Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I in any association with the Gilmore Girls.

Chapter 2

Luke sat in his truck, taking long deep breaths. He arrived at Lorelai's house an hour before their date, but he had been in his truck the whole time. He wasn't sure what was keeping him from going to the door. It was either excitement or fear. Possibly a combination of the two. Who knew proposing would be so hard? It wasn't the first time at least. After a few more minutes of mental preparation, Luke finally got out of his truck and headed to the door.

"Hey," Lorelai greeted when she opened the door. "Nice tie."

"Thanks," Luke thanked as he looked down at his clothes. He just realized he wore that same time when he met with her parents a few days before. "Ready to go?"

"Almost."

"Almost? What? Laundry not finished? Can't find your keys?"

"Laundry is done and keys are in my purse."

"Why almost then?"

"I need your help putting this necklace on." Lorelai held out a necklace to Luke.

"In that case, I'd be glad to help." He took the necklace and put it on her. "There. Perfect. Now are you ready?"

"Yes."

Luke opened the door for Lorelai. "After you."

"Thank you."

Lorelai and Luke headed to his truck. He had some trouble with his keys for a while. Mainly because he was so nervous he forgot which key it was and then dropped them when he found it. She had never seen him so nervous in her life. It was cute.

Luke planned the whole night out. First, he presented her with a bouquet of roses. Then he drove them to the park where they walked hand in hand as they talked about their day. They made out in the park until their rumbling stomachs reminded them it was time to eat. Now they were headed to a restaurant in Hartford, after which Luke said he had a surprise for Lorelai.

"This place looks like somewhere my parents would go," Lorelai remarked as they walked toward the restaurant.

"Actually, your dad recommended it," Luke said.

"Oh my God. This place probably charges an arm and a leg. Come on. Let's go."

Luke caught Lorelai by the arm. "Lorelai, stop it. It's fine. Your father recommended this place because it's the best restaurant in my price range. Besides, money isn't an issue. Please. Can we just go inside?"

"Ok, but I'm ordering the least expensive thing on the menu."

Luke rolled his eyes and led her into the restaurant. When they got to their table, Luke pulled a chair out for her.

"Luke, what's this all about?" Lorelai asked.

"Do I have to have a reason to take my girlfriend out?" Luke asked.

"When you take me out to a place that my parents' and their friends go you do."

"I just wanted to do something nice for you."

"You don't have to."

"I know, but I want to."

"What are you up to?"

"Nothing," Luke laughed. "I just want tonight to be special."

"Why?"

"Order your food."

Lorelai held her tongue about her theory of Luke's hidden agenda the rest of the night. They talked about whatever came to mind: the diner, the inn, Rory. Luke made it clear several times that despite his age, he still wanted children.

"At least one of each," Luke said. "A boy especially. My dad used to joke about me being the last one to carry on the Danes name."

"I remember him saying that once," Lorelai laughed. "He said you had to have a boy to carry on the Danes family name and tradition. What tradition was he talking about?"

"Being a loner until you're forty something."

"And being a Trekie?"

"I was not a Trekie."

"So says the man with the Star Trek t-shirt."

"The Danes family tradition my dad was talking about is the diner. My father owned it when it was a hardware store and he passed it on to me to carry on. Although, I did turn it into a diner."

"Good thing too. We might not be here if you hadn't."

"Well, my dad wanted me to pass the store on to the first of my kin. That's why he wanted my first child to be a son."

"I remember your dad saying something about a tradition, but I don't think it was that. It was something about the first male of each generation getting something."

"An extensive wardrobe of flannel shirts and baseball hats?"

"I'm serious Luke. It was some kind of piece of jewelry."

"I think when I have a girl, it'll be my undoing. I'm going to spoil my daughter rotten," Luke said changing the subject as quickly as possible.

"Yeah. I remember. Rory loved having you around growing up."

"She loved the fact that I let her have coffee every time she looked at me with puppy dog eyes."

"She had you wrapped around her finger. You built her a bookcase to go on her desk for her..."

"Twelfth birthday. She had so many damn book, she need something to put them on."

"And let's not forget that coffeecake and balloons."

"She told you about that?"

"Of course."

"I enjoyed it being a part of her life."

"I enjoyed having you around to help me raise her. Especially since Chris was MIA for so long."

"I'd do it again if I had the chance."

"That's why I love you so much Luke Danes."

Luke smiled at Lorelai and took her hands in his. "I love you too Lorelai Gilmore."

"So. Dessert?"

"Go ahead and order anything you want."

"Ok seriously, how can you afford this?"

"All that matters is that I can."

"You're not franchising the diner are you?"

"No. Why would you think that?"

"Because my dad's friend Herb the banker is headed this way."

"What?!?" Luke looked over to see the man he was introduced to when Richard had taken him golfing. Luke turned around and tried not to be seen. "Ah geez. Is he looking over here?"

"Oh no. He's coming this way!"

"He is?!?"

"No, but you should see yourself. You look ridiculous."

"I don't want to franchise the diner."

"And I don't want you to."

"Then keep that man away from me!"

"Ok, he's leaving."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Luke glanced over his shoulder and confirmed what Lorelai had just said. "Have you picked out a dessert yet?"

"Are you going to get something?"

"No."

"Then I don't want dessert either."

"Lorelai."

"You eat, I eat."

"If I could just get you to think that way about coffee."

"If I could just get you to think that way about coffee."

"Fine. Order something and we'll share."

"Can it be chocolate?"

"Whatever you want. Do you want chocolate?"

"No."

"Then why'd you ask?"

"I wanted to keep my options open."

"You confuse me."

"That's the idea."

Lorelai ordered a dessert for them. They shared a piece of New York strawberry cheesecake. Lorelai went for the strawberry just to keep Luke happy by eating some kind of fruit.

"Ok, so do I get my surprise now?" Lorelai asked as she took another bite of the cake.

"You want it now?" Luke asked, picking at what was left on the plate.

"Not if you were planing to give it to me later."

"Dirty."

"Unintentional."

"I can give you your surprise now if you want."

"If it's not in your plan for me to get it now, I can wait."

"No. I can give it to you now."

"Ok. What is it?"

Luke sighed and put down his fork. He wiped his mouth and took Lorelai's hands in his once again. "I love you."

"I know you do."

"I can't imagine what my life would be like if you weren't in it. The thought of never meeting you horrifies me. You and Rory are everything to me. You mean more to me than the diner."

"Thank you for clearing that up for me."

"Lorelai, please. I'm trying to be serious."

"Ok, I'm sorry. Go on."

Luke took a deep breath and released one hand and reached into his pocket. "Lorelai Gilmore, will you..."

"Oh my God," Lorelai said suddenly, her eyes growing wide.

Then Luke realized something. She wasn't looking at him. She was looking past him. He turned around to see what she was staring at. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Rather, who he was seeing.