Presenting … Lucas Danes?
By GilmoreGirl1979 (the Reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality FAN FICTION
Rating: let's say PG-13 with an ish?
R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Friendly disclaimer: I REJECT ASP's REALITY and SUBSTITUE MY OWN! NO HARM, NO SUE! Sneaky Luke and Sneaky Lorelai with creeping music by Sam Philips sold separately.
LUVZ: I miss you!
FEATURED BETA: Localizy, Wonder Twin Powers Activate!
dialouge borrowed from- 2.12 - Richard in Stars Hollow /written by Frank Lombardi /Directed by Steve Gomer
2 chapters, just so you know I haven't forgotten you all!
77777777777777777777777777777777777777
Chapter 27:
Guess Who's Coming To DINER?
It was Lorelai's least favorite time of the week, Friday night dinner. Especially since it was a universal date night, and Lorelai could actually go on public dates with Luke now that the town knew about them. At least, they now had a clue of a budding relationship. Luke and Lorelai had a public date set for the next evening, to be out and about in Stars Hollow for all the gossips see, hopefully giving a bigger clue to the status of the will they or won't they question. However this evening, she had to suffer her mother who seemed in a very determined, yet crazy, mood.
Lorelai and Rory had just arrived at the Gilmore manor and Emily was eagerly shoving coats in the direction of the maid by the front door.
"Thanks, mom, it's windy out there out there."
"I know, I feel like Dorothy about to be taken by the tornado," Rory shivered.
Emily insisted, "Well, come in and sit down. I'll make you both a drink and then we can talk."
"About what?" Rory asked.
"Antennas up," Lorelai warned.
"Aye aye, captain," Rory nodded as they walked into the living room.
"So Lorelai, how are you?" Emily started off, as she fixed the girls each a drink, a soda for Rory, and a martini for Lorelai.
"Um, I'm fine Mom," wondering what that appraising glance from Emily meant.
"Rory?"
"I'm fine too, Grandma," Rory assured, wishing they would just get down to business of what Grandma had on her mind.
"How are you Mom?" Lorelai naturally returned.
"Also fine," Emily smiled handing off their drinks.
"Oh, look at that. All three of us fine, just like the Judds."
Emily sat down across from them, appraising eye still on her daughter. "So Lorelai," Emily posed,."Are you …still dating the diner man?"
"Excuse me?" Lorelai nearly choked on her first sip.
"I mean, in terms of longevity," Emily raised a tweezed eyebrow. "Do you see yourself staying with the diner man for a long time? Or is this just a fling?" she asked casually.
"What?" Lorelai furrowed her brow, the velvet gloves are off tonight. She was amazed that Emily would ask such a thing so callously, and in front of Rory no less.
"It's a reasonable question, are you and Luke planning to get married?" Emily eyed Lorelai seriously, for her own curiosity and for her evening's agenda.
Lorelai had to put down her drink so she didn't shatter the glass, "Wow, um well, I don't know, I mean, Luke and I haven't…really… discussed…that." Lorelai hadn't even told Luke that she loved him yet, and her mother was suggesting marriage, they had only been going out… Wow, has it really been five months. Granted Lorelai was already thinking about long term and the future; in a few years, she pictured herself still with Luke, opening her Inn, with Luke supportively at her side, like she had suggested at their Dragonfly picnic, but would they be married, husband and wife, when that event took place? Lorelai somehow knew Luke was it for her; she cringed now at the mere thought of another man touching her. She knew she would never do anything to hurt Luke and she knew she loved him; she just had to find the balls to tell him to his face. She didn't know if Luke has ever thought about marriage in general let alone specifically to them, he claimed loved her, granted when she was asleep and he didn't know she had over heard him. Still some how a picture of her and Luke standing beneath the Chuppah came into Lorelai's mind, after all he did make it, granted for me and Max, but it seems more fitting for us to… the Chuppah! We can use the Chuppah in Sookie's wedding.
Emily's voice intruded on her happy day dreaming, "So you think you'll be single your entire life?" she said sarcastically, mocking Lorelai's independent spirit. "What do you think the odds are of you two getting married?"
Well do you want the Vegas odds or a ballpark figure? "Okay," Lorelai put up her hands to halt the conversation, "What is going on?"
Emily sighed, "Well, I visited the family mausoleum today."
Lorelai offered as a side comment to Rory, "Never what you think it's gonna be!"
"I just wanted to check on things, make sure they were keeping it up, changing the flowers, you know," Emily ran through quickly.
"Well, they won't change themselves," Lorelai nodded.
"So I went inside and looked around and it occurred to me that there's a very limited space there."
"Oh," creepy, Lorelai winced.
"Now of course there's a slot open for me and Richard and you and Rory, but after the two of you – that's it. No more room for anyone else."
"Ah," Lorelai shook her head she had to RSVP for her own death, Lorelai plus one, Lorelai and guest?
"Yes. So if you actually do, you know, have a husband one day, I don't know where to put him," alluding to that it didn't necessarily have to be Luke.
"Well, maybe we could prop him up beside a jukebox? Or work out a deal with Bernie and his time share?"
"Don't be silly," Emily scoffed, not knowing what her daughter was talking about. Perhaps Lorelai didn't care that much for Luke since she was being so dismissive about where his remains would reside.
"No, because this is definitely not a conversation for that," Lorelai decided she had to have a drink for this conversation and picked up her glass again.
"I looked into expanding into the crypt next door but the family that owns it wouldn't even discuss it with me."
"I'm getting a little creeped out here," Rory observed, noting the goose bumps and chills up her spine.
"Well, I talked to the head of the cemetery and he suggested that we buy an annex."
"An annex?" Rory questioned.
"Yes," Emily shrugged, since it seemed to be the family's only solution.
Lorelai explained, "You know, like an outlet store, it would specialize in the irregular family members."
"So if we do get the annex and you do eventually someday get married…"
"Mom, just say it – fat chance – will you?" Lorelai rolled her eyes, but in her head she kept seeing flashes of Luke in a tux and had a smile at the corners of her mouth.
Emily straightened up, "I just meant that we'll have to decide who to move."
"Oh, oh. Well, uh. . .ugh, why don't we move Aunt Cecile? She was always so annoying at parties. She loved the knock-knock jokes."
"Mom!" Rory admonished talking about the dead that way.
"What?"
"You can't just kick out Aunt Cecile," Rory reasoned.
Lorelai gave her daughter an example. "Knock -knock. Who's there? Pineapple. Pineapple who? That's where it ended. Never fully grasped the knock-knock concept."
"She was a complete idiot," Emily agreed. "Okay, it's decided – Cecile goes," happy at least one question was answered that night, but still dreading how much longer Lorelai was going to entertain the diner man's fancy.
"Good," but the conversation had Lorelai thinking about burial plots, wondering if Luke already had plans, and if Lorelai and him would really want to spend eternity in her family's mausoleum with not only her mother, but countless obscure, wacky relatives of Lorelai's for all eternity.
"Look - put me in the annex," Rory pleaded.
"Unh uh. No way." Lorelai argued, suddenly sad her daughter wouldn't be apart of her afterlife with Luke. "You are not leaving me alone in there with Cecile," although I'll have Luke I suppose, put me and Luke in the annex! Brilliant!
"Well, I'm not going to be held responsible for somebody being kicked out of their eternal resting place," Rory argued.
"Ooh, I have an idea. I'll probably go first, right? So when Rory kicks the bucket just throw her in with me."
"I'd like my own space if you don't mind," Rory argued.
"Why? It'd totally be fun to be there together. Plus, I plan to be buried with all the good CD's and my rock star belt."
"Well, when you put it that way," Rory said dryly. "What about your husband would you rather share a space with him…" Rory teased.
Lorelai's thoughts immediately went to Luke again, her eventual husband. She tried to stop thinking about it, but she still smiled at the thought.
Richard choose that time to enter the room, "Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?"
Emily caught her husband up to speed, "We were just discussing who to move to the annex."
"Oh. I vote for Cecile. Horrible woman and those terrible jokes," Richard reasoned.
"What'd I tell you?" Lorelai said to her daughter.
"You know, mom," Lorelai smiled, because she had to do it, "What if Rory gets married?" and Lorelai enjoyed Emily start the whole worrisome process over again.
"This is a cold, cold family," Rory shook her head.
Since Rory was relatively healthy and young, they felt they could hold of on the conversation regarding the next displaced relative. Over dinner, Lorelai politely asked how her father was settling into retired life and noticed Emily was severely annoyed at the mention of Richard's retired life. Her irritation was evident to everyone but Richard as he went on and on about his new found sense of observation. Apparently, Emily didn't like being under such a scrutinizing critical eye and Lorelai it was almost like being in heaven. Wait Luke is not here…must just be a dream. Wait Luke is still not here, not a dream…oh well, I'll just enjoy it while it lasts.
Lorelai did offer a sympathetic ear to her mother's complaints, and kept her revelry inside. After all she did offer to her mother, as family, if she ever needed anything she could turn to her daughter. Lorelai listened as her mother felt uneasy having Richard home all the time. "So he noticed my hair was different. Women die for that sort of thing." Emily explained how she missed their time apart, how since the day they came back from their honeymoon, Richard went to work all day and that facilitated over thirty years of marital felicity. Now there was someone always over her shoulder noticing how many cups of coffee she drank in a morning, leering, commenting constantly observing her; it was very draining on Emily. Lorelai wondered if Emily now had a glimpse of what she felt at Friday night dinners. Lorelai assured her mother that she and Richard just needed to find a new rhythm and routine or get him distracted with a hobby.
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Lorelai told Luke about the whole evening on their Saturday night date.
Luke was a little disturbed that they were moving dead relatives as if they asked Cecile to simply move her car. Then was equally disturbed to discover, "You ate Pancreas?" Luke winced.
Lorelai had glossed over the marriage angle of the strange conversation that Emily brought up, Lorelai didn't want to make Luke uncomfortable, wig him out or scare him off. "Hey, not voluntarily, I was conned. What my gourmet chef never cooked a Pancreas?" Lorelai poked at his ribs.
"No and I never will. Some delicacies are beyond me, like the caviar at the New Years party, seriously fish eggs, ugh?"
"But you eat fish?" Lorelai reasoned.
"Well they are, you know, fertilized and grown up, and they put up a fight and I won!" referring to his fishing hobby. "You know, they eat monkey's brains in Calcutta…"
"Gross," Lorelai made a face, "just like spaghetti with extra protein."
"No."
"Hey, if you eat a monkey's brain, will you act like a monkey?" Lorelai posed.
Luke considered for the sake of her joke, "Well, maybe if you ate it raw?" he smiled.
Lorelai laughed heartily, "God, that's what I love about you…" Oh God, I said love…okay relax… relax…you said you loved that about him…
"What?" Luke stopped at the word love. He still hadn't had the nerve to say it to her face, after all, she loved Max, so she said, and they were three days from getting married, and only then did she run away. Now Lorelai was with Luke, he didn't want to scare her off just so she could find someone else.
"You know, your humor," Lorelai said quickly. "I love how you get me…and well I love…" she became nervous as she went on, "the way you always are there to help, whether I want you to or not," thinking of his life saving loan with the termites. "I love that sexy body of yours and our wonderful naked times together…"
"Stop!" Luke rolled his eyes now knowing she was just going to embarrass him in public.
No, Lorelai… don't stop… a voice inside told her. Lorelai shyly looked at his chest, "and I love…" you…
Lorelai was a mere moment away from saying it to Luke's face, when her cell phone rang. Lorelai didn't move for her cell phone, she just stared at Luke, straining to finish her thought. She was thinking of the mausoleum, of Luke and her being buried together, of weddings and being pronounced husband and wife, of a life with Luke.
"You should get that," he reminded her, not having a clue of what she was about to reveal to him.
Begrudgingly she answered her phone, "Hello?" Fate seemed to be telling her it wasn't the right time, constantly interrupting every opportunity.
"Lorelai?" it was her mother and she sounded desperate.
Of course, you would interrupt. "Hey Mom, What's up?" Lorelai rolled her eyes mirthlessly.
On this day Emily didn't even notice, "You have to take your father."
"What?"
"Tomorrow, for the whole day, just take him."
"Take him where?" Lorelai shrugged.
I don't care; the zoo, the mall, Rhode Island, just get him out of my house!" Emily was so frantic she didn't even think if she was interrupting Lorelai's time with Luke.
"What happened?"
"He's going to join my water aerobics class."
"What?"
"He bought some new swim trunks today. He's out of control," Emily wailed.
"Okay, Mom, calm down."
"I can't calm down! I can't turn around without him being there, following me, staring at me."
"Well, he likes you," Lorelai hoped to remind her mother of the thirty-odd years without stalking tendencies.
Emily sounded on the verge of tears and frantic, "Don't be cute, do not be cute. The man is driving me insane. I am going to go insane, and if you don't help me, I will take you with me."
"Okay, Mom, I would like to help you but wh --."
"You owe me!" Emily shouted.
"What?"
"I pay for Rory's school!"
"Are you serious? That's why we have dinner on Friday…" and it's the money Dad earned before he retired! Show me one penny that you've earned.
"I'm going to be giving your inn a lot of business with the DAR meetings there, and I invited that boyfriend of yours to our party. He was mingling in some of the best society, he may have networked and made some valuable business connections that resulted from him being at that party!"
"Are you hearing yourself?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm desperate. I just need one day of peace and I will do anything to get it, anything."
"Okay Mom, fine, uh, I'll take him."
"Really?"
"But it's gonna have to be Monday, tomorrow is actually my day off, I do work six days a week most of the time. Can you hold out one more day?"
Emily sighed happily, "That is fine. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this." Then Emily heard Richard from the other room, "I have to go. Monday morning."
"Monday morning. Bye." She hung up and turned back to Luke, recalling what she wanted to tell him moments before, and knowing that her moment was sufficiently ruined.
"What was that all about?" Luke asked.
"Apparently I have to baby-sit my father for the day," So not what I wanted to say.
777777777777777777777777777
Try as she did, Lorelai spent all Sunday trying to convince Rory to skip school Monday. She tried lying about classes being canceled, bargaining, and lording over past favors like giving Rory life, changing diapers etc, etc., anything to get Rory to stay and not leave her to a day of trying to entertain Richard, a father who often looked at his only child as if she had three heads. Rory assured her mother that after the Franklin and by afternoon, Grandpa would be off her hands.
Lorelai already had her day off and couldn't very well take the day off of work to show her father the town. So when he arrived she shared the paper with her father, which worked out quite amicably, Lorelai with the Arts and Leisure and the Lifestyles leaving Richard with the Business, Sports, and World News sections. Oh. That worked out well.
After a cup of coffee over the paper at the house, Lorelai decided to invite her father for breakfast at Luke's. However as they approached the diner she thought it only fair that her father have a heads up on the delicate situation. "Oh Dad, umm, I should probably tell you…the town doesn't exactly know I'm seeing Luke."
"Well, wasn't he with you at Rory's coming out?" Richard questioned.
"Well, umm yes…"
"And again at New Years…"
"Well yes, but umm you see well, Luke and I have been keeping it quiet…"
"He's not married is he?" Richard said sternly.
"Oh God no, no, it's just… umm well, only family knows right now…"
"But you've been together all this time…since the ball, since Christmas. Why hide it? Are you ashamed of your relationship?"
"Umm, no, Dad."
"Well then, why not tell the town? I mean, when I was seeing your mother, I could hardly contain myself, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops that we were getting married…"
Lorelai looked nervously around the square, hoping no one over heard his suggestion of marriage in relation to Luke and Lorelai. That would only fuel the rumors already circulating about their termite hug and the basket auction. "We do to…well we have… I mean, last week we had this basket auction in the square…and Luke won my basket and that was sort of our way to clue them in. We just want them to figure it out on their own. Dad please, just treat him like you normally would. I mean, treat him like the guy I'm seeing," she added quickly, "Just don't make a big thing about me seeing him…" she laughed lightly at the end.
Richard gave his daughter a warm fatherly smile, "Alright, but I still think its silly."
"It's just for now, I mean, these are our friends…"
"All the more reason not to lie to them," Richard said causally as they crossed the street.
Although they met at Christmas and New Years, Lorelai felt funny bringing her father to Luke's work, "Well, this is it, Luke's…diner," and they picked a table to sit at.
"You know, when I was in college, there was this horrible little diner across from my apartment building. It was run by this terrible little couple, they were very angry. They would fight, break plates, curse, and I went in there every morning for three years and I had the most dreadful breakfast, just awful. I really miss that place."
Luke seemed apprehensive himself about approaching his secret girlfriend and her father in front of all his customers and neighbors. "Umm, good morning."
"Hey. Um, Luke, you remember my father?" she hinted with her tone.
"Oh yeah, I think I saw you at the Bracebridge dinner… thing," Luke trailed off, regretting mentioning the event where he was having sex with Lorelai in the same building as her parents. "Um, nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you, again" Richard returned a respectful nod. "This is quite a place you've got here."
"It pays the bills," Luke shrugged, wondering if Richard would use this opportunity off spending the day with his daughter to size Luke up as his daughter's suitor.
"Always a plus in business," Richard said warmly back.
"Dad, do you know what you want?" Lorelai interjected trying to keep the men from talking as little as possible.
"Oh, I already ate," Richard waved off.
What? "You did? When?"
"Oh, I had breakfast at home. I get up at 5:30 every morning."
"Wow. Why?" Lorelai had to laugh.
"Well, I've gotten up at 5:30 for as long as I can remember."
"Yeah, but that was when you had to work," Lorelai pointed out, "Now you can afford to get a little crazy, get up at quarter to six."
Luke chimed in, "I get up at a quarter to five myself." Luke was actually trying to impress her father, God, I'm pathetic.
"Good man, see Lorelai the early bird…"
"What? Opens the diner?" Lorelai asked her father.
"Go ahead and order Lorelai," Richard sighed.
"Okay. I'll have banana pancakes, side of bacon, and lots and lots of coffee."
"Coming right up," Luke wrote it on his pad, and was off to put the order in.
"You didn't order any grapefruit," Richard observed.
"Yeah, I don't really like grapefruit."
"Oh, I always start my breakfast off with half a grapefruit."
"Do the Florida people know about you? Because Anita Bryant left this huge gap that has yet to be filled."
"It's important to start the day off correctly, Lorelai. A grapefruit is brain food."
"Did you know in Calcutta they eat monkey's brains? That is brain food…"
Richard sighed again already exasperated with his daughter, "Lorelai, it has vitamin C and folic acid and it helps with your digestion."
"Monkey's brains?" she cocked her head to one side.
"Grapefruit," Richard clarified. "It really is a terrific fruit. Now I'm serious about this Lorelai."
"I know you are but I still don't like grapefruit."
"Well, there are many things in life that we don't like, but the benefits they bring us far outweigh the temporary discomforts we have to endure."
Lorelai stared at her father for a moment, and wondered where she had heard that before. It sounded so… familiar. Then behind her father, she saw Luke bring plates to another table. Oh My God, Luke. Luke said stuff like that; Luke was the health nut in her life always badgering her to take care of herself and load up on vitamins and strengthen her immune system. Her father sounded like an Ivy League educated Luke. Could it be? Lorelai was falling for man like her father? A blue collared, normal man like Richard. "Okay. Hold on a sec."
Lorelai walked up to the counter to talk to Luke. "Hey, I need a grapefruit."
"What?"
"Yeah. Before my pancakes this morning I need half a grapefruit, preferably one that tastes like a donut."
"I don't have grapefruit."
"How can you not have grapefruit?"
"You've been coming here for years, I've never had grapefruit."
"Luke, baby, I need a grapefr. . .Listen, I have my father with me all day, and so far there's been no major drama or yelling or ugliness but there will be if I don't somehow find a way to get half a grapefruit for breakfast this morning."
"Alright, I could go next door to Doose's and buy a grapefruit."
"I would be eternally grateful."
" I'll be right back."
"Thank you," and Lorelai returned to the table with her father. "Okay, the grapefruit is coming."
"Oh, you won't be sorry," Richard assured.
"So listen, I was thinking, um, well, since I have to work, maybe after we're done here, you might like to walk around town a little, explore, and see the sites. Then, Rory usually gets home around four. The two of you can hang out at the house until I get off work and the three of us can hook up for dinner. How does that sound?"
"Very sensible."
"Well yeah, I had to make up for my shoes," she said as she took a sip of her perfect Luke's coffee.
"Is that your second cup of coffee?"
"Uh, third. Why?"
"No reason. That's a lot of coffee first thing in the morning."
Lorelai frowned because she now knew exactly how her mother felt.
777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Richard took a constitutional of around the town so beloved by his daughter and granddaughter. He went into all the stores, the cat one twice, then walked through the park and watched some of the children playing for a while. He saw the Giant slinky on Klump, the hundred-year-old oak tree, and the life-size yarn person. He even had Babette introduce him to all of her gnomes. He was on his way back to the center of town, ready to ask for directions to Lorelai's Inn, when he saw Luke's diner again.
Richard checked his watch, it was about lunchtime so he figured he stop in and finally sample the wonderful delicacies of the diner his Gilmore girls were so enamored with, since he missed the chance for a Luke's breakfast. Luke, being his daughter's beau, Richard didn't wish to slight him, especially since he found Luke to be such a delightful fellow on their previous meetings.
Luke was surprised to see Richard making his way toward the diner again. Luke debated about calling Lorelai, giving her a heads up that her father was coming to size him up. As Luke reached for the phone, he stopped himself. There was no reason to bother Lorelai, Luke was a man, and he could take care of himself. So her father may kill him when he found out that they had been to bed already. So what that he was a humble diner owner and nothing compared to the beaus aplenty with trust funds in Hartford. Luke decided to take Rory's advice from New Years again. Just be yourself. This was his diner, his kingdom, his town, and his territory.
"Hello, Luke," Richard greeted warmly.
"Hello sir, nice to see you again… so soon," Luke said politely and quickly. "Umm so you're on your own? Or are you meeting with Lorelai?"
"Aw, I'm sure Lorelai is busy at work. I just realized it was about lunch time and thought we could chat a bit if you're not too busy."
There it was… Richard was there to size him up, "Certainly, would you like a table?" Luke was figuring a man of Richard's position was used to being seated at only the best tables and usually right away.
In his easy flowing spirit Richard insisted, "Aw no, the counter is fine…" Richard took off his coat and hung it up on the coat rack by the door. He sat on a stool at the counter and leaned forward taking in the décor of the diner. With Richard's new powers of observation, he noticed the rich, vibrant color on the walls, "My, my, that is a lovely shade of green."
Luke had just slid a menu towards Richard, but looked back to the spot on the wall Richard had been staring at, "Oh yeah, Lorelai… she just helped me paint it last year…actually she did it all herself."
"She painted the entire diner herself?" Richard found that odd, curious as to why Luke wouldn't have helped her.
"Well, yeah, we had a fight and she wanted to surprise me… to make up…you know?"
"Ah," Richard seemed to see now.
Luke continued, "She brow beat me into letting her do it. She even picked the colors, and she kept…" Luke stopped himself.
"Yes?" Richard urged.
"Well, she picked similar colors to what my dad had in here…when this was his place; a hardware store, Williams Hardware."
"Ah like the sign," Richard smiled.
"Yeah like the sign. I've kept it the same… well you know except for it being a diner now. It hadn't been painted since… well since he was around." Luke suddenly realized the heavy revealing turn Richard's innocent comment had taken. "I'm sorry, umm I get a little sensitive when I talk about my dad."
"No, son, that's quite alright," Richard eased.
"Oh um," Luke seemed to realize, "lunch, what would you like to order?"
"Well, I've heard a great deal about your burgers," Richard regretted he might not be able to enjoy it due to his heart trouble last year.
"Oh, I can make a heart healthy turkey burger. That's what I usually eat myself."
The words struck Richard, "Heart healthy?"
"Well, yeah, I thought," Luke became nervous he said something wrong, "with you being in the hospital last year… you'd be watching what you ate."
"How did you know I was in the hospital?" Richard's brow furrowed.
"Oh well, Lorelai was here when she got the call and Rory had the car, so I was the one who drove her to the hospital to see you."
Richard was floored, "Well, thank you son, for doing that…"
"No trouble, sir."
"Please, call me Richard."
"Okay… Richard," Luke tested it out. "You can call me Luke, if you don't mind."
"Very well Luke, I'd love a turkey burger."
"And large side salad?" Luke enticed.
"Excellent," Richard nodded, and let Luke make his lunch.
When Luke wasn't so busy with other patrons, Richard tried a new line of conversation with the young man, "So how long have you known my daughter."
Luke was nervous again, still hoping Richard had a good impression of him, "Well, five-six years…"
"And now," Richard seemed to check around the diner for eavesdroppers, "You are seeing her?"
"Umm well yeah." Luke tried to explain, "It kinda got to the point where we … I mean we saw each other every day, we got along, and well, I guess there was an attraction, you know. Like, we didn't know why we were apart anymore. Does that make sense?"
"Matters of the heart seldom make sense," Richard said wisely.
Luke was trying to keep his and Lorelai's private business private while bonding with Richard. "I mean, we've been friends for so long, it just seemed like… a natural evolution of our… relationship."
"I see," Richard nodded.
Luke decided it would be best to be honest with Richard, "Frankly, I've had my eye on her for while, but I really didn't think she'd go for a guy like me."
"Well, Lorelai has never been predictable," Richard mused.
"That's one of the things I liked about her, I mean, she's just so different. In a good way," not wanting to offend Richard and call his daughter a weirdo. "I mean, she's memorable, she stands out, she's so funny, and spontaneous, and well… is nice to everyone, you know, is liked by everyone. I'm not the easiest person to get along with… and she… well she doesn't annoy me; she just seems to understand me."
7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
"Call Patty back and see if she's made any headway on those rental tablecloths we can use for tonight." Lorelai was already dealing with a hospitality crisis when who should walk through the door but her father. "Oh no!" she sighed. I don't need this now, she thought, hoping she wasn't wincing as she went over to meet him at the front door. "Hi Dad, what are you doing? Uh, I thought you were going to tour the town."
"Oh, I did, I did. I went into all the stores, the cat one twice. Then I walked around a little; I saw the slinky, the hundred-year-old oak tree, and the life-size yarn person. I even stopped by your house and had Babette introduce me to all of her gnomes. Finally, I realized the only thing I had not seen is my daughter at work."
"Oh well, umm would you like some lunch?" she asked, hoping she could pawn her father off on Sookie for a while till Rory appeared. "I'm sure Sookie would be happy to whip something up."
"I had lunch," Richard informed, "at Luke's."
"Luke's?" Lorelai was surprised. She had seen her father at Luke's that very morning and for the life of her couldn't imagine him at Luke's by himself for lunch.
"Oh, yes, Luke was kind enough to keep me company when he wasn't too busy. That really is a thoughtful young man you have there, did you know he remembered about my heart condition. You know, sometimes I think your mother forgets that I had my little…episode," Richard sighed delicately. "Well, Luke made me a turkey burger and it was quite good. I'm not sure exactly what kind of seasoning he used, but it is quite possibly the best burger I've ever had."
"You're impressed that he remembered about your heart?"
"Oh yes, especially since it was so long ago. It's always important to remember the little details Lorelai. In my years with clients, I always made notes and remembered to ask about their families or projects I knew they were working on. It was my own way of doing business, of showing that I was interested in more than just the insurance we needed to discuss."
Michel called Lorelai away from her father, "Umm, I'm sorry Dad, I have to take this. We have a bit of a crisis here, excuse me."
"Of course," Richard replied, wanting to watch his daughter in action.
"Manny, my mysterious man, where have you been? You don't call, you don't write," Lorelai greeted brightly whoever was on the phone. "Oh, me Manny? I'm just a desperate woman. Yes. Honey, I know you're up to your ears in problems, but I have to have some towels or linens or something so that when the New York Giants get here they will have something to slap each other with in the locker room. No, unless you want me out in the street talking about the pretty inn I used to work at, I need linens from you pronto… just, anything you can do to get me through the night." Lorelai seemed pleased with his answer, "Manny, you rock, thank you. Tell Sophie she's a very lucky woman, ya hear! Bye Stud!" Lorelai sighed, crisis averted, and she turned to Michel, "He'll be here in twenty minutes," Then, remembering she had company, turned back to her father who had a strange look on his face. "Dad?"
"Umm, what was that about?"
"Well, we were having a problem with our linen delivery, but all better now." Lorelai saw some sort of conflict on his face, like he wanted to say something but was thinking better on it.
"So it was a business call?"
"Umm, yeah. Is something wrong?" she hated to ask.
"No, no," Richard said gently and haughtily. "It's just, well, I wouldn't have handled it like that." Lorelai tried to control the flinch as she expected Richard to start criticizing her again, now getting the full brunt since her mother had the day off from twitching. However, Richard surprised Lorelai when he finished, "Then again you've always had your own way," using Luke's words.
Lorelai froze at the apparent compliment.
"You got what you needed done," Richard commented, seeing how Luke could admire her unique way of handling business. Richard remained at the Inn for a while longer, a reluctant shadow to Lorelai. He could tell as he followed her discreetly that he really didn't need to worry about her daughter's humor offending any of her employees; they all seemed used to it by now. They respected her and appreciated her light air, her personable nature, her humor made her approachable in business, and by her being so friendly; it compelled people to want to help her in return.
Once Lorelai's linens finally arrived, Richard slipped out again, and decided Lorelai had enough to deal with rather than entertaining him till Rory arrived.
Lorelai was the closest to the phone and she answered, "Independence Inn," she said kindly, in case it was miracle Manny with more linen for her use.
However, it was her offspring Rory, "I need you to sit down, breathe, and remember that you're at work, so screaming and crying is not an option."
"Why, what are you doing?"
"I can't meet you after school today."
"What? You promised."
Rory sincerely apologized, "I know but I have to work on this story for the Franklin and I swear I tried to get out of it, but I couldn't. I'm sorry."
"Oh no, school comes before Mommy's mental health."
"Just tell Grandpa to wander around for awhile."
"He already wandered."
"Did he see the slinky?"
"Yes, he saw the slinky."
"Wow."
"He's here now," then suddenly Lorelai couldn't remember the last time she saw her father with the frantic unload of the emergency linens. "Well, he was here… maybe he wander off again…" Lorelai found that a little funny.
"Well if he wanders back, just give him a book and have Sookie make a snack or something, and I swear I'll be home by dinner and you won't have to say a word."
"Okay, bye," Now however Lorelai wondered where her father had gotten himself too.
7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Rory was still recovering at the laughable notion Paris had to uncover the seedy underbelly of Stars Hollow, wanting to rip away the veil of the romantic aspect of small towns. Stars Hollow didn't even have a meter maid and Paris was on the hunt for the next mob ring. They had just gotten off the buss in Stars Hollow because Paris wanted the feel of the small town world, to blend in so the preying criminal element wouldn't suspect them…or some such nonsense.
Paris was trying to sniff out the bad part of town, and Rory was trying to have Paris really hear her instead of the voices in her head for a change, "This is the town Paris, this is it. It's not seedy, it's not rundown; it's just Stars Hollow."
"Well, where's the local bar?"
"In Woodbridge."
"Why aren't you helping?" Paris yelled frustrated.
"I'm trying," Rory shrugged. "You're just looking for something that's not here."
"What's this?"
"Luke's Diner," Rory said dully.
"Diner. Okay, good, good," With a crazed look in her eye, reminiscent of Jack Nicholson in The Shining, Rory went in hoping she could protect Luke, almost afraid of what would happen if Paris and Luke were left to rant an argument out, the space time continuum many collapse.
"What are you doing?"
Paris sat at the counter and told Rory, "Trying just to blend in, fade away, observe."
"Hey Rory. Coffee?" Luke offered.
"Thanks Luke," she smiled, afraid of what Paris might say to him.
"Who's your friend?"
"Angela Landsbury," Rory said in all seriousness and chuckled that Luke didn't get the joke and started calling Paris Angela.
"You want some coffee Angela?"
"No thanks. You're the owner here?" Paris said in conspiratorial tone.
"Yup," Luke confirmed.
"So, you run the diner, huh?" she insinuated.
"Oh boy," Rory sighed.
"You get a lot of truckers through here?" Paris was now breaking into her interrogation mode.
"Truckers?" asked Luke, wondering if this girl was part of some charity project of Rory's.
"Yeah, you know; guys on the road for weeks, lonely, looking for company, a little pick me up. Things like that."
Luke had to turn to Rory, "What's she talking about?"
Rory shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."
"It's pretty common knowledge that diners are breeding grounds for prostitution and drug dealers."
"What?" Luke exclaimed never hearing such a thing.
"Have you ever seen anything like that going down here?" Paris was desperate for the scoop.
The bells above the door jingled and Richard entered the diner again. "Luke," Richard greeted, the proprietor.
"Richard," Luke nodded beyond Paris at the tall man in the doorway.
"So you are on a first name basis with the clientele," Paris accused. "What about you gramps, looking for a good time?"
"I beg your pardon?" Richard asked.
"Grandpa?" Rory realized who sat down next to her.
"Rory!" Richard brightly greeted, noticing his granddaughter beside him. "What are you doing here?"
"Umm, working on a newspaper story…for school," she was embarrassed to say.
Paris ran with the ironic connection, "Oh this is interesting, so wealthy Hartford business man looking for his kicks in a small town away from home and hearth, the little woman."
"I'm retired," Richard said bitterly and haughtily.
"A midlife crisis?" Paris posed. "Is that your game? So you have plenty of free time to skunk around here in this small town where your antics will go unnoticed?"
"Rory, who is this person?" Richard asked; curious at the type of people Rory was hanging out with.
Rory admonished, "Paris, this is my Grandpa!"
"And to be found out by your granddaughter…oh the irony…" Paris seemed to be getting frustrated that no one would confirm nor deny her suspicions, her interest in the diner was waning if she didn't find something fast. "Well, what about that guy over there? What's his story?" she pointed to the man by the window.
"Reverend Nichols?" Luke asked.
"Reverend Nichols, huh? What is that, like Dr. Feelgood?"
Luke turned to Rory, "How much do you like this person?"
"Do what you gotta do, Luke," Rory downed her coffee sensing a hasty exit in her future.
This only fueled Paris' fire, "What? Am I getting to close to the truth?" Jess entered the diner, and Paris was all too willing to jump on the next accusation, "Hey, where'd he come from? What's up there? Is that where you keep the girls? You got yourself a little cathouse up there?"
Jess tried to keep a straight face, "Wow, I think she got you Uncle Luke. You better give up now."
"Do not add to this insanity," Luke warned his nephew.
"An innocent boy like me should not be raised in an atmosphere like this," Jess sang his sob story to the girls.
"Jess!"
"I wanna be good, life's just not letting me," Jess sighed.
"Rory, get her out of here," Luke said, attempting to hold back his frustration at not only Jess but the crazy girl that Rory brought into the diner.
And Rory did as he requested, and pulled Paris out the door protesting the whole way, "Why do you need me to leave? What do you have to hide?"
Luke turned to Jess now that the apparent investigative reporters were gone, "What is the matter with you?"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," Jess chuckled.
"Well, I know some one who's cleaning the grease trap tonight."
Jess seemed to scold him self for his old habits, "I guess that would be me."
"I guess you would be right," Luke shot back, "Go refill the coffees."
Jess did as he was told, trying to straighten up and fly right for his uncle's respect.
"Interesting… umm girl," Richard observed.
"Yeah," Luke agreed, "we meet the famous Paris in person."
"Oh, I've heard Rory mention her before, she's quite…" Richard searched for the word.
"Driven?" Luke supplied with a smirk.
"Yes," Richard chuckled.
Jess reappeared and offered Richard, "Coffee?"
"No thank you, my boy. Actually Luke I am rather interested in that strawberry…something or other you mentioned earlier."
"Oh sure, coming up, oh um Richard this is my nephew, Jess."
"Nice to met you," Richard nodded.
"This is Lorelai's father, Richard Gilmore," Luke introduced.
Jess patted his uncle on the back, "Making time with the father, now I am impressed."
"Whatever does he mean?" Richard asked as Jess walked away.
Luke rolled his eyes, embarrassed, "I think he means to imply that I'm trying to get on your good side."
"Oh well, no reason to, you are already on my good side."
"Really?"
"Certainly, I mean, I feel like I practically know you, what with our conversation at lunch and with all I've heard from Lorelai and Rory, all good by the way. Now about that strawberry drink…"
77777777777777777777777777777777777
Localizy: I love Richard (Disclaimer: when he's not all snobby!)
A/n: LINK
Localizy (11:38:23 PM): you know what I don't understand
GG1979 (11:38:35 PM): why Asp didn't do it my way?
Localizy (11:38:38 PM): THAT, and why Lorelai would be buried in the Gilmore plot
Localizy (11:38:39 PM): and Rory too
Localizy (11:38:43 PM): I mean
Localizy (11:38:44 PM): seriously
GG1979 (11:38:52 PM): I know
GG1979 (11:38:55 PM): morbid
Localizy (11:38:57 PM): Lorelai could be buried in stars hollow
GG1979 (11:38:58 PM): they should be in stars hollow
Localizy (11:38:59 PM): with Luke
GG1979 (11:39:00 PM): with Luke
GG1979 (11:39:02 PM): link
Localizy (11:39:16 PM): and that ladies and gentleman is the author notes for the end of this chapter
A/N:
From the Quote Queen
To ASP/DP
"You're idiots… the both of you!"
Thank you
A/N: AW HELL, PURPLE RIBBON!
A/N: (Remember: BIG PLANS!)
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
"That was all God given talent..." why thank you NON POD Luke!
7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
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 one 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...