A/N: Don't forget, I'm up for sale in the author auction along with about 21 of my closest friends. Be sure to stop by and hang out in the threads with us, it's tons of fun! The Chat-a-thon kicks off Saturday at 2PM EST with Lulu1960 batting lead off. Don't miss it! That is all.

Loopy Girls and Good Guys Wear Black Hats

Lorelai rolled over. Her eyelids twitched as she squeezed them shut a little tighter, and she groaned, "Stop staring at me."

"Get up."

"Daddy does this crack of dawn stuff, not me," Lorelai mumbled as she cracked one eye open and peeked at her daughter. "Go back to sleep."

"Not sleepy," Carly whispered, snuggling into the pillow so that she and her mother were nose to nose.

"Yes, you are," Lorelai croaked. She reached out and ran her hand over Carly's tangled curls as she closed her eyes again.

"Hungry."

Lorelai sighed and said, "You need to make sure that you pick up that cooking gene from your dad."

"Not wearin' jeans," Carly said as she nudged Lorelai with her bare foot. "Want Froot Looooops," she said in a soft sing-song voice.

"Mmm, Fruit Loops," Lorelai hummed appreciatively.

"You have some too," Carly told her generously.

"Really? Can I?" Lorelai asked, opening her eyes as she smiled lazily.

"Uh huh."

"Well, why didn't you say so earlier?" Lorelai muttered as she pulled Carly closer to her. She rolled over, trapping Carly beneath her and said, "I'll keep you here, that way I get all of the Fruit Loops to myself."

"I get Froot Loooops," Carly giggled.

"Nope. You don't like the sugary stuff, remember?" Lorelai replied as she shook her head.

"Like Froot Loooops," Carly said stubbornly.

"You only like them because they're mine, and you like to steal all of my stuff. My lipstick, my purses, my husband, my Fruit Loops," Lorelai countered. "I'm telling you, we need to have your head shrunk."

"Mommy has big head," Carly said with a knowing nod.

"Remind me to beat your sister and grandmother later for telling you that stuff," Lorelai said as she rolled over, flopping onto her back. "What time is it?" When Carly shrugged, she rolled her eyes and asked, "What? You think that because you're only three you don't have to provide me with the information that I require?" she demanded. She sat up and glanced at the clock on Luke's nightstand. "Ugh! Six forty-three? Was seven too much to ask?"

"I'm hungry," Carly whined. "Dolly's hungry too," she said as she reached for Carory and held her up for Lorelai's inspection.

"You two are very high maintenance," Lorelai grumbled as she tossed the covers back and swung her legs from the bed.

Lorelai shuffled from the room, her slippers scuffing against the floor as Carly stood at the gate at the top of the stairs, dancing impatiently from foot to foot and clutching her doll. They made their way downstairs, and having her priorities in line, Lorelai started the coffee maker before reaching into the cabinet for a bowl. "How about Ariel today?" she asked as she held up the Little Mermaid bowl.

"She pretty," Carly said approvingly.

"She's very pretty," Lorelai agreed as she pulled the cereal box from the pantry. She poured some into Carly's bowl and then poured a much larger bowl for herself. "Maybe Daddy will let us get a toucan. Like Toucan Sam," she mused as she set the box aside.

"Kitty," Carly answered, shaking her head stubbornly.

"I think you'll have a better chance at the puppy. Your brothers have been working on him too," Lorelai told her as she carried their bowls to the table. She poured milk over their cereal and then sat down in the chair next to Carly's as they began to eat.

Lorelai had to fight back the smile that threatened to break through when Carly leaned over her bowl, shoveling the cereal into her mouth with true Gilmorian determination. She continued eating her own breakfast, thinking about all of the ways this little hybrid of a girl was like herself and the ways she was like her father. It wasn't until the showdown in the store yesterday that Lorelai fully realized that although Carly had a bit of both of them in her, the personality that seemed to ring through the strongest was that of her grandmother. Lorelai shuddered a bit, but then reminded herself that Carly's disposition was far sweeter than Emily's. She was the typical youngest child, adored by her parents and grandparents, doted on by her older sister and even her soon to be brother-in-law, no matter what he claimed. She was at turns reviled and endured by her brothers, but even they were not entirely immune to her charms. Just the week before, Lorelai caught Jake quietly reading to Carly when he thought no one was looking. When Carly had been busted with one of Josh's action figures in her Barbie box, Luke's lecture was abruptly cut off when Josh said simply, "I gave it to her."

Lorelai watched as Carly chased the last few Fruit Loops around the bowl, sloshing milk over the side in her attempts to capture every last morsel. "Want more?"

Carly simply shook her head, her lips tightening into a determined frown as she continued to hunt down the elusive loops. She finally managed to snag them with her spoon, and smiled triumphantly as she held it up for Lorelai to see. "Got 'em."

"You did. Good work." She stood, removing Carly's bowl and spoon from the table and carrying them to the sink with her own. With practiced ease, she tore a couple of paper towels from the roll as she poured coffee into her favorite mug, and carried it to the table. "So, we're going on a mission today," Lorelai told Carly as she wiped up the milk splatters that littered the table top in front of her own seat as well as Carly's. She crumpled the towel and dropped into the chair once more before taking a bracing sip of her morning elixir. Lorelai set the mug down and looked at Carly solemnly as she said, "Daddy lost his blue hat."

Carly frowned in puzzlement, the gravity of the situation clearly lost on her. "It in his room?"

"No."

"Toy box?" Carly asked, listing all of the obvious places it could be.

"Nope, not in the toy box."

"Boys' room?"

"No, sweetie, it fell off in the lake," Lorelai explained. "So, today you and I are going out to get Daddy a new blue hat."

"Purple!" Carly suggested enthusiastically.

"No, I don't think Daddy would wear a purple hat," Lorelai laughed, the visual image forming in her head tickling her funny bone. She looked over at the clock and then turned back to Carly. "If we want, we can probably get dressed, hit the Wal-Mart, and get back before Rory and Grandma wake up." Without having to be told twice, Carly scooted from her chair and took off for the kitchen door. "Hang on, you're moving too fast," Lorelai called after her as she rose wearily. She cradled her coffee mug in both hands as she crossed the room to catch up. "No more sugary cereal for you," she grumbled as Carly quickly scampered up the stairs.

****

"Hey, wake up," Luke whispered as he gave Jake a gentle shake.

"G'way," Jake mumbled as he tried to evade his father's prodding.

Luke chuckled and said, "Time to wake up Little Lorelai, we're headin' out."

Jake blinked up at him blearily and asked, "Out?"

"You, me, Josh, we're going for an early morning cruise in the boat," Luke said as he pulled the covers back and motioned for Jake to get up.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, just the three of us, come on," Luke said, trying to inject enough enthusiasm into his voice to cover any lingering apprehension that might be hanging around.

"Fishing?"

"Nah, just riding around. It's a nice morning, but chilly. You need to dress warm," Luke told him as he rifled through the suitcase he had packed for the twins.

Jake looked up and saw Josh hovering just inside the door, already dressed and ready to go. Jake hesitated and then said, "I'm hungry."

"Way ahead of ya. I made little pancakes with sausage patties between them," Luke said as he held out the clothes that he thought Jake should wear.

Jake looked down at the pile of clothing and said, "Um, I dunno if…"

"It'll be fun," Luke said, cutting him off. When Jake looked up at him, Luke nodded and said, "It'll be good, you'll see."

"Okay," Jake said reluctantly. He took the shirt his father had handed him and began to pull it on over his Cars pajamas.

"Uh uh, change," Luke said with a shake of his head. "I'm not riding around the lake with some guy wearing 'Mater under his clothes."

Jake sighed heavily and peeled the pajama top off before tugging the sweatshirt over his head. "No one woulda seen it," he muttered.

Luke turned to Josh and said, "Don't let me forget to fill the thermos up with juice."

"Coffee?" Josh asked hopefully.

"You're not funny," Luke growled. "She'd better not be sneaking you guys coffee."

Jake looked up, and Josh flashed him a sly smile. "Juice," he told his father guilelessly.

