Title: A Perfect, and Somewhat Dysfunctional, Family
By: bokayjunkie
Summary: Luke and Rory has always had a special father/daughter bond that no one can break. But what happens when someone comes along to ruin that bond. Set in Season 1. Luke and Lorelai are not together…YET. A little RD also.
Disclaimer: -
A/N: From episode 1.08 (Love, War, and Snow). Some scenes and dialogue are altered for story's benefits.
CHAPTER 14: Snowflakes are Falling
Leaving all the chaos from downstairs, Rory went up to her mother's old room. She sighed and looked around. How her mother ever survived in this place, she will never know. The place was so pink, so lacey, so…Cher from Clueless. She liked the posters though. Those were the only thing that screamed Lorelai. And the dollhouse, the only thing from her mother's childhood that made her feel happy. And the posters, representing her mother's rebellion in her teens.
Rory wondered what Emily's reaction was when she saw the posters up on her mothers old bedroom. She giggled just picturing it. She made a mental not to ask her mom later on.
She sighed again and walked towards her mother's old desk. Such a fancy desk so furnished and delicate. She compared this desk to her desk back at home. This desk looked as if it were made for a princess. The desk she had a home looked like it was made for her. A true Luke Danes original. She smiled thinking of the day Luke had gave it to her. He made her a small desk when she started first grade, then made her a bigger one when she started middle school.
She looked back at her mother's old desk and opened the drawer. She looked at the contents inside. Papers, pencils, notebooks, tootsie roll? She saw a photo album hidden there also. She opened it. Inside were pictures of her mother when she was her age. She noted the frown her mother had worn on every photo where she was at an event with her grandparents. Poor mom.
She saw a picture strip of a girl and a guy. She recognized the girl immediately. It was her mother when she was a teen. But who was this guy that she was with, kissing him? He seemed familiar but couldn't put her finger on it. She looked at the back and saw a writting that said Lorelai + Chris in a heart. She realized this guy was her biological father.
She looked at the picture again. Who was this guy to her? She didn't even know him. She tried to recall the last time she's spent time with her 'father' but couldn't recall such moments. All she got were memories with Luke, from her childhood up to now. He was the only father she's ever known. If she thinks father, she thinks Luke. Not this…stranger.
Without giving it a second thought, without hesitation, she tore the picture strip into pieces and threw it in the trash. She didn't know what came over her, but all she know is that she has no need for that stranger in her life. She's never needed him and she never will. All she needs is Luke and her mom. That's all.
She looked in the drawer again. This time she spotted an envelope that was sent by Mia. She looked inside. There was a letter, written by Mia to Mr. And Mrs. Gilmore. It was telling them that her mother and her were doing fine in Stars Hollow and wished them a Merry Christmas. There were also pictures. Rory figures, Mia must have sent these without her mom knowing. Surely her mother would object in doing such a thing.
'A phone call's enough'. She'd say.
Rory decided to look at the pictures. It was Christmas 1988. The last Christmas they had with William. She vaguely remembers it, or him. She did remember being sad and confused at why her Lolo Will wasn't around the next year. And the pained expression her mother and Luke wore every time she asked where he was.
She looked at the pictures. The first one was with a 20 year old Lorelai Gilmore with a 4 ear old Rory Gilmore. They were sitting in front of a huge Christmas tree in the Danes household. She smiled. Her mother looked really beautiful, glowing under the lights of the Christmas tree. And her smile was radiant as ever. And, not to sound so conceited, but she looked pretty damn cute herself in that picture.
She flipped through another picture. It was a picture of William, Mia, her mom, herself, Luke, Liz, Jess, Buddy and Mazy. All seated, and squished on the couch. Everybody smiling and shining. It was a really great family photo. She felt tears prickling at the corner of her eyes, remembering her Lolo Will. Sure she was young when he died, but she became really attached to him.
She wiped away some tears that escaped and flipped through the last photo. Her smile widen upon seeing the picture. It was a picture of her mom and Luke, sitting next to each other on the love seat. Her mother's arms linked with Luke's. and Luke was holding a 4 year old Rory who was sitting on Luke's lap like he was Santa Clause.
Rory loved seeing pictures like these. Pictures of the three of them. It made it seem like they were a real family. Not just playing. Her smile grew wider. She put the pictures back in the envelope, except for the last one. She kept the last photo and stored it in her pocket.
Then, her pager went off. She checked and it was Lane. Seemed like an emergency. She picket up the phone, and dialed her house number, as it said on her pager.
"Rory?" came Lane's frantic voice.
"Lane?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm at my grandparents." still confused. "What are you doing at my house?"
she snorted. "Like you care."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're never around when I need you." she cried.
Still not getting it. "Well, you know I have to go to my grandparents on Fridays."
"I know. You go to your grandparents. You go to Chilton. You have to meet Dean. He needs his cookies. I can't find my books."
"What are you talking about?"
"What good is it to have a best friend when she's never around and she never listens and she has no interest in the fact that you're in love or that you touched his hair?"
Wait. What? "You touched whose hair?"
"Rich. . .Bloomingfeld." she emphasized.
Now confused more than ever. "Why would you touch Rich Bloomingfeld's hair?"
"Why?" as if she doesn't know. "That's a good question. I don't know why. Why would a sane person do a thing like that? Maybe I'm not sane. Maybe I'm going through some sort of phase. Maybe I really, really needed someone to talk to about this and you weren't there."
"Lane, come on."
"No, you come on." she shot back. "You're always at school or you're talking about school or you're with Dean. You have everything now and I have nothing except for 2000 Korean bibles and a potential 'F' in jazz band."
