Notes: Well after last nights episode, I really wanted to sit down and write another whole story about Luke and Lorelai. About what she should have said and he should have said and them being more of a couple than they've been lately, but what Luke's "I love you" is always nice to hear. Anyways, I figured class was a better idea so here are Luke and Lorelai in my story.
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A Market in Woodbury
"So you have enough blueberries?" Luke asks the manager. He nods. "You're sure? Because Taylor promises to get them for me weekly for my blueberry pancakes but this week he suddenly decided to not order them."
"I'll have Jake over there drop them off after work," the manager replies. He points at a boy putting apples in a bin. Luke nods.
"Okay, fine." Luke nods and leaves the store in a rush. As he walks out he runs smack into a woman. "Oh, sorry." He grabs her arm to help her and finally looks at her. "Anna?"
"Luke!" Anna exclaims, surprised. "Long time."
"Yeah, well, yeah," Luke stammers. "I didn't realize you still lived near here."
"Yeah, April and I have a house in Woodbury."
"April?" Anna motions to the 9 year old standing next to her. "Oh, uh, hi." Luke waves, his usual discomfort around children coming out.
"April, this is Luke Danes."
"Hello," April says plainly. "You know if you stopped shifting around like that, you wouldn't look like you have to go to the bathroom," she comments. Anna smiles at Luke, who is suddenly very still. He glances over at Anna.
"Hey, April, go on inside the market, I'll meet you inside."
"Okay, it was nice to meet you Mr. Danes." April walks inside the market and both Anna and Luke watch her walk inside.
"It's so amazing to run into you again, Anna. It's been what 9 years?" Luke asks. Anna raises an eyebrow at Luke.
"Yes, I mean just look at how old April is," Anna responds. She quickly bites her lip hoping that Luke didn't notice.
"April? Why would that…" Luke trails off, staring at the door April just entered into. His jaw drops open.
"Luke… I…"
"Anna, is she…?" Luke can't seem to get the words out. Anna nods, swallowing.
"She's yours." Luke is speechless. For a moment, he concentrates on breathing. "Luke, did you hear me?" Luke turns his gaze to Anna.
"Yes, Anna, I heard you. I heard you now, 9 years after the fact." Anna looks down. "Why am I finding this now? And would I have even found this out if I hadn't run into you?"
"Literally," Anna adds. Luke glares at her. Anna sighs. "I don't know, Luke. I really don't know." Luke sighs, hands on hips. "I found out I was pregnant after we broke up and look at you, you're still not that great around children."
"Other people's children, who knows how I would be around my own! You never gave me a chance!" Luke yells.
"I know… I just…."
"I can't believe this, I can't believe you. We broke up so peacefully, we just didn't belong together." Luke sighs. "So, this is why you stopped talking to me?" Anna nods. "Wow."
"I'm sorry Luke, I was really stupid. But as time went by, it just got harder and harder to tell you," Anna insists. Luke shakes his head again.
"Okay, I have to – I'm going to, just give me a little bit. I'll – uh – call you later," Luke manages, holding up a hand. Anna nods. He looks at her like he wants to say something and then, letting his hand finally drop, walks away.
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Luke's Diner, Next Day
"Lu-uke!' Lorelai sings, walking into the diner. Luke glances up at her from behind the counter.
"Get a table," he grumbles. Lorelai walks over to a table in the corner where two people are already sitting.
"Hello there, how are you? Would you mind moving?" Lorelai asks sweetly.
"Lorelai!" Luke walks briskly over to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her away. "I swear, if you do that one more time, I'm giving you decaf for a week."
"Dirty!"
"Dirty? How on earth was that dirty?" Luke asks. Lorelai winks. Luke rolls his eyes.
"Okay, Sebastian," Lorelai replies.
"Sebastian?" Luke asks, leading her over to the counter.
"Yeah, you know, the crab from The Little Mermaid, cuz you're a crab."
"Uh, Lorelai, Sebastian was a lobster." Lorelai pauses and thinks about that for a moment.
"You've seen The Little Mermaid?" Lorelai asks, grinning. Luke rolls his eyes. "And the truth comes out about Luke Danes!"
"Lorelai…." Luke sighs exasperated. Lorelai climbs onto a stool at the counter, pulling her purse into her lap. Luke walks around to stand in front of her on the other side of the counter. "Coffee?"
"Yes, and I'll have the Luke's in a crappy mood special," Lorelai jokes.
"I'm not in a crappy mood."
"Oh no, I forgot, you're always a grump." Luke sighs, exasperated. "With fries please." She grins. Luke nods. He writes it down and walks over to hand the order to Caesar. "So why the bad mood, Oscar?"
"You really wanna know?" He walks back over to stand in front of her.
"Always. Patty can't always be first with the gossip. I'll show her. I'm the Queen of the Luke Gossip."
"What a great title to have," Luke says, sarcastically. Lorelai folds her hands on counter in front of her, waiting patiently. Luke leans toward her, putting both hands on the edge of the counter on his side. "I ran into my ex, Anna Nardini yesterday. She had a kid with her. She said it's mine." Lorelai's mouth drops open.
"You procreated?" Lorelai gasps.
"See, I knew I shouldn't have told you." Luke grabs a coffee cup, fills it up and puts it in front of her.
"No, I'm just surprised, probably not as much as you are." She mulls it over for a moment. "Was the kid wearing flannel?"
"Lorelai!" Luke yells.
"Well, I mean then I would definitely know he was yours."
"She, it's a girl." He leans back against the counter behind him crossing his arms in front of him.
"A girl? Wow, I cannot imagine you as a little girl." Lorelai sizes him up. "Nope, really cannot see it."
"I do have a sister, although she doesn't look a lot like me. Liz looks more like my mother did. You know I have a sister. Jess…" Lorelai nods, ignoring the mention of Jess.
"So what's she like?"
"I don't know. I didn't really get to know her. April. That's her name. I was still trying to wrap my mind around it so I told Anna I'd get back to her later." Lorelai stares at him. "What do you think I should do?"
"Be a father. Think about where Rory would be if Chris had been there her whole life." Lorelai lifts her coffee cup and drinks a little as Luke ponders this.
"But you're such a good mother, Lorelai. She doesn't seem to need anyone else. You're enough for her," Luke says. Lorelai shrugs.
"Probably wouldn't have been if Chris had always been there. And it's not so much that Rory didn't turn out well, cuz come on, you know Rory. But she missed out. Chris should have been a much bigger part of her life. And she realizes it more and more every time he comes around." Luke nods.
"He's been coming around a lot more lately?" Lorelai drinks her coffee, smiling to herself. She nods. "Well, that's good," Luke manages. "Rory's happy about it I'm sure."
"Well, she will be when she gets back at least."
"Right." Luke picks up a rag and begins wiping down the counter. "And you're happy?" He pauses and looks at her. They share a look.
"Yes, yes I am," Lorelai responds. Luke isn't sure if she's telling the truth or trying to convince herself that she is. He goes back to wiping the counter. "It's still something new I'm getting used to," she says by way of explanation.
"New? You've known him for how long?"
"Well new, in the sense that he's matured. I never would have considered this until he did. Not for a moment." Lorelai looks down into her coffee cup, thinking about this.
"Well that's good," Luke says. He stops his work right in front of her. She looks up into his eyes. Touching her hand lightly he says, "I'm just glad you're happy, Lorelai. You deserve it." They gaze at each other for a moment, neither wanting to break away.
"Thank you," Lorelai says quietly. "I do. I do deserve it." She smiles at him and goes back to drinking her coffee.
"I'll get your food." Luke walks away. Lorelai watches him for a moment and then goes back to her coffee.
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Just a few more notes: I wrote this chapter before last night's episode. I've always thought April was adorable and I actually don't mind that she's on GG but if LL would just talk about it, I'd be a whole lot happier. Basically, here I'm introducing her before they get together, as a way to bring them together and so they actually know where they stand on the April issue when they get together.
And as always, keep reviewing! I hope you can deal with a few more LC scenes, I'm not sure what I have planned next but the first few chapters are all just setting the whole thing up. Oh I know, Rory will be back next chapter so you can expect her to have some affect on the whole LL vs LC situation.