Nothing but confusion
By - miss.pebbles
A/N - this is my very first fanfiction - and I'd love some feedback please! I've reviewed so many stories, and I've got so many ideas - I've finally decided to write them down. Read and review - the lovely button down there screams to be clicked! Comments and constructive criticism appreciated. ;)
Disclaimer: if I owned the show, do you think I'd be in school right now? I'd be making lots of money writing for the show.. but the characters don't belong to me. They belong to the WB.
Now on with the show! : )
*************************** Chapter 1.
Lorelai Gilmore casually turned her jeep into the driveway, her heart rate rising as she noticed a familiar Volvo parked in the driveway. It was a Wednesday night, and she knew that Rory was probably at Luke's hanging out with Jess, doing something absurd like having a heated discussion about Hemmingway. Lorelai looked again at her house, noticing that the living room light was on. She hurriedly got her purse from the jeep, and walked to the front door.
"Rory?"
A baby's cry echoed throughout the house, followed by a loud curse.
Chris frantically rushed by Lorelai - who was still standing at the door.
"Chris?"
" Oh- hey Lor, I didn't hear you come in."
Chris reappeared in the foyer, with a baby over his shoulder, swaying back and forth, rubbing her little back. His eyes were slightly swollen, evidence that he had been crying. Lorelai closed the door, and followed Chris with the whimpering baby into the living room.
"Chris?" Lorelai asked, breaking the strained tension in the room. Chris looked up into Lorelei's eyes. "What are you doing here?"
The door opened and Rory ran in - followed by Jess casually strolling in, with significantly less enthusiasm of his girlfriend.
"Dad!"
Rory skidded to a stop, noticing the her mom and dad in a stand off position.
"Uh, we'll be in my room," Rory started to say, but quickly corrected herself, before getting any warning looks from her mother. "We'll be in the kitchen - if anyone needs us." She grabbed Jess' sleeve, and pulled him in the other direction of the living room.
"Lorelai, uh, Sir" Jess stuttered, acknowledging the two adults before disappearing with Rory into the kitchen.
"Who's that?" Chris asked, nodding towards the kitchen.
"Jess - Rory's boyfriend. That's be side's the point - you haven't answered my question." Lorelai pointedly stated. " Don't get sidetracked here Chris - and - how did you get into the house? Where's Sherry?"
Chris let out a big sigh, and gently put the now sleeping baby into her car seat.
"Outside?" he asked. Lorelai nodded, and followed Chris to the door.
"Ror?" she called out, quietly. "Your dad and I are going to be outside, talking okay? If the baby starts to cry - take a look? " and with that, she closed the door behind her.
Chris was leaning on one of the house's support beams, looking out into the front yard.
"Sherry left me."
Lorelai, who joined him by his side - looked up at him with a shocked expression on her face.
"Why?" she asked.
"Geeze -I don't know Lor, I don't know. I came home early from work one day, and she was waiting for me at the door. She handed me the baby - and said 'Good bye Chris'. she walked out the door and never came back. She must of packed her bags during the day - 'cause when I put my jacket in the closet, I noticed half of her stuff was gone. I checked the house - and the rest of her stuff was gone too. Then Georgia woke up and started crying - Lor, I didn't know what to do, I really didn't. The only person that I knew that could help me is you, Lor, you. I packed some stuff together, and I'm here now. "
Chris turned to face Lorelai, who had a shocked expression on her face. Chris turned back to face the front yard again, took a deep breath and continued.
" As for how I got into your house - you've got a key in the little turtle - I looked under the front mat, and in a couple of other spots, too, before I found it. Don't be mad, Lor. I just didn't have anyone in Boston to turn to..." Chris trailed off. He turned again to face Lorelai, noticing her eyes filling with tears.
" Say something - anything Lorelai." Chris spoke up, once again.
"Say what Chris? I don't know what to say? I'm touched, that you've come to me for help, but it still hurts, to see you around - holding a kid that isn't ours. It was supposed to be us, me you and Ror, as a family - but not everything happens like it's supposed to... And now, with this. Sherry leaving you.. What a complete"
"Lor" Chris interrupted softly. "It should have been you, Rory and me, as a family - but I've got another obligation... And Sherry - she tried. She's not as good of a mother as you.. You've done so much with Rory, she's just like you, you know that? She sets her heart on one thing - and never takes her eye off of the goal. pause Look Lor, I just needed a place to crash, and someone to listen for a while. I'll leave tomorrow okay?" He turned around, and started back towards the front door.
