AN - Thanks Chloe, Nancy - I'm glad you like Christine ;) More Louise this chapter. Droolia, Thank you, OC characters are always a bit of a hard sell but I'm so glad you like him. Yeah the Rory I'm going for is the slightly softer less entitled Rory we saw in the mid series just a bit more self aware and grown up, LC42 - Michel well :P and Emily is very easily wound but she's slowly slowly getting less stringent. Thank you as ever for reading, I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Let me know what you think x
Chapter 36 - Once upon a July Weekend
Emily stared sadly at the empty dining room chair beside Rory and then looked at Lorelai. "So will April be at Anna's every weekend?"
Lorelai set her glass down. "Every other weekend, like it was before," she sent Rory a knowing smile, and returned her attention to Emily, watching her mother carefully. The court case the Monday before last had been a formality to legalise the agreement that Anna and Luke had come up with and had been observing since Anna moved to Hartford nearly a month ago. It was the second time that April had not attended Friday Night Dinner and it seemed that this had unsettled Emily no end.
Emily took a sip of her wine. "And how long will this arrangement last?"
"For as long as it needs to." Lorelai glanced at the baby monitor beside her on the table as it lit up and played the sound of one of the babies cooing as they woke up. Every Friday as was the routine when Lorelai arrived it was cuddles with Grandma and Grandpa and then Emily helped put the twins down to sleep in what had been the third guest room and was now rapidly turning into a nursery fit for a princess, or more accurately two princesses.
"Is Willow awake?" Emily sat forward recognising the subtle difference in her granddaughter's vocalising.
"It is, she's fine for now, when she starts crying. I'll go get her," Lorelai looked back at her dinner and started to eat faster.
"You don't need to bolt down your food. I can always get her," Emily suggested hopefully.
"Sorry Mom, but when they start crying at about nine, it's a Mommy only job," she looked down meaningfully.
"Oh," Emily gave a sad huff and looked down at her own food.
"There is always cuddling when they are done though," Lorelai tried to cheer Emily up, "the twins will be most disappointed if they don't get their full quota of Grandma cuddles and you can show them all about the new bits and bobs you picked up for them this week."
"I actually only bought them an outfit each this week," Emily blushed and looked down, nervously pushing her chicken around her plate before looking at Lorelai hopefully. "I saw some outfits thought that might be suitable for my birthday."
"That's not for a couple of months Mom. Why are you looking at clothes for them for your birthday?" Lorelai asked curious as to why her mother was buying clothes for the twins that wouldn't be needed until November.
"Well I thought we might have a photograph done of all us girls," Emily glanced between Lorelai and Rory hopefully, "and we could also have professional shots done of the twins, we could include them in the Christmas cards."
"That's a great idea Grandma!" Rory trilled excitedly.
"Sure Mom, not sure how still and cooperative the bambinos will be but we can do that," Lorelai nodded, smiling as Emily gave them both a beaming smile and seemed to lift with excitement. "Hey Dad, what was that all about?" Lorelai asked Richard as he entered the dining room from the study. "You were gone ages!"
"We started the main course, it was getting cold, and Lorelai needs to get the babies home," Emily got up and hurried over to his place. "Jacquetta," she called as she turned the plate covering his dinner over. "Get rid of this, thank you," she thrust the covering plate at the approaching maid. "So what was the phone call about?"
"It was Harris Fellows," Richard waved her away as she fussed with his napkin.
"The Dean of Admission?" Rory looked at him with intrigue.
"The very same. It turns out the Economics department are looking for someone to deliver a series of seminars on the insurance industry, seems their current one is ducking out, and Harris had put my name forward," Richard took a sip of wine. "I had a very interesting chat with the faculty man, and we have a meeting next week to formalise."
"You're going to lecture at school?" Rory exclaimed in surprise.
"Why yes I am."
"Cool!"
"I have to say I'm rather looking forward to it," Richard started to eat his dinner. "It's only for a semester but a very interesting opportunity."
"Congratulations dear," Emily raised her glass to him, "it won't get in the way of your work though will it?"
"Shouldn't do, it's only a two hour session once a week."
"Well don't overdo it," Emily fixed him with a concerned look before excitement flushed across her features. "I shall have to get you some new clothes to reflect your new position."
