Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews!

Chapter 6
"Pot roast with a side of antacid"

Lorelai returned to the dining room table and slunk into her seat next to look. Luke looked over at her and gave her a look of concern, mixed with relief that she had finally returned to the table. She could only imagine the conversation he'd had with her parents while she was gone. Lorelai did notice, however, that his beer glass, half-full when she left, was now completely empty. She gave him a small, sad smile to reassure him and she placed her napkin over her lap.

"Where's Rory?" Emily asked.

"She should be coming," Lorelai replied picking at her plate.

"Leaving the table in mid-meal is wildly--"

"Inappropriate, I know," Lorelai finished for her mother shoving a piece of potato in her mouth.

Rory returned to the table, her eyes downcast and looking glum. Emily placed her fork on her plate glanced at Richard, who seemed more concerned with his vegetables than with Rory.

"Are you alright?" Emily asked Rory in a serious tone.

"I didn't take her out back and rough her up Mom," Lorelai interjected.

"I didn't insinuate that you did Lorelai," Emily retorted. "I'm asking my granddaughter if she's okay."

"I'm fine Grandma," Rory replied sullenly.

"You don't look fine," Emily muttered. She waited a moment before bellowing, "Janet!"

The maid entered the room, her eyes darting from face to face. If she hadn't looked quite so terrified Luke might have thought it was funny.

"We're done with dinner," Emily said. "Please get dessert ready."

At that moment the doorbell rang and Rory's head shot up from her plate. She quickly threw her napkin on the table and stood up. "I'll get it," she said eagerly.

"Janet can get the door," Emily said.

"No, it's okay," Rory said walking out. "It's probably Logan. I can show him in."

Rory practically ran out of the room and Lorelai glanced at Luke. He looked different somehow. She wasn't sure she could place it, but there was something there. His eyes looked defeated, yet defiant. Lorelai sincerely hoped that he didn't take anything her parent's might have said while she was gone to heart. She knew she would have to talk to him about it later. For the moment she said, "The cavalry has arrived."

"What's that?" Emily asked.

"Nothing," Lorelai said sipping her drink. "I was just saying how excited I am that Logan could join us for dessert."

"Logan is a fine boy. He's got quite a future ahead of him."

"I'm sure," Lorelai said skeptically.

"I'm sure he'll make a wonderful partner for Rory. He supports her and he's financially sound. He'll be able to provide the type of like Rory deserves," Emily said a little too pointedly. Luke cleared his throat forcefully and Richard folded his hands together silently.

"Ah, the joys of arranged marriages," Lorelai said turning to Luke.

Rory could hear her Lorelai and Emily bickering again and she smiled as she pulled open the front door to find Logan.

"Hey Ace," she said.

Rory said nothing. She threw arms around his neck and buried her head in his shoulder. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Logan said as he returned her hug.

"I'm just glad you're finally here," she said with a sigh.

"Hey, it's okay," he said entering the house with Rory still attached to his neck. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Rory said. "My Mom and I just had a thing and my Grandma and my Mom have been sniping at each other all night and I'm just really glad that you're here."

"Well I'm glad I could be here," he said as she finally let him go.

As Rory pulled away from her she noticed that he had a bouquet of flowers in his hand. She thought for a moment that they were for her, but she realized that they were probably for her Grandmother. Logan was raised in a house where etiquette dictated bringing a gift after all. Rory showed him into the dining room and everyone to greet him.

"Logan," Emily said a bit too happily. "It's so nice to see you again."

"You as well Mrs. Gilmore," Logan replied. "Mr. Gilmore. Lorelai."

"That's Luke," Rory said gesturing toward Luke.

"We've met," Logan said walking over to the other side of the table and extending his hand. "I don't think we were properly introduced though."

"No, we definitely weren't," Luke replied recalling how he'd met Logan at the elder Gilmore's vow renewal. It was a meeting he'd just as soon forget.

"Lorelai, these are for you," Logan said handing Lorelai the bouquet of flowers that Rory had assumed were for Emily. "I didn't know you'd be here the last time I was over for dinner and I wanted to make it up to you."

"There was no need," Lorelai said through gritted teeth. "Really."

"No, I insist. It was my pleasure," Logan replied as he made his way back to Rory's side of the table. "How is the insurance business Mr. Gilmore? My mother mentioned that Henderson Mitchell was going to put up quite a fight over that settlement your company finagled out of him."

Richard seemed to perk up slightly. "Henderson is all talk," Richard replied. "I'm sure our lawyers will make him things our way."

"I'm sure they will," Logan replied with a toothy grin. "So Luke, are you in the insurance business?"

"No, I'm not," Luke replied as Janet cleared his plate. "I own a diner in Stars Hollow."

"Really?" Logan said.

"Luke makes the best cheeseburgers in the world," Rory added.

"I don't know if I'd say that," Luke replied sheepishly.

"Don't let him lie to you," Rory added. "Luke knows just the right cheese to burger ratio."

"Well it sounds like we'll have to go there sometime," Logan said.

"You should stop by," Luke replied sensing an opening for Rory to come visit Stars Hollow. He was uncertain of what Lorelai and Rory discussed outside, but he thought it could hurt to extend the offer. "I'm sure Lane would love to see you, if she's not on tour anyway."

"On tour?" Rory asked puzzled. It had been days, probably weeks since Rory had spoken to Lane. "With the band?"

"Yeah," Luke nodded. "She's taking some time off to travel with the band. Mrs. Kim arranged the whole thing."

"Mrs. Kim?" Rory asked incredulously. Janet leaned in and placed a bowl piece of pie in front of Rory.

"It sounds like you haven't talked to Lane in a while," Emily said.

"I guess I haven't," Rory replied stunned that her best friend was going on tour with the band and she didn't know about it.

"We'll have to find out where their playing," Logan suggested.

"What type of music does Lane's band play?" Emily asked.

"Nothing you'd know," Lorelai mumbled.

"Maybe not," Emily replied hearing her daughter's comment. "But I'm curious to know."

"They play mostly covers and some original tunes," Rory replied.

"But nothing I'd know," Emily stated with an attitude.

"Probably not," Rory replied hesitantly.

"You're awfully quiet Richard," Emily changed the focus of the conversation.

"I just have some work on my mind," Richard replied absently.

"So, Logan," Lorelai said turning her attention to her daughter's boyfriend. "What do you think about Rory's big decision?"

"Mom," Rory said warningly.

"What? I'm just curious what Logan thinks about your new living situation, dropping out of Yale. I mean, if his family didn't like you before, I suspect they aren't going to be on the Rory bandwagon anytime soon, unless of course you're leaving Yale to attend finishing school."

"Lorelai," Luke said quietly trying to calm her down.

"Lorelai Gilmore," Emily said aghast. "You apologize to Logan this instant."

Logan didn't quite know how to respond. He sensed that Lorelai was definitely not his biggest fan, but he didn't expect her to be so very blunt about it.

"Logan, I'm so sorry," Rory said starting to apologize for her mother when Logan interrupted her.

"No, it's okay," Logan said patting her hand, but looking directly at Lorelai. "My family behaved horribly when Rory came to dinner and I have no real excuse for them. I've apologized to Rory for their behavior. I can only hope that you won't judge me by my family. I think we'd all like to be judged on our own merits and not our families." Logan cocked his eyebrow in a way that made Lorelai see he was drawing a parallel between his family and hers. He had a point of course, but his expression also made her want to jump across the table and smack him.

"Logan, I'm so sorry for Lorelai's abhorrent behavior," Emily said apologetically.

"And what does your father think of Rory's change in plans? It seems he was quite instrumental in her decision." Lorelai pressed on, unconcerned with her family's reaction to her line of questioning. She felt Luke grab her hand under the table and squeeze it in an attempt to rein her in.

"Lorelai," she heard her father say.

"Yes Dad?" Lorelai replied casually.

"This is not the time or place for this conversation."

"Really? Because I kind of think this is perfect time and place for it," Lorelai responded. "I've got Logan right here in front me and Rory has no intention of coming home anytime soon. When would be a good time for this conversation?"

"Lorelai," Luke said softly. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Not now," she replied seriously.

"I think now would be best," Luke said more forcefully as he stood up and took her by the hand. Rory gave Luke an appreciative glance while Emily and Richard looked on. Lorelai gave in and followed Luke out into the foyer.

"What?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm just going to assume that the talk with Rory didn't go well," Luke replied meaningfully.

"No, it didn't go well," she sighed. "Why did you pull me out here?"

"It wasn't obvious? I was saving you from yourself. You were about to go Full Metal Jacket on that kid."

"I was not," Lorelai scoffed.

"You didn't see it," Luke said approaching her. "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not," Lorelai admitted feebly. "She's not Rory. I don't know how to get through to her anymore. All of sudden it's like I don't know how to connect with her. She's my kid. She's my best friend and I don't know how to get her to listen to me."

Luke stood behind Lorelai and rubbed her shoulders gently. "I can't imagine how hard this is on you, he said quietly. "But, I don't think ripping into Logan is going to make you feel better."

"Says who?" Lorelai said. She took a deep breath as Luke massaged her shoulders expertly. "I should have let you and Christopher kill him at my parent's wedding. Rory was never like this before she met him. Everything that's happened is all his fault."

"You don't believe that," Luke said.

"Yes, I do," she replied wide-eyes and serious.

"Fine, you might believe that," Luke conceded. "But think about this. If you go back in there and lay into that kid it's not going to help you and Rory. Attacking her boyfriend isn't what you want to do."

"How did you get to be so smart with the parenting?" Lorelai asked.

"By watching you," he said.

Lorelai turned and gave him a small sad smile and kissed him gently on the lips. She took a deep breath and sighed. "So how bad was it?"

"It could have been worse," Luke said. "But it was getting a little tense."

"Yeah," Lorelai nodded and bit her lip. "I didn't think I'd be having crow for dessert tonight. Were my parents civil to you while we were outside?"

"It was fine," Luke replied evasive.

"What a glowing endorsement," Lorelai said teasing him.

"Let's just say I'm glad you came back when you did," Luke said.

Lorelai started walking back to the dining room and Luke tugged at her hand. "Are you sure you're ready to go back in?"

"It's now or never," Lorelai said and she turned to walk back into the dining room. When Lorelai set foot in the dining room the conversation between those at the table seemed to immediately cease. Rory refused to look at her, Emily gave Lorelai her patented disapproving glare, while Richard and Logan seemed unaffected by her presence.

"So, it's been pointed out to me by a very reliable source that I might win the Academy Award for the roll of Bad Cop at tonight's dinner," Lorelai tried to make light as Luke settled into his chair beside her. "Logan, I apologize for coming down on you tonight. It was out of line. I guess I'm just trying to see things from Rory's point of view and it's a little hard right now. I didn't mean to imply that you were at fault and I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Logan replied. "My parents had the same reaction when I took some time off."

Emily looked over at Lorelai incredulous. She had never seen her daughter backtrack so quickly or eloquently. She wondered what Luke had said to her in the foyer to make her completely change her tune when her own warnings seemed to be wholly ignored.

Rory was surprised by her mother's apology and grateful that Luke had talked some sense into her, but she wasn't quite ready to forgive and forget the attack on Logan. She shifted in her seat and avoided eye contact with Lorelai for the rest of dessert. The conversation, though strained, continued for another few minutes before everyone's pie had been mostly picked over, none of them truly hungry.

"Well, I think we should get going," Lorelai said as Janet cleared the plates.

"You're leaving?" Emily asked surprised. She assumed Lorelai would want to stay late into the evening for a chance to speak to Rory again. She seemed to be giving up rather easily.

"Yes," Lorelai said as if it were obvious. She stood up and Luke followed obligingly. He was also a bit surprised by Lorelai's abrupt exit. "Thank you for having us."

"Yes, thanks," Luke offered. Everyone at the table stood, but Rory refused to make eye contact with Lorelai as they walked toward the foyer.

"I guess I'll see you?" Lorelai said to Rory.

"Yeah, you'll see me," Rory replied.

"Before you turn 30?" Lorelai clarified.

"I'll call you," Rory said just hoping her mother would leave.

"Anytime you know that right? You can call me anytime you want to talk," Lorelai said seriously.

"I know," Rory said wrapping her arms around herself. "Bye."

"Bye," Lorelai replied a bit hurt.

"It was nice to see you Rory," Luke offered.

"It was nice seeing you Luke," she replied. "If you see Lane tell her I'll give her a call soon."

"I'll do that," Luke said as they left.

"Goodnight," Emily called as she shut the door behind them. "Logan, again I apologize for Lorelai. I never thought she'd behave that way."

"It wasn't a big deal Mrs. Gilmore," Logan said.

"Grandma we're gonna go back to the pool house," Rory said taking Logan's hand.

"Alright," Emily said. "Are you okay? I know seeing your mother must have been difficult."

"It was fine," Rory dismissed her. "I'm just a little tired. Logan and I are going to hang out for a little while."

"Well goodnight," Emily said. "It was lovely to see you again Logan."

"You as well Mrs. Gilmore," Logan replied with a smile. "Mr. Gilmore," he nodded as they walked toward the back door.

"Night Grandpa," Rory said.

"Goodnight Rory," Richard replied.

After Logan and Rory had left the house and the door shut behind them Emily and Richard exchanged a glance. Emily sighed deeply, "Well that was horrific. I can't believe you just sat there while Lorelai attacked Logan."

"What would you have had me do Emily? Lorelai doesn't listen to anyone, let alone you and me."

"We just sat there mute. What were you thinking about anyway?"

"I was thinking about the conversation we had with Luke if you must know," Richard replied.

"Luke?" Emily scoffed. "Please."

"He was serious Emily," Richard said gravely. "You dismiss him too easily and whether you approve or not, he loves our daughter."

"What exactly are you saying Richard?" Emily questioned him.

"I'm saying we need to think about what he said tonight and think about it seriously. He knows Lorelai better than we do. We're her own parents and a diner owner knows her better than we do."

"We have Rory to deal with right now," Emily replied. "The situation with Lorelai can wait. She'll get over this, she always does."

"I'm afraid there might some a time when she doesn't," Richard said.

"How did Luke get to you like this? This situation with Rory was your plan Richard. You spoke with her and you set this in motion. I went along with it because you said it was the best thing for everyone and I believed you."

"Are you saying you were on Lorelai's side? The way you fawn all over Logan Huntzberger you wouldn't know it," Richard shot at her as he walked into the living room to pour a glass of scotch.

"Lorelai came to us and we told her we'd help her," Emily said. "The next thing I knew you were telling me the plan had changed and I went along with it whole-heartedly. You're changing your mind now?"

"I'm not changing my mind Emily," he replied sternly. "I'm merely thinking about what Luke said at dinner more carefully. Did that conversation bother you at all?"

"Of course it did," Emily replied. "That's exactly why I don't wish to think about it right now."

"Well we'd better start thinking about it Emily, before it's too late," Richard finished off his drink. "I have a call to make, excuse me for a moment."

Richard left Emily sitting on the couch thinking about the conversation they'd had with Luke. It bothered her more than she wanted to say at the time, but Lorelai's behavior at dinner almost made her forget it. She was hoping to put it out of her mind, but now that she knew Richard was concerned about it she was as well.

Richard never flinched in the face of adversity, but something about Luke's words had shaken him to the core. He couldn't place the anxiety that he felt but he knew it was familiar. He sat down at his desk and ruminated on the conversation hoping to find something to help him resolve his feelings about the information Luke had shared with them that evening.

TBC