Chapter 2: Wouldn't It Be Lover-ly?

It was a pleasant Friday morning in Stars Hollow. Luke and William parked the family truck out front of the Independence Inn. Mia had called them that morning about a plumbing issue in the kitchen, one that had apparently left Sookie St. James, the young and new head chef fresh out of culinary school, in tears. Even though they now ran a Diner, the Danes men still did a few basic repairs on the side, usually just for the neighbors and close friends. And Mia was practically family; she had watched Luke and his sister, Liz, grow up.

As they entered the lobby, father and son spotted Lorelai pushing a cleaning cart, atop of which sat two-year-old Rory, waving her chubby fingers at all of the mingling guests. By now, the toddler had become a crowd favorite at the Inn; Mia said Rory sometimes helped ensure that guests would return. Rory now waved at the Danes men, familiar enough with both to know them by sight. Lorelai's face lit up when she saw them.

"Morning, boys."

"Good morning, Lorelai," William smiled kindly, tickling a finger under Rory's chin. "Mia working you hard?"

"Oh, it's not so bad. Cleaning the bathrooms is finally starting to feel less like Journey to the Center of the Earth."

"A feces-filled Earth at least," Luke observed dryly.

"Dirty," Lorelai grinned, not minding the graphic language even as William sent a disapproving look towards his son. "But what are you guys doing here?"

"Plumbing issue in the kitchen," Luke offered up. "Sookie is in a panic."

"Oh yeah, she was going on and on about it this morning," Lorelai remembered the stress of her good friend. "Straight back that way," she directed them.

"Thanks," William grinned. "Say, when do you and Rory get off work?"

"Early today. At 3." Lorelai grinned broadly. She suddenly gasped at a realization. "Why Mr. Danes, are you asking me out?" She teasingly asked with a put-on Southern accent.

There was a gargling noise as Luke appeared to swallow his tongue. But only William noticed and clapped his son on the back with a chortle. "No, then I'd never hear the end of it from my son. But why don't you and Rory come round back of the Diner? We're whipping up a barbecue for this beautiful sunny day..."

"... and Dad doesn't want to store the leftovers," Luke finished, his demeanor back to its normal, dry self.

Lorelai giggled. "All right, then. It's a date. See you boys at 3!" And she pushed the cart away, Rory turning on her little bottom to wave. "Buh-bye! Buh-bye!" she squealed.

At 3 PM, Lorelai and Rory met the Danes boys in their backyard. Lorelai had changed out of her maid clothes into a pretty sundress that she had recently purchased with some of her spending money. Luke tried not to blink too rapidly upon seeing her. And also not acknowledge the knowing looks his father sent his way.

William cooked up a storm at the grill, while Lorelai sat in the grass, her dress fanning out around her and with Rory on her lap. Glowing, the young mother bounced Rory up and down in her arms, cooing a little tune to her:

"All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air, with one big, enormous chair. Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?"

Luke strolled over to the Gilmore girls with a plate for Lorelai, and some milk and carrots for Rory. "Here you gals go. Bon appetit!"

Rory shrieked with delight, and reached up for him. "Daddy!"

Luke and Lorelai both froze in shock. Only William seemed to think it was funny, chuckling in amusement as he flipped a burger.

"Oh no, sweets!" Lorelai tried to recover, sharing an apologetic look with Luke. "That's not Daddy! That's our good friend Luke!"

Rory's cerulean blue eyes frowned as her little mind tried to work out this puzzle. "Wuke?" she mispronounced Luke's name, uncertain as she tried to sound the new word out. It sounded harder to say than Daddy.

No one noticed how Luke's expression had gone from shock to tender pride to hurt in a matter of moments.

It was a busy Saturday morning in Luke's Diner. Lorelai had come with Rory in tow extra early. The bathtub that William and Luke had recently installed in the potting shed had broken its showerhead, so Lorelai had accepted Luke's offer for them to bathe at the Diner until they could fix it. Lorelai could have used a bathroom in one of the empty guest rooms at the Inn, but she felt it wouldn't be right.

Now Lorelai was done with her shower, and downstairs having breakfast, at William's insistence. She had finished bathing and dressing Rory, and had only come down when Luke volunteered to help Rory brush her teeth and finish grooming. Both would be downstairs from the Loft soon.

Just then, the bell over the Diner tinkled. "Lore?"

Lorelai spun around to find Christopher Hayden, Rory's father, in the doorway. "Christopher! What are you doing here?"

Christopher smiled in that easy-going swagger of his. "I asked around town, and was told I'd find you here." He surveyed the Diner. "Nice joint... you and Rory come here often?"

"Every day," Lorelai offered up quietly.

Christopher suddenly frowned. "Wait... where is Rory?"

It was just then that laughter came down the stairs. Luke appeared, carrying Rory piggy-back and swinging her around. "Higher, Wuke! Higher!" She was in absolute delight.

Christopher stared as Luke and Rory reached the base of the stairs. "And who are you?"

