Title: The Perfect, and Somewhat Dysfunctional, Family
Summary: Luke and Rory had always had a special father/daughter bond that no one can break. But what happens when someone comes along to ruin that? Set in Season 1. Luke and Lorelai are not together...YET!!!! Some RoryDean.
Disclaimer: Well...ya see...the thing is...uuummm...Banananut?...FINE!!!!!!!!!!! It's not mine!!!!!!! Happy?!?!
A/N: Like I said, the time line will be altered.
I was originally gonna go by the show, but then I thought, well its gonna be a while for LL to get together. And there are some scenes that I want to happen with LL together, but if I go by the timeline it wont happen. So I'm changing it.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!
CHAPTER : Norman's Jealous
Luke would always take Lorelai and Rory some place different each year, on their dark day. Last year they went to Boston. The year before they went to New York. Once they even went all the way to Canada. The year after William had died, Luke was on a mood on the day. Lorelai had noticed it, and was feeling the mood herself. Rory was still young to understand what was happening. But on their first dark day, they mostly stayed in the house and never left.
It wasn't until it registered to Rory that her Lolo Will was gone, that they had started to leave Stars Hollow on their dark day. It was mainly Luke's idea. For him alone. But when Rory asked him where he was going and why, he was torn. And didn't want to leave them. So Lorelai suggested they go with him. She too had been feeling down for William had passed away.
This year, Luke had taken Lorelai and Rory to the Danes Family Cabin. They spent the whole Sunday inside. Luke and Lorelai usually dealing with Rory crying. She was saddened by the fact that William had died when she was only young. When he was only young. Luke and Lorelai comforted her throughout the weekend. On Sunday they had gotten out of the cabin and went fishing.
They arrived back home on Sunday night. That night, Luke had reluctantly spent the night at the Gilmore household. Being too tired to make the sheets for the three of them to sleep downstairs, and the two girls wanting to e close to Luke that night, the trio all squeezed in Lorelai's queen sized bed. With Rory in the middle of course. Which was normal seeing as how this wasn't the first time they've done this.
After that weekend, everything seemed to be back to normal. Rory and Lorelai were their bouncy selves again. Luke was still Luke. And nobody questioned them. Lorelai had even forgotten about the whole 'why wont you give Luke a chance?' outburst from Rory. Dean had acted like nothing had happened. Rory didn't seem to notice. Max was still confused, but thought it was best to leave it to Lorelai.
Rory, having looked back on the past two weeks, figured she was being harsh on her mother. So, she stayed more at home and tried to get herself more comfortable with the thought of her mother dating. Her English teacher. Even if it pained her. Though Lorelai had spent the better part of the week trying to avoid Max of her whereabouts of the weekend. And of Rory's behavior. Max reluctantly gave up.
Taken from 1.11 (Paris is Burning). Some scenes and dialogue will be altered for story benefits.
"L?" Rory said tiredly, as they walked down the street.
"L..." Lorelai thought. "laryngitis. M?"
"Mumps. N?"
"Narcolepsy! O?"
"Are we going to have to go through this every time we decide who cleans out the refrigerator?" she sighed.
"Do you want to go back to thumb wrestling?" Rory rolled her eyes. "And besides, I wasn't the one who suggested not to let Luke take care of it."
"He's been doing repairs at the house for the entire weekend." she argued. "We have to let him rest. It's our promise to him."
"But he offered." she pointed.
"Cause he's good to us. We should hold off on the favors at least until after our skating date. Or at least after he's done paying the bills." she said. Rory was right, Lorelai agreed. "Why can't we just toss a coin or something?"
She gasped. "No! you know how the coin gods hate me. I will never win. They like you better. It wouldn't be fair to me?"
Rory sighed, rolling her eyes. "Osteoporosis. P?"
Lorelai was about to say her answer, but something caught her eyes. "Puppies!" then ran across the street towards the puppies.
"That's not a disease." then saw where her mother was headed. "Oh boy." she ran after her.
"Hi! Oh hi! Hi! Oohh! Rory look at the baby!" pointing to the puppies in the cages.
"Mom." in a warning tone.
"Aw, Buttercup was found cold and wet hovering under a hydrangea bush along highway 26. It's a sad highway." she read.
"As compare to all the other happy highways she could've been abandoned by?"
"Her lineage includes cocker spaniel, golden retriever, bouvier des flandres -"
"Gesundheith"
"Thank you " she giggled. "and rottweiler."
"Buttercup is a special dog. She's extremely skiddish and tends to react badly towards blonde haired females, brunette males, children of either sex, other animals, red clothing, cabbage or anyone in a uniform." Rory finished reading.
"What are you two doing here?" came a familiar voice behind them. Lorelai and Rory turned around and saw Luke.
"Hey, we just found the doggy version of you." Lorelai giggled. Rory giggled as well.
"Can I help you?" a man said.
"Do not let these two anywhere near a dog." Luke said to the man. "They can barely feed themselves."
"Shut up you!" smacking his chest. "We'd be excellent pet owners, thank you."
Rory scoffed. "You cannot be serious."
"We could get him a pretty bowl-"
"It's a her." Rory pointed.
Lorelai's brows raised, "And a new name."
"Mom."
Not paying attention to her daughter. "cause this 'Buttercup' thing really has got to go."
"Do I need to remind you of Skippy?"
"Skippy?" Luke asked curiously.
"I can't believe you would bring up Skippy." Lorelai said. Specially with Luke here.
"Skippy was our hamster." Rory said to Luke.
"He doesn't care." she said to Rory through clenched teeth. My god Rory shut up. We didn't tell him about Skippy for a reason.
"You had a hamster?" he asked in disbelief. "I never knew you had a hamster. When did you have a hamster and how come I never knew about it?"
"Mom never told you, cause she knew how judgmental you would be towards her owning her own pet." ignoring her mothers protest for her to stop talking.
"What happened to Skippy?" now interested. How could he not know that they had a hamster?
"Nothing happened to Skippy." Lorelai said defensively.
"Every time mom would put her hand in his cage, he'd bite her." Rory explained.
"And laugh." Lorelai pouted, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Hamster's can't laugh." Luke said with an amused smile on his face.
"Oh this one laughed" she said seriously. "trust me."
Rory continued. "So finally she got fed up."
"Of being laughed at by a hamster?" Luke said with a hint of laughter.
"Well yeah." Lorelai shrugged.
"So she stopped cleaning it's cage." Rory continued. "Instead everyday she would stuff some Kleenex in there."
Luke's mouth gaped. "You didn't?" I should have known.
"It was the quilted kind" a small smile playing on her lips.
"So this keeps going on and the cage is just a cage full of Kleenex that moves a little, and the smell?" with sarcasm "Really good."
"I can imagine." he smirked. "Was this why you guys didn't want me to be at your house for the whole week?" remembering the time that they had banned him from coming in their house. Also, banning themselves as well and stayed at Luke's apartment for a whole two weeks.
"You wouldn't have had lasted a whole minute In that house." Lorelai argued.
"And that's why you two were staying at my apartment?" Lorelai nodded.
"So then she takes the cage to the place where we bought him," Rory continued. "waits for the sales guy to go behind the desk and dumps it on the counter then bolts."
to Lorelai he said. "You abandoned your hamster."
"Look, I know it was bad, but this was a vicious hamster. This was like a Damien hamster with little beady eyes and a big forked tail and...a cape with a...hood...and" trying to make her point but failed miserably, "bye-bye Buttercup." with a pout, waving good-bye to the puppies.
"You did the right thing." Luke said, patting Lorelai's back as he and Rory led her away from the puppies.
"Oh" she whined. "I want a pet."
"You have me." Rory said.
"You won't bring me my slippers in the morning." she pouted.
"I might if you had slippers."
"Will you wear a collar?" in a little Bambi voice.
"No." she said forcefully.
"It'll be pink!" Lorelai said. Luke laughed.
"You're sick." Rory said.
