Disclaimer: I think it is a good time for our friendly neighborhood disclaimer...I do not own these characters, if I did, I would have a lot more money in my wallet and a lot less time on my hands. They belong to Amy Sherman-Pallidino and her peeps...I am sure she has a lot of money and not a lot of time.
Chapter 6- The Road to Recovery"All right...careful, careful." Luke said as Rory wheeled her mother up the ramp he built into their house. He was ahead of them to open the door.
"Run him over Rory, he thinks you would run me off this side of this thing." Lorelai said.It was about 6 days and one cup of coffee after the accident that Lorelai was back to par,at least with her conversational skills. Luke almost longed for the more silent first few days. He was just glad to be bringing her home. He had borrowed the van from the Inn to go get her and that of course caused some aggravation when he arrived. It must have been the first time Lorelai realized that her beloved Jeep was gone. She had spent the last week thinking about and trying to remember the accident, but somehow she never put that fact together.
"I don't think he thinks that mom. I think he cares about you and wants me to be careful with precious cargo."
"All right you two, now hear this...one more sappy you almost died comment, and you are getting rolled over got it. I understand...and I love you guys, and I love that you both love me...but come on, someone please insult me. Rory, tell me about your list of things that I did to screw you up as an adult, don't leave anything about. Luke, please say something about my aversion to vegetables and addiction to coffee."
Rory and Luke looked at eachother.
"She's back." They said."Ooo creepy. You two need to quit hanging out together." Lorelai said, smiling at the family that had come to be.
Luke opened the front door and Rory wheeled her in.
"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled."Now I know why there was no one as we drove through town." Lorelai said.
"Welcome home." Emily said stepping forward to her daughter and giving her a hug.
Of all the things that had changed since the accident, it was Emily that had changed the most. She visited Lorelai daily at the hospital, Luke always snuck out so they could talk. They didn't resolve the past, and they probably never would they both had hurt one and other too badly for that. But they both agreed to look to the future and to have more patients for the other.
"Thanks mom."She said.
"It's good to have you home sweetie." Miss Patty said."Hey Sugar...we've missed ya, you need anything you just give Maury and I a holler and we will be right there. We are never doing anything." Babette said.
"Thanks you guys." Lorelai greeted all of her friends they all stayed for a while, had cake, talked with Lorelai and Luke about the wedding plans.
"Well we were going to have it in January, but it looks like we are going to have to push it back a ways." Lorelai said."So we were thinking spring...it could be outside..." Luke finished.
"We'll finally get some real use out of that Huppa he built me." she said.
They looked at eachother and smiled. Everyone in the room had been waiting for this day for a long time. Not only the day that Lorelai came home, but the day they were together, her and Luke. Everyone knew for so long, it seemed like they were both the last ones to know. About an hour later everyone was gone except for Sookie.
"So if you need anything...you let me know." Sookie said."I will." Lorelai said.
"You better take good care of her." Sookie said."I will.You go home put your feet up...you shouldn't be doing so much, you know...in your condition." Luke said.
"Luke I am pregnant not dead. Anyway, I am off, who knows what Jackson is feeding Davey..."She said pulling the door closed behind her.
"Yeah mom I am off to bed to."
"All right, hey good night kid." Lorelai said as she kissed her daughter on the cheek.
"Good night, Mom, good night Luke.""Night Rory." Luke said giving her a hug.
And Rory started up stairs."Uh, hon, where are you going?" Lorelai said.
"To bed." she said.
"I know I haven't been home in a while and I had a head injury but the last I checked your room was beside the kitchen."
"You are sleeping in my room. There is no way for you to get up the stairs." Rory said.
"Luke and I moved your bed in there yesterday, my bed is in your room." She said."Oh yeah." Lorelai said."I guess you guys are right. All right then...carry on hun."
"Good night." Rory said with a yawn.
Luke wheeled Lorelai through the kitchen and into the bed room."This is all so weird."Lorelai said.
"It's just for a while." Luke said.
"I know, it's still weird. I mean, I can't walk...it is the weirdest feeling knowing that." Lorelai said.
"All right lets get you into bed." Luke said.
"Arms around my neck remember."
"Yes Luke, I remember, we have only practiced it for every doctor in a tri-state area."
Lorelai said miffed."They just wanted to make sure that I could take care of you before they let you leave."Luke said.
"I know, I am sorry. I have just, I have never...I have never been good at this."
"At what?"Luke asked confused,
"This..asking for help, getting help.""Sweetheart...it's me, we are getting married, it is my job to help you ok, you don't have to do anything alone again."
"I know that, I know I don't have to, but I also want to know that I can.""Come on." Luke said putting her arms around his neck."You need to get some rest, it's been a big day.""Don't! Don't do that.""What? What Lorelai? I am sorry did I hurt you?""No...not physically. Don't talk to me like that, don't talk to me like I am a child. I am out of the hospital now. I am ok, I need to treat me like a woman again, ok. Enough with this!" She yelled.She started to cry. "Oh. Lorelai, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...don't cry, sweetheart, I...""I was in an accident Luke." Lorelai said looking up at him.
"I know.""I almost lost you, and Rory...and."Lorelai cried even harder Luke hugged her tight.
