A/N Again, thank you for all the nice reviews and for wanting to know when I update. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Surprises will abound, reconciliations of situations will take place quickly. Again, I do not own anything.

Ch: 4 Sookie

They pulled onto Lorelai's street and she turned to Luke, "I haven't told Sookie about us yet."

Luke knows there is something behind that statement so he probes, "O-Kaaay."

"If we go back to my house and kiss goodnight in the driveway Babette will know we're dating and Sookie will be the last to know instead one of the first like a best girlfriend should."

"Ok, so your solution's that we don't kiss goodnight?" Luke was rather disappointed, while all the kissing had been wonderful, there's something about the promise a goodnight kiss holds, but he was a big boy and he could suck it up if it made Lorelai feel better.

"Are you nuts! No, you just follow me into the house and then we kiss goodnight inside the doorway rather than outside the doorway."

Luke matched her grin, "I can live with that."

They were pulling up to the house when Luke got out to get the doggie bag and as he went to open Lorelai's door she had already hopped out.

"I was going to get that," he hissed.

"Look to your left," Lorelai said.

Sure enough there's Babette on her front porch, looking over at Lorelai's.

"Hi Babette, nice evening for fall huh?" Lorelai ventured.

"Yah, suga, you guys been out?"

"Business meeting, Sookie and I want to open our own inn someday and Luke and I went to see a movie on responsible management."

"Oh, well, sounds kinda boring really."

"No, it's very interesting actually, but I guess you had to be there, huh? See ya."
And with that Lorelai got Luke in the door and pinned up against the frame in one fluid movement.

"Very nice moves Miss Gilmore," Luke said when they parted. He was memorizing her face, as if he'd never get the chance to view it again.

"Now I need to get going, I have a meeting with the bank tomorrow and I've a few phone calls to make. I'm going to be there all day and you've class on Thursday, so how about we go out again on Friday?"

"I'd looooovvvvve to go out on Friday, however I've sold my soul to the Devil in the form of Emily Gilmore and I can't get out of it. What about Saturday?"

"Looking forward to it, I'll call you tomorrow to set details." Luke leaned in to kiss her again. "I really need to leave here now or I'll be dragging you back out with me and Sookie will find out like everyone else."

"See you on Thursday for the coffee?"

"And Danish, if you're good." Luke leered at Lorelai and she laughed.

"I'm always good," she said suggestively. "Besides, Thursday isn't Danish day."

"Since I'm the maker of all Danish, it's when I decide it is." Luke countered as he went out the door.

"And give this to Rory, it's for her." He handed Lorelai the take out bag from the Mexican restaurant.

Lorelai leaned against the door and called out to Rory, "Offspring, the nice man left something for you too."

She wandered into the kitchen to find the table filled with Rory's books and the coffee pot nearly empty, "Did you get anything to eat?"

"No time, too much studying to do, did you say that Luke brought me something?"

"Yep a takeout bag, since the days I share my food with you are long gone." Lorelai smiled.

Rory looked in the containers and asked her mom, "What'd you have?"

"I had a beef enchilada and cheese Quesadilla and Luke had chicken fajitas. They were amazing, you should try it sometime."

"I think I am that's what Luke brought me home. Wait, doesn't he dislike Mexican food?"

"See, I thought so too, but it's that fast food stuff they try to pass off as Mexican when real Mexican food is quite healthy unless you insist on smothering it in cheese."

"So, I take it that's a direct quote?" Rory grinned.

"Oh, yeah, but wait for it, guess what movie Luke picked out to see?"

"Clueless."

"Like he would pick a tween chick flick?"

"No, I mean I'm clueless, what'd he pick out?"

"Metropolis."

"Fritz Lang, Metropolis?"

"Yep."

"That's a silent movie."

"I know."

"HE, took YOU to see a silent movie."

"The irony was not lost on him. Plus believe it or not, I really enjoyed it."

"The mocking factor is off the charts, the bad acting, the cheesy plot line and it's a silent movie."

"Yep, Great soundtrack though, Freddie Mercury, Bonnie Tyler, Loverboy, Billy Squire, Adam Ant, and who knew; Jon Anderson"

"John Anderson, Your Lyin' Blue Eyes John Anderson?"

"No, Yes Jon Anderson."

"Yes John Anderson?"

"Yes's Jon Anderson, not Country John Anderson."

"Wasn't that Country Joe and the Fish?"

"What's this 'Who's on First?' I have to say, Pat Benetar sang a beautiful song, called "Here's My Heart," it was beautiful and sweet and it was during the love scene between the hero and the daughter of the worker. It made me weep and right then Luke wiped away the tear and then he kissed me." Lorelai paused, "Major high cheese factor and I loved it. Should I be frightened?"

"No, mom, it sounds like you just really like Luke a lot to be able to sit through the horror that is Metropolis and enjoy it, although the soundtrack probably helped a lot. When we saw it half the kids were making gagging noises, and no soundtrack at all."

"Wait, YOU saw this movie? Where was I and why would you see this movie?"

