Chapter 12

Happy Birthday, Emily

A tall, thin man dressed in an impeccable dark grey suit wove his way through the elegant restaurant. Rich, deep wood paneling was broken up by large picture windows that looked out on lush gardens. Each table was surrounded with oversized plush armchairs of deep burgundy. Upon reaching his destination, he bowed respectfully. "Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, I hope all is to your liking."

"Yes, Terrance, a superb meal as always," Richard replied.

"May I bring you anything else? Would you care for dessert or a cheese plate perhaps?" the captain offered.

Richard turned his gaze to his wife across the table from him. "My Dear?"

"I couldn't possibly eat another bite," she answered with a smile then turned to the man standing rigidly beside the table. "Wonderful as always, Terrance."

"I'm so glad. Please allow me to wish you the happiest of birthdays once again, Mrs. Gilmore,"

"Thank you, Terrance," she replied and with another bow the man was gone.

"So tell me My Dear, how have you enjoyed your birthday so far?" Richard asked with a gleam in his eye.

Emily leaned across the table and covered his hand with hers. "I've enjoyed it very much," she said tenderly, her voice low and intimate. "Thank you again for my beautiful gifts."

"There are more surprises to come," he teased as he turned her hand over on the table top and traced the inside of her wrist with the tip of his finger. "I still say you could have worn the bracelet and the earrings to lunch."

"You know that those pieces are much too formal for afternoon," she explained as she studied their hands on the table. Temporarily distracted, it took a moment for his other statement to sink in. "Just what do you have planned? All I know is that you said we were going out. I hope this secret of yours includes dinner since I've given the maid and the cook the night off."

Richard chuckled throatily at her complete lack of suspicion. "Well, I certainly don't plan to starve you, if that's what you're asking."

"I'm glad to hear it." She shifted her gaze away from his incredibly talented hands and looked up at him from under her lashes. "And just what do you have planned?" she flirted.

"I know how much you love the theatre," he replied.

"Yes…"

"I have secured us tickets to a very important opening tonight, so …" he gazed down at his watch then back at her, "I believe we had better be going. I want to be sure that you have ample opportunity to select a gown to wear with your new jewelry."

"Oh, you," Emily giggled and playfully pulled her hand away from his.

Richard rose then stepped around the table to pull her chair out for her.

"I don't know of any shows opening tonight," she remarked as she stood. "What is it?"

Taking her hand in his, he placed it on his arm as they walked through the restaurant. "Well you have been very busy, My Dear. Perhaps this one has just slipped by you, in which case it will be a surprise."

"Mom…" Rory called out, opening the front door. Pushing it open, she bent down to pick up her travel bag and dropped it inside by the door. "Mom…" she called again, getting no response. As she stopped in the small foyer, she heard what sounded like laughter and voices. Following the sounds around the living room into the kitchen, she found her mother.

Realizing who was sitting with her mother when the blondish woman turned around, Rory gasped. "Aunt Hope!"

"Rory!" Lorelai and Hope both exclaimed as Rory rushed to hug her aunt. Hope rose from her seat just as Rory's arms circled around her. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Does Grandma know you're here?"

"Oh my, look at you," Hope exclaimed, pulling back, yet holding onto Rory's hands as she looked her over. "The last time I saw you … you were just becoming a woman. Now, you're positively divine," she insisted.

"I don't know about that," Rory blushed, looking away shyly.

"She's divine, isn't she, Lorelai?" Hope asked, letting go of Rory as Lorelai stepped closer.

"I think so, but I'm pretty biased." Hugging her daughter tightly, Lorelai let the embrace linger. It had been quite a while since she'd been able to physically touch her daughter. And now that she was reminded of how great it was, she didn't want to let go.

"Uh… Mom…" Rory prodded. "I probably need to breathe sometime within the next thirty seconds…"

"Your Aunt Hope knows CPR. Just give me a minute here," Lorelai returned, still hugging Rory to her.

"CPR is for when the heart stops, Mom…" Rory smiled as Lorelai finally let go of her and stepped back. "I can't believe you're here!" she repeated, looking to Hope.

"It's a surprise for your grandmother," Hope explained.

"She doesn't know?" Rory's eyes got bigger. "She's going to flip."

Hope only smiled, the sparkle in her eyes saying all that needed to be said.

