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I hope you'll like this chapter and I also hope you'll tell me if you don't.

Chapter 28: It's tool time!

When Luke came back downstairs Lorelai smiled at him when she saw him beardless.

"Hey Al, no more beard? What will Tim say?" she grinned as she stroked with her hand over his cheek. It seemed so normal to do that, but then she saw Luke's look and took her hand away. She wasn't allowed to do that anymore. "Sorry", she muttered.

"It's ok", Luke told her and he longed to take her in his arms, but he couldn't. It wouldn't help them in the long run if they kept caressing each other. It would only make the separation more painful in the evening.

"Uhm… the tree is outside in the backyard. Sookie and Jackson brought it over yesterday, but I didn't want it in the house", Lorelai confessed and sat back down on the couch.

"You waited for me so you could make me carry this thing in, huh?" Luke grinned and walked into the kitchen and then back out the door, while Lorelai followed him. "God Almighty!" he exclaimed when he saw the tree. "That can't be a Christmas tree. The first third of it maybe yes, but the rest is enough wood to build a new roof top with it", he said when he saw the huge tree in her backyard.

"So we have to celebrate out here and put our presents beside it instead of under it?" Lorelai grinned when she saw his horrified face.

"No, I'll get the saw", Luke said, still shaking his head.

"Yay, tool time!" Lorelai exclaimed and Luke shot her a look that clearly showed that he really thought she was crazy and should just be quiet.

"Hey why don't I play Heidi and vanish while you are you're Al-y self and use your tools", she said, then giggled. "Dirty", she laughed and went inside. She felt lighter, she felt happy and she was so glad that Luke was there. She knew that he would leave again, but still it was nice to have him back. She promised herself, that her feelings wouldn't ruin that Christmas, because after the last horrible week all she wanted to do was be happy. She could cry and wallow again when he was gone, but as long as he was there she wanted to just be happy again and celebrate Christmas with the man who in three years would be her husband.

While Luke was outside Rory and Lorelai heard him curse several times and decided to make him tea, so that he would have at least something to warm him up when he came in. Yet when Luke came in he didn't look like he needed to warm up, because he was sweaty and beet red in the face.

"How the hell did Jackson bring this thing over? With a crane?" he asked and swore under his breath while he carried the significantly smaller tree into the house.

"Actually yes. Sookie was guiding him, while he operated the crane", Lorelai shrugged. "But hey I wanted exactly that tree because it's pretty and I had that feeling about it", Lorelai admitted with a smile.

"How many roofs did he damage in the process?" Luke asked and put the tree in the stand.

"None", Lorelai lied and took the boiling water off the stove. When she looked into the living room when she was done with the tea a second later Luke only looked at her with raised eyebrows while he fastened the screws in the stand. "Okay, two, but it's not that bad", she admitted.

"You know, one day some guys are going to come and build a huge roof over this whole town and then they'll change the sign to "Stars Hollow- the world's biggest nuthouse", Luke grumbled and got off the floor to check if the tree was standing straight.

"They wouldn't write nuthouse on a sign, Luke. They would put "asylum" instead, because nuthouse in colloquial and not suitable for a sign", Rory interfered and winked at her mother.

"Not you as well", Luke just sighed and joined them in the kitchen.

"Here I made you some tea"; Lorelai grinned and handed him the mug.

"You made tea? I don't think it's safe to eat or drink anything you make", Luke said, but took a sip of the tea nonetheless.

"Hey, I was just trying to be nice. I could have made coffee instead", Lorelai protested and walked to the doorframe and looked into the livingroom. "So, is this thing safe and can we make it pretty?" she grinned at him.

"As safe as anything can be with you nearby", Luke replied and rolled his eyes.

"Yay, let's get the decorations", Rory said excitedly and ran off into the hall and opened the closet there, to search for the decorations.

"Yeah, let's do that!" Lorelai clapped her hands in excitement. "Thank you Lukey", she grinned then and gave him a kiss on the lips. Just when their lips touched she remembered that they weren't back together. He was just a friend… they were broken up… because of her mother. Quickly she pulled back and they stared at each other. He didn't look angry or sad, more surprised. She raised a hand to her lips and touched them while she still stared at him. The comfortable atmosphere was gone and she felt the awkwardness creep into the room.

"Lorelai, we can't keep doing…." Luke started, but was interrupted by Rory, who was oblivious to what had happened in the kitchen.

"Mom! Where did you put the decorations, I can't find them!", she complained and Lorelai hurried out of the kitchen with an uncomfortable smile on her face.

"They must be back in there somewhere"; she told her daughter and pushed her gently aside so she could look for them herself. While she rummaged through the closet and the incredible amount of stuff in there she felt the tears coming to her eyes.

"Hey honey, why don't you go into the garage and get the tinsel? It must be out there somewhere", she told Rory while the lump in her throat got bigger with every second.

"Okay", Rory agreed, oblivious to her mother's feelings and hurried outside. For a few more seconds Lorelai was able to search the closet, then her view got blurry and the first sob broke free. With the back of one hand she wiped the tears away which flowed onto her cheeks and tried to be quiet. She had to get her feelings under control or this evening would end up a disaster where she was happy one second and devastated the next. This had to end, she decided, but the tears kept flowing. When she felt a warm hand on her shoulder she didn't dare to look back, but kept looking straight ahead into the closet, without actually seeing something.

"Rory's getting the tinsel", she said with a raspy voice, it was audible that she was crying again. She felt how Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, so that their bodies were flush against each other. She felt him bury his face in the crook of her neck and she tilted her head towards his.

"Please stop crying. Let's just enjoy this evening, okay?", he whispered and she felt his lips move against the skin of her neck. She took a deep breath, then nodded and his smooth cheek rubbed against her own. He breathed her in one last time and kept one arm around her waist casually when he stepped to her side and looked into the closet. "You can't be serious!" he said when he saw the mess in the closet. "How many times did I tell you to clean up in here. Half of this crap could be easily thrown out and then you might actually be able to find something", he ranted and looked at her in fake anger. She could see right through him, saw the worry in his eyes, but decided to play along nonetheless.

"Well, you wouldn't clean this thing out and I am not going to do it. God knows what awful things I could find in there"; she went along and quickly wiped the last tears away.

"I doubt that god could memorize all the stuff you put in there. Did you remove the back of the closet to get it all in or how did you do it?", he asked when he couldn't find an end of the crap in there.

"Oh shush you. Let me remind you of your attic, it's the same or even worse up there", she shot back while Luke was now halfway in the closet.

"In my attic everything is put into boxes with labels on them, so I know what's in there without having to unpack them. And by the way: that's what an attic is for, to put stuff up there you don't need anymore, but don't want to get rid of", he told her and then dove back in.

"Yeah yeah", she muttered and crossed her arms in front of her chest, her tears already forgotten over the banter. "I know I know", she added quietly.

"Oh my god", Luke suddenly exclaimed and stepped out of the closet.

"What?" she asked confused and wondered what he could have found in there.

"You have an attic right? Don't tell me it looks like this closet", he said and pointed up to the ceiling with one finger.

"Nooo… it's doesn't", she replied slowly and looked down at the floor and then to the living-room- basically everywhere but at him.

"Jeez", he said, closed the door of the closet and then walked into the livingroom and up the stairs. "I swear to god if the decorations are up there I am going to kill you! No more coffee for at least a year", he threatened and she hurried after him.

"No, no, no, Luke, please! Don't go up there", she begged while she followed him and tried to hold him back by his sleeve, because she knew her attic looked even worse and it was absolutely possible that the decorations were up there.


"You have a serious problem!" Luke was still ranting while Lorelai and Rory were already hanging the decorations on the tree. He could barely get into the attic because of all the stuff she stored up there in one huge pile. "You should have the stability of your house checked, because I am sure the pillars are deformed because of the weight of this crap up there! Jeez, how can a person have so much stuff? Clothes, toys, videos, magazines and whatever garbage you have up there", he continued and Rory giggled. It was so good to have him back and for a moment she wondered how this Christmas would have been if her grandmother hadn't interfered. She had to admit that if her grandmother hadn't tricked them at first they surely wouldn't be together now. But without her they wouldn't be broken up either. She looked over to her mother and found her laughing about Luke's rant, the delight visible in her eyes. She looked happy and Rory was sure she was pushing the fact aside that Luke and she weren't a couple anymore. She thought about talking to her, but then she would just ruin Christmas for her and where was the good in that? Her mother was the queen of denial and if it would help her and she would be happy with it then why should she burst that bubble?

"Luke why don't you throw some tinsel on the tree instead of sitting there on the couch grumbling?" Lorelai laughed.

"I hate decorations and I hate tinsel", he replied grumpily.

"Oh come on!" Lorelai said and threw the package with the tinsel over to him.

"Jeez, now look at me!" Luke said and jumped of the couch, because the package had been open and he was covered in blue tinsel now.

"Aw, don't you look cute. Like a cheerleader with pom-poms", Lorelai teased him and shrieked when he walked over to her with this determined look in his eyes, that he only had when it was payback time.

"No, Luke! Stop! I'll never get this stuff out of my hair ever again!" she yelled while she ran around the Christmas tree, Luke chasing her. She tried to use Rory as a shield, while she giggled and laughed and then started running again, when her daughter wouldn't co-operate. Rory only laughed. It was really good to have him back- even if it only was for one evening.


Meanwhile at the Gilmore mansion the atmosphere wasn't as cheery. While Richard was humming along with one of the Christmas carols they were playing on a CD and flipped through the new books he had been given as presents, Emily was sitting quietly on the couch and seemed deep in thought.

"What do you think they are doing tonight?" Emily asked her husband suddenly.

"I'm sorry Emily, but what did you say?" he asked and looked up from the book he held in hands.

"I wondered what Lorelai and Rory are doing tonight", Emily repeated.

"Well, I guess they are celebrating Christmas", Richard replied and got off the couch to get himself something to drink.

"Lorelai can't cook", Emily added. "What will they be eating today and tomorrow?"

"Well, they survived the last 16 years, so I suppose they found a way to feed themselves," Richard shrugged on his way back to the couch with a brandy in his hand.

"Yes, they bought food at Luke's, but I forbid her to see Luke", Emily admitted quietly.

"You forbid her to see Luke?" Richard asked surprised.

"Maybe I went too far", she said.

"I honestly think so. They were friends for so long".

"I know, but I was angry, because they wouldn't listen and because I was so disappointed that the dream Abby and I had for so long wouldn't come true and I guess I took it out on them. But Lorelai is so incredibly stubborn. She would date him only to upset me if I would've let them see each other", she contemplated. Richard wasn't sure how he should reply to that, because he wasn't really agreeing with his wife at this point, but he didn't want to fight with her on Christmas either.

"Maybe that friend of hers, the chef, made them something to eat", he said then, referring to her former question.

"That would be healthier either way", Emily said and Richard turned back to his book.


"Oh my god, is there any end to this film in sight?" Luke asked after two hours of watching "gone with the wind"

"Yeah, another two hours away", Rory told him honestly.

"Jeez", he muttered, but turned his attention back to the screen. Minutes later Lorelai and Rory were bawling when a woman died in the film and he wrapped his arm around Lorelai who sat beside him.

"It's so sad"; she cried and buried her face in his chest.

"Yeah yeah", he sighed and patted her back gently, while Rory gave her mother some Kleenex. "What I don't understand is why you are watching a movie on Christmas which makes you cry your eyes out", he said.

"Because it's so romantic and it's a tradition", Rory sniffed.

"Hearing her say "Ashley, oh my Ashley" a thousand times is romantic? Beats me!", he said and was relieved when Lorelai sat up and grinned. He was still worried about her because he had experienced more than once that day that her mood could go up and down within seconds.

"That's because you're a man," she grinned and then lay back down into his arms, her back against his chest, because she had been enjoying the nearness a lot and there was nothing wrong with cuddling with a friend on the couch, right?

"Uhuh", Luke nodded and rolled his eyes and thought about getting up to get out of the situation without actually pushing her away, but then decided against it. It was Christmas Eve and he deserved a present, and Lorelai being that close to him, was better than any wrapped crap anyone could get him. He just about to get comfortable when something caught his attention. "What was that?" he asked and sat up straight again.

"What do you mean?" Lorelai asked him confused and turned around to face him.

"I could swear there was a flash going off, but there's no storm outside" he said and wrinkled his forehead.

"There was no flash", Lorelai shook her head and turned back towards the television. Luke kept staring out the window for another second, then shrugged and just turned his head when there was another flash going off.

"What the hell…" he muttered and got off the couch.

"Luke there was no flash", Lorelai shook her head again, without looking at him.

"No, mom, I saw it as well this time. There really was a flash"; Rory disagreed when the next flash went off. Without saying another word Luke hurried outside to check where this flash was coming from and Lorelai and Rory followed him with a bit of distance. They had just reached the front door when there was a commotion outside and they heard several voices of men, before Luke came along the front porch, dragging Kirk with him by his ear and Taylor by his collar. While Taylor seemed to choke and couldn't really say anything, except for some un-comprehendible sounds, Kirk was wailing.

"No Luke let me go! Please Luke have mercy on me!" he begged and pleaded, but Luke didn't stop and pushed them into Lorelai's hallway.

"What are you doing here?" Lorelai asked the two men before Luke could say something. Taylor pointed and Luke and signalized Lorelai that he should let him go, which Luke only did when Lorelai took his fingers from Taylor's collar one by one.

"Luke, this behavior is unacceptable, I should call the police immediately and they should arrest you!" Taylor said, but took a step back and quieted when Luke took one step towards him again.

"Taylor, what were you doing outside?" Lorelai asked him again.

"We were just taking a walk in the snow", Taylor shrugged innocently- too innocently.

"With a camera around your neck that has a bigger lens than any paparazzi lens I have ever seen?" she questioned further and pointed to the huge camera he had around his neck.

"Yeah .. uhm… we were taking pictures…. of.. uhm… birds", Taylor stuttered and looked like a deer in headlights.

"Birds? At nine at night in the winter? It's pitch black outside", Luke said and thrust his finger in the air and pointed to the door.

"And there are no birds in the winter", Rory added and raised her eyebrows. The two accused were now looking really scared, Luke still held Kirks left ear and they all looked at them questioningly.

"Kirk", Luke addressed him then and Kirk winced in pain.

"I didn't do anything, Luke. I swear I didn't do anything", Kirk wailed.

"What didn't you do?" Lorelai asked him and Kirk saw the anger rising in her eyes- he was really scared to death now.

"I really didn't… I had no choice!" Kirk cried.

"Kirk!" Luke suddenly barked and Kirk jumped in fear.

"We took photos of you two and spied through the window on you, because Taylor promised your mother to give her information on how you were acting and how you were doing. She promised him a meeting with the association of the traffic light builders, because he wants a traffic light in the towns-square", Kirk admitted and Lorelai gasped.

"My mother bribed you to spy on us?" Lorelai pressed out.

"I didn't have anything to do with it", Kirk added quickly.

"Give me the film", Luke told Taylor and held out his hand.

"No", Taylor refused and took another step away from Luke.

"Give me that damn film or I swear to god I am no longer responsible for my actions", Luke hollered, then took the camera and aggressively ripped out the film himself, not caring about the camera or Taylor's neck which was attached to the string on said camera.

"This is my belongings!" Taylor protested, but fell silent when Luke growled.

"You will not tell any of this- not a word- to Emily or I will kill you both. Got me?" Luke yelled then.

"Don't kill me Luke, I'm too young", Kirk cried and threw himself down on the floor and hugged Luke' s leg.

"You stole my film", Taylor only replied. When Luke came towards him, he took a step aside though and then ran out the open front door. Because of Kirk, who was still hugging his leg, Luke couldn't follow him immediately and he just had to kick him off of his leg. When Luke went to run after him Lorelai held him back by his hand.

"Stay. He's not worth it", she told him quietly.

"But he'll call your mother immediately", Luke said upset.

" I know, but I just won't answer the phone tonight. Please, don't let this incident ruin our Christmas", she begged.

"Lorelai, he'll tell your mother and then Rory's education will be shot to hell. Because of a traffic light!" Luke yelled frustrated.

"We'll see and deal with it when the situation presents itself. For now let's just go back and watch this movie, because I refuse to deal with my mother tonight", Lorelai said, although she was burning with anger inside.

"I am not in the mood for a movie anymore. Especially not "Gone with the wind"", Luke said and took a deep breath. "I guess I should go", he added then. "You're ok now?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I'm ok now. Thank you for coming over", she replied, too caught up in her fury to even get sad. She knew that if her mother would be in the room that second she should better know some good self protection tricks.

"Ok", Luke nodded and gave her hand a squeeze and left. When the door closed behind him Lorelai and Rory looked at each other, speechless about the recent events.

"I am always in the mood for gone with the wind", Kirk broke the silence and marched into the living room and sat down on the couch.

TBC