Notes: Hey all! A few things, 1) I've been a Lane/Dave fan and never a Lane/Zach fan so I have no idea how to write them, so forgive me. 2) Please review. Suggestions are very appreciated. 3) Enjoy!
-----
"Hey you, good morning," Luke whispered gruffly in her ear, wrapping his strong arms around her. She snuggled into him and rolled gently to face him.
"Hey there yourself, big man." She replied in her "sexy" voice, which despite her attempt to make it funny, turned out quite sexy, he thought. She tipped her head towards him placing increasingly passionate kisses on his strong lips. She rolled on top of him, still holding her. Lorelai breathed in and he felt it.
"Lor, we've gotta get up." He whispered, breaking the kiss.
"Aren't you already?" She asked giggling. Her childish humor was not lost on him. He smiled, kissing her.
Ignoring it, he replied. "We need to get out of bed."
"But Lukey, it's Saturday."
"Diner's still open on Saturday," he answered.
"But that's why you employ people."
"Still need to go, Lor."
"Fine, ya big party pooper." She playfully smacked him. He captured her lips in a kiss and got out from under the covers, letting go of her gently. She sat up and watched him dress.
"You wanna go somewhere for dinner, tonight?"
"I'd love to."
"Somewhere nice?"
"Luke? Are you sick?"
"No, I just want to take you out. I know all this waiting for the wedding hasn't been your favorite and I feel like we are so comfortable here now. I just want to - I don't know - do something," he paused. She sat up.
"Romantic?" She finished.
"Yeah, and unexpected. You know I'm not good at all this stuff, Lor." He kind of hung his head.
"Come here," she demanded. She returned to the bed and looked up at her.
"I love you, Luke Danes." She whispered, kissing his lips, he didn't need to say it back; his kiss did all the talking.
"See you tonight, Lor." He replied touching her hair as he left.
She sighed. Yeah, the wedding wasn't planned out yet, but she knew it would be. She knew Luke was a good man.
-----
Rory awoke to the sun streaming in her window. She dressed quickly, nicely. With finals out of the way, she was free to have this summer to herself. This was the weekend she would leave.
"Well, hey there sleepyhead." Lorelai smiled as her daughter made her way out of the room. "Wow, you're all dressed and ready. It's 8am on a Saturday, where's the fire?" She looked at her daughter funny.
"I'm meeting Grandma for coffee this morning."
"Oh no." Lorelai sympathized. "Where?"
"Their house, told her I would before I left for Philly."
"Are you going, for sure?"
"Yes, I am." She nodded. "I have to."
"What if the world suddenly implodes and Luke gets his head together and wedding happens?"
"Then, I'll be in the car on my way back to be there for it! You know I wouldn't miss that."
"Well, Godspeed with the grandparents, honey." Lorelai saluted her.
"You're weird. Have some more coffee." Rory laughed. "See you later."
"Bye!" Lorelai shouted as her daughter rounded the corner.
"Oh, Paris is coming to visit tonight, alright?"
"Yeah, sure! Just be home before she gets here. I can't take much time alone with that girl."
"I will. Bye, Mom."
-----
Rory parked her Prius in the pristine driveway of The Gilmore Manor.
"Good morning, Miss Gilmore." The maid of the week greeted Rory.
"Morning," she replied. The maid promptly closed the door behind her as usual.
"Rory, good morning!" Emily Gilmore sang, entering the room.
"Morning, Grandma." She hugged her.
"How are you dear? Come, we'll have coffee in the living room."
"I'm doing well." She nodded.
"I assume your having coffee with me means you are going to visit, that boy, in Philadelphia?"
"It does. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Rory, is it really necessary to go? Couldn't you call this boy?"
"Yes, but I want to be with him, Grandma."
"Well, where will you stay?"
"At his apartment."
"Rory! That is simply not acceptable."
"Grandma, I'm an adult. I can make my own decisions. I didn't come here to fight with you or be talked out of anything. I came to see you because you wanted to see me."
"Well, you are going away. Aren't I entitled to see you?"
"Yes, but I am only going for a summer and then I'll be back and at Yale and you can come visit me all the time."
