Author's Notes: Wow, we made it! We've spent a whole year in the Hollow and got Luke and Lorelai on the right track. I'm ready to celebrate! But before I open the champagne, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank some people. Eledgy is an amazing writer and a great beta, and she always keeps the writing experience fun. Fish Bag needs a special pat on the back because she was the one who pushed us to write a Father's Day story in the first place, which is what expanded this one-shot into a series. Plus she's an incredibly loyal cheerleader, full of encouragement when the writing gets tough. CoffeeDrinker deserves my thanks too, because often I made myself finish whatever chapter I was stuck on before allowing myself to read her latest effort, so thanks for providing some needed motivation! Lastly, thanks to everyone who kept reading each monthly installment, and a big hug of gratitude to everyone who took the time to leave a review. Seriously, reviews are the reward that keeps us writers pushing out the words. *Note* Make sure to read the special message at the end of the chapter!

What a Difference a Year Makes

"Luke, can we go in here next?"

Bored beyond belief, Luke's glazed-over eyes glanced at the window display, registering more white-washed furniture that looked as if it had been attacked by a sander, doilies, wind chimes, and artfully placed blue-and-white china plates and vases. He felt disoriented. "Haven't we already been in here?"

"No." Rory pulled back her chin, giving him a look that told him he was being ridiculous. "We haven't been in any of the stores on this side of the street."

He turned and studied the businesses fronting the other side of the genteel, tree-lined shopping district. "Are you sure?" he questioned, because the elegantly-lettered signs and flowing window boxes all looked the same to him.

"Of course I'm sure. We parked the truck and started over there, remember?" Rory pointed to the opposite end of the street.

"If you say so," he muttered, right before he spied the truck parked at the far curb.

"What's wrong with you today, anyway? You are really not with it," Rory scolded him. "But anyway, is it OK to go in here to look around? Maybe this will finally be the shop that'll have that one perfect thing for Mom."

"If you want to," he agreed with a shrug, resigned to being bored for a while longer.

They stepped inside and a delicate tone sounded, letting the salespeople know someone had entered. Rory zoomed over to a display of necklaces and Luke slowly followed.

"These are pretty, huh?" Rory held one out for him to see. It looked as though a small piece of Queen Anne's Lace had been preserved in amber, then threaded onto a leather cord. "I'm glad Mia suggested coming here to find Mom a gift. I've never seen so many cool stores in one place. Have you ever been shopping here before?"

Luke choked back a scoff and forced himself to merely shake his head, not giving voice to the scathing reply he wanted to make. Because after all, this was Rory, and he had volunteered to take her shopping today.

Looking torn, Rory put the necklace back, being careful to make sure it was hanging in exactly the same way it had been when she first picked it up. "I've seen so many really beautiful things today, but I haven't found anything that screams 'Lorelai' yet, you know?" She moved a few feet over and began searching patiently through a rack of lacy scarves.

Luke shook his head, clearing some of the cobwebs away and enabling him to focus a little bit more on what was going on around him. "Come to think of it, why are you getting her a gift anyway?"

She grinned at him from over her shoulder. "Because it's Mother's Day, silly!"

"I know it's Mother's Day." He walked a little closer to her and fingered a purple scarf himself. "But last year you told me that you didn't do gifts on Mother's Day. You said that you two always go out and do something together to celebrate instead."

"Well, I'm older now," Rory enlightened him, trying to sound very adult-like. "I'm not a little kid anymore, who has to make a card out of construction paper, or something lame like that. I've got money this year."

For some reason that made Luke grin. "You've got money?"

"Yeah."

He chuckled. "How did you get money?"

"Well, I saved up," she explained. "Remember the wedding, with Rachel's brother?"

That reminder was very effective in wiping the grin off of his face. "I remember," he said curtly.

"Some of the parents gave me tips for watching their kids that night," she explained further. "I didn't think I should take them, because I had fun, too, but Mom said it was OK. So I saved some of it, and I still had a little birthday money left, and then you paid me for helping at the diner that one Saturday when you were so short-handed."

"I guess I did, didn't I?" Luke recollected.

"Hey, can I do that again?" Rory asked eagerly. "I could work some after school, and –"

"You're too young," Luke cut her off. "I'd get in trouble with the Child Labor Department."

"But maybe unofficially I could work there some?" she wheedled.

Luke shook his head. "Trust me, when the time comes, you'll be able to find someplace a lot better than the diner to work."

Rory turned swiftly to scrutinize him. "I thought you liked the diner."

"Yeah, I do."

"Then why did you make it sound like it's not good enough for me?"

Luke grimaced. He hated it when she was sharp enough to dig through to the subtext like that. "You're a bright girl, Rory, and you're going to do amazing things with your life. Working at a diner isn't in your future."

