AN: Okay this chapter will have very little L & L. I needed to set the stage a little and my apologies to Emily fans, she's going to be demonized in this story. This may be confusing but I'm kind of going back in time to show you what the Gilmores were doing while Luke & Lorelai were in bed. If you need some perspective try to remember Richard from the episode in season 1 where they have dinner with the Haydens. So, on with the angst. And don't worry, despite the harsh language I'm not making Richard violent.
LAST NIGHT (IMMEDIATELY AFTER LORELAI'S EXIT IN CHAPT 11)
The evening after Emily's eruption was, eventually, a quiet one in the Gilmore house. Quiet, but not calm. If the maid didn't already quake with fear at the sight of Emily this evening would have done it. After Lorelai fled the house things in the Gilmore mansion went from heated to explosive.
Richard stood in the doorway of the living room watching his daughter flee his house, again. Listening to his wife for the past few minutes had shocked Richard into near silence. Unfortunately for his wife that hadn't lasted long.
"Emily!" Richard hissed, his face an unnatural shade of red.
Emily had barely paused to note her daughter's departure, and she'd yet to recognize the truly enraged expression on her own husbands face. "She is going to drag this entire family down Richard! That girl has not a caring bone in her body, does she have any idea what a disturbance this will create? I raised her so well and for her to turn into this…this.."
"EMILY!!!!" Richard bellowed.
Emily turned to her husband shocked, "Richard! How da-"
Richard tugged on her arm and forcefully sat her on the couch, "Sit down Emily."
Emily sat stunned at her husband's force. "Richard?"
"How dare you Emily?" Richard's voice was deathly cold, Emily shivered at the tone. "How dare you speak like that to your child, our child, MY CHILD! She is your CHILD Emily. Even if she goes out and slits someone's throat she is your child, but I suspect as long as she was a member of the goddamn DAR she could slit whosever throat she chooses. How dare you belittle that girl! Is it any wonder she left us? What mother would want their child to hear such disgusting lies? What mother indeed!"
"Richard, she is dating some hooligan just to perturb me and ruin our reputation. I am her mother and I know what is best-"
"And being called a whore by the woman who birthed you is best?!"
"I-"
"Our daughter loves her little girl with every breath in her body. And I would rather her be a hooligan's wife who worships her child, and works tirelessly, than a well-bred lady who will eviscerate her own flesh and blood to impress a bunch of aging harpies and turn into yet another heartless mannequin who sits around spending someone else's hard earned dollar."
Emily sat completely still, so still she couldn't even draw breath.
"THAT was not the woman I married. I would never have let THAT woman near my only child. And if you've driven her away completely so help me God Emily-" his voiced trailed off as he crushed his martini glass in his hand. At that he shot her a seething look and tore out of the room.
After the blowout Richard went up to the guest room to bandage his hand and phone the Inn. He asked the night manager to pass along a message to Lorelai. It said simply 'please call your father at work, he's concerned.'
On her way to bed Emily stopped by the guest room, "Richard?"
"Go to bed, Emily."
"But Richard-"
"No Emily," Richard's voice was much softer than earlier, almost weary. "You are bound and determined to destroy anything that makes that girl happy and I won't be a party to it. I was trying to build a bridge, something to help us in to our daughter's life, and you set it on fire. From now on I won't be making attempts on your behalf. I'll keep you apprised of my dealings with Lorelai."
"Richard she is my daughter she can't dismiss me from her life entirely," Emily still sounded smug, but there was a subtle touch of fear in her tone.
"We'll see, I'm afraid. But either way Emily you're on your own. I'll not put my relationship with her in jeopardy to try to fix what you've never taken the time to nurture."
Emily left the room without responding.
BACK TO STARS HOLLOW
SET AFTER CHAPTER 12
Luke had gone home to keep working on the apartment situation. He had told her it would take 4 to 6 weeks to get the office ready to inhabit. It was a good time frame, it allowed them each to save a bit more money and look for the furniture they'd need. Lorelai marveled at how different life was with Luke there. He'd taken away the hollow feeling left behind by her mother's words. Instead of days crawling by in the face of Emily's disapproval Lorelai was boldly strutting into her future. He'd even convinced her to return her father's call.
Once they'd had the 'moving-in' talk Luke had asked about the dinner at her parents. They'd glossed over the subject last night in favor of more…naked activities. Once she'd gone through the evening step by step for Luke she remembered the outraged looks her father was shooting at Emily.
Her father had really come through for her at Rory's party so…
"Richard Gilmore's office."
"This is Lorelai Gilmore, may I speak to my father?"
"Hold one moment please."
"Lorelai?"
"Yes, hi dad."
"Hello Lorelai. I'm so glad you called me back. I wanted to apologize for dinner. I'm very upset with your mother for saying those things. And I just want you to know that I don't agree with her."
"Thank you dad."
"Your mother may not see it yet, but I can see how well you're doing. Your daughter is happy and healthy, some women with twice your means can't say as much."
"That's my only real goal dad."
"I'm proud of you Lorelai. From now on I won't be trying to include your mother in your life. I'd like to still be apart of it, but I see now that your mother isn't…"
"Mature enough?"
Richard laughed at that, "Yes Lorelai I don't think she's mature enough for you yet."
Fall passed quickly while Luke worked on the couple's new apartment. The hardware store was still open, Luke was still working on the business plan he needed for his bank loan. Lorelai was so touched by the effort Luke was putting into their home that she volunteered to work the counter in the hardware store so William and Luke could work on the apartment. After all these months hanging around the store Lorelai had a pretty good idea where everything was, even if she had no idea how to use any of it.
Lorelai hadn't spoken to her mother since the dinner incident 4 weeks earlier. Emily had left three messages. The first insincerely apologizing for "raising her voice; " the second was to scold her daughter for not returning the first call and "doing the proper thing," a phrase with a very badly hidden double meaning. The third message was just this morning, a reminder that Thanksgiving dinner was promptly at 5. After receiving the note from Mia she'd called her father. He understood that she wouldn't be coming. Secretly Richard hoped that Lorelai's absence at dinner would finally make Emily aware of what she'd done. Father and daughter arranged to have lunch at the Inn on Thanksgiving Day.
"Hey Lorelai"
"Hi there," Lorelai leaned over the counter to kiss her sweaty, sawdusted boyfriend. "How's it going up there?"
"We're done."
"What?"
"Finished. The paint needs to dry but other than that…"
Lorelai jumped over the counter and wrapped her entire body around Luke, "Wow, this is amazing…you're amazing," Lorelai gazed in Luke's eyes like she's never seen a man before.
Luke shrugged embarrassed, "It didn't take much."
Luke led her up to the apartment to show her the finished product. Lorelai was overwhelmed. They'd painted the living room/kitchen space a buttery yellow with white trim. Rory's bedroom was the same pale purple and deep green that the potting shed was painted, 'little kids need consistency' Luke had said. Their bedroom was blue with white trim and Lorelai couldn't wait to see what it looked like when she first opened her eyes in the morning.
"Hey Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we can find a table, three chairs, and a couch by Thursday?"
"I suppose so, why?"
"Well Rory and I were going to have lunch with my dad at the Inn, but I don't know I'd kind of like to have him here. In our home."
Luke had worried that Lorelai would have a delayed freak out. But she seemed very happy with the idea of their home. Wow, we have a home.
"How about I look for a table and chairs and you look for couch?"
"Deal," Luke extended his hand to 'shake on it' and then reached out to drag her in for a kiss.
Things were still uncomfortable in the Gilmore Mansion. Emily and Richard avoided each other before and after meals. During dinner she updated him on their social calendar and the specifics of their upcoming holiday dinner. Richard answered tersely and disregarded most of her chatter.
"I spoke to Lorelai today, she and Rory are well." Every time Richard spoke to Lorelai he would inform Emily with these exact same words, nothing more.
"Did you remind her that she is to be here at 5 on Thursday for cocktails?"
"No Emily, that is not the nature of our discussions."
"Promptness isn't one of Lorelai's gifts, you should remind her."
"No Emily I don't think I shall, but you should feel free to."
"Really Richard must you be difficult?"
"Yes, I am my daughter's father."
As Thursday morning finally came Luke had started to get a little nervous, he'd been with Lorelai for four months and only met her father briefly on Rory's birthday. Richard Gilmore appeared to be extremely proud and dignified…and Luke was shacking up with his only daughter. I'm going to be maimed before we even get a chance to unpack this place.
Lorelai had done a remarkable job of furnishing their place in only 3 days. They didn't have much but they had the necessities. Lorelai had asked around and bought a couch fairly cheap off a woman named Babette. Apparently they had to get rid of it because Babette's new cat was afraid of the color red. Town full of freaks…freaks I tell you. Luke bought a table and 4 chairs from Mrs. Cassini who had so many ridiculous odds and ends in her garage Luke brought Lorelai back later to 'browse'.
Browsing had yielded an easily repaired coffee table and a dresser. Mia had let them take all the things in the shed so they had all the basics covered before their lunch date. Luke agreed to make them lunch and he was putting the finishing touches on the food while Lorelai dressed and Rory watched Daddy cook.
KNOCK KNOCK
Luke sighed and looked toward their bedroom where Lorelai was still dressing. Guess it's up to me.
"Come on baby girl lets see your grandpa."
IN LUKE & LORELAI"S BEDROOM
Lorelai had woken up surprisingly refreshed and calm. In the 4 weeks since the dinner Lorelai had grown comfortable with her father. She happily puttered around unpacking things and finding a dress for Rory. But as she stopped to double check the calendar for her father's arrival time he stomach clenched.
She was three days late.
She'd been late before of course, and not just after Rory's conception. But she hadn't been active then. She and Luke had been very careful…Except the first time. She was starting to sweat. She and Luke hadn't discussed kids or the future or…anything. Okay Lorelai, Luke just built you an apartment so there's a future there. He loves Rory so..maybe kids. Oh god, kids, plural. More than one, I'd be 19 years old with 2 kids. Oh god.
Lorelai worked herself into such a state she could barely zip her dress. And a glance at the clock told her that poor Luke was probably awkwardly chatting with her father at that very moment.
"Okay Lorelai, pull it together. You are a Gilmore."
Lorelai walked out to see Luke holding Rory and chatting to her father, apparently about sheet rock.
"Happy Thanksgiving everyone."
...TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2
