Chapter 14: Familiar territory

"It's good to see you haven't lost your annoying quirks," I tell Luke as I walk into the kitchen, taking in the wonderful cooking smells that once again fill my kitchen.

"You mean making breakfast? Yeah, really annoying," Luke says sarcastically with a roll of his eyes, as he expertly flips the bacon.

I laugh. "I mean leaving the toilet seat up again," I say as I fill my largest coffee mug with fresh Luke's coffee.

"Oh, sorry," Luke says, ducking his head a little.

"No worries," I tell him, as I walk towards him and press my lips to his, lingering there a little while. "Morning," I say when I pull back.

"Morning," Luke says with a smile, pecking my lips and returning to his breakfast.

I put my coffee on the kitchen counter before I hoist myself onto it. "Mmm, eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, coffee. Looks good," I say, watching Luke work.

"Thanks," Luke grumbles, picking up a piece of bacon and handing it to me, like you would hand a popsicle to a child.

"So, how does it feel, waking up here again?" I ask, taking a bite of my bacon.

"Really good," Luke says, scraping a spatula through the scrambled eggs, "I slept great. I really missed that bed."

I chuckle. "Right," I say slowly, "It's the bed you missed, not me."

"Obviously," Luke says amusedly.

"You sleeping so well couldn't possibly have anything to do with the attention I gave you last night," I say quietly, afraid someone might walk into the room.

Luke stares at the wall ahead of him for a little while, a cocky grin on his face as if he's reliving last night's events. He abandons his food and walks towards me, standing between my legs and rubbing his hands over my thighs. "It might have been a combination," he confesses.

"Uh huh," I say, scooting a little closer to the edge, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, and finding his mouth with my own. I feel his hands discovering my entire back again and again, before one hand disappears in my hair, as the kiss grows more and more passionate, causing me to moan.

"Get a room you two," comes Rory's amused voice from the entrance of the kitchen. Luke quickly steps back and returns to his food, making sure to keep his blushed face hidden from Rory.

I jump off the counter and grab my coffee. "I have one upstairs," I inform my daughter, before giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"I know," Rory grins, "Use it."

"Trust me, we did," I say, making the 'did' longer and raising my eyebrows suggestively.

Luke clears his throat uncomfortably. "Too much information, Mom," Rory tells me with a disgusted look on her face.

I just laugh. "There's coffee," I point to the coffeemaker.

"Fresh Luke's coffee in the morning again?!" Rory asks incredulous, quickly filling a mug of her own. "Welcome back, Luke," she says with a grin.

"This really is all I'm good for in the eyes of a Gilmore girl, isn't it?" Luke asks, finally turning around to face Rory.

"Yes," Rory and I say in unison and then we giggle together.

Luke simply rolls his eyes at us. "You want eggs, pancakes, or toast," he asks Rory annoyed.

"Eggs!" I yell out excitedly.

"Then I'll take the pancakes," Rory tells Luke. "We can trade some, so we have both," she adds to me conspiratorially.

"I'm proud to call you my daughter," I say, a hand to my heart. "Talking about daughters. How was babysitting last night?"

"Oh fine," Rory says dismissively, with a wave of her hand, "I'm used to them. I know how to discipline them."

"Then you know more than we do," Luke grumbles, putting a plate first before Rory, then before me, both containing eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

"You're a doll," I tell Luke, quickly running my hand over his gruff cheek before he stands up again. "They're easy," I tell Rory, disagreeing with Luke's previous statement.

"They're great. You've been lucky," Rory nods, taking a bite of her fluffy pancakes.

"We have," Luke agrees with a smile as he places his hand on my shoulder.

I pat it, asking, "Speaking of those little devils, aren't they up yet?"

"I heard them play upstairs," Rory tells me, "They were in Elly's room. I'll go get them, so you love birds can go back to being gross."

"Thanks sweets!" I call after her, before standing up and turning towards Luke. "Where were we?" I ask him sweetly.

To my surprise, Luke doesn't wave me off in case we get busted again; instead he wraps his arms around me. "Right about here," he tells me, before bending down and kissing me hungrily.

I let our tongues dance for a little while, before I pull back. "Someone's got an appetite," I joke, leaning with both hands on his chest.

"After last night? You bet I'm hungry," Luke says seriously, causing me to laugh.

"Daddy!" Elly runs into the room, quickly followed by Abby, both hugging Luke.

"And I'm invisible," I say to Rory, shaking my head.

"Are you back, Daddy?" Elly asks eagerly.

"Not yet," Luke tells his daughters, kneeling before them, "but I'm probably gonna be here a lot more. Is that okay?"

"Yeees," Abby squeals, nodding her head enthusiastically and Elly wraps her arms around his neck, squeezing her eyes tightly and a big smile on her face. Luke looks just as pleased.

I pick up my coffee while watching the scene before me, a movement not unnoticed by my youngest. "Mommy, can I?" Abby asks, and I know immediately what she means.

I hold out my coffee mug to her and she carefully brings it to her mouth, taking one sip, before I take it back from her. She closes her eyes tightly and shakes her head quickly, like she's recharging, before she stops and opens her eyes widely with a pop. "I'm awake!" she exclaims. I laugh at her, running my hands over her thick curls, before she sits down.

"Lorelai!" Luke says accusingly, looking shocked from me to his daughter and back at me again.

"Hey! You weren't here the last two years," I say, slowly advancing on him, "We've got our own little traditions now. There's nothing you can do to change that." I stop right before him and grin at him. I wrap my arms around his back and give a few pecks before I pinch his butt.

He jumps a little, but doesn't say anything. Instead he steps away from me, turns me around by the shoulders and gives me a soft push towards the table. "Sit," he tells me as if I'm a dog, "Don't interfere with the cook."

I sit down between Elly and Abby with the biggest grin, my back towards Luke. Rory, who's sitting across from me, stares at me for a few seconds. "You look happy," she states with a smile.

"Oh kid," I say happily, "You have no idea."