Author's Note: I am in no way associated with ASP, the WB, Dorothy Park Drank Here, etc. This is for entertainment purposes only. Please R/R. Enjoy.
A House is not a Home
Chapter 4: Reality check
"You sure you don't mind coming to Liz's wedding with me tomorrow? I know it's kind of last minute, but she just sprung it on me," Luke asked as he folded one of his shirts from the basket of laundry that was next to him on the sofa and set it on the coffee table.
"No, not at all," Lorelai replied as she moved her Pretty Pretty Princess game piece ahead several spaces and took a purple earring from the jewelry box in the middle of the board. "It gives me a chance to dress a little fruity and mock men wearing tights. You can't go wrong with that."
Luke just shook his head at her and watched as she clasped the toy earring on and signaled to Isabel that it was her turn. Lorelai and Isabel had spent most of the day playing board games while Luke tended to chores around the house. This was what Lorelai enjoyed most about their little arrangement: his being on top of all things domestic and her avoiding them.
"Do I get to wear a fruity dress, too?" Isabel asked with a smile as she reached inside the toy jewelry box and pulled out a pink bracelet.
"The fruitier the better," Lorelai grinned as she fastened the bracelet for her. "Hey Dizzabel, how about we make us matching pink flower crowns to go with our pretty dresses?"
"I like flowers," she beamed. "Can we make Luke one, too?
"Hey Luke, can we make you one, too?" Lorelai asked with a wicked grin as she glanced over to the sofa to get his reaction.
"I'm allergic," he replied as he rolled his eyes and then went back to folding the rest of his laundry.
"You're no fun," Lorelai pouted as she watched Isabel move her game piece forward and land on the tiara. "You win again! You are the reigning Pretty Pretty Princess. I have failed to dethrone you."
"Can we play again?" the little girl asked excitedly as Lorelai carefully placed the plastic crown on top of her head and brushed the stray hair from her eyes.
"Not tonight, hon," she replied as she got up from the floor and stretched. "I promise that Rory and I will both play with you tomorrow though, okay?"
"Okay," Isabel nodded sadly.
"Rory!" Lorelai called out as she walked over to the desk near the staircase to grab her keys and purse. "Let's motor!"
"Sorry," Rory said as she rushed out of her room with an overnight bag in one hand and a shopping bag full of books in the other. "I was packing for Lane's and I couldn't decide between Tolstoy, Kerouac, or Proust."
"So many men, so little time," Lorelai joked as she applied a fresh coat of lipstick. "Who got the shaft? Leo, Jack, or Marcel?"
"I couldn't pick," she replied sighing. "My love for all three of them runs deep."
"Okay, we so need to get you a boyfriend," Lorelai teased as she took one last look in the mirror and ran her fingers through her curly hair.
"Mean!" Rory exclaimed as she slung the overnight bag over her shoulder.
"Hey, I'm just the opening act for Emily," Lorelai shrugged. "Okay, Dizzabel, can Rory and I get a hug goodbye?"
"Bye, LaLa," she replied sadly as she walked over to Lorelai with her arms outstretched and her head hung low.
"Hey," Lorelai asked as she knelt down to Isabel's level and gave her a hug. "Why so sad?"
"I don't want you to go," she replied as she pulled away from Lorelai, her eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip quivering.
"Aw, sweetie," "Lorelai replied as she tilted her head and gave Isabel a loving smile. "I won't be long and Luke will be here to watch movies with you."
"We can watch whatever you want and I'll even give you some ice cream," Luke chimed in as he got up from the sofa and knelt down beside Isabel. "Is that a deal?"
"Deal," Isabel nodded with a sniffle as she ran her arm across her nose and then wrapped her arms around Luke's neck and he rubbed her back lovingly.
"Aw Luke, you old softie," Rory said with a big grin.
"Being surrounded by chicks has so brought out your feminine side," Lorelai giggled as she stood up. "All right, we'll be back. See ya later."
"Have fun," Luke said as he picked up Isabel and walked the girls to the door.
"See ya later, kid," Rory said to Isabel as she gave her a quick hug and then embraced Luke. "Bye, Luke."
"Bye," Luke said as he and Isabel watched them get into the Prius and drive off.
"Luke?" Isabel asked as he put her down and shut the front door.
"Yep?" he replied as he turned around to face her.
"Will you play Pretty Pretty Princess with me?"
"There's some chick singing," Lorelai commented as she ate a piece of her Chicken Kiev and did her best to avoid Emily's incessant questioning.
"It's Blossom Dearie and don't change the subject, Lorelai!" she yelled. "What do you mean you and Luke are pretending to be engaged for the sake of a child he inherited?"
"I like the chick singing," she rambled on, determined to ignore Emily for as long as possible. "Are you taking requests now? Maybe some Pat Benatar?"
"Shouldn't you spend your time finding a real potential husband?" Emily ranted as she glared at Lorelai. "You're not getting any younger, you know."
"Hit me with your best shot," Lorelai sang as she took a sip of wine. "Fire awaaaaaay…"
"She's so cute, Grandma," Rory butted in, trying her best to ease the tension. "Isabel, the little girl she's doing this for. She's precious, really. You'd understand why they were going through all this if you met her."
"Yes, I bet I would," Emily said with a mischievous grin as she turned her attention back to Lorelai who was playing with her food and humming to herself. "In fact, I think she and Luke should come to dinner next week."
"What?" Lorelai exclaimed as she looked up from her plate at Emily and kicked Rory underneath the table.
"Yes, next Friday. I want all four of you here," Emily said as she took another drink of water. "It will give me a chance to bond with the little girl and my future son in law. Your father will be home by then and I am sure he'll want to join us."
"Mom!" Lorelai yelled out in frustration. "It's a fake engagement! There is no need for real bonding."
"Fine," Emily said. "Don't bring them. However, if all four of you do not show up here next Friday I will book a DAR event once a week, every week at the Dragonfly from the day it opens until the day I die."
"We'll see you at seven, then?" Lorelai sighed as she looked over at Rory who had buried her head over her plate to avoid her mother's gaze.
"Seven." Emily responded with a satisfied grin plastered across her face.
"I thought you hated it when guys dress up like pirates?" Jess joked as he pulled off the blue plastic earring that Luke was still wearing from his game with Isabel and waved it in his face.
"You will not say a word to anyone about this," Luke exclaimed as he led his nephew inside and shut the door behind him. "Don't forget that I have a picture of you in a smock receiving your 'Employee of the Month' award from the fine people at Walmart."
"My lips are sealed." Jess vowed as he walked into the living room with Luke and saw Isabel sitting on the sofa eating a bowl of ice cream with the plastic tiara still on her head.
"Luke, you going to finish watching Shrek with me?" Isabel asked with a bright smile.
"In a second, kiddo. I have to give Jess something. I'll be right back." Luke replied.
"Aw, how cute. Another blue eyed brunette that has you wrapped around her little finger," Jess teased as he followed Luke into the kitchen.
"Shut up," Luke said as he gave Jess the key to his apartment. "Don't steal anything, don't break anything, don't bring any chicks in, don't go near Rory, and in case I didn't make myself clear earlier, do not tell a soul that I played a board game that involved me wearing plastic jewelry."
"I heard you loud and clear the first time," Jess replied rolling his eyes. "Don't worry about me going near Rory either. I plan on getting out of here as soon as the wedding is over tomorrow."
"Good to know," Luke nodded. "By the way, no blue eyed brunette has me wrapped around their finger."
"Yeah right," Jess snickered as he lifted up the blue plastic earring and dangled it in front of Luke's face. "Exhibit A."
"You say no to her with the puppy dog eyes and the pout!" Luke replied defensively.
"Okay, I'll cut you slack with the kid," he shrugged. "But what about Lorelai?"
"What about her?" Luke asked.
"Come on, Luke!" Jess said as he sat down at the table and Luke joined him. "You're playing house with her."
"We're doing this for Isabel," he replied.
"You're doing this cause this is what you've wanted forever. You, Lorelai, Rory, and Isabel. You're one big happy, dysfunctional family. I wouldn't call you the Walton's or Brady's, but you're not exactly the Osbourne's either."
"It's not like that," Luke insisted. "Bobby wanted me to take care of his kid and I am. Lorelai is just helping, that's all."
"What about you, Luke?" Jess asked. "What do you want?"
"It doesn't matter what I want," Luke sighed. "She's doing this as a friend."
"Maybe, maybe not," Jess said as he got up from his seat and stuffed the key in his back pocket. "You'll never know cause you'll never go for it."
"And what makes you think you're an expert on the subject? Look at how well things worked out for you and Rory," Luke replied as he got up from the table.
"Well," Jess started as he walked back towards the door. "At least I had the real thing for a little while. It's my fault it didn't last Rory, but it will be your fault if it never happens Lorelai."
"Chinese water torture, walking on a bed of nails, listening to the Macarena for twenty-four hours straight," Lorelai ranted as she pressed her head against the window of Rory's Prius. "All are better alternatives to dinner with Emily."
"I really think you should talk about this with Luke before you go next Friday," Rory replied with concern as she drove them back to Stars Hollow. "I mean, you doing this for Isabel is with good intention, but it's only a matter of time before things get crazy. Eventually you and Luke are going to want a real life with someone. You can't survive on fake love forever. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be. A reality check is inevitable."
"I know," Lorelai sighed. "I'll talk to Luke about it when we get home."
"Good," Rory nodded.
"Now where was I, umm the Macarena for twenty-four hours straight, watching Glitter…."
Rory's words had haunted Lorelai the entire ride home. 'Eventually you and Luke are going to want a real life with someone.' That would definitely put a serious damper on the arrangement they had going. They both cared so much for Isabel and didn't want to hurt her. They needed a new plan and they needed it now.
"Luke?" Lorelai called out as she entered the darkened house.
There was no answer. She tiptoed over to the couch to see if he had fallen asleep, but it was empty. She walked slowly over to Rory's room and opened the door as gently as possible. She looked inside and smiled lovingly when she saw Luke asleep with a copy of Where the Wild Things Are on one side of him and Isabel sound asleep on the other, her head resting on his chest and her arm draped over his stomach. She walked over to the bed and removed the book and covered them both with a blanket before shutting out the light on the nightstand. She leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Isabel's head and without thinking, did the same to Luke before she snuck out of the room and headed up to bed.
The need for an alternate plan no longer haunted her thoughts, but the sight of Luke and Isabel sleeping peacefully downstairs did.
