With the lights low and the champagne lightly bubbling on the table, the evening has a sense of magic to it. Though to Luke it has everything to do with the beautiful woman in front of him. To say it's a relief that they're finally having their first date, would be an understatement.

Lorelai has just finished reading the slightly in depth story on the menu about the restaurant Luke brought her to. It's not anything fancy and he did question whether to do so, but the tavern with Buddy and Maisy is personal to him, and letting her into his life is something he wants to do. The way she smiles and playfully taps his arm, makes Luke smile too. But more than anything he wants to tell her how much he wants this, them, to work.

At the mention of how they met, brings the reveal of the item Luke had looked at not long ago. Lorelai's sights shift down from his eyes to the horoscope in her hands. The emotion she feels coming from him, coming from her is more than she's ever known.

'I'm all in too, Luke,' she says and leans in to kiss him.

Yes, their date isn't in a five star restaurant with anything extremely fancy, but Lorelai wouldn't have wanted that. It would have lacked the character, the love, the personality that she feels sitting at the table they are at. Even more so, it wouldn't have felt like something Luke would have loved. As she looks at him now, she knows. She wished she didn't because maybe it would scare her less, but she knows. There's nothing that can beat knowing her heart belongs to him, and his belongs to hers.

'How much would you give it then?' Luke asks as they walk hand in hand by the river. The summer night is warmer than it has been the last couple of days.

'The date?' Lorelai asks back, and Luke nods. 'Well, is it finished? Is dumping me in the lake the last treat?' she teases.

'It depends on how much you annoy me the rest of the night,' he teases back, but lightly squeezes her hand as a reminder that he in fact does not want to do that, not that Lorelai was ever worried about that.

They walk up the wooden bridge. The uneven flooring makes Lorelai wrap her arm around Luke's for stability. They stop halfway to look out at the water, at the twinkling lights decorating the bridge. Lorelai leans on the railing, her gaze fixed out on the dots of lights moving with the waves. She turns to Luke.

'Thank you for tonight.'

'It's not over yet.'

She turns to him, her smile meeting his own, and she reaches out to touch his cheek. He shaved for tonight. She likes the fact that he had done that for her, and seeing his whole face is wonderful but she'll easily admit to herself that she loves the scruffiness more. 'I'm still thankful. Take the win, Luke.'

'Sure, I'll remind you of this if the rest doesn't go well.'

'It will go well,' Lorelai smirks like she knows exactly how the date is going to end, or at least she knows exactly where she wants it to end.

Luke shakes his head, a chuckle coming out, because he too knows what she's thinking. 'Not that, well, that's not what I meant.'

'I know,' she grins. 'As long as you promise not to pull a Lady in the Lake on me, I'd love to stay here a moment.'

'Sure,' Luke simply says. He leans closer to the railing she's leaning on, his hand on her back as she turns to look out at the water. 'There's something about it, isn't there?'

'It's beautiful. And I want to remember it all, being here with you.' Lorelai pulls him in for another kiss. Their lips meet softly but then all at once with a need both have been trying to hold back.

'Can it wait?' Lorelai quickly gets out between their kisses.

'What?'

'Whatever you have planned?'

'Ice cream. That's what I had planned.'

Lorelai pulls away once he says that, with a huge smile on her face. 'No way! And you let me stay here, rambling about the view, instead of going to get ice cream?'

'Hey, you're the one that wanted to stop.'

'Let's go get ice cream and then home,' she says the last bit with a playful tone.

Luke nods and with his hand in hers, they walk down to the car to drive to their last location.

They reach the little store. The top of it, in cursive, highlights its name: Alice through the looking glass. The shop's window showcases a picture of Alice as well as a few copies of both Carroll's books which the characters are from.

Lorelai looks at Luke, an eyebrow raised, 'You really did plan this out.'

'I did. I think Rory would like it too. We should take her sometime.'

'We should,' she says, a smile on her face. How could she not when he's always showing just how much he cares about her daughter?

Luke pulls open the glass door, holding it while Lorelai walks through into the store. Right away she notices the smell. It's as if the sweet smell of ice cream and soft scent of cake had a love child.

