AN: Okay this chapter will have both Luke's and Lorelai's actions/thoughts at the same time in different places. Sorry if that's confusing but the two things are happening simultaneously for the first part of the chapter.


Lorelai put Rory to bed and started turning down the beds. Luckily she'd done this a hundred times since she started at the Inn because she wasn't paying the slightest attention to her job. They'd had a moment, but it was too short to figure out what Luke was feeling. He seemed to lean toward me. But what if that was just an impulse, what if he had snapped out of it at the last second? Why am I freaking about this, he's just a guy. But from somewhere deep inside a little voice popped up, He's not just a guy. It's Luke, there'll never be anyone like Luke. Lorelai thumped her head on the bed and began talking to herself. "Jeez Lorelai, you're just the queen of bad timing now aren't ya. Why yes Lorelai I think I illustrated that when I got knocked up after my Chem. Midterm."

After 8 more rooms and plenty of opportunity to talk to herself she decided not to let her moment pass her by. She finished the turn-downs and asked Mia to look in on Rory before heading out to Luke's. She didn't even stop to shower and put on lip-gloss.

"Okay Luke. Here I come."


Meanwhile…

"Rachel what are you doing here?" Luke had adopted a defensive stance, arms crossed over his chest, leaning away from her.

"I'm in town for a while, I wanted to see you. I missed you."

"Uh huh, layover between flights?"

"No Luke really, I'm home for a while, maybe longer. I missed you, you missed me right?"

Luke couldn't remember anymore. The months right after Rachel left had been blocked out by the brilliance of Lorelai. He was sure he had missed her, and even now he missed her a little. The way you miss the people you hung out with in high school. But he still didn't want to hurt her.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Good so what's with the crossed arms? Welcome me home." With that Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down to hers. This is the wrong kiss.


Lorelai walked swiftly toward the Danes' home. She was trying desperately not to think too much. Don't chicken out Gilmore. You dared to walk out on Emily Gilmore. You are Wonder Woman. Now move your cute little butt.

Lorelai turned down Luke's block and stood at the end of his walk. Eyes unblinking she watched a beautiful redhead reach up and throw her arms around Luke's neck. Her breathing stalled and as Luke uncrossed his arms to embrace the woman. Lorelai choked down a gasp and took off like a shot.

Damn it, I was wrong.


As soon as Luke felt Rachel's lips against his own his mind blurted out, this is the wrong kiss. It was amazing to think how unnatural the moment was. He'd kissed Rachel hundreds of times, maybe thousands. But the only thought resonating in his mind was that these were the wrong lips. You've never even felt Lorelai's lips.

A few seconds later his body caught up to his mind and he uncrossed his arms to grab Rachel's shoulders and push her away from him. "No."

"Luke?"

"No Rachel. I'm not just something you take out of the closet and try on whenever you happen to be home. This isn't what I want."

"But that can change Luke, I'm home now. Aren't I who you want?"

Luke gently held her hands and looked into the eyes of the first girl he ever loved, "No."


Lorelai walked home, again trying not to think. She'd yet to cry in front of Mia, not even the day she showed up nearly broke and looking for work. She quickly walked inside and told Mia she'd returned before heading out to the shed.

She watched her daughter sleeping peacefully in her crib. "She was pretty, baby. Nice curls and perfect skin, probably no stretch marks either." Rory stretched and murmured in her sleep. "I guess all my man instincts have been replaced by maternal ones. He may not be my guy but your still my baby," she leaned down to lightly kiss Rory's head before falling into a fitful sleep.


Luke had woken up refreshed the morning after Rachel's arrival. He'd missed a golden opportunity with Lorelai but now he had the strength to get it back. If just the chance to kiss Lorelai could overpower Rachel promising everything he'd always wanted…well it was definitely worth taking the plunge.

Luke got up early, well earlier, to shower and shave. No 5 o'clock shadows and old threadbare stretched out t-shirts. Today it was a close shave and a tight black t-shirt. He may not be a movie star but he knew what fit him well.

He was nearly giddy when he left the house. It was Lorelai's day off and he thought he could take her out for a day and take his chance again. Rachel had decided to stick around town anyway, but he knew he wouldn't be changing his mind.

He walked into the Inn to find Sookie and Lorelai sitting in the dining room having breakfast. Lorelai's back was to him but Sookie seemed almost sick at the sight of him.

He walked up anyway trying to sound casual. And not like my stomach is tied in knots, "Hey Lorelai."


Lorelai had called Sookie as soon as she'd rolled out of bed. They met for breakfast in the dining room where Lorelai had related the whole story to her friend. "She's the ex isn't she, the infamous Rachel."

Sookie grimaced, "I'm sorry hun, it certainly sounds like her."

"Beautiful like a scarlet-haired Revlon ad?"

"…yeah."

"He always goes back to her doesn't he? Whenever she comes home he gets back together with her right?"

"Well yeah. But sweetie there's never been another candidate before. There wasn't a Lorelai all those other times."

"Don't you think first love trumps thinking the new girl is cute?"

