I promise, this is where things pick up!
Enjoy!
"You know all that junk food will kill you?" A gruff voice said behind the brunette as she chose a box of honey buns from the shelf. Turning, the woman replied, "Thanks, but this is only a once in a while thing. Rory and I are going to watch a movie tonight. It's supposed to storm again and I hoped Pippi will keep her mind off it."
She had no idea why she told Luke her night plans, but she felt she could trust him somehow. However, as she left Doose's with Rory right behind her, she noticed the wind pick up.
"Mommy?" Rory asked uncertainly. Squeezing her daughter's hand, Lorelai said, "It's fine. Let's get home. Okay, Sweets?"
The child nodded just as a huge rain drop fell. Seeing it began to pour, Lorelai wished she had a vehicle to drive back with.
Luke watched the mother and daughter leave just as the rain began. Sighing, the man stepped out of the market and caught up with the brunette.
"You can't walk back in this," He stated. Lorelai knew he was right, but smiled bravely.
"Let me drive you back," He heard himself say. The woman looked uncertain, but said, "Okay. Rory, Luke is going to take us back, okay?"
The child nodded mutely, Although she had a soft spot for the man, she did not feel the need to talk to him. The woman and daughter waited while Luke pulled his truck up outside of the market. Letting her daughter sit in the middle of the bench seat of the pick- up, Lorelai slid in behind her and watched Luke start up the vehicle.
"Thank- you," The woman stated wondering how she would repay him for his kindness. Shaking his head, Luke replied, "No problem. No sense in you two getting drenched."
Smiling up at the man, Rory replied, "Do you want to join us for movie night?"
"Rory, baby. I doubt Luke wants to join us. Besides, he has to get back to his diner," Lorelai stated as she gave the man an out. Just then, lightening struck which caused Rory to jump.
"Mom?" The child wavered. Smoothing her daughter's hair, Lorelai soothed, "It's okay. Remember? It's only a really spastic light show."
"That happens after every drum beat because Mr. Blue Sky went away?" Rory added making sure she was correct.
Hearing the description, Luke smirked remembering his mom comforting him and his sister as kids. Suddenly, the car occupants lurched forward. Putting her arm out to protect her daughter, Lorelai yelled, "What the–"
Both mother and daughter watched Luke silently hop out of the cab and stand in the rain. Rory stared at her mother confused. Stroking her daughter's hair, the woman shook her head.
"Why don't we have a Red Vine while we wait?" Lorelai suggested. They ate candy for a few minutes more before a drenched diner owner hopped back into his truck.
"There's a tree in the road. It looks like your movie night isn't going to happen," Luke stated. Lorelai swallowed, trying to dispel the fear she realized may creep into her face as she thought about the inn.
"I'll take you back to the diner until the storm blows over," The man responded as he recognized the fear in the woman's eyes matched her daughter's. Sadly, he was already taken in by the four year old's pleading look directed toward her mother who began to counter his offer.
"No, buts. You can call whoever you need to and you can watch your movie upstairs in my apartment."
Shocked by his own words, Luke stayed silent as he cranked his truck back up and headed toward the diner.
Unlocking the door for them, the owner let the woman and her daughter inside his establishment and up to his apartment before following after them as he explained, "The place was my dad's office, but I make it work."
Nodding in understanding, Lorelai immediately made sure her daughter was comfortable as Luke offered his apartment to an annoying movie which involved a giggling four year old singing along to the opening credits. Luke sat off to the side as Rory snuggled into her mother on the couch. He watched the pair interact to distract himself from the far fetched children's film until Lorelai stood up and asked him, "Do you mind if I use your phone? I should probably call Mia."
The diner owner merely nodded his head and let the woman leave before he realized that he was stuck in his apartment with a four year old. Thankfully the child stayed focused on the film the ten minutes her mother was gone.
"Everything okay?" Luke asked once Lorelai came back. Nodding, she said, "Yeah. Mia told me to tell Rory good- night for her and that you are a good person to be stuck in a storm with."
Pretending he did not hear the last comment, Luke stated, "Rory fell asleep half- way through that weird horse scene."
"Which one?" The mother questioned looking down at her daughter who was sprawled on the couch. Luke shrugged as he muted the small TV.
Sitting at the side of the sofa, the woman watched her daughter sleep content that the girl was not scared of the storm. Luke watched also, but stared at the young mother wondering why his sister could not be half the mother the woman on his couch was. Standing, Luke grabbed a blanket from his bed and handed it to Lorelai.
"For Rory," The man gruffly replied before muttering something about getting ready for bed. Nodding, Lorelai placed the blanket over her daughter before looking around the small apartment. She quickly spotted Rory's card that sat on a small table next to the door.
"You kept it," The young mother said with a smile. Rubbing his neck, Luke replied, "Yeah. I forgot to put it away before."
Lorelai nodded as she put the paper down. Walking over and placing the card in a drawer that held a couple pictures Jess drew him, Luke asked, "Where do you work?"
"Independence Inn. I just got promoted last year, but every penny counts when you've got a kid. Ya know? Well, you probably don't but–"
"I get it," Luke interjected adding, "You've done a good job with her."
"Thanks," The woman replied before asking, "Do you have another blanket?"
"Yeah, in the closet," Luke fumbled going to grab the item. Handing a flannel blanket to Lorelai, the owner asked, "Did you want the bed? You and Rory?"
Looking over at the child still asleep on the couch, Lorelai shook her head.
"I'll take the couch. We're used to sharing," She answered. Luke nodded before he said his good- nights. Both adults knew the storm would keep up until morning.
The next day, Luke woke at his usual time and began his day before remembering the brunettes asleep on his couch. Seeing the mother and daughter still asleep, the man left a note on the fridge before fixing breakfast for himself and the girls. Unsure what they normally ate, the man decided to go with something simple. Finishing the eggs and toast, Luke fixed himself a plate and ate it before heading to work. After letting Caesar in, the men began preparing the diner for guests. At ten until open, the phone rang prompting the owner to answer.
"Lucas! I hope this isn't a bad time?"
Always having time for his mother's best friend and surrogate aunt, Luke answered, "Never. What do you need?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could talk to Lorelai? She said she was staying with you?"
"Yeah, let me go get her," Luke answered before putting the phone on hold. Heading up the stairs two at a time, Luke found Rory sitting at the table drawing on what he assumed was scrap paper. He smiled at the girl before waking up her mother.
"Hey, Mia's on the phone for you," Luke stated once the woman woke up. Nodding, Lorelai looked at her daughter.
"Why didn't you wake me, Sweets?" She asked. Rory shrugged replying, "You were still tired."
Smoothing the girl's hair, Lorelai kissed her head.
"I made you both breakfast. It's in the fridge. I can heat it up for her. Oh, and could you ask Caesar to open up for me?" Luke asked. Nodding, the woman left the apartment feeling an immense amount of gratitude for a man she barely knew.
"Caesar, do you mind opening?" Lorelai called out before taking the phone.
"Mia?" She asked.
"Lorelai," Mia replied. "I have some bad news."
The young woman braced herself expecting to hear that her home was destroyed. Instead, Mia stated, "There are trees down everywhere here. Sadly, one of them is blocking the way to the inn meaning you and Rory are stuck in Stars Hollow until at least the end of the day."
"And the potting shed?"
"Fine. There's debris blocking the entrance, but nothing that can't be fixed," Mia answered. Thanking the woman, Lorelai hung up the phone just as Luke came downstairs to take orders.
"Breakfast is upstairs," Luke muttered. Lorelai nodded before heading back to the apartment just as she heard a young man say, "You never let me use the phone."
"Do you have a reason to?" Luke groused. Lorelai tried to hide a snicker as she walked up to the steps having dealt with the young man's ramblings the day before.
Entering the apartment, Lorelai watched Rory eat her breakfast.
"Is it good?" The mother asked as she took her own plate from the fridge to heat up. Nodding vigorously, Rory replied, "Almost as good as Sookie's!"
Laughing, the woman sat down with her daughter.
"This is good!" Lorelai exclaimed after taking a bite.
"I know," Rory replied mid chew. Smiling at the girl, the twenty year old answered, "We'll have to thank Luke, and don't talk with your mouth full."
The mother and daughter soon finished breakfast and cleaned up the table. Mainly to be good house guests, but also for the mother to teach her four year old manners.
"Mommy?" Rory asked as she helped her mother dry the dishes. Washing out their cups, the mother replied, "What is it, Kiddo?"
"When are we heading home?"
"Um, not for a while. Mia said that we can't get to the inn right now," Lorelai answered. Reading the shocked expression on the child's face, the mother reassured, "Nothing happened to the potting shed. There're just a lot of trees in the way that makes it hard to get to the inn."
"Oh," Rory replied before asking, "Can we watch Pippi?"
Washing the last of their breakfast dishes, Lorelai answered, "Rewind the movie first."
Nodding happily, Rory walked over to the VCR and pressed rewind. A skill she mastered over the various movie nights in her four years of life. Lorelai shook her head at her daughter's quick learning skills and looked down at the pan sitting in the sink. Figuring Luke was not able to do the dishes that morning, Lorelai quickly went ahead and did the chore. She figured she owed the man something for his hospitality. Letting the dishes dry, Lorelai sat beside her daughter as The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking began playing. In the middle of the scene where Annika, Pippi, and Tommy mop the floors, the mother and daughter turned to see a disgruntled Luke step inside.
"What's wrong?" Lorelai asked as she noticed the flannel wearing diner owner search through his dresser.
"I lost my notepad," The man grumbled. Raising her eyebrow, the brunette asked, "In here?"
"Yeah, I came to check on you guys at one point but you were pretty glued to that movie of yours."
"It's a classic," Lorelai shrugged. Noticing the man still searching, the young mother turned toward her daughter who was still absorbed in the movie. Satisfied that her daughter was occupied, the woman looked over and noticed Luke grab his notepad, mumble something about Rory's drawing on the thing, and head out.
"Rory, let's walk around town," Lorelai declared happily hoping her daughter would not pick up on her apprehension. They had, in her opinion, overstayed their welcome if Luke's frustration were anything to go by. Curious, Rory asked, "Where?"
"Anywhere," The mother answered grabbing the movie from the VCR and putting it back in the case. Scribbling a note, Lorelai made sure her daughter was ready before leaving the diner the back way before emerging on the main street.
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