AN: Can you guys remind me to nevereverevereverever go back in time an write a fic altering Luke and Lorelai's history? Coz trying to keep all the dates straight (like when his parents died and when they met and all that suff) is so confusing and it's driving me nuts! That'd be great, thanks.

"Rory, what are you doing?" Luke asked, coming to stand in front of her on the other side of the counter where she stood, leaning over a book, completely oblivious to the customers all around the room, as she tried to memorize everything on the pages before her.

"Well, gee, Luke I would have thought you'd recognize the gesture." She replied, looking up and rolling her eyes at him. "Your nephew is constantly doing this, and you spent what I'm sure were many sleepless nights hoping I'd pick up a book. It's called-"

"As nice as it is to see you applying yourself in your school work, and so very often these last weeks, I might add, could you maybe postpone it tonight, at least until after the dinner rush is over? I'd really like a hand here."

"If you can live with me flunking out and getting a scary lecture from Charleston, fine."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine. Now, take those over to the table by the door, and see if that couple in the corner are ready to order, will you?"

"On it." She grabbed the plates from the window and headed off to fulfill her duty. A few minutes later after making sure all the customers had what they wanted, the two of them met up at the counter again. "Maybe you shouldn't have given Jess the night off if you need help so desperately." Rory commented, leaning against the bench beside him. "You wouldn't have so many problems if he were here."

"The only problem I'm having is with an obstinate employee and Jess doesn't have the night off, he's over at Sookie's taking care of the baby so she and Jackson can have a night out,"

"Oh, that's right, he's sucking up so that you guys will all get together and buy him a car for Christmas. Genius!"

"Go and study someplace, ok? I'm sure you'll get more done upstairs."

"But what about-"

"Caesar can help me out here for a couple minutes, everything's under control, go,"

"You don't have to tell me twice," Rory grinned, grabbing her book and flying up the stairs.

"I can't stay long," Luke explained, two hours later, entering his sister's house and removing his jacket. "I left Rory to close up. I had to drag her away from her studying and I'm sure she'd like to get back to it."

"Rory?" Liz asked, leading him back to the kitchen.

"Yeah,"

"Rory Gilmore?" she checked again, sure she'd misheard him.

"You sound very surprised, but I can assure you, she's been very interested in school work lately. But she won't tell me what's going on."

"Huh, well, maybe she's just had enough of the speeches that the less than wonderful students get and she's decided she wants the Honor Roll."

"I'm sure that's it. So, what am I doing here?" Luke asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table. TJ sat across from him, grinning a little oddly.

"Well, we have something very important to tell you. And we have to do it quick, coz TJ's about to leave for work."

"Let's see, you've already gotten married, and I heard you were pregnant a few months back, so either you're moving or you just found out you're having twins," he replied.

"Oh! Twins! Wouldn't that be amazing? Twice the amount of cute little toes and adorable outfits, aww,"

"You never told me we were having twins, Lizzie," TJ reminded her.

"No, because we're not." She explained recovering from her excitement over the idea. "No, Luke we found a doula."

"A doula. What's a doula?"

"Her name is Sandy and she's going to help me through the birth. Right here,"

"What?" he asked completely shocked.

"We're skipping the hospital," TJ explained. "Doing it here like Sookie did."

"You're having the baby in your bed too?"

"No, no, in the living room,"

"Why? You were practically catatonic watching Sookie. And when you had Jess you almost broke my hand. Lorelai actually finished the job for you, why would you do this?"

"Giving birth is supposed to be a meaningful experience and hospitals are so clinical and impersonal. Plus, remember the infections?"

"Yeah," Luke sighed. "I remember the infections. And you're ok with all this?"

"Sure! Why not?" TJ asked, getting up from his chair. "It's not like I have to actually do it." He added, "I gotta go babe."

"Ok, I'll see you in the morning." She turned to kiss him goodbye and he leaned down to kiss her stomach before moving towards the door.

"Good to know you're on board with this buddy." He added to Luke.

"Ok, so what, are you going to have baby pagers too and get everyone there to witness your miracle?"

"No pagers, well, TJ's getting one, but that's it. And given the way the kids reacted when Davey was born, I doubt they'll be interested, but I do want you there."

"Why not? I've been though all this before, I'll probably be qualified to deliver the next one all by myself at this rate."

"I think there's a little more involved in getting qualified. But sure, delivering your own baby would be a really good story to tell."

"My – What?"

