Marty in Stars Hollow

Author's Note: I wrote this as a birthday present for my wonderful friend xphilehb. I also want to thank my amazing betas Danielle and ciachick711.

This takes place mid Season 5 and is a bit AU.

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"Luke!" Lorelai announced her presence as she walked into the diner. "I need coffee!"

Luke emerged from the kitchen. "When don't you need coffee?" he asked, already in the process of pouring her a cup. "And how many times have I told you not to scream like a banshee the moment you enter the diner?"

"I'm going to ignore the Darby O'Gill reference you just made," she said, taking a sip of her coffee."

"Darby who?"

"You know the movie? The banshee comes out at night?" He still looked confused. She tried one more, "Sean Connery all young and hot singing to Janet Munro?"

"Oh, that movie," he stated sarcastically.

She looked at him hopefully. "So you know it?"

"No," he answered.

"Seriously, you have got to see more movies. I am adding this to our list of movies I must make you watch," she informed him. "Prepare yourself for dancing leprechauns, buddy."

"Goodie." Grabbing a rag, he began to wipe down the counter as Lorelai sat quietly sipping her coffee. He glanced out the window and caught sight of Rory and some boy he had never seen. "Hey, who's that boy with Rory? I've seen him around here all day."

Lorelai turned around and looked out the window. "Oh, that's just Naked Guy," she told him calmly.

"Naked Guy!" Luke exploded. "You let her hang out with a guy who likes to be naked, and you're just sitting here looking at me like I'm insane."

Lorelai laughed. "Hon, you've got to calm down. It's just a nickname he received from a minor incident the first day of college. Don't worry, he's not usually naked."

He continued to eye the boy through the window. "You sure?"

"Positive. I'm probably the only one who still calls him Naked Guy. Though Rory gave me a whole lecture earlier on why I must stop."

Luke leaned against the counter. "So what's his story then?"

"Why?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "You interested?" That only earned her an annoyed look. "His name's Marty, and he lives in the same building at Yale as Rory."

"Are they..."

"Dating?" she finished for him. "No, they're just friends. But I think Rory really likes him."

"How well do you know him?"

"I've only met him a few times, but he seems like a nice kid."

"So we like him then?" Luke questioned.

"Yes, we like him."

Luke nodded his head slowly, still not completely convinced. "Is he good enough for her?"

"Rory likes him, and by the looks of it, he likes her too. That makes him good enough," Lorelai assured him. "Rory has a good judgment of character, you know that."

"But Dean..."

"Was her first love. And he was a good kid. It just got all complicated. Yes, she made a mistake, but she's learned from that mistake. Marty's the first guy that she's gotten all doe-eyed over in a long time." She tugged on his sleeve. "And you, mister, must behave yourself. Rory cares about what you think."

"I know," Luke replied, remembering how upset Rory had become after the Bop-It incident with Dean.

Lorelai grabbed her purse and stood to leave. "I have to get back to work. When they come in here for dinner, you have to try to be nice to him."

"I will," Luke promised, leaning over the counter to kiss her. "We like him?" he asked one more time.

"We do."

Luke watched her leave. He saw her stop briefly across the square and exchange a few words with Rory and Marty. After Lorelai walked away, he continued to watch the pair.

He had always felt protective towards Rory. Ever since she walked through the diner doors over eight years ago, smiling up at him with those innocent blue eyes, he knew that he would do anything to keep her safe. He didn't do the things he did for Rory because of his feelings for her mother. No, it was more than that. She was the closest thing he had to a daughter, and he loved her like one. He always would.

When Rory first began to date Dean, he had remained calm. Calmer than Lorelai. But the moment he broke Rory's heart the first time, he felt the urge to strangle the little punk for hurting her.

He saw the two walking towards the diner. Rory was laughing about something, and Marty looked flushed. Rory looked so happy. Luke took a deep breath. More than anything, Luke wanted her to be happy, and if Marty made her happy, then he could be nice to the kid.

"Hey Luke," Rory greeted as she entered. "This is Marty." She turned to Marty. "Marty, Luke."

"Hey," Marty gave him a halfhearted nod as he and Rory sat down at a table.

"What happened to him?" Luke asked, carrying over two cups of coffee.

"Miss Patty pinched his butt," Rory informed Luke which caused Marty to turn a deeper shade of red.

"She has quite a grip on her," Marty commented.

"Word of advice?" Luke offered. "Never turn your back to Miss Patty. It's too tempting for her."

"Miss Patty's gotten a hold of Luke's butt many times," Rory added.

"Thanks for the reminder," Luke stated. "What can I get for you two?"

"Two burgers and chili fries," Rory responded.

Luke went into the kitchen to make their burgers. When he returned, he noted that Marty seemed to be regaining normal coloring. The two were deep in conversation when he dropped their meals off.

Rory looked up at him. "Do you have time to join us?" she asked hopefully.

The diner was completely empty save for Rory and Marty. Luke nodded. "Let me just make myself a sandwich."

She smiled. "Good."

He came back a few minutes later carrying a turkey sandwich. He took a seat at their table and started to quietly eat his sandwich.

Marty was the one who broke the silence. "This is one strange town," Marty commented.

"Tell me about it," Luke grumbled.

"I thought Rory was exaggerating," Marty began.

"But then he met Kirk," Rory supplied.

"What was he up to this time?" Luke inquired.

"He was caught upside down in a tree," Marty told Luke.

"How did he manage that?"

Marty continued, "Something about being chased up there by a dog while he was delivering the mail."

"But how did he get upside down?"

"It's Kirk," Rory stated.

Luke chuckled. "No explanation needed other than that."

"Other than the thing with Miss Patty, I like this town," Marty declared. "You don't meet people like that everywhere. It's like watching a movie. Except not, because you're a part of it."

"Once you get passed the escape mental patients, it's not too bad," Luke agreed. "So, Marty," he began. Rory gave him a nervous look. "What are you studying?" He heard Rory breathe a sigh of relief. Luke was determined not to upset her.

"A little of this, a little of that. I really like English though."

"What do you plan on doing after you graduate?" Luke asked, hoping to get a feel of this guy without overstepping any boundaries.

"I'm not sure yet, but I think that I may want to teach."

"Teach?"

"It would be great to have a hand in shaping the minds of youth. I think it would be really fulfilling. And I'd love to teach abroad. Possibly helping to teach the children of an impoverished country so they can have a chance at a real future."

Luke was surprised to hear Marty's aspirations. He hadn't expected that. He could picture Rory as a foreign correspondent and Marty teaching in the same country as her. She wouldn't be off somewhere all alone. "Those are some big plans you've got there. Good for you." Rory gave Luke an admiring look which made him smile.

"You should see him, Luke. Kids really like him," Rory informed.

"If by like, you mean using me as a jungle gym, then yes, they like me," Marty joked.

The three of them continued to talk until their dinners and slices of pie for Rory and Marty had disappeared. After they finished, the two said goodbye to Luke and went off to the Black & White & Read to watch a film.

Luke had to admit that he really liked Marty. Although no one would ever truly be worthy of Rory, he did seem good for her. Luke watched her smiling face throughout the entire meal. And Marty looked at her with a look that Luke recognized all too well. He often used to look at Lorelai like that.

He was surprised to see Rory enter a few hours later. He was in the process of closing the diner, but he stopped to pour her a cup of coffee.

"How was the movie?" he asked, noting her huge grin.

Rory's smile widened. "It was great. They were showing Sabrina. The old one. Not the remake. I love that movie. I can never see it too many times. And Marty's a huge Audrey Hepburn fan. He has fantastic taste in movies. It takes place in Paris. I loved when Mom and I were in Paris. It's so romantic."

She was babbling. Luke knew this meant either she was extremely nervous about something or ecstatic. She was just like her mother. He walked around the counter and took a seat next to her. He touched her hand, causing her to stop chattering on. "It sounds like you had a good evening," he prompted.

"Luke," she started. She bit her lip as if she was unsure of whether or not she should continue. "He kissed me." She blushed, but she couldn't hide the huge grin. She looked down at her hands which were nervously fumbling with her shirt.

"Good."

Her head jerked up in disbelief. "Good?"

Luke nodded. "He's a nice guy. You deserve to be with a guy who will treat you like a queen," he said, remembering the way Marty looked at her like she was the most amazing girl he had ever seen.

"So you like him?"

"I do." To his surprise, Rory leaned over and gave him a hug which he immediately returned.

"Thank you, Luke," she whispered.

"But if he ever hurts you, I'll kill him," he vowed, causing Rory to laugh.

She pulled back, her eyes sparkling at him. "I know." She hopped off her stool. "I've gotta go tell Mom!" She moved to leave but turned back around to face Luke. "Are you coming by later?" she questioned hopefully.

"Of course."

"I thought we could start tackling that list of movies Mom wants you to see."

Luke groaned. "I'm in for some trouble, aren't I?"

"You better believe it," she confirmed before exiting the diner.

Later, as Luke watched yet another movie with a delighted Lorelai and Rory – they were showing him a film that would apparently change his life – he couldn't help but smile. He probably would never admit it to anyone, but these girls were more important to him than anything. And seeing them both so happy meant the world to him.

Fin.