SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN AGES!
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THANKS VANILLA XX
The sun had completed its journey for the day and had now been replaced by infinite stars, which dotted the inky atmosphere. A low, fading jewel moon hovered tenuously in the twilight atmosphere, bestowing a very dim light upon the beautiful snowy night; the swaying of trees and murmuring of music and voices could be heard but not seen, as the encompassing blackness had absorbed out all but the dimmest light.
Macie stepped out of her car dressed in a white scalloped skirt, navy blouse, nude heels and her red overcoat. She stared up at the house in awe. It was beautiful. She grabbed her handbag from the front seat, moving up the driving to where Lorelai and Rory had been waiting for her.
"Hey Doc," Lorelai said, moving to hug the younger woman. "I'm so glad you're here." She smiled, thankful to have another support system at tonight's charade.
"That's all good, Lore," Macie replied, shaking her head. "Am I dressed okay?" She asked, worried she wasn't dressed properly for what seemed like such a formal dinner.
"No, you look great." Rory complimented, greeting the woman with a small hug.
"Thanks, Rory," Macie smiled at the youngest girl. "How did that French test of yours go?" She questioned, knowing they'd been studying a great deal for it in their weekly tutor sessions.
"Really well, actually," Rory said with a grin, starting to move towards the door. "I get the result back on Monday."
"Perfect," Macie remarked happily, "Shall we head in?" She asked, turning between the two women for reassurance.
"You ready for this?" Rory questioned, looking in the direction of her mother, knowing things had been rocky since their visit to Yale.
"Of course." Lorelai brushed the comment off, walking towards the entrance.
"Even with the Cold War?" Macie asked, knowing that Lorelai didn't have the best relationship with her parents. In fact, Macie had known Lorelai now for over a decade and all she'd heard about her family was the horrible and damaging relationship she had or more like has with them.
Lorelai straightened her coat, looking between Rory and Macie, sending the pair a reassuring glance. "That's been going on for thirty-four years? I can manage."
Rory sighed, shaking her head. "It's been a bit colder these past few weeks." She reasoned as they stood in front of the large wooden door.
"Oh no, I' m fine, you know why?" Lorelai remarked, pressing the doorbell. "Because in two hours and I do plan on extricating us from here in exactly two hours the night will be over, we'll head over to Macie's and I won't have to see them again until next year." She explained, watching as the door opened, "Oh, start your stopwatch."
Emily opened the large wooden door, "Hello," She greeted, looking between the three women, her eyes catching the one beside her daughter.
"Hi, Grandma." Rory greeted, handing over the bouquet of flowers she'd brought. "Happy Thanksgiving."
"Thank you, Rory." Emily smiled, gladly accepting the flowers before passing them to the maid behind her. "Happy Thanksgiving, Lorelai." She continued, moving to greet her daughter.
"Happy Thanksgiving." Lorelai replied, stepping into the house, "One hour, fifty-nine minutes, and forty seconds." Lorelai whispered to Macie, who simply rolled her eyes at the comment. How bad could it be?
"Hello, dear," Emily summoned all the courage she had to look at the unfamiliar girl, afraid her eyes had deceived her at Yale in the weeks prior. "I'm Emily," She introduced, holding her hand out to the brunette.
"Margaret," Macie replied, shaking the woman's hand. Emily felt her entire body tense at the mere mention of the name, though Margaret didn't seem to register this nor did Lorelai or Rory. "Thank you for having me over," She continued, handing over the bottle of Pinot Noir she'd brought.
"Of course, dear." Emily sent the girl a small smile, admiring her polished appearance. But the silent moment of admiration for Emily was cut short with the sound of her daughter, Lorelai's voice bringing her back to reality.
"Oh, wow, it's a piano player," Lorelai commented, looking towards the man.
"That's Brad," Emily explained as the maid took the coats from the three women. "I found him at Nordstrom's."
"Was he on sale?" Lorelai joked, earning a glare from her mother.
Emily gave a small sigh before replying. "I thought a little background music would add a nice touch." The woman remarked as the group turned to observe the pianist. "He knows every song ever written."
"Free Bird!" Lorelai yelled abruptly, gaining the man's attention. "Hi, Brad." Lorelai greeted, causing a smile to form in the corners of both Macie and Rory's cheeks.
"Lorelai, please." Emily groaned, leading the group into the living room, standing particularly close to Macie. "Now come along, everyone's here."
"Oh, good." Richard grinned upon noticing the group of women enter the living room. "Happy Thanksgiving, Rory." He greeted, kissing his granddaughter's head affectionately.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Grandpa," Rory replied, pulling herself out of his embrace.
"Lorelai." Richard greeted with a short nod.
"Dad." The brunette replied just as short.
"Richard, this is Margaret." Emily beamed, leading the girl towards her husband. "She's Rory and Lorelai's friend."
"Ah, Margaret." Richard nodded, shaking the girl's hand. "It's lovely of you to join us." He grinned, looking into her crystal blue eyes. . . ones which dangerously matched those of his daughter and granddaughter.
Macie smiled up at the man, "Thank you for having me over."
Richard sent the girl one final nod before turning to the couple beside him. "These are our guests, Natalie and Douglas Swope." He introduced, looking between his guests.
"You two have met," Emily remarked, gesturing to Natalie and Lorelai.
Lorelai nodded her head, "Yes, at the auction."
"Good to see you again," Natalie replied, smiling at the woman.
"Yes." Lorelai returned the smile, moving to greet her husband, Douglas. "Nice to meet you." She greeted with a nod.
"Yes, you, too." Douglas nodded, shaking Lorelai's hand politely.
"And this is our international contingent, Claude and Monique Clemenceau," Richard announced, leading both Lorelai and Rory away, leaving Macie by the drink cart, with Emily, Natalie and Douglas.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Emily questioned, moving towards the drink cart. "Champagne?" She asked, holding the open bottle in her hand.
Macie gave a polite nod, "That's fine."
"Are you even 21 my dear?" Douglas chuckled, causing Emily to turn back to the girl in a slight panic.
"I'm 22 actually." She sent him a small smile, "But thank you for checking. . . it is very courteous of you." Macie chuckled, clinking her glass with the older man.
"Not a problem, dear," Douglas grinned, shaking his head at the girls humour as the group moved towards the couches.
"So, Rory, you speak French at all?" Claude questioned, as Macie sat beside Lorelai on the couch.
"Just a tiny little bit." She replied shyly.
"Un tout petit peu?" Claude returned in French.
Rory nodded her head, gesturing towards Macie. "Oui, un tout petit peu. . . En fait, c'est ma tutrice." She replied more confidently now that she was handing over the conversation.
"Ah bon," Claude grinned, raising his eyebrows in surprise at Macie. "Depuis combien de temps parlez-vous français?" He asked, curious since the girl was tutoring Richard Gilmore's granddaughter nonetheless.
"Ma mère m'a appris quand j'étais petite." The brunette replied, catching the attention of Monique.
"Vous avez une prononciation parfaite." Monique complimented, causing Macie to smile at the woman politely. "C'est très impressionnant!"
"Lorelai et moi adorons la France!" Macie replied, looking at the woman beside her, the two women letting out a slight chuckle at the comment.
"And you, my dear?" Claude asked Lorelai and Macie couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
"Even less." Lorelai said shaking her head. "Uh, voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir? That's about it." The brunette said with a chuckle, causing horrified looks from her parents.
"Lorelai." Richard declared.
Emily's eyes widened, "Oh my God." She whispered quietly, taking a sip of her drink.
"It's just a joke." Lorelai shook her head, exchanging a knowing look with Macie.
Richard stared at his daughter in disbelief, "Asking my friend to go to bed with you is a joke?"
"It's a song." Macie tried to explain, looking between Richard and Emily, though it didn't seem to help the situation much.
"It's just a joke, Dad." Lorelai sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Monique let out a giggle, "Oh, je vois, c'est une chanson pop."
"Oui," Macie nodded her eagerly, "Lady Marmalade." She said at the same time as Monique causing the two women to release a laugh.
"It's a pop song, ah, Monique I did not know that," Claude commented with his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"It's very, very funny." Monique laughed, her face beaming with sincerity.
"Oh, well, thank you," Lorelai replied, surprised. She knew things always went between with Macie around. . . she just needed to find a way to have her at all events involving her parents.
"Is this your first American Thanksgiving, Claude?" Douglas asked, leaning against the chair his wife was seated in.
"It is, it is." Claude nodded, "I've seen it in the movies. People seem to eat and eat and eat until they can't eat anymore." He chuckled, glancing around the room for confirmation.
"That's about it." Lorelai nodded, taking a sip of the martini her father had just passed her.
Natalie smiled, "It's about giving thanks, gets you thinking about the good things."
Douglas placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. "We have a lot to give thanks for in this country."
"Definitely." Emily agreed, nodding her head.
Claude briefly turned to his wife, "Me, I start each day giving thanks for three things Cuban cigars, French champagne, and gorgeous women." He chuckled, glancing around at the women in the room. "And I must give extra thanks for the extraordinary group here tonight."
"Douglas, Richard, leave us, won't you?" Lorelai sounded in a posh voice, causing Macie to giggle at her friend.
"What?" Richard questioned, turning around from the drinks cart.
"Just another joke." Emily sighed unamused.
"Oh, I missed another joke?" Claude questioned, the conversation moving to fast for him to register.
Natalie smirked, "You have your mother's wit."
"Sometimes I wish she d give it back," Emily replied, taking a sip of her Champagne.
"Emily mentioned that you were coming from another function?" Douglas questioned, looking in the direction of the three women.
"No, this is your second dinner?" Claude asked in complete surprise.
"Fourth, actually," Rory corrected, stifling a small nod.
"Fourth?" Natalie breathed.
Richard glanced at his daughter, "Oh, thank you for fitting us in, Lorelai."
Lorelai shook her head, "Don't worry, Dad. You 're the main event. . . besides this is Macie first meal of the day, so that's special." Lorelai chuckled, earning a glare from the brunette on the other side of the couch.
"What do you mean first meal?" Emily questioned, slightly worried the girl hadn't eaten the entire day.
Macie glanced around at the worried faces. "What Lorelai means, is that today's work schedule was heavily delayed . . . and I've been running on muesli bars for most of the day."
"Oh, you must be starving, dear," Natalie stated, earning a nod agreement from Macie as they moved towards the dining room.
Macie stood, Lorelai moving to stand next to her, "An hour and fifty-six minutes."
"Beautiful table, Emily." Natalie complimented taking her seat at the table. "You've outdone yourself yet again."
"Oh, it's nothing." Emily shook her head dismissively.
"Well, is everyone settled? Is everyone comfy?" Richard questioned standing at the head of the table.
"Yes, Dad, we're fine." Lorelai nodded, glancing over at Macie and Rory who sat in front of her.
"Well, then, let s get going," Richard commented, sharping the knives in his hands as the staff brought out the turkey.
"Is it for us or the whole neighbourhood?" Claude chuckled, earning a nod of agreement from Macie.
"Oh, ho, who gets the big piece?" Lorelai asked as the staff removed the turkey from the table.
"I'm sorry?" Richard repeated, staring at his daughter in confusion.
"Aren't you supposed to keep carving?" She questioned, looking over at Macie and Rory who were equally confused.
Richard shook his head, "That was strictly ceremonial."
"Ceremonial?"
"Ceremonial."
"Cérémoniel."
" Cérémoniel."
"Please, start on the salads, everyone." Emily urged her guests, taking a bite of her own.
"Is there anything ceremonial about the salads?" Lorelai questioned sarcastically, "Do we carve a crouton, then have them taken away?"
Emily shook her head, "No, no ceremony."
"Salad's great, Grandma," Rory commented, taking another bite of her own.
Emily stared at her granddaughter in surprise. "I'm surprised you can eat at this point, even salad."
"There's still room." Rory chuckled.
"There's always room," Macie whispered to the younger girl next to her, who nodded her head.
"And if there isn't room, we'll add on." Lorelai agreed, taking a bite of her salad. "I know a good contractor." She joked, earning chuckles from around the table.
Claude stifled a laugh, "She's like your Jerry Lewis. She's very, very funny."
"How are you feeling now," Natalie chuckled, looking in Macie's direction. "I would be delusional if I hadn't eaten all day."
"Honestly, a lot better." Macie laughed, sending the woman a polite smile.
"What are you studying?" Douglas questioned, curious to know as his grandson was about to graduate high school.
"I'm studying a bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery," Macie explained, "I'm set to finish around May next year."
Lorelai grinned, "Yes, this future Doc may or may not be permanently moving to back to London. . . I'm actually cut she'd want to leave me. . again." The brunette remarked melodramatically.
"Back to London?" Richard asked, now also interested in the conversation.
Macie stifled a nod, "I was born there. . . moved to Connecticut in 1991, met Lorelai and Rory, went to Chilton. . ."
"Then she moved back to London to study!" Rory complained, they had all missed her. "It was dreadful. . . but she still managed to tutor me twice a week."
A smile tugged at Emily's lips, "Which University?"
"Oxford University."
"Wow, that's very impressive," Douglas complimented, clearly fascinated at the fact she was accepted to the English University. "It's one of the most prestigious schools in the world."
Both Richard and Emily were extremely impressed. "And you're at Yale now?" Richard questioned, knowing they'd seen her at the eventful day at the campus.
Macie nodded, "Yes, I'm taking some classes at Yale, so I can work here. . . but I'm mostly working between hospitals, particularly on surgery."
"Surgery?" Natalie questioned, staring at the girl in shock. "You just seem so young, dear."
Macie nodded her head, somewhat agreeing with the comment, "I'll be 23 when I finish my degree. . . younger than usual as I chose to study overseas instead. . . and devoted some time to the force."
The maid wandered into the dining room, catching Macie's attention. "Excuse me, Miss, a Captain Maxwell Rogers is on the phone."
"Oh right," Macie instantly stiffened, "Will you excuse me for a moment."
"You weren't expecting this call, were you?" Lorelai questioned, as Macie stood from her seat.
"No," The young girl shook her head, "I'm sure it's nothing," Macie said plastering a fake smile on her face as she moved to answer the phone outside.
Thanks for reading the next chapter on this story!
I'm so for the delay in updating! I have been very busy!
I CAN'T believe that this has more than 6000 READS!
Thank you so much for the reads and to all the people who followed and favourited this story! This all really means a lot to me xxx
Please let me know if you have any ideas about where you'd like to see this story go.
All rights go to Amy Sherman-Palladino for the creation of the characters and series!
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Thanks, Vanilla xx
