Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing. Not Lorelai. Not Rory. Not Luke (wipes away a tear). Nothing.
Chapter 9- Healthy habits, bag boys, and trophies
Logan couldn't remember the last time in the past few months he left the office during his lunch break. He usually had to stay at the office or went to a meeting when lunch rolled around, but he never actually went out to eat. With everything going on, he needed the break. He walked into the diner and paused when he saw Rory sitting at a table with Nate in his stroller. Logan seriously considered leaving the diner to avoid another confrontation with his wife, but Luke had just walked out of the kitchen and spotted him. He couldn't leave now. He nodded to his father-in-law and headed for Rory's table.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Logan," Rory said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm finally caught up with stuff at work, so I'm taking a lunch break."
"Why don't you take a seat. We can have lunch together."
"I'd like that." Logan smiled as he sat down.
Luke walked over to the table with two menus. "Coffee?" he asked.
"Yes please," Rory replied.
"Logan?"
"Herbal tea for me please," Logan replied.
"Now you see Nathan, that's just the response Grandpa Luke likes to hear," Luke said to the baby. "I there was a reason I liked you. I'll be right back with your drinks." Luke went to get their drinks.
"You're such a brown noser," Rory joked.
"What?" Logan laughed. "I like tea."
"Uh huh. You like tea just as much as mom likes grapefruit."
"I started drinking it at work. It's supposed to relieve stress or something. And since Finn is trying to cut back on the alcohol, he's been making me drink tea too."
"You're serious aren't you?" Rory asked with a slight laugh.
"As a heart attack."
Luke had returned to the table with Logan and Rory's drinks just as Logan made his last statement. He froze for a minute before he remembered the drinks. Rory looked up at Luke.
"You ok Luke? You look pale," she remarked.
"Uh, yeah," Luke lied. He put their drinks in front of them and quickly got out his ordering pad. "You ready to order?"
"I'm ready," Logan replied. "Rory?"
"Cheeseburger and chili fries with a side order of extra chili," Rory smiled. Luke rolled his eyes.
"I'll have caesar salad, easy on the dressing, eggs on the side."
"What's with the healthy habits?" Luke asked.
"Finn's trying to stop his excessive drinking."
"He goes down, he's taking you with him?"
"Basically."
"Gotcha." Luke walked away again to prepare Logan and Rory's food.
Logan smiled at Rory. "What?" she asked with a smile. "Why are you smiling at me like that?"
"No reason," Logan smiled as he shook his head. "I just wanted to see you smile."
Rory looked away as she started to blush. "So Hope's play is next week," she said, quickly changing the subject. "She's really excited."
"I know. She asked me to help her with the singing."
"Why don't you? You're a great singer."
Logan nodded and took a deep breath. "I wanna apologize."
"For what?"
"The whole Colin thing."
"Logan…"
"I overreacted and I shouldn't have. I know now that I was wrong and I'm sorry. I love you Rory and I don't want to do anything to ruin our relationship."
Before Rory could say anything, Luke walked over to their table with their food. "Caesar salad," Luke said putting the salad in front of Logan. He placed Rory's food in front of her. "Dead cow with the side of death by heart attack. Extra clogged arteries."
"Mm, sounds appetizing," Logan teased.
Tyler walked up to the Danes' front door. He hadn't seen or heard from Emma since yesterday. She was usually at the diner or the bookstore after school, but not today. Tiffany and Lynn didn't know where she was and Lori had disappeared before he had a chance to ask her. Tyler rang the doorbell and tried to be as patient as he could for someone to answer the door. A few seconds later, the door opened and a not too pleased Will stood on the other side.
"Hi, is Emma home?" Tyler asked, trying to avoid the fact that Will was staring a hole right through him. Will looked over his shoulder before stepping onto the porch and shutting th door behind him. Tyler stumbled back a few steps in fear. Will was not happy. "Whoa. Hey man, I'm not looking for any trouble. I'm just…"
"I know what you're doing here," Will interrupted. "And I suggest you don't."
"I'm sorry, what now?"
"Get off my porch, get away from my house, and stay away from my sister."
"I don't know why you're angry at me, but…"
"Let's get something straight Doose. There are three reason I really wanna kick your ass right now. One, you're a Doose. Being a Danes, it's genetics for me to wanna kick your ass. Two, you asked out my baby sister. And three, I just don't like you."
"You know about me asking Emma out?"
"No shit. You're in Stars Hollow!"
"Does that mean your dad knows?"
"If he did, do you honestly think you'd still be breathing right now? Your uncle Travis is giving my dad so much shit, if he heard about this you'd be staring at the wrong the end of a twelve gauge right about now. Miss Patty and Babette are going to great lengths to keep my mom and dad from finding out."
"I'll thank them later."
"They're not doing it for you. They just don't wanna see my dad behind bars because he will kill you if he finds out." Tyler gulped. "Stay away from my sister or else."
Not knowing where this sudden urge of bravery was coming from, Tyler took a step forward so he was eye to eye with Will. "Or else what?"
"Or I'll kill you," Will stated matter-of-factly.
"No you won't."
Will shook his head and laughed as he rubbed his chin. Suddenly he grabbed Tyler by the collar and threw him against the side of the house. "Do you really wanna test that theory? Because I have no problem serving twenty to life if it means keeping your ass from my sister."
"You're insane."
"Damn right I am. Stay the fuck away from my sister. I swear to God, if I find out you're anywhere near her, I'll break your shit off. Understand?"
"Yeah," Tyler replied, nodding fiercely.
Will let go of Tyler. "Now get outta here before you piss me off."
Tyler quickly walked off the porch and headed down the path as Will went back into the house. He sat on the couch, picked up his book, and started to read. It wasn't long before Emma came bouncing down the stairs.
"Hey," she called. "Who was at the door?"
"No one important," Will replied without looking up from his book.
"Please tell me this isn't what you do all day."
"I won't tell you then."
"You've read that book a million times already."
"No. Just fifteen, but I'm aiming for a million."
"Whatever weirdo. Dad called and he wants us at the diner in two hours for the dinner rush."
"Okie dokie."
"But I was hoping we could go a little earlier because I'm getting hungry."
Will shut his book and sighed as he stood. "I'll get ready."
"Thanks big brother. You're the best," Emma shouted to her brother as he headed upstairs.
She passed by the window that looked out to the front yard and was surprised when she saw Tyler walking down the street with his head down. She had a weird feeling in her stomach at that moment and she knew that it wasn't a good thing. She didn't want to admit it, but something told her Will had something to do with it.
"Ready to go?" Will asked as he came down the stairs.
"Yeah," Emma replied as she finally looked away from the window. Tyler was long gone by now anyway. She and Will walked out of the house and headed down the path. "Hey Will?"
"Yeah?"
"Exactly who was at the door earlier?"
"Like I said, no one important."
Luke walked over to the table of eight year olds. He had been suckered into watching them. It started with Lana and Hope. It didn't really bother him because they were always at the diner after school doing their homework. Then Lane arrived at work with her and Dave's son Paul. Of course, Luke's great nephew Oliver wasn't far behind his best friend. Rachel begged him to look after her son, Jeffrey. And apparently, it was prearranged with Lorelai that Sookie could bring over her daughter Martha too. And of course Luke had absolutely no clue about it
"Ok, what does everyone want?" Luke asked. The minute it came out of his mouth, he regretted saying it because all six of the eight year olds started to shout at the top of their lungs. "One at a time. One at a time!" Luke yelled and the kids stopped shouting. "Raise you hand if you want cheeseburgers." All the kids raised their hands. "Ok, now who wants fries?" Again, all the hands went up. "Here's the deal, if you're all getting cheeseburgers and fries, you're all getting juice."
"Aw," they all groaned.
"Hey, no juice, no cheeseburgers." The kids stopped groaning. "That's what I thought." Luke walked behind the counter. "Caesar, I need six cheeseburgers and six fries. Lane, the kiddie table's having juice all around."
"Apple or orange?" Lane asked.
"Hey kids, apple or orange?" Half the kids responded apple and half orange. "Half and half." Luke went into the kitchen to help Caesar.
While he was in the kitchen, Lorelai entered the diner. "Oh Lucas!" she called, stretching out the syllables in his name. "Lucas, where are you?" Lorelai looked around for her husband, but he was no where in sight. She smiled when she was the table of eight year old. "Hi kids. What are you guys up to?"
"Homework," Oliver replied.
"Sounds fun. Who can tell me where Luke is?"
"Mr. Danes is in the kitchen," Paul replied.
"He's making us cheeseburgers Grandma," Hope added.
"And fries," Martha added.
"Hm. That means he's gonna take forever. Ok, thanks kids." Lorelai put her bag on a stool and walked behind the counter. She pulled out a cup and started pouring herself coffee.
"Mommy, Daddy says your not supposed to be there," Lana remarked.
"Yeah, but sweetie, I have what's called benefits. Because Daddy's Daddy and I'm Mommy, I get to be here."
"I don't get it," Jeffrey said.
"I'll let your mommy and daddy explain it to you one day."
"Hey!" Luke yelled at Lorelai as he walked out of the kitchen. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I…you…coffee," Lorelai stammered.
"Lorelai, you know you can't be back here. On the other side of the counter."
"But I'm the wife."
"Other side." Luke walked over to the table and started placing the plates in front of the kids.
Lorelai sighed and walked around the counter. "You guys are supposed to tell me when he's coming and you saw him coming. Why didn't you say anything?"
"Grandpa Luke says that you have to face the consequences when you're bad," Hope replied.
"When did you learn what consequences are?"
"Since I told them if they go behind the counter they're not getting ice cream," Luke replied.
"Uh oh," Lana said.
"It's ok, Daddy's not that mad at Mommy," Lorelai said.
"No Mommy. Uh oh." Lana pointed out the window. Taylor was headed to the diner with a flyer in his hands.
"Uh oh. Luke! Taylor alert and he's got flyers!"
"Ah jeez." The second Taylor stepped into the diner, Luke yelled. "Out!"
Taylor rolled his eyes. "Honestly Luke, would it kill you to be nice for one minute?" he asked.
"Get those flyers out of my diner Taylor."
"I don't understand you. You've lived in this town longer than anyone else and yet you refuse to participate in the town functions."
"They're stupid Taylor. We're always doing something stupid to raise money for something even stupider like buying a tarp to cover the bridge we haven't restored in twenty eight years."
"Yeah, why haven't we restored that bridge?" Lorelai asked.
"These things take time," Taylor said.
"Twenty eight years?" Luke asked.
"We're not raising money this time. This is just going to be a new fun thing for the town to do."
Taylor handed Lorelai and Luke a flyer. "Citizens of Stars Hollow," Lorelai read from the flyer. "We are now announcing the first annual Stars Hollow Battle of the Bands. Come share your talents with your fellow Stars Hollow citizens or support your friends. The performances will be judged by a preselected panel of your fellow citizens. Trophies will be award to the first, second, and third place winners. Sign up at Miss Patty's Studio." Lorelai looked up at Taylor. "There's a trophy?"
"Yes there is. It's a beautiful thing. It puts the dance marathon trophy to shame. Now, the contest is going to take place in three weeks. Oh it'll be great. We're even going to put in a dance floor so if you feel like dancing, there'll be a place for you to do it."
"Get out Taylor," Luke ordered.
"But…"
"Out."
"I was just suggesting…"
"Out!"
"You're setting a bad example for these children."
"Arm swinging length."
"Fine, I'll leave." Taylor looked at the table of children before walking out the door. "That, boys and girls, is the perfect example of someone you do not want to grow up to be like."
"Arm swinging length!" Luke shouted. Taylor frantically rushed out of diner.
"Hm," Lorelai said, looking over the flyer again.
Luke looked at Lorelai. "Hm what?"
"I was just looking at the flyer Taylor gave us."
"So?"
Lorelai showed Luke the flyer and smiled. "I bet it's a big trophy."
Luke shook his head. "No. I'm not signing up for that thing."
"Oh come on Luke! We'd be great! Remember our rehearsal dinner? The town loved us. We'd win for sure!"
"No." Luke walked behind the counter and started refilling the coffee pots.
"But Luke, the trophy." Luke went back to work without a word to Lorelai. "Hey! Quit ignoring me. You can't ignore me! I'm your wife! If you continue to ignore me, I will be forced to talk the crazy talk in a baby's voice!"
Luke took a deep breath and leaned forward over the counter. "I'll think about it."
"Are you serious? You're gonna do it?"
"Might. I might do it. No promises."
"Ok, just think about the trophy. The big, shiny trophy."
"Whatever. Now, sit down and behave."
Lorelai sat down at the counter and started to drink her coffee as Luke went back to work. She looked at the flyer in her hands and smiled. Luke was entering the contest and she was getting her trophy.
Next time on "Breakaway": Taylor comes to the diner to ask Luke something. It's Friday night and the Stiles family is coming for dinner and there's one thing they forgot to do- tell Richard and he isn't happy when he finds out. Jess finally returns to Friday night dinner. Max makes a very unpopular suggestion.
A/N: Raise your hand if you think Luke should join the contest. Ok, put your hand down. I can't see it anyway. Lol. Don't you just love the drama? Logan and Rory seem to be headed on the right track. Tyler likes Emma. Emma likes Tyler. Will's standing in their way. Jess is avoiding Luke. Richard's working to try to forget the pain of losing Emily. Lorelai's plotting to get Luke into the town event. And Luke's got a heart problem. What else could go wrong? Oh yeah, there's Digger, Nicole, and Anthony. I'm just making a few tweaks to The Broken Road so that should be up soon. Now, there's something I'd like to discuss. I've started a Gilmore Girls Roleplay over at my board. I need more people to sign up to get the thing started. So, please go over there and sign up as a character- hopefully the one you want will still be there. Just go to dinergirl(dot)proboards42(dot)com/index.cgi?boardggroleplay. If the link doesn't show up, email me at smilinjuss4u(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll send it to you.