A/N Thanks to all who review and read. I appreciate the feedback. It's nice to know that references are gotten or what made you chuckle so thank you to those who let me know. Hope you enjoy. BTW Emily finds out.

I own nothing.

Ch 41 Buech?

Finally it was here. In just one more day Lorelai was going to be married. Of course if her mother had anything to do with it she'd be in jail for murder or at least aggravated assault. At ten this morning Trix arrived and at ten o five Emily began calling Lorelai to get over to the mansion. The latest call was the most intense.

"Lorelai what are you doing? You're supposed to be here already! Your grandmother's driving me insane. When are you getting here?"

"Mom, I've told you fourteen times, once for each of the times you have called me that I will not be at your house until Luke and I return from our honeymoon. We have the dinner and wedding rehearsal tonight and the wedding tomorrow. You're going to have to deal with Gran by yourself or give her over to dad. I'm sure he'll love to entertain her."

"You just don't care about how I feel do you Lorelai, you never did!"

"Mom, take a deep breath, take a valium, take a shot of whisky. I can't do anything to change the situation right now. I'll be here for you when you guys get to the house for dinner. OK?"

"It'll have to do." Lorelai rolled her eyes as her mother hung up and she went into her office.

Richard and Emily arrived at the house with Trix and Emily immediately went into the kitchen in search of Lorelai. She found Sookie with Peter and David preparing the dinner but Luke and Lorelai were no where to be seen.

"Sookie, have you seen my daughter? Her grandmother wants to see her and I can imagine what she'll think that they aren't here to welcome her."

"Sorry Emily, they were here earlier but I haven't been looking, I'm trying to get these lobsters in the pots and they're not cooperating." Sookie was holding a lobster in each hand that was waving it's claws around as Peter held the lid from the large lobster pot on the stove.

Emily went into the living room where Trix was sitting, "Really Emily, can you not find your own daughter to welcome her guests? I'm amazed that they have any furniture left in the house since it seems that anyone can walk in the door. If one received their guests then one knows who is in the house. I wish to meet this man that Lorelai is marrying and I wish to meet him now."

"Yes, Mom, I'm looking for Lorelai and Luke right now, Oh, look, here's Rory. Rory why don't you visit with your great grandmother? That's a good girl." Emily cornered Rory to sit with Trix and continued to look for Lorelai and Luke.

She was looking in the den when she saw through the window Luke and Lorelai walking out by the stable. She rushed outside and ran up to them, "Where have you been? Your grandmother has been requesting a meeting with Luke since we got here and I have to look like a fool because I don't know where you are! Don't you care about how I feel?"

Lorelai was amazed at how flustered her mother was, "Mom, we're looking at the arch Luke made for the wedding. We need to transport it to the Inn tonight and Luke wanted to make sure it was ready to go. We really didn't mean to be rude. I'm sorry Gran has been giving you such a hard time. Why don't we go in and have a nice glass of wine? That should help calm your nerves."

Luke had been watching his future mother-in-law become a puddle right in front of his eyes and he was really feeling sorry for her. He never thought he'd see someone intimidate Emily. As they walked back to the kitchen he pulled out a bottle of white wine and poured Emily a glass. "Emily, why do you let her get to you?"

"Why? She's Richard's mother Luke. He worships her; in his eyes she can do no wrong. But me, I'm not Pennilyn Lott so according to Trix I can do nothing right. I keep waiting for him to realize she was right."

With that Emily finishes her wine and looks at Lorelai. "Will you and Luke please go and greet your grandmother!?!"

Luke was taken aback with Emily's comment. It was the first time he realized that Emily was concerned that she wasn't good enough for Richard. He actually felt sorry for her, which began to concern him.

Lorelai and Luke walked over to where Trix had set up court. She was sitting in the rocker Luke had made and there was only one other chair near her. Rory got up as Lorelai and Luke approached.

"Gran, how are you? It's been so long since I've seen you. I see you already met my daughter and your namesake?"

"Well, it would have been fifteen minutes sooner if you had been here to greet your guests but, yes, Lorelai, Rory and I have had a lovely chat. Now would you care to introduce me to your fiancé?"

"Yes, Gran," Lorelai said, completely letting the insult slide by. "This is Luke Danes, my fiancé until tomorrow." Lorelai grinned up at Luke who returned it.

"Well, how do you do Luke?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Gilmore." Luke extended his hand to her.

"Luke. That's a very straight forward, basic name isn't it?" Trix looked at Luke.

Luke looked straight at her and replied, "I'm a very straight forward basic kind of man so I guess it fits."

Lorelai was watching this getting a bit concerned. Trix was looking like she was ready to have a pissing contest with Luke and Lorelai wasn't sure who was going to win. "Gran, Luke and I need to greet our other guests as well. Why don't we talk more at dinner?"

"No, leave us Lorelai. I wish to have a chat with your Luke." Trix's eyes never broke contact with Luke's.

"Really Gran, I don't think…"

"Nonsense Lorelai, I promise I won't harm your Luke and you will receive him back in one piece."

Luke broke eye contact to look gently at Lorelai, "It's Ok, I'll find you when we're finished." He kissed her gently and Rory and she went off; with Lorelai looking over her shoulder the whole time.

Luke had shifted his gaze back to Trix as he sat in the chair waiting for her to begin the interrogation.

"Do you know that I'm a very successful business women, Luke?" Trix looked at him impudently.

"Yes."

"Do you know why I'm successful?" She leaned in to him.

"No."

"I know my partner's weakness. Last year I bought a Picasso oil painting for thirteen million dollars." She looked at him expecting a reaction.

Luke never changed expression and in the pause that followed he felt he was expected to comment. "Do you like Picasso?" he inquired.

"Good gracious no! But I wanted a company and the owner didn't want to sell. I knew he lusted after Picasso's and had his eye on this one painting. The owner hadn't planned on selling it but he was an old family friend and I convinced him to sell it to me for thirteen million; about one million over the current worth. The owner of the company I wanted to buy agreed to sell to me if he got the Picasso. So in the end I got what I wanted, because I was able to identify my partner's weakness and use that to my advantage."

Luke concentrated on keeping his emotions off his face. He had dealt with people like Trix before but usually only in the boardroom.

"Did you give him the painting when he sold you the company?"

"Goodness no! I did allow him to purchase it from me for fifteen million. He was such a poor negotiator, allowing his feelings for this artist to get in the way of business. A very weak man, I despise weak people." Trix looked boldly at him.

Luke said nothing but nodded, waiting for the next shoe.

"Christopher is a weak man. Do you know Rory's father?" Trix waited for Luke to comment.

"We've met."

Trix snorted, "Lucas, false modesty doesn't become you. Christopher works for you."

Luke had a very difficult time not reacting to this bit of news. Apparently Trix knew who he was. His eyes narrowed and he got a smile for the first time in this conversation when he replied, "For the time being."

Trix either ignored that statement or didn't gather the full implication of it because she went on. "Are you surprised that I know you're a Buech?"

This evening was not giving her as much pleasure as she wanted, this man was playing his cards very close to his vest and she wanted a rise out of him.

"Actually I'm a Danes, my mother was a Buech. But if I gave it any thought I would expect a woman of your position who doesn't trust anyone to have checked out my financials. Unlike Richard and Emily who trusts Lorelai enough to make her own decisions."

"Don't play coy with me Luke. Emily has no idea who you really are or else we'd be at her country club with five hundred people you'd never met or you would see again." Trix was getting her shots in, that's for sure.

Luke smiled coolly, "And yet, I'm marrying Lorelai tomorrow. While they may or may not have known who I was, they still are accepting of me because Lorelai loves me and I love her."

Trix changed the subject. "I find you fascinating Luke. In all the financial reports I received I wasn't able to find your Achilles heel. You own your diner you recently bought the building next door to your diner. You drive a pick-up truck from twenty years ago, until you and Lorelai were engaged you lived above your diner, you don't travel and you have one credit card that you pay off at the end of the month. The only time you've used any company perks have been related to Lorelai and Rory. You have no hobbies, no collections, no desires of any kind. So tell me, do you have an Achilles heel?"

Luke smiled this time it reached his eyes and he thought about Lorelai. "Yes, I would say I do."

Trix waited for a longer answer and when she realized that none was forth coming she said, "I despise weak people."

Luke was a bit surprised and waited.

"You Luke, are not weak." Trix looked at him expectantly.

After a minute Luke said, "I feel like you're waiting for me to say thank you."

Trix smiled, "But you won't?"

"Wasn't on my radar." Luke smiled coolly.

"My granddaughter is very strong willed. She needs a strong partner, this is a good match."

Again Luke looked at her and felt the conversation's over so he stood. "Mrs. Gilmore, I'm now going to find Lorelai and get a drink. May I bring one to you?"

"Call me Trix. Bring Lorelai to me. I wish to speak to her now, alone," Trix commanded.

Luke looked right at her, "I'm going to find Lorelai and spend half an hour with her. After that I will bring her back and you may visit."

"But I wish to speak to her right now." Trix pulled herself upright in her chair.

"Yeah, I got that message, but you've kept me away from her for half an hour so I want to spend a little time with her since I guess I'm not to see her in the morning. Now after that you may have her alone for fifteen minutes." Luke smiled widely at Trix.

"Fine." She settled back into her chair.

Luke went to find Lorelai and he noticed a woman who looked exactly like Trix sit down with her. He had to do a double take for a second to make sure there were two people there. When he found his bride-to-be he led her into the den and kissed her deeply. "God I missed you," he said as he breathed in her perfume and shampoo scent.

Lorelai giggled, "I've only been gone a little while. Did Gran run you through the mill?"

"She did her best, I felt like I was riding a runaway horse for a time. She knows about who my grandfather was." Luke was rocking her as they stood inside the doorway.

Lorelai's eyes got huge, "She knows you own the B-D Corporation? How?"

"She ran my financial report and found out everything that I own and that I have very few needs. What her report didn't tell her is that I have great desires which my bride-to-be fulfills." Luke grinned wickedly.

Lorelai is horrified! "She actually ran a report on you? Even my parents didn't do that! I'm going to give her a piece of my mind!"

"No! Lorelai you're not!" Luke was very forceful on this. "Lorelai, I've dealt with Trix. She and I have an understanding. If you fight my battles for me she'll see me as weak and to her that's apparently the worst sin. Right now she may not like me but she knows she can't own me. She asked me if I have an Achilles heel and I said yes, but I didn't tell her what it is. And it's you Lorelai. I'll do anything for you but please don't make it impossible for me to deal with your grandmother by fighting my battles with her. OK?"

"Ok, but I'm still angry with her. I can't believe that she did that!" Lorelai is really disgusted with her grandmother. "Even mom didn't do that. It's like Gran doesn't think I can choose an adequate husband."

"I know and now I'm going to make you even happier by telling you that your grandmother wants to talk to you alone." Luke chuckled, "She wanted me to send you over to her right away but I told her that I get you for half an hour and then I'll send you over. I figured I should get some reward for suffering through her interrogation."

Lorelai was still being rocked by Luke and was calming down a bit. "Do I really have to talk to her right now?"

"Nope, you do what you want. What is she going to do to us?" Luke smiled at Lorelai. He was overcome with the realization that in less than a day now she would be his wife. He took in a huge gulp of air and Lorelai looked at him quizzically.

"You ok babe?"

"Yeah, just the reality of tomorrow kinda hit all at once." Luke felt his eyes fill up with tears.

"Luke, please tell me these are good tears?"

Luke hugged her tightly. "They're tears of gratitude, of happiness, of sadness that my folks will never meet you or Rory and I'm just so amazed that I won't end up a bitter old man like my Uncle Louie."

He buried his face in her hair and whispered, "Thank you. I don't know if you'll ever realize how much I love you. My life was so grey without you in it. I can't wait until we're married."

Lorelai started crying too. "Oh Luke, I love you too and I never thought I'd find someone who would love me so totally. You may complain about my habits and my annoying traits, but I never felt like you want me to change them. I can't wait until tomorrow too."

Luke wiped the tears from her face and kissed her gently. "As much as I want to hide out here with you for the rest of the evening, we still have the dinner and rehearsal to get through and then you leave me for one last night."

"So I have to go talk to Gran, huh?"

"Let me walk you over there and then I have something I need to do as well."

"More secrets?"

"Nope, but I'll tell you after you have your talk. OK?"

"Ok. Let's go visit the she-wolf."

Luke walked Lorelai over to her grandmother who was still talking to the woman who looked just like her. Lorelai introduced her to Luke as Gran's cousin Marilyn.

As he was leaving he whispered to her, "Can you say Patty Duke?"

Lorelai couldn't contain the laughter of surprise from Luke making a pop reference. Trix looked at her sharply as Luke said, "You have her for fifteen minutes, then I come back to reclaim her." He winked at Trix who smiled a true smile at him for the first time.

Luke made a beeline for the kitchen to get a large glass of white wine and then he started his mission. He saw Emily talking to Liz and Jess and went to save her. "Emily, I need to talk to you please."

Emily looked at him gratefully. "So Luke, did you survive Trix?" she asked as he steered her towards the den.

"Yes, she is very formidable though, I can see why she would get to you."

"So how much am I going to pay for you marrying Lorelai? Is she going to make insipid comments for the next two weeks while she's here? Of course she is, look how much wealth of material she'll have to work with?"

Luke steered her to a chair and handed her the very large glass of wine. As she realized the size of the glass she said, "Oh, my God what happened?"

Luke looked at her and said, "Emily I have some information that you need to hear especially since Trix has this information and she thinks you don't which you don't but you will when I tell you so before she tells you you'll already know."

"For God's sake Luke just get on with it." Emily took a huge gulp of wine.

"Right, right. Well, you remember my mom died when I was young and I never got to know my grandparents because dad's died when I was a baby and well, mom's parents cut her off from them because she married my dad." Luke was watching Emily carefully and so far she seemed to be with him.

"I never knew my grandparents and my dad never mentioned anything about them but my mom gave me her maiden name as my middle name. So tomorrow the minister will use my full name, Lucas Buech Danes." Luke looked at Emily as she was taking this in.

She looked at him and said, "Yes? So your middle name is beak?"

"Well, yes Emily, but it's spelled B U E C H." Luke waited for the connection which was surprisingly slow.

But it hit, Emily's eyes flew open. "You're grandfather was Randall Buech!?!"

"Shhh Emily! Yes."

"Luke, don't kid me. If you're grandfather was Randall and your middle name is Buech then you would own.."

"Buech – Danes Corporation. Yes."

"Luke why wouldn't you tell me this? I could have introduced you to all of my society friends and I would have been the envy of all of Hartford, hell all of the East Coast! What in heavens name would make you keep this from me? Does Lorelai know?"

"Last question first, of course Lorelai knows. She's known for quite sometime now. As to you first question Emily I'm going to ask you to stretch just a little and actually look at me. Would I in any way shape or form be comfortable with your society friends?"

Emily who had been envisioning all of the parties she would have to hold to properly introduce her new son-in-law to society heard what Luke was saying. She turned to look at him and saw him in a nice sweater with a pair of new dark jeans she was sure Lorelai picked out and her face fell. "You're not going to go to any of the parties we go to are you? You wouldn't even go to a party I'd throw, would you?"

Luke smiled at her warmly, probably for the first time since they had met. "Emily, I won't be going to any parties. If you chair a charity event I will always contribute to it, if Lorelai insists I may attend it for half an hour. But I like my life simple I love your daughter and your granddaughter. I'd hope that'd be enough for you."

"I assume she'll never want for anything?" Emily sighed. If she didn't get to rub her friend's faces in this information at least she was sure her daughter and granddaughter wouldn't have to settle.

"Emily, I'd capture the moon for Lorelai if that's what she wanted. I'd walk over ground glass to give Rory what she needs. Just don't ask me to become something that rejected my mother. You know sons and their mothers." Luke grinned widely at Emily who actually snorted a laugh. Luke wondered if she was getting a more than a little buzzed.

"Yeah, tell me about it. Well at least Trix can't complain about you marrying Lorelai. How did she find out anyway?"

"She ran a financial report on me."

"Damn, why didn't I think of that?"

Then Emily saw Luke's frown and she backtracked. "I mean, bad Trix, what a terrible thing to do, not trusting Lorelai. Bad, bad Trix" Emily giggled.

Luke rolled his eyes and considered taking the rest of the wine away, but then he thought about the fact that the wedding was in the evening and Emily could use a good reason to sleep in. He decided to give Emily a small gift.

"Emily, you know that there is one family event that I'll have to go to, Lorelai and I've already attended it once so there is precedence."

Emily's eyes lit up, "The Christmas party! You and the family come to the Christmas party each year. Now everyone will kill to get my invitation! No one else will have Randall Buech's grandson at their party, just Emily!" Emily giggled again.

"Luke you know you're a good son-in-law. I'm sooooooo very sorry for the way I treated you. I know Lorelai loves you and you love her. I'm just afraid that she'll leave me since she has you now. I've never seen her love someone so much, she doesn't need me anymore." Emily started to tear up and Luke searched fruitlessly for a Kleenex box.

"Emily, Richard loves you, Lorelai loves you Rory loves you and none of them are going to leave you. I wish you knew how important you are to Lorelai. She wouldn't get so upset if she didn't love you and care about what you said and what you think. I know Richard would be lost without you in his life. If he had wanted Pennilyn Lott he would have married her, he isn't a weak man either and I know he even would have gone against his mother no matter what she might have wanted." Luke was trying to figure out how to comfort this woman with whom he found himself in a brand new truce. He was failing miserably.

Emily whispered to him, "She told Richard not to marry me. On the day of our wedding, she told him. What if he realized that he shouldn't have married me?"

Luke took a deep breath, "Emily, I know Richard and I think it's safe to say that he would cease to exist without you in his life, just like I couldn't breathe if Lorelai left me. Emily, for Richard and me our women are our Achilles heel, don't let anyone, including his mother make you doubt that. OK?"

Emily looked up at Luke and even in her wine induced fog was struck by his sincerity. His ability to forget all the horrid things she has said to him amazed her and she saw what a true gift Lorelai had in this man. She sniffled a bit and collected herself. "Thank you Luke. So Trix thinks I don't know huh? Well, let's play along for a while, what do you say?"

"I say we let her run with the line and when she has enough we pull her into the boat and serve her for dinner." Luke grinned widely.

"Is that one of those diner metaphors?" Emily asked as she tottered towards the door.

"Close enough." Luke escorted Emily out into the dinning room.