AN: Okay this may be moving a bit fast but if I took it at a normal speed it would be much much too long. Thank you so much for the reviews, they've been wonderful.


Lorelai rolled over and slowly blinked her eyes. She was facing Rory's crib, just like every other morning. A maternal instinct, she assumed. There was the slightest sliver of fear when Rory's crib appeared in her view, empty. But it only took a few seconds to put two and two together. Two (The very strong male arm around your waist) plus two (no pajamas and sex hair) equals four (Rory stayed over with Mia).

While Lorelai was doing her mental arithmetic Luke was lying behind her awake, just like he'd been for the past hour. One of the perks of being an early riser is that in situations like this you get time to reflect. Luke had been disoriented when he woke. His bed was suddenly sweet smelling and warm. It only took a few more seconds to place the scent. He'd been addicted to it since Lorelai wore it on their first date. There was a brief moment of fear when he couldn't remember if Rory'd been in the room, but a glance at her crib calmed him. Thank god. We didn't scar her for life.

Luke's breath ruffled the hair at Lorelai's neck and she shivered. He pulled her in tighter and he could feel her inhale deeply. "Good morning studly."

"Aw jeez."

Lorelai rolled over and cuddled into Luke's chest. "Don't call me stu-that ever again." Lorelai giggled and rubbed her cheek against the soft hair on his chest.

"What time do you have to pick up Rory?"

Lorelai threw a glance at her fuzzy alarm clock. "Um I don't know. I've never had a…you know…morning after thing before. And I wasn't planning on it. I figured I'd come home, cry, curse my mother and listen to some angry chick music…maybe Benetar."

Luke rubbed her bare back, "This work out better for you?"

"Oh yeah," Lorelai purred.


After leaving Lorelai that morning Luke had gone home to do some thinking. Serious thinking. He'd gotten up that morning and hung out in the shed with her while she'd fed her daughter breakfast and listened to Rory's morning babble. She'd bathed Rory in a plastic washtub as Luke watched. They deserve so much more than this. More than a plastic tub and 12 x 12 feet to call their own.

Lorelai didn't know about the metal lock box under Luke's bed. The one he'd been using to hoard his paychecks. Luke didn't have many expenses. He lived in his father's house and was paid off the books. His weekly paycheck usually went to dates with Lorelai. But he'd been saving more than he usually did. As much as Lorelai worked it would still take her years to make enough for a nice place. Eventually Rory would grow and one room wouldn't be enough for the two of them. The three of us, his mind corrected. But even with the saving he wanted to do something more immediate. He didn't have the money for a house yet, not even a small one. But if they banded together they just might be able to swing an apartment.

William walked through the kitchen door and fixed himself a drink before sitting across the table from his son.

Okay Danes, time to bite the bullet.

Okay Danes, time to bite the bullet.

"Son, ca-"

"Dad, can we talk a sec?"

"Sure."

"I'm trying to figure out some stuff. Future stuff."

"Then maybe you should let me go first."

Luke's heart skipped for a moment. He was having a vague feeling of déjà vu. A hazy flashback to the first months of his mother's illness.

"I'm retiring."

"What?"

"I'm getting old Luke. I'm not fit for the day to day grind anymore."

"Oh. Okay yeah dad, you deserve a break. I can factor a new job into my plan."

"Well I want you to factor more than that. The shop is yours."

"Mine?"

"Yeah I own the building you know. So you can run the hardware shop or rent it out. Or open something totally new. How does that fit in with your planning?"

Luke's mouth gaped open as he stared at his father. "Uh well I guess I always thought about opening a place, a restaurant, maybe a diner or something."

William grinned. "This town could use a diner. You should go over and talk to Bud and Maisy. They can give you some pointers and I can always help you with the book keeping."

"You think I can do this?"

"Yeah son, we'll start looking into it tomorrow. So what was your plan?"

"…I think I'm moving out."


Lorelai had a spring in her step all morning. Waking up with Luke that morning had been the best thing to happen to her since Rory's birth. As much as she loved Rory there'd been some anxiety present since her birth. Lorelai had always been independent, but all of a sudden she had someone dependent on her. But now she had someone to lean on.

And now you have two people to disappoint.

Damn it. Don't do this Lorelai, don't freak! But it was too late. She closed her eyes and remembered Luke's face looking down at her last night. The way he looked into her eyes and groaned her name. Obviously this wasn't the first time she'd had sex but it certainly felt like it.

She wanted to be near him every moment of every day. She didn't want to be clingy, but she just…craved him. He fell for the independent Lorelai Gilmore, don't lose that now. Don't get all…needy. Stay cool Lorelai.

