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/DR's REALITIES AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN! NO HARM NO SUE!
Dialogue borrowed from 2.22 - I Can't Get Started
written by Amy Sherman-Palladino and John Stephens
directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino
motivations and intentions changed by me to suit the master plan.
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Chapter 47:
Take A Sad Song And Make It Better
The next morning, Lorelai walked into the kitchen in her pajamas, and sighed to her daughter, "Oh my God, I'm so tired," habitually Lorelai poured herself a cup of coffee. Her late night stroll took it's toll and really messed with her schedule, and due to the night air she might have caught a cold. The last thing she needed the week of Sookie's wedding was a stuffed up red nose.
Rory noticed the mug, and was surprised as Lorelai drank it nonchalantly while sitting down to read the paper. It was the first time Lorelai was so casual about coffee since this whole Luke separation began. In Rory's mind there was still hope, they weren't broken up yet, but with this new development she wasn't sure any more and didn't say anything. Rory reluctantly had left the party last night with Dean, but when she realized her mother hadn't come home yet, she had stayed up for Lorelai's return home. Rory fell asleep before she witnessed her mother's returned, having nightmares of Christopher dropping Lorelai off at the porch with a kiss, her dream mother had an air, not a glow per say, but she seemed lighter than she had in the last few weeks and Rory feared Christopher was the reason, before she spoke Rory had to remind herself those images were from a dream, she cautiously asked, "Hey Mom?"
"Yes, angel?" Lorelai responded as she settled at the kitchen table with the paper and the first cup of the day.
Rory didn't know how interrupt this new change in attitude with her mother or how buddy-buddy Lorelai and Chris were now, 'Mom, did you sleep with dad last night?', Rory got a stomachache just thinking about it. "Where'd this basket come from?"
Lorelai smiled at the thoughtful bloated basket, "Aw it's from my graduation, your dad sent it over, I was finally able to lug the ginormous thing home."
Rory feared Christopher's bribe was having its desired effect on her mother. Rory casually observed, "You got home late from Sookie's?"
"Yeah, I stayed to help her clean up a little," Lorelai mentioned absently, not wanting to rehash the decision of her thoughtful walk home. Then she excitedly slammed down the paper, "Hey, guess what? I know something you don't know."
"What?" Rory said guardedly.
"Okay, just remember, it's really wrong to gossip, unless it's true or just way too good not to tell everyone you see, whether you know them or not."
"Okay," Rory said hesitantly, not worried at all, she thought dryly in her head, "Got it, what is it?"
"Well, guess who's in the process of breaking up?"
Rory's stomach dropped, "Brad and Jen?" she said hopefully, wondering why her mother would relay her break-up in such a giddy way.
Lorelai gasped, "Bite your tongue."
Maybe it was a reverse psychology tactic; guess who's in the process of breaking up, well, certainly not me and Luke because we made up last night, that's why I got home so late, Rory asked with impatience "Then who?"
"Sherry and your dad."
"What?" It was as if someone punched Rory in the gut, dumped ice water down her spine, and set her cheeks on fire all at once. Lorelai was way too happy about the news.
"Yes," Lorelai smiled, not just any smile, a triumphant smile.
"Dad told you that?" Rory wanted to know if this was indeed fact or just speculation.
"Last night," Lorelai beamed, then saw how pale her daughter was, "Rory? What's the matter? I thought you'd be happy?"
"Happy?" Rory said, wanting to know the reason her mother was so happy about it.
"Well, yeah. Now we don't have to force a friendship, right? We don't have to pretend we like her? We won't have step-mommy dearest keeping Chris from us anymore."
"Us?" I'm the one that had to live through the world according to Sherry.
"Well, yeah, I mean granted I never met her but I'm sure if things continued with them we would have met eventually. I thought she was the reason you've been so mad at your dad lately?"
Rory clammed up, her mind frantically trying to think of what to do, "Is he…broken up about it, you know sad?"
"He seemed pretty cool about the whole thing…what's wrong?"
A tiny spark in Rory began to grow, "Well just… you were so mad at him before, now you are suddenly all buddy-buddy with him again?"
"Rory you were in a car accident! Nothing like tragedy to bring a family together."
"But he's confiding his break up in you…"
"I thought you wanted me and your dad to get along again, everything can get back to normal now, Sherry is history…"
This isn't normal, you and Luke are normal! "Not like… not like this!"
"Rory what are you talking about…"
Rory's face strewed up, but she dismissed, the anger still brewing inside her, "Nothing."
"Okay, if you don't say anything … I can't help," hoping that the sing song tone she adopted would egg Rory in to talking about what was really bothering her. Lorelai pulled something out of her pajama pocket and put it in her mouth.
Rory jumped on the innocent behavior, "Where'd you get that?"
"What?"
"The Jordan almond that you pulled out of your pajamas and ate," Rory interrogated, "Where did you get it?!"
"Hm, Santa Claus?" Lorelai supplied trying to diffuse her daughter's outburst.
"That's why I found tulle on the stairs leading up to your bedroom? It took me six hours to make those almond bundles, Mother!" Rory slammed her hands on the table and left in a huff, but it wasn't Jordan Almonds that had Rory upset. Rory ran out the front door in her jacket and lounge pants, forgetting that she had to get ready for school and a bus to catch.
Pushing the Jordan almond to the other side of her mouth, Lorelai called, "Rory? Rory?" not understanding why her daughter was upset, but Rory was already out the door.
Rory was in a brisk walk to the square. Most kids with estranged parents would love for their folks to miraculously get back together. So why was it that Rory saw her own father was the villain in this situation. Was it because Luke had become more of the hero in her eyes, more endeared to her than her own father? Luke was the champion in her story, A man who stepped up to be there for her when she needed him most, and as a result swept her mother off her feet and made Lorelai the happiest she had ever been.
Lorelai wouldn't even talk about Luke, or tell Rory what was said between them, not the night of the car accident, not the night of the graduation. What hateful hurtful things could two people so in love have exchanged to bring them to this? Jess was gone, Rory's arm was healed, Luke wanted to marry Lorelai, Lorelai was dreaming about marrying Luke, so why were they still apart?
Rory forcibly entered the diner, the bells above her head jingling hard, and got everyone's attention. Rory recognized no one, stray tourists and no names. So she felt safe in proceeding with her business with Luke.
"Hey Rory," Luke greeted cautiously, "Nice face you got there…" taking in her pajamas, "Everything alright?"
"Luke?" Rory managed evenly and politely.
Rory was a mix of sad and angry. "What?"
Rory went right up to the counter, "Can I talk to you…please?"
"Sure," Luke ushered her behind the curtain to the stair well and up to his apartment.
Rory had worked herself up into quite a state, now that her moment was here, she was nervous. How could she yell at Luke, Luke never yelled at her, but both her mother and Luke were being ridiculous and they had to get over whatever…"The place looks great," Rory casually offered, with a glower just below the surface.
"Rory what's the matter?"
Rory sighed, she turned to face Luke and just exploded, "I need to know if you and mom are going to get back together. Ever."
"Rory" Luke shook his head.
"Top of your head, ball park figure" Rory begged, "Another week, another month," she hesitantly revealed her worst fear, "… never?"
"Rory, things were said…" Luke took a deep breath to explain.
"And now the two of you aren't even talking at all; she hasn't come to the diner in weeks. I was there, at her bed side for the tears and the worst case of coffee withdrawal I've ever seen."
"Coffee withdrawal?"
Rory was exasperated, "She stopped drinking coffee because it made her think of you… and now…today out of nowhere she started drinking it again!! Do you know what that means!?!" Rory stressed; she didn't know if she should mention her concerns to Luke about Chris' wistful thinking, how chummy her parents were now and a possible ulterior motive, how Lorelai was back on the bean, possibly as a result of Christopher, "cheering her up", a sign that she may move on if Luke didn't get his ass in gear. It would only upset Luke to know Lorelai had been hanging out with Chris like old times, perhaps it would push Luke over the edge from even trying again. Or it could spur him to following Rory home with the ring he planned to propose with.
"And now?" Luke encouraged.
"Just… do you want to get back together with her?"
Luke tried again, "Rory things were said…"
Rory jumped in again, "So what? Forgive them, forget them, move on and get back on track," Rory begged, "If you don't act soon, it may be too late," Rory warned, she left before Luke could ask any more questions. She had to get back home and get ready for school anyway.
Luke couldn't pretend to not know what she was talking about. He had seen Chris and Lorelai together around town with Rory. Dancing in Lorelai's living room to Frank, even just last night, he was closing up and had a clear view of Sookie's house, and Lorelai and Chris talking on the porch, with a bottle of wine, causing Luke to get a beer of his own.