"Hey watch how you talk to me." Lorelai said in a warning tone. "Remember what happened to Skippy."
Luke and Rory rolled their eyes.
"How's the squab?" Emily asked.
"It's good." Rory said, taking another bite.
"Lorelai?"
"It's the best tiny, weird bird I have ever eaten."
With a smile. "I'm glad."
Lorelai narrowed her eyes at her, "Why are you smiling like that?"
innocently, "What are you talking about?"
she narrowed her eyes at her. "You're smiling."
"I'm happy." she shrugged.
"That's not your "I'm happy" smile."
"Well what smile is it Loerlai?"
"That's your "I've got something on Lorelai" smile."
Emily sighed. "Rory your mother must be very tired."
"She works a lot." she shrugged.
"I grew up with that smile" Lorelai continued. "I know that smile."
"Tell me about school." Emily said, ignoring her daughter.
"Well, my French final went pretty well."
"You can change the subject." Lorelai said, "But I know the smile."
"Whatever you say dear."
"I've used it a few times myself." Lorelai went on.
"Mom." Rory groaned.
"So tell me about parent's day?" Emily finally said.
"What?" Lorelai's eyes went wide.
"Parent's day? Next Wednesday?" Emily said with a smile. "When all the parents are supposed to go to the classes with their children all day long? It was on the Chilton newsletter that came out today."
"The Chilton newsletter came out today?" narrowing her eyes at Rory.
"You didn't read yours?" Emily asked.
Lorelai looked at Rory expectantly.
"Luke was the one who got it." before realizing what she said.
Both Lorelai and Rory's eyes went wide at what Rory had just said.
Emily's eyes narrowed. "Luke? The ice man?"
"Mh-hm." Lorelai nodded, not looking at her mother.
"Why did Luke, the ice man, have your Chilton Newsletter?" Emily asked.
Rory felt like screaming at her grandmother for calling Luke 'the ice man'. I mean, seriously, he has a name for coffee's sake. Rory always felt defensive everytime someone talks down to either Luke or her mother. After everything they did for me.
"Well grandma," Rory said, "Luke was at the house. He was there when the mailman was and he got the mail."
"Oh." Emily said pursing her lips. "So," to Lorelai. "You haven't read the Chilton Newsletter?"
"Not yet."
"Ah." knowingly.
Narrowing her eyes at her, "But you knew that -"
"Well -" innocently.
"Hence the smile." triumphantly.
"Lorelai, you're really being silly. There's no evil plan a foot here. I simply brought up a subject I thought we could all talk about."
rolling her eyes. "Oh right."
"I'll try another subject" Emily said, "So what was the ice man-"
"Luke." Lorelai and Rory said in unison.
"Luke, doing at your house?"
lorelai rolled her eyes at her mother. "Mom not everybody can wait outside the mailbox for the Chilton newsletter to arrive and then instantly memorize the contents in three seconds."
"Apparantly Luke did." she muttered.
"I'd like to change the subject please." Rory said. But the two elder Gilmore's ignored her.
"You have your priorities far be it from me to question them."
"Just because I don't read the newsletter doesn't mean I don't care about my daughter."
"So are you going?" she asked.
"To what?" brows furred.
"To parent's day!" she said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Why don't we talk about it next Friday when I've actually read the newsletter. I guarantee it'll be more fun."
"We could except for the fact that parents day is next Wednesday."
"Wednesday?" to Rory. She shrugged.
"If we talked about it on Friday then you would've missed it."
"Wednesday huh?"
"It's ok mom, you don't have to be there." Rory aid.
"I guess we can talk about how you missed it." Emily added.
"I won't miss it." Lorelai said.
"Mom it's not a big deal, you're busy."
"You know what" Emily said, "I'll go!"
"What? Lorelai and Rory said.
"Why not?" Emily said to Lorelai. "You have to work. I, as you have insinuated, have no life, therefore I will go sit with Rory at parent's day."
"I'm not busy, I'm going. I will be there" Lorelai insisted. "that's it. End of story ok?"
"Fine."
"Fine."
