It's All So Simple Part V

They had been driving for hours. They searched all around Stars Hollow before thoroughly checking the route between the town and Woodbridge. Luke drove, Anna sat in the middle, and Lorelai sat on the end. All in Luke's truck.

They were now in Woodbridge, all of them craning their necks to look outside at everything and everybody in view as Luke drove.

"Luke, she wouldn't be this far uptown. Maybe we should turn back around," Anna said.

"We've already looked downtown. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Check everywhere," he said looking around thoroughly at every area he passed.

Anna released a breath. Growing impatient with her daughter's extended absence.

Luke stopped abruptly. "That," he said putting the truck in park. Lorelai and Anna's eyes grew wide, trying to get a peek at what had grabbed Luke's attention. He had stopped in the middle of road but hardly felt the desire to rectify it. He opened his door and got out, walking briskly over to the sidewalk. Anna slid across the seat and climbed out on his side. Lorelai followed.

"What do you see?" Anna yelled running over.

He reached down and picked up a spoke off the sidewalk. He held it out to Anna. Her hopeful look fell. "What the hell is this?" She asked almost yelling at him.

He took it back, looked at it. "It's April's," he said.

"It's a spoke. That could belong to anybody. How did you even notice this?" She asked.

He paid her attitude very little attention. "It belongs to April. Hers was loose on her bike, and it had a little," he pointed at it, "black mark right here."

Anna looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Let me guess, you've developed super-human seeing powers and was able to see that little nothing from a moving vehicle."

"No," he said gritting his teeth, "I saw the reflect--look that isn't the point," he said suddenly. "I'm going to go look around here. You can drive the truck and keep looking somewhere else if you like." Anna turned and walked quickly back toward the truck while mumbling to herself. Lorelai watched her go. She turned back to Luke. "Alright, she may still be around here. You want to go with me?" He asked her quickly. She turned and looked at Anna, rolled her eyes. Turned back to Luke.

"I think I'm going to go with her. Try to spread out," she said convincingly.

Luke was too anxious at the possible clue to find fault with it. "Okay. Um, I'll catch up to you guys later, then," he said before taking off.

Lorelai watched him jog off, nervous, motivated. She turned and headed toward the truck quickly. She didn't doubt that Anna would take off and leave her. Call it a mistake.

She got in the truck and settled into her seat. Anna pulled off, sighed. Lorelai waited for her to speak. She had stuff to say, but she wanted her to speak first.

"I see Luke is still Luke," Anna said simply.

"And I'm sure you and I have different views of what that is."

"I'm sure we do," she said in a disinterested voice.

Lorelai sighed, looked out the window. A minute passed where she and Anna looked for April.

"I have a daughter," Lorelai said out of nowhere. She was calm. Her voice was calm, confiding. "Her name is Rory, and she's my world," she said looking at Anna. She wanted to see if she was finding a way to ignore her. She wasn't. She twisted her lips, looked out her window, drove, but she was receptive. Lorelai continued. "I raised her by myself because her father...just wasn't there. I wanted him to be. So badly. But he chose not to be." She paused. "He broke her heart so many times...which of course broke my heart. But he was her dad, so I'd always fix it, whatever he did, I'd fix it, make it better so that when that day came...that day that he'd want to step up, there would be no hard feelings. I did that for Rory." She chuckled. "He just recently decided to be a father to her, a couple years ago. I hadn't been able to cover up for him for years by that point. She was almost out of high school." She looked down. "But it didn't matter because Rory was still so happy to be around him. That's all that's ever mattered when it came to him. Rory."

Anna looked over at her. "How old is she, your daughter?" She asked.

"She's eighteen," Lorelai said with a proud smile.

Anna's face flashed shock. Lorelai caught it, laughed. "Condom commercials weren't that common in '84. It was more of a government secret." She looked at her. Answered the question she knew she wanted to know. "I was sixteen."

Anna didn't show judgment. "Must've been hard," she said knowingly.

"It was," she said seriously. "It was very hard."

A silence followed her admission. A somewhat lengthy silence, interrupted only by the truck's engine as Anna drove along.

"Can I ask you a question?" Lorelai asked her.

Anna looked over, tensed. Distrust emanated from her eyes. "Go ahead," she said.

"Why is it that when you refer to April, you always show possession...when speaking to Luke?"

"I don't think I do," Anna said suredly. Almost with bite.

"You never really say her name. It's always, 'my daughter'," Lorelai said.

"And...is she not my daughter?"

"Yes," Lorelai answered quickly. She paused. "But, she's Luke's daughter too," she added.

"You know, I'm getting a little tired of you imposing in this at every opportunity. I'm sorry that your daughter's father was a deadbeat, and I'm sure you've received many Mom of the Year trophies for your selflessness in trying to keep an open relationship with him and...Rory," she said remembering her name. "But I'm happy with me and April's life together." She paused, and Lorelai remained calm, noticing the emotion Anna felt on the subject. "I don't need Luke or any other guy coming in and ruining that. I'm all my daughter needs," she finished, her voice cracking.

