Thank you for all your support so far! I really do appreciate it! :) Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 10

"Ok so it may have taken longer than you'd planned but I feel like it looks good..." Olivia said looking round the diner at the end product.

"It looks good." Luke nodded. "You should get home. Your mom will be worried." He said.

Olivia sighed. "Yeah ok." She said. She glanced at him. "Will you two be ok? I..uh..I'm sure mom didn't mean to forget. It's just been a..."

"Rough night." Luke finished for her. "Don't worry about it." He said.

"Are you sure?" Olivia said. "I know this was sort of meant to be your...uh...first date..." She said hesitantly.

Luke glanced at her. "Your mom told you about it huh?" He asked.

"Do you really think mom could keep something like this a secret?" Olivia smiled slightly.

Luke smirked slightly. "I guess not." He said. He glanced at her. "Are you and Rory...?"

"Hey, you treat our mom well and we're happy." She joked.

"Got it." He nodded.

"Luke, we love you. This was really only a matter of time." Olivia smiled softly.

"Thanks." He said ducking his head.

"Hear hear." Jess said dryly.

Olivia smiled and turned to him. "Thanks...for tonight. It was fun." She said.

"Yeah it was." Jess nodded.

"Jess, I'm sorry about..." Olivia started.

"Don't worry about it." Jess interrupted her.

"I should never have blurted it out like that. Will you and Rory...?" She said cautiously.

"Don't worry about it." He repeated. He gave her a small smile. "I owe you an apology. For being a jerk to you."

"It's ok." Olivia smiled softly. She sighed. "I just want things to go back to normal but I guess it can't completely..."

"I guess not." Jess sighed. "But I don't want to lose you. We..uh..we need to find a way to..."

"We will." She said. "I know how you feel and I respect that. It's just me who has to work through some things."

Jess nodded. "I am sorry..."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Olivia assured him. She sighed and went forward to hug him. "Friends?" She asked.

"Always." He said.

Olivia smiled. "Thanks Jess." She said softly. "I better go." She said turning to Tristan.

"I'll walk you home." Tristan smiled.

"Ok." She said quietly, before giving Luke and Jess a small smile and a wave before leaving with Tristan.

Rory walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen where her mom and dad were. "Liv's on her way home." She told them.

"Thank god! Where was she? Is she ok?" Lorelai asked.

"She said she helped Luke and Jess paint the diner." Rory said.

"Oh crap, the diner! Luke and I were going to paint it tonight!" She exclaimed. "How did I forget that?"

"It's been a weird evening. I'm sure he'll understand." Rory said quietly.

"God, I hope so. Tonight was meant to be..." She started saying but stopped when she realised Chris was watching them.

"Who's Luke?" He asked.

"He owns the diner in town." Rory said.

"Ah right! The one who provides the legendary coffee." Chris chuckled. "Why were you going to help him paint the diner though? Couldn't he do that himself? Or get some decorators in or something?" He said confused.

"Because he hates that sort of stuff. The only reason he agreed to do it was because I promised I would help him. God, I'm such a jerk! It was all my idea and now I've let him down." Lorelai groaned.

"I'm sure he'll live. Just tell him I kept you busy." Chris chuckled.

"Yeah I don't think that will help the matter seeing as tonight was meant to be my first date with him." Lorelai said.

"Date?" Chris said shocked. "You...didn't say you were seeing anyone..."

"Should I have?" Lorelai frowned. "I don't even know your current number, Chris. Did you even remember it was your daughters' sixteenth birthdays the other week?" She said, gesturing to Rory who took that as a cue to leave. "Yeah I thought not." She said as she saw the guilty look on Chris' face.

"I...was busy." He tried.

"Too busy to spare a few minutes to call them?" Lorelai snapped. "God Chris, you make your parents think they're right. You make it seem like you really don't care about Rory or Liv at all, like I really did ruin your life."

"That's not fair..." Chris said.

"Isn't it? Why are you really here?" She said.

"I wanted to see my girls!"

"We haven't been your girls for a very long time!" Lorelai said. "I am allowed to date who I like. You have no say in that."

"I just thought..." He said.

"What, that I would be waiting for you? Chris, I have my own life. A really good life. And tonight I let down someone who's been a constant in that life so I'm sorry if I'm being rude but my priority is making it up to him, not explaining it to you." She said.

"Come on Lor, a diner owner? Really? I never thought you'd settle for someone like that." Chris said.

"Thanks for saving me tonight." Olivia smiled at Tristan as they walked up to the Crap Shack.

"You don't need to thank me." He said.

"I just didn't really know who to ring." She sighed. "You were the first person to come to mind." She said. She glanced at him. "Tristan, I..."

"It's ok." Tristan said.

"What?" She said.

"This...us two...it's too complicated for you. I get it. You're not over how you feel about Jess yet." He said.

Olivia sighed. "I really do like you. And I really do enjoy spending time with you. I just..."

"I know." He smiled softly. "You need to work through some things. I get it."

"I just don't want to lead you on. It's not fair on you." Olivia said quietly, glancing at him. "You deserve better than that."

"I never thought you were just leading me on, so don't worry." Tristan assured her. "You can't help how you feel. It's ok."

"This doesn't mean we still can't be friends right?" She said.

Tristan smirked. "Who would annoy you at school otherwise?"

Olivia laughed. "Noone springs to mind."

"There you go then." He said.

Olivia leant forward and hugged him. "Thanks again for tonight."

"No problem." He smiled. "I'll see you at school." He said giving her a mock salute before walking off.

"See you at school." Olivia smiled softly before heading inside. She found Rory on the couch in the living room and she heard raised voices in the kitchen. "Hey..." She said quietly.

"Oh..hey..." Rory said.

"What's going on?" She asked sitting down next to her.

"Dad proposed to mom." Rory said.

"What?" Olivia said, her eyes widening.

"Mom mentioned that today was meant to be her first date with Luke and dad got all jealous and desperate." Rory shrugged. "You know what it's like."

"Don't I just..." Olivia sighed. "What did mom say?"

"No, obviously." Rory said. "She told him that he doesn't have a say in her life anymore and that she can date who she likes, when she likes."

"Good for mom!" Olivia smiled slightly.

Rory glanced at her and smiled slightly. "I thought so too." She said. "Was Luke mad that mom forgot?" She asked hesitantly.

"I don't know." She said honestly. "He didn't seem mad. But...I think he was a little hurt."

"Poor Luke." Rory sighed. "At least he had you and Jess helping him out."

"And Tristan."

"Tristan?" Rory said surprised.

"Yeah, I..uh..kind of called him after I left Grandma and Grandpa's. I needed a ride and he was the first person I thought of. I was..uh..sort of feeling sorry for myself." She admitted.

"Yeah...I got that feeling before you left." Rory said hesitantly. "You know Grandma found me in the kitchen. She was looking for both of us, not just me..."

"It's fine." Olivia sighed. "I guess everything just got on top of me and I took it out on everyone. It's been a weird week..." She said glancing at her sister.

"Yeah..." Rory said quietly.

Olivia sighed. "Look...this thing with Jess...I know it's weird and complicated. But Jess likes you, Rory. He really likes you. Don't just give up your chance at real happiness because of me. You deserve happiness, Ror."

"So do you." Rory said quietly. "I don't want things to be awkward between us. If I'm with Jess..."

"I'll learn to deal with it." Olivia said. "But don't be mad at Jess. It's not his fault how I feel. Just...don't give him up for me. I don't want that."

"You really mean that?" She asked biting her lip.

Olivia smiled softly at her. "I really do. You and Jess have a real chance of happiness. Take it." She said.

"Liv, you're back!" Lorelai said appearing from the kitchen with Chris following behind her.

"Yeah..I..uh..I'm sorry about just leaving like that. I just needed to get out. Get some air." Olivia said.

"I'm just glad you're ok. But please...next time, just let me know where you are and that you're ok." Lorelai said.

"Sorry." Olivia said.

"I'm going to get going." Chris said.

"Chris..." Lorelai sighed.

