Presenting … Lucas Danes?
By GilmoreGirl1979 (the Reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality FAN FICTION
R/R: yes please I love reviews; I want to marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Friendly disclaimer: I REJECT ASP's /DR's REALITY AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN! NO HARM NO SUE!
Dialogue borrowed from 2.15 - Lost And Found, Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino
directed by Gail Mancuso
LOCALIZY: you cross my I's and dot my T's, baby you're the greatest!
A/N: The show sucks, that's why you are here…
To my beautiful minions, your marching orders: Join the resistance; turn off your TV, READ FAN FICTION INSTEAD! Spread the word humming bird
77777777777777
Chapter 32:
My World's Getting Clearer
The next day, Luke and Jess walked out of an apartment building, and Jess scoffed, "Forget it."
"Why, what was wrong with that one?" Luke asked, wondering why Jess was being so difficult lately.
"It was pink. You may want to be in touch with your feminine side to please your girlfriend but I don't."
"We can paint it.""You mean I can paint it," Jess grumbled.
"We can paint it together," Luke promised, hoping to regain the bonding they had over Christmas when they destroyed that snowman.
"Great, then we can hold hands and skip afterwards," Jess said sarcastically.
"Fine, which one do you like?"
"The one before, you know, the one with the cat."
"I hate cats."
"Well, I don't think the cat came with the place."
"Yeah, but it had carpeting which means it's always gonna smell like a cat."
"Clean the carpet."
"Paint the pink."
"Fine, the one next to the bank."
"Too many windows," Luke crossed it off the list as he was thinking of it. "Six windows all on one side, three o'clock in the afternoon – we're sitting in an oven."
"So we get curtains."
"Well, you'll have to help me put them up," Luke pointed out.
"Great, then we can hold hands and skip afterwards."
"Stop saying that." Luke stopped in his tracks, "What is wrong with you?
"Nothing" Jess said as he looked over his uncle's shoulder, he saw Dean and Rory crossing the square, their arms around each other, heading to the Stars Hollow library fundraiser.
"It must be something because you are being uncooperative, almost like pod Jess back."
"Maybe this is the real Jess," Jess snapped, recalling the horrible first impression he made on everyone in Stars Hollow and the initial whispers behind his back. He had tried to change, but he still hadn't caught Rory's eye. She seemed to like him, they got along when they were alone and her ten-foot tall boyfriend wasn't around. Rory may be his uncle's girlfriend's daughter, but she was the most interesting person in town. Jess didn't know what he expected, well, he hoped that she would just drop Dean for him considering they lived in a storybook burg like Stars Hollow.
"I can't believe that. Come on the last few weeks, you being so helpful, like since Christmas … come on, I'm trying to help you out, you know, be here for you, talk to me." Luke was at a loss for the inexplicable change in Jess' behavior, the only logical thing Luke could think of that an American teenage boy would be upset about is hold up, "Is it a…girl?"
The old Jess shone through for a second and shot daggers at Luke, he was the reason it would be so weird for him to start dating Rory, "You know what, I don't care. Pick whichever one you want."
"Jess," Luke called as the teen started to stalk down the street.
Jess turned on his heel, "I'm supposed to be at Lorelai's in twenty minutes, remember? You want to make me late for your girlfriend's gig fine by me. I don't want to get mucked up anyway."
"Fine, you go. I'll look at the places."
"Great idea."
"Jess, come on. I don't want to have to pick by myself."
Jess turned back one more time, "Hey, nobody asked me if I wanted to move to Stars Hollow, but I'm here. Pick whatever place you want and I'll be there too."
777777777777777777777777777777
Jess tried to swallow his anger; he had a long mucky day ahead of him working on the house of the girl he had a thing for. He was already in a bad mood, since the picnic he shared with Rory he had been able to think of little else, or anyone else. Jess took one more suppressing breath when Lorelai, all smiles, opened the door.
"Hey Jess," she said sounding friendly. "Come on in," she ushered him in with of her hand. Jess stepped inside with his hands in his pockets. Lorelai offered, "Um, do you want something to drink? You have good timing because we shopped yesterday and in addition to a case of Maybelline Fresh Lash Mascara, I also bought some of that new, uh, freaky Coke with the lemon in it. It's very addictive."
"Um sure," he said, figuring if he was some how uncivil it would obviously get back to his uncle and he'd get another lecture about manners.
Lorelai tried to start a conversation again. "So, Jess, what's new?" she asked, as she got the addictive coke out of the fridge.
"Not much. Luke is out looking for an apartment," he shrugged.
Lorelai turned on her heel as she closed the fridge door, it was obviously news to her, "Really?" She sounded surprised, but the smile she wore told Jess that it was originally her idea. "Well, you know, there are some really cool places over on Peach. Or on Plum. Hm, Orange. Basically, any of your fruit named streets are pretty nice." Jess merely furrowed his brow at her. "Okay, well, I guess you should get started. Um, there's a ladder right out front and some buckets and gloves and stuff on the porch," she informed, nodding, only to be met with a blank stare of Jess. "Okay so, well, if you need anything else, just uh… let me know…" she finished with a lame smile.
When Jess went outside, Lorelai sighed. "Well, I'm trying," she assured herself, she was attempting conversation, to try and bond with Jess so in the off chance she and Luke make things permanent, it would be nice to know that Jess wouldn't murder her in her sleep. Though given his current mood she was concerned for Luke being murdered in his sleep.
7777777777777777777777777777777
It was embarrassing to have her boyfriend discover her bracelet was missing, especially considering Rory didn't even know how long it had been gone. Rory lied, she lied right to Dean's face, she told him she got some fluke rash from her Spanish midterm. Granted the lie was merely to spare his feelings but after seeing how upset he was over it missing, she didn't want to imagine how upset he would be if he discovered she had no idea where it was.
Since they had already seen Lord Of The Rings twice, so through all three hours of the movie Rory was racking her brain to recall where she had misplaced the sentimental bracelet. However Gollum, Smeagol, whatever his name was, the freaky gray guy was distracting her, or maybe calling to her, but probably taunting her and the fact she lost her precious. If only Rory had the ring of power's low jack to call to her then she would know exactly where it was. On the car ride to Stars Hollow video she absently rubbing her wrist and kept thinking: it is precious to me, my precious, my precious, my precious, desperate to find the lost item.
However, before she could locate her precious, she had to suffer through Autumn in New York, with full on impressions, and not let on to Dean that she had no idea where the bracelet was. She already felt horrible that she made him suffer through three hours of the book fundraiser and he didn't even find anything. Still, Dean should have known her fetish with books and how she could never get bored searching and hunting through the many tables because you never knew what you may have found. If she had come with Jess it would have been different, Jess and her would probably have talked and mocked for hours about the selection, each with an armful of books; but she wasn't with Jess, she was with Dean and the continuous comparisons she was making between the two boys just fed her guilt about her missing bracelet.
777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
"Okay, take two," Lorelai sighed to herself, with her jacket on and a smile on her face. "Jess? Hey, Jess!"
"Sorry, too loud?" he said apologetically.
"Oh, no, it's fine. Uh, it's just I got a ton of leftover Chinese food in the kitchen. I thought you might like some lunch."
"No, thanks."
"Oh, Okay."
What was it with Gilmore girls and their pouty faces? The way Lorelai's smile just fell, Jess now knew why his uncle always caved into her whims, Jess had seen similar features in Rory's face. Jess was compelled not to disappoint Lorelai, that and he felt bad for snapping at his uncle earlier, so maybe Lorelai could help smooth things over with his uncle later. Perhaps it would earn him points with Rory if he was nice to her mom. Jess found himself calling from the ladder, "Chinese sounds great."
"Really?" Lorelai was appropriately shocked, knowing Jess wasn't exactly Mr. Social.
"If you're sure you have enough."
"There's plenty. Rory and I decided to take on the entire chicken column this week."
"Ambitious."
"Well, it's all out on the table, so come in when you're ready."
"I'm ready now," Jess climbed down, reflecting on his uncle's offer to be there, but Jess didn't know how to approach the Rory subject with Luke. Especially when Luke knew Rory had a boyfriend.
"Okay, then I'll see you inside."
Jess had been a challenge to Lorelai, at first she was uncomfortable around him because of his insulting first impression and hoodlum history, then she was uncomfortable because she was dating his uncle and she knew the mere thought of adults having sex is completely repulsive to a teen. However, Lorelai was the cool mom and she had a good track record of being the favorite mom at every PTA meeting. Jess came in, and Lorelai turned on her super friendly charm. "So, um, basically everything here is chicken. You've got garlic chicken, Kung Pao chicken, Szechuan chicken, chicken in brown sauce, which looks and tastes remarkably like the Szechuan chicken except it's got these red peppers in it and if you eat them, you die. Plate?"
"I thought I'd, uh. . ." Jess gestured to the sink.
"Oh, sure, soap's on the counter."
Jess decided to make conversation, thinking that maybe if he became friendly with Lorelai, it would earn him points with Rory. "So when was the last time you had those gutters cleaned?"
"I have no idea."
"Yeah, I found an 'I like Ike' bumper sticker up there."
"Is it really bad?" Lorelai winced, feeling sorry for the kid, especially a potential relative.
"Well, it won't be by tomorrow."
"I like hearing that."
"So you guys aren't too hot on vegetables, huh?"
"What are you talking about? There's green pepper in the Kung Pao."
"My mistake."
"So, are you a healthy eater like Luke?"
"No. No one's a healthy eater like Luke. Yule Gibbons wasn't a healthy eater like Luke."
"Wow, it's been ages since I've heard a good Yule Gibbons reference,"
"Many parts of a pine tree are edible."
Lorelai laughed, the kid could make obscure references just like her and Rory, no wonder Jess and Rory were friends, "That's right. God, I wonder what the research process was like to get that information."
"I'd say fairly painful," Jess nodded.
"Huh. Here. So how's school?"
"It's still there."
"You on any teams or anything?"
"No, no, no."
"Not a jersey guy?"
"No, definitely not a jersey guy, though the thought of throwing a ball at some jock's head isn't entirely unappealing. Look, I'm not really good at this small talk thing."
"You're doing okay. Cold egg roll?"
"Why not?" he took the offered egg roll, took a bite, and instantly regretted it.
"Bad?"
"Oh yeah."
The front door slams and Rory yelled from the foyer, "Mom!"
Lorelai instantly rushed to her daughter at the sign of trouble, "Here – right here! What?"
"Mom!"
"I don't know where it is!"
"Where what is?" Lorelai asked.
Jess swallowed hard, he knew exactly what was missing as Rory wailed and railed to her mother.
Rory was frantic, "My bracelet – it's gone."
"What are you talking about?"
Jess knew exactly what Rory was talking about, it took three weeks, but she finally noticed her bracelet was gone. Jess didn't know the significance of the bracelet when Rory dropped it and he picked it up. Now he had the full story, it was the bracelet Dean had given Rory when they first started dating, a symbol of their exclusivity, very 'Bye Bye Birdie I've been pinned' vibe. Jess saw the pain he caused. He could see how frantic and worried Rory was over what Dean would read into it. Lorelai soothed Rory and offered to help tear the place apart and if necessary blind Dean so he never found out. As Lorelai followed Rory into her room she briefly met eyes with Jess
Jess felt his neck and cheeks get warmer under her appraising gaze and coughed up, "Um, do you want me to help look?" He asked the question to seem helpful, even though he knew exactly where the bracelet was back at Luke's apartment.
"Aw um, no thank you," Lorelai seemed to say slowly, almost appraising his expression. "Why don't you get back to work outside, we've got this covered."
Jess quickly did as she requested, hoping his behavior hadn't tipped her off.
Lorelai thought it was funny how Jess sat absolutely still at the kitchen table, a stark contrast to how animated Rory was as she struggled to remember the last time she saw her bracelet. Lorelai thought it was sweet for Jess to offer to help, but couldn't push aside the fact that he seemed nervous, shifty… maybe guilty. Lorelai decided to focus on her daughter's need. After all, Jess is a guy, and probably he was just freaked out by how upset a girl could get over a piece of jewelry.
777777777777777777777777777
The next day, Lorelai was looking for Rory's bracelet when she got an emergency call from Luke. She was surprised to learn that while Jess was cleaning out her gutters, Luke was using the day to take her up on her suggestion and looking for a new place for him and Jess. After another instant classic rant about half streets, security deposits, and tree sap, he begged her, "I just can't tell anymore. I need a second opinion."
"You want me to come look at your apartment?" Lorelai was touched that her opinion mattered so much to him.
"It's not my apartment and yes," Luke pleaded.
A half hour later, the real estate agent, Mary, led Luke and Lorelai through the apartment, "It's a very quiet street and the owner keeps the building up beautifully. He hasn't remodeled it at all. Plus, I bet he could be persuaded to give the floor a little spruce if you like."
"Oh yeah, we'd like a spruce," Lorelai said politely.
"A spruce is unnecessary," Luke argued, figuring that would just show up in another hidden fee.
Who are you bad cop? "Hey, you never turn down a spruce," Lorelai argued.
Mary sweetly agreed, "She's right – listen to her. Now, I went over the square footage and the details of the lease with your husband this morning. Did he fill you in?"
Husband? Luke tried to correct Mary, "What? Oh no, we're not…" Jess' voice suggesting to propose popped into Luke's head and made him very nervous.
Husband? Lorelai smiled that seeing them as married was becoming more commonplace and played along. "No, no, he didn't," Lorelai said quickly. Some how they kept giving off a married vibe to people they just met. She recalled the tailor back in November fitting him for his tux for the ball and probably causing her dreams of being married to Luke, the grave plot discussion with her parents, plus the events of the last few months just bonded Luke and Lorelai together. They were in love, even if they couldn't say it yet. Lorelai took Luke's arm, "You know how men are. The minute that ball game comes on, all the realities of life just go right out the window."
"Don't I know it," Mary agreed.
"I mean, I could answer the door wrapped in cellophane but unless I was wearing a Yankees cap, he wouldn't even notice."
"Jeez," grunted Luke. That was a prime example of how Luke knew they weren't ready to take the plunge. Despite Lorelai being a working professional in her thirties, she was still incredibly immature and made everything a joke. How could Luke expect her to take him seriously if he suggested marriage? How did he know she wouldn't laugh in his face or freak out the way she did with Max? Luke couldn't stand it if she ran away from him.
"Oh, don't be embarrassed Snuffy, I'm just teasing. It'd be a Mets cap."
Luke had to put a stop to her fun, "Hey Mary, could you possibly leave me and little missus alone for just a minute?"
"Why, of course. Talk it over," Mary encouraged.
"I promise we won't do anything dirty," Lorelai said in a Marylin Monroe voice, then Lorelai put her hand on Luke's butt and squeeze. It was worth it to see his eye bulge out of his head.
"Oh please, if my husband and I looked anything like the two of you, we'd never get dressed."
"Oh, you are bad!" Lorelai played along, all the while trying not to picture Mary naked.
"Let me just leave this rental agreement with you in case you decide to fill it out," Mary handed over a clipboard.
"Thanks," Luke forced a smile, all the while trying not to picture Mary naked.
"Oh, I hope you take it. It's got a great vibe for a nice couple like you two," Mary replied as left them alone to discuss the place.
"What is wrong with you?" Luke snapped.
"You make it too easy."
"By standing here? Lorelai, you can't be suggestive like that in public."
"We were with one other person," she laughed.
"Still…" Luke rotated his shoulders, while trying to explain, which showed Lorelai that she had made him uncomfortable around the stranger.
"And you know she's not far off from that not getting dressed thing…" Lorelai reached around and grabbed Luke's butt again.
"Lorelai!" he said scandalized, backing away a safe distance.
"Oh, relax Snuffy. Let's talk. What do you think?"
"She used the word vibe," he grumbled.
"About the apartment," Lorelai said, attempting to get him to talk.
"I don't know."
"Okay then, break it down. List your concerns."
"Well, it's too big," Luke scoffed.
"It's not too big," Lorelai dismissed. "Next."
"I don't need two bathrooms."
"With Jess, the hair queen, yes, you do. Next."
"I like being on the bottom floor."
"You live above the diner and the top floor's quieter. Next."
Luke put his hands on his hips, "You know, somehow I think this would be easier if you just listed your concerns first."
"Okay. Um," Lorelai looked around the place already picturing where Luke's sparse furniture would go, "I don't have any. I think it's great."
"You do?" he was surprised.
"Yeah, it's light and airy. It's got good windows but not too many so that the sun bakes you in the afternoon."
"Thank you."
"You're close to work, the price seems good, you're taking the spruce, and it's a two-year lease. What's two years?"
"I don't know. I just…"
"Luke, you need to do this. Male bonding can only go so far and you and Jess maybe killed under the weight of those boxes if you stay in that one room of yours. Then who will make me pancakes if you are dead."
"Yeah, but the hassle of packing, moving,"
"Rory and I will help, honest, and half of Jess' stuff is already in boxes," Lorelai reasoned.
"Who knows how long Jess is going to be here."
"I think his mom sending his stuff is a pretty good sign he'll be here for awhile," Lorelai shrugged.
"Well even if he does stay, it'll be only for another year, then he'll go off to college, and I'm stuck with a new apartment, probably with neighbors I hate who are constantly cooking really strong smelling food."
"Luke, come on."
Luke huffed for a second, and looked at her pointedly, then confessed, "I don't like change."
"What?"
"Change, okay I hate it… it just sneaks up on you and … ruins everything…" He was thinking of when his mother died, of when his sister got married and pregnant too young, of when his father died, of every time Rachel left town, of when Lorelai told him she was engaged to Max, and of how Jess was just thrown in his lap.
"Luke…"
"My apartment, it was my dad's old place…"
Lorelai tried to sooth him, "It was his office; it wasn't meant to be lived in."
"Lorelai…"
"Change can be good. Look at us we've changed," she shrugged, recalling her little daydreams and the further changes she hoped were in their future.
That caught Luke's attention. She didn't marry Max, and she accepted Luke's help for the ball, which resulted in their relationship. It was true, they had been friends forever, then changed to evolve in to what they were boyfriend and girlfriend, maybe one day more, if Luke could ever get the nerve to ask Lorelai when she was in a somewhat serious state of mind. Am I really considering … proposing? Damn Jess for bringing it up!
"And now we can't keep our hands off each other," Lorelai smiled and led him by the hand. "Come here." Lorelai took him into the master bedroom, she looked at the closet, she looked out the window, then she looked back at Luke, nodding, "I could wake up here," she said musingly.
"Wake up?"
"Yeah…" she stepped toward him, sliding her hands up his chest. "If you get out of that one room, and give Jess his own room, he'll get some privacy and maybe we could have some privacy of our own…" she inched closer to Luke's mouth.
"Lorelai…"Luke began, however, Lorelai cut off his argument with another kiss. Luke felt the wall suddenly flush up against his back and he took Lorelai in his arms. "Hey, we promised not to do …hmm anything dirty…"
"I lied," Lorelai said, kissing him again. "You know," she offered between pecks, "this gives us the perfect opportunity to get you a grown up bed."
"What's wrong with my bed?" Luke seriously asked.
Nuzzling her nose along his jaw line, Lorelai shrugged, keeping her eyes on his lips, "Well, you know what they say."
"No, what do they say?" he was unable to believe how Lorelai could tease and tantalize him while fully dressed.
"Never, ever date a guy who owns a single bed."
"Why?" Luke asked.
"It means he's not open to a commitment. It says there's no room in this life for anybody but me."
"No," Luke countered, "it says there's no room in this bed for anyone but me."
"That's not a whole lot better," she whispered in his ear, then she asked with wide expectant eyes, "Come on Luke, aren't you open to a commitment?"
Both were thinking of their recent picnic, and their thoughts of the future, thoughts of the Dragonfly Inn, of marriage, thoughts and ideas they had yet to express to the other in their relationship. Luke couldn't say it; this wasn't where he wanted to confess his feelings, while they were apartment hunting. Luke knew Lorelai, a profession of love, even a marriage proposal should be planned and magical, so Luke merely kissed her again, a silent statement about how he felt about her.
Luke pulled away again, "I'm not taking the spruce." Lorelai looked at him pointedly and merely kissed him deeper, knocking off his ball cap to which Luke could only respond, "Apparently, I am taking the spruce."
"This will be good… for all parties involved, I think."
Luke rubbed her sides, "You got a pen?"
"Hmmm somewhere," but her hands were in his hair again, and she simply resorted to making out with him again, as Luke now pushed her against the wall. "Oh yeah, I like it here," she grinned in a hot whisper.
"Have you two made up your…Oh," Mary had suddenly walked in and caught them.
Lorelai giggled a bit, "Oh, hi, umm sorry, we couldn't help ourselves. We up just thought we'd test the place out you know…make sure… it uh felt right."
Luke was now purple with embarrassment as he picked his cap off the floor.
Lorelai smoothed out her dress that Luke had rumbled with his roaming hands and asked, "Um hey Mary, do you have a pen?"
777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Lorelai had a wicked smile on her face as she came home. They didn't even have sex in the new apartment, simply made out only to be caught by the real estate agent, but Lorelai still wore a satisfied 'cat who ate the canary' grin. She was over whelmed with her feelings for Luke, contently replaying their bizarre courtship in her head and seeing past moments with Luke as she walked through her house towards the kitchen.
Lorelai could see the spot by the fridge, where she buttoned up Luke's tux shirt the night of the ball, where he had almost kissed her before the ball. Lorelai smiled again about thinking of Luke in a different tux, for a different occasion.
Lorelai was suddenly startled when Jess came out of Rory's room, "Gah."
"Sorry," Jess winced, again trying not to look guilty, yet at the same time unable to help it.
"Jeez, wear a bell or something," she said, hand to her heart, thinking back to how Luke startled her on the staircase at the diner when her Luke thoughts plagued her before the ball. "Did you get lost?"
"No, I was looking at Rory's books," Jess excused.
"Why?"
"I wanted to see if she had Franny and Zooey. She does."
"Okay," Lorelai laughed, still trying to get her heart at a regular rhythm.
"I was gonna get it for her if she didn't," Jess rambled. Stop talking, Jess.
"That's very nice of you," Lorelai suddenly began to eye him. Again he seemed nervous and she started thinking back to when the news of Rory's bracelet broke and how he was nervous and shifty then.
"So I should probably get back to work."
"Right," Lorelai agreed, trying to suppress her suspicions, but unable to deny Jess' questionable history.
777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Lorelai had paid Jess and he quickly left, glad to earn some honest cash and glad to get out of there. Lorelai had to push the ridiculous accusation aside since there was no evidence or logical reason that he would take it. I mean Rory and him are friends right? Why would he want to purposely hurt a friend?
Lorelai walked in and sat down on the couch. Lorelai heard a knock so naturally she got back up from the couch and answered it, surprised that her boyfriend, who had been relaxed and Zen about his new apartment thanks to some romantic persuasion from the girlfriend, and now he was an angry, flustered, pulsating mass. "I just spent a hundred thousand dollars and it's all your fault!" Luke announced.
"What?" Lorelai had to wonder what changed in an hour.
Luke pushed past her and started pacing in her kitchen, as Luke explained, "I ran into Taylor at the market and I found out he owns the building that apartment was in."
"No way."
"That and several others all over town," Luke informed.
"That is so weird, of all the apartments in town you liked his…" she mused.
Luke was too busy weaving a rant like one would a beautiful tapestry to listen to her musings, "He's systematically buying up the town. He's gonna turn it into Taylorville where everyone'll wear cardigans and have the same grass height.
Lorelai suddenly became worried for her boyfriend's health, since he was in the middle of blowing his top, "Luke, do you wanna sit down?"
Luke ignored the invitation, pacing and hollering, "And then he told me he's gonna buy the building next to the diner, turn it into a plate shop for freaks who don't have enough brain power to collect stamps. I lost it."
Lorelai sardonically smiled, "Uh, I can't picture that."
"I walked around in a blind rage. I was crazy. I bought one of those Belgian waffles with the ice cream dipped in chocolate."
"You ate that?!"
"No, I didn't eat it! I'm upset, not suicidal."
"Right, how silly of me," she rolled her eyes now wishing she had at least brought it for her to enjoy.
"I knew I just had to do something," Luke grumbled, "and I had your voice going round and round in my head. Make a change, Luke. Change is good, Luke. Why aren't you open to a commitment Luke? So I bought the building!"
Lorelai's face went from smug to shocked, "You – you what?"
Luke explained, "I went to the bank and got a cashier's check, signed the papers and I bought the building."
Lorelai was floored, "Wow."
"I am the building's owner."
"I heard."
"I own the building," he repeated as if he didn't believe it.
"Okay, well, don't worry," Lorelai soothed. "Maybe you can still get out of it. You can go back and tell them you lost your mind," she lamely shrugged.
"Uh, okay," he said sarcastically.
"Or I bet you can sell it to Taylor."
"Yeah right," he had to chuckle.
Lorelai stepped toward him and stroked his cheeks, "So, relax, you can still get out of this.
Luke closed his eyes, finding her touch calming and comforting, "Okay," he breathed.
"Unless you don't wanna get out of it."
"Oh no, I wanna get out of this," he shook his head, then opened his eyes to look at her. "Uh, why would I not wanna get out of this?"
"Oh, well, owning that building gives you some options."
"Like?"
"Uh, like you could expand Luke's if you wanted to. You said before about expanding the freezer."
"I guess."
"Or you could rent it to someone else."
"Maybe."
Lorelai smiled at the wheels turning in his mind.
"Maybe to someone else who might drive Taylor crazy."
"Maybe I should think about this."
"Sure, sleep on it," she smiled as she snaked her arms around him. "Feel better?"
"Yeah, thanks," Luke hugged her.
Luke didn't tell Lorelai about the other half of his confrontation with Taylor. Luke had stormed out of the market as soon as he learned Taylor owned the building his new apartment was in. Taylor followed him out of the market, "I have another matter to discuss with you."
"No, you don't Taylor!"
"Yes, I do. I find it rather curious that you start dating Lorelai and you are suddenly so interested in all these changes and wondered if the space next to the diner was next?"
"Changes?"
"Well, you are looking for a new apartment," holding up the lease application. "I heard from Mary that you were looking at the apartment with your wife. And I was just curious…"
Luke was stunned, "Wait, what?" Luke was astonished by the report, how a fun joke for Lorelai would add to the rumor mill for the next 6 months. It was the third time marriage was suggested to him in as many days and Luke wondered if the powers that be were giving him a hint. Lorelai seemed alluding to it the other day, as well.
"Yes, Mary said that you were with a lovely brunette who was introduced as your wife. Now Luke as an old friend, with all these new, overwhelming changes in your life, a new apartment, a new evolving relationship, is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Since when were you and I ever friends?"
"Luke, I'm hurt," Taylor feigned, fishing for the scoop, "I know we've had our differences but if you and Lorelai eloped how could you have gotten a license without going through the city, namely me?"
"We didn't get married."
"It's alright, I won't tell anyone," Taylor assured. "I just want to make sure things legal and official and that your marriage is valid. After all the first two years are the toughest so I'm told, we can't have you two start off on the wrong foot just because you were impulsive and hasty and didn't dot your I's and cross your T's."
Luke stared at Taylor. "Taylor we didn't get married!"
"So you are engaged then?" Taylor was still fishing for the scoop.
Luke barely could speak, after learning Taylor was buying up the town, being accused of a secret elopement, he only muttered something about only dating a few weeks and stalked off in his blind rage. However, now in Lorelai's arms things didn't seem so bad, so overwhelming, or so scary. Though Luke knew there would now be rumors flying about their forth-coming nuptials or possible elopement.
"You want some tea?" Lorelai whispered in his ear, while playing with the hair peaking out of his ball cap.
"Tea's good, sure."
"Okay, you sit and just breathe baby," Lorelai kissed him, filled up the kettle and Luke relaxed at the kitchen table. Lorelai smiled at how comfortable he was in her kitchen and how he naturally seemed to fit. While they waited for the water to boil Lorelai thought she would have a seat with Luke, or rather on Luke.
"What are you doing?" he asked, startled out of his thoughts.
"It's my job to make you feel better," Lorelai smiled, settling on his lap and wrapping her arms around him.
"You already did," Luke smiled looking up at her.
"Luke, we have to do something, a watched pot never boils," she leaned down and Luke let their lips meet sweetly, a perfect way to relax with his girlfriend since his upsetting run in with Taylor.
Lorelai loved how his one hand was grazing her thigh and she was just debating whether they should take it up a notch, when Rory came home, glum as ever.
Rory entered the kitchen and didn't seem surprised by Lorelai on Luke's lap and only reacted slightly, "Well, at least one of us is happy."
Lorelai leaned back from Luke a bit but made no move to get up from his lap, "Still no luck?"
"I've been scouring all over town looking for it," Rory sighed, "I've been to Lane's, I've been to Luke's," Rory nodded to her mother's seat cushion, "and Caesar let me go through the lost and found again. I've been to the bus stop, I've been to Miss Patty's, and I've circled Stars Hollow twice and nothing. I have no idea what I'm going to do."
"Aw Hon, I'm sure it will turn up."
"I'm gonna check my room again. Things you lose are usually right in front of your face," repeating the words Jess said to her when she ran into him on her way home.
Luke felt bad, it was just a bracelet, but he knew it was one that Dean had given her and that's what made it such a big deal. Luke turned to Lorelai, "Should I try praying to St. Anthony?"
Lorelai patted his shoulder, "I'm sure Lane's already doing that, but what the hell…er heck?"
Luke began in jest, "St. Anthony, help…"
"Mom, come here, hurry!"
"Wow, he works fast," chuckled Luke as Lorelai got up from his lap and met Rory at her bedroom door.
"Mom! I found it!" she cried, waving the bracelet.
"What? You're kidding," Lorelai was dumbfounded that a prayer to St. Anthony worked.
"I looked under the bed and there it was," Rory squealed.
"Haven't you looked under the bed like a thousand times?" Lorelai asked.
"A thousand and one!" Rory triumphantly help her bracelet up again, "I don't know, maybe I was just too panicked and missed it or. . .I don't know, who cares, I got it!"
"That's amazing!" Lorelai said, knowing full well she had been on her hands and knees under Rory's bed, had managed to name all the dust bunnies, and still never saw the bracelet under her bed.
"Put it on," Rory pleaded, "and make it tight."
"Oh, I'm cutting off circulation here, baby."
"Oh, look at it. It looks even better than before, doesn't it?" Rory showed Luke, who chuckled at her excitement.
Lorelai patted her daughter's shoulder, "I think the time away from home did it some good."
"Okay, when I get back, we celebrate."
"Where are you going?"
"To tell Lane she can stop praying," and Rory was out the door.
Lorelai smiled at Luke, they were alone again, but her thoughts drifted to Jess and his coming out of Rory's room about an hour ago. Lorelai sat on Luke's lap again, a knot in her stomach over the amazing coincidence. The bracelet miraculously appears after Jess had left for the day.
"Jess done for the day?"
"Um yeah, yeah, he's all done…"
Lorelai didn't want to upset Luke or pick a fight, especially since she had just gotten him calmed down. How could she explain her suspicion of his nephew anyway since she didn't have any proof. Big ol' coincidence that I catch you coming out of Rory's room a half an hour before she mysteriously finds the bracelet under her bed?
7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
Luke was lying in his single bed staring at the ceiling. Jess had taken maybe 5 more swings at the wall, then turned up his music to go to sleep. Twenty minutes later Luke turned off Jess' stereo smiling at his now conked out nephew.
Luke recalled how he came into his apartment, Jess was of course reading with the music blaring. The curious stare Jess had given him as Luke crossed to one closet and then pulled out a sledgehammer. Jess' gaped jaw as Luke then walked across the room, swung the sledgehammer through the wall, and then handed the hammer to Jess. "That's your room. Finish up. We'll hold hands and skip afterwards."
Luke chuckled again at the stunned look Jess had on his face as he took the sledgehammer. Now he was contemplating the ramifications of buying an entire building and his options, as Lorelai had put it. He still had Lorelai's voice going around in his head, Make a change, Luke. Change is good, Luke. Look at how happy we are Luke. Why aren't you open to a commitment Luke?
Luke shook his head, they hadn't even been dating a year, and people were suggesting marriage already. There were already many changes to get used to; Jess staying longer and his and Lorelai's relationship being speculated and debated in a public forum.
Luke wanted to sleep on it, but he couldn't get comfortable. Frankly he had done a lot of bed hopping lately. Between Christmas at Lorelai's, New Year's and the surprise nights at the inn, or even in a field like on their picnic, Luke didn't seem to know his own bed anymore; his sad, lonely, single bed. He had been spoiled over the holidays with Lorelai beside him, now he was alone with his snoring nephew a few yards away.
Hmmm, what I wouldn't give for those walls right now?
Luke thought about all the changes that happened in the last few months and realized they weren't all bad. As he finally fell asleep, he made a decision about one more change he was going to make; a change that hopefully Lorelai would enjoy.
7777777777777777777777777777777777777
It's going to get worse before it gets better, (if it ever can be better again)
Watch at your own risk, you will always be welcome here, the comfort zone.
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
"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...