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 REALITIES AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN! NO HARM NO SUE!
Dialogue borrowed from:
2.19 - Teach Me Tonight
written by Amy Sherman-Palladino
directed by Steven Robman
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Chapter 39:
Best Laid Plans
"The Wizard of Oz," Lorelai exclaimed.
"The Sting," Rory chimed in.
"Rocky?"
"Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Lorelai and Rory were brainstorming over movies choices for the Movie-In-The-Square-Night, which Lorelai had practically brow beat Taylor into letting her run the movie selection because she couldn't sit through The Yearling for the fourth year in a row.
"The Singing Detective."
Rory scoffed, "That was a miniseries."
"So?"
"It's like six hours long."
"Good point. Ooh, I got it! Arthur!"
"Yes!" Rory smiled.
"Or Sophie's Choice."
"Very similar," Rory chuckled.
"Oh man, I can't choose, there are too many great movies. The burden is overwhelming. I'm sinking under the pressure. My grasp on reality is slipping…" Lorelai cried dramatically, then the phone rang. "Oh, it's nice of my grasp on reality to call me back in a timely manner," Lorelai quipped before answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Lor?"
"Oh… hey. Chris, how are you?"
Chris was surprised Lorelai was so friendly to him, especially since she refused to be in the same room with him the last time he came to visit Rory. "Fine, can't complain. You sound really happy," he said as he automatically wondered if the infamous Luke had something to do with her good mood.
"I am. I get to pick the movie for Movie-In-The-Square-Night. It's like this big movie festival we have every year and this year I'm in charge."
"Oh yeah? How'd you land that gig?"
"I ticked off the guy who usually picks the movie until he quit."
"Annoying them into submission, that's how you will become queen…"
"That's the plan."
"Well if anyone can pick something everyone will enjoy, it's you."
"Thanks. So I guess you want to talk to Rory?"
"That's why I called," Chris said cautiously, if she's willing to talk to me.
Lorelai tried to hand the phone off to Rory, but Rory silently refused. Mutely Lorelai followed her around insisting she take the phone, but Rory wordlessly gesticulated back that she wasn't interested in the phone call. Lorelai rolled her eyes as she tried to quickly come up with an excuse and quickly put the phone back to her ear, "Um Hey Chris, I'm sorry Rory has her hands full she's….knitting…"
Rory's eyes went wide and she mouthed, "What?"
"Knitting?" Chris obviously didn't believe it.
Lorelai, now committed to the story so she turned from her daughter and spun a tale, "Yeah, she's doing a report on the history of …textiles and well other dying domestic arts, actually I'm not sure if she's covered dyeing yet. No subject is beneath the notice of Chilton. They are very… thorough. She knew that I knew how to sew but unfortunately I am no help cause I don't knit. You'd think I would have learned, but who has the time… anyway she's tied up with knitting she can't come to the phone or she might miss a purl one, knit two."
"I think you have that backwards."
"Really? Well, thank God I'm not being tested on it…I'm sorry she's very busy. I'll have her give you a call back once she's untangled herself."
"Thanks, Lor, bye."
"Bye Chris," Lorelai hung up knowing he didn't believe her absurd lie. "What was that about Missy Miss, you were practically having a seizure to avoid talking to your dad?"
"It's no big deal; I'll call him next week."
"Rory, you could have talked to him now. What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Okay, will you at least tell me why I had to lie to him?"
"I never asked you to lie for me. You could have said I studying or unavailable. That last sentence was perfect, 'she's very busy, she'll call you back.'"
"Are you going to call him back?"
"Maybe."
"So, aren't you going tell me what it is you two are fighting about?"
"I'm not fighting with him."
"Okay, are you going to tell me what it is you're not fighting about?"
"Nothing," Rory shrugged.
"Rory, he's your dad. I thought his last visit went fine."
Rory dismissed, "If you recall I wasn't so enthused by the time he left."
"He's still your dad. I thought this is what you wanted. No regrets?"
"Well, maybe I have some regrets after all, maybe I regret letting him back in."
"Rory come on, don't say that. He's really trying and you don't have a mean bone in your body."
