Kiss with Open Eyes

Chapter 6: Live Like Jack and Sally

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: Well, vacation is coming to an end… tear, tear… But, here is an update to make you feel better.

Please review.

The next morning, Lorelai woke up and rolled out of bed. She slipped on her bathrobe and walked out into the hall. She went into the kitchen, and headed straight for the coffee maker. She poured herself some coffee, and smelt it before taking a sip. It was then she noticed Christopher watching her from the couch.

"Crazy night, last night, huh?" Lorelai said.

"Yep." He said, and she could tell instantly that he was angry.

"Where's that daughter of ours?" Lorelai asked, hoping for the easy way out.

"I already drove her to school." Chris replied.

Lorelai sighed. She knew what this meant. It meant they were going to have a talk, it'd probably be more like a fight, however. Chris got Rory out of the house, and now it was just the two of them. That usually equaled a fight.

"Why did you rat me out?" Chris asked her.

God, this is always how it went. It sounded like they were 15 again, and Chris's parents had just found out about the very expensive China cup that Chris had broken, and Lorelai hadn't backed him up. Some things just don't change.

"I wasn't going to lie, Chris… We aren't having a baby. Did you just think we'd pretend all this time? What about in ten years, when they ask why they still don't have that grandchild we promised?" Lorelai asked, trying her best to stay calm.

"I don't know, Lor. We'd come up with something. But, did you have to say all that crap to Straub? You couldn't just go along… Jeez, it's just one little thing. Now he's going to be on my ass forever about this." Chris said.

"One little thing? It's not just some pet butterfly, Chris… This is a child." Lorelai told him.

"Yeah, a child we aren't having." He answered.

She rolled her eyes at him. "We can't… We can't just have another kid." Lorelai told him.

"Why not?" Chris yelled.

"I already told you." Lorelai argued.

"Well, I still don't understand." He said.

"Chris, I'm not going to raise another kid by myself!" She told him.

"Fuck, Lorelai." He said. "I was doing what was best for our family! I had to work! I had to travel in order to keep working. I put food on this fucking table! I'm sorry if I wasn't there to help you change a diaper, but I was the one who paid for her clothes and her food, and every other fucking thing she owns." Chris yelled.

"Yeah, what'll be your excuse next time?" She asked, fighting back.

"Don't give me that." Chris said angrily, as he stomped into the kitchen. He leaned on the counter, and took a few deep breaths.

"We can't have another baby, Chris." Lorelai told him, softly.

"Why the fuck not?" He asked again.

"We- we just can't." Lorelai said.

"We'd be happy. Don't you want to be happy?" Chris asked.

"Yes." She said.

"OK then."

"A baby won't make us happy."

"Well, do you have any ideas, because that's all I got?" Chris said.

Lorelai shrugged and moved closer.

"If I hadn't gotten pregnant, do you think we would have gotten married?" She asked, a little surprised at what she had just asked him.

He was just as surprised as she was. "What?" He asked.

"If I hadn't gotten pregnant, do you think we would have ended up getting married?" Lorelai asked again.

"I don't know." Chris asked.

"We got married for Rory… not for us." Lorelai said.

"What are you saying?" He asked.

"I mean, were we even in love then?" Lorelai continued. "We were friends… best friends. But were we in love? Were we ever in love?" She asked.

"What are you getting at, Lor?" He asked, suspiciously.

"I don't know." She told him. "It's just… Have you ever thought about what would happen after Rory was all grown up? After she didn't need us anymore… She didn't need the both of us, together. Did you always think we'd stay married forever?" She asked him.

"Are you saying… Are you saying you want to get a divorce?" He asked, surprisingly calm.

"I don't know what I'm saying, Chris. I'm just asking… We got married for Rory, but what happens when she doesn't need us to be married anymore?" Lorelai asked.

He looked at her suspiciously, like he was trying to figure out what she was thinking. "The parents would never approve." He said, after a few minutes went by.

Lorelai knew what he was thinking. He was thinking about the Gilmore's and the Hayden's reactions to them getting a divorce. She could just imagine the conversation in her head, and it wasn't very pretty.

"It's not their decision to make." Lorelai answered simply.

Chris nodded.

"So… If we get a divorce." He said the word uneasily. "We'd wait until after Rory is in college?" He asked her.

"I guess so." She shrugged.

"So… Would we tell her? I mean, if we decided to… you know… what do we do while she is still living in the house?" Chris asked.

"I don't know, Chris. I haven't really thought too much about this… I'm just saying… We shouldn't have a baby to try and save a marriage that might not have a chance of being saved." She told him.

He nodded, looking down at his hand on the counter.

"We were always better as… friends, you know?" She asked.

He nodded again.

"I don't think we were ever really in love… not the marriage kind anyway." She said. "I just don't think we are right for each other." Lorelai said.

"Wow." He said.

"What?" She asked him.

"It sounds like you already have your mind made up."

"I actually feel like I got somewhere with him… Like he heard me, it's a good feeling." Lorelai said, as she took a bite of pie.

"That's great." Sookie told her. The two were having lunch together at Luke's.

"Luke!" Sookie called.

"Yeah?" Luke asked, rolling his eyes.

"This needs some pepper… and a tiny bit of garlic." Sookie said, pointing to her plate.

"It's fine." He said sternly.

"Luke…" She whined.

"Sookie." He said, firmly. "It's fine." He said, again.

She pouted. "Why don't you just give me the garlic? I'll even go in the kitchen and do it myself." She begged.

"No." He answered.

"C'mon." She begged.

"Nope." He said, again.

Sookie sighed. "Mean." She told him.

"I've heard worse." He shrugged. He turned to Lorelai. "More coffee?" He asked.

"Yes, please." She said, lifting up her cup and flashing a smile.

He filled up her cup. "How's the burger?" He asked.

"Mm, mm, good!" She said.

He smiled, and then turned to take some customer's order.

"How do you get him to be so nice to you?" Sookie questioned.

"What?" Lorelai asked, sipping the hot coffee.

"What'd you do to make him be so nice to you?" Sookie asked.

"Nothing." Lorelai shrugged. "He's not that nice to me." She said.

"I bet you could get him to hang a flyer in here… Or go to a town festival." Sookie said.

"Speaking of festival…" Lorelai said, trying to change the subject. "Are you going to the Firelight Festival?"

"Of course." Sookie said. "Everyone goes… Except Luke. He doesn't go to town anythings." Sookie said.

"Oh." Lorelai said, looking up at Luke who was over at the register.

"Are you?" Sookie asked.

"Am I what?" Lorelai asked.

"Going to the Firelight Festival?"

"I don't know." Lorelai said.

"You should go, it's fun." Sookie said. "There's a bonfire and everything… It's beautiful."

"Maybe." Lorelai said. "Maybe I'll go."

"Hi." Chris said, as he came home from work.

"Hi." She smiled.

"These are for you." Chris smiled, pulling some flowers from behind his back.

She looked down at them, and then back up at him. What was he doing?

"Umm…" She said, not sure what to say.

"They're daises… You love daisies." He said.

"I know." She said.

"You don't like them?" He asked.

"No, no, I love them." She replied, as she took them, and began to search for vase to put them in.

"So, I've been thinking…" He begun, as he leaned against the counter.

"Yeah?" She asked, as she filled the vase with water.

"Maybe we should give it a shot." He said.

"Give what a shot?" She asked, looking at him.

"Marriage." He said.

"Um… What?" She asked.

"I have to go to California tomorrow… for a week." He told her.

"OK…" She said, completely confused.

"When I get back… I want us to try… I want us to try and be a real married couple." He said.

"We are a real married couple." She said, still incredibly confused.

"No, I want us to a normal married couple. I don't want us to fight all the time. I want us to sleep in the same bed, kiss each other goodnight, kiss each other when no one else is around, go out together… We don't have to have a baby. I just… want to be happy." He explained to her.

Now she was really confused. Hadn't they just been talking about divorce this morning? Did he actually think this was going to work? Did he actually think they'd be able to just be happy, like they could just turn on a switch? Did he actually think they could just suddenly be happy again?

"Uhh…" She said.

"What?" He asked. "Don't you want that?" He asked her.

"Uhh…" She said again.

"You said you wanted to be happy… Now we can be happy." He told her.

She knew better. She knew this wouldn't last. They wouldn't be happy for long. They'd start fighting again. They'd go back to sleeping in separate bedrooms. They'd start pretending again. It definitely would not last. But, maybe it'd be a good thing. It'd be good for Rory and their life.

She couldn't just tell Christopher about her doubts. She couldn't tell him that his plan wouldn't work. Then, he'd just get really mad, and who knows where it would lead.

So, maybe for now, he was right. Maybe they should just give it a shot. Then, nobody could ever tell her that she had just given up. What could it hurt, right? They deserved one last chance… plus, what other choice did she have?

"OK." She told him, softly.

"The invitations went in the mail last week. Paulette is in charge of RSVPs… And Laurel is in charge of the music and entertainment… I already confirmed the menu with the chef, while you weren't here… All we have to do is pick out the table settings and order the flowers. I was thinking, lilacs." Emily said.

"Sounds good, Mom." Lorelai said, admiring the Inn as they walked through it.

"Alright." Emily said, as they walked into the dining room, where each table was decorated differently.

"Wow." Lorelai said, as she walked through the room, examining the tables.

"I like this one." Emily said, standing by a table.

Lorelai nodded. "It's nice." She said.

"But, if we are having lilacs, I think this would go better." She said, walking over to a different table.

Emily followed her and examined the table. She nodded, and snapped her fingers, gesturing for Michel to come over.

"We'd like this one." She said.

"Wonderful." Michel said, sarcastically.

Emily rolled her eyes, and grabbed Lorelai's arm, taking her into another room.

"That's Al's Pancake World… But they don't sell pancakes." Lorelai explained, as they drove through town. Lorelai looked at the sign. "Looks like tonight is Paraguay night." Lorelai said.

Emily looked at her, with a confused expression. Lorelai smiled, and kept driving.

"Oh, it's 2 o'clock. C'mon." Lorelai said pulling over, and getting out of the car.

"Where are we going?" Emily asked, trying to catch up with her daughter, but was having trouble because of her heels. "Lorelai! Slow down!"

"Mom, c'mon… We have to hurry before Miss Pattie's 2 o'clock dance class gets out and the line is longer." Lorelai said.

"What?" Emily asked.

"We are saying goodbye to Old Man Twickham." Lorelai smiled, and led her mother up the driveway.

"Hey Kirk, Hey Gypsy." Lorelai greeted them as they got in line.

"Hey Lorelai." They answered in unison.

"This is my mother, Emily." Lorelai introduced them.

"Hi." They said.

"Hello." Emily said. "Lorelai, what are we doing here?"

Lorelai smiled. "How's he doing?" She asked, her expression turning serious again.

"Not so good… Today might be the day." Kirk said.

"I hope we get in, in time." Lorelai said.

"I think we have time… I have a sixth sense about these things." Kirk said.

Lorelai nodded, and then turned to Emily, who was still completely confused.

"Poor Old Man Twickham…" Kirk said, shaking his head.

"What's wrong with him?" Emily asked.

"He's old." Kirk responded.

Emily looked over at Lorelai, who shrugged. "He's dying, Mom… People want to say goodbye before he goes…" Lorelai explained.

"I go every single day… Sometimes twice." Kirk said.

"How long has he been dying?" Emily asked.

"Since I was six." Kirk said.

"So, you have been saying goodbye to him everyday, since you were six?" Emily asked.

"Yes." Kirk answered.

"Why?" Emily asked.

"Lorelai, why is your mother asking stupid questions?" Kirk asked.

Lorelai shrugged, and looked at her mother, who was slightly frustrated.

"Kirk, I need you to take over the souvenir stand." Kyle said, out of breathe.

"I haven't said my goodbyes yet." Kirk whined.

"Kirk, c'mon, I need you to. I have to go help Betty at the house. It's an emergency." Kyle said.

"OK, but if he crooks and I haven't gotten to say my goodbye, it'll be your head!" Kirk yelled.

"Bye Lorelai, Bye Mrs. Lorelai's mother." Kirk said, as he ran away.

"Souvenir stand?" Emily asked.

"Yep."

"I just won't ask." Emily said.

"Good idea."

"Hey Mom, weren't you just saying the other night that you were looking for some antique candlestick holders?" Lorelai asked.

"Yes, why?"

"I know the perfect place to find them." Lorelai said, as she pulled up at Kim's Antiques.

"Mrs. Kim!" Lorelai yelled.

"Lorelai, don't yell like that." Emily commented.

"In here!" Mrs. Kim yelled loudly, causing Emily to jump.

"Where?" Lorelai yelled back.

"Lorelai." Emily hissed.

"Here!" Mrs. Kim yelled.

"Where?" Lorelai yelled again, as they moved through the crowded store.

"I guess she's never heard of organization." Emily commented. "How are you supposed to find anything in here?" She said.

"Oh, look at these." Emily said, picking up a pair of beautiful candlesticks. "These would be perfect." She said.

"Lorelai!" Mrs. Kim yelled.

"By the window!" Lorelai yelled.

"OK!" Mrs. Kim said.

"How much are these?" Lorelai asked, once Mrs. Kim found them.

"25 dollar." She said.

"Each?" Emily asked.

"Yes." Mrs. Kim replied.

"$25 for each? That's crazy." Emily said.

"Take it or leave it." She said.

"How about $40 for both?" Emily said.

"No. 50 dollar for both." Mrs. Kim said.

"How about $45 for both, and scratch the tax?" Emily asked again.

"No. 50 for both." Mrs. Kim said again.

"That's ridiculous." Emily said. "I'm not paying that much."

"Someone else will." Mrs. Kim said.

"A mental patient, maybe." Emily commented.

"25 dollar each, take it or leave it." Mrs. Kim argued.

"No tax?" Emily asked.

"Fine." Mrs. Kim gave in.

"Deal." Emily said with a smile.

"I'll wrap it up." Mrs. Kim said, taking the candlesticks.

"I like that woman." Emily smiled.

Lorelai smiled back. "You would." She said.

"Mom, c'mon, this place is great, I'm telling you." Lorelai said, practically dragging her mother out of the car.

"It's a diner, Lorelai." Emily said, disgusted.

"Coffee Mom, the most amazing coffee you will ever taste, I swear." Lorelai said.

"It's a diner! Diners are for people who drive motorcycles and can braid their armpit hair." Emily said.

Lorelai laughed. "C'mon, Mom, you'll love it, I promise." She said, leading her into the diner.

"I'm going to get herpes." She said, in disgust.

"Where do you want to sit?" Lorelai asked.

"I think it'd be safer to stand." Emily said.

"C'mon, Mom." Lorelai said, dragging her to a table by the window.

Emily took out a napkin from her purse and wiped the seat before sitting in it. Lorelai laughed.

"Want me to go to Doose's and buy some Lysol?" Lorelai asked.

Emily sat down, and glared at her daughter. Lorelai laughed, but was interrupted when Luke came over.

"Hey." He said.

"Hey." She smiled at him, and then turned to look at Emily.

"This is my mother." She said. "Emily."

"Nice to meet you." Luke grunted.

"Nice play you have here." Emily said, unenthusiastically.

"What'll you have?" He asked, turning his attention back to Lorelai.

"Uhh… a pony, and a Barbie… and a princess hat… and a princess hat for the pony… and the Barbie." Lorelai said, smiling.

"Jeez." Luke rolled his eyes.

"Cheeseburger." Lorelai said.

"Coffee?" He asked.

"Of course."

"And you?" Luke asked Emily.

"Nothing for me." She said, shaking her head.

"Mom." Lorelai said, firmly. She looked up at Luke. "She'll have coffee and a BLT."

"Kay." Luke said. "Coming right up."

"Thanks." She smiled.

"So… You certainly know a lot about this town." Emily said.

"What? Nah." Lorelai said.

"You know almost everyone here… Everyone we pass says hello to you." Emily said.

"They are friendly." Lorelai said.

"I didn't know you came here so often." Emily said.

"I don't come here that often." She said, as if it was something bad.

"Obviously, you do." Emily said.

"It's for the Inn, Mom." Lorelai said, defensively.

"Don't be so defensive, Lorelai, it was only an observation." She said.

Lorelai shrugged. "I like it here." She said.

"I think it likes you, too." Emily said, gesturing towards Luke.

"What?" Lorelai asked.

"Nothing." Emily said, shaking her head.

Lorelai looked over at Luke, who was filling up people's coffee. She watched as he made his way to each and every customer.

"I don't see him smiling like that to any of the other customers." Emily commented.

"You are crazy." Lorelai said.

"Maybe." Emily shrugged. "I'm sitting in a diner, in a town that says goodbye to a man that has been dying for twenty years, every single day. There's a very good possibility I have gone crazy… But, he knows you are married, doesn't he?" Emily asked.

"Mhm." Lorelai answered, still watching as he took someone's order.

Lorelai got home later that evening. She dumped her purse and jacket by the door, and made her way into the family room, where Rory was doing her homework. The stereo was blasting, and Rory was bobbing her head, and lip-syncing to the music.

"Hey darling." Lorelai said, in a funny voice, as she turned down the music.

"Hey." Rory greeted her.

"How's the homework coming?" She asked, as she walked into the kitchen, and took out some leftover pizza.

"Good." Rory said. "Get one for me?" She asked her mom.

"Cold?" Lorelai asked, holding up the pizza.

Rory nodded, and Lorelai handed her a piece on a Daisy Duck plate.

"Gracias." Rory said, nodding her head.

"Spanish homework?" Lorelai asked.

"Yup, I'm in the zone." Rory said, dramatically.

"Who died and made you Britney Spears?" Lorelai asked.

"Hey, those are nice flowers." Rory said, gesturing towards the ones that were still in the vase, on the counter.

"Yeah." Lorelai nodded, touching the petals of the daises. "Dad got them for me." She said.

"That's really nice." Rory said.

"Yeah." Lorelai responded, still touching the flowers.

They were so beautiful, and full of life. They had so much hope of surviving, but Lorelai always killed plants… and soon they would be dead, and stuffed into the trashcan with the moldy pizza.

She always killed plants, and this one wouldn't be any different.

Chapter Six… Oh boy!

So, my story A Different Path is coming to an end… which means, that I will have way, way more time to write this story… meaning that the updates will come a lot faster. That should make you guys happy…

Only one more week until the new episode! Who's excited? I am. Then my Fades to Black story will be up and running once again… Wahoo…

Also, I have a story called Stella. It's about That Damn Donna Reed episode. It's just a small two-part thing. The next part of that should be up by tomorrow.

So, anyway, the updates should be coming faster after my other stories are done, which will be very, very soon.

I hope everybody enjoyed their vacations. If you are like me, it ends today… School tomorrow, oh God…

Anyway, I really do love reviews… and I would love if you'd give me some… so yes, please review.

In The Dress Your Husband Hates: Chris is in California, and Rory is at school working for the Franklin. Lorelai is bored and decides to go to the Firelight Festival… but what happens when she is introduced to Miss Pattie's Founders Day Punch?

Review!