Friends, I apologize for taking so long to update. I had some not so fun family stuff come up that affected my writing time. I'm hoping I can get back to sharing chapters at least once a week (or more).

Thank you for sticking with me and your kind reviews. You all are the best.

Special shoutout to Boxerz32 for beta-ing :)

August 13

6 Months, 2 Weeks, 1 Day

Size: Spaghetti Squash

"I have more lip gloss in the third drawer to your right if you aren't finding a color you like," I say with a swipe of mascara to my eyelashes. "And if you're really up for pulling on a pair of hiking boots and going for a Grandma Gatewood level adventure, I think I may even have some color changing lip gloss somewhere in the bottom of that drawer if you dig deep enough. It changes with your mood."

"Mood color changing lip gloss?" April lifts an eyebrow skeptically. "Cool!"

Interested in her reaction, I watch through the mirror as she slides her eyebrows right up her head the further she slides open the vanity drawer.

"Wow!"

"Yeah, makeup may be a little guilty pleasure of mine."

"A little guilty pleasure? You call this a little?" Her voice rises. "It's like a makeup store in here!" She lets out a long dry laugh as she takes in my embarrassing amount of makeup. Her brown eyes pop up in the mirror apologetically. "Sor-"

"Don't!" I point my mascara wand at her playfully. "I love your bluntness and you never have to apologize for it with me. Plus you're right, I have a plethora of makeup. I take your shock as a compliment. I still dream of owning my own Sephora store one day."

"Well now I know what to buy you for Christmas," she points out, amused, before her eyebrows crinkle in concern. "It hasn't been tested on animals, right?"

"Do you honestly think I'd purchase animal abusing make up?" Picking up my current favorite shade of red lipstick, I twist the tube to expose the stick before swiping it with practiced ease over my lips, finishing my makeup routine for the day. "Of course not, I don't want Henry Spira to pull a Sixth Sense on me, there's enough to deal with on a daily basis without being followed around by a spirit that only I can see."

As the teen's interest gets sucked into the drawer, I allow my attention to drift back to the mirror. My long dark hair is loosely curled, my makeup is immaculately done, and the black v-neck, wrap-around, empire waisted blouse flowing over a pair of maternity jeans, makes me look . . . well, like me. But my newest accessory, that only came to stay on my face once Luke and I agreed to a trial run, is what makes me look most like myself. No matter how hard I try, I'm unable to wipe the huge, content grin off my face.

And that, my friends, has everything to do with Luke.

When I tell you things are better than good between us, I'm not exaggerating. I'd insisted things had to be different this time around - and let me tell you, they are. Everyday, he works on showing me how good we are together and how committed he is to me and the family that's growing right before our eyes.

I wish I could say that since we've tackled our Everest level challenges first, April and Anna and Chris, communication has become a breeze for the two of us. I wish I could say that we never raise our voices to each other and that we now live in a world where we openly communicate all the time about absolutely everything, but that, as you know, would be too good to be true.

I'll share a 'nice' moment first. You know, one of those rom-com like moments that make us all believe that true love will always win the day.

"Well, according to your parents, I was never good enough. They never would have accepted me or the two of us together," Luke points out.

I ignore him, loathing his topic of choice. Instead, I allow the greenhouse to engulf me with its deep earthy scent. My attention drifts to the plethora of green, lush house plants lining the shelves as familiar plants from my childhood home come into view; spider plants, peace lilies, philodendrons. While others, with exotic names and characteristics come next; Alocasia 'Dragon's Tooth', Monstera Adansonii, Flamingo Flower. Large unique leaves of varying shades of color hang here and there with interesting holes or slits adorning the leaves.

I've just started getting into plants. Sure, I'd been gifted a few while Rory was growing up, but when each promptly withered and died, I gave up the idea of growing any in the house. Plus, with the first gifted plant I received, I had a few nightmares where my name changed to Audrey and our little potting shed home morphed into the Little Shop of Horrors. That's not a great experience for a young first time mother.