"I'm sure my clothes are adequate Emily," Richard took his wine glass and sent her a wary tired look.
"I'd say you'd be a little overdressed Grandpa," Rory told him with a smile. "Most lecturers wear jeans."
"Alright then, Emily you may go out and get me jeans," Richard teased. He chuckled as Emily looked at him in horror. "Yes consult with Rory, that way you can make sure that I am appropriately styled to blend in with people in my position"
"You cannot be serious," Emily shook her head in disgust.
"Oh yes, denim is a staple," Rory told her cheekily. "One of lecturers in the English department even favours Double denim."
"The horror!" Lorelai joined in, laughing lightly as Emily shuddered. "Oh what about the one with the suede waistcoat,"
"A classic look," Rory nodded with mock wisdom. "Of course there is a fair few who adopt the clichéd leather elbow patches. I think that would be an amazing look for you Grandpa."
"Oh stop it all of you," Emily waved her hand in annoyance. "I don't like it when you tease me."
"But that's part of the fun," Lorelai joked.
"I'm changing the subject now," Emily shifted her chair slightly, pressing her lips together in annoyance as Lorelai and Richard carried on laughing. "Rory we should leave tomorrow at nine which will give us plenty of time to get to New York, we can do a bit of shopping before you meet your friends and I go to the ballet. I do wish you were coming to the ballet with me, I think you would find it wonderful."
"Sharing a hotel room with Grandma," Lorelai giggled and poked her tongue out at Rory.
"We are not sharing a bedroom, it's a suite," Emily told her indignantly, "just as we did when we went to Europe together."
"I'll bring you back the soap freebies," Rory told Lorelai with a smile.
"Will you please stop teasing me," Emily huffed. "I really do want to enjoy this evening."
"I was being serious," Rory stifled a laugh. "Mom likes the soap freebies from hotels."
"Lets me try some fancy stuff," Lorelai reasoned.
"Honestly," Emily shook her head in dismay. She frowned as a crying sound erupted from the monitor. "She might wake Kitty and you are still eating."
"Alright Mom, go cuddle her for a bit," Lorelai rolled her eyes and then giggled as Emily leapt out of her chair and rushed out of the dining room towards the stairs. "Just try and keep her out of the baby department of whatever store she drags you too."
"I second that," Richard added with a smile. "Those poor babies will be so spoilt!"
"Your poor credit cards more like!"
xXx
Rory squeezed into the tiny disgusting toilet cubicle of the club and took a deep breath. She had spent the evening being dragged from cocktail bar to club by Madeline. It had been fun at first catching up with her old school friends, and chatting with Dee, but with each passing hour more alcohol seemed to be brought and while she hadn't had that much, she had had enough. Her inner filter had slipped and she had ended up talking about last year which her old friends had laughed at and then spent the hour gently teasing her over the slippage in the goodie two shoes persona she had at high school. She had laughed along at first but now with a fussy head her emotions were starting to get the better of her.
"Rory?"
With a sigh she opened the door and peered out, the three of them were stood by the sink staring at the door in concern.
"You can't just run off like that," Dee frowned at her, wetting a paper towel and holding it out.
"I'm sorry," Rory mumbled stumbling out of the cubicle in her now too high shoes.
"I suppose at college it is beer and nothing stronger," Madeline gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Pretty much," Rory dabbed her face with the paper towel. "I wasn't sick."
"Just felt like you were going to be, honey we've all been there," Louise rolled her eyes. "We should move on anyway, this place is getting lame."
"I don't think I should go anywhere else," Rory swallowed weakly as she clung to the sink. "I…"
Louise lifted Rory's hair and took the paper towel from her, wet it again and placed it on Rory's neck. "We should take a short break, get something to eat and then see how you feel."
"It's probably a good idea," Dee rubbed Rory's shoulder. "That way if you do, there is something."
"There is a really great diner only a block over, they do great pancakes, perfect for this type of emergency," Madeline checked her reflection in the mirror. "Did I ever say to you that I love you with a fringe? It totally suits you."
"I agree," Louise threw the paper towel in the trash can. "I am seriously jealous of those eyes, mine are dull as my unhighlighted hair. Still my power lies elsewhere," and gave them a cheeky smile.
