August 8th-September 9th, 2005
For most of America, Labor Day seemed to the unofficial but clear mark that summer was drawing to a close. For Lorelai Baudelaire it had always been the reopening of Lytton's campus in mid-August. Unlike most kids, she'd hated summer vacation – summers had meant time at home ducking punches and trying to be invisible – and so the day she could go back to school was one she started counting down to from the moment she left, before she even properly unpacked.
Even as an adult, the mile marker hadn't changed. When she'd been more involved with the shop, the busy seasons had always correlated to the school schedules, and by the time she started with MACUSA, Katie had been old enough to begin attending, which meant timing her schedule once more to match Lytton's.
And so, the Baudelaire-Russo annual trip to the Hamptons had become her informal goodbye to the summer months. This year was no different, and it was less than a week after they returned to the city that Lorelai found herself back at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, saying goodbye to Katie once more as she set off for another school term. She was quickly disabused of any notions she'd had that this year would be any easier than the last. If anything, it was harder, knowing exactly how long the time apart would feel, and knowing Katie would only keep growing by leaps and bounds in what felt like the blink of an eye.
There was nothing to do about it, though, and when Lorelai watched her sister disappear up the ramp, she swallowed hard, refusing to indulge in the swell of emotions that threatened to take hold. It wasn't like she enjoyed the summer anyway – it was a feeling so deeply engrained she'd never managed to totally grow out of it – and as much as she loved Katie, Lorelai wasn't cut out for staying in one place so long. She was happier moving around, feeding that restless part of her soul. Though she had to admit, this year she hadn't gone as stir crazy as she normally did after spending so much time at home.
The apartment, of course, had been nothing short of depressing to return to. Without Katie it was a place to crash, not a home, and in her absence, it felt too quiet... too empty. Lorelai would have been surprised if she got more than two solid hours of sleep the first night Katie was gone, and it was only with Dean's voice lulling her to sleep through the phone that she managed to do any better the next day.
It came as no surprise to anyone when she volunteered to follow up on a lead out in Kentucky first thing Monday morning during the team meeting. Her coworkers were well-versed in her pattern of behavior by then and even Conklin looked a little relieved at the news she'd be getting back on the road that afternoon. Nick, of course, couldn't help but roll his eyes in her direction as she prepared to head out.
"Just once," he complained, "I'd love to see you stick around for, oh, I don't know… forty-eight hours longer than absolutely necessary?"
"Ooo, can't use that one this time!" she said excitedly. "I cleared the forty-nine-hour mark ten minutes ago." Nick glared but Lorelai continued to bustle around her office unfazed.
"Hilarious," he said dryly. Lorelai shrugged.
"Quit bitching, it's my job."
"You could have just as easily signed up to investigate that kidnapping down in Philadelphia, no overnight travel required."
It was Lorelai's turn to roll her eyes, her own ire starting to mount as she pushed past him. They'd had too many fights like this one already.
"What's it matter to you? Brixton picked it up, didn't he? It's taken care of, and now I've got my own thing to go deal with. I'll see you later."
She felt Nick glaring after her as she continued down the hallway.
"At least promise you won't forget you're due in court Wednesday morning!"
Lorelai waved him off, resisting the urge to flip him off, before ducking around the corner on her way to the bank of fireplaces. She was already resigning herself to the angry phone call she was sure she'd receive later as she grabbed a handful of the glittering powder.
And although she had to do a bit of reacclimating to life on the road, Lorelai found her way back to her normal rhythm in what felt like no time. When the thing in Kentucky turned out to be a bunch of dumb kids instead of any type of serious, dark wizards, Lorelai was able to hand it off to the local office in time to go help Dean with a rawhead in Iowa. She jumped from that to dealing with an Erkling up in Wisconsin – a case she'd been more than happy to get done and over with after Nick had forced her to take one of the rookies with her so she could give him and Conklin an evaluation of the kid. The job was significantlylessenjoyable when she had to babysit.
