Presenting … Lucas Danes?
By GilmoreGirl1979 (the Reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality FAN FICTION
Rating: let's say PG-13 with an ish?
R/R: yes please I love reviews, I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Friendly disclaimer: I REJECT ASP's REALITY and SUBSTITUE MY OWN! NO HARM, NO SUE! Sneaky Luke and Sneaky Lorelai with creeping music by Sam Philips sold separately.
LUVZ: I miss you!
FEATURED BETA: Localizy, thank you for putting up with my compulsive persnickety changes…for this crazy PUB. She's the DAVID BLAINE of BETAING…and she's all MINE… MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Localizy, What Can I Say…
No seriously go read localizy's fic what can I say…. read this first… then go to her's! (I'm cross promoting that way!)
A/N: in avoidance of the FINALE, we decided to treat you all with this MONSTER UPDATE!
you will be so overwhelmed you will forget all about the CRAP FOR CRAP! Courtesy of the Resistance! As Izy says, "for those that may not want to watch the drama of hell unfold; here are some distractions"
A/N: 2.14 - It Should've Been Lorelai / written by Daniel Palladino /directed by Lesli Linka Glatter
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Chapter 22:
Drowning in Boston Sherry
About an hour later, Luke and Lorelai arrived back in Stars Hollow. Luke drove the jeep back to Lorelai's house, much like he did the night of the ball. He took the keys out of the ignition, and turned to her in the seat, "You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just…" Lorelai sighed, "She's gone…"
"Only for a week," he tried to console her, still seeing the traces of tears from her out burst at the station. "Come on, let's do something, late dinner? Go in watch a movie?"
"No, I'll be alright," Lorelai insisted, "You have to get back to Jess."
"Lorelai…"
"I'm fine, really," she shifted over in the seat to kiss him. "I'll see you tomorrow," and she got out of the jeep to enter her empty house.
Luke got back to the diner, feeling guilty for leaving a sensitive Lorelai, he wanted to be there for her since it was the first time she was going to be truly alone in that house. When he came into the diner, Luke was surprised to find Jess behind the counter.
"What's going on?"
"What does it look like, I'm shutting down the coffee machines," his nephew scoffed cheekily.
"But you…"
"It's been dead, since it's after the holidays and cold out," Jess reasoned. Jess didn't know how to tell his uncle about his idea for the next week. Since it was just the two of them, it would make life easier on Luke and Luke always said that Jess could come to him and talk to him when something was bothering him. Jess had to admit, too, destroying Ringer guy's snowman with his uncle did give them a strange new friendship, and here he was straightening up and flying right for the holidays, considering his uncle's feeling. Rory had put him in his place a month back and it made sense; about being so pessimistic and being a burden to Luke and his reputation. Who knows, if Jess respected Luke's relationship with Lorelai, maybe Luke would treat him like an adult in return, so it was worth a try, even if it was uncomfortable, "Look, I know I didn't really get you anything for Christmas… I mean I was surprised you went to the trouble of, you know, getting me all those books. I mean… I took them…and said 'See ya later'. But uhh… well to make it up, I'd like to close the diner this week, so you stay with Lorelai."
"What?"
"Look, I know Rory is out of town this week and well, if you want… you can stay over with Lorelai."
"Jess… I can't just…"
"I'm a big boy, Luke, I can stay by myself. As long as you two are under wraps, not telling the town and all, you don't know when your next chance…to be alone is gonna come. Take advantage of it."
"But the town… it's gonna look funny me leaving Lorelai's place for a week"
"Please! You wake up at the butt crack of dawn anyway," seeing the disapproving look on Luke's face over his language, Jess rolled his eyes, and apologized. "Sorry. Look, if people see you so what… blame it on the mistletoe! Say you had too much eggnog. Just please, for pity's sake, by the time the snow melts just get it out there. But that's only my advice." From behind the counter Jess pulled out an over night bag, "Your favorite, jeans and flannel…but uhhh, you might want to pack some you know… boxers, I didn't feel comfortable going through your drawers."
Luke took the bag, "Thanks… for everything…and not going through my drawers."
Luke called Caesar from the apartment, and told him Jess would be covering the closing shifts for the next week, and that he only had to work three days. Luke took Jess up on his offer and added some boxers and any toiletries he might need, all while silently saying a prayer that nothing bad would happen that would cause him to lose this newfound trust with his nephew.
Together the reluctant uncle and nephew closed up together, put up the chairs for the night, and then went their separate ways.
"See ya in the morning," Jess called as he uncle went out the door, happy that he could play his music as loud as he wanted and settled in with the book Rory and Lorelai gave him for Christmas.
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Luke entered Lorelai's place, inwardly admonishing her for not locking the door…again.
"Who's there?" said a weak voice in the darkness. Luke turned on a light, to find Lorelai by the fire place brandishing the fireplace's poker, ready to strike her attacker, "Luke?"
"What's this? You're sitting in the dark?"
"It fit my mood," she scoffed, putting the poker back in the holder, wiping tears away, hoping he hadn't seen them.
"What happened? I thought you were fine," his tone telling her the reason he came back.
"I was… till I came in the house," Lorelai's voice cracked, and she rushed over to him, wanting to be in his arms receiving comfort like she did when they were at the train station. "It just hit me… this is the beginning… I mean… I'm gonna have to get used to this… in a few years she'll be at Harvard and she'll forget all about me."
"She won't forget about you…"
"Yes, she will."
"No, she won't." Luke led her over to the couch to sit down and Lorelai huddled up close to him, resting her head on his shoulder, "You and Rory are closer than I've ever seen anyone. Even closer than my dad and me were, and that is saying something…"
"I just… miss her already," Lorelai lifted her head to meet Luke's eyes, she saw it there again, the love, the devotion, the undying loyalty of the wonderful man before her. Lorelai was wondering if she should say it then, Luke, I love you, but it still didn't feel right, she was crying over her daughter, it was about Rory, not about them. If he says it… then I'll say it… but until then…
Luke broke the silence, "Well, um… well I was thinking… if you don't want to be in this empty house by yourself… I could… stay over…" he suggested.
"Stay over?" Lorelai's smiled twitched at the corners of her mouth.
"Yeah, I mean, Jess has proved to be… responsible the last few weeks…"
"He has?" thinking "responsible" and "Jess" sounded funny in the same sentence.
"Well, he's kept us under wraps hasn't he?"
"I suppose."
"So, he'll be at the diner, and while he's closing… we can go out on dates. And I'll …" not wanting to bee too forward, "sleep on the couch."
"No, you won't," and Lorelai pulled him up off the couch, "you are sleeping next to me… all week long…"
Luke smiled, "if you insist," and he kissed her, hoping the affection and time the two would spend together would make time go faster for her, so she wouldn't feel the loss of her daughter for too long.
Lorelai led him by the hand up the stairs and to her bedroom. She turned back to face him, cupping his face in her hands, "This is where it all started, isn't it?" she observed.
Being completely alone for the first time since the Bracebridge sleep over was intoxicating, and Luke and Lorelai decided to reenact their first night together, the night of the ball, minus the formal wear.
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After about an hour, Rory had to change trains in New Haven. She found a good place for dinner near the train station, and, due to her compulsive Internet research, she was curious about the Yale campus and wanted to explore it, but stayed at the station to make sure she got the transfer on the Boston line. Four hours after her dinner in New Haven, she was jolted awake by the train stopping in Boston.
When Rory got off the train, she saw Chris enthusiastically wave to her on the platform. From the moment she saw his face again, live and in person, Rory had flashes of the past. Times she and her mom tried to visit with Chris when Rory was young. The hope and havoc he caused when he came to Stars Hollow last spring, and lastly, the hurt of not showing up till after the ball in November. Unfortunately, the bad was dead even with the good, and suddenly, Rory wished Lorelai was there with her to make the visit easier.
Chris removed his arm from around the woman next to him to approach his daughter and give her a hug, "Hey Kiddo!"
"Hey …Dad," Rory gave him an awkward hug back, flashing a shy smile over his shoulder to whom she assumed was Sherry.
Sherry was quick to join in the hugging too, but Rory kept her arms to her sides during Sherry's hug, not sure if she should return the embrace, this being their first meeting.
Sherry seemed very bubbly and excited, "Oh I'm so happy to finally meet the famous Rory."
"Oh, I'm not so famous," she said humbly.
"Well, not yet anyway, your father tells me you want to be a journalist."
Rory was cautious and reserved, only having just met this woman, "Umm yeah that's the plan," she said politely.
"Well, let's get this stuff home and get you settled."
"Okay," Rory agreed, excited, but still having an uneasy feeling of spending a week with people she hardly knew.
Sherry pounced on with questions, "Did you have dinner yet?"
"Yeah, when I changed trains in New Haven."
"It's a pity they don't have a direct line, that way you could get to us faster and not have to sulk around a station for two hours. Well, I bet you're hungry again, I've heard about the famous eating machines," Sherry laughed, then frowned briefly at referencing Lorelai as well.
"Oh thanks, but I'm not hungry." Truth was Rory had nauseous, nervous knots over meeting Sherry and being away from her mom for so long in a new place, so she didn't want to risk getting sick.
"My Daughter? Not Hungry?" Chris bellowed.
"Dad!" Rory hissed, don't make a big deal.
"Aw come on," Sherry instigated. "I understand you like Indian food, and I did research on the best places in Boston!"
"Well, Okay."
"Perfect! We'll go to dinner and then you can settle in."
"Well I should really…" call my mom.
"Aw come on," Sherry repeated, parrot-like, "the bags will be fine in the trunk, we can chat over dinner!"
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Lorelai woke up suddenly and realized it was the middle of the night. She had just had a nightmare that Sherry had brain washed Rory, and Rory came back looking and dressing like Sherry. Granted she didn't know what Sherry was like, but Lorelai had do assume she was opposite herself.
After all, as Emily observed, it should have been Lorelai to get Christopher to straighten out, but something in Lorelai's personality wasn't conducive to that change. Whatever Lorelai was lacking, Sherry must have in spades, since she had enough power to change her long time friend for the better, but the question remained; what would Sherry do with a week alone and her daughter?
Lorelai heard a groan behind her, and felt an arm pulling her close to a warm body. She knew that warm body, it was the same body she had fallen for at Rory's coming out party, Luke. Tonight had been like that night, minus the fighting and misunderstandings of their first after glow; the house to themselves, free to explore their growing passion for the other, only this time they completed round three with no interruptions.
Lorelai took his hand and brought up close to her heart, playing with his fingers. She began to consider if she should give him a sleepy confession too. How she knew for certain he was the one she was supposed to be with, how much she loved, not only her Christmas presents, but him. Even with his deaf ears, she couldn't form the words.
"Hmm?" suddenly he woke up. "What are you doing?" Luke asked.
"Playing with your hand."
"Hmmm, okay," he said half asleep.
"Luke, do you realize we have the house to ourselves? For a week?" It was the first time she sounded really happy at the prospect, "We could have sex on the kitchen floor if we wanted… God, that puts me in the mood for When Harry Met Sally. We should watch that this week. I should explain the reference though… see Sally was talking to Harry…"
He couldn't help but wake up more with her yapping, "Hmm I've seen it?" Luke mumbled.
"Oh My God! We found a movie Luke Danes as already seen?" Lorelai teased.
"In theaters," he confirmed.
"In theaters?" she smiled.
"First run," Luke grinned.
"Wow," Lorelai was impressed; the she rolled over to face him, and stroked his stubble, "Thank you…"
"For what?"
"Being here so I won't have to… think about her being there… so I won't… be alone."
"You're welcome. And for the record, you do need constant supervision," Luke finished in a sexy husky tone, and pulled her close to start the affection up again.
"Hmmm I like the sound of that."
…But round four was interrupted when the phone rang.
Lorelai suddenly remembered and gasped, "That must be Rory!" She whipped off the covers, found her robe, then the phone in that order, not wanting to talk to her daughter naked. "Rory!"
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Rory had finally gotten to her dad's apartment, and started to unpack while dialing home.
"RORY!"
"Hey Mom! I have all my limbs. I didn't fall under the train once," finding comfort in someone who gets her obscure humor.
"YEY! So what took you so long? I expected you to arrive at like 9 and it's … Holy Crap, Its 11:30?" Lorelai's voice muffled for a second, "Luke, its 11:30."
"Oh, Luke's there with you?"
"Well, I was a little bummed without you so he's keeping me company…"
"Dirty!" Rory giggled.
"Although, if I had to guess I'd say he is sound asleep again."
"Very Dirty!" Rory raised an eyebrow, not needing any more detail on how Luke got so tired.
Lorelai took the phone downstairs to make some coffee, "So…how was the greeting? How's the room? Why didn't you call when you first arrived?"
"Well, from the sound of it you were kinda busy."
"Details please," Lorelai insisted as she poured the grounds in the coffee filter.
"Well," Rory shut the door, "the rooms nice… the linens are fashionable and new… I have a dresser here and a closet…"
"They know you are coming back right?" Lorelai stopped her pouring of water into the coffee machine.
"Yes, mom, they will let me go as agreed upon. Oh, their dog is cute… but he keeps barking which should be fun come bed time."
"Oh God, what's his name?" Lorelai winced in anticipation.
"Scampers"
"Oh man," Lorelai had to giggle at the abysmal cutesy name. "Is he friendly?"
"Very, he jumps up on everything though, and as Sherry put it, 'we had to have him de-clawed, of course, or he'd wreak havoc on our hardwood floor'"
Lorelai actually felt sorry for the puppy, "Poor Scampers… what if he gets lost in the wild how is he gonna defend himself."
"Profusely biting?" Rory suggested.
"Well, was there…I don't know… tension…awkwardness? You know when you met them?"
Rory knew with her mom she could be totally honest and that is why she shut the door, "Well, it's a little weird hanging out with dad… but Sherry monopolizes a lot of my time."
"She's not trying to get fresh is she?"
"Gross!"
"Well, you are scaring me…" Lorelai raised her voice playfully.
"Well she does give lots of hugs and the hand on the shoulder…"
"Oh My God! She is trying to get fresh," Lorelai punctuated the point by pressing the brew button on the machine.
"I think…she's very much in bonding mode…"
"Oh?" Lorelai said trying to be indifferent, "How so?"
Rory sighed, uncomfortable with being so far from home and her mom, "Well, as soon as she saw me she hugged me and was reciting a bunch of Rory facts and tidbits she must have learned from dad…"
"Hmmm maybe she's had you followed? You do take the same path every day."
"Mom," Rory laughed, taking comfort in her mother's humor.
"Well, I'm just saying you are sort of predictable."
"Anyway, as soon as I got there they took me out for Indian…"
"Eeewwww" Lorelai grimaced.
"Well, she found out some how I liked it…"
"That's going for the gold though."
"Yeah… I better get to bed…we're going sight seeing tomorrow and then having a do-over Christmas in the evening."
"Oooo FUN!" Lorelai decided to let her daughter know, "Hey, if you are uncomfortable or if Sherry makes a pass at you… I want you to call me. I will drive there, pick you up, and get the best lawyer I can find! You think Johnny Cochran is available?"
"Night, I'll call you tomorrow. Get back to your man."
"Yes m'am!" Lorelai agreed and hung up.
Rory was just finishing her night time beauty rituals, moisturizing her face and arms, when Sherry burst in the room, "Oh sorry, I guess I should have knocked first. I'm so used to this room being empty…"
"It's okay I was almost done anyway…all that travel made me sleepy," hinting politely that she wanted her privacy back.
Sherry was eager for their every moment to be filled with conversation, "Umm, I got you some fresh towels and a wash cloth…" looking at the bottle of moisturizer Rory was using, "Oh I like this one too; it smells all fruity."
"Yeah, it does."
"All settled in?" Sherry continued.
"Umm yeah, I'm using the closet, ready for bed…" wondering if Sherry wanted to read her a bed time story and tuck her in, "Oh and I called my mom so she knows I got here safe."
That comment visibly diminished Sherry's sunshine, "Oh," and her face fell.
"What?" Rory asked, not knowing what she did to offend her attentive hostess.
"Oh, it's nothing…" Sherry turned on the 'happy light' again, "I mean… I know that you and your mom are close and all and I totally respect that… but…" Sherry trailed off for a moment, "Do you think you could … I don't know, not call her while you're here?"
"What?" Rory furrowed her brow at the strange request.
"Well it's just… I know she can be… well judgmental, especially in a situation like this…"
My mother? Judgmental? Mocking yes, but not judgmental…
"… and well I really want us to bond and I don't want her to distract you from that… or fill your head with awful little lies about me when she hasn't even met me herself. You are here to hang out with your dad and me. She has you the rest of the year… besides its good to take a break from each other now and then. I hardly talk to my mom and we're fine…"
Ummm sure… okay weird!
"I am so forcing myself in your life here that it's embarrassing, but that's how important it is. I mean, things are pretty serious for me and your dad… and who knows when this opportunity's gonna present itself again? So if you could just not call your mom for the week and enjoy Boston with us, that would just be super!"
Did I agree to anything?
"Well night, we're gonna get an early start if you want to see Bean town."
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Friday
At her dad's place Sherry was spending as much time as she could with Rory, as if making sure she wouldn't call her mom by being in her constant company. Rory picked up from Chris that usually Sherry had this anal schedule, always filled with lunch meetings, conference calls, or appointments with clients, however, for Rory's visit, Sherry took an unheard of week off of work to pal around with her dad. If Sherry did leave her and her dad alone, she was usually just in the kitchen 20 feet away making an elaborate dinner in Rory's honor, "I heard the way to your heart is through your stomach." At least the one on one time with Chris gave Rory a break from Sherry's compulsive questioning and bonding, but Rory didn't feel comfortable asking her dad if she could call Lorelai for fear it would get back to Sherry or that she would hurt her father's feelings.
The first day, they woke up early and Sherry made a large breakfast. Then on a full stomach, Chris and Sherry hiked with Rory all over Boston to museums and doing touristy things they never bothered to look at before even though they lived there. Now that they had a visitor and a day off, they could take in the sights for the first time with Rory. Sherry commented that this would be such a special memory for her always and she was glad she could share all this with Rory for the first time. With Sherry coordinating every moment there wasn't a real chance to pal around with her dad to fix their relationship, since Sherry was determined to establish one with Rory over night.
That evening was the 'do-over Christmas,' and the first gift Chris gave Rory was the Oxford dictionary he had promised her in the Spring and again at the ball, "It now has the word giggy in it!" This only made Rory think of the ball and Luke and her mom; how Luke presented her down the staircase and Chris had not. She thinking of how Luke had been there before, during, and after; how Chris had showed up late, as always. Even now on her trip Luke was with her, taking care of her mom while she was out of town and on the train to Boston she had been reading the copy of Emma he had given her. It's leathery smell made her think of first unwrapping it Christmas afternoon, with Luke there on the actually holiday, of hugging him for the gift and hugging him for always being there when Chris wasn't.
Rory opened her Christmas gift from her dad and she tried to smile at the bundle of CDs in her hand; "The Offspring?" flipping through CDs in her hands, hoping the next would be better than the previous, "The Offspring, The Offspring."
Chris looked so excited, "Those are their first three albums… I know you probably wouldn't have them considering your mom's strong feelings about a certain chord progression, but these are some awesome songs, and now we can share this together."
"Right," Rory smiled; little did Chris know Lorelai got the chord progression rant from Lane, the sophisticated music connoisseur. Rory thanked him politely for thinking of her, but knew he was trying too hard. Chris seemed to think that Rory and Lorelai were so close because Lorelai had years to brainwash Rory during those tender, malleable years. That may have been partially true, with the coffee dependency, but what made them so close now was they could honestly find enjoyment in similar things, while respecting their candid differences of opinion and taste. Lorelai was more flashy with her dress, Rory more conservative; Lorelai would rather watch a movie than read a book; Lorelai would rather be apart of the action and fun, Rory could be a contented observer, it was only through her mother's encouragement and coxing that Rory started to volunteer for the charity events in town. They had years to get used to each other, trust each other, and be honest with each other.
It seemed to Rory that Chris was forcing his tastes on her, thinking that was the way to bond with her, rather than taking the time to learn her established preferences. Sherry had the opposite problem, she was so desperate to create a bond with Rory that she was practically trying to physically become apart of Rory's being. She was offering diverse choices for meals, planning for any contingency, like if Rory was allergic to peanuts, or if she hated Greek food; Sherry would ramble off at a mile a minute as if the faster she talked the faster their sisterly bond would be established.
The longer Rory was with her, the more certain she was there was something off about Sherry. It could have been she was simply trying to hard, but it was kind of weird how she insisted on pretending this was Christmas morning, that they should open the gifts like children. She does realize I'm 17, right? Rory wondered what strange stepmother syndrome Sherry may have contracted and that made her miss her real mom all the more.
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Friday
Back in Stars Hollow, Luke and Lorelai were making the most of their alone time together in Lorelai's room.
"Luke?" Lorelai had to know between kisses, "Where's Jess?"
"Hmmm?" he was too busy savoring the scent of her hair as he held her close.
"Well, how is it you can be here with me in the middle of the day, leaving him unsupervised?"
"He's working at the diner. Caesar is in charge."
"…But for how long?" she posed in jest.
"Hmmm?" as he started kissing her neck.
"Well, Caesar isn't Julius Caesar, I get the feeling Jess doesn't exactly respect him… or anyone for that matter. How do you know he won't bail… and that the diner isn't burnt down already?"
"They both can handle it. Jess is… better, he's really trying to help out and offered to pitch in when I told him I was coming over to see you."
"So?" then Lorelai wondered if Jess knew Rory was out of town, "Luke?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Oh My God! How am I supposed to… relax… or concentrate on… you know that… when I know my daughter is off traipsing around Boston with that woman…and your nephew knows what we are doing?"
Luke didn't say another word, he merely handed her one of her homemade gift certificates he had in his pocket. Lorelai read it aloud, "No talking for a half hour… Luke! Now is not the time…"
"Do I have to get the duct tape?"
"Kinky…and good luck finding any in this house!" she wasn't in a playful, romantic mood anymore; thoughts of Rory with dastardly duo had invaded her thoughts.
"My tool box is just downstairs," he threatened.
"Luke!"
"Quiet," he put a finger to her lips, "lay down," he soothed.
"Lu…"
Luke now covered her entire mouth with his hand, "Duct tape," he repeated, "lay down," gesturing to the bed.
Lorelai rolled her eyes and silently complied.
"On your stomach."
With a pout she adjusted resting her chin on her forearms; I may not be able to talk but I can still think and scowl.
She was fuming, mad that she had told Rory about Chris' Boston invitation; mad that it would be the first New Year's without her daughter with her. She wanted to call Rory every moment she was away; wondering if Rory was having so much fun that she didn't think to call her own mother. She was speculating what the Boston trio was up to while she was mad at her boyfriend, who had began to knead and massage her back.
Hmm, this is what I need. The tension in her back melted away, as did her anger at Luke as he loving caressed and relaxed her. After a few minutes she was putty in his hands, "Hmm, Luke," she cooed.
"No talking," he playfully scolded in a low voice in her ear.
"Not event to tell you I'm enjoying myself?" she returned his tone.
"Quiet or I'll start the half hour over."
Lorelai rolled over, "That could get problematic… in a few minutes," she predicted, pecking at his lips.
As she suggested, it did. Soon Lorelai couldn't stand just to be touched. She had to be kissed, loved, and worshiped as only Luke could. Their hungry passion was free to come out and breathe again. Lorelai had hoped there would be more moments like this; it was truly the only way to distract her enough not to think about Boston.
Naked and with rumbled hair, all Lorelai could think about was how lucky she was to have Luke in her life, as not only her friend but also her fella.
Luke pulled away the covers to get out of bed, and Lorelai scoffed, "Where are you going? What you've had your way with me, you're gonna leave money on the dresser and leave? Who are you Wyatt Earp?"
"What?" He didn't get the reference, as usual.
"Luke, come here… I want to stay like this… when you're naked how can I possibly think about Boston… please…"
"Lorelai, your mother's thing is tonight…"
"Gah! Don't talk about my mother when I'm naked," pulling the sheet up to her chin.
"Still, she gave you those tickets…"
"She gave Rory those tickets…"
"And Rory gave them to you to use, and you twisted my arm saying it would be like a real date."
"I don't wanna go," Lorelai crossed her arms.
Now in a pair of boxers Luke sat down on her side of the bed, "Lorelai, remember when you told me about the tickets…"
"Maybe?" she pouted
"We had just finished dinner, Rory was packing, and you told me what happened with your mother and the tickets."
"Yes," she said glumly.
"And you also told me that no matter what, I had to force you to go…even if you tried to talk your way out of it."
"Well, Emily's out of town…how as she going to know…really?"
He continued as if she hadn't spoken, "Because…" and he quoted practically verbatim, "'…even though your mother is out of town she is a very well connected woman, and we have to at least put in an appearance so that her biddy friends can say they saw you there and you won't get a guilt trip about it.' Did I get all that?"
"Wow, you have a good memory…"
"So, I'm here to make you go…"
"…but it's a ballet…" Lorelai whined.
"…and I'd rather be watching football, however seeing as there is no football on Friday for me… and so you won't have to hear it from your mother, so I won't have to hear it from you about your mother… we're going… now get dressed."
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Lorelai was upstairs putting the finishing touches to her outfit.
Luke called up the stairs, "Lorelai, we're going to be late and then your mother will hear about that…"
"You really have an unhealthy fascination with my mother!"
"I just don't want to hear another Emily rant till next year if possible!" he shouted up the stairs again.
Then the door bell rang, and Lorelai groaned, "Luke, could you get that?"
"Lorelai, this isn't my house…"
"Please Luke… unless you want me to meet them at the door in my underwear…" It was an exaggeration, but Lorelai knew that would do the trick.
"Well, what am I gonna say… the town is not supposed to know…"
"Well, tell 'em we're going out as friends… Rory's gone and you wanted to cheer me up."
Luke shook his head as he dreaded opening the door, and when he did, his eyes went wide and his stomach dropped. "Mrs. Gilmore?" He instinctively looked up briefly at the mistletoe still hanging in the foyer and decided not to mention the tradition to Lorelai's mother, Emily.
Emily's eyes narrowed as she stepped into the foyer, "What are you doing here?"
"Who is it?" Lorelai asked as she put on her shoes as she walked down the stairs.
Luke could only stammer, "Umm well… it's ... your mother."
"My mother? My mother should be out of town by now…" and Lorelai turned the corner… "Uh, oh and there she is, my mother, out of town … I suppose… I mean that you are in Stars Hollow and not Hartford." Shut up Lorelai!
"What's going on here?" Emily asked coolly. Emily had come with good intentions. When she opened Lorelai's Christmas present she was pleased to find that it wasn't a shot glass chess set, it was a beautiful portrait of Lorelai and Rory, in the gowns they wore to the coming out. Granted, in typical Lorelai fashion the Frame was unsightly and eclectic, but Emily had already sent it off to be reframed in some ornate cherry wood or metal something… she couldn't remember what she picked, especially now with whatever was going on at her daughter's house with that diner man.
"Oh, well, actually Mom, we're heading out the door… to go to your… ballet thing…"
"The two of you?" Emily gestured between Luke and Lorelai. Emily had been so moved by the beautiful picture she was going to express her gratitude to her daughter and join her and Sookie to the ballet, as a member of the art council she was certain she could persuade the ticket office to let them all sit together. Now she discovers that she has a date with Luke, who has probably never heard of nor seen The Nutcracker in his life!
"Yes, and we really gotta motor if we're gonna make the curtain…" Lorelai tried to grab her purse from the foyer table.
"You mean you are kicking your mother out of your house?"
"Well, a lady named Emily Gilmore taught me that it was customary to call before dropping by, stopping in unannounced is considered rude."
"I … I wanted to thank you for the lovely portrait…"
"You couldn't do that over the phone?" Lorelai could feel that shooting pain behind her right eye.
"…And I find you here… with him."
"Jeez, I can't win with you. Mom, you gave us the tickets…you didn't want the tickets to go to waste…" the pain was now spreading to the other eye.
"I gave Rory the tickets."
"And she gave them to me."
"Because she was going to be out town," Emily shouted, "to be with Christopher, to be with that woman he met two seconds ago…She's gone off for who knows how long…"
"Mom, she'll be back in a week, she hasn't gone off, she's just visiting, and she and Sherry aren't starting a girl band, that's our plan."
Emily plowed through, "And now I see what you are doing with your new freedom, running around with your diner man."
Lorelai couldn't help but progressively raise her voice, "So what? Fine, Mom is that what you want to hear? Luke and I are dating! Okay? You happy, you have been proven right; I've been attracted to Luke all these years! Here's a gold star, you want know how long we've been dating? Huh? Since the ball. That very night, I came home and seduced Luke just to spite you and give you a stroke!"
"Lorelai there is not need to be crude… what on earth are you thinking of throwing your life a way…for this man."
"Hello mom! He can hear you, he is in the room! And I don't see it as throwing my life away! Luke is a good man, you are just too much of a snob to see it!"
"Fine, Lorelai prove me wrong; bring your…friend to our New Year's Eve party."
"What New Year's Eve party? You never have a New Year's party?"
"We are having one this year and since you are so fond of this man, since he is the one and you are so in love with him," Emily mocked with a sneer, "it's only fair that your father and I should meet him."
Lorelai tried to reign in her anger, "Mom we have plans..."
"Well, reschedule your plans," Emily said evenly, coldly.
"Fine, whatever… we have to go!"
"Then I'll see you next week. Good-bye Luke. If it's not too much trouble, try to shave," and Emily was out the door with a slam.
"GAH!" and Lorelai went to the couch, rubbing her palm against her forehead, trying to relieve the Emily headache. "Never once in our 33 year relationship has she ever had a New Year's party…"
Lorelai looked up at Luke who seemed to be keeping his distance, and Lorelai remembered some of the words that flew out at her mother, "Oh Luke…" she rose again to hug him. "I didn't mean that… whole seduction part… I mean… we just… that night was… beautiful and special… till Chris came and ruined everything…"
"I know, you were upset and… angry at her…and well at him too, at the time."
"I care about you… You mean so much to me… I'm not… I mean… this is serious for me…very serious…" she emphatically stated, say it Lorelai… Luke, I love you… I love you, Luke. Now, say it now… now…okay, now…
"This is… serious for me too," he replied, pulling her close, thinking of the words he confessed during the Bracebridge dinner, of the words he had personally engraved on the bottom of the base of her snow globe, an inscription that she had yet to notice.
Lorelai looked at the clock, "Looks like we're gonna miss the curtain."
"I didn't really want go anyway."
"We could order Chinese?"
"Holiday take out?" Luke questioned.
"Heck yeah! Al makes a special red and green egg drop soup."
"That sounds disgusting," Luke winced.
"Just disgusting enough to be absolutely fabulous!"
"So you wanna just stay in?" Luke rubbed the sides of her ribcage.
"Hmm and get naked," she enticed.
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Saturday
Luke was spent from their nightlong activity and was sleeping soundly beside her. She watched his chest rise and fall, savoring the quiet moment. She lay there wondering if Rory would ever be comfortable with this on a daily basis; wondering if they told the town today, could she wake up with like this with Luke always. However, there was Jess to consider, they probably couldn't make this a habit until one of them moved into a bigger place, or their teens went off to college.
My teen, Lorelai sighed. It had been over 24 hours since she heard from Rory. No updates, no venting, no complaining, no cries for mommy to pick her up. Maybe she is having a good time…with both of them.
Lorelai let Luke sleep and went downstairs for some coffee. As it brewed in the kitchen, she played with her perfect snow globe, resting an elbow on the mantle to watch the snowfall on the peaceful mini model of the town. Then, it hit her, a way to make up Luke's crap for crap Christmas present.
She threw on some clothes, turned off the coffee maker, and ran out the door.
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Luke woke up alone in Lorelai's bed, and then he realized the front door slamming is what woke him up. Lorelai burst into the bedroom, her hair in a messy ponytail, still wearing her jacket, "Oh good, you're up!"
"What the hell is going on?"
"I got you your present," and she handed him a blue gift bag with snowflakes all over it.
"What? You already got me a present."
"That was a lame gift. I mean, you can still use em, I won't deny their usefulness," she said with a suggestive wink, "but I wanted to get you something you will really like… I hope."
"Lorelai… you didn't have too."
"I wanted too, now it's still not up to par with your gift, but I think the next week of mind blowing sex will even us out again! Open it…" insistently shaking the gift back in his face, "oh you're still waking up, I'll open it…" and she pulled out a bundle of tissue paper, and unwrapped a series of VHS tapes, "Ta da!"
"What is this?"
In a proud presentation, Lorelai cycled through the videos on behalf of her boyfriend, "We have Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, Ricardo Montalban? Ear wigs? Need I say more; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, yes the one where the crew has to travel back in time to save the whales to save themselves! Environmentally friendly. And Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; Star Trek: Generations, where the old crew passes the torch to the new crew. I didn't know how you felt about next generation crew… so I …. Well I can get you that for your birthday…" when is your birthday?
"Lorelai … why?"
"Like I said my gift wasn't a real gift… and this is my way of saying I'm sorry…"
"Thank you," he smiled at her.
"Okay, so can you take the day off?"
"Why?"
"We have seven movies here, buddy! We gotta get started."
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Luke was convinced to take the entire weekend day off and enjoyed being cuddled on the couch with Lorelai for the day. He did call the diner between movies as Lorelai got more snacks and cued up the next film.
During the movies, Lorelai would flinch and bury her face in Luke's chest, comparing the earwig scene to a train wreck, that she was repulsed by it but couldn't look away. She started the Star Trek Movie Marathon was a way for her not to think about Rory not calling, but she would catch herself staring at the phone instead of the TV screen. Lorelai wasn't able to put it out of her head till she saw Spock swimming and communicating with the whales.
Lorelai woke up on the couch with Luke on Sunday afternoon; Lorelai insisted that they at least attempt to plow through the movies straight. Lorelai admired him, the man who loved her, deeply snoozing beside her. She rubbed Luke's chest and committed to memory the feeling of his arms around her.
However, her quiet reflections were disturbed when the ringing phone pierced her ears. Lorelai hesitantly answered the phone fearing it was Emily to yell at her some more, "Hello?" she said and reflexively winced.
"Mom?"
"Rory! Aww, honey! How are you? Is everything okay? I haven't heard from you in days!"
"Umm yeah... I'm better now… Umm, could you pick me up?" Rory asked, wondering if she should have completed the surprise return and called a cab.
"Of course! Where are you?"
"The train station…in Hartford."
"Hartford?" Lorelai's heart leapt with joy that she was in the same state with her daughter again, "What happened!"
"I'll tell you all about it in person; but please, pick me up I'm tired, since I snuck out really early to catch the train."
"I'm there!"
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A/N: I mean no offense to dogs named "Scampers" or their owners/parents. I just thought it was cutesy enough for Sherry. The dog was never mentioned again after the Christmas card. Maybe it died, 'cause sherry wasn't the maternal type.
WOAW … Insight!
A/N: Featured Refrain: HIM
Well I took a little ride
Through the pouring rain
To think about the casualties of your extremes
'Cause what you said
Ain't what you do
You know you live by the words you choose
Was it him?
Was it me?
Were his lies easier than my truth to believe?
Well I took a little walk
Through the driving rain
To catch my breath from your self inflicted change
'Cause what you said
Ain't what cha' do
I feel this storm will soon blanket you
Was it him?
Was it me?
Were his lies easier than my truth to believe?
Was it him?
Was it me?
Were his lies easier than my truth to believe?)
And the rain calms
Just like a bed of nails
And the rain calms
Just like a summer in hell
Was it him?
Was it me?
Were his lies easier than my truth to believe?
A/N: You all know how I like to get on my soap box (because I have the high ground) and rant… well I have another STATEMENT that we must make TOGETHER, A plea really.
On that impending day when the Season 6 DVDs come out… PLEASE I beg you, my crack whores, my minions, my casual readers…if you loved GG ever! DO NO BUY SEASON SIX OF GILMORE GIRLS
Reasons:
-Why would you want to shell out the dough to relive such an abysmal season, if necessary it will be syndicated in the fall I'm sure, watch it, if you HAVE TO, for free.
-Hit ASP/DP in the Royalties and DO NOT contribute to validating their HALF ASSED VINDICTIVE DRIBBLE
-IF you ABSOLUTELY MUST buy it to complete your collection… PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you have any love for me at all… please WAIT until Season 7 comes out (Buy season 7 FIRST then buy 6 a week later) … it won't go anywhere… it will still be there…
I want it to have the lowest preorder/first day sales of all the seasons…
Please be strong and make the STATEMENT with me… join the resistance!
I thank you for your time… my darling crack whores and fans
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you Luke!
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) At least one specific thing you liked
Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund...