Miss Patty's POV

Luke's penchant for being able to fix whatever was broken didn't always have to do with physically fixing. He was always worried about fixing broken emotions. I think it all stems from when his mother was ill and he had to help his father with Liz, the store and cooping in general.

I remember that there was a day a long time ago when Luke walked with Liz to dance class. I thought it was rather odd that he would come to his sister's dance class just to turn around and go home, but I later found out that he had just gotten the news that his mother's illness had taken a turn for the worse.

"Lucas," I called. "It's so nice to see you. Can I persuade you to join us for class? We're learning how to waltz today."

"No thanks Miss Patty," he replied shifting on his feet.

"Come on Luke every girl wants a boy who can dance," I replied. "And you're shaping up to be such an attractive young man that dancing would only be an added bonus."

He looked uncomfortable, but it was true. If I hadn't been married to my fourth husband at the time I'd have liked to school Luke in how to treat a lady. He just looked down, embarrassed.

"Liz, tell your brother that girls like boys that dance," I nudged her playfully, but even Liz wasn't her usual jovial self. She seemed sad somehow. I figured it must have to do with her mother. She had been sick for a while and the kids were having a hard time with it.

"Sure, if I found a guy who could dance I'd run off with him and have his baby," she said wryly. She looked at Luke and noticed his typical lack of response and said, "Come on Miss Patty we should start class."

She wandered into the studio and I was puzzled by her lack of interest in the topic. Liz was always interested in a little conversation, but today was different. I relented and let Luke walk away, but I watched him as he went. He wandered over by the gazebo in the Town Square. He looked around, a quick scan of the area, and made sure no one was watching him. His usually observant eyes missed me as I was intently gazing at him.

Luke bent down and by a shaded corner of the gazebo and he plucked a handful of forget-me-nots from the garden. I was surprised by his interest in the flowers, but I was also surprised by his lack of concern about picking the flowers. Of course I didn't have to wonder for very long because no sooner had Luke plucked the flowers from the ground than Taylor ran from across the square. Apparently he had seen Luke pick the flowers as well. Although Taylor was by no means a parental figure he had worn his authoritative air since I loved to Stars Hollow.

Taylor bounded towards Luke and said, "Excuse me, but what do you think you're doing?"

Luke looked startled that he had been caught, but he wasn't ashamed. In fact, I'd describe his attitude as down right defiant. He took a deep breath and replied, "I'm picking flowers, what does it look like I'm doing?"

He walked swiftly passed Taylor and started home, but Taylor wouldn't let him off that easy. He followed him with the same brisk step that he uses today.

"Luke Danes, you are officially defacing town property. Those flowers are protected by statute 6, section 4 of the town by-laws," Taylor ranted as he scurried beside Luke.

"Well thanks for sharing that tidbit Mr. Doose," Luke replied. "Please give my regards to Greenpeace when you report me for violating a stupid town by-law."

"Those flowers give pleasure to all the people of the town. They aren't for your own personal enjoyment," Taylor shot back.

Luke stopped in his tracks and looked Taylor in the eye. "And what about the people who can't go outside Taylor? What about the people who live to far away to see the town square? What about the people who love Morning Glories or whatever the hell these things are?" Luke shouted and shook his fistful of flowers in Taylor's face. "What about those people? Are they prohibited from seeing these stupid flowers just because they're sick?"

Taylor looked taken aback. He never imagined that Luke was picking the flowers for his mother. He had assumed they were for that girlfriend of his. The one with the camera in everyone's face all the time. He suddenly had a pang of regret for giving Luke such a hard time. He had heard that Mrs. Danes wasn't expected to make it through the winter and now he realized Luke was trying to cheer her up.

"My mother has lived in this stupid town since she was born and the one thing she loves most of all are these dumb blue flowers that grow around the gazebo," Luke continued to rant for all to hear. "She can't come outside right now and if this one thing will make her feel a little bit better than I'm gonna pick as many of these damn things as I please."

I watched him turn on his heel and smiled as he walked down the street to his house. He couldn't fix what ailed his mother, but he was going to try to make her feel better. It was admirable. It was also the first time I'd seen a patented Luke Danes rant. It was amusing and it left Taylor speechless. I think also started the beginning of their mutual disdain society.

That was the moment I noticed that Luke was a lot deeper than he let on. He had a whole world of emotions that he was too afraid to speak of verbally so he showed his affection in smaller, more meaningful ways. He showed affection by doing, not speaking and somehow it seemed right.

TBC