Insert Strong Bad voice:
Like a Phoenix, from the ashes
...she rises again!
And now….
Written in the Stars (if you have a better play on title let me know...)
By Gilmoregirl1979 (the reigning Quote Queen)
Rating: PG-13
Hi this is your friendly disclaimer: Once again, I don't own (DAMN IT!), No Harm No Sue. WE just use the Gilmore Girls dolls during our slumber parties…. It's fun (shirtless Luke: with coffee pouring action, and the "Fry it and Buy it" Luke's Diner Play Set sold separately!)
R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Summary/ The Q: What if LL hooked up when they first met? A bonafied woulda What if things had moved … a touch more quickly…?
Luvz: OH MY GOD! I SOOOOOOO MISSED YOU, TOO!
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Chapter 3:
To The Rescue, Here Am I
"Damn IT! Stupid car!" although deep down Lorelai knew that kicking a flat tire would not help magically re-inflate it. What is it they say, most accidents happen within 5 miles of the home? So what? Auto Failure is 5 blocks! She then went back to thinking about her hot shower and how nice it would be to wash the day away, of course the cool start to March also increased her wish to be home and warm.
Lorelai was stranded on Plum St, one block from Peach and the center of town, four blocks away from her home and her nice hot shower, four blocks from washing away another horrible day. She could just walk home, she would make good time given the cold, and the exercise might warm her up, but that would cost money because Taylor might have her car towed because there is no parking for longer than 15 minutes at this time of day, because rules are rules; no exceptions, she heard his snide voice already, Who wants to pay 50 dollars for a hot shower? She could walk to Luke's, for a coffee and pie pick me up, and maybe Luke knows his way around cars as well as a stove, but she didn't want him to see her like this. Sticky and gross from a day of washing and ironing linens, in her jean shorts and old t-shirt that she had changed into so she wouldn't have to go home looking like a maid in her uniform. No doubt ready with a lecture on dressing weather appropriate. I'm the junior assistant manager, well sort of. Lorelai was in training three times a week to take over for the concierge who was going on maternity leave in two months. Stupid unreliable Judy for calling in Sick … so she says! When I get a promotion, I'm so using my pull to get her fired. However, Lorelai was a team player, so she volunteered for a shift as a humble maid when Judy, a completely unreliable employee, called in "sick", and Mia was short handed. Mia had encouraged Lorelai to start in the management-training program even before Carly got pregnant.
Lorelai was a junior assistant manager in name only; she was really an everywoman of the hospitality industry. Lorelai would play hostess in the dining room, was regularly apart of the event staff for weddings and functions at the Inn, even coordinated some events by herself with much acclaim from clients and Mia, yet she still had to dawn the maid uniform from time to time, if Mia really needed help. Lorelai liked her exciting schedule, it kept her on her toes, but she always had two days off for her and Rory to spend quality time together.
Still stuck close to the center of town and still concerned about her appearance and hypothermia, Lorelai seriously debated about getting her Luke fix… that is, her coffee fix, vanity be damned!
As if on cue the oldest green Chevrolet truck known to man had just turned down Plum. It slowly pulled up and parked behind her, and Lorelai heard a now familiar voice, "Lorelai?"
Lorelai turned around and only offered a weak smile, aw crap, "Oh hi … Luke? … You're… out of the diner."
"I do surface occasionally," referring to his errands that brought him out and about on his day off, "You okay?"
"Oh you know … it's such a nice street… most of the fruit named ones are … and it was Plum that stole the heart of my jeep" and she patted the hood of the Jeep, "… and here they shall stay together ... till the end of time."
Luke had to smirk at her dramatics as he got out of his truck "What seems to be the problem?" wanting to get to the point already.
"Ummm it just sorta … stopped working?" tucking her hair behind her ears, wishing she could have looked better for him.
"Okay, any other symptoms?" Luke was trying to keep his mind on the car, not her long legs and short shorts in the middle of the mild winter. Doesn't she know to dress weather appropriate?