"No, Chris, stay. Stay for how ever long you need to. You're Rory's dad - we'll never turn you away. Talk to Rory when we go inside."
With that - she walked back into the house, leaving the door open for Chris, who followed suit.
~.~ Meanwhile - in the Gilmore residence Rory and Jess were semi-lying on her bed, his arm around her shoulder, playing with her hair. They were both respectively reading their own books, their breathing synchronized together.
"Ror?"
"Mmm."
"Can I ask you a question?" Jess asked, putting his book down, and shifting his body to face Rory's. Rory glanced at him before putting down her book, and giving him his undivided attention.
"So, that's your dad right? Outside talking to your mom."
"Yup." Rory nodded.
"Well," Jess began, before nervously shifting his eyes around the room, and then looking into Rory's eyes again. "Do you think he'll like me? Like - Approve of me? I'm sure he already knows that I was the kid who broke your arm in that car accident, and I'm not surprised if he wanted to break my arms off, but - should I leave before they come back in?" he finished off, a little bit breathless.
Rory tried so hard not to giggle, but couldn't help but laughing out loud a little. Jess shot her a dirty look and frown.
"Awww, Jess" she started, taking a hold of his hand, and giving it a reaffirming squeeze, "He'll love you. Okay, maybe not at first, but he'll like you once he sees how much I love you." Rory smiled, and looked up into his eyes. As Jess leaned in to kiss Rory, she said, laughing " It wouldn't hurt to be prepared to run though.. Before he realizes who you are and decides to draw and quarter you."
Jess groaned, before swooping in for his kiss, and then tickling her. He re-adjusted his position, resumed playing with Rory's hair, and reading his book. He smiled, of which out of the corner of her eye, Rory noticed, before picking up where she left off in the book. ** This is how things should be** she thought. **It feels so right, so right.
~.~
Lorelai walked back into the house, turning towards the living room, in search for Rory and Jess. Chris turned toward the empty kitchen before stopping, abruptly, and in a loud whisper, said "Lor."
"Chris" Lorelai answered, in an equally loud whisper. "Yes?" she said, sneaking up behind Chris, who was standing in the hallway between the kitchen and the foyer.
"Where's Rory and Jess. I thought they were supposed to be in the kitchen?" he demanded, obviously knowing what may happen if they were in Rory's bedroom together.
"Chris - calm down. They're probably in her bedroom, doing something insanely calm, and controlled. It's Rory, don't think that I didn't raise her well. She's not going to try anything sneaky in this house. I bet you that they're doing something - like reading. Jess likes to read ya know." she said, sticking out her hand, waiting for Chris' response.
"You're on - Ten bucks?" Chris replied, shaking her outstretched hand.
"Twenty."
"Ten"
"Fifteen and a cup of coffee."
"Deal." Both adults shook on the deal, and crept slowly towards Rory's open door. They both peered in, and not before long Lorelai exclaimed -
"Ha! I told you so - you owe me 15 bucks plus a coffee mister!" Chris shook his head, and laughed out loud.
"Hey, Rory, can I talk to you when you have some time?" Chris asked, with a sense of urgency and seriousness in his voice. He nodded in acknowledgement to Jess, who had immediately straightened up and removed his arm from Rory's shoulder at Lorelai's loud outburst.
"Uh, Rory, I should be going now, before I get the third degree from being out so late from Luke okay? I'll see you tomorrow? " He gave Rory's shoulder a light squeeze, and headed toward the door. Before he left, he stuck out his hand at Chris, and said " I'm Jess, sir. Nice to meet you." Chris studied his profile a bit, and gave a small nod at Jess, shaking his hand as well.
After he let go of his hand, Jess quickly slid through the small space between Chris and Lorelai, mumbling a g'nite, and see you tomorrow to Lorelai.
"See ya around," Chris called out, towards Jess' quickly disappearing figure.
Rory stood up, and looked up at her dad.
"So, what's up dad?" she asked.
"We've got a lot to talk about Ror, lots to talk about."
~.~
Lorelai leaned on the door way of the living room, with Chris's back faced to her. She watched how Rory's face went to an expression filled with horror and sorrow, learning that Sherry had abandoned her father and her little half sister, who was sleeping quietly in her car seat. Rory's eyes filled with tears, as she witnessed her father let out all his emotions, insecurities as a single parent, and reached out to give him a hug. The memories of when he broke his promise to Rory and the fights about it were all put behind them; family always came first - through thick and thin.
~.~
Lorelai walked into the diner with huge black bags under her eyes, despite standing in front of the mirror with every kind of concealer, powder and foundation in her make up cabinet excavated for the mission of making the bags go away.
"Coffee, please." she muttered, sitting on a stool at the counter. Rory trudged in, a moment later, followed by Chris and a sleeping baby.
"You know Chris right?" Lorelai said, noticing Luke looking behind her shoulder.
"What the hell happen to you?" Luke asked, setting down three large mugs, and filling them generously with steaming hot coffee.
"Dad's visiting us," Rory started to say, but was quickly interrupted by Lorelai.
"The baby, the baby wouldn't stop crying! The moment we all fell asleep, the baby decided it was time to wake up and cry! I swear, Rory was never like that, never!!"
"Never" Rory echoed softly. "I never cried, I was a good kid!" emphasizing Lorelai's point.
At that moment, Jess appeared at the foot of the stairs, and made his way behind the counter to face Rory. He took one good look at her, and said
"Good morning sunshine!"
"Jess" Rory threatened - with a look in her eyes. "We're never having kids, ever ever ever, understand? Kids cry, all night, and keep everyone in the same house up all night, when they're supposed to be getting some beauty sleep. So no kids."
"Kids? Kids? Who said anything about having kids? And no, no kids, not any time soon. Not in this decade, in fact." Jess replied his hands gripping the counter tightly, so that his knuckles were turning white.
"Amen to that" Lorelai shouted, obviously getting the caffeine fix she needed.
Both Chris and Luke mumbled Amen, echoing Lorelai - before returning their attentions back to what they were doing before.
"What can I get you today?" Luke asked, pen poised, paper ready.
"Chris?" Lorelai asked. "Have you decided? I'm having trouble deciding what to get. I think I'm going to get chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs - but I'm not sure if I want them sunny side up, or scrambled. So, what are you getting?"
Luke gave an exasperated sigh, and looked at Rory. He lifted up his eyebrows, questioning her what she wanted for breakfast with his facial expression.
"Pancakes please" Rory replied, sipping her coffee, and then checking her watch. "Oh, wait, cancel that - I'm going to be late for school." she said, as she gathered her book bag. Jess appeared by her side, with a cup of coffee in his hand, and a donut.
"I'll walk you to the bus" he told Rory.
"Bye mom, bye dad, bye Luke" Rory called out, as her and Jess left, hand in hand to the bus stop.
"Bye Hun! Have a good day at school!" Lorelai called out to her daughter.
"Bye Ror, see you at home " Chris called out. He turned his attention back at Luke. "I'll have scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, and half a grapefruit" he said, gaining a nod of approval from Luke.
"Grapefruit? And whole wheat toast? Since when do you eat grapefruit?" Lorelai demanded, making a sour face at the mention of healthy food. "Luke, I'm ready to order!" she said, towards Luke's retreating figure.
"Hey - Luke! Where are you going? You haven't taken my order yet! I want" Lorelai called out, before being cut off by Luke.
"I already got your order, Lorelai - chocolate chip pancakes, with a side of bacon and sausage, with a side of sunny side up eggs, cause you're probably going to steal a bite from Chris anyways."
Lorelai closed her mouth shut, and smiled. Chris watched her smile, and his heart sunk. As Luke placed their orders in front of them, Chris suddenly lost his appetite.
"You know what Lor? I'm actually not feeling so hungry right now, I think I'm going to take Georgia home, and get some sleep. You can have my eggs" he said, pushing his plate towards her.
"What?" She asked, looking at him carefully. "I thought you were starving? And I'm not really in the mood for scrambled eggs anymore. Why don't you get your breakfast to go? I can get Luke to get you a box." she said. "Luke? Can I get Chris' breakfast to go?"
Luke appeared with a box, and slid Chris' untouched breakfast into the box carefully. "Here ya go" he said, pushing the box towards Chris.
Chris pulled open his wallet to pay the bill, but Luke held his hand up.
"Don't worry - it's on the house. I know what it feels like to be kept up all night by a kid. That's why I have no intention on having kids ever. I couldn't put up with the diapers, the crying, the feeding, the throw-up... "
"Kids? You'd never have kids Luke? Really? Now, I never knew that.. " Lorelai started. Luke looked helplessly at Chris, knowing that another length Lorelai rant was coming on. Lorelai continued, "But you have Jess, and you must love him considering how much stuff you put up with him, especially with the garden gnomes, and pushing him in various bodies of water.. So, you're saying that if you ever had a kid like Rory, you wouldn't want her?"
"Now Lorelai" Luke grumbled, "Finish your breakfast and go to work. Don't you have work anyways?"
Chris frowned at their flirtatious banter, and quickly gathered up his belongings and the baby. He leaned over and gave Lorelai a kiss on the cheek, interrupting their conversation.
"See you at home, Lor" he whispered, and out of the corner of his eye, watched Luke nervously turn away and grab the coffee pot to refill some cups.
Lorelai, who was caught off guard, managed to calmly say,
"See you at home Chris, have a good day."
After he left, Lorelai put down her fork, and grabbed her purse.
"Bye Luke, thanks for breakfast!" she said hurriedly, before quickly leaving the diner. "I'll be back for coffee and dinner later k?"
Luke watched her walk across street towards in Inn, trying not to let the jealousy show. Obviously Chris definitely aggravated him, especially when he was with Lorelai. He sighed, and continued to fill coffee cups, the only thing on his mind being Lorelai.
~.~ Independence Inn
"Sookie! I need, coffee. Do you have coffee?" Lorelai burst through the kitchen door, looking completely frazzled. Sookie, with a bewildered look on her face quickly handed her a cup of steaming hot coffee. Lorelai inhaled deeply at the scent of coffee before taking a long sip.
"Mmmmm. Thanks." Lorelai said. "I really needed this."
"So, your nerves a little bit calmer there?" Sookie asked, picking up a whisk and whipping egg whites in a copper bowl lightly. "You want to tell me something? Like Chris was staying at your house last night?"
Lorelai stopped drinking and looked up from her coffee cup, her eyes huge.
"And how do you know?" she asked, putting her coffee cup on the counter.
"News travels Hun. We live in Stars Hollow, gossip central! Babette noticed a car last night, Morey saw it still there in the morning, and you guys sealed the deal when the three of you all walked in to Luke's this morning. Miss Patty saw. Is that what was bugging you this morning? Hence forth the coffee demanding barge in the kitchen this morning?"
Lorelai nodded meekly.
"Awww, Hun, did you want to talk about it? I'm here." Sookie offered, setting aside the eggs to give Lorelai a hug.
"Well," Lorelai began, before picking up the coffee pot and filling her cup with more coffee. " The cliff notes version - is that Chris and Georgia are in town because Sherry left him. He's just hanging around for a couple of days while he gets himself together."
"Hmm. A couple of days?" Sookie asked, resuming her egg white whipping.
"Yeah, just a couple of days. The weird thing - that creeps me out was he got weirded out this morning at breakfast. Luke and I were talking, and he suddenly left cause he wasn't hungry. The weirder thing - is that he gave me a kiss on the cheek, like a little peck, before leaving! And that's not all, no sirreee! Luke got all quiet too."
"Hmm. Interesting." Sookie said, whipping the eggs a little harder. "Are you sure it's only a couple of days that he's spending here? And that he doesn't have a hidden agenda?"
Lorelai's eyes grew big again for the second time this morning.
"Sookie, he doesn't have a hidden agenda. He's only here for help. Plus, he knows not to try anything to risky like that."
"Sure, sure Lorelai. Whatever you say." Sookie mumbled, examing her eggs closely for the soft peaks she desired, obviously disagreeing with her friend.
"Really, Sookie" Lorelai confirmed. "There is nothing going on, and enough of that. Thanks for the coffee," she said, before leaving the kitchen.
"Sure sure," Sookie muttered, obviously suspecting something going on. What, she did not know.
~.~ Gilmore Residence - 5:30 pm
Chris was anxiously paced back and forth in the kitchen. 'Where could they possibly be?' He continued to jiggle Georgia on his shoulder, rubbing her back in hopes of a burp. He checked his watch again - making sure that the time on the microwave clock, stove clock, and wall clock were right. 5:30, and they still weren't home.
~.~ ***************************
to be continued - keep reading, writing and reviewing!
pebbles
By - miss.pebbles
A/N - this is my very first fanfiction - and I'd love some feedback please! I've reviewed so many stories, and I've got so many ideas - I've finally decided to write them down. Read and review - the lovely button down there screams to be clicked! Comments and constructive criticism appreciated. ;)
Disclaimer: if I owned the show, do you think I'd be in school right now? I'd be making lots of money writing for the show.. but the characters don't belong to me. They belong to the WB.
Now on with the show! : )
*************************** Chapter 1.
Lorelai Gilmore casually turned her jeep into the driveway, her heart rate rising as she noticed a familiar Volvo parked in the driveway. It was a Wednesday night, and she knew that Rory was probably at Luke's hanging out with Jess, doing something absurd like having a heated discussion about Hemmingway. Lorelai looked again at her house, noticing that the living room light was on. She hurriedly got her purse from the jeep, and walked to the front door.
"Rory?"
A baby's cry echoed throughout the house, followed by a loud curse.
Chris frantically rushed by Lorelai - who was still standing at the door.
"Chris?"
" Oh- hey Lor, I didn't hear you come in."
Chris reappeared in the foyer, with a baby over his shoulder, swaying back and forth, rubbing her little back. His eyes were slightly swollen, evidence that he had been crying. Lorelai closed the door, and followed Chris with the whimpering baby into the living room.
"Chris?" Lorelai asked, breaking the strained tension in the room. Chris looked up into Lorelei's eyes. "What are you doing here?"
The door opened and Rory ran in - followed by Jess casually strolling in, with significantly less enthusiasm of his girlfriend.
"Dad!"
Rory skidded to a stop, noticing the her mom and dad in a stand off position.
"Uh, we'll be in my room," Rory started to say, but quickly corrected herself, before getting any warning looks from her mother. "We'll be in the kitchen - if anyone needs us." She grabbed Jess' sleeve, and pulled him in the other direction of the living room.
"Lorelai, uh, Sir" Jess stuttered, acknowledging the two adults before disappearing with Rory into the kitchen.
"Who's that?" Chris asked, nodding towards the kitchen.
"Jess - Rory's boyfriend. That's be side's the point - you haven't answered my question." Lorelai pointedly stated. " Don't get sidetracked here Chris - and - how did you get into the house? Where's Sherry?"
Chris let out a big sigh, and gently put the now sleeping baby into her car seat.
"Outside?" he asked. Lorelai nodded, and followed Chris to the door.
"Ror?" she called out, quietly. "Your dad and I are going to be outside, talking okay? If the baby starts to cry - take a look? " and with that, she closed the door behind her.
Chris was leaning on one of the house's support beams, looking out into the front yard.
"Sherry left me."
Lorelai, who joined him by his side - looked up at him with a shocked expression on her face.
"Why?" she asked.
"Geeze -I don't know Lor, I don't know. I came home early from work one day, and she was waiting for me at the door. She handed me the baby - and said 'Good bye Chris'. she walked out the door and never came back. She must of packed her bags during the day - 'cause when I put my jacket in the closet, I noticed half of her stuff was gone. I checked the house - and the rest of her stuff was gone too. Then Georgia woke up and started crying - Lor, I didn't know what to do, I really didn't. The only person that I knew that could help me is you, Lor, you. I packed some stuff together, and I'm here now. "
Chris turned to face Lorelai, who had a shocked expression on her face. Chris turned back to face the front yard again, took a deep breath and continued.
" As for how I got into your house - you've got a key in the little turtle - I looked under the front mat, and in a couple of other spots, too, before I found it. Don't be mad, Lor. I just didn't have anyone in Boston to turn to..." Chris trailed off. He turned again to face Lorelai, noticing her eyes filling with tears.
" Say something - anything Lorelai." Chris spoke up, once again.
"Say what Chris? I don't know what to say? I'm touched, that you've come to me for help, but it still hurts, to see you around - holding a kid that isn't ours. It was supposed to be us, me you and Ror, as a family - but not everything happens like it's supposed to... And now, with this. Sherry leaving you.. What a complete"
"Lor" Chris interrupted softly. "It should have been you, Rory and me, as a family - but I've got another obligation... And Sherry - she tried. She's not as good of a mother as you.. You've done so much with Rory, she's just like you, you know that? She sets her heart on one thing - and never takes her eye off of the goal. pause Look Lor, I just needed a place to crash, and someone to listen for a while. I'll leave tomorrow okay?" He turned around, and started back towards the front door.
"No, Chris, stay. Stay for how ever long you need to. You're Rory's dad - we'll never turn you away. Talk to Rory when we go inside."
With that - she walked back into the house, leaving the door open for Chris, who followed suit.
~.~ Meanwhile - in the Gilmore residence Rory and Jess were semi-lying on her bed, his arm around her shoulder, playing with her hair. They were both respectively reading their own books, their breathing synchronized together.
"Ror?"
"Mmm."
"Can I ask you a question?" Jess asked, putting his book down, and shifting his body to face Rory's. Rory glanced at him before putting down her book, and giving him his undivided attention.
"So, that's your dad right? Outside talking to your mom."
"Yup." Rory nodded.
"Well," Jess began, before nervously shifting his eyes around the room, and then looking into Rory's eyes again. "Do you think he'll like me? Like - Approve of me? I'm sure he already knows that I was the kid who broke your arm in that car accident, and I'm not surprised if he wanted to break my arms off, but - should I leave before they come back in?" he finished off, a little bit breathless.
Rory tried so hard not to giggle, but couldn't help but laughing out loud a little. Jess shot her a dirty look and frown.
"Awww, Jess" she started, taking a hold of his hand, and giving it a reaffirming squeeze, "He'll love you. Okay, maybe not at first, but he'll like you once he sees how much I love you." Rory smiled, and looked up into his eyes. As Jess leaned in to kiss Rory, she said, laughing " It wouldn't hurt to be prepared to run though.. Before he realizes who you are and decides to draw and quarter you."
Jess groaned, before swooping in for his kiss, and then tickling her. He re-adjusted his position, resumed playing with Rory's hair, and reading his book. He smiled, of which out of the corner of her eye, Rory noticed, before picking up where she left off in the book. ** This is how things should be** she thought. **It feels so right, so right.
~.~
Lorelai walked back into the house, turning towards the living room, in search for Rory and Jess. Chris turned toward the empty kitchen before stopping, abruptly, and in a loud whisper, said "Lor."
"Chris" Lorelai answered, in an equally loud whisper. "Yes?" she said, sneaking up behind Chris, who was standing in the hallway between the kitchen and the foyer.
"Where's Rory and Jess. I thought they were supposed to be in the kitchen?" he demanded, obviously knowing what may happen if they were in Rory's bedroom together.
"Chris - calm down. They're probably in her bedroom, doing something insanely calm, and controlled. It's Rory, don't think that I didn't raise her well. She's not going to try anything sneaky in this house. I bet you that they're doing something - like reading. Jess likes to read ya know." she said, sticking out her hand, waiting for Chris' response.
"You're on - Ten bucks?" Chris replied, shaking her outstretched hand.
"Twenty."
"Ten"
"Fifteen and a cup of coffee."
"Deal." Both adults shook on the deal, and crept slowly towards Rory's open door. They both peered in, and not before long Lorelai exclaimed -
"Ha! I told you so - you owe me 15 bucks plus a coffee mister!" Chris shook his head, and laughed out loud.
"Hey, Rory, can I talk to you when you have some time?" Chris asked, with a sense of urgency and seriousness in his voice. He nodded in acknowledgement to Jess, who had immediately straightened up and removed his arm from Rory's shoulder at Lorelai's loud outburst.
"Uh, Rory, I should be going now, before I get the third degree from being out so late from Luke okay? I'll see you tomorrow? " He gave Rory's shoulder a light squeeze, and headed toward the door. Before he left, he stuck out his hand at Chris, and said " I'm Jess, sir. Nice to meet you." Chris studied his profile a bit, and gave a small nod at Jess, shaking his hand as well.
After he let go of his hand, Jess quickly slid through the small space between Chris and Lorelai, mumbling a g'nite, and see you tomorrow to Lorelai.
"See ya around," Chris called out, towards Jess' quickly disappearing figure.
Rory stood up, and looked up at her dad.
"So, what's up dad?" she asked.
"We've got a lot to talk about Ror, lots to talk about."
~.~
Lorelai leaned on the door way of the living room, with Chris's back faced to her. She watched how Rory's face went to an expression filled with horror and sorrow, learning that Sherry had abandoned her father and her little half sister, who was sleeping quietly in her car seat. Rory's eyes filled with tears, as she witnessed her father let out all his emotions, insecurities as a single parent, and reached out to give him a hug. The memories of when he broke his promise to Rory and the fights about it were all put behind them; family always came first - through thick and thin.
~.~
Lorelai walked into the diner with huge black bags under her eyes, despite standing in front of the mirror with every kind of concealer, powder and foundation in her make up cabinet excavated for the mission of making the bags go away.
"Coffee, please." she muttered, sitting on a stool at the counter. Rory trudged in, a moment later, followed by Chris and a sleeping baby.
"You know Chris right?" Lorelai said, noticing Luke looking behind her shoulder.
"What the hell happen to you?" Luke asked, setting down three large mugs, and filling them generously with steaming hot coffee.
"Dad's visiting us," Rory started to say, but was quickly interrupted by Lorelai.
"The baby, the baby wouldn't stop crying! The moment we all fell asleep, the baby decided it was time to wake up and cry! I swear, Rory was never like that, never!!"
"Never" Rory echoed softly. "I never cried, I was a good kid!" emphasizing Lorelai's point.
At that moment, Jess appeared at the foot of the stairs, and made his way behind the counter to face Rory. He took one good look at her, and said
"Good morning sunshine!"
"Jess" Rory threatened - with a look in her eyes. "We're never having kids, ever ever ever, understand? Kids cry, all night, and keep everyone in the same house up all night, when they're supposed to be getting some beauty sleep. So no kids."
"Kids? Kids? Who said anything about having kids? And no, no kids, not any time soon. Not in this decade, in fact." Jess replied his hands gripping the counter tightly, so that his knuckles were turning white.
"Amen to that" Lorelai shouted, obviously getting the caffeine fix she needed.
Both Chris and Luke mumbled Amen, echoing Lorelai - before returning their attentions back to what they were doing before.
"What can I get you today?" Luke asked, pen poised, paper ready.
"Chris?" Lorelai asked. "Have you decided? I'm having trouble deciding what to get. I think I'm going to get chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs - but I'm not sure if I want them sunny side up, or scrambled. So, what are you getting?"
Luke gave an exasperated sigh, and looked at Rory. He lifted up his eyebrows, questioning her what she wanted for breakfast with his facial expression.
"Pancakes please" Rory replied, sipping her coffee, and then checking her watch. "Oh, wait, cancel that - I'm going to be late for school." she said, as she gathered her book bag. Jess appeared by her side, with a cup of coffee in his hand, and a donut.
"I'll walk you to the bus" he told Rory.
"Bye mom, bye dad, bye Luke" Rory called out, as her and Jess left, hand in hand to the bus stop.
"Bye Hun! Have a good day at school!" Lorelai called out to her daughter.
"Bye Ror, see you at home " Chris called out. He turned his attention back at Luke. "I'll have scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, and half a grapefruit" he said, gaining a nod of approval from Luke.
"Grapefruit? And whole wheat toast? Since when do you eat grapefruit?" Lorelai demanded, making a sour face at the mention of healthy food. "Luke, I'm ready to order!" she said, towards Luke's retreating figure.
"Hey - Luke! Where are you going? You haven't taken my order yet! I want" Lorelai called out, before being cut off by Luke.
"I already got your order, Lorelai - chocolate chip pancakes, with a side of bacon and sausage, with a side of sunny side up eggs, cause you're probably going to steal a bite from Chris anyways."
Lorelai closed her mouth shut, and smiled. Chris watched her smile, and his heart sunk. As Luke placed their orders in front of them, Chris suddenly lost his appetite.
"You know what Lor? I'm actually not feeling so hungry right now, I think I'm going to take Georgia home, and get some sleep. You can have my eggs" he said, pushing his plate towards her.
"What?" She asked, looking at him carefully. "I thought you were starving? And I'm not really in the mood for scrambled eggs anymore. Why don't you get your breakfast to go? I can get Luke to get you a box." she said. "Luke? Can I get Chris' breakfast to go?"
Luke appeared with a box, and slid Chris' untouched breakfast into the box carefully. "Here ya go" he said, pushing the box towards Chris.
Chris pulled open his wallet to pay the bill, but Luke held his hand up.
"Don't worry - it's on the house. I know what it feels like to be kept up all night by a kid. That's why I have no intention on having kids ever. I couldn't put up with the diapers, the crying, the feeding, the throw-up... "
"Kids? You'd never have kids Luke? Really? Now, I never knew that.. " Lorelai started. Luke looked helplessly at Chris, knowing that another length Lorelai rant was coming on. Lorelai continued, "But you have Jess, and you must love him considering how much stuff you put up with him, especially with the garden gnomes, and pushing him in various bodies of water.. So, you're saying that if you ever had a kid like Rory, you wouldn't want her?"
"Now Lorelai" Luke grumbled, "Finish your breakfast and go to work. Don't you have work anyways?"
Chris frowned at their flirtatious banter, and quickly gathered up his belongings and the baby. He leaned over and gave Lorelai a kiss on the cheek, interrupting their conversation.
"See you at home, Lor" he whispered, and out of the corner of his eye, watched Luke nervously turn away and grab the coffee pot to refill some cups.
Lorelai, who was caught off guard, managed to calmly say,
"See you at home Chris, have a good day."
After he left, Lorelai put down her fork, and grabbed her purse.
"Bye Luke, thanks for breakfast!" she said hurriedly, before quickly leaving the diner. "I'll be back for coffee and dinner later k?"
Luke watched her walk across street towards in Inn, trying not to let the jealousy show. Obviously Chris definitely aggravated him, especially when he was with Lorelai. He sighed, and continued to fill coffee cups, the only thing on his mind being Lorelai.
~.~ Independence Inn
"Sookie! I need, coffee. Do you have coffee?" Lorelai burst through the kitchen door, looking completely frazzled. Sookie, with a bewildered look on her face quickly handed her a cup of steaming hot coffee. Lorelai inhaled deeply at the scent of coffee before taking a long sip.
"Mmmmm. Thanks." Lorelai said. "I really needed this."
"So, your nerves a little bit calmer there?" Sookie asked, picking up a whisk and whipping egg whites in a copper bowl lightly. "You want to tell me something? Like Chris was staying at your house last night?"
Lorelai stopped drinking and looked up from her coffee cup, her eyes huge.
"And how do you know?" she asked, putting her coffee cup on the counter.
"News travels Hun. We live in Stars Hollow, gossip central! Babette noticed a car last night, Morey saw it still there in the morning, and you guys sealed the deal when the three of you all walked in to Luke's this morning. Miss Patty saw. Is that what was bugging you this morning? Hence forth the coffee demanding barge in the kitchen this morning?"
Lorelai nodded meekly.
"Awww, Hun, did you want to talk about it? I'm here." Sookie offered, setting aside the eggs to give Lorelai a hug.
"Well," Lorelai began, before picking up the coffee pot and filling her cup with more coffee. " The cliff notes version - is that Chris and Georgia are in town because Sherry left him. He's just hanging around for a couple of days while he gets himself together."
"Hmm. A couple of days?" Sookie asked, resuming her egg white whipping.
"Yeah, just a couple of days. The weird thing - that creeps me out was he got weirded out this morning at breakfast. Luke and I were talking, and he suddenly left cause he wasn't hungry. The weirder thing - is that he gave me a kiss on the cheek, like a little peck, before leaving! And that's not all, no sirreee! Luke got all quiet too."
"Hmm. Interesting." Sookie said, whipping the eggs a little harder. "Are you sure it's only a couple of days that he's spending here? And that he doesn't have a hidden agenda?"
Lorelai's eyes grew big again for the second time this morning.
"Sookie, he doesn't have a hidden agenda. He's only here for help. Plus, he knows not to try anything to risky like that."
"Sure, sure Lorelai. Whatever you say." Sookie mumbled, examing her eggs closely for the soft peaks she desired, obviously disagreeing with her friend.
"Really, Sookie" Lorelai confirmed. "There is nothing going on, and enough of that. Thanks for the coffee," she said, before leaving the kitchen.
"Sure sure," Sookie muttered, obviously suspecting something going on. What, she did not know.
~.~ Gilmore Residence - 5:30 pm
Chris was anxiously paced back and forth in the kitchen. 'Where could they possibly be?' He continued to jiggle Georgia on his shoulder, rubbing her back in hopes of a burp. He checked his watch again - making sure that the time on the microwave clock, stove clock, and wall clock were right. 5:30, and they still weren't home.
~.~ ***************************
to be continued - keep reading, writing and reviewing!
pebbles