continued...

A/N: Originally this was it but I stretched it to have another chapter which I'm currently working on. Please Review and Tell me what you think. Stay tuned for the last installment of this fanfic.