Disclaimer: I still don't own the Gilmore Girls. Although, I wish I owned Luke and Jess.

Chapter 23

It was that time of year again. Christmas was on its way and Stars Hollow was preparing for the grand holiday. The shops had their holiday sales, lights were everywhere, carolers were sing house to house, and everyone was decorating their homes and businesses. Everyone except for Luke. He, like always, showed no interest in the festivities and refused to decorate the diner.

"Hey Luke," Kirk called as he walked into the diner with fliers in his hands. "Can I put..."

"No," Luke said without looking up from what he was doing.

"But you didn't let me finish my sentence. You don't even know what I was going to ask."

Luke put down his ordering pad and stared at Kirk. "You were going to ask if you could put one of those stupid fliers on my windows or pass them out in front of the diner weren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then my answer is no. I've said no every year you've come in here and asked to display them on my window or passed them out in front of the diner and my answer will always be no."

"I just thought you might have changed your mind this year since Lorelai's planning it and all..."

"Just because I'm sleeping with the party coordinator doesn't mean I'm gonna let you display those ridiculous fliers in my window."

"So that's a solid no?"

"Get out."

"But I was..."

"Out!"

Kirk turned around and headed out the door as Lorelai walked in. "What's with him?" she asked.

"He asked to put a flier on my window," Luke replied.

"I swear I thought I told him to skip the diner. Well, at least he asked." Lorelai sat at the counter. "Why won't you put up a flier anyway?"

"You know I hate those stupid town functions."

"Yeah, but I'm the head of this stupid town function."

"That just makes it worse."

"You're still going. It'd look bad if the party planner's fiancé didn't show up to the party she planned. So no tricky stuff mister."

"I can't believe that instead of spending our first night back in our house together, we'll be in town square in the freezing cold with a bunch of people I can't stand. What time do we have to be there?"

"Seven so close up by six."

"Six? Ah jeez."

"Hey, no pouting. It's Christmas."

"Not yet it isn't."

Luke was talking to Max and Jackson when Lorelai ran up to him. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to steal him away for a minute or fifty," she said, grabbing his arm and dragged him off.

"What are you doing? I was talking to them," Luke said.

"They'll be there when you get back. I have a problem."

"You can say that again."

"My dad isn't here."

"When have you ever complained that your father wasn't here?"

"My dad's supposed to be Santa in five minutes and he isn't here."

"Oh. What are you gonna do?" Lorelai smiled at Luke. "No. No way. No. I'm not doing it."

"Luke, please!"

"No. Ask Jackson to do it."

"I can't. Davey would notice if his father was Santa and it'll scar him for life. Besides, you're the only other person that'll fit the suit."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're the closest person in height to my father."

"No. I am not doing it. I won't. There is no way you are going to get me into that costume."

"Alright boys and girls, Santa's here!" Lorelai announced.

All the children began to cheer when Luke walked up the steps of the gazebo and stood by Lorelai. He couldn't believe it. He lacked the most in holiday excitement of everyone in town and here he was in the middle of town square, wearing a big red suit, pretending to be Santa. "This is ridiculous," he whispered to Lorelai. "I look like an idiot."

"You look like Santa," she whispered back. "Just smile, pretend to be happy, and remember that cute little outfit I'm wearing for you tonight. Say 'Ho, ho, ho'."

"Why?"

"Because that's what Santa says."

Luke rolled his eyes before taking a deep breath and belting out in his jolliest voice. "Ho, ho, ho!"

He forced a smile and sat down in the big chair in the middle of the gazebo. His smiled faded when Taylor walked up the steps. "Aren't you too old to sit on Santa's lap?"

"I wanted to take a picture to commemorate this moment in our town's history," Taylor taunted.

Luke motioned for Taylor to lean toward him. When Taylor was close enough to Luke, he grabbed Taylor by the collar. "If you take one picture of me and put it in the town history book, the second I get out of this thing I will kick your ass," Luke barked into Taylor's ear.

Taylor stepped back and looked at Luke in shock. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Ho, ho, ho." Taylor hurried off the gazebo and Luke put a smile back on his face. "Come on up little guy and sit on Santa's lap."

Ten minutes would pass before Luke would look up to see Richard and Emily in the crowd waving to him. Once the child on Luke's lap skipped down the steps, Rory stood in front of the growing line. "I'm sorry, but Santa has to go away for a minute," she announced. The kids in line groaned. "But don't go anywhere because he'll be back in five minutes."

Luke waved to the kids as he left the gazebo and went to find Lorelai and her parents. Rory watched as the four headed toward the diner for the costume switch.

"Hey," Jess called as he walked up to Rory. "Where they going?"

"My grandfather is going be Santa and Luke can go back to being Scrooge."

"Scrooge had a turn around. I'd say he's more of a Grinch."

"True, but he never wears green." They watched as Luke opened the door and Richard and Emily walked in, immediately heading for the apartment, but Lorelai stopped Luke from going inside.

"What's she doing?"

