Title: Winterblue
Author: Jane
Rating: PG
Summary: Lorelai and Luke are stuck together during a surprise snow storm.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"Where are you?" Lorelai called out. She involuntarily shivered, aware that it had gotten much colder. She put her jacket on. "Luke!"

"Ok, burger's done. Sorry about that," He slid the plate over to Lorelai.

"What were you doing? Taxes?" Lorelai laughed and digged in. Luke was in fact thinking about Lorelai. He had almost burned the burger.

Luke looked around. "Where did everyone go?"

"I don't know... probably home since it's so cold in here! Do you have the heat on?"

Luke moved around to the window to fiddle with the heater only to pull up the shade in surprise. "Oh my god!"

"What? Did you break something?"

"No, I didn't break something. It's snowing!" Luke exclaimed. He ran around the room, pulling up all the shades that had been down. Sure enough, it had been snowing heavily.

"What?!" Lorelai dropped her burger abruptly and rushed over to stare out the window. "I can't believe it!"

"Me neither!"

"No, I can't believe I almost put my favorite sweater away!" Lorelai gasped. Luke gave her a look. "Ok, never mind that." Lorelai grabbed Luke's arm with her eyes wide. "Do you know what this means?"

Luke stared at her intently, holding her gaze. "Magical things happen when it snows?"

Lorelai drew back timidly, surprised that he had remembered. And then confused. "Yeah." She said softly. Lorelai quickly broke out of Luke's intense gaze at the thought of Rory. "That and I can't get home to Rory!" She cried out. Now she was worried.

"It's snowing!" Rory gasped excitedly.

"What? It can't snow. Not in March it can't." Paris reasoned.

"Look outside and see for yourself! There's so much..." All of the kids were starring out the windows, all fifty of her classmates.

"Oh great. This is just great," Paris groaned.

"What? What's wrong?" Rory asked, confused.

"Do you see how bad it is out there? These dimwits can't get home. They're stuck at my house. And I want them out,"

"Can I use your phone? I have to try calling Lorelai," Rory asked, growing worried. Paris handed Rory her cell phone and went off to get people away from the windows.

Rory quickly dialed the number at the house, only to get the answering machine. Deciding that she must be at Luke's, Rory dialed the diner's number, only to find the phone went dead.

Along with the lights.

"This is great. Now I can't make sure those brats don't steal my silverware," Paris sighed.

"It's dead! The phone is dead!" Lorelai cried out, pacing around in a frenzy. She had just tried to call Rory at Paris'.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Rory's all right," Luke reassured her.

"Yeah, ok, you're right. I've got to get home," Lorelai realized, grabbing her purse.

"You've got to be kidding me," Luke laughed.

"What?"

"Did you see how bad it is outside? No way I'm letting you walk in that," Luke shook his head.

"Ooh, and now you're ordering me around?" Lorelai glared at him. "I'm going home." Hastily, she shoved money into Luke's hand. "Thanks for the burger."

Lorelai opened the door only to be blasted by a mixture of snow and hail. She slammed the door shut with some difficulty due to the wind. Defeated, she reluctantly turned around and watched Luke give her the I-told-you-so look.

Just then, the lights flickered, threatening to give out.

Lorelai pouted, convinced. "Ok, you win. I'm staying."

"I'm going to freeze to death," Lorelai shivered.

"You're not going to freeze to death," Luke sighed.

"I am. My eyebrows will turn to ice and then break off, leaving me eyebrow-less. And then my lips will turn purple, kind of like Jack in Titanic. Ah, what a tragic death," Lorelai sniffed.

"Titanic? That chick flick?"

Lorelai drew back in surprise. "Did you just say the phrase, 'chick flick'? That's a good one. And Titanic is not a chick flick... it's only like an instant classic! "My Heart Will Go On?" will never be erased from my memory."

"Titanic is not a classic." Luke shook his head.

"And what is? Lethal Weapon? The Three Stooges?"

"How about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?" Luke laughed.

Lorelai grew serious glared at him. "Don't go there."

A comfortable silence fell upon them as the snow continued to fall steadily outside. Lorelai and Luke sat together behind the counter.

"Are you really that cold?" Luke asked.

Lorelai pulled her knees up to her chin. "Yes, I'm really that cold. See?" Lorelai motioned for Luke to touch her hand. Luke reached out and held her hand.

"Geez, that's cold!" Luke exclaimed, flinched and moved his hand away. "See? All that coffee made you cold-blooded."

Instead of defending herself, to Luke's surprise, Lorelai reached for his hand and clasped hers with his. Instantly, she felt warmer. Lorelai looked up at him, her eyes tired and clouded with intensity.

"Luke?" She whispered, searching his eyes. Luke could feel her warm breath against his cold cheek. Instead of an answer, he leaned in and kissed her. Lorelai didn't pull away and didn't question; she kissed him back. The kiss was slow and unsure, but sweet. Lorelai drew her arms around his neck as Luke pulled her closer. Their kiss grew more intense. Their lips lingered on each other's as Lorelai's eyes fluttered open. Both of their cheeks had grown rosy and they looked at each other before Lorelai sleepily laid her head on Luke's shoulder and sighed.

"Mind if I go to sleep?" She whispered.

Luke shook his head. "Not at all."

He listened to Lorelai sleep; her steady breathing. Luke, despite all the questions that arose in his mind, found sleep as well.

"Mom!" Rory knocked on Luke's door the next morning. The storm had stopped somewhere in the middle of the night. The roads had just been cleared and Paris' driver had driven Rory back to Stars Hollow.

Lorelai wearily reached her arm out, and not thinking, hit the floor repeatedly. Finally realizing that her fuzzy clock was not there to hit, Lorelai woke up quickly. She rubbed her eyes and looked over at Luke and remembered the night before. She carefully tried to untangle herself from him, trying not to wake Luke. No such luck.

"Hey," Lorelai smiled weakly.

"Good morning," Luke smiled back. Luke reached up and brushed a stray strand from Lorelai's face.

"Mom!" Rory called out again.

"My life calls for me," Lorelai murmured. Luke nodded and helped Lorelai to get up.

"Some storm, huh?" Luke asked, opening the door for Rory.

"No kidding. I had to spend the night at Paris' watching a way too PG version of "Truth or Dare" with fifty kids." Rory said.

"Hey there," Lorelai smiled as Rory hugged her. "You got me worried there."

"Sorry," Rory grinned.

"Hey Luke, thanks for last night. For letting me stay here, I mean. Well, you know. It really means a lot," Lorelai laughed nervously.

"Yeah. Anytime..." Luke trailed off, slightly disappointed.

"Well, we'd better get going. And rearrange the closets we just rearranged," Lorelai said matter-of-factly.

"Your sweater can go back." Rory sighed reluctantly.

"Thank you," Lorelai smirked. She turned around to see Luke watching her and noted the disappointment in his look. "Bye Luke," Lorelai said softly. "And thanks again." Lorelai leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek.

As the Gilmore girls walked out of the diner and into the snowy streets, Rory couldn't hold it in much longer.

"What was that?!" She blurted out.

"What was what?" Lorelai asked, grinning.

Rory laughed and shook her head in disbelief.

"What can I say? It's the snow," Lorelai smiled warmly. Magic. And coffee.

The End