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: what's the point.

CHAPTER 24: You're on Candid Camera

They were halfway to Hartford. Luke was driving, Lorelai sat next to him in silence. Luke was much more focused on what to tell Rory and what her reaction was going to be. On one hand, he knows that Rory would be really happy for them. Remembering back to when Lorelai and Max had started going out.

You could have stopped them! You could have told her how you felt.

But still. She could have grown an attachment to Max. he is her teacher after all. Lorelai, on the other hand, was much more focused on the fact that Rory was upset with her dating Max. she knew her daughter wasn't being fully honest with her feelings towards her dating Max. But she thought that Rory had grown into it as they went on with their dating.

She remembered Rory's behavior when she was first started dating Max. she was distant and avoiding her constantly. But she just assumed it was because their dark day was coming up. And after their dark day, Rory seemed to have been different than before. She made an effort to be part of Lorelai's dating life as much as she can without being grossed out. So Lorelai assumed that Rory's distant was just the dark day.

"So," Lorelai started, breaking the silence. "How long was Rory upset?"

"Upset with what?" Luke asked absently, focusing intently on the road.

"With me dating Max?"

Luke was now listening of Lorelai. "What?"

"How long was she upset with me for dating Max?"

"I don't know." he shrugged, feeling a bit uncomfortable at the mention of…the teacher. "Since you two started dating?"

"That long?" Luke just gave her an unsure shrug. No wonder she was so supportive of me breaking up with Max. "But she became much more ok with it right?"

"I don't know."

"Luke." she wine.

"What? I don't know." he said defensively. "I have no idea what's going on in your daughter's mind. I'm not a mind reader you know."

"But she talks to you." she pointed. "What did she say? Did she say exactly how she felt or…?"

"Well, she was upset." he started. "She cried when Max slept over."

Lorelai's face fell again, and she started to feel guilty. "She did?"

"Yeah. When she went to the diner that morning, she cried."

"That's what happened while she was there?"

"Yeah."

"I thought she helped you open up?"

"No. she cried then passed out. So I let her fall asleep on my bed. I was the one who opened up."

Lorelai lowered her head. "She was really that upset with me?"

"Why do you think she was avoiding you that whole week?" he asked softly.

"I don't know." she shrugged. "I thought it was because of our dark day coming up."

"That too." he said.

"Well what about after our dark day? She seemed a bit more fine with it."

"Yeah she was. She much more accepted it and she knew that you weren't fully happy with her being distant, so she softened a little."

"Was she still upset?"

"No. not much." he said. Lorelai sighed. "She just wanted you to be happy. And she thought being with Max made you happy. So she accepted it."

Lorelai looked at him. He was focused on the road. But she saw his facial expression. She heard how pained it sounded when he had said the last statement. Lorelai smiled then scooted towards him. She rested her head on his shoulders and kissed his cheeks.

"I'm happy with you." she whispered. "And only you." then rested her head back on his shoulder and saw him smile.

A few minutes later, Luke pulled up in front of an iron cast gate. Which guarded a palatial mansion.

"This is where Paris lives?" Luke asked with his jaw dropped. "Its bigger than the school."

Lorelai looked at the house. "If you think this is big, you should see my parents house."

Luke looked at her. "You're kidding right."

Lorelai smiled at him. "Aw." she said pinching his cheek. " Honey you are so cute when you are clueless."

Luke's eyes widen. But before he could say anything, they heard the gate open. They saw Rory walking out with a curious look on her face.

"Its show time." Lorelai mumbled as she got out of the truck. "Hey hun." Lorelai greeted as her daughter approached her.

"Mom, what's going on?" her eyes darted back and forth between her mother and Luke, who was still at the truck, looking at her a bit nervously.

"Well You're on Candid Camera."

"What?"

"Oh hun," Lorelai laughed, "it's a long story."

"…then you called me. And then Luke and I drove all the way to Paris's house. And, here we are now." Lorelai finished her story. The three were seated in Luke's truck. Luke driving, Rory seated in the middle and Lorelai on the other end.

Rory sat there frozen, her eyes wide, upon hearing her mother's story. When they drove off to Stars Hollow, Lorelai took the liberty of telling Rory the story of what happened, seeing as how Luke was a stuttering machine, courtesy of the nervousness that dawned upon him. Rory was shell shocked. Lorelai had told her everything. Everything everything. Starting Sunday when they had first kissed, up to now. Though making the after dinner part less graphic than it was for her daughter's sanity.

"So," Rory said, breaking her silence, "You mean to tell me, you were the one in Luke's apartment?" Lorelai nodded. "And you were there because you two had a…date?"

"Well it wasn't a date per say."

"it wasn't?" Rory and Luke asked in unison.

"No." Lorelai said. "It was more of a…pre-date. Since our real date is set on this Saturday."

Luke rolled his eyes. "only you can come up with something like that."

Lorelai flashed him a smile.

Rory was still in shock. "So you guys are officially dating?" she asked slowly.

"Yes. We are." Lorelai smiled. She looked at Rory who was now smiling brightly.

"That is so awesome!" she exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you guys." she squealed, hugging Luke gently, since he was driving, then hugging Lorelai tightly.

The entire ride home was mostly spent with Lorelai and Rory talking, squealing and giggling. While Luke just sat with a smile on his face, happy that finally, Rory knows, and finally, it had happened.

When they arrived at the Gilmore house, Rory had expected Luke to sleep over, seeing as how his relationship with her mother had now shifted. But he had early deliveries tomorrow morning, so he has to sleep at the diner. Rory was disappointed, so was Lorelai, but they reluctantly let him go.

"I can't believe you guys are now officially together!" Rory squeaked as she and her mother entered her room.

"I know, me too." she smiled brightly, carrying the box full of materials.

Rory looked at her mother, then giggled. "Look at you, you can't even stop smiling." she said, smiling herself.

Lorelai ducked her head, blushing a bit, "Well it was a great night." she shrugged. Rory giggled. "Hey, where do you want this?"

"Oh, here." she took the box and placed it on her desk. "Sorry bout that, since Paris and I are gonna be meeting here tomorrow, its best that I keep the materials."

"Its ok." Lorelai waved it off, sitting on Rory's bed. "I'm just sorry that she had to go through that. No kid should."

"Yeah well…" Rory shrugged.

Lorelai looked at her daughter. "Hey Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"Sit down a moment."

"Why?"

"Just sit."

She looked at her mother skeptically. "Ok?" then sat on the foot of the bed criss-crossed, facing her mother. Lorelai sat the same way on the top of the bed, facing Rory. "Something wrong?"

"No, well…" she stumbled, "I want you to be completely honest with me, ok?"

Rory nodded, "Sure."

Lorelai took in a deep breath, "Were you really ok with me dating Max?"

Rory looked at her confused. "What does it matter now? I mean, you two are already broken up and now you're with Luke." she said. "Why? Do you not want to be with Luke anymore? Are you regretting this?" she became panicked. "A minute ago you couldn't stop smiling, now you're thinking about Max? what-"

"Rory!" Lorelai interrupted. "Breath ok?" Rory nodded and did so. "I want to be with Luke. And I don't regret anything. Ok? Luke makes me happy. He's amazing, and I've wanted this for so long."

"Then, why are you thinking about Max?"

"I'm not thinking about him."

"you're not?" she said disbelievingly.

"No. I'm only asking you because I just wanted to know if you were completely honest with me during the time I was with Max. there's no meaning behind it. I am with Luke, and I tend to make it that way for as long as I live."

"Good." Rory said firmly.

"So…why weren't you happy when I was with Max?"

"I didn't say that." she said defensively.

"No. you didn't. but Luke did."

"He did? Why would he say that?"

"Because it's the truth." she said in a duh tone. Rory looked at her ankles, guiltily. "Rory why didn't you say anything?"

"It's not that I didn't want you to be happy." she sighed. "I told you that whatever makes you happy will make me happy. And it seemed like Mr. Medina made you happy. So I didn't say anything."

Lorelai looked at her daughter. "So you didn't want me to be with Max after all?"

Rory shrugged.

"Rory." she said in a warning tone. "You have to be completely honest with me with this ok? Specially with my love life. I don't want to go on making decisions that'll upset you. I mean, if me being with Luke will upset you-"

"No!" Rory interrupted quickly. "That decision I love."

Lorelai had to laugh. "Ok. So you want me to be with Luke?" Rory nodded enthusiastically. "Well, when I was with Max, were you happy?"

Rory looked at her mother. "I admit I was mad at you." she said quietly.

Lorelai sat straight surprised. "Why?"

"Because…" she shrugged. Then admitted quietly. "I wanted you to be with Luke."

Lorelai's face softened. "you did?"

She nodded. "Have been for a long time."

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell Luke?"

"Because, I though you guys would get mad. Or…I don't know." she shrugged. "I mean, its kind of unusual to tell your mother you want her to be with the guy who you see as your father for fourteen years. I mean, he's your best friend."

Lorelai giggled. "So you didn't want me to be with Max cause you wanted me to be with Luke?"

"Basically."

"So that's why you were so distant?"

"Yeah." she admitted softly. "I was mad and I didn't want to witness any of your sweet moments with Mr. Medina. I'm sorry, but it kind of made me want to puke. And not just because he's my teacher and all." Lorelai smirked. "So I spent most of my time with Luke or Lane or Dean."

"But after our dark day, you hung out with me again. Why?"

"Well I realized, I can't be mad at you forever." she said. "And besides, I missed you. So I tried to accept it. Even though I didn't fully accept it, I tried to be there with you."

"And, did it make any difference?"

"Not really." she admitted. "I was still hoping that you and Luke would be together."

Lorelai smiled. "I can't believe that you would. How long have you wanted Luke and I to be in a relationship?"

Rory shrugged. "Since I was five I guess."

"That long?"

"Yeah. The day that you told me that I couldn't call Luke dad anymore because he wasn't my dad was the crushing point of my life." she said quietly. "It kind of broke me."

"Oh honey." Lorelai pulled Rory into a hug. "I'm sorry. But you had to understand, that time, you were young. You had to face the truth somehow."

"I know." she said pulling back from the embrace. "It took me a while to accept it, but I did." still in denial, but its getting better.

"So you just, wished and wished that Luke and I would be together?"

"Yes." she grinned. "Lane and I even made up plans on how to get you guys together."

"Really?" she said in surprise. "Lane also?"

"Yeah." she nodded with a smile.

"What kind of plans?" intrigued at this new information.

"Well, one of them was taking you and Luke to a restaurant and then leaving the two of you alone so it'll be like the two of you on a romantic date." she explained. "But it backfired on so many level."

"I'll say, I don't even remember that happening. When was that?"

Rory smirked, "That was the weekend the four of us went to Chuck 'e' Cheese."

Lorelai laughed. "Well, you should have known that I will be wanting to play the games as well, rather than just sit there eating Pizza while watching the animatronics Chuck 'e' Cheese band play on stage."

"Yeah, didn't think of that." she admitted. "But most of our plans consist of locking the two of you guys in the same room together."

Lorelai laughed. "Oh, so that was why the key to my door had 'mysteriously' disappeared."

Rory laughed with her. "Yeah, needless to say our plans kinda backfired."

"Yeah unfortunately for you guys, and I guess for us as well, Luke keeps his toolbox everywhere. Even in my room."

"Yeah, we kinda didn't think about that at the moment." she admitted. hen defended, "We were young, we didn't know any better. But now that we're older, our plans have upgraded. And even more so that we have help from Dean."

"Wow, does everyone want Luke and I to be together?" Lorelai asked in wonder.

"Only everyone in Stars Hollow as far as I know." Rory shrugged. "Miss Patty even has a betting pool on when you guys will finally get together."

"Really?" Rory nodded. "Who won?"

"Well, since you guys officially started today, I think Gypsy won. But who knows, it may have changed since I last saw it."

"Even when I was still with Max?"

Rory nodded again. "They had a betting pool on when you break up with him." Lorelai's mouth fell open. "Now I think Kirk won that one."

"Wow, Stars Hollow is making riches out of my and Luke's love life." she said. "What about you? Did you get in on the betting pool action yourself."

"Not really, I was the information holder to everyone."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning they go to me for updates. You know, if you two finally got together or not. Boy, will Gypsy be happy."

Lorelai realized that she and Luke hadn't discussed about that part yet. What do we tell the town? She was so fixated on when and how to tell Rory, that she hadn't even thought about how they'll tell the town.

"Mom, is something wrong?"

"What? Yeah." she said, snapping out of her thoughts. "Yeah, um, Rory? Can you not tell anybody about Luke and I yet? Just for now."

"Why not?"

"Well, we haven't really discussed that part yet. Whether we tell the town or not."

"Of course you're gonna tell the town. I mean, if you don't they'll find out eventually."

"I know, but, we haven't discussed on that aspect yet." seh explained. "We just started. I don't know if Luke wants this out immediately, or if he wants to keep it for a while. I personally do not care if we tell them now or not. I'm just happy with the way things are. But Luke, he's not a very social guy. Once our relationship is out, people are gonna talk. They're gonna be talking about us, 24/7. I mean, if you think you got it bad with you and Dean, just think my relationship with Luke will be like Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. and you know how Luke likes his privacy."

"So what you're saying is, I can't tell anybody until you and Luke talk about telling people?"

"Yeah. That's exactly what I'm asking."

"Ok. I wont." she promised. "But can you and Luke talk about this really soon, I really want to tell Lane about this."

"Sure honey. I will."

"Great!" she grinned. Then checked the clock. "Mom, its getting late, I need to do my homework."

"Oh, of course." Lorelai stood up from the bed and headed out the door. "Oh by the way," she said before leaving, "Luke's gonna be coming to dinner with us on Friday."

"He will? Why?"

"Well apparently, Emily wants to get to know him."

Rory looked at her confused. "And that's a good thing?"

"Well normally no. but I talked to Emily and she was actually…excited about it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, once I told her he was coming, she started immediately on the menu for dinner. And she kept on asking about the kind of food he'd like."

"That's weird."

"Totally. But its Emily. Ok, well, I'll leave you with your homework."

"Thank you." then Lorelai left.

Lorelai had already finished getting ready for bed. She looked at the clock, it said 11. She got comfy on the bed and picked up the phone. She dialed and waited.

"Hello?"

"Hey." she smiled upon hearing his voice. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I was just about to go to bed." he said smiling as well.

"Oh." feeling embarrassed. "Well, I'll let you go."

"No, no. I can talk. What is it?" sounding worried.

"Nothing bad." smiling at his concern. Then said shyly. "Just, wanted to talk to you."

Luke's smile grew. "Oh. Well, here I am."

"Yeah. Hey Luke? Did you know that Rory and Lane have been trying to set us up for a very long time?"

"What?" he laughed at this.

"Yeah, seems like they learned a thing or two from the Parent Trap."

"What did they do?"

"Well, remember our weekend get away to Chuck 'e' Cheese?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, apparently, it was suppose to be a big, romantic dinner for us."

"Oh. Well that was…" looking for the word, "thoughtful of them."

Lorelai laughed. "And they also had us locked up in a room numerous of times, in hopes that the two of us would get together that way."

"Oh, no wonder the key was always missing." now the pieces fit all together. "They wanted us to be together that bad?"

"Yeah." she said quietly. If they had succeeded, we could have been married by now. She smiled at the thought. "And not only them, apparently everyone in Stars Hollow as well. Did you know that they have a betting pool on when we would get together?"

"I'm not surprised. With this town, you never know."

"Yeah. They're making money out of our love lives." Lorelai giggled. "Which reminds me, what about the town?"

"what about them?"

"Well, what are we gonna tell them? Do we tell them that we're together?"

"I don't know. Why are you asking me anyway?"

"Well I just want to know what you want."

"I want what you want."

Lorelai smiled at that. "Well what I want is what you want."

Luke smirked. "We're gonna be going around in circles with this if we keep this up."

"Well for Rory's sake, we have to make a decision cause she can't wait to tell Lane about us."

"Ok, how bout we keep it quiet for a while." he said. "At least until after our date on Saturday."

"And after that?"

"Then I guess we can just…" thinking of what they should do, "play it by ear I guess. They'll know when they know."

"I like the sound of that."

"And if Rory wants, she can tell Lane."

"Yeah, I think she'd explode if she wont." she laughed. "Well, its getting pretty late."

"Yeah, I have to open up tomorrow."

"Night Luke."

"Night Lorelai."

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♣