Chapter 19 – Thanksgiving plans revised
Disclaimer: See first chapter for disclaimer
AN: First of all: SORRY: I know I promised to update much sooner, but I didn't realize how long this chapter would be. I kept typing and typing and suddenly I was shocked at how much I had written. So I hope it's not too long or boring or whatever. I didn't wanna cut it really, because I wanted to get this stuff out. I know I usually don't do this but I think it's time to thank you guys personally for all your reviews: Sam: Don't worry about, just pop in sometimes and tell me what you think ;) ; Courtney: I hope I got up to your expectations with this chapter as well ;); Nina: first of all: thanks I'm glad you like my story. Second, I know they might say it more than you would expect maybe or as other writer's let them say it. But in each and every story the characters develop differently, and they certainly developed differently in my story than they did on the show. I'm trying to stay in the major line of events of the show but other than that, it's just the way I want to see them develop, and that's why I let them say it when I think it is the right moment (judging by my own feelings and how and when I would say it). But still, thanks for the critique, that's always appreciated ;) ; ProFfeSseR: Just thanks! Can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your opinion on my stuff and thanks for being such a good friend ;) ; everwoodgirl04: Oh wow. That's one of the best compliments a writer can get, I'd say ;) cb: funny, those are the initial of my real name. Anyway, thanks, and sorry I didn't update as soon as promised ;) ; Phoebe4u: Thanks sooo much! That was a sweet review ;) ; LukeNlorelaifan: I love writing about this side of Luke;) And thanks to all of you who have reviewed in previous chapters! It's the best feeling ever when I open my mailbox and see that I have new reviews. You guys are why I write this! THANKS!
ENJOY!
Chapter 19 – Thanksgiving plans revised
Previously:
"But, I mean, it's your choice. We can do whatever you want."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I don't really care where I spend Thanksgiving," he told her, "As long as I am with you, I really don't care."
"Aww, that's soo sweet," she placed a soft kiss on his lips."
"Well what do you say?"
"Uh… ok."
"Ok, what?" Luke asked her, not sure what she meant by her answer.
"Ok… let's go to Maine."
Luke looked at her utterly surprised. "Are you sure? I mean, you don't mind that Jess is gonna be there after all that's happened between him and Rory?"
"Well, he's part of your family, and you don't get to see you family very often. I guess I can deal with him for a weekend." She told him shrugging.
Suddenly Luke pulled her towards him and kissed her fiercely.
"What was that for?" she asked him panting when they broke apart again.
"Just… thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me, Lorelai."
Lorelai leaned forwards and placed a much softer kiss on his lips. "That's the least I can do after all you've done for me."
"I thought we could maybe drive up there on Wednesday, you know have a little more time up there, how does that sound?"
"Sounds perfect." She smiled at him.
"Great. So I guess I should call Liz and tell her that we're coming" He said getting up from the bed, but Lorelai stopped him with a hand on his leg.
"Let me call Rory first. She doesn't know about all of this yet." She took her cell phone from the nightstand.
"Oh, allright. That's probably better. You call her and I'll go downstairs and clean up the kitchen."
"Stay here. You don't have to go and besides I'd like to have you with me when I talk to her."
"Ok." Luke sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him.
Lorelai opened her cell phone and speed-dialed Rory's number.
"Hey, Mom." Rory said picking up the phone after a couple of rings.
"Hey, Sweetheart. How's it going?"
"Pretty good. A little busy, 'cause I have to finish two papers that I have to hand in before the holidays, but I'm almost done with them." Rory said on the other end of the line, flopping down her bed in her dorm room. "So what's new with you? Everything allright over there?"
Lorelai took a deep breath and squeezed Luke's hand.
"Mom?" Rory was getting concerned after her mom didn't answer her previous question.
"Actually there is something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Well, what is it?" Rory was getting even more concerned now and sat up."
"You'll be on your own with your grandparents this Thanksgiving."
"What? Why?"
"Luke's sister invited us to Maine for Thanksgiving."
"Oh," Rory didn't really know, how to respond to her Mom's statement."
