A/N: Hi. I realized, with tigeress' help, that I have been dragging out
these chapter lately. I hope this has more of the plot for you. Thank you
all for putting up with me, I'm driving my self nuts with school and waay
to much caffine. Please r/r. ¤ Kari¤
:-D
On with the story...
Chapter 19
**********
Words couldn't express how relieved she was to finally have her task over and done with. She managed to convey what was wracking her brain for longer than she ever really knew, in ten words or less. Technically it wasn't over and done with. In reality it had all just begun. She hated being one large cliché, but it wasn't something she had any say in.
Lana was lost in her thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Alex.
"Hi Alex. What is it?", she smiled up from her seat.
"Uh, Lan, class ended five minutes ago." , he laughed as she looked around wide eyed to find they were the only ones in the room. 'Was I really that caught up in my thoughts?'
"Why are you still here than?", Lana asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I've been waiting for you to snap back into reality.", Alex joked. Truthfully he too had been caught up in something. It was really quite amusing to watch all the changes over emotions register across her face when she was deep in thought.
"Well I'm back. So let's get going.", she said cheerfully pulling him out of the room. Lana was a little self conscious knowing he had more than likely been watching her for the past five minutes.
"Where are you taking me?", he questioned. She stopped and turned to face him.
"I have no idea.", Lana admitted.
"Then would you mind giving me a ride? I let Travis borrow the car.", Alex smiled.
"Someone is in a good mood today.", responded a very surprised Lana. To be so nice to his hated relative he had to have been in a amazingly good mood, and she had a pretty good idea of what put him in one.
"A very good mood.", he affirmed. Things had been completely back to normal between them after lunch, actually better than normal as far as he was concerned.
"I wonder what the cause of that is?", she asked innocently, but before he could answer she lead him to her car and started driving.
"Where to Mr. Griffin?", Lana smirked.
"That's a good question. Where were you headed before you ran into me?"
"Well I was planning on teasing my mother about her little 'date' last night."
"Wait. You're O.K. about that?", he said slowly. He was completely confused. Although it was always fun to confuse Alex, Lana decided to set him straight.
"You think I'm nuts right?"
"Think Lana? I've known you were nuts for sometime now.", he said lightly.
"You're funny, really funny. I think I'll keep you.", she said sarcastically.
"Anyway, as I was saying. My mother thinks I have no idea what's going on, but my father, he suspected it from the beginning.", she babbled.
"Lana is there a point to this rant or are you really going crazy?", he joked. She rolled her eyes and continued.
"Mommy dearest went on a date with a mystery man last night and well I was a little too busy to find out what happened when she got back, and I have a strong suspicion of who the 'mystery date' is.", Lana stumbled over some things as she tried to make sense of things for Alex.
"Oh Lana, don't tell me you think it's..."
"My father.", she cut him off.
"Lan, don't."
"I'll do what I like thank you.", Lana snapped slightly.
"Fine, but you do know we're in for some teasing too right?", he sighed changing the subject.
"It's inevitable, may as well get it over with. Hey maybe it'll be fun."
"Yeah fun."
A little while later they pulled up to the diner and went inside, knowing that Rory and everyone else would turn up there sooner or later.
"Gramps!", Lana greeted cheerfully as she and Alex walked over to him.
"Hello Lana, Hi Alex. Take these over to table three for me ok Lan?", Luke asked, handing her two plates. Lorelai had kept insisting that the tables be numbered so much that he reluctantly agreed.
"Alexander?", she smiled fakely and handed them over to him.
"Oh that's how it works huh?"
"Exactly, and I'm thinking you better get used to it.", she joked.
"As you wish, Lorelai.", he rolled his eyes and headed off to deliver the orders.
"Aren't you two the happy couple?", commented Luke, only half joking. It was strange, sometimes they reminded him so much of Lorelai and himself.
"What else would we be?", she countered with an innocent smile, which confused Luke. Lana laughed at the face he made. Thankfully Lorelai entered before he could asked any questions. It was fun to leave people confused, especially with something like this.
"Lana.", Lorelai smirked in greeting. Alex's entrance was timed perfectly.
"Hello Grandma, isn't this lovely weather we're having?", she said, returning her smirk.
"Oh very. Hi Alex, nice to see you again.", she said very formally.
"Is there something here I'm not clued in on?", Alex frowned, knowing that there had to be some sort of secret language or understanding.
"You are very much clued in, Alex. Now sit, so my grandmother can think up more ways to tease us.", Lana replied pulling him down onto the seat next to her. A look of understanding washed over his face as he complied.
"Go on Grandma, continued with the torture session."
"So many jokes.", Lorelai commented under her breath.
"So Alex, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?", Lorelai asked instead.
"My parents have some function to go to so I guess I'm fending for myself, and Travis too, can't forget him.", he said sarcastically, his voice lacking all enthusiasm.
"We can't have that now can we? My mother has invited us all to Thanksgiving dinner.", Lorelai announced with a grin.
"Problem solved than.", Alex smiled over at Lana to see she wasn't smiling too.
"Problem not solved. We can leave Travis alone on a holiday, like you said Grandma we can't have that. Plus he seems to get on well enough with Grams", Lana reasoned. Alex thought that sometimes she was too nice for her own good.
Lorelai was at a loss for words, either be a hypocrite or let the kid come to dinner for a few hours and make her granddaughter happy.
"Fine.", Lorelai huffed. Alex rolled his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. This would be one holiday none of them would forget.
"You should probably tell your father that you'll be spending Thanksgiving with us instead this year.", Lorelai continued spitting out the word father with slight contempt. Tristan suddenly coming back was something to get used to.
"He's not coming?" * Uh oh. * Alex thought. * Yeah I should out of this one. *
"I'm sure Tristan has something much more... exciting planned.", Lorelai smiled innocently.
"He hasn't mentioned anything to me.", Lana countered with an even more sickeningly sweet smile. Lorelai was backed into a corner, and running out of excuses.
"Lana, it's still hard for your mother.", she tried to play the hardship card. It didn't work.
"We both know that's not completely true."
"All right then. You can call him later, but realize I am not responsible for anything that happens to Travis or Tristan or my parents for that matter.", she resigned through clenched teeth. * Honestly! He is not that bad. *, Lana thought stubbornly.
"O...kay time for a subject change.", Alex stepped in quickly before their tempers flared any higher.
"That would be nice."
"So Alex would you or my granddaughter like to explain things here.", Lorelai asked, the familiar grin gracing her face yet again.
* Oh that's great. The one thing that settles her is embarrassing me! Perfect. *, Lana thought shaking her head. Another thought crossed her mind, one that would surprise everyone there, in a good way of course.
"I think I should get the privilege this time.", Lana smirked evilly. She turned to Alex and kissed him just as he had on the bridge. Pay back was a wonderful. As she broke away she looked around to see everyone's reaction. She instantly heard whispers flying around, mainly coming for the elderly dance teacher. The one thing she hadn't noticed was her mother standing there smirking at the sight of them.
"Finally." was all she said as she sat down.
"That's all your going to say?", Lana questioned, her mother usually would have an amusing comment or retort, something.
"Well if you value Alex's live, don't do that near your father.", Rory added looking very amused. She had a feeling this was her Lorelai's secret, but until now she had no proof. Tristan would go nuts if he had just seen that.
"Well I think I'll keep that in mind.", she laughed and looked over at Alex, who shook his head. He was trying to fathom all the ways Mr. DuGrey could go about dismembering him.
"Hi mom.", Rory greeted tentatively.
"Hi. How was work?", she answered in a slightly strained tone.
"Nothing special, same as every other day, you?", Rory replied equally as strained.
"I managed to annoy the entire staff, so all in all good day.", she said happily. It was easier to get away with bothering people ever since she owned the place. Lorelai debated wither or not to tell her about the extra Thanksgiving visitors.
* Nah, I gotta keep something a surprise *, she concluded.
"So mom," Lana chimed in, "how was your night?" Lorelai tensed a bit, as did Rory.
"You know what I should be going,, I forgot to talk to Sookie about tomorrow's menu's. We have that big wedding there and all. Bye Lana, Alex. Good luck Ror.", Lorelai excused herself quickly and walked out the door.
"Huh.", Alex commented watching everything with attentively, although it was in his best interest to stay out of the Lorelais' business.
"That was unexpected.", Lana observed, also noting that her mother was being very quiet. No matter, she would get an answer out of her yet, and if she didn't talk then she would get her answer on Thanksgiving.
"Back to what I was saying. How was your date last night."
"Very nice, thank you for asking.", the elder said politely.
"That nice huh? Tell me something about your prince charming."
"Why don't you tell me about yours?", Rory countered.
"You know what, I'm going to go over there.", Alex stated uncomfortably retreating to a seat at the counter, far away from the mother and daughter tag team.
"Aww. I scared him away."
"You're impossible.", Lana rolled her eyes.
"I try."
"Did you tell dad I said hi?", Lana asked, deciding she was getting no where with games.
"What?"
"Last night, I'm not an idiot you know."
"La..."
