A/N: Okay, I know I haven't updated for a while.. I just haven't been able to sit down and write. I'm kind of out of ideas, so I don't know for how much longer I will keep this story coming. I know we have a wedding coming up, so I'm going to keep it running until then, but then I think I will end it there.

Before I start on next chapter I want to say thank you to Lorelai35Gilmore for being honest.. I hope this chapter is better.. and that it proves that Lorelai really loves Luke and not Christopher.

Chapter 19: Without a ring and a date

Song: If I'm not in love, Faith Hill

Gilmore one, two, three and four were all silent. And Danes one and only too. None of them said anything, they just sat there sipping of their drinks. Well, except from Lorelai. She was sitting there with everybody's eyes on her. She suddenly regretted what she had done just a few seconds ago. She had opened the game by betting first. Now people were just waiting for her cards.

"We…" she started, but then she saw her mother's face. It was like she already knew it somehow. But on the other hand. She had been the one throwing them an engagement party just when they got back together. And now… they were engaged… at least technically.

"Mom, dad… Luke and I are engaged."

The ice was broken… she had done it. She had thrown the rock of the edge and was just waiting for it to hit the ground. For some reason she had expected one of the famous Gilmore-out bursts. But it never came. Richard just nodded and Emily simply got up to refresh her drink.

"Did you hear me? Engaged?"

"Yes Lorelai. We heard you." Richard muttered.

"Well good then. But you've got nothing to say? I mean… I just said "We're engaged"

"No, you are not Lorelai" Emily suddenly said. She had been sitting with her eyes on the drink, but now her focus was removed to Lorelai, Luke and Rory on the other couch.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't see any ring on your finger, Lorelai. You can only be engaged if you have a ring on your finger."

"Well, we…"

"are engaged. You said that many times, Lorelai. But your mother is right. You are not engaged unless you have a ring on your finger and a date."

"But…" Lorelai tried to get a word in but at the same time the maid walked into the living room just to announce that dinner was ready. Emily and Richard quickly got up and walked right pass the remaining Gilmores and Danes. Lorelai shook her head and Rory had to drag her and Luke up just to get them to get up.

Dinner was awful, that was easy to say. Lorelai kept trying to convince her parents that it wasn't some kind of joke, nor one of her bits. But Emily just laughed and "joked" about Luke not having enough money to buy a proper ring. When Lorelai then tried to convince her parents that she was speaking the truth for the fifth time nobody commented anything. And that was the way dinner went. When they finally got out… they were all glad it was over. Well, dinner was over not the night.

If I'm not in love with you
What is this I'm going through
Tonight

It wasn't possible for him to erase that look in her eyes. As the matter of fact he wasn't sure that he could ever forget it. Her eyes… It was one of the parts he really loved about her. They were so damn blue and the way they looked at him. So intense and filled with all kind of feelings. Sometimes he could just see her eyes smile, other times he noticed the pain in her eyes and he just wanted to comfort her.

But the look he had seen in her eyes the other day. He had no idea about what they said. Was it jealousy or happiness? He couldn't tell and he knew he wouldn't be able to unless her talked to her himself. He just had a strange feeling in his gut, some kind of unknowing insecure feeling. Something he had to be insured of.

On the drive home from Hartford none of them said much. Luke felt his uncertainty rice the closer they got to Stars Hollow. It was in the end of the fall, so the sun was already on it's way down. The day was drawing to an end. At least for some people on earth.

Luke turned of the engine in front of the 'Crap Shack'. He still wondered when the house had gotten that name. It was an excellent house, well build. Well, the inside might be a little... not taken care of...

He remembered the many times he had been there for five hours just to do things on a list that Lorelai had made him.

Rory was the first to move. She opened the door and jumped out, Lorelai was about to follow when Luke grabbed her hand. He knew it had to be now. Lorelai turned her face towards him, expecting a smile but he looked far from the mood of a good night kiss. Rory was standing at the front door waiting for her mother, but she saw the 'I'll be right there' look and then went inside.

And if my heart is lying then
What should I believe in
Why do I go crazy
Every time I think about you, baby
Why else do I want you like I do
If I'm not in love with you

"What's up doll?" she said in her best Babette-voice. Lorelai tried to catch Luke's attention with her blue eyes, but he just looked the other way. He knew that he wouldn't be able to say what he wanted to say if he looked in her eyes first. He would just forget it all and let it pass.

"Lorelai…" he began, letting go of her hand.

"Luke, I'm so sorry for the way my parents behaved. They were so…"

"No, they were right."

"What? Luke, what are you talking about? I'm losing the grip here, Pinocchio."

"Could you please leave out the references to Disney movies?"

"So, you've seen Pinocchio? I'm very proud"

"Lorelai…"

"Very well, Mr. Darcy. How's Georgiana?"

"Lorelai, we need to talk."

"And may I request to ask; what about? Sir?" She tried in British, though it didn't really work out for her.

"Your parents were right"

"About what?"

"You're not really engaged until you have a ring and a date."

"Please don't tell me that you suddenly started listening to my parents. They are like Gomez and Morticia Addams. You of all people should know not to listen to them."

"Lorelai."

"Oh my god. You're serious? He's serious. He's been Gilmored, I gotta call 911!"

"Lorelai…" Luke tried again. But she was Lorelai, always trying to avoid things that could become a serious talk.

"We need an ambulance here!"

"Lorelai! Will you just listen for one second?"

"Okay Fester. Just as long as you don't blow anything up in the meantime"

Luke sighed… This thing hasn't turned out the exact way he wanted it to, but he still hoped for the right closure.

"I think we should just do it." He then said.

"Do what?" Lorelai was now calm. She knew she couldn't get out of the serious talk this time, not even how many times she called him Fester.

"Get it over with"

"What? Get what over with?"

"The announcement, the wedding. It doesn't need to be anything big! We could also go to Vegas and get one of those drive-inn weddings" The words he just shot out hit Lorelai right in the chest. Why was he all over sudden rushing into things? He was Luke, not Nick 'Oz' in "The whole nine yards". Luke was the 'take everything as it comes' kind of guy. If she had just known what was behind his out burst.

And if I don't need your touch
Why do I miss you so much
Tonight

"Why? Do you think I used many hours with a pen in my hand just to throw it all out in the end?"

"Why, you wanna know why?"

"Actually I do want to know why. You know I want a wedding that I can remember. You're supposed to remember walking down the aisle in front of all of your friends. Not just drive to Vegas say 'I do' and then forget it all!"

"So you want a wedding like his"

"Like who's?"

"Christopher's!"

"What does Christopher have to do with everything?"

"You saw the way he looked at you at his wedding"

"Luke… listen to me. Christopher and I have a kid together. A 17 year old daughter. I admit that she didn't happen at a one-night stand. And you know we had a relationship back then. But we were kids. I had a child while I still was one, but the day I told him about Rory he abandoned us. Me and Rory!"

She took a deep breath before she could continue. At the same time Luke had managed to turn his face towards her and was now looking deep into her eyes. He could see she was on the edge of tears.

"Our parents forced us to get married, but we never got to the altar. He listened to his parents and popped the question on the way to a science glass. But I declined. And by that I cut the 'I love you' I said the night at the balcony. Okay, unnecessary topic."

She paused yet again, awaiting Luke's respond but he remained quiet. He was listening carefully to her, and she had the feeling that she was heading in the right direction with this speech of hers.

"Christopher and I will always have some kind of connection. No matter how much I want to cut it, we both know it isn't possible. And for that we can blame Rory. Now that I think back to the last time.. wait the last time before the last time… I think… He asked me again. And I said 'No' again. The fact that I said 'Yes' to you should mean something in it self."

She was out of words now. At least almost. She knew there still was three more words to say, and she had all the intentions of saying them. She just had to wait for the right moment. She just needed to know that he understood her completely. After a while in silence he hadn't done anything yet. He was just sitting there, looking into her eyes. It was like he was trying to make sure that she was actually speaking the truth.

If it's just infatuation then
Why is my heart aching
To hold you forever
Give a part of me I thought I'd never
Give again to someone I could lose
If I'm not in love with you

He dived deep into her blue eyes searching for her heart. He needed to know if everything she had just said was something she said to make him calm down. The longer down he came, he felt it harder and harder to 'swim' forward. It was like she had an invisible wall blocking the way to her heart. At the same time it was like something was pulling him back wards.

"Luke…"

Lorelai had been silent for a while. She had let him alone with his thoughts, and been minding her own. She had been thinking of the way they had gotten engaged. It seemed like years ago, though it wasn't more than a week or two. She didn't even remember. Maybe it was three weeks? Or four? But she couldn't care less. It wasn't the date that mattered now. It was about regaining each other's trust. They needed to believe in what the other person said.

While she was thinking, she couldn't help it but think of the weird proposal. He had never gotten the chance to ask her probably. Maybe he had something planned? Now she knew what she blew. She could have gotten the chance to say "Yes Luke. Of course I'll marry you", but instead it had become some awkward situation where she said 'okay'.

Okay… ?

Then she realized that she had never said 'yes'. Not really. Maybe now was the time? She put her hand out and took his. He suddenly was back and looked at her hand. She grasped it firmly and then looked into his eyes.

"Yes… Yes, Uncle Fester I'll marry you" A smile came across her face as she spoke the words. Especially when she said 'Uncle Fester' instead of 'Luke'.

"Not that I'm an expert when it comes to engagements. On the other hand. I've seen some movies where people get engaged. And this is usually the time the guy puts the ring on the woman's finger. But on the other hand. I assume the ring will be in your little club house… right?"

Why in every fantasy
Do I feel your arms embracing me
Lovers lost in sweet desire
Why in dreams do I surrender
Lying with you baby
Someone help explain this feeling
Someone tell me

Lorelai walked into the kitchen of the Independence Inn with a great smile upon her lips. She walked pass some of the kitchen staff, they all looked after her, wondering what was going on. As she approached the person she was looking for she heard a big "bam". And there on the floor was Sookie sitting with a casserole in her lap. There was now tomato sauce all over her apron.

"Sookie!" Lorelai shouted and ran over to her best friend.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" she said as she was lifted by two of the younger cooks.

"Sook, you know how much we all love you, so you gotta be more careful from now on sweetie."

"I know, I know"

"Especially now that you and Jackson are getting married. You wouldn't let him stand at the altar all by himself, would you."

"No…" Sookie admitted. At the same time Jackson entered. Just as soon as he saw Sookie with the sauce-spot on her apron her hurried over to her.

"Are you okay?"

"Take it easy Jackson. She's fine. She's Sookie" Lorelai said to calm him down and it seemed to help. Sookie got on her feet and continued her cooking. Unfortunately the kitchen was extremely crowded that day. They had some Star Trek group who demanded some very weird food. It all had to be green or pink and then be shaped like some kind of sword. So the great news had to wait.

If I'm not in love with you
What is this I'm going through
Tonight

A few hours passed and it was now around noon. Lorelai was sitting in her office trying to focus on some paper work. It had something to do with.. well.. numbers. She pushed a few buttons on a calculator but when it showed a completely insane number, she turned it of.

"Who on earth put me in charge of the account? Damn you Michel!" she yelled.

"What?" she heard Michel shout just before he opened the door to her office.

"Oh, hi Michel!"

"You call me name and since you think you are mine boss I come. Why did you hire me? Why?" He said in his funny French accent.

"Since you offer me the service yourself. Take care of this please" she grinned as she pointed on the account papers in front of her.

"Why" Michel repeated to himself as Lorelai left. She shut the door and hurried back into the kitchen. She just never made it all the way. In the dining hall she was stopped by two guys both of them were wearing a Star Trek T-shirt.

"Excuse me ma'am. Where do we find the local computer-shop?" Lorelai couldn't hold back the laughter. The two guys looked quite confused so she hurried to say.

"You're in Stars Hollow. Our largest shop contains food and diapers. And I assume that's not what you're looking for. But if you take a bus to Hartford you might be lucky."

"Thanks you" they mumbled as they hurried pass her. She just shook her head and continued her way to the kitchen where she found Sookie sitting on a stool in the corner.

"What's going on, Sook?"

"He won't let me work" she murmured.

"Who won't let you work, sweetie?"

"Jackson…"

"Ah, Jackson. And why is that?"

"He thinks I might get hurt and I have to meet his parents tonight and…"

"Ah, meeting the parents…"

"He won't let me work!"

"Sookie, Jackson loves you, so he's concerned for you. We all love you and needs you to be careful no matter how amazing your food is. And it wouldn't look to good if…" she was interrupted by Sookie's voice.

"YOU!" She shouted before she jumped of the stool and hugged her best friend. Lorelai almost lost her breath.

"You!" She yelled again and started jumping up and down.

"It's so wonderful! You do know how wonderful it is, right?"

"Well, that depends on what's so wonderful that I should know it"

"You! Finger! Luke!" Lorelai looked at her finger and realized the ring was still on. She thought back to the night before, when Luke had taken out the velvet box and the placed the ring on her finger. They had ended the nights event with announcing their engagement, at least to themselves. They had parted happy and when he drove of she formed the three little words with her lips. 'I love you' And he did the same.

Sookie gave her another breathtaking hug Sookie relaxed a little.

"When? How?"

Lorelai told her best friend the story piece by piece and when she rounded up with the 'I love you' part, Sookie had a dreaming look in her eyes. After a while she grab her friends arm and pulled her after her through the inn while she yelled.

"She's getting married! She's getting married! To Luke!"

And if my heart is lying then what should I believe in
Why do I go crazy
Every time I think about you baby
Why else do I want you like I do
If I'm not in love with you

A/N: So that was all for now! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took me ages to write. It's a bit difficult to focus on writing while you're on MSN and it's 80 degrees hot at the same time. SO leave a review, PLEASE! Just one word, though longer reviews are appreciated. :P

Asta