A/N: Okay, where do I start. This is the last chapter – the epilogue – of the little story I started not so long ago. Originally, I planned on the first chapter being a Oneshot only. However, after reading your encouraging reviews and giving it some more thought, a vague idea of this story came into my mind. I wrote down my ideas, outlined the chapters and decided to just give it a go. I'm currently thinking about continuing this story; not really as a sequel but rather as a collection of Oneshots set in the same universe as "Luke's Daughters". I'm not quite sure about the what, how and when, but please let me know if you'd be interested in reading more.
Thank you all for reading, favoriting and following this story. Thank you also for you reviews – I really enjoyed reading them. Now, without further ado: here is the epilogue. I hope you like it. Feel free to leave a review :)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gilmore Girls characters.
Luke's Daughters – Epilogue
Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars,
Do you know how loved you are?
Up above the world so high, like two diamonds in the sky.
Twinkle twinkle little stars … one year old is what you are!
We can hardly believe it's true,
Emma Mira & William Richard Gilmore-Danes are turning one
and having a double birthday party!
Prepare for a typical Stars Hollow celebration!
(Anonymous)
3rd person
"Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday Dear Emma and William! Happy Birthday to You!" All guests spread across the Town Square in Stars Hollow sang together. Miss Patty of course improvised a little bit, successfully standing out in the huge crowd. The birthday children were being held by their proud parents, who were standing in the gazebo. Almost all of Stars Hollow was there, as well as a few selected out-of-towners, to celebrate this very important occasion.
The birthday girl and boy were in their mother and father's arms respectively, enjoying all the attention. Growing up in Stars Hollow as well as being the long-awaited children of the town's favorite will-they-won't-they couple, little Emma and William were used to everyone fussing over them. The phrase "it takes a village to raise a child" seldom fit any two kids as well as the Gilmore-Danes twins.
"Thank you all for coming today!" Lorelai called. "I can't believe our two little munchkins here are one year old already. It still seems like only yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with my oldest daughter Rory many moons ago. Only Rory isn't here yet, which is strange because – as you probably all know – she usually is Miss Punctuality and it's her little …"
"I think," Luke Danes interrupted his wife. "what Lorelai is trying to say is: We really appreciate you coming to celebrate our twins first birthday with us today. And now, please give it up for Sookie, without whom I could not say these next words you've probably all been waiting for: food is served!" People started to clap and moved around the Town Square to where Sookie had set up a couple of tables. It was an assortment of all kinds of sweet and savory foods – cakes and pastries as well as sandwiches and salads to name just a few.
"Why didn't you let me finish?" Lorelai pouted while cuddling Emma close to her.
"Because you started rambling." Luke laughed and gave his wife a kiss on the forehead, balancing his son on his hip. "And the crowd looked hungry."
"They did, didn't they. Well, maybe you're right," Lorelai admitted. "I'm just worried. Rory is never late and she and Jess are practically attached at the hip these days. What's taking them so long?"
"I'm sure nothing's happened and they have a perfectly good reason for being late," Luke assured. "After all, they're a newly engaged couple. Maybe they got a little … distracted." Luke looked very uncomfortable saying this last part.
"Ugh, too much information!" Lorelai exclaimed while covering little Emma's ears with her hands. "That's an image I do not want in my head." Luke looked like he was thinking the exact same thing and therefore regretted having even brought the idea up.
"Anyway." Luke looked at his little boy with a loving gaze. "Will, what do you say we go mingle a little bit?"
"Luke, I am shocked! You want to go mingle? Voluntarily?" Lorelai gasped.
"As long as I have one of these two angels with me, the focus is completely off me and on them. That kind of mingling, I can deal with." Luke grinned and kissed the top of his son's head.
"Well then, let's go!" And with that Lorelai and Luke took off, each carrying a toddler in their arms.
"Come on, Emmy! You can do it!" April Nardini encouraged her baby sister as she held her hands, helping her take a few hesitant steps. "Good job, little sis!" The teenager scooped the little girl up and peppered her face with kisses. Emma giggled and gave her big sister a big grin. "Did you see that, Lorelai? She did it again!"
"I sure did, kiddo!" Lorelai stood a few feet away from her two daughters along with Anna Nardini – April's mother. Both women watched the scene with proud smiles. Anna had moved to Stars Hollow from Mexico a few months ago – after her mother Allegra had passed away – and was settling in just fine. The townspeople had welcomed her with open arms – already being very attached to her daughter – and her store was up and running as well. April split her time between her mother's and her father's house, making sure nobody felt left out. It took all of them some time to get used to it, but right now things were running pretty smooth.
