It has been about two weeks since Lorelai took to the streets of the Hollow in comfort and found herself at the diner. It has also been that long since she was close to going into the establishment, let alone actually going in. She would have been lying if she said she didn't miss her morning coffee from Luke's, the man in question and all that comes with being near him, but she hasn't been up for facing all of that, whatever that is.

Lorelai's absence at the diner hasn't been unnoticed and when Rory gets home with a cup of coffee from Luke's she asks her mother something.

The girl approaches her mum, who is currently sitting down at the kitchen table. Lorelai has her sewing kit out and is attempting to sew a button onto a cardigan of hers but she's finding it difficult, which is noticeable by the sailor talk each time her thread mysteriously slips out of her needle.

'Oh come on,' Lorelai mumbles to herself.

'Mum…are you busy?'

'Sure, the lives of millions are depending on whether or not I get this button on this damn cardigan,' Lorelai answers back, being sarcastic and with a tone that clearly shows she's annoyed.

'Okay, well then I guess it's not a good time to tell you this is for you.' Rory places the coffee cup on the table in front of her mother.

'Oh, I think it's the perfect time. Thanks, babe.' She reaches for the cup, takes a sip and sighs happily at the taste she's missed so deeply.

Rory nods in return and starts making her way to her bedroom. Before going in, she turns to Lorelai and says, 'By the way, the coffee isn't from me. Luke told me to give it to you and he asked if things were okay. He seemed a bit worried.' The girl narrows her eyes at her mother before asking, 'Why would he be worried about you?'

Lorelai is caught by surprise at the mention of Luke and her heart does a funny thing when she's told he was worried about her. She shrugs at her daughter's question. 'I don't know. It's Luke. He's always worried about something.'

Rory looks at Lorelai for a moment, trying to read her expression, but she replies with a simple, 'Hmm okay,' and then fully enters her room, leaving Lorelai alone in the kitchen to deal with sewing her button, although that's the last thing on her mind.

The woman glances down at the button and then at the coffee cup. She takes a long sip from the coffee. All her thoughts are on the taste and how much she's missed drinking it and for a minute it eases her heart and mind. The coffee is amazing, and she loves every bit of it but it's the sudden memory of Luke, of their moments in the diner that makes her want to get up from the table and rush over there.

The sound of the button hitting the floor as she stands makes her think better of it all. No, she has this button to sew. That's what she's doing. Nothing fundamental but it's still important, right? Important enough not to go rushing out to do something stupid and impulsive.

Her eyes are fixed on the purple penny-sized plastic that easily pops against the wooden floor. It's so insignificant. She picks it up and holds it in her hand for a moment. Why is she putting so much meaning into sewing this, into finding an excuse not to see him?

With a sigh, she sits back down. Even though there's so much joy at the thought of Luke's and specifically the man himself, it deeply hurt her to see him as happy as he was, and the thought of going back. She squeezes the button. It hurts seeing him happy which she hates because he has a right to be and it makes her feel like the worst friend ever, but she can't help what she feels.

She opens her hand and lets the button drop from it onto the table. She turns her palm. It left an imprint. Lorelai shakes her head. She knows she's being silly. She grabs the button and with a determined look about her she picks up her needle and finishes the job she's been struggling with.

It's done. Easy as. But even as she looks at what she has accomplished, she's still unclear about what she wants and needs to do. Lorelai takes a sip from her coffee but it's gone cold.

Time to get some more.

It's strange to say she's oddly nervous when she enters the diner. Lorelai looks around the slightly busy establishment, scouting out if there are any decent places to sit, which there are but no counter seats. She wants to pout and demand to be able to sit close to him, but she knows better than to do that especially with the radio silence between the two of them, and…Rachel. And well, Lorelai isn't five, although that hasn't stopped her from acting that age a couple of times, but today shouldn't be one of them. She picks the window seat closest to the back.

Instead of keeping a lookout for the proprietor she came to see, her sights are on the outside watching as the other townies are busy going on with their day-to-day life.

'You want coffee?'

She turns to the sound of his voice. 'Yes please.' Seeing him makes a smile form on her face. Lorelai hadn't really realised just how much she had missed him.

Luke fills up the red mug with the coffee Lorelai loves and places it on her table. His glance goes up to her as he does it, enjoying the sight of her here. 'So, did you finally get sick of whatever coffee you've been replacing mine with?'

'No, I came for the lovely company.'

'Really?'

Lorelai picks up her coffee and drinks. 'Nope, definitely for this,' she says, eyes partly closed as she really takes in the taste that can't be beaten.

'I'm glad I could reunite the two of you. Want to fill me in on why you parted ways?'

'Oh you know, I…' Lorelai starts to say but loses any good reason there might have been. She ends up just shrugging. 'I guess things got busy.'

Luke raises his eyebrow confused because he knows she's not telling him all the truth but he can see in her face that she might not even realise why, or at least she's doing a good job of hiding it. 'Okay,' Luke finally says. 'Food?' he asks and she nods.

'I know I usually go for a burger around this time but could you make me some mac and cheese? Add some garlic bread to the mix. I'm just craving something cheesy.'

'Garlic bread? Is this Pete's pizza all of a sudden?'

'No, Pete also has cheesy bread. Hmm, maybe I should leave.'

'How about you shut up and let me go make you your dumb special food?'

'I can do that. Thanks, Luke.' She probably should have left, but she's got a smile on her face like a little child who's getting the love and attention they've always wanted.

As Luke goes into the kitchen to make her food, Lorelai looks around the diner but her eyes end up lingering on the curtain covering the stairs. She's been up in his apartment but only because of Rachel.

Would she have ever been there if it hadn't been for Rachel? It's a dumb question, but just thinking about being up there makes her intrigued to know more about Luke. To be among his things, to be a part of his home, his world. She bites her lip. Is it weird to be thinking these things? No, no, he's her friend. Of course, it's important to her.

'You okay?' Luke asks when he comes by the table and sees Lorelai in deep thought.

'Huh? Oh, yeah. Have you been skiing?'

'What? That's a random question.'

'Not too random. I saw skis in your place.'

'Oh.' There's a slight tint of red coursing across his cheeks at the thought of her in his place. He remembers when she was there with Rachel and the feeling it gave him. A little bit shocked at her being there, being somewhere intimate that a very limited amount of people have been in. Home is a safety net of his. It's where he goes to be at peace, to be comfortable, and she was there. He couldn't say he didn't like the idea of her being there. No, he liked it more than he probably should have with his girlfriend in the same room as them, but it was still a little weird.

'So skiing?'

'Um, yeah. I used to go a few times during December but I haven't recently. Why the sudden curiosity?'

'I just wanted to know more about it. I didn't know you skied. I didn't know there were things I didn't know about you,' she says.

'There are lots of things you don't know about me.'

Lorelai raises her eyebrow at that, curiosity really driving her desire. 'What else don't I know? You've been holding back on me Danes.'

He shrugs. 'I don't know. What is the sudden urge to get to know me better?'

'Isn't it weird that there's still so much we don't know despite the fact we've known each other for years?'

'Not weird,' Luke says but then curiosity catches him. 'What have you been holding back?'

One thing comes to mind when he asks her that. It isn't a specific thought but more a feeling, a deep feeling that has been growing and growing, maybe even from the start, or maybe just recently, she wasn't sure, she was just glad about it.

'What?' Luke questions, as he sees her smiling.

She glances down, unable to hold the eye contact they've been locked in, but her smile can't fade. 'Nothing Luke.' Lorelai looks back at him. 'I should go.'

'What about your food?' he gestures to the plate of mac and cheese that's on the window counter. The steam of it shows just how recently it was made.

'Oh right. I'll eat.'

'Never doubted that you could.' He grabs the plate and places it in front of her.

She picks up the fork and blows on the hot pasta before taking a bite. 'Mm…cheesy. Thank you, Luke.'

He nods before leaving her to take some orders from the other customers in the diner. Luke pours coffee, and talks to each person he encounters with a sweet yet sometimes gruffy disposition. He scribbles down people's orders, then slips the notepad into the waistband of his trousers, and throws the rag he has over his shoulder.

Lorelai bites down on her lip at the sight of him. She looks away and tries to focus on her food, but it isn't the mac and cheese that's making her hot and bothered.

Come on Gilmore, you're not sixteen anymore. But saying it to herself did nothing to turn down the feelings bubbling up from her heart down through her body.

'How's the food?' Luke asks.

'Hot,' is all Lorelai's brain can say when his voice breaks through her thoughts.

'Waiting for it to cool before wolfing it down is also an option.'

'Nope. Too hungry.'

Luke playfully rolls his eyes at her and goes into the kitchen to get something.

She looks down at her food before glancing back up to where the diner man had been not long ago. Lorelai finishes her food, wondering every so often if he'll pop back out so they can talk. She doesn't know what about, but does that really matter when it comes to Luke? Talking about nothing at all seems like them. By the time he does come out, two plates in hand to give to the people in the corner, she's finished with her food.

'Managed to wolf it down then?' he asks as he comes back around to her table.

'Did you really doubt me?'

'Never,' he replies, his tone showing that he really means it.

She smiles at him but starts getting up from her seat. 'Thanks for the grub, Luke.'

'You going?' he asks, and she wonders if he sounds disappointed or if it's just her.

'Need to go to the Inn. I've got to make sure Michel hasn't scared all the guests away.'

'Right, you should go then,' he says, sounding encouraging but the fact his gaze has trailed away from her says something different.

Lorelai doesn't take the time to question it, she won't let herself. She instead smiles at him and walks out of the diner.

With a freshly made cup of coffee in hand, Lorelai sits on the edge of her bed. The sound of Luke fixing the porch still fills the morning air. She really doesn't know how neither Rory nor Babette could hear him. Lorelai questions for a second whether she was dreaming. This wouldn't have been the first time Luke showed up in her dreams, but she's sure she isn't. She glances down at her mug. The coffee isn't as good as it is in her dreams though. Lorelai takes a sip of the beverage and sighs. The only thing that comes close to the unattainable taste of her dream coffee is Luke's.

Her eyes drift up to the window. What went over Luke's mind to come here this morning? Not that she doesn't appreciate the fact he's willingly and very nicely fixing something of hers without even being asked. That man is amazing, but the question still plays on her mind. Lorelai gets up and goes to the window. She slowly pulls back the curtain. Her eyes drift down and she can just about see Luke there.

Luke moves further down the porch, giving Lorelai a better view and it's safe to say she's happy about it. She keeps her eyes on the man as he checks the stability of the porch rail. He isn't satisfied with it yet and starts to work on it again. Lorelai is about to look away when she notices him taking his flannel shirt off. She probably shouldn't have been admiring someone else's boyfriend, but when he slips the fabric off his body, revealing the t-shirt under it that leaves little to the imagination, not that Lorelai needs help with imagining anything Luke related, logic goes out the window.

She admires him as he finishes fixing the porch rail. When it seems like he's done, Luke grabs his tools and is about to leave. He turns to look at his handy work one last time and Lorelai thinks he's just going to leave. He doesn't. Not without looking up at her window. Lorelai's first instinct is to take a step back away from his sight, but she's stuck in place. He's caught her gaze and she's sure she's blushing like a school child. Luke waves, a small smile playing on his lips.

She waves back and mouths a 'thank you' to him. Luke nods in return before really leaving this time.

Taking a step away from the window, Lorelai wonders why her heart is racing. It's not like he caught her doing anything crazy. It's her house, she's able to look out whatever window she wants, but the smile that was on his face plays on her mind.

'Ugh, Luke. You smug, sweet, annoying, wakes-a-person-up-at-six-in-the-morning, idiot,' she mumbles and crashes back into bed.

Her coffee mug is now long forgotten on the windowsill.

There had been a message at the Inn for Lorelai before she left work, and it was from Luke. So when she got home and saw him lying down on the wooden floor of the living room, fiddling with some TV wires, she wasn't at all shocked. How he had known her TV was acting up was a mystery to her since it only started last night and she hadn't had the time to bring it up to him, but she just assumed either Rory mentioned it or Luke has some magical powers that Lorelai is unaware of.

'Hey magic man, have you fixed Thomas?'

'Who the hell is Thomas?' Luke asks in reply.

'Thomas the TV. Who else?'

Luke rolls his eyes and sits up to look at her. 'Test it out,' he says as he gestures to the remote on the coffee table.

She reaches for it and clicks the on button. It makes a funny noise before the image turns on. 'Victory! Though that noise is a little odd.'

'You might have to live with it if I can't figure out why it's making that sound.'

'For you, we would do it. But it might come with constant complaining.'

'Might? With you it's definite. But I think I can figure it out.'

'Our hero,' she says sweetly and lays her hand on her chest. 'Hey Luke, how about you stay for dinner? It'll be a treat for taking such good care of our prize possession.'

'Um…, you sure I wouldn't be in the way?'

'I'm more than sure.'

'Is Rory okay with it?'

'Well I haven't asked her since she isn't here Luke, but I'm sure she would be happy to have you join.'

'Okay, if it's fine with her, staying over for dinner sounds nice.'

Lorelai smiles and watches as he goes back to fiddling with the TV. She then heads into the kitchen to make herself a coffee. She glances around questioning what she should do with Luke here, but as much as part of her wants to make her feel awkward about his presence, she feels just as always: at home.

Unlike Lorelai, Rory steps into the house not knowing that Luke is there. She notices him or figures it's him behind the TV when all she can see are his legs. Rory walks into the kitchen and gives her mother a puzzled look.

'Is Thomas okay?' she asks as she takes a mug from the cupboard and fills it up with coffee.

'Currently in surgery but Luke says he'll make a full recovery.'

'That's sweet of him,' Rory replies back once she takes a long sip from her mug.

'So sweet, that I've invited him to dinner.'

'Oh yeah, that's a great idea mum. Though, what dinner because you can't cook.'

'I didn't suggest that I would.'

Rory is about to take another sip from her drink but stops. 'Wait, you're not expecting Luke to cook for us when he's doing so much already?'

'No! Geez kid, you think that little of me?'

'No, no, I just…I don't know, sometimes you don't always use your powers over Luke as nicely as you should.'

Lorelai is about to say something when a sound from the living room turns their attention elsewhere. She starts to head that way when Luke says 'Everything is fine.' But it doesn't stop her from checking up on him.

'What happened?' she asks. Nothing looks different to earlier so she's not quite sure what might have occurred.

He pops up from behind the TV. 'Nothing, I just hit my elbow on the wall back here.'

'Oh. Got to be careful Luke. Don't want to have a dead body on my hands. I'd rather have the broken TV.'

'You won't,' he replies.

'Good. Oh, and Rory has happily agreed to have you over for dinner. How about Chinese?' she questions, seeing if he'll like her choice of food.

He smiles at her mention of Rory and nods. 'I'm happy with Chinese. Thanks. You know you don't have to do anything.'

'We know.' She smiles at him. It's light, sweet and if they were in a cartoon there would be little love hearts flowing through the air between them. The simple and normal conversation is laced with love, with familiarity, with the feeling of home and it's not because the setting is in Lorelai's house. There's more to it, and with the way Luke and Lorelai are looking at each other, anyone would know. Maybe even they would if they weren't so blinded by it.

'I should…' He gestures to the TV before moving back down to keep working on the broken appliance.

She watches for a second, before going back into the kitchen to Rory.

'Everything okay?' her daughter asks and Lorelai nods in reply. 'Okay then, I'll be in my room, call me when you're ordering food.' The girl does as she says leaving her mother in the kitchen alone. Lorelai doesn't move from the spot she's standing, not until she hears mumbling coming from the living room. There's something about knowing he's there that does something to Lorelai's body, to her heart. She leaves the kitchen and quickly heads upstairs. She needs to be away. All these feelings, all these thoughts. They're not good, or at least that's what she's telling herself.

Takeout at the Gilmore house is always like a party, but with Luke there, even Lorelai felt like they might have overdone it with the food. Luke definitely didn't let that slide but each comment has been laced with happiness in it despite the lecture he's giving. The three of them are in the living room; the now all-fixed TV is playing Catch Me If You Can. Luke is sitting down on the floor leaning on the bottom of the sofa. Lorelai is behind him on the sofa and Rory is next to her. Between the two is a bowl of popcorn and six boxes of Chinese food that no longer have any food in them.

They've all managed to get through the takeout they ordered, though Lorelai is still holding one of the many boxes and is eating the fried rice she got. She's watching the movie as she eats. Both Rory and her have been admiring a young Leo that's on their screen, though Lorelai can't say her gaze hasn't gone down to the diner owner.

Luke turns around and asks, 'How are you still eating?'

'Because there is still food to eat?' Lorelai replies, a smile on her lips before she eats another mouthful of rice.

'Don't you ever get full?' he asks but gets no reply, just a look on Lorelai's face that tells him he should know the answer to that already.

'You know Luke, if you want some don't be afraid to ask.'

'I'm not afraid. I've just had all I can. Unlike some of us, I don't see eating as a sport.'

'You don't because you know you'd lose,' she says and sticks her tongue at him.

'I don't doubt it.'

'Do I get an award?'

'For what, eating?' he questions back at her.

Lorelai nods but Luke just rolls his eyes before turning to look back at the movie.

Rory has her eyes on her mother, having watched the two talk like it was a tennis match, just less grunting, which she's more than okay with. Do they know how effortlessly they do that? the girl thinks. There's something comfortable about having Luke here and she knows she isn't the only one thinking it.

The three of them continue watching the rest of the movie, Lorelai and Rory adding their comments and putting their own dialogue for some of the moments, while Luke reminds them that listening to the actual movie would be better, but we all know he secretly loves it.

A little before the ending rolls in, Rory excuses herself so she can get ready for bed, leaving Luke and Lorelai alone.

'You know, you've got a really good kid there. Not many would be rushing to go do school work before bed,' Luke says as he joins Lorelai on the sofa.

Lorelai looks over at Rory's room with a fond smile on her face. 'Yeah, I'm lucky. I have no idea where she gets it from.'

'Really? I see her determination in you all the time. Mainly when you're coming back to the counter for more coffee.'

'And I always get my way,' she says proudly.

'Not always,' Luke corrects, crossing his arms along his chest.

'Always,' Lorelai repeats and Luke puts his arms back down, giving up on even challenging her any more. It's a lost battle.

'Let's just finish this movie.'

Lorelai smiles. 'Yeah, let's.' She rests her head on Luke's shoulder as he leans back a little further into the sofa, getting more comfortable than he was when Rory was here.

'What did you think of the movie?' Lorelai asks Luke when they get to the final credits. When no answer comes, she turns to look at him and finds that the flannel-covered man is fast asleep. She grins at the sight. Lorelai reaches for Luke's hat, pulling it off gently and placing it on the wooden coffee table. Her hand goes to his hair, she hesitates for a second before running her hand through it, taming the wild strands that have stuck up from taking off his hat. Her hand travels down to his cheek. The back of her hand softly caresses his stubble before her hand falls back down to her lap.

Lorelai wonders as she looks at him, taking all the features she doesn't get to admire up close when there is a counter between them. Will the feeling of comfort ever disappear when she's around him or is it just something that will always be there when it comes to Luke? She doesn't think there's ever been a time when she hasn't felt completely safe and completely herself with him. She smiles. Something deep in her is screaming for more. Screaming for her to realise all that she has with the person in front of her and all that she could have if she took the leap.

But the screaming isn't enough, not yet. Lorelai rests her head on his shoulder just as she had done before and lets the tiredness of the day take over. Sleep comes easily when you're next to a warm body that you love. Though Lorelai isn't one to admit the last part of that.

It's the thud from Rory's room that wakes Luke. He slowly gets up, careful not to wake the woman sleeping on him. He rubs his lower back as he walks towards the girl's bedroom. It's still deep into the night but he's worried. With all that's happened with Rory, especially her disappearing act that has gotten us here, he has to check on her. The door is slightly open, so Luke gently nudges it. There's a little light coming from the corner of the room, which lets Luke see exactly what woke him up. A book. Right on the floor by her bed is a book. Rory's right arm is extended out over the bed as if she had fallen asleep while reading and only now had the weight of it loosen her grip.

Luke smiles at the sight of the sleeping girl, and he can't say he isn't relieved that it is only that: a book and nothing else. He walks further in, picking up the book and placing it on the table beside her bed. Rory sturs a little, which makes him pause, but she doesn't wake. He turns off the lamp before leaving her room.

He finds himself between the living room and the kitchen, looking out at Lorelai. It feels weird to be here while both of them are asleep but part of him doesn't want to leave. He turns to look at the door, but his sights drift back to the woman asleep on the sofa. Luke walks towards her, grabbing the blanket that's found itself half under the sofa on the floor. He shakes it out, before gently placing it on Lorelai. He smiles down at her and is about to walk off when she mumbles something. Luke turns back and notices Lorelai tossing and turning in her sleep.

'Lorelai?' he calls out, trying to wake her.

The house is dark. It's not a normal night time kind of dark. The corners of the room seem dripped with tainted ink. Lorelai walks from the living room to the kitchen. Everything screams eerie and she's on high alert. The back door by the fridge is open. Its wooden side hits the frame consistently. It's the wind, she reminds herself. If Luke was here he would tell her that she should have locked her back door.

Luke? Her head turns back to look at the living room. There's no one on the sofa any more. He must have left. Her hand goes to the back door about to close it when her hand gets into contact with something wet. She turns her hand around. A dark red covers her white palm.

Lorelai takes a step back. Her mind races with so many thoughts. But the first is what the hell is going on and where is Rory? She grabs the kitchen towel from the counter and wipes her hand on it, clearing away the liquid, but the colour doesn't go. The towel drops down on the kitchen table and she goes to Rory's room. She doesn't knock, she just opens the door.

A step into the dark room and something doesn't feel right. Every part of Rory's room has been stripped of its colour. The white curtains are now grey and the light pink bed cover is no longer the comforting colour it once was. But none of that matters to Lorelai. Yes it's weird, but her mind is on one thing only: the empty bed.

Panic springs through Lorelai's body. 'Rory!' she screams. How has she lost her daughter again? She squeezes her hands in frustration, but that's when her mind drifts back to what is on her hand. She opens it and the red stain seems so much brighter than it had been.

Lorelai runs out of the room into the living room and then she starts going up the stairs, but she doesn't make it up there. She instantly finds herself back in the living room despite going up. Lorelai threads her fingers through her hair, confusion and worry making her breathing quicken. She's trying not to let her fears make her freeze but she's scared. And that's something Lorelai hardly ever admits.

She shakes her head. 'I need to find Rory,' she reminds herself. Lorelai heads for the front door, her hand reaching for the door handle. She pulls, but the door doesn't move. It's locked. And despite Lorelai pulling with all her force, nothing opens it.

'Rory!' she screams, hoping Rory is out there. But there's no sound in return. Lorelai rushes to the kitchen, the back door being her goal. She needs to leave, she needs to find her daughter. But the door is no longer open. Lorelai reaches for the handle, but there isn't one any more. She touches the wooden space where the handle used to be. She's lost and confused. Lorelai squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, letting everything sink in.

There is one more door. Her mind reminds her, keeping some hope alive. She runs out to the living room, aiming for the side door that leads out to Babette's house. Hope slips away at the sight of a wall where a door should be.

Lorelai steps away from it. She's at the centre of the living room. The house feels so small as if the walls are moving in, getting closer and closer to her. And then she hears it. Rory's voice. It's low. But she knows it's Rory.

'Mum. Help! Mum!'

Lorelai looks around confused and unsure where the voice is coming from. 'Rory!' she screams back. The house is no longer a house but simply a room. It's all closing in on her. Tears are in her eyes. The strain of all of this getting to her.

She touches each wall, screaming her daughter's name again. But nothing changes. Rory's voice keeps calling out but Lorelai sits on the floor in defeat. She covers her face and just wishes something would change. Wishing she wasn't the useless mother she feels like she is.

'Please,' she says softly, her voice broken.

'Lorelai,' the voice is laced with concern. She feels a powerful presence. Warmth and peace.

She wakes in Luke's arms. Her eyes tear full.

'You're okay,' Luke tells her.

'I'm sorry. It was horrible.' Lorelai leans into his embrace but then pulls apart suddenly, almost like she was hit by a jolt. 'Where's Rory?!'

'Lorelai, she's okay.' He sits up, placing his hands on her waist to keep her on the sofa. 'She hasn't left her room since she went there earlier.'

'You sure?' she asks, her eyes searching his and only finding caring blue eyes.

'Yes. I checked before you started to panic in your sleep.'

Lorelai sighs in relief. Tears fall down her face. Her body is finally able to breathe. She feels Luke's arm around her body. She doesn't think, she just leans into him.

'What dream was that?' he asks quietly.

'Nightmare,' she corrects him.

'Everything is okay now. Come on, you should head into bed, this couch is just gonna screw with your back.'

Lorelai looks at him, a smile forming on her lips despite the pain she feels.

Luke stands up and gestures for her to do the same. Lorelai does and is about to head up with Luke when she stops. Her eyes go towards Rory's room.

'Go check,' Luke says, knowing all too well that she isn't going to be able to rest if she doesn't check up on her daughter first.

She heads towards Rory's room, opening the door slowly when she gets there, and peaks through. Lorelai stands there for a few moments, taking in the sight of her daughter safely in bed. Her nerves and anxieties that were amplified by her dream are now finally washing away. Lorelai closes the door and then walks back to Luke who's still waiting halfway up the steps.

They walk up and enter Lorelai's room. Luke turns the light switch on but no light comes on, and Lorelai instead clicks on the lamp on her bedside table.

'Oh, I forgot about that,' Luke says. He stands in the room a little awkwardly.

'Luke you know you don't need to be here if you don't want to,' Lorelai reminds him. She sits down in bed, looking up at him.

'I know, but…I just want to make sure you're okay. You were really shaken up about the nightmare.'

'I'm okay. I promise.' The words come out of her mouth but Lorelai wishes she was saying something else. She wishes she could tell him to stay. But he's not her's to stay for.

'Well, if you need anything…'

'I know who to call.' Her eyes meet his and they hold the gaze longer than they probably should. Her body craves to be closer to him. 'But I don't know if the Ghostbusters deal with nightmares that aren't ghost-based,' Lorelai spits a joke out, hoping it cuts the feelings trying to spill out.

Luke grins. 'Just sleep. And no coffee. It won't help.'

'Yes, it does,' Lorelai protests but her smile only grows.

'I'll come fix this light soon,' he states, gesturing up to the ceiling light.

'Thanks, Luke,' she says softly and watches as he leaves, wishing he wasn't.