Title: Always You
Chapter 2: Dances, Motorcycles, and 70s Hair
Disclaimer: Almost everything belongs to the Palladinos.
A/N: Well, I'm back. This starts at Sookie and Jackson's reception. I'm going on blind faith here; we all have no idea what happened there, except I'm guessing Luke and Jess didn't show up. Luke cause...well, it's Luke, and Jess cause Lorelai didn't know he'd showed up at Sookie's wedding. Anyway, continue, please.
~~~~
"Sookie looks happy, doesn't she?" Lorelai asked the table at large. Rory glanced in the same direction as her mother.
"Yeah. How long have she and Jackson been dancing, anyway?"
"Ten songs." Lorelai answered, sighing happily.
"Wow. Their feet must be tired." Dean said.
"And they haven't even done the whole 'you dance with my mom and I'll dance with your dad' thing." Rory pointed out.
"Their feet will be really tired by the end of the night."
"So, Dean. You had lots of fun dancing all night with Rory at her debutante ball, huh?" Christopher asked.
"Ugh!" Dean and Rory said at the same time.
"I'm never wearing a tux again."
"I hated those shoes."
"You know, Dean, you're wearing a suit; it's almost the same as a tux." Chris pointed out.
"And you're wearing the same shoes." Lorelai pointed at her daughter's feet.
"Yeah, but we're not dancing," Rory explained as if it made the most sense in the world.
"Oh, I see your point."
"You do?" Christopher looked at Lorelai.
"Well, yeah."
Dean and Christopher looked at each other.
"Crazy," Chris mouthed. Dean nodded.
"Dean, come with your crazy girlfriend to get more finger food." Rory pulled at Dean's jacket. He stood up and allowed himself to be led over to the buffet table sagging with food.
"I saw that crazy."
"I know. So did Rory."
"Ah, we're Gilmore girls. What can I tell ya?"
"Come here, you crazy Gilmore girl." Christopher smiled and pulled Lorelai to him. They started kissing, and then a voice over Lorelai's shoulder made her jump away.
"Really, it's quite rude to be showing that much affection in public."
"Mom!"
"Hello, Lorelai, Christopher."
"Emily."
"You seem surprised to see me, Lorelai. You knew I was here."
"Well, yeah, but you disappeared a while ago. I thought maybe you and Dad had gone home."
"More like hoped." Chris whispered in Lorelai's ear. She elbowed him in the ribs softly.
"Yes, well, we tried to, but your father started talking to the parking attendant, and I finally got tired of standing there like an idiot, so I decided to come see what you and Rory were up to."
"Oh, Rory went off to get some booze and smoke a joint." Lorelai waved a hand vaguely in the direction Rory and Dean had disappeared.
"Lorelai, your sense of humor is absolutely appalling."
"Why, thank you. I try."
"That wasn't a compliment, and where is Rory, anyway?"
"Rory and Dean went to get some of those little sandwiches, Emily. I'm gonna go get a drink. Want anything?"
"Yes, a wine would be wonderful," Emily said very politely.
"Vodka, straight up," Lorelai said.
"So, that's two wines. I'll be right back." Christopher walked off to get the drinks.
"Well, it certainly looks like Christopher's going to be sticking around for more than his daughter."
"Oh, Mother, whatsoever do you mean?" Lorelai asked innocently.
"Don't act like that, Lorelai, it's not very complimentary."
"Oh, howsoever do you mean, Mother?" Lorelai continued her little act, this time adding her best Scarlett O'Hara accent.
"What's with that ridiculous accent?"
"Oh, what ridiculous accent? I'm not speaking any differently than I regularly do. Oh, swoon!" Lorelai laid the back of her hand across her forehead and leaned back in her chair.
"Oh, Lorelai, get up."
"I can't, Mother, I swooned." Lorelai shot up and explained in her regular voice and then leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes again.
"Food!" Rory announced as she and Dean came back to the table. "Oh, did Mom swoon again?" she asked as she noticed Lorelai.
"Does she do this a lot?"
"Only when she's feeling dramatic," Rory explained to her grandmother. "She'll get up in a minute."
"I have returned with the wine," Christopher walked up and handed a glass to Emily. Lorelai popped up.
"All better now! Where's the booze?"
"Lorelai, please! That is such an uncouth term." Emily scolded.
"But--Frank Sinatra said it." Lorelai pouted.
"I refuse to believe that Frank Sinatra said a term such as that."
"Actually, in the song 'Let's Fly Away,' Frank sings about the exotic booze in far Bombay," Rory said.
"Lorelai, what are you doing letting Rory listen to a song like that?"
"Well, Mom, Rory's always had a mind of her own."
"I'm a little worried about this, though. First Frank Sinatra. Then what? Elvis?" Christopher said.
"Oh, stop it." Emily said.
Rory and Dean were laughing.
"Emily! There you are! I've been looking all over for you."
"I've been right here, Richard."
"Yes, well, hurry up. We've got to head home, it's getting late."
"I was waiting for you, Richard."
"No matter. Let's go."
"All right. Goodbye Dean, it was nice seeing you again. Christopher, it's always a pleasure. Lorelai, Rory, I'll see you on Friday."
"No, you won't, Mom, Rory's leaving for Washington Saturday."
"So she'll be in town Friday."
"Well, I was thinking maybe she and I could spend Friday together. Sort of a last-day-I'll-be-seeing-her-for-six-weeks-which-is-the-longest-we've-ever-spent-apart sort of thing. How about Thursday?"
"Thursday it is."
"Okay. Bye, Mom. Dad."
"Goodbye, Lorelai. Rory." Richard said.
"Goodbye, Grandpa, Grandma."
Richard and Emily waved and then walked to their car, arguing.
"Ugh, that woman." Lorelai groaned.
"She can drive you crazy, can't she?"
"What are you complaining about? She loves you."
"My mother."
"Ah."
The four of them sat in silence for a little while, picking at their food and drinking their beverages. Then "Just the Way You Look Tonight" started playing.
"Is that Tony Bennet?" Lorelai asked in wonder, pointing to the man sitting at the piano.
"No, Mom, that's Morey."
"All right, just checking."
Suddenly Christopher stood up and held his hand out to Lorelai.
