Title: A Perfect, and Somewhat Dysfunctional, Family

By: bokayjunkie

Summary: Luke and Rory has always had a special father/daughter bond that no one can break. But what happens when someone comes along to ruin that bond. Set in Season 1. Luke and Lorelai are not together…YET. A little RD also.

Disclaimer: not mine.

A/N: Ok, this is somewhat pointless. But hey, it's a filler. So don't get mad at me if nothing major happens.

CHAPTER 11: The New Family

"Rory!" Rory heard from a distance once she got off the bus. She looked over on the other side of the street and saw Lane, waving at her. She waved back and walked over towards her.

"Hey Lane, what's up?"

"Is it true?" she asked immediately.

"What's true?"

"That you and Dean had a double date with Lorelai ad Luke last night?" she asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

Rory looked at her confused, "Wha-"

Lane cut her off. "And Luke and Lorelai were on a date? I didn't even know this? How was it? Did you and Dean kiss again? Did Loreai and Luke kiss?" she gasped. "Oh my god, they are so getting married. Your wish will finally come true!" she was squealing and jumping up and down, hugging Rory with her in the process.

"Lane, Stop. Stop." Lane stopped. "There was no double date."

She frowned. "There wasn't?"

"No." then backtracked. "Well, it wasn't a double date per say. How did you find out anyway?"

"Well, Babette told Miss Patty, who told Gypsy, who told Andrew, who told Bootsy, who told Jackson, who also got it from Sookie, who told Taylor, who told Kirk-"

"Ok, enough!" Rory cut her off. " So the whole town knows?"

"Pretty much." she said as they started walking.

Rory sighed. "Ok, well, what exactly did you hear?"

"Well there were some that said Lorelai set up the date because Luke asked her out and she was nervous. There were others who said that Luke set up a family dinner for the 'getting to know you' part. There were even some that said that you guys went to Italy and Luke proposed to Lorelai while riding on the Gondola's."

I wish. "Jeez. Are all of their TV's broken or something? Do they have nothing to entertain them so they must butt in on other people's business?"

"You've been hanging out with Luke way too much." Lane smirked. "So, which is it? Is it true? Tell me!"

Rory sighed, and stopped and turned to look at Lane. "Well, it wasn't a date."

"Then what was it?"

"It was more of a…" trying to find the words. "…hanging out, type of thing?"

Lane was skeptical. "Hanging out?"

"Yes." she replied. "Mom and I went to Doose's on a food run for Willy Wonka. And Dean was there, and, seeing as how my mother is insane, she invited him over for our movie night. So there you go. He came, we ate, we watched. It was good."

"And Luke? Did he come too? Or was that just a rumor?"

"No, he came. The two of us are good. I saw him, I apologized, he said he's not mad at me and I know he wasn't. and he promised he'd give Dean a chance. So, as a way to punish mom for inviting a guy I like over, I invited a guy, that she likes over. Even if she denies it."

"You are such a sly."

"Thank you."

"So walk me through it! How did the night go?"

"Well, at first he was late."

"Why?"

"Babette and Morey shanghaied him, that's probably why she told Patty. But it was all good. Then we had a run-in with Sookie, who thought it was a double date seeing as how Luke was there also. So that's probably where that came from." she said. "And, the rest of the night went fairly well. Mom was totally normal. Well, normal for her. And Luke was on his best behavior. And, I didn't puke at all."

"That is amazing." Lane smiled. "So… did he kiss you?" Rory smiled shyly and nodded. Lane squealed. "Oh my god! This is unbelievable. I am so happy for you."

"Thanks." Rory smiled as they entered the diner. "Hey Luke." Rory greeted, walking behind the counter and kissed him on the cheek. "So, how many congratulations have you gotten today?" she smirked, teasingly.

"Three." Luke answered dryly. "And there was even one who wanted to know the sex of the baby."

The two looked at Lane. "Oh, yes. I forgot about the whole, Lorelai being pregnant rumor."

Rory giggled. "Wow, you guys don't waste time."

Luke shook his heads. "Doesn't this town have anything else better to do?"

"Sorry. Do you need any help?"

"Yes please."

Rory and Lane stayed and helped Luke out in the diner. Rory offered to take Lane's backpack and put it upstairs since she needed to change out of her uniform. Seeing as she already has some clothes over in Luke's apartment, Rory didn't have to go home to change.

Rory had been helping out around the diner since it opened. At first she would just follow Luke around. When she was eleven, she started working on her own. Taking orders on her own. And bussed tables on her own. By thirteen she worked on full shifts and started getting paid.

Lane had started working with Rory at the diner a year ago. Mrs. Kim figured that it was time for Lane to experience the real world. As long as it didn't interfere with her studies, and if ever Mrs. Kim needs her at the Antique store, then Lane had to help her out. Working at the diner was mostly Lane and Rory's idea. Once Mrs. Kim had said that Lane could have a part time job, the girls immediately went to Luke and asked him if Lane could have a job there. And Mrs. Kim liked the idea of Lane working at the diner. Luke was a nice man, and the diner was only a minute away from their house.

Later that night, most of the people at the diner had already come and go. There were already a few people left. Lane had left about two hours ago. Right now it was just Luke and Rory. Rory continued to go on about her job, cleaning up tables, while Luke was behind the counter counting receipts.

"Hello, hello." said Lorelai, as she emerged in the diner. "Hi there my beautiful offspring." she smiled and gave Rory a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey mom."

Lorelai sat down on the counter as Rory went behind and grabbed her mother a cup of coffee. "And hello to you my supposedly fiancé."

"Hey, how was your day?" Luke feigning chirpyness.

"Well, funny you should ask." she began, taking a sip of her coffee. "Miss Patty came in to the inn today and wanted to set up an engagement party. She wanted to know what colors we'd" she gestured between the two of them. "want. And also she wanted to see if Sookie can cater. We're having it at the square by the way." she said. " And it's suppose to be a surprise. So don't go on and spoil it for everybody. And the wedding's gonna be at the inn this December, cause I love snow. Near Christmas. Oh, and…congratulations! You're gonna be a daddy. I hear it's gonna be a boy. I'm thinking John Lucas Danes."

"A brother? Cool!" said Rory. "I've always wanted a brother."

Luke smirked. "The rumors got to ya too huh?"

She exhaled exasperatedly. "Yes."

"And no, we are not putting Lucas in his name." he said sternly.

Maybe William. She thought seriously. Then stopped herself before her thoughts wander off to anything else. "So, how long has these rumors been going on?" trying to get her mind off the baby-with-Luke related thoughts.

Rory shrugged. "Probably since last night. I've only heard about it this afternoon when I got home from school. Lane told me."

"And every single person in this town has been congratulating me ever since this morning." added Luke.

"That's nice." Lorelai sighed.

"So what are you doing tomorrow?" asked Dean Friday night when he had called Rory after she got home from Friday Night Dinner. He had been warned by Rory, Lorelai and Luke about these dinner's.

"Well, I'm going to the mall tomorrow." Rory said dryly.

"Wow, you seem to be really excited." Dean said with sarcasm. "I thought girls like to go to the mall?"

"We do, but, I'm gonna be going alone. Which isn't really much fun."

"Why? Isn't your mom gonna go with you?" Dean asked.

"Nope. She can't. I'm not letting her come with me."

"How come?"

"Because, the only purpose to go shopping tomorrow is to buy Luke's present for his birthday." Rory explained. "And if my mom comes with me, then it would be hours before we would get to leave. And I want to get back in time to help Luke out on the diner."

"Oh. How bout Lane, can't she go?"

"No, Mrs. Kim wont allow it."

"How bout I go."

Rory seemed to perk up. "Really? You'd go with me?"

"Yeah." he smiled.

Then she remembered, "Oh wait, mom and Luke probably wont allow it. And I can't have Sookie come with me, she has work."

"Well, can't you ask them. Maybe they'll say yes."

Rory hesitated. "I don't know."

"Ok, then, enjoy shopping alone."

"But," Rory quickly said. "I'll try."

"Mom," Rory approached Lorelai tentatively, who was sitting on the couch reading a magazine.

"hey hun." smiled Lorelai. Rory took a deep breath and sat next to Lorelai.

"Mom, you know that I'm going to the mall tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah?" not looking up from her magazine.

"well, you know that I'm going alone. And I'll probably get bored."

"Mhm." still not looking up.

"And, I can't take you, cause then I'll take too long. And I want to be able to come home early to study for my test. And Lane can't come cause she's grounded. And I can't go with Luke cause he hates malls and I'm buying his present."

"Hm."

"Can I take Dean with me?" she asked quickly.

