Disclaimer- sigh You know how it goes by now…

Part FOUR!

It was the beginning of winter. There was a cold nip in the air. Luke still hadn't decided if he liked it or not. He liked the cold, but he hated snow and slush. It was a pain.

He stood behind the counter, absentmindedly scribbling on one of the order slips. Then it happened. He saw her. The girl from weeks ago. Was it a mirage? No. But she looked different. Not in a bad way. He was instantly hypnotized. She glanced up at him and smiled again, but she was preoccupied. Her eyes weren't in it. He could tell she was trying to make it seem that way, and she wished her eyes were in it, but they weren't.

A lean-looking teenage boy came up behind her, putting his arm on her back. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her arm. The mother from the 2 other times was following behind. Of course. Of course a girl like her would have a boyfriend. The smiles were just friendly, cordial. They were strangers, after all. But then something else caught his eye. Her protruding stomach. It didn't take away from her beauty, just added to it's unique-ness.

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Lorelai walked through that small town again. What was it's name? Oh yes, Stars Hollow. She remembered it well. She smiled slightly. It was a nice town. She might like to have a family here someday. But not now, oh no, it was too small now. She could bet that gossip spread even faster here than it did in the Emily Gilmore world. Yes, she'd live here…eventually. After she had this…thing, she'd move here with Chris (or not with Chris?) and raise it here.

Once again, to escape from the harsh, close-knit gossip community of Gilmore-area Hartford, they decided to visit a doctor in this small, slightly detached town. They walked down the same sidewalk again, all three of them. And they walked by that hardware store again. The one with the boy. And he was there, standing at the counter. Lorelai glanced at him, quickly captivated. He gave her this tiny, tiny look, a look that made her feel like they'd known each other for years. She offered him a smile, but her mind was buried in the thoughts of this…baby. She tried her hardest to make it genuine, friendly, but it didn't come out quite right.

She felt Christopher's arm around her shoulders and relaxed slightly.

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Luke wondered who this guy was and what they were doing here. It wasn't fair. This was his town, his Stars Hollow. People shouldn't be able to just walk down the street and invade his thoughts like that.

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It had been two days since her first, long check-up. They didn't know the sex of the baby yet, but they said they would find out by her next visit. Lorelai was back in Stars Hollow after her second prenatal check-up. She had come alone. And she was walking outside, cold. Looking at the scenery was only so interesting until the chill got the best of her. She ducked into the hardware store, happy to finally have a reason to enter, since she'd been curious about it since her first visit to Stars Hollow.

There was an older man at the counter filling orders. He pulled out random boxes of nails and screws. Then his old, warm eyes fell upon her.

"Can I help you with something?" He asked, smiling genuinely.

"Oh, no, I'm just trying to get out of the cold," She smiled.

"Yes, the weather can be a bit fickle this time of year," He replied, looking past her out the window.

"Definitely," She smiled, brushing some of her hair back behind her ear.

Then he came out from the back room. Him. The dark-haired enigma who she'd seen only about two times before.

"Hi," She smiled.

"Um, hi," He replied, his voice deep.

"Actually, do you have a phone I could use?" She asked, turning her attention back to the older man.

"Yes. Luke, take this dear young lady to the phone," He ordered kindly.

Lorelai smiled kindly as Luke led her to the back room. She waited a few minutes for him to leave.

"What? I'm not going to try anything on you, geez," He grumbled, leaving the room.

She chuckled and dialed a number.

"Hey Linda? Do you think you could maybe pick me up?" She asked.

After explaining where she was, she finished with a "thanks" and hung up.

She left the room and stood, leaning her elbow on the counter.

"So, I'm Luke," The boy introduced, offering his hand.

"Lorelai," She smiled, adding to the handshake.

"Do you live around here?" He asked.

"No…long story," She said, adding an answer to his questioning look.

"Okay," Luke shrugged, letting it go.

"Yeah, I'm um, pregnant, obviously," She laughed nervously, not wanting this new person in her life to judge her so quickly.

"Yeah. Is it hard?" He asked, to her surprise.

"Confusing. But not that hard. I kind of get used to it after awhile. And the father's involved, so it's a little easier," She replied.

"Oh. So, boy or girl?" He asked.

"They don't know yet. I'll find out next time I go to the doctor," She explained.

There was a short silence as the two of them were stewing in their own thoughts.

"So what d'you think about coffee?" She asked perkily.

"I can't stand it. It's like liquid death," Luke crossed his arms.

"Oh my God! Are you serious? Coffee practically keeps me alive!" She cried.

"It can rot your teeth. And I bet it can't be good for the baby," He said.

"Okay Mr. Encyclopedia," She mocked, rolling her eyes.

"Watch out! He rants!" Luke's father's voice called out from the back room.

Then Lorelai rambled on about coffee and donuts and junk food and school until her friend Linda arrived to pick her up.

"Bye Luke," She smiled.

"Bye," Luke smiled back.

Author's Note- Aww, wasn't that cute. I want feedback, guys! Don't be afraid to be honest/critical. As long as it's constructive please, don't be too harsh. I want your opinion. More soon!