July 13

5 Months, 1 Week, 5 Days

LUKE POV

"Hey, Tom, what's up?" I ask, stepping out into the alley behind the diner.

"Hey, yeah, I just need to know if you picked out the door or do I need to send TJ out to pick up some options to show you?"

"TJ?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah?" TJ's head pops out from the diner door into the alley where Tom and I are standing.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Tom here hired me to work on his crew," TJ says. He steps outside to join us and takes an obnoxiously loud sip of his coffee before taking a large bite of a donut. "I almost didn't take the job with how messed up it was with you all tricking me before about being a contractor and all, but Tom here, has taken me under his wing like a son and I figure if Lorelai isn't around this time, you all aren't going to try to trick me! Plus, with a baby at home I gotta bring in the cash. Babies may be cute and all, but they sure ain't cheap."

"It's an apprenticeship, TJ." Tom's lips form a straight, disapproving line as he looks up from his clipboard. "Nothing more, nothing less."

"Tomato, tomahto."

"And for the record, it wasn't Lorelai's idea to trick you, it was mine. I thought it was for your own good. Plus," He raises a fatherly eyebrow. "You also need to know, if you're on this crew, the goal is to get Lorelai in Luke's house."

"What?!"

"Yeah, listen, about that-" I start.

"What do you mean the goal is to get Lorelai at Luke's?" TJ asks, turning to Joe, Pete, Slim and Billy who are all standing around, watching the scene with to-go cups of coffee.

"Man, what do you need explained?" Joe asks. "She's carrying his babies and Luke here loves her, so the goal is to get her home."

"Yeah, if you can't get on board, jump off. This is a pro - Lorelai and Luke construction company."

"Well, what, are you going to get t-shirts made or somethin?! Because there ain't no way I'm wearin' that!" TJ snorts.

Tom rolls his eyes and looks to me as TJ turns to the group of men and begins to complain to them. "What were you going to say, Luke?"

"Uh, well," I rub the back of my neck nervously and lower my voice to keep myself from drawing attention from the group of men in yellow hard-hats. "As of last night, Lorelai's now staying at my house."

But apparently, every nincompoop was listening in. The entire crew turns toward me and the alley erupts with hoops and hollers, the sound ricocheting off the close brick buildings loudly. Hands reach out and jostle me, smiles erupt across usually serious faces, and words of congratulations are given. There's so much celebration, I half expect Taylor to show up out of nowhere to ask what town event was started without his consent.

"Yeah, uh, we're not together," I explain quickly, not wanting them to get the wrong idea. "But you all know how she's had some difficulties with the pregnancy, so I'm helping her out. Watching after her. Feeding her. She was still asleep when I left this morning, that's why I asked you all to come work here this morning instead of at the house."

They all nod in understanding. Even though every man is happy about the news, it remains that this crew is full of men. It takes them exactly ten happy seconds before moving on.

"Well, good for you, Luke. Now don't mess it up. You know what they say," Tom's hand comes to rest on my shoulder. "Happy wife equals happy life."

"She's not my-"

"Not yet."

I inhale sharply at the words as the contractor steps away and glance over at TJ who's staring at me skeptically. "So you're helping Lorelai out."

"Yeah, I know you know she's been having some problems. I'm just helping her out."

"And you can help her?"

"I fed her successfully last night. She was still asleep when I left this morning. Those were two things she was struggling with."

TJ narrows his eyes and rips off a bite of his breakfast with his teeth.

"You pay for that?" I ask.

"I'm your brother-in-law! That doesn't get me a free donut?" I roll my eyes as he turns serious. "Don't go back down that road again, Luke, that woman is trouble. I don't think you two should be getting back together and don't listen to Tom. Do not make that woman your wife. That woman is kryptonite to you, buddy, make sure you resist. I know she's pregnant with your babies but that doesn't mean-"

"TJ…" I groan, rubbing a hand impatiently over my face. How I end up in asinine conversations with TJ, I'll never understand.

"I'm serious-"

"Do you need to be reminded that you thought it would be really cool for us to raise our families together? Don't forget that she's carrying my son and daughter. Your child's cousins. Your niece and nephew."

His lips form a straight line. "Are you really tryin' to get her back?"

