Presenting … Lucas Danes?
By GilmoreGirl1979 (the Reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality FAN FICTION
Rating: let's say PG-13 because well, I can't write smut… I break into girlie giggles … because it's so absurd… me… writing smut… it's funny, especially those who know me well….
R/R: yes please I love reviews, I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Friendly disclaimer: Chapter 1 once again, I don't own (DAMN IT!), No Harm No Sue. I reject ASPs Reality and substitute my own!
Luvz: Miss you!
A/N: it's been awhile huh… honestly I didn't realize that it had been so long since I updated… OI! Who knew time flew so fast!
Thanks to all you who kept after more this fic… I will try and be better; apparently this is my beta's favorite… so she had sway with me… lol… thanks Localizy.
A/N: after Localizy read ths chapter she said… God I love this story (you can quote me)
So I did!
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Chapter 17:
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?
Rory didn't know why her mother was sleeping in so late. True, it was a Saturday, and Lorelai wasn't exactly a "Morning Person", but Lorelai still knew she had to dazzle people, eat and of course, buy shoes. Rory went upstairs to check on her mother, maybe she's sick?
When Rory opened the door she saw the lump in her mother's bed was unusually large. Upon closer inspection she saw that Lorelai was huddled up close with Luke, thankfully still in their clothes from the day before. Rory smiled at the pair, they made up… again… as if there was any doubt. One thing was for certain the evolving relationship kept bystanders on their toes, well the bystanders that know about the relationship. Rory found a delightful metaphor when she saw her mother's heels happily mingling with Luke's boots on the floor. Lorelai had an extra tight hold on his flannel shirt, her head was perfectly tucked in the crook of his neck, not wasting an inch.
Luke suddenly took a deep breath and surprised Rory when he opened his eyes. "Rory?"
"Damn I was just about to get the camera."
"You do and I'll put you on Coffee Probation," rubbing his eyes. Luke carefully escaped the slumbering Lorelai's grasp, and she limply adjusted in bed, still dead to the world.
"You two looked … comfortable," Rory observed.
"Yeah, well we had a late night," smiling at just talking with Lorelai and reminiscing about his dad. Then seeing the grin on Rory's face, "Nothing like that…" he got out quickly.
"Its okay, Luke … you know, you can … spend the night here if you want…"
"Yeah, well this … kinda was … special …circumstances…" he choked out, embarrassed to have been caught by the daughter.
"Even so, I'm okay with it, really, and if it will get you two out in the open sooner, I'm all for it," Rory assured him.
"Well, we'll see, it's your mom's call ..."
"You let her have too much power," Rory admonished.
"I do … I really do," Luke solemnly agreed, "Well, its Saturday … I'm just gonna call the diner and see if Caesar needs me."
"You do that."
Rory thought it was sweet, the way that Luke tucked Lorelai back in bed, that he wanted to let his girlfriend get all the sleep she required, but Rory wanted the skinny on how they made up, so, as soon as Luke was out of the room, she hopped in her mother's bed and poked at Lorelai incessantly.
"Wha?" Lorelai's eyes squinted open, swatting at her daughter's prodding hands.
"That's attractive?"
Searching for her fella, Lorelai immediately asked "Where's Luke?"
"Why Good Morning Mother, I love you too."
"Where is he?" Lorelai asked again with concern, hoping he still wasn't in his funk, hoping last night hadn't been a dream.
"Jeez, he's down stairs calling the diner, so did we find out what his PMS was about?"
"It was the anniversary of his father's death yesterday," Lorelai yawned, not really comprehending what she was saying this early in the morning, and how indifferent it had came out.
"What?" So not what I was expecting
"12 years ago, apparently every year since his father's death… Luke has this … dark day." Lorelai suddenly remembered a question that was formed last night, "Do you remember if we've ever seen him on the 30th before?"
"Not off hand."
"What about those compulsive diaries of yours?"
"Hey!"
"Well, anyway, I found out what yesterday was from Maisy, and I found him at the cemetery with…" Lorelai worded delicately, "…his folks, and I didn't think he could deal with Jess given his …mood, so I brought Luke back here, I just… didn't want him to be alone, you know… He told me some stories about his dad ... Oh My God, There was this funny one about cheese…" and Lorelai tried to remember the anecdote in her drowsy fog.
