Author's Note: Thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far! It keeps me motivated to write. I'm planning on this being a long-ish story, so please stick with me during these preliminary chapters. Starting with the next chapter, there will be flashbacks revealing the events that led up to Lorelai's departure from Stars Hollow. All will be revealed in time!
The Best of What's Around
Chapter 2: Ricochetin' Around the Christmas Tree
"It's big," Rory said.
"And sparkly," Lorelai breathed.
Lorelai and Rory stood side by side before the gigantic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. The night was cold and the dozens of international flags surrounding the square waved gently in the breeze. The pulsating lights from Times Square could be seen in the sky above and the air was thick with anticipation for Christmas. Tourists bustled throughout the area, maneuvering large shopping bags and taking pictures. Rory was jolted as a man with a handheld video camera bumped into her and kept walking without a second glance.
"Um, sorry?" Rory called after him.
"Come on, sweets," Lorelai said, steering her down the steps to the skating rink below.
"You know, that is one of the few things I really don't like about this city. The crowds. And the rude people. And the people that walk around the city holding video cameras like the chronicles of their pedestrian wanderings would actually be interesting to anyone but their bed-ridden mothers who wouldn't have a choice but to watch them anyway!" Rory finished loudly over her shoulder.
"You're ranting."
"I really am becoming a New Yorker," she smiled.
"And just one step away from becoming that guy that wears a wedding dress every day in Union Square Park."
They reached the entrance to the rink. Lorelai paid the attendant the $30 required for an hour of skating and followed the line of people to the skate rental area. This was the culmination of the first annual Mother/Daughter Christmas in New York Night, as Lorelai had deemed it earlier in the evening. They had started Christmas shopping in the afternoon at Macy's and continued up Fifth Avenue until they had to stop at home to drop off all of the bags they had acquired. Then it had been on to a big dinner at The Rock Center Café and an evening of skating to help burn off all of those calories.
"Look Rory, I got pink skates!"
"If they had fur and rhinestones, you would feel just like Cinderella."
"You're just jealous, you have plain old white skates." Lorelai finished lacing up her skates and began to shakily walk towards the ice, Rory following closely behind.
"I've never been too good at this, you're going to have to hold me up," Lorelai said, her arms flailing at her sides as she stepped onto the slick ice. A teenage boy flew by her quickly, causing her to almost lose her balance before Rory caught her by the arm. "See what I mean? Hey, watch it, Brian Boitano!" she called after the retreating back of the teenager.
When their feet were both firmly planted on the ice, they began to skate around the perimeter of the rink. The ice was crowded with people, all smiling and pointing to people they knew in the crowd of spectators at all sides of the rink.
"Ugh, what is up with this music?" Lorelai asked after a few minutes.
As "Jenny from the Block" ended, "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by N'Sync began to play.
"Mom, look around you. We're surrounded by the TRL set, it's teenybopper heaven."
Lorelai's gaze fell onto a pair of pre-teens that appeared to be on their first date. "This must be a regular hot spot for kids on a Friday night that can't get into PG-13 movies yet."
They continued to skate, laughing occasionally as one of them would trip and almost fall, saved only by the quick reflexes of the other.
Rory looked over at her mother. "This is fun. It's more crowded than the old rink in Stars Hollow, but it's nice."
A distracted look fell across Lorelai's face that did not go unnoticed by Rory. "What's up, Mom?"
"Well, you know, it's funny that you mention Stars Hollow. I actually got the strangest letter today."
"Letter?"
"Well, it wasn't so much a letter as an invitation."
"An invitation?" Rory's brow furrowed slightly before a realization dawned on her. "Ohhh…"
"Ha, I knew you were behind it."
She looked taken aback. "Behind what?"
"Oh, don't play dumb with me, you've never been good at it. Come on, Luke… Luke Danes getting married? It's a little early for April Fool's jokes, Rory."
"Mom…"
"I knew that it couldn't be real, of course. I mean, if you're going to do something like that, at least try to make it believable. That whole 'two hearts, one love' thing was so corny. Luke would never even agree to something that sappy. But, then again, the whole idea of Luke even getting married is so unbelievable that I don't think even J.J. Abrams could pull it off…"
"Mom, it's not a joke," Rory interjected, a pained expression on her face.
"And I mean, that guy was able to make me buy that Sydney wouldn't just jump Vaughn every time she saw him, so he's damn good… wait, what?"
"It's not a joke."
"Luke is getting married?"
"Yeah."
Lorelai fell silent for a long moment, the wheels in her head turning. "How long have you known about this?"
Rory was suddenly fascinated by the lines her skates were creating on the ice.
"Rory?"
She looked up. "Only about two weeks."
"Two weeks? That's like an eternity to keep something like this quiet!"
"I was sworn to secrecy."
"By who?" Lorelai demanded.
"Jess," Rory mumbled.
"Ohh, I see how it is. Your boyfriend's opinion obviously matters much more than anything your mother might have to say about this," Lorelai vented, the hurt evident in her face as she began to skate away from Rory.
"Mom, wait, it wasn't like that," Rory said, as she followed Lorelai and took her arm to force her to face her again. "It just wasn't my place to tell you. Jess and I weren't sure if Luke was going to invite you or not, and we figured it would be best if you found out the way he wanted you to."
"And what if he didn't invite me? Would I have ever found out? Or would I only find out if I ever went back to Stars Hollow and saw a few kids running around that looked suspiciously like miniature burger boys?"
"If he didn't, of course I would have told you before the actual ceremony. Besides, we were pretty sure that he would send you an invitation."
"And what made you so sure of that?"
"Luke's moved on. It's been over two years, Mom. I think this is his way of trying to make peace with you."
Rory's words were meant to be kind, but still stung a part of Lorelai's subconscious.
"Well, it may be his way of trying to make peace, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going," Lorelai said stiffly.
"Mom, please. It's time for this stand off between you two to end."
"Rory, you don't know the whole story, just let it go."
"I know that it was my fault…"
"No, don't even say that," Lorelai interrupted. "It was not, in any way, shape, or form, your fault."
"But, if I hadn't…"
"No Rory," Lorelai said, touching her daughter's cheek lightly with her fingertip. "What happened with Luke and I had been building up for a long time. You had nothing to do with it."
Rory sighed. "I just wish you two could put all of this behind you. Will you at least think about it?"
Lorelai looked at her for a moment. "Okay. I'll think about it. But no promises," she said as she pointed her finger at Rory. She turned to skate towards the wall. Her skate caught on a crevice in the ice and she stumbled. She almost regained her balance before she fell completely on the ice. "Rory, help your poor mother up!"
Rory stood back, her arms folded across her chest, trying desperately not to laugh.
"WHY MEEEEEEEEE?!?!" Lorelai howled from the ground.
"My mother, Nancy Kerrigan, ladies and gentlemen," she muttered before extending her arm to help Lorelai up.
***
Lorelai fumbled around in her bag for her keys at the doorway to the apartment she shared with Rory. After their hour of skating, Rory had taken the subway downtown to surprise Jess at his dorm room and interrupt his round-the-clock study session for finals.
Lorelai didn't try to kid herself into thinking that Rory's decision to attend Columbia was based entirely on scholastic reasons. After receiving acceptance letters from Yale and Columbia and a rejection from Harvard, she had been unsure about where she was supposed to spend the next four years of her life. But, when Jess was accepted to New York University, the scales definitely tilted in favor of Columbia. Lorelai had at first been wary of the situation: of the distance, of their relationship, of allowing Rory's college choice to be influenced by her relationship with a guy. But, Jess had stood by Rory through some difficult times, and Lorelai respected him for that. She was prepared to stay in Stars Hollow while her daughter explored the Big Apple with the boy she loved. But, after her falling out with Luke and the job offer she received soon after from the Carlyle Hotel, her decision had been relatively easy. And here they were, over two years later. Rory was a junior at Columbia, and she was running a successful and profitable hotel on the Upper East Side. Everything worked out for the best, she supposed.
Finally finding her keys, she unlocked the door and stepped into her darkened apartment. It wasn't until she had hung her coat in the closet and stepped out of her shoes that she noticed the dim light and soft music emanating from the kitchen. Intrigued, she tiptoed to the doorframe and peeked inside.
"Hey."
Peter sat at the kitchen table, a candle lit and a fresh pot of coffee brewing. His suit jacket hung around the back of his chair, his tie was loosened, and his sleeves rolled up. He was an investment banker that worked on Wall Street as well as an aspiring writer.
"Hey yourself. Whatcha' doing?" Lorelai asked as she entered the room, surveying the scene.
"Surprising you for our seven month, two week, four day anniversary."
"Oh, I see," Lorelai grinned as she took a seat across from him.
"Did you and Rory have fun ice skating?"
"Oh you bet. I have a bruise on my ass in the shape of Texas."
His eyes twinkled. "Can I see?"
"Maybe later," she winked. She leaned forward slightly. "I have a confession to make."
"Shoot," Peter said, leaning forward slightly as well.
"I didn't get you anything for our anniversary."
"It's okay." He got up and opened a small cardboard box on the kitchen counter. He removed a small pink cupcake and placed it in front of her. The words 'I Love You' were piped on it in white icing.
"Happy anniversary," he smiled.
"Thanks, you too," Lorelai laughed, as she began to unwrap her cupcake. "So, what's the real occasion, hmm?"
"Nothing really. You just sounded kinda down when I talked to you on the phone earlier, so I thought I'd surprise you with a little treat when you got home."
"Aren't you just the sweetest thing in the whole world? You are too cute," Lorelai mumbled through her mouthful of cupcake.
Peter reached across the table to gently wipe away the bit of icing that had landed on her chin. "So, is everything okay?"
Lorelai considered him carefully for a moment. Her mind flashed to the wedding invitation that still sat on her living room table. She had never told Peter about Luke and her complicated history with him. And now didn't seem to be the best time to discuss it. It would lead to uncomfortable questions that would undoubtedly ruin their seven month, two week, four day anniversary. She smiled at him.
"No honey, everything's fine."
***
Next chapter: Lorelai remembers happier times with Luke and makes a decision about whether or not to attend the wedding. Luke finds out what it's like to plan a wedding in Stars Hollow.
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Thanks!