Title: Christmas Mayhem
Author: MassCoffee
Feedback: My first. I need criticism.
Summary: My take on the future FINAL episode of the GG. Many things have changed, so be afraid, be very afraid. Get some popcorn and coffee and don't forget to widen your horizon.
Rating: PG-13. At least it will be.
Pairing: L/L and R/J
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Gilmore Girls".
Spoilers: There shouldn't be any. I only make up some.
Lane clumsily pushed the door to the apartment open. Turning around, she picked up a drum, a violin and three bags of groceries.
Reggie, who was obviously engrossed with the TV, did not see the difficulty his roommate was in.
Lane could feel something slipping and she knew she had to make a choice. It was the violin or the eggs.
Reggie leapt out of his chair when several objects crashed to the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" He gasped as he began picking up the groceries.
"God made the choice! I didn't." Lane announced dismissively as she cleaned up the mess. Reggie made his way back to the couch.
Making sure that her violin had survived unscathed, Lane went over to the window seat and began to tune it.
"How's it coming?" Reggie asked, his eyes not leaving the screen. Lane played a little for him.
"I've made an appointment with the recording studio in three days. We can start using it during practice hopefully before our New Years gig!" She said. "That reminds me, did Alec call and say whether he'd be able to make practice during Christmas?"
"No but some chick rang."
"That's really helpful Reg. Did I tell you how helpful you are?"
"I remembered her name! It was something really weird! She wanted to talk about some chick thing."
"Her name please?"
"Glory?"
"You mean Rory."
"That's the one! See? Told you I remembered it!"
"You amaze me! Did she leave a number?"
"Nope."
Lane picked up the phone and hesitated only for a moment. Trying to remember Lorelai's old number brought back some harsh memories. Like the fight she and her mother had before she left Stars Hollow forever.
She and Rory had stayed in touch as best they could, but their lives were firmly set in different paths. When she heard Rory's voice on the other end of the phone, she had hardly recognized it.
"Rory is that you?"
"Lane! How are you?"
"I'm doing fine. I'm thinking of murdering my roommate though. Are you ok? Has anything happened?"
"Do you remember Jess?"
"Of course I do!"
"I love him."
"Well good. Good for you."
"I told him I hated him."
"Oh. Well, I can't say that it never happened to me."
"Huh? When?"
"Replace Jess with my Mom and you've got an instant match."
"You haven't talked to her yet?"
"As far as I know she moved back to Korea and is pretending I don't exist. Moving the subject right along."
"Lane I'm sorry."
"It's ok. She'll deal, I'll deal. We'll all deal. Back to hating Jess."
"I told him I hated him cos I was engaged to Arthur."
"Is this the guy with the floppy hair?"
"I'm not engaged to him anymore."
"It seems like it's all fixed to me."
"Arthur doesn't know we're not engaged anymore. And Jess left leaving no hint of his whereabouts."
"Ahhhh, I see a problem."
"Help!"
"It's simple. Inform Arthur that he's not engaged to you. Then hire a series of private detectives to search for Jess's whereabouts."
"I can't afford that!"
"Appear for a few minutes on national TV and tell him you love him?"
"Something a little more personal? Anyway, what if he isn't watching."
"I give up."
"Oh."
There was a pause.
"I'm coming to you." Lane announced.
"What! Lane you don't have to do that!"
"You need me. It's time for me to use my Get out of Jail Free Card. After all, you're still my number one fan!"
"Yeah so where's my signed poster of the band?"
"All in good time. We just need to find a better bass player and we'll be on our way to fame."
"I heard that!" Reggie called out from the couch.
"See you tonight, I'll call you at the bus station."
"Hey Luke." Lorelai said without looking up at him. She was busy licking stamps and placing them on envelopes that encompassed the entire surface area of one of the larger tables in the diner.
"You've made yourself at home I see. Chaos and all." Luke said gruffly and tried to make some space for a mug.
"Don't spill any!" Lorelai shrieked as she threw her arms across the table and pulled her precious envelopes towards her.
"You're sending Christmas cards?"
"No, Amnesty International sent me a letter saying that the life of Santa's head elf was in my hands."
"You sacrificed a tree and exchanged it for the life of a supposed elf which forces parents to spend millions of dollars on non-biodegradable toys which inevitably wind up in a landfill?"
"Hey I think you saved some oxygen by not breathing during that entire speech. Do the planet a favor and see how much longer you don't have to breathe!"
"Drink your coffee-killer."
Lorelai sat back and sipped her coffee. "Just in time. My mouth was running dry from licking the stamps."
"You know you can buy stamps that are already sticky."
"It's not a personalized Christmas card if there's no bodily fluids involved."
"Blood and sweat and all that, huh?"
"Absolutely! I gave myself a major papercut. Behold it in all its glory." She held up her index finger to reveal a deep cut that was bordered by glitter and ink.
"Lorelai, it's two days before Christmas."
"So I left it a bit late. But Rory refused to help me!"
"The post is closed tomorrow."
"So?"
"And Christmas day."
"Your point?"
"These cards will not reach their assigned destinations before Christmas."
"Ummm, the head elf is delivering them for me?"
"He's dead. You were too late. They killed him."
"Har har har. Always that sense of humor we love so well. The way I figure it, the greetings on the cards always mention the New Year. So technically the cards will not be late."
"Where's Max? I think I'd have a more productive conversation with him."
"Rory's already claimed his company."
"You two haven't talked yet?"
"Yeah. We made up this morning."
"Good." Luke walked off and Lorelai thought she had seen the last of him for that morning. However, he returned in ten minutes with a swab of damp cotton and a bandage. Luke crouched down beside her and waited for Lorelai to extend her hand.
"Will that sting?" She asked.
"Only one way to find out. Come on, be adventurous."
"How about kissing it better instead?"
"How about I rip your arm off?"
Lorelai reluctantly held out her finger and flinched a little as he pressed the cotton ball onto the cut. Her lively blue eyes gradually settled on Luke's down turned face.
Lorelai loved everything about that face. It was a pity he frowned so often. It wasn't fair. Why wasn't he happy? Life definitely owed him a coffee served with cream and one of those little chocolate peppermint sticks that go on the side.
So where was it?
As Lorelai supposed, this was the real world. Where she and Luke and so many others were destined to wander alone in the dark.
"Jess told me you were saving up to buy that place." She said gently.
"It wasn't easy. You would have been waiting another five years at the rate I was going. And that's still with a loan." He replied gruffly. His eyes remained glued to her hand.
"You should invest the money into something YOU want."
"I don't need anything. Besides, it's going towards your renovation costs. That house is a poor excuse for architecture."
"You could buy a new truck."
"I've already got one."
