Luke sat on the steps off the porch with a cup of coffee. He took a sip and stared aimlessly into the night. The front door opened and he turned to see who had joined him. Christopher stood in the doorframe with a mug of coffee.

"Hi." Chris said.

"Hi." Luke said.

"I can't believe she's getting married." Christopher said, trying to start a conversation. "I can't believe she's old enough to be getting married."

"Yeah well when you're never around, time really flies." Luke said somewhat bitterly.

"Excuse me?"

"What do you want, Christopher?"

"Want? Nothing. I was just talking about Rory and--"

"What do you want from this family? From Rory?"

Chris heaved a sigh. "I know I sucked in the dad department, but I'm sorry for that and I want to make things right. Rory deserves a father and I'm here."

"Rory has a father." Luke said.

"You're not her father, Luke. I appreciate you taking her in as your own, but you are Jinx, Meg, and Jack's father. I am Rory's father."

"Some father." Luke muttered.

"What?"

"Some father you were to her." Luke said boldly, rising from the step. "Who was sitting opposite of Lorelai when Rory took her first steps, ready to catch her? Who taught her how to ride a two-wheeler? Who cleaned up her first bloody knee when she fell off that two-wheeler? Who helped her make a kite for a school project when she was 7? Who stayed up 'til 3 am helping her study for the Chilton entrance exam when she was 16? Who presented her at her coming out party? Who held her while she cried over boyfriends? Who picked her up at parties in the middle of the night, when everyone else was trashed? Me and Lorelai. That's who did all of that. What did you do? Call once a month, twice if she was lucky. You didn't do anything to help raise her, you were never there when she needed you, and guess what? She doesn't now. She's got a mother, a father, two sisters, and a brother. She has a great cousin who she has been permanently attached to since they were five. She's got 2 nieces and 2 nephews whom she adores. Rory and Lorelai are freakishly linked and she and Lane are still best friends since kindergarten. Did you know she broke her leg when she was 10? Or that she had tonsillitis when she was 6 and had her tonsils removed? I didn't think so. You haven't been here for her during her 27 years of existence. Don't think you can start over now." Luke stood and stalked into the house.

Christopher followed him and headed into the living room, straight to Rory.

"Rory, I think I should go."

"Go? What? Dad, you just got here." Rory asked, jumping to her feet.

"Yeah, Chris, I said you could stay here." Lorelai put in.

"Why would you go so soon?" Rory asked.

"I don't know. Maybe you should ask your father." He said bitterly. He swept out the door.

"Luke?" Rory immediately turned to Luke, her eyes filled with confusion.

"I'm sorry Rory." Luke couldn't take seeing that lost look in her eyes. He had to escape and the best route was out the door.

"Ahhh…" Luke slammed down the rag he was using to wipe down the counter in the diner. "Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut?"

"You stood up for that little girl you're holding on to. You stood up for me and for you and our parenting abilities. You stood up for what you believed in. You didn't do anything wrong." Lorelai spoke up.

He lifted his head slowly and saw her standing by the door.

"Lorelai, I didn't mean to make him leave. I tried to control my temper, like I always have where Christopher is concerned, but I just couldn't tonight." He said.

"I know, hon, and it's ok. She understands." Lorelai said, leading him around the counter and up the back stairs to the unused apartment.

"Understands what?" He said.

"I overheard your conversation. I told her everything and she gets it, Luke." Lorelai said.

"But I spoke for her so much. I mean, what if she does want him? What if she doesn't consider me her father?" Luke said. "I assumed so much."

"Hon, you should know better than that. I talked to her and she does want you. You are her father, her real father. You watched her grow up, you taught her anything she knows about nutrition, you kept her sane despite having me for a mother. You have done so much for her Luke and she loves you so much for it. She really feels you are her father. She was going to ask you to walk her down the aisle." Lorelai said as they sat on the couch.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah. She loves you Luke and she appreciates you standing up for her. She was excited to have Christopher back, but she didn't want to replace you." Lorelai said, hugging him. "Like when you find an old stuffed animal that you had fun with when you were little but haven't played with in a long time. You might be fascinated with it for a while and play with it for a little bit but you'd probably go back to you're good old bear that you've had since you were a baby. You're the bear, Luke. You and Rory have such a history. Chris is just a newbie, a guy passing through, really." Lorelai kissed him.

"Hi." A voice came from the door. They both looked up to see Rory standing in the apartment. "Could I talk to Luke?"

"Yeah. I'll be downstairs." Lorelai said.

"Hey." He said, standing and walking over to Rory. "Listen, Rory, I'm sorry I made your dad go home. I didn't mean to, but--"

"Luke, listen to me. You are my father. You led me through my crazy mixed up life. You have always been here for me no matter what. And I know that you always will. You're reliable and loyal, two things Da...Christopher isn't. Those also happen to be the two things I value most in any relationship. Thank you so much for always being here for me. And..." Rory said, staring at her hands.

"What?" He asked, taking her hands and trying to look into her eyes.

"Will you walk me down the aisle, Luke? At my wedding."

His throat constricted and Rory thought for a second he was going to cry. "Of course I will."

"Thanks...Dad."

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