They Don't Know

The next morning

"Luke, I'm so sorry my parents are acting like this." Lorelai apologized again as she got ready to leave.

"It's fine, Lorelai. Like I said, I made it through."

"But it's not fine for my parents to insult you and coerce you into things you don't want to do."

"They do it to you."

Lorelai had to laugh. "Yes, but I'm their daughter. They don't even know you."

They don't know you either, he thought. "I don't want this to be a big thing." Luke sighed, knowing Lorelai was not to be swayed where her parents were concerned.

"It's a big deal to me."

He smiled at her. "Well, thanks. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome." Lorelai slipped into Luke's arms for a kiss before heading home to change for work. On the way, her phone rang and she sighed. It was Chris. "Trouble in paradise?" She asked bitterly.

"I have a trip to Hartford in a couple days. I'm looking for a place to stay. Any suggestions?"

"I'm sure my parents would love to have you. But since I don't want another Gilmore family feud on my hands, I'd suggest a room at the Dragonfly."

"Sounds great. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

"Um, yeah. Just call Michel and book a room." She gave him the number and hung up.

Friday

Lorelai tried to smile as her mom opened the door. "Hi, mom."

"Hello, Lorelai. I see your male friend isn't with you this evening."

"Luke, mom." Lorelai gritted her teeth. "No, he isn't. I didn't know he was invited."

"A friend of yours is...well, he can come next week. For now, we already have a guest."

"Really? Who?" Lorelai was suspicious, sure it was some set up for her or a boring, old friend of her mother's.

"Christopher!" Lorelai's mouth dropped. "Why aren't you happy? I hear you've been spending some time together, I think that's wonderful--"

"I went to help him with Gigi once. And he called and asked me to recommend a place to stay. Since I own an inn, I thought it might be a good idea to plug it a little." Lorelai didn't care if she sounded condescending, her mother deserved it.

"Why were you helping with Gigi in the first place? Isn't that woman around?"

"Sherry, mom." Lorelai sighed as she followed Emily into the living room for a drink. "And no, Sherry took a job in Paris."

"Well, I'm sure Chris will need lots of help with Gigi."

"I already raised a kid. I'm not raising another."

"What if you and this diner man have children?"

"Mom, please. His name is Luke. You know this. I thought you liked Luke."

"What on earth gave you that idea?" Emily almost spit out her drink.

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Maybe because he came to Rory's birthday party, or drove me to the hospital to see dad, or helped fix stuff around the house, or loaned me $30,000 to open the inn. He's there for me and Rory. Not to mention that he loves me!" She threw up her hands.

"Lorelai, I--"

"Let me finish. And it kills me mom, it hurts that you and dad would attack him like you did. You don't even know him. Oh, never mind that he's sweet and good to your daughter; he's not a rich business man from Hartford or New York, so he's not good enough!" Lorelai wiped at the tears threatening to spill over. "If you ever stopped to consider how I feel or what I want, you would see that I'm in a really really good place right now."

"Lorelai, you don't have to so spiteful." Emily sat there, unruffled as usual. It just spurred Lorelai on.

"I think I get to be a little spiteful, mom." She stood up.

"Where are you going?" Emily's voice rose as she followed Lorelai out to the foyer.

"Home. I can't stand it. Tell Chris I'm sorry I missed him." Lorelai rushed out before Emily could reply. Emily was not getting the last word tonight.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Luuuuke?"

"Lorelai? Are you okay?" Luke was afraid to know why Lorelai was calling him upset. He hated not being able to comfort her. "Lorelai, please tell me you're okay," he choked out.

"I'm okay," she sobbed. She had pulled off the road outside Hartford when she realized she couldn't even see the road through her tears. "My parents--"

Luke's jaw clenched. "Don't even finish that sentence. Just come home. Okay? I'll be there."

"Thank you," she sniffled.

When she finally pulled up to her house, Luke was waiting on the steps and in a heartbeat he was opening the Jeep door for her.

"Promise me I'll never have to go to that house again," she whispered as she fell into Luke's arms.

"I wish I could." He ran his thumb across her cheeks, wiping away the tears.

"Gah!" Lorelai stomped her foot in frustration. "They actually tried to tell me you weren't good enough. Do they even know you?" Luke was caught halfway between shock of her parents' disapproval and awe of Lorelai sticking up for him. "I told them they had no right to tell me who to date, especially when you're there for me. You're good for me. Oh God," Lorelai buried her head in his chest.

"What?" He frowned.

"Chris may call. He's in town and they invited him to dinner tonight without telling me."

"Ah geez, Lorelai. I've heard you talk about them for years and I never realized--"

"You never realized people could be this horrible? Yeah. Welcome to Survivor, how does it feel?"

Luke kissed her softly. "Well, we're not letting your parents, of all people, mess this up."

Lorelai let out a bitter laugh. "You catch on quick. I like that in a man."

"Years of practice," he winked.

Lorelai smiled and sighed against him. "I'm happy, are you happy?"

"Very."

"That's all that matters to me."

"I know. Thank you."

"Back at ya." She squeezed his hand as they headed into the house.