A/N: I was in the holiday spirit today while sitting in Office Administration and Pharmacology class so here is a tale of Christmas Gilmore style. Biblical passage from the New King James Version, Luke 2:8-13.
Chapter 35: Merry Christmas Daddy!
She stole his keys. She woke up her daughter and together they snuck out of the house. Going to her Jeep Lorelai and Audrey Danes drove over to the diner. Waiting outside the diner was Lorelai's oldest daughter Rory Danes-Hanson.
"Mom you do realize that Dad is going to kill us," she said as she unloaded the Christmas decorations from the back of the Jeep.
"That's the beauty of the whole plan. Luke'll think Taylor or Kirk did it. He'll never suspect that it was us," Lorelai rationalized.
Lorelai, Rory and five year old Audrey set up the fake tree in the corner of the diner. Knowing how much of a pain Christmas lights were to put up Lorelai bought a prelit tree. It took about an hour but when the three Danes girls were done the diner never looked better or more festive.
Lighted garlands strug across the counter. Cling pictures hung in the windows. The tree in the corner shone brightly. The girls locked up the diner and went to their respective homes. Lorelai carried her sleepy little girl into the house. Tucking her into her bed, Lorelai heard her ask, "Is Daddy going to be mad at us Mommy?"
"No angel. Daddy won't be mad at us," Lorelai said softly, kissing the top of Audrey's head.
The next morning Luke gathered his stuff, kissed his girls goodbye and headed for the diner. It took him a minute to realize that things were a tad different in the diner that morning. And then he saw it, the tree standing in the corner. He replayed in his head if he had ever agreed to this. Then it hit him. He knew.
"I am going to kill her!" he announced.
Later that morning Lorelai and Audrey arrived in the diner wearing matching coats, hats mittens and scarves.
"Good morning honey," she said sweetly. "Wow the place looks great! When did you do this?"
"I didn't. You did," Luke said.
"I would never!" Lorelai exclaimed. pretending to be insulted. "Maybe Jess did it."
Hearing this Jess popped his head (dirty! sorry back to the story) out of the kitchen. "Hey! Leave me out of this!"
"Fine," Luke said. He knelt in front of Audrey who was sitting next to her mother at a table. "Audrey, honey, do you know who decorated Daddy's diner without his permission? And remember Santa's watching so if you lie, you won't get any presents."
"Mommy said you wouldn't get mad," Audrey said, with her lower lip trembling. "She said you'd like the surprise."
Luke's gruff exterior melted away like the last of the winter's snow in the warm spring sun. He patted his precious angel on the head. "Mommy was right. I'm not mad...At you."
"That's not fair! She helped!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"But you were the mastermind."
"I was not! It was your other daughter. It was her idea."
"Judas!" Rory exclaimed as she came into the diner with Marty. "Brutus! Just because you're under the bus doesn't give you the right to drag Audrey and I with you!"
Luke began laughing. He laughed so hard that he had to sit down on one of the counter stools.
"Luke? Luke stop it. You're scaring Audrey," Lorelai said.
He stood up and noticed the small bundle of weeds in the doorframe. He pulled Lorelai over to him.
"See what we're standing under?"
"You're going to kiss me now?" she asked. "You are so predictible."
Luke kissed his wife and then was tackled into by his two and a half foot daughter. Lorelai looked out the window and saw the soft white flakes falling from the sky.
"Look Daddy! It's snowing!" Audrey exclaimed.
"We should go fora walk," Rory said. "As a family. That means you too Jess!"
Luke, Lorelai, Audrey, Rory, Marty and Jess walked into the park. Jess picked up a handful of snow and threw it at Marty but he missed and nailed Luke in the back. Luke looked back at Jess, glaring. Jess pointed at Audrey.
Soon it was a free for all. Audrey his behind a tree as not to get hit by her brother or cousin. At one point it was Luke, Marty and Jess against Lorelai and Rory. Luke changed sides when his girls were gettinga little too creamed. Finally the five collasped into the snow. Audrey came out of hiding and kicked snow at her family. She then piled in between Luke and Lorelai.
"Merry Christmas Daddy," she said.
"Yeah. Merry Christmas Daddy," Rory echoed.
That night Luke cuddled with Audrey reading to her the Christmas Story. She was detrimed to catch Santa that year. Luke even rented a suit so she could catch him.
"And there were, in the same country, shepards, abiding in the feilds, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, an angel of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. But the Angel said unto to them 'Fear not. For behold I bring you tidings of great joy which would be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a savior which is Christ the lord. And let this be a sign unto you, you will find the babe wrapped in swallding clothes lying in a manger.' With the angel came a multitude of heavenly host saying 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men.'"
Audrey fell asleep shortly and Luke tucked the blanket. He went up to his room and Lorelai helped him get into the suit.
"I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night," Lorelai hummed.
Luke carefully brought down Audrey's new bike. The clattering noise woke Audrey and she gasped. She rubbed her eyes and blinked. It really was Santa.
Her new bike was bright pink with a white basket in the front. Pink and white streamers came from the handle bars. Inside the basket Audrey heard a little bark.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" Santa Luke called. "You have been a very good girl this year Miss Audrey Avery Danes."
Santa Luke set the kick stand down and balanced the bike. He reached into the basket and pulled out a Cocker Spainel puppy. He set it in Audrey's lap and the puppy curled up and went to sleep. Audrey rubbed the puppy's ears and started to drift back to sleep.
"Merry Christmas Santa," she said as she fell asleep.
"Merry Christmas, princess," Santa Luke whispered.
"So Audrey what are you going to name your puppy?" Luke asked the next morning.
"I don't know yet," Audrey said as she watched the dog play in the gift wrap on the floor. "Can I bring her with me to Grandma and Grandpa's?"
"I don't see why not. Grandma doesn't really like dogs but I think for her princess she'll let it slide," Lorelai said.
It was a long drive into Hartford in the snow. Audrey sat happily in the back with her puppy, staring out the window. Luke and Lorelai could hear her muttering different names. So far her favorites were Katie, Holly and Hallie.
They arrived at the Gilmore Mansion and parked with the several other cars that were there for the Gilmore Christmas party. Audrey rang the doorbell and held her precious present to her chest keeping her warm. A maid answered the door and showed them inside. Audrey set down her dog and took off her coat and then chased after the dog. She ran past Emily without even saying hello.
"Lorelai what is your daughter doing?" Emily asked as Audrey ran past in pursiut of her puppy.
"Playing with her present from Luk- I mean Santa," Lorelai answered taking a drink froma passing tray.
"Was that a dog that I saw Audrey chasing just now?" Richard asked coming into the foyer.
"No Dad it was a giant rat. Merry Christmas Daddy," Lorelai retorted swallowing her drink.
Merry Chirstmas to all and to all a good night! Wal mart is evil they wouldn't let me put Season five on layaway. I had enought o put it away but I don't get paid till next week! Evil schedule!