A/N It is good to know there are so many people out there who feel compassion for Straub and are grateful he got what was his just due. Thank you for all the kind reviews, I know it was a long time for the reveal, but I hope it was worth the wait. The story has taken on a life of it's own and there are a few more secrets that others have that will impact L & L. Thank you again for all who read and reviewed and I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

Again, I own nothing,

Ch 12 Touché

As he dialed the phone he remembered his talk with Lorelai on Saturday, pleased that she agreed with him.

Lorelai looked at Luke and recalled an earlier part of the conversation, "What is it you need from me? You mentioned about needing my permission?"

Luke looked down at his hands, if Lorelai didn't agree to the rider he would drop it, although he really didn't want to. "Last night I saw how Straub treated Rory, not just the words he said to her. He treated her the way your mom treats me, as though we're less than human. I can deal with your mother, but Straub and Christopher are teaching Rory things that could have long range affects."

Lorelai is nodding her head, "I don't like that mom does that, but what can I do about Rory, Luke? I can't even get Christopher to leave a working cell phone number for her."

Luke smiled, a devilish smile, "See, there is something that I can do if you'll let me." Lorelai agrees with the rider and was the one to suggest the non-monetary gift, Luke had just put in the five hundred dollar minimum, but Lorelai said that will become a check and not a real gift for Rory.

It was almost eleven by the time they finished and Luke was grateful that Lorelai didn't hold it against him about keeping the inheritance from her. In fact after they were done hashing the rider out she looked at him and said, "You know we have about five hours before Rory gets home and we missed our pajamas optional party last night."

Luke got a glint in his eye and led her upstairs to her bedroom. When they stepped into the room he locked her door and danced her back to the bed all the time kissing her neck and suckling her just above her collarbone.

He felt a difference this time; they were slow and deliberate in their actions, each touch each kiss was an expression of intimacy that was weighty with promise of the future. It was like the first time they made love as they discovered new things about each other and for the first time Luke understood how keeping a part of his life from Lorelai could have kept him from attaining what he wanted.

They both were more open and vulnerable; he could feel her allowing him to truly possess her like never before. Perhaps it was because he had trusted her with all of his secrets, but he knew they were close to the dream he had waited for all his life.

When both were sated Lorelai had her head on Luke's chest listening to his heartbeat even out and something dawned on her. "You could have taken the easy way out with my parents."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because while I believe that your dad values who I am and will someday come to accept me, your mother would only see Randall Buech's money and not the man who loves you."

"Wish I could argue with that, but you're right. Why did your friends call you Butch in school if your middle name is Beak?"

Luke laughed as he stroked her back, "Buech is German and so is spelled B-U-E-C-H but pronounced beak. The kids saw the Buech and pronounced it like Americans would, Butch. So it stuck."

"Do you think your mom had a clue as to what your grandfather was going to do?"

"Probably not, she loved her dad, just like you love your parents. I think she just wanted to hand on a heritage to me and it was the only thing she thought she was going to have. Much like if we name our son, first name something, Gilmore Danes." Luke yawned as he was drifting off to sleep, "Make sure I wake up before four, I need to be at the diner for the dinner rush."

Lorelai was nowhere near sleep from all the questions going off in her head, then to hear Luke casually mention having a child with her, as if it is a foregone conclusion made her heart sing, and she wanted to keep him talking, "Luke?"

"Hmm."

"Do you really think that?"

"What Lorelai?"

"That we would name our son Gilmore Danes?"

"Well, your dad doesn't have any other males to carry on the name and I'd like our children to have either both of our names or the Danes surname. Is that OK with you?" Luke ran his fingers through her hair and was well on his way to sleep.

"Oh, yeah," Lorelai had a huge grin on her face, "Any children we have could have both our names or just yours, whatever seems best at the time."

Luke propped himself up on one elbow and looked directly in to Lorelai's eyes. "OK, Lorelai, for the record, pay attention. I love you. I expect that in the future we will get engaged, get married and have children in that order. I'm not suggesting today or next week, but I wouldn't have entered into this relationship if my intent wasn't long term. Does that match up with what you had been thinking or does it scare you?"

"Well, it is a little scary, but not because of you, just marriage in general. Actually with you it is less scary, seems natural even."

Luke smiled, lay back down and closed his eyes and continued to run his hand up and down her back.

After a bit Lorelai said in a small voice, "I've thought about it you know."

Luke got a big grin on his face and still had his eyes shut, "Good to know."

Luke first tried Lorelai's cell phone and it went straight to voice mail, so he tried her house. At the house Lorelai's machine picked up, Luke left a short message, "Hey it's me, everything went well and I should be home early this evening. How about you come over for dinner? Call me and let me know. I miss you."

He hung up and went out to catch the company jet. He rarely used these perks, but to get back to Lorelai quicker he would've agreed to almost anything.

On his way out he saw Tom and stopped to get a quick recap, "Did we lose anything more in the final negotiations this afternoon?"

"Well, Straub said that since we feel so strongly about families he wants his son to be placed on the board of directors, but we can visit that later. I think he is seeking a way around the confidentiality clause that you made him sign, since you met the son at the same dinner."

"Tom, if I have to see Christopher's face every other month I'll not be held responsible for my actions. Keep that from happening anyway you can. Are we clear?"

"Absolutely Mr. Danes. Did I hear you were taking the jet to Hartford?" Tom asked with a smile. He had tried to get Luke to utilize some of the benefits of owning a multi-million dollar corporation and he'd been very stubborn about using any of them.

"Yeah, don't get too giddy now, I think I also would like to use the corporate suite in December when I have to come down and finalize the Hayden audit with the accountants. I'm going to invite Rory and Lorelai to come with me so I'd stay not just Tuesday and Wednesday but perhaps through Friday morning."

"So, if you'd have Paige look into some Broadway shows, matinees for Tuesday and Wednesday and an evening show for Thursday, two tickets for the days and three for the evening. Please tell Paige to try and make the Thursday show a comedy that does not include singing cats and have her suggest some good places to eat, I'd appreciate it."

"It appears Miss Gilmore and her daughter are good for you Mr. Danes. It'll be my pleasure to make sure Paige has some suggestions. The corporate suite is always available for you, even if we have to move people out; but I'll personally make sure there isn't any other guest scheduled." Tom smiled. This is the first time that Luke was looking to spend time in the city outside of work or visiting his sister and nephew. He never would've thought Luke would set foot in a theater.

Luke grinned, "Yeah, either good for me or the death of me, the jury's still out on that one. But what a way to go." Luke smiled at his CEO.

"I'll call you tomorrow. If you need me before, I apparently now have a cell phone courtesy of Lorelai. Rick has the number." Luke said referencing Tom's Executive Assistant. "See you in a few weeks."

Tom watched his boss go down the corridor. He'd enjoyed working for Luke for almost ten years. He'd never felt such pride in what he accomplished before he started working for B-D Corp., but his boss never felt the same. Luke had always come in to New York, gotten the work done and taken off. There had always been an air of sadness in his step and a heaviness of responsibility. The past two months he had seemed a different man. Tom was glad Luke was finding happiness in his own life now as well.

At the Independence Inn Lorelai was trying to wrap her head around what Luke had told her. They agreed that it would be best to tell Rory later, let Lorelai deal with it a bit first, but that would be the extent of the telling. Luke didn't want Stars Hollow to know, because it didn't effect his everyday life and he really didn't want her parents to know.

So of course Emily had to call Monday to complain how 'that man' ruined Friday night dinner. It took Lorelai about thirty seconds to realize she wasn't talking about Straub!

"Mother!" Lorelai interjected, "Luke was the only one of us to stand up for Rory, I was in such shock, which I thought you and dad were too. Christopher could never stand up to Straub but someone had to. Rory was getting filleted out there and Luke couldn't stand to see that, he loves her like his own and he was thinking only of her and her well being."

"I have to tell you right now mother, that if you say one more word to me against Luke I promise you the time you spent away from Rory growing up will seem like a blink of an eye compared to the next time you'll see either of us!"

Emily recalled the conversation she had with Luke the very first Friday night dinner and she paused. "Of course Lorelai, I realize that Luke was just looking out for Rory, it surprised us all how Straub talked to her, but I think he was just upset; his company was apparently sold today, your father just called with the news. Luke however was out of line with the way he talked to our guests and then whisked you away before dinner. A man with more breeding would've offered a more profound apology."

"Mom, I can't tell you how upset Luke was with his own behavior Friday, but when he saw Rory being attacked, he just reacted. Quite frankly I appreciate that he loves Rory like his family, I've hesitated getting involved with men who see her as an afterthought or as a responsibility of dating me. Rory had her own relationship with Luke before we started dating."

In the background Lorelai could hear the doorbell ring at the mansion and the maid exclaim, "Oh, my!"

Emily also echoed the exclamation. "There is a huge grandfather clock in my doorway. Elisa, who sent it?"

"The card reads 'If I could turn back time I'd keep myself from ruining your evening. Please accept this as a token of my sincere apologies. With your gracious permission I'm looking forward to Friday dinner this week. Respectfully yours, Luke Danes'" Elisa said.

"So, Mom," Lorelai had to keep from chuckling, "is it the clock from Kim's Antiques you were looking at last week?"

"It appears to be."

"Hmm, I'm thinking that that is a pretty profound apology, eh?"

"Yes, well, I was thinking of a nice floral arraignment. We will see Rory, Luke and you at Friday night dinner Lorelai. Please try and make sure that you're on time."

"Your welcome mother, I'll tell Luke you appreciate his gesture, OK?"

"If you feel the need, Lorelai, I've never been able to prohibit you from doing something once you get it into your head to do so."

Lorelai loved the fact that Luke was able to do something that left her mother speechless. Maybe Emily would accept Luke without knowing the truth. Lorelai couldn't wait to tell Luke about it. Actually she just couldn't wait to see Luke. She missed him more than she thought possible.

The rest of the day dragged on until 7 p.m. and Lorelai was able to get to her house and pick up her messages. Rory was at school with newspaper problems in the form of this girl Paris. Luke was coming home and wanted to make her dinner. She smiled and then looked at the clock and realized that Luke had probably been home for quite some time.

Dashing upstairs she dialed her cell phone, "I'm just changing into some jeans and I'll be right over, do you want to go out or are we staying in?"

"Good evening to you too," Luke countered. "I had a lovely flight and very smooth weather all the way to Hartford; I however experienced some icy conditions while in my office around one o'clock, but it cleared up after the Hayden express blew through."

"All right buddy, I know I was supposed to check my messages earlier, but my mother called, nice clock by the way, and she put me off my game. She missed the Cher reference but I got it. So I'm on my way over and I want to know what to wear."

"As little as possible, unless Rory is accompanying you, then Jeans and t-shirt is fine. I'm making dinner; I thought you would appreciate the reference."

"You're too good to me, and good to know where this night is heading. Rory is at the Franklin at Chilton, but if you have leftovers I'd bring them back."

"While I'm really looking forward to where this evening is now headed, I was hoping to talk with you and Rory about going with me to New York next month. We can discuss it when you get here, which will be when?"

"I'm walking out the door as we speak."

"Lock it?" Luke warned.

"Yes, I locked it." She runs back up the stairs to lock it, "Leave the diner door open. By the way, I just want to be sure you actually requested an invitation to my mother's for Friday night dinner."

Luke chuckled, "If you ever doubt the depth of my love for you, remember that."

"OK, I'm just not sure if it's love or insanity."

"In your world what's the difference?"

"Touché."