How You Picture Things
Authors Note: Well, here is the very last chapter of How You Picture Things. This chapter is all about closure baby. I know I could have left it at the last chapter but I figured they should at least be released before I called it a day. It was so much fun to write this and I am a little sad it's done. I want to once again thank everyone who took the time to review. You are all awesome and just yay for you in general. Um, what else when and if inspiration strikes I will probably start something else, so keep an eye out. Okay here we go…
Spoilers: None.
Premise: Set after "Jews and Chinese Food" But before, "So Good Talk." The whole town wants Luke and Lorelai to get back together so they decide to do something about it.
Chapter 7 "Obscene Pancakes and Bonnie and Clyde" :
"If love is a labor I'll slave till the end. I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand." Swing Life Away, Rise Against
The early morning sun shined brightly as Sookie slowly made her way to the front of Miss Patty's dance studio. She was grasping the keys to the door so tightly that it was leaving indentation marks along her hand. As optimistic as she was about the town's little scheme she knew that throwing Luke and Lorelai in a room together and locking the door could end in a multitude of ways. In fact, that is how she got suckered into being the one who let them out. The general consensus of town had been that both Luke and Lorelai were less likely to go ballistic on a pregnant woman, and being the only pregnant woman around, it left Sookie with the job.
Once Sookie reached the front of the studio she suddenly felt very hesitant about unlocking the door. She just didn't know what kind of scene she would be walking into. Would she be cursed by them both as they bolted out of the door to escape each other. Or would it be like out of some horror movie, Lorelai rocking in a corner somewhere and Luke mysteriously missing. She has so many questions in her mind, would they both be furious, or too happy to notice? Would they both be alive? Would they both have their clothes on? That last question was particularly pronounced in her head, because when Miss Patty was debriefing her on a list of possible outcomes she had gone into elaborate detail explaining what she called Scenario "XXX".
She quickly shook the thought and Miss Patty's voice out of her head and found the correct key on the key chain to open the door. She was just going to unlock the stupid thing and get it over with. Worst comes to worst she knew that Jackson was in the car ready and waiting like some kind of getaway driver.
"Okay here goes nothing!" Sookie said as she slowly opened the door to Miss Patty's.
At first glance Sookie didn't see Luke or Lorelai. She slowly walked in until she was completely inside. She still didn't see either one of them until she averted her eyes towards the ground. That is when she first caught sight of the pair. They were completely entangled in each other and fast asleep on the blow up mattress. Lorelai had one of her arms flung over Luke's torso and her head rested on his chest. Luke's arms were wrapped protectively around Lorelai's body holding her tightly to him. The infamous blanket was now haphazardly thrown over their sleeping bodies.
Sookie smiled at the sight before her while simultaneously saying silent thank you to God that they both appeared to be adequately covered. Lorelai was wearing Luke's flannel shirt. As for Luke he had a t shirt on, and although the blanket was covering his mid section Sookie hoped he was also wearing boxer shorts.
She was so consumed by their attire or lack there of that it took a second to register what this particular scene meant. It looked like her plan, no wait scratch that the town's plan had worked. Sure, she had kind of been the one to bring it up and get everyone involved, but she definitely hadn't come up with the location. She also was not the one who came up with the crazy scenario's that were still floating in the back of her head.
Sookie's brain was on overload and she didn't know what to do next. She didn't know if she should just let them wake up on their own and see that the door was now open. Or should she wake them up and let them know they were no longer trapped inside. Sookie was beginning to get a little giddy with excitement as she watched Lorelai move slightly and snuggle in closer to Luke's chest. They were back together, they just had to be. Mission get Double L back together 2005 was a success. Sookie briefly reminded herself to not count her chickens before they had hatched. She knew that sometimes what you do when you're asleep and not conscious of your actions was quite different then what you did awake. However; she also knew something else with a bit of certainty and that was the fact that you don't wear a man's shirt unless something dirty happened. She was so happy that everything seemed to have worked out that she felt the overwhelming urge to wake up Lorelai. She didn't think she could wait another second to get every detail from Lorelai about how she and Luke had gotten back together.
"Lorelai," Sookie whispered. When she didn't stir she tried a little bit louder, "Lorelai."
Normally Sookie would have bent down to tap Lorelai on the shoulder but bending down in any form was a mere memory to the extremely pregnant Sookie.
"Lorelai," She tried once more, and still got no response from either one of them.
Patience was not a virtue that Sookie possessed and she was quickly frustrated.
"Both of you are free! Get up!" Sookie screamed.
"What in the crap," Lorelai said groggily as she sat straight up.
"What the hell?" Luke grumbled. Luke's body was so happy to have finally gotten more than an hour of sleep that it simply refused to move. So Luke didn't even bother to open his eyes at the unwanted noise. He merely grunted something intelligible without even looking at where the noise came from and pulled the blanket tightly over his head.
"I said you guys are free, get up!" Sookie said exasperated.
"We're free…" Lorelai repeated still half asleep. Lorelai was apparently not as tired as Luke because she managed to look over and see Sookie starting down at her. Lorelai slowly got out of bed and went straight over to where Sookie was standing. It took Lorelai a second to place where she was, and why Sookie was there. Slowly but surely all of last night's events came back to the forefront of Lorelai's mind.
"Oh so they send the pregnant one so we won't get mad." Lorelai quipped.
All Lorelai's comment got was a sheepish smile from Sookie. Lorelai looked down at the blanket covered blob that was Luke and quickly grabbed Sookie by the arm to change locations. Once they reached Miss Patty's office Lorelai tried to put on her best angry face to let Sookie know she meant business, "Sookie, I can not believe you did this. I can not believe my best friend was in on this and Rory, my daughter, my own daughter was in on this! What were you thinking? You kidnapped us, do you not get that! I am grown woman I can handle things on my own…"
Sookie was trying to put on an equally serious face but she wasn't good at covering up her emotions. She was ecstatic about what she had just walked in on and couldn't help but comment on it.
"You guys are back together! I am so happy!" Sookie interrupted. She then proceeded to let out a loud squeal while grabbing both of Lorelai's shoulders.
"How'd you know?" Lorelai asked and couldn't help but smile.
"Well, the fact that you are wearing his shirt was kind of a tell about how things turned out." Sookie laughed.
"Oh yeah that." Lorelai beamed as she looked down at the flannel she was wearing. "I was going to try and be all hard ass Lorelai with you Sook, but I don't think I have it in me. I am so happy! If I baked I would make you something that you bake. Oh brownies, I would make you brownies."
"Promise me you never even attempt to cook for me or any one else, Lorelai." Sookie said seriously. After a brief pause she continued, "Listen, you know that Rory, and I, and this town just wanted what was best for you. You were just so miserable, and he was so miserable, and it was making all of Stars Hollow miserable."
"Wow, Luke and I have a lot of power over this town." Lorelai declared. "I should really start using my powers for evil."
Sookie ignored Lorelai's joke and started talking with a devious glint in her eyes. "So, tell me how'd it happen, when did it happen, How many times did it happen?"
"Sookie!"
"What?" Sookie returned innocently. "Come on you know you want to tell me."
"Luke is in the next room and I have to say when he finally wakes up I don't think he is going to be as forgiving as me. So details later and for now we get you out of here and keep that precious baby safe." Lorelai laughed.
"Aww come on, give me something." Sookie whined as Lorelai began to walk out of the office.
Lorelai turned around to look at Sookie and gave a devious smile, "Fine, one of the answers is two and that's all you are getting."
"Big tease," Sookie joked as they both made their way out of the office.
After Sookie was safely out of Miss Patty's dance studio and away from Luke's possible wrath Lorelai decided it was time to wake up Mr. Sleeping Beauty himself. She was now dressed in her own rumpled clothes from the night before and figured it was time for them to get out of this place. She looked down at the completely unmoving mass of blanket and man and decided to sit down on the floor Indian style next to him. She figured a gentle shake should work so she put the keys to Miss Patty's down on the floor to open up her hands. She had made damn sure she was in possession of those keys before she let Sookie leave. As pleasantly as things had ended up for her and Luke she never wanted to be stuck anywhere ever again, so she took no chances.
"Luke, wakey wakey," Lorelai mockingly said and she grabbed what she assumed was Luke's shoulder.
"Come on Luke. Our cliché sitcom scenario has finally ended. We are free. All though in a sitcom we would have been stuck in a elevator and right now would be the time where the repair man finally get around to fixing it..."
"Lorelai," Luke groggily said. "Don't take this the wrong way but shut up."
Luke pulled the blanket down so that it was no longer covering his head.
