A/N - Takes place a few days after "The Bracebridge Dinner". This story happens as if Rory said yes to Christopher's invitation to stay at his house for a few days during Christmas break.
Pairing - L/L
Disclaimer - WB owns all, I own nothing. Not making money either.
Somebody For Someone
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Lorelai looked out of the living room window mournfully, silently waiting for Christopher's Volvo to appear in the driveway. When it finally pulled up, she let out a heavy sigh and called to Rory.
"Rory, he's here!." She yelled and slowly got up from the couch.
Rory came racing out of her room, grinning. "Dad's here?" She squealed in obvious excitement.
Lorelai forced a smile and nodded. "Yup."
Rory instantly ran over to her mom, hugging her furiously. "Mmmm, I'll miss you so much." She said.
Lorelai pulled back and smiled. "Yeah, right. You'll be having way too much fun with your new mommy to be thinking about silly old me." Lorelai said and made a pretend pouty face.
Rory shook her head. "Sherry's not my new mommy. She's not even a mommy."
"Hmmm, okay." Lorelai smiled weakly and watched as Rory ran over to the front door. She flung it open to reveal Christopher, dressed in nice pants and a sweater.
"Hey, Rory." He grinned and gave her a massive hug. "You ready to go?"
Rory nodded and grabbed her stuff while Lorelai walked over to them.
"Hey, Chris." She said and welcomed him in a small embrace, patting him on the back. "So, when will you be bringing my baby back?" She smiled, looking at Rory, who was rolling her eyes.
Christopher thought for a second. "Well, it's Saturday so she'll be home by Tuesday. That good?" Christopher asked.
Rory smiled. "Don't worry, it's good."
Christopher nodded. "I'll be in the car. Is this all your stuff?" He pointed to a book bag and suitcase.
"Yup. I'll be right out." Rory replied, handing the luggage over to her dad.
The second Christopher left, Lorelai wrapped her arms around Rory again, squeezing her tightly while kissing the top of her head. "Don't let them abduct you, okay?"
Rory laughed. "I won't."
"And if Sherry tries anything fresh, you give me a call, okay?" Lorelai told her, still squeezing Rory incessantly.
"Ew, gross." Rory said and disentangled herself from her mom. "I'll be home Tuesday, just hang in there until I get back."
"What am I gonna do without you? I'll be all alone." Lorelai whined and grabbed Rory again, trying to hug her.
She moved away and shook her head. "No, you won't be alone. You have Sookie, Luke, Miss. Patty, Babette, Bootsy, Kirk-"
"Michel, Drella, the ugly cable guy." Lorelai interrupted
"Grandma, Grandpa." Rory giggled. "Just kidding. You'll have fun, I promise."
Before Lorelai could respond, a honk from Christopher's car came from outside.
After giving her mom one last squeeze, Rory started walking away.
Lorelai called after her. "I'll be counting the minutes until you return!"
Rory just turned around and waved at her mother, smiling.
"Maybe even the seconds!" Lorelai yelled from the doorway. Once the car pulled out of the driveway and rolled along the street, Lorelai plopped her body onto the couch.
"What am I supposed to do now?" She muttered to herself. She glanced around the room, her eyes eventually resting on a few photographs of her and Rory which were sitting on the mantelpiece. Sighing, Lorelai laid down on the couch and slowly drifted off to sleep.
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The diner was filled to capacity the next morning and Luke was just swamped. It seemed as if everywhere he turned, he had to wait on someone. Jess was upstairs asleep, but Luke didn't want to wake him. Luke still felt a little bad about Liz not asking Jess home for Christmas break, so he was determined to make this week really great and if that meant sleeping until five o' clock in the afternoon, then that's what would happen. After the morning rush of people left around eleven-thirty, Luke was finally able to take a break. He slumped his exhausted body into a chair and closed his eyes for a few moments. When he heard the door jingle a little bit, he sighed and looked up. Lorelai was standing there, looking sort of sad.
She smiled weakly at him. "Hey, you still serving breakfast?" She asked him and sat down at the counter. Luke glanced at her oddly and nodded.
"I serve it all day, you hadn't noticed?" He got up and poured her some coffee automatically.
"Oh, yeah, I guess." She sighed and sipped the coffee he brought her.
"You look happy." He grunted as he reached for a donut underneath the plastic container that sat on the counter. "Sugar always seems to cheer you up." He smiled and handed her a sprinkled one.
"Aw, thanks." She grinned and bit into it hungrily. "Mmmm, I feel more cheery already." She mumbled through her chews, causing a few sprinkles to fly out of her mouth, hitting Luke in the arm.
"That's attractive." He said sarcastically.
"I know." She swallowed while observing his worn out face. "You look terrible."
"Thank-you." He sighed, sitting across from her on his stool.
"No, I didn't mean you look terrible, what I meant was, you look like you feel terrible."
"Right back at you." He smiled and looked around. "Where's Rory?"
Lorelai's face fell immediately. "Oh, she's staying with her dad for a few days." She sighed and picked sadly at the remains of her donut. "I miss her already."
"That doesn't surprise me."
"Ugh, what am I supposed to do, wrap presents and eat junk food all by myself?" She whined and shoved the last morsel of donut into her mouth.
"You still haven't wrapped yet?"
"Nope. I always wait until the very last minute." She smiled proudly. "If you hadn't noticed, I make it a point to be as lazy as possible."
"Is that your long-term goal? To be the laziest woman on Earth?" He questioned.
"And it's surrounding planets, yes." She smiled and held out her mug. "Fill please." She stated and watched him roll his eyes. "Hey, no eye rolling, I had a bad day yesterday."
"Sorry, but it's become a habit."
"Well, then break it because I'm sad." She pushed the cup at him and watched him as he filled it.
She sighed and continued. "And you know what's even worse?"
"What?"
"I'm off from work this week. That means not only do I have no Rory but I'll be forced to sit in that house all alone every single day."
"Same here." He said and began wiping the already clean countertop.
"No, you have Jess."
Luke laughed a little. "Please. He doesn't even count. As far as I'm concerned, he's just a mute mass of flesh that just sits up there all day, listening to loud music and eating my food."
"I thought you said it was going good between you guys?" She eyed him curiously. "Okay, what happened?"
"Nothing happened."
"Something happened." She repeated, then pretended to look shocked. "Luke, did he steal all your copies of 'Penthouse' magazine and now you're furiously mad at him because he cut out all of the good pictures and left you with the ones of those ugly, fat women pretending to look sexy even though everyone knows they don't?"
He looked up from the counter and looked embarrassed. "That's pretty unlikely considering I don't own any 'Penthouse' magazines."
"Yeah, whatever." She grinned, knowing she was making him feel awkward and embarrassed. "Don't worry, he'll give them back eventually."
"Okay, this conversation is over." He declared and sat down again, sighing in exhaustion. "I'm too tired to work today, I think I'll close up after you leave."
"Is that a hint for me to get going?" She smiled and handed him a few dollars.
"Since when do you pay me?" He asked, looking at the money sitting on the counter.
"You let me sit here and complain at you when I know you're feeling bummed so I figured I'll be a good paying customer for once." She answered and stood up. "I'll see you tomorrow, get some rest." She pointed a finger at him. "Because I don't want you to be closed tomorrow."
"I think I will. Bye." He waved to her as he watched her leave the diner.
To be continued........
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*In Chapter 2 - Luke brings Lorelai dinner at her house because he closed up early. :grins: Hehehehe......review please!*