I know it's been a while but I've really been struggling with inspiration lately. However, I've been rewatching Gilmore Girls and got this idea. I'm probably definitely in the minority but I always liked April so I thought I'd write a fic just after Luke finds out about her. Although in this one, he tells Lorelai straight away about April and doesn't push her away. I hope you like it! :)
Chapter 1
Luke stood outside the Crapshack holding bags of food to welcome Rory back. He thought over his day and he could honestly say that it has been the most surreal day of his life. He had a daughter. He actually had a daughter and he had known nothing about her. He knew he had to talk to Lorelai about this but he didn't know how. He took a deep breath and went inside. He had to smile when he immediately heard laughter coming from the living room. It was nice to hear Lorelai laugh again as it had been a while.
"Hey." He said as he walked in. "Rory, it's good to see you." He smiled.
"Hey Luke!" Rory smiled. "It's good to see you too."
"Here. I brought food." Luke said placing the bags on the table.
"Ooh yum! I've missed your food." Rory smiled delving into the bags.
Lorelai glanced back at Luke who was still standing in the same spot fiddling with his cap. She frowned. "You ok?" She asked.
Luke glanced up at her and took a deep breath. It was now or never. He thought. "Uh..Rory? I know you've just got back and stuff and you probably want to catch up with your mom and I promise I'll give you both that time, but do you mind if I borrow her for a few minutes?" He asked nervously.
"Sure." Rory smiled.
"Is everything ok?" Lorelai asked as she got up.
"Let's go upstairs." Luke said and headed for the stairs with Lorelai following him confused behind him.
When they got to the bedroom, Lorelai watched as Luke started to pace around the room. "Ok you're sort of making me nervous now..." Lorelai said.
Luke stopped and looked at her. "I need to tell you something. Something big. Something big that happened today and I have no idea what to do. But you're my girlfriend right? And I should be telling you big stuff because you want to know right? I should be talking to you..." He rambled.
"Luke, what's going on? You can tell me anything, you know that." Lorelai said softly.
"I have a kid." Luke blurted out.
"What?" Lorelai's eyes widened. "When...how?"
"You need me to tell you how?" Luke exclaimed.
"Sorry I just...wow..." Lorelai said quietly, not knowing what to say.
"I found out today. Well I found out today that it was official. I swear I've not been hiding it from you." Luke said quickly. "I wouldn't. Not something like this..."
"I know you wouldn't." Lorelai said trying to get her head round it. "So...what happened?"
"This girl with this crazy bike helmet came bursting in the diner this week and took some of my hair. She started talking about this science project that she was doing at school and how she was trying to find out who her dad was. And suddenly, as fast as she appeared, she left again..." Luke said quietly, sitting down on the bed. "I didn't know what to think. I thought it was crazy, that she must have gotten the wrong person because surely I would know if I had a kid." He continued.
"But she didn't get the wrong person?" Lorelai asked.
"I went to her school today. She had told me she was doing this for a science fair there. I just found myself there at lunch today. I had to know and there...on the wall of her display was my photo with two other guys. Although the other two guys had been crossed out." Luke said quietly. He looked at Lorelai. "I have a daughter."
"Wow..." Lorelai said quietly.
"It was professional and official. Her uncle's works in a lab and apparently helped her do the DNA test." He said. "Plus I asked who her mom was."
"And I'm guessing you know her..." Lorelai said.
"Anna Nardini." Luke said gruffly. "I dated her for a few months after my dad passed away but it never got too serious. I think I was trying to distract myself. She was nice enough but we weren't meant to be. I just...I can't believe she would keep something like this from me. I mean this kid, April, that's her name, she's 12. I have a daughter and I had no idea for 12 whole years."
"Luke..." Lorelai said softly.
"Did she really think I would suck as a dad? That I would mess up this kid or something?" He exclaimed getting angry. "I keep thinking about what April must have thought all these years. Did she just think I didn't care? That I didn't want to know her?"
"I don't know." Lorelai sighed.
Luke sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just..."
"Big." Lorelai nodded. "I can imagine."
"I have a daughter, Lorelai." Luke repeated quietly.
"I know." Lorelai said giving him a small smile.
"What should I do? I feel so out of my depth. I'm not dad material. I have no idea how to be a dad!" Luke exclaimed.
"Luke, you know more than you think." Lorelai said softly. "I mean, you've been there for Rory over the years."