"I don't..." Rory covered her mouth when Lorelai pulled Luke back to the diner's doorstep and kissed him. "My mother is kissing Santa Claus!" she gasped so only Jess could hear.

"Looks like Santa's making a play," he gagged when Luke's hands traveled down to Lorelai's butt. "This is just wrong."

"What? That they're making out in public while he's dressed like Santa or that we're watching?"

"Take your pick."

Rory smiled at Richard as she passed the gazebo. He had been playing Santa for nearly two hours and his Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas's were still strong and loud. Rory spotted Logan with Finn and Colin. She walked up to them and tapped Logan on the shoulder. "Hey," she greeted.

Logan turned around and smiled at Rory. "Hey," he said.

"When did you guys get here?"

"We've been here Ace."

"Really? For how long?"

"An hour and a half," Colin replied.

"We were going to get you, but you were with that dark haired fellow," Finn added.

"Who? Jess? We were just trying to avoid Mom and Luke," Rory said.

"It seems that you two are always doing something together," Logan mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Hey, what did your folks say about me spending Christmas with you guys?"

"They thought it would be nice. But then again, Luke did find a shot gun collection in his attic."

"What?"

"I'm kidding. They'd be happy to have you over."

"Oh Rory, we found out what that invitation was Mr. Huntzberger gave your parents," Finn said.

Colin held out an envelope to Rory. "It's a New Years party the brigade is holding," he whispered.

"I checked it out. It's completely safe," Logan added. "The only craziness that'll be going on is the fact that Dad's making us all dress up. God forbid we interfere with the event's integrity."

"Something still doesn't add up," Rory sighed.

"Rory," Jess called as he approached the group. "Your grandma wants a Gilmore-Danes family picture while your grandpa's still Santa."

"While Grandpa's still Santa. Man that sounds weird. I'll see you guys in a minute."

Jess shoved his hands in his pockets. "Gentlemen," he said with a nod before following Rory.

Logan took a deep breath and watched as Jess and Rory walked away. "The brigade can take care of him if you'd like," Finn said.

"No," Logan said. "I'll take care of this myself."

Luke, Lorelai, Richard, Emily, Liz, T.J., Rory, and Jess gathered together on the gazebo and got ready for a picture. Luke sat in Santa's chair with Lorelai on his lap. Rory stood to the right of the chair with Richard and Emily behind her and Jess stood to the left with Liz and T.J. behind him.

"Ok, everyone smile and on three, say cheese," Rachel instructed. "One, two, three."

"Cheese," they all said. Rachel snapped the picture and they all moved out of place.

"Hey, why do photographers tell you to say cheese?" Lorelai asked.

"What else are we supposed to say? Coffee?" Luke asked.

"I'd rather say coffee than cheese."

"This is a ridiculous conversation."

"I just want to know why we say cheese. Not everyone likes cheese."

"Not everyone likes coffee."

"Only the deprived."

"Is she talking about coffee again?" Rory asked as she and Jess joined Lorelai and Luke.

"What else would she be babbling about? Sometimes I think she loves coffee more than me," Luke joked.

"Well, it is coffee," Jess teased.

"Oh my...Rory," Lorelai called, stopping suddenly. "Look."

Rory looked at what Lorelai was pointing at. Across the street, Richard- still in his Santa suit- and Emily were kissing under the tree in front of the diner. "Oh God! What is it with the women in this family and kissing Santa?" Rory asked in slight disgust.

Luke walked around the house and made sure everything was off. He unplugged the Christmas lights on the tree and bordering the window. He went to check on Rory before heading upstairs. He smiled when he saw her fast asleep in bed with a book in her hands. He walked in and put the book on the nightstand. He kissed the top of her head and turned off her light before leaving the room. Before going to his bedroom, he went to check on Jess. Sure enough, Jess was asleep with a book in his hands too. He put the book on the nightstand and turned off the radio. He ruffled Jess's hair before turning off the light and heading down the hall. Luke opened the door to his bedroom and grinned ear to ear when he saw Lorelai in a red and white Christmas teddy.

"Looks like someone wants to be naughty," he joked as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I said if you put on the big red suit, I'd put on this little number for you," she said.

"Little is definitely the word." He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.

Lorelai pulled back and smiled. "Well, there's definitely nothing small about you."

"Hey, when do we find out about the other night?"

"In a week or so. It's still a little early."

"Do you really think we're ready to have a baby?"

"You were the one that wanted to start trying."

"I know. It's just…you're sure I'm ready right?"

"Yes Luke, you're ready."

"Good. Now, come sit on Santa's lap and I'll give you a gift you'll never forget."

Next time on "Meet Me at the Chuppah": Richard and Emily spend Christmas in Stars Hollow. Lorelai's wedding dress arrives and she has to lock it away so Luke doesn't see it. Logan's jealousy continues to rise when Jess gives Rory his grandmother's charm bracelet for Christmas. Richard and Emily make a special announcement. Lorelai has a special gift for Luke.