The Gilmore-Grey Union

By Michael Weyer

POV: Rory

I've just kicked Logan out when the phone rings. I don't want to pick it up. I'm still dealing with Logan being such a jerk to me. I know he's had this attitude and all but this is too much. He's acting like I wanted this and I didn't! I mean, I've wanted to be married but not like this, not to some stranger.

The ringing continues and I finally suck it up and pick up the phone. I bring it up to my ear and speak. "Hello?"

"Rory Gilmore, what the hell is wrong with you?"

I blink at the voice. "Paris?"

She goes on. "I already knew you were on your way down the gutter, Rory but this, this is the final straw! How could you do this? How can you throw your future away so completely?"

"Paris, I…"

"No, don't even try to defend yourself because this is unforgivable! Do you know what you're doing to your mother? Or your grandmother?"

"Wait, Grandma knows?" Icy cold seizes my chest at those words.

"Yeah, she called the Inn and wanted to talk to your mother. I guess she must have found out somehow. But that's not important, what is important is you're going to listen to me right now, Rory!"

"Paris------"

"No, you don't interrupt! Now, I have held my tongue long enough with you quitting Yale. I have tried not to judge you…"

Yeah, like the media and Robert Blake.

"I have tried to understand you and your problems which I still maintain are the fault of that little rich boy punk but this…You get drunk, which is bad enough but you get married to boot? First, do you realize how lucky you are that you weren't taken advantage of, that you weren't raped or mutilated or some other form of fate so horrific it would inspire a 'Law & Order' episode?"

"Paris, can you just calm…"

"But you get married which is far, far worse as you have no college career, no real job, no money of your own and know you have to balance marriage. Well, I am hoping this is your wake-up call, Rory. I'm hoping this makes you realize how low you've sunk and you can start getting yourself back on track because dammit, I need you back on track so I can get back on track!"

I close my eyes and rub my forehead as her rant continues. I've known Paris long enough to know that she's like a volcano, you just have to let her erupt and then wait for the air to clear afterward. She's going on about statistics of young marriages and pregnancies and the difficulty in handling it all and I'm just trying to tune her out and hope I can get a word in edgewise.

Before I can, there's a beep and I let out a breath of relief. "Paris, wait, I've got another call."

"Oh, don't you even try, Rory because I just-----"

I quickly switch over. "Hello?" Anyone has to be better than Paris.

"Rory? It's your grandmother."

And once again, my predictions are more off than the Ohio vote.

"Um…hi, Grandma. Um…you know?"

"Yes." Her voice is chilly, it's never chilly with me but now it is. "And I am not at all happy about it, I can assure you."

I take a deep breath. "Grandma, listen, we're figuring this out, we'll try to find a way to get it handled now…"

"Actually…your grandfather wants him to come home with you."

I stare at the phone. "Um, excuse me?"

"Yes. He wants to at least meet this man before we make any future decisions."

I lick my lips. "Grandma…I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Rory, with all respect…you are not exactly making the best of decisions recently."

I wince at her words. Really, I do. She goes on about how it's proper decorum and all that and as she does, I think more than ever I understand just how Mom has felt all these years.

Once more, Bad Rory Grey.