Before moving on to the chapter, we feel that it is necessary to address a particular issue that seems to keep coming up. This is not an Emily/Richard story nor is it a Lorelai/Luke story. We are big fans of both couples (ok, one of us isn't a 'big' L/L fan but the other's JJ-ness makes up for it). Luke and Richard will remain prominent characters in the story but our focus and the theme of these stories has been and always will be Lorelai/Emily. In order to fully explore that dynamic, it necessitates delving into the L/L and E/R relationships. However, we just want to clarify that this is not solely an E/R story or a L/L story. It is an Emily/Lorelai story.

Chapter 2

Facing Off

"What time is it?" Lorelai asked, her voice groggy and scratchy as she rolled over in bed, burying her head beneath her pillow.

"It's only five," Luke whispered, "go back to sleep." Sliding from bed, he pulled on his boxer shorts and ran his hands over his face.

"Why do you get up so early?" Lorelai mumbled, pulling her arms over her head to hold the pillow in place.

"Go back to sleep," he repeated, moving to the bathroom.

Snatching the pillow from where it was held over her head, Lorelai plopped it down on Luke's now-empty side of the bed. "Ugh, great, I'm awake," she huffed. "I hate mornings," she growled, pushing the covers away and sliding her legs off the bed. Shuffling into the bathroom, she immediately winced at the bright light and absently reached out with her hand to turn it off.

"Hey!" Luke called out, his voice muffled. Lorelai squinted her watery eyes and looked over at Luke who was standing in front of the sink, bent over slightly as the water ran. "I'm trying to brush my teeth."

"Do it in the dark," Lorelai mumbled, walking over to the shower.

"You are the one who chose to get up," Luke argued, sliding over to turn the lights back on.

"Ack!" Lorelai grumbled, immediately moving her hands to cover her eyes.

Luke glanced over, finally getting a good look at her. Her pink pajama bottoms were wrinkled, as was her white long-sleeve top that had the word 'Juicy' written across the front in hot pink letters. Her hair was wild, to say the least, tangled and sticking out in every direction.

"I hate mornings," she grumbled.

"Then go back to bed," Luke insisted, turning on the water in the sink.

"I can't let my mother be the first one at work again," she mumbled, opening the shower door and turning on the water.

"Why not?" Luke shrugged, rinsing out the sink before shutting off the water.

"She's been there first every day this week. How does that make me look?" Lorelai questioned.

"Like someone who sleeps," Luke replied.

"I'm supposed to be the boss," Lorelai argued.

"Well, coming in when you want is a perk of the job, isn't it?" he countered.

Lorelai mumbled something incomprehensible, pulling her top over her head as Luke turned back to put his toothpaste in the side drawer. Discarding the rest of her clothes, Lorelai opened the shower door and stepped inside, emitting a loud "aaaahh," as the hot water flowed over her body.

Luke looked over at the clock on the wall. It was just a few minutes past five o'clock. The diner didn't open until six. It took about twenty minutes to get everything set up to open. And if Lorelai was awake, he could have her drive him by the diner instead of taking his usual walk. That meant he had a good fifteen minutes to spare. Dropping his toothbrush into the cup next to the sink, he quickly cleaned up the small mess he'd created, wiping down the counter with a hand towel.

Moving the few feet across to the shower, he dropped his boxers to the floor and pulled the door open. Seeing the soapy liquid Lorelai was rubbing into her hair, he grinned as she looked over at him, her eyes full of surprise. "Need some help with that?"

Lorelai grinned as Luke stepped behind her, his hands moving immediately to her hair. "I'm suddenly starting to like waking up early."

Lorelai walked into the diner, her purse over her arm. "Your order is almost ready," Luke called out to her, two plates in his hands as he rounded the counter.

"Thanks," Lorelai smiled.

"Lorelai!" Babette called out upon seeing her walking toward the counter. "Lorelai," she called again, motioning for her to come to the table.

"Hey guys," Lorelai greeted, walking up to the table in corner where Babette and Patty sat.

"Can you believe what happened last night?" Babette gasped.

