Luke knew he didn't deserve her. He knew that what he had said was the truth; she was from another world and he did not fit into her life. And vice versa. She was too colourful, too rich, too loud, too lively.

It had hurt, letting her go, but in the end he'd been right, he didn't know her. For all he knew she could be a psychopath. After all she had just approached him like that at the bar, she had talked about hunting men. Perhaps she was someone who enjoyed said hunt, someone who slept with men and then left them back, alone and longing for her, and never called again.

Or worse, she could be a friend of Nicole, or someone that Nicole had hired to spy on his loyalty, making sure he was faithful to his wife. She had, after all, remembered Nicole's name without any trouble, who said it wasn't because they were acquaintances?

He didn't want to think of her as someone who would do something like that, also it would have been a fucking joke. Nicole hiring someone to test his faithfulness while she was sleeping with another man?

But still, he knew nothing about Lorelai Hayden, except for what she had told him.

Lorelai, Lorelai …

Her name circled around in his head 24/7, while he was serving food, while he was taking a shower, while he was trying to fall asleep.

And then again, finally as he met Nicole a week later.

"Hi, Luke," she greeted him as he entered their – her – apartment. She greeted him just like she always had, planting a kiss on his lips shamelessly, as though he was the only man in her life.

"Hello, Nicole," he spoke quietly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he replied, voice still hushed. "I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"Us," he said. "And open marriages."

"What?" snorted Nicole. "Are you drunk, Luke?"

"No, but I met someone the other day who's in an open marriage and it got me thinking if we could try. You know, you could sleep with people besides me, if I'm too stressed or not in the mood."

Nicole shook her head. "That is silly."

"Is it silly, though?" Luke looked at her directly, Lorelai's voice in his head. "So cheating is better?"

A long pause. "No," she then said, "cheating is awful, of course."

"So why would you do it?"

"Because …" She paused for a moment before exhaling, "it's just not going well between us."

"So you'd rather cheat than have a normal conversation with me?"

"Who told you anyway?"

"Are you serious? I ask you about why you were cheating and you're concerned about who told me? If you must know, I saw you. Well, at first I was wearing the wrong socks, socks that were not my own. And when I drove to your apartment – don't say ours cause it's not – I saw you going in with him. The sock-man."

"David."

"Whatever the fuck his name is. Why didn't you talk to me, Nicole? I only stayed your husband because you asked me to, and then you do this?"

"I – I really don't know, Luke. I'm so sorry."

"Whatever. At least I can get out of this now. I have boxes outside in my truck. I'm moving out today, you don't have to help me gathering my stuff. Also, as soon as I'm home, I will finally sign those stupid papers I should have signed months ago."

She didn't say anything. Of course she didn't.

And later that day, Luke finally felt as free as he hadn't felt in a long time. Now he only needed to forget Lorelai, which wouldn't be easy.

And it wasn't. Weeks passed but he still thought of her every day. He dreamt about her more often than he was ready to admit. Also, Lane wouldn't let him forget about her, as wouldn't Kirk and Miss Patty. Which was why, one day, he asked Kirk about using his laptop.

After running around town, looking for something that Kirk called Wi-Fi, Luke could finally sit down and look her up.

He didn't find anything on Lorelai Hayden, so he searched for her maiden name, Lorelai Gilmore. The home address of the Gilmores came up and he, for a moment, considered going there, until he remembered that her parents didn't know about Lorelai's open marriage.

He searched for the hotel next, and was instantly blown away at the pictures. It was just as pompous as he had imagined it to be.

He wrote down the telephone number and headed back to the diner, Kirk's laptop under his arm.

He stored it under the counter, told Lane where it was in case Kirk would pop up and ask for it back, then hurried upstairs. And as soon as he had closed his door, his heart was trying to jump out his ribcage. He really was about to call the hotel and ask for her.

With shaking hands, he dialled.

"The Royal, Tatiana speaking," said a voice after a while and he exhaled.

"Yes, hi, Danes here. Is Lorelai present?"

"Mrs. Hayden? No, she's not, she already left. Can I leave her a message?"

Luke thought for a moment. Did this person know about Lorelai's and Christopher's arrangement? She had said no one knew about it, except for their lovers. Not even their daughter knew.

"Thank you very much, but no. Could you just tell me when she'll be in again?"

"Yes, hold on a moment." Short silence. "The rota says tomorrow from ten to four, but she's the boss, she might as well work from twelve to three. Or eight to twelve, depends on how she's feeling."

"Okay, no problem. I'll just try again tomorrow." He sighed. "Tell her that Luke Danes called."

"I will, Mr. Danes. Have a nice day."

"You, too." He hung up, his hands still shaking anxiously.

"Luke Danes," Lorelai mumbled, and Tatiana nodded.

"He sounded very nice."

"He is very nice."

"Is he …?" The younger woman wiggled her brows.

"No," Lorelai laughed, a little embarrassed. "Not yet anyway. Oh, what am I saying. He's just a man I once met but I am very interested in him."

"He sounded interested in you, too."

"He's married, Tatiana."

"So are you."

"True." Lorelai sighed. "Oh, speaking of – if Chris calls, could you tell him that I will be late for dinner with my parents and that he has to work on a good excuse for me this time – not another conference, my mother almost didn't buy that one last time."

"I'll tell him. Are you meeting Mr. Danes?"

"Ha. No, I'm meeting Dr. Lexington."

"Oh."

"Don't look like that, hon. My parents really wouldn't understand why I'm going to therapy."

"No, it's fine. It's just – I'm impressed that your web of lies and secrets hasn't swallowed you yet. I couldn't keep track of everything, and who knows what and who doesn't."

"Yeah." Lorelai smiled. "It can be really confusing. Anyway – if Luke Danes calls, transfer him right through to me."

"You got it, Lorelai."

And Luke called.

Lorelai couldn't believe how nervous she was when she heard his voice, her heartbeat was almost taking her breath.

"So," she started, voice surprisingly calm, "the infamous Luke Danes, owner of Luke's diner, wants to speak with little old me."

"I'm calling to say that I'm sorry," he said. He sounded sincere. "I was stupid and worried. The thing is, I doubt myself when it comes to women. It was my nephew who pointed out that Nicole was hitting on me, and I didn't believe him. And now there's you, and I don't even know where it's going to go." He took a deep breath. "But it's over. I finally signed the papers weeks ago. I am officially divorced."

"You are?" Lorelai called. "Wow – I should say congratulations, but divorce is always hard."

"No, it's fine. I'm glad it's over." He paused for a moment, collecting all his courage. "Did you – did you want to sleep with me?"

"What?" asked Lorelai.

"At the bar. You said you were on a man hunt and then approached me. Was that your intention? To sleep with me?"

"Ah. At first, yes. I saw you, and I found you instantly attractive. But then I talked to you and I realised that there was potential for more."

"More? I thought you were just sleeping –"

"Not at all," Lorelai interrupted, "I have been in relationships before, not only hookups. Well – not actual relationships, as there was always Chris who was … kind of in the way. As my husband and all. But Max, Rory's teacher, I dated him for almost a year. And Jason, my last ex, was with me for six months. Of course these things tend to break because, well, I am married – but I always said to Chris, that if I found the right man, or he found the right woman, we would get a divorce right away."

"Okay, okay. So, in this scenario, where am I?"

"At first, you're my friend. You said it, you don't even know me. Yet." Lorelai smiled. "Be my friend, get to know my life and me. We'll figure out the rest spontaneously."

"Okay," said Luke quietly, before adding, "I think you're very attractive, too."

"Great, so at least we're on the same page about that." She was grinning. Luke wanting to be her friend was greater than anything she could have imagined. One day, she knew it, there would be more between them. But for the start they were better off as friends. "So, would you like to go out with me at some point?" she asked and Luke laughed awkwardly.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that – but if it's too weird, you can say no."

"I'm not going to a drag club with you, Luke. Been there, done that."

"No, that's – that's not what I wanted to ask."

"Sorry, Luke, but you gotta learn my humour if you want to be my friend. But ask away, then."

"I meant to ask you to accompany me to my sister's wedding."

Lorelai smiled. He sounded so nervous. "So I'll meet your sister after all!"

"If you say yes, you will. But you cannot tell her about your open marriage or other stuff, I don't think she's ready for that."

"My lips are sealed. I'm just your innocent lady friend."

He sighed on the other line.

"Sorry. I'm just a friend. So, the wedding – is it in Stars Hollow?"

"Yes," he sighed again, "and it's renaissance themed."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Yeah, it's stupid, I know. Just wear a dress but nothing too fancy. You know, like … in renaissance times."

"I've never been to a themed wedding. That's amazing!" Lorelai was excited. "So it's like a big RPG?"

"I don't know what that is. My sister and her husband-to-be work at stalls at renaissance fairs."

"That is fascinating. I'm already so obsessed with your life." She laughed. "I'll be there, Luke. Just tell me when."