Kiss with Open Eyes
Chapter 5: September Never Feels This Cold
Disclaimer: You know it's not mine.
Summary: Lorelai's world is falling apart. He is the only one who can make her smile and she just wants to be happy…
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, you guys… But, holidays and finals kept me busy. It's vacation now, and hopefully I'll have a little more time to update.
Please review.
"But what were you thinking? You shouldn't be out so late! You shouldn't be coming home so late… And you still won't tell me where the fuck you were!" Chris yelled.
"I was in Stars Hollow, Chris!" Lorelai yelled back. "I told you that!"
"Yeah… in Stars Hollow." He said. "You're always there." He said.
"So, what?" She asked.
"You'd think you'd spend a little time with your family… but, you're always in Stars Hollow… away from us." Chris said.
"Oh my God!" Lorelai shouted. "Excuse me, but aren't you the one who was pretty much gone for the first 10 years of Rory's life? You'd think you'd want to spend some time with your child, but you were always away from her… from us. So, don't you tell me that I'm always away. I've always been here. I was here for Rory and I was here for you. 16 fucking years, Chris. I was here for 16 years… can you say that?" She challenged.
He was silent, not losing eye contact with her. It was like a staring contest, that neither of them were winning. After a while, Chris looked away and spoke up.
"Goddamit, Lorelai." Chris shouted.
"What?" She yelled.
"Why do we do this?" He asked, in defeat.
"What? What do we do?" She challenged.
"This. We do this. We fight… we always fight. Why?" He said.
"Because you go around telling your family that we're having a baby!" She yelled.
"Well, I didn't think you'd have such an objection!" He said.
"You didn't? You'd think I'd just be like 'Oh, alright Chris, let's have another baby just because your father would like it.' You really thought I'd agree?" She asked.
"I didn't think you'd be like this!" He said.
"Well then, you really don't know me." She told him.
"You'd think after 16 years of marriage, you'd actually get to know me a little… but hey, it's you, so…" She muttered.
"Oh, shut up Lorelai." He said.
She rolled her eyes at him. "Rory's going to be home soon." She stated, getting up and pouring herself a glass of water.
"So?" He asked. "Does that mean we're just supposed to act like we're not fighting?" He asked.
"Isn't that what it always means?" She asked him.
There was a pretty long silence, but Chris eventually began talking again.
"Your mother called last night." He said, ignoring her comment. "The family's is having dinner tonight." He told her.
"Yippee." She said, sarcastically.
"Dinner's at 6." He told her.
"I know, Chris. It's always at 6." She said.
"I'm going to go take a shower, and then I'm going to work. I'll meet you there." He told her.
"Alrighty." She said, rolling her eyes and pouring the remaining water out in the sink.
When Chris left for work, Lorelai sat herself down on the couch with a bowl of chocolate covered pretzels and the remote. She flipped through a few channels, before she realized that she had left her movie at Luke's apartment.
Suddenly, she found herself driving down the highway, parking in her usual spot, and walking across the street to the diner.
"Hey." She stated as she walked into the almost empty diner. The only other person inside was Kirk, who was sitting at the counter.
"Hey." Luke responded. "Coffee?" He asked.
"Of course." She said, taking a seat next to Kirk.
"Hey Kirk." She said.
"Hey Lorelai." He said. "Did I ever tell you about the time I auditioned for a Gerber baby commercial?" He asked her.
"No, Kirk, I don't think I've heard that one." She said.
"Oh, well, I auditioned and got the part. My mother doesn't know why I got it, because I had a really big head when I was a baby… and she always said I had ugly ears, but they must have seen something in me because I got the part." Kirk said, proudly. "I had a really great belly button, when I was younger… maybe that was it." He explained.
"Oh, wow." Lorelai threw in.
"Yeah, I was excited. I was going to be a movie star. All my brothers were jealous. But…" Kirk said, dramatically.
"Uh oh, a but." Lorelai said.
"I bit the director and lost the part." Kirk said, sadly.
"That's too bad, Kirk." Lorelai said.
"Yeah, it could have been my big break." Kirk said, disappointedly.
Lorelai nodded, and then looked up at Luke, when he slid her a coffee cup. "Thanks." She said.
He nodded.
"Check please, Luke? I have to go help Andrew and Kyle collect wood for the bonfire." Kirk said.
"Sure, Kirk." Luke said.
"Are you going to the Firelight Festival next week, Lorelai?" He asked.
"Oh, I don't know." Lorelai said.
"It's a great festival." Kirk said.
"I know, Kirk. I've heard the story." She said.
"You should go, it's on Friday night." He said.
"I know, I saw the fliers." She said.
"OK." Kirk nodded, as Luke handed him the check.
"Luke, I think the tax is off by a penny." Kirk said, looking over it. "Yep, yep I'm sure… definitely off by a penny." Kirk said.
Luke rolled his eyes. "Kirk." He grunted.
"Hold on, I have a calculator on my key ring." Kirk said, pulling it out of his pocket. There were hundreds of key chains on it, but no keys.
"Oh, the Flintstones." Lorelai said, admiring his key chains. "And Hello Kitty… I didn't know you liked Hello Kitty, Kirk."
"Duh." Kirk responded, playing with his calculator.
Lorelai laughed. "Power puff girls! Kirk, you're my hero." Lorelai said, jokingly.
"See, Luke, there it is. It's off by a penny!" Kirk announced.
"Fine, whatever." Luke said, not having the energy to fight with him.
"Hey Kirk, why don't you have any keys?" Lorelai asked.
"Mother took mine away." He said.
"Oh, how come?" She asked.
"I think she's been having a man- friend over." Kirk said, in a whisper.
"Oh." Lorelai said, laughing slightly.
"Just a guess… I'm still not sure." Kirk said. "Well, I better be going." Kirk said, placing his money and the check on the counter for Luke.
"Bye Lorelai." He said.
"Bye." She called to him, before turning back and looking for Luke.
"Hey." She said.
"Hi." He replied.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Not too much." He said, a little uncomfortably.
"I forgot my movie last night." She told him.
"Oh, right… I'll go get it." He said, as he went behind the curtain and she followed.
"So, yeah, I'm sorry I fell asleep last night… I can't believe I actually fell asleep during that movie, I've never done that before." She said.
"Well, you were tired." He said.
"Yeah." She nodded. "And you turned the movie off the second I passed out, didn't you?" She asked.
"It's not the same without you reciting every single line." Luke said.
"Hey, it took me a while to memorize all the lines… I'm very proud of that." She said.
"Yeah… great skill to have." He said, as he opened his apartment door.
He went over to the VCR and took out the movie, and then put it in the box that was on top of his TV, and then handed it to her.
"Here you go." He said.
"Thanks." She said.
"Mhm…" He said, awkwardly. "So… uh, was he mad?" He asked.
"Oh yeah." Lorelai said with a sigh.
"Sorry". Luke responded.
"It's not your fault." Lorelai said. "He'll get over it."
"OK." Luke said.
"So… um, I better get going… family dinner." She said.
"Fun." He answered.
"Oh yes, I'm about to break out in song, and do the wave." She said. "My parents, Christopher's parents… Can't you just smell the fun?" She asked.
"So, how was the project with Paris?" Lorelai asked, as she and Rory drove to her parent's house.
"You know that guy who died from putting deodorant all over his body?". Rory asked.
"That good, huh?" Lorelai asked.
"Oh yeah, I was about to start stabbing myself in the eye with my pencil, but then Bradley came by and starting telling us about his job ushering for the Blue Man group, and Paris decided we could leave." Rory said.
"Ouch." Lorelai commented.
"Yeah… So, how was your night?" She asked.
"Eh, it was fun." Lorelai lied.
"What'd you do?" She asked.
"Watched a movie." She said. Well, it wasn't lying exactly.
"Cool." Rory said.
"Yes, it was." Lorelai said, plainly.
"So… How much are you betting tonight?" Rory asked, after a moment of silence.
"Hmmm… I'll say, $5." Lorelai said.
"Oh, c'mon, 5?" Rory said.
"Yep, $5 that Ramona is a goner." Lorelai said.
"But, she was just hired two days ago." Rory said.
"Oh, Rory, have you learned nothing?" Lorelai asked. "Emily Gilmore holds that record."
"Yeah, yeah, I know… but, I'm saying 5 bucks that Ramona is still there when we get there, but gets fired during the salad." Rory said.
"Alright, you're on." Lorelai said, as they pulled in the driveway.
"Bradley's ushering for the Blue Man Group?" Lorelai asked.
"Yeah." She said.
"How'd he get that job?" She asked.
"Who knows?" Rory said, as they rung the doorbell.
"Lorelai, Rory." Emily stated as she opened the door.
"Hi Mom." Lorelai said.
"Where's Christopher?" She asked.
"He's coming. He's meeting us from work." She said.
"Alright, come in, come in." She said.
"Have you met Nifey?" Emily said, as a maid appeared and took their coats.
"Hello." Lorelai said with a smile. The maid, nodded, and took their coats.
"Come on, martini Lorelai?" Emily asked.
"Yes, ma'am." Lorelai said, as Emily walked into the living room.
"Pay up, Missy." Lorelai said, once Emily was out of ear shot.
Rory sighed, and took $5 from her pocket. "Here."
"Ha-ha." Lorelai said, in a sing-song voice.
"Girls!" Emily called, from the living room.
They laughed, and hurried into the living room.
"So, Rory, how is school?" Richard asked at the dinner table.
"Good." Rory answered, in between bites.
"What are you learning?" Francine asked.
"Well, I'm doing a project on the French Revolution with Paris." Rory replied, in her Bambi voice. She was always pretty insecure around her paternal grandparents. They weren't exactly happy with her existence, and she was usually pretty nervous around them.
"Rory finished in the top 3 in her class this year." Richard announced.
"Just like her father." Straub commented.
"Huh, well, Mom, would you pass the wine?" Lorelai asked.
Emily nodded, and passed it to her. "Thanks." Lorelai said.
"Lorelai." Straub said. "Shouldn't you be staying away from alcohol?" He asked.
Lorelai froze, and looked over at Christopher, who was becoming very nervous.
"Why would she stay away from alcohol?" Emily questioned. "Lorelai, why would you stay away from alcohol?"
"Mom…" Lorelai started.
"Lorelai, if you're trying to have a baby, then you should probably stay away from wine." Straub said. "It's bad for babies." He added.
Lorelai looked over at Rory, who was completely shocked, and then at her mother and father, who were equally shocked. She glanced over at Christopher, who was giving her that look, begging her not to rat him out.
She thought about letting it go, and letting Christopher get away with it, but then she looked over at her daughter. Rory was confused, shocked, and hurt. Lorelai knew what she was thinking. Why hadn't they told her? Why hadn't they discussed this with her?
That's why she ratted Chris out.
"We're not trying to have a baby, Straub." Lorelai said.
"What?" He asked, shooting a glance at Christopher, whose face was now bright red.
"Chris?" Francine asked.
"We- uh… we…" Chris stuttered.
"We're not having a baby." Lorelai said.
"What are you talking about? A baby?" Emily asked, completely confused about the situation.
"There was just some confusion." Lorelai said, really not wanting to have a lot of drama tonight.
"What confusion? Did you think you were pregnant?" Emily asked.
She saw Rory's head shoot up, from the corner of her eye.
"No, Mom, I didn't." Lorelai said.
"Then, what is this about?" Emily asked.
Lorelai looked over at Chris, who was staring at his hands.
"Christopher told us him and Lorelai were trying to conceive." Straub said. "But, apparently, they aren't." He said, giving Lorelai a bad look. As if this whole thing was her fault, it's her fault they don't have that grandson they always wanted, and her fault that Chris never graduated from Princeton, and her fault that his life is ruined.
"We never were. We never even talked about it." Lorelai said, trying to defend herself, but not even sure why. There was no use in trying to defend herself to these people. They'd never accept her. They'd never like her.
"Chris?" Francine asked.
"Mom, just leave it alone." Chris finally spoke.
"Christopher, you told us you were having a baby." Straub said.
"I have to go to work." He said, standing up. "Thanks for the dinner Emily, Richard… I'll see you guys at home." He said, turning to Lorelai and Rory.
"Christopher, you're not just leaving." Straub said.
"Yeah, I am." He said, softly.
"Bye." He said, practically running towards the door. It slammed shut, and everyone's eyes wondered to Lorelai.
She shrugged, and began eating again.
"Well? Are we going to get an explanation?" Straub asked.
"Ask your son for one." She replied, in between bites.
Everyone looked around in confusion.
"Lorelai?" Emily asked.
"Yes, mom?" She asked.
"Tell us what's going on." She said.
"I wish I could." She told her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked.
"Christopher told you guys something that wasn't true… We hadn't even talked about it… You'll have to ask him what's going on." Lorelai said.
"Maybe he wants a child." Straub said, harshly.
"Maybe he wants to make you happy." Lorelai shot back, regretting it after it had already left her mouth.
"What?" He asked.
"You want a grandson… and Chris wants to please you." Lorelai said.
"That's stupid." Straub said, not sure where to go after that.
"No… I think we should go." Lorelai said, getting sick of answering questions that she didn't know how to answer.
"Lorelai." Emily said.
"Thanks for the dinner, Mom. It was delicious. Bye Mom, bye Dad… Straub, Francine. Have a nice evening." She said, standing up and pushing her chain. Rory did that same and followed her out the door.
The car had been silent, neither of them were sure where to start. However, Rory wanted answers, so she spoke up.
"Mom?" She asked.
"Yes?" Lorelai replied.
"What just happened?" She asked.
"Well, I think there was an accident." Lorelai said, referring to the traffic that they were stuck in.
"Mom." She said in a 'stop avoiding the subject' type of way.
"I don't know Rory." She answered.
"Are you- are you?" Rory tried to ask.
"No." Lorelai answered quickly.
"Are you and Dad thinking?" She began.
"No." She repeated.
"Then why?" Rory asked.
"I don't know." Lorelai shrugged.
"OK…" Rory said, not pleased with the answers she was getting.
"Look, if your father and I start thinking about babies, we would definitely tell you, OK?" Lorelai asked. "We're a family. We'd talk about it together." Lorelai said.
"OK." Rory said.
"Do you think you'd ever…?" Rory asked.
"I don't think so, babe." Lorelai said honestly.
"How come?" Rory asked.
"I don't know… I mean, you're going to be a junior next year. You'll be in college soon. Wouldn't it be weird to have a sister or brother who is 17 years younger than you?" Lorelai asked. "You'd take your brother or sister to the park, and people would think it was your son or daughter. You'd get sympathetic looks, and everyone would think you were a slut." Lorelai babbled on.
"I think it'd be kind of nice." Rory said.
Lorelai nodded, biting her lip. It wasn't exactly the reaction she was looking for.
"I just don't think it's the right time, you know?" She said.
"Yeah." Rory said.
"I mean, I'd probably have to miss your graduation because the baby would throw up or need to be changed or start crying… I wouldn't want that." Lorelai said.
"Yeah, I know." Rory said again.
"I don't know, hun." Lorelai said.
"Why did Dad do that, though?" She asked.
"Your grandfather wants a grandson, Rory." She said.
Rory sighed.
"No, no… I mean, he loves you, he really does… He just also wants a grandson." Lorelai said, cringing. "He really does love you, Rory."
"Doesn't seem like it." She said.
"I know, I know."
"I feel like the only way he'd except me is if I went to Princeton or got a sex change." She said.
Lorelai laughed a little at that.
"I mean, I'm the reason that Dad didn't go the Princeton. He messed up the family… I messed up the family." Rory said.
"No. No you didn't. Don't you ever think that, OK?" Lorelai said. "Your father and I… We did some things we probably shouldn't have, but there's no regrets. NO regrets at all." Lorelai said.
"OK." Rory said, still not very convinced.
"Would you change your name if you got a sex change?" Lorelai asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"What?"
"Well, Rory is a boy's name, too, isn't it?"
"I guess."
"So, if you got a sex change, you could keep your name." Lorelai said.
"Lucky me." Rory said.
"What, I'm just saying." Lorelai joked.
"Hey, I'm hungry." Rory said.
"Me, too." Lorelai agreed.
"Luke's?" Rory asked.
Lorelai smiled. "Luke's." She stated, as she turned the car around and drove towards Stars Hollow.
"It's closed." Rory said with disappointment, as they walked across the street to see the closed sigh hanging on the door.
"No, that doesn't apply to us." Lorelai said, reaching for the handle and opening the door that she knew would be unlocked. She had done this a few times before.
"Mom, it's closed." Rory warned her.
"Rory, relax." She said, taking a seat at the counter, and motioning for her daughter to do the same.
"Luke!" Lorelai yelled. "Luke!" She said, again.
"Lorelai?" Luke asked, from the storage room.
"Hey." Lorelai said, when Luke came out of the storage room.
"Did you forget how to read or something?" He asked, gesturing towards the door.
"I tried to tell her." Rory said.
"Coffee? Please?" Lorelai asked, with puppy eyes.
Luke sighed. "You are going to die." He said.
"Yeah, yeah." Lorelai said.
"Here, it's the last in the pot. I'm not going to make a new one, so make it last." Luke said, handing each of them a coffee cup.
"Thank you." They said, together.
"So? How was the family dinner?" Luke asked.
Rory's head shot up.
"Oh, you know…" Lorelai said, as she took a sip of her coffee.
"OK." Luke nodded. "So, I have early deliveries tomorrow." He stated.
"Oh, we'll go." Lorelai said, putting the cup down.
"Here, I can put those in take-out cups for you." He said, taking them back, and pouring them into Luke's Take-Out cups.
"Thanks." Lorelai said, as he handed her the cup.
"No problem." He said. "See you later." He said, as they got up and headed towards the door.
"Yup." Lorelai said, waving goodbye.
They went out the door, and began walking down the street.
"You want to go to Weston's? They have salt and pepper shakers that sing, when you shake them." She smiled.
Rory stayed silent, obviously in deep thought.
"They are shaped like cows and everything." Lorelai said, trying to get her daughter's attention.
"And hey, I was thinking later we could have a threesome with Taylor… Maybe Miss Pattie would like to join and we could make it four." Lorelai said.
"Huh?" Rory asked.
"Finally." Lorelai stated. "You OK?"
"Um, yeah… What are you doing in Stars Hollow tomorrow?" She asked.
"Oh, I have some Inn stuff." Lorelai said.
"How did Luke know about the family dinner?"
There we go, chapter 5. It's 14 pages. Oh man.
So… Did you guys see the trailer for the new episode? It's pretty cool. If you haven't seen it, I can give you a link, or explain what happened…. But it's cool. Lorelai's dress is pretty
Anyway…
Sneak Preview:
Live Like Jack and Sally: Chris and Lorelai have a serious discussion about life after Rory goes to college, and what they are going to do while she's still living at the house. Then, Lorelai and Emily go to the Independence Inn to start setting up for the DAR function. Lorelai shows Emily around town, and brings her to Luke's. But, Emily isn't blind, and has some words for Lorelai.
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