"I just love seeing her with the twins," Lorelai said with a bright smile.
"Me too," Anna agreed. "April always wanted a little sibling and now she's got two of them. She really adores them."
"And they love her, too." I gestured to where Emma was just giving April a sloppy kiss on the cheek. April burst out laughing and both mothers chuckled at the sight.
"Look who just arrived!" Anna said with a sly smile, gesturing towards the direction of Stars Hollow Books – the reopened bookstore owned by one Jess Mariano. Lorelai excitedly turned around – expecting to see her eldest daughter – but was disappointed. However, after recognizing the newest guest, Lorelai started grinning.
"Hi, Mrs. Gilmore and Mrs. Nardini," the teenaged boy greeted politely.
"Dylan, what did we tell you?" Lorelai asked teasingly.
"Sorry, still working on that. Lorelai and Anna," Dylan Dugrey corrected sheepishly.
"Much better," Anna praised. "How are you, Dylan?"
"I'm great. Here, I brought presents for the twins." The boy handed over two gift boxes – one blue and one pink – to Lorelai. "Where are the birthday kids?"
"That's really nice. Thank you, Dylan." Lorelai hugged the boy. "Will's with Luke and my parents and Emma is right here with April." Dylan spun around to look for the teenaged girl and a bright grin appeared on his face. The two women grinned knowingly.
To both women's disappointment – and to Luke's delight – Dylan and April still were not dating. They were the best of friends and Dylan was in Stars Hollow almost as much as he was at home, but that was it. Similarly to Luke and Lorelai a few years ago, everybody could see that the two teenagers were in love with each other – except for the teenagers themselves. Whenever somebody mentioned their suspicions, the kids would just laugh and shrug it off. In the last year, Dylan got a girlfriend – a girl called Penelope – and April a boyfriend – Marius. But both relationships merely lasted two months each because both Penny and Marius got jealous of the close friendship Dylan and April shared. That is partly why neither Lorelai nor Anna had given up hope yet that the two kids would get together someday.
"Hey April, look just got here!" Anna called and April turned towards them while balancing Emma on her hip.
"Dylan!" she called and Emma squealed excitedly. Dylan left the women to greet his best friend with a hug and wish the little girl a Happy Birthday. Emma struggled in April's arms until Dylan took hold of her.
"They'd make such a cute couple," Anna said wistfully watching the two teenagers interact with the toddler.
"Patience you must have," Lorelai said. "She probably just takes after her father." Both women burst out laughing and looked over to where Luke was standing with Richard and Emily Gilmore. Little William was in the arms of his proud grandpa.
"Give him here, Richard. I want some quality time with my grandson as well!" Emily complained and held her hands out.
"In a moment, Emily. First, I want to try something," Richard told his wife before addressing his grandson. "So, Master William. Your father tells me you finally took you first steps. So, let us see how you're doing, shall we." Richard set the little boy on the ground and kept a hold of his hands – just like April had with Emma.
Luke moved a few steps back and crouched down. "Come to Daddy, William! You can do it," he beckoned his son. William's eyes widened upon seeing his father and – with the help of his grandfather – he hesitantly moved towards him.
"God job, William! You're doing wonderful!" Emily exclaimed and went over to her son-in-law. William looked a bit confused at first but changed his direction at the last moment to go to his grandma. Emily got a brilliant smile on her fact and gathered the little boy up in her arms as soon as he reached her. "See, Richard he wants to spend some time with his Grandma after all. Don't you, William?" Emily gently kissed her grandson's forehead.
"Of course he did, Emily." Richard smiled lovingly at his wife holding their first grandson in her arms. "I can't believe they're one year old already."
"Me neither, Richard." Luke looked at his son and then searched the Town Square for his daughter. He saw April – whom he had seen Lorelai hand Emma off to a while ago – in deep conversation with her best friend Dylan but without Emma. Lorelai and Anna were standing nearby trying to look inconspicuous while keeping an eye on the teenagers. Luke shook his head chuckling; these two women wouldn't give up their matchmaking any time soon. Finally, Luke spotted his daughter: Emma was being entertained by both Babette Dell and Miss Patty; the little girl was sat on Morey Dell's lap and the women were sitting next to Babette's husband, making funny faces to get the girl to laugh. To say they were succeeding would be an understatement, since Luke could here his daughter giggling right from where he was standing.
