(For disclaimers, etc. - see 1.)
17. Checking in for Christmas
'Verse: canon
Date/Timeline: December 2003 (Season 4)
She had it on her desk for a while, first at Yale, then back home. It kept on getting moved around - put in a drawer, pulled back out, propped up against a paperweight, shifted to one side. All her other Christmas cards had been mailed or handed out in-person. This was the last one, hanging around like a lost soul. It made Rory feel bad sometimes. Other times, she thought about just tearing it up and throwing it away. After all, she had no address to send it to. That said, she did know someone who did.
Surprisingly, it was her mom who convinced her to have the conversation, though Lorelai had no idea what she had caused, and probably wouldn't have been thrilled if she realised. Still, certain remarks she made off the back of one of their movie nights, all about life being short and grudges not being worth it, it was enough to kick Rory into action. It was how she found herself over at the diner, when Luke had already locked up and put the sign to closed, knocking to be let in to talk.
"Rory, hey. Is everything okay?" he asked, looking concerned as he allowed her in and locked the door back up behind her.
"Uh, yes, sure, everything's fine. I was just wondering... well, hoping, really. Not hoping, just wondering. It's a favour, honestly. Pretty small as favours go, if you can do it, which I don't even know if you can-"
"Rory?" he cut in before the rambling got really crazy, something that she was actually grateful for. "If I can help, you know I will," he told her kindly. "In the meantime, how about a little decaf?" he suggested, reaching for the pot and a cup, while she pulled herself up onto a stool by the counter.
"Thanks." She smiled, warming her hands on the cup, then taking a long drink.
"So, this favour?" he checked. "Does it have to do with your mom?"
"No, not Mom." Rory shook her head, finding she needed a deep breath before she could actually make her confession. "It's, uh... Well, I have this," she said, producing the card from inside her coat. "I just don't have an address to mail it to."
Luke's eyes widened just a little when he saw Jess' name on the envelope and Rory wasn't exactly surprised by that. She felt the need to explain herself before he had a chance to ask her any awkward questions.
"It's just a Christmas card, nothing serious. Obviously, I wrote a message, but I promise it's nothing bad. Nothing accusatory or that's going to make him feel worse or start a fight or anything. I really don't want that." She sighed. "I just... I want him to know that he did hurt me with the way he left, but that I think I understand at least part of why things went the way they did. I put in my new number, just in case he ever wants to call and... and I told him that I genuinely hope he's in a good place and that he has a good Christmas. That's all," she said, shrugging her shoulders, finally dragging her eyes from the unmailed card to Luke's face again.
"I, uh, I was actually planning on seeing him in the next few days, so if you wanted, I could...?" he offered, reaching to pick up the card.
"Well, it would save on postage, I guess," she told him with a wide smile, finishing off her coffee right after. "Thanks, Luke. Really, I mean that," she said, pushing the cup back towards him across the counter.
"You're welcome, Rory," he assured her, "and thank you, for being so adult about all of this. I know he doesn't really deserve it..."
"It doesn't matter," she told him, shaking her head as she got up to leave. "It's Christmas. Peace and good will to all, right?" she said, feeling much lighter somehow.
