Disclaimer: I still don't own it...what a shocker.
A/N: OKay...sorry about the late update. I am in the midst of finals and life is absolutely crazy right now. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Eleven: Jingle All the Way
Rory sat with Logan in her rec room, her body nestled snuggly in his arms. It had been one month since the monumental Gilmore dinner and things had settled down a bit. They succesfuly diverted an impromptu trip to Martha's Vinyard and retained some sort of privacy when it came to their relationship. In the scheme of things, them coming out to the public did not change much, it only made them less secretive.
"Our hot chocolate is getting cold," Rory said, reaching for her cup.
"What do you think microwaves are for?"
"But then the marshmallows get all melt-y," Logan smiled, looking at her with his eyebrow cocked.
"Melt-y? Maybe I should be tutoring you in English," Rory smiled, gently swatting his arm.
"Watch it mister. I am armed with luke warm hot chocolate,"
"My life is obviously in danger," Logan laughed as she pouted. He brought his mouth down to hers, changing her pout to a small grin in a matter of seconds.
"You're so cute when you're annoyed," He murmered into her ear, kissing her neck. She grinned, giggling as his lips tickled her skin.
"Logan, my mom will be home soon,"
"So?"
"Logan," He sighed, moving away from her slightly.
"Alright, hands to myself,"
"Good boy," Logan looked around the rec room, noticing something was missing.
"Ace, why don't you have a Christmas tree?"
"My mom is against them," She said off-handidly with a shrug.
"Why?"
"Ever since we saw Christmas Vacation she's convinced if we get a tree a squirrel will jump out of it,"
"What about a fake tree?"
"It's all the same to my mom," Logan smiled, lowering his head to hers again.
"I think we can fit in one more," He said huskily, catching her lips with his. Rory was going to protest but there was no use, when it came to him she was powerless. She positioned herself so that she was below him, his hand finding its way beneath her thigh. He kissed her neck, a soft moan escaping her mouth as he nipped her gently. She nearly had a heart attack when she heard her mother at the door. She jumped upright, pushing Logan away.
"Are you decent?" Lorelai called out, walking into the rec room with her hand shielding her eyes.
"Yes Mom, I am decent,"
"Good," She said cheerfully, removing her hand. She took in Logan and Rory's appearances and smiled, "Those seat cushions look quite smushed. Was some horizontal action going on?"
"Mom," Lorelai smiled knowingly.
"You two were so making out,"
"No-"
"First of all, you, my darling daughter, have fussed up couch hair and Logan has that starry look in his eyes,"
"I do not have a starry look in my eyes," Logan contested.
"Ah, young man, don't fret. Us Gilmore girls have that effect on men. No one is immune from our charm,"
"We weren't making out," Logan continued, "We were discussing the absence of a Christmas tree,"
"You were home alone and chose, of all things, to talk about greenery?" Lorelai smiled, "Man, I'm a fantastic mother,"
"Mom, maybe this is the year to get a tree,"
"No, some demonic squirrel will come after us and devour us in our sleep," Rory looked Logan, smirking slightly.
"See Logan, I told you,"
"I promise there'll be no squirrels following you home," Logan said, reasoning with Lorelai.
"Can you guarantee that? Are you willing to put it in writing? You better not double cross me Huntzberger I'll send Emily after you and that is not something you want,"
"For my own sake I promise you that I am not lying," Lorelai looked around at the clutter known as her rec room, surveying the room.
"Where would be put it?" Logan walked to a corner with a simple table in it and then turned around.
"We could move the table and put it here,"
"Hm, interesting,"
"What do you say Mom?" Lorelai thought for a moment and then smiled, nodding.
"Alright, let's do it,"
"Mom, we're going to need another male though. We can't lift the tree, there's sap,"
"Ew, you're right, and I know exactly who to ask,"
"Luke, you're coming to get a Christmas tree with me!" Lorelai exclaimed, giddily adressing Luke across the counter.
"What?"
"You, as in Luke Danes, are getting a Christmas tree, as in a large piece of greenery, with-"
"I know what you meant, but I never said I would go with you. YOu never even brought it up before,"
"Well, I've brought it up now. Let's go,"
"No," Lorelai sighed, setting her best puppy dog eyes on Luke.
"Come on, it'll be fun,"
"Don't you have some fear of squirrels?" he asked dryly, handing Cesar some dirty plates.
"That's beside the point. I'm getting a Christmas tree this year,"
"Good for you, now I need to-"
"Luke!"
"Look, I have work. Don't you have the same?"
"Nope, I took today off. Today is a tree day, a day of Christmas cheer. Logan is taking us to some tree place in Hartford and I need you to come with!"
"If you have Logan why do you need me?"
