Author's notes: Thanks so much for the reviews! Dave/Lane missing in action these last two chapters but will be back in the next one I promise!
Chapter 4: Love is in the air"I can't believe Jess did all this for me." Rory said, shaking
her head, as Lorelei tried to help her get ready.
Lorelei threw her hands up in exasperation. "Rory, honey! Stop shaking
your head, how am I supposed to do your hair when you're wiggling like a worm
on a hook?"
Rory rolled her eyes, "A worm on a hook? Mom i think you can do better
than that."
"Well you know what i mean. We'll never get you to the prom if you
don't sit still."
"I'm just so excited, I just can't believe Jess is taking me to the
prom."
"Who knew he had it in him? Surely not I." Lorelei quipped as she
pinned a tiny lavender rose into Rory's hair. "Perfect! Not over the top,
crazy teenage 80's prom queen style hair, but sleek and chic."
"Thanks mom."
"Yeah, yeah, now go put on your dress and don't mess up my beautiful
creation!"
Rory grinned and went to slip on the dress. It was a simple lavender dress
that flowed around Rory when she put it on, very soft and pretty but never ever
frilly.
"I feel very girly." Rory said as she spun around for her mom.
"Well you look very girly and very beautiful too." Lorelei said,
smiling softly.
"Oh no, you're not getting all emotional on me are you?"
"No, no, of course not." Lorelei paused, "okay maybe a little. My baby
girl is all grown up. Going to the prom, then going off to Yale, what am i
going to do without you around all the time?"
"Mom... we're still going to travel around Europe together you
remember that don't you? With our tubes and tubes of sunscreen?" Rory
giggled, "and even when i'm off at Yale, i'm only a quick drive
away."
Lorelei grinned, laughing a little, "I know."
The two stopped smiling when they heard Luke's voice through Rory's door, "NO I WILL NOT KEEP MY VOICE DOWN… DON'T TELL ME TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN."
"What's that all about?" Rory asked.
"To hell if I know, but we can find out." Lorelei said as she crept against Rory's door and pressed her ear to it.
"Mooommm."
"Come on, you know you want to listen."
Rory thought for a moment before joining her mom with her ear against the door, "I can't hear anything."
"Well duh, if you're talking."
The two stood for a moment, but nothing could be heard after Luke's outburst.
Lorelei stepped away from the door. "Ah well, at least we tried." Looking at Rory pressed against the door, she quickly pulled her away, "eek don't mess up the hair!"
Rory sighed, "Leaning against the door was your idea."
"Well who told you to listen
to me?"
"Okay mom, no time for our usual witty banter cause I'm ready to
go."
"Actually you're not."
Rory's brows furrowed, "What do you mean?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Lorelei asked ginning.
"What?"
"Look down honey."
"EEK shoes!"
"Yes dear, shoes would be good." Lorelei laughed, handing Rory
her sandals, "didn't i tell you that this pair of shoes could save your
life? And you didn't want to buy them."
"Okay, okay, you're the all knowing, all seeing eye." Rory
answered rolling her eyes as she sat down on her bed and put the shoes on.
"There, now i'm ready."
"Actually you're still not."
"Mom, what is it now?"
"Well once again I have to pull out the "Mother"
routine."
"You making quotes around the word mother doesn't help me understand
what you're saying."
Lorelei faced turned serious. "Just this Rory, after the last party
you went to with Jess..."
"Oh."
"I know you're going to prom, rite of passage, etc. etc. and stuff
happens after the prom, I didn't go to the prom but I know. Just remember don't
do anything you aren't ready for okay?"
"I know mom." Rory said nodding.
Lorelei face lit up again. "Okay! Now you're ready to go!"
Rory smiled, "yes I am!" Hugging her mom. "Thanks. Love
you."
"Love you too honey."
************************
"Jess what is this all about?" Luke asked as he and Jess
sat on the couch in the Gilmore's living room.
Jess stared at Luke, "What."
"Jess" Luke sighed in exasperation. ""What" is not
an answer to a question you know?"
Rolling his eyes, Jess replied, "Well maybe if you asked a proper
question, I'd give you a better answer."
"Okay. What is going on with you and Rory?"
"I'm taking her to the prom."
"And?" Luke asked, making gestures with his hands for Jess to continue.
"What."
"JESS" Luke said through his clinched teeth.
Imitating him, Jess answered. "LUKE"
"Can I get a straight answer from you for once?"
Jess shrugged. Luke stood up in exasperation and started pacing across the room, his voice becoming slightly louder, "I only want to know because one minute you get into a fight over Rory at some party and trash the place, you stop talking to her and don't explain yourself to her or to me or to anyone. Now you're over here all dressed up, buying her dress and prom tickets and renting a limo?! What is going on with you?" The last bit coming out even louder.
Jess looked uncomfortably around, "hey can you keep your voice down?"
"NO I WILL NOT KEEP MY VOICE DOWN… DON'T TELL ME TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN." Luke shouted, waving his hands in the air and stopping in front of Jess.
Jess stared at Luke and Luke gestured again, "well?! Come on Jess, give me something, would you…"
"I love her." Jess said softly.
Luke's mouth dropped open and all his frustration with his nephew left him as he slowly sat back down on the couch and in disbelief said softly, "You love her?"
Jess who was looking at his hands, glanced over at Luke, "Yeah."
Luke as if understanding Jess for the first time, nodded, "okay… okay." Shaking his head slightly, added, "Rory's a great girl, don't hurt her okay?"
"I won't."
"Good." Luke nodded as the two sat quietly, each with their own thoughts.
"I'm not interrupting am I?" Lorelei asked smiling as she walked into the living room, looking at the two silent figures. They both jumped at her voice and stood up as she continued, "just wanted to let you know that Rory was ready."
With that Rory walked into the living room smiling at Jess, "You got the right dress size, it fits perfectly."
"Umm yeah." Jess answered staring at Rory but not moving.
"Ahem… are you just going to stand there?" Luke asked nudging Jess with his elbow, which caused Jess to turn and glare at him before turning back to Rory. "We should get going."
"Oh no wait PICTURES!" Lorelei said excitedly as she ran into the kitchen for the camera.
Rory holding onto Jess' arm whispered under her breath, "She took almost a roll of pictures with Lane and Dave so beware and when possible make a run for the door."
Jess smiled, "on the count of three?"
"Oh no you two, I heard you. Let's go picture time." Lorelei said standing by the door to block any attempts at escaping.
"Alright fine mom, but no more than a roll okay?" Rory begged.
"Yeah, yeah."
A roll and a half later and only with the help of Luke, Rory and Jess were finally making there way out the door.
"Okay honey, have a great time." Lorelei said, hugging her daughter tightly.
"Take care of her Jess." Luke added and Jess nodded in reply.
"Bye mom, Luke. See you later." Rory said, grinning as Jess walked her to the limo.
The chauffeur opened the door and Rory climbed in waving once more at Luke and Lorelei and Jess did a half wave as he got into the limo.
Lorelei and Luke watched as they drove away. "My baby is driving away."
"He loves her." Luke said softly.
Lorelei turned and looked at Luke, "he what?"
"My reaction exactly. But he said he loves her."
Lorelei watched as the limo turned the corner and replied, "I think she loves him too."
Luke looked at her and smiled slightly, "they're growing up."
"Or we're growing old." Lorelei grinned.
Luke smirked, "Speak for yourself."
"Hey!"
He sighed, "You're right, we're growing old."
"Come on old fogy let's go pig out and watch some movies." Lorelei laughed, pushing Luke into the house and closed the door behind them.
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I know I know can we get to the prom part already? Next chapter I promise! Lol… please please review. Thanks!
