Chapter Seventeen- Can I Come Home?

"Lorelai, you have to tell her," Luke reasoned, gesturing to Lorelai's left ring finger that held a white-gold diamond engagement ring.

After Lorelai had proposed, Luke had accepted on one condition: he was going to buy her a ring. She happily obliged. Anything to get jewelry.

But, she had yet to inform Rory…or her parents. It had been two months. Two months, she had been engaged; two months she had gone without speaking to her daughter, and it was tearing her apart.

Lorelai nodded. "I know, I know…I just…If I go see her, I'll break down."

Luke smiled. "I know, but you have to. She's your daughter. You love her no matter what's going on. And she loves you. You're engaged. She's gonna want to know that."

Lorelai nodded again. She grabbed her purse and slid off the stool. "Okay."

"Now?" Luke asked in shock, putting down the coffee pot he was holding.

"Now," she confirmed, walking out of the diner.

As she sat in front of the Gilmore Manor, she tried to tell herself to breath. She finally stepped out of her jeep, and walked up to the large, uninviting door. She rang the doorbell and waited.

Emily answered.

"Lorelai," she said, completely shocked.

"Mom," Lorelai replied, almost coldly. It took her a moment to realize why she was here.

"What's going on?" Emily questioned.

"I need to talk to you…and then…I, uh…"

Emily nodded, knowing what she was talking about. She stepped aside, and let Lorelai pass before shutting the door.

Lorelai took a deep breath. She was going to just come out and say it. "Okay, Mom, uh…I need to tell you something. And I want you to let me finish before passing judgment." She paused and took a breath before continuing. Breathing was the key-lots and lots of breathing. "Luke and I are engaged. I love him, and he loves me, and I'm sorry you don't think he's good enough for me, but we're together, getting married, and happy. I know you don't like him, but that's too bad because I am happy, and there's nothing you can say or do to change that." Okay, so the breathing hadn't gone to well. Her entire announcement had come out in one breath, and she felt a bit light-headed.

Emily watched her. "Are you done?" she asked.

Lorelai nodded.

"Well...congratulations, I suppose. Have you set a date yet?"

Lorelai shook her head.

"Well…you'll let us know, I suppose?"

Lorelai nodded.

"She's in the pool house."

Lorelai nodded again, and headed towards the back.

She knocked on the door, and looked inside to see her daughter sitting, watching television with the blonde boy.

Rory turned around and looked through the door. She was shocked. She immediately jumped up.

Logan looked at her, worried, but then looked out the door. He knew.

She walked to the door and opened it, letting her mother inside.

"Mom…" she said, in disbelief.

Lorelai smiled timidly. "Hey, kid." She looked over at the blonde boy on the couch. "Hi Logan," she said, slightly colder than she had meant to.

Ever since the yacht incident, she grew to hate Logan. She didn't trust him, and he knew that.

"Do you want to sit down?" Rory asked politely. That was one thing that had not changed. Rory was still polite.

Lorelai nodded, and made her way over to a chair, opposite the sofa. Rory returned to her seat next to Logan.

"Oh, I can leave if you'd like me to, Ms. Gilmore," Logan offered.

Lorelai shook her head. "No, that's okay…Um…Call me Lorelai, by the way." Logan nodded, but said nothing.

"Rory, there's something I need to tell you."

Rory immediately panicked. "What's wrong? Are Sookie and the kids okay? Is it Luke? What happened? Is Lane okay?"

"Calm down, Rory. Everything's fine. Actually…Uh…Rory…Luke and I are engaged," she said, holding up her hand to show the ring.

Rory smiled. "That's great, Mom," she said quietly. Slowly, she moved to hug her mother. It was awkward at first, but it felt good.

Logan stood. "I'm gonna get going," he said. Rory momentarily released her mother to look at him. He gave her a quick kiss, a soft 'I love you,' and left Rory with her mother in the pool house.

Rory returned to the couch, and the two sat in an awkward silence.

"Rory-"

"Mom-" They both started talking at the same time.

They laughed nervously.

"You go first-"

"You go first-"

Rory sighed. "I'll go first."

Lorelai nodded.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking…about what you said…about what Grandma and Grandpa said…about what Logan said…"

Lorelai nodded, urging Rory to go on.

"I've decided to go back…and give it another try. I'll stay with Journalism for now, but…I might switch my major to English Literature, or something like that."

Lorelai smiled, not knowing what to say. Rory continued.

"I'm so sorry for everything I've done. I know I screwed up. I know I did. But…last year was…hard…different…I was messed up." She looked down at her hands. "It started with the whole Dean thing, and…I let it mess me up. I haven't been me, and I'm sorry. It scared me...I miss being the old Rory. The predictable Rory….Generally, I just miss being Rory."

Lorelai hurried over to the couch, and pulled her daughter into her arms. Her eyes were full, and she tried not to let tears escape. She tried to be strong.

"Aw, honey. It's okay. We all make mistakes. We'll get you back there. It will take time, but we'll get you back there."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, kid."

The tears came…from both of the Gilmore girls. They held each other and cried. They cried for all the mistakes they'd made in the past year; cried for each other; cried because they missed each other.

Finally, once the tears subsided, Rory lifted her head.

"Mom?"

"Yeah, hon?"

"I really wish you'd give Logan another chance. He's not as bad as you think. You used to love him, remember? And the yacht was not his fault. It was mine. You have to believe me."

Lorelai nodded. "I know, kid. I'm sorry. I will try. I promise."

Rory smiled, and nodded. She looked around the pool house.

"Mom?"

"Hm?"

"Can I come home?"

A/N: Sorry there's not a lot of Rory/Logan action. There will be soon…I promise!