Written in the Stars
By Gilmoregirl1979 (the reigning Quote Queen)
Rating: PG-13
Hi this is your friendly disclaimer: I REJECT ASP's REALITY AND SUBSTITUE MY OWN! Once again, I don't own (DAMN IT! DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT!), No Harm No Sue.
R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Summary/ The Q: AW If you DON'T KNOW BY NOW! HURUMPH!
LUVZ: I miss you!
FEATURED BETA: Localizy, What Can I Say…
No seriously go read Localizy's fic what can I say…. read this first… then go to her's!
A/N: I have to say it now... I... Am...So ... DAMN... PROUD OF THIS CHAPTER
worth the wait? for QUALITY FAN FICTION? you tell me...
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Chapter 36:
Shouldn't We Be Thankful…Or Something?
In the week since Luke's birthday, Lorelai and Rory had helped him sort and pack most of his belongings at his apartment. His old apartment, that once was his father's old hardware office, was an office again with only some of the furniture and the trophies Luke had displayed as any reminder that he had lived there. They were happily situated on the floor of the old apartment, the girls laughing as they packed boxes and carried them to the truck ignoring the fact that there were a few mystery items Luke felt were too delicate for the girls to sort through, for one reason or another. Lorelai and Rory only shrugged at each other at how protective Luke was being over certain things that were already boxed away, but let it roll off their backs with plenty else to keep them busy.
They worked quickly so the majority of Luke's clothes, books, and anything else he deemed worthy had been boxed, labeled, and ready to be loaded into his truck for its three-block journey, to his new address with the Gilmore girls. Rory naturally became distracted by his books, particularly the old cookbooks he had. Luke had to smile as he saw her sitting Indian style on the floor pouring over the pages; forgetting to put the books into the box next to her. "Rory, you can read it all you want once it's at the house."
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's just some of these seem I don't know… really hard to do. How did anyone have the time?"
"Well, my mother stayed at home, so she had lots of time to cook."
Rory then seemed to treat the books like sacred treasures. "These were your mother's," Rory said in awe. Luke knelt down beside her and flipped the pages back to show Rory the name handwritten inside the front cover. It said Katherine Parker, which had been struck out with lines, and beneath it was written in a beautiful penmanship: Katherine Danes.
"Parker was your mother's maiden name?"
"Yeah."
Rory sat and stared at the crossed out name for a moment, with her brow furrowed, but then she gently packed the book away with care and didn't say another word as she finished that box.
Lorelai had witnessed the scene from Luke's closet as she was folding up his shirts and wondering which ones were worth the fight to get rid of them from Luke's wardrobe.
Lorelai insisted that Luke had to spend his last night at the apartment, to say goodbye, or something, and he could come over with his first load the following morning.
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Luke knocked on the front door, "Hey Lorelai!"
"Hey!" Lorelai called from inside, "You have a key!" she gently reminded him.
"My hands are full, could you just open the door!"
Today was the moving day, Lorelai hadn't expected him so early knocking at her door, Does he know me at all? I'm not a morning person. She wasn't ready to move the boxes since she was still in her PJs. She had a grip on the doorknob for him, "What was the point of giving you a key if…" and as the door swung open, Lorelai's jaw dropped at the sight on the porch, "What's that?"
"It's a mirrored table," Luke said shyly leaning on the porch rail.
"Is that the one from Kim's antiques?"
"Yeah, I asked Mrs. Kim and she said you liked this one…"
"Why-why did you get it? I was going to get it…"
"Well, you always talked about it… you never actually went for it… and I thought it would look good in the foyer. Finally having it here would be better than tossing your shoes and coats on the floor all the time. It's sort of a… housewarming gift."
"A what?"
"A 'happy we're moving in together' gift."
"Luke…" she smiled, with her eyes and nose all wrinkled up with the attempt not to cry, the only thing she could say was "I love you."
"Back at ya," Luke hugged her on the porch steps.
Lorelai turned to the table and caressed the wood, "I love it. How did Mrs. Kim let you buy? If there is anything she is against it would be an unmarried couple moving in together? I didn't think she'd approve."
"You should have seen the shaving table she tried to sell me, but I didn't exactly tell her… you know we were moving in together…"
"Ahh, another secret Lane is gonna have to keep."
Luke had surprised Lorelai with his thoughtful gift and Lorelai surprised Luke by enlisting their friends and neighbors to help with the move. The town had already assumed they were living together and were somewhat confused by the need for Luke to finally move his things to Lorelai's home. Everyone helped with the loads, congratulated the little family; saying it was about time, and hoping this meant further good things in their future. Luke only smiled at the suggestions and didn't say anything further on the subject and Lorelai knew he was respecting her wishes. When she was ready for that step, she would tell him. Lorelai knew that step might still be off a ways, considering she was only trying to survive through the impending holiday season and having to see and deal with her parents.
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After a hard weekend of moving boxes from Luke's old apartment to his new house and living arrangement with the Gilmores, Lorelai wanted to pamper herself with a nice, luxurious bubble bath, while Luke and Rory continued to organize his boxes down in the living room.
After her bath, Lorelai was at her vanity in a pale blue nightie, applying lotion to her skin. It was a daily ritual of pumping and smoothing the lotion on her arms and legs, combating the impending dry air of fall and winter since she was now certain of having a man sleep beside her every night. Finally, she looked over her shoulder and saw Luke was leaning in the bedroom doorway and she was startled by his covert study of her, "What are you doing?"
"Just watching you," Luke confessed from his perch in at the doorframe.
"Okay, Mr. Creepy," she said to herself as she smoothed another pump's worth of lotion on her décolleté, shoulders, and neck.
"It's just… I can't believe it… I mean…we're living together…"
"Yeah, we are…" she smiled, looking at his reflection in her mirror.
"I just can't even believe sometimes that this is now my life. I get to be with you and Rory all the time now," and Luke's expression seemed to be growing content and peaceful as he spoke.
"Well, I told you … you were voted into the club…"
Luke walked up behind her and started to rub her shoulders and kissed the top of her head, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"What's that smell?"
"Good or bad?" she asked warily.
"Good," he admitted with a laugh.
"Oh, well that's me," she said with mock humility.
Luke picked up the bottle, "Black Raspberry Vanilla? Are you supposed to eat it?"
"No, it's supposed to make me smell pretty," she stood up and wrapped her freshly fragranced and moisturized arms around his neck, "Don't you think?"
Luke smiled, pulled her towards the bed, and sighed before kissing her, "I could get used to this."
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The first weeks of the new living arrangement had been met with mutual felicity by the forming family. Rory liked getting her Luke's breakfast in her kitchen rather than having to travel all the way to the diner and besides Luke pancakes were better than mere pop tarts any day. Luke went about chores and home improvement tasks Lorelai suggested and consequently had started her own "honey do" list for him. Lorelai was helpful in trying to find room for some of his things in the house, since most of his boxes were just piled into the living room for the moment; and she went window-shopping for bookcases and storage bins.
As Luke entrenched himself further into their lives, Lorelai would only occasionally think about Chris, from time to time. Sometimes she would feel angry, sometimes sad, sometimes guilty, but mostly she was relieved. He was the one who fell off the face of the earth over and over again. It's not as if she had jumped into bed with the first guy she met while Rory was still a baby. She had taken her role as a mother very seriously, denied herself any selfish pleasures or pursuits, when no one knew how Chris lived his footloose and fancy-free life wherever he was these days. Lorelai would watch Rory and Luke together and wish she had found him sooner. Rory would have had Luke for those crucial young years and Luke, she knew, would have shined then as he does now being a natural father figure. Lorelai knew there had to be a reason they met when they did and she was so thankful for Luke to be in her life.
Lorelai was happy. She could tell Rory was happy, and she was quite certain Luke was happy too. Lorelai was content to stand back and watch Luke and Rory interact in their new living arrangement. Rory and Luke would sit on the couch and read together. They would cook and embraced the culinary delights that came with the fall season, together a team making a large batch of Luke's pumpkin soup that lasted two weeks.
However, all good things must end. When Lorelai and Luke had their first fight after moving in together there was no hiding from each other since they now shared a room.
"Thank you," she started sweetly and innocently enough.
"For what?" Luke looked up at her.
"Changing the water bottle" she paused, "again!"
"You know there's water that comes out of the faucet, why do you spend the extra money on this bottle?"
"I like how it dispenses."
"But you can't even lift the bottle."
"Well, that is why I sleep with you baby…and every time you change it, it gives me a great view of your butt when you crouch down," she tilted her head.
"Lorelai!" Luke straightened up from the floor.
"Worth every penny."
"If you are done admiring," he droned dryly.
"Just a few more seconds…" she paused, "Yes?"
Luke wanted to settle their holiday plans and needed to get her input. "About Thanksgiving, I'm making Thanksgiving dinner at the diner as part of the menu, so…I thought we could just have ours there."
"Our what? Where?" Lorelai now looked at him funny; her attention was now captured by his subject line tearing her away from her copy of Entertainment Weekly.
"Our Thanksgiving dinner…. At the diner…" he repeated.
"Oh well, we usually go to my parents' house for Thanksgiving… 'tis the season of obligation," she faked a smile.
"Oh… okay…" Luke was visibly disappointed.
"Luke, I'm sorry this has been set in stone since before I was born. My mother is expecting us… this has been the precedent for years and years… I can't just change things on her … well without formal written notification of my imminent death first … two weeks ahead of time of course…" Lorelai didn't like the silent treatment he was suddenly giving her over things that were out of her control, "Luke, I'm sorry but, you don't know my mother…"
"That's right, I don't know your mother," he grumbled more for himself.
"Exactly, so believe me when I say I'd rather be at the diner with you and your marvelous food and I'd rather watch you parading that fantastic butt around over the Macy's Parade any day, however, Emily will hold it against me for a decade if I even think of canceling on such short notice…and since she is already holding my early pregnancy against me till the end of days…well, I really don't need any more animosity, thank you very much…"
Luke always thought it was funny how Lorelai called her mother by her first name when speaking about her, but right now he was angry that she was once again keeping him at arms length. Luke now just ignored Lorelai and went about cleaning up the water bottle he had replaced.
"Baby, you have the diner anyway, so you'll be busy…I mean you have to feed half the town…"
"Well, I was planning on having dinner with you and Rory," instead of on my own… like before.
Lorelai assured him, "We'll be by, just a little later then normal; we can still have our dinner, a second dinner, you know how Rory and I can pack it away, but I can't get out of dinner with my parents…"
"Well, if these people mean nothing to you they why spend anytime with them at all!" he snapped.
Lorelai was surprised how his voiced had jumped to yelling so fast. "Spending the holidays with them is how I get out of seeing them the rest of the year," Lorelai she said quietly, arguing her point.
Luke was frustrated and he lowered his voice again. He had been so good up to now, he knew this time of year changed him, that little knot in his stomach was growing. He had hoped that this year would be different since he would have Lorelai there to help soothe his pain instead of turning on her as he did with everyone else, but it appeared no one was safe from his short fuse this time of year. "I'm sorry, I'm just being selfish… and of course, Rory should see her grandparents… it's just…"
"What?" Lorelai's features were marked with concern.
"Nothing," he dismissed.
"No, Luke. Tell me," she knew there had to be a reason for his mood swing.
"It's nothing. I'm good, I promise."
Lorelai didn't believe him, it wasn't like Luke to pick a fight, but he seemed sensitive and distracted the last few days and this was the first time he really raised his voice. Living together prevented any escape in the cozy Gilmore house, so Luke made some excuse about arranging some of his boxes in Lorelai's garage to escape her scrutinizing study of him. It's…probably the Thanksgiving Prep… that's it, he's stressed with all the turkeys and stuffing he has to make for the town… that's it… yeah, that's it…
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The days that were leading to the dreaded Thanksgiving Dinner at the elder Gilmores trickled away. As the date approached, neither Luke nor Lorelai mentioned their Thanksgiving dinner planned at the diner again. Luke wasn't expecting to be suddenly included in the invitation to her parent's house and Lorelai didn't want him to yell again.
Rory kept asking Luke questions about his recipes for Thanksgiving and if she could be of any help in his preparation. The Tuesday before, Rory helped Luke with the batches and batches of pumpkin soup of the diner's menu. Luke answered all her questions politely, but Rory could tell he was disappointed to be left out of the Gilmore invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. He assured Rory, while they made his apple raisin stuffing, that he had plenty at the diner to keep him busy during the holiday, that he had obligation of his own to the town, and that he would be looking forward to seeing them when they were done at her grandparents'. Luke knew of all people, he could never snap or be angry with Rory because she was a source of optimistic sunshine that this year's anniversary wouldn't be so bad.
"Mom, I want Luke to come…" Rory begged, wanting to have someone there she could talk to while her mom and Grandmother went at it and argued the whole night.
"Rory, I haven't even told my parents that I'm dating anyone, let alone that we're now living with him… this whole situation is…"
"Complicated?" Rory supplied.
"Well… yeah," and for the first time it hit Lorelai of what kind of example she was setting, to be living with a man, it could have been she heard Emily's disapproval again, "Look, Rory, I'm not sure how well I explained things to you… about Luke living with us…"
"I understand. You love him and you want him to be around always." I'd just prefer it if you got married already, "He's like… part of our family now," Rory delicately worded without mentioning marriage again, Not after her last flip out, "but isn't it important to… well spend the holidays together?"
"Of course and we will, but sometimes be have to do things we don't want to before we do the things we want to do. We HAVE to spend part of the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa and we WANT to be with Luke… you remember Easter, right?"
"Oh yeah!" Rory was suddenly distressed and nodded vigorously, recalling the memory vividly. Rory had appreciated the elaborate Easter basket her grandmother had given, but felt a little self-conscious of her grandmother trying to buy her affections. However, that was forgotten when her mother and grandma had broke into a stupid fight over Lorelai's Easter dress; a dress that was very pretty, but Emily was appalled that Lorelai had made it herself rather than admiring the unique style of the creation as Rory had.
"Well, that is why we spend as little time as possible with them… and we will make it up to Luke… by seeing him later."
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When Thanksgiving arrived, Luke left before Lorelai was awake; since he had several turkeys to prepare and because he had the clear understanding that he wasn't going to join them at Lorelai's parents' house. Luke crept into Rory's room to say goodbye before he went to the diner, and smiled at Rory when she assured that they would be at the diner as soon as her Grandmother released them, and that she wanted to try all of Luke's homemade creations, especially the pumpkin pie.
That evening, Lorelai and Rory were at the intimidating front door of the elder Gilmore's. As Rory grew older it seemed to grow less and less scary, but she still didn't like this forced obligation to see grandparents. She wondered if she could hide behind the bouquet of flowers they traditionally brought to her Grandmother.
Suddenly flooded with old memories of her child hood home, Lorelai coached her daughter, "Okay, remember do not mention that Christopher contacted us, whenever his name is brought up things get… ugly…"
"Right," Rory agreed, recalling how a vein in her Grandfather's forehead would bulge whenever Christopher's name was mentioned and Rory steeled herself for a three-hour dinner with her grandparents.
During dinner the conversation was sparse. Usually, Richard Gilmore had clients over to discuss business and fawned over how bright and adorable Rory was to their guests, but this year it was just the four of them, which made air between Emily and Lorelai absolutely bellicose since there was no one to keep up pretenses for. Rory busied herself by contemplating the stuffing her Grandma served. It was definitely in contention with Luke's apple-raisin number, but Rory still liked Luke's best having snuck pinches of the tasty dish as they made it together, and Rory couldn't wait to enjoy it at the diner. She was going to ask her grandma about the recipe of the stuffing on her plate, because it was delicious, as always, and she wanted to see if she could replicate it at home. However, Rory knew her grandma merely planned the dinner and never lifted a spatula and Rory had always found that the less conversation there was at the table, the faster dinner seemed to go, the faster they could go home, especially since this year there was Luke's dinner and pumpkin pie to look forward to at the diner.
Emily had been directing her usual chill toward Lorelai, but was all warmth and smiles toward Rory's side of the table. Emily knew it was next to useless to talk to her daughter, so she focused on getting better acquainted with her granddaughter, "So… Rory? Did you do anything fun over the summer?" Emily asked in a sweet endearing tone.
Rory was brought out of her preoccupation with the stuffing, realizing now she had to speak, "Oh, umm, nothing special… we just stayed around town this year…"
"Oh," Emily tried to recover from the short answer and think of another question, "Well, did you have any fun adventures in Stars Burrow?"
"Hollow?" Lorelai corrected, rolling her eyes, as she stabbed at the gross green bean side dish her mother put on the menu every year; just because she knows I hate it!
"I beg your pardon?" Emily turned with her eyes narrowed to her daughter.
Rory didn't want that to be the fuse to a fight in what had been a civil, though cold, evening, "Hollow… its Stars Hollow," Rory explained, stealing her grandmother's attention again.
"I see and nothing exciting ever happens in Stars Hollow? Why ever do you stay?" Emily directed her cold gaze to Lorelai again.
Rory was stumped, her mom said she couldn't mention Christopher, which was the most drama that had happened since the summer. Rory also thought it best not to mention the discovery of the Dragonfly Inn and her mother's plans for it, so the best she had was, "I caught chicken pox," Rory offered lamely.
"Oh My God!" Emily exclaimed, "You had the chicken pox! Richard, she had the chicken pox!" and Rory was surprised by how hard her grandmother was taking the common malady.
"I heard, Emily, calm down," Richard spoke up finally, "It's not such a big deal now-a-days."
In all fairness, Rory wasn't sure her grandfather liked her very much, he was always working on business or otherwise never said a word. In fact his remark had startled her in her seat, since he had been silent and stoic whenever they came over. Lorelai told Rory that Grandpa Gilmore was upset; dwelling on issues and things that he couldn't change or fix, issues that Rory may understand when she got older, but for now she should leave him be.
Lorelai now tried to sooth Emily, "Mom, look at her, she's fine, not a scratch." Lorelai smiled at her unintended pun and Rory grinned back at her, understanding the joke instantly.
Emily didn't find the situation funny at all, "You could have at least called… to let us know… I could have sent her a care package or a card …"
Because the card would have so helped with all the scratching, "Mom, if she had been really sick… you would have heard... I would have told you…" maybe…possibly…in an alternate universe…where you actually like me! Lorelai stabbed at her turkey again, GOD! Tryptophan, take me away!
Another frosty gaze went to Lorelai from Emily, then soon melted again when Emily addressed her granddaughter, "So, Rory, how are you liking middle school?" trying to make this time of Rory's life seem like it's the best it's ever going to be.
I certainly hope not, Rory thought. "Fine, I finished my book list over the summer… so I'm a step ahead of everyone else."
"As always," Lorelai boasted as she cut another bite of turkey, if her parents couldn't be proud of any of her former accomplishments, they could at least be proud of their perfect, angel granddaughter.
Another failing short-lived subject made Emily try another, "Did you like the birthday present your grandfather and I sent?"
"Umm yeah, very much, umm, thank you," again Rory was just being polite, she was a little old and too practical for a frivolous Tiffany tea party set, so her mother promptly put it in the garage still in the box, "Its very…elegant," she recalled the polite compliment from Jane Austen's Emma.
"Did you have a favorite gift this year?" Emily was no doubt fishing for a compliment from the 12 year old over her impeccable taste in gifts, yet knowing in her heart she would like whatever Lorelai got for her much better.
"Well, I loved the new stereo mom got me and I've watched all 6 hours of the Pride and Prejudice movie Luke got for me like three times already. I just can't get enough…"
"Who's Luke?" Grandma Gilmore asked, interrupting Rory's animated talk.
Luke's name hung in the air, and Rory mirrored the brief look of horror on her mother's face as mother and daughter met eyes across the table. Rory clamed up and focused on eating her cranberries as fast as possible to ensure their quick get away. Rory successfully avoided mentioning her contact with Christopher, or the Dragonfly's future, but had accidentally let Luke's name slip… again. Rory felt overwhelming guilt like she had back when she betrayed Luke's name to Christopher and here she gave her grandmother more information than her mother wanted, served up just like the turkey.
"Rory? I asked you a question…" Emily politely repeated, noticing the child's blush.
Rory decided in this instance it was best to lie, "A boy… at school," she still kept her eyes on her plate so her grandmother wouldn't see the truth in her eyes.
"Oh, careful Rory, you are going to match your side dish," a smug grin dawned on Emily's face, a grin that appeared when she had the upper hand in some instance and she sweetly teased her granddaughter. "I think someone has a little crush."
Gross! That's my mother's boyfriend. "Umm yeah… a small one… a very small one… not even a crush of consequence…"
"A crush of consequence? Did you hear that Richard?"
"Umm yes, aren't the boys just dreamy now-a-days," Richard was more focused on his tiny notebook, filled with notes from his last meeting.
"So this Luke, gave you a movie? For your birthday?"
"Yes," Rory said in a small voice.
"My, my, a 6 hour movie… three times in a month," Emily observed.
Rory looked across the table at Lorelai, her large blue eyes pleading for forgiveness from her mother for the slip up.
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Lorelai and Rory had almost made a clean get away until Emily spoke just before they could make their escape. "Oh, Lorelai could I speak to you in the study for a moment…"
"Mom… really it's getting late… we should really get Rory to bed… let that tryptophan take it's desired effect."
"It will only take a minute," Emily said in a sweet tone.
From years of experience, Lorelai knew there was a hint of malice behind that tone; she could feel the fight finally coming on the way spider-man would sense impending danger.
Reluctantly she left Rory in the hall with a muttered, "I'll be right back" and followed her mother to the study. Feeling 16 again and knowing she was in trouble, there was a foreboding click of the door that seemed to signal to Lorelai that there was no escape from the conversation with her mother.
"How could you let Rory run around like that?" Emily automatically went into accusatory.
"Like what?" Lorelai turned around to question, not understanding her mother being upset with Rory of all people, but knowing whatever caused Emily's displeasure it was Lorelai's fault. Rory had been a perfect angel all through dinner, maybe she meant her clothes, but that's the dress Rory picked out, the one she wanted to wear…well, she wanted to wear it for Luke…
"Really, Lorelai… she is only 11…"
"12," Lorelai corrected.
Unfazed, Emily continued, "Is this is what has become of her… being raised by you alone in Stars Narrow…"
"Stars Hollow," Lorelai coldly corrected again, "… And what's the problem?"
"The problem is she is only 12 and she is already boy crazy just like you were."
"What are you talking about?" Hello, Mom have you met Rory?
"This boy at school… Duke was it?"
Oh no…Lorelai sank. She knew then she was going to have to explain everything to Emily once her mother finished her tangent and lecture.
"…Some unknown, unwashed reprobate who will grow up to a job with his name on his shirt."
"Seriously mom…do you hear yourself?" Lorelai asked.
"…Heaven help you if she runs around like you did… Sneaking out of the house lying about where she's been. This is where it starts, she's gonna think of nothing else... her grades are going to slip and its goodbye Harvard… or worse." Emily narrowed her eyes with the threat and muttered coldly, "She'll turn out just like you… get pregnant too young."
She doesn't even have her period yet, "Mom, you have the wrong idea," Lorelai said firmly but quietly, feeling like a teen again in Emily's commanding presence.
"Oh, do I? Lord knows what you are putting into her head… with your… unique parenting style…" referring to Lorelai's insistence to raise a child alone, "What type of example you are setting, we never see you or your exemplarily parenting…" Emily condescended.
Yeah, I wonder why? "Mom, she's the top of all her classes, could I really be slipping as a parent if she wasn't on the honor roll every semester? What more do you want?"
"You were on the honor roll too as I recall…and look how that turned out…" Emily said snidely, "She doesn't even have a male role model… and you've made it perfectly clear you want nothing to do with…"
"She has a male role model…" Lorelai cut in.
"Oh really, who? Her grandfather hardly sees her…you've successfully shut Christopher out of her life…"
Oh here we go, "Mom, he shut himself out of her life… he's the one who hasn't called? ...Or visited!"
"Well, maybe you should visit him?"
"Been there, done that!"
"Well, maybe you should encourage him more…"
"Why is it my responsibility to coddle and appease Christopher or his schedule or his location… he's the one that went to California or have you forgotten he left us!"
"Only because you didn't get married…" Emily shouted, as if that event would have fixed everything.
Lorelai ignored Emily, and continued, "Christopher knows he can visit, he knows he can call… even when he expresses an interest he flakes…" Lorelai was ever so careful not to mention the recent disappointment over the last post card.
"Well then, who is this wonderful role model she has… I can only imagine the charming beaus that frequent your love life."
That hurt the most. That Emily didn't see Lorelai as the lady she raised. Since she had gotten pregnant so young she was forever that marked her with a "scarlet A" or "D" for disappointment, or "H" for harlot or hussy, in Emily's eyes.Lorelai's own eyes were stinging; because Emily never saw what a good mother she had been to Rory. Emily never heard all the praise Lorelai had gotten from Mia, Luke, and from the town on how she pulled it together on her own to rear Rory; that by their estimation Lorelai had been a true success. Emily never saw how seriously Lorelai took that role on day to day, so seriously that it wasn't till now, ten years later that she felt she deserved to be a little selfish and have a Luke in the picture.
Lorelai was angry that her mother thought so little of her; that the only men who could interest her were bikers and vagrants. If only Emily would open her mind for just a second to see the wonderful gentleman Lorelai had found in Stars Hollow. Lorelai took a deep breath, and decided she would give Emily a clearer picture, or a heart attack, she wasn't sure which she'd prefer.
"Mom, Luke isn't Rory's boyfriend… he's mine," Lorelai confessed.
"What?" Emily suddenly was off guard, wondering if she had raised Lorelai to be a Mrs. Robinson, seducing her Rory's beau.
"Luke is my boyfriend. We've been seeing each other for some time now and that's why he got Rory a present for her birthday…and she loves it so much… because Rory loves him… and I love him, too." That wasn't so bad.
Emily's mouth gaped, staring at Lorelai as if she had turned purple. When Emily didn't speak for a full minute, Lorelai took that as permission to leave, and walked out of the study to take Rory home.
Let's do this again at Christmas, Lorelai thought as she left the front door.
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Never before had Lorelai so longed for the antebellum of her childhood. Granted she had always been a rebellious child, but her prepubescent antics hadn't inspired the merry war that seemed to be between Emily and Lorelai.
After her confession to Emily, it was a full 10 minutes before Lorelai could start up the Jeep; for all she knew, during that 10 minutes Emily was still frozen to the spot, as well. She sat on the driver's side, with her hands firmly on the steering wheel leaning forward, her head resting on the backs of her hands, shaking her head in disbelief. After Lorelai told Rory what happened, the only thing Rory could do was pat her mother's back to comfort her. Lorelai had spared Rory all the mortifying, humbling details, she basically told her daughter that she informed Emily about Luke, and told her straight away that she was in love with him to boot.
Lorelai sighed in relief over entering the friendly diner in Stars Hollow with the happy jingle of the bells, and hoped Luke would see that what she needed the most was sympathy and pie. Luke did not disappoint her expectation, and greeted them both warmly at the door.
"Hey, how was dinner?" he said shyly, feeling guilty for giving Lorelai a hard time about the obligation to her parents, which he knew full well she hated.
Lorelai needed comfort and wrapped Luke in a long hug, "Aw, same old, same old," Lorelai didn't know how to tell Luke that he wasn't a secret any longer. She only hoped that once he knew that his anonymity had been compromised and thusly lost during the dinner, once he realizedthat he would have to suffer Emily's condescension; her constant poking, and prodding, needling and persistent intrusion into his life by his connection to the Gilmore Girls, that he would stay with her and Rory, no matter how awful Richard and Emily would be to him.
Luke offered them more turkey, which they happily accepted since both of his girls were in need of comfort food. When dessert rolled around, Luke asked how they wanted their pie. Lorelai went into a When Harry Met Sally quote with Meg Ryan's bit about pie being heated and a la mode. Luke was confused as Rory sleepily giggled. Luke went about heating the pie and scooped the desired ice cream on it, wanting it to be his apology for snapping at Lorelai a few days before.
As Luke cleared the plates, he was able to keep his demons at bay during their second Thanksgiving dinner, and have a pleasant evening with the girls. Luke could feel the change in him coming on, he knew he was being short with everyone; he'd blurt things out that he'd soon regret, despite hating this time of year, he never thought he'd turn on Lorelai and hoped he could protect Rory from his sensitive temper for the next few days.
The tryptophan took its desired effect on Rory and she leaned on her mother as Luke went about closing the diner. Luke carried Rory out to the car and they headed for the house. When they dressed for bed, he wondered if Lorelai had noticed the change in him over the last week or if she had her own suspicions on his behavior. She seemed just to be happy that they were talking to each other again, so Luke decided not to stir the pot.
To continue the peace making, Luke decided to greet her as soon as she entered their bedroom that evening. Lorelai was moisturized and smelling like sweet raspberries again, and nearly walked straight into him, "Luke?" smiling at the familiar glint in his eyes.
Luke simply kissed her, hard and full of passion, and after the abuse from her mother, Lorelai was eager to receive such affection; to feel worthy, respected, and admired. Luke moved his kisses to her neck, and mumbled against her skin, "Do you know …what I'm thankful for?"
"I can make a few guesses?" Lorelai said archly.
"For you," he kissed the opposite side of her neck, "for Rory," then he kissed her forehead.
"For baseball…and home runs?" she insinuated, sliding her hands down to his perfect butt.
"Especially for home runs."
"Well, let's root for the home team…" and she kissed him on the lips.
They lay on the bed, kissed, and apologized for the silly misunderstanding from a few days ago; both pleased how the evening was turning out. Lorelai hated to halt their progress, but she had a very good reason to stop. "Mmm, Luke, I would love to keep this up. Mmm, but I have to get up early…"
"You have off tomorrow," he reminded her enticing her with more kisses, and slipping his hand under her maroon nightie.
"I know, I know," she sighed and regretted as Luke's hand slipped under her night gown, slowly massaging her back, "but I promised Rory, it's black Friday."
Luke propped up on his elbows to look down at her, wondering if she had a similar painful anniversary to his own, "Black Friday?"
"Yeah… you know… all the after thanksgiving sales…"
Seeing that her observance wasn't sentimental, as his was, but merely blatant materialism, he was a little annoyed and pulled away, giving up on his romantic advance. "Oh, okay."
"Luke, you know I'd love too, but it's just like when you get up for your deliveries… in order to get the door buster savings…we have to be up before dawn…"
"Sure," Luke said shortly.
"Luke…don't be mad, this is… just another tradition that Rory and I have since she could keep up with me and my shopper's sprint… we've always done this. It's just another tradition you walked in on…"
"Tradition," he said quietly, thinking of his own little tradition that fell on Saturday this year.
"Yeah and for Christmas I promise we'll makes some more new ones… for all three of us… okay?"
"Okay," Luke tried to be indifferent, tried to tell himself it was alright for them to do things on their own… without him; Lorelai and Rory were mother and daughter after all, they were family. They had their traditions and he had his own. Luke went to his side of the bed to go to sleep.
Lorelai was a little hurt that he didn't even seem to want to hold her now, he just rounded to his side of the bed, with his back to her and settled in for the night with the comment, "Try not to wake me when you leave."
"Okay?" Lorelai agreed quietly, not only hurting still from her mother's barrage of spiteful comments, but now from the apparent freeze out she was getting from Luke. "Good night," she whispered before turning onto her side, waiting for a response in kind from Luke. One didn't come and she fell into a restless sleep, hoping things would be better tomorrow.
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A/N: Now you know why... I... Am...So ... DAMN... PROUD OF THIS CHAPTER!
A/N: I would like to declare a BETA APPPRECIATION DAY! SO Please ALL OF YOU (My Minions) GO TO Localizy's fics and REVIEW EM, she loves em as much as I do. (I recommend What Can I Say…… I HELPED!)
For all she does for me and ALL MY STORIES, scarifying her own stories… to be a good aunt to the nieces that I write.
Not many of you know this, but I work in like quotas… I like to have my chapters be at least like oh say 3000-5000 words that way I feel it's worth your time (I'm considerate that way!) … well this little quirk trait, preference whatever it is … IS SO lovingly ENDURED by my lovely BETA Localizy… who, when I add 500 words here or there gets very frustrated with me because then she has to start the whole chapter over again…for flow's sake, so IZY, I wanted to say …thank you for putting up with Anal Persnickety me,
Despite this Quirk, she presses on with me… cause she's AWESOME! And she's my sounding board for ideas, and she helps me rearrange things or say WOAW! That would never happen it's out of character and TOO CHEESY CUT IT!
So IZY thanks and I'm the only one who can call her IZY, she said so!
PS this chapter WAS like… 8000 words… and I've had this ready since like… what would you say Izy? Like Early to Mid April? So IZY really hated me for like two seconds… lol
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you NON PODLuke!
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity, ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) At least one specific thing you liked
Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund...