Over the next month Luke and Lorelai saw each other a few times. Now that she had a few paychecks under her belt Lorelai had taken to improving her 'lifestyle'. Mia had given her an old crib that they used for guests with babies and an old mattress and box spring leftover from redoing some of the suites.

With her first paycheck she'd gotten a lamp and a toy for Rory. With the next check she was off to the hardware store for some paint, Luke had rolled his eyes at her "girly" choice of Wing Flutter (pale lavender) walls and a Grape Vine (green) door. But she'd been inspired. The next week it was a hammer and nails to hang some pictures. Luke was a little nervous about her ability to use tools so he'd done it for her instead. And now, if she could convince him she'd be using this week's pay to buy some fabric for her to make new clothes.

"Hey Luke!" She called on her way into the shop, knowing Luke's shift was over in a few minutes.

He walked out from the back and gave her a smile and wave. "Hey Lorelai, what is it today, curtain rods, shelves?"

Lorelai smiled sheepishly, "Actually I was wondering if I could ask a favor? I need to buy some fabric and the store is in Litchfield, could you give me a lift?"

"Uh yeah sure. I didn't have any plans, let's go."

They'd been driving in his truck for a few minutes when the silence finally got to Lorelai. "Why don't you?"

"Why don't I what?"

"Have plans?"

"I don't understand the question."

"Well why don't you have a pick up game with 'the guys', or a girlfriend. Why don't you have a girlfriend?"

Luke was starting to feel a little uncomfortable not to mention irritated, "What kind of question is that?"

Lorelai realized she had to choose her words carefully lest she piss him off more, "Well you're a really awesome guy. You seem to be athletic, you're really handy, you're a 21-year-old gentleman for god's sakes. I mean why don't you have a girlfriend?"

Luke was blushing by this time, a little blown away by her assessment of him. "Umm I used to have one, just not anymore."

"What was her name?"

"Rachel. Well I guess she was my high school girlfriend."

"Where is she now, college?"

"No, school was never really her thing. Too much staying in one place. She's a photographer, she travels around a lot. Staying in Star's Hollow was too boring or her." Staying with me was too boring for her.

"I'm sorry, that sucks. You must miss her." What kind of moron was she?

Not right now. "Sometimes."

Lorelai dragged poor Luke around the fabric store for about 2 hours. "You're really going to use all that?"

Lorelai looked down at her supplies, "Yup, the stuff on the left is for Rory clothes. She's starting to grow out of most of the stuff I took with me from Hartford. Babies grow at a freakish rate. She'll grow out of this stuff in about 3 months. The stuff on the right is for me. Luckily I'm pretty much back to my normal pre-Rory size, well as close as you can get after having a kid, so anything I make should still fit a year from now."

Luke was still skeptical, but now for a different reason, Her body's looked better than this? What? Stop that Danes. "So I hear you're birthday's coming up."

Lorelai dropped her stuff at the register and turned to him in shock. "How did you know that?"

"Mia talks."

"Ah"

"So what are your birthday plans?"

She shrugged and accepted her purchases from the clerk.

"You're not doing anything?"

"Not really. Why does it matter I can't imagine you've celebrated a birthday since puberty hit."

"Aw jeez. I haven't but birthdays aren't my thing. But you look like the queen of birthdays. You sing and dance even when there's nothing to celebrate."

Lorelai shrugs sadly and hops into the truck.

A week later Mia was still trying to convince Lorelai to take off on her birthday. "Mia, I'm not taking a day off for my birthday. It's just another day and I certainly need the money."

"But Lorelai-"

"No buts, I need to go change the towels in room 8."

Mia sighed. She hadn't been wrong about the girl, she was dedicated and determined. As she turned from Lorelai's retreating form she spotted an unusual site in the foyer, "Lucas."

Luke smiled sheepishly, "Morning Mia. Can I talk to you for a sec."

Mia led him into her office and offered him a seat. "Is something wrong hun?"

"No, it's about Lorelai's birthday. She isn't doing anything but I think she should. I mean she has to do without enough stuff so she can care for Rory, she shouldn't miss out on her birthday."

"That's very true dear, now what did you have in mind?"

"Well, can I borrow a key to the potting shed?"

Luke had been working on his birthday idea since their shopping trip the previous week. He had everything in the truck he just had to move it. Luckily Lorelai had stood her ground and opted to work her shift at the Inn. He brought all his supplies in and got to work. His final stop: Mia's office.

"Hey Mia. She all ready?" he asked, pointing at the child sitting happily on her lap.

"Indeed she is. Think you can handle her?"

Luke nodded hesitantly. "As long as I don't drop her I think I'm okay."

Mia chucked and handed him Rory positioning his arms to keep her steady. He headed out to the potting shed with Rory in tow. "Okay kiddo I'm very new to this baby thing, so bear with me. I think your mom is going to like this. But if she doesn't we'll just say it was your idea okay? Good I'm glad you're going with me on this."

Rory smiled at him and reached up her tiny hand to pat his face. "Hi", she said in her tiny baby voice. Despite the time he'd spent with Lorelai he hadn't really gotten close to Rory. Now he felt a little too close. Like the small child was looking directly through him. Directly inside to what he feared he'd started to feel for her mother. "Crap. Hey don't repeat that." Rory just smiled.

Lorelai would get off at 5, at 4:58 Luke lit the candles on the cake he'd made and sat down with Rory wearing a little party dress Mia had put her in.

A few minutes after 5 Lorelai walked up to her door wearing her uniform. She usually came back to change her clothes and take a few minutes for herself before picking up her daughter. As she opened the door she heard a babyish squeal and turned around in shock. Her tiny little shed was completely transformed. There were streamers stretched from wall to wall across the room. In the corner of the room sat a short bookcase that she knew hadn't been there this morning. And sitting on top was the stereo/tape player she'd bought at a garage sale a few weeks ago and couldn't get to work. There was a pink bow on top.

And then the centerpiece of the festivities: a beautiful chocolate cake, her adorable daughter, and her friend. Only friend, best friend. "Luke?"

"Happy Birthday Lorelai."

"How did you- what did you-, Luke?"

Luke knew he had to say something, and he was man enough to admit that he wasn't any good at this kind of stuff. "Well, uh I didn't think it was right that you didn't do anything for your birthday." He stood up holding Rory, somewhat awkwardly, before he continued quietly. "You spend all your time taking care of Rory, and you're really good at it. But, I don't know, you're probably missing some of the stuff you used to do, parties, dances, stuff like that. You should at least get that on your birthday."

Luke was starting to get worried, Lorelai looked like she was about to cry. She walked over kissed her daughter on the head and threw her arms around the both of them. "Luke, this is undoubtedly the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I really don't know what to say." A tear slid down her face, "Thank you Luke. I know it probably sounds pretty cheesy to you but you're my best friend." Wow, only a few weeks and he's my best friend.

Luke smiled gently, "Same here. So um, why don't you take her because I'm still kind of afraid I'll trip and drop her. I'll bring over the cake so we can eat and do presents."

Lorelai's smile lit up the room, "Are those my presents?" she pointed to the stereo with the bow.

"Yeah um, Mia came in and found it for me last week. I had my dad take a look at it, it works now."

Lorelai was ecstatic, "Wow, and the bookcase?"

"Well you didn't have anywhere to put the stereo, so I made it."

"You MADE me a bookcase?"

Luke shrugged easily, "Yeah it's not hard. It took less time to make than the cake."

"YOU MADE THE CAKE?!"

"Yeah?"

"You can cook?"

"Yeah, my mom taught me. Birthdays were a big deal for her, she loved 'em. She told me if my sister and I were going to keep making her birthday breakfasts and cakes we might as well learn to make good ones."

Lorelai smiled, "You have a sister?"

"Yeah she ran off with her boyfriend two years ago." Luke grimaced at the thought of the wild child he used to share a house with. "She had a baby last year. Dad still hopes she'll come home. But…"

"I wish she would, it would be nice not to be the only young mother in town." Luke smirked.

"Can I blow out my candles now?"

Luke went and brought the cake to her, "Make a wish."

Lorelai closed her eyes and wished. I wish the three of us could spend my next birthday together too.

Luke watched her lean forward with Rory held close to her chest, fearing the heavy beat of his heart at the sight. I hope her wish isn't to leave.

Luke watched Lorelai eat her third piece of cake. He'd seen her eat a few times now and he was still astonished. Where does it go? He'd finished his one small slice a while ago so Rory was lying in his lap while Lorelai ate.

Lorelai paused to turn to him, "You know I don't miss it."

"What?"

"What you said before about parties and dances, I don't miss them. There isn't much I miss about life before Rory."

"Nothing?"

"Maybe little things, like sleeping in on a Saturday. But I don't miss the parties because I never fit in there."

"I don't believe that." Guys must step all over each other to follow you around at parties.

"It's true. Those people didn't know me at all. Mostly because I couldn't be myself there, ya know? Now I'm just me, Lorelai. Rory's mom."

"You're more than just Rory's mom."

"Thank you. Here I'll take her she's pretty much out." Lorelai walked Rory over and laid her in her crib. "Night sweets," "Nigh-nigh" her daughter replied with a yawn.

"I should get going Lorelai."

"Okay, goodnight Luke, and Thanks." She reached up and hugged him tight. As she leaned in to kiss his cheek she whispered, "This is the best birthday I ever had."

He smiled, "G'night Lorelai."