Title: A Wedding Story, Chapter 8 – Something is wrong in Luke-land

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

----------------------

Luke came upstairs to his apartment and shut the door behind him. Nicole was sitting at the table eating her pad thai.

"Oh, Luke, this is yummy and I brought enough for both of us. Why don't you try it?"

"No thanks, I'm not really hungry." He replied.

"Suit yourself." Nicole continued to eat and Luke just watched her. He was amazed that Nicole had a big appetite because she never seemed to gain any weight. He got up from the table and began to clean up the apartment while Nicole finished her food.

"Wow, I'm stuffed. That was great. Luke, we should definitely try the Thai Palace one night for dinner."

Luke was tired of repeating that he didn't like Thai food and just said, "Sure."

He sat down on the couch and Nicole joined him and they discussed their day. More like her day as Nicole chattered on about some big case she was preparing for and how the senior partners were really noticing her work.

"Luke, I'm telling you, I'm going to be made partner, I just know it." Nicole said excitedly.

"That's great, Nicole." Luke said unenthusiastically.

"Luke, what's wrong? I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I am happy for you, but it doesn't make sense to get all worked up until you know for sure. I just don't want you to be disappointed."

Nicole nodded. "I see." She wondered if the same thing applied to their relationship. "So anyway, let's talk about my birthday plans."

Luke wondered when she would bring this up. "Nicole about that...um, I was hoping that we could go to Lorelai's party that day. I mean her thing is in the afternoon, we could go for a little while and then I could spend the rest of the day and evening with you. How does that sound?"

"I don't think so. I've booked us at a day spa."

"You what? Do I look like the spa type to you?"

"Have you ever been to one?"

"No, and I'm not planning to." Luke crossed his arms in front of him.

"Oh come on Luke, spas aren't just for women. They have special treatments for men – sports massage, skin exfoliation, pedicures, things like that. It'll make you a new person."

"Hey, I like the old one. I have an idea, why don't you take one of your girlfriends with you? I'm sure she'll enjoy it much more than me. Then when you're done, I can pick you up and take you to a nice dinner."

"But Luke, I'd like to go for the whole weekend and eat their spa cuisine. You just can't come and take me away to dinner."

"Nicole, it's a spa, not prison. Why can't we compromise?"

"Luke, it's MY birthday. It's the one day out of the year when I don't want to compromise." Nicole was getting indignant and crossed her arms in front of her.

"But I'd really like to be at the party, it means a lot to Lorelai. She's been working so hard to open that inn on time and I want to be there."

Nicole got up from the couch. "But my birthday means a lot to me, Luke! I want to spend the day with my husband relaxing somewhere away from work, away from here. But all you seem to care about is Lorelai!"

Luke was trying to stay calm, to avoid another blowup. "That's not true. Of course I want to be with you on your birthday! But I already told Lorelai that I would come before you came downstairs. And I forgot it was your birthday – you just kind of sprung it on me."

"Luke, I can't believe you didn't know that date was my birthday! Don't you remember last year, I was upset that I couldn't spend it with you because I was in Boston?"

Luke didn't want to tell her that he had forgotten so he nodded. "I remember, sorry. I just can't believe that was almost a year ago."

"Yeah, time flies, huh? Come on Luke, do this for me, please." Nicole implored.

"You promised me last night that you would try to spend more time with me. And the next two weeks are going to be crazy for me at work and I don't know how many evenings we'll be able to spend together. And I know we have your sister's wedding coming up. My birthday weekend will be the only quality time we'll have together. And about the party, talk to Lorelai, she's your friend right? If she's your friend, she'll understand."

Luke sighed and gave in, he knew she wasn't going to back down. "Okay, but I'm not getting a pedicure."

Nicole sat down and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "You're the best! And don't worry, you don't have to get a pedicure. But I'm going to insist on a massage, you are so tense. How 'bout I give you a preview?"

Nicole began to massage Luke's tight shoulders with her bony fingers and he tried to relax. But he kept thinking about the look on Lorelai's face when Nicole told her about her birthday. She looked so disappointed, almost.....heartbroken. Nah, he probably was just imagining it. She would understand.

Later that night, as Nicole slept soundly beside him in his tiny bed, Luke felt incredibly claustrophobic and got up to go to the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed that the bags under his eyes were more pronounced than usual. A little voice inside his head began to berate him.

What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you give in to Nicole? Why can't you be a man and stand up to her? You at a spa, don't get me started! And what about Lorelai's party – she really wants you there, she gave you the invitation in person. And what about what Liz said.....

The voice went on and on until Luke couldn't take it anymore. He put on a long-sleeved t-shirt, sweatpants and his trainers. He used to go running regularly but hadn't gone in a while. He went downstairs and outside, breathing in the cool night air. He started running and before he knew it he found himself in front of Lorelai's house.

He saw that her living room light was still on. He jogged up her walkway and onto the porch and knocked on her door.

Lorelai appeared at the door, in her glasses and pajamas, with her hair in a ponytail. She was surprised to see Luke at her door, breathless and sweaty.

"Luke, what are you doing here? It's 2 in the morning!"

"I know, I just went for a run and I saw your light, so...."

"Since when do you go running in the middle of the night?" Lorelai asked.

"I don't know, I just felt like I needed to get some air."

Lorelai held open the door and Luke came inside. She went into the kitchen and gave him a glass of water. Luke grabbed the glass and gulped it down like he was dying of thirst.

"Thanks," he said, sitting down at her kitchen table.

Lorelai joined him, noticing that he looked a little out of sorts. "What's wrong, Luke?"

Luke looked at her and wanted to tell her everything. How he had made a mess out of his life because he was such a damn coward. And that he loved her and didn't want to disappoint her.

"I can't go to your party." He blurted out.

Lorelai sighed but tried to hide her disappointment. "So I guess you couldn't convince the birthday girl to change her plans?"

"I tried but I couldn't, I'm sorry." He sounded so remorseful.

"Luke, it's okay. I told you at the diner that it would be okay. I understand that you want to go, and that's enough. I'll just have to save my special toast to you for another time."

"Special toast?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, I was going to surprise you with a toast, to thank you for everything you've done for me and Sookie. But now I'll just have to do it privately."

Luke smiled. "Maybe that's better, I'd probably get embarrassed in front of all those people."

"Which is why I wanted you there in the first place!" Lorelai laughed. "Seriously, in private or public, it really doesn't matter as long as you get the message."

"What message is that?"

Lorelai began to blush. "Well, I'm still working on it, I'll let you know when I'm done."

Luke wondered why she was blushing but his thoughts were interrupted by a yawn.

"Hey - if you want to stay here tonight - it's okay. You could take the couch or Rory's bed."

Luke was tempted for a moment but shook his head. "Thanks, but I'd better get back, I don't want Nicole to wake up and wonder where I am."

"I understand. Listen, I hope I didn't cause any problems with the invitation."

"Don't worry about it. Everything's okay." Luke stood up to leave and headed for the kitchen door. Lorelai followed and gently took one of his hands in hers.

"Are you sure? Luke, I want you to know that I'm here for you, okay? If you need to talk about anything, I want you to know that you can talk to me. I won't judge you, I promise."

"Thanks for the offer, Lorelai, maybe one day I'll take you up on it." He squeezed her hand before letting go. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Luke." Lorelai opened the door and watched him leave her yard.

Once he was gone, she closed the door behind her. She knew that something was definitely wrong in Luke-land. She hoped he would be able to tell her all about it someday.

TBC