Lorelai had set her alarm for 8:45, 15 minutes was just enough time to throw some clothes on and get Rory ready. After lying awake for an hour, reliving her afternoon with Luke, she got up and reset her fuzzy purple clock for 8:00. A shower and a blow dryer couldn't hurt.
Luke was also lying awake that night. Clothing didn't concern him much, but he was worried about their activities. There was sooo much he hadn't done. He'd barely even left this town. He'd heard everything she'd said earlier about Rachel and him. But he still worried he'd disappoint her. He groaned as his eye caught the time and tried to settle in to rest.
Lorelai dragged her weary body out of the shower at 8:30. She walked from the inn to the shed in her sweats and sat in front of her makeshift closet. Well if I wear a skirt he'll think something's up. She refused to entertain the notion that something WAS up and pulled out a pair of shorts. She tried to ignore the fact that they were easily the shortest cutoffs she owned. Not to mention the fact that they are broken in to the exact curve of my backside. She threw on a strappy tank top and a pair of flip flops before getting Rory ready.
For his part Luke decided on some slightly less baggy jeans and a white t-shirt. He didn't have much variety in his wardrobe so he figured he'd go for simple. Before leaving the house he'd gathered his things. He'd had a brilliant idea and he hoped Lorelai wouldn't object too much. He filled the flatbed of his truck and covered it with a tarp. He took a deep breath and headed off.
Despite being almost totally ready Lorelai still jumped when Luke knocked on the door. Rory giggled and poked her mother's nose. Lorelai shifted Rory on her hip and opened the door, "Hey Luke."
"Morning," he handed her a travel mug filled with coffee.
"OOOOh I almost forgot. Thanks," she removed the lid and inhaled deeply before taking a long sip. "ohhhhhh god…mmmmmmm"
Luke struggled to close his mouth as he watched her moan through the sip. Oh dear god is she trying to kill me? Then he glanced down at her short shorts and bare shoulders, She's trying to kill me.
"Luke this is delicious, this is the best coffee I've ever had. And I've had coffee in 5 different countries."
Luke swallowed hard, "5 countries?"
"Yeah, umm England, France, Germany, Italy, ooh and the U.S."
"Wow." He cleared his throat, How are we ever going to find something she hasn't done? "You've traveled a lot."
"Not really"
He gave a slightly aggravated sigh, "I don't know what's normal for you but 5 countries is a lot around here."
"No Luke that's not what I meant. I went there with my parents when I was a kid. I never really got to see anything. They only took me when they felt they had to. They'd stick me with a nanny and I'd sit in the hotels. I'd sneak coffee and pastries and watch my mom put on a cocktail dress."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's okay. So what's on the agenda today?"
"Well that all depends on what you haven't done."
"So we can cross off childbirth, high school through grade 10, and the majority of intro sex positions."
"Aw jeez, Lorelai."
"Sorry, so that leaves killing a man, taming lions, flying a plane, driving a car-"
"You've never driven a car?"
"Lamaze conflicted with Driver ed," she smirked playfully.
"Well let's start there. I'll teach you to drive."
"Really? I mean I probably won't be able to afford a card for about 10 years since Rory will probably want to eat and wear shoes."
"But still you should get a license. So, let me teach you."
Lorelai smiled brightly, "Okay you have yourself a student. Grab Rory's car seat and lets go." She hefted the baby bag over her shoulder and headed out.
Lorelai had to admit he had the patience of a saint, they'd been at this 2 hours and the car had made some very unpleasant noises. They were on a fairly deserted dirt road that seemed to lead into the woods. "Okay Lorelai, pop the clutch and shift. Now."
Lorelai did as instructed and finally… finally… the car moved forward smoothly. "I DID IT!"
Luke chuckled "Yes you did now keep it steady, make small corrections. Good now just keep your foot light on the pedal."
Lorelai face held a beatific smile. "I'm doing it. I've always wanted to drive a car and I am. Wow."
"You're doing great Lorelai, okay now shift that stick for the blinker and make a left up that drive, we'll practice turns."
An hour later Lorelai relinquished the keys to Luke's truck. As she placed them in his hand she reached up and placed a kiss at the corner of his mouth. "Thank you Luke, no one has ever offered to teach me before."
Luke's skin flushed, "Well, no big deal, you did good."
Lorelai nodded. "Okay I think stinky here needs a little change so I'm just going to borrow the hood of your truck for a sec."
Luke followed her out to watch. "Hey, you ever changed a baby before?"
"What? No, never."
"Well that can be your first thing."
They switched places and Lorelai walked him through the process as Rory watched him intently. When he finished Lorelai clapped and Rory joined in, bouncing in Luke's arms. "Yay! Happy! Yay" Rory was very excited for him.
"Hey she learned a new word, maybe she is joining our game," Luke exclaimed happily.
Lorelai couldn't help but think that he looked proud. He was proud, of HER daughter.
They continued on with their new tasks. Luke stole some candy from a 7-11 which he promptly gave to Lorelai. Lorelai hit a baseball, well Luke helped Lorelai hit a baseball at the batting cages. And Lorelai continually pestered him about the mysterious contents of the flat bed. It was late evening when Luke pulled into a rest stop not far from Star's Hollow. Lorelai ran in to use the facilities and change Rory into some warmer clothes.
"So is that it for our first annual 'I never' day?"
"First annual? So this is a regular thing."
"Why not. So home?"
"Umm actually I have one more activity that I'm fairly sure you haven't engaged in."
"Okay. So where to?"
"Well we'll need the mysterious tarp stuff and you have to trust me."
Luke stared into Lorelai's eyes, wondering if those words frightened her. Lorelai stared right back without her usual smirk. Her face was serious but not stern, her eyes were sincere and soft…"I trust you."
Luke's mouth twitched a little, the moment was too important for a smirk or a grin, "I'm glad. Let's go."
30 minutes later they were parked in a little clearing in the woods. Luke uncovered the flatbed to reveal his supplies: A four man tent, a cooler, two sleeping bags, lanterns, and some other necessary items.
"We're going camping?"
"Yeah, you've never been, right?"
"No. I went to summer camp but we slept in cabins."
"Good, you okay?"
"A little wary of bugs and sleeping on the ground…but lets do this."
Luke set up the tent, tarp, and sleeping bags. "Okay we have two sleeping bags you and Rory can share one right. They're pretty big."
Lorelai bit her lip uncertainly, "Well, um, I'm a little worried that she might get lost in there you know, when she's zipped up with me."
"Oh. I didn't think of that. Umm I can sleep on the ground and you can-"
"Luke that's crazy. We have two bags. Why don't we just open them both up and we can all sleep together on top of one and under the other."
"You sure? Because I can-"
"Luke calm down we're adults…mostly. It's fine."
"Kay."
Luke heated some soup over a fire and made a couple sandwiches while Lorelai fed Rory. They sat on logs in front of the fire talking quietly.
"Hey Lorelai? How come you didn't re-enroll in high school here?"
"I already got my GED and anyway I couldn't afford to take care of Rory only working weekend and afternoons. And even if I could I just…couldn't be that kind of mom."
"What kind of mom?"
"The kind wh doesn't... raise her own kid. My mom never worked. But she'd have committee meetings and teas to go to all day. She could afford to stay home and raise me herself but she never wanted to. I want to be a good mom. I want Rory to always remember me being there."
"She will Lorelai. You're an amazing mom. Rory already idolizes you. She doesn't just need you or love you she's enthralled by you."
"Thank you."
They headed into the tent and awkwardly stared at the set up. "I wish I had packed extra clothes for me like I did for Rory."
"Oh I brought some extra sweats for you to wear. You must be freezing."
Loelai shrugged a little and accepted the clothing. "Thanks, can you turn your back or something so I can change?"
"Oh yeah, of course." Luke turned his back and looked at the ceiling of the tent. Anything to convince his body NOT to respond to the possibly naked woman behind his back.
"Okay all done."
Luke breathed a barely audible sigh of relief as he turned. Only to inhale again at the sight of Lorelai in his clothes. A man's blue t-shirt and very baggy sweat pants weren't inherently sexy…unless there was a girl in them.
He coughed uncomfortably as they arranged themselves in bed. Luke lay on the left with Lorelai to his right and Rory beside her. Luke was afraid he'd roll over and squish her in the night. I think squishing a girl's child is an automatic end to a friendship.
"Night Luke."
"Night girls." Lorelai's eyes shined in the dark. He's cute I think we'll keep him. Wait…what?