Emily stayed quiet for a while. "So," Emily said suddenly, "Did you hear about the mother/daughter talent show?"
Lorelai, having just drinking her drink, started to choke, and caught. Rory giggled quietly.
Luke looked up and saw Lorelai and Rory walking in the diner. "Hey, how was dinner?"
"The Chilton newsletter came out today?" Lorelai said, not even bothering to answer Luke's question. She and Rory sat themselves on a stool.
"What?"
"The Chilton newsletter." Lorelai said. "Apparently you got it."
Realizing what she's talking about. "Oh yeah, I got it."
"Coffee please?" asked Rory politely, amused at her mother at this moment.
Luke poured Rory and Lorelai their cup of coffee.
"And you didn't even consider telling me?" Lorelai said to him.
"What?"
"The newsletter?" she said frustrated. God how many times do I have to tell him? "You didn't even tell me it arrived. Which, got a me a full fifteen minutes of making a fool of myself in front of my mother, who now thinks that I have no interest in my daughter's school. Because I didn't read the Chilton newsletter. And also, having to explain to Adolf why you were the one who got the newsletter, and not me. Why did you get the newsletter by the way?"
He shrugged. "I was at the house, it was there."
"I already told you that, remember?" Rory said.
"And you didn't even tell me?" ignoring her daughter's comment.
"Why, you don't read the newsletter." he said pointedly. "I read the newsletter. You just ignore them."
"That's true mom." Rory chimed in.
Again Lorelai ignored her. "I do too read the newsletter. When have I ever not?"
"Uh ok, what was the major even that they covered on last weeks newsletter?" he asked. "Or who won the softball competition the week before that?"
Lorelai thought back, really thought back. Then exasperatedly growled. "Ok, so maybe I don't read the newsletter. But, you could have told me about Parents day."
"I was going to, but then you had to leave for dinner." he said. "Besides, I thought Rory would have told you anyways."
Lorelai narrowed her eyes and looked at her daughter. "He has a point."
Rory, being caught, "Hey, why are you looking at me?" putting on an innocent smile. "He's," pointing at Luke, "the one that didn't tell you about Parents day."
"Nice try kid." Luke smirked.
"You know, you could have given me a heads up about the event before we went in the lion's den." Lorelai said.
"I didn't know that she would bring it up." she said defensively. "And besides, I didn't really think that you would want to come anyway. I mean, the people-who-can-make-all-the-veins-in-Michel's-head-pop-out society, as you like to call it, had dominated the inn. And I thought you wouldn't want to miss any part of that, who knows, maybe he'll blow a fuse."
Lorelai smiled warmly at her daughter. "Aw sweetie, you know there will be other times when I can witness Michel blowing a fuse. But this'll be different. And this would be a good opportunity for me to see what you do at school. Ya know, show me the cool table." Rory giggled. "And I'm sure it wont be all that boring. I mean, Max will be there, he's one of your teacher's right?"
Rory's heart stopped. Luke had already gone to the back before Lorelai could make a statement about Max. that is exactly why I didn't want you to go. "Yeah." she breathed, forcing a smile. This is the reason why she didn't want her mother going to school, and seeing Mr. Medina. She wanted to keep her school life, separated from her Stars hollow life. Including her mother dating Mr. Medina. If her mother goes to her school, maybe people will know that her mom's dating her teacher. And she's still trying to get used to it herself.
Sure she had been a bit more open to her mom dating her teacher. Meaning, not avoiding her mom, or holding a grudge against her. And staying long enough to help her mother pick out an outfit. But inside, she's still hoping that her mother will get a sense in her and be with Luke instead.
"Good. So then I wont completely be bored." she shrugged. Just then, Luke came out with pie in both hands.
Lorelai happily dug into hers as she spoke with Luke about dinner. Rory stayed quiet, silently regretting for her mother ever finding out about Parents day.
"Mom I have to go! It's almost 8 o'clock!" Rory yelled as she get her stuff ready at the hallway.
"Wait!" Lorelai yelled from upstairs, "Have you seen my orange suede clip thingy?"
"Top right hand drawer." she yelled back.
"It's not there."
Rory sighed exasperatedly, rolling her eyes as she walked upstairs. "Did you check in your purse?"
"Yes."
"Under your scarves?" nearing her mother's bedroom.
"Yes."
finally reaching her mothers door, to find her mother running around like a chicken with its head cut off, "In your sock drawer?"
Lorelai launches herself to her sock drawer, and finds it.
"I love you." she exclaimed.
Rory rolled her eyes. "I'm gone."
"Bye" giving Rory a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey wait!"
"What?" Rory said.
"Blue disco sequence bag?" holding up the purse.
Rory's brows raised, "No!"
Lorelai's shoulder slouched. "Why?"
"Bad."
she grimaced. "Really?"
She nodded "Bye."
"Bye!" she sighed. "Wait-wait-wait!"
Rory sighed exasperatedly. "Mom come on! Mr. Medina's going to be here any minute!"
"Ok, just tell me one more thing. Where's the silver dangly bracelet?"
"I'm wearing it." holding up her wrist to prove her right.
She narrowed her eyes at her. "Why are you wearing it?"
"Because it's mine." she said as a matter of fact-ly.
"Oh" seeming to remember. "Hey can I borrow your silver dangly bracelet?"
Rory rolled her eyes and took off the bracelet. "Here." hadning it to her mother.
Lorelai smiled. "Thank you." she squealed putting it on.
Rory finally headed her way out of her mother's room when the doorbell rang both their heads snapped.
"What was that?"
"The door bell rang?" Rory said in a 'duh' tone.
"Why did the door bell ring?" her voice becoming a bit more panicked.
"Because someone's at the door."
Lorelai checked the time on her clock. "It's 8 o'clock. Who shows up at 8 o'clock for an 8 o'clock date?"
"I don't know, maybe a Chilton teacher?"
"Everybody knows that 8 o'clock means 8:20, 8:15 tops!"
"Well obviously he was raised in a barn."
Lorelai scoffed. "I tell you, he's cute but this punctuality thing has knocked 10 points off the dream guy quotient."
Rory inwardly groaned at her mother's statement. "Mom what do I do? I'm not even supposed to be here."
"Ok so go!"
Rory sighed in relief and started to head downstairs.
"Oh wa-wa-wait!" Lorelai quickly said, stopping her at her bedroom entrance. "You have to get the door."
"What?" she asked frantically.
"Yeah, because I'm not ready." gesturing to her current outfit.
"I'm not supposed to get the door remember, we agreed." she said. "I don't get the door when he comes?" and I like this agreement.
"I know but-"
"I'm not even supposed to be here." she cut her off. "That's the first rule of the 'Gilmore Dating Handbook'." Lorelai fidgeting with her zipper. "Daughter shall be nowhere near house when said man materializes. It's a good rule, it 's been working." specially since I don't have to see Mr. Medina outside of school. As your date. (shudder)
"Ok, but he's standing out there and it's cold and my slip is now completely stuck in my skirt zipper and they'll have to bury me like this."
"Mom!"
"Just this once!" she pleaded pushing her daughter out her bedroom door.
"But-" but Lorelai closed the door, leaving Rory having to answer the door to Mr. Medina.
Max, having heard tidbits of their conversation, felt a bit silly right now.
"Hi." Rory said, with a forced smile as she opened the door.
"Rory." Max nodded.
"Come on in." making room for room to enter.
"Thank you" he said, clearing his throat.
He entered the house, and they stood in the foyer with an uncomfortable silence. "Can I get you something?" breaking the silence. "We went grocery shopping a while back, and our fridge's pretty stocked up right now.
"I'm fine."
"We have water." she said, not seeming to have heard him.
"That's ok."
"It's not bad water actually. I mean it's not a funny colour or anything."
"I'm good. Really."
"We have bottled water."
"No thanks,"
"Or coffee. But you probably don't drink coffee."
he chckled nervously. "No I don't." she nodded. "So…should we…" gesturing towards the living room.
"Sit. Right. Yeah let's sit." she smiled and led him to the living room. She sat on a chair as he sat on the couch.
"So…" thinking for something to talk about, "uh, what are your plans tonight?"
"I'm sleeping over at my friend, Lane's, house."
"Sounds good."
she hesitated before asking, "And you guys are...?" not that I really care. This is just out of politeness.
"Dinner, movie - the usual."
"Right." more uncomfortable silence.
"This is a little uncomfortable. Isn't it?" Max said.
"Yes it is." Rory breathed.
"But the thing is," he started slowly, "if things go well, the way I hope they're going, then we might be doing this again."
she looked at him confused. "Sitting uncomfortably?"
Max let out a laugh. "Seeing each other outside of school."
"That's ok." she said quickly, having memorized this line. "I am fine with this whole you and my mom thing." not like its gonna be serious. Well, hopefully it wont be that serious. No wedding talk yet. Hopefully not ever.
"Well good. I'm glad." Sure of himself. He smiled, and sank into the couch.
Rory looked at her teacher who seemed to be a bit more comfortable now that he had heard her ok-ing him dating her mom, it seemed to her that he's getting too comfortable. And she didn't like that. Not one bit. "Well, I better go." not wanting to witness her mom's gushy-ness with her teacher.
"It's good to talk to you Rory."
"You too Mr. Medina." she stood up.
"why don't you call me Max? Just when we're out of school."
Rory stood there for a moment. Looking at him. Another sign that he's getting too comfortable. Hey budy, you're just dating my mom, not marrying her. "I don't think I can do that."
"Why not?" confused.
"Just sounds wrong" she quickly said, then corrected, "disrespectful. I mean, you're my teacher Mr. Medina, and if I start to think of you as a 'Max' - even as a part-time 'Max', it just seems lit it would get too confusing." and cause I don't want to.
"How 'bout then, we'll come up with non-Chilton names for each other. When we're not in school, I'll call you Rebecca."
Her brows raised. "Rebecca."
He nodded. "And you'll call me…" waiting for her to finish for him.
"Norman?"
"Norman?"
"Well…" she shrugged.
"I look like a Norman to you?"
She almost wanted to laugh. Almost. "I'm sorry, 'Psycho' was on earlier and it was just the first name that came to mind. I'll think of something else. How about Alfred?"
"You know what...Norman's fine."
"Are you sure?" her voice teasing a bit.
"I'm positive, I love it. I might make a legal change." chuckling at his own jokes.
Rory's brows raised. Making jokes with the younger Gilmore, another sign that he's getting comfortable. Ok, I really have to go, now. Before he starts giving me pet names. "Ok. Well I better go." quickly, picking up her backpack.
"I hope you and Lane have a good time." he said with a smile.
Rory inwardly flinched at that. "Thanks." hurrying up, she was about to leave when the front door opened. "Luke!" Rory shrieked. She dropped her bag, and launched herself at him.
Max's stomach dropped at the fact that Luke was here. Just when things were getting better.
"What are you doing here?" Rory asked with a giggle in her voice as he put her down.
"Well there's been a change of plans." he said, a smile clear in his voice.
"What do you mean change of plans?"
Yeah, what do you mean change of plans. Max thought as he sat silently on the couch. I'm still going out with Lorelai, aren't I? He didn't really feel much comfortable where Luke's concerned. Just the thought of this man, who is really close with Rory, and seems to be just as close to Lorelai. It makes him feel like he has competition.
"Well Mr. Kim called me." he explained as he led him and Rory towards the hallway. "It seems that Lane was caught with a Snicker bar this afternoon, and she can't be able to make it to work tomorrow, and also to tell you that you can't sleep over tonight."
Snicker bar? Max thought. What does that have to do with anything?
Rory's shoulders slouched. "Aw man." now where am I suppose to sleep? Not wanting to repeat what happened the other night, where she caught her mother coming home late.
"So, I was thinking," he started, "seeing as how you were already planning on sleeping out anyway, you can sleep over at my place."
"Really?" she squealed. It was bill month this month, and Luke usually doesn't like having anybody distract him from him bills. Meaning no sleepovers with Rory. It was, what Rory calls, the dreaded month. "I can?"
"Only if you want to." he shrugged.
Rory only squealed and hugged him. Luke chuckled and hugged her back. "Alright, go get your stuff ready, and re-pack," knowing Rory, she had packed for a sleepover at the Kim house. But, seeing as how she'll be sleeping over in Luke's apartment, there are some stuff that she can bring over that she can't at Lane's place.
Rory immediately ran to get her backpack then to her bedroom. It was then that Luke noticed Max sitting in the living room.
"Hello?" Luke said to him.
"Hi." Max said politely.
"Max right?"
"Yes. And Luke, is it?"
He nodded as they shook hands. Max sat back down, as Luke remained standing up.
"Hey Luke," Rory called as she walked out of her bedroom, "did I leave my Vidal at your place?"
"I think so."
"Ok." she said reluctantly, then carried her, now big backpack, and another smaller, yet full bag with her.
"Geez, got enough left in your room?" Luke joked.
"Ha. Ha." playfully smacking him on the arm. Then remembering her teacher. "Oh, Mr. Medina, you remember Luke, right?"
"Yes I do." he said.
"Weren't you and Lorelai suppose to be going out?" Luke asked. He remembered something about a date. Which was why Rory wanted to sleep over at Lane's.
"yes." he nodded.
"What are you still doing here then? Where's your mom?" asking Rory the last part.
"She's still getting ready." Rory explained.
"We're suppose to go out at eight." Max added.
"Eight?" Luke checked the clock which had said 8:10. "Wow you're early."
"Yeah, he needs more training." Rory nodded. And she started giggled, while Luke chuckled.
Max laughed along, feeling stupider and stupider. How was I suppose to know I'm supposed to be late? He thought. I thought women liked that in a man. Being punctual. Well, Lorelai seemed to be different form all of the other women I dated. Which is what I love about her. Is it too early for me to tell her that?
"Oh, I also need my toolbox." Luke said, interrupting Max's thoughts. Which had stopped him off his tracks. Toolbox?
"You mean Bert?" Rory corrected.
Who's Bert? What toolbox? Max thought it was very inappropriate to talk such things in front of a child such as Rory.
Luke rolled his eyes. "Fine. Where's Bert. I need to fix my sink in the bathroom. The hot water wont turn on, so I have to fix it."
Ah, that toolbox.
"Well of course. You're Mr. Fix it Man." Rory giggled.
Just then, Lorelai came down the stairs, looking stunning than ever. Max's thoughts were subsided at the sight of her. So stunning, and all his.
When Lorelai had descended the stairs, she was expecting to see Max. but her breath caught in her throat at the sight of Luke. What was he doing here? She had thought she heard voices. But had assumed that they were Rory's and Max's. at the sight of Luke, her heart started to beat faster and aster. Her stomach was fluttering with anticipation. Then she caught a sight of Max, and suddenly felt guilty.
Remember who you're going out with.
Max walked up towards her and gave her a kiss.
"Hey. Finally." Max laughed, happy that she had finally came down.
"Hey." to him. Then to Rory and Luke. Mostly Luke. "And hey to you too. What are you doing here mister?"
"I cam to pick up Rory." he answered gruffly.
"Really what for? I thought she was going with Lane?" that was the plan.
"She was, but Lane got caught with a snickers bar."
"Ah." should have known.
Max was still confused. And feeling a bit left out. What's with the snickers bar?
"So I'm taking her with me." Luke continued.
"Really?" her eyes lighting up. "On Bill month?" he never lets anybody in his apartment during bill month. He says it'll ruin his system. More to Lorelai than Rory.
"Well, she needed a place to go." he said. "And besides, I also needed my toolbox."
Lorelai giggled. "You mean Bert?"
And here we go with the Bert thing. Max thought. Who is Bert?
Luke just rolled his eyes. "You do tell people that you're the one that names my toolbox?"
Lorelai and Rory just giggled. And said in unison, "Toolbox, dirty."
Luke rolled his eyes at them.
Oooohhh. Bert's the toolbox. Max realized. Man they are something else. Naming a toolbox?
"Oh, hey," Lorelai said, "that reminds me, the garbage disposal is out again. And my closet door is stuck."
"And you couldn't have had told me this earlier?"
"Well you're here now." she shrugged.
Luke sighed in defeat as he went to the kitchen, with Rory in tow.
"Ready hun?" Lorelai said to Max.
"Yeah." Lorelai gave her last good-bye's to Rory and Luke and she headed out with Max.
"So, Rory's staying with Luke?" Max asked casually as they headed for his car.
"Yeah. She loves staying at his place." she smiled. "Mostly because there's actual food, and amazing coffee there."
Max nodded. "And, how long have you know Luke?"
Lorelai stopped and looked at Max. "Max…not this again."
"I just want to know." he shrugged.
"Fourteen years Max." she said exasperated. "Fourteen wonderful years of friendship. And only friendship." she emphasized on the only and friendship part.
"Are you sure?"
"Max."
"It just seemed to me like there was something there."
"Max. you have to understand that Luke is a very important part of my life." then corrected, "My and Rory's life. He's been the only father she's known."
"I know you have history together." he said. "But, I don't know. I just feel that...he doesn't seem to like me."
She had to laugh at him with that. "What?"
"I don't know. There seems to be some tension whenever we're in the same room. He doesn't seem to like me. And whenever you're there, it seems like…" he trailed off. "I don't know."
"Max, he's just being protective." Lorelai reasoned. "We're the closest family he has right now." thinking of Liz, wherever she is. And Jess, who they don't know if he's still alive.
"Its just, I feel like I'm threatened whenever he's concerned." he said, ashamed that he's even telling her this.
Now Lorelai couldn't hold her laughter. "Max. there is no need to be threatened."
"I feel like I am" he said in defense.
Lorelai stopped once realizing how serious Max was being. "Max." holding his hand. "Luke and I are just friends. Ok? And besides, he knows I'm with you. And Luke's not the one to steal a woman from another man."
He nodded. "Could you just…I don't know..." he shrugged, "Could you just, not be so close to him?"
She dropped his hand. "What?"
"It would really make me feel better." he said, giving her an innocent look.
"You want me to stop talking to Luke cause you're jealous of him?" not believing that he would actually ask her to do such a thing.
"No stop talking to him completely." feeling like a complete jerk. "Just not too often. I mean, you usually talk about him on our dates. And just now, he seems to know more about you than I do."
"I've known him for fourteen years. Of course he knows me. He knows me better than I know myself."
"He maybe part of your everyday life, no doubt he's part of Rory's. but could you just, limit it. Just when we're out." he added. "Kind of breaks my reputation as the boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" another word that chanted in her head. Does that term still apply to thirty plus year olds?
"Yes. Me. Boyfriend. You. Girlfriend."
"Ok Tarzan. You can stop now." she said rolling her eyes. "Max, I'm sorry if I talk about Luke all the time. Its just, he's always there. I mean, he's my best friend. And Rory's father figure. But I wont limit my time with him."
Max sighed.
"But…I will stop talking about him."
Max smiled. "That's all I ask." he gave her a kiss then led her towards his car.
Lorelai sighed as she sat on the front seat, thinking back to their conversation.
A/N: Soooo...I didn't really watch this weeks episode. I would have too...cause I saw the spoilers. But, for some reason, my cable was on the fritz again.
BUT!!!...my good friend Confusedgirl313, who came to my aid when i wanted to witness that Luke/Lorelai moment on TV, called me, and let me hear their conversation. And, she told me some facial expressions. So, basically, I kind of got the hint of what happened.
Though I can't wait for next week's episode where Luke and Christopher gets into a fist fight. I mean come one...Chris, don't be so naive. Just because you're with Lorelai now...doesn't make you Manny Pacquao.
REVIEWS!PLEASE!
♠bokayjunkie♣