Chapter 2: Breakups; Getting the House to Ourselves

Luke is helping the servers clear the table as I make my way over to Rory; who has occupied herself by reading a book in the library. I sit next to her and ask, "Hey, kid. Did you enjoy yourself?"

She puts the book down and answers, "I enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with you and Luke-"

"-But" I add.

"-But, I didn't enjoy the phone call that I got before dinner. Logan's sister, Honor, called and said she was sorry to hear about the 'break up'."

I'm confused, "What break up?" I ask her.

"Mine and Logan's apparently." she answers.

"Wait, I thought you guys weren't speaking for the moment. When did the break up happen?"

"So did I," she starts to cry, I pull her in for a hug, "Mom, I don't know what's going on, I th-thought that h-he…"

"Shh, honey, calm down." I pull away s o I can see her, "Look, I know that Luke and I haven't been the most welcoming towards Logan, but that's only because we think that you can do better. But, maybe you should call him and figure this out." I tell her in my understanding, motherly type voice.

She shakes her head, "Mom, I can't he wants out, I can't change that."

I look at Luke in the dining room and smile, then turn back to my kid, and say, "I thought the same thing, remember? I thought that Luke wanted out, and he thought the same about me. Maybe Logan, is pulling a Luke. Jess showed up, unexpectedly, just like your dad did, and he thought he was going to lose you, so he took himself 'out' before he could get crushed by your decision." I pause, trying to think of what else to say. "Unless he was right and you do want 'out', but I know you don't. You are your mothers daughter, when it comes to the man that you are in love with, just at the sound of his name, your face lights up." I finish, waiting for her to respond to my monologue.

"No, I don't want 'out'. But what do I tell him?" She asks, as if my motherly handbook that came with her birth has all the answers.

"I can't tell you that babe. The words will come." She looks at me, smiles and nods. "God, I feel horrible."

"Why? Was it the dinner?" she asks, worried.

"No, the dinner was amazing. I feel horrible because I came over to ask if you could stay with Lane, so I could talk to Luke, but you're going through some really crappy stuff, so just-"

She cute me off, "-No, mom, I can stay with Lane, or I could go and talk to Logan."

"Rory, you don't have to, I mean, Luke and I can stay in the apartment tonight."

"No really, its ok, you should be with Luke."

I can see that she's not going to back down, "Are you sure?"

She nods, "Yes, now go get dad, I mean Luke." she says, and looks down embarrassed.

I just smile and say, "OK, do you want me to bring him over here so you can ask if-"

"Yes please." she says.

"Ok." I kiss the top of her head and walk towards the dining room. Luke is talking to Derek, I come up behind Luke and wrap my arms around his waist, and rest my chin on his shoulder and say, "Derek can I steal Luke for a minute?"

"Yeah, I better get the rest of these dishes in the kitchen anyhow. Its been good talking to you Luke. Happy Thanksgiving you guys."

"Happy Thanksgiving," Luke and I say in unison. Derek smiles and heads off to the kitchen. Luke turns around in my arms.

"Hey," He says with a smile.

"Hey. Uh, come with me for a second." I say, dragging him off to where Rory is. "Ok, now, Rory has something to ask you."

She stands up and says, "Luke," pause, "I-uh, I was wondering if maybe, since you and mom are getting married-I wanted to start calling you dad. If that's ok with you." She says quickly.

Rory and I look at him trying to read his expression, both not having any luck. I touch his arm and he snaps out of his daze and hugs Rory and says, "Of course you can call me dad. If its ok with your mom."

"Why would it have to be 'ok with mom'?" I ask. "It was completely up to Luke." I grab his hand and say, "Babe, just for the record, I am totally fine with Rory calling you dad."

"Good, me too." he says happily.

"Hey, me too!" Rory says, then we all smile at each other. "Ok, I'm off to Lane's. By mom, bye dad. Wow, that feels completely normal, don't you think?"

"Yeah, have fun with Lane." he tells our daughter.

"I will," she yells over her shoulder.

"Bye hon!" I yell, and turn to Luke and wrap my arms around his neck, with a raise of my eye brows I say, "We have the house to ourselves."

"We do at that. What do you have in mind?" he asks…as if he didn't know.

"I can think of a few things," I say then kiss him deeply.