The rest of the Christmas celebrations went off without a hitch. Everyone had a great time and were excited to see each other again soon for the big wedding. After one last attempt, Anna finally agreed that April could come to Stars Hollow for the wedding. So Luke and Lorelai went together to the airport to drop off both of their daughters. Rory was off to London and April home before the new year to have extra time with her Mom during the school break.
Once they had made sure both girls were off safely and their planes had departed, they left the airport hand in hand.
The days leading up to New Year's eve both Luke and Lorelai worked almost around the clock. They wanted to put in as much time as possible before their wedding so they could leave for their honeymoon afterwards without worrying about their respective businesses.
Luke mainly wanted to put in hours at the Diner, to give those who would be covering for him time off now. Plus when Lorelai worked nights, he would go to their new house and work there. He trusted Tom and his team, but he loved rolling up his sleeves and doing what he could. The place was almost done, the upstairs was complete, so were the stables that were converted into his vision of part garage, part workspace. The main floor was almost done, they were still waiting for the specific oven that Luke had wanted and the furniture for the living and dining rooms. They wanted the main floor as clear as possible to hold the large number of wedding guests.
He looked around and realized, this is the house he and Lorelai would bring their child, hopefully children, home from the hospital and suddenly he couldn't stop smiling. Images of holidays and family dinners, random weekends curled on the couch, and late nights dancing in front of the fireplace. He wanted the memory making to start as quickly as possible and started making plans to surprise the love of his life.
XoXoXoXoXoXo
Lorelai had been in her office for hours. Sookie would pop in every once in a while with a snack and water. The two friends would chat each time Sookie popped in. But for the most part, Lorelai was plugging away at work.
When there was a knock at her door she didn't bother to look up, "Come in," she called.
The door opened and she heard someone clear their throat. Her face lit up when she saw Luke standing there, "Hey you."
"Hey," he stepped into her office and closed the door behind him. After a quick kiss he asked, "Did you plan anything special for tomorrow night?"
It took her a minute to think about what tomorrow was, "Oh, no. I didn't think you cared so much about New Years, so I thought I would pop into Patty's party and then meet up with you for a midnight kiss wherever you were."
"Lorelai, I want to spend all the holidays with you," he insisted. "I can't believe you made plans without me."
"Oh Babe," she stroked his cheek when she saw he was actually a little hurt. "They weren't real plans. We can do whatever you want," she promised.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Okay then, be ready to come out to dinner with me at six-thirty."
She smiled and raised her eyebrows, "Are you planning something Mr. Danes?"
He pulled her close to him, looking down into her sparkling eyes, "I have plans."
"What should I wear? Casual? Something I would wear to a Friday night dinner? A ball gown?"
Luke laughed. "Something closer to Friday night dinner, but your parents won't be there so make sure it's something too sexy to wear to Friday night dinner." He smiled and then leaned in to kiss her. His arms wrapped sound her, keeping her flush against his chest. She moaned happily as she threw his hat off and tangled her fingers into his hair. He sucked on her tongue making her knees go weak, and then he pulled away.
"Okay I gotta go," he said as he bent to grab his hat.
"Excuse me? You can't come in here and kiss me like that and then leave!"
He laughed and ran his knuckles along her jaw, "I have to go back and close the diner. I'll meet you at your place and we'll pick this up then."
"Or you could stay and -"
"Don't tempt me. I still have some plans to settle for tomorrow night, I'll see you soon."
"You can call it our place, you know," she said softly.
"Nah, that house will always be yours and Rory's. After the wedding, we're moving into OUR place!"
"Last chance to stay," she smiled before kissing him. Her tongue gently pushed past his lips and she held onto his shirt, walking backwards towards her couch.
He followed her willingly for a few steps and then came to a halt.
She pouted when he pulled back, "I'm losing my touch."
He laughed, "Never gonna happen. I just really want to do this properly. Let me close the diner, get that off my head so all I'm thinking about is YOU."
"What if I told you that I'm not wearing any underwear," she purred.
