"Revolving Satellites Redux" by Gluglug
Chapter one: Bert and the Four C's
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: mid - Third Season
Rating: PG
Summary: Lorelai is getting dressed for a date and Luke comes to fix her porch.
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
A/N: Here's another one of my L/L and their respective love interest stories based on spoilers for the episodes for early next year. No double dates this time! This is more of a Lorelai angst piece.
I was gonna call this "Top Ten" but apparently Fanfiction.net is banning top 10 lists and I don't want to piss anyone off. This was partly inspired by Lauren Graham's crush on David Letterman and the ridiculously long and comprehensive Java Junkie message board list of all things L/L. I also remember reading a gorgeous "X-files" fan-fic years ago called "Revolving Satellites" by Blueswirl, where all the evidence was laid out to prove Mulder and Scully's love for each other. I hope that L/L don't turn out like M/S (it took them what - seven years to consummate their relationship?) but great TV couples inspire lots and lots of fanfic. =========================================================================
It was late Saturday afternoon, an unusually warm late winter day and Lorelai Gilmore stared at her bedroom closet, trying to figure out what to wear for her fourth date with Alex, her new beau. The date was three hours away, but she wanted to get a head start.
Alex had what Lorelai called the Four C's - he was caffeinated, cute, clever, and cultured, at least in the popular sense. Lorelai knew what the fourth date usually meant. But instead of giddy anticipation, the pit of her stomach was filled with dread. She knew what Alex was expecting, but she wasn't sure if her heart was in it.
Lorelai was trying on a new dress and had just pulled it over her head when she heard the doorbell ring. Rory was at the library studying, so she ran downstairs to answer the door. She opened the door and saw Luke standing there, toolbox in hand. She smiled at him.
"Hey, it's Luke and Bert, two of my favorite men. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Luke couldn't help but smirk at her - she was wearing a low-cut long sleeved lavender silk dress over a pair of jeans. He also noticed the lace of her bra was visible around the décolletage.
Luke tore his eyes away from the lace and forced himself to look at her face. He cleared his throat. "Hey, Lorelai - nice outfit."
Lorelai looked down at her mismatched clothes. "Oh, I have a date with Alex tonight and I'm trying to pick out something appropriately slutty to wear."
"Well, I'm not taking any fashion tips from you, unless you think Nicole would like me in that."
Nicole was Taylor's lawyer and Luke had another date with her that night. She was smart, funny and sarcastic, not to mention beautiful. He had asked her out because he was sick and tired of waiting for Lorelai to notice him.
"She'd love this look on you. Are you seeing her tonight?"
"Yup, date number three. I'm picking her up at 7:30." Luke didn't feel too comfortable discussing his suddenly active social life with Lorelai and changed the subject. "Anyway, earlier this week you mentioned that your porch rail broke again, remember? I had some free time, so, um, Bert suggested that we come by and take care of it."
Lorelei smiled at the Bert mention. "Thanks, I appreciate it." She still wasn't ready to give up on the subject of Nicole. "Hey, you're not wearing that tonight are you? You might not get a date number four."
Luke was in his usual uniform - flannel, green army jacket, jeans, boots and backwards baseball cap.
"What, this isn't date appropriate?" He gave her a sarcastic chuckle. "Actually, I'm changing my clothes later. Remember that suit you bought, the one from Bloomingdale's? I'm wearing that tonight."
Lorelai remembered how GQ he looked when she made him try it on. She folded her arms in smug satisfaction. "See, I knew it would come in handy someday. Hey, why don't you get started on the porch? I'll change my clothes and keep you company, if you don't mind."
"It's your house."
Lorelai went upstairs and took off the dress and pulled on her light blue turtleneck sweater. She looked in the mirror and smoothed over her wavy hair. She went downstairs and into the kitchen to put on the tea kettle. She figured that Luke would want some tea after he finished and she always kept a box of peppermint tea around, just in case.
Lorelai threw on a jacket and joined Luke on the porch, sitting on the top step as he pounded some nails into the railing.
"I put on the kettle, if you'd like to have some tea later."
"Thanks. Hey, the reason this rail keeps breaking is that the nails are rusting from the wet weather. I'm afraid you'll have to replace it soon."
"Huh, I should just level the whole place and rebuild. Maybe I should find someone to burn it down and then I could collect on the insurance."
"Lorelai, you shouldn't say that that, even in jest."
"Sorry, I know that was tasteless. I just wish that this place wasn't such a freakin' money pit."
"Well, maybe Alex will marry you one day and you'll move in with him. Didn't you did tell me he lives in a swanky condo?"
"Yeah, but it's a space age bachelor pad, not a place for a wife and kids. And I'm not even sure I want that with him."
"I thought you said he was Mr. Right?"
"On paper, he is. It's just that, oh I dunno..."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing's wrong with him, it's just that for some reason I'm not falling for him like I thought I would. Whenever I see him, I don't get that stomach-flippy, heart-poundy, palms-sweaty thing like I'm supposed to. I mean, I know I'm not a lesbian, so what the hell is wrong with me?"
Luke smirked. "Are you sure you're not a lesbian, I mean you were wearing jeans with a dress before, perhaps you're having a sexual identity crisis?"
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "I'll only admit to having a fashion crisis, Dr. Phil."
Luke's tone grew more serious. "Well, it's probably because Alex's not the right guy for you."
"You always manage to cut through the crap, Luke." Lorelai was quiet for a moment while she watched him pound in another nail. "Do you think I should dump him?"
"Well, if I were in his shoes, I don't think I'd like to be strung along. It's probably better to cut the cord now before you get really serious with him. I mean, you don't want to accept any more ill-conceived marriage proposals, do you? I'm not building you another chuppa, you know."
Lorelai frowned at his not so veiled reference to her botched engagement to Max. "Gee, thanks."
Noticing her pained expression, Luke softened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just don't think you should stay with someone for the wrong reasons. But I can't tell you how to live your life."
Lorelai sighed. "You're right. I'm gonna dump him, tonight, before I make the mistake of sleeping with him."
Luke nodded. "Date number four?"
Lorelai laughed. "Uh-huh. So, if tonight goes well with Nicole - that means that very soon your dry spell will be over. And mine is being extended."
Luke turned crimson but laughed as he finished pounding in the last nail. "You always make it about you, Lorelai."
"Hey, I think the water should've boiled by now. Do you want to come in the kitchen and have some tea?"
"Sounds great, peppermint?"
"Of course."
Luke put the hammer in his toolbox and followed Lorelai into the house and sat at the kitchen table. She retrieved the tea and placed a hot mug in front of him.
Lorelai sat across from him. "You know, I've missed this."
"Missed what, the tea?"
"No, you and me hanging out, we don't do it as often as we used to."
"Well, I've been busy at the diner, and then there's dealing with Taylor and that damn soda shoppe with two p's, and the rest of my time is spent with Nicole."
"So obviously that's going well?"
"I think so, she's really great. Sometimes you just click with someone, you know?"
Lorelai nodded. "Yup, I thought I had that with Alex. We definitely clicked, but sometimes you don't completely click. For me, it has to be intellectual, emotional and physical. Then there's that cherry on top, you know, chemistry." She paused. "Do you, um, feel that way about Nicole?"
"I'm not sure yet. I think I'll need to spend some more time with her, to make sure that we click on all those levels you mentioned. But she and I definitely have the chemistry part down."
"Chemistry is good." Lorelai found her eyes momentarily locked with Luke's and she felt a slight tremor run through her. What the hell was that?
Luke felt something run through him as well. It was that familiar feeling that sprung up whenever he and Lorelai stared just a little too long at each other. He broke the gaze and took another sip. "Ah, this tea is great stuff. You should try it sometime."
Lorelai nodded, still unsettled by the tremor. "Sounds like a good idea."
"Hey, I guess I should go, I gotta get home and change for my date."
"Yeah, me too. Thanks for fixing the porch, again."
"Anytime. So I'll talk to you later, good luck with Alex."
"Thanks. Have a good time on your date, say hi to Nicole for me."
Luke got up and walked out the kitchen door. Lorelai picked up the mug to empty it out in the sink. But it was half full and still warm and she absently took a sip of the tea, it was refreshing and soothing. Before she knew it, she had drunk the whole thing.
She put the mug in the dishwasher and went to go upstairs to get dressed. As she passed her front door, she realized that Luke had forgotten to take Bert - the toolbox was sitting by the front door.
Chapter one: Bert and the Four C's
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: mid - Third Season
Rating: PG
Summary: Lorelai is getting dressed for a date and Luke comes to fix her porch.
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
A/N: Here's another one of my L/L and their respective love interest stories based on spoilers for the episodes for early next year. No double dates this time! This is more of a Lorelai angst piece.
I was gonna call this "Top Ten" but apparently Fanfiction.net is banning top 10 lists and I don't want to piss anyone off. This was partly inspired by Lauren Graham's crush on David Letterman and the ridiculously long and comprehensive Java Junkie message board list of all things L/L. I also remember reading a gorgeous "X-files" fan-fic years ago called "Revolving Satellites" by Blueswirl, where all the evidence was laid out to prove Mulder and Scully's love for each other. I hope that L/L don't turn out like M/S (it took them what - seven years to consummate their relationship?) but great TV couples inspire lots and lots of fanfic. =========================================================================
It was late Saturday afternoon, an unusually warm late winter day and Lorelai Gilmore stared at her bedroom closet, trying to figure out what to wear for her fourth date with Alex, her new beau. The date was three hours away, but she wanted to get a head start.
Alex had what Lorelai called the Four C's - he was caffeinated, cute, clever, and cultured, at least in the popular sense. Lorelai knew what the fourth date usually meant. But instead of giddy anticipation, the pit of her stomach was filled with dread. She knew what Alex was expecting, but she wasn't sure if her heart was in it.
Lorelai was trying on a new dress and had just pulled it over her head when she heard the doorbell ring. Rory was at the library studying, so she ran downstairs to answer the door. She opened the door and saw Luke standing there, toolbox in hand. She smiled at him.
"Hey, it's Luke and Bert, two of my favorite men. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Luke couldn't help but smirk at her - she was wearing a low-cut long sleeved lavender silk dress over a pair of jeans. He also noticed the lace of her bra was visible around the décolletage.
Luke tore his eyes away from the lace and forced himself to look at her face. He cleared his throat. "Hey, Lorelai - nice outfit."
Lorelai looked down at her mismatched clothes. "Oh, I have a date with Alex tonight and I'm trying to pick out something appropriately slutty to wear."
"Well, I'm not taking any fashion tips from you, unless you think Nicole would like me in that."
Nicole was Taylor's lawyer and Luke had another date with her that night. She was smart, funny and sarcastic, not to mention beautiful. He had asked her out because he was sick and tired of waiting for Lorelai to notice him.
"She'd love this look on you. Are you seeing her tonight?"
"Yup, date number three. I'm picking her up at 7:30." Luke didn't feel too comfortable discussing his suddenly active social life with Lorelai and changed the subject. "Anyway, earlier this week you mentioned that your porch rail broke again, remember? I had some free time, so, um, Bert suggested that we come by and take care of it."
Lorelei smiled at the Bert mention. "Thanks, I appreciate it." She still wasn't ready to give up on the subject of Nicole. "Hey, you're not wearing that tonight are you? You might not get a date number four."
Luke was in his usual uniform - flannel, green army jacket, jeans, boots and backwards baseball cap.
"What, this isn't date appropriate?" He gave her a sarcastic chuckle. "Actually, I'm changing my clothes later. Remember that suit you bought, the one from Bloomingdale's? I'm wearing that tonight."
Lorelai remembered how GQ he looked when she made him try it on. She folded her arms in smug satisfaction. "See, I knew it would come in handy someday. Hey, why don't you get started on the porch? I'll change my clothes and keep you company, if you don't mind."
"It's your house."
Lorelai went upstairs and took off the dress and pulled on her light blue turtleneck sweater. She looked in the mirror and smoothed over her wavy hair. She went downstairs and into the kitchen to put on the tea kettle. She figured that Luke would want some tea after he finished and she always kept a box of peppermint tea around, just in case.
Lorelai threw on a jacket and joined Luke on the porch, sitting on the top step as he pounded some nails into the railing.
"I put on the kettle, if you'd like to have some tea later."
"Thanks. Hey, the reason this rail keeps breaking is that the nails are rusting from the wet weather. I'm afraid you'll have to replace it soon."
"Huh, I should just level the whole place and rebuild. Maybe I should find someone to burn it down and then I could collect on the insurance."
"Lorelai, you shouldn't say that that, even in jest."
"Sorry, I know that was tasteless. I just wish that this place wasn't such a freakin' money pit."
"Well, maybe Alex will marry you one day and you'll move in with him. Didn't you did tell me he lives in a swanky condo?"
"Yeah, but it's a space age bachelor pad, not a place for a wife and kids. And I'm not even sure I want that with him."
"I thought you said he was Mr. Right?"
"On paper, he is. It's just that, oh I dunno..."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing's wrong with him, it's just that for some reason I'm not falling for him like I thought I would. Whenever I see him, I don't get that stomach-flippy, heart-poundy, palms-sweaty thing like I'm supposed to. I mean, I know I'm not a lesbian, so what the hell is wrong with me?"
Luke smirked. "Are you sure you're not a lesbian, I mean you were wearing jeans with a dress before, perhaps you're having a sexual identity crisis?"
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "I'll only admit to having a fashion crisis, Dr. Phil."
Luke's tone grew more serious. "Well, it's probably because Alex's not the right guy for you."
"You always manage to cut through the crap, Luke." Lorelai was quiet for a moment while she watched him pound in another nail. "Do you think I should dump him?"
"Well, if I were in his shoes, I don't think I'd like to be strung along. It's probably better to cut the cord now before you get really serious with him. I mean, you don't want to accept any more ill-conceived marriage proposals, do you? I'm not building you another chuppa, you know."
Lorelai frowned at his not so veiled reference to her botched engagement to Max. "Gee, thanks."
Noticing her pained expression, Luke softened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just don't think you should stay with someone for the wrong reasons. But I can't tell you how to live your life."
Lorelai sighed. "You're right. I'm gonna dump him, tonight, before I make the mistake of sleeping with him."
Luke nodded. "Date number four?"
Lorelai laughed. "Uh-huh. So, if tonight goes well with Nicole - that means that very soon your dry spell will be over. And mine is being extended."
Luke turned crimson but laughed as he finished pounding in the last nail. "You always make it about you, Lorelai."
"Hey, I think the water should've boiled by now. Do you want to come in the kitchen and have some tea?"
"Sounds great, peppermint?"
"Of course."
Luke put the hammer in his toolbox and followed Lorelai into the house and sat at the kitchen table. She retrieved the tea and placed a hot mug in front of him.
Lorelai sat across from him. "You know, I've missed this."
"Missed what, the tea?"
"No, you and me hanging out, we don't do it as often as we used to."
"Well, I've been busy at the diner, and then there's dealing with Taylor and that damn soda shoppe with two p's, and the rest of my time is spent with Nicole."
"So obviously that's going well?"
"I think so, she's really great. Sometimes you just click with someone, you know?"
Lorelai nodded. "Yup, I thought I had that with Alex. We definitely clicked, but sometimes you don't completely click. For me, it has to be intellectual, emotional and physical. Then there's that cherry on top, you know, chemistry." She paused. "Do you, um, feel that way about Nicole?"
"I'm not sure yet. I think I'll need to spend some more time with her, to make sure that we click on all those levels you mentioned. But she and I definitely have the chemistry part down."
"Chemistry is good." Lorelai found her eyes momentarily locked with Luke's and she felt a slight tremor run through her. What the hell was that?
Luke felt something run through him as well. It was that familiar feeling that sprung up whenever he and Lorelai stared just a little too long at each other. He broke the gaze and took another sip. "Ah, this tea is great stuff. You should try it sometime."
Lorelai nodded, still unsettled by the tremor. "Sounds like a good idea."
"Hey, I guess I should go, I gotta get home and change for my date."
"Yeah, me too. Thanks for fixing the porch, again."
"Anytime. So I'll talk to you later, good luck with Alex."
"Thanks. Have a good time on your date, say hi to Nicole for me."
Luke got up and walked out the kitchen door. Lorelai picked up the mug to empty it out in the sink. But it was half full and still warm and she absently took a sip of the tea, it was refreshing and soothing. Before she knew it, she had drunk the whole thing.
She put the mug in the dishwasher and went to go upstairs to get dressed. As she passed her front door, she realized that Luke had forgotten to take Bert - the toolbox was sitting by the front door.