Notes:
Well here's how you know how much I appreciate you. Two chapters in two days! Both shorter than normal, but hey it's something! You know your reviews actually egged me on.
And I want to plug my new fic To Luke, With Love. It's about Lorelai writing letters to Luke from Paris, revealing her thoughts on her past, present and future. I love just getting into Lorelai and disecting her out, what an amazing character. Take a minute or two and give it a chance!
Happy Birthday to smileyGGfan! I remember my 16th birthday fondly, one of my favorites! I hope yours was just as nice. Sorry, I know you're right about the whole Rory not knowing about Davey thing and I really do hate when I mess up like that, probably why I edit so many times. Thanks for catching it.
Yale
Lorelai, Luke and Rory are sitting on the ground near the stadium, waiting for Richard and Emily to arrive so they can go to the Harvard/Yale game. "I don't know how you got me to go to this," Luke grumbles. Lorelai gives him a look.
"I thought you liked football," she says.
"Baseball, not football."
"Yes, but you're a guy."
"That much is clear to me."
"Me too! But what I'm saying is that you're a guy and all guys like football. They like to drink and yell and beat their chests when their team wins." Luke looks at her strangely.
"Do you imagine that guys are similar to the monkeys in the beginning scene of Space Odyssey?" Luke asks, teasing her. Lorelai wrinkles her nose.
"I haven't seen any proof to the contrary," Lorelai responds. Luke chuckles, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"What are you doing on the ground?" they hear Emily's shrill voice from above them. Lorelai stares at their shoes, rolling her eyes. "It's filthy down there!" Lorelai looks up at Emily forcing a smile.
"Hi Mom. Dad," Lorelai says. Rory stands and hugs each of her grandparents. Luke stands and helps Lorelai up.
"Hello Emily, Mr. Gilmore," Luke says. He offers his hand but Emily just stares at it in disgust. Luke slowly moves his hand back, putting it around Lorelai's shoulders.
"So good that you could join us, Luke," Emily lies. "It will be nice for you to see Rory's school."
"Actually, I've seen it, Rory gave us a tour about a month ago," Luke says. Emily nods, not really caring.
"So Mom, let's go start this football game," Lorelai says brightly.
"Lorelai, the football game isn't for a few hours," Richard says.
"A few hours?" Lorelai repeats, her face falling. Emily rolls her eyes.
"Come along," Emily motions. They follow her over to the tailgating table. "Normally we go visit Dan and have a toast before we start tailgating but I thought you'd like to sit down," Emily says to Lorelai, who smiles in appreciation.
"Thanks Mom," she says, sitting down at the picnic table, a sense of relief washing over her face. Emily smiles knowingly.
"Okay, well I'm going to go see Dan, Rory you should join me," Richard says.
"Dan?" Lorelai asks. "Some old friend of yours?"
"Old?" Richard asks.
"Yes, and when I say old, I mean long time. More like Han Solo and Chewbacca than the Golden Girls," Lorelai explains.
"Dan is the original Yale mascot," Emily explains.
"So then the Han Solo and Chewbacca reference works." Richard doesn't seem pleased. Lorelai shrugs. "So if he's the original Yale mascot, wouldn't he be dead?"
"He is dead, they had him stuffed," Richard answers. Lorelai has a horrified expression on her face.
"And you thought I was mean to Skippy," Lorelai complains, glaring at Rory.
"Come on," Rory says. She gives Luke a pleading look.
"Why don't I join?" Luke offers, not really meaning it. He, Richard and Rory walk away. Lorelai smiles watching Rory wrap an arm around Luke's as she leads him away. Emily watches them too, none too pleased.
"So you think he's just going to replace Christopher in her life?" Emily asks. Lorelai gives her a strange look.
"No."
"Well he seems to be. Last week at dinner, she referred to him as Dad. Then she does that," Emily snaps, motioning in the direction that they went. "Christopher is still her father."
"I know he is, Mom. And I've told him that and her. Rory still hasn't gotten over what Christopher did to me, she still isn't talking to him, and she thinks that Luke is a good father figure for her. She doesn't think that Chris has been very influential in her life and she thinks that Luke has. I've told Rory not to write Chris off, but Rory wants what Rory wants," Lorelai says.
"Yes, well you don't always get what you want."
"So said the Rolling Stones," Lorelai quips. Emily gives her a hard look. "Sorry," she whispers. Emily looks down sadly. Lorelai reaches across the table and touches Emily's arm. "Mom, this isn't something that you need to worry about. Rory. Christopher. Luke. They're all grown ups, they can figure things out for themselves without our meddling." Emily sighs.
"What happens when your twins are older and they decide to write off Luke for whatever man you may happen to have latched on to at that point?" Emily asks. Lorelai looks shell shocked.
"Well that won't happen," Lorelai insists.
"How do you know that?"
"Because," Lorelai says, by way of explanation. Emily raises an eyebrow. "It's different with Luke. And I know you don't believe me, but it is. He's moving in, we're going to get married."
"He proposed?" Lorelai looks down at her hands giving Emily time to put a knowing smile on her face.
"No." She looks up at Emily sadly. "But he will, we're just, it's just starting. Getting married now, it would be too soon. But he's here, he's all in and he's not leaving, not like Chris did."
"Christopher left the first time because you pushed him away. Because you wouldn't say yes to his proposal."
"Well, if Luke proposed, I would probably say yes now," Lorelai contends.
"That doesn't surprise me, you've gotten good at that, it's just actually following through and getting married that you're failing at," Emily comments. Lorelai groans. Luke, Rory and Richard return. Luke sits down next to Lorelai.
"You okay?" he asks in a whisper. Lorelai gives him a pained look. Luke puts a comforting hand on her knee.
"How long are football games?" Lorelai asks. Luke thinks about it.
"About 4 maybe 5 hours." Lorelai groans.
"It's going to be a long day," she whines. Luke rubs her shoulder as they return to the conversation that Emily, Richard and Rory are having.