"Let's talk about more pleasant things. How is your mother?"
"That's a more pleasant topic?" She rolled her eyes. "She's fine. Still working out wedding plans with Luke. They are doing well, I think. I don't see them too much."
"How were finals?"
"Fine."
"Good." Emily sipped her coffee.
"Yes." Rory sipped hers. There was a long, long, long period of silence.
"Rory!"
"Grandpa!" She exclaimed greeting her grandfather with a hug.
"Rory, my dear. I didn't know you were coming for coffee! You're Grandmother never tells me anything. Except she told me that you are going to Philadelphia. Is that true?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"Well, Philadelphia is a beautiful city. How long are you staying?"
"All summer."
"Well, do you have a place to stay? Is it with Yale?"
"No, it's not with Yale. Actually, I have a friend who lives there." Rory replied, folding her arms around her subconsciously for protection.
"A male friend." Emily added.
"Really, who?" Richard seemed interested, not mad.
"Jess Mariano?"
"The name doesn't ring any bells, sorry."
"Luke's nephew? That horrible young man who showed up late for dinner with a black eye?"
"Oh come now, Emily. I'm sure he has grown up since then. What was that, three years ago? What is he doing there, Rory?" She smiled at her Grandfather taking her side. He always did.
"He's a writer. He's got one short novel published by the press that he works for. It's not a major release but it shows great promise."
"I'd be very interested to read it."
"I'll have him send you a copy." Rory nodded.
"Thank you, Rory. That would be much appreciated."
"You're welcome." She sipped her coffee.
"Well, ladies. I am sorry to leave you, but I have work that must be attended to. Rory, give your grandfather another hug before you leave." She stood and fulfilled his request. "Have a lovely time, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Grandpa." She replied with a smile. Richard left and she turned towards Emily. "I really should get going."
"Well, have a good time in Philadelphia. We'll see you when you get back." Emily rushed her towards the door.
"I don't want this between us, Grandma." Rory shouted.
"Rory, keep your voice down."
"I will not! You are a horrible, controlling woman sometimes. I am an adult now. Don't look at me like yesterday's leftovers just because I make on decision you don't agree with. My life is in a better place than it was just a few months ago when I lived with you. I have my priorities straight."
Then Emily Gilmore did something she'd never done before. She apologized. "Rory, I know it's not my place. I just worry. I'm sorry. Do have a good time. Send us a postcard, okay?"
"Okay," She sighed, frankly a little surprised that Emily Gilmore had just admitted making a mistake. "I will. Bye, Grandma."
"Bye, Rory." She waved and closed the door behind her.
Wow, what a weird day. Rory thought.
-----
The little bell rang as Jess entered yet another bookstore in downtown Philly. Glancing at the recommended section, he flipped open his phone to see the time. He picked up a paperback and read the blurb on the back. Halfway through he got disinterested and set it down. He checked his phone again.
"Can I help you?" A young girl in an apron with a bright smile, asked him.
"No." He replied walking the opposite direction. No one could help him. He kept expecting, hoping that she would call. When had he become this guy? The moment he met her, he knew it. She was his soft spot.
He opened the phone again and read the time, 2:35pm. He sighed and walked out the door.
-----
"So, you are just up and leaving to spend the summer with this guy?"
"Yep."
"Daring, Gilmore." Paris licked another bite of ice cream off her spoon.
"Well, I'm a different girl than I used to be."
"So, is the sex good?"
"I've never had sex with him." Rory replied digging back into the container of delicious confection.
"That's not why you are going there?"
"No. I'm going there because I love him and I want to spend the summer with him. I wouldn't travel that many miles for a good roll in the sheets."
"Something special, huh?"
"Very."
"Well, I wouldn't know too much about that, considering all my relationships have failed, but I'm happy for you, Rory." She gestured with her spoon. She glanced at her watch. "I should go."
"Yeah, I promised that I'd meet Lane and Zach for drinks at 8:30."
"Well, it was nice to talk to you."
"Yeah, Paris."
"Well, I guess I'll see you when you get back, when school starts again." Paris stood and walked towards the door.
"Thanks for coming, Paris." She hugged her.
"Bye." Paris waved. Rory sighed. She grabbed her purse and headed out to her car.
-----
There was a new bar/café in town and Lane had asked her to meet her for drinks. She wasn't sure whether that meant alcoholic ones or not. Could Lane be drinking alcoholic beverages already? Big steps. She chuckled to herself.
She crossed the street to the bar and immediately found the couple sitting at a tall table.
"Hey!" Lane asked, receiving a hug. "How are you?" Zach waved politely and a tad awkwardly.
"I'm great."
"Are you all packed and ready?"
"Mostly."
"Where are you going, again?" Zach asked.
"Oh, Rory is going to visit Jess – ah, he's her ex, well one of them – in Philadelphia this summer."
"Oh, awesome! Philly is gorgeous, seriously."
"So I'm told." She nodded. "Although I've already been there once."
"Ah, well then you totally know then." He smiled.
"I ordered drinks for us already." Lane replied.
"Now I'm dying to know, are they alcoholic?"
"Of course!" Lane smiled.
"I'm gonna go talk to the guy in the band, okay?" Zach asked Lane getting off his stool.
"Have fun." She answered, kissing him on the cheek.
Lane returned her attention to Rory.
"So how is that going?" Rory asked, referring to her and Zach.
"Good." Lane smiled.
"Tell me about all this, though."
"You are for sure going? Are you sleeping with him? Where are you crashing?"
"Yes, I'm going. Why does everyone ask that? And I am staying at his place."
"It's a valid question."
"If I never here that response again either." Lane shrugged. "I'm gonna hit the little girl's room." She turned around and ran straight into someone's chest.
"Ace, fancy seeing you here!"
"Logan, what are you doing in Stars Hollow?" Rory questioned. She looked to Lane, who mouthed a confused, "Logan?"
"I came to see you, Ace."
"Logan," she rolled her eyes.
"Logan, this is my friend Lane." She introduced her.
"Nice to meet you, Lane." He shook her hand. Rory noticed her was relatively sober, and holding a water with a lemon on the rim.
"I think I'll go use the little girl's room." Lane muttered.
"So, what's up Ace?" He asked, moving closer to her. She inhaled. He smelled good, like he always did.
"Nothing. Just hanging out with some friends."
"What possessed you to come all the way out here?"
"Aren't you going to London, soon?"
"Tomorrow!" He exclaimed.
"Wow, so soon." She replied, leaning up against the bar now.
A man brushed quickly past Logan and knocked him forward. His drink splashed all over the front of her blouse.
"Oh, God Ace. I'm sorry. Let me get that." He reached across the bar to get a napkin, pressing himself against her. She began to dab the napkin on the huge spot on her chest. She inhaled again. His body heat was very strong. She didn't notice for a moment where he was pressing the napkin. She touched his hand and removed the napkin. He looked into her eyes and for a moment, he held her there.
He laced his fingers through hers on that hand. He brushed his thumb across her jaw line. She closed her eyes and breathed deep in, so lost now. She felt his free hand wander her body and find her waist. A moment later she felt the slightest touch of his lips to hers. Her eyes popped open. What was she doing?
She pushed him backward and stepped aside.
"I'm sorry, Logan. We're over. It was nice. Have a great time in London. Really! Call me when you meet William and Harry." She ran out of the bar.
-----
She could barely make out the flag on the mailbox as she drove past it. After parking she grabbed the mail out of the box on her way up the driveway. The contents of the box were a few bills, an advertisement for Kirk's windshield repair – she chuckled at that, Kirk, Jack of NO trades – and a package addressed to her.
"I'm back!" She yelled as she came inside the house, still glancing at the mail.
No one seemed to be home even though Lorelai's car was in the driveway. Maybe they were hiding. She tossed the bills on the table and went into her now mostly empty room. Shutting the door, she sat down on her bed and unwrapped the package. It was simple brown paper with no return address on it, just her name and address. She wondered whom it could be from. She had a few guesses, but wouldn't pin it on anyone in particular.
Inside, she found a book of poetry and a mix CD. Jess. She knew immediately, although, he wasn't a poetry fan as much as he was a fiction fan. She set the CD down on the bedspread and held the book. It was worn and felt smooth to the touch. She opened it and the smell of old ink and yellowing pages came wafting her direction. A moment later, she noticed there was a dog-eared page near the middle. Flipping to it, she began to read:
If questioning would make us wise
No eyes would ever gaze in eyes;
If all our tale were told in speech
No mouths would wander each to each.
Were spirits free from mortal mesh
And love not bound in hearts of flesh
No aching breasts would yearn to meet
And find their ecstasy complete.
For who is there that lives and knows
The secret powers by which he grows?
Were knowledge all, what were our need
To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?
Then seek not, sweet, the "If" and "Why"
I love you now until I die.
For I must love because I live
And life in me is what you give.
A tear rolled down her cheek, but she brushed it back. Considering what had just happened – almost happened – with Logan, she felt like a jerk reading this. This was how Jess felt about her, but he couldn't have said it in his own words, nor could he have said it any better. It was beautiful, and tragic. At the same time as it distressed her, it also gave her comfort, the beginning spoke to her. It seemed to say that it was okay to not be sure; to make mistakes and to be human, because being in love is human. She knew she wanted Jess, for sure this time and nothing could stop her from knowing that. Logan had been a weak moment. She was human, wasn't she?
She picked up the CD and looked at it. It was just an average mix CD, no track listing, just the words "Philly Mix" written in black Sharpie on the top. She noticed a small white note inside the clear case. "See you soon," it read. She held the case close to her chest. There was no question; she'd made the right decision.
-----
Sunday morning, Rory was up with the sun and ready to go. She finished packing and was outside by her car.
"You're all set." Luke declared, shutting the trunk to her Prius.
"Thank you!" She replied, hugging Luke.
"You're welcome, Rory. Say hello, to Jess for me, okay? And take care of yourself."
"I will, Luke. Thanks for being there." She smiled. "Don't you two get into too much trouble, alright?"
"Aww, but MOM!" Lorelai chided playfully.
"No but, missy." Rory giggled.
"I love you. Be safe." Lorelai hugged her daughter.
"I will. And I'm back at the drop of a hat, if things," Rory stopped.
"I know, honey. Just be careful, okay? Jess has well, not the best record with you or anyone else."
"I promise, he's changed Mom. You'll see."
"I hope you're right, Rory. Because I don't wanna see you hurt again. Have a good trip." She waved. Luke wrapped his arm around her waist.
She got in the drivers seat and started the engine. Waving at Luke and her mom as she sped away. An hour or so into the drive, she remembered the CD that Jess had made for her and fished around in the glove box to find it. Pulling it out, she slid it into the player and it spun up. Although she'd never heard the song before, she smiled when she began to hear the words. She knew she'd be there in no time.
I believe
I believe
I believe
I believe the love you talk about with me
is it true, do I care
honestly, you can try to wipe the memories aside
but it's you that you erase
'cause there's no place that I could be without you
it's too far to discard the life I once knew
honestly, all the weather storms are bringing
are just a picture of my dreams
'cause when I think of you as mine
and allow myself with time
to lead into the life we want
I feel loved, honestly
I feel loved, this honestly
I believe you mean the best that life can bring
I believe in it all
honestly, you can try
your heart is just as long as mine
is it ours to let go
'cause there's not place that I could be without you
it's too dark to discard the life I once knew
honestly, a single wrong is not enough
to cover up the pain in us
'cause when I think of you as mine
and allow myself with time
to lead into the life we want
I feel loved, honestly
I'll make a joke so you must laugh
I'll break your heart so you must ask
is this the way to get us back
I don't know, honestly
I don't know, this honestly
there's no place that I could be without you
honestly
there's no place that I could be without you
there's no place that I could gleam without you
there's no place that I could dream without you
there's no place that I could be without you
honestly
----
Note: Lyrics are "Honestly" by Zwan. The poem is "Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her" by Christopher Brennan The mix CD idea is from a article I read somewhere that said Milo made mixes for Alexis. At least I think I remember reading that. In any case, please review.
