Welcome to the S.H.
Sunday afternoon, Lorelai and Sookie were walking through the square when a ruckus at an apartment building across the street caught their attention. Oblivious to the gathering crowd, Lindsay was tossing Dean's clothing out of their window, letting it drift to the street below. "Oh, my God," Sookie gasped.
"Oh, my God," Lorelai said in a horrified tone.
"Get out now. Now!" Lindsay screamed at Dean.
"Don't! You've got my," Dean said as he made a grab for his underwear.
"Don't you dare!" Lindsay screamed as she sobbed, tossing another bundle of clothes out of the window.
"Can you not…" Dean started to say.
Sookie flinched and said, "Well, that's what happens when you get married too young."
Lorelai grimaced and looked around uncomfortably. "Yeah, that must be it," she mumbled.
Dean began pleading with his distraught wife. "I'm sorry. There's not much I can do but say I'm sorry," he said helplessly.
Lindsay was having none of it. "You know, there was a lot you could have done. And you know what? You didn't do it!" she yelled as she tossed more of his clothing out of the window.
Sookie seemed mesmerized by the scene. "This is juicy. I usually only get to hear about these things, I never get to see them," she murmured."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I mean, can we do something? Can we get over this?" Dean pleaded.
"Too late!! Look out the window!" Lindsay screamed hysterically.
Lorelai shifted and said, "Yeah, lucky us." She tugged at Sookie's arm and said, "Come on."
As they were walking away they heard Dean say, "Let's just talk."
"I hate you Dean!" Lindsay screamed back.
XXXX
After Lorelai and Sookie finished their afternoon of 'relaxation,' Lorelai found herself more keyed up than ever before. Her mind was racing. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that the scene they had witnessed had been caused by Rory and Dean's indiscretion. She was torn. She needed to talk, but Rory didn't want to talk about it, and Luke didn't know the details of the situation. She knew that she had to tell Luke something about the very public scene she had witnessed, he would find it odd if she didn't, but she didn't want to get into details that would lead to questions on his part. She flipped through the channels without actually seeing anything, trying to formulate a plan of action. She was jolted from her thoughts by the ringing of the house phone. She stood up to retrieve it from the cradle and said a cautious, "Hello?"
"Hello, Lorelai," Emily said with her usual warmth.
"Hi, Mom. How are you?" Lorelai asked politely.
"I'm fine, Lorelai, thank you for asking," Emily said pleasantly. "I was just calling to confirm our arrival information with you. Our plane arrives in Hartford at 2:10 pm," she said with a nod.
"Good. Would you like me to pick you up?" Lorelai asked.
"No, thank you, I've arranged for a car to bring us to Stars Hollow and then to take me back to Hartford," Emily told her.
"It's really no trouble, Mom. I'd be happy to save you the extra traveling," Lorelai told her.
"Nonsense. There's no point in you waiting around an airport. What if our plane is delayed? I'll bring Rory home Wednesday afternoon," Emily said briskly.
"Very good," Lorelai said with a nod. "Is Rory nearby?" she asked, half hoping, half dreading.
"No, I'm sorry. She went to take one last stroll through the Lourve. I'm afraid I may have rushed here when we were in Paris before," Emily said with a smile.
"Well, Rory does like to savor," Lorelai said with a nod.
"So, I guess we'll see you Wednesday," Emily said, obviously anxious to end the conversation.
"See you Wednesday. Thanks for calling," Lorelai added.
"My pleasure," Emily said before she disconnected.
Lorelai let out a relieved breath and walked back over to the couch, still clutching the phone. She dropped down, and started dialing. "Hey, you busy?" she asked when Luke answered.
"Not for you," he said as he turned away from the displays and walked back behind the booth. "How was your date with Sookie?" he asked.
"Oh, it was fun," she said distractedly. "Actually, we saw something kind of disturbing," she said slowly.
"Oh?" he asked.
"Well, we were walking down the street, and we saw all of these clothes start flying out of a window. Turns out Lindsay and Dean are having some trouble," she said cautiously.
"That's too bad," Luke said sympathetically.
"It was pretty bad," she told him, dying to spill her guts, but knowing she couldn't.
