Title: A Wedding Story, Chapter 6 – The future Mrs. TJ Delouise

Author: Gluglug

Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late Fourth Season

Rating: PG-13

Summary: His sister's impending wedding leads Luke to make some decisions about his own life. SPOILER WARNING

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.

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Later that afternoon, Lorelai went to the local card & gift store looking to buy some invitations for the Dragonfly opening. She and Sookie had looked into getting the invitations printed but their budget was dwindling and the last thing Lorelai wanted to do was borrow more money from Luke. She thought about asking her mother for a contact but she knew that Emily would want to take everything over. But this was her inn opening and if she had store-bought cards, the world wasn't going to fall apart.

Lorelai was browsing the invitation aisle when she heard someone call her name. She couldn't quite place the slightly gravelly female voice, but it sounded familiar. She heard her name again and turned around to see who was greeting her.

"Oh my god, Liz, you startled me!"

"Oh, I have that effect on people. I didn't mean to startle you!"

"It's okay. What are you doing here, I mean in Stars Hollow?"

"Oh, I'm getting married in a couple of weeks and I'm in town to make some arrangements. I'm buying some decorations - we're having the ceremony at Miss Patty's studio. I had wanted to do it in the gazebo but what if it rains? So TJ and I thought we should be safe. Oh and since we're surrounded by invitations, did you get mine?"

"Yes, I did. I got it a couple of days ago but I'm opening my inn very soon and it's just been crazy. I will try to make it to the ceremony, at least."

Liz nodded. "It's okay. I'll understand if you can't make it. I'd love to stay at your Inn sometime. Maybe TJ and I will come for a second honeymoon or something."

"Where are you going on your first?" Lorelai asked.

Oh, TJ's taking me Dollywood - we both love Dolly Parton! I know it sounds cheesy but that's where we wanted to go."

"Well, it's your honeymoon." Lorelai agreed.

"Yes, it is, I can't wait to be married. Well, Lorelai, it was great to see you again, and I hope you can make the wedding."

"Yeah, it was good to see you, too.....oh wait, Liz, before I forget...I want to thank you for the earrings."

"The earrings?" Liz asked.

"The last time you were here, Luke gave me a pair of beaded earrings that you made, he said you wanted me to have them?" Lorelai reminded her.

Liz smiled, looking a little confused. "Oh yes, I remember. I'm glad you liked them. See ya, Lorelai."

Lorelai turned around and started browsing the cards, wondering why Liz gave her that quizzical look. Luke had said she was ditsy, maybe she really didn't remember.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Lorelai spotted a box of invitations for a housewarming party. These might do, she thought. She picked up five boxes and brought them to the register.

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Later that afternoon, Liz dropped by the diner to see her brother. Lane told her that he was upstairs taking a break. She marched up the stairs and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"The future Mrs. TJ Delouise!"

Luke opened the door and gave his sister a hug. "Liz, what are you doing in town? The wedding isn't for another two weeks!" He ushered her inside and closed the door.

"Yeah, but the wedding isn't going to plan itself, you know. I was just over at Miss Patty's studio, she's gonna let us use it for free, as long as we remove all the decorations and sweep up the place."

"Is TJ here?"

"Oh, no. He took a construction job in Manhattan this week to help pay for the honeymoon. Some fancy apartment building near Ground Zero. I can't imagine anyone wanting to live down there so close to that site, all that negative energy."

"But Liz, you still have your place in Greenwich Village, right?"

"Yeah, but TJ and I are thinking of moving to Stars Hollow or somewhere close-by. We don't want to raise a family in New York."

"Wait a second, are you pregnant?" Luke asked.

"Yup!" Liz nodded excitedly.

"So it's a shotgun wedding?" Luke grimaced.

"Oh, please – no one uses that expression anymore. And we didn't know we were pregnant until after the engagement. I just found out a couple of days ago."

"Well, congratulations. I guess I'm gonna be an uncle again."

"Yeah, I hope this baby realizes what a great uncle he's got, unlike my other kid."

"Speaking of, is Jess coming to the wedding?"

"I don't know, he said he'd try to make it. He's back in Venice Beach with his dad, so who knows?"

"Yeah." Luke agreed. "So how long are you here for?"

"Just until tomorrow. I'm staying with Carrie, she's helping me out with some of the arrangements. We're going to pick out some flowers tomorrow - she's my maid of honor you know."

"Should be maid of dishonor." Luke muttered.

"I heard that." Liz laughed. "Oh, by the way I ran into Lorelai earlier today."

"You did?" Upon hearing her name, Luke's heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, she was in the card store looking at invitations. She thanked me for the earrings."

"The earrings?" Luke played dumb.

