A/N: Thanks for the reviews on the previous entry, peops. Here's something else a little bit different, but we all love to read about Luke Danes being his excellent self, right? ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see 1.)

12. Bundles of Joy - 1st March 2025

"Well, how does it feel, Grandpa?" Lorelai asked as she came into the kitchen, pretty sure she had seen Luke wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his usual plaid shirt just as she entered.

"I'm sorry, what?" he asked, turning away and pretending to hunt for something in the fridge.

"Come on, Luke," his wife said, rolling her eyes as she moved over to him and turned him around to face her. "Kind of a big deal, meeting your granddaughter," she insisted, putting her arms around him.

"We already have two grandchildren, Lorelai," he reminded her with a look. "Rory and Jess saw to that a long time ago. The whole grandpa thing doesn't even seem like a big deal anymore," he insisted, sparing her a quick kiss before he pulled out of her grasp and made himself busy again.

She smiled at his words, but knew it wasn't the whole truth. Of course, Lorelai loved that Luke considered Jack and Tori to be his grandkids. They had always called him 'Grandpa Luke' and nobody even batted an eye. After all, he was married to Lorelai, had a hand in raising both Rory and Jess to be the people they were today, so it made sense. Still, by blood and biology, Luke was never really, technically, a grandfather, not until a couple of weeks ago.

"It's different, Luke," Lorelai said from behind him, perching herself on the edge of the table and watching his back as he fixed drinks and snacks for those gathered in the next room. "You're allowed to feel different about it. I'm not going to judge or be upset, because I get it."

There was a silence before he finally huffed out a breath and turned around with a serving dish in each hand.

"Don't know what you're talking about," he said, indicating with his head that she should move so he could put down said dishes.

That was when Lorelai started to get a little ticked.

"Hey," she said crossly, pulling on his sleeve the moment his hands were empty. "Since when was lying allowed in this marriage?" she asked as he met her gaze.

Luke opened his mouth, to make further denials, she was sure, but the words never came. He must have seen how serious she was about this, and for once in her life, Lorelai really was that serious, because this was a big deal.

Heaving a sigh, Luke looked to the tile and shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," his wife insisted, her hands at his cheeks, bringing his head back up so he would look at her again, "just be honest. It's a big deal, right?"

"It's... I don't even know what it is," Luke admitted then, his voice low, "except... she looks like my mom."

"Your mom?" Lorelai echoed, a little surprised by the truth she actually was getting now.

"Yeah. I can't even explain it," said Luke, adjusting his hat. "I mean she was a grown woman the whole time I knew her, obviously, and Anna-Marie is this little chubby bundle, but somehow, I look at her and I see Mom."

"Wow. That's... wow," said Lorelai with a smile. "You know, I just know your parents are so proud of you," she told her husband then, arms going up around his neck as his hands rested at her waist. "Of course, I never met either of them, but given the kind of guy you are, I can just imagine how great they were, and it sucks that I never actually got to know them, but yeah, I just know they're proud," she said definitely, not doubting herself for a second.

It was good to see Luke smile back at her, clearly touched by her words.

"Thank you," he told her softly, leaning down to plant a kiss on her lips.

Honestly, as much as she enjoyed the kissing and the smiling and the being close with Luke, as much now as ever, it meant more to Lorelai that she had got him to open up about Anna-Marie. It was always one of the hardest parts with her husband and was still infuriating to her, no matter how much she loved him or how many years they had been married.

"So, I should take the snacks..." said Luke then, turning out of Lorelai's arms.

She let him get back to the food because nobody wanted hungry guests and there was quite the number squashed into the next room. April and Paul plus the baby, then Billy, of course, and also Rory, Jess, and Tori who had come to meet the new addition too.

The Crap Shack was so often busy with family and friends. Honestly, Lorelai just loved it.

"Hey."

Lorelai turned fast to see April framed in the doorway.

"Hey, sweetie," she greeted her, even as she moved to help Luke with putting his dishes and bowls onto trays that might make for easier transportation to the living room. "You're not toting the bundle," she noted.

"Paul has her, at least until she starts screaming for food again," April explained, "That's one thing he's no good for."

"Didn't I teach you anything, kid?" said Lorelai with a look. "Men are only good for one thing, and not all of them are so that good at that."

"Lorelai!" Luke exclaimed, making both his wife and daughter laugh loudly.

"Take your snacks to the masses, prudish husband," Lorelai told him, encouraging April to move out the way and let him go, which he did. "Seriously, he is not like that when we're alone."

"Probably not too comfortable thinking about sex in front of the daughter," said April, nodding sagely. "It's very weird. I mean, how does he think I got him the grandchild if I never had sex?"