"Honey? You still there?"
"Yeah, I am." Rory said, still a little perplexed. "I just… have fun, I guess."
"Tell her," Luke said squeezing Lorelai's shoulder.
"Was that Luke? What does he want you tell me mom? Is there something else?"
"Well," Lorelai started, taking a deep breath. "I'm not just not coming to Thanksgiving dinner, I won't come to dinner at your grandparents at all, from now on."
"What?" Rory exclaimed getting up from her bed in one quick movement. "What'd they do now?"
"Oh, you know, just the usual stuff. But I'm not gonna just sit there and listen to them anymore. I'm sick of it and I told them to not expect me to Friday Night Dinners anymore."
"But what did they say mom? They must have really hurt you if you're reacting like this. I don't wanna spend Thanksgiving without you, mom." Rory told her mother sadly. "And I don't really wanna be with them if they hurt you like that."
"I know. I don't wanna spend Thanksgiving without you either, but unfortunately you have a deal with them, and I don't think your grandma is gonna let you get out of this. You know how she gets with holiday dinners. She'll tell you that a "family" is supposed to spend those holidays together and she's gonna remind you that you have a deal with them and that it includes spending these holidays with them. I'm so sorry, babe. I mean you could still try and get out of it."
"No it's ok, mom." Rory sighed into the phone. "But she better not expect a whole lot of conversation with me."
"That's my girl. You know, you could always come to Maine after the dinner."
"I don't know, mom. I'm sure you're not gonna be the only ones there." Rory said insinuating Jess's attendance.
"Right, no we're not." Lorelai sadly replied when she realized what her daughter meant by her comment.
"I'm not really sure if I'm ready to see him again."
"It's ok, hon. You can still think about it." Lorelai turned towards Luke, who nodded his agreement.
"I will. Listen I have to go. Marty's coming over to study, soon."
"Ohh, naked guy."
"Mom! How many times do I have to tell you that we're just friends?"
"Allright, allright, sorry hon. I'll talk to you soon."
"Bye, mom. I love you."
"I love you, too, sweetie." Both of them hung up their phones, sad about the current circumstances.
Lorelai put down the phone and sighed.
"How'd she take it?" Luke asked her, rubbing her leg in comfort.
"She sounded so sad."
"She'll be allright."
"Is it okay that I told her she could come up for the weekend if she wants to? I should have asked you first. I'm sorry. I just wanted to make her feel better. God I hate my mother for doing this. She's so controlling sometimes. I just didn't want Rory to feel…"
Luke shook his head and pulled her closer to him. "Hey it's ok. I'd love to have her with us over the weekend. Do you think she'll come if Jess is gonna be there?"
"I don't know. She said she's not sure if she's ready to see him yet."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. You know, we can always stay here, if you wanna change your mind about it. I haven't said anything to Liz, yet."
Lorelai turned towards him. "No. I don't wanna change my mind. I'm sure that won't be the last time she'll have to deal with seeing him."
"Yeah, probably not." Luke smiled at her, hoping that she was implying what he thought she was. "So, I guess I should call Liz then?"
"Yeah, go ahead." She said handing him the phone.
"You really sure?"
"Yes, I'm really sure. Go ahead."
"Allright. Just checkin'." He said and dialed his sister's number in Maine.
"Hey Liz, how's it going? … Good. … Actually, I wanted to know if your offer for Thanksgiving is still up? … Yeah… I don't know she might come up later … Allright… Well we'll see you Wednesday then… me, too… see ya." Luke turned towards Lorelai. "They're expecting us Wednesday afternoon and Liz wants me to tell you how excited she is too see you again."
Lorelai smiled at him. "Really? That's nice. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, too."
Luke put the phone back on the nightstand. "So, we'll drive up there Wednesday morning and stay until Sunday afternoon. How does that sound?"
"Sounds great. What time are we gonna leave?"
"Seven a.m."
"Huh? You've got to be kidding me. Why do you wanna leave that early?"
"Do you not want me to make dinner?"
