Title: The Unknown Family
Summary: Richard and Emily's car broke down just outside of Stars Hollow. They couldn't get it fixed until the next day, so they decided to stay with their daughter and granddaughter, only to find a big surprise. Set in season 1, Pilot episode. After Rory got into Chilton, but before Lorelai asked for money from the Gilmore's. There are LL in it, but it's not focused on them. AU
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 2
Emily and Richard looked at her looking surprised. They were right, this was Lorelai's house. But then again, who was this boy? And why was he calling Lorelai mom? Who's his father? Is the sister they're talking about Rory? Those were the questions flooding Emily and Richard's head.
"Um…" Lorelai said nervously, walking down the remaining steps and standing next to Jess. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Our car broke down." Emily said quietly, still surprised. "We need a place to stay."
"Oh." not knowing else what to say, Lorelai turned to Jess. "Um…Jess, could you…could you go get my parents something to drink?"
"I'd really like to see this if you don't mind." he smirked.
Lorelai glared at him. "Jess. Now." she growled.
"Fine." he sighed. "Ruin all my fun." then turned to the Gilmore's. "Would you guys like something to drink?"
"Water would be fine." Richard choked.
Jess nodded and headed for the kitchen.
"Good luck getting those Hemingway you wanted." Lorelai whispered harshly as Jess walked by.
"Yeah, but it was so worth it." he smirked, then walked on ahead into the kitchen.
"So." Lorelai said, nervous, not knowing what to do. "Um…that was Jess."
"We know." Emily nodded.
"I uh…I adopted him." Lorelai explained, trying to stay calm.
"We see." Richard said, nodding as well. The two remained quiet, still in a state of shock of this whole situation.
"So um…" Lorelai cleared her throat, "Rory will be here soon. She's"
"Oh my god!" came a shriek from the foyer as the door opened. "I cannot believe you actually did that!" Rory said giggling. Seconds later, Rory appeared from the entry way, laughing like a maniac with Luke behind her, also laughing, both carrying plastic bags. "Mom, you will not believe what dad did…" her voice trailed off upon seeing her grandparents, who turned their heads and looked at them to see what all the commotion was about. "Grandma, grandpa." their laughter subsided. The four looked at each other wide eyed. Luke stood nervously, having never met the elder Gilmore's before. Emily and Richard were now sizing him up, and Rory was also nervous upon the Gilmore's
"Honey." Lorelai said, keeping up a positive font. "They're car broke down and now they need a place to stay."
"Oh." Rory said, looking at her grandparents. There was a moment of silence in the room. An awkward silence.
Luke decided to break it. He cleared his throat. "I'm gonna put these…" he gestured to the plastic bags. "Rory?"
"Oh." she realized. She turned and handed them to him. "Her you go da-" she stopped herself. "Luke." her voice cracked upon saying that. A look of hurt came across Luke's face but thought it was better this way. Rory looked up at Luke with a sad face, letting him know that she didn't like calling him by first name. She preferred calling him dad. Luke understood and took the bags and entered the kitchen.
Rory sighed and turned back to her grandparents. "So…" she said, walking next to her mom. Not knowing what else to say, "You guys look fancy."
"We just came back from an event in Litchfield." Richard replied.
"Oh." then another awkward silence.
This time, it was broken by Jess, coming out from the kitchen, carrying two glasses of water. He placed them in front of the elder Gilmore's. "I'll be in my room." he said before leaving.
"So you're car broke down?" Rory said in attempt to make small talk.
"Yes." Emily replied, taking a sip of her water. "Luckily our car had broken down just outside of here, and a good Samaritan, Andrew, helped us get out car to Gypsy's and took us here."
"Andrew?" Lorelai asked in surprised. "Andrew helped you?"
"Yes." Richard answered. "He found us on the road and helped us."
"Oh, that's nice of him." Lorelai said, making a mental note to kill Andrew the next time she see's him.
"Gypsy told us we needed a new battery for the car." Emily continued. "But unfortunately, she doesn't have the particular battery and it would take her until tomorrow to receive it and fix the car. So we are stuck here for the night."
"Oh. Well, I'll go call the inn and see if they have any rooms available." Lorelai said then turned to her daughter. "Hon, why don't you give your grandparents a tour of the house. Show them your room and your book collection?"
"Ok." Rory said. Lorelai excused herself and walked to the kitchen after grabbing the phone from the hallway desk. "So, this is the living room…" Rory began the tour.
Lorelai walked into the kitchen and found Luke preparing to cook. "Hey." she said, giving him a hug from behind.
Luke turned around and hugged her tightly, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "So how's it going out there?"
"Awkward." Lorelai mumbled, her face still buried on his chest. She just wants to stay like this forever. After a few seconds, Lorelai pulled her head back, but still holding on to him. "Their car broke down and it can't be fixed until tomorrow so they need a place to stay."
"Call the inn."
"That's what I'm doing right now."
The two finally pulled back. Luke gave her a kiss on the lips then continued to prepare his ingredients and materials for cooking while Lorelai was on the phone, calling the inn. "Michel?…it's Lorelai…your boss. Look, can you check something for me?…are there any rooms available?…no…no…just check Michel!… …what? are you sure?…alright…no…bye Michel." Lorelai hang up the phone with a sigh.
"Well?" Luke asked.
"There are no more rooms at the inn."
"What are we gonna do?"
"I don't know." she groaned. She walked up to him and placed her head on his chest again. He immediately enveloped her into a hug.
"You could drop them off in your jeep," Luke suggested, rubbing her back comfortingly.
"I can't." she groaned into his chest. "my jeep's broken remember?"
"I thought you were getting that fixed?"
Lorelai looked at him sheepishly. "I was waiting for you?" Luke rolled his eyes. "Besides, like I said, Gypsy's closed anyways. And you already said you can't fix it."
"I can drop them off," he offered. "though I don't know where they live and you sure as hell can't drive a stick. Nether can Rory, and I doubt they'd want Jess to drop them off."
"And I also doubt they'd want to get into your truck. no offense babe, but they're not really truck people. Specially my mom." then she let out a giggle. "That would be a sight. Emily Gilmore in a truck."
"So what are we gonna do?" Luke asked, trying to get back on topic. Lorelai just shrugged. The two stayed in the same position, Lorelai's head resting on hsi chest, trying to think up of an arrangement. "You know, maybe they could stay here?" Luke asked cautiously.
Lorelai pulled back. "Are you nuts?"
"Well it's the only option we have." he reasoned.
"And where are they gonna sleep on the couch?"
"We'll figure something out."
Just as Lorelai was about to respond, they heard Rory's voice approaching.
"In here is the kitchen." came Rory's voice, then she appeared with the elder Gilmore's behind her. "Hi mom. Hi da-Luke." she quickly corrected her self. Lorelai looked between her daughter and her boyfriend with a sympathetic look, hating that she caused the pain they are feeling right now. Rory knows all well about their situation. Ever since Rory was old enough to understand, right about five or six, Lorelai had explained to her about their situation with the elder Gilmore's. event though she was filled with questions, Rory just went along with it, knowing it will make her mother happy. So even though it hurt her not to talk about Luke whenever she was around the elder Gilmore's, she still avoided the subject and pretended she didn't have a father and brother at home.
Rory regained from the pain of having to call Luke by his first name. "Well this is the kitchen." she said to her grandparents. Then pointed ahead, "That's Jess's room." then to the side, "And this is my room." she opened up her bedroom door and let her grandparents enter.
"You have a lovely room Rory." Emily smiled, noticing the tall bookshelf covering practically an entire wall in the room.
"Great craftsmanship." Richard admired the piece, as did Emily. "Where did you get this?"
"Oh…Luke made that." she had almost stumbled on the name, but covered it up.
"Really?" the two looked at her surprised.
"Yeah." she said shyly, then with a proud smile, "Practically every furniture in this room was made by him. If not, fixed by him."
"He's a carpenter?" Emily asked, hiding her disgust.
"No. it's just a hobby of his. He owns a diner."
"A diner?" the two simultaneously asked.
"Yeah. Luke's Diner. The most famous eating establishment in town." she spoke proudly of her father's work. "He owns it. It used to be a hardware store owned by grandpa." then correcting herself. "I mean, his dad. But after he died," she inhaled sharply, trying not to choke up at the memory of the loss of her other grandfather. "Dad turned it into a diner." then noticing her slip, "I mean Luke turned it into a diner." Rory sighed, tired of having to call Luke by his first name. She's so used to only having to refer to Luke as Luke, or not even talk about him when her grandparents are present when they are at the Gilmore mansion.
