Hours later, the table was a mess of serving dishes half full, plates with very little left on them, half filled glasses and a stained table cloth. The laughter and conversation was loud and constant. It was a scene that Lorelai never expected to find Luke happy with, but his smile never faltered. He would often lean in to hear what Jess wanted to whisper in his ear, but his arm stayed slung over the back of Lorelai's chair. Any time she leaned too far away he put his hand on her shoulder, pulling her close to him. She would turn to him and flash her stunning smile while shaking her head.
"You have to let me move at some point," she finally said to him.
"Never again." he responded with a smile.
"Hey Lorelai," Charlie called. He was making his way to her. "Can I show you the website ideas now?"
Lorelai smiled at the teen, "You know what? I think any minute they are going to start clearing the table, so yeah, let's make a break of it."
Charlie laughed and looked at Luke, "She really is the coolest."
"I know," Luke agreed. He then turned to Lorelai, "Kiss?"
She stood and leaned down to kiss him sweetly. She then followed Charlie to the back end of the house where they had converted a room into the family office. Charlie sat Lorelai at the computer and showed her the website that he created for the Dragonfly explaining that it wasn't 'live' but that he could send the link to her webmaster or do it himself if she wanted. She was really impressed with his work and told him that she would talk to Sookie and Michel about making some changes.
When they returned to the group Charlie was wearing a huge smile. Lorelai could see Zoey was jealous so she whispered something to her and then the child's face lit up.
"Mom, can we eat dessert on the couches," Zoey asked.
"Only if you help clear the table," Claudia smirked.
Zoey jumped up and started grabbing people's plates.
"What did you promise her," Luke grinned at Lorelai.
Lorelai stood and picked up some things to take to the kitchen, "We're commandeering the TV to watch 'The Princess Diaries' no matter what any boy says."
The rest of the crowd helped clear the table. Claudia started the coffee maker and a kettle for tea. Sam offered more alcohol to those inclined. Maisy was asking Zoey about the movie she was going to put on. When Lisa overheard them chatting about the movie she piped up, "Actually, Sam and I were hoping you all would open our gifts, since we won't be here at Christmas. We thought if you opened them tonight and don't like what we got you we could make it up to you tomorrow with a Black Friday shopping trip."
Zoey looked conflicted, her eyes meeting Lorelai's "But the movie?"
Lorelai smiled at Zoey, "Sam and Lisa are leaving tomorrow afternoon. This is their only time to spend with you."
"Aren't you leaving tomorrow too," Zoey asked sadly.
"How about if I promise not to leave until we see that movie together? Okay?"
Zoey's face beamed, "I love you, Lorelai!"
Luke had come over just as Zoey made her declaration and hugged Lorelai. His heart melted.
The fireplace was roaring, the family all comfy in the living room waiting for Sam and Lisa to return. The couple arrived with their bags of gifts.
"We broke with tradition this year and got everyone gifts," Sam smiled.
"What's the tradition," Lorelai whispered to Luke.
"There's so many of us, so the adults draw names and do Secret Santa, only buying one gift for another adult. Plus it can't be more than fifty bucks. We all spoil the kids though."
Lorelai smiled, loving this family dynamic more and more.
"Since we haven't been around so much this year I've been feeling a bit guilty. And Lisa said I should be guilty because you two want to see us," Sam smiled at the kids. "I hope these gifts help you forgive us a bit." He handed the kids identical sized boxes and the kids tore into them
"A Nintendo DS?!" Charlie jumped into Sam's arms.
"Me too?" Zoey squealed.
"I told him video games aren't just for boys," Lisa smiled as she accepted Zoey's hug.
"That bag has a few games," Sam pointed to the gift bag on the floor. "Be good and share them, okay?" He eyes the kids.
"We will," they said in unison as they switched which adult they were hugging.
"Okay Jess," Sam smiled. "Open yours and then we'll have all the adults open theirs together."
Embarrassed to have the whole room looking at him, Jess quickly tore into his gift and smiled, "Wow, thanks! This is so generous."
Luke stretched to see what it was so Jess held it up.
"Your Mom told me that you were into music," Sam shrugged.
"What is that," Luke asked.
"It's called an iPod," Jess grinned. "I can connect it to my computer and download a bunch of music here."
"Oh that's the thing I was going to get Rory," Lorelai piped up.
"She'll love it," Jess nodded. He then turned to Sam and Lisa, "Thank you both so much. I didn't know we were doing gifts this weekend."
Sam waved him off, "Just send us a copy of your book like you promised!"
Jess nodded in agreement.
Lisa clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "Okay adults, open your gifts!"
The group began to unwrap their boxes and suddenly Claudia screamed. Everyone jumped and watched her run and throw her arms around Sam.
"What's going on?" Buddy asked gruffly.
Luke opened the gift marked 'To Luke and Lorelai' and grinned, showing it to Lorelai, "Check it out."
Lorelai looked at the gift in his lap, it was a small picture frame that said 'Our Newest Family Member' with a sonogram picture.
"Oh my god! OH MY GOD," Maisy was up and squeezing Lisa.
"What the hell is going on," Jess whispered to Luke.
Luke showed Jess the picture, but when he still looked confused Lorelai leaned over and explained, "Lisa's pregnant."
"Wow, Congrats," Jess called to the couple.
After all the hugs were given and Lisa gave an update on how she's feeling, letting them know the due date was May 16th and that yes, they were leaving early tomorrow so they could tell her family as well, the adults were back on the couches drinking champagne while Lisa and the kids had apple cider.
"Okay, Charlie, Zoe Zoe, up to bed. It's late," Claudia commanded.
"But it's a holiday," Zoey whined.
Claudia looked at Danny and he nodded. She then smiled at the kids, "Okay, you can take your gifts from Sam and Lisa with you and play a bit before lights out."
"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad," the kids said as they made their rounds of hugs. They didn't leave the room till Sam promised he wouldn't leave until after breakfast so they would get to say goodbye.
When the kids were gone Maisy turned her attention to Luke. "So Lucas, I notice the cool trick you pulled on us," she sassed.
Luke, Lorelai and Jess all looked nervous wondering how she knew their secret.
"What are you talking about," Luke tried to laugh off.
"You hooked up with Lorelai, who's as talkative as she is beautiful so you can just sit back and not talk about yourself."
Jess and Lorelai laughed and visibly calmed while Luke groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, okay. Look, since you're all here I do have some news that is best you hear from me."
"Is everything okay," Claudia asked with concern, lacing her voice.
Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, "I have a thirteen-year-old daughter," he blurted out.
The room was silent for a moment but before Luke could continue it erupted.
"WHAT?"
"Why did you never tell us?"
"Are you joking?"
"Why would you say that?"
Luke couldn't make out who was asking what so he spoke up a little louder. "Just let me tell you everything and then you can ask your questions."
The room settled, Lorelai placed her hand on Luke's back and Jess got up to get Luke a beer.
"So around this time last year this girl came into my diner and claimed she was doing a science project and she wanted some of my hair to test if I was her Father, then she ripped it from my head and left. Long story short, after her test, and another that I had done it was confirmed that I am indeed her Father. The Mother is Anna Nardini. She claims that she found out she was pregnant after I broke up with her and she didn't tell me because she didn't think I would want the kid in my life."
"Well that's insane," Claudia scoffed.
"Yeah, well whatever her reasons were, she never told me and just raised April on her own. That's my kid's name, April. Anna at first was okay with me having contact but when she saw I was happy with Lorelai and she was still single she started to make it harder."
Lorelai's eyes grew wide, she looked at Jess. He grinned at her, shrugged and nodded.
"Anna got in my head, and I dealt with it all wrong. I kept this from Lorelai for two months and then when I told her I asked her to postpone the wedding. I almost lost Lorelai by pushing her away. She kept trying to help, she gave me the space I asked for, then she helped me plan a birthday party for April. But I kept listening to Anna who was threatening to take April away if I didn't cooperate. To this day Lorelai hasn't been given the proper opportunity to get to know April and it might be the biggest regret of my life."
The room was in a stunned silence.
"I finally exploded on Anna and I took her to court because she wanted to move to New Mexico and wasn't agreeing to times that I would see April. So I had to sue for partial custody. Lorelai wrote a glowing letter about how I helped her raise Rory and I won. April still moved to New Mexico with her Mom, but there are set times that she has to come see me, I mean April wants to, so now Anna has to let her."
"Well that's quite the story," Buddy said while ringing his hands.
"Why didn't you tell us before," Leo asked, sounding hurt.
"I was uh-"
"This idiot thought it was his fault," Jess piped up.
Everyone looked from Jess to Luke.
"How could it possibly be your fault," Maggie asked. "I mean, you said you didn't know she was pregnant. It's not like you chose to not be in the kid's life, right?"
"Right!" Jess said emphatically. "This guy has been treating it like he's my Dad that up and f-ed off, never to call or be seen again. Even when the bastard showed up a few years ago he just looked at me and ran away again. When I went to find him in California he wouldn't let me stay with him for more than one night. And Luke is acting like he's the same. God man, you didn't know about her. It's not your fault! How do you not see this as everyone else does, with Anna and only Anna as the villain? The only thing you did wrong was keep Lorelai out of this. But that's between the two of you. Oh and Rory, cause she was pissed about it too. Okay, I'm done." Jess flopped down on the couch and took a long pull from his beer.
The entire room looked at Jess in utter shock. They all looked around at each other, no one really knowing what to say. Finally Maisy cleared her throat, "You two are okay now?" she motioned between Luke and Lorelai.
