Notes:
So kind of a funny story. I got home from work to look at the reviews and the review number said 911. It kind of scared me... anyways...
Luke and Lorelai's House
Later that night, Luke walks into the bedroom. Lorelai is lying on her side of the bed, facing away from him. Luke walks over and sits on the edge of the bed on the other side, facing away from her. He takes off his shoes and his flannel. Glancing over at Lorelai, he touches her arm lightly. "Please just... let me be," Lorelai says softly. Luke sighs, slowly removing his hand.
Luke stands and slowly changes out of his clothes into his sweatpants and t-shirt so he can go to sleep. As he walks into the bathroom, he glances back at Lorelai, but she hasn't moved. Luke finishes getting ready for bed and walks back into the bedroom. Crawling onto his side of the bed, he leans over Lorelai but her eyes are shut. Luke sighs, leaning back against the headboard, reviewing the sequence of event of the past day in his own mind. He folds his arms over his chest just thinking. "Oh Lorelai," he sighs. Luke reaches out, laying a hand on her thigh, rubbing gently. When she doesn't move, he knows she's asleep.
"Lorelai, we can't keep going on like this. We have everything now. Kids. A house. Jobs. Each other. Everything should be perfect. But it's not, at least not for you. And I don't know what to do. I love you Lorelai, I do, but you're unhappy. I just wish you'd open up and talk about it instead of hiding in a web of lies and liquor. Open up and tell me what you're feeling about the twins and Christopher and your parents. Just trust yourself, trust in the fact that Rory grew up perfectly and if you're a little sad for one day, know that this time you've got back up," Luke says, wishing he could actually say this to her when she is awake. He sighs again. Then he leans over and kisses her temple. "I'm always here, I'll always be here, I love you Lorelai," he whispers. Then he lies down, wrapping an arm around her midsection and goes to sleep.
In the darkness, Lorelai opens her eyes. She opens her mouth as if to respond, but then presses her lips together and closes her eyes again.
After trying to sleep for an hour or so, Lorelai opens her eyes again. Her face is red and puffy as if she's been crying, which she has. She moves her arm out from under the blanket and runs her fingers over Luke's arm that is around her, just running her fingers over his skin. Turning herself to get out of bed, she slowly moves Luke's arm off of her. She stares down at him for a moment, just watching him sleep, seeing how amazingly peaceful he looks. Then she leans over and kisses his temple and walks over to the closet. She grabs a big bag and throws some random clothes in the bag and walks over to the dresser adding underwear to the bag. Glancing at the dresser again, she pauses and picks up a check laying there. "Thirty thousand dollars," she whispers and glances over at Luke. With a soft smile on her face, she places the check back where she found it.
Throwing the bag over her shoulder, she walks out of the bedroom without glancing back at Luke's sleeping form. Lorelai walks down the hall into the nursery. Stopping by Liam and Olivia's cribs, she puts her fingers to her lips and then touches each of their heads. Taking a deep breath she leaves the nursery.
Walking down the stairs and into the kitchen, Lorelai picks up a pen and a piece of paper. Her hand shakes as she scribbles something on the paper. Setting down the pen, she swallows the lump in her throat. Picking up her jacket and keys, Lorelai glances once more around the house, a tear running down her cheek. Then she walks out the door, closing it softly behind her.
When the alarm goes off, Luke rolls over onto his back. He rubs his face with his hands, only then realizing that he's alone in the bedroom. Luke sighs, figuring that Lorelai's in the nursery. He slowly gets out of bed and walks into the nursery, finding it empty, except for the twins. Luke checks on Liam and then picks up Olivia, who has woken up.
With Olivia on his hip, Luke walks down the stairs and into the kitchen. He takes a bottle out of the refrigerator and puts it in the microwave. "Morning," Lane says walking out of Rory's room. Luke glances over at her.
"How much longer are you going to be staying here?" Luke asks. Lane shrugs.
"Lorelai said I could stay as long as I want," Lane tells him.
"Oh, I know, I was just wondering. I think she shouldn't be getting too dependent on you." Lane nods, walking over to the table. She picks up the note.
"I'm not sure how… long… Luke?" Luke glances over at Lane seeing her puzzled expression.
"What's that?" Lane turns to face him, waving the letter. Luke ignores the beeping of the microwave to take the note from Lane and reads it. "Did you read this?" Luke asks. Lane nods, walking over to take the bottle out of the microwave.
"Yeah…" Lane walks over with the bottle, taking Olivia from Luke and feeding Olivia the bottle. But she doesn't watch Olivia, she stares at Luke, watching his expression. He walks down the hall, sitting down on the bottom step of the stairs, his head in his hands.
"I should have seen this coming," Luke finally says. He glances over at Lane. "Why didn't I see this coming?" Lane shrugs, not really knowing what to say. "It doesn't even say where she went, if she's coming back, just that she's left and she's okay. Which we know isn't the truth." He sighs.
"If you want to call Rory, you can use my cell phone," Lane suggests. Luke nods.
"Right. Rory. She'd know." Luke stands and picks up the house phone, dialing Rory's number from memory.
"Mom?" Rory asks groggily when she picks up the phone.
"No, Rory, it's me, sorry to wake you up," Luke says. Rory glances over at the clock next to her bed. She sits straight up, knowing that Luke would only call if it was important.
"No, it's okay, what's going on?"
"Your mom… she… she's not here…"
"She pulled a Bobby Fischer?"
"Yeah... Do you know where she might have gone?" Luke asks. Rory sighs, scratching her forehead as she thinks.
"No…" They sit there in silence thinking about it. "Do you need me to come in town to help with the twins?"
"No, Lane's here and I can call April if I need. You've got class," Luke responds.
"Okay, well I'll come by tonight after class."
"You've got class tomorrow."
"Yeah but it's only one, British History, just another king dying or chopping off someone's head or taking over another country. It's all the same," Rory contends.
"Yeah, I'll be sure to tell Elizabeth you said so." Rory laughs in spite of herself. "Are you going to go look for her?"
"Yeah I have a few ideas. Don't tell the Gilmores," Rory warns.
"I won't," Luke promises. "I could just imagine that. Do you think you could come by and pick up some of the medication Dr. Buxton prescribed? It's just gotten worse and worse and maybe she just needs a little extra boost. Dr. Boxton said something about chemicals in the brain or something... I don't know."
"Yeah, I'll do that." Rory glances at her watch and sighs. "Okay, I gotta go, I'm really sorry, but I'll see you tonight."
"Okay," Luke replies sadly.
"I love you Dad," Rory says. Luke stares at the phone in shock. He takes a deep breath.
"I love you too Rory." Rory grins.
"Later." She hangs up. Luke stares the phone again and then stands and hangs it up,
"Everything's going to be okay," Luke mumbles. Hearing Liam cry, Luke runs up the stairs, dropping the note on the table as he leaves the room.
Lorelai stands in front of the familiar door, remember the last horrible time she was there. In spite of herself, she knocks loudly. Swallowing, she takes a deep breath, willing the tears away, not wanting to cry in front of him. Lorelai puts her ear to the door and she finally hears footsteps. And suddenly the door opens.
"Lorelai?" Christopher says with surprise.