The Gilmore-Grey Union

By Michael Weyer

POV: Luke

What the hell am I doing here?

Seriously, how did I let myself get talked into doing this? As much as I love Lorelai, and I do, this is not the sort of function I wanted to get into. It's like a family gathering by way of Kafka. Or the Marx Brothers.

First you've got Lorelai's parents. Now, Richard, I don't mind too much, he's a decent guy, a bit disapproving still but I like to think he can come around. Emily, on the other hand…Looks can kill doesn't sum up what happens when she looks at me.

I still don't know what to make up Vincent's family. His mom is stern as hell yet I can't help liking her. His sister is what Lorelai might be if she didn't have a lifetime in front of the TV and movie screen. His brother seems like a younger version of Taylor, complete with the beard and his wife is…geeze, I don't know who to compare her to.

That's not to mention the Tayne Diggs wannabe who's giving Amy a look I used to give Lorelai all the time. And finally this Donna person and I have no clue what kind of person she is or what she's doing here other than bringing the Cosmo Kramer factor into these proceedings.

Oh my God, it's happened. Lorelai has made me as TV-addicted as she is.

I sip my drink as Peter's family glares at him. "You're going back to playing?" Maxine snaps. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Peter, but didn't you nearly bankrupt your father's company the last time you followed this dream of becoming Mick Jagger?"

"Mick Jagger is the singer, Mom," he tiredly says. "Keith Richards is the guitarist."

"And he was old back when I was your age so he's not exactly the sort of person I want to see you emulate!"

"Mother, I'm a grown man! You can't dictate what I do!"

Amy, Vincent and Gillian give him looks that say "she can't?"

"Peter, your last name is Gray, not Frampton!"

"Too bad, cause that'd be cool," Lorelai pipes up.

"So," Christopher finally speaks up. "Um, Rory, have you figured out what you're going to do with college yet?"

Rory sighs and brushes her hair back. "I don't know yet. I really don't. I was thinking of going back but now…"

Christopher shrugs. "Well, it's your decision, kiddo."

I glare at him. "So she should just throw away all her dreams and settle for a second-class life? That's your fatherly advice?"

Christopher glares back at me. "She's an adult, she can figure out her own life."

"She's also confused and needs some real guidance, not some 'follow your instincts' crap! She deserves better, she can earn better if she believes in herself."

He points his fork at me. "I'm her father so I think my say has a bit more weight."

I let out a barking laugh. "Please! I've been watching these two for years and I can count on one hand the number of times you've been around for them! I've seen Lorelai get close to you, think it was going to work and you end up leaving her and Rory high and dry again!"

"Hey, I've got my own family! I didn't count on my girlfriend getting pregnant!"

"Just to be clear, are we talking Lorelai or your wife who you left? Cause I get confused on that a lot."

"Luke, be civil," Emily says in that snotty tone of hers. "Christopher does his best by his family…"

I whirl on her. "Do not start on me, I am not in the mood!" Her look of shock almost makes this whole night worthwhile. I keep it in mind when I stare at Christopher. "I've been around her for her whole life. I've helped her study, I've been to her birthday parties, I've put up her bookshelves and repaired in her houses, I've been there for some of her major functions, where were you?"

"I had my own stuff to deal with…"

"None of which pertains to her, evidentially! If you're read her stuff, you'll know how talented she is, how far she can go. You should be pushing her to go back to that, not tell her to go bohemian or whatever!"

"Listen, pal…"

"He's right."

We both turn to look at Rory, who's sitting up, her face calm. "He's right, Dad. I know you've had your own stuff and we've been through that. You got Mom pregnant, you're my birth father, I've accepted that." She looks at me and smiles. "But…but even before Luke and Mom got together…I considered him more my dad."

Not gonna cry. Not gonna cry. I am Luke Danes. Luke Danes does not cry in public. Not gonna happen.

Rory takes a breath. "Besides…I think I am going back."

Lorelai breaks into a wide smile. "You…you do?"

Rory nods. "Yeah, I was doubtful but Vincent was talking to me about it on the plane and he really, really made sense."

Everyone looks at him and Vincent shrugs. "I just talked to her about the problems I had with rejection when I started. I mean, this Huntzberger guy is a real asshole."

Emily nearly spits in her drink. "I beg your pardon!" she yells. "I will not have that language in my house!"

"Well, he is an asshole," Rory says. "And frankly, Logan is taking too much after him."

"Rory!" Emily cries out. "Richard, tell her to stop that!"

"Oh, come now, Emily," he intones lightly. "We both know he's an asshole."

"Richard!"

Lorelai is looking at Rory with true admiration in her eyes. "You…you're going back?"

Rory nods and Lorelai gives her a quick hug. She then reaches to hug Vincent. "Thank you so much."

"Hey, just giving her the push in the right direction," he states modestly.

Okay, it's official. I like this guy. I do. I didn't think I was going to but I like him. Maybe this marriage isn't as horrible an idea as it seems.

"Excuse me," Christopher says as he leans in to glare at Vincent. "What gives you the right to talk to my daughter about such an important thing?"

"Um, the fact I'm her husband?"

"Not for long."

"Well, then I might as well make the most of it. Maybe you ought to consider doing the same thing." He sips his drink and speaks again. "My dad wasn't the easiest person to talk to but at least he tried. That's a lot more than you've done."

Yep. I like this guy.