"Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown"
Chapter Six: High Heels
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late-Third Season
Rating: PG -13
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
Summary: Lorelai goes to a therapy session for a dream analysis and gets a whole lot more. ==================================================================
It was Wednesday morning and Lorelai woke with a start, her snooze alarm was beeping. She turned over and saw that it was 8:30. She began to panic because she had to be at the Inn at nine. She and Sookie had a meeting with their contractors, they were planning to expand the Inn to include more banquet space. She grabbed the phone and dialed.
"Independence Inn, Michel speaking."
"Michel, it's Lorelai, is Sookie there yet?"
Michel noticed the panic in her voice. "Yes, she ees. Ees there a problem?"
"Can you tell her I'll be late for our meeting, I'll try to be at there as soon as possible!"
"Vat is wrong? Deed you oversleep?"
"Michel, just give her the message. Thanks!"
Lorelai hung up the phone, in no mood to play games with Michel. She got out of bed and ran into the shower, if she hurried she could make it by 9:30. She'd have to skip breakfast but maybe she could ask Sookie to whip her up something at the Inn.
Why hadn't Rory woken her? Then she remembered that Rory had to be at school extra early that morning for an assembly. She had to be on an early bus, so she was up and out the door before Lorelai's usual 7:15 wake-up time. This was the third morning in a row that Lorelai had overslept. She had been able to make it to work on time but had to skip her usual stop at Luke's.
Luke, damn him. He was the reason she overslept. For several nights in a row, she was having strange dreams about him. The dreams always woke her at 4AM and she had a hell of a time falling asleep again. She would then doze as the sun rose and then sleep through her alarm. Maybe she shouldn't have asked him to give her a massage the other night....
Lorelai got dressed, dried her hair and put on her makeup. She ran downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed a pop-tart and flew out the door. She got in her jeep and drove to the Inn. She usually walked to work but driving would be faster. She was able to make it to the meeting at 9:20.
An hour later, with their meeting finished, Sookie decided to make Lorelai an egg white omelet. She placed a plate in front of her.
"Here you go, I thought you might want this since you didn't eat breakfast."
"Oh, thanks sweetie."
Sookie sat for a minute while Lorelai gobbled the omelet. She was watching her with a concerned look on her face. Lorelai looked up and noticed her best friend staring at her.
"Sookie, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like I'm Winona Ryder and you're the Saks' security guard?"
"Well, I don't think you're about to shoplift but I'm concerned about you, Lorelai."
Lorelai sighed, another friend was concerned. "What do mean?"
"Well honey, you seem all stressed out. You've been a little late for work every day this week and that's not like you."
"I haven't been sleeping too well the past few nights, that's all."
"Hmmm, maybe all of your caffeine consumption is catching up with you."
"Sookie, I'm fine. I've just been having strange dreams."
"About what?"
Lorelai was about to tell her, but she knew if she mentioned Luke, Sookie would have a field day. She took any opportunity to tell her that Luke was in love with her and vice versa, Lorelai didn't want to go there on this particular morning.
"Nothing. I really don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"Well, Lorelai. If you don't want to talk to me, maybe you should see a doctor about your sleep problems." She paused. "Honey, I need you to be healthy and strong with all the things we have going on here, okay? You've always been the reliable one and while I can try to compensate, I can only do so much on my own."
"Sookie, thanks for your concern. I'm fine but if you want I'll make an appointment."
Sookie brightened. "Great, I'm glad to hear it. Although I still want to know what those dreams are all about."
Lorelai laughed. "Maybe one day...."
The following day, Lorelai came home from work early and she flopped on the couch. Sookie had sent her home because she was dozing off at work. Her strange dreams were becoming even more vivid, like the one she had last night.
Lorelai had gone to the diner late at night. The place was empty except the counter was filled with coffee cups. She started to drink them, one after the other as they were lined up. When she got to the end of the counter, Luke was standing there, holding a coffee pot. Lorelai lunged at the pot but he wouldn't give in. After much pleading, she told him she would do anything he asked in exchange for another cup. He told her she knew what he wanted. And she gave in.
That was it. Lorelai decided it was time to give in and call that therapist. She had, after all, promised Sookie she would see a doctor. She was a friend of Nicole's but there was such a thing as doctor/patient confidentiality. She grabbed her purse and fished out the piece of paper, picked up the phone and dialed. She was able to get an appointment the following day at noon, there was a last minute cancellation.
Lorelai hung up the phone, relieved. Maybe Dr. Lieberman could help her interpret her dreams or give her some kind of prescription to help her sleep.
The following day, Lorelai pulled her jeep into a parking lot in an industrial park near Hartford. She walked into the medical building and looked at her watch, it was 11:45. She entered the antiseptic looking office; the walls were bare except for some modern art screens on the wall. One was the "Persistence of Memory" and the other was "The Scream." She hoped that meant the doctor had a sense of humor.
Lorelai approached the receptionist and was handed some paperwork to be filled out. She sat down and filled out the insurance and medical history information. She didn't understand what the date of her last period had to do with her sleep problems, but she answered everything thoroughly.
A minute or two later, the receptionist told her that she could go into the office. An attractive redheaded woman in her 40s was standing by the door, dressed in a crisp black pantsuit and Jimmy Choo high heels. She reminded her a little of Susan Sarandon.
She held out her hand. "Hello Lorelai. I'm Nancy Lieberman, nice to meet you."
"Likewise, thank you for seeing me today."
"Such a pretty name and an unusual spelling."
"Oh, thanks. It comes from my paternal grandmother. It's also my daughter's name, although she's called Rory for short. It saves a lot of confusion, although sometimes sorting the mail is a challenge."
"Why don't you have a seat?"
"You don't have a couch? I thought you were a psychoanalyst."
"I'm trained in Freudian theory, among others, but I find the couch so 1960's. I believe my patients can talk freely sitting in a comfy chair. So, what can I do for you, Lorelai?"
Lorelai took a seat in the comfy chair. "Well, the reason I came to see you is that I've been having problems sleeping for the past week. I'm having some really weird dreams and I'm hoping you could help me figure out what they mean, or at least prescribe something to help me sleep through the night."
Dr. Lieberman nodded. "Hmm, I see. Lorelai, I'm going to be taking notes during our session, so don't be distracted when you see my pen moving." She paused. "Well, before I start with your dreams, tell me a little about yourself. I see from your paperwork that you are 35, single and you mentioned a daughter. How old is Rory?"
"18, she'll be 19 this October. And before you do the math, yes I had her when I was 16."
"What did you do when you found out you were pregnant?"
"Um, I freaked out?"
"Well, I mean after the initial shock wore off."
"I considered an abortion. I'm certainly pro-choice, but for me it wasn't an option. My parents wanted me to marry Christopher, the dad, but I thought we were way too young. My parents and I had a falling out over this, so once I had Rory, I left home."
"What did you do then?"
"I knew I had to get a job, so one day I was looking through the help- wanted ads, and I saw that the Independence Inn in Stars Hollow was looking for maids. I packed a bag, took Rory, got on the bus and I was there. The Inn's owner, Mia took me in and hired me. Eventually, I worked my way up and I've been managing the Inn for the past few years. My best friend and I are in the process of buying it and taking over."
"Sounds like you've worked really hard. So what about your parents, how is your current relationship?"
"Well, my parents are wealthy and have all these society rules. You know the type, they summer in the Vineyard, my dad golfs at the country club and my mom is a member of the DAR. She's one of those ladies who lunch. My dad retired from his job at an insurance company and now runs a consulting business."
She took a breath. "I see them almost every week now, but our relationship is kind of strained. They help pay for Rory's education at Chilton Academy, so my mother made me a deal. We go there every week for dinner in exchange for the tuition. And Rory's going to Yale in the fall, and they're helping out with that too, so I'm having dinner with them in perpetuity."
"So you didn't go to college?"
"Well, I took classes at a community college to get my associate's degree, but no I didn't do the go away to an Ivy covered college for four years and attend keggers or pledge a sorority kind of thing. I was kind of busy making beds at the Inn and putting a roof over mine and Rory's heads."
"Understood. So Rory's going to Yale?"
"Yup, for the longest time, it was Harvard. But Rory changed her mind and felt it was better to go to school closer to home. She also wants to be near her boyfriend, Jess."
"How would you describe your relationship with Rory?"
"Well, she and I are very close. She's my best friend, and we spend a lot of time together. You know, watching TV, shopping, eating and mocking."
"Mocking?"
"Oh Rory and I mock everything that we find absurd about living in our small town, pop culture, America, whatever."
"How do you feel about Rory going to school? Will she be commuting to Yale?"
"Oh, no. We've decided it would be better for her to live in a dorm, at least her freshman year. I want her to adjust to college life and she can't do that living at home. As much as I'd like to have her at home, it'll be better for her in the long run. That's healthy, isn't it?"
Dr. Lieberman nodded. "Let me ask you a question about Rory, this is strictly confidential, remember. Do you know if Rory is sexually active, you mentioned a boyfriend?"
"Funny you should ask. She's not but she's planning to, soon. We've had the sex talk and I'm helping her with birth control advice and I'm taking her to my gynecologist. Coincidentally, her name is also Lieberman, Andrea Lieberman. Do you know her?"
"No, afraid not, there are a lot of us. So Lorelai, it seems you're working really hard to prevent an unwanted pregnancy for Rory?"
"Of course. I think my life turned out pretty well, but not without sacrifice. I don't want the same thing for her. Rory's waited a lot longer than girls her age, too. When I hear that 12 year olds are having oral sex, I'm appalled."
"How would you react if Rory were to become pregnant, you know, before she finished her education?"
"That's not gonna happen."
"But it's conceivable, if you'll pardon the expression."
"Well, I would support her in anyway I could. She's my daughter. I certainly wouldn't force her to get married or do anything she didn't want to. But like I said, it's not gonna happen."
"Okay, then. Why don't you tell me about your dreams. When did they start?"
"Well, they started about a week ago when I found out that Rory had some condoms in her dresser drawer. I overreacted; this was before we had our little chat. I went over to her boyfriend's apartment thinking that they might be together. Instead I walked in on his uncle and his girlfriend having sex." Lorelai looked embarrassed. "Um, this is confidential right?"
Dr. Lieberman nodded. "Yes, why?"
"Well, the girlfriend in this scenario is your friend Nicole Vaupen and the uncle is her boyfriend Luke."
"Lorelai, what you say does not go beyond these walls."
"That's good to know. Luke is the reason I'm here, I mean he gave me your contact info, he was a little concerned about me."
"Tell me about Luke."
"Well, he's a good friend of mine. He runs the local diner and basically keeps me fed and caffeinated."
"You're a coffee drinker?"
"I'm addicted, I'm afraid. But if you tasted Luke's coffee, you would too."
"What is he like?"
"Well, when you first meet him, he's kind of gruff and monosyllabic. He also has terrible fashion sense and likes to rant about the dangers of sugar, dairy, red meat and caffeine. Which incidentally, is my diet." She paused. "But underneath the flannel beats a heart of pure gold."
"How so?"
"Well, he's always been a good friend. He's just really supportive and around when I need him, you know, reliable. And he's great to Rory, too. He's almost like a father figure to her."
"Hmm." Dr. Lieberman looked over her notes. "A supportive, reliable, father figure with a heart of pure gold."
Lorelai was getting upset at her words being taken out of context. "Dr. Lieberman, you're not suggesting that I marry Luke, are you? The reason I came to see you is that I need an unbiased opinion about my dreams. Other people close to me have said things and I'm tired of it. I'm not in love with him!"