"Well, I picked up some stuff from the beauty supply store," 'cause today, boy do I need it. And he doesn't really need to know that. "Anyway, I tried to start it up again… and it was uncooperative, but then the tire … well … it seems to have gone flat…" Though how the two are connected… I don't know…
"Mind if I take a look …" and Luke reached inside the jeep to pop the hood open, just wanting to be sure her car wouldn't explode with her in it.
"I told you it's the tire."
"If the engine won't start it's more than the tire." He got the impression that Lorelai wasn't entirely car savvy, "Just in case" he assured. Now that Lorelai was becoming a regular, he wanted to make sure she was safe out on the road. Yeah Danes, that's the only reason … Luke lifted up the hood, and poked around in the car, "Well it looks like you may need a jump."
No kidding and … Dirty! "I assume this is where jumper cables would come in handy", knowing she didn't have any.
"It's alright, I've got some in my truck," he smiled that he could help her, maybe this time get more than her name or what was on TV last night, "but you may want to get a new battery, it's really … not safe to drive like that. It could happen again and I may not be there … to bail you out," He teased, "But … if you want … I could install it for you …top off your fluids … save you a couple of bucks," he shrugged.
"That'd be great … thanks."
"I don't suppose you have a spare tire either."
"Uhhh, good guess," she smiled, rubbing her arms, wondering why she had goose bumps when it felt like 80 degrees out in February.
"You can have mine, it's just a spare, so you may want to … you know get a whole new set. I guess you don't know how old these are, do you?"
"Again … nope…" Lorelai was wishing she didn't feel so stupid around him, but being a car owner was still new to her. Maybe her "friend" Luke could teach her a thing or two. Lorelai was pleased that Luke was a true gentleman, offering all he had to be of some assistance, wanting to genuinely help her out. Why doesn't he just ask me out?
"We'll get to that…" he assured.
Lorelai watched as Luke pulled out all the necessary tools. Who knew that this green monster was the Mary Poppin's carpetbag of trucks? Hmmm, Green … The Hulk, maybe? Yeah that's a great name for his truck more manly. Wait, I'm naming his truck? What is wrong with me?
Luke removed his trademark flannel to work with the tire easier, but also to be a gentleman and cover Lorelai's legs since she insisted on keeping the Jeep door open and watching him. Lorelai had his flannel over her legs, and tried to resist rubbing the soft fabric to keep warm. she started thinking of her hot shower waiting for her at home, but seeing Luke's muscles work the tire jack and tools, had him with her in the shower in her imagination. She held his flannel like a cheerleader would hold her boyfriend's letterman jacket and Lorelai had to smile at the fact that Luke had a tattoo on his arm as he worked. She really did try to not enjoy watching him work, but it was better than Gypsy tinkering away and mouthing off at the many ways Lorelai abused her Jeep. Lorelai usually went to Gypsy, figuring a woman would be nicer about it, but this type of auto maintenance was so much better. If Luke did help her out, learn about her car and the tires and things, it would be a guarantee of seeing him again, granted walking in the diner was pretty much a guarantee of seeing him, but this would be seeing him again outside of the diner. Lorelai just liked the idea of seeing him more.
When done with the tire, Luke pulled up beside her Jeep and found the jumper cables in his truck. It was very cliché, being rescued by a knight in… flannel. "So is this a regular practice? Saving damsels in distress, along with brewing the best coffee?"
"I know my way around an engine. I've been doing this since I was 14."
"Wow… early start." Still kinda self-conscious with her choice of clothes, and the fact that she was still nervous about dating, we are not dating; he's just fixing my car! We are just… friendly. "I didn't even have my driver's license at 16." But then again … I was pregnant.
"Well, most of it I learned from my dad, so…" Luke didn't even notice the cool air while Luke connected the jumper cables, Lorelai's smile was enough to keep him warm and focused on helping her.
Lorelai smiled at the fact of how it was Mia, and not Emily or Richard, who finally taught her how to drive. Luke brought her back to their situation when he called around the hood, "Okay, try it now."
Lorelai turned the key and the Jeep hummed to life.
Luke came up to her open door; "Well, it should be good enough to get you home." Wherever that is, and he almost considered following her.
"Thanks again, you're … my hero."
"Anytime," and Luke suddenly felt shy again, and shuffled his feet a bit, like he did when Lorelai had pointed out his obvious flirting during their second meeting, "ummm hey … I was wondering if…"
"Luke," just then Taylor came bustling over, all too eager to stick his large nose where it didn't belong. "Luke … Luke I'm not sure if you realize this but you are double parked."
"I know Taylor!" He barked over his shoulder, pissed that Taylor still hadn't packed up and moved to Woodbury, but more so that he ruined the nice moment Luke was having with Lorelai, A moment where Luke could have asked her out before she disappeared again. "I'm just giving the lady a jump."
Lorelai bit her lip and smiled to herself over the obvious "Dirty".
"Looks more like you are loitering to me," Taylor crossed his arms haughtily, "Not to mention blocking traffic."
"Taylor, we will move in a minute," Luke growled.
"Alright, but I'm timing you. Oh … hello Lorelai," Taylor recognized the brunette.
AW CRAP, "Hey Taylor," Lorelai suddenly became nervous. Please don't mention Rory, Please don't mention Rory, Please don't mention Rory.
"Everything alright?" Taylor asked giving Luke the evil eye.
"Just fine, Taylor, he was giving my jeep a jump," less dirty, "Like he said."
"Alright then, I'll be back though and if you two are still here…"
"We get it Taylor." Luke rolled his eyes.
"Don't mind him," Lorelai smiled at Luke, thank you, Taylor, for not mentioning Rory.
"You seem to know him pretty well," Luke asked.
"Oh, he is … infamous."
Then Taylor turned back toward them "Oh Lorelai, I do hope you girls will sign up for the next pageant, we may require your sewing skills."
"Sure thing, Taylor," wincing and agreeing to get him off her case, hoping Luke wouldn't ask too many questions.
"More details at the next town meeting," Taylor cheerfully called.
"Thanks Taylor" … thanks a lot! At least he said you girls and didn't mention Rory by name.
Luke looked back and forth between Taylor and Lorelai, seeming to realize she was a local. "You live here?"
"Umm we...yeah, thanks again Luke", Lorelai said quickly, "I'll see you later." and she drove home, with his shirt still in her lap.
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A few days later…
"Are you sure you won't go?" Sookie asked.
"I can't" Lorelai whispered, lying in her bed, "he knows I live here now, he knows I go to town meetings and he'll see me with…." trying to find a delicate way to put it.
"…Rory?" Sookie finished.
"Yeah, I just… I don't know … I don't want him to know yet."
"He doesn't even like to go to town meetings. How do you know he'll be there…?"
"Hello he'll be looking for me…" and I don't know how he feels about kids yet…
"Well we think highly of ourselves don't we," Sookie commented dryly.
"Well Duh!"
"So you're gonna avoid town meetings forever?"
"Maybe."
"Are you gonna avoid him forever?"
"Well," …that kinda defeats the point … but, "Maybe."
Sookie was exasperated with her friend's logic, "It's a small town … he'll find out eventually…"
"Mom?" and Rory came in the bedroom.
Lorelai went limp in her bed to complete the act. "Hey angel?"
"Feeling better?" Rory asked out of genuine concern, mom is never sick.
Usually it's the kid who is faking sick to the parent. "Awww yeah, a little bit; must be seeing your shining face."
"Are you sure you can't come?"
"I'm sorry, Hon, but I just don't feel up to it."
"But…we always go together… as long as I can remember we've never missed a town meeting."
"Well, that is why you have to go with Aunt Sookie… and give me all the details so I don't miss anything. Consider it … practice for when you are a foreign correspondent."
Loving that idea, Rory exclaimed, "Cool! Can I take notes?"
"Of course … bring your special pens, break 'em in?"
"Can I ask Taylor a bunch of tough questions?"
"Only if you fluster him and make him loose his train of thought."
"Deal!" and Rory ran down stairs to get her book bag and find her favorite pen.
"You are tricky," Sookie shook her head almost in awe of her friend.
"Just get all the details of this pageant for me please…"
When Rory and Sookie left, Lorelai pulled Luke's flannel shirt from her closet; she smiled at it wondering if she should keep it or if she should be a good girl and return it to Luke. Would he really miss it? He seems to have an endless supply…
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Luke was one of the first to arrive at the town meeting, but patiently waited outside Miss Patty's.
As Sookie and Rory approached the dance hall, Rory asked "Sookie can I say hi to Lane."
"Of course Kitten, but just for a minute you know how Taylor gets if we're late." Then Sookie noticed Luke looking in every direction, and she took a guess at who he was looking for, "Hey Luke."
Startled he focused on the redhead approaching him, "Oh, Hey Sookie," And he kept looking past her, left and right.
I won't take offense to that, "Looking for someone," she teased.
"What?" okay, lets not be too obvious, "no, no, why would I be looking for anyone?"
"I don't know…. Thought maybe that girlfriend of yours, what's her name, came back to town?"
Her tone told Luke she was fishing for information, no doubt for Patty and Babette, the biggest gossips in town, "her name was Rachel, and I'm not looking for anyone."
"Really? You just like a nice stretch before town meetings? Setting a goal on your target heart rate? These meetings can get a little racy."
"Enjoy the meeting Sookie."
"Alright, well I'll see you later, don't pull any muscles or you won't be able to flip and fry at that diner of yours."
Luke kicked himself for not being more discreet. If Sookie noticed his weird behavior, then Babette and Patty were bound to have noticed too.
It was then he saw a young girl run up to Sookie and join her in line to file inside Miss Patty's. Luke did a double take. That dark hair? Those big blue eyes? She looks like a mini … Nah!
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"Mom! We're home!"
"Hey sweets," Lorelai greeted the pair home, from under a blanket on the couch.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better… must be, you know… that time of the month"
"Mom, Gross!" remind me never to get my period.
"Hey you're not far from becoming a woman, young lady."
"Sooooo not looking forward to that!"
"How was the meeting?"
"Pretty boring, Harry the twinkle light man got in a dispute with the shoe maker."
"And the next bit of town pageantry?"
"Taylor pushed back till next week, he seemed to get inspired during the middle of the meeting … and wanted to draw up some more detailed plans… you know how he loves his visual aid. I'm gonna rewrite my notes." Rory went into her room to draft a good copy of the meeting's notes.
Once Rory was out of ear shot, "He was looking for you," Sookie said flatly.
"He what?" Lorelai looked up from the couch, putting down her magazine.
Sookie sat on the couch at Lorelai's feet, making sure Rory was in her room. "You were right, I saw him practically pull a muscle looking in every direction … for you."
"He was not."
"Was too? And when I asked him…"
"You talked to him?"
"Yeah I'm aloud to talk to him."
"You said you knew him you didn't say anything about being friends…"
"Well we're more… food prep acquaintances."
"How acquaintancey?"
"Is that even a word?"
"Sookie!"
"Okay, okay, I just know him a little bit. Don't worry I'm not going after your man."
"He's not my man," Lorelai dismissed; satisfied that he was looking for her.
"After the contortions he was attempting? I think he is. You have him wrapped around your little finger. Well, I have the breakfast shift in the morning, see you later."
"Night Sook, thanks," and Lorelai thought about Luke as she played with the fabric of his flannel shirt under her blanket.
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When Lorelai reappeared at the diner, Luke never mentioned trying to find her at the town meeting, and she never said why she hadn't been in the diner for a week.
"You're back? Find better coffee some where else?"
"Never!" she scoffed, "Though I have searched high and low, and I'm happy to report, my good sir, your diner is where I shall hang my mug."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"Hello I can't hang my hat, no hat I own goes with this outfit, and it would mess up my hair! And I was paraphrasing…. Seriously how do you drink coffee out of a hat?"
Luke got her a mug to shut her up, muttering something to the extent of "crazy lady" under his breath, possibly inwardly admonishing his own crazy crush on said crazy lady. After a few sips and a few other customers settled, he found the courage to ask, "Soooo where …were you?"
"Well I was… a little under the weather," she hoped he wouldn't catch her in that blatant lie since she had past by the diner every day on her way to work though she purposefully avoided going in.
"… I was … just …wondering." Luke wished he had known. He would have made her soup or something. Not that she would have eaten it given her junk food palate … or that he would have known where to take it.
There was another pause in their conversation, some one's burger was under cooked, and Luke took care of it himself. When he returned to check on Lorelai she posed "Ummm I was hoping we could have that lesson."
"Lesson?"
"You know, the car lesson, topping off fluids … and my new battery…I bought one …at least I think it's the right one… I hope it's the right one…"
"Ummm Sure… just give me a minute," and Luke told Ben he'd be outside.
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Lorelai parked her jeep off to the side of Luke's diner, away from the Town Square and prying eyes. Granted Miss Patty's dance school was still in sight, but fortunately she had just started a class inside.
"Now here's your radiator … you only put water in there. And this tank holds the anti freeze…"
Lorelai decided then and there… she could listen to Luke's voice all day; just read me the phone book baby. In previous rants and conversations, and even now explaining the ins and outs of her engine, she loved its tone, his inflection, even his dry humor.
"Lorelai?"
"I'm sorry what?"
"Did you hear anything I said?"
"Yes," she defiantly scoffed.
"Okay, then show me how you check the oil."
Lorelai knew from countless movies and TV shows that you needed to pull out some sort of stick … thingy and wipe it off, and then put it back. Then she remembered where Luke had pointed to minutes before, and she pulled the proper stick out, and showed him.
"As I suspected, we need to top it off," and he prepared the new bottle of motor oil and a funnel. Luke liked spending time with her, despite her incessant questioning about the difference between motor oil and cooking oil and if he had ever confused the two since he dappled in both fields. Luke liked working on cars, and he liked talking with Lorelai, here was an opportunity to do both. He had to laugh at her story of going to the store to buy her new supplies and new battery. How Lorelai knew she was gonna be conned when the sales man's eyes lit up at seeing her enter the store alone. Luke now wished he had gone with her, been more of an intimidation factor so the sales clerk wouldn't look at Lorelai as a cash cow… or as anything else for that matter. Luke made sure she had the receipt so she could take back what she didn't really need.
Lorelai tried to put the oil stick back in place, "I can't find it…"
"Here let me," Luke took her hand and guided it.
Lorelai felt like a stupid schoolgirl, getting goose bumps from him simply taking her hand. She tried to remember if Luke had ever touched her before? Maybe accidentally, while cleaning the counter or refilling her mug. But now, alone, away from the crowd of the diner, it was almost like a date… if not for the grease and grime.
"There we go." He smiled at her, and she smiled back and he was still holding her hand, their eyes locked for a moment, only a moment but it seemed to speak volumes. Luke pulled his hand away not wanting to over step his bounds too soon. He closed the hood, and Lorelai thanked him again.
"I really do appreciate it…"
"Sure it's… what … friends are for."
Lorelai could have stared at his eyes all day too, but then remembered "Oh, I have something for you." And Lorelai went in to her jeep and pulled out his flannel shirt. "Here you go, I … accidentally," emphasis on that word, "took it home with me when … you helped with the flat…. I washed if for you…" suddenly wishing that last phrase never left her mouth.
"Thanks," Smiling at her thoughtfulness. "Well, I'll see ya?"
"Yes, you will."
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A/N: Again with the Jem songs!
A/N: Luke Jumped Lorelai, I know what you all are thinking-Dirty! (Don't we all … just need a jump…? I mean really)
A/N: he helps jump her car, when she's stranded on the side of the road as one of those friendly dependable acts of kindness that is Luke. The gentleman the night in shining armor… SNIFF, SNIFF
A/N: Debbie's season six wish list
-LL married
-willy wonka jokes on how Gene wilder is so much better, a Lorelai rant on how creepy Micheal Jackson like Depp was.
-Rory falls of planet rename show Gilmore girl and guy… or she's having my baby… LOL
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you Luke!
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity, ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) At least specific thing you liked
Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund …