Different Path
Chapter 14: Emily Understands
Disclaimer: It's still not mine :)
Summary: And once again, his coffee tasted different… A story about Luke and Lorelai
It tasted different.
His coffee tasted different.
Rachel was back and his coffee tasted different.
Just like before.
She sighed and pulled the covers over her. She glanced over at the clock. She'd been lying here for 3 hours.
But she hadn't gotten anywhere. She just kept thinking about the coffee. She couldn't even figure out what it meant.
Did it mean he still had feelings for her?
Did he still love her?
Did he want her back?
She sighed again. She wanted to just fall asleep and not have to deal with any of this. She wanted it to be over. She wanted it to be a dream.
That's when she heard the door open. She heard the footsteps. First they went into the kitchen, then Rory's room, and then back into the family room. Soon they were heading upstairs and into her bedroom.
She knew exactly who it was. It was always weird how she could recognize people's footsteps. Maybe it was just some really weird talent.
She didn't even turn to look at him. She was still facing the other way, as the digits on the clock began to get blurry.
Maybe he was here to tell her that he was back with Rachel. Maybe he was going to tell her that he was still in love with Rachel and he didn't want to do this baby thing with her anymore. Maybe he was going to say that he wanted to break up again, but for real this time.
Before she could think of any other possibilities, she felt him lie down on the bed next to her.
He was lying on his back. She wasn't sure how she could tell, but she could. He started to stroke her back with one of his hands, but didn't say a word.
He leaned over and kissed the side of her head, and lied back down on the pillow.
"Lorelai?" He asked.
"What?" She said, in a whisper. The sound of her voice surprised her. It didn't sound like her voice. It sounded like a stranger.
"You lied." He stated.
Lorelai bit her lip. She didn't want to say anything. She didn't want to tell him what she was thinking. She didn't want to be that stupid, jealous girlfriend. She didn't want him to know that he hurt her again.
"You weren't working tonight." He continued. "Sookie came by the diner tonight, and she asked why I was working, because she thought we had something planned for tonight."
Damn Sookie.
"And I told her that you were working." Luke paused. "And she told me that you weren't." He told her.
Lorelai stayed quiet.
"You lied." He said, again.
"I know." She said quietly.
"What have you been doing?" He asked her, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Lying here." She told him, still facing away from him.
He sat up, and moved closer to her. He took her head, and then felt her forehead with his other hand.
"Are you feeling OK?" He asked, getting worried. "Are you sick? Do you want to go to the doctor?" He asked.
"I'm fine." She lied. She was far from fine, but she didn't want him to know that.
"Then, what's wrong?" He asked her, pushing the hair out of her face. She wouldn't look at him. She couldn't look at him.
"I'm tired, Luke." She told him.
"Then why didn't you just tell me that?" He asked, obviously not believing it.
She shrugged, still staring at her clock.
"Lorelai?" He asked, wanting some answers.
"I just want to be alone, OK?" She asked, biting her lip afterwards. She hadn't meant for it to sound so harsh. She turned to look at him now. He looked hurt, and she sighed.
"Sorry." She said.
He stared into her eyes, playing with her hair a little bit. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing." She said, quietly, breaking eye contact.
"Lorelai." He said, telling her that he didn't believe her.
"Are you still mad I told Rachel?" He asked.
She didn't answer.
"I said I was sorry… They would have found out eventually." He said.
"I know." Lorelai told him.
"So, why are you so mad?" He asked, gently.
"I'm not." She told him.
"Then why won't you talk to me, and why did you lie?" He asked.
She shrugged. "I'm tired, Luke." She told him.
"OK." He said, lying down on the pillow beside her. "But, I'm not leaving." He told her.
"OK." She said, before shutting her eyes and falling asleep.
When she woke up, Luke was gone. She thought that last night might have been a dream, but she could still smell Luke on her sheets.
She got up slowly, and took a hot shower, then headed towards the Inn.
She didn't feel like seeing Luke yet. Plus, she didn't feel like dealing with the townspeople and the questions.
They probably already had the Bun in the Oven t-shirts made, and the party all planned. Kirk probably had a list of baby names for her and a lovely collection of his own baby stories for her to hear. Miss Pattie and Babette were probably at the diner, nudging Luke and congratulating him for knocking her up. Taylor had probably already set up the town meeting, where he would discuss all the pros and cons that this baby would mean to the town. He'd probably try and get the town against them or something. The town troubadour had probably already written at least 5 songs about the news, and who knows what else the crazy town had planned.
She got in her car, and drove the long way to the Inn. It'd be best to avoid everybody.
"Hey Michel." Lorelai greeted him.
"I am not going to a baby shower." He said sternly. "I am not going to get stuck in a room with a bunch of weirdos… playing stupid baby games, surrounded by pink and blue storks and stupid sandwiches with the crusts cut off. No present circles and cakes made out of diapers… I am not going." He told her.
She laughed. "What baby shower?" She asked.
"Oops. Was it a surprise?" He said, obviously not sorry.
Lorelai shrugged. "So… you heard?" Lorelai asked.
"Of course." Michel answered.
"Great." Lorelai said. "Pattie is good." She sighed.
"Lorelai!" Sookie yelled as she came out of the kitchen.
"Hey Sookie." Lorelai said.
"Do you want to go to a movie the next Saturday?" Sookie asked.
Lorelai laughed. "Sure, Sookie." She said, already knowing that this was Sookie's subtle way of having a surprise baby shower.
"He told, didn't he?" Sookie sighed.
"Yup." Lorelai said.
Sookie sighed again. "It was going to be a surprise." She said.
"I know." Lorelai said.
"I was going to actually pull it off."
"I know."
"You would have been so surprised."
"Hey, I make a pretty good surprised face." Lorelai said.
"No, it's OK." Sookie said.
"Alright." Lorelai shrugged.
"I better go back in there…" Sookie said, sadly.
"Bye Sookie." Lorelai said, lovingly as she guided Sookie into the kitchen, and then turned back to go to the desk.
"Lorelai!" She heard Liz call her name.
She turned around again to see Liz with Rachel. Great.
"Hey." She said, with a fake smile.
"How are you?" She asked, patting Lorelai's stomach. "How's my little niece or nephew?" She asked.
"Oh, I think they are fine." Lorelai smiled.
"I'm so excited about this. Aren't you excited?" Liz asked.
"I'm excited." Lorelai nodded.
"You know Rachel, don't you?" Liz asked.
"Yeah." Lorelai smiled, acknowledging Rachel.
"Hey Lorelai." Rachel said.
"Hi."
"I'm really sorry about yesterday." She said.
"Don't worry about it… They would have found out eventually." Lorelai said.
Rachel nodded.
"So, what are you guys up to?" Lorelai asked.
"Well, my sister ran out of room in her house, so I offered to stay here… I never did get to see those bedrooms." She said.
Great. Now she'd get to see Rachel everyday.
Lorelai smiled at her. She wasn't sure what to say.
"And I'm just catching up with Rachel… It's been way too long." Liz said. "And we used to see each other everyday."
Rachel nodded.
"So, do you need to get checked in?" Lorelai asked, Rachel, trying not to be jealous of her relationship with Liz.
"Nope, already done." Rachel smiled.
"Oh, alright… We'll, uh I better get going… You know, work." Lorelai said.
"Bye."
"Well, they know." Lorelai said, when Rory answered the phone.
"What?" Rory asked.
"They know." Lorelai repeated.
"Who knows?" Rory asked.
"The town." Lorelai answered.
"What do they know?" She questioned.
"They know about the bun in my oven." Lorelai said.
"Ooh." Rory said.
"Yeah." Lorelai said.
"What'd they say?" Rory asked.
"Eh… I don't know. I'm trying to avoid them." Lorelai said, as she paced around her office.
"Why?"
"Because… they are annoying." Lorelai said.
"So, how'd you tell them?" Rory asked.
"I didn't." Lorelai answered.
"What?"
"Rachel did." Lorelai told her.
"Rachel?"
"Yup." Lorelai said. "Rachel. Rachel told them… because Luke told her. So, now them know… because of Rachel."
"So, obviously you're not too happy about Rachel being back."
"Obviously not." Lorelai said.
"I thought you liked Rachel." Rory said.
"I do… I did. I don't know. She's Luke's ex girlfriend." Lorelai said.
"So?"
"So… She's Luke's ex girlfriend." Lorelai said.
"Are you jealous or something?" Rory asked.
"No." Lorelai said, way too quickly.
"Why? Mom, Luke loves you… C'mon." Rory said.
Lorelai sighed. She didn't understand. There was no way she'd understand.
"Yeah, yeah… I know. I- I… I guess it's just the hormones… you know?" Lorelai said.
"Yeah." Rory said.
"Alright, well I'll talk to you later."
"Bye."
"Lorelai?" Emily asked, when she opened the door to see her daughter standing there.
"Hey Mom." Lorelai smiled.
"Come in." Emily said. Lorelai went inside and handed the maid her coat.
"So, what are you doing here?" Emily asked.
"I was in the neighborhood." Lorelai said. The truth was, she wasn't sure why she was here. She needed to get out of the Hollow. She needed to be away from the townspeople, from Rachel, from Luke. So, she drove and found herself here.
"Alright." Emily said, obviously pleased. "Are you hungry? I can have Sylvia make you something." Emily said.
"No thanks." She said, as they went into the living room. They sat down, and there was a moment of awkward silence.
"So…" Emily said.
"Where's Dad?" Lorelai asked.
"England. He left this morning." Emily said.
"Oh." Lorelai nodded.
"He'll be there until Sunday, so he won't be at dinner on Friday." Emily explained.
"You must get lonely." Lorelai stated.
"What?"
"You must get lonely." Lorelai repeated.
"Well, yeah. I do get lonely sometimes." Emily said.
Lorelai nodded, still looking around the room.
"Lorelai?" Emily asked.
"Mhm?"
"Did you want to talk or something?"
Lorelai stopped, and looked her mother in the eye.
"Lorelai?" Emily asked.
"Did you ever think that Dad would leave you for Pennilyn Lott?" She asked. "I mean, did you ever think that he loved her more than you… that he'd realize it and leave?" She asked.
Emily was obviously surprised at the question, but she saw the serious expression on her daughter face and answered. "Yes." She said.
Lorelai nodded.
"But… he asked me to marry him, and I realized that I was being stupid and I was worrying about nothing… Pennilyn had her chance, and if Richard wanted to be with her, then he would have… but he wasn't, because he wanted to be with me." Emily answered. Both of them were a little surprised at her honesty, but Lorelai nodded.
"Thanks Mom." She said with a smile.
"What's this about?" Emily asked.
Lorelai sighed. She didn't really want to get into all of the details, but her and her mother had been getting along. Maybe she could get some good advice?
"Luke's ex girlfriend is back in town." Lorelai said.
"Oh." Emily said.
"Yeah." Lorelai said.
"And you think he'd go back with her?" Emily asked.
"Yeah." Lorelai said, a little bit embarrassed.
"Well, I've seen the way he looks at you, Lorelai." Emily said. "He loves you… He really does." Emily said.
"I know." Lorelai said.
"I don't think he could love this other woman, more than you Lorelai." Emily said. It was weird for Lorelai to hear these things coming out of her mother's mouth. It was weird to here these sweet words, these encouraging words come out of her mouth. Especially since it was about Luke. But they had been getting along, ever since Emily had given her the necklace and baby blanket.
Lorelai nodded.
"Maybe you should talk to him about it." Emily suggested.
"Maybe." Lorelai said.
"I think he'd understand." Emily said, seeing the doubt in Lorelai's eyes.
There was a pretty long silence, after this. Lorelai looked up at the ceiling, obviously in deep thought, and Emily watched her.
"Did you talk to Dad about it?" Lorelai asked.
"No, I was too afraid. I thought he'd think it was silly and stupid… But I wish I did, maybe it wouldn't have taken me so long to realize how stupid and silly it really was." Emily answered.
Lorelai nodded. "Maybe you're right."
"Hey." Lorelai said, as she walked into the almost empty diner.
"Hey." He said, leaning in for a kiss. "You OK?" He asked.
"Yeah." She told him.
"OK." He said. "Do you want anything?" He asked.
"No." She said.
"You sure?" He asked.
"Muffin?" She asked, so he would stop asking her.
"So, how was your day?" He asked, as he handed her the muffin.
"Good. You?" She asked, as she began to eat.
"OK… The town has been going crazy over this baby shower thing." Luke said.
"Oh… right." Lorelai said.
"Are you going to make me go?" Luke asked.
"You don't have to." She said, in her version of the 'Bambi voice.'
Luke sighed. "Fine." He said.
Lorelai smiled. "It'll be fun… Plus, everyone will be drunk, and I'll need somebody to talk to who is sober and not singing show tunes." Lorelai said.
"Alright… But I'm not playing any of those stupid games." Luke said.
"OK." Lorelai agreed.
"Good." He said.
"Good." She nodded.
"Hey Luke?" She asked.
"Yeah?"
"Is Rachel coming?"
"What?"
"Is Rachel going to the baby shower?" She asked.
"I don't know. I guess… Why?"
"Just wondering."
Alright, so there is your next chapter.
So, there is probably only 2 chapters left in this story. There's a possibility of 3, but probably not.
I hope you guys have enjoyed it.
Please review.
And here's some spoilers for you:
This is a summary for 6.12 episode from the WB:
LORELAI FINDS OUT ABOUT APRIL — Knowing he has let too much time go by, Luke (Scott Patterson) is still unable to tell Lorelai (Lauren Graham) about the existence of his 12-year-old daughter, April (Vanessa Marano), and he is thrown into a panic when April wants to hang out with him at the diner. When April and Lorelai both show up at the diner and begin chatting, April innocently explains that Luke is her father. Lorelai tries to be supportive, even offering to postpone the wedding date, but Luke's reaction to this idea leaves her confused and hurt. Back at Yale, Logan (Matt Czuchry) takes unusual steps to win Rory (Alexis Bledel) back, and the newspaper staff rebels against Paris' (Liza Weil) reign of terror at the Yale Daily News. Meanwhile, Stars Hollow holds its annual Winter Carnival, and Lorelai and Rory run a booth featuring their dog, Paul Anka, as a fortune teller. Sherilyn Fenn guest stars as Ana Nardini. Keiko Agena, Liz Torres and Sean Gunn also star. The episode was written by Daniel Palladino and directed by Stephen Clancy
Also: Sherrilyn Fenn, the woman who plays April's mother is on for Six episodes.