A/n I meant to write this a long time ago but never got around to it. This is a sequel of The True Meaning of Christmas. It takes place in the future. Probably somewhere between season seven and the revival. In this story Luke and Lorelai have a child together, but that's not the focus of the story. Anyway on with the story. Please R/R.

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"Okay everything is ready in the kitchen. Is there anything you need help with?" Luke asked as he walked into the living room where Lorelai was reading to their two-year-old daughter Bethany.

"No, I think we're good. I'm glad Mom and Dad were okay with this weeks dinner here," Lorelai commented. "I just didn't want to take Bethany out in the cold after she just got over that cold and ear infection," Lorelai argued.

"I didn't either and thankfully they understood that," Luke agreed. Just then the doorbell rang and Lorelai went to let her parents in a happy Bethany following in her wake.

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"Gamma Gampa! You're here!" Bethany cried as she threw herself at her grandparents.

"Yes we are, how are you sweetheart?" Richard asked in a booming voice as he lifted his granddaughter in the air. The little girl squealed as he gave her a resounding kiss on the cheek.

"I'm good, Gampa."

"Hi Gamma, she greeted giving Emily a bright smile.

"Good evening Bethany," Emily replied placing a soft kiss on the little girls cheek. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Yep lots, I don't gotta take that yucky medicine no more," she answered in relief. The adults smiled at the little girls excitement.

"Well shall we eat. Dinner is ready," Luke announced. Everyone nodded and filed in to enjoy the delicious dinner Luke made.

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"I can't believe Christmas is in a week," Emily stated as she finished her last bite of dessert. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Santa!" Bethany cried in excitement as she smiled large smears of chocolate all across her face and hands.

"Looks like you need a bath, kiddo," Lorelai said chuckling. Standing up Lorelai helped the little girl down from her chair and headed towards the girls bathroom to give her a bath.

"Do you mind if I help out with the bath?" Richard requested. Lorelai smiled she was happy that her mom and dad were involved in Bethany's life more than they ever in Rory's. She had decided when she found out she was pregnant with Bethy that she would do a better job of having her parents involved. That definitely helped their relationship.

"Richard you're shirt, you'll ruin it," Emily protested mildly.

"I can take it off, but it's just a shirt, Emily. A little water won't hurt it," the older man argued as she followed his daughter and granddaughter down the hall.

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Rising from the table, Luke began gathering up dishes and heading for the sink.

"Do you need any help, Luke?" Emily questioned.

"No, I've got it, why don't you take your wine and head into the living room. I'll only be a few minutes. Rory left you a package she thought you might like since she doesn't know if she'll be home for Christmas. It's on the end-table by the couch," Luke told his mother-in-law. "There's one their for Richard as well." Nodding Emily headed into the living room in search of the package from Rory. She found it where Luke said it was and picked it up. Unfortunately she when she picked it up, she accidentally knocked over a picture frame that was sitting next to it. Picking it up she sat it back on the table barely looking at it while she opened her gift and smiled at the beautiful scarf that Rory had picked out for her. For some reason she found herself looking at the picture she'd knocked off. She couldn't help but think something about it was familiar to her. It was a picture of a young boy sitting on a bed wearing a sweater with a reindeer on it with a woman's arm around him. It was obvious that the woman was sick but she looked peaceful. She was wearing a warm Christmas sweater and pants and a nice pair of shoes. Just then Luke walked into the room.

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Taking another look at the shoes, Emily gasped. She remembered what was so familiar. It was the shoes she'd remembered being in line at a department store when Lorelai was little and a young boy coming in wanting to buy shoes for his terminally ill mother. Glancing from the picture of the little boy to the man standing in front of her. It was clear to Emily that the little boy had been Luke.

"Are you alright, Emily?" Luke asked in concern.

"It was you," Emily breathed. Luke looked confused until he noticed the picture she held in her hands.

"Yeah that was my mom and I on Christmas day the year I was seven. I'd bought her shoes that year because I knew she was going to die soon so I wanted her to have nice shoes when she went to heaven. She died two weeks later." Tears filled Emily's eyes as she spoke.

"What do you remember about that day?" Luke thought back on a day that was decades in the past. At first he didn't know what she was referring to but then he gasped and his eyes widened in surprise.

"I didn't have enough money for the shoes but I told this lady behind me why I wanted them and she paid the rest of the money." He felt his mouth drop open as he thought about that day. She was obviously younger but thinking about that woman it was clear that it had been Emily Gilmore. "It was you," he stated with a smile. Emily nodded as she smiled.

"Did your mom like the shoes?"

"She loved them and she was buried with them. That Christmas stuck with me for a long time. I made a decision that day that somehow I would repay the favor when I was older and could do myself," he explained.

"And did you?" Emily wondered.

"Yeah I did. It was a few years ago and there was a young mom with an infant and a toddler and they each wanted a toy but she barely had enough money for the meager amount of groceries she was buying so I bought the kids the toys so they would get at least one thing at Christmas."

"Well then, I guess we both understood the true meaning of Christmas giving unto others," Emily said softly. Luke nodded as both of them lapsed into silence listening to the sounds of the squealing little girl down the hall.

A/n, hope you enjoyed this. Sorry for any typos. I'm writing this in a hurry.