"Will you give me the honor of a dance?"
"Ooh, fancy. Now bow."
"Will you?"
"Of course." Lorelai took Christopher's hand and they started walking to the dance floor. "I got me my own dance partner," Lorelai said before they'd gotten too far away from Rory.
Rory just looked at her parents and said, "Dance pretty!"
"We will," Christopher answered her as he spun Lorelai towards him.
"Hi," she said as he pulled her closer to his body.
"Hi," he smiled back.
"You know, the last time we did that whole 'hi' thing, you got lucky."
"I'm always lucky when you're in my arms."
"You've been getting pick-up lines from James Bond again."
Christopher laughed. "Maybe."
"Well, he always had some girl on his arm, so maybe they do work."
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
They danced for a little while.
"This is a great song," Christopher commented.
"Yes, it is." Lorelai agreed. "Oh, no. I recognize that glint in your eyes."
"And which glint is that?" Chris asked, grinning.
"The glint you get right before you sing. Am I right?"
"I don't know. Are you?"
"Don't sing. You really won't get lucky tonight if you sing."
"All right, maybe I won't sing."
"Thank God."
"Hey, is that some kind of crack about my singing voice?"
"Yes. It's horrible."
"Oh, you know, you're not one to talk."
"Yes, I am! My singing voice is much better than yours."
"Do you have a singing voice?"
"Sometimes. When the CD's right."
"Ahh."
The song ended and Lorelai tried to walk off the dance floor. Christopher was still holding her hand, however, and he pulled her back.
"Ack!" Lorelai almost tripped.
"Oh, very graceful," Kirk commented as he was dancing by.
"Kirk, aren't you the parking attendant?"
"Uh, maybe."
"Go!" Lorelai pointed with one arm, still holding Chris' hand.
"Fine." Kirk put his orange vest back on and walked to the parking lot, twirling someone's keys in his hand.
Lorelai shook her head. "Some people."
"I don't think I've seen you like this before."
"Like how?"
"All boss-like."
"I was never boss-like with you?"
"Oh, sure, with me. I just haven't seen you like that with other people."
"Oh, I see the distinction."
"Yeah."
They danced till the end of that song, and then Lorelai dragged Christopher back to the table, but he was snatched up by Miss Patty very quickly. Lorelai let them go, yelling "Dance nice, you crazy lovebirds!" Then she sat next to Rory at their table. "Hey, sweets. Where's Dean?"
"He took Carla home."
"Dragged off by a younger woman. Scandalous!"
"He said he'd call later."
"He's probably paging you right now."
"I know. I'll get it in a minute."
"Okay." Lorelai turned to watch Christopher and Miss Patty dancing.
"You and Dad are really good dancers."
"Years of practice, all wedged into three months."
"Yeah. You're so good, you're like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers."
"Except for that whole they didn't really like each other in real life thing."
"They didn't?"
"No. So, in reality, we're like Fred Astaire and Cyd Cherisse."
"My entire belief system has been crushed."
"Ah, you'll get over it. Tomorrow I'll tell you a secret about Santa Claus."
"Oh, tell me now!"
"No, you have to wait."
"Oh, please tell me now!"
"Nope. Just brood over Fred and Ginger for tonight."
"I can't believe you won't tell me the secret about Santa Claus."
"I'll tell you another secret."
"Ooh, what?"
"Nah, I'll just tell you about Santa Claus."
"Oh, tell me the other one!"
"No, all you get now is Santa."
"I don't care about Santa, tell me the other one!"
"Nope, I'm not telling you the other one, and now you don't even get Santa."
"Uh! That's so mean!"
"Sorry. You insulted me and my Santa Claus secret."
"No, I didn't!"
"Too bad."
"You're the meanest mom ever."
"Relax. When your dad runs away from Miss Patty, we'll both tell you a secret."
"Ooh, what?"
"You have to wait."
"No fair!"
"Oh, I'm tired. I think I'm gonna go on home."
"You're not tired."
"Yes I am. I'm way too tired to be telling any secrets."
"You are so mean."
"I try."
"I'm going to get a piece of cake. And I'm not bringing you one!"
"Well, I'll just steal it from you. I want that 'meanest mom ever' award."
"You have a weird mind."
"And just think, I gave half of it to you."
"So now you have no mind?"
"Now you're being mean."
"Well, I have to start now if I'm gonna steal that award away from you."
"Oh, it's gonna take you three lifetimes to catch up to me."
"Well, maybe I'll get coffee and won't give it to you either."
"Now that's just cruel."
"I learned from the best!" Rory walked off to get cake. Lorelai sat in her seat, pouting, until Christopher came back over and kissed her.
"Hey!"
"Hey. How'd you get away?"
"I threw Miss Patty at Jackson's dad."
"Ooh, good move."
"Thanks."
"You seem to be fitting in here."
"Yeah, I think I am."
"So you want to stay?"
"Yeah, I do."
"What about your job?"
"They've got a Hartford office."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So you'd get an apartment in Hartford, or..."
"I was thinking either one here, or maybe not one at all."
"As in on the streets?"
"Are there people on the streets in Stars Hollow?"
"Only when they're crossing them."
"That's what I thought. No, actually I was thinking I'd move in with you and Rory."
"Hmm. That's not such a bad idea."
"What's not such a bad idea?" Rory asked as she walked up with three pieces of cake on one plate and two cups of coffee.
"Coffee!" Lorelai gasped as she grabbed one cup from Rory.
"Coffee's never a bad idea," Rory agreed. "Here, I got all of us some cake."
"You're the best daughter ever."
"I know. We have to share a plate, though."
"Not anymore," Christopher said as Lorelai swallowed the last of her cake and speared a piece of Christopher's. "Hey, that's mine!"
"Never shall a man come between a girl and her cake." Lorelai spouted through a mouthful of crumbs.
"What's that from?" Chris asked.
"The Gilmore book of rules." Rory explained. "You want my cake?"
"No, you eat it."
"Good; I was just being polite." Rory speared her own piece of cake, and before long she'd finished it. She and Lorelai started having a miniature fencing fight for some of Christopher's piece. Chris finally picked up a fork, stabbed the last bite, and shoved it in his mouth. Both girls 'aww'-ed in protest. He swallowed and held up his hands as if to say 'sorry!'