Luke glanced up and blinked at the guy standing next to Lorelai. He gingerly set Rory down, registering how she clung to his leg. "Luke Danes. Nice to meet you." Luke held out a hand, but Christopher did not reciprocate.

"Pleasure," the young Hayden got out through gritted teeth.

Lorelai tried to defuse the awkwardness that was rapidly congealing around them. "Uh, Luke, this is Christopher Hayden. Rory's dad."

Luke sent an eyebrow disappearing into his hairline. So this was the man responsible for the little princess's existence! "What a wonderful surprise!" he tried to sound warm, but it felt forced.

Christopher did not attempt to move past the tense tableau. "What the hell are you doing, playing Daddy to my kid?" His leather jacket ruffled around his shoulders as he rounded on Lorelai, without waiting for an answer from a speechless Luke. "Is this why you're here everyday, Lore? Are you living here? You sleeping with him?"

"Chris!" Lorelai snapped, her patience fraying. "Lower your voice! And watch your language in front of our daughter!"

The reminder of Rory made Christopher address her presence for the first time. Kneeling before her, he held out his arms. "Rory, don't you have a kiss for Daddy?"

Rory frowned, as if she was regarding a stranger. "Daddy?" she echoed tentatively, unsure.

"Yes. Daddy," Christopher smiled encouragingly. But Rory did not let go of Luke's leg. Instead, she stared up at the young Diner owner and asked, "Daddy?"

Luke eyed her nervously, as Christopher looked something between crushed and enraged. Desperate to get out of this situation, Luke was saved by his father calling, "Luke! I have Rory's breakfast ready."

"All right," and in full view of Christopher, Luke scooped Rory up and slid past him to place Rory in the wooden high chair. Christopher swiveled back to Lorelai, armed with seemingly confirmation of what he had just theorized.

"We've been trying to have her stop calling him..." Lorelai began.

"We?" Christopher raised an eyebrow. "Oh come on, Lore - she did not get there by herself..."

"Of course she did! She could get to the third dimension by herself! She's started helping out the crossing guard whenever we cross the street! Luke is always around, whereas this is, what... the third time you've seen your daughter since she was born?"

"So you are shacking up and playing house with... him," Christopher threw back a finger in Luke's direction, his voice dripping with disgust.

Lorelai gawked in offense. "No! Rory and I come here everyday to eat. We've been living in the potting shed back by the Inn! Luke is just a friend!"

Christopher snorted. "Sure he is."

William now approached the two teenagers. "I think you should go, son." His address to Christopher was gentle, but laced with warning.

Fuming, Christopher stormed out in a huff. He didn't even say goodbye to Rory. Lorelai gently went up to Luke and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry..."

"It's fine," Luke nudged off, feeding Rory a spoonful of bite-sized sausage. "So... that was Rory's father."

Lorelai winced, feeling palpable embarrassment. "Yes..."

"He a biker, with that jacket?"

"No, but he might as well be, with how he just flits in and out of our lives."

Luke thought about that punk never sticking around for his daughter, and uncharacteristically let his anger burn to the surface. "I would never do that to Rory if... if..." His courage failed him, and he was too flustered to finish the conditional statement. Lorelai just patted his shoulder, seeming to understand.

"I know."

Lorelai burst into the Diner one Monday morning, with a wailing Rory on one hip.

"I need coffee, stat!" she barked, more than a little frazzled. "And we ran out of milk at the shed!"

Luke didn't even argue with her about the coffee. He didn't even think. He filled a mug with the brown manna, and then a bottle for Rory, springing to the Gilmore Girls' side. Rory eagerly grasped the bottle and began to guzzle it down, her wailing now ceased.

"Oh, thank God!" Lorelai sighed, affectionately hugging Luke good morning. "You saved the day again!"

"Here: give her to me," and Luke accepted a passed-off Rory, bouncing the toddler in his arms. "Was that all? The milk?"

"Let's hope. Although, I couldn't get her down last night; it was like Michael Keaton's Batman suddenly invaded our home..."

Just then, the bell over the door tinkled. When Luke turned around, Rory still in his arms, he nearly dropped the little girl in utter shock. "Rachel..."

His former girlfriend stared at the young Danes, a toddler on his hip, in disbelief. "Wow, Luke... I didn't know you had a kid."

Before Luke could explain the situation, Rachel's eyes found Lorelai's. "Congratulations. You married quite a good one."

Lorelai's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Oh... we're not..."

"Rachel..." Luke entreated. "This isn't what it looks like."

But Rachel ignored them both. "I came back to give us another try, but... I'll just go..." She quickly fled the Diner.

William emerged from the back kitchen. "Hello, girls. Did I just... see Rachel leave?"

"Not now, Dad," Luke tried to sidestep.

"Who's Rachel?" Lorelai asked.

Luke turned a very prominent shade of red. "Ex-girlfriend. But she skipped town about three years ago, after we broke up."

Lorelai gazed at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry. I can see why she would misconstrue."

Luke handed Rory gingerly back to her. "It's not your fault," his voice unusually gentle.