Incoming
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. Not even the computer I wrote it on.
Summary: Jess shows up at Richard and Emily's vow renewal. Luke has something to say about it. Rory is less than happy. Lorelai has to deal with Christopher. And the day is definitely not everything Emily hoped it would be.
Feedback: Reviews are fun. Like a barrel of monkeys. Why anyone would put monkeys in a barrel…I don't know, but it's supposedly a lot of fun.
A/N: The Luke/Lorelai stuff is probably going to be mainly out of the episodes for one or two more chapters. Sorry about that for those of you who want get past that, but I need to lay some ground work before I get to the original stuff and it should change relatively soon.
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Rory sat on her bed in her dorm room as she dialed a number on her cell phone. She listened to it ring a few times, before the machine picked up. "Hey, Mom. I guess you're still at the Inn so I try back later. And, uh, I need to talk to you about something. Jess-type something. Bye." She hit end and tossed the phone onto her dresser.
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The group of little girls for tea party at the Dragonfly was sitting around the table, holding their dolls, looking bored and sad.
"She's on her way, I know she is." Sookie told them.
"Well, I hope she is." The woman that set up the party told her. "Just hang in there, girls. I know you're hungry." She turned back to Sookie. "They're getting ready to rebel."
Sookie took out her cell phone and dialed a number. "It's just that Lorelai ordered all the tables and the little china and I'm sure it's here somewhere, it's just - excuse me for just a second." She walked over to Michel. "Please, help. You're just standing there." She hung up the phone and dialed another number.
"I'm staying out of the way. In situations like this, 'do not get in the way' is so valuable."
"Well, get in the way. Entertain the kids."
"Like I'm Sponge Boy Big Pants or something? I do not entertain children."
She hung up again. "I'm getting worried. She left to do an errand yesterday and never came back."
"Are you dialing the right number?"
"I think after ten years I know Lorelai's number." She dialed again.
"Well, where is she?"
"I don't know. But she was in charge of everything except the pancakes, and without her all we have are pancakes! They're expecting games and stuff."
"Oh, here's a fun game. Poke out all of the doll's eyes, mix them up, and match them to the right dolls.
"Ugh! It's still voicemail!"
"Well, leave a message!
"I've left a million messages! I'm going to her house."
"Don't leave me here!"
"Stall, stall!" She told him as she ran out the door.
One of the girls held her doll up to Michel. "My dolly fell. Kiss the boo-boo."
"What part of the dolly is the boo-boo?"
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Rory woke up to the sound of her cell phone ringing. She climbed out of bed and grabbed it off her dresser. She looked at the number before answering. "Mom?"
"It's me, Rory. It's Sookie."
"Sookie? Are you at the house?"
"Look, uh, something happened with your mom and Luke and your mom's in bad shape. I mean, she's down, hon. And I'm here now, but I think you oughta come. She needs you."
"Oh my God. Is she hurt?"
"No, not physically. Just come, okay?"
"I'm coming." She hung up and got ready to leave. "Crap." She ran to Paris's room and banged on the door.
Paris pulled the door open. "I hate you."
"I need to go home."
"Wonderful. And you couldn't me write a note?"
"I took my car in for its six month service. It's at the dealer".
"You take your car to the dealer?"
"Paris. Can I please use your car?"
"Yea. Fine. The keys are hanging up."
"Thank you. So much. I'll have it back as soon as possible."
"Can I go back to sleep now?"
"Yea. Sorry I woke you up." She grabbed the keys and ran out the door.
Paris nodded and went back in her room.
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Sookie was sitting on the couch at Lorelai's house when Rory rushed in. "Where is she?"
Sookie stood up. "Upstairs."
"Okay, I've got it from here, Sookie. I love you." Rory told her as she started up the stairs.
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When she got upstairs, Rory saw Lorelai lying in bed, crying.
Rory rushed over to her. "Mom? What happened?"
"Luke." She cried.
"What Luke?" She asked, confused.
"He's gone! He hates me. I blew it. I blew everything."
"I don't understand. What happened?"
"I should have told him about Christopher."
"That was innocent."
"But I should have told him. I hid it. I shouldn't have hid it."
"Try to sit up."
"She got to him."
"To Dad? Who did?"
"Mom." Lorelai told her. "She pushed him and it ruined everything. And now they're putting up ribbons."
"Ribbons? Who?"
"Taylor, the town. They hate me. They all hate me. I wrecked everything."
"Mom. This isn't good. Come on. Try to sit up."
"He said he needed time to think, but I pushed him."
"He'll come around."
"I pushed him, and now he's gone."
"He waited forever for you. He's not just going to walk away."
"It's over."
"Mom, this isn't you. Lying in bed like this. You should be up."
"You should go to school. Go back to school."
"I'm here. I'm staying."
"God, I really screwed up this time."
"Shh." She ran her hand over Lorelai's hair.
"He could have been the one."
"He'll come around. Shh. Try to sleep."
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Lorelai walked down the stairs and looked around.
"Rory?"
She looked into the kitchen and saw a video projector, and Luke sitting on Big Red.
"Luke?"
She walked into the Black, White and Read Theater and sat down next to him, smiling
"Whatcha watching?"
"Something stupid."
Lorelai looked up at the screen and saw her and Luke sitting in her kitchen drinking glasses of champagne, with candles all around. "This isn't stupid."
The Luke on the screen smiled. "Lorelai, this thing we're doing here, me, you. I just want you to know I'm in. I am all in."
The Lorelai on the screen was silent.
"Say something." Lorelai told herself. Luke on the couch next to her was replaced by a large blue ribbon. "Say something!"
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Lorelai woke up in her bed and rolled over to see Rory looking at her.
"You slept." Rory stated.
"I guess." She said softly.
"Feeling better?"
"Sure."
"No you're not."
"You should get back to Yale."
"Uh-uh."
"Rory, you can't just stay here."
"Sorry. I'm here for the duration."
"No."
"You need supplies."
"I'm fine."
"There's no sign that you've eaten or had anything to drink."
"Well, I'm not hungry or thirsty."
"Well, if you're staying up here you need supplies. Sustenance. Entertainment."
"Well…" Lorelai gave in.
"See, you're a little thirsty, aren't you."
"A little."
"What can I get you? Water? Bourbon?"
"Water is good."
"What do you got food-wise?"
"Not much."
"What's not much?"
"Like, nothing. Some moldy bread. I've been eating out mostly."
"Okay, I'm going on a run."
"I'm not hungry."
"I'll get you some DVD's, too. Do you want magazines?"
"No."
Rory climbed off her mom's bed. "I'll get you some magazines. You sure you don't want bourbon?"
"Honey, you have stuff to do."
She started for the door. "This is my stuff. I'll be back in a flash."
Lorelai gasped and sat up. "The ribbons."
Rory spun around. "What?"
"Ah, the ribbons. They're all over town."
"I'll just ignore them. Stupid Taylor!"
"People are going to be all over you with questions."
"Then they'll feel the wrath of the Green Destiny."
"Oh, you'll get bombarded."
"Well, maybe I'll call in some reinforcements." She kissed her mother's forehead. "I've got my cell on."
Lorelai gave her a small smile. "Kay."
"Don't go rollerblading or bowling or anything while I'm gone."
"I won't."
She waited until Rory was gone, then flopped back into bed.
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Lane walked out of Doose's followed by a bag boy, both carrying large bags.
"Umm, put those in the back seat." Lane instructed him. "Thanks." She said, before walking around to the passenger side and getting in the car.
"Did you get everything?" Rory asked.
"Everything on the list. Plus, I threw in a few things of my own. Some Toll House cookie dough. Cooked or uncooked, the ultimate comfort food."
"Nice."
"Chocolate covered matzah."
"Nice and ethnic."
"And a new toothbrush."
Rory arched an eyebrow. "Why a new toothbrush?"
"Dentists say you're supposed to change your toothbrush every three months, and I'm assuming your mother's not doing that."
"Well, I'm not sure how that's going to help her depression but you are a good friend."
Lane smiled. "Why thank you."
She nodded "Was Taylor in there?
"Uh,'Fraid so. And he was holding court."
"What?"
"He was talking with a bunch of people about the breakup. Big debate going on."
"What debate?"
"Oh, about whether Elm should have gone more pink than blue, and whether Lorelai should have married that Max guy when she had the chance. Oh, and he was passing out ribbons like there was no tomorrow."
"Was he?" She got out of the car and marched inside.
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Taylor was talking to a customer and bagging her groceries when Rory enters.
"Luke I've known longer, because of the diner. Lorelai is much later, but she-"
"Where are they, Taylor?" Rory cut him off.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb. The ribbons."
Taylor picked up the box and showed it to her.
She grabbed it out of his hands. "Take piano lessons or something!" She yelled as she walked out.
Taylor shook his head. "She was so sweet when she was little."
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Rory got in the car and handed the ribbons to Lane. "Got 'em."
"My compliments to your moxie!"
"Oh, I've got moxie coming out of my ears today." She turns around when they hear a car honking, but she can't see anything with the groceries in the way.
"They honking at us?"
"They better not be. Oh, I am in no mood for this. We are depressed!" She stood up with her head out the sunroof. "We'll move when we move, so stop-" She pause when she saw that it was Luke honking at them.
"Oh. Sorry." He says, seeing that it's Rory.
"This is not my car." She ducked back inside.
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Rory's purchases were set up on a table next to the bed, and Lorelai was sitting up, eating something out of a bowl.
"How are you feeling?" Rory asked her.
Lorelai put her bowl down. "Like I just got dumped."
"Understandable." Her head turned quickly when she heard someone knocking on the front door. "Umm, I'll be right back."
"Okay."
Rory ran downstairs and pulled the front door open. "What took you so long?"
"Hi, Jess. Nice to see you. Oh, well Rory, it's really nice to see you too."
"Sorry. Come on in."
He walked inside and made his way to the living room. "So what do you need me for?"
She followed him, but stopped short next to the couch. "What is that?"
He looked down at the pink ribbon pinned to his shirt. "That's my ribbon."
She walked over and unpinned the ribbon. "Why must you encourage this insanity?" She shoved it into her pocket. "And shouldn't you be on Luke's side anyway?"
"Luke's an idiot." He shook his head. "So, how's Lorelai doing?"
Rory shrugged. "She say's she's alright, but laying in bed like that is not like her."
"I think you're just gonna have to let her deal in her own way. I mean I get that this isn't like her, but wasn't this relationship different from the other ones?"
"I guess you're right." She narrowed her eyes. "Since when are you right?"
"I told you I changed."
She looked down at her feet. "I know." So quickly shifted her gaze to his face. "So, you're probably wondering why I called you."
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Rory walked into her mother's room where she was reading a magazine. "Heads up, man coming in."
Jess walks in carrying the television. "Where do you want this?"
"Oh! The T.V.!" Lorelai cheered.
"On the table." She directed him before turning to her mother. "You won't come downstairs, I'm bringing downstairs up to you."
Jess put the TV down and started hooking it up to the wall.
"So, as you probably figured out, I put all the things you will definitely need within easiest reach - water, basic foodstuffs - then, the things that you have to reach for or stand up for recede in order of frequency of use. It's not a science, but I did the best I could." Rory informed her mother.
"Well, I'm loving the cereal combo."
"Five different kinds, three sweetened, with a mix of non-fat milk and half and half. It's a Paris recipe."
"Thank her for me."
Jess stood up and turned to face Rory and Lorelai. "All done here."
"Excellent." Lorelai said, reaching for the remote.
"Do you need anything else?"
"How's it going with that pony?"
"Okay, so, nothing else. I'm gonna go then." He nodded and left.
Rory watched him go then turned to her mother. "I'll be right back."
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"Jess." Rory caught up to him at the front door.
"Hmm?"
"I-thank you. For helping me…Mom. For helping us. It was really nice of you to just run over here like that."
"It was the least I could do."
She smiled at him. "You really did change, didn't you."
"If you need anything, call me. Okay?"
"Yea. Thanks Jess."
"You're welcome."
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"What was that?" Lorelai asked as soon as Rory walked back into her room.
Rory sat at the foot of the bed. "What was what?"
"What was that with you and Jess?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"What happened with Logan?"
Rory shrugged. "That wasn't me. I don't want to be the kind of person that just jumps into bed with a guy."
"Did you tell him that?"
"Not yet. But I will."
"So…Jess, huh?"
"I don't know. I don't know if I can take him back after what happened. Hell, I don't even know if that's what he wants."
Lorelai snorted. "Yea. You're probably right. He was at my parents' wedding because the three of them are so close."
"Can we talk about something else?"
"If you insist." She said dramatically. "Whose car is that outside?"
"Paris's. You can see the driveway from here?"
"Yes, because of my newly acquired x-ray vision. I looked out the window before to see who was at the door."
"There's a roof over the porch."
"Well, then it's good that I have x-ray vision, isn't it. Why do you have Paris's car?"
"Well, I had to get out here, and my car is at the dealer for its six month service. So Paris let me borrow hers"
"You take your car to the dealer?"
"Yea."
"They're such a rip-off there."
"It says in the book to take it to the dealer."
"If it said in the book to drive off a cliff, would you drive off a cliff?
"Yes I would."
Lorelai shook her head. "Look, you should go."
"No!"
"Yale's going to get mad."
"Yale's not going to get mad."
"Rory, I'm glad you came, but look how fine I am. I'm surrounded by everything I could possibly need. I even have raw cookie dough, for God's sake.
"That was Lane's idea."
"A whole village has seen to my needs. Go. It's time. Look, I'm sitting up and everything."
"And you're feeling better, I mean, for real this time?"
"I'm not a hundred percent, but I'm getting there. I swear."
"The downstairs is all set too. I cleaned up. Vacuumed a little, spot dusted. Oh, and I've checked in with Sookie."
"Oh, good."
"The party for the little girls and their dolls? Michel apparently really came through and it was a big hit. He sang a medley from Annie."
"Oh, the big guns. Good. Now go!"
Rory stood up and started towards the door but stopped and turned around before she got all the way. "Okay. But I am going to call a lot."
"I'm good with that."
"And I only have one class tomorrow, so I could stop by again in the afternoon."
"Well, there'll be no need."
"You can call me, too, you know."
"I know, Mom." Lorelai mocked
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye, honey."
Rory smiled one more time then walked out the door.
Lorelai turned on the TV and flipped through some channels then turned it off again. She sighed and slumped back down in bed.
