Chapter Two- Still Smiling

Lorelai squinted her eyes as the sun shined through the window across her face. She was upset it was morning for only a second before she had remembered the events of the night before. She was going to get married. And last night had been amazing. Lorelai Stiles. Ew. Lorelai Gilmore Stiles. Ew again. What was wrong, this wasn't working. Mrs. Lorelai Stiles. Ew, ew ,ew ,ew ,ew. She sounded like, some type of school marm, some old lady, always ordering people around. She sounded like her mother. "EW!" She finally said aloud as she rolled over to tell Jason about her problems. When she rolled over however, her arm landed on an empty bed. Lorelai's eyes squinted in confusion. It hadn't been a dream. She had proof right there on her finger. Big, sparkly, expensive proof. She figured he was probably getting coffee downstairs or something. She curiously got out of bed as she made her way down the steps.

"Hello?" She asked. No answer. As she made her way toward the kitchen she decided to make use of her time. "Lorelai Jason Stiles, what no, um, Lorelai G. Stiles. ew. Mrs. Jason Stiles. Gross." She gave up and decided it would be best to keep her name. "Lorelai Gilmore. There. Done." She walked into the kitchen as she rubbed her eyes. "Jason hon, we've got a-" No one was there. "Hello?" No answer. She then saw a note on the table. It read.

Lorelai Stiles To Be-

"Ew." She said aloud at the mention of the name. This was going to be a problem.

Had to go to work. Left around 5. I love you. Coffee in pot. Call me later.

-Jason, your husband to be.

He left her? What? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. You propose to someone, you get engaged, you go spend an amazing night together, and you're supposed to wake up with them in you're arms. She knew he had work but, my god. She shook her head and decided that it was probably very important or he wouldn't have left. Now she was engaged. And she'd have to face the world in not too long. Alone. she walked over to the coffee pot and picked it up. It was cold. She rolled her eyes as she set it down again. The phone rang. She walked over and picked it up.

"Yeah?" She asked, in a sour mood over Jason's disappearance.

"Congratulations mom!" Rory said from the other end.

"How did you-"Lorelai asked, bewildered, she hadn't told anyone.

"Ms. Patty called me. And although I was a little surprised that you hadn't called me yourself, I am happy for you. If you're happy that is." Rory said. She was trying to be supportive, although she wasn't really that happy. She didn't like Jason. Not enough anyway to have him as a stepfather. Jason barely acknowledged her presence. It was okay for her mother to date him. They seemed to be having fun. Nothing serious though.

"Of course I'm happy." Lorelai said. Hiding her disappointment that Jason wasn't with her right now. "But how did miss Patty- never mind I don't want to know. What did she say."

"Well, she calls, starts small talk you know. I didn't even get a chance to ask her how she got my number before she spilled it all out on me. She wants me to um, pull an operation 13.24." Rory said.

"An operation what-a?" Lorelai asked.

"um, she explained it to me. She wants me to get you and Jason to break up." Rory said, in a fake surprised and confused voice. She wished they really would break up. But if her mother was happy, she didn't want to do anything to compromise that.

"Oh, and why is that?" Lorelai asked. She wasn't sure to have expected this from Stars Hollow, or to question why in the world they would want her and Jason to break up.

"Um, because they...." Rory trailed off.

"They what Rory, they what!" Lorelai impatiently yelled. She wasn't sure why she all of a sudden cared.

"They want you to marry Luke." Rory finished. She was completely serious when she said this so she was surprised to hear her mother laughing hard on the other end, she was pretty sure she heard some tears in there too,

"Luke, Luke? Luke Luke? Diner Luke? Monosyllabic Diner Luke? Coffee Luke? Duke Luke? Lukey Luke? Dukey Lukey Luke? Luke Lukity Lu-" Lorelai was cut off.

"Wow I think you just broke the record for most nicknames given in all of 5 seconds." Rory said. Why wasn't her mother taking this seriously. It wasn't that far fetched. She saw the way they looked at each other. She saw it. Why didn't her mother?

"Sorry it's just that," Lorelai said through laughs. Then she said seriously, "I need coffee."

"Alright, call me later. And if anything else life altering happens to you, call me." Rory said.

"Bye babe." Lorelai said. She missed her daughter. Stupid Yale.

"By mom, love ya." Rory said before Lorelai heard her hang up the phone. She followed suit. She sighed again as she went upstairs to get changed. She had to face the world.

_______________________________________________________

People started piling in the diner around 8. More people than usual. No body wanted to eat. Luke was starting to get annoyed. They all just sat there and stared at him sideways. Finally he gave up.

"Alright, you eat or you leave." Nobody moved.

"What's going on?" Luke asked. He had been in a bad mood all night, since he witnessed that little scene in the park. His park. His and Lorelai's park. Their 'Meltdown in the Park' park. That asshole had proposed to his Lorelai in their park. asshole.

Finally Ms Patty got up and walked over to the counter.

"Haven't you heard sugarbuns?" Patty asked.

"Yes Patty I have. And it is none of your," he rose his voice at this, "or anyone else's business, but hers, so if you all will just drop this, it would be nice. This is my final offer. Eat or leave." He yelled.

Everyone immediately got up and ran out of the diner, including patty. The door didn't even have a chance to fully open before the entire diner was empty. Luke put his head in his hands before he heard the door opened and the bell jingled. He looked up. There she was. Lorelai.

"Hey." She said. She almost looked like she was scared. "It's empty." Lorelai said. Luke pointed to the window where the entire town was once again pressed up against. He shot them a glare as Lorelai laughed and they all ran away.

"They all have problems, no one can have any privacy in this damn town." Luke said.

Lorelai nervously laughed again. What was wrong with her. He wasn't funny.

"Um, so I've guess you heard." Lorelai said. Hoping he had so she wouldn't have to explain it. Why was this so hard? She guessed that what Rory said was just getting to her.

Luke nodded. "Yup." He said. " 'gradulations" He said with another nod.

"At least that gorgeous Chuppa you made will go to some use." She said, trying to lighten the mood. Why couldn't she see that he wanted to be the one she used it with?

"Yeah, well." He said, embarrassed a little.

"Coffee please. To go. I gotta get to work." She said.

"Sure." He said as he turned around and poured her a cup of coffee.

She smiled as he handed it to her.

She turned to leave as he stopped her.

"Lorelai?" He said.

"Yeah."

"I'm happy that, you know, you're happy. I hope it works out." Luke said. lying through his teeth, for the second part anyway. He wasn't sure if he should have said that. It was an impulse thing. But then he saw her smile. The smile that lit up the room. A real smile. She was happy and he knew it was worth it. The first time she had smiled all morning.

"Thanks Luke." She said as she turned to leave, and walked out the door. Still Smiling.