"Well, they did get married awfully young," Luke said cautiously. "Actually, I'm not too surprised by this," he confessed. "I didn't tell you this before, but maybe I should now," he said doubtfully.
"What?" she asked surprised.
"Well, you know I don't like to get into anyone's business, but I think I need to tell you that I think Dean is still hung up on Rory," he said in a rush.
Lorelai's jaw dropped. "Why do you say that?" she asked softly.
"Well, the night before his wedding, Dean and some of his buddies came into the diner. Drunk as skunks after a round of laser tag and splitting a case of beer in the JC Penney parking lot," he said with a chuckle.
"Ah, the bachelor party," Lorelai said with a nod.
"Yeah, well, Dean was pretty wasted. He was half passed out at the counter, and mumbling Rory's name," Luke told her. "I shooed the others out, and took him up and poured him into Jess's old bed. He was half out of it asking why she didn't love him," Luke said running his hand over the back of his neck. "I was gonna to talk to him a little the next morning, but, uh, it wasn't my place, and he wasn't really interested in talking," he said uncomfortably. "So, I went looking for you. That's when I ran into Rory and told her that you guys shouldn't go to the wedding," he confessed.
"Wow," Lorelai whispered.
"I should have made him talk. I guess I just felt so bad for him, I mean, Rory has moved on, and he was trying to," Luke said helplessly. "He was pretty determined to go through with it, so I just kind of looked away and hoped for the best," he finished gruffly.
Lorelai digested what he had told her and said, "I really don't think that you could have said anything that would have made a difference."
"I don't know," Luke said uncomfortably. "I mean, it's not like I know the kid really well. I just knew him through you guys and seeing him in the diner," he trailed off.
"You know as well as I do, that kids that age think they know better than adults do," Lorelai said gently, remembering Rory telling her that she didn't understand how it was.
"I guess so," Luke said with a nod. "I just hate it for them," he said softly.
"Me too," Lorelai agreed, biting her lip.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "I know you were pretty close to Dean," Luke said gently.
"I'm fine. It just was upsetting to see," she told him.
"Yeah, that would be," Luke replied.
"So, I should let you get back to things. I just wanted to talk a little bit," she said with a sigh.
"I'll call you tonight," he told her.
"I'll be here," she answered before hanging up. Lorelai stared at the muted television and then closed here eyes, trying to fight back the pain she felt for all three of them.
XXXX
Monday night, Lorelai was in bed with the lamp off when she said, "So, tomorrow night I'll have you back in my clutches.
"Whatever will you do with me?" Luke asked, feigning fright.
"You want me to tell you?" Lorelai asked with a smile.
Luke grinned and said, "Actually, I am sorely tempted to say yes, but I think I'd rather wait and have you give me the play by play in person."
"Wow, I get to turn my commentary mode on?" she asked.
"I plan on turning everything on," Luke growled.
"I love it when you're all sexy and playful on the phone," Lorelai said happily. "Give me a sneak preview. How do you plan to flip my switches?" she asked.
Luke smiled in the dark and said, "There's this spot on your hipbone, where there is this one tiny mole."
Lorelai frowned and asked, "There is?"
"Yes. My right, uh, your left," he told her.
"Hang on," Lorelai said as she switched on the lamp and lifted her t-shirt. She looked down and said, "Huh. What do you know?"
"Got the visual?" Luke asked.
"It has been confirmed," Lorelai said as she switched off the lamp again. "So, this tiny spot on my left hipbone," she said leadingly.
Luke smiled and said, "I plan to kiss it."
Lorelai laughed and said, "Well, that's nice."
"Can't give all of the best parts away in the trailer," Luke told her. "That just leaves room for disappointment," he said with a chuckle.
"So will you be kissing my hipbone as soon as I see you?" she asked.
"Probably not. They frown on that kind of thing where I'm taking you. At least, they do if you try to do it there on the premises. Although, I imagine it has been done there," he said thoughtfully.
"Now I am intrigued," Lorelai said with a slow smile. "I can't wait to see you," she sighed.
"I can't wait to see you too," he answered.
"Let's go to sleep so tomorrow gets here quicker," Lorelai suggested.
"You're the kid who went to bed at seven on Christmas Eve, aren't you?" he asked.
"Sure," she said with a shrug. "How late did you make it?" she asked.
