Love is in the Air, Lorelai Doesn't Have a Parachute
Summery: Set in Season 2. Lorelai is a little depressed and bitter on Valentine's Day. But, will romance pop up in unexpected places. JJ, as if there was any other way.
Setting: Set in Season 2, two days after "It Should Have Been Lorelai," which originally aired February 12th, 2002 (so, in other words, the story takes place on Valentine's Day). In case you can't remember the episode and don't feel like looking for a summery…Christopher comes to visit Lorelai and Rory and surprised them both by bringing his gorgeous girlfriend, Sherry. Sherry wants to insta-bond with Rory, so Christopher agrees to attend Friday Night Dinner with Lorelai while Rory and Sherry have a girl's night out. Emily is upset to learn that Christopher has gotten his life together with another woman, and is heartbroken because the three of them will never be a family like she always envisioned. Lorelai is a little shocked by this notion, but after Rory admits that she used to wish that Christopher and Lorelai would get back together, she doesn't see this idea as crazy anymore. Lorelai tells Christopher that in the back of her mind, she too always saw the two of them getting back together, but it did not work sooner because Christopher was not ready to be there for them in the way he should. She also stated that perhaps her past relationships, including her engagement to Max, did not work out because she was waiting for Christopher to get his life together. She thanks him and tells him that she can now move on because he has moved on. Christopher took her revelation the wrong way and yelled at her for blaming all her years of unhappiness and failed relationships on him. Lorelai tries to explain that she did not mean it the way he thought, but Christopher states that he doesn't deserve all these things to be dumped on him and he walks away angry. Wow, long episode summery. Sorry. Oh, just a side note…flashbacks and thoughts are in italics.
Disclaimer: Even though I like to think I am a genius and came up with the idea myself, Gilmore Girls is definitely not mine! I did, however, borrow the characters and some of the dialogue.
A/N: Hello all! Welcome to my incredibly random Valentine's ficlet. Don't we all need one? This was just an idea I had the other day. I felt the need to write a pre-LL story, where Lorelai was feeling bitter and depressed, and Luke was there to make things better (of course). So, I was trying to think of a time to place this, and Season 2 stuck out. I did a little research to see what episodes aired around Valentine's Day and found out that "It Should Have Been Lorelai" aired on February 12th, 2002. That's about when inspiration hit. Don't you think Lorelai would have been a little upset and anti-romance after her fight with Christopher on Valentine's Day? Basically, that's where the plot came from. Sorry it's a bit late, but better now than in July, right? I tried to get it all done by Valentine's Day, but stupid schoolwork wouldn't let me. But, I like to still think it's V-day because I'm still eating the message hearts. Pretend with me, won't you? So, enough of my eternal ramblings. You didn't click on my title to read my little A/N's. On with the show!
Chapter 1: I'm Dark and Don't Care Who Knows It!
February 14th, 2002
Lorelai had gotten the note. She was exhilarated. "Meet me at Vincent's at 8," was all it said. So, she slipped in to her most amazing, sexy, and flattering fire-red dress and drove the Jeep to Hartford to meet the man behind the note. Surprisingly, she showed up right on time. There was no dress crisis, or hair malfunctions, or make-up mishaps, or traffic jams. Everything was perfect. To top it off, as she stepped out of the Jeep, it began to snow. Flurries danced around her and got stuck in her hair and lashes as she walked to the gigantic and ornate wood door of Vincent's. She gave it a tug. A man in a penguin suit rushed over and held it open for her.
"Terribly sorry that I did not anticipate your entrance. You must be Miss Gilmore. Mr. Hayden said you would be late."
"Well, Mr. Hayden is in for a bit of a surprise," Lorelai said with a smirk. The man at the door helped her out of her coat. She had no idea what Christopher had in store, but she was almost certain that it would be lavish and enchanting. Why was that? Christopher was never the most romantic man. In fact, he almost always said the most unromantic things at the most inopportune times. Like the time he proposed to her when they were fighting in her kitchen and she was wearing I Love Lucy pajamas. But, Christopher was different now. He finally pulled his life together. Now, he could finally be hers.
Lorelai stepped out of the entryway and on to the top step of the expansive staircase. Below, she made out a candlelit table for two. How cheesy. But, no one had ever done that for her before. Cautiously, she stepped onto the first step. Then the next. She hadn't tripped yet. Definitely a good sign. Christopher appeared, as if from nowhere, and waited for her at the bottom, hand outstretched. She grinned. Christopher had a lopsided smile and he winked at her. She was closer to the bottom now.
Then, Lorelai was greeted by another surprise. From the side of the room, also seemingly coming from nowhere, Sherry walked toward Christopher in a stunning little black dress. His glance left Lorelai's. He held his arm to Sherry now. Lorelai was stunned. She tried to say his name, but words wouldn't come out of her mouth. She tried to walk, but she was frozen on the step. Sherry met him and kissed him on the cheek. Christopher led her over to a chair (Lorelai's chair!), and held it out for her. She smiled. Sherry was beautiful. It was then that Lorelai felt herself crumble.
She had lost all control. Her hands flailed as she attempted to reach for the banister. It was no use. She tumbled down the remaining steps and fell in a heap at the bottom. Christopher walked over to her, held out a hand to help her up. She took it like a hungry beggar snatched change. Christopher picked her up and hugged her, holding her close for just a moment. Her heart was beating fast. She was so confused. Gently, he pulled Lorelai away and looked right into her eyes. The smile was gone.
"How dare you," he whispered, "Did you honestly think I would wait for you forever, Lorelai?" Sherry laughed. Lorelai's heart plunged to her feet. Her eye caught her reflection in the mirror. She looked terrible. Her hair was tangled in knots. Mascara made rings around her eyes. Her dress was ripped. Lipstick was applied outside of the lines. And, to top it off, she looked as if she gained 200 pounds. Little Miss Size 2 walked over and looped her arm around Christopher. They were both evilly smiling at her now with glowing eyes. Tears formed in hers. Christopher opened his mouth to say more:
"Er, er er er errrrrrrrrr!"
"Er er er er errrrrrrrrrrrr!"
"Gah!" Lorelai screamed as she shot up in bed. She clutched her heart in panic. She was never happier to hear her rooster-shaped alarm clock cock-a-doodle-do. "Atta boy, Ernie!" Awful, awful dream. This had been the worst yet. Ever since her last encounter with Christopher at Luke's a few days before, she dreamed about him at night. They usually started out pleasant, but always ended with Sherry coming into the picture and Christopher leaving her heartbroken. Had she really been heartbroken a few days ago? Sure, Christopher had hurt her by blowing up at her in the diner in front of everyone. She knew Luke heard every word. But, heartbroken? She wasn't so sure. But, in her dreams, she was just that. It was downright confusing.
Today was Valentine's Day. That realization hit her a few seconds later. "Valentine's Day sucks," she immaturely announced to herself. Love was going to be in the air. Lorelai hated that notion. Everyone had a special someone. Rory had Dean, and, after the basket auction, she had the affections of Jess. She didn't particularly like the idea of Jess for Rory, but it must be nice to have two men going after your attention. Sookie had Jackson and they were spending their first Valentine's as an engaged couple. Babette had Morey. Miss Patty surely had a new man in line for this evening. Michel had the cherie he spoke to on the Inn's phone every spare moment. Christopher had Sherry. Even her mother had Dad, who would most likely supply her with a new gold watch or tennis bracelet at the end of the night. Well, maybe not everyone had a date this holiday. Kirk was as desperate and pathetic as always. Andrew would probably invite Lorelai to go to Al's Pancake World like he did every year, but then would settle on taking Gypsy when she said no. Lane was still grounded. Taylor would probably be outside running the St. Valentine's Romance Extravaganza and wouldn't care that he would be sleeping alone. Luke…well, Luke was a hermit and probably hated the idea of a romantic holiday as much as she did right now. Lorelai felt as if she had been hurled out of a plane with no parachute. She hated this day with a passion right now.
"Mom! Ernie already went off. If you don't hurry, we won't make it to Luke's!" Rory's voice echoed from downstairs. Lorelai groaned and stumbled out of her bed. She ripped open the closet door and made disgusted faces at any color that would support this horrible day. No pink. No red. No purple. Blue, maybe. Ah ha! Black! The color of coal. The color of lava after it turned to rock. The color of a dead smoker's lungs. The color bitter people wore on Valentine's Day. Today, Lorelai would be supporting those people in full attire. Black skirt, black pumps, black camisole, black bra, black panties, black top, black jacket, black jewelry. Okay, maybe it was black overkill, but it certainly made her feel better. After her shower, she flat-ironed her hair and joined Rory downstairs in the kitchen, who was dressed to the nines in her Chilton uniform.
"Whoa," Rory said as she handed Lorelai a mug of coffee.
"What?" she shot back innocently. Rory was staring at her black everything outfit.
"My, aren't we beatnik today."
"Just not in the best of moods."
"I can see that."
"Yes, and let's not dwell on it. Let's go to Luke's. He has happy coffee."
"It's going to take more than happy coffee to get you out of this funk. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, but my weekend wasn't the greatest and now its Monday, so I want to forget about it."
"Are you mad at Dad about something?"
"I said I just want to forget about it."
"Fine. You are short today."
"Rory," Lorelai groaned out.
"I know, I know, you want to forget about it. Shall we, Sylvia Plath?"
"Yes."
"Wait!"
"What now?" Lorelai said with a sigh.
"You forgot your bongos and beret." She smirked at her mother. Lorelai gave her a feeble smile in return. She opened the door and on the doormat stood a vase of red roses.
"What the hell is that?"
"They're roses, Mom. Jeez, you need a drink or something." Lorelai picked them up and read the card.
"Happy Valentine's Day," she stated in a very monotone voice, handing the vase over to Rory. They were from Dean. For a second, she wanted a vase of roses waiting on her front porch. But only for a second. Now, she was back to black, bitter, beatnik, Plath-ish Lorelai. Rory set the flowers in the living room and gushed about them to her disgruntled mother all the way to Luke's.
A/N: Don't stop now...I am actually posting more than 1 chapter at a time. Aren't you all proud! Hope you liked it so far. Feel free to review at any time.