"So…coffee?"
"Shocking that those are the first words out of your mouth in the morning," Jess said, not looking up from his computer. "Sure, if you want to wake the beast. Otherwise I can make you some here."
"Both!" Lorelai grinned. He rolled his eyes and started walking towards the kitchen.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty. There's caffeine," Lorelai said, shaking Rory gently. Rory shook her head, her eyes still closed.
"Liar. I'd smell it."
"Well then tell that man of yours to hurry up," Lorelai teased. Jess smirked.
"You do realize I can refuse to make it, right?"
"Do that and we'll hold you hostage. Plus then, you won't get any."
"One valid point," he said, the fresh pot brewing. Rory slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Now it's true." Rory smirked, slowly pulling herself out of bed, "What time is it, anyway?"
"11. You both slept pretty late."
"That happens after we fight," Rory explained, sharing a smile with Lorelai, "It just wears us both out."
"The worst," she agreed, "Jess, how's that coffee coming?"
"Oh my god, addicts, the both of you. Here," he said, shoving two cups onto the table, which they grabbed as he picked up his own.
"How are you still up here?" Rory asked, confused, "Shouldn't you be downstairs working?"
"I was writing," he admitted, "Guys agreed to cover for me since they're both in today and we aren't busy."
"So does that mean you're free?"
"I could be," Jess said, "What do you guys want to do?"
"Well…"
"I am looking for Lorelai Gilmore. No, not Rory Gilmore, her mother, Lorelai Gilmore. She's here. Or maybe your colleague could help me. She's about this tall, extremely loud…"
"Mom!" Lorelai yelled. Jess suppressed a grin at the irony.
"Lorelai! Where are you?"
"Up in the apartment!"
"Highly professional behavior in my place of work," Jess rolled his eyes, "I'll go get her."
"You're going to bring my grandmother here?"
"I'm pretty sure she brought herself here," Jess rolled his eyes, "But I'm gonna at least stop her from terrorizing Matt and Chris." Rory sighed, nodding. "I'll come with you."
"Leaving me just enough time to hide!" "Mom!" "Kidding- I'll be here. Unless I can find a way out the window."
"Grandma!"
"Hello Rory, Jess," Emily said, looking at them quickly, "I'm looking for…"
"Lorelai, we heard," Jess said shortly, "She's upstairs. Follow us."
"What's upstairs?"
"Our apartment."
"You live here? Rory, I cannot begin to…"
"Grandma, aren't you here to do something?"
"…fine. Later."
"Mom," Lorelai grimaced as Emily ascended the stairs. "What are you doing here?"
"I think that's a better question for you," Emily snarked. Lorelai rolled her eyes.
"I'm a welcomed guest. You, however, showed up without an invitation. Emily Post would never approve."
"Now isn't the time for your quips, Lorelai. And Rory, we'll get back to you later. This is totally unacceptable." Rory rolled her eyes. "But Lorelai- we need to talk. Now. It can be here, or we can go somewhere. In fact, I'll drive you back to your cozy little hamlet and we can talk on the way."
"I'm not going home right now, Mom," Lorelai said, rolling her eyes, "And it's really none of your business."
"Lorelai, I'm your mother, and the person who has had to stand by and watch as you consistently decimate your life on a regular basis for the last…oh, thirty years? It is most definitely my business," Emily said. Rory sighed.
"Mom, Jess and I are gonna go grab lunch. Lock up if you leave?"
"I'm not going anywhere," Lorelai sighed, "But sure, escape while you can."
"Very nice, Lorelai."
"Well Mom, I'm not feeling very nice," Lorelai sighed, watching Jess and Rory close thte door behind them. "You show up here out of the blue, uninvited, when I clearly didn't want to talk and especially not to you. Why on earth did you think this was a good idea?"
"I knew you'd be angry, but someone had to talk some sense into you," Emily said, rolling her eyes.
"Why do you even care? You hate Luke."
"I don't hate Luke! What makes you think I hate Luke?"
"Well, you constantly criticize him."
"Well, as you've so often told me, I do the exact same thing to you," Emily said, rolling her eyes, "And I don't hate you."
"…weird, but point taken."
"Lorelai, why are you running away this time? Cold feet? Have you been thinking about Chr…"
"Dear god, Mom, do not finish that sentence," Lorelai warned, cutting her off. She sighed and buried her hands in her face.
"What were you fighting about?"
"Children," Lorelai gave in. Emily narrowed her eyes.
"You all haven't…"
"We did, last time. A lot of time has passed."
"Is he worried you can't have them?"
"He hasn't said anything like that."
"So…"
"I'm not sure I want them."
"Lorelai, of course you want them."
"That's not…"
"It is true. I know it, you know it, I'm sure Luke knows it. So what's this about?"
"…it's been a while."
"Since you had children? You did start rather early."
"…since we talked about it. I'm…you're right, I'm not sixteen anymore."
"Lorelai," Emily said carefully, her tone shifting, "Are you…worried something might be wrong?"
"Wrong?"
"That you might…have trouble."
"That's really beside the point."
"Is it?"
"…maybe not."
"Have you shared this with Rory?"
"Of course not. She's as fertile as a bunny rabbit. And she's my kid. She shouldn't have to think about this stuff." Emily nodded, surpressing her smile.
"Well, it's not like you're my age," Emily quipped. Lorelai looked at her, astonished.
"Did you just make a joke?"
"I don't know, did I?" Emily smiled. She sighed, looking at Lorelai. "Look, I can't give you any answers on this. Nobody can but you, or someone qualified to do so. But you're worrying yourself about something you don't even know is a problem yet."
"Mom, I'm not 33. I'm not even 35. Luke wants this, more than anything, and he never got it. I mean, he sees Jess as his child, and there was the other thing…but he never really got to do the whole thing, and he wants it so badly. It's a dealbreaker for him. That's why I'm here. If it's bad enough that he would choose not to marry me if I didn't want them, why should I get married in the first place? So that I can find out that I can't, and then break his heart for about the eightieth time, along with my own, and make it a hundred times worse?"
"Well, you never were very good with numbers," Emily said, rolling her eyes, "Honestly, Lorelai, you're being dramatic. There's nothing to suggest you're less than perfectly healthy. Sure, you may not be a spring chicken. But Luke knows that, and he loves you. It's a different thing entirely to not want children than, hypothetically, to have issues conceiving them. Luke would stand by you."
"How do you know?"
"Because unfortunately enough, I've had plenty of time to get to know the man," Emily rolled her eyes, "And he thinks the world of you, as many times as you prove him contrary. Even if, God forbid, something were wrong, it wouldn't be your fault, and he'd be with you. You'd find another way."
"But I don't want him to have to."
"And he probably won't! But even if so, that's what marriage is, Lorelai. You may not like it, but this is what I've been trying to tell you for years. Marriage isn't just the loving each other and the happy part- it's sticking with each other through the things that are hard, that otherwise wouldn't seem manageable. You really seem to love this man."
"I do."
"Then maybe you're finally ready for what this actually entails. And if you're not, this is as good a time as any to decide. That would be a real reason to save him the time and the hurt," Emily said pointedly. Lorelai looked at her thoughtfully.
"Mom? Would you mind…"
"Call Rory and tell her we'll join them for lunch. After that, I'll give you a ride back to Stars Hollow. I should stop by the antique store as it is."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Of course. And you know…if heaven forbid…he's not the only one who would be here for you. I know you and Rory have your things, and that you always go to her, but…for this…I'm just saying I'd be here. If you'd like."
"If it comes to it, I'd really like that," Lorelai admitted.
"And can I offer a little bit of unsolicited advice?"
"Don't you always?" Lorelai quipped, a small smile appearing on her face.
"Tell Luke what's worrying you. I mean, I certainly wouldn't, and if he were a different man…but you should tell him. The way you two are with each other…it'll be better if he knows. Plus, then you'll feel like he's making an informed choice. He already is, but you'll feel better."
"You think?"
"I know."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Anytime, Lorelai. Now let's go see my granddaughter and talk to her about why she's living above a storefront, like a madam."
