AN - Okay this one mirrors some of the events on the show, but this time they are together, unlike the real 4th season. I hope you enjoy it.
Luke's Lake
Chapter 20
Lorelai tossed and turned in her bed that now seemed so big without Luke. But he still needed to spend some nights at the diner, for early deliveries. While tonight Lorelai got home late after a meeting with Tom at the Dragonfly Inn construction site ran late.
But missing Luke on this cold night was not the only problem, the bells would be sounding again in less than two minutes, she thought as she watched her fluffy clock tick over each second.
Burying her head under the pillows did little to quieten them so she could get some much-needed sleep.
Lorelai didn't want to disturb Luke but was left with little choice she needed to see him, to feel his warmth which she knew would help her sleep. Calling Luke was out of the question as she had learned Luke was now keeping the upstairs phone off the hook, in his own attempt to get a few hours worth of uninterrupted sleep.
As the bells sounded Lorelai dressed and rushed out the house, minutes later she was outside the dinner, both it and the apartment were dark. Unlocking the door with the hidden key she went inside. For some crazy reason Luke didn't trust Lorelai with here own key yet, given the amounts of coffee her kept in the storeroom.
Lorelai carefully made her way through the tables and chairs and up the darkened stairs, turning the handle Lorelai found the apartment door unlocked, so she pushed it open.
"Luke?" she called softly entering, in the soft light from the street Lorelai could see Luke standing at the sink drinking from a glass, "You're still up?"
"Damn bells!" Luke said under his breath but still clearly audible in the quite apartment.
"So lets do something about them," Lorelai said walking to where Luke kept his toolbox.
She struggled to pick up the heavy object as Luke came up behind her, "Here let me," he said reaching into the closet.
Putting the toolbox down on the coffee table Luke put on his boots and old green jacket before they left.
"So how do you know about the bells?" Lorelai asked entering the church.
"Well, let's just say you can wait your whole life waiting for bells to fall into disrepair. Sometimes they need a push," Luke said with a grin.
Lorelai was surprised, "No way! You broke the bells!"
"You're welcome," he said looking at Lorelai, "It's a little narrow up there, so we should just take the tools that we need, leave the toolbox down here.
Lorelai picked up a tool, "God, these things are heavy. Don't you have a smaller toolbox?" she asked.
"No, why would I have two toolboxes?" Luke asked back.
"'Cause then you'd have a big one and a small one," Lorelai joked.
"Well, if you have a big one you don't need a small one," Luke said before realizing just what. Lorelai opened her mouth to speak, "Don't say 'dirty', it's too easy," he added.
"Oh honey I know you don't need a small one," she said in a dirty tone touching Luke's arm, "but I haven't heard any complaints when Burt joins us in the bedroom," she said kissing him on the cheek.
"If we get stuck by lightning tonight, it will be so worth it," Luke said leaning into the kiss.
After a few moments they parted, their breathing labored, "We better get this done, we have less than 30 minutes and you don't want to be up their when they ring," Luke said gathering the tools they needed.
"Oh poor baby," Lorelai said brushing her hand down his arm.
"I couldn't hear properly for a week," Luke added.
-----
The next day the town was relieved, no questions were asked as the why the bells had stopped and the reverend keep Luke and Lorelai secret well.
The day passed quickly and Lorelai was pleased that Luke was back in her house, but now she was starting to think of it more as their house. Luke had done so much for her and Rory in the last 8 years. He had fixed most things that had broken, some multiply times and rarely took any money. Lorelai leaving him bigger tips over the years but that didn't come close to what those repairs would have cost.
"Time for bed," Lorelai said seeing Luke was barely able to keep his eyes open to see the end of Footloose.
"I'm okay," he replied yawning, "I know you want to see the end."
"Luke I've see it a hundred times," she reminded him.
"Stars Hollow Video must have made a mint off of the Gilmore's over the years," Luke said dryly.
"I own this one," she replied, "Rory figured after renting the video then DVD a dozen time it was time to take the plunge, so she got it for my birthday last year."
"Good to know," Luke said as Lorelai turned off the TV.
"Come on sleepy head," Lorelai said taking his hand and standing up.
Luke offered little resistance as he lifted himself off the couch, "Okay can you make it up the stairs?" she asked, "I'll lock up down here and be right up."
Luke agreed with a quick kiss before going up to the bedroom, a short time later Lorelai joined him in bed, again wearing one of Luke's old flannel shirt.
----
Early the next morning the house phone rang, Lorelai answered it still drowsy, "I hate you."
Too her surprise it was Rory, "Mom, are you awake?" she asked.
"No!" Lorelai said more annoyed then concerned.
"Could you be awake or get Luke to wake you?" Rory asked tying to get her mothers attention.
"What's the matter?" Lorelai finally asked.
