Authors Note: Sorry about the lack of updating. Here's chapter 19 for ya. Thank's guys for the reviews! Keep doing it, it's almost overrr!! Lol, anyways...this chapter has a lot of closure in it and unanwsered questions you guys might have. A little more outside action. The next, and final chapter will be submitted soon! I promise--maybe next Tuesday in respect of the SEASON PREMIERE!!!!!! (is anybody else crazy excited?!?!?!) Or I'll update sooner just cause I'd do that for ya! Thanks guys! Enjoy--
Just a Reminder: Okay, not mine. Won't ever be.
Check Out: I uploaded a new one-shot story, 'Luke Most Certainly Can Waltz.' It takes place during Liz's wedding! RR if you'd like!
Chapter Nineteen: Tying Loose Ends
As Lorelai got ready for the day ahead of themselves, her dream flashbacks kept reoccurring. 'Why am I making this such a big deal? I don't want to be married now. I love the way things are. Exactly, I love them the way they are now. That's all.'
They spent the whole day doing various, camp related activities. They attempted to go fishing again, but that didn't last too long. They swam, ate lunch, took another walk, and Lorelai forced Luke to watch her start a fire. After taking a small nap, and getting up towards 5, Lorelai was suddenly bored.
"I'm bored. This place is getting boring. What else can we do?"
"I don't know, what do you want to do?"
"Watch TV, or call Rory. Either or."
"'What do you want to do here?" Luke corrected himself.
"Oh, in that case...I don't know. Exactly my point...what else is left to do? Ah, I know." She leaned over and began kissing Luke.
They entertained themselves for a while, and ended up making dinner a little early. When everything was cleaned up, and put away, they went back into the tent. It was already time for the sun to set. Lorelai dragged Luke out there and they laid down together and watched the sunset for the second time.
"It's so beautiful." Lorelai said quietly.
Luke nodded his head in agreement. Moments like this, Lorelai analyzed to the fullest. When she was Luke...doing things like this...everything seemed perfect. She never wanted to move. It was a completely new feeling to her.
"Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Everything. This past month has been so great. I've never been so happy before."
Luke had to smile. It's not everyday that somebody got to be with someone as special as Lorelai. But he had to quickly overlook his last month. He has always wanted Lorelai. Ever since the first day he met her, despite her sheer annoyance. He realized, that after all this time, he finally had her. Of course, he realized that before, but now, he was really realizing it. He doesn't just have Lorelai. He has Lorelai. And she is the one person capable of making him as happy as he is now. The one person, and the only person.
"Really, I should thank you."
"Why?"
Luke took the moment to reposition himself. Lorelai was laying flat on her back on the ground, and Luke rolled over so that he was on his stomach. He placed one arm over Lorelai's stomach and propped himself slightly up, only inches away from her face.
"For giving me a chance."
"I had no reason not too."
"I'm just saying. I've always loved you Lorelai, and...I'm glad that we finally admitted our feelings to eachother. Or else, I would never have gotten the chance to be so happy." He leaned down and kissed her quickly.
"I am too."
The rest of the night was special. There were only a few selects days in their relationship where they got caught, 'in the moment' and these past few day's have certainly been like that.
The next morning, they got their things together and headed home by about 11. They stopped at a little diner on the way home.
"This is nothing like your diner."
He just smiled.
They got home by 12:45. Luke took Lorelai home and he headed back to the diner to see how things were going. She spent the first part of her time home, unpacking. Sort of. She took everything out of her bags and threw them in a huge pile at the foot of her bed.
"Mmm! Fun!"
She dived into the pile of clothes.
"Eww!" She pulled away quickly at the smell of the dirty clothes. It was just then when the phone began to ring.
"Hello?"
"Lorelai? Oh good, you are home. We had no idea when you were coming home. So we have been calling you."
"Mom?"
"Yes, who else would this be?"
"I don't know, I was hoping to hear from Rory's parol officer, but hey-It's nice to hear from you. What's up?"
"Lorelai, do you think that is funny?"
"Why are you calling me mom?"
"Your father and I would like you to come to dinner tomorrow night. We'd like to talk to you."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Everything is fine. Come by at around 6, okay?"
"Uh..okay."
"So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?"
"Well, Rory..I've been thinking. We haven't spent much time, out in Chicago. I think we should go to a club or something."
"A club? Lane, what on earth possessed you to say such a thing. Since when are we club girls?"
"We're not. Which is exactly my point. Let's step out of the shell. Let's be...spontaneous."
"And how do you think we can get in this club?"
"It's 18 and older."
"I don't know...Lane...I'm not much for one to sit in a stinky place with smoking and drinking...and..."
"Come on Rory! Let's live a little!"
"Well, I guess..." She said giving in.
Lorelai went down to throw her clothes in the dryer. She past through the living room and saw the mailman. 'Ah, the mail. It's been a while.' She walked outside and gathered all the mail from the mailbox. It seemed like there was weeks worth of mail, when in reality it was only two days. She sat down at the kitchen table, and started flipping through it, to see what was actually interesting.
"Bills, bills, bills, modeling agencies? Poetry winner? Bills, bills, ooh! Cute dress! Cosmo, bills...whaaat?" She said in a slow confused voice. She looked at the envelope labeled to a Ms. Lorelai Gilmore. She recognized the handwriting from the second she saw it, but quickly glanced to the left corner to see the return address.
"Christopher Hayden." She said to herself, shaking her head in denial. "What now?" As she quickly tried to open the letter without ripping it, although she wouldn't mind if she just 'accidently' did rip it, she found herself nervous. 'What does he have to tell me now? He got another woman knocked up?' Hi, Lorelai...it's your ex-love. I just wanted to let you know, I've hit up girl number 3! We're having a boy, and once we name him, hasta la vista Christopher! I'm coming back to find you!' She sighed. 'Yeah...right.'
Dear Lorelai,
Do you remember the time we slept outside on the balcony at your house? We had the telescope out that night, looking around the block, when we decided to lie down on the cold cement for a few minutes. We had just made up that night over a fight about me not calling you one night, and you told me that you'd always my be my friend, no matter what type of fight we got in. And last night, I was sitting in my new apartment thinking, I hope those circumstances still stand. I hope she still considers me a friend.
I called Rory about a week ago. So she's in Chicago? That must be nice for her. Taking a little vacation never hurts. We talked about what happend with you and I. She said that I really upset you, and caused some drama with you and Luke. Lorelai- I didn't know that you were with Luke. And although that's no excuse for what I did, I still think that it would have held me back, that much more, if I knew you were with him. And in no way am I writing you this letter to confront you that it's your fault, because it's most certainly not, but still-why didn't you let me know? If it was a timing thing, then I understand exactly, but if it was something else, I want do know what.
It was completely immature and wrong of me to act the way I did with you. I'm sorry that I hurt you, and caused havoc in the lovely Lorelai Gilmore's love life. I meant no harm, really. But I spoke from my heart, and I just wanted to be honest. I wanted you to know that after all this time, you have always been the one that I want. You have always been the one that I love, and now, I understand that the feeling isn't mutual. It's just that after we were planning on spending our lives together, before we knew Sherry was pregnant, I thought that you still might be lingering on to some feelings about us, but I see I am wrong. That was my last attempt to start something with you, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, every fight, every argument, and every time I messed up. I know I was never around in the past, when you needed me most, and I know I'm not their now, which will be okay, but I wanted to let you know, that in the end, I always loved you more than anyone. You will always be in my heart, Lorelai, and I'm sorry for all the problems I have caused you.
I love you,
Christopher.
She re-read the letter twice, and stared at the text, analyzing everything he wrote. 'And last night, I was sitting in my new apartment thinking, I hope those circumstances still stand. I hope she still considers me a friend.' Of course she still was his friend, because like she said when she was sixteen, no matter what, she'd always be there for him. She'd always be his friend. But friends do get mad at eachother....
'But still-why didn't you let me know? If it was a timing thing, then I understand exactly, but if it was something else, I want do know what.' The thought crossed her mind after the fact. Why didn't she tell him? She still didn't know. Partially because it was a timing thing. It always seemed like the wrong moment, and the right moment just never occured. And partially, it was because she was scared. 'I'm almost scared to jinx it by talking about how good it's going.' The night that she went to Friday night dinner with Christopher, Rory, Straub, and Francine flashed through her mind. Those words echoed in her head about when Chris was telling Richard how good his business was doing. 'Liar.' She thought.
'I'm sorry for everything, every fight, every argument, and every time I messed up.' She knew he was sorry...but it's too late now. Everything was in the past, and this was one of the countless mistakes that he made with them.
'I love you, Christopher.' Saying I love you was a given. It was sort of like how whenever she saw Chris, she always gave him a hug and a kiss on the lips. It was something they just, did. Saying I love you was nothing knew. She knew he loved her, and she knew she loved him. Of course, she didn't have current feelings for him, but it was Christopher.
She folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. She walked up to her room and shoved it in the bottom of her desk.
'Now I'm in a funk.' She thought. 'Coffee.' She walked over to Luke's.
"Rory! You're cell phone is ringing!"
"Ahh! Can you answer it for me? The curling iron is trying to attack me!" Rory screamed from the bathroom.
"Sure!" Lane called back.
"Hello?"
"Uh, Rory?"
"No this is Lane, who's this?"
"Oh, Lane. Hi. It's Dean."
Lane's stomach dropped. Rory had been in such a great mood lately, she didn't want to ruin it by telling her that Dean was on the phone. She walked over into the room of the hotel, and closed the door a little bit.
"Uh, Dean. Hi...uhm, Rory's actually not here right now. But you could try calling back later, okay?"
"Oh, uh, yeah sure. Thanks, Lane. Bye."
She quickly hung up and erased all records of Dean calling. He'd call back later, after they had already had a fun night. 'Ah, not good timing.' She thought.
"Who was it?" Rory called when she heard Lane walk out of the bedroom.
"Oh, wrong number!" Lane said quickly, trying not to seem obvious.
"Ha! Funny. Did you mess with their minds?"
Lane tried to smile. "Uh, yeah, something like that! Come on let's get going soon!"
As soon as the bells rang above the door, Luke glanced up to see if it was Lorelai. And sure enough, it was. She looked furious for some reason. Like she had just talked to her parents.
"What's the matter?"
"Why do you automatically think that something is wrong?" She sat down at a stool and rested her head against the counter. She didn't want to tell him about the letter from Chris, but knew that it'd be good if she did.
"You're laying down on the counter, and you look like something is wrong. Oh, and you haven't asked for coffee yet."
"Coffee. Now."
"That's better." He walked over to grab the coffee pot and filled her up an oversized mug of coffee. She lifted the coffee to her face, and let the steam wander. She looked at Luke over the rim of the cup, just staring at him.
"Why are you staring at me?" She took a large sip, and put it down next to her and bounced around in her seat for a moment, trying to change moods.
"Okay! Better." She said happily.
"What was the matter, before?"
"Oh nothing. I'm just tired. My mom called...I have to go to dinner there tomorrow. They want to tell me something. And then, I did a load of laundry and I hate doing laundry. I was seriously thinking of going out and buying a whole new wardrobe. And then, I checked the mail and got a letter from Chris." She watched his face change. He didn't look sad, or mad, he just looked...tense. Worried...scared.
"Oh. What did he have to say?"
"Nothing special. Just that he talked to Rory and she told him that he really upset me, and caused some problems with you and I. He said he was sorry for everything. Nothing big."
"Oh..." Luke just watched Lorelai drink her coffee as if nothing ever happend. "Well, that's nice."
"Yeah. I guess. And I miss Rory." She reached in her purse and started to pull out her cell phone when Luke pointed to the 'no cell phones' sign. She grunted, and continued anyways. After about 5 rings, her voice mail finally picked up.
"Hey babe, it's me. I'm at Luke's right now. Bored. Are you bored? I'm bored. Do you know that it's possible to eat five donuts in less than a minute? It's so much fun too. Although you do get a stomach ache afterwards, it's worth the pain. Well, call me I guess. No windows still. Oh and just 6 day's. Love ya." She hung up and put her cell phone back in her purse and turned to smile at Luke.
"You're just weird. Do you want something?"
She grinned at him. "Mmm hmm."
"Do you want something to eat?"
"Oh. No, I'm going to go drop by the Inn. See how Sookie lived. Assuming she did. Come here." She nodded her head for him to come by her.
She gave him a kiss goodbye and drove over to the Inn and checked on Sookie and Michel. Things were fine over the weekend. Sookie got her hand stuck in the drain, Michel had to assist a group of french woman, but things were fine. As always. Afterwards, she went home and spent the night home, cleaning up, and reading magazines. Luke had to close, so he couldn't come by.
Rory and Lane were dancing together in this little club in Chicago, when Rory's cell phone rang.
"Lane! I'm going to step outside, somebody's calling me!"
"Okay!" Lane didn't even bother to think it might be Dean.
Rory rushed outside before the ringing ended. "Hello?"
"Rory. Hi."
'Dean.' She thought. She talked to him once...very brief. She didn't know if she got his letter explaining that what happend was a mistake, and that she doesn't love him. It was a very forward, very harsh letter. Not harsh in the way of being mean, but honest.
"Hi."
"How are you?"
"Uh, I'm okay. How are you?"
"Uhm, I'm alright. How is Chicago?"
"It's fine. I'm coming home soon though. Which is good, I miss my mom." They were both acting as if nothing ever happend. If they were casual friends. And they both knew, they aren't. And they weren't going to be, anytime soon.
"That's good. So...I got your letter."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Listen Rory. I've been thinking about things lately. Things with me, things with us, things with Lindsay. And we're still getting a divorce."
"Oh."
"It doesn't have to do with you. I want you to know that. I told you that we weren't working before we...ya know..."
"Yeah." She said as quickly as possible.
"And I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
"For what?" And although she knew for what, she wanted to hear it from him.
"For everything, Rory. I'll talk to you soon. Bye." And he hung up. Rory slowly hung up the phone and stared at it blankly. 'Okay.' She headed back to the club.
After work on Monday, Lorelai went straight over to Luke's before she had to go to her parents for dinner. She walked in, and saw Luke in the storage room. She took the liberty to walk back there, and surprise him. She walked up in back of him and through her hands over his eyes.
"Hi Luke!" She said in a very, annoying, high pitched voice.
He took Lorelai's hands off and turned around to see her, kissing her hello.
"Hi." She said softly.
"Hi."
"So. I have to go to my parents tonight. Hopefully I'll be back by...I don't know...8? Can you come over?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll see you then."
She arrived to her parents right before 6. She used her key, today. Although her mom has threatened to take it away from her, because she uses it for 'non-emergencies' she still used it.
"Hello!" She called loudly through out the house. A maid showed up at the door and took her coat.
"You're parents are in the living room."
She walked over to the dining room, and before her parent's noticed her, she watched them for a minute. They were both sitting on the couch, laughing. They looked so happy. Things must be good.
"Hi guys." She said, revealing herself.
"Oh, Lorelai! Good you are here!" Emily called out.
"Ah yes, hello Lorelai!"
"The riddalin aint kickin' in yet, eh?"
"What was that Lorelai?" Emily asked.
"Oh, nothing."
"Lorelai, can I get you a drink?"
"Uh, sure, thanks dad. White wine's fine."
They sat around and talked about her camping trip and Rory's trip to Chicago until the maid called them in for dinner. As soon as dinner was served and Lorelai was half way into poking at the disgusting little bird sitting on her plate, she put her fork down and stared expectantly at her parents.
"Is something wrong?" Emily asked.
"Uh, no. Nothings wrong." She plastered on a fake smile. "I just want to know...why you called me to come over tonight. It's only Monday ya know."
Richard and Emily both put their forks down and exchanged smiles. Emily began first.
"We're leaving."
Lorelai looked confused. "Uh, where are you going?"
"We're going to Europe." Richard said.
"Oh, fun! For how long?"
"Well," Emily started, "we're leaving in two days. That's why we had to have you over. We're leaving on Wednesday, and we wont be coming back for three months."
Lorelai couldn't help but smile. She didn't have to see her parents for three months. As happy as they both were, she still hated to get nagged by there annoyance. "Three months? That's a long time. What are you going to do for three months?"
"Oh plenty. Lorelai, there's lots to do, and see in Europe."
"I know dad, but three months seems like a long time. I'm just saying..."
"Yes." Emily looked over and smiled at Richard. "Three months."
'Okay, things are just freaky between them.' Lorelai thought. 'Thank God they're leaving though.'
They finished the night up...peacefully. She said goodbye to her parents, wished them luck with everything, left with a smile.
"It's over! For three months, it's over!" She screamed outside.
That night Luke came over. They watched a movie, and fell asleep together on the couch. That's how things had been going lately. They spent the whole rest of the week together, enjoying there time together while they could, because before Lorelai knew it, Rory was coming home tomorrow.
Up Next: Back in the Hollow, again.
Authors Note: So...let's see...a bit of this chapter was OOC. I didn't know how, or what Chris would right, but I tried my hardest! Haha, I hope you guys liked that chapter...the final chapter will be posted soon!
RR please!!