"Relax. You're not having a baby. As far as I know anyway. I just figured it would make sense for Lorelai to be next and since you're with her-"

"No."

"Luke, I was only-"

"Not happening. No. End of discussion!"

"Ok, ok, I'll let your girlfriend know not to get her hopes up." Liz joked.

"I don't know why I talk to you." Luke muttered.

"Because Mom and Dad made you, remember? I was five and you were six and you decided I was too annoying so you got this genius idea to mail me to Litchfield or Bridgeport, but they stopped you and made you apologize and promise you would try and get along with me and talk out any problems we had."

"If only I'd found those extra stamps before they came back from the neighbors…"

"Oh shut up! You know you would be lost without me.

"I need to get back," Luke said, standing up and taking a few steps towards the back door. "Did you get the porch light changed?"

"Yes, TJ did that a couple of days ago." Liz replied as he flicked the switch to check it was working correctly. "You know, you don't have to worry about us so much anymore. We have someone here to protect us and provide for us, we're all set. Not that we were completely reliant on you before."

"No, I know, I don't have to, but I'm still going to, you know that. And you should also know this lock is crap." He informed her, fiddling with the door knob and inspecting the mechanism.

"Well, tell that to the guy who put that lock on. Oh, wait a minute that was you."

"Yeah, well, I'm going to get a better one and replace it some time this week."

"What did I just say?"

"That I put a crappy lock on your door?"

"You said that! You don't have to do this, Luke. I'll ask TJ."

"It's fine. I've got time and this way you won't have to bother him with it."

"Well I don't want to bother you with it either." Liz replied, but Luke didn't answer. He was standing halfway through the door and staring at the garage. "Luke?... Hello?"

"Sorry, Liz, what were you saying?" he asked, shaking his head.

"I said I don't want to bother you."

"You're not a bother. Now go sit down and rest. Look after my niece alright?"

"I will but you have to promise you won't spend every spare second you have this week over here fixing up my crappy house."

"I'll see you later Liz." Luke replied, walking through the house towards the front door.

"You didn't answer me!"

"Make sure you elevate your feet!" he called back before closing the door.

Around the same time Jess walked into the diner and collapsed at the table Rory had taken over with all her books. She glanced up at him for a moment, trying to suppress a smile.

"How'd you go?" she asked, he slumped forward in the chair, dropping his head onto his arms on the tabletop.

"Babies are exhausting!" he announced.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. And don't be all like 'everyone knows that and always has,' because I'm tired and I don't care."

"Ok, I will not point out the obvious. But tell me, aside from the exhausting, how was it? Are you all prepared now to take care of your little sister?"

"Oh, God. They aren't going to expect me to do midnight feedings are they?"

"Well, I highly doubt that, at least until she's moved onto a bottle."

"That's good to know. It wasn't that bad, I guess. But this was the first time Davey's been away from both his parents, so it was… eventful."

"He cried the whole time, didn't he?"

"The second they were out the door! I didn't think he would ever stop, and I was this close to calling my mom or yours or Luke, even, but then he finally fell asleep and then it was just a matter of waiting for Sookie and Jackson to get back.

"Can I get you a coffee? Will that help?"

"I don't think it will." Jess replied, shaking his head solemnly.

"Wow, you must have had a big night. Ok, two hot chocolates with extra marshmallows coming up." Rory announced closing her book and heading for the next room. Jess pushed himself up from his chair and followed her into the kitchen, leaning against the counter

"I can't believe they're having a baby at our house." He said watching Rory move around getting the drinks ready.

"I thought you were ok with all that. You're even preparing yourself for big brother duty by babysitting Sookie's kid. What happened?"

"No, no, I'm fine that there's going to be a baby. But they're having the baby at the house. Mom told me just before I left that she wants to do it in the living room!"

"What is wrong with her? And Sookie and I'm sure, for some strange reason, the next five or so other women who get themselves knocked up in this crazy town? There are drugs that were specifically invented to ease the pain of childbirth, why are they just disregarding this and hanging out at home to have their kids? There are hard working people all around the world who have been tortured, studying these things, what's the point of them even getting up in the morning if everyone just decides to abandon the great tradition of going to the hospital?"

"I have no idea how to answer that." Jess replied tiredly.

"Well, all I can say is that if I'm ever in that position, they're going to have to dope me up to high heaven."

"I'm sure that somewhere, some exhausted caffeine addicted student just sighed with relief, feeling as if one day, their work will be useful to someone."

