Thank you for your continued support! :) Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 7
"I'm so glad you're ok..." Lorelai said walking towards Luke.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"What?" Lorelai said surprised.
"What are you doing here?" He repeated gruffly.
"Luke..." Lorelai said softly, reaching for his hand but was surprised when he pulled it away.
"You certainly didn't think much of me before this happened so why would you care now?" Luke said.
"I was angry..." She said quietly.
"Yeah and you always take it out on me when I'm not the one who's done anything wrong." He said.
"I'm sorry..." Lorelai said, feeling tears prick her eyes.
"Yeah and then you apologise and assume everything will be ok." He said gruffly.
"Luke please..." She said tremulously.
"I'm sick of it, Lorelai." He said tiredly. "Normally I put up with it and forgive you but...you called me a bad parent..."
"I didn't mean it." Lorelai said quietly. "You know I didn't!"
"Maybe so but you still said it." He said. "You know how insecure I've been about my parenting in the past and it hurt that the one person I thought who believed in my capabilities as a father told me I was bad."
"Luke..." She pleaded, blinking back some tears.
"I'm tired.." He sighed. "The doctor said I needed rest so..."
"You want me to leave?" Lorelai asked shocked.
"I'm tired. And I don't need any stress at the moment..." He said.
"Ok..." Lorelai said quietly. "If that's what you want..."
"It's what I want." He said quietly.
"I'll get going then." She said blinking back more tears. "The..uh..the girls send their love and so does Jess. I'm sure they'll come and visit tomorrow." She said quietly.
"Ok." Luke said.
"I guess...uh...I'll see you tomorrow as well?" She said glancing at him.
"Sure." He sighed.
"Ok..uh..bye then, I guess..." She said quietly.
"Bye." He said quietly.
Lorelai blinked back tears as she left the room. She knew she had messed up but she didn't know how she was going to fix it. Of course she didn't think he was a bad father. He was the opposite. She knew how devoted he was to April and Mia and to Charlotte and Rory. She was tempted to go back into the room to make things right but she knew Luke was right about him needing rest and no extra stress so she reluctantly walked away and left the hospital.
Meanwhile, Luke was lying in his hospital bed staring up at the ceiling. The last few hours had been a whirlwind for him and it passed like a blur. He could remember the fight with Lorelai clearly and the hurt he felt when she called him up about his parenting. And then the next thing he remembered was, weirdly, Taylor's voice telling him he would be ok and then him ending up here. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Lorelai, please..." He sighed, thinking she had come back. He just wasn't in the mood to talk to her.
The door opened, though, and he was surprised to see April peek her head round. "Hi dad..." She said.
"April!" He said surprised. "How did you know...?"
"Charlotte called me when they were on the way to the hospital. She told me what happened..." She said quietly, coming into the room, surprisingly followed by a boy who Luke didn't recognise.
"Yeah..uh.." He said trying to focus on his daughter and not on the strange boy with his daughter. "I'm ok." He assured her. "It was just angina."
"Just angina? Dad, that's big!" April said her eyes widening. "It could...it could lead to other heart problems like...like a heart attack." She exclaimed worried.
"April..." The boy said softly and it didn't go unnoticed by Luke when he subtly put his hand on her back.
"Sorry..." April said quietly. "I just...when I got the call from Charlotte saying you'd been rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack, I was so scared..."
"Hey come here..." Luke said softly, holding his arms out.
"It won't hurt you to hug you?" She asked.
"I think it will be worth it." He smiled softly.
April smiled and gave her dad a gentle hug. "You're really ok?" She asked.
"The doctor has prescribed me medication to help and he's assured me I can control it. I just need to keep a healthy lifestyle." He said.
"Have they met you? You're like the healthiest person I know." April said smirking slightly.
Luke chuckled slightly. "Well...I could probably do some more exercise to be fair." He said.
"I'm just glad you're ok. You don't want to know what was going through my head on the way here. I'm sure I drove Jamie mad." April admitted.
"Jamie?" Luke said, hoping to be introduced to the boy.
"Oh...yeah. Dad, this is Jamie. He's..uh..a friend from MIT. We were hanging out when I got the call from Charlotte. He offered to drive me." She said.
"Hanging out?" He questioned.
"Uh...yeah..." April said nervously.
Luke glanced between them but then sighed. "It's nice to meet you, Jamie." He said.
"Yeah, you too." Jamie said. "I'm going to get us something to drink. Leave you two to talk a bit." He then told April, sensing they might want some time together alone.
"Thanks." April smiled gratefully at him.
"I'll see you in a bit." He said, squeezing her arm before leaving.
"So Jamie huh?" Luke said after Jamie left the room.
"He's just a friend..." April said nervously.
"Just a friend huh? Just a friend who drives you all the way from MIT to see me in hospital? Just a friend who you happen to be hanging out with at the time? Just a friend who is definitely acting like he's more of just a friend to you?" Luke said.
April sighed. "We've been going out for a couple of months." She admitted.
"Uh huh." Luke said.
"And he didn't drive me all the way from MIT. Our classes were cancelled today and tomorrow so I decided to take him to mom's for a long weekend." She admitted.
"Your mom knows about him?" Luke asked.
"Yeah..." April said quietly.
"And you didn't tell me because...?" He said, slightly hurt.
"I'm sorry." April said sincerely. "But I wasn't sure how to. I know you haven't exactly been supportive of Rory and Charlotte's boyfriends..." She said hesitantly.
"I'm supportive of them!" He said defensively.
"Now, yeah! But in the past. I heard about you fighting Dean. And you took a while to warm up to Tristan." She said. She sighed. "I didn't mean to hide it from you, dad. I wanted to tell you. I just...I really like Jamie and I don't want anything to mess it up..."
"You mean you don't want me to mess it up for you." Luke sighed.
"I didn't mean that." April said quickly. "Dad..."
"It's fine." He sighed. "I haven't exactly been there for all your life. The first 12 years, I was absent so I don't exactly have the right to dictate your life now." He said.
"What?" April said confused. "Dad, that wasn't your fault...You know I don't blame you for that."
"I know that. I just...I shouldn't be surprised that you don't tell me everything. I know I'm not the greatest dad and I know I should probably call you more and make more time to visit you..."
"Dad, stop!" April exclaimed. "Where is this all coming from?" She said confused.
"Nowhere. I've just been thinking about something Lorelai said..." He said.
"Lorelai told you that you're a bad dad to me?" April said surprised.
"No..well...We were fighting." He sighed. "I know she didn't really mean it but..."
"Dad, you've been an amazing dad to me." April said softly.
"Stop it..." He said waving her off.
"I'm being honest! You found out about me when I was 12 and instead of trying to avoid your responsibility, you made the effort to get to know me. I know you were nervous because it was all new to you but you still did it even though you were obviously out of your comfort zone. And since then, you've been there for me. You do ring me a lot and I know you haven't visited me a lot at MIT but I've just started and I know you've got a lot going on here. I get that. But just because you don't visit as much as you want, that doesn't mean you're a bad dad. I love you and I know you're always going to be there for me whenever I need you." She said softly.
"I will be." Luke nodded.
"You're a great dad. I class myself lucky to have you as my dad." April said sincerely. "I'm sorry I hid Jamie from you but I just...I was nervous to tell you about him. I mean, you have to admit you will be overprotective to Mia when she eventually finds a guy she likes."
"Mia's not dating until she's 30." Luke said, smirking slightly.
April smirked. "And there's my point."
Luke sighed. "Yeah maybe you're right. I'm sorry I made you think you couldn't talk to me about Jamie. I can't help being overprotective of you all but it's only because I love you."
"I know." She assured him. "I do want you to get to know Jamie though."
"You do?" He said.
"Of course! I want you to like him. I respect your opinion, dad. I just...I really like Jamie. And I think you'd like him too, if you gave him a chance." She said earnestly.
Luke smiled slightly at that. "Well...how about when you come to visit next weekend, you bring Jamie along if he's free? It will give me time to get to know him."
"Really?" April said excitedly.
"Sure. I'd like to get to know the guy who obviously makes my daughter happy." He said.
April smiled. "Thanks dad." She said softly. "And I am sorry I didn't tell you." She said sincerely.
"Forget it." He smiled softly.
"And don't even dare to doubt your abilities as a dad again. Or else you'll have me to answer to." April warned.
"Duly noted." Luke said smirking slightly. He then smiled softly at her. "Thanks for coming, kid."
"I love you, dad." She said softly, giving him another hug.
"I love you too." He smiled.
"And whatever it is that has gone on between you and Lorelai, I hope you make up. You two belong together." She said.
"You think so?" Luke asked.
"Yeah, she makes you happy. Or she did..." April said cautiously. "Maybe she said some hurtful things, I don't know what went down between you but can you really imagine a life without her?" She said.
Luke sighed. "No." He admitted.
"I'm not saying you have forgive her straight away but life's too short, dad. Today proved that." She said quietly, glancing at him.
Luke sighed. "Yeah..."
Just then Jamie reentered. "Hey, they didn't have much of a choice so I just got us coffee..." He said handing a cup to April. He glanced at Luke. "Sorry, I wasn't sure if you were allowed anything."
"It's ok. I'm not thirsty anyway." Luke said. He glanced at April. "You drink coffee now?"
"Yeah well...maybe Lorelai has more influence on me than I thought." She shrugged, smirking slightly.
"Hmm.." Luke said but couldn't help but smirk. He always did like how close April and Lorelai were.
"We should get going, it's getting late." Jamie told April. "And we have to get back to your mom's."
"How you stay at the diner apartment tonight?" Luke suggested. "It's closer and...well, it would mean I would get to see you tomorrow." He said.
"Really?" April said. "You'd let, well, both of us stay there?" She asked surprised.
Luke glanced at Jamie and then back at his daughter. "Well, if you promise there will be no funny business..." He said.
"Dad!" April exclaimed, blushing embarrassingly.
"What? There must be some perks of being an overprotective dad, right?" Luke said smirking slightly.
"Great." April said dryly.
Jamie laughed. "I can assure you nothing like that will happen." He said.
Luke glanced at Jamie and then nodded. "Well, then you're both welcome to stay there if you want."
"Thanks." April smiled.
"Yeah cheers." Jamie nodded.
"I should probably get some rest now." Luke admitted. "But thanks for coming."
"We'll come and visit tomorrow." April promised. "I love you dad." She said giving him a final hug.
"I love you too. See you tomorrow kid. And it was nice to meet you." Luke told Jamie.
"You too." He nodded.
The following morning, Lorelai watched as she stood by the door while Luke was talking with Charlotte, Rory, Sam and Jess. Mia and Jack were sat on the bed next to him as well. April and Jamie had just arrived as well. She watched as Luke conversed with her daughters, joking with them, and then making Mia laugh as well. She watched as April smiled happily at him, whilst holding Jamie's hand. She and Luke hadn't really talked yet apart from saying hello but she was hoping they would be able to. Rory had told them about her decision not to go to Afghanistan as well and it just made her feel worse about her fight with Luke.
After a while, everyone said their goodbyes letting Luke know they would check in on him once he was discharged that day. Jess also assured him that he was looking after the diner in his absence which Lorelai could see had touched Luke. Soon it was just her and him left in the room. "I can leave as well if you want..." She said nervously.
Luke glanced at her and sighed before shaking his head. "You don't have to." He said.
"So it was nice April came. I'm sorry I didn't even think of calling her." She said quietly.
