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.
Also, the last name I reference at the end of this chapter was mentioned in Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom. I hope that helps clear up any confusion. In my world, Rory never slept with Dean.
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A House is Not a Home
Chapter 9: Perfect Imperfections
"Did I hear something about a lap dance?"
"Of course you'd remember that line," Lorelai giggled as she ran her fingers through his hair. "I'd love to fulfill that fantasy for you, but I didn't do laundry so, my sparkly G-string is dirty and my pole is in the shop. I got a little carried away with Kirk last week-"
"Your ability to kill a mood is second to none," Luke groaned as he pulled away from her neck and shook his head.
"I try," she smiled. "Don't get me wrong, I would love to do dirty things with you right now, but I don't think it's a good idea with Isabel downstairs. I mean, I used to have rules with Rory and she is still adjusting to her new arrangement with us and-"
Luke interrupted her with a soft kiss. "How about some snuggling?"
"Wow, I never thought I'd hear you say that word," Lorelai grinned. "Snuggling is good. I'm a fan of the snuggling."
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Lorelai changed into a pair of gray cotton shorts and a white tank top and then crawled into bed next to Luke. He put one arm under his pillow and draped the other across her stomach, placing a light kiss on her forehead.
"You know," she began as she lightly ran her fingernails across his forearm, "I've never snuggled with the man I love before."
"Me either."
"So, you've snuggled with men you didn't love?"
"Aw, geez."
"You so set yourself up for that," she said with a yawn. "I'm exhausted. Fighting with my mother is like going ten rounds with Mike Tyson. She hasn't tried to bite off my ear yet, but I'm sure she will reach that point some day."
Luke rolled his eyes and placed another kiss to her forehead. "Good night, crazy lady."
"Good night, snuggle bunny."
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They'd only spent a couple of nights sleeping (and more than sleeping) in the same bed, but reaching out to see if Luke was next to her in the morning had already become habit for Lorelai. It should have been odd, but it wasn't. It was Luke. Flannel wearing, coffee supplying, rant making, Chuppah building Luke. She felt safe with him. She felt happy, content, in love.
It was all a little overwhelming, but natural at the same time. Things had moved quickly since Isabel came into the picture, but deep down she knew this was something that had been building for years. A friendship that evolved with the help of an adorable little girl who popped up unexpectedly and pushed things along the way a group of crazy Stars Hollow Townies couldn't, no matter how hard they had tried.
Last night had been surreal. She had told her mother all of the things she'd wanted to say in regard to Christopher. The disappointment she felt from him continually letting Rory down. The hurt she had to endure with him running in and out of their lives for years, but never really making an effort to be a father for longer than a few hours at a time. Emily had been pressuring her to marry him since she found out she was pregnant with Rory, but she knew in her heart it would never have worked out. Chris would never have been enough for her. He was not reliable, he was immature, and he was weak. It would have felt like she was raising him instead of feeling like she was married to him. Sure, he was charming in a Peter Pan/Lost boy sort of way, but that's not what she wanted or needed.
Luke was the exact opposite of Chris. He was dependable, caring and loving. He could be grumpy at times, but it was just a front. All it took was a smile or a hair flip and he'd melt. He had such a good heart and she could trust him with anything. She knew he wasn't going anywhere and she knew she never wanted him to. He was everything she could ever want wrapped up into a very nice flannel clad and baseball capped package. He was flawed, but she found that endearing. He was imperfectly perfect and she would keep him that way.
Lorelai reached out for Luke, but was disappointed when she was met with nothing more than the feel of her floral print cotton sheets. "He must have gone to work," she thought to herself. She sighed disappointedly, grabbing Luke's pillow and hugging it against her as she closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.
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He had done this a million times before, but somehow it was different now. For the last eight years he had cooked her breakfast and brewed her beloved coffee nearly every morning. He knew what she ate when she was happy, sad, upset, and so on. But this was new for him. Now he had to find something to cook for when she was in love. Correction, in love with him . Nope, scratch that, too. They were in love with each other.
He was by no means a romantic. Just the thought of Valentine's Day made him break out in hives and curse Hallmark for their unnecessary destruction of trees to create those stupid, insipid cards with pictures of puppies that said nauseating things like, "I wuff you!" There were better ways to show someone you cared. It wasn't about flowers, candy, or jewelry. A rant on May 16th about how you are in love with a beautiful woman because of the perfection found in her imperfections was an acceptable, cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative.
It wasn't like him to come out and say things like that. It had taken him eight years just to kiss her, but last night he couldn't help himself. He had heard her argument with her mother. He had heard her defend him as a father figure and he felt his heart swell. He had always admired her. Admired how strong and independent she was to go out on her own at sixteen and raise a child to be as incredible as Rory. She was truly unique and special. He knew she didn't hear that enough from Emily, or Richard, or even himself. He wanted her to know how much he appreciated everything she had done for him, for Isabel, for everyone she cared about it. She needed and deserved to hear those things. To feel loved. They were both alike in that way. Afraid to love because it had always brought them hurt. It didn't have to be like that anymore, though. They could be a constant source of love and support, a couple, and maybe someday, a family.
Luke smiled to himself as that last thought crossed his mind. He never really pictured himself as a father or husband, but with the little girl he was raising asleep in the bedroom behind him and the woman he loved asleep in the bedroom upstairs, it seemed like it was inevitable.
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"I can't believe you called me at nine in the morning to come and pick you up from New Haven," Jess groaned as he secured Rory's bookshelf in the trunk of his car, tying the hood shut with rope.
"I'm sorry, I didn't plan on it. Dean was supposed to come, but Lindsey called and needed him for something. I didn't want her to get the wrong idea, so I told him to just go and not say anything," Rory explained.
"Is this the first time he's come to your rescue since he has been married?" he asked curiously.
"That's none of your business," Rory seethed, "I knew calling you was a bad idea. I just should have called my mom and Luke."
"Why did you call me? Better yet, why didn't you call them and not Dean?"
"Dean's a friend," Rory replied defensively.
"A married friend."
"Thanks for pointing that out."
"He's made his bed, now he has to lie in it."
"What are you getting at, Jess?"
"Nothing," he shrugged. "I just want to make sure you're thinking clearly before you decide to lie in that bed with him."
"I can't believe you just said that!" Rory shot back angrily.
"Come on, Rory! He was driving thirty miles out of his way to come here and rescue you at eight o'clock on a Saturday morning and he wasn't telling his wife where he was going!"
"He was doing me a favor."
"And that's all?"
"That's all," Rory sighed.
"Good," Jess nodded. "Look, I know I was a jerk to you and I know I have no right to comment on your life anymore, but I don't want to see you do something you'll regret. I know you, Rory. I know you better than you would probably like to admit. I don't want to see you do something that would get you hurt again. You deserve better than what I gave you and better than what he can't give you."
"Thanks," Rory smiled.
"Anytime," Jess said as he pulled out his car keys. "Now, let's see if we can make it back to Stars Hollow without this piece of junk breaking down."
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"You're making breakfast," Lorelai said sleepily, tying her robe tightly around her waist.
"All of your favorites," Luke smiled as he flipped pancakes. "Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, blintzes, French toast, waffles, coffee, and burgers."
"Burgers?"
"Well, I didn't know what you would be in the mood for, so I wanted to make sure all of my bases were covered."
"You don't even need to go to the diner today, you can just have the town come and eat here," she said, reaching for a coffee mug from the cabinet next to the stove.
"Like you would share this with any of them," Luke teased. "I already fed Isabel cereal just to make sure she'd have some food."
"Oh, cereal sounds good," Lorelai grinned.
"Please tell me you're kidding?" Luke pleaded as he looked down at the pile of food he had been preparing all morning.
"I could really go for a Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops combo."
Luke sighed as he shut off the frying pan. "One bowl of instant Diabetes coming right up."
"Admit it," Lorelai said as she poured herself coffee, "you love my quirks."
Luke shook his head at her and smiled. "You wouldn't be you without them."
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Hannah Lawson had spent the morning confirming her travel plans to Stars Hollow that Wednesday. Liz had called to tell her that she and T.J. would be picking her and Kevin up at the Airport at five and then they'd be meeting Luke, Lorelai, and Isabel at Silvano's for dinner at six.
Now that all of that was done, there was only one more thing to take care of.
"Verizon National 411," the operator's voice said jovially, "how may I assist you?"
"Yes," Hannah said as she reached for pen and paper at her desk. "Could you please tell me the names of some private investigators based out of Hartford, Connecticut?"
"We have three listings that fit that description in Hartford. Would you like contact information on all of them?"
"Yes please."
"All right, the first name I have is Peter Griffin, 860-524-9875, the next is Michael Nelson, 860-736-5830, and finally Anthony Paluso, 860-353-4956…"
