gilmoregurl55: Sorry, I didn't see your review until after I posted the chapter. But thank you, I will watch out for that.
OTHlover04 and Luke'sGirl: Thanks.
Lorelai Gilmore46: Thank you, a lot. Here's a new chapter, you know, per your request.
J.Stone: Thank you so much and Happy Thanksgiving!
orangesherbert7: Further proof that all teachers are CRAZY. I loved that you told me what you liked. It gives me ideas as what to put in the next chapter.
lollysamantha: Don't worry, I'm fully aware of the stupidity. Just read this chapter.
Bloomin Daisy: Sorry, but I HAVE to disagree. I wanted to kill that movie. But I tried to be nice. I didn't even mention it by name.
ProFfeSseR: Thanks (or shall I say dankjewel) for teaching me even more ways to say thank you. The only ones I use are English (no, really? Well that's just fascinating.) and the Polish Dziekuje. You pronounce it dsyen-koo-yeh. I really loved that you told me what you liked. It helps a lot.
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A/N: Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey, potatoes (mashed, of course), cranberry sauce … I won't go on. Too much food, too little time. FOOD!Luke and Piper arrived home shortly after sunset.
"Mom! Mom!" Piper ran into the living room where Lorelai and Rory were laying on the couch. She ran over to Lorelai and gave her a hug and proceeded to squeal. Luke entered the room, but was content just to watch his wife and daughter.
"So, Luke told you."
Piper responded by continuing to squeal and hug her mom until she abruptly pulled back. "What do you want? Anything, I can cook it. Heck, I'm willing to cook. Anything, really."
"Well, actually I just want an apple … ooh, and something sweet."
"Apples, apples. Okay. Apple pie, apple strudel, apple tarts …"
"Piper, it's really fine, though."
"Okay, apples. I can make caramel, yogurt dip …"
"Actually … well, the caramel sounds amazing."
"Done." Piper gave Lorelai one last hug. She ran into the kitchen to make the apples yelling, "I'm gonna be a big sister!"
"So how was your day?" Luke asked Rory and Lorelai, but Rory was the one to respond.
"ABC family."
"What?"
"Movies mom and I would usually have so much fun mocking. But no. I blame it on hormones. Mom was crying and defending the characters!"
"Hey, she really loved him. You could tell!"
"Luke," Rory practically whined. But look just looked at the two with awe.
Both Lorelai and Rory smiled at each other realizing that this was the first time they had indulged in their special, Lorelai-Rory banter.
"Okay, fine," Rory stood up and started to walk towards the kitchen.
"Rory, what …"
But Lorelai was interrupted by Rory's, "Well, I like apples … and caramel. Maybe I could learn."
Rory disappeared and Lorelai stared after her in disbelief. "Rory wants to … cook?"
"Or maybe she's just had enough of you," Luke said as he sat down next to Lorelai.
Lorelai playfully hit him on the shoulder, but Luke just pulled her practically onto his lap. Lorelai's legs were laying across Luke's onto the couch. She rested her head on Luke's chest and just listened to his breathing before she asked, "So everything went okay?"
"More then okay. We were out in the boat and when I told her. She almost tipped it by running over to me and practically tackling me with a hug. But then she made me put back all the fish we caught."
"What? Why?" Lorelai asked, giggling slightly.
"Because she said as a father-to-be I needed to learn to be more nurturing."
"Really?" At this point Lorelai started laughing into Luke's chest.
"Yes. She said that with her I didn't need to nurture her since she was older, but a baby needed gentle care."
At this point Rory walked back in. "The caramel will be done in ten minutes. Mom, can I please talk to Luke alone. You can watch her cook the caramel. It's cool."
"Of course, sweets." Rory smiled at the familiar nick name.
But Luke added in, "Watch, Lorelai. Just watch. Do not touch anything. You know Piper'll tell me."
"Fine, fine."
Lorelai left and Rory sat on the coffee table across where Luke was sitting. Luke sat up straighter.
"Luke I need to talk to you, but I need for you to wait until I'm done."
"Okay."
"I want to call you dad. Chris gave me money to pay for Yale and left. He has his perfect daughter Gigi, his perfect wife Michelle, and soon he'll have his perfect son. He lives in a mansion, is married to a stay at home wife, and has a nine to five job he makes millions at and loves.
We were never really close. He's forgot about me and truthfully, I don't really think about him. He wants that life, he loves that life, and so I'm happy for him. Ever since grandma and grandpa's vow renewal I've called him Chris. I wanna call you dad now so that around my little brother or sister it comes natural. If you let me."
"Are you done?" Luke asked tentatively after she ended.
"Yes."
"Then yes. Of course you can call me dad."
Rory smiled at Luke and he returned the gestured unflinchingly. She had noticed Luke was getting more comfortable with expressing his affection. Rory figured it had something to do with being a dad and fiancé.
Lorelai and Piper entered the living room with enough apples and caramel to satisfy everyone.
Rory was the first to talk, "So, the wedding's still in December?"
"Yes, it is," was Lorelai response. "I'm only two weeks pregnant. It's the beginning of September. I'll only be three and a half months pregnant. I didn't show with you until month five. The doctor said something about pelvis bones or something. The way my body is positioned I don't show early."
"Okay, so I'm the maid of honor and Piper's … what?"
Luke answered, "Piper is going to be my best man."
"You can do that?"
"It's Stars hollow."
"Right, right. Listen. I have some news. I'll be going back to Yale."
"What?" Lorelai asked her.
"Mom, I'm still not sure what I want to do. Right now I'm thinking English professor. I'm going back to figure out what I want to do with my life. But whatever it is I know I want a degree to go along with it."
"That's great honey."
"Yeah, Rory," Luke added. "I think that's a really good idea. A really good choice."
"Thanks dad."
"Mom? Dad?" Piper looked to her parents. "School starts Wednesday. We'll leave Sunday .. I mean, tomorrow since we need to be home by Monday for pre-season. I met a girl named Jenna at hockey. We both don't have many friends … or any friends, so we would always be sprinting partners. We go about the same speed and push each other."
"Wait," Lorelai interrupted. "Jenna is the girl I saw with you that day I took you to lunch."
"Yeah."
"She was cute. She had long, curly dark brown hair. Is it naturally curly?"
"No, she curled it for practice," Piper said sarcastically while rolling her eyes.
"It's really curly. Like bob curls. All the way down her hair."
"Anyway, I was wondering if she could sleep over one day. We would take the bus to pre-season together in the morning. We both got our schedules and are in all the same classes. We even have a study hall together since we play hockey and don't need to take gym class.
She said the kids are mean, so she didn't have friends before. The rest of the girls on my team, I wouldn't wanna be friends with. But we stand each other because we're teammates. I really wanna have her over to show her I really wanna be her friend."
"Of course you can have your friend … Jenna over," Lorelai told her.
"And, dad?" Piper added.
"Yes."
"We were wondering if you would catch with us. Mom said you used to play softball as a pitcher. Jenna's a pitcher and I have my catcher gear in my room. We were gonna play and would love for you to help."
"Of course I'll catch with you two." Luke nearly beamed with love and pride.
Lorelai sat on the couch with Rory on the floor to her right, between Luke and Lorelai, using the couch as a back rest. They were both eating the apples with twice their size in caramel.
Luke ate the plain apples. He turned his attention to Piper, "You got them to eat fruit. I am eternally grateful."
Piper just smiled at him from her spot on the floor on the other side of the coffee table.
They sat there eating. All thinking about how lucky they were to have found such a perfect family.
Until Lorelai broke the silence. "This is fruit!"
THE END (more affectionately known as THE ED)
A/N: This is making me really sad. I've never ended a story before. Sad.