Disclaimer- News flash....this just in....I am still not Amy Sherman-Pallidino or anyone in her gang of merry men....I am mere mortal flesh and bone....as proof of that fact I took down this chapter for a while to change it up make it better...because we all know we can do better. It is nice when we have people to tell us that. Big thanks to JavaJunkieAddict aka Mickey for her help with this chapter. Next time aliens suck my soul hopefully the chapter will never see the light of day. Anyway....on with the show.
Lorelai and Rory were walking through the town square. It was a beautiful winters night snow gently falling everyone out and about shopping and caroling. They barely made it a block without someone coming up to Lorelai and asking her how she was and touching her tummy.
They walked into the diner and saw Luke standing behind the counter. Lorelai had barely walked 5 feet into the diner when she was literally bombarded by Babbette and Miss. Patti asking how she was and of course touching her tummy. Rory sat down across the counter from Luke and watched her mother look totaly agitated.
"She hates that you know." Rory said."All the people, all the touching."
"I know." Luke said. "They litterly mobbed me when I came in this morning."
Finally Lorelai made it to the counter and sat beside Rory.
"It's like suddenly I am being mistaken for Buddah, everyone rubbin' on my belly, hoping to get lucky."
Lorelai said a bit perturbed.
"We could paint you Gold and charge people to rub it, then when it is time for this kid to go to Chilton you are all set." Rory said laughing quietly, amused with herself.
Lorelai was not as ammused.
"Why do people do that?" Luke said.
"Beats me...and I am not even really showing yet." Lorelai said. "But somehow knowing that there is a fetus residing somewhere in there is good enough for them to touch my stomach." She complained.
"Mom...hate to break it to you...but you're showing." Rory said.
"I know...but I'm not like a whale." Lorelai said.
"No but, people in this town know you and notice the difference. They are just happy for you." Rory said.
"Yeah, yeah, why can't they be happy and not touchy." Lorelai barked.
"So do you want something to eat while you we are here? Please just say something healthy cause if you don't I am just bringing you it anyway." He said.
"I'm cranky. I want coffee." Lorelai said.
"Nope, sorry try again." Luke said.
"Luuuuke." Lorelai whined.
"No, what else can I get you."
"You're mean I want to talk to the owner...or his wife, yeah I bet she would give me coffee."
"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
"Fine gimmie a hot cocoa, a blueberry muffin and a bag of pickle chips." Lorelai said.
"You had me up to the pickle chips." Luke said.
"Please honey, I really want them...I have been craving them all day." She said. She just realized she was having her first food craving.
"Craving like...pregnant craving kind of thing?" Luke said smiling.
"With me it was peppers." Rory said with a smile.
"Yes like a pregnant craving." Lorelai said knowing that anything that had to do with this pregnancy he would have to give her.
"All right, but just one bag." He said with a smile.
"You thought I eat weird things when I am not pregnant, you will be amazed at what I'll eat when I am." Lorelai called after him. She decided to push her luck.
"The baby wants coffee not cocoa." She said.
"Nice try." He said handing her a to go cup and her muffin and chips.
"It was worth a shot." She said kissing him.
"Rory, what would you like." He said.
"Just a coffee and a cookie." She said.
"Right, got it." Luke said grabbing the coffee and cookie for Rory, picking up his own cup and saying. "Okay then...off to get a tree?"
"Hi ho hi ho." Lorelai said leaving her muffin, but taking the chips.
The three of them walked into Doosey tree lot and browsed around.
"Oooo how about this one." Luke said.
"Too small." Lorelai said to him.
"How about this one." Rory said showing her mother.
"Too big." She looked around for a bit longer and then pulled out a tree.
"This one." She said.
She had picked the fattest, fullest tree in the whole lot.
"Works for me." Luke said.
"I can deal." Rory said.
"Ok Kirk." Lorelai called.
Kirk walked over in a Dooseys Christmas Tree Lot apron.
"We'll take this one." Luke said.
"Very good, now are you sure that no one that will be living near or with the tree is allergic to any kind of pine needles or tree sap." Kirk said.
"No." Luke said annoyed.
"So you aren't sure of that?" Kirk said.
"We're sure Kirk, no allergies of any kind, we are all allergy free." Rory said.
"All right then. I will have them net it up for you." He said grabbing the tree and walking away. He came back a moment later with the tree and a total.
"It will be 35 dollars even." Kirk said.
Luke took out his wallet and handed him the money.
"Will you be needing a tree stand, lights or any Dooseys market fine ornaments tonight?" Kirk said.