On top of that sense of panic there was…Rachel. Despite Luke's assurance that she never stayed around too long she was still here. She made Lorelai uncomfortable without saying or doing a thing. Lorelai was fairly certain that Rachel didn't even know she was Luke's girlfriend. They'd never met but every so often Lorelai would see her around and flash back to that awful moment in front of Luke's house.

She also hadn't seen Rachel around the hardware store. But Lorelai feared Luke's lovely ex was simply biding her time.


Luke and William had discussed a number of things after they'd shared their news. William wasn't surprised that Luke was thinking of moving out. He knew it was coming. Luke and William were part of a declining family. Luke, Lorelai and Rory were the start of a new one. William also knew that it wouldn't be long before he was heading to the safe for his wife's diamond ring.

William didn't want his son to struggle, so he'd come up with an interesting suggestion.

"Okay son, do you think this is enough space?"

"You're sure you don't need your office?"

"I'm retiring remember? And you can certainly run a diner out of your apartment. And you own the building so no rent to pay. You know you and the girls could live with me, but this might be more comfortable for Lorelai."

"Okay so we knock down that wall where your extra store room is and make that into a room for Rory. We can just use some furniture to break up the dining area and the living room area. Do you really think this will work?"

"Yes. Now why don't you go see those girls of yours."


Luke headed over to the Inn with his new building plans in his hand. He couldn't figure out what to say. 'Lorelai, I love you guys very much and I want to help'. No no, cheesy try again. This is a practical solution for- Yeah Danes, dazzle her with your practicality.

Lorelai's shift must have just ended, she was wearing her work blazer and carrying Rory to the shed. "Hey Lorelai."

Lorelai smiled sweetly and shifted her daughter, "Hey yourself, what's that?"

"Why don't we go in? I'll make you some coffee."

Lorelai unlocked the door and led him in, "You're voluntarily making me coffee, no rants? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, ummm I'm moving."

"WHAT!?! How is that NOTHING?"

"No, no! I mean I'm moving to an apartment. In Stars Hollow."

Lorelai exhaled and collapsed against the bed, "God don't scare me like that."

Luke chuckled and laid his hand on her leg in a warm gesture of comfort. He was a little more confident after her panic over losing him. "Actually it's an apartment for us, the three of us."

"Us?"

"Yeah."

"Luke you have a nice place to live, you shouldn't waste your money like this."

This wasn't the reaction I was looking for. "No listen, my dad is retiring and giving me the store. But he doesn't just own the store he owns the building. These are the plans we marked up, we're going to make the office an apartment."

"Your dad is retiring?" Lorelai was stunned, but also wary.

"Yeah, the building is mine."

"Luke you can't do this."

"What?" Jesus, she said she loved me last night. I was right, she's gonna run. Just like she did from Rory's jerk of a dad.

"You missed out on college to stay and help out your dad. You have an opportunity now that you gave up back then. There's no hardware shop to hold you back, you have that whole building you can rent it out and go DO something. You could get a nice place, or go to school. Don't miss out again, not for us. You could do whatever you wanted now that your dad doesn't need you at the shop and I won't be the reason you miss out. I'm not going to be that girl."

Luke indignation faded during Lorelai's impassioned speech, she DOES love me. His hand tightened on her leg as he smiled. "I'm not holding on to the store, or renting it out. I'm gonna open a diner. And I want you guys there with me when I do it."

Luke looked down at his shoes and cleared his throat nervously, "I love you and I liked waking up next to you, and making Rory breakfast. You and Rory deserve more than this. You're an amazing mom, and you do such an amazing job at the Inn. But think how much easier you could do everything with someone else to help out all the time?"

Luke could see Lorelai's fears easing, he decided to take a page from the book of Lorelai and lighten the mood, "those plans include an actual bathroom, four walls and everything…only curtain is around the tub…" he smirked.

Lorelai favored him with a relaxed and teasing smile, "admit it this is just an excuse for steamy co-ed showers every morning."

Luke's ears turned red "Aw jeez, not in front of the kid. Is that a yes?"

Lorelai looked over at Rory who was observing the intense discussion. "Well sweets what do you think? You'd probably get your own room, and you could take baths in a real tub with bubbles and toys. And daddy will be there to say nigh-nigh and make you pancakes. So what do you say, live with Daddy?"

"DADDY!" Rory yelled climbing over the bed to crawl into Luke's lap.

"There's your answer daddy." Lorelai tickled her daughter's feet as she leaned over to kiss Luke. "Hey there Roomie."