"An excellent question," Lorelai agreed. "Maybe we should ask him, in front of as many people as possible?" she suggested with a wicked grin. "Nah, I don't want the shock causing some nasty side effect. Your good old dad isn't getting any younger."

"Nobody is," said April with a sigh, looking almost a little too much like that father they were just talking about as she wandered aimlessly along the counter, picking up this and that.

"Hey, April?" said Lorelai, getting her attention back. "You doing okay, honey? Because you seem kind of... I don't know, dreamy?"

"Listless," April suggested instead, "or lackadaisical, I love that word."

"You'd sure win in Scrabble."

"Actually, it doesn't score as much as you'd think. Lots of one-point letters."

Lorelai shook her head. "Well, hello, queen of the tangent," she said, smiling at her step-daughter. "You wanna tell me what's up now?"

April sighed again then glanced out into the living room, as if to make sure nobody was about to walk through. She hurried over to Lorelai then and spoke in whispered words.

"Dad is okay with this, right? I mean, me being a mother? It's kind of hard for me to take it back now, since the deed is done and Anna-Marie is here and everything, but I just feel like he's being a little... weird," she explained. "Is he being weird, or is it me? There's a good chance I'm suffering from post-natal fluctuations in hormones and everything, but he seems weird."

"He is a little weird today," Lorelai admitted awkwardly, "but I swear, it's not you, or that gorgeous kid of yours... or it is, but not in a bad way. Luke is just... being Luke. He's feeling a little overwhelmed, because hey, grandkid of his very own."

"I didn't think it would be such a big deal." April shook her head. "He already has Jack and Tori calling him 'Grandpa'."

"Come on, you know it's a big deal, April," said Lorelai with a look. "You know it is and you would be more worried right now if he wasn't making a big deal."

"I guess," her step-daughter agreed. "He is happy though, right?"

"Ecstatic," Lorelai promised. "You know, in that great, understated, almost invisible way that only Luke Danes can be," she said with a grin. "Seriously, April, Luke is thrilled to be your dad and Anna-Marie's grandpa. He's just processing, but I promise you, everything is good."

Her arm was around April's shoulders as she steered her back to the living room then, the two of them stopping sharply when they found that Luke was sat in the middle of the couch with baby Anna-Marie in his arms. She was so small that most of her was actually sitting in his two big and capable hands. It was quite the sight to see.

"She is precious," said Tori, peering at her from over the back of the couch.

"You do not want one," Jess told her firmly from his place by Luke. "Not for a long time."

"He's not kidding," Rory added firmly when her daughter giggled.

"Hey, no offence to everybody else in the room and their previous life choices, but I plan to have babies after I graduate high school and college," said Tori definitely.

"Good choice," said April with a smile. "Also, no offence intended," she added fast, glancing between Rory and Lorelai.

"None taken," they said as one.

"You doing okay, babe?" Paul asked as April moved to perch on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.

"Sure, no problem," she assured him, kissing his cheek, then turning to look at Luke again. "So, Grandpa Luke," she said with a smirk that Jess might have been proud of, "you're not mad that we didn't get your name in there, right? I mean, we thought about it. After Anna for my mom and Marie for Paul's mom, there was talk of some version of Luke for you and Alan for Paul's dad, but neither one really has a female equivalent."

"You could've done with Lucy Alana," Lorelai suggested.

"Or Lucretia Alina," said Rory with a giggle.

Tori did not want to be left out of the fun either. "Lucia Ally?"

They all turned to Billy for his suggestions then, but he violently shook his head. "I have no idea."

"Good answer, son," Luke told him, before looking at everyone else present. "The rest of you are all crazy, you know that, right?"

"I don't know what the big deal is," said Jess then. "There's an easy female alternative to Luke. Should've just called her Leia."

"Huh." April looked as if she was seriously considering that one. "Maybe for the next one?"

"Something to consider," Paul agreed, the two of them nodding their heads.

"Are they just trying to prove my point about the crazy?" Luke asked Lorelai as she perched on the arm of the couch and leaned past Rory to get a better look at the baby.

"No, babe, they're just trying to drive you crazy, 'cause it's kinda fun."

Luke rolled his eyes and let it go, all his attention returning to little Anna-Marie as she stirred from sleep and looked up at him curiously.

"You're okay, baby," he assured her, shushing her when she seemed like she might be about to bawl. "Grandpa has you, you're good."

Lorelai knew full well that it was impossible for two-week old babies to actually smile, or have any real expressions actually, but she could've sworn the little bundle looked happy as anything to be safe in Grandpa Luke's hands. She knew that feeling very well herself. Putting trust in Luke was something Lorelai had never regretted. She was sure the same would prove true for little Anna-Marie Farber, just as it had for every other person in that room.