He sat alone in his apartment, beer in hand, starring blankly at the TV screen in front of him, some baseball game on. His mind however was not on the number of outs the home team had or the fact that it was almost a no-hitter, nope; his mind was somewhere else entirely. His thoughts were on a certain blue-eyed, brunette who had been missing again from the diner.

God he missed her, and then her words hit him like a brick wall…again.

"It didn't mean anything…" her voice echoed deafening in his ears. He had started allowing himself some hope, especially after the song, and then he heard those words. He sighed and took another gulp of his beer. He just had to forget, he told himself, and then he chuckled to himself, yeah, he thought like that is going to be easy. Just then he heard the bell from above the door downstairs. He wasn't sure what to think, the diner was closed and only a small handful of people knew where he kept the spare key. He started to stand up when he heard a knock on the door.

"Luke?" a very familiar female voice asked.

He opened the door to see the younger Lorelai Gilmore standing in front of him. "Hey Rory," he answered simply, questions filling him suddenly.

"Hey," Rory started, looking extremely nervous, "I just wanted…"

When she paused, he immediately made his thoughts focus. "Rory, come in, you shouldn't be just standing in the hall, come in." Rory followed him inside the dark apartment and he went to his small but tidy kitchen. "Would you like some coffee?"

"No thanks Luke, I can't stay long."

He wondered why she seemed so nervous, this was confident, bold Rory. He had heard the rumors of a breakup between Rory and the guy she had been dating over the last couple years, Logan right? He asked himself. He ventured the conversation out slowly.

"Rory, you ok? I mean, about everything…"

Rory stopped him. "Luke, I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me. I came because I wanted to thank you."

"Rory…"

"No really, the earrings are beautiful, you didn't have to…"

"I know, but I wanted to. You are now an Ivy League graduate…I'm…I'm proud of you." Luke interrupted her. He couldn't keep the thoughts away; she was supposed to be his step-daughter right now. He should have been there and he knew it.

"I wish you could have been there, but thanks again, for everything. Not just for the gift, but everything." Rory started, and he swore there were tears in her eyes.

At this he decided to lighten the mood, he had too or he'd get all emotional too and with all the alcohol he had consumed he wasn't sure what would come out, especially with her mom on his mind.

"Well, I will get to see the reenactment. So, it'll be like I was really there…" Luke started a grin on his face now. He waited, and it didn't take long for the laugh to come.

"I can't believe that I have to do this. I mean, can't they just be happy with a stupid party. Nope, not this town and now I have to get back in the cap and gown and pretend to do it all over again. Taylor's idea I presume?"

"Yup, not that the town didn't put their input in as well, it's just that everyone wanted to go to the ceremony, but…"

"I know, I know. I wish everyone could have been there. It's okay. The reenactment should be fun…I guess." She paused, looking around. "Well, I really should go. It's late, and I'm probably keeping you from sleeping or something. Thanks Luke."

She wandered towards the door at this then suddenly turned back around and hugged him. When she pulled back it was evident she was contemplating saying something else as she was playing with the string of her Yale sweatshirt.

Her voice was close to a whisper when she first starting talking, as if she wasn't sure about herself, "Luke, I know it's really none of my business, but I have to say it…"

He knew where this was heading and he wasn't sure he could handle it, he tried interrupting, "Rory…"

"She meant it, the song. I know…I know you think she didn't, but she did." She continued without hesitation.

"Rory…"

"You were both hurt so badly, I'm sorry, but you have to know that she still loves you and if I'm right, and I've been reading everything right, you still love her too…"

"Rory…wait."

"Just…just think about it Luke, please. You two can make this right, you can." And with this she walked out and closed the door behind her.

Luke sank back into his chair, perplexed.

Lorelai sat in her bed, magazine open, thoughts not focused on the article however she was pretending to read. It had been a week, one week since she drunkenly serenaded Luke in front of half the town, and she still wasn't sure what to think of feel.

"Mom!" she heard Rory call from the living room.

"Up here hon!" she called, and no more than a minute later her daughter appeared at her bedroom door. "Hey."

"Hey mom, what are you reading?"

"Oh, nothing really. Wasn't really reading it." she replied, tossing the Cosmo to the floor. "How was your night?"

"It was good. I had fun hanging with Lane and the babies, they're so cute."

"That they are. Oh wow, I didn't realize what time it was. You wanna watch a movie or something?" Lorelai asked. It was late, but she didn't think sleep would come, even if she tried. A movie might be just what she needed.

"Nah, I'm going to head to bed. Gotta busy couple days ahead…stupid reenactment." Rory replied, getting up from the side of the bed.

"Oh hon, come on, it'll be fun. Just think you get two graduation ceremonies. You're special."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever mom. Just go to bed." Rory walked downstairs into her room. She considered telling her mom about the stop she made between Lane's and home, but she knew it wouldn't be a welcome conversation.

She'd kill me if she knew, Rory thought, and that was enough to forgo the topic…at least for now.

TBC…