Title: Work
Title: Made
Rating: PG
Genre: LLR
Spoilers: A House Is Not A Home (season 5 finale)
Summary: following the events in Home…
Disclaimer: Like all of the other characters I write about, these are not mine, nor were they ever. I make no profits, other than the rewards of imagination stretched.
Chapter Ten
Work
by xenoprobe
Luke stood on the outside of Lorelai's bathroom door, listening. Lorelai was singing in the shower, a rousing rendering of the Cures's Friday I'm In Love, and he couldn't resist the joy of hearing her naturally musical voice. Painting songs aside, it was rare that Lorelai shared her vocal talents so Luke greedily indulged in some eavesdropping until she seemed finished.
He entered the bathroom just as she stepped out of the tub and casually handed her a large bath towel.
"So… I spoke to Taylor and everything's approved for the wedding."
She wrapped the towel around her and readied her toothbrush.
"And Sookie and Jackson were ok to bump up the food from a month to this Saturday?"
She emphatically nodded her head in agreement, her mouth now full of toothbrush and paste.
"Which leaves what?" Luke ran down the mental check list. "Oh. I know. Your parents."
Lorelai's smile faded and she spit into the sink. "What about my parents. I don't have parents, remember?"
"Lorelai,"
"No Luke. They forfeited their right to witness me getting married the minute they chose to totally disregard me."
"That was over two months ago." Luke was seriously tired of having this conversation. "Lorelai, you only have one set of parents, for which you should be thankful, at least on some level. And I know, I know, they're backstabbing, 'rustic' insulting, classist parents… but you're only getting married once and I know you'll regret not having them there. Heck, I'd regret it and let's just say that my relationship with Richard and Emily is civil at best!"
"Luke,"
"No. Lorelai. You need to call them. Tell them you're getting married and that we're pregnant. They might surprise you."
She shot him an 'as if' look then continued getting dressed, walking into the bedroom.
"I just know how much I would have wanted my parents to be there. To meet you and know you and appreciate you and what you are to me. Maybe if they see us, they'll really see finally and you can start rebuilding something worthwhile."
Lorelai's shoulders softened and she turned around and hugged her lover. He was right, at least the bit about wanting his parents there. She felt a tug of sadness over his loss.
"I love that you want this. I love that you think about these things. You might be seriously baked to think that things will ever be real between me and my parents, but I will call. I will. For you Luke." She kissed him sweetly. She tasted like fresh mint.
(Gilmore Residence – Hartford)
"Mina!" Emily Gilmore called out into an otherwise empty house. The phone was on its third ring. "I swear, I don't know why I even bother paying someone around here…" Emily picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Mom?" There was a dead silence on the line, "mom, it's me Lorelai."
"Yes, and who else, exactly, would be calling me 'mom'. What can I do for you Lorelai? Rory's at work and your father's in Toronto on business."
Lorelai straightened her spine, fighting the urge to hang up. "I'm calling to speak to you mom." Her mother remained quiet on the line. "Well, you may have heard already, I don't know, but Luke and I are getting married." Lorelai waited for a response and when there was nothing more than silence she continued. "So, we're getting married and we're going to be parents too mom, I'm pregnant. With twins." Despite the difficulty of the call and her full expectation that it would get her nowhere, Lorelai could hardly disguise the emotion in her voice. "Mom?"
Emily cleared her throat, unsure of what to say.
"Mom?"
"Yes Lorelai. Yes, Rory did tell us about the marriage. Congratulations and please pass on our best wishes to Luke."
"Your best wishes?" Lorelai's voice rose in disgust. "Your best wishes? I call you and tell you that I'm getting married. You're only daughter is finally getting married. And is having twins and all you can offer is best wishes?" The tears began to flow and Lorelai paused, taking in a long and level breath to get on top of her anger. "Look mom, I called you to give you the news and invite you and dad to the wedding on Saturday. It's very informal and it starts at 6 pm. We'd have sent you an invitation but our plans recently changed again so, this is it."
"Well, thank you then. I will let your father know when he returns and we'll see if we can re-arrange our Saturday obligations on such short notice."
Lorelai's heart and head sank; she should have never dared to expect anything more than such a terse response. "Ok. Well… now you've got the scoop. I thought you should know, we thought you should know."
"Thank you Lorelai and congratulations on your pregnancy as well. I suppose it's more of a dance up and down type of news but I'm hardly feeling like breaking in a new pair of shoes, so congratulations will have to suffice."
"It's fine mom. You don't have to be happy for me," she offered, "I just wanted you to know that I am happy. I am honest-to-goodness happy mom and Luke has everything to do with that. He's the one that convinced me to tell you and invite you and, I've gotta say, the man is rarely wrong. So I do hope you can make it." She paused, feeling a little relieved actually. "I'll let you get back to your day then. Bye mom."
"Goodbye Lorelai." Emily placed the receiver back in the cradle and let out a long stream of air, her shoulders sinking with her arms slack in her lap until Mina finally rounded the corner.
"Was there something I could do for you Mrs. Gilmore?"
Emily rolled her eyes and stood up. "No, Mina." She turned to leave then reconsidered. "Actually you can hold my calls for the remainder of the day, unless, of course, it's Mr. Gilmore. I'll be upstairs and I don't want to be disturbed." With her instructions in place, Emily ascended the stairs, rounded the corner and strode into Lorelai's childhood bedroom, locking the door behind her.
She looked around the room as if searching for something specific. Then, she picked up a fat photo album, crammed with bits of paper and some such things, and took a seat on the love seat against the wall.
Emily opened the book and began sifting through the contents.
Lorelai in a rock t-shirt at a tea social, age 13.
Lorelai giving the finger to the camera, in her burgundy school uniform, age 15.
Lorelai with her hands on her very pregnant belly, her debutant ball dress on the floor at her feet, age 16.
Emily closed the album and looked at the cover. It read "My big book of failures, Lorelai Victoria Gilmore." Emily cracked the album open again and continued on. There were myriad photos, her first 99 graded essay, written just weeks before Rory's birth, pictures of Christopher and Lorelai in a photo booth somewhere. But the last of the book finally broke Emily's resolve.
Pasted there was a copy of Rory's birth announcement with a shot of the tiny swaddled baby, still at the hospital. The pages chronicled that first year when Lorelai returned home with her baby; Rory's first word ("Dick" as in Moby), Rory's first steps, in a frilly pink dress with hard white patent leather shoes on her feet. Rory and Lorelai dressed in matching white outfits for a D.A.R. function with Lorelai scowling miserably.
Emily began to cry. This was her daughter's so-called book of failures and the last half, almost, was what should have been a baby keepsake album. Emily returned to the D.A.R. shot and took it out to hold between her fingers.
Rory was on Lorelai's lap, smiling wide, one tooth visible in her little mouth. Lorelai's frown was so expressive, full of disdain and pain. Emily cursed under her breath at the recognition of her daughter's misery. Like any mother, she had wanted to give Lorelai everything and more. She had planned on socials, teas, cotillions and debutant balls; the only thing she never planned for was a daughter who would reject her way of life. Emily had been offended, hurt that her own daughter would disregard tradition and obligation so openly. But it was finally clear, sitting in the quiet with the photographic evidence all around her that Lorelai was never meant to live the life Emily had so wanted to share with her daughter. And Rory was not the second chance she and Richard had secretly hoped for either.
Rory was independent, like Lorelai, and despite the younger girl's inclination towards formality and propriety, she was still a direct product of her mother. There was no turning back and Emily realized she didn't even want to. Before her was an opportunity. A chance to get to know her daughter and grand-daughter as individuals and women and Emily would be damned if she let the opportunity slip by unexplored.
She placed the photo on the dresser and exited the room, her head held high. I was time to do something.
(Luke's Diner)
When the bell jingled, Luke looked up, anticipating Lorelai. Instead, Emily Gilmore walked in with a smile. He did his best to not react.
"Luke." She extended her hand and he shook it.
"Mrs. Gilmore… Emily." He began, "is there something I can do for you? Coffee ?"
"Yes. I think a coffee would be lovely." She took a seat at the counter and looked up at him, eyeing him closely. She observed his strong jaw and the shadowy stubble there, his long nose and his piercing blue eyes, not dissimilar to Lorelai's. He was, of course, not the type of man she'd envisioned for her daughter, but one thing was glaringly obvious at all times; this man loved Lorelai like nothing else. And if flannel was inevitable, Emily might just have to invest in some after all.
Luke poured her a large mug of coffee and placed it in front of the woman who would be his mother-in-law. "Here you go."
"Thank you Luke."
"So, was there something… else?" He waited for Emily to gather her thoughts over a long sip of java, like mother like daughter.
"I spoke to Lorelai this afternoon. She informs me that you two are to be married this weekend?" Luke nodded his response. "She also informs me that you are to be parents to twins?" Another nod, this one accompanied by a broader grin. "Well, well, that's quite the undertaking."
"It is." He agreed.
"Are you the man for the job?" She inquired, watching his expression stiffen almost imperceptibly.
"I am." He held his ground, he chin stuck out a little further than normal.
"No doubt," Emily took another sip. "And you can provide for my daughter… Rory and your children?"
"I can and I do, we provide for each other." Luke shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to slip into a rant of some sort and scare off an opportunity to ease the Gilmores back into Lorelai's life. "Listen, Emily… I love your daughter and I love Rory. I have watched them both grow up and have been there, one way or another. I brought Rory mashed potatoes when she had chicken pox, I carried Lorelai up and down the stairs when her leg was broken. I've fixed her porch, repaired her roof, and helped take care of the termite problem. I invested in the Dragonfly at a time when Lorelai thought her dream might slip away. I was there. Right here." He checked his tone of voice, still soft enough to not betray the fierce emotions right below the surface. "I want the world for Lorelai and for Rory, they are the most amazing people I have ever known. And as for our babies… I can't say how they'll turn out. But I can say that they'll be loved and cared for and given every chance to grow into whoever they want to be."
Emily listened to him intently; his eyes, more blue now than moments before, his chest puffed up. Clearly there was nothing false about him and Emily finally understood something of what her daughter must see in the man.
"Well Luke, with a guarantee like that, who am I to interfere?" She smiled, genuinely. "I would very much like for Richard and I to attend your wedding this weekend Luke. Could you help me do that?"
Luke didn't know what to make of this as he scratched his chin. "Um. Yeah. What do you need?"
"We just need your support. Your offer to help us get to know you and Lorelai and these babies that are so highly anticipated." She finished her coffee and dug into her wallet for change. Luke stilled her with his hand on her arm.
"On the house." He began, "and you got it. You've got my support as long as you really want to be a part of our lives, however messy and real they get."
"Thank you Luke." She extended her hand and, again, he shook it. This time with a mutual appreciation. "And Luke?"
"Yah." His patented breathy acknowledgment.
"I appreciate your investment in my daughter and grand-daughter's lives. Obviously, they are better for it." She slung her purse over her arm and stood to leave.
"So am I." Luke tilted his head knowingly and nodded a sincere goodbye.
The bell jingled and he was alone again, feeling that much more ready for the life ahead of him.
(Lorelai's House)
When Luke got home, he found Lorelai in the kitchen eating a huge bowl of salad. He shook his head, smiling ear to ear when she lifted her head, looking guilty.
"Hey crazy lady." He bent over and kissed her forehead. "So, sneaking in a salad? Will wonders never cease!" He took as seat beside her at the table and leaned on his knees. "Next I'll find you you've finally switched to decaf."
"Whoa there bucko, there's joking and there's fantasy and you, my friend have entered the magical forest with woodland creatures and imps and hobbits… I'm eating a salad, not declaring insanity!"
They laughed together in the evening air, the kitchen door open to let the summer breeze in.
"So, before you jump to any conclusions, I want you to sit. Be quiet. And don't interject until I'm done ok?"
"Um… ok?"
"You're mother came to see me today." He paused, Lorelai clearly bit her lip to keep silent. "And she was very civil. We had a little chat about my role in your life." Lorelai stuffed her hands under her but, trying not to react. "And I think that just maybe, she left the diner a little softer than when she came in." Luke reached out and tucked a long strand of hair behind Lorelai's ear and smoothed his palm over her cheek. "I think she really wants to get to know you… and I think we should let her try. She's your mother and she seemed to really want to do this - on our terms. I told her I'd do what I could to help."
He cupped her face with his hands, "you can talk now," he smiled.
Lorelai let out a huge breath in his face then stopped herself from speaking. Instead, she leaned in and touched her lips to Luke's, oh-so softly. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss and soon, the couple was standing, chairs tipped over on the floor, making out in the evening air.
"You're amazing." She whispered as their lips parted briefly. His left hand gripped the back of her shirt; his right hand caressed her pumpkin belly.
"Back atchya…" he breathed into the kiss. And they took their time to being playful, enjoying every touch and declaration until they finally made it upstairs to bed.
To be continued…
Notes: So, I think I might be closing in on the end here… There are certainly a few more chapters to come, but I feel good about how they'll play out. In fact, this is the first time, in my long, fic-writing history, that I have had a vision of the ending before I wrote myself into it. Learn something new everyday right?
I hope you are still enjoying my particular brand of story-telling and thanks for the feedback!