He had been waiting for it to sink in, and was prepared for when it did."But, you didn't and you are still here with us, ok, and we love you and we are here for you. We will always be here for you."Lorelai sniffed. "I don't know what I did to earn you Luke, but I am sure glad I did.""Come on, bed." Luke said."Okay." She said giving in, she was tired. Luke lay her down on the bed and helped undress her, and get her night clothes on."I think this is the first time you have helped me put clothes on." Lorelai said.
"Don't worry as soon as you can do this again, I promise I will only help in clothes removal." Luke said giving her a wink.
"You better."She said. He pulled the covers up over her legs and got into bed himself.
"Good night." Luke said.
"Luke.""Yes."
"Kiss me."He leaned over and gave her a peck."No Luke, kiss me. I mean really kiss me, you haven't kissed me since before the accident. At least not like you used to.""Lorelai, I..."
"You won't hurt me Luke, I just want you to kiss me." She said.He leaned over her bracing himself above her with his arms, he leaned down and kissed her.She pulled him close to her and kissed him. She shifted her hips as much as she could under him and sat up to meet his kiss. He was careful not to put his weight on her, he ribs and pelvis still hurt her. She put his arms around his neck and he moved his lips to her neck. Just as he was about to unbutton her night shirt Rory appeared in the doorway of the room, he hadn't shut the door, he forgot that she was there.
"Oh..uh geez..." Rory said covering her eyes and walking back out the door.
"Rory." Lorelai yelled.
"Come back."
"Uh no, it's okay, I will talk to you in the morning."
"Rory, come here." Lorelai said.
Luke had moved back to his side of the bed.Rory cautiously walked back into the room."Sorry about that hon, Luke just saw helpless ol' me and had to take advantage.""Uh..hey..I..."Luke protested."Something tells me you weren't as innocent in...never mind, I am trying to get that thought out of my head.""Ok honey, talk to mama.""Uh, I..was...uh..."Rory stammered."I think I am distracting her, I am gonna go make sure I locked the van." Luke said.Pulling on a t-shirt and walking out of the room. To be honest he was no more comfortable than Rory in that moment."Ok, hun, he's gone sit. Are you ok? I mean with this? With Luke, being here? In my bed...in your room?""Oh yeah I just didn't think you could..."Rory made the please don't make me say it face.
"Oh no, no, no, no hon. We have very strict instructions about that...poor Luke and I have to live like good little campers for the next 2 or 3 months...until I am all healed.""You asked about that?" Rory said amazed at her mother."Well yeah hon, a girl wants a time table when she is in love. Anyway, you came down for something. What was it...lemme guess, you reconsidered and you agree that the fifth dentist is my mother, and that is why it is never all five that recommend Trident?""No, I was thinking...Luke can't just keep the van for you all the time. I mean they need it at the Inn right."
"Well right.""And, all he has is the truck which is too high for you to get into.""Also true.""I will leave my car here for Luke to take you around in. It is comfortable and low to the ground and safe..."Rory said."Oh no, thanks hun, no we will figure something out. We can use the van for now, and I am gonna be looking at new cars soon.""Are you sure? I am sure if I needed a car Grandma would lend me one of theirs."
"Uh...no, you are not borrowing the Jag.""Not the Jag...maybe the BMW.""Ahh ha!" Lorelai said."You don't want to be helpful you want to weezel a convertible!" Lorelai said."No!"
"Ha ha ha! I knew you were my daughter."
"No...I...""How sweet you still trying to play it off...that is sweet really." Lorelai said."Ok, ok, I wanted the convertable. Now that you are on to my evil plan will you please accept my offer.""Nah...I think I will ask mom if Luke can borrow the beemer..."
"Mom!""Kidding, kidding, thanks hon, I really appreciate it." Luke walked back in."Rory is going to let us use her car while I heal, so she can con my parents out of their convertible." Lorelai said please with herself."Why don't we just weezel the convertible for ourselves and leave Rory with her car." Luke quipped.
"You know Luke I used to like you." Rory said walking out of the room.
"Night Hon." Lorelia called.
"G'night...and try to keep it PG in there will you, it will be my room again one day and I would hate to never be able to set foot in there again!"
"No promises." Lorelai said with a giggle.
"Yeah...it's time to go back to school." Rory said as she started up the stairs. Rory had only missed two days of classes since her mothers accident, but they were the two days that she had classes with Logan. When she sat down across from him at her desk at the paper he walked up to her."You have been MIA for a while." He said.
"Paris didn't tell you?" She said.
"Tell me what...that you reconsidered and you don't want to go out with me sometime?""No...my mom was in a car wreck a bad one, I have been around, I have just spent my free time at the hospital this week, but she is home now and...anyway I am back.""Is she okay?" He asked."Yeah she will be anyway." She said."Good. I mean...I would hate for you to have to leave school to take care of her." Logan said.She laughed. "Oh no...not Lorelai...she will always be able to manage on her own.""So you do want to go out with me sometime?" He said with a smile.Rory smiled back. "I think that could be arranged." She said."Great pick you up at 8." he said and walked away.
Rory couldn't believe that she had just agreed to a date with him. He was so...and...he...she couldn't find a reason not to. You only live once right?