Title: He Didn't Have To Be

Rating: G

Summary: A Father Daughter fic between Rory and Luke. Could be a WIP or just this one part.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls. Never have, never will. Okay?

AN: This is the second fic I've ever written. I didn't know what Rory's favorite book was, so I picked something I thought a 6-year-old like Rory might read. It's probably way out of character for Luke, but I was trying to show how he's different with Rory than with other people. If you like it, please review.

"Luke! Luke," Lorelai yelled, running into the diner frantic. Rory came in right behind her.

"No, I am not giving you coffee. You've probably had 15 cups today. No more," Luke said in his normal, grumpy tone.

"That's not what I need now, Luke. Wow, sentence I never thought I'd say. But, I have an appointment in Hartford that I need to get to and there's no one to watch Rory at the Inn. Could you please keep an eye on her for 2 hours? Please."

"There's no one? Not Mia or Sookie or any one?"

"I would have asked them. Please, I can't take her with me and I can't leave a 6 year old alone for 2 hours."

"Fine, but I'm warning you. I'm not good with kids."

"Thank you, I owe you big time. I won't drink coffee for the rest of the week, no, the rest of the day."

"Fine, whatever. You're going to be late, go now. She'll be fine."

"Thank you so much. Rory, I have to go now. You're gonna stay with Luke for a little while. Okay?"

"Okay, Mommy," Rory replied as she took a seat at the counter.

"Bye, sweetie," Lorelai said, running out the door.

"So, do you want anything to eat? I can make you a salad or something if you want." Luke said, not knowing really what to do with Rory.

"No, I don't really like salad. But I'll take some cheese fries, please." Rory said in her normally polite tone.

"So, you're going to be here for 2 hours? Do you have anything to do?" Luke said, a little worried, knowing how kids could get when they got bored.

"Oh yeah, I just got a new book from the library that will keep me occupied for a while."

"Really? Which book is it?" Luke said, genuinely curious as to what she could be reading. He knew Rory was smart, but he never had met a six-year-old who liked to read or even really could read.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mommy and I watch Willy Wonka all the time and I've been meaning to read the book, but I've had so many books to read that I haven't had the chance to read it yet. I've read some of Roald Dahl's other books. I've read Matilda and The Witches and The BFG. He's a really good author." Rory rambled on, excitedly.

"Huh, I don't think I've ever read those books. What's your favorite?"

"There are so many good books to choose from that I don't where to begin. But I really like Little Women. Mommy and I read a chapter every night before bed."

"My mom used to read me a book before she'd tuck me in every night." Luke said, now just enjoying spending some time talking with Rory since there was a lull in the diner and he didn't have to do anything else.

"Really? What was your favorite book?"

"Gosh, she read me a lot of them. I guess The Wizard of Oz. That's the last book I remember her reading to me before…"

"Before what?"

"Before she got sick."

"Oh, I hope she got better." Rory said, not really understanding that Luke's mom was dead.

"Yeah, I hoped so too." Luke said, smiling a sad smile at the memory of his mom and their nightly bedtime story and thinking of her in Heaven.

Rory could tell that Luke was sad and decided she needed to do something to cheer him up.

The diner was starting to pick up again and Luke had to get back to work. He got Rory another plate of fries and let her get to her book. Before he knew it, Lorelai was back to pick Rory up.

"Thanks again, Luke. Really you don't know how much it means to me that you could watch after Rory. I was getting pretty panicked." Lorelai said, as she and Rory were leaving.

"No problem, Lorelai. Anytime. She's a great kid." Luke said, smiling one of the few smiles Lorelai had ever seen him have.

"Okay. Well, bye, we'll probably see you tomorrow." Lorelai said, helping Rory put on her coat.

"Bye, Lorelai. Bye, Rory."

"Bye, Luke. Thanks for the fries." Rory called back at him as she left.

"So, did you have a good time with Luke? He didn't try to give you something healthy, did he?" Lorelai said in the Jeep on their way home.

"He did try to give me a salad, but I asked for fries instead. I did have a good time. We were talking about books and he told me his mom used to read to him at bedtime just like we read at bedtime. But then he got really sad and had to get back to work. Can I get him a present? To cheer him up and to thank him? I know the perfect thing. Please, Mommy!" Rory said, excitedly.

"Of course. We'll go shopping tomorrow, just make sure we're not buying him a new car or anything, because Mommy really doesn't want to get a second job." Lorelai said. She knew from Miss Patty that Luke's mom had died when he was really young. She was shocked that the man who had a secret keeping ability the CIA would envy would tell Rory about his mom.

A few days later, Rory and Lorelai went into the diner for dinner. They sat down at a table near the window and Rory went up to the counter with a gift bag in her hand.

"Hi, Rory. What can I get for you?" Luke said.

"Mom and I want two cheeseburgers, two plates of fries, a coffee, a Coke, and two pieces of pie for dessert, please. And also, I wanted to give this to you," Rory said as she handed him the bag. "I wanted to thank you for everything you do for Mommy and me and to cheer you up, because when we were talking the other day, you got really sad after you mentioned your mom, and I didn't want you to be sad, so I got you this. Well, actually Mommy paid for it, cuz I don't have any money, but I picked it out."

Luke opened the bag and inside was a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He stared at it in disbelief, amazed at how thoughtful and perceptive Rory was.

"Thank you, Rory. Really, you don't know how much it means to me," He said as he walked around the counter to give Rory a rare hug.

"It's no big deal, Luke. Compared to everything you do for Mommy and me," Rory said, hugging him back.

"It is a big deal, Rory. Really, it is. Come on, I'll get your dinner ready, okay?"

"Sounds good to me. I'm starved."

"So, I guess he liked it then?" Lorelai said as Rory sat back down. She was extremely curious to know what it had been that Rory got that not only got a smile out of Luke, but also a hug. She knew it was a book, because Rory made her stop at the bookstore. But Rory insisted that she go in alone to get it and just asked Lorelai for the money and came back out with a bag and the change. She wouldn't let Lorelai in on the secret and it was driving her nuts not knowing what the gift was. "So, you're never going to tell me what is, are you?"

"Nope," Rory said with a smile on her face.

That night, after he closed up the diner and got ready for bed, he took the book out of his bag and got into bed. He turned the lamp on his table on and opened up the front cover. Inside was a message: "Dear Luke, I hope this makes you happy. Love, Rory" He just smiled as he started reading the book that always made him think of his mom, a book he hadn't read since he was nine years old.

AN2: This could be just a one parter, but if people persuade me, I have some other ideas for more chapters. So, if you want more, please review!