"Now can you tell me the secret?" Rory asked.
"What secret?" Chris asked. Lorelai leaned over and whispered and then recognition dawned across his face. "Sure. Okay, Ror, the thing is, Sherry and I are in the process of breaking up."
Rory nodded. She knew that.
"And there's a chance I'm gonna be around more often."
"A chance?" Rory repeated. "How much of a chance?"
"Well, it all depends on your mother." Christopher and Rory both looked expectedly at Lorelai.
"Oh, it's my turn? Okay. Your dad is going to be moving in. Soon."
"Oh, my God! Really?" Rory sprang out of her seat in joy.
"Yeah. I am." Chris looked at Lorelai, and she smiled.
"Oh, that's great!" Rory leaned down and hugged her parents at the same time. "Oh, I have to tell someone! Lane! I'll tell Lane!" Rory ran off.
"I'm moving in?"
"Yeah. You are."
"Good." Chris leaned in and kissed Lorelai.
~~~~
Rory woke up early the next morning and started coffee. Before long, Christopher had come downstairs.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hey!" Christopher poured a cup of coffee and then watched as his daughter worked on something at the kitchen table intently. "Whatcha doin?"
"Oh, just some preliminary stuff Paris brought over for our trip to Washington."
"When did Paris come over?"
"Right after Sookie's wedding ceremony but right before the reception."
"Ah. That Paris is something, isn't she?"
"Yeah. I don't think the word 'chill' is even in her dictionary."
"Well maybe you can beat some sense into her during your six weeks together."
"Death by her Zagat. Oh, the irony."
Christopher laughed. "You're a good kid, you know that?"
"I've come to that conclusion, yes."
"What's this? A cloak-and-dagger meeting in the middle of the night?" Lorelai asked as she came downstairs.
"Yes, Brutus and I were planning to murder you on the Ides of June, Caesar."
"No smart talk before coffee! Rule number one." Lorelai took the cup of coffee from Christopher's hand. "Ah, sweet nectar of the gods."
"That's smart talk!" Rory protested.
"After coffee."
"Oh."
Lorelai placed her empty cup on the table. "Rory, stop working. We're taking your dad to breakfast."
"Clothes." Chris and Rory pointed to Lorelai's pajamas at the same time.
"Oh, yeah. Clothes. Come, my love slave." Lorelai pulled Chris upstairs with her, who threw a look at Rory. Rory just watched her parents, happy and in love, head upstairs together.
~~~~
"So what do you have planned today, Rory?" Christopher asked as the three walked to Luke's.
"Probably more boring school stuff. Am I right?"
"Yep. Boring school stuff."
"It's summer, you big brainiac!"
"Sorry, Mom, but Paris says that if we slack off over the summer, we can't have maximum effect when we come back in the fall."
"I thought you were the vice-president because Paris needed to chill."
"Ah, but 'chill' isn't even in Paris' vocabulary." Chris said.
"Right. Dad suggested a solution."
"Oh, really? And what was your dad's wonderful solution?"
"Well, it involved beating Paris to death with her Zagat."
"Ooh, painful! I like it!"
"I thought you would." Chris laughed as they entered Luke's.
"You know me so well." Lorelai kissed Christopher and then they sat at a table.
"And whaddya want?" Luke walked up to the table.
"Good morning, Luke! Yes, we did have a good time at Sookie's wedding last night. And you remember Christopher, Rory's dad, right?"
"Hi. Whaddya want?"
"Geez, so hostile. It's too early for hostile." Rory said.
"Order or I'm leaving."
"Pancakes and coffee." Lorelai smiled sweetly.
"Pancakes and coffee," Rory echoed her mother. Then they all stared at Christopher, who was reading a menu.
"Uh, the same for me."
"Okay. That's three orders of pancakes. All that sugar will kill you."
"It happens." Christopher shrugged.
"Whatever. But when your arteries are so clogged with fat you need a quadruple bypass, don't come crying to me." Luke said to all three. Then he turned and headed to another table.
"And coffee!" Lorelai yelled at his back. Luke just waved his hand in slight recognition.
"He's got to be the friendliest man I've ever met." Christopher said.
"Yep. That's Luke. Always bursting with friendliness."
"He's so friendly, he knows how to knit," Lorelai laughed. Rory and Christopher stared at her for a minute.
"So, Dad, what are you doing today?"
"Actually, I've got to go back to Boston."
"Ooh, evil Sherry!" Lorelai announced in a robot-like voice.
"Yeah. I gotta tell her it's over, and pack, and everything."
"Can I be there when you tell her it's over? Please please please please please??"
"Sure. I need someone to drive the Volvo back, anyway."
"Why?" Rory asked.
"Because I'm going to be driving my motorcycle."
"Ooh, you're keeping the Indian?"
"Of course."
"Yeah, you just wouldn't be bad-boy Christopher without it." Lorelai smiled and they leaned in for a kiss.
"You two are sickening." Rory got up from the table.
"Hey, where are you going, little missy?"
"Bug Luke about the pancakes and steal some coffee." Rory walked off.
"She is so your daughter." Christopher smiled at Lorelai.
"Yeah, she's got my good looks, my brains, my dresses--what'd she get from you?"
"The X chromosome."
"And your musical ability, I forgot about your musical ability."
"I thought I didn't have any musical ability."
"Exactly. Ooh, pancakes!" Lorelai exclaimed as Rory brought breakfast to the table.
~~~~
"So are we telling Grandma and Grandpa about Dad?" Rory asked as the girls stood in front of the elder Gilmore residence that Thursday. They were two instead of three because Christopher had to work.
"Hmm, no."
"Why not?"
"Let's let her squirm."
"You're horrible to your mother."
"Hey, just remember--I'm picking out your nursing home."
"No, I'm picking out your nursing home."
"Whatever. I'm your mother--what I say goes."
"Okay, Emily."
"Okay, that just hurts. You've hurt your mother, are you happy now?"
"Very."
The large door swung open.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"Uh, we're the daughter and granddaughter." Lorelai answered the maid.
"Wait, I thought that was Friday nights."
"It usually is, but we're doing it today this week."
"Oh. Okay." The maid moved to let the girls in.
"Yeah, it's kind of a special thing."
"Oh, so you're the company!"
"Yeah, that would be us--the honored guests."
"Okay." the maid said haltingly. "Uh, they're in the sitting room."
"I guessed."
"Buh-bye now!" the maid waved as the girls walked away.
"She's new." Rory whispered.
"Obviously. I swear, where does she find these people--the Valley?"
~~~~
"We've got a movie, we've got Luke's coffee, we've got candy. What are we missing?" Lorelai asked Rory as she looked around the living room the next night.
"Dad."
"Popcorn! That's what's missing."
"And Dad." Rory added.
"Oh, Chris'll be here soon."
"We haven't seen him since you brought the motorcycle back on Monday. I still can't believe he let you ride it."
"Well, he apparently needed the Volvo for his last-ditch running chance. I mean, it had his clothes in it."
"He's not gonna ditch us. He just had work."
"Okay. But if he doesn't show up in time for the pig's blood scene, we're heading over to Boston, finding his Volvo, and ripping out the stereo."
"You got Carrie again?"
"Yes. What's wrong with Carrie?"
"Nothing, except we've seen it thousands of times, and I was hoping for something a little peppier my last day home."
"Well, I just wanted you to have a nice memory to remember me by."
"I'll call you every day."
"I know."
There was the sound of a car pulling in the driveway. Lorelai and Rory looked at each other.
"That's either Christopher or a really stupid robber."
Rory jumped up and ran to the door.
"Come on, Mom, Dad's back!" Rory threw the door open and ran to meet Chris. Lorelai followed after her, almost as excited.
"Dad!" Rory threw her arms around Chris. Lorelai threw her arms around the both of them.
"Whoa! It's my two favorite girls!"
"We better be your favorite girls," Rory said from somewhere in the middle of the hug.
"Don't worry, we've got Carrie in the VCR. You can appreciate us that much more in two hours."
"Carrie?" Chris asked incredulously.
Lorelai let go of Christopher, allowing Rory to breathe once again. "What is so wrong with a nice horror movie from the seventies about pig's blood and telekinetic powers?"
"Well, I just thought Rory might like something happier her last day here."
"Ha!" Rory laughed at her mother.
"It's just to help her appreciate her own mother."
"Whatever you say, Lor."
"Come on, movie night!" Rory pulled both her parents' hands behind her and dragged them into the house.
"Ooh, that's not nice," Rory commented later as they were watching the movie. Mrs. White had just locked Carrie into a prayer closet.
"I should lock you in a closet the next time you recieve your 'monthly curse of blood,'" Lorelai said in a horror-movie voice.
"Ew, that's gross, Mom."
"I agree. That is pretty gross."
"We're not even to the pig's blood scene yet," Lorelai protested. Rory made a sound of disgust.
"Okay, there will be no more talk of blood," Christopher said in an authoritative tone.
"I like you bossy," Lorelai leaned into him.
"Get a room," Rory proclaimed from the other edge of the couch.
"Come here, you." Lorelai pulled Rory into the embrace with one arm.
"Oh, we're out of popcorn." Lorelai declared a few minutes later. Christopher took the bowl from her arms.
"I'll go make some more."
Lorelai and Rory exchanged a look.
"It's fun having him home."
"Yeah, it really is." Lorelai squeezed Rory and then stood up.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"To show your dad where the popcorn is."
"But the scary part's coming up!"
"You're a big girl." Lorelai ruffled Rory's hair.
"My hair!"
"Now, that look's scarier than any Stephen King horror movie."
Rory threw a pillow at her mother. Lorelai headed to the kitchen, narrowly escaping murder with a fluffy assault weapon. Christopher was standing with his arms crossed across his chest, watching the popcorn in the microwave. Lorelai snuck up and slid her arms around his waist.
"Hey," he said, after he got over his initial surprise.
"Hey, you sexy thing, you."
"What happened to the movie?"
"Rory's still watching it."
"Alone?"
"She's a big girl."
"Yeah, she is. You did a really magnificient job, Lor."
"Oh, you had to something to do with it, too."
"Yeah, but you brought her up. You were there for everything. You're really the reason she's so wonderful."
"No, she just sprang out the way."
"You're being modest."
"That's right, I am. I agree. I'm the entire reason our daughter is so wonderful. After seventeen years of coffee, movies, and junk food, who wouldn't turn out like that?"
Christopher laughed. "You haven't changed a bit."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Christopher poured the ready popcorn into the empty bowl. "A good thing. Definitely a good thing."
"Why, thank you." Lorelai wrapped her arms around Christopher again. He turned around in his arms and their lips met in a kiss.
"Agh!" Rory yelled from the living room.
"What's that?" Chris asked in a panic, breaking the kiss.
"Oh, that's just the 'John Travolta in his seventies haircut' scream. She's fine. Kiss me again."
"Always, your majesty."
"I like that," she murmured out of the corner of her mouth.
"I thought you might." Chris smiled.
~~~~
"Bye, Rory." Chris hugged her in the airport the next day.
"Bye, Dad. If you're not here when I get back, I'll break both your legs." she said in his ear.
"I hear you loud and clear."
"Let go of her; it's my turn." Lorelai used her hands to push Rory and Christopher apart. Then she wrapped her arms around Rory. "Call me every day."
"I'm spending six weeks in a dorm room with Paris; I'll probably call you twenty times a day."
"Okay, I'm good with that. Just don't call collect, or if you do, use 1-800-CALL-ATT. We don't want Mr. T mad at you."
"No, a mad Mr. T is bad."
"Gilmore! Let's go!" Paris called from further down the terminal.
"Okay, Mom, you have to let go now."
"No."
"Yes, you have to."
"No, I'll just come with you on the plane. You can explain I'm your older, more mature Siamese twin."
"Mom!"
"I'm never letting go."
Rory stopped struggling. "Hey, Dad, you think you can lend me a hand?"
"Sure." Christopher grabbed Lorelai around the shoulders and turned her around. She started to squeeze him.
"Bye, Rory," Chris said as Rory started running towards Paris.
"Turn around so I can see her." Lorelai demanded. Chris did as she asked. "Bye, sweetie!" Lorelai waved, one arm still around Chris. Rory waved back and then she disappeared around a corner.
