Lorelai was sitting at Luke's counter flipping through In Style Magazine and sipping her coffee. She was taking a breather after shopping with her mother for elbow length gloves, bobby pins, nylons and a million other accessories.

The door to the diner flew open, almost knocking the bell off the wall. Everyone turned to see Rory running in "MOM!"

"Woah, where's the fire!" Lorelai asked as Rory practically crashed into her.

"Dad just called," Rory huffed.

"No," Lorelai whined, knowing what was coming.

"He apologized a million times."
"No."

"He was really trying to come this time."

"Damn it!"

"He just can't get away from work."

"Work," Lorelai scoffed. "That man has not cared about a job for longer than two months, I can't believe he's not going to be there for you!"

"HEY! I came in here all panicked and upset, you're supposed to calm me down and tell me 'it's going to be okay', not get riled up yourself." Rory huffed.

"Is everything ok?" Luke asked, entering the dining area from upstairs.

"We're fine" Rory waved. Then she turned to Lorelai, "I'll call Grandpa tomorrow and ask him. Although he's been so miserable lately. Oh man this sucks! I'm going to Lane's." She got up and left, leaving Luke and Lorelai helplessly looking on.

"So now can you tell me what's going on?"

"Oh you know it's the same old story. Rory agreed to participate in a debutante ball for my mother. My parents have been fighting a lot lately so she thought this would make them happy. But now they seem to be fighting more. And part of this lovely and archaic tradition is that she's supposed to be presented on the arm of her father. The jerk said he would do it a few weeks ago and then today, with less than two days before the event, he cancelled on her. I could kill him!"

"Can't your Dad do it?"

"He's been so miserable lately. Yelling at my Mom all the time, snapping at me and barely looking at Rory. I mean we'll have to ask him, but it's going to be so awkward for her."

"And what exactly is expected of this father role?"

"Show up in a tux, link arms with your daughter and walk her down a staircase. The rest of the night he could hide with me by the bar. It would have been so easy for him to do this for her." Lorelai hung her head and stirred her coffee.

Luke sat in the stool beside her with his back to the counter, "I can do it."

Lorelai's head shot up, "What?"

"I'll go tomorrow and rent a tux. I can do this if it will help. I mean if you think she'd want me. I guess it could be embarrassing."

"Are you crazy? What could possibly be embarrassing about you? You really are wonderful for offering." Lorelai hugged him. "Are you sure about this? You'll need to shave and wear a tux and be around rich, snooty people for hours."

"Yeah but it's for Rory."

Lorelai almost burst into tears. She looked at this man, her friend, and she suddenly saw him so differently.

A sullen and quiet Rory reentered the diner, "I need coffee," she said flatly.

"Hey Rory?" Luke started. "Your Mom told me what's going on and if you'll have me I would be honoured to present you or give you away or whatever the father is supposed to do at this ball you're going to."

Rory looked at Luke in shock, her mouth half open, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Did Mom put you up to this? Because Luke, you really don't have to do this. You would have to wear a tux and be around stuck up rich people all night." Rory began to rant.

"Rory, this was MY idea. I saw how upset you were and I want to help. I can rent a tux and I will try not to embarrass you in front of your grandparents and their crowd."

Rory sighed, "No, I wouldn't be embarrassed at all. I just think it would be the last place you would want to spend any time."

"Oh you're probably right. But I'm offering, you can think about it."

Rory lunged at Luke and gave him a bear hug, resting her head on his chest. "Thank you! Yes. Please. Please come and make sure I don't fall down the massive staircase."

Luke looked sheepishly at Lorelai as he returned Rory's hug, "For you kid, anything. Just let me know if there is a special type of tuxedo I need to get. Please don't tell me I have to wear tails."

Lorelai giggled, "Tails, gloves and a top hat."

"No," Luke groaned.

"And a monocle!"

"WHAT?!"

Lorelai kept laughing, "Yeah, I'll call you Mr. Peanut!"

Rory pulled out of the hug, "MOM! Stop it! Luke, yes, you need to wear tails and gloves. But the gloves are only for the five minutes of the ceremony. No hat or monocle. I swear! And if you want I will uninvite Mom so she won't make fun of you."

"Oh no, if I am spending a night with your grandparents and their people I want your Mom there too," Luke said while giving Lorelai the side eye.

"Thank you, Luke. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm going to go home and call Grandma now to let her know." Rory hugged Luke one more time before rushing off.

Luke went behind the counter and began to clean up and make more coffee. He suddenly seemed to be avoiding looking at Lorelai.

"Luke, what size are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"I want to rent the tux for you. You shouldn't have to pay for this."

Luke softened and shook his head, "I can afford it."

"It's not that," Lorelai sighed, "I know you can afford it. But you shouldn't have to pay for this kind of thing."

"I'll make you a deal," he smirked at her, finally making eye contact, "I'll pay for the tux and you take me to dinner next week."

"Like a date?"

"Like a Thank You for spending a night with snooty rich people and doing all you could to blend in."
She half smiled and rolled her eyes, "Deal."