The sick feeling in his stomach doubled. He didn't feel like himself without Lorelai. Not only had he grown so used to her presence in his every day, but he had no one to yell at, no one to scold, no one to take care of, no one to love or to love him.
It was his own fault. If he had just shut up, forgiven her for the things she said during the accident, she admitted that she had been wrong about Jess; that should have been enough. Yet as soon as he got back from his fishing trip he heard the talk circulating about the car accident and Christopher's quick appearance in Stars Hollow. It was right, he was Rory's father, she should have been called, but apparently Luke's time away did more harm then good.
The thought of Lorelai with Christopher for all that time angered Luke. Lorelai had no doubt run to Chris when Luke pushed her away, was she with Christopher to spite Luke? To get back at Luke? She was merely proving Luke right but being with Chris.
Or worse yet; Nothing was going on and Luke ruined his best chance at happiness with the woman he loved over nothing. Luke resigned; Maybe Lorelai didn't really feel the same way that he did if she was able to move on so quickly, maybe it was just as well he didn't propose that night. Maybe she was always supposed to be with Christopher, and Luke was foolish to fight with their destiny. Maybe Luke was right all along, Lorelai and him should have never have crossed that friendship line.
Luke saw Rory make her way back across the square in her slippers. Rory was on his side; That was unexpected, nice and strange. Didn't she want her own parents back together? She may have been the only one rooting for him.
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The day before the wedding, Rory was in mission mode, and breezed through the inn's front door, poking her head into her mother's office, "Hey mom, grab Sookie I have something for to play for you guys."
Lorelai knew Rory was acting strangely since she had her cast removed, especially when Chris was around. Rory had been quiet during last nights Friday night dinner, but who was Lorelai to argue with a sudden good mood.
Sookie and Lorelai came into the dining room and Rory had already set up a CD player.
"Rory?" Sookie asked, "What's going on?"
"I found it, it's perfect!" holding up a CD case.
"Found what?" her mother asked.
"Sookie's Wedding March. Sit, sit," Rory hit play, and a cheerful band struck up. Sookie and Lorelai sat by the stereo, and listed as suddenly Frank Sinatra's voice filled the dining room.
For once in my life I've got someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long
For once unafraid I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know I'll be strong
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Someone warm like you
Would make my dreams come true
Sookie was smiling and swaying to the happy tune, but Rory looked at Lorelai pointedly during the song and her mother only glared back. Rory knew that Frank Sinatra only made Lorelai think of Luke and the lyrics were fitting too.
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like its hurt me before
For once I've got someone I know won't desert me
And I'm not alone anymore
Sookie gushed, "Oh My God, it's perfect. His voice has got that melodic quality, 'oh too bad I'm not single anymore, but it's all right cause I've got you Baby!' Oh, thank you Rory you saved the day…" Sookie hugged Rory. Over Sookie's shoulder, Rory saw Lorelai wore a sad frown, Rory recognized it, the song had its desired affect and reminded Lorelai of Luke.
For once I can say: this is mine you can't take it
As long as I've got love I know I can make it
For once in my life I've got someone who needs me
Lorelai quickly left the dining room as the love song played on and went to hide in her office. Rory was on her mother's heels once Sookie released her from the enthusiastic hug, "Mom!"
Lorelai turned sharply and bit into her daughter, "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I'm trying to help," Rory pleaded.
"By torturing me? Using Frank, against me, that is low!"
"Mom, Luke still loves you, I know he does. Just go to the diner, sort it all out …"
"Rory I have a lot to get done for tomorrow," Lorelai was flustered, "Just… just take Frank," pointing to the dining room where music was still playing, "and get out of here, go home!"
"You are sending me home? I was supposed to help you decorate tonight."
"I'll do it myself! If you keep pushing your luck, I'll… I'll ground you," Lorelai threatened.
"Ground me?" Rory almost laughed, "When have you ever grounded me?"
Mother and daughter started shouting over the classic standard in the lobby. "Well, maybe it's time I start! As a parent you are supposed to discipline to curb undesirable behavior!" Lorelai raised her voice, pointing in the direction of the dining room, "THIS is undesirable behavior!"
Rory shouted back, "Ground me for playing a song? Ground me for wanting you back together with Luke!"
"Rory maybe he doesn't want me anymore, did you ever think of that!" it was her worst fear vocalized.
"I don't believe that!"
"Well, some things you can't come back from, some things you can't take back; some things you can't fix or forgive!" Lorelai was on the verge of tears recalling Luke's exact words of what he thought of her.
"Mom…"
"I'm going for a walk, be gone when I get back!" Lorelai turned to leave not caring that Michel and a few guests had witnessed the blowout. As she sped through the lobby in her high heels, she could hear Frank as he crescendoed, getting one last dig in her as he filtered in from the dining room, almost following her, haunting her, taunting her…
For once I can say: this is mine you can't take it
Long as I've got love I know I can make it
For once in my life I've got someone
For once in my life I've found someone
For once in my life I've got someone who needs me
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Once Lorelai had sufficiently calmed down, she returned to find Rory and Frank had left, as requested. Lorelai felt bad, she had no right to shout, her daughter was sweetly trying to mend the gap between Luke and her, that didn't deserve being grounded over. Lorelai wasn't mad at Rory, she was mad at Luke.
After Michel left, Lorelai changed out of her business wear to while she decorated the inn by herself. Okay, having a fight with the daughter suddenly not such a good idea.
Before Lorelai became a flower fairy to spruce the inn and magically transform it for the impending nuptials, she went to check on Sookie in the kitchen.
"Hey," Sookie brightly greeted all a twitter for the big day, oblivious to the fight between mother and daughter since she had returned to the kitchen after the song, "I went with the sugared daffodils for the top tier. Let me tell you, they look great. Ooh, I've outdone myself this time."
"Well, it is your wedding, if you don't go all out for your own…" Lorelai thought of her Luke day dreams again, of Luke and her standing under the chuppah, then Lorelai cleared her throat to clear her head.
"Yeah, I'm so glad Rory found that song…"
"Yeah, great song," Lorelai quickly agreed, "Um, classic. What are you still doing here?"
"I just wanted to double-check everything for tomorrow. Don't worry, I'm done, everything's fine. I'm now going straight to bed."
"Your last night as a single woman," Lorelai said with a smile, but she thought of the many thousands of nights she'd have to spend alone now.
"Yup," so giddy she forgot to be sensitive to her friend's situation for a moment.
As always, Lorelai hid behind her smile, "Just think of it. As of tomorrow, you can start wearing cold cream to bed and stop shaving your legs." She's already got a man, Lorelai mirthlessly chuckled, thinking of her former man Luke "Go to sleep, See you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow?" but Sookie didn't leave just yet.
"What? Did you forget something?"
"Aw no, everything's fine but there is one thing I've been meaning to talk to you about, but well… you're so sensitive lately…"
"Yeah?" Lorelai wondered if maybe this was another set up about Luke, maybe he was coming to the wedding anyway, and Sookie was trying to prepare her.
Sookie pulled Lorelai to a secluded corner of the kitchen so she wouldn't have been over heard by the rest of the staff. "Well, Lorelai… you know I love you… I mean you are my best friend… and well, sometimes it's more like we are sisters than just friends…"
"Okay?" Lorelai couldn't figure out what Sookie was driving at.
"Well, umm, I know you are really …well sensitive lately with everything going on," Referring to Luke, "…but you know I want tomorrow to be perfect…and well I have to ask…"
"What Sookie?" Lorelai was tired of her babbling around the issue.
Sookie seemed to get more nervous about broaching her subject and for a few minutes didn't make sounds. Just twisted her mouth and bit her lip, "Umm how's your …dress fitting these days?"
"My dress?" Lorelai's brow furrowed.
"Yeah, you know your bridesmaid's dress, the one everyone will see you in."
"Fine?" Lorelai didn't follow where Sookie was going.
"Have you tried it on since the fitting?"
"You mean the fitting at my house, because I made them?"
"Yeah, is it … oh I don't know… snug in places?"
"What?" Lorelai was trying to figure out what Sookie trying to say, however it was Sookie, the possibilities were endless.
"Well, I didn't want to say anything with everything going on with Luke, but you look like you've …put on some weight," Sookie winced.
"SOOKIE!"
"I know I'm sorry!" Sookie quickly apologized.
"You wait till now, eighteen hours before the ceremony to tell me I'm fat?!"
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"Well, you are so concerned about my big butt waddling down the aisle; you don't want me to knock the flowers over? How about I just roll down the aisle instead?!"
