Star Crossed Lovers and Other Revelations...
By Gilmoregirl1979
A part of The Woulda Shoulda Coulda Series: The GilmoreGirl1979 edition
(Also Available the LuvzAFunEthing edition)
Sum of it's PARTS: A collaboration of GilmoreGirl1979 & LuvsAFunEThing
In the spirit of The Fundamental Things Awry
This could also be considered a "FUN WITH REAL DIALOGUE series" … LOL
A series of stories of how things could have happened,… a lot EARLIER..
-We respect the purpose for MAX, CHRISTOPHER (BASTARD, sorry force of habit), Rachel, Nicole, Jason,.. Hell, even that Alex guy..
We just wanted to see what would happen … if one little thing was different…
Hi! this is your Friendly Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls. No Harm, No Sue. Dialogue has been borrowed from....episodes1-16 - Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers
teleplay by John Stephens and Linda Loiselle Guzik
story by Joan Binder Weiss
directed by Lesli Linka Glatter;
Some Dialogue and intentions have been altered by me, Gilmoregirl1979.
(Guess WHAT I WROTE MOST OF THIS ONE... WOO HOO!!)
The shout outs:
TO my partner in crime LuvzAFunEthing: are we still on for the sephora raid, Right? how about stealing Scott Patterson's under wears? (Just kidding...Please MR. Patterson, SIR there is no need to hire P.I.'s or, body guards or assassins...)
gcmel : I apologize for the lack of Luke, but I SOOOOO make it up in this Chapter... don't you trust me?(come on, you know my undying love for the "Lasagna King /Coffee Man"
bright-star4455 : you are in luck, the meatball is back - WINK!!!
jeepgirl259: here you Go GIRL!! ENJOY!!
ash: THANK ALOT!! (sincerely, not sarcastically, promise!!)
MariaG: the wait is OVER!! testing the waters? take the plunge (nestea plunge?... seriously I watch too much TV!!)
Avalon Fletcher: you said:OMG!! It's Logan and Rory, isn't it? Or Max... Someone shocking. But
probably L&R
my response is ... I'm sorry, WHAT?!?!( Is It Nice Out There In Left Field??)
The Question for this story: What if Rachel's flight was delayed in Star Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers …?
this is the one you all REALLY want, just admit. it... like Mrs. Kim... I see ALL...
A/N: this would have been up sooner if FF. NET would just stop freaking out on us.... so sorry... R/R if you please or are so inclined...!!
and now the hanging out... DIRTY!!
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Chapter 3:
Rachel's Revelation
Lorelai entered the Diner, smiling at the fact that Luke was hiding from the festivities in his sanctuary. "Hey. Where the hell's the fire department when you need them?" she joked about the bon fires in the Square.
Luke came out of the kitchen, he was surprised to see her this early. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be in Hartford? "
"Yeah. I got out early".
"Really, how?" Knowing how strict her mother could be.
"Climbed out the window."she admitted with pride and delight.
"Okay?" Do I wanna know the rest? And with that he began to wipe down the counter and tables.
She sat at the counter, "That's it. You're not curious why?"
He shrugged "maybe later." And he continued to clean.
"That's what I love about you. No Pressure."
"Hey, how long have ya been here?"
"Just arrived, Why?"
"Harry and Taylor got into a fist fight"
"No! Aww! How did I miss that? I'm so bummed!"
"It was good. I had a front row seat from the comfort of my frontwindow." Then thereit was, another one of those moment. They were laughing one minute, then quietly staring at each other the next.
Luke, needed to fill the silence. "So uh.. you want some coffee?"
"Do you have to ask? " she qupped recovering too, I never noticed his gorgeous blue eyes before. Then her kissing Luke daydreams came to the forefront of her mind again. And she tried to clear them away by clearing her throat, but instead she caught herself looking at his butt, while he had his back to her getting the pot and mug. OKAY, Seriously, DOWN GIRL!!!
He placed the mug in front of her; Luke poured. She drank, he cleaned, she watched him, still pondering that fateful question: What would it be like to kiss Luke? Noticing now, his abs through his tight tee shirt, and open flannel. Has he always put that order pad in the front of his jeans like that?
Feeling the need to make conversation. "So my mother, set me up… on a blind date."
Luke froze a moment, "Oh?" suddenly very uncomfortable discussing Lorelai's love life.
Lorelai noticed with interest, "Yeah, a real winner too," she said sarcastically."he's in the the actuarial business."
"Lucky girl," Luke offered quickly, and he began to put the chairs on top of the tables.
There it is,… huh, he's jealous. "Yeah, thank God I got out of there," she added casually. "or I would have computed him to death."
