A/N: Sorry about the tremendously long wait but I've been caught up in
another one of my stories (not to mention school work) that has taken up
most of my free time. Sorry again!! This chapter doesn't include much
troryness. And if its kind of a cliff hanger I'm sorry. (don't hurt me!)
But next chapter will be a BIG turning point! ::has the plot all planned
out:: Ookay here goes!
***
"Mom, you know I don't believe in fairy tales," Rory states simply as she sets her coffee mug on the kitchen table. Her mother gives her a skeptical look.
"Of course you do. Remember when you were six and you saw 'The Little Mermaid'? You wanted to be just like her. Remember I bought you that cute red wig and you wore it all around town?" explains Lorelei, a huge mocking grin on his face. Rory gives her a look of utter disbelief. Disregarding her mother's comment Rory continues.
"I'm just saying that there's no way Lane's going to walk into Henry's wedding with me, and then walk out of the wedding hand in hand with him. It just doesn't work that way."
"You're too realistic. Can't you use that imagination you used to have? Or have you lost that along with your sense of who's hot and who's not?" Lorelei asks pointing her finger accusingly at her daughter. Rory's brow furrow in confusion.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Lorelei takes a sip of her coffee.
"What's what supposed to mean babe?"
"You said I've lost my imagination and who's hot and who's not?" Rory asks confusion still written across her face.
"Oh that!" Lorelei exclaims with a short laugh. When Rory's expression remains blank she clears her throat loudly. "When I was in Hartford today guess who I saw on the front page of the local newspaper?" Rory merely looks puzzled.
"Who?"
"The Dugrey family." Rory's face visibly pales. Lorelei grins at her daughter's reaction.
"If you want to see it I picked one up for ya'!" Lorelei reaches behind her and drags the newspaper from the counter, plopping it loudly in front of Rory. Rory's eyes suddenly lock on the black and white photo strategically placed in the very center of the front page. Above the photo reads in big, black, bold letters, "Dugrey Heir Promised Fortune". Rory's brow furrows as she stares at Tristan's smiling face. She knew that smile, and she knew it wasn't real.
"How come you never told me Tristan was so damn hot!" Lorelei suddenly exclaims out of nowhere. Rory jerks her head at her mother, giving her a dangerous death glare.
"You've got to be kidding me. How can you think that after all he's done to me! He's so arrogant, and rude, and utterly." Lorelei suddenly interrupts.
"Gorgeous?" Rory huffs.
"I was going to say intolerable, Mother," Rory snaps blandly. Lorelei's smirk suddenly broadens to a wide grin.
"Ohhh you think so too! You think Tristan Dugrey is gorgeous!" Lorelei taunts in a high pitched shrill. Rory stares at her mother.
"Mom, please," she says simply as she rises to her feet, mug in hand.
"You like Tristan you think he's a hottie!" Lorelei's taunting rings all the way down the hallway as Rory makes her way out the door, and down the steps.
Rory's eyes immediately shoot to the dimming evening sky. The swirling clouds from earlier that day had now disappeared from Stars Hollow. At the thought of the crazy weather, Rory's mind instantly runs back to the moment in the closet with Tristan. The look in his insanely blue eyes as he advanced on her was so seducing she was sure she had forgotten how to breathe. His blond tousled hair, looked even more touchable and at that very moment the urge to roughly run her hands through its golden mess was almost unbearable.
At these thoughts Rory can feel her face suddenly grow hot, and she shakes herself from her gaze. Silently cursing herself she swiftly makes her way down the street towards the center of Stars Hollow where their Chinese food, readily prepared, is waiting for them at the take out counter. She quickly reaches her destination, pays for the food, and is again passing through the small town, two heavy paper bags filled with delicious Asian food in her hands. As she walks past the video rental store she suddenly slows to a complete stop, gazing into the dark windows. She smiles, remembering the last time she had been walking past the dark store, carrying her heavy bags of take out.
One thought came to mind, Jess. Her smile quickly disappears as a hollow feeling suddenly settles in the pit of her stomach. Jess is gone, back to his Mother in New York, away. She hadn't seen him since he left three months ago, or heard of him. Even though Luke refused to show it, the boy's leaving had left him heartbroken; he loves his nephew very much. No one really knows why he decided to go back, he just did.
Rory's shoulders slump as she walks on. Upon reaching her porch where she sulkily walks up the steps, she finds Lorelei waiting impatiently inside by the door. Rory gives her a peculiar look.
"Heaven forbid you come outside," Rory states sarcastically. Lorelei raises a brow.
"What happen to you!?" she questions as she takes a bag from her hand and pulls her into the house. She takes a nervous glance out the screened door before following her daughter into the kitchen. Rory plops down into a chair instantly followed by her mother who hadn't even waited until she was seated to start opening boxes of food. Rory rolls her eyes.
"Do I have to repeat myself?" Lorelei says not looking to her daughter, but instead looking across the kitchen and out the window.
"Repeat what?" Rory asks innocently, knowing exactly what she was referring to, hoping with all hope that her mother's short attention span would prove to be useful and she would forget the question all together. With no such luck, Rory groans as Lorelei looks sharply from the window back to her.
"Fine. I was passing by the movie rental and I started thinking about how much I miss Jess." Rory lets her sentence trail off, biting her lower lip. Lorelei expression instantly softens and she takes her daughter's hand gently into her own.
"I know Ror, me too. Luke does too." Rory gives her mother a weak smile.
"I just don't understand why he left! I didn't think he could do that to Luke." Lorelei shakes her head at the all too familiar conversation they were again about to start up.
"Rory." Lorelei warns as she digs a finger into a box of food. Rory sighs as she watches her mother disgustingly pick out a piece of chicken and plop it in her mouth.
"Mom, we have utensils," she says as she stands and walks to the drawer. Lorelei gapes at her daughter in shock.
"I thought my own daughter knew me better!" she suddenly exclaims causing Rory to smile. She loves it when her mother does that. Turning a tense situation into something easier to handle. Rory grabs a few forks and returns to her seat at the kitchen table. The two sit in silence, munching on Pot Stickers and Crab Rangoon. Rory suddenly looks to her mom curiously.
"So you really think Tristan's hot?" Rory asks her mother, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Lorelei looks to her daughter, studying her expression.
"Of course babe. And if I'm not mistaken you think so too." Lorelei smiles as her daughter gives her a flustered look.
"I already said I do not!" Rory exclaims as she stands to her feet. Lorelei has a puzzled expression.
"Where are you going?" she asks her daughter.
"I have to study." Rory turns towards her room door just as the phone rings, causing both Gilmores to jump. Lorelei looks to Rory, to the phone, and then back to Rory. Rolling her eyes Rory grabs it off the counter.
"Hello?" she says into the phone. Lorelei stands and moves towards her. She perches her ear on the other side of the phone so she can hear as well. The line remains silent.
"Uh, hello?" Rory repeats. The silence pursues before there's a click and the line goes dead. Rory looks to her mom.
"What's wrong with the phone?" she asks her pushing the talk button repeatedly. "It's not working!" she exclaims. Lorelei hastily grabs it from her hand.
"Let's see." she trails off as she begins to fiddle with all its buttons. "Why are there so many buttons on a single phone? What could they possibly all be for?" Lorelei mumbles as she continues to press buttons. She shrugs.
"I don't think it's the phone babe. Something must have happen to the line. Let's check the wires." With that Lorelei grabs her daughters hand, the phone still in her other, and she drags her out of the house to the corner where the phone line meets the house. Rory gasps seeing that the line is no longer plugged into the house, but dangling from its pole, swaying back and forth as if it had to just been touched. Rory nudges her mom nervously.
"How do you think that happen?" she asks the older Gilmore. Lorelei purses her lips, shaking her head. "I don't know," is her mumbled reply. Gripping her daughters arm she slowly pulls her towards the front door.
"Mom what are you doing?" Rory asks confused. Lorelei proceeds to drag Rory into the house, grab her keys from the table beside the front door, and then drag her back out towards the car. "Uh, Mom." Rory repeats.
"Get in," Lorelei instructs her daughter, getting in behind the wheel. Confused, Rory does as she's told. Lorelei then pulls out of the driveway.
"Mom!" Rory exclaims trying to get her to explain. "Where are we going already?"
"Luke's." Rory's confused expression suddenly disappears as she realizes her mother's intentions.
"Mom you know you can't just walk in there and expect Luke to drop everything to come fix our phone line do you?" Lorelei's eyes stay locked on the road in front of them. She nervously takes a glance at her rear- view mirror. Rory's brows furrow. "Mom what's wrong?" Rory asks softly, looking worried.
"I don't know Rory. All day I've had this weird feeling that someone was out there, looking in our windows. Its been bothering me the entire day, and this little incident has pushed me to go to Luke for help," she explains as they slowly come up to the front of Luke's restaurant. The two get of the car, closing their car doors in unison.
"How can he help mom? He's working." The two enter the restaurant, not at all surprised by the large number of people populating its tables. Lorelei steers Rory in the direction of the counter.
"LUKE!" Lorelei yells loudly, knowing it will get his attention as it always does. Luke's annoyed face appears around the corner leading to the kitchen.
"I'm busy," he says his voice agitated. He starts to turn back to the kitchen, when he notices the two Gilmore's worried expressions. He immediately strides to them.
"What happen?" he asks trying not to sound too concerned. Lorelei explains the day's events to him quickly, her words and sentences rushed together nervously. Not used to seeing Lorelei act this way Luke shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other, studying the two all the while.
"So what do you want me to do about it?" he asks sounding more concerned than anything. Rory looks to her mother expectantly.
"Well." Lorelei begins. She lets out a long sigh. "I know you're busy Luke, but I'm nervous about being at our house all alone with Rory. We're helpless damsels in distress! Lukey please come save us!" she exclaims, her words meant to be funny but her tone of voice too shaken up to be considered comical. Luke takes one quick glance around his crowded restaurant, before nodding his head.
"Alright I'll stay with you guys for a while. But just a little while! I have work to do you know," he says wiping down the counter with a wash cloth. Lorelei gives him a big smile.
"Thanks Luke." Rory nods her thanks as well.
***
When they had returned from the diner, with Luke of course, they found their house eerily quiet. Usually the TV was blaring or Lorelei had music blasting through the house, but when they walked up the front porch steps, the only noise to be heard was the creaking of the old screen door's hinges. Lorelei manages to guide them into the house, Luke taking up the rear and Rory safely settled in the middle of their sauntering line. By the time they had reached the kitchen, the only thing suspicious was that their phone had been properly placed upon its receiver.
Now, Lorelei stops dead in her tracks, causing the rest of the line to bump into one another. Luke, who had somehow managed to bang his knee on a coffee table, mutters under his breath in agitation.
"Mom, why'd you stop?" Rory suddenly asks, her voice seeming to pierce the silence. Lorelei remains silent, standing stiff as a log. Noticing this, Rory's stomach suddenly churns in fear. But before she can ask her anything, though, her eyes follow her mother's gaze, which is locked on the Gilmore's partially cracked open back door. Rory stifles a squeak. Luke, not noticing their locked stares, clears his throat loudly.
"Hello? Ladies! Why don't you just walk into the kitchen instead of standing in the hall like a bunch of morons," he says nudging Rory forward. Her feet remain planted in their place, much to his surprise. Noticing her concerned expression he follows her gaze to the cracked door. Trying to be as manly as possible he slowly walks past them into the kitchen. He glances around a bit, looking for something, or someone, out of the ordinary. Seeing nothing he shrugs, turning back to the still frozen Gilmores.
"There's nothing here," he says nonchalantly. The two look to each other for a moment, then sigh loudly in unison. Luke notices both of their exhausted expressions.
"I always knew that some day you would tire each other out," he explains with a short smirk before shaking his head in disbelief. Lorelei, who had plopped into one of the kitchen table chairs, merely sticks her tongue out at him. For Luke, the temptation is too great, and he quickly grabs her exposed tongue, surprising her entirely. He smirks as she tries to speak but nothing comes out but a short "ugh".
"What was that Lorelei? I should've thought to do this before.it sure shuts you up." Luke begins to sit but Lorelei's quick reflexes gets the best of poor Luke and as he sits she kicks the chair away, making Luke miss the chair entirely and land hard with a bang on the hard kitchen floor. This causes him to release his grip on her tongue and she quickly clucks it to make sure it's still fully functional after such a horrid experience. Luke stares up at her angrily. Lorelei merely smirks in triumph.
"That was uncalled for!" Luke exclaims angrily. Rory, who had retreated to her room the moment she became "unfrozen", pokes her head out her door.
"What happen, I heard a loud bang?" she asks staring at Luke. She raises a brow and he merely huffs in agitation. He begins to stand to his feet but Lorelei instantly rests her feet on his leg, pinning him down.
"Lorelei, stop this! Get your damn feet off me!" he growls trying his best to sound angry but still unable to hide the amusement in his voice. Lorelei grins at him.
"Lukey." she begins poking out her lower lip in a huge pout. Rory, who had been watching the two, instantly retreats her head back into her room, fearful of the playful flirting about to occur in her kitchen. Sighing to herself she plops onto her bed, immediately staring to her ceiling. Before her mind could wonder, though, something on her chair by the window caught her eye. It was a thick book, one she didn't recognize. Pealing herself from the bed she strides over to the chair, seeing that the book is not one of hers. She picks it up, reading the title to be "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", she realizes the book is definitely not hers. Wondering where it came from she opens the cover causing a piece of paper to fall from it and landing gently at Rory's feet. She bends over and picks it up, reading its scribbled, yet decipherable, writing. She began to read it, her eyes swiftly trailing across the page.
Rory, You probably are wondering how this book, one you wouldn't normally be interested in reading, suddenly appeared in your room? I'm giving it to you, a gift. I read it numerous times and I'll tell you for a children's book it's really interesting. For a change I actually can't wait until they make a movie out of it. Anyway, it's yours now, I hope you enjoy it.
Rory, I just wanted to leave you a reminder of me, Jess. I was originally returning to Stars Hollow to stay, but when I arrived I found you and your mom to be going about your usual business, like you did before I left. Actually the entire town's going about its usual business. I realized that me coming back wasn't necessary, so I decided, after waiting for you to get home all day, that I was going to leave you one of my few personal possessions. I'm so sorry for leaving the first time and not saying goodbye. So I'll make it up to you, and say it to you now.
I've missed you Rory, and Luke. You two were the only one's who actually showed any liking towards me. Even though I didn't show it, I appreciated that very much. Thank you. I'd also like to thank you for being you. You brought the only enjoyment into my dreary life. Even though I hated this town, I still didn't want to leave it. I knew I would miss you too much. I'm sorry for doing this, but I just couldn't bear to say goodbye in person. So I'm saying it here. Rory, I care for you dearly, more than you probably realize. Goodbye. ~Jess
Rory can feel the tears stinging at the corners of her blue eyes as she reads his final words. Biting her lip she looks between the book and the note, and the days events suddenly become clear to her. A squeal from the kitchen suddenly brings Rory from her thoughts, and she blinks away the tears. She sighs as she realizes she will have time to think about this later. Rory opens the door to her room to find Lorelei pinned on the ground beneath Luke's foot, squirming with all her might to get away from the heavy boots. "Luke!! Get off!!" Lorelei squeals between giggles. He merely smirks down at her.
"Nu uh. This is payback," he says gently placing more pressure on her leg. She swats at it hoping to get it off.
"Luke! I'm warning you. I'll scream!" Luke stops pressing down. He studies her a moment before growling under his breath and bringing his boot away from her. She stands to her feet in triumph.
"Ha! I knew that'd get you." Rory clears her throat loudly, announcing her presence for the first time. At the sound of her voice the two snap their heads in her direction, both wondering how long she had been standing there. The frown on Rory's face quickly distracts Lorelei.
"Hunny what's wrong?" Lorelei asks stepping towards her. Rory holds up the note in her hand. The two Gilmore's close the distance between each other, Rory being claimed by her mother's comforting arms. Rory hands her the note, all the while watching her mothers eyes swiftly cross the page. When she finishes she brings her daughter into a giant bear hug.
"I'm sorry babe." Rory chokes back a sob, but instead she lets the tears flow freely, silently. Luke approaches them, and Lorelei silently hands him the note. Upon reading it he hesitates, before also being excepted into the elder Gilmore's warm arms. The three stay locked in the comforting brace for some time, as if they were a family.
***
"Mom, you know I don't believe in fairy tales," Rory states simply as she sets her coffee mug on the kitchen table. Her mother gives her a skeptical look.
"Of course you do. Remember when you were six and you saw 'The Little Mermaid'? You wanted to be just like her. Remember I bought you that cute red wig and you wore it all around town?" explains Lorelei, a huge mocking grin on his face. Rory gives her a look of utter disbelief. Disregarding her mother's comment Rory continues.
"I'm just saying that there's no way Lane's going to walk into Henry's wedding with me, and then walk out of the wedding hand in hand with him. It just doesn't work that way."
"You're too realistic. Can't you use that imagination you used to have? Or have you lost that along with your sense of who's hot and who's not?" Lorelei asks pointing her finger accusingly at her daughter. Rory's brow furrow in confusion.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Lorelei takes a sip of her coffee.
"What's what supposed to mean babe?"
"You said I've lost my imagination and who's hot and who's not?" Rory asks confusion still written across her face.
"Oh that!" Lorelei exclaims with a short laugh. When Rory's expression remains blank she clears her throat loudly. "When I was in Hartford today guess who I saw on the front page of the local newspaper?" Rory merely looks puzzled.
"Who?"
"The Dugrey family." Rory's face visibly pales. Lorelei grins at her daughter's reaction.
"If you want to see it I picked one up for ya'!" Lorelei reaches behind her and drags the newspaper from the counter, plopping it loudly in front of Rory. Rory's eyes suddenly lock on the black and white photo strategically placed in the very center of the front page. Above the photo reads in big, black, bold letters, "Dugrey Heir Promised Fortune". Rory's brow furrows as she stares at Tristan's smiling face. She knew that smile, and she knew it wasn't real.
"How come you never told me Tristan was so damn hot!" Lorelei suddenly exclaims out of nowhere. Rory jerks her head at her mother, giving her a dangerous death glare.
"You've got to be kidding me. How can you think that after all he's done to me! He's so arrogant, and rude, and utterly." Lorelei suddenly interrupts.
"Gorgeous?" Rory huffs.
"I was going to say intolerable, Mother," Rory snaps blandly. Lorelei's smirk suddenly broadens to a wide grin.
"Ohhh you think so too! You think Tristan Dugrey is gorgeous!" Lorelei taunts in a high pitched shrill. Rory stares at her mother.
"Mom, please," she says simply as she rises to her feet, mug in hand.
"You like Tristan you think he's a hottie!" Lorelei's taunting rings all the way down the hallway as Rory makes her way out the door, and down the steps.
Rory's eyes immediately shoot to the dimming evening sky. The swirling clouds from earlier that day had now disappeared from Stars Hollow. At the thought of the crazy weather, Rory's mind instantly runs back to the moment in the closet with Tristan. The look in his insanely blue eyes as he advanced on her was so seducing she was sure she had forgotten how to breathe. His blond tousled hair, looked even more touchable and at that very moment the urge to roughly run her hands through its golden mess was almost unbearable.
At these thoughts Rory can feel her face suddenly grow hot, and she shakes herself from her gaze. Silently cursing herself she swiftly makes her way down the street towards the center of Stars Hollow where their Chinese food, readily prepared, is waiting for them at the take out counter. She quickly reaches her destination, pays for the food, and is again passing through the small town, two heavy paper bags filled with delicious Asian food in her hands. As she walks past the video rental store she suddenly slows to a complete stop, gazing into the dark windows. She smiles, remembering the last time she had been walking past the dark store, carrying her heavy bags of take out.
One thought came to mind, Jess. Her smile quickly disappears as a hollow feeling suddenly settles in the pit of her stomach. Jess is gone, back to his Mother in New York, away. She hadn't seen him since he left three months ago, or heard of him. Even though Luke refused to show it, the boy's leaving had left him heartbroken; he loves his nephew very much. No one really knows why he decided to go back, he just did.
