DaisyMaeDuke

Luke sighed. He would like to think that doing what was right for him was all that mattered. But the truth was that Bo mattered too. And Jesse. And Daisy. And Zack. Trapped. That's what he was. And what was even worse was that it was possible, if not probablethat he wouldn't be approved as worthy of Zack's guardianship. "I just can't win," said shaking his head. "I just can't win." With that he walked inside letting the screen door slam behind him.

"Well what the hell am I supposed t' do Jesse?!" he snapped. He didn't really mean to yell like that, but he had been feeling things he wasn't used to feeling lately. He wasn't sure he understood the feelings and when Luke didn't understand something, it upset and almost angered him. He ran a shaky hand through his hair. He felt that, no matter what he did, he was going to hurt someone. It never bothered Luke to hurt someone in a fight at the Boar's Nest...or in a boxing ring. Heck, he had been trained to kill without batting an eye. But this was different. He felt like he was being forced to choose between his baby brother and a child who might become his son. He shook his head wondering to himself if he really was cursed to never find happiness.

Luke growled softly to himself. He loved Bo, he really did. They were closer than brothers...at least, they used to be. Luke would have thought if they were truly close Bo would talk to him about what he was feeling. "Don't he know I can't do this alone? I need him...I need all of you."

Luke shook his head. "That don't make no sense at all."

"Then what is it Jesse?! Why don't he want me t' be happy?!" cried Luke exhasperated. "S'like he don't care about me at all!"

Jesse sighed sadly. "I know that son..but your aunt...wanted ya to remember her when she was well...not...not these final days..." Luke was shaking hard in his uncle's hold, tears pouring down his cheeks.

Luke swallowed nodding a little. "Bo...he's mad at me about this...I get the feelin' that...that he don't want it to happen."

Luke sighed. "Yes sir...guess I am." He scraped the toe of his boot on the old wooden step, as he talked running a hand through his curls.

A pretty little brunette sat in a corner booth, flashing a soft smile at him as she sipped her beer from the glass. Meanwhile, Luke had made his way home, sitting with a sigh on the old porch just staring up at the stars.

No problem Buddy-ro," replied Cooter readily, though a little surprised that Luke had just left. He hadn't taken the General however. He was simply walking home, too much on his mind to stay still.

"Shoot I aint got nothin better to do...'sides...that's what friends are for..." He gave him a wide dimpled grin, it falling as he looked past Bo's shoulder. "Did you know Luke left?"

Cooter scratched his head slowly shaking it. "I dunno that I ever saw ol' Lukas do anything on impulse...least...nothin' like this," he added. Luk wasn't the one to do spur-of-the-moment things. Bo, on the other hand, was.

Cooter sighed nodding his head a little. "Well...it does sound selfish but...it sounds like the voice of soemone who cares a lot about his family...about the relationship he has with his cousin. Maybe you ain't wrong Bo...maybe Luke ain't thinkin'...shoot, wouldn't be the first time a Duke thought with his heart instead of his head...even Luke."

"Well did you think Luke would never want a family of his own?" he asked Bo. He wasn't sure he was playing the devil's advocate at the moment. More than anything he just wanted to understand. "Have you talked to Luke about what you're thinkin?"

Cooter shook his head again. "Well how do you know it won't be better? Heck, you an' Luke have been big brother's before to Andy...youre big brother figures to the whole basketball team...how do you know this ain't gonna be a chance for both of ya t really make a difference in this little guy's life?" He had to admit though, though not saying it out loud, that the idea of Luke becoming an instant father was overwhelming just to hear. Luke was smart...and a hard worker...everyone knew that...but he was also a ladies' man... and on the go...how could he ever bring himself to settle down...and if he did, how could he be truly happy?

I'd say that must be the Dukes go to Hollywood... (or something like that...I dont rember the exact title)

"Bo Duke what the heck did Boss put in that drink of yers? Luke loves you...he's always loved you...whether he has a family of his own ain't gonna change that one bit. Family is family..." Cooter just did not understand how Bo could say such a thing. Of all the families he knew, the Dukes were the closest-knit he ever saw. It made no sense. "And when has it happened before? Luke ain't never put a child before you...or anyone else for that matter..."

So what's your plan, Uncle Jesse? *asked Luke though it was clear to see he had other things on his mind*

"Sounds like some part of this whole arrangement don't et right with you buddy-roe...what's goin' on?" Cooter was more than the best mechanic in town. He was the best friend, save one another, that the Duke boys had. As such, he knew them pretty well himself and could easily read between the lines of what Bosaid to catch what had been left unsaid.

Cooter nodded. "S'true enough I suppose...but heck... havin' a kid... it's gonna restrict him a lot...he won't be able t' go to a NASCAR race whenever he wants... have to find a babysitter when he wants t' come to the Nest for a drink...not t' mention the expense alone...does he know what he's gettin' himself into?"

*just watches him go shaking his head how he could be moodier than a wet hen one minute and grinning like a chesire cat the next*

Cooter whistled low. "I knew ol' Lukas had a soft spot for kids but...adoptin' one....that's a might...well...crazy ain't it? What's he know about bein' a dad?"

I agree

Like Bo, Luke was used to having girls eyeball him...stare even. But tonight he was getting looks that even Luke was unaccustomed to. As with Bo, every girl that walked past him tended to flutter her eyelashes or send a pretty smile his way. Luke, in return, didn't seem to notice, which got him many shocked looks in return. Cooter laughed. "Earth to Lukas...earth to Lukas," he said waving a hand over his friend's face. "Boy, he's got it bad," he added when Luke just gave a far away smile. "Who's the girl?"

Soon, Luke was following Bo into the Boar's Nest, smiling to the girls he knew, nodding a hello to the few he didn't. He did no more than that however. Tonight he just wasn't up to the normal flirtations and skirt-chasing that he and Bo were known for...tonight he had other things on his mind. He sipped his beer slowly, as if enjoying every moment of the bitter amber liquid, rolling it slowly over his tongue. In truth it was the same old watered-down stuff that Boss passed for beer every other day, but for some reason tonight it tasted different. So did the popcorn...the stale pretzels were crunchy... in fact everything, mediocre as it was, was more enjoyable... Luke hadn't realized, until he met that little boy, just how flavorless his life had become....