Disclaimers all apply, aka Amy Sherman-Palladino and other people own these
characters and places, etc.
Thanks everyone, for all the encouragement and feedback!! Okay, so here goes, hope you all like it-
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Lorelai ran excitedly into Java-well ran as best she could with a still- sore ankle. She assumed she'd only twisted it though, because it did feel markedly better today. She had her paint supplies and was wearing a pair of new coveralls she had found in a package sitting in front of her front door when she got home last night, that Rory had sent her, in support of this new venture. She wore makeup today, her hair in loose pigtails, and was feeling better just in general.
Despite what had happened with Nicole, seeing Luke had really made her feel better. The void inside that had only grown in two weeks time felt like it had gone down a little, and the feeling rejuvenated her.
She bounded into Java and looked around for her new favorite coffee man.
"Where's Tom?" she asked another employer, Jeremy.
"Aw, hey, Lorelai. Wow, nice look. You definitely got that painter thing down now."
"Thanks Jeremy," she said, smiling.
"Well not so much a real painter, as one that would appear in most men's fantasies."
"Men fantasize about painters?" Lorelai asked, confused.
"Well when they look like THAT," he laughed. "Seriously, a hot girl doing handiwork... I'm not kidding, men DO fantasize about that. Throw a tool belt around the coveralls and a little sweat in the brow, and you've got it down."
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "That's fascinating... and disturbing. Now, again, where's Tom?"
"Why do you always ask for Tom?"
"He makes the best coffee," she said, her face serious now.
"He POURS the coffee from this pot into a cup. Anyone here can do that."
"You make a fabulous point, but I prefer it when Tom does it. Besides, I need my Tom-toast."
"We don't have toast. We don't even have a toaster," Jeremy said, now confused.
"Tom!?" Lorelai called out, now frustrated with Jeremy.
Tom walked out of the backroom, holding a few pounds of coffee. He looked up and saw Lorelai, and couldn't help a small smile forming on his lips, although he tried to keep it under wraps.
"Hey Lorelai," he said, his dark features becoming more serious.
"Tom, tell her that we don't have toast!" Jeremy pleaded.
"She wants a toast, she'll get one. Get your twenty-year-old post- adolescent butt back in there and stock the coffee."
Jeremy looked at Lorelai, confused about the whole toast-thing, and walked into the back room.
Tom smiled at Lorelai. "Okay, one for you," he said, pouring her cup. "One for me," he said pouring his cup. "And cheers," he finished, touching their cups together and taking a sip.
Lorelai sipped the coffee, and looked at Tom, not being able to really stop smiling, herself.
"So, you and I are about five toasts away from Coffee Drinkers Anonymous right now," she said.
"I am aware of that. What started as a little gesture has become a thrice- daily ritual and I think it's costing us both," he agreed.
She smiled and mused that he really was an attractive man. He was very tall, sort of on the thin side, and a little older than her, she figured. Just a few gray hairs mixed in with his black hair, and his seemingly-black eyes were always smiling at her.
"Well, Lorelai, you no longer fit the description."
"The description."
"Yes, the description," he said conclusively.
"And this would be the damsel in distress description, the strong and proud businesswoman description, or, as Jeremy very disturbingly pointed out, the h--- uh, girl doing handiwork in some men's fantasies description?"
Tom looked in the direction of the back room, only seeing the back of Jeremy's head, and shook his head, annoyed. Then he looked back at Lorelai.
"No, no, the odd painter. You no longer seem... odd."
"Well, that's a good thing... I think," Lorelai said.
"Sure. I don't know, something just seems different about you lately."
Lorelai smiled and shrugged.
"How's the ankle today?"
"Still there, still hurting... or are you talking about the other one?" she asked.
"Oh, obviously I'm talking about the other one."
"Ah, so in that case, still there and still not hurting."
"Always good to hear. I'm hoping the report will be the same tomorrow," he said.
Tom smiled at Lorelai, and then, as if remembering himself, he stopped smiling and started wiping a spot on the counter. Lorelai's smile also faded and she swallowed, taking another sip of her coffee.
She put on another smile again, although this one was clearly more forced. "Okay, well, I have a big day of painting ahead of me, so.."
Tom looked back up at Lorelai. "Yeah, but this time, try not to, you know, fall from high places," he joked.
She squinted at him, feigning anger at his comment, and then let a small smile form.
"No, but seriously, be careful," he said. And she knew he meant it.
"Aw, Tom, you care!" she squealed and took another sip of coffee.
"I am NOT going to Coffee Drinkers Anonymous alone!" he said adamantly.
"Aw, hon, it's a date! You, me and the 12 steps! There WILL be a day where you and I can say 'we've been decaffeinated for two days now'," she said, smiling as she left.
"Yeah, a date," he said to himself, once she had gone. Then he continued cleaning the counter.
And at Luke's---
Luke found himself, not for the first time today, wishing that he WAS a coffee drinker. He and Jess had gotten back so late, he'd just showered and went down to the diner to start the day.
"Hey, Caesar, I'm running over to Doose's," he said, to which Caesar just waved a hand, not looking at him.
Once at the market, he grabbed what he needed and stood in the checkout line. A cell phone rang in front of him, and he rolled his eyes, as a woman answered it.
"No, this is Lorelai. No, no one named Dorothy is at this number. Yes, you did call yesterday. Please stop calling this number!" the woman said, slamming her phone shut with a huff.
"Your name is Lorelai?" Luke asked the woman, before he could stop himself.
She turned around to face him. She looked to be in her mid-sixties or so, and he guessed she was probably once very attractive--- and he noticed she had one of the kindest faces he'd ever seen. She smiled.
"Lorelai, Dorothy.... whatever," she said, still smiling.
"I'm sorry, it's just... 'Lorelai' isn't a very common name. You don't hear it a lot," Luke explained, a little embarrassed.
"Don't I know it," she agreed.
"Well, I mean, I know someone named 'Lorelai.' Well, actually, two people named 'Lorelai' if you count...." he trailed off, as he noticed she was looking at him expectantly, her eyebrows raised. "Sorry," he said, growing even more embarrassed, as he was only too well aware at that moment that he was babbling, which is something he never did. Brevity was his trademark, and he couldn't figure out why he couldn't stop talking now.
"No, no, hon, it's fine, it's just funny. You're talking about the name 'Lorelai' like it's the most uncommon name and then going on to say that I'm the third one you know," she said, her eyes laughing at him. He blushed and looked at the floor. "Well, you know two more than me. I guess I've moved to a 'Lorelai'-driven town. That'll be a nice change of pace. The last place I lived, everyone was 'Sarah'."
Luke laughed. "So, you just moved here?"
"Yes I did. You're my first friend in Stars Hollow. I'm Lorelai Farrow," she said, holding out her hand.
"Luke Danes. I own the diner down the street. Since you're new to the town, first time you come in, you get a meal on the house."
"That'll be $23.50, ma'am," the grocer said to this new Lorelai. She reached into her pocketbook.
"Luke, that is very nice of you. Thank you so much." She paid the grocer and took her bag. "I will definitely take you up on that."
"I'll see you later, then," he said.
With a smile and a wave, Lorelai Farrow was gone.
And in another town---
Lorelai was still smiling as she walked up the street toward Mr. Takki's house, confidently. Things were actually going well. She hadn't smiled in so long, and now she couldn't stop. She and Luke had had a completely enjoyable banter session the day before, and she could see that he was in pain. She didn't want to feel happy that he was hurting, but at the same time, it made her realize that she WAS wrong in thinking the friendship didn't mean anything to him. He seemed very torn up about the whole thing.
Her smile faded a little when she remembered the end of the day. When he called her name, as she was leaving the diner, he looked so intense, like he was overjoyed at seeing her, and didn't want her to leave, but then he saw Nicole and turned his back on Lorelai like he was a schoolboy caught doing something bad by the principle. The whole thing reminded her that Nicole was the woman he wanted to be with, and that fact removed Lorelai from his life. From his happiness. She hated that. But she told herself that she couldn't be selfish with this particular friend. It couldn't be all or nothing with him, because he was too important. If he could not ask her for all, then she wouldn't turn her back and give him nothing. She silently resolved, before falling asleep last night, that she would meet him halfway, and give him what he wanted. Less of her. She knew HE didn't want that, but it was a situation they both found themselves in, and she had hurt at first just thinking about it. But now, she was done hurting, and didn't want him to be hurting, so she would start visiting again. She had to.
As she walked up the stairs to Mr. Takki's house, she laughed out loud, remembering how confused Luke had looked when she fell on him. After she knocked a few times, the old man came to the door.
"Miss Gilmore, what are you doing here?"
"Ah, senility, how nice," Lorelai thought. Out loud, she explained, "I'm here to finish the roof, Mr. Takki."
"You already finished it! I slept at my brother's across the street so you could finish it whenever you wanted to, like Mr. Danes had said!"
Mr. Takki pointed over Lorelai's shoulder and Lorelai turned her confused face toward the other side of the street, where Mr. Takki was pointing. She saw another old man sitting on a lawn chair, waving at them. She waved back, still confused.
"Um.... like Mr. Danes said?" Lorelai asked, very confused now.
"Yeah. Good job, by the way. Here's the check," he said, reaching into his pocket, handing her a personal check.
She was too confused to speak, but she did open her mouth, with the intent of asking more questions. Before any formed, however, he had already returned inside the house, and shut the door in her face.
"You're welcome," she finally said, to the door.
And at Java----
Lorelai walked in a different person than she was just a half hour ago, when she'd bounded in, on top of the world. Now she pouted and walked zombie-like to the counter.
"Wow, that bad," Tom said.
"Well no... but the roof was already finished when I got there, and he still gave me the check, before I could protest, and now I am a thief."
"You don't look like a criminal," Tom said.
"Well I have here, in my possession, which you can clearly see, so I'm not making this up," Lorelai started, holding the check up for emphasis, "a check, made out to ME for a job that I did not do, which means that I am holding money that belongs to someone else, so Tom, I am sorry to ruin for you your dream that everyone in this world is beautiful and honest, because you are, in actuality, looking at a criminal. Sure I am criminal that parades around with pigtails, but I am a criminal nonetheless---"
"No coffee for you," he said, smiling.
She looked up at him. That comment stopped her, and all of a sudden she was thinking about Luke. After a few moments with nothing to say, she finally managed something.
"Well, I know who finished my job, so I won't be a criminal around dinnertime, when I give this person a piece of my mind and their money back."
He nodded, pouring her a cup of coffee. He handed it to her.
"It's on the house," he said.
"Tom, you say that every three coffees, and you punch a thousand holes in my punch card at a time, so I earn a free coffee every six coffees, instead of every twenty, and honestly, this is bad business. I'm gonna run you out of business, myself. And my god, where does my criminal activity stop! First I am stealing other people's money---"
"I wouldn't say stealing, as the check DOES have your name on it---" he said, although he suspected she didn't notice.
"--- and then I'm running perfectly good businesses out of town, and why are you not drinking one too? I can't drink this on my own and you know it!"
Tom smiled at her and poured himself a cup.
"Just wanted to see if you'd notice," he explained coyly.
"You insult me!" she said, feigning shock and hurt feelings.
He smirked. "Cheers," he said, tipping their glasses together and taking a sip.
Lorelai noticed that Tom suddenly seemed a little nervous. He wasn't looking at her and he wasn't smiling, the two things which he usually always did with her.
"Okay, what's up?" she finally said.
He took a breath and looked up at her. "Okay, well speaking of dinnertime-- -"
"We weren't talking about dinnertime," she said, confused.
"Well, before, you said something about giving someone a piece of your mind and their money back at dinnertime, I was just segueing into----"
"---you can't segue ten minutes later, that defeats the purpose of the segue. As a matter of fact, this is the worst segue I've ever seen----"
"Will you have dinner with me?" Tom asked, interrupting her, as if he were trying the bandaid approach at asking her out--- getting it over with fast, so it wouldn't be a long, painful thing.
Lorelai just looked up at him, shocked. She didn't say anything for a few moments.
Tom took this as a bad sign, and blushed, putting his head down. He shook his head and looked the perfect-picture of self-doubt.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have---" he started.
Lorelai held a hand up to him. "No, no, Tom, that sounds fun," she finally managed. "I'm sorry... it's just... okay, I'll just be upfront with you. I'm not exactly looking for anything romantic right now.... which isn't to say I won't be, eventually, or if I end up liking someone, but I recently had my heart broken, and I'm not sure it's back together yet," she said, looking at him very sympathetically. "Tom, let's go out to dinner. But, let's not look at it like a date. Just two friends, hanging out, getting to know each other. And, if we end up liking each other, then we'll go on a date? Could you settle for that?"
Tom managed a small smile through his embarrassment. "That would be... great," he finally managed.
"Great," she said.
And later that night, at Luke's---
Luke walked back behind the counter, where Sookie sat with the baby.
"So, you done with all that SAT mumbo jumbo?" he asked, amusedly.
"Well, it turns out, he likes to hear me read simpler things, like 'The Little Engine That Could', because I use all sorts of different voices. You like that, don't you, Logan? When mommy gets those funny voices!" she cooed, at the baby, while Luke rolled his eyes, still smiling.
"Hello again, Luke," a voice said from behind Sookie. Luke looked up.
"Oh, hi, Lorelai," he said, smiling.
Now confused, Sookie turned to see an older woman heading over to the counter.
"Sookie, this is Lorelai Farrow. She just moved here," Luke explained.
Sookie shook the proffered hand. "Wow, your name is Lorelai?" she asked, before she could stop herself.
The woman laughed and looked at Luke. "Yes. I don't think I'm going to have any problems making friends in this town, since the second I mention my name, it's topic for conversation."
Sookie laughed at looked at Luke, who smiled before walking away to attend to some tables.
Lorelai grabbed the menu and started to read it.
"So, how do you know Luke?" Sookie asked.
"I met him at the market today. He heard my name and started talking to me. We became fast friends!" Lorelai said, excitedly.
Sookie just smiled at her, her mind racing. "I'll bet," she said, more to herself than anyone.
"Okay, so what'll it be?" Luke said, walking back over.
"I think I will have a cheeseburger and fries and, well, is the coffee good here?" Lorelai asked.
Luke was startled by her entire order, as it was the second time today that this woman reminded him of someone else he knew, but eventually he managed, "well, everyone seems to like it."
"Okay, then a nice big cup of coffee, to warm up," she said, still smiling cutely.
Sookie studied Luke's very-readable expression and smiled, satisfied with what she was seeing. And as if the fates were smiling on her, Nicole entered and waltzed proudly and smugly over to the counter.
"Hi, sweetie," she said, as Luke reflexively leaned over the counter to give her a small, quick kiss.
"Hey," he said. He wrote something on the notepad and walked into the kitchen.
"Hi Sookie," Nicole said, smiling at Sookie and the baby.
"Hi Nicole. Oh, where are my manners. Nicole, this is Lorelai, she's new to Stars Hollow," Sookie said, hugging the baby, knowing she would enjoy this.
"You're----" Nicole started.
"---name is Lorelai," Lorelai finished, noticing now that Nicole was looking at her like she had a contagious disease. "And before you ask, I met Luke at the market, he heard my name, we started talking and he said I could have a meal on the house for being new to town," she finished. Nicole walked over to where Luke was standing, as he came out of the backroom and Lorelai turned to Sookie. "Did the temperature in here just drop?" she asked.
Sookie smiled. "Oh, I think it did," she said, giggling.
Nicole leaned into Luke, who was delivering food to a table.
"So, you're making friends now with old women? Or, did you just want to be parading under my nose people named Lorelai all day?"
Luke looked up at her. "I'm sorry, I was under the impression that your problem was with Lorelai Gilmore, not anyone named Lorelai. I mean, should I be telling Rory to stay out too?---"
"Rory?"
"Yeah, Rory's NAME is Lorelai. Or maybe I should put a sign outside that says 'We Don't Want No Lorelai's Here', except that then I'd get busted for discrimination, but then hey, maybe you'd get off my back!"
Nicole looked very offended, but then after thinking about it, her expression softened. "I just thought it was interesting. I mean, you never just strike up conversation with strangers."
"Well, she was very nice, and I talked to her. I wasn't aware that I'd get the third-degree from anyone as a result. Last time I checked, we had freedom of speech in this country."
"We do, sweetie, we do. I'm sorry."
Luke just rolled his eyes.
The bell over the door jingled and Lorelai walked in.
"Lorelai!" Sookie exclaimed. She was really enjoying the scene that was rapidly unfolding.
Lorelai Farrow got off her stool and bustled over to Lorelai, who watched the approaching woman confusedly.
"Get out, now!" Lorelai Farrow said.
"Do you work for Nicole?" Lorelai joked.
"I mean it, turn and go! This town is very weird about the name 'Lorelai'," Lorelai Farrow started.
Lorelai looked up and spotted Nicole, talking to Luke. "I don't doubt it," she said, under her breath. She then smiled, still confused. "And you are- --" she encouraged the older woman to introduce herself.
"Lorelai Farrow, I just moved here. I know you'll eventually ask, so I am just saving us time," she said, winking.
"Lorelai Gilmore," Lorelai said, shaking the woman's hand, as realization dawned on her.
"Hi Lorelai," Nicole said, approaching the two Lorelais.
"Hi," they both answered in unison, and Lorelai could hear Sookie giggling from the counter, her back to the scene.
Lorelai held up her hands defensively at Nicole. "First time in today, I swear. Just wanted a cup of Luke's famous coffee."
"Oh, that doesn't matter to me," Nicole said sweetly, and then glanced over her shoulder to see Luke's eyes boring into her. "I was just going to go upstairs and go to the bathroom. Just wanted to say 'hi'."
Nicole turned to go.
"Okay, well 'hi,' then!" Lorelai said. "Love your hair today it's so... straight," Lorelai said, smiling, feeling stupid for not coming up with something better to say than that. She rolled her eyes at herself, as she hated how whenever Nicole was around she turned into a bumbling idiot.
"What was that all about?" the other Lorelai asked.
"Aw, you're new to the town. I don't wanna scare you," Lorelai answered, smiling at the cute, older lady.
Lorelai Farrow smiled and winked at Lorelai, deciding she liked her spunk, and headed back to the counter, where Sookie sat, giggling still.
Lorelai used Nicole's exit as an opportunity to do her business with Luke. She marched over to where he stood, just finishing pouring coffee for another customer. He smiled when he saw her come over.
"Lorelai, anything you want, on the house."
"What is it with you coffee guys always giving me things on the house? It's just bad business. Don't you see that you could make a killing off of someone like me?" Lorelai asked.
"I don't want to make a killing off you. I just want you to come by already," he teased.
"Well I will have a cup of coffee, but I also have a little matter to discuss with you," she said, pulling the check out of her pocketbook.
He put on his best innocent expression. "What's that?"
"What's that. You know exactly what this is. It's your money!" she exclaimed, stomping a foot on the ground, for emphasis.
"It has your name on it," he said, looking at the check now.
"Well I will write you a personal check with YOUR name on it. But THIS is yours! And don't play innocent with me! I know that act. I WROTE that act!"
Luke smiled and tilted his head at her. "I know you did. You've PLAYED that act on me."
"Which is why you of all people should know not to try it with me. You can't cheat the cheater, isn't that the expression?"
He looked perplexed. "I don't think so. Anyway, I don't want the money. It was nothing, really."
"You painted the entire roof!"
"I had help. It was nothing, I swear."
"Help?" she asked.
"Jess," he explained.
"Jess?"
"Yeah, he finally called me from an apartment near Hartford. Looks like he's back for awhile, and managing on his own. He has a job with some bookstore, and his dad is sending him a little money for rent too. So.."
"Wow, he's back, that's great, Luke," Lorelai said, giving him a genuine smile.
"Yeah, so as you can see, it was nothing, really."
"Whatever, then divvy the money up between the both of you, but I'm not keeping it. That's just... criminal!"
"Lorelai, I never would have done it if I thought you'd give ME the money. Keep it, seriously."
"So first you DO my work, I take YOUR money, and now you want me to have free coffee and whatever else on top of that?" she asked, with a hand on her hip, looking impatient.
"That is exactly right. No matter what you do, I'm not taking the money, okay?"
She grimaced at him and then sighed, frustrated. "Fine! But, I owe you one now."
"Come in everyday and we'll call it even," he said, in a deep, demanding but monotone voice.
"No, I need to repay you."
"Fine, then come in everyday, order food, and eventually the amount you spend here will add up and you'll have repaid me," he said.
"Well if you keep giving me food and coffee on the house, that day will never come!"
"I'll keep that in mind," he said, smiling to himself.
She shook her head at him and stomped over to the counter as if she were angry about this. But in truth, she was very happy at that moment.
She sat down next to Sookie.
"Lorelai," Sookie said, to which both Lorelai's replied,
"What?"
Lorelai Farrow laughed. "Okay, this is gonna get confusing. Just call me Lori. A few of my friends do, it's fine, really."
Lorelai shook her head excitedly. "No, no! Even better! We'll get people to call us Farrow and Gilmore! Like, Sookie, if you wanna say something to me, you say 'Gilmore, attention!'" she said, deepening her voice for the imitation, which sounded more like a military order than an imitation of Sookie.
"As appealing as that sounds, I think I'll just call her Lori," Sookie said gently, patting Lorelai's back, as she seemed upset at not being able to be called 'Gilmore.'
"Oh!" Lorelai said, remembering something. "Sookie, you will be happy to know, since you think I am the epitome of pathetic these days, that I am going out tomorrow night on an almost-date."
"An almost-date? Gosh, I've really been out of the dating game a long time, what in heaven's name is an almost-date?" Lori asked.
"I'd be interested to know, too," Sookie added.
"Well, it's when two people go out as friends and get to know each other, and if it goes well, it has the potential to be a pre-date date," Lorelai said, very matter-of-factly, like it was common knowledge.
"Ah," Sookie said. "And who with?"
"Tom."
"Tom from Java?" Sookie asked, looking both shocked and amused.
"That's the one," Lorelai answered, not liking Sookie's expression. She could tell she was thinking... something.
Sookie shook her head and laughed. "Well listen Lorelais, I have to go. This baby needs to have a new bottle and get to B-E-D."
"Sookie, he can't spell yet, I think it's safe to say," Lorelai said, dead- pan.
"Well, it really makes me feel all parent-y when I spell things out," Sookie said excitedly.
"Whatever helps you," Lorelai agreed.
"Okay well, Lorelai, I mean, 'Lori,' it was very nice to meet you!" Sookie said.
"Oh, you too!" Lori said excitedly, clearly genuinely meaning it.
"Listen, once you get settled in, I want to have a welcome party for you! I will cook up a grand array of foods and you can meet everyone!" Sookie said, getting excited just thinking about it.
"But before you get all excited, you should know that 'everyone' is about ten people," Lorelai added playfully, to which Sookie nudged her.
"Well, it sounds lovely!" Lori said.
Sookie smiled at her once more, and walked out.
"I'm just gonna walk her out," Lorelai explained, following Sookie out the door. Once they were outside---"Okay, what was THAT?"
"What was what?" Sookie asked.
"That face? When I said I was having dinner with Tom?"
Sookie laughed. "Nothing."
"Sookie!"
"Okay, okay, it's just amusing. You're dating your new coffee guy and Luke's making friends named 'Lorelai'."
"Well you've met her, she's the sweetest thing! Anyone would make friends with her! She can't help her name!"
"I'm not saying anything... I'm just saying," Sookie said.
"Oh, you're just saying," Lorelai said, mocking her.
"Yes."
"Well stop. Saying," Lorelai said.
"Okay, I am done saying... what I was saying," Sookie said, still enjoying this whole thing.
"What WERE you saying anyway?" Lorelai asked, after a pause.
"Just that it's interesting! Luke only started talking to her BECAUSE her name was Lorelai. It's not like he met her, talked to her and then asked her her name. He misses you! And you're..... dating.... your new coffee guy!"
"Not dating!" Lorelai said defensively.
"You're ALMOST-dating him!"
"Sookie!"
"Oh, before I forget, you have to come to my karaoke party! Tell Rory and all her new friends and stuff to come. It's five dollars per person, but it's gonna be a blast!"
Lorelai looked at her sympathetically. "I'm waiting for the inn to open too, honey."
Sookie nodded. "That's when the humiliation will really end."
"When is it?"
"Tomorrow," Sookie said, cowering at Lorelai's expression.
"Tomorrow! I have to bring my ALMOST-date to a karaoke party?"
"I know it's last minute, but we have bills coming!" Sookie said, and the baby started to cry just then. "Oops, gotta go. Tomorrow, okay?"
"Fine!" Lorelai said, huffing as she headed back into the diner.
Nicole was just leaving as she entered.
"Oh! Hey, Nicole. Again. I... I know this looks like it's my second time in here tonight, but I just left for a second, I still haven't even had the coffee yet," she babbled nervously.
"Okay. That's fine, I don't care," Nicole said gently, like she could not for the life of her understand what had gotten into Lorelai. "I'm just going to get some groceries before we go to bed," she explained, indicating that 'we' meant her and Luke and that she was sleeping upstairs.
"Okay, that sounds great. Good plan," Lorelai continued on her bumbling idiot mission. "I love your shoes. They're really... pretty," she finished, as Nicole looked at her confusedly and smiled, before leaving with a quick "thanks".
Once Nicole was gone, Lorelai sat back down, squeezing her eyes shut, placing her fingertips on her forehead.
"Tense town," Lori said, leaning over to Lorelai.
Lorelai lifted her head and looked at the kind woman next to her. "You have no idea," she simply said. "But I think if we Lorelais stick together, the world will right itself again," Lorelai joked.
"That sounds like a plan!" the older woman laughed, smiling at Lorelai.
"What's this?" Lorelai asked, pointing to the plate that sat in front of her, with a burger and extra fries on it.
"Luke said it was for you, if that's what you're asking, or do you actually not know what the food is?"
"Believe me..... I know what a burger is," Lorelai joked.
"Never thought I'd do this again," Luke said, walking over. He grabbed a large mug from under the counter and placed it in front of Lorelai, pouring her favorite liquid into it.
"Aw, Luke, you remembered!" Lorelai said, smiling.
"Some things are hard to forget," he joked back, but his words echoed in his own head, their truth ringing in his ears.
"How's the ankle?" he asked.
"Much better! The hip?"
"It's fine," he said.
Lori looked from one to the other. "Was there an accident or something?" she finally asked, intrigued by their interaction.
"She fell off a rooftop and landed on me. Nothing unusual if you know HER," he quipped, while Lorelai just squinted at him.
"I'm gonna let that pass since I owe you money now," she settled for saying.
"It's like I've been transported to a soap opera!" Lori said, biting her cheeseburger. "This is great! My grandchildren are gonna love visiting me here!"
Lorelai laughed and sipped her coffee, relishing the taste of it, that specific taste that she had gone too long without.
"What brings you here?" Luke asked Lori, hating how formal he sounded asking her that, but wanting to know why she was moving here now, when she is clearly at the age where she should already be settled somewhere.
"I'm starting over," Lori said proudly, smiling.
Both Lorelai and Luke raised their eyebrows at that, but tried to hide their surprise at that.
"I know what you're both thinking, and let me just tell you, you're never too old and it's never too late to just start over," Lori said, smiling still, but looking a little distant.
Luke looked down, her words hitting him with a vengeance.
"Hey, Luke, I need to pay this and get out of here!" a customer yelled, and Luke walked over quickly, welcoming the interruption.
In a companionable silence, the two Lorelais bit into their cheeseburger, both smiling. Both happy. Lorelai smiled at the elder Lorelai. She had a feeling she was really going to like this Stars Hollow newcomer.
Thanks everyone, for all the encouragement and feedback!! Okay, so here goes, hope you all like it-
****************************************************
Lorelai ran excitedly into Java-well ran as best she could with a still- sore ankle. She assumed she'd only twisted it though, because it did feel markedly better today. She had her paint supplies and was wearing a pair of new coveralls she had found in a package sitting in front of her front door when she got home last night, that Rory had sent her, in support of this new venture. She wore makeup today, her hair in loose pigtails, and was feeling better just in general.
Despite what had happened with Nicole, seeing Luke had really made her feel better. The void inside that had only grown in two weeks time felt like it had gone down a little, and the feeling rejuvenated her.
She bounded into Java and looked around for her new favorite coffee man.
"Where's Tom?" she asked another employer, Jeremy.
"Aw, hey, Lorelai. Wow, nice look. You definitely got that painter thing down now."
"Thanks Jeremy," she said, smiling.
"Well not so much a real painter, as one that would appear in most men's fantasies."
"Men fantasize about painters?" Lorelai asked, confused.
"Well when they look like THAT," he laughed. "Seriously, a hot girl doing handiwork... I'm not kidding, men DO fantasize about that. Throw a tool belt around the coveralls and a little sweat in the brow, and you've got it down."
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "That's fascinating... and disturbing. Now, again, where's Tom?"
"Why do you always ask for Tom?"
"He makes the best coffee," she said, her face serious now.
"He POURS the coffee from this pot into a cup. Anyone here can do that."
"You make a fabulous point, but I prefer it when Tom does it. Besides, I need my Tom-toast."
"We don't have toast. We don't even have a toaster," Jeremy said, now confused.
"Tom!?" Lorelai called out, now frustrated with Jeremy.
Tom walked out of the backroom, holding a few pounds of coffee. He looked up and saw Lorelai, and couldn't help a small smile forming on his lips, although he tried to keep it under wraps.
"Hey Lorelai," he said, his dark features becoming more serious.
"Tom, tell her that we don't have toast!" Jeremy pleaded.
"She wants a toast, she'll get one. Get your twenty-year-old post- adolescent butt back in there and stock the coffee."
Jeremy looked at Lorelai, confused about the whole toast-thing, and walked into the back room.
Tom smiled at Lorelai. "Okay, one for you," he said, pouring her cup. "One for me," he said pouring his cup. "And cheers," he finished, touching their cups together and taking a sip.
Lorelai sipped the coffee, and looked at Tom, not being able to really stop smiling, herself.
"So, you and I are about five toasts away from Coffee Drinkers Anonymous right now," she said.
"I am aware of that. What started as a little gesture has become a thrice- daily ritual and I think it's costing us both," he agreed.
She smiled and mused that he really was an attractive man. He was very tall, sort of on the thin side, and a little older than her, she figured. Just a few gray hairs mixed in with his black hair, and his seemingly-black eyes were always smiling at her.
"Well, Lorelai, you no longer fit the description."
"The description."
"Yes, the description," he said conclusively.
"And this would be the damsel in distress description, the strong and proud businesswoman description, or, as Jeremy very disturbingly pointed out, the h--- uh, girl doing handiwork in some men's fantasies description?"
Tom looked in the direction of the back room, only seeing the back of Jeremy's head, and shook his head, annoyed. Then he looked back at Lorelai.
"No, no, the odd painter. You no longer seem... odd."
"Well, that's a good thing... I think," Lorelai said.
"Sure. I don't know, something just seems different about you lately."
Lorelai smiled and shrugged.
"How's the ankle today?"
"Still there, still hurting... or are you talking about the other one?" she asked.
"Oh, obviously I'm talking about the other one."
"Ah, so in that case, still there and still not hurting."
"Always good to hear. I'm hoping the report will be the same tomorrow," he said.
Tom smiled at Lorelai, and then, as if remembering himself, he stopped smiling and started wiping a spot on the counter. Lorelai's smile also faded and she swallowed, taking another sip of her coffee.
She put on another smile again, although this one was clearly more forced. "Okay, well, I have a big day of painting ahead of me, so.."
Tom looked back up at Lorelai. "Yeah, but this time, try not to, you know, fall from high places," he joked.
She squinted at him, feigning anger at his comment, and then let a small smile form.
"No, but seriously, be careful," he said. And she knew he meant it.
"Aw, Tom, you care!" she squealed and took another sip of coffee.
"I am NOT going to Coffee Drinkers Anonymous alone!" he said adamantly.
"Aw, hon, it's a date! You, me and the 12 steps! There WILL be a day where you and I can say 'we've been decaffeinated for two days now'," she said, smiling as she left.
"Yeah, a date," he said to himself, once she had gone. Then he continued cleaning the counter.
And at Luke's---
Luke found himself, not for the first time today, wishing that he WAS a coffee drinker. He and Jess had gotten back so late, he'd just showered and went down to the diner to start the day.
"Hey, Caesar, I'm running over to Doose's," he said, to which Caesar just waved a hand, not looking at him.
Once at the market, he grabbed what he needed and stood in the checkout line. A cell phone rang in front of him, and he rolled his eyes, as a woman answered it.
"No, this is Lorelai. No, no one named Dorothy is at this number. Yes, you did call yesterday. Please stop calling this number!" the woman said, slamming her phone shut with a huff.
"Your name is Lorelai?" Luke asked the woman, before he could stop himself.
She turned around to face him. She looked to be in her mid-sixties or so, and he guessed she was probably once very attractive--- and he noticed she had one of the kindest faces he'd ever seen. She smiled.
"Lorelai, Dorothy.... whatever," she said, still smiling.
"I'm sorry, it's just... 'Lorelai' isn't a very common name. You don't hear it a lot," Luke explained, a little embarrassed.
"Don't I know it," she agreed.
"Well, I mean, I know someone named 'Lorelai.' Well, actually, two people named 'Lorelai' if you count...." he trailed off, as he noticed she was looking at him expectantly, her eyebrows raised. "Sorry," he said, growing even more embarrassed, as he was only too well aware at that moment that he was babbling, which is something he never did. Brevity was his trademark, and he couldn't figure out why he couldn't stop talking now.
"No, no, hon, it's fine, it's just funny. You're talking about the name 'Lorelai' like it's the most uncommon name and then going on to say that I'm the third one you know," she said, her eyes laughing at him. He blushed and looked at the floor. "Well, you know two more than me. I guess I've moved to a 'Lorelai'-driven town. That'll be a nice change of pace. The last place I lived, everyone was 'Sarah'."
Luke laughed. "So, you just moved here?"
"Yes I did. You're my first friend in Stars Hollow. I'm Lorelai Farrow," she said, holding out her hand.
"Luke Danes. I own the diner down the street. Since you're new to the town, first time you come in, you get a meal on the house."
"That'll be $23.50, ma'am," the grocer said to this new Lorelai. She reached into her pocketbook.
"Luke, that is very nice of you. Thank you so much." She paid the grocer and took her bag. "I will definitely take you up on that."
"I'll see you later, then," he said.
With a smile and a wave, Lorelai Farrow was gone.
And in another town---
Lorelai was still smiling as she walked up the street toward Mr. Takki's house, confidently. Things were actually going well. She hadn't smiled in so long, and now she couldn't stop. She and Luke had had a completely enjoyable banter session the day before, and she could see that he was in pain. She didn't want to feel happy that he was hurting, but at the same time, it made her realize that she WAS wrong in thinking the friendship didn't mean anything to him. He seemed very torn up about the whole thing.
Her smile faded a little when she remembered the end of the day. When he called her name, as she was leaving the diner, he looked so intense, like he was overjoyed at seeing her, and didn't want her to leave, but then he saw Nicole and turned his back on Lorelai like he was a schoolboy caught doing something bad by the principle. The whole thing reminded her that Nicole was the woman he wanted to be with, and that fact removed Lorelai from his life. From his happiness. She hated that. But she told herself that she couldn't be selfish with this particular friend. It couldn't be all or nothing with him, because he was too important. If he could not ask her for all, then she wouldn't turn her back and give him nothing. She silently resolved, before falling asleep last night, that she would meet him halfway, and give him what he wanted. Less of her. She knew HE didn't want that, but it was a situation they both found themselves in, and she had hurt at first just thinking about it. But now, she was done hurting, and didn't want him to be hurting, so she would start visiting again. She had to.
As she walked up the stairs to Mr. Takki's house, she laughed out loud, remembering how confused Luke had looked when she fell on him. After she knocked a few times, the old man came to the door.
"Miss Gilmore, what are you doing here?"
"Ah, senility, how nice," Lorelai thought. Out loud, she explained, "I'm here to finish the roof, Mr. Takki."
"You already finished it! I slept at my brother's across the street so you could finish it whenever you wanted to, like Mr. Danes had said!"
Mr. Takki pointed over Lorelai's shoulder and Lorelai turned her confused face toward the other side of the street, where Mr. Takki was pointing. She saw another old man sitting on a lawn chair, waving at them. She waved back, still confused.
"Um.... like Mr. Danes said?" Lorelai asked, very confused now.
"Yeah. Good job, by the way. Here's the check," he said, reaching into his pocket, handing her a personal check.
She was too confused to speak, but she did open her mouth, with the intent of asking more questions. Before any formed, however, he had already returned inside the house, and shut the door in her face.
"You're welcome," she finally said, to the door.
And at Java----
Lorelai walked in a different person than she was just a half hour ago, when she'd bounded in, on top of the world. Now she pouted and walked zombie-like to the counter.
"Wow, that bad," Tom said.
"Well no... but the roof was already finished when I got there, and he still gave me the check, before I could protest, and now I am a thief."
"You don't look like a criminal," Tom said.
"Well I have here, in my possession, which you can clearly see, so I'm not making this up," Lorelai started, holding the check up for emphasis, "a check, made out to ME for a job that I did not do, which means that I am holding money that belongs to someone else, so Tom, I am sorry to ruin for you your dream that everyone in this world is beautiful and honest, because you are, in actuality, looking at a criminal. Sure I am criminal that parades around with pigtails, but I am a criminal nonetheless---"
"No coffee for you," he said, smiling.
She looked up at him. That comment stopped her, and all of a sudden she was thinking about Luke. After a few moments with nothing to say, she finally managed something.
"Well, I know who finished my job, so I won't be a criminal around dinnertime, when I give this person a piece of my mind and their money back."
He nodded, pouring her a cup of coffee. He handed it to her.
"It's on the house," he said.
"Tom, you say that every three coffees, and you punch a thousand holes in my punch card at a time, so I earn a free coffee every six coffees, instead of every twenty, and honestly, this is bad business. I'm gonna run you out of business, myself. And my god, where does my criminal activity stop! First I am stealing other people's money---"
"I wouldn't say stealing, as the check DOES have your name on it---" he said, although he suspected she didn't notice.
"--- and then I'm running perfectly good businesses out of town, and why are you not drinking one too? I can't drink this on my own and you know it!"
Tom smiled at her and poured himself a cup.
"Just wanted to see if you'd notice," he explained coyly.
"You insult me!" she said, feigning shock and hurt feelings.
He smirked. "Cheers," he said, tipping their glasses together and taking a sip.
Lorelai noticed that Tom suddenly seemed a little nervous. He wasn't looking at her and he wasn't smiling, the two things which he usually always did with her.
"Okay, what's up?" she finally said.
He took a breath and looked up at her. "Okay, well speaking of dinnertime-- -"
"We weren't talking about dinnertime," she said, confused.
"Well, before, you said something about giving someone a piece of your mind and their money back at dinnertime, I was just segueing into----"
"---you can't segue ten minutes later, that defeats the purpose of the segue. As a matter of fact, this is the worst segue I've ever seen----"
"Will you have dinner with me?" Tom asked, interrupting her, as if he were trying the bandaid approach at asking her out--- getting it over with fast, so it wouldn't be a long, painful thing.
Lorelai just looked up at him, shocked. She didn't say anything for a few moments.
Tom took this as a bad sign, and blushed, putting his head down. He shook his head and looked the perfect-picture of self-doubt.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have---" he started.
Lorelai held a hand up to him. "No, no, Tom, that sounds fun," she finally managed. "I'm sorry... it's just... okay, I'll just be upfront with you. I'm not exactly looking for anything romantic right now.... which isn't to say I won't be, eventually, or if I end up liking someone, but I recently had my heart broken, and I'm not sure it's back together yet," she said, looking at him very sympathetically. "Tom, let's go out to dinner. But, let's not look at it like a date. Just two friends, hanging out, getting to know each other. And, if we end up liking each other, then we'll go on a date? Could you settle for that?"
Tom managed a small smile through his embarrassment. "That would be... great," he finally managed.
"Great," she said.
And later that night, at Luke's---
Luke walked back behind the counter, where Sookie sat with the baby.
"So, you done with all that SAT mumbo jumbo?" he asked, amusedly.
"Well, it turns out, he likes to hear me read simpler things, like 'The Little Engine That Could', because I use all sorts of different voices. You like that, don't you, Logan? When mommy gets those funny voices!" she cooed, at the baby, while Luke rolled his eyes, still smiling.
"Hello again, Luke," a voice said from behind Sookie. Luke looked up.
"Oh, hi, Lorelai," he said, smiling.
Now confused, Sookie turned to see an older woman heading over to the counter.
"Sookie, this is Lorelai Farrow. She just moved here," Luke explained.
Sookie shook the proffered hand. "Wow, your name is Lorelai?" she asked, before she could stop herself.
The woman laughed and looked at Luke. "Yes. I don't think I'm going to have any problems making friends in this town, since the second I mention my name, it's topic for conversation."
Sookie laughed at looked at Luke, who smiled before walking away to attend to some tables.
Lorelai grabbed the menu and started to read it.
"So, how do you know Luke?" Sookie asked.
"I met him at the market today. He heard my name and started talking to me. We became fast friends!" Lorelai said, excitedly.
Sookie just smiled at her, her mind racing. "I'll bet," she said, more to herself than anyone.
"Okay, so what'll it be?" Luke said, walking back over.
"I think I will have a cheeseburger and fries and, well, is the coffee good here?" Lorelai asked.
Luke was startled by her entire order, as it was the second time today that this woman reminded him of someone else he knew, but eventually he managed, "well, everyone seems to like it."
"Okay, then a nice big cup of coffee, to warm up," she said, still smiling cutely.
Sookie studied Luke's very-readable expression and smiled, satisfied with what she was seeing. And as if the fates were smiling on her, Nicole entered and waltzed proudly and smugly over to the counter.
"Hi, sweetie," she said, as Luke reflexively leaned over the counter to give her a small, quick kiss.
"Hey," he said. He wrote something on the notepad and walked into the kitchen.
"Hi Sookie," Nicole said, smiling at Sookie and the baby.
"Hi Nicole. Oh, where are my manners. Nicole, this is Lorelai, she's new to Stars Hollow," Sookie said, hugging the baby, knowing she would enjoy this.
"You're----" Nicole started.
"---name is Lorelai," Lorelai finished, noticing now that Nicole was looking at her like she had a contagious disease. "And before you ask, I met Luke at the market, he heard my name, we started talking and he said I could have a meal on the house for being new to town," she finished. Nicole walked over to where Luke was standing, as he came out of the backroom and Lorelai turned to Sookie. "Did the temperature in here just drop?" she asked.
Sookie smiled. "Oh, I think it did," she said, giggling.
Nicole leaned into Luke, who was delivering food to a table.
"So, you're making friends now with old women? Or, did you just want to be parading under my nose people named Lorelai all day?"
Luke looked up at her. "I'm sorry, I was under the impression that your problem was with Lorelai Gilmore, not anyone named Lorelai. I mean, should I be telling Rory to stay out too?---"
"Rory?"
"Yeah, Rory's NAME is Lorelai. Or maybe I should put a sign outside that says 'We Don't Want No Lorelai's Here', except that then I'd get busted for discrimination, but then hey, maybe you'd get off my back!"
Nicole looked very offended, but then after thinking about it, her expression softened. "I just thought it was interesting. I mean, you never just strike up conversation with strangers."
"Well, she was very nice, and I talked to her. I wasn't aware that I'd get the third-degree from anyone as a result. Last time I checked, we had freedom of speech in this country."
"We do, sweetie, we do. I'm sorry."
Luke just rolled his eyes.
The bell over the door jingled and Lorelai walked in.
"Lorelai!" Sookie exclaimed. She was really enjoying the scene that was rapidly unfolding.
Lorelai Farrow got off her stool and bustled over to Lorelai, who watched the approaching woman confusedly.
"Get out, now!" Lorelai Farrow said.
"Do you work for Nicole?" Lorelai joked.
"I mean it, turn and go! This town is very weird about the name 'Lorelai'," Lorelai Farrow started.
Lorelai looked up and spotted Nicole, talking to Luke. "I don't doubt it," she said, under her breath. She then smiled, still confused. "And you are- --" she encouraged the older woman to introduce herself.
"Lorelai Farrow, I just moved here. I know you'll eventually ask, so I am just saving us time," she said, winking.
"Lorelai Gilmore," Lorelai said, shaking the woman's hand, as realization dawned on her.
"Hi Lorelai," Nicole said, approaching the two Lorelais.
"Hi," they both answered in unison, and Lorelai could hear Sookie giggling from the counter, her back to the scene.
Lorelai held up her hands defensively at Nicole. "First time in today, I swear. Just wanted a cup of Luke's famous coffee."
"Oh, that doesn't matter to me," Nicole said sweetly, and then glanced over her shoulder to see Luke's eyes boring into her. "I was just going to go upstairs and go to the bathroom. Just wanted to say 'hi'."
Nicole turned to go.
"Okay, well 'hi,' then!" Lorelai said. "Love your hair today it's so... straight," Lorelai said, smiling, feeling stupid for not coming up with something better to say than that. She rolled her eyes at herself, as she hated how whenever Nicole was around she turned into a bumbling idiot.
"What was that all about?" the other Lorelai asked.
"Aw, you're new to the town. I don't wanna scare you," Lorelai answered, smiling at the cute, older lady.
Lorelai Farrow smiled and winked at Lorelai, deciding she liked her spunk, and headed back to the counter, where Sookie sat, giggling still.
Lorelai used Nicole's exit as an opportunity to do her business with Luke. She marched over to where he stood, just finishing pouring coffee for another customer. He smiled when he saw her come over.
"Lorelai, anything you want, on the house."
"What is it with you coffee guys always giving me things on the house? It's just bad business. Don't you see that you could make a killing off of someone like me?" Lorelai asked.
"I don't want to make a killing off you. I just want you to come by already," he teased.
"Well I will have a cup of coffee, but I also have a little matter to discuss with you," she said, pulling the check out of her pocketbook.
He put on his best innocent expression. "What's that?"
"What's that. You know exactly what this is. It's your money!" she exclaimed, stomping a foot on the ground, for emphasis.
"It has your name on it," he said, looking at the check now.
"Well I will write you a personal check with YOUR name on it. But THIS is yours! And don't play innocent with me! I know that act. I WROTE that act!"
Luke smiled and tilted his head at her. "I know you did. You've PLAYED that act on me."
"Which is why you of all people should know not to try it with me. You can't cheat the cheater, isn't that the expression?"
He looked perplexed. "I don't think so. Anyway, I don't want the money. It was nothing, really."
"You painted the entire roof!"
"I had help. It was nothing, I swear."
"Help?" she asked.
"Jess," he explained.
"Jess?"
"Yeah, he finally called me from an apartment near Hartford. Looks like he's back for awhile, and managing on his own. He has a job with some bookstore, and his dad is sending him a little money for rent too. So.."
"Wow, he's back, that's great, Luke," Lorelai said, giving him a genuine smile.
"Yeah, so as you can see, it was nothing, really."
"Whatever, then divvy the money up between the both of you, but I'm not keeping it. That's just... criminal!"
"Lorelai, I never would have done it if I thought you'd give ME the money. Keep it, seriously."
"So first you DO my work, I take YOUR money, and now you want me to have free coffee and whatever else on top of that?" she asked, with a hand on her hip, looking impatient.
"That is exactly right. No matter what you do, I'm not taking the money, okay?"
She grimaced at him and then sighed, frustrated. "Fine! But, I owe you one now."
"Come in everyday and we'll call it even," he said, in a deep, demanding but monotone voice.
"No, I need to repay you."
"Fine, then come in everyday, order food, and eventually the amount you spend here will add up and you'll have repaid me," he said.
"Well if you keep giving me food and coffee on the house, that day will never come!"
"I'll keep that in mind," he said, smiling to himself.
She shook her head at him and stomped over to the counter as if she were angry about this. But in truth, she was very happy at that moment.
She sat down next to Sookie.
"Lorelai," Sookie said, to which both Lorelai's replied,
"What?"
Lorelai Farrow laughed. "Okay, this is gonna get confusing. Just call me Lori. A few of my friends do, it's fine, really."
Lorelai shook her head excitedly. "No, no! Even better! We'll get people to call us Farrow and Gilmore! Like, Sookie, if you wanna say something to me, you say 'Gilmore, attention!'" she said, deepening her voice for the imitation, which sounded more like a military order than an imitation of Sookie.
"As appealing as that sounds, I think I'll just call her Lori," Sookie said gently, patting Lorelai's back, as she seemed upset at not being able to be called 'Gilmore.'
"Oh!" Lorelai said, remembering something. "Sookie, you will be happy to know, since you think I am the epitome of pathetic these days, that I am going out tomorrow night on an almost-date."
"An almost-date? Gosh, I've really been out of the dating game a long time, what in heaven's name is an almost-date?" Lori asked.
"I'd be interested to know, too," Sookie added.
"Well, it's when two people go out as friends and get to know each other, and if it goes well, it has the potential to be a pre-date date," Lorelai said, very matter-of-factly, like it was common knowledge.
"Ah," Sookie said. "And who with?"
"Tom."
"Tom from Java?" Sookie asked, looking both shocked and amused.
"That's the one," Lorelai answered, not liking Sookie's expression. She could tell she was thinking... something.
Sookie shook her head and laughed. "Well listen Lorelais, I have to go. This baby needs to have a new bottle and get to B-E-D."
"Sookie, he can't spell yet, I think it's safe to say," Lorelai said, dead- pan.
"Well, it really makes me feel all parent-y when I spell things out," Sookie said excitedly.
"Whatever helps you," Lorelai agreed.
"Okay well, Lorelai, I mean, 'Lori,' it was very nice to meet you!" Sookie said.
"Oh, you too!" Lori said excitedly, clearly genuinely meaning it.
"Listen, once you get settled in, I want to have a welcome party for you! I will cook up a grand array of foods and you can meet everyone!" Sookie said, getting excited just thinking about it.
"But before you get all excited, you should know that 'everyone' is about ten people," Lorelai added playfully, to which Sookie nudged her.
"Well, it sounds lovely!" Lori said.
Sookie smiled at her once more, and walked out.
"I'm just gonna walk her out," Lorelai explained, following Sookie out the door. Once they were outside---"Okay, what was THAT?"
"What was what?" Sookie asked.
"That face? When I said I was having dinner with Tom?"
Sookie laughed. "Nothing."
"Sookie!"
"Okay, okay, it's just amusing. You're dating your new coffee guy and Luke's making friends named 'Lorelai'."
"Well you've met her, she's the sweetest thing! Anyone would make friends with her! She can't help her name!"
"I'm not saying anything... I'm just saying," Sookie said.
"Oh, you're just saying," Lorelai said, mocking her.
"Yes."
"Well stop. Saying," Lorelai said.
"Okay, I am done saying... what I was saying," Sookie said, still enjoying this whole thing.
"What WERE you saying anyway?" Lorelai asked, after a pause.
"Just that it's interesting! Luke only started talking to her BECAUSE her name was Lorelai. It's not like he met her, talked to her and then asked her her name. He misses you! And you're..... dating.... your new coffee guy!"
"Not dating!" Lorelai said defensively.
"You're ALMOST-dating him!"
"Sookie!"
"Oh, before I forget, you have to come to my karaoke party! Tell Rory and all her new friends and stuff to come. It's five dollars per person, but it's gonna be a blast!"
Lorelai looked at her sympathetically. "I'm waiting for the inn to open too, honey."
Sookie nodded. "That's when the humiliation will really end."
"When is it?"
"Tomorrow," Sookie said, cowering at Lorelai's expression.
"Tomorrow! I have to bring my ALMOST-date to a karaoke party?"
"I know it's last minute, but we have bills coming!" Sookie said, and the baby started to cry just then. "Oops, gotta go. Tomorrow, okay?"
"Fine!" Lorelai said, huffing as she headed back into the diner.
Nicole was just leaving as she entered.
"Oh! Hey, Nicole. Again. I... I know this looks like it's my second time in here tonight, but I just left for a second, I still haven't even had the coffee yet," she babbled nervously.
"Okay. That's fine, I don't care," Nicole said gently, like she could not for the life of her understand what had gotten into Lorelai. "I'm just going to get some groceries before we go to bed," she explained, indicating that 'we' meant her and Luke and that she was sleeping upstairs.
"Okay, that sounds great. Good plan," Lorelai continued on her bumbling idiot mission. "I love your shoes. They're really... pretty," she finished, as Nicole looked at her confusedly and smiled, before leaving with a quick "thanks".
Once Nicole was gone, Lorelai sat back down, squeezing her eyes shut, placing her fingertips on her forehead.
"Tense town," Lori said, leaning over to Lorelai.
Lorelai lifted her head and looked at the kind woman next to her. "You have no idea," she simply said. "But I think if we Lorelais stick together, the world will right itself again," Lorelai joked.
"That sounds like a plan!" the older woman laughed, smiling at Lorelai.
"What's this?" Lorelai asked, pointing to the plate that sat in front of her, with a burger and extra fries on it.
"Luke said it was for you, if that's what you're asking, or do you actually not know what the food is?"
"Believe me..... I know what a burger is," Lorelai joked.
"Never thought I'd do this again," Luke said, walking over. He grabbed a large mug from under the counter and placed it in front of Lorelai, pouring her favorite liquid into it.
"Aw, Luke, you remembered!" Lorelai said, smiling.
"Some things are hard to forget," he joked back, but his words echoed in his own head, their truth ringing in his ears.
"How's the ankle?" he asked.
"Much better! The hip?"
"It's fine," he said.
Lori looked from one to the other. "Was there an accident or something?" she finally asked, intrigued by their interaction.
"She fell off a rooftop and landed on me. Nothing unusual if you know HER," he quipped, while Lorelai just squinted at him.
"I'm gonna let that pass since I owe you money now," she settled for saying.
"It's like I've been transported to a soap opera!" Lori said, biting her cheeseburger. "This is great! My grandchildren are gonna love visiting me here!"
Lorelai laughed and sipped her coffee, relishing the taste of it, that specific taste that she had gone too long without.
"What brings you here?" Luke asked Lori, hating how formal he sounded asking her that, but wanting to know why she was moving here now, when she is clearly at the age where she should already be settled somewhere.
"I'm starting over," Lori said proudly, smiling.
Both Lorelai and Luke raised their eyebrows at that, but tried to hide their surprise at that.
"I know what you're both thinking, and let me just tell you, you're never too old and it's never too late to just start over," Lori said, smiling still, but looking a little distant.
Luke looked down, her words hitting him with a vengeance.
"Hey, Luke, I need to pay this and get out of here!" a customer yelled, and Luke walked over quickly, welcoming the interruption.
In a companionable silence, the two Lorelais bit into their cheeseburger, both smiling. Both happy. Lorelai smiled at the elder Lorelai. She had a feeling she was really going to like this Stars Hollow newcomer.