Disclaimer in first chapter.
I know it's been a while since I posted an update to this story but real life just got in the way. I'm back now though and updating with the hope that I won't go over a month without any updates again. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Thanks for all the reviews/follows/favorites!
Luke took a seat in the plush leather armchair that Richard advised him to after they entered the older man's study. While Richard went to his drink cart to fix drinks for them both, Luke tried and failed to feel at ease in the atmosphere of the Gilmore home and in the presence of Richard with whom his last one-on-one time didn't exactly pan out well. Despite not really being a scotch man, Luke accepted the glass that Richard offered and vowed silently to watch his drink count so this meeting wouldn't remind him of the time he spent on the golf course with Richard where he had one drink too many and didn't exactly give off the best impression. When Richard seated himself in the leather armchair across from him, Luke took a sip from his glass and offered a compliment that he hoped made sense and would appeal to Richard. With the silence in the room, Luke took the time to scan the bookshelves that lined the walls of the study that he was sure was filled with many books that were worth more than anything he owned.
Luke had been hesitant about the meeting ever since Lorelai brought it up a couple of nights ago. He wasn't one to exactly open up to just anyone but he knew that he would have to open up in the courtroom about his life and the situations that led to a custody battle for his daughter, so he decided to take the meeting with Lorelai's father. That and with Lorelai's insistence that her father could offer him help in ways that she couldn't, the ways of a father was how she put it, he didn't really have much of a choice. Lorelai's insistence and his willingness to do anything for her and his daughter led him to calling Richard early this morning and scheduling a time for him to drop by the house for their man-to-man talk/mentoring session. Richard insisted on having the meeting on the same day that Luke happened to call since they only had a limited amount of time before the custody case would be dealt with in court. If there was help to be offered and then possibly accepted, it had to be done as soon as possible.
Luke wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting, mentoring session, man-to-man talk, or one of the many other names that Lorelai colorfully referred to it as over the past couple of days. Growing up, Luke knew his father was a very stoic man, something that had been pointed out to him over the years about himself now as an adult, so heart-to-heart discussions weren't very common. They both could say a lot with just a few words or through just talking sports or the hardware store. One instance he remembered his father showing emotion and sitting him down for a discussion was when his mother passed away when he was young. His father sat him and Liz down for a discussion suitable for young kids but also acknowledging the realities of life after their mother passed away. Besides that instance, Luke could remember just a couple more discussions of the same vein that he had with his father just a few months before his father passed on. Considering this, he felt that his reservations about his discussion with Richard was justified. He just reminded himself that he was doing this for both April and Lorelai, two people who he knew his father would love.
Richard took another drink from his glass then cleared his throat, effectively cutting through the silence in the room. "Lorelai felt that is was appropriate that we talk about what's going on in your life with your daughter and this custody case."
Luke nodded his head as he sat his glass down on the coaster that sat on the table in between the two chairs, "Right, she thought you could help me or something like that. I told her that I didn't really need help but she kept insisting and..."
"And she wouldn't give up on the idea until you agreed to do what she wanted you to do?" Richard asked knowingly.
"Yep," Luke confirmed with another nod of his head, "That's pretty much it."
"Emily is the same way, that's where Lorelai gets it. They are both very stubborn when they want something done their way, they don't give up," Richard replied. With his finger sternly pointed in Luke's direction he added on, "But don't you dare tell Lorelai I compared her to her mother. I don't think she would be a fan of the comparison. That doesn't leave this room."
Luke chuckled, feeling slightly more at ease than before he replied, "I know Lorelai better than that to compare her to her mother."
Richard tipped the glass in his hand in Luke's direction, "Good man," he commented. He finished off the contents of his glass and set it out of his way before he spoke again. "Now as well as you know Lorelai, you know that is was probably hard for her to ask me to help you out. I had already offered to help with finding a suitable lawyer, because I know some real sharks, but Lorelai was the one that suggested that we sit down together and talk. Now I have to admit that I was surprised she even asked me for help because it's hard for her to ask for help from anyone, especially from Emily and me."
"Because she fancies herself Wonder Woman," Luke mused quietly and with a smile on his face, unaware that he spoke the words aloud until Richard asked him what he meant. He gave a shake of his head to dismiss his words from before, "Just something Lorelai said about herself once before."
"Sounds like something Lorelai would say," Richard added thoughtfully. He leaned over, just a fraction of an inch closer to Luke but still in a way that made Luke want to recoil. "I'm going to be honest with you right now Luke. Now I'm sure you can imagine that night Lorelai showed up here in tears, I was not happy with you. The fact that she came here when she was upset was a testament to how hurt she was. I hated that you hurt her in that way."
Luke stammered, the uneasy feeling crept back up on him with Richard's confession and the hard stare he was currently on the losing end of from his fiancée's father. "I never meant to hurt her. I hated myself for ever making her feel that way," he finally managed to respond. "I would never intentionally hurt her in any way."
"I know that you never meant to hurt her," Richard assured Luke. "We all do things that we're not proud of, whether we're aware we're doing them or not. Relationships take a lot of work and I know that you and Lorelai have worked things out which I am glad about, I can see how happy you make her."
"I just like to see her happy."
"As well you should," Richard replied. "That's one of the reasons I agreed to talk with you when Lorelai asked; you're obviously very special to her. Since she is my daughter, I will help her out in whatever way she needs it. From what I know about you and from what Lorelai told me, I know that you're not very open to accepting help from others but since you are important to Lorelai, I agreed to try to help you, talk with you, any way that I can offer help. Besides you're going to be my daughter's husband someday so that makes you family. Family should help out family."
Luke, unsure of what to say other than the fact that he agreed with Richard, remained silent and just nodded his head, hoping that the older man took that as a sign that he agreed with him and that he should continue on. His father had taught him the same lesson when he was young and he expressed it several times with the many times he helped out Liz over the years. And even when he begrudgingly allowed TJ to help with the repairs on the diner.
"But I'm sure that you understand that sentiment well, at least from the stories I've heard about you from both Lorelai and Rory over the years. I know that they weren't family at the time but you obviously cared for them both from the times you helped them out," Richard pointed out. "It takes a great man to step up and help out like that."
Luke shrugged his shoulders and said, "It was no big deal. I just did what I could for them, when Lorelai let me help, because I cared for them...I care for them, for both Lorelai and Rory," he added on just to be clear.
"I know you care for them It's obvious that they both care for you as well. It is a big deal," Richard insisted. "You weren't required to help them out in any way over the years but you did, that says a lot about your character."
Luke once again chose to remain silent while Richard spoke. He bit his tongue as to not say anything in regards to Christopher, whom the Gilmores seemed to hold in the highest regards despite him only being there for his family when it was convenient for him. The issue of a man's character didn't seem to phase them when it was in regards to someone of their societal standards or the biological father of their grandchild. That was a point he would never fully understand so he chose to let the moment pass without uttering a single word.
"I'm not sure what Lorelai told you about her childhood, about me as a father, though I can imagine, but I always did what I thought was right," Richard spoke up. "I did what I was taught to do, I worked to provide for the family, to make sure they had a good life and a nice place to live."
"That's what Lorelai told me," Luke replied, recalling a similar conversation he had years earlier with Emily. "That you did what was right for the family."
"I did, I provided for my family," Richard confirmed. "I was never really a hands-on type of dad, neither was my father. I worked too much to be that type of dad. Many nights I came home way past Lorelai's bedtime because I had to stay late of the office. I never took her to the zoo or circus, Emily claimed they were filthy so we didn't go. That's not to say that I don't have memories of us spending time together because we did, I remember reading to her on the nights I came home early, listening to records together here in my study."
A fond smile crossed the older man's face while he spoke of a much, much younger Lorelai; one that would sit with him some nights while he worked until she was eventually taken upstairs to be given a bath, one that was only four years old but already declaring that she was going to Yale just like her daddy, one that he would dance with in his study while they listened to his old records, one that had yet to discover the latch on her bedroom window that she could use to sneak out at night.
The fond smile was soon replaced by a solemn expression. "I did spend time with my daughter but those memories are few-and-far between because I needed to provide for my family, I had to work frequently. Then as she got older, we didn't spend time together."
Luke nodded along as Richard spoke a little of Lorelai's childhood, he already knew a few stories about that time from talking with Lorelai before. Her memories were basically the same as Richard's, in that there weren't that many to recall. Thought Richard did mention one or two things about Lorelai's childhood that Lorelai never mentioned.
Because he thought the older man needed to hear it, Luke said, "You know, Lorelai doesn't think you're a bad father, she's never said anything like that. She knew that you were doing what you were supposed to."
"And I'm glad," Richard replied, the look of relief clear on his face. "She could resent me more for not being around as much as I should have been as a father." He fell quiet, his gaze rested on a picture of Lorelai as a young child for a few minutes before he turned his attention back to Luke. "I do regret that I wasn't around that much for her growing up. I wish that I wasn't the father that was always working and not at home as much but I was just doing what I was taught. I'm telling you this because I know how upset you must be that you missed out on the first twelve years of your daughter's life. I don't want you to regret not being able to be there for your daughter now and in the future."
With his eyebrows knitted close together in thought, Luke chose his next words carefully. "I'm not…," he paused then shook his head, changing the words in his mind. "I wanted to get to know my daughter, I wanted to be the dad that is there for their kid and I was. It took a little while but I was there for her and then Anna got mad about my decisions for April's life and threw this custody thing my way."
"I wasn't trying to imply that you wouldn't be there for your daughter because I know that's not true, the very fact that you're fighting Anna on this proves that," Richard replied, taken aback by the almost angry tone now in Luke's voice. "What I was trying to say, and one of Lorelai's concerns too, is that we don't want you to refuse this help and then regret the decision later in case things don't go the way you want them to in court. I'm sure you picked a fine lawyer but I'm just telling you that I'm offering the help of one of the best lawyers I know, and every parent just wants the best for their child."
"I do, I want the best for April," Luke agreed. "I wasn't there for the first twelve years, all Anna's lousy decision, but I want to be there now. I want to see her grow up. I want her to grow up with her father in her life. I want to be there."
"Of course, any respectable father wants to be an active part in their child's life," Richard said leaving Luke wondering once again about why Christopher wasn't held to the same standard. He brushed it off again though, now wasn't the time or place.
Luke sighed, "I just already missed out on so much. I don't want to miss out on anything else."
"I understand completely. You shouldn't have to miss out on any moments of her life," Richard sympathized. This time his gaze went to a framed picture of Lorelai from when she graduated from business school a few years ago. He smiled, remembering how proud he was of her that day and everything she had accomplished on her own.
"I missed out on a ton of Lorelai's life," Richard said, he turned his attention back to Luke. "When she left home, I missed out on everything in both her life and in Rory's. The circumstances may have been that she only needed the money for Chilton but I started to enjoy the weekly dinners because I got to see them more than just on certain holidays. I not only got to see Rory grow and blossom and go off to college but I got to see Lorelai blossom too with everything she has managed to accomplish over the years. Sometimes I'm amazed at how much she has accomplished on her own."
"She is an amazing person," Luke commented.
"That she is," Richard agreed. "I know you're trying your best to do the right thing here Luke, to do what's best for your daughter and I'm your side about what is best because you should be able to make decisions in her life but I don't want you to put off the help I can offer just because you don't like accepting help. If you really don't want my help that's fine. I do want you to think about it though. Don't just dismiss it."
"Okay," Luke nodded.
Richard gave a single nod back to Luke. "Now tell me a little about April, I want to know about her."
Lorelai massaged her temples while she watched her mother sip on various teas and nibble on an assortment of finger foods all that Sookie prepared as part of the tasting menu for the proper high tea that Emily scheduled for this upcoming Friday at the Inn. Michel stood on one side of her with an obnoxious smirk on his face since he thought it would be fun to not tell Lorelai about her mother scheduling tea at the Inn for the young girls she had taken under her wing for etiquette training. On the other side of her stood Sookie who was near tears from the sharp criticism from Emily over her attempt to make the menu a little more kid-friendly.
A few minutes later, Emily dabbed at her mouth with the napkin and finalized the menu for Sookie before asking to see the room in which the tea would be held. Lorelai hung back, letting Michel take the lead on that one while she comforted Sookie and assured her that she was the greatest chef that she ever knew and that the criticism from Emily was probably because she never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her life. To make Sookie smile, Lorelai swiped a few of the finger food size PB&J's and insisted that no one could make one better. Once Sookie was successfully cheered up and back in the kitchen ready for more cooking action, Lorelai headed to the front desk. On the way there, she ran into her mother and Michel who where finalizing plans for the proper high tea.
"I will personally make sure everything is in proper order for your tea Mrs. Gilmore," Michel schmoozed.
"Thank you Michel," Emily replied. She turned her attention from him and towards her daughter, "Lorelai may I speak with you privately please?"
"Uh sure Mom," Lorelai answered. "We can just go into my office."
Michel leaned over to whisper to Lorelai, "Ooh someone's in trouble."
"Shut it Michel," Lorelai whispered back harshly. With a forced smile on her face, she turned back to her mother, "Right this way Mom."
Lorelai led her mother back to the office, ignoring the comments her mother made about her outfit but accepting a compliment when her mother told her she liked her hair the way she was currently wearing it. In her office, Lorelai chose to sit down on the small couch she recently purchased for her office and gestured for her mom to join her.
"So what did you need to talk about?" Lorelai asked as soon as her mother sat down.
"You've been ignoring my calls lately," Emily pointed out. "If you didn't then maybe you would have known about the tasting today. Since you've chosen to ignore me, I have no idea what's going on in your life."
"I know I have," Lorelai replied. She never did follow through on the favor that her father asked her. Instead she continued ignoring her mother's calls, for no good reason really. "I just..."
"Since you have been ignoring my calls," Emily interjected. "I've had time to think about what transpired the last time we spoke to one another. I've had time to think about a few things Rory said to me after you left that day. I'm aware that my comments that day hurt you and made you believe that maybe I thought April would be a hindrance to your relationship with Luke."
"Have you been seeing a therapist?" Lorelai quickly retorted, seemingly unfazed by her mother's words.
"What?" Emily inquired. "Why would you even ask that?"
Lorelai gave a shrug of her shoulders, "I don't know. This just seems so calculated, like someone else was telling you to say it and you just filled in the blanks for our situation."
"No, I'm not seeing a therapist Lorelai," Emily replied. "I'm trying to be honest with you. I'm trying to apologize. I do mean what I am saying."
Lorelai spread her arms in a sweeping gesture, "Then continue on."
"I never meant to upset you Lorelai. I never wanted you think that I thought of Luke's daughter as a hindrance," Emily said, her attention focused fully on Lorelai as she tried to make her daughter understand that she really did meant what she was saying. "As your mother, I want what's best for you. I want you to be happy. I know you want a life with Luke so I had an idea on one direction you could take at the moment."
"Just listen to me Mom," Lorelai started out and hoped she wouldn't be interrupted. "I am happy. So, so happy with Luke. And yes honestly this custody battle, whatever you want to call it, has disrupted our lives but it's something that has to be dealt with. April comes with Luke and we can't just sweep her under the rug because Anna decided to throw this Luke's way. I wholeheartedly support Luke's decision so I'm standing by him."
"I never intended for you to sweep this under the rug, as you put it, I was just trying to say…."
"I know, I know," Lorelai cut her mother off. "You want me to have the wedding and more children but Luke and I are already sharing our lives together. I know a long engagement is probably not ideal for you but I know that Luke is there for me and I'm there for him. Luke has supported me through so much over the years, with Rory, the Inn, everything. I don't want to not support him now because that's not what a partner should do. This is the way that Luke and I are handling things and I'm okay with that."
Emily hesitated a few minutes before replying. "You do still want to get married, right? You're not going to be one of those couples that forgoes marriage and just lives together."
Lorelai shook her head and laughed, "No, marriage is still in the future. We do want to be married. It will happen for us someday, we just have a few obstacles right now. I do want to be Mrs. Danes one day."
"Danes?" Emily echoed.
Lorelai nodded, "Yeah, well that is Luke's last name. The wife usually takes the husband's last name."
"Well I know that but I figured that you've never been one for traditional ways that you just might stick with Gilmore," Emily replied.
"I might keep the Gilmore, just tack the Danes onto the end of it," Lorelai replied as if she hadn't thought about several times. "Who knows I might decide to change my name entirely, maybe not be Lorelai anymore."
Emily suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, "Of course." She surprised Lorelai by taking her daughter's hand in hers. "Lorelai, I really am sorry about my comments that day. I know that's not you or Luke. I know your future involves April. I wanted you to be happy and planning for your future but I can see that you are, just in this way now. Once everything settles back down, I would like to get to know April myself."
Lorelai smiled and squeezed her mom's hand gently, "Thank you."
Emily smiled and nodded in response. She gingerly pulled her hand away from Lorelai's and stood up from the couch. "So I'll see you Friday for the tea here?"
Lorelai, used to the abrupt changes in conversation with her mother, stood up alongside her. "I'll be here. You wanted them to have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chocolate milk instead of smoked salmon and tea, right?" she asked as she led her mother to the office door.
"Honestly Lorelai," Emily sighed.
Lorelai opened the door for her mother and allowed her to exit first, "Just a joke mother. They will have the most proper high tea in Connecticut. I'll just let Michel do all the heavy lifting."
"See you on Friday," Emily commented before walking away.
Once her mother left, Lorelai slipped back into her office. During her brief yet important conversation with her mother, something pinged in Lorelai's brain and sent in a wave of fresh ideas for the character reference she had yet to write. Thinking about how much Luke had done for her and Rory over the years finally gave Lorelai the inspiration that she had searched for ever since Luke asked her to write a reference. With a pen in hand, Lorelai sat down to write a character reference that a judge could never ignore.
Later that night, Luke sat on the couch with Lorelai stretched out next to him. She was currently chattering away on the phone with Rory, occasionally nudging him when she had to ask him something so she could relay it back to Rory or when Rory requested a special meal for the next weekend she decided to visit home.
Despite the many interruptions, Luke's mind wasn't at all focused on Lorelai's phone call with Rory. His mind was elsewhere. His mind was on the business card that now resided in his wallet courtesy of Richard Gilmore who once again extended his help in finding a lawyer suitable for this case. Luke found it laughable that the lawyer that Richard suggested was one he initially called only to have the lawyer reject his case because he quote "just didn't have the time". When he pointed that out to Richard, they shared a laugh and Richard made sure to tell Luke to mention that he was his son-in-law, that way the lawyer would definitely take the case.
Luke was surprised when Richard asked about April and said he wanted to know about her but it didn't take him long to talk about his daughter and how he was already so proud of the life she led at thirteen years old. Once he talked about April, he found it easier to talk about different things. Their topics varied from Richard offering more advice to Luke to the old car that Richard once tried to restore. Before long, Luke realized he probably needed to head home and promised that he would think about Richard's offer to help.
Over dinner, Luke and Lorelai swapped stories about their day with Luke mentioning to Lorelai not to send her character reference off yet, the one she proudly announced she finished with a flourish but refused to let Luke read, since he was debating whether or not to take her father's help. She agreed to wait but not too long since she was absolutely sure that Luke would try to sneak a peek at the letter if she just left it laying around the house.
Luke gently removed Lorelai's legs from his lap and stood up from the couch. When she moved the phone away from her mouth and asked where he was going, he replied that he just had to make a quick call before he left the room with his cellphone in his hand and a decision made to call this lawyer that Richard knew just to see what he had to say.
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