Chapter 2: Dances, Motorcycles, and 70s Hair
Disclaimer: Almost everything belongs to the Palladinos.
A/N: Well, I'm back. This starts at Sookie and Jackson's reception. I'm going on blind faith here; we all have no idea what happened there, except I'm guessing Luke and Jess didn't show up. Luke cause...well, it's Luke, and Jess cause Lorelai didn't know he'd showed up at Sookie's wedding. Anyway, continue, please.
~~~~
"Sookie looks happy, doesn't she?" Lorelai asked the table at large. Rory glanced in the same direction as her mother.
"Yeah. How long have she and Jackson been dancing, anyway?"
"Ten songs." Lorelai answered, sighing happily.
"Wow. Their feet must be tired." Dean said.
"And they haven't even done the whole 'you dance with my mom and I'll dance with your dad' thing." Rory pointed out.
"Their feet will be really tired by the end of the night."
"So, Dean. You had lots of fun dancing all night with Rory at her debutante ball, huh?" Christopher asked.
"Ugh!" Dean and Rory said at the same time.
"I'm never wearing a tux again."
"I hated those shoes."
"You know, Dean, you're wearing a suit; it's almost the same as a tux." Chris pointed out.
"And you're wearing the same shoes." Lorelai pointed at her daughter's feet.
"Yeah, but we're not dancing," Rory explained as if it made the most sense in the world.
"Oh, I see your point."
"You do?" Christopher looked at Lorelai.
"Well, yeah."
Dean and Christopher looked at each other.
"Crazy," Chris mouthed. Dean nodded.
"Dean, come with your crazy girlfriend to get more finger food." Rory pulled at Dean's jacket. He stood up and allowed himself to be led over to the buffet table sagging with food.
"I saw that crazy."
"I know. So did Rory."
"Ah, we're Gilmore girls. What can I tell ya?"
"Come here, you crazy Gilmore girl." Christopher smiled and pulled Lorelai to him. They started kissing, and then a voice over Lorelai's shoulder made her jump away.
"Really, it's quite rude to be showing that much affection in public."
"Mom!"
"Hello, Lorelai, Christopher."
"Emily."
"You seem surprised to see me, Lorelai. You knew I was here."
"Well, yeah, but you disappeared a while ago. I thought maybe you and Dad had gone home."
"More like hoped." Chris whispered in Lorelai's ear. She elbowed him in the ribs softly.
"Yes, well, we tried to, but your father started talking to the parking attendant, and I finally got tired of standing there like an idiot, so I decided to come see what you and Rory were up to."
"Oh, Rory went off to get some booze and smoke a joint." Lorelai waved a hand vaguely in the direction Rory and Dean had disappeared.
"Lorelai, your sense of humor is absolutely appalling."
"Why, thank you. I try."
"That wasn't a compliment, and where is Rory, anyway?"
"Rory and Dean went to get some of those little sandwiches, Emily. I'm gonna go get a drink. Want anything?"
"Yes, a wine would be wonderful," Emily said very politely.
"Vodka, straight up," Lorelai said.
"So, that's two wines. I'll be right back." Christopher walked off to get the drinks.
"Well, it certainly looks like Christopher's going to be sticking around for more than his daughter."
"Oh, Mother, whatsoever do you mean?" Lorelai asked innocently.
"Don't act like that, Lorelai, it's not very complimentary."
"Oh, howsoever do you mean, Mother?" Lorelai continued her little act, this time adding her best Scarlett O'Hara accent.
"What's with that ridiculous accent?"
"Oh, what ridiculous accent? I'm not speaking any differently than I regularly do. Oh, swoon!" Lorelai laid the back of her hand across her forehead and leaned back in her chair.
"Oh, Lorelai, get up."
"I can't, Mother, I swooned." Lorelai shot up and explained in her regular voice and then leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes again.
"Food!" Rory announced as she and Dean came back to the table. "Oh, did Mom swoon again?" she asked as she noticed Lorelai.
"Does she do this a lot?"
"Only when she's feeling dramatic," Rory explained to her grandmother. "She'll get up in a minute."
"I have returned with the wine," Christopher walked up and handed a glass to Emily. Lorelai popped up.
"All better now! Where's the booze?"
"Lorelai, please! That is such an uncouth term." Emily scolded.
"But--Frank Sinatra said it." Lorelai pouted.
"I refuse to believe that Frank Sinatra said a term such as that."
"Actually, in the song 'Let's Fly Away,' Frank sings about the exotic booze in far Bombay," Rory said.
"Lorelai, what are you doing letting Rory listen to a song like that?"
"Well, Mom, Rory's always had a mind of her own."
"I'm a little worried about this, though. First Frank Sinatra. Then what? Elvis?" Christopher said.
"Oh, stop it." Emily said.
Rory and Dean were laughing.
"Emily! There you are! I've been looking all over for you."
"I've been right here, Richard."
"Yes, well, hurry up. We've got to head home, it's getting late."
"I was waiting for you, Richard."
"No matter. Let's go."
"All right. Goodbye Dean, it was nice seeing you again. Christopher, it's always a pleasure. Lorelai, Rory, I'll see you on Friday."
"No, you won't, Mom, Rory's leaving for Washington Saturday."
"So she'll be in town Friday."
"Well, I was thinking maybe she and I could spend Friday together. Sort of a last-day-I'll-be-seeing-her-for-six-weeks-which-is-the-longest-we've-ever-spent-apart sort of thing. How about Thursday?"
"Thursday it is."
"Okay. Bye, Mom. Dad."
"Goodbye, Lorelai. Rory." Richard said.
"Goodbye, Grandpa, Grandma."
Richard and Emily waved and then walked to their car, arguing.
"Ugh, that woman." Lorelai groaned.
"She can drive you crazy, can't she?"
"What are you complaining about? She loves you."
"My mother."
"Ah."
The four of them sat in silence for a little while, picking at their food and drinking their beverages. Then "Just the Way You Look Tonight" started playing.
"Is that Tony Bennet?" Lorelai asked in wonder, pointing to the man sitting at the piano.
"No, Mom, that's Morey."
"All right, just checking."
Suddenly Christopher stood up and held his hand out to Lorelai.
"Will you give me the honor of a dance?"
"Ooh, fancy. Now bow."
"Will you?"
"Of course." Lorelai took Christopher's hand and they started walking to the dance floor. "I got me my own dance partner," Lorelai said before they'd gotten too far away from Rory.
Rory just looked at her parents and said, "Dance pretty!"
"We will," Christopher answered her as he spun Lorelai towards him.
"Hi," she said as he pulled her closer to his body.
"Hi," he smiled back.
"You know, the last time we did that whole 'hi' thing, you got lucky."
"I'm always lucky when you're in my arms."
"You've been getting pick-up lines from James Bond again."
Christopher laughed. "Maybe."
"Well, he always had some girl on his arm, so maybe they do work."
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
They danced for a little while.
"This is a great song," Christopher commented.
"Yes, it is." Lorelai agreed. "Oh, no. I recognize that glint in your eyes."
"And which glint is that?" Chris asked, grinning.
"The glint you get right before you sing. Am I right?"
"I don't know. Are you?"
"Don't sing. You really won't get lucky tonight if you sing."
"All right, maybe I won't sing."
"Thank God."
"Hey, is that some kind of crack about my singing voice?"
"Yes. It's horrible."
"Oh, you know, you're not one to talk."
"Yes, I am! My singing voice is much better than yours."
"Do you have a singing voice?"
"Sometimes. When the CD's right."
"Ahh."
The song ended and Lorelai tried to walk off the dance floor. Christopher was still holding her hand, however, and he pulled her back.
"Ack!" Lorelai almost tripped.
"Oh, very graceful," Kirk commented as he was dancing by.
"Kirk, aren't you the parking attendant?"
"Uh, maybe."
"Go!" Lorelai pointed with one arm, still holding Chris' hand.
"Fine." Kirk put his orange vest back on and walked to the parking lot, twirling someone's keys in his hand.
Lorelai shook her head. "Some people."
"I don't think I've seen you like this before."
"Like how?"
"All boss-like."
"I was never boss-like with you?"
"Oh, sure, with me. I just haven't seen you like that with other people."
"Oh, I see the distinction."
"Yeah."
They danced till the end of that song, and then Lorelai dragged Christopher back to the table, but he was snatched up by Miss Patty very quickly. Lorelai let them go, yelling "Dance nice, you crazy lovebirds!" Then she sat next to Rory at their table. "Hey, sweets. Where's Dean?"
"He took Carla home."
"Dragged off by a younger woman. Scandalous!"
"He said he'd call later."
"He's probably paging you right now."
"I know. I'll get it in a minute."
"Okay." Lorelai turned to watch Christopher and Miss Patty dancing.
"You and Dad are really good dancers."
"Years of practice, all wedged into three months."
"Yeah. You're so good, you're like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers."
"Except for that whole they didn't really like each other in real life thing."
"They didn't?"
"No. So, in reality, we're like Fred Astaire and Cyd Cherisse."
"My entire belief system has been crushed."
"Ah, you'll get over it. Tomorrow I'll tell you a secret about Santa Claus."
"Oh, tell me now!"
"No, you have to wait."
"Oh, please tell me now!"
"Nope. Just brood over Fred and Ginger for tonight."
"I can't believe you won't tell me the secret about Santa Claus."
"I'll tell you another secret."
"Ooh, what?"
"Nah, I'll just tell you about Santa Claus."
"Oh, tell me the other one!"
"No, all you get now is Santa."
"I don't care about Santa, tell me the other one!"
"Nope, I'm not telling you the other one, and now you don't even get Santa."
"Uh! That's so mean!"
"Sorry. You insulted me and my Santa Claus secret."
"No, I didn't!"
"Too bad."
"You're the meanest mom ever."
"Relax. When your dad runs away from Miss Patty, we'll both tell you a secret."
"Ooh, what?"
"You have to wait."
"No fair!"
"Oh, I'm tired. I think I'm gonna go on home."
"You're not tired."
"Yes I am. I'm way too tired to be telling any secrets."
"You are so mean."
"I try."
"I'm going to get a piece of cake. And I'm not bringing you one!"
"Well, I'll just steal it from you. I want that 'meanest mom ever' award."
"You have a weird mind."
"And just think, I gave half of it to you."
"So now you have no mind?"
"Now you're being mean."
"Well, I have to start now if I'm gonna steal that award away from you."
"Oh, it's gonna take you three lifetimes to catch up to me."
"Well, maybe I'll get coffee and won't give it to you either."
"Now that's just cruel."
"I learned from the best!" Rory walked off to get cake. Lorelai sat in her seat, pouting, until Christopher came back over and kissed her.
"Hey!"
"Hey. How'd you get away?"
"I threw Miss Patty at Jackson's dad."
"Ooh, good move."
"Thanks."
"You seem to be fitting in here."
"Yeah, I think I am."
"So you want to stay?"
"Yeah, I do."
"What about your job?"
"They've got a Hartford office."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So you'd get an apartment in Hartford, or..."
"I was thinking either one here, or maybe not one at all."
"As in on the streets?"
"Are there people on the streets in Stars Hollow?"
"Only when they're crossing them."
"That's what I thought. No, actually I was thinking I'd move in with you and Rory."
"Hmm. That's not such a bad idea."
"What's not such a bad idea?" Rory asked as she walked up with three pieces of cake on one plate and two cups of coffee.
"Coffee!" Lorelai gasped as she grabbed one cup from Rory.
"Coffee's never a bad idea," Rory agreed. "Here, I got all of us some cake."
"You're the best daughter ever."
"I know. We have to share a plate, though."
"Not anymore," Christopher said as Lorelai swallowed the last of her cake and speared a piece of Christopher's. "Hey, that's mine!"
"Never shall a man come between a girl and her cake." Lorelai spouted through a mouthful of crumbs.
"What's that from?" Chris asked.
"The Gilmore book of rules." Rory explained. "You want my cake?"
"No, you eat it."
"Good; I was just being polite." Rory speared her own piece of cake, and before long she'd finished it. She and Lorelai started having a miniature fencing fight for some of Christopher's piece. Chris finally picked up a fork, stabbed the last bite, and shoved it in his mouth. Both girls 'aww'-ed in protest. He swallowed and held up his hands as if to say 'sorry!'
"Now can you tell me the secret?" Rory asked.
"What secret?" Chris asked. Lorelai leaned over and whispered and then recognition dawned across his face. "Sure. Okay, Ror, the thing is, Sherry and I are in the process of breaking up."
Rory nodded. She knew that.
"And there's a chance I'm gonna be around more often."
"A chance?" Rory repeated. "How much of a chance?"
"Well, it all depends on your mother." Christopher and Rory both looked expectedly at Lorelai.
"Oh, it's my turn? Okay. Your dad is going to be moving in. Soon."
"Oh, my God! Really?" Rory sprang out of her seat in joy.
"Yeah. I am." Chris looked at Lorelai, and she smiled.
"Oh, that's great!" Rory leaned down and hugged her parents at the same time. "Oh, I have to tell someone! Lane! I'll tell Lane!" Rory ran off.
"I'm moving in?"
"Yeah. You are."
"Good." Chris leaned in and kissed Lorelai.
~~~~
Rory woke up early the next morning and started coffee. Before long, Christopher had come downstairs.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hey!" Christopher poured a cup of coffee and then watched as his daughter worked on something at the kitchen table intently. "Whatcha doin?"
"Oh, just some preliminary stuff Paris brought over for our trip to Washington."
"When did Paris come over?"
"Right after Sookie's wedding ceremony but right before the reception."
"Ah. That Paris is something, isn't she?"
"Yeah. I don't think the word 'chill' is even in her dictionary."
"Well maybe you can beat some sense into her during your six weeks together."
"Death by her Zagat. Oh, the irony."
Christopher laughed. "You're a good kid, you know that?"
"I've come to that conclusion, yes."
"What's this? A cloak-and-dagger meeting in the middle of the night?" Lorelai asked as she came downstairs.
"Yes, Brutus and I were planning to murder you on the Ides of June, Caesar."
"No smart talk before coffee! Rule number one." Lorelai took the cup of coffee from Christopher's hand. "Ah, sweet nectar of the gods."
"That's smart talk!" Rory protested.
"After coffee."
"Oh."
Lorelai placed her empty cup on the table. "Rory, stop working. We're taking your dad to breakfast."
"Clothes." Chris and Rory pointed to Lorelai's pajamas at the same time.
"Oh, yeah. Clothes. Come, my love slave." Lorelai pulled Chris upstairs with her, who threw a look at Rory. Rory just watched her parents, happy and in love, head upstairs together.
~~~~
"So what do you have planned today, Rory?" Christopher asked as the three walked to Luke's.
"Probably more boring school stuff. Am I right?"
"Yep. Boring school stuff."
"It's summer, you big brainiac!"
"Sorry, Mom, but Paris says that if we slack off over the summer, we can't have maximum effect when we come back in the fall."
"I thought you were the vice-president because Paris needed to chill."
"Ah, but 'chill' isn't even in Paris' vocabulary." Chris said.
"Right. Dad suggested a solution."
"Oh, really? And what was your dad's wonderful solution?"
"Well, it involved beating Paris to death with her Zagat."
"Ooh, painful! I like it!"
"I thought you would." Chris laughed as they entered Luke's.
"You know me so well." Lorelai kissed Christopher and then they sat at a table.
"And whaddya want?" Luke walked up to the table.
"Good morning, Luke! Yes, we did have a good time at Sookie's wedding last night. And you remember Christopher, Rory's dad, right?"
"Hi. Whaddya want?"
"Geez, so hostile. It's too early for hostile." Rory said.
"Order or I'm leaving."
"Pancakes and coffee." Lorelai smiled sweetly.
"Pancakes and coffee," Rory echoed her mother. Then they all stared at Christopher, who was reading a menu.
"Uh, the same for me."
"Okay. That's three orders of pancakes. All that sugar will kill you."
"It happens." Christopher shrugged.
"Whatever. But when your arteries are so clogged with fat you need a quadruple bypass, don't come crying to me." Luke said to all three. Then he turned and headed to another table.
"And coffee!" Lorelai yelled at his back. Luke just waved his hand in slight recognition.
"He's got to be the friendliest man I've ever met." Christopher said.
"Yep. That's Luke. Always bursting with friendliness."
"He's so friendly, he knows how to knit," Lorelai laughed. Rory and Christopher stared at her for a minute.
"So, Dad, what are you doing today?"
"Actually, I've got to go back to Boston."
"Ooh, evil Sherry!" Lorelai announced in a robot-like voice.
"Yeah. I gotta tell her it's over, and pack, and everything."
"Can I be there when you tell her it's over? Please please please please please??"
"Sure. I need someone to drive the Volvo back, anyway."
"Why?" Rory asked.
"Because I'm going to be driving my motorcycle."
"Ooh, you're keeping the Indian?"
"Of course."
"Yeah, you just wouldn't be bad-boy Christopher without it." Lorelai smiled and they leaned in for a kiss.
"You two are sickening." Rory got up from the table.
"Hey, where are you going, little missy?"
"Bug Luke about the pancakes and steal some coffee." Rory walked off.
"She is so your daughter." Christopher smiled at Lorelai.
"Yeah, she's got my good looks, my brains, my dresses--what'd she get from you?"
"The X chromosome."
"And your musical ability, I forgot about your musical ability."
"I thought I didn't have any musical ability."
"Exactly. Ooh, pancakes!" Lorelai exclaimed as Rory brought breakfast to the table.
~~~~
"So are we telling Grandma and Grandpa about Dad?" Rory asked as the girls stood in front of the elder Gilmore residence that Thursday. They were two instead of three because Christopher had to work.
"Hmm, no."
"Why not?"
"Let's let her squirm."
"You're horrible to your mother."
"Hey, just remember--I'm picking out your nursing home."
"No, I'm picking out your nursing home."
"Whatever. I'm your mother--what I say goes."
"Okay, Emily."
"Okay, that just hurts. You've hurt your mother, are you happy now?"
"Very."
The large door swung open.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"Uh, we're the daughter and granddaughter." Lorelai answered the maid.
"Wait, I thought that was Friday nights."
"It usually is, but we're doing it today this week."
"Oh. Okay." The maid moved to let the girls in.
"Yeah, it's kind of a special thing."
"Oh, so you're the company!"
"Yeah, that would be us--the honored guests."
"Okay." the maid said haltingly. "Uh, they're in the sitting room."
"I guessed."
"Buh-bye now!" the maid waved as the girls walked away.
"She's new." Rory whispered.
"Obviously. I swear, where does she find these people--the Valley?"
~~~~
"We've got a movie, we've got Luke's coffee, we've got candy. What are we missing?" Lorelai asked Rory as she looked around the living room the next night.
"Dad."
"Popcorn! That's what's missing."
"And Dad." Rory added.
"Oh, Chris'll be here soon."
"We haven't seen him since you brought the motorcycle back on Monday. I still can't believe he let you ride it."
"Well, he apparently needed the Volvo for his last-ditch running chance. I mean, it had his clothes in it."
"He's not gonna ditch us. He just had work."
"Okay. But if he doesn't show up in time for the pig's blood scene, we're heading over to Boston, finding his Volvo, and ripping out the stereo."
"You got Carrie again?"
"Yes. What's wrong with Carrie?"
"Nothing, except we've seen it thousands of times, and I was hoping for something a little peppier my last day home."
"Well, I just wanted you to have a nice memory to remember me by."
"I'll call you every day."
"I know."
There was the sound of a car pulling in the driveway. Lorelai and Rory looked at each other.
"That's either Christopher or a really stupid robber."
Rory jumped up and ran to the door.
"Come on, Mom, Dad's back!" Rory threw the door open and ran to meet Chris. Lorelai followed after her, almost as excited.
"Dad!" Rory threw her arms around Chris. Lorelai threw her arms around the both of them.
"Whoa! It's my two favorite girls!"
"We better be your favorite girls," Rory said from somewhere in the middle of the hug.
"Don't worry, we've got Carrie in the VCR. You can appreciate us that much more in two hours."
"Carrie?" Chris asked incredulously.
Lorelai let go of Christopher, allowing Rory to breathe once again. "What is so wrong with a nice horror movie from the seventies about pig's blood and telekinetic powers?"
"Well, I just thought Rory might like something happier her last day here."
"Ha!" Rory laughed at her mother.
"It's just to help her appreciate her own mother."
"Whatever you say, Lor."
"Come on, movie night!" Rory pulled both her parents' hands behind her and dragged them into the house.
"Ooh, that's not nice," Rory commented later as they were watching the movie. Mrs. White had just locked Carrie into a prayer closet.
"I should lock you in a closet the next time you recieve your 'monthly curse of blood,'" Lorelai said in a horror-movie voice.
"Ew, that's gross, Mom."
"I agree. That is pretty gross."
"We're not even to the pig's blood scene yet," Lorelai protested. Rory made a sound of disgust.
"Okay, there will be no more talk of blood," Christopher said in an authoritative tone.
"I like you bossy," Lorelai leaned into him.
"Get a room," Rory proclaimed from the other edge of the couch.
"Come here, you." Lorelai pulled Rory into the embrace with one arm.
"Oh, we're out of popcorn." Lorelai declared a few minutes later. Christopher took the bowl from her arms.
"I'll go make some more."
Lorelai and Rory exchanged a look.
"It's fun having him home."
"Yeah, it really is." Lorelai squeezed Rory and then stood up.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"To show your dad where the popcorn is."
"But the scary part's coming up!"
"You're a big girl." Lorelai ruffled Rory's hair.
"My hair!"
"Now, that look's scarier than any Stephen King horror movie."
Rory threw a pillow at her mother. Lorelai headed to the kitchen, narrowly escaping murder with a fluffy assault weapon. Christopher was standing with his arms crossed across his chest, watching the popcorn in the microwave. Lorelai snuck up and slid her arms around his waist.
"Hey," he said, after he got over his initial surprise.
"Hey, you sexy thing, you."
"What happened to the movie?"
"Rory's still watching it."
"Alone?"
"She's a big girl."
"Yeah, she is. You did a really magnificient job, Lor."
"Oh, you had to something to do with it, too."
"Yeah, but you brought her up. You were there for everything. You're really the reason she's so wonderful."
"No, she just sprang out the way."
"You're being modest."
"That's right, I am. I agree. I'm the entire reason our daughter is so wonderful. After seventeen years of coffee, movies, and junk food, who wouldn't turn out like that?"
Christopher laughed. "You haven't changed a bit."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Christopher poured the ready popcorn into the empty bowl. "A good thing. Definitely a good thing."
"Why, thank you." Lorelai wrapped her arms around Christopher again. He turned around in his arms and their lips met in a kiss.
"Agh!" Rory yelled from the living room.
"What's that?" Chris asked in a panic, breaking the kiss.
"Oh, that's just the 'John Travolta in his seventies haircut' scream. She's fine. Kiss me again."
"Always, your majesty."
"I like that," she murmured out of the corner of her mouth.
"I thought you might." Chris smiled.
~~~~
"Bye, Rory." Chris hugged her in the airport the next day.
"Bye, Dad. If you're not here when I get back, I'll break both your legs." she said in his ear.
"I hear you loud and clear."
"Let go of her; it's my turn." Lorelai used her hands to push Rory and Christopher apart. Then she wrapped her arms around Rory. "Call me every day."
"I'm spending six weeks in a dorm room with Paris; I'll probably call you twenty times a day."
"Okay, I'm good with that. Just don't call collect, or if you do, use 1-800-CALL-ATT. We don't want Mr. T mad at you."
"No, a mad Mr. T is bad."
"Gilmore! Let's go!" Paris called from further down the terminal.
"Okay, Mom, you have to let go now."
"No."
"Yes, you have to."
"No, I'll just come with you on the plane. You can explain I'm your older, more mature Siamese twin."
"Mom!"
"I'm never letting go."
Rory stopped struggling. "Hey, Dad, you think you can lend me a hand?"
"Sure." Christopher grabbed Lorelai around the shoulders and turned her around. She started to squeeze him.
"Bye, Rory," Chris said as Rory started running towards Paris.
"Turn around so I can see her." Lorelai demanded. Chris did as she asked. "Bye, sweetie!" Lorelai waved, one arm still around Chris. Rory waved back and then she disappeared around a corner.