My take on how Luke and Lorelai become friends. Lorelai has lived in Stars Hollow for a year now. She is 25, and Rory is 8, almost 9. Come read and review!

Even a Danish

"Hey, Duke," Lorelai said, entering the diner with her normal swagger, Rory in hand. It was a beautiful October morning, and nothing could make that day better to Lorelai than annoying Luke.

"I said, stop calling me that. My name is not Duke," Luke said, immediately aggravated by Lorelai's presence. However, he couldn't stay mad for long, once he saw Rory's little face.

"Oh, it's not? Sorry, Duke. I'll try to remember, Duke," Lorelai replied, knowing full well that this was no way to treat the owner of the fine establishment they were dining in if she wanted her coffee fix.

"Ugh! I give up on you!" Luke said, slamming his hands down on the counter.

"Mom, why don't you just call him Luke? It would make our visits to this place a lot more pleasant," little Rory whispered, as they sat down at the counter. Lorelai was always amazed at what her 8, almost 9-year-old daughter said. She always sounded so wise, and well beyond her years.

"Oh, but it is pleasant, sweets. Coming here and making Duke rip his hair out is the highlight of my day."

"Hey Luke! Guess what! My birthday party is this Saturday. You should come," Rory said, completely ignoring her mother's last comment.

Luke couldn't help but smile at the sweetness of this little girl. "I'm sorry, kid. I really can't. I've gotta go help my sister out with a little bit of trouble she's in."

"Oh. I understand. It's okay," Rory replied, looking down with a tiny frown on her face.

"Now look what you've done, Duke! You made my little girl cry," Lorelai said. Her daughter always created the perfect opportunities for her to make Luke cringe.

"I'm not crying!"

"Yeah, she's not crying. Tell you what, Rory. The next time you come in here, you can have whatever you want, on the house. I'll even put a candle in it." Luke said, in an attempt to redeem himself.

"Even a danish if it's not Danish Day?" Rory was suddenly very happy.

"Even a danish."

"Ok!"

"Hey, Duke! How about a round of coffee?"

"This stuff is going to kill you. You'll have a heart attack one day when you're home and Rory'll be at school so no one will be there to call 9-11 so you'll die of caffeine overdose."

"How very morbid of you."

"How very realistic of me."

"Hey! Don't talk about my mom like that!" Rory knew the drill. Whenever Luke was withholding the precious elixir of life that is coffee, Rory would pretend to be very protective of her mother and yell at Luke, making him feel bad that he hurt her feelings, resulting in as many cups of coffee Lorelai can down. Rory was always rewarded with a kit-kat later in the day. It was a win-win scenario.

"Fine. You can have your coffee." Luke said, defeated. Lorelai and Rory both giggled.

"To-go cup, please?"

"Here. Enjoy your death juice."

"Bye, Duke!"