Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters
The next day over lunch Lorelai told Sookie everything.
"OH MY GAWD!" was Sookie's reaction.
"I know! I feel like a kid again. Sook, I'm so happy, and the best part is I think he is too."
"Think? What do you mean think?"
"Well, he seems happier…lighter. I think we make each other happy."
Sookie giggled and said, "Well, yeah, who would've thought? Have you told Rory yet?"
Lorelai's smile faded. "No. I haven't. It feels weird. I mean over the last few years I've been less careful about dating around her because she's pretty much a grown up now. But she's known Luke forever. And in my head I want to be the careful dater again. I mean…okay, this is my problem: They already have their relationship down, right?"
"Right," agreed Sookie.
"So who am I to mess with it? I mean, casual boyfriends are one thing, but this is Luke. I don't want her to feel like, I don't know, like she has to rearrange her relationship with him."
Sookie looked confused. "But, honey, why would she feel that?"
"I guess because I feel like this could potentially be it, you know? And Luke's always been there for her and I know she sometimes compares him to Christopher and Chris always comes out looking not so great and I know that it makes her feel guilty. Like she's somehow betraying her dad. But if Luke were to be a more permanent member of the family I don't want her to feel guilty all the time because Luke will be around all the time. Does that make sense?"
Sookie waited a beat and said, "But Rory's relationship with her dad is between Rory and her dad. You have to stop trying to protect her from something that's already happened."
Now it was Lorelai's turn to look confused. "What do you mean?"
"Honey, Rory knows that Chris was a jerk. Yeah, he proposed, but after you said no he could have stuck around but he didn't. She made up her mind about him a long time ago. Does she want a relationship with her biological father? Yes. Will it be as good of a relationship as the one she has with her mother? No. Will it be as good of a relationship as the one she has with Luke, someone who's taken an interest in her life the entire time he's known her? No, again. It doesn't matter whether Luke is your boyfriend or husband or just the guy who works at the diner. Talk to her. She will be fine with this."
"Maybe you're right," Lorelai murmured absently.
Later, on her way to Hartford, Lorelai stopped in at the diner for a coffee for the road. It was just after six and the dinner crowd made it difficult to get through to the counter.
She spotted him coming out of the kitchen with an armful of plates. "Hey," he said. "Coffee, right? To go?"
She smiled as she watched him deliver the food and walk back to the counter. "You're so smart. How'd I get so lucky?"
He poured her coffee into a to go cup and said, "You know? I just don't know."
"And modest, too! I'll see you later?"
"Definitely."
"Okay." She leaned across the counter and gave him a kiss. "Something to keep you warm until I get back."
He chuckled and said, "Go, you're gonna be late."
She left and drove to her parent's house. Rory's car was in the driveway when she pulled in and she practically skipped to the door she was so excited.
A woman she'd never seen before opened the door and let her in. Lorelai walked into the living room and saw Rory perched on the couch talking. Emily and Richard gazed adoringly at her, not noticing Lorelai's approach. For a second, Lorelai was struck by how much she loved her daughter. In the same second, she was also struck by the fact that she was a little bit jealous of Rory. Her parents had never gazed at Lorelai like that. Not that she'd ever done anything gaze-worthy, but still it would be nice.
Feeling like an intruder, Lorelai said too brightly, "Hey, everybody!"
Rory jumped up from the couch and ran to her. "Mom! Hi!" They hugged for a long time. "I was just telling Grandma and Grandpa about my first week. Orientation was really interesting and I can't wait for all my classes to start on Monday." She continued to talk a mile a minute and Lorelai found herself falling under the spell that was Rory.
She finally stopped to catch her breath and said, "What about you? What have you been doing this week? I've been dying to call, but I didn't want to be desperate, you know? I mean, it was the first week."
Lorelai smiled. She too had tried to be brave and not called. "I've been fine. Working on plans for the Dragonfly."
Emily interrupted, "You mean you're still going through with that?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" demanded Lorelai.
The woman who answered the door entered and said, "Excuse me. Dinner is ready."
"Thank you, Anna," said Emily.
They walked into the dining room and sat down. Emily waited for the first course to be served before she answered Lorelai. "I was only wondering because you know that your father has a tremendous amount of business experience and he could probably offer you some advice or help if you ever needed it and I don't believe you've asked yet."
Lorelai took a deep breath. "Mom, right now, I'm not at a point where I need advice about international insurance matters. As soon as that happens, I'll give you guys a call."
"Lorelai, really, there's no need to be rude," Richard admonished in a weary tone. "Your mother was simply offering me as a helper. The business world can be a lonely place. If you ever need advice, I'm here. That's all she was saying."
Lorelai suspected otherwise. "Well, thank you dad, but as it happens we're doing just fine so far."
"Fine," said Richard.
"Fine," said Emily.
There was silence for a beat, and then Rory said, "So, mom, anything else new? How's Stars Hollow?"
Lorelai smiled. "It's fine. Luke adopted a cat from under a dumpster and she's currently living at our house. Babette and Morey forgot to pull their shade down again this past Tuesday night and the sight was truly horrifying. Miss Patty's newest group of students are adorable and you should see them in their tutus!"
Rory pouted. "Wait! We have a cat? I've been asking you for years to get a cat. I finally leave and now you get a cat? So unfair."
Emily added, "Really Lorelai, a cat from under a dumpster is not the healthiest thing to bring into your house."
"Don't worry mom, Luke brought her to the vet and had her cleaned and fixed before he brought her over. She fine. And actually really cute. I wish I had relented and gotten one a long time ago. Rory you'll have to come and visit her soon."
"What's her name?" asked Rory.
"Luke said I could name her and after long thought I chose Lulu after him, since he's the one who rescued her," Lorelai answered proudly.
"Awwwwww," cooed Rory.
"Luke…isn't that the diner man?" asked Richard.
"Yeah, dad, but 'diner man' is only what we call him behind his back," smirked Lorelai.
Richard rolled his eyes. "I'm just trying to figure out who you're talking about. He was at Rory's graduation, correct?"
Suddenly, Emily cut in. "Oh my goodness! Lorelai are you seeing the diner man?"
Lorelai was taken aback for a moment but recovered quickly. "Mom! That's none of your business. We were talking about Lulu – "
"Yes, your cat whom you got from and named after Luke," Emily pointed out sharply.
"Not my cat. Luke's cat. The situation is only temporary," Lorelai lied.
"You just said it was your cat," Emily pressed.
Lorelai huffed. "Can we change the subject please?"
Richard said, "All your mother is wondering is if you're seeing anyone now that Rory's off to college."
"Dad, it's been a week!" Not that that had anything to do with anything. She had started seeing someone the first week Rory was gone.
"So?" asked Emily.
"Mom. Dad. As soon as I'm ready to share my love life with you, I will."
Rory was staring at her. Lorelai avoided her eyes. The four finished dinner without additional drama.
As Lorelai walked Rory to her car she said, "Listen I need to talk to you."
Rory smiled and nodded. "You're totally seeing Luke, aren't you?"
Shocked, Lorelai sputtered, "How did- I just- Why would-"
"Mom, it's okay. You guys have been dancing around each other for years. You can date whomever you want."
"We haven't been dancing around each other for years," Lorelai denied.
"Okay, let's call a spade a spade," Rory said with her hands resting on her hips. "You've been flirting with each other for years."
Lorelai gaped at her daughter and then her face softened. "So, you're not upset?"
"Why would I be upset? I love you and I love Luke, so what's not to love about the situation?"
"You love Luke?" Lorelai asked, dumbfounded.
"Well, yeah. We see him everyday. He's always been good to us. Generous, helpful, patient, kind, should I go on? Plus, he's our coffee connection. Again, what's not to love?"
Lorelai hugged her. "I love you, babe."
"I love you, too, Mom.
"Okay, drive safe back to school and since this is the second week and we've both managed to be strong the first week, I expect daily updates."
Rory laughed, "Got it. I expect the same from you."
Lorelai watched Rory drive away. She wanted to cry she was so happy and proud of her daughter. Why was letting her go so difficult? The world was big and bad, she answered herself. It was so easy to get knocked around or hurt.
She walked back to the Jeep and drove home feeling a little fragile.
