Gilmore Mansion

Lorelai and her family are at the mansion after Trix's funeral. She and Rory are on the couch in the living room each holding a twin. "So this is nice," Rory says blandly. Lorelai glances over at Rory, raising an eyebrow. Rory shrugs. "I don't know, what do you say about these kind of things?" Lorelai shrugs, glancing around at the group.

"Just remember, this could have been your life," Lorelai warns Rory.

"Ralph Edwards wouldn't have called this life constructive or above and beyond the call of duty." Rory mutters.

"Right," Lorelai agrees, softly running a hand over Olivia's head.

"How's Grampa doing?" Rory asks. Lorelai glances around trying to find Richard in the crowd, but can't.

"I think Mom got him to eat some more of that soup after the funeral. Or tried to." Lorelai shrugs.

"She's still mad?" Lorelai raises her eyebrows, nodding.

"Oh yeah. I don't know why though. Dad chose her. He loved her. He wanted to marry her," Lorelai states. Rory watches Lorelai consider this. Lorelai's staring off into space. "And she loved him. Who cares what anyone else…" Lorelai swallows. "He loved her," she repeats softly. Rory gently touches Lorelai's arm.

"Mom," Rory says sympathetically. Lorelai slowly looks over at Rory, a sadness in her eyes.

"Sookie says I'm afraid," Lorelai tells Rory, who furrows her eyebrows, but doesn't actually respond. "She says I'm afraid to tell him – tell him – that I love him." Lorelai clears her throat. "She says that telling someone you love them is saying that you can't live your life without them, that you're not whole without them, that you aren't you without them."

"I think that's true," Rory concurs. Lorelai kisses the top of Olivia's head, pondering this idea.

"I've always done things on my own. When I was young I was a free spirit, living my life my way, ignoring my parents and seeking out of the house. After you were born, I made sure to do things on my own. I raised you on my own. I provided for you on my own. I bought a house on my own, a car, a couch. I created the new image of the Independence Inn on my own. And I went to business school on my own. I never depended on anyone for anything, except your tuition." Lorelai purses her lips. "Telling Luke I love him means admitting I'm not whole without him…" Lorelai looks at Liam and Olivia and then up at Rory. "But look at what I can do with him." Rory smiles softly.

"They are cute," Rory says. Lorelai grins.

"That they are," Lorelai agrees, hugging Olivia to her.

"Lorelai!" Emily calls. Lorelai and Rory both look over at Emily, who is standing by the food table in the dining room. Lorelai rolls her eyes at Rory.

"Do you think she saw us?" Lorelai asks.

"Well I left my cloak of invisibility at home," Rory responds. Lorelai grins. "Come on." They both stand and walk over to Emily.

"You girls need to stop hiding from the guests. Your relatives have all been asking to meet the newest Gilmores," Emily tells them.

"Well I would have to ask who these new Gilmores are, because Liam and Olivia are Danes's," Lorelai responds coldly. Emily gives Lorelai a look.

"You know what I mean, Lorelai. Don't take that tone with me."

"Well, Gramma, we weren't hiding out, we were sitting in the middle of the living room," Rory tells Emily.

"You might as well have been. You two are in your own little world when you converse, it would be like trying to join a conversation with the Marx brothers," Emily retorts.

"Well it didn't help that we were speaking pig latin," Lorelai responds in a semi-serious tone. Emily raises an eyebrow as Lorelai's eyes glitter with mischief. "Om-may is-ay iving-gay e-may at-thay ook-lay," Loreali says to Rory. Rory's eyes go wide and she nods.

"Lorelai!" Emily reprimands her daughter. "Behave like your age for once in your life!"

"Aw, Mom, that's no fun," Lorelai whines.

"God help Liam and Olivia if they learn your bad habits," Emily snaps. Lorelai sighs, her expression serious again. "Now, I'm trying to make a plate to take over to your father and I don't know what to feed him."

"Well being that he's not two, I think he can feed himself," Lorelai responds. Emily rolls her eyes.

"Lorelai, can you be serious for just one second?" Lorelai glances at her wrist, where a watch would be. She looks up at Rory and grins. Rory shakes her head.

"Gramma, what does Grampa like to eat?" Rory asks Emily. Lorelai presses her lips together and glances around the room, not really paying attention to Rory and Emily chattering about food. As her eyes gaze into the front hall, she lets out a little gasp. "Mom?" Rory asks. "You okay?" Lorelai closes her mouth and then opens it again, in shock. Rory follows Lorelai's gaze and sees Luke standing in the front hallway. Luke is staring back at Lorelai with a similar intensity. Rory smiles to herself.

"Lorelai, maybe we should…" Emily trails off as she sees Lorelai isn't listening to her. Rory tugs on Emily's arm and motions with her chin at Luke, who is making his way over to them. Luke stops in front of all three women, breaking his gaze from Lorelai to glance at Emily and Rory.

"Emily, I'm sorry for your loss," Luke says gruffly. Emily arches an eyebrow.

"It wasn't much of a loss," Emily mutters.

"Mom!" Lorelai chastises Emily, who shrugs it off.

"Thank you Luke," Emily says, with a sickly sweet smile.

"Hey Rory," Luke says. Rory and Luke share a one arm hug as Rory's still holding onto Liam.

"Glad you came," Rory whispers in his ear. Luke nods to her, slowly letting her go. He gently runs his hand over Liam's head and then Olivia's, his eyes returning to Lorelai's. They stand there stupidly for a moment, neither knowing what to say.

"I'm sorry," Luke manages. Lorelai looks confused as to what he's apologizing for. "For your loss," Luke adds. Lorelai draws in her breath, nodding, realizing what he's talking about.

"Thank you," Lorelai responds softly. Emily snorts. Lorelai gives Emily a look. Then she returns her eyes to Luke. "How did you know?"

"Sookie," Luke answers. He clears his throat. "Sookie came to the diner a few days ago and told me."

"That's Sookie, always good for a good message delivery," Lorelai says lamely. Luke raises an eyebrow. Lorelai smiles nervously.

"April sends her sympathies as well. She was there when Sookie told me but Anna had made plans for them today so she couldn't come," Luke explains. Lorelai nods.

"Tell her thank you," Lorelai says softly. Luke nods. He shoves his hands in his pockets. Lorelai glances at Rory, who shrugs. "I'm glad you came."

"You are?" Luke asks brightly.

"Of course, I mean, you are – the twins are – were – you know – related to Gran – so of course," Lorelai stammers.

"Oh, yeah, well, of course," Luke responds almost as incomprehensibly. They stare at each other for a moment as a small smile slowly creeps over both of their faces. "Big crowd you got here, she must have been loved," Luke says. Lorelai glances around.

"Loved?" Emily snorts.

"Gramma!" Rory exclaims this time

"Well, respected maybe," Luke adds. They all notice that Lorelai's staring off again and all notice Christopher at once. Lorelai looks down, shaking her head in anger. Chris waves over at them, receiving only a glare from Rory and blank stares from Luke and Emily. Lorelai timidly looks up at Luke.

"I didn't invite him," she whispers. Luke shakes his head.

"I can't – I can't do this, Lorelai," he responds, and turns and walks away.

"Luke!" Lorelai cries in a loud whisper. She begins to run after him, turning quickly to hand Olivia off to Emily. Lorelai follows into the front hall and out the door to the driveway where Luke has parked his truck, stumbling in her heels as she runs. "Luke!" she calls after him.

"I can't do this Lorelai!" he repeats harshly.

"Luke, stop! Talk to me! I said I didn't invite him, I don't know what he's doing here. So tell me what the big problem is!" Lorelai exclaims. Emily and Rory walk out of the house, each holding a twin, watching the scene.

"This is the problem," he responds, waving his hand back at the mansion. "All of this. This isn't me. You're not going to get this from me. I live in a small town and I'm going to die in a small town."

"Okay, John Mellencamp, but please tell me what that has to do with us."

"You want more than this, the small town stuff. You may not know what you want yet, but not this. All I have, all I am is Stars Hallow, and you want more than that." With that Luke gets in his truck and drives off, not giving Lorelai a chance to respond.

"I thought you knew me," Lorelai whispers to his fading truck, her eyes glittering with tears. She covers her mouth with her hand, her other hand going to her hip as she tries to maintain control of herself, still staring in the direction that Luke's truck drove off.

Slowly she turns back to the house, finally noticing Emily and Rory watching her. Choking back the tears, Lorelai stands there trembling for a moment. She takes a deep breath and walks over to them. "I have to – where's my purse?" she asks, her voice thick with tears. "Excuse me," she says, before they can respond. Rory and Emily share a look and follow Lorelai inside.

Lorelai's at the hall closet digging through until she finds her coat and purse. "I have to go. I can't stay. Sorry I just can't do this. I have to go," Lorelai rambles. She glances over at the twins. "Can you drop them off at Luke's when you get a chance?"

"Sure, I'll do it afterward," Rory responds. Lorelai nods. She gently touches Liam's cheek and kisses him on the head and repeats the same with Olivia. Shaking her head, Lorelai walks out. Rory watches her go, pressing her lips together.

"Do you know where she's going?" Emily asks. Rory shakes her head.

"I have no clue," Rory responds softly. She shares a look with Emily. Finding Chris in the crowd, Rory walks over to him. Grabbing his arm, she drags him away from the guests. "What were you thinking!"

"That your great-grandmother died and I should come and pay my respects," Chris responds logically. "Where's your mom?"

"She left!" Rory cries. She shakes her head, rubbing Liam's back. "Why do you always have do to this? She doesn't want to be with you. She wants to be with my dad, and that's not you. She wants to be with someone who's good to her."

"Rory, I swear to you, I meant nothing by this. I just wanted to express my sympathies," Chris replies.

"But you can't. She can't break free from you. I don't know why, but she can't. And I know she wants to, she loves Luke," Rory insists. Chris gives her a sorrowful look. "You're ruining everything!"

"Rory…"

"Dad doesn't like seeing her with you. He doesn't like that she spent time with you in the hospital or that she ran to you when she was upset," Rory explains.

"Rory, nothing happened." He reaches out and touches her arm. "Nothing happened."

"I know," Rory replies softly. "But Mom's hurting. And you showing up just aggravates the situation." Rory presses her lips together, her eyes misty with sadness. "You need to decide if you're going to be Peter Pan, the little boy who won't grow up, or Peter Banning, the adult who has the maturity to know what's right." On that note, Rory walks away, stopping for a second by Emily's side. "I'm going to take Liam over to Grampa," she whispers to Emily before walking away. Christopher rubs his fingers over his lips as he watches Rory walk away. Then he glances over at Emily.

"You heard the girl, Christopher. Fix this," Emily says coldly and then walks away. Chris runs a hand through his hair, sighing.