"So these dreams you're having are about Luke?"
Lorelai sighed. "Not all of them, but yeah, he's made a few appearances."
Dr. Lieberman looked at her watch. "Time's about up."
"You're kidding me. We're stopping now?"
"Yes. I have a couple of things I want to talk to you about and then you can make another appointment. When you asked me before about marrying Luke, I want to make it clear to you that therapy isn't about me telling you what to do. What I do is help you understand the root of your problems, recognize and then deal with them. It's up to you to make the decisions."
Lorelai nodded. "I understand, I'm sorry for the outburst."
"You came here so I could help you with your dreams but that's only part of it. I'm going to write you a prescription, but only in the short term to help you sleep. I'd recommend that you cut back on your caffeine intake, try limiting to one cup in the morning or switch to decaf. I would also recommend that you come to see me once a week and we'll talk just like we did today."
Lorelai was a little taken aback at her suggestions. "For how long?"
"I'm not sure. It depends on how you progress. Lorelai, from our first session, I can see that you are a very bright, hard working woman. I'm sure if you apply yourself to your therapy, you won't be here forever."
Lorelai smirked. "Or at least until your Jimmy Choo collection is complete? Great shoes, by the way."
Dr. Lieberman laughed and handed her the prescription. "Thanks, so I'll see you next week?"
Lorelai nodded, somewhat resignedly. "See you next week."
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A/N: I wanted to try writing Lorelai's back story in her own words (or my version or Lorelai's words). Also, Lorelai opened up pretty easily to Dr. Lieberman. While she's a little wary of therapy, we all know that she loves to talk about herself! There will be another therapy session in a future chapter (Dr. Lieberman will explore Lorelai's rejection issues, among other things)
Note: Rory's age nitpick. She was supposedly born in October 1984 (Rory's Birthday Parties). In the current season, she's still 17 (Let the Games Begin), although she should really be 18. It's probably 90210 syndrome, but I hope AS-P doesn't change her birthday.
Chapter Six: High Heels
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late-Third Season
Rating: PG -13
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
Summary: Lorelai goes to a therapy session for a dream analysis and gets a whole lot more. ==================================================================
It was Wednesday morning and Lorelai woke with a start, her snooze alarm was beeping. She turned over and saw that it was 8:30. She began to panic because she had to be at the Inn at nine. She and Sookie had a meeting with their contractors, they were planning to expand the Inn to include more banquet space. She grabbed the phone and dialed.
"Independence Inn, Michel speaking."
"Michel, it's Lorelai, is Sookie there yet?"
Michel noticed the panic in her voice. "Yes, she ees. Ees there a problem?"
"Can you tell her I'll be late for our meeting, I'll try to be at there as soon as possible!"
"Vat is wrong? Deed you oversleep?"
"Michel, just give her the message. Thanks!"
Lorelai hung up the phone, in no mood to play games with Michel. She got out of bed and ran into the shower, if she hurried she could make it by 9:30. She'd have to skip breakfast but maybe she could ask Sookie to whip her up something at the Inn.
Why hadn't Rory woken her? Then she remembered that Rory had to be at school extra early that morning for an assembly. She had to be on an early bus, so she was up and out the door before Lorelai's usual 7:15 wake-up time. This was the third morning in a row that Lorelai had overslept. She had been able to make it to work on time but had to skip her usual stop at Luke's.
Luke, damn him. He was the reason she overslept. For several nights in a row, she was having strange dreams about him. The dreams always woke her at 4AM and she had a hell of a time falling asleep again. She would then doze as the sun rose and then sleep through her alarm. Maybe she shouldn't have asked him to give her a massage the other night....
Lorelai got dressed, dried her hair and put on her makeup. She ran downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed a pop-tart and flew out the door. She got in her jeep and drove to the Inn. She usually walked to work but driving would be faster. She was able to make it to the meeting at 9:20.