"Thank you for lying to me," Luke muttered as he ran his hand through his hair. He patted it into place, wishing he had his hat. "Finish getting ready. I'll go pack up the stuff," he told them, clapping his hands and rubbing them together as he left the room.

"Scared you're gonna fall out again?" Josh asked bluntly.

"No!" Jake snapped. He pulled his jeans on over his pajama bottoms and stared at his brother defiantly as he tugged at the zipper.

"You are too, Scaredy Cat. You were right there and then, 'Plop!'" Josh snickered.

"Nuh uh."

"Daddy! Daddy! Help me!" Josh mocked in a whisper.

"I did not!"

"The fish are eating me! Help!" Josh continued relentlessly.

"Shut up," Jake said as he took a menacing step toward his brother.

"I'm Kaptain Klutz, I fall out of everything."

"You're stupid," Jake retorted, giving Josh a shove.

"You're a baby," Josh mocked, shoving Jake back.

"Can it!" Luke snapped from behind Josh. "No one is a baby, no one is stupid, no one is a klutz, and no one is falling out of the boat any more." He stared down at them with his hands on his hips. When both boys ducked their heads, he placed one large hand on top of Josh's skull and said, "You, go park it on the porch and keep your yap shut." After Josh darted past him, Luke turned to Jake and asked, "Trust me?"

"Yeah."

Luke nodded and said, "Before you put your socks and shoes on, take those jeans off and lose the pajama bottoms." With that, he stalked back to the kitchen to finish packing their breakfast.

****

"There are no pretty blue ones," Lorelai whined to Carly as they surveyed the baseball cap selection at the nearest Wal-Mart.

"Bluuue!" Carly cried as she pointed to a U Conn hat.

"Yeah, but it's not just plain blue like the old one. Hey look, here's one for you," Lorelai said as she plucked a black hat from the rack and dropped it onto Carly's head. She grinned down at the little girl, her eyes obscured by the brim, her curls poking out wildly. "C.D.," Lorelai said as she pointed to the initials embroidered on the hat. "Caroline Danes."

Carly grinned delightedly as she plucked the hat from her head and stared at her initials. "My hat," she said as she clutched it to her.

"Ah, but it's too big for you. It's a Daddy sized hat," Lorelai murmured as she turned back to the display. She reached for a cap made of distressed denim, and then shook her head as she pulled her hand away. "They all have stupid sports teams on them. He already has a Red Sox cap. I guess he can wear that."

"Dis one," Carly said decisively as she held up the black hat.

"Haven't you branded him enough?" Lorelai asked with a smirk. "I had him first, you know." She sighed as she poked through the rack one last time. "I guess I'll just have to look somewhere else, but nothing is open this early. Let's hit it, kiddo. We struck out."

"Dis one!" Carly said insistently.

Lorelai wrinkled her nose at the black hat and asked, "Really? It's very dark. Not pretty like his eyes."

"Carleeeee."

Lorelai rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, okay, we'll get him that one. But, a hat that has CD on it had better come with free music downloads or something," she said as she took the hat from Carly's hand and then clasped her tiny fingers tightly in hers, leading her toward the check out lanes.

****

Luke looked over at Jake and saw the boy clutching the edge of the seat tightly with his fingers, his life jacket riding up to his chin. He cut the motor and sat for a moment, listening to the water lap against the side of the boat. "Good spot?" he asked.

"I'm starving," Josh said with a heavy sigh.

"Breakfast," Luke said with a nod as he reached for the plastic grocery bag at his feet. He pulled out a foil wrapped bundle for each of the boys and then tucked a banana between his legs as he helped them unwrap their pancake sandwiches. "Here," he said as he pulled a small plastic container from the bag and pried the lid from it to reveal a pool of maple syrup.

Jake and Josh each scooted a little closer, anxious to dip their breakfast into the sticky sweet goodness. Luke grimaced as trails of syrup dribbled onto his hand as they made their way to their mouths. "Probably not a great idea."

"Its good," Josh told him through stuffed cheeks.

Jake swallowed hard and nodded. "Real good," he agreed as he reached to dip again.

