Oneiromancy

Part 4

"It's a miracle!" Lorelai declared.

"It is not," Luke insisted.

"No, really, I think the Earth just rotated backward on its axis, hell froze over and, hey, look at that pig flying through the sky!" Lorelai pointed to a spot above Luke's head.

Luke leveled his gaze at her. "Stop it. It's no big deal."

"Of course, you're right, this is no big deal, this is a massive deal. Quick, where's Kirk with his camera? We need the photo for the tomorrow's front page, I already have the headline: Luke Danes: Lord of the Dance."

Luke dropped his head to Nicole's shoulder. "Do you think if I close my eyes she'll disappear?" he asked. Luke wouldn't exactly call what he was doing dancing. He was just kind of holding his fiancée and shuffling around as music played in the background. It was their engagement party, he figured it was expected. But Lorelai was carrying on as though he was running through the town square with his pants on his head. Were you supposed to wander up to people and carry on conversations while they danced? he wondered. Standing at the edge of the dance floor, Lorelai was now chatting with Nicole about creative ways to prevent Miss Patty from consuming any more alcohol. Luke realized that the one good thing about Lorelai planning this engagement party was that it seemed to have curbed Nicole's jealousy and the two women were now exhibiting the early signs of friendship.

Nicole took a step back and extracted herself from Luke's loose hold. "I'm gonna get a drink, do you want anything, Sweetie?" she asked.

"I'll come with you," he said, anxious to get off the dance floor.

"No you don't, I'll never get you back out here. Lorelai, look after him for me, won't you?" Nicole asked.

"Sure." Lorelai took Luke's arm. As Nicole weaved her way through the crowd, Lorelai placed one hand on Luke's shoulder and flattened the palm of her other against his. Luke gave in, smoothly clasping her delicate hand in his larger one and curving an arm around her waist. They fit together perfectly.

"Wow, you really know how to hold a woman," Lorelai commented, sounding surprised. "Most guys are either really awkward and hold you like you're back in 6th grade ballroom dancing lessons, or else they're all over you. I figured you'd be in the first category, but it turns out you're neither."

"What am I then?" Luke asked.

"You are in the rare third category - a man who can dance. You may not have the footwork or the flashy moves, but you have the hold. Firm, yet gentle. Sexy, the way dancing should be."

"Sexy, huh?" Luke asked lightly, expecting an easy quip in reply.

But Lorelai appeared serious. "Yeah. You're wasted on Nicole." She shimmied a little closer to him.

"Are you drunk?"

"Nope, just honest. Finally." Lorelai stroked Luke's neck, just above his collar, then trailed a finger along his clean-shaven jaw line.

Luke felt trapped, desperately unsure of what to do. Was she serious? Why was she doing this to him now? And what was that incessant ringing?

Luke looked around, hoping to place the sound, and noticed Nicole making her way back toward them with the drinks. He quickly pulled away from Lorelai.

"What's wrong?" Lorelai asked.

"It's Nicole," Luke croaked.

"Who?"

"Nicole," he repeated, more clearly.

"Wake up, Luke." A cool hand brushed his forehead.

"Nicole?"

"You were dreaming," Nicole said gently.

"Aw, Jeez." Luke rubbed his hands over his face. "Ahh, what did I…?"

"You just mumbled a little; something about dancing pigs, and then you kept saying my name. What was your dream about?" she asked.

"I don't remember," Luke lied.

"Well your alarm's been going off for ten minutes," Nicole said.

Luke swore. "Gotta open the diner. Need a shower." He rolled out of bed and headed straight into the bathroom without another word to Nicole.

*  *  *  *

Bang bang bang

"Lucas!" Lorelai yelled, opening the front door to discover Luke banging on her porch at the ungodly hour of 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. "I'm getting the strangest sense of déjà vu. Did you fix the porch last night or did I just dream that?"

Luke latched on to the word 'dream' and recalled the one he had been awoken from that morning. He was beginning to suspect that he might need professional help.

"Earth to Luke?" Lorelai called. "Weren't you here yesterday?"

Luke snapped back to reality. "I noticed then that one of the planks needed fixing as well but I didn't have the right nails with me."

"So you thought you'd come back and wake me up at the crack of dawn?" Lorelai asked, hands on hips.

"Crack of dawn? It's ten o'clock, the breakfast crowd has been and gone."

"Crazy people," Lorelai muttered. "You don't have to do that, you know," she added, although not ungratefully.

"I don't mind. I needed to get out of the apartment anyway, away from the wedding plans," Luke admitted, setting down the hammer and nail.

"Again with the déjà vu."

"There are too many decisions," Luke continued. "I'm just not interested in debating the difference between cherry red and ruby red. Nicole's decided on a red and white color scheme, if that's okay with me, although I have a feeling it's not really a choice. Red and white. It's like Valentines day."

"Or a nurse's outfit, or the Japanese flag, or-"

"I get the picture. And she wants to serve chocolate cake too. Is that normal?"

"No but it sounds great. Who really eats that fruity goop that usually just serves to ruin the icing?"

"I kind of like that 'fruity goop.'"

"You could have two cakes," Lorelai suggested, eyes lighting up at the thought. "But you have to tell this to Nicole, not me," she pointed out to Luke.

"You're right," he said.

"Always am," she replied cockily. "Anyway, I better go back inside and get dressed. I have to go to the market today because we're completely out of food and Taylor's implemented a dress code."

Luke noticed for the first time the print on the pyjamas sticking out from under Lorelai's coat. Pigs with wings. He resisted the urge to close his eyes in resignation. "I'm assuming you're using the word 'food' liberally," he said dryly instead.

"No, we are completely out of food," Lorelai smiled innocently. "But that doesn't mean I'll be buying anything that isn't prepackaged and laden with sugar, grease, preservatives or all of the above."

"You and Rory should swing by for lunch so I can at least sneak some veggies into your burgers."

"Aw, you take such good care of us!" Lorelai cooed as she opened the front door again.

"Someone has to." Luke picked the hammer and nail once more.

"Hey Luke?" Lorelai called.

 He looked up. "Yeah?"

"Thanks," Lorelai said before disappearing inside.

*  *

On her way to the market Lorelai passed Nicole on the street and smiled politely without any intention of stopping.

"Lorelai," Nicole called out. "I want to talk to you."

Lorelai stopped.

"It's about Luke," Nicole began.

"As if we'd have anything else to talk about," Lorelai muttered.

"It seems like he's spending a lot of time with you these days."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Nicole. He did the same think when his old girlfriend Rachel came back. He was constantly fixing things around my house. It's just Luke trying to deal with sharing his life with someone."

"We're getting married," Nicole pointed out. "What happens then? Any time I want to spend time with him he'll be fixing your porch?"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked him to do that."

"It wouldn't have mattered, he would have found something of his own accord."

"He'll get over it," Lorelai assured Nicole. "Its just nerves about the engagement. It's a big thing for Luke."

"For me too," said Nicole.

"Of course. I don't really think Luke saw himself married, though."

"He's spoken to you about this?" Nicole asked.

"Uh, a little bit. I told him he was just nervous."

"Thanks." Nicole nodded. "Maybe that's why he doesn't seem interested in helping me organize anything."

"You know Luke," Lorelai shrugged.

"Apparently not as well as you do," Nicole said wryly. "Anyway, thanks for organizing this engagement party. I know it means a lot to Luke, even if he doesn't always show it."

"He's got a reputation as town grouch to uphold. Oh, I meant to ask you, if you want to put together a list of songs I'll pass them on to DJ Lane for next weekend."

"Sure. I'm heading back to the city tonight and I've got court all next week, so I won't be back in town until the party, but I'll leave the list with Luke."

"Okay then." Lorelai was just about to turn to leave when Nicole spoke up again.

"I didn't plan on proposing, you know." The words rushed out. "The cruise wasn't some elaborate ploy to snag me a husband. But it was romantic and I thought we were having a good time."

"Uh, I'm sure you were," Lorelai replied, feeling as though this wasn't a conversation they should really be having.

"I'm not sure why I told you that." Nicole's forehead creased. "Anyway, I'll let you go."

"See ya."

*  *

"Ugh," Lorelai announced, dropping the groceries on the kitchen table then flopping dramatically into a chair. "Rory honey, come out here and talk to Mommy, she's had a hard day."

Rory emerged from her bedroom. "Is something wrong with the Inn?"

"No, the Inn's fine. It's Luke and Nicole."

"What about Luke and Nicole?"

"I feel like I'm being dragged into the middle and I have no idea why." Lorelai pulled a packet of Oreos out of one of the bags and started to munch.

