The Gilmore-Grey Union

Book III: The Dinner

By Michael Weyer

Sorry for the delay between updates. Hope this makes up for it.

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POV: Bruce

It's a little quiet after Donna's tirade. That makes a much better alternative to the yelling and screaming which seems to be the usual for this family.

I'm still trying to figure out why I'm here. Why in the world did I agree to this? I barely know Vincent and yet somehow I get talked into taking on a major family deal. For what? Why would I get pulled into this?

Because Judge Grey asked me and I had to say yes. I can't refuse her, no matter what it is.

I guess it's the loyalty my dad beat down on me. Always be loyal, no matter what. I've been showing that to Judge Grey over and over again over the years so I guess I can't shake it. Not that I'd much want to anyway.

So I figure it's good to simply sit back and try to let the histrionics flow around me and ignore the major dramas. I know it's hard for me to blend in the background but I'm willing to give it a try right now.

Vincent's the one who decides to speak up in the silence. "So, um, Christopher, you and Lorelai were…together?"

The other man gives him a condescending smile. "Seeing as how we conceived Rory, yeah, that happened."

"I mean were you married?" Vincent clarifies.

"No," he replies. "I offered but Lorelai had to be stubborn."

"Excuse me?" Lorelai held up a hand, her face in disbelief. "You're saying you were ready to make a commitment to raising Rory? Wow, usually you have to watch WWE to see revisionist history like that."

I can see her mother ready to open her mouth again so I quickly interject myself. "I can sympathize. It's not easy trying to see a daughter raised when you're not married to the mother."

Christopher looks over to me and nods. "You too, huh?"

I simply nod as I cut into the chicken we're being served. "I got my girlfriend pregnant when we were young. I wanted to do the right thing, she said no. So I tried to get to know my daughter as well as I could."

"Yeah but it gets busy," he states with a shrug.

I look at him, my brow furrowing. ""Excuse me?"

He sips his wine before going back to his meal. "Well, you know how it is. You have your job, your own problems and time gets away from you. It's hard to get the time to be with her a lot."

I frown deep. "You make time. That's what I did. Yeah, I missed a few dates but from what I've been hearing, you missed most of Rory's life. That's not right."

"I do my best," he fires back. "I tried to be there for her----"

"You don't 'try,' you do," I interrupt. "You make the time, you do what it takes. You're a parent, a father. That means you've got a major responsibility that supersedes anything else and you have to live up to that. Sorry if that interferes with your job or your own personal stuff but that's what being a parent means."

"Excuse me, Bruce was it?" Emily says. "But I don't think that sort of attitude is needed right now. Christopher is a good provider------"

Lorelai, Luke and Rory all snort and even Christopher doesn't like what Emily's saying.

"You don't provide with just money, you provide by being there for your daughter." I'm a bit surprised to hear Judge Grey add her two cents into things. Then again, if there's one thing I've learned about the Grey family, it's that they often tend to butt in even if they're not asked to.

"As far as I can see," Judge Grey continues. "Lorelai has done a lot better by Rory than her dad has. Raising a kid on your own is not easy. I know that."

"It never is easy to raise a child," Emily replies in a tone even more condescending than Christopher's was. "And I would imagine it is more difficult for you, as a judge. So perhaps you should have gotten a husband yourself some time ago."

Maxine slams her glass down on the table and if this was a Western, people would be ducking into buildings right now. "Emily, if you are going to be telling my daughter how to live her life, we are going to have a problem."

She just chews on her food. "I am merely attempting to point out that a stable man in her life can give her daughter a better life as well."

"Then why are you down on my stable man?" Lorelai asks. She seems a little hesitant, probably worried Donna will go off again.

Emily glares at her, then fixes her look at Judge Grey. "Have you ever considered settling down?"

"Okay, mom, we're getting into a level of control Karl Rove would find creepy," Lorelai states.

Judge Grey just stares back at Emily nice and cool. "I was engaged once but I broke it off because he wasn't the right man for me. It hasn't worked out for my last few boyfriends either because of baggage on both ends. I don't see how that is any of your business but I do my best to provide for my daughter and raise her well."

Emily just sniffs. "Hopefully, better than Lorelai did…"

"Lady what is your problem?" I'm aware of the looks of surprise the Greys are giving me but I keep going. "You are talking to a fine woman, a judge as well as a mother and someone who does more for families in one day than you can imagine."

"Well, I'm sure she's good at her job but------"

"Good?" I slam my silverware down and point a finger at her. "You have no idea how good this woman is. This woman pours her heart and her soul into every case, she cares about every person who goes through that courtroom. Every child who goes through pain and agony, abuse and neglect, all of that, she carries that with her every single day. She goes through a job that has broken people older and more experienced than her but she still goes on and fights and refuses to give up, no matter what. You do not talk down to this woman, you understand me? You do not talk down to her. You should be doing what I do and that is get on your knees every day and thank God you know a woman as special and caring and amazing as her. You never talk down to her. Never."

I realize that everyone is staring at me right now. Damn, I don't go off like that. I do my best to keep my temper in after I got arrested and nearly lost my job punching that asshole that one time. I wipe my mouth with my napkin as I stand up. "I've got to go." With that, I start to march out.

I'm heading to the foyer, trying to figure out where the maid put our coats when I hear Amy's voice behind me. "Bruce!"

"Judge Grey, I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about," she says. "You don't have to go."

"Judge Grey------"

"For God's sake, Bruce, would it kill you to call me Amy just once?"

Something about the way she snaps makes me think about it. "Judge Grey…I think I know enough about society to know you just don't go back after insulting the hostess."

"Well, the hostess is also supposed to be courteous to guests and that's not happening." She reaches to grab my hand. "Bruce…please….stay."

I look at her hand and then up at her. There's a long moment of us standing there. And then she leans up and I lean down and we kiss right in the middle of the foyer. No build-up, no real reason, just that kiss.

I know it's wrong. I know it's wrong on so many levels. But it feels so right too. Maybe there was a reason to come here tonight after all.