#luke dane

He'd been given four comp tickets to a new show on Broadway and it had been...less than stellar. Luke has to admit though, that even though the play was crap, he's having a good time. Lorelai looks beautiful (she always does, really, but she got all dressed up for a night in Manhattan), and Midge and Lenny are in high spirits, chatting happily as they wait for their food to arrive.

"One time I went on a date to a terrible musical," Midge tells them, smiling. "It was so bad, we left during intermission."

"Oh my god, what was the musical?" Lorelai asks. "And why do I feel the sudden urge to need to see it?"

"It was the Lizzy Borden musical," Midge explains. "We realized during intermission that since the murder happened at the end of act 1, then act 2 was going to be the trial."

"Oh, god," Luke says, horrified. "An entire second act of a musical that's just a courtroom scene?"

"So we left," Midge shrugs.

"And came to my show instead," Lenny chimes in, grinning wickedly.

Lorelai gasps. "Midge! You took a date to see Lenny's act? That's so unfair to the date!"

Midge lifts her hands, trying not to laugh. "In my defense, I had no idea I had feelings for Lenny yet. Nothing had happened between us, other than him sending me flowers as a thank you for hanging out at his Steve Allen gig."

"As if flowers isn't a hint?" Luke grumbles.

Lenny chuckles. "The card I sent wasn't particularly romantic. Just a thank you and an invite to my next show. Which she missed, but her father went to. We got arrested together. He thought the flowers were nice."

Lorelai laughs at that.

"My father was over the moon when we got married," Midge tells them. "Finally, an intellectual in the family!"

"God, I can't even imagine my parents approving of a boyfriend I picked out myself," Lorelai comments. "Was that weird?"

Midge shrugs. "He hated Joel. He was fine with Benjamin - the doctor I took to see Lenny's show - but he actually wanted to talk to Lenny. I'm pretty sure if Papa could have married Lenny himself, he would have."

"Progressive for a man born in the 1890's," Lenny jokes.

Midge reaches out, patting Lorelai's hand "They'll come around to Luke."

"They won't," Lorelai snorts. "But it's okay, believe me. I've never cared what they think before, I'm not about to start caring now."

"Parents can be tough," Lenny concedes. "It took Ma a little while to warm up to Midge. And she never liked Honey."

Midge purses her lips but says nothing.

"Ooh," Lorelai comments with a chuckle. "Midge has feelings."

The older woman shrugs. "Sally was a tough old broad."

"From the day she was born," Lenny adds, snapping a finger.

Luke clears his throat a little awkwardly and looks to Lorelai. "My mother would have really liked you."

She melts a little, looking touched. "Luke, that's so sweet. I'm really glad."

"Well, you know. She was a really great person, my mom," Luke shrugs. "And you're a great person, so..."

"Oy the schmaltz, kill me now," Lenny groans jokingly.