AN - Thanks guys, I'm so glad your enjoying it, hopefully you enjoy this next bit, a bit of a Anna and things moving forward with Wedding, Luke's little bit of involvement in the planning ;) I hope you enjoy the next chapter
Chapter 14 - Invitation fairies
Lorelai slipped inside the stable and took a deep breathe. She just needed five minutes of peace. There was a conference at the Dragonfly all across the weekend through to the middle of Monday afternoon. Big events were great money makers but they were stressful with all the extra work, particularly with this client who was super picky and who Michel was avoiding which either meant he had done something wrong or taken offence to something they had done. She was tired already, and she still have a whole two days of the event to get through. At times like these she liked to retreat to the barn, it was peaceful, and in the year since they had been open she had found herself on more than one occasion slipping in for a few minutes of peace away from the phone and from the questions.
"Hi Cletus," she cooed at the horse in the stable. "Where's Desdemona is she out, huh?" she approached the horse and gently ran her hand across its chestnut mane. "Maybe when I can find a spare twenty minutes we can go for a ride, would you like that?" she reached into her pocket and pulled out some carefully wrapped granola and held her left palm flat to the horse. "Would you like that, huh?"
The stable door slammed open. "Lorelai! You…"
Lorelai gasped as startled the horse bit down on her hand. It was over in an instant and she stumbled backwards into Michel who looked equal parts sheepish and horrified. Lorelai gagged as she looked at her hand, blood trickling down her forearm as she instinctively held her hand upright.
"Lorelai, I did not realise the animal," Michel stuttered.
"Michel," Lorelai hissed through the pain.
"Oh of course," Michel pulled his pocket square out and handed it to her.
Lorelai wrapped the fabric around her hand trying to breathe through the pain. The blood was flowing faster now and Michel was talking to her and leading her back towards the inn but she was trying to focus on not crying out. Michel hurried her into the office so that none of the guests would see her and she dared to take a peek at her wounded hand, two large cuts one on her palm one on the back it was swelling and throbbing and she was terrified it was broken. She stumbled into her seat as Sookie came rushing in followed by Manny who was used to bandaging up Sookie.
"Sook, take my ring off, they can't cut it off," Lorelai whispered as she felt the metal band begin to restrict her swelling finger. She gasped in pain as Sookie pulled off her engagement ring and handed it to her to hold. "Call Luke," she whispered as she clutched the ring in her good hand trying not give into the threatening tears and keep calm.
xXx
"We're gonna have to have take out tonight," Lorelai sighed heavily as she pulled Rory closer to her. "Mommy just can't handle the trauma of going out tonight," she snuggled her daughter into her side as they sat on the couch. Her left hand had fortunately not been broken but it had required stitches and she was now on a mondo dose of antibiotics, due to the risk of infection and some pain killers. She had struggled back to work due to the event at the inn but now it was over she was taking the Tuesday to just relax and recover. Michel who had supposed to have been having the day off had agreed to work no questions asked, which Lorelai knew meant he felt guilty about his involvement in the incident on the Saturday.
"Really?" Rory looked over her shoulder at her mother with a cheeky grin. "What was the excuse for the rest of my life then?"
"My inability to work an oven," Lorelai shrugged. "I want Chinese."
"Can't," Rory shook her head. "Luke called when you are in the bathroom, he's bringing stuff."
"What stuff?" Lorelai's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Did he use the word salad?"
"He may have done," Rory grinned. "Now have you observed any special powers as of yet?"
"None so far," Lorelai studied her bandage.
"Your hair is pretty mane like," Rory got up as the doorbell rang.
"Mean!"
"Maybe you'll become super good at running of something or jumping over hedges," Rory called as moved to the front door.
"Maybe" Lorelai called as she picked up a magazine and gingerly began to leaf through looking at the floral arrangements.
"Mom!" Rory called as she rushed back into the living room clutching a box. "I think your invitations are here."
Lorelai dropped the magazine and sat forward in excitement. "Open, open," she grinned patting her good hand against her thigh so she could clap.
"Shouldn't we wait for Luke?" Rory hesitated for a moment.
"No," Lorelai shook her head. "He won't mind and we need to check that they are right. He'll see them when he gets home and if they are wrong I can get on the phone and sort it out."
"Are you justifying this to yourself?" Rory smiled as she moved to the desk to get a pair of scissors so that she could open the box.
"Just about," Lorelai beamed inching closer to the box that contained her invitations to her wedding.
