A/N I want to thank my 3th cousin Willeke for proof reading my new chapter. I want to thank Mickey for offering to check my chapter and I know I asked you to proof read it, but my cousin is here for the holidays and offered to do it. She lives in Canada for over 4 years now, and her English is very well.

Chapter 16 A wonderful evening at Christmas

During the drive to Hartford they discussed how they would tell them Rory was home. Lorelai came up with a few options. The first one was just to walk in like the most normal thing for her to walk in. Which it is of course. But not today since she is supposed to be in London at the moment. The second option was to leave Rory in the car for a while, and make Richard and Emily go outside to get something from it. The something would be Rory. Or Rory could ring the bell after a few minutes, and than walk in like it is the most normal thing to do. An option close to the first one, although now the surprise would be stalled for a while. Or they could let Rory go in first, and follow later themselves. She kept on rambling about the options. Luke switched watching her and the road, smiling to see her happy, even though they where going to her parents place. They were getting along much better now, but she still complained about going to the Friday night dinners. It was just the thought of having to do something without having a choice, that she hated most. Most of the time she enjoyed spending the time with her mother. They had normal conversations now. They talked about things that bothered them, and Emily loved to see her pregnant daughter and her boyfriend. Not one time she had mentioned marriage. Not even before Luke asked their permission to propose, and not even when they had decided to move in together. All they said in reply to that was that they where happy for them.
Rory went along with the rambling of her mother and brought in some idea's herself. Her first option was to walk in with Luke and Lorelai but hide herself for a while. Then Lorelai had to tell them about their date last night and at the point at the story where suddenly the doorbell rang and she opened the door, surprised to see who was behind it, Rory would walk in and say 'me.' It was a good option, but it would only be an option if a maid opened the door and Richard and/or Emily wouldn't walk in the hallway. There was a big change they would do that, or open the door themselves as they knew about the proposal. Her second option was also an stay outside one. This time she would wait outside and use her cell phone to call her grandparents and tell them there's a surprise by their front door. And then when they would open the door, she will be the surprise.

As they where almost there, they had to pick one of the options. Rory voted for her last option. Lorelai voted for walking in together. So now they where looking at Luke, their eyes begging him to pick an options. Both of them explained why their option was the best and why it should be picked.

"Come on Luke, you have to make a choice." Lorelai looked at him.

"Why can't you just sort this out yourself. Don't get me into this."

"But Luke, we can't make a decision yet. You have to do it." Rory begged him.

"No, I won't do it. If I pick now, you hold it against me for the rest of the night. I won't do that."

"So you do know what option you think is the best," Lorelai noticed. "Just tell us, I promise we won't get mad at you."

"Yeah right," He replied when he turned the car onto the driveway. "You have to make a decision now because we're here."

"I still think my option is the best." Rory said.

"Why can't we just go in all together. You shouldn't wait out here. It's freezing." Lorelai replied.

"But it wouldn't be fun to walk in there together."

"Yes it is. They don't expect it to be fun."

"But it's so simple. I don't want it to be simple."

"Why is it simple?"

"Because it is."

Then they both pouted. "Luke, pleaaaase help us"

But before he could answer they heard a knock against the car window. They turned to look at the window and saw both Richard and Emily standing out there, looking at what was going on. This was what brought an end to the discussion. All the options was gone. This was how they found out Rory was there. So they stepped out of the car like it was the most natural thing, smiling at the confused looks on the faces of Richard and Emily.

"Rory. Look Richard, it's Rory."

"I can see that Emily." They pulled their granddaughter into an embrace. "I didn't know you where coming home for Christmas." Richard said when he pulled back.

"Mom didn't even know."

"She didn't?"

"No."

"It's freezing out here." Lorelai said. "Let's go inside and we'll tell the whole story."

The others nodded and they walked inside. There was a maid waiting to take their coats. After giving them to her, they walked into the living room. They all sat down and Lorelai started telling the story. She started her story when she came home and found out Luke wasn't there, even though he said he would be. She told them about the dress he gave her.(She was wearing the dress, since it was Christmas and it was the best dress she had that fit her perfectly) She told them about the restaurant he took her to. Emily replied by telling that she knew the place, because Richard and herself had been there once. She commented that it was a very nice place and wondered why they never came back there. When Lorelai was able to continue her story, she told them about when they came home. About the presents underneath the Christmas tree, and that she was allowed to open one. She told them it was a big box, and it was almost empty. Almost, given that there was a small box in the bottom. And in the box there was this ring. She showed them her hand. "And Luke proposed and I said yes."

"Congratulations." Richard said. Giving Luke a hand and hugging his daughter. Kissing her cheek when she pulled back.

"I'm really happy for you." Emily said. She kissed and hugged Lorelai and hugged Luke also.

When they all sat down again Lorelai was able to continue. "After Luke proposed, he said that I should call Rory. So I picked up the phone and dialled the number. I talked to Rory for a while, telling her about the proposal. After we talked she asked if she could talk to Luke for a while. They did. He walked away to check on something and when he came back in the living room. He had hung up the phone. He sat down next to me again. We talked and suddenly the doorbell rang. Luke helped me up so I could open the door. Of course he offered to do it, but I told him I would go. Anyway, I opened the door and there she was. I didn't believed it at first so I cried for Luke. He came to see what was 'wrong' and than I realised it was for real. So finally I could hold my daughter in my arms again."

"Wow. But how did you got home?" Emily looked at Rory.

"With an airplane." Rory replied.

"I understand, but how, I mean, how?" She couldn't find the right words to explain what she meant.

"A few weeks ago Luke called me to ask me how I felt about him proposing to my mother. After I told him how happy I was about him finally doing that, he told me about how he was planning to propose. Then he asked me how I felt to come home, so my mother could share the news with me. In addition to that, we could celebrate Christmas all together. Of course, I told him that I would love to come home, so he bought me a plane ticket. The plane arrived yesterday and he picked me up from the airport. He took me to the diner where I stayed in his old apartment until the moment they called. I spent the evening with my friend Lane, catching up and watching a movie. My mother then called, it was the signal to go home."

"That was really kind of you Luke." Richard looked at his son in law to be.

"I knew how sad Lorelai would be if she wouldn't be able to share this news with Rory in person, and since it was news to be happy about and it was Christmas eve, I figured that the best thing I could do was to take Rory home."

"How long are you staying?" Emily asked. She didn't really wanted to ask, but she had to know.

"Till next Sunday. The plane leaves at 5 ó clock at night so I'll be back in London by Monday morning. Normally, I have classes on Monday, but I can miss one day. I thought about leaving sooner, but than I won't be able to spend New Years eve at home."

"But let's not talk about her leaving again." Luke said. "Just enjoy the time she spends here and deal with the rest later."

"I'll drink to that!" Richard replied.

"Dinner is ready." The maid said entered the living room.

"Thank you Lydia." Emily said.

They stood up and walked into the dining room. Lydia was busy serving dinner when the group happily sat down. When everybody had received their food Richard spoke. "Before we start this feast, I would like to tell you all how happy I am about everything that has happened in this past year. It was a very interesting year. Me and Emily getting back together, for which I'm very grateful. Lorelai getting pregnant, which is a very good thing also. Rory being excepted at very important school program in London, which shows what an amazing student she is. I can't say how proud I am to that. Luke proposing to Lorelai, so he can finally become a part of this family. Even though he already is, just not official. And now I'm allowed to celebrate Christmas with my family, my beautiful wife, my beautiful daughter and her fiancée, and my beautiful granddaughter. I know it's a little bit early to toast to the New Year, but since you don't spent New Year's eve in here, I would like to say, that if the next year is half as good as this one, I am a very happy man." He raised his glass and said: "Now, let's eat."
They all sipped their drinks and started eating.

During dinner Emily asked "Have you made any decisions about the wedding yet?"

"Nothing major. Just that we're planning on having it late July, maybe early August. Haven't really decided on a date yet."

"Why wait so long?"

Lorelai started to wonder how many times she had to answer that question. This wasn't the first time, and she knew it wouldn't be the last. "We don't have much choice. Rory won't be home again until June. And I want to plan parts of this wedding with her. Maybe we'll decide to have the wedding early July later, but that's the earliest possible."

"Oh, of course. I didn't realized that."

"That's okay." Lorelai replied.

"But it will be a big wedding right?" Emily asked, looking at her daughter hopefully.

"I don't know mom. Luke and I didn't have the change to discuss any details yet. All we've decided is that Rory will be the maid of honour, and that it's going to be a summer wedding."

"But you can decide now."

"Emily, I think we should give them time to discuss this together." Richard looked at his wife.

"But.." She stopped when she realized that this conversation wouldn't do any good. She was finally getting along with her daughter, and pulling a fight about the wedding before any details were decided wouldn't do any good.

"We just want to get married, and we want our family to be there." Luke said, looking at Lorelai.

"Yeah." She smiled. "Rory will be there, the baby will be there, you guys will be there, and our friends will be there. That's all we need."

"That sounds absolutely lovely." Emily was sure this wedding wouldn't be anything like the wedding she always wanted for her daughter. But then again, nothing she wanted for her daughter had really happened. First she had to drop out of school because she got pregnant, then she refused to marry the father of her child and walked away from home. She worked as a maid. She remember the day Lorelai walked into their home, asking for money to Rory's tuition for Chilton. She took her change and added the Friday night dinners as part of the agreement. This was when both her daughter and granddaughter came back into her life. Of course, she had seen them before, but only on special occasions. Lorelai failed to mention her engagement to Max and then decided she didn't wanted to marry him at all. Than Christopher came back in her life, but broke up even before they really had a change to get back together. She was so disappointed at that moment. And then there was Jason, a relationship she also forgot to mention. Thank god they broke up. And in the end she showed up with Luke. Of course, she had known for a long time that there was more between them. But Luke wasn't the kind of guy she had wanted for Lorelai. He owns a diner. He is no member of a country club, he's not rich. But here they are. She looks at her daughter. She sees the smile on her daughters face. Following the gaze, she sees she's smiling to Luke. And he's smiling back. They look happy. Maybe this isn't what she wanted for her daughter, but in the end it was what her daughter wanted. And it obviously made her happy. She looked at Rory. Rory is smiling also…

"Mom."

"Emily?"

"What?" Emily finally realized they where talking to her.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh nothing."

"Don't tell me it's nothing mom. I can see that there is something."

Emily smiled. "I noticed how happy you are."

"What?"

"You look happy."

"I am. I am happy."

"Good. Lorelai, I want you to know that I'm happy if your happy."

"What?" She looked at her mother, confused.

"I know that I didn't approved your relationship with Luke from the beginning, and I know that you feel like I want you to have a big wedding. And I do. It's what I always wanted for you. But I also know that it is not you. And it is not Luke. The most important thing is that you get married. You are going to have a baby and you are getting married. And you're happy."

"I am happy." Lorelai was smiling again.

The whole family was standing in the hallway, ready to say their goodbye's. The rest of the dinner had gone very well also. No more words were spoken about the wedding. They knew Luke and Lorelai had to talk about what they wanted in private. And they had a few months to plan the wedding. Rory told her grandparents all about her study program in London. Lorelai loved to see her daughter talk about that. The look on her face showed how happy she was there, even though she missed everybody a lot. Most important, was that the entire evening, no bad words were spoken. It had been a lovely evening, and they almost regretted it was over. But it was late, they had to drive all the way home. Normally it would take about half an hour, but it was snowing very hard so it would probably take a lot longer.

Lorelai walked towards her mother, hugging her. "Mom, thanks for the lovely evening."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?"

"I'm positive. Luke has to open the diner early, and I have to get to the inn early as well."

"Okay, but make sure you drive safe."

"We will."

"Give me a call when you're home."

"But it will be late."

"I know. That doesn't matter. I'll feel better if you call me."

"Okay mom, I will."

She walked to her father, kissing his cheek. "Bye dad."

"Bye Lorelai."

Emily hugged Rory. "It was a pleasant surprise to have you show up."

"It was lovely grandma."

"Make sure you step by at least once more this week."

"I promise I will."

"Good. Goodnight Rory."

"Goodnight grandma." After that Rory also kissed her grandfathers cheek, saying goodbye.

Luke gave both of them a hand, thanking them for the evening. After that they walked outside. Emily and Richard waved till they couldn't see the car anymore. Richard put his arm around the shoulder of his wife. "That was a wonderful evening."

"Yes it was."

Almost an hour later, Lorelai gave her mother a call, telling her that they arrived home save. After she hang up she stepped into the bed, next to Luke. He laid down on his back and she snuggled up against him, her head resting on his shoulder. She took his hand in her own.

"It was a good day."

"Yes it was." He smiled at her. "I love seeing you so happy."

"You know, you're a big part of my happiness right."

"I was hoping that." He kissed her forehead.

"The evening went very well."

"Yes it did."

"So, do you think my mother meant the part about our wedding?"

"I think so. You both learned a lot about each other during the past few months. And I believe that your happiness means a lot to her."

"Thanks."

"For what?" He moved a few hairs out of her face, stroking it behind her face.

"You know, for everything. I just feel like I don't tell you enough how happy I am to be with you, and how much I love you."

"You tell me a lot. And even if you don't, I know anyways. And I love you too."

"I know." She yawned.

"Let's get some sleep. We both have to get out early."

"Don't say that."

He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "Goodnight Lorelai."

"Night Luke."

A/N I hope you guys liked the chapter. This is it for now. I already have some great idea's for the next chapter, which I got when I was babysitting a few days ago. I didn't had the time to start the chapter yet but with the holidays I've got about 2 weeks of so it won't be to long. For now I wish you all a merry Christmas!!