A/N: I am so sorry that it's taking so long to get these out. I think last
chapter was my best so far. so stay tuned to find out who Lorelai's secret
admirer is, and who Lane's secret date was.
***^^^^^^***
"It was seven, not seven thirty right? I'm not going to show up there and be a half-hour early. Then I'd have to play with the food. And he'd come in hearing a cheeseburger say ' I wonder if he's cute. I bet he's not cute. It's probably Kirk.'" Lorelai was more nervous than she ever had been.
"You can go check the flowers for the fourth time." Lorelai started to stand. "Not, while I have five pieces of your hair in-between all my fingers."
"Fine. Ah! The doorbell, I'll get that." Rory relented and let her mother go. Lorelai ran downstairs and opened the door.
"Oh dear, you look a mess. What, do you have a date? I wouldn't have come if I knew you had a date. Does Rory have a date? I can stay here with Rory if she doesn't have a date. She probably does have a date right? What time is her date? What time is your date? Are you going to invite me into your house Lorelai? I'm thirsty do you have anything in that fridge of yours to drink?"
"Well, hello mother. How are you feeling? We have water, soda, and a beer if you have a headache. I can make a martini if you would really like. But that would take up a bit of time and Rory has to finish my hair so she can get ready for her date. Yes, she has a date with Jess. That would be at seven thirty. I have a date at seven so I really need to go finish getting ready. Help yourself to something to drink."
"Must you ramble like that?"
"I am the queen of rambling, but I was almost beat just now with your little performance. Practice in front of the rearview mirror on your way here?"
"I do not ramble."
"'Do you have a date, does Rory have a date? What time is your date? Of course Rory has a date. What time is her date? Can I have a drink? Are you going to let me in?' I was just wondering if you were going to let me have a word in. my mother, the princess of rambling. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Your father is driving me crazy, worse than the time he attempted retirement. 'Emily do you need this? Can I get you that? You should rest? Don't stand up too fast? Sleep in this morning Emily, I'll make breakfast. Does your head hurt? Can I get you a drink? How about a pear? Oh, I know how you love plums. I'll run to the store and buy plums. Are plums good for you? I'll call the doctor to check.' I swear Marietta and I spent a million hours in the kitchen today planning out the perfect Valentine's Day dinner. I called a masseuse for us, and planned an evening in the hot tub. Do you know he wanted to call my doctor to spend the evening with us to tell us what we could and could not do, and to monitor my massage! The man has gone insane. I had to get away."
"There's only twenty-four hours in a day," Lorelai mumbled.
"What?"
"You said 'Marietta and I spent a zillion hours in the kitchen.' Well, that's impossible there are only twenty-four hours in a day."
"I come to my daughter to vent. The one person I thought that I could get away with being angry with someone other than her around, and you joke about it. How very nice you are."
"I'm just trying to lift your spirits mom. Why don't you come upstairs while Rory finishes my hair and we can talk some more."
"Fine." (((((((((())))))))))
Lorelai hesitantly approached Luke's scared to death, and searching inside her head who it could possibly be. What would she say to them? Why hadn't she tortured Rory into telling her? A dead daughter is better than a geeky date. Oh, stop it Lorelai. Don't be silly. You're torturous daughter wouldn't have allowed you on the date if you wouldn't like him. She opened the door. It was semi dimmed in the restaurant. How very romantic of him, she thought. She peered around the restaurant, but only Luke with his baseball cap stood there. I swear, if that guy went skinny-dipping, he'd still wear that hat!
"No customers?" Lorelai managed to ask. Humiliated to be standing in a diner with a dress on.
"Nope. It's Valentine's evening. Only loners come to diners the night of Valentine's day. And I guess Kirk's at a meeting of his LOA club. Fine with me. It saddens me to see all the dateless freaks walk in. oh, no offense."
"I'm waiting for someone, what's the LOA?."
"Loners of America. Well, while you're waiting, watch the diner, I have to run upstairs. I don't think anyone will come in, except your missing boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend. He's a friend." Unlike you. I can't believe my best friend other than Rory just sat here, made fun of me and then left me when he could see I was apparently crushed. Did I just say 'best friend'? I couldn't have. Where is this guy? It's 7:05. He wouldn't be late unless it was a prank. It has to be a prank. Lorelai stood looking out the door. "Hey Lorelai! Can you come up here for a minute? I need a hand. Unless your boyfriend's here of course." He's not my boyfriend. Ahh, that jerk.
"Of course. I'll be up in a minute." She stomped up thinking about how she would completely not talk to Luke after this night was over. She opened the door, and the whole room was 1. Clean, 2. Lit with candles, 3. Had Luke dressed really fancy in it. "Oh my." I am so going to marry this man. The apartment ain't stayin' though. Maybe, Rory and Jess can have it. That's a really scary though. Mother daughter dating Uncle, nephew. That's really scary. Never thought of it that way before. He was my secret admirer. But he said a few months ago that he didn't like me like that. Maybe he still doesn't, and this is just a nice gesture on my part. I wonder.those dreams! What do they mean? Do I like him? Do I love him? How long have I loved him? I never said I loved him!
"Surprised?" he asked, standing there dumbly.
"That you took off your hat? Very." Lorelai managed to say that much. She kept looking around the room, then back at him. For some reason she couldn't keep eye contact with him. It was too scary now. Too awkward. "But, a couple of months ago, you said."
"I know what I said. And I had time to think about it. I decided that Valentine's Day would be the perfect way to tell you how I really feel."
"That you love me and want to marry me? It's another friggin dream. Why didn't I realize it. Come on Lorelai, wake up!"
"You dream about me?"
"Oh dammit, no I don't dream about you, per say. Back up to the how you really feel part, then forget everything I just said."
"Well, I'm going to be perfectly honest. We both know we've liked each other a long time. Am I right?" Lorelai nodded, which was enough for him. " Well, we always had people interfering. Rachel came back awhile, you were engaged to Max. you dated that college guy a couple times."
"I ate dinner with him once. Doesn't count."
"Well, there was always something holding us back. And I guess now's the perfect time, to get it all out in the open, before we get another interruption." I'm still freakin dreaming. I have to be. He sounds so dignified. And real. That's how the dream always works. Lorelai heard a bell. She knew she'd wake up now. "That just mean someone came in the door. I closed this place. I told everyone we were closed tonight. Who could it be?"
"You didn't tell me."
"Can't you figure out why?"
"Me, your number one customer and you don't bother to tell me your closing."
"Then you wouldn't have come here tonight, and I wouldn't be able to tell you what I just told you." They kept walking down the stairs. "I buy coffee from you everyday. I buy meals from you everyday. Practically every single one. We look up to you. And you don't even tell us about your closing."
"I told Rory."
"The 'us' I was referring to was me and my other half."
"I thought that was Rory."
"Nope, she's my third half."
"That's impossible. You can only have two halves in a whole.
"But we're a whole and a half." She smiled thinking she was a genius.
"Sorry, we're closed."
"You have a girl up in your apartment, and you don't bother to give a man some service. Very irresponsible of you Luke. I'm not sure I will continue my coming here."
"Taylor. I'm closed tonight, I told you that."
"Oh is tonight the night? Oh dear, that was tonight? How'd he do Lorelai?"
"How'd he do when?" Lorelai grinned.
"Oh dear. Good bye. Have a good night."
"What was that for?"
"A little inspiration to get him out of here." They ran back upstairs and had a long conversation. Little kisses here and there but what did you expect? *************_*************_*************
"It's seven fifteen, I have to walk to Luke's now Grandma."
"A Valentine's date and she has to walk to it. I'll never understand. That boy knows nothing and honestly doesn't deserve you child. He could at least come and pick you up."
The doorbell rang and Rory went to see who it was. Jess stood there with flowers. Rory looked over at her grandmother with a "ha ha" look. "What are you doing here Jess?"
"I came to pick you up for the date. I thought it was rude of me to ask you to walk to Luke's." he's so sweet. And right on time for me to prove her wrong.
"Were you listening to our conversation Jesse?" oh my good ness grandma, you did that on purpose. Be nice. I don't think she can.
"It's just Jess. And no I wasn't. It's nice to see you again Mrs. Gilmore."