After the Erkling, she caught a break on a smuggler of dark artefacts she'd been tracking the last eight months or so down near the southern border. It had been a relief to finally make the arrest just in time to go back to NYC and testify on some of the forensic work she'd done for the raid in June. There was a changeling she took care of with Dean after that, someone trying to tamper with warding at Ilvermorny, and a grisly string of murders Bobby tipped her off to out in Nevada that had demon written all over them, which she was still working when she'd been summoned back to New York for a final meeting with the review board for her promotion.
"Nervous?" Olivia asked. It was the night before the meeting and her friend had dropped in with takeout and a bottle of wine when she'd heard Lorelai was back in town. Lorelai shrugged and tilted her head towards the coffee table where, in addition to the remnants of their dinner, there was a stack of mail she'd picked up from the office. On the top was the letter from MACUSA, formally granting her request to tell Dean about the wizarding world.
"I'm more nervous aboutthatto be honest," she said, taking a sip of her wine. Olivia followed her gaze before shooting her a sympathetic look.
"When are you going to do it?"
Lorelai shrugged, trying to feign a nonchalance she certainly didn't feel.
"Next time I see him. Not exactly the kind of thing I want to tell him over the phone."
Olivia nodded in understanding, but Lorelai still had to resist the urge to squirm under the scrutinizing look her friend was leveling in her direction.
Truth was she was still dreading the conversation, but especially with Katie back at school, it was becoming nearly impossible to continue the charade. At least when her sister had been home Lorelai'd had in a built in, implicitly understood reason that she was often unavailable. And while it was easy enough to reframe cases she was working as hunts, it was a whole other story trying to come up with plausible reasons she wasn't working them with Dean or covering just how much she was popping around the country in a way that was really only feasible because she had magic.
"Have you given any thought to what happens if it goes well?" Olivia asked with a bluntness that Lorelai wouldn't let anyone else get away with. Even still, she rolled her eyes and dropped her head back against the couch, letting her gaze drift to the ceiling.
"It won't," she said flatly.
"But if it does," Olivia pressed anyway, "have you given any thought to what's next?"
Lorelai sighed and shook her head. It was a question she'd been afraid to contemplate, but as the inevitability of having the dreaded conversation had loomed nearer and nearer, Lorelai had started to realize she wasn't sure which outcome she found more terrifying.
"I don't know, Liv, I'm trying to get through one thing at a time here. Isn't that enough?"
There was silence between them for a moment after that, a silence during which Lorelai didn't dare look at her friend. She ended up taking another drink, more to do something with her hands than anything else, and it was as she was setting the glass back on the coffee table that Olivia spoke up again.
"It is," she conceded, though her tone indicated otherwise. "I just… look, you're my best friend. I know you, and I can tell when you're scared. Just –"
"I'm not scared," Lorelai scoffed, but Olivia stared back skeptically.
"Don't even try. Youjusttold me you were nervous about talking to Dean."
"First off – nervous isn't the same as scared. And secondly, I was talking about being nervous to tell him aboutmagic. No one said anything about being afraid of him taking itwell. What kind of lunatic would be worried about that? There's nothing about that to be scared of."
She was that lunatic. And Olivia, damn her, knew it. The pity that formed in her eyes didn't make Lorelai feel any better.
"Sweetie," Olivia began gently, and Lorelai bit the inside of her lip, "we both know that's not true. You've been afraid for years… afraid of losing another person you love, of spiraling back out of control and not being able to pull yourself back next time, of letting Katie or Julia down. And it doesn't make you a lunatic, it makes you human. I just –"
"Fuck, Liv," Lorelai cut across, instinctively reaching for her glass again. "What are you, my shrink?"
"You mean the shrink you refuse to see aside from those annual psych evals Aurors have to sit for?" Olivia scoffed. "They'd be lucky to figure you out half as well as I have." Lorelai snorted, and Olivia's expression gentled before she continued on. "Look, all I'm saying is that I want you to have a little faith in yourself. What you went through after Fred washorrible, but you're not that girl anymore, and it took a hell of a lot more than one hit to make you spin out the way you did. Just… don't beyouand run away, okay? Let yourself be happy if you have the chance. That's all I'm asking."
The rest of the night was spent on lighter topics, much to Lorelai's relief, but Olivia's words kept kicking around in her head even as she lay in bed later on, struggling to drift off into another night of restless sleep. The weight of their conversation, coupled with her nerves over the next day's meeting and the task of coming clean to Dean looming closer by the day had her wired enough she felt like she could climb the walls.
She tossed and turned in her bed, the sheets tangling around her legs as she struggled to find a comfortable position. The clock ticked away, mocking her sleepless state, and Lorelai had to fight the urge to go root around for something to just knock her out.
As the first rays of sunlight began to filter through the curtains, Lorelai finally gave up on sleep altogether and pushed herself up. She ran a hand through her tangled hair and let out a frustrated sigh. Her eyes felt gritty from lack of rest, and a dull headache was already forming behind her eyes. It was going to be a long day, and coffee would definitely be in order.
Throwing off the covers, she padded to the kitchen, the hardwood floor cool beneath her bare feet. It didn't take long for the rich aroma to fill the apartment, and Lorelai breathed it in deeply, savoring the taste as she went about starting her morning routine. In the end she was glad for the extra time her insomnia had given her – it took three outfit changes and four different attempts at her hair before she was satisfied, settling on a simple white button down and a black pencil skirt and leaving her hair down, though carefully pinned out of her face. It was a look that felt more Emily's speed than hers, but Lorelai had run out of time, and she figured that of all days, today was one that it wouldn't hurt for her to try and channel some of her more level-headed twin's energy.
By the time she stepped out of her building the streets of New York were already bustling with activity. Lorelai weaved her way through the crowds, her heels clicking against the pavement as she made her way to the Woolworth Building and its carefully hidden entrance to MACUSA's headquarters. The crisp September air nipped at her cheeks, carrying with it the promise of Fall.
In the elevator she struggled not to fidget and was needlessly smoothing down the fabric of her skirt when the doors dinged opened.
"Morning, Baudelaire," Brixton called out as they passed in the hall. "Big day today, isn't it?"
Lorelai managed an eye roll and half a smile.
"Just another day," she dismissed with feigned exasperation.
She continued down the hallway to her office, her steps faltering slightly when she noticed a package sitting on her desk. George's handwriting was recognizable on the label and Lorelai smiled softly as she unwrapped the brown paper, revealing a box of Sugar Quills, chocolate covered coffee beans, and two cards. One, the larger of the two, had clearly been drawn by her nephew, blocky letters clumsily spelling outGood luck, Aunt Rory! We love you. He'd drawn all over it, and either George or Angelina had charmed his etchings to move around the page as if they were alive. The second card was smaller, but no less heartwarming, and from George.
For old time's sake, it read.Knock 'em dead, Lorelai (figuratively, of course. Unless they're daft enough to pass you over). We're all rooting for you. Love, George
Her throat tightened, though she refused to let her eyes water. It was such a simple gesture, but the weight of it wasn't lost on her. She could still hear Fred's voice, teasing her for the obscene amounts of sugar she used to intake when she was getting ready for exams, not that it had stopped him from sending her a nearly identical package the morning she'd had her interview for her internship with the forensics lab. It felt like a lifetime ago, and in ways it was, but the memory, bittersweet as it was, still brought a smile to her face and she felt her chest ease ever so slightly.
Of course, as the morning wore on, her restlessness not only returned in full force but continued to grow. She paced her office, unable to focus on any of the paperwork spread across her desk. She tried to review her notes, but her nerves were frayed, and sitting still felt impossible. An uncharacteristic wave of self-doubt began to creep in around the time that she began pacing her office like a caged animal.
Her mind went back and forth, racing with every possible outcome. What if they decided she wasn't ready? What if Kirby managed to convince the others she was too much of a liability? She was fairly certain he'd be happy to not only block her promotion but get her booted from the department all together. She knew her record was good, but she was self-aware enough to know her name had a polarizing effect on people.
Despite what she'd been telling herself and others since her name had been put in, the promotion meant more to her than she cared to admit. It wasn't so much about the prestige – she was of the firm opinion that the less attention she could draw the better – and it wasn't the money, she could give a damn about that.
It was the validation that made her cringe to think she needed, but Olivia's words had hit uncomfortably close to home. The career she'd been building was her own proof that she was more than her past… that she'd built something meaningful out of the trainwreck her life had been and that taking her own path instead of following the one that had been so neatly laid out for her hadn't been a mistake after all.
Just as she was considering sneaking out to the roof for a cigarette – a habit she'd mostly kicked but still indulged in during moments of extreme stress – her phone buzzed. Dean's name flashed across the screen, and Lorelai's heart did that funny little flip that had become so familiar in the last few months.
For a moment, she hesitated, her thumb hovering over the button. She knew she couldn't tell him about the real reason for her nerves, but the thought of hearing his voice, of letting it ground her for even a few minutes, was too tempting to resist.
"Hey," she answered, trying to keep her voice steady. "What's up?"
"Not much," Dean's deep voice came through the line, easily soothing some of the tension eating her alive. "Just checking in. How's the big, bad city treating you?"
"Fine," Lorelai snorted. "I only got home late last night but it's the same as always."
"And let me guess, first thing you did was stop off for pizza."
"Chinese," she corrected, thinking of her dinner with Olivia. "Another cuisine New York does better than anyone else."
"Yeah, yeah," Dean dismissed. "I still say you haven't lived till you try the burgers in Delaware. They've got this little shack by the beach, I swear – best double bacon cheeseburger I've had in my life."
"Bet you couldn't find that place again if you tried," Lorelai challenged halfheartedly, though a fond smile had formed on her face.
"Oh, you're on," Dean agreed. "Next time I'm down your way maybe. So really, how you doing, sweetheart? You sound a little off. Everything okay? Is Katie alright?"
Lorelai sank into her chair, twirling her wand between her fingers. Damn him and his superhuman perception.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Katie's fine. Just… got a lot on my mind, I guess."
There was a pause, during which Lorelai could almost see Dean's brow furrowing in concern.
"You sure? You know you can talk to me if something's bothering you, right?"
The sincerity in his voice made her chest ache and Lorelai re-resolved herself to talk to him sooner rather than later. It was going to suck, but she couldn't keep this up.
"I know," she said softly. "It's nothing, really. Just work stuff. How about you? How's Indiana? Hunt going okay?"
"It's, uh, hit a bit of a snag," Dean admitted, his voice faltering somewhat. "Dad bailed. Again."
Lorelai frowned, her hand ceasing its motions. Dean hadn't opened up about it much, but she'd noticed John had seemed to be around less and less, and she'd been starting to pick up that it was bothering Dean more than he was letting on.
"I'm sorry, Dean. That sucks. He okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine," Dean dismissed. "It is what it is. Not like I don't have this under control… though if you wanted to come pick up his slack you know I'd never turn you down."
Lorelai managed a lighthearted laugh, even as her heart clenched. Shewantedto say yes. The thought of being on the road with Dean instead of cooped up in the office was painfully tempting, but she couldn't. Not with the meeting, not with the promotion hanging in the balance. And even if she could, she knew full well the next time she saw him would bring with it its own challenges.
"I wish I could," she told him ruefully, ignoring the bitter taste on her tongue as another lie bubbled to the surface, "but I'm stuck in New York the rest of the week. I've got a meeting with my editor, and they need me to stick around the office for a few days after."
"No worries," Dean told her easily, though there was something underlying his voice she couldn't quite put a word to. "I get it. I know the writing gig pays the bills."
Lorelai winced, guilt gnawing at her insides, but she reminded herself that she'd be setting things right soon.
"Yeah," she said weakly. Before she could dwell much further, however, there was a knock at her door and she looked up to see Nick poking his head in, tapping at his watch meaningfully.
"Shit," she muttered, glancing at the clock. "Dean, I'm sorry, I've got to go. My meeting's in five minutes."
"Go," he told her. "I'll catch up with you later."
"Alright. Be careful out there, okay?" she asked, and Dean's warm chuckle filled her ears.
"Always am, sweetheart. Good luck."
As Lorelai ended the call, she took a deep breath, trying to center herself. The conversation with Dean had both calmed her and left her feeling slightly off-kilter. It wasn't the time, however, to get caught up in her personal life, and so she pushed aside all thoughts of Dean and the tangled web of lies she'd woven. For the next hour she needed to be focused, and professional, and every inch the exemplary Auror she knew she was.
"Ready?" Nick asked as she exited her office, smoothing down her skirt yet again. He fell into step easily beside her.
"As I'll ever be," she huffed. Nick shot her a sympathetic look.
"You've got this," he said bracingly. "Just don't piss Kirby off too much, and you'll be fine."
Lorelai snorted and quirked an eyebrow.
"You say, like it's so easy." Nick shrugged, a teasing smile pulling at his lips.
"It is. Just… you know… don't beyou."
The most genuine laugh she'd let out all day slipped from her lips even as the door to the conference room swam into view. Nick gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading back in the direction of his own office. Lorelai took a steadying breath and squared her shoulders before pushing the doors open.
The scene inside was intimidating in its austerity. A long, polished table dominated the space, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Large windows lined the wall that served as a backdrop to the members of the review board, offering a view of the New York skyline. At the head of the table was MLE's Deputy Director Kirby, looking stern as ever with his usual frown fixed in place. Conklin was to his right, offering Lorelai a small nod and a wink as she entered. The other seats were filled with various department heads and other higher ups. Lorelai knew she'd met all of them, but found she was having trouble placing their names through the fog her nerves were creating. Her anxiety had no place in what was about to happen, though, and so Lorelai straightened her spine, channeling every ounce of poise and confidence her upbringing had instilled in her. There were few things she appreciated her aunt and uncle for, but if there was one useful thing Howard and Helena Baudelaire had taught her, it was how to put on a show.
"Auror Baudelaire," Kirby began, his voice clipped and formal as she took her seat across from all of them. "Thank you for joining us. As you know, your name has been put forth for consideration to be promoted to the rank of Senior Auror. We're here to discuss your performance since joining the department and evaluate your competency for the role. Before we begin, do you have anything you'd like to say?"
Lorelai took a steadying breath, meeting Kirby's eyes with a confidence she didn't entirely feel. "Only that I'm honored to be considered, and I'm ready to answer any questions you might have."
"Very well, then," he said. "Thus far, we've reviewed your case files, your performance evaluations, recommendations from your supervisors, mental and physical fitness evaluations. Today I'd like to start by hearing from you. Please, tell the board why you believe you're ready for this promotion."
It was a predictable question, and Lorelai was ready. She took half a beat to draw breath again but made sure to speak with a clear and confident voice, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to hide any trembling.
"Over the past two years, I've consistently demonstrated not only my magical proficiency but also my ability to adapt to complex and often dangerous situations. My background in both magical and Muggle forensics has allowed me to approach cases from unique angles, often leading to breakthroughs where traditional methods have failed."
She paused, making eye contact with each member of the board before continuing. "Moreover, my experience blending into non-magical society has proven invaluable in maintaining the Statute of Secrecy while still effectively pursuing dark wizards and dangerous magical creatures. It's afforded me the opportunity to follow leads and pick up on nuances that others miss. I believe this skill set, combined with my dedication to justice and my willingness to push boundaries when necessary, makes me an ideal candidate for this promotion."
The room was silent for a moment as her words hung in the air. Then, one of the senior Aurors leaned forward, her expression thoughtful.
"Your record speaks for itself, Auror Baudelaire. But there have been... concerns about your methods, which can be unorthodox to say the least."
Lorelai didn't so much as blink, refusing to be cowed.
"With all due respect, I believe that sometimes unorthodox methods are necessary when dealing with dark wizards. My priority has always been to get the job done and protect innocent lives, even if that means thinking outside the box. The dark wizards and dangerous creatures we face don't play by the rules, and we need to be prepared to think outside the box to stay one step ahead of them."
She bit back a comment at the last minute about her "unorthodox methods", which was clearly code for her disregard for the rules, being the only reason she'd survived the war, and a contributing factor to her side's overall success. She wanted this promotion based on what she'd done at MACUSA, not her name or the reputation that had preceded her.
Kirby's eyes narrowed slightly, but before she could respond, Conklin spoke up. "Ms. Baudelaire has consistently demonstrated an ability to adapt to challenging situations and come up with creative solutions. While her methods may not always be conventional, they are effective."
The questions came rapid-fire after that. They grilled her on past cases, on her methods, on her views on magical law enforcement. Lorelai answered each one thoughtfully, drawing on her years of experience and her deep understanding of both the magical and non-magical worlds.
Every answer had to be carefully measured, balancing her natural inclination towards bluntness with the professionalism the situation demanded. Nick's advice to not be her rung in her head, frustratingly helpful. She took extra care to avoid coming across as arrogant without minimizing her competence – though she could only hope her efforts worked.
When the topic inevitably turned to her controversial stance on Obliviation, Lorelai felt her pulse quicken. This was the make-or-break moment, she knew. Her views on this matter had caused friction in the past, and she could see the skepticism in some of the board members' eyes.
"Auror Baudelaire," one of the senior members began, "your stance on Obliviation is well-known. Can you explain how you reconcile this with MACUSA's policies on maintaining the Statute of Secrecy?"
Lorelai straightened in her chair, her voice steady as she responded. "With all due respect, I believe our current approach is short-sighted. Obliviation is a band-aid solution that doesn't address the root of the problem. By focusing on teaching witches and wizards to better blend in with the non-magical society, we reduce the need for memory modification in the first place. This not only protects the Statute more effectively but also reduces the risk of long-term damage from repeated Obliviation. We should be focusing on education and integration, not memory modification."
She could see Kirby's frown deepening, but she pressed on. "My experiences at Lytton, as well as my work in the field, have shown me that it's entirely possible for wizards to blend seamlessly into non-magical society. By teaching these skills from a young age, we not only protect our community more effectively but also foster better understanding between our two worlds. Ask any Lytton graduate, and they'll tell you the same thing. Hiding ourselves away isn't the only answer, if it's even an answer at all."
The room fell silent for a moment as her words sank in. Lorelai could see Conklin nodding slightly, a look of pride in his eyes. Kirby, however, looked like he smelled blood in the water.
"That's a rather radical view, Auror Baudelaire," Kirby said, his tone sharp. "Are you suggesting we simply reveal ourselves to the No-Maj world?"
Lorelai shook her head, maintaining her composure despite the clear disapproval in Kirby's voice. "Not at all, sir. I'm simply suggesting that we evolve our approach. In recent memory the divide between our world and theirs has been the cause of no less thanthreewars – one led by Grindelwald and two by Voldemort. At what point do we look at that and acknowledge that maybe status quo isn't working and it's time to try something different? By improving our ability to blend in, by educating our own people on non-magical customs and technology, we reduce the prejudice, resentment, and rift hiding ourselves away breeds, and also reduces the likelihood of accidental exposure. And in cases where exposure does occur, we'd be better prepared, have more tricks up our sleeves, to deal with it than solely relying on memory modification."
The room was silent for a moment after her impassioned speech. Lorelai held her breath, wondering if she'd gone too far. But then Conklin spoke up, a note of pride in his voice.
"I have to say, I agree with Auror Baudelaire," he said, nodding approvingly. "Her ability to navigate both magical and non-magical environments is unparalleled in our department, and she has yet to have a need to fall back on Obliviation, despite spending a significant amount of time working in the non-magical world. Furthermore, the contacts she and other likeminded Aurors on our team have built with some of what the No-Majs callhuntershave proved to be valuable allies to our department."
As the interview wound down, Lorelai felt a mix of exhaustion and relief wash over her. She'd given it her all, laid out her case as best she could. Now, all that was left was to wait.
"Thank you, Auror Baudelaire," Kirby said finally. "We'll be deliberating over the next few days. You can expect our decision by Friday at the latest."
Lorelai nodded, rising from her chair. "Thank you for your time," she said, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling inside her.
As she left the room, Lorelai felt like she could finally breathe again. The weight of the interview lifted, only to be replaced by the anxious anticipation of waiting for their decision. She made her way back to her office on autopilot, her mind already spinning with possibilities.
Once she was back inside the familiar four walls, Lorelai closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. The smell of old books and the ever-lingering hint of coffee filled her nostrils, grounding her. A glance at the clock on her wall reminded her it was only 11:30 in the morning. The rest of the day stretched ahead, and the rest of the week after that. It was going to feel like a damn eternity.
Shaking her head, she pushed off the door. She had work to do, cases to solve, and she couldn't spend the next two days obsessing. Grabbing the bag of the coffee beans from George, she popped a few in her mouth and grabbed a case file from her desk, immersing herself back into the details of the murders out in Nevada. The demon was long gone, but the evidence left behind was her best chance of tracking it down and she was still desperate for any clues to explain the uptick in activity.
By two o'clock, however, Lorelai was having trouble sitting still and the words were starting to swim. She itched to get back out on the road, but knowing it wasn't an option, she did the next best thing. It was with a renewed determination that she strode out of her office and headed in the direction of the forensics lab. The heavy amounts of sunlight filling the space seemed to mock her, but the familiar smell was at least a comfort. Ezra was by his workstation, hunched over a microscope, and didn't even look up as she entered.
"What do you want?" he asked dryly. Lorelai rolled her eyes, a fond smile playing on her lips despite the greeting. Ezra was, if nothing else, predictable.
"Missed you too, sunshine. Got anything interesting?" Something in her voice must have caught his attention because he finally straightened up, fixing her with his unusual unimpressed stare.
"Nothing that requires your particular brand of chaos, I assure you."
"Come on," she wheedled, leaning against his workbench. "There's got to be something. Cold case? Weird sample? Remains needing identification? You can even put me to work in limbo."
Ezrahatedwhen anyone called the bone storage room "limbo", so when he didn't snap back, she couldn't help but wonder how manic she was coming off.
"Desperate, are we? Interview went that badly?" Trying to regain some of her normal composure, Lorelai scoffed, even as her stomach twisted. Ithadn'tgone badly; she just didn't like waiting.
"Please. I crushed it. I just… need to keep busy."
There was a moment of silence in which Ezra studied her and Lorelai fought to stay steady, poker face on. Ultimately his expression softened almost imperceptibly, and with a sigh he reached for a stack of files.
"Fine. There's a backlog of trace evidence that needs processing. Try not to blow anything up."
"No promises," she grinned, eagerly grabbing the files and settling in at an empty workstation. Ezra shook his head at her as she went.
The hours slipped by as Lorelai lost herself in the meticulous work. It was soothing in its familiarity, allowing her to focus on something other than the looming decision and letting her at least move around a little bit, working off some of the nervous energy. By the time Ezra shooed her out of the lab ("Some of us actually have lives to go enjoy, Baudelaire.") the sun had long since set.
The next day was much of the same, with Lorelai throwing herself into work, alternating between her office and the lab, taking on any tasks she could get her hands on. She knew her colleagues were giving her concerned looks, but she ignored them, pushing through the exhaustion that threatened to overtake her. Ezra did end up sticking her in limbo to help ID some of the remains, but for once Lorelai didn't mind, and she found she almost even enjoyed helping one of the apprentices she ended up working next to. The girl was bright, and unlike a lot of the other students her age, she didn't get caught up on Lorelai's name when she introduced herself.
Of course, as Thursday drew to a close and the sun set once more, Lorelai could still be found at her desk, pouring over case files long after most of the building had emptied out. The soft glow of her desk lamp cast shadows across the room, the soft hum of her radio occasionally disrupted by occasional rustle of paper.
It was a sharp knock on her door that finally startled her out of her reading, and Lorelai looked up to see Nick in the doorway, arms crossed and a mixture of exasperation and concern on his face.
"Okay, that's it," he said, striding into the office. "You're done for the night."
Lorelai blinked up at him, her mind taking a moment to shift gears.
"What?" she asked. "No, I'm fine. I just need to finish –"
"Nope," Nick cut her off, reaching over to close the file she'd been reading. "You've been here since the crack of dawn. You need food, a shower, and sleep. Not necessarily in that order. Working yourself to death isn't going to make their decision come any faster."
"Nick—"
"Don't 'Nick' me," he said, his tone softening. "Come on, Lorelai. You're coming home with me. Julia's been asking about you anyway."
The promise of a home-cooked meal and the company of her goddaughter was too tempting to resist.
"Fine," she conceded with a sigh. "But only because I miss the kid."
Lorelai found herself following Nick out of the office, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as they made their way to his apartment.
The moment they stepped through the door, a blur of dark hair and boundless energy crashed into Lorelai's legs. "Lai! You came!"
"Of course I did, Bug," Lorelai laughed, scooping Julia up into a hug, who wasted no time in wrapping her arms tightly around Lorelai's neck. "I heard there was gonna be lasagna."
"Daddy makes the best lasagna. But don't tell Nanna I said that."
"Your secret's safe with me," Lorelai stage-whispered, setting the girl down. "How was school today?"
Julia launched into an animated recount of her day, barely pausing for breath as she dragged Lorelai towards the living room. Nick chuckled, heading towards the kitchen to check on dinner.
"And then in math, we started learning about fractions, but I already know all about those because you taught me over the summer, remember?" Julia was saying as they settled onto the couch.
Lorelai nodded, a fond smile playing on her lips. "I remember. You picked it up so quickly, I bet you're way ahead of your classmates now."
Julia beamed at the praise before her expression turned sheepish. "Well... mostly. I still get confused sometimes. Actually, I have some homework... do you think you could help me?"
"Of course," Lorelai agreed readily, grateful for the distraction. "Why don't you grab your books and we'll take a look?"
Lorelai settled into the couch while Julia began hurriedly pulling things from her backpack. In the kitchen, Nick moved around with practiced efficiency, the sounds of pots and pans clanging together mixing with Julia's animated chatter. And as the three of them slipped into a long-familiar routine, Lorelai felt more of the tension from her week melt away.
Lorelai spent the next half hour patiently walking Julia through the problems, explaining concepts and offering encouragement. By the time Nick called them for dinner, the kid was grinning triumphantly, having successfully completed her homework.
"All done?" Nick asked as they settled around the dining table. Julia nodded enthusiastically.
"Yep! Lai helped me understand it. Fractions are easy now!"
Nick chuckled, shooting Lorelai a grateful look. "That's great, Jules. What do we say to Lorelai?"
"Thank you, Lai," Julia chirped, already reaching for a piece of garlic bread.
"You're welcome, Bug," Lorelai replied, her heart warming at the easy familiarity of the scene. These were the moments that reminded her how much she valued her friendship with Nick. They drove each other nuts, but what family didn't? This was far from the first time he'd realized what she'd needed when she'd gotten too much tunnel vision to realize it for herself. The simple act of helping Julia with her homework and sharing a meal with her makeshift family had done more to settle her nerves than hours of pouring over case files ever could.
As they ate, conversation flowed easily between the three of them. Nick regaled them with stories from work, carefully editing out the more gruesome details for Julia's benefit. Julia, in turn, shared more about her day at school, including a dramatic retelling of a playground dispute that had Lorelai and Nick struggling to keep straight faces.
As they finished up dinner, Nick turned to Julia. "Alright, kid. Time to get ready for bed. Say goodnight to Lai."
Julia pouted but didn't argue, giving Lorelai a tight hug before heading off to her room. Without missing a beat, Lorelai waved her wand and began cleaning up.
"You don't have to do that," Nick protested, but Lorelai waved him off.
"Please, it's the least I can do after you dragged me out of the office and fed me. Go help your daughter get ready for bed."
Nick acquiesced with a nod and followed after Julia. A little while later, as Lorelai let herself into her own apartment and found herself replying to Dean's latest text, she found that the knot of anxiety in her chest looser than it had been all week