I apologize ahead of time for the sappiness….you need waders to get through the sugary sweetness of this chapter. But you know me…romantic at heart. And if you can't have sappiness at Christmas time, when can you have it??? So if I put you into a diabetic coma….well, the hiatus will just be that much shorter!! And I do know someone that owns a pair of waders….but I think he is already involved with Lorelai.

Chapter Six

Luke and Rory spotted Lorelai and went to greet her. Rory gave her mom a big hug and whispered, "You must be about the happiest woman in Stars Hollow."

Lorelai grinned, "Yep, got my two favorite people in the whole world right in front of me. There's a party in the next room with the best employees in the world and I can drink all I want because I've got a ride home."

Lorelai walked over to Luke and gave him an even bigger hug, planting a small kiss below his ear.

Luke smiled a little embarrassed but happy. "So I'm the ride home…must be why I was invited." Luke winked at Rory.

"Yeah, Luke and I are here…and the party is in there…but mom I thought you'd be over the moon about the other thing."

Lorelai looked at Luke and back to Rory. "What other thing?"

Luke and Rory exchanged a quick glance both realizing she didn't know a thing about the snow.

"Luke?" Rory asked questioningly.

"Go join the party. I'll take care of this."

Rory giggled and left her mother in very capable hands. She wasn't sure Luke knew what he was letting himself in for. Lorelai's snow reaction was very predictable.

"Luke? What's going on? What have I missed? A Christmas surprise maybe." She fluttered her eye lashes and grabbed his arm.

"What have you been up to all day?"

"Mostly just wrapping gifts for the staff. I've been in my office most of the day with the door locked….didn't want anyone walking in."

"Okay, well in that case (Luke took her hand and led her to the front door), I think you need to see something."

Luke opened the door and putting his arm around her waist guided her onto the front porch.

"Oh, my." Lorelai surveyed the winter wonderland. "When? How? How did I not know?"

She smiled as she gazed upon the front lawn and drive. The trees and shrubs that had been adorned with white twinkle lights were now covered in a thick coating of snow. The lights were peeking through the covering and the muted late afternoon sun was reflecting a prism of colors off every other surface. It was quiet and still and breathtakingly beautiful. Snow was still falling in huge white flakes, drifting lazily down, still accumulating at an amazing pace. Luke smiled just watching her….she looked like a small child seeing snow for the first time.

Lorelai looked up into his face and murmured thank you.

Luke laughed, "I had nothing to do with it. Guess Mother Nature just wanted us to have a white Christmas." He then added, "Nice to know that you think I am capable of such things."

Lorelai smiled at the teasing. "You know what I mean." She pulled him close and took in the quiet beauty of the darkening day. She reached up to kiss him and then remembered the party.

"Guess we better get back inside. Time to party. Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Luke and Lorelai walked hand in hand into the main room and were soon absorbed into the small celebrating group. Sookie had outdone herself with appetizers, desserts, and a frothy fruity punch. There was wine and beer and huge vats of coffee. A little before six Lorelai gave a simple speech thanking all of them for their hard work and dedication and passed out their small gifts so that up everyone could get home to their families. Lorelai was looking forward to her first Christmas with Luke and spending a quiet evening at home with him and Rory.

Sookie and Jackson were the last to leave. Luke and Lorelai were left to do the final check. A New Year's Eve party was the next planned event so they everything had to be checked for the shut down. Luke checked the rooms upstairs and then made sure the fire was extinguished. Lorelai rechecked the kitchen and the windows and doors. Every time she was near a window she sighed and smiled. Her first Christmas Eve with Luke and everything was picture perfect.

Luke helped her on with her coat and as they closed the front door behind them, Luke pulled her into a kiss. Lorelai kissed him back and went in for a third.

Luke murmured, "Return to the scene of the crime."

Lorelai laughed, "Kirk isn't going to come bursting through, right? Seeing him naked, well, that's something I never have to experience again."

Luke kissed her for the third time, "No Kirk, just me this time. No interruptions. Well, maybe one." Luke turned her around.

Lorelai gasped; at the bottom of the steps was a horse drawn sleigh. They walked down the steps and Luke helped her up into the sleigh. He followed her in and pulled a soft, furry throw over them. Lorelai was speechless…something Luke had rarely seen.

Lorelai settled into Luke's arms as the horse started down the driveway. They moved slowly through the snow, which was fine with the couple because they were totally absorbed in each other. Breathlessly, Lorelai finally pulled away.

"Is this my grand gesture?"

Luke laughed, "Its part of it."

"There's more?"

Luke answered softly, "Maybe."

"Oh, Luke this is the best Christmas of my life."

Luke pulled her back into a kiss and whispered, "Good. That was the plan."

When they finally made it back into town, Luke pulled her into his arms so she could see the town square buried in the snow. Lorelai caught her breath at the sight of the gazebo. At the bottom of the steps was a snowman; backwards baseball cap, flannel shirt and fingerless gloves. Next to him was a very shapely snow woman; long dark hair, a jaunty hat and a huge mug in her hand.

Luke uttered, "Ah, geez." Lorelai laughed and waved to Liz and TJ, who were standing in front of the diner laughing.

The sleigh pulled up in front of the little snow covered church. Luke helped Lorelai out and they entered and took the seats next to Rory and Lane. The church glowed with an abundance of candles and muted Christmas music was playing in the background. They celebrated with the rest of the town in the holy service. And when it was over, the whole town filed out and wished each other happy holidays. Luke helped Lorelai back into the sleigh. She was surprised when they headed back out into the country instead of going to her house. The driver took the Old River Road and stopped when they got to the water's edge. Lorelai turned to Luke with a questioning look.

"We couldn't have run out of gas."

"You are wise beyond your years, Lorelai."

Luke took her hands in his. "I wanted to have a quiet moment with you tonight, before we go home and get all caught up with gifts and Rory and tomorrow's trip to Hartford. The plan was to go for a walk but I'm not sure where the land ends and the water begins. My luck, we'd drown and just be another excuse for some sort of Winter Festival. Taylor wanting to commemorate the legend of the bachelor diner owner and his Lorelai…the spinster owner of the local Inn."

"Spinster, excuse me. Couldn't I just be the lovely single owner of the Inn? A lovely lass who found her perfect man a little late in her life."

Luke laughed, "Sure, why not. Point is we aren't going out there anyway."

Lorelai snuggled close.

Luke pulled a little box out of his pocket and placed it in her hands. "I have to explain. This probably isn't what you think it is. I wasn't sure we were ready for that step yet. But I saw this in the jewelry store and it reminded me of you."

Lorelai opened the small box and smiled. Inside she found a beautiful ring, not an engagement ring but a beautiful blue opal set with fine diamonds.

Luke explained, "This one make me think of you. The jeweler said the opal represents hope and purity. I like the hope part…purity, well, I'm not going there."

Lorelai grinned.

"But the way it glows, the jeweler called it play of color. All I know is the different facets made me think of your personality. The different sides of you that I have seen through the years and especially the last few months. The diamonds are for the future…I hope to replace it very soon with one. When you are ready…when we are both ready."

Lorelai reached up and kissed him gently. Luke took the ring from the box and put it on her engagement finger. "Just so you'll get used to having something there. I notice you never wear a ring on that finger."

Lorelai whispered, "I've been saving it for a special one...this one."

Luke asked, "You're not disappointed are you?' That it isn't a diamond?"

"No I think this is the perfect gift. A pre-engagement ring…"

"My promise to you that when we are ready…."

Lorelai smiled, thinking that would be very soon. "When we are ready."

They snuggled in together as the driver started moving again. Lorelai held her hand up to the moonlight and admired her new ring. It was perfect.

Lorelai was again surprised when the sleigh pulled up to the front door of the Inn. Luke opened the door and took their coats and hung them up. Lorelai walked into the parlor where the fireplace was blazing and there was a table for two set before it. Candles glowed everywhere and there was wine on the table.

"Luke?"

Luke just smiled as he held out the chair for her. After she was seated he headed into the kitchen. He soon returned with two salads.

"Ahh, Luke."

"I knew you wouldn't eat much at the party. You were so concerned about it going well and then getting everyone out before we all got snowed in."

"You are the perfect man. So perfect that I will forgive you for the salad part."

"Eat your vegetables Lorelai. They are good for you."

"You're never going to change are you?"

"Not when it comes to your health. Now that I have you, I'd like to keep you around for awhile."

"Not willing to break in another girlfriend, huh?"

Luke looked at her and smiled. "Exactly."

Lorelai ate half of her salad and started fussing about bringing on the good part. Luke gave up and took their plates back to the kitchen, returning with steaming ones.

"Yes, real food."

Luke shook his head and placed her plate in front of her.

"Prime rib, baked potato, and more vegetation, looks and smells wonderful"

Luke sat down and they starting eating. The light in the hall flickered and they were left with only the candle light.

"See even Mother Nature is in on your grand gesture."

Luke grinned thinking if only she knew.

Luke cleared the table and returned with one huge piece of cheese cake.

Lorelai took her fork and offered him the first bite.

"I feel honored."

"Least I can do when you did all of this for me." Lorelai winked at him. "The first bite and a little something later."

Later as they were sitting on the sofa and finishing the last of the wine, Lorelai looked down at the dying fire. "So I guess we should get back home to Rory."

"We should. She was going to Lane's for a while but I'm sure she's home by now."

They took their dishes to the kitchen. They reluctantly pulled on their coats and Luke walked her out to the sleigh.

"The end of the fairy tale."

Luke answered back, "But the beginning of a real life."

He helped her in, pulled the furry throw around them for the last time. They settled in for the short ride home…made shorter by the way they occupied their time.

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