The Red Rose…Chapter 10…Ranting City…
"I was waiting for you to come in my room, I thought that's where you were sleeping… I know I over reacted before, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry, I shouldn't have."
"It's okay sweets, really." Rory grinned.
"So…"
"I'm coming." Lorelai answered.
Lorelai shot Luke an apologetic look as she followed Rory downstairs.
Luke awoke the next morning, the aroma of pancakes, maple syrup, and coffee welcoming him instantly.
What?! Food? What was going on? Calm down Danes, there is a perfectly logical explanation…
Either A…Rory tried to be ambitious and cook for herself and her parents, because he knew for a fact that Lorelai wouldn't be caught dead in front of stove unless there was a coffee machine next to it…Luke had taught Rory a few things when it was just them two, but he ruled that out, it was Saturday; there was no way Rory would have gotten up this early—Luke paused and looked at the alarm clock, it read 10:22 in red bold letters.
It's almost 10:30?! Luke was surprised, he tried to remember the last time he had slept this late before the accident…he grew flustered and decided to give up realizing he could not even remember.
So maybe it was Scenario A, although the chances of Rory cooking breakfast…or anything for that matter without Luke's supervision were very slim.
Scenario B, Either Sookie or Caesar had come over to bring food, although Caesar wasn't very good at pancakes, well according to Lorelai, that's it…it had to be Sookie, Lorelai had mentioned she was stopping over last night…at least he thought, all of the medication he was taking for pain was messing with his head, it was really starting to aggravate the hell out of him.
So…Sookie? Yeah, that made sense.
He attempted to sit up, unable to in the position he was in. He grabbed the side of the headboard, swung his good leg over the side, then carefully tried to drag his bad leg to the edge, this was difficult, why did it have to be so heavy?
Using both hands, now that he was sitting up, his left leg firmly on the floor, he slid his massive cast and it was over…the pain didn't hit him at first, but he made a mental note to never do that again; so he crossed it off his imaginary list. Well technically, it wasn't imaginary, Rory had helped Lorelai make a list of possible suggestions. When Lorelai showed it to him in the hospital after he had learned he was going to be staying with her, he just rolled his eyes…but secretly he was happy she had put so much thought into those things, she was always in it for his best interest; much like he was for her.
Luke was starting to think about the conversation they had the night before when a very peppy Lorelai, who obviously had at least five cups of coffee in her, pulled him from his thoughts.
"Hey there Mr. Macho, I see your up, how did you sleep? How did you get out of bed?" She questioned, obviously impressed with his accomplishment.
"Lorelai…" he warned, "I am a grown man, I'm pretty sure I am able to sit up in bed without any help…"
"It hurt didn't it?" Lorelai gave him a knowing smile. Damn it
Luke didn't answer, "Why do I smell breakfast, especially since I'm not able to cook it for you because you are treating me like a baby and won't—"
"Surprise." She replied.
"It was Sookie, wasn't it?" Luke asked, matching the smile she had just handed to him. She still hadn't answered, after a moment…
"Ugh, fine, yes she made a homemade breakfast." Lorelai sighed, "You can't even give me just one moment can you!" Luke started laughing, "What's so funny??"
"You sound exactly like me…" Lorelai gasped as she covered her hand over her lips. "So, what are we going to do about this?" He was interested to here her plans.
"I'm sorry, but my best friend Ringo is downstairs waiting for me with a big stack of pancakes and bacon in front of him." With that, she started walking out.
"Lorelai wait!" He sort of whined, playing along with her antics. Lorelai wasn't facing him, and she had the biggest smirk on her face.
She spun around, "I'm sorry my little helpless ex-best friend, but I really must be going," she began, but was interrupted.
"So, let me get this straight, you came up here to tell me that you found a new best friend— who has what must be the strangest name on the planet—and you gave him breakfast, well I hope you two will be very happy together, I'm glad you found a guy that can compete with your disgusting eating habits." He ranted bitterly.
"You know, I never said he was my lover…" Lorelai retorted.
"Neither did I." Luke shot back.
"But you said—"Lorelai began, but Luke stopped her.
