Chapter 21

"So, it was a great first date?" Rory pestered her mother after they climbed out of the car and walked to the front door of the Gilmore house.

"Yes." Lorelai nodded and it brought a smile on her face when she thought back on the previous day. And night of course. "Definitely."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Oh c'mon, Mom. Don't let me winkle everything out of you."

"Curiosity killed the cat, my dear." Lorelai told her daughter, sticking out her tongue.

"So Luke brought you to a restaurant, and then?"

"We had dinner there."

"Yes, that's what you're doing in a restaurant. Thanks for informing me, Mom."

"You're welcome." Lorelai pulled her shoulders up and gave Rory a wide grin.

"And then?"

"After dinner we went back to his place. He brought me upstairs into his apartment and…" she squinted with an eye to her daughter before she added. "Do you want me to continue?"

"Considering your look, you better stop here. Let me say one word. Dirty!!"

Lorelai tried to look shocked. "I don't know what you're talking about. Luke just showed me his stamp collection."

"Sure. The whole night."

"Yes." She said innocently and reached up to ring the bell.

A moment later, Emily opened the door and greeted them, "Rory, Lorelai." She stopped for a moment and glanced over Lorelai's shoulder before she continued. "Come in." She headed into the living room, leaving the girls on the doorstep.

"Thanks, mom. Nice to see you, too." Lorelai murmured and entered the hallway, slipping out of her coat and handing it to the maid. "And she tells me something about politeness. Unbelievable."

Rory rolled her eyes and did the same before she followed her mother into the living room.

"Richard. They're here."

"What?" he looked up from his newspaper. "Oh."

"Hey grandpa."

"Rory. Lorelai. Where's Luke?"

"Luke?" Rory asked, looking at her mother.

"Uhm, he couldn't come." Lorelai cleared her throat and sat down on the sofa on the opposite side of her father.

"That's what I've told you, Richard." Emily said and walked over to the bar. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Coke."

"White wine."

They sat in silence while Emily poured them their drinks when Richard finally started to talk again. "So Lorelai, how's everything?"

"Fine, thanks."

"And your hotel?"

"I hope it's still standing."

Richard let out a laugh. "Good answer. Still making your business class here in Hartford ?"

"Yes." Lorelai answered shortly before she sipped at her glass of wine.

He nodded and turned to his grandchild. "And Rory, how are things in Chilton?"

"Fine. We have to do this project about Shakespeare in our literature class. And lucky as I am, I'm in one group with Paris ."

Lorelai turned to her daughter. "Oh no, again?"

"Yes." Rory answered frowning.

"Who's this Paris ?" Emily asked curiously while she sat down next to Richard.

"Paris and I have a few classes together and I just can't get along with her."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay grandma. That's life."

"That's my grandchild." Richard said smiling and reached for his brandy.

"Mr. Medina is the teacher of your literature class, isn't he?" Emily took a quick glance at Lorelai when she said his name.

"Uhm, yes."

"The same Mr. Medina you kissed on this parent's day, Lorelai?" Emily asked her all of a sudden.

Examining her fingernails, she heard her mother's question and her head jerked up in disbelieve. "What?"

"Mr. Medina. I think it was him, right?"

Frowning, she put her glass of wine on the table in front of her. "I don't know what this has to do with Rory's school project."

"I'm just curious what happened between the two of you? A few weeks ago you seemed to be falling for one of Rory's teachers and now you're dating this man from a Diner? You moved on pretty fast, don't you think?"

Shaking her head, Lorelai answered. "I surely won't discuss this with you, mother." She settled back on the couch, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It was a simple question, Lorelai. The last time I asked you about Max Medina you told me how great he is and how you can imagine having a future with this man and now?"

"Topic change."

"Lorelai."

"Stop it, Mom." she sent her mother a furious look .

"Rory, do you remember the book we talked about on Wednesday?" Richard threw in, giving his granddaughter a smile.

"Yes?"

"I found it."

"Really?" Rory's eyes grew wide.

"Yes. It's in my office." He stood up and left the living room, heading towards his office.

