Presenting … Lucas Danes?
By GilmoreGirl1979 (the Reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality FAN FICTION
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 SUBSTITUTE MY OWN! NO HARM NO SUE!
A/N: dialogue borrowed from 2.14 - It Should've Been...
FEATURED BETA: Localizy, Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I wish I could be…I can fly higher than an eagle cause you are the wind beneath my fan fictioning…
LUVZ: GO STEELERS!
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Chapter 29:
The Way It Is Ain't Always Easy
Lorelai and Rory were walking home from the grocery store where they were getting supplies for the upcoming movie night. "So let me get this straight, you made a mild suggestion, and Taylor in his insanity erected a 'Rory Curtain'?" confirmed Lorelai.
"Blech," Rory winced every time she thought of her name being used as a symbol for censorship.
"So you were the poster child of censorship. There is no small amount of irony in that considering you read everything. So it was basically everything was 'don't pay attention to the videos behind the curtain' like the Wizard of Oz, including the Wizard of OZ…"
Rory interjected, "Because the Wizard of Oz could be representing someone tripping on drugs, and Taylor didn't want the children to confuse it with the HBO's Oz."
"How could anyone…" Lorelai shook her head. "Anyway, okay, so this rash act left only Bambi and Dumbo, both of whom are naked I might like to point out to Taylor …" She said as the girls past Stars Hollow Video where they saw Taylor and Kirk struggling to remove the Rory curtain. "So why are they taking it down?"
"Jess pulled one for me," Rory smiled.
"Pulled what?"
"Well, he switched videos," Rory smiled.
"Really?"
"Do you remember Eddie Izzard: Dressed to Kill?"
"NO!" Lorelai had to smile.
"In the Bambi case."
"Wow, that is…" Brilliant, Lorelai tried to hide her snickers, "… just terrible."
"Awful," Rory sarcastically shook her head just as Kirk got hit in the head with the curtain rod that held up the Rory curtain.
Lorelai smiled, thinking Jess may not be so bad. Lorelai savored the information, trying to picture Taylor's face when he got his first complaint. "Well, I think a cross dressing Brit dropping the F-bomb will get Taylor a phone call or two. Hey, how do you know it was Jess?" Lorelai asked.
"He told me."
"When?"
"On the phone."
Lorelai's head shot toward her daughter, "When on the phone."
"A few nights ago, why?" Rory didn't see what the problem was.
"No reason," Lorelai tried to cover but she found the whole thing odd. "I just didn't know Jess had our number, is all."
"Well, Luke has our number it stands to reason that Jess would too."
"Well, I didn't know you and Jess were so friendly that you called each other."
"Am I not allowed to have friends call?"
"Of course, but well, I don't know, do you talk to him more than you do Dean?"
"Oh not this love triangle picnic thing again…."
"Rory I'm concerned."
"Mom, he's Luke's nephew, we are friendly," Rory shrugged. "We're practically family…" Rory knew she better not mention marriage specifically again, especially after Lorelai had freaked out after all the similarities between Luke and Grandpa.
"Just friends?"
"Just friends," Rory assured.
"And you don't have some secret bad boy attraction to him…"
"Mom, all of that 'bad boy, grudge against the world' has stopped. Luke has been good for Jess, that man of yours is a positive influence."
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Once home, Lorelai and Rory heard the phone ringing, Lorelai said pointedly, "You better hurry, it might be your best buddy Jess!"
Rory answered the ringing phone, "Hi, Dad!" She glanced at her mother who made a face that perfectly expressed her feelings towards the person at the other end of the phone.
"Hey, how did you know it was me," Chris teased.
"You're the only one who calls me on Wednesday," Rory replied as she left her mother in the kitchen to put away their supplies.
"What about that boyfriend of yours?" Chris asked.
"Oh, he calls me any day, cause I'm his girl."
"So kiddo, what's going on?"
"Not much. Just going to finish up my homework tonight. Oh last week we got to show Grandpa Stars Hollow, I think he thoroughly enjoyed it…"
"Aw, yeah? Well, since you got the tour fresh in your memory, how about spending some quality time with another parental unit?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I have some business bringing me to your neck of the woods and I thought we could hang over the weekend when I'm through."
"Sure we can hang, but you've already gotten the Stars Hollow tour."
"Hey, I haven't seen the stop light."