"You should have seen those two together when Grandma and I were in Paris. We went to this vineyard that is owned by one of Aunt Hope's neighbors. I don't think either of them stopped laughing for hours," Rory informed her mother. "I still say Grandma was more than just tipsy," she added turning to Hope.

"I know I was," she admitted with a laugh.

"Mom had too much to drink?" Lorelai asked, shaking her head and laughing.

"I can talk your mother into many things," Hope smiled.

"I hope that you use your powers for evil," Lorelai smiled, a dozen ideas forming in her mind for things the three of them could do together.

"Rory, your grandmother tells me that you've been very busy lately. I've been reading some of your articles. I can't follow American politics to save my life but it sounds fascinating," Hope stated.

"Yeah, we're really busy but I like it. I'm learning so much. And the experience is really great," Rory nodded. "I really hope that his campaign goes far so that I can stay on the road with him through November."

"With you writing those articles, he'll be our new president in no time," Lorelai grinned.

"I don't think I have anything to do with that," Rory laughed.

"You must be tired. You grandfather said you had a fundraiser in upstate New York this morning," Hope commented.

"Yes, let's get you unpacked," Lorelai suggested.

"Oh, I just brought one bag. But I would love a shower!" Rory admitted.

"Well, kiddo, you're in luck. I just so happen to have a bathroom equipped with one."

"Mom, do you have any panty hose?" Rory asked, walking into the bathroom where her mother was standing before the mirror, applying eye liner.

"You're going to wear panty hose?" she laughed.

"What is wrong with that?" Rory replied defensively.

"You're not eighty years old."

"Women under eighty wear panty hose," Rory insisted.

"Then find me one and get back to me on that," Lorelai teased.

"Do you have any or not?" she asked.

"Bottom drawer in the closet," Lorelai informed her.

"Thank you," Rory smiled, walking toward her mother's closet.

After Rory left the room, Lorelai dropped the eyeliner back into her make-up bag and reached for the hanger on the back of the bathroom door. Shimmying into her sapphire-blue silk gown, she slid her arm into the single shoulder dress. She zipped up the side and ran her hands over the ruched waist. Holding her breath, she turned and examined the dress from the side. The silk fabric hung loosely from her waist and stopped just below the knee, the lining giving the dress just enough pouf to look full-bodied yet elegant. Taking a deep breath, she looked down at dainty silver watch on her wrist. They had about twenty minutes to get to the Inn and start getting things in order. Richard had told her yesterday that he planned a seven o'clock arrival for Emily.

"You guys ready?" she called out, slipping into her tan-colored heels.

"Almost," Rory called back from the bedroom.

Lorelai flipped off the light and stepped out to find Rory struggling to get the back closure on her dress hooked.

"Can you help me?" she asked.

Walking over to her daughter, Lorelai hooked it in place and stepped back. "You look lovely," she smiled.

"Thanks," Rory smiled, looking down at the dress. It wasn't exactly her usual style, given that it was from her mother's closet. However, it was fit for the purpose. The dress was made of silky chiffon with a rounded neckline of clear and silver-tone beads. It had a keyhole bodice, ruched waist, and a full skirt and looked like it could have come straight from a 'pretty in pink' advertisement.

Following Rory down the stairs, they met Hope just as she stepped into the living room. "Wow," Hope gasped. "You both look stunning."

"Us?" Lorelai scoffed. "Have you looked in a mirror?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Hope asked, looking down at her gown. Tiny fabric-covered buttons closed the Mandarin-collared jacket. Underneath, the elegant, floor-length skirt showed off her slim form and the rich burgundy wine color of the gown was the perfect complement to her blondish hair that was pulled back in a neat bun, held in place by a thin headband. "I don't know why I suddenly feel a bit nervous. Your mother was always the most impeccable dresser in the family. We used to go to parties and no one even bothered to look at me. They were all staring at her."

"Nothing is wrong," Lorelai corrected. "You look amazing."

"You think so?" Hope asked. "This was the first gown I saw. It fit, so I took it."

"Are you sure that you are related to my mother?" Lorelai asked.

Hope laughed. "You know I am not a fan of clothes shopping," Hope reminded her. "Don't you remember that day I spent nine hours shopping in Paris with your mother so that you could go off with … what was his name? Jean-Luc?"

Lorelai laughed, the memory bringing smile to her face. "Jean-Pierre," she remembered. "He was so hot," she sighed.

"Mom had a hot French boyfriend?" Rory piped up.

"He wasn't my boyfriend," Lorelai corrected.

"He was the son of one of my neighbors. He offered to show Lorelai around Paris. But Emily wanted her to go to some art gallery with us." With a mischievous grin Hope added, "You still owe me by the way."

"So, how did you get Grandma to let you go?" Rory asked.

"She didn't. I kept your grandmother out all day long so that she could spend the day with him. And Gerard took Richard to some vineyard and by the time we all got home, Lorelai looked like she'd spent all day in the house, doing her homework."

"Grandma and Grandpa actually bought that you spent all day reading … in Paris?"

Lorelai shrugged. "I was like thirteen. I hadn't met your father yet and turned completely wild and unruly." The memory made her laugh once again. "We should get going. Dad will kill me if Mom is there before we are."

"We've got like two hours before Grandma will arrive," Rory argued.

"We might run into traffic," Lorelai explained.

"Ok, it's official. You've been spending way too much time around Grandma."

Richard was a bundle of nervous energy. After arriving home from their late lunch, he had used work as an excuse to retreat to his study for fear of giving anything away. He'd gone upstairs to shower and dress about an hour ago, careful to avoid Emily as much as possible. Luckily she was focused on fixing her hair and make-up and didn't seem to notice. Finally he left the room about twenty minutes ago and was now prowling aimlessly around the first floor and watching the clock. He planned to go back upstairs at exactly five after six. They would need to leave at precisely six twenty-two since he'd told Lorelai they would arrive at the Dragonfly at exactly seven o'clock.

It felt like he'd spent more time in the last twenty four hours watching the clock than he had since the night Emily went into labor with Lorelai. Finally the hands of the large grandfather clock moved the last tick to land on the Roman numeral I and he headed for the stairs.

When he reached their bedroom, Emily was just walking out of the dressing room, both hands to her ear as she secured one diamond stud in place. She took his breath away. The midnight blue of her dress was the perfect backdrop to the diamond bracelet and earrings he'd given her early this morning. It was cut to her shape perfectly, the bodice modestly following her curves and the skirt flared out slightly over her hips and down to the floor. Her shoulders and arms were covered, but deliciously revealed by a sheer fabric in the same shade. Her hair was softly pulled back on the sides in order to reveal the square cut diamonds sparkling on her ears.

Finally regaining his voice, he swept her with another long look from head to toe and back again. "Emily, you are a vision."

She briefly looked away from him, a beautiful blush rising in her cheeks. "Thank you." She quickly recovered and gave him the same appraising look he'd given her. His black tuxedo was set off with a navy blue silk vest, matching tie and pocket square. It went perfectly with her dress; he must have noticed what she had laid out to wear before dressing. "You look very dashing yourself. Think you could help me with this last button?" she asked turning away from him.

"Of course," he replied and quickly closed the distance between them. When he reached her, she held up the back of her hair with one hand and he took the opportunity to kiss just below her ear. Ignoring the button for the moment, he placed his hands on her hips and murmured softly. "Perhaps we should forget the theatre and stay home tonight instead."

Leaning back against him for a moment, Emily enjoyed the feel of his warm kisses as they traveled down her neck. Then she used her free hands to gently lift his away from her. "Not tonight. I want to see what this mystery play is that you're taking me to. Is it a musical?"

Reluctantly he stepped back from her and lifted his hands to the button that closed the top of her dress. "Yes, I believe it is. Now, my beautiful birthday girl. We need to be going."

She let go of her hair and turned to face him as she gestured to the door. "Then let's go."

Richard smiled and picked up the small matching clutch that she'd left lying on the bed and handed it to her as they walked out of the room.

At the Inn, Lorelai was swamped with the last minute details. Standing in the doorway between the sitting area and the dining room, she looked over her checklist. Everything seemed in order, but she was determined that there would not be a single hitch tonight. She glanced across the room to where Rory and Hope were talking to the young men setting up one of the bar stations and smiled, then called Rory over. Hope came with her. "Rory, will you go make sure the cake was picked up from Sookie's and ask Chef Andy if everything's on schedule?"

"You know, I've never met this Chef Andy. Isn't he going to resent someone he doesn't even know checking up on him?" she asked meekly.

"Nah, he's a great guy. Tell him who you are. He'll be fine with it." Lorelai turned her daughter around by the shoulders and gave her a gentle push in the direction of the kitchen.

"Anything you'd like me to do?" Hope offered.

"Actually, if you don't mind, would you see if everything looks okay in the dining room? You know Mom and how she likes things," Lorelai said with a smile. "Make sure the candle sticks are all the same distance from the centerpieces and stuff like that. She'd spot it in a second if anything were out of place."

"I still can't believe you actually got her to make all the plans for her own party and she doesn't even know it. You know she's going to kill you later," Hope laughed.

"I'm counting on you to find me a safe house in France," Lorelai replied.

"Done." Hope smiled at Lorelai then began her walk through of the dining room, admiring not for the first time her sister's ability to devise an elegant and sophisticated theme for the room. The iris centerpieces were particularly lovely, the perfect complement to the deep blue linens and sparkling crystal in the candlesticks and other glass pieces.

Lorelai herself went outside now that it was dark to make sure the new lighting scheme they'd had installed earlier in the week was working properly. Another of her mother's ideas that was simply perfect, she mused with a shake of her head. Outdoor lighting had been installed to illuminate all the trees and some of the flowering bushes from below. All the pathways were lined with small lantern style lights on iron hooks that went into the ground. It gave the landscaping a stately feel for evening functions like these. Even the barn had gotten new carriage lights. Thankful that everything seemed in order outside, she headed back in. The guests would be arriving in about half an hour.

"Hope?" a male voice asked, placing a hand on her shoulder as she slowly turned around.

"Robert Sutton," she smiled, "I can't believe you still live around here."

"I can't believe you look as wonderful as you do after forty years." Hope laughed politely. "It must be all that fine wine and the wonderful French countryside," he teased.

"How have you been?" she asked. "Emily told me you got married a few years ago."

"Yes," he smiled, "she's a lovely woman. I'm sure she's around here somewhere." Bob glanced around the room, spotting his wife's bright fuchsia-colored, strapless silk dress immediately in the crowd but deciding to remain quiet. "I heard about Gerard. I'm sorry. He seemed like a very nice man."

"He was indeed," Hope nodded, the mention of her late husband still bringing a wave of sadness to her heart even five years later.

"You haven't remarried?" Bob asked.

"No," Hope replied quickly. "I can't imagine remarrying."

"That's what I thought when Minnie and I divorced," he replied. "But then I met Sandy and I just had to marry her."

"I'm glad you're doing so well," she smiled politely. Seeing him reminded her of why they had broken up in high school. Both of their families had been keen on the match, hoping that the two of them would hit it off and perhaps announce an engagement. Yet at that point in her life she hadn't thought she'd ever marry. She had too many plans, too many things to accomplish on her own. But of course that was before she'd met Gerard and her whole outlook on life and men had changed. Once she'd met him nothing else mattered as long as they were together, even if it meant she had to follow him around the world. "Would you excuse me?" she asked, having to quickly walk away. The memories were just too much.

Walking to back of the ballroom, she slipped into the small area between the kitchen and the banquet hall. Her hand grasped the edge of her silken jacket and she took a deep breath.

"Aunt Hope …" came Rory's voice. She turned around and quickly composed herself, smiling at her great-niece. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, yes," Hope insisted. "I was just getting a little worried that we were running out of time. It is about ten minutes until seven o'clock. And your grandfather told me a dozen times that he would be here with your grandmother at exactly seven," she covered.

"Yeah, he said that to me a couple times, too," Rory laughed. "I figure we can hang out back here for now."

"That sounds like a good plan," Hope agreed.

"Yeah, and while we're waiting, you can tell me about your trip to Sudan last April. I'm thinking that maybe once this politics stuff is over, I'd like to do some international reporting. You know, work somewhere that people seem to have forgotten about."

"I think that is a wonderful idea, Rory. In fact, I have quite a few connections. I'd love to introduce you to some people."

"That would be great," Rory smiled.

"Yes. We'll have to get together after the elections, once you've figured out what you want to do next." They were both silent for a moment. "I just can't get over you being an adult, Rory. I still remember the first time Gerard and I met you. You were just this tiny little baby. Then we didn't see you again for seventeen years. I just … it's hard to believe how fast time has gone by. Your grandmother talks about you so much that I guess I just assume you are still the fifteen year old little girl she would talk about coming to dinner on Friday nights."

"Grandma told you about the dinners?" Rory asked.

"Of course she did. That was all she talked about. Every Saturday afternoon I would get a full report. She was so worried when you were graduating from high school that she wouldn't get to see you anymore. Even now that you are on the road and away from home, she stills talks endlessly about how bright you are and how wonderfully you're doing. She's very fond of you."

"I'm pretty fond of her, too," Rory agreed. "I just …" Rory hesitated for a moment but decided to continue, "has she talked about how things are going with her and Mom? Before I left, I tried to, you know, kinda do things that got them to bond and spend more time together. I didn't want them to drift apart without me here. And now that they're working together … "

"Your grandmother seems to be very happy," Hope informed her. "I can't speak for your mother but Emily honestly seems happier than she's been in a very long time."

"I'm glad," Rory smiled. "I was worried about them."

"Me too," Hope agreed. "Those two have always been so different that they never paid attention to how alike they actually are."

"You see it too?" Rory asked. Hope nodded. "I just … I hate that all of this is over me."

"Rory," Hope's voice grew more forceful, "you are most certainly not the cause of their problems."

"I just … I want them to be okay, you know?" Rory sighed.

"I do. I think they-"

At that moment, Lorelai stuck her head around a corner, announcing, "We've had a sighting."

"I wish we could see her face when she sees all of this," Hope sighed.

"Me too," Rory agreed wistfully.

"Well, if the two of you lived here, you would be regular guests and not surprises who have to hide in the kitchen," Lorelai reminded them before rushing off. "Now go!" she hissed back over her shoulder, shooing them toward the kitchen.

"It still seems silly to have to stop here," Emily remarked as Richard turned the silver Mercedes onto the private drive of the Dragonfly Inn.

"I already explained," he replied, hoping she wasn't growing suspicious now that the moment was finally here. "Lorelai was the one who secured the tickets for tonight and she didn't have a chance to bring them to me at the office."

"But why couldn't she have just given them to me yesterday?" she asked as the car came to a stop. The Inn was buzzing with the activity from the party. A valet opened Richard's door and he exited the car. "We just have to pick something up," he winked at the young man, "we won't be staying long."

The valet gave Richard an answering wink and nod, indicating that he knew who they were.

Richard then walked around to Emily's door and opened it, offering her his hand.

"We're just getting the tickets and we're leaving," Emily instructed as they climbed the stairs to the front door. "You are not to bother Lorelai with a bunch of needless small talk. She's very busy. We have an important party going on tonight."

Richard bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Thank goodness she wasn't looking directly at him. He managed a quick reply before reaching the door. "Yes, My Dear." He opened the door and Emily preceded him through the whole room, falling silent as they entered.

She looked around for her daughter and was surprised to see so many faces that she recognized. "What's going on?" she asked quietly.

Lorelai stepped into her mother's line of sight and smiled brightly. "Happy Birthday, Mom."

Richard watched as his wife opened her mouth to speak, her eyes ever widening as she saw more and more faces of her friends.

Several of them greeted her brightly, "Happy birthday, Emily." "Yes, Emily darling, happy birthday." "Happy Birthday."

"Natalie, Sylvia, Jean," Emily said quietly, the pieces starting to form a picture in her mind. She turned to her husband, "What have you done?"

Richard grinned from ear to ear. They'd actually accomplished it. She was in complete and total shock. He'd never seen her in such a state before and it was adorable. "Happy birthday, My Dear."

Emily turned to look at Lorelai who was smirking at her.

"Happy birthday, Mrs. Fritzen-Heimer," Lorelai said in a rush before breaking into laughter.

"Oh…my…God," Emily's hand flew to her mouth as the last of the pieces clicked into place and a bright smile sparkled in her eyes.

Thank you to our wonderful reviewers: RiskaSG, gilmorefan, Ann Y. Mous, ejl1, LorLukealways, Lilienprinzessin, DieHardJavaJunkie14, swimmerluver, Addicted to TV!!