A/N: First, happy Sinterklaas to all of you! TheDutch people, and David will know where I'm talking about. And maybe a few German people (although they think I'm a day early, but we really celebrate it on the 5th), and of course those from Belgium. Second, many thanks to LorelaiAkaCoffeeAddict for proofreading. And of course lots of thanks to all of you who reviewed! It looks like you're all liking my way of describing the regular family problems. Of course there are a lot more for me to describe so this story will continue for a while. I think the title of this chapter says enough so I don't have to tell where this chapter is about. Takes place a few weeks after the last one. Read and review please!
Chapter 6 Going out
Luke walked into the inn around 3 o'clock. He smiled when he saw Lorelai standing behind the front desk.
"Hey Luke." Lorelai smiled back when she noticed her husband.
"Hey. How's your day going so far?"
"Good. Lucan's asleep in my office." She pointed at the baby monitor that was standing on the desk, next to the phone. "Michel has a day off and it's not that busy. The only busy moment was when we had to rush Sookie to the doctor because she burned her hand."
"That never changes."
"No it doesn't. But what brings you here in the middle of the day?"
"What, can't a guy visit his beautiful wife?"
"Of course he can." She leaned over the desk to place a kiss on his lips. "But you just usually don't come here, unless I call you to fix something. I can't remember something being broken." She started looking through the papers lying on the desk. "Did I miss something?"
"No, I actually came to ask you something."
"Oh." She smiled. "Go ahead and ask."
"Do uh…." She couldn't help but think he sounded nervous. "Do you uh… do you want to go out with me tonight?"
"Of course. I'd love to. What's the occasion?"
"No occasion. I just want to take you out tonight, without any reason. I asked Rory and she said she wants to babysit Lucan."
"But it's Thursday evening. She has school tomorrow."
"We don't have to stay out long. We can be back by, I don't know, ten or something."
"Well, if we're going out, I'd prefer not looking at the time. How about we go out tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow's Friday."
"So?"
"Lorelai." He sighed.
"I'm sure I can get us out of Friday night dinner Luke. And Rory can still go, and she can take Lucan with her. As long as mom sees her grandson she's happy. We spent weeks not going to Friday night dinner during summer season."
"Fine try, otherwise we can always go tonight. If you still want to of course."
"I still want to. Don't worry." She kissed him once more to reassure him. "You go back to the diner, then I'll go give my mom a call. I'll let you know as soon as I know more, okay?"
"Okay." He stole another kiss before he walked out of the Inn towards his truck.
Lorelai decided it was best to call her mother right away. It was still quiet in the lobby and she knew from experience that it could change in a second. She picked up the phone and dialed the familiar number.
"Gilmore residence." A maid picked up after the first ring.
"Wow that was fast. Are you carrying the phone around all the time to keep my mother happy?"
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing, never mind. Is my mother there?"
"Who is this?"
"Lorelai Danes, formally known as Lorelai Gilmore. I'm Mrs. Gilmore's daughter. Is she home?"
"Yes, Mrs. Gilmore is there. I'm sorry. Just a minute Mrs. Danes."
"Thank you."
"Lorelai?" Emily's voice was heard not much later.
"Hey mom. Do you have a new maid again?"
"Just temporarily."
"Aren't they all?" Lorelai said quietly, but loud enough for Emily to hear.
"What can I do for you Lorelai?" Emily decided to ignore Lorelai's comment.
"I actually need a favor."
"That doesn't sound good."
"Just hear me out okay? Luke just walked in here and he asked if I wanted to go out with him tonight."
"Sounds nice. Do you want me to babysit Lucan?"
"No, he asked Rory to babysit, but since Rory has classes tomorrow, we can't stay out later than ten o'clock or so. So I was wondering if we could postpone the whole dating thing until tomorrow evening."
"But tomorrow is Friday Lorelai."
"I know mom. That's why I needed a favor. Can we please not go to Friday night dinner just this once? I know that during the summer we only went once every two weeks, and that now things are more quiet, we're back to coming every week, but I really want to go out with my husband."
"You can go out another night. There are seven days a week, why do you have to pick this day in particular?"
"Because Saturday is a going out night for young people, so Rory can't babysit, and after every other night she has classes, except on Saturday. And the day previous to Saturday is Friday, so we can stay out as long as we want. And of course she will still come to Friday night dinner, and since she's babysitting, it's obvious she'll be taking Lucan with her. I mean, he can't stay home alone."
"I don't see why you can't find someone else to babysit, besides Rory."
"Sookie has two kids of her own to take care of, she doesn't need mine too. And I don't want to leave my kid with anybody else in town. So Rory's my only option mom."
"How about me? I'd be happy to take care of Lucan for you."
Lorelai knew this was coming. "I know you would, but dad won't let you drive your car at night, and if we bring him to you, we have to wake him up to get him back home, and he really doesn't like that. And I know you will say that he can stay over, but it's really a lot of work to take care of a baby in the morning mom."
"I know it's a lot of work to take care of a baby Lorelai. You were a baby once. But I can handle it."
"I know you can, but I don't want to put that burden upon you. You know what, never mind. Forget about the whole dating thing. In a few weeks Rory has Christmas break, we can go out then." Lorelai tried hard to keep the disappointment out of her voice, but couldn't.
"Why don't you let me look after my grandson Lorelai? I'm sure your father is even willing to drive me and help me to babysit. He really loves playing with Lucan."
"I know." Lorelai had to think for a while. Why wouldn't she let her mother babysit? It wasn't like she couldn't trust her mother with her son. Of course, she never let her mother look after Rory, but that was a different time. And this way she could go out tonight, and still go to Friday night dinner tomorrow. "I have to talk about it with Luke first."
"Call me back when you know more, okay?"
"I will. Talk to you later mom."
"Bye Lorelai."
Lorelai stared at the phone in shock. Did she partially agree to let her mother look after Lucan? She had no idea how Luke would respond to this. She should have known this was going to happen if she tried to get out of Friday night dinner. And she couldn't use the excuse that she couldn't come because Lucan was sick, because she already did that a few weeks ago. But after Lucan got some medicine from the doctor he got better soon, and her mother knew that just as good as she did. Since it was still quiet she dialed Luke's number and it didn't take long before he picked up.
"Luke's."
"Hey gorgeous."
"Lorelai?"
"Who else calls you gorgeous?"
"You mean besides Miss Patty?"
"Since when does Miss Patty call you that? I don't have to start worrying, do I?"
"Whatever Lorelai. Did you talk to your mother?"
"Yeah I did. How would you feel if, I don't know, Rory would not babysit tonight?"
"But tomorrow?"
"No, not tomorrow."
"So, you don't want to go on a date at all?"
"Of course I want to go on a date. But what I tried to say was, what if Rory wasn't the one babysitting, but my mother was?"
"You're seriously considering to let your mother look after our son?"
"I knew you wouldn't want it. Well, I'll call her back and tell her we can't do it, then maybe she lets us out of Friday night dinner."
"She won't. And I didn't said I wasn't okay with it. I asked if you were."
She sighed. "I don't know Luke. I really want to go out with you tonight. It's been forever since we went on a real date. If I remember correctly, that was on Christmas Eve last year. That's almost a year ago Luke. It's December now. Next week is my mother's Christmas party, and after that it's only three more weeks until Christmas."
"I know. Look, if you're okay with it, then I'm okay with it as well. I have to admit that Emily is not my most favorite person when it comes to looking after Lucan, but she's his grandmother."
"Okay." She thought for a while.
"Lorelai?"
"Yeah?"
"Just tell her to come okay? I don't want him to spend the night in her house. I want him in his own bed."
"I know, me too. She already knows that. She'll probably take my dad with her and besides, we'll just put him in bed before we leave and he never wakes up after that anyway. The only time he did that was when he was sick."
"Okay. Then go call her. I'm sure she's waiting next to the phone for your call."
"I bet she is. So, you pick me up at 7?"
"Pick you up at 7. Be ready."
"I'll try." And with that she hung up.
-xxxxxx-
Lorelai was standing in front of her closet, dressed in only a bathrobe. She had taken a shower, and was now trying to decide what she was going to wear. Every dress she had in her closet looked lame and she wore them a dozen times at least. She wanted tonight to be special, and her outfit had to be special too. She took out every dress she had, only to put them back a second later. There were several dresses she knew Luke liked, but she felt as if they were not good enough for tonight. She picked up the phone and dialed a number. Before her daughter got the time to even say her name Lorelai screamed "Rory help!"
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"I don't have anything to wear."
Rory smiled. "What's that in your closet then?"
"There are all dresses I've worn a dozen times at least. I want to look special tonight."
"Oh mom, even if you dressed in a garbage bag Luke would still think you look special."
"You're not helping Rory."
Rory was surprised at the frustration in her mother's voice. "Mom, what's going on?"
"Nothing, I just have nothing to wear."
"You've been nervous for dates before, but you've never been as nervous as you are tonight. What's up?"
"Nothing's up Rory. Will you help me or not?"
"Not until you tell me what's going on." Rory waited patiently for her mother to speak.
"Nothing's going on, I swear. It's just…."
"What?"
"You know when the last time Luke and I went on a date was?"
"No?"
Lorelai sat down on the bed. "Christmas eve, last year."
"The night he proposed."
Lorelai nodded, even though Rory couldn't see it. "We never went out together after that. I didn't even realize it until Luke walked into the diner today. When did we change Rory? I mean, we were together for one night when we went to the cabin a few months ago, but besides that there's always someone else you know. And it wasn't really a date. It wasn't going out for dinner and seeing a movie like we used to. We went out all the time when we just dated, but then we got engaged and got married, and Lucan was born, and it all just stopped."
"Isn't that the way it's supposed to go?"
"It is, I guess. I don't know. I've never been married before. When you were born it was just me and you for so long and it took me forever before I even started thinking about dating again. And that was okay you know, because I had so many things to think about, I never even thought about men."
"Uhuh.." Rory didn't understand where her mother was going.
"It's just… I never expected to become the kind of woman who never goes out anymore. Who stays home all the time to be with her husband and kid. I mean, I love being home with Lucan, and I love the nights on the couch with Luke, but it just sounds so dull. I just didn't think I could be like that."
"Oh mom, you're not dull. Far from that. It's normal that you don't go out as often once you get married and have kids. It wouldn't be good if it was the other way around. I know that when you had me it was all different and I love that you stayed home with me all the time, but I was happy when you went out once in a while too, and Lucan would love it too if you and Luke spend some time together as well."
"Yeah you're right. But you never helped me out here. What do I wear?"
At that moment Luke walked into the bedroom. "Wear the black dress."
Lorelai smiled. "Hey Rory, I guess I'm hanging up now. Luke's helping me."
"I heard. Say hello to him for me okay? And to grandma and grandpa. I still can't believe that you let them babysit."
"Oh well, it was the best solution since she wouldn't let me out of Friday night dinner. You have school tomorrow."
"But I really didn't mind babysitting my little brother."
"I know you didn't babe. I see you tomorrow at Grandma's, okay?"
"Okay. And I want to hear everything about your date with Luke."
"I'll tell you all the details."
"Good. Have fun, mom."
"I will. Bye hon."
"Bye."
"It's almost 7 and you're not close to being ready." Luke said after she placed the phone on the bed next to her.
"I know. But don't you know by now that when a woman says 7, she means 7.30?"
"Yeah I do. But your parents will be here at exactly seven, and you know how your mother will react if we're not ready to leave by then. But how about you put on some clothes, do your hair and whatever it is you're doing, then I'll put Lucan in bed and take a shower."
"Sounds good. It's still a little before his bedtime, but he was tired anyway."
-xxxxxx-
At 7 o clock exactly the doorbell rang. Lorelai was completely finished, all she had to do was put on her shoes so Luke opened the door.
"Hello Luke. Don't you look nice tonight." Emily smiled when she walked in.
"Hello Emily. Richard." He shook the hand of his father in law.
"Luke."
"Well, all ready." Lorelai walked into the hallway. "There's food in the kitchen, there's beer in the fridge and the stronger liquor is in the cabinet next to it. But don't drink too much because you have the responsibility of taking care of my son, and you still have to drive home tonight. The TV is in the living room, and if you're looking for books the best place to check is Rory's room. Luke put Lucan to bed about twenty minutes ago and I just checked up on him before I came downstairs and he's sound asleep. Normally he doesn't wake up once he's asleep so I don't think he'll be giving you any trouble. The baby phone is on the coffee table so if he wakes up you'll hear him, and if there is anything, both Luke's and my cell phone number are on the fridge."
"He's going to be fine. We're going to be fine. Just go and have fun." Emily almost pushed her daughter out of the door.
"We will. You too. I'm sorry he's already asleep but he was really tired."
"That's alright. Small boys have to be asleep at this time, so it was to be expected."
"Okay. Then we're going otherwise we're late for our dinner reservation. See you later mom."
"Have fun Lorelai, Luke."
-xxxxxx-
I can't believe how long it is since we did this." Lorelai took a sip of her wine."
"I know." Luke smiled as he took a bite of his salmon.
"So, what made you decide to ask me out tonight?"
"I figured it was time."
"But why tonight in particular? Why not last week, or next week, or something?"
"I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably.
Of course Lorelai noticed this. "You do know. Luke, what's going on?"
"Do you think we changed?"
"Changed how?"
"You know, just changed."
"Yeah. Of course things changed. Last year this time, we were expecting a kid, we weren't even engaged and Rory was in London. Now we are married, have an amazing son and not only did we get our daughter back, but a great son in law too. I know he's not really, but I'd like to see of him as if he is. It's different than with all the other boys she dated. I know she had a crush on them, but this is so much more than that. If I look at them, I see real love you know?"
"I know. But we don't ever go out anymore. The last time we went on a date was the night we got engaged."
"I noticed that too. But really does it matter? We still spend a lot of time together, we just don't get out as often as we used to. But it's still us."
"But your life became boring."
"What?" She looked at him in shock.
"You were this woman who went out all the time. You were this hip mother who was dating and now you just don't anymore."
"Well, I guess it would be kind of weird if I dated, since I'm married to you."
"That's not what I meant. It's just, since you started dating me your life changed. It started with going to bed early because I had early deliveries, but now you're not doing anything anymore. It's as if I have to force you to get out of the house sometimes."
"So you're saying I'm dull?"
"What, no! I'm saying that I don't want you to change because of me. I want you to be who you are, and not someone you're not."
"Luke, where's all of this coming from? I thought that my life is great the way is right now. I love hanging in front of the TV with you when I come home from work, all tired. I love to go to bed early once in a while, and to be honest, I'm exhausted at 9.30 sometimes. I used to watch TV or read your manuals because I was not tired, but now I am. I'm working hard, and taking care of a baby just does that to you. But I don't mind any of this. I really don't."
"Really?"
"Yeah, seriously. But Luke, who got all of this in your mind?"
"Who said someone did?"
"You don't come up with this stuff on your own. My guess is on Miss Patty or Babette, or both of them."
"They were in the diner this morning and I overheard them talking. I wasn't really paying attention because of course, they are Miss Patty and Babette, but then I heard them saying your name and I got curious. They went on and on about how you changed ever since you married me. How boring your life became and that it wouldn't take long before you run away because this is not what you want. I knew that it wasn't true, but it just kept running through my mind. I don't want you to change Lorelai."
"You're an idiot you know that. Whenever your hear the two of them talking you have to turn around and walk away, no matter who's name you overhear them saying. But Luke, of course we changed. Not only I changed, but you changed as well, and I thought that was a good thing. I'd lie if I say that I wasn't nervous about this date, but just because I didn't know where it was coming from, and because it's been so long since we've been on a date, you know? But honestly, until you asked me out today I didn't even think about it. I have to admit that it's really nice, just the two of us, like old times, but I don't miss it. I love spending time with you no matter what we do. And changing is part of growing up. Most of the people stop going out when they are younger and get married, but it just took us a long time until we got there. And honestly, when Rory was little I hardly ever went out. Rory was like five years old until I went out for the first time, and I hated it. The guy was really nice and all, but I just wasn't ready. So was I boring? According to the friends I used to have I was, but I had a kid to take care of, and I wasn't even thinking about going out and I had completely different problems then they had. While I worried about how to buy new clothes for my daughter, they worried about why their boyfriend of the month didn't like them anymore, and it didn't take long before we stopped seeing each other. But I got new friends and a different life and that change was good. Just like the changes now are good."
"So you don't think your life is boring right now?"
"Absolutely not. I have an amazing husband, two great kids, and the perfect job. What else could there be to make my life even more perfect? Of course it would be nice if we went out a little more often, just to spend time together because I'm really having a great time right now, but I wouldn't trade the life I have for the one I once had, for the world. This is what I wanted all the time, and trust me, it's not boring at all."
"Good." He smiled and took her hand and squeezed it.
"But you don't think your life is boring right? I mean, I know I changed but I thought it was a good change for the both of us."
"How could living with you be boring?" It was all he could say, and it said enough, at least to him it did. His life was boring before he met Lorelai. Of course it had its better points, but overall, it was boring and his days were predictable. But ever since Lorelai walked into his diner for the first time that changed. She lightened the place up when she walked in, and it was unable to predict how she was going to act or what was going to happen. And he loved it. He started to fantasize how it would to be with her and he fell in love with her. He fell hard and deep and even though it took him forever before he dared to admit it, his life became even better once he did. It wasn't like he expected it would be, it was even better.
"I don't know. You tell me." She smiled.
"My life used to be boring, but once I met you, you changed that. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, you know that right?"
"I feel absolutely the same way. You and Rory and Lucan are the best things that ever happened in my life."
"You know, every morning I wake up next to you I can't help but think how special you are to me, and how blessed I feel to have you in my life."
She tried to say something, but she couldn't find the words. Luke had said special things to her before, but that was usually behind the closed doors of their bedroom. This was in the middle of a restaurant, and even though nobody was listening to them, it was still very un-Luke-like.
He smiled knowing that she was speechless. That was rare and he loved that it was something he said that made her that way. Enjoying the silence he took a few bites of his vegetables, while just staring in her eyes. And she stared back and without further words, they knew exactly how the other one felt.
They finished their dinner while talking about less serious things. About Lucan trying to stand up in his playpen and how long it will take for him to stand up. And how fast he's growing up. About Rory and Warren. And they didn't feel boring talking about their family, they felt blessed with their family, and it was a subject they couldn't share better with anyone else than each other. With someone who you know feels the exact same way and loves to listen to what you are saying. Who doesn't care that you once again start talking about your kids and what they learned or are trying to learn. Of course Lorelai had Sookie to talk to about this stuff, but she had her own kids and it wasn't the same as talking to Luke, and as for Luke, sometimes when his customers saw him with Lucan they asked a few questions, but it wasn't the same as talking to Lorelai. It definitely wasn't the same.
-xxxxxx-
It was 11.30 when Luke and Lorelai arrived home. They missed the movie because they spend a long time talking in the restaurant, but they didn't really care. It wasn't as if they saw enough movies already anyway. After they finished eating they drove around for a while and ended up in a park and walked around there for a while, talking more.
"I wonder if my parents are still awake." Lorelai whispered, afraid to wake up her parents if they were still asleep.
"Let's go see. Hand me your coat, then you go check up on them."
She handed him her coat and walked into the living room. She stood in the door opening and smiled at the sight in front of her. Richard was asleep in the armchair, and Emily was lying on the couch, with Lucan on her chest. Luke showed up behind her, putting his arms around her waist and she leaned into his chest.
"I'm not sure what I expected when I walked in here, but this definitely was not it." She looked up at him and stole a quick kiss. "We better wake them. They still have to drive all the way home."
Luke nodded and let go of her waist so she could step away.
Lorelai walked to the couch and kneeled down in front of it. "Mom, wake up."
"Ummm…" Emily replied.
"Mom, wake up. You have to go home."
Emily slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times to remember where she was.
"Careful, Lucan is laying there. We don't want him to wake up now." Lorelai whispered.
"Can you take him?"
"Sure. Just open your arms." She carefully picked up her son and handed him to Luke. "Here, you put him back in his bed."
"Be right back."
"What happened mom?" Lorelai asked when Luke walked up the stairs.
"He woke up crying and he didn't want to go back to sleep, so I took him downstairs. We watched some TV. Nothing scary, some kind of cartoon. I guess we both fell asleep." She sat up and saw that Richard was still asleep. "I guess we all fell asleep."
"We better wake him up. You still have to drive back all the way to Hartford."
"Yeah, we should do that." She stared at Lorelai for a while.
"What is it mom?"
"I just want you to know how much it means to me that you let me babysit your son tonight. I know that you would have preferred to have Rory babysit him, but it really means so much to me that you let me come instead. I had a wonderful time."
"I'm glad you wanted to come mom. I had a great time too. It's been so long that we did this, Luke and I. And I forgot how it used to be. I love spending time at home with Lucan, but it's nice to just spend some time together. Just like we did before he was born."
"I know. I would love to babysit for you again, if you and Luke want to go out a little more often."
"That would be nice." Lorelai smiled and Emily smiled back.
"If you wake up dad, I'll go check up those two guys of mine. Just see what's taking Luke so long."
Emily nodded.
Lorelai walked upstairs into Lucan's room. She saw him watching in the crib. "Hey, what's taking so long?"
"I was just watching him."
"Come downstairs. My parents are leaving."
"Okay." He took her hand in his and they went downstairs together to say goodbye to Richard and Emily.
"Drive safe dad. There's a little ice on the roads."
"I'll be careful Lorelai." He pulled his daughter in a hug. "Thank you for letting your mother babysit tonight." He whispered in her ear.
"It was my pleasure." Lorelai whispered back. Then she let go of her father and hugged her mother. "Thanks again mom."
"You're welcome Lorelai. And remember, I'd love to do it again."
"I will keep it in mind."
"Goodbye Richard, Emily. Thank you for helping us out tonight."
"Our pleasure Luke." They shook hands and with that they walked away.
"Uh… I'm tired." Lorelai leaned against her husband when she closed the front door.
"Really, I wouldn't have noticed. Let's get to bed."
"Yeah lets."
They walked up the stairs together and ten minutes later they lay in bed, cuddled up.
"What were you thinking when you were in Lucan's room earlier?"
He smiled slightly. "After all the talk about changing, I couldn't help but think that there was a day I never thought I would have a kid. I really didn't like kids."
"The jam hands." She smiled.
"Yeah the jam hands. But sometime in the period I knew you, I started liking the thought of having a kid sometime, you know. I saw how you were with Rory and even though she was older already, I just couldn't help but think that it was nice."
"It is."
"Yeah, well anyway. I know I changed a lot since I met you, but I changed the most the moment you told me I was becoming a father."
"You were so freaked out at first."
"Just because I was speechless. I didn't see it coming and I still feel bad for the way I took it at first, but I was really happy, you know?"
"I do."
"Good. So, you're right. Changing is good."
"Told you so." She closed her eyes as she snuggled even further into his chest.