Last Chapter: She looked his way and smiled faintly. "Bye Luke," She whispered.
Default: I don't own Gilmore Girls, or the names that the brilliant Amy Sherman created.
"Hey you slept," Rory smiled and she sat at the edge of her Mother's bed. Lane was sitting in the same chair that Luke had occupied just seconds ago and she looked guilty. "Maybe I should leave, let you two be alone," She said getting up off the chair. Lorelai waved her off as Rory said goodbye. They sat there on the bed just staring at each other.
"What'd you dream about?" Rory asked, noting her mother's worried expression. She lay down beside Lorelai on her side and watched her as she explained her beginning and end dream. After Lorelai had told her everything, Rory rubbed her mother's arm, trying to comfort her.
"I want an end with Luke, but I don't know if he'll let me make it up to him," Lorelai sniffed. "Well, if it doesn't work out you'll always have dad," Rory smiled, but stopped when her mother looked hurt. "Right, not the time for jokes."
Lorelai rolled onto her back and sighed. "Maybe that was how my life is going to be from now on," She said more to herself than Rory. "Mom that's not true," Rory argued. "Luke will come around and realize what a lose he just had."
Lorelai smiled weakly at her daughter and pulled her feet out of the covers and got off the bed. Rory watched her walk over the mirror and brush her ratted hair back in to a ponytail. "I guess I can't mope around anymore huh? I got to go back to work eventually," Lorelai said quietly. Rory knew better than to argue with her mother about something when she was upset.
Deep down Lorelai knew she wasn't ready to face Luke again, but she knew that in this community everyone would be talking to her or him about it and be choosing sides.
"By the way," Rory started, "Taylor was handing out ribbons, blue and pink, that showed which sides the towns people were on. I managed to get the box from him, but most people already had them."
Lorelai felt weak when Rory told her this and she grasped the desk as she lowered herself into a chair. "Are you okay?" Rory asked worriedly. "I'm just not so sure I want to leave yet?" She answered. Rory nodded and stood up and gave her mom a hug.
"You'll be okay soon. I know Luke is slapping himself for doing this," She comforted. Lorelai smirked and shook her head playfully. "Funny mental image," Rory added as an after thought, pulling away and walking out of the room. Lorelai watched her and then turned to look out the window. Babette was watering her lawn and talking to her lawn gnomes.
Time passed and Rory returned to find her mother standing in front of the closet with a purple sweater in her hand, examining it. "It'll be pretty," She commented. Lorelai nodded and slipped it over her shoulders, then stepped back to look at herself in the mirror.
"It is nice," She murmured, turning around to see her backside. "It's sorta stretched out in the back," She trailed off preparing to take the sweater off. Rory stopped her and smiled painfully. "Mom, it looks fine. Stop doubting yourself," She said softly. Lorelai sniffed.
She put an arm around her mother's shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. Lorelai held on to her daughter, afraid her lifeline would leave her. She pulled back and brushed away the lingering tears in her eyes.
"You look nice," Lorelai noticed, stepping back to take in the scene. "Yeah, I was thinking we could go out for dinner," She offered, taking the hanger from her mother's hand and placing it on the bed. Lorelai grimaced, but put on a pained smile.
"Sure kid, we can go out for a bite, if you're hungry," Lorelai caved. Rory grabbed her stomach. "I'm starving," She growled. Lorelai shook her head and smiled.
"Starving is the last thing you want to be. Don't mock those that are," she joked. Rory laughed and looped her elbow with Lorelai's. Together they walked out of the house and to the jeep and Rory sat in the driver's seat.
Rory parked outside of Weston's Bakery and got out, while Lorelai did the same onto the curb. They walked inside, where Rory ordered a hamburger and fries, which she shared with her mom.
They sat at their table, and Lorelai couldn't shake the feeling of being judged. She walked inside and noted that there were four people in the back that she wasn't very familiar with wearing blue ribbons. Instantly, she hated them for not giving her a chance.
"Try not to look at them," Rory said, seeing her mother staring intently at the men in the back. Lorelai sighed and took a bite out of a French fry, "I'm not that hungry," she moaned, taking a sip of her coffee. Rory nodded and pulled out a doggy bag from her purse.
"I asked for one in advance," She smiled. Lorelai chuckled and finished her coffee, grimacing at the chalky after taste. Rory packed the last half of her burger and the pile of fries left over, and then followed her mother outside.
Lorelai reached for the door handle to her side of the jeep, but stopped when she saw a figure cross the street two blocks down. It crossed the area of the gazebo and walked straight into Luke's Diner. Rory tried to look at what her mom was staring at.
"I'll be right back, stay here," Lorelai ordered, walking off after the figure. Rory watched her walk off cautiously, then got in the car and called Logan. (I don't like him…grr.) She smiled as he answered the phone with the favorite nickname, "Ace."
Lorelai stepped up onto the curb and tried to see inside the dark diner. (Note: It's late at night!) She faintly noticed chairs stacked on tables and an outline standing behind the counter, head in his hands. Lorelai walked to the door and opened it, wincing at the sound the bell made.
"Hey Luke," She greeted. He looked up, slightly shocked, and smiled at her. "Hey, can I get you some coffee?" He asked kindly. Lorelai nodded softly and took a seat at the bar. She watched him busy himself with the coffee machine and shuddered at the remembrance of her dream.
Images of their first kiss popped up into her mind. Luke turned around and looked at her face and she stared back in to his, a faint picture of an older Luke swimming in her head. She shook her head to rid herself of her dream.
"Something wrong?" Luke asked, turning around to get the coffee. "Just tired, a little coffee soon would be wonderful," She said. A cup was placed in front of her and Lorelai took a sip and sighed. She took three gulps then placed the cup back on the counter. She turned her attention to Luke, who had watched her drink hungrily from her mug.
"I need to talk to you," She said, getting up from her stool. Luke straightened and responded. "I already told you Lorelai, I need…" She cut him off. "I know you need time Luke, but I want a middle." His face etched in confusion.
"What?" He asked, placing his hands on the counter. Lorelai looked down at her feet, avoiding his gaze, while she regained her confidence. "Sookie told me a story and then I had a dream about us, and we didn't have a middle. We had a beginning and an end, but there wasn't a middle Luke. I deserve my middle," She huffed.
He stared at her, dumbstruck while she rubbed her nose, trying to fight off the tears that were threatening to flood. Her throat was sore as she ordered herself not to cry in front of Luke. She had to seem strong so he would take her seriously. She wasn't the only hurt on in this decision, but she didn't want to be the girl that cried all the time.
"I don't know what to say Lorelai. I can't promise you a middle," He sighed, pulling himself off the counter and shoving his hands in his pockets. Lorelai watched him stand up and she became aware of the fact that this wasn't an ordinary conversation and she was talking like it was.
"Luke," She said more calmly. "I just came to tell you that if it's okay with you, I would like, no love to have my middle." She paused and looked around awkwardly before finishing. "With you." Luke was frozen in his spot at the last addition.
She shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, watching her face as she tried not to break down. Lorelai sighed and nodded before turning around to exit the diner. Luke bolted around the bar and grabbed her hand, making her turn around on the spot.
Her hands landed on his chest as he kissed her in the window. Luke dipped her backwards slightly as he deepened the kiss, making up for lost time. Lorelai moaned into his mouth and he felt happy that he could make her feel better.
Feeling his lungs about to burst, Luke broke off and smirked dizzily at Lorelai. She smiled back and locked her arms around him neck. "Does this mean?" She paused. Luke nodded. "I'll give you your middle." He answered before claiming her lips again in a gentler kiss.