AN - Thanks Everyone, Anna is far more reasonable now, she just does want what is best for April, April is older so Anna's a little less protective. Thanks for the name suggestions. Sam is now 1 (as of this chapter) so he should get a personality I think rather then being just baby :) Paola - I don't have ideas for a prequel but I do have an idea of a sequel I'm just not sure I want to write it because it involves following the one thing from AYITL I can (Richard's death) and I don't want to focus on that right now because it's still sad. I also need to focus on my studies and I'm writing some stories for my nephew. I also feel a little written out having written so much in the last year. So I probably will take a little break once I finish this, (I don't want to finish this though because then it's over :( Don't worry it will be finished!) I also want to write some of my own stuff but degree comes first. Anyhoos, on with the show. As ever all my own work so any mistakes my own, reviews are always welcome thank you for reading I hope you enjoy, x

Chapter 35 - Birthday Bookends

"Hey Mom," Lorelai stepped back to allow her parents into the house. "Hey Dad,"

"Hello Lorelai," Emily gave her a brief smile and stepped around her daughter to allow Richard in.

"Hello Lorelai," Richard kissed her softly on the cheek. "How is the party going?"

"Barely structured chaos, as all good children's birthday parties should be. But the birthday girl is enjoying herself immensely," Lorelai looked over her shoulder at the lounge where Spencer was performing some kind of slapstick routine to great delight of the twins and Gigi, Martha and Davey, while little Sam clapped along from his perch on Rory's lap. "There is no real plan but given what is going on in there, you guys are probably best in the kitchen."

"Quite," Emily nodded curtly and strode into the kitchen, "Hello Maisy, Buddy."

"Why hello there Emily," Maisy smiled serenely at Emily. "Have a mimosa."

"Some of you get to have fun," Lorelai rolled her eyes as she sauntered over to the kitchen table where Luke, Buddy and Sookie were laying out a spread of food. She surveyed the spread and then reached for a chicken nugget.

"Hey!" Luke tapped her hand away. "Come on, how can we expect the kids…"

"The kids are watching Charlie Chaplin the awful years," Lorelai shrugged and grabbed the chicken nugget and stuffed it in her mouth before he could stop her. "Besides, I'm…"

"Being pregnant is no excuse Lorelai," Emily stated from beside the counter. "Nor is I'm hungry, or any other frivolous excuse you might dare to come up with. Your father and I raised you better."

Lorelai swallowed and shot a nervous look at Luke, "Yes Mom. So Dad, good drive?" She looked expectantly at her father, hoping he would understand what she was actually asking.

"It was fine," Richard told her with a faint glance at Emily. "Lorelai could I trouble you for a place to put my coat."

"Ah yes, another thing I should have been raised better to do." Lorelai gave Emily a cheeky smile. "Mom, let me take yours."

"Thank you Lorelai," Emily muttered in a clipped tone. "And where are we putting gifts?"

"Wherever," Lorelai shrugged. "Gigi is just going to be happy you are here. She lacks the materialistic edge of a Gilmore, but don't worry we shall drill it into her, now that she is one of us. This way Dad," Lorelai inclined her head towards the hallway. Once out of the kitchen she lowered her voice. "So Mom is mad because?"

"She's upset over April," Richard gave her a meaningful look. "I think she had it in her head she was going to see her every night, as per their conversation and she rather got her hopes up. Now that April is with you and Luke and has only come to Friday night dinner." He gestured towards the kitchen to indicate Emily and her less than stellar mood.

"I get it," Lorelai took a deep breath. "Nose out of joint. I will ensure suitable fawning is administered."

"A good idea." Richard handed Lorelai his coat for her to put away in the cupboard. "Where is April?"

"Upstairs. She's got a mondo paper due in, 25% of her final grade for a class. All the applications are in you would have thought the school would let up, but no, they are just piling on the pressure. She's going to join us later," She flicked her hand indicating for him to go in. "Now go in be merry, enjoy the party and the grandbabies and …"

"GRANDPA RICHARD!" Gigi screeched in delight.

Richard turned and Gigi made a hobbling run over to him and then launched herself into his arms.

"My goodness!" Richard caught the child as best he could. "Hello Georgia, happy birthday."

"Thank you," Gigi smiled up at him. "It's my best birthday party ever. Even better than the one I had in New York and that was really fun but this one I have my whole alive family here. Everyone came!"