The store is small but where it lacks in space it makes up for in personality. It has an earthy feel to it with the wooden accents running throughout. In the middle of the place is a fake tree, lit up by fair lights. On the far wall there is a painting that seems ripped out of the story book the place is imitating.

'Wow. We really do need to bring Rory here.' Lorelai looks around, taking it all in.

'We do, though let's actually see if it's any good.'

Lorelai turns her attention to the counter displaying the different ice cream flavours, all of which are named after a character in the book. She looks from one ice cream colour to the next, in excitement. She really does feel like a child in a marvellous place.

'They've also got cakes,' Luke tells her and gestures to the display on the right which holds a few cakes, all of which are small but unique in the way that they don't look like normal cakes. Even Luke, who isn't too excited by stuff like this, has to admit he is curious as to how they've created a little mushroom cake. Though the one that catches his attention the most is the book shaped cake. It is small and fragile but unique and beautiful. He smiles knowing someone who'd love that.

Lorelai at Luke's words turns to also look at the display. She's equally in awe of it. 'How did you find out about this place?' she asks.

'I've got my ways.'

Lorelai shakes her head in disbelief. She didn't know she could still be surprised by him. She's known him for years now and yet she's still learning more about Luke, still learning how much he can surprise her in the best of ways.

'I think I'm going to go for an ice cream. Luke, tell me you're going to get something too. You can't let me eat alone.'

'Hey, can I help?' asks the woman that has just appeared behind the counter, stopping Luke from answering.

Lorelai turns to the woman and smiles. 'This place is amazing. Is it yours?' she asks.

'Thank you. No, it's all my Mum's doing. This place has been her dream for forever.'

'Well she's done an amazing job with it. What would you recommend?'

'They are all good options. The most popular is Minty Alice, which as the name suggests is mint flavoured chocolate chip, but it also has a blue raspberry center that sounds odd but works well.'

'Ooh, that does sound interesting,' Lorelai says, though the woman can tell she's not quite convinced by that combo.

'The Salty White Rabbit is also another great favourite. It is a mix of cookies and cream with salted caramel. Though my go-to has to be the Cheery Cheshire. It's a coffee and cherry mix.'

'That's more up your street,' Luke says when the woman mentions coffee.

'It is! But all of them sound so good. It feels like a crime to just get one.'

'Then get a Hatter. It's a scoop of either three or five different ice creams. It's a good way of trying different ones if you're not picky on one specific taste.'

'You hear that Luke, the hatter.' Lorelai grins happily.

'You're going to crash out on sugar after five different ice creams.'

'It's great. I'll go for that. The three you mentioned and then two random ones you think seem good together,' she tells the woman. 'Thank you. How about you Luke?'

'I think watching you is enough of a sugar rush for me.'

'No, come on, please.'

'Fine. The rabbit one then.'

'Okay, are you going to eat in because then we'll serve them in our ice cream glasses?' the woman asks.

Luke looks at Lorelai to see what she wants to do and she nods before replying to the woman, 'We'll stay in.'

'Perfect.' The woman starts scooping up Lorelai's ice cream first, placing each scoop into the blue ice cream glass. 'All the toppings?'

'Definitely,' Lorelai says and Luke shakes his head which makes Lorelai giggle.

The woman hands Lorelai her ice cream and Luke says,' You can go sit, I'll pay and join you in a second.'

'Thanks, doll,' Lorelai says and walks to find a seat, happy with her ice cream in hand.

Once she's sat down at one of the tables she fully digs into her ice cream. It tastes all as good as expected. She watches Luke as she eats, her eyes on the man her heart has wrapped around. To think she could have been with Max right now, could have not listened to what her heart was telling her, makes her shake her head. How foolish she's been, not seeing what has been right there. The man who has always been there.

'Happy?' Luke asks when he joins her. He's got a small paper bag with the store name in one hand, and his ice cream in the other.

'Very happy. What do you have there?'

'Figured you might want something to try out tomorrow,' Luke says as he sits down across from her.

'You're too good to me.'

'I am, remember that.'

Lorelai playfully rolls her eyes and keeps making her way through her ice cream.

'Thank you for all of this,' she says halfway through eating.