Lorelai put the magazine down and narrowed her eyes at Rory. "You want to go shopping with Dean?"

"Well, we wont be that long. We'll only go to the mall, buy Luke's gift, then leave. Probably buy take outs on the way. It'll probably only take about an hour and thirty minutes. Depends on traffic. We'll be home right away. Please."

Lorelai stared at Rory for a moment. Rory was still wearing her pout and puppy dog eyes. After a moment, Lorelai picked up the phone from the coffee table and dialed a number.

"Hey Luke, it's Lorelai. Listen, Rory asked me if she could go to the mall with Dean tomorrow, I was just wondering what you think about that? … Well, they'll only be a moment. Rory has to pick up something there and she doesn't want to go alone … uh-huh. Well, she doesn't want me to go cause then I'm gonna wanna go shopping. And she wants to get back home in time to study … well you hate malls … they'll probably be only a sec … that's why I called you to see what you think … ok … alright." then she clicked off and looked at Rory.

"Well?"

"Two hours tops. Call us if you'll be late. And be sure there's a perfectly good reason to be late. If not, then we will send out a search party." she said sternly.

Rory smiled and hugged her mom and repeatedly thanked her.

Lorelai let them take the jeep that Saturday. And insisted that Rory must drive. They are the only one, with an exception to Luke, who can drive the jeep. Dean was ok with that. Before they left, Luke gave out an instruction to Dean. Telling him that they can only go to the mall and nowhere else they pleased.

On the way to the mall, Rory started telling Dean about her life before. About her mom having her at sixteen then running away from her prison life in Hartford and ended up in Stars Hollow. She told him about Mia and the inn and their old home at the tool shed. And from what she knows, they had met William at the inn. He was fixing something for Mia and that's where he met the girls.

And immediately he very much adored Rory. every time he would come to the inn, he'd always be accompanied by a baby Rory. Then Will started bringing Luke with him on his rounds and immediately Rory loved him. Her first ever words to him were dada. And when she could walk, she would always stick to Luke no matter what.

Then a year after they had known the Danes men, Lorelai and Rory had somewhat moved in with them. They had their own room at their house and they would always sleep over. William loved to be with them all the time. Specially with Rory. And of course, William would always tease Lorelai and Luke. Rory had even called Will Lolo, which meant grandfather. He was the only grandparent she had growing up.

Rory also told Dean that before, she would call Luke dad. But after her Lolo passed away, she had developed to call him Luke by strict instructions by her mother. That was one of the saddest days of her life. Finding out that Luke wasn't her father. Ever since then she had always wished that he would somehow be her father. But up until now, it still hasn't happened.

Once they arrived at the mall, Rory had began telling Dean about their little birthday traditions. Like on Luke's birthday, they would always go to Sniffy's for his celebration cause he'd hate it if the town finds out it's his birthday and they'd want to throw him a party. Knowing the town, they'd do anything just to have a party.

"Buddy and Mazy were really great friends of Luke's parents. I remember, before Lolo passed away, they were the one who helped Luke took care of him. They're really great people." Rory explained as they roamed around the mall. "We usually go to their restaurant for his birthday. And it's perfect timing too, cause Buddy and Mazy went to Virginia for a bout a month to catch up with Mazy's sister, she was sick and they had to take care of her. She's fine now, don't worry. Anyways, they stayed there for about a month, that's why they weren't here for my birthday. But it's be great that they're here for Luke's birthday. They've been like, stand in parents for him when both Lolo and Lola died."

"So what are we doing here exactly?" he asked her as they entered Survivor. A store for gears and tools to survive outdoors.

"We're getting Luke a present." Rory simply said.

"And why here? What are you gonna get him? A bpwie knife?"

"No silly." she giggled. "He already has three of those." Dean tensed. And Rory laughed. "Anyways, two months ago, Luke, mom and I went to the family cabin. And we went fishing on the family boat. And, mom was using Luke's fishing pole, and well…let's just say mom gave it a proper burial and may it rest in peace."

Dean smirked. "You're mom's something else."

"You have no idea." Rory agreed. "Anyways, now, I'm gonna buy him a new fishing pole cause I know he'd hate to use mine. Cause mines pink with Hello Kitty stickers on them. That my mom put on to make it look pretty mind you."

"I didn't take you as a fishing kind of girl."

