Disclaimer: I still don't own Gilmore Girls...
An: first thing, I wanted to thank everybody who took time to read and review. It really push me to write more. Now, I am really not sure about this chapter...
…. here goes
The Danes Household was a single family home, situated half a mile outside Stars Hollow. With over 2.5 acres of mature trees, gardens, flowering bushes, you could only imagine how wonderful property it was. Big, open space, because Vee and Will Danes had wanted it like that. Big enough for family and friends to stay over, and of course, the ultimate masterpiece that Will had built, before Vee' s death: the pool. Not too big, but big enough to teach Luke and Liz how to swim. Minimal renovation, had been done, when Luke had rented it, but over all it was exactly the same. The foyer with a marble pavement and the dramatic curved staircase, had remained the same. The B of Berger, and the D of Danes in the center with a design ornamenting it. Vee had wanted it that way.
On the right and on the left, respectively, there were situated the big and spacious living room, and the dining room, both with a master fireplaces and hardwood floors.
Passing the staircase, you would find, the family room, or the great room, that would open to the big and spacious kitchen, and the breakfast room.
From the family room, two french door opened toward the patio, the grill station, and some kind of cabana that the tenants had built. From the patio, a paved footbridge, lead to the little rounded pool, now renovated, with an hot tube to the side, and chairs.
Up the staircase, the first landing took you to the bedrooms area. With the master bedroom and bathroom on the right,and a series of doors, on the left. The other four bedroom, each with en suite bath, had been situated from the center of the landing all to the left. The first two had been respectively Luke's and Liz's bedrooms.
The attic could easily be transformed into an independent apartment if needed, and the basement, recently redone, could easily be adjusted as anything...
Looking around the house that he left over twenty years ago, he noticed, that the atmosphere that surrounded it, over his own childhood, remained. Almost expecting, one of his parents, to call out for him, he walked up the staircase, to go into the kitchen.
He was tired, exhausted, by the night events. What the hell was Lorelai thinking, how did she get those papers? Things were not supposed to be like this, he said to himself. She was with the idiot, why is she drowning information on him, why would she care.
The diner almost collapsed Rory had called a couple of times and she didn't even came to see how he was... what kind of game was she playing?. Those question were absolutely not supposed to be there. It was supposed to be over. She had said that herself... Confusion, it's one of the things, that Luke Danes always hated.
Preparing breakfast distracted his mind from Lorelai. April, would be here today, and he really wanted everything to be perfect. She would stay with him for a week, which was convenient as she also could finally meet with aunt Vivi. All he had to do was make sure that Anna was not around, otherwise all hell would break loose, and Vivi Anderson was not a person to be joked with. It was for him common knowledge that aunt Vivi didn't really feel all that content with Anna.
As he prepared the table, he heard the Anna' s car. He got out of the front door, as April, crushed him, in a hug.
- Dad..
- April...
- I am so happy to be here...- April said as she hugged her dad
- I know... I am too, that you are here – as Luke reciprocated the hug, with his little girl, a coughing sound was heard..
- Anna, thank you so much for doing this, I really appreciated it...
- Luke, I should have done this before, but I...
- that's okay, really, I understand.. - he said as he took April's luggage from Anna
- you have a wonderful house here...- Anna said looking around
- thank you, my dad build it...
- wow, it's a mansion – April said living her parents to talk and entering the house.
- She is exited about staying here... I don't think last night she slept all that much...
- I' ll make sure she gets some rest... don't worry, I' have got this...
- OK, I know, well it' s time for me to go, or I' ll be late so...
- APRIL, came say goodbye to your mom... - two seconds later, April came out, and hugged and kissed her mom good bye. Awkwardly saying goodbey to Luke, Anna, got into her car and made her way to Woodbridge.
After Anna had gone the two entered the house:
- wow this house goes on forever...
- you like it?
- Yeah of course, this is so cool...
- why don't you explore outside, see if you like it? As for me I have to finish making breakfast, I 'll call you when it's ready... - Luke had not even finished the sentence, that April had bolted out of one of the french doors.
As Luke prepared the table, a yell could be heard from outside...
- oh my GOD, WE HAVE POOL! - that brought a big smile on Luke's face, as he went to the door to call the girl for breakfast.
CRAP SHACK
Getting up was always a difficult thing for one Lorelai Gilmore. The morning light invading irritatedly the room, had done nothing to her foul mood. The memories of yesterday night imprinted on her mind like a fire mark. If nothing else, this morning she remembered every little word that Luke spoke to her.
Getting out of the bed was one enormous afford from her.
While in the bathroom, going through her morning routine, she heard the phone ring. Quickly going to answer, she didn't really think to check the caller ID. That's why at eight in the morning she was listening to Christopher Hayden..
- Lor. are you there?
- Yes I am here... so you are transferring?
- Yep, I think it's the best. Gigi has to be also with her mom, and I think, transferring to Paris is the right thing to do...
- OK, you did tell Rory, right?
- Hm well, I thought
- Chris, think less, take action more, call your daughter to tell her! If by any means you hurt her even more, I'll make sure, that your name never be spoken again in her presence, and I am not kidding...
- Lor... I tried but...
- you are losing her...
- I know, just tell her that I love her...- and with that Chris hung up.
Today was not a good day, she already knew it!
At nine AM, she bravely made her way to the inn.
The possibility of meeting the famous Vivienne Anderson, was closing in on her. What was she going to be like? She already imagined her like a miniature of Emily Gilmore! With her Chanel suite, and the famous and expensive shoes.
Upon entering the inn, she looked through the dining room. Not noticing anybody fitting the image in her head, she leaned over to Michele and asked him, where was the infamous Vivi Anderson. With a surprised look, he pointed to her the woman on the table near the fireplace.
Well that was not what she imagined at all. Vivi Anderson was a tall woman, average body, that stood with square shoulders, while reading the paper, and sipping her tea. Of course when she put down the paper, and her face in her line of vision, Lorelai gasped at the resemblance with Luke. The eyes, highbrows, together into forming the most intimidating look she ever saw. Her own grandmother would be intimidated by her. Black medium hair, brown eyes, wearing certainly NOT a Chanel but, a dark blue blouse , jeans and tennis shoes! This was NOT WHAT SHE IMAGINED at all!
Looking away, Lorelai tried to busy herself into doing something other that staring at the woman, that made her mother quiver so many years ago. This WAS certainly an interesting game of cards! And it was only now beginning...
LOGAN'S APT.
Finished breakfast, Rory looked around the empty apartment. She didn't know where this feel of dread come from. The uneasiness, began, after Logan told her the story of the non engagement, between his father, and Vivi Anderson. The reason behind it, she didn't know, but for sure the comfort and the security, were factors.
For herself the road less traveled...the what if question was beginning to torment her more that she cared to admit. What if Lorelai, didn't go to Chris... what if? If only it was possible to turn back time...
Question and confusion, reigned in her mind, like a bugging feeling that no matter what, would not go away...
As for her mom, it was long time, to finally try and fix this mess...
- hello? - answered a voice from the other side of the line.
- Hello, this is Rory, may I speak with Luke, please?
- Oh Rory, this is April.
- HI, how are you?
- I am fine, actually, more than fine, I am spending the week with dad! Can you believe it? This so cool! - she said sounding really exited...
- I see that everything is OK than? - Rory answered, trying to test the waters...
- More than OK, but how are you, I didn't see you since, JESS' s inauguration party? - ouch that certainly did hurt! Rory thought...
- Oh, I am fine...- she said nonchalantly, finding herself out of breath...
here comes dad...
- Rory?
- Luke, Hi
- is everything OK? you voice sounds a little strange...
- I am fine, I talked to mom yesterday night...
- oh, so she told you...
- yep...
- I am so sorry Rory, I just lost my temper...
- there is no need to be sorry, but for her it was not easy to find out about you, that way...as for me I have to say I find it hilarious!
- Rory!
- No really you should have seen Emily Gilmore going completely ballistic on this!
- I really didn't mean not to tell... it's just a part of my family that I really ignored, you know the name, the money, not really something that I wanted to be a part of...
- I understand... you know mom loves you right...
- Rory
- I am just saying...
- she's happy with your dad now, Rory! You should be happy for her...
- that's all that worries you? That she's with Chris...
- no of course not, but fact is, it's over, and YOU, young lady should stop pushing me on this, okay?
- Fine, but just for you information, as of Friday night, Christopher Hayden, is not, nor will he ever be, mom's boyfriend, fiance or husband... and now that I know you are rich, you can thank me later... - and with that she hung up.
The seed was planted now, if only things would go as planned...
Looking around her desk, with the term paper already finished, she noticed a plane ticket, to London, with Logan's name on it... Sighing, she thought if being with Logan was what she really wanted out of life... Fixing her mom's life was an easy task, if compared, with the fact that fixing her own, was more complicated than she ever imagined. Reflecting on the past, she could perfectly pinpointing, where she went wrong. It all come down the that one stupid night with Dean. That night, she knew, she lost herself. Regaining that Rory, before all hell broke loose, was almost impossible... but if nothing else, she was going to try, as if her own life depended on it...
Picking up the phone, she hesitated before dialing the numbers... call or not call that was the problem. What could she say? I am sorry if I used your feelings!... no she would not call him...not just yet...
STARS HOLLOW
After lunch Like had informed April, that he had to go to Woodsbury for a couple of hours. So April decided to take a walk around. Thinking about the dinner that she would have with her aunt, she decided, that being nervous was not doing her any good. Just like her dad had said aunt Vivi would absolutely love her.
Curious to see town, she roamed around, visiting first Andrew' s bookstore. At the end she had purchased three books, all about science of course. She never really had a liking in literature or writing... her professor always said to her that she had the imagination of a teaspoon, and she had completely agreed with that. Getting out of the bookstore, she found herself in need of an ice tea, so she made her way to Weston's. Upon entering, the small establishment, she sat down and ordered a tea. Looking through her books, she didn't notice someone entering. So concentrated, that she did see who it was, when it was already too late..
- April?
- Lorelai?
- what are you doing here? - she asked Lorelai, sitting down..
- I was trying to have tea... and you? - April answered sternly
- oh, coffee you know, since Luke' s...
- what? Since Luke's what? - deja vu much? she thought it was like talking to Emily Gilmore
- Oh... well you know Kirk, the car...
- I know... - April answered
- oh, well how are you? - Lorelai tried to have a conversation...
- I am good, you know, I am living with dad this week. Mom finally decided to give him, joint custody of me!
- isn't that great... are you must be very happy I gather..
- happy... ah isn't it curious word?
- Ah?
- I mean, I don't really know if happy is the right word to use, especially, if you think of what happened lately to my dad...
- April...
- no, you know this town is incredible. If your parent doesn't want you to know something, all that you have to do is ask one of the residents deep throats and they tell you every little details. For example I didn't know that I was such a nuisance into my dad' s life...
- April I didn't mean what I said, I mean, it was not you the problem...
- meaning it, or not, that doesn't change the facts, does it? You are supposed to be the adult, just like mom, was supposed to put me first since the beginning. I know that everybody makes mistakes... and I know it's different, but, if am barely talking to her after everything, what makes you think that I owe you more than hi, or goodbye, because I don't. Now if you will excuse me I have other things to do... - getting up, she out some cache on the table, to pay the check, and walked out without looking behind.
As April exited Weston's, Lorelai sat in silence. Did this just happen?did I just got yelled at by a thirteen year old? She asked herself over and over. Naturally she would be mad, why hadn't she thought of that. Was it really necessary to confront her today? April was a strong kid, strong willed, Luke had said, but she wondered if he knew to what length. The sudden thought of seeing Emily discussing something with April, made her laugh out loud. While, the coffee was sitting on the table getting cold, she called Sookie to tell her that she was going home, she really needed to rest.
GILMORE MANSION
Earlier that day
- I cannot believe this! - said Emily still staring at the wall, while breakfast...
- Emily it's been all night, and you continuing to repeat this, will not change things at all, actually it's starting on getting on my nerves...
- Richard, I … I sent her and her nephew invitations after invitations to our parties for years! And when I have him for dinner I do nothing but insult him...
- you didn't know who he was then...
- why... didn't he tell Lorelai...why he didn't he tell us?
- ah... Emily I wonder why? - Richard said with sarcasm, looking at Emily
- Richard please this is not the time... oh my God the humiliation that we are going to go through...
- maybe not, maybe she' s just here to do her job, she wont even recognize you, it's been over forty years since you have seen her last...
- that's not the point... I have got to talk with her...
- Emily...
- no really, this is killing me Richard, not knowing what she's doing here, it's really killing me... and I cannot believe this... Delia I want my coffee now!
- As the maid made her way to the table, Richard looked at the maid...
- no coffee for my wife... she's already nervous enough! You are already nervous enough!and you will not go talk to her...
- Richard, my nervousness has nothing to do with coffee... - as Emily continued to talk, Richard blocked her out, thinking that this was going to be a very long day.
After an hour Richard decided that enough was enough, so he bolted for the door, telling the maid to tell his wife, that he was going to the club.
Escaping today was the key word. Being in the house was starting to drive him crazy.
He had played golf all day, in attempt to relax. Upon deciding to get a drink, he went for the bar. Ironically, the topic, was again the return, of one Vivienne Anderson.
She always liked to create chaos, especially if it was at Emily' s expense. He remembered the last time he had seen her. She had insulted him and Emily all at once, and without them noticing. The insulting sense, came later, at home, when upon rethinking it, he had almost choked his scotch. She was very good at that. Insulting you without making it look like an insult. Trix, would have liked her, for sure, he thought.
Tired and drained, he decided to come home. Finding Emily In the living room, he decided that storm was gone, and therefore safe to enter. Everything from then on had seemed normal, until that phone call. They were enjoin a late, quite dinner, when a phone call disrupted their precious meal.
Of course Delia answered it. It was for Emily, so she got up, annoyed by being interrupted and went to the phone. After merely two minutes, Richard heard the phone slamming in it's cradle. Next thing he knew, Emily was bolting out of the door like a mad woman, at nine thirty, to go and fix this her way, she had said...he had long realized that on those situations, it was better not to ask...
DRAGON FLY INN
Vivi's POV
- ...oh someone is knocking on my door, I have go, I' ll call you tomorrow... me too, bey – she hung up the phone, and went to open the door...
- well well well, look what the cat dragged in here, to what do I owe this visit?
- I have to talk to you...
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