All things from Chapter 1 still totally apply...

Towards What Exactly?

Chapter 2

Once settled in their seats, Lorelai sits back and enjoys watching her daughter excitedly look out the window. She just loves planes- always has. Lorelai, on the other hand, has no feelings either away- it is faster than the car- usually, but there are always the occasional delays that last for eons.

"Ya know, kid. You always loved this."

"What?"

She watches her daughter dig through her backpack as she explains, "Flying and well, just airports in general. You were about ayear old on your first trip. Luke, Andrea, Rory, you and I flew down to North Carolina to visit Liz and Jess… remember Liz? Luke's sister? Well, anyways, Rory headed back early because she had a school project and when we tried to leave a few days later- a snow storm came and we got stuck at the airport. Was the 23rd of December and we had two small children in tow and we arrived bright and early at the airport and never made it any further."

"Never? Come on. You left at some point."

Rolling her eyes, "Oh course. We got out early the net morning. Had a long lay over in some horrible city and finally made it back just in time for the Christmas Eve Lights and a touch of dinner at the Gilmore homestead." Helping Katharine get situated, "Buckle up- I'll push your backpack into place."

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"Yes, I understand that its delayed- I can read the bright green flashing word next to my flight number, but what I was asking and I really don't wish to be annoying or do I in anyway think you are at fault here because, frankly, that would be stupid since you don't control anything. Even if you pushed buttons on your keyboard there- how much could really be accomplished? So was just asking, -for how long will that continue to flash, approximately?"

The cranky, uncaring, and overworked woman stared at Lorelai- carefully studying her. "I'm sorry ma'am and for once I truly am. I can't tell you how nice it was to be asked rather than screamed at, but I honestly cannot answer that. Care for my personal opinion though?" Seeing the younger lady's nod, "My advice, as an employee of twenty-five years and a North Carolina gal for over fifty.... get comfortable, maybe even head back to your hotel because this storm isn't going anywhere too quickly and we don't know how to handle this much, this fast, all that well."

Lorelai let out a heavy, disappointed sigh and tried to chuckle her way through the situation, "I knew there was a reason that I'm a Connecticut gal. We can smell snow." Smiling her signature smile, "Thank you ma'am."

Walking back towards her small group- she paused for a moment to take in the scene before her. Andrea laid dead to the world on top of two seats- her stuffed bear protectively under her arm. While Luke cradled the over-exhausted young Gilmore in his arms- pacing the floor in front to the windows- singing softly her favorite lullaby. They looked like the perfect family. A young married couple with two youngsters trying to get to the relatives for the holidays. If only that were true- its the only Christmas present she had been wishing for these last few years.

Shaking herself out of her musings, she walked over to check on her baby girl- thanking god that she had finally given in to sleep. She took in her even breathing- the blotchy skin from her earlier tears- the popping sound as she sucks on her two middle fingers- and of course, her death grip on her yellow blankie. The universe would certainly come to a halt if anything ever happened to that.

Luke always commented that she was simply a miniature version of her mother and that she was. Just shy of her first birthday- this toddler already knew how to capture and break the hearts of all the eligible men out there- especially that of the man currently cradling her tenderly to his chest.

He was in love with her- she could tell. He treated her with the same sweetness that he showed for his beloved daughter. The two could easily be sisters. But not easily enough. Lorelai had always been concerned about the concept of, yet another one, of her daughters lacking a male figure in her life. Hell, it scared her most nights. Worked out okay the first time around. And now Max wishing to keep his distance- in one way- was easiest, yet no father meant no male figure. Her worries were quickly ceased the first time this man picked up a small bundle of blankets and spent the next hour telling that same bundle how beautiful she was. Luke had never let Rory down, why she ever considered that he wouldn't be willing to play that role again still leaves her confused. Staring at the two of them now- she knew her daughter was going to be fine... and so was she.

"I can take her back now- if you wish."

"I got her," came his response as one hand gently stroked the golden baby ringlets.

Lorelai perches on the arm of a chair as she continues to watch Luke pace. "Ms. Personality doesn't feel this is going to give up all that quickly. Seems they lack snow plows and salt down here in the south. What do you think?"

"I think we should have left last night- like you had wanted to. I'm truly sorry."

"Well you were right, I only wanted northern coffee." Standing quickly, she places her hand on his upper arm, "You don't control the weather. I know you men think you can control anything... but you can't. Raw deals happen. And you were right. It was too late and too confusing to try and get these two here last night- it wouldn't have been fair to them." Silencing his protest, "Besides its only the 23rd- there is no reason to apologize or regret. Its the happiest time of year afterall!"

Her brilliant smile is just too much for him as soon his own lips begin to curve up. Lorelai's hand slips from his arm to softly stroke her child's back- never breaking eye contact. The two adults carried on a silent conversation- one that only their hearts understood- but equally content to bask in the other's nearness.

A few moments later, an elder lady walked past the two, smiling softly. Then, mustering up the courage to stop, she turned to them and happily stated, "I just wanted to say that you two have beautiful little girls. It's so wonderful to see a young couple enjoying family life like you two obviously are. Merry Christmas- take care of those precious angels."

"Thank you and Merry Christmas to you, too." Came Luke's stunned reply. Neither knew what to say and instead simply allowed soft giggles to control the moment. "Oh man."

"The signals we must be giving off." Her eyes shifted to the sleeping dark haired girl on the connected blue seats, refusing to look at him as she finished her thought, "Feels very natural. Makes it all kind of worth it." Before Luke had a chance to process the comment, Lorelai began to remove Katharine from his arms stating, "Yours looks like she is about to have that 'little cry' number four."

Luke nodded and took a few large steps to end up near his child's resting head. Sitting down, he shifted Andrea so that her head was lying comfortably in his lap. Using a much-practiced art, Luke ran his hand up and down his daughter's back- soothing the grumpy child out of sleep. The day had been long. Tiring for the adults and testing each of the nerves that the two little children have. Minutes pasted as the sniffling subsided for the moment and Luke moved his gaze continuously from his daughter to Lorelai to the wandering and overly upset people within the airport.

A loud thud caused him to stop watching a particularly intriguing fight between a couple who seemed to be no more than twenty and to focus on the woman across from him as she bent over to pick up the fallen diapers and diaper wipes container. The slightly sound of a laugh left his lips before he began to watch Katie as she sat on the chair, blankie in her lap and successfully attempting to place more Cheerios on the floor than in her mouth. Lorelai stroked her blonde locks, not hiding a smile as the precious baby shot a cheeky grin towards her momma.

Luke watches the exchange with a smile of his own until the body under his hand tensed and her tears began to crescendo- yet again.

Lorelai got up and walked over to the pair, "Hey now, what's with all those tears?" Andrea unburied her head enough to glance up at the voice, "It's been a long, boring day, huh?" The little one nodded, but soon her bottom lip began to quiver and tears began to fill her eyes. "Awww... no no no. There is no need for those. Come here." Extending her arms out to her, "Let me see if I can make it better." Andrea easily goes, snuggling into her arms and placing her damp face on Lorelai's shoulder.

Luke watched the two walk away before allowing his gaze to fall upon Katie, who had carefully been observing her mother. Once she decided that her mother wasn't going too far, she settled herself back down and flashed a brilliant three-toothed smile at Luke, extending her pudgy arm to offer him a semi-soggy piece of cereal. Seating himself next to her, he allowed her to feed him one. "Sharing skills are very impressive. And you're going to be a heart-breaker... just like your mom." For that he received another infamous smile and an even soggier Cheerio. "Poor me. Poor world." Taking another one from her, "Thank you. Lets walk. Sound good?"

Picking up the child, he placed Katharine down and allowed her to run a few steps ahead of him. They moved in and out of the rows of chairs as she continuously giggled and clapped for herself. As she moved to pick up the strap of a lady's purse to place it on her shoulder, Luke quickly stepped in, "Katie… no no." Removing the strap from her hand, "That's the nice lady's purse, not Katharine's. Can you tell her hi?"

The soft and shy 'hi' was barely heard and the lady waved back. "Sorry about that. What can I say, she's a girl. Her mother's daughter- so clothes, purses and money are the only needs in life."

"She is just precious."

Luke's natural reaction to the compliment took over as he smiled out a "Thank you" and then laughed as Katie excitedly lets out a loud "Hi!" and dramatic wave that caused her to lose her balance and fall. "Grace of her mother as well. Can you say bye, Katie?"

A simple wave was what the lady received as Luke guided the toddler back over to their area. "Hey Lorelai, haven't you taught your daughter not to steal other people's purses?"

"Only if it's an ugly old lady's purse. Been training her how to smell out a coach purse."

Rolling his eyes, "Oh geeze. I'm saddened by how true that sentence probably is. See she is okay now."

"Yeah, one more little cry and it was all good. Was thinking that perhaps we should attempt to just go back to the hotel and try again tomorrow. Let them swim."

Nodding, Luke leaned over to pick up Katie, "Sounds good but their bathing suits are here and I will not, no matter what you say, attempt to convince anybody to go back there and find them. And don't ask, I won't sneak back there on that luggage belt thing for you."

"No? Why did I bring you again?"

"I brought you."

"Oh yeah." Grinning up at him, "Actually, I have a change of clothes, lots actually, in the diaper bags so they can just swim in their underwear."

"In their underwear?"

"Luke, they are girls. And they enjoy the naked concept. Girls begin with that theory on life- pre-apple eating idea- all things naked, and then have a total post eating the apple existence for about, oh fifteen years and then are totally over it again."

Seeming unphazed, "So they will be fine with it and unscarred?"

"Definitely."

"Then lets give it a try."

Lorelai handed over Andrea as she quickly went to work at cleaning up their area and collecting their bags and coats. Stuffing things into random places- -

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Lorelai is jerked out of her memory as Katie quickly turns from the window- her mother's hand falling from its spot on her back.

"Here we go, mom!"

Yes, here we go- towards what exactly? Out loud she addressed her daughter's obvious state of exhaustion, "Sweets, your eyes are drooping- why not put on your movie and rest a bit?"

Before the sentence is complete, Katie has the portable DVD player hooked up and ready to push play. She snuggles into her mother's arms as the pair lazily watch Bednobs and Broomsticks until they hear the arrival announcement into Hartford, Connecticut.