“I KNOW I’M LATER THAN I SAID I’D BE,” she begins at the sound luke’s voice, kicking her shoes off unceremoniously as she shuts the door behind her. the explanation continues as she heads to join them, taking a seat on the other side of her daughter. “mia needed my help with something, and she’s helped me out so much i didn’t want to say no. i would’ve called, but it was sort of time sensitive —- and i knew you guys would be okay waiting a little,” lorelai smiles as she finishes the thought, realizing just how true it is. she KNOWS rory’s safe with luke. she knows that she’s safe with luke. he’s the first real relationship she’s had ( the first time it’s felt real —- the first time she feels like a grown-up), and frankly, she hopes he’s the last. “how are my two favorite people doing, huh? what’re we watching?”
HE REACHES HIS HAND THAT’S WRAPPED AROUND rory’s back to rest against her shoulder. “it’s fine, we’ve been watching the aristocats waiting for you. some kid wants a cat now.” he sends a small smile to her before looking back at the tv. he feels the toddler cuddle closer to him. it’s hard to believe that this was his life. that he has a girlfriend, a beautiful lovely girlfriend who makes his heart happy and a little girl who warms his heart whenever the word daddy falls from her lips.
Concept: I’m in the kitchen wearing your shirt, and frying some pancakes. Behind me I hear your sleepy voice say “good morning, darling” just before your arms wrap around me from behind. You smell just as good as the pancakes. We are both so happy and warm inside
“WE’RE FINE,” she answers immediately, a heavy pause lingering as she tries to find her words. letting out a sigh, she shakes her head —– they’re fine now, at least. she hopes they’ll keep being fine, but there’s no knowing for sure. hands raise to rub down her face, terror gripping at every inch of her as the seconds tick on. in fact, lorelai isn’t sure she’s ever been so scared —– the last thing she wants is to lose luke. she can’t lose luke. rory can’t lose luke. eyes shut tightly, hoping that it’ll hide the fact that she suddenly feels like she might cry. the mere idea that this might drive luke away is too much. she can’t risk it ( the fact that he’ll find out soon enough regardless of whether she says anything doesn’t occur to her ). eyes open as she plasters a smile on her face, shaking her head. “you know what? never mind, it’s not that important. let’s just watch the movie,”
HE KNOWS SOMETHING IS GOING ON. he can sense it in her actions and how there’s a space between them on the couch that’s normally not there. luke holds the remote far away from her, not wanting to leave this conversation like this. “ lorelai please. something’s up. i’m not an idiot. you’ve been distance lately and i’m scared you’re going to leave, so please just tell me. ” he doesn’t want to go back to life without her. they’ve started to build something together- even if they live in an all-too-small apartment. they’re both working towards the same goal, a goal to have a family and a house without the help of either of their families.
RORY WAS FINALLY ASLEEP, it had taken four stories, but there was no denying she was finally out. hopefully for the night. with a sigh lorelai reclaims her spot on the sofa, legs folding under her, shoulders sagging with the weight of the length and stress of the day. she glances sidelong at luke with a soft smile, “sometimes getting her to go to bed is like pulling teeth,” she notes, gaze drifting to the tv, though she can’t quite bring herself to pay attention. something heavy has weighed on her mind for several days now, and it’s not a subject she’s eager or prepared to bring up. it’s more terrifying than anything, regardless of the rational parts of her mind that continually remind her that luke probably won’t react badly —— but the chance that he might is enough to hold her back. sitting silently, she picks distractedly at her nails, trying to build up the nerve to say what she needs to. the minutes tick by, and she finally decides it’s best to get it over with, so with another belabored sigh, lorelai’s attention shifts back to luke, “hey, i, uh —— we need to talk about something. it’s kind of IMPORTANT,”
HE WAS WAITING ON HER TO WATCH the breakfast club. luke had started to notice that lorelai was off her game as of late, but he thought it was just because rory hadn’t been sleeping well. now, he wonders if something else is wrong. he worries, even if for a second, that she’s going to break up with him, that for some reason, he wasn’t good enough to share her life, but luke knows. he knows how much he means to her, how much he means to rory and how desperately she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. he turns the tv off, important conversations can’t be had while a tv is on. “are you okay? are we okay?”
“I KNOW, I’M SORRY. my dad, he’s not doing so great. i didn’t think about leaving a note. i just, i had to leave and i didn’t want to worry you or wake rory up. i know she’s had a hard time sleeping lately. please, don’t come up here. i just need some time alone with my thoughts.”
“ I KNOW,” he states, pressing a small kiss to the side of her head. he opens the door to doose’s, flipping on the light. he can’t stand taylor, but this town’s obsession with the young couple played out in luke’s favor. he managed to convince taylor to give luke a key to the market, for a very special occasion. “ come here, ” he whispers, pulling lorelai into the building with him before locking the door behind them. “ i have something to show you. ”
he leads her to the baby food aisle, where they truly first meet. things were so different now. rory’s a walking talking toddler now and lorelai just told him that they’re expecting a baby. there hasn’t been a better time for luke to ask her this question.
they reach the aisle and he takes her hand before getting down on one knee, a smile forming across his face. “ we met right here two years ago and lorelai victoria gilmore, i’ve been addicted to you since the moment i laid eyes on you. you continue to amaze me every day and i’m so grateful that you’ve chosen me to share those moments with and i want to spend the rest of my life sharing those moments. so, lorelai gilmore, will you MARRY me ?”
