[GaM] 'Cause I just want you here tonight holdin' onto me so tight

[whacking_quota]

[Set Saturday afternoon]

2.2.B. Christmas Tree Farm.
Luke made sure to tell Caeser to lock up early before grabbing his jacket and heading into the cold, crisp air of Stars Hollow. He and Lorelai may not have been back together (never mind the bet the town had going that neither Luke nor Lorelai acknowledged) but Luke still understood Lorelai. He

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[caffeine_frenzy]

It had been a typical day at the Dragonfly and Lorelai wouldn't have it any other way. She loved the controlled chaos but mostly she loved it because it was hers and Sookies.

She tilted her head curiously at the door knock then smiled when she heard Luke. "Come in." Her voice rose so that he could hear and finished folding the sheet. "It's open."

[whacking_quota]

Luke had assumed it was open considering the, 'Come in' but he wasn't really into picking a fight. Not until she was objecting to a Christmas tree. If she objected in the first place. Of course, he had to ask.

Pushing the door open, he stepped inside catching sight of the other woman mid-fold.

"Sookie told me where you were," he said, pointing back behind him with his thumb. "I hope it's alright I came up. I can wait downstairs if you want..."

[caffeine_frenzy]

She tossed him one end of the sheet to help her finish folding it. Lorelai wasn't above having others help her, especially when an extra pair of hands showed up.

"Of course it's okay." She said as she brought the material up in a half fold toward Luke. "What's up or is this a social call?" Lorelai wasn't complaining about either one. Business or social.

[whacking_quota]

Luke took the one end, helping Lorelai finish folding the sheet. He stood there, the sheet between them, their own bodies close. It felt nice in away.

"I had a lull at the diner," he said, letting go of the sheet and walking left, inspecting what was on the night table.

[caffeine_frenzy]

Lorelai finished the last little bit of folding, her eyes following Luke curiously as he walked over to the night table. "Well, I'm glad you came by." She was really glad it was a social call but she kept that thought to herself.

She picked up the sheets and held them in her arms, nodding toward the small closet. "Get that door for me?"

[whacking_quota]

It was no secret that Luke and Lorelai still harbored feelings for each other but after an impulsive kiss during Rory's big send-off from Stars Hollow hadn't resulted in anything monumental. In fact, the last time Luke had actually been at the Dragonfly had been when they were together.

"Yeah, lulls don't happen often," he said, turning back around. Moving over to the closet he opened the door for Lorelai and continued speaking. "So, listen. I saw that you hadn't gotten a tree as of last week, a Christmas tree, and I was thinking maybe you wanted help picking one out. I have my truck so you'll have a place to put it," he said, ducking down from the linens because standing in front of the closet had made sense at the time. He moved to the right and stood back up facing his ex. "If you have time," he clarified.

[caffeine_frenzy]

She placed the sheets on the shelf then closed the door and turned to Luke. Lorelai had been dragging her feet getting a tree because that made it more real that Rory would only be visiting for Christmas. Sure, she knew that her daughter had her own life like she should but this would be the first Christmas that Rory would only be coming home for a visit not between semesters at school.

On the other hand, she and Luke hadn't spent time together much. Totally her fault. It wasn't that she was avoiding him ... much. It was that she didn't know where they stood and she was really bad when it came to things like that.

"Sure. Yeah. I have time. We could do it now if you want. This was my last room."

[whacking_quota]

"Now works," he said, holding out his hands before rubbing them together. After a moment he continued. "Oh, you mean now, now." Quickly, he made his way to the door, holding it open for Lorelai before closing it behind them.

As he started walking down the stairs, he spoke, occasionally looking back at Lorelai.

"Kirk's opened a tree farm in the town square so, we could start there. There's also one on the highway on the way to Harford and there's one halfway to Woodbridge..." Because he hadn't overthought this at all. "I know the luck we've had with Kirk-approved products but I took a look yesterday...Of course, it's up to you," he finished. "It's your tree."

[caffeine_frenzy]

"Sometimes Kirk gets it right. Besides he'd never forgive us if we didn't stop there first." Lorelai wasn't sure that she'd want to get a tree from Kirk's but it wouldn't hurt. She grinned as she followed him down the stairs. "Any weird looking trees in Kirk's farm?"

Lorelai could admit to picturing a few Charlie Brown trees in the lot.

[whacking_quota]

Luke considered this for a moment before moving to where Lorelai's coat was hanging. It was second nature to grab it and help her put the thing on but he just handed it to her, instead.

"I uh, haven't gone there yet," he admitted. "I would end up buying a tree just to get the guy to stop talking."

[caffeine_frenzy]

She took her coat and slipped into it, smiling over his shoulder. "Ah, so you're using me as your shield against his incessant talking. Good man. I can out talk Kirk with one hand tied behind my back."

[whacking_quota]

As Lorelai turned back around, Luke's hands went to his pockets as his right hand went to gesture. "...That didn't make any sense. You don't use a hand to talk - let alone both..." he said. But, why was he arguing, again. "...We should get going," he finally said.

"Lorelai!" a voice yelled from behind them. A frantic Sookie soon appeared. "Michelle is trying to tell the kitchen staff what to do," she giggled out. "But since I told them they don't have to listen to them they're actually playing a game of jacks...It's so funny, because they're huddled on the floo-" Soon, she shut up, moving her glance from Luke to Lorelai and back to Luke. "...But I can tell you this later. Go, go!" she said, waving and lightly pushing Lorelai towards the door. "Have fun you two!"

And with that Sookie disappeared back into the kitchen followed by some French profanity.

[caffeine_frenzy]

Lorelai opened her mouth to tell Luke the definition of a metaphor and point out the differences between that and literal but they were interrupted by Sookie before she could.

She smiled at her best friend, then laughed when Michel's cussing reached them. "That's my girl. She's learned how to frustrate him as much as I do." It was said with immense pride.

"Come on, let's get out of here while we can."

[whacking_quota]

The walk to Kirk's Farm, he had forgotten to write Christmas, was quieter then a walk between Lorelai and Luke should have been. It was their first outing as friends in a very long time and Luke was just getting used to being friends again. Everything seemed to have backpeddled after the kiss.

"I didn't see the sign beforehand," he said in a low voice, leaning into her ear at the entrance. "If we're lucky maybe Kirk won't --"

"Lorelai, Luke!" Fortunately, the voice wasn't Kirk. Unfortunately, it was Miss Patty with Babbette flanking her.

"You two kids picking out a tree," Babbette asked, insinuating the obvious.

[caffeine_frenzy]

"That's right, Babette." Lorelai smiled at her. It was easier to go with it than deny it. "Luke's helping me pick out the perfect tree for Rory." She emphasized Rory's name. Not just to get Babette's attention away from her and Luke but to show they weren't shopping for a tree for them.

"So, any recommendations? I bet you've seen the best trees here."

Babbette wasn't fooled but she let it go. For now. "Sure, honey. Over there are better ones." She pointed in the direction of some trees. "Don't let Kirk talk you into the ones by the back. They're horrible. Needles falling off."

[whacking_quota]

Luke would have given Lorelai props for mentioning Rory -- if he gave props in the first place, that is. Instead, he nodded, listening to the conversation before chiming in.

"Needles, huh? Well, Lorelai, we need to stay away from the ones with needles falling off," he said. "Because, I was just gonna' let her get a tree with the needles falling off..."

He stopped, ending his tangent before it went any farther.

"Right, honey," Miss Patty said. "Oh, are you two going to my Winter Pageant tonight? We're doing an homage to the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker's rights were too expensive," she added, lowering her voice.