Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, just the story idea.
A/N: I think Rory's birthday is supposed to be in November since the ep "Rory's Birthday Parties' aired on 11/9/00, but I'm going to use a little artistic license since it helps my story along.
Luke stood before a window display of jewelry and paused. Women liked jewelry, right? Lorelai had left him on his own, said he was "slowing her down." He was perfectly happy with that. It gave him a chance to look around the mall on his own and slowly try to figure out what might be an appropriate gift for Rory.
He studied the jewelry behind the case and thought he might as well go in and take a look. It never hurt to look.
He entered the store and was immediately overwhelmed. It was jewelry over-load. There was case after case of silver, gold, diamonds, pearls, and gemstones galore. He took a step back and almost left the store entirely.
What kept him was the fact that all the sales people were busy and he could wander around alone without some pushy jerk trying to get him to buy something.
Luke made his way past a row of glass cases. First were diamond engagement rings, then wedding bands, then earrings, then necklaces. When he came to bracelets he paused. There were charm bracelets in the case. He remembered something from way back when. For Christmas one year his dad had gotten Liz a charm bracelet and she'd loved it. She had been younger than Rory, but she had worn the thing incessantly. Rory might like something like this.
Luke stood over the case for a few minutes and pretty quickly made a decision. He left the store with the bag in his hand and only when he was on his way to meet Lorelai did he think that maybe he should have asked her first.
Lorelai was standing at the fountain, just as she said she'd be. What she hadn't prepared him for was the mountain of bags surrounding her.
"Did you buy out all the stores in the mall? What on earth is all this stuff?"
"Some stuff is for Rory, some is for me, some is for you."
"Me?"
"Yeah, can't I buy you stuff?"
"Sure, you can buy me stuff."
Lorelai noticed the bag he was holding. "Whatcha got there?"
Luke sighed. "I bought something for Rory for her birthday, but now that I'm thinking about it, it might not be appropriate. I didn't ask you and you might not like it."
Lorelai's eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. Then, she loudly announced to the mall: "Luke, I have asked you over and over again. Do not buy my daughter underwear. It's incredibly inappropriate." Luke blushed to his roots as passersby jerked their heads in their direction.
"Lorelai, would you cut it out?" He hissed at her. "This is serious. I really don't know if you'll be okay with it."
She decided to give him a break. "Sounds intriguing. Let's find someplace to sit and eat and you can show me."
Luke nodded, helped her carry all her bags and they found a place to eat. Once at the table, Luke took the jewelry box out of the bag and pushed it at Lorelai.
"Why Luke, this is so sudden." Lorelai batted her eyelashes at him playfully.
"Just open it."
Lorelai did and gasped. "Oh, Luke, this is beautiful. She's…she's going to love it."
"You think so?"
Lorelai fingered the delicate gold bracelet and charms. There was a book charm, a musical note charm, a coffee mug charm, a Y charm, obviously for Yale, and a flower.
"It's perfect. How did you find one like this?"
"Well, the bracelet was separate. I picked out the charms," he said dismissively.
"You picked out each charm?" She gazed at him in wonder.
"Yeah, but it was easy. I mean, really it's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal? Luke, you got everything. Book, music, coffee, Yale…the only one I don't get is the flower."
"Oh, that's the Aster. It's the flower of September. Like Sapphire is the gemstone of September? Asters are the flower. Don't look at me like that, I didn't know it, the store guy did. I needed a fifth charm and he suggested it. Do you really think she'll like it?"
"Trust me, she will love it."
"Good. I'm glad."
Lorelai studied his face. "Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"I -"
"Hi, folks, my name is Beth, I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"
The moment was gone. Lorelai put the bracelet back into its box and they ordered lunch.
