Notes:
Ah, grrrr, with the website being down, I'm sure I missed out on some awesome reviews for the last chapter. Oh well, much more to come. And I can't believe I scared so many of you with my 'Anna' line, you know I'm a JaveJunkie through and through. Oh and Robinpoppins comment about Luke sticking his head in a vat of boiling grease cracked me up. And also a special thanks to smilyGGfan, your review was awesome, always good to get perspecitive from someone reading all the chapters for the first time!
Anyways, I'm still missing FND. We had one (?) this year that I can remember. That sucks. Hopefully DR can get a bunch in next year to make up for our lack of FNDs this year.
Friday Night Dinner
"Every week! Every week you drive almost 10 miles above the speed limit until we get to Hartford and then when we're about 3 streets away from here you go like 10 miles an hour. And I think that's getting a little old," Rory says. Lorelai pouts. "Hey, I'm just saying, there's a point when you've got to just give in and figure, they're going to be mad if we're late so we might as well be on time."
"When did you get so smart?" Lorelai loops her arm through Rory's as they walk to the front door of the Gilmore mansion
"I'm not, Yale just thinks I am."
"Ah, well I guess the grandparents are just paying them hush money." Lorelai reaches in front of Rory and rings the doorbell.
"You know, the sooner we're done here, the sooner we can get home to the Godfather marathon," Rory reminds her mother.
"And Biscotti!" Lorelai adds as Emily opens the door.
"There she is, our Yale darling," Emily says proudly.
"The newest bulldog in our family," Richard adds, walking up behind Emily. Lorelai gives Rory a strange look.
"They're not calling me a dog are they?" Lorelai asks.
"The Yale mascot is the bulldog," Rory informs her. Lorelai nods, understanding.
"Just checking." They look back at Richard and Emily, Lorelai smiling a fake smile. "Hi Mom, Dad, you know it's not polite to greet guests at the door." Emily glares at Lorelai.
"You've been listening to his mother too much," Emily snaps. Lorelai shrugs. "Well come in, we have some champagne in the living room." They all walk into the living room, gathering in the center of the living room as Richard hands each of them a champagne glass and pours the champagne in each one.
Raising his glass, Richard turns to Rory and says, "For years I have dreamed of the day when I would be able to say that my granddaughter is going to Yale. I would wish you good luck, but I'm sure you won't need it. Have fun Rory, you're going to love it." Emily smiles at Rory, who seems pleased.
"To Rory," Lorelai says, raising her glass. The rest of the family follows each drinking a little of the champagne, except Lorelai who pretends to drink. Emily notices this but says nothing.
"Are you all ready to move in tomorrow?" Richard asks.
"Yeah, I finished the shopping and packing at home while Mom and Luke packed up his truck. I think I'm all ready," Rory says.
"Did you like your trip around Europe?" Emily asks. Lorelai and Rory share a look.
"Yeah, it was nice. We got to see so many things and Mom tried coffee from every country," Rory answers.
"Irish coffee was the best!" Lorelai exclaims with a wink. The maid walks in.
"Mrs. Gilmore, dinner is ready," the maid says.
"Thank you Celia," Emily says. The maid walks away. Emily and Lorelai follow Richard and Rory. "Did you try all the desserts in every country too?" Emily asks, glancing at Lorelai, who wrinkles her nose.
"Mom," Lorelai whines, aggravated.
"You look a little more filled out, I just wish you would have gotten Rory to do the same, she's so thin," Emily says. Lorelai gives her mother a look. Rory shares a glance with her mother as Lorelai walks to the other side of the table. Emily pauses at her chair, staring at Lorelai, who looks a little self-conscious. "Oh my God, you're pregnant!" Emily realizes. Lorelai mouth drops open.
"What!" Lorelai exclaims. She shares a frightened glance with Rory. Richard, who is the only one who has sat down so far, stares at Lorelai.
"Lorelai!" Emily exclaims. Lorelai looks down, defeated.
"Yes, Mom." Lorelai sits down in her chair, her head in her hands. She looks over at Emily. "How on earth did you know?"
"That's the look you gave me when I asked about why you were gaining weight 20 years ago," Emily explains.
"Not quite 20 years ago," Lorelai mumbles. Rory raises an eyebrow, but settles herself in her chair.
"You're pregnant?" Emily asks in disbelief, the idea now fully coming clear to her. "I can't believe it. You're pregnant. Is it Christopher's?" Lorelai snorts. Emily shoots her a look.
"No, Mom, Christopher and I broke up in February, I think it might be obvious by now. Although you could probably just tell people I was getting fat again."
"Then whose is it?" Lorelai shrugs, not really wanting to have this conversation. She shoots at look at Rory, who is staring down at her plate, trying as hard as she can not be involved. "You don't know who the father is?" Emily asks in disbelief.
"Mom," Lorelai whines. "Of course I know who the father is, I'm not on Maury Povich." Emily stares at Lorelai.
"Well?" Emily finally says.
"What?"
"Who is the father?" Emily asks, slowly.
"Now I know how Hester Prynne felt," Lorelai mutters.
"She wasn't a real person," Rory comments. Lorelai shrugs.
"No, because in reality her name was Lorelai Gilmore," Lorelai responds. Lorelai glances up at Emily.
"Lorelai, you will answer my question," Emily demands. Lorelai takes a deep breath.
"Luke. Luke is the father," Lorelai answers. Then she suddenly dissolves into giggles.
"Lorelai! This is a serious discussion!" Richard yells, banging his hand on the table.
"I know – it's just that – it's just" Lorelai can't finish as she continues laughing. Rory watches Lorelai, trying to hide a smile.
"Lorelai! Stop that! Richard, do something!" Emily shrieks. Lorelai finally gets herself under control, her face still bright red from laughing. "I don't understand you Lorelai, how on earth was that funny?"
"Luke, I am your father. Luke is the father," Lorelai says, impersonating James Earl Jones's deep voice. Rory giggles. Emily shakes her head. Lorelai and Rory share a smile as Lorelai glances up at Emily's disapproving face. Lorelai instantly swallows and regains her composure.
"Are you and Luke together?" Emily asks.
"Kind of, I guess." She takes a deep breath. "I mean, yeah, we are." Emily raises an eyebrow, but for once says nothing. She finally pulls out her chair and sits down. Lorelai glances between her parents, not knowing what to say next.
"Fine, then you'll bring him next week," Emily insists.
"Um… next week? Wow, that's soon. I don't know if he'll be able to do that on such short notice."
"If he really wants to be with you, he'll make an effort to be here and meet your parents."
"But Mom, you've already met Luke, twice if I can remember," Lorelai reminds her mother.
"Yes, but your father hasn't and now he's going to be our son-in-law and the father of our second grandchild," Emily responds. Lorelai bites her lower lip. "Oh don't tell me that you're not getting married Lorelai."
"No, Mom, we're not getting married. At least, not right now, not because of the baby." Lorelai blinks. "Wow, major de ja vue."
"Lorelai, I know this seemed all right to you when you were 16 but think of the example you're setting for your daughter," Richard says calmly. Lorelai looks over at him.
"Yeah, compared to the example I set when I had her at 16?" Lorelai replies, throwing a hand in the air, looking at Richard like he's crazy. Richard looks over at Emily angrily.
"Fine, we can put off that discussion until next week," Emily snaps. She picks up her fork and begins to eat basically stabbing at her food in anger. Lorelai takes a deep breath.
"Mom, Dad, if Luke comes next week, we will not be having that discussion. I'm not 16 anymore, I think I've proved that I can raise a child and not be married. I mean hey, if Camryn Manheim can do it, why can't I?" Emily picks up her wine glass, looking at Richard over the rim. Lorelai looks over at Rory and then back at Emily. "And, I need you to make the best attempt to not bring up the baby. I haven't told Luke yet, and I'm not sure when I will."
"Lorelai, you're not going to keep that figure forever, he's going to realize it eventually," Emily reminds her. Lorelai shrugs.
"I know," Loreali says quietly.
"Well then you have a week to tell him," Emily says simply.
"Yeah, like it's that easy," Lorelai mumbles. "I'd better start watching Dr. Phil." She rolls her eyes sighing. Rory and Lorelai share a look and begin eating. Lorelai feels a touch on her knee and reaches under the table to squeeze Rory's hand. Rory gives her a sympathetic look and then lets go and continues eating. The rest of the meal continues in silence as everyone is enraptured with his or her own thoughts.