"Wow!" Dee rolled her eyes. "Come on Rory, let's go get pancakes."
"I don't want to eat anything." Rory shook her head, knowing her problem was not so much that she was in danger of vomiting but more that the alcohol was making her go to places she had been working so hard to work through. "I think I just need to sleep."
"Alright," Dee subtly shook her head as Madeline and Louise opened their mouths to protest. "We'll get you to your hotel."
"Sure. We can have fun in Midtown. Let's get you back," Louise pulled Rory away from the mirror.
Rory held Louise's hand tighter then she intended to and she thought she saw for a moment a glimmer of concern pass through the girl's eyes before the party girl persona slipped back on and she dragged Rory through the crowded club to the entrance where she purred goodbye to the doormen.
"You don't have to take me I can get a cab by myself," Rory told them stumbling as the warm night air hit her.
"No," Dee pulled her towards the street. "Girls night out means girls stick together!"
"I'll get the cab," Madeline darted to the side of the road and with expert precision waved down a taxi.
Rory stumbled as Dee guided her into the cab and gratefully rested her head against her roommate's shoulder as the other girls gave the driver the details of her hotel. She started to drift off to sleep as the cab made its way uptown, little snippets of the conversation that the girls were having, drifting into her half asleep state. She jerked awake when Louise let out a loud huff of annoyance coupled by an angry assertion that Rory should have told them the extent of her illness, so they could have planned something more suitable.
"I thought I was better," Rory lifted her head from Dee's shoulder. "I just don't drink like this."
"Well, tell us next time," Louise grumbled at her gently rubbing her arm. "We forget people don't have our stamina for the party, we thought you were up for it."
"I was," Rory replied weakly as they pulled in front of the hotel.
"Do you know your room number?" Dee asked as she pulled her out of the cab.
"Yeah, you guys go have fun," Rory smiled gratefully at her swaying slightly.
"We'll take you up," Dee walked her towards the door.
"I've never been in here before," Madeline smiled at the doorman as the led Rory to the elevators. "We always stayed at the Hyatt and now I have my apartment."
"Your shoebox," Louise retorted. "What floor?" she asked pressing the button as Rory told her.
"You guys don't need to come with me," Rory protested as they pushed her out onto the hallway. "My Grandma will be asleep, I don't want to wake her up."
"It's only just after midnight, she probably won't be asleep," Madeline knocked on the door loudly.
"Madeline!" Rory grumbled, fumbling with her purse to find her key. Before she could get it out the door to the suite opened and Emily stood there in her robe looking surprised.
"Hi Rory's Grandma," Madeline smiled sweetly. "Rory wasn't feeling so good so we brought her back."
"I'm fine I'm just tired," Rory forced herself to smile.
"You also had cocktails on a basically empty stomach," Louise muttered quietly as Emily raised her arms to usher Rory into the suite. "We should have remembered she was an eater."
"I'm OK," Rory protested relaxing into her Grandma as her friend pushed her inside.
"Thank you girls. I have it from here." Emily muttered as she moved Rory towards the couch, she looked over her shoulder. "You can go now."
"She was a bit upset earlier," Dee told Emily quietly as she reached for the door to close it. "Rory, Let us know you are OK tomorrow."
Emily frowned as the door to the hotel room closed and she lowered Rory onto her bed. "Honey have you eaten?"
"Ages ago. I just didn't like it," Rory shook her head and kicked her shoes off, "the club. I didn't feel safe."
"You were very safe. Your friends took care of you." Emily sat beside her and studied her granddaughter nervously. "Do you want me to order room service?"
"No," Rory shook her head and then rested it on Emily's shoulder. "Please don't tell Mom I'm not better."
"Honey you are better. I just think we've learned you shouldn't have so much alcohol," Emily wrapped her arms around Rory's shoulder.
"You're not going to tell me off," Rory whispered with a soft giggle nestling into Emily's embrace.
"I think the hangover will do that," Emily held her gently, "and you are twenty one."
"I'm not drunk," Rory protested.
"You are," Emily kissed her tenderly and tried to coax Rory to standing "Come now sweetheart, let's go to bed."
"I just want to be safe," Rory whispered holding tightly onto Emily staying firmly sat down.