"Uh, you offered to plan their engagement party," Rory pointed out. "Way to throw yourself in the middle."

"Why would I do something like that? Am I insane?" Lorelai asked, offering Rory the packet of cookies.

Rory smirked. "You really want me to answer that?"

"Sympathy, please. All day I've been hearing 'Nicole wants 200 guests,' 'Luke doesn't care about the flowers,' 'Nicole says I can't wear flannel,' 'Luke's spending too much time with you;' 'Nicole wants a chocolate wedding cake'"

"Wait a minute," Rory stopped Lorelai. "Go back."

"Oh, Luke didn't really try to wear flannel to the wedding, you caught me."

"No, to the part about Luke spending too much time with you."

"It was the porch thing," Lorelai said dismissively.

"So Nicole's still jealous?"

"If she is, she's seriously insecure. I'm planning her engagement party for goodness sake, not trying to steal her finance."

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," Rory quoted. "Why did you offer to do that anyway? And don't tell me it's just because you were bored."

"Well someone had to. Nicole would probably have planned some fancy chardonnay soirée with her lawyer friends in New York. Can you imagine Luke at something like that? Nicole hanging off his arm, showing off her future trophy husband."

"That's a mighty leap to conclusions about Nicole. How do you know she's into all that stuff?" Rory asked.

"Okay, it's not like I know her that well. But just the way she walks around town with that superior attitude…" Lorelai trailed off.

"I hadn't noticed," said Rory.

"Well she does," Lorelai insisted.

"If you say so." Rory was humoring her mother and Lorelai knew it.

"Anyway, I just wanted to give Luke something involving the town," said Lorelai. "He's lived here his whole life and I know somewhere under all those complaints he really does care."

"You take good care of him," Rory commented.

"I think there have been times when I could have been a better friend to Luke," Lorelai replied uncharacteristically slowly.

Rory just nodded. "Diner for lunch?" she suggested.

Lorelai shook her head. "Luke threatened veggies in our burgers. Plus Nicole's leaving this afternoon so this way I can avoid her for a whole week."

"But what about food?" The Oreo packet was now empty.

"I brought microwave apple pie and an insane amount of cream."

Rory began digging through the grocery bags.

*  *  *  *

Whack. A football hit Luke in the thigh.

"Ouch," he said, although it didn't really hurt. It was one of those soft, mini-footballs made for kids who were too young for the real thing. The thrower of said football was one such kid. Luke was no expert when it came to children, but he judged the little boy in the backward baseball cap to be about four.

"Gotcha dad!" The kid laughed as he bent down to retrieve the ball.

Dad?

"My turn!" A little girl the same age as the boy tossed her dark, curly ponytail over her shoulder and lunged for the football.

The boy pulled it away and stuck his tongue out. "Girls can't play football."

The girl grabbed the baseball cap off the boy's head and ran away, taunting him.

"Give it back! Mom!" The boy complained, "Is'belle stole my hat."

"Well he wouldn't let me play football!"

Luke looked to where the kids were addressing two women sitting on the grass. He squinted to identify the women, but couldn't see properly with the sun in his eyes. Maybe he should turn his baseball cap around.

"Isabelle, give Billy back his hat and Billy let Isabelle play with you and daddy," the mother instructed calmly. "Girls can do anything boys can do, isn't that right?"

"Yeah!" Isabelle cheered.

"Then how come you don't play football?" Billy challenged his mother as he resumed their game by passing the ball to Luke, who caught it this time.

"Ooh, is that a challenge, William Danes? I could play football." The woman stood up, ran over to Luke and tackled him. He dropped the ball and used his arms to hold her around the waist.

She laughed and kissed him on the lips. Luke wasn't even surprised. He kissed her back and it felt natural, like they'd done this thousands of times before.

"Eew!" The twins chorused.

The woman pulled back momentarily. "Hey, double trouble, go bug your sister to play with you, that's why she's home this weekend."

The kids ran towards the second woman, still sitting on the grass yelling "Rory!"

Lorelai turned back to Luke and cupped his cheeks with her hands. "Where were we?" she asked playfully before her lips met his again.

Lorelai's tongue tasted funny, Luke thought. He wondered if she was still using that strange, European toothpaste, because it didn't taste fresh and minty like normal toothpaste, it tasted more like… laundry powder.

Luke woke up with a mouthful of fabric, arms wrapped around his pillow.

Crap. He was making out with a pillow. He was suddenly a pre-pubescent girl. Thank god there were no witnesses. This had gone way too far. Luke threw back the covers, dressed quickly and stormed out of the apartment.

*  *

"Lorelai!" Luke yelled, banging on her front door.

She stumbled down the stairs and opened the door. "Luke!?? You're going to wake the whole neighborhood. What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you," he said seriously.

Lorelai rubbed sleep from her eyes. "Okay, come upstairs, so we don't wake Rory."

Luke closed the door behind him and followed Lorelai upstairs. He stopped at the door to her bedroom.

"You waiting for a written invitation?" she asked.

"It's your bedroom."

"This isn't 1896. Come in. You disturbed my slumber, so we will have this conversation in bed." She paused. "Well that didn't quite come out right."

Lorelai sat cross-legged at the head of the bed and Luke pushed aside a pile of clothes to sit on the armchair.

"So what can I do for you at-" Lorelai checked her alarm clock, "4:38 this fine morning?"

"Stay out of my dreams," Luke said immediately.

"Excuse me? Strange as this may sound, I don't actually have the power to insert myself into your dreams. I think you need to have this chat with your subconscious."

"I have. I can't take it anymore."

"So this has been going on for a while?"

"Ever since you told me about your dream. With the alarm clocks and the twins. That must have had something to do with it."

"What are you dreaming about?" Lorelai sounded very interested. "Is it dirty?"

"No, not dirty. Tonight I dreamt we were playing football with our twins – Billy and Isabelle, by the way."

"Aw, you named the boy and I named the girl, that's sweet," Lorelai said. "So we were playing football, what happened then?"

"Uh, nothing much, it was just one of those family things."

"So dream us are married, huh? Like a parallel universe or a past life. Interesting." Lorelai pondered.

"Interesting? Is that all you can say?" Luke asked.

"What do you want me to say, Luke?"

He wasn't exactly sure. "Most of my dreams involve you telling me not to marry Nicole. Tell me what you really think about her and I."

"I have told you, Luke. These dreams aren't about me or what I think. They're about you. You're projecting these thoughts onto me so you don't have to admit to yourself that you've got pre-wedding jitters."

"Thank you, Dr Freud."

"I'm serious, Luke. I'm not going to be your excuse to back out of this wedding. Aside from the fact that Nicole would probably sue me, you're my friend and I won't let you push happiness away."

Luke chose to avoid the serious part. "What would Nicole sue you for?"

"I don't know, emotional damage? She's a lawyer, they'll come up with anything. Luke, I think you are in serious need of a pro-con list," Lorelai said.

Luke groaned. "That is not a legitimate way to make a life changing decision."

"Well you need something to help you sort out your thoughts."

"I have you."

Lorelai wasn't sure if she was entirely comfortable with that.

Luke filled the silence by standing up to leave. "I have to open the diner in less than an hour."

"Okay, I'll walk you home." Lorelai climbed out of bed. "You can make me breakfast."

"Okay," Luke agreed and stood there, looking at her expectantly.

"Can I get dressed?"

"Don't let me stop you," Luke smirked, but went to wait in the hall, closing the door behind him.

Lorelai quickly slipped into jeans, sneakers and a blue hoodie and left Rory a note on the kitchen table, just in case.

*  *

"So you really think I'm just doing the commitment freak-out thing?" Luke asked Lorelai as they walked through the deserted streets of Stars Hollow.

"I just want you to be happy," she said sincerely.

"You think marrying Nicole will guarantee my happiness?"

"I'm not putting my life savings on it."

"Because that twenty bucks can buy a lot of coffee, right?"

"Exactly. But about your happiness; in general, I don't think the idea of growing old alone can be particularly appealing, even to a self-professed loner like yourself. Besides, who isn't happier when they're getting some on a regular basis, huh?" Lorelai bumped her hip playfully against his.

Luke impulsively slung an arm around Lorelai's shoulder and hugged her to him as they walked. "Thank you," he said generally.

Lorelai turned her face towards his slightly and smiled out of the corner of her mouth. "Nothing says thank you like a giant bacon and egg burger."

"Well nothing says I-told-you-so like a giant heart attack," he retorted.

The teasing continued all the way to the diner.

*  *  *  *

TBC