Rory's shoulders slump as she walks on. Upon reaching her porch where she sulkily walks up the steps, she finds Lorelei waiting impatiently inside by the door. Rory gives her a peculiar look.
"Heaven forbid you come outside," Rory states sarcastically. Lorelei raises a brow.
"What happen to you!?" she questions as she takes a bag from her hand and pulls her into the house. She takes a nervous glance out the screened door before following her daughter into the kitchen. Rory plops down into a chair instantly followed by her mother who hadn't even waited until she was seated to start opening boxes of food. Rory rolls her eyes.
"Do I have to repeat myself?" Lorelei says not looking to her daughter, but instead looking across the kitchen and out the window.
"Repeat what?" Rory asks innocently, knowing exactly what she was referring to, hoping with all hope that her mother's short attention span would prove to be useful and she would forget the question all together. With no such luck, Rory groans as Lorelei looks sharply from the window back to her.
"Fine. I was passing by the movie rental and I started thinking about how much I miss Jess." Rory lets her sentence trail off, biting her lower lip. Lorelei expression instantly softens and she takes her daughter's hand gently into her own.
"I know Ror, me too. Luke does too." Rory gives her mother a weak smile.
"I just don't understand why he left! I didn't think he could do that to Luke." Lorelei shakes her head at the all too familiar conversation they were again about to start up.
"Rory." Lorelei warns as she digs a finger into a box of food. Rory sighs as she watches her mother disgustingly pick out a piece of chicken and plop it in her mouth.
"Mom, we have utensils," she says as she stands and walks to the drawer. Lorelei gapes at her daughter in shock.
"I thought my own daughter knew me better!" she suddenly exclaims causing Rory to smile. She loves it when her mother does that. Turning a tense situation into something easier to handle. Rory grabs a few forks and returns to her seat at the kitchen table. The two sit in silence, munching on Pot Stickers and Crab Rangoon. Rory suddenly looks to her mom curiously.
"So you really think Tristan's hot?" Rory asks her mother, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Lorelei looks to her daughter, studying her expression.
"Of course babe. And if I'm not mistaken you think so too." Lorelei smiles as her daughter gives her a flustered look.
"I already said I do not!" Rory exclaims as she stands to her feet. Lorelei has a puzzled expression.
"Where are you going?" she asks her daughter.
"I have to study." Rory turns towards her room door just as the phone rings, causing both Gilmores to jump. Lorelei looks to Rory, to the phone, and then back to Rory. Rolling her eyes Rory grabs it off the counter.
"Hello?" she says into the phone. Lorelei stands and moves towards her. She perches her ear on the other side of the phone so she can hear as well. The line remains silent.
"Uh, hello?" Rory repeats. The silence pursues before there's a click and the line goes dead. Rory looks to her mom.
"What's wrong with the phone?" she asks her pushing the talk button repeatedly. "It's not working!" she exclaims. Lorelei hastily grabs it from her hand.
"Let's see." she trails off as she begins to fiddle with all its buttons. "Why are there so many buttons on a single phone? What could they possibly all be for?" Lorelei mumbles as she continues to press buttons. She shrugs.
"I don't think it's the phone babe. Something must have happen to the line. Let's check the wires." With that Lorelei grabs her daughters hand, the phone still in her other, and she drags her out of the house to the corner where the phone line meets the house. Rory gasps seeing that the line is no longer plugged into the house, but dangling from its pole, swaying back and forth as if it had to just been touched. Rory nudges her mom nervously.
"How do you think that happen?" she asks the older Gilmore. Lorelei purses her lips, shaking her head. "I don't know," is her mumbled reply. Gripping her daughters arm she slowly pulls her towards the front door.
"Mom what are you doing?" Rory asks confused. Lorelei proceeds to drag Rory into the house, grab her keys from the table beside the front door, and then drag her back out towards the car. "Uh, Mom." Rory repeats.
"Get in," Lorelei instructs her daughter, getting in behind the wheel. Confused, Rory does as she's told. Lorelei then pulls out of the driveway.
"Mom!" Rory exclaims trying to get her to explain. "Where are we going already?"
"Luke's." Rory's confused expression suddenly disappears as she realizes her mother's intentions.
"Mom you know you can't just walk in there and expect Luke to drop everything to come fix our phone line do you?" Lorelei's eyes stay locked on the road in front of them. She nervously takes a glance at her rear- view mirror. Rory's brows furrow. "Mom what's wrong?" Rory asks softly, looking worried.
"I don't know Rory. All day I've had this weird feeling that someone was out there, looking in our windows. Its been bothering me the entire day, and this little incident has pushed me to go to Luke for help," she explains as they slowly come up to the front of Luke's restaurant. The two get of the car, closing their car doors in unison.
"How can he help mom? He's working." The two enter the restaurant, not at all surprised by the large number of people populating its tables. Lorelei steers Rory in the direction of the counter.
"LUKE!" Lorelei yells loudly, knowing it will get his attention as it always does. Luke's annoyed face appears around the corner leading to the kitchen.
"I'm busy," he says his voice agitated. He starts to turn back to the kitchen, when he notices the two Gilmore's worried expressions. He immediately strides to them.
"What happen?" he asks trying not to sound too concerned. Lorelei explains the day's events to him quickly, her words and sentences rushed together nervously. Not used to seeing Lorelei act this way Luke shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other, studying the two all the while.
"So what do you want me to do about it?" he asks sounding more concerned than anything. Rory looks to her mother expectantly.
"Well." Lorelei begins. She lets out a long sigh. "I know you're busy Luke, but I'm nervous about being at our house all alone with Rory. We're helpless damsels in distress! Lukey please come save us!" she exclaims, her words meant to be funny but her tone of voice too shaken up to be considered comical. Luke takes one quick glance around his crowded restaurant, before nodding his head.
"Alright I'll stay with you guys for a while. But just a little while! I have work to do you know," he says wiping down the counter with a wash cloth. Lorelei gives him a big smile.
"Thanks Luke." Rory nods her thanks as well.
***
When they had returned from the diner, with Luke of course, they found their house eerily quiet. Usually the TV was blaring or Lorelei had music blasting through the house, but when they walked up the front porch steps, the only noise to be heard was the creaking of the old screen door's hinges. Lorelei manages to guide them into the house, Luke taking up the rear and Rory safely settled in the middle of their sauntering line. By the time they had reached the kitchen, the only thing suspicious was that their phone had been properly placed upon its receiver.
Now, Lorelei stops dead in her tracks, causing the rest of the line to bump into one another. Luke, who had somehow managed to bang his knee on a coffee table, mutters under his breath in agitation.
"Mom, why'd you stop?" Rory suddenly asks, her voice seeming to pierce the silence. Lorelei remains silent, standing stiff as a log. Noticing this, Rory's stomach suddenly churns in fear. But before she can ask her anything, though, her eyes follow her mother's gaze, which is locked on the Gilmore's partially cracked open back door. Rory stifles a squeak. Luke, not noticing their locked stares, clears his throat loudly.
"Hello? Ladies! Why don't you just walk into the kitchen instead of standing in the hall like a bunch of morons," he says nudging Rory forward. Her feet remain planted in their place, much to his surprise. Noticing her concerned expression he follows her gaze to the cracked door. Trying to be as manly as possible he slowly walks past them into the kitchen. He glances around a bit, looking for something, or someone, out of the ordinary. Seeing nothing he shrugs, turning back to the still frozen Gilmores.
"There's nothing here," he says nonchalantly. The two look to each other for a moment, then sigh loudly in unison. Luke notices both of their exhausted expressions.
"I always knew that some day you would tire each other out," he explains with a short smirk before shaking his head in disbelief. Lorelei, who had plopped into one of the kitchen table chairs, merely sticks her tongue out at him. For Luke, the temptation is too great, and he quickly grabs her exposed tongue, surprising her entirely. He smirks as she tries to speak but nothing comes out but a short "ugh".
"What was that Lorelei? I should've thought to do this before.it sure shuts you up." Luke begins to sit but Lorelei's quick reflexes gets the best of poor Luke and as he sits she kicks the chair away, making Luke miss the chair entirely and land hard with a bang on the hard kitchen floor. This causes him to release his grip on her tongue and she quickly clucks it to make sure it's still fully functional after such a horrid experience. Luke stares up at her angrily. Lorelei merely smirks in triumph.
"That was uncalled for!" Luke exclaims angrily. Rory, who had retreated to her room the moment she became "unfrozen", pokes her head out her door.
"What happen, I heard a loud bang?" she asks staring at Luke. She raises a brow and he merely huffs in agitation. He begins to stand to his feet but Lorelei instantly rests her feet on his leg, pinning him down.
"Lorelei, stop this! Get your damn feet off me!" he growls trying his best to sound angry but still unable to hide the amusement in his voice. Lorelei grins at him.
"Lukey." she begins poking out her lower lip in a huge pout. Rory, who had been watching the two, instantly retreats her head back into her room, fearful of the playful flirting about to occur in her kitchen. Sighing to herself she plops onto her bed, immediately staring to her ceiling. Before her mind could wonder, though, something on her chair by the window caught her eye. It was a thick book, one she didn't recognize. Pealing herself from the bed she strides over to the chair, seeing that the book is not one of hers. She picks it up, reading the title to be "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", she realizes the book is definitely not hers. Wondering where it came from she opens the cover causing a piece of paper to fall from it and landing gently at Rory's feet. She bends over and picks it up, reading its scribbled, yet decipherable, writing. She began to read it, her eyes swiftly trailing across the page.
Rory, You probably are wondering how this book, one you wouldn't normally be interested in reading, suddenly appeared in your room? I'm giving it to you, a gift. I read it numerous times and I'll tell you for a children's book it's really interesting. For a change I actually can't wait until they make a movie out of it. Anyway, it's yours now, I hope you enjoy it.
Rory, I just wanted to leave you a reminder of me, Jess. I was originally returning to Stars Hollow to stay, but when I arrived I found you and your mom to be going about your usual business, like you did before I left. Actually the entire town's going about its usual business. I realized that me coming back wasn't necessary, so I decided, after waiting for you to get home all day, that I was going to leave you one of my few personal possessions. I'm so sorry for leaving the first time and not saying goodbye. So I'll make it up to you, and say it to you now.
I've missed you Rory, and Luke. You two were the only one's who actually showed any liking towards me. Even though I didn't show it, I appreciated that very much. Thank you. I'd also like to thank you for being you. You brought the only enjoyment into my dreary life. Even though I hated this town, I still didn't want to leave it. I knew I would miss you too much. I'm sorry for doing this, but I just couldn't bear to say goodbye in person. So I'm saying it here. Rory, I care for you dearly, more than you probably realize. Goodbye. ~Jess
Rory can feel the tears stinging at the corners of her blue eyes as she reads his final words. Biting her lip she looks between the book and the note, and the days events suddenly become clear to her. A squeal from the kitchen suddenly brings Rory from her thoughts, and she blinks away the tears. She sighs as she realizes she will have time to think about this later. Rory opens the door to her room to find Lorelei pinned on the ground beneath Luke's foot, squirming with all her might to get away from the heavy boots. "Luke!! Get off!!" Lorelei squeals between giggles. He merely smirks down at her.
"Nu uh. This is payback," he says gently placing more pressure on her leg. She swats at it hoping to get it off.
"Luke! I'm warning you. I'll scream!" Luke stops pressing down. He studies her a moment before growling under his breath and bringing his boot away from her. She stands to her feet in triumph.
"Ha! I knew that'd get you." Rory clears her throat loudly, announcing her presence for the first time. At the sound of her voice the two snap their heads in her direction, both wondering how long she had been standing there. The frown on Rory's face quickly distracts Lorelei.
"Hunny what's wrong?" Lorelei asks stepping towards her. Rory holds up the note in her hand. The two Gilmore's close the distance between each other, Rory being claimed by her mother's comforting arms. Rory hands her the note, all the while watching her mothers eyes swiftly cross the page. When she finishes she brings her daughter into a giant bear hug.
"I'm sorry babe." Rory chokes back a sob, but instead she lets the tears flow freely, silently. Luke approaches them, and Lorelei silently hands him the note. Upon reading it he hesitates, before also being excepted into the elder Gilmore's warm arms. The three stay locked in the comforting brace for some time, as if they were a family.