Author's Note: So, glad to hear that you guys like the fic...supposedly, there won't a new episode up until January. :(...and am I the only one who found myself laughing? Chris pulls off his lovely "man" scarf only to have Luke literally rip his jacket off...priceless. Anyway, I was planning on having more of the townies involved, but I'm not sure at this point who, if anyone. If you guys have any ideas as to what I should/could do-be sure to let me know. Thanks!
That weekend, Lorelai had plans to decorate her house. She wasn't sure if it was because Luke had agreed to help, or because for the first time in months, she felt truly happy-but this year, she was particularly ready for Christmas. "Okay...I swear they're in here somewhere-"She said as her and Luke sifted through boxes of Christmas decorations, trying desperately to find a strand of lights.
"Lorelai-we aren't finding them. Do you even need them, really?"Luke asked.
"Yes, Luke, I do. The tree has to be lit up, and lights are generally the thing to do that."
He sighed, pretending he wasn't annoyed. "Put Casear in charge of the diner, just to spend the day helping you decorate your house..."He muttered under his breath.
"You know Luke, if you didn't wanna help me, you didn't have to."Lorelai said, sifting through another box. "God, they have to be here. It's like the elves came and kidnapped them or something...what do you think?"
"I think that if you want lights on your tree this badly then you should just go out and buy some more."Luke said, pulling out a box, only to find it empty.
Lorelai sighed, pulling out a decoration and placing it on the coffee table. "Maybe-or maybe I could go to the Inn and see what we have there."
Just then, Rory opened the door. "What's going on?"She asked, trying to stifle a smile. It was funny, really-the sight of her mother and Luke sitting cross legged on the floor sifting through boxes of Christmas decorations. "You know what, maybe I should come back later..."
"No, Rory, Sweets...we have a problem."
"A problem? What kind of problem?"Rory asked. "Like really big or something that could be solved-"
"Your mother lost the lights that go on the christmas tree, and so she's bullied me into helping her find them."Luke said, knowing that he enjoyed the time he got to spend with her.
Rory nodded, kneeling down beside Lorelai. "So I'm guessing you want help?"
"Yes, I do...Oh, Paul Anka-"Lorelai said as the dog cam up beside them. "Do you know where I hid the lights? You didn't eat them, did you?"
"If he did, I think you would know by now, mom."Rory said, pulling out a decoration for the tree. "Oh..remember when I made this?"
Lorelai took it into her hand. "Yeah, I do."She said, smiling at the memory. "And I remember all the glitter that was on the floor, too."
Luke pulled a rectangle-shaped box out, and looked at Lorelai. "It says 'Christmas Lights'-any chance this is it?"
"Luke...thank you. You're my hero."Lorelai said, taking it from him. "Now, here's hoping they aren't all tangled."
Rory and Luke exchanged glances, and then turned their attention back to Lorelai. "I don't believe it..."She said, amazed. "Not a single tangle...anyone wanna help me hang them?"
A little while later, the tree was lit up and decorated-and accomplishment for what disarray the living room was only an hour before.
"So...you're free to go. Thanks for the help, Luke."
"You used me to help you put up your tree, and then you just kick me out?"Luke asked, still trying to understand her.
"No...No, I wouldn't do that. Luke-"
Luke sighed, knowing what she meant. "That's okay. I need to get back to the diner, anyway."
"I'll go with you."
"What about Rory?"
Lorelai looked at Rory. "Rory can come, too...I mean if she wants."
"No, it's fine. I just needed to grab a few things...Lane invited me over to hear the band play a new song. I needed to grab something for her. So Mom...go..."
Lorelai looked over at Luke. "Bossy, isn't she?"
"Are you coming?"
"Yeah, just a minute. I'm gonna grab my coat. You know, it's cold outside-wouldn't wanna catch a cold."Lorelai said, climbing up the stairs.
"So..."Rory said, fixing one of the ornaments.
Luke nodded, clearing his throat. "You know, Rory-"He said, trying to find the right words. "I meant what I said. I'm not gonna hurt her."
"I know. I wasn't meaning anything offensive by it. Just-the other night...I haven't seen you guys like that in so long...I haven't seen my mother this happy in so long. It's good."Rory said, nodding. Looking at the stairs, she saw Lorelai coming down. "So I guess I'm leaving then. Oh, and Mom?...I'll probably stop by the Inn later. I was thinking we can have dinner tonight before I have to go back."
"Aww, you have to go back already? Sweetie, it seems like you just got back."
Rory nodded. "I know. But I'm coming for Christmas. Actually, Logan was making plans to try and come back for Christmas...maybe not the entire time but-"
"That's good. Now, I got a cup of coffee at Luke's calling my name. You can let yourself out."
Lorelai drummed her fingers on the countertop at Luke's, smiling as she saw him walk back behind the counter.
"You're working on your third cup of cofee since you've been here...what do you want now?"
"Nothing. Are you mad?"Lorelai asked, hoping she hadn't offended him.
"No. Why?"
"Well, you seemed mad. Earlier-at the house. And then just now. If you're mad, you can tell me. I won't explode or cry or anything. If we're gonna make this thing work, we're gonna have to be open-"
"What thing?"Luke asked, ringing another customer up.
Lorelai sighed, taking a sip from her cup. "This...thing. The-we're together, but we're not together together thing. I mean, maybe I'm assuming but...anyway, I was thinking...it wouldn't hurt if you'd add a few decorations in here. It'd light the place up..."She said, turning around on the stool.
"Lorelai-"Luke said, standing in front of her.
"What?"She asked, seeing the look on his face. "Luke, I didn't mean to make you mad when I asked you. And I was kidding, really...I knew you wouldn't go for it but-"
"Lorelai?"Luke asked, this time brushing against her hand with his. "Do you...I mean, you know you don't have to but-well, nevermind."
Lorelai frowned, sensing something was up. "Do I wanna what?...Do I wanna have another cup of coffee?-Yes. Do I wanna help you decorate-"
"You and Rory have plans tonight, so nevermind."
She looked startled, not entirely sure to react. After a minute, she smiled. "You asking me out?"
"No."
"Well-you asked if I wanted to, and then you said that Rory and I have plans. Luke, if you want to come, you can."
Luke shook his head. "No. And I know how the Gilmore night ends anyway...it's an endlest fest of junkfood and chickflicks."
Lorelai gasped. "No. You discovered my eveil plan. I have to tell Rory."
"Alright. So I was gonna ask you to dinner, it doesn't have to mean anything, does it?"
Sitting back on the stool, Lorelai contemplated her answer. Dinner. With Luke. Dinner-with just Luke. She'd done it before, it didn't have to be awkward, right? But then there was Rory, her failsafe partner. "No. Not awkward. Completely okay. Well, more than okay but..."
"I get it. But you and Rory have plans, so maybe some other time."
"Maybe some other time, are you kidding? See, I could go to the Inn...you know help around there-stop by Lane's to see if Rory needs anything, and I'd still have time to go home and get all fixed up before we go out."
Luke nodded. "Right. But you already promised Rory-"
"You already discovere our plan, anyway...we'd only end up curling up on the couch watching a movie, anyway. We just have to move it back a little."
Luke stared at her, finding himself feel happy that she was actually trying to find a way to have dinner with him. It had been so long, he hadn't even thought to consider where they would go. They couldn't just eat at Luke's. Well, they could, because he wouldn't have to dress up, and he wouldn't have to worry about reservations. But it was Lorelai-she was worth all of that. But then again, it was just dinner. It didn't mean anything, did it?
