Chapter 10

Moon Dance

Emily smiled when she heard the music on the stereo change from classical to the crooning of Dean Martin. Richard had disappeared from the kitchen a few moments ago and now she knew why. She put the last of their dinner dishes in the dishwasher and closed the machine deciding not to run it until later. After returning from the beach, Lorelai, Luke and April had left for the annual Seaside Summer Festival. She and Richard had stayed at home claiming that they were tired, which was true, but they also wanted to give the three some time together. They'd shared a simple meal of spaghetti, salad and French bread. After spending the day in the sun neither had really wanted anything more elaborate.

She put away the clean pots and pans that they'd used to prepare dinner and began to hum along to the music while wiping down the marble counter tops. Richard stood in the doorway watching her. Her back was to him and he was surprised when she spoke without turning around. "You know I hate it when you do that."

"I do, and you know that I am helplessly transfixed by your beauty," he replied, positively oozing charm.

"Oh please," she groaned as she turned on the water and washed her hands.

Richard crossed the kitchen and placed his arms around her waist and began swaying to the music. Emily reached for a towel to dry her hands and he turned her around and pulled her into a dance hold, the towel still held in her hand at his shoulder.

"This is absurd," Emily protested lightly then began to laugh when he maneuvered them around the island and into a more open area of the kitchen with a flourish.

The song changed to a more up tempo swing number. Richard released her, keeping hold of her hand. He took the towel from her and tossed it on the island as he led her outside to the patio, turning off the kitchen light as he went by.

She smiled warmly up at him as he again took her in his arms. "I swear I don't know what to make of you sometimes."

"I like to keep you on your toes, my dear. Wouldn't want to become boring," he explained spinning her out and back in. He dipped her and planted a kiss on her nose.

The tune changed again, and the opening strains of Unforgettable surrounded them. Richard drew her in close. Her hand resting more on his chest than his shoulder, they swayed together to the music.

Lorelai unlocked the front door with the key her parents had given her earlier and she entered the house followed by Luke and April. "It's dark in here. They couldn't have gone to bed already, could they?" she asked moving into the living room.

"Do you think they'd leave the stereo on?" Luke observed.

"I don't think so," Lorelai replied with a shrug. "Maybe they're outside."

"Well, I'm gonna try to finish the chapter I started earlier," April said. "Good night."

"Night, kiddo," Lorelai replied then headed across the room to the French doors.

"Night," Luke patted April on the head and she rolled her eyes up at him then laughed as she went to her room.

Luke turned to follow Lorelai and noticed that she'd stopped a few steps away from the glass doors. "What's up?" he asked approaching her from behind.

"That," Lorelai pointed out onto the patio.

The only light outside came from the pool and a few citronella candles that were scattered around. Emily and Richard were dancing in the open area on the patio between the dining table and the seating area. "Ahhh," Luke murmured in her ear as he looked over her shoulder. "It's kinda sweet, don't you think?"

Lorelai sighed and leaned back against him watching her parents. They were in a world unto themselves. Sure, they'd had their ups and downs over the years, but they were a constant. Even for that time that they'd split up it was easy to see how deeply they loved each other. They were just too stubborn to admit it for a time. "Think we'll be like that in twenty years?" she asked quietly.

They watched as Richard leaned down and tenderly kissed Emily. "I sure hope so," Luke answered with a bit of a low chuckle.

Lorelai elbowed him lightly in the stomach and he wrapped his arms around her. "I mean, do you think we'll have what they have? I want that for us Luke. I want to know that you're always going to be there, that we're always going to be there, for the rest of our lives."

"I want that too." He replied softly and pressed a kiss to her jaw. Emily and Richard's embrace grew more passionate and she slid her arms around his neck. From this angle they couldn't see where his hands were, but from the way things looked that was probably a good thing. "Ah… you think maybe we should let them know we're here, or you know… find something else to do maybe?"

"Oh yeah," Lorelai agreed completely. She took his hand and led him into the kitchen turning on the light as she entered the room, hoping that her parents would notice and realize that they weren't alone anymore.

"You want some tea?" Luke asked reaching for the kettle that was on the back of the stove.

"Sure, thanks," Lorelai answered poking around in the kitchen cabinets. "There has to be something in here to eat."

"Three corn dogs, two snow cones, a pretzel and a cinnamon roll," Luke grumbled filling the kettle with water and shaking his head.

"You cannot still be talking about what I ate tonight," she replied opening the refrigerator and poking around. "I've been eating healthy all weekend."

Luke set the kettle on the burner and turned on the flame. "Yeah, sure you have," he clearly didn't believe a word he was saying.

Lorelai closed the refrigerator and opened the freezer; she rooted around moving things and looking behind them. All of a sudden, she called out, "Score!" A huge grin on her face she plopped a square white plastic box down on the island, whipped the lid off and held up a mini-cream puff. Quickly she popped the cream puff into her mouth. "Mmmm, want one?" she held the box out to Luke and spoke with her mouth full.

"They're frozen," he answered.

She nodded enthusiastically, "I know, just like a creamsicle."

Outside, Richard and Emily reluctantly ended their passionate kiss, both short of breath. A new song began playing and Emily leaned back to look up at her husband, a grin spreading across her face and lighting up her eyes when she recognized it.

Richard grinned in return, pleased that his musical selections were having the desired effect. "You used to sing this song all the time when we first started dating."

She looked down at her hands where they rested on his chest and fidgeted with the buttons on his shirt. "I did not."

"Oh yes, you did," he said with a chuckle nodding his head for emphasis. He rocked them back and forth slowly but in tempo music. Emily leaned her cheek against his chest, closed her eyes and began to hum softly.

Lorelai had started dancing around the kitchen and singing, "Is it in his face? Oh no, that's just his charm." She danced over and got out a plate. "In his warm embrace? Oh no, that's just his arms." She took cream puffs out of the container and put them on the plate. "If you wanna know if he loves you so, it's in his kiss."

Quietly Emily's humming turned into the actual words and Richard took hold of her hand once again dancing to the music. He noticed the light on in the kitchen but thought it best not to call Emily's attention to it just yet.

The kettle whistled, and Lorelai walked over and looked out the glass door of the kitchen. "Well, at least they've gone back to dancing," she told Luke. She opened the door; her father twirled her mother out and back ending up behind her. Lorelai called out, "Hey, Fred, Ginger, you guys want some tea?"

Richard looked back over his shoulder. "Sounds great," he answered, "bring it out here." Emily momentarily froze at the sound of her daughter's voice, but Richard kept dancing so she was forced into movement again.

Lorelai closed the door and began to put the creampuffs and some plates on a tray again singing the lyrics to the song, "Oh, Oh, Oh, hug him squeeze him tight to find out what you want to know." She got out some napkins and planted a kiss on Luke's cheek as she passed him. "If it's love, if it really is, it's there in his kiss."

Richard spun Emily around to face him. "I've always enjoyed the sentiment of this song." Emily rolled her eyes and he planted a kiss on the top of her head.

Lorelai walked out of the kitchen door with the tray. "Look what else I found," she said heading over to the sitting area. The fire pit was closed, so she put the tray down in the middle of the table. Luke followed carrying cream and sugar. "I wasn't sure what you like in your tea," he explained taking a seat next to Lorelai on the far sofa.

Richard led Emily over to the sitting area by the hand and they seated themselves on the sofa facing Luke and Lorelai. Richard picked up two mugs of tea and handed one to his wife. "Oh, look, the creampuffs" he commented seeing Lorelai had put them on the tray. "I forgot we bought those."

"Well, someone didn't," Lorelai said with a knowing grin, "the container was only two-thirds full."

"Really," Richard replied with a glance at his wife as he picked up a plate and placed several creampuffs on it. He took a couple of napkins and handed one to Emily who draped it across her lap. He held his plate out to her and offered her a creampuff.

"They're still frozen," Emily remarked looking at the tiny creampuff between her thumb and forefinger.

"Ooh, but they're good that way," Lorelai replied popping one into her mouth.

Richard followed Lorelai's example. "Something like a frozen custard filled pastry."

Emily shrugged and took a bite of hers. It was still frozen, but starting to soften. She ate the other half and picked up a second one.

Richard handed Emily the plate and leaned back placing his arm behind her across the back of the couch. Emily stifled a yawn and settled back against Richard's side. Then she slipped off her shoes and pulled her feet up on the sofa next to her balancing the plate of creampuffs on the side of her knee and keeping one hand on it. Richard's arm dropped around her shoulders and he rested his hand on her upper arm.

Lorelai had already eaten several creampuffs inside so she picked up her tea and leaned back, unconsciously mimicking her mother's position as she leaned against Luke's shoulder.

"So do you have any other plans before April leaves for New Mexico?" Emily asked.

"Nothing special, maybe a little shopping, whatever she needs for school," Luke answered. "That's about it."

"We're very happy that you were able to spend some of your time together, here with us," said Richard.

"Yes we are," Emily agreed.

"I know April's had a ball, and I really enjoyed it to," said Luke. "Thank you again for your hospitality."

"You're welcome anytime," Richard offered.

Conversation died down for a few moments as everyone sipped their tea and Richard finished off his last couple of creampuffs. He placed the plate on the coffee table with his free hand then sank back into the cushions and squeezed Emily's shoulders.

Lorelai turned to Luke and the two seemed to be holding a silent conversation, she asking a question of some sort and he answering with a partial shrug and a nod. "So Mom, Dad…" Both parents perked up slightly, her voice held the feeling that she was about to make some sort of announcement. "We haven't completely decided this yet, so it could still change, but Luke and I were thinking that we might get married at the end of the year… Sometime between Christmas and New Year's or maybe even on New Year's, we're not sure yet."

"That's wonderful," Richard remarked and gave Emily a happy squeeze.

"Yes, wonderful," Emily echoed quickly.

Richard slowly rose to his feet and rounded the table and holding out his hand to Luke, "Congratulations."

The younger man stood and accepted the handshake. "Thank you, sir."

Richard then leaned down and kissed his daughter on the forehead. "Lorelai, this is wonderful."

She looked up at her father in surprise and quietly replied, "Thanks, Dad." Then she looked over at her mother who had remained sitting on the couch.

"I'm very happy for you, Lorelai," Emily said seriously. She wanted her daughter to be married very much. She wanted her happily married and this man made her happy. Still there was something about the thought of Lorelai getting married that made her a little bit sad. Regret that the wedding she'd planned since learning that her baby had been a girl would never be realized. She tried her best to smile warmly. "You too Luke, I know you'll be very happy together." Richard resumed his seat next to Emily, pulling her back against him tightly.

Lorelai felt her mother's sadness and thought she knew the cause. "You know, Mom, I'm going to need help pulling everything together in just four months. I'd really like your input. I don't know about Russian, but it'll be a winter wedding, that's for sure."

Emily visibly brightened. "You know I'll do anything I can to help. You just have to ask."

"I will," Lorelai smiled happily. "I did kind of like that sleigh idea of yours."

"Sleigh?" Luke asked cocking his head to the side.

"What, I love sleighs," Lorelai said defensively.

"Sure, yeah, sleighs are great," Luke said nodding his head.

"Hey," Lorelai swatted his chest. "Do not mock the sleigh, buster"

Across from them Richard and Emily shared a tender smile then she dropped her head onto her husband's shoulder as they quietly watched Luke and Lorelai continue to bicker playfully over whether or not there had been actual mocking and if the situation had warranted physical violence.

Notes: As this story nears it's conclusion, I want to pause and thank UnaVitaSegreta, and Melanie again for all their help and support in writing this entire story. Both ladies made several wonderful suggestions during the development of this story, but Melanie made one very important suggestion that lead to half of this chapter. So this is dedicated to you Melanie.

Also continued thanks to all those who have posted reviews since the last update: J.Stone, GilmoreGirlsnOCRock, natalie492, javajunkishness, Mary, pjt-gg, Emily-RichardFan, LorLukealways, gilmorefanforever, Valerie, RiskaSG, Miss GoodManners, morzsa, and Apple705. I really appreciate all of you who take the time to post your thoughts and let me know you're reading and enjoying the story.