'You're welcome. I'm just happy you're enjoying yourself.'

'Luke, I didn't need anything but you to enjoy myself. You're all I need.'

There's something about hearing her say that, that makes everything in him happy. Not just that he's done good on the date, that she's happy, but that him, simple, small town Luke is enough for her. For the woman that to him is more than a goddess. 'I'm glad, Lorelai,' he says softly, putting more meaning to those words.

She reaches for his hand on the table and takes hold of it. Despite the ice cream, his hand is warm and a comfort around her own. He strokes the back of her hand and her smile grows.

Even after they've finished their ice creams, they stay there, sitting in the little wonder filled shop just being with each other.

From an outsider looking in, Lorelai being in Luke's bed, cuddled up close to the man himself may seem fast for a first date, but knowing what we do, with the admiration, the longing, the love that both hold for the other, what is more surprising is that this is only happening now.

Lorelai lightly peppers Luke's chest with kisses; a happy sigh leaves Luke's lips. 'Perfect ending,' she says softly.

'Perfect start,' Luke corrects her.

'It really was.' Lorelai sits up enough to be able to cup his face and kiss him. Her lips meet his in a soft kiss, but in seconds the delicate gesture turns heated. Luke pulls her closer to him with a hand on her bare back. His lips fall from hers to her neck as he moves her hair out of the way.

'Mmm, Luke,' she says his name, seeking his attention despite loving what he's doing.

'Yes?' He takes a second, but he soon pulls away and looks at her.

'I need to go,' she says, wishing she didn't have to.

'Oh.' Luke sits up to look at her properly, a bit confused and worried he did something wrong to make her leave so quickly.

Lorelai instantly shakes her head, reading his expression like a book she's known all her life. 'Rory's home. I haven't really spent the whole night at someone's place even with… I'm still getting used to all of that and I don't want to freak her out with us being so new to her too, and…'

But before Lorelai gets a chance to keep rambling on, Luke strokes her cheek with the back of his hand. 'You don't need to explain it to me. I get it. You need to go.' He leans in and kisses her.

Her heart feels light with their final kiss, knowing that she doesn't need to be someone she isn't, that she doesn't need to worry that he'll judge her because he knows her, he sees her.

Luke reaches down for his clothes once they've parted, and Lorelai does the same, slipping on her dress. 'Let me drive you,' Luke says as he puts his trousers on.

'I can walk, don't worry.' They're both standing now. Luke buttoning his shirt and Lorelai pulling the zipper of her dress. He notices and nudges her hands away from the little zipper to pull it up the rest of the way for her, clipping the small metal hook at the top of the now closed opening.

'Then let me walk with you,' Luke counters back as he finishes helping her. She turns, her eyes on his.

'You want to walk with me? Oh boy do I have you hooked. And I thought the horoscope would be the end of you pinning but it really was only the start,' she teases him and Luke shakes his head.

'Forget it. Get mugged, I don't care.'

Lorelai laughs. 'Honey, we're in Stars Hollow. I'm not going to get mugged. The most that will happen is I'll see Kirk doing something stupid.' She steps closer to him, taking his hand in hers. 'But I'd love your company,' she says because despite her teasing she also doesn't want to leave him yet. She's not ready to leave his side, to let this night really end.

'No, it's okay,' he says, now feeling like she's just indulging him.

'Luke, please,' she says back, hoping he'll get that she generally wants him to join her. Lorelai gives his hand a light squeeze.

He nods at her words, and they let go of each other's hand just to put their jackets on. Before they leave, Luke picks up the brown paper bag he brought back with them.

'Oh thanks, I almost forgot about that,' she says when she notices Luke with it.

They walk out of Luke's apartment and down the stairs. Lorelai is the first to step into the empty diner. It's dark with only the back light illuminating the establishment. She turns to glance at Luke who's behind her with a smile. It feels so normal to be here after hours, though it does help that it isn't the first time that she has.

He pulls the keys out of his pocket when they get out of the diner, locking it up. 'Still want to walk?' he asks in case she rather he gets his truck out for them.

'Walking is perfect,' she says and smiles. It means more time with him.