"Yeah, well, if all the crazies here won't take advantage of it, someone should. Even if it won't be for another billion years,"

"That's very considerate of you."

"I think so. Let me know when the joyous event will be taking place, will you? That way I can make sure I'm as far away as humanly possible. This may involve borrowing Mom's car or Luke's, but I doubt they'll miss it, seeing as they won't need it to drive to the hospital."

"Oh, don't worry I'll be right beside you."

"Great. We can hide and pretend it's not happening together."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Then when it's all over and the baby's all cleaned up, you'll go in, pick her up and terrify me, while amazing all the others with your weird natural abilities once again."

"Here's hoping. Although, there is every chance that this one may not like me,"

"Yeah, right. She's your own flesh and blood. Why would she not like you?"

"Because she's my own flesh and blood,"

"Oh, that's just stupid." Rory objected, handing over a mug.

"Thank you very much for being supportive,"

"No, I mean, I'm pretty sure that when babies are first born, they like just about anyone who holds them and feeds them and keeps them comfortable. I really don't think you have anything to worry about."

"For the first month at least,"

"Yes, because they begin to identify everyone as the enemy and scream and cry the second they're left alone with someone after thirty days."

"I swear, he was! That first couple of times I held him, it must have just been a fluke."

"Or maybe, he just wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy."

"At least they had a nice time." Jess replied.

"Did you tell them about your freak out?"

"No, I just said it all went fine and he fell asleep."

"Well you know, that just means they'll think you're ok to help out any time they need."

"And I'm sure I will be, as long as we can ease Davey into it a little more."

"Oh, well, that's good. As long as you've got a plan,"

"Is that Luke's truck in the driveway?" Jess asked his mother as he crossed the kitchen and grabbed a drink from the fridge a couple of days later.

"Yes."

"Well, where is he? Was he taken?"

"He's in the garage," Liz replied shortly, keeping her eyes trained on the back yard.

"Taking more stuff out of his boxes?"

"He's looking at the boat."

"But he never looks at the boat. He avoids that thing every single time he's in there. When you had it moved there he was so angry, he wouldn't even go near the garage. I'm pretty sure last October was the only time he's ever been in there."

"Well he's there now, but when he comes in, I don't want you to do or say anything to spook him or make him think-"

"We're spying on him?"

"We are not spying. We are simply keeping an eye out, because we're concerned."

"You can claim that, but I'm pretty sure if he comes in and finds you hovering near the window he's going to suspect spying."

"Oh shush!"

Luke stood in the garage a few feet back from the boat his father had begun building when his children were just entering their teens. He'd not had a lot of time to work on it, and so he hadn't gotten far in the two years before his wife died, and then he abandoned the project. But he continued to pay a neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, for the use of her garage where he was keeping it.

After his death, Luke and Liz had discussed what they would do with their father's possessions, and decided that the boat could be sold off to someone who had the time and inclination to finish it.

For eleven years though Liz had kept it, Luke wasn't aware of that for six whole years, he didn't find out until a few days after she moved into her new house.

1996...

"I'm going to take this stuff to the garage," Luke decided, picking up a box of his father's belongings, things that Liz hadn't wanted to get rid of after he'd died. Sookie watched sadly, he had meant a lot to all of them, everyone in town, really and even now, it was still sad to see his things.

"No." Liz objected. "That's ok."

"Well, what, do you just want to keep it here on you kitchen table for the next twenty years?"

"I'll find somewhere for it later, Luke, don't worry about it, just rest for a minute." They'd been moving boxes and furniture all day long, some of the things Luke had kept at the house were stacked by the door waiting to be moved somewhere more permanent.

"It's fine Liz. I don't mind taking this stuff out the back. My stuff can go there too. I'll see if I can do anything about the door as well, it looks weird."

"It's jammed, lust leave it. Please."

"Why didn't you have them fix that before you bought the place?"

"I forgot?"

"Well, whatever, I'll go see if I can do anything, but I might have to come over later with some tools. It'll just take a minute."

"Luke -!"

"What's the big deal?" Sookie asked as Luke stepped down from the porch.

"He can't go in there." She hissed.

"Why?"

"He just can't... I have to stop him. Come on." They raced out the door but were too late to stop him from opening the double doors.

"What is this?" Luke demanded, turning around, having heard them coming up behind him.

"It... it's Dad's boat."