She continued to study him. "I love being at the diner, and I love working with you. Are you really saying you wouldn't hire me to work there, when I'm old enough?"

"No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying…" Luke sighed. "How about if we just cross that bridge when you're old enough to actually walk across it?"

"But in the meantime, maybe I could still do some little chores for you and you'd pay me sometimes?"

It was completely unfair how very much Rory could make herself look like Lorelai when she needed to, how she could make her deep blue eyes turn huge and hopeful, and prime her sweet mouth to drop into a pout at the first discouraging word.

"Probably," Luke capitulated, not wanting to discuss class and economics while standing in a posh shop in Hartford.

"Awesome!" Rory decreed, and then bounced away to look at another display.

To pass the time, Luke idly kept looking at the assortment of scarves, but his mind was drifting back over the weeks since his return. Since he and Lorelai had become a thing. Since he had started spending more time at the Crap Shack than at the ignored, dusty apartment above the diner.

He'd never forget that first morning, waking up in her bed. A thousand memories and feelings had assailed him as soon as he opened his eyes, making him want to do nothing so much as create memory #1001. He'd rolled towards Lorelai, warm and soft and sexy, lying right beside him, still asleep. He'd even let his mind run over that damned mythical list, trying to remember what else might still be on it. He'd caressed her silky shoulder, waking her. She looked at him with those spectacular eyes, made even more amazing by the drowsy, sensual look in them. He was ready to take her in his arms, ready to start all over again, when she opened her mouth and whispered, "It's a school morning."

Geez. Luke rubbed his face, still feeling the residual shame. Rory. He'd forgotten all about her. Not just forgotten that she was in the house, he'd forgotten her very existence. He'd been so wrapped up in Lorelai and his feelings for her that he'd forgotten there even was a little girl who needed care.

He was all for sneaking out of the house before Rory woke up, but Lorelai wouldn't hear of it. "No way Jose, we're not hiding our relationship from her," she'd insisted.

Lorelai put on some pajamas and a robe, but he got dressed back into his clothes from the day before. They went downstairs, and Lorelai convinced him that pancakes would make the whole exchange less awkward. He started mixing ingredients by rote while Lorelai went to wake up Rory.

The first pancake was crisping up in the pan when she came yawning into the kitchen. Seeing him there made her stop and stare. Slowly she turned to her mom.

"Did Luke stay here last night?"

"Yeah, he did," Lorelai said casually, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "He's probably going to be staying here a lot from now on."

Rory looked from her mother to Luke, who kept staring straight at the stove as if cooking pancakes was the most important task in the world. "Why?" she asked.

"Because Luke loves us and we love him, and he belongs here in the house with us, don't you think?"

Rory blinked once or twice. "You mean, because a family all lives together, right?" she asked, after thinking for a minute. "And we're like a family?"

"Yes, exactly!" was Lorelai's happy response.

"Rory, are you…is that OK with you?" Luke had asked nervously, finally turning to look at her.

"Sure, it's fine with me." Rory shrugged and took a seat at the table. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"I…I don't know." Flushed with relief, he looked over at Lorelai, who grinned at him. "I wouldn't want to get in the way, or anything."

"You're not in the way," Rory mumbled. She put her head on her hand and her eyes half-closed.

"There is one thing, though." Lorelai got Rory's attention again. "Luke and I will eventually tell everyone that we're, uh…together, but until then, this is something that should stay in the house. There's no reason to mention it to anyone else yet, OK?"

"I can't tell Lane?"

"Um…" Uncertainly, Lorelai looked at Luke, who shrugged. "I guess you can tell Lane."

"How about Babette?"

Lorelai hid a smile. "Babette probably already knows."

Rory put an extremely innocent look on her face. "How about Grandma?"

"No!" Luke and Lorelai both shouted, and Rory grinned, pleased with the reaction she'd garnered.

"I will tell Grandma," Lorelai promised. "Someday," she added, quickly taking a sip of coffee.

"Hey, Luke, when you stay here, will you always make us pancakes for breakfast?" Rory wanted to know.

"It depends on how early I have to get to the diner to open it up," Luke explained. "I will on the mornings I have time, though, sure."

Rory was nodding her head seriously. "And will you burn those, too?"

"Oh geez!" Luke tried to flip the blackened pancake, but it was too late. He tossed it into the trash and then ladled out another circle of batter while the girls both laughed at him.

Since that first morning, there had been a couple of awkward moments, usually involving someone's underwear, but nothing he couldn't learn to handle. Being there with them, saying goodnight to Rory, sometimes getting to tuck her in at night…it all seemed normal, now. Like it should have always been that way. And except for a couple of good-natured 'took you long enough' comments from the townies, no one seemed terribly surprised that he and Lorelai had taken their relationship to the next level. Although he hadn't officially moved in with them, Lorelai had been urging him to consider it, and even Rory had pointed out how much more efficient it would be if his stuff would just be right there in the house.