An hour later, with their meeting finished, Sookie decided to make Lorelai an egg white omelet. She placed a plate in front of her.
"Here you go, I thought you might want this since you didn't eat breakfast."
"Oh, thanks sweetie."
Sookie sat for a minute while Lorelai gobbled the omelet. She was watching her with a concerned look on her face. Lorelai looked up and noticed her best friend staring at her.
"Sookie, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like I'm Winona Ryder and you're the Saks' security guard?"
"Well, I don't think you're about to shoplift but I'm concerned about you, Lorelai."
Lorelai sighed, another friend was concerned. "What do mean?"
"Well honey, you seem all stressed out. You've been a little late for work every day this week and that's not like you."
"I haven't been sleeping too well the past few nights, that's all."
"Hmmm, maybe all of your caffeine consumption is catching up with you."
"Sookie, I'm fine. I've just been having strange dreams."
"About what?"
Lorelai was about to tell her, but she knew if she mentioned Luke, Sookie would have a field day. She took any opportunity to tell her that Luke was in love with her and vice versa, Lorelai didn't want to go there on this particular morning.
"Nothing. I really don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"Well, Lorelai. If you don't want to talk to me, maybe you should see a doctor about your sleep problems." She paused. "Honey, I need you to be healthy and strong with all the things we have going on here, okay? You've always been the reliable one and while I can try to compensate, I can only do so much on my own."
"Sookie, thanks for your concern. I'm fine but if you want I'll make an appointment."
Sookie brightened. "Great, I'm glad to hear it. Although I still want to know what those dreams are all about."
Lorelai laughed. "Maybe one day...."
The following day, Lorelai came home from work early and she flopped on the couch. Sookie had sent her home because she was dozing off at work. Her strange dreams were becoming even more vivid, like the one she had last night.
Lorelai had gone to the diner late at night. The place was empty except the counter was filled with coffee cups. She started to drink them, one after the other as they were lined up. When she got to the end of the counter, Luke was standing there, holding a coffee pot. Lorelai lunged at the pot but he wouldn't give in. After much pleading, she told him she would do anything he asked in exchange for another cup. He told her she knew what he wanted. And she gave in.
That was it. Lorelai decided it was time to give in and call that therapist. She had, after all, promised Sookie she would see a doctor. She was a friend of Nicole's but there was such a thing as doctor/patient confidentiality. She grabbed her purse and fished out the piece of paper, picked up the phone and dialed. She was able to get an appointment the following day at noon, there was a last minute cancellation.
Lorelai hung up the phone, relieved. Maybe Dr. Lieberman could help her interpret her dreams or give her some kind of prescription to help her sleep.
The following day, Lorelai pulled her jeep into a parking lot in an industrial park near Hartford. She walked into the medical building and looked at her watch, it was 11:45. She entered the antiseptic looking office; the walls were bare except for some modern art screens on the wall. One was the "Persistence of Memory" and the other was "The Scream." She hoped that meant the doctor had a sense of humor.
Lorelai approached the receptionist and was handed some paperwork to be filled out. She sat down and filled out the insurance and medical history information. She didn't understand what the date of her last period had to do with her sleep problems, but she answered everything thoroughly.
A minute or two later, the receptionist told her that she could go into the office. An attractive redheaded woman in her 40s was standing by the door, dressed in a crisp black pantsuit and Jimmy Choo high heels. She reminded her a little of Susan Sarandon.
She held out her hand. "Hello Lorelai. I'm Nancy Lieberman, nice to meet you."
"Likewise, thank you for seeing me today."
"Such a pretty name and an unusual spelling."
"Oh, thanks. It comes from my paternal grandmother. It's also my daughter's name, although she's called Rory for short. It saves a lot of confusion, although sometimes sorting the mail is a challenge."
"Why don't you have a seat?"
"You don't have a couch? I thought you were a psychoanalyst."
"I'm trained in Freudian theory, among others, but I find the couch so 1960's. I believe my patients can talk freely sitting in a comfy chair. So, what can I do for you, Lorelai?"
