Resilience
Disclaimer: The names, situations, and people affiliated with Gilmore Girls belong to Amy Sherman Palladino. I only wish that I could take created for Luke Danes.
Summary: Each chapter deals with a different time in Luke's life. It is a chance to find out his thoughts about the many women that have influenced him.
A/N: To those people that took the time to review, I would like to thank you. All of your kind words made posting new chapters worthwhile.
To cmbarrytx, I can't thank you enough. I know that without your help (especially with my apparent fear of commas), and without your great ability to boost my confidence that I wouldn't have posted past the first chapter. I hope that you know that I was giving you a hug every time I received another email from you (even when you would forget to send the attachment), and when you would tell other people about the story. You made this all fun again.
Chapter 7: Life is Beautiful
It is a warm fall day, and the scene that is taking place is a strange one to witness. Babette is passing blown up balloons to Luke who is standing on a ladder. He is attaching them to the side of the already overly decorated porch. Once the final balloon is secure, Luke steps down, and with a pleased smile on his face, examines the job.
"Well the house looks like it might float away, but I think we're done decorating. I never realized how much work went into one of these dealings. I thought you just send out invitations; people come watch us make fools of ourselves. We have some food maybe some music, and then open some gifts. Then everyone goes home. I didn't think that the event called for streamers and crape paper, but the powers that be say otherwise."
"You've done a great job, Luke." Babette says in a very comforting tone. "I got to tell you, I have lived next door here for many years, through the good times, and the bad. I have never been so glad to be able to witness the activities of the house so much as I have now that you two are together. I guess what I 'm saying is that it was a wonderful day when you finally moved in here."
"Because Lorelai is now happy and no longer alone?" He states.
"Ya, sure that too." Babette responds while giving his flannel-less arms a longing glance.
Luke's eyes widen with understanding. "Well okay, I need to go back in the house. Thank you again Babette for all the help."
"It has been a pleasure. I will see you later Sugar."
Luke walking around the house, and enters by way of the backdoor. He opens the door to the kitchen, and immediately has to move out of the way for a flying spatula.
"I am sorry Luke; I really thought I had a good grip on it this time." Sookie picks up the utensil.
"That's okay Sookie, I know better than to come in while you are preparing things without announcing myself first. Next time I will use a flare gun." Luke glances at the items cooking on the stove, but quickly moves to the other side of the room.
"How is the decorating coming?" Sookie asks while opening the oven to check on some cookies.
"Everything is pretty much ready. I just have to make sure things don't blow away."
"What happens if it rains?"
"Lorelai and I discussed that when we started planning this, and that if necessary we can move things into the house. It might be tight quarters, but now with the renovations done we do have the room."
"You –planning," Sookie says as she starts to giggle.
"Dear God, not you too. Why is everyone making such a big deal about this?"
"It is a big deal Luke. You are growing as a person. You are no longer the town hermit that gets violent when asked to decorate his diner for town events. Yes, I know you have helped out before, but this is the first time that you are actually planning an event. The things that you will do for her… I am just saying that I thought I would never see the day."
"It isn't really a town event," He says as a way to change the subject, since he feels uncomfortable receiving such unnecessary praise.
"Have you seen the guest list? I beg to differ. The only thing missing is it being discussed at a town meeting. Actually I am surprised that Taylor hasn't tried to have a say in the decision making considering he is finally town selectman again."
"I threatened him."
"I guess that is one way to work it," Sookie says with a nod.
"I will leave you to your creating," Luke finishes, walking over to the hall closet, and taking out a bag. He goes into the living room, and sits down on the couch. He starts placing the different items of the bag onto the coffee table. He is still looking at the final item when Lorelai appears descending the staircase.
"I just got off the phone with my mother. She is acting like this is the social event of the season."
"I still can't believe she wanted to come considering she still hasn't really changed her feelings about me. Plus Liz and TJ are going to be here, and I can just see the look on her face when TJ asks her if she wants him to Etch a Sketch her portrait."
"Well, I think that she is glad that she was asked after everything that has happened in the past. She has learned what she loses and misses out on when she doesn't behave herself."
"I guess it is hard to see her having fun at something that isn't going to be written up on the society page."
"Don't worry, I know that she still creeps you out, but Mrs. Danvers does know how to get jiggy with it with the best of them." At this point Lorelai is standing beside the couch, and has a puzzled look on her face. "What are you doing?"
"Just wrapping a gift."
"We have talked about this. I thought you understood that since she still hasn't fully mastered walking that a ball glove was still beyond her at this time."
"It isn't a ball glove. It is a book." He holds the book up as proof, and Lorelai takes it from him to examine it for herself.
"Luke, I am afraid that Nancy Drew is still a little old for her. I don't think that even Rory was up to the task until the age of five, and even then stories with Ned in them weren't her first reading choice. Why not a Sandra Boynton book? She has one now that she just loves. It is about a social outcast Hippo, and there is a line in it that reminds me of a Clash song. So in my view it is a win, win."
"I have it on great authority that one day she will love this book."
"She will but …" Lorelai sees a look on Luke's face that makes her realizes that the best idea is to drop this because he obviously feels very strongly. "Okay"
Luke smiles "Okay," he says in agreement, and he kisses her hand. He holds on to her hand a little longer than necessary just enjoying that he can while watching her ring gleam in the sunlight.
Lorelai smiles back at him, but then turn her head towards the kitchen. "Oh, do I smell cookies?" She says in a childlike voice.
"Don't eat them all, Sookie made them for the party," Luke says in a very stern tone.
"Don't be such an Eeyore."
"Eeyore?" Luke asks with a confused look on his face.
"What do you want from me? My once settler knowledge of pop culture has been reduced to preschool references."
"Go eat your cookies if that will help with the pain of it all."
"It can't hurt."
"Save some for Rory."
"She knows the rules. You snooze, you lose," she gives him a wink before disappearing into the kitchen.
Luke turns back to the book and starts wrapping it. After the paper is taped into place, he then places a handwritten card on the top.
Luke stands up and goes over to a table that is set up in the corner of the room. He is about to place the gift down on the rather large pile when he stops, and looks around the room. He looks at the different things that indicate his addition to this household. The pictures from the Firelight Festival and Rory's graduation that are on the mantle show some to the steps that had to be taken to get to this place. He could fill his head with all the should've, could've, and would've that might have reduced some of the painful memories that plague his past, but the sight of a gold framed photo of a smiling couple under a chuppah makes him know that it was all worth it. His life is so full now that Luke doesn't have time to waste on such negative thoughts. At this moment his attention goes to the sound of a baby crying from upstairs. He looks at the package that has written on the card "From Grandma Danes," and he smiles.
'You have come along way Danes. A long way.' He places the gift on the pile, and runs upstairs. "Daddy is coming sweetheart."
The End!