Author's Note: Thank you again for the reviews. I still don't own Gilmore Girls.

Chapter 12
"Tension and Meetings"

"Hey," Rory said as Logan opened the door to his apartment.

"Hey Ace," he replied as he ushered her through the door. "I thought you were coming over earlier."

"That was the plan," Rory said taking a seat on the couch. "My Grandma stopped by unannounced."

"Again?" Logan asked.

"Yeah," Rory said. "Unfortunately it's becoming more of a habit than I thought."

"You know," Logan said slowly as he sat down next to her. "You could always stay here if life in the pool house is a little too close."

Rory was taken aback by Logan's offer. She hadn't expected it at all. "Wow," Rory said aloud. "Thank you. I can't accept it, but it's more than appreciated that you offered."

"No problem Ace," Logan said leaning forward casually to grab the television remote control. "I know how it is when you just want to be left alone and people get in the way."

"Well I don't want to be left alone exactly," Rory said.

"Oh come on. First your Mom didn't back your decision to leave school, now your grandparents are all over you like you owe them something," Logan said a bit heatedly.

"They're not all over me," Rory replied timidly.

"You're just trying to figure things out on your own. Don't they get that you're an adult? You can make your own decisions without someone there to hold your hand and give you approval."

"Logan," Rory said a bit more forcefully. "They're not all over me. But are you okay? It seems like you're projecting a little."

"I'm fine," Logan scoffed. "I just think it's ridiculous that your family and my family continue to pick us apart like we're not living up to their expectations. Hovering over us every minute of the day isn't going to force us to be who they want us to be."

"Did you have a fight with your Dad or something?" Rory asked. She'd never really seen Logan get very heated about the topic of her family. She figured something must have happened to bring on his anti-family mood.

"No, my Dad had a 'talk' with me today," Logan replied using air quotes. "He still doesn't think I'm living up to my potential. Now, with this boat incident he threatened to cut me off."

"I'm so sorry," Rory said reaching out and rubbing his back slightly.

"Yeah, me too," Logan replied. "Your grandparents think stealing a boat was some sort of irresponsible prank. My Father thinks it's a sign of a dangerous pattern developing," he continued adopting a deep tone to imitate Mitchum.

"You don't really think he'll cut you off do you?"

"I don't know," Logan said suddenly very sullen. "I've never seen him like that. He seemed pretty serious."

"Maybe once you get back from Mexico he'll have had time to cool down."

"There is no Mexico Rory," Logan said a little angrily as he stood up. "All my credit cards are gone and now I have to go to the house to get a weekly allowance. It's my parent's chance to check up on my, like a weekly progress report or something."

"I'm so sorry," Rory said again. "I feel like this is all my fault. If I hadn't have taken that boat--"

"If you hadn't have taken the boat, I'd have found some other way to misbehave and incur my Father's wrath," Logan finished for her. "I'm sure Finn would have been involved somehow."

"What can I do? I want to make this better," Rory said.

"There's nothing you can do," Logan replied settling back in on the couch next to her. "We just have to wait this out. My hearing is next week, how about yours?"

"Yep, next week," Rory replied glumly resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Your grandparents didn't want to use my lawyer?" Logan asked.

"No, they wanted to arrange it themselves," Rory said.

"You really should have them call Brandon," Logan persisted. "He's the best at what he does. Trust me, I know from experience."

"Thanks, but I'm sure it will be fine. This guy is a friend of my Grandpa's from way back."

"Rory I really think--"

"It'll be fine," Rory said cutting him off.

For the remainder of the evening Logan and Rory just sat in silence pretending to watch the television. Every so often Logan would laugh, but it seemed forced, as if he were willing himself to enjoy the night. Rory allowed herself a grin or chuckle every so often, but inside she was thinking about nothing but the upcoming hearing and her colossal mistake. Around eleven Logan walked Rory to her car and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips before she left for the night. It was one of the most awkward, lonely nights she'd spent with anyone in a very long time.

Luke awoke to sound of an upbeat, annoying chirp and he scanned the room for the device that chirped incessantly. He turned to see Lorelai still in a deep sleep under the covers next to him. The noise continued and Luke realized that it was coming from Lorelai's cell phone, which was buried under a heap of clothing and a Canadian Mountie hat. He finally fumbled through the pile and found the phone.

"Hello?" he said hoarsely.

"Who is this?" the voice on the other end demanded.

"Luke Danes, who is this?" he replied suddenly realizing that he knew the voice.

"It's Emily Gilmore," she replied curtly. "I'm looking for my daughter."

"Sure," Luke said tiredly. "Hold on one minute Emily."

Luke padded back over to the bed and nudged Lorelai as he lay down next to her again. "Lorelai," he said. "Wake up."

Lorelai heard Luke's voice, but in response she just grumbled something incoherent. "Lorelai," Luke tried again as he closed his eyes. "Your Mom is on the phone."

"Huh?" Lorelai said slowly waking.

"Mom, phone," Luke said tapping her arm with the cell phone.

Lorelai was finally in the land of the conscious and her eyes snapped open when Luke's words finally made sense.

"Why?" Lorelai cried softly. "Why did you answer it?"

"The incessant beeping was driving me insane," Luke said sleepily. "Here."

Lorelai took the phone from him and propped herself up with her chin on Luke's chest as she placed his arm around her.

"Hello?" she said.

"Did I interrupt something?" Emily asked.

"Yes, my well-deserved sleep," Lorelai replied as she looked at the clock and noted the time. "It's seven o'clock! Mom, it is seven o'clock on a Saturday morning. Why are you calling me at seven o'clock on Saturday morning? Is Rory okay? Is she hurt?"

"Rory is fine," Emily replied casually. "If you didn't want to be disturbed you should have turned off your cell phone."

"I forgot it was on," Lorelai replied fully awake after her adrenaline started pumping. "What do you need?"

"I want to talk to you," Emily said.

"You're talking right now."

"I want to have a proper meeting with you."

"I don't."

"Lorelai, I know you're not too happy with me right now, but there are things we need to discuss," Emily insisted.

"Does it have anything to do with you talking Rory into going back to Yale? Because if not, then we have nothing to talk about."

"Can we meet for lunch today?' Emily asked.

"Did you not hear me Mom?"

"I heard you," Emily replied. "I want to talk about the hearing. It's next week."

"Rory's hearing is next week?" Lorelai asked. "Why didn't anyone say anything sooner? When is it?"

"On Wednesday at ten o'clock," Emily replied.

"You're kidding me? You're kidding me right?" Lorelai asked.

"No I am not kidding you," Emily said.

"I can't go," Lorelai said sitting up and pulling the sheet with her. Luke finally reopened his eyes and sat up next to her.

"What do you mean you can't go?" Emily said.

"It means that I have a huge meeting scheduled with the architect and the bank and heating and cooling people and I can't cancel it. Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" Lorelai said agitated. Luke reached over and rubbed her shoulder gently to try to calm her down. Not knowing what she was agitated about it was hard for him to know if comfort was what she needed.

"I thought Rory would have told you," Emily replied surprised. "She didn't say anything?"

"No, Mom, she didn't," Lorelai replied.

"That's very unlike her," Emily said aloud, even though she meant to keep that comment internal.

"Yeah, it is," Lorelai scoffed. "Kind of like everything else in her life lately."

"Lorelai, can we please meet for lunch today?" Emily asked again.

"I'm really busy," Lorelai said.

"Please," Emily said a bit forcefully. "I'll come to Stars Hollow. It won't take longer than an hour."

"Fine," Lorelai sighed feeling tired and tense. "One o'clock at the Dragonfly?"

"Thank you," Emily said. "I'll see you then."

"Fine," Lorelai replied as she hung up the phone. She looked at Luke who was watching her expectantly. "Why did you answer the phone?"

"What happened?" Luke asked.

"Well, because it's seven in the morning on a Saturday I didn't have my excuse file ready and I got roped into having lunch with my mother. In addition, I just found out that Rory's hearing is next Wednesday and I can't go because I'm having a first year walk-through with about a dozen people at the inn."

"There's no way to change it?" Luke asked.

"No," Lorelai sighed and she rested her head on Luke's chest again. "It took me about three weeks of coordinating to get this meeting scheduled. There's no way I can reschedule."

"Can I go for to the meeting for you? Or can I go to court for you?" Luke asked trying to be helpful.

"I love you for offering, but no," Lorelai said.

"Well if you change your mind," Luke said.

"I know where to find you," Lorelai affirmed.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked concerned.

"I will be," she replied. After a moment of laying in comfortable silence she added, "Hey, why are you here? Caesar doesn't usually open on Saturday."

"I called him and asked if he'd mind," Luke replied.

"You were so sure you were getting lucky last night?" Lorelai replied.

"Let's just say, if you hadn't shown up at the diner I would have been at your door last night."

"Ooh, with a boom box playing In Your Eyes full blast outside my window?" Lorelai asked hopefully.

"All night until my arms got tired of holding it over my head," Luke placated her.

"That's why you're the best boyfriend in the whole world," Lorelai said snuggling into his chest. "So, let me get this straight. It's seven in the morning on a Saturday and we're both awake with no place to go for several hours. What to do? What to do?" Lorelai let her fingers wander playfully around Luke's chest and forearm.

"Hmm, I don't know," Luke pretended to be puzzled.

"I think that Mountie hat is calling your name," Lorelai said as she leaned in to kiss him.

"It's really that much of a turn on?" Luke chuckled as he nipped playfully at her lips.

"What can I say, I'm a sucker for a man in uniform," Lorelai grinned as Luke planted small kissed down her neck and up and down her collar bone.

"Your wish is my command," Luke said reached down and retrieving the hat from the floor. They spent the next two hours curled up together as if the outside world had stopped. Lorelai realized that lately it seemed that whenever she was with Luke she felt at ease and happy. She wasn't consumed with worry or guilty or stress over Rory, her parents or work. She was simply content in his arms.

TBC