So it was all good. Very good. Like so good he had to occasionally pinch himself, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming the whole thing.

"I found it!"

He was startled out of his reverie when Rory came rushing up, giddily excited about something.

"Found what?"

"The perfect gift! Come see, I don't think I'm supposed to get it down myself."

He followed her, at a faster pace than what felt comfortable, what with all of the fragile breakables sitting at elbow-height, but she was enthused and in a hurry to show him.

"There," she said, pointing up to stained-glass sun catcher swaying gently in the window. "That's perfect for her, isn't it?"

Luke quickly spotted the one she meant. It had a yellow background and a blue and green dragonfly stretched across the center. "Oh, yeah," he agreed, giving her a smile of confirmation. "She'll love it."

"She still talks about the old Dragonfly Inn all the time," Rory commented, not telling him anything he didn't already know. "Maybe this can be a reminder that she'll have her own inn someday."

"That's a very thoughtful gift," Luke said with a nod. He got a clerk's attention and motioned for some help.

"I hope I have enough money for it," Rory fretted, suddenly nervous.

"If you don't, I'll spot you the extra. I know you're good for it, what with your diversified financial plans and all."

"Yeah, I can work in the diner until I pay it off," Rory suggested eagerly.

But the sun catcher cost $11.99, which was exactly within Rory's budget.

"Good job, Dad," the clerk said to him, ringing up the purchase.

"What?" Luke asked, a little flustered. He and Rory exchanged a quick glance.

"I just mean, not that many dads take the time to bring their kids shopping for Mother's Day. So good on you, for bringing your daughter."

"Oh! Uh…thanks?" This time he and Rory couldn't hide their grins when they shared a look. "Her mom's great," he said, uncharacteristically playing along. "She certainly deserves it."

The clerk looked swiftly at Rory, then back at him. "Wow, she's really got your eyes, doesn't she?"

"Actually, she's got her mother's eyes…but thanks, anyway." He put his hand on Rory's shoulder, urging her to hurry, and they managed to step outside the shop before they both burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Sorry, I guess I should have corrected her," Luke finally said, taking a much needed deep breath after laughing so hard.

"Nah, it's fine." Rory elbowed him in the ribs. "Dad!" She giggled again.

"Come on," Luke said, calming down, "let's find the truck. I've got some more shopping to do."

"You do? Oh, is that why you were all agreeable about taking me to Hartford today? You had something to get here too?"

"Yep." He opened the truck door for Rory and waited for her to climb inside.

"So what is it?" she wanted to know, as soon as he took his seat.

"What's what?" He waited for the street to clear, then pulled out.

Rory made a noise of impatience. "What you're shopping for."

He checked the rearview mirror. "Guess you'll find out soon enough."

"You can be so aggravating," Rory complained. "Oh…are we going to the restaurant supply place?"

"Nope."

"Well, it's Saturday, so none of the banks are open."

"True."

"But you're dressed up like you're going to the bank."

Luke glanced down at himself. "I'm not dressed up."

"Sure you are. You've got on good jeans, a nice shirt, and…" She lurched across the bench seat, sliding a hand across his face. "You shaved," she stated.

"That's not too dressed up."

"For you? Yeah, it is." Rory continued to look at him and he continued to watch straight out the windshield, ignoring her.

Suddenly she gasped. "Are we going to see Grandma and Grandpa?"

"No!" Luke felt a chill of horror pass through him. "Why in the world would you say that?"

"Well, we're in Hartford. They live in Hartford!"

"So do thousands of other people. We're not going to see any of them, either."

"But Grandma and Grandpa said we're welcome to come see them anytime."

"Which is very nice of them. And sometime, when your mother is with us, we will go and do just that."

"Chicken," Rory taunted him.

"Prudent," Luke corrected.

She chuckled and looked out the window, trying to figure out where they were headed. "Is it someplace you've been before?"

"Yes," Luke admitted.

"Is it a store?"

"Yep."

"Are you getting something you need for the diner?"

"No." He grinned, loving her attempt to wear him down, twenty-questions style.

"Is it something you need for you?"

He considered that one thoughtfully. "Sort of – yes."

"Clothing store?"

"God, no."

"Are we going to a hardware store?"

"No."

"Bookstore?" she asked, a little hopefully

"No," he said, hating to burst her bubble. "Not this time."

She looked down at her fingers entwined in her lap, concentrating on the puzzle, thinking so hard that she missed the truck pulling into a parking lot.

"We're here," Luke announced quietly, before getting out of the truck and walking around to open up her door.

She slid down to the ground, looking around the side of the truck door to see the storefront. "It's a jewelry store?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"Bingo." Luke slammed shut her door and started for the entrance, then paused for her to catch up to him.

"Why are you going to a jewelry store?" she demanded.

He stayed silent.

"Are you buying something for Mom?"

He nodded, holding open the door for her.

"Why are you buying it here? Why not buy it at Jeremy's store?"

"Right," Luke scoffed disdainfully.

"But why not?" she persisted.

"Because I don't want everyone in Stars Hollow to know about it before your mom does, that's why."

"Oh." Rory nodded. "Yeah, that's a good reason." She looked around the brightly lit store. "What are you going to get her? Another necklace? Because she can't keep wearing that snowflake one all summer long."

"Come over here," Luke suggested, leading the way to a display case in the center of the room.

Rory went up on tip-toes and put her elbows on top of the glass case, eager to see what was inside. As soon as she looked, her eyes went wide. Then she dropped back down to the soles of her feet, turning to regard him dubiously. "Luke…these are rings."

He glanced at the case too, as if he needed to confirm that fact. "Yeah, guess they are."

"But Luke, you don't understand. These are…" Rory leaned towards him, dropping her voice down into a confidential whisper. "…engagement rings!"

"Oh, is that why they all have such big diamonds in them?" he asked innocently.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes! You give one of these to Mom, and she's going to think…" She stopped, suddenly looking at him with new understanding. "Luke…Are you…Are you asking Mom to marry you?"

He dropped all of the teasing pretense, and put a hand on Rory's shoulder. "I want to, Rory. Would it be OK with you, if I did?"

For a minute he thought she was going to say no, her face was so pale and her eyes looked so shocked. But then he realized it was only because he'd sprung such big news on her, and she was so surprised.

She started to nod, then pulled in a big breath of air. A bright Gilmore smile broke across her face. "Yes!" she said enthusiastically, in a voice that was slightly below her Beanie Baby shriek. And then she threw her arms around him for good measure.

"I'm glad," he whispered into the top of her head.

"Mr. Danes," a salesman said, approaching them. He smiled at them both. "Are you ready to make your final selection?"

"Yes, I brought along somebody to help me with that today," he said, indicating Rory.

"Very good. It always helps to have a second opinion." The salesman consulted a list he pulled from his pocket, then unlocked the display case and carefully put five rings onto a black velvet tray. "I believe these were the ones you had narrowed it down to."

Luke slowly moved his eyes across all of the sparkly bands, trying to imagine each of them on Lorelai's finger. "Well, Rory, what do you think?"

Rory took her time, studying each ring from every angle. He could almost see her making a pro and con list in her head. The salesman smiled and caught Luke's eye, obviously enjoying the serious consideration she was giving to the task.

Finally Rory sighed. "That one," she said, pointing to the ring resting in the center. "That's definitely a Lorelai ring."

Any doubts Luke might have had disappeared, because that was the ring he had liked the best, too. He put his arm around Rory's shoulder, hugging her to him. "We'll take that one, then."

"Your daughter has excellent taste," the salesman commented, bending behind the counter to find the box for the ring.

Once again Luke and Rory looked at each other, but this time they didn't laugh at being mistaken for father and daughter. This time it didn't seem like an error. This time, the words just seemed prophetic.

"She's pretty good at everything," Luke expounded, continuing to hug her and feeling so happy that he thought he might just explode from sheer joy at any second.

Rory was grinning from ear-to-ear. She bumped her hip into his, then laughed in happiness herself. "And it looks like I'm especially good at picking out fathers."

Luke hugged her one last time. "What do you say we go home and make that official?"

It didn't take too long to box up the ring and for Luke to write out a check for it. Back in the truck, Rory showed him a pile of coins she held in the palm of her hand.

"What's that for?" he asked, putting on his seatbelt.

"It's enough change for a cup of coffee."

He held still, overcome by the memories bombarding him. He cleared his throat, knowing he needed to sound gruff and cranky. "Nice try, kid. I'm not selling you a cup of coffee."

"How about buying me a pack of cigarettes?"

Luke grinned, turning the key and starting up the truck. "How about we stop and get a cup of coffee for your mom on the way home?"

Rory nodded, and then held her hand out across the seat for Luke to take in his, her smile still retaining a little bit of the shyness he remembered from a year ago. "That would be great, because there's nothing Mom loves more than your coffee." She smiled just a little bit brighter. "Except for me," she added, then tugged at his hand affectionately. "And you."

The End

A Special Message: A year ago, when I got the idea for a quick Mother's Day story featuring Rory and Luke, I never dreamed it would expand and take over my life the way it did. Now that we've reached the end, I really don't want to say goodbye to this version of Luke, Lorelai, and Rory. Therefore, I'm pleased to invite all of you to come back in the fall and join us for "A Wedding in the Hollow."