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Chpt 6

"Where's my mother?" Lorelai asked scanning the area.

"I think I saw her go into Miss Patty's with Rory earlier." Said Sookie.

Lorelai didn't know what to do. She looked at Luke, "I have to at least give my mother a heads up. Could you stall my dad for me?" She pleaded.

"How?" asked Luke, not comfortable with spending much time alone with Lorelai's father.

"Um, tell him the truth. Take him to the diner and tell him I went to find mom. That way if there is a big fight, not everyone will see it." Luke nodded.

"Is there anything I can do?" asked Sookie.

"I don't think so, and I wouldn't worry about saving a spot for me at light up, I don't think I'll make it." She said before heading toward Miss Patty's.

Luke walked over to Richard. "Mr. Gilmore?"

Richard turned and smiled politely, "Ah, Luke," he said holding out his hand in greeting, "Have you seen Emily around here?" Luke shook his hand and answered, "Lorelai's gone to find her, she said to wait for them at the diner." Luke motioned towards it, "I could get you something while you wait."

Richard nodded, "That sounds fine, Luke, thank-you." And he followed Luke into the dark diner. Luke turned on a couple lights and offered Richard a seat at the counter. "Coffee?" he asked Richard.

Richard raised a hand, "Oh don't go to any trouble. They shouldn't be long."

"Oh it's no trouble, I always have a pot ready." Said Luke grabbing a mug and turning around to fill it.

"Even when you're closed?" asked Richard confused.

Luke set the coffee in front of Richard then shrugged, "Lorelai."

Richard understood immediately, "Ah yes. Wise man." Richard took his gloves off and set them on the counter. "So how are you two doing anyway?"

'What the hell is taking Lorelai so long?' Luke wondered. "Good, good. How about you?" Luke immediately knew that was a stupid question. "I-I didn't mean..." Luke stuttered trying to apologize.

"It's ok Luke." Richard said, "I guess you went through this with your ex-wife."

Luke looked down at the counter. "It's not fun."

"Definitely not." Agreed Richard. "But did your wife go out for dinner with another man?" he asked thinking he would be shocking Luke.

Luke shifted uncomfortably, "No, actually I caught my wife sleeping with another man at our new house."

It was Richard who was shocked, "Really?! I'm sorry to hear that Luke."

"It was horrible at the time, but our relationship was doomed from the start anyway." Luke said.

"How so?" asked Richard.

Luke paused for a moment, "Well…She wasn't Lorelai."

"Oh." Said Richard, he wasn't sure what to say. "Then why did you marry someone else?"

Luke really hated this conversation and he looked out the window to see if he could see Lorelai coming. "I don't know. I guess I figured it would force me to move on."

"Why didn't you just tell Lorelai how you felt?"

Luke shook his head, "I couldn't."

"And why is that?" Richard asked.

Luke searched for the right words, "I guess I was afraid that I risked the chance of losing my best friend."

"So then what made you change your mind?" Richard asked.

"I decided that the only thing worse than telling her, was seeing her every day and not telling her." Luke shifted again and cleared his throat. "Can we change the subject…I'm not real good at this."

Richard smiled, "Oh, I think you were doing just fine."

Luke let out a short laugh. They remained silent for a few minutes before Richard asked, "So how did you tell her?"

"Excuse me?" asked Luke.

"Did you take her to a special place, play a special song…" Richard saw Luke's confused look. "How did you tell her you loved her?"

Luke picked up the cloth from the cupboard and started to wipe down the counter tops. Hoping that if he ignored the question it would go away.

Richard got the hint. He didn't say anything for a second, then sighed and said, "I told Emily in Paris."

Luke looked at Richard, but Richard didn't notice, he was lost in his own thoughts.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Meanwhile…

Lorelai found her mother at Miss Patty's "Mom!"

"Hello Lorelai. Did you see these quilts? They are magnificent." Emily said running her hand over one of the quilts.

"Yes mom, I know. I bought Rory one for Christmas." She said pulling her mother over to the side.

"What are you doing, Lorelai?" asked Emily annoyed at being pulled around.

Once out of earshot Lorelai turned her mother and told her, "Dad's here."

"Are you joking?" asked Emily looking around the room quickly.

"Yeah mom, I thought it would be really funny to come in here and tell you that." Said Lorelai.

"Well, sometimes with you I need to ask." Defended Emily. "Where is he?"

"Luke took him to the diner so you could have somewhere private to talk."

Emily looked sad, "He doesn't want to talk to me. He's probably just dropping off my clothes."

Lorelai sighed, "If he just wanted to drop off your clothes, he probably wouldn't have come himself. He would've sent Jeeves."

"Who is Jeeves?" Emily asked confused.

"Dad's valet."

"His name is Jeeves?"

"Mom, is now really the time to start wondering about the names of your staff?" Lorelai asked.

Emily walked over to one of the empty chairs and sat down. Lorelai was bewildered, "What are you doing? Dad's waiting."

"He can wait five minutes I'm sure." Emily said, "I just need a moment."

Lorelai let out a sigh and sat down beside her mother. They sat there silent for a moment until Emily said, "I hate this."

Lorelai looked down at her feet, "I know."

They fell silent again. Lorelai hesitantly broke the silence, "We should really go mom. Dad's probably talking Luke into franchising again."

"You love him don't you?" Emily asked Lorelai.

"Who? Dad? Yeah he's swell." Lorelai said avoiding the question.

"No, I mean Luke." Said Emily exasperated.

"Quit stalling mom, let's go." Lorelai said standing up.

"I think you are, and I think he loves you." Emily said not getting up.

Lorelai fidgeted, "What mom? Are you now going to tell me that I could do better? That I shouldn't be with a lowly diner owner?" she said getting defensive.

"No Lorelai. In fact I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about how I treated him before. I wanted you to know that I approve."

"Well, as long as you approve?!" Lorelai said now completely frustrated.

"So have you told him?" Emily persisted.

"Told him what?"

"That you're in love with him."

Lorelai crossed her arms, "Maawwwm."

"I'm not going anywhere until you answer me." Emily said. She could be just as stubborn as Lorelai.

Lorelai fidgeted again. "He makes me happy. Can we go now?"

"Lorelai, puppies make you happy, balloons make you happy, coffee makes you happy, but are you in love with him?" Emily pushed.

"What do you care?" Lorelai asked starting to feel pressured.

"I care because I want what's best for you. I care because I'm concerned that you're too afraid to tell someone you love them. I care because I don't want you to miss your big chance to live happily ever after." Said Emily, hoping that she was getting through.

"What, like you and dad?" Lorelai snapped back. She watched as her mother's face dropped and instantly regretted what she said. "I didn't mean that mom, It's just that….everything is perfect right now. I'm happy, Luke's happy, so why change that?"

"I guess you're right Lorelai." Emily stood up, "Let's go." She walked past Lorelai and headed out the door towards the diner. Lorelai sighed 'just another relaxing night with my parents' then turned to follow Emily.