A/N: Ack! I'm sorry this part was so long in coming. I had the most horrible writer's block and real life stuff. As a result-and my guilt- you guys are getting an extra long chapter! Please feel free to point out my mistakes or anything you think is out of character and I'll do my best to fix it.
To gilmoregirl1979: Ah, what a review. I think most of your questions are answered here, but if not, let me know!
To fangfaceandrea: Glad I've hooked you! Keep coming back! Thanks for the review.
To xenanut: I agree with you about Jason to a point...I think he is capable, but only because he's lost everything. He's unemployed, he's lost his business and all his clients, and he's lost what he considers is the love of his life. That can make you a little nuts.
To Kris Wright: Thanks. You'll be seeing that soon.
To whoopiepiez: Thanks, here ya go.
To Chawkchic: Hmm, not sure you're gonna like where I'm taking this, but let me know what you think anyway!
To tp96: Yes, the other stories drive me nuts when Lindsey doesn't find out. I like the angst, so of course she knows.
To ilovemrbloom: Yes, I was feeling the lack of Rory and Dean myself.
To lorelaivictoriadanes: Thanks. Keep reviewing!
To ggirl72: Thanks. Keep reviewing!
Lorelai yawned. It was pretty early. She had a lot to do today, if she was going to get off in time to head to the airport to pick up Rory and her mother. She did a happy dance, thrilled that Rory was returning. She only hoped that her daughter had used the time away to work through her problems, instead of just pushing them aside. She wondered idly how her mother was doing, as well. They'd only had a few-strained-conversations, and Lorelai was hesitant to come face to face with her mother.
For one thing, she hadn't told her mother about the change in her relationship with Luke. Lorelai wasn't sure she could stand to hear what her mother would have to say about the whole situation, and like the chicken she was, hadn't breathed a word. Rory had been sworn to secrecy as well. Luke hadn't taken the whole secret relationship thing very well, pointing out that it was the same situation which had partially caused her split with Jason.
She sighed, stumbling down the stairs in search of coffee. As she walked through the kitchen, she noticed her answering machine was blinking, and pushed the button. The machine made it's usual mechanical noises as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured a cup of coffee that Luke had thoughtfully made for her before he'd left to open the diner. It was the second night in a row that he'd stayed here, and Lorelai got a dreamy look on her face until the answering machine began playing her messages.
"Lorelai?? Hello? You know I hate this thing. Oh well, I just wanted to call and tell you that Rory and I should be landing around 7p, and we'll be looking for you at the airport. Don't be late." Emily Gilmore's voice was broadcast into the kitchen. "And for heaven's sake, don't even think of inviting your father."
The machine clicked as it moved ahead to it's next message, announcing it's progress in it's mechanical voice.
"Lorelai, It's Jason. Please, call me. I want to work things out between us. We're good together. I know that you're scared, and maybe I wanted too much, too soon, but please, just call me. Lorelai, I'm nothing without you." Jason's distraught, and maybe psychotic tone was not lost on her. He really was starting to freak her out.
"I knew I should have told Luke about this the other day." Lorelai muttered as she went upstairs to dress, coffee mug still glued to her hand. She'd fully intended to spill the whole sordid story to him two days ago the diner, but then Luke had stepped out of the back with a bouquet of flowers, suggested dinner and movie-which had turned into a sleepover- and all thoughts of her ex-boyfriend had flown out of her head.
She finished getting ready, drank the last sip of her coffee, grabbed her purse and her keys, and headed out the door. Destination: Luke's.
Rory tapped her feet impatiently against the floor of the airplane. It was good thing that her grandmother had taken the first opportunity to 'powder her nose', as Emily Gilmore would put it, otherwise the tapping would have driven her nuts. Rory couldn't help it. She was going home.
This was the longest she'd ever been away from home without her mother. Rory didn't know if the time and space had helped all that much. She wasn't angry at her mother anymore, just herself. The trip had managed to provide that fact with a startling clarity. What she and Dean had done was wrong. She wished that she could go back and re do the whole night...talk it over with her mother first, as had always been the plan, and maybe the whole entire thing would never had happened.
If Rory was truly honest with herself, there was a small part of her that was glad it had happened. Dean had been her first crush, her first kiss, her first love-and now, her first lover. It was fitting, in her opinion. If only he hadn't been married. Why was he married? He clearly still loved her. You don't just throw away a year of marriage to someone you love by having a fling with your ex.
Rory shook her head. She knew that she would have to talk to Dean as soon as possible. It was pretty clear that he wanted her, but he had admitted that he still hadn't told Lindsey anything about that night, or even attempted to break it off. She didn't know what she would do if Dean came to her, said he loved her, but refused to leave his wife. God help her, she loved him too.
Lorelai parked her jeep abruptly and took off at a dead run, nearly forgetting to lock the car behind her. She glanced at her watch as she stood in line to go through security, impatiently tapping her foot. She was late. Her mother was going to kill her. It hadn't been her fault. She'd gone to Luke's to make sure everything was in place for the dinner they were planning, and to make sure that Luke was harboring no hard feeling about hiding their relationship from her mother.
He did, but she'd be able to soothe him over with a few well-intentioned kisses. Then she'd gotten a frantic call from Michel about the room she'd set aside for her mother at the Dragonfly. They'd managed to get it straightened out, but it had set Lorelai back by a half hour. Her mother's voice was ranting in her mind as Lorelai checked her watch every five minutes, and then finally, finally got through the security gate-only to come face to face with a wall monitor announcing that the flight her mother and Rory were on had been delayed.
She sighed with relief as she thanked whatever power was looking out for her, imagining what her mother must be saying to the flight attendant about the delay. Lorelai arrived at their prearranged meeting point, near the baggage claim. She didn't have to wait long, as Rory's familiar shout met her ears. Lorelai waved at her excited daughter, who was standing next to an equally impatient Emily. She stared at Rory, thinking back to when she'd put her daughter on the plane.
"I'm proud of you, kiddo." Lorelai said.
"Proud?" Rory questioned. Her actions the last few days had not been something to be proud of.
"You made the right choice. This trip will be just what you need." Lorelai told her.
"You mean that it'll get me away from Dean." Rory replied, her tone a cross between relief and resentment.
"That too." Her mother admitted sympathetically. "This trip will be just what you need."
"I don't know what I need anymore." Rory answered, her tone lost and melancholy.
"Maybe the time away will help you figure that out." Lorelai consoled her.
"They're boarding." Rory repeated the announcement, her voice flat.
"I love you, babe. Have fun." Lorelai said, hugging Rory. Rory hugged her back stiffly, before turning and walking over to Emily.
Lorelai looked at her daughter now, taking in her smile, and was happy to conclude that she was not the same girl who'd gotten on the plane two months ago.
Finally, Emily and Rory cleared the gate. Rory and Lorelai took off at a run for each other, meeting in a silly, giggly hug. No matter what the problems between them were, no matter how mad they were at each other, they we're best friends, and she'd missed her daughter terribly. Emily followed Rory at a slower pace, and noticing the stares that Lorelai and Rory were attracting, deigned to comment.
"You two, really. Aren't you a little old to be making spectacles of yourselves?" Emily asked, sounding exasperated but looking amused.
"Nah." Lorelai answered, still hugging Rory. She held her daughter at arm's length and continued. "You're never too old to make a spectacle of yourself." She and Rory giggled while Emily shook her head. Some things would never change.
"You look well, Lorelai." Emily observed, noticing something different about her, but not knowing what it was.
"Thanks. You guys do too. Europe agreed with you." Lorelai replied. "Now come on. Luke and Sookie have prepared a feast, and we need the guests of honor." She continued, linking arms with Rory.
"Lead the way." Emily gestured.
Lorelai pulled up in front of the diner, and slid the jeep into park. She glanced at her mother in the rear view mirror, hoping that she wouldn't notice that something was going on between her and Luke, or that she wouldn't make a terrible scene.
"We're here." Lorelai announced.
"Yes, Lorelai, I had noticed." Her mother replied. Lorelai sighed as the trio exited the car, and made their way up the sidewalk.
"Oh, look. Luke closed earl." Rory observed, pointing to the sign hanging on the diner door that read 'Closed for private party'.
"He wanted everything to be perfect for you guys." Lorelai replied, holding the door open for Rory and her mother. The bell clanged, getting Lane's attention from behind the counter.
"Oh my God, Rory!" Lane squealed. The two girls re-enacted Lorelai and Rory's greeting from earlier, causing Sookie to walk out of the back. The girls ended their hug.
"Lane, you remember my mother." Lorelai said. Lane nodded
"Hello, Mrs. Gilmore." She greeted Emily.
"Hello, Lane. Nice to see you again." Emily returned. Sookie walked over and joined them, giving Rory a tight squeeze.
"Hey, how was Paris?" Sookie asked Rory. "Hello, Mrs. Gilmore." She went on. Emily nodded at her, and looked around the diner. It still was as run down as before, but someone had put up a few streamers and balloons, making it look festive.
"Aww, look." Rory said, following Emily's gaze. "Balloons, streamers." Her tone belying how touched she was.
"All Luke's idea." Lorelai answered, putting her arm around Rory. "He's a big old softie, but that doesn't go any farther than this room." Emily noticed how her daughter's face seemed to brighten up at the mention of Luke, and wondered how long her Lorelai would go on denying there was anything between them.
Luke chose that moment to enter the diner from the back, and he stood in the doorway unobserved, just staring at Lorelai. God, she was beautiful. He mentally kicked himself for about the three hundredth time for waiting this long to tell her how he felt. Lorelai finally noticed him staring at her, and graced him with a smile. He smiled back, almost bashful, and made his way over to them.
"Hello." He said, getting everyone's attention. "Mrs. Gilmore, Rory, how was Europe?"
"It was great." Rory answered. "Thanks for the decorations, Luke. I love them." She went on, surprising him-and Emily-by giving him a hug. Shocked and touched, it took him a minute to hug her back.
"Your welcome." He replied gruffly. Lorelai was near tears, and fighting them back desperately. Her mother would definitely know something was up if she started crying because her daughter was hugging the diner man. Rory stepped back with a smile.
"Hey, I'm starved. What's for dinner?" She asked, getting a laugh from everyone.
Dean walked down the street, his stomach a bundle of nerves. Rory was home. Lane had told him about the welcome home dinner, and he was headed over there now. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Since Lindsey had thrown him out, he'd moved back home, and they'd started divorce proceedings. He was ashamed that he and Rory had slept together while he'd still been married, but now that he was getting divorced, there was a chance for them. He wondered what Rory would say when he told her.
He approached the diner slowly, peering in through the window. There she was, laughing at something her mother had said before popping a piece of bread stick in her mouth. Dean was mesmerized by her smile. Gathering his courage, he walked up the steps and opened the diner door. The jingling bell ceased all conversation, and when Rory saw who it was, she dropped her bread stick on her plate with a thunk.
"Dean..." She began. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Can we talk?" He asked, embarrassed to be doing this in front of her family and friends. Lorelai and Luke were wearing matching glares, Lane was looking at him sympathetically, and Emily and Sookie were obviously confused.
"Um, yeah." She said, smoothing back her hair, and scooting her chair back. "Excuse me." She followed him out of the diner, aware that everyone was starting at them. Lorelai rose and said the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm going to kill him." She said, moving for the door. Luke quickly stopped her.
"I don't think so." Luke grabbed her by the waist. "Murder is a federal offense and Rory doesn't need you in jail."
"How could he?" Lorelai whispered, lookin at look. Her eyes were all teary again.
"Can you blame him?" Luke refuted.
"Yeah. I can." Lorelai answered, sitting back down heavily. Emily observed their interaction and spoke up.
"When were you going to tell me?" Emily demanded, tired of being left out of her own daughter's life.
"Tell you what, Mom?" Lorelai replied, sounding panicked.
"Do I have to beg you for details about your life?" Emily went on like she hadn't spoken. "Do you hate me that much?"
"Mom, I don't hate you." Lorelai placated her. Sookie, Luke, and Lane suddenly found their plates very interesting.
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Emily carried on.
"Tell you what?" Lorelai shouted.
"About you and him." Emily replied, gesturing to Lorelai and Luke. Luke looked up in surprise, and met Lorelai's gaze.
"What about us?" Lorelai asked, her mother, once she'd found her voice.
"Why do you insist on keeping things from me?" Emily questioned her daughter.
"Maybe because the last time we had this conversation, you thought I was stupid." Lorelai hurled at her mother, bringing up a conversation they'd had years ago. Lane and Sookie mumbled excuses and practically fled to the back room.
"Nice work, Mom. Let's frighten off all our friends." Lorelai's sarcastic tone was thick.
"Stop joking around, Lorelai." Emily was insistent. "That conversation was years ago."
"What conversation?" Luke interjected, curious.
"I'll tell you later." Lorelai said, touching him arm. "What would you like me to say, Mom? That we're dating, and I love him desperately?" She went on, looking at her mother. "Fine. We're dating, and I love him. Happy now?"
"Was that so hard?" Emily's voice was gentler, calmer, and she looked extremely pleased with herself. Luke was shocked. She loved him?
"That's it?" Lorelai gasped.
"What did you expect?" Emily replied. Lorelai banged her head down on the table in response.
"So...talk." Rory said, feeling awkward.
"You look good." He replied, meeting her gaze.
"Dean." She protested.
"I know. I just wanted to tell you that it's over with Lindsey. For real. We're getting a divorce." He told her.
"What?" Rory was shocked. He held up his left hand. It was bare.
"I want to be with you, and she knows that now. We never should have gotten married in the first place." Dean went on.
"Please tell me you didn't end your marriage because of me. That's not a good enough reason." Rory interrupted.
"Were you listening? I love you Rory. I don't love Lindsey, not like that. I'm not sure I ever did. It's not fair to her to stay married."
"If you're sure..." Rory began.
"I'm sure. I want a future with you...if you'll have me." Dean laid it all out on the line. She started to answered, but he held a finger to her lips to silence her. "I don't want an answer now. Acting rashly is what go us here. Take some time and think about it, ok?" He asked. She nodded. "I'm gonna go. I'll call you tomorrow." She nodded again. He backed away, and then disappeared into the night. Rory walked back inside the diner, her head in the clouds. She manged to find her seat, oblivious to the fact that her grandmother and mother were fighting loudly.
Emily sighed, and Luke looked uncomfortable.
"What am I going to do with you, Lorelai?" She asked, exasperated. The door jingled again, signaling another arrival, and a male voice answered Emily's question.
"You could tell her to take her shirt off. That always worked for me."