"Okay, come on!" She yanks him upstairs with her.
Rory shows him the upstairs.
"Nice room."
"Mommy really loves it."
"I bet."
"At the potting shed, we hadda share a room but now we don't."
"Cool."
"Yeah. She said she loves this house."
"I am sure."
"It's so big."
"I know."
"Daddy, sometimes mommy is sad."
"Sad?"
"Yeah. I hear her crying sometime."
"Why does she cry?"
"I don't know, i'm just a little girl."
Chris smiles and rubs her head. "Don't worry sweetie, I am sure mommy is okay."
"But I get worried about her."
"Would it make you feel better if I talked to her?"
"Yes please."
"You got it."
They head back down and eat pizza together, then Rory goes off to play in her room and Chris helps Lorelai clean up.
"So, how are you doing?" Chris asks her.
"I think I'm okay."
"Lorelai..."
He looks at her, and she sees the caring, protective guy from back when they were kids growing up, she stands up and gives him a hug when she starts crying.
"it's just so hard."
"Shhh..."
"I...I...it's hard. Being a mom, trying to have a job, caring for her."
"I'll help more."
"I've heard that how many times?"
He sighs.
"I know I'm an ass."
"Yes you are." She agrees.
He rubs her back and moves her hair from her face once she looks at him again, standing close.
"I am sorry." He says sincerely.
"I've heard that before too."
"I mean it."
SHe sighs. "I know you do...thanks Chris.."
"I want to be here for you guys more, I can drop out."
"Chris, no, you only have this year left. I don't want you to drop out of school..maybe you could just...come around more often...or at least call more often."
"Alright. I can do that."
"Good."
"Ill be there for you both."
"Our daughter needs you. Be there for her."
"What about you?"
"I am ok."
"You sure?"
"I will be."
He leans in and kisses her without thinking, they kiss only for a second before pulling away.
"Chris...I am dating someone." She whispers.
He nods and backs himself away. "I know, I'm sorry, I just...had to do that one more time."
"It can't happen again."
"Okay..."
"I am sorry Chris."
"Its fine. We agreed."
"It would never work."She says.
"Can't we try?"
"Chris, we did. We broke up two years ago."
"I know."
"I am sorry."
He nods.
"I know there has been girls."
"What?"
"At school."
"There's.."
"Chris, you wanna tell me I was your last?"
"Well Uh...no but.."
"Honey, it's fine, really. We broke up because it was the right thing to do for both of us."
He nods. "I know, but I miss you."
"Chris, I miss you too, as a friend. We can still be friends."
"I don't know if I can be just friends with you."
"Please? For Rory?"
"I can do that."
"Thank you."
"I do love her Lor."
"I know you do."
"As long as you know. I do."
She nods.
"And make sure to have fun.".
She smiles. "I will."
"Okay."
"Its hard with Rory. I am nervous. I haven't dated since you."She admits.
"No way!"
"Uh yeah."
"Hm. really, nobody?"
"There have been prospects but nothing ever came of it."
"You'll be fine."
"Thanks."
"So I should probably get going, it's getting late."
"Oh right, and you have class tomorrow."
"I do."
"Rory! Come say goodbye to your dad."
She comes running in.
"You leaving?"
"Yeah kiddo. Daddy has class tomorrow."
"Oh."
"Ill call you, okay?"
"okay."
Rory hugs him and Lorelai smiles.
"Love you kiddo."
"I love you too daddy." She grips onto him tightly.
Chris stands up, with Rory still attached around his neck.
"I will call you okay?"
She only nods.
"Ror, time to let go." Lorelai tells her and removes Rory's arms from around Chris's neck.
"I don't want you to go..."
"He has to, you want daddy to learn a lot in school right?"
"Yeah, but I want him to stay."
"Ill be back soon. I promise."
"No."
Lorelai takes Rory from Chris, holding her.
"Bye kiddo."
"Don't go."
"I'm sorry, I have to. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He keeps saying and quickly leaves.
Rory starts to cry and Lorelai holds her close.
"Shh, shh, it's okay."
"I want him to come back."
She rubs her back. "He will, hey, look at me."
She wipes her eyes and lifts up her head. "What?"
"How about some ice cream?"
"Before bedtime?"
"Sure, why not."
"Okay. I want some."
"Good and tomorrow, mommy will get you the curious George book."
"Okay."She says and smiles.
"Lets go."
They go out for some ice cream and while at the place, Lorelai taps Rory on the nose.
"Hey baby girl, you know how much your daddy loves you right?"
She nods, smiling. "I know."
"He loves you more than anything else in the whole, wide world."
"Why does he have to go away?"
"He goes to college, it's a grown-up school. Maybe one day we can even go visit him."
"That would be fun."
"Yeah. We will do it one time."
"Okay"
"And I love you too kid."
"Love you mommy."
She smiles.
"mommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Why aren't you and daddy married?"
"Oh uh..well. sweetie, it's complicated."
"Why?"
"I love your daddy as a friend, but sometimes mommies and daddies aren't supposed to be married."
"Why?"
"Because they don't love each other like that."
"What does that mean?"
"It's grown up stuff, one day when you're older you'll understand."
"But how come other peoples mommies and daddies live together?"
"Because they're married."
"Oh. Like Lane's?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"So you and daddy won't be married?"
She sighs. "No."
"Oh."She says
"But we both love you so much, and we're still a family."
"We are?"
"Of course, we will ALWAYS be a family, I promise you."
"Okay."
"You believe me?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Finish that ice cream."
"Then we get George?"
"If the store is open."
"Okay."
"Sorry we couldn't yesterday."
"That's ok, mommy."
"But, we will."
"Thank you mom."
Lorelai smiles. "You're welcome."
While they're eating ice cream, Luke happens to be walking by the shop, sees them and stops in.
"Hey, I know you two."
"Hey Luke." Lorelai greets him, smiling.
"Hi!" Rory says happily.
"How are you?"
"Good."
"Is..uh..he.."
"He's gone, yes."
"Oh okay."
"You want to join us?"
"No, no, no, you enjoy."
"Luke, really, stay."
"You girls are having your thing."
"We don't mind, right Rory?"
"No." She says, having no clue.
"You sure?"
"For the thousandth time, yes, sit." She pulls out the other chair and he takes it.
"Alright, thanks."
"Luke, do you like mint chocolate chip ice cream?" Rory asks him curiously.
"A little bit."
"Here." She offers him a spoonful and Luke stares at it.
"What do I do?" He whispers to Lorelai.
"You take the spoon and eat the ice cream."
He nods, takes it and eats it.
"Mmmm."
"Is it good?"
"It is."
"I live it."
"I can tell."
"Mommy likes coffee ice cream."
"Really?"Luke says.
"I like coffee anything."
"Good to know." He flirts with her a little.
"Isn't it?"
"I never get to have ice cream right before bedtime." Rory explains, interrupting them.
"Cool, your mom must really love you."
"She does."
"She better just enjoy it while she can." Lorelai says with a smile.
"I am. It's yummy."
"I bet."
"Thanks mommy."
"You're welcome sweetie."
She turns to Luke.
"You sure you don't want anything?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Not an ice cream fan?"
"I don't mind ice cream, just not in the mood for it."
"Alright, suit yourself, more for us, right Ror?"
"Right!"
Lorelai takes a bit of her ice cream and Rory does too.
"Did you really get coffee ice cream?"
"Yes. It's delicious."
"And you drink coffee?
"Rory, does mommy drink coffee?"
"Yes!"
"Answer your question?"
"Does she drink it too? She seems hyper."
"That's just the sugar kicking in."
"You're in for a fun night."
"Sugar doesn't seem to affect her as much as it does me."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, get too much caffeine or sugar in me and I go crazy."
"She really does." Rory says as if she's older than she is.
"I'll make sure to note that."
She nods. "You better."
"She also goes crazy without coffee."
"True?"
"Yeah." Lorelai admits.
"I think I'd like to see that." He flirts.
"Oh trust me my friend, it is not a good sight to see."
He laughs. "Really?"
Rory nods too. "She gets grouchy and crazy."
"Wow."
"You needa get her coffee right away when that happens."
"Oh. Addict?"
"Very much so."
"Mommy says I can't have any."
"You are five." Lorelai reminds.
"Yeah, but it smells good."
"When you're older you can have some."
"Yes!"
"Finish up, we should go soon."
"I should go too, I'll see you guys around maybe." Luke says and gets up.
"You can come to our house."Rory says.
"I..."
Lorelai smiles. "If you uh want...maybe a movie wouldn't be bad."
"Alright."
"So, what do you think?"
"I say...lets go watch a movie."
"Can Mr. Will come too?"
They laugh and shake their heads.
"He's sleeping at home."
"Oh man."
"Maybe another time."
"But Luke is still coming?"
"I sure am."
"Alright!"
Lorelai laughs.
"Okay, let's get going."
They head back to the house and get comfy."
"What are we watching?"
"Wizard of Oz."
"Ah.'
"You mind?"
"Nah" Luke says.
Thye start to watch it and about an hour in, rory is asleep.
"Munchkin can't hang." Luke says and points.
"Aw. Let me get her to bed."
He nods. "Sure."
Lorelai carries her to bed, changes her and then comes back out.
"Alright, she is all tucked in."
"Great," He rubs his jeans a little and starts to stand. "So, I should uh...probably go."
"Yeah...or..you know, you could stay."
"Stay?"
She nods and points for him to sit. "And finish the movie, if you want."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm not tired yet, I promise not to fall asleep on you."
He laughs.
"Alright, I'll stay."
She smiles widely and sits with him.
"Cool."
She presses play and it starts, he moves his hand over to hold hers and she smiles, but feels guilty.
"Luke..I have to tell you something."
"What's up?"
"You know how Chris was here today."
"Yes."
"He kissed me."
"Oh...okay."
"I didn't kiss back."
"Ok."
"I wasn't expecting it."
He nods.
'You two still dating or something?"
"Oh gosh no. We broke up like 2 years ago."
"Okay."
"I just wanted to tell you because of whatever is going on with us."
Rather than being mad, he squeezes her hand a little more.
"Thank you for telling me."
"You aren't mad?"
He shrugs. "We're not exclusive, it wouldn't really be fair to be mad."
She smiles and kisses his hand. "You're a really good guy Luke."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
They continue to watch the movie, Luke's arm not draped over her shoulder.
He starts to play with her hair and Lorelai smiles, moving closer to him.
"Comfy?"
She nods.
"Don't fall asleep." He teases.
"I am good."
"Just checking."
She looks up and smiles.
"There are no parents here though."
"No, but there is a kid here." He reminds her.
"She is fast asleep in her little bed."
"How heavy of a sleeper is she?"
"I say we have a good shot."
"Of?" He asks just to be annoying.
"You know what." She whispers and kisses him, which he eagerly returns.
He keeps kissing her for a few minutes until she stops and cuddles up next to him.
"Okay, that's enough, back to the movie."
"Why?"
"Because if we keep kissing I don't think I'll be able to stop."
"That is not a bad thing."
"It can be."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know if I can control myself."
"Then let yourself lose control." He whispers.
"I..."
"Shhh..."He says and kisses her again.
"Luke..."
"Shhh..." He whispers again and she gives in, not wanting to stop.
After ten more minutes making out on the couch...
"You wanna go upstairs to my room?" She asks in a whisper, holding the collar of his shirt.
"Your room?"
She only nods, catching her breath.
"I thought you said you wanted to wait."
"Thought we were losing control here?"
He smiles and kisses her cheek.
"Okay."
"Yeah?"
He nods and kisses her. "What about Rory?" He asks, separating.
"We lock my door. She won't hear."
He smirks and takes her hand, allowing her to lead the way.
They get to her room and Lorelai shuts the door, locks it and then kisses him right away.
He leans down, kissing her neck.
"Is this happening?"
"Shh..."He says.
"In case this comes up later, I wasn't planning on this happening tonight." She speaks quickly, he just nods and they keep kissing.
20 minutes later...
Luke is laying with her, catching his breath.
"Wow."
"Double wow."
"Lorelai?"
"Yeah?"
"I know we've only had one date, and you weren't sure about being my girlfriend full time but I just want you to know...I really, really like you. I've never felt this way about anybody before."
"Oh boy.." She whispers, following his eyes as he speaks.
"I care about you, that's all I'm saying, I don't want to leave here and forget this ever happened."
"Neither do I."
He smiles.
"Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"I..uh...I haven't dated in a long time. I know 2 years doesn't seem much, but..."
"I get it."
"I am nervous."
"About?"
"This whole thing...the fact this happened...wow..."
"Good though?"
"Amazing. Long overdue."
"Yeah?"
She nods, kissing his neck.
she then lays there, feeling safe. The most she has in a long time.
"Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"If you are still willing, I'll uh..I will be exclusive with you."