Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls. And I borrowed my story title and chapter titles from a Keith Urban song.
Summary: 6.22, picks up after Luke and Lorelai's big fight. She walks away, but doesn't get too far.
A/N: As always, thanks to those of you who took the time to review. It means a lot to me.
Chapter 4: Three Wishes I Could Wish For Us
"So, here goes," Lorelai said to Rory, as they walked up to the diner.
"Mom, just don't make it seem like a big deal." Rory had spent the entire walk to the diner trying to get her mom to calm down. "It's just lunch. Are you afraid that April's not going to like you?"
"It's not that. I'm pretty sure after her birthday party she already likes me…or tolerates me at least."
"Then why are you freaking out about this. You said that you and Luke talked. Things are better now. He purposely asked us to come have lunch at the diner today because April is here."
"What if he changes his mind?" Lorelai asked quietly, staring at the ground.
"Mom, he's not going to change his mind," Rory answered reassuringly. Lorelai looked up and gave a small smile, as Rory continued, "Now come on. Let's just go in there, because I am starving, and I know you are too."
As they walked into the diner, Luke was no where to be found; they noticed April sitting at the counter, so they walked up to join her.
"Hey, April. How are you?" Lorelai asked.
"Lorelai, hi. Oh, and Rory, hey. I'm good. School's almost over, but I haven't quite decided if I'm happy or sad about that. How have you guys been?"
"Oh, good, good." Rory answered.
"Yeah, we've been good," Lorelai chimed in. "You know, that's how Rory always felt about school, too," she added, with a smile toward Rory.
"Yeah, I'm always conflicted at the end of the year. Happy to have the break, but sad at the same time."
"Well, it's great to know I'm not the only one," April replied with a smile.
"Hey, so, where's Luke?"
"Oh, Dad's in the kitchen," April said just as Luke emerged from the back with an armload of plates.
"Hey," Luke said as he walked by to deliver the food off to the waiting customers. He smiled to himself at the sight of his three girls sitting together at the counter. Coming to stand behind the counter, he caught Lorelai's gaze and gave her a shy smile, before grabbing an order pad and gruffly asking, "What do you guys want for lunch?"
"Oh, finally some service in this place!" Lorelai exclaimed dramatically.
"Oh, please. You've been waiting, what, two minutes?"
"No, I'd say it's been at least three."
"Oh wow. Three minutes. You'll live," Luke replied with a roll of his eyes.
"Um, no I won't, not if I starve to death while I'm sitting here waiting."
"You're not gonna starve to death because you had to wait two minutes to order," he interjected.
"And then you'll have to deal with my dead body just sitting here in your diner," she continued on, ignoring his last statement. "And really, do you want to be the cause of my death, mister? People will whisper behind your back everywhere you go, 'hey, there goes that guy who's fiancé died because he wouldn't feed her!'"
"You're crazy, you know that, right?"
"Yeah, but you love me anyway," she replied with a shrug.
"I guess that means I'm crazy too." He turned to Rory and asked, "Rory, do you know what you want?"
"I'll take my Saturday lunchtime usual."
"How do you have a 'Saturday lunchtime usual'?" Lorelai asked turning to Rory. "You rarely ever eat here anymore."
"I eat here all the time. Maybe not as much as I used to, because I'm off at school, but still."
"You guys have been coming here for over 10 years," Luke interrupted. "The girl has established a 'usual'." He jotted down Rory's order before turning to April. "What'll it be today, kid?"
"I was thinking a cheeseburger," April replied thoughtfully. "No lettuce or tomato or pickles or any of that stuff. Just a plain ol' cheeseburger, oh can I get extra cheese? Oh, and a side of curly fries. Aaaand…hmm. I'll take a strawberry milkshake to drink, please."
"Rory, what is your 'usual'?" Lorelai asked.
"Actually, it's pretty much what April just ordered," Rory replied. "Except for the milkshake."
"Huh. You know, that sounds good, I'll take that too," Lorelai said.
"Do you want what Rory ordered or what April ordered?"
"What's the difference, if they're the same?" Lorelai retorted.
"Rory's comes with coffee, April's got the milkshake," Luke answered. "I'm assuming you want the coffee."
"Actually, a strawberry milkshake sounds really good right now."
"You want a strawberry milkshake?" Luke asked, eyeing her skeptically.
"Yeah," she replied simply.
"No coffee?"
"Nah, just the milkshake will be good." Lorelai shot a quick glance to Rory.
"Ooh, you know what, I think I'll take one too," Rory added.
"You don't want coffee either?" Luke asked in disbelief.
"Nope," she said with a smile.
He looked back and forth at both of them, confused by their sudden refusal of coffee. Sighing, he figured that he'd never understand them and disappeared into the kitchen without a word.
"Here ya go," Luke said, placing a plate in front of each of them just a few minutes later. Caesar followed behind him with their milkshakes.
"Hey, Dad, can I get some Ranch dressing?"
"Oh, yeah, sure." Luke disappeared into the kitchen.
"What's the ranch for? You didn't get a salad," Lorelai said.
"It's for my fries."
"You dip your fries in ranch?"
Luke returned, and set the small dish of dressing by April's plate, before going to wait on some customers who had just entered.
"Yeah. It's really good. You've never tried it?"
"No."
"Here, try it," she pushed her little bowl of ranch dressing towards Lorelai, who grabbed a fry and dipped it in.
"Oh wow. That's pretty good. Rory, you've got to try this." Rory reached obliged, extending a fry over Lorelai's plate to reach the ranch.
"I can't believe this is the first time you've ever had ranch with your fries," April said. "I mean, Dad talks all the time about the crazy things you guys eat. I figured a little ranch dressing would be typical for you."
"I know. Rory, I can't believe we've never thought to try ranch with our fries."
"I've had it before."
"What? When? We have never dipped our fries in ranch dressing before."
"Paris introduced me to it."
"Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
"I don't know. Why are you making this such a big deal?"
"Of all the crazy food combo's we've attempted over the years, you never thought to mention this one."
"Well, this isn't really a 'crazy food combo,' it's actually quite common."
"Wha—I really just can't believe that you never mentioned it before. We eat fries all the time, and not once have you ever said, 'Hey mom, you should try dipping your fries in some ranch dressing.' No. But at least, thanks to April here, I have finally been shown the light."
"You're crazy," Rory said, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, Luke, can I get some ranch?" Lorelai asked as Luke walked by.
"I didn't know you liked ranch." He came to stand behind the counter in front of them. "Since when do you like ranch?"
"Since I convinced her to try it with her fries," April spoke up.
"I guess I just never really thought much of ranch, because it's associated with salad, and I never really give salad much of a thought, so…" Lorelai trailed off with a shrug of her shoulders. Smiling up at Luke she said, "I want ranch."
"Sure," Luke said with a sigh as he went back into the kitchen to get her ranch.
As the girls ate their lunch, Luke was kept busy by all of the hungry customers, but he occasionally watched them while he worked. He marveled at the way they had easily fallen into conversation, but knowing Lorelai and her way with words, he figured that he shouldn't really be surprised. He also noticed that April seemed to be perfectly at ease with both Lorelai and Rory. The rush of customers had finally died down, so he wandered over to stand behind the counter just as they were finishing up.
"So," Luke started, "what are you guys doing this afternoon?"
"Well, right now, we're heading on over to the bookstore," Lorelai answered.
"Hey, would you guys mind if I tag along?" April asked, her eyes lighting up at the mention of the bookstore.
"Um, no, uh, not at all, I mean, it's fine with me," Lorelai stumbled a bit over her words, surprised that April wanted to hang out with them instead of staying in the diner.
"Yeah," Rory said with a smile. "The more the merrier."
"I'd love it if you came with us, April." Lorelai smiled and glanced at Luke, "Of course, it is up to your dad though."
"Dad, can I go?" April asked him hopefully. "I mean, not that I don't love hanging out with you, but there's only so much for me to do here in the diner. And I haven't been to the bookstore here in Stars Hollow yet."
"Uh, yeah, sure, it's fine with me," Luke responded. "Uh, how long do you think you'll be?"
"Uh, I'll just come back whenever Lorelai and Rory are done at the bookstore," April said to Luke before she turned toward the others. "I don't plan to intrude on all of your plans for the day or anything."
"Oh, we don't really have anything special planned," Rory said.
"April, you're always welcome to join us, but I have to warn you, Rory in a bookstore is quite a sight. Be prepared, we could be there all day."
"Oh, I wouldn't mind," April grinned. "I could probably spend all day in a bookstore too." She turned back to Luke and waved, "bye Dad."
"Bye, Luke," Rory said, before she and April headed for the door.
Lorelai was gathering her purse when Luke leaned over the counter and put his hand on her arm. She looked up and smiled, and he moved closer to give her a quick kiss.
"Bye."
"See ya later," she smiled and winked at him before leaving to join Rory and April who were waiting outside.
To be continued…
A/N: The next chapter shouldn't take as long as this one did. I just got busy with school and life. (College sucks) And then I didn't like what I had written for this chapter, so I scrapped it all and started over. But I've already started on the next chapter, so it should be up soon.
A/N: I apologize for any spelling, grammar, or continuity errors. I don't have a beta. I checked it many times myself, but it's just not the same as having a beta.
A/N: I hope you liked it. Please review. I'd really like to know what you think of it. Is it good, bad, crappy? I just want to know.