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Chapter 9

It was Saturday, the day of the DAR function. Lorelai, Rory and Sophie went to the diner for breakfast.

"Woah!" Rory said as they stepped inside.

"It's packed!" Sophie remarked.

Lorelai looked around and then she spotted Luke looking all flustered on the phone with customers demanding orders and coffee all around him. He saw them and went over to them with two plates, still on the phone.

"It's busy today." Lorelai commented.

"Yep, everyone is Stars Hollow has decided that today is the day that they want to come in and I have to make lots of phone calls and I've been on hold for ten minutes!" Luke ranted.

"Woah slow down!" Lorelai said taking the two plates and handing one to Rory and Sophie. "What's going on?" She asked as they followed him to the counter.

Luke sighed. "My uncle died early this morning and I've been tasked in making all the plans."

"Oh Luke I'm sorry." Lorelai said.

"Were you close?" Sophie asked.

"Not really.." Luke said. "But I can't serve and be on the phone. It's a nightmare. I think I will have to close up."

"No you don't. I'll help." Lorelai said.

"But the function..."

"Screw the function. You're more important!" Lorelai said giving him a kiss.

Luke gave her an appreciative look. "Thank you."

"You can't lose a day of business. Saturdays are your busiest day anyway." Lorelai said.

"You can't deal with it by yourself though..." Luke said doubting it again.

"I'll help!" Sophie offered.

"Me too, I haven't got any plans." Rory said.

Luke looked at them. "You don't have to. You probably have more exciting things to do on a Saturday."

"Nope! Nothing planned." Sophie said.

"Yeh and you've helped us out plenty of times before." Rory added.

Lorelai looked at her daughters adoringly.

"Well if you're sure..." Luke said.

"We are now go! Go upstairs and make the plans." Lorelai smiled.

"Thank you." He said sincerley. "Oh any chance of getting rooms at the inn?"

"Consider it done." Lorelai smiled.

"Thanks." He said and then headed upstairs.

They helped out a lot during the rush and had a chance to sit down around late morning. Luke then came down.

"Everything ok?" He asked.

"Yep, everyone was happy and paid their bills." Lorelai smiled and then noticed he was looking annoyed again.

"What's up? How are the plans going?"

"Well apart from the fact that none of my family are coming, they're going fine.." He growled.

"What? Why aren't they coming?"

"Lame excuses. Truth is they hated him! Everyone hated him. Even Taylor and the others won't come. I promised my dad that he would get a proper veteran's send off." Luke ranted.

"Shhh..." Lorelai tried to comfort him and gave him a hug.


Rory and Sophie looked at each other and nodded, knowing what they had to do. They left the diner and went striaght for Taylor's.

"What can I do for you lovely ladies?" He smiled at them.

"Why won't you go to Luke's uncle's funeral?" Sophie said.

"What?" Taylor said shocked.

"Luke's uncle! Luke said you won't go and give him a proper send off!" Rory said.

"Girls, you have to understand. Everyone hated that man. He was horrible."

"So? Luke's doing everything to make sure the funeral is just what his dad wanted! Don't you owe it to Luke? I know you and Luke don't see eye to eye but he's a good man and you know it!" Sophie ranted.

Rory just watched Sophie, with a bit of amusement.

"Look here, young lady, I don't think it's your place..." Taylor started.

"No, then who's is it?" Sophie demanded. "You won't listen to Luke. He needs your help! When has Luke ever asked for your help before?" Sophie said before she turned to Rory. "Let's go."

Taylor just watched in stunned silence as they walked off.

"Well that was like a mini Luke rant." Rory smirked.

"Sorry. I just think it's wrong..." Sophie said sheepishly. "Should I go apologise?" She said instantly feeling bad.

"No. What you said was right." Rory reassured her.


Later that day, they were back to helping in the diner when Emily stormed in. "Lorelai Victoria Gilmore!"

Lorelai sighed. "What is it mom?"

"You know perfectly well what it is! You were meant to be at the function two hours ago! You humiliated us! Everyone was asking where you were!" Emily scolded.

"Well I'm sorry mom, but I was needed here. Luke needed me." She said calmly.

"What? He needed you work in this dump?" Emily snidely. "Wow how nice!"

"Hi Grandma!" Rory and Sophie said suddenly walking past with some plates.

Emily took a double take. "What are they doing here?"

"They're helping out too. Luke needed to sort some things out. He was going to close the diner but Saturdays are his busiest day so that made no sense so we offered to help out." Lorelai said.

"You mean you forced your daughters to help out in this unhygenic place?" Emily said fuming.

"No. I offered. I didn't force them. They offered themselves to help out."

"Well why on earth would they do that? That's nonsensical! Haven't they got other things they'd rather do?" Emily said.

"It was their choice. Luke has helped us out a lot in the past so we wanted to return the favour." Lorelai said. "Now if you're just going to stand here and criticise me, I'd recommend you to leave as it's very busy." Lorelai said staying calm.

Emily fumed and stormed out in a huff.


The funeral was held a few days later and Luke was surprised to see Taylor and the other men arrive to give the proper veteran's send off. He looked at Lorelai. "Thank you." He said.

"I had nothing to do with it." Lorelai said honestly.

Luke was confused. They went back to the diner afterwards to find it packed. They walked in and Rory walked over to them.

"What's going on?" Luke asked.

"Well it's sort of a wake." Rory said. "Everyone wanted to come so we let them in with the spare key."

Luke was shocked. "Thanks." He said.

"It was sort of a combined effort. Everyone felt bad for you." Rory said. "I'm taking Taylor and the others turned up then?" She asked looking ath them in uniforms.

"Yeh they did..." Luke said suddenly realising. "Was that down to you?"

"Oh no, I did nothing. Sophie, however..." Rory said looking over at Sophie who was chatting with Lane. "You would have been proud of her rant!"

Luke was surprised but went over to Sophie. "Hey Sophie?"

Sophie turned round. "Hey Luke! How was it?"

"It was nice. I hear you had something to do with my uncle getting the veteran's send off?" He said.

Sophie blushed a bit. "Well I just thought it was wrong that they weren't going."

"Thank you. It meant a lot." Luke said sincerely.

Sophie smiled. "It was nothing." She shrugged it off.

They went and joined Lorelai and Rory who were listening to the towns people telling stories about Luke's uncle. Lorelai gave Sophie a quick hug and then went back to listening.

Hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you think! :) Thanks! :)