Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, just the story idea.
A/N: Wow. The sheer amount of positive feedback is what's keeping this fic going. I was ready to bid it farewell when I posted it here. Now, it may never die. Thank you all for the wonderful things you've said and the encouragement you've given me. Y'all rock my world.
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Luke and Lorelai were nestled in the cushions of her couch Wednesday night, Lulu draped across their laps, purring loudly. Lorelai wore a pair of men's cotton pajama bottoms with a white tank top and socks. Luke wore his jeans, t-shirt and flannel with the arms rolled to the elbow, and his backwards ball cap. Although he'd brought dinner with him from the diner, Lorelai was snacking on a bag of chips as they watched a re-run of That 70s Show. Luke had gotten Caesar to cover at the diner so that he could take off early for Lorelai's.
"I love that Hyde," said Lorelai as the show went to commercial. "He's so good for Jackie. She's really started growing up since they've been going out. I so hope they find a way to keep it together next season."
Luke digested this and then said, "You do realize this is just a show, right? Hyde and Jackie aren't real."
Lorelai put one index finger in each ear and started making "la la la" noises. Luke smiled indulgently and allowed, "Okay, fine. Jackie and Hyde were meant for one another. Donna and Eric are fantastic, even if he is on the skinny side and she's a – what was it? – Gargantuan?"
"Thank you," said Lorelai. "Now if only Kelso and Fez would hook up."
"Stop!" cried Luke. "This isn't Six Feet Under!"
"You know, I'm very proud of all the pop-culture you've been absorbing off me. A week ago you didn't even know HBO had original programming. You're an inspiration."
"Please stop. For the love of God and all that is holy. Please stop."
Lorelai giggled as another commercial came on. "Oh, look! IHOP! Cream cheese French toast with cinnamon and syrup and bacon and oh my God, I think I'm going to be faint. Gotta remember this commercial. This is my order for tomorrow morning."
Luke rolled his eyes. "You remember it. It's you're order. By the way, do you know how many calories are in French toast?"
"What exactly are you implying?" she asked with a perfectly arched brow.
"Nothing. I'm just asking a question."
"When a man asks a woman a question that has to do with the amount of calories she is about to ingest, it's never nothing," Lorelai informed him pointedly.
Luke sighed. "All I'm saying is that it's not the best way to start off your morning. Sugar and carbs and bacon fat are all very bad things to put into your body to begin with. The last thing you want to do is put them in at the same time first thing in the morning."
Lorelai considered this for a moment and then replied, "So far it hasn't done any harm."
Luke shook his head and then deftly tried to change the subject. "Hey, you know what tomorrow is?"
Lorelai thought for a minute. "Ummm, let's see. That 70s Show is on tonight, so that makes this Wednesday. That means tomorrow's Thursday, right?"
"And what about Thursday is important?" Luke prompted.
Lorelai stared at him and then said, "Oh! It's been a whole week, hasn't it? Wow."
"Yep. So far, so good, right?"
Lorelai smiled at Luke and said, "Yeah. So far, so very good. I have to say, this has been fantastic. Who would've thought?"
"Who, indeed?" They settled further into the cushions of her couch and Lorelai leaned her head against his shoulder.
Luke tried to think of a way to casually bring up Rory.
"So," he began, "what's going on for this weekend? I assume you've got dinner with your parents Friday night."
Lorelai groaned and let her head fall to her other shoulder. "Ugh. Yes, I've got the gruesome twosome on Friday. That'll be fun."
"Rory'll be there, though."
Lorelai immediately brightened. "That's true! God, I miss her so much. I'm going to see if she wants to come home for the weekend soon. Oh, and her birthday is coming up. I'd like to have a party for her, or take her to dinner or something."
"That sounds nice. I think she'd really like that." Luke paused. He didn't want to assume that Lorelai had told Rory about them. But he didn't know how to bring it up. What if she hadn't told Rory? What if Rory came home for the weekend? Would he be unwelcome at the house? But the whole town knew what was going on. Surely, Lorelai would tell Rory before Rory came home so that she wasn't shocked to hear the gossip. But then, it's only been a week! How could Lorelai even know what to tell Rory?