"Maybe it's time I develop a back bone and stand up to him. He can't treat us this way..." Rory didn't want to say too much, to give voice to her fears that Christopher had some sort of wistful designs on Lorelai.
"Honey, what happened?" Lorelai asked, desperately wanting to be clued in. This seemed completely out of the blue to Lorelai. She knew there was some weirdness when Chris left after his recent visit. Rory was frustrated, rebuilding her relationship with Chris was more work than she thought, she preferred the easy company of Luke; at least she had many things in common with Luke. They both had a natural conservative nature and a tendency to be shy and quiet. They grew up in the same small town. They had similar life experiences and related to each other better. Each had to learn to live without their fathers, granted each under very different circumstances.
Lorelai enjoyed how well her boyfriend got along with her daughter and perhaps she understood why Rory would want to take the easy road and just leave Chris in the dust. However, Lorelai still wanted to know what caused the tension between Christopher and Rory.
"Look, I don't want to complicate this anymore than it already is. Just know that right now I don't want to talk to him."
"Rory he's your dad, not a yo-yo."
Rory was appalled, "Why are you all of a sudden defending him?"
"I'm just trying to understand. Obviously I missed something by staying at the inn with Luke that weekend. I just want the whole picture. You never know, I may end up on your side."
"Look right now it doesn't matter. I'll talk to him next week. Now if you excuse me I have a report on the history of textiles to get back too!" Rory went in her room and shut the door, turned up some music...loud music.
"Nice to see you working so hard!" Lorelai yelled at the door. "What did you do this time, Christopher?" Lorelai asked the empty room… the empty room did not reply.
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The next day Lorelai at the diner counter, still mulling over the movie list. "Okay, if we take off Fletch and Urban Cowboy, we still have seventy-five possibilities."
"Will you just pick one?" Rory groaned, there was still a little tension between mother and daughter.
"I don't know," Lorelai couldn't decide.
"What's this for again?" Luke asked.
"The Movie-In-The-Square-Night, aka a town event you would usually avoid, but since now you have a girlfriend, you get to be my pillow," Lorelai smiled sweetly.
"Oh that," Luke said dully. Between her maid of honor duties at the St. James-Bellville wedding, studying for her final finals before graduation from Business College, and her job, Lorelai hardly had any time for herself let alone for them. Now she was adding some crazy town flip out event? How on earth was Luke going to fit in his proposal if Lorelai kept so damn busy?
"Come on Baby, maybe I should pick a really crappy movie on purpose so we can make out in the bushes or in the gazebo…"
"Finish one list before you start another," Luke warned.
"Wherever you like, just say you'll make out with me," Lorelai made a kissy face to Luke.
"And say I can sit on the other side of the square," Rory begged.
"Pick a good one," Luke requested, "or I won't do anything with you anywhere."
"Wow, that's some tough love Mom," Rory chuckled, finding comfort in her mother's steadfast relationship.
"Hey, maybe we should do a movie marathon weekend. You know, just show one movie after the other for three days and charge everyone a fortune, gouge 'em off bottled water, have those really little disgusting bathrooms – it'd be like our own Woodstock."
Taylor entered the diner, like a man on a mission. "Ah, good, there you are. I should have known you would be here," he ended snidely, looking directly at Luke.
"This is where the coffee is," Lorelai stated dryly.
"I have something for you."
"Nothing good can come from that," Lorelai shuddered to her daughter.
"This," Taylor deposited a large binder onto the counter. "Now, when you get through this and make your decision, the number of the man you need to contact is inside on the first page."
"What man? What is this?"
"That is the list of titles that are available for you to pick from for the movie night."
"The list of titles? I'm sorry, can't we just pick our own movie?"
"You're not serious? My dear girl, movies are expensive and we get fabulous deals from this particular place. They have a wide selection and they're very friendly and since it all goes to charity, they agree to give us anything on that list for free."
"So we have to pick a movie off this list?"
"Oh, it's fun. They put the movie title over here and a brief description of the storyline over here and believe me, there are some excellent movies on that list. Really, top notch."
Lorelai and Rory poured over a few descriptions together and weren't impressed, then Lorelai saw the time, "Shoot, Rory could you take this binder home for me?"
"You've got hands."
"Rory please? I have to go to business class."
"Alright."
"Luke I'm leaving!!" Lorelai called. Luke came out and kissed her goodbye. This was much more pleasant since the local yokels had gotten used to seeing them as a couple and had quit it with the cat calls… mostly. Rory smiled and took comfort in the affection between Luke and Lorelai.
Luke didn't want to call too much attention to the relationship, despite the fact it was out in the open, "We're still on for dinner tomorrow night right?"
"Of course, wish me luck tonight is my last quiz before my final."
"Good luck," Luke kissed her goodbye.
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The following evening Lorelai met Luke at her door with a kiss, "Hmm, God, human contact. I've missed you."
"Still picking a movie?" Luke rubbed the small of her back.
"Oh, I've picked a movie," Lorelai assured. "Yes, on top of all my studying I finished going through every single one of those movie descriptions. I've read them, reviewed their merits, and I'm proud to announce that our chosen movie for the Movie-In-The-Square-Night is… The Yearling?"
"Great," Luke chuckled since he knew how seriously Lorelai took this decision.
"No, Luke, not great!" Lorelai sulked. "Your movie maven has failed. All I wanted to do was bring quality movies to the masses, expose classics to people who may have never seen them before or open them up to ones they never even considered liking because you need a refined movie palate like mine to appreciate them."
"This from the woman who loves the Billy Jack movies."
"I don't love them, but I appreciate how badly they are written making them their own brand of cinema classics. How was I supposed to know that these festivals cost money? Now somewhere out there someone is lost, searching for the answer to the ultimate icebreaker question 'What's your favorite movie?' and because of me that lost soul thinks that movie is one about a deer! I failed, I tell you, failed!!" her head slumped on Luke's shoulder.
"You are really taking this too seriously."
Lorelai sprang back up, "I know I really am. Oh, but I have a side note of hilarity. Kirk made me an offer I couldn't refuse," she said in a mock sultry tone.
Luke reacted slightly but dryly stated, "Somehow I'm not worried. Whatever he doesn't have I've got in spades."
"To be sure," Lorelai agreed. She rested her head against his shoulder and rubbed his chest as he held her close. "Anyway, you can add filmmaker to Kirk's extensive resume."
"What?"
"He ambushed me today at the market offering not only himself, but a short film he's been working on for the last five years."
Luke's brow furrowed, "A short film and it takes five years?"
"Well, he has great creative ambitions; he wants to make it perfect, like some director from Facts of Life."
"What?"
"It's Babe 2, same pig harder edge," Lorelai tried to entice.
"What are you talking about?" Luke asked, wondering if Lorelai had finally crossed over to Crazyland and was now speaking in strange tongues.
"I don't know. It was part of his sales pitch but… Oh my God… I've watched it like five times… Don't tell Rory! And I still can't make heads or tails of it but I keep laughing my ass off! Needless to say, it's opening for The Yearling and closing for The Yearling… and I'm thinking maybe a little intermission in the middle of The Yearling."
Luke responded sardonically, "Not that I don't just love talking about Kirk and his creative ambitions, but this is one of your few free nights this week. I'd like to get some time with my girlfriend in."
Having nearly melted at his sexy tone and use of the word girlfriend, Lorelai chose to ignore his grumbling, "Hmm, are you sure you aren't just looking to get some?" They shared a chuckling kiss. "Let me just get my shoes and my purse. Are those brownies?" she asked seeing the box in his hand for the first time.
Luke almost forgot he had them, "Uh, yeah, I made some brownies; I thought you might like some."
Lorelai cooed, "Some men bring flowers, you bring brownies." Lorelai took the box from Luke's hands, sniffing the brownies as one would a bouquet, "You probably have a diner full of people who would love these brownies … plus, I bet they'd even pay you for 'em."
Luke shrugged, "Well, I accidentally dropped triple the amount of cocoa powder in the batter so I either had to dump the batch or find someone with some sort of superhuman chocolate tolerance – only one name came to mind."
"God, I love being special. These aren't laced with love potion number nine, are they?"
"I knew I forgot something," Luke snapped his fingers.
"Trust me, you don't need it," Lorelai pecked his lips again. "Let me put these away and we can go."
That was the closest Lorelai had ever come to telling Luke she loved him. Luke wasn't keeping score of such things, but he had noticed talking things out with Richard on Sunday put Luke at ease about his big moment. Luke thought it was as good a time as any to set his plan in motion but his stomach did a flip, he was actually going to ask Lorelai the big question. He took a deep breath to keep from showing his nerves and followed Lorelai into the kitchen to ask, "Lorelai, when is that movie thing?"
"Sunday night and yes you have to come. You are my pillow, remember? Why?"
"Well, I just wanted to see if you were free Saturday night. You know, free from studying or weddings… that is Sookie's wedding," he fumbled for words. "Um I mean, you know, you plan weddings at the inn, like Sookie's and well I just wanted to make sure you were available…." Luke stammered, since he first decided to propose every mention of the word weddings made him antsy, nervous. Did she suspect anything? Did she know it was coming? He wanted it to be a surprise, but he knew Richard was right. Luke just had to suck it up and ask Lorelai then all of them could start working on Emily.
Lorelai was too distracted by putting on her shoes to notice his nerves. "I think I could be available for a date with my boyfriend on Saturday night," she said, straightening up and closed the distance between them again. "It will be something to look forward to, help get me through my dinner with my folks."
"I figured as much."
"Okay, great. So, Saturday night it's a date, but what are we doing tonight?" she wrapped her arms around Luke. "You know, we could just stay in," Lorelai pecked at his lips again and Luke was seriously considering the offer as she pressed her body into his.
The moment was broken when Rory and Lane came in the front door, "Don't worry my mom has a date with Luke tonight so we can play the music at its proper volu…" Rory stopped, shocked by what she had interrupted. Luke and Lorelai quickly separated from their heated kiss, "and apparently they are still here."
Lorelai sighed, disappointed by the girl's sudden cameo, "No, we were just leaving." It was kind of like that first month when they were still under, never able to find a moment alone, something always intruding.
Rory chuckled, "Good, not that we don't love you guys, but we have some serious CD listening to do and since you've been studying like a good girl we didn't want to disturb you."
"Hence the date with the guy to get me out of the house for the CD listening," Lorelai smiled at Luke, "I'll get my purse," then warned her daughter, "Don't touch my brownies at least till I get back."
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Richard couldn't help but grin throughout Friday night dinner. He watched as his daughter and wife volleyed back and forth with their weekly banter. It was by observing his daughter that Richard noticed how much Lorelai gesticulated with her hands when she spoke. As they moved quickly to emphasize her point, Richard kept an eye on Lorelai's left hand. He kept picturing the ring Luke had showed him on his daughter's finger. Little did Lorelai know Saturday evening would be a course changing night for her. Richard only hoped she would let him walk her down the aisle, it was tradition and he was rather keen on the idea himself.
Richard's gaze fell on Rory as she responded to her mother. He wasn't worried about Rory's reaction to the engagement; it was clear from both Rory and Luke that they had a fine relationship with each other despite Luke's healthy apprehension of being a stepfather. Luke mentioned Rory's childhood dream of Luke and Lorelai ending up together so they all could live above the diner and get free coffee and pie whenever they wanted gave Richard ease over their transition from boyfriend of mother and daughter to stepfather and stepdaughter. It would seem Rory's childhood wish would finally be granted. Like Rory, Richard began to insert Luke into important future life events and Christopher all but faded from memory. Rory admitted to Luke she didn't see Chris there, she saw her mother and Luke, the two who were reliable and constant in her life. It was clear Rory loved Luke like a father, Luke had her respect, both important for a stepfather to have. Emily, however, was going to be a tough sell.
Poor Luke, the man was an utter wreck when he came to the house last Sunday. Richard was honored that Luke felt comfortable enough to turn to his future father-in-law for advice. Richard dreaded thinking of what Luke might have done if Richard hadn't been home.
Soon there would be another regular at these weekly family dinners. No doubt Emily would complain about having an unbalanced table. He'd been at a disadvantage for nearly 35 years now… it was about time there was another male in the family. The idea of pre-dinner cocktails with his future son-in-law Luke brought a smile to Richard's face. Richard cut into the chicken cutlet on his plate recalling how Luke asked him for Lorelai's hand on that fishing trip mere weeks ago.
Richard's fishing technique had vastly improved over his fishing day-trip with Luke. The younger man had offered him a great deal of advice but none of it kept him from dropping his pole right into the lake when he heard what this man had been planning for Lorelai. "Pardon?"
Luke chuckled, no doubt nervous, "I want to marry your daughter."
Richard managed to avoid answering at first while Luke helped him recover his rod. Trying to regain his strength after his initial shock, Richard played the "scary father" card, "Well, she is my only daughter and you are asking me for her hand? On a fishing trip? This is highly irregular, this is not how these things were done," Richard finished strong. These things were done in studies with snifters of brandy, sometimes the larger the better for the girl's father! They were not done out in the wild with poles and cans of worms... not that they were using worms for bait. Juggling the idea of his little girl being married... and juggling all this equipment? It wasn't dignified.
Granted, Lorelai had not been Richard's little girl in sixteen years, once he discovered she was pregnant he all but officially disowned her and vice versa he imagined. Richard couldn't understand the vibrant, independent woman that came to Friday night dinners, the little girl who grew up with out him while he worked so hard at his firm. Sometimes, Richard still saw a little girl in a dress she hated only wanting to go to Yale to please her father and who's greatest joy was dancing with Richard while standing on his feet. Now this man who Lorelai had been seeing wanted to steal her away from him all over again? At least Luke had the decency to ask, unlike Lorelai's first fiancé whom Richard had never even met.
Richard found Luke's honest, old fashion tactic of asking for his daughter's hand refreshing. Richard choked out, "Well, I… I can't say I'm surprised. I mean you have been involved since what November?"
"Yeah, since then."
Richard considered all of Luke's merits and gave Luke the respectful honesty Luke had always given him, "You are a self made man, Luke. Life gave you obstacles and you created your own options, your own business. Rory thinks highly of you and as you know I value her opinion a great deal, she's a very good judge of character." He paused for dramatic affect since he already knew what his answer would be. "Well, now can you really provide for Lorelai? I mean financially? I know that Lorelai has her own income but…"
"When my father was sick, so much of what we earned went directly to his treatment...I really appreciated the need for having money put away. When he died it was sort of a habit…I just kept putting money away, letting it grow…in case one day I wanted to buy a house, have a family."
"Really?" Richard was truly moved, yet maintained his scary father facade. "Well, what about children?"
"Kids?" Luke choked out.
"Well, yes. Am I to expect… more grandchildren? Carry on the Danes namesake?"
"Uh, Lorelai and I haven't discussed it really. I mean, I would want kids, I always felt that with the right woman, with the right partner… it would be great. To have kids with Lorelai… well, she'd be there to make sure I didn't screw up too much," Luke realized his answer may have been too honest. "I mean, I know she's already a great mom, so she could help me adjust to fatherhood, that's not to say I won't pull my own weight," Luke assured. "I will change diapers and clean jam hands, and everything. I love Lorelai and if she wants more kids that would make me really happy."
"Well you got a few practice rounds in with Rory I'm sure."
"Sort of, yeah."
"Well, I don't see any reason why I would withhold my blessing…"
"Really? Thank you sir," Luke felt compelled to shake Richard's hand, the vigor of which nearly made Richard loose his reel again. Richard chuckled at Luke's relief.
"How many times do I have to tell you," Mr. Gilmore scolded, "It's Richard," A content silence fell on the men. As he reeled in his line to cast again, Richard mused, "A son-in-law? I'll have to get used to that idea."
Then Luke turned to his future father-in-law, "Oh, Richard, didn't you want to talked to me about something?"
"Oh yes, with the prospect of a proposal I nearly forgot. Well, I was considering the freedom you have owning your own business. Set your own hours, more scrutiny with your clientele and I was … well considering starting my own office."
"You mean your own insurance business?"
"Yes, you were actually my inspiration for the idea. So, I thought maybe you could offer some objective advice. Now tell me do you rent or own your building?" he asked since such logistics had always been handled for him.
At the dinner table, Richard put a napkin to his mouth and cleared his throat to cover the chuckle he had at the memory. He couldn't reveal any of this now, not before Lorelai's hand was properly adorned.
Emily reacted to the move instantly, in a very snide tone, "Oh Richard, I hadn't realized you had joined us. You've been so quiet over there." She had seen his haughty grin across the table all evening and wondered what Richard was thinking about.
Richard excused, "Forgive me, Emily, I was considering a few details for the business."
"Well, would take a moment from you busy business planning and give the girls some attention? Really, we have these dinners once a week and they are here to visit you too."
"I beg your pardon," Richard nodded to his wife and he then turned to Lorelai. "So Lorelai how is Luke?"
Emily froze at the mention of the despicable beau's name and she pulled her fork back down to her plate and narrowed her eyes at her husband.
Richard had noticed his wife's reaction to the name and the look on her face, for some reason he sort of enjoyed it. He continued to casually chat with his daughter, "I've been so busy starting up my company that I haven't had time to go to Stars Hollow lately."
Lorelai shot her mother a look, she too had observed Emily's reaction. All the etiquette training in the world and Emily Gilmore had not managed the common courtesy of asking about her daughter's boyfriend. "He's fine Dad. Thank you for asking."
"Well, I'm sure that diner keeps him busy, hopefully he is making time for you?"
"Actually I've been pretty busy too, but I see him everyday at least for coffee," Lorelai didn't want to share too much with her folks about her Stars Hollow life. That would give them too much information about her personal business, Sookie's wedding, business school, dates with Luke, it was best to keep the good stuff to herself.
Worried that further discussion with his daughter would lead to his tipping his hand about the engagement, Richard turned his attentions to his granddaughter, "And Rory? How is your beau?"
"He's away actually, visiting his grandparents in Chicago."
"Well, don't you fret too much about it; he'll be back home soon enough. Is there anything else going on in Stars Hollow this weekend? Usually you have a festival or something about every month or so…" Richard took a forkful of his vegetables.
"Actually we are having a Movie-In-The-Square-Night this Sunday," Rory informed.
"Oh really, will Dean be back in time for that?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Lorelai, are you taking Luke with you?"
"Yes, against his will," Lorelai smiled.
Richard pictured the event, Lorelai and Luke milling around the square waiting for the movie to start, receiving congratulations from their friends and neighbors over Lorelai's new jewelry. "What's playing?" Richard asked looking down at his dinner plate to keep from focusing again on Lorelai's finger.
"The Yearling," Rory informed her grandparents. "Mom actually got to pick the movie, but it's the same movie we've seen the last three years."
"Oh really? A favorite of yours, Lorelai?" Richard politely asked.
Lorelai giggled, "Not hardly. You would not believe the utter crap you have to sift through just to get a movie for free."
"Lorelai, your language," Emily admonished.
"Sorry mom, you would not believe the utter crap you have to sift through just to get a movie for no moneies."
Emily leaned her head on her hand; mother and daughter were at it again.
Richard's grin returned as he eyed Lorelai's left hand again.
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"Good work, tonight," Luke patted Jess' shoulder.
"Thanks," Jess really didn't like cleaning the grease trap, but he felt he owed it to Luke. Jess had become surprised at how much happier he was in Stars Hollow than he had been in New York. He thought he would rather die than buy into the old line of the small town life, so much simpler, so much healthier when compared to the excitement and depravity of the city that never sleeps. Yet, Luke was a really good influence on him, stable, together, and despite himself, Jess enjoyed some of the small town entertainment the locals offered; town meetings, characters from the diner. Ever since Jess gave up his prankster ways, the vein in his uncle's forehead stopped throbbing, as a result, they actually talked and bonded, so Jess felt closer to Luke. Which is why Jess was so bothered that Luke hadn't confided in him about the engagement plans; why wouldn't Luke trust him with this secret?
Didn't Luke trust him? For Luke's sake, Jess had stopped with the pranks. Straightened up and was flying right as Rory had suggested, well scolded really. Luke just commended how hard Jess had been working, but what if Jess was still just a work horse to Luke, a grunt, some one that needed to be kept busy. Did Luke even respect his nephew? Treat him like an adult, to let him in on the life altering secret. Jess was heading to his newly completed room Luke handed something to Jess, "Oh, hey I wanted to give you something."
Jess looked at the hundred bucks and looked at his uncle, "What's this?"
"Consider it a bonus. For all your hard work in the diner, for that last report card, I'm really proud of you, Jess."
Jess couldn't help but smile, he felt like he was in an after school special. It felt kind of good. Who knew behaving himself would pay off, literally, "Thanks."
"Oh just a note, tomorrow night you can have the night off, the diner is going be closed."
"Okay," Jess nodded, "Why?"
"I've got a date with Lorelai; and well, I don't mean to kick you out, but is there a way you could go the movies or the library or something."
"The library on a Saturday night? That's a way to have a wild time!" Jess laughed.
"Well, I don't know; hang out with some of your friends…"
"Why?"
"I just wanted to bring Lorelai back here…" Luke groaned at how that sounded. "I want an evening in with Lorelai…" Luke didn't want his nephew to think he was kicking him out for sex unfortunately every way Luke thought to word it sounded dirty, so he tried to explain, "Coffee!…just for an after dinner cup of coffee. She gets crabby with caffeine withdrawal. Besides I wanted to talk to her about something …"
"It isn't that what dinner's for?" Jess said sarcastically.
"I know and I will talk to her at dinner but this is private talk, I don't want all those people around."
"So why don't you do it at her house?"
"Rory will be there. Look it has to be at the diner, just for a few hours. Just coffee, we'll talk, and I'll take her home." Luke had the plan set in his head, the grand finale for tomorrow's date, the big question, it had to be done at the diner, where they first met, that is what he and Richard worked out.
"I could stay in my room?"
"Jess please, I don't want to risk any… interruptions."
Jess' shoulders slumped, "You're going to do it tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Do what?"
"Propose!" Jess hollered.
Luke was astonished that Jess figured it out, apparently Luke didn't have what it took to be a secretive spy, "How did you…"
"I'm not an idiot; I saw the picture of the ring!!"
"How? I kept it hidden. You snooped through my stuff?"
"That's a whole other discussion!!"
Luke admitted, "Okay, yes I'm going to propose tomorrow… why are you so upset?"
"Oh gee, I don't know, maybe because everything's changing on me again. In all your planning of the perfect evening did you ever consider what was going to happen to me? Did you work that out? Or is that what tomorrow's talk is for? How do you solve a problem like Jess!"
"What?"
"Are you done with me? Is that what this is?" Jess threw the money in Luke's face, "A hundred dollar send off? Money for the bus?" Jess was heading to the door.
Luke stepped in front of him to prevent his escape, "Jess, I'm not sending you off…"
"Oh yeah? Then what? You and your wife, and Rory and I are all going to live under the same roof like the Brady bunch…"
"Jess, you are family okay you aren't going anywhere."
"I've heard that before…." Jess tried to reach for the door knob again.
Luke finally raised his voice to a holler, "Look! I don't have it all worked out! I don't know how tomorrow will go! Lorelai may very well laugh in my face at the mere suggestion of getting married! She may not want to get married at all. There are a lot of things I don't know but we will work it out if you just give me a chance to think!!"
"Sure." Jess was taken aback by Luke's desperate tone. It was clear Luke wasn't confident about his proposal, he was terrified of it.
"I haven't forgotten about you. I've tried to picture it, the four of us, but Lorelai's house is too small, four of us here is out of the question, which means we may need a house or something… but then next year you and Rory are going to college and then Lorelai and I are left with a big empty house, and I don't know if she wants to have any more kids! We've never discussed it! I mean Rory said one time I was a great father figure, and for a while there I thought I was really messing up with you but then you came around, but I'm going to be a step-father and I don't know what to do with that role because Rory is practically grown up already, and you're asking me a bunch of questions… Richard was interrogating me about finances and the possibility of kids and I don't have answers yet!!"
"Richard? Lorelai's father knows?"
"Kind of corny I know, but I felt I should give him a heads up about my… intentions…"
"Well, when did you ask him?"
"On that fishing trip…after Uncle Louie's funeral."
Jess didn't want Luke to do anything too drastic, like finally hunt down Taylor Doose,
Jess figured he should calm Luke down; maybe he would think clearly and be more forth coming with information, "Hey, hey, it's going to be okay."
"How do you know? You got a magic eight ball?"
"No, but I saw the ring. How can she say no to that ring?"
"Great, she will be in love with the ring but not with me."
"Luke, I've seen you two together. You two are disgusting, she has to say yes."
Luke finally chuckled. After a few minutes, "Look, are we okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Jess assured. "I'm sorry I jumped on you like that. I didn't realize how much you had going on. You tend to internalize a lot, you know that?" Jess teased.
"Yeah, well, I'm not used to having all these people around to share things with," Luke smiled that he had his nephew around to talk him down off the ledge. Luke really underestimated Jess at times, something he meant to correct in the near future. "Thanks for listening to me rant."
"Sure, and we'll have months of planning to work out all the domestic logistics. How long does a wedding take anyway?"
"Given Lorelai's decision making skills… I have no idea." Suddenly the phone rang; Luke went to answer it, "Hello?"
"You are closed!!" Lorelai scoffed into the phone.
"Yeah, I am," Luke covered the phone and told Jess, "Speak of the devil."
"Who else would call here?" Jess smirked.
Lorelai demanded attention again, "But I know you're up there."
"Yeah, this is where I live," Luke offered dryly.
"But Rory and I are down here and we need coffee."
"If you must drink it at this time of night," Luke scolded, "go home and make coffee."
"But yours is better, baby!"
"Well, then maybe you should come before closing time."
"But I'm your girlfriend I get special privileges…"
"Rules are rules, Lorelai."
"I can't help it; the traffic was abnormally heavy out of Hartford."
"I've got a long day tomorrow," he said thinking about his countdown to popping the question. Luke looked over at Jess who gave him a comic thumbs up, now that he too was in on the plan.
"You do the same thing every day."
"Yes but we have a date, I have to save enough energy to keep you entertained tomorrow night."
"Hm, I like the sound of that," Lorelai cooed and Luke could just picture her sultry smile.
Noting the grin that appeared on his uncle's face, no doubt over whatever Lorelai had just said, Jess muttered, "See, disgusting." With one final look he marched over to his room, wanting to be as far from the lovebirds as he could be.
Luke then assured Lorelai, "Trust me, tomorrow you will get everything you want."
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"That was all God given talent..."
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A/N: farewell Gilmore girls on the screen. They will live on bigger and BETTER in fan fiction.
BIT:
Localizy turns to GG1979 : Debbie now that the show is dying does that make you friends again?
GG1979: I suppose so Izy, we can't hurt each other anymore.
Localizy: you really liked them?
GG1979: yes I did izy very much indeed. (gilmoregirl1979 takes a hand full of coffee grounds and throws it into the grave of the show
Gilmore Girls
Oct. 2000-May2007
Now we end with a song…
GG1979 at karaoke night…after a few virgin screw drivers (aka ornage juice)
Your subtleties
They strangle me
I can't explain myself at all.
And all the wants
And all the needs
All I don't want to need at all.
The walls start breathing
My minds unweaving
Maybe it's best you leave me alone.
A weight is lifted
On this evening
I give the final blow.
When darkness turns to light,
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
A falling star
Least I fall alone.
I can't explain what you can't explain.
You're finding things that you didn't know
I look at you with such disdain
The walls start breathing
My minds unweaving
Maybe it's best you leave me alone.
A weight is lifted
On this evening
I give the final blow.
Chorus
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Just a little insight won't make this right
It's too late to fight
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Now I'm on my own side
It's better than being on your side
It's my fault when you're blind
It's better that I see it through your eyes
All these thoughts locked inside
Now you're the first to know
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Just a little insight will make this right
It's too late to fight
It ends tonight,
It ends when darkness turns to light
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Just a little insight will make this right
It's too late to fight
It ends tonight,
It ends tonight.
Tonight, Insight
When darkness turns to light,
It ends tonight.
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...