"Are you going to help me or not?" Luke pleaded, uncomfortable sitting in the same position for so long.
Lorelai hesitated, but helped him stand and gave him his crutches. "I'm sorry Lorelai, I didn't mean to—"
"I did the same thing." Lorelai stated, surprised that he even said that, the medication was really getting to him. Lorelai gave him a grin.
"I feel sick." Luke let out when they started trotting down the hallway toward the stairs.
"I know, you don't look so good, you need to take your meds and get some food in you, then you should be fine."
"Oh, thanks." Luke responded sarcastically.
"What, you look pale, that's what I meant, personally, I love tired, scruffy Luke…" she said maybe more than she should have.
"So what does that mean?" Luke pressed.
"It means, I like the not so grouchy Luke, the one that stomps around and comes off as a person with a heart made of stone."
"I do not…" he tried to defend himself.
"I know, because I know better." Luke gave him a devilish grin.
They had come to the stairs, "Remember when I broke my leg in that yoga class when Rory was eight?" Lorelai asked him.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"Well, from personal experience, going down is a lot harder than going up."
"Great." Luke cursed, "What did you do?"
"Well, remember I didn't live here, I was living with you at the time, and there wasn't as many stairs."
"Right, 'cause you moved in here when Rory was almost ten." Lorelai nodded. "Well, from what I can remember, I carried you most of the time, except for that first time you tried it because you wanted to be able to do it on your own."
Lorelai laughed at the memory, "Yeah, well the first time, we had Rory take my crutches, and meet us at the bottom of the stairs, and I wrapped my arm around your back, and I hopped all the way down…think you can manage that?"
"You know we wouldn't be in this dilemma right now if you let me sleep downstairs."
Lorelai stared at him, "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Luke nodded, getting prepared.
"Rory!!!!" They both shouted from the top of the stairs.
Kitchen…
Luke walked in with the two girls and was astonished at what he found waiting for him at the table.
"She didn't have to do all this." Luke said, still surprised.
"Nonsense." She responded, smiling at the humongous stack of pancakes, the pile of bacon, and the large container of homemade syrup.
He sat down carefully, "Do I really have to eat a pancake?"
"Yes."
"But, I don't like them…"
"So."
"Please."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"I just won't eat then."
"You have to have your meds with a meal, doctor's orders."
"But—"
"Just give it to him." Rory spoke up for the first time, and Lorelai nudged her daughter in the elbow, "Ow!" she screeched.
Luke raised an eyebrow, "Give me what?"
Lorelai walked over to the microwave, revealing an egg white omelet. "I had to try right?"
"Remind me to thank Sookie later."
After breakfast…
All three were settled in on the couch, about to put in a movie for their first Mid Saturday-Afternoon Movie in a very long time. None of them were busy, why not have fun?
They had finally agreed on a movie, and Rory was just about to slip it into the VCR, when the telephone started to ring. Lorelai made a move to get up, to get it, "Lorelai…" Luke started.
"I have to get the phone."
"But—"
"Luke, it could be important."
"Rule number one of watching movies, is that there are not distractions or interruptions."
"Especially on Saturdays." Rory added quietly.
"Your on his side too Rory! Are you happy Luke, you've turned my own daughter against me."
"Mom, he's right."
"As glad as I am that you both have taken to the rules of movie-watching so well, I have to answer the phone."
"Lorelai, you've specifically said that if the phone rings—"
"Luke, please, you can yell at me all you want to later, but really, I need to—"
"I'd never thought I'd see the day, where Lorelai Gilmore would disobey one of the rules in the Gilmore/Danes Handbook."
Lorelai gasped, "Luke, its gonna stop ringing." And it did, because a certain 12 year old was getting very annoyed at her parents for arguing; it was like ranting city, and it had been all day long.
"Rory!!" They both yelled.
"Mom, I can't understand what this person is saying."
Lorelai held out her hand, Rory gave her the phone. "Hello?"
"The Wellington's want Wellingtons!" A very aggravated man screeched on the other side of the phone.
"Who is this?"
"What do you mean who is this?!" he grew angry, "The only French man you know!!!"
