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It had been a week since Christopher's phone call, his unmet promise of calling Rory, and his interruption of Lorelai's almost moment with Luke.

He'd gone radio silent. Which, unfortunately was not all that unusual.

Lorelai rushed around the Crap Shack in a flurry as she put the finishing touches on the long rectangular table set up in the living room. She, Rory, and Sookie had spent the morning pushing the living room furniture to the edges of the room to make way for the Mad Hatter Tea Party table. The long table was covered in swaths of pastel colored tablecloths she had picked up from the thrift store, mismatched chairs and a wooden bench brought over from Sookie's house surrounded the table, 12 similarly mismatched porcelain tea cups and saucers, also thrift store finds, were placed at every seat. Cake stands, bowls, and platters of varying heights zig zagged down the length of the table, filled to the brim with tea sandwiches, cookies, macarons, cake pops, and every other type of confectionary that Sookie had prepared.

By the staircase stood a make-shift table with various different types of tea, soda bottles labeled with "This One Makes You Taller" and "This One Makes You Smaller" labels, and a topsy-turvy layered cake covered with iced red hearts, black and white checkered print icing. Fondant playing cards and a pocket watch were at the base, with a tag reading "Happy Birthday Rory" fixed at a playful angle.

Lorelai smoothed the full skirt of her tea length black and white floral dress as she observed the room. It was everything she could have every imagined, even on her shoestring budget. The phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts and she rushed to pick it up, expecting it was Luke with an ETA on the surprise for Rory.

"You promised you'd be here pronto with those donuts, and all 4 dozen," she whispered in the receiver, "Better be accounted for, Mister."

"Do me a solid and put aside the best dozen from that delivery then, ok?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She eyed Rory's closed door and walked further into the living room, "Christopher," she let out in a harsh whisper, "Where have you been?"

He let out a boyish chuckle, "So you do miss me after all, Lor?"

"Well, your daughter certainly does."

"Look, I…I wanted to make it a surprise."

"You're coming?" Her tone perked up but she remained hesitant.

"Um," There was a pause on the phone line and some rustling in the background, "Sorry, I'm back. Yeah, I was planning on it, it's not everyday that our daughter turns 10."

"It'd just be nice to get a heads up, Chris."

"You don't want me to come?"

"No, no, I do…and Rory, she'll be so happy to see you."

"Rory…and you, right?

"Chris," Lorelai shook her head at his insistence, it was one of his qualities that had kept her equal parts interested yet annoyed at him in the past. She let out a sigh, "Yeah, it's…it's been a while."

"Well I'm back in town now Lor, and I really miss you. I've been thinking about you. A lot."

"And Rory."

"And Rory. The two of you. My girls."

"Your girls?"

"Well that's what you are, right?"

"Uh, I mean, we're kind of each other's girls."

"Well that too," He recovered quickly.

"So we should expect you later then? It's a definite?"

"I'll be there. With a big wrapped gift under my arm."

"Hope you've got one for the birthday girl's mommy too," She joked.

"Oh come on, my presence isn't a gift enough for ya? You want some diamonds or a pair of Manolo's or something? I could probably swing by Hartford Mall and pick some up. Size 9 right?"

She laughed at Chris's eagerness, "Just be here Chris, for Rory. It's important."

"And you'll save me some of those donuts?"

"You bet."

"Alright, I'll see you later then?"

"Me, Rory, and about 20 of our nearest and dearest."

"Great. Bye, Lor."

"Bye." She set the phone back on the cradle and headed into Rory's room to help her finish getting ready.

"A little to the right," Lorelai whispered loudly to Luke as he set up the large donut stand in the foyer of the Crap Shack a few minutes later. Lorelai had swathed black and white checkered fabric on the walls of the entranceway and tacked up little arrows pointing to various different Wonderland areas.

Luke's aggravation was starting to crack, "It's not gonna go any more right, unless you want it to be right on the porch."

