Notes:
Okay, let me start by begging you not to hate me for this chapter. The whole Christopher storyline was never tied up, in fact it probably won't be for awhile, so I've got to go back to it every once in awhile. Just take this chapter for what it is, another way to move the story, and know that as a hard core JavaJunkie, I could never put Lorelai and Christopher together, not even for a moment. Especially not anymore.
And my comment on my last chapter is that personally it's my favorite chapter so far. I love that one. I had so much fun writing it. Just Luke, Lorelai and Rory hanging out. Coupley stuff. Teasing. I just loved it. Especially throwing in the Luke/Dad stuff and moving in stuff. And I can't believe no one caught my Styx reference! Yes, I understand not many people have listened to Styx, but their song 'Lorelei' is so about our Lorelai.
And I've cancelled my other fanfic, because a couple people said they weren't going to read it so I felt it was pointless to post it and also it was making me depressed to write it. So maybe after next season starts and they get back together, I can work on it some more. But instead, crazy enough, I came up with a completely new idea, and it's a much happier LL fic, so look forward to that. I'll probably start posting that when I'm done with Reparations.
Ronata - You're back! I was wondering why there was no review from you for the last chapter! Ug, moving, I hate moving. So much work. I'm staying in the same apartment for next year just because I hate moving so much.
Robinpoppins - Yup, I totally watched that marathon too! I've been watching the series straight through lately but I had to stop once I reached 5.13, because although it's one of my favorite episodes I don't know if I'm ready for break-up episodes right now.
sarahb2007 - I've seen some 7th heaven off and on. Never really got into it because it was too sickly sweet for me. Too perfect. I love Lorelai's flaws. But I also saw the article about renewing it for an 11th season and was kinda annoyed. Can it just be over already? I thought they had already done a series finale. I guess in the long run it doesn't bother me since GG is coming back for a 7th season, I just wish they could convince LG and AB to do an 8th.
hollywoodgrl - I love that saying too.
LLfreak8285 and VlonewolfV and Babs25 - I had to include Marty. I love Marty. I miss Marty. In fact, in my first GG fic I had Rory marry Marty.
You guys want Luke and Lorelai to get married? Maybe...
Hartford
Lorelai is in Hartford shopping for silverware and linen ideas for the inn. She walks out of a coffee shop, having stopped to get a large decaf mocha with lots of whipped cream. She pauses outside the door to rub the cream off of her lip, causing a man walking by talking on a cell phone to crash into her. "Oh!" she exclaims, managing to hold onto her coffee. Lorelai lets out a relieved sigh that she didn't lose her coffee. "Sor-" she stops seeing who it is.
"Lor!" Christopher exclaims, surprised. She stares at him in shock. "Heya, Fred, I'm gonna have to call you back," he says quickly into the phone and shuts it with a snap. "Lorelai."
"Christopher," Lorelai breathes, still in shock.
"What are you doing in Hartford on a Tuesday?" Chris asks.
"What are you doing in Hartford period?" Lorelai responds.
"My dad got sick over the weekend so I took some time off to spend with him and help my mom out," Chris explains.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Lorelai says sympathetically. Chris nods.
"Thanks. So what are you doing in Hartford on a Tuesday?" Chris asks again trying to change the subject.
"Oh, well, Sookie and I are trying to get the inn ready by May so I have a list of things to check out and Hartford's the closest place to find this stuff," Lorelai explains.
"I see, and Sookie is…?" Lorelai looks confused for a moment before she realizes what he's asking.
"Oh she's back in Stars Hallow. She's about ready to pop any day now. She's come up with the idea that Davey's making her uterus his permanent home," Lorelai replies. Chris chuckles.
"Well that kid has another thing coming, I wouldn't mess with Sookie." Lorelai raises her eyebrows, nodding in agreement. "You look good," Chris says actually looking at her. "And pregnant?" His eyes go wide as he looks back up at Lorelai's face. She smiles uncomfortably.