Lorelai started to say something but was interrupted.

"You call me a dictator," she continued, "And I'm sorry if I come off that way, but I am doing the best I can. I'm all she has. I have to hold it together for my kid. I'm not going to allow people, not even her father, to hurt her in any way." She looked at Lorelai. "You talk about how you would do things, cover up things for Rory's sake, well I am the way I am, the good and the bad, for April's sake. If that means getting stopped in convenience stores to get told how awful I am, then so be it. It's a small price to pay."

Lorelai felt bad about the covenience store incident, but not bad enough to take back what she had said. She had meant it then, and she meant it now. Things had calmed down, emotions had subsided since then, but she backed everything that came out of her mouth. So, she focused on the first part of her speech.

"How could you ever think that Luke would hurt April? He would die before he ever did that, before he'd let someone else do that, physically or emotionally."

Anna sighed. Clenched her jaw. She seemed mad. Exposed. Her words, however, contradicted what looked to be true.

"How long have you known him?"

"We've been friends for years. He was there for Rory when her dad wasn't. He looked out for her, he tolerated her in ways that I never even thought that he would tolerate anyone, he protected her--he almost beat up Rory's first boyfriend after he thought he'd broken her heart." She shook her head, ready to add to the long list.

Anna actually smiled. "Sounds like him."

"It is," she said quickly. Desperate to hang on to what she thought was a small opening. "He's a great person, Anna. You know this. You have to know this," she said. "And what you're doing, he doesn't deserve it. What's done is done. You can't undo ten years, but what you're doing now...it's killing him."

Anna fell silent, looked at her, tears springing up and getting blinked back. "I just want what's best for April," she said softly.

Lorelai looked at her. "That's funny. Because I am willing to bet you...that Luke does too."

They shared a look. Two mothers. With more in common than either was willing to admit.

Anna broke contact. She stopped the truck, hit a U-ie. "Let's go pick Luke up. Go back downtown. I know April isn't up here." Lorelai sighed. Had they made progress? What was the verdict? Her cell phone rang, breaking her of any thoughts.

The caller was unknown, but she answered anyway. "Hello." She placed a hand over her chest. "Oh thank god," she said relieved. She looked over at Anna. "He found her," she said. "Luke found April."

"Is she okay? Is she hurt?" She asked shakily. Luke heard her over the phone. Lorelai listened to him then smiled.

"She's fine."

"Oh, thank god!" Anna said, repeating Lorelai's earlier words.

Lorelai held onto the dashboard as Anna's sudden increase in speed jerked the truck forward. She drove quickly to where Luke had been dropped off.

-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

The truck had barely been pulled to a stop before Anna was climbing out. She rushed over to where April stood talking to Luke. Her bike lay beside her.

"Young lady, you are in such big trouble," she said as she leaned over and embraced her tightly.

"I can tell," April said sarcastically as she hugged her back.

"What were you thinking?" She backed up. "Why would you do something like this?"

Lorelai had come from the truck, smiling at the presence of April. April noticed her, smiled, waved. Lorelai did the same. Anna turned, saw who was receiving April's attention since she obviously wasn't. She dismissed it quickly.

"Do you hear me?" She asked.

April sighed. "Yes, Mom. I hear you," she said dully.

"Well, then, can I get an answer?" She asked. Her voice was different when talking to April. It was pleasant, even in her anger. Lorelai noticed this, admired that about her.

April looked up, everyone had eyes on her. She released an aggravated growl. "I'm sick of this, Mom," she said.

"Of what?"

She looked at Luke. "I have a dad, now. I want to know him, and he wants to know me, too. Right, Luke?"

Luke nodded, rubbed her shoulder, looked at Anna.

April looked back to her mom. "And you're standing in the way of that, and I don't understand why. I mean, he's not a sex offender. I checked." Luke looked at her in shock. Did she really just say that? He looked at Lorelai, and she was looking to the ground, a small smile on her face. She'd already gotten an idea of how the girl's mind worked. Very thorough. April continued.

"He's not any kind of a criminal. I asked around Stars Hollow, polled random people, and each time, people would say the same thing 'gruff, blunt, heart of gold'. I mean, they didn't say 'heart of gold' but the multiple answers could be summed up in that phrase. And, I can't for the life me understand why you won't let me get to know my dad. I mean, am I missing something?"

Anna's eyes took in April's innocent inquiry. She really wanted an answer. An answer that Anna could not give. She was being put on the spot. She owned the spot. She looked to Luke, noticing that he was waiting on an answer to that question too. She avoided the question for as long as she could. "Is that why you came up here?"

April gave her an obvious look. "Well, I needed time to think. And they have a very nice park up here that I heard offered the perfect locale for that activity."

Luke smiled down at her. Had he actually aided in the creation of this child?

Anna shook her head. Used to what she'd aided in creating. "Let's get you home, April. We have some talking to do." She turned to walk toward Luke's truck.

"Wait," April said. "What about Luke?" She asked clinging to his side.

Anna looked at her, at Luke. She took a breath. "Luke isn't going anywhere, Honey. You'll see him again," she said quietly.

Luke's face lit up, Lorelai's face lit up behind where Anna stood. April looked doubtful.

"Be more specific, please."

Lorelai almost laughed. She stood and waited for Anna to clarify. She knew where she was going.

Anna looked up at Luke. Looked him hard in the eyes. "He's your dad, April. He's going to be in your life." She looked away. "I won't stand in the way of that."

April's face finally lit up. She smiled wide. Looked at her mom. "So, if I want to see him next weekend...?" She asked testingly.

Anna rolled her eyes, smiled. "Then, you'll see him this weekend," she finished.

"But," Anna said quickly. Everyone froze. "You won't be doing anything particularly fun with him because you are grounded," she said decisively to April. She looked up at Luke, swallowed her pride, her tyrannical ways. "Do you agree?" She asked him.

He smiled, actually had to fight back the true size of it. He looked at April, at Anna. "I agree," he said. He tossed a glance to Lorelai. She was elated. She was smiling wide back at him. Anna's lips turned up at Luke's happiness. He deserved it.

April looked from person to person. "You know, it really isn't that funny." She started walking toward the truck. "Never saw so many people so ecstatic at hearing someone get all freedoms revoked," she mumbled. "Sadistic group of people, I tell you."

This just made everyone smile wider.

Luke had helped to ground his daughter.

Oh, what a day.

-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

Lorelai and Luke made it back to the diner just as breakfast had ended. They'd spent the ride talking about April- how much of a joy it would be getting to know her, as well as how thrilled they were about the way things had turned out.

They both stepped out of the truck. Luke walked around and met her on the sidewalk. They walked in together, finding the diner to be running smoothly in his absence. Caesar greeted him, and he returned his greeting, telling him that he was going to head upstairs for a minute. Lorelai followed him over to the stairs, getting ready to bid him goodbye behind the curtain. Once behind it, he started up. She stood there. He looked back, beckoned her to follow. She did.

He and she inside, Luke closed the door. Stood there. Smiled at her. She looked questioningly at him. Returned the smile. He moved toward her, reached for her. She went. He pulled her to him tightly. His head in the crook of her neck. Eyes closed. He squeezed her. So much feeling in that one act. She matched his hold, arms looped around his neck.

Time ticked away. Marked a moment in time.

Luke pulled back, slid his arms from around her. He looked into her eyes. Her hands slid from his neck to the sides of his face. Caressed that area. "Lorelai, I hope you don't..."

"What's wrong?" She asked tilting her head to meet his gaze.

He swallowed, looked at her. "I hope you don't think that I used you."

She moved her hands to his chest, her eyes studied the buttons as she quickly tried to think of why he would think that. Her facial expression said it all. "Of course not. I wouldn't allow myself to be used," she said in a bigger voice. "And you'd never do that," she added in a whisper.

He stared at her. So serious. She caught his eye. "This isn't a casual thing for me," he said.

"Me either," she said instantly.

Too instantly. "I'm serious, Lorelai."

She paused. Gave him a pointed look. "And, I'm not?" She asked. It was a question, imperatively verbalized.

He looked at her, barely nodded. Of course, she was.

His smile got bigger. It looked incredible on him.

"I have a daughter," he said.

"Yeah. You do," she said softly.

"I have a lot of birthdays to make up for."

She sighed. "Ten years."

"What time does the mall open?"

She gave him a confused look. "You want to go now?"

He nodded, eyes sparkling.

She couldn't help but smile. "Luke, the diner," she reminded.

"I'll close it."

"You're serious," she stated disbelievingly.

"Very," he responded. He stepped away from her. Walked toward the door. Lorelai stood back. Looked at him walk away, an uncomfortable feeling falling over her. He looked back at her once the door was open. "What are you doing? Go home so you can get changed. I'm gonna go tell Caesar then come back up and shower."

She smiled. "You want me to go?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He asked genuinely.

All 32 showed that time. "No reason," she managed to say.

She stood back, looked at him, swayed side to side happily.

He questioned her actions. "What are you---come on," he said waving her out of the door.

"Oh, yeah," she said jumping into action. She walked past him briskly. He reached out, grasped her wrist, pulled her back to him. She went. He kissed her chastely. She wasn't having that. She leaned in, gave him a real kiss, pulled back. He smiled. "Okay, hurry up," he said.

"I'm going. I'm going," she said rushing down the stairwell.

He closed the door, started down the stairs, too.

Suddenly he stopped. Looked up in thought. Frowned. Remembered something. "I hate malls," he said aloud. "Dammit."

His walk down the stairs, turned sluggish. He dragged. Shook his head. His life was changing, and with a daughter and a...Lorelai, he realized that change would include malls. He cussed under his breath. Smiled in the next instant.

Yep, his life was changing.

And, he didn't want it any other way.

---The End---

AND, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY!