The Wicked Witch of the West Casts her Spell

Luke walked in the door that night and collapsed on the couch. "Argh! Bloody Anna!" he groaned.

Lorelai had been walking down the stairs to greet him, and froze when Anna's name was mentioned. Fear clouded her eyes. "What is it, babe? She's not still angry about me seeing April, is she?"

Luke could hear the panic in her voice, and smiled at her to try to calm her down. "No. Nothing like that." He patted the couch next to him, and she came and sat next to him. He took her hands and turned his body towards her. "So... Anna came to see me today," he began carefully.

She looked into his eyes, and saw fear and frustration in them. "Communication between mommy and daddy. That's a good thing, isn't it?" she asked him, not wanting to push the subject.

"Not so much," he sighed. "You know how Anna took April to New Mexico last week to visit with her mother?" Lorelai nodded, urging him to go on. "Her mother is apparently really sick, and Anna wants to be closer to her so she can help look after her." He paused, sighing. "She is going to move to New Mexico, and take April with her."

"Oh." Lorelai's face fell, and she understood the anguish that Luke was experiencing. "She can't just take April away from you, can she?"

"That's the thing. I'm not named on the birth certificate, so I have no legal rights. Anna said they might come back to Connecticut a few times a year, but she's not making any promises." His anger was beginning to rise again. "I've just started to really get to know my daughter, and now she's being taken away again!"

"Oh, hun," she soothed, pulling him to her. After a moment, she slowly reached for the cordless phone, trying not to disturb him. She dialled the number. "Mom?" she started, when the line was answered. Luke sat up and looked at her in confusion. "Do you know any good Family lawyers you could hook us up with?" She listened for a minute. "As soon as possible... uh huh ... uh huh ... sure. Thanks Mom." She hung up. She looked at an expectant Luke. "She's going to get you an appointment with one of Dad's lawyer friends. Just to see what you can do."

He gave her a small smile. "Thank you for helping," he whispered to her, and moved back to rest his head against her chest.

Two days later, Luke stepped out of the truck, tugging at his tie uncomfortably. Lorelai stepped towards him, helping him adjust it, and smoothed down his lapels. "Are you sure about this?" she asked. "I can just wait out here if you'd prefer," she suggested.

He gripped her hand tightly. "No. I want you there – need you," he told her forcefully. She squeezed his hand in return, and led him up the stairs into the office.

"Lorelai Gilmore," the lawyer, Mr Henderson, called to her with a big smile on his face. "I haven't seen you in years. Since before 'the incident' I believe."

Luke raised his eyebrows at this comment, but Lorelai just smiled sweetly. "Yes, well. My daughter, Rory, is 21 now, so yes. It has been a long time." She motioned towards Luke. "This is my fiancé, Luke Danes. I believe that my mother filled you in on the issue."

Mr Henderson motioned for them to sit in front of his desk, and closed the door behind them. They went through the details of the case, and Luke's history with Anna and April.

"I don't want to have to sue her for custody or anything, if it's not necessary," Luke concluded, "I just want to be able to see my kid on a regular basis."

Mr Henderson nodded sympathetically. "Well our best course of action would be to ask Ms Nardini to sign a formal visitation agreement. If she refuses that, we can sue for joint custody. That will require a formal DNA test, and some great references for the mediation hearing." Luke nodded his understanding. "I will get in contact with Ms Nardini's lawyer, and see if a visitation agreement can be struck. I will get in contact with you in the next couple of days, whichever way it goes."

Luke and Lorelai stood and shook Mr Henderson's hand, thanking him for helping them. They were silent all the way to the truck. Once settled inside, Lorelai turned to him.

"We'll work something out. I can feel it." He sighed, and didn't look convinced. "Luke, you're a great dad. To April, and Rory... and even to Jess. They won't take her away from you."

Luke just continued to stare at his hands, resting on the steering wheel.

"I'm here for you – whatever you need," she told him gently.

He finally looked up, and gave her a small smile before starting the engine.

The call came three days later near the end of the lunch rush. Lorelai was sitting at the counter, eating a cheeseburger, and she watched his face as he spoke on the phone. He stayed expressionless while he talked to the lawyer, but hung up with a frown on his face. She saw how much he needed to vent, and stood up.

"Caesar, look after the place for five minutes, okay?" she called into the kitchen, and escorted Luke upstairs. "Spill," she commanded when the door was closed behind them.

He sighed. "She said no to the visitation thing. If I want to have any rights, I have to go for joint custody," he explained, flopping down on the couch. "Why is she doing this? I'm her father, I deserve to be part of April's life!"

Lorelai sat next to him, stroking his arm absent-mindedly, hoping that just her presence would be enough to calm him down.

"I know I'm Mr Jam-Hands, but it's different when it's your kid." He became very quiet. "I love her."

"Oh," Lorelai let out. She hadn't known that his feelings went that far.

"I never thought that I would be the dad kind of guy. I suppose I always believed what everyone else saw in me. This loner guy, who'll probably be single for the rest of his life – unable to care for anyone else..."

"No," Lorelai told him decisively. "You care for me and Rory more than anyone else in the world ever will."

He sighed. "Now, when I'm with April, I've started to feel this... connection. I feel like I could be a good father – both to April, or to any other kid I – we – had." Luke collapsed, his head falling into his hands.

Lorelai looked at his distraught figure, feeling so impotent. She couldn't see anything that she could do to take away the pain of the man that she loved. It was heartbreaking to see him like this, and she started to feel incredible anger towards Anna for putting him through this. Anna was the gatekeeper to April – she held all the cards. She had such a control over Luke, and it was so frustrating. She had a sudden urge to drive straight to Anna's house, and yell at her until her throat was hoarse, but restrained herself, instead making extra sure that she was doing a good job of comforting her fiancé.

Luke started to talk again as Lorelai rubbed his back. "Every time Anna does something to question my ability as a father, a little part of me believes her," her said quietly, unable to look up.

Lorelai sat in shock, unable to accept that Anna was making him question himself so much. It wasn't fair. She felt a tear slip down her cheek. It was all seeming so hard. They sat there in silence wrapped in each others arms, letting everything sink in.



"I talked to the lawyer guy this morning," Luke told Lorelai when she came in for lunch the next day.

She looked up at his face, trying to work out whether this was a good thing or not. Not getting any clue from his expression, she waited patiently for him to continue with his story. He was refilling a few cups of coffee, and then came back to lean in towards her.

"Because Anna wants to move pretty soon, they've pushed to get a fast court date. They've scheduled it for the 24th."

Lorelai's mouth dropped open in shock. "That's in, like, less than a week..."

He nodded. "So I need to find two people to write me personal references for the judge. We discussed it, and decided to ask Liz, cause of Jess... and you." He looked down at her pleadingly.

She took a deep breath, and seeing his expectant eyes, smiled. "Silly rabbit," she giggled. "Didn't I say the other day that I would do anything I could to help you? Of course I'll do it."

His whole body relaxed. "Thank you."

"Sure, Burger Boy. Now, if I have to get back to run my inn, and write an amazing letter praising your wonderfulness in Hemingway proportions, then I'm going to need some sustenance, stat."

"Of course." He leaned over for a quick kiss, before heading to the kitchen to create a feast for his future bride.