"I really don't think there could be a better place for them to grow up," Richard admitted watching his granddaughter as well. "With so many people who love them around."
"I completely agree. While the people here in Stars Hollow tend to be a bit crazy and eccentric, they really do have their heart in the right place," Luke agreed, happy he never even thought about leaving this town.
"Well, Emma? What do you think about your birthday so far?" Lorelai asked her little girl. Lorelai had taken her little girl and sat down with her on the steps of the gazebo, enjoying a bit of peace and quiet.
"Who deh!" Emma babbled.
"I know what you mean, sweets." Lorelai looked around the Town Square wistfully. She saw Sookie and Jackson Belleville taking care of the food while their two oldest children were playing tag. Little Maddie was being watched by Lane and Zack along with their own two children. William was with Kirk and Lulu right now – needless to say that Luke was right there with him to make sure Kirk didn't do anything stupid. Anna was talking with April and Dylan and the elder Gilmores were on their way to get some food. And those were just a few of the people assembled in the center of Stars Hollow. Everybody was here except for two certain people. "Without Rory and Jess, there's just something missing."
"Well, it's a good thing they're right behind you then!" Lorelai spun around and jumped up.
"Rory!" she called tackling her daughter in a hug, careful not to squish Emma. "And Jess!" She handed off the little girl to her big sister to hug her nephew … Rory's fiancé … Emma's cousin … her future son-in-law – okay, let's just not go there – to hug Jess.
"Sorry, we're late," Jess apologized. "We were a bit … indisposed."
"Ugh, too much information!" Lorelai exclaimed, already starting to cover her ears again. "I don't need to hear all this!"
"Mom!" Rory put a hand over her mouth. "Good God, not like that. I was throwing up all morning."
"What?" Lorelai exclaimed. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, probably just food poisoning or something," Rory said, not quite meeting Lorelai's eyes and sending Jess a pointed glance.
"We went to a new restaurant yesterday. Maybe, there was something in the food," Jess suggested.
"I'm sorry, sweets. Are you better now?" Lorelai asked concerned.
"Much better. Almost like nothing happened," Rory assured. "How was the party up until now?"
"Oh, just your regular Stars Hollow blowout," Lorelai said, making both Jess and Rory laugh. "You two better be careful, Miss Patty just moved towards the drinks table. I think she's starting to make her famous founders' day punch – now available at all kinds of Stars Hollow Events."
"Thanks for the warning," Jess said shuddering. "Don't want to repeat what happened last time, huh Ror?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?" Rory said innocently.
"I'm talking about the last Firelight Festival." Jess smirked and Lorelai grinned.
"I thought we talked about this. What happens at the Stars Hollow Firelight Festival, stays at the Stars Hollow Firelight Festival." Rory tapped her food impatiently, which looked very funny considering the fact that she was still had Emma sat on her hip. Both Jess and Lorelai burst out laughing at the sight.
"Well, I think I'd better head off before I say something stupid." Jess grinned. "I'm gonna take this little princess here and we'll go find her brother. I need to wish him a Happy Birthday, too after all." Jess took Emma in his arms and the little girl squealed happily. "I'll see you guys later."
"I'll be right over. I haven't seen William either," Rory said and Jess left the two Gilmore girls alone. Rory opened her mouth to say something else but closed it without making a sound. Lorelai gave her daughter a worried look.
"Wanna sit down?" Lorelai asked. Rory nodded and mother and daughter sat down on the steps of the gazebo.
"I'm never gonna get sick of our Stars Hollow festivities," Rory said suddenly, looking around the Town Square. "I always get so nostalgic, not matter what we're celebrating – official holiday or not. They're pretty much the same as when I was a little kid. And I'm glad they're still around for Emma and William to grow up with, too."
"I know what you mean," Lorelai agreed. "Back when I moved here with you – cute little baby Rory – I didn't know what to expect. I couldn't have imagined we'd be so lucky as to end up in this special little town. I can't imagine a better place to raise my kids."
Rory didn't say anything for a little while, she seemed to be deep in though.
"Everything alright, Rory?" Lorelai asked.
"Mom …" Rory started. She looked down for a moment, placed both of her hands on her belly and – seeming to have gathered some courage for what she wanted to say – looked up again at her mother. A small smile spread across her face.
"Yeah?" Lorelai asked relieved and reciprocated the smile. Whatever it was, at least it seemed to be good news.
"I'm pregnant."