"I think I better rescue Alex and leave, Miss Patty is about to eat him alive. Ta ta.", Lana interrupted smugly.
"Ta ta?", Rory shook her head. This was not good.
:-D
On with the story...
Chapter 19
**********
Words couldn't express how relieved she was to finally have her task over and done with. She managed to convey what was wracking her brain for longer than she ever really knew, in ten words or less. Technically it wasn't over and done with. In reality it had all just begun. She hated being one large cliché, but it wasn't something she had any say in.
Lana was lost in her thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Alex.
"Hi Alex. What is it?", she smiled up from her seat.
"Uh, Lan, class ended five minutes ago." , he laughed as she looked around wide eyed to find they were the only ones in the room. 'Was I really that caught up in my thoughts?'
"Why are you still here than?", Lana asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I've been waiting for you to snap back into reality.", Alex joked. Truthfully he too had been caught up in something. It was really quite amusing to watch all the changes over emotions register across her face when she was deep in thought.
"Well I'm back. So let's get going.", she said cheerfully pulling him out of the room. Lana was a little self conscious knowing he had more than likely been watching her for the past five minutes.
"Where are you taking me?", he questioned. She stopped and turned to face him.
"I have no idea.", Lana admitted.
"Then would you mind giving me a ride? I let Travis borrow the car.", Alex smiled.
"Someone is in a good mood today.", responded a very surprised Lana. To be so nice to his hated relative he had to have been in a amazingly good mood, and she had a pretty good idea of what put him in one.
"A very good mood.", he affirmed. Things had been completely back to normal between them after lunch, actually better than normal as far as he was concerned.
"I wonder what the cause of that is?", she asked innocently, but before he could answer she lead him to her car and started driving.
"Where to Mr. Griffin?", Lana smirked.
"That's a good question. Where were you headed before you ran into me?"
"Well I was planning on teasing my mother about her little 'date' last night."
"Wait. You're O.K. about that?", he said slowly. He was completely confused. Although it was always fun to confuse Alex, Lana decided to set him straight.
"You think I'm nuts right?"
"Think Lana? I've known you were nuts for sometime now.", he said lightly.
"You're funny, really funny. I think I'll keep you.", she said sarcastically.
"Anyway, as I was saying. My mother thinks I have no idea what's going on, but my father, he suspected it from the beginning.", she babbled.
"Lana is there a point to this rant or are you really going crazy?", he joked. She rolled her eyes and continued.
"Mommy dearest went on a date with a mystery man last night and well I was a little too busy to find out what happened when she got back, and I have a strong suspicion of who the 'mystery date' is.", Lana stumbled over some things as she tried to make sense of things for Alex.
"Oh Lana, don't tell me you think it's..."
"My father.", she cut him off.
"Lan, don't."
"I'll do what I like thank you.", Lana snapped slightly.
"Fine, but you do know we're in for some teasing too right?", he sighed changing the subject.
"It's inevitable, may as well get it over with. Hey maybe it'll be fun."
"Yeah fun."
A little while later they pulled up to the diner and went inside, knowing that Rory and everyone else would turn up there sooner or later.
"Gramps!", Lana greeted cheerfully as she and Alex walked over to him.
"Hello Lana, Hi Alex. Take these over to table three for me ok Lan?", Luke asked, handing her two plates. Lorelai had kept insisting that the tables be numbered so much that he reluctantly agreed.
"Alexander?", she smiled fakely and handed them over to him.
"Oh that's how it works huh?"
"Exactly, and I'm thinking you better get used to it.", she joked.
"As you wish, Lorelai.", he rolled his eyes and headed off to deliver the orders.
"Aren't you two the happy couple?", commented Luke, only half joking. It was strange, sometimes they reminded him so much of Lorelai and himself.
"What else would we be?", she countered with an innocent smile, which confused Luke. Lana laughed at the face he made. Thankfully Lorelai entered before he could asked any questions. It was fun to leave people confused, especially with something like this.
"Lana.", Lorelai smirked in greeting. Alex's entrance was timed perfectly.
"Hello Grandma, isn't this lovely weather we're having?", she said, returning her smirk.
"Oh very. Hi Alex, nice to see you again.", she said very formally.
"Is there something here I'm not clued in on?", Alex frowned, knowing that there had to be some sort of secret language or understanding.
"You are very much clued in, Alex. Now sit, so my grandmother can think up more ways to tease us.", Lana replied pulling him down onto the seat next to her. A look of understanding washed over his face as he complied.
"Go on Grandma, continued with the torture session."
"So many jokes.", Lorelai commented under her breath.
"So Alex, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?", Lorelai asked instead.
"My parents have some function to go to so I guess I'm fending for myself, and Travis too, can't forget him.", he said sarcastically, his voice lacking all enthusiasm.
"We can't have that now can we? My mother has invited us all to Thanksgiving dinner.", Lorelai announced with a grin.
"Problem solved than.", Alex smiled over at Lana to see she wasn't smiling too.
"Problem not solved. We can leave Travis alone on a holiday, like you said Grandma we can't have that. Plus he seems to get on well enough with Grams", Lana reasoned. Alex thought that sometimes she was too nice for her own good.
Lorelai was at a loss for words, either be a hypocrite or let the kid come to dinner for a few hours and make her granddaughter happy.
"Fine.", Lorelai huffed. Alex rolled his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. This would be one holiday none of them would forget.
"You should probably tell your father that you'll be spending Thanksgiving with us instead this year.", Lorelai continued spitting out the word father with slight contempt. Tristan suddenly coming back was something to get used to.
"He's not coming?" * Uh oh. * Alex thought. * Yeah I should out of this one. *
"I'm sure Tristan has something much more... exciting planned.", Lorelai smiled innocently.
"He hasn't mentioned anything to me.", Lana countered with an even more sickeningly sweet smile. Lorelai was backed into a corner, and running out of excuses.
"Lana, it's still hard for your mother.", she tried to play the hardship card. It didn't work.
"We both know that's not completely true."
"All right then. You can call him later, but realize I am not responsible for anything that happens to Travis or Tristan or my parents for that matter.", she resigned through clenched teeth. * Honestly! He is not that bad. *, Lana thought stubbornly.
"O...kay time for a subject change.", Alex stepped in quickly before their tempers flared any higher.
"That would be nice."
"So Alex would you or my granddaughter like to explain things here.", Lorelai asked, the familiar grin gracing her face yet again.
* Oh that's great. The one thing that settles her is embarrassing me! Perfect. *, Lana thought shaking her head. Another thought crossed her mind, one that would surprise everyone there, in a good way of course.
"I think I should get the privilege this time.", Lana smirked evilly. She turned to Alex and kissed him just as he had on the bridge. Pay back was a wonderful. As she broke away she looked around to see everyone's reaction. She instantly heard whispers flying around, mainly coming for the elderly dance teacher. The one thing she hadn't noticed was her mother standing there smirking at the sight of them.
"Finally." was all she said as she sat down.
"That's all your going to say?", Lana questioned, her mother usually would have an amusing comment or retort, something.
"Well if you value Alex's live, don't do that near your father.", Rory added looking very amused. She had a feeling this was her Lorelai's secret, but until now she had no proof. Tristan would go nuts if he had just seen that.
"Well I think I'll keep that in mind.", she laughed and looked over at Alex, who shook his head. He was trying to fathom all the ways Mr. DuGrey could go about dismembering him.
"Hi mom.", Rory greeted tentatively.
"Hi. How was work?", she answered in a slightly strained tone.
"Nothing special, same as every other day, you?", Rory replied equally as strained.
"I managed to annoy the entire staff, so all in all good day.", she said happily. It was easier to get away with bothering people ever since she owned the place. Lorelai debated wither or not to tell her about the extra Thanksgiving visitors.
* Nah, I gotta keep something a surprise *, she concluded.
"So mom," Lana chimed in, "how was your night?" Lorelai tensed a bit, as did Rory.
"You know what I should be going,, I forgot to talk to Sookie about tomorrow's menu's. We have that big wedding there and all. Bye Lana, Alex. Good luck Ror.", Lorelai excused herself quickly and walked out the door.
"Huh.", Alex commented watching everything with attentively, although it was in his best interest to stay out of the Lorelais' business.
"That was unexpected.", Lana observed, also noting that her mother was being very quiet. No matter, she would get an answer out of her yet, and if she didn't talk then she would get her answer on Thanksgiving.
"Back to what I was saying. How was your date last night."
"Very nice, thank you for asking.", the elder said politely.
"That nice huh? Tell me something about your prince charming."
"Why don't you tell me about yours?", Rory countered.
"You know what, I'm going to go over there.", Alex stated uncomfortably retreating to a seat at the counter, far away from the mother and daughter tag team.
"Aww. I scared him away."
"You're impossible.", Lana rolled her eyes.
"I try."
"Did you tell dad I said hi?", Lana asked, deciding she was getting no where with games.
"What?"
"Last night, I'm not an idiot you know."
"La..."
"I think I better rescue Alex and leave, Miss Patty is about to eat him alive. Ta ta.", Lana interrupted smugly.
"Ta ta?", Rory shook her head. This was not good.