Sookie defended herself with a squirmy shrug, "Well, it's just that I know you've been indulging on the Ben and Jerry's lately… and I was wondering how does the dress fit…is it too tight…can you breath…if you can't breathe then you will pass out during the ceremony and the minister will forget to pronounce us husband and wife then it's not official…"
"Sookie stop!"
"I know, I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound mean, I just…"
"Good night, Sookie…I'm going to finish decorating now…" Lorelai left the kitchen.
Unfortunately, Sookie was right; Lorelai had put on a few pounds thanks to Rory's insistence that she had a right to wallow, that ice cream would make her feel better, Rory also assured that Luke would come around and everything would be right again. However, the encouragement led Lorelai to sneaking more ice cream and sweets behind Rory's back, which led to Lorelai's jeans being a little snug now. Lorelai sometimes would let an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's soften so she could just stick a straw in the carton and slurp up the instant milkshake. Lorelai only hoped that for one day the dress would fit, she wouldn't pop a seam, then it could be a lifetime of sweat pants and hording cats for Lorelai.
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Later that night, Lorelai was decorating the lobby for the wedding reception, and Christopher snuck up behind her and startled her. "GAH!!" Lorelai cried, "Aw Jeez, don't do that! I could have strangled you with this ribbon."
Chris took in the fruits of her labors around the lobby, "Well, it looks like you've got Martha Stewart tied up with ribbon. Did you do all this?"
Lorelai had almost forgotten he was coming to the wedding she hadn't seen him all day, Thursday was so long ago and laughed at his joke, "Yeah, I did, all by my lonesome. How's it look?"
"It looks great."
"Well, for as tired as I feel, it should look fantastic! When did you get in?"
"Just before dinner, I checked in, ate dinner… then retired for the evening."
Lorelai nodded, "So, then what are you doing up?"
Chris innocently shrugged his shoulders; "Couldn't sleep. I sweet-talked the maid into leaving me about ten thousand pillow mints and then I proceeded to eat them all."
"Serves you right," she swatted at him for flirting with her staff, and then she plopped on one of the couches. "Oh God, I'm so exhausted,"
"Need some help?" Chris sat down with her.
"No, I'm almost done. I got up and went back to work just now, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," Chris said with a playful smirk.
"Oh, good, 'cause this is not the time to loaf." She had done enough loafing while she wallowed over Luke, now it was time to suck it up, rejoin the land of the living; maybe get wasted at the wedding, "I'm so happy for Sookie," she reminded herself, and told the story to Chris, "I mean, it's like a real live love story, and I saw it all happen. I mean, I hired Jackson. I watched them meet. I watched them have several bizarrely intense arguments over mustard greens. I watched them fall in love. I got to see it all. It was a nice show." Lorelai was drowsy, and she suddenly realized how close she and Chris were huddled up on the couch, "Hi," she almost laughed, searching his face. He had the same look when he filled her wine glass for her on Sookie's porch.
"Hi," Chris returned, then he leaned into Lorelai and kissed her.
At first it didn't register with Lorelai, she knew it was a kiss, and she knew she was kissing Christopher, and she knew that she had done that before with Christopher, a long, long time ago, but he had Sherry now or did he… they hadn't broken up yet, or had they? Lorelai hadn't seen him since Sookie's party. That didn't matter; Lorelai had Luke, well sort of, she was in love with a man who hated her. Would this be considered cheating? If Chris and Sherry were on the outs, and if she and Luke weren't… whatever they were anymore, was this just comfort in the arms of an old friend, or was this the final fulfillment of destiny, that looming expectation that everyone had been waiting for since 1984; Christopher and Lorelai finally together. She pulled away and had to ask him, "What was that?" still feeling drowsy and slow from all her decorating work and trying to process what just happened.
"I have no idea," Chris leaned in again since Lorelai hadn't smacked him or resisted the first kiss.
Lorelai put her hand on his cheek to push him away, she looked at him quizzically, "Chris," she tried pull away from his, "What are we doing?"
"One more time and maybe I'll have an explanation," Chris tightened his hold on Lorelai, to entice her to want to be closer to him, and his mouth met hers again.
Lorelai pulled away again, "This is not happening," she said in a painful whisper, already feeling a stinging in her eyes.
"I hope to God you're wrong," Chris was so eager he forced them together again, holding Lorelai in place with his hand in her hair, convinced he could win Lorelai over now. She was free, he was free, they could be together finally; he could make her forget all about her boyfriend and have her help him forget about Sherry; both falling into their old pattern from high school.
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"That was all God given talent."
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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...