"The one and only stop light," Rory laughed. "Actually, this Friday I have a debate at Chilton."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It starts at 3:30 and it's first come, first serve. They're expecting like 20,000 people so I'd get there early."
"Wow, Chilton up close, huh?"
"Yeah, it's your chance to see Paris in action. There might even be casualties."
"Well, I don't know with all that blood I may get sick. I've got a weak stomach, after all."
"I'll show you my locker."
"Well, how could I miss that!"
"Cool, so you'll be there?"
"I'll be there."
"So how are things there? How's Sherry?"
"Oh, uh, nothing much is going on here. Sherry is Sherry, she lives by her planner."
Then Lorelai came into Rory's room to borrow a sweater for her date with Luke causing Rory to ask, "Do you want to say hello to Mom?" Lorelai widened her eyes emphatically signaling that she didn't want to talk to Chris.
Fortunately, Chris couldn't see her and had somewhere else to be, "Uh, no, I can't, I actually I need to run. You say hello for me."
"Okay," Rory promised.
"Okay, I'll talk to you Wednesday. Bye Sweetie."
"Bye," Rory hung up then questioned her mother. "Why won't you talk to him?"
"Look, it's great that you two are getting along again, but I don't have to get along, okay. I don't have to try to make up with him or hang out with him or even like him anymore. I tried to be his friend for 17 years and I was ignored, so fine, I can take a hint. If he is on good terms with his kid, fine, but I don't have to do anything anymore."
"You're playing the bitter divorcee card?" Rory observed.
"I'm not bitter and we never got married, alright! It's just awkward, okay."
"But you were always such good friends before…"
"I know, but things change. You don't have to be friendly with everyone, not everyone stays on good terms forever. I mean, look at the Beatles, Paul and John made beautiful music... add Yuko then things got weird and they never spoke again."
"So who's Yoko? Luke or Sherry…"
"Who do you think?"
"Sherry?" Rory guessed.
"Exactly."
"So you're just never going to talk to my father ever again?"
"What are you talking about? The stork left you," Lorelai shot off sarcastically.
"Mom!"
"Rory, look I'm in a funk since he invited you to Christmas. I'm still pissed about how he acted when he barged in my house after the ball and said those horrible things to Luke and me. As far as I'm concerned, he's in Boston and I'm here, completely separate lives occasionally connected by your existence."
"Mom, you may be connected a little sooner then you hoped because, well Dad is coming"
"What?"
"Remember he said he wanted, you know, pal around time with me, so he's coming here to Stars Hollow for a visit. He's going to be at my debate…"
"What?"
"I invited him," Rory admitted.
"Aw Rory, Luke and I were going to go. It was going to be Luke's first official Chilton event and I wanted to hear him rant and rave about private schools, comparing them to the Hitler youth programs."
"We all can go together so we can all enjoy his rants…"
"Rory, you don't know how Luke gets when Chris is even mentioned. I mean he hides it really well around you, but I can tell. His face gets all tight, his fists clench, and that vein in his forehead starts going at the mere thought of Chris hurting you again."
"But Dad really does seem better now."
"Well, that doesn't erase the things he said to me after the ball and the things he said to Luke. Luke and I… we all are uncomfortable because of that night and what was said. Frankly, I don't…I just don't…" want him around …at all, messing things up again. Lorelai crossed her arms, getting the willies of the memories of the last time Chris came and the memories that flooded her on New Years in her old room while she was there with Luke.
"Mom it will be fine. But…" Rory was hesitant to ask her tiny favor since her mother was so sensitive to Chris' presence.
"But what?" Lorelai pounced. "If it's going to be so fine there are no buts."
"Well, there is the issue of accommodations…" Rory trailed off.
"What?"
"Well, he's coming by himself on business and I was wondering…"
Lorelai took a deep breath to steel her self for the favor her daughter was asking, although Lorelai had it worked out differently than Rory did. After all, Lorelai was Queen of the Hospitality business and she knew she could arrange the weekend her daughter wanted with a minimum of awkwardness for the three adults. Lorelai took the phone from her daughter and called the inn, "Hey Michel, it's Lorelai, I need you to look at the reservation book for next weekend."
Rory smiled thank you to her mother.
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After working out the awkward who's going to sleep where question, the only remaining issue was telling Luke about the weekend.
"Lorelai," Luke said, frustrated at the situation she was putting him in.
