Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
A/N: Here's the second chapter…Again, I apologize for any and all OOC-ness. I'm on an update-spree, seeing as the east coast has been assaulted by snow- my area, anyway- and early dismissals/school closings. Let me know what you think, if I should continue, etc. by reviewing…I'm not sure how much I'm liking the way this story's going so far…
Chapter Two: A Rory Sandwich
It was one of those days. The kind of day where you just know you should call in sick, and stay wrapped up in your blankets, hiding out from the world in a safe little haven somewhere. The ones where you lie in bed for hours after the sun came up, in a half-sleep, just wishing you didn't have to get out of bed and face your impending doom, but you know you have to.
For Rory Gilmore, that impending doom had a name, and it was Emily. She wasn't looking forward to this party at all. In fact, she all but dreaded it. Thus, the excessive amount of time spend laying in bed. It was just about ten a.m. before Rory showed any signs of moving to get up, and when she finally did it was only because a skinny, pale, but familiar figure stood over her bed, tapping her insistently on the shoulder.
Tap, tap, tap.
"Mmpf. Go awaaay, Mom."
Tap, tap, tap.
When the tapping didn't stop, and only increased in fervor, Rory peeled the covers off. She turned around in a swift, annoyed motion and barked at her mother. "If you think I'm even leaving this bed without at least one cup of coffee then you're…you're…Kirk?"
"I took the liberty of letting myself in, I figured we should start early so there'd be plenty of time for the Stars Hollow Gazette to get it to the printers." Kirk said, taking out a pad and a pencil.
"Start what? Get what to the printers? Kirk, get out of my room!" Rory said all of this in a rush, rubbing at her eyes tiredly.
"The interview for the paper, and for the record books, of course. You're the town favorite, everyone wants to know about your engagement, they reserved the front page for you, you know. Now, before we get down to the real stuff, Lulu- who is my wife- wanted me to ask you if you needed any size six bridesmaids, because we're free all of Apri-"
"Kirk! Out, now!" Rory yelled, pointing to the door.
"But what about the intervie-" He took another glance at Rory's angered face and stumbled out of the house, calling back over his shoulder: "I'll be back, and Lulu's offer still stands!"
Rory rubbed her temples and let herself fall back down against the pillows. She'd only been engaged to Colin for one day- not even, more like half a day- and it was already turning into chaos.
Seeing as she was up anyway, Rory rolled out of bed, slipping a fluffy blue robe over top of her nightclothes. As soon as she reached the doorway of her bedroom, the sent of coffee and pancakes drifted into her nose, making her stomach grumble and mouth water.
In the kitchen, she found a sight she'd never expected to see before: her mother stood over the stove, prodding perfectly browned pancakes with a spatula.
"Is the sky falling? Has Armageddon come upon us? Are you actually cooking something that doesn't involve the microwave?"
Lorelai looked up, blinking at Rory's sudden appearance and smiled. "No, don't worry, Chicken Little, we've still got a few more years 'til the sins of the corporate world kick in and global warming kills us off. Luke! I see bubbles!"
Luke walked in from the living room and snatched the spatula out of Lorelai's hand, flipping the pancake over quickly. "Now why would I wanna learn to cook when I've got a man who can do that for me!" Lorelai exclaimed, pointing at the near perfect plate of pancakes and full pot of coffee sitting on the kitchen table. "And of course…That's not all he can do…" She said with a wink and wriggling of her eyebrows.
"Dirty…" Rory mumbled, making a face and helping herself to a large cup of coffee and some breakfast. "Okay, how about this, we eliminate sexual references to you and Luke from conversations at the table. Or rather, from any conversations with me- the daughter- around at all."
"Aw…You're no fun. When did my daughter lose her sense of humor? Can this child of mine, fruit of my loins, actually be a closet nag!" Lorelai cried, sitting down next to Luke.
"Yes. You caught me. Now that I'm out, I'm going to badger you about acting your age."
"Mean."
"Well, I have a right to be. Can you tell me why neither of you thought it important to let me know that Kirk- you remember him, right? scrawny, bizarre, likes to barge into places he's not welcome- was coming to 'interview' me?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, how 'bout you, Luke?" Lorelai said, looking at the ceiling innocently, the corners of her mouth turned up in a half-smile.
"Don't drag me into this, Lorelai, you're the one who let him in!"
"But you told him where Rory's room was…"
Rory shot an incredulous look in Luke's direction. "Luke, how could you!"
"He sat down and started asking about going on a fishing trip together, what the hell was I supposed to do?"
"Um…Did you try saying 'no'?" Lorelai asked.
"Whatever." Rory snapped, dropping her now empty plate into the sink. "I'll let it slide, but only because you're both coming to the party tonight."
"Now hold on a minute…"
Rory smirked and disappeared into her room quickly, excusing herself to get dressed so she could go talk to Lane about something, slamming the door before she could listen to Luke's protests.
"You brought this on yourself, you know." Lorelai said in response to her husband's sulking face. "All those years trying to serve me decaf. It's karma, and it just came back to bite you in your cute ass."
Rory walked the distance from the house to the diner, since Lane still had her car. She'd dressed in a pair of jeans, a red sweater and her pea coat to block out the brisk winter air. She stuck her left hand in her pocket, hoping to draw no more attention than she already had. Finally coming up to the diner, she motioned to Lane, who was inside waitressing while Caesar minded the chef work in Luke's absence.
"Psst, Lane!" Rory hissed, ducking her head in the glass door quickly.
"Rory! You want some coffee?" Lane called back with a smile.
"Shhh! Is Kirk in there?"
"No, why?" Relieved, Rory entered fully and sat down at the counter on her usual stool as Lane poured a cup for her.
"Because, apparently, I'm the next cover-feature for the Stars Hollow Gazette and three guesses who's doing the interview."
"Oh, no. This is my fault!"
"Why, did you tell Kirk?"
"Um…Not exactly. I was kinda talking to Zach about last night, outside Doose's, and um…well, one of the dancers at Miss Patty's apparently got a little sick- did too many sashays- so she was there picking up some Mr. Clean, and overheard."
"Wait, the dancer, or Miss Patty?" Rory already knew the answer, but thought that if she just asked, fate might smile on her and give her a break.
"Miss Patty."
"Of course. That would explain it. So, how long do you think before the whole town knows?"
"You'd have about…Half an hour after the encounter. Which according to my watch…" Lane stopped and held up her wrist. "Happened an hour ago."
Rory winced slightly, sipped on her coffee. She gave a heavy sigh. "Oh well. They'd have noticed sometime anyway, right?"
"I'd say by the third kid, someone might get a little suspicious, yeah."
"So, run Kirk interference, will you? I don't have time for an interview."
"Duly noted. Miss Gilmore is signing no autographs today, and has no comment in reference to the rumors concerning her marital status." Lane said, mock saluting.
"Anyway, that's not why I came. I wanted to ask if you'd mind coming to Hartford with me? My grandma's throwing this engagement party, and I have no say in the guest list so far, so can you come?"
Lane held up a finger and rushed off to a disgruntled patron, who had been trying to get her attention for a while now. She called an order over her shoulder to Caesar before strolling back up to where Rory sat.
"Hm…Let's see…If there're drunken socialites, music, and a partridge in a pear tree, then I'm game."
"Check, check, I'm not sure about the partridge, but we've got a pear tree in the garden, so that's what, a half check?"
"Yeah, good enough. So where and when?"
"Look, I'll walk back home, you pick me up at my house with the car, and I'll give directions. It's at five sharp, you should probably wear something formal."
"Right-o." Lane said, moving to give the order to the still irritated customer.
Rory waved goodbye, and headed back home. She had just enough time to veg in front of the TV for a half hour before getting ready.
An hour later, Rory still wasn't fully dressed when the sound of her own horn echoed against the house. She winced. Trust Lane to be punctual on the one day Rory was running late. She had searched in vain for that second strappy black heal, but it seemed to be playing a round of hide-and-go-seek with her. Rory was losing.
"Damn!"
"Hey sweets, have you seen the match to this shoe? I've been looking all over…"
Her mother entered the room, holding out a shoe by it's heal. It was black and strappy. Lorelai smiled upon seeing the match in Rory's hand. Rory stood up from where she'd been looking underneath her bed.
"So, now we have to figure out who gets them both."
"We could do…pick-a-number, or a coin toss…Oooh! I'll wrestle ya for it! Wait a sec, who's shoes are these anyway?"
"Mine." Rory lied.
Lorelai took another look, and shook her curls. "No, they're mine!"
"But I'm running late!" Rory wined.
"So? I am too. But you're the guest of honor, so you're allowed to be late. Mom will have a cow if I'm not on time. Plus, if they're out of vodka and I get yelled at by Mom, I'm leaving you to fend for yourself."
Making a face at her mother's logic, and how accurate it was, she handed the shoe over and dashed inside her closet, searching for a new pair. She chose a pair of silver stilettos, which matched the fine vines and roses made of glitter on her black dress.
"Luke and I are leaving, we'll see you in Hartford!" Lorelai yelled as she left, slamming the door.
Another round of honking came from the driveway, and Rory sped up, her fingers fumbling with the buckles. She glanced in the mirror at her straight hair and her light make-up before grabbing her bag and rushing out the door.
"Sorry I took so long." Rory muttered, slamming the car door and buckling her seatbelt. She spouted directions, and they traveled the traffic-less road. The car was filled with laughter, much the opposite of how it had been the previous night, and of course the blaring of the radio was also present. It didn't seem long at all before they'd arrived at their destination.
As previously timed, it took thirty minutes. The house of stone was the same as always, looking ominous as ever. Her mother's jeep was being parked and pulled out of the driveway by a valet. At least they'd arrived close to on-time.
Pushing open the door Rory took one last breath before heading toward the entry. Lane came up behind her, still a little awed by the large house. "Do you think it's too late to tell them I'm sick, and simply can't leave the house?"
"We're past the point of no return. Time to face the music." Lane stated.
"More like face the wolves."
Rory pulled open the door, and went into the house. As per usual, the Gilmore house was bustling on the night of a party. Caterers and members of staff rushed around, carrying trays of food and offering flutes of champagne to the many guests. It was packed, even by her Grandparents' standards.
Music, soft and classy, rolled through the room, couples dancing in a designated area. Stuffy men discussed business, and the women gossiped in the corners, taking part in Lorelai's favorite dish of the evening- apple tarts. Speaking of her mother, she was there, in the foyer, already engaged in an argument with her mother. Luke stood uncomfortably next to them both, shuffling his feet.
"…completely disrespectful and rude."
"Mom, I'm ten minutes late! Ten, mom! You couldn't watch half an episode of CSI in ten minutes. You couldn't even finish off a jawbreaker in ten minutes- not the jumbo ones, anyway, and besides-"
"Oh, look, it's Rory!" Luke said loudly, postponing any further arguing. "And she brought her friend Lane, how are you girls, was there traffic?"
"We're fine."
"Yup. No traffic of any kind to report. Although we did see some interesting road kill about fifteen minutes into the drive." Rory said, trying not to laugh at the expression on Emily's face. It was something akin to what you look like after swallowing a particularly sour lemon.
Lorelai looked up and nodded vigorously. "I saw that too! Are you talking about the green, oozing one?"
Lane answered, and the two held a side-conversation about the amazing road kill. Rory interrupted with introductions before the two could get past the strange, yellow bubble protruding from it's side.
"Oh, sorry Grandma, this is my friend Lane, Lane, this is my Grandma, Emily."
"Rory didn't tell me she was bringing a friend along! Well, I'll have to go inform the chef there's one more to serve."
"And Luke and I are going to go…away. We'll see you at dinner. Remember: Watch your back, you never know when scheming socialite No. Two will pop out of the shadows and talk you into lunch at the club." With that piece of advice, Lorelai grabbed Luke's hand and tugged him toward the open bar, leaving Lane and Rory by themselves.
It was an agonizing twenty minutes into the party before Colin finally swooped in to rescue them from Thelma Wexler's recount of last weeks bridge game. He was dressed in a tux, as were most of the other male guests, but he stood out from the others to Rory, at least.
"Hey. When did you get here? I've been looking all over." Colin said, draping an arm around her waist and kissing her softly.
"We got here about twenty minutes ago."
"It feels like an hour, though." Lane added. "And we just had to find out if Mrs. Meriwether got caught cheating at bridge."
"Ah, she's quite the conniving minx. Been cheating for years- at more then one thing, she's beaten my sorry ass at poker quite a few times. Anyway, if you're interested, we've got a sub-party going in the pool house."
"Do you even have to ask?" Rory said, smiling up at him. On their way to the room, they both explained the concept of a sub-party to Lane, who commented that she could have used one when she was growing up and going through many a Korean parties which desperately needed an intervention.
"Gilmore! What took you so long, I've been ambushed!" Paris' familiar voice exclaimed from her seat on the couch.
"By who?"
"The Three Stooges, that's who! They've trapped me here, Rory, and this one tried to feed me- you know what happened to the last guy to stick something in my mouth against my will."
"Finn…Do we need to break out the 'don't feed the neurotic woman' sign again? Take my advice…keep all limbs you want to remain attached to your body out of her mouth and away from her."
"Aw, but it's so much fun. I know that somewhere, buried under all that anger is a suppressed, sweet girl…If I can get that suppressed side out, I'll have competed my mission in life. And if that suppressed side happens to want me for my hot Aussie bod, I wouldn't object."
Paris snorted. "In your dreams."
"Don't I know it."
Rory laughed heartily, accepting a drink from Colin and settling on the couch, tucking her legs underneath her. Colin sat next to her, in the seat recently vacated by Paris, who had gone to in search of "someone with a few more brain cells". The others in the sub-party milled around, chatting about much more interesting things than the happenings of last week's bridge game.
"Oh, everybody, this is Lane, Lane, everybody!" Rory called loudly. She didn't have much time for introductions. "Lane's a musician; Seth, you dated a singer once, right?" Satisfied that Lane had someone to talk to for the time being, Rory turned back to Colin. For a while, they were the only two seated on the couch, something they made use of by engaging in an entertaining game of tonsil hockey- not exactly her proudest moment, but she was beginning to see she'd have a lot of less then proud moments. Pausing after round two, Rory looked up, searching for any new arrivals.
She spotted Stephanie, who sauntered gracefully into the pool house, dragging someone behind her. "Hey! It's the happy couple." Steph flicked her long curly blond hair over her shoulders, and settled in an armchair. The person behind her came into full view, beginning the turning point of Rory's evening.
He looked, of course, as wonderfully delicious as ever, in his tux. Black brought out the color of his eyes. He stood tall in front of her, that same ever present twinkle of mischief in his eyes, a cocky smirk in place. His hair was artfully chaotic, and the same shade of blond it had been the last time she'd seen it.
"Hey Ace." Two words. Two. That's all it took, in that deep voice of his before she stopped breathing. Rory's body stiffened, and goose bumps ran the length of her bare arms. Her heart stopped beating for a moment. Of course, it had to, seeing as it had just soared up into her throat, stopping all speech capabilities.
"Finn, I warned you, get your tentacles off my ass or I'll thrash you so bad, there won't be an 'Aussie bod' left to look at!"
Thank goodness for Paris' big mouth. It was the breath of reality she needed to bring her out of the clouds and back to earth. Rory took in a shuttering breath and did her best to smile in response. "Hey Logan." Two words from her, and was still standing, at least on the outside.
Who cared if he was standing on the inside, anyway? Certainly not her. Or, at least she didn't think she did… No. She most defiantly did not. She was the one who ended their pseudo-relationship, anyway, why would she be hung up on someone she'd dumped in the first place? How exactly was she supposed to act around him?
"…and then, I said to Mr. Gilmore, screw 'the bonds of marriage' I want you here and now."
"What!" Rory shrieked, looking at Stephanie in disbelief.
"Hey, back from your trip to the moon, spaceman?"
"I…what?"
"You looked a million miles away." Colin stated, looking at her strangely.
"Oh, I'm fine." Yes, just peachy. Logan had now taken the liberty of sitting himself down next to her on the couch, making for a rather uncomfortable situation. Rory was now wedged between the only two people at the sub-party to have seen her naked. Oh yes, what a nice combo. A Rory sandwich.
"Um, do we have anything stronger than this champagne out here?"
A/N: Loved it, hated it, comments, complaints, etc.? I'd be much obliged to any and all reviewers! Oh, I'm a review junkie, just to let ya know, I need my fix! ;-)
Special thanks to my reviewers: blueyed18, Me124, lynn, Julesanna, smile1, ceciliah, and rorgan fan. You guys rock!