"Yeah, the ones I made for you to give to Nicole, or....Lorelai." Liz said, giving him a knowing look.

"Did you say anything?" Luke asked, feeling suddenly paranoid.

"No, I just said I'm glad she liked them. Why are you so paranoid, Luke? Is it because you gave the earrings to a woman who's not your wife?"

"Liz, I gave them to Lorelai because they were more her style. Nicole is very conservative and doesn't wear much jewelry." Luke explained.

"Yeah, sure, bro, I believe you." Liz mocked. "Come on, I'm your sister, why can't you admit the truth to me?"

"What truth?"

"That you like Lorelai. And not only that, I'm pretty sure she likes you too."

"What would give you that idea?"

"When we first met, I could tell by the way she was talking about you. She called you "the Good One" and you should've seen the look on her face when I told her I thought she was your wife."

"You said WHAT?" Luke exclaimed.

"Well she looks like your type and I didn't know your wife's name yet, so I just assumed. She called herself "customer and friend" but not wife. It was funny and yet sad at the same time because I felt that she wanted to be more than that. You know how I am with people's vibes."

"Oh, come on Liz." Luke said with a wave of his hand.

"Dismiss it all you want, but she's into you, big time." Liz asserted.

Upon hearing that, Luke couldn't help but grin. Lorelai liked HIM. So maybe that was what the little show in the kitchen yesterday was all about. Maybe she really liked him and that was her way of showing him. Maybe he wasn't a joke, after all.

"Someone's smiling." Liz teased. "You may not want to admit it but it's all over your face. That's always been your downfall Luke, you wear your heart on your sleeve."

"I do not." Luke protested.

"Oh, you do. I remember when you were falling for Rachel, right around the time I was pregnant with Jess. Anytime she came into the hardware store or you just saw her around town, you just had this besotted look on your face. Dad and I were so happy when you finally asked her out, so you could finally stop moping. It's the same with Lorelai."

Luke relented, a little. "All right, I used to have a crush on her, okay? But I'm married to Nicole now, and Lorelai and are just friends."

"Luke, I know this is probably none of my business, but you're my brother so I'm gonna make it my business." Liz continued.

"If you're married to Nicole, why don't you wear a wedding band? I mean, TJ and I met a metal smith at one of the fairs who's making these custom made rings for us. They symbolize so much to us and yet you say you're married but I don't see a ring. I've never met Nicole and I don't think she lives here with you. I mean she does exist, right?"

Luke sighed. "Yeah, she definitely exists. Liz, it's complicated."

"Well, I've got some time, why don't you tell me?"

Luke told her the whole story. "...and she bought a place in Litchfield a couple of months ago and asked me to move in with her. But I haven't actually gotten around to it, it's hard with me working at the diner and she travels a lot for her job so..."

"And to think I thought I was the screw up of the family...." Liz sighed. "I'm joking, Luke. But it's quite a mess you've gotten yourself into here."

"It's not that bad." Luke said, half-heartedly.

"Yes, it is, Luke. There's a phrase Dad used to say that applies to your situation – 'Shit or get off the pot.'"

"How vivid." Luke said dryly. "You really think it's that bad?"

"Yeah, I do. You don't look happy, Luke. This is wearing you down and one day you're gonna snap and poor Nicole will be on the receiving end."

"Well, I've already kind of snapped, we've been fighting a lot lately, except for last night. But even then she pissed me off because she didn't set the alarm."

"Oh, Luke you need to make a decision here, you really do." Liz stated.

Luke sighed. "Maybe. I guess you're right."

"Wow, did hell freeze over? Did you just say I was right?" Liz laughed. "Seriously though, I know this is going to be painful for the both of you, but it's more painful to pretend that the marriage is going somewhere. Let her go, Luke. It might hurt but in the long run she'll thank you." The room was silent for a moment.

"When did you get to be the smart one?" Luke asked.

"I learned from the best." Liz said, giving his arm a squeeze and then stood up to leave.

"Well, I gotta get going, I've got to go try on my dress to make sure it fits. I hope I don't grow too much in the next two weeks."

"How far along are you?"

"Two and a half months."

"Well congratulations again, Liz. This is great news."

"Thanks Luke. I'll try to drop by before I leave tomorrow. Oh and please think about what we talked about. And about what I said about Lorelai."

"I will." Luke promised as Liz walked out the door.

Luke closed the door and sat down on the couch, holding his head in his hands. Yeah, like he needed any more reminders to think about his mess of a marriage and where Lorelai fit in.

TBC

A/N: Thanks for all the kind reviews so far, especially from Netherfield. I love your work, so I'm happy that you're enjoying mine.