Notes:
Sure it's no longer June 3rd, but I'm still going to pimp my new oneshot A Midnight Meeting cause it's some good LL fluff and who doesn't want that?
aries-chica56 - There was a Jess in the story. He got sent home when Luke found out he told Chris about Lorelai cheating on him. But I've said before he'll come back eventually, and he will. But I think after Luke and Lorelai marry it would just be weird for Jess and Rory to get together, they'd be cousins. Especially with Rory refering to Luke as her dad.
LorLukealways - You know, I don't know the real answer as to why Lorelai always forgives Christopher, but I think a lot of it has to do with him being Rory's father. I think she feels that if she holds a grudge against Chris, then Rory will, and she doesn't want to be the reason that Rory holds a grudge against her own father.
GMB loves Angel - Yup that's how it is with me too. When I started the story Lorelai was going to break up with Christopher for another very-unLorelai reason. Things had to be changed and because of that I've had to deal with the whole how Rory deals with the situation thing. And just little things like that get added in and have to be dealt with later on, like Anna, still haven't figured out what to do with her yet. Plus, since this is following the show at some points, I still have to throw that in.
sarahb2007 - The dedication was in my recent oneshot because you kept saying in your reviews that you were so worried that Luke and Lorelai weren't going to get back together so I dedicated the story where they do get back together to you. So you'd be happy ;)
Rach - I wonder if that is the point of the show... is it to see Rory's development or Lorelai's? And if it was Lorelai's, which I thought it was, she had certainly progressed until the scene I hesitate to mention. I think the thing with writing Rory is she doesn't have any distinct quirks. She likes coffee, but not like Lorelai. She uses pop references and jokes around but not like Lorelai. To me, Rory's not the onion that Lorelai is.
lUKE iS MY HERO - Glad you're liking it so far. I always like to hear from new fans.
smileyGGfan - I'm not sure what you thought I was foreshadowing, but the Kirk scene was to convince Luke to change things a bit. I don't mind your criticism, I don't mind knowing what people think should be changed. I think a lot of the Rory saying Dad stuff was her trying to get used to it. She probably won't use it as often anymore. E&R know about the twins, that was the last dinner that Lorelai went to and stalked out of, which is why they haven't been in the story since, they will come back of course. I know you're a sucker for alliteration but Louie? (jk) I promise the girl's name won't be Lucy or Loren though.
Lorelai's House
Lorelai is on the couch, as usual as of late, directing Luke on how best to decorate the Christmas tree. "No, Luke, too much popcorn. There has to be enough left over for Rory and me to stuff ourselves with," Lorelai nags. Luke huffs, setting down the popcorn bowl he was holding.
"Lorelai, the popcorn isn't good for you," Luke tells her.
"According to you, nothing is good for me except celery and water. I feel like a prisoner of war," Lorelai complains. Luke shakes his head picking up another box of ornaments. He sifts through it, picking out the ornaments he likes as Lorelai watches him, letting him actually decorate the tree himself for a minute.
As he starts putting up a few of the ornaments, he glances over at her and says, "Hey you never told me, are you sure you're okay with celebrating Christmas today?" Lorelai gives him a strange look.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He shrugs.
"Cuz Christmas is actually tomorrow," Luke replies.
"Yes, but you remember I grew up celebrating Christmas two weeks early. In fact, I've celebrated Christmas two weeks early as long as I can remember," Lorelai recalls wistfully.
"And you were okay with that?"
"As long as there were apple tarts, Lorelai was happy," she says grinning. Luke chuckles and goes back to decorating the tree. "Luke, we can do it every year this way if you want because I know it means something for you to have April here to celebrate with us."
"Well, maybe one year Anna will let her come on Christmas Day," Luke considers. When Lorelai doesn't respond, he glances over at her and sees her expression. "Are you telling me you never let Christopher take Rory on Christmas Day?" Lorelai crosses her arms thinking this over.
"He never wanted to," she responds.
"Ah."
"Okay, one time he did, but it was when he had moved to Boston and was living with Sherry so Rory was 17 by then."
"But did you even let her go then?" Luke asks, pausing his decorating while she answers.
"Yes, and she didn't want to go anyways," Lorelai answers quickly. She looks down, sighing. "Well actually, I didn't tell her that Chris called and offered to have her over until a few days before," Lorelai admits. Luke raises an eyebrow. "I guess I understand Anna's point of view a little bit. Rory spent all her time during school studying so when she got a break I wanted her to spend it with me. I still do." Luke nods. He goes back to decorating.
"Hey, are you doing okay?" he asks. Lorelai looks at him curiously as he glances over at her. "I'm just saying you haven't been your usual sparkly self for a few weeks and I just wanted to check that it wasn't something more than you just missing coffee." Lorelai shrugs.
"I guess I just get bored and cranky sitting here in the house all day. I'm going to get bed sores," she claims.
"You're not going to get bed sores, I'll make sure to flip you to your other side before you do," Luke promises. "That's what I'm here for, to turn you when you need me."
"Dirty," Lorelai says, but not with the same excitement as usual. She plays a little with the blanket covering her. "Luke, are you all set with money?" He glances back over at her from hanging the ornaments.
"Do you need more money for the remodeling?" he asks.
"Uh, no, I was just – I don't know what I was asking…" Lorelai bites her lower lip nervously.
"Lorelai, I have money put away for the twins and April and any other kids we may have and even Rory if she needs it, you don't have to worry about that," Luke tells her. Lorelai nods slowly.
"I'm not, I'm just making sure." She sighs, waving it off with her hands. "I don't know, where this came from," she says softly.
"Well if you need any…"
"I don't," she responds quickly, even interrupting him. Luke watches her expression and then goes back to his work.
"Lucy! I'm home!" they hear Rory call as she walks in the house.
"We're in here!" Lorelai calls. She glances over her shoulder, smiling when Rory and April walk in the room. "Welcome to Christmas in Connecticut, starring Lorelai Gilmore as Barbara Stanwyck!"
"Who's Barbara Stanwyck?" April asks. Lorelai opens her mouth in shock.
"Lorelai, you have to remember that some people don't spend their entire lives watching movies," Luke warns her.
"Who are these people?"
"Yes tell us," Rory adds.
"We shall search them out," Lorelai says.
"Make a circle around them and hold hands."
"Repeat quotes from famous movies until they give in." April giggles.
"Well I'm sure they'll know when to give in, I learned pretty quickly," Luke grumbles. Lorelai and Rory share a smile. "April, why don't you come over here and finish decorating the tree. I'm sure Lorelai will be nicer to you." Lorelai gives him her 'who me' look. "I'm going to go see if breakfast is ready." He walks into the kitchen. Lorelai motions for Rory to join her on the couch as April continues the decorating process.
"So, I have to ask, was it strange for you?" Lorelai asks Rory cryptically. Rory shakes her head in confusion. "Last night." Rory still looks confused. "I mean with it not being just us girls." She gives Rory a look, hoping she'll understand.
"Ah, well you do remember that you were the one wigging out last time it wasn't just us girls, with Max," Rory reminds her mother, glancing over at April to make sure she's being cryptic enough.
"Yeah, it just doesn't feel that strange this time."
"That's because this time it's right," Rory responds, patting her mother's leg. Lorelai smiles to herself. "So have you guys decided on names yet?" Rory asks as Luke walks back in the room.
"All we've decided on is that they're not being named George and Martha," Luke grumbles. Lorelai snickers. "Apparently breakfast is going to take longer than I thought."
"Presents!" Lorelai exclaims, more excited than she's been in awhile.
"What are you two years old?" Luke asks. Lorelai nods vigorously.
"Wowewai want pwethent," Lorelai gurgles. Luke glares at her. April giggles. "Pwease Wuke, pwetty pwease?"
"Not even born yet, and the twins are already more mature than you," Luke remarks. Rory smirks. He sighs. "Okay, okay, presents."
"Yay!" Lorelai exclaims, clapping her hands together. Luke smiles, glad to see Lorelai in a good mood for a change. He sits on the floor by the tree and April sits down next to him. She helps him pass out gifts to everyone and they all begin opening them. "Oh, Luke, don't forget the package in the corner for Rory." Rory glances at Lorelai.
"Gramma gave me my gift at the Christmas party," Rory tells her.
"It's from your dad, Sweets," Lorelai says.
"My dad is here," Rory retorts. Lorelai presses her lips together sadly. She glances over at Luke. "I don't want it, burn it, put it with the Jess box, I don't care," Rory mutters. As she says this, she doesn't look up, she just keeps opening her gift from Lorelai.
"Okay," Lorelai says softly. "We'll save it, one day you may want it." She looks over at Luke worried, but he nods to her. Lorelai takes a deep breath and goes back to opening her gift.
"Wow, the complete Anne of Green Gables series!" April exclaims. "That's exactly what I wanted, Dad." She throws her arms around Luke, who hugs her tightly. He glances up at Rory and mouths a thank you. "I'm surprised you didn't get me a Barbie or something."
"Yeah – well – I guess I'm learning," Luke stammers. April smiles and goes to open her next gift. Luke shares a look with Lorelai, who's snickering. He shakes his head at her.
"A complete boxset, all the top hits of the 80s," Lorelai says, smiling down at her gift from Luke.
"It seemed to be calling your name," Luke tells her.
"Yes it was," Lorelai concurs. She opens up the box, checking out the songs. Rory motions at Luke, trying to get his attention without Lorelai noticing. She points to her hand and Luke nods, holding up a finger.
"Hey, Lorelai, why don't I put one of the CDs in?" Luke suggests. Lorelai shrugs and hands him the box. Luke walks over to the CD player, puts one of the CDs in, picks a song and Phil Collins's Groovy Kind of Love plays. He glances over at Rory who gives him a thumbs up.
"Good choice!" Lorelai exclaims, not really paying attention to what Luke's doing. She's looking at a booklet listing all of the songs. Luke walks over and kneels on both knees, on the floor next to Lorelai and takes her hand as if he wants to look at the booklet to. She moves the booklet so that he can look, glancing up at his serious expression, she sets the booklet down. "Luke? Are you okay?"
"Lorelai, that's not your real present," he says.
"You're taking my 80s music away?" Lorelai asks worried. She pouts.
"No, you can keep that, but I have something else to give you, if you'll answer this question for me."
"Okay…" Lorelai gives him a curious look. Luke takes a deep breath, looking deep into her eyes, gaining strength from the warmth of her touch and the beauty of her face and the emotions in her eyes.
"Lorelai, will you marry me?" Lorelai's eyes light up and she slowly begins to smile.
"Yes!" she exclaims, almost breathlessly. He flips her hand over and sets a box in it. Lorelai smiles at him for a moment, before opening the box, her eyes dancing. "Wow," she utters. Luke takes the box from her and puts the ring on her finger.
"It was my mother's. A few months before she died, she gave it to me. She said that one day I would meet a woman and picture myself giving her the ring and that would be the woman I would love for the rest of my life. And this one summer day about 7 years ago, this crazy woman came in my diner, bright blue eyes, long black tresses and an extreme caffeine addiction. The moment I met her, the moment we said our first words and I touched her hand for the first time, I could see myself giving her the ring. And today I'm fulfilling that," Luke says. Lorelai stares at him through misty eyes, her lips parted lightly in amazement.
"I – I – I'm speechless."
"It had to happen sometime," Luke teases. She smiles softly. "Lorelai, I was going to ask your father for permission to marry you because you like tradition," he says.
"Well so does Tevye," Lorelai jokes. Luke and Rory share a look.
"Yes, he does. But I want you to know, I didn't. I thought that you're not that close to him and so it wouldn't mean anything. But I did get permission to marry you." Lorelai furrow her eyebrows in confusion.
"From who?"
"From me," Rory says. Lorelai's face lights up again as she looks over at Rory. "And I was happy to grant it." Lorelai looks back at Luke in wonder.
"You are amazing," she tells him. He reaches up and brushes his fingers across her cheek before leaning in and kissing her. "Wait, this isn't finished yet." Luke looks a little nervous. Lorelai looks over at April. "April, do I have permission to marry your dad?" April squeals in delight at being included.
"Yes!" she exclaims. Lorelai holds her arms out to April, who runs into them, hugging her. Then she reaches her arms out to Rory, who gets up and walks over to hug Lorelai. After letting her daughter go, Lorelai glances from Rory to April to Luke, proud of the family sitting around her. "I finally have it," she whispers. "The whole package." Lorelai smiles, placing a hand over her belly. With her other hand, she reaches out and runs it through Luke's hair, pulling him in to kiss her again as she reaches the back of his head.
"We finally have it," Luke whispers to her, their faces still almost touching. Then he tilts his head capturing her lips with his once again.