Author's Note: Thank you all so much! I really hope you're enjoying this story! I've got so many ideas! I hope you don't mind but there will be a couple time jumps in the near future. I have plans to get this story set in the present. Okay well, read on and please, please review! I need all the support I can get right now.
Chapter 5
"Independence Inn, this is Lorelai speaking." she chirped.
"Lorelai?" came the other voice.
She opened her mouth in shock and nearly dropped the phone. In a shaky voice she responded.
"Max?"
"Hi Lorelai."
"Um...hi. Wow I haven't spoken to you since..." she trailed off.
"Yeah, I know since the break-up. Listen Lorelai, I really need to talk to you. Is there anyway we can meet...soon...in fact I'm free right now. There are just some things I need to tell you." he begged over the phone.
Lorelai nodded mutely.
"Lorelai?" he asked. "Are you there?"
She smacked her head with her hand. "Duh, Lorelai he can't see you nod." she muttered to herself.
"What was that?" Max asked.
"Oh...um...nothing. I guess a meeting would be okay, um...where?" she asked nervously.
"Well, we could meet in an hour at Luke's?" he suggested.
"NO!" Lorelai objected. "Um... I mean no...we can't because," she frantically searched her mind for an excuse, "he's fumigating."
"Fumigating?" Max asked skeptically.
"Yes, fumigating. There are little bugs crawling everywhere. It's a mess." she lied.
"He's not really fumigating is he?"
"No. Damn it, you know me too well." she whined.
"But you won't tell me the real reason why we can't meet there?"
"Sorry no. But how about we meet at that Starbucks in Hartford. You know, the that's like ten minutes from Hell." she suggested.
"Hell?"
"I mean Chilton." she corrected.
"Okay, an hour good?"
"Yeah, I'll be there."
"Well, I'll see you later then. Bye Lorelai."
"Bye...Max." she said hesitantly. Hanging up the phone she leaned up against the desk and buried her head in her arms. "What have I gotten myself into?" she muttered.
~
"Okay, what about, `Join us as we show our undying love for each other.'" Tristan suggested.
"Definitely not. Sounds to..." Rory searched for the word.
"Welcome to the Wonderful World of Disney-ish?" Lorelai offered, walking into the kitchen considerably less excited than before.
"Exactly!" Rory agreed. Tristan shook his head in amusement but frowned noticing Lorelai's slumped shoulders as she sat on a stool.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"What's wrong with who?" Sookie questioned coming out from around the corner, a new dish in hand.
"Me." Lorelai answered.
"Mom, what happened? Who called? You look like you're about to face the Inquisition." Rory asked concerned.
"Max called."
Sookie and Rory gasped.
"Max?" Tristan asked.
"Mr. Medina." Rory supplied.
"Wait, Medina as in our former English teacher who you were about to marry?" Tristan asked Lorelai.
"The one and only." she replied. "He called and asked to meet me."
"What? Are you going to?" Sookie exclaimed.
"Yeah, I need to get going in a few minutes. I'm nervous though. I mean what am I supposed to say when I see him? `Hey, yeah, sorry about dumping you and crushing your heart, by the way did I mention that a mere two months after I sent you packing I got engaged?' I'm doomed!" Lorelai moaned.
"Just avoid the subject." Tristan offered.
"She can't do that!" Rory smacked him upside the head.
"Ow!" He complained. "You didn't let me finish!"
"Sorry bible boy, continue."
"As I was saying, he called you first right?" he asked Lorelai.
"Yeah, he wanted to meet me."
"Well, let him do the talking and find out what he wants. Then just sort of ease into the announcement...but I suggest you phrase it differently."
"Advice noted. I've got to go." Lorelai said, hopping of the stool. "But first, cheesecake."
She quickly grabbed her utensil and brought the forkful to her mouth.
"NO!" Rory, Tristan, and Sookie yelled simultaneously.
Too late. Lorelai moaned and put on a face.
"This isn't the cheesecake is it?" she asked through her full mouth.
"It's the tofu." Rory winced.
`We tried to warn you." Tristan offered hesitantly.
Lorelai paled and began to jump up and down searching for a place to spit.
"Here!" Sookie quickly got her a paper towel.
She spit it out and had to stop herself from gagging. "Ugh, yuck! That has got to be the nastiest concoction ever created! I never thought I would say that about something you made Sookie."
"Bad decision on my part." Sookie agreed.
Lorelai suddenly grinned evilly. "Sookie, can I take this?"
"Yeah, sure? But why?" Sookie asked in surprise as Lorelai retrieved a clean fork and picked up the plate.
"Ooh, nothing." she said innocently.
Walking out of the kitchen she wiped off the smile and put on a serious face.
"Michel? I'm going out for the night. Okay?" she informed him.
"You'll be dearly missed." he answered sarcastically.
"I'm sure. Hey, this is a new pumpkin cheesecake that Sookie made you want some?" she offered.
Michel rolled his eyes. "Fine."
"Bye Michel." she waved cheerily.
He eyed the plate. "What could it hurt?"
Picking up the fork he took a large portion and put it in his mouth.
"AAHHHH! THAT'S NOT CHEESECAKE!" he screamed.
Lorelai, who was halfway out the door just laughed.
~
Lorelai entered the Starbucks and looked around nervously. She really didn't want to tell him about the wedding. How would you feel if your ex-fiancée was engaged again after only a few months? Especially to a guy that she assured you was just a friend?
~Oh, this cannot end well~ Lorelai thought.
Spying Max in the corner with two cups of coffee in front of him she put her ring on the other hand and turned the diamond on the inside. ~No use walking over with a huge sign that I'm engaged~
"Hey Max." she said softly.
"Lorelai, hey. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show."
"Yeah well I was slightly delayed. There was this whole incident with pumpkin tofu and Michel running out to kill me. Then Tristan had to pry him away and the sad thing is that I'm not lying." she explained, quickly relaxing.
"Wow, that's some story." Max breathed. "When you say Tristan you mean...?"
"DuGrey." Lorelai affirmed.
"Yeah, I've started seeing him around school with Rory, I thought they hated each other though."
"That's old news. His parents forgot his birthday so Rory stepped in and had the whole town plan this huge bash. They only been friends for two weeks and yet they're already connected at the hip!"
"Yeah, that's great. You know I see Rory around school sometimes but...well neither of us has been exactly comfortable about talking to each other. In fact, that's why I wanted to meet you."
"Max..." Lorelai began.
"No, please, hear me out. I'm begging you to not interrupt me as I say this." he paused waiting for a response, hearing none he continued. "Lorelai, these past few months have been really hard. I remember the last time we broke up, it was my fault and you came back and made me see how much I care about you. Well, you broke it off this time and now I'm asking you to take me back."
"Max..." Lorelai protested. He leaned forward and took the hand without the ring.
"Hear me out. I miss you. I really do. These past two months have been a total nightmare and seeing Rory in school does not help. I want to be able to be comfortable around her and you. I want to marry you. I want to be her step-dad. Lorelai Gilmore, I love..."
"I'm engaged!" Lorelai blurted out.
Max leaned back in shock.
"What?!" he asked.
"I'm...I'm engaged. To someone else." she repeated hesitantly.
"Whoa, wow, so soon. I didn't expect you to move on so quickly."
"I know, I know. It was so unexpected."
"I didn't exactly expect you to move on at all. Jeez, do you mind if I ask who? How? When?"
"Well, Luke actually."
Max sighed. "I knew he liked you. It was in his eyes. I thought you told me you were just friends!?"
"We were!" Lorelai exclaimed in defense. "But...Max, after we broke it off I was so depressed. I kept asking myself why...how did I let a great guy go. I thought about it and I realized it's the same reason why I couldn't take Christopher back, why I couldn't marry you, why every other relationship I was in failed. I love Luke. I always have but I didn't realize it until recently. He felt the same way."
"How could you not know that you've been in love with him for what, how many years?" Max asked.
"Because both of us tried to fight our emotions. I was afraid. I didn't want to love him and he didn't want to love me but when we both realized it, there was no denying it."
"So, how long were you dating before he proposed?"