"It's fine. I guess I'll see you around." He said. He glanced at his daughters. "I know you girls heard a lot tonight but I want you to know I never once regretted anything. Least of all, you two. I know...well, I know I'm probably not the best dad in the world but...I do love you both. I just wanted you to know that."

"That goes for me too." Lorelai said softly. "No regrets and definitely no disappointments from our view."

"Now..uh..do I get a hug before I go?" Chris said.

Rory and Olivia glanced at each other before getting up and giving their dad a hug.

"I'll call you." He promised.

"Sure." Olivia said not totally believing him.

Chris glanced at Lorelai. "Bye Lor..." He said softly.

"Bye Chris." She sighed, watching him leave.

Olivia glanced at her mom. "So..uh..nothing happened between you two then?" She asked.

"What? No! Definitely not!" Lorelai said.

"You just seem happy upstairs at Grandma and Grandpa's. You were chatting and laughing." Olivia said quietly.

Lorelai sighed. "We were talking about how awkward the night had been. There had been lots of those for us when we were younger." She said. She sighed. "Your dad...well, he wanted things to happen." She admitted. "But I told him no."

"So you did remember Luke then..." She said quietly.

"Of course I remembered Luke. I just..."

"Forgot about your date." Olivia nodded.

"Yeah." She admitted. "I feel awful."

"Well...he had me, Jess and Tristan helping." Olivia said. "He...didn't seem mad or anything. Just...understanding."

"Tristan?" She said surprised.

"Yeah. Tristan." Olivia said. "I know you hate him but he's my friend. I'm not just going to dump him. He really helped me tonight."

Lorelai sighed. "No I'm sorry. I went about things the wrong way. Don't blame your sister. She hated talking about it with me." She said.

Olivia glanced at Rory. "I don't." She sighed.

"Look, if Tristan means so much to you and if you like him, then...well, I'd like to meet him. I'd like to get to know him. To see that side of him that you only seem to see." Lorelai said.

"Really?" Olivia said surprised.

"I don't want to fight, hon. I hate fighting with you."

"Me too." She sighed. "But...it's ok. Tristan and I...well, we've decided not to take things further." She admitted.

"Wait, what?" Rory said surprised.

"I..uh..need to work through some stuff of my own. It wouldn't be fair on him." Olivia said, glancing at Rory who understood what her sister was talking about.

"Well...I'm sorry." Lorelai said.

"No you're not." Olivia said smirking slightly.

"I am!"

"Alright, sure." Olivia smiled.

Lorelai laughed slightly. "Ok...maybe I am a bit relieved but...I want you to be happy, Liv. That's all I ever wanted. For both of you."

"I know." Olivia assured her.

"So...movie night to end the feud?" Rory suggested.

"Definitely!" Olivia grinned.

"I am so in!" Lorelai laughed.

Lorelai took a deep breath before entering the diner the following morning. She walked up to the counter where Luke was stood. "Hi..." She said nervously.

"Hey..." Luke said glancing up at her.

"Luke, I'm so sorry about yesterday. I feel awful." She said.

"It's fine." He said.

"It's not. I made you a promise and I let you down. I never want to let you down. Especially...well, especially since last night was meant to mean a lot to me." She sighed.

Luke glanced at her. "It was?" He asked.

"Oh Luke, of course!" Lorelai said softly. "I was so looking forward to it and then things...well, things weren't the best at dinner..."

"Yeah...Olivia kind of implied that. What happened?" He asked cautiously.

"Chris' parents." She sighed. "My parents invited them to the dinner and let's just say they've never exactly been the biggest fan of me, especially when I apparently ruined Chris' life by getting pregnant."

"It takes two to make a baby. They know that, right?" Luke frowned.

"Of course they do. But apparently I was the bad influence. Chris was destined for amazing things until I ruined it for him." She said dryly. "They said all this infront of Rory and Liv as well."

"They heard that?" Luke said shocked. "Ok yesterday makes so much more sense now..."

"What do you mean?" She said confused.

"Tristan said something about Olivia saying she was a let down to everyone and how she was putting herself down. He figured since Jess and I had known her for years, we could talk some sense into her." Luke told her. "Of course I told her she was talking nonsense and that she wasn't a let down and that you loved her so much. And we...well, Jess and I do as well."

Lorelai smiled tremulously. "Thank you, Luke."

"Why are you crying?" Luke said. "I didn't mean to upset you..."

"No I just..." She sighed. "I screwed up so badly last night and you're still...you. I am so lucky to have you in my life."

Luke ducked his head slightly. "Well...I don't know about that but...thanks." He said gruffly.

"I really am sorry. I know we can't have a painting date anymore but I really hope you want to still do something..." She said nervously.

"Hey! Long time, no speak!" A voice said as the diner door opened.

Luke looked up and Lorelai could see the surprise in his face. She turned to see a man about Luke's age with a big grin on his face. "Steve...what...what are you doing here?" Luke said.

"I've come to see you, of course! Thought I'd get a better welcome than that though!" He joked, with a twinkle in his eye.

Lorelai watched, intrigued, as a big smile appeared on Luke's face and he went round and brought Steve into a hug.

"Are Ben and Amy here?" He asked.

"Yeah, they spotted the book store though and had to take a look." Steve said.

"Of course!" Luke chuckled. "It's so good to see you. It's been what..."

"7 years." Steve smiled wistfully.

"7 years? Yeah..wow..that's gone by so fast." Luke said.

"Tell me about it." Steve said.

"Come. Come sit. Oh, Steve, this is Lorelai." Luke said finally introducing them. "Lorelai, this is my old friend, Steve." He said.

"Less with the old! You're the same age, mate." Steve joked. "So you're the famous Lorelai, huh?" He grinned.

"Don't be a jerk, Steve." Luke said, rolling his eyes.

"I'm famous?" Lorelai asked looking between them, still trying to work out the connection between them.

"Oh yeah! Every phone call every week, there is always a new Lorelai story." Steve grinned.

Luke blushed slightly. "There's never much to talk about." He said.

"Sure." Steve smirked. "I've wanted to meet you since I realised this guy is so totally head over heels for you."

"You're an ass." Luke said blushing more. "I knew there was a reason I've kept you at arm's length." He smirked but Lorelai could see through his teasing tone.

"So have you asked her out yet?" Steve grinned.

"Seriously?" Luke said, shaking his head.

"Oh come on, I need to live this part of life through you now." He said.

Lorelai saw Luke's expression soften a lot when Steve had said that and she wondered what that was about. "Actually, yesterday was meant to be our first date." Lorelai said deciding to help Luke out a bit. "But I screwed it up so I'm hoping Luke will give me another chance..." She smiled glancing at him "What do you say?"

Luke smiled slightly. "I say I'm in if you're really sure about it." He said softly.

"I am." She smiled softly.

"Then...it's a date." Luke said.

Lorelai smiled. "Thanks." She said softly, feeling grateful that Luke had obviously forgiven her.

"Luke!" Two voices exclaimed suddenly.

Lorelai watched as two kids about Olivia and Rory's age, one boy and one girl, race behind the counter to Luke. She smiled as Luke gave them a one armed hug and could see the warmth in his interaction with them.

"Ben, Amy, it's good to see you." Luke said

"Has dad been driving you crazy already?" Amy grinned.

"You could say that." Luke chuckled.

"Typical dad." Ben smirked.

"How are you guys doing?" Luke smiled at them.

"We're doing ok." Amy nodded.

"Yeah, it's cool in New York." Ben nodded.

"Well, Jess should be back soon. I know he'll be happy to see you guys." Luke said.

"How about we go and leave you to work and then we can catch up later?" Steve suggested.

"Hey, why don't you all come to dinner at mine this evening?" Lorelai suggested. "You can meet my daughters as well. I think they're about your age." She smiled at Ben and Amy. "How old are you?"

"17." Ben said.

"16." Amy said.

"Oh cool. My daughters are 16 as well." Lorelai smiled. "I'm sure they'd love to meet you."

"That's really nice of you." Steve smiled. "Are you sure we wouldn't be putting you out?"

"Seeing as I will probably get Luke to cook the food, not at all." Lorelai grinned.

Steve laughed. "Ok then. So what, should we say about 7?"

"Sounds great." Lorelai smiled.

"Great. We'll see you later then." Steve said. He smiled at Luke. "It really is great to see you." He said sincerely.

"You too." Luke smiled.

"We'll catch up later?"

"Definitely." He nodded, smiling as he watched them leave.

"So how do you two know each other then?" Lorelai asked interested.

"We met at school." Luke said.

"Wow, so you really do go way back then." Lorelai said.

"Yeah." He said.

"And those are his kids?" She asked.

"Yeah. He's a great dad. He always was but he's really had to be." He said.

"What do you mean?" Lorelai asked.

Luke sighed. "Steve's wife...uh...He lost her 7 years ago. It really shook him hard."

"Oh my god! Poor Steve!" Lorelai's eyes widened. "And those kids..."

"Ben was 10, Amy was 9." Luke sighed. "She died in a car accident. It was so sudden and just...awful." He said. "Steve couldn't bear to be around here anymore so he left to be closer to some of his family in New York. I actually went to stay with them for a bit. You know, help Steve with the kids and stuff. He was so devastated and broken but he needed to be strong for those kids. He's done so much for them. He adores them and they adore him. He's an amazing dad." Luke said.

"Wow..." Lorelai said softly. "He sounds like a pretty amazing person."

"He is." Luke said. "He really helped out when my dad passed away. I wanted to repay the favour. I don't think I could have coped if it hadn't been for him. So whenever he needs me, I'm there."

"That's sweet." Lorelai smiled. "So you haven't seen them for 7 years?"

"I've been to visit a few times but he's never been back here. I never thought he would." He admitted.

"They obviously wanted to see you." She smiled softly.

"It's good to see them." Luke smiled. "Thanks...for inviting them to dinner. It means a lot to me."

"Of course! I want to know your friends. And Ben and Amy seem great." She said.

"They really are. Considering what they've been through, they're great kids. They were devastated obviously when they lost their mom. But they're strong kids. I think they'll get on great with Olivia and Rory." Luke smiled. "Maybe..uh..maybe if they do, we could go visit them in New York sometime?"

"That sounds really nice." Lorelai smiled. "I should get going. But see you tonight?"

"See you tonight." He said.

"Let me help you with that." Steve smiled as he joined Lorelai by the sink as she washed up the dishes from the meal.

"Oh thanks." She smiled. "I thought since Luke cooked it, the least I can do is wash up." She joked.

Steve laughed. "I know the kids were keen to catch up with him." He smiled as he heard Luke laughing in the other room along with Ben and Amy.

Lorelai smiled. "He seems to think a lot of them." She said. "And of you." She said glancing at him.

"We've known each other a long time. We've...well, we've been there for each other through a lot of stuff..." He said.

Lorelai glanced at him. "Luke told me about your wife. I'm so sorry. I can't even begin to imagine what you all must have had to go through." She said quietly.

Steve smiled sadly at her. "Thanks, Lorelai." He said. He sighed. "It's been 7 years but I still think about her everyday. She was amazing. And she was an amazing mother. Ben and Amy adored her."

"It seems like they adore you as well." She smiled softly at him.

"I've done my best." Steve sighed. "I've had to. But it's been hard." He admitted. "I...well...let's just say things got really bad for me. I kind of got into a funk and...well, I'm not proud of it but I turned to drink. Luke was really there for me through it all. He didn't judge me. He just told me that I needed to stay strong. For Ben and Amy's sakes. He paid for me to get help with the drinking whilst he stayed and looked after the kids. He was...a real friend. I will never forget what he did for me." He said quietly, his voice cracking slightly. "He really saved me."

"Wow..." Lorelai said quietly.

"He's a good one. Be sure to hold onto him." Steve smiled softly at her.

"I intend to." She smiled.

"He really likes you. I can tell. There's not been one phone call that he hasn't mentioned you in." Steve said. "I knew you must be special."

Lorelai blushed slightly. "Well I don't know about that but...Luke means a lot to me. He's been there for me and for my daughters as well. He had no obligation to but he was." She smiled softly.

"That's who Luke is." Steve smiled.

"Yeah. It is." Lorelai said softly.

"Everything ok in here?" Luke asked as he reappeared in the kitchen.

"Everything's good. How are the kids?" Lorelai smiled.

"Rory's showing Amy her book collection with Jess and Olivia and Ben are chatting about music." Luke said.

"Ben could talk all day about music." Steve chuckled.

"So could Liv!" Lorelai laughed.

"Well I thought it might be nice to catch up with you." Luke smiled at Steve. "Want to go outside for a bit?"

"You mind?" Steve asked Lorelai.

"You go." Lorelai smiled at them.

"You sure you're ok finishing the washing up?" Luke asked.

"Yep. I've nearly finished anyway. Go. I'm good." She said.

"Ok." Luke smiled. "Thanks."

"You're kidding? You have a whole bookshelf worth of records?" Olivia exclaimed.

"Yup! I could spend every day just listening to them." Ben grinned.

"I'm still saving up to buy a record player." Olivia sighed.

"Well...if you guys do come and visit, you're welcome to borrow it." He said.

"Seriously?" She said excitedly.

"Sure. I'm just glad to find someone who is as crazy about music as I am. I drive Amy crazy. She's more into books." Ben chuckled.

"So's my sister." Olivia laughed. "Hey, you should meet our friend Lane. She's a crazy music nerd like us." She grinned.

Ben laughed. "Well us music nerds do have to stick together right?" He grinned.

Olivia smiled at him. "Right." She said.

Ben smiled at him. "I'm glad Luke has you guys. He's helped our family so much. He deserves to have some happiness."

"Luke's great." Olivia smiled. "He's really helped us out a lot. He's just...been there for us. Like a constant in our life, you know?"

"Sounds like Luke." Ben said.

Olivia glanced at him. "I'm really sorry about your mom..." She said quietly.

Ben sobered for a moment. "Thanks." He said gruffly.

"Our mom...she's amazing. She's done everything for us. Our dad...well, he hasn't been around much. But she's never made us feel like we weren't wanted or weren't loved. I just...I can't imagine how I would cope if anything happened to her..." She said quietly. She glanced at him. "I can't even begin to imagine what you and Amy have had to go through. Sorry...I'm just rambling. I don't really know what to say." She admitted sheepishly.

"It's ok." He smiled softly at her. "We miss her a lot. Dad's been great though. He..uh..he went through some stuff but he got through it with the help of Luke. And from then on, he's done everything for me and Amy. I guess we're a lot like you, Rory and your mom." He said. "I know he finds it hard to talk about mom but he does encourage us to. I try not to so much though because I know it kills him." He sighed.

"Well...if you do ever need someone to talk to...I..uh..I'm always here. I've been told I'm a good listener." She said.

Ben smiled. "Thank you." He said.

"Ben, you have got to see the amount of books Rory has! They could probably match your record collection!" Amy grinned as she, Jess and Rory came back in.

"I'm cool." Ben smirked. "I've found my fellow music nerd." He said grinning at Olivia.

Olivia laughed. "Lane's got competition." She grinned at Rory.

"I'm sure she'd love to know that." Rory laughed. "So are you guys hungry? Should we grab some snacks and put a movie on or something?" Rory suggested.

"Sounds good!" Olivia nodded. "Get the popcorn and the red vines!" She told Rory. "Oh and the mallomars! Oooh and the marshmallows!" She grinned.

"How are you two still hungry? We literally just ate!" Ben said shocked.

"Oh, you'll come to learn to never question the Gilmores' appetites." Jess smirked.

"I'll come and help you." Amy laughed, following Rory.

"So any preference of what movie to watch?" Olivia grinned at Ben.

So I was really nervous about this chapter but I hope you like the new additions! :) Please keep the reviews coming as I would love to know what you all think. :) Thank you again so much for all your support. It really does mean so much to me! :)