"Eight," he answered with a laugh.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she said softly.
"Tomorrow," he said with a smile as he hung up.
XXXX
"Hey! Are you on your way?" Lorelai asked as she answered her phone at noon the next day.
"Uh," Luke paused.
"No," she said firmly as she ducked into the parlor to talk more privately.
"Lorelai," he started.
"No, no, no, no, no," she said as she shook her head vehemently.
"I have to wait until tomorrow. The doctor released them to drive, but he doesn't want T.J. aggravating his back by lifting stuff, so I have to load them up and move them to the next place," he explained quickly.
"Luuuke," she whined.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked her helplessly.
"Move them" she grumbled, kicking an ottoman that had the misfortune of being near her.
"You know I don't want to," he said raggedly.
"I know," she answered petulantly.
"Please don't be upset. I'm upset enough for the both of us," he told her. "I promise, I will get them set up tomorrow, and then I am out of here," he hissed as he heard T.J. calling his name.
"Don't promise, okay?" she asked sadly. "Call me later," she told him.
"I will," he said with a heavy sigh as he hung up.
He was slipping the phone into his pocket when a woman approached and asked, "Excuse me?"
"Oh, hi, there. Can I help you?" Luke asked quickly.
"Yeah. I'm looking for the Shakespeare stage," she told him.
Luke nodded and said, "Okay, uh, you walk past the Calumba booth, veer right at the drinking horns, then left at the antler ark."
"Thank you," she said with a brief smile as she hurried away.
"Luuuuuke?" T. J. called from his camp chair.
Luke hung his head, trying to be patient as he asked, "What, T.J.?"
T.J. clucked his tongue and said, "You didn't use the approved Faire language with that customer."
"Maverick, me. Don't forget that," he grumbled as he moved around the booth.
"There're undercover Faire officials walking around. They look for that kind of stuff," T.J. warned for the millionth time.
"Well, they should get real jobs," Luke muttered under his breath.
T.J. rolled his eyes and asked, "Would it kill you to shoot her a 'Good-morrow'?"
Luke had finally had it. "Look, T.J.," he started to say, and then he heard the play by play announcer on the small TV that T.J. was holding call something. He snatched the cover away and hissed, "I don't believe it."
T.J. shrugged innocently as he said, "I know. The Yanks went with Mussina. They should have gone with Brown."
"You're watching TV!" Luke said through clenched teeth.
T.J. looked at him in confusion and said, "I'm not ready for my nap."
"You're milking it!" Luke accused.
"I'm convalescing," T.J. said indignantly.
"And you're milking me. But no more," Luke said angrily. "I'm movin' ya tonight, but tomorrow, find some help, get a crutch, because I'm gone!" he told him.
"Liz, you hearing this?" T.J. called to his wife.
"What?" Liz asked as she pulled ear phones out of her ears. "I'm sorry. I was listening to my Deepak Chopra," she explained.
"I got things to do. I got a business, hopefully a life," Luke said angrily.
T.J. noticed the people starting to take note of their argument and said, "Uh, prithee, you jest, good sir, and leave us short of hand?"
"I ain't jesting," Luke growled ominously.
"But my arm!" T.J. protested.
"Had no trouble reaching into a tub of caramel corn last night while you were scratching yourself with the other. Your dexterity's fine," Luke snarled.
Liz sighed and said, "It's time for him to go."
T.J. shook his head sadly and said, "So, you're gonna break up the team?"
"I'm no good to you. I'm not moving the pewter!" Luke yelled as he started to turn away. He turned around and snatched the little television from T.J.'s lap as he sneered, "Don't want you to get in trouble with the undercover squad," and stalked off.
A little while later, Liz was bagging the jewelry as Luke began disassembling the booth with a cordless screwdriver. "I really loved having you around," Liz said softly.
Luke looked up at her and said, "I liked being with you too, but I have to go home."
"To Lorelai," Liz said with a smile.
"Yes, and the rest of my life," he told her.
Liz nodded and said, "When you get back, you give her a kiss from me and tell her that I said thank you, will ya?"
"I will," Luke said with a nod as he went back to work.
XXXX
"I'm sorry, I don't know what else to say," Luke said later that night as he paced yet another cheap motel room.
"I said it was okay," Lorelai said coolly.