"Please Luke, you already said you would go!" Lorelai pleaded
"But he's going to be there."
"I know, I'm sorry, but you're the one that told her to give him a second chance."
"Well, he's her father," Luke grumbled again.
"You are my boyfriend and Rory invited you first. This was just a last minute thing. You know Rory, she can't be mean to anyone. Me, however, I have no problem with being mean, vindictive, or cutting people completely out of my life."
"Lorelai…"
"Luke, please don't make me suffer him by myself."
Luke frowned for a full minute, "Alright."
Lorelai jumped on him to hug him.
"But he's going to be in town the whole weekend, staying at your house."
"Don't worry, I've got that all worked out. If I have my way we will only see him Friday," she grinned at Luke and kissed him.
Just then Jess walked in and grimaced, "Aw Jeez, get a room."
"That's the idea," Lorelai giggled in Luke's ear.
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Luke, Lorelai and Sookie arrived at the Chilton auditorium well before the debate started and everyone started looking for Rory. Lorelai spotted her and called her over, "Hey, there you are. Where were you?"
"Oh, hi," Rory said annoyed.
"I thought we were going to meet by the vending machines for a little, uh, pre-debate nondairy snack." Lorelai noticed the mood right away and attempted to calm her daughter down.
"Yeah, sorry, Paris wanted to do a sound check and she found some problems with the acoustics in the room," she said, nodding over to where Paris was trying to move an entire row of people. "Better find a seat before she moves them all."
"Have fun."
"Thanks. I'm glad you came...all of you," Rory smiled at Luke in particular knowing he would be uncomfortable as soon as Christopher arrived.
"No, you're not!" Sookie argued.
"What?"
"I'm just getting you in the mood," Sookie teased.
"Okay…" Rory wondered if Sookie was even aware of the potential awkward situation they would all be in once the debate was over. As Rory walked away, the three adults found seats together, and as soon as Lorelai sat down next to Luke, she took his arm.
"What are you doing?" Luke asked.
"Hey, these walls are filled with divorcee fathers. I've been hit on here before, so I want to send a clear signal that I'm not available," she smiled up at him, with her chin on his shoulder.
Chris turned the corner from the hallway to enter the auditorium, smiling at the sight of Rory on the stage setting up in her blue Chilton uniform. Chris then scanned the crowd for Lorelai, hoping to snag a seat next to her when he saw the familiar brunette head; only her chin was resting on a man's shoulder as she was whispering something to him. Chris watched as Luke chuckled at Lorelai then kissed her.
"Is that clear enough?" Luke whispered to Lorelai.
"Cut it out you two, it's starting," Sookie warned.
A teacher stood at the podium, "If everybody could please take their seats, we'll begin. That includes all the members of the debate team."
Chris was quick to accommodate, finding a seat that offered a perfect view of Rory and of the happy couple to his right.
Mrs. O'Malley announced, "All right, the topic for today's debate is doctor-assisted suicide."
"That's pleasant," Sookie said to Luke and Lorelai on her right.
The teacher continued, "Let me introduce the debaters. On the Hillside Academy team, we have Brad Lankford and Nancy Waterford. On the Chilton team, we have Rory Gilmore and Paris Gellar."
Sookie and Lorelai began to cheer loudly over the serious and silent crowd, "Oww! Whoo! Oww!" They stopped when they realized they were the only ones and sat down as Sookie whispered, "Were we not supposed to do that?"
Luke leaned over, and said dryly, "Maybe no one noticed."
Luke leaned over to say something to Lorelai after her enthusiastic display and it was then that Chris got another good look at him. Of course, Chris got an eyeful catching Luke and Lorelai in bed together that night in November. It was an image he still tried to purge from his mind and he had little success with the task. Chris was surprised to see him without his trademark ball cap, but just happy they both had clothes on, though whatever reason they would be running around naked at a private school Chris didn't want to think about.
Chris recalled how in high school at assemblies, Lorelai and him would constantly wise crack their way through it or make out if they got a seat in the back. Now, Lorelai had someone new to cling to, someone new to joke with, and someone new to make out with. The moderator spoke up again and brought Chris out of his speculating.
Mrs. O'Malley continued, "Each team will have three minutes for their openings, three minutes for rebuttals, and two minutes for their conclusions. They will be judged on the basis of content, strategy, and style. I will be the judge, along with Mrs. Gladstone. We will choose which team will take the pro or con side with the toss of a coin. A member of Hillside will make the call."
A nervous boy seemed afraid of upsetting Paris in any way and kept changing his mind, "Heads. No, tails, I mean tails!"
"Its heads," Mrs. O'Malley announced. "Chilton will pick pro or con."
"Pro assisted suicide," Paris chose of course.
"All right. Whenever you're ready, you may commence."
As Rory walked to the podium, she smiled at her mother, Luke, and Sookie, then focused on her task knowing she had to keep it snappy for Paris. She glanced at her note cards and while maintaining eye contact with the Judges began speaking, "There are many vantage points from which to consider doctor assisted suicide. Serious consideration draws from ethics, law, medical practices, philosophy, psychology, public policy and religion, all topics I plan to explore in the next two minutes and forty-six seconds…"
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Chris was astonished at how ruthless the infamous Paris could be; all of Rory's tales weren't exaggerations. Chris was surprised that nervous boy, Brad, didn't disintegrate under her harsh glares. Chris stood to let other people out of his row and was about to call out to Rory when he saw her run down the aisle to talk to her Mom, Sookie, and Luke.
Chris hesitantly approached the foursome and paused when he was within earshot watching Rory hug Lorelai.
"You were fantastic," Lorelai smiled.
"Thanks Mom."
Luke teased, "Yeah you were very convincing. I may want to kill my self tomorrow."
I wish you would! Chris grumbled to himself.
"Please don't, we need your coffee to survive," Rory chuckled as she hugged Luke, a gesture that stabbed Chris in the gut, Rory hugging the boyfriend. Then, Rory hugged Sookie too. "Thank you all for coming. When I saw you in the crowd, any nerves from Paris' pep talk were gone."
"This calls for a celebration!" Sookie insisted. "To the vending machines," she announced dramatically.
Rory suddenly made eye contact with Chris over Sookie's shoulder. "Dad! You came," Rory said as she walked over to him.
Rory's little group all turned to face him and he felt like someone shone a huge sore thumb spotlight on him, "Of course I did."
"Sorry," Rory shrugged. "I'm still getting used to it. I'm glad," she said as she hugged him. Chris couldn't help but briefly meet eyes with Lorelai over Rory's shoulder. She quickly looked away and took Luke's hand, who himself seemed fascinated by Rory's shoes, but gave Lorelai's hand a squeeze anyway.
"Lor," Chris nodded politely.
"Chris," Lorelai returned, though she wanted to call him "Chri" just to get even with him for his merciless abbreviating of her name since childhood.
"How about this girl of ours?" he asked, making sure everyone knew that he was the father.
"She is something else." Though what you had to do with it I'm still trying to figure out. Lorelai forced herself to be nice for the sake of Rory, who was beaming with pleasure that her long –absent father finally put in an appearance. "Chris, you remember Luke."
"Um yeah, nice to see you," with your clothes on, Chris pasted a fake smile on his face, while keeping his arm around Rory.
Luke nodded and forced a smile, while Lorelai quickly segued, "I'm sure I've told you all about Sookie."
Chris was his usual jovial self again, "Yes you have, so you are the famous Sookie."
"And you must be the famous Christopher."
"I hear you're the greatest chef after Alan Ducass."
Sookie's face fell, "After Alan Ducass? Who – who said after?"
Lorelai couldn't help but grin wickedly at what Chris had started and decided to leave him to it, "Um, will you excuse us for a minute? Rory just wanted Luke to look at her locker, you know, nothing worse than a sticking door when you only have a few minutes between classes. We'll be right back."
Chris sensed he was trapped and tried to change subjects, "So Rory was great, huh?"
"Brilliant. So, who said I was after Alan Ducass?"
Lorelai dragged Luke and Rory into the Hall, a safe distance around the corner from Chris in the auditorium.
Lorelai decided to check first with her daughter, "You okay?"
"Yeah, just well, I mean he showed up," Rory was still amazed.
Lorelai lamely shrugged, "Well, he said he would."
"I know, but I'm so used to him not being here I didn't even look for him in the crowd…"
Luke eased, "Well, that might have just distracted you anyway. Don't feel bad."
"He's here though, really here," Rory sounded so excited, and it was hard for the adults to be excited for her.
"I know," Lorelai tried to sound positive and encouraging.
Rory turned to Luke, "Thank you for convincing me to talk to him again." Rory hugged him again.
Luke smiled lamely at Lorelai and Rory, but knew his advice to Rory before was in the right as he could see how excited she was about her father's appearance.
"Hey, why don't you go ahead and save Chris from Sookie's interrogation," Lorelai suggested and Rory took off. "She's right you know, it's all your fault," she turned to Luke, who looked taken aback, "you're the reason she's so happy. You're the reason I'm so happy."
Luke said humbly, "Yeah well, he didn't look too happy."
"It's not your job to make him happy, the Gilmore girls are your only responsibility," Lorelai hugged Luke again.
"He does seem more civil now," Luke sighed.
"Guess what? We barely saw him and we survived phase one … now on to phase two." Lorelai leaned up and kissed Luke.
"It's really just more of an impression than something I probably actually heard," Chris babbled on, and saw Lorelai's heel suddenly appear in the hall. It was hovering about a foot off the ground, and looked as if it had kick up because Lorelai and Luke were around the corner, doing God only knew what, though Chris had a really good idea.
Sookie persisted, "But maybe someone implied that I was after him?"
Lorelai had pulled Luke back into the auditorium clinging to his arm and with a straight face assured, "Oh, Sookie, stop. You know, you are the greatest chef in the world, bar none."
"Thanks," Sookie said heartfelt.
Though she stopped the interrogation, Lorelai had enjoyed watching Chris twist on the hook.
After the debate, Lorelai let Rory drive home with Chris in his Volvo, as she followed behind in her Jeep with Sookie and Luke.
After apparently dropping Luke and Sookie off somewhere, Lorelai was playing polite hostess since she hadn't gone over the accommodation arrangements with her guest, "Chris, I hope you don't mind the couch again…"
"Nah, that's fine I'm actually looking forward to this weekend," Chris was looking at Rory, but also thinking how close quarters with him and Lorelai would drive Luke crazy and Chris was fine with that. Luke and Sookie had disappeared and Chris hoped they would stay disappeared all weekend.
Suddenly from the far side of the couch, Lorelai pulled out a bag, "Well, you two crazy kids have fun and don't burn my house down."
"Bye Mom," Rory kissed her mother's cheek and Lorelai headed for the door.
"Wait, I thought we were watching a movie?" Chris said confused.
"Yeah, you two are. I'm going to a different location," Lorelai explained.
"Lorelai? Come on, can we just…" Chris couldn't believe the lengths she was willing to go to avoid being around him now.
"This weekend is supposed to be a 'focus on you guys' thing, I'd be in the way… Have fun."
After Lorelai left, Chris asked Rory, "Where is she going?"
"Phase two," Rory said simply.
"Of what?"
"Oh, she saved a room at the inn."
Chris shook his head, "Well, that was totally unnecessary."
"Well, she's still just…" Rory thought it better not to say.
"Well, there's no reason for her to banish herself… We are a family… of sorts…she doesn't have to be alone and exiled for two days."
"She's not alone," Rory said too quickly and tried to hide her wince from her father.
"What?"
"Oh umm well, Luke is waiting for her at the Inn."
"Ah," Chris tried not to react to the news that there would be two days of Luke and Lorelai alone… sharing a room… "Well, good… she won't be lonely."
The look on Chris' face concerned Rory, since it looked as if he was jealous of Lorelai with someone else… which was stupid when he had someone else himself. Rory hoped it was all her imagination, but decided to remind her father by asking, "So how's Sherry?"
"Aw, you know she's fine, busy, she likes her schedule," Chris offered quickly. "Umm where can I hang up my coat?"
"Closet or the foyer table works."
Chris went to the foyer table but tripped over something on the way, "Gah!"
"Dad? You okay?"
"Umm yeah what the…" he looked down to find an old green toolbox.
"Oh, that's Bert," Rory informed.
"Bert?" Chris furrowed his brow.
"Yeah," as she helped her father up, "um it's Luke's toolbox." Rory laughed lamely, wondering if this would only fuel her father's apparent jealousy. "Mom named it when Luke left it her one time and we couldn't lift it to return it, so he just keeps it here now since mom has so many projects around the house, but sometimes I think she… um you know… just likes to watch him work."
"Ah," Chris looked down at the evidence of the diner owner so embedded in their lives. "Okay, so I'm going to use the good bathroom, then we can decide dinner, okay?"
"Sure," Rory agreed.
Since she had a new favorite food at Al's thanks to Luke's introduction of crispy eggplant at the Chinese dinner with Richard, Chris and Rory ordered from Al's and decided to just try to talk and plan their day of fun in Stars Hollow.
Before bed that night Chris was using the good bathroom upstairs when he realized he forgot his mouthwash at home, so he peeked in the medicine cabinet to borrow some of Lorelai's and the contents of the cabinet disturbed him almost more then the thought of Luke and Lorelai alone at the inn.
The first thing to come to his attention was the fact that Lorelai's mouthwash was nearly gone, indicating that she was frequently in need of fresh, minty breath. Also there was an extra toothbrush, no doubt already claimed by the boyfriend, Luke. Next there was a man's razor and a can of Barbasol, which meant that Luke probably shaved more often at his ladylove's request. Great, I have to compete with a Barbasol man. It bothered Chris that there were so many manly items at Lorelai's house, on hand, ready to be used whenever Luke stayed over.
Chris tried to sleep, but his mind kept dwelling to the Inn and its weekend guests.
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Saturday morning
Chris got out of the shower, dried off, and dressed for his day of fun with Rory, trying to push away thoughts of what was in the cabinet again or if Luke had ever used that same shower, maybe with Lorelai. When Chris came downstairs he was not surprised to see Rory already nursing a mug of coffee and greeted his daughter, "Morning."
"Morning," Rory smiled, already reading the paper. "Was the couch alright?"
"Yeah, though after staring at the ceiling it seemed a shame that big bed upstairs was wasted."
"Well, Mom figured all things considered… that you wouldn't want to you know … be up there," and she didn't want you up there either.
"Right," Chris nodded fervently as he poured his own cup of coffee, an image of Luke and Lorelai from November, flashed in his head again. "I'm just going to throw my towel in the washer." Chris went to the back porch where the washer and dryer resided, and when he opened the washer door he was surprised to find it was already occupied. "What the?" he grabbed hold of a plaid patterned sleeve, and pulled out a flannel shirt, in fact he pulled out five. "Umm, Rory?" Chris called.
"What? It's not like my unmentionables, is it? ...Oh," Rory saw the shirts in her father's hands. "Umm sorry… I forgot about those," Rory winced, taking them from her father and putting them in the dryer.
"Luke's, I assume."
Rory's nerves over Chris' pining had Rory rambling, "Well yeah, technically, Luke's, but they are sort of mom's, well, they belong to both actually."
"Rory, don't hurt yourself," Chris leveled over her rambled explanation.
"Well, Mom likes to collect them… you know to… wear them when Luke …you know, isn't around, but umm, well, I was trying to give them back to Luke and was washing them so they would be clean, you know…"
"You're…washing his shirts for him?"
"Well yeah," Rory shrugged. "I mean, Mom won't do it, she barely does her own laundry. I just thought it would be a… nice gesture."
"Nice gesture," Chris repeated, clearly picturing Lorelai sleeping in the flannel shirts Rory was now trying to hide. It also hurt that Rory would do something so thoughtful for Luke and Chris wasn't sure which bothered him more.
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Chris insisted that they go to the diner for lunch, since all he ever had from Luke's before was an interrupted meal with Lorelai and Rory last year. Jeez, was that a year ago? It seems like yesterday.
Rory went to go wash her hands and Chris wondered where the proprietor was, just in case he wanted to complain about spots on his silverware or if there was a cockroach or rat on his table.
Chris looked up at the counter to see some smug kid grinning at Rory as she left the bathroom.
When Rory came out, the kid called, "Heads up!" and threw a book at Rory. Chris rose out of his seat to rush to Rory's aid.
Rory reacted in time and caught the book, "You threw a book at my head?"
"I thought maybe you can explain what the hell this crazy woman is talking about."
Rory looked at what the book was, "Ah, the Fountainhead," and Rory detoured to talk with the kid at the counter.
The kid pointed emphatically, "This is your fault and you will pay,"
"Come on, commit to it one more time," Rory slid the book back across the counter, "and if it still is awful for you, I will make it up to you."
"I'm gonna hold you to that," Jess warned. "By the way, have you even picked up dear Ernest?"
Rory shied away, "Hey, it's been really hectic with school and I just had a debate yesterday where I had to argue pro on assisted suicide."