Rory got to her knees and carefully cut through the brown packing tape. Gently she pulled out an invitation and held it out so her Mom could see it. "No touching, you don't want to spread blood all over it."
"I'm not leaking," Lorelai pouted and glared at her wounded hand before turning her attention to the invitation in front of her. She gave a contented sigh as she studied the front cover an ivory iridescent card with gold script and two intertwining hearts one in gold the other in burgundy, the least girly wedding invite she could find. "Open," she whispered.
Rory obliged opening the card to reveal the inside the little heart motif once more and black script that matched the font on the front that declared that, Lorelai Victoria Gilmore was marrying Lucas William Danes on November 5th 2005. "Happy Mom?"
"It's perfect," Lorelai nodded.
"It's nice and simple," Rory commented, "but with a touch of glamour."
"Just like me," Lorelai's face seemed to split in two as she stared at the invite. "It's actually happening."
"Because the ring and the dress mean nothing," Rory lowered the invitation down. "Did you finalise the list yet?"
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Small seemed a good idea at the time," she sighed and gently fingered the engagement ring that hung on a chain around her neck as her finger was too swollen to wear it properly. "Though Sookie pointed out that she can cater for more and the staff at the Dragonfly will be there working but can come in for the speeches and toasts and can grab food when they want. I reckon Mom will have a conniption over not being able to invite the world but…"
"It's your wedding and she will just be happy you are happy," Rory gave her a pointed look. "Have you told her about your hand?"
Lorelai narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Why?"
"She'll be snippy when you turn up on Friday if she doesn't know," Rory pointed out.
"You could tell her," Lorelai fluttered her eyelashes.
"Chicken!" Rory poked her in the side. "Fine, I'll tell her."
"Mommy's angel," Lorelai pulled her daughter back into her side. "Are you ok with all this?"
"You marrying Luke?" Rory looked up at her in surprise. "Of course, you two are perfect for each other!"
"It's not too overwhelming or anything?" Lorelai asked gently.
"No," Rory nestled into her Mother's side. "It gives me something to look forward to. When I'm back at school every morning when I get up it will be it's only x number of days until the wedding. I'll be marking it off on my calendar."
"Good," Lorelai cuddled her. "Just tell me if I get too bridezilla alright? I think Luke will just say yes to anything I suggest."
"Deal."
xXx
Luke glanced across at Lorelai as he sat in the truck across the street from Anna's house. Even though April was in the wedding he still wanted her to have an invitation. His relationship with Anna was back to frosty once more. Although she had agreed that April could be bridesmaid or at least relented to his ultimatum they were still sniping at each other over the Gilmores. Luke was fine with keeping April away from them but he knew that once he and Lorelai were married there were going to be expectations of April attending family functions and he wanted to get April a chance to get to at least meet them before the craziness of the wedding. Time was ticking along, he and Lorelai had gotten engaged in May and it was now August, suddenly the summer was flashing away from them and it was only 3 months to go until the wedding would be here.
"Do you want me to come in with you?" Lorelai asked, placing her hand on his bicep. "I don't mind waiting if you want to do this by yourself."
"Come," Luke nodded and pulled his keys from the ignition. He relaxed slightly as Lorelai gave him a beaming smile and climbed out of the truck rushing round to her side to help her even though she didn't need help. He was extra watchful of her right now, since the tearful phone call he'd received on the Saturday which had led to the day spent in emergency getting her injury tended to, to the last couple of days when she had suffered side effects from the medications the doctors had put her on. He hated to see her hurt and sick but he liked taking care of her. Lorelai usually groused about him trying to change her diet but she was relenting to his plain food while her stomach was upset and generally allowing him to fuss over her. He was sure she secretly enjoyed it even if she had taken to rolling her eyes at him today when he insisted she take the day off from work, a suggestion which she had ultimately ignored. His mother had once told him that in the relationship there was a gardener and a flower. He was very content to be the gardener.
He took her good hand and gently led her across the road. Today and tomorrow were delivery days. Lorelai although at work had spent all of yesterday writing out the invitations and today they were starting to deliver them, with the short timeframe until the wedding it seemed safer and they were starting with April, whilst Lorelai's parents would be the last to personally receive the invite when they both attended the Friday night dinner at their house tomorrow.
With a sigh that hovered between excited and nervous he pushed the doorbell. There was a faint clatter that he recognised to be April and moments later his daughter's face appeared in the window by the door checking who it was before she opened it.
"Dad, Lorelai."
"Hey April," Luke accepted April's warm hug.
"What are you doing here?" April asked breaking away from Luke and going to hug Lorelai. "What happened?" she reached to touch Lorelai's injured hand.
"Cletus. Michel spooked him, I was feeding him and well teeth were involved," Lorelai held her hand just out of April's reach but so the girl could see the bandage.
"He bit you!" April's mouth dropped open. "Are you on antibiotics? You know the mouth has the…"
"Ah," Luke tutted at his daughter and pulled her back slightly. "No scary science please."
"Right," April blushed. "Sorry."
"It's OK. We have something for you," Luke told her holding out the envelope. April took the envelope curiously and then her face lit up. "Is this for the wedding?"
"It is," Lorelai smiled at her future step daughter.
"Cool!"
"Is your Mom here?" Luke asked cautiously.
"Oh yeah," April beckoned with her hand for them to come in. "Are you guys going to fight?"
"We hope not," Lorelai smiled kindly at the child.
"April?"
"Mom, Dad and Lorelai are here," April called at her mother's enquiring shout.
Anna appeared a few moments later her hair half dried. "Hi," she greeted the pair coolly.
"Dad and Lorelai bought me a wedding invitation," April held up the envelope.
"We wanted to go over a few things if that was OK," Luke looked towards Anna awkwardly. "If it's a bad time we can talk about it later."
"Things?" Anna quickly ran her hands through her damp hair.
"Dress shopping and um meeting my parents," Lorelai wrinkled her nose.
"Oh, well dress shopping is fine; just take her when she's staying at yours," Anna nodded, she glanced at April and then at Luke and Lorelai "April would you like to meet Lorelai's parents before the wedding?"
April looked up from the invite which she was studying intently. "Er…yeah, that would be nice actually. Maybe…" the girl looked nervously at her mother and then down at the invitation in her hand. "Maybe I could go to a Friday night dinner. Then it's not like anything big just something normal."
"Alright," Anna took a deep breath, "Sweetie say good bye to your Dad and Lorelai and then why don't you go put the invitation by the calendar so I can make sure it's marked in." She waited until April disappeared around the corner before she turned back to Luke and Lorelai. "I want their phone number. I would like to speak to them first."
"OK," Lorelai nodded. "I can text it to you if you would like."
"That's fine," Anna nodded. "Lorelai would you mind if I spoke to Luke a moment please."
"Er, Sure, Hun I'll just be outside," Lorelai gave Luke a reassuring smile and slowly made her way out to stand on the path.
"I'm sorry," Anna told Luke softly.
Luke folded his arms and stared at Anna in surprise. "Huh?"
"Huh, that's it?" Anna frowned.
"No right, sorry," Luke held his hand out apologetically. "I was just expecting you to start off on something."
"Well, April have pointed out that I have been somewhat of a jealous bitch, not in those words but the sentiment," Anna attempted to smile, when Luke didn't respond her smile faltered. "So I'm sorry."
"Thanks," Luke nodded softly. "We'll mention to the Gilmores that you will be calling when we see them tomorrow."
"I am pleased for you Luke, Lorelai seems lovely, April really likes her," Anna smiled softly, one that widened slightly as Luke smiled back. "She's excited. She's never been a bridesmaid before."
"Our daughter in a dress," he shook his head in wonderment at the situation. "I never thought I'd see that happen."
Anna nodded in agreement. "Me neither."
"Well I should go, we've got other people to see. I just wanted her to get hers first," Luke waved his hand and gave Anna an awkward smile. "See you next week," he gave a nod and quickly made his way out the house to where Lorelai was stood.
"Everything OK?" Lorelai asked with an air of nervousness.
"Anna just apologised for being jealous," Luke gave her a pleased smile as he put his arm around her shoulder and they walked back towards the truck.
"No!" Lorelai shook her head in disbelief.
"She said she was pleased," Luke opened the door for her.
"Well I'll be," Lorelai cooed as she climbed up into the truck. She smiled at him as she got situated "That went better then you thought," she wrinkled her nose in delight as Luke gave her a happy nod. "So where next Mr Postman?"
xXx
Luke held the door open for Lorelai as they walked into Sniffy's, the last stop on their delivery journey. It had been a bit circuitous, going to Woodbridge first then back to Stars Hollow before coming out of town again to come to the Tavern, but he knew once Maisy got her hands on the invitation and also saw that Lorelai was injured that there would be little chance of them getting out of the restaurant quickly.
"Well hello there you two," Maisy called from behind the bar.
"Hey Maisy," Luke called out offering her a wave.
"Go sit down I'll bring you something over," Maisy pointed towards a booth.
"Told you," Luke grinned at Lorelai as he guided her over to the indicated booth.
Lorelai seated herself. "I love that they know you so well, it's so cute," she poked her tongue out at him.
"Maisy was like Mom's Lane," Luke told her quietly as he removed his cap and set it on the seat. "They met at school when they were seven or something."
"She gets you to take your cap off," Lorelai playfully ruffled his hair.
"Rules of the house, you gotta obey them," Luke swatted her away.
"Hello you two," Maisy greeted them again bringing a beer and a large glass of sparkling mineral water. "You look a bit peaked dear are you alright?" she asked Lorelai setting the drinks down in front of them.
Lorelai held her hand up. "Run in with one of the horses. The antibiotics are kicking my butt," she grimaced and gingerly let Maisy take her bandaged hand to look at.
"Well that's no fun," Maisy examined the bandage. "How many stitches?"
"8 on one side, 6 on the other. Nothing broken though. But I had to take my ring off," Lorelai reported, indicating her engagement ring still on the chain around her neck.
Maisy let her take her hand back. "You poor dear. I take it something plain is the order of the day then."
"Please,"
"How about chicken dippers with no coating and a jacket, nothing fancy and I can bring you some grated cheese and condiments and you can experiment with what you think you can eat," Maisy offered.
"Sounds perfect," Lorelai nodded.
"I'll get you your usual turkey burger," Maisy nodded at Luke.
"Great thanks Maisy, is Buddy about we wanted to talk to you both." Luke asked her.
Maisy peered at him over the top of her glasses. "Sounds ominous."
"It's not ominous," Lorelai told her pulling the envelope containing the invitation out of her purse.
Maisy let out a little purr of understanding and waved her hand, beckoning to someone out of sight. After a moment Buddy bounced over and gave them a beaming grin in greeting. "Lorelai and Lucas have our invite to their big wedding shindig," Maisy nodded at the envelope.
"Oh," Buddy snatched the envelope from the table and eagerly opened it looking at the invite front before opening it to read the inside his smile taking on a tinge of pride. "We'll be there," he turned the invitation in is hand. "Nice card stock."
"Thanks, and we're so glad," Lorelai smiled happily at the couple.
"Actually, I wanted to ask something of you Buddy," Luke took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you'd consider being my best man?"
Lorelai grinned, if she had thought Buddy's smile had been big and proud before it was nothing compared to the expression that the older man wore on his face right now. The older man's face had lit up, his eyes wide, dancing and slightly watery.
"I'd be honoured son," Buddy managed to say as he held out his hand to shake Luke's.
"Great!" Luke shook Buddy's hand in a double hand shake, both men clasping each other hands tightly.
Maisy patted her emotional husband's back. "Sit down and chat with Lucas for a bit Budd, I've got the floor," she winked at Lorelai, "if they third wheel you too much I'm in the bar."
Lorelai nodded and glanced over at her other half. They hadn't discussed the best man issue and she had been wondering who he was going to pick but seeing how elated Buddy was to be asked and how pleased Luke was he had accepted she couldn't imagine a better choice.
xXx
"Dinner with my parents and I can't drink," Lorelai grumbled as Luke pushed her towards the large wooden door.
"Mom!" Rory retorted.
"Come on, they've been great the past few weeks," Luke pushed the doorbell. "And if it gets too much blame the stomach and we can leave early."
"Oh yeah," Lorelai grinned delighted. "It's nice to have an actual reason and not need an excuse," she turned as the door opened and nodded in greeting to the new maid. "Hi we're the daughter, the granddaughter and the son in law to be."
"Hi," the maid stepped back to let them in. "Your parents are in the living room."
"Great," Lorelai trotted past the maid and into the living room.
"Hello everyone," Emily greeted them from her position on the couch.
"Hi Mom," Lorelai greeted her in return.
"Rory and Luke sit on the couch, Lorelai you sit next to me," Emily patted the couch cushion.
"Why?" Lorelai froze in position, her eyes narrowing.
"I want to show you something," Emily shook her head in annoyance. "How is the hand"
"It's fine, less sore then it was but still not great," Lorelai held her bandaged arm out to show her mother. "I get the stitches out next week."
"Those animals are so dangerous even if they don't mean to be," Emily shook her head in dismay. "Hope was the horsewoman. I was perfectly content to keep far away from them."
"I'm with you Grandma," Rory told her as she settled into the couch. "Hi Grandpa."
"Hello Rory, what would everyone like to drink?" Richard asked getting out of his chair.
"Soda please," Rory requested.
"Club soda for me please Dad," Lorelai requested as she put her purse to the far side of the couch. "The antibiotics are kicking my butt," she told her mother off the enquiring look she received.
"How pleasant," Emily grimaced. "Now," she shuffled forward on the couch and brought her hand down on a stack of magazines on the coffee table and smiled excitedly at Lorelai. "Now that your engagement is official I thought we had better start to discuss what the wedding is going to entail. I bought all the current bridal magazines so we can take a look through and highlight ideas that you like. I've already had a quick look and found a few things I think you might like, but they are just ideas."
"Oh," Lorelai sent an appalled look at the other couch, Rory and Luke adopting looks of sheepishness and nerves. "Actually, Mom, it's all sorted, pretty much."
"What?" Emily looked at her in confusion. "What's all sorted?"
"The wedding," Lorelai reached for her purse and pulled out the invitation. "It's all arranged, except for a few things, picking dresses and what not. Plus Sookie with the cake but we're all sorted," she held the invitation out to her mother.
Emily stared at the offered envelope Lorelai was offering her like it was a dead fish. "What's that?"
"It's yours and Dad's invitation," Lorelai explained, shifting awkwardly under her mother's intense gaze.
"You have invitations already?" Emily whispered her face tightening and any trace of excitement vanishing.
"How nice," Richard took the envelope after setting the drinks on the table. Carefully he opened it, "That's nice and classic, isn't it Dear?" he held out the invitation so Emily could see.
"Lovely," Emily snipped taking a sip of her drink.
"Is the burgundy your colour?" Richard asked sitting down and looking nervously at Emily while still trying to keep the mood light.
"Yes, and I know Dad it's Harvard colour and I'm offending Yale and all that," Lorelai nodded, trying to ignore her mother's sudden mood; knowing that it was caused by the fact that Emily had clearly thought she would be involved in the arrangement of the wedding, and feeling slightly guilty that she hadn't thought to at least mention their plans to her parents in anyway over the last couple of weeks to manage that expectation, "but it matches everyone's colouring well and matches my dress."
Emily's hand which held her martini glass froze mid-air and she turned to look at Lorelai her eyes looking decidedly watery. "You already have your dress?"
"Yes, it all sort of snowballed from there," Lorelai smiled sheepishly.
"Oh," Emily whispered. "I have to check on dinner," she placed her glass down on the magazines and quickly got up almost running out of the living room.
Lorelai looked at her father imploringly. "Dad, I didn't…"
"I know," Richard gave her a sympathetic smile. "Your mother just got her hopes up. I should have managed them better or at least given you a warning," he looked at the invitation. "November 5th, not so far away."
"No," Lorelai shook her head and looked across at Luke with a happy smile.
"It will be nice to have another man in the family again," Richard muttered, getting up and putting the invitation on the mantel piece. He turned and looked at Luke, "I know that golf isn't your thing but do you like other sports?"
"I like baseball," Luke told him his eyes darting between Richard and Lorelai.
"Hmm, not my thing I'm afraid," Richard shook his head. "What about football? I follow the odd college match."
"Read that as Yale matches," Lorelai interjected.
"You must come to the Harvard Yale game it's on November 19th," Richard settled back in his chair. "We make an absolute day of it."
"Sure, Sounds good," Luke nodded.
"We should all go, our first family outing as a family," Richard smiled jovially. "Perhaps your daughter could come if she is with you."
Lorelai took the lead as her father provided her an in to bring up April meeting each them. "Actually about that. April would like to meet you before the wedding day. We wanted to bring her to a Friday Night Dinner."
"How wonderful," Richard beamed. "I'll go get your mother this might cheer her up."
Lorelai cast a look at the magazine pile as her father walked past. "Not likely," she grimaced in Rory's direction. "I think I should invest in a new coat, brrr it's going to get cold."
"Is there nothing she can help with?" Rory shuffled down in the couch. "It might make things easier."
"You want her helping with bridesmaids dresses?" she grinned as Rory's eyes widened in alarm. "I s'pose I can get Sook to do some cake samples for her to try," Lorelai shrugged. "Only flavours we pre-approved but it's something."
Luke shrugged and held his hands up. "She's your mother. Anything for an easier life with her is good in my book."
"Fine," Lorelai picked at her bandage, knowing that a happy Emily leading up to the wedding would make it easier on all of them. "I'll speak to Sookie." She looked up as her parents walked back into the living room, the well-practiced fake smile that her mother wore telling her that cake flavours would probably not be enough to smooth this one over.