Bon Voyages and New Beginnings

Chapter 1

Lorelai had left the Bon Voyage party after finding out from Sookie that it had been all Luke's doing. He had orchestrated the whole thing and organized a secret town meeting. He stayed up all night creating a giant tarp out of everybody's coats just so that they wouldn't have to cancel the party. He had went through all that trouble just so that Rory could have a proper sendoff. He just wanted to see them happy. So he did whatever he could to make it happen. That was just the kind of guy Luke Danes was.

She arrived at the diner only to see Luke coming out, carrying a bag of charcoal. He was wearing one of his flannels, jeans, and the blue baseball cap she had given him one Christmas many moons ago. She preferred the blue one on him. The black one always looked out of place on him like it didn't belong there. It didn't help that the black cap reminded her of their breakup. That wasn't the only reason she preferred the one that she had gotten him though. The blue one was a sign of hope. It was a sign that their story wasn't over and that they would get their middle after all.

"Hey," she said breaking the silence.
"Hey."

"Thank you."

"Oh it's... no big deal."

"Luke," she practically whispered.

"I just like to see you happy."

There it was plain and simple. He wanted her to be happy. He knew how much it had meant to her that Rory have a proper sendoff and he made it happen. It suddenly felt like magnets were pulling them together as they both leaned into each other and kissed. The kiss kept going as Luke wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Finally, they both came apart for air.

"Well that was pretty..," Luke stammered.

"Passionate?"

"Yes it was definitely passionate."

"If you were a frog, there would have been impressive consequences."

"That's true."

They both laughed at the memory of the phone call they had shared about their first kiss.
"Luke I have realized over these last few months that I am not over you. I wasn't over you when I was singing at Karaoke night and I'm still not over you. I keep telling everyone that I am because I keep thinking that if I say it enough, it will be true. The thing is that it's not true. I don't know where you are or what you want. If you want for things to go back to the way they were before, I would completely..."

Lorelai was cut off by Luke pulling her in for another kiss.

"So I guess you're not over me then?"

"No I am not over you."

"So what does this mean?"

Luke tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and lifted her chin so that their eyes met.

"Lorelai I'm all in. I always have been."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. The only question is are you all in?"

"I'm all in Luke."

"So does this mean we are back together? Can we at least talk about us?" Luke asked.

"I think it means we are back together. If you want, maybe you could come by the house tomorrow? I can call you after I get off work at the Inn."

"Yeah that sounds great. You and Rory should stop in tomorrow for coffee and some food tomorrow before she leaves. That way I can say goodbye to her."

"Yeah she would like that. Her flight is at 8:30 so we'll come in around 6:00. That way we will have enough time to get to the airport and get her through checkpoint."

"That sounds great. I'll make sure to have the diner open. So I'll call you later?"

"Yes definitely. Thanks Luke."

"You're welcome Lorelai. I'll see you later," Luke said as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Lorelai started to make her way back to the Bon Voyage party when Luke suddenly spoke again.

"Before I forget, I got you this," Luke said as he pulled the pink box out of his back pocket and handed it to her.

"What is it?"

"Liz made it. I picked it out when I was getting Rory her graduation present. Plus it is blue so it matches your eyes. Liz made sure to point that out to me."

"Oh my god Luke it's amazing. I love it!" Lorelai exclaimed as she lifted the necklace out of the box.

"I'm glad you like it. I wasn't sure if you would but it matches the earrings I got for Rory."

"It's beautiful."

"Here let me put it on you," said Luke as he took the necklace from her. He undid the clasp of the necklace and lifted her hair before finally putting the necklace on her.
"So how does it look?"

"You look amazing."

"You're one smooth talker Luke Danes."

"Yeah but that's what you love about me."

"Among the many other things I love about you. So I am going to go back to the party but I'll see you later when I come back to the diner with Rory?"

"Definitely and at the house later on to talk, "said Luke.

"Okay bye Luke."

"Bye Lorelai," said Luke as he pulled her in for a quick kiss before she made her way back to the party.