"Why is it here? I thought we told Mrs. Thompson to get rid of it years ago."

"Yeah, we did, except I didn't think that was a good idea. So I went back and asked her to keep it there until I could find somewhere else to put it. Now I have somewhere, so..."

"We talked about this Liz. Dad hadn't touched it in years, what's the point in keeping it?"

"I thought you might... one day, maybe you'd like to finish it?"

"Well I don't."

"Not now, but you never know-"

"He was the one who wanted to build a boat and he gave up on that after... I don't need a boat, I don't want a boat. We decided together we would get rid of this,"

"Luke, please calm down! We've been working all day, and we're all tired. That was an awful time for all of us. And I just didn't think we should have been making any big decisions at the time."

"It's been six years Liz. He's been dead six years. I'm sure I can make decisions now, and I could before too. I want nothing to do with this boat. But you go ahead and keep if you want. Maybe when he's older Jess will feel like staring at it every once in a while just like Dad did."

"Luke don't! Can we talk about this, please?"

"Why? I already told you what I wanted, but you ignored that, so what 's the point?" He turned and stomped away, leaving the other two standing in the garage, stunned.

PRESENT DAY

Luke took a few steps forward until he could touch the side of the boat and stood silently remembering his father. He'd been building the boat so he could take his family out on a vacation, so he could take his wife away for a while, because she loved the ocean. But then she had died and he'd given up the idea, but hadn't been able to completely give away what he'd worked on. So instead he continued to pay for the storage space until he died.

In all the years that Liz had owned her home Luke had avoided the garage as much as possible since that day he'd discovered that she'd lied to him and had Mrs. Thompson keep the boat. The last time he'd seen it had been when he was trying to prepare a gift for Rory's birthday the previous year, and it had been over a year since she and her mother had been involved in his life again.

Running his hand over the wood, Luke made a decision before turning and walking towards the house. Just as he suspected, his little sister was sitting in the kitchen, flipping through a magazine as if she hadn't even noticed he was there. But he knew that was untrue.

"Hey, Liz, I was thinking, if you don't mind me being around a little more, I might finish off the boat and see if I can find a buyer. Free up some space out there for you."

"What do I need space for?" Liz asked, keeping her face hidden behind the magazine, probably so she could conceal a huge grin. "I've never used the garage for anything but keeping the boat in,"

"Yeah, well, maybe Jess'll want to start up a rock band one day and they'll need somewhere to practice."

"Oh, I hope not. I know he loves music, but he's completely tone deaf. The day that boy picks up a guitar or steps in front of a microphone-"

"All the dogs in town will try to kill themselves?" Jess finished coming out of his room.

"Oh, um... Honey, I-"

"It's not my fault you know, I inherited Dad's lack of musical talent. And your side of the gene pool didn't do too much to help me out either, but it's ok, I'll survive."

"You have a lot of other talents, anyway,"

"Yeah, sure. So, why are we hoping I don't want to realize my dream of playing bass?"

"I was thinking of finishing off the boat so we could get it out of there," Luke explained and Liz shot her son a 'keep quiet' look.

"Really?"

"Yeah, and if you want, I thought maybe you'd give me a hand."

"Uh, sure. I guess I could give it a go."

"Great, well, I should probably-"

"Give me a lift to the diner so I'm not late for work and in trouble with the boss?"

"Have you ever been in trouble with the boss?" Liz checked. "Coz, I could have a quiet word to him for you."

"Well, no. That's ok. We've had a few issues, but we always manage to work it out."

"Good. If he gives you any trouble though, you tell me and I'll sort him out for you."

"Listen, do you want a lift or what?" Luke interrupted, looking at the two of them, irritated.

"Yeah, I'll meet you out there." Jess replied, before heading to the door.

"So, you're sure you really want to do this?" Liz asked, glancing towards the window again.

"Yeah. It's about time, anyway. I should have done it years ago."

"I understand why you didn't though."

"Well I'll be fine. It's just a boat, right?"

"It was Dad's though."

"I know that. I'll be fine, I promise."

"Good. Well, you'd better get out of here, or you... you have no one to answer to, so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

"Kirk would kill me if I weren't there to serve him his lunch."

"That's just coz he loves you so much."

"Don't say that again. Ever!"

"Ok, I'll keep it to myself from now on."

"I'd appreciate that." Luke headed towards the door, following Jess' path out to his truck while Liz stood and walked to the window, staring out into the back yard again.