"You're more than that and you know it."

"I just thought… I thought he was sending out signals and I thought I was returning them. God maybe those damn pregnancy hormones threw me permanently outta whack."

Sookie stared over Lorelai's shoulder with a particularly sick look on her face.

"Hey Lorelai."

Lorelai needed a moment to keep herself in check so she only glanced over her shoulder briefly, "Hey."

Luke had prepared himself for lots of different reactions. He'd considered embarrassment, hesitance, enthusiasm, and coy flirting. But this quiet, almost cold Lorelai was uncharted territory.

"Do you want to do something today…with me?"

"Well Sookie and I were-"

"Just finishing up breakfast," Lorelai shot Sookie a hard look that she deftly shrugged off. "I think you can take her off my hands for the day."

Luke looked down at Lorelai, raising his eyebrows in question.

Lorelai was reluctant to torture herself being alone with Luke, but she was more reluctant to lose her closest friend, "Sure."


Luke and Lorelai were spending the day at the lake. They'd kept up inane conversation all day. Luke's morning confidence had faded at Lorelai's lack of sparkle. He would have assumed she regretted their almost kiss if it wasn't for the underlying sadness in her face.

So far they'd managed to discuss safe topics; Rory, the Inn, the success of the birthday party. Luke had brought up the last topic to attempt to touch on the almost kiss, but Lorelai seemed to clam up even more.

After many awkward silences Luke finally builds up his courage, "Lorelai we should talk about the party, I mean after the party-"

"I thought we had a moment," she murmurs.

"What-"

"It got cut short but I thought we had a moment, I thought I was showing you instead of telling you. I thought- I thought we were on the same page." By this point she didn't even seem aware of Luke's presence.

"Lorelai, we-"

Lorelai finally glanced up at him briefly, wary of holding his gaze too long and seeing his happiness. Happiness with a woman who wasn't her. "She's really pretty Luke. You're my friend, I'm glad you're happy. I should get back and spend some time with Rory." With that she walked off wringing her hands.

Luke stood still, in shock at everything that had come flying from Lorelai's mouth so quickly. Friend, I'm her friend? I don't want to just be her friend. Eventually his mind got to the end of her speech "She's really pretty Luke," his mind echoed. Oh God Damn, she saw Rachel. Luke rushed off to find Lorelai. He headed to his car and slowly drove the route home, looking for any sign of her. Jeez she must have sprinted home. Way to go Danes you finally inspire Lorelai Gilmore to exercise and it's in an attempt to get away from you.

Luke picks up speed and heads to the Inn. As he parks his car around back he sees Lorelai and Rory seated under a tree, blowing bubbles that Rory is happy to toddle around chasing. Luke hesitates a few moments watching the pair. Everything will change when you tell her Rachel's not in the picture, his mind whispered. But if you go over there you could BE with her, you could be apart of that scene. Then his mind was filled with images of new possibilities; kissing Lorelai, arms around her watching Rory skip around the back lawn, running his hands through her hair, Lorelai naked and…Ok Danes, get over there and fix this.

He walked over to the tree and knelt down in front of them. "Lorelai?"

"Luke, I told you, it's fine." She continued to look down at Rory seated happily in her lap.

"No it's not fine! We did have a moment, we did! We were on the same page, we ARE on the same page! It's Rachel who's not on the page!" He shook his head at the mess he'd made of this speech.

"Lorelai, yes she came back but that doesn't matter. She and I we're not together. She came back and she wanted to just pick up again like always but I said no. Because if I'd said yes then you and I could never have another chance at our moment. I want another chance at our moment. Please."

Lorelai was in awe at his speech but she had to make sure he knew what he was doing. "Luke don't you think you should be with a different girl? Someone like Rachel, someone who isn't tied down?"

Luke just shook his head, "Lorelai I just want you, I- I'm crazy about you. I'm crazy about this Lorelai, the one who lives in a shed and raises a beautiful daughter. That's part of what I admire about you."

"Luke, are you su-"

Luke's hands delicately grasped her face and led her gently to him. "Positive." He touched his lips to hers, softly at first, applying gentle pressure. He pulls back to check Lorelai's expression. Her face is relaxed and full of wonder. He leans in again and gently pulls her lower lip between his own, caressing it lightly with his tongue. Luke felt a tug against his shirt and pulled back slowly to see Rory tugging happily on his t-shirt. He chuckled lightly, "So I can take you on a date?"

Lorelai smiled still a bit dazed, "Yup, tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yup, I get 24 hours to find a sitter and you get 24 hours to pace nervously and try on everything in your closet," Lorelai giggled coyly.

Luke's ears tinged red, "Tomorrow at 7," he leaned in and pecked her on the mouth smiling at Rory.

Lorelai watched him walk away, "Wow sweets, a perfect 10 and he nailed the dismount. And no problems performing for a pre-school audience. That's talent." Rory snuggled up to her mother's chest happily, while Lorelai continued watching Luke's exit, "cute butt too. Hey, don't repeat that."