Mia, Rory and Lorelai were resting on Sookie's couch after dinner. Jackson took Davy to the other room to watch a few cartoons before bedtime. Mia raved about everything Sookie had served and said that the food was tempting her to move back to Stars Hollow.

"Have you forgotten about our Winters?" Rory asked.

"That's right," Sookie giggled. "You and Lorelai were exact opposites when it came to Winter and the first snow of the season."

"I still managed to get her on one or two midnight snow walks," Lorelai grinned.

"Right, and Sookie's warm chocolate chip cookies had nothing to do with that," Mia laughed.

"So if you're going to stay in warm climates the rest of your life," Lorelai began.

"No! You cannot have my blue coat," Mia interrupted.

Rory and Sookie laughed.

The next little while was spent with Lorelai, Sookie and Mia hanging on Rory's every word about her time at Yale. She spoke about the difference between first year and second, about how living with Paris may actually be the best thing for her, she talked about a few boys. Everyone completely ignored the existence of Dean. When she was done filling them in she told them that she had to go back tonight for an early morning class. She wanted to get in some extra studying before she turned in and wanted to be on campus so she could sleep in as late as possible. Mia hugged her, Sookie gave her a giant basket filled with goodies and Lorelai waved.

When the three ladies got comfortable on the couch again Mia (sitting between the best friends) turned to Lorelai, "Well now that our baby girl is gone tell me what happened with Luke."

The colour and smile drained from Lorelai's face, "Let's not." She felt herself instantly get sick. She held her mouth in a tight line, rolling her lips over her teeth and inhaled through her nose.

Sookie piped up, "You know I could tell you about -"

Mia cut Sookie off, "Lorelai Victoria Gilmore, from the moment I left town you have kept in touch with me through letters and phone calls. I felt like sometimes you treated our letters like your diary, so I know you better than anyone else because of that. I have never known you to be happier or more yourself than when you were with Luke. I know that you saw a future with him. So did everyone around you. Rory was excited, Sookie agreed that you were never happier, Patty said I should be ready to come to town for a wedding. We were all thrilled that you two crazy kids finally saw what the rest of us did, that you were made for each other. Then you have one fight and it's all done?"

Lorelai got up and began to pace, "Don't blame me here! He was so perfect and lovey-dovey when we started, telling me he's 'All in' and then the first bump in the road he was out! It took five months for him to go from being totally committed to 'I can't be in this relationship. It's too much'. He broke me, do you get that? Not just my heart, not my soul, ME he broke me. And I'm just getting better now. So please, don't make me talk about it. Please!"

A wave of nausea and dizziness took her over. She stumbled as she grabbed her purse and coat. "I gotta go. I love you both, but I'll see you tomorrow."

"Lorelai!" Mia called after her.

"Let her go," Sookie insisted. "Mia, sit. Give her time. She is so used to blaming herself, any time someone wants to talk about it she thinks they are blaming her for the break up. I'll admit our girl wasn't perfect and even Rory could shoulder some of the blame, but this one is really on Luke. He cut and ran before really talking to her and I'm so mad at him. You should see the guy, he's completely miserable. So I don't know what he was thinking."

XoXoXoXoXo

The dinner rush was long over and Luke was waiting for the bowling team to finish their post game dessert and drinks so he could lock up.

He was wiping down the other tables when he heard the bell chime to let him know that someone had arrived.

"Grab a seat anywhere. I'll be with you in a second," Luke called over his shoulder.

"I think I'll stay standing so I can give you a hug," Mia responded.

Luke spun around, with shock on his face that quickly melted into a smile, "Mia!" He rushed to her and grabbed her into a bearhug.

"Lucas, my boy. I'm sorry I stayed away for so long."

Luke led her to the counter and poured her a cup of coffee, "Can I get you something to eat?"

"Do you have some apple pie?"

"Of course," he plated a large piece and placed it in the microwave to warm up. "I didn't even realize how much I missed you until I saw your face." He confessed as he placed the pie in front of her.

Mia took a bite of the pie and moaned happily, "Still the best pie I've ever had."

Luke smiled brightly, "Because I'm still using the recipe you gave me years ago when I opened this place." They shared another smile before he continued, "So tell me, what brings you to town?"

"Why is everyone so surprised? I figured you all would have expected me months ago. Lorelai and Sookie opened an Inn, I had to come see it. I'm so proud of them. I did berate her for not reaching out to me when she was struggling but Sookie told me that you stepped up and helped them realize the dream."

Luke blushed and broke eye contact, "It was the right thing to do," he stated.

"Of course it was, us Stars Hollow residents help each other and work together," Mia nodded.

"Right," Luke was relieved that she seemed to imply it was all platonic.

"Especially when we love each other," Mia added with a smile.

Luke exhaled, "Don't start."

"Lucas Henry Danes," Mia quietly, yet sternly spoke. "Talk to me."

Luke leaned on the counter, and rested his head on his folded arms, "I ruined everything."

Sitting across from him, Mia shoved her plate aside, placed a hand on his arm, and sighed, "What did your Mom always say? When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Luke, still with his face hidden from Mia, rolled his eyes, "Not now with that, please."

"Why not?" Mia smiled, "It's fitting for this situation, is it not?"

"Mia, I ran over the lemon. Back and forth, like sixteen times, and I was in an eighteen wheeler, carrying cement bricks, and it was a really hot day so there's no juice left. Okay? The lemon is dead and gone and we can't do anything with it!"

Mia giggled slightly, "Lucas, Honey, you need to calm down. I'm sorry I came in here guns blazing about this. But you and Lorelai are family to me, I spent years wishing you two would get together because I saw how good you would be together and how much the two of you love each other. The way you spoke about the other was -"

"I know, I know," he sighed as he stood up and started wiping the perfectly clean counter. "But I blew it, okay? I had my shot and that's it."

Mia got up and came around the counter, she took Luke's hand in hers. She touched his cheek, forcing him to make eye contact, "You don't just get one shot. I've seen her, and it took me the same two seconds with her that it took with you for me to see that you're both miserable."

"I hurt her so badly, she'll never want me back."

"How many years did you tell yourself that she didn't want you in the first place? You were pretty wrong about that! You're both proud and stubborn. I know that it hurts, but YOU know about losing people when you can genuinely never get them back."

Tears won over, Luke closed his eyes trying to not let any more escape, "I know I hurt her, but she hurt me too. And it's not just us, there's Rory and Sookie, her parents, this damn town. It all just feels so hard."