"And it obviously is," he said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I'm so disappointed," she whispered.
"Me too," he said, softening his tone.
"Rory will be home tomorrow. We won't have any time alone," she said sadly.
"We'll have time. Lots of time," he assured her.
"I know I'm being selfish," she said sadly.
"I'd be there if I could," he answered.
Lorelai nodded and said, "Let's just let it be for tonight. Why don't you call me in the morning when you know how your day will go," she suggested.
Luke nodded and pressed his lips together before he grunted, "Fine."
"I'll be past it tomorrow," she told him.
"Tomorrow," he said, trying not to scream in frustration.
"Goodnight," she said quietly.
"Night," he said as he hung up and dropped to the edge of the bed with a groan, burying his face in his hands.
XXXX
Luke called at eleven the next morning. "Hello?" she said as she walked into her office.
"Hey, it's me," he said gruffly.
Lorelai smiled evilly and said, "Well, huzzah and prithee. Art thou…"
"Stop," Luke growled.
Lorelai smiled at getting under his skin and said, "Sorry. How are you?"
"Good, I'm coming home," he told her.
"You big, fat liar," she sneered.
"What?" Luke asked.
"You said you would be home yesterday," she said archly.
Luke rolled his eyes and said, "I'm coming home today for sure."
Lorelai smirked and said, "Oh, what's that, Lucy? A football for me to kick?"
"I mean it this time," he insisted. "It's a done deal," he assured her as he eyed T.J. warily.
Lorelai shook her head and said, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"I'm coming home today," he told her impatiently.
"So, next week?" she asked innocently.
"Today," he said firmly.
Lorelai grinned at her ability to frustrate him and asked, "This month at least?"
"Today," he said again.
Lorelai sighed and said, "See you when Hillary's president."
Luke bit back smile at her dramatics and said, "I'll see you later today."
"Bye," she sang into the phone.
Luke rolled his eyes as he hung up and dropped the phone into his pocket. He stared blankly at the display of necklaces and then started fingering a few thoughtfully.
Liz limped up behind him and asked, "Looking for something specific?"
Luke jumped and said, "Nah." He hesitated and then said, "Well, you remember those earrings you got me before?"
"Yeah," Liz answered with a nod.
"You have a necklace that would match that?" he asked shyly.
"Yeah, I think so," Liz said as she went through the necklaces. "Here, perfect?" she asked as she handed it to him, getting a little choked up.
"Perfect," he agreed with a soft smile for his little sister.
"Thanks for getting us set up here," she said as she dropped the necklace into a small pouch.
"No problem," he told her gruffly.
Liz handed him the pouch and said, "Now, go give it to her."
Luke pulled her into a big bear hug and raffled her hair as he looked down at her affectionately. "Take care, Sis," he told her softly.
Liz smiled up at him and said, "I love you, big brother."
When Luke turned to T.J., his brother-in-law said, "Whoa! One hug and my back would snap in eight pieces."
Luke offered his hand to shake T.J.'s. "Good morrow, buddy," he said with a smile.
T.J. winced at his grip and said, "Good morrow," as Luke slung his bag onto his shoulder and beat a path to his truck.
XXXX
Lorelai and Sookie were hanging out in her kitchen waiting when Emily dropped Rory off that afternoon. After greetings were exchanged and hugs were refused due to unsavory airplane odors, Emily left and Lorelai and Sookie set forth filling Rory in on what had been happening around town. Sookie blurted out the story about Lindsay and Dean, not knowing that it would be a sore topic for her friends. Seeing her daughter's obvious discomfort, Lorelai made quick excuses for them to leave to go to Luke's for Rory's homecoming celebration and gently reminding Sookie that she needed to pick up Davy. As the girls set off for the diner, Lorelai began filling Rory in.
"It was unbelievable. It was bad. She was yelling. She was throwing things. He was yelling. She called him a jerk. It was very violent and very public. Other people saw it. It was horrible," Lorelai said sincerely.
Rory was visibly miserable as she murmured, "This was not supposed to happen."
They were wandering through the square when they ran into Lindsay and her mother. Theresa pulled up short when they saw Rory and hissed, "You! You should be ashamed of yourself, what you did!"
Lorelai stepped in to try to keep the situation calm. "Just wait," she said patiently.
"What did she ever do to you, huh? How did she hurt you? Why are you doing this?" Theresa demanded, her voice growing louder as her daughter stood with her eyes downcast.
Lorelai glanced around nervously and said, "Theresa, please. Calm down."
"Calm down? My little girl has to come home and find your heinous letter in Dean's jacket," she sneered at Rory.
Lorelai tried to move them to the side saying in a low voice, "Listen, we're in the street…"
"You little monster!" Theresa spat venomously.
Lorelai jumped in and said, "Hey! Pull back, lady!"
Theresa shook her head adamantly. "There aren't hundreds of other boys in the world? You have to go after her husband?" she asked incredulously.
Lorelai put her foot down and said firmly, "Okay, stop attacking my daughter right now. You're upset, I get it, but you do not do this."
Theresa whirled on Lorelai and said, "She slept with my son-in-law. She broke up a marriage. Are you proud?" she sneered.
Lorelai looked at her angrily as she said, "She did not break up a marriage."
"What do you know of this?" Theresa demanded.
"Enough. I know Rory," Lorelai insisted.
Theresa shook her head and said, "All I know is that now my Lindsay is devastated, Dean is back with his parents, lives are destroyed, and you and your daughter can go to hell!" she yelled as she took Lindsay's arm and stormed off.
Lorelai watched helplessly as Rory wiped her eyes and pushed her hair back from her face nervously. "Okay, I have got to know what was in that letter," she said in a low voice.
Rory glanced around, unable to meet her mother's eyes as she said, "Um, I, I told him that, that night was special and, that I wasn't sorry that it happened," she said hesitantly. "But he's married, and that he has to figure out his life. So I was going to make it easier for him and take myself out of the mix," she finished softly.
Lorelai nodded sympathetically and said, "Well, that was a very good letter."
"I can't believe she found it," Rory whispered.
Lorelai glanced around again and said, "We can't keep standing here."
"I know," Rory said slowly.
"These streets are dangerous right now," Lorelai said nervously as she took Rory's arm.
"Very," Rory agreed blankly.
"Come on," Lorelai said as she lead her shell shocked daughter to the diner.
As they walked into the diner, Lorelai said, "Anything you want is on me. Pie, cake, pancakes, pan pie, cake pan, panacockin. Say the word or make one up. It's yours," she said as they sat down.
"Chair feels good," Rory mumbled.
Lorelai nodded encouragingly as she said, "Yeah, yeah. A chair does feel good."
Rory frowned as she said slowly, "I think a root beer might be good."
Lorelai smiled and nodded quickly as she said, "Root beer sounds good!"
Luke walked over to their table with his order pad in hand and said, "It's on the house, so go crazy."
Lorelai's eyes widened as she looked up at him and gasped, "Luke!"
Luke grinned down at her and said, "Hey." He smiled at Rory and said, "Hi, Rory. Welcome back."
"Thanks," Rory said with a distracted nod.
Luke frowned at the younger girl and asked, "Are you okay? You look a little pale."
Lorelai shrugged and tried to play it off by saying, "You know, pale's the new tan." Luke smiled warmly at her, making the butterflies in her stomach take flight. She giggled and flashed him a goofy smile as she said, "So, you're here." She hit him playfully in his stomach and said, "You're not a mirage."
Luke rolled his eyes and said in a low voice, "I told you I was coming back."
Lorelai sniffed and said, "But you lied to me repeatedly for weeks, so your credibility's been shattered."
Luke nodded and said, "I know. It's been seven weeks."
Lorelai grinned up at him happily as she punched him again and said, "Seven weeks."
Luke chuckled nervously and looked at the ground before clearing his throat uncomfortably. "You know, I just remembered. I have an errand to run," he said awkwardly, jerking his thumb at the door.
Lorelai blinked skeptically as she asked, "Oh, yeah?"
Luke nodded quickly, shifting uncomfortably as he said, "I got to go to the pharmacy. I'm gonna go now." He turned to Rory and said, "Lane's here. She'll bring you your root beer." He turned back to the counter and called, "Hey, Lane, I got to run down to the pharmacy! Got an errand," he said as he jerked his thumb at the door again.
Lane called, "Okay!" from the kitchen.
Luke kept nodding like a bobble head doll as he said, "So, I'll be back in a bit." Shooting Lorelai one last glance, he escaped out the door.
Lane rushed up to their table squealing, "Rory?"
"Hey, you!" Rory said, relieved to see her friend.
"You're back!" Land said excitedly. She sat down at their table and grinned at Lorelai as she said, "Our girl's back!"
"I know," Lorelai said with a happy smile, trying not to glance out the window for sight of Luke.
"We need to consult," Lane said urgently.
"Oh, sounds serious," Rory said, anxious for distraction.
"I'm in a quandary," Lane told her.
Rory nodded and said, "Other people's quandaries. I'm all ears," as Lorelai gazed out of the window.
Lorelai abruptly stood up and said, "Hey, you know, I just remembered, I have to go to Doose's to... pick something up. You need a banana or anything?" she asked Rory solicitously.
"I'm good," Rory said with a nod.
"Are you sure?" Lorelai asked, feeling a little torn.
Rory nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm consulting on a quandary. Go," she said as she shooed her mother away.
"Okay. I'll be right back," Lorelai said as he quickly left the diner and headed in the direction of the pharmacy.
She spotted Luke standing nervously, hidden by some shrubbery as he shifted his weight from foot to foot and clutched a small paper sack. "Hey. There you are," she said as she approached him tentatively.
"Hi," Luke said nervously.
"So," she said with a grin. She glanced down and saw the sack in his hand. "Oh, you really ran an errand," she said, starting to feel foolish.
Luke shook his head and said, "I didn't run an errand, but I sort of kept up the pretense. So I went in the pharmacy. So, I was in the pharmacy, so I had to buy something, so I…" he babbled. "I feel kind of dumb," he said gruffly.
Lorelai smiled and said, "Yeah." Luke chuckled nervously but said nothing. Lorelai frowned and asked, "But you didn't really have an errand, right?"
Luke shook his head quickly and said, "Nah, it was just getting kind of crowded back there, you know?"
Lorelai nodded solemnly, trying to resist the urge to grab him there on the street. "Yeah," she said softly.
"So, I brought you something," Luke said as he handed her the paper sack to hold while her dug the tiny pouch Liz had given him from his shirt pocket.
Misunderstanding, Lorelai opened the bag and peeked into it, "Oh," she said as she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and gasped in mock delight. "My own smokes. Ginchy," she teased. She looked up and saw that Luke was dangling a pretty necklace in front of her eyes. "Oh. That's beautiful," she murmured as she took it from him.
Luke smiled shyly as he said, "I think that'll match the earrings I got you before. If they don't, I'll take them back."
Lorelai tucked her hair behind her ear and held the necklace up next to the earrings she wore. "Definitely goes," she said with a pleased smile.
Luke grinned and said, "Oh, yeah, look at that. Perfect match."
Lorelai smiled and looked into his dark blue eyes as she said, "Perfect match."
They leaned closer dying for a kiss hello when suddenly, they heard cymbals crash, and a marching band began leading a parade right past them. They jumped apart, and glanced around nervously.
"I don't believe it. What the hell is this?" Luke said, clearly irritated by the interruption.
Lorelai nodded sagely and said loudly, "Cider mill."
"Oh for the love of…" Luke began to grumble as the parade passed them by.
They saw Michel come by, dragged along by the Krumholtz kids, and complaining all of the way. They saw the tiny girls dressed as apples dance by as Luke muttered, "This town..."
Lorelai grinned and said, "Is our town. This town is so glamorous," she drawled.
Luke looked over at her shyly and asked, "So, we'll hook up later, maybe?"
Lorelai smiled at him and said softly, "We'll hook up later. Definitely."
"Good," Luke said with a shy smile as he shuffled his feet.
Lorelai clutched the delicate chain to her heart and said, "I love the necklace."
Luke flashed her a pleased smile and said simply, "Good," as he gave he a quick wave and made his way back to the diner.
XXXX
"So, Hay Bale goes off and punches the guy, and it turned out to be the wrong guy -- all over this perceived insult about his girlfriend's legs," Lorelai was telling Rory as she moved around the kitchen.