"Well, isn't this a switch. You being all sleepy and me wide awake. What happened to you when we were apart?" Lorelai asked.
"Well, let's just say that sleeping wasn't something I have done a lot of this past month." Luke responded finally awake.
"I guess we just need to make sure that we are never apart again." Lorelai said sincerely.
"I have to say I am okay with that." Luke returned.
"Good. Now did you hear what I said. We have been released the warden aka Sookie unlocked the door for us."
"So that wasn't a dream."
"You thought you were dreaming of Sookie? Why Luke she is my best friend! I don't think that's appropriate!" Lorelai joked.
"I am far too tired to play along with you right now." Luke said as he sat up and stretched.
"Like you would have played along with me even if you were awake," Lorelai quickly returned.
"Yah you are probably right about that. So we are free, huh."
"Yes, and now we can start are bank robbing bandit thing. Bonnie and Clyde and what not, just you, me, our wits, and our shot guns…" Lorelai began.
"Isn't that what you called us when we broke the bells." Luke asked.
"You remember that?" Lorelai questioned.
"I remember everything." Luke said sincerely.
"I really should have snapped you up sooner." Lorelai said softly. He was so genuine and wonderful and she knew she was incredibly lucky to have gotten another chance with this man.
"You snap me up? I am the one that did the snapping. I made all the moves." Luke said trying to lighten the mood a little.
"Yes and it took you merely eight years. Luke you are such a P I M P." Lorelai sarcastically replied.
"Do you really want to argue about this?" Luke laughed.
"We aren't arguing. We are bantering. it's one of our things. And I for one have missed it." Lorelai leaned her body over and kissed Luke softly on the lips.
"I missed that." Luke whispered leaning in to kiss her again.
Lorelai reluctantly pulled back.
"Luke, as much as this place is beginning to grow on me, what do you say you get dressed and we get out of here. I fear if we stay much longer the news of us being back together will have reached the whole town. We will then be forced to spend all day talking about it with Babette, and Miss Patty, and Kirk, and you see where I am going with this. I was thinking if we left now we can hide out and have the day to ourselves."
"That sounds like the best idea I have heard in a long time." Luke shook his head in approval as he spoke.
"Good, then let's get the hell out of dodge."
"Okay." Luke said starting to get up.
"Luke one more thing, I just want you to know that I am really happy with the way things turned out last night. I really meant what I said." Lorelai said grabbing Luke's hand and preventing him from getting up.
"You said a lot of things last night…" Luke teased. He knew exactly what she meant but it felt good to be able to tease her again.
"You know what I mean." Lorelai admonished.
"I do and I meant what I said too, Lorelai. Hey, how about we go back to my place. I will make you an obscene amount of food, and we can spend the day together in bed." Luke said as he got up off of the mattress.
"Why Luke are you asking me to bail out on my duties at the inn and play hooky with you?" Lorelai said in mock shock as she stood up.
"Pretty much." Luke said while simultaneously getting dressed.
"Thank God. Hey, do you think we should clean up?" Lorelai looked down and the mattress as she spoke.
"Are you kidding me? Lorelai, they locked us in. They can clean this up."
"Well, I mean their plan did end up working, Luke. If it weren't for the towns little scheme who knows where we would be. The least we could do is fold the blanket…" Lorelai stated.
"What happened to a quick get away?" Luke questioned. "Plus, I don't know about you but I was so miserable even if they hadn't locked us in here I would have caved eventually."
"Oh you are right screw the blanket!" Lorelai smiled. Hearing Luke say that they would have gotten back together with or without the towns help made her even happier if it was possible. "Now when you say an obscene amount of food how much food are we actually talking about here? I mean one person's obscene is another person's snack. Oh and will there be pancakes? I feel as though when someone says an obscene amount of food, I picture a steaming stack of fluffy pancakes…"
"If you keep talking we will never leave…" Luke said grabbing Lorelai's hand.
"You know you love me." Lorelai said, feeling the overwhelming need to hear the words again from him.
"Yes I do. I love you, crazy lady." Luke seriously replied.
Lorelai didn't think she would ever get tired of hearing those words or the man who had said them. Luke began to lead Lorelai towards the door their hands still intertwined.
"Good, I love you too. Now about those pancakes…." Lorelai started.
"Lorelai!"
Lorelai just laughed at him as they both finally made their way out of Miss Patty's.
And they lived happily ever after…. Strummy Strummy La La…. The End!