Title: A Wedding Story, Chapter 7 – The Apex of the Triangle

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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Nicole looked at her watch. It was close to 6PM, she couldn't believe how fast the day went by. She was working at her firm's Hartford office this week and stared at the legal briefs she had been reviewing at her desk. She had been working long hours and she was definitely on the fast track. Her professional life was falling into place - she had been given hints by Stein Sr. that she was going to be made partner during the next round of promotions.

Her personal life was starting to fall into place too, especially after last night. She hoped that Luke's anger this morning at the alarm mishap had dissipated. She decided to check in on him to make sure he was going to keep the promises he had made last night at dinner. She picked up the phone and dialed.

"Luke's."

"Hello, Lane. Is my husband there?" Nicole asked.

Lane rolled her eyes, she wasn't too fond of the "wife." "Um, he's upstairs taking a dinner break. Do you want me to get him?"

"Oh, no. I'll give him a call there. Thanks." Nicole hung up and dialed again,

"Hello?"

"Hi Luke, it's me." She said cheerily.

"Oh, hey Nicole. What's up?" Luke said, trying to ignore the knots in his stomach.

"I wanted to see what you were doing for dinner tonight, but Lane told me that you've already eaten?"

"Well, I just made myself a turkey burger. I'm just about done and then I'm working until the diner closes tonight."

"Oh, I see. Well, I'm going to be working a little late tonight but I'm hoping to bring some takeout over to your place, maybe around closing? There's this darling Thai place near my office that I'd love to try. And I feel really bad about the alarm this morning and I'd love to make it up to you. Instead of coming to Litchfield to see me, why don't I come to Stars Hollow tonight to see you?"

Luke really couldn't think of a reason to say 'no' and she really seemed to be trying to accommodate him. "I don't really care for Thai food, but if you want to come over....."

"Great, I'll be by around nine. See you then." Nicole hung up the phone and smiled. She picked up a folder and began to review its contents.

Luke hung up the phone and sighed. What the hell was he doing with his life?

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Lorelai sat at her kitchen table, she had just finished her Chinese take- out dinner. She had just put the leftovers into the fridge and wondered what she was going to do with the rest of her evening. All of her favorite TV shows were in repeats and she was bored. She considered calling Rory but she remembered that she had a newspaper deadline and decided not to bother her daughter.

At times like this, Lorelai felt lonely. When she and Jason were dating, she'd usually call him after dinner and find him still at the office but she always found a way to distract him from work. Although she and Jason had broken up a few weeks ago, she kind of missed him. He was funny, took her to unusual places and the sex was not too bad either. But that's really all he was, a distraction.

Lorelai remembered the invitations she had bought earlier that day. That's what she could do – she could start writing and mailing them out! She and Sookie had split the list into two – so she had the second half. Lorelai got the cards, a pen and the list and started to write.

About an hour into it, her hand got tired. Filling out invitations wasn't as fun as she thought it would be. She yawned and went up to make some coffee but realized she was out. Aha! The perfect excuse to visit a certain boy toy. It was also the perfect excuse to find out if he was going to attend their party. Lorelai grabbed an invitation and put it in her purse. She grabbed her leather jacket and was out the door.

A few minutes later, Lorelai arrived at the diner. It was near closing time and Lane was clearing a few plates as she entered.

"Hey Lorelai. Here for some coffee?"

"Coffee and pie, if Luke has any left."

"Yeah, we have apple pie today."

"Great, I'll have a slice. Where's Luke?" She asked, a little anxiously.

"Oh, he's around. I think he went upstairs for a minute." Lane disappeared into the back with the plates.

A few minutes later, Lorelai was digging into her pie and coffee when she heard footsteps descending the stairs.

Luke was surprised to see her sitting at the counter and his heartbeat accelerated. Lorelai looked up and their eyes met.

"Hey," they said in unison. The diner fell silent except for the clanking of dishes in the sink and sound of blood pumping in their ears.

Lorelai found her voice. "The pie's delicious. Did you do something different?"

"Different?" Luke cleared his throat. "Um, I added some extra cinnamon. Glad you like it."

Lorelai sipped her coffee and Luke grabbed a rag and started to wipe down the counter.

"Um, Luke can we talk for a second?"

"About what?" He kept on wiping.

"Can you put down the rag please?" She implored and he obeyed.

"I'm listening."

"I want to apologize for my behavior at the Dragonfly yesterday. I didn't mean to disrespect you or your marriage. I guess I thought you'd be in on the joke."

Luke tensed at hearing that word but she did seem sincere. So Liz was probably wrong about her liking him. Figures, why should he listen to Liz anyway?

"It's okay, Lorelai. I think I overreacted a little."

"So you're not mad at me?"

"No, not for the time being." He smirked.

"Good, I hate it when things are weird between us. Oh, hey, there's something I want to give you."

"What is it?"

Lorelai reached into her purse, pulled out an envelope and placed it on the counter. "Open it."

Luke opened the envelope and pulled out the invitation. "Lorelai Gilmore and Sookie St. James - Melville cordially invite you and a guest to celebrate the grand opening of the new Dragonfly Inn on Saturday, May 8th at 2PM. RSVP by April 30th to....."

Luke smiled. "You don't trust the postal service?"

"Well, remember when Kirk was postman and the entire town's mail got screwed up? I was hoping to avoid another situation like that." She paused and returned his smile.

"No, I wanted to give it to you in person, since you're sort of the guest of honor. I mean the Inn wouldn't be opening on time if it weren't for your help and support...and I just wanted to make sure that you'll be there."

"Well, I'll have to check my social calendar. Lorelai, of course I'll be there."

"Good. You can also bring a guest, if you'd like."

"Nicole? I'm not sure if she's gonna be in town that weekend but I'll ask her."

"Ask me what?" Nicole said, appearing from behind the counter. "Luke, the Thai food's all heated up, are you coming upstairs?"

Lorelai was a little startled to see Nicole standing there but put on a tight smile. "Hi Nicole."

"Hello, Lorelai." Nicole's smile was even tighter.

Luke cleared his throat, clearly the uncomfortable apex of this triangle.

"Oh Nicole, Lorelai just invited us to the opening party for her Inn." He grabbed the invitation and showed it to her.

"May 8th? Oh Luke, that's my birthday. Thanks for the invite Lorelai, but we'll have plans that day."

Lorelai's face fell and Luke shot Nicole a confused look – he didn't even know that was her birthday or that she had plans for them.

"Well, we can discuss this later." Luke said. "Nicole, I'll be up in a minute."

"Okay, Luke. Nice to see you, Lorelai." Nicole disappeared behind the curtain.

Lorelai had the urge to stick out her tongue but held it.

Luke shook his head. "I'm sorry about that Lorelai. I totally forgot it was her birthday."

Lorelai recovered her smile. "It's okay, it's your wife's birthday – that takes priority over everything else."

"Listen, I'll see what I can do. Your party's in the afternoon, right? Maybe I can get Nicole to move her thing to the evening."

Lorelai brightened. "Well, I hope you can manage to make it. I mean the both of you."

"We'll try." Luke said. He heard Nicole calling his name from upstairs. "I gotta go. Hey, Lane – I'm going upstairs, you can close up when you're ready."

Lorelai watched him disappear behind the curtain. Damn it, she thought. She didn't even know that Nicole was upstairs when she came in – it never even occurred to her that she would be there. She wouldn't put it past Nicole to lie about her birthday just to get Luke away from the party. And poor Luke, he seemed like a henpecked husband already. There had to be something she could do to set him free. But what?

TBC