"You're safe honey," Emily told her tenderly stroking Rory's crown, "You are safe."
xXx
"So what am I getting?" Lorelai asked Luke as he returned to their table in Sniffy's holding their drinks.
"I don't know Buddy was muttering, you are just going to have to wait," Luke sat down and set her drink in front of her.
"Mean!"
"Child!"
"Children," Lorelai gestured at the babies sat in their stroller.
"That's never stopped you before," Luke smirked at her.
"We're in a classy joint, remember," Lorelai gestured to the wider Sniffy's Tavern. "I like this end, you can see it all." She studied the other clientele of the Sunday lunch crowd. Now that they had the twins they couldn't sit in one of the central booths as the used to so they had been allocated a table at the far end which gave them ample space to accommodate the stroller.
"What did Emily want?" Luke asked reaching round the table to pull one of Kitty's socks back on before she kicked it off.
"To let us know they had left New York and that the car service would be taking back to Hartford and then she would bring Rory home," Lorelai sighed. "Rory had a heavy night from the sound of things."
Luke scowled. "Is she drunk?"
"She was, she's hungover." Lorelai frowned. "Mom was strangely chill about it. She was never like that with me."
"Maybe because you were a teenager and Rory is an adult," Luke pointed out, he sighed as Kitty began to whimper and scooped the baby out of the stroller and settled her on his knee.
"There is that, but even so, Mom being ok with it," Lorelai shrugged with an air of concern. She smiled as Kitty vocalised at her. "I know it is strange. You know you are going to have to go back in your stroller when food comes. Daddy wants to eat a nice meal that he didn't have to cook."
"I can do it one handed I'm used to it," Luke smiled softly. "We'll manage."
"So no clue on mystery food?" Lorelai looked at him hopefully quickly lifting Willow out of the stroller as the baby began to whinge at being left alone.
"We're just going to have to wait, but you can try asking Maisy," Luke flicked his eyes towards the walkway as the small woman approached them.
"Ask me what?" Maisy peered over her glasses at everyone. "Lucas, you didn't tell me if there was anything Lorelai isn't eating right now."
"I'm back to normal, just the usual no icky vegetables," Lorelai mock grimaced.
"Well that's good, because we aren't doing anything with icky vegetables," Maisy gave her brief smile before looking down at the whinging baby on Lorelai's lap. "Now then Miss Willow, what is all this about?" she bent down and scooped the baby up, tenderly running her hand over the beginnings of dark curls. "I think you want to come help me do my books, then you really will have something to whinge about."
"I would weirdly not mind doing books," Lorelai chuckled catching the sock that Willow kicked off before it hit the ground.
"Are you going back fulltime soon?" Maisy asked settling the baby on Lorelai's lap. She leaned across the table and removed Luke's blue cap and throwing it on the table with a pointed look.
"I'm dropping in more now but at the end of August. I'll be back for as much time as I can manage." Lorelai looked warmly at Luke. "Sookie, my business partner uses a childminder, to look after her kids and Hannah has agreed to take the girls Tuesday through Thursday as that is when she has capacity, but not until some of the kids she is looks after start school." Lorelai sighed "We're going to figure out the rest. I'm hoping I can bring some of the paperwork home with me and do it there."
"Well, I can always take them for you on Mondays if that is any help?" Maisy offered with a smile. "That way you can get four full days in."
"Seriously!" Lorelai looked up at her surprise. "Maisy that would be amazing!"
"It's not a bother," Maisy waved her hand dismissively, "and I hope you young Lucas are taking your share of the childcare arrangements."
"Yes," Luke nodded. "I've taken an extra weekend kid on so I can be around more. I don't want to miss things with them."
"That's good," Maisy gave him a pleased smile. "Now I best check Buddy, else he'll launch into a recipe that needs six hours of prep."
Lorelai shook her head in disbelief as Maisy moved off towards the kitchen. "I can't believe that. Oh that will totally work, that way I can pop in on Friday when we take our walk and if there is an event we can work it out," she wriggled her shoulders in delight and bent down to tickle Willow's tummy. "Ooh your Auntie Maisy is the best!"
xXx
Lorelai looked up at the sound of a car braking filtered into the kitchen and she peered out the kitchen window to see her mother's Mercedes parked outside. "Oh, Grandma's here, and Rory's here," she singsonged to the twins sat in matching bouncy seats set on the table while she finished with the current pile of laundry. She grinned as the babies let out pleased noises, their little legs kicking up and down and making their chairs bounce. "Oh are we excited? do we want to see Grandma?" She chuckled as Willow let out an excited chortle. "You do. I bet she's brought you lots of presents, because she's been shopping in New York."
"We really should say something about that, every time we see her she brought them something." Luke muttered from the kitchen where he was loading the machine with the next load.
"It doesn't do any harm at the moment, and you know Mom, slowly, slowly catchy monkey." Lorelai shrugged and tickled Kitty's belly.
"What does that mean?" Luke looked at her as he set the machine working and then closed the cupboard door that concealed the machine from view.
"If we just tell her no, we risk her going on the offensive. We have to make little comments that seep in, droplets if you will, which means she'll go mad with the gifts for a while but by the time they are old enough to realise what is going on she will have stopped. Plus I think Dad is already ragging her for it." She smiled warmly at him. "I don't think we'll ever stop it completely but that's just Mom."
"Do you want me to give you guys a couple of minutes?" Luke asked peering out the window and frowning at the very fragile looking Rory.
"Thanks Hun."
"I'll finish the beds," Luke told her and quickly dashed out the kitchen and up the stairs before Rory entered the house closely followed by Emily.
"Hello Daughter." Lorelai fixed a teasing smile on her face. "How's it hanging?"
"Badly," Rory sighed as she slipped into the kitchen and sank into one of the kitchen chairs. "I am never having cocktails like that again."
"Did they have juice in?" Lorelai asked with a grimace that morphed into a look of concern as Rory nodded with a wince. "It's the sugar, that's what gets you. We are strictly Martini girls. Have you drunk enough? Water I mean."
"I don't know," Rory sighed and ran her hand over her face. "I think so."
"She's barely eaten today though," Emily told Lorelai as she set some bags on another seats and then focused her attention on the babies. "They look very happy!"
"They are two happy girls, helping Mommy with all the washing they make," Lorelai smiled brightly at the babies. "Willow is in…"
"I know which is which Lorelai," Emily gave her an affronted look and made a point of picking up Kitty. "Hello Kitty."
Lorelai stifled a laugh as Emily cuddled the baby. "We had a big lunch but there is some left over lasagne from last night if you want something now." she told Rory nodding towards the fridge.
"Maybe in a bit," Rory going pale and gingerly got up from the table and scurried out the room.
"Was she sick?" Lorelai frowned as she watched Rory leave.
"Twice. That is why it took so long to get back," Emily grimaced. "I think it's the not eating, but she wouldn't be told."
"You are being strangely zen about having a drunken granddaughter," Lorelai narrowed her eyes slightly as she regarded her mother, curious by her mother's lack of reaction to Rory getting drunk.
"She's an adult Lorelai," Emily sighed and looked at Lorelai nervously. "She said she wanted to feel safe."
"Safe," Lorelai sighed. "She likes the familiar, she likes knowing where she is going." She looked down as Willow made a squeak. "She's not a big risk taker."
"There is taking risks and then there stepping out of your comfort zone." Emily put Kitty back into her seat so she could cuddle Willow. "Do you think we've been too soft with her?"
"No," Lorelai shook her head and finished folding the laundry. "Rory is an adult you said so yourself, we just need to encourage her. She went for the summer camp thing. I know she's working on her PhD application pieces. Things are going well with the boyfriend. She's getting there."
"I suppose you are right," Emily sighed and then then smiled down at Willow as the baby let out a squeal of excitement. "You are such a happy girl aren't you?" Emily rocked from side to side. "She's just like you."
"Oh Boy!" Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Are you my troublemaker," she grinned at Willow. "Are you my little pain in the…."
"Lorelai!" Emily chastised her before she completed sentence. "She's like you, not a clone of you."
"So there is hope yet," Lorelai quirked her eyebrows. "So what's in the bag Mom?"
"Rory thought some tourist New York onesies were in order," Emily gave her a wry smile. "And as you are so enamoured with hotel shampoo I asked for the full sized bottle from the hotel for you as they sell it."
"That's it," Lorelai gave her a pleased smile.
Emily hitched the baby up her hip and blushed slightly. "Well I bought your father some jeans," Emily chuckled slightly. "I thought it was appropriate so he can fit in," she sighed gently all traces of her mask vanishing from her face as she cuddled the baby tightly.
"Mom?"
"I'm alright, I just had a long night, and well you know," Emily kissed Willow softly and switching her hold so she was cradling the baby staring down at her with loving longing.
"The sitting and the long nighting does make you think," Lorelai lifted Kitty out of her seat and cuddled her to her side. "So, what you come up with?"
"Oh it doesn't matter," Emily shook her head dismissively her face hardening, the mask falling back in to place. "You have things to be getting one with."
"Not right now," Lorelai gave her an encouraging smile.
Emily looked at her for a long moment, her features oscillating between deciding to talk and not, before giving a sigh. "It doesn't matter."
Lorelai raised her eyebrows at her mother's closed herself off and gave her a warm smile. "Ok, well thank you for looking after her."
Emily nodded stiffly and then looked around as Rory staggered into the room.
"Do we have any bread?" Rory mumbled staggering to the kitchen.
"We do," Lorelai shook her head. "Mom why don't you go into the living room. I'll bring you some tea before you head off," Lorelai crossed into the kitchen and kissed Rory's crown. "Take this one and keep your Grandma company. I'll make you toast" she handed Kitty over to Rory. "Once these two are in bed how bout we shut ourselves away in that swanky penthouse of yours and watch some trash. That will help with hangover."
"Just us?" Rory smiled weakly
"Just us" Lorelai kissed her on the crown and pushed her towards the living room.
xXx
"So?" Lorelai slumped down onto the big bed in Rory's bedroom suite. "I was going to make some movie suggestions but you look like you need to sleep Babes." Lorelai tenderly brushed Rory's hair out of her face.
"I feel like I can sleep for a week. That's if my head hasn't cracked open and my brain fallen out," Rory grimaced as she nestled into the soft bedding.
"Graphic and gross," Lorelai grimaced and positioned herself so she could draw Rory into her side. "If you really want a headache, April is back and she intrigued by your predicament something about alcohol disrupting the homeostasis of the body or something." She chuckled as Rory gave a soft groan. "Be prepared for questions tomorrow. I have to say I prefer her method. Mine was to learn by experiencing."
"I'm never drinking again," Rory groaned wriggling slightly to find the most comfortable position for her sore head and body.
"That's the spirit!" Lorelai chuckled and pulled the covers round Rory despite the warmth of the July evening air. "So other than the headache you're OK?"
"Yeah," Rory sighed. "Alcohol makes me go over things I thought were gone over," she gave a weak smile and snuggled down as far into the bed as she could. "It's nice to be home."
"Grandma's swanky hotel not up to snuff?"
"It's not here," Rory mumbled her breathing slowing as she succumbed to sleep.
"Ok Babe," Lorelai kissed her crown. "You sleep it off," she kissed Rory tenderly once more "Mommy's got you," She stayed still until she was sure that Rory was in a deep sleep before kissing Rory on the forehead, slipping off the bed and making her way down the curving staircase and out onto the landing. She smiled at Luke as he came out of April's bedroom and she slowly made her way to the top of the main staircase as he walked around the other side of the landing to meet where they took each other's hands. "Rory's asleep."
"So are the twins, April's reading," Luke smiled widely at her, as his hand tenderly stroked her arm.
"House full but to ourselves as well." Lorelai smiled and took a step closer to him. "We should enjoy the quiet," she pressed her hip against his and kissed his rough stubble covered jawline.
"Got anything in mind?" Luke whispered as his hand moved to her back.
"I've got a few ideas," Lorelai giggled and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him gently backwards towards their bedroom.
Luke hesitated for a second. "We not going to just go to sleep are we?"
"No Hun, we have things to do first," Lorelai pushed her hand against his chest more insistently. "Now come on else April will come out and we'll have to explain this to her," she giggled as they slipped into the bedroom. She pulled her t-shirt over her head. "I fancy a long hot shower after such a long weekend," she giggled again and moved towards the bathroom, "Coming?"