A/N I know, two in one day, but it may be a bit until I can update again. Please continue to enjoy the story and thanks to all who are taking the time to read and review.

CH 23 Marry Christmas

On Christmas Eve Lorelai slept in because she was still concerned with how distant Luke had been the past two days. She figured it was because of Jess, so Saturday she had busied herself with wrapping presents and when she pulled out Luke's pen from Tiffany's she got butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She wondered if Luke was going to give her an engagement ring for Christmas.

Last night in the middle of the night Lorelai realized something. For the first time in her life she wanted to be married. To Luke. But just as she was ready to make that jump it felt like Luke was backing off. She supposed it was silly, he was away for most of the week last week, so there were plenty of things to keep him busy right now. She kept thinking of their fight in New York, they had made up, and it seemed like everything was good, but then he hadn't mentioned getting married since then. Damn Tiffany's! If she hadn't tried on engagement rings she probably wouldn't be so focused on this right now.

She heard Rory moving around downstairs and went down to help her decorate the tree. Rory handed her some coffee and Lorelai looked at her suspiciously after she drank some, "This is Luke's coffee, where did you get Luke's coffee?"

"From the man himself, he stopped by this morning to drop off the food and gave me a thermos of coffee, his only stipulation was to save you two cups." Rory said this last part studiously avoiding Lorelai's eyes.

"How many cups did he say to save me?" Lorelai looked directly into Rory's eyes.

"Ok, Ok, maybe he actually brought two thermoses over and said one was for you, but my mother decided to let me do most of the work on the Christmas tree because she wanted to sleep in so at least you got up when there were two cups left!"

"Evil child! Who raised such a mean girl!"

"My mommy taught me everything I know." Rory grinned wickedly.

Later that day Luke came over to start dinner. He brought with him a large bag that he sat next to the Christmas tree and then he went into the kitchen dragging Lorelai with him. Lorelai's attention was fixated on the bag in the living room and just as she turned to ask him what was in it he grabbed her in a tight embrace and kissed her deeply. "I've thought about that for two days," he sighed still holding her.

Lorelai was reeling from the kiss which had been as powerful as the first time and she could only grin goofily. "Hey," was all she was able to come up with.

"I missed you," she was finally able to get her mind working. "Didja bring me presents?" she grinned even wider.

"Aren't we opening them tomorrow?" Luke asked not letting her go. "First is dinner, then movie night, what are we watching by the way? And then tomorrow when we wake up at a reasonable hour, it's time for presents."

"Fine, well the movies on the agenda were all going to be Connecticut themed movies, but then we came across a rare classic and Rory and I knew we had to watch that one. First is Christmas in Connecticut, then Holiday Inn, and finally Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas." Lorelai's grin got wider on that one and Luke started to worry.

"I've found with you that the anticipation of a bad movie is much worse than the actual movie, so I'm going to wait to see what these are before telling you I'll never watch them again."

"These are classics mister! Barbra Stanwyck, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and of course Jim Henson and Frank Oz, how could you not like any of these classic movies?"

"If they're all classics how come I've never heard of any of them?"

"You've led a seriously deprived and sheltered life my friend. Thank your lucky stars that you've found me in time." Lorelai smiled up at Luke.

"You bet." He kissed her one last time and went about making dinner. After a wonderful dinner of delicious beef stew and Luke's fresh hot homemade bread covered in butter they retired to the living room where they watched the three movies with little complaining from Luke; on Christmas in Connecticut, "How could they think a woman didn't even know whether she had a boy or girl? You identified with this woman right, lack of cooking skills?"

"They weren't supposed to be bright babe, and what I lack in the kitchen I make up for in other rooms, right?"

Rory and Luke both responded with, "Aw, jeeze!"

On Holiday Inn, "Underhanded plots to make a woman stay never work, if she didn't want to be with him he should have just let her leave." Lorelai felt there may have been a resonating anger that had something to do with Rachel, but she felt it was best left unexamined.

The Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas brought out the full fledge rant, "Those aren't otter's they look more like beavers! And what the hell is it with this story! It's the story from the Gift of the Magi, blatant rip off without any real adjustment. Isn't that the green frog thing from the moppets? What is he doing in this story?"

"Luke, Hon, it's just a cute Christmas story and it's the Muppets he's the narrator. Now a lot of children who never read the Gift of the Magi will have the basic theme and know how people make sacrifices for those they love, right?"

"Hmm, I still think it's silly. Well, I've been up since a quarter to five and I know you aren't going to be able to sleep in tomorrow, so I'm going to bed. You be up soon?" Luke leaned down to kiss Lorelai good-night.

"Yep, I'll be up shortly."

"No looking in the bag," Luke called over his shoulder.

"Damn, he's good." Lorelai sighed and got up off the couch, "Well, nothing for me down here then. Night sweets."

Rory looked startled, "You mean you're not going to look in the bag!?!"

"Rory, I've known Luke for five years now, do you honestly think he wouldn't know I looked in the bag?"

"No, he probably has something on top of the presents that he will know if it's been moved."

"And if he sees that whatever it is that would tell him I looked in the bag, tells him I looked in the bag, what is the likelihood that he would return my present or at least make me wait longer then tomorrow morning to get it?"

"Pretty high I guess."

"Exactly, so instead of remaining here and being tempted, I'm going to go to bed and do some tempting of my own." Lorelai grinned evilly.

"Ewwww, gross. Go, scaring the daughter, go, go."

Lorelai sneaked into the bedroom where Luke was already breathing evenly. She removed her clothes and crawled into bed, right over Luke. "Luke," she said seductively, "are you awake?"

Luke wrapped his arms around her and snuggled closer but didn't wake up. Lorelai thought about how he had woken her up on New York but she decided to wait until the morning and give him an extra Christmas present. With evil thoughts dancing in her head, replacing visions of sugar plums, she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Lorelai woke up to an empty bed. She's stark naked and the man got out of bed and left her! She looked at the clock and it was just past six in the morning. Would Rory be too upset if she woke her now? Maybe with breakfast and coffee she'd be OK? Lorelai got out of bed and put some Christmas pajamas on and padded down the stairs. Luke was in the kitchen making coffee and chatting with Rory.

"Well, how is it I'm the last one out of bed? And why am I out of bed?" this last part was directed at Luke and he dipped his head as he blushed.

"Well, I was just sneaking down to bring in your last present when Rory heard the front door and she got up so I offered to make her coffee if she didn't wake you." He leaned to whisper in her ear, "It took everything I had to leave just for a bit, my plan was to come back and give you a proper good morning."

Lorelai's eyes lit up and she snaked her arms around Luke's neck and whispered back in his ear, "After we're finished here could we have some private grown-up time; Rory is going to Lanes later?"

Luke kissed her lightly, "Let's deal with details later, OK?" his blush told Lorelai he wasn't wanting to talk in front of Rory.

Properly fortified with coffee for the ladies, they all retired to the living room for opening presents before breakfast, the two Gilmore's ganged up on Luke since he felt they should eat first and then open. Lorelai noticed two huge blanket covered presents in the room that hadn't been there the night before. One was tall and had 'to Rory from Luke' on it and the shorter rounder one had 'to Lorelai love Luke' on it.

Luke gave Rory a medium sized box and said, "Open this it's from Jess and me." Rory looked at Luke and said, "I didn't get Jess anything."

"Yes you did and when you open this you will understand." Rory opened the box to find a three volume 1813 leather bound first edition 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austin. "I'm giving Jess the 'On the Road' you said he would like. I called him to ask him what would be a good book for you and he mentioned this one and Randall had a copy, so I figured someone who loves books would love this one more than I would."

Rory was handling the three volumes with utmost care she spoke in the hushed tones of the Christmas party when Straub gave her the Alice in Wonderland. "Luke I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Never in my lifetime could I afford such a luxury. This is the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me. The fact it came from you is even more special. Thank you seems so inadequate." Rory's eyes never left the book as she talked to Luke.

"Well, there are a few other things that have your name on them missy," Lorelai was overwhelmed that Luke would pick such a perfect gift for Rory and she was fighting from letting the tears fall.

Rory finally looked up and said, "Can I at least put this in my room so it won't get damaged?"

"Sure, and while you're gone I'll give Luke his first present." Lorelai grinned. She picked up the first package and handed it to Luke, "This is for when you get tired of the one you have."

Luke looked cautiously at her as he unwrapped the navy blue overcoat she had gotten at Bloomies. Luke tried it on and grinned, "Do you know that since I saw your dad wearing a navy coat I've felt underdressed each time we go to your parents? It's like I'm out of the loop and I know your dad never sees my coat, but each time your mother meets us in the entry way, I feel she is thinking, there is that camel coat again."

Lorelai laughed, "I know what you mean, she has that look, well now babe you can change it up a bit."

"Thank you," Luke leaned down to kiss her as he tried on his coat, "Fits perfectly!"

Rory rejoined them and admired Luke's coat, "OK mom, your turn."

Luke gave Lorelai a large coat size box and she ripped open the paper, Luke laughed and said, "At least make sure you leave the box."

Lorelai shot him a glare as she took off the top. There in front of her was a mound of pure white velvet. She ran her hand over it and it felt like water under her fingers. She stood up and the velvet became a full length cape with a hood. It looked like a snowfall as it unfurled and inside was a light barely blue faux shearling lining that allowed it to be worn outside in the winter. Lorelai and Rory both gasped as Lorelai put it on. She had never felt anything so soft and she felt so beautiful in it.

Luke looked at her and whispered, "You look beautiful." Lorelai leaned in and kissed him.

"Thank you for this, I've never owned something so amazing." She was starting to tear up again.

Luke chuckled, "I was hoping you would wear it on New Years Eve, I was thrown when you said that Michel would be gone, I thought initially that we weren't going to be able to spend the evening together and I had imagined you in this and how beautiful you would look."

"Good to know, you surprised me with how upset you were. So I'll be the most well dressed woman working at the Inn that night." Lorelai grinned.

"You're always the most beautiful, I also got you this," Luke held out a small box that looked like it was just big enough to contain a ring. Lorelai drew in a sharp breath.

"What is it?" she asked, could it be? Is this the time he'll propose? She gently opened the package and it was a jeweler's box. She held her breath and opened the box. Inside were two perfect diamond snowflake earrings. She let out her breath and said, "They're beautiful Luke thank you."

She leaned in to kiss him and felt funny to feel let down. The earrings were thoughtful, beautiful and perfect, but they weren't an engagement ring. A tear slid down her cheek and Luke looked at her, "Are you OK?" he was getting concerned.

"Oh, yes, Luke, I'm just overwhelmed that's all.

"Well, I have one more thing for you and Rory. Rory, the tall gift over there is for you, if you want to unwrap it." Rory looked again at her mom, she knew there was something going on, but she couldn't tell what it was. She got up and tore the blanket off the item and found a beautiful maple five shelf bookcase.

"Oh, Luke it's gorgeous! I know exactly where I'll put it! Thank you so much." Rory hugged Luke and looked closer at the case.

Luke looked at Lorelai with concern and said, "Can you handle one more? I'm a little concerned that I screwed up and I don't know how."

Lorelai felt bad that Luke who had given her two extremely perfect gifts was feeling like he missed, said, "Oh babe, these have been perfect, I guess I'm just emotional since this is our first Christmas together and I can't believe that you know me so well."

"Well, that's good, I was worried for a bit, and even though this is our first Christmas as a couple, you've been my friend for five years, I did notice a thing or two even when we weren't dating you know." He grinned. "Now, the lumpy one is for you if you want it."

"Of course I want it!" Lorelai squealed and jumped up to pull off the cover. There sitting in front of her is a beautiful round-back maple rocker. Lorelai is again speechless and she sits in it. "This feels like it was made for me! I've never felt a rocker that is so comfortable! Thank you Luke." She sprang up from the chair and kissed Luke.

He whispered in her ear, "It was made for you; as I carved out the seat I had very vivid memories of that part of your anatomy so I was able to shape the contours to fit very well I hope." He grinned wickedly at her.

"You made this for me?!" Lorelai squealed, "and Rory's bookcase too?"

"Yep. That was what I needed to finish up these past two nights."

"Oh, Luke! No one has ever made me anything before. It's like always having a piece of you with me."

"There are so many places that that sentence could qualify for a dirty, I'm going to leave it alone." Luke laughed, relieved that Lorelai loved what he made for her.

He also loved his new hat and while he was pleased with the pen she had gotten him at Tiffany's he wasn't sure why Rory and Lorelai found it so funny to imagine him taking orders with it.

Finally, Rory gave Lorelai her gift, She had gone through the boxes of pictures they had through the years and made a scrapbook of their life with Luke before Lorelai and he had become a couple as well as some of the pictures they had taken since. There were a lot of pages in the back that were still empty. "That's for the future when we become a family."

At that Lorelai could no longer hold back her tears and she whispered, "Thank you Rory, it's beautiful." As she looked at the blank pages she felt just as empty.

Luke made breakfast and then got a call from Caesar who said there was a problem with one of the fryers and he couldn't fix it. So Luke had to shower and head on out.

Lorelai was sitting in her rocking chair with her cape on her lap holding the scrapbook and the closed jewelry box staring out into space. Rory sat near her and said, 'Mom? What's wrong, you've been very odd all day. Luke gives you the most spectacular gifts and you look as though you're going to cry. Then I give you my gift and you do cry."

"Oh. Rory, I just feel like we're never going to get married. I think I blew it when I got mad at Luke in New York. Now he probably thinks I don't want him to take care of me at all, so he thinks I don't want to marry him."

"Oh, Mom, you thought he was going to propose today didn't you?"

"Well, it would be out of the questions would it? I mean Christmas would be a natural time if he were going to do it. I can't believe I've become one of 'those women' who can't wait for their fella to marry them."

"Mom, Luke loves you, look at what he did give you for Christmas; those are all very unique and thoughtful gifts. If he gave you a gift-card maybe you would need to worry, but I think Luke has a lot going on right now. You'll see."

"Maybe, but you know he hasn't stayed over but last night and he was asleep before I got there and gone before I woke up. I don't know Rory, I'm being silly, maybe you're right. I mean, I know Luke loves me," Lorelai forced a smile, she didn't want to worry Rory, but she felt while Luke did love her, she wasn't sure he wanted to marry her any more. It felt like her happiness was slipping out of her fingers and she didn't know how to get it back.