I bite the corner of my lip as I cross my arms over my chest. I've never really taken any time to consider this question. Did I tell her I love her? Yes. Did I tell her I'd forgive her? Yeah. But Tom and the crew just started the bit on winning her back and I had no choice but to go along with it. But when I think back to last night with Lorelai, I know there's nothing I would rather do than spend the rest of my life taking care of her and being with her and taking care of our family together.

"Yeah, TJ," I nod resolutely, admitting the truth to myself. "I love her."

"Alright, but you're my brother-in-law so just know, I'm on team Luke. I'm looking out for ya. Be careful, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks." I nod and then motion to the door uncomfortably. "Listen, I need to get back to work."

"You got it."

I make my way back inside where I nearly bump into Tom. "Oh, by the way, I don't need any door options. I purchased the door this morning. It's in my truck out front."

"I wish everyone I worked for was as easy as you, Luke."

I nod in response and when the bells above the diner door ring out, goosebumps race across my skin. Don't ask me how, but I've always known when Lorelai's entered the diner, and I'm pretty sure she's out there right now. Given how morning has come and gone, and the lunch crowd has now begun to gather, I was sure my letter was unsuccessful in convincing her to come in. Side stepping Tom, I head toward the entrance from the kitchen to the diner. I pop my head out to check how honed in my instincts are, and sure enough, there she is standing awkwardly in the middle of the diner with everyone, and I do mean everyone, gawking openly at her.

"Well, well, well," Kirk sing-songs from his spot. "So the rumors are true. You are pregnant."

"Kirk, everyone's known that I'm pregnant for quite a while."

"Yeah, but seeing you anywhere near the town is as rare as seeing the town loner during the winter months. In fact, we may have seen him more than we've seen you!"

This causes every occupied table in the room to vibrate into a quiet rumble of laughter as each eating utensil stills and every eye comes to rest on Lorelai.

Lorelai scowls not only at Kirk but at everyone has stopped eating to stare. Which, well, is everyone. "If ya'll are going to stare like I'm a circus freak, you might as well cough up five dollars each."

"That's probably a wise money endeavor," Kirk smarts back. "One baby costs a ton, I can't imagine what two costs. Let me know if you need other money making ideas. I can set you up for some side hustl-"

"Oh honey, you know we don't mean anything by it," Miss Patty cuts in, trying to comfort her and shut Kirk up at the same time. "It's just the first time we can get a real good look at you being pregnant and all. It's hard to not stare."

"Yeah!" Babette kicks in. "Plus, it's obvious you're going to be one of those really cute pregnant women, and that gets people staring, so get used to us staring. And once this becomes normal, just get ready for me to be talkin' to those little angels you're carrying!"

Miss Patty and Babette both have good points, it is hard not to stare. Not only is Lorelai finally back in the diner and back with the town, but it's the first time she's outwardly looked pregnant - and she's definitely 'cute' as Babette pointed out. In fact, for the very first time, she's not hiding her small bump.

Today, Lorelai's fashion sense seemed to have returned. She's dressed in a striped light blue and white short sleeved shirt that has lived the entirety of its life hidden in the dark recesses of my closet. There's nothing wrong with it, I just never wore it, and consequently, no one in town recognizes it as mine. She's turned something entirely too large for her into something feminine that fits around her midsection by tying the two sides in the front together. The top two or three buttons are unbuttoned and a delicate necklace hangs between the two sides. Not only has eating and sleeping made her look like herself again, but she's showered. Her hair is pulled into a low side ponytail, though a few tendrils have managed to escape capture and curl around her face in protest to her attempt at taming it.

She looks beautiful and a million times better than how I found her yesterday. The rings are fading from her eyes, her skin looks like it's glowing, and based on the time of day she's showed up, I can tell she got a full night's rest before coming in. Maybe even a little more.

"You've all known I've been pregnant for weeks - this is no longer new news!"

"It may not be new news," Gypsy chimes in. "But you've been incognito from the town ever since . . ."

Everyone looks away from Lorelai simultaneously, as if directed by a director to do so, as every set of eyebrows raise, all in silent agreement, all knowing what isn't being spoken.

Even I know what's being left unsaid.

"Ever since . . ." Lorelai trails off, trying to get them to fill in the blank. "Ever since, what?"

"Ever since you were with that out of towner," Taylor fills in with a frown. Everyone nods in agreement. "And then you tried to move him in with you? What were you thinking? That man was never a good idea for you. Like you could be happy with the man who was never there for our little Rory!"

"He'd never fit in the town!"

"I heard he likes big and modern towns."

"That was just as stupid as Luke keeping his kid from you," Bootsy mumbles under his breath as he lifts his cup to his lips.

"Okay, I think that's enough of all of your opinions." I step from the kitchen into the diner. Every head whips in my direction, including Lorelai's. "We've all heard your opinions, so let's not talk about it any more, ever again, got it?"

"But-"

"No. Not buts, ands, or ors. This is none of anyone's business. Not yours, or yours, or yours, or yours," I point to each nosey over-spoken person in the room. "And I know this sounds like a speech I have given before, but the same sentiment stands. It's no one's business but mine and Lorelai's and since you've all given your thoughts without either one of us asking for them, I don't want to hear them again. Stop giving Lorelai a hard time and move on already. Got it?"

Everyone turns back to their table and leans forward to talk excitedly to their table mate. Yeah, it doesn't take much to know what, or rather who, they're talking about.

Lorelai looks to me nervously from her spot between the counter and the door, purse clasped in both hands in front of her.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," I collect a table worth of dishes into a tub near her and then give it a quick wipe down. "You know how this town is. If you don't set clear boundaries, they'll go on and on."

She laughs through her nose.

"I didn't think you were coming in," I admit, making my way back behind the counter and dropping off the dirty dishes as she follows behind me a few steps. I nod toward a stool. "Take a seat."

"Sorry, I slept in and then showered."

"No problem, I was just worried. I'm glad you slept."

Her eyes meet mine at my words as she takes a seat at the counter. Her eyes trail back behind me to the coffee machine as her bottom lip gets trapped between her teeth. She shifts, leans her arms against the counter, looks back behind her at the diner and the town regulars, adjusts her ponytail nervously, and then looks back up at me. "The diner still looks the same."

"Now it does, yeah," I agree. A small blush climbs up her neck to her cheeks when she looks up to find me staring intently at her to make my point clear. "How does a grilled chicken salad sound?"

Her nose scrunches up. "Gee, let me think: dreadful, dull, disgusting."

"So every negative adjective in the dictionary starting with 'd'."

"Pretty much."

"How about you try it, and if you don't like it I'll make you something else."

"Or," she says brightly, flopping her purse onto the counter, seemingly emerging out of her uncomfortable state. "You could pour me a big mug of steaming coffee!"

"Didn't you say you didn't like coffee right now?"

"I can't sit at this counter," She runs her hand over it, almost reverently. "In this diner and not try. I'm fairly sure I'll be able to keep your coffee down."

I shake my head and apparently that's all the ammunition she needed.

"Luke! Common!"

"No."

"Luke!"

"Fine." I lift my head. "Decaf."

"Regular!"

I shake my head stubbornly, "I'm not serving you caffeinated coffee. I'd really like my kids to be normal for as long as possible. Plus, they'll each grow two heads."

"More to love!"

"Forget it."

"Luke," she looks up at me with those big blue eyes. "Do you need a refresher on how annoying I can be?"

I exhale loudly. There's only one way to shut her up. Turning around, I grab the coffee pot and a yellow mug from below the counter.

"Ha! Ha! Smart man!"

Begrudgingly, I place it in front of her, watching her nod enthusiastically to herself as her face contorts from lit up joy to deadened pain as I begin to slowly pour it right before her eyes.

"Just the sight and smell of it is making you nauseous isn't it?" I ask, smirking.

"No."

"Liar."

I push the mug toward her and watch as she hesitantly lifts it to her mouth before wincing, and taking the tiniest of sips before her face breaks out in disgust. Shaking her head adamantly, she pushes the mug toward me. "No, no, no! That's so bad. That's Sookie cooking while pregnant and unaware bad! Get that thing as far away from me as humanly possible!"

Taking a hold of the mug with a smirk, I place it behind me on the counter, before turning back to her and saying, "I'm making you a salad."

"Oh jeez! No!" Her eyes close as in pain. "Why not whip us up a big juicy burger!"

"Us?"

She rolls her eyes, and motions down to her stomach. "I eat for three now, Mr. Forgetful. I am never alone."

"Ah, sorry. You're eating less than the mack truck worth you usually do, so you can understand my forgetfulness," I deadpan and congratulate myself when a smirk twitches at the corner of her lips. "Does a hamburger sound good? I'll make you one if you can keep it down."

She thinks about it for a moment before frowning in surrender. Her eyes drift past my right shoulder. "What in the world is that?!"

I glance over to see what caught her attention. Ah yeah. To her right, my left, an ugly piece of plywood is temporarily screwed to the trim between the diner and the staircase.

I lean toward her, my elbows resting on the counter and the closeness of me causes her to lean back a bit. But I don't care, I want to be close enough to see the spark in her eyes light when I share this bit of news with her. This is guaranteed to put a smile on her face.

"It's a temporary barrier until Tom and the crew put up a door between the diner and the staircase."

Her brows furrow together, her eyes narrowing in thought. She's not getting it, and of course she isn't - I'm dragging out the punch line.

"Kirk," I laugh at the name, but keep my voice quiet enough so he can't hear me from his table. "Is renting my apartment upstairs."

Her mouth falls into a huge, momentous grin and my eyes fall down to the sight and then back to the spark of excitement in her eyes.

"What?! No way!" She bounces with the news. "I can't believe you're renting your apartment to Peewee Herman!"

"Why not? It's perfect. With the rent I collect monthly from the building next door already combined with the rent from my apartment, I can more than pay my mortgage on the house. I'm in exactly the same place financially as I was before, minus the money it's costing to repair it, but I already have that in savings. And if Kirk gets to grow up and have a big boy place, who am I to deny him that?" I knock the counter with my knuckles. "The baby chick is leaving the nest!"

"So the door is because you don't want Kirk sneaking into the diner for midnight snacks?"

"Gotta protect my stock from the Russian Assassins somehow."

She smirks, leaning over the counter, closer to me. "He'd mess up your inventory for sure!"

"And I don't want the sleepwalker running around naked in my diner in the middle of the night." I add dryly. "He'd burn the whole building down with the fryer."

That does it, laughter falls from her mouth, unguarded and wholly genuine.

And there's my girl.

Our eyes snag, and momentarily, we're not only unable to look away from each other, but we can't stop from smiling at each other. That is, until there's a shuffle to our left and the distinct click of a camera.

"Kirk!"

"What a great shot," Kirk says nonchalantly, leaning against the counter, his eyes downcast on the small screen. "I think it's the best picture I've ever taken. Want to see?" He doesn't wait for our response. "I'll be sure to frame it for your kids. I think I'll title it, 'Day of Reconciliation' since you know, today's the day you two made up."

"Kirk," Lorelai leans toward him from her stool, as if she's talking to a child. "Luke and I . . ." she glances up at me, not sure how to finish the sentence.

"We haven't made up." I finish, because, even though I have every intention of making up with her, for now, it's true - we haven't made up.

"Right, yes, we haven't made up. No reconciliation here." She wags her index finger between the two of us. I cross my arms over my chest, and nod in agreement as she continues, "Kirk, we're never getting back together."

And then everything comes to a screeching halt for me. Wait, what?!

Kirks eyebrows raise as his attention darts to me for confirmation.

Lorelai's eyes jump to mine and I fight back every negative emotion that six word sentence stirs in me. Instead, I stand upright and stare back at her, reading the fear in her eyes. Despite what her mouth says, I can see the conflict her own sentence is causing within her. She still wants to be with me. When I picked her up from the couch last night, her arms wrapped around my neck and she curled into my chest. When we talk, I see her coming back to life when she's with me. And the longer I have her with me, the more I realize what a fucking idiot I was to push her away. She's my other half, and staring at her now, I can see she knows her words are idiotic.

She can say what she wants, but I see the truth as clear as day, and I know that she knows we belong together.

I won't force her back into a relationship with me - that's not what I do.

I'll wait however long it takes until she comes back to me, and when she does, I'm not going to wait. I'm going to jump. I'm going to make her my wife.

"Order up!" Caesar calls.

I turn away without a word and get back to work.

Half an hour later, after Lorelai has devoured her grilled chicken salad and Miss Patty and Babette have gathered around her to baby talk her stomach, she grabs an apple to go, waves, and rushes out the door.

And just like that, we're another step closer to getting Lorelai back to being Lorelai. She's eaten. She's slept. She's accepted the pregnancy, and she's been reintegrated not only into the town, but back into my life.