Summery: Lorelai finds herself spending Christmas alone, until Luke's plans are altered and they decide to keep each other company. Set in Season 3. JJ

Disclaimer: I could not, would not own it in a box. I could not, would not own it with a fox. I could not, would not own it here or there. I could not, would not own it anywhere. I do not own Gilmore Girls and friends. I do not own them and hereI cringe. Okay, that was awful. In other words, I don't own it.

Blue Christmas

Chapter 1: Christmas by Myself This Year

Lorelai Gilmore jetted her jeep off the Stars Hollow exit a little faster then she should have been going, singing along to the cranked Christmas Wrapping blaring from her car stereo. This song from the Waitresses always meant Christmas to her. She would serenade Rory with it whenever they decorated their eclectic tree. This year, however, the song had new meaning. When the stanza "Christmas by myself this year…" melodically made their way to her ears, the words caught in her throat and she couldn't will herself to sing them. Lorelai truly was spending Christmas by herself. Rory had been invited to spend the week before Christmas, including Christmas Eve, with her grandparents in Cape Cod. Her perfect and polite daughter felt obligated to attend and Lorelai tried hard not to sound disappointed when she said she would go. The truth was, she was disappointed. Even a little upset. Okay, yes she would still get to spend Christmas Day with her daughter; her parents hadn't denied that right. But, the week before Christmas was as good, no, maybe better, than Christmas Day itself. Ever since she moved to Stars Hollow the decorating, the picking out of the tree, the participation in the town's Christmas pageant and living nativity, the Christmas Eve dinner at Luke's, the Christmas Day lunch at Sookie's, and the shopping for gifts had always been with Rory. The build up and culmination of these events was Christmas to Lorelai and this year, Rory would be missing it. It was like she wasn't going to spend her daughter's last Christmas before college with her.

Lorelai felt depressed as she made her way through the narrow streets, speeding up when she saw Taylor waving his fist at her driving in the town square. Annoying Taylor generally had the ability to cheer her out of any mood, but she was not uplifted this time. Her daughter's departure to Cape Cod was heavy on her thoughts. Okay, so Rory isn't here this Christmas. I have spent Christmases without her. Okay, what did I do on Christmas before Rory? Hmmm, I was 16; I spent them with my parents. Alright, moving on now… Ideas, Christmas ideas, hmmm. Cookies, note to self; pick up Christmas looking sugar cookies from Doose's or Weston's. You know who makes good cookies…Sookie! And, cookie and Sookie rhyme. Why have I not thought of that before? I figured out that Luke and Duke rhymed when I first met him. Moving on…I could spend Christmas Eve with Sookie and Jackson. I mean, Rory and I eat with them the next day anyway, I'm sure Sookie wouldn't mind if I tagged along with them the night before our lunch. Maybe we could go see a movie or hit the Christmas Carnival in the town square. There are some possibilities here. Well, I may feel like a third wheel here, but it's certainly better than being alone and pathetic at home, watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' on the Turner Classic Movies channel. Crap, but if I do that I'll miss Christmas Eve dinner with Luke. That's not good. Okay, back-up plan…Christmas Eve with Sook and Jackson, skip out on dinner with Luke and Jess. Rory comes home on Christmas Day, we go over to Sookie's for lunch and have dinner with Luke. Not bad, not bad. Rory will like that because she'll get to spend Christmas dinner with her boyfriend. Okay, liking this more and more. Maybe I should go clear this with Sookie…

Even though she was nearly to her driveway, Lorelai whipped her jeep around in a splendid hurry. Fast was the pace of Christmas. Everyone around her always scrambled. She often found herself in the hurried hub as she bustled about the inn during the month of December, adding decorations here or there, and dealing with the holiday rush. At times, she relished the rush of adrenaline she felt when she performed her Christmas tasks. Despite her speed in the jeep, she felt like she was in a sports replay, moving in slow-mo. Not that she watched sports but, she had heard about replays…Without Rory there, she knew time would move slowly. Rory liked the rush of the season. Like her, Rory felt best when she was busy. Lorelai suddenly felt bitter. Very bitter. She was still a little irked at her parents for pushing the Yale issue on Rory. For practically making Rory apply for Yale without telling Lorelai and for her finding out at Thanksgiving of all days. Then dependable Richard and Emily pulled this Christmas stunt, making Rory an offer her sweet daughter couldn't refuse. God, she made her parents sound like the Godfather. Hmm, Emily might make a good Godfather. I could see her organizing some good whacks. Is that a DIRTY? Perhaps…

Lorelai pulled effortlessly into Sookie's drive, whipping her wheel around as she sang with another Christmas classic. She hadn't even realized she was singing. That was always something she did without much thought, like breathing. She turned off the jeep and wrestled her tangled purse from the seatbelt. Lorelai practically slammed the door without meaning too and winced as the noise filled the air. Yeah, I'm irritated. But I should put my best foot forward here. I am not going to let my mother have the satisfaction of depressing me. I will not make Rory feel guilty for leaving me. I will make plans with Sookie and Luke for Christmas. I will not let anyone see that I am lonely…

"Sookadu?" she called into the room as she opened the door and let herself in. She heard clattering coming from the kitchen and smiled at how predictable and yet how random her best friend was. Lorelai walked over to the opaque windows on the kitchen door and made out Sookie's frame bustling about the kitchen, singing along to the radio. The Bangles, Sookie loved them almost as much as Lorelai did. She pushed the door open as quietly as possible with an amused expression. For a second, she forgot about Rory leaving. Lorelai snuck up behind Sookie and started loudly singing the lyrics to 'A Hero Takes a Fall.' Startled, Sookie whirled around, ladle in hand, with an expression that was both happy and scared.

"Lorelai, you scared me to death!" she squealed, throwing her arms around her friend and forgetting about the ladle in hand. Ever clumsy Sookie felt the cooking tool slip out of her hand and fly across the kitchen, leaving a trail of gourmet goop on the tile.

"Well, that was smooth operator," Lorelai quipped and began to search for a rag.

"I'm sorry, hon. It just slipped right out of my hand." She felt Sookie's hands grab her shoulders and turn her. "Did I get ya?"

"Not that I can see. What are you making?" She asked as she helped Sookie clean up the mess on the floor

"Dinner. Just tropical chicken with a mango/coconut glaze. Nothing too hard, I am extremely pressed for time right now."

"I wish I was," Lorelai said wistfully as she pried open the frog cookie jar and pulled out three ornate gingerbread men. That's what she loved about Sookie. She took her normal spot at Sookie and Jackson's table and munched as she watched Sookie stir and sample. Noticing the tone in Lorelai's voice, Sookie turned around and looked at her friend.

"What's going on with you?"

"Well, let's see…Just got back from Hartford after seeing Rory off to Cape Cod with her grandparents. Emily called last night with a 'wonderful idea,' and now Rory is spending every day until Christmas Day with them. So now I have absolutely nothing to look forward to, since I have yet to pick out a tree and buy presents. Make happy please." Sookie picked up the cookie jar and grabbed a few more gingerbread men to present to Lorelai.

"Ah, honey I can't believe that. Rory is such a sweetie, I bet she would've felt bad if she didn't go. I'm going to send you home with a bag of these. Are you mad?"

"At Rory? No. I guess I'm just a little sad. I mean, this is Rory's last Christmas before she goes to college. I wanted it to be special. I was so preoccupied at the inn that I haven't even started shopping or decorating. So, I guess I just feel like that the build-up to next week won't be as good without her. I hate to impose, well, maybe not, but do you mind if I spend Christmas Eve with you and Jackson?"

Lorelai expected Sookie to jump up with a huge smile and excitedly start making plans. Instead, Sookie's face contorted into an expression that both said, "Oops, did I forget to tell Lorelai something," and "I'm so sorry."

"Uh, Lorelai," Sookie began nervously, "Didn't I tell you that Jackson and I are leaving on the 23rd to spend Christmas with his parents." Lorelai tried to hide any look of disappointment and Sookie continued, "I guess I didn't. I'm so sorry, hon. I thought I told you I was going out of town this year. That's why I'm so busy right now."

"Oh, Sook. That's okay. I'm sure you told me, but I forgot."

"You're disappointed."

"No, I'm fine. I'm glad you get to spend the holiday with Jackson's family. I'm just a little sad that we have to cancel our Christmas lunch."

"Me too. I had big plans for this year. I'm not looking forward to Jackson's family after the deep fried everything fiasco at Thanksgiving ."

Lorelai smiled, "I wish I could be there. It might be funny to see you drunk for an entire weekend."

"Ooo, that reminds me. I need to pack a flask." Sookie stated with a giggle. Lorelai laughed appreciatively.

"You could borrow the one I use for my parent's Christmas party. I made it a Santa jacket, it's very festive."

"Sounds good. Can I pick it up tomorrow?"

"Sure thing. I'll put it out on the kitchen table." Sookie and Lorelai chatted a bit more about useless things. It was almost enough to distract her from her lonely Christmas. Almost. Sookie jumped up when she heard her sauce bubble over and ran around the kitchen to cover up her momentary lapse of judgment. After the crisis was averted, Lorelai announced her desperate need for Luke's coffee and made her exit and Sookie apologetically said goodbye.

Her mood had not changed at Sookie's like she thought it would. Lorelai felt her foot press slightly harder on the gas. She noticed that whenever she was in a sour mood, she got a lead foot. Probably not a good combination. Lorelai rolled through the stop sign at the end of the street and almost didn't see the cop hidden by the bushes. The Stars Hollow squad car flashed the lights and wailed the siren. Dammit, dammit, dammit! Lorelai groaned as she pulled over her jeep. I hope its Jeb Foster. I can always flirt my way out of a ticket with Jeb. Thinking fast, she unbuttoned her shirt a bit, revealing a bit more of her lacy camisole. She fluffed her hair and reached for her purse, which had once again became tangled. She saw the uniform in her side mirror and unzipped her window. Flashing her prettiest smile, Lorelai looked up and found herself staring into the cHIPS-esque sunglasses of the only police woman in Stars Hollow. Damn!

"I think you know why I pulled you over. License and registration."

"Okay" Maybe I'll get lucky and she's a lesbian. Lorelai smiled as she passed over her stuff. The woman scowled back. Maybe not…

A/N: Sorry it's so short. I just came up with this story a few days ago and I will try my hardest to finish it before Christmas. I mean, who will want to read it after Christmas, it'll be depressing because you know that Christmas is over. So what did you think? Terrible? Great? Could use some work? Any suggestions? I am open to any constructive criticism coming that way. I guess I'm not entirely satisfied with this story, but I would like to hear what you think. I'm sorry if this has been done a kajillion times, but I will try to make this idea my own. Anyway, sorry, I'm rambling. If you are reading my other story, "And Wonder Woman Took Off Her Mask," don't worry. I'm almost done with the last chapter, I just had writer's block and didn't quite know how I wanted it to end. Now, I have a better idea.

So, I am writing Chapter 2 of this story as we speak, but if this is awful, please let me know and I won't finish. As Lorelai would say, I like to know when I am being an idiot. I value all your opinions.