Chapter 25 – Superman Or A Knight In Shining Armor?
This chapter is SUPER long. My longest chapter yet, I think. So, I was really torn about what to do next with this story. But, I finally made a decision and I hope you guys agree with my decision.
Thanks so much to my fantastic amazing AWESOME reviewers. You guys rock!
Also, I got a couple of reviews that said they had just read this whole story in one sitting, That's so awesome that you guys could read this whole story especially since it is so long. I'm glad you liked it so much and please keep reading:)
Does everyone have socks on? Hehe…
Lorelai, Luke and Rory sat on the couch in the living room.
Waiting.
Waiting for the results of the pregnancy test. No one really had anything to say. Each of them had their own worries and issues with this test's out come. Rory wasn't worried. The only thing she was concerned about was how her mother would react if it were positive.
Would she scream? Cry? Run away?
Lorelai was wrapped in Luke's arms, mind racing. She kept having flashbacks to when she was pregnant with Rory. She remembered telling her parents. She cringed at the thought. Even though this situation was totally different, she still couldn't help feeling like she was sixteen again.
This was the longest three minutes of their lives.
Finally the timer going off broke the silence.
"You guys go." Rory said.
Luke stood up and extended his hand towards Lorelai. She took his hand and they walked to the bathroom.
"So, two lines is pregnant and one line isn't." Lorelai said as they walked into the bathroom.
"Ok." He looked up at her. "You want me to look?"
"Yes."
He let go of her hand and walked over to the sink where the test sat. He picked it up and looked at it for a minute, trying to figure out how he felt.
"Well?" She asked nervously.
"One line." He said.
"Really?"
He handed the test to her. "Ok so, I'm not pregnant."
"Yep."
"Well, this is good. Right?"
She looked at him hoping for reassurance.
"Yeah. This is good."
She let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah. Good."
They walked out of the bathroom and Lorelai walked over to Rory.
"Am I big sister?"
"Nope."
"Oh well, that's good right?"
They both looked at Luke for reassurance.
Why was this suddenly his decision? Why did they look at him hoping for answers? He didn't have any. He was hoping they would have the answers.
"Yeah, it's good." He said again.
"Good." Rory said.
"Well, I should get back to the diner."
"Ok, I'll see ya tonight." Lorelai said.
"Ok, bye."
"So, wow." Lorelai said as flopped down on her bed.
"So, you're not disappointed at all?"
"Not really." Lorelai said as she sat up.
"Not at all?"
"Nope."
"Oh."
"Are you?"
"No."
"Ok…."
"Maybe a little."
"Oh hon…"
"I dunno, I mean, I've always wanted a sibling and the opportunity was here so…"
Lorelai scooted next to Rory and put her arm around her. "I'm so sorry sweetie."
"It's ok. I just thought it would be nice."
"I know."
"Now we can focus on your wedding."
"You don't think Luke was disappointed, do you?"
"I'm not a mind reader, mom."
"Right."
"Were you mad when you found out you were pregnant with me?"
"Whoa, where did that come from?"
"Well, you're so happy that you're not pregnant now when you have a life and a great guy. You must have been so mad when you found out you were pregnant at sixteen."
"No, Rory. I wasn't mad. I was scared. Terrified. But, not mad."
"Ok."
"I have never for one day regretted having you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me."
"Don't you wonder what this kid could have been?"
"Rory, I'm not pregnant."
"I know, but don't you wonder?"
"Sweetie…"
"It just seems a little weird that you feel nothing after finding this out. Even if you don't want the kid you should feel a little sadness."
"Rory, you don't understand."
"Make me understand."
Lorelai sighed heavily. "My pregnancy with you wasn't the best. I mean, I was living with my parents and they wouldn't let me leave the house except for school and I was scared all the time. I knew I had to get out of there, I knew I had to start my own life and that terrified me."
Rory nodded and let her continue.
"And then when your dad was all for my parents plan I knew I was going to do this alone. I thought he loved me enough to come with me. But, he didn't."
"Oh mom…"
"I know things are different this time, but I keep having flashbacks to when I was sixteen. I would much rather have more kids after we're married and things are settled."
"I understand."
"But, I guess I am kinda disappointed."
"Dad must have really hurt you."
Lorelai looked down at her hands. "He just didn't want to run away. He wanted to go with the plan and I couldn't do that. I had to get out of there."
"He should have gone with you."
"Maybe. But, I don't think things would have worked with us. He wasn't ready for that kind of responsibility. And if he did come with me, I wouldn't be with Luke now."
"So it all works out."
"Yeah. It does."
Rory turned to face her mom and gave her a huge hug.
"You're so amazing, mom." She whispered in her ear.
Lorelai kissed the top of Rory's head. "Thanks kid. You're pretty amazing yourself."
"I'm glad you didn't go with grandma and grandpa's plan."
"Good."
"I can't imagine living that life."
"Neither can I. And I did live that life."
"Yeah."
"So, I'm gonna go talk to Luke."
"Ok. I'm gonna do some homework."
"Chinese for dinner?"
"Sounds good."
Lorelai kissed Rory on the cheek and headed downstairs. She grabbed her coat and her keys and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Rory yelled from upstairs.
"What?"
"Does Luke like Chinese?"
"I don't know if he has ever tried it."
"Excellent."
"Get something extra greasy for him."
"I will."
------
"How do you feel about Chinese?' Lorelai asked as she walked into the diner.
"The people?" Luke said as he poured her a cup of coffee.
"The food."
"Oh, that stuff will kill you."
"Have you ever tried it?"
"Don't have to."
"Oh, I think you do."
"We'll see."
"Ok. I'll take that." She took a sip of her coffee. "So, I was talking to Rory after you left and she asked my if I was disappointed about not being pregnant, and I said I wasn't. And she kept asking me all these questions about when I was pregnant with her and I realized that the reason I didn't want to be pregnant now was because I just had such a horrible pregnancy with Rory and, I don't know. I guess I was just scared."
"Yeah, I understand."
"But, I didn't want to you think that I don't want kids or I don't want to have kids with you because I do. I just want us to be married and settled first."
"I know."
"So, are things back to normal now?"
"Yes."
"So, I'll see you tonight?"
"Definitely."
"And I'll come to bed in nothing but one of your flannel shirts and high heels."
"Definitely."
Lorelai laughed softly and kissed him.
"See ya tonight."
"I'll have a shirt ready for you."
"And I'll bring the heels." She said seductively as she left the diner.
-------
"So, here we are." Lorelai said.
"As always, I'm going to suggest we just go in." Rory said.
"They're just going to ask about the wedding and when I say we don't have much planned yet she's going say 'well if you had just gone to the appointment with the wedding planner...' and I'm going to want to strangle her."
"So, nothing out of the ordinary." Rory said as she rang the door bell.
Lorelai grabbed Luke's hand and squeezed it tightly. He squeezed her hand back as a sign of support.
"Hello girls. Hello Luke." Emily greeted.
"Hi grandma." Rory said cheerfully.
"Come in. Let me take your coats."
"Hello Emily. Nice to see you again." Luke said.
"The pleasure is all mine." Emily said as she plastered on a fake smile. "Let's go have a drink, shall we?"
Emily led the group into the living room where she began making drinks.
"So, Rory, how's school." Emily asked.
"School's good. I actually got an 'A' on a paper."
"Well that's wonderful. What was it on?"
"Emily Dickinson."
"That sounds interesting."
"It was. I had fun writing it."
"Who do you have for English this year?" Emily asked, as if she didn't know.
Rory looked over at her mother. "Uh, Max, I mean, Mr. Medina."
"Oh that's right. I remember him."
"Ok, moving on." Lorelai said.
"Hello all." Richard said as she emerged from his study.
"Hey dad." Lorelai said grateful for her father's timing.
"Hi grandpa."
"Well, hello Luke. Nice to you again."
"Hello Richard. Nice to see you again as well."
"Rory just got an 'A' on a paper." Emily said.
"Well, that's wonderful. Good job Rory."
"Thanks grandpa."
"She had Max Medina for English this year."
"Oh, that's nice."
"Remember, he was the man who Lorelai was engaged to before."
"Ok, so I could use another drink. Anyone else want something?" Lorelai said.
"I'll have another soda, mom." Rory said, trying to help change the subject.
"At least this time she managed to tell us instead of having Sookie call and tell us." Emily said.
"Dinner is ready Madam." The maid said.
"Thank you Constantina." Emily said as she led everyone into the dining room.
"I'm gonna kill her." Lorelai whispered to Luke.
"We're half way done. We can do it." He said supportively.
They all sat down at the table quietly as the maid placed a salad in front of each of them. They all began eating in silence until Emily spoke.
"So how are the wedding plans going?" Emily asked.
Ah yes. The dreaded question.
"Good." Lorelai said quickly.
"Good? That's all you have to say?"
"Yes."
"Have you made a guest list yet?"
"No."
"So, I guess you haven't ordered invitations yet then."
"No we haven't."
"Well, then you surely have picked a date."
"Uh, no. Not yet."
"You can't plan anything unless you have picked a date."
"We've both been really busy lately, mom."
"If you had a wedding planner…"
Lorelai slammed down her fork on her plate. "No, I'm pretty sure that even if we had a wedding planner we wouldn't have picked a date."
"Why are you putting things off?"
"We're not putting things off."
"It sounds like that to me."
"Well, then get your hearing checked."
"You're going to run away just like you did last time."
"No I'm not." Lorelai said sternly.
"So, I hear it supposed to snow soon. Mom has like a weird sixth sense about snow. She can always tell when it's going to snow." Rory said hoping to change the subject.
"Fine. I'm done talking about this." Emily said as she resumed eating her salad.
"Finally she gets it." Lorelai mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing mom. Eat your salad."
"Are you going to invite Christopher?"
Lorelai almost choked on a tomato. "What?"
"I know you haven't made a guest list, but you must have considered who you're going to invite."
"I don't know."
"He's Rory's father and you two have known each other forever."
"Thanks for filling me in on that."
"It's my fault Emily." Luke said suddenly.
"What?"
"It's my fault we haven't planned much for the wedding." Lorelai looked at him with surprise. "I've had some family problems that I've had to deal with and it kind of preoccupied me. But, they're done now and we're going to start planning now. By, next week I'm sure we'll have something to share with you about the wedding."
The whole table looked at him with wide eyes and jaws open.
"I see." Emily said. "Well, I'm sorry to hear about your family."
"Thank you, Emily."
----
"Thanks for dinner grandma." Rory said as she hugged her. "Bye grandpa."
"Goodbye Rory." Richard said as he hugged her.
"Thank you for everything Emily." Luke said. "Richard."
"Goodbye Luke."
Lorelai was silent. She opened the door and walked out to the jeep.
All three of them stood in the driveway. Completely silent.
"What was that?" Lorelai asked.
"Grandma was in fine form tonight." Rory said.
"Go warm up the car, hon." Lorelai said as she handed the keys to Rory.
"Ok."
"You didn't have to do that." Lorelai said as soon as Rory walked away.
"Do what?"
"You saved me."
"Oh, well…."
"You made Emily Gilmore speechless."
"I couldn't stand to see her tear you down anymore."
"You're like super man."
"Really?"
"Or maybe my knight in shining armor who sleighed the dragon."
Luke laughed. "I like that one."
"You know I would never leave you, right? She was just saying things…"
"I know."
"The thing with Max, I just, I wasn't really in love with him. I wasn't ready. But, now I am. I love you Luke."
"I love you Lorelai."
"So, have to teach me how to say that stuff."
"What stuff?
"Stuff to say to make my mother shut up."
"Oh, I dunno. I think it's just a gift."
"Please? I'm a fast learner."
"I'll try."
So, I hope no one is disappointed. I wasn't sure which way to go. I thought about it forever and I even wrote another version of this chapter where she was pregnant, but I dunno, it just didn't seem right. For some reason I just think it would be better for her and Luke to have kids after marriage. Also, pregnancy kind of draws things out and this story is already really long. I usually find 50 chapter stories pointless so I don't want this story to be that long. Tell me what you think. :)
