Disclaimer: Emma is mine, but I'm making no money off of her.
A/N: Here's another chapter for you. I hope you like it. What will happen between Rory and Emily? Here's the answer. Enjoy!
Rory sighed. "Mom, I don't see how we're ever going to get all of this done. You've barely even started my dress and the wedding is in two weeks. Not to mention I still have to type out the programs, make sure the food gets where it needs to go on the correct date, make sure the flowers get to the church, get the flowers for Emma to throw, get a basket and hope against all hope that the bridesmaid dresses are going to get here in time. We just got the invitations finished today, so we still have to mail them and with Kirk being the mailman this week who knows when everyone will get them. I also got a letter from Taylor saying something was wrong with my permit requesting the church so I have to go in and fix that in two days or he can't hold the church anymore. And do a million other things along with all that! Where is Lane? She was supposed to be here an hour ago and help with all these calls that need to be made!"
"Sweets, calm down," Lorelai said, desperately hoping to calm her daughter. "Everything is going to turn out fine. I'm finished with the pattern for your dress, the sewing and altering will be so easy. You don't have to worry about the food; since Sookie's catering everything will be super. She may be scatterbrained, but she will not mess up your reception. Getting Emma's flowers will be easy as well. As for Lane, she probably got distracted with the boys, Steve and Kwan, but she will be here soon, don't worry." Lorelai heard the doorbell. "See, that's probably her now. Go answer the door and don't freak out. We don't need a Bridezilla on our hands."
Rory narrowed her eyes at her mom. As she began to walk toward the door she called out to the person on the other side. "Lane, where have you been? We have been waiting for—" Rory abruptly cut off when she saw who was on the other side.
After Lorelai heard Rory's sentence cut off, she called out to her. "Rory, who was at the door?"
When Rory didn't answer, Lorelai got up and walked toward the door. "Rory, who—" Lorelai couldn't finish her sentence when she saw who was standing at the door either.
Rory was the first one to manage to recover herself. "How may we help you, Grandmother?"
Lorelai was able to wince at the tone of Rory's voice and her use of the word "grandmother" but also knew that her mother deserved every word that Rory could and might dish out. Considering who they were talking about though, Emily might deserve a little more than Rory would give.
"May I come in?" Emily asked, softly. She felt a tug at her heart when Rory called her "grandmother," but she knew she deserved it and knew she was not in any position to argue.
Rory looked over at her mother. She sighed, because the look in Lorelai's eyes told her this was all on her and she would back her up no matter what she said. "I guess so." Rory agreed. "But, we do have a lot of planning to do, so if you will hurry, it would be very much appreciated."
Rory walked to the living room and assumed Emily would follow. Lorelai shot an ugly look at her mother and went toward the kitchen, where she and Rory were before her mother interfered. She was going to sit quietly and put the finishing touches on the pattern for her daughter's wedding dress. If things got out of hand though, she was going to be at the ready to jump in to save her baby, if she had to.
Rory quickly caught her mother's eye when she saw her going toward the kitchen and shook her head. She wanted Lorelai in the living room with them. She had to stay mad at her Emily and while she was sure she could do that on her own, if Emily managed to make her speechless, she wanted to make sure someone would be there with the hateful words to give. Rory was just hoping she wouldn't need such words from her mother, or from herself. Many years though had taught her that when it came to Emily Gilmore, one could never be too careful.
-%
"Could you both please sit down?" Emily asked them as she sat down on the couch.
Rory sat down in the chair closest to the stairs and Lorelai sat on the arm of that chair. Rory wasn't going to open her mouth. Since Emily had come seeking her out, she wasn't about to speak until she was spoken to. She didn't know what her grandmother wanted and she wasn't going to assume anything, because with Emily Gilmore, she really couldn't. Emily could be here to yell at her or to try to beg for her forgiveness. Well, more like expect Rory's forgiveness. Gilmore's, especially Emily, never begged.
Emily looked into Rory's eyes. "I would like to apologize for my hasty assumptions and unforgivable words to you and your fiancé during dinner two weeks ago."
Rory blinked. She was very surprised at Emily's words. First of all, she sounded very sincere and sounded as though she was actually remorseful. Rory looked over at Lorelai, who too looked shocked. Although this definitely was a start she didn't see the need to say anything yet.
Lorelai though, didn't feel the same way. "Well, that's a start." The words were whispered, but both women heard them. Rory smiled and the corners of Emily's lips even looked as though they might be turned up in some form of a smile.
"I just wasn't thinking about what I was saying Friday. I don't think I was thinking at all," Emily continued. "I heard you say you moved the wedding date up and I just saw you, the perfect, innocent grandchild that I loved making the same decisions as your mother. While I regret the decision your mother and Christopher made on that night long ago, I can't say I regret the outcome. The decision the two teenagers made that night was a mistake, but you were a miracle and I guess, in a way, I'm thankful for that decision, because I would've never met you if such hadn't happened."
At that, Lorelai made a little sound of surprise. Did her mother just say she was thankful that Lorelai and Christopher had sex? Her mother was being delicate about the issue (and Lorelai was sure half of that was so Emily didn't have to say the word sex) but Lorelai didn't think she could mistake what Emily just said. When she ran the words over again in her head, she definitely said she was thankful. Was Emily on some sort of drug?
Emily smiled at the shocked look on the almost identical faces of mother and daughter. Same mouth slightly opened in shock, same blue eyes open wide. "Yes, I did say I was thankful. Although I will never want to relive the shame and the regret and the sadness that filled me, I could never be ashamed of such a miracle that decision caused. Rory, I know that asking for your forgiveness is too much right now and honestly, I'm not sure I ever deserve to be forgiven for what I said. I can only hope that you can find it in your heart to look past the horrible words I said to you that night. What you heard, what I said, was never meant to come out the way it did, was never meant to imply what it did and I only hope you know that. If you didn't, I hope you know that now and know I mean what I'm saying with every fiber of my being."
Emily felt tears coming to her eyes again. "I am proud of everything you have achieved in your life, Rory. I have all of you articles saved in your old room and most of the newsletters from Chilton that mentioned your name, because it was always with some kind of honor attached to it. I couldn't wish for anything more. It's an honor to be your grandmother, Rory Gilmore."
Rory and Lorelai weren't much better off than Emily, as tears were filling their eyes as well. Rory almost couldn't even remember why she was mad anymore and knew that everything her grandmother had said that night would be forgotten in an instant. It would never be spoken of again and would never be thought of again. She shared a silent, quick look with Lorelai that spoke volumes. They both agreed on the subject and knew that Emily was sincere and was forgiven. Both girls didn't see why there was any need to be angry any longer. Emily had bared her soul in her apology and could only be sincere.
When Emily stood, turned away from the girls and began to walk to the door, Rory's voice stopped her. "Grandma, wait."
Emily turned back around and saw Rory lean over to the coffee table. She picked up one of the neatly, very recently, typed wedding invitations and handed it to her grandmother. "You are cordially invited to the wedding of Rory Gilmore and Jess Mariano. Please come help us commemorate this occasion with a ceremony then reception afterward. Singing, dancing, cake eating and coffee drinking will take place," Rory recited from the invitation which she knew by heart. She looked at her grandma then, and deviated from what the invitation said. "Save this invitation and please come. And for future reference, I consider it much more of an honor to call myself your granddaughter."
After that, Emily's tears wouldn't stay at bay any longer. She manage to nod and give a watery chuckle before her tears came full force. Rory and Lorelai weren't far behind her and soon all three women were embracing and crying and trying to get to the couch through the blurriness of their tears. Thirty minutes later, when Emma woke up from her nap, she came downstairs and saw all three women sitting on the couch laughing and talking like best friends. Emma didn't know what happened between the women, but she knew everything was going to be okay now. She knew they would go back to Friday Night Dinner and everything was normal. She knew Rory would be less stressed out about the wedding planning (she had gone to take a nap to get away from her frantic sister) and Emma knew the family was again mended. They had scars and patches from the rifts, but they were always fixed. She ran to the couch, climbed up onto her mother's lap and hugged her grandma's neck. She was soon joining in on the laughter that was ringing throughout the room and when Lane hurriedly walked in, apologies on her lips, she promptly shut her mouth and quickly backed out again, leaving the four Gilmore women to their conversing.
And all is forgiven. Expected? Or did you think I would drag it out longer? I'm not really sure when the next chapter will come…or what exactly it will contain, since it has been so long since I have touched this story. If you are still reading, will you please review! If you are still reading, thanks!