"Well," Lorelai said hesitantly, "he proposed about four days ago. We had been officially dating for...two weeks." Lorelai winced.
"WHAT?!" Max exploded. "How do you know you really love this guy?! This is so rushed!"
"I know, I know its rushed. Max, Luke and I have loved each other for so long. We know everything about the other one and I can see him in our life, in Rory's and mine. Jess too. The two of us have lost so much time together already. There is no doubt in my mind that I want to spend the rest of my life with this man. I saw that when I realized that I could not imagine what life would be like if he weren't there. There's no point in delaying what would happen anyway. I want this so badly and if you truly cared for me, you wouldn't try to stop this." she pleaded.
Max nodded. "Just answer me this, are you happy with him? Don't just answer, think about this. Are you truly happy and confident that you want this?"
Lorelai paused to consider. Images of Luke passed through her mind and she knew the answer. "Yes, I've never been happier in my life."
"Then, I guess all I can say is...congratulations." he said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"Thank you Max."
"So, when is the big day?"
"June 12^th. For no reason in particular, we just liked that date. I wanted to invite you but..."
Max held up his hand. "No, Lorelai...right now, I think its just too hard. Maybe by then I'll have moved on but at the moment...I just don't want to think about it. If I do decide I can come, I'll let you know."
Lorelai nodded. He stood up to leave.
"Well Lorelai Gilmore, I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too Max Medina." she said shaking his hand.
"Lorelai, can I just ask you one more thing? If Luke wasn't there, would we have had a chance?"
Lorelai opened her mouth to reply. "Wait!" Max interrupted. "Never mind, I don't think either answer would make me feel better."
Lorelai nodded again and looked down. As soon as he was out the door she looked up.
"If there wasn't a Luke, I wouldn't be here. Two different worlds Max, either way, we weren't meant to be." she whispered.
~
"Okay, okay what about...'Love is as Sweet as a Flower that Blooms Forever' for the cover?" Rory suggested.
"Does that sound like something I would put on my wedding invitations?" Luke said looking her in the eye.
"Definitely not. Where are you getting this stuff kid?" Lorelai asked walking into the diner.
She was more than relieved to find Rory and Tristan had relocated to Luke's for dinner. Sitting next to Rory and giving Luke a small kiss on the lips she put on her pleading face. Luke rolled his eyes in return and poured her a cup of coffee.
"It's from a book of romantic quotes." Rory said defensively.
"Jeez Mary, is there anything you don't read?" Tristan asked jokingly.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Ya know, for being named after the god of love your not living up to your name Mac."
Tristan smirked and got ready for his rebuttal.
"Why do I sense the return of the Evil One?" Rory muttered.
"Well, in response to your first comment, I could but there are young children around, that and Luke is giving me the overprotective father glare." Tristan noted. "If not for that, oh the things I could think of."
"And there he is. Welcome back Damien, long time no see." Rory said sarcastically.
Tristan merely ruffled her hair and went back to eating the burger and fries they had ordered earlier.
"Okay how about, `O heaven, O earth..." Rory began.
"O ears!" Lorelai mocked. "Four words and already I'm bored."
"You have a short attention span." Rory argued.
"Exactly, you need something to draw my attention." Lorelai grinned.
"This is Shakespeare! From "The Tempest." It's a beautiful and meaningful story." Rory tried to sell the idea.
Lorelai pretended to snore.
"Okay, okay, I'll think of something else."
"Thank you darling daughter. Oh Lukey! You're bride-to-be requires food!" Lorelai called. "I'll have the..."
"Usual." Luke finished coming out from the kitchen, plate in hand. "Way ahead of you."
"This is frustrating! Mom, we can't think of anything for the title!" Rory cried out.
"No, you just keep thinking of sappy ones!" Tristan countered.
"Well, you haven't come up with anything!"
"You wouldn't let me!" he complained.
"Well, what do you suggest?"
"Okay, okay. Luke, what did you say to Lorelai when you guys confessed your feelings to each other?"
"Um...well...I said `love and coffee'..." Luke trailed off.
"And then I finished by saying `it's a beautiful thing.'" Lorelai finished.
"There you go!" Tristan exclaimed.