"Cheerful," Jess said dryly.
"Exactly, so pardon me if I don't pick up a book right away from an author who took matters into his own hands."
"Please, you take a book everywhere, but I suppose I can't be too mad."
"Oh really?" Rory seemed intrigued.
"Thanks to you, I have the apartment to myself for the weekend."
"You're welcome."
"Yeah, it's getting a little tight up there. My mom finally sent all my stuff and I had to hear Luke rant about how I've only been alive for 17 years, how could I have possibly accumulated so much stuff already then it morphed into materialism in America..."
"You learn to appreciate them and take them in stride. I've grown up on those rants."
"Like you've ever done anything for Luke to rant about."
"Hello, I am my mother's daughter, I drink coffee, eat burgers. I am practically her clone. However there is an incident regarding a funeral for a caterpillar that is mutually embarrassing to him and myself."
"Another time maybe you'll tell me," Jess smirked. "Well, still thank you for a weekend away from the love birds. Seeing them making eyes across the counter and flirting over coffee everyday was starting to make me physically ill, but next time, shoot for out of town. Luke keeps checking in to make sure I haven't torched the place."
"We'll see what we can do," Rory suddenly remembered her father. "Oh I've got company, my dad is visiting. Stop by later and say hi okay?"
"Sure," Jess nodded, toward the man who was staring at him so intently, then became distracted as the diner's phone rang. "One guess who that is," Jess said as he picked up the phone. "Hello, Luke." Rory giggled, as she started to walk away, hearing Jess talk to his uncle, "Well, I've memorized your ring… the place is fine…you know a little trust goes a long way…"
As Rory sat down at her father's table again, Chris asked, "When did you get a new boyfriend?"
"I didn't," Rory's brow furrowed.
"Aw, yeah what was all that 'love bird' business."
Rory looked at the counter and realized what Chris must have thought from what was said. "Oh well, he was just teasing about… um you know…Mom and Luke," almost annoyed how fate seemed to be rubbing the relationship in Chris' face.
"So Dean is still your boyfriend?" Chris thought he should check.
"Yeah," Rory nodded.
"So who is that?"
"That's Jess. He's just a friend," Rory said, slightly annoyed. It was bad enough Rory had her mother making ridiculous accusations, now her barely around father wanted to weigh in. "He's Luke's nephew."
The night of the ball suddenly made more sense to Chris now. Luke had came down to join the fray of the fight between Lorelai and Chris. Luke had called Jess then, and though Lorelai called him his nephew, there was that small part of Chris that believed it wasn't a nephew but some sinister part of Luke's life, but now there was the nephew before him.
The thought of fighting with Lorelai brought the memory of how angry Rory was that night, how she had given up on him ever being around. Chris now wanted to change the subject, hoping to find out what made her give him another chance, thinking maybe Lorelai talked him up. "Hey Rory, why did you … you know… come at Christmas…what made you give me another chance?"
Rory hoped she could have avoided that question, but answered honestly, "Well, Luke did."
"Luke?" Chris said incredulously. That name seemed to be the answer to every question that weekend. Is it Pee Wee's Secret word?
"Yeah, I mean, well I was really conflicted about our situation. I was at a crossroads with part of me wanted never to really talk to you again or have you in my life, but another part was like five and hoping my dad would finally come to my birthday party. Luke has always been there for me a lot of the time, more than you," Rory said shyly. "Well, we talked it out and, well, he convinced me to give you another chance."
"Really?" Chris was surprised.
"Yeah, you see Luke lost his father too, I mean, well he died, a few years ago. They were really close, and well I started wondering if something happened to you… I didn't want to… you know only have bad memories."
"Maybe next time I see Luke I should thank him," Chris said glumly.
"Yes, maybe you should. Now, Luke isn't cooking today, but we can have a close second if we convince Jess to cook."
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A/N: Barbasol, for REAL MEN lol, unlike sissy chrissy!
A/N: the way it is ain't always easy, the way it is aint always fair, now just because the way things are don't mean that I don't care, now I found someone who loves me and is wonderful with kids, no it's not the way I planned it, I hope you understand it, that's just the way it is.
A/N: I want you to know … that Localizy was kind enough to hold my hair as I was retching while writing Christopher eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww shutters. Anyone read book 6 of Harry Potter? It was like that one scene with Dumbledore and Harry!
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you NON POD 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...