"Not your type?" being nonchalant, just keep the conversation moving and you will get through this, man.
"Anything that is my mother's type, is not my type."
"Your mother really set you up." As he finished off the last few tables.
"I know, and she didn't even tell me, I just show up out of obligation, and thenhe shows up, the whole situation had me very … annoyed. Let's not talk about it any more, it's ruining my coffee buzz. Soo ….Anything else of note from your front row window seat."
Luke smiled, "Well, I'm no Jimmy Stewart, but I did Spy your daughter leading that boyfriend of hers … away from the festival."
"Luke? Were you checking up on my Daughter?" touched by the fatherly void he was filling.
"Well, you were busy with your big date, ssomeone had to. And it was kinda hard not to notice, that kid is like 10 feet tall."
"Luke, he's really nice, I've met him, I'm okay with him. Please make an effort not to scare him, or give him the evil eye."
"Force of habit." He said as he came back behind the counter again. Double checking the coffee machines were off. "You wanna finish off this pot?"
"Please and thank you" and she smiled warmly at him. She could tell, Luke was still thinking worst case scenarios of what Evil Dean had in store for Rory.and she wasstill thinking about his butt. trying toshake these thougths away, she began to foucus on the mugs displayedabove teh back counter."I'm just so glad to be somewhere where I know my jokes will be understood and appreciated."
"Statistician man had no sense of Humor?"
"Please, that makes him sound like a superhero, and this my friend was not a hero, if you must refer to him, call him Connecticut Ken."
"I apologize, but I thought you didn't want to talk about it?" he cocked his head to the side playfully.
Ignoring him, Lorelai continued, with the need to still vent."He asked me it I was in the DAR, and I said 'No, D-A-R-N'."
Luke cracked a smile, shaking his head at how bad of a joke that was.
"See, funny right, witty, Stupid stick in the mud. He was just staring blankly at me like a monkey doing a math problem."
"Is that the secret of the actuarial business?" Luke dead panned.
"And now this festival,… as if I needed another reminder that I'm single, and Rory is in my face everyday, all happy with her first love…"
"I thought you liked Dean?"
Lorelai still ignored him. "… and my mother … setting me up with the Ken Doll…"
"Very cruel, indeed" Luke interjected, happythat she was opening up to him.
"And Still, this stupid festival, every year, bigger than valentines day. It's like the twilight zone."
"Par for the course for me." He managed to get out.
Another uncomfortable silence. Another moment where something could happen. Lorelai smiled at Luke again."Hey, you know what I just realized?"
"What?" glad the conversation was moving again.
"I've never seen your place. I know you live up there, but I've never been. So, What are you hiding ... a secret laboratory?"
"I'm not hiding anything."
"Then you won't mind if I go see it?"
"I mind" Luke said flatly.
"Luke, I've shown you mine, now you show me yours…" DIRTY!!!
"No,"
"Pretty please" giving Luke the pouty face.
"No"
"Pretty please and I'll give up coffee for a week?"
"Yeah, right" Luke chuckled.
"Damn, I knew you'd see through that."
They were bothquiet for a moment. Then Lorelai hopped off her stool, and made a break for the stairs, not an easy task in $60 boots. She stomped up the stairs with Luke close behind her when he realized where she was going. Lorelai made it to the door with an etched glass window. Williams Hardware Office - Private. She tried the knob, but it was locked. She turned around just in time for Luke to crash into her.
Lorelai was pressed against the door, both so close to each other, both panting slightly. "Someone isn't too … trusting … " Lorelai tried to cover with humor, but she couldn't help but enjoy the few inches that separated them. If I just lean forward … I'll get my question answered.
"Wonder why?" Luke whispered. Lorelai had some nerve thinking she could just waltz into his place. However, anger wasn't what Luke was feeling at that moment, he was anxious, almost anticipating. Why does she want to see my place anyway? He was almost afraid that if she saw his apartment, she would know. She would discover what he hid so well the past four years. It's not like he had a shrine to her or anything, but a man's home is his sanctuary, what if she would find some clue and piece it all together.
"Keys please" Lorelai held out her hand with a grin.
Luke handed them over, "At least you said please." Why do I always cave with her? He knew exactly why.
Lorelai fumbled with the keys, not sure which was the right one. So, Luke took the opportunity and reach around her, tohelped her find the match for the lock. He was pressed up against her back, and her earlier day dream seemed to becoming more and more of an actual possibility. Why am I thinking like this? It's Luke. Why do I want to see his smelly old apartment any way?
But the etched glass on the door caught her eye again, Williams Hardware Office- Private. This place was important to Luke. not only was it where he lived, but it was where his dad worked. This place held Luke's secrets. For as long as she knew him Luke was still a mystery. Luke was never a people person, he was more of the Grizzly Adams hermit type. Lorelai didn't even know he ever had a girlfriend till the Rummage sale, and she accidentally bought Rachel's old sweatshirt.
"You coming in or you just wanna stare at the door."
"Oh, sorry"
Lorelai stepped in to the apartment, honored that he was letting her in, glad he'd given up fighting the issue, smart man. She looked around, it was one large oddly shaped room and not the typical bachelor pad. Fairly clean, simple. She saw clearly defined kitchen, living room, and then she noticed a hidden corner. "oooooo is there where the lab is?" she excitedly turned the corner to see … his bed.
"Oh?" suddenly her imagination took over. Luke kissing me… on his bed.. his Twin BED? "Luke?"
His face was slightly red. The girl of his dreams was wandering around aimless in his apartment, and of course, she immediately found the bed. In the span of 10 minutes, from in the diner, to the stairs, to now, they had several of those awkward moments. Usually they were spread out, over a few days or weeks, giving one ample time to recover. If this was their new schedule, the frequency was going to kill him, for sure. "Yeah?"
"a SINGLE bed?" she teased.
"What?"
"Nothing nothing… you know what they say about guys with a single bed."
"No what?"
Forgetting about the jab she had set up for, she suddenly began thinking of the logistics of a single bed in a relationship."Hey how did you and Rachel fit in here" WHOA, Down Gilmore, that is twice in one night you are bringing up sleeping arrangements that you shouldn't.
"What!?!"
"Forget it! Please forget I said that."
"Geez, you practically break into my apartment, then are interrogating me about how me and my Ex-girlfriend slept in the same bed 5 years ago?"
Note Lorelai: he said Ex … Shut up! "Luke I'm sorry, I must have 'foot in mouth disease' … please don't be mad."
Luke went to the window, still uncomfortable.
"Luke?"
"Look you're not the only one going through a dry spell", He admitted.
Now it was his turn to open up. And Lorelai stepped next to him. putting her hand on his arm. Both eyed the festival, the love birds, the bon-fires below in the Square and the music filling the silence. This time a comfortable one.
Luke looked at her, then at her hand on his arm. This is what he wanted, he wanted her.
"You miss Rachel, don't you?"
He met her eyes again, Boy, are you ever wrong. "No, … she never had the greatest … attention span."
"So she had A.D.D.?"
He gave her a side ways glance.
"Sorry. Joke." She noticed him still looking down at the bonfires. "You must have … a lot of memories with her … at these things "
"Yeah well, …" he shrugged.
"I'm sorry, Luke, … I shouldn't have …"
"No, it's alright.. " he put a hand over hers. And tinge of electricity surged up Lorelai's arm at his touch. Luke continued … "I don't know", he sighed, "I mean, some guys are naturally loners ... "
She tried not to laugh, and managed to hold it to just a grin.
He felt stupid for saying it, " I just ... don't want to be one, …"
"Oh Luke." She couldn't help herself, she hugged him. He was opening up to her, she felt the need to acknowledge that. That and the fact she wanted to be as close as possible to relieve that tingle spreading through her body.
It took him a moment to realize he shoud take her in his arms, it just seemed like the natural thing to do. Afterall,she had stepped into the embrace. He looked down at her head now resting hom his chest. And he continued, "… It's just, you want someone to be there, someone to check up on, someone to care about…"
"Yeah, that's always nice." Lorelai said listening ot his heart beat. She found the courage to look him in the eye. Lorelai saw a differnt fire, a passion in those beautiful blues of his. "Someone to care how much Coffee you drink, or how many burgers you eat in a week?" she offered.
"Something like that", he whispered.
Without even realizing their faces were inching closer, ... till it happened. Lorelai got the answer to her question.
My God, Luke can kiss.
And she wanted more. She parted her mouth to deepen the kiss. There was comfort in the affection, comfort in his arms. She couldn't believe how easy this was. Yet, something was different, this was something more than just soothing a lonely heart, she knew that. Could it be that this was a long time coming? Was there more than just a friend underneath that flannel? she wanted to find out.
But, Luke hastily broke the kiss and apologized profusely, "I'm sorry,I shouldn't have done that." he panted.What is wrong with me, I just kissed her. I kissed Lorelai.
"Luke, it was both of us." stepping toward him, only wanting to continue.
"No, it was wrong. It shouldn't happen like this." Damn festival of love...
"Luke," she put a hand on his cheek to sooth his worries. "kiss me."
"Lorelai...."
"Luke, I want this. Kiss me."
He hesitantly put his hands on her hips "Lorelai, ... if this happens, I'll want it to happen again." hoping she would understand his full meaning.
She did. "I'll want it to happen again, too." and she pulled him into another kiss.
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Rachel couldn't believe how frustrating it had become to fly. Of all the nights to have everything that could possibly go wrong when you travel. That is what you get for being impulsive, she scolded herself. Her adventure to Stars Hollow was last minute, an afterthought really, fueled by the sudden need to see Luke again. With her assignments around the world, she occasionally thought of the man she left behind. She wanted to see how he was, to check in, she had to admit she had missed him. Maybe this Time, ...I won't be such a drifter, I've grown, I've changed. This time I'll be ready.
Rachel came to the diner door with her bags. At this time of night, it would obviously be closed, but Luke would be upstairs in his apartment, he was a creature of habit, after all. Rachel found the spare key in its same old hiding place and let herself in.
She set her bags down and returned the key. Rachel took in the setting of the diner. Somethings never change. Yet, standing in the familiar room, she did seem to smell fresh paint. About time, she shrugged. Eager to see Luke, she made her way through the curtain and up the stairs to his apartment.
She knew he might be asleep already, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I wake him up for a surprise like this. But then again, Luke was never really one for surprises. Again Rachel found a locked door, and again found the hidden spare key, and let herself in.
It was dark in the apartment. As she quietly maneuvered in the black, Rachel tip toed toward the hidden cove where the twin bed was. She was just trying to picture Luke's face when she woke him up, when she froze on the spot as his gruff voice suddenly cut the silence. "This has to be the best firelight festival ever."
Rachel was confused, Is he talking to me? Does he know I'm here? What an odd thing to say? He hates these festivals.
Rachel got her answer when a woman's voice began to giggle. As Rachel's wide eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, around the odd corner, she could see that Luke was not alone in his bed.
The woman smiled in his embrace "Look whose suddenly liking town festivals?" she teased "So is that what I have to do? I have to sleep with you to get you to go to town functions?"
"Couldn't hurt." Luke suggested, and he kissed the shoulder of the woman in his arms.
Luke, making a Joke? Luke … with someone else? Rachel was paralyzed, could they see her, hear her? She didn't know what to do. Why was she so surprised that he had moved on? … it had been ... like 5 years. Did she really expect him to wait for her forever?
The woman continued the pillow talk, "you know, when I woke up this morning, I could not image the twists and turns this day would take."
"Good? Bad?"Luke smiled. He's smiling...
"Both. Now more good than bad… "the woman chuckled.
"Recovered from the paper mache incident I see. Is that what I have to do? Sleep with you when inanimate objects try to kill you…"
And the woman, giggled again, and began to peck kisses on Luke's neck and chest. "How about after every dinner with my folks?"
Luke shook his head, "I still can't believe that your mother set you up on a blind date… it's just sooo … weird … I mean.. you're a grown woman… "
What?Rachel thought.
"Well, that is my family … I mean dating is hard enough, but when you have to attempt it in front of your parent's critical eye, when the guy is a total dud … and when I was thinking about … someone else … all day."
"Really? All day, huh?"
"Yup."
"Well, for what it's worth, … I'm glad you climbed out that window …"
Rachel was trying to absorb and make sense of this conversation … and having absolutely no luck.They certainly seem … comfortable with each other, How long has this been going on?
"Me too" and the woman pecked Luke again.
"Why wasn't Rory at dinner?" Luke asked.
Who? Rachel wondered.
"It's her three-month anniversary … with Dean, … Remember?" The woman reminded him.
"Right, Right … Dean", Luke almost choked on the name, he then remembered seeing them in the square. Frankly he forgot, he just made love to Lorelai Gilmore, so help him if he forgot who he saw where.
As if knowing the Dean bashing thoughts he was having. "Hey, give him a chance, he is really a good kid. "
"I know, I know … I'm just…."
"Protective?" the woman supplied.
"Yeah," he conceded a little embarrassed.
"And it's appreciated, but that's my job …" which the woman punctuated with yet another kiss "besides, he did remember the anniversary, and he planned out this whole romantic evening just for HER."
Luke? Protective? Rory? What?
"Three months, … that's a long time" Luke marveled, unable to remember when he last dated someone for three months together, or even when his last date was. Does this count as a date?
"Yeah, … that is just what my mother said just after setting me up with the ken doll, … and before criticizing me on my failure at long term relationships…. " and Lorelai considered for a moment ... "Luke"
"Yeah?"
Lorelai adjusted to look him straight in the eye. "You are the longest relationship I've ever had."
"Lorelai? … we just…"
"I know, I know, but ... think about it … how long have we known each other? I mean, you have always been there when I needed you. Whenever I'm stressing, who gives me my cup of sanity? When Rory's chick got loose who helped me find her? Who shovels my walk? When my father had his heart attack who drove me to the hospital? You're my coffee man, my handy man … one of my best friends." Lorelai searched his face, "Luke? are you happy?"
"At this moment? Very." and after a brief pause " are you happy?"
"Yes, very."
"Good." And Luke held this woman close again. Kissed her again. WOW, they have … history.This must have been going on for awhile … What was I thinking coming back after all this time. Still frozen, allRachel could do was watch as Luke began to neck this woman, his … new … girlfriend?
"Luke" the woman sighed, but her tone changed suddenly, "Oh My God!"
"What's wrong?"Luke asked.
"It's after midnight!! I've got to get home!"
"Lorelai, Stay" he pleaded, and returned his attention to her neck as a way to influence his wish.
"Oh, you are so good at that, … but Luke, I have to go, Rory will be home, worried sick, Moms have a curfew, too."
MOM? Luke is dating a MOM?
The MOM continued, "besides we have the whole post date ritual to do, first we have to remove all her make up, change into our pjs, eat junk food, cause she couldn't pig out in front of her guy, and dish all night about the highs and lows of her date. "
"What about your date?" briefly breaking his attention from her collar bone.
She giggled as his voice reverberated against her skin. "Which one?"
"Take your pick. Tell her how you climbed out the window to escape 'Connecticut Ken'."
"and how I ended up at the diner? She'll Love that!" and she kissed Luke again, once you start you just can't stop!!
The kissing intensified, but Lorelai interjected between pecks, "Luke?"
"hmmmm?"
"You need to get a bigger bed."
"Alright," he mumbled against her mouth.
Since he was being so agreeable, using her new found kissing persuasion, she thought she get a few more demands out of him. "Luke?"
"Hhmmmm?"
"You need to shave."
"Sorry, does that bother you?" referring to his sandpaper chin.
"Just a bit, and what is with the soul patch?" Lorelai fingered the spot in his chin.
"Just lazy I guess, … so you starting to 'GQ' me up? What happened to accepting me the way I am?"
"If I wanted GQ, I would have stayed with Connecticut Ken."
"Well, Lucky me."
"Yeah, Lucky" she smiled again, and they kissed again. They just couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other. Was it the festival? The Love in the Air? Was it the earlier realizations of attraction and pining? Where would this lead? Lorelai really wanted to find out. As Luke began to nibble on her earlobes, to entice her to stay, of course, Lorelai reluctantly protested. "Luke, I have motherly duties, I have a meatball waiting for me…"
Luke stopped genuinely confused… "Meatball?"
Lorelai smiled, "it's a mother/daughter thing " remembering her gag from earlier,
"I'll have to take your word for it" he released her from the embrace. Lorelai shifted in bed with a sheet around her… "Are you gonna watch me get dressed?"
"With much disappointment."Luke grinned.
Rachel slowly backed out of the still dark apartment, not wanting or needing to see anymore. This couple was absolutely smitten. Luke Smitten? Have I entered some weird bizarro universe? Who was this woman?? Luke … with a mom? How old is her kid … to be having a date…?
Stunned Rachel didn't know where else to go, she only had a few minutes before "the mom" would come down the stairs. Thinking on her feet, she grabbed her bags and hid them in the kitchen. and decided to wait there, out of sight, till the MOM left.
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When "the mom" emerged from the curtain. She was practically bounding through the diner, a huge grin of satisfaction on her face. I remember when I used to wear that grin, Rachel fumed. When the bells jingled, and door snapped home, Rachel watched as the mom relocked the door, and practically skipped away. Alone now, Rachelpaced in the kitchen a moment.
Sheknew she should just leave. However, she was a journalist, she wanted answers. But he's made his choice, he was with The MOM. But are they serious? What if he was only with her because I wasn't around? but he seemed so protective and to care for this… Rory? What kind of name is that, anyway? Why am I hurt? I am the one that left him?
She stood still for a long time, needing to make a choice.
I'll just go ... And she grabbed her bags, no one knew she was here, at least she had saved herself from some embarrassment. She had tons of work she could do, loose herself in a jungle maybe. Burundi, here I come.
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a/n: I couldn't use beer as a catalyst again!! that would be boring.... so the lonely heart syndrome, yeah that'll work!!
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Hhhhhmmmm If Luke reviewed this piece what would he say?
LUKE's review: "That was all God-given talent."
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity, ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one(or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) at least specific thing you like please!!! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund...