Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the storyline.
~~
The next morning, after Rory contacted the professors whose classes she'd be missing that day, she and Lorelai walked to the diner. Halfway there Lorelai said, "Listen, I have to ask you something."
"Sounds serious," said Rory.
"Well, it's two-fold."
"A two-fold question? Before breakfast? Sounds really serious. Have you finally decided to give me up for adoption?"
"Don't joke," replied Lorelai in what she hoped was a stern tone of voice. "First, I have to ask you never to break another limb. I can't take the stress of being a grown up."
"And one has what to do with the other?"
"Yesterday I held in my freak-out over your arm and it practically killed me. I didn't sleep all night, which brings me to the second part."
"I'm not sure I get the first. How can I prevent the breaking of limbs? It's not like I plan them. They just happen." Rory was indignant.
"Well stop letting it happen! I'm trying very hard to be adult about you being an adult. You're at college. And I love that you're doing so great. But it's hard for me to sometimes wrap my brain around. I can't take the stress of not being able to watch you every second of every day to make sure nothing bad happens to you! Bad things happen to good people, Rory! Are you aware?"
"Okay, Mommy Dearest. Let's take two steps back, shall we?" They reached the gazebo and sat for a minute.
Rory continued, "I thought yesterday was a little too easy."
Lorelai pouted, "Are you sure you don't want to move home? Woodbridge has that great community college. We could grow old together and then we could be like the Golden Girls. I could be Sophia and you could be Dorothy."
Rory shook her head. "As temping as Woodbridge Community College is, the thought of growing up to be Bea Arthur is just a bit too much. Besides, aren't you forgetting something?"
Lorelai shrugged and pretended to think about it. "I don't know."
Rory poked her mother's arm. "Luke. Remember Luke? I think you might be confusing me with him right now. He's the person you want to grow old with, isn't he?"
Lorelai tried to hesitate, but she couldn't help smiling. "He is pretty handy around the house. And he does cook. Keeps the cupboards full. Nice butt."
"You see?" replied Rory. "It's like someone built him in a lab."
Lorelai smiled again. "Okay. Now for part two of my question."
"Ah, yes. Part two of your two-fold question."
"How do you feel about Luke sleeping over?"
"Ew, mom, please? Do we really have to talk about this?"
"Well, he didn't spend the night because he was afraid you'd be uncomfortable with it. At first I thought he was over-reacting a little, but, I don't know. I'd like to know how you feel."
Rory considered. "Well, I guess it might be weird at first, but it also might be nice to have someone there to make us breakfast in the morning."
Lorelai shook her head. "Yeah, I thought so too, but he usually has to be at the diner by like six."
"Holy. Mother. Of God," replied Rory.
"I know, that's what I said!" crowed Lorelai.
They giggled for a second and then Rory said, "You know what, though? He makes you happy. So, I want him to be part of the household. I mean, I'm not even there all that much anymore. When I am there, I don't want you to miss him. So, yeah, I think he should feel comfortable spending the night whether I'm there or not."
"Excellent."
"So," said Rory, "can we eat?"
"Absolutely." They got up and crossed the street.
~~
Later that afternoon, Lorelai strolled into the diner. She had just dropped Rory back at Yale and she was having a strange feeling of déjà vu. Then she recalled that the last time she'd dropped Rory off at Yale she'd come to the diner and then gone home, had some wine and spent the night with Luke. She smiled as she strode up to the counter.
"Hey," she said, "it's dead in here." It was true. There was one table of two and that was it.
"Give it an hour," Luke grunted. "By six, every table will be full."
She leaned across the counter and gave him a kiss and he poured her a cup of coffee.
"Rory's back at school, so I'm going to drop by the Dragonfly and see if Sookie needs anything. I called her this morning to tell her what was going on and she said it was no problem, but with it being so close to her due date I'm worried she's pushing herself too hard, you know?"
"When is she due?"
"Next month."
"Wow, that's soon. Hey, by the way, how did the meeting go yesterday?"
Lorelai laughed. "God, I had forgotten all about it. It went great. They showed us what they had to offer and it was really cool. All this great stuff: linens for the dining room, silverware, flatware, stemware and all at cost!"
"Sounds fantastic."
"It was. It was really great."
There was a silence as she sipped and then, "So, my parent's tomorrow night."
He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. "Yep. I wanted to get your opinion. Should I wear the green plaid or the brown?"
She groaned. "Very funny."
"I know, I know," he said, conceding the bad joke. "I'll wear the suit I wore to Rory's graduation."
"Perfect, but you don't have to wear a tie if you don't want to. That's totally your call."
"I'm drunk with power," he deadpanned.
"Okay, I'm outta here, but I'll see you tonight?"
"You bet your boots."
Lorelai paused. "Okay, Roy Rogers, don't ever say that again. Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top."
"Yeah, yeah," he replied.
Lorelai gave him another kiss and left for the Dragonfly.