Emily and Richard seem to have noticed Rory's slip and also notice the look of hurt and pain that comes across her face whenever she had to mention Luke. They saw that particular look so strongly when she had mention of Luke's father. The two looked at each other. This has been so surreal. They did not expect to find this at all when they thought of visiting their daughter and granddaughter.
There was a moment of silence between the three which as broken when Lorelai entered the room. "Hey, how's the tour?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Oh we're finished actually." Rory said. "This is the last stop."
"Ok. Why don't we all go back to the living room." Lorelai suggested. They all agreed and walked out of Rory's room.
Lorelai, Emily and Richard walked towards the living room. When Rory walked passed Luke, she stopped and turned to him. "Hey, how's it going?" she asked kind of shyly. She stood, leaning her back on to the counter watching her father set up the ingredients for his lasagna.
"Good." he replied gruffly. "The pasta's already softening." he said, adding on more salt in the boiling water.
"Ok." they were quiet for a moment. Rory watching her father work, Luke busying himself by working. Then Rory walked up to him and hugged him. "I just want you to know," she began, looking up at him with her big blue eyes. "It really pains me having to call you Luke and not dad."
Luke smiled softly and hugged her back. "Kid, I don't care whether you call me dad, or Luke, or Butch even. Although I don't recommend it." Rory chuckled at that. "I love you and that's all that matters."
"I love you too daddy." she said quietly, her eyes shining at him. Luke pulled her tightly into his embraced, and she reciprocated by hugging him just as tight as well.
Unknown to them, Emily had heard their exchanged. She headed back to the kitchen to see where Rory had gone, and stopped when she saw Rory and Luke hug and then they exchanged their words that seemed to have awaken something in her. She walked back to the living room quickly when she saw Rory and Luke pull back. Emily sat down on the couch next to her husband, then soon after Rory came out from the kitchen as well.
"So what's going on?" Rory asked her mother.
"Well, I called the inn." Lorelai replied. "Unfortunately we're all booked due to the wedding."
"How is that unfortunate?" Emily asked.
"Well, since we're all booked, there wont be any room for you to stay in."
"So where will we stay then?" Richard asked.
"We figured you guys could stay here." she said with reluctance. "Luke and I discussed it and you guys can sleep in our room and we'll sleep in Jess and Rory's room."
"We don't want to be a burden to you." Emily said.
"No it's fine mom." Lorelai assured.
"Why can't you just give us a ride?" Richard suggested. "You have a car."
"Well it's not working right now. There's something wrong with the engine and I was headed for Gypsy's, but it's closed now so…" she shrugged off the rest.
"How would you manage to get to work?"
"Well Luke can drop me off. Besides, I don't have work tomorrow anyways."
"Well then why don't Luke give us a ride?" Emily suggested. "I'm sure he wont mind."
"He would but his truck wont fit all of us."
"Truck?" Emily grimaced. "Never mind."
"So mom, dad, you guys can get comfortable." Lorelai stammered. "Um, I'm sure we have something that you guys can wear tonight. and, Luke's making us lasagna. Are you guys hungry?"
"We ate at the party." Emily said.
"Yes. And the food was rather dry." Richard commented. "They should have hired better caters. I was tempted to starve myself."
"It was fine Richard." Emily protested.
"I could have sworn the bread was stale."
"Oh you exaggerate." Emily scoffed.
"Well good." Lorelai said. "Luke makes a mean lasagna."
"We refer to him as the lasagna king." Rory giggled, which was joined by Lorelai.
"Rory!" they all turned as saw Jess appearing from the kitchen, looking not so happy, holding up a book. "What is this?"
"The Fountainhead?"
"Yes. It was in my bed."
"Why Jess I never knew you liked Ayn Rand." she said innocently.
"You know I don't." he said, his eyes narrowing at her. "And I'm certain this is yours."
"Well then what's it doing in your room?" she retorted with a triumphant smile.
He scoffed. "Wouldn't you know."
Rory huffed. "Why wont you just give Ayn Rand a chance?"
"I tried, once, remember? I still can't understand what that political nut is saying."
"She is not a political nut." she protested.
"She is. Now Hemingway-"
"Oh no!" she cut him.
"You never even gave him a chance!" he pointed. "I read Rand for you, yet you never read Hemingway."
"I have too." she pouted, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, for school. Yet never for pleasure."
"Hemingway makes me sleep."
"Hey, you give Hemingway a chance and I'll give Rand another go."
"Never."
"Fine. Tough love." he tossed the book back to her then returned to his room. Rory pouted and returned to hers.
"Do they always do this?" Emily asked when the two kids where gone.
"Only every single day." Lorelai replied with a smile.
"This Jess?" Richard asked. "He's a fan of Hemingway?"
"Oh yeah. If you look at his book collection, a portion of it are Hemingway. In fact, a whole shelf is dedicated to Hemingway. It's like a shrine."
"The boy reads?" Emily asked in surprised.
"I sure hope so." Lorelai said, looking at her mother weirdly. "But yes he does. He reads just as much as Rory. Sometimes I think even more." Emily and Richard seemed to be amazed with this information. "I'm gonna go clean up the room upstairs for you. Feel free to watch some TV. Or if you want, borrow a book from Rory. Roam around the house if you'd like."
"Thank you Lorelai." Richard said politely.
"Ok, well…" Lorelai then walked up the stairs and into hers and Luke's room.
"I am going to go see if Rory has something to read." Richard announced, standing up. "Maybe borrow a Hemingway from that Jess." Emily just smiled. Richard then walked towards the kitchen.
Emily sighed and stood up as well. This had definitely been a very surreal evening. Their car broke down and now they were in their daughter and granddaughter's house only to find that they already have a family of their own. Which she had no idea about. It hurt her to think that her daughter had married someone without her telling them. Adopted a son without her telling them. It hurt her that they were not part of their girl's lives.
Emily scanned the room. Then she walked over to the fireplace. She looked at the pictures displayed on the mantle. She looked at a picture which seemed to have been taken on Halloween. It was of Rory and Jess when they were kids. They were sitting on pumpkins. Jess dressed as an Englishmen, and Rory dressed as Marie Antoinette. There was another picture of Rory, Jess and Luke fishing. There was a picture of Rory and who she figured was Jess when they were still toddlers. Emily figured they were at least three.
There was a picture of Lorelai and Luke with an older man in between them in front of a Hardware store. The older man looked somewhat like Luke, she figured he was his father. She saw more pictures of the older man with a baby Rory and a baby Jess. She saw another picture of Lorelai and Rory in a kitchen covered with flour and laughing. She saw another one of Luke and Lorelai just when Lorelai was in her mid twenties. The were seated in a gazebo. It appears that her daughter's relationship with Luke was not just some fling. It went beyond that. It appears that Luke had been there with Lorelai from the very beginning.
There were two pictures in particular that caught Emily's eyes. One picture was of Rory, Jess and Lorelai. Were laughing and smiling and spraying silly string all over each other. The photo was in a frame saying I Love Mom. The other picture were of Rory, Jess and Luke. Luke standing behind a counter with Rory sitting on his shoulder, and Jess sitting in front of him on the counter. The photo was in a similar frame, although it said I Love Dad.
Emily had seen first hand what Rory's relationship with Luke was like. Judging from what she saw in the kitchen earlier, she would say that their bond was unbreakable. Although she had wished that Christopher would come to his senses and finally grow up so he can take care of her girls, she had realized that that may never happen. In all honesty, she wasn't a fan of Christopher much. But she still thinks a child needs a father and mother. Although it appears that Rory already has both of her parents and more.
She also saw the bond that Rory have with Jess. In all of the photos on the mantle, Rory is never without Jess in a picture. There were some where it was candid or professionally done. But Rory was always with Jess. It was clear that the two were best friends and it seems that nothing can break that.
Emily looked through all of the photos. Yet there was one that was missing in her search. There were a lot of the kids, some with Lorelai and Luke and Luke's dad. a lot with the four all together. Yet one that Emily looked for was not there. No wedding pictures. How is it that her daughter is with Luke, and they have two kids together, yet no wedding pictures. She assumed those pictures would be displayed all over the place. She have seen a lot of pictures of Luke and Lorelai together, but non that would tell you they were getting married. Non of Lorelai in her wedding gown. How is that?
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