"Wait, which one had hairy legs? Annie the Grog Girl or Ocarina Jane, who secretly sold pot behind the brass-rubbing booth?" Rory called back to her from the couch.
Lorelai smirked and said, "You mean 'hairiest,' don't you?"
"Egads," Rory said as she made a pained face.
"I'm thinking bathing-suit season at the Renaissance Faire is only enjoyed by the blind," Lorelai snarked.
"Hmm," Rory nodded in agreement.
Lorelai stuck her head back to shout, "Hey, I should bring steak sauce, right?"
"For what?" Rory asked with a frown.
"Pizza," Lorelai answered with a shrug.
Rory turned in her seat and said, "I just got back from Italy."
"So?" Lorelai asked incredulously.
Rory rolled her eyes and said, "So they'd shoot you in Italy for that."
Lorelai smirked again and said, "But this is America, where we unapologetically bastardize other countries' cultures in a gross quest for moral and military supremacy."
Rory nodded sagely and said, "I forgot. Bring on the imperialistic condiments."
"Hey, do you think Annie the Grog Girl made a pass at Luke?" Lorelai asked as she walked in with the rest of their supplies. "I'm sure he rebuffed her, but he was there a long time. I hope not. I'd joust the little slut," she said as she flopped down onto the couch..
Rory just chuckled and said, "Hmm."
Lorelai bit her lip and then said, "So, you want to talk about…"
"Something to watch?" Rory interrupted.
Lorelai paused and said, "Uh, yes. Something to watch," she answered with a slow nod.
"You pick," Rory said generously.
Lorelai winced a little and asked, "Will you be mad if it's 'Showgirls' again? I got the deluxe edition with shot glasses and a drinking game," she explained. She looked over at her daughter's sad face and said softly, "Sanctuary."
Rory just smiled and said, "I do have something I'd like to show you first," as she pointed the remote at the TV and Lorelai laughed when the Merchant-Ivory film filled the screen. They talked softly through the scene, eating their pizza, and just glad to be together again. Halfway through 'Showgirls,' Rory's jet lag caught up with her, and she trundled off to bed. Lorelai straightened up the detritus from their movie night and noticed that it was only 8:45. She slipped on some shoes, grabbed her keys, and headed quickly out the front door, pulling it closed softly behind her. She walked quickly toward the square, surprised to see so many people still out and about in the warm summer evening. She spotted Luke moving around in the kitchen as she approached the deserted diner. She found the door open, and walked in, the bells jingling to announce her arrival.
Luke stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel as he face lit up. "Hey," he said quietly.
"You closed?" she asked as she walked over to her usual stool.
"When has it ever made a difference to you before?" Luke asked as he pulled the coffee pot from the burner and poured her a mug. "Where's Rory? I thought you were doing movie night?" he asked.
"Jet lag," Lorelai said as she lifted the mug to her lips. She savored the taste of Luke's coffee and then smiled up at the man himself. "Can I have my kiss hello now?" she asked softly.
Luke glanced out of the open blinds and saw people still milling around the square. He jerked his chin at the window and said, "Just let me finish this. Lock the door, will ya?" he asked as he smiled at her and ducked back into the kitchen.
Lorelai got up to turn the sign and lock the door. She leaned on the counter and called impatiently, "I'm still waiting."
"Keep your pants on," Luke said gruffly.
Lorelai eyebrows shot up as she asked, "You sure you want me to?"
"For the moment, yes," he called back.
"I'm so glad you're home," she said softly as he stepped out of the kitchen again. She looked him up and down and said, "This is where you belong."
Luke smirked and asked, "As long as I stay on my side of the counter?"
Lorelai shook her head and said, "No. Here. Stars Hollow."
Luke smiled as he walked to the end of the counter and said, "I knew what you meant." He motioned for her to follow him and went behind the curtain.
The moment she stepped through the curtain, Luke's arms were around her and his lips found hers, kissing her firmly. Lorelai wound her arms around his waist and pulled him close to her as she angled her head and let him deepen the kiss. When they broke apart, breathless, Lorelai said, "Hello."
"Hello," he answered gruffly.
"Take me upstairs," she whispered.
Luke looked down at her and shook his head slowly. "When does Rory go back to Yale?" he asked.
"Saturday, why? What has that got to do with anything?" Lorelai asked with a frown.
