CHAPTER 9

A/N: Lonnie- I have not been part of a big college graduation. I graduated from a class of 35 and we were all called to the stage from the Magna Cum Laude on to the last letter of the alphabet. The ceremony took an hour. And no, I have never attended a Yale graduation either. However, I have friends that have graduated from large universities (Big 10 and PAC-10) and had their names called and had them walk across the stage.

Next, Dancing In The Rain is up. Get to the link from my homepage. Mature readers only, please.

"Mom… mom, " Lorelai tried to butt in on her mother's diatribe. She was left listening to Emily talk about the Pattersons giving their daughter a fifty thousand dollar wedding extravaganza.

"If she--," Lorelai tried to interject. Still no luck.

On and on Emily spewed the importance of Rory being the belle in the wedding, not once mentioning that Lorelai herself was supposed to be in the same event sharing the blushing bride moment with her daughter.

"Mom, this is the only time I am going to say this," Lorelai said in rapid speed. "If Rory wants to go with you to New York to get a wedding dress from Monique Lhuillier, that's her prerogative. We are not going to get someone from People magazine to photograph the wedding and in the event Rory wants to vacation in Naples for her honeymoon, that's for her and Tristin to decide."

"Don't be so selfish, Lorelai," her mother's usual comeback spewed. "Of course it is her option. However, as her mother…"

"As her mother, I propose that we do not discuss any more wedding details that concern her when she isn't around. Goodbye," Lorelai ended the call. She wished she felt some sort of closure when she rudely hung up on her mother. However, all she did was postpone the inevitable.

Lorelai was still in denial when it came to her mother. Her outright denial of her upcoming nuptials drove her batty. Trying to convince her mother that Rory's wedding won't become a circus was no cakewalk, either.

She eventually got up from her desk and walked into the bustling kitchen currently preparing lunch for the Bradbury Corporation who came in the night before.

"You look like you've been in a brawl," Sookie commented.

"Try a round with Muhammad Ali," Lorelai added. "Mom was packing wallops."

"So what was she complaining about this time?" Sookie asked, handing her a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

"Oh my downfall as a parent," Lorelai stated as she received the hot cup graciously.

"Doesn't she see that you raised a wonderful, perfect daughter that is adored by almost everyone?" Sookie said.

"I think the part where you said 'almost' is my downfall," Lorelai responded.

"Come on. You know what I mean," Sookie said.

"Well, mom thinks that I should be like Kelly Patterson and have someone like Anne Liebowitz take the wedding photos and that I should indulge Rory with a wedding dress made by Vera Wang or some high profile couture maker," Lorelai scoffed.

"What does Rory want?" Sookie inquired softly.

Lorelai looked into her friend's eyes and said, "I really don't know."

In that moment, Lorelai felt lost and sad at the same time. Was she really that selfish planning the entire event without her daughter's input?

"Looks like you have to have a little chat with Rory just so that the two of you are on the same page," Sookie added.

Lorelai set her cup aside and told Sookie she was taking a stroll to clear her head. The sympathetic friend she was, she sent Lorelai on her way.

Lorelai jumped into her Jeep and drove around the small town. She drove fast, with no real destination. She drove past the empty crap shack and down the busy Doosie's Market. Kim's Antiques was teeming with business. For once she felt like running, being invisible. She wanted to fly away and get away from it all. However, she knew she can't feel sorry for herself. Her only consolation was having Luke close by. She parked the Jeep and hung her head in defeat.

Luke watched her through the windows. He knew when something bothered her. She had that intense stare and sometimes he wished he could take the burden away from her.

He stepped out of the Diner and crossed the street. He never expected for her to look up.

"Luke!" she sounded surprised.

"Are you coming in?" he asked.

It was a strange question to ask, however relevant. "I guess."

Luke opened the door and held his hand out. Lorelai extended her hand placed it on his palm politely. He guided her into the Diner, sat her down and gave her a mug of coffee.

"So, are you going to tell me or do I have to pry it out of you?" Luke asked, teasing.

"Am I that transparent?" Lorelai whined.

"I know the look," Luke winked at her. "Drink up."

Luke turned around to take care of an order when Lorelai piped in. "So mom thinks I'm selfish."

"And this bothers you, how?" Luke asked. He despised Emily all the more whenever she gets under Lorelai's skin.

"Because I know I'm not selfish…" she trailed off as she played with the food he set in front of her. "But I've apparently gotten so caught up with the wedding that I forgot to include my daughter. My daughter! She's getting married, too, you know. I've just assumed…"

"You know that Rory trusts your judgment," Luke tsked away Lorelai's thoughts. "You are a great mother to her."

"That's what Sookie said," Lorelai replied, looking away. "But why do I find myself questioning my every move? I keep on doubting myself and the decisions I've made lately."

"That's your mother talking," Luke dismissed her thoughts.

"Oh my God. You're right. You're telling me that I'm turning into my mother," Lorelai started a pity party for herself.

"You know I didn't mean that," Luke retracted his careless statement.

A solitary tear ran down Lorelai's cheek. Luke groaned. "Please, Lorelai."

"I have to go."

"No, let's talk," Luke said. He came around the counter and led Lorelai to his apartment. Behind them he locked the door and sat her on the breakfast table.

"What did she say?" Luke demanded.

Lorelai repeated to him the conversation she had with her mother. She could see the steam rising from his baseball cap, ready to explode.

"I just lost it," Lorelai said.

Luke sat right next to Lorelai and held her hand. "I wish I could tell you to forget your family but they do mean something to you."

Lorelai looked up with bleary eyes.

Luke sniffed. "Lorelai, is our marriage worth losing your parents?"

She did not respond.

"You know I love you. You know I love Rory," he continued on. "However, I have to concede this time around."

"Concede to what?" Lorelai started to panic. "I am not calling off our wedding!"

"I wasn't referring to our wedding. I'm referring to this situation you have with Rory. That this time, I can't help you," he admitted. "I think you need to talk to Christopher about this."

Lorelai was dumbfounded. "Have you been inhaling Jess' smokes?"

"Lorelai, you know it and I know it," Luke replied. "Whether I had your permission or otherwise, I tried to raise Rory like she was my own. But I am not her father."

"I never asked you to," she argued.

"Well then, you have to discuss your daughter's well being with the man she calls 'dad'," Luke said in controlled anger. "This, our wedding, I can handle. Rory's, I can't. I'll do whatever that girl of yours asks me to do but I will not let her mother drive herself crazy over what is proper for Hartford society."

"Luke, you don't know what you're asking," Lorelai cautioned him.

"It's about time you involved Christopher in your daughter's life." Luke chose his words carefully.

"He has nothing to contribute to this wedding," Lorelai said bitterly.

"Is it his decision or did you make it for him?" Luke quizzed.

She had to pause and think. She always thought Christopher wanted out but she, instead, gave him a reason to always stay away.

"I can't leave now," Lorelai all of a sudden felt very cowardly.

Luke ran a tired hand over his weary face. "You have to make the time."

She wanted to tell him that it was the crazy man inside his head talking but she knew better.

"What about Rory?" she asked.

"She's a big girl," he replied. "I'll make sure she's fed. Jess can keep an eye on her."

"Remember the last time that happened?" Lorelai thought back bitterly. "She ended up in bed with Dean."

"Jess won't do such a thing, you know that," he started defending his nephew once more.

She clammed up like a bratty child.

"Don't try to pick an argument with me, Lorelai. It's not going to work," he replied, getting up from his chair.

Lorelai grabbed a disposable napkin from the table and dabbed her nose. "Will you make sure she's safe?"

"I will," he comforted her.

She leaned against him and sighed.

.----oooo0----0oooo------

Christopher had a long day. Gigi was running a fever and the baby sitter canceled on him. He was forced to work at home. Between Gigi's cries and the two call-in conferences he had to sit through, he was ready to turn off the computer, turn on the TV and order in some ribs and fries to go with his beer. He couldn't take any more surprises.

"Surely, we can work the additional plans," Christopher argued. He paced the floor barefooted. It was one of the few things that helped him relax.

"Fine, fine," he mumbled. "Fax me the new changes and let my secretary know I have the new figures."

He hung up the phone and leaned back on the chair. He dialed his secretary's number and told him to hold all calls until the morning.

"There's a messenger boy dropping off some of the paperwork Mr. Althouse wants you to go over before tomorrow's meeting," she reminded him.

"Of course. How soon will the messenger be here?" he asked, rubbing his temple.

"Within a half hour or so," she said. "He left here a good forty-five minutes ago, sir."

"Thanks, Gladys. Good night," he said.

"Good night," she said back.

One more sheet to look at. More figures to crunch. He should be thankful that Gigi's fever broke and she is sound asleep.

He sat on the couch and enjoyed the moment of silence. He closed his eyes and in seconds he was asleep. He dreamt for a moment that he was walking through lush, green grass wearing a pair of Kenneth Coles, his favorite Armani suit and the cuff links his father gave to him on his thirtieth birthday. There was laugher around him, and Rory, smiling radiantly beside him. He looked to his left and found Lorelai sitting right next to him, her fingers entwined with his. She was in white, with flowers in her hair. So much happiness…

And then the doorbell rang.

Once.

Twice.

He didn't want to snap out of the dream but he knew he had to sign for the document. He willed himself to open the door before Gigi woke up to the commotion.

He surely was surprised to see what awaited him at the doorway.

"Hi. I was in the neighborhood and had a jonesing for some baby back ribs and seasoned fries. I hope you have beer to go with it," Lorelai recited awkwardly.

Maybe there was still a chance.