Yes I Do

It had been two months since Lorelai's return to the small Connecticut town of Stars Hollow. In that time Luke had met his son and spent as much time with him as possible. He was finding that being the father of an active five-year-old was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. Each day he would wake up not dreading the day ahead but with a smile and optimistic outlook. He would head over to Lorelai's house early, before Jude even had the chance to get up, make breakfast, and coffee, and be there when the little boy came barreling down the stairs excited to see him. They would spend the morning talking and joking and then Luke and Lorelai would both walk their son to school and say goodbye for the day. He would go to work and instead of the grumpy scowl that usually adorned his face a small smile would stay with him throughout the day. When school was over, Luke would pick his son up and they would spend the day together, working in the diner or going to the park, until Lorelai was done at the Dragonfly. Usually the two, Lorelai and Jude, would eat dinner at the diner and then Luke would join them on the way home and he and Lorelai would put the little boy to bed together. For Luke, it made his day complete when he knew that he had been able to spend as much time with his son as any live-in father would be able too.

The time that hurt him the most was once Jude was asleep. That was a time full of awkward silences and guilty looks between him and Lorelai. Usually, he would say something about needing to go to bed early and he would leave. What changed most for him in his night time hours was that his dreams were no longer of their fights of long ago or hopes for what could have been, rather his dreams were now of a more passionate nature. Since the day after he met his son his dreams were of nights long ago when he had Lorelai in his heart and in his bed. He would wake up sweating after the more carnal dreams and run his hands through his hair, getting up for a cold shower. He felt guilty for where his subconscious was taking him but another part of him wished he could go to her right then and make her his again.

Do I cry, in the night?
Do I long to hold you tight?
And do I wake, wanting you?
Yes I do
Do I recall, everyday,
How you took my breath away?
Do I remember loving you?
Yes I do

Two weeks ago, in an effort to make up for five missed birthdays and Christmases, Luke had asked his son what one thing he would like to have more than anything. The little boys eyes widened and glossed over for a moment before he excitedly replied that he wanted a tree house. After discussing it with Lorelai, Luke had agreed that yes a little boy should have a tree house and set out to build his little boy the most perfect tree house.

In the early evenings he began gathering the materials and a week later he had all he needed to begin, including two well drawn out plans, one in pencil the other in Crayola.

From that day onward he and his son began to bond over the latter's burgeoning love of tools and building. Luke had thought the little guy's concentration would falter early in the project and he would run of to play with Paul Anka.

He was pleasantly surprised when Jude was genuinely interested in each and every step of the tree house building process. The length it took to both build the tree house and explain everything to his son would normally have annoyed Luke to no end; but the interest his son took in it fascinated Luke and made him realized that in front of him stood the little boy inside of him that was lost a long time ago.

Lorelai for her part would sit on the porch petting Paul Anka; watching Luke and their son work diligently on the tree house. Seeing Luke with Jude made her happy and sad at the same time. She was delighted that Luke had taken to the boy so quickly and Jude the same with his father, but in her mind it pained her to know that the two of them could have always been together, instead of starting five years late.

Chorus
Yes I do dream of all we had together
Yes it's true we lost it all forever
Do I pray anyway?
Yes I do

On a cool Saturday afternoon in mid-summer Luke was working on the tree house alone. Lorelai's parents had asked to monopolize their youngest grandchild and the boy was spending the weekend with them.

Lorelai, having worked long hours since she moved back, was sent away early from the Inn by a forceful Sookie who didn't want to see her until Monday morning. She decided to spend the day cleaning and working on some sewing projects. She was actually very thankful for Sookie telling her she needed to relax.

That evening as Luke was cleaning up and preparing to go home Lorelai came out to him with the offer of food.

"You cooked?" He asked with a smirk.

"I can cook some things," She indignantly replied and then added, "but Sookie brought this over." Luke chuckled and shook his head.

"Figured. But yeah, I'd love to come in and eat something. It's been a long day."

"It's looking really good Luke. Jude is so excited for it to be finished." All she received in return was a proud smile as they walked into the house.


Well I don't live in the past
Wanting love that wouldn't last
Well I don't wait, like I used to
Yes I do

After they had eaten, and had a surprisingly civil and delightful conversation, they sat on the couch each nursing a beer.

"Really, Luke, that tree house is amazing. You didn't have to do something that amazing, I might just have to sell this place and move in there." She smiled at him in her teasing way.

"Yeah, it's no big deal. He wanted it. My son is going to get what he wants from me."

"Oh no, Luke, I will never ever allow you to get him that spaceship he's been wanting, I draw the line at that… and the pony."

"Oh come on, every boy needs a spaceship. You could put it out in that empty garage."

"Yeah." She laughed. And then her face turned serious.

"Or, you know, you could put your boat there. I never did ask where it's at and how it's coming along. Did you finish it?"

"Oh, well, Buddy and Maize found a place for me to store it and it's not exactly finished. Truth is I haven't touched it since- well, you know."

"Since I left?"

"Yeah."

"It was your father's, you should have finished it."

"Yeah, well you shouldn't have left." He said agitated.

"Where the hell did that come from?"

"Well, you shouldn't have. You should have stayed; you should have told me about the baby, we could have maybe worked things out."

"What?" She said with anger in her eyes. "You basically called me a slut, and then walked away as I recall. You threw our entire relationship, friendship in my face; like you were some sort of saint and I was this goddamned whore you put up with."

"I NEVER called you that." He stood up at this, his anger rising.

"You might as well have. All that 'I'm sure Christopher and his grandfather's money was worth it' shit. I was upset. I wanted to marry you and all you wanted to do was push me away."

"I was going through hell Lorelai! I had just found out about April-"

"Six Months! Luke, you had known about her for half a year!"

"So, what you think after 12 years a little time to get her to know me and want me in her life was too much. God, Lorelai! You can be so selfish. I waited for you with all the Rory crap, I was there for you. Where the hell were you when I needed the time?"

"Well, I can tell you where I wasn't. The diner, that's where. Banished because everybody else could meet April but your fiancée."

"You met her. You were at her birthday for christ's sake Lorelai. You made her 13th birthday great, no thanks to me."

"Yeah, and as soon as Anna had her little hissy fit I was back to that crazy lady who has coffee at the diner sometimes."

"She was concerned Lorelai. April is her kid."

"Yeah, well you were my fiancé."

"So much for that, the second things end you go off and sleep with Christopher. Did you ever love me?"

"That is NOT fair. I loved you. I loved you so much. I wanted to marry you. You were the one; you were the one who didn't want to get married to ME."

"Damnit, I wanted to marry you."

"You sure had a good way of showing it."

"Yeah, well sleeping with Christopher was a sure good way of showing you loved me. And then leaving and not telling me about the baby. We could have worked it out, Lorelai."

"Oh yeah, for the baby. What, you would have taken back the slut who sleeps around because she was having your baby?" His face softened at her words. And his reply was quiet.

"It wouldn't have been like that."

"Sure, you wanted me back after all that. I know I put you through hell Luke, I did it to myself too you know. But I came to terms with the fact that you didn't want to marry me long before that night I wanted to elope."

"I wanted to marry you. Lorelai. I love you." He had meant to say loved. But knew he couldn't because even after all that had happened he still loved her more than he could ever express. She looked up at him then and he noticed the few tears that had escaped her shiny eyes and reached up to wipe them away. She held his hand to her face for a moment before she pushed it away and started towards the foyer; Him following.

"You should go."

Yes I do dream of all we had together
Yes it's true we've lost it all forever
Do I pray anyway?
Yes I do

In the foyer, he took a step towards the door and then turned to look at her. He then did something neither of them expected. Lorelai felt him press her against the wall, pinning her between him and the hard surface. His lips then crushed against her. Luke's arms went to her waist and then once their tongues began to dance together he lifted her up onto the table there. Her legs went around his waist, groins touching through the fabric of their jeans and her hands in his hair bringing his lips and tongue closer to hers.