** Remember**
The timelines are a little off in this story (duh) and I took full advantage of that on this Chapter... this particular episode originally aired in January but I think that's awfully late for a first snow. Play along with me here since timelines don't always match up.
N'joy.
.o0 2004, Crap Shack 0o.
Sky woke up in the middle of the night and looked around his room, he got up and walked over to the window and moved the curtains aside, he touched the window with the back of his hand and smirked. He hurried downstairs without making too much noise and once in the kitchen he set about making 2 mugs of hot chocolate. As much as people always compared him to his dad, when it came to the kitchen he was all Lorelai. After the microwave beeped once he quickly pulled both mugs out and got 2 'swiss miss' packets and began stirring.
Sky kept glancing at the doorway making sure nobody was up yet. He got a bag of 'donettes' and place them on the tray between both mugs. Carefully he walked to the livingroom just in time to see Lorelai walk down the stairs in her robe.
"Hey you're up" he whispered knowing Luke was still sleeping. "Donut?" He smiled and offered the tray.
"Its snowing" Lorelai said with a big smile. "I went to wake you but you werent there"
"The smell woke me up" he smirked and placed the tray on the coffee table. "Let me grab my jacket before we go" Lorelai smiled as she watched him race upstairs.
"It's your first snow baby" she whispered and rubbed her small rounded belly. "You'll love it"
"Coming" Sky was putting on the jacket and walking downstairs. "Need me to go back and get yours? I don't want the mallomar to catch a cold" he pointed to her stomach she smirked.
"We'll be fine, I'll grab your dads army jacket on the way out" she grabbed a donut and her mug.
"That ones mine" he pointed to the mug in her hand.
"It says 'princess' on it"
"So?" His face serious.
"In glitter letters"
"And?"
"The handle is a tiara" she couldn't help the laugh.
"It holds more than dads' plain mug" he reasoned. "Plus... his has a faint peppermint after taste"
"Its from his tea" she said after she sipped from the princess mug. "Delicious..." she took another sip "... and no weird after taste" she smiled and ate her donut.
"Evil. I thought parents were supposed to sacrifice for their children" he picked up the 'World's Best Dad' mug and took a sip making a face at the after taste.
"We are. If you need a kidney let me know, otherwise, stay away from my mug" he laughed.
"Good to know" he shoved 2 donuts in his mouth and motioned to the door.
"Gross" she shook her head and followed him outside for their traditional snow walk.
.o0 1989 Greenwich CT, Middle of the Night 0o.
It had been extra hard the past couple weeks for Lorelai. With Rory being 5 she was in school for most of the day and that allowed Lorelai to save a little in daycare, she only had to pay for 1 kid. But Rory had been sick recently and the school had already called her twice to go pick her up due to a fever and now she wasn't allowed back until next week. Lorelai had been missing a lot of work recently, and with Rory sick that meant the baby got sick too. She wasn't afraid of losing her job, they were nice and understanding its just; she doesn't get paid for the time she's away.
"I bet your dad is sleeping peacefully right about now" Lorelai mumbled to the screaming one year old in her arms. She kept bouncing him but that wasn't working anymore and the crying was bound to wake Rory up soon 'There's only so many places I can take a crying baby in a studio apartment' she though.
Lorelai looked behind her to the sleeping little girl; she didn't want her waking up right now Rory needed her rest. Lorelai picked up a thin blanket and draped it over her back so it would cover both of them before stepping outside. The whoosh of fresh air instantly calming the screaming baby, he looked around them.
"Oh yeah, this is better huh?" She rearranged him in her arms so he could look around better. Lorelai stayed close to the door for Rory's sake. "It's not so cold anymore" she noted. "I bet it'll start snowing soon" she looked up into the orangey sky. "Oh yeah... any moment now" he also looked up.
"Bah!" He pointed up.
"Yeah, sweetie, that's snow" she smiled. "It's amazing and you'll love it" she looked into his face, he was still looking up trying to touch the snow that was softly falling. "My little baby Lucas" he turned to look at her and smiled, his four baby teeth shinning extra bright in contrast with his stuffy red nose and chubby pink cheeks.
.o0 2004 Outside 0o.
Sky and Lorelai had gone for a short walk down the driveway and back, just to enjoy the weather. He helped her sit down on one of the steps of the porch before sitting next to her.
"This is great" Sky broke the silence; he was looking up at the snow falling. Lorelai turned to look up at him in awe; he was far from the sick, crying baby she held so long ago.
"My little baby Lucas" Lorelai whispered and laid her head on his shoulder. He heard but didn't pay much attention, her emotions were all over the place since the pregnancy.
They sat there in silence until Sky's hot chocolate got cold.
"I don't mind the yearly tradition of freezing your asses off..." Luke voice broke their peaceful silence. "... but please close the door on your way out, the house is freezing" he grumbled before closing the door.
"Oops" Lorelai said.
"Ogre's up" he mumbled.
"Hey..." she snacked his arm "... be nice"
"Sorry" he laughed. "Here, let me help you up" Sky placed his cup on the step between his feet, got up, and helped his mom to her feet. "One more lap?"
"You are my kid" Lorelai smiled and they went on another small walk down the driveway.
On their way back Sky picked up his mug and tossed the cold drink out before picking up Lorelai's mug too. He held both mugs on one hand and offered his other arm to Lorelai
"Aw, my mini Luke" Lorelai grabbed his arm and smiled.
Once inside she helped him pick up the donuts while he rinsed out the mugs.
"Night, Mom" he kissed her cheek.
"Night, sweetie" she smiled.
"Same time next year?"
"You bet" she shivered a little. "But we need to remember to close the door"
"We?"
"Fine..." she rolled her eyes."... next time I won't forget to close the door" he smiled.
"Night, Dad" Sky said when he noticed Luke walking to the kitchen.
"Goodnight, kid" Sky hurried upstairs to the warmth of his bed and Luke walked to the kitchen where Lorelai was. "New fashion?" He pointed to the bottoms of her pink fluffy robe that were sticking from underneath his green jacket, she smiled.
"It was nearby and it fits" she shrugged. "Sorry about the door, it's freezing in here"
"Its fine..." he waved her off."...lets go back to bed, I'll warm you up" Luke hugged her.
"Really?" She looked up at him, and stretched to kiss him. "How do you plan on doing that?" She gave him her best sexy look.
"I have me ways" he also smiled and bent down to kiss her again. "Like..." he pulled back."... I threw your pillow and our blanket in the dryer for a few minutes"
"Oh my God, I love you!" Lorelai threw her hands around his neck and brought him down again. "You're the best" she whispered against his lips.
"I've been told" he whispered back.
"Dad, you're awesome!" Sky yelled from his room.
"I'm not an ogre now, huh?" Luke yelled back but Sky had already closed his door.
"You heard that?" Lorelai asked and Luke nodded. "Sorry"
"Hey, if not wanting to freeze my ass off on a yearly basis makes me an ogre then just call me Shrek" with that he bent down to kiss her again. "Come on, let's go back to bed" he pulled back from her, took her hand and began pulling her upstairs.
"Do you open tomorrow?" He shook his head. "Wanna play in the swamp for a little bit, Shrek?" Luke barked a laugh.
"That was so bad" he said between laughs and she smacked his arm for laughing. "Let me make sure Sky's space heater has the timer turned on and then I'll play with you" he promised once they reached the second floor.
"Oh, is that why you're awesome? You turned his heater on?"
"I don't want him getting sick, Lorelai. Now... go take those damp clothes off and I'll be there in a bit"
.o0 2004 Diner 0o.
"Where have you been?" Caesar asked the moment Luke walked in.
"Home"
"You will never believe this"
Caesar began telling him about the morning rush, and the gathering of the re-enactors and how with the new 'historical' developments they had to come up with a better name for the prostitute that saved Stars Hollow.
"You're making this up" Luke laughed.
"Wish I was... I don't understand why Reverend Skinner had to participate so eagerly" Luke laughed again.
"I'm glad I missed that"
.o0 1994 Stars Hollow 0o.
On one of the first's weekends that Lorelai and the kids went to Stars Hollow for a visit; Luke and Sky decided to go for a walk around town early in the morning instead of tip toeing around his apartment. Luke still hadn't found a good solution to his living arrangement, all he had done was change his twin bed for a queen.
"Can we go there?" Sky pointed to the gazebo.
"Uh... sure, why?" Luke asked while they walked across the street.
"I don't know... I've never been there and it looks pretty" Sky shrugged. Luke rolled his eyes at his description but didn't say anything 'it's not his fault, pretty is Lorelai's and Rory's favorite word'.
"I can show you other places you've never been before... might not be as 'pretty' though"
"Ok!" Sky ran up the steps. "It looks so cool up here!" He ran to the other side of the gazebo to get the full 360 view. Luke couldn't help but smile, Sky's love for new things was contagious. "Have you seen this? I'm so high up!" He popped his head through the side.
"Careful"
"I am" he walked back to the steps. "Can I jump off?"
"I don't think that's a good idea" Luke noticed the distance and it wasn't that high up but for a 5year old it was a huge leap.
"From here?" Sky asked again after walking down to the 4th step. Luke gauged the distance.
"Sure, why not"
"Yay!" Sky got ready to jump, and then lost his nerve. "Ok, ok" he got ready again, and lost his nerve. "Hold my hand...?" Sky offered his little hand towards Luke, he smiled and took it. "One, two, three..." and off he went. "That was awesome!" Sky let go of Luke's hand and ran up the stairs again. "Did you see me? I flew!" His eyes filled with joy, Luke couldn't help the adoring smile.
After three more jumps Luke finally convinced Sky to continue with their walk, he couldn't wait to show him the bridge and the lake.
Later that morning, once he was sure both girls would be up, they headed back to the diner.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Lorelai smacked Luke's chest once they walked in. "My baby!" She got on her knees and hugged Sky tight.
"What's wrong with you?" Luke rubbed his chest and looked down at her.
"We went for a walk! Have you seen the gazebo? It's awesome! And there's a lake too!" Sky was very excited, didn't even notice Lorelai was close to tears.
"That's great, honey, why don't you head upstairs and grab something to eat?"
"Ok!" And he took off for the curtain.
"Excuse me, what's with the hitting?"
"You can't just leave, Luke"
"What are you talking about?"
"I thought you took him"
"I did, I took him for a walk so you two could sleep in"
"No. I thought you took him, took him" she looked around the diner then down to her feet.
"Wha... oh" Luke also looked around them. "Let's go back upstairs, and we'll talk more" she nodded and walked ahead of him.
Later that night the kids were watching a movie, while Luke and Lorelai talked in the kitchen. She had explained how difficult it was for her to understand that he was ok with what she had done, and that he wasn't looking for some way of getting back at her. Luke tried hard to make her understand that, doing something to 'get back' at her would just result in them not being able to be a family, and that's all he's ever wanted. Of course she cried.
"I can still hurt you... even if you're my Dad" Sky warned from the couch when he heard the sniffles.
"I'm fine honey, stop trying to hit your Dad" Sky went back to watching the movie. "Don't say things like that"
"Why?" Luke whispered a little hurt.
"It breaks my heart; I caused a lot of hurt with my stubbornness"
"But we are fixing it" he smirked.
"Yeah" she smiled.
"Mom! It's snowing!" Sky ran to them. "I didn't even smell it coming" Luke groaned.
"Me neither" Lorelai got up and walked over to the window. "I think our noses are in Greenwich Time" she explained.
"It's the same time, Mom" Rory reasoned from the couch.
"Can we go? Please?" Sky begged with big eyes. "I'm sure Luke has donuts somewhere around here"
"I don't know Sky" Lorelai teased. "It might be cold out"
"When has that ever stopped us before?
"I'm not going, you guys are crazy" Rory reason.
"I'm with her" Luke said
"No one is inviting you guys" Sky stuck his tongue at them. "Mom, please?"
"Fine..." She sighed. "Get your shoes on"
"Yay!" Sky ran off in search of his shoes, hat and mittens.
.o0 2004 Stars Hollow 0o.
Lorelai walked in with a slight limp.
"Remember this morning I had a very loving relationship with snow?" She limped over to the counter.
"What happened to you?" Luke walked around the counter to asses her.
"The stupid plow blocked us in, we have no mats, no coffee, and we lost our guests" she groaned. "Plus Taylor just asked how I would feel playing the prostitute in the new reenactment, I have no idea what that's about..." She rolled her eyes. "… but I think the correct answer is 'no', oh! And my foot fell in a puddle of ice water"
"Wow... um..." Luke pulled up a stool and sat next to her. "… We can call the city and have the plow run back and clear you guys out. I can have Sky run out and get some temporary mats for you. And you're not supposed to be drinking coffee so... that's a none issue"
"Luke! Guests drink it too you know" she whined. "Of course... not the ones we already lost"
"Relax, I'm sure they'll be back any minute" he rubbed her shoulder. "Tell you what..." He got up and went around the counter. "… First I'll get you some tea to warm you up, and then I'll drive you home to get dried up and change your shoes..." He pulled a bag of coffee grounds and placed it on top of the counter. "… we'll take this to the inn and check with Michel about your lost guests" she smiled.
"You're the best" she pouted.
"I'm still sending Sky to go buy some mats for you; we don't need a lawsuit on our hands"
"Thanks"
"Now all that's left to do is for you to call the city about the plow and I'll be right back I'm gonna go kill Taylor real quick" he pointed to the door, and she started laughing.
"I told him no anyways"
"You better" Luke grumbled. "Still... can I go pound on him a little?" She laughed.
"No wonder your son tries to fix everything with punching"
"Ha-ha"
At home, later that afternoon, after Sky had finished with school, practice, and the errands Luke had sent him on he finally had time to check his phone and noticed all the missed calls from Rory.
"Did you fall down a well? Answer my calls!" Rory's voice came over his phone, his speaker squeaking a little at her loudness. He smirked and called her back.
"About time!"
"Hello to you too!" He laughed.
"What if I was dying and you were my one phone call"
"Well I really hope that if that's ever the case you'll chose 911 instead of me"
"Sky!"
"Seems like a better option if you ask me..." He laid down on his bed.
"Really?"
"… or Dad, you know he always answer the diner's phone"
"Stop talking"
"What's wrong with you?" He started laughing.
"I need your help and you're just rambling on-"
"I get that from Mom"
"Sky!"
"Alright, geez"
"Chris showed up at Yale this morning" silence. "Did you hear me?"
"Yes"
"Well say something"
"You just..." He sighed. "… what do you want me to say? I'm not his biggest fan and you know that. The guys a dick"
"Sky…! I know" she lowered her voice. "Should I tell?"
"You're not 5" he laughed. "You don't have to tell anybody anything"
"Feels wrong to keep it a secret though"
"What did he want?"
"To go get breakfast, he even invited Paris after I told him I wasn't interested"
"Wow, that's desperate" silence. "Did you go?"
"No! Of course I didn't go. Didn't you hear the part where 'he invited Paris after I said no'. Why would you ask me that?"
"I thought maybe once Paris said yes you decided to go too"
"Well you though wrong. I can't stand him, you know that" she took a deep breath. "He said his Dad is sick and that it got him thinking about me"
"Naturally" he mumbled.
"He said he wants to get to know me. That he wants me to want to visit him"
"Little late though"
"I guess facing his dads mortality opened his eyes"
"Grandpa" he corrected.
"What?"
"You said 'his dad' but that's your grandpa, I just wanted to point it out"
"Thanks, Sky" she sighed. "I think I just need to talk to someone about it"
"You just did"
"Someone that can actually help"
"Ouch..." He took a deep breath and sat up on his bed. "… look, if you tell Mom she's just gonna stress about it, about him showing up again, about him showing up here, about how Dad will react to it. And if you tell Dad he's just gonna get mad and be in a bad mood for no reason. He already showed up, told you what he wanted and you said 'no thanks'…"
"I didn't say 'thanks', I was pretty rude actually"
"Good. Even better" he smirked. "My point is, he's probably not gonna show up again. He already tried to get to know you and you said no, he'll move on"
"Are you sure?"
"When has he been persistent in getting to know you?"
"Ouch"
"Sorry, but it's true. He won't show up again, relax"
"Thanks, Sky"
"It'll be $75.99, my prices have gone up"
"Put it on my tab" she rolled her eyes. "You can go back to being your goofy self; I'm done with adult-Sky"
"Thanks" he laughed. "Did you hear? Taylor asked Mom to play the town prostitute..."
"What?"
.o0 Stars Hollow Summer 1995 0o.
After school had let out for the summer Lorelai began moving them to Stars Hollow. She had Luke looking for a place for them, at first she was nervous with all of them living together but it seemed like such a waste to get two separate apartments. Plus the one above the dinner would still be there, in case they ever needed it.
After they had found a place for them, Luke had helped them pack up most of the stuff, rent a u-haul and move them in. Lorelai still kept enough stuff in Greenwich to be able to work out her last 2 weeks in her job. Mia was more than happy to wait those 2 weeks for her. She said she had already waited so many years what's 2 more weeks.
Once the two weeks were up Luke was gonna drive there in his truck and bring over whatever was left behind.
They worked hard in making the Stars Hollow apartment 'their' apartment. They didn't buy new things, and the decorating was mostly left to Rory and Lorelai, but you could tell they all lived there. It would do, until they'd be able to buy a house of their own.
It was the middle of July and they were finally set in a routine. The apartment no longer had lingering boxes. Things were just how they were always meant to be. A family working their way through summer break.
"Hey Luke?" Rory asked, Lorelai had just dropped them off at the diner before going off to work. "Can we go to the Gazebo later?"
"Yeah!" Sky loved the gazebo. "The diner gets boring"
"I don't know if I'll have time, guys"
"We can go by ourselves" Rory suggested.
"I don't know about that"
"It's just across the street. There's hardly any traffic here, plus I know how to look both ways. I'm 11 you know, almost to my teens" Luke shuddered at the idea of teenaged kids already.
"I'll think about it" he had to call Lorelai about this first; he was new to this parenting thing and didn't want to fight with her because he chose wrong.
"It'll be great!" Sky said with big shiny eyes.
Lorelai had told him it'd be ok, Rory was responsible enough to go on her own and she would call Patty to make sure she too could keep an eye on Sky in case he wandered. Luke was still a little nervous when Rory grabbed Sky's hand before crossing the street to the gazebo; she had taken a book and Sky had a monster truck that he planned to make fly off of the gazebo steps.
"I'm hot and thirsty" Sky walked up to Rory.
"Where's your water bottle?" she asked while still reading.
"On the counter" he pointed in the direction of he diner.
"Sky…" she took a deep breath."… why didn't you bring it with you?"
"I didn't want it to get warm" she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Go get your truck and I'll walk you back"
Inside the diner Luke had received a very interesting and a little disturbing call.
"… but he's gone now" Lorelai finished.
"Gone where?"
"I'm not sure, he didn't say. Can you…"
"I'll go get them right now" he assured. "So… an investigator?'
"I don't know, that's what he said but Chris lies a lot so I don't know"
"It is so hot outside" Sky hopped on a stool.
"They're back?" Lorelai heard him.
"I'm not surprised, Sky forgot his water bottle. I'll send them upstairs"
"Thanks, Hon. I'll go there as soon as I can get away"
"It's ok, I got them"
"I'm so glad you guys are back now" Luke said as soon as he hung up.
"Why?" Rory was a little skeptical.
"That was your Mom, she said to get you guys some milkshakes and have you go upstairs and watch some cartoons" He began making Sky's favorite.
"Why?"
"Because it's hot outside, and you guys like milkshakes"
"Yeah we do! This is a great day!" Sky kneeled up on the stool. "Can we put whip cream and sprinkles on them?"
"Sure!" Luke was matching Sky's enthusiasm but Rory wasn't buying it.
"Is she trying to bribe us to stay in the diner?"
"Nope, she's the one that let you go in the first place remember?"
"Mmhm" Rory still looked at him with squinted eyes.
"Cherries!" Sky remembered.
"Inside voice" Luke corrected while getting the jar of cherries.
"Sorry, two of them please" his little mouth watered just watching Luke fix his milkshake.
"Something happened, didn't it?" Rory randomly asked, Luke dropped the container of sprinkles and made a beautiful mess.
"What makes you ask that?" Luke bent down to start cleaning up.
"Can I go watch cartoons now?" Sky asked once he had his shake in hand.
"Yeah, go ahead"
"Awesome!" Sky ran to the curtain.
"It's bad isn't it?" Rory asked finally taking a seat on a stool. "She's moving us back isn't she? I don't want to go back; I don't want to leave again" she looked down so he wouldn't see her face.
"What?" Luke stood up straight again, he walked around the counter and got eye level with Rory. "You aren't going anywhere" she turned to look him in the eye and he noticed hers were shiny with unshed tears. "I won't let you guys move away again. And even if you do, I'm following you. You're stuck with me now, you understand?" she nodded with a sad smile.
"Then why are you ok with so much sugar this early in the day?" his head dropped before taking a deep breath.
"You are too smart for your own good" he took a seat next to her a spoke quietly so no one else in the diner would hear. "Your mom called to give us a heads up"
"On?"
"Christopher showed up at the Inn"
"Christoph…? Oh" realization.
"She wanted me to bring you guys in and keep you here until she had a chance to talk to you"
"About?"
"She didn't say. But my guess would be about him"
"I don't want to talk about him" Rory said very serious. Luke was at a lost with this subject, he knew when Rory was a baby Christopher was never around, he never called or sent anything but he wasn't sure if that changed once she had grown up a little.
"Rory…"
"I'll take my shake now, but instead of sprinkles I want hot fudge. You know… since you dropped them all on the floor" he looked at her a little longer to see if she would say anything else.
"You got it" he stood up, squeezed her shoulder and went to fix her sugary snack.
Later that afternoon all four of them were walking over to the BWR for a special showing of E.T. First they made a stop at Doose's to pick up snacks, they had split up and met by the register to pay, Luke had told them they each got to pick one thing and at the theater they would share; stating they've already had plenty of sugar that day. Once they had paid Sky insisted on carrying the snack he picked, Lorelai had the bag with the rest of the stuff while they walked down the street to the BWR.
"What are you doing?" Lorelai lifted the bag and hug it to her chest when she felt Rory trying to get something from it.
"I wanted to hold the redvines"
"Why?" she hugged the bag tighter.
"Why not?" Rory giggled. "Sky has his goobers" she pointed.
"I don't like goobers" Lorelai stated.
"So?" Rory was laughing.
"We are sharing the redvines"
"I know that, but I still want to hold them"
"Why?"
"Mom, come one. Let me hold them" Rory kept yanking at the grocery bag.
"No, I'm keeping them safe" Lorelai held them tighter.
"Mommy, you want a goober?" Sky pointed his opened box at her.
"Sky you weren't supposed to open them yet" Lorelai told him, once distracted Rory yanked the bag out of her grip and ran. "Hey!" Rory couldn't stop laughing and ran to Luke's side "Give it back" Lorelai 'chased' Rory.
"How old are you?" Luke asked with a smirk.
"Old enough" she responded with a serious face. "Give it" she said to Rory reaching around Luke, he just laughed and shook his head. "Leave the girl alone" Rory poked her tongue at Lorelai.
"Have a goober, Mommy" Sky offered again.
"Thanks, Luke" Rory hugged his arm.
"What a nauseatingly sweet scene" Came from behind them. Luke had never met the guy but he knew, without turning around he just knew. They lightness of their evening had shifted, except Sky didn't notice.
"Hi, Chris" Lorelai said politely for the kids' sake. Rory just hugged Luke's arm a little tighter.
"Want a goober?" Sky asked and pointed the box at him; he wanted to share but apparently nobody like goobers.
"No… thanks" Chris looked at the little boy. "Rory? Hi, sweetie" he looked right at her but she didn't let go of Luke.
"We're short on time right now" Lorelai started when she noticed Rory wasn't going to acknowledge Chris how he wanted her to.
"Yeah! We're gonna go watch E.T. have you seen it?" Sky said oblivious to what was going on around him. "You should come" he invited Chris.
"Oh Sky…" Lorelai jumped in. "…I don't think he can" she stressed to see if Chris would take the hint.
"Actually kid…" Christopher turned to Sky. "… that's one of my favorite movies" Sky smiled. "I'd love to come. May I have a goober now?"
"Of course!" Sky showed him the box again. Rory looked up at Luke, Lorelai mentally screaming at Chris to leave.
"Show me the way" Chris pointed to the sidewalk ahead of them.
"What are you doing?" Lorelai hissed at him when she was close enough.
"Going to the movies" Chris smiled, he was in step with Sky; Rory still with Luke.
Once they got to the BWR
"It's a bookstore, Rory loves it here; she's weird. Me I like to come for the movies not the books" Sky hadn't stopped talking to Chris.
"So she's here a lot?" Sky nodded.
"Stop it, Christopher" Lorelai said sternly.
"We're just talking" he defended. "You want some popcorn, kid?"
"Yeah!" Sky said happily.
"What is he doing? Why is he doing this?" Lorelai whispered to Luke.
"I don't know"
"Mom, can I sit here?" Rory asked shyly pointing between the both of them.
Lorelai looked at Luke who motioned with his head for her to scoot and make room for Rory.
"Of course sweetie, but you still have to share those redvines" Lorelai tried to lighten the mood but Rory just fake smiled.
Once the movie was set to start Lorelai had Sky sit on the other side of her on the couch. Sky had agreed when Luke gave him a stern look, he had wanted to sit by their new friend because he had the popcorn.
"When I find my own E.T. I'm going to hide him so good you guys will never find him" Sky said when the movie was over.
"You suck at hiding things" Rory told him. "And you can't keep secrets either. We would find him so fast"
"Nu'hu"
"Ya-ha"
"Mom…" Sky whined.
"Great movie, can we talk now?" Chris showed up in front of them. Rory had forgotten he was there.
"If you found an alien would you turn him in?" Sky asked him.
"Not now, kid. The grownups are talking"
"Hey, that's rude" Sky told him. "You need to be nice"
"No I don't" Chris turned to the rest of them. "Rory, aren't you gonna say anything to me?" she sank deeper into the couch.
"Leave my sister alone" Sky stood up, Chris turned to look at the little tyke.
"Sit down" Luke told Sky. "You need to leave" he addressed Chris.
"Rory?" Chris ignored Luke. "At least say hi"
"Hi" she said in a small shy voice.
"How about a hug?" he opened his arms, Rory looked up at him.
"Rory doesn't like strangers" Sky stood up again.
"I'm not a stranger, kid. I'm her dad"
"What?" Sky turned to look at Lorelai. He never thought about that, Rory always called Luke by his name, he just thought she was shy; he never thought about another Dad. That made no sense. "You're lying!"
"I didn't come here to talk to you, squirt. I came here for my daughter, now stop interrupting"
"Enough" Luke stood up, Sky ran to Lorelai's arms. The few stray townspeople left in the bookstore were eager to find out how this was going to play out. "You need to leave right now"
"Look, buddy-"
"Stop, it's been 11 years. You need to leave" Luke held his ground.
"Chris… I'll call you tomorrow" Lorelai spoke, Luke turned to look at her in surprise. Christopher noticed and smirked.
"Fine, I'll be waiting" he looked around Luke. "Bye sweetie" he waved at Rory before leaving the BWR.
Luke walked out of the bookstore after Christopher not waiting for Lorelai or the Kids. 'What does she mean she'll call him tomorrow?' he went straight to the diner instead of home. Lorelai was left to deal with the kids.
"Let's go home" Lorelai spoke up.
"Where's Luke?" Rory asked gathering their trash.
"He had to go back to the diner" she lied.
"But he had someone else close tonight"
"He still likes to check and make sure it hasn't burnt down" Lorelai smiled.
"He's mad" Rory whispered and looked down.
"No he's not"
"Yes, he is" Sky whispered. "His face was all red"
"It's all my fault" Rory sat back down again.
"Oh come on!" Kirk whined from the back, he had been waiting to close, and was excited to see them packing up to leave.
"Shut up, Kirk! Rory, no. This is not your fault. Luke is mad at me not at you"
"No, he is mad at that guy. He is very mean" Sky told them.
"That too…" Lorelai agreed. "… He is mad at me and at Chris. He is not mad at you honey" she moved her hair out of her face. "Luke can never get mad at you sweetie, you're too cute" she teased.
"I wanna go home" Sky complained.
"Yes! Leave please" Kirk called again.
"Say one more thing and I'll drop popcorn all over the floor, Kirk" Lorelai threatened.
They picked up their trash and left the bookstore.
"Can we stop at the diner?" Rory asked when they were walking home.
"I don't think that's a good idea, honey"
"But you said he's not mad at me" Rory reasoned.
"He's not, he's mad at me and I think he needs this time to himself"
"Ok" Rory walked quietly the rest of the way. Sky was too lost in his own thoughts to say anything.
At their apartment Lorelai told them it was time for bed, to wash their teeth and go to sleep. She went into hers and Luke's room, she closed the door and dropped on their bed trying to figure out how she was going to make all of this right again.
Sky knocked on Rory's door; he knew she wasn't asleep, after years of sharing a room he knew she always caught up on her reading before finally falling asleep. He didn't wait for an ok and slowly pushed the door open.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Rory asked without losing her spot on the book.
"I can't" he walked up to her bed and hopped on. "I don't understand" she put her book down and looked at him. "Why isn't Dad your Dad?"
"Oh… um… you need to talk to mom" she picked up her book again.
"She's just gonna say I'm too young and send me to bed"
"So?"
"I wanna know why Dad isn't your Dad" he insisted. "Did you know? Is that why you call him Luke?"
"Sky…" she put her book down again."Yes, I knew" he nodded. "And I don't know how to explain it to you, he just isn't"
"That doesn't help" he grumbled. "Don't you want him to be? Because I'm sure he won't mind"
"It doesn't work like that" Rory laughed. "But yes, I do wish he was" Sky nodded.
"Your Dad is mean"
"I know"
"And rude"
"I know"
"And a poopy head" he laughed, Rory laughed too.
Luke walked home later that night; he had officially run out of things to do at the diner and went home. He noticed everything was dark when he walked in. He got a bottle of water and walked down the small hallway; he noticed Sky's room was empty and Rory's light turned off when he looked at the bottom of the door. She was obviously reading and heard him. His and Lorelai's door was closed and no light came from underneath it. He pushed it open and saw her lying on top of the cover 'Sky must be with Rory then'
"Took you long enough" Lorelai's voice cracked from lack of use in the past hours.
"Yeah" he mumbled before walking to the bathroom in their room.
"Luke…"
"Not right now" and he closed the door. She remained laying down, she heard the shower turn on then off, heard him brush his teeth, then when she expected the door to open she heard him begin to throw up. She bolted up from the bed and went to the door.
"Hon..?" she knocked softly before opening the door. He was still hunched over; she went by him and rubbed his back. "Want me to hold your hair back" she teased.
"I'll get it cut soon" he mumbled before getting up and going back to the sink to brush his teeth again. Lorelai flushed, placed the lid back down and sat atop it.
"What was that about?" he met her eyes on the mirror and hung his head. "Well… Chris is here to 'establish a relationship' with his daughter. He hired an investigator to track us down because he wants a relationship with her" Luke spat out harder than necessary.
"With her or with you?" he mumbled before rinsing his mouth.
"Her" Lorelai got up and walked the small distance to him, she hugged him from behind. "I don't want to be the reason she doesn't know her father" she mumbled to his back.
"You're not, he is" he turned in her arms and hugged her back.
"Tomorrow I am calling him to give him our number and address, he wants to talk to her and write to her"
"…."
"Tonight wasn't supposed to happen" she tighten her grip on him. "He just wants a way to get in contact with her"
"And you believe him?"
"I don't know" she looked up at him. "Are you sick?"
"No…" he let go of her and walked out of the bathroom."… I just got into my own head"
"Ok…?"
"My mind keeps making up these … scenarios, and in all of them you guys … leave… again…"
"Aww, Hon"
"Don't-"
"We aren't going anywhere, Chris being here is a nuisance. He probably saw a sad movie and decided he wanted to be a Dad for a little bit; he'll get over it" she went to him and hugged him again.
"Rory doesn't like him"
"I know… and he knows too"
"If he hurts her…."
"I know" she kissed him.
"Sky's in Rory's room… again"
"Yeah, you'll need to have a talk with him…" she let go of Luke."… He is really confused you're not Rory's dad" Luke groaned.
"What am I supposed to say?" he helped turn the bed down.
"Beats me… that's a boy conversation"
.o0 2004 Stars Hallow 0o.
"Warmth!" Lorelai walked into the house, shedding her hat, scarf, and mittens.
"Hi, Mom!" Sky called from the couch. She took off her wet shoes before joining him.
"What are we watching?" she asked sitting down.
"Dexter's Laboratory. By the way… hope the baby is a boy"
"Why?"
"Sisters are annoying" he deadpanned. "It would suck if the mallomar would destroy my laboratory" Lorelai started laughing.
"You already have a sister genius"
"I know, hence the need for a brother"
"And DeeDee is older than Dexter"
"True…" he considered the new information."…fine, the mallomar can be a girl"
"Thank you" Lorelai laughed again.
"Isn't it a little sad though" Sky asked after a little silence.
"What is?" Lorelai turned to him expecting another stupid conversation.
"Well… Rory and I grew up together, sometimes with Jess here, and now the mallomar is growing up an only child…" he looked at her then turned back to the screen. "… Man he is a brilliant kid, can't he invent something to keep her away? Like… a lock?" he laughed. Lorelai remained silent. "Dad called earlier, said he will be home for dinner" they kept watching TV.
Later that afternoon Sky was on his way out when Luke was coming home.
"Where are you going?" Luke checked his watch.
"I'm catching a late movie at the BWR" Sky hopped down the steps. "Moms on the phone with Rory"
"Behave please. And don't get home too late"
"Just late enough" Sky smirked and then took down the driveway, Luke shook his head and walked inside.
"... but now Lulu will be the town whore" Lorelai finished her story. "I know, I know but it was nice to be asked, specially now that I'm expanding" she placed a hand on her rounded belly.
"I'll leave something on the dresser for you" Luke whispered on the opposite ear before taking a seat next to her.
"Luke!" Lorelai giggled. "... Rory says 'hi'... okay sweetie... love you too... I will" with that she hung up. "Rory said 'hi', that she loves you, and to have patience" Luke chuckled.
"That is one great kid" was all he said.
"You're home early" she snuggled up to him.
"Yeah well..." he hugged her."... I've been working really long days lately"
"Aw you missed me" she kissed his cheek. "I missed you too"
"Thanks... plus... pretty soon our time together will be very limited"
"Aw, Hon, you came home early to bum around with me" she kissed him again.
"Amongst other things"
"Like?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Well…" he stood up."… since you were so bummed when Taylor picked Lulu-" Lorelai smiled and looked up at him "-to play the town prostitute-" he helped her up "-I figured I could cheer you up" he pulled her in for a hug.
"By letting me play the prostitute at home?" she finished and he blushed a little.
"Well not exactly… but Sky just left to the movies so…" Lorelai grabbed his hand and led him upstairs.
Later that night when Sky got home his parents were up in their room and he didn't want to disturb whatever was going on in there. He went to his room to catch up a little on sports center before falling asleep. A little after Sky's curfew hit Luke walked out of the room to make sure Sky was home, he already had his grey sweats and a white t-shirt.
"How was the movie?" Luke asked from the door.
"It was ok, nothing I haven't seen hundreds of time before" Luke raised an eyebrow. "Willy Wonka... figured you guys could use some alone time" Sky shrugged.
"Thanks..." Luke moved further into the room. "Listen… I know it wasn't your intention, but you really freaked out your Mom today"
"What? How?" Sky sat up.
"That only child thing you told her"
"The what?" Sky was confused. "What only child thing?"
"She said you told her the baby is going to grow up an only child"
"What? No, that's not what I meant. I..."
"Relax, she's fine now. You know how her hormones get her"
"Sorry" Sky relaxed on his bed again. "It was just a comment" Luke nodded "Did you see who the sox traded..."
.o0 1995 Stars Hollow 0o.
"Dad?" Sky wandered into the livingroom a few hours after bedtime.
"What's wrong buddy?" Luke sat up on the couch. He was catching up on sports, Lorelai had already fallen asleep.
"I don't feel good, my tummy hurts, where's Mom?"
"Your Mom is already sleeping, why don't you come join me over here" Sky hesitated, usually he'd just go wake up his Mom but now that Luke was here he didn't need to wake her.
"Ok..." Sky walked over to the couch and sat next to Luke "... what are you watching?"
"Its called Sport Center and they talk about what happened on sports today"
"Like the news?"
"Yes but only for sports"
"Thats cool" Sky smiled a little. When he snuggled up to Luke, he noticied he was a little warm. "One day, when I grow up, they'll talk about me" Luke smiled.
"Thant'll be awesome, kid but for now I think you might have a small fever. Let me go get you some medicine"
Luke got up, got Sky some medicine and some juice. They stayed in the livingroom until Sky fell back asleep and Lorelai walked in.
"Why are you guys watching TV?" She walked up to Luke.
"I was watching Sport Center and he woke up, he had a little fever and I gave him some meds"
"He's not warm anymore" Lorelai felt Sky's forehead.
"I guess the meds worked" Luke smirked. "I'll take him to his room" he started to get up.
"Thank you" Lorelai pulled him in for a kiss.
"I didn't do anything" Luke grumbled befor hoisting Sky up on his arms and walking away.
.o0 2004 Stars Hollow 0o.
"When will you boys go to sleep without Sports Center?" Lorelai said from Skys door.
"Never!" Sky answered dramatically. "Its the one constant in my life, no matter what it'll always be there to tuck me in" he snuggled deeper into his pillow.
"Is it because its so boring it puts you to sleep?" Lorelai offered.
"Wow. No" Sky frowned at her.
"Goodnight, kid" Luke got up from Skys bed "Don't leave your TV on all night please"
"I wont. Goodnight guys" he got more comfortable on his bed.
The next day, Lorelai was at the Inn getting caught up on paperwork and tracking down the infamous floor mats when her phone chirped beside her. Without a second thought she flipped it open and clicked the read button before looking who had sent it.
"Oh, no" she whispered and clicked it shut.
At Yale, Rory was walking between buildings when her phone pinged.
"Oh man…" she stopped walking, pressed a few buttons then held the phone to her ear.
"What's the point of even having a phone… call me back" She had left a voice mail, shut her phone and hurried to her next class.
Around noon Rory had gotten another text.
'I have classes too. What's up?'
Rory rolled her eyes,
'Call me when you are out of school, but before you go to the diner'
.o0 1996 Summer, Stars Hollow 0o.
Both Rory and Sky were on summer break with them being older, Sky 8 and Rory 12; it was harder to keep them both entertained for long periods of time in the same spot. Luke and Lorelai would each take one kid and alternate days.
On this particular day Sky was at the Diner and Rory at the Inn. Luke had worked out his staff where he could take off after lunch rush and take both kids home, then once Lorelai got home he would go back and close for the night.
"Ever heard of child labor laws?"
"What's that?" Sky asked he had been wiping down a table.
"It means it's illegal for you to be working, kid" Christopher said. "Where's your Mom & Dad?" before Sky could answer, Luke walked out from the kitchen.
"Take a break, Sky…"
"But-"
"Go upstairs" Sky saw the look on Luke's face, tossed his rag and went behind the curtain. He never made it all the way up because he was curious why his Dad was mad; plus that man looked familiar he just couldn't place him.
"You didn't have to banish him" Chris smirked and took a seat on a stool.
"What do you want?" Luke crossed his arms.
"Some coffee would be nice" he picked up a menu.
"That's not what I meant" Luke made no move to get him his coffee.
"I'm here to see my daughter-" Christopher put down his menu. "-but Lorelai seemed a little upset when I stopped by the Inn earlier" Luke's jaw clenched. 'That's Rory's Dad' Sky's eyes got big in surprise.
"Then why are you here?"
"I figured, maybe, you could talk to her. Make her see that Rory needs her Dad in her life…"
"Rory has a Dad!" Sky jumped through the curtain.
"Upstairs" Luke turned to look at him. "Now"
"But-"
"All the way" Luke pointed to the curtain for emphasis; Sky narrowed his eyes at Chris and turned to leave.
"Rory doesn't even like you!" Sky yelled before running up the stairs. Luke made sure he heard the door to his office close before he continued.
"You need to leave" was all Luke said, Chris smirked.
"Is that all you know how to say?"
"That's all I trust myself to say around you"
"Look, you got your second chance a few years ago, I'm just asking for mine"
"What? How did…?"
"I know more about your life than you think" Chris smiled. "I just want my second chance"
"Second?" Luke raised his eyebrows. "You already had your second chance…" he placed his palms flat on the counter and leaned forwards. "…two years ago. Rory spent all her summer checking the mailbox for a letter that never came" he lowered his voice. "You broke her heart; you're not doing that again"
"I got busy" Chris defended.
"You need to leave" Luke repeated. "Now" he growled.
"Relax, burger boy" Chris stood up. "I'll see you tomorrow" he smirked and left.
Right after Christopher had left, Luke went upstairs.
"Hey kid" Luke pushed the door open and saw Sky lying on the couch, feet dangling off the arm rest.
"I want to go home" Sky turned to look at him and Luke saw his eyes were big and he had a small hint of a pout on his lips.
"Get your things" Luke nodded.
Once they got to their apartment Luke let Sky watch TV while he rearranged the cabinets in the kitchen. He had to find something to keep his hand busy and his mind occupied.
"What happened, did you forget to pick up Rory?" Lorelai asked a few hours later when she walked into the apartment.
"I don't know…" Luke turned to look at her "… did you forget to tell me Christopher was in town?" he let go of the drawer he was cleaning and it closed loudly; Sky jumped back startled.
"What?" Rory turned to look at Lorelai.
"Luke…" Lorelai gave him a glare and turned to look at Rory. "He showed up at the Inn. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you" her eyes looked at Luke.
"Why is he here?" Rory looked between both of them.
"He thinks you need another Dad" Sky said from the living room.
"What?" Rory turned to her brother.
"He said you need a Dad in your life. But you already have a Dad, so I think he means another one" Sky shrugged.
"Go ready a book in your room, Honey" Lorelai smiled down at him.
"Dad said I could watch TV" he argued.
"Come read a book with me" Rory took his hand; she sensed the tension between Lorelai and Luke.
"But…"
"I'll read to you" she offered, he smiled and went to go get his book.
Once the door to the room closed Lorelai exhaled. Luke turned around and opened the drawer again to finish what he was doing. Lorelai took a seat by the table and watched him for a few minutes.
"What are you doing?" she frowned.
"Rearranging the kitchen and cleaning out the drawers" he grumbled.
"Why?"
"To keep me busy..." he shrugged "…So I don't hunt him down, so I don't start yelling, so I don't lose my temper"
"Why are you so upset? It's not like I asked him to come visit"
"No but you didn't tell me he was here. You didn't tell me he knew about us, about you leaving, about my 'second chance'…" he mocked in a funny voice. He closed the drawer again, placed his palms on the counter and took a deep breath.
"I was gonna call you-"
"Why does he know?" Luke interrupted and turned to look at her again. "About us breaking up and you moving away…" he clarified after he saw the look on her face. "Why does he know? When did you tell him?"
"Luke" she got up from her chair shaking her head.
"Why, Lorelai?" she sighed.
"Rory was about 6…" she started. "… He had tracked us down and popped in for a visit, just like today. He didn't know about Sky, he asked what had happened and I told him everything…"
"Including how you left pregnant without telling me?" he interrupted.
"Boundaries" Lorelai said firmly. It was something new they had started doing, it meant they had said something or hinted at something that was pushing boundaries between them.
"Sorry…" he took a deep breath "… Go on"
"He stayed for lunch, Sky threw up at the table and he left. I didn't hear from him until two years ago, when he popped in again" Luke remained quiet. "You cannot be jealous of him" she chuckled.
"He said he is here for his second chance" he began quietly "Just like I got my second chance a few years ago" Lorelai walked up to him and began rubbing his back softly.
"Number one, he doesn't deserve another chance. Number two, even if he did, it wouldn't be his second. And number three, that's Rory's decision, not ours"
"He's not here for Rory" Luke whispered and looked deep into her eyes. "He might say he is, but he's lying"
"Aw, Hon" she wrapped her arms around him.
"No. Don't 'Aw, Hon' me" he started but still hugged her back. "I'm not worried about that, about you and me, I'm worried about Rory. She shouldn't have to go through this again, she deserves so much better"
"She has better, Hon. She has you" she pulled back and looked up at him.
"That was way too corny" he let go of her. "Get away from me" she laughed.
"Finish fixing my kitchen, I'll go talk to the kids"
"Your kitchen?"
.o0 2004 Stars Hollow 0o.
"You are so needy!" Sky yelled into his cell when Rory picked up.
"Straub died" came Rory's greeting.
"Aw man, I can't believe it, that's horrible" Sky said absentmindedly while walking down to street from the school to the diner.
"You don't know who I'm talking about do you?" Rory paused on doing her homework.
"Not a clue"
"Christopher's Father"
"Oh, ok… and?"
"What do you mean 'and?'!" she shrieked.
"I don't know what reaction you're expecting" he chuckled. "I hardly know your father, what am I supposed to say when his father dies? I'm sorry I sound indifferent but… I'm sadder when I run out of goobers"
"Sky…" she groaned.
"How did you even find out? Did he stop by again?"
"No… Grandma texted me earlier"
"Christopher's Mom has your cellphone number?"
"What? No!"
"But…?"
"Our Grandma, genius!" she sighed. "It's too much work talking to you"
"Sorry, this is confusing" he took a seat on a bench near the diner sensing this conversation wasn't near the end yet.
"Emily texted me earlier and now I don't know what to do"
"About what?"
"Am I supposed to call him? Should I stop by? Can I just ignore all of this?"
"Personally I'd go with option number three, but I know you…" he took a deep breath. "… Swing by around 8 to pick me up"
"Pick you up?"
"You're not going by yourself. And don't say you weren't planning on going because we both know that's a lie" he stood up.
"Can it be 7?" she smiled, he knew her too well.
"Sure"
"One more thing…?"
"Yeah?" he was looking across the street to the diner, it wasn't very busy yet.
"I think I need to tell Mom" He sat back down.
"No you don't
"Sky…"
"Rory, you are not telling Mom about this"
"She knew the guy" she argued.
"This is the man that told her to terminate you" all playfulness had left his voice. Rory had told him everything years ago when Emily insisted on Rory meeting Christopher's parents. "You are not telling her"
"Ok…You're right"
"Now…" he stood up again "… I better get to the diner before I get closing duties and can't go out tonight" after he finished his sentence he chuckled.
"You're laughing because you said 'duties' aren't you?" he laughed more. "Goodbye, butthead" she laughed too.
Later that day both Lorelai and Luke were in their room talking before Rory got there to pick up Sky for few hours. Luke was sitting on the edge of the bed while Lorelai walked around the room; she had only her boy-short underwear, her bra, and the bathrobe undone.
"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Lorelai asked once she found what she was looking for, shea butter for her belly.
"Nope" his eyes on the floor.
"Why?" she turned to look at him, usually he couldn't keep his eyes off her when she lotioned up but the floor was awfully interesting tonight.
"What's the point, Lorelai?" he sighed. "You want to go, and I'm sure as hell not gonna let you go alone" he turned to look at her.
"Luke…"
"Can you just finish getting ready so we can go?" he got up. "I'll be downstairs" Lorelai groaned once he left, she just wanted to be a good friend.
The drive to Christopher's Moms house was quiet at first; Luke didn't see the point to going since he didn't even like the guy. But once Lorelai asked for him to pull over at a drug store to get Christopher a bottle of Jose Cuervo, the drive became uncomfortable and tense. Luke had told her at the house that he would wait for her in the car, he felt bad for the man for losing his father but he was not a hypocrite and he still didn't like him.
When Rory pulled up to the house to pick up Sky, she saw him sitting outside on the porch steps.
"Eager much?" she smiled rolling down the window.
"They're arguing but I'm not supposed to know about it" he explained walking up to the car.
"About what?"
"I don't know…" he opened the door and got in "… they got home a while ago and went upstairs, the house feels tense so…"
"Think she knows?"
"The world doesn't revolve around you, Rory. You're the daughter, not the sun" Sky started laughing at his own joke.
"Remind me again how we're related?" she started backing out of the driveway.
Once Rory and Sky got into Christopher's town she pulled up the car at a convenience store.
"Why are we here?" Sky looked out of the window to make out the name of the establishment.
"We got a soul that needs healing" she shrugged and got out of the car.
.o0 1996 Summer Star Hollow 0o.
The day after Chris had showed up at the Diner they waited for him to resurface from wherever it was that he had gone off to but he never did. Lorelai had Sky all day at the Inn with her, and Rory was with Luke at the Diner; no one saw Chris again.
That night, once Lorelai had gone to bed and Sky was sleeping, Luke heard a noise. He got up and went to go check, Rory's room was empty and his heart dropped. He found her balled up on the couch looking at the blank TV.
"Hey, Rory…" he whispered as to not startle her.
"Hi" she didn't move.
"Are you ok?" he took a seat next to her. Rory turned to look at him with big eyes.
"What did I do wrong?" she asked in a small quiet voice.
"You haven't done anything wrong, what are you talking about?" he scooted closer.
"Why does he hate me?" Luke noticed her eyes become glassy.
"He doesn't hate you, he doesn't even know you" he pulled her in for a hug and felt when she started crying. "It's his loss, Rory. You are an amazing young woman and he'll never know that. None of this is because of you. This is all on him" Luke kept reassuring; he had never hated anyone as much as he did Christopher at that moment.
"I wish you were my Dad" Rory thought she had whispered it but Luke heard her.
"I do too, kid. Always have" he tightened the hug.
"Thank you" She pulled back from the hug but still looked sad.
"Hey…" Luke poked her arm. "… How about a late night snack?" he smirked.
"Like…?"
"Milk and cookies?" he offered with a smile.
"But it's late"
"Yes… but milk and cookies heal the soul" he reasoned. "And yours needs healing"
"It really does" she nodded with a big smile.
.o0 2004 Christopher's Neighborhood 0o.
"You do realize you're pregnant, right?" Luke finally broke the silence.
"Really?" Lorelai asked sarcastically placing both hands on her stomach. "I just assumed the heartburn and nausea came with age"
"Nice"
"The Tequila is not for me, Luke" her voice softened.
"I just… I don't like the direction this night is taking"
"Hon… his Father died. You, of all people, should understand it's a tough time"
"Lorelai…"
"No. Just listen"
"Boundaries"
"No" she took a deep breath and so did he "Please… think back, wouldn't you have wanted someone there? Rachel maybe?" he remained quiet. "You called boundaries, I know. I'm sorry" they drove the rest of the way in silence.
Outside of the house's entryway stood Sky and Rory.
"I'm not ready for this" Rory whispered.
"Neither am I, this was all your idea" he whispered back. Sky jumped up and down a few time to ward off the nipping cold. "Screw this" he hit the doorbell three times fast.
"Sky!"
"What? I'm cold" he smiled and the door opened wide and fast. A disheveled Christopher had answered.
"Rory?" he asked surprised.
"Hi" she shrugged. "I heard what happened… I'm sorry" she offered the bag in her hands.
"What's this?" he asked taking the bag
"Look, Chris, its cold, and she's sorry. We're here to make amends and heal your soul with milk and cookies. Now can we come in please" Sky said quickly still shivering in place.
"Wha…?" Chris shook his head.
"Sky!" Rory said shocked.
"Sky? Li-little Sky?" Christopher asked looking at the young man standing before him, slightly taller than himself already.
"Sup?" Sky nodded at him and Rory slugged him. "Sorry, gee" he rubbed his freshly bruised arm. "Mr. Hayden, Sir. My sister here is sorry for the way she treated you at her school the other morning and she is deeply sadden to hear about your Fathers passing. However it is a very cold night and I am currently freezing my McNuggets off, can we please come in and drown your sorrows together with milk and cookies?" he finished his speech and turned to Rory. "Better?" Rory was about to answer him when Chris started to laugh.
"Definitely Lorelai's kid" he moved to the side. "Come on in"
Luke and Lorelai pulled up to the front of the house, immediately noticing Rory's car park in front of theirs.
"Do you think they'll ever keep us in the loop?" Lorelai asked out loud.
"Like Sky said, they've always had each other" Luke reasoned.
"Still not coming in?"
"Nope" Luke had eyed the house before answering.
"I'll be quick"
"Nah…" Luke turned to look at her "… Take your time…" he took her hand. "… You're a good friend" he squeezed it. Lorelai smiled.
"Your child has me tired already, I won't be long" she pulled on his arm to bring him closer so she could kiss him before getting out.
Rory, Sky, and Christopher were sitting on the stools surrounding his mother's kitchen island. In order to amuse him Rory had asked for 3 shot glasses for their milk.
"I'm just 16 so I don't know anything about shots… are these supposed to be sipped or drank with straws?" Sky asked with his shot glass high in the air.
"Shut up and drink, Sky'
"Yes, Ma'am" he smiled and downed the shot, grimaced face included for laughs. "Cookie chaser please" Rory passed him the bag of Milano's.
"Dad will kill you if he hears you using that word" Rory laughed and didn't notice, but Sky saw the hurt reflected across Christopher's eyes at the word 'Dad'.
"Musketeers though…. Right? One for all and all for one" he shrugged and poured another milk shot.
"There are only 2 of us now dummy" she smiled.
"Both of you… you're just like Lorelai" Chris said in awe then the doorbell rang. "Excuse me" he said frowning and got up.
"You called Luke 'dad' by the way" Sky whispered once Chris was out of the room.
"What?"
"You said: 'Dad will kill you if he hears you using that word' and Chris looked sad that you called Dad 'Dad'"
"No way" Rory shook her head and took a bite of her cookie. "My whole life I've seen him counted times, there's no way he'd feel bad about that now"
"If you say so" Sky looked up when he heard footsteps. "Who's that?" he pointed down
"My sister"
"What?" Sky looked between Rory and the Toddler. "You guys look nothing alike"
"Cookie?" the little girl pointed at Sky's hand.
"Sure, come over here" he motioned with his head for her to get closer; once within reach he picked her up and sat her on the countertop in front of them before handing her a cookie. That's what Lorelai and Chris walked into; all 3 kids munching on cookies. "Mom?" he sat up straighter.
"Hi, guys" she waved.
"Does Dad know you're here?" Sky asked noticing the new item on Chris' hands, Jose Cuervo bottle.
"Boundaries" was all Lorelai said at the same time that Rory pinched his side.
"Ow" he said over dramatically towards Rory.
"Do you want a cookie, Mom?" Rory stood up and moved the Milano bag closer to her.
"Milk and Cookies?" Lorelai smirked of course Rory would use something Luke taught her on Chris, cosmic Karma.
"It heals the soul" Chris said and Sky started snickering.
"Sky, do me a favor…?" Lorelai started his eyebrows went up. "…bring me my carmex from the car"
"What?" his voice went up. "It's cold outside"
"Sky… please" she gave him a look and he knew it was more than just the carmex.
"Yeah, I'll be back" he grabbed another cookie for the walk there and back.
Sky navigated through the house and out the door, once he was walking down the walkway he noticed the Jeep was running, he frowned and jogged up to it. He tried to open the door but it was locked.
"Dad?" Sky asked once the door unlocked and he was able to open it. "Why are you out here?" he climbed in and closed the door quickly so they wouldn't lose more heat.
"I'm being a nice devoted dumbass of a husband" Luke grumbled and Sky nodded. "How about you?"
"I'm being a good brother" Sky shrugged.
"You hate Chris"
"Ditto"
"I didn't go inside though"
"Well… I wasn't going to let Rory go in by herself and… its cold outside" Luke chuckled.
"Is this what you guys were fighting about?"
"We weren't fighting" Luke answered automatically.
"Yeah you were. You guys came home, straight to the room and the house as all tense and awkward and-"
"Boundaries" Luke mumbled.
"No, not you too! You guys can't just shut me up by saying that"
"What do you mean 'you guys'?" Luke turned to look at him.
"Right now when Mom walked in I asked if you knew where she was and that was her answer" Luke laughed.
"You have got to learn to keep your mouth shut" they both fell silent for a few minutes.
"Hey Dad, you wanna hear something funny?"
"Sure" Luke turn his body towards him and Sky proceeded to tell him about the shots and all that had happened inside.
About twenty minutes later they heard the door open and saw Rory step out, Chris reached out and hugged her before turning around to close the door. Rory began walking to her car looking around for Sky.
"Dad..." Sky started.
"Go to your sister's car"
"But-"
"No buts, just go" Sky sighed, pushed opened the door and got out. Rory heard the door open and looked up. Sky jogged up to her, explained how Luke was in the car waiting for Lorelai and asked for the keys to the Prius. Rory handed him the keys and walked over to the driver side of the jeep; she 'knocked' on the plastic window for Luke to unzip it.
"Whatcha doin?" She asked folding her arms on the door.
"Waiting"
"Why don't you go in?" Luke turned to look at the door, then back at her.
"Not my cup of tea"
"That was not tea Mom brought"
"That was not my idea" he grumbled and she nodded.
"It was nice that you brought her" Rory offered after a small silence.
"Also not my idea"
"I know but it's still nice"
"What can I say…I'm just a nice person"
"He looks different…" Rory didn't know what to say, she wanted to keep him company while Lorelai was still in there; for who knows how much longer. "…Sad? Broken? I don't know how to explain it" Luke turned to look at her, a knowing look on his face be he still responded.
"He just lost his Father, Rory, what were you expecting?"
"They didn't even like each other"
"Now imagine what I looked like" Luke finished quietly and turned to look at the front door again, willing it to open. "Are you staying the night with us?"
"Of course, I'm not missing the new reenactment" she smiled.
"Then you guys better start heading home"
"But…"
"Just go, Rory. I'll wait here"
"But..."
"I'll be fine" he turned to look at her a smirked. "Plus you're letting the heat out"
"Fine" she smiled. "See you guys at home"
"Drive safe" Luke watched her go back to her car and zipped up the window; he glanced at the front door again then leaned his head back and exhaled. About five minutes later the front door opened but he missed it, his eyes snapped opened when he heard the passenger door open.
"Sorry" Lorelai said laughing when she noticed him jump up a little startled.
"S'ok, how'd it go?" he glanced behind her at the closed front door.
"Odd' she shrugged and put her seat belt on. "He was sad about his Dad but grateful that we stopped by. He was doing shots with the kids when I got there…" she saw his expression "… milk shots, relax. It was Rory's idea" he nodded "Then, once Rory left, he rinsed out his shot glass and filled it with tequila" she took a deep breath. "After the first shot he told me how he regretted the relationship he had with his Dad. After the second shot he told me how sorry he was for everything he had done over the years, after the third shot he told me he was going to work on fixing his relationship with Rory" Luke grumbled but Lorelai ignored him. "After the fourth shot I told him I was leaving and that was it" she took a deep breath again. "I'm sure tomorrow he'll regret all of those shots though" Luke didn't know how to respond to any of that.
"The kids are waiting at home" was all he could think to say.
"Take us home" she smiled and placed her hand on his thigh. "Thank, Hon"
"You bet" he pulled away from the parking spot and headed home.
When they pulled up their drive way they noticed Rory's car was already there, once inside the kids were watching The Goonies with a half full tub of popcorn.
"The Goonies! Great choice, I'll go get dressed" Lorelai announced and headed upstairs.
"I'll go make more popcorn" Sky got up and took the tub from Rory.
"Don't forget the Redvines!" Lorelai called from the top of the stairs. Luke took a seat on the couch and leaned his head back with closed eyes. He smiled when he felt Rory shift her weight and lean against him, hugging his arm.
"It's good to have you home, kid" Luke grumbled, eyes still closed.
"We only have Twizzlers!" Sky called from the kitchen
"What? Who would buy Twizzlers!" Lorelai yelled back from her room.
"It's good to be here" Rory told him with a smile.
You've been LoVeLuKe-ized