Rory stayed in the waiting room, thinking about whether or not she should go after Luke.
"Rory? You look scared… your mom is going to fine you know." Christopher said gently.
Rory glared at him. "I'm worried about Luke. He didn't even say anything before he walked away."
"Oh." Christopher didn't look Rory in the eye. "Well I'm sure he just went to the bathroom."
Rory didn't say anything. After another minute passed, she got up to look for Luke. Logan considered following her, but he chose not to.
After finding the nearest bathrooms, Rory sat on a chair nearby, waiting to see if Luke would come out of the men's room.
Luke was in the bathroom. He had taken a few deep breaths before tears escaped his eyes. Lorelai will be okay He told himself. He knew that there was a low risk of something going wrong during the surgery, but he still felt anxious. Time was passing by so fast and he felt like she should be out of surgery by now.
He finally broke down. He let go of everything that had been building up for the past few months. The only time he had let himself be this this emotional was when he had that nightmare that Lorelai had died. Get yourself together.
After taking a shaky breath, he looked at himself in the mirror. He looked tired and distraught. He rubbed his face then splashed some water on it. It took a few minutes to calm himself down, but he managed to do it.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, he immediately saw Rory sitting on a chair. She looked up when she heard him take a step towards her.
"Luke," She whispered.
"I'm fine." He said in a low voice.
Rory frowned and stood up. "Are you sure? You don't look fine. It's okay if you're not fine…"
Luke reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, gave it a squeeze. "I'll be fine as long as your mom's fine." He bit his lip, thinking he had said the wrong thing. "I mean I'm just anxious… she should be out of surgery by now."
Rory nodded slowly. "I'm sure the nurse will come soon and tell us that everything went smoothly and she's in the recovery room. But um…" She trailed off.
Luke gave her a pointed look, urged her to speak.
"Are you uncomfortable… with my dad being here?"
"Oh, um no not really, it's kind of tense." Luke sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just not really a big fan of his. He's your dad though, so I have to be okay with him being here."
"I get it." Rory met his eyes. "I think he's trying to be here for me… I just um it's hard for me to rely on him. He's never been consistent. But I'm happy he's here now."
Luke didn't say anything. He didn't want to share his true opinion of Christopher with Rory. He didn't want to upset her by calling her dad an asshole.
"I'm happy you're here too. You've always been there for mom and me." Rory smiled softly. "You're the guy we can rely on, Luke. No matter what, we can count on you."
Luke smiled and wrapped an arm around Rory, pulling her into a hug. Rory hugged him back. It was a quick hug, but a comfort to both of them.
"Should we head back?" Rory asked when she pulled away.
"Yeah," Luke said gently.
They walked back to the waiting room. When Rory took her seat next to Logan, he took her hand in his and whispered in her ear:
"Is everything okay?"
"It will be" Rory whispered back. Logan's thumb brushed her knuckles and he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
Christopher looked at them, a scowl on his face. Luke noticed this and rolled his eyes. He was just happy that Rory had a supportive boyfriend.
A nurse walked into the room and looked around. Emily grasped Richard's hand. Luke's heart skipped a beat.
"You're Miss Gilmore's family, correct?" The nurse asked them.
"Yes. How is she?" Richard answered.
"She's recovering. She just woke up and is asking for her family." She looked at everyone. "I must ask that only her immediate family visit first and only one person is allowed in the room at once.
"Rory, you go first. Your grandfather and I can wait." Emily said.
Luke glanced at Rory, letting her know that he agreed, she should go first,
"Okay." Rory let go of Logan's hand and stood up quickly. As she walked away, Christopher followed her.
"Rory, wait a second."
Rory stopped. Christopher gave her a hug. "Tell your mom I'm glad she's okay. I should get going… I've got to pick up Gigi soon."
Rory looked away for a second. "Oh, ok. I'll call you later." She murmured.
Christopher quickly kissed Rory's cheek. Rory turned around and followed the nurse without saying a word.
Christopher walked over to his chair and picked up his coat. He said his goodbyes and turned to leave. Luke stood up.
"You're leaving just like that?" He grumbled.
Christopher turned around. "What?"
"I said you're leaving just like that? So fast?"
Christopher's brow furrowed. "I need to pick up my daughter. Lorelai is fine and Rory is too. They don't need me."
"How do you know that? What if Rory doesn't want you to leave?"
"She didn't say so…"
"That doesn't mean anything. She used to you leaving. I'm sure she isn't surprised that you're leaving once again." Luke said bitterly.
Christopher stepped closer. "Look, you don't get to tell me how my daughter feels. I was here and now I have to go. I stayed until I knew Lorelai was okay. Rory doesn't need me… Lorelai doesn't either. They've got you. I need to be there for my other daughter." He looked down. "I can't have her resent me too."
Luke wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that Rory did need her father but he wasn't so sure of that. She seemed to always give him another chance, even when he didn't deserve it. It appeared that she was okay with her father being absent when she was growing up because she had Lorelai. Lorelai wasn't only her mother, she was her best friend.
At times Luke felt heartbroken for Rory, but he also realized that maybe she and Lorelai were better off without Christopher. He just hated that Christopher always ended up leaving them. It seemed like Luke was always the one to pick up the pieces when Chris left the girls. But it's his loss. He doesn't deserve the love of Lorelai and Rory.
Luke just shrugged. It was Christopher's problem, not his. He just wanted Lorelai and Rory to be happy. Christopher turned and walked away.
Meanwhile, Rory arrived in Lorelai's room. The nurse had told her that Lorelai took longer than expected to wake up from the anesthesia but it was nothing to be too concerned about.
"Mom?" Rory whispered. Lorelai's eyes were closed.
Lorelai's eyes opened slowly. "Hey hon" She whispered.
Rory leaned down. "How are you feeling?"
"A little sore, a little numb, but I'm happy to see you." Lorelai managed a smile.
Rory reached out and touched Lorelai's cheek. "Is it okay for Grandma and Grandpa to come in?"
"Of course, is Luke coming too?"
"Yeah. The nurse said only the immediate family first. I told her Luke is your fiancé and she said he could visit for a few minutes. Only one visitor at a time though."
"Okay. Go get Grandma."
Rory left to get Emily. When she returned to the waiting room, she gave Emily directions to Lorelai's room then went over to Logan.
Logan pulled her close. She relaxed in his embrace. "She's fine."
He kissed the top of her head. Rory pulled away and led him back to the chairs. "The nurse told me that mom took a long time to wake up from the anesthesia." She told Luke.
Luke nodded. Emily came back a few minutes later. Then Richard went to see Lorelai. When Richard returned, he told Luke that Lorelai was falling asleep and that they were keeping her overnight.
"I'll go see her." He looked at Rory and Logan then at the Gilmores. "Do you want to go out to eat after this?"
"Sure." Rory replied. She looked at Logan, who also agreed.
"We could go to a nice restaurant in Harvard." Emily suggested.
"We'll decide when Luke gets back." Richard said, reading Luke's expression, sensing that he had other plans.
Luke left the room. In her room, he found Lorelai asleep.
He pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down. He took her hand. She made a noise; his touch had surprised her as she didn't hear him come in. Opening her eyes, she saw him and whispered, "Hi"
"Hi. I didn't mean to wake you."
"I wasn't asleep for long; at least I don't think so."
"I won't stay long, you should get some rest." He said.
"Rory and my parents seemed to be worried. The doctor told me that everything went okay." She murmured.
"Yeah, everything's fine. It's just that you took a long time to wake up."
"Oh."
She stared at his face and saw his gloomy expression.
"Hon, I'm okay." She assured him.
He squeezed her hand. "I know. Things were just getting a little tense out there while you were in surgery. Nothing to worry about,"
"Oh okay." She accepted his answer. She didn't want to press him. "I'm one step closer to beating this thing."
"Yeah," He gave her a tiny smile and squeezed her hand again. "I better leave and let you get your rest. We're going out for dinner, Rory, Logan and I and your parents."
"Really? That's nice."
"Yep," Luke leaned down and kissed her forehead, leaving his lips there for an extra second.
"See you tomorrow." Lorelai said before she closed her eyes.
"Tomorrow," Luke left the room.
Back in the waiting room, Luke found Logan and Rory alone.
"Grandma and Grandpa went to bring their car around. I told them we'd meet them out front." Rory said.
"All right," Luke replied. The three of them headed to the elevator.
"Do you think your grandparents would be okay with going to Sniffy's or is it too…" Luke stopped; he wasn't sure how to describe Sniffy's.
Rory knew that Sniffy's was the place where Luke took Lorelai on their first date. She knew it was a tavern. "Um I don't know. It might not be their taste. But I know it's special to you and I can probably convince them to go."
"Okay." Luke said hesitantly.
They met Emily and Richard outside.
"Well, where are we going to eat?" Emily asked.
"Um, actually I was going to ask if you'd be okay with going to my favourite place. It's uh a tavern. I know the owners, they're friends of mine, they were close friends of my parents actually." Luke looked away for a second then looked back at Emily. He was scared she'd immediately reject the idea of going to Sniffy's.
"I haven't been to a tavern in years. Not since before I was married. The Whiffenpoofs and I used to frequent a tavern near Yale." Richard disclosed.
"Do they have good food?" Emily questioned.
Luke was a bit taken aback. He was surprised she hadn't shot down the idea. "Uh yeah, very nice food, Lorelai and I actually went there on our first date."
Emily frowned. "Oh then wouldn't you want it to be your special place, just the two of you?"
"I want everyone to experience it. Maisy and Buddy are great people, very sweet and friendly and the food really is great." Luke replied honestly.
"Well, all right I suppose we'll take your word for it." Emily said.
"I think it sounds great." Logan chimed in.
Rory smiled at him. "I'll go in Logan's car. Luke, you can lead the way."
When they arrived at Sniffy's Luke held the door open for everyone and told them to wait while he went to find Maisy. He walked to the office at the back. The door was open and Maisy was sitting down, writing something. Luke stood in the door and knocked on the door.
Maisy looked up, startled. "Oh, Lucas this is a nice surprise."
"Hi Maisy, sorry I didn't call first." Luke walked over to her as she stood up.
They hugged. "Is Lorelai with you?"
Luke shook his head. "No, but her family is. I brought her daughter and her parents with me. I thought why not bring them here, the food is good and I want you and Buddy to meet them."
"Bud is off tonight, but I'd be happy to meet them and I should be able to get you a table. How is Lorelai?" Her expression changed. Luke had told her and Buddy about Lorelai.
"She's fine. She just had a lumpectomy today actually. It went well. And oh! I didn't tell you, we're engaged."
Maisy hit his arm. "Lucas! That's wonderful. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Well, it happened so fast and I didn't get around to calling you. And we were at Martha's Vineyard for a week, that's where I proposed actually."
Maisy smiled. "That's nice. We'll we better get out there so you can introduce me to her family and I can get some food in you."
Luke chuckled. They left the office and headed to the front of the tavern.
"Maisy, this is Lorelai's family. Her daughter Rory, her dad, Richard and her mother, Emily. And this is Logan, Rory's boyfriend."
Maisy said hello to each of them and shook their hands then took off, leading them to a table.
"My, she's fast." Emily mumbled.
Once they were all seated and the drink orders had been placed, Richard asked Luke how long Sniffy's had been around.
"Since before I was born, I don't know the exact year."
"It's nice in here." Emily said in a low voice.
Luke raised his eyebrows. He wasn't sure if she was serious.
They chatted while they waited for the food to come. Emily and Richard talked to Logan and Rory mostly. Luke was okay with that.
Their food came and Luke was relieved when everyone had gotten what they had ordered. He felt a sudden pang in his heart. He missed Lorelai. When Rory flashed him a smile, he relaxed. He knew Lorelai wouldn't want everyone moping around without her.
Emily complimented the food. Richard had a few too many beers and told stories of his days at Yale. When it was time to get the cheque, Luke told them he'd pay.
"Nonsense Luke, Richard and I can pay for our own meals." Emily said.
"I can pay for myself and Rory." Logan added.
"Please, it's on me. I invited everyone and I don't mind paying." Luke insisted. Maisy would give him a discount, but he still wanted to pay.
"Are you sure?" Richard asked. He patted his wife's hand, urging her to let Luke speak.
"Yes." Luke replied simply.
Emily shrugged. Before she could change her mind and object, Luke got up to find Maisy and say goodbye.
After paying the bill, Luke thanked Maisy and told her that he would bring Lorelai after she was done treatment.
"And you'll invite us to the wedding I assume?" Maisy teased.
"You know it." Luke winked at her then gave her a quick hug.
Maisy came back to the table to say goodbye to everyone. Outside, they stood in front of their cars.
"I better head back to New Haven, got an early class tomorrow." Logan said.
"Bye. Call me tomorrow." Rory gave him a quick kiss.
"That was a nice dinner, I wasn't really expecting much. Thank you for inviting us, Luke." Emily said gently.
"You're welcome." Luke smiled.
Richard shook Luke's hand. "Goodnight."
Rory hugged her grandparents goodbye. Emily drove since Richard had drunk.
"Ready to head home?" Luke asked Rory, nodding towards the truck. Rory would be staying the night in Stars Hollow.
"Yeah," Rory answered, lost in her thoughts.
When they got to the house, Luke reached over and touched Rory's shoulder.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. I'm just thinking about Mom. I miss her. I wish she was spending the night at home. But she'll be okay, that's all that matters."
"She will be." Luke let out a breath. He opened the truck door.
Rory followed him inside. They said goodnight and headed their separate ways.
In bed, Luke tossed and turned. He missed the feeling of Lorelai next to him. She would always snuggle up to him; there would never be more than a few inches between them. He pulled the blanket up and rolled on to his back. Looking up to the ceiling, he wished Lorelai a goodnight then closed his eyes. Sleep finally came to him an hour later.
Author's note: Thanks for reading. I can't believe this story had over 100 reviews, thank you everyone. I wasn't sure if Richard and Emily agreeing to go to Sniffy's would be in character or not, but I wanted them to be more accepting of Luke and get to know him better I guess. Please let me know what you think of this chapter.