"I saw it in Honors Freshman Lit at Stars Hollow High. Every freshman class from the dawn of time has seen this movie in Honors Lit. I have to say the overacting's hilarious but the story actually is very compelling."

"So, do you think Luke took Honors Lit as a freshman? He says this is one of his favorite movies."

"Yeah, I think I remember talking to him about it when I was going through the class. Luke actually took a lot of honors classes, even though he didn't want many people to know, I guess it ruined his 'jock status.' But from what Miss Patty said he was accepted to a few colleges on merit scholarships as well as sports, but when his dad got sick and Liz was, well, Liz, he chose to stay home."

"How do you know this stuff about Luke, and Liz who I hadn't heard of before tonight, and I don't?"

"A couple of years ago when you were working the late shift for a while I'd spend my evenings at Luke's instead of in front of the TV to feel less lonely. I didn't really know I knew so much about him until you asked the right question."

"OK, Socrates, spill everything you've heard about his girlfriends in the past."

"Well, there was Anna, .."

"Ooooh, we saw her tonight! She was at this to die for ice cream shop Luke took me to…"

"Wait, Luke took you to an ice cream shop, Mexican restaurant, and a movie, all in one night? Impress much? And you SAW ANNA?"

"Yep, her and her sister I guess, it made me ask how many serious girlfriend he has had and he said, 'Potentially 4.' Sent chills up my spine."

"So you're the fourth, eh? Cool. Did you tell him how many for you?"

"Yep, I said potentially 2 and he said that was the perfect number and then he kissed me." Lorelai grinned with her whole face.

"There seemed to be an awful lot of kissing going on during this date, did anything else happen I shouldn't know about?"

"No, although we talked about it. Luke wants to take it slow to get use to the shift we're going through from friends to whatever else we're becoming. His timeline is to wait one month and then he said I get to control it after that."

"So what're you thinking? This is going to be your first grown-up relationship since Dad. Strike that, this is going to be your first grown-up relationship."

"Yeah, we kind of talked around that too, so since Luke is thinking thirty days, I'm thinking thirty-one, and then all bets are off."

"An additional thirty-one days?"

"Ha! Nope."

"Should I warn Luke?"

"No, let him get use to surprises."

"You are evil, and you must be destroyed."

"Thank you Ouiser."

"Well I need to study, big test Friday, and I want to try this amazing food your date thoughtfully provided." Rory said with a smile. "Now go away so you don't bother me."

Lorelai stuck out her tongue as she went upstairs to change into her sweats.

Rory went into the kitchen and looked in the takeout containers. She smiles when she realizes that it's half of an enchilada, half of a quesadilla and a single fajita in the boxes. Just like mom use to bring home when she was seven.

The phone rang and Rory picked up as Lorelai raced down stairs, tripping on the last one while falling into the overstuffed chair.

"Oh, hi DEAN!" Rory said pointedly and took the phone into her bedroom while she watched Lorelai pout.

Lorelai sighs and sits down on the couch to watch TV. She is flipping through channels not stopping anywhere as she is thinking about the kiss in the park. The want in Luke's eyes surprised her, and she felt taken just by that gaze. She shudders when she thinks about what it will be like to actually be possessed by him.

Just then her purse starts to ring and she jumps up to grab her cell phone. She answers it without looking at the ID, "Couldn't go to sleep without hearing my voice just one more time?" she says smiling into the phone.

"Well, that's the subtext, but the reason I chose was to tell you that it'll be a long day with the bank tomorrow and I may not be in the diner until late on Thursday, so Danish Day's back to Friday."

"So I shouldn't be worried that you've run off with the circus?"

Luke hears a twinge of uncertainty in her voice that could have been missed if he didn't know her so well. "I wouldn't worry about me running off anywhere. I'm quite recently very content with my life."

"Really? How recently? Last few years, last few months, last few days?"

"I'd say the last 48 hours."

"Why Mr. Danes, how you do go on!"

"And on that note I'm going to have sweet if frustrating dreams of my new situation in life."

"Might I point out that you're the one who set the moratorium on advancing to the next level for thirty days?"

"Yes, and I'll live with that sweet pain knowing that in the end it'll enhance the relationship."

"Can you call when you're at these bank meetings? Or do they have you locked up?"

"I'll call you tomorrow night, how about that? And I'll see you bright and early on Friday. What type of Danish do you want me to save for you? Cherry?"

"You got it dude!" Lorelai laughed. "Good night Luke, in case I didn't say it, I had a wonderful time tonight. I must say, you amazed me with your choices"

"Don't forget Lorelai, I'm not new to the ways of all things Gilmore. Sweet dreams"

Lorelai cradled the cell against her chin and smiled. She thought about how it might be to have Luke in her life everyday as a partner. Oddly enough it didn't seem to scare her to think of it.

The next morning Lorelai felt strangely let down, like the day after Christmas. She was trying to figure out why, she'd a great time with Luke and she's excited about telling Sookie about them, her friend would probably break a few glasses with her high pitched squeal.

Before that she'd go to Luke's and get some coffee. That was the source of the let down. Luke wouldn't be at Luke's, he's at the bank.

