A/N Thank you for those who took the time to review and read. They are appreciated. This is the second part of the dinner and there will be a day chapter prior to the wedding evening. To those who are still with it, thank you.

I own nothing

Ch 42 Pool House on the Rise

While Luke was informing Emily about the information Trix had on him, Lorelai was enduring her grandmother's inquisition.

"So, Lorelai, this Luke of yours will make a fine husband."

"Uh, thanks Gran, I'm glad you got along with Luke." Lorelai wasn't sure where this conversation was going to go, but she wasn't going to offer anymore information than she had too.

"Yes, he will be able to keep up with you quite nicely. Not like that boy who's Rory's father; weak willed, insipid and very much a follower. Your Luke on the other hand is a visionary within the business community. Did you know that, Lorelai?" Trix was fishing to see if Lorelai knew about Luke or if he had lied to her.

Lorelai saw the bait and decided to spring the trap, she thought that was the metaphor Luke had used before or something like that, maybe it was she saw the cheese and decided to sever the line?

Whatever, she looked at Trix and said, "Gran, the last time you saw Christopher he was thirteen years old. Of course he was a child, now he's got a full time job and he says he's doing well. As for Luke, I know that Tom has told me that he's a natural at running a corporation, but what Tom meant about that I don't know."

Trix's eyes narrowed and she pulled her self up in her chair. "Christopher is about to get his job yanked out from under him because he's never taken anything seriously including his responsibility as a father. Your Luke has instituted a value driven base to his company that has increased employee investment. This means that the employees are more driven to do well and be productive during their time. This also leads to fewer accidents which in turn lowers insurance premiums and claims."

Lorelai is stunned that her grandmother knows so much about Luke and his company. She is also really getting pissed and although she has promised Luke about not fighting his battles, she is having a hard time keeping her feelings in place. "Gran, I'm pleased that you like Luke. Even if you didn't it wouldn't make a difference in me marrying him, but it is nice to have him accepted in my family."

"However, I don't feel right talking to you about things I know Luke wouldn't have brought up with you, so I can only deduce that you found them out by going behind my back. I'm happy that you're here to celebrate one of the most amazing days of my life, but please let's move off from Luke's company and Christopher. You can ask me about our home, Rory or Jess, how they like Chilton, how I enjoy running the Independence Inn, or any number of things, but not this. OK?"

Trix looked triumphant. "You see, I told Luke you were strong willed and needed a strong partner. This is a good match. Very good for the Gilmore bloodline, your children will be strong, independent."

Lorelai was so ready to be finished with this conversation and then she saw her mother and Luke emerging from the hallway to the den. She wasn't sure, but it looked like her mother was a bit tipsy. Luke was heading towards her then he stopped to talk to Emily a bit more. Finally he was headed her way and she would be freed from this nightmare conversation with her grandmother.

Emily was tottering towards the dining room when she whipped around and 'whispered' to Luke, "When should we tell Richard!?!"

Luke cringed, "He knows Emily."

"What!?! How?" Emily was trying to figure out if Luke had left during their conversation in the den, how else could Richard have known?

"When we bought Hayden I needed an insurance review to make sure everything was covered and we weren't under insured. Richard was a logical choice; he's one of the best in the business. In his review he naturally found out who the owner was but we'd asked him to sign a confidentiality waver that didn't allow him to discuss the ownership of the company with anyone. It's my fault Emily, not Richard's." Luke was hoping this wasn't going to blow up right before the wedding and he was getting more concerned.

Emily looked like she was processing this information and she looked at Luke with a very angry glare. "Richard knew?"

Luke nodded waiting for the next shoe, which thankfully never dropped.

"I need a drink," Emily said. Luke nodded towards the large wine glass in her hand that was still a fourth full. She looked at her hand a bit surprised and proceeded to down the rest. Luke took this as a good time to leave in search of Lorelai and he saw her looking at him as if she needed to be saved.

Luke strode up to Trix and Lorelai and said, "Excuse me Mrs. Gilmore, it seems that dinner is just about ready. If I might escort my fiancée I have my nephew to escort you into the dinning room."

Trix looked up and calmly said, "That's all right young man, my son will escort me into dinner. Richard?"

Richard started towards Trix when Luke said, "Yes, Mrs. Gilmore that would be proper if Emily wasn't here this evening, but she is and I would assume Richard will be escorting her. Isn't that right Richard?"

Richard looked quite surprised but then he saw Emily and noticed the forlorn look on her face and said, "Quite right Luke; can't leave our women to face the dinning room by themselves. Trix, Jess is a fine escort for you. Emily, let's be seated for dinner dear." Richard took Emily's arm and she leaned on him a bit too much.

Jess escorted Trix, and Luke wasn't sure who looked more unhappy about it. He and Lorelai were the last to leave the living room.

Lorelai looked at Luke and whispered, "Is my mother soused?"

"You have no idea. I had to tell her what your grandmother already knew. I couldn't let even your mother be blindsided by Trix, even she didn't deserve that."

Lorelai looked up at him with awe. "After the way mom treated you, you had every right to let her twist in the wind. But you're so noble and upright you couldn't see even Emily Gilmore in such pain, even if she deserves it. You're one of the best men I've ever known."

Luke was feeling very uncomfortable since he knew he wasn't everything Lorelai said, but he was grateful she felt that way. "Lorelai, I'm not that good, but thank you for thinking it. I know that loving you has made me want to become the person you think I am."

"Hey, Gran said that Chris is about to get fired. Is that right?"

"I've given his supervisors complete control on that front. He knows what's expected of him, and he's been told that if he doesn't meet these expectations then he'll lose his job. How he plays that out is up to him. If he's losing his job, I haven't been informed of it." Luke hated to talk about this with Lorelai because it could put both of them in an uncomfortable position with Rory.

They were right outside the dinning room and Lorelai held Luke back for a second, "I'm sorry Luke, I know you fight to keep this separate and I know that whatever happens that Christopher's made his own decisions. Now, do you think we can focus on this dinner and the rehearsal so tomorrow we can get married?" She grinned widely at Luke who leaned in and gently kissed her.

"You bet."

They all sat down to an amazing dinner that Sookie put together of Lobster and filet mignon. Lorelai looked at her plate and sighed. Luke noticed and whispered, "I thought you'd be pleased. You love Lobster and steak don't you?"

Lorelai nodded and whispered back, "But the mercury levels in seafood can keep me from getting pregnant and I though we'd start trying this next week. So I shouldn't eat it. Even though I've cut way back on beef I probably should only eat part of my steak for the same reason."

Luke chuckled, "Yeah, I read bout that also. That's why I had Sookie order these lobsters from a lobster farm in Norway. They were raised in clean saltwater. No mercury in them." Lorelai's eyes lit up and she squealed as she started to rip into the lobster.

Rory looked at her mom and said, "What are you doing Mom? Reenacting the restaurant scene from Splash?"

"Hush you, I'm enjoying one of the few pleasures that hasn't been taken away from me." Luke just grinned at her enthusiasm.

After dinner they were talking about how they would load the chuppah on Luke's truck when Richard clinked his glass. "I would like to propose a toast to Luke and Lorelai. As a father, I never thought I'd feel any man was worthy of my little girl. For a time I thought Lorelai thought that too."

Everyone chuckled and Lorelai said, "Hey!" Luke held her hand and she smiled at him.

"Luke and Lorelai, I know you are both people who value family above all else. You sacrifice for those you love and never think twice. Lorelai your mother and I were stumped about what to give you and Luke as a wedding gift. Normally the bride's family pays for the wedding, but you and Luke took care of that. You also have a beautiful home and Luke has some secret plan for your honeymoon, so those were out. Your mother and I thought about what would suit you as a family, because that is what you already are. So we decided to give you something that you probably wouldn't have purchased for yourselves, not because you couldn't but because you wouldn't have thought it necessary. So without further ado, here is your gift from your mother and me." Richard handed Lorelai a very small box that when she opened it contained a car key.

"Dad?"

Lorelai could feel the tears start to build in the back of her throat. Luke smiled at her and whispered, "Want to go see what it looks like?" Lorelai couldn't speak she just nodded.

They led the way out into the driveway and there sat a brand new 4 door 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport in a dark green color. Lorelai looked at her dad in amazement. "Mom, Dad, thank you! I'm amazed that you did this."

Emily who had sobered up during dinner said, "Nonsense Lorelai, you and Luke have talked about having children, where exactly were you going to put them? With you two, Rory and Jess the Jeep is filled to capacity. Add a baby and someone has to sit on the roof. Now while this isn't the type of car I'd be seen dead in, your father and I thought it suited you and Luke."

Lorelai laughed, "Somewhere in that backhanded compliment I know you're trying to actually think of us and I thank you mom. That means more to me than the car, but thanks for the car too." Luke chucked as well. Rory and Jess were all over the vehicle and Trix looked a bit disdainful which only increased Emily's enjoyment.

Luke reached out his hand to Richard and Emily as well. "Thank you both of you. Lorelai's right, I know that it's not what you would've chosen to buy but it does suit us perfectly. The fact that you picked it out with us in mind means a great deal. And the truth of the matter is we probably wouldn't have thought about it until the baby was coming home from the hospital and someone would've had to take the bus home." Luke was very happy that Richard and Emily had finally understood that he and Lorelai had a different life, not better or worse then theirs, just different.

"Well, let's get the rehearsal on the road shall we? We've got a wedding to get to!" Richard started to herd them back into the house to get ready to go.

When they reached the inn a lot of the preparations had begun. The tent was up and the heaters were blowing hot air to help with the temperature. That evening it was about thirty two degrees Fahrenheit and the weather forecast wasn't much better for the following day. The trees already had the twinkle lights in them, however only a few of the trees were lit. Jackson and Luke and Jess moved the chuppah in between the tent and the lake. Rev. Hackett was waiting for them inside and they all walked through the logistics quickly.

Trix had stayed inside and when she saw Emily come through the doorway she latched onto her. "So Emily, I'm quite surprised that you didn't have this soirée at your country club, since Lucas is a Buech after all." Trix waited for Emily's reaction.

Emily looked like the cat that swallowed the canary, "Now Mom, you saw how Luke and Lorelai live. How could you possibly think that?"

Trix was getting ready to gleefully watch Emily have an attack. "Really Emily, I ran a financial report on Lucas, his grandfather was Randall Buech and he owns B-D Corporation. I would have thought you'd know that." She smiled evilly.

Richard had just come in and heard his mother talking to Emily. He almost choked when he heard her but he was even more surprised to hear Emily's response.

"Oh, I know that Mom, I just meant that you saw how Lorelai and Luke are tonight. Do you really think they would've been comfortable with six hundred people whom they've never met to be present at the most intimate time in a couple's life? I'm very surprised at you for running a financial report on Luke though. If Lorelai finds out I'd be prepared for a fallout, her father and I trust her and wouldn't have thought of doing that."

Emily smiled sweetly as Richard looked on. He realized that Emily had known before Trix told her, although he wasn't sure how. He wondered if he was sleeping in the pool house tonight.

"That's true Trix. Emily and I have come to know Luke and appreciated him for who he is before we found out who his family was. He's a very humble and honorable man who loves both Lorelai and Rory very much. I'm surprised that you didn't just ask about him. I know he would've been forthright in his answers."

"A trait his father-in-law could use." Emily muttered under her breath. Richard started to think about what he'd need for the pool house that night and would he have to worry about additional evenings.

The rest of the wedding party came into the main hall and Sookie was talking to the wait staff about how the next day was going to be handled. Luke really didn't want to tie people down to tables but Sookie was insistent that the duck be plated so they compromised that the first part of the evening and dessert would be buffet and then the main course would be sit down. Trix huffed that it was so common and unbecoming of their lineage.

Luke looked at her squarely and said, "Perhaps, but this is how we do things."

Trix could see he wasn't going to argue anymore, they had set their line and they we're crossing over it so she said, "Fine."

She was itching to figure out what this man's downfall was. It was starting to consume her.

Luke nodded and Emily whispered to him, "How did you do that?"

Luke smiled at her and said, "Trust your worth Emily. She can't take away what you know is true."

Emily looked at him and shook her head. He was always so soft with Lorelai but she saw how he stood up for her and Rory when they were attacked. Then he looked like a brick wall, impenetrable.

Lorelai was watching this too and she was amazed at the same thing. He would always cave whenever she really wanted something even if he didn't want to do it or he thought it wouldn't be great for her, like coffee and junk food. But in business or dealings with others he stood his ground. She knew she'd have to watch to make sure she didn't abuse it.

Finally it was time to go home and when they woke up it would be their wedding day. Luke drove Lorelai and Rory home and they lingered on her front porch. "I don't want you to go home tonight. I want to wake up with you and know we're together." Lorelai whispered.

"Lorelai, one more day and then we're together forever. When you get up in the morning know that I'm going to be thinking about you. I'll be going on errands in the morning just for you. I'm going to put on that monkey suit just for you, I'm going to be nice to Kirk just for you." Luke smiled at her. "We're always together no matter what happens in life. I'm going to be the one at the end of that aisle in the cheesy grin, watching the most beautiful woman who ever lived promise to love me forever."

Lorelai leaned in and kissed him deeply. "I love you."

"Right back atcha." Luke smiled widely. "I'm gonna go. Get a good night's sleep, tomorrow's gonna be a long day and without tons of coffee you're going to need your rest." He kissed her one more time and took off.

Over at the Gilmore's Richard and Emily have entered their bedroom. "Emily, I'm truly sorry for not telling you about Luke. I couldn't. He wanted us to appreciate him for who he was, not who his family was. You have to know that if I could have told you I would've." Richard was getting concerned. Emily wasn't saying a word.

She turned to look at him and smiled. "Richard, do you know why Luke told me tonight?" Richard shook his head.

"Because your mother had told him she ran a background check on him and he knew she would use it as she tried to, to get a rise out of me." Richard nodded not sure what to say.

"After all the nasty things I said and all the ways I tried to complicate his and Lorelai's life, Luke still looked out for me. I know I wouldn't have done that for him. At least before this evening, I may not in the future. But he was noble and honorable and knew Trix was just going to use her information to humiliate me. He couldn't let that happen. I believe that if you knew Trix had this information that you would also have told me, because you are also noble and honorable. But if you ever pull something like this again you do understand that we're going to have to have the pool house redecorated for the amount of time you will be sleeping there?" Emily smiled at him.

"Yes dear."

"As long as we understand each other, now, let's get to bed. Our daughter is getting married tomorrow."