Author's Note: Okay as usual I own nothing. Also this will be a Trory story, mind you it won't focus solely on them, I'll make it just as much Luke/Lorelai if not more than a trory paring. In addition I want to send my condolences and prayers to all who were somehow affected by the tragedy that had shocked the nation. I don't know if anyone cares or wants to know but my birthday is September 11 so it was a sort of bittersweet day for me. Anyways, read on.
"Who are you?" Emily asked bluntly.
"Mom, this is Luke, remember he was at Rory's birthday party. You even talked to him at the hospital when Dad was sick." Lorelai explained.
"Oh, goodness he looks different. This is the first time I've seen him out of flannel and not wearing a hat." she pointed out.
Everyone turned to look at Luke, true to her word Luke was not dressed in his normal attire. He wore a semi-casual pair of slacks and sweater with the white collar of his shirt folded over and his hair, normally hidden by a backwards baseball cap was combed neatly atop his head. The man shifted nervously feeling the three sets of eyes watching him combing through the details of his clothing.
"Huh, I didn't noticed that until now." Lorelai said tilting her head to the side as she looked at him.
Sensing Luke was feeling uncomfortable Rory quickly changed the subject. "So Grandma what's for dinner tonight? I'm starved."
"Oh, sorry come in, come in." Emily said shaking herself out of the trance she had been in while looking at Luke. "Lorelai, why didn't you tell me you were bringing a guest! These are things you have to tell me ahead of time so I can plan properly! Thank goodness I always have the cook make extra food."
"Well…I was going to call…but…I was…at the inn…and…" she stuttered trying to think of an excuse.
Luke shot Rory a 'thank you' look and Rory replied with a nod that said 'your welcome'.
"Dinner is just about to be served so why don't you take your seats at the table." Emily said as another setting was set for Luke.
"Thanks Grandma!" Rory said sitting opposite her mother and Luke.
"Emily, dear, have you sent the paper?" Richard asked walking into the room straightening his tie. "Oh, Lorelai, Rory, hello. I don't think we've met, Richard Gilmore." he said extending his hand towards Luke.
Luke cleared his throat nervously. "I'm…"
"Jeez, dad its Luke! Doesn't anyone remember him? He was at the hospital when you were sick! Of course you were kind of not with it then…he was at Rory's birthday party!" Lorelai interrupted in frustration.
Rory stifled a laugh, 'That's mom for ya!' she thought.
"Ah yes…the iceman."
"Argh!" Lorelai let out an exasperated sigh. "He is not the iceman!"
"So Grandma?! Are we ready to start yet!?" Rory called out in the direction of the kitchen hoping to change the subject again.
"Sorry there was a problem with the salmon fillets but it's all fixed now. Let's start!" Emily said coming out of the kitchen followed by a few maids carrying the dishes of food.
"Looks great dear." Richard said to Emily as she took a seat next to Rory.
Luke smiled. 'Score two for the kid.' Luke mused to himself sensing another successful recovery made by Rory.
The five began dining on their salads, salmon fillets, champagne, and other fancy delights put together for the evening.
"So Rory how is school?" Richard asked.
"It's okay. All except for Biology."
"What's wrong with Biology?" Emily probed.
"Well it's my lab partner."
"Let me guess…Tristan?" Lorelai guessed looking up from her plate.
"Yup."
"He still bugging you?" Luke asked in a fatherly tone, which could also be translated as the 'do you want me to beat him up for you?' tone.
"Yeah, to make it worse is we're stuck with the same partners for the entire year. For every. Single. Project."
"Tough, babe. Sorry." Lorelai said sympathetically.
"Is he the DuGrey boy?" Emily questioned.
"Yeah."
"He seemed like a fine man." Richard stated.
"Not to me. To make things even worse, we have at least two projects a month. That's a lot of Tristan." she sighed stabbing her fillet in a mixture of anger and annoyance at the situation.
"Maybe it won't be so bad." Lorelai said optimistically.
Rory just stared. 'That'll be the day!' she thought.
Just as dessert was being passed out the topic of conversation took a turn for the worst…in Lorelai's opinion anyway.
"So are you and Luke dating?" Emily asked bluntly.
Lorelai who had been taking a sip of her drink at the time promptly spit it out. "What?!"
"I asked if you and Luke were dating."
"Mom, don't you think that you should transition into a question like that, sort of give fair warning."
"Don't be silly, answer the question Lorelai, yes or no?"
"You need to ease into these types of questions!"
"Lorelai, stop dodging your mother's question." Richard put in, having been brought to attention at Lorelai's outburst.
Everyone looked at Lorelai expectantly who in turned looked into Luke's eyes. Once she saw the look of fear and excitement in his eyes she smiled.
"Yes, we are."
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew when he brought the ice to Rory's party!" Emily exclaimed.
"That's great, Luke you seem like a fine man!" Richard exclaimed.
"You're happy about this?!" Lorelai asked incredulously.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Richard asked.
"Lorelai, are you happy with this man?" Emily asked.
She looked over at Luke, grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, which he returned. "Yes."
"Then that's what matters."
Lorelai too stunned at her mother's odd behavior about the situation was speechless.
Rory stifled another laugh. 'She did it, she really did it. And Grandma's okay with it. Maybe there really is something different about Luke. Maybe that's why he and mom fit so well.'
The rest of the evening went without surprises any additional and the ride back home was filled with a debate over whether or not Starbucks ice cream was just as bad for the body as regular coffee. Rory's dreams that night were filled with images of the three as a happy family, but for some reason there was another person in the dream standing next to her. Tristan.
AN: Okies, me hope you like! ( I think it's not my best cuz it kinda seems rushed but I've made you all wait long enough so I wanted to put this out for ya) Like I said before the votes are in and it's a trory story peeps. But please don't stop reading because of that! Hey listen I need some ideas! What do YOU want to see happen in the story? If you wanna make an impact in the plot of the story please include that in your review because once again you'll be happy cuz the story will be the way you want it and I'll be happy cuz of the reviews!
