Cause and Effect: Chapter 4: Only Time Will Tell
Disclaimer: I feel like I've been through this before. I don't own Gilmore Girls.
A/N: Thank you everyone for your kind reviews! Please review this chapter and tell me what you think.
Luke sighed as he absentmindedly wiped down the counters of the diner.
"Are you ok, Luke?"
Luke glared at Kirk, the only customer in the diner that morning.
"I'm fine Kirk. Eat your eggs."
"It's just that, you've been wiping that same spot on the counter for," Kirk checked his watch, "seven minutes now."
Luke threw down the rag and threw up his hands. "Happy now, Kirk?"
"It's not just that, you seem grumpier than usual today."
"Shut up and eat your eggs, Kirk."
"Are you sure Luke? Because I'm here to talk if you need me."
Luke shot Kirk an icy glare and mumbled "Do you want me to ban you from the diner again, Kirk? Remember last time?"M
Kirk shuddered. "Boy, do I remember. That was the worst week of my life. Al's pancakes are just not fluffy like yours."
"Okay, then leave me alone."
Kirk obliged and went back to his omelette.
Luke picked up the rag and began scrubbing again, putting his theory into action. Luke had a theory that if you threw yourself into work, you could forget about other things and emotions. His theory had worked his whole life, until he met Lorelai. When his mom died, he focused on baseball, practicing everyday and sleeping the rest of the time, leaving no room for mourning or emotions of any kind. When his dad died, he threw himself into his plans for the diner, making floor plans, ordering counter tops, and finding a good food supplier.
All that had changed so many years ago when a crazy, bright-eyed brunette came-no, bounced into the diner. All of his problems with Lorelai were different, and couldn't be helped by ignoring them and focusing on something else. It was because Lorelai was different, and he couldn't ignore her.
She came to him for coffee and hamburgers, Luke had nearly given up on the thought that she could ever see him as more than her caffeine and food supplier. Occasionally, she came to him for advice, or in search of a shoulder to cry on. She cried usually because of a man, whomever she happened to be dating that week. She told him of how they hurt her and how she sometimes hurt them and it had filled Luke with a sense of longing.
Not just physical longing (although that part he couldn't deny,) but a longing to be one of those guys. Not the ones who hurt her, because he is fairly certain that if he ever had Lorelai, he would never hurt her. He longed to be one of the guys who made her blue eyes twinkle and her laugh echo off the diner walls.
Luke knew what happened last night (and if we're being completely honest, this morning as well,) with Lorelai had been a mistake. Not necessarily the deed itself, but more the situation in which it had occurred. Which is a nice way of saying that they shouldn't have hooked up when they were both smashed. Luke wonders where Lorelai is now, what she's thinking, if he'll ever see her again. He remembers how he felt this morning, waking up with a pounding head to an empty bed, the scent of Lorelai lingering everywhere.
Luke sighed. It was time to come up with a new theory.
"Hi sweets." Lorelai picked up the phone only after identifying Rory's cell phone number on the caller ID.
"Hey mom! How are you?"
"I'm...fine...I just miss you kid. It's been too long."
"Mom. It's only been two days."
"Exactly. Too long."
"Well don't worry Mom, I'm coming home tomorrow! Dad has to work so Sherry is going to drop me off...I'm just warning you so you can practice being nice."
"What? Me? Are you accusing me of not being nice? I'm always nice. I'm like Glenda the Good Witch."
"Mmhmm. Sure Mom. Just no calling Sherry Cruella, and no Silence of the Lamb references."
"Yes, mom. So, what have you been doing up there in Bean Town? I've always wanted to say that."
"I've gone to a lot of museums...yesterday Dad took me to the Museum of Modern-"
"Hon, unless this story has to do with shopping or yummy food, save the museum talk for your diary."
"Haha, what a nice mother I have. I've gotta go mom, Sherry's taking me out to lunch."
"Fine, fine. Leave your poor spinster mother and go hang out with your stepmommy. Just remember, you've seen Stepmom...and we all know how that ends."
Rory rolled her eyes. "Bye mom, I'll see you around noon tomorrow. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
Lorelai disconnected the phone and sighed. She hated lying to Rory. She wasn't fine, but this wasn't the kind of conversation you had over the phone. She'd have to wait until tomorrow to talk to her daughter.
'Tomorrow...Rory's coming home at noon and I have a doctor's appointment at ten. When I see her, I'll know if she'll have a sister or brother in nine months. Oh God.'
Lorelai had no idea how to talk to Rory about all this. Whether she was pregnant or not, she needed to tell Rory. Her wise, intelligent daughter would know how to make everything better...at least Lorelai hoped so. She was nervous what Rory would think.
'How do I tell her? Honey, mommy got drunk like she was being initiated into a Sorority last night and had sex with Luke and now you might have a new brother or sister! Ugh.'
Lorelai dreaded the doctor's appointment as much as her conversation with Rory. She'd always hated going to the doctor's office but tomorrow would be ten times worse. Sookie had wanted to take her, but Lorelai wanted to go by herself.
Lorelai looked at her watch, 'Seventeen hours until I find out if there will be a Little Luke or Little Lorelai running around here...'
Lorelai suddenly felt like she was going to throw up.