My interest in them only grew, pun intended, when Luke purchased the large plant that sits next to the staircase of the Crap Shack when we finished the house renovation. That said, the only way it is still alive is because Luke watered it. The fact that I have absolutely no idea what kind it is, or whether or not it's still alive to this day, should tell you the level of my green thumb.

Glancing down into a cart, I take in the sight of healthy lush, deep green leaves all squished together as they begin their journey to a new home. Suddenly, a vine takes root, clinging to the side of the cart as it climbs right out of its containment and up my body, threatening to strangle me with fear.

"Will you make sure I don't kill these?" I ask, suddenly worried about us spending money on plants that I will most likely get home, place, and forget to water.

"Yeah, sure," He nods once and then gives me an impatient look, clearly annoyed by my change of topic.

Forcing myself to be an adult and talk about that which I would rather not talk about, I rotate and lean my hip against the shopping cart. "Well considering the fact that you were going to marry me, and not my parents, who cares what they think?"

"Lorel-"

"Or did you have a secret thing going with my Mom, Benjamin Braddock?" I cut in teasingly. "Is that why she wanted to keep me from you so she could keep you all to hers-"

"Lorelai, common."

"Come on, what?"

"We agreed to not deflect with humor when we have real conversations."

I roll my eyes at his words, chagrined, crossing my arms over my chest and giving him my full attention. "Yeah, well, according to my parents, I was never good enough for them either. Believe me when I tell you there's nothing you can do to change how they view you, Luke, the only thing you can do is control your own reaction. I personally pick humor when they come at me with a hacksaw."

"Don't say that."

"Say what?"

"That you're not good enough for them."

"It's the truth. My parents and I have different views when it comes to people and what makes them coherently good. I wish you hadn't given them so much power over our relationship. I've always admired your kind, giving heart."

"I don't have a kind, giving heart," he grumbles.

"Luke, please," I scoff. "You have a heart of gold."

"I don't," he insists, looking at me as if I've completely lost my mind. "I'm grumpy and I don't like joining in with everyone else."

I step toward him, watching his dark blue eyes follow my every move. He's serious about this. I've always known it bothered him that my parents never exactly welcomed him in, but I didn't think it bothered him this much.

"If anyone in Stars Hollow needed help, would you be there? If Rory or April or even Jess needed you right now, would you not stop everything and run to them? Shoot, if my parent's needed help - would you be there?"

"Any good decent person would-"

"Would be there for the people who are kind to them, yes, and perhaps even to those who aren't, but my parents?" I crinkle up my nose. "The people who look down their noses at you because they can't be bothered to get to know what an amazing person you are just because they don't understand your lifestyle? The same two who stepped into our relationship on more than one occasion and meddled where they didn't belong? Who never welcomed you into their lives despite their daughter being totally and completely head-over-heels in love with you?" I reach out and tap my index finger against the red flannel over his heart to emphasize each word. "Heart." Tap. "Of." Tap. "Gold." Tap. "I hope our kids get your heart."

"I hope they're nothing like me! I'm grumpy, I rant."

"I adore those two things about you. I hope they start ranting as soon as they begin to talk. It'd be adorable. Just imagine our two little ones grumbling incoherently. And Luke?" He gives me his attention. "My parents don't know how great you are, if they did, they'd get it. Please hear me when I tell you I don't need their acceptance of our relationship. I just need you."

As for the less nice one, it spontaneously erupted one afternoon when we both got home early from work at the same exact time. Rory was back at her internship and April was due home any minute from spending time with Megan and Tilly.

All day, large cumulonimbus clouds blew in and draped heavily over Stars Hollow in a dark, depressing haze. Everyone knew it was just a matter of time before the clouds opened wide and poured down on everything and everyone below. Unfortunately for Luke, that happened just as he stepped out of his truck to make his way into the house.

Too bad that's also when I blew up on him.

"You seemed to have no problem marrying Nicole!"

"Nicole?" Luke echoes, eyes narrowing. "What does Nicole have anything to do with this conversation?"

"Why her? Why would you marry her without a second thought but refuse to marry me after claiming to wait eight years for me with a horoscope in your wallet claiming to be all in? I thought I was different. I thought we were different. I thought you loved me!"

"You know I love you, but you came at me out of nowhere yelling at me to run away with you and elope after two days of pulling a Harry Houdini on me. I called you and frantically searched the entire town for you, for days! I was this close to sending out a search party! Did you honestly think I was going to drop everything, drive to another state and elope with you the moment you showed up?"

"You eloped spontaneously with Nicole! But would you do that with me?" I pause, growing sarcastic, my words tumbling out of my mouth faster and faster. "No! I guess I should have suggested we board the love boat with idiotic musical glasses and find Captain Stubing to marry us to get you to seriously consider marrying me!"

"You're being ridiculous," He huffs, yanking his rain soaked t-shirt and flannel up and over his head in one violent yank. Stalking toward his closet, he angrily bundles up the wet clothes and tosses them in his basket, too upset to worry about them growing musky. "You seem to forget that I married her, and then I immediately divorced her!"

"Please! You didn't divorce her right away, the two of you tried to make it work. Which is more than you ever did with me."

He whips around, a drop of water flinging toward me, fueled with indignation. "All because I couldn't have you!"

"What?! You marrying Nicole and staying with her had nothing to do with me!"

He storms over to where I'm standing at his bedroom door and watches me with an intensity that, quite frankly, turns me on. Of course, with all the pregnancy hormones raging around inside me - that's not all that unusual. My eyes boldly lock onto his, refusing to take in the sight of his bare arms and broad chest for fear that if I were to allow my eyes to rake down his body, I'd shove him backwards onto his bed, crawl over him, and have my way with him.

That doesn't sound too bad does it? But taking things slow means there's absolutely no horizontal bed action, but let me tell you, it's become a Ninja Warrior challenge abiding by that rule.

"Just an FYI, I asked Nicole out the day I taught you to fish for another man," He hisses. My eyes flutter in response. "You knew how upset I was that day."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lie.

"Oh, yes you do. Everyone knew I had a thing for you, including Jess and we both know that boy only had eyes for Rory and books, so it must have been crystal clear for him to notice!" He steps closer to me. Millimeters. I can see every detail of the raindrops still attached to his hair. I refuse to back down. "You kept trying to justify not telling me you were going on a fishing date by claiming I wouldn't want to know about your private life. You knew I had a thing for you."

"I didn't."

"Yes you did!"

"How would I know?" I ask, growing irritated. "You didn't say anything! You." Poke. "Never." Poke "Communicate." Poke.

Okay, fine. Maybe I'm not winning my battle at being unaffected by his bare chest, but for crying out loud, can you blame me? And apparently I now have a thing for poking him in the chest.

"Oh and you're any better? You walk around talking a mile a minute, never saying what you really think or how you really feel. Once upon a time I could never shut you up and then at the end of our relationship, you stopped talking! I'm sorry I missed the signs you were unhappy-"

"Oh, you're sorry you missed the signs I was unhappy?" I cut in, offended.

"Yeah, I'm sorry you never told me how you felt!"

"What a bunch of bull, Luke!" I yell. "You damn well knew how miserable I was."

"No, I didn'-"

"Bullshit!" I snap. "Stop denying it. From the day I met you, you've always known how I've felt. You knew I was hurting and you willingly chose to ignore me. What am I supposed to do now? Just fall in your arms and hope for a better outcome? Because from where I'm standing, it seems as though you only like the chase."

His voice lowers with disbelief, "Don't say that."

"Whatever," I mumble. Pissed and seeing no way through this, I turn to walk away, only to be stopped by his hand latching onto my wrist. Spinning toward him, ready to push him away, I freeze, taking in the transformative sight of his now saddened face.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly, sincerely. He struggles with his emotions for a few seconds, before continuing, "You're right, I knew you were hurting and I didn't do a damn thing to make it better."

"You made it worse."

"I'm sorry."

"Why? Why did things have to change between us just because you had a daughter? I would have welcomed her in, Luke. I would have helped you."

His lips press together tightly, refusing to give me the truth.

"Luke, please, just tell me why."

His eyes close as he sighs. "I was confused about April and feeling like a crappy Dad. I was focusing all my attention on not only trying to make it up to her, but also…" he trails off, shaking his head angrily as his eyes focus on the ceiling. His jaw locks stubbornly.

"Also what?" I prod, needing to know.

He closes his eyes again. "I was trying to make sure that you didn't see me as a deadbeat unworthy to father your children."

I blink, shocked. "What?"

When his eyes flicker to mine, fearful and vulnerable, I know the truth of the entire April situation has finally slipped out.

"Nothing." He shakes his head embarrassed while running a slightly shaky hand up the back of his neck, uncomfortable. Needing to break the tension, he makes his way to his dresser. I drop my eyes and stare at the expanse of golden skin stretched over the muscles of his strong, toned back. He pulls out a white undershirt and attempts to yank it on, only to fail miserably. Instead of correctly pulling his head through the collar, he tries to pull his head through a sleeve. He growls, frustrated, and with that sound, a flood of affection flows through me.

I pad my way across the room, run a hand over his back, up his shirt covered neck, and pull it up and away from his head. I adjust it, so his head can get through the correct hole. When his head pops through, his eyes dart around the room as his cheeks, warm and red with my touch, come into view.

"Luke," I step in his line of vision, eyes seeking his, but he refuses to look at me. Instead, he focuses on pulling his shirt down. "I've never considered you a deadbeat. How can you be a deadbeat when you didn't know about your daughter for twelve years?" Disappointed eyes slowly raise to mine. "The moment you found out about April, you've been there for her. And I don't know if you know this or not, but I'm more than a little bit pregnant, I don't think anything is going to stop you from fathering our children."

"I didn't," he clears his throat. "I don't want you to think I won't be there for our kids."

"I've never thought that," I whisper honestly. "Even when you were rambling about dropping another sucker in this mess during the dance-a-thon. Even then I knew you'd be a good father."

"That night I was telling you I'd have kids with you."

"I know," I admit. "We became masters at talking indirectly to each other. And I admitted that I'd maybe have another kid with the right guy and we both knew that was always you."

"So you admit that you knew I had a thing for you."

I groan loudly, chagrined. "Let's just both admit we've been in love for a long time, Luke. You and I have been talking about marriage and babies for years. Which is partially why I was so surprised you refused to marry me."

"I didn't refuse."

"You did!"

"Listen, it's not my fault you stopped talking all together and didn't tell me how you were feeling-"

"I did tell you."

"One time!" He blows up, just as a bolt of lightning streaks in through the windows, calling to the thunder. "You told me one time in February. Lorelai, you can be the most annoyingly persistent woman when you put your mind to it. You're the freakin' Energizer Bunny on steroids. Why the hell didn't you tell me over and over until I understood how much I was hurting you? I thought we were fine!"

A boom of thunder rattles the house.

"I knew if I pushed, I'd lose you and I didn't want to lose you," I admit in a whisper.

"I didn't marry you because I didn't want to lose you either," he exhales with a sigh. "Marrying Nicole was a drunken spontaneous act. I didn't love her, at least nowhere near the way I love you. You asked me to marry you when you lost Rory, and I believe you meant it, but it was because of something tragic. And then you asked me to elope when you were a total and complete mess. I couldn't keep up with you, and not just that," he explains, looking at me softly. I stare right up into his eyes, not one shred of distance or defense between us. "I was a mess about April and I'm sorry about that, but I wanted us to start our marriage on a high note, not a low note. I wanted to make sure that if we got married, neither one of us would walk out on our marriage."

"You thought we'd walk away?"

"Isn't that exactly what happened?" he asks, his voice cracking. "Didn't you walk away from me?"

There's a heavy beat of silence, and with it, my eyes flood with tears. "I still can't believe you didn't come after me."

Nothing, and I mean nothing, could stop Luke from coming after me now. His arms reach for me, drawing me tightly into his solid chest. "I wish I had," he whispers, burying his face into my hair. "You have no idea how badly I wish I could go back in time and do it all over. I'm so sorry, Lorelai, I'm so sorry."

Without preamble, a flash of lightning bolts through the room and an instant rumble of thunder accompanies the clouds as they split open once again and rain begins to violently pelt against the window pane. Unable to hold it all together, I break, sobbing in his arms.

"Lorelai? Lorelai? Earth to Lorelai!" A middle finger and thumb snap one against the other, forcing me back to the present with a crisp pop.

"Huh?"

"Wow! You were really spaced out," April gives me a confused look before sliding her color changing lips one over the other. "I was just saying I have to go if I'm going to meet up with Megan and Tilly on time."

"Oh," I shake the cobwebs from my head. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Yep."

She turns, making her way out of the room. I follow after her. "Swimsuit? Towel? Sunscreen?"

"All in my bag."

"Your dad's number?"

"It's up here," she points to her head as I follow her down the stairs. "Yours too."

Hanging onto the newel post, I stop on the bottom step. "Are you sure you don't need a ride? I can drop you off on the way to the Inn. I don't mind."

"Megan's house isn't that far, I can ride my bike. Her mom is going to drive us to the pool later."

"Okay," I make my way into the entry. Digging in my purse, I pull out a twenty and tuck it in her hand. "Have fun, okay? If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"Thanks," After a brief hesitating moment, she steps forward and wraps her arms around me. I stand frozen with this new development for a beat before thawing and reciprocating. Pulling away, she glances down to my bump. "You're twenty three weeks along right?"

"Uh, yeah. I think so."

She nods to herself. "Did you know you grow a new organ when you're pregnant?"

"What?"

"You start growing a placenta seven to ten days after conception. You don't have it before you're pregnant and you lose it when you give birth. It's an entire organ made up of the same genetic material as the babies. It's dedicated to giving the baby everything it needs. Water. Oxygen. Antibodies. It's like a lifejacket. And because you're having twins, you could have one or two depending on if the twins are identical or fraternal," she pauses, eyes lifting to the ceiling as she thinks. "Although, I did read that identical twins could have two placentas depending on when the embryo split, so really that tells you nothing. Did you notice if you had one or two at your last ultrasound?"

"Uh," I blink, trying to remember. Do I know about placentas? Yeah, duh, this isn't my first rodeo. Do I remember looking for them on the ultrasound? No. "I don't know, I was a little distracted by how much they grew since the last time I saw them."

She frowns, disappointed. "Well, you'll have to look at your next appointment. Did you know this is the phase where the babies start to fill in their saggy skin with fat deposits? They grow really big, really fast, which is probably why you are growing so quickly all of the sudden."

"Oh yeah?" I look down to my bump which has indeed grown exponentially. "Is that why this thing has gotten so big so fast?"

"Yep," She looks at it curiously. "I really wish you knew if you have one or two placentas. That's going to drive me crazy."

"Well maybe you should go with us to the next doctor's appointment."

A huge brilliant smile spreads across her face. "Really?"

I nod. "If you want."

"Well, I would like to see my little brother and sister. And if I went along, I could ask the doctor all my questions and check out the placentas for myself."

Listen, if I didn't grow up raising Rory, I would find this entire conversation beyond weird. But I know what it's like for a kid to fall head-first into their interests and how as an adult, showing interest in their interests not only helps them pursue those interests, but also keeps them talking to you past the teenage years. Plus, it's kinda sweet in a way.

"Should I take that as a yes?"

"Yes, definitely!"

"Yes, I have you and your husband written down for a room on October 5th," I confirm, typing the reservation into the computer. "Yes, we're all set and we'll see you in October."

I hang up the phone and smirk at my business partner just as she enters the lobby. "And that my friend is another reservation in the books!"

"Another one?" Sookie asks. "Wow! At this rate we'll be reserved through next year! We seem to be doing really well. Maybe we should have looked for a bigger inn."

"A bigger inn? Our inn is beautiful and small and quaint. It's why people come back year after year. It's nice not having to worry about empty rooms. We're booked solid through Thanksgiving."

"Didn't you just book a reservation for October 5th?"

"The Hadlestat's canceled on the fifth and this couple was first on the waiting list."

"Ah!"

"Yeah," I glance through the schedule, lifting a glass of water and taking a sip. "It looks like we're really busy and then it may taper off just as I start my maternity leave."

"What am I going to do without my daily Lorelai fix?" Both of her hands raise zealously to her face. "Oh my god, I still can't believe you're pregnant!"

"That seems to be everyone's stance," I point out, somewhat annoyed that it's still a running bit around town. You'd think after five months of being pregnant everyone would just accept it, but no, apparently no one thought I'd have more kids after Rory. "But you know with the baby bump and the swollen ankles and now the brain fog, it's so easy to forget!"

"You know what I mean! I'm such a baby when I'm pregnant, but you, you take it all in good stride. I don't think I've heard you complain once."

I shrug a shoulder flippantly. "I love being pregnant."

"You what?" Michel asks, joining us with a frown. "You love the strain growing a baby puts on your body and the fact that you will never look like what you looked like before getting pregnant?"

"Not everything is about appearances, Michel."

"And don't forget the fact that you'll have to miss work, leaving me here all alone to manage the inn of your dreams while you're off having the mountain man's babies!"

"Pregnancy is magical!" I point out, unbothered, as he gives me a disbelieving look. "Just think about it, I'm growing two little babies inside my body. Besides taking care of myself, I don't need to do anything else, my body will do it for me. How cool is that? Pretty soon there's going to be two little new people to love and care for and fall in love with."

"Yes, you're a regular unicorn."

"Michel!"

"They will be huge and you will have to not only push one, but two of them out of your do-dah or cut open your stomach," he points out dully. "What's magical about that?"

"Okay fine, that part isn't that great," I agree. "But come on, they're smallish, hardly a Green Giant."

"For now! And let's just hope they don't inherit the Brawny paper towel man's style."

I smirk brightly, running a hand down to my stomach to rub it affectionately. "I've already ordered a bunch of flannel onesies off the internet. Red and blue and pink and purple. They should be here next week. They're going to look so cute!"

"Oy vey," Michel mutters, lifting a hand to rub at his brow. "Whatever you do, don't expect me to babysit."

"After what you did to little Truman?" I ask monotonously while raising an accusatory eyebrow. "Forget it!"

Sookie's eyes light up curiously, looking from me to Michel. "Who's Truman? And what did you do to him?"

"You promised you'd never bring that up again!" Michel seethes. "Whatever did I do to you?"

"Besides insulting my babies and their daddy?"

"Why do I even bother?"

"I ask myself the same exact question everyday."

"I don't have time for this!" Michel grumbles, making his way to the kitchen for his break.

Just then, the mailman walks in through the front door to deliver today's wad of mail. It's the typical junkmail that comes on a daily basis. Buy this, buy that. But there's also a personal letter addressed to me hidden in the bundle. I recognize the formal handwriting immediately. As if that wasn't enough, I can still smell the perfume of the author still lingering on the paper.

"You seem extra chirpy today," Sookie points out, bringing my attention away from the letter. "A little sassy too. It's been a long time since I've seen you like this."

I look up. "Like what?"

