Scavenger Hunt

By Steph

Summary: The wedding of the year…well it's not who'd you'd expect. The man very reluctantly put in charge…he's exactly who'd you expect.

I do not own anything related to Gilmore Girls.

Dedicated to Iris, the most fantabulous PIC that ever existed; Jamie, because she's always so encouraging; Janine, because she cracks me up; and Nate, because we have the most interesting and bizarre IM conversations. Also dedicated to the Auteurs on f4f, because we all know that while Kirk scenes are good, Kirk and Luke scenes are magic.

Part 1

Kirk seemed dazed.

This wasn't earth shattering news to Luke; in his opinion, Kirk often seemed a little lost, a little out of it.

What was strange was that forty-five minutes had passed since Luke had served Kirk a patty melt cut into stars and a lemonade with a Flexi-straw and Kirk hadn't touched either of them.

Luke sighed audibly, but no one paid attention. The only person who was close enough to hear him was Lane, but she didn't look up. He walked over to Kirk.

"Planning on eating?" he asked him. "Cause I could use the extra table if you're not."

Kirk turned to Luke, his eyes huge. In a hoarse voice he said, "I need to find an engagement ring."

"Why?" Luke asked. "Are you on another scavenger hunt?"

"I need to find a ring for Lulu," he said.

"You're going to propose?" Luke asked. Yeah, that sounded like a brilliant idea.

"No," Kirk said sounding almost hysterical. "She proposed to me last night."

"Well, hey, congratulations," Luke said.

"Thanks, man," Kirk said. "We're going to have a wedding in two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Luke asked. "Is she pregnant?"

"No," Kirk said. "We have yet to consummate our relationship."

Luke winced. He did not need to know that. He continued his questioning. "Why so soon then?"

"The shorter the engagement, the less time she has to change her mind."

"Well, good luck," Luke said, keeping his eye on the door. "And let me know how the wedding turns out."

"What do you mean?" Kirk said. "You'll be there."

"I'm invited?" Luke said. "Well, thanks."

"Invited?" Kirk asked. "You're going to be my best man."

"Well, I'm flattered," Luke said. "But…"

"I'm going to need your help," Kirk said. "We only have two weeks and I need to buy a tux, and find a place to hold the wedding, find music and I'm not good at these things."

"Well, " Luke said signaling to the newly arrived couple that he'd be there in a second. "Why don't you talk to Lorelai. She's good at planning events."

"She's out of town," Kirk said miserably. "She went somewhere with her boyfriend. I'm picking up her mail."

Lorelai had a boyfriend? That was news to him. This day just kept getting better and better.

"Maybe your mother or father can help you," Luke suggested.

Kirk shook his head bitterly. "My dad told me he wasn't going to support the wedding because it was only going to end badly."

"Ouch," Luke said.

"I know. And my mom…well she's not great at planning things…"

Kirk's mother, Luke knew, was crazy. Bats in the belfry crazy. But still Luke kept pushing.

"Lulu's parents will help in the planning. The bride's parents love to plan the wedding." This he knew from experience. Nicole's mother had cried for hours upon hearing that her only daughter had gotten married on a cruise.

"Lulu's parents are dead," Kirk said. "Please help me, Luke, you're all I've got. All we've got."

God, this was just pitiful. He really wanted to say no. He needed to say no. Maybe he could be the best man, but he couldn't plan the whole wedding for him. This whole situation was ridiculous.

But Kirk was staring up at him, hopefully and if there was something Luke couldn't do, it was saying no to someone who needed him.

He needed to be strong. But Kirk was still looking at him like some pathetic little puppy. And he felt himself weakening.

He sighed, knowing this battle had already been lost. "I can help. A little."

He hated that he was such a goddamned softy.

Kirk stood up excitedly, knocking his glass of lemonade off the table. Luke watched it pool into a puddle on the floor without interest.

"Thank you, Luke," Kirk said. "Will you throw me a bachelor party too?"

Luke sighed. "I can look into it."

"And you know strippers, right?"

"Not personally," Luke said.

"Oh," Kirk said sadly. "I was sure that you did."

"Why on earth would you think….you know never mind. I have to go wait on customers."

"Right," Kirk said. He walked up to Luke and hugged him very awkwardly. Luke tried to break away without offending him. People were starting to look at them. He sighed again.

Kirk broke away promising that he would talk to Luke later about plans. Luke weakly nodded, again cursing his lack of backbone.

Great, Luke thought to himself. He had two weeks to plan a wedding.

He would need some help.

The baby was giving Luke a dirty look.

At first, Luke thought the baby had gas or was ill. Then he thought he was imagining everything. But after a few uncomfortable seconds, Luke was convinced. The baby was glaring at him. It was starting to make him uncomfortable. He focused on the papers in front of him.

"What do you think? Is it doable?" he asked.

Sookie bit her lip. "Will you able to split the workload with me? I can make the wedding cake and the appetizers. Can you do the main course?"

Luke rearranged his baseball cap and tried not to meet the baby's eyes. "I don't know," Luke said. "Normally, it would be no problem. But I also have to find some music, help him find a tux, talk to the reverend about renting the church…oh and somehow plan a bachelor party too."

"Okay," Sookie said sounding sympathetic. "I'll do the main course too. Did Kirk give you money?"

"Yep," Luke said. He took some bills out of his pocket. "Courtesy of the newlyweds." Kirk had given him the money this morning and said solemnly, "I will never forget this."

"Thanks," she said.

"I can't believe that he wants me planning everything," Luke said shaking his head. "If he was smart, he and Lulu would choose everything themselves. I told him that that way they wouldn't be disappointed. He said that they want to be surprised. Can you believe that? I don't know who is the bigger moron, him or me."

"He trusts you," Sookie said. "Now don't worry about the food. I'll take care of it. What's next on the list?"

"Music," Luke said. "I'm hoping that Lane'll help me with that one."

"She will," Sookie said.

"Why me?" Luke said. "Why didn't he ask Taylor or Patty? People who like planning things and have nothing but time on their hands."

"He looks up to you."

"I hate him," Luke said to Sookie.

She giggled. "No you don't. Now go talk to Lane and don't worry about the food at all. Promise?"

He let out a breath. "Promise. Thanks. I do appreciate it."

"I know you do. And Lorelai will be back in a few days and can help with the final plans."

"I know," he said. He stood up.

The baby snarled at him. Luke made a hasty exit out of there.

"You have two options," Lane told him.

"Yeah, what's that?" he asked. His head was pounding.

"Well I can spin records for a few hours. Or my band can play." She sounded very excited about the second option.

"I didn't think you knew standards," he said.

"We'll learn," Lane said sounding almost giddy. "We need the experience. I have to tell the guys."

"Can you learn standards in two weeks?" Luke asked. "Less than that actually. A week from Saturday."

"What if we do half and half? I can DJ for the standards and our band can play a set."

"That sounds okay," he said. "But remember it's a mixed audience of mixed ages. So try to limit the Nirvana."

Lane grinned. "Sure."

"Now there isn't a whole lot of money left for you kids," Luke admitted.

Lane considered this. "Can you patch up the ceiling in our apartment as payment? It would be a big help. I'm afraid the whole thing might cave in. Brian's afraid he's going to end up in the hospital. Well he always thinks that, but he means because of the falling pieces."

"I'll do that any way," Luke said shaking his head. "You know that. That's not payment. You need a ceiling."

"Maybe you can bring us some hot food when you patch the ceiling? We've been living on ramen and ketchup. Can that be our deal?"

"Sounds like a deal," Luke said. They shook hands.

Food, check. Music, check.

Next problem…

"I need an answer," Luke said frowning, even though he knew Kirk couldn't see it over the phone. "Yes or no, Kirk?"

"Maybe you should decide," Kirk said.

"It's your party. I'm not deciding this. Yes or no?"

"They take off all their clothes?"

"Yes, Kirk," Luke said. "They take their clothes off. They strip. Hence them being called strippers. Do you want them?"

"No, it's okay. But if I don't have strippers at my bachelor party, what can I have?"

"What do you want?"

"I don't know. Games I guess. Can there be food?"

Luke couldn't help but smile. "Sure, Kirk. There can be food."

The plans were progressing. Sookie was in charge of the food and despite a few, frantic late night calls ("I'm not using garlic, Luke! Are you okay with that?" "Jackson doesn't like the apple crop -- come hell or high water, we're going peach!"), everything was fairly under control. Lane was working on music ("So I know you said no Nirvana, Luke, but where do you stand on the Foo Fighters? Cause 'Everlong' is a kick-ass romantic song."). The church was booked. Next week, they would work on inviting people by word of mouth ("I don't want to invite people until the last minute," Kirk said gravely. "I feel people won't come if I give them enough time to think of an alibi."). According to Rory, whom he had called at school in a moment of panic, Lorelai was expected back in two days. When Lorelai got home, she would deal with the chairs and tables and the set-up for the actual ceremony. At least he hoped so. He had left a rambling, semi-incoherent message on her cell phone. She hadn't returned his message yet.

"Stop worrying," Sookie told him. "She plans things for a living. Relax."

There was nothing else he could do that night. All he wanted was to sit in front of the television and watch some sports and drink beer.

He walked home from Sookie and Jackson's house (Jackson had agreed to help him plan the bachelor party). In his head, he thought of what he had to do tomorrow. Besides work of course.

Tux shopping with Kirk. Kirk refused to go alone. Luke also wanted to stop by Lane's to survey the damage to the ceiling.

But for now, it was just beer and television.

Or maybe not.

Sitting on the steps was a young woman. It was dark and he couldn't tell at first who it was. When he approached, she stood up. She was young, in a leather jacket over a flowery dress.

"Mr. Danes, you don't know how grateful I am to you for helping us with the wedding," she said with a shy smile.

And then she burst into tears.

To be continued…