Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I have any association with the Gilmore Girls or any of its characters. Dreaming about them is a totally different thing...

Chapter 21- Betty Crocker and Mr. Mom

1985

"That was some crazy snow storm last night wasn't it?" Sookie asked as she opened her locker.

"Yeah," Sarah replied. She turned to Lorelai. "Didn't you have dinner at the Danes' last night?"

"Yup. We got snowed in just as Luke was gonna bring me and Rory home," Lorelai replied. "We had no other choice but to spend the night there."

Sookie started to jump up and down excitedly. "Did you two…you know," she asked suggestively.

Lorelai laughed. "No. We didn't 'you know'. But something better happened."

"What's better than sex?" Sarah joked.

"Luke told me he loves me," Lorelai smiled. "And I told him I love him too."

Sookie and Sarah started to squeal. "That's so exciting! Oh you two look so great together. Oh! The babies! Your babies are going to be beautiful!"

"Oh! Lorelai's eyes with Luke's smile. They'll be gorgeous!" Sarah added.

"Whoa there Miss Patty and Babette! Where did all these babies come from?" Lorelai asked.

"Sorry," Sookie laughed. "We're just happy for you!"

"So am I." They started to jump up and down excitedly until they saw Luke, Kevin, and Jackson heading down the hall toward them.

Luke grinned as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Hi," he greeted Lorelai.

"Hey," Lorelai smiled back in the same love-struck tone.

Luke noticed that Sarah and Sookie were staring at him with big smiles on their faces. "Hey Sarah, hey Sookie," he greeted with a laughed.

"Hey Luke," Sookie said, lingering on the word 'hey.'

Luke laughed again as he put his arm around Lorelai. "Yeah. Jackson, you're gonna wanna talk to her before she completely loses her mind." Lorelai playfully pushed Luke.

"Talk to me?" Sookie asked seriously. "About what?"

"Well, uh, I, um, sorta wanted to ask you…out," Jackson stuttered.

"Out where?"

"On a date."

"On a date?" Jackson nodded. "Oh. Um, ok."

"Ok. Where should we go?"

"I don't know. Where do you wanna go?"

"I don't know. Where do you wanna go?"

"Ok, you're not even dating yet and you're already making me nocuous," Kevin joked.

"Luke and I are gonna see a movie tomorrow night," Lorelai remarked. "Why don't you guys come with us?"

"These two were supposed to tag along but they backed out," Luke teased.

"Yeah, well happy Luke makes me even more nocuous," Kevin remarked.

"Yeah?" Luke asked. When Kevin nodded, Luke elbowed him in the stomach sending his friend to the ground. "How do you feel now smart ass?"

"Ah! Damn it!" Kevin groaned as he clutched his stomach. "I hate you! I think you cracked a rib."

"Oh cry me a river."

"Luke! I think you hurt him," Lorelai scolded.

"He's just being dramatic. Get up Kevin."

"I think a movie would be great," Sookie said.

"Really?" Jackson asked.

"Yeah."

"Ok. We'll see a movie with you guys tomorrow."

"Great. Met us at the BWR Theater at seven," Lorelai said. She looked down at Kevin who was still on the ground. "Is he ok?"


Present Day

Lorelai stared at the groceries that filled her trunk. She only meant to buy some water for her and Luke and juice for the kids, but she kept remembering that they needed this and that. One thing led to another and she ended up with a trunk full of groceries of food she couldn't cook. She blamed this on Luke. He had to cook for the family every night. Why couldn't he just be a normal nine to five dad and bring home fast food?

Then he wouldn't be Luke, Lorelai told herself.

Luke was a good father and wanted his kids to live long healthy lives and made them meals so he knew what was put in it. Lorelai sighed and started to unload the bags.

"Want some help with that?" Luke asked as he walked up from behind her, making her jump in surprise. She put her hand on her chest and he tried to contain a laugh. "Sorry. Did I scare you?"

"No, I just thought I'd say the pledge of allegiance," Lorelai said sarcastically.

"How patriotic of you."

"Yeah. I'm joining the Marines tomorrow." Luke pretended to salute her. She laughed and playfully slapped his arm. "Very funny."

"A regular Ashton Kutcher." Lorelai shook her head. "Here, let me get some of those for you."

"Thanks."

She handed him as many bags as his arms could carry, which surprisingly was almost all of them. She grabbed the remaining bags and headed for the door. Luke put his bags down to unlock the door and hold it open for Lorelai. "What's with all the groceries Betty Crocker?" he teased as they walked into the kitchen.

"I had to restock our refrigerator because you have to be Mr. Mom and cook for us every night," she joked. "So what are you doing home from work so early?"

"The diner was pretty much dead, so I took off."

"Wow."

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just not like you to just take off from work."

"What are you talking about? I used to do it all the time."

"Oh yeah? When?"

"When we first got married."

"Luke, our honeymoon doesn't count."

Luke laughed. "Ok, I give up. But I do take time off from work."

"That's not giving up," Lorelai teased. "And I know."

"Good." She was trying to put something away, but it had to go on a high shelf and she couldn't reach it. "Here. I'll get that." He walked over to her and put the item away.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." Luke smiled at Lorelai. He hadn't realized how close they were until their eyes met. They held each other's gaze for a while, until Luke finally looked away and took a step back. "Uh, I noticed the showerhead in our bathroom was loose so I fixed that."

"Oh. Thanks."

"And don't forget your car is due for a tune up."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll bring it to Gypsy's."

"I can take a look at it. I can probably to do everything on it so you can save a couple bucks."

"That'd be great. Thank you Luke."

"I'm glad to help. Oh, and I screwed up a batch of brownies earlier."

"Ok. I'm sorry," Lorelai laughed.

"I brought them home," Luke explained with a chuckle. "I thought you'd like them since you have an iron stomach. They're out in the truck. I'll go get them for you."

As Luke left to get the brownies, Lorelai wondered why he was being so nice and helpful. It wasn't like the kids were around. They didn't have to pretend. They could just ignore each other like they usually did. They could yell and argue and tell each other to go to hell. There was only one thing that came to Lorelai's mind. Then it wouldn't be Luke.


1985

Jackson and Sookie sat three rows behind Luke and Lorelai. Neither of the couples were watching the movie being shown. Luke and Lorelai were too busy making out and Jackson and Sookie couldn't stop watching them for some reason.

"Don't they need to breathe?" Sookie whispered to Jackson.

"Maybe they figured out an alternative," he whispered back. "Good Lord. It looks like they're eating each other."

"Gross. That'd make a great movie though."

"Yeah because cannibalism is such a great subject."

"You never know. But if it ever does become a movie, we should try to avoid seeing it."

"We? Who's we?"

"You and me silly."

"You mean you'd wanna see another movie with me?"

"Sure. Especially since we're not even watching this one."

"What are we watching anyway?"

"Luke and Lorelai?"

"The movie."

"I don't know. We got in free because Kirk is the ticket guy remember?"

Jackson laughed. "Maybe we should have checked before we walked in."

"Would it have made a difference?"

"I may have sprung for the Milk Duds."

"I'll remember that for next time."

"Yeah. Next time."

After the movie, Jackson and Sookie met Luke and Lorelai outside the theater and the four of them walked to Antonioli's.

"That's disgusting," Luke remarked as Lorelai took a bite of another slice of pizza. "How could you eat that crap?"

"You see, you pick the pizza up, bring it to your mouth, and then you…" Lorelai said.

"I know how to eat a pizza. What I don't understand is how you can eat so much of it. It's not very good for you."

"Aw, you're concerned about my health. Sookie, did you hear him?"

"Yes," Sookie replied. "It's so adorable."

"Now wait a minute," Luke interrupted. "I don't do adorable."

"Dude, it was kinda cutesy," Jackson remarked.

"Words like adorable and cutesy do not apply to me or anything I say and or do."

"He's so cute when he's mad," Lorelai teased.

"Ah jeez." Luke rolled his eyes. "I don't understand you."

"Yeah, but you still love me."

Luke smiled. "Yes I do." He had intended to place a quick kiss on her lips, but that never seemed to be enough for them. They didn't pull apart until Sookie cleared her throat.

"You guys look so happy together," Sookie smiled.

"We are," Lorelai smiled as she leaned into Luke's chest.

"How are you guys working next fall out?" Jackson asked.

"What's next fall?" Luke asked.

"Harvard," Sookie replied.

The smiles on Luke and Lorelai's faces began to fade. They never discussed what would happen in a few months when Luke left to go to college. To be honest, they had totally forgotten about it until that very moment.

"You know it's getting kinda late. Maybe we should call it a night," Jackson said, sensing the change in atmosphere.

"I think that's a good idea," Luke agreed. He didn't look up at the other couple. "Come on Lorelai, I'll walk you home. We'll see you guys tomorrow."

Luke and Lorelai stood. "Bye guys," Lorelai said, waving to her friends before leaving with Luke.

"They haven't even thought about Luke leaving have they?" Sookie asked.

"Nope," Jackson sighed.

"We put them in a very awkward position didn't we?"

"Yup."

"We probably shouldn't have brought it up."

"Probably."

Sookie sighed. "Man this sucks."

"You said it," Jackson sighed as he leaned back. Damn, and things were going so well.


Present Day

Jess let out a breath as he headed down the hall toward his room. He was bored. Everyone was out doing something and he was stuck at home because he didn't know anyone in town. Well, anyone that would hang out with him without an ulterior motive to kill him. The only person that was actually going to put up with him was Rory and she was with Lane and Lane hated him.

Jess was half way down the hall when he passed a room he hadn't been in. The door was never open and no one ever went inside. They all acted as if it wasn't there at all. Jess knew what the room had once been and it was probably why everyone avoided it. But he wondered what was inside the room now. He knew he shouldn't have gone in the room. Luke and Lorelai would be pissed, but curiosity got the best of him and Luke and Lorelai weren't home.

Jess grabbed the door knob and stood there for a while, half expecting an alarm to go off. There were no sirens or alarms going off so he turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open. He couldn't believe his eyes as he walked into the room. His heart began to race. He didn't know why, but he was completely surprised by what he saw. He was so shocked, he didn't hear someone enter the house and walk up the stairs until it was too late.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Luke growled.

Jess whipped around. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "I…um…" he stuttered.

"Get out of there right now!" Luke voice boomed so loudly, Jess swore the house was shaking. He immediately ran out of the room. Luke shut the door and headed toward Jess. "What were you doing in there?"

"Nothing."

"Why did you go in there?"

"I…I don't know."

"Don't give me that bullshit!"

"I'm sorry! I was just…"

"Just what? You were just what?"

"I was curious."

"You don't care do you? You don't care about anything or anyone but yourself. You didn't care that you were ruining your life. You didn't care that my wife and I took you in when it was difficult for us. You didn't care that you put this family through a lot of crap when you ran away. You didn't care about the accident."

"What did you expect me to do? You hated me!"

"You couldn't come when the family needed you to be here, but you came when Rory asked you to." Luke shook his head.

Jess could hear someone coming up the stairs. It was Lorelai. "What's wrong?" she asked as she headed down the hall. "I got home heard yelling."

"I knew you had a thing for Rory," Luke accused Jess.

"What?"

"I knew you had a thing for Rory. You knew there was nothing wrong with it because she's not related to you by blood. What bothers me the most is that you knew she had a thing for you too, but as long as Lorelai and I were married there wasn't a damn thing you could do." Jess looked away. Luke was right. "You are to stay out of that room or so help me God, I will kill you. Do you understand me Jess?"

Jess nodded. Luke turned and headed back downstairs. Lorelai let out a sigh and crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at Jess with disappointment.

"I didn't know," Jess said.

"Well now you do," Lorelai said unemotionally. She shook her head. "And to think, he was actually starting to warm up to you."


Next time on "The Broken Road": 1985- Kevin's bad mood continues to get worse. Luke asks Lorelai to prom. Present Day- When Lorelai claims to be sick, Luke stays home to take care of her- yet again bringing them closer.

A/N: I'm so proud of you guys! Almost all of you have figured out what happened! Maybe not the full story behind it (which will come up soon and I mean soon), but you've got the gist of it. I've got some extra scenes from this chapter and I'm gonna put them up on my site so go one ahead and check them out. Let me know if you would have prefered those over what you've got. And again, I shamelessly plea with you good people to join the roleplay.