"Happy."

"Oh," I shuffle the mail around the desk. "I guess I am happy. It's just that things have been really good lately, ya know? I'm good. Luke's good. The babies are good. April's good. Rory's good."

"So your entire family is good?"

I press the tip of my tongue to the roof of my mouth when a probing smirk forms on my friend's lips. Have I told Sookie about me and Luke? No. Truthfully, I like the way things are between me and Luke right now. We talk about everything and sneak around kissing or stealing little moments together. It's fun and sexy and light and I'm not ready to let anyone else into our little cocoon.

But I don't have to divert Sookie to get her off our trail. Jose, a cook from the kitchen, barrels into the lobby, red-faced. "Sookie! Bad news, the third burner on the stove blew out."

"What? Again?" Sookie asks, scowling and forgetting all about her probing from just a few seconds ago. "No way!"

"Jose," I finish enthusiastically.

Both turn to look at me, unamused, but I don't care.

"We just got that fixed," Sookie points out.

"I know, but we can't get it to light. And if we can't get it to light, we can't get all the meals out at the same time and if we can't get all the meals out at the same time then-"

"I got it," Sookie interrupts with a groan, giving me one last look before following Jose out of the lobby back to the kitchen.

I spend the next few minutes rifling through the mail, ignoring the mysterious letter lying ominously to my right. It's childish, I know, but in my head, if I were to slice that perfectly crisp white envelope open, the letter inside would pop up to eye level and morph into one of those Howler letters that instantly begin to scream in my face.

I really don't want that.

Thankfully, instead of having to deal with the damn letter, the front door swings open.

"Luke? Hi!" I smile brightly, unable to stop the skip in my chest at the sight of him entering through the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey," He walks over to the counter, his boots hitting the hardwood floors softly as he makes his way to me. "I, uh," He adjusts his hat. "I just needed to talk to you. Do you have a minute?"

My smile slides right off my face with his nervous demeanor. "What's wrong?"

"Oh. No, no, it's nothing bad," His large hand reaches over the counter to cover mine and give it a reassuring squeeze. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"Ok-ay," I say slowly. "What's up?"

With one final glance around the inn to make sure we're all alone, he leans against the counter, his body heat radiating across the short distance between us as his masculine smell permeates my senses, an enticing lure I'm unable to resist. I lean against the counter to get closer.

"I got a call from April about half an hour ago."

"Already?" I glance over to the computer clock, alarmed. "It's only 2:30. The girls should be at the pool. Is she okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, she's fine," He quickly waves off my concern. "She just called to ask if she could stay the night with Megan and Tilly. Apparently they're having a 'fabulous time' and they invited her to stay the night and hang out again tomorrow."

"Wow! Luke! That's great!"

"Is it?" He winces, his eyes becoming little slits, clearly unconvinced. "I'm still waiting for her to come home with a black eye or an undiagnosed concussion."

"Oh come on. Off the soccer field, Megan and Tilly are just a couple sweet girls. It's great news that she's making friends and building her own life here in Stars Hollow."

"You think so?"

"I know so. It'll just make her visits with you all the better. Hopefully after Anna returns she'll start letting you keep April overnight. You've been amazing with her," I say, leaning my head to the side and watching the pink tide rise up his neck. "And for her to have friends here she could spend time with? That's only icing on the cake."

Luke's face warms with the compliment as he nods to himself, pondering my words. His blue eyes rise and lock onto mine meaningfully. Purposefully. "So what do you think we should do? Should we let her go?"

I pause, biting on the corner of my bottom lip, before asking cautiously, "You're asking me my opinion on what you should do with your daughter?"

"Yeah, I'm asking what we should do with April."

Leaning both arms against the counter, I turn my head away, glancing out the window, overwhelmed before looking back to him. "Well," I inhale as I think through his question. "I think we should let her go. Megan and Tilly were great when they came by the house earlier this week. All three got along really well, but you should probably call and talk to Anna first. If she wasn't okay with you letting April and her friends stay the night with me, she may not be okay letting April stay with people she doesn't know even though we both know their families are fine. She may even want to call their parents first."

"Good idea. I'll give her a call." He knocks his knuckles against the counter a few times, thoughtfully. "So how are you feeling today?"

"Like a beached whale and I think I'm starting to waddle. I guess I can't decide if I'm a whale or if I'm a penguin today."

He laughs, giving me a look over and reaching for my hand again. "You're beautiful. I like you pregnant."

"Well don't get used to it, I'm pretty sure with my age this is it, Bucko! No more babies after this. Good thing we got a two-for-one deal." I turn my hand in his, intertwining our fingers.

"Do you know what else I was thinking if April's gone for the night?"

"That you'd start a campaign for town selectman or join a barbershop quartet or get fitted to become a town reenactor?"

He gives me a blank stare. "Like I'd ever do any of those things. No. I was thinking maybe I'd take you out on a date tonight."

"A date?" I ask, bouncing in place, a huge excited smirk finding its home on my lips. "Like a real date?"

"Yeah," he answers nonchalantly. "A real date where I shave, drop the cap, dress up and drive you out to a restaurant to buy you dinner. We can end the night by going and seeing a movie you'll no doubt talk all the way through and then complain about. I'll even buy you Red Vines to see if you like them again, since, unfortunately, that insatiable appetite of yours seems to be returning."

"Wow!" I sarcastically say. "Because that wouldn't get the town talking about the two of us at all!"

He rolls his eyes, grumbling, "Obviously I'd take you out of this petri dish sized town."

I continue smirking, letting my gaze drift over his handsome face. "Luke, that would be really nice."

"Yeah? You in?"

I look up at the ceiling, pretending to think about it long and hard as he waits patiently, watching me with an amused grin. "Yeah," I pretend to play it off as cool. "I'm in."

"Good."

With one last look around to make sure we're still alone, I rock up on to my toes, intent on pecking him with a kiss. I come to a stop miles before my lips even near his with an "oomph"! Dropping my eyes, I take in the sight of my large stomach stubbornly bumping up against the wooden counter preventing me from leaning over it to seal the deal with a kiss.

"Well, I guess our over the counter kisses don't work anymore," I drop back down to my feet with a pout.

"Guess not," he agrees, never dropping my hand as he takes two long strides to make his way around the counter. Dropping a kiss against my lips, his free hand possessively falls to my stomach, before he kisses me several more times. Pulling away, he leans down, and swipes his thumb a few times against my ever growing large bump affectionately. "All three of you need to be ready at seven if all goes according to plan."

"We'll be ready."

"Good," He stands upright. "Well, I better get back to the diner before Kirk starts replacing my name with his on every piece of diner dinnerware - including the sign outside."

"Yeah, you don't want that," I give his hand a squeeze. "Call me later and let me know the plan?"

"Sure."

"And if Anna says no to the sleepover, let's still go out with April. Then she can share all her super fun pregnancy facts not just with me, but with you too."

"So she's started on that, huh?"

"This morning," I confirm. "It's really cute though. She wants to go with us to our next appointment. I hope you don't mind, but she really wants to check some things out and see her little brother and sister for herself - her words."

The corner of his lips tip up and deep blue eyes focus on mine as he raises my hand to his lips to kiss the back of it meaningfully. My heart somersaults, unused to this much affection from this man. "You're amazing."

"About time you remembered."

With one final warm squeeze and a kiss to the side of my head, he makes his way back to work.

With my entire being flooded with a hot air balloon weightlessness, I glance at the letter on the countertop cautiously. Plucking it up with my thumb and pointer finger, I hold it poised high above the trash can before dramatically dropping it in the trash without a second thought. Protecting my relationship with Luke is more important to me than anything that could be hidden away in that envelope.

Nothing, and no one, is going to get in the way of that.