"You could buy a better one. One with air conditioning and a cd player, oooh and little cup holders to hold a flask of that yukky green tea you like so much!"
"This is the height of today's technology? Cup holders? What an age we live in."
"You know Luke. I have a Christmas card here for you."
Luke rose as he finished bandaging her finger. "Excuse me while I go express my joy by doing some cartwheels."
"No need to be rude! I have one for Jess too." A dimple showed itself at the corner of Lorelai's mouth.
"Oh really?" He replied testily.
"Except I don't have his address."
"What a shame." Luke walked away. Lorelai ran after him.
"Oh come one Luke! The engagement is off and Rory is really upset! I'll put extra glitter on your card."
"Now how could a guy refuse extra glitter?"
"Luke!"
"Lorelai, I won't tell you. Both for Rory's and Jess's sake."
"He's in New York right? Just tell me that! He's not overseas or anything right?"
Luke weakened at the sight of those pleading eyes.
"NY would be a safe guess."
Lorelai kissed him on the cheek and went back to her table. She'd torture him some more later, when he was being less likable.
When she had posted most of her cards, Lorelai made her way home. The snow had thawed a little making the footpath all slippery. On her slow journey towards the front steps, she caught sight of a ring.
Picking it up, she carried it inside and walked into the kitchen. As she poured herself a drink, her eyes fell upon on Luke's present. It took up most of the dinner table when laid down flat.
She was dying to open it.
"Mom!" Rory hurried into the kitchen. "Lane's visiting Stars Hollow just to see me!"
"Oh wow! Our little local rock star is coming to stay!"
"She'll need a red carpet!"
"We'll need to alert the local newspaper!"
"And a limousine!"
"The whole kit and caboodle!"
"Is it ok if she stays here?"
"Sure. To what do we owe this special treat?"
"I told her about Jess."
"She's coming because of a Rory crisis? That's so sweet!"
"Isn't she?"
"How's she doing?"
"She's still playing in New York with the same group."
"And Mrs Kim?"
"Lane thinks she's moved back to Korea."
"They haven't talked yet. That's so sad. Promise me we'll never do that!"
"I promise."
"Ok then. Tell me about this." Lorelai pulled the ring out of her pocket.
"Arrggh, you set me up!"
"Dumping Arthur's ring in the front lawn so that Max buries it is not how you end an engagement."
"I know."
"So Arthur doesn't know?"
"No." Rory hung her head.
A smile crept across Lorelai's face.
"Guess what. Luke knows where Jess is."
"He does?" Rory's eyes lit up hopefully.
"But I'm not squeezing it out of him until you end this with Arthur."
"What am I thinking? It's too late for me and Jess anyway!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes! It is. I might as well have knocked him unconscious with the Christmas tree and pegged all the presents at him."
"Ah, but at least you refrained from strangling him with the Christmas stockings."
"Do you think he'll want me back? After what I said to him?"
"Not if you're engaged! Now get to it. Whether Jess takes you back or not I will not have you marrying prosy boy!"
"Prosy boy?"
"A nickname Luke and I gave him. Don't look at me like that! It was all in good clean fun! Bad mouthing Arthur was not involved in any way. And keep the ring, we can sell it at the pawn shop."
"Mom!"
"Kidding! I'm kidding! We'll give it back to Max to bury."
"But Mom! There's one teeny tiny problem."
"What would that be?"
"Along with his luggage, Art's phone was confiscated."
"Uh huh? So tell him when he rings you."
"Aren't you forgetting something? When he tried to ring me, Jess told him he had the wrong number."
"Oh yeah."
"There is good news!"
"Oh good. I was getting worried there."
"He knows your address."
"Oh goody! So one day he's just going to appear at the front door and surprise us?"
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
The girls froze.
"Don't look at me. I'm not getting it. I'm too wigged out." Lorelai said. Rory hesitated and then walked unsteadily towards the door. She took a deep breath and swung the door open.
Art flashed his charming smile.
"Rory! I made it!" He opened up his arms.
"Art!" Rory didn't move. Then awkwardly hugged him. Art gave her a kiss on the mouth.
"They finally let me go! What an adventure. I tell you we are NEVER using that airline again." Arthur picked up his suitcase from the verandah and walked in. Rory followed behind at a fair distance.
"Wow! So this is your house? And this must be the famous Mrs Gilmore!" He announced warmly as Lorelai sauntered into the living room.
"Hey there! Arthur is it? I'm not married and I'm not famous yet. But strangely I do give out autographs quite frequently. Want some juice?"
"Uh, no thanks. I'm sorry I couldn't notify you two of my arrival but it seems that Rory gave me the wrong number."
"Uh, I'm sorry?" Rory stared down at her feet. Arthur embraced his fiancé to show that he forgave her.
"Why darling, where's your ring?" He asked.
"Huh?" Rory looked down at her hand, then over to Lorelai.
"Oh! Uh! Rory was just, uh, showing it to me." Lorelai held it up with a twinkle in her eye.
"Art! There's something I have to talk to you about." Rory closed her eyes as if bracing herself for a thunderstorm.
"Of course. But first let me have a bit of a rest first. You have no idea how draining that whole experience was. I'll call a hotel, get myself settled and then I'm all yours. We'll have all Christmas to talk."
"Uh. Ok." Rory felt a little disappointed. She led Arthur to the phone, gave him some numbers to call and walked back to her mother. Lorelai handed Rory the ring.
"This is going to be SOME Christmas." Lorelai announced, not without amusement.
"I will tell him! But you heard him. He's too tired. Stop staring at me like that."
"I wasn't doing anything!"
"Yes you were, you're wearing that disapproving face that says 'I'm not impressed with Rory Gilmore'."
"You lie! I never owned such a face."
"You're still wearing it!"
"Ok ok! It's coming off now! Want to help me decorate the verandah with tinsel?"
"No. I'll stay with Art."
"You know. I'm taking Luke his presents tomorrow. I was planning to use them as a torture device, but-"
"Mom!"
Lorelai grinned evilly as she went out onto the verandah, leaving Rory alone in the living room.
"Mr Mariano?"
"What!" Jess shot cruelly at his flustered employee. He had been unable to concentrate on work since he had returned and everyone had been feeling his wrath.
"I-I just wanted to give you an invitation sir. T-To my Christmas party." The young woman shakily held out the brightly colored invitation.
"Huh? Oh yeah sure." He tossed it on his desk with the other Christmas junk and went back to glaring at his work. Couldn't they see that he just wanted to be left alone?
He wondered if Luke opened his Christmas present yet?
Jess couldn't help smiling over that. A couple of the office girls caught that smile and began to chatter.