"Nah, Kirk I think we are good with the tree." Lorelai said.
"Merry Christmas Kirk." Rory said.
"Merry Christmas." Kirk said.
With that the three of them walked back to the house. It was as they were walking up that Rory noticed something for the first time. She had been home a thousand times since her mother got married but this was the first time she noticed that the name on the mail box had changed, it now read Danes. Rory smiled it was the little things like that, that made her happy for her mom and Luke.
They got the tree inside and Rory brought in the decorations from the garage. Lorelai turned on the stereo and played Frank Sinatras Christmas album as the decorated they tree. This was their first Christmas as a family, she wanted it to be perfect. Luke stood back for a moment as he watched Lorelai in a profile putting ornaments on the tree. It was at this angle that you could really tell she was caring his child. Her sweater fit tight across her tummy and she had that...glow. He watched as Rory tried to untangle the lights that her mother haphazardly just threw in a box the year earlier at Rory's insistence not to, but that was right after the accident and no one was telling her what to do. Last years Christmas was not like this one would be. It was much happier tone this year. Lorelai was barely home from the hospital last year and they had the very last tree from the lot. No one had had any time to shop because they were at the hospital, so it turned out to be like most of Lukes Christmases, uneventful.
Luke felt himself smiling he was doing that so much lately, but he was truly happy. He finally had a reason...three reasons actually to be happy about the Holidays this year.
Lorelai noticed her husbands gaze and tilted her head at him with a smile.
"Come on you, give us a hand." She said waving him over.
"Yeah you are the tallest you put the star on top." Rory said handing him the star that was made from pipe cleaners and pasta. He looked at it confused.
"Rory made it." Lorelai said.
"In Kindergarten." Rory finished.
"Well then, your star...you put it up there." Luke said handing it back.
"I can't reach it, it's okay you do it." Luke put his hands on Rorys hips and counted.
"What are you doing?" Rory asked.
"Ready one, two, three." Luke said and heaved Rory up to the top of the tree, she quickly figured out what had just happened at stuck the star on top as he was bringing her back down.
Lorelai smiled at him.
"That will be a lot easier next year with the new baby." Lorelai said.
They all laughed.
The next day the girls joined Emily for some last minute shopping at the mall.
"So, do you have a list?" Emily asked.
"Of who was naughty or nice?" Lorelai said.
"No, of what you need to get, who you have left to buy for." Emily said.
"I pretty much have everyone left." Rory said. "I've been so busy." She said.
"I uh,...have Luke, and...Rory and uh....You....and..." Lorelai started listing.
"You are both waiting until the last minute." Emily exclaimed.
"No yelling at the pregnant lady." Lorelai said hopping that the thought of her new grand child would throw her mother off the guilt trip trail.
"Oh all right." She said. Lorelais plan worked. "I guess this will just end up being a very long day." She said.
Rory had gone off to look for gifts for the two of them when Emily asked Lorelai a question.
"What should I get Luke." Emily said.
"Gee...I don't know mom, you really don't have to get him anything." Lorelai said.
"Of course I do, he is my son-in-law, you want him to think I hate him."
"Not getting him a gift would not make him think that. Luke likes you guys." Lorelai said.
"Yes, and we like him so we would like to get him a present to reflect that, now are you going to help me or not?" Emily said.
"Ok, ok I will help you." Lorelai said.
"I was thinking that maybe, some kind of gear..." Emily said.
"Gear?" Lorelai said with a chuckle. "What kind of gear mother?"
"Well...I don't know Lorelai he is your husband and he seems to enjoy things that require gear."
"Like?" Lorelai said.
"Camping." Emily said proudly.
"Yeah mom, but he has all the gear 50 people need for that." Lorelai said, she did not want to see another canteen in their home.
"Well he carves things." Emily said. "You said he was making the baby a crib, and he made you that Huppa, and Rory her jewelry box...what about some carving tools." Emily suggested.
"Wow mom, that is a really great idea." Lorelai said. A little sad that she hadn't thought of it.
"Something tells me that they don't sell carving tools at Maceys." Emily said. "I'll have Richards secretary ordersome from somewhere." She said.
Four hours, 3 orange julieses, one pickle and six sore feet later the women were done and headed home.
As Emily got out of the car she asked.
"So we will see you at your house on Wednesday." Emily said.
"Yeah mom." Lorelai said.
"And you are sure we can't bring anything?"
"No, mom, we have it under control."
"And you are sure you want us to stay?" Emily asked again.
"Yes, mom. I want you to stay. I want you to see the house now that it is all done and I want you to spend Christmas Eve with us and open presents with us on Christmas morning." Lorelai said.
"All right then." Emily said smiling. She could hardly believe when her daughter asked her the first time to come to Stars Hollow and spend Christmas there with them this year. She couldn't remember the last time they had spent so much extended time together for a holiday. Lorelai really wanted it to be this way this year. It was important to her, to Luke, they wanted to start some new traditions in the family.
"See you Wednesday Grandma." Rory said.
"See you Wednesday." Emily said back.
By Tuesday afternoon Lorelai was obsessing.
"Okay so, we have Luke and I upstairs in our bedroom. You in the Nursery. Mom and Dad in your room, and Liz and TJ in the office guest room thing." Lorelai said.
"For the hundredth time mom yes." Rory said.
Just then Luke walked in.
"Lorelai." He said in an innocent tone.
"I don't like the sound of that Lorelai." Lorelai said waiting for the bad news she was sure was coming.
"Do you think we can find room for one more?" Luke said.
"What? Who?" Lorelai said.
"Jess." He said. "Liz just called and said that Jess had called her and said that he had some time off from work and since he hasn't really seen her since the wedding he would come spend Christmas with her and TJ but her and TJ aren't going to be there, they are going to be here and so Liz wanted to back out and stay put to see Jess but I told her it wasn't a problem and we had room for him here. I'm sorry Lorelai but, it's family and it's Christmas and its..."
"Not a problem." Lorelai said.
"I'm going to have to put my foot down and..."
"You can pick your foot back up Luke, it's fine, he is welcome."
"Really?" Luke said.
"Of course he is...he is my nephew too now." Lorelai said smiling, though that did sound very weird.
"Where are we going to put him?" Luke asked.
"You can put him in the nursery with me." Rory said.
Luke and Lorelai looked at eachother.
"I'm not so sure I like that idea." Lorelai said.
"Oh come on mom, we aren't 16 anymore. Jess and I talked we are fine. I have Logan, he has a girlfriend in California, and for God sakes we are related now."
"That has never meant much to Gilmores remember when my grandmother Lorelai died and we found the family...well bush because it sure wasn't growing up there for a while."
"Mom, it will be fine. Luke do you still have that old air mattress."
"Yeah."
"See...it will be like old times." Rory said.
They both looked at her.
"Bad choice of words...you know what I mean." Rory said.
"I'll go get the mattress." Luke said.
"I will go get extra sheets." Lorelai said.
I'll brace myself for this. Rory thought.
Lorelai and Rory were walking through the town square. It was a beautiful winters night snow gently falling everyone out and about shopping and caroling. They barely made it a block without someone coming up to Lorelai and asking her how she was and touching her tummy.
They walked into the diner and saw Luke standing behind the counter. Lorelai had barely walked 5 feet into the diner when she was literally bombarded by Babbette and Miss. Patti asking how she was and of course touching her tummy. Rory sat down across the counter from Luke and watched her mother look totaly agitated.
"She hates that you know." Rory said."All the people, all the touching."
"I know." Luke said. "They litterly mobbed me when I came in this morning."
Finally Lorelai made it to the counter and sat beside Rory.
"It's like suddenly I am being mistaken for Buddah, everyone rubbin' on my belly, hoping to get lucky."
Lorelai said a bit perturbed.
"We could paint you Gold and charge people to rub it, then when it is time for this kid to go to Chilton you are all set." Rory said laughing quietly, amused with herself.
Lorelai was not as ammused.
"Why do people do that?" Luke said.
"Beats me...and I am not even really showing yet." Lorelai said. "But somehow knowing that there is a fetus residing somewhere in there is good enough for them to touch my stomach." She complained.
"Mom...hate to break it to you...but you're showing." Rory said.
"I know...but I'm not like a whale." Lorelai said.
"No but, people in this town know you and notice the difference. They are just happy for you." Rory said.
"Yeah, yeah, why can't they be happy and not touchy." Lorelai barked.
"So do you want something to eat while you we are here? Please just say something healthy cause if you don't I am just bringing you it anyway." He said.
"I'm cranky. I want coffee." Lorelai said.
"Nope, sorry try again." Luke said.
"Luuuuke." Lorelai whined.
"No, what else can I get you."
"You're mean I want to talk to the owner...or his wife, yeah I bet she would give me coffee."
"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
"Fine gimmie a hot cocoa, a blueberry muffin and a bag of pickle chips." Lorelai said.
"You had me up to the pickle chips." Luke said.
"Please honey, I really want them...I have been craving them all day." She said. She just realized she was having her first food craving.
"Craving like...pregnant craving kind of thing?" Luke said smiling.
"With me it was peppers." Rory said with a smile.
"Yes like a pregnant craving." Lorelai said knowing that anything that had to do with this pregnancy he would have to give her.
"All right, but just one bag." He said with a smile.
"You thought I eat weird things when I am not pregnant, you will be amazed at what I'll eat when I am." Lorelai called after him. She decided to push her luck.
"The baby wants coffee not cocoa." She said.
"Nice try." He said handing her a to go cup and her muffin and chips.
"It was worth a shot." She said kissing him.
"Rory, what would you like." He said.
"Just a coffee and a cookie." She said.
"Right, got it." Luke said grabbing the coffee and cookie for Rory, picking up his own cup and saying. "Okay then...off to get a tree?"
"Hi ho hi ho." Lorelai said leaving her muffin, but taking the chips.
The three of them walked into Doosey tree lot and browsed around.
"Oooo how about this one." Luke said.
"Too small." Lorelai said to him.
"How about this one." Rory said showing her mother.
"Too big." She looked around for a bit longer and then pulled out a tree.
"This one." She said.
She had picked the fattest, fullest tree in the whole lot.
"Works for me." Luke said.
"I can deal." Rory said.
"Ok Kirk." Lorelai called.
Kirk walked over in a Dooseys Christmas Tree Lot apron.
"We'll take this one." Luke said.
"Very good, now are you sure that no one that will be living near or with the tree is allergic to any kind of pine needles or tree sap." Kirk said.
"No." Luke said annoyed.
"So you aren't sure of that?" Kirk said.
"We're sure Kirk, no allergies of any kind, we are all allergy free." Rory said.
"All right then. I will have them net it up for you." He said grabbing the tree and walking away. He came back a moment later with the tree and a total.
"It will be 35 dollars even." Kirk said.
Luke took out his wallet and handed him the money.
"Will you be needing a tree stand, lights or any Dooseys market fine ornaments tonight?" Kirk said.
"Nah, Kirk I think we are good with the tree." Lorelai said.
"Merry Christmas Kirk." Rory said.
"Merry Christmas." Kirk said.
With that the three of them walked back to the house. It was as they were walking up that Rory noticed something for the first time. She had been home a thousand times since her mother got married but this was the first time she noticed that the name on the mail box had changed, it now read Danes. Rory smiled it was the little things like that, that made her happy for her mom and Luke.
They got the tree inside and Rory brought in the decorations from the garage. Lorelai turned on the stereo and played Frank Sinatras Christmas album as the decorated they tree. This was their first Christmas as a family, she wanted it to be perfect. Luke stood back for a moment as he watched Lorelai in a profile putting ornaments on the tree. It was at this angle that you could really tell she was caring his child. Her sweater fit tight across her tummy and she had that...glow. He watched as Rory tried to untangle the lights that her mother haphazardly just threw in a box the year earlier at Rory's insistence not to, but that was right after the accident and no one was telling her what to do. Last years Christmas was not like this one would be. It was much happier tone this year. Lorelai was barely home from the hospital last year and they had the very last tree from the lot. No one had had any time to shop because they were at the hospital, so it turned out to be like most of Lukes Christmases, uneventful.
Luke felt himself smiling he was doing that so much lately, but he was truly happy. He finally had a reason...three reasons actually to be happy about the Holidays this year.
Lorelai noticed her husbands gaze and tilted her head at him with a smile.
"Come on you, give us a hand." She said waving him over.
"Yeah you are the tallest you put the star on top." Rory said handing him the star that was made from pipe cleaners and pasta. He looked at it confused.
"Rory made it." Lorelai said.
"In Kindergarten." Rory finished.
"Well then, your star...you put it up there." Luke said handing it back.
"I can't reach it, it's okay you do it." Luke put his hands on Rorys hips and counted.
"What are you doing?" Rory asked.
"Ready one, two, three." Luke said and heaved Rory up to the top of the tree, she quickly figured out what had just happened at stuck the star on top as he was bringing her back down.
Lorelai smiled at him.
"That will be a lot easier next year with the new baby." Lorelai said.
They all laughed.
The next day the girls joined Emily for some last minute shopping at the mall.
"So, do you have a list?" Emily asked.
"Of who was naughty or nice?" Lorelai said.
"No, of what you need to get, who you have left to buy for." Emily said.
"I pretty much have everyone left." Rory said. "I've been so busy." She said.
"I uh,...have Luke, and...Rory and uh....You....and..." Lorelai started listing.
"You are both waiting until the last minute." Emily exclaimed.
"No yelling at the pregnant lady." Lorelai said hopping that the thought of her new grand child would throw her mother off the guilt trip trail.
"Oh all right." She said. Lorelais plan worked. "I guess this will just end up being a very long day." She said.
Rory had gone off to look for gifts for the two of them when Emily asked Lorelai a question.
"What should I get Luke." Emily said.
"Gee...I don't know mom, you really don't have to get him anything." Lorelai said.
"Of course I do, he is my son-in-law, you want him to think I hate him."
"Not getting him a gift would not make him think that. Luke likes you guys." Lorelai said.
"Yes, and we like him so we would like to get him a present to reflect that, now are you going to help me or not?" Emily said.
"Ok, ok I will help you." Lorelai said.
"I was thinking that maybe, some kind of gear..." Emily said.
"Gear?" Lorelai said with a chuckle. "What kind of gear mother?"
"Well...I don't know Lorelai he is your husband and he seems to enjoy things that require gear."
"Like?" Lorelai said.
"Camping." Emily said proudly.
"Yeah mom, but he has all the gear 50 people need for that." Lorelai said, she did not want to see another canteen in their home.
"Well he carves things." Emily said. "You said he was making the baby a crib, and he made you that Huppa, and Rory her jewelry box...what about some carving tools." Emily suggested.
"Wow mom, that is a really great idea." Lorelai said. A little sad that she hadn't thought of it.
"Something tells me that they don't sell carving tools at Maceys." Emily said. "I'll have Richards secretary ordersome from somewhere." She said.
Four hours, 3 orange julieses, one pickle and six sore feet later the women were done and headed home.
As Emily got out of the car she asked.
"So we will see you at your house on Wednesday." Emily said.
"Yeah mom." Lorelai said.
"And you are sure we can't bring anything?"
"No, mom, we have it under control."
"And you are sure you want us to stay?" Emily asked again.
"Yes, mom. I want you to stay. I want you to see the house now that it is all done and I want you to spend Christmas Eve with us and open presents with us on Christmas morning." Lorelai said.
"All right then." Emily said smiling. She could hardly believe when her daughter asked her the first time to come to Stars Hollow and spend Christmas there with them this year. She couldn't remember the last time they had spent so much extended time together for a holiday. Lorelai really wanted it to be this way this year. It was important to her, to Luke, they wanted to start some new traditions in the family.
"See you Wednesday Grandma." Rory said.
"See you Wednesday." Emily said back.
By Tuesday afternoon Lorelai was obsessing.
"Okay so, we have Luke and I upstairs in our bedroom. You in the Nursery. Mom and Dad in your room, and Liz and TJ in the office guest room thing." Lorelai said.
"For the hundredth time mom yes." Rory said.
Just then Luke walked in.
"Lorelai." He said in an innocent tone.
"I don't like the sound of that Lorelai." Lorelai said waiting for the bad news she was sure was coming.
"Do you think we can find room for one more?" Luke said.
"What? Who?" Lorelai said.
"Jess." He said. "Liz just called and said that Jess had called her and said that he had some time off from work and since he hasn't really seen her since the wedding he would come spend Christmas with her and TJ but her and TJ aren't going to be there, they are going to be here and so Liz wanted to back out and stay put to see Jess but I told her it wasn't a problem and we had room for him here. I'm sorry Lorelai but, it's family and it's Christmas and its..."
"Not a problem." Lorelai said.
"I'm going to have to put my foot down and..."
"You can pick your foot back up Luke, it's fine, he is welcome."
"Really?" Luke said.
"Of course he is...he is my nephew too now." Lorelai said smiling, though that did sound very weird.
"Where are we going to put him?" Luke asked.
"You can put him in the nursery with me." Rory said.
Luke and Lorelai looked at eachother.
"I'm not so sure I like that idea." Lorelai said.
"Oh come on mom, we aren't 16 anymore. Jess and I talked we are fine. I have Logan, he has a girlfriend in California, and for God sakes we are related now."
"That has never meant much to Gilmores remember when my grandmother Lorelai died and we found the family...well bush because it sure wasn't growing up there for a while."
"Mom, it will be fine. Luke do you still have that old air mattress."
"Yeah."
"See...it will be like old times." Rory said.
They both looked at her.
"Bad choice of words...you know what I mean." Rory said.
"I'll go get the mattress." Luke said.
"I will go get extra sheets." Lorelai said.
I'll brace myself for this. Rory thought.