The Gilmore-Grey Union

Book III: The Dinner

By Michael Weyer

POV: Donna

I'm starting to think this may not have been the best idea I've had.

I wanted to be here. I mean, I knew Judge Grey would want me here for support. Sure, she has her family and all but she's my mentor and I knew she would want my presence here as well. Even if she did seem a bit thrown by it but it was a surprise and all.

But I am feeling a bit left out as the talk continues. I get these Gilmores have a lot of history and difficult times and it's a bit much to try and follow it all. I'm sort of feeling like an outsider, even more than Bruce must be.

I have to say she seems pretty. And smart too, which is a definite bonus. And I think she really does care for Vincent, which is a definite must. I still can't believe what Carol did to him, I thought she was better than that so maybe I'm not as good a judge of character as I believed.

Except for Judge Grey. She remains my rock.

"Lorelai, I still cannot believe you are putting such a strain on this family!" Emily snaps.

"What strain? How I am putting a strain? Hell, you're the Andromeda Strain of the Gilmore clan!"

"Lorelai, please calm down," her father says and I like his voice. It's deep, it's manly, I wonder if he does book voiceovers.

"I'm trying to be calm," she says. "It's Mom who's bringing in the noise and funk."

"I am simply attempting to show you the right path, that's always what I've tried to do!" Wow. I'm wondering if it's possible my mom had a sister she never told me about because she and Emily would get along great.

"Mom, your definition of 'right' isn't the same as the rest of us. Especially me!"

"Can we all please settle down and try to enjoy our meal?" Maxine says. It's good to see her as the voice of reason, she so excels at that.

Emily sips her wine again as she shakes her head. "Lorelai, you are sitting at this table with the father of your child and instead of taking the obvious chance to reconnect with him and give your daughter the stability she so desperately needs-----"

"Hey, wait…" Vincent tries to interrupt.

"You are instead agreeing to move in with this diner owner, a man who never belonged in our circle------"

"And thank God for that," Luke sourly states.

"Mom, I have had it, ok? I have had it with you running down every choice I've made, I've had it with you putting me down, I have had it with you interfering in my life and I've so had it with you trying to turn Rory into the DAR's newest pod person!"

Emily slams her glass down. "Lorelai, I will not have you speaking to me in that fashion in my house!"

"And exactly what gives you the standing to talk back to her like that?" That's why I love Judge Grey, she always manages to make the biting observations.

"This is between me and my daughter, young lady!" Emily snaps. "Lorelai, can you not see how your behavior has effected Rory?"

"Oh, you are not going there!" Lorelai fires back. "I am not letting you put all the blame for this on me!"

"She's right," Vincent pipes up. "It was me and Rory. Well, and a couple of bottles of Jack Daniels."

She glares at him. "She would never have been there if her mother------"

"No, she would never have been there if you hadn't given her the okay to throw away her dreams!" Lorelai breaks in. "That's what got her there!"

"I was only attempting------"

"To interfere as you always do-----"

"….Want what's best…."

"…Your way and no one else's…"

"Will you two SHUT UP!"

I don't even realize I've spoken until I'm out of my chair and glaring at them, Emily first. "My mother was just like you. She tried to tell me how to run my life, she ran down every decision I made, from joining the military to going to law school to getting married to a murderer and okay, that one she was dead right about. But she refused to be there when I gave birth to her granddaughter, she's refused to talk to me, refused to invite me to any family deals or anything. Which means she's missed out on the life of a beautiful, beautiful baby girl and I am sorry for her. And the way you're going, you're coming close to doing the same thing and turning into Norma Desmond, surrounded by nothing by a big house and nothing worthwhile."

As she sputters, I turn to Lorelai. "And you! You should be grateful you even have a mother who at least gives a damn about what you do, even if it drives you crazy! My mother hasn't even tried to contact me for years, at least she tries! Yes, badly but tries nonetheless so I think that should earn the tiniest bit of respect!"

I quiet down and realize everyone is staring at me with various stunned reactions. I feel my face flush as I sit down and sip my wine. "Um…sorry. I usually don't go off like that, really."

"No, that was pretty good," Rory says. I just drink my wine as the maid brings out the dinner. Maybe this was a bad idea but there is one key benefit.

It makes me realize the benefits of being away from my own family more.