Jess pushed away from the table and stretched. He knew he wouldn't get any work done. Not while that Donahue guy was still alive. Still breathing.
The phone caught his eye. Perhaps he'd just ring Caitlin and see if the jerk had left for New York yet. Rory wouldn't ever have to know anything about it.
Yes, that's what he'd do. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Oh my God! That's where the antique shop used to be!" Lane pressed her face against the window of the back seat of Lorelai's jeep. In the front seats Rory and Lorelai exchanged a smile.
"So what did you get up to on your first night back at Stars Hollow?" Lorelai asked Lane. But Lane was too busy staring at her old home.
"Oh we just went to visit some friendly faces." Rory said, remembering Babette's look of horror at Lane's new hairstyle.
"I've brought lots of music back for you guys. I've been collecting for Rory for ages." Lane said as she leaned over to them.
"Ah! Long live the black market!" Lorelai pulled the car up outside Luke's.
"Luke's! He rebuilt!" Lane got out of the car.
"Yup! Behold the new diner in all it's glory. Now put these on." Rory handed Lane a pair of antlers.
"Why?"
"Cos we already have two Santas. So we decided to make you our reindeer." Lorelai said as she put on a Santa hat. She chucked another Santa hat to Rory.
"Just humor her. You know my Mom." Rory whispered. Lane shrugged and pulled on the antlers. Lorelei opened the boot and they all grabbed an armful of presents and carried them into the diner.
"Hey Luke, guess what day it is?" Lorelai grinned as they dropped the presents up onto the counter.
"Go away, you're Halloween costume is too scary." Luke grumbled.
"Excuse me! Patrons of Luke's diner! Raise your hand if you think its Halloween?"
The customers just stared at her over their newspapers and coffee. Lorelai turned to Luke in triumph.
"See, they all opt for the much more fun idea of it being Christmas Eve. Funny that."
"And stop scaring the customers!"
"But look at all the presents I brought you! And all one day earlier than everyone else!"
"See how lucky you are!" Rory went around the other side of the counter and gave him an unexpected hug. Luke looked across at Lane and a faint memory stirred.
"I know you right?" He asked bluntly, but not rudely.
"No Luke, you're not hallucinating. That's Lane, our trusty reindeer." Lorelai sat down on a stool and pulled apart a doughnut. Most of the people at the diner were still staring at her. But today, she didn't care if the whole world heard the crazy things that came out of her mouth. It was Christmas after all.
"She's a reindeer all right! Squeeze her nose long enough and it goes red." Rory added as she sat next to Lane. Lane grinned and turned to Lorelai.
"So do we make Luke open the presents now?"
"Yup! For many years he refused to tell us when his birthday was. This makes up for all those surprise birthday parties he didn't have. Poor disadvantaged Luke." Lorelai grinned at him. But Luke was still focused on remembering Lane's face. Suddenly, something seemed to click.
"Lane. I remember you." Luke left and presently returned with a burger. Lane squealed in delight.
"You do remember me!" She announced happily as she took a bite into the burger.
"Hey Luke! What food slash beverage does my face remind you of?" Lorelai asked.
"Oh wait. I know this one. Ummm, A nice healthy bowl of cereal." Luke replied. Lorelai scrunched her nose up.
"A pancake?" Rory suggested.
"An watermelon!" Lane said between bites. The other three looked at her.
"What? Her face is shaped like one." She defended.
"That's it reindeer girl, you're fired."
"So sad. She was such a good reindeer." Rory patted Lane on the head.
"I'll be right back." Luke left shaking his head.
"That better not be a celery stick you're bringing back buster!" Lorelai called out after him.
"So, which one are we making him open first?" Rory asked.
"Jess's present." Lorelai cleared a space on the bench and placed the large box in the middle of it.
"Although, just for this morning it's not Jess's present." Said Rory.
"That's right. All lips must remain sealed. Hmmm. That guy is taking far too long to be making coffee. I'll think I'll just go get my own." Lorelai crept quietly behind the counter and grabbed the jug nearby.
"Good morning ladies. What's all this?" Taylor approached Lane and Rory.
"They're Luke's Christmas presents." Rory answered.
"A little over the top Lorelai." Taylor shook his head.
"Never. We love Luke, and his food and his coffee." Lorelai took a sip of her cup, and then spat it back out again. Luke, who had returned from the kitchen in time to witness this, snuck up behind her.
"Gotcha!" He whispered causing Lorelai to choke on what little was left in her mouth.
"I hope you enjoyed the remaining contents of yesterday's coffee Lorelai." Luke couldn't help but smile just a little. Lorelai glared at him as she took the fresh coffee pot from his hand and poured herself another drink.
"What do you want Taylor?" Luke asked dangerously. The smile had disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Nothing at all Luke. I'm just curious about what the girls came up with to give you."
"Taylor has offered to personally approve each item before you're allowed to keep it." Lorelai said after drowning out the horrible taste in her mouth.
"Here Taylor, you can wear my hat." Rory stood up and put the Santa hat on Taylor's head.
"Awww, that makes you look so cute. Quick! Where's a camera?" Lorelai teased, standing next to Luke.
"Hey there's Kirk. I wonder if he still takes photos?" Rory looked over to the table near the window and waved. Kirk was eyeing them all suspiciously but continued eating his meal.
"I think he had to stop when his mother hid his camera. Now Luke, it has been unanimously decided that you should open this one first." Lorelai pointed to the large undecorated box.
"But you didn't wrap it." Luke mocked.
"I have taken very good care of that present. It have fed it, burped it, resisted the urge to draw a smiley face on it and protected it from Max's drool. You'll notice that I even left him at home this morning so that he would not have the smallest chance to destroy this present. Now you will oblige my efforts by opening it!"
Luke looked at Rory for confirmation.
"She speaks truth my friend. She loves that box more than me." Rory reassured him. Luke bent down and broke the seal on one end of the cardboard cover. The top of the box lifted up like a lid taking up most of the space left on the counter.
Inside the box, the present was covered with butchers paper.
"Rip it Luke! Rip it!" Lorelai cheered. Luke gently tore at the paper and pulled it away from what was underneath.
When the last strip of paper was pushed aside, it took a moment for everyone to absorb and understand what had been hidden within.
It was his Dad's hardware sign.
The group was silent.
"But, the fire-?" Rory whispered as quietly as she could. Nevertheless, her voice cut through the silence like a knife.
Everyone had been convinced that the fire had claimed it. Luke had spent hours picking through the wreckage trying to find some scrap of it.
"Is-is it the original?" Rory asked. Again she spoke very quietly. She was afraid her words would bother Luke, who was looking very upset. Taylor leaned forward and inspected the burn marks on the edges. It was clear that it was the old sign, cleaned and touched up.