She wondered about the other times she'd gone in and Caesar was the only one cooking and Ray was the only server. It didn't seem that often. Lorelai thought to herself; Esther Phillips is right, 'What a Difference a Day Makes.' She never missed Luke as much because she now knows what it is to miss Luke."

She sighed and got out of bed to go face the squeals of Sookie.

Sookie was in the kitchen and saws Lorelai come in, "There's coffee made and I have muffin tops, with chocolate chips!"

Lorelai takes one of the tops and eyes Sookie carefully, "Ok, before we start, is it the Inn, Jackson or gossip?"

"Jackson's just my produce supplier, nothing more!"

Lorelai rolled her eyes.

"Well, maybe it might be gossip, Babette saw you and Luke come back from a business movie and asked me about our inn. I told her that you and I weren't even in the talking phase of the inn plan and she wondered if Luke was going to invest. Is Luke going to invest?"

She could see Sookie was excited and felt bad about telling her friend the real story, which was kind of strange to feel that way because she knew Sookie would be happy for her, but she'd feel let down too.

She sighed, "I don't know that Luke would want to be an investor Sook, but maybe down the line. Last night however, wasn't business it was pleasure, pure pleasure." Lorelai smiled broadly.

As expected, Sookie squealed. Then she jumped and just as she was getting ready to knock over a large vat of stock Lorelai steered her out of the kitchen into the dinning area and sat her down.

One of the wait staff brought out more coffee and muffin tops and Lorelai told Sookie the whole story from the ducks to the good night kiss in the foyer.

"So I need to get the dirt on Luke's girlfriends and I know you've known him as long as anybody. Anna I met, she was two years, that means there were two others I don't know, so spill."

"Well, there's a girl in high school, I can't remember her name, Diana, Donna or maybe it's Janet."

"Sookie, Janet in no way sounds like the other two."

"I know, I just can't remember, it was high school and Luke was older, so I really didn't pay attention. I think it lasted less than a year, so it wasn't too major, although rumors were they 'went all the way.'" Sookie giggled and then stopped when she saw Lorelai's face. "I'm sorry honey; you know he probably did it with the other two as well, right?"

"I know it's just difficult when I realize that he's much more experienced in relationships than I am, in all forms of them. Let's face it, even with a kid at sixteen, compared to Luke I might as well don a wimple and habit and start singing "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?"

"On top of this Luke has put a physical limit on our relationship for thirty days. I have to say it makes me wonder if he really wants this?"

"Oh, Lorelai, Luke is crazy about you, everyone knows it. I think he might be pleased that you really aren't as, shall we say exposed to other men?" Sookie grinned. "What to you mean physical limit? Do you have to stay five feet away from him at all times?"

"No, just no sex for thirty days, he says he needs to adjust to the new direction our friendship has taken and he said after thirty days I call the shots."

"Do you think you're going to make it to thirty-one?"

"I'm going to do my best to not get to thirty. I'll give him maybe two weeks and then I'm turning up the heat," Lorelai said evilly. "So what about the third girl?"

Sookie was hoping they would skip Rachel, beautiful, adventurous and the one woman who broke Luke's heart so badly that he left town for a week and no one knew where he'd gone. She knew her friend was insecure and what could she possibly say about Rachel that wouldn't upset her.

"Well, I think her name was Rachel and she's a photographer who was always looking for something new. She wanted to have adventures and explore new places. I think they're together for over a year, but after that I really don't know. If you really want the truth you'll have to ask Luke. Anyone else will give you speculation and gossip, Luke would be the one to ask for the real story."

Lorelai's anything but stupid; the words Sookie used were almost exactly what Luke said happened with a lot of kids from Stars Hollow, looking for adventure and excitement.

She wonders if he was thinking about this Rachel when he was talking about that. Since Sookie is pushing her to talk to Luke about this she knows that the gossip will be juicy and probably wrong. So she'll take Sookie's advice and not ask about Rachel except from Luke. But she has to know, "So she's been gone for a while?"

"The last time she was here was right before Luke started dating Anna, maybe seven, eight years ago? She blew in and out within two months. I remember Luke calling her the 'Anywhere but here girl.' I think that's right. But honey, your relationship with Luke came well after all of these girls and Luke adores you, everyone can see it. That's what you should be holding on to, OK?"

"Thanks Sook, I'm happy and I don't need to start buying trouble, eh? I'm going to my office and see if I can get some work done. I want to take Saturday off, Luke is taking me out that night and I don't want to be wiped out from work." Lorelai smiled at what Luke would cook up for her this time.

"Lorelai, can I tell Miss Patty? I've never had any gossip and this one is going to be the biggest news in years." Sookie squealed.

"Sookie, how can I deny you the scoop of the decade? Have at it girl. Oh, Sook, Anna's sister called Luke, 'Butch' any idea?"

"Oh, yea, that was his nickname in high school. I heard it's actually his middle name, but I can't imagine that."

"Butch, eh? Thanks Sookie, now go spread the good news."