I still own nothing….but if the check is in the mail, I'll take it.

Thanks you guys. The wait will be worth it….I hope.

Chapter Ten

Lorelai felt Luke's hands start to go around her but then he abruptly pulled away. He walked to the kitchen, picked up a wine glass and poured her some. He grabbed a beer from the frig as he walked back toward her. He clinked his beer bottle to her glass, "Here's to the realities of life". That's when she knew for sure that he had seen everything and had taken it all so wrong. They both took a sip but neither tasted it. Their gaze was intense; Luke thinking this was the end. Lorelai thinking she had to fix this fast or it might be the end. The end before it really started.

"I wish you could have been there tonight, Luke. I think it was a great success." Lorelai wanted to ease into this slowly.

"Yeah, well I couldn't get away."

She hated it when he lied to her, even when she understood why.

"The wedding was sweet and romantic, the food was a hit and the band played all the oldies from my high school days and what was supposed to be my college…"

"I was there. I was there and saw everything."

"So you saw Christopher's date?"

"Christopher brought a date?"

"Yep, blond, hour glass figure, with all the sand on top, if you know what I mean. And her name…get this…is Christina…that combo just begs for mockery. Chris and Chrissie, Christopher and Christina…"

Lorelai saw Luke begin to relax a bit so she continued. "Chris asked me to dance and Chrissie didn't take it well. Imagine jumping to conclusions from a simple dance."

Lorelai saw Luke squirm a little and that wasn't the response she wanted.

"No matter what you think you saw Luke, it was completely innocent. I teased him about their cutesy names and he teased me about the Luke and Lorelai thing… which I happen to love by the way. The way our names sound together…like they belong…mainly because they do."

Luke smiled. She was making it much too easy for him and his jealous stupidity.

"We danced, we laughed and she saw it too. She retreated upstairs and wouldn't let Chris in the room. I actually had to get the master key and let him in. I don't know how that went nor do I care. I only care about us…how we are doing."

Luke smiled again. "We're doing fine. Except for the fact that one of us is a stupid idiot that let his thoughts go to a very weird and crazy place, and for that I am sorry."

"You have to trust me Luke. Christopher will always be a part of my life. And as long as you are in my life, well, he will also be part of yours. Just like Nicole will always be your first wife. You may never see her again but she is a part of your past. But I am not like her. I would never, ever cheat on you. I love you too much to hurt you like that. I love you with all of my heart. I saw what she did to you and now I have to pay because she was a lousy wife. I'm okay with that because I'm in this for a life time…if that's too much right now…I'm sorry."

Lorelai was surprised how easily those words had come. She didn't even care anymore if he didn't feel the same. She was just relieved her feelings were finally out there.

"It's been a long, emotional day and I think I need to go home." Lorelai reached for her coat.

"It's not too much."

Lorelai turned to look at him.

"The special night I planned…was to tell you that I love you. I have for a long time but I was just too scared to say it. I didn't know if you felt…"

"I have for a long time too. Scary thing turning a friendship into a relationship, huh? Especially for two such independent, stubborn people. We know each other so well but we're still afraid to face the truth."

"My truth is I love you."

"And my truth is I love you more." Lorelai giggled gently, feeling everything was on an even keel again but better, all those nagging questions answered and feelings finally acknowledged.

"Not possible." Luke walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. "I was afraid this would never happen again…you in my arms."

"It's where I belong. I feel safe and loved and…"

Luke was kissing her, holding her tightly, letting his whole body relax into hers. She couldn't help but think they were a perfect fit.

They pulled slightly apart and Lorelai ran her fingers over his face and up through his hair. She giggled full out with happiness. And Luke smiled deeply down at her, his blue eyes so full of love for her. They no longer needed words.

They gently kissed for a while enforcing the feelings they had just revealed. It was intense, like they were making promises with there lips.

"I'm sorry I was a fool. I should have trusted you."

"I'm sorry if I was inconsiderate of your feelings. I know I don't always think my actions through."

"It was a dance."

"It made you doubt my feelings for you."

"But look what it brought about Lorelai. This night changed our lives forever…not the way I planned it. But still got the job done."

Lorelai laughed, "You romantic man you. Got the job done. Is that a quote from Shakespeare?"

"Nope, just Luke Danes being a putz."

"Hey, don't call the man I love a putz."

They gazed into each others eyes.

"Hey, I think you owe me a dance?"

Luke laughed, "There's no music."

"Sure there is. That little mechanical box over there… you put in a little silver disc and like magic music comes out."

Luke walked over and started to go through the discs. "Any suggestions?"

"Yeah, the mix Rory burned for us. It's labeled in red."

Luke found it and chuckled. "The one marked Luke and Lorelai's Mating Music?"

Lorelai laughed and shyly answered "That's the one."

Luke put it in the slot and as it closed he thought to ask, "She didn't write that, right? If she did I don't think I could ever look her in the eyes again."

"Nope, that's all me. You'll know when you hear it, pure sex on a disc."

Luke pressed the on button and pulled Lorelai into his arms. The music started and Lorelai melted into his arms. They slowly danced murmuring softly to each other and sharing sweet kisses. Luke nibbled on her ear, sending chills down her back. Lorelai caressed his lower back, pulling him closer into her body.

"I love dancing with you. Being in your arms, moving together and the promise of what it will lead to later."

"Later?"

"Yeah, you know…what happens later, after the dancing…"

Luke pulled her close thinking how differently this evening could have ended. Thankful that she had come to him; thankful that his foolish thoughts were not even close to being the truth. Thankful that when he was pig headed, she always saw through it.

Luke maneuvered her towards the bed. He slowly unzipped her little black dress, letting it fall softly to the floor. She unbuttoned his shirt and let the rest of this clothing fall to the floor. Luke gently lowered her to the bed and kissed her gently and intensely.

Lorelai murmured, "This is why I love to dance with you…because it always leads to this."

"I love you Lorelai. You are my life now."

"I love you Luke. Somehow I think we've always been a part of each other's lives. We just didn't know how much…"

"We had to get through some stuff, eight long years of it."

"So do you think we've gotten through all the stuff now?"

Luke looked over at this beautiful woman in his arms, "Honestly, I think this is just the beginning."

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End of my little tale. You can imagine the rest….more stuff…..more love……