Disclaimer: We Own Nothing ……
Chapter Three : Lucy I'm Home
PLACE : Lorelai's House
"Mom, I'm Home!" Rory said sounding as excited as a kid in a candy store.
"Rory, you're back! Yay!" Lorelai said reciprocating that same excitement.
"So almost to be Mrs. Danes, I need details."
"Ok, well Luke was standing there yelling about you---" Rory quickly cut her off wondering why Luke was yelling about her.
"Wait, Why was Luke yelling about me?" talking in a confused tone with her face all scrunched up. Rory was curious but soon Lorelai ignored her question.
"Doesn't matter" saying quickly to get back to her story " … and it hit me like an elephant and two brothers sitting on it."
"Clem?"
"Yep, the one with different mothers and anyways I realized after all that had happened that I can't live without him and I knew he was the one just like that."
"Well it is about time since Luke has none for hmmmm FOREVER!" Rory said rolling her eyes showing that it had been apparent that Luke had liked her for a long time.
"Oh stop, Yay! I am finally getting married!" smiling at the fact of seeing Luke in a tux. " I mean how many times do you get to plan a wedding?" this question was rhetorical of course until Lorelai saw Rory's face and predicted she was going to say something stupid about the inn. "I mean my wedding." She now saw Rory's face again remembering Max. " I mean the wedding I am supposed to have!"
"Ok that was a much better way of phrasing it, speaking of which, I'm hungry let's go to my new step daddy's to eat!" Rory said with a little girlish tone in her voice when she said step daddy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE : Luke's Diner
"Lucy I'm Home!" Lorelai called out for Luke using a horrible Cuban accent. Luke sees her and they kiss over the counter.
"So Rory," saying this ignoring Lorelei "What will you have?"
"I'd like a --hey wait my mom always orders first."
"Ah, but I already know what she wants."
"Ha! I am offended , you can't possibly know my mood or what food I am craving." Lorelai said this knowing Luke knew what mood she was in and what food she wanted "If you're so good , let me hear it."
Luke sighed and figured he should go along with Lorelai's little anecdote or this would never end. "You want today's special sandwich" pausing for a moment to prepare for a lengthy order " -- but make the mayonnaise ketchup, Swiss cheese to cheddar, the ham to a hamburger patty, and last but not least change the bun from onion peel to sesame…now did I forget anything?" saying this knowing obviously he did not forget anything. Luke was also very proud of the fact he knew exactly what is fiancée wanted. He realized over these past few days he really liked saying, even thinking about the wedding. Luke especially loved being able to call Lorelai his fiancée, something he had longed for so many years.
Lorelai pleased at the fact he was correct said, "Oh, your good-- not in the right order but good."
Rory looking amused turned to Lorelai and said, " Hey mom, umm I forgot to tell you something." Rory paused to let Lorelai calm down from the fiery conversation she had with Luke. "Grandpa got me a job in New York." At this point of time Luke realizes this is mother/daughter talking time and he walks back to the kitchen making Lorelai's burger, and making an educated guess on what Rory wanted.
Lorelai hated talking about this situation but it most be done. Forcing the words out she said, "Oh really, what is it?"
"It's at a small magazine writing reviews on anything and everything." Rory said seeming almost excited to start work.
"Wow that sounds really fun." Lorelai almost surprised at Rory for getting a job like this. It seemed weird it had to do with journalism, which was the main reason Rory had rethought her Yale education. "and what about school?"
"Mom, I know you want me to go back but --it's just I can't take it, it's too much pressure." Lorelai opened her mouth about to give an argument but Rory cut her off and said, "Mom this doesn't mean I am completely out. I just need time to breathe."
Lorelai was almost comforted by the fact that Rory is at least putting Yale under consideration. After all the Yale talk there was an awkward silence not common with that set of Gilmore's. Breaking the silence Lorelai blurted, "Let's talk wedding plans!" Soon Luke walked over with fries and burgers on a plate in each hand.
"Ok…Hey Luke we are talking about the wedding plans and mom wants to know if you want her to wear a veil or a baseball cap." Rory said trying to hold back the laughter at the 'shut up your annoying me' look Luke gave her.
"Like I would have a choice in the matter." Luke said with the annoyed expression wiped completely off his face.
"The man knows his woman." Lorelai said amused. Rory found this as her cue to go and interrupted the silence--
"Mom, I think I am going to go home, maybe catch up on some reading, I might finish 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'." Rory found herself liking the painful Ernest Hemmingway. "ok Bye Mom, Bye Luke!" Rory exit's the diner leaving Luke and Lorelai alone.
"Ah so we need to set a date." Luke said while sitting down into Rory's abandoned spot.
"Yes I know. Do you want it sooner then later?"
"Are you kidding, don't these things take like a year to plan?" Luke said, "and cost like a million dollars?"
"Why yes in some circumstances but I am skilled at this sort of thing, I've done a ton at the inn. Let's also not forget you married Nicole in a day and did Liz and T.J's wedding in a week. So I was thinking the end of August."
"Sounds fine with me."
"So it's a date, well not an exact date." Lorelai said correcting herself.
"How does August 23rd sound?" Luke said smirking like he had something up his sleeve.
"Why so random? Although I do believe it to be a Saturday or Sunday…so good choice."
"Do I do anything random…I'm not you." laughing at his own sarcasm.
Lorelai thought hard at what August 23rd might have been. Suddenly a smile appeared on her face and she remembered what day it was. "That was the day I first walked into the diner and you first laid eyes on my beauty-- ah Luke so you are a romantic."
"Don't spread it around." Luke and Lorelai lean in to share a kiss but little do they know Ms. Patty, Stars Hollow's Gossip Queen who knew everything about everyone, was eavesdropping.
"Lorelai dear did I hear you right?" Ms. Patty said with a grin on her face.
"NO!" Lorelai and Luke shouted at the same time then laughed and Patty nodded her head and went back to her coffee.
"Hey, so listen I was wondering who is going to be your best man? I know I know Taylor is your number one option but let's rethink this."
"Umm…I have been meaning to talk to you about this." Luke said hesitating a little. "Well you know I have had contact with Jess and we talk regularly."
"Yea" Lorelai said knowing where Luke was heading
"I would like him to be my best man , but I mean that whole Rory-Jess thing…I'll just find someone else"
"No." knowing that Luke had to make his own decision and that it was ultimately Luke's choice.
"You think Rory will be okay with--"
"Actually I think it might be for the better." Lorelai interrupted Luke. "As you know I am not Jess's number one fan…but I am just saying you guys have been through a lot and me and Rory were kind of expecting this."
"Really it would be okay?" Luke was very shocked that Jess was to be his best man. "I mean he actually is getting his life together."
"Luke, you know you had a big part in that and don't even deny it….how's he doing anyway?"
"Well after a while he moved to New York, but you already knew that. He got a job and is using that money to pay for some night classes."
"Night classes for what?" Lorelai grew even more curious on how Jess was doing and she knew right when she got home she would tell Rory.
"School…he got his GED and is going to a community college. I mean its not Yale or anything but at least it is something and he has a job lined up after he is finished with school."
"Wow! Are we talking about the same Jess here?" Remembering those days when Jess lived in Stars Hollow. Jess was the bad boy rebel kid who had always reminded her of James Dean. She remembered how she had waited up for Rory to come home from her dates with Jess , just to make sure she was safe. She remembered being worried when her daughter was with him.
"Yeah, I know" Luke said proudly.
"This is great…I am really happy for you two." she said shocked that she was happy for Jess or anything to do with Jess.
"Okay, well Rory is waiting at home and I am going to try and convince her that we don't need all those things from Africa for the wedding…so bye!"
"Wait!" Luke said confused but Lorelai did not answer him and just kept walking toward the door of the diner and left. Luke smiled at the thought of his life to come.