Now that Rory had a clear picture of Luke's situation, she was compelled to go downstairs, "Mom."
"Yeah sweets?" Lorelai yawned again, forgetting she was going to tell Rory a story.
"I'll be right back."
"Okay," Lorelai shifted to a more comfortable position, cuddling with her Luke scented pillow, and she fell back asleep.
Rory grabbed Luke's boots from the floor and carried them downstairs by the laces, to find that Luke had finished his phone call.
"Hey I've got to go to the diner… stop by later when you're mom wakes up… I'll make chocolate chip pancakes for you guys."
"That sounds great…" and Rory walked up to Luke, forgetting she had his boots in her right hand, and she hugged him.
Luke was surprised, not having a hug from Rory since the Ball, "What's this for?"
"For your Dark day" Rory gave him a half smile, "I hope… Mom made you feel better."
That didn't take long, once again finding the unique, honest bond between mother and daughter refreshing, "Thanks. She did."
"We love you Luke… you know that."
"Yeah, I know" he patted the teen's shoulder and she let him go to run his business.
Suddenly remembering the laces her hands, she playfully held up the boots, "Hey, boots anyone?" Rory offered the absent minded diner owner.
Luke looked at his socked feet and had to laugh at himself, "Well, that would definitely raise a few questions."
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Lorelai woke up again, realizing her daughter had returned from… somewhere, "Hey, where'd you go?"
"Just checking on Luke, he said he'll see us at the diner…"
"What's that?"
"Luke said…" Rory was about to repeat.
"No, that smell…" and Lorelai looked around her room.
"Smell?" Rory sniffed, "it's Coffee."
"He made us Coffee," Lorelai plopped back flat on her bed again, smiling at his little way to say thank you for last night.
"Well, he knows what's good for him. He also mentioned chocolate chip pancakes… if we go to the diner…" Rory enticed.
"I have to get to work…" Lorelai groaned.
"Mom, you're the boss…"
"Mia's the boss."
"…but she left you in charge…So…take the morning off and see your fella. He needs his family."
"His family?" Lorelai was surprised at Rory's choice of words, that she saw Luke that way already, surprised she herself hadn't thought of that connection before. Well he did play Rory's father for the ball, and we spend Thanksgiving with him, I try to get him in the Christmas Spirit... maybe realizing for the first time how attached they both were to Luke even before they were dating. By her own admission Luke was more of a father to Rory than Chris had been in recent years.
"Well yeah, we are it, aren't we? His parents are gone, his sister… as her own things… and jess," Rory scoffed, "Jess is a joke…and you said he had a dark day… I wanna be there for him…after all he is my … step dad," the teen teased, reminding Lorelai of the joke from the ball.
Lorelai beamed at her thoughtful kid, "Just let me get dressed." Hmm step dad?
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"Hmm, Luke could I have more sausage?" Lorelai smiled at Luke as she sat at the counter in the diner.
Luke surveyed the diner quickly, for any known gossips, and discreetly lowered his voice hoping the other patrons wouldn't notice, "What are you doing?"
Lorelai's brow furrowed, "I'm asking for seconds," Lorelai looked at him blankly, wondering what she had done wrong, What's the big deal?
"You are being suggestive…" giving her a stern look.
In a southern accent, Lorelai was offended, "Why Lucas Danes, wherever is your head at?" and she took another forkful of her eggs.
Luke rolled his eyes and went to serve other customers and refill coffees.
Rory shook her head, "You're a bad influence on him."
"I know, I really am," Lorelai smiled, as if she took pride in that fact.
Since Rory and her mother were both busy eating, Rory couldn't help but focus on the décor of the diner as she finished her breakfast, and then got to thinking about Luke and his relationship with his dad. Rory had learned from the townies that Luke and his father had been close, and from her mother that Luke had kept the diner the same way his father left it, even though it was no longer a hardware store, only moving things once to accommodate Lorelai painting the place, then putting them right back. Rory suspected that Luke must have missed William very much to send him into a funk once a day for 12 years like clock work.
Then Rory's thoughts couldn't help but wander to her own father, Christopher. She remembered her mother's "bitter women who hate their father's" speech from before the ball fiasco. She also remembered that Chris was supposed to call any day now for his twenty-second chance. Rory felt conflicted, she wanted to stay loyal to Luke and her mother, and she was still mad at Chris, but she couldn't help but wonder what if Christopher died? What if they never got a chance to repair the damage? She wouldn't have stories about Chris the way Luke had about his dad. She had stories of Lorelai out the ying yang…but none to show for Christopher.
Rory shook away her thoughts of Chris, let's see if he follows through before I get all… sentimental. Right now we have to focus on Luke and his dark day.
"Hey, sweets? You okay?" Lorelai asked Rory.
"Yeah just thinking…" Rory shrugged.
"Aw good, something different for you," teasing her brainiac child, "come on… what were you thinking about to make your face look like that?" but then, Lorelai's cell phone rang, and naturally she answered it "Sorry…" she apologized to Rory, " Hello? Oh hey Sookie…"
Luke appeared out of nowhere and barked "Outside…" endlessly reminding her about his cell phone policy, as he brought the Lorelai's seconds of sausage…. Dirty, My God she's in my head!
"Well, it's nice to see you back to normal," and she honored his rule, this time.
"Hey? You okay?" Luke asked Rory, noticing how quiet she was.
"Yeah, Why?"
"Just checking…" he shrugged, "you need anything else?"
Rory smiled at how concerned he was for her, like a dad would be, he sort of unconsciously filled that void even before he had offered his help with the Ball. She was just thinking of what she could possibly do to contribute to bring a little light to Luke's Dark Day, "Umm could I have… more bacon please?"
"You got it."
"Umm actually Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"I know you've already… you know had your…dark day …tradition but … I was wondering if you'd… want to come over … you know for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"Sure, you, me and mom…we could pick some more of your dad's favorite movies… sort of as a tribute?"
"Umm sure… that'd be… nice…" Luke didn't know why Rory wanted to have a special night to commemorate a man she never knew, but Luke figured that it was a gesture within her power. Rory was a very sweet and considerate teen, and he guessed she wanted to somehow help make him feel better, too.
"Okay great…" she smiled, "So … is tonight good for you? Saturday is usually movie night…as you know."
"Umm sure… if you want…"
Their quiet moment was swept away when Lorelai burst back in to the diner "Oh My GOD!", and she frantically began to gather her stuff up from around the counter.
"What's wrong?" Luke was ready to help with whatever crisis Lorelai had to deal with.
"Oh My God! This is gonna be so Cool!" and Luke and Rory suddenly realized she was happy not distressed.
"What?" Rory turned around on her stool anxious for the details.
"Okay… There is this crazy insane group from Chicago, and they want to book the Inn for a special company Christmas event!"
"Wait, book the inn?" Rory wanted to clarify.
"Yeah, the entire Inn, they bought the place out," Lorelai wore a broad smile, her voice going high pitched by the end of the sentence as she punctuated with a shrilling squeal .
"Can you do that?" Luke asked.
"Apparently when you've had the greatest sales year of your company's history, and enough money, money can buy anything…their doing it as a reward for all the hard work of their employees. Oh and here's the best part, they are doing like an old world medieval theme, they want servers get to dress up, and talk in dialects…" Lorelai double checked that she had her purse, and coat, as she continued to ramble because all of a sudden she had a million things to do and less than two weeks till the grand dinner. "Where's my cell phone?" she asked Luke knowing he was the last person to see her with it.
"In your hand?" he offered.
She looked at her hand and sure enough there is was, "Oh right," she laughed at herself, as she threw on her coat, "…Oh man, I've got to touch base with Mia… I mean, we already have reservations for that weekend… So I'm gonna have find people other accommodations… and …" she was out the door and apparently still talking to herself.
Rory smiled at Luke, "Looks like it's just you and me for dinner," looking forward to some one on one time with her "step father".
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Lane couldn't believe Rory was going through all this trouble, "You do realize you don't know how to cook?" as they wandered the aisles of Doose's market.
"Hey, I made Dean dinner," and she trailed off, "… like 6 months ago…"
"When you dressed up as Donna Reed? And you forgot the rolls… and your mom caught you…"
"Shut up…" knowing they were in public and could have been over heard by anyone, "I told you that in confidence, so that you would never mention it again…"
"You brought up the dinner again."
"Well, you accused me of never cooking before, let's just focus on the now… sure I've never really been exposed to cooking, that doesn't mean I can't try knew things. Last year I made dinner for someone I cared about…and now I'm gonna do it again for someone else I care about. Now come on, give me some ideas, you help your mother cook all the time."
"Yeah, healthy disgusting Korean tofu type stuff"
"Well, that's perfect, Luke eats healthy…"
"You like Luke right? What my mom makes is barely suitable for human consumption; you don't want him to gag on the first bite do you? I am special, it took years to build up a tolerance to my mother's brand of cooking, and I had to in order to survive."
Not wanting to send Luke into Tofu shock, Rory pleaded with her friend to help and not be so defeatist, "Look, just give me the basics… help me find something simple… that I could do by myself… without burning my house down…"
"Oh, I know…" Lane took Rory to Taylor's magazine rack and they started flipping through the pages to find easy recipe ideas.
Taylor discovered the girls and snidely reminded them, "You know ladies, this isn't a library, and those magazines are meant for purchase."
"We are just double checking the articles we want Taylor," Lane defended.
"Well you are crinkling that magazine and mussing up my entire display … not to mention getting your fingerprints all over the pictures." Taylor spoke to them as if they were little children, "Put down the magazine, scan the headlines with your eyes," and Taylor pointed his finger to his eye to illustrate, "and then make your decision."
"Man, Taylor can be so annoying," Rory observed after he had walked away.
"Come on theses ought to do," Lane grabbed some modern mother magazines and the Betty Crocker recipe book of the month, just for good measure.
Lane and Rory found an easy entrée and some side dish ideas, then gathered Rory's required ingredients in the rest of the store.
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With the Bracebridge Group turning the Inn upside down, Lorelai was swamped with arrangements and planning with Sookie. Which was just as well since Rory didn't know how to explain her gesture to Lorelai. Lorelai had her session of comforting and reminiscing the night before; today was Rory's turn.
With her groceries in tow, Lane helped her pick out some appropriate movies. Rory recalled her mom mention that Luke and William liked Spencer Tracy, and luckily Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World were available. She wanted to keep the mood light, so she found Paint Your Wagon, Clint Eastwood in a musical now this I've got to see. She rounded off the choices with some Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, not sure if Luke would like those leading men, but also knowing that if they didn't get to them to night, they would eventually.
The recipes for the entrée and sides were very easy and didn't take that long to cook, there is hope for you, Gilmore, I may be a soccer mom yet! Thank you Betty. Lorelai did call as Rory was finishing cooking, just to check in.
"Hey sweets, I'm sorry about movie night."
"It's okay," Rory assured, carefully watching the pan through the oven door's glass window.
"I'm just so busy, I love this group I mean way to be different people…but I hate them as well!"
"You just hate all the work you have to do…"
"Well, couldn't they have known about their great sales mid year?"
"Unless they have an oracle on staff, in which case they should go to Vegas…"
Lorelai continued her argument, "…but if they had made these arrangements in like… June… this wouldn't be so hard… and some of the people I have to move are some of our regulars… you remember the Keifers?"
"Aw I love the Keifers… they had that adorable baby right?"
"Yeah, Marie… and now I have to find them a new place to stay…what if they hold a grudge… what if they never come back… I'll never see little Marie again!"
"Mom, they won't hold a grudge…"
"Remember last year… when she didn't know it was Christmas and she kept saying 'Happy Birthday' to everyone." Lorelai smiled because little Marie reminded her so much of Rory at that age.
"Yes I do…and what was it she called her security blanket?"
"Blanky Boo…" Lorelai remembered fondly.
"Aw yeah…"
"I don't want little Marie to stay anywhere else…"
"Well she's gonna grow up in a few years… and then she will be a brat…"
"Damn it… well make some sort of time machine that she will stay 3 forever! What good are your brains if you don't use em?"
"I don't think her parents would appreciate that," Rory then, heard the knock at the front door, knowing it would be Luke, "Mom, I have to go."
"Oh, is your boyfriend there…"
Rory honestly said, "No…" your boyfriend is, she felt weird telling her mom about her special movie night with Luke.
"Lane?"
"No…it's the …Joe… with my Pizza…"
"The Joe? Uh, okay… well The Money is in the take out drawer…"
"I know… have a good night…"
"Save me a slice," and Lorelai went back to her game of musical inn quests.
As Rory opened the door she teased, "You know you don't have to do that… you are sleeping with my mom."
"Umm yeah I know," he was a little embarrassed at Rory mentioning that little fact, she was just a teen, and well his' girlfriend's daughter. Luke knew Rory wasn't an idiot, but he would have felt better if she didn't think of him that way. "So umm I … didn't know what you wanted for dinner… I was gonna bring something from the diner… but thought we could just order something if you want, I'll buy…"
"Dinner is all taken care of," Rory said with a proud smile.
"What?"
"I made you dinner"
Luke raised an eyebrow, "You can cook?"
"Yeah, well I'm not Sookie… but…I can manage…take out is just so much easier…and less messy. Actually I made Dean dinner last year… after he and I had a fight over something stupid … I think you were over here… helping mom look for my chick, Stella."
"Oh right" Luke remembered the night in question, and here he was, now dating the object of his affection mere months later, "Yeah, umm you were… dressed up."
"Umm yeah" the memory still embarrassed her, and she started to retreat into the kitchen, "… Oh, it's just you and me cause the Bracebridge Group has turned the Inn completely upside down, and mom has to try and fix everything up for these people… but she wants to give them their money's worth," Rory started to get the plates out of the cabinet.
Luke followed her into the kitchen, unsure if he should be worried about Rory's cooking, but he saw some of her efforts in the sink in the form of dirty pots, pans and a colander, and the array of magazines on the kitchen table. She went through all this trouble…
A timer went off, Rory pulled on oven mitts, and went to the oven and pulled out a variety of trays, "I kept everything in the oven to keep 'em warm." She presented the menu choices, "On tonight's menu we have chicken parmesan, baked ziti, garlic bread, and since I know you'd ask for a vegetable I made herbed zucchini… according to Better Homes and Gardens I had the choice of using mint or basil… but given the Italian theme of the evening, I chose basil," she finished with a smile and a humble shrug of her shoulders.
Luke was speechless; she went through all this trouble…for me?
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During Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?, Rory would cautiously sneak peaks at Luke, as her mother would do from time to time, wanting to see people's reactions during certain parts of certain films. In this instance Rory didn't know how to approach Luke, how to start to a conversation about his dad and consequently her dad. She never expected Luke and Chris to be fishing buddies, but she knew they may one day have to be in the same room together and not get in to a screaming match or fist fight, or kill each other.
Then all of a sudden, Luke picked up the remote and paused the movie right in the middle of Spencer Tracy's climatic speech, which snapped Rory out of her own thoughts, "Hey what are you doing?… that's the best part…"
"You wanna say something to me?"
On the spot, flushed a little in her cheeks, "Oh well, Umm no…"
"Rory… you keep looking over at me… is there something you wanna ask?"
"Well …"
"Is it… about me and …your mom?"
"Well, no, I was just… Well, I just wanted your… opinion…"
"Okay? On what?"
"Well on … dads."
"Dads?"
"Well yeah… I mean I know you miss yours... but you learned to live with out him…"
"Rory," Luke saw the same conflicted expression on Rory's face that morning at the diner, He knew she was talking about Christopher, he knew this was a serious conversation, probably the most serious, open and personal conversation he'd ever had with the teen, "Our situations are completely different…"
"How? We've both been without fathers…"
"Well, for one, mine died… we didn't have a choice in the matter. He was sick … for a very long time… and well while it's good that … he wasn't …in pain anymore… call me selfish but I still wish he was here… I still wonder what he'd say, I still wish I could just go to him and get his advice on things, maybe if I had the old man to get my" ass "self in gear… I would have been with your mom a lot sooner."
"Well, I don't need Chris… I have … you" Rory said shyly trailed away.
"Rory?"
"Well, you can't tell me that you and mom aren't gonna get married… some day… so you will be my step father… eventually, legal and official, and well… it could be you…"
"What could be me?"
"In my life… you took me to my coming out? So… it could be you …at the graduations… you know Chilton and Harvard… or if I win a Pulitzer… you could be the one in the audience, or … when … I get married…" Rory found the courage to look him in the eye, "You could walk me down the aisle… just like at the coming out ball. Mom's right you have been more of a father to me that Chris ever has…"
"Rory," while Luke was touched, he also felt extremely uncomfortable, he knew he was now involved with a very unique, delicate family situation, Lorelai and him haven't even tackled telling her parents or the town yet, and he knew some how Lorelai should be involved in this conversation. "I'm honored… that you think of me that way… really, but I'm not trying to replace your dad."
"What if… I want you to…"
Aw Jeez, "Rory, you know, Christopher isn't my favorite person… after all, my last meeting with Chris… well was less than ideal." Recalling being in bed with Lorelai to find Chris had caught them almost in the act. "That being said…I still think you should give him … another chance," and that was the hardest thing Luke ever had to say. "That is only my opinion. Look, I can't make this decision for you. I'm sure your mom would agree," Luke remembered Rory's suggestion to Chris, to try calling in a month, "…has he… contacted you?" wondering if a random phone call started this thought train in her head.
Rory sighed, "Not yet… but I expect any day now… if at all. That's the real trick, isn't it? You get expectations, then hope then … it's twice as bad when you're disappointed."
"Hey, we all need something to look forward to right?"
"…Says the town cynic."
"Well, I'm not so cynical anymore… your mom has had a lot to do with that… spending time with her … and you, gives me something to look forward to. I'm just saying… give Chris a chance, the benefit of the doubt, and if he…. screws up again… well, I'll be here. Okay?"
"Okay…" Rory smiled.
"So let's finish this up…" and Luke pressed play to let Mr. Tracy finish his speech.
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"Rory...?" Lorelai poked her head in the front door, she was carrying books she had picked up from the Inn's Library regarding the medieval time period, but figured a trip to Stars Hollow's library, or even to Chilton's, or Harvard's Library, wouldn't hurt either, especially if she had her favorite research assistant, "Rory? Mommy has a big project and needs your help!"
Lorelai put her books down on the foyer mirrored table, and hung up her coat, "Rory...? You better have saved me some of that Pizza… and you better still be awake…I really need your..." Lorelai entered the living room, to find Luke asleep on of the couch, "…help?"
"Mom?" was whispered behind Lorelai, so she turned around to find Rory peaking her head out of her room, gesturing for her to come inside and have a powwow.
Lorelai kicked off her heels as to not disturb Luke, and crept over to her daughter's door.
Once the door had closed, Lorelai asked her daughter, who seemed to have just woken up, "What's going on?"
With heavy eyes, Rory explained, "I was helping Luke… with his dark day…" Rory took a deep breathe to force her self in to consciousness, "We still had movie night… we just watched some classics that were his dad's favorites…or ones that I thought his dad might have liked… I wasn't really sure… I pulled this together in like 5 hours… with Lane's help of course."
In awe of the gesture, Lorelai asked "Why?"
"Well, you did something for him … I don't know… I wanted to do something too…I mean after everything we've been through…well with the Ball and your evolving relationship… it just felt… natural…"
Lorelai thought it was sweet that Rory saw Luke as family, and was compelled to help him, like he had helped her so many times before. "So… what did you watch?"
"Well we started off with Captain Blood, and I can't believe that was Errol Flynn's first movie he was so talented! And Olivia de Havilland was so pretty…"
"…And he fell asleep?"
"Oh we made it through Captain Blood and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner okay… but he conked out during It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World …so I turned off the movie and I moved to my room…I just heard your car, and here we are."
"Well, I'm glad you had fun."
"It was fun…" thinking of her important talk with Luke, "but now I'd really like to get to bed."
"Okay, but I have to ask you something"
"Mom, right now I'm so tired I'll agree to anything"
"Good to know… I need your help my expert researcher…for the minstrel dinner… thingy…"
"Mom, have I ever let you down for an Inn event?"
"No… but there is always a first time"
"Well not this time… just let me get my 8 hours… okay?"
"Okay … I'm going to …you know… wake up the man…"
"You do that," Rory nodded and went back to bed.
Luke was lying on the couch and Lorelai decided to curl up with him. With the added pressure to his body Luke groaned and stirred, and Lorelai decided to wake sleeping beauty up with a kiss.
He opened his eyes, and through the slits he saw her in the darkness, "Lorelai?"
"Hey… sorry I got in so late…" and she rubbed his chest, only wanting to be close to him and to have him take the stress of her day away.
"Nah it's alright… we were fine…you know… movies…and stuff."
"Is there any pizza left…?" Lorelai asked having uncharacteristically skipped dinner to plow through her guest relocations.
"We didn't have pizza," Luke said plainly.
"No?"
"Rory made me dinner… you know... to make me feel better …about my dad…it was nice…"
"Rory …made you dinner?" wondering if the Rory she just spoke with was the real Rory or a Pod Rory.
"Yeah…Chicken Parmesan, it's pretty good, we have some leftovers if you want… didn't she tell you?"
"No… she was pretty tired…"
"Aw well you were busy with the Inn any way… she said it would be just the two of us…"
"So when did she invite you over…"
"Just this morning, at the diner… I could heat it up for you if you like…"
"Okay… can I change into my PJs?"
"Sure," Lorelai sat up to free him to make her dinner, and with a groan Luke was up from the couch and in the kitchen. Luke seemed to be on automatic pilot, like he didn't realize he had to go home soon. That he couldn't be seen leaving Lorelai's house in the morning otherwise they'd be exposed. However, after her long day she wanted to spend time with him, and hear more about what Rory did for the diner man.
Lorelai decided to wait and see if Luke noticed he had to go home. If he wanted to stay… she had no problem with that… and if he had to sneak out in the morning… well they could deal with that too.
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"You mean to tell me that my daughter made this?" with a mouthful of chicken.
"Yes" Luke confirmed.
"My daughter"
"Yes"
"My daughter, Rory"
"Yes, do you have others I should know about?
"Excuse me, Luke, have you met Rory?" Lorelai took another piece of garlic bread, famished from the tedious tasks and preparation at the Inn. She was happy to have her feet up, her legs resting in Luke's lap at the kitchen table. "Well this is Fantastic… she must have a great teacher," taking another forkful of ziti.
"Wasn't me… Better Homes and Gardens and Betty Crocker."
"No way…"
Luke removed Lorelai's legs from his lap and got up from the table, he pulled the magazines Rory bought out of a drawer to show Lorelai.
"Wow… she must like you."
"I guess," Luke smiled leaning against the counter, thinking of Rory's gesture, of her already seeing him as her step father, of suggesting that he and Lorelai would one day get married, of already wanting him to fill in at future special events in her life, where Rory already expected Chris to come up short.
"What?" Lorelai noticed the perplexed and uneasy expression on his face.
"Nothing... Umm I should go… it's late."
Lorelai sprang up from her chair, "Aw come on please stay…" she stepped closer to him "I promise I'll make it worth you while?" in that seductive whisper he now knew so well, and she kissed him deeply pinning him against the counter.
When Lorelai pulled away, Luke had a grin on his face, "Mm Garlic…" he teased.
Lorelai swatted at his chest, "Fine, I'll brush my teeth then I'll make it worth your while."
This was a strange situation for Luke, usually Lorelai only begged for coffee. Naturally he wanted to stay, but he also wanted to protect their cover till Lorelai was ready to let the town in on the news. "When the Christmas party thing is over… we'll go out… I promise…"
"Your no fun!" she pouted, "I want some… real alone time with you," playing with the buttons on his shirt.
Luke looked at Lorelai a moment longer, it was like in that moment, she had completely forgotten about Christopher. While Rory was expecting, dreading and anxious for his call, Lorelai seemed to have dismissed that Chris was still part of their lives. While Luke was flattered that she was so happy with him, he knew she couldn't just ignore the thorn that was Chris.
"I'll see you in the morning… garlic breath…"
"Hey! You keep this up and I won't invite you as my date to the Christmas party."
"Oh yeah, minstrels, costumes, old world speech… sound like it's just up my ally," he stole a quick peck and left her for the night.
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A/n: Captain Blood is my FAV Errol Flynn Movie!
A/N:I kinda had a feeling that Sam Phillips album a boot and a shoe was a metaphor for Luke(boot) and Lorelai (shoe, my precious)
A/N: I found myself yawning a lot during this chapter! Wow! I am powerful with my suggestions… HEY! ASP… HIRE ME…
A/N I can't watch the show anymore… recent spoilers… someone email me if LL ever get hitched… thanks…
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you Luke!
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity, ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) at least specific thing you liked
Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund …