Notes:
Wow. Fifty chapters. It seems like just yesterday I was crying as I wrote Loved and Lost, so I decided to watch some older episodes of GG and I watched Teach Me Tonight and Help Wanted and wrote the first chapter of this story. Hey, anyone remember that this was just supposed to be a one shot? Then I started writing it and it just kept writing itself. Strange how that happens. I'm so glad there's people there who have been reading this the whole time, espcially Ronata and hollywoodgrl who have reviewed almost every chapter that I can remember. I appreciate all my other consistent and not so consistent reviewers as well, I'm going to try to look through this weekend and thank you all next chapter. I think I'm about halfway through so there's much more to come. And please help me celebrate by giving me lots of reviews! Just tell me one thing you like, it doesn't even have to be from this chapter, or tell me one thing that you'd like changed.
Here's another light fluffy chapter. I wanted to do something special for this chapter but the characters aren't at the point to do anything really special, but I realized it's almost Thanksgiving their time and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday so that's why I'm doing this chapter. I think one of the cutest moments ever on GG is the S3 Thanksgiving episode when they're at Luke's and when Luke gets up to go get the marshmellows, Lorelai takes the mashed potatoes off his plate all while carrying on a conversation with Rory. It's like they'd been married for 20 years or something. Just cute things like that are what made me like them before they were a them.
Ah the calm before the storm. I mean, I'm kidding, all my chapters are nice and fluffy. Right?
Oh and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! I love having days off of school.
Review Responses:
sarahb2007 - It's not actually from that. It's my own version of Liz coming back. Basically, I like Liz. I wanted her to be in the story. I want to have her wedding come the end of the season. But here she came back earlier than she did on the show, considering that I'm just doing Thanksgiving now here. But Jess isn't coming back yet, so it's not like on the show.
Babs25 - Nope, probably didn't tell you much except that Lorelai's pregnancy is moving along, and maybe a little foreshadowing. I'm having fun doing some nice fluffy chapters as Lorelai and Luke get ready to be parents. Drama is forthcoming though. If you like fluffiness, appreciate these chapters while you can.
GMBlovesAngel - Hmm... Liz is in town because I like Liz. I like Kathleen Whilhoite. Loved her on ER too. And I wanted to introduce Lorelai to Liz before the kids are born. I wanted to bring Liz back like how they do it on the show but then it's right around when the twins are due and that wasn't good for me.
Gymtig - Thanks! Yeah, well no work yet until school's over but I do keep busy. Glad you like Liz, she'll play a more prominent role in the future I believe.
borncountry88 - Eh, I'm not a blonde either but I have blonde moments constantly. Jim Brickman is a piano player from Cleveland. His songs are all love songs, about half of them have lyrics. I love his music. You might have heard Martina McBride singing Valentine, that's actually Jim Brickman's song.
Rach - Thanks for the long review, probably the longest I've ever gotten, and I loved it. I'm so glad to have gotten you addicted. You made complete sense and that's really all I'm doing. I'm not trying to manipulate the characters at all, I think given the circumstances that Chris might do something like that, and I think ultimately he doesn't actually remember it or wish to at all because sober, in his right mind, Chris would never hurt Lorelai physically. I think it's what happened when he saw his goddess fall from the pedastel he put her on. I think the only real thing I've added in is some public affection for Luke and Lorelai which I think is entirely within their personalities just not in what ASP wanted for the show.
smileyGGfan - Yeah the line from Lorelai that you quoted was supposed to be cute. But it's also hard because often Luke doesn't say too much about what he's thinking or feeling except in WitS and AVV. I think he shows it more than says it on the show so sometimes I have to figure out how to get him to say what I want him to say without getting him out of character. Thanks for noticing that I'm about to hit the big chapter, I'm glad you've liked what you've read so far.
Thanksgiving at Luke's
With Lorelai starting her seventh month of pregnancy, she and Rory decided that this year it was best to have one Thanksgiving dinner and only one. So Lorelai convinced Luke to have everyone at the diner for dinner. With Sookie only a few weeks post labor, Luke agreed to do most of the cooking if Sookie would make the desserts, which she happily agreed to.
Luke has finished basting the turkey and walks out of the kitchen wiping his hands on his apron as Sookie walks in the diner carrying Davey. "It smells wonderful in here Luke," Sookie announces. "Look Davey, look at all the decorations." Sookie points at the decorations around the diner and hanging from the ceiling, smiling down at Davey. "What came over you Luke?"
"You think I did that?" Luke grunts. Sookie giggles.
"Well of course not, silly, but the place didn't get decorated on its own and you had to give permission and you normally only do that for Lorelai who isn't about to climb a ladder and put up decorations right now," Sookie reminds him. Luke smirks.
"April came over after breakfast and decorated the place."
"Is she coming for dinner?" Sookie asks.
"Who? April?" Sookie gives Luke a look. "Yeah, course she is. Anna too." Sookie raises an eyebrow. "Lorelai knows, she's met Anna before."
"Before she broke up with Christopher? Before you two were together? Before she got pregnant?" Luke sighs, wanting to get off this subject more than anything. Sookie smirks, knowing she's gotten to Luke.
"Where's your crazy husband?" Luke asks, easily evading Sookie's questions.
"Bringing in the pies," Sookie answers just as Jackson walks in carrying about 8 pies in boxes.
"Sookie, how many pies did you bake?" Luke wonders in exasperation.
"16."
"16! We're only having 16 people, each person does not need their own pie," Luke contends.
"Why not?"
"Well, for instance, I don't eat pie," Luke responds.
"Then Lorelai will eat yours, she loves pie," Sookie says logically.
"Oh good idea, why doesn't she just have the heart attack now and get it over with?" Luke grumbles.
"Can you just tell me where to put these pies, they're getting heavy!" Jackson complains.
"Why 16?" Luke asks, ignoring Jackson's whining.
"Well I wasn't sure what kind of pie each person likes. I mean you have to have pumpkin and apple and chocolate but then there's pecan and key lime and you've got to have cherry," Sookie chatters. Luke raises an eyebrow, his hands on his hips.
"Guys! Pies!" Jackson whines.
"You don't have to have cherry, there's no law that says you have to have cherry," Luke gripes.
"Yes you do have to have cherry because at the very least, everyone likes cherry."
"Yeah but then everyone will eat their favorite thinking that someone else will eat the cherry, knowing that everyone likes cherry, and then I'll be left with a whole cherry pie and 15 stuffed guests," Luke complains.
"Luke! Sookie!" Jackson shouts. They look over at him, having finally realized that he's been trying to get their attention. "Where should I put the pies?"
"Upstairs on the table," Luke responds, as if Jackson should have known that.
"Up? Stairs?" Jackson repeats with trepidation, fearfully looking towards the curtain.
"Yeah, if they're sitting out down here I'll never get Lorelai to eat healthy foods like turkey and green beans and my kids are going to be born with diabetes," Luke contends. Sookie giggles.
"Oh, Luke, that's not true," Sookie says. Luke glares at her.
"Just put the pies upstairs," Luke responds shortly. Jackson sighs, carrying the pies in the back. Patty, Babette and Morey walk in.
"It smells good in there, oh hoo, it smells good," Babette exclaims.
"Oh is this the new little one?" Patty asks, walking over to Sookie. Kirk and Lulu walk in just as Luke walks out of the back.
"Luke, my girlfriend wants to thank you for inviting her," Kirk calls. Luke shakes his head.
"Well, you're welcome Lulu, but Lorelai did the inviting," Luke replies.
"Where is Lorelai?" Sookie asks.
"She's been having trouble getting up the stairs lately so she's been sleeping on the couch in living room of the house. Rory's going to stop by and pick her up," Luke says.
"She's a sweet girl, that one," Babette comments.
"Who are we talking about, this one?" Anna asks, pushing April in the door ahead of her. Babette and Patty share a look, but Luke just flashes one of his rare smiles.
"Hey there," Luke says. April runs over to him and they share a one arm hug. "You've been getting a lot of compliments on your decorations," Luke tells April.
"Good, we've been working since September at school on those turkeys," April responds, pointing at the centerpieces.
"Well they're quite lovely, Dear, almost good enough to eat," Patty says.
"You can't eat those!" April exclaims as they all laugh. Jackson walks down the stairs and outside to go get the rest of the pies with Liz and TJ following him. TJ is grumbling about having to do work even though it's just carrying in a few pies. Mrs. Kim and Lane walk in.
"Luke, since I am not having a dinner of my own this year, I brought my holiday special, tofurky," Mrs. Kim says, carrying a large tray in her arms. Lane looks down at the ground, trying not to be associated with this. Even Sookie wrinkles her nose in disgust. Luke walks over and lifts up the foil to get a look at the food.
"Looks good Mrs. Kim, I'll take it back and heat it up in the oven," Luke offers.
"It's warm enough, it's better when cold," Mrs. Kim responds. Luke nods. He motions for her to put the tray on the long table that has been set up by just putting the diner tables together.
"Are you really going to serve that?" Sookie asks Luke under her breath. Luke glances behind him at her and nods. "It might kill you."
"Just because it's healthy doesn't mean you shouldn't eat it," Luke replies.
"Hey Adkins, I know that," Sookie insists, but doesn't finish her response as Rory opens the door, helping her mother walk in before her.
"Hey everyone," Lorelai says. Luke immediately walks over to her.
"You okay?" he asks first, touching her elbow. Lorelai nods smiling, leaning in and kissing him, laying her hand on his chest. "Hi," he greets her in his low, almost flirtatious voice. Lorelai grins as they kiss again. "Hey Rory," Luke says in his normal voice. She waves. Luke wraps an arm around Rory's shoulders, hugging her to him quickly.
"Hey Dad," Rory replies. Luke can't help but grin again.
"Come on, you look like you could use a seat," Luke says, taking Lorelai's hand in his. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Luke leads her to a center chair at the table. Morey pulls out the chair as Luke helps Lorelai sit down.
"Wow, I feel like I'm made of glass," Lorelai jokes, sharing a smile with Sookie.
"Hi Lorelai," April says, taking a seat next to Lorelai. "You like my turkeys, don't you?" Lorelai glances at the center pieces and nods, smiling.
"They're the perfect addition to the table," Lorelai responds. She glances up at Luke who stands behind her, his hands on his shoulders. He beams down at her. "Hey Anna," Lorelai says. Anna lifts up a hand in a quick wave. "Glad you could come."
"Well April really likes her dad's cooking," Anna responds.
"Speaking of which, is everything ready? Because I'm starved!" Lorelai exclaims. Rory laughs.
"You're always starved," Rory teases. She sits down on the other side of Lorelai, patting the seat next to her for Lane. Luke nods.
"Let's eat," he announces. Everyone begins clamoring for a seat. Anna sits a few seats away from Lorelai and motions for April to move a seat down to sit next to her so that Luke can sit next to Lorelai. Jackson and Morey follow Luke into the kitchen to help him carry out the dinner.
"Wow, Lorelai, you look like you're ready to pop any second," Babette comments from down the table.
"And I still have three months to go," Lorelai complains.
"I can't believe how big you are, were you this big last time?" Liz asks. Lorelai shakes her head.
"No, last time when I had three months to go I was still trying to figure out if I would still be able to run away with the Bangles," Lorelai jokes. "This one was always little." She pinches Rory's cheek as Rory rolls her eyes.
"Well, there is an extra kid in there," Luke comments as he carries out the turkey, having already sliced it.
"Anyone need a baby? We've got an extra!" Lorelai announces like a paperboy.
"Lorelai…" Luke warns.
"Rory, are you excited to finally be a big sister?" Patty asks.
"Well I already am," Rory replies, winking at April, who blushes in delight. Jackson, Luke and Morey set the different dishes on the table and everyone begins serving, passing, talking and eating.