Luke just nods in reply and they walk side by side down the same Stars Hollow's streets they always do, but not everything is the same, not between them at least. In just a few months things had turned upside down in the best of ways.

As expected for the late hour that it is, the town is quiet with only one or two other people also out and about. Lorelai is happy about that, because she's not quite ready to be on the town's raider. Though she's half expecting them to know already. It was risky asking Babette and Miss Patty a week back about Luke's family cabin. It may not be something too odd, hopefully they didn't read too much into it, but it's Babette and Miss Patty, of course they read something into it.

'Luke…, do you think people know?' she asks suddenly wondering if he had caught a vibe from everyone that she might have not.

'I don't know. No one has told me anything but who would have?'

'Babette. Miss Patty,' Lorelai says matter of factly.

'Right. Well no then. Nothing that I've noticed. Why? Do you not want people to know?' They cross the town square and head down the street past Al's Pancake World.

'What? No, I don't want to keep this secret but…'

Luke nods, understanding what she's referring to. This is his town too and he knows better than anyone how gossip goes around her like a plague. It always has since he was a child and nothing has changed. He still remembers the first time he heard the rumour about a teen girl with her baby going to the inn. If he had really known the importance of that little information. He shakes his head, and says, 'The town will make it into something huge and we'd never hear the end of it.'

'Yeah exactly. What should we do?'

'Just play it by ear? Do what we do, they'll find out when they do. It's our relationship, I don't want to tiptoe around here just because of these nutjobs.'

'Then we won't,' she replies and takes his hand in hers, a smile on her face. They'll figure it out whatever comes their way, together.

It's only once they've reached Lorelai's place that she lets go of his hand. She takes her keys out of her purse.

'Thank you for tonight, Luke. It was amazing. I can't figure out what I loved the most. Well actually…,' she smirks and a giggle escapes from her at the thought of their ending activity.

Lorelai's smile is beautiful to see. This is what he wanted, her happy. 'You're welcome. We should do it again soon.'

'This weekend?'

'I can't. Monday night?'

Lorelai nods before saying, 'That's perfect.'

'I'll see you then. Or well probably before then but then too,' he rambles on.

'Right, see you Luke.' She giggles as she turns around taking two steps up the porch.

'Wait, Lorelai,' he calls, making her turn back around to him. Luke does a quick stride to her. He gives her the bag. 'Here. There's two cakes, one of which is for Rory. You don't need to tell her it's from me, just make sure she gets it.'

'Oh Luke,' she says softly. As if she hadn't already been head over heels for the man in front her, the gesture would have definitely done the trick. And still now she can't help the way her heart aches at the wave of love she has. Lorelai opens up the bag, peeking in to see two cakes in a see through container, one of which is a book cake. 'She'll love it. Thank you.' Lorelai breaks the distance between them to give him one last kiss, one she hopes conveys just how lucky she feels to have him, how grateful she is that he cares not just about herself but her daughter too.

'You're welcome,' he says back once they part. 'Have a good night.'

'You too,' she replies. Lorelai takes a step back up but her eyes are on him. Her stomach, her heart, her body, tingling with warmth, with a joy she doesn't quite know how to deal with. As she puts her foot back down she missteps, falling back.

'Lorelai,' he calls out as he grabs her arm and pulls her back up right before she actually falls. 'Are you okay?' he asks after.

'Yes, thank you. Sorry. I just.. Yeah I'm fine. I just need to watch my step.' She tucks her hair behind her ear so she can see the steps better. 'Good night Luke,' she says but he doesn't move, wanting to make sure she gets in okay after that.

Lorelai makes it to the door and opens it up, not actually needing the keys she had taken out as Rory hadn't locked the door yet. Before slipping into the house completely, she glances one more time at Luke and then goes in.

She closes the door and leans against it, a giggle escaping her. 'Oh, I'm so screwed,' she tells herself. Knowing that she's completely fallen for him and now it's too late to run. It should scare her, but right now it doesn't. There's too much joy in her heart for her to care.

AF: Sorry for the slightly shorter chapter but I wanted to update the story so you weren't waiting too long for more. I hope it's been an enjoyable story so far and I really appreciate anyone who reads and those who comment. Means a lot that anyone is even interested 3