"I'm not. I just like to go with Luke when he fishes. It's peaceful and relaxing. I do catch fishes sometimes. But I leave the rest of it all to Luke." she said as they looked around the fishing aisle. Then she found the perfect fishing pole, colored blue, which looks just like his old one. "perfect." she said, taking it off the shelf.

"What if your mom got him a fishing pole too?"

Rory shook her head. "Mom always gives Luke the same present every year. Though sometimes she does give a little something extra."...dirty.

"Really, what is it?"

"She eats only what Luke tells her to eat. For the whole entire day." Rory giggled thinking back to the year before where Luke only let Lorelai eat fruits and vegetables. No sweets. No junk. And no coffee. It was the same every year on Luke's birthday. Which Lorelai had claimed, years ago, the most dreaded day of her life.

"Wow." was all dean said. He could just imagine what that would be like. After getting to know Lorelai, he knew what a junkie she could be. Always with the junk food, the burgers and the coffee. He has never seen Lorelai eat something healthy before. And knowing Luke, he'll probably make her eat a fruit.

"But it's all good. Cause mom always gets him back on her birthday."

"And what does your mom do?" anticipating the answer.

"Luke becomes her slave for the day." she smirked.

"What?"

"Oh yeah. Twenty-four hours of hard labor, no exceptions on the demand, Luke has to do whatever mom tells him to do. Whether it was to fix things around the house, cook her stuff that he'll never eat in his entire stuff, give her massages, eat anything she tells him to eat, clean, build things she tells him to build, practically wait on her hand and foot."

"And that's different from now, how?" he teased.

"Luke can't put up a fight."

"Since when does he ever put up a fight?"

Rory shrugged and giggled as she paid for the fishing pole. From what Rory had told him about Luke and Lorelai, Dean wonders why they aren't together yet. Rory just said it was because of denial and fear that gets in the way.

"What could be taking them so long?" Luke said irritably in the diner.

"Relax Luke, they've only been gone for about an hour and thirty minutes. They have another thirty minutes to go." Lorelai assured him as she took a bite out of her burger.

"What could Rory possibly want that she had to take Dean with her?" he asked. "We shouldn't have had let her take Dean. Who knows what they could have been doing."

"Luke relax." she said in a calming voice. "Rory really didn't want to go shopping alone, cause what's the point in that? she'll just be bored. And besides, I think Dean earned it. He is nice and a gentleman. I think Rory's safe."

"Yeah, but what if that was just all an act. Who knows what he's like without people around."

"Is he gonna turn into something creepy? An alien maybe?"

Luke rolled his eyes. Just then, the diner door opened and in came Rory and Dean.

"hey, you're back early." smiled Lorelai. Then she turned to Luke "See, she's fine."'

"Yeah, I can see that."

"More fries please." Lorelai mumbled, stuffing the last remaining fries into her mouth. Rory, with a horrified look on her face, gave Lorelai more fries. She went behind the counter, and poured her mother more coffee and put in an order of another plate of fries to Cesar.

Luke came down the stairs, with a horrified look on his face too once he saw Lorelai stuffing her mouth with fries. And gulping them down with coffee.

"What the hell are you doing?" he yelled at her. She didn't stop eating. "Rory, please tell me why your mother's eating like that?"

"She's hibernating." Rory said simply.

"What? Why? It's not even winter yet."

"She's hibernating for your birthday."

"Why?" then realized, "Ooohh." he smirked. "That's why she's eating like that?"

"She doesn't want last year to happen again."

"You know I only did that because you made me wear that silly pink hat on your birthday." he said to Lorelai. She didn't pay any attention to him and just kept on eating. "She's gonna choke."

"Orders up." Rory thanked Cesar and gave Lorelai her third plate of fries.

"Why Don't you take a break and eat with your mom. Make sure she's breathing." Luke instructed her. Rory nodded and took off her apron and sat down next to her mom on the counter.

"Mom, drink." Lorelai took a second to swallow then drank half of her coffee.

"Jeez!" Luke exclaimed.

"She's been warned." Rory said, attempting to take a fry from Lorelai's plate. But Lorelai spat her hand away from her plate. "God mom. I only wanted one." Lorelai grunted and kept on eating.

"That's attractive." Luke mumbled. He passed Rory a plate of fries of her own.

"Thank you." she said to him and ate her fries in a slow pace, keeping her eyes away from her mother.

-Pointless I know. But please leave a review.

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♠bokayjunkie♣