"Your mom would call the double dipping rule on you, but since it's just us guys, we won't tell her," Luke said with an affectionate smile as Jake took another huge bite. "Chew, please," he reminded them as Josh dipped again.

They ate in silence, unwittingly coating their father's hand with syrup at each pass at the container. Luke smirked as he looked down at his afflicted hand and the strings of syrup that dotted his jeans. "Nice morning, huh?" The boys both nodded as they chewed, too intent on their breakfast to take in their surroundings. Luke jerked his chin to the sky and said, "There's a hawk."

"Cool," Josh muttered, pancake crumbs spraying from his mouth.

Jake snorted. "Say it, don't spray it."

"You guys are pigs. Don't talk with your mouth full," Luke admonished mildly. He looked down at the morsels left in their hands and said, "Okay, last dip, I'm sick of being covered in this stuff."

Both boys eagerly plunged their last bites into the container, swirling them around to cover them in as much syrup as they could. Luke shuddered as another glob of syrup fell to the deck of the boat, and then put the lid firmly back on the container. He shifted in his seat to reach over the side and rinse his hands, and Jake called in a panicked voice, "No!"

"I'm just rinsing off," Luke assured him. "Watch," he said calmly as he dipped his hands into the cold lake water and rubbed them together to get the syrup residue off.

"Shoulda licked 'em," Josh said as he carefully sucked the remaining syrup from his fingers.

Luke shook his hands to dry them a bit and then ran them over his flannel. "Your mom does that for me," he mumbled. His eyes widened as he caught his slip. He looked at both boys, thankful that they were too young to understand the implications of what he had just said.

Luke tipped his head back, letting the morning breeze ruffle his hair as he draped his arms over the back of the seat, encompassing his boys. "Fish," Jake said softly as he stared into the lake.

"Stay here," Luke teased. Jake turned to Luke and shot him an exasperated look. Luke raised his shoulders, his lips quirking into a smile as he said, "Well, you have been known to go in after them."

Josh giggled as Jake glared at his father. "You're mean."

"I'm just breaking you in. We're gonna be telling that story for decades, get used to it now," Luke warned. He reached down and picked up the thermos of orange juice. As he twisted the cap off he said, "I didn't think to bring cups, so you'll have to drink like men. No backwashing," he warned as he handed the thermos to Josh. Josh lifted it with both hands, juice trailing down his cheek as he guzzled it down. Luke ducked his head, plucking the banana from between his legs and preparing to eat his own breakfast. He helped Josh pass the thermos to Jake, and sat back as he took a huge bite of the fruit. He pointed to a clump of bushes near the bank and said, "There's something in there. Raccoon, possum or something."

"Let's get it," Josh whispered.

"I'll catch it with my bare hands," Jake added with a sly grin.

Luke chuckled and shook his head as he took another bite of the banana. "And wrestle it," Josh added enthusiastically.

"Punch it!" Jake crowed.

"No punching," Luke said calmly.

Josh and Jake shared a look across their father and then Josh said, "We'll take it home."

"You said no dog, but you never said no possums," Jake added as he nodded in agreement.

"How about a turtle?" Luke asked as he took another bite and chewed thoughtfully.

"A turtle and a dog," Josh negotiated.

Luke turned and shot him a look as he said, "No pets."

"Too much," Jake whispered sadly as both boys slumped back against the seat.

Luke grinned as he tossed his banana peel into the bag and then sat back. He draped a heavy arm over each set of narrow shoulders and said, "You're right, you guys are too much."

****

Lorelai and Carly walked through the front door to find Emily Gilmore standing in the foyer wearing pink Piglet pajamas and a scowl. "Honestly, Lorelai, I woke up and you were gone. You don't just disappear when you have guests in the house!"

"I left you coffee and a note," Lorelai said as she closed the door behind them.

"What kind of errand could you have possibly had at eight o'clock on a Sunday morning?"

"Well, Piglet," Lorelai said in her best Eeyore voice, making Carly giggle softly. "Poohbear lost his hat, and Roo and I went out to see if we could score him a new one. Didn't have much luck, but that's okay, I never do anyway," she added to Carly's delight.

Emily rolled her eyes and said, "Where could you have possibly gone looking for a hat at this hour?"

Lorelai held up the Wal-Mart bag and said, "At the place that owns us all. I also had acrylic nails applied, got my oil changed and my eyes tested, bought groceries and renewed my license plates while I was there."

Emily turned on here heel and stalked into the kitchen. Lorelai grinned at Carly as she tossed the bag onto the hall table and said, "I think Grandma needs some Fruit Loops."

Carly nodded solemnly and then hurried to the kitchen to help guide Emily's breakfast choices. Lorelai glanced at the bag and then at the hall closet. She opened the door and stretched to reach up and grope around on the top shelf. There, beneath a pile of seldom used scarves and hats, she searched for the item she had last seen when the aforementioned pile fell on top of her during the quest for a particular scarf. She sifted through the pile, but her fingertips did not recognize the prize that she sought. Lorelai stepped closer, standing on her tip toes as she reached for the back of the shelf, and then she smiled. She rocked back onto her heels, grinning foolishly at the crumpled faded green hat in her hand. With a satisfied nod, she dropped it onto the hall table next to the Wal-Mart bag and strolled into the kitchen.

"So, Mom, you find everything okay?" Lorelai asked innocently as Emily looked up from her cereal bow, the Fruit Loop laden spoon poised at her lips.

"Yes, thank you," Emily answered primly.

Carly was polishing off her second bowl of cereal with her brow knit in fierce concentration. Frustrated, she looked up at Lorelai and said, "I can't get 'em."

Lorelai peered into the bowl and nodded. "Ratio is off, too much milk." She poured a little more cereal into the bowl and gestured for Carly to continue in her quest. "That should even up the odds."

"She needs a better breakfast than this," Emily murmured as she pushed the pink tinged milk in her bowl away from her.

"Are you kidding me? You should see what they get every morning. It looks like one of those balanced breakfasts they put on the side of the box," Lorelai told her mother as she poured herself a fresh mug of coffee.

"Growing children need protein and calcium."

"Lots of milk, cheese in their scrambled eggs, fresh juice to ward off the scurvy, turkey bacon," Lorelai reported with a shudder. She turned and rested her hips against the island as she asked, "You still got Dad on the 'All Fish, All the Time' diet?"

"Fish is good for you, Lorelai," Emily answered in a no-nonsense tone.

"Yes, I know, I choke it down at least once every Friday night and it kills my appetite for at least four hours. I think I've lost weight," Lorelai teased.

"You should thank me, then," Emily replied in an overly sweet tone.

"Thank you, Mom," Lorelai said pertly as she toasted Emily with her mug. "That was fun last night, huh?"

"I had a very nice time."

"We're glad that you stayed, even if the continental breakfast was not what you expected."

Emily pursed her lips and said, "It was precisely what I expected."

"You look good in those pajamas. Do you want me to get you a set of your own?"

Emily glanced down, a smile curving her lips as she saw the cartoon characters that patterned the bottoms. "Can you imagine what your father would say?"

Lorelai shrugged and said, "He may like them. Oddly enough, Luke has a thing for Betty Boop."

"Really?" Emily asked, unable to suppress her incredulous laugh.

"Yes, but he'll deny it until the day he dies."

"Well, I don't doubt that. I'll stick with what I have, thank you. Although, I did just pick up a pair of the most comfortable slippers I've ever owned."

"More comfortable than Karen Neuburger's?" Lorelai asked, watching as Carly slipped from her chair and carefully carried her bowl to the sink. "Thanks, Doll," she said as she took the bowl and rinsed it. She gave Carly a little nudge and said, "You can go see what cartoons are on." With that, Carly dashed for the table, retrieved Carory from her chair, and hurried toward the living room.

"I believe that was the designer's name," Emily mused.

"Thos have been around forever."

"How did I not know about them?"

"You rarely venture out of Ralph Lauren land?" Lorelai guessed.

"Well, I was in the Contessa Shop last week, I saw the slippers, and remembered that I needed new ones," Emily said with a shrug.

"Ah, the Contessa Corset Shop. They're still in business?" Lorelai asked.

