AN: Hello. So, this is my first time writing for Gilmore Girls even though I've watched and rewatched this show more times than I can count in the last twenty years. I have also been writing fanfic for almost as long but this is the first time writing for a years after it has aired. Gilmore Girls, and especially Luke and Lorelai, are currently helping me deal with a very horrible real life situation and I'm in this bubble with them trying to survive it all. And writing has always been therapeutic. So yeah. Also, I have not written any fanfic in the past two or three years but I have been writing a lot but it has been mostly academic writing so this is me getting back into it.

All in all what I am trying to say is, for the first time ever, I am nervous posting fanfic. New fandom, new show, years out of practice, and trying to stay alive.

Summary: Set in Bon Voyage. A short snippet of Lorelai and Rory arrive at the party. What if it's Zack and someone else who run over with umbrellas to help them cross the street.

They sat in the car, as the rain poured down, both in shock as they took in the scene across from them. The cheers and voices of their friends roared louder than the storm over head. Two figures made their way across the street, armed with umbrellas— their feet splashing as they hurried towards them.

Lorelai heard Rory let out a happy giggle beside her and then she heard the passenger door open."Come on! Let's get this party started!" Zack said excitedly as he helped Rory step out of the car. "Yes!" Rory giggled and ducked out of the car and under Zack's umbrella.

Lorelai heard all this, from the corner of her she saw Rory and Zack make their way quickly under the rain, but she could only sit still— stare at the scene across the street from her, gripping the steering wheel tightly, absolutely speechless—

And fighting the burning sensation in her eyes.

She sat completely unaware that someone had made their way to her side of the car. Her hold on the steering wheel tightened, her chest tightened, and the tears clouded her vision— still oblivious to the man standing on her side of the door.

Luke stood there for a moment, slightly unsure of what to do when she made no effort to acknowledge him or to get out of the car on her own.

When she remained frozen, speechless, he took the liberty to open the door, hoping that would get her attention.

She felt it then. A presence. A warmth. His presence. His warmth. Familiar. Strong. Comforting.

Missing for so long.

"Lorelai," his voice was just a whisper through the storm that raged above.

The sound of her name caused her to let out the breath she was holding— her fingers still wrapped tightly around the steering wheel — her knuckles turning white — but she did not turn to see who was standing by her side. She did not need to. She already felt him.

There was a tightness in her chest. Happy. Overwhelmed. Scared. Heartbroken.

This was it. This was the town's good bye to Rory. She had been planning it. She had to cancel it. She just realized. She was not ready.

"Lorelai," he said her name again, and then, without thinking about it, he reached for her and placed one hand atop hers on the steering wheel, squeezing gently to get her attention — to get her to release it and step out and join the party.

She felt it then — so did he — the jolt. The electricity. The warmth. They haven't touched in over a year. Even before they were together, there were always the unintentional— the friendly — the casual touches. They had never gone so long without touching.

But his touch then — light, unassuming, innocent — finally snapped her out of her daze. He unconsciously brushed his thumb across her knuckles — out of habit or out of a desperate need he was not sure — and spoke, "are you ready?"

She nodded absentmindedly, her eyes finally off the party and staring between their hands.

"Let's go," he said and moved slightly out of the way to allow her to step out of the car — his touch disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

She stepped out of the jeep, making sure to keep her eyes on the party, not trusting them to look at him— not trusting the emotions that boiled through her. She took a deep breath and reached to grab the umbrella as he shut the car door behind them and they started moving towards the party. They're halfway across the street when she took an unsteady step and almost slipped.

"Careful," he whispered and unconsciously grabbed her waist to keep her from losing her footing. He kept it there under the pretense of keeping her safe and pulled her to his side just a little bit tighter than necessary— a little bit closer than necessary.

A little bit more intimate than necessary.

Suddenly she became very aware of it. Of his presence. Of his hand on her waist. Her body pressing against his. His touch. His smell. His warmth.

He's just keeping you from slipping. He's just making sure you don't fall. He's just being helpful. He's just being… Luke.

She was unbearably aware of his presence then. Each and every one of her senses absorbing his presence.

He is probably not even aware of what he is doing. He is just helping you cross the street under the rain.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the cries of excitement as ahead of her Rory had joined the crowd and was being showered with hugs.

Lorelai paused. She stopped to watch it all unfold— to let the moment and the emotions wash over her. She paused to watch her daughter drowning in the embrace of their merry band of townspeople. Their Star Hollow family. The people who have loved her and watched her grow and raised her.

Once again, her chest swelled, her eyes burned, and she couldn't breathe.

And then, his hand left her waist, finding a confidence he didn't know he still possessed, it came up to her shoulder and her squeezed it gently.

And then, just then, she finally turned to look up at him— so close— watching her closely, warmly— the tears she'd been fighting to hold back threatening to overpower her.

He knew. He knew how hard all this was on her and so he gave her a moment, despite them standing in the middle of the street, under the rain, while the party waited.

She kept her eyes locked with his. Finding strength in his support. Just for a moment. And then his hand dropped from her shoulder, with his eyes still on her, he tilted his head towards the party.

"Are you ok?"

She relaxed and gave him the briefest of smiles and then turned back to watch her daughter getting sandwiched between Babette and Miss Patty.

"I'm perfect," she whispered, tugging at the umbrella to get them moving forward again.

He smiled.

"Yeah," he whispered under his breath, "you are."

AN2: so this is it. Thank you for reading. I am not going to mark this as complete because I think I might want to post a few more, not as a multific story, but just a series of similar oneshots. Maybe. Anyway, thank you for reading.