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: Kkkkkaaahhhhhh

CHAPTER 16: The Vibe Thing

When Lorelai walked out of Rory's room, she saw Luke and Max , both standing on different ends of the room. See, this is what you get for bringing a man over without consulting Rory first. She scolded herself. She looked at Luke and he's still wearing a blank expression. Damn! I wish I knew what he was thinking.

"Hey." she said to them, keeping her back against the door.

Almost immediately, Luke sprang in her direction, concern for Lane. "How is she? Is everything ok? Is she hurt?"

"She's ok?" Lorelai assured him. He felt relieved. "Just a little incident with a boy."

Luke narrowed his eyes. "Who is he?"

"No you are not gonna kill him." Lorelai said seriously. The way she said it made Max a bit intimidated by Luke. "She just touched his hair." he drew in a clueless expression. "Without asking his permission."

"Ah." he nodded.

"Anyways, she's gonna stay here tonight. Save her from the wrath of Mrs. Kim until tomorrow." Max felt a disappointed.

Luke however felt even more relived than before. "Good. That's good." he said. No way anything can happen with Lane inside.

"Oh." Lorelai realized. "Um, Max, this is Luke. Luke, this is Max Medina. Rory's…" she hesitated before saying, "…English teacher."

"Hi." Max smiled politely, holding out his hand.

Luke looked at him, and nodded. Shaking his hand. "You're the teacher that gave Rory a D."

Max felt nervous. He looked at Lorelai, and she just looked down at her shoes. "Um," clearing his throat, "Yes."

Luke just nodded.

"Uh," Lorelai said, "Max's car broke down. And, it wont be fixed until tomorrow. And the inn's all booked so," avoiding Luke's eyes, "he's gonna be staying here. Tonight. On the couch."

"Ok." was all Luke said. Still not showing any emotion with his expression. Whether he's mad or sad. Which was making Lorelai more and more nervous.

Lorelai cleared her throat, breaking the silence that fell upon them. "Um, Luke?"

"Yeah?"

She didn't know what to say. All she wanted was to clear the silence. "Can, Max borrow your clothes for tonight?" she blurted suddenly.

Luke and Max looked at her confused. Max could have just slept in his own clothes. And if not, he does some extra pair on the back seat of his car.

Luke looked at Lorelai. Then Max. then back at Lorelai and said, "Uh…sure. I'll go get them." then he walked towards the stairs and went upstairs.

Max started at Lorelai curiously. Remembering their conversation before. "I thought no boys were allowed?" after a moment.

"Huh?"

"You said no man has ever slept over before unless they're relatives."

"Yeah?" not really knowing what his point is. Max nodded his head towards the direction Luke just left at. "Luke?" he nodded. "Well he's an exception."

"So he's related to you?"

"No!" god that would be so wrong. Specially after all those intimate thoughts and dreams she's always been having about him. Which, she really shouldn't be thinking about right now, with Max standing next to her.

"Is he…" he swallowed, "Rory's dad?"

She hesitated a bit before answering. Why am I hesitating? "No." though he has been very fatherly towards her ever since we've met him.

"Is he an ex-husband of yours that Rory's grown accustomed to?"

"No. he's non of those." though all these accusations made the butterflies in her stomach flutter harder. Funny, I didn't feel that when I kissed Max. or when I saw him at Gypsy's. why do they always appear where Luke's concerned? SHouldn't this be a sign?

Max was really running out of explanation as to who Luke is to Lorelai. "Who is he then?"

"He's a friend." she shrugged.

Max's brows raised. "An ex-boyfriend?"

Oh god she's blushing. Stop that! "No. Luke's my best friend. Just a friend." she defended. "I've known him since Rory was two. And he's been taking care of us ever since. And no, we've never been together."

"Are you sure?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Yes I'm sure." though I do have a crush on him. Argh! Not now! "I would have known if my best friend and I have ever been in a romantic relationship in the past."

Max nodded. "So what's he doing here now?"

"He's my best friends. He's looking out for me and for Rory. And that includes Rory's best friends as well." pointing towards Rory's bedroom where Lane lies behind.

"And he has clothes here?"

"He needs them when he sleeps over." she shrugged. "On the couch." she cleared. "Or sometimes the three of us would make a slumber party out of it and set the living room with blankets and pillows and sleep there."

Max nodded. "And you're sure that there's nothing going on there?" it's just weird that their just friends. He thought. A man and a woman cannot be just friends without the sex part. It's just plain weird. And I can tell that there's a vibe from the two.

Lorelai sighed, seeing as how he needed more assurance. Though she needed more convincing for herself that they're just friends. "Max, Luke is my protector. He cares about me and Rory. And he's the only father figure Rory has." he's the only father Rory has. "And he may seem a bit scary at first. But that's just him being protective."

Max nodded again and said nothing. He didn't want to cause any trouble between them right when they're just starting.

A couple of minutes later, Luke came down with a sweatshirt and sweat pants that Max could wear. Max said his thank you and quietly went upstairs to change leaving Luke and Lorelai alone in the kitchen.

"So…" Lorelai started, not really liking the quietness that fell upon them.

"So…"

Lorelai looked at him and didn't know what came over her and said, "I'm sorry."

Luke looked at him confused. What does she have to be sorry about? "Um…it's ok?"

Lorelai smiled. "I know I have rules against these things."

Luke nodded. Oh, that. "I know."

"And I'm…sorry for not telling you about Max either." she said quietly. "I was gonna talk to Roy about it but I just can't get her to stay put. And then, out of nowhere he shows up and, I just…I-"

"Lorelai," cutting her off. "You don't have to explain anything to me. It's your personal business. Not mine. My only concern is Rory. But she'll want you to be happy. I'm just your friend. You don't have to tell me why you're with him." probably cause he's a well educated teacher. "I'm just the guy, who makes you coffee, feeds you and takes care of you and Rory." I'm just your personal nanny.

But you're more than that! She wanted to yell. But she didn't. all she did was nod. she felt like crying. How could he think that he's not important to me? He's very important to me. Second to Rory, he's the most important person in my life. He's my best friend and I love him…as a best friend only.

Ok maybe a little more than just friends.

Shut up. You do not want to have this conversation in your head right now. With Luke next to you and Max just upstairs.

Max ... is it really a good idea to start something with him when I know it wont go anywhere?

Why wouldn't it go anywhere?

Because that place in my heart is already reserved for him.

Lorelai looked at Luke once again. He's staring at his shoes. He's still not giving away anything. Whether or not he's lying about what he'd just said. Maybe, once she get her talk with Rory done, and know what her daughter thinks, then she'd fined out what Luke really thinks. Whether or not she should date Max. maybe, if he'd say she shouldn't date Max. she wont. She just needs another opinion on the matter.

I cannot be trusted to make up my own decision, specially on my love life.

"I better get going." he said all of a sudden.

"Oh. Ok."

"Lane gonna be ok?"

Remembering her request from earlier. "Can you spend the night?"

"what?" flabbergast. "Why?"

She shrugged. "It's what she asked."

His brows raised. "Really?"

"Yeah. She said she'd feel safer with you around."

"Well…" he said, "I'd love to stay. But I have to open tomorrow. And besides, my bed's already taken so…"

Lorelai smiled a bit.

"So, I should go." she nodded and watched him walk out the door. She wanted to cry. She wanted to yell Don't leave! She wanted him to stay.

Then Max came down the stairs in Luke's sweat shirt and sweat pants. And hugged her from behind, kissing her neck. Lorelai pulled away and turned around to look at him.

She couldn't help but think that he cannot pull this look off. Luke's clothes is way too big for him. It's a bit saggy. He practically had to tie up the sweat pants really tight to keep it from falling off. But when Luke wears it, he fills it all the way. It's like the Hulk wearing it. Almost as if the whole thing will rip off any minute. It's even tight on his, and he wears a large. It's so tight you could see all his muscles stretched out on that thing.

But to be polite, Lorelai just smiled. "I'll go get your blankets." she said quietly and went upstairs.

Max smiled and sat down on the couch.

I tried to not make it too much with the Max/Lorelai stuff. I hope it was good enough.

REVIEWS!-yes, please leave a review. I'd just love to know what you think of this chapter/story. And any SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS, and/or, REQUESTS you'd like see, please do tell.
♠bokayjunkie♣