"Well Emily and I are very happy to be here," Richard lowered the child to the ground. "You are walking much better."

"Yeah," Gigi looked down at her legs covered in pink and purple stripy tights. "Spencer takes me swimming and my therapist Thor makes me do lots of exercises and now I can walk without my crutches, some of the time," she gave the tall man a delighted smile. "Where's Grandma Emily?"

"In the kitchen," Richard smiled indulgently at her. "We have a few presents for you also."

"Oh," Gigi shrugged lightly before looking back up at him brightly, "Can we go see her?"

"Of course we can," Richard allowed the child to lead him back into the kitchen.

Lorelai followed, watching in amusement as Gigi gave Emily an equally exuberant greeting and Emily looking completely confused by Gigi's disinterest in the bag of gifts they had brought for her. After a few minutes the twins came in search of Gigi and dragged her back into the living room so they could play more games. Lorelai took the moment to approach Emily. "Like I said lack of materialism. She's just happy to see you."

"Yes, well," Emily looked across at Gigi and gave a soft sigh. "The poor child has been through so much."

"Definitely," Lorelai nodded sadly.

"Rory seems more relaxed," Emily commented, her eyes trailing onto her eldest granddaughter.

"The tome is at the printer, absolutely nothing she can do now," Lorelai glanced sideways. "April's turn to stress out over school. She's super busy with a nasty evil assignment, along with all the other homework they heap on her."

"I see," Emily returned the sideways look.

"She hasn't forgotten you or dropped you or anything like that," Lorelai continued, giving Emily a pointed look, "just working really really hard. This last week, she's comes home, experienced some cuddle force from the twins, worked until dinner, eaten, helped with the bedtime routine and then back to study. She's a busy beaver," Lorelai smiled uneasily, watching as her mother tensed, clearly thinking about what to say next. "I know she's super…"

"Hey Grandma," April appeared at the kitchen door, the teen walked across the space and hugged Emily strongly. "Are you in on Thursday?"

"I am."

"Can I come over after school?" April asked hopefully. "For coffee?"

"I'll ensure I have cake," Emily smile brightened.

"Great!" April matched Emily's bright smile. "Can I have food?"

"I dunno. Your Dad wouldn't let me earlier," Lorelai poked her tongue out at Luke as he walked past her to get to the oven to get the mini pizzas that were cooking.

"You don't use the serving spoons," Luke gave her a disapproving look. "April knows what to do."

"Dad was very particular about that," April nodded seriously with a smirk. "He hated sticky hands."

"Daddy still hates sticky hands," Kitty interjected appearing at April's elbow. "Mommy, Sam farted really bad. Like this." Kitty pressed her hand against her lips and reproduced the sound of a wet sounding fart.

"And on that lovely note, I will go tend to the boy's ablutions. Grandma you want to help with hand washing so the kids can start to eat."

xXx

Rory smiled gratefully at the library assistant who took the last of the books away and moved them into the returns bin. She had finally submitted her thesis, at least the first step, and after filling out all the paperwork at the faculty office she had returned all the books that she had taken from the library. Her bag felt ridiculously empty, just her laptop and a notebook. She still had some requirements to complete but the thesis, the main focus of her last four years, was in and now she just had to wait. She still had hoops to jump through in relation to it, the oral examination which would be coming at some point and she needed to prepare for, but providing there was nothing horrifically wrong with the text, she would be done. She had spent so much time working on it, tweaking it, trying to make it just right and now there was absolutely nothing she could do until she received feedback.

She passed through the doors of the library and began down the well-trod path towards home. The air was bright and clear, the rain from the past few days frozen into the delightful crispness that made her inhale and smile. Everything just felt lighter, like a massive stone had been lifted just a little bit and she could breathe more easily. On her way home she stopped at the local bakery and picked up some cream filled pastries. Spencer was taking Gigi swimming after school and it would be a nice treat for them when they got back, a way to have a mini celebration in honour of the monster book being out of their lives, at least for the time being.

Holding the warm bag she trotted up the steps of the townhouse and slid her keys into the lock. As she pushed the door open she could hear Gigi giggling and she paused surprised that Gigi was home. "Hey, was the pool shut?" she called closing the door and shrugging off her coat. Silence greeted her. Rory frowned slightly and curiously made her way into the living room.

"CONGRATULATIONS!" Gigi and Spencer called loudly.

Rory gasped and stared at the homemade banner while Gigi pulled the string of a party popper sending coloured paper string over Rory's head.

"You are done," Spencer stepped forward and kissed Rory firmly on the mouth. "Almost."

"Almost," Rory repeated going back for another kiss. She giggled as Gigi popped another popper over their heads. She broke apart from Spencer and smiled at her sister. "The banner is great Gigi."

"You like it," Gigi beamed at her. "I wanted to say 'Yay, no more book', but Spencer said we should say congratulations. This means we can do more stuff together, because you won't have to work so hard," the little girl pressed her arms between Spencer and Rory and hugged Rory tightly. "I hope I'm as clever as you when I'm older."

"You are just as clever as me. I've just had more school," Rory hugged the little girl back. She looked up as something dinged in the kitchen. "You guys cook?"

"Cupcakes because a special occasion should always have cake," Gigi stated proudly "I helped, we got icing to put on them, but we have to wait for them to cool."

"I feel really special," Rory let Gigi lead her towards the kitchen. She cast a look over her shoulder at Spencer who was looking at her proudly. "I haven't finished yet."

"And we will have another party when you do," Spencer winked at her and then slid round the two sisters to get to the oven. "You should be celebrated."

"Yup," Gigi bounced her shoulders. "Coz you're the cleverest, best sister in all the world."

xXx

Luke frowned in Lorelai picked up the blouse he had just ironed and put it back on the ironing board.

"It's done," Luke stared at her blankly.

"It's not super important interview done," Lorelai shooed him across and took the iron from him, she quickly pressed a few more spaces and then held it up. "Now it's done."

"It looks exactly the same." Luke rolled his eyes and took the iron from her. "You want me to do any work stuff for you?"

"Nope, all the creases get pushed out anyway," Lorelai gestured vaguely at her body.

"Guess so," Luke nodded, sensing it was probably best to say not to say anything further or to try and argue with her. "You think just a blouse is OK, like doesn't she need to dress up for these things? She did for that other one."

Lorelai shook her head. "The email was very specific, be yourself and dress appropriately for the environment where you are meeting. She is meeting in the café at the natural history museum. She's got a new pair of corduroys, this is a smart blouse, because you know these things like collars. She's got sensible shoes on because of the whole snowing thing. I've lent her a long chain to wear."

"What's at the end of the chain?" Luke looked at her warily.

"Just a gem stone, or at least one made from paste," Lorelai carefully hung the blouse and looked it up and down. "She's going to braid her hair so it's neat and out of the way. I've done eyebrows and nails. She looks neat and presentable and she will look like April," she turned back and gave him a wry smile. "You are more worried about how she's going to look then she is."

"She's not into that whole thing though."

"Wearing clothes and looking presentable?" Lorelai smirked. "I think she's got that covered. She's going to be fine, once she's in there and talking she will be OK," Lorelai patted his shoulder.

"I should close the diner and go…."

"Uh uh," Lorelai shook her head. "She has to do this herself."

"Yeah, but then she won't be stressing out over driving…"

"Well, technically she's not doing this by herself because Dad is driving her," Lorelai shrugged and continued before he had a chance to question it. "She asked them if she could park at theirs and get changed and Dad isn't working so he offered to drive her before he has to go do something and then she'll get the bus back to the house…" she trailed off and gave him an apologetic smile. "It just happened, and I will make sure she calls you as soon as she is done."

"And Anna," Luke exhaled heavily, trying to hide his disappointment that somehow, he had been side-lined from helping his daughter with her interview with MIT. He was trying to be supportive about the whole thing, but the college process had left him feeling intensely confused. April had applied to 6 colleges and was now having interviews for them. Some were held locally in Hartford and she was meeting people in café's and hotel conference rooms depending on the college, though two, Yale and Southern Connecticut State where being held in New Haven at the campuses and he was taking her to one and Anna the other. This one though was the big one. MIT was the dream, the college that she was desperate to go to; the one where the programme excited her the most. He wanted her to get what she wanted and he wanted to help her get what she wanted, even if he had no clue what he was doing.

"It's OK Hun," Lorelai purred and rested her chin on his shoulder. She reached past him and turned off the iron. "She's got this."

"I know It's just with everything, I just…" Lorelai stopped him with a kiss and despite the nerves bubbling in his stomach he smiled.

"She's got this. That kid is one smart cookie. She's bright and articulate and they are going to love her," Lorelai gently lifted away his cap so she could run her fingers through his hair. "And then once it's over and she's in we get a reprieve for 13 years until the twins goes through it and then in 19 years we never have to worry about college applications again, unless they want to do grad school like Rory did."

"Ah Jeez," Luke shook his head and looked downwards at her gently rounded stomach.

"This second time around family thing does have some negative points, huh?" Lorelai giggled. "I can't imagine them at that age, they are still my little babies. Sam's just starting to walk. I mean can you imagine him, eighteen, getting ready for his college interview? If that is what he wants to do."

"I can't imagine him at 8," Luke glanced up towards the ceiling in the vague direction of Sam's room. "It seems like two minutes ago you were pregnant with him and now he's almost one and your…" he pointed at her stomach again.

"Cooking Lucy," Lorelai smiled and ran her hand over her stomach.

"No," Luke shook his head. "Stop calling her that. We are not naming her Lucy or Lucille or anything like that."

Lorelai poked her tongue out at him. "You haven't offered any other suggestions."

"We've got ages yet," Luke gave her a frustrated look.

"I know but it will go quick and soon enough I will be hippo sized and Lu…"

"Nope," Luke cut her off. "I'm serious we are not calling her that, we are not naming her after me, Sam's middle name is Lucas that is it."

"Baby Girl Danes, name to be decided. Better?" Lorelai conceded. "Will be here."

"Yeah she will," Luke smiled and ran his hand over her stomach. He paused and frowned thinking that maybe he felt something.

"Here," Lorelai moved his hand slightly. "She's a wriggler not a kicker. Feel anything?"

"Not yet," Luke gave a deflated sigh.

"Little while," Lorelai smiled sympathetically and ran her hands through his hair again. "On the topic of Little Man, still OK with the ride along car thingy for present?"

"Sure," Luke nodded. "You gonna get it?"

"Of course. I would never subject you to the horrors of toys'r'us."

"Thanks," Luke checked the iron for temperature and finding it cooled enough began to pack it away.

"I can't wait until he's old enough to not swallow things. I'm going to get him a tool box and call it Ernie. That way he can be just like his Daddy," Lorelai bounced her shoulders.

Luke opened his mouth to respond but seeing the gleeful look in her eyes let it go, knowing that she was teasing him. He smirked as Lorelai's face fell slightly.

"Nothing?" she shook her head in annoyance "No huff or ah jeez. I'm slipping!"

"Nope"" Luke shook his head and collapsed the ironing board. "Just used to you."

"That's worse!" Lorelai placed the back of her hand on her forehead. "I'm predictable. The horror. The blandness. I should start wearing beige."

"Will you stop," Luke rolled his eyes and tucked the ironing board under his arm. "You are anything but predictable, just sometimes, I know where you are going so I can actually follow along."

"Well as long as I'm not predictable," Lorelai scrunched up her nose in delight.

xXx

Emily indicated and immediately pulled the car over into the bus stop. She beeped her horn gently making April look up with surprise from the book she was studying. Emily rolled the window down and leaned towards the bus stop. "Hello April honey, get in."

"Hi Grandma," April gave her a grateful smile and threw her back over her shoulder. She rushed across the sidewalk and slipped into the car, shoving her bag by her feet and reaching for her seatbelt. "You didn't leave work early for me did you?"

"Not just because of you, no," Emily leaned over slightly prompting April to give her a peck on the cheek.

"We should probably get going so you don't get a ticket," April pointed out.

Emily nodded in agreement and indicated, pulling out into the flow of traffic and matching the speed of the road. "So how did it go?"

April took a deep breath. "Ok, I think. I was really nervous at first and I wasn't sure what to say but there was this kid just screaming in the café and the mom was just ignoring it and it kind of gave me an in to talk about the little ones and I guess once I started to talk it got easier and then they started asking me about science and what I wanted to do. I think I answered them OK. I just have to wait and see."

"Such a horrible time," Emily smiled sympathetically at her. "How many more do you have?"

"Three," April sighed. "Yale, Southern Connecticut State and Wesleyan, but today was the main one," she smiled and looked down at her phone as it beeped, she squinted at the message and smiled fondly. "Dad replying to my message but he really sucks at texting. A bit of an autocorrect fail."

"Have you called your mother?" Emily asked. She indicated and shifted lanes, pulling into the filter lane that directed them towards the Gilmore Mansion.

"I left a message. She'll call me back when she's on her break," April looked at her phone again and then slid it into her pocket. "So why else did you have to leave work early?"

Emily huffed in a tired manner. "We have a new maid and I have to say I do not think she will make the week. A terribly useless creature." Emily smiled, it wasn't the whole truth, granted the maid wasn't up to her exacting standards but mostly she had left work early to come back to catch April to see how the interview had gone. She hadn't anticipated collecting her from the bus but she was very pleased to do so as she hated her grandchildren having to use public transport. "I should be used to incompetence by now." April made a noise of agreement and Emily smiled. "Do you have to get back to school?"

"No, I was given the afternoon off. School is cool about it because it's a college interview, anything else they get funny, but colleges they like because the better college, the better their statistics look for prospective parents," April shrugged. "I just hope I get in somewhere."

"Oh you will April. You are a tremendously smart individual destined for greatness. And I'm not just saying that because you are my granddaughter," Emily indicated to turn into the neighbourhood main road. "Your Grandfather and I are certainly far better informed in the natural world then we ever were thanks to you." She caught April's slightly nervous look. "In a good way. We can get a little bogged down in arts and humanities, you've made us broaden our horizons and our charitable endeavours. Just this month I encouraged the DAR to look into protecting historical woodland. We saved a small copse from development."

"That's great Grandma!" April smiled widely. "Established woodlands are so important in terms of ecosystems it…um…" she trailed off and scratched her head.

"April?" Emily frowned. "Sweetheart?"

"It's n…" April smiled weakly. "I really want to get into a good college, get out of that school, but I don't everything to change. I'm going to miss just being able to talk about protected woodlands and everything else."

"And where does it say that going away to college means we won't be able to talk about protected woodlands?" Emily pressed her lips together and steered a little more ferociously then she would normally into the next street.

"That initial conversation came up at Friday night dinner," April told her softly. "If I'm away at college we won't get that."

"I suppose," Emily sighed heavily and pulled into the driveway, "but we can talk often, that is what cellphones are for. And don't worry about cost your grandfather and I will pay for a suitable plan and device."

"You're already paying for my tuition and everything else," April looked at her seriously.

"Cellphone comes under everything else," Emily smiled weakly and pushed the button for the garage door to open. "April things change, they must. As much as we might not like it. Many, many things change for the worse, this is a change for good. And we will not lose touch I'm sure Lorelai has inferred about hooks or something else equally as ridiculous in relation to me."

April chuckled. "A little."

"I have no doubt," Emily rolled her eyes. She pulled the key out of the ignition and then rotated to look at April. "You are my granddaughter. I know you worry about taking advantage of us because you aren't biologically ours. But you don't. Your grandfather and I pay for your school and anything else you might need in relation to that because you are our granddaughter and we want you to have the best. I also enjoy spending time with you and talking to you, so buying you a suitable cellphone plan is a benefit to me as well as you. Who else can I pester when I am stuck with spreadsheets?"

"I guess," April grinned at her. "Thank you Grandma."

"Not at all," Emily smile widened. "Now seeing as you don't have to go back to school how about we girls have some cake?"

xXx

"In we go," Lorelai held the door to the diner open allowing the twins to file in before she fed the stroller through the doorway. "Hi Daddy."

"Hi Daddy," Willow and Kitty reeled off with large smiles. The twins made their way over to the large red table and began the process of getting themselves seated.

"What you guys been doing today?" Luke asked rounded the counter with some colouring sheets to give to the twins. He patted each of the twins on the head and gave them the paper. "You good for Hannah?"

"I'm always good," Kitty told him with a pout. "Sept when I forget but I was good."

"Hannah gave you a glowing report," Lorelai assured her daughter, taking a seat and then lifting Sam out of the stroller. Setting the baby on her knee she held up a tote bag that had been slung on her shoulder to Luke. "For you."

"Mommy gotted you a present Daddy," Willow smiled grabbing for the crayons so she could begin colouring.

"Why?" Luke looked at Lorelai blankly while he took the bag.

Lorelai smiled serenely. "You don't like the name I suggested, you need to come up with some suggestions." She nodded insistently at the bag. "Get reading, over 50000 names!"

"Lorelai," Luke gave a huff of annoyance pulling the baby name book out from the bag. "We don't need this. I'm just not naming a kid after me."

"It wouldn't be after you," Lorelai poked her tongue out at him. "It just has the happy accident of sounding like your name,"

"Jeez," Luke flicked through the thick book and frowned. "Just give me other ideas."

"I can give you ideas," Kitty looked up at them interested. "I want to help pick the baby name."

"Really?" Willow looked up from her colouring. "We can pick the name?"

"No, Me and Daddy have to pick the name," Lorelai told them quietly. "It's Mommy's and Daddy's job."

"But we can give ideas. Granma gives ideas," Willow told Lorelai. The child pulled herself onto her knees and looked seriously at her parents. "I think Jemima."

"Jemima?" Luke stared at his daughter blankly.

"Like the duck," Lorelai guessed. "We will put it on the list but …" She stopped, interrupted by a loud squealing sound emerging from the kitchen. A moment later an ecstatic looking Lane appeared clutching her cell phone. "You OK?"

"I got a job at a label," Lane squealed in delight. "My professor the one I interned for, he's offered me a job!"

"Lane, oh my god that's great!" Lorelai stood up and thrust Sam into Luke's arms. She strode across the diner and hugged the young woman tightly. "What will you be doing?"

"He's investing in a new genre channel, a sub label and I would be working in that it sounds like a bit of everything to begin with. It's a bit like when I interned but I actually get paid, not a lot but it's a start and if it goes well it might be more. I got a job in the music business" Lane reeled off bouncing on her toes in excitement. "I have to call Zack. I have to tell…" she trailed off her eyes falling on Luke. "Oh Luke, I er…"

"Congratulations Lane," Luke joined Lorelai and handed Sam over. His arms free he hugged the young woman. "I'm so pleased for you. You always were too good for here."

"Thanks Luke," Lane blushed. "I don't start yet, I can still work for you and even after I do, I can still help out with shifts and anything."

"It doesn't matter," Luke waved his hand dismissively. "We'll work that out when you know and I can always find shifts for you if you need."

"Thanks Luke," Lane grinned at him. "Can I take five to call Zack?"

"Sure," Luke nodded towards the door. "It's just Lorelai and the kids, I can manage."

"Thanks," Lane darted out the diner.

"Just Lorelai and the kids," Lorelai gave him an affronted look. "Who are we chopped liver?"

"That's what you are getting if you don't sit down and order," Luke playfully patted her backside and pushed her towards the table. He paused as he caught the horrified look on Willow's face. "It's Ok Wills, you can choose what you want."

xxx

"WOW!" Kitty sounded in awe when Luke set the large cake shaped like a number 1 on the centre of the table. The cake was surrounded by fondant teddy bears and balloons. "Daddy you made that?"

"I made the cake, Mommy bought the bear and stuff from Weston's," Luke told her surveying his handiwork. "Come away from the table OK. We're not eating till Grandma and Grandpa get here. Go back in the living room."

"But it's boring," Kitty rolled her eyes, "Everyone's just watching Sam."

"That's because it's his birthday Kits," Luke gently pushed the child towards the living room which was filled mostly with adults who had come to wish the baby a happy first birthday. Sam was happily showing off his new trick of walking to great delight of those who had attended and was positively ecstatic with all the attention. He smiled slightly at the slight pout on Kitty's face. While she was normally fine to share attention it wasn't usually so sharply focussed on just one of them, especially as with the twins having to share all their birthdays. Kitty liked her fair share and right now he knew she was feeling the unjustness of Sam being the focus. "Why don't you sit with April and Jessica?" He made eye contact with his eldest. "They'll play with you."

"For sure," April jumped up and gave Luke a nod to show she had understood.

Luke gave April a pleased smile as the two teenagers took Kitty towards the library area.

"Meltdown prevention?" Lorelai asked stepping in beside him and taking hold of his bicep.

"Yup, everyone is watching Sam," Luke rolled his eyes. With a smile he turned around and lightly touched her belly. "How you doing?"

"I'm fine, the top has been rubbed shiny," Lorelai flicked her eyes skywards. "I like our crazy friends."

"They have their moments," Luke gave her a soft hug. "Little Man is having a blast."

"Definitely," Lorelai nodded turning slightly to watch the newly minted one-year-old toddle over to Patty, give her a fragment of wrapping paper, allow her to pat him on the top of his curly hair and then turn and toddle back to the centre of the room where more paper on the floor. "He looks like an old man, just with hair."

"The walk isn't quite there yet, is it?" Luke chuckled.

"Daddy," Willow bounded up to him with wide eyed excitement. "Granma an Granpa are here, they bringed Sam a car."

"A car," Lorelai looked at Luke in mild alarm. Nervously they made their way over to the window. Outside Richard was trying to lift a large white car out of what looked like a rental vehicle. "Oh Man, go help him Hon before he does his back in."

Luke nodded and quickly moved to the door. He jumped slightly as he found Emily just on the other side, his mother in law had a look of supreme displeasure on her face and instantly he stood a little taller. "Hey Emily."

"Hello Luke," Emily gave him the briefest of smiles.

"I was going to give Richard a hand," Luke pointed to his father in law.

"Don't," Emily shook her head. "Let him drop the ridiculous thing. What one year old needs an electronic ride along Bentley? I mean really." She held out he bag she was holding. "My gift for Sam. Seeing as how we are now doing separate presents, a few little outfits and some wooden toys that promote dexterity."

"No sailor suits right Mom," Lorelai appeared in the doorway and took the bag from Emily. "Thank you, I'm sure he will love them when he gets over his love of the gift wrap."

"I'm sure he will, and no there are no sailor suits, though one does have a boat applique," Emily's expression finally softened. "Hello Precious."

"Hi Granma," Willow bounced into the doorway, she reached and grabbed Emily's hand pulling her in. "Come sit with me."

"Go help Dad," Lorelai lightly pushed Luke's shoulder.

"Emily said not to," Luke looked at her warily and then back at Emily.

"He's going to injure himself Mom," Lorelai pointed out, wincing slightly as she watched Richard struggle with the toy.

"Oh No!" Willow looked out nervously at Richard. "Granpa can't get hurted Daddy!"

"I'll go give him a hand," Luke slipped between the women and jogged down the porch steps over to Richard. Before he announced himself he glanced over his shoulder noting how Lorelai's and Emily's shoulders were both tensing. With a sigh he stepped in to help Richard. "I'll get this side."

"Luke my good man. I apologise, I couldn't resist." Richard looked down at the large white toy car with shamefaced laced nostalgia. "I had a little Rolls Royce Peddle car when I was a tot and I saw this and just had to get it for Samuel. A foolish indulgence but as he is the only boy well I just…there is a remote," Richard suddenly blustered pointing at a cardboard box. "So you can steer."

Luke looked at the box and then back at his father in law. With a sigh he helped lift the toy car out of the vehicle and the two men walked it over to the porch. Once set down Luke took a step back and studied the extravagant toy, taking in the personalised license plate that read Samuel. He gave another soft sigh and glanced at his father-in-law who was looking at him nervously. "I understand." He smiled warmly at Richard. "Why don't you go in and see him," Richard gave him a pleased smile and with a bounce to his step moved into the house. Luke shook his head and observed the ridiculous toy.

"You understand my father buying an expensive electric sit in car?" Lorelai joined him outside closing the door slightly so the heat did not escape and their conversation did not drift in.

"Not the car, that's just stupid, commercialisation bull crap gone too far," Luke shook his head moving up the porch to join her, "the wanting to get it I get. Sam is his chance to have a son. If you would have been a boy he probably would have got you whatever version of this existed when we were kids. I've learnt with your parents the dumb but from a good place that are actually from a good place and not their misguided version of a good place I should just go with. This is one of those things." He kicked the front tyre. "Puts ours to shame."

"Yes, but ours doesn't cause injury," Lorelai shrugged, "and he was more interested in his ability to be able to store things in the seat," Lorelai shook her head. "All this money on a 1 year old."

"It's your parents." Luke shrugged. "I'm just pleased we get a few weeks break before the next circus a go round."

"Hey. My birthday is very important, I expect to be pampered and spoiled." Lorelai poked her tongue out at him. "You think if I hint hard enough they'll buy me a real Bentley, beats the space mobile."

Luke scoffed and shook his head. "The kids would wreck it in 2 seconds flat. Come on, let's get this party and over and done with"

"Hey our boy only turns one once," Lorelai tapped his chest. "Enjoy it, its going quick."