His eyes darkened with lust, his hands grabbed her waist and he pulled her to him, kissing her so passionately she moaned as her legs wobbled. When he leaned back, her eyes were still closed.
"Don't say things like that," he pleaded. "Besides, you better not be walking around like that, it's December!"
She giggled, "I was just asking. I promise, I'm not going commando."
He kissed her cheek, "I'll see you soon. I shouldn't be more than an hour. You gonna be home by then?"
"Are you kidding? After that kiss I won't be able to focus. I'm going home now to shower and get ready for you."
"Did you eat dinner?"
"Sookie's mini chicken pot pie!"
"I'll bring you home some dessert. Do you think you could snag me a pot pie or two?"
Her smile grew, "Sookie knows you love them, there's already a small container filled in my fridge over there."
He gave her a quick peck on the lips, "Thanks! I'm heading out. I'll go through the kitchen to thank Sookie for my dinner."
XoXoXoXoXoXo
"Lorelai," Luke called up the stairs. "It's six-thirty! I was good and didn't bug you before now. But can you give me an ETA on when you'll be ready?"
"I'm coming now," Lorelai answered.
Luke headed to the kitchen, not believing at all that she would be that quick. When he returned to the living room he caught a glimpse of her from behind while she was looking for a coat in the closet. He was a little disappointed as her dress seemed fairly simple and definitely something she would wear to a Friday night. It was sexy to see her in the fire engine red colour that she normally wouldn't wear, but the dress had three quarter length sleeves, and while it hugged every curve in just the right way, the hem was just below her knees.
But when she turned to face him, his eyes grew as he saw the plunging v-neck of the wrap around dress. It almost went to her navel. Suddenly he wanted to abandon all other plans he had for the night. He smiled wolfishly, "You bought a new dress."
Her smile was one of pure delight, "You noticed."
"Are you kidding? A dead man would notice!" He invaded her space and leaned in to kiss her behind her ear, knowing she wouldn't complain about him messing up her makeup if he kissed her there. "I'm cancelling the plans," he growled in her ear. "Let's go back upstairs."
She giggled, "So glad to know you like this dress. But there's no way I bought a new dress just for us to stay in. I already cut the tags off. Plus you look pretty hot yourself in those dress pants and is this the cashmere sweater I got you for Christmas?"
"Mmmhmm"
"If I promise to put out later, can we go do what you planned for the evening?"
He pulled away from her only slightly so he could look into her eyes, "You promise?"
"I promise we'll bring in the New Year with a bang," she grinned.
He laughed and kissed her cheek, "Let's go."
As he drove he tried to keep her eyes on him so she wouldn't immediately know where they were going.
"Did I tell you the oven arrived at the house today," he asked.
She shifted in her seat to face him, "Is it everything you wanted?"
He smiled knowing that she was happy for him but that she had no idea what made one cooking appliance better than another. "Yeah, it's perfect. Sookie already made me promise to let her have a turn with it." He put the car in park and smiled when she realized where they were.
"You had me dress up to go to our new home?" She was partly annoyed and partly thrilled that he wanted to be alone.
He smirked as he got out of the truck and made his way to open her door. He offered his hand, which she took before sliding from the seat.
"You know they make these things called boots," he teased. "They have rubber soles so you don't slip, and they keep your feet warm when it's snowy and a million below zero."
"But they aren't very sexy," she replied.
"You could make anything sexy," he said in a low voice.
He slid his key into the deadbolt he had installed on the new front door, and motioned for her to lead him into the house. Her eyes widened with surprise when she entered the house. The main floor was mostly dark, with candles scattered around and a fire roaring in the living room.
"You, Mr. Safety, left an unattended house with candles and a fire burning," she asked in mock horror.
"Not really," he smiled. "The candles are battery operated little lights. And Sookie's in the kitchen keeping an eye on the dinner she brought us from the inn. Now that we're here, she'll go, we'll have a quiet meal together and then if you want, make an appearance at Patty's party."
"So the dress can be seen? Smart man."
He pulled her close, rubbing his nose along her neck, "I'm torn to be honest. On one hand, I like the idea of every man in town seeing you in this dress and eating their hearts out knowing you're coming home with me," he kissed her neck."
"So why are you torn?"
"I already have you here all to myself. Why on Earth would I want to go to a party?"
"Because it will make me happy," she suggested. "And when you do things to make me happy it makes me want to make you happy."
"Mmmm, I see."
"You're here!" Sookie called excitedly. She wasn't phased by her friends necking by the fireplace. "That is the most amazing oven! I'm almost tempted to blow up the one at the inn so insurance will cover the cost to get this one."
Luke spun and faced Sookie with his cheeks and the tops of his ears tinged red.
"I had to test it out, so I made a few batches of shortbread cookies. But I'm all done, your dinner is in the oven on the Keep Warm feature. I'm off! I'm assuming I won't see you two till tomorrow at the earliest?"
"Luke said he's taking me to Patty's party after dinner," Lorelai beamed. "Are you going?"
"Of course," Sookie nodded. "Lulu's sister is babysitting the kids after dinner."
"Great," Lorelai grinned before hugging her best friend. "So we'll see you later. Thanks for helping him with this."
"No problem," Sookie responded. "And don't worry, I'm not really expecting to see you two later." She lowered her voice and whispered to Lorelai, "The minute he figures out why that silky smooth dress doesn't have a panty line he's not leaving this house."
Lorelai giggled.
"Bye Sookie, and thanks," Luke called as he headed towards the kitchen.
Lorelai closed the door behind Sookie and headed to the kitchen. As she walked her eyes took in the new home, all the touches and changes that were made to make it more to their taste. Light fixtures and switches were modernized, the hardwood floors that had been lovingly restored. The original mouldings and built-in bookshelves added a touch of elegance, while the lighter finish and homey, yet not "girly" wallpaper created a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. The kitchen has been completely renovated with state-of-the-art appliances and sleek countertops, but the original exposed beams had been preserved, providing a seamless blend of old and new. In the centre of the prep area was a large island that Luke had designed and helped build. The arched wall that had separated a small eating area and a large sun porch had been removed, making one big eating area where a large farmhouse table and eight comfortable matching chairs sat, a perfect gathering spot for family and friends.
"Are you ready to eat?"
Pulled from her dreams of family dinners and faceless, yet to be named children running around her, Lorelai smiled and nodded.
They shared a quiet and romantic dinner, making each other laugh and sharing stories that they had heard from their respective daughters. She filled him in on some details about the wedding plans and he assured her that Jess would be coming in this coming weekend to be fitted for a suit. He thanked her again for not insisting on tuxedos.
She shrugged. "I am going to be in a fabulous, jaw dropping gown. If you don't want to be fancy with me that's fine."
The slight disappointment in her voice almost made him tell her that he had indeed not only tried on a tux, but bought one, and it would only be the guys marching for him that will get away with suits instead. Jess and Jackson were so thankful they promised to keep the secret.
Lorelai stood and took his plate along with hers to the sink.
He came up behind her and ran his hands along her sides, he stopped at her hips and leaned into her "Ms Gilmore, what are you wearing under this dress?"
"What makes you think that I'm wearing anything under this dress," she teased, rubbing her ass into his crotch.
"I would like to propose a change in tonight's plans," he rasped as he pulled her hair over one shoulder so his lips could reach her neck.
"Sookie called it, she said once you found out about my outfit you wouldn't want to take me to the party."
He hummed against her skin, desperate to form a coherent thought. "We can still go to the party," he said in a hoarse voice. "I just need to have you first."
"Are you going to do me on the island or the kitchen table?"
He growled a laugh against her skin, "I was thinking in front of the fireplace."
"That's a romantic spot," she sighed. "But right now I think you want it fast and hot. I'm fairly certain you don't even want me to take the dress off. Come on Luke, you won't do it at the diner, so take me here in your new kitchen. I want you to think about me when you're here without me."
He spun her around, pressed her against the island and kissed her heatedly.
"Best New Years Eve ever," she gasped.