Luke brushed her hair back over her shoulder and said, "You need to spend time with her. Get past whatever it was that went on there," he said gently. "You and me, well, we're doing this right from now on," he said firmly.
"Right?" she asked with a scowl.
Luke nodded and ran his hand over her curls. "I want to take you out to dinner. I want to sit and talk to you. I want to shudder when I see your dessert, and I want to feel you shudder when I get you alone," he said in a deep voice. "I won't be rushed, and I won't let your raging hormones derail my plan," he teased with a stern look.
"But, when?" she asked.
"Saturday," he answered.
"But that's days!" she cried. "Kiss me, I can make you change your mind," she said determinedly.
"I have no doubt that you can," Luke said with a laugh as he hugged her tightly. "Please, Lorelai?" he asked softly.
"Okay," she mumbled with a pout. "Can we still kiss?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," Luke answered as he tipped her chin up. "I insist on that," he said gruffly as he lowered his lips to hers. They kissed softly at first, letting their lips tease and taste as the kisses grew progressively more demanding. Soon, Luke's hands were skimming over her as Lorelai pressed against him, backing him into the wall. Finally, Luke set her back from him and said, "Maybe not such a great idea."
"I know you're not a virgin," she taunted.
"You said okay," he reminded her.
"Well, I lied," she said with a shrug.
Luke laughed and said, "Come on, I'll walk you home."
Lorelai shook her head and said, "Not a great idea, either. Babette and Morey were sitting on their porch when I left," she told him. Luke nodded and looked away as he tried to think of what to say next. Lorelai ran her hand down his chest and asked, "Call me?"
Luke smiled and asked, "Tonight?"
"I've gotten used to it," she answered with a shrug.
Luke nodded and said, "Me too. Call me when you get into bed." When Lorelai shot him an arched eyebrow he laughed and said, "If you can behave."
"Killjoy," she grumbled.
Luke smiled and said in a low sexy voice, "But the waiting."
"Is torture," she finished for him.
Luke laughed and said, "Or, you can look at it as really, really prolonged foreplay."
"You have impressive self control," she told him.
"You don't sound too impressed with it at the moment," he teased.
"Well, it's grudging admiration," she said with a shrug.
Luke threaded his fingers through hers and said softly, "I really want to start off right. This will be our first date," he reminded her.
Lorelai smiled as she stretched up to kiss him softly. "Good thing you're so sweet," she told him as she turned to leave. "I'll call in a little bit," she told him.
"I'll be here," he answered.
XXXX
Lorelai came into the diner for lunch on Thursday looking a little down hearted. "What's wrong?" Luke asked as he poured her coffee.
"Rory has decided to move back in tomorrow," Lorelai told him.
"Move back in?" Luke asked blankly.
"To Yale. She's leaving tomorrow," Lorelai said sadly.
"Why?" Luke asked.
Lorelai shrugged and said, "Says she wants the whole weekend to get settled in. I guess Paris was supposed to move in this week, and Rory has all of the nice furniture," she trailed off.
Luke nodded as he began to wipe down the counter near her. "Do you need my truck? I can help, if you want," he offered.
Lorelai shook her head and said, "My mother has had the furniture stored, and most of Rory's other stuff is still in boxes. She's hired movers to move Rory in. They're going to load the furniture and then come to the house to pick up the other stuff before they head to New Haven," she explained.
"Oh, okay," Luke said quickly, trying not to be hurt that they didn't need his help.
"We're going to pack the rest of her stuff tonight. Finish up laundry, that stuff," she said sadly.
"She's not that far away," Luke reminded her gently.
Lorelai nodded and said despondently, "I know, but summer was supposed to be my time, and I saw her for a total of about four days."
"Do you want me to talk to her?" Luke asked gruffly.
Lorelai grinned and said, "Would you? I'm sure that would make all of the difference in the world," she teased.
"Well, maybe she doesn't realize how upset you are," he hissed in a quiet voice.
"You're too cute. No, thanks, I'll be fine," she assured him. She slid from the stool and said with a shrug, "She's all grown up now."
Luke shook his head and said, "She still needs you."
Lorelai nodded and said, "Thanks. For the coffee and the shoulder."
"Anytime," he said simply. "They're both here."