Title: Beds, Bjork and Beyond (Chapter six of Tea and Sympathy)
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Third Season, future fic based on spoilers
Rating: PG
Summary: What happens after Lisa dumps Luke.
A/N: Props to Megan Reilly and "The Not So Single Bed" for inspiring part of this fic. Read her stuff!
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
Once Luke returned to Stars Hollow, he was not so surprised to see Lorelai waiting for him on the steps of the diner. But by the look on her face, he could tell that her split with Alex probably hadn't gone as smoothly as his with Lisa. He exited the truck and as he approached her, he could tell that she had been crying.
Lorelai was relieved to see Luke's truck pull up in front of the diner and even more relieved to see that he was alone. She looked up at him and sighed. "Alex dumped me."
Luke was about to tell her his news but decided to wait. He sat down beside her on the steps.
"I'm sorry, what happened?"
"I'm not sure, he just said that he didn't think it was working out. He gave me the usual "it's not you, it's me" speech. Personally, I think he was after Lisa, I noticed the way he was looking at her. I should've never paired them up during that last game."
"Well, apparently the feeling was mutual. Lisa gave him her card while they were returning their shoes, and it wasn't because he needed legal advice."
"What? How did you find out?"
"Lisa told me."
"What kind of woman makes a move like that on a double date?"
"The kind who just dumped me."
"Oh Luke, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."
"Why? Sometimes two people are just attracted to each other, you can't blame yourself."
"But this was my idea. I knew you weren't crazy about it, but I wouldn't listen, as usual. Luke, if I ever mention the words date and double in the same sentence again, just threaten to replace my coffee with decaf!"
"Well you're already going to be drinking decaf, remember? And I guess you didn't learn a lesson from the last double date you went on."
"Hey, that was different, I just went to help Sookie calm her nerves. And Rune was a blind date. You and Lisa and Alex and I were already coupled up..well, not anymore, now it's just you and me alone again, minus the poker game."
"Being alone isn't the worst thing in the world."
"I know. It's just that I thought with Alex, things were going so well - he was successful, attractive, liked coffee, and actually understood most of my pop culture references. I thought he might be that guy who fell into my lap. You know, I was planning on sleeping with him tonight."
Lorelai wasn't sure why she had just let that last piece of information slip out. There was just something about Luke that made her want to confide in him.
He smirked at her. "I'm filing that under too much information." Well, as long as she was being personal, "You mean you hadn't? You were with him for almost two months."
"Well, Rory is visiting Chris this weekend and I finally had the place to myself. And just because I got pregnant at sixteen doesn't mean I can't keep my knees shut, you know." While they were still on the subject of sex, "Hey, did you and Lisa, you know.."
"Um - no. I'd only been dating her a few weeks but I thought tonight I might, you know, make a move. Jess is visiting Liz and I have the whole place to myself. And I wanted to break in my new mattress." Luke couldn't believe he had just told her that, it must've sounded so cheesy. But since she was confiding in him, he felt it was his turn to share.
Lorelai was surprised. "You bought a new mattress?"
"Well, when I expanded upstairs, I realized I had room for a bigger bed. The old one was hurting my back. And I remembered what you'd said about a single bed."
"No room for commitment?"
Luke turned to face her. "You were right, I was shutting myself off. After Rachel left last time, I was scared of trying again. But Lisa, she started to make me comfortable with the idea again. I thought we might have had a shot."
Lorelai felt responsible for Luke's misfortune. "Well, you can thank me for screwing that one up."
"It's not so bad. I mean, I really liked her, we had a lot in common, but I don't think she was "the one."
"You mean she didn't make your heart go bing-zing-boom?"
"Not really, Bjork." Lorelai looked at him funny - Luke didn't look like he was a fan of the former Sugar Cube. He shrugged, "Jess has been playing that song of hers ever since he and Rory started going out."
"I think it's their song, Rory's been playing it too." She chuckled and then sighed. "Well, I guess Alex didn't really make my heart do the Bjork dance either."
Lorelai shivered and Luke realized that they had been sitting on that step for a while, talking in the cold. It was just after eleven, still kind of early for a Saturday night, so he decided to invite her in.
"Hey, do you want to come upstairs? I could make some tea, it might warm you up."
"Sure, I know you make a great cup of tea. And it'll give me a chance to check out this new bed of yours."
Luke looked at her sideways and wondered if she'd meant that as a come on, maybe his bed would be seeing some action after all? He didn't want to get his hopes up, so he tried to push her comment aside.
Lorelai avoided his gaze, embarrassed that her comment could be construed as a come on. In spite of this, she realized how much she missed spending time with Luke the past couple of months. She hadn't been to his apartment since the night she drove back from Boston, after Sherry had given birth. He had made her some tea and they had one of their heart-to-hearts.
She followed Luke as he went around to the back entrance and they walked upstairs. Once inside, she sat at his kitchen table while Luke went to put on the kettle.
"Hey did you ever think of putting up a temporary wall or something, you know, for privacy?"
"I've considered it, but Jess probably will probably get a place of his own when he graduates, so I didn't bother." He looked at his cupboard, he needed to go food shopping. "All I have is peppermint, is that ok?"
"Sure, that's your favorite tea, isn't it?"
"Well, yeah. It's soothing, non-caffeinated and, hey, it's a breath freshener."
"So it's a kissing tea?"
"I'd never really thought of that, but if you want to look at that way."
Lorelai stood up and approached the new bed. Along with that kissing comment, it seemed to Luke that she was hell bent on elevating the sexual tension between them.
"So this is the bed." Lorelai sat on the edge. "Hey, do you mind if I try it out? I'm thinking of getting a new mattress myself, I've had the same one since Rory and I moved into our house seven years ago." She really hadn't been thinking of buying a new bed, but suddenly it seemed she was in the market.
"Sure go ahead, just take your boots off."
Lorelai removed her boots, lay on the bed and stretched out. "Ah, this is heavenly, no pressure points at all."
Luke tried to focus on the mattress itself and not the woman on top of it. "It's got thousands of tiny coil innersprings but I ordered it with a pillow top. If you want the model number, I can give it to you."
"Thanks, Mr. Sleepy's - does this come in queen?"
"I think so, this one's a full." Luke hoped that Lorelai was going to get off his mattress soon, he couldn't just stand there watching her test it out without wanting to join her.
"Hey, do me a favor and lie next to me? I mean, I want to see if this is comfortable for two people."
She must have been reading his mind, he had been wondering the same thing. Luke took off his shoes and lay down beside her. They were less than a foot apart.
"I don't know if this is big enough for two, I like to move around when I sleep." Lorelai started to demonstrate by turning on her side and extending her arms and legs. Luke felt uneasy with all the contact, but other parts of his body enjoyed feeling her leg slung over his thigh and her arm across his chest.
She propped herself up on her elbow and faced him, her legs still tangled with his. "Luke, what do you think?" She searched his face for a response. "About the size?"
He stared back at her and momentarily lost himself in her gaze. "The size of what?" Luke was embarrassed by his husky tone and Lorelai wondered if she had seen more than a hint of desire in his eyes.
Suddenly, the tea kettle whistled and sent Luke scurrying off the bed and preparing the tea in under 30 seconds. Lorelai sighed and got off the bed. She put on her boots and joined Luke in the kitchen.
Luke was still facing the counter where he had just set two steaming mugs down. He was trying to calm his body and took a few relaxing breaths that Lisa taught him. A moment later, he grabbed the mugs and put them on the table. He looked at Lorelai. "So, did you make up your mind, about the bed?"
"The queen, definitely."
Luke hoped he could forget what just happened (or didn't happen) and grabbed a pen and paper to write down the mattress information. He handed her the paper and tried to change the subject.
"Here you go. I bet you could probably save some money if you look on the Internet."
"Luke, I can't believe I just heard you say 'Internet.' You're usually such a luddite."
"I know, but I'm sure you could find a good deal, I know you're resourceful."
"I'm nothing if not resourceful."
They drank their tea in silence. The bed was sitting in the room like a white elephant, and Lorelai wondered if coming upstairs had been a good idea after all. She didn't want things to get all weird with Luke. But she had enjoyed their little mattress experiment and decided it was something she wanted to experience again. She also couldn't forget their celebratory embrace earlier in the bowling alley. Winning the game was one thing, but being in Luke's arms certainly was the high point.
Lorelai put down her mug. "Luke, you're right about the tea. I feel like I just brushed my teeth." She looked right at him. "Too bad I don't have anyone to kiss tonight."
Luke could see that one coming from a mile away. What was one more little game after tonight's Olympic display? "Hey, my breath is minty fresh, too. Too bad I don't have anyone to kiss, either."
"Well, since it's my fault you don't have someone to kiss, do you think I could make it up to you?"
He raised his eyebrows. "How?"
"I mean, I know I'm not Lisa, but perhaps you wouldn't mind a stand-in mouth to kiss?"
Luke took no time in responding. "OK."
They both stood up from their chairs and met halfway. Without a word, they leaned in and kissed. Their kiss went from chaste and awkward to passionate in a matter of seconds. Luke ran his hands from her waist up her back and into her hair. She was wearing it the way he liked it, loose and wavy, no more Farrah wings. Lorelai's hands followed a similar track up his untucked flannel shirt and through his hair, sending the blue baseball cap flying.
Luke broke the kiss first and leaned his bare forehead against hers. He then took a step back so he could look into her eyes.
"Lorelai, I want you to know that you're definitely not a stand-in."
Lorelai saw the passion in his eyes and she placed a hand on his chest. His heartbeat raced against her fingertips. "Your heart, it's doing the Bjork dance." She paused. "Mine, too."
They both laughed at the realization. A moment later Luke leaned in and kissed her again, this time more slowly and deliberately. When they finally broke apart, they looked towards the bed at the same time.
Lorelai giggled and wondered aloud. "Should we?"
"Well, you did promise me that if I bowled a strike tonight, you'd do whatever I asked."
Lorelai nodded. "I did, didn't I?"
"Lorelai, I want this to happen, but this is a bit much to take in all at once." He had wanted this for a long time, but now that it was happening he felt a little overwhelmed. This was brand new to Lorelai and she was feeling a little overwhelmed, too, so she relied on something familiar.
"I knew you were gonna say that, Luke."
"So, now I'm predictable?"
She smiled. "Afraid so. But don't make me wait too long." He nodded and they headed to the door to say goodnight.
"Luke, I've learned a lot tonight. We're both predictable, you don't suck at bowling and you have good taste in mattresses. Oh and peppermint tea is an aphrodisiac and double dates aren't so bad and..."
"Am I gonna have to threaten you with decaf every time you say 'double date'?"
"Oh, crap."
"You'd better watch what you say around me from now on. I'm gonna be listening a lot more closely."
"Oh good, that means I can annoy you even more with my incessant chatter."
"That's ok, I now have a great way to shut you up." Luke kissed her goodnight and sent her on her way out the door into the cold winter night. He looked around at his empty apartment and thought it might be time to build that temporary wall.
TBC?
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Third Season, future fic based on spoilers
Rating: PG
Summary: What happens after Lisa dumps Luke.
A/N: Props to Megan Reilly and "The Not So Single Bed" for inspiring part of this fic. Read her stuff!
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
Once Luke returned to Stars Hollow, he was not so surprised to see Lorelai waiting for him on the steps of the diner. But by the look on her face, he could tell that her split with Alex probably hadn't gone as smoothly as his with Lisa. He exited the truck and as he approached her, he could tell that she had been crying.
Lorelai was relieved to see Luke's truck pull up in front of the diner and even more relieved to see that he was alone. She looked up at him and sighed. "Alex dumped me."
Luke was about to tell her his news but decided to wait. He sat down beside her on the steps.
"I'm sorry, what happened?"
"I'm not sure, he just said that he didn't think it was working out. He gave me the usual "it's not you, it's me" speech. Personally, I think he was after Lisa, I noticed the way he was looking at her. I should've never paired them up during that last game."
"Well, apparently the feeling was mutual. Lisa gave him her card while they were returning their shoes, and it wasn't because he needed legal advice."
"What? How did you find out?"
"Lisa told me."
"What kind of woman makes a move like that on a double date?"
"The kind who just dumped me."
"Oh Luke, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."
"Why? Sometimes two people are just attracted to each other, you can't blame yourself."
"But this was my idea. I knew you weren't crazy about it, but I wouldn't listen, as usual. Luke, if I ever mention the words date and double in the same sentence again, just threaten to replace my coffee with decaf!"
"Well you're already going to be drinking decaf, remember? And I guess you didn't learn a lesson from the last double date you went on."
"Hey, that was different, I just went to help Sookie calm her nerves. And Rune was a blind date. You and Lisa and Alex and I were already coupled up..well, not anymore, now it's just you and me alone again, minus the poker game."
"Being alone isn't the worst thing in the world."
"I know. It's just that I thought with Alex, things were going so well - he was successful, attractive, liked coffee, and actually understood most of my pop culture references. I thought he might be that guy who fell into my lap. You know, I was planning on sleeping with him tonight."
Lorelai wasn't sure why she had just let that last piece of information slip out. There was just something about Luke that made her want to confide in him.
He smirked at her. "I'm filing that under too much information." Well, as long as she was being personal, "You mean you hadn't? You were with him for almost two months."
"Well, Rory is visiting Chris this weekend and I finally had the place to myself. And just because I got pregnant at sixteen doesn't mean I can't keep my knees shut, you know." While they were still on the subject of sex, "Hey, did you and Lisa, you know.."
"Um - no. I'd only been dating her a few weeks but I thought tonight I might, you know, make a move. Jess is visiting Liz and I have the whole place to myself. And I wanted to break in my new mattress." Luke couldn't believe he had just told her that, it must've sounded so cheesy. But since she was confiding in him, he felt it was his turn to share.
Lorelai was surprised. "You bought a new mattress?"
"Well, when I expanded upstairs, I realized I had room for a bigger bed. The old one was hurting my back. And I remembered what you'd said about a single bed."
"No room for commitment?"
Luke turned to face her. "You were right, I was shutting myself off. After Rachel left last time, I was scared of trying again. But Lisa, she started to make me comfortable with the idea again. I thought we might have had a shot."
Lorelai felt responsible for Luke's misfortune. "Well, you can thank me for screwing that one up."
"It's not so bad. I mean, I really liked her, we had a lot in common, but I don't think she was "the one."
"You mean she didn't make your heart go bing-zing-boom?"
"Not really, Bjork." Lorelai looked at him funny - Luke didn't look like he was a fan of the former Sugar Cube. He shrugged, "Jess has been playing that song of hers ever since he and Rory started going out."
"I think it's their song, Rory's been playing it too." She chuckled and then sighed. "Well, I guess Alex didn't really make my heart do the Bjork dance either."
Lorelai shivered and Luke realized that they had been sitting on that step for a while, talking in the cold. It was just after eleven, still kind of early for a Saturday night, so he decided to invite her in.
"Hey, do you want to come upstairs? I could make some tea, it might warm you up."
"Sure, I know you make a great cup of tea. And it'll give me a chance to check out this new bed of yours."
Luke looked at her sideways and wondered if she'd meant that as a come on, maybe his bed would be seeing some action after all? He didn't want to get his hopes up, so he tried to push her comment aside.
Lorelai avoided his gaze, embarrassed that her comment could be construed as a come on. In spite of this, she realized how much she missed spending time with Luke the past couple of months. She hadn't been to his apartment since the night she drove back from Boston, after Sherry had given birth. He had made her some tea and they had one of their heart-to-hearts.
She followed Luke as he went around to the back entrance and they walked upstairs. Once inside, she sat at his kitchen table while Luke went to put on the kettle.
"Hey did you ever think of putting up a temporary wall or something, you know, for privacy?"
"I've considered it, but Jess probably will probably get a place of his own when he graduates, so I didn't bother." He looked at his cupboard, he needed to go food shopping. "All I have is peppermint, is that ok?"
"Sure, that's your favorite tea, isn't it?"
"Well, yeah. It's soothing, non-caffeinated and, hey, it's a breath freshener."
"So it's a kissing tea?"
"I'd never really thought of that, but if you want to look at that way."
Lorelai stood up and approached the new bed. Along with that kissing comment, it seemed to Luke that she was hell bent on elevating the sexual tension between them.
"So this is the bed." Lorelai sat on the edge. "Hey, do you mind if I try it out? I'm thinking of getting a new mattress myself, I've had the same one since Rory and I moved into our house seven years ago." She really hadn't been thinking of buying a new bed, but suddenly it seemed she was in the market.
"Sure go ahead, just take your boots off."
Lorelai removed her boots, lay on the bed and stretched out. "Ah, this is heavenly, no pressure points at all."
Luke tried to focus on the mattress itself and not the woman on top of it. "It's got thousands of tiny coil innersprings but I ordered it with a pillow top. If you want the model number, I can give it to you."
"Thanks, Mr. Sleepy's - does this come in queen?"
"I think so, this one's a full." Luke hoped that Lorelai was going to get off his mattress soon, he couldn't just stand there watching her test it out without wanting to join her.
"Hey, do me a favor and lie next to me? I mean, I want to see if this is comfortable for two people."
She must have been reading his mind, he had been wondering the same thing. Luke took off his shoes and lay down beside her. They were less than a foot apart.
"I don't know if this is big enough for two, I like to move around when I sleep." Lorelai started to demonstrate by turning on her side and extending her arms and legs. Luke felt uneasy with all the contact, but other parts of his body enjoyed feeling her leg slung over his thigh and her arm across his chest.
She propped herself up on her elbow and faced him, her legs still tangled with his. "Luke, what do you think?" She searched his face for a response. "About the size?"
He stared back at her and momentarily lost himself in her gaze. "The size of what?" Luke was embarrassed by his husky tone and Lorelai wondered if she had seen more than a hint of desire in his eyes.
Suddenly, the tea kettle whistled and sent Luke scurrying off the bed and preparing the tea in under 30 seconds. Lorelai sighed and got off the bed. She put on her boots and joined Luke in the kitchen.
Luke was still facing the counter where he had just set two steaming mugs down. He was trying to calm his body and took a few relaxing breaths that Lisa taught him. A moment later, he grabbed the mugs and put them on the table. He looked at Lorelai. "So, did you make up your mind, about the bed?"
"The queen, definitely."
Luke hoped he could forget what just happened (or didn't happen) and grabbed a pen and paper to write down the mattress information. He handed her the paper and tried to change the subject.
"Here you go. I bet you could probably save some money if you look on the Internet."
"Luke, I can't believe I just heard you say 'Internet.' You're usually such a luddite."
"I know, but I'm sure you could find a good deal, I know you're resourceful."
"I'm nothing if not resourceful."
They drank their tea in silence. The bed was sitting in the room like a white elephant, and Lorelai wondered if coming upstairs had been a good idea after all. She didn't want things to get all weird with Luke. But she had enjoyed their little mattress experiment and decided it was something she wanted to experience again. She also couldn't forget their celebratory embrace earlier in the bowling alley. Winning the game was one thing, but being in Luke's arms certainly was the high point.
Lorelai put down her mug. "Luke, you're right about the tea. I feel like I just brushed my teeth." She looked right at him. "Too bad I don't have anyone to kiss tonight."
Luke could see that one coming from a mile away. What was one more little game after tonight's Olympic display? "Hey, my breath is minty fresh, too. Too bad I don't have anyone to kiss, either."
"Well, since it's my fault you don't have someone to kiss, do you think I could make it up to you?"
He raised his eyebrows. "How?"
"I mean, I know I'm not Lisa, but perhaps you wouldn't mind a stand-in mouth to kiss?"
Luke took no time in responding. "OK."
They both stood up from their chairs and met halfway. Without a word, they leaned in and kissed. Their kiss went from chaste and awkward to passionate in a matter of seconds. Luke ran his hands from her waist up her back and into her hair. She was wearing it the way he liked it, loose and wavy, no more Farrah wings. Lorelai's hands followed a similar track up his untucked flannel shirt and through his hair, sending the blue baseball cap flying.
Luke broke the kiss first and leaned his bare forehead against hers. He then took a step back so he could look into her eyes.
"Lorelai, I want you to know that you're definitely not a stand-in."
Lorelai saw the passion in his eyes and she placed a hand on his chest. His heartbeat raced against her fingertips. "Your heart, it's doing the Bjork dance." She paused. "Mine, too."
They both laughed at the realization. A moment later Luke leaned in and kissed her again, this time more slowly and deliberately. When they finally broke apart, they looked towards the bed at the same time.
Lorelai giggled and wondered aloud. "Should we?"
"Well, you did promise me that if I bowled a strike tonight, you'd do whatever I asked."
Lorelai nodded. "I did, didn't I?"
"Lorelai, I want this to happen, but this is a bit much to take in all at once." He had wanted this for a long time, but now that it was happening he felt a little overwhelmed. This was brand new to Lorelai and she was feeling a little overwhelmed, too, so she relied on something familiar.
"I knew you were gonna say that, Luke."
"So, now I'm predictable?"
She smiled. "Afraid so. But don't make me wait too long." He nodded and they headed to the door to say goodnight.
"Luke, I've learned a lot tonight. We're both predictable, you don't suck at bowling and you have good taste in mattresses. Oh and peppermint tea is an aphrodisiac and double dates aren't so bad and..."
"Am I gonna have to threaten you with decaf every time you say 'double date'?"
"Oh, crap."
"You'd better watch what you say around me from now on. I'm gonna be listening a lot more closely."
"Oh good, that means I can annoy you even more with my incessant chatter."
"That's ok, I now have a great way to shut you up." Luke kissed her goodnight and sent her on her way out the door into the cold winter night. He looked around at his empty apartment and thought it might be time to build that temporary wall.
TBC?