"What?" Rory questioned.
"Love and Coffee, It's a Beautiful Thing."
Rory was about to object but Lorelai cut her off. "That's perfect! On one hand, it is something that means a lot to Luke and I and on the other hand, it'll totally confuse all of our poor relatives. You know how much I like to bug them!" she squealed.
"I give up!" Rory exclaimed tossing her book down in frustration. "I guess it could work, anything involving coffee is a good thing. Fine, love and coffee it is."
"Hey Luke!" Jess greeted entering the diner from upstairs. "Lorelai, Rory, Tristan." he acknowledged.
"Finish your homework?" Luke asked.
"It's done." Jess sighed, leaning up against the counter.
"Your uncle working you hard kid?" Lorelai asked, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"This whole `turning over a new leaf and being nice guy' thing is hard."
"Amen to that." Tristan agreed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Rory questioned.
"Well, believe it or not, I'm trying to be a better man." Tristan explained. "You have no idea how many times I have to bite my tongue to hold back all the innuendoes I have stored up here." he tapped the side of his head for emphasis.
"Poor tongue." Rory said with sarcasm.
"Don't worry, that doesn't hinder it from performing its favorite activity." he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Had to let that one slide didn't you?"
"Can't catch them all." Tristan said in amusement.
"You're incorrigible." Rory sighed shaking her head.
"Face it, you know you love me." Tristan mused pointing a fry at her.
"Is it just me," Jess whispered to Lorelai, "or do they really seem to enjoy annoying each other?"
"It's not annoyance, its flirtatious banter." Lorelai whispered back. "And yes, I do believe they enjoy it."
AN: Yay! Okay, I hope you like that! PLEASE REVIEW!!! And please go and review my other story, The Princess and the Pauper, cuz I am working really hard on that one too. Enjoy and I hope to get the next part up maybe late tomorrow (if I'm lucky) or Tuesday. Either way, reviews help me write faster! Thanks ya'll!
PS: To "x" welcome to ff.n! I'm happy you like my story. I can't pinpoint an exact episode where Chilton was referred to as hell but I'm sure it was implied. Thanks for saying my story was the best but trust me, it's not! Keep reading though!
Chapter 5
"Independence Inn, this is Lorelai speaking." she chirped.
"Lorelai?" came the other voice.
She opened her mouth in shock and nearly dropped the phone. In a shaky voice she responded.
"Max?"
"Hi Lorelai."
"Um...hi. Wow I haven't spoken to you since..." she trailed off.
"Yeah, I know since the break-up. Listen Lorelai, I really need to talk to you. Is there anyway we can meet...soon...in fact I'm free right now. There are just some things I need to tell you." he begged over the phone.
Lorelai nodded mutely.
"Lorelai?" he asked. "Are you there?"
She smacked her head with her hand. "Duh, Lorelai he can't see you nod." she muttered to herself.
"What was that?" Max asked.
"Oh...um...nothing. I guess a meeting would be okay, um...where?" she asked nervously.
"Well, we could meet in an hour at Luke's?" he suggested.
"NO!" Lorelai objected. "Um... I mean no...we can't because," she frantically searched her mind for an excuse, "he's fumigating."
"Fumigating?" Max asked skeptically.
"Yes, fumigating. There are little bugs crawling everywhere. It's a mess." she lied.
"He's not really fumigating is he?"
"No. Damn it, you know me too well." she whined.
"But you won't tell me the real reason why we can't meet there?"
"Sorry no. But how about we meet at that Starbucks in Hartford. You know, the that's like ten minutes from Hell." she suggested.
"Hell?"
"I mean Chilton." she corrected.
"Okay, an hour good?"
"Yeah, I'll be there."
"Well, I'll see you later then. Bye Lorelai."
"Bye...Max." she said hesitantly. Hanging up the phone she leaned up against the desk and buried her head in her arms. "What have I gotten myself into?" she muttered.
~
"Okay, what about, `Join us as we show our undying love for each other.'" Tristan suggested.
"Definitely not. Sounds to..." Rory searched for the word.