He positioned it one more millimeter to the right and stopped, propping it up on the easel legs he built and taking a step back to view the placement, "How's it look?"

Lorelai stood in awe, "Luke," she whispered, noticing every single detail down to the "Eat Me" sign in perfect cursive at the very top, "It's…perfect."

Luke sighed, "Good, 'cus it's not moving. I'm gonna go grab the donuts."

She grinned at his retreating back, truth be told, Luke had positioned it perfectly upon carrying it inside but she couldn't help but tease him and see how many shades of red he would turn before giving up. He walked back inside the house carrying pastry boxes stacked full of colorfully frosted donuts, and she all but salivated.

"Ok, see you've really outdone yourself this time."

Luke focused on placing the donuts on the pegs carefully and shrugged off her compliment, "They're just donuts, I make 'em all the time."

"Well sure, Donut King, but…these," She held out one of them for her inspection, "You put extra extra sprinkles on them!"

"Well that's how you always order them, right?"

"Luke," She said, drawing out his name delightfully and taking a big bite of the one she twirled around on her finger, "Mmmm" She moaned gleefully.

Luke was happy he wasn't facing her when she made that sound, but the visual he had in his head wasn't any better. He swallowed thickly and continued with his task.

"I thought you'd ignore the extra but you sir, outdid yourself."

"Anything for Rory, right?" He said as he got up off of his knees after filling the last of the pegs. He brushed his hands against his jeans, sending a few stray sprinkles onto the ground.

Lorelai's smile spread warmly at him and she parroted, "For Rory."

She cocked her head to the side and studied him for a moment as she finished off the last morsel of her donut, "You look nice."

He looked down self consciously and shrugged, "Just a shirt."

"It's…not plaid." She responded, taking in the crisp white cotton Oxford shirt he wore untucked with a pair of dark blue jeans sans grease stains. They were the slightest touch slimmer in fit then his normal Levi's and hugged his ass in a way that Lorelai found was hard not to admire.

He looked at her questioningly, noticing how she was not so subtly checking him out, "I do own more than one type of shirt."

She broke her gaze and moved her eyes around the room, "Yeah, yeah, of course."

"You ok?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She said, starting to get defensive.

"Nothin', just…" He sighed and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck through the soft curls he kept meaning to get trimmed. He'd left his apartment without his hat today and was all of a sudden wishing he hadn't tossed it onto the couch at the last second, "You look nice too y'know? Really nice."

She felt a blush crawl up her cheeks and smiled shyly, "Really?"

He nodded, but before he said anything further he heard little feet scamper down the stairs, "Mom! I'm all ready!"

Lorelai smiled at Luke and then craned her head to yell back, "In here, Rory! Luke's here, look what he brought!"

Rory rushed into the foyer and her jaw dropped, "WOW!" She bounced on the heels of her feet and squealed, causing Luke and Lorelai to wince, "LUKE!"

Luke couldn't help but break out into a lopsided grin that had Lorelai's insides melting. Rory rushed towards Luke and pulled him into a giant hug, still bouncing as she snuck another peak over his shoulder at the giant wall of donuts that was going to greet her guests. "This is the coolest thing EVER!"

The party was in full swing. An 80's playlist was pumping through the speakers of Lorelai's boombox, the kids were at the long table talking and laughing, Luke's donut wall was almost depleted, and some of their favorite townies were scattered around the living room and kitchen, mingling and enjoying the sheer variety of Sookie's confectionaries. The present pile was stacked high, and Lorelai had gone through 2 disposable camera's worth of photos.

Yes, things were going exactly as planned. Things that didn't involve Chris making an appearance, planned or impromptu as promised at his daughter's birthday party. Lorelai scanned the room again, smiling at her daughter who was engaged in a laughing fit with her best friend Lane Kim as they pointed at Kirk who was breakdancing while keeping a mad hatter style hat firmly on his head.