"On my part as well. Have her home by ten since that mother of hers is off gallivanting on her own date."
"With my uncle that is. Ready Rory?"
"Ten's a little harsh grandma. Mom would say twelve." Jess tugged on her. "See you then. Bye. So why'd you really come to pick me up?"
"Do you want the gruesome details concerning Luke and your mom?"
"Not really."
"Let's just say they took complete control over the apartment, and I don't want to spend my Valentine's Day with them. No offense to your mother, or Luke for that matter."
"I understand. Where are we going?"
"You'll see." Jess drove her to the outer parts of town, where the most woods were. She rarely had gone there. Only once in awhile. She had once helped teach a girls scouts club for community service hours, and they had done a hike through there. It's where the richest of the rich in Stars Hollow lived with their "PRIVATE" signs posted at the beginning of every driveway. I hope he doesn't expect.you know. That. Oh I do hope. But what else can he be planning out in the middle of no where? They finally pulled up to a pathway, and Jess parked the car. He pulled out about five blankets, two candles, a basket, a stereo, and a book. "What is this?"
"I don't mean to be rude but could you carry something?"
"Oh of course." Rory took over the blankets and Jess held on to everything else. "This is why you said 'dress down'? We're out in the middle of nowhere." Jess took out a flashlight and gave Rory one. He led her down the path to a clearing with a river and a dock. "Oh my God, I completely forgot all this was out here. I forgot about the river, the dock, everything. Mom used to bring me out here when I was little. We would pretend we were fishing in the pond. Then we fake caught one she talked to it. Then she was nice and threw it back. How'd you find this place?"
"When I first moved here I explored for a quiet reading spot. I found this place and didn't tell anyone I came here. It's pretty quiet, and overgrown. I think everyone that lives around here forgot it existed. I thought I could share it with you."
"Good thought." I love him. I love him so much. Dean. Oh how'd I think of him at a time like this. I did love him. But I don't love him anymore. Well, maybe I do. But I'm with Jess. And I love him. Dean killed my heart. He was the rudest person ever, breaking up with me on a plane to Michigan. It must have been humiliating for him as well, but he chose to do it. Not me.
"What are you thinking about?" Jess asked.
"You."
***^^^^^^***
"It was seven, not seven thirty right? I'm not going to show up there and be a half-hour early. Then I'd have to play with the food. And he'd come in hearing a cheeseburger say ' I wonder if he's cute. I bet he's not cute. It's probably Kirk.'" Lorelai was more nervous than she ever had been.
"You can go check the flowers for the fourth time." Lorelai started to stand. "Not, while I have five pieces of your hair in-between all my fingers."
"Fine. Ah! The doorbell, I'll get that." Rory relented and let her mother go. Lorelai ran downstairs and opened the door.
"Oh dear, you look a mess. What, do you have a date? I wouldn't have come if I knew you had a date. Does Rory have a date? I can stay here with Rory if she doesn't have a date. She probably does have a date right? What time is her date? What time is your date? Are you going to invite me into your house Lorelai? I'm thirsty do you have anything in that fridge of yours to drink?"
"Well, hello mother. How are you feeling? We have water, soda, and a beer if you have a headache. I can make a martini if you would really like. But that would take up a bit of time and Rory has to finish my hair so she can get ready for her date. Yes, she has a date with Jess. That would be at seven thirty. I have a date at seven so I really need to go finish getting ready. Help yourself to something to drink."
"Must you ramble like that?"
"I am the queen of rambling, but I was almost beat just now with your little performance. Practice in front of the rearview mirror on your way here?"
"I do not ramble."
"'Do you have a date, does Rory have a date? What time is your date? Of course Rory has a date. What time is her date? Can I have a drink? Are you going to let me in?' I was just wondering if you were going to let me have a word in. my mother, the princess of rambling. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Your father is driving me crazy, worse than the time he attempted retirement. 'Emily do you need this? Can I get you that? You should rest? Don't stand up too fast? Sleep in this morning Emily, I'll make breakfast. Does your head hurt? Can I get you a drink? How about a pear? Oh, I know how you love plums. I'll run to the store and buy plums. Are plums good for you? I'll call the doctor to check.' I swear Marietta and I spent a million hours in the kitchen today planning out the perfect Valentine's Day dinner. I called a masseuse for us, and planned an evening in the hot tub. Do you know he wanted to call my doctor to spend the evening with us to tell us what we could and could not do, and to monitor my massage! The man has gone insane. I had to get away."
"There's only twenty-four hours in a day," Lorelai mumbled.
"What?"
"You said 'Marietta and I spent a zillion hours in the kitchen.' Well, that's impossible there are only twenty-four hours in a day."
"I come to my daughter to vent. The one person I thought that I could get away with being angry with someone other than her around, and you joke about it. How very nice you are."
"I'm just trying to lift your spirits mom. Why don't you come upstairs while Rory finishes my hair and we can talk some more."
"Fine." (((((((((())))))))))
Lorelai hesitantly approached Luke's scared to death, and searching inside her head who it could possibly be. What would she say to them? Why hadn't she tortured Rory into telling her? A dead daughter is better than a geeky date. Oh, stop it Lorelai. Don't be silly. You're torturous daughter wouldn't have allowed you on the date if you wouldn't like him. She opened the door. It was semi dimmed in the restaurant. How very romantic of him, she thought. She peered around the restaurant, but only Luke with his baseball cap stood there. I swear, if that guy went skinny-dipping, he'd still wear that hat!
"No customers?" Lorelai managed to ask. Humiliated to be standing in a diner with a dress on.
"Nope. It's Valentine's evening. Only loners come to diners the night of Valentine's day. And I guess Kirk's at a meeting of his LOA club. Fine with me. It saddens me to see all the dateless freaks walk in. oh, no offense."
"I'm waiting for someone, what's the LOA?."
"Loners of America. Well, while you're waiting, watch the diner, I have to run upstairs. I don't think anyone will come in, except your missing boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend. He's a friend." Unlike you. I can't believe my best friend other than Rory just sat here, made fun of me and then left me when he could see I was apparently crushed. Did I just say 'best friend'? I couldn't have. Where is this guy? It's 7:05. He wouldn't be late unless it was a prank. It has to be a prank. Lorelai stood looking out the door. "Hey Lorelai! Can you come up here for a minute? I need a hand. Unless your boyfriend's here of course." He's not my boyfriend. Ahh, that jerk.
"Of course. I'll be up in a minute." She stomped up thinking about how she would completely not talk to Luke after this night was over. She opened the door, and the whole room was 1. Clean, 2. Lit with candles, 3. Had Luke dressed really fancy in it. "Oh my." I am so going to marry this man. The apartment ain't stayin' though. Maybe, Rory and Jess can have it. That's a really scary though. Mother daughter dating Uncle, nephew. That's really scary. Never thought of it that way before. He was my secret admirer. But he said a few months ago that he didn't like me like that. Maybe he still doesn't, and this is just a nice gesture on my part. I wonder.those dreams! What do they mean? Do I like him? Do I love him? How long have I loved him? I never said I loved him!
"Surprised?" he asked, standing there dumbly.
"That you took off your hat? Very." Lorelai managed to say that much. She kept looking around the room, then back at him. For some reason she couldn't keep eye contact with him. It was too scary now. Too awkward. "But, a couple of months ago, you said."
"I know what I said. And I had time to think about it. I decided that Valentine's Day would be the perfect way to tell you how I really feel."
"That you love me and want to marry me? It's another friggin dream. Why didn't I realize it. Come on Lorelai, wake up!"
"You dream about me?"
"Oh dammit, no I don't dream about you, per say. Back up to the how you really feel part, then forget everything I just said."
"Well, I'm going to be perfectly honest. We both know we've liked each other a long time. Am I right?" Lorelai nodded, which was enough for him. " Well, we always had people interfering. Rachel came back awhile, you were engaged to Max. you dated that college guy a couple times."
"I ate dinner with him once. Doesn't count."
"Well, there was always something holding us back. And I guess now's the perfect time, to get it all out in the open, before we get another interruption." I'm still freakin dreaming. I have to be. He sounds so dignified. And real. That's how the dream always works. Lorelai heard a bell. She knew she'd wake up now. "That just mean someone came in the door. I closed this place. I told everyone we were closed tonight. Who could it be?"
"You didn't tell me."
"Can't you figure out why?"
"Me, your number one customer and you don't bother to tell me your closing."
"Then you wouldn't have come here tonight, and I wouldn't be able to tell you what I just told you." They kept walking down the stairs. "I buy coffee from you everyday. I buy meals from you everyday. Practically every single one. We look up to you. And you don't even tell us about your closing."
"I told Rory."
"The 'us' I was referring to was me and my other half."
"I thought that was Rory."
"Nope, she's my third half."
"That's impossible. You can only have two halves in a whole.
"But we're a whole and a half." She smiled thinking she was a genius.
"Sorry, we're closed."
"You have a girl up in your apartment, and you don't bother to give a man some service. Very irresponsible of you Luke. I'm not sure I will continue my coming here."
"Taylor. I'm closed tonight, I told you that."
"Oh is tonight the night? Oh dear, that was tonight? How'd he do Lorelai?"
"How'd he do when?" Lorelai grinned.
"Oh dear. Good bye. Have a good night."
"What was that for?"
"A little inspiration to get him out of here." They ran back upstairs and had a long conversation. Little kisses here and there but what did you expect? *************_*************_*************
"It's seven fifteen, I have to walk to Luke's now Grandma."
"A Valentine's date and she has to walk to it. I'll never understand. That boy knows nothing and honestly doesn't deserve you child. He could at least come and pick you up."
The doorbell rang and Rory went to see who it was. Jess stood there with flowers. Rory looked over at her grandmother with a "ha ha" look. "What are you doing here Jess?"
"I came to pick you up for the date. I thought it was rude of me to ask you to walk to Luke's." he's so sweet. And right on time for me to prove her wrong.
"Were you listening to our conversation Jesse?" oh my good ness grandma, you did that on purpose. Be nice. I don't think she can.
"It's just Jess. And no I wasn't. It's nice to see you again Mrs. Gilmore."
"On my part as well. Have her home by ten since that mother of hers is off gallivanting on her own date."
"With my uncle that is. Ready Rory?"
"Ten's a little harsh grandma. Mom would say twelve." Jess tugged on her. "See you then. Bye. So why'd you really come to pick me up?"
"Do you want the gruesome details concerning Luke and your mom?"
"Not really."
"Let's just say they took complete control over the apartment, and I don't want to spend my Valentine's Day with them. No offense to your mother, or Luke for that matter."
"I understand. Where are we going?"
"You'll see." Jess drove her to the outer parts of town, where the most woods were. She rarely had gone there. Only once in awhile. She had once helped teach a girls scouts club for community service hours, and they had done a hike through there. It's where the richest of the rich in Stars Hollow lived with their "PRIVATE" signs posted at the beginning of every driveway. I hope he doesn't expect.you know. That. Oh I do hope. But what else can he be planning out in the middle of no where? They finally pulled up to a pathway, and Jess parked the car. He pulled out about five blankets, two candles, a basket, a stereo, and a book. "What is this?"
"I don't mean to be rude but could you carry something?"
"Oh of course." Rory took over the blankets and Jess held on to everything else. "This is why you said 'dress down'? We're out in the middle of nowhere." Jess took out a flashlight and gave Rory one. He led her down the path to a clearing with a river and a dock. "Oh my God, I completely forgot all this was out here. I forgot about the river, the dock, everything. Mom used to bring me out here when I was little. We would pretend we were fishing in the pond. Then we fake caught one she talked to it. Then she was nice and threw it back. How'd you find this place?"
"When I first moved here I explored for a quiet reading spot. I found this place and didn't tell anyone I came here. It's pretty quiet, and overgrown. I think everyone that lives around here forgot it existed. I thought I could share it with you."
"Good thought." I love him. I love him so much. Dean. Oh how'd I think of him at a time like this. I did love him. But I don't love him anymore. Well, maybe I do. But I'm with Jess. And I love him. Dean killed my heart. He was the rudest person ever, breaking up with me on a plane to Michigan. It must have been humiliating for him as well, but he chose to do it. Not me.
"What are you thinking about?" Jess asked.
"You."