Rory explained what happened leaving her with little choice but to call Mrs Kim, now out of bed so not to disturb Luke she grabbed her robe and went down stairs, dialing as she walked.
After the quick talk to Mrs Kim Lorelai went to the kitchen to get some water, standing their she didn't here Luke come down and was startled when he touched her shoulder.
"Geez," she said jumping.
"Sorry," Luke replied laying a soft kiss on her cheek, "Who was on the phone?"
"Rory," Lorelai said before quickly adding, "She's fine… Lane suck out and didn't tell her mother."
"So that's why Lane said she might not be in today," Luke said, "I didn't think much of it when she called yesterday," he informed Lorelai.
"You're up early," Lorelai said noting he already had his jeans and flannel on.
"Bread delivery today remember," Luke reminded her.
"And you spend the night here, watching Footloose," she said with a smile.
"Much better to loose a little sleep if it means sharing a bed with you," he said moving to the coffee maker.
"Nice to know I trump a good nights sleep," She said as Luke when about fixing Lorelai's morning coffee, before he would have to leave.
"Hey Luke do you need a hand," she asked.
"No I've got it, put in the normal amount of coffee then double it," Luke said dryly.
"No not that, but nice that you finally remembered. I meant at the diner, without Lane you'll be down one body and you seem to like mine," she said making eyes at Luke.
"I'll cope," Luke said seeing Lorelai sit at the table.
"I haven't got anything on at the dinner today and it will be better than hanging around here all day by myself," she said.
"You sure?" Luke asked.
"Remember how much you loved it when I helped out before, when your Uncle died," Lorelai said.
"It will be nice to monitor your coffee intake for the day," Luke said.
"Funny guy," Lorelai laughed.
"So you want to come with me now or a little later when the coffee is ready?" Luke asked.
"Might as well come now, we can drive over in the Jeep," Lorelai said remembering Luke's truck was still parked at the diner. Lorelai loved snow but didn't like the idea of walking all the way to Luke's in it when there was a dry and warmer Jeep to do the job.
"Sounds like a plan," Luke said, "This will be ready in five, you want to go up and change, I'll make you a thermos to go," Luke said.
Lorelai stood and gave Luke a quick kiss for being such a great provider, before racing up to change into something cute but not to slutty to work at the diner for the day.
----
About an hour later Lorelai had finished her breakfast and the diner was open for business. She sipped her coffee before going back to serve customers. Getting her order pad ready, "Okay Kirk what would you like for breakfast?"
"Lorelai I didn't realize you were working her again," Kirk said greeting Lorelai.
"Just helping out my boyfriend," Lorelai said.
"Alright. I'll have the breakfast special with extra bacon and juice please," Kirk said placing his order.
"Luke's big breakfast with extra bacon," She called to Luke in the kitchen before turning back to Kirk, "Sorry my diner talk is a little rusty this morning."
The morning went by in no time at all, Lorelai enjoying helping Luke in the diner and at times stealing a few kisses in the kitchen to Luke's annoyance, but he put up little fight. He didn't even mind it when Lorelai pinched his butt, while he was trying to handle the customer hot plates of food.
"This was fun," Lorelai said rinsing off some plates during a lull just before the expected lunch rush.
Luke looked over in wonder before turning back to cleaning the hot plates, "You have a weird definition of fun," he said with a smile.
"Come on Luke it was fun working together again," she said wiping her hands on the cloth.
Luke smiled back before looking down with a satisfied grin, "I guess so," he said having enjoyed the morning with his girlfriend.
Lorelai stepped over to Luke as he turned, resting against the counter. She put her hands on Luke's chest as he held Lorelai's waist, "So do we have time to go up to the apartment?" she asked with a sly grin Luke knew all too well.
"I know that look and the answer is no," Luke said wanting to go up and spend the rest of the day with Lorelai, just the two of them.
"Come on, I'll do that thing you like," She said suggestively.
"I like everything you do, so you'll have to be more specific," Luke said reconsidering the offer.
Lorelai lent forward and whispered, not wanting the few townies in the diner to hear her. Luke was finding it hard to think as Lorelai told him of her plan for the next few hours.
"As much as I like the idea of making that reality in the next few hours it will have to wait until tonight," Luke said holding his ground.
Lorelai brushed her hand over the obvious bulge in his pants, "What about a quickie, close the diner for an hour and we can cover at least half that list."
"And what will the town think?" Luke asked rhetorical, not needing an answer.
"That two people are getting very lucky," She said smiling before leaning in to kiss Luke squarely on the lips.
"And Miss Patty will be in here pinching my butt every day for the next month," Luke added.
"Hey I told her to stop that, I'm the only one to be touching you now," Lorelai said moving her hands down to cup his butt. Pulling Luke close, exciting him some more as their middles touched again.
"Okay enough of that in the kitchen," Luke said parting from Lorelai a little.
"May I remind you that I'm the one who wanted to take this up to the apartment," Lorelai said as they finally broke apart.
"And the request is still denied," Luke said finishing up the cleaning before the lunch rush.
"What about a quickie in the store room, I'll do all the work you can just lay back in on the table…" Lorelai said taking his hand.
"How is that any better than the apartment?" Luke asked, wanting the subject to change.
"Okay can we at least grab some coffee and take a walk around the square before lunch, lots of people around and little chance for me to be dirty," Lorelai insisted.
"Okay but no pinching my butt or I'll just leave you out there," Luke warned her.
"Okay but I we get to hold hands and at least one kiss, with tongue," Lorelai counted the offered.
Luke nodded, "A walk would be good," he said putting down the cloth he was using.
Lorelai smiled, "Thank you," stepping over they kissed, "You drive a hard bargain Mr Danes. Caesar can you handle things for 10 minutes?" Lorelai asked as they left the kitchen.
Luke filled a to-go cup as Lorelai put on her coat, "Here you go," Luke said handing over the coffee as Lorelai handed Luke his green jacket.
A few minutes later they were nearing the gazebo with snow covering the ground in what looked like a postcard perfect picture of the Connecticut town.
"This is perfect," Lorelai said sipping her coffee as she linked arms with Luke.
"Its snow," Luke said, not one to appreciate the snow or winter in general.
"And snow is perfect, good things happen to me in snow. Hey you want to make a snow angel?" she asked knowing the answer would be no. Luke gave her a look, which confirmed this without the need for words.
"Okay not today, but mark my words I will get Lucas Danes to make a snow angel one day," Lorelai giggled, taking in more of the still hot coffee.
There were a few moments of silence as they sat on the bench in the gazebo, Luke wrapping his arm around Lorelai to keep out the cold.
"So Luke what do you think about using this for the wedding," she blurter out surprising him.
Luke looked down to Lorelai as she looked to him for a response, "Wedding?" Luke repeated.
"I think it's time we talked about this," Lorelai added.
"Yes time," Luke agreed with a smile, Lorelai love to look at.
"I was thinking how pretty the snow would look in the photos," Lorelai went on, "Now with the season ending in a few weeks the question is do we have it now or wait until next winter?"
"I haven't even asked your father for his permission yet," Luke said in a serious tone.
Lorelai parted from Luke a little to look at him, "And you better not!" she said slapping Luke on the chest.
"Hey I want to do the right thing," Luke said.
"And that would be not involving my parents," Lorelai said in a serious tone.
"Aren't you on good terms with them these days?" Luke asked.
"Yes but when it happens I want it to be just the three of us, for at least a few hours before the town and my parents find out, okay," Lorelai said moving back under Luke's arm.
Luke kissed Lorelai on her forehead, "Okay, you know them best… Just don't leave it too long or you know it will not end well."
Lorelai nodded, "I know, I just need to get the timing right."
"So if I propose around mid week, we can know together for two or three days before we got to dinner next Friday?" Luke asked.
"You can't tell me when you'll propose, that's not very romantic. You're not very good at this," Lorelai joked.
"Well I must have done something right since I've been married already," Luke shot back jokingly.
"Hon I think that had more to do with the sea and being drunk," Lorelai added.
"You're probably right," Luke agreed, "So any requests and not I'm not getting down on one knee. I'm not a kid anymore."
"But the whole one knee thing is tradition…" Lorelai said.
"So is asking the father of the bride," Luke reminded her.
"Plus you've been down on your knees for other things before and that has worked out great for both of us," Lorelai said with a cheeky tone.
Luke blushed, "Well maybe if there is a pillow around," he added.
There was silence for a few moments, "So do you have the ring yet?" Lorelai asked.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Luke said starting to move, "Come on we have to get back to work, looks like the lunch rush is starting," he added noticing the time and growing number of people heading towards the diner.
"You do!" Lorelai said with joy, "You do have the ring!"
"Lorelai," Luke said sternly.
They started their way back, "Just make sure it's not going to turn my finger green or something," she said tossing her empty coffee cup in the nearby trash can and grabbing hold of Luke's arm.
"Plastic doesn't do that right?" Luke joked back.
"You better be joking mister," Lorelai said.
"Hey Lorelai," Luke said stopping.
"Yeah Hon," Lorelai replied.
"Sorry," Luke said to a puzzled Lorelai.
"For what?" she asked as Luke Pulled her over they both landed on the soft snow.
Luke lay back and laughed as Lorelai looked at him.
"What was that for?" Lorelai said slightly mad.
"Thought you wanted to do a snow angel?" Luke said.
"Yeah but I was joking before, besides I'm in a skirt! Not ideal angel making attire," Lorelai added.
The both laughed as they lay in the snow.
TBC…
Feedback would be good
Sorry about any spelling errors, I double checked it but I'm only human.