Chapter 1: Town Hall Shitshow
Family meetings were supposed to be sprawling and chaotic. And the Stars Hollow weekly town meeting was certainly both of those things. People came rushing in at the last possible moment, while others shouted to make themselves heard. Still others flagrantly violated the rules, as Rory Gilmore and her mother and stepfather did while bringing in food and beverages from Luke's Diner. Taylor Dosse, the grocer and town selectman, brought the meeting to order.
"Now, first order of business:" the Santa-Claus-look-alike began. "It has come to my attention that the Stars Hollow Gazette editor Rory Gilmore is with child."
"Ooh!" Babette squealed. "No wonder she came back!"
Rory's mouth fell open. She had no idea how Taylor came about this information. The only people she had told were her mother and Luke. Perhaps Ms. Patty had overheard her telling Lorelai the day of the wedding? Instead, all she could think to say was, "I'm not back!" which she had futilely been reminding people of since... well, the summer, but still.
Meanwhile, the entire town had descended into a hubbub over their pride and joy expecting a baby. Luke Danes was the only one silent, and it was because he was fuming. Upon first hearing the news that he was going to be a grandfather, he had promised to let Rory tell the rest of the town in her own way, and when she was ready. Unfortunately, Miss Patty's unofficial gossip column had no timetable.
"Now," Taylor was trying to restore order. "Let this be a lesson to all our impressionable young girls of why birth control is needed. To be pregnant and unwed is a state of affairs that all citizens of good moral standing should frown upon. Our town now has two prime examples of sexual promiscuity gone astray. And while the Gilmores are part of town legend and their story is inspirational, we cannot ignore the fact -"
"YOU TAKE BACK THAT STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY!" Luke bellowed. He leapt out of his seat and looked like he was going to rush the stage and attack Taylor; it took the combined efforts of Bootsy, Andrew, Jess and the Town Troubadour to hold him back.
"Lucas, you are talking out of turn. Therefore, your comment must be stricken from the record..." Taylor tried to calm the diner owner.
"TO HELL WITH THE RECORD! THAT'S MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TAYLOR! WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY IT? WE ALL KNOW YOU WANT TO! AND I HEAR BEING POLITICALLY INCORRECT IS IN STYLE THESE DAYS! JUST BE READY TO HAVE YOUR FACE BASHED IN!"
Lorelai gawked at her husband. In the nearly twenty years she had known him, nine of which they had lived together and a few weeks of marriage, she had never seen Luke become this enraged. Not at her, not at anyone. She now got between the crowd of men holding Luke down and now guided him to the back of the barn that doubled as Miss Patty's dance studio. "Let's go home, honey..."
Rory, looking stricken, rushed after them, not caring if Taylor noticed the Luke's Diner bags she carried filled with foodstuff contraband.
That night, at Number 37 Maple Street, Luke had still not calmed down as he ranted to Lorelai in the kitchen. Rory listened from her place on the stairs, one hand over her baby bump that was not yet perceptible, but would be all too soon.
"I let him say that about my family! My family!" Luke thundered with rage. "All but calling my wife and daughter a couple of... of..." Luke couldn't even bring himself to say the cursed slur. "I will not stand for that kind of... elitist slander! Not about my family! I tell you, I will not tolerate it!"
Lorelai threw her arms around him and kissed him. "I love you, Luke Danes," she smiled when they broke apart. She hugged him close. "My big, strong diner man, defending his family."
Luke tightened his grip around her, and were Rory in this hug, he would do the same to her. "Mine..." he growled low, protectively, possessively, making Lorelai shiver.