Lorelai took a seat in the comfy chair. "Well, the reason I came to see you is that I've been having problems sleeping for the past week. I'm having some really weird dreams and I'm hoping you could help me figure out what they mean, or at least prescribe something to help me sleep through the night."
Dr. Lieberman nodded. "Hmm, I see. Lorelai, I'm going to be taking notes during our session, so don't be distracted when you see my pen moving." She paused. "Well, before I start with your dreams, tell me a little about yourself. I see from your paperwork that you are 35, single and you mentioned a daughter. How old is Rory?"
"18, she'll be 19 this October. And before you do the math, yes I had her when I was 16."
"What did you do when you found out you were pregnant?"
"Um, I freaked out?"
"Well, I mean after the initial shock wore off."
"I considered an abortion. I'm certainly pro-choice, but for me it wasn't an option. My parents wanted me to marry Christopher, the dad, but I thought we were way too young. My parents and I had a falling out over this, so once I had Rory, I left home."
"What did you do then?"
"I knew I had to get a job, so one day I was looking through the help- wanted ads, and I saw that the Independence Inn in Stars Hollow was looking for maids. I packed a bag, took Rory, got on the bus and I was there. The Inn's owner, Mia took me in and hired me. Eventually, I worked my way up and I've been managing the Inn for the past few years. My best friend and I are in the process of buying it and taking over."
"Sounds like you've worked really hard. So what about your parents, how is your current relationship?"
"Well, my parents are wealthy and have all these society rules. You know the type, they summer in the Vineyard, my dad golfs at the country club and my mom is a member of the DAR. She's one of those ladies who lunch. My dad retired from his job at an insurance company and now runs a consulting business."
She took a breath. "I see them almost every week now, but our relationship is kind of strained. They help pay for Rory's education at Chilton Academy, so my mother made me a deal. We go there every week for dinner in exchange for the tuition. And Rory's going to Yale in the fall, and they're helping out with that too, so I'm having dinner with them in perpetuity."
"So you didn't go to college?"
"Well, I took classes at a community college to get my associate's degree, but no I didn't do the go away to an Ivy covered college for four years and attend keggers or pledge a sorority kind of thing. I was kind of busy making beds at the Inn and putting a roof over mine and Rory's heads."
"Understood. So Rory's going to Yale?"
"Yup, for the longest time, it was Harvard. But Rory changed her mind and felt it was better to go to school closer to home. She also wants to be near her boyfriend, Jess."
"How would you describe your relationship with Rory?"
"Well, she and I are very close. She's my best friend, and we spend a lot of time together. You know, watching TV, shopping, eating and mocking."
"Mocking?"
"Oh Rory and I mock everything that we find absurd about living in our small town, pop culture, America, whatever."
"How do you feel about Rory going to school? Will she be commuting to Yale?"
"Oh, no. We've decided it would be better for her to live in a dorm, at least her freshman year. I want her to adjust to college life and she can't do that living at home. As much as I'd like to have her at home, it'll be better for her in the long run. That's healthy, isn't it?"
Dr. Lieberman nodded. "Let me ask you a question about Rory, this is strictly confidential, remember. Do you know if Rory is sexually active, you mentioned a boyfriend?"
"Funny you should ask. She's not but she's planning to, soon. We've had the sex talk and I'm helping her with birth control advice and I'm taking her to my gynecologist. Coincidentally, her name is also Lieberman, Andrea Lieberman. Do you know her?"
"No, afraid not, there are a lot of us. So Lorelai, it seems you're working really hard to prevent an unwanted pregnancy for Rory?"
"Of course. I think my life turned out pretty well, but not without sacrifice. I don't want the same thing for her. Rory's waited a lot longer than girls her age, too. When I hear that 12 year olds are having oral sex, I'm appalled."
"How would you react if Rory were to become pregnant, you know, before she finished her education?"
"That's not gonna happen."
"But it's conceivable, if you'll pardon the expression."
"Well, I would support her in anyway I could. She's my daughter. I certainly wouldn't force her to get married or do anything she didn't want to. But like I said, it's not gonna happen."
"Okay, then. Why don't you tell me about your dreams. When did they start?"
"Well, they started about a week ago when I found out that Rory had some condoms in her dresser drawer. I overreacted; this was before we had our little chat. I went over to her boyfriend's apartment thinking that they might be together. Instead I walked in on his uncle and his girlfriend having sex." Lorelai looked embarrassed. "Um, this is confidential right?"
Dr. Lieberman nodded. "Yes, why?"
"Well, the girlfriend in this scenario is your friend Nicole Vaupen and the uncle is her boyfriend Luke."
"Lorelai, what you say does not go beyond these walls."
"That's good to know. Luke is the reason I'm here, I mean he gave me your contact info, he was a little concerned about me."
"Tell me about Luke."
"Well, he's a good friend of mine. He runs the local diner and basically keeps me fed and caffeinated."
"You're a coffee drinker?"
"I'm addicted, I'm afraid. But if you tasted Luke's coffee, you would too."
"What is he like?"
"Well, when you first meet him, he's kind of gruff and monosyllabic. He also has terrible fashion sense and likes to rant about the dangers of sugar, dairy, red meat and caffeine. Which incidentally, is my diet." She paused. "But underneath the flannel beats a heart of pure gold."
"How so?"
"Well, he's always been a good friend. He's just really supportive and around when I need him, you know, reliable. And he's great to Rory, too. He's almost like a father figure to her."
"Hmm." Dr. Lieberman looked over her notes. "A supportive, reliable, father figure with a heart of pure gold."
Lorelai was getting upset at her words being taken out of context. "Dr. Lieberman, you're not suggesting that I marry Luke, are you? The reason I came to see you is that I need an unbiased opinion about my dreams. Other people close to me have said things and I'm tired of it. I'm not in love with him!"
"So these dreams you're having are about Luke?"
Lorelai sighed. "Not all of them, but yeah, he's made a few appearances."
Dr. Lieberman looked at her watch. "Time's about up."
"You're kidding me. We're stopping now?"
"Yes. I have a couple of things I want to talk to you about and then you can make another appointment. When you asked me before about marrying Luke, I want to make it clear to you that therapy isn't about me telling you what to do. What I do is help you understand the root of your problems, recognize and then deal with them. It's up to you to make the decisions."
Lorelai nodded. "I understand, I'm sorry for the outburst."
"You came here so I could help you with your dreams but that's only part of it. I'm going to write you a prescription, but only in the short term to help you sleep. I'd recommend that you cut back on your caffeine intake, try limiting to one cup in the morning or switch to decaf. I would also recommend that you come to see me once a week and we'll talk just like we did today."
Lorelai was a little taken aback at her suggestions. "For how long?"
"I'm not sure. It depends on how you progress. Lorelai, from our first session, I can see that you are a very bright, hard working woman. I'm sure if you apply yourself to your therapy, you won't be here forever."
Lorelai smirked. "Or at least until your Jimmy Choo collection is complete? Great shoes, by the way."
Dr. Lieberman laughed and handed her the prescription. "Thanks, so I'll see you next week?"
Lorelai nodded, somewhat resignedly. "See you next week."
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A/N: I wanted to try writing Lorelai's back story in her own words (or my version or Lorelai's words). Also, Lorelai opened up pretty easily to Dr. Lieberman. While she's a little wary of therapy, we all know that she loves to talk about herself! There will be another therapy session in a future chapter (Dr. Lieberman will explore Lorelai's rejection issues, among other things)
Note: Rory's age nitpick. She was supposedly born in October 1984 (Rory's Birthday Parties). In the current season, she's still 17 (Let the Games Begin), although she should really be 18. It's probably 90210 syndrome, but I hope AS-P doesn't change her birthday.