"Hello, Lucas," Mia said as she sat down next to Luke.

"Hi, Mia. How are you?"

"Wonderful. It's such a beautiful day for the town's Easter egg hunt, don't you think?"

"Sure."

"Why are you spending such a beautiful day sitting on a bench by yourself?"

"I'm watching Lorelai and the kids." He pointed to the clump of bushes near the gazebo where Jess and Rory were collecting colorful eggs while Lorelai hovered nearby.

"Why are you watching your wife and kids enjoy the Easter egg hunt instead of enjoying it with them?"

"Lorelai said I woke up grumpy and my sour mood was spoiling the eggs. I'm supposed to sit on this bench, she was very specific that it be this bench, until my mood matches the color of this egg." He held up a bright yellow egg. "I don't even know what that means."

Mia's shoulders shook with stifled laughter. "It means that Lorelai has put you in time out until you're ready to be a good boy."

Luke crossed his arms and snorted in disbelief. "How am I supposed to make myself sunshine yellow happy?"

"Well, why are you grumpy?"

"I just am. Do I need a reason?"

"Beautiful wife, beautiful kids, beautiful day. With so much beauty in your life, I think you need a reason to be grumpy."

"Maybe I'm just a grumpy person."

"You used to be."

"What?"

"You used to be a grumpy person. When you adopted Jess, you got less grumpy. Then, after you met Lorelai and Rory, you got happy."

"You would describe me as happy?"

"Not today, but, generally, yes, I would describe you as happy. Especially compared to a few years ago."

"I didn't realize I'd changed."

"It's a good change."

"Really?"

"Definitely. Which brings us back to the question of why you're so grumpy today."

"I don't know."

"Is everything all right with you and Lorelai?"

"Yes."

"What about with the kids? Aren't the adoptions supposed to be finalized this week?"

"The kids are great. The final adoption hearing is Wednesday."

"And everything's going okay with the adoptions?"

"Yeah. Everything's going fine."

"You're not nervous about the hearing are you?"

Luke hesitated before admitting, "I guess I might be a little nervous."

"Why are you nervous?"

"What if Lorelai changes her mind about letting me adopt Rory?"

"Why would she do that?"

"I don't know. Her mom isn't happy about it. She wants Lorelai to let Christopher be Rory's dad. I'm worried she'll try something at the hearing."

"Didn't Christopher terminate his parental rights?"

"Yeah."

"And didn't a judge sign off on the termination?"

"Yeah."

"Has Lorelai ever given any indication that she wants Christopher in Rory's life?"

"No."

"So, why would any scheme of Emily's work? Lorelai has never struck me as the type of girl who would do something just to please her mother and I really don't think she would do something that would hurt you or the kids. She loves you too much to deliberately hurt you."

"I guess."

"You guess?"

Luke turned to look at Mia, a small smile on his face. "I know."

"Better."

"When did you get to be so wise?"

"I'm not sure. It must have happened when I wasn't paying attention."

Chuckling, Luke said, "Thank you, Mia."

"You're welcome," she replied, patting his knee. "Are you sunshine yellow happy yet?"

"I think I might be."

"Then you better join the egg hunt, before it's too late."

"Good idea." He handed her the yellow egg he had been holding, stood up, and went to join his family. Mia smiled when she saw him wrap an arm around Lorelai's waist and kiss her cheek.

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When Luke kissed her cheek, Lorelai smiled and asked, "How's your mood, Mr. Grumpy Pants?"

"Sunshine yellow. Just like the egg."

"Good. What did Mia say that got you out of your funk?"

"She just reminded me that you love me."

Lorelai raised an eyebrow, indicating that she knew there was more to the story, but simply said, "She's right."

Grateful that she didn't pry, Luke kissed Lorelai. "I love you," he murmured against her lips.

"Dada," Jess called for his father. When Luke looked down at him, Jess held up an Easter egg and said, "Boo!"

"You're right. That's a blue egg. Where did you find it?"

"Dere," Jess answered, pointing to a picnic table.

Noticing that Rory was under the picnic table, Luke knelt down to see what she was doing. "What did you find, Rory?"

Rory crawled out from under the picnic table and showed her father the egg she had found. "Gween!"

"That's a very pretty green egg. Have you found a lot of eggs?" Rory held out her basket to show off her collection of Easter eggs. "Good job, Rory," Luke praised before turning back to Jess. "What about you, Jess? How many eggs have you found?"

"Eggs," Jess declared, holding out his basket.

"Very nice. It looks like you both have some room left in your baskets. Should we go find some more eggs?"

"Yes!" Jess and Rory cried as they took off running across the town square.

Luke stood up and took hold of Lorelai's hand. "We better go after them."

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"Lorelai, have you seen my tie?" Luke yelled from their bedroom.

With an exasperated sigh, Lorelai left the kids watching Sesame Street in the living room and went to help Luke. On her way upstairs, she stopped in the kitchen to talk to William. "Can you keep an eye on Jess and Rory while I go upstairs to help Luke the Grouch?"

"Any relation to Oscar the Grouch?"

"I think they're cousins."

Laughing, William said, "You go deal with the grouch. I'll go sit with the kids."

"Thanks."

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Lorelai stormed into the bedroom and to the closet to find the missing tie. "Okay, Luke the Grouch, why are you grouchy today? I thought Mia fixed you."

"She did and now I'm grouchy again."

"Well, knock it off. You're making me grouchy." She found his tie in the back of the closet and threw it at him. "Here's your tie."

Luke tossed the tie on the bed and grabbed Lorelai as she walked by him on her way out of the room. Hugging her tightly, he said, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you grouchy."

Lorelai wrapped her arms around Luke and buried her face in his chest. "Why are you grouchy? It's a happy day."

"I know. I just want the hearing to be over and everything to be finalized."

"I don't understand why that makes you grouchy."

"Your mother is going to be at the hearing."

"What does that have to do with wanting the hearing to be over?"

"I'm worried she's going to object or try to involve Christopher or, I don't know, do something to stop me from adopting Rory."

"Oh, Luke, why didn't you say something before now?"

"I didn't want to upset you."

"That didn't work."

"I see that now."

"Next time you're upset or worried. you have to talk to me. You can't just take your problems out on me without telling me there is a problem."

"Okay. I promise I'll do better."

"Good. As for my mother, I think my dad has made it clear that she needs to accept both adoptions."

"Do you think he can keep her under control?"

"I hope so."

"You're really not worried about her?"

"I'm trying to focus on the fact that in a few hours I'll officially be Jess' mom and you'll officially be Rory's dad. I just want today to be a happy day."

"If you're not worried, I won't worry. It will be a happy day."

"Good." Lorelai kissed him gently. She pulled away and, with a wide smile, said softly, "We get our kids today."

Luke smiled back at her. "Yes, we do."

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"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Danes." The judge banged his gavel and announced, "You're officially a family of four under the laws of the State of Connecticut."

Lorelai leaned across Jess and Rory to kiss Luke. "We did it," she murmured against his lips and kissed him again.

Smiling, the judge came down from the bench and approached the happy family. "We have a little tradition in family court that every time an adoption is finalized, the judge takes a picture with the new family, so, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a picture with all of you."

"That'd be great!" Lorelai replied enthusiastically.

The bailiff appeared with a camera and gestured for the group to stand in front of the bench. Holding Rory, Luke took his place on one side of Lorelai and Jess while the judge positioned himself on the other side. "Say cheese," the bailiff instructed as he took the picture.

"Congratulations again," the judge said as he shook Luke and Lorelai's hands.

"Thank you, Your Honor," Luke responded.

"Jess, Rory, can you say thank you to the judge?" Lorelai requested, pointing to the judge.

"Bank you!" Jess and Rory chorused happily.

The judge smiled widely. "You're very welcome."

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When Luke and Lorelai walked out of the courtroom carrying the kids, they found William, Richard, and Emily waiting for them. William and Richard quickly stepped forward to meet their children and grandchildren.

"Congratulations, Luke!" William gushed. "Give me my new granddaughter," he demanded, taking Rory out of Luke's arms.

"Um, she's not really new, but okay."

"I know, I know," William insisted. "But now she's official."

Lorelai laughed at the exchange and then turned to face her father. "Hi, Dad."

"Hello, Lorelai. Congratulations. I'm very happy for all of you."

"Thank you." Lorelai looked past her father to her mother, who was standing a short distance away from the rest of the group. "Hi, Mom."

"Hello, Lorelai. Congratulations," Emily said coolly.

"Thanks. I think," Lorelai replied uncertainly.

"Be happy she's here, Lorelai. It's a start," Richard attempted to reassure his daughter. Then, to distract her, Richard handed Lorelai an envelope and said, "Here's a little something for their college funds."

"They can't even read on their own yet, Dad."

"You can never start too early. Besides, I have high hopes for these two. They're going to go to Yale!"

"You think they're going to follow in your footsteps?"

"I certainly hope so."

"How about we wait for them to get a little older and let them decide for themselves?" Lorelai suggested.

"Fine, but start the college funds anyway."

"Okay, Daddy."

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"Hey, kids, do you mind if we stop by the store for a minute?" William asked as he pulled off the highway and drove toward Stars Hollow.

"I don't. Lorelai?"

"I don't mind either."

"Good." William parked the truck in front of the hardware store and explained, "I promised that I would check in when we got back from Hartford."

"It's fine, Dad. We'll wait here."

"I'll be quick," William said, getting out of the truck.

"Take your time."

"I don't want Jess and Rory to be stuck in the truck for too much longer. Why don't you take a walk around the town square or something?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Dad. It'll only be a few minutes."

"Oh, come on, Luke. It's such a nice day. Let's go for a walk," Lorelai pleaded, sticking her lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.

"I'll let you two sort this out," William said, chuckling. He shut the truck door, certain that Lorelai would convince Luke to go for a walk.

Luke attempted to ignore Lorelai's pouting, which caused her to start whimpering. Unable to ignore her whimpering, he gave in to her pouting with an exasperated sigh. "Okay. Fine. Let's go for a walk."

"Yay!" Lorelai cheered.

"You make it impossible to say no," Luke complained.

"I know," she agreed with a cheeky smile.

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Miss Patty watched as the Danes family slowly approached the dance studio. Jess and Rory kept stopping to examine every puddle, leaf, and rock, eagerly showing their treasures to Luke and Lorelai, who feigned amazement at each new discovery. When Jess and Rory stopped to look at a flower near the entrance to the dance studio, Miss Patty called out, "Oh, Luke, Lorelai, I'm so happy to see you. Would you mind coming inside to help me for a moment?"

"Sure, Miss Patty," Lorelai quickly responded. Luke groaned, earning an elbow to the ribs from Lorelai. "We'd be happy to help. Wouldn't we, Luke?"

"Yes, dear," Luke answered wryly.

Lorelai smiled. "Good."

"Thank you, dears. I'll meet you inside," Miss Patty said as she turned to walk away.

Taking Jess and Rory by their hands, Lorelai gently pulled them toward the entrance of the dance studio. "Come on, Jess and Rory, let's go inside."

Rory tugged on Lorelai's hand and pointed at the flower she had been inspecting. "Wook, Mama, wook."

Glancing over her shoulder, Lorelai said, "I see. It's a very pretty flower. Do you know what color the flower is?"

"Lellow," Rory informed her mother proudly.

"Good job!" Looking over her other shoulder, Lorelai noticed that Luke was not following them. "You know, the faster we help Miss Patty, the faster we're done."

"Fine," Luke moaned, wrinkling his nose in displeasure. "I'm coming." He quickly caught up with Lorelai and the kids, but, rather than walk next to them, he moved ahead to open the door.

"Thank you," Lorelai said sweetly as she stepped inside, pausing in the doorway long enough to give Luke a quick kiss on the cheek. Anything she might have said next was drowned out by the commotion that arose the moment she led Jess and Rory into the dance studio.

"Congratulations!" shouted the dozens of townspeople, including William, who had gathered inside the dance studio to celebrate the finalization of the adoptions.

"This is why we shouldn't help people," Luke muttered under his breath.

Lorelai glared at him and whispered harshly, "Oh, hush!" Then, leaning closer to him and speaking directly into his ear, she gently told him, "They're just happy for us." Luke's only response was an unhappy grunt. "Be nice," Lorelai reprimanded him.

"Fine, but I won't like it."

"You never do."

"If you know this, why do you keep dragging me to parties? I have been to more parties and town events since I met you than I ever went to before and I never like them."

Lorelai smirked. "But you always like the after party."

"Ah geez."