"Actually, I know many French men, because—"
"Lorelai, there is no more Beef Wellington, we are out of mushrooms, and the very large Joan and Raymond Wellington want beef Wellington for their stupid luncheon that is starting in two hours, and we don't know what to do!" He said very fast, "They are paying a lot of money and we cannot screw this up, and if we do they will never come here again!!!!"
"Michel, the first thing you need to do is calm down," Michel took a breath. "Now, what kind of mushrooms do you need?"
"How am I supposed to know that? You are not talking to Sookie!!"
"Okay, Sookie, where is she?"
"She was completely freaking out, and she burned her hand and went to the ER."
"Okay, look up a recipe—wait a sec." She turned to Luke, "What kind of mushrooms do you use for Beef Wellington?"
"Portobello." He answered right away as if everyone was supposed to know that.
"Okay, Michel, I'm going to give you the most important job of your career. How many chefs are working right now?"
"Six."
"Okay, tell one chef to run to the nearest market and get as many Portobello mushrooms they can find, tell the other chefs to start the appetizers and go into the files on the computer and take fifty percent of off the Wellington's bill, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Okay."
"Hurry!"
Lorelai hung up, "I have to go, there is an emergency at the Inn and they need me, I'll be back before dark."
"Rory, call Babette and tell her to come over here, and keep an eye on your father." She whispered the last part as she threw on her coat.
She kissed the top of her head, "Be good kid, I'll be back."
"Hey! I heard that!" But Lorelai didn't here him; she was already out the door.
The telephone rang again, "Well, aren't we popular today?" They both chuckled.
"Hello?" Rory asked for the second time.
"Rory sweetie, is your mom there?" Sookie asked.
"No, you just missed her, she said there was an emergency at the Inn, I overheard, you got hurt?"
"I'm fine hon, just a minor burn on my hand, they gave me some cream, I don't need stitches this time, but I can't go back to work, I can't get it wet. You think your mom can handle it over there?"
"I think so." Rory nodded confidently.
"Is she having someone come over there and watch you guys?"
"I have to call Babette…."
"She isn't home, she's cat sitting for someone, who's name I cannot remember…"
"Oh."
"I'll come over, hey have you guys had lunch yet because there is this new recipe I want to try, I'll be over in ten."
Rory sat back on the couch with her dad.
"Sookie is coming over, and she's making us food."
"Sounds good…"
They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Rory spoke again. "I know I overreacted yesterday, it wasn't right of me to jump on mom like that. I feel horrible about it, I've never gotten so angry at her before, it's just…if anything were to ever happen to you, or her…I just didn't want to think like that, and I just snapped."
"Rory, it's okay, you don't have to think like that, your mom forgives you, and I do too." Luke answered quietly, "She could never stay mad at you, she loves you too much, and I love you too much."
"I know, and your forgetting something."
"Hm?"
"You love mom too." Luke froze.
"Dad?"
"I do Rory, very much she's my best friend, always has been." Rory smiled.
"She loves you too, you know, she was a wreck when you were in the hospital."
"Because I couldn't give her coffee." Luke smirked.
"No, because she needs you, we both do, I just wish that she would tell you dad, but I think I'm the reason she won't."
"What? Rory, please don't, it's not her fault or yours, I haven't exactly said anything either—"
"But, you've tried, I know you have, she doesn't want to hear it though, she doesn't want to ruin your friendship, she's scared because she cares about you and me so much, and she doesn't want her bad relationship record to screw it up."
"Ya know kid, your too smart for your own good."
"I have to be, I'm going to Harvard."
"Yes you are." This sweet conversation was interrupted with a knock at the door.
Rory got up, went to the door and opened it, a big brown bag with legs appeared. "Hello?"
"Hey Rory, I'm behind the bag," she said and set it on the floor.
"What is all this stuff?"
"This is your lunch."
"Cool, Um, the kitchen table is clean, do you need help with that?" Sookie almost dropped it, that was Rory's cue
She helped Sookie carry everything into the kitchen. "Hey Luke, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, what did you do to your hand?" He questioned, noticing the bandage.
"Oh, it's nothing." The chef waved off. "I'm gonna go start lunch, call if you guys need anything."
"Kay." Rory said.
"Hey, how 'bout we watch that movie now?" Rory asked, hoping Luke would agree.
"Sure kiddo."
Later…After Lunch…
Rory told Luke and Sookie she was going to study in her room, and she was going to but she had already looked over these notes dozens of times in the past two weeks, everything was so easy for her at Stars Hollow High. She decided to catch up on her reading, she took out the first book she saw on her shelf, Oliver Twist. She had read it so many times before, that she lost count, most of her books were at her dad's apartment right now, so she settled for this, after all, it was one of her favorites, not to mention a classic.
She was opening to the first page when her pager went off. Can you meet me at the gazebo?? –Lane
Lane must have figured something out about the project thing. Rory grabbed a light jacket, then walked into the living room to find her dad and Sookie arguing about some type of sauce that she had never heard of.
"Dad can I go meet Lane?"
"Yeah, just be back before dark, have fun."
"Thanks, see you guys later." She stopped remembering something.
"You okay Rory?" Sookie asked.
"Yeah, I just forgot something in my room."
She walked back in and picked up her new phone for her bedroom. "Please pick up."
"Hello, Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking."
"Mom, Sookie is here with dad, can I please please go to meet Lane?" she started, "I know you told me to keep an eye on him."
"Sookie is there? Yeah, I guess you can go, just be back before dark."
"That's what dad said, okay thanks mom, bye!"
"Bye sweetie, I'll be home in a few hours."
They hung up.
Rory walked back out, Luke and Sookie were still arguing. "No, I have perfected my lasagna Sookie, you have to add a certain amount of—"
"Lucas, I know you run the most popular diner in town, but I cook at one of the best Inn's in Connecticut…I'm a gourmet chef, so don't tell me how to make lasagna because—"
"Guys, I'm leaving now…have fun." Rory rushed out of there as fast she could, and raced to Town Square.
Luke and Sookie argued for a few more minutes, before Luke had finally let her win, not wanting to argue about it anymore.
"So…how is your leg?" Sookie asked, realizing how awkward this was, Luke and Sookie, alone in house…kind of bizarre, but she shook it off, not wanting to hurt her head.
"It's fine."
"Good." She smiled, "Do you want a drink?"
"No, thanks."
"Hey Luke, if you don't mind me asking…" she trailed, this got Luke's attention.
"What is it Sookie?" He asked curious, but he was pretty sure he knew where this was heading.
"You and Lorelai…"
Was that supposed to be a question? Luke asked himself.
"Anything goin' on?" She asked, a smile appearing on her lips.
Luke blushed.
"Oh there is!! Isn't there?" Sookie gushed.
Luke shook his head slowly, and Sookie's face fell. "I just thought, I mean you went out to the movies, and lately she's been all secretive, usually she tells me everything she tells you."
"I don't know why she's being secretive, but no, nothing is going on…yet."
"Oh!!" her eyes bugged out, and she got in his face, "I knew it!!"
"What are you talking about?"
"As if you can't see it, she's into you, you've loved her forever, it's about damn time she realized it, I'm so glad she's finally opened her eyes, you've always been there Luke, it's perfect, now you can just be together."
Luke shook his head, "It's not that simple, I was talking to Rory earlier, she says she doesn't want to ruin our friendship."
"You guys are perfect together though, you bring out the best in each other."
"Thanks Sookie, it means a lot that you think like that, it really does."
Sookie smiled, "So when?"
"What?"
"When are you gonna tell her?" She was getting eager.
"At the right time."
"When is the right time?"
"I don't know."
"Soon?" He shrugged.
"I just think it would be perfect, and Rory has always dreamed about you guys being together, we all have."
"That's Stars Hollow, no one can keep to themselves…figures, you have to promise you won't say anything, to her especially."
"My lips are sealed."
"Good."
"So soon?"
Luke let out a sigh, "Soon."
Gazebo…
"Hey Lane." Rory waved as she got closer to her best friend, not realizing there was someone with her.
"Hey Rory, this is the new guy in town." Rory's jaw dropped when she saw him.
"Hi Um…" She didn't know his name.
"Marty." The boy finished.
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