"Well your daughters obviously think I'm a better dad to her than you do." Luke said. He saw Lorelai's hurt expression. "I'm sorry. I promised myself I wouldn't start it all up again." He sighed.
"No, it's ok. I deserve it." Lorelai sighed. She went to sit down next to him. "You were right. Everything you said to me, you were right. I did treat Max badly..."
"Lorelai..." Luke sighed.
"No, it's ok. You were right! My heart was never in it with him but I kept leading him on and then I hurt him in the most horrible way ever. I never should have agreed to marry him. It was wrong." She sighed. She glanced up at him. "And you were right that I always take things out on you and it's unfair on you. And the things I said to you yesterday..."
"Lorelai..."
"Luke, you are the best dad to my kids that I could ever ask for. April and Mia adore you and so do Charlotte and Rory. You were there for Charlotte and Rory when they were younger when you had no obligation to be but you were and it meant the world to me. You stepped up when you found out about April and you're amazing with Mia." She said. "I am so so sorry that I made you doubt that. I was angry and I know that's not an excuse but you know I say things I regret when I'm angry." She said. She sighed. "I know that doesn't make it right but I am really sorry." She said sincerely.
Luke sighed. "Well, to be fair, you were right about something. I know I've been working a lot lately and then by the time I get home, Mia's in bed."
"That's not your fault though. With Caesar being off ill, you have to do the cooking as well. I know you've been under a lot of stress with that and I shouldn't have thrown that in your face. I know you'd rather be home with Mia and she knows that too." Lorelai said.
"Well things will change." Luke said.
"Luke, I didn't mean for you to make you feel like this...I know how much the diner means to you and how much you enjoy running it." Lorelai said.
"I know and I do enjoy it but I do realise that I don't have to do everything all the time." Luke shrugged. "I want to spend more time with you and Mia and with Jess wanting to work at the diner while Charlotte's pregnant, I was thinking maybe I could give him a bit more than just some shifts." He said.
"Like what?" Lorelai asked interested.
"Well I was thinking about maybe making him assistant manager or something. So he runs the diner while I'm not there. He knows it inside out anyway and he would probably not turn down a bit extra pay." Luke said.
"No, I'm sure he wouldn't. But you're really sure about this?" Lorelai asked softly. "This isn't about what I said about you and Mia and your parenting...Because Luke, I am really sorry..."
"I know." Luke said. "This isn't about that, I mean not wholly. But even the doctor said I need to reduce my stress load. If we don't me to end up here again, I think I should probably follow his orders."
"Yeah you should." Lorelai said quietly. "Because yesterday, when I got that call from Taylor, it was the scariest moment of my life. I thought...I thought the last thing you would have heard from me was to drop dead..." She said ashamed. "I...I was so worried."
Luke sighed and finally took hold of her hand. "I'm not going anywhere." He said softly.
"Really?" Lorelai said quietly. "You're...uh...you're really not going anywhere? Like...to the apartment or somewhere?" She said nervously.
Luke let out a breath. "I'm not going to lie and say it didn't hurt when you told me what you did but you're my wife, Lorelai. April asked whether I could imagine a life without you and I realised I couldn't. I know we've had our ups and downs but I do love you. You can't keep taking stuff out on me though. It's not fair."
"I know and I promise I will change." Lorelai said sincerely. "I love you so much, Luke. I can't imagine life without you either and I don't want to."
"Come here." He said softly.
Lorelai let out a shaky breath, blinking back some tears, before leaning forward to hug her husband. "I am so sorry, Luke." She said tremulously.
"I know." Luke said softly.
"We're going to be ok, right?" She said nervously.
Luke smiled softly at her and leant forward to give her a kiss. "We're going to be ok." He assured her.
"I love you." She said sincerely.
"I love you too." He said.
So I hope you liked it! :) Please keep the reviews coming as I love reading what you think! Also, if you have any ideas for storylines, feel free to PM me. I will gladly read them. :) Thanks again for the continued support!