"Yeah but that's different. Rory was easy. Rory's...Rory." He said. He let out a big breath and rubbed his hand over his cap. He looked at Lorelai. "I need your help."
"I'm here for anything you need. You know that." She smiled softly. "But I think you need to decide what you want to do next. This...Anna...do you know where she lives?" She asked.
"No but April said they live in Woodbury." Luke said.
"Well that's a good start. There can't be many Anna Nardinis in the Woodbury area." Lorelai said.
"Yeah I guess..." He said. He glanced at her. "If I go and see her, will you come with me?"
"Really?" Lorelai asked surprised.
"I'm just worried I might say something I regret if I go alone. I mean she kept my kid a secret from me for 12 years. If April had never found me, I would never have known." Luke said. "Please?"
Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Of course I'll come with you."
"Thank you." He said gratefully.
"Are you ok?" Lorelai asked softly.
"Not really." Luke admitted. He saw Lorelai's concerned face. "I'll be ok. It's just been a lot to take in, that's all."
Lorelai nodded understandingly. "I'm sure." She said.
"You should get back down to Rory." He said.
"Are you going to come down? We were going to watch movies and eat." Lorelai said. "Might take your mind off everything?"
"Thanks but it's ok. I think I might stay up here. Besides it'll be nice for you and Rory to have some time together." He said.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
Luke gave her a small smile. "I'm sure." He said softly.
"Ok.." She said getting up. She hesitated before glancing back at her. "Can I tell her?"
"What?" Luke asked.
"Can I tell Rory about April?" Lorelai asked cautiously.
"Oh." Luke said having not thought about that. "Sure." He nodded. "But...maybe just Rory for now? I don't really want it getting out yet."
"Of course. I'll tell her to keep it to herself." Lorelai assured him.
"Thank you." He smiled gratefully.
Lorelai was about to leave the room before she turned back again. "Hey Luke?"
"Yeah?" He said.
"For what it's worth, I think you'll be a pretty amazing dad." She smiled softly.
Luke smiled lovingly at her. "Thanks." He said softly.
Lorelai smiled at him before heading back downstairs.
"He has a daughter?" Rory repeated shocked. "Wow..."
"Exactly my reaction and I have a feeling it was Luke's too." Lorelai said quietly.
"Poor Luke..." Rory said quietly. "And poor April..."
"He is finding it hard to get his head round it." Lorelai said.
"I can't believe this woman kept it from him for 12 years. I mean who does that? I know dad was never the best dad but I'm glad I always knew who he was." Rory said quietly. "Luke would have been the best dad for April when she was growing up..."
Lorelai smiled at that. "Yeah he would have been." She said softly.
"So...what next?" Rory asked.
"Well...he's asked me to come with him to see Anna. And then I guess we take it from there." Lorelai said.
"Good. Well she better give him access or she'll have me to deal with." Rory said angrily.
Lorelai had to smile at that. "I love how much you care about Luke." She said.
Rory ducked her head embarrassed. "He's been there for me over the years. He deserves to get to know his daughter. And April deserves to get to know him."
"I agree." Lorelai said.
Rory glanced at her mom. "Are you ok?" She asked.
"Who? Me? Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She asked.
"Mom..." Rory said.
Lorelai sighed. "It was a shock." She admitted. "But I'm guessing it was an even bigger shock for Luke. None of this is his fault and he talked to me about it." She said. "If he had kept it from me, I don't know how I would have felt but he seems to want me to be involved."
"And you want to be?" Rory asked.
"Of course. This kid is part of Luke. She will always be welcome here." Lorelai said sincerely. "Plus when Luke and I get married, she'll become your stepsister." She pointed out.
"Oh. Yeah. I never thought about that." Rory said. She then smiled. "I've always wanted a sister."
"You have?" Lorelai asked surprised. "You never told me that."
Rory shrugged. "I didn't want you to feel pressured. Plus I had Lane growing up. She's been like a sister to me."
"That's true." Lorelai said.
"So...do you still want to watch the movies and binge out on food?" Rory asked.
"You bet!" Lorelai smiled.
"Cool!" Rory smiled grabbing the remote and turning the first movie on. She then snuggled down on the couch next to her mom, leaning her head on her mom's shoulder. "Well I have to say...it's never dull in Stars Hollow."
Lorelai laughed. "Nope, I don't think it will ever be dull in Stars Hollow!"
"Amen sister!" Rory grinned.
So I hope you liked it! :S Leave me a review to let me know what you think! I love reading your comments. Thanks! :)