"Because trees are big and Logan is small,"
"Logan is not small,"
"Well, he's smaller than the tree,"
"Can't you and Rory help?" Lorelai snorted, shooting Luke a look.
"Are you serious?"
"You two are perfectly capable of helping,"
"There's sap," Lorelai said disdainfully, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So?"
"Our hands would get sticky. And then remember that one scene in Christmas Vacation where their fingers are sticky from the tree and Chevy Chase can't look at magazines because he pulls out all of the pages?"
"Do you ever stop talking?" Luke groaned, grabbing a plate from Cesar.
"Rory and I love magazines," Lorelai continued, "We thrive on them, it is like our bread, our life. Our life without In Style and People would not be a life,"
"Lorelai, I can't help you. Now go, I need to work," Lorelai was not about to give up easily. She followed him across the counter as he served a customer, continuing to berate him with incessant talking.
"Come on, you can steal away for a few hours,"
"No, I can't,"
"Cesar can handle the diner for a few hours. Luke, I need you!"
"She's right!" Cesar chimed in, smiling at the pair, his brown skin shining with sweat from hours over the hot grill.
"Cesar, you back to flipping burgers,"
"See, Cesar says he can handle it,"
"Lorelai-"
"Please Luke, help me pick a tree," Luke sighed, giving into his begging.
"Fine, but we have to be back by five,"
"Okay, five thirty it is,"
"Five Lorelai,"
"Yes, five thirty,"
"Lorelai!"
"I can't believe there's actually acres of land with nothing but pine trees," Lorelai said in awe, walking through the rows of trees, one more astounding than the next.
"Yeah," Luke agreed, "What a waste of space,"
"Hey Mr. Grinch, keep those Scrooge comments to yourself! This is pretty cool," Lorelai saw a large towering tree adn pointed excitedly at it.
"Ooo, look at that tree! I like it!" Logan smiled.
"Lorelai, that tree is taller than your house,"
"I like it," Lorelai repeated.
"Yes, lots of rooms for squirrels," Lorelai grimaced, walking past the tree she had previously adored.
"Okay, smaller tree," Rory smiled, watching her mother size up each tree. She linked her arm with Logan's, her body close to his.
"She is really enjoying this,"
"Yeah, she is,"
"Thanks for taking us. I didn't think anyone could divert my mother's attitude to these trees,"
"I'm very persuasive, you know that," She grinned, turning her head as she heard her mother's peppy voice.
"I found it!" The group walked to where she was, feasting their eyes on a small tree, the pine needles so green that the color seemed to be bursting from the points.
"It's perfect," Rory said with a smile, gently touching the pines with her gloved hand.
"It's a little small," Luke began but Lorelai stopped him, silencing him with a simple look, "But it does seem perfect for you," He finished, redeeming himself in the last moment.
"Let's buy it! The Gilmore girls are getting a Christmas tree!"
"Thanks for helping us with the tree," Lorelai said cheerfully, walking with Luke back to the diner.
"I didn't do anything,"
"You provided moral support. Especially when that squirrel came towards me," Luke laughed.
"Oh yeah, I've never seen you run before," Lorelai shot him a look, sticking out her tongue.
"I run, quite fast too. Have you ever seen me at the mall during a sale? I practically fly," They arrived at the diner and stood together, awkwardness ecompassing them.
"So, uh, I had a good time. Thanks for dragging me," Luke wryly put. Lorelai nodded, shoving her hands deep into the pockets of her coat.
"Anytime,"
"Do you want some coffee?" He asked, turning to open the door.
"No thanks, Rory and Logan are waiting for me. We're going to decorate the tree," Luke nodded, rocking absentmindedly on his feet.
"Okay, well, I'm going to go back inside,"
"Alright, bye Luke,"
"Bye Lorelai," She turned, not understanding why she had an overwhelming urge to smile and skip merrily. As she neared her house small specs of white began to fall from the sky, blanketing the frozen ground. She stopped walking and looked upp into the blue abyss, white clouds tainting the pristine canvas. Once the flakes hit her face she broke into a grin, closing her eyes to feel the wet snow flutter softly down onto her eye lids. She turned once more to the diner as saw Luke working at the counter, pouring someone coffee. He looked up, his eyes locking with hers. She turned away with a jolt, surprised by her action. She immediatly resumed walking, feeling his gaze still upon her. Once again a smile broke onto her face, and she shook her head. Something was happening, she didn't know what, but something was definitely happening.
A/N: Okay...I had some JavaJunkie in there for you. I have to admit..while I am a Christopher fan I miss the Lorelai and Luke stuff on the show. It just isn't the same. Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed it. Please leave me a comment, just so I know how I'm doing. I really appreciate it! Happy Holidays!