"Welcome to the Wonderful World of Disney-ish?" Lorelai offered, walking into the kitchen considerably less excited than before.
"Exactly!" Rory agreed. Tristan shook his head in amusement but frowned noticing Lorelai's slumped shoulders as she sat on a stool.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"What's wrong with who?" Sookie questioned coming out from around the corner, a new dish in hand.
"Me." Lorelai answered.
"Mom, what happened? Who called? You look like you're about to face the Inquisition." Rory asked concerned.
"Max called."
Sookie and Rory gasped.
"Max?" Tristan asked.
"Mr. Medina." Rory supplied.
"Wait, Medina as in our former English teacher who you were about to marry?" Tristan asked Lorelai.
"The one and only." she replied. "He called and asked to meet me."
"What? Are you going to?" Sookie exclaimed.
"Yeah, I need to get going in a few minutes. I'm nervous though. I mean what am I supposed to say when I see him? `Hey, yeah, sorry about dumping you and crushing your heart, by the way did I mention that a mere two months after I sent you packing I got engaged?' I'm doomed!" Lorelai moaned.
"Just avoid the subject." Tristan offered.
"She can't do that!" Rory smacked him upside the head.
"Ow!" He complained. "You didn't let me finish!"
"Sorry bible boy, continue."
"As I was saying, he called you first right?" he asked Lorelai.
"Yeah, he wanted to meet me."
"Well, let him do the talking and find out what he wants. Then just sort of ease into the announcement...but I suggest you phrase it differently."
"Advice noted. I've got to go." Lorelai said, hopping of the stool. "But first, cheesecake."
She quickly grabbed her utensil and brought the forkful to her mouth.
"NO!" Rory, Tristan, and Sookie yelled simultaneously.
Too late. Lorelai moaned and put on a face.
"This isn't the cheesecake is it?" she asked through her full mouth.
"It's the tofu." Rory winced.
`We tried to warn you." Tristan offered hesitantly.
Lorelai paled and began to jump up and down searching for a place to spit.
"Here!" Sookie quickly got her a paper towel.
She spit it out and had to stop herself from gagging. "Ugh, yuck! That has got to be the nastiest concoction ever created! I never thought I would say that about something you made Sookie."
"Bad decision on my part." Sookie agreed.
Lorelai suddenly grinned evilly. "Sookie, can I take this?"
"Yeah, sure? But why?" Sookie asked in surprise as Lorelai retrieved a clean fork and picked up the plate.
"Ooh, nothing." she said innocently.
Walking out of the kitchen she wiped off the smile and put on a serious face.
"Michel? I'm going out for the night. Okay?" she informed him.
"You'll be dearly missed." he answered sarcastically.
"I'm sure. Hey, this is a new pumpkin cheesecake that Sookie made you want some?" she offered.
Michel rolled his eyes. "Fine."
"Bye Michel." she waved cheerily.
He eyed the plate. "What could it hurt?"
Picking up the fork he took a large portion and put it in his mouth.
"AAHHHH! THAT'S NOT CHEESECAKE!" he screamed.
Lorelai, who was halfway out the door just laughed.
~
Lorelai entered the Starbucks and looked around nervously. She really didn't want to tell him about the wedding. How would you feel if your ex-fiancée was engaged again after only a few months? Especially to a guy that she assured you was just a friend?
~Oh, this cannot end well~ Lorelai thought.
Spying Max in the corner with two cups of coffee in front of him she put her ring on the other hand and turned the diamond on the inside. ~No use walking over with a huge sign that I'm engaged~
"Hey Max." she said softly.
"Lorelai, hey. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show."
"Yeah well I was slightly delayed. There was this whole incident with pumpkin tofu and Michel running out to kill me. Then Tristan had to pry him away and the sad thing is that I'm not lying." she explained, quickly relaxing.
"Wow, that's some story." Max breathed. "When you say Tristan you mean...?"
"DuGrey." Lorelai affirmed.
"Yeah, I've started seeing him around school with Rory, I thought they hated each other though."
"That's old news. His parents forgot his birthday so Rory stepped in and had the whole town plan this huge bash. They only been friends for two weeks and yet they're already connected at the hip!"
"Yeah, that's great. You know I see Rory around school sometimes but...well neither of us has been exactly comfortable about talking to each other. In fact, that's why I wanted to meet you."
"Max..." Lorelai began.
"No, please, hear me out. I'm begging you to not interrupt me as I say this." he paused waiting for a response, hearing none he continued. "Lorelai, these past few months have been really hard. I remember the last time we broke up, it was my fault and you came back and made me see how much I care about you. Well, you broke it off this time and now I'm asking you to take me back."
"Max..." Lorelai protested. He leaned forward and took the hand without the ring.
"Hear me out. I miss you. I really do. These past two months have been a total nightmare and seeing Rory in school does not help. I want to be able to be comfortable around her and you. I want to marry you. I want to be her step-dad. Lorelai Gilmore, I love..."
"I'm engaged!" Lorelai blurted out.
Max leaned back in shock.
"What?!" he asked.
"I'm...I'm engaged. To someone else." she repeated hesitantly.
"Whoa, wow, so soon. I didn't expect you to move on so quickly."
"I know, I know. It was so unexpected."
"I didn't exactly expect you to move on at all. Jeez, do you mind if I ask who? How? When?"
"Well, Luke actually."
Max sighed. "I knew he liked you. It was in his eyes. I thought you told me you were just friends!?"
"We were!" Lorelai exclaimed in defense. "But...Max, after we broke it off I was so depressed. I kept asking myself why...how did I let a great guy go. I thought about it and I realized it's the same reason why I couldn't take Christopher back, why I couldn't marry you, why every other relationship I was in failed. I love Luke. I always have but I didn't realize it until recently. He felt the same way."
"How could you not know that you've been in love with him for what, how many years?" Max asked.
"Because both of us tried to fight our emotions. I was afraid. I didn't want to love him and he didn't want to love me but when we both realized it, there was no denying it."
"So, how long were you dating before he proposed?"
"Well," Lorelai said hesitantly, "he proposed about four days ago. We had been officially dating for...two weeks." Lorelai winced.
"WHAT?!" Max exploded. "How do you know you really love this guy?! This is so rushed!"
"I know, I know its rushed. Max, Luke and I have loved each other for so long. We know everything about the other one and I can see him in our life, in Rory's and mine. Jess too. The two of us have lost so much time together already. There is no doubt in my mind that I want to spend the rest of my life with this man. I saw that when I realized that I could not imagine what life would be like if he weren't there. There's no point in delaying what would happen anyway. I want this so badly and if you truly cared for me, you wouldn't try to stop this." she pleaded.
Max nodded. "Just answer me this, are you happy with him? Don't just answer, think about this. Are you truly happy and confident that you want this?"
Lorelai paused to consider. Images of Luke passed through her mind and she knew the answer. "Yes, I've never been happier in my life."
"Then, I guess all I can say is...congratulations." he said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"Thank you Max."
"So, when is the big day?"
"June 12^th. For no reason in particular, we just liked that date. I wanted to invite you but..."
Max held up his hand. "No, Lorelai...right now, I think its just too hard. Maybe by then I'll have moved on but at the moment...I just don't want to think about it. If I do decide I can come, I'll let you know."
Lorelai nodded. He stood up to leave.
"Well Lorelai Gilmore, I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too Max Medina." she said shaking his hand.
"Lorelai, can I just ask you one more thing? If Luke wasn't there, would we have had a chance?"
Lorelai opened her mouth to reply. "Wait!" Max interrupted. "Never mind, I don't think either answer would make me feel better."
Lorelai nodded again and looked down. As soon as he was out the door she looked up.
"If there wasn't a Luke, I wouldn't be here. Two different worlds Max, either way, we weren't meant to be." she whispered.
~
"Okay, okay what about...'Love is as Sweet as a Flower that Blooms Forever' for the cover?" Rory suggested.
"Does that sound like something I would put on my wedding invitations?" Luke said looking her in the eye.
"Definitely not. Where are you getting this stuff kid?" Lorelai asked walking into the diner.
She was more than relieved to find Rory and Tristan had relocated to Luke's for dinner. Sitting next to Rory and giving Luke a small kiss on the lips she put on her pleading face. Luke rolled his eyes in return and poured her a cup of coffee.
"It's from a book of romantic quotes." Rory said defensively.
"Jeez Mary, is there anything you don't read?" Tristan asked jokingly.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Ya know, for being named after the god of love your not living up to your name Mac."
Tristan smirked and got ready for his rebuttal.
"Why do I sense the return of the Evil One?" Rory muttered.
"Well, in response to your first comment, I could but there are young children around, that and Luke is giving me the overprotective father glare." Tristan noted. "If not for that, oh the things I could think of."
"And there he is. Welcome back Damien, long time no see." Rory said sarcastically.
Tristan merely ruffled her hair and went back to eating the burger and fries they had ordered earlier.
"Okay how about, `O heaven, O earth..." Rory began.
"O ears!" Lorelai mocked. "Four words and already I'm bored."
"You have a short attention span." Rory argued.
"Exactly, you need something to draw my attention." Lorelai grinned.
"This is Shakespeare! From "The Tempest." It's a beautiful and meaningful story." Rory tried to sell the idea.
Lorelai pretended to snore.
"Okay, okay, I'll think of something else."
"Thank you darling daughter. Oh Lukey! You're bride-to-be requires food!" Lorelai called. "I'll have the..."
"Usual." Luke finished coming out from the kitchen, plate in hand. "Way ahead of you."
"This is frustrating! Mom, we can't think of anything for the title!" Rory cried out.
"No, you just keep thinking of sappy ones!" Tristan countered.
"Well, you haven't come up with anything!"
"You wouldn't let me!" he complained.
"Well, what do you suggest?"
"Okay, okay. Luke, what did you say to Lorelai when you guys confessed your feelings to each other?"
"Um...well...I said `love and coffee'..." Luke trailed off.
"And then I finished by saying `it's a beautiful thing.'" Lorelai finished.
"There you go!" Tristan exclaimed.
"What?" Rory questioned.
"Love and Coffee, It's a Beautiful Thing."
Rory was about to object but Lorelai cut her off. "That's perfect! On one hand, it is something that means a lot to Luke and I and on the other hand, it'll totally confuse all of our poor relatives. You know how much I like to bug them!" she squealed.
"I give up!" Rory exclaimed tossing her book down in frustration. "I guess it could work, anything involving coffee is a good thing. Fine, love and coffee it is."
"Hey Luke!" Jess greeted entering the diner from upstairs. "Lorelai, Rory, Tristan." he acknowledged.
"Finish your homework?" Luke asked.
"It's done." Jess sighed, leaning up against the counter.
"Your uncle working you hard kid?" Lorelai asked, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"This whole `turning over a new leaf and being nice guy' thing is hard."
"Amen to that." Tristan agreed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Rory questioned.
"Well, believe it or not, I'm trying to be a better man." Tristan explained. "You have no idea how many times I have to bite my tongue to hold back all the innuendoes I have stored up here." he tapped the side of his head for emphasis.
"Poor tongue." Rory said with sarcasm.
"Don't worry, that doesn't hinder it from performing its favorite activity." he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Had to let that one slide didn't you?"
"Can't catch them all." Tristan said in amusement.
"You're incorrigible." Rory sighed shaking her head.
"Face it, you know you love me." Tristan mused pointing a fry at her.
"Is it just me," Jess whispered to Lorelai, "or do they really seem to enjoy annoying each other?"
"It's not annoyance, its flirtatious banter." Lorelai whispered back. "And yes, I do believe they enjoy it."
AN: Yay! Okay, I hope you like that! PLEASE REVIEW!!! And please go and review my other story, The Princess and the Pauper, cuz I am working really hard on that one too. Enjoy and I hope to get the next part up maybe late tomorrow (if I'm lucky) or Tuesday. Either way, reviews help me write faster! Thanks ya'll!
PS: To "x" welcome to ff.n! I'm happy you like my story. I can't pinpoint an exact episode where Chilton was referred to as hell but I'm sure it was implied. Thanks for saying my story was the best but trust me, it's not! Keep reading though!
