Lorelai sighed dramatically. "Luke, are we there yet?"

"You know how long this trip takes, Lorelai. You've been to the cabin before. More than once, in fact."

"I know I've been to the cabin before, but I'm excited. I haven't had a day off in weeks and now I have five days off to spend at the cabin. We always have so much fun at the cabin. What do you think of making a trip to the cabin a Fourth of July tradition?"

"I think it's a great idea."

"Good. So, are we there yet?"

Luke shook his head in exasperation, but couldn't stop himself from smiling at Lorelai's antics. "Why can't you be patient?" He nodded his head toward Jess and Rory who were asleep in the backseat. "Look at the kids. They're so patient that they're asleep. Why can't you be more like them?"

"I'm my own person!" Lorelai scoffed.

"You are definitely unique," Luke said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it lightly.

"Hey!" Lorelai admonished with feigned anger.

Luke brought her hand to his mouth and gently kissed her knuckles. "All of the things that make you unique are all of the reasons that I love you."

"Aww. Luke, you old softie," Lorelai teased him as she slid across the seat to lean against his side. "I love you too."

"I know."

Laughing, she reprimanded him, "So cocky."

"Not cocky, just confident." He let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

Lorelai smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "Good. You should be."

L&L L&L L&L

"I'm glad we're finally here, but I really don't want to unload all this stuff," Lorelai complained while gesturing helplessly at the bed of the truck and the pile of bags, coolers, and other belongings waiting to be taken inside. "Why did we bring so much stuff?"

"Well, we do have two toddlers who require a lot of stuff and we are here for five days." Luke paused to grab the first two bags, then continued, "And you don't exactly pack light."

"I need everything I packed!"

"That's fine, but now you need to help get it inside and unpacked."

Sticking her tongue out at Luke, Lorelai took the bags from his hands and started to walk toward the cabin. "Fine!" she called over her shoulder.

Luke simply chuckled, grabbed a cooler, and followed her to the cabin.

L&L L&L L&L

After he finished unpacking the last of the coolers, Luke grabbed a piece of paper off the kitchen counter and went searching for Lorelai. He found her in the room they had decided Jess and Rory would share. She was quietly unpacking toys and clothes while Jess and Rory finished their naps in their portable cribs. Luke was sure they would be awake soon.

"Lorelai, come here," Luke whispered from the doorway. When she joined him in the hall, he said, "I finished unpacking the coolers."

"Okay, um, thanks for letting me know," Lorelai replied, clearly confused.

"Yeah, well, it looks like I forgot to pack a few things."

"Oh. Do you need to run to the store?"

"Actually, I was hoping you would do it?"

"You were? Why?"

"Um, because I drove all the way here?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Telling you."

"Okay. I can go to the store after I finish in here. Do you want to make a list for me?"

Luke held up the piece of paper he had grabbed off the kitchen counter. "I already made a list. Why don't you go now? I can finish unpacking."

Taking the grocery list from Luke, Lorelai asked, "Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know, but you're acting really weird."

"I'm fine. Can you just go to the store now?"

"Yeah, sure," Lorelai agreed, eyeing Luke suspiciously.

L&L L&L L&L

"Do you both understand what we're going to do?" Luke asked Jess and Rory. The toddlers stared at him with wide eyes and nodded solemnly. "Good." He handed them each a plastic bag. "Now, go hide these under the bed in your room before Mama gets home."

Jess and Rory had only taken a couple steps away from Luke when the front door opened and a moment later slammed shut. "I'm back," Lorelai called. "Where is everybody?"

Jess and Rory squealed. "You two better hurry," Luke told them as he heard Lorelai's footsteps coming closer to the kitchen. "Don't let Mama see."

"Don't let Mama see what?" Lorelai asked as she stepped into the kitchen with her hands full of grocery bags. Jess and Rory clamped their lips shut and raced out of the room. Lorelai watched them go and then turned to Luke, asking, "What's that about?"

"Nothing."

"Luke?"

"Lorelai."

Lorelai set the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and put her hands on her hips. She gave him a cold stare. "What exactly is going on, Lucas?"

"What do you mean?"

"First, you ask me to go to the grocery store, something you normally prefer to do yourself. Then, when I get to the grocery store and read the list you gave me, I see that all of the things you said you forgot are things that I put in the coolers myself. Finally, when I get back with all the groceries we shouldn't need, I hear you telling our kids to hide things from me."

"It's nothing you need to know about right now." Luke groaned when he saw the hurt flash in her eyes. Reaching for her, he pulled her hands from her hips and replaced them with his own. "Lorelai, please trust me. Everything's fine and you'll know what's going on soon enough."

"I don't like that you're keeping something from me. And I really don't like that you're involving the kids in whatever you're keeping from me."

Luke stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I know, but I promise this is a good thing and that you won't have to wait long. Just trust me. Please."

"I do trust you."

"I know." He kissed her forehead. "I'll let you in on the secret as soon as I can."

"Okay," she agreed, resting her head against his chest and hugging him tight.

L&L L&L L&L

Drying the last dinner plate, Luke winked at Jess and Rory, then asked Lorelai, "Do you think Jess and Rory would like to go down to the dock and feed the ducks?"

"I'm sure they would." She turned to Jess and Rory. "Do you guys want to feed the duckies?" They nodded their heads eagerly. "Okay, let's go get your shoes on."

"Why don't I help them with their shoes? You can grab the bag of sliced grapes from the fridge and we'll meet you on the dock."

"Um, okay. I guess I'll just meet all of you on the dock."

L&L L&L L&L

When Luke finished tying Rory's shoes, he helped her to her feet and said, "Let's go see Mama." Jess and Rory held out their arms toward Luke, silently asking to be picked up. Luke gathered them close to his chest, so they were looking over his shoulders, and stood up.

As soon as he stepped outside, Luke could see Lorelai was already waiting for them at the end of the dock. Walking closer, he could tell she was agitated. Her arms were crossed over her chest. The bag of sliced grapes dangled from one hand.

Lorelai tapped her toe impatiently as she waited for Luke to reach the end of the dock with Jess and Rory. When he was finally next to her, she said, "I was wondering what was taking so long. Why did you change their clothes?"

Luke smiled and kissed her cheek. "They needed new shirts."

"Okay, well, are you going to put them down? The only thing they can see right now is the cabin."

"Lorelai, relax. We're going to tell you what we've been up to right now. In fact, Jess and Rory have something to ask you." He bent down to set Jess and Rory on the dock and help them into position.

"They do?"

Luke turned Jess and Rory around to face Lorelai. "Yes, they do."

Lorelai looked down at the toddlers and read their shirts. Glancing up at Luke, she saw him smile and nod. She reread the shirts out loud, starting with Jess' and ending with Rory's. "Mama, will you marry Dada?" She looked back up at Luke and waited for an explanation.

"I told you on Mother's Day that I saw a future for us. I'd like that future to start now." He took a moment to move Jess and Rory farther away from the water. When he was sure they were a safe distance from the edge of the dock, he dropped to one knee and took hold of Lorelai's left hand. "I love you, Lorelai. Will you marry me?"

"What?"

"Lorelai, will you…"

"Yes."

"Well, you don't have to answer so…"

"Yes."

"Well, you can take a minute to…"

"No."

"So, we're going to get married."

"Yeah, I'd like to."

Grinning widely, Luke slipped an engagement ring onto Lorelai's finger. He pulled Jess and Rory into his arms, exclaiming, "She said yes!" The toddlers squealed in delight causing Lorelai to giggle. Luke stood up and kissed Lorelai. "You said yes."

Smiling, Lorelai replied, "Of course, I did. I love you." She kissed Jess and Rory on their cheeks, then pressed her body tightly against Luke's and kissed him passionately.