For the first time in Rory's 10 years, her daughter hadn't even bothered to ask if her dad was going to show up. She didn't ask her mother if the mail was delayed, if she had missed a call, if her father was going to make even the slightest of efforts to be there for her child on her special day. No, Rory Gilmore seemed to be perfectly content with or without her father in attendance.

And that thought all but enraged Lorelai at one Christopher Hayden.

She walked back into the kitchen to help Sookie prepare the plates of cake that she had just cut into slices. Rory had blown out her candles all on her own this year, no help from mommy needed. That had stung too. Just one more reminder of how quickly her daughter was growing up right before her very eyes.

"How could he not be here?" Lorelai muttered.

"Oh sweetie," Sookie started, "Maybe something came up? Maybe he got a…flat tire or something?"

Lorelai glared at her friend.

"He should have been here. Flat tire or not." Sookie answered decisively.

"Imaginary flat tire or not. Sook, I spoke to him this morning. He promised. Not that a promise means much to Chris, but, he gave me his word. He said he'd be here."

"She seems ok though? Rory."

Lorelai gave her a small smile, "Yeah, she's ok. She hasn't even asked about him coming this year actually. Weirdly enough, that's always a topic I have to get extra creative about with each passing year."

"She's a smart girl, and she's a happy girl Lorelai. As long as she has you. You're her hero, you know that."

"And she's mine." Lorelai said quietly, picking up a plastic fork to take bite of the slice of cake in front of her, "My God, Sook. This is incredible."

Sookie giggled, "It's a white chocolate cake with fresh strawberry filling."

"It's divine, that's what it is. I mean between all of your incredible food today and Luke's donuts, I don't know how I'm going to even go back to normal food again."

Sookie kept her eyes focused on fixing the plates of cake but noticed the not-so-subtle way Lorelai's voice inflected over Luke's name. "That was an awfully sweet thing Luke did."

Lorelai nodded thoughtfully as she polished off the rest of her slice of cake and bopped her head along to the Heart song playing in the background, "Very sweet."

"Where is he anyways?"

Lorelai craned her head around the room to search him out but came up empty, "I don't know, he's hard to spot without the flannel on don't you think?"

Sookie chuckled, "Considering you've been drooling over the white shirt all afternoon, I'd think you'd have his scent imprinted in your memory by now."

"Have not!"

"Lorelai! You've totally been checking him out all day."

Lorelai pouted and lowered her voice, "You know the walls have ears, don't you?"

Sookie rolled her eyes playfully, "Well if it makes you feel any better, his eyes have been firmly fixed to you too, you know."

"Really?" She asked, her voice hinting at a rush of excitement over the prospect.

"And just what are you going to do with that information?"

Lorelai shrugged, and put on an air of nonchalance, "I mean I really didn't notice. But…Do you think he left already? He wouldn't do that right? Before saying goodbye?"

"Just use that finely tuned Luke-sense and I'm sure you'll spot him in no time," Sookie said with a chuckle as she picked up a few plates to bring back into the living room.

Lorelai pouted at her retreating back and then followed her out into the living room to search for Luke. She heard a noise from outside and walked over to the window to check it out. There, in her driveway, flipping the hatch down at the back of his truck to reveal a large concealed item, was Luke.

Lorelai smiled to herself and looked over her shoulder at the bustling party, before grabbing a pashmina off of the coat rack and wrapping it around herself, stepping out into the waning sunlight of the crisp fall evening, "Hey, stranger."

Luke grunted as he lifted the object out of the bed of his truck and set it carefully on the tarp he set up on the grass. He lifted his eyes to meet Lorelai's once she spoke, "Hey, um, sorry."

She chuckled, "For what?"

"What?"

"You apologized. Usually that means you're actually you know, apologizing for something you did wrong but from where I stand," She spared an appreciative glance at his biceps through the white button down, "Um, what are you apologizing for?"

"Oh, I thought maybe I was makin' noise or disturbing the party or something."

The corners of her mouth lifted, "Lucky for you, Patty and Babette are duetting to "Achey Breaky Heart right now."

"Damn and I'm missing it?" He retorted.

She laughed, "I think they're just about to start looking for audience participation."

"Definitely not missing anything then."

"Unless you feel like being groped." Lorelai sucked in a breath of air, "Uh, you know–by them."

"Right," He chuckled. He rarely let that mask drop long enough to let out an actual laugh in front of her and Lorelai found herself tingling at the deep sound, instantly missing it as soon as it had come and gone.

"What do you have there?"

"Oh," Luke shook his head and pointed to the covered object, "Uh, it's a gift for Rory."

"Nice wrapping paper. Lovely shade of blue, that tarp is."

He sent her a glare, but his eyes remained kind, "I was gonna ask you if this was even ok to make for her earlier, but…"

She took a hesitant step forward and questioned him with her eyes, "You made something for her?"

He nodded and brushed his hand over his clean shaven jaw, "Well I thought it'd be better than some stuffed animal that'll fall apart in a few weeks, or one of those wacky video game things, I mean I know she has more books than she knows what to do with, and I just thought, I don't know, I shoulda asked you, but I just thought…"

She smiled softly at his apparent nervousness, "What'd you make her, Luke?"

He matched her smile and gently tugged on the tarp so she could take a peek.

"Oh Luke," Her eyes widened in surprise when she took in the long bench seat that she already knew was the perfect dimension for the area below Rory's window in her room. It was made of beautifully stained wood to match her bed, a light yellow fabric patterned with tiny flowers covered the cushion that ran the length. Below the bench seat were built in bookshelves, more than enough room for the overflow of Rory's books, and space for a few new ones as well.

"Is it ok?"

She took a steadying breath and closed the distance between them, she was close enough to see the nervousness etched across his beautifully strong features, "Ok doesn't even come close to covering it," she murmured, suddenly feeling small as she looked up at him.

He nodded once, his eyes fixed to a spot on the ground. He felt her eyes searching his, and finally let himself meet hers, for a moment, they just looked at one another until a strong gust of air brushed past them and shook them out of their thoughts. "I better get this inside before it starts to rain," he whispered, unmoving.

She nodded up at him and then looking up at the sky, noticing how storm clouds were starting to approach, "Should I give Bert a lift?"

Lorelai had briefly exited Rory's bedroom, leaving Luke to finish installing the bench seat under her daughter's window, while she helped Sookie with clean up and ushered the party guests out the door.

After several minutes out in the living room, Lorelai walked back inside Rory's bedroom just as Luke was testing the sturdiness of the brackets and fitting the cushion firmly on top, "Oh, Luke it looks so great. I can't believe you did this, she's going to flip."

Luke was bent on his knees, a screw between his teeth and the contents of Bert neatly arranged around him. He'd pushed up the sleeves of his Oxford shirt to his elbows revealing his lightly tanned and majorly toned forearms. He took the screw and tossed it into the tray, picking up his hammer and other supplies and tossing those inside as well, but he hid a small smile on his face.

After closing and securing the lid of his toolbox, he stood up and walked a few steps back to observe the newly installed piece of furniture in the room, "Y'know, I can add a couple of extra bookshelves on either side," He gestured his hand out to the piece of wall that flanked either side of the new window bench seat, maybe a little built in desk where she could do her homework too."

Lorelai had plopped down on Rory's bed to observe Luke finishing up his handiwork and do some light ogling, but her shy smile had turned bright and beaming as he spoke so freely and openly about building furniture for her child, "You tryin' to spoil my kid?"

Luke looked over his shoulder at Lorelai, she was leaning back on her elbows on the twin bed, her legs crossed and dangling over the side. Her dark curls were perfectly coiffed and bouncy against her shoulders and falling behind her back. Those eyes of hers were studying him, the ones that he had learnt how to read and distinguish between her moods, even when words, and there were so many words, escaped her.

He rolled his eyes and bent to retrieve one last package from the floor. Rectangular in shape, it was wrapped perfectly, not a crease in sight, in unassuming plain purple wrapping paper with a matching purple bow and a card attached. He bent at the knee, giving Lorelai quite the view of his posterior, and fit the rectangular gift into one of the empty shelves.

With a sigh he turned back around to face Lorelai, and joined her by standing next to the bed. He looked down at the crown of her head, her eyes fixed to the window as rain drops started to steadily stream down the pane glass, "You think they need any more help out there?"

She kept her eyes fixed to the window but smiled softly at Luke's innate thoughtfulness but bypassed his question completely, "He's not coming."

"He?"

Lorelai sighed, her eyes still not meeting his but she felt his gaze on her, "Rory's father."

Luke nodded looking down at the floor, he felt his blood start to boil. He couldn't imagine anyone not wanting to be apart of Rory's or Lorelai's lives. They were such a giant gift in his own life. They brought so much light and energy. How could anyone voluntarily give that up?

"He's an idiot."

"You can say that again."

"He's an idiot."

Lorelai chuckled, "If it helps, I don't think he means to be. He's just young, he's immature."

"I don't care how old he is, Lorelai. You have a kid, you be there for them, there's no questions, no half-assing, you're either there or your not. You have one incredible girl out there. And anyone who doesn't see that doesn't deserve the honor of being apart of all of this, ok?"

She finally tore her eyes off of the window and looked up at Luke. His gaze was steady and sure. His brow was furrowed and she could tell he was annoyed, bordering on enraged at Chris's absence. She felt she could finally breathe easier, having someone to share these types of things with.

"I was angry, earlier."

He let her have the floor, sensing she was just gearing up.

"He called me a few weeks ago, it was late and Rory was asleep. I asked him to call her back during the week. Even gave him the times I knew Rory and I would be home and…radio silence. Not a word. Then this morning, he called again and said he was definitely coming by today for her party. I didn't tell her. I hoped he'd follow through on his word, you know? I mean he's in Hartford right now, what could he possibly be doing half an hour away that he couldn't get away from to wish his daughter a happy birthday?"

Lorelai let out an annoyed sigh, "And I just…I don't ever want to tarnish him to Rory, I try, I really try to be upbeat about the whole absent father thing. But it doesn't get easier, and she's growing up so fast, and she's starting to form her own opinions no matter what I say or don't say."

Luke hesitantly set his hand on Lorelai's shoulder and squeezed it in what he hoped was a comforting move. He felt the muscles in her shoulder tense, but then she relaxed. He rubbed it soothingly, and Lorelai let out another sigh, a more relaxed one this time. Her eyes had fluttered closed, "Thank you" she whispered.

"Mom!" Rory burst into the room and Luke yanked his arm back from Lorelai's shoulder and dropped it to his side.

Before Rory got another word in, her eyes went straight to the new bench seat that was installed, "Oh my gosh," She said in an amazed whisper, her eyes widening like saucers as she approached the window, kneeling down in her party dress to study the row of new shelves just waiting to be filled to the brim. She touched a hand to the cushion, and ran it down the edge before turning her head over her shoulder at her mom and Luke, "Is this really for me?"

Luke chuckled and Lorelai's nodded furiously, "You like it kid?"

"It's so pretty!"

Luke ducked his head self-consciously, and Rory stood up and walked over to him, "You did this all for me, Luke?"

He leaned down to her eye level and gave her a small wink, "You bet."

She squealed and threw her arms around his middle, "This is the best present ever. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I'll use it every day."

He patted her back and smiled over her shoulder at Lorelai who was beaming at the scene in front of her. Rory pulled back and looked back up at Luke with wide eyes, "You know, everyone else thinks you're a grump but I think you're the best guy there is. Plus you make the best donuts ever. That's what all my friends said today."

He smirked, "You just enjoy it ok? The window seat and the leftover donuts I snuck into the cupboard this afternoon. I know you're gonna have to fight this one," he said, hitching a thumb back at Lorelai, "For the sprinkle ones, but I threw a few other different flavors in there to confuse her."

Rory shared a secret smile with Luke and nodded furiously, "You got it."

"Uh, hey guys," Sookie popped her head in the room and shot a look at Lorelai. Realizing it was serious, Lorelai jumped off the bed and headed back out into the kitchen to meet her friend.

"Sorry honey, I hate to break up the moment but you've got a, um, guest."

"What did someone's parents forget to pick them up?"

Sookie tilted her head towards the living room with wide eyes and Lorelai moved to fix her eyes on the figure who was sitting on the couch.

"Christopher?" She said in a harsh whisper to her friend who nodded in return.

"When did he get here?"

"Just a minute ago, I gave him a slice of cake and told him to take a seat while he waits on you guys."

"Oh my God." She said, bringing her hand up to her lips and shaking her head, "What time is it?"

Sookie looked over at the clock above the stove and sighed, "It's almost 10."

"9:45pm on his daughter's birthday and he just waltz's in here. I can't believe this. No, I can believe this. I should have predicted this."

"I can try to get rid of him?"

Lorelai gave her a small smile, "No that's ok sweetie. Thanks for everything today, thank you so much."

She ushered Sookie out of the back door and then turned towards Rory's bedroom door that was ajar. "Crap," she muttered under her breath as she realized she had to figure out how to not have Chris and Luke meet each other under these circumstances.

"Hey, Sweets!"

Rory and Luke were mid conversation when Lorelai walked back in the room, and they both looked back at her expectantly once she made her reappearance, "Um, you've got a special visitor in the living room, why don't you go say hi?"

Rory narrowed her eyes at her mother, "It isn't Kirk, right? I thought he had a 9'o clock bedtime."

"It's not Kirk, I promise."

Rory turned back to Luke and gave him another hug, this one for goodbye, as she knew that right after she greeted the guest in the living room, her mom would have her get ready for bed.

After Rory left the room, Lorelai turned to Luke and gave him an apologetic smile. Luke looked at her with an eyebrow raised, "Who the hell is visiting a kid at almost 10 at night."

Lorelai sighed, tucked a curl behind her ear, and hugged her arms protectively around her stomach, "That, would be her dad."

Luke sucked in a breath and felt his heart start to hammer in his chest, "Oh."

"Yeah, oh is right."

"You say anything to him yet?"

"No, Sookie greeted him at the door and then I came in here."

He nodded, "You gonna say anything?"

"Luke," She shook her head, her eyes downcast.

"Right, not my place, sorry."

"Stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Apologizing, apologizing for being…you. I hate it."

"Well I'm sorry that you hate it."

"You did it again!"

Luke grunted and pinched the bridge of his nose, not even letting her compliment sink in, the pure frustration taking over, "I think I should go." He took a few steps towards the door, but Lorelai was standing in the doorframe.

"No, Luke, I didn't mean to—"

"You didn't," He cut her off, taking another step towards the door. She finally moved to the side to let him through, "Look, it's late. It's been a long day for you both. And now you've got him here. And it's not really my place. So I'm just gonna go, ok?'

She sighed, and then met his steady blue gaze with her own, "Ok," she said softly.

He took another long look at Lorelai. He wanted to kiss her on the cheek, hug her, or just, be close to her in that moment. She looked so timid, unsure, so out of character. But he respected their invisible line, and just gave her a short nod with a hint of a smile, before moving past her to the back kitchen door.

Once she heard the click of the back door lock, she finally released the breath she was holding, and plastered a wide fake smile on her face before walking back into the living room to greet Chris.