A/N Thank you for all your kind reviews. I really have been enjoying this story and I'm glad you are too. Thank you to those who are taking the time to read and review, I've always thought Luke had more depth than was shown. I'm glad many of you think so too. Next stop will be part one of NYC.

I own nothing.

Chapter 17 Merry Christmas

Luke was getting ready for the Gilmore's Christmas party two weeks before Christmas. He was wearing the charcoal grey suit and a white shirt that Lorelai told him to wear. She had also given him a bright blue tie that he felt very uncomfortable in. "Trust me, I just want everyone to know that you are my guy." Lorelai had said when she gave it to him.

"And this tie will tell everyone that?" Luke said skeptically.

"Oh, yes. When they see you with me there will be no doubt that you are mine." Lorelai cooed over the counter at the diner.

"Humph, fine I'll wear it, but I still don't see how unless it's going to light up and say property of Lorelai."

Lorelai laughed as she left the diner and here he was not two days later waiting for someone to answer her door, and yes, he had the damn tie on. Rory answered and she looked lovely in a deep forest green dress that came just below her knees.

"You look beautiful," Luke said, "very regal and so grown up."

"Thank you kind sir, I can't wait to see your reaction to mom." Rory had an evil glint to her eyes.

Luke got the feeling that he was going to be in trouble when he heard Lorelai clear her throat on the stairs and Luke forgot to breathe. "Wow." Was all he was able to get out.

On the stairs was Lorelai, with her hair elegantly piled on the top of her head and tendrils escaping on the sides. She was in a bright blue satin gown that highlighted her eyes and left little to the imagination. It flowed around her like water, touching all her curves and of course it was a halter. As she descended the stairs Luke could see that there was nothing between the collar at the back of her neck and just below her waist.

Suddenly he realized where they were going to be that evening and he exploded, "NO! You are not wearing that dress or should I say barely wearing that dress to your parents! You go right upstairs and put on something that actually covers your back and does not tell everyone what you aren't wearing!"

Luke was working up into a rant when Lorelai stopped him with a passionate kiss. Luke's arms snaked around her, when he felt the soft warm skin of her bare back he moaned and his knees buckled. "Please Lorelai, I can't have every man in the place lusting after you tonight. I'm supposed to be a gentleman and if I see one guy even look at you I know I won't be able to contain my jealousy."

Lorelai smiled, "I just wanted you to see the full affect and know what is available for only you," and then she picked up a matching jacket off the hall coat rack and put it on. It was an Elizabethan style that had a stand up collar, full sleeves with lace at the cuffs and a short bustle style that covered her entire back. "Now if you care to notice this dress is the same color as that tie you complained about. So anyone could see that we are a matched set, right?" She smiled sweetly at Luke who only shook his head.

"The death of me, I swear." Then he looked at Rory, "You in on this?"

"I plead the fifth!" Rory was having a hard time keeping from bursting out laughing. She picked up the present for her grandparents and they left for the mansion.

When they arrived Lorelai wanted to hit the bar first so Rory took the present over to the tree area and Luke escorted Lorelai over to the bar. Lorelai ordered a martini and Luke asked the bartender, "I don't suppose you have any beer there do you?"

"Larger or ale sir?" the bartender replied. Luke silently blessed Richard and said, "How about a nice red ale?"

As he took the glass he escorted Lorelai over to an area where he could see if Emily advanced on them. "I don't think I actually told you how beautiful you look this evening," he whispered as he leaned over and nuzzled Lorelai's neck.

"Well, I did wonder since you were so adamant about making me cover up, I thought you were ashamed of me."

"Never. I haven't ever seen another woman who could carry off the style and grace you have in this beautiful gown as well as jeans and a t-shirt."

Just then Richard approached them and extended his hand, "Luke my boy, so good to see you here. Lorelai you look stunning as always. I thought I saw you two come in with Rory, but I apologize for not greeting you sooner. Luke I see you're trying that wonderful Irish ale we got, very hearty with a burnished taste to it. Lorelai, I've an extra present for Rory tonight, she mentioned that you are going to New York City this week and she wanted to stop by this Strand bookstore, so I got her a gift card."

"Thank you Dad, I know Rory will be very excited about that. She wants us to drive down so she can get more books. This may be the deciding factor," Lorelai laughed and turned to Luke who had noticed a couple in their early fifties walking into the room.

Luke turned to Richard and said, "Richard, why don't you go over and bring that couple over here to introduce them to your daughter and her boyfriend, I think you'll find them quite fascinating." Luke winked at Lorelai.

"So that's the famous Mr. & Mrs. Tom Rhodes?" Richard asked.

"Yep."

"If you'll excuse me I'll be right back.'

Richard introduced himself and brought Tom and Annie over to Luke and Lorelai. Luke shook Tom's hand and looking around gave Annie a quick kiss on the cheek. "Tom, Annie, I want you to meet Lorelai and her father Richard, Lorelai, Tom and Annie."

Tom looked at Richard and lowered his voice, "I hope you realize what a wonderful man your daughter has found Mr. Gilmore, I've worked for many men who would cut their own family's throat rather then lose a dollar. Mr. Danes has always turned a profit and never at the expense of his workers."

Richard smiled at this man and once again thanked his lucky starts that Lorelai didn't marry Christopher all those years ago, "Yes, Mr. Rhodes, you don't have to tell me, I feel very comfortable with Luke taking care of my girls."

"And if I may overstep my boundaries Mr. Danes, you have indeed done well for yourself with Miss Gilmore. I can see that she is everything you've said she is." Tom offered his hand to Lorelai.

"Tom, I'd say we both lucked out with the women in our lives. Annie, you look radiant as always." Luke really liked Annie, she and Tom were very helpful to him when he first took on the job at B-D. "May I get you something to drink?"

Annie and Richard accompanied Luke to retrieve the drinks which left Lorelai and Tom alone. "Tom, I was wondering, why do you call Luke by his last name after all these years?"

Tom was a bit surprised at her forthright question, but figured that was one of the ways she was able to get Luke to open up. Over the years he found the direct questions would get his boss to answer directly, the subtle questions let Luke avoid an answer.

"When Mr. Danes inherited the Buech Corporation he was twenty three years old, he was twenty five when he hired me and took it over. A twenty-five year-old owner could be dismissed by more experienced and savvy business men. When he asked me to run the company I knew that others would key their attitudes off of the way I dealt with him."

"Mr. Danes has more natural talent for running corporations then I've ever seen, just because he doesn't have a degree doesn't mean that he's unaware of what needs to be done. His greatest gift is the ability to ask the questions that will effect the company long term; I know you're aware that he found the sixteen million dollar discrepancy and because of that we've found out that the Hayden company was very lax in their compliance that could've potentially cost us down the road."

"So while I initially called him Mr. Danes to encourage others to treat him with the respect that an owner deserves, I now call him this because I've great respect for him. I'm also very happy that he has you in his life. For many years it was as if he had no direction or purpose, just a great deal of responsibility. But since you have entered his life, I've heard him laugh for the first time since I've known him. You're very good for him."

Lorelai was actually speechless, that this man could care so much for Luke and she was humbled at what an affect she must have on Luke. Just then he came up with the drinks, "Lorelai, would you care to dance?" Luke held out his hand and as he led her away Lorelai looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He started to panic, "Are you OK? Did something happen with Tom?" He was worried, he couldn't imagine what Tom could've said to upset Lorelai, he respected the man so much.

Lorelai interrupted Luke's thoughts, "I just love you so much and I'm so happy I was wearing that sweater down by the lake." She leaned into kiss him. Luke, totally confused at this comment kissed her back and led her to the dance floor. He was happy to hold her in his arms while he tried to sort through what had happened.

As they were dancing Emily actually came onto the dance floor to admonish Lorelai and Luke for not coming to greet her. "Lorelai, I know I taught you to greet the hostess the first thing when you attend a party. Yet you've been here long enough to get on the dance floor and still you'd not greeted me."

"Mom, we saw Dad and were introduced to the Rhodes so we have been socializing, I just wanted to have one dance with my boyfriend, then I promise you we'll continue to mingle."

"Lorelai, I know I raised you properly, how you've slipped since you've left our house is a disgrace." Emily didn't even try to conceal the look of disgust she shot at Luke. "Straub and Francine are here, are you sure you're able to keep a civil tongue in your head?" She directed this comment at Luke.

"Yes, Emily, I promise that I'll not allow myself to be provoked again. I believe I've apologized for this before, haven't I?" Luke said gently.

"Yes," Emily getting caught in her own bad manners, "I was just wanting to give you fair warning if you run into him."

"Emily, Mr. Hayden and I are good. As long as he treats Rory well, I'll not say anything. Let's go find Rory and see what her dad's grandfather and grandmother brought her for Christmas." Luke led Lorelai off the dance floor, leaving Emily quietly seething.

As they were heading towards the living room they heard behind them, "Hey, nice dress, take it off." Without turning around to look, Lorelai thought, 'Christopher.' She felt Luke straighten with anger next to her.

But to all their surprise came the next voice, "Did your parents teach you to insult another man's date Christopher?" They all turned around to see Richard standing right behind Christopher.

"I was just joking Richard, I didn't mean anything by it."

"I would say that as Lorelai's father I was insulted and I can only imagine Luke's feeling about the subject. I never thought of you as a stupid man Christopher, but since you witnessed Luke's temper at the last gathering, I'd have to rethink that statement. Unless you are purposely antagonizing him to disrupt my party in which case I'd say you are showing Emily and me great disrespect." Richard had pulled himself up to his full six foot five inches as he towered over Christopher.

"I'm going to find my date and say good-night to everyone. I really didn't mean any disrespect, see ya Lorelai." Christopher took off and Richard watched him go.

"Lorelai, I'm quite certain that Rory received most of her intelligence from you." Richard commented. To which Luke threw back his head and laughed. This made Lorelai laugh as well, she loved to hear his laugh and after Tom made his comment she was aware of how precious that sound was.

They proceeded into the living room just in time to see Rory receive a package from the Hayden's. She looked surprised since this was the first gift that she'd gotten from them since she was born. "Thank you so much," she still didn't know what to call them, "may I open it here?"

"Please do Rory," Francine said.

It was a first edition of Alice in Wonderland from 1887 in mint condition. Rory knew this book couldn't be found for less than four or five hundred dollars. "Wow," she whispered. "Thank you so much!"

Rory walked reverently over to her mom and Luke, "Look what the Hayden's gave me mom." Her voice was hushed in awe.

Straub was actually touched that she was so moved. Children today want televisions and video games; he'd never met one who was impressed by books. "Well, Rory, I'm pleased that you like your gift."

Rory was struck by the fact he actually said her name. "Yes, thank you, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. This is a priceless gift, they will never make a first edition of this book again and now because of your thoughtfulness, I have one. Thank you so much."

Luke was pleased that this first encounter went well and that Paige suggested such a perfect gift for Rory. The rest of the party went off without a hitch. Luke was having the most fun watching Emily fall all over herself with Tom and Annie and making sure they were introduced to all the 'right' people.

With her occupied he was able to dance with Lorelai a few more times. Towards the end of the evening he risked running his hand up under her jacket to her smooth skin. "Is Rory at home tonight?" he asked.

"Funny thing, when I was buying this dress I asked Rory to see if Lane would allow her to spend the night there tonight and Mrs. Kim was in a very good mood so I am afraid it'll just be you and me at the house." Lorelai looked at him with a twinkle in her eye.

"I'm wondering if I should ask this next question that has been on the very edge of my mind all evening."

"Would this question cause us to leave early?"

"I'm afraid it would."

"Then we need to find Tom & Annie and my parents and Rory before you ask it. Because I'll never lie to you if you ask me a direct question."

"Let's go."

After the proper good-byes and dropping Rory off at Mrs. Kim's shop Luke and Lorelai reached her house. Luke got out, opened Lorelai's door and led her to the front door. Going inside Luke took off Lorelai's jacket and gathered her in his arms. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, running his hands over her back, "while I love this dress on you I think I'm going to love it more on the floor." He started to kiss her neck as he walked her backwards to the stairs.

Lorelai laughed and turned to lead him up the stairs. When they reached her bedroom Lorelai locked the door and turned back to Luke. "Want a surprise?"

"Yes." He whispered.

"Undo the collar at the back." As he did so her entire dress pooled in a deep blue puddle at her feet and she had nothing underneath. Luke sharply drew a breath feeling as though his heart had stopped. He stepped towards her and gathered her in his arms.

Afterwards Lorelai lay in Luke's arms and she quietly sang "Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good."

Luke kissed her gently and said, "Merry Christmas." And Lorelai giggled.