"Have you even heard a word that I've said?" Lorelai was staring at him. Clearly she'd been talking while he'd been having the mini freak-out session in his head.
"Sorry. I guess I'm a little tired. What did you say?"
"I said, we should think of something good to get her for her birthday this year. I'm going to head to the mall this weekend and do some scouting around. Do you want to come?"
"Me?"
"No, William Shatner. Of course you. Why, don't you want to come?"
"Yes, I want to come –"
"Dirty!"
"Lorelai," he warned.
"Sorry, continue."
"I just wasn't sure you wanted to include me on a gift, that's all."
"Well, I'll probably get her more than one gift, but do you not want to be included on any gift at all?" Lorelai's eyes were wide with something he couldn't quite get a handle on.
"No, I just wasn't sure if you'd even told her about…us."
"Oh. Well, I have." Suddenly Lorelai felt as if she'd said too much.
"And?" Luke prompted.
"And what?"
"And what does she think? Is she okay with it all?"
Lorelai held her tongue for a moment. She knew Rory was more than okay with it, but she needed to find a way to tell Luke this without mentioning the love spots.
"Yes," she began. "She's fine with it."
Luke waited. Surely there had to be more.
"That's it? She's fine with it? What did she say?"
"She said she's happy for us and that it was totally fine with her."
He had the feeling that there was something else that she wasn't telling him. "So Rory knows and she's fine with it. Great."
Lorelai nodded, "Yup. Great."
Luke sighed. She was definitely holding out on him. Her forehead puckered for just a second when she'd agreed with him and he'd known her long enough to know that that was one of her tells. He was smart enough to know that he couldn't force it out of her, though, but he wished she'd tell him. He didn't want to be blind-sided by anything.
"So do you want to come to the mall with me? Check out possible birthday presents?"
In all honesty, the mall was the last place Luke wanted to go. Yet, how could he say no? "Sure, okay. I can rearrange Saturday's schedule so that I open and Caesar comes in for the afternoon shift. As long as we're back for the dinner rush, it should be fine."
Lorelai smiled at him. Lulu awoke suddenly and jumped to the coffee table where she promptly vomited. "Gah!" shouted Lorelai. "Bad kitty!"
Luke stood quickly, picked up Lulu and brought her into the kitchen. Then he grabbed paper towels and went back into the living room and to clean up the mess. He was expecting a very angry Lorelai, but surprisingly, she passed him on his way to the living room. She went right to Lulu in the kitchen and crouched on the floor stroking the kitten's fur. After finishing with the coffee table, Luke came back into the kitchen. "I think she ate too fast this evening. Just before you came over I fed her and she chowed down," Lorelai explained. "It must not have agreed with her stomach."
Luke smiled. "You might be right." He deposited the paper towels in the garbage under the sink and sat on the floor by Lorelai. He rubbed Lulu's forehead. "Feeling better?" Lulu purred. "I guess that's a yes."
Lorelai smiled at Luke. "Poor girl. Thanks for cleaning it up."
"No problem. Sorry she was sick."
"Not your fault," replied Lorelai. "Luke, I know I was hesitant at first and last Friday I maybe flew off the handle a little bit, but I want you to know how much I love having Lulu here."
Luke smiled. "I'm really glad. Do you…want to talk about last Friday?"
Lorelai looked away. "Maybe later."
Luke's smile faded. "Okay."
An awkward silence crept in and took up residence. Finally, Lulu wandered away, bored with the attention, and Luke stood and went back into the living room.
Lorelai stared at his retreating figure and wished she wasn't such a coward. Why couldn't she just tell him what had happened? Why couldn't she tell him she was afraid of inflicting her parents on him, and that Rory had love spots for him, and that she might have love spots, too? Why were the words so difficult?
Her gaze drifted to the fridge and she opened it and pulled out a can of Redi-whip. Maybe she couldn't fix things, but she could put a band-aid on with some whipped cream.
"Hey, Luke," she called as she walked back into the living room, shaking the can.
