As always you guys are the best. I'm sorry for the lack of updates. I got a little behind, but I am back on track. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and I hope that you are still interested in the story! I've got a lot left to go!

A Place to Call Home

Chapter 52: Not Quick Enough

Lorelai and the kids were at the diner for dinner. Lorelai still hadn't given Luke an answer about going to the cabin for the weekend, and the weekend was right around the corner. Lorelai wanted to go, but she wasn't sure about leaving the kids alone or even with Sookie. Ruby had been giving her the silent treatment, and she was way too young for that.

"Hey Ruby." Lorelai looked over at her daughter.

Ruby looked up at her mother but didn't say anything.

"Do you want to go get us some pie?" Lorelai asked her little girl. She thought giving her a task might be helpful.

Ruby sighed and got up from the table.

"That went well." Lorelai told Rory and Ryan.

"She is seriously freezing you out." Ryan laughed. Rory gave her brother a punch in the arm. "Hey." He scowled.

"You deserved that. This is not funny." She gave him a look. "She is only seven. Neither one of you were like this at seven. Eight maybe. But not seven." She looked over at her daughter who was sitting at the counter waiting for Luke to serve her.

"Hey Ruby." Luke greeted her. "What can I get you?"

"Mommy wants some pie." She said with a sigh.

"I'll bring four slices over." Luke told her.

"Okay." Ruby sighed heavily again.

Luke noticed how sad she looked. "Ruby."

"You don't have to finish the surprise for my mommy. I don't want it anymore." Ruby decided.

Luke shook his head. "You don't mean that Ruby."

"Yes I do." She nodded. "She is mean."

"She is not mean." Luke thought about it. "Come with me." He walked around the counter and led Ruby to one of the back storage rooms. Lorelai watched and decided not to follow them. She trusted that Luke knew what he was doing.

"Alright little Miss Ruby." He opened the door.

"Oh Luke." Ruby smiled for the first time in a few days. "You are almost finished with it." Ruby looked at the project Luke had been working on for her to give to her mom.

"I think your mom is going to love it."

"But she is being mean to me Luke."

Luke leaned down so that he was eye level with the little girl. "She isn't being mean. She is your mommy. It is her job to make sure that you don't get into trouble. She is just looking out for you. You don't see that now, but one day you will."

Ruby just frowned.

"She loves you very, very much." Luke knew that was true. Lorelai was the most loving, caring mother he had ever known. She reminded him so much of his own mother. Luke could remember getting mad at his mom from time to time. It happens, but his dad always told him to get over it and give his mother a hug because you only get one.

Ruby sighed. "I love her too." It was true, but she wanted to be mad at her mommy for a little while longer.

"I can trash the whole project. If that is what you want." Luke smiled. He could tell that probably wasn't what she wanted. "I can knock it all down?" He pointed to the project.

Ruby shook her head. "No." That wasn't what she wanted. She thought Luke was doing a very good job, and she knew her mommy was going to love it.

"Good. I really want to finish it for her." Luke gave Ruby a hug. He had never been good with kids before, but he felt like he was doing a pretty good job with Ruby. "Let's go get that pie."

"Can you give me a chocolate milkshake?" Ruby asked, knowing that she hadn't been able to get one after school since getting into trouble.

Luke smirked. "If you are good at school next week."

"Luuuke…That's a long time." Ruby pouted. "I won't tell my mommy if you don't."

"Sorry kiddo. No getting into trouble." Luke reminded her. "I'll have you the biggest milkshake next week if you don't get into any trouble at school or at home."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Okay." She would try her best, but it wasn't that easy being good. She really liked getting her own way.

Luke smiled. She really did have the cutest face. It was really hard to be stern with her. He had never had that problem with Jess.


Jess was at his own table studying. Ryan joined him. "Hey man." Ryan said as he sat down. "I didn't know we had any homework tonight."

"We don't."

"What are you doing?" Ryan wondered.

"Pretending. When my Uncle Luke thinks I have homework he doesn't make me work."

"Smart. I shall learn from you grasshopper." Ryan clapped his hands together and bowed his head.

Jess laughed. "What are you doing this weekend?"

Ryan shrugged. "I don't know. Probably something with Grace."

"You should go with me to this place." He handed him a flier that he had printed off.

"The Outsiders?"

"Yeah. It's a club right out of town."

"I'm pretty sure we aren't 18." Ryan laughed.

"I heard they don't ID." Jess reassured him.

"My mom will kill me." Ryan whispered. He couldn't afford to get into any more trouble. His mom barely trusted him as it was.

"She won't find out."

Ryan wasn't sure about that. She always seemed to find out everything.

"Just think about it. I heard it is a fun place to chill." Jess really wanted to go. He needed to get out of Stars Hollow. He felt like he was being suffocated.

"I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask." Jess took the flier and put it back in his notebook.


Rory and Lorelai were still sitting at their table. "Thanks for not abandoning me."

"Actually mom." She pointed outside. Dean was standing next to the gazebo. "Can I go see Dean?"

Lorelai looked at the gazebo and then back at Rory. "Go ahead. We will be right here."

"Thanks mom." Rory ran out of the diner and to Dean. "Hey."

"Hey." Dean smiled. "I saw you in there. I hoped that you would see me too."

"Yeah. What are you doing out here?"

"I went to your house to see you."

"Really?"

Dean nodded. He kicked his foot back and forth. He was nervous.

"What's going on?"

"I like you, Rory. I realized today that maybe I haven't made that clear. I think you are real special." He smiled. "I wasn't happy about moving here until I met you. Now, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Rory smiled. That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. Before she realized what was happening, they both leaned in to kiss each other. It was a quick kiss, but Rory thought it was perfect. So did Dean. He couldn't stop smiling.

"Wow." Rory said first.

"Ditto."

"We kissed."

"Yeah."

"By the gazebo."

"Uh huh."

"In front of everyone." She turned around to see her mom, Ryan, and Luke staring at them through the diner window. When they saw her looking, they turned around, pretending to do other things.

"I've wanted to do that for a while now."

"Me too." Rory admitted.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Rory Gilmore?" Dean officially asked her.

Rory nodded with the biggest smile on her face. "Yes." She had been waiting for him to ask her for what felt like forever. She leaned in and gave him another kiss. "I should get back in there with my mom."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her cheek. He liked doing that a lot.

Rory smiled and then ran into the diner. "Mom."

"Yes." Lorelai tried to play innocent.

"I know you saw."

"Saw what?" She played dumb.

"We didn't see anything." Ryan added.

"Dean and I kissed." Rory said happily. "Finally."

"Aw. Rory. That's great." She stood up and gave her daughter a hug. So it begins, she thought.

"I know you saw it."

"It was a pretty quick kiss." Ryan teased.

"Hey. Don't tease your sister."

"It wasn't quick enough." Luke added, protectively.

Lorelai smiled. He really was the cutest, especially when he was being overprotective.

"I've got to go tell Lane." Rory gave her mom one more hug and ran out of the diner.

"Girls." Ryan shrugged.

"Oh please. You know you were just as happy when you kissed Grace."

"At least I didn't kiss her in front of an audience." Ryan stated.

"Go help clear that table." Luke pointed.

"I'm not working today." Ryan argued.

"You are now." Luke told him.

Ryan sighed and then did as he was told. "As long as I get paid." He said as he walked away.

"What was that for?" Lorelai asked.

"I just wanted a minute with you." Luke sat down beside her.

"I like that you are the boss."

"It has its advantages on occasion." Luke reached for her hand.

Lorelai pointed to Ruby who was sitting at the counter coloring. "What did you and Ruby talk about earlier?"

"Oh nothing much." Luke played coy.

"Really? Because she seemed like she was in a better mood."

Luke shrugged. "'I think it was the pie."

"Must be." Lorelai wasn't convinced. "I can't believe Rory had her first kiss."

"I'm gonna be watching that kid." Luke told her.

"He is a good kid."

"He is a boy." Luke said as if she didn't know.

"I know, Luke." Lorelai smiled. "I like that you care about my kids so much."

"They are good kids."

Before Lorelai could say anything, her phone rang.

"Outside." Luke pointed.

"But we are dating. Don't I get special privileges?"

"Not a chance." He pointed again.

"I'm going. I'm going." She walked outside and answered the phone. "Hello."

"Lorelai," her mother's voice said on the other end of the phone.

Lorelai made a face. "Mom."

"You don't have to sound so thrilled." Emily said sarcastically

"I am thrilled mom." Lorelai rolled her eyes. "What's up?"

"I haven't heard from you in a while. I was hoping that you and the children could come to dinner Friday night." Emily told her. "I know it is last minute, but your father and I really want to see you all."

Lorelai thought about it and then got an idea. "Mom, would you be interested in keeping the kids this weekend?"

"The kids? Where will you be?" Emily asked. She was kind of excited about it.

Lorelai didn't want to tell her the truth. "I am going out of town."

"For what?"

"Business." Lorelai lied. "I wasn't sure I was going to get to go because I didn't want to leave the kids alone. If you can't keep them that's okay. I don't have to go."

"No." Emily stopped her. "I would love to keep them. I assume they would be staying with us."

"Yes. That's fine." She knew Ryan wouldn't be happy about it, but he would get over it. He always did. "I will bring them after school."

"That sounds wonderful." Emily was really excited. She missed the children terribly.

"Thanks mom. You are doing me a really big favor." Lorelai was also excited. She and Luke were finally going to be together. "See you soon."

"Goodbye, Lorelai." Emily hung up the phone. "Richard, I've got wonderful news." She felt like this was putting them one step closer to getting their family back.


At the Kim's residence, Rory and Lane were celebrating Rory's first kiss.

"Who got kissed?" Mrs. Kim walked into the room.

"Me, Mrs. Kim." Rory told her.

Mrs. Kim looked at Lane. "Kissing is bad. Very bad. Boys only want one thing. You are only allowed to kiss your husband." Mrs. Kim warned her as she walked out of the room.

Rory looked at Lane. "Should I tell Ryan?" She laughed.

Lane hit her shoulder and shook her head.


Back at the diner, Lorelai walked behind the counter.

"What are you doing?" Luke asked. Lorelai gave him a kiss. "What was that for?"

"There is more of that to come this weekend." She smiled.

"Does that mean we are on?" Luke became excited.

Lorelai nodded.

"Yes." Luke gave her another kiss.

"I can't wait."

"Me either." He was extremely excited. They both needed this time away together.

"Get a room." Ryan told them.

Lorelai smiled because soon enough they would. "We should go. We will pick Rory up on the way home."

"Sure. Come on Ruby." Ryan helped Ruby down from the bar stool.

"Bye Luke." Ruby ran around the counter and gave him a hug.

Both Luke and Lorelai were surprised. Maybe she was getting better.

"Alright, pumpkin. Let's go." They all walked out of the diner. "There she is." Lorelai said as they met Rory.

"Why are you so excited?" Rory asked. Her mom seemed extremely happy.

"I'm normal happy." Lorelai lied a little. "You guys are staying with your grandparents this weekend."

"What?" Ryan said quickly.

"Yay!" Ruby jumped up and down. She was excited. She really missed her grandparents.

Lorelai knew she was making the right decision. Seeing her grandmother might be exactly what Ruby needed.

"That sounds fun." Rory thought.

"Where are you going to be?" Ryan asked.

"Luke and I are going to go out of town."

"We can stay at home." Ryan thought that was a better idea.

Lorelai shook her head. "Nope. Not going to happen. You are staying with your grandparents." Lorelai was not going to change her mind. This weekend was happening. She and Luke were finally going to be together. It was about damn time.


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