Presenting … Lucas Danes?
By GilmoreGirl1979 (the Reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality FAN FICTION
R/R: yes please I love reviews, I wanna 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!
NO BETA NO LONGER: Localizy is dealing with some real world demands, job, school life, peace out Humphrey, so I am going it on my own. Localizy will still be around in an advisory capacity. So if you see me misuse a semicolon, or a name is lower cased, ask yourself
Do you want a story? or grammar lesson?
I will do my best on this end... love you all enjoy!
LOCALIZY AND LUVZ : Miss you both
Borrowed Dialouge: 2.18 - Back in the Saddle Again /written by Linda Loiselle Guzik /directed by Kevin Dowling
A/N:
This chapter would have been up sooner, but being the perfectionist I am, I had a MAJOR last minute re-write based solely on ONE LINE!! (but can you guess which one, for there are so many? AHHH) I know, I'm infuriating…but you put up with it because you love me… never forget that you love me….
Then I found a way to incorporate my beloved line (of my own creation, I.E. not script based, which is why I had such a fight with myself to save it, my wounds have wounds),…anyway… without having a lot of unnecessary action to fit the line, I compromised… so we both are happy, you are reading a story of quality and obscene length, and I got to save my line from the recycle bin… SHALA!
Enjoy, and look for my line…
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Chapter 37:
Suspicious Minds
Emily invited herself into her husband's study. She hadn't seen him all day, and by the time the help had informed her of her husband's return, Richard was already in the shower unwinding from his day out of her house. She sidled up beside him while he was in his leather easy chair, "So, Richard? Did you have a nice day?"
"Oh yes, a fine day. I actually brought back some of my catch. Luke was kind enough to show me how to properly clean it."
"Oh, so you did go fishing with Luke," Emily said with a wrinkled up nose, as if she had seen the raw fish staring at her from the ice box.
"Yes Emily, you heard our plans the other day in the diner," and Richard flipped pages of his book.
"Well, a reminder would have been nice," she pouted, "I came down for breakfast and there wasn't so much as a note."
"Well, I got up very early to meet Luke. I didn't want to disturb you. Besides I can still get up at my old insurance time to go fishing. Luke is right, it really is quite relaxing, outside, communing with nature, waiting for the prey to fall in to your trap," Richard cackled at his own joke.
"How can you just sit there and encourage this relationship?" Emily charged.
"What relationship? Mine and Luke's?" Richard teased his wife.
"Luke and Lorelai!" Emily said impatiently.
"Emily I think there is little we could do about it now," Richard chuckled having discussed Luke's intentions over their fishing trip.
"Of course there is something we could do, we could sit Lorelai down, voice our objections…"
"Your objections, I rather like Luke," trying to return his attention to his book.
"Richard we cannot allow her to throw her life away…"
"I think we are quite beyond that!" At this Richard stood to use his height as an advantage in the argument. Richard had seen a mild trace of Emily's annoyance over the pair, and would do his best to defend his daughter and her likeable beau. "Emily, she's not a teenager anymore. She is quite able to make up her own mind about the man and if you push this issue any further," Richard warned, pointing his reading glasses at his wife, "You will end up losing the very thing you intend to protect."
"But I've seen how she looks at him, how he looks at her, if we don't act soon..."
"Yes Emily," Richard with authority, "They are in love; that is what people who are in love look like."
"Well, what if they get married!" Emily cried.
"Then they will be married people who are in love, and we will have more grandchildren. How novel."
"How can you say that? For our only child to marry someone so decidedly beneath her. It is simply..."
"Not your concern. Emily, you are being a snob; and it just so happens, that I like Luke. I like Luke very much; He is real, he is honest, he tells you what he really thinks; which I find rather refreshing after I worked at that firm for over 35 years with snobs and sycophants. Everything I've done has been to provide for my family, to make my family happy. Now for whatever reason, Lorelai was unable to find happiness in this house, but she has found it with Luke. Luke makes Lorelai happy. Kindly respect that, and the sooner you accept that, well perhaps your relationship with her will be better." Richard wanted to retire for the evening, but before he exited the study, he turned back to his wife. "Oh, and set an extra place at dinner next week, because I invited Luke to join us and the girls on Friday. And tell the cook we are having fish."
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Rory and Lorelai came in for breakfast at the diner; Lorelai automatically kissed Luke, as was almost public habit now, "Hey there. Anywhere?"
"Anywhere you want," Luke smiled at the best thing to ever happen to him.
"Oo, a perk of sleeping with the proprietor," then turning to a couple to her right, she asked, "Could you move please?"
"What?" the random customer said.
"Anywhere where there's not people," Luke clarified.
"Oh, well, like I'm a mind reader."
"Its common sense," Luke rolled his eyes at the most infuriating thing that ever happened to him.
"I was just joking," she apologized to the customer, "Hmm, that's funny," Lorelai looked around the place.
"What?" Rory asked.
"Something's different here, something's changed," she observed as she sat down. The look on her face was that of a psychic trying to tune into a spirit.
Luke was refilling coffee's when he overheard Lorelai's observation, and decided to discreetly watch her revelation unfold wondering if his recent change to the diner would tip her off to the other changes he had in mind, afraid his intentions were written all over his face.
"Impossible," Rory scoffed.
"No, I swear, there's something. I can feel it," as her ESP was still trying to pick up the signal.
Luke filled a pair of mugs for them at the counter, wondering if Lorelai was clairvoyant as she often claimed and would pick up the clues to his plan even before the time was right, or maybe figure out Richard's surprise set for Friday night dinner.
"You know, I'd be very disappointed if something changed in here," Rory declared.
"Why are you so anti-change?"
"Because most change sucks," Rory stated dryly.
Luke paused behind the counter waiting for Lorelai's response.
"That's true, it does," Lorelai agreed.
Luke turned back to the coffee machine to put the pot back on the hot plate and gulped. Is it possible that he had misread Lorelai? He had never considered that maybe Lorelai wanted to keep things status quo; They had been progressing so steadily that Luke was ready for the next logical step. Although Lorelai herself had been making some long-term suggestions, but she said 'make a change, Luke. Change is good, Luke. Look at how happy we are Luke. Why aren't you open to a commitment Luke'; So his assumptions weren't completely out of left field.
"Uh! The chalkboard!" Lorelai gasped bringing Luke out of his musings.
"What about it?"
"Luke's Pancake Special. That is brand new," Lorelai said triumphantly, figuring out the mystery.
"A new special?" Rory was distraught; "His four-slice French toast has been up there since I was born!"
"You just got to let that go, baby," Lorelai patted the teen's shoulder.
Luke mustered the courage to deliver the coffee mugs and take their orders, "What can I get you?"
"You have a new special," Lorelai said coyly, resisting the urge to play footsy with him as he took her order.
"I sure do," He smiled, hoping Rory wasn't really too disappointed about the French toast.
"Nice. What is the special?"
"A stack of pancakes with side of hash browns and choice of bacon or sausage."
"Hmmm that sounds remarkably similar to my favorite!" Lorelai mused, wondering if it should have been named the Lorelai Pancake Special. "I'm gonna go with the pancake special, but both bacon and sausage."
"Okay."
"Four-slice French toast for me," Rory pouted, resting her chin on her hands.
Luke went to the kitchen to put in their orders wondering if Richard had told them about his extended invitation to Friday night dinner.
Lorelai felt special because she had her own special, "Look how hard he worked on that sign and everything. Look at the handwriting; it's so precise, so determined. It's focused-Luke," she gushed in a "I'm the luckiest girl ever" voice.
"That's Jess' handwriting," Rory informed.
Lorelai had been so busy with her daydreaming of Luke, she hadn't considered the Rory-Jess factor for a while. Lorelai's concerns were brought to the forefront of her mind now and how they were crossing paths so much lately. "Really? How do you know Jess' writing?" Lorelai asked neutrally.
"Oh, well, I lent him a book and he wrote some stuff in it."
"He vandalized one of your books? And you're okay with that?"
"No, he didn't vandalize it. He wrote in the margins, thoughts and stuff."
"Like what, like play basketball, eat a sandwich – stuff like that?"
"No, stuff, like margin stuff. People like Mark Twain wrote in margins."
"Pilot a steamboat, write Huckleberry Finn?"
"Forget it."
"No, no, I'm sure margin writing is very common. It's just you get so mad when people dog ear books, I just assumed…" Lorelai really wanted to continue the conversation, maybe probe what was going on between her daughter and Luke's nephew? Lorelai decided to remind Rory of her big beautiful boyfriend, "So how is Dean?"
"He's fine. Why?"
Just as Lorelai feared, Rory was a little defensive, "Oh no reason, I just haven't heard you talk about him much lately … everything okay?"
"Yeah, fine."
"So you guys aren't fighting?"
"No."
"Okay…" and Lorelai left it at that, sad that her daughter hadn't filled the silence with a Dean anecdote, annoyed that Jess' name was more prevalent in their conversations that Dean's. Rory also seemed perturbed by the questioning over her boyfriend, so to fill the silence Lorelai observed, "I love hash browns; they're like French fries first thing in the morning."
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Luke came in the kitchen of the Independence Inn wanting to talk to Lorelai and tell her about her father's invitation, since he knew she hated surprises, especially when it came to her parents. "Hey Lorelai, hey Sookie," but he was confused why there was meringue splattered everywhere.
Lorelai held up a finger, "Just one second, Hon," then she spoke on phone, "Hello, yes, customer service please, thanks. Oh, hello. Yes, we have a problem with some wedding invitations we ordered. Okay." to Sookie, "They're transferring me."
"I heard that," Sookie sighed trying to stay calm.
"Hi. Oh great, I'm going to pass you over to my friend who has a problem with some merchandise she ordered. Hold on one sec." Lorelai addressed Sookie again, "Listen to me, I've had a lot of experience dealing with people who have screwed something up. You have a better chance of getting them to help you if you don't get all hysterical."
"Okay," and Sookie coolly took the phone, but still exploded, "How dare you do this to me! You're ruining my wedding! It's the most important day of my life! It's my life, it's not Susie St. James, are you listening to me?"
"Good girl," and Lorelai pulled Luke out with her to protect him from Sookie's wrath.
"You better be listening to me! Do you – look, no, you be quiet, listen!"
"Jeez, what's that about?" Luke asked.
"Aw a mix up with Susie and her invitations," Lorelai sighed as she led him toward her office.
"Who?" Luke didn't follow.
"Exactly," Lorelai smiled.
"Right?"
"So to what do I owe the honor of seeing my fella at my place of business for a change?"
"Well, I needed to…"
Luke was about to tell Lorelai about the invitation Richard had extended to him for Friday night dinner, but Michel came up to Lorelai, not caring that he was interrupting a conversation, "Here and here," he droned handing Lorelai a clipboard and a pen.
"Oh sorry, babe," she apologized to Luke, taking the pen from Michel, "What-"
"Cleaning supply order," Michel flipped the page, "Here."
"That's the –." Lorelai asked again, still signing her name.
"Staff insurance forms. Initial here, date it here," another page was flipped.
"And I just –." Again she gave away her John Hancock.
"You just okayed the vaccination of all those filthy ducks in the south pond."
"Oh, aren't I nice."
"Yes, a regular Dr. Dolittle."
Lorelai handed the pen back to Michel and wrapped her arms around Luke's waist, "Sorry baby, maybe we should sneak into my office before…"
Then Rory came in with a "Hey."
Lorelai sunk at another interruption; she only wanted to make out with her boyfriend in her office, was that so wrong? "Oh, hi. Thought you couldn't get here 'til later," trying to swallow her annoyance.
"Our Franklin meeting didn't go as long as I thought it would."
"Well, lucky for me, more work for you." Lorelai went into her office and got a stack of paper for Rory, "Here, chronological order, please. So how was your day?"
"I got an A on my physics test."
"Aw. Good job Sweets."
"What goes up must come down, so thanks. Hey Luke? Mom got you working too?" Rory smiled.
"Um no well yeah I mean if you need anything…"
"No, I think we're good," she turned back to Rory, "Hey I'd, set up at the front desk to sort the papers. Michel hates it when you take his chair." Rory giggled as she headed off.
"Lorelai," Luke tried again, "Actually I wanted to…"
However the phone in her office rang, Lorelai rolled her eyes dramatically, as she went into her office, "Just a second hon. I'm so sorry, it's been like this all day. Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking."
"Lorelai, this is your father."
"Hey Dad, what can I do for you?" and she gave a smile to Luke who was standing in the doorway.
"Well, I just wanted to extend our Friday night dinner invitation to Luke?"
"What?"
"Well, not every Friday, I understand that he has to work, but this Friday I would really like to him to be there. Is that alright?"
"Uh sure dad, I'll ask him."
"Good, good."
"Is there any particular reason why?" Lorelai asked shrewdly.
Richard was ever nonchalant about the subject, "Oh no, no reason. I just thought it would be nice since the two of you have been dating for so long. Have him give me a call back, or I will just see him at the diner sometime."
"Alright dad, um just out of curiosity, does mom know you are extending this invitation?"
"Yes, Lorelai. And he will be seated beside you at the table."
"Well good, I prefer that, to you know any of mom's other creative ideas," wondering if Emily would rather serve Luke up like a lamb for the slaughter, "So, is that all?"
"For now, I'll see you Friday, Lorelai."
"Bye dad," Lorelai turned to Luke and stared at him for a moment, "You will not believe what just happened?"
"What?" Luke asked.
"Are you free Friday night?"
"I can be," Luke said lamely, since he already cleared his schedule, already knowing about Richard's plans for Friday.
"Well, I hate to do this to you but um, my dad wants you to be there Friday night, at dinner, with my mother… and him."
"Okay," Luke said a little too quickly, relieved that Richard did the hard work for him.
"Okay? Just like that?"
"Well, sure."
"You did hear me correctly, my dad wants you there… Friday night dinner… with my folks."
"Yeah,"
"…and my mother... my mother who hates you?"
"I heard. I'm fine with it."
"But my mother will be there too?"
"I know."
"Huh? Well, it's a good thing you were here for the invitation," that fact seemed funny to Lorelai, Luke at the inn when he should be getting ready for the dinner rush at the diner, "Why are you here?"
"Oh you know," Luke feigned, "To see if you had any chores for me… that and well, I want to make sure you were okay…" he hoped she bought it.
"Okay?"
"Yeah well, you didn't come by for lunch… and um… well I missed you …"
That melted any suspicions away, "Aw, you're sweet. I've been running around all day, and Sookie made me something. Well, I know you have at least one suit, maybe just change the tie from Christmas."
Rory had come back to her mother's office for a pen and a calculator, and over heard this, "Why does Luke need a tie?"
"Well, believe it or not, Luke has been invited to Friday night dinner with the Gilmores."
"Cool, Luke's in the club! Not that I don't love Friday night dinners, but when it's the same four week after week it will be nice to have some fresh blood."
"Please, don't mention blood around Emily," and Lorelai started humming the "Jaws" theme.
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Wednesday evening, Lorelai was at the kitchen table, tapping her pen, her chin resting on her hand. She couldn't focus on her studies. With the conducive quiet she kept analyzing her last conversation with Luke.
"Mom," Rory came into the kitchen to find her mother spacing out again, and pointed to the index cards, "You are supposed to be making flash cards for your finals. You have to start the prep now." Rory sat across from her mother at the kitchen table to set up her study area at the table.
Lorelai pouted, "I'd rather read the Motley Crue book."
"It's not that bad."
"The Motley Crue book? Yes it is!"
"No making flash cards, it will help. Trust me."
"I need a break," Lorelai evaded, hugging her knees to her chest on the kitchen chair, "Hey Hon? Do you think it's weird that Luke is invited to Friday night dinner?"
"Not really," Rory shrugged, "I mean he's already met your parents and survived."
"But the fact that dad invited him. Isn't that a little…"
"Antennas up?" Rory suggested.
"Well, yeah? I mean they are hanging out, Lord knows what they find to talk about. I can't even find anything to talk to my dad about…"
"Well, you said before they were similar, and they are both guys. Maybe they talk about, you know, guy stuff."
"I don't really think of dad as one of the guys."
"You know," but Rory couldn't really think of guy subjects, "Sports, and auto repair and well fishing, I guess."
"So, jock itch, car wrecks, and animal cruelty, that seems good and manly."
"It's good that grandpa is focusing on select hobbies, you know, instead of floating interest like A.D.D.; remember after Christmas he tried oil painting?"
"Yeah, I know; but why dinner at the house? Why now?"
"He's trying to make Luke feel welcome; he hasn't been to the house since Christmas."
"But this is a family dinner…"
"So, Dean went to a family dinner…"
"And look how that turned out," Lorelai shot back.
"I don't know, mom. I do know you won't pass your tests if you don't get your flash cards made."
"Something's going on," Lorelai was oozing with suspicion.
"Maybe Grandpa is going to lay some ground rules for Luke."
"What ground rules?" Lorelai perked up, thinking they may actually have had a lead.
"Oh you know the usual, 'if you ever hurt my daughter they won't find the body and I have enough money for an alibi'."
"Why would you say that?" Lorelai cried, "Luke can't come to dinner. It's bad enough my mother is out to get Luke, I can't sick my father on him too."
"Mom, it was a joke. Grandpa likes Luke. Remember."
"What if it's an act?" Lorelai mused, "You know, keep your friends close and your enemies even closer sort of strategy?"
"Mom, you are being paranoid."
"What if they go out fishing one day and only dad comes back, poor Luke stuck at the bottom of some lake?"
"Mom, they went fishing last week, Luke came back fine."
"…Or at least we think it's Luke," Lorelai speculated, "My folks are rich, what if they made a carbon clone, or a Luke android to keep me distracted while they disposed of my loveable, real Luke."
"No more sci-fi for you!" Rory pointed with her pencil.
"I'll just have to sleep with him to find out," Lorelai shrugged.
"Ugh, Mom," Rory was giving Lorelai a look.
"I can't help this feeling that somehow… something is going on."
"I think you only need to worry if Grandma starts to like Luke."
"Yeah, I guess. Then we know the end of the world is coming. Ew! Can you imagine Grandma Mrs. Robinson-ing Luke?"
"UGH! Study!" Rory insisted reaching her gross out limit for the evening.
Lorelai watched her daughter with scrutiny still avoiding her business finals flash cards. How is it that her journalist daughter, so astute to speculate and theorize about why Luke was coming to Friday night dinner, couldn't see that her boyfriend Dean was clearly upset and climbing the walls over not seeing Rory as much lately.
Over the last week, Lorelai witnessed as Rory ignored phone messages and pages left by Dean the determined, but when Lorelai's own voicemail was starting to hit double digits from Dean seeking information about Rory, she knew she had to meddle. Lorelai sought the love sick tall teen out since he obviously needed to talk to someone and have his mind set at ease. Lorelai also wanted to get the story since her daughter was making the problem worse by dismissing there was even an issue.
"So tell me why you are mad at Dean."
"What? I'm not mad," Rory shook her head.
"So tell me why you're mad at Dean," Lorelai repeated.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lorelai called her cell's voicemail and put the phone to Rory's ear and played a few choice voice mail messages Lorelai chose to save to make her point. Like Scooby Doo, Lorelai was willing to jump from one mystery to another, "So, did something happen?"
"When did he call you? Why did he call you?" appalled her boyfriend was calling her mommy.
"Maybe because something happened?"
"Are you Mrs. Robinson-ing with Dean?" Rory returned.
"Rory...I have a man," Lorelai just wanted her daughter to level with her, "You may not if you keep up this freeze out."
"Nothing happened," Rory defended, "Everything's been fine, everything's been calm. No more incidents"
"Incidents?" Lorelai asked.
"You know, misunderstandings... like the picnic panic, or when I tried to set Jess up with Paris..."
"Huh," it still didn't add up to Lorelai, "Well, if I had to guess, I would say Dean's feeling a little insecure about something.
"But why?"
"Well, I don't know Rory, maybe it's because you are treating him like a telemarketer? The man is trying to make plans and dates with you and you roll your eyes and yawn like he's trying to sell you light bulbs by the gross."
"I've just been busy."
"Not so busy to hang out with Lane yesterday."
"She just got the results of her aptitude test, and it came back sales for the fourth time, she needed some cathartic angry music shopping."
"Rory, I've seen you just erase his messages from the machine without even hearing the whole thing."
"I have Chilton, and last week was the funeral for Louie…it was school first, then all my free time went to the diner and helping Luke."
"Which we both appreciate," Lorelai wanted to be diplomatic about mentioning Jess. She had feared that Rory was spending so much time at the diner to be with Jess. "Rory, all I'm saying is that relationships are hard, they need work and time devoted to each other. Remember the crazy secret squirrel period, with me and Luke..."
"You mean the crazy not tell people phase."
"Yes, that phase,... nothing seemed to go our way, there was always something keeping us apart or stealing our attention; but we learned that we had to make time for each other, otherwise we'd went nuts. Sometimes you go through a weird patch and things get funky for a little while, but you can't just ignore there's a problem. Just give him some attention and maybe he will calm down again."
"I hope so," Rory said sadly, hearing the emotion in Dean's voice on Lorelai's voice mail. She didn't want to hurt him, she didn't mean to hurt him, Dean didn't deserve that. "I just want things to be the way they were before."
"Before...?"
"Before this weirdness... before... well Jess came I guess." Rory wondered if she should let her mother on her secret attraction to Jess. She decided against it, Lorelai was already lecturing her and freaking out, but at the same time she wanted to be honest and desperately wanted advice.
Lorelai was thankful that Rory brought the name up in question, then maybe it wouldn't seem like she was attacking her daughter."This maybe crazy left field here, but If I had been an innocent bystander watching you and Jess, I would think that the two of you were dating and Dean was some sad puppy stalker following you around."
"Mom, I can't help it that I see Jess. He's your boyfriend's nephew. He works I at the diner we frequent, this is a really small town. He's my friend."
"I know, I know that you can't help that you see Jess, but you can help your avoidance of Dean. Honey, you have to talk to him."
"You're right. I know you're right," it was stupid meaningless crush. Jess never really expressed interest in her, and dean has been the perfect boyfriend. He didn't deserve the way she was treating him.
"It doesn't have to be that heavy 'we need to talk' relationship thing... it could just be like old times. You gush about a Russian author, and he smiles and nods his shaggy head like he knows what you are talking about."
Rory laughed. Unfortunately that was the attraction to the other boy. Jess did know what Rory was talking about. They were a meeting of the minds, Rory pushed her thoughts away. She knew she had to be loyal to Dean, he was her boyfriend, he was the one who loved her.
"Ask him out on a date for a change…" Lorelai suggested, "Look at your schedule and budget some time for him, preferably with some snogging. That's what I did, and now I got Luke wrapped around my little finger... and he's having dinner with my folks this Friday."
"Dean has had dinner with you countless times."
"Well, I'm can't help it I'm so loveable. Unlike Emily."
"Mom this is not a big deal, really," soothing her mother again over the dreaded dinner, "It's just another step in your relationship right?"
Lorelai sighed, "Yeah, I guess."
"Study," Rory insisted again.
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Friday night came and the entire ride to Hartford she kept looking over at Luke. He looked uncomfortable in his suit and new tie, constantly pulling on his collar. Lorelai knew there had to be a reason that Luke's presence was requested, but she just couldn't put her finger on it. When Lorelai got out of the jeep, she was straightening out her dress, adjusting her coat, and eyeing the house.
Luke took Lorelai's hand, "Lorelai, will you stop fidgeting."
"I can't help it; I'm looking for Emily traps."
"What like your mother is going to drop an anvil on my head?" Luke commented dryly.
"Or a piano?" Lorelai coyly suggested.
"Relax, both of you," and Rory rang the doorbell, and Emily answered.
"Hello girls," she offered sweetly, then turned sour, "Luke." Emily felt honored that Luke left his beloved ball cap at home.
"Mrs. Gilmore," he nodded with a polite smile. At least he had the satisfaction of knowing what the evening was about; Richard told him the other day that the mystery was really getting to Emily.
"Hi Mom," Lorelai sad to distract the intense glare Emily had directed toward Luke.
"Hi Grandma."
Emily called, though she seemed to be a little out of sorts, "Richard, the girls are here. Richard?"
Lorelai noticed something was off; "Mom? Everything okay?"
Emily felt uneasy discussing family business in front of Luke, but she had no choice. "He's keeping something from me. All week he's been holed up in his study, phone calls at all hours, he hasn't even lifted a wrench for that stupid car of his in a week." Emily led her guests into the living room.
Lorelai was surprised that Emily had the same feeling she did, that her man was hiding something big. "Maybe auto repair isn't for him," Lorelai offered, though she turned to Luke hoping to see a hint of what was up on his face; but she couldn't tell if he knew something. He could have been nervous over the secret, or he could just have been nervous to be at the Gilmore manor again. Either way, both Emily and Lorelai knew that Richard and Luke were in cahoots over something.
"And he's been giving the cook instructions about dinner."
At the mention of food Lorelai perked up, "What are we having?"
"Oh some fish he caught somewhere," Emily said, ignoring that Luke was in the room.
"Fish?" and Lorelai looked at Luke again and smiled at Luke, who confirmed the catch with a shrug. Lorelai turned back to her mother, "Well, are you sure he's still in there?"
"Of course he's still in there. The door's right there. Not everyone leaves this house by climbing out the window and jumping into a waiting hot rod. I just don't know what's going on and am at my wits end."
Richard came out of the study; "Oh good you are all here, just one moment," and Richard went in to the kitchen to check with the cook again.
Lorelai's head snapped to her mother, "he seems fine."
"Does he?"
"Mom, he's humming. I think he's fine."
"Then why all the secrecy; I'm his wife you're not supposed to keep secrets from your spouse."
Lorelai countered that statement, "Did you ever tell him how much you really paid for that antique rug from the charity auction."
"Of course not, think of your father has a heart condition."
"I rest my case," Lorelai smiled.
Richard finally came in, "Welcome, welcome, Luke I'm so glad you could make it." Richard offered Luke his hand. Luke felt a little embarrassed to be on the spot, especially since he was the new man on scene. "Now that you are all here, I'll get straight to the point, I have a bit of an announcement to make. Oh, you all don't have drinks…"
"Richard never mind the drinks," Emily boiled over, "What is going on?"
"Very well," aghast by Emily's outburst in front of company, but Richard straightened up and carried on, "Sit, sit," he gestured, and the girls took their usual love seat, while Emily went for an easy chair as if it was a throne. Luke decided to remain standing. "Well, it's just this whole retirement experience, well, I've had a lot of time on my hands, to think, a lot of thinking. You all have seen me try various hobbies to fill my time," Richard included Luke in the statement with a nod, "However, recently I've realized something – I don't want to be retired."
"What?" Emily asked.
"I don't like it. I hate it, as a matter of fact," Richard chuckled, "It's boring. I have absolutely no idea what to do with myself. Granted I've had some self-discovery, but frankly, I am tired of trying to find something to fill up my time."
"So what are you going to do?" Lorelai asked.
"I am going to work."
It was the ray of hope Emily had been waiting for, "Are you thinking about asking for your job back?"
"Oh, God no!" Richard scoffed, "No. I have decided to go into business for myself," he posed proudly.
Lorelai and Rory had to share a grin and Luke smiled having talked out the plan last week with Richard.
"Wow," Lorelai's eyebrows rose.
"Cool," Rory giggled.
"It is cool, isn't it?" Richard affirmed to his granddaughter.
"But what are you going to do?"
"Well, this week I've been making arrangements to get an office. 35 years of experience must count for something, perhaps I'll consult, maybe eventually take on a partner."
"Richard," Emily was full of concern, "Are you serious about this?"
"As a heart attack."
Emily wanted to protest, "But, but - "
Richard sighed, "I haven't felt this good in a very long time, Emily. I have the buzz, and I owe it all to you." Richard walked over to where Luke stood by Lorelai and reached out to shake Luke's hand.
"Luke?" now it was Lorelai's turn to be surprised.
Richard just gushed with thanks, "My boy, I can't thank you enough. In thirty five years I thought I seen it all, but you really opened my eyes to the possibilities."
Luke's face reddened, "Glad to be of service." Luke hated the seething glare Emily had directed toward him as she narrowed her eyes from her throne.
Lorelai was going back and forth between her boyfriend and her dad, missing the seething glare, "Wait? How?"
"Luke and I have talked some things over the last few weeks. Like the attitude America was founded on, pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Instead of being put out to pasture, take matters into your own hands," Richard said with old Gilmore fire as if he had just closed the deal of his life.
Lorelai turned to Luke, "You said all that?" knowing he was a notorious pessimist.
"Quite motivating," Richard praised, "Luke you should be a public speaker."
"Um, thank you, sir."
His announcement concluded, Richard clapped his hands, "Well, I'm starved," Richard put an arm around Luke like they were the oldest of friends, as he lead Lorelai's beau toward the dining room, "Luke you may see an old friend on the dinner plate," Richard joked, "We are having some of the trout we caught the other day, I followed your recipe to the letter. Well our cook did."
As the group was about to gather in the dining room, Richard snapped his fingers, "Oh, actually Luke, there is something else I would like to discuss with you, regarding the insurance on that new building of yours."
"Building?" Emily asked.
"Yes," Richard informed, "Quite a sound investment from what I've seen; now I have some figures for a new policy. Am I to understand you have been doing some renovations?"
Luke cleared his throat hating to be on the spot like that, "Um, yes sir, my contractor has all the right permits," Luke could feel the female eyes on them as they left the living room.
"Good, Good. Well you know renovating every few years will only help it's property value, and if the building is as old as you say it is, it sounds like you caught it in the nick of time."
All the female's brows furrowed; Richard Gilmore, Business Titan, talking business with humble Luke Danes, as if he was one of the boys? Lorelai began to wonder if Richard was grooming Luke to be afore mentioned business partner or brain-washed, android clone.
"We'll be back in a minute," Richard escorted Luke to the study while the ladies took their places at the dinner table.
Emily said astonished, "His own business."
"He's going to consult," Lorelai smiled, it was the happiest Lorelai has seen Richard since the Bracebridge dinner, before they knew he quit his job, "and it's all because of Luke," Lorelai knew exactly how she wanted to thank her fella for helping her dad out of the wilderness of retirement.
Emily looked at Lorelai, smugly so proud of her boyfriend and his influence over Richard, "Well I suppose I should be thankful it's not Richard's house of pancakes in Hartford."
"Nah, RHOP doesn't have the same ring…" Lorelai teased.
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As soon as the study door closed, Richard was as excited as a schoolboy, "Please tell me you brought it."
Luke had to chuckle at the rouse to get him away from the women, "Don't get too excited, it's just a picture," and Luke pulled out a photo from his breast pocket of his suit jacket, of the ring in question, "I hope you think it's good enough, I've been saving it for some time."
"Oh, it is exquisite, perfectly worthy of my daughter's hand," Richard assured admiring the picture of the jewelry. "Smart thinking, you wouldn't want Lorelai to find the ring on you..."
"The picture is about 10 years old, from the appraiser."
"Well, once you give it to her, we can draw up a personal articles policy with my new business."
"Well, I already have one, sir."
"Well, we can always revise it," Richard smiled, "After all, soon you will be family," and patted Luke on the back.
"If she says yes."
Richard warmly assured, "She will. Where is the ring now?"
"My father's safety deposit box, after my mom died, he couldn't even look at it, hid it away in a dresser for years. When I was about 24, he sent me to get it appraised and dropped it off at the bank, he told me he wanted me to have it for… who ever I found…" At the time, Luke had thought it would be Rachel wearing the ring, but now, since he was so serious with Lorelai, he was glad things had worked out the way they did.
"It is lovely. Well, I suppose we should return before they get too suspicious. Eh?" Richard elbowed Luke in the ribs.
"Hey, um what should we tell them we were discussing," Luke asked knowing subterfuge wasn't his forte, and he sucked at lying.
"Like I said, I was interested in the diner's policy if I could maybe get you a better deal."
Luke nodded committing the story to memory, "Yeah, okay, that sounds good."
"Now don't be nervous. Oh by the way, where were you going to you know, pop the question?"
"I don't know, really, she's been so busy with Sookie's wedding and finishing business school, I have to still work some of that out."
"By all means," Richard advised, "be patient and find your moment," and gave Luke a final wink before they rejoined the clueless ladies.
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On the drive back to Stars Hollow Rory was curious, "So Luke? What did Grandpa need to discuss with you?" wondering if her theory for ground rules was a possibility.
"Oh you know, he was wondering about the diner's insurance policy," Luke stuck to the story, trying not to noticeably shift under the feminine scrutiny.
"In all your friendly lunches at the diner that never came up before?" Lorelai asked.
"Not really," Luke tried to feign, "I mean we talk about fun stuff at the diner."
Both Gilmore girls had to snicker at Luke's use of the word fun, "Fun stuff, like what?" Lorelai asked.
"You know like …cars…" he shrugged knowing he sucked at lying.
"Fishing?" Lorelai supplied still treasuring the hysterical image of her father in fishing gear as he walked in the diner.
"Sports?" Rory added.
"Well, yeah, stuff like that."
"Well, grandpa is big on golf, maybe since you taught him fishing he'll get you a membership at the club?" Rory teased, knowing Luke's rant on golf courses.
"I don't know about that," he grumbled, Luke had never considered the new obligations that would be put upon him if he officially became part of the Gilmore clan. No doubt Emily would want to give him a makeover, clean up his image so he would be presentable; tell a bunch lies about his modest success, like she had during the ball.
"Bite your tongue," Lorelai said over her shoulder to her daughter, "So nothing else?"
"Nope."
"…but you were in on the whole starting his own business plot."
"Well, yeah," Luke admitted, "I mean when Richard…well your dad joined his firmed it was already established, so he just asked me a few questions on how to get started, like you did with the our discussion about buying the Inn. You know file the paperwork, are you a corporation…and stuff."
"All right," Lorelai let it go; Who was she to argue if her father was on her side and actually liked with Luke, maybe Richard could work on Emily and make her come around. It was kind of cute to see Luke and Richard be so buddy-buddy.
Lorelai pulled into their driveway and the trio piled out of the Jeep. Like a true gentleman Luke escorted the ladies to the door, not that Emily Gilmore would give him credit for the gesture. Before Luke and Lorelai could say their good night, in the foyer Rory's pager went off suddenly, and Lorelai asked "Who's that?"
"It's Dean," Rory smiled.
Lorelai saw the smile; it was the first time in weeks Rory wore that heartfelt smile over her fella, Dean "Really? How many pages does that make for today?"
"Just one."
"You're kidding."
"Yeah, yesterday we had a really good talk."
"You did where was I?"
"Business class," Rory informed.
"Do you want to grab the phone and give him a call? It's still early if you two want to hang out."
Then the phone rang, "Already a step ahead of you," Rory answered excited, "Dean?"
"Hey Rory, um I just got off work."
"Cool, so are you free for the late show at BWR?"
"Actually, I'm in your front yard."
Rory looked out the window and saw him, "Why did you page me?"
"Just to get your attention …and to see where you were. I just saw the jeep so I was hoping…"
"We just got home, let me just change my shoes okay?" and Rory hung up. "He's outside already?" Rory laughed as she turned to Lorelai.
"Wait so what's the plan?" Lorelai asked to be an informed parent.
"I asked him yesterday if he wanted to go to a late movie after dinner tonight, he's just finished his shift at Doose's, So if it's okay we're going to BWR."
Lorelai was happy that her meddling was paying off, hoping that her advice to both teens helped the young love situation. Rory actually folded her hands begging for a late curfew to spend the remainder of the evening with Dean. "Sure, enjoy your fella."
When Rory ran out, Lorelai peeked out of the window, and saw the enthusiastic hug and kiss of her daughter and her beau, like Dean had just come home from being stationed overseas. That's more like it, Lorelai thought to herself.
"They seem very together," Luke observed through the window, "I don't know what you were so worried about."
Lorelai turned to Luke, "Hey, since she's got a date, you want to be my date? We could watch a movie? Or something?" Lorelai played with his tie.
"Lorelai…"
Wasting no time, she leaned up to kiss him. Luke and Lorelai hadn't been alone-alone for over a week since their "celebration of life". Luke grabbed Lorelai and kissed her just as eagerly and soon he had Lorelai pressed up against the wall that divided the foyer and the living room. Lorelai pulled away for a desperate breath to let Luke neck her and more for her own benefit, "Hmm, definitely not an android."
"What?" Luke looked up at her, almost breaking their passionate spell.
"Nothing, just keep doing what you're doing" and their lips met again.
The idea of the entire house to themselves was intoxicating, and Lorelai was already cooing with delight, and eagerly rubbing his dress shirt against his back as her hand slipped under the jacket, trying to undo his tie with the other hand. Lorelai wanted to free Luke from his suit jacket so she could bring him up to her bedroom and have her wicked way with him. "Stay over?" she enticed, pawing at his neck and shoulders.
"Believe me I want to," Luke whispered inches from her face.
"…and I want you," she pouted.
Luke stopped her hands from slipping off his jacket, "Lorelai…I'd like to but…" I have a picture of your engagement ring in my pocket, and if we get undressed...and then there is a chance you may find it, and you'll see it... and ask a bunch of questions…
"Let me guess… deliveries," Lorelai sighed with disappointment, as she played with one of his hand. She was trying to take her own advice and budget time for her fella, take advantage of her empty house, but those damn outside forces interfered again.
"Yeah, I'm sorry…"
"I know," she assured.
"And Jess maybe wondering where I am."
"Okay…Oh, just a reminder, Sookie's wedding May nineteenth, four o'clock, front lawn of the Inn– pass it on."
"I know. You decorated that date on the calendar in my kitchen."
"Yeah, just so you don't forget, you have a date for the date; no ifs, ands, or buts."
Luke kissed Lorelai, "I'll be there."
Lorelai's hands were in his hair again, trying to keep him close, not wanting him to leave just yet. "Hey Luke…"
"Yeah," Luke said with his forehead against hers. He knew he had to get out of there, if he gave in she may find the photo on him and his proposal would be blown.
"Well, umm I've been meaning to ask you… you know… I'm winding down my days of business school… which means… well, I'm going to graduate soon and I was wondering… if you'd like to come to a ceremony…"
"Ceremony?"
"Yeah, the graduation ceremony. I mean, I've had my reservations about the whole cap and gown thing. I mean I'm in my thirties graduating with wide eyed twenty some things that haven't had their dreams completely crushed yet, they did settle on community college, but they are still trying, I guess. But the other day I got the cap and gown order form and I don't know I thought maybe... I mean it seems kind of corny, and you know what a stickler I am for fashion statements, but I've never had a graduation one before. I took a test for my GED, and I was thinking about you and Rory there, watching me get my diploma, two of the most important people in my life…. and you know, you seem made for that whole escort roll, I mean the ball, and you could practice tying your tie for Sookie's wedding… only I completely expect you to dance in front of the town at the reception…"
"Aw Jeez."
"Please, I know you have a suit; I almost just took it off of you."
Luke smiled; she still had hold of his jacket and he still had hold of her hands. Luke thought about what Rory said, how she had started to look at him as a father, Rory was even looking forward to Luke's presence at all those major events, and here was a major event coming up for Lorelai. If Lorelai said yes to his all-important question, then Rory would be his stepdaughter. "It would mean a lot to me… to be there, for you, you know, seeing that you finally did it."
"You know, this will mean I will have Tuesdays and Thursdays free… for our dates... and we can do this more often."
"Another good selling point … alright, I'm there."
"Great," Lorelai smiled, she still didn't want him to go, seeing Rory patch things up with her man made Lorelai want to cuddle up with hers, so she nuzzled his neck, "Stay with me…"
"Lorelai, I can't. Not tonight," he had responsibilities, Jess and incriminating evidence in his breast pocket.
"…But soon? You'll stay over?"
Luke promised with a smile, "Soon," and for every day afterward, thinking of the ring picture in his pocket.
"I'll see you in the morning, then," Lorelai asked hopefully.
"I'll be the one holding the coffee pot."
"Hmmm almost my favorite view of you," Lorelai grinned suggestively, and gave him his good night kiss. Lorelai was still making her best efforts to get him to stay, and when the need for oxygen became desperate they separated again.
"Lorelai…you got to stop that. Trying to keep me here?" Luke noticed she had undone his tie, and the first few buttons of his shirt.
"Is it working? She asked with a devious grin.
"Goodnight," and pulled himself out of her grip to make his exit. As he stepped away, Lorelai kept hold of his tie and it slipped off his shoulders.
"I'll give this back when you stay over…" she promised.
"It's all right, my girlfriend gave me another one."
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you NON POD Luke!
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A/N:
I love Elvis!
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...