Lorelai, who had finally looked up at Luke, felt a wave of horrible horrible sadness wash over her. She hadn't seen him this upset since the diner had burnt down.
It was the first and only time she had seen sweet steady Luke fall to pieces.
God she hated seeing him like that. Life was so damn mean.
"Luke?" Lorelai gingerly reached out and touched his shoulder.
"The 'D', the 'D' is a little higher than the other letters." Luke finally choked out. He felt his eyes going hot and blurred.
Rory felt like she was going to cry. She clutched Lane's hand.
"It's ok Luke, we can fix it." Lorelai put an arm around him protectively.
"No, that's-it's always been like that." Luke defended gruffly. Awkwardly, he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Finally, a small smile flickered across his face, setting the small group around him at ease. Warm knowing smiles were exchanged as Luke took a step away from the counter and tried to compose himself.
"Luke's leaking Mom." Rory smiled, wiping her own eyes. Lane giggled.
Luke wanted to deny it, but his throat was too dry.
"Quick Rory! Get Bert before he floods the kitchen." Lorelai wrapped her other arm around him.
"Bert?" Taylor asked. "Who's Bert?"
"Luke's trusty toolbox." Rory answered. Taylor still looked confused.
"Mom named it." She added.
"Of course. Who else would name a tool box?" Taylor remarked. He also wanted to warn Luke that he would not allow him to put the sign back up outside. But something about Luke's face told him to hold his tongue. There would be plenty of time for arguing about that later.
Luke turned to Lorelai with the intention of thanking her. The soft look in her eyes however, made him look away again. He couldn't stand up to those eyes right now.
"Luke, uh, there's something I should tell you about this present." Lorelai said as she let go of him.
"What is it?" He asked, resisting the urge to kiss her.
"This present is really from Jess. He told me to give it to you after he left." She was going to kill that little runt. Similar thoughts ran through everyone else's minds. All those years ago, Jess must have found it before Luke did. By why did he hide it? Surely he must have known of Luke's attachment to it?
Although Jess's initial intentions may not have been good, he had come through in the end. The evidence, after all, was sitting in front of their very eyes.
"I think he was scared that we'd run him out of town." Lane remarked.
"He wouldn't be far wrong." Rory said.
"That kid. I'll kill him if he's sets one foot in the direction of this diner." Lorelai smiled sugar sweetly.
"I spent ages looking for it! And he had it all the time!" Luke didn't know whether to laugh or break something.
"If you want to beat him to a bloody pulp, be my guest." Taylor offered generously.
"Er, thanks Taylor." Luke eyed his nemesis curiously.
"Okay, now that we have planned our revenge on Jess, you have to open this one! It'll be quite useful." Rory picked up oddly shaped and badly wrapped present and placed it in front of him.
"Let me guess, you wrapped it." Luke looked at Lorelai.
"Was that an insult Butch?"
The rest of the morning was much more cheerful. Jokes and insults alike were thrown left and right. Curious customers watched as the place soon became littered with wrapping paper and a strange assortment of gifts.
Rory reluctantly had to leave when Arthur left a message on her beeper. Eventually, Lane left them to explore the old town on foot. Taylor remained only for another cup of coffee.
"Don't forget the Stars Hollow Christmas party tonight." Taylor said as he left.
"That guy is so full of Christmas spirit. Did you see how nice he was? Why can't you be like that?" Lorelai pestered Luke.
"Urgh. Look at this place." Luke began picking up the paper.
"No leave it! It makes your diner look very Christmassy!"
"No it looks like a potential law suit."
Lorelai stood up and tapped him on the back while he was bent over.
"What?"
"I gotta go check on the Inn and make sure that Michel is not having a nervous breakdown. Then Santa's gotta go and visit Sookie and the baby. So I'll see you at the party tonight?"
"Don't eat too many of Sookie's mince pies Santa, or you'll suddenly find those jeans won't fit you anymore." Luke called after her.
"The nerve!" Lorelai flung the diner door open. Oh well, at least she got the last word.
Lorelai walked over to her car and searched her pockets for her keys. There was a moment of panic before she heard someone jingling them behind her.
Luke was looking a little too self-satisfied for her taste.
Snatching the keys from his hand, Lorelai turned back to the car. She was acutely aware of Luke coming closer to her as she tried to unlock the door.
She wondered if he had ever been this close to her before. It sure felt different.
Stupid lock, why wouldn't it work?
He bent down and gently brushed his lips against her cheek. Lorelai shivered. She could feel his hand lightly touching her lower back.
The tip of the key snapped off.
Luke stepped back.
"You did that on purpose!" Lorelai yelled at him harshly. She clenched her hands into tiny fists in order to stop the shaking.
"I just wanted to thank you for the presents, gees." Luke awkwardly took another step back, clearly confused as to how he had upset her.
He had just wanted to kiss her on the cheek.
Lorelai glared at the door, too embarrassed to say anything else. Why had she snapped at him like that?
Luke sighed and walked back towards the diner.
"Luke wait!"
He turned around to face her.
"I'm sorry. I was horrible just then. You should confiscate my Santa hat. I have no right to wear it. I'd be dishonoring good Santas everywhere." Lorelai pulled it off and held it out to him like a peace offering.
"Forget it."
"What if I let you thank me again? And this time I won't jump a mile away, or yell at you."
"It's ok Lorelai."
"No I want you to! Or I know you'll morph into 'grumpy Luke' during Christmas."
Luke half smiled.
"True, he looks a lot like real Luke." Lorelai continued. "Only-only it's not the same."
Her voice died with this last word.
And so encouraged, Luke slowly walked up to her.
As her stomach began churning, she began to regret what she had said. Her hands were shaking again and when Luke reached out to hug her, Lorelai inhaled sharply.
Sensing the tension, Luke jumped back.
"What?" She asked, her face going red.
"You're scared of me!" Luke accused.
"Puh-lease diner boy. You couldn't scare a bunny rabbit."
"Why?" He looked directly at her.
"Why what? Why couldn't you scare a bunny rabbit? You just can't. You're more of a 'lure and kill' kind of guy."
"Why are you scared of me?"
"I'm not scared! It's that damn coffee residue I drank."
"You never did that before."
"Do what? Hug? We hug all the time. I've given you about a hundred since I got my Christmas present."
"I give up. You need to be diagnosed and locked up!" Luke turned around and walked back to the diner.
Lorelai was rooted to the ground. She was too scared to do anything except pretend nothing had happened. That's what she had always done before.
But this was different. She didn't want to lose him.
She loved that diner guy.
TO BE CONTINUED. I can't wait to post the next chapter. I'm probably more excited than you are. Does that make me weird? Never mind. I don't think I want to know the answer.
Author: MassCoffee
Feedback: My first. I need criticism.
Summary: My take on the future FINAL episode of the GG. Many things have changed, so be afraid, be very afraid. Get some popcorn and coffee and don't forget to widen your horizon.
Rating: PG-13. At least it will be.
Pairing: L/L and R/J
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Gilmore Girls".
Spoilers: There shouldn't be any. I only make up some.
Lane clumsily pushed the door to the apartment open. Turning around, she picked up a drum, a violin and three bags of groceries.
Reggie, who was obviously engrossed with the TV, did not see the difficulty his roommate was in.
Lane could feel something slipping and she knew she had to make a choice. It was the violin or the eggs.
Reggie leapt out of his chair when several objects crashed to the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" He gasped as he began picking up the groceries.
"God made the choice! I didn't." Lane announced dismissively as she cleaned up the mess. Reggie made his way back to the couch.
Making sure that her violin had survived unscathed, Lane went over to the window seat and began to tune it.
"How's it coming?" Reggie asked, his eyes not leaving the screen. Lane played a little for him.
"I've made an appointment with the recording studio in three days. We can start using it during practice hopefully before our New Years gig!" She said. "That reminds me, did Alec call and say whether he'd be able to make practice during Christmas?"
"No but some chick rang."
"That's really helpful Reg. Did I tell you how helpful you are?"
"I remembered her name! It was something really weird! She wanted to talk about some chick thing."
"Her name please?"
"Glory?"
"You mean Rory."
"That's the one! See? Told you I remembered it!"
"You amaze me! Did she leave a number?"
"Nope."
Lane picked up the phone and hesitated only for a moment. Trying to remember Lorelai's old number brought back some harsh memories. Like the fight she and her mother had before she left Stars Hollow forever.
She and Rory had stayed in touch as best they could, but their lives were firmly set in different paths. When she heard Rory's voice on the other end of the phone, she had hardly recognized it.
"Rory is that you?"
"Lane! How are you?"
"I'm doing fine. I'm thinking of murdering my roommate though. Are you ok? Has anything happened?"
"Do you remember Jess?"
"Of course I do!"
"I love him."
"Well good. Good for you."
"I told him I hated him."
"Oh. Well, I can't say that it never happened to me."
"Huh? When?"
"Replace Jess with my Mom and you've got an instant match."
"You haven't talked to her yet?"
"As far as I know she moved back to Korea and is pretending I don't exist. Moving the subject right along."
"Lane I'm sorry."
"It's ok. She'll deal, I'll deal. We'll all deal. Back to hating Jess."
"I told him I hated him cos I was engaged to Arthur."
"Is this the guy with the floppy hair?"
"I'm not engaged to him anymore."
"It seems like it's all fixed to me."
"Arthur doesn't know we're not engaged anymore. And Jess left leaving no hint of his whereabouts."
"Ahhhh, I see a problem."
"Help!"
"It's simple. Inform Arthur that he's not engaged to you. Then hire a series of private detectives to search for Jess's whereabouts."
"I can't afford that!"
"Appear for a few minutes on national TV and tell him you love him?"
"Something a little more personal? Anyway, what if he isn't watching."
"I give up."
"Oh."
There was a pause.
"I'm coming to you." Lane announced.
"What! Lane you don't have to do that!"
"You need me. It's time for me to use my Get out of Jail Free Card. After all, you're still my number one fan!"
"Yeah so where's my signed poster of the band?"
"All in good time. We just need to find a better bass player and we'll be on our way to fame."
"I heard that!" Reggie called out from the couch.
"See you tonight, I'll call you at the bus station."
"Hey Luke." Lorelai said without looking up at him. She was busy licking stamps and placing them on envelopes that encompassed the entire surface area of one of the larger tables in the diner.
"You've made yourself at home I see. Chaos and all." Luke said gruffly and tried to make some space for a mug.
"Don't spill any!" Lorelai shrieked as she threw her arms across the table and pulled her precious envelopes towards her.
"You're sending Christmas cards?"
"No, Amnesty International sent me a letter saying that the life of Santa's head elf was in my hands."
"You sacrificed a tree and exchanged it for the life of a supposed elf which forces parents to spend millions of dollars on non-biodegradable toys which inevitably wind up in a landfill?"
"Hey I think you saved some oxygen by not breathing during that entire speech. Do the planet a favor and see how much longer you don't have to breathe!"
"Drink your coffee-killer."
Lorelai sat back and sipped her coffee. "Just in time. My mouth was running dry from licking the stamps."
"You know you can buy stamps that are already sticky."
"It's not a personalized Christmas card if there's no bodily fluids involved."
"Blood and sweat and all that, huh?"
"Absolutely! I gave myself a major papercut. Behold it in all its glory." She held up her index finger to reveal a deep cut that was bordered by glitter and ink.
"Lorelai, it's two days before Christmas."
"So I left it a bit late. But Rory refused to help me!"
"The post is closed tomorrow."
"So?"
"And Christmas day."
"Your point?"
"These cards will not reach their assigned destinations before Christmas."
"Ummm, the head elf is delivering them for me?"
"He's dead. You were too late. They killed him."
"Har har har. Always that sense of humor we love so well. The way I figure it, the greetings on the cards always mention the New Year. So technically the cards will not be late."
"Where's Max? I think I'd have a more productive conversation with him."
"Rory's already claimed his company."
"You two haven't talked yet?"
"Yeah. We made up this morning."
"Good." Luke walked off and Lorelai thought she had seen the last of him for that morning. However, he returned in ten minutes with a swab of damp cotton and a bandage. Luke crouched down beside her and waited for Lorelai to extend her hand.
"Will that sting?" She asked.
"Only one way to find out. Come on, be adventurous."
"How about kissing it better instead?"
"How about I rip your arm off?"
Lorelai reluctantly held out her finger and flinched a little as he pressed the cotton ball onto the cut. Her lively blue eyes gradually settled on Luke's down turned face.
Lorelai loved everything about that face. It was a pity he frowned so often. It wasn't fair. Why wasn't he happy? Life definitely owed him a coffee served with cream and one of those little chocolate peppermint sticks that go on the side.
So where was it?
As Lorelai supposed, this was the real world. Where she and Luke and so many others were destined to wander alone in the dark.
"Jess told me you were saving up to buy that place." She said gently.
"It wasn't easy. You would have been waiting another five years at the rate I was going. And that's still with a loan." He replied gruffly. His eyes remained glued to her hand.
"You should invest the money into something YOU want."
"I don't need anything. Besides, it's going towards your renovation costs. That house is a poor excuse for architecture."
"You could buy a new truck."
"I've already got one."
"You could buy a better one. One with air conditioning and a cd player, oooh and little cup holders to hold a flask of that yukky green tea you like so much!"
"This is the height of today's technology? Cup holders? What an age we live in."
"You know Luke. I have a Christmas card here for you."
Luke rose as he finished bandaging her finger. "Excuse me while I go express my joy by doing some cartwheels."
"No need to be rude! I have one for Jess too." A dimple showed itself at the corner of Lorelai's mouth.
"Oh really?" He replied testily.
"Except I don't have his address."
"What a shame." Luke walked away. Lorelai ran after him.
"Oh come one Luke! The engagement is off and Rory is really upset! I'll put extra glitter on your card."
"Now how could a guy refuse extra glitter?"
"Luke!"
"Lorelai, I won't tell you. Both for Rory's and Jess's sake."
"He's in New York right? Just tell me that! He's not overseas or anything right?"
Luke weakened at the sight of those pleading eyes.
"NY would be a safe guess."
Lorelai kissed him on the cheek and went back to her table. She'd torture him some more later, when he was being less likable.
When she had posted most of her cards, Lorelai made her way home. The snow had thawed a little making the footpath all slippery. On her slow journey towards the front steps, she caught sight of a ring.
Picking it up, she carried it inside and walked into the kitchen. As she poured herself a drink, her eyes fell upon on Luke's present. It took up most of the dinner table when laid down flat.
She was dying to open it.
"Mom!" Rory hurried into the kitchen. "Lane's visiting Stars Hollow just to see me!"
"Oh wow! Our little local rock star is coming to stay!"
"She'll need a red carpet!"
"We'll need to alert the local newspaper!"
"And a limousine!"
"The whole kit and caboodle!"
"Is it ok if she stays here?"
"Sure. To what do we owe this special treat?"
"I told her about Jess."
"She's coming because of a Rory crisis? That's so sweet!"
"Isn't she?"
"How's she doing?"
"She's still playing in New York with the same group."
"And Mrs Kim?"
"Lane thinks she's moved back to Korea."
"They haven't talked yet. That's so sad. Promise me we'll never do that!"
"I promise."
"Ok then. Tell me about this." Lorelai pulled the ring out of her pocket.
"Arrggh, you set me up!"
"Dumping Arthur's ring in the front lawn so that Max buries it is not how you end an engagement."
"I know."
"So Arthur doesn't know?"
"No." Rory hung her head.
A smile crept across Lorelai's face.
"Guess what. Luke knows where Jess is."
"He does?" Rory's eyes lit up hopefully.
"But I'm not squeezing it out of him until you end this with Arthur."
"What am I thinking? It's too late for me and Jess anyway!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes! It is. I might as well have knocked him unconscious with the Christmas tree and pegged all the presents at him."
"Ah, but at least you refrained from strangling him with the Christmas stockings."
"Do you think he'll want me back? After what I said to him?"
"Not if you're engaged! Now get to it. Whether Jess takes you back or not I will not have you marrying prosy boy!"
"Prosy boy?"
"A nickname Luke and I gave him. Don't look at me like that! It was all in good clean fun! Bad mouthing Arthur was not involved in any way. And keep the ring, we can sell it at the pawn shop."
"Mom!"
"Kidding! I'm kidding! We'll give it back to Max to bury."
"But Mom! There's one teeny tiny problem."
"What would that be?"
"Along with his luggage, Art's phone was confiscated."
"Uh huh? So tell him when he rings you."
"Aren't you forgetting something? When he tried to ring me, Jess told him he had the wrong number."
"Oh yeah."
"There is good news!"
"Oh good. I was getting worried there."
"He knows your address."
"Oh goody! So one day he's just going to appear at the front door and surprise us?"
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
The girls froze.
"Don't look at me. I'm not getting it. I'm too wigged out." Lorelai said. Rory hesitated and then walked unsteadily towards the door. She took a deep breath and swung the door open.
Art flashed his charming smile.
"Rory! I made it!" He opened up his arms.
"Art!" Rory didn't move. Then awkwardly hugged him. Art gave her a kiss on the mouth.
"They finally let me go! What an adventure. I tell you we are NEVER using that airline again." Arthur picked up his suitcase from the verandah and walked in. Rory followed behind at a fair distance.
"Wow! So this is your house? And this must be the famous Mrs Gilmore!" He announced warmly as Lorelai sauntered into the living room.
"Hey there! Arthur is it? I'm not married and I'm not famous yet. But strangely I do give out autographs quite frequently. Want some juice?"
"Uh, no thanks. I'm sorry I couldn't notify you two of my arrival but it seems that Rory gave me the wrong number."
"Uh, I'm sorry?" Rory stared down at her feet. Arthur embraced his fiancé to show that he forgave her.
"Why darling, where's your ring?" He asked.
"Huh?" Rory looked down at her hand, then over to Lorelai.
"Oh! Uh! Rory was just, uh, showing it to me." Lorelai held it up with a twinkle in her eye.
"Art! There's something I have to talk to you about." Rory closed her eyes as if bracing herself for a thunderstorm.
"Of course. But first let me have a bit of a rest first. You have no idea how draining that whole experience was. I'll call a hotel, get myself settled and then I'm all yours. We'll have all Christmas to talk."
"Uh. Ok." Rory felt a little disappointed. She led Arthur to the phone, gave him some numbers to call and walked back to her mother. Lorelai handed Rory the ring.
"This is going to be SOME Christmas." Lorelai announced, not without amusement.
"I will tell him! But you heard him. He's too tired. Stop staring at me like that."
"I wasn't doing anything!"
"Yes you were, you're wearing that disapproving face that says 'I'm not impressed with Rory Gilmore'."
"You lie! I never owned such a face."
"You're still wearing it!"
"Ok ok! It's coming off now! Want to help me decorate the verandah with tinsel?"
"No. I'll stay with Art."
"You know. I'm taking Luke his presents tomorrow. I was planning to use them as a torture device, but-"
"Mom!"
Lorelai grinned evilly as she went out onto the verandah, leaving Rory alone in the living room.
"Mr Mariano?"
"What!" Jess shot cruelly at his flustered employee. He had been unable to concentrate on work since he had returned and everyone had been feeling his wrath.
"I-I just wanted to give you an invitation sir. T-To my Christmas party." The young woman shakily held out the brightly colored invitation.
"Huh? Oh yeah sure." He tossed it on his desk with the other Christmas junk and went back to glaring at his work. Couldn't they see that he just wanted to be left alone?
He wondered if Luke opened his Christmas present yet?
Jess couldn't help smiling over that. A couple of the office girls caught that smile and began to chatter.
Jess pushed away from the table and stretched. He knew he wouldn't get any work done. Not while that Donahue guy was still alive. Still breathing.
The phone caught his eye. Perhaps he'd just ring Caitlin and see if the jerk had left for New York yet. Rory wouldn't ever have to know anything about it.
Yes, that's what he'd do. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Oh my God! That's where the antique shop used to be!" Lane pressed her face against the window of the back seat of Lorelai's jeep. In the front seats Rory and Lorelai exchanged a smile.
"So what did you get up to on your first night back at Stars Hollow?" Lorelai asked Lane. But Lane was too busy staring at her old home.
"Oh we just went to visit some friendly faces." Rory said, remembering Babette's look of horror at Lane's new hairstyle.
"I've brought lots of music back for you guys. I've been collecting for Rory for ages." Lane said as she leaned over to them.
"Ah! Long live the black market!" Lorelai pulled the car up outside Luke's.
"Luke's! He rebuilt!" Lane got out of the car.
"Yup! Behold the new diner in all it's glory. Now put these on." Rory handed Lane a pair of antlers.
"Why?"
"Cos we already have two Santas. So we decided to make you our reindeer." Lorelai said as she put on a Santa hat. She chucked another Santa hat to Rory.
"Just humor her. You know my Mom." Rory whispered. Lane shrugged and pulled on the antlers. Lorelei opened the boot and they all grabbed an armful of presents and carried them into the diner.
"Hey Luke, guess what day it is?" Lorelai grinned as they dropped the presents up onto the counter.
"Go away, you're Halloween costume is too scary." Luke grumbled.
"Excuse me! Patrons of Luke's diner! Raise your hand if you think its Halloween?"
The customers just stared at her over their newspapers and coffee. Lorelai turned to Luke in triumph.
"See, they all opt for the much more fun idea of it being Christmas Eve. Funny that."
"And stop scaring the customers!"
"But look at all the presents I brought you! And all one day earlier than everyone else!"
"See how lucky you are!" Rory went around the other side of the counter and gave him an unexpected hug. Luke looked across at Lane and a faint memory stirred.
"I know you right?" He asked bluntly, but not rudely.
"No Luke, you're not hallucinating. That's Lane, our trusty reindeer." Lorelai sat down on a stool and pulled apart a doughnut. Most of the people at the diner were still staring at her. But today, she didn't care if the whole world heard the crazy things that came out of her mouth. It was Christmas after all.
"She's a reindeer all right! Squeeze her nose long enough and it goes red." Rory added as she sat next to Lane. Lane grinned and turned to Lorelai.
"So do we make Luke open the presents now?"
"Yup! For many years he refused to tell us when his birthday was. This makes up for all those surprise birthday parties he didn't have. Poor disadvantaged Luke." Lorelai grinned at him. But Luke was still focused on remembering Lane's face. Suddenly, something seemed to click.
"Lane. I remember you." Luke left and presently returned with a burger. Lane squealed in delight.
"You do remember me!" She announced happily as she took a bite into the burger.
"Hey Luke! What food slash beverage does my face remind you of?" Lorelai asked.
"Oh wait. I know this one. Ummm, A nice healthy bowl of cereal." Luke replied. Lorelai scrunched her nose up.
"A pancake?" Rory suggested.
"An watermelon!" Lane said between bites. The other three looked at her.
"What? Her face is shaped like one." She defended.
"That's it reindeer girl, you're fired."
"So sad. She was such a good reindeer." Rory patted Lane on the head.
"I'll be right back." Luke left shaking his head.
"That better not be a celery stick you're bringing back buster!" Lorelai called out after him.
"So, which one are we making him open first?" Rory asked.
"Jess's present." Lorelai cleared a space on the bench and placed the large box in the middle of it.
"Although, just for this morning it's not Jess's present." Said Rory.
"That's right. All lips must remain sealed. Hmmm. That guy is taking far too long to be making coffee. I'll think I'll just go get my own." Lorelai crept quietly behind the counter and grabbed the jug nearby.
"Good morning ladies. What's all this?" Taylor approached Lane and Rory.
"They're Luke's Christmas presents." Rory answered.
"A little over the top Lorelai." Taylor shook his head.
"Never. We love Luke, and his food and his coffee." Lorelai took a sip of her cup, and then spat it back out again. Luke, who had returned from the kitchen in time to witness this, snuck up behind her.
"Gotcha!" He whispered causing Lorelai to choke on what little was left in her mouth.
"I hope you enjoyed the remaining contents of yesterday's coffee Lorelai." Luke couldn't help but smile just a little. Lorelai glared at him as she took the fresh coffee pot from his hand and poured herself another drink.
"What do you want Taylor?" Luke asked dangerously. The smile had disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Nothing at all Luke. I'm just curious about what the girls came up with to give you."
"Taylor has offered to personally approve each item before you're allowed to keep it." Lorelai said after drowning out the horrible taste in her mouth.
"Here Taylor, you can wear my hat." Rory stood up and put the Santa hat on Taylor's head.
"Awww, that makes you look so cute. Quick! Where's a camera?" Lorelai teased, standing next to Luke.
"Hey there's Kirk. I wonder if he still takes photos?" Rory looked over to the table near the window and waved. Kirk was eyeing them all suspiciously but continued eating his meal.
"I think he had to stop when his mother hid his camera. Now Luke, it has been unanimously decided that you should open this one first." Lorelai pointed to the large undecorated box.
"But you didn't wrap it." Luke mocked.
"I have taken very good care of that present. It have fed it, burped it, resisted the urge to draw a smiley face on it and protected it from Max's drool. You'll notice that I even left him at home this morning so that he would not have the smallest chance to destroy this present. Now you will oblige my efforts by opening it!"
Luke looked at Rory for confirmation.
"She speaks truth my friend. She loves that box more than me." Rory reassured him. Luke bent down and broke the seal on one end of the cardboard cover. The top of the box lifted up like a lid taking up most of the space left on the counter.
Inside the box, the present was covered with butchers paper.
"Rip it Luke! Rip it!" Lorelai cheered. Luke gently tore at the paper and pulled it away from what was underneath.
When the last strip of paper was pushed aside, it took a moment for everyone to absorb and understand what had been hidden within.
It was his Dad's hardware sign.
The group was silent.
"But, the fire-?" Rory whispered as quietly as she could. Nevertheless, her voice cut through the silence like a knife.
Everyone had been convinced that the fire had claimed it. Luke had spent hours picking through the wreckage trying to find some scrap of it.
"Is-is it the original?" Rory asked. Again she spoke very quietly. She was afraid her words would bother Luke, who was looking very upset. Taylor leaned forward and inspected the burn marks on the edges. It was clear that it was the old sign, cleaned and touched up.
Lorelai, who had finally looked up at Luke, felt a wave of horrible horrible sadness wash over her. She hadn't seen him this upset since the diner had burnt down.
It was the first and only time she had seen sweet steady Luke fall to pieces.
God she hated seeing him like that. Life was so damn mean.
"Luke?" Lorelai gingerly reached out and touched his shoulder.
"The 'D', the 'D' is a little higher than the other letters." Luke finally choked out. He felt his eyes going hot and blurred.
Rory felt like she was going to cry. She clutched Lane's hand.
"It's ok Luke, we can fix it." Lorelai put an arm around him protectively.
"No, that's-it's always been like that." Luke defended gruffly. Awkwardly, he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Finally, a small smile flickered across his face, setting the small group around him at ease. Warm knowing smiles were exchanged as Luke took a step away from the counter and tried to compose himself.
"Luke's leaking Mom." Rory smiled, wiping her own eyes. Lane giggled.
Luke wanted to deny it, but his throat was too dry.
"Quick Rory! Get Bert before he floods the kitchen." Lorelai wrapped her other arm around him.
"Bert?" Taylor asked. "Who's Bert?"
"Luke's trusty toolbox." Rory answered. Taylor still looked confused.
"Mom named it." She added.
"Of course. Who else would name a tool box?" Taylor remarked. He also wanted to warn Luke that he would not allow him to put the sign back up outside. But something about Luke's face told him to hold his tongue. There would be plenty of time for arguing about that later.
Luke turned to Lorelai with the intention of thanking her. The soft look in her eyes however, made him look away again. He couldn't stand up to those eyes right now.
"Luke, uh, there's something I should tell you about this present." Lorelai said as she let go of him.
"What is it?" He asked, resisting the urge to kiss her.
"This present is really from Jess. He told me to give it to you after he left." She was going to kill that little runt. Similar thoughts ran through everyone else's minds. All those years ago, Jess must have found it before Luke did. By why did he hide it? Surely he must have known of Luke's attachment to it?
Although Jess's initial intentions may not have been good, he had come through in the end. The evidence, after all, was sitting in front of their very eyes.
"I think he was scared that we'd run him out of town." Lane remarked.
"He wouldn't be far wrong." Rory said.
"That kid. I'll kill him if he's sets one foot in the direction of this diner." Lorelai smiled sugar sweetly.
"I spent ages looking for it! And he had it all the time!" Luke didn't know whether to laugh or break something.
"If you want to beat him to a bloody pulp, be my guest." Taylor offered generously.
"Er, thanks Taylor." Luke eyed his nemesis curiously.
"Okay, now that we have planned our revenge on Jess, you have to open this one! It'll be quite useful." Rory picked up oddly shaped and badly wrapped present and placed it in front of him.
"Let me guess, you wrapped it." Luke looked at Lorelai.
"Was that an insult Butch?"
The rest of the morning was much more cheerful. Jokes and insults alike were thrown left and right. Curious customers watched as the place soon became littered with wrapping paper and a strange assortment of gifts.
Rory reluctantly had to leave when Arthur left a message on her beeper. Eventually, Lane left them to explore the old town on foot. Taylor remained only for another cup of coffee.
"Don't forget the Stars Hollow Christmas party tonight." Taylor said as he left.
"That guy is so full of Christmas spirit. Did you see how nice he was? Why can't you be like that?" Lorelai pestered Luke.
"Urgh. Look at this place." Luke began picking up the paper.
"No leave it! It makes your diner look very Christmassy!"
"No it looks like a potential law suit."
Lorelai stood up and tapped him on the back while he was bent over.
"What?"
"I gotta go check on the Inn and make sure that Michel is not having a nervous breakdown. Then Santa's gotta go and visit Sookie and the baby. So I'll see you at the party tonight?"
"Don't eat too many of Sookie's mince pies Santa, or you'll suddenly find those jeans won't fit you anymore." Luke called after her.
"The nerve!" Lorelai flung the diner door open. Oh well, at least she got the last word.
Lorelai walked over to her car and searched her pockets for her keys. There was a moment of panic before she heard someone jingling them behind her.
Luke was looking a little too self-satisfied for her taste.
Snatching the keys from his hand, Lorelai turned back to the car. She was acutely aware of Luke coming closer to her as she tried to unlock the door.
She wondered if he had ever been this close to her before. It sure felt different.
Stupid lock, why wouldn't it work?
He bent down and gently brushed his lips against her cheek. Lorelai shivered. She could feel his hand lightly touching her lower back.
The tip of the key snapped off.
Luke stepped back.
"You did that on purpose!" Lorelai yelled at him harshly. She clenched her hands into tiny fists in order to stop the shaking.
"I just wanted to thank you for the presents, gees." Luke awkwardly took another step back, clearly confused as to how he had upset her.
He had just wanted to kiss her on the cheek.
Lorelai glared at the door, too embarrassed to say anything else. Why had she snapped at him like that?
Luke sighed and walked back towards the diner.
"Luke wait!"
He turned around to face her.
"I'm sorry. I was horrible just then. You should confiscate my Santa hat. I have no right to wear it. I'd be dishonoring good Santas everywhere." Lorelai pulled it off and held it out to him like a peace offering.
"Forget it."
"What if I let you thank me again? And this time I won't jump a mile away, or yell at you."
"It's ok Lorelai."
"No I want you to! Or I know you'll morph into 'grumpy Luke' during Christmas."
Luke half smiled.
"True, he looks a lot like real Luke." Lorelai continued. "Only-only it's not the same."
Her voice died with this last word.
And so encouraged, Luke slowly walked up to her.
As her stomach began churning, she began to regret what she had said. Her hands were shaking again and when Luke reached out to hug her, Lorelai inhaled sharply.
Sensing the tension, Luke jumped back.
"What?" She asked, her face going red.
"You're scared of me!" Luke accused.
"Puh-lease diner boy. You couldn't scare a bunny rabbit."
"Why?" He looked directly at her.
"Why what? Why couldn't you scare a bunny rabbit? You just can't. You're more of a 'lure and kill' kind of guy."
"Why are you scared of me?"
"I'm not scared! It's that damn coffee residue I drank."
"You never did that before."
"Do what? Hug? We hug all the time. I've given you about a hundred since I got my Christmas present."
"I give up. You need to be diagnosed and locked up!" Luke turned around and walked back to the diner.
Lorelai was rooted to the ground. She was too scared to do anything except pretend nothing had happened. That's what she had always done before.
But this was different. She didn't want to lose him.
She loved that diner guy.
TO BE CONTINUED. I can't wait to post the next chapter. I'm probably more excited than you are. Does that make me weird? Never mind. I don't think I want to know the answer.