"Yeah…" Lorelai rubs her forehead. "Luke and I are having twins, they're due in February."
"Twins?" Chris breathes. "With Luke." He furrows his eyebrows as he mulls this over. "In February." Lorelai bites her lower lip, a little embarrassed. "Wow."
"Yeah, chalk up another one to Lorelai Gilmore, I'm not really good at planning for pregnancies, I guess the gods are against me," Lorelai figures. "I should have told you – I mean – somehow – we haven't talked lately – but…" She's not really sure what she should say.
"Yeah…" Chris manages. "Are you guys getting married?" Lorelai shakes her head. "You haven't changed."
"Christopher, you of all people know that I'm not going to marry someone just to have a nuclear family." Chris nods, knowingly.
"Are you ever going to marry him?" Lorelai shrugs. "You guys are together, right?" Lorelai sighs.
"Yeah, Chris, we are," Lorelai says, her eyes showing how sorry she is to have to have this conversation. Chris nods.
"Do you love him?" Lorelai drinks some of her coffee, trying to keep from having to answer, but Chris knows her too well. "Lor?" She sighs, biting her lower lip. She looks away, pursing her lips, taking her time. Then Lorelai looks back at Chris.
"I – I don't know. Chris, I'm still working on that," Lorelai says softly. She scratches her forehead. "I'm getting closer to saying it, but if and when I do, Luke's going to be the first one to know." Lorelai lets out a deep breath that she didn't know she was holding.
"And how's Rory?" Christopher asks, actually noticing that Lorelai wants to be done with that subject.
"She's still not talking to you?" Chris shakes his head sadly. "She's good. She loves Yale, not so much her roommates, but she's having fun, making friends, you know Rory."
"Oh I know Rory, she's just like you," Chris says.
"Chris, I'm not keeping her from you. I'm not the reason that she's not talking to you," Lorelai insists.
"Well, indirectly you are, but no, it's my fault," Chris admits. The unspoken words between them still show how sorry Christopher is for his drunken actions. "Do you think, if that hadn't happened, do you think we would have made it?" Lorelai stares at him, hoping he'll realize the answer himself, but when he doesn't, she shakes her head.
"No Chris, and you know that," Lorelai says, but Chris doesn't answer. She sighs. "We may have been good together at 16 but not 34. We grew up. We grew apart. We matured. Even Darcy Elliot gave up Stan after Thea was born because they were going in different directions." Chris nods. Lorelai touches his arm softly. "Chris we are such different people now than we were at 16. I didn't," she pauses afraid for a moment to tell him the truth, but knows she has to. "I didn't love you Chris. It wasn't right. For you. For me. For Rory. If we had stayed together it would have been a lie, we would have been unhappy, I know it. The music died." Chris sighs.
"Yeah I heard, Don McLean called," he jokes. Lorelai half-smiles.
"So you see what I'm saying?" Chris looks at her pleading eyes for a moment.
"Yeah." He sighs again. "Yeah, Lor, I know. Where would we have lived? And if we couldn't work out something as easy as that, there were so much bigger things that we were missing."
"See, you understand."
"And you would have eventually realized that you loved Luke," Chris adds. Lorelai takes in a breath sharply. "It's okay Lor, you're right, I still need to find that woman for me. Maybe I'll go to LA and hire a prostitute, it worked for Richard Gere." Lorelai finally relaxes and laughs. Chris smiles as well. "I'm glad that you're happy, that's really all I want for you Lor."
"Thanks," Lorelai says softly.
"And eventually, you'll see I'm right as well." Lorelai raises an eyebrow. "That you're in love with Luke." Lorelai blushes, smiling, but doesn't say anything. Chris's cell phone rings. He glances at it. "Well, work calls." They awkwardly share a one-armed hug. "I'll see you around Lor, don't be a stranger." She waves and begins to walk away. "And Lor." She glances back at him. "Make sure you let me know when those kids are born, I've got something for them." Lorelai nods and walks away. Chris picks up the call, watching her for a moment and then walks off in the other direction.
