Disclaimer: I do not hold the rights to anything creative at all. I wish I could figure out how to invent and therefore own spray-on iron so that my clothes would be a little less rumpled and a little more crisp.
AN: First, thanks bunches to everyone that reviews. I really would like some imput so even if you review to be like hey you are really mean about Rory that's cool cuz it is a review! I hope everyone likes this chapter, I know I made Rory really, reallyUber-Witchy (bad word insert) but it will help later on in the story and I needed to show more how it is affecting Lorelai in this chapter and the evil pod Rory was needed for that affect. Also I threw in some obscure movie hints. 10 points to the first person to get them(there is only 2). So please do not hate me for my own Rory hatred, you should be proud I didn't kill her off like i did in many of my other drafts of other stories that didn't get posted because I kept killing her off in Wicked Witch of the West type of ways. REVIEW!
Chapter 3: We've Been Through Some Changes
Three months from the previous events
Lorelai was sitting in her newly remodeled living room watching Luke move around bookcases so that they were in the "most non-visible place in the room but yet are easily accessible". The house was completely finished, the workers worked extra hard what with the food and "shows" that they were getting almost daily and finished what was judged to be a six month job in just slightly over three. Nearly everything in the house was changed with the exception of the kitchen and Rory's room. The door remained shut, no one going in or asking about since the day Lorelai blew up at TJ. The windows were open and Lorelai was wrapped in blanket waiting for Luke to stop fussing so they could start their scary movie marathon. October was in full-bloom with all of its craziness; Taylor was preparing for the annual All Hollow's Eve extravaganza, the Dragonfly was booked nearly every weekend for fall weddings, and the Poe Society was back for its yearly Poe readings. The only thing that was missing was Rory's birthday celebration plans.
Luke finished moving the bookcases around and started a fire in the fireplace before turning out the lights for the movie. He glanced at Lorelai at the couch and tried once again to think of a way to get that light back in her eyes. He knew she tried to act normal and not think about Rory and the fact that not only did she refuse to talk to her, but changed her cell phone number so that her mother couldn't even attempt to contact her. Luke agreed with Lorelai that it wouldn't be right to set a wedding date without Rory being there to help plan and participate but the way things were going it seemed like they were never going to set a date. Luke leaned back on one of the couch and pulled Lorelai against him, at the same time pushing Paul Anka off the couch and unto the floor. He once again was shocked at how thin Lorelai was becoming. He knew that she was barely eating with the same exuberance that she once did, but it still shocked him at how the lack of food was affecting her. As she started the movie he looked at the coffee table and noticed the lack of junk food. All that was there was some popcorn, plain barely salted popcorn.
"Hey, you want me to get you some Red Vines?" asked Luke softly, already knowing what the answer is going to be.
"Nah, I'm not very hungry."
"How about some coffee?"
"Not thirsty."
Luke knew that after that night in Hartford, Lorelai stopped drinking coffee and eating junk food. The connection that those things held to Rory was making it too difficult for her to even enjoy the thought of them and hadn't touched any of it since then. He couldn't help asking however hoping that maybe her old self would come out. As they started the movie and he held Lorelai tighter Luke thought back to the last few months.
After the fateful meeting in Hartford Lorelai made many attempts to contact Rory, calling, emailing, regular mail; all in an attempt to try and make Rory understand that Lorelai wasn't disappointed or ashamed or her but rather worried that she was doing what Lorelai did best, running. Rory changed her email address and cell phone number and the letters were all return to sender. She effectively cut herself off from Lorelai and refused any association with her. When Sookie asked Lorelai and Rory to be god-mothers to her children she thought it would be a chance for them to talk, however Rory came, held Davy, said the appropriate things at the appropriate times, refused any eye contact with her mother or Luke, and left the minute the baptism was over. Lorelai managed to keep her head up the entire time, but the second they left the reception she collapsed in Luke's arms and he had to carry her home. He once again realized that this schism was slowly killing her.
With this knowledge he bit the bullet and went to Hartford and tried to talk to Rory. When he knocked on the pool-house door and watched as Rory answered it, he was shocked at the hardness and lack of understanding on her face. The conversation that followed was not much better that the look on her face.
"What do you want Luke?" Rory said almost bitterly.
"I just wanted to talk to you about your mother."
"What mother? The mother that kicked me out, the mother that will not leave me to make my own decisions, or the mother that sends her fiancé to come and get me to talk to her?"
"Rory, this is killing her. Don't you care?" Luke had asked, shocked that sweet Rory was acting like this.
"She made her bed, now she can lie in it. I'm going to bed; I have community service in the morning." With that last statement she closed the door in Luke's face leaving him standing there stunned at what just happened.
"Luke?" he heard a female voice ask in disbelief.
As Luke whipped around he knew that Emily Gilmore was standing behind him and a shot of anger went through him, but he held it down. He wasn't here to fight with her parents, he was here to help and fighting would not be helping.
"Mrs. Gilmore. Hi…I was…umm…I just wanted to talk to Rory."
"Did you get anywhere with her?"
Luke was shocked at the look of concern on her face and realized that whether or not she hated him, that right now came after whatever was going on with Rory.
"No, she doesn't want to talk to anyone connected with Lorelai I guess."
"Is she okay?" asked Emily quietly with a slight tremor in her voice.
Luke looked at her trying to read her expression in the pale moon light. For once, dealing with her wasn't like dancing with the devil; she actually seemed concerned about Lorelai. He decided to answer her honestly as he could without betraying any confidences that Lorelai put in him.
"I think she knows what you went through when she left. I just hope it doesn't kill her. She might talk to you now, maybe give her some news about Rory, it would help." With that Luke walked to his truck.
"Luke!" He heard Emily call and stopped as he was about to get in his truck. "Tell her I am sorry."
"It might sound better coming from you, but I will tell her," Luke said as he drove away, leaving Emily with her thoughts and Rory staring out the window.
Lorelai shifted in his arms, bringing him back from his thoughts. She looked up at him and tried to smile like she used to but failed.
"Have you returned your mother's phone call yet?" he asked her gently. He had told Lorelai about his visit to Hartford and that her mother wanted to talk to her. He was shocked when Emily called a week after the meeting to try and talk to Lorelai. Lorelai being herself was scared to talk, but after listening to Emily call once a day for week, finally got the nerve to call her back.
"Yes, task-master. We are having lunch tomorrow at the inn. She seemed actually genuine when we were talking, Luke. She apologized for what she and dad did. I have never, ever heard Emily Gilmore apologize, it scared me." Lorelai said her own voice trembling.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Luke asked, even though he knew the answer.
"Nothing other than that my daughter hates me, she is not acting like herself, and it's her birthday in 6 hours and for the first time in 21 years I will not be there to tell her the story of how she was born. Why does she hate me so much Luke? What did I do other than try and not let her give up on her dream?" Lorelai said before breaking into body-wrenching sobs.
As was routine for the couple now, Luke pulled Lorelai on his lap and tried to comfort her the best he could. Paul Anka walked over and lent his comfort too. Luke wondered once again what he could do, but other than finding a DeLorean and stealing some Plutonium he was out of ideas. Rory wasn't acting like herself, Lorelai's grief was slowly killing her, and Luke had officially run out of ideas.
"I need Rory," whimpered Lorelai before falling into an uneasy sleep.
"I know, baby. I know."
AN2: Isn't Luke sweet. Group AWWWWW now. Next chapter will have more Rory/Logan interaction, a bit of Emily/Richard, and the lunch between the elder Gilmore Girls. Also a mysterious character will appear driving a beat up car and wearing a leather coat but missing a certain chip on his shoulder. (no points for that I am trying to follow the season as best as I can but still be creative!)