"I do." She said pouting a little.
"See, that's why we have to leave that early. It's takes a little longer to make a Thanksgiving dinner. The drive up there is gonna take a couple of hours, depending on how many pit stops we have to make and then we have to go to the grocery store, because it's easier if we buy what we need up in Maine."
"Allright, I get it." She told him, still pouting a little. "But you better have lots and lots of coffee and doughnuts waiting for me in the car when we leave. Otherwise it's gonna be a very unpleasant drive. Cause then we have to stop a lot and I need to hear loud music so I can stay awake. Because if I fall asleep I probably won't be able to sleep at night and then you'll have to entertain me, because there's no way you're gonna sleep when I'm wide awake mister, and you don't…"
Luke cut her off with a kiss. "Allright, allright, I'll have coffee and doughnuts waiting for you in the car but the I'll have a say in the choice of music."
"We'll see about that."
Luke shook his head. "Promise, or I will deprive you of coffee."
"That's not fair," she said pouting again. "You know I can't say no when you threaten to not give me any coffee."
"I know."
"You're mean."
"So?" Luke said still not giving up. They both knew that Luke wouldn't take coffee away from her but sometimes he liked to tease her about it a little.
"Allright."
"Good girl." He said and leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Lorelai pulled him down on the mattress with her and deepened the kiss. He was just starting to kiss a trail down her neck when doorbell rang. Both let out a frustrated groan.
"You'll get the door I'll get something to drink." He told her and pulled off the bed with him.
They walked down the stairs quickly and while Luke went into the kitchen Lorelai went to open the door.
"Sookie? What are you doing here?" she asked her best friend surprised.
"Remember that you wanted to call after you had talked to your parents?"
"Oh shoot." Lorelai said, hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand. "I'm so so sorry, Sook. I got home pretty late last night and then I just forgot."
"It's allright, don't worry. So… how'd it go?"
"Oh well, you got a couple of minutes?"
"Yeah, sure. I don't have to be back at the Inn for a while."
"Well then, come on in and I'll tell you the whole story." Lorelai said, gesturing for her friend to come in.
"That bad, huh?" Sookie asked, following her into the living room where they sat down on the couch.
"You have no idea."
Just at that moment, Luke came walking out of the and placed to glasses of iced tea in front of the women. "I'll be upstairs reading." He told them, gesturing towards the stairs.
"Oh hey, Luke," Luke said surprised. "I didn't know you were here. Is this a bad time? Should I come back later?"
"Nah, you guys talk." He said waving her off. "I'll just be upstairs."
"Thanks, babe." Lorelai said smiling at him thankful for his understanding that she could need some girl talk with her best friend, especially since they weren't able to talk that much lately.
"Don't call me that in front of people." He said through slightly clenched teeth, looking rather embarrassed than mad at her.
Sookie smiled at their little banter.
"Sorry." She said still smiling.
"I'll be…." He said gesturing towards the stairs.
"Yeah," Lorelai nodded and watched him walking up the stairs.
"I'm so sorry. Are you sure you don't want me to leave?"
"God no, it's fine. I miss our girl talks."
"Yeah, me too." Sookie replied smiling at her best friend. "So tell me about your parents."
Lorelai's smile faded and she told Sookie what had happened at her parent's house the other night. "So I told them that I'm through with them and that they should not expect me to come to any more dinners or any other events involving them."
Sookie didn't know what to say, except, "I'm so sorry about all of this, sweetie."
"Yeah well, there's nothing for you to be sorry about."
"I know, but I just feel so bad for you, you know. So… was that what the thing in your front yard was about last night?" Sookie asked her cautiously.
"How do you…"
"Babette saw you."
Lorelai winced at Sookie's words. "So the whole town knows about my breakdown out there?"
"No. She only told Patty and they came to me right away promising that they weren't gonna tell anyone."
"Great." Lorelai said dropping her head into her hands.
"Don't worry, we're not gonna tell anyone, I promise." Sookie gently rubbed her back.
"Promise?"
"I promise, honey. We were just worried about you and since I'm your best friend they thought I should check up on you, make sure you're all right. That's all."
"Really?" Lorelai said looking up at Sookie.
"Yeah really. They really care about you, you know. And so do I."
"You guys are amazing."
"Well that's what friends are for, sweetie."
Lorelai turned towards her best friend and hugged her tightly. "Thanks."
"So do you want to tell me what happened out there?" Sookie asked her when they broke apart.
"Oh well. I had one of my little relationship freak-outs, or maybe it was a big one. But other than all the guys I've been with before… Luke didn't turn away from me, you know? He got me back down to earth, telling me that he's not gonna give up that easily."
"Oh, wow. I didn't know you guys were that serious."
"Well, I don't know if we're that serious. There are a lot of things that we haven't talked about yet."
"I know I might not have been very supportive at the beginning, but I think that you don't have to worry about anything with Luke." Sookie told her sincerely.
"You think so?"
"Yeah, I really do. I don't think I've ever seen you like this with any other man before. You look so happy around him or even when you talk about him. You get this kinda glow that I've never seen on you before. And Luke… he's soo different when he's around you, he's like a completely different person. I think you actually managed to bring out the softy in Luke Danes. He's a lot less grumpy. You really love him don't you?"
"Yeah, I do," Lorelai said looking down at her hands smiling.
"So did you guys have the talk yet?" Sookie asked wiggling her eyebrows.
"What talk?" Lorelai didn't really know what her friend meant.
"You know the talk. Marriage, kids."
Lorelai looked surprised. "What? No, god no."
"Why are you saying it like that? Don't tell me you haven't thought about it yet."
Lorelai looked down at her hands, trying to avoid Sookie's questioning eyes.
"You have, haven't you?" Sookie asked softly.
"Maybe."
"Ohh you have," Sookie exclaimed happily. "Oh, shoot." She said after noticing what time it was already. "I'm sorry, Lorelai, but I have to get back to the Inn. So what are you doing on Thanksgiving now?" Sookie asked her already getting up from the couch.
"Actually Luke's sister Liz, invited us to Maine to spend Thanksgiving with her and her husband, So I won't be at the Inn until next week, but I'll come in tomorrow to give last instructions to Michel and the staff."
"Aww, that's allright, don't worry. Michel and I got everything covered at the Inn. I think it's good for you to get away for a couple of days."
"Yeah, probably." Lorelai said getting up as well, bringing Sookie to the front door.
"So I'll come in for an hour or two tomorrow."
"Ok, make you sure to come say bye."
"Course I will."
"Allright, see ya Wednesday." Sookie said hugging her goodbye.
"Yeah, bye. Say "hi" to Jackson and Davey for me."
"Will do. Bye."
Lorelai waved goodbye to her best friend and closed the front door making her way up the stairs in order to find Luke. He was lying on the bed, reading when she came into the bedroom.
"Hey there," she said flopping down on the bed next to him.
"Hey there, yourself." He replied putting his book on the bedside table. "So did you guys have a good talk?"
"Yeah. Thanks for giving us some privacy. We don't have as much time for a good girl talk as we did before."
"I'm sure you'll have more time again, when you've got a good routine going at the Inn."
Lorelai frowned. "Don't you think we should have developed a routine by now?"
"Nah, don't worry. It took me over a year until I had everything really figured out at the diner."
"Really?" she looked at him surprised.
"Oh yeah. And it'd probably taken me a lot longer without Buddy's help. But you shouldn't worry about the Inn. You have Sookie and you've done all this before for the Independence Inn. It's just that most of your staff is new and it takes a while for them to get used to everything. And you have a different capacity as you had at the Independence Inn, so basically you and Sookie have to do some readjusting as well. And your numbers are going up right?"
Lorelai nodded at that.
"See, you're doing a great job with the Inn. Don't worry about it."
Lorelai kissed him soundly. "Thanks for saying all this."
Luke smiled at her. "Well, it's the truth and you have every right to be proud of what you've accomplished with Sookie."
"Yeah, it's been quite a year. And you're right, I am really happy about how far we've come so far with Dragonfly."
"Good, you should be. Are you hungry?"
"I'm even more hungry than I was before," she told him patting her belly.
Luke smiled at her gesture. "Come on. I'll make you a sandwich." He told her patting her knee.
The next night, Lorelai kissed Luke goodbye on the front porch. "You sure you can't stay tonight?"
"I wish I could but I have early deliveries tomorrow morning and on Wednesday before we leave and I need to pack for our trip. And you need to check in on the Inn before we leave Wednesday morning."
"I know, I know. I Just hate it when you're not with me at night."
"Yeah, well, I don't like it either. Just remember that we'll have a whole weekend where we don't have to think about work and where we'll have a lot of time to ourselves."
Luke put his arms around her, holding her close to his body, while she rested her hands on his chest playing with the collar of his jacket.
"You're right. I'm really looking forward to spending some time alone with you."
"Dirty."
Lorelai rolled her eyes at him. "I mean without anyone from the diner or the Inn or this nosy town around to interrupt us."
Luke smiled at her. "I know what you meant, and again 'dirty'."
"Maybe." She said with a smirk.
Luke pulled her towards his body and kissed her soft and sensually. Lorelai used to collar of his jacket to pull him even closer to her body, deepening their kisses. She let her tongue softly touch his bottom lip, begging for entrance, which he gladly granted. Their tongues swirled around each other, soft moans occasionally escaping their throats, until they were completely out of breath.
Lorelai rested her forehead on Luke's chest when they broke apart, to which Luke responded by resting his cheek against her forehead and pulling her into a tight embrace. For a couple of moments they simply enjoyed being close to each other while letting their breaths regain a normal rhythm.
"I should probably go," he said after a while, although he'd much rather stayed like this for another while, but he knew that if he'd stay any longer, he'd never make it back to the diner.
"Yeah, you probably should," Lorelai mumbled into his chest, but didn't let go of him.
"Am I gonna see you at the diner tomorrow." He asked her, gently brushing his hand over her back.
Lorelai lifted her head off of his chest and looked up at him. "I'm not sure. I have to go to work early if I want to leave in the afternoon in order to pack my stuff for our trip. I'll see if I can make it."
"Don't worry about it. Take your time with all your stuff at the Inn and if you have some time left, I'll see you at the diner, otherwise I will see you Wednesday morning when I pick you up." Lorelai pouted a little. She hated not being able to see hi for a while day, but she also knew that she still had a lot to do at the Inn and didn't know if she could make it to the diner. But as he had said earlier they had long weekend to look forward to.
"And don't pack too much stuff!" he added.
"So two, small suitcases then, got it." She said grinning up at him.
"One, small one."
"One and a little bag?"
"Yeah, fine," he told her knowing that he'd be standing out there till dawn arguing with her, if he didn't give in.
"Thanks, babe. As much as I hate to say this. You should probably go."
"Yup, you're right. Just remember we have a long weekend to look forward to."
"I will." She stepped on her tiptoes and placed a few soft kisses on his lips. "I love you." She whispered against his lips.
"I love you," he leaned down for another kiss.
They said their goodbyes and Lorelai watched his disappearing figure for a little while, before stepping back into the house, preparing herself for a whole day and two lonely nights she wouldn't be able to spend with Luke.
Dragonfly Inn, the next morning…"I need coffee," Lorelai almost yelled as she walked into the kitchen of the Dragonfly Inn and slumped down on the nearest stool.
"Almost done," Sookie told her and walked over to her best friend who was resting her head on her hand. "What are you doing here this early, Lorelai? It's barely after eight."
"Uh, I came in early to get all the paperwork done for the front desk staff before I leave for the weekend. What are you doing here so early?" She asked looking up at Sookie.
Sookie walked over to the coffee machine and poured a fresh cup for Lorelai. "Davey has a cold and so he woke up early. And since Jackson had left early, because he had early deliveries, I took care of Davey, and then I couldn't go back to sleep. So I got him ready, brought him to Jackson and came here."
"The curse of early deliveries."
"Luke, too." She handed Lorelai the cup.
"Yeah, thanks." Lorelai sighed. "I hate it when he can't stay over because he has early deliveries."
"Aww, that's so cute." Sookie giggled. "But why didn't you stay at his place then?"
Lorelai sighed again. "Because I usually wake up when he gets up, which I don't really mind, but when I fall back asleep again I tend to oversleep or end up having breakfast with Luke after the early morning rush, if I don't oversleep. Anyway. Long story short, I never get out of the diner before ten when I'm staying at his place and I want to leave a little early today, so I can pack my stuff for our trip to Maine."
"Are you excited?" Sookie asked her giddily.
"Yeah, I am." Lorelai replied smiling a little shyly. "I'm so happy that we can finally have some time alone, together."
"But aren't you staying with his family?" Sookie said a little confused. "Or did you not tell me something?"
"No, we are, but it's just them, you know. No one from the diner or the Inn to disturb us. I mean, not that I don't like seeing you, it's just…"
"I know what you mean," Sookie told her smiling. "Enjoy your long weekend with Luke and don't worry about the Inn. We've got everything under control, and I'm here most of the time anyway."
"Thanks. So just in case I don't see you anymore, 'Happy Thanksgiving'," Lorelai got up and hugged her best friend tightly.
"'Happy Thanksgiving' and say 'hi' to Luke for me. And I wanna know everything when you get back." Sookie told her grinning.
"We'll see about that." She said grinning back at Sookie. "Say 'hi' to Jackson for me and give Davey a kiss from me."
"I will, have fun."
"Thanks," Lorelai said and walked back towards her office.
Later… around noon…
There was a soft knock at the door to Lorelai's office.
"Come in," she said sounding exhausted, not even looking up from her work.
The door opened and Luke poked his head inside. "Hey."
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Lorelai asked him surprised. She got up to greet him, her mood instantly better.
"I brought lunch. I mean, since you didn't know if you could make it to the diner, I thought I'd…"
Luke wasn't able to finish his sentence. Lorelai had already pulled him down to her level and kissed him.
"You're the best!" she exclaimed when they broke apart.
"So, I'm guessing your hungry then?"
"I'm starving. I didn't have anything but coffee so far."
"Why didn't you let Sookie make you some breakfast."
"'Cause I was too busy. I didn't really have time to eat anything yet."
"Well, then sit down. I've got burgers and fries and some pie for dessert."
"Yay! Just what I need. Hey how come you don't have to be at the diner?"
"Lane and Caesar have everything covered, so I thought I'd go have lunch with my beautiful girlfriend."
Lorelai smiled. "Thanks. I like it when you call me your girlfriend."
"Yeah, well. I kinda like it, too."
"Come on, let's eat." She said and tugged him towards the couch that was standing against the wall in her office.
"So, how much longer are you gonna be here?" Luke asked her while unpacking their food.
"Not much longer. I'm pretty much done, I just need to sign some stuff that's all."
There was a knock at the door, just when they had finished their lunch.
Lorelai sighed. "So much for a quiet lunch… Come in!"
"There's someone to see you in the lobby, Miss Gilmore."
"Thanks, Danny." She said to her employee who nodded and closed the door.
"I'll let you get back to work and then I can actually come to your place tonight. Caesar said he'd take over for me tomorrow morning."
"Really? That's great!"
"Yep, it is."
"Ok, I'll walk you out, since I have to go to the lobby anyway."
Luke smiled at her and placed his arm around her shoulder. Lorelai put her arm around his waist and they made their way to the lobby together.
Lorelai stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the person waiting for them in the lobby. "Great, just what I needed," she said only audible to Luke.
"Do you want me to leave?"
Lorelai shook her head. "No, stay."
Luke pulled her even closer to his side and together they approached the person in the lobby, who had been waiting for Lorelai.
TBC…
AN2: Sorry to leave you guys with a cliffhanger again, but it's so much more fun that way :D
So what do you think? Please review ;)