Rory was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, be here."
"I…" then the lines were a bit fuzzy. "Lane? Are you there?"
"Rory? Rory?"
"Lane?" she yelled into the phone, but nothing. She tried to call her again and again. But it was no use. She really wanted to call Lane. Apologize and wanted to talk things out. But the lines were dead. Then she thought of something. She took out her pager, but before she could press a button, the door flew open.
"There you are." screeched Emily as she came into the room. "You must come downstairs quick."
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked, trying to send a page.
"The oven is buzzing."
"That's just the timer Grandma."
"I know it's the timer. What I don't know is how to turn it off or where it is. What are you doing?"
"I have to send a message to…" don't say Luke. Don't say Luke. "…somebody." she said frantically typing.
"Well hurry. Quick." with a last press, Rory followed her Grandmother downstairs.
A/N: I really didn't want to write any Max/Lorelai stuff. So I skipped it. I didn't want to go through it. I know you don't want to go through it. And you already know what happened. So let's skip it.
And I know you're probably wondering, why I would even have Max in it? Trust me. You'll like it. He'll be mentioned. But he wont be in any scenes for too long.
They're stupid. All of them. What's the point in standing in the ice cold? Just to re-enact that stupid war. Having to freeze you ass off. Because it's 'patriotic'. and for what? For tradition? He snickered. Yeah right. It's stupid. That's what it is. What's the point in tradition anyway? They're just stupid things you do year after year. Stupid.
Luke looked out from his diner window. Looking at the re-enactor standing, some kneeling, on the cold ground, being in position. In the freezing cold. Did he add that? He should. Stupid. He looked at them once more. And sighed. I'm stupid for doing this.
He went into the kitchen, and prepared coffee for everyone. He put them in a cardbard tray and went outside.
"Here." he said, holding out the tray to them.
"What is this?" Harry asked.
"I brought you coffee."
"No, thank you." stubbornly.
"Harry, you're freezing. Take the damn coffee."
"When our forefathers stood out here many moons ago, they didn't have any coffee."
"How do you know? Do you have written documentation about what sort of beverages they did or did not have on that long historic night of standing?"
"This is still a joke to you, young man. I don't choose to be a joke. We don't need your coffee."
"Harry, please, take the coffee." he pleaded. Then quietly, he added, "My father would've taken the coffee."
he hesitated. "Well, all right then, thank you."
"Andrew?"
"Thank you, Luke." he smiled gratefully.
"Kirk?"
"You got any herbal tea?"
"Uh, not on me, but I can get some."
"With a squeeze of lemon?"
"Okay."
"I could really go for some cocoa."
"Oh, that sounds good. Cocoa for me too."
"Okay, okay, hang on a minute." he said, taking out his order pad and started to write down their orders. "One herbal tea, uh, and two cocoas…" then he trailed off once he spotted her. And who she's with. A man. A man that he has never seen before in his life. A man that she's smiling, laughing with. A man that she just kissed.
He felt a stab in his heart. His stomach tied in knots. All he wanted was just to beat the crap out of anyone or anything that stood in his way. But he didn't. why should he feel this way? It's not like he has feelings for her.
Liar!
Shut up!
You should tell her not to date!
Oh yeah? And what right do I have to tell her that?
Well maybe if she knows how you feel about her…
Shut up!
He does have no right to tell her who to date or not to date. She wasn't his wife. Never had been. Even though they've played house from time to time. She wasn't his girlfriends either. She has nothing to tie her to him. Only Rory and she wasn't even his daughter. That thought put even more knots in his stomach. He loves Rory. So much as if she were his. And he loves Lorelai. And…let's face it. He loves her as more than a friend.
Luke quickly finished up the rest of the re-enactor's orders and went back inside. Not wanting to stay and see…whatever that was. But once he entered the kitchen, his pager went off. It was from Rory.
Lane. Food. 911. Crap shack.
That's weird. First of all, why would Lane be at the house? And how could Rory know if she's stuck all the way in Hartford? Luke has known the girls long enough to know their language. Specially through page. And seeing 911, it must have been serious. And with Lane at their house, something must have happened. Either has something to do with Mrs. Kim, or a boy.
Wasn't she suppose to be at some Band recital out in the square?
With that note, Luke quickly fixed the re-enactors their drinks, then fixed a food course for Lane.
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A/N: this is suppose to be the part where Lorelai and Max talk on the porch. The 'No Boys Allowed Rule' being revealed. I don't feel like writing that part because…well I'll puke if I will. So, just a recap;
LORELAI: I've never done this. Inviting a man over to my house.
So yeah. That says it all. I will refrain from writing what happens inside and stuff. But remember, Luke's the only one who's allowed to sleep over at the house. Nobody else, unless they're like relatives or something. Which has never happened in the show or in my story.
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Luke walked towards the Gilmore household carrying Luke's bags. He'd figure that Lane needed a lot of comforting. And if Lorelai's back from her…date? - Got he wanted to puke - Then, she might be hungry. Or not. But, it's good to be prepared. He pulled out his key, unlocked the door, entered, then shut it. He walked towards the kitchen, but stopped. He almost dropped the bags upon seeing this. Lorelai, pinned to the banister, by the guy he saw her with earlier, who was kissing her non stop.
A/N: Yeah, yeah. Just slap me now.
REVIEWS!-yes, please leave a review. I'd just love to know what you think of this chapter/story. And any SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS, and/or, REQUESTS you'd like see, please do tell.
♠bokayjunkie♣