Title: Meet Me At…

Rating: PG

Genre: LLR

Spoilers: A House Is Not A Home (season 5 finale)

Summary: following the events in Home…

Disclaimer: Like all of the other characters I write about, these are not mine, nor were they ever. I make no profits, other than the rewards of imagination stretched.

Chapter Eight

Meet Me At…

by xenoprobe

There was a buzz in the air. Star's Hollow seemed sunnier, brighter and all around, people were whispering, smiling. The park at the centre of town was lush and full of summer revelers at all hours of the day. Lorelai strolled at a leisurely pace, past Miss Patty's and down the street. The theatre marquee board was out on the sidewalk, announcing a double bill, The Princess Bride and She's Having a Baby. The hints were not lost on Miss. Gilmore and she winked at Bootsy when she stopped at the newspaper stand for the latest copy of Jane.

Taylor was outside the Candy Shoppe, meticulously instructing Kirk on how to raise the new sign just a few inches higher and Lorelai grinned, rounding the corner to the diner. But before she could reach for the door knob, she heard her name called out from across the street.

"Lorelai!"

"Lane?" Lorelai held out her arms and was greeted by an exuberant Lane Kim, returned from her two month whirlwind tour of the Christian music scene. "Honey you're back!"

"Oh my God- it is sooo good to see you!" Lane stepped back and eyed Lorelai up and down. "So?"

"So?" Lorelai had no clue what her young friend was getting at.

"So… Did you hear the big news?"

"Nag Hammadi is where they found the Gnostic gospels?" she smirked.

"About Rory!" Lane was grinning ear to ear. Lorelai shook her head tentatively, side to side. "I just got off the phone with her, like, 2 minutes ago… She got the job!"

"The West Hartford Gazette?"

"Yup… I think our girl's back!" Lane, quite possibly, looked prouder than Rory's own mother. "She's probably trying to call you right now!"

Lorelai smacked her forehead, "Jeez… I left my cell at the Dragonfly!" She looked around, as if a phone might magically appear in her hand by wishing alone. "Are you back-back, or is this a stop on the way someplace else?"

"Back-back. And I'm living with Mrs. Kim now too." Lane smiled sheepishly.

"Aw, poor Lane, did the boys get to you?" Lorelai ran her hand down Lane's arm, offering quiet solidarity.

"Yeah, couldn't take anymore video games… thought I was going to scream!"

"It's a momentous day when we realize we're a lot more like our mother's than we'd hoped!" Lorelai winked and Lane nodded. "Look kiddo, I've gotta get to a phone. Call Rory. You should come see the new house when you get settled back at home."

"Count on it." Lane waved goodbye as Lorelai returned to the Diner door.

Again, before the satisfaction of the little jingling bell sounded, Lorelai was distracted by another holler.

"Lorelai, sugar!" Babette called after her.

"Hey Babette." She smiled generously.

"Dollface, I gotta know. You kids got a musician for the big day yet?"

"We haven't given it much thought," she glanced at her feet, knowing what was to come.

"Well, Maury wants you sweets to know he's up for the task if you need him." Babette danced from foot to foot.

"Well then, tell Maury we'd be happy to have him entertain us on the day." Lorelai glanced over her shoulder. Luke was watching them from inside the building. He smiled and winked. "Listen, Babette… I've gotta go see my man. Lemme talk to him about the music sitch and I'll swing by and let you and Maury know the when and where ok?"

"Sure, sure doll. I gotta split too… I'm meeting Patty for cocktail hour." She was gone in a flash.

Lorelai rushed into the diner, afraid of another interruption. Luke was waiting by the register.

"Finally!" He kissed her sweetly.

"Sorry 'bout all that… Seems everyone has something to say or offer today!" Lorelai sat on a stool and propped herself against the counter, gazing at the man she was going to marry.

"What?" he asked gruffly.

"Nothin'."

"Is that a something nothing or an honest to goodness nothing?"

"Could be a something…" she considered.

"And?"

"And… I was just checkin' you out." She smirked. "Just checkin out my big, brawny, hulk of a man…"

"Ah jeez…"

"My hulky, sexy piece of,"

"Is there anything I can do to stop you from finishing that sentence in a public place?"

"…tail."

"Apparently not." He raised an eyebrow disapprovingly.

"Crap!" Lorelai leapt from her seat. "Phone!" she snapped her fingers hurriedly.

"What's the matter with you?"

"I need the phone! I need to call Rory; Lane just told me she got that job at the Gazette!"

Luke grinned and handed her the extension from the wall and dialed Rory's cell for her.

"Thank you my hunky, hot…"

"Mom?" Rory's voice cut through the air.

"Rory. Hi.! Sorry, I was just," Lorelai stammered, still smirking in Luke's direction.

"Teasing Luke?"

"You know me too well."

"I tried calling your cell and no answer. What gives?"

"I'm sorry hun, I left it at work. But a little birdy told me you have some good news!"

"And did that little birdy closely resemble a petite Korean, Christian rocker?"

"Ya-huh."

"So you know then?" Rory waited.

"You got the Gazette. Honey, I'm so proud! Gimme the deets!"

"Well, it's nothing big, just a 'girl Friday' type thing, a gopher. But they did invite me to submit articles."

"Good stuff kiddo. A step in the right direction. How are you feeling about it?"

"Good." Rory's voice was a little too tentative for her mother's liking. "Good." She added, more decisive this time.

"Well, it sounds like things are moving again, that's a start."

Across the diner, Luke looked on, observing Lorelai's smile and nodding head as she conversed easily with her daughter. It amazed him. How she'd raised that girl on her own when she was no more than a child herself. Every time he looked at her; her strength and beauty and heart reminded him of his unbelievable good fortune. And there she was, mother to one amazing, albeit slightly side-tracked, phenomena and she was carrying his child. His child.

"Luke? Come in ensign Sulu?" Lorelai's voice snapped him from his reverie.

"Oh. You're done…"

"Yeah. And I thought maybe," she ducked her chin down beguilingly, "we could find some time to sit and have a chat about wedding stuff."

"Sure." He agreed, monosyllabic man making a brief appearance.

"Tonight?" Her suggestion went unnoticed. "Hey- what's with the thousand-yard stare?"

"Nothin'. It's nothing. Tonight's good," he paused to run his hand down her spine. "Maybe you could meet me at our place? Nine too late?"

"Nine's perfect." She kissed his soft lips, lingering a little too long for Taylor's views on public displays of affection.

"Nine it is."

And she breezed back out the door, the bell echoing in Luke's ear. He had some stuff to take care of before nine rolled around. Luke called to Caesar, informed him he'd be out for the rest of the day and grabbed his keys before leaving.

(The Twickham house)

Luke checked his watch for the fourth time in less than five minutes. It was 8:42. He jogged down the stairs, deciding to distract himself by surveying the work that was already finished on the place.

It was impressive really. Tom and his crew had made seriously short work of things. The kitchen was done, its big window overlooking the yard, the foyer had been re-wallpapered and the room for Rory was fresh as new, the blue cornflowers carefully preserved. The hardwood floors were one step away from finished and the upstairs was close to completion too.

With the exception of one room; the big one that spanned the back of the house at the top of the stairs. Luke had reserved that task for himself alone.

"Yoo-hoo?" Lorelai called out into the quiet and Luke startled her by stepping up beside her. "Oh, it's you!"

"And who'd you think it'd be?" He smiled, hugging her close from behind.

"Um… Silas Marner?"

"Nope. No Silas here… just me."

"And me…" she turned in his embrace, meeting him nose to nose. "Hi." She kissed him deeply and they stumbled a bit before finding their footing.

"So…" he whispered against her lips, "I thought maybe we could have our wedding chat upstairs…" Another kiss that made his heart sing. "I have, um, something for you."

Lorelai pulled away, clapping her hands. "Oooh, something for Lorelai… me likey!" She danced.

"C'Mon you." Luke took her hand and led her up the stairs laughing.

He paused at the door to where Lorelai had once designated a 'play room'. He examined her closely, the sparking anticipation in her gorgeous blue eyes. Luke opened the door, his eyes fixed upon her face.

Lorelai drew in a huge breath as the room was revealed; one hand closed over her open mouth, the other braced against the doorjamb as tears literally sprung forth.

"Luke?" Her voice barely audible. He reached out, gathering her to him. "You did this?" She snaked her arms around his neck, clinging to him, trembling with tears. "You did this" she repeated definitively.

Luke guided her into the low-lit room for closer examination. She let go of him, looking everywhere all at once. The soft yellow stripes on the walls. The drawn, white curtains. The wall of shelves, already full of books. The rocking chair with fluffy cushions and foot stool to match.

"Luke…" she turned back to him. Love was everywhere. His smile was small and humble then he stepped aside, revealing one last surprise. A hand-carved wooden cradle. Lorelai's chest heaved as her tears threatened to consume her. Luke watched her with so much love it overwhelmed him and he tipped forward to wrap himself around her once again.

"Shh… baby… its ok…" he soothed; his words muffled in her hair. They held each other in the soft yellow light of the nursery he'd crafted, until their lips found each other's.

(Star's Hollow gazebo)

Miss Patty tipped her thermos and poured another round for Mrs. Cassini, Babette and herself. She lifted her gaze to the Twickham house in the distance.

"He's showing her the nursery tonight." She nodded, feeling the full effect of an entire afternoon and evening of drinks. The women huddled, discussing the couple whose love had won over an entire community. There was no one who was unaware of Luke's long and silent love for the beautiful and spirited Inn owner. And now that they had finally, at long last, found each other, there wasn't a Star's Hollow habitant who didn't wish them all the world of happiness.

(Twickham House)

Luke was leaned against the wall in the bay window with Lorelai stretched out in front of him, her head in his lap. She traced lazy circles in his palm, staring at the stars in the night sky beyond.

They remained into the wee hours, discussing wedding plans until all the decisions had been made. It would be as perfect as they could both envision.

To be continued…

Notes: I know, I know… this is soooo much more sappy that I had set out to write. But I am admittedly over the moon for Luke and could not resist the temptation to have him be perfect as perfect can be. I hope this little chapter pleases and I promise to continue as soon as my love-addled brain has had a chance to dream. Thanks again…