Lorelai nodded, "We've talked. We're good now."
"You're still going to marry the bum," Buddy asked.
Tears flooded her eyes as she saw Luke turn to look at her, she smiled at him and the tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Will you," Luke asked hopefully.
She bit her bottom lip as her mouth curved into a smile, "Yeah, I will."
He pulled her closer to him on the couch, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I love you," he whispered into her hair. "I'm so sorry."
She reached between them, grabbing his sweater to cling to him, "Me too, me too," she cried.
Buddy, Maisy and their kids all seemed a little confused, but happy that things seemed to be working out.
"Okay, well I think we all could use some sleep at this point," Claudia announced. "Tomorrow you can start atoning for keeping this from us for so long. Please tell me you have a picture of this child."
"I do," Luke said gruffly. He reached into his wallet and pulled out a school picture that April had mailed him. The family passed it around mentioning if they saw Luke in the child or not.
"So Luke's making breakfast before the big shopping trip. I'm hitting the hay now," Claudia smiled. "Babe, you going to tuck me in?"
"Of course, I'm not going to miss the best part of my day," Danny grinned as he got up and wrapped his arm around his wife. "Just leave the glasses and stuff, I'll collect it all tomorrow," he waved to the crowd.
"I'm pretty beat," Lisa pouted sweetly. "These family functions are harder without caffeine," she glared at Luke.
"Doctors say to avoid it, not just me," Luke shrugged.
Sam and Lisa disappeared from the room.
Leo was glaring at Luke, "This is the first secret you've ever kept from me," he said softly.
"I'm sorry, I really am," the sincerity in Luke's voice was evident.
Leo stared Luke down, "You and me, a weekend away, beers and dogs at Fenway Park. And you have to eat a hotdog!"
"Deal," Luke agreed.
"Can the girls come too? We'll shop while you're at the game," Maggie asked Leo.
"Lorelai might like baseball," Leo suggested.
"I like shopping much better," Lorelai grinned at Maggie.
"Great," Leo smiled. He then stood and held his hand out to Luke. When Luke stood to shake Leo's hand, Leo pulled Luke into a hug, "You're supposed to tell me everything," he whispered. "Keeping stuff to yourself is no good, remember? Your Dad told us that. Don't make me pull the Uncle Will card on you!"
The men tightened their hug before releasing each other.
"I really am sorry, man" Luke gruffed.
"I know," Leo acknowledged. He then turned to Lorelai, "We'll help you straighten this guy out."
"Thanks," Lorelai smiled in return.
"Okay, everyone go up to bed and get some rest," Maisy ordered. "Everyone except YOU, Mister," she pointed at Luke. "Lorelai, my Dear, you go on up. He'll be there shortly."
Lorelai turned to look at Luke, he leaned in, placing his hand on her hip, "Don't worry, she just has to scold me for keeping secrets."
"Good, remind her to make you promise you'll never do it again."
"You'll wait up," he asked hopefully.
She couldn't hide her smile, things were starting to feel good again, "Yeah, I'll wait up." She then kissed him on the chin before looking over his shoulder, "Good night, and don't be too hard on him," she waved at Maisy and Buddy.
"Good night Dear," Buddy smiled.
"Good night Lorelai," Maisy said. "We won't be long, he'll be with you soon."
Lorelai made her way up the stairs. She passed the kids asleep on the couches in the small open area at the top of the steps. It was a cute space that Claudia and Danny had converted into a small living room area with two comfortable couches and a beautiful bookshelf. Since family members were in the kids' rooms, they were on the couches. Lorelai closed the guest room door behind her and quickly shed her clothes, she effortlessly twirled her hair and secured it with a clip, making her way into the attached washroom. As she stepped under the hot water she could almost feel the stress and hurt of the last year start to wash away. Using the body wash that she knew he loved made her hopes for the rest of the night dance through her head. She couldn't remember the last time she was in bed with him feeling like he wanted her, so instead she let her mind go back to their first time, after their first date. Laying in his bed, in his arms after he treated her to not only a great meal at Sniffy's but the best sex of her life. She could still feel his new flannel sheets, the extra pillows and the plushest, comforter she had ever felt, all felt great, but paled against the feeling of being in his arms. She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the door open.
"Are you almost done," he asked as he peeked from behind the shower curtain.
Lorelai screamed and dropped the shower puff she was using to cover herself with the body wash. When she saw him smiling at her she shook her head, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to get in here to see if you needed any help."
"You're insane," she giggled. " Do you want to do this with a house full of people?"
"Do you know how hard it was for me to not pull you into a closet tonight? Do you know how much I've missed you?"
"I might have an idea," she teased. "Well if you're coming in, get in here. You're letting out all the heat."
Almost instantly his clothes were on the floor, "I'll heat you back up," he promised.