Hey everyone! Sorry for the extremely long delay, but school has been so hectic. Luckily I had time over break to write this next chapter for your enjoyment.
A/N: Emily and Richard appear in this chapter, but the whole retirement thing isn't going on just yet. The Friday night dinner before the big dinner didn't happen because Lorelai was too busy planning.
Disclaimer: I wish! Maybe one day if I become very rich, but still highly unlikely!
Under the Mistletoe
The night of the dinner, Lorelai was upstairs getting ready. Dressed, she stood surrounded by piles of clothes looking through her jewelry box. She called downstairs:
"Rory! Have you seen that necklace?"
"Which one?"
"That one . . . the one that's shiny and blue . . ."
"The one with the beads?"
"Yes that one! I think it'll go perfectly with my lovely cast." She looked down at her leg in disgust.
"Yeah, here it is." Rory said, bringing it up to her. "Wow Mom, now don't you look nice."
"Aw thanks, but sucking up to mommy won't get you out of clean-up duty!" She put some earrings in before announcing that she was finally done. "OK Rory, Luke will be here any minute." Lorelai had been able to con Luke into giving them a ride over to the Inn early to help set up. "Let's go!"
Rory was looking at the seating arrangements for the evening. "Look here – you've got yourself sitting next to Luke."
"Yeah, so?" Lorelai said, turning away and fiddling with her scarf.
"Any particular reason for that?" Rory said in a teasing voice.
"Yes, he is now my personal slave and I must have him by me at all times to do my bidding!' Lorelai said in an evil, all-powerful tone.
"Right, I see. And, oh yes, when is he coming to pick us up again?" she said pointedly.
Right then the doorbell rang. Rory grinned wickedly before running to open the door, exclaiming, "Perfect timing!"
"Hey Rory." Luke said. As Lorelai walked around the corner his eyes widened. "Wow, you look . . . amazing."
"Why thank you kind sir." Lorelai replied in a southern accent. "I might even start a new fashion trend!" She said, pointing to her cast.
"Where's Jess?" Rory asked.
"Oh, he's out in the car." Luke answered.
"Well then we better get going." Lorelai said, grabbing her purse and crutches. "Shotgun!"
Later at the Inn, Rory and Lorelai were greeting guests when the elder Gilmores arrived. When Lorelai had called her parents to invite them to the dinner, she had mentioned that she "hurt her leg a little", but had neglected to tell them that it was broken and in a cast.
"Are you sure it was a good idea no to tell them?" Rory asked before her grandparents saw them.
Lorelai leaned over and whispered, "Fancy dinner – way too much money. Trip to the hospital – paid through pain. Seeing my mother's reaction …" Emily finally turned and saw them "… priceless!"
"Lorelai, what happened!" Emily exclaimed.
"I told you Mom, I hurt my leg. It'll be fine."
"You never told me it was in a cast!"
"I didn't? Oh must have slipped my mind. Well now you know."
"Why didn't you tell me!"
"Mom it just happened, and I've had a lot going on. Anyway, it's no big deal. Luke's been helping out."
"Your mother is right Lorelai." Richard stated. "You shouldn't have downplayed something like this."
"Sorry, I know Dad."
"Wait a minute," Emily said, "is this the same man who helped you find that chick of yours, that Luke?"
"Yes Mom." Lorelai replied in an exasperated voice. "Now you and Dad are in Room 12."
"This man seems to help you out an awful lot." Emily said slyly.
"See you at dinner!" Lorelai said, putting the key into her hand. Emily and Richard walked off.
"Told you, Grandma sees it too." Rory said matter-of-factly, before heading over to see Dean.
The Bracebridge group had also arranged for horse-drawn sleighs to take the guests through the town before dinner. Lorelai informed an excited crowd that they would still be able to take part in this, so everyone raced outside to pair off and bundle up.
Lorelai had situated herself in a sleigh when she spotted Luke walking around. "Hey, you by the horse!" she called; he turned to her. "Yeah you, come here."
"What do you need?"
"Someone to ride with me. Come on, hop in!"
"You know, this isn't really my thing …"
"Please Luke, I don't want to ride alone."
"OK, fine." He said, getting in.
She smiled and spread the blanket out, calling "Giddy-up!"
The sleigh slid through Stars Hollow, the sky clear overhead and the stars twinkling down at them.
"Man, the town looks so beautiful this time of year." Lorelai said. "Just like a fairy-tale land."
"And are you the princess in the fairy world?" Luke asked sarcastically.
"Oh, of course! Ooo and Taylor can be the mean ogre; Babette and Miss Patty can be the …" Lorelai proceeded to describe everyone in a childish voice, placing them in a position in her wonder world. "… and Rory will be my fairy!"
"Who's your Prince Charming?" Luke inquired.
"Oh, no prince for me."
"Really!" he said, grinning.
"No way, princes are way too boring." Lorelai stated. "No, I'll have a knight in shining armor, one who constantly comes to my rescue!" She smiled over at him, and his grin widened.
"I wonder who that could be!"
"Well you did save me from that mean, icy sidewalk." she said dramatically.
"You really should be in Miss Patty's next play." he said, and Lorelai laughed.
They sat in silence for a while before Lorelai began to move around to find a more comfortable position for her cast.
Just like the other night, Luke turned to her and said, "Here you can lean on me." Lorelai smiled and obliged, Luke putting his arm around her. She looked up at him, and once again Luke found himself mesmerized by her smile.
"Thank you." she said softly.
"For what?"
"For always being that person in my life that I can lean on."
He smiled back at her. "No problem."
Lorelai sighed contently, looking around. "This season is truly magical. It's so perfect at Christmas, almost surreal you know? Like nothing bad can happen for a short period of time. It's like a movie – Miracle on 34th Street or something."
She sighed again. "I can't wait for Christmas! On top of all the snow you have presents, food … and great winter clothing, of course!" He gave her a look and she laughed.
Luke reached into his pocket. "Speaking of presents, how about getting one early?"
Lorelai grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Really!"
Luke handed her a small box. "Sorry it's not wrapped, but it was kinda last minute."
Lorelai glanced at him again before opening the box. She gasped, for inside was a beautiful silver necklace with a snowflake charm on it.
"Oh my go, Luke, this is breathtaking!" She looked up at him with wide eyes, her mouth slightly open in a shocked expression. "Why on earth did you get me such an amazing gift? I mean, you usually give me something nice, but nothing like this!"
"Well, I guess I just felt bad because you broke your leg and everything, I don't know. I just felt like a good reason to give you something special."
Lorelai took off her current necklace and handed the new one to Luke, saying "Well then, would you do the honors?" She turned lifting her hair away. Luke slipped the necklace around Lorelai's neck, who turned and looked down at it.
"Thank you. It's wonderful!"
"Yeah well, I know about you and your snow thing. It seemed appropriate to get you something snow-related for Christmas."
"You're right; snow really is my thing. Some of the best moments of my life have happened when it snowed – my best birthday …"
"I've heard the stories."
"… Rory's first steps …"
"I've heard the stories."
"… and now this awesome sleigh ride with you, plus getting this fabulous necklace!" She grinned up at him, and he smiled down at her.
All of the sudden, the sleigh stopped in front of the Inn. "Oh, it's over already?" Lorelai said, disappointed that the moment couldn't last longer.
"Yeah, looks like we've the first ones back though." Luke climbed out before offering Lorelai his hand. "Here, I'll help you out."
Lorelai clumsily tried to get out, but fell when her cast slipped on the ice. Luckily, Luke was able to catch her before she went down.
"I know you love snow," he said, steadying her, "but it doesn't appear as though ice likes you very much." Lorelai laughed out loud. Luke smiled to himself, glad that he had made her laugh.
As she laughed, Lorelai looked up at Luke and realized that they were standing in the entryway of the Inn. Luke saw a funny look in her eyes all of the sudden. He followed her gaze above his head – and saw some mistletoe hanging over the door. He looked hesitantly back at Lorelai, and she gave him a shy smile.
"Well would you look at that!" Lorelai said, trying to come up with something witty to say so that things didn't get uncomfortable. "I completely forgot that Sookie put that there. She's such a romantic."
"Yeah." Luke replied nervously.
Lorelai glanced back at him, grinning devilishly. "You know Luke, it's against the rules of Christmas not to kiss someone under the mistletoe. I've heard it gives you bad luck for a year."
"Lorelai!" Luke said, obviously not taking her myth seriously.
"It's true! Now Luke, you don't want to give me bad luck, do you?"
"Well no, but …" He made the mistake of looking into her eyes right then. Before his mind took control again, Luke leaned down and gave Lorelai a gentle kiss.
Almost surprised, she looked at him, completely still for a minute, and Luke's heart began to beat faster. But then she smiled, before slowly meeting his lips again in the softest kiss ever. Her arms went around his neck, his around her waist, as Lorelai once again leaned on Luke.
When the kiss broke, both smiling, Lorelai glanced to the side. "Look."
Luke turned to see that soft snowflakes had begun to fall. He just grinned, shaking his head at her. Lorelai smiled, her eyes twinkling in sheer delight.
"I told you – everything special happens when it snows!"
Well that's it for now. I'm not sure where I'm going with it next, but if you have any suggestions, please write a review. Or write one just to tell me what you think so far!