Chapter 9: Girl Talk

Two hours later, Rory sat on her mother's bed with her back against the headboard, gently stroking Lorelai's head, which rested on her leg. They sat quietly for a while till Rory asked, "Do you think he'll be gone long?"

Lorelai sighed and responded, "I don't know, sweetie."

"Do you want him to come back?"

Lorelai sighed then said, "I want him to come back, more than anything, but not if he's not sure he wants to be with me."

"Have you thought about the wedding?" Rory asked.

Lorelai gave a soft, short, ironic laugh and said, "Yeah, it's crossed my mind once or twice."

"Do you think you'll have to postpone?"

Lorelai sat up and said, "I don't know. We've got a little time, so we don't have to decide tonight. Maybe in a week or two."

"Are you gonna tell Grandma?"

With a shake of her head Lorelai said, "Not just yet. That's a fight that I'm just not ready for."

They sat quietly until Lorelai put a hand on Rory's knee and said, "But enough of talking about me. Let's talk about you."

Rory smiled and asked, "Okay, what about?"

"How's school?"

"School is great. It's hard but I love it."

"I've always been amazed about how much you enjoy school."

"What can I say, I'm an academic freak," Rory shrugged.

Lorelai smiled and said, "Kyle is looking good."

Rory smiled bashfully and answered, "Yes, he is."

"So, how's it going with you two?"

"Things are great. School keeps us busy, but things are great."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Oh, did I tell you?" Rory asked. "Kyle got a summer internship at the Atlanta Constitution."

"Wow, that's great."

"I know, but Atlanta is a long way away," Rory sighed.

"I'm sure you guys will get some time to visit."

"I hope so."

"You know," Lorelai started, "It was real nice that you volunteered to sleep on the couch so he could sleep in your bed."

Rory shrugged then said, "Well, he has to get up early, and I knew that we would be up late yakking, and eating. I didn't want to disturb him."

"I'm sure that was the only reason."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Oh, nothing."

"No, you have that something voice," Rory prompted. "Tell me."

"I didn't mean a thing," Lorelai lied.

"Mom."

"Only that it's awful convenient your boyfriend's asleep in your bed, and you're right down there on the couch, just a few feet away. While you mother is an emotional wreck in her room and oblivious to the world."

"Mom, what are you saying?"

"Aww, come on," Lorelai said. "Don't tell me you never thought about it. Getting the chance to do it in the room you grew up in."

Rory shook her head and said, "No, I would never think something like that."

"What? Never?"

"Nope, never," Rory claimed.

"Really?" Lorelai asked, amazed. "I know I thought about it when I was a kid. Heck, I did it when I was younger than you. There was this one time…"

"Okay," Rory said, holding up her hands to shield her ears. "Too much information."

"Wimp," Lorelai taunted.

"Mom, I'm old enough to realize that you have had sex, sometimes on a regular basis."

"Yes I have," Lorelai said with a smile.

Rory shook her head, but continued, "And I realize we have shared some of our 'experiences' with each other, but there are some things I don't want to hear about."

Lorelai shrugged and said, "Okay."

"Besides," Rory started with a gleam in her eye. "It really wouldn't be the first time Kyle and I did it in my old room."

Lorelai's mouth fell open as she said with minimal shock, but no anger, "What?"

"Kyle and me. We've done it in my room before."

"Really. I had no idea. When?" Lorelai asked.

Rory stared off into space as she recalled, "Last year, at Christmas, then before that when we were here for Thanksgiving. Oh, and last summer when he visited me here."

"No kidding," Lorelai mused. "I didn't know."

"Really, I thought you knew."

"Nope," Lorelai answered. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know," Rory replied. "It just never came up. You're not mad, are you?"

"No, of course not," Lorelai waved. "You're an adult, you know."

Lorelai was quiet for a moment, before she asked, "So, do you guys do it anywhere else in the house?"

"Mom!"

"Ah, come on." Rory looked hesitant, so Lorelai said, "If you tell me yours, I'll tell you mine."

They had talked for another hour. When Lorelai yawned, she looked at the clock and said, "Oh my, it's after one. I should get to sleep, or I'll never make it to work."

"You're not going to work tomorrow, are you?" Rory asked.

Lorelai shrugged and said, "Maybe a little late, but I figured I would go."

"Why don't you take the day off," Rory suggested. "You could sleep late, we could have lunch, and go shopping."

"Oh, I don't know."

"Come on, mom. You deserve it. Weren't you the one who taught me that nothing gets you out of a relationship-induced depression faster than a new pair of new shoes?"

"Okay, sounds good."

"Great." Rory leaned forward and kissed her mother on the cheek, then said, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night, sweetie," Lorelai said as Rory got up to leave. But before she made it to the door, Lorelai stopped her, "Oh, just a second, Rory."

Rory turned back to her mother, but Lorelai was sprawled across the bed with her back to Rory, reaching into the drawer of the nightstand on the far side of the bed. Lorelai pulled something from the drawer, and as she tossed them to Rory, said, "You might need these."

After she caught it, Rory looked down to see a strip of three flat foil wrapped packages. Rory stared at the packages for a moment, and then she threw them back at Lorelai, and said, "Ewwww, gross."

"What?" Lorelai asked, feigning ignorance.

Rory smiled at her and said, "You are just weird."

"It's just in case you guys didn't bring any."

Still smiling, Rory said, "Good night mom." Then she left the room closing the door behind her.

"Good night," Lorelai called after her.

Lorelai sat quietly for a moment. Sadly she reached out, and picked up the foil packages. She stared at them wondering if she and Luke would be able to work things out.

While she pondered the future, there was a knock at the door, and she heard Rory's voice ask, "Mom?"

"Yeah, come on in."

Shyly Rory open the door, and walked in. She stood for a moment, and then said, "I was… That is, I was curious… Well, could…"

"What, sweetie?" Lorelai asked.

Rory didn't say anything, but she shifted between her feet, and pointed at Lorelai's hand. Finally, she said, "Do you think I might…?"

Lorelai glanced at the packages in her hand. She smiled, tossed the strip back to Rory, and said, "Sure, knock yourself out."

Rory caught the strip and said, "Thanks."

When Rory turned to leave, Lorelai called, "Oh, and don't take that knock yourself out part literally."