Luke had always held the opinion that women were confusing. This opinion only got stronger the more time he spent with Lorelai, but it really increased tenfold when he decided that he should learn how to braid hair for Rory. Never mind that this had been self-inflicted; that didn't matter.

What was important here was that women made no sense.

"Luke, you gotta remember my head actually exists under here," Lorelai said, swiping at his hand in her hair when he pulled a little too hard. "What is with your sudden interest in hair styling?"

He had asked Lorelai to show him how to do hair after one morning when Rory was nearly in tears because Lorelai had to go to work earlier than usual and hadn't had time to do Rory's hair. Once she realized Luke had nothing to offer other than an extra baseball cap, Rory had been devastated.

"I already told you," Luke grumbled, trying to remember what he was supposed to do with the three strands of hair in his hands. "For Rory."

Lorelai remembered, but she wanted to hear him say it again. Every time he did, it brought a big smile to her face.

The three-strand braid had been easy for Luke to master. But a French braid was proving more difficult for him. Of course, French braids were what Rory preferred.

"You have to add more hair each time," Lorelai reminded him. He was persevering, even if Lorelai's dark hair was more tangled than braided at this point.

"I just don't know why women have to make everything so complicated." Luke gave up on his most current attempt and carefully undid the braid from Lorelai's hair. He picked up the brush and started to pull it gently through the tangles he had made.

Lorelai had been sitting obediently on the floor in front of Luke, situated between his legs. Luke himself sat on the couch and concentrated on Lorelai's hair while she watched TV.

"It's witchcraft," Lorelai told him. Despite how often he forgot to be careful and tugged on her hair, Lorelai loved what Luke was doing. "Salem wasn't wrong. We just got better at hiding it."

Luke ran his fingers through Lorelai's hair, separating it out into three strands again. "Okay, so I add more hair just on the outside pieces, right before I put them into the braid?"

Lorelai nearly nodded her head before realizing that would probably mess Luke up. She remembered at the last second to say, "Yes."

Even though she couldn't see his face, Lorelai could imagine the look of concentration on Luke's face. Eyebrows knit together, mouth scrunched to the side.

This braid seemed to be the best so far, as much as Lorelai could tell. Luke was quiet as his hand worked in her hair. The gentle pull relaxed Lorelai, making her eyes almost droop closed.

That is, until Luke said a very naughty word that rhymed with 'duck'. "I thought that one would be a winner."

Lorelai's voice was fuzzy. Luke's braiding had almost put her to sleep. She was so close to slumber that she rested her head against Luke's leg, not even caring that her hair was half-braided.

"I want to go back in time and punch whoever invented this braid."

"Mmm, we'll work on making a time machine tomorrow." Luke sighed. He worked the braid out of his fiancée's hair before picking her up from the floor.

"Where are we going?" Lorelai asked, those she didn't fight him. Instead she snuggled her cheek against her chest.

"To bed," Luke told her. "I'll never figure it out if you're asleep. You have to talk me through it."

"Michel can French braid," Lorelai told him. "Maybe he can tell you how in man-terms."

"Too bad Michel hates me," Luke reminded her. Lorelai smiled against the fabric of his t-shirt.

"Yeah, I guess that does make things a little difficult."

Luke shook his head as he carried Lorelai up the stairs to their bedroom. She was asleep before he reached the top step.