Rory was about to get up too when Lorelai grabbed the sleeve of her blouse, pulling her back. "Don't dare to leave me alone here." She said whispering.

"Mom, don't be such a baby."

"I'm not." Lorelai muttered.

"Good. I'll be right back."

"But…" Lorelai started but Rory just got up from the sofa and followed her grandpa to his office.

Taking a deep breath, she watched her daughter walking away before her eyes fell on Emily who was sitting across from her.

They sat in silence, before Emily spoke up. "So, you and Luke Danes?"

"What?"

"You are…?"

Hesitantly Lorelai finished. "Dating."

"Uh-huh." Emily nodded.

"What?"

"Nothing." she settled back on the sofa, her eyes focused on the glass in her hands.

"I know there's something you wanna say. So spill it."

Emily looked up, meeting her daughters gaze. "I just can't see why you're choosing this Luke over Max."

"Excuse me?"

"Mr. Medina is teacher in an excellent high school. And Luke owns a Diner." Emily emphasized the last word.

Lorelai watched her with an open mouth, she couldn't believe her ears. "And?"

"And? Lorelai, don't you ever look ahead? A diner owner can't offer you the same like a teacher with an excellent reputation in society."

"If I'm not wrong, you were the one who told me how stupid I was, dating one of Rory's teacher. And now you're defending him. I don't believe this."

"I changed my mind."

"Oh really? Did you? Then, all I can say is change your mind again because that's how things are right now."

"Lorelai, please try to understand me. I just want what's best for you."

"What's best for me?" Lorelai couldn't sit anymore and jumped up from the sofa. "What's best for me? Then maybe you should let me chose my own boyfriend. How about that?"

"Lorelai, calm down."

"No, I don't wanna calm down. I'm sick of this, of you. I know that I'm not the daughter you wanted me to be. Never was, never will be. Fine, okay. I accepted this a while ago. No matter what I'm doing, nothing is good enough for you. The choice of my home, my job, my friends, my clothes…" she looked down at her new dark blue satin dress, she fell in love with when she went shopping with her daughter a week ago. "…my hair, my talking. Yes, everything."

"That's not true."

"Really? Geez, then you have a weird way to show me that, Mom. I was one big disappointment for you. But now, just this time, I beg you to respect me and my choice. Just this one time. That's not asking too much, is it?"

"No, it's not but…"

"See? Okay, then I want you to respect me and my relationship with Luke." Lorelai was pacing through the living room, gesturing with her hands while she was talking. "I know that you're upset because I didn't told you about us in the first place but I wanted to keep it for myself just a little bit longer. We just discovered our feelings for each other and everything is so new and great and…" she stopped, searching her mother's eyes.

"And what? You didn't want me to ruin this for you, right?" Emily asked, expressionless.

Lorelai hesitated a moment before she answered with a deep sigh, "Yes. I mean, no… gaaah. See, that's the reason I'm keeping important things to myself. We always end up like this."

"And of course it's my fault."

"Partly, yes."

"How long is this going on between you and Luke?"

Lorelai thought for a moment and finally answered with a smile. "Over a week."

Emily noticed the change on Lorelai's face when she was thinking about Luke and continued cautiously. "And now he's the love of your life?"

"If you're going to mention Max again, I promise I'll scream. I know I said similar things a few weeks ago when I was with him. But now with Luke, it's different. Good different, you know?"

Emily noticed her smile again and let her talk further, taking a sip from her glass of water.

"Luke and I, we know each other years. He's my coffee dealer and my Mr. Fix-it. He's almost always grumpy and can be really furious when I ask for my third cup of coffee. But all this doesn't change the fact that… that I have feelings for him." She placed her hand over her heart, her lips twitching into a warm smile. "I feel save and happy when I'm around him and nooo… it's not just his coffee. And he's so incredible sweet. Yesterday was our very first date and I have to say from all the dates I had in my life, it was far the best. Not because he planned something great and special, and spent a lot of money just to make sure we're going to have a great evening. No, it was the best date because I was with him. And that was all that mattered to me." Lorelai noticed that her eyes became all teary and she let out a small laugh. "Oh god, and now look at me. " She tried to dry her eyes with the sleeves of her dress, taking a deep breath.

"Lorelai, can I ask you a question?" Emily asked calmly, lifting herself from the sofa and approaching her daughter on the other side of the room.

"Yes?"

"Do you love him?"

Lorelai looked at her mother and didn't know what to say.

Love . This is such a big word, isn't it? Do I love Luke? She cared for him. A lot. He was the one person she trusted the most, except Rory of course. The more she thought about it, she noticed how her heartbeat got faster. She sure as hell knew that this thing with Luke was special. They were together a week, well none of them actually said something of being together but they were dating, weren't they?

And it was totally different to the relationships she had during the last years. Max, for example. He was nice, caring, sweet and intelligent. Every woman on earth would think that's it. I found it but as soon as it started, it was over again. Things got to complicated for both of them. So it was the best to end it before they would have gotten into a deeper relationship. And as devastated as she was, she knew that they weren't meant to be.

But maybe Luke and she were? She knew too well that all people of Stars Hollow wanted them to be together, for years. They had a betting pool as well. Oh boy, crazy town people. She thought with a smile on her lips.

Luke has a thing for you, she heard Patty saying to her a few years ago but she couldn't believe it and just shook her head, telling her that they're just friends.

Just friends . She repeated the words in her head, over and over again. Yes, at the beginning she was afraid to lose the close friendship she had with Luke when they'll cross the line. And now that they finally have, she didn't regret it. No, not at all.

"Emily, for god sake. What are we waiting for? It's seven." Richard came into the living room, looking at Emily and his daughter.

His words brought Lorelai back into reality and she turned to her mother again, who was watching her daughter intensly. Emily gave her a small but warm smile before she turned on her heals and headed into the kitchen, "Yes Richard. I'll go and check if the dinner is ready."

Lorelai's eyes followed her mother outside before she took a deep breath. Her mother was right. She was in love with Luke and this didn't even scare her. Not even a little bit.

Smiling, she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and joined Rory and her father in the dining room.

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After dinner, Emily walked her girls to the door.

"Thanks for dinner, grandma. It was delicious, like always."

"Thanks Rory. So, we'll see each other next Friday."

"Yes grandma." Rory told her, grabbing her coat.

"And Lorelai?"

"Yeah?" she looked up, meeting her mother's gaze.

"Maybe you could bring Luke with you. We're looking forward to meet your boyfriend." Emily told her, smiling.

Wow, is this really happening? Lorelai thought, but smiled back at her. "Uhm, sure. This can be arranged."

"Good. I'm glad."

"Me too. Bye mom." And with that, they left the house and walked to their car.

Sitting in the car, Lorelai put her head down on the steering wheel, exhaling deeply.

"Mom, you're okay?"

She lifted her head again and stayed silent for a moment before she said, "I guess."

"What happened in there?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

"I mean, what happened between you and grandma when I was with grandpa in his office?" Rory asked, curiously.

"Well, we had a very nice conversation." Lorelai told her, jokingly.

"Be serious, Mom."

"I am. Well, first we had a little fight because I told her that it's my life and I can decide for myself what's best for me. And I chose Luke because this is what I want. And the last thing I know is that she asked me if I'm in love him. But I couldn't answer her because dinner was ready and… and… well, that was it. And you saw what happened back there. She wanted me to bring Luke next week because they wanted to meet him. And as ridiculous as it may sound but I believed her."

"I'm sure she meant it, Mom. Why didn't he come with us today?"

"Huh?"

"Luke. She already invited him for today."

"Oh yes. I told him not to come."

"What? Why?"

"I wanted to talk to my mother alone. And I'm glad I did because I didn't want him to be in the middle of our fight this evening." Lorelai nodded slightly, knowing that she did the right thing with telling Luke to stay at the Diner.

"And you think she's okay now with you and Luke?"

"I hope so." She whispered. "I do hope so."

xxxxxxx

To be continued… R&R! :)