Saturday March 5, 2005

"Are you almost ready? We don't want to be late," Richard called towards the ensuite bathroom.

"Yes, yes, I'm almost done," Emily sighed. "You know they could have let us host this. We're the parents of the Bride."

"Considering Lorelai didn't want to talk to or look at you after our vow renewal, I think we should just be happy with any involvement we have. We have to prove to our daughter that she made the right choice when she included us."

Emily slid into her shoes, picked up her handbag and smiled, "Let's go. I would like to get to Sniffy's Tavern before the floor is covered in beer and peanut shells."

Richard shook his head, trying to hide his amusement, "You're going to fit right in!"

The doors of Sniffy's Tavern had a large sign stating they were closed for a private event. Kirk was at the door with a copy of the guestlist to ensure no uninvited guests snuck in. This was a task no one asked him to do, Kirk let Luke and Lorelai know that this was just one of his gifts because he cared about them so much.

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore," Kirk smiled as he crossed them off his list at the hostess desk, "So good to see you. I'm Kirk and this is my girlfriend Lulu. If you would like, Lulu can check your coats."

"Thank you Kirk, Lulu." Richard smiled. He helped Emily out of her coat and handed both hers and his to Lulu and they quickly went deeper into the restaurant to find Lorelai or Rory. When Emily's eyes landed on her daughter she was surprised at the surge of warmth that filled her. She had never seen Lorelai look so happy.

Lorelai looked radiant in a beautiful cream coloured dress with delicate floral print, and was a vision of springtime elegance. The dress's soft and flowing fabric draped beautifully, creating a flattering silhouette. It featured a delightful array of blue, pink, and yellow blossoms and green leaves. The flowers seemed to dance across the dress, adding a touch of whimsy and charm. It had a sweetheart neckline and thin spaghetti straps, a fitted bodice emphasized her waist, while the gently flared skirt added movement and grace. The hemline fell just above the knees. Emily could not take her eyes off her daughter.

Lorelai spotted her parents approaching and ended a conversation to meet them halfway. "Hi, guys! I'm so glad you made it." She hugged them awkwardly. While it was nice that they were getting along, it was still fairly new and surprising at how Emily and Richard just seemed to be happy with everything they were against not that long ago.

"People are still arriving, but I think you know everyone that is already here. Most people have congregated by the bar." She led them over to join the group.

Over the last few weeks, in an attempt to mend fences, Lorelai had invited her parents (together and separately) to different planning meetings or meals at the Dragonfly. She wanted them to feel a part of the planning process and to have them get to know some of the people in Stars Hollow. Luke had encouraged her to stop excluding them from their Stars Hollow life. He insisted that once the baby came it would be easier for them to host Friday night dinners and he knew it was one of Emily's complaints that Lorelai had the two worlds. He figured using the baby as an excuse could help bridge the gap.

Luke was at the bar, he was in his black slacks that Lorelai had bought him when Rachel was in town with a green cashmere sweater that Emily gave him at Easter. The green was the same shade of the leaves on Lorelai's dress. Emily was not only thrilled to see him wearing her gift, but that he had foregone the baseball cap that she thought might have been fused to his head.

Luke greeted his future in-laws and reintroduced them to Liz, TJ and Jess. He was then grateful that Lorelai came over with Babette and Morey, leaving them to talk with the Gilmores instead of TJ.

"Where's Rory," Emily wondered out loud.

"Oh she needed to stay at school to work on a paper, so since she was drivin' in from there she offered to pick Mia and Howard up at the airport. She shouldn't be much longa'." Babette informed her.

"Oh Mia is coming?" Richard asked innocently.

"Of course," Patty piped in. "She loves both Lorelai and Luke like one of her own. She went to school with Luke's parents and I'm sure you know that she gave Lorelai -"

"Yes! We know," Emily involuntarily snapped.

"Grandma, hi!" Rory greeted.

Emily spun around, happy to see Rory with a handsome young man. She embraced her Granddaughter, "Hello Rory, it's so nice to see you."

Rory then hugged Richard. She then stood closer to her date and smiled, "Grandma, Grandpa, this is Marty. Marty, these are my grandparents, Richard and Emily Gilmore.

Marty shook their hands and smiled brightly, "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore."

"Hello Marty," Richard smirked. "Where did you and Rory meet?"

"We've lived in the same buildings at Yale. We met last year and have been friends since."

"So you're just friends?" Emily pushed.

"Well I saw how successful Mom was with being friends first with Luke," Rory grinned when she saw Luke and Lorelai coming to join the group. "We were great friends last year when all I wanted to focus on was school. Recently we've gone on a few dates and I think it's going rather well." She looked up at Marty bashfully.

Marty took Rory's hand and nodded, "It must be going well, she invited me here."

"I don't know Marty," Lorelai smiled. "She could be trying to scare you off. Not everyone gets my humour."

"Most don't." Luke and Emily said in unison.

The group laughed at the two least likely people sharing an opinion of Lorelai.

"Wow, you two are ganging up on me already?" Lorelai gasped in mock horror. She then turned to Rory, "I told you that before long she'll be telling Luke he's too good for me."

The party was in full swing. Most of Stars Hollow were laughing, eating, drinking or dancing. Sniffy's was hopping and Lorelai took a moment to stand at the fray and take it all in. She was happy to see Richard in a deep conversation with the clergymen; he was fascinated that Rabbi Barrans and Reverend Skinner shared a building. Emily and Mrs. Kim were also in a conversation and seemed to have tuned out everything else. Lorelai didn't know what was more unsettling, seeing her parents fit in so well with the Stars Hollow crowd OR that Emily and Mrs. Kim were both smiling. Babette and Morey, Liz and TJ, Mia and Howard, Kirk and Lulu, and some others were all dancing to some slow songs. Lane and Zack were DJ-ing with Rory, Marty and Jess hanging out with them and suggesting songs. Gypsy, Patty and some others were hanging out at the bar.

Lorelai felt Luke's arms wrap around her and pull her flush to his chest, "You do know how to plan a great party," he said close to her ear.

"Coming from you, that's high praise," she turned her head to kiss his cheek, "You generally hate all parties."

Luke laughed softly. "Being with you is changing me. I guess now that I have someone to be at the party with, who will do all the talking and let me just be, parties don't seem so bad. If nothing else it's nice to see people I love getting along. Did you see Jess and Rory? I think they're actually friends now. And Mia, she looks so happy with this guy Howard. I'll even admit it's nice to see Liz so happy. TJ seems to be good for her."

Lorelai shifted so they were now facing each other, "I love this side of you. But don't completely abandon your grumpy ways, I love that guy too."

Rolling his eyes Luke responded, "As long as there's Kirk and Taylor, I'll always have a grumpy side."