"Of course," Emily answered, sounding affronted.

"I'm just surprised that Victoria's Secret hasn't put them under."

Emily rolled her eyes and said, "Please, like those teeny boppers know the first thing about how a brassiere should fit."

"So, you were lingerie shopping?" Lorelai asked teasingly.

Emily shook her head and said, "The proper foundation undergarments are essential to being well dressed, Lorelai."

"In case you're in an accident," Lorelai agreed solemnly.

"Well, at least they sell panties that cover your bottom."

Lorelai glanced down as she made a mental note to change her lingerie into something a little less comfortable before Luke came home. "Hey, Mom?" she asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"Well, I had this idea…" Lorelai paused and then picked up her coffee mug again, cradling it between her hands. "Actually, Luke had the idea, and I'm just trying to figure out if it can work," she explained.

"Go on," Emily prompted with a nod.

Lorelai carried her coffee over to the table and sat down across from Emily. "Luke wants to go to St. John. Just the two of us, after Rory's wedding. Like a second honeymoon," she said with a fleeting smile.

Emily smiled as she said, "That's a wonderful idea." Seeing the crease between Lorelai's brows, Emily's face fell. She sat back in her chair and eyed her daughter speculatively as she asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"What?" Lorelai asked, jerking her head up.

"Are you and Luke having trouble?" Emily asked bluntly.

"No!"

"Every marriage goes through its rocky patches, Lorelai," Emily said patiently. "Perhaps a little get-away is just what you need."

Lorelai shook her head adamantly and said, "We are not having trouble. We're fine. Perfect."

"No marriage is perfect, Lorelai."

"Well, this one is as close to perfect as you can get," Lorelai said mulishly.

"Fine, fine," Emily said as she held up her hands in surrender. "Luke wants to go to the islands," she prompted, trying to soothe Lorelai's ruffled feathers.

"Yes."

"And you don't?" Emily asked curiously.

"Oh, I do," Lorelai said with a laugh. "I just don't know how we'd do it."

"How you'd do it?" Emily queried. "I'm happy to call Marjorie Van Ness to ask if the villa is available."

"No, I mean with the kids."

"Well, they would stay with us, naturally," Emily said easily.

"Mom, you haven't let Dad touch a piece of red meat in over a year, but you're willing to inflict three kids under six on him?"

"Don't be so dramatic, Lorelai, we've kept the children for you before."

"Yeah, for a night, maybe two," Lorelai reminded her. "We'd be gone for about five days or more."

"You know we'd have help," Emily argued.

"I know, it's just a lot to ask."

"Nonsense, we love having them," Emily said dismissively. "You speak to Luke and let me know when you want to go, and I'll call Marjorie. Your father and Eliot have been playing more and more golf together lately, I'm sure it won't be difficult to arrange."

Lorelai nodded and said quietly, "Thanks, Mom."

Emily studied her daughter for a moment and then asked, "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

Lorelai smiled and said, "Other than too many kids and not enough waking hours, no, nothing is wrong." She looked over at the kitchen door and cocked her head. "Well, nothing aside from the fact that we're missing Spongebob Squarepants. Come on," she said as she snagged her coffee mug and sauntered to the door.

Emily stood up and shook out the legs of her borrowed pajamas, stopping by the coffee pot for a refill before she followed Lorelai murmuring, "Heaven forbid."

****

Luke placed the last bag in the back of his truck and made sure that everything was secured. He raised his hand to his eyes to shade them from the sun as he checked the shed to be sure he had locked the door with the boat securely inside. Finally he turned to the edge of the lake and whistled loudly. Jess looked up, and Josh and Jake turned toward the cabin. He waved them in, and scowled when Jess held up a hand to tell him to hold on.

Luke jingled his keys in his hand, his leg bouncing in time, anxious to get on the road home. Richard closed the book he had been reading on the porch swing and heaved a gusty sigh. "If I didn't believe that Emily would divorce me, I'd stay here," he said contentedly.

"There're no cigar shops in the area and the best scotch you can get around here is Ballentine's," Luke answered, as he shot Richard a look.

Richard smirked and stood up. "Well, it's a nice place to visit."

Luke nodded as he turned back to Jess and the boys. "What are they doing?"

Richard turned his attention to the lakeshore and said, "They appear to be liberating something from the weeds."

Luke cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled, "Let's hit the road!"

Jess' head jerked up as he shook something in his hand, and then gestured for the boys to take off toward the cabin. The twins barreled up the incline babbling a mile a minute.

"We got it! We got it!" Jake cried joyously.

"It's all gross," Josh reported gleefully.

"You are not bringing any dead animals home," Luke growled.

"Not an animal," Josh said quickly.

"You're gonna want this," Jake said excitedly, looking back and waving at Jess to hurry. "If we give it to you can we have a puppy?" he asked, looking up at Luke with Lorelai's bright eyes.

Luke snorted and said, "I don't cave to extortion."

"But you'll like it," Josh said pleadingly.

"Did he agree?" Jess asked as he approached, carefully tucking their treasure behind his back.

"No," Jake answered, scuffing the ground with the toe of his tennis shoe.

"Aw, come on, don't be such a hard ass, uh, grump," Jess amended quickly. "They want a dog."

"I know they want a dog, but it ain't gonna happen." Luke looked down at the boys' downcast faces and said, "Go wash the muck off of your hands before you get in Grandpa's car."

"Don't you even wanna see it?" Josh implored.

Luke sighed, defeated. "Okay, what is it?"

"One puppy? We'll take care of it," Jake wheedled.

"No you won't, so no," Luke answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Maybe I should throw this back, then," Jess said as he held out a muddy, sodden lump of blue material covered in grass and seed pods from the brush.

Luke looked down, frowning at the clump of mud until he spotted a bright blue spot peeking through. "Is that my hat?"

Jess nodded. "We believe this to be the remains of the species once known at ballcapeous omnipious."

Luke's lips twitched as he reached out and took what he assumed was the bill of the hat between two fingers. "It washed up, huh?"

"Yes, you're all washed up, so get the kids a mutt," Jess answered, looking down at his own muddy hand with disgust.

Luke nodded and ducked his head as he said simply, "Go clean up. We need to get home."

They filed into the house led by Richard, the boys pleading their case for dog ownership with their doting grandfather, who agreed with every sentiment expressed. Luke dropped the muddy hat into a plastic bag from Wal-Mart and tied the handles shut while he waited for the others to wash their hands. At last, he took his turn, double checked the cabin to be sure that everything was switched off and secured, and shooed them all through the door, the bag dangling from his fingers.

****

The Jaguar glided to a stop behind Luke's new truck in the driveway. As unbuckled his seatbelt, Richard looked back at the Mercedes parked at the curb. "It seems that your grandmother is here," he told the boys.

"Mam!" Josh cried happily as he pushed the button to release his seatbelt.

"I get to tell her!" Jake called after his older brother as he stumbled from the backseat of the car.

Richard unfolded his frame from the car and looked up to see Emily, Lorelai, Rory and Carly standing on the porch, listening with rapt attention as the tale of Jake's unfortunate swim was spun once more. He smiled as Luke and Jess walked around to the back of the truck and said, "I believe we have a welcoming committee."

"I hope they have tons of coffee and fresh baked cookies," Jess muttered with a smirk.

"Stepford is a few towns over," Luke said as he abandoned the cargo and went in search of his girls.

"And Daddy saved him?" Lorelai gushed, pressing her hand to her throat dramatically. The boys nodded in unison as Lorelai looked up and caught Luke's eye. "Daddy's a hero!" She dashed down the steps and flew into Luke's arms. He caught her with a muffled grunt, and rolled his eyes as she hugged his neck tightly saying, "My hero! My hero!"

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled as he clasped her waist in his hands and set her back away from him.

"You don't want my undying adoration?" she asked in wide-eyed confusion.

"Of course I do, just not on the front lawn," Luke answered in a low voice. He pressed his hand into the small of her back and smiled as she gave him a flirty look over her shoulder. "Miss me?"

"I told you there would be pining," Lorelai said with a shrug as they climbed the porch steps to join the others.

"Keening and wailing," Rory told Jess with a grin.

"I cried myself to sleep last night," Emily added primly.

"Well, I can't have that," Richard answered, shaking his head sadly.

"Daddy!" Carly called out as she tugged at Luke's jeans.

"Hey, Sweetpea," he said as he scooped her into his arms. "Did you miss me, at least?" Carly nodded solemnly as she frowned at his bare head. "You don't look happy to see me," he said sadly.

Carly squirmed in his arms and Luke lowered her to the ground. "Is she still mad?" he asked Lorelai.

"No, I think she just doesn't like seeing you without your hat when you're not all dressed up," Lorelai said, turning to watch Carly dash into the house.

Emily was listening to Jake's more scaled down version of the events of the previous day when Carly reappeared with a plastic bag clutched in her hand. She held it up to him and smiled. "Hat."

"What?" Luke asked as he took the proffered bag.

"We tried to find you a new blue hat today, but we struck out. She picked this one out for you," Lorelai explained.

"You got me a hat?" Luke asked Carly, who nodded happily. "Dolly," she said as she held up Carory.

"And you got a new doll, huh?" Luke asked as he pulled the black hat from the bag.

He looked at it in puzzlement, and then Lorelai explained, "I made the mistake of pointing out that it had her initials on it."

Luke's smile spread as he nodded and said to Carly, "Does this stand for Carly Danes?" When she nodded again, he put the hat on backwards and then bent to kiss her soft cheek. "Thanks, Pea."

Her duty done, Carly turned to Richard and held Carory up to be admired. Lorelai's brow knit as she looked at Luke in the harsh black hat. "You don't like it?" he asked.

Lorelai shook her head. "It's too dark."

Luke nodded and said, "Come with me," as he nudged her back toward the stairs. He led her to the truck and pulled out the Wal-Mart bag containing the mess that had once been his beloved hat. He held the bag open and she peeked in as he said, "I don't know if it can be saved, but Jess and the boys found it in the weeds this morning."

Lorelai gasped and then pressed her hand to her heart as a smile lit her face. She grinned up at him, the dark hat on his head forgotten as she asked, "Is it weird that I was really upset over the hat?"

"I was too," Luke confessed.

"I'll clean it up," Lorelai promised as she took the bag from him.

"It probably does need to be retired," he said with a shrug.

"And kept under glass," Lorelai added, hugging the bag to her chest. "I'll find you a new one," she promised.

"This isn't a bad hat," Luke said as he adjusted the black cap on his head.

Lorelai rolled her eyes and said, "You only like it because it has Caroline Danes on it."

"Yes," Luke agreed. He draped his arm over her shoulder as they walked back toward the front of the house. "Or, it could stand for Connecticut Defenders."

Lorelai stopped and looked over at him as she asked, "Like the National Guard?"

Luke chuckled and said, "Minor league baseball team."

"Ah."

Luke leaned in a little closer and asked in a low voice, "Miss me?"

"Terribly," she answered. She darted a quick look at the front of the house before wrapping her arms around his neck and lifting her lips for a kiss.

Luke winced as the bag holding the wet, muddy hat bumped into his back. He kissed her sweetly and then pressed his forehead to hers as he whispered, "Your sons tried to blackmail me. A puppy in exchange for the safe return of my hat."

"Good boys. Were they successful?" she asked hopefully.

"Technically, no, but I'm thinking…"

"Okay, well, you know I want one too, but can you hold your ground until fall?" Lorelai asked, cutting him off.

"Uh, yeah, sure. Why?"

Lorelai smiled and pressed a little closer to him as she whispered in his ear, "Take me away. I want to be nekkid on the beach with you."

She heard his soft intake of breath and then he asked, "Wasn't that the plan?"

"I have the babysitters lined up, but the dog may be a deal breaker."

"Fall it is," Luke said with a firm nod.

He took her hand and led her around the front of the house where Lorelai held up the bag for Rory to see. "Big blue was rescued! He needs a bath, but he'll live!"

"Oh, thank God," Rory said with a smirk as they walked back onto the porch. She turned to Luke and said, "That black hat is horrible on you."