"What do you mean?" Lorelai asked, confused.

"At the town meeting…" she added.

Lorelai shook her head and Patty piped up, "Oh yeah, she wasn't there."

"You weren't there?" Babette asked in shock. Lorelai shook her head and Babette looked to Patty for further confirmation. "She wasn't there? She missed it?"

"She did," Patty confirmed. "She missed the meeting."

"I can't believe she missed it," Babette stressed. "I mean… I was just sittin' there in shock. Morey and I both were. And she missed it?!"

"I know," Patty agreed. "I couldn't move for a while, sitting there watching it happen right before our eyes. It was like a train wreck."

"What was like a train wreck?" Lorelai asked.

"I can't believe she missed it," Babette reiterated, looking at Patty. "I kept thinkin' somebody was gonna do somethin' to stop 'em."

"Well, Taylor was no help at all," Patty added.

"No help for what?" Lorelai asked, looking between the two of them.

"Eh, he was afraid of 'em," Babette nodded.

"Afraid of who?" she asked again, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood in front of the table.

"I finally had to get up and snatch the gavel from his hand," Patty remembered.

"Yeah, but he didn't even seem to notice," Babette added with a shrug.

"No one did," Patty confirmed.

"Yeah, not until you got between 'em. Even then I thought West Side Tilly was about to hit ya."

"Why was she about to hit you?" Lorelai asked, looking at Patty who was still looking at Babette.

"She'd never dare," Patty insisted, lifting her nose a bit higher.

"Hey!" Lorelai injected, her voice a bit louder. "What happened last night?" she asked when they looked at her.

"Take a seat, suggah, this could take a while," Babette cooed as Lorelai slid into the empty chair next to Patty and dropped her purse to the floor.

"I can't believe you missed it," Patty added.

"Yeah, me too," Babette agreed.

Lorelai groaned, leaning back in her seat. "Missed what?"

"East Side Tilly and West Side Tilly had a face-off," Babette finally informed her.

"A face-off?" Lorelai breathed.

"Yeah. We were debating whether or not to use some of the money from property tax revenues to help Stars Hollow High offset some of the costs of the repairs they had to make after that big ice storm destroyed part of the roof," Patty explained.

"So, they disagreed about that?" Lorelai asked.

"No," Babette stated, "they were both fine with it. Actually, everyone was. The resolution passed."

"So, what caused the face-off?" Lorelai breathed, trying to keep her frustration in check.

"Well, after that vote we moved on to the issue of the Hay Bale Maze we did last year," Patty explained.

"And that's when they got into a fight?" she guessed.

"No," Patty chuckled. "Maryann Ministrom made a motion that we should do it in the fall instead of the spring."

"That sounds reasonable," Lorelai shrugged.

"Well, everyone but East Side Tilly agreed," Babette chimed in.

"Why didn't she agree?" Lorelai slid her chair forward and leaned her elbows on the table.

"She's allergic to hay. Claims she had to leave town that weekend. She thinks we should do a corn maze this year," Patty continued.

"Well, I suppose that is a compromise," Lorelai noted.

"Yeah, but West Side Tilly is allergic to corn," Patty stated.

"That's when all hell broke loose," Babette grinned. "West Side Tilly said East Side Tilly was being selfish. She said everyone loved the maze last year and we shouldn't change it. East Side Tilly then got up and said that she had as much a right to participate in events as everyone else and we shouldn't discriminate among people who have allergies," Babette rambled on.

"So, they fought over corn and hay?" Lorelai asked, needing confirmation that this was indeed about what she thought it was about.

"This went on for nearly ten minutes," Patty informed her.

"Patty had to step between 'em and break 'em up," Babette added. "West Side Tilly almost hit Patty."

"They fought over corn and hay?" Lorelai repeated.

"Yes," Patty confirmed. "They were both given a three month suspension from town meetings."

"Wow, that's harsh," Lorelai repeated. "Who suggested that?"

"I did," Luke spoke, placing a brown paper bag on the table next to Lorelai.

"Does this mean we have to now watch our backs in case the Tillies team up and want revenge on you? Are we going to have to join the Witness Protection Program and move to Alaska?" she grinned.

"The Witness Protection Program is for people who witness crimes," Luke informed her.

"Ah," Lorelai frowned. "So, we're not moving to Alaska?"

"No," Luke answered shortly, handing her the ticket for the food.

"Don't I get a discount for being engaged to the owner?" she smiled sweetly, looking up at Luke. "Or, I'm sure we could work out some other pay agreement…if ya know what I mean," she winked.

Luke eyed Patty and Babette who were both watching them closely, large smiles on their faces. "I'll take care of your lunch, but I'm not paying for Michel's. He still owes me for the four Cesar salads he ordered last month."

"Four?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah, he wanted one for himself and three for the dog."

"I don't know why I ask," Lorelai mumbled, opening her purse and fishing around for her wallet. Pulling out a twenty dollar bill, she handed it to Luke. "Keep the change," she smiled.

"How generous of you," Luke deadpanned, bending down slightly to kiss the top of her head before walking away.

"I should get back to work," Lorelai stated, reaching for the bag as she stood up. "Thanks for keeping me up to date on all the gossip, ladies."

"That's what we're here for, babe" Babette grinned.

"Ok, we just picked up the special tablecloths that the Montgomerys ordered. I think that's it," Lorelai smiled, sitting back against the plush leather seat of Emily's Jag.

"We have one more stop," Emily piped up, keeping her eyes on the road as she made a right turn.

"There's nothing left on the list," Lorelai confirmed, checking over it once again to see if she'd somehow missed something.

"I didn't write it down," Emily informed her, looking to the side and checking her mirrors before she changed lanes.

"Where do we have to go?" she asked.

"A bridal shop on Fifth and Pine," Emily replied.

"A bridal shop?" Lorelai questioned, turning to look at her mother.

"They are the only place that had the particular linen hand towels that Mandy's mother requested."

"She requested custom hand towels?" Emily nodded. "I guess if they are paying us as much money as they are, they can have whatever they want."

"Exactly," Emily smiled, steering the car into a spot in front of the store and shifting the gear into park. "Are you coming in?" she asked, unbuckling her seatbelt and looking over at Lorelai who remained in her seat.

"Why? You just have to pick them up," she argued.

"It might take a few minutes," Emily countered.

"So?" Lorelai shrugged.

"Just come inside," she insisted.

"Mom, I'm fine out here in the car," Lorelai argued, not wanting to go inside such a stuffy and pretentious place.

"I am not leaving you sitting in the car, Lorelai. It wouldn't look right."

Rolling her eyes, Lorelai unbuckled her seatbelt and exited the car, following her mother inside.

"Mrs. Gilmore!" exclaimed the buoyant redhead that emerged as soon as they walked in the door.

"Suzanne, how nice to see you," Emily smiled politely.

"You must be here for the hand towels. They're in the back."

"Wonderful," Emily declared, following the woman to the back of the store and leaving Lorelai standing uncomfortably in the doorway.

After a few moments, another woman appeared, smiling at Lorelai. "Please feel free to look around. We have dozens of catalogues in the back should you not find a gown out here that you like."

"Oh … no … I'm not … I'm just waiting for my mother," she informed the woman.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the woman apologized. "I noticed the ring on your hand and assumed you were here to look for a gown."

"No … I'm not … well, I am engaged but … well, I don't have a wedding gown yet either … but …thanks, I'll look around," Lorelai finally caved, deciding to just look around instead of trying to explain her situation to the woman. There was no way in hell she could afford any gown in this store. Wandering through the boutique, she looked at all the styles, none of them inspiring her or even sparking an interest. It was the same as all the other bridal shops she had been to before. She just couldn't find the right dress. She had the perfect dress before. Nothing was going to compare to that now.

"Excuse me," came the woman's voice again. "I know you said that you aren't looking but I just thought that …" Turning around, Lorelai found the woman holding a padded hanger with a silk and chiffon-covered gown suspended from it. "I just … well, we've had this gown for weeks now and you're the first person who has walked in that … well you immediately made me think of this gown. I … I know you said you weren't looking, but I just thought you might want to see it."

Lorelai remained silent as she gazed at the gown. It was … It was just … She swallowed and finally looked up at the woman. "I…" She couldn't seem to finish her thought.

"Lorelai," Emily called as she emerged from the back of the store. The sound of her mother's voice finally pulled Lorelai's attention away from the layers of silk, and the delicate stitching. Turning, she saw her mother, an attendant standing next to her holding a large brown box in her hands.

"Are you ready, Mom?" Lorelai asked, trying to make her voice sound as normal as possible.

"You're clearly in the middle of something…"

"No … no. I'm fine," she insisted.

"You aren't fine," Emily disagreed, a hint of a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "You've been staring mesmerized at that gown since I walked out here."

"It's just a nice gown, Mom, that's all," she stated nonchalantly, looking at the gown out of the corner of her eye.

"Try it on," Emily suggested.

"No, Mom." She shook her head. "No. I'll find a wedding dress on my own, all right? Let's just go."

"What will it hurt to just try it on?" Emily prodded.

"We're going to be late getting back to the Inn," Lorelai said, trying another tactic.

"We have more than enough time," Emily countered, "besides, Sookie is there today. Just try on the dress. It won't take more than ten minutes."

Sighing in defeat, Lorelai took the gown from the sales woman, following her to the rear of the store as Emily kept close behind.

Once inside the dressing room, she tossed her jeans aside. Reaching for the gown, she allowed herself to savor in the soft silkiness of the fabric. It felt as beautiful as it looked. Yet she didn't want to put it on. Somehow she knew it would be perfect. Perfect in every way but one: exorbitant the price tag.

"What is taking so long, Lorelai?" Emily's voice filled the room and Lorelai stepped into the dress just as her mother entered the confined changing area.

"Mom!" she protested, whirling around clutching the dress at waist level.

"Oh, come on, Lorelai. I breastfed you. Seeing you in a bra at nearly forty years old really isn't that big of a deal. Turn around," she instructed. "Turn around," she repeated when Lorelai didn't obey.

Reaching out to pull the bodice up, Lorelai slid her arms into the chiffon straps, wondering if the pearls adorning them were actually real. Emily stepped behind her, working on the buttons that lined the back of the dress and hid the zipper that ran partway up the back.

When the gown was finally in place, both women remained still, looking into the mirror. Emily stood behind her daughter, examining the reflection before her.

"Take it off," Lorelai suddenly demanded, her hands reaching behind her back in a blind search to find the zipper.

"Lorelai … what …" Emily asked, puzzled by her daughter's behavior.

"Get it off me," she demanded once again, more insistent.

"Stop it!" Emily hissed, pushing Lorelai's hands away as she undid the zipper and buttons quickly. "What is wrong with you?" she asked as Lorelai stepped away from her.

"You are what is wrong with me!" Lorelai shot back, becoming almost frantic. "I didn't want to try on the dress."

"Why not?" Emily demanded. "You clearly love it!"

"That's exactly it, Mom! It is the perfect gown." Lorelai struggled to keep the threatening tears of anger and frustration out of her voice.

"Then what is so wrong with trying it on?" Emily asked, confused by her daughter's outburst.

"What is wrong with it? Mom, hello! We're at one of the most expensive bridal shops in town. This gown probably costs more than the entire wedding!"

"So what?" Emily shrugged, still not seeing the problem.

"So what? Are you listening to me, Mother? I'm not you. I can't afford this dress. And I knew if I tried it on, that it would be perfect. And now every dress that I try on is going to be compared to this and I'm never going to find a dress. I might as well just wear that one I bought the first time," she sighed, plopping down on a nearby chair, emotionally drained and oblivious to the fact that she remained clad in only a bra and underwear.

Emily watched her daughter as she flopped into the chair, clearly distraught. "Let me buy the gown," she spoke softly.

"No," Lorelai responded quickly, holding the gown in her hands.

"Lorelai-"

"I said no, Mom," she responded more forcefully.

"Why won't you let me be a part of anything without a fight?" Emily finally asked. Lorelai looked up at her. "I know that you and Luke aren't like your father and I. You don't need a fancy wedding catered by the most expensive chef in Hartford. But don't you want this day to be perfect? You've been in love with this man for… God knows how long. … I saw the way the two of you looked at each other that time at Rory's sixteenth birthday party. You've never once looked at anyone else like that. Your father and I have resisted this relationship for years but … I just want you to have one perfect day, Lorelai. If this is the gown you want … let me buy it for you," It was more a request than a statement, yet another in the long line of attempts to feel like she was an important part of her daughter's life.

"I just don't want this to turn into some fancy, over-the-top wedding…"

"The gown and nothing else," Emily offered.

"You promise?" she prodded, beginning to come around to the idea. Emily nodded. "No house? No month-long honeymoon in Taipei? No swans floating in a lake while a twenty-piece orchestra plays a piece that was composed specially for Luke and I?"

Emily laughed before responding. "I promise."

"Ok," she finally agreed.

"Good," Emily smiled. "Put the gown back on and I'll have the seamstress come and see where it needs to be altered."

Lorelai stood up and walked back to where her mother had hung the dress as Emily stepped away. "Hey Mom…"

"Yes, Lorelai?" Emily turned around.

"Thanks."

Smiling, she nodded silently before slipping from the room to go in search of the shop owner.

After parking her car in the garage, Emily walked wearily into the house through the back entrance, not even bothering turn on the lights. She briefly turned toward the refrigerator, remembering that she hadn't eaten since lunch but decided that fixing something now was too much trouble, plus it wouldn't be good to eat right before going to bed. As she made her way toward the front of the house, she dropped her bag and keys on the round table in the music room and shrugged out of her jacket. Too tired to hang it up, she decided to just leave it there until morning.

"Emily." Richard's voice was the low, stern tone he used when he'd been brooding over something. Anger on a slow burn.

Momentarily startled to hear her husband call out to her, Emily slowly turned around. Richard was standing just past the doorway to his study, the only source of light coming from behind him. He stood illuminated in silhouette, a glass of something, probably scotch, in his hand.

"So nice of you to make sure the maid was here to welcome me home this evening," he spoke dryly.

Emily's rubbed her temples trying to ease the ache behind her eyes that was quickly turning into a major headache. "I'm sorry I wasn't here, but it really couldn't be helped." She dropped her hands back to her sides and squared her shoulders. "I've had a very long day and I'm exhausted. Do you think we could have this conversation in the morning?"

"Emily, I've been gone for three days," he stated. Clearly that was reason enough to continue this now.

"I'm well aware of the fact that you weren't here, Richard. If you recall, I packed your bags before you left," Emily countered.

"We were supposed to have dinner tonight and then speak to Rory," he reminded her.

"Oh, no, I forgot all about Rory's phone call." Emily was clearly disappointed. "There was a huge explosion tonight between the Montgomerys over the flowers for their daughter's wedding on Saturday and all of a sudden it was after ten o'clock. How is she?"

"She's fine, though I do wish you felt the same disappointment about missing our dinner."

Emily slowly walked over to her husband and looked into his eyes. "I am disappointed about missing our dinner and I'm very glad you're home."

Richard took hold of her upper arm with one hand and bent down, planting a soft kiss on her lips. Now that she had moved closer he could see the lines around her eyes, lines that only appeared when she was on the verge of exhaustion. "Go on up to bed. I'll be up in a few minutes."

She continued to hold his gaze a few seconds more seeing his love reflected there and hoping that even though she was worn out he could read the same in hers.

He gave her arm a gentle squeeze and then watched as she walked up the stairs.

Thanks to DieHardJavaJunkie14, LorLukeAlways, Myrandah, Aleta II Anon, lilienprinzessin, Ann Y. Mous, and RedheadLVR for the reviews. We appreciate that you all take the time to let us know what you think about the story!