A/N thanks again to samvalasam for doing the beta and providing feedback and some changes to make the chapter better.

Luke's Lake

Chapter 16

The brunette breezed into the diner taking her usual seat by the register as she looked around for her boyfriend, "Hey Caesar, where's the big guy?" she asked.

"He's getting something from the store room, can I get you a coffee?" he said in a joyful tone.

"Yes coffee, I'll be right back," Lorelai said leaving her purse on her stool to stop Kirk taking it.

"Lukey!" Lorelai called poking her head through the doorway.

"Watch out!" Luke called making Lorelai jump back as something fell right in front of her.

"Geez…what the…?!" Lorelai cried out, stopping short of swearing, as she knew Luke didn't like that in the diner.

"I told you not to come back here because something might fall on you," Luke said climbing down from the ladder.

"Yes, but I never thought it could literally be a sack of potatoes," Lorelai said still holding a hand over her hart.

Luke stepped over to Lorelai, "Are you okay?" he asked as only he could, relaxing Lorelai instantly.

Leaning in they hugged for a moment, "I think I'll live, but the potatoes have seen better days," Lorelai said as they turned to the open bag which had spilled over the floor.

They cleaned up the mess together before Luke before Luke set about making Lorelai the fluffy pancakes for her breakfast.

"What are you doing?" Luke asked noticing Lorelai had stuffed the half empty can of whipped cream into her bag.

"I needed some at home," she said like it was no big deal.

"Well buy some at the market," Luke said placing his hands on the counter.

"Let me re-phrase that. We need some at home," she said with an awkward wink.

Luke, not having a come back, shook his head as Lorelai left the diner, putting a jaunt into her stride to tease Luke.

--

The couple stood in front of the imposing house.

"So you still want to do this?" Lorelai asked reaching out for Luke's hand.

Taking her hand, "It's part of the package, you have parents and if we want this to last I need to meet them."

"But you've met them already," Lorelai stated, could not believe she had to go through this with Luke.

"Yes but it's different now we are dating, before we were just friends so nothing official happened," Luke said reaching to press the button.

Lorelai pulled his arm back, "But Luke we can back out, move to a different town or state we don't have to do this."

"Lorelai I want to do this… Look I put on a suit and tie. I only every put on these clothes to go to the bank, I need to do this," he said freeing his hand.

"Luke this is the point in the horror movie where I scream out and tell the blonde… They're always blonde, have you ever noticed that? Well I yell at the screen, 'Stop get back in your car the evil monster is in there!'" Lorelai said throwing her arms around for dramatic effect.

Luke gave the crazy lady a stern look before he pressed the button, "Lorelai we're doing this, now act your age or I'm not going home with you."

The maid opened the door moments later inviting them in, Lorelai was surprised to see it was the same women as the week before.

"You're early," Emily said greeting them in the foyer.

"Yes not much traffic," Lorelai said handing the maid her coat.

"Well that's good, nothing like bad traffic to ruin an evening out," Emily said before turning to Luke, "And hello again Luke, that's a nice tie."

"Lorelai bought it for me," Luke said adjusting his jacket.

"You're already buying clothes together?" Emily asked.

Luke was pleased the small talk was going well, "Actually it's a few years old. Lorelai got it…"

"For Christmas," Lorelai cut in, not wanting to explain why she had bought Luke the tie and most of the clothes he was wearing while he was seeing another woman.

"Well that's nice, let's go into the living room; Richard should have finished with his partner in a few minutes," Emily said leading the way.

"Hm. Digger's here?" Lorelai asked not really wanting to see the guy tonight when she was spending time with Luke.

"Digger?" Luke asked confused.

"Jason, old school friend," Lorelai informed Luke.

"They're in the study doing something computery. When did we suddenly become so dependent on computers?" Emily asked before entering the other room.

Luke whispered to Lorelai, "And what was that before, with the tie?"

"Luke I know my mother, please follow my lead or this could be a very long night," Lorelai replied smiling as they followed a few steps behind.

As Emily started on the drinks Richard and Jason made their way out of the office.

"Richard, will you put that down, we have company," Emily chastised before Richard looked up.

"Luke, Lorelai, you're early," Richard said looking over the top of his glasses.

"Yes no traffic," Luke said reaching out his hand to shake Richards.

Richard closed the laptop taking, handing it to Jason before shaking Luke's, "Well it's nice to be re-acquainted now you're dating my daughter."

Luke nervously looked down at their hands, then to Richards face, "Well thank you."

"This is my new business partner, Jason Stiles," standing aside for the two men to shake hands.

"Congratulations," Luke said not expecting more people to be there.

"You too, Lorelai is a great catch," Jason joked in a vein attempt to lighten the awkward situation.

"We'll it took me a while but I reeled her in," Luke returned with a smile.

"Okay guys the catch of the day is right here," Lorelai said pointing to herself as the three men turned to look at her.

"Sorry Lorelai," Luke said before turning to Jason, "It was nice to meet you, maybe if you're in town we can talk, you can fill in some of the blanks before we met," Luke said with Lorelai a little mad at this new side to Luke.

--

"So you like fishing Luke?" Richard asked as they ate their meal.

"Yes, although I never seem to have enough time for it with work and all," Luke said, talking Lorelai's advice in avoiding the real how they hooked up story.

"This food is incredible," Jason said, managing to weasel himself in to a dinner invite to Lorelai's annoyance after she had turned him down for a date the week before.

"Yeah. It's my first lobster thermidor," Rory said sitting next to Jason.

"Mine too," Luke said enjoying the rich meal.

"Your recipe?" Jason asked looking at Emily.

"No," She replied a little annoyed that he was there.

She didn't like Jason much and didn't know what to make of Luke, yet she was in mixed opinions as to if he made a suitable date for her daughter.

Lorelai decided to lighten the mood, "Hey, can you thermidor other foods? You know, fish thermidor, uh, Spam thermidor, enchiladas thermidor?"

"I don't think so," Emily replied before turning to the maid, "Cora, since we're six instead of five, Richard and I will ration if we have to."

"Oh, I don't think rationing will be necessary, Emily," Richard replied taking a drink.

"Yeah, Mom, Luke and I can share if we have to," Lorelai said before whispering to Luke, "I get the big piece."

"So Luke we're neglecting you, how is that diner of yours?" Richard asked changing the topic.

"It's doing well, making a profit," Luke said between bites of his food.

"Always a plus in business," Richard said with a joyful grin.

"So what future plans do you have Lorelai," Emily asked.

"Well we've only just started dating," Lorelai said.

"But you must have plans, you're not twenty any more," Emily persisted.

Mom this isn't a topic to have here, tonight. It's still new," holding Luke's hand, "I care for Luke but we haven't even talked about this yet so I'm not having this conversation tonight, stop the order on the cake and cancel the registration at Bed Bath & Beyond," Lorelai said trying to stay calm as Luke held her hand.

The rest of the meal was relatively quite, Jason and Richard talking business and restaurants while Luke held Lorelai's hand occasionally whispering to each other.

The meal ended with some drinks in the living room as Rory told the grand parents about the run-in with the ballerina while Lorelai took Luke up to her old room.

"This must have cost a fortune," Luke said looking at the old dollhouse.

"And I've never played with it a day in my life!" Lorelai said pacing the room.

"Are you okay," Luke said standing to look at Lorelai. Lorelai looked back at Luke and he knew what was going on, "Look I know your mother can drive you mad but she does have a point."

Lorelai froze looking at Luke, "You're on her side?" she said holding her arms in the air.

"No… I'm on your side I just think… I think we need to talk and I agree we are both not twenty any more," Luke said stepping closer to Lorelai, "I think we need to talk about things like wedding and babies."

Lorelai was stunned, sitting on the bed for support, "You've been thinking about that stuff?" she asked.

Luke sat next to Lorelai, "Why, haven't you?" he asked.

"Luke we haven't been going out long enough to think about a wedding let-alone babies," Lorelai said holding his hands in hers.

"So where do you see this heading, 'cause Lorelai I look at you and I see my future," Luke said rubbing her arm, "I can't imagine you not being in my life."

"Oh Luke I didn't… I don't know what I feel. I know I love you and I can't imagine being with out you, but…" Lorelai said pausing for a moment she looked at Luke. Noticing he looked different to her, somehow fragile as if the wrong words could crush him in an instant.

"But what Lorelai?" Luke asked heightening Lorelai's awareness of his state.

"I'm not ready for marriage yet, I rushed into things with Max and ended up running away," Lorelai finished her thoughts.

Luke looked relieved for a moment, taking a breath, "Lorelai don't scare me like that."

"Sorry," Lorelai said smiling back at Luke.

"Lorelai I'm not read for marriage or babies either, it's way too early for that but I do plan to ask you one day. You know, when your mother has picked out the china-pattern," he smiled back.

Lorelai lent over kissing Luke on the cheek, "Luke you know how much I love you right now," she said with a sly grin.

"I'm glade we're on the same page then," Luke said turning to Lorelai, "So we better get back down there then."

"Not yet," Lorelai said pushing Luke back on the bed.

"Lorelai I'm not sleeping with you here, not on the 'My Little Pony' bed cover!" He said trying to get up as Lorelai straddled him.

"Well there's always the balcony," she said with a cheeky grin.

"Yes a much better option," Luke joked.

"I'm sure you'll last longer than the last guy," Lorelai said looking down at Luke.

"Like that's such a big goal," Luke said managing to move Lorelai off his lap as he got up.

"I just want a happy memory from this room, one that lasts more than a few moments," Lorelai said sitting up and striating her dress.

"Come on, the sooner dinner is over the sooner you can have your way with me back at home," Luke said with a grin.

"So you'll stay the night, even with Rory in the house?" Lorelai asked prancing over to Luke how was now by the door.

"As long at you don't make too much noise, I need to be able to look Rory in the eye tomorrow," Luke said taking Lorelai's hand as he opened the door.

Lorelai kissed Luke on the cheek, "I love you so much right now, can I have your baby," she joked.

Luke brushed it off by asking a question, "So this Jason guy, did you two ever date?"

--

Lorelai poked her head into Rory's room, "Okay kid Luke's waiting so I'm off to bed…"

"Enough already, I need to respect Luke so no details," Rory said looking up from her book.

Lorelai came over and sat on the bed, "Do we need to talk about this?"

"About you and Luke?" Rory asked.

"And the future," Lorelai added.

Rory smiled, "Did you talk to Luke tonight?"

Lorelai nodding, "A little, your grandma can make me crazy some times; Luke calmed me down and not in a dirty way."

Rory gave her mother a look, "No details, ever!"

"We talked and agreed it was too early to talk about wedding or… babies," Lorelai said slowly getting the last word out.

"Babies, there's been baby talk?" Rory asked finally closing her book.

Lorelai nodding, "Yeah, we're on the same page, we both want it but not yet. Are you okay with that?"

Rory lent in hugging her mother, "Of course I am, I've always thought about having a baby sister or brother."

"You have Gigi," Lorelai reminded her daughter.

"But that's not the same, I rarely see her. If you were to have another kid I'd get to see it every day," Rory said smiling at the idea.

There was a pause as the two ladies looked at each other, "I'd better get up there, before Luke falls asleep."

Lorelai got up to leave, "Are you nervous Mom?"

"About?" Lorelai asked.

"There is a boy in the house," she reminded her mother.

Lorelai smiled back, "No, not this time," she said closing the door behind her.

TBC…

Feedback would be good

A/N I wasn't sure if I should have added Jason to the Friday Night Dinner but then I thought 'Why Not", I can see Luke sitting next to Lorelai at that table, can't you.