Notes: In response to squiddrude, I think I thought about a who's the daddy storyline for a matter of a second. This isn't going to be that kind of story. When and if Luke and Lorelai have a baby together I want her to know it's his.
Just to let you know, next chapter is 20 so for the big 2-0 I'm planning a very important chapter. It may not necessarily be what you're expecting but it will be good and one of my longest. So keep reading and keep reviewing!
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Luke's Diner
Lorelai walks in but doesn't see Luke. She walks up to the counter, looking around and not recognizing any of the other customers. "Luke," she calls. Luke walks out of the back. Lorelai smiles brightly. "Well hello there."
"Coffee?" Luke asks. He picks up a towel and wipes off his hands. Lorelai looks at him strangely.
"That's not a normal response to hello," Lorelai notes. Luke sighs, giving her a look. "I'm just saying. It was a greeting. A normal response would be 'hello Lorelai, my you're looking lovely today'." Luke shakes his head.
"Coffee?" he grunts again. Lorelai sighs, climbing onto a stool.
"Yeah," she answers and sighs.
"Rough day?" Luke asks. Lorelai looks up at him surprised.
"He speaks!" Luke rolls his eyes. He sets a coffee cup in front of her and walks over to get the coffee pot.
"You just look tired, more so than usual," Luke comments. He walks back over with the coffee pot and pours. "Something going on at the inn?" Lorelai shakes her head.
"No, just the usual stuff. Michel complaining about Sookie trying to fatten him up." Lorelai takes a sip of coffee. "Mmmm. I've waited all day for this." Luke smiles faintly. He walks over and puts the coffee pot back. "So where were you when I walked in?"
"Oh, I was just upstairs with April. She came over after school today. They're doing a whole unit in her math class about money and I'm helping her out. It's one of the few things that I can teach her."
"She comes in a lot lately," Lorelai notices. Luke shrugs.
"Well, she's my daughter. I missed 9 years of her life, I might as well make up for it."
"Yeah…" Lorelai drinks some more of the coffee. She swallows, knowing she wants to find out more, but not knowing how to ask. "So… you just going to leave her up there alone?"
"Are you going to try to teach me parenting techniques again?" Both remember the argument they had when Lorelai tried to tell Luke how to deal with Jess. Lorelai taps the edge of her coffee cup, thinking. "Her mom's up there with her," Luke says, relenting. Lorelai tries to cover her surprise, by drinking more coffee.
"Oh – uh – good," she says lamely. Luke waits for her to say more, but Lorelai seems unwilling. "Anna seems nice," Lorelai says, finally.
"You two have talked?" Lorelai smiles.
"No, I was just – from what I've observed."
"Ah." Luke leans back against the back counter. "You should meet her, I think you'd like her."
"Really? I remember someone freaking out when I met Rachel," Lorelai says, reminding Luke of his ex-girlfriend. Luke looks down, hiding a smile. "You didn't really mean it when you said I should meet her." Luke shrugs. "Are you two – you know – together?" Luke looks back up at Lorelai. He shrugs, kind of stamping his foot against the ground. "Would you tell me if you were?"
"Why wouldn't I? Didn't Sam let Diane meet Rebecca?" Lorelai laughs quietly. Luke nods to her, smiling.
"You know, if you actually watched the show, you'd know that Sam ended up with Diane and not Rebecca," Lorelai comments. Luke chuckles.
"Yeah, you should just be happy I could come up with the anecdote." Lorelai nods, drinking her coffee again. Both seem happy to be settled back into their friendly relationship.
Anna and April walk in from the back. "Hey Luke, we're going head out, I'm actually cooking dinner tonight," Anna says.
"Aw, you're missing a really great burger," Lorelai says. Luke gives her a look.
"We've had them, they're good," April says. "Thanks for the math help." Luke puts an arm around April, a not bad attempt at a hug. She giggles. "You keep working on him," April says to Lorelai.
"Oh uh – Lorelai – this is Anna, Anna – Lorelai is my best customer when the coffee's fresh," Luke says. Anna chuckles. She and Lorelai shake hands.
"Yeah, I remember you from Thanksgiving," Anna says.
"Oh – yeah – that was me. It's not Thanksgiving without Luke's rolls," Lorelai responds. Anna nods.
"Okay, well, we should really be getting going," Anna says.
"I'll walk you out," Luke says. He and Anna walk off talking.
"Seriously, keep working on him," April says to Lorelai. Lorelai smiles, nodding. "I'll see you around." She scampers off to keep up with her mother and father. Lorelai watches them, taking another sip of her coffee. Sighing, she stands, throwing her purse on the shoulder and walks out the other direction. Passing Jess, who's working on his car, she nods.
"I just want to say, I think you are scum," Jess says. Lorelai stops and turns to look at him, a horrified look on her face.
"What did you just say to me?" Lorelai asks angrily.
"You heard me."
"You know, I know you have problems and everything and I should give you a chance, but I deserve a little more respect than that. I'm your girlfriend's mother and your uncle's friend."
"Not a good one," Jess replies. Lorelai stares at him in disgust, her hands going to her hips. "You treat him like crap, is all I'm saying. You know he's had feelings for you forever and you sleep with him and just think he's going to forget it happened?" A panicked look comes over Lorelai's face.
"How do you know about that? Did Luke tell you?"
"Naw, Luke doesn't tell me anything. I heard you two, in the hospital, after the crash, whispering your not-so-sweet nothings in his ear." Lorelai's face has gone white as a sheet.
"Did you tell Rory?"
"No, I didn't. You think she wants to know that her mother is cheating on her father?" Jess shakes his head. "You are unbelievable."
"Jess, I don't think you understand the circumstances."
"I don't think that really matters. You can't keep doing this, every time you have some kind of argument with a boyfriend you go running to him. He's not Lassie, he shouldn't have to come running every time Timmy falls in a well." Lorelai stares at him with a new found respect. "I'm not going to say anything to Rory, just, next time, leave Luke alone. He shouldn't have to be your second choice. He deserves more than that."
"I didn't know you cared," Lorelai says. Jess shrugs. She shakes her head, trying to think things through. "Okay," she agrees finally.
"You'll let him move on with his life?" Lorelai nods. "That's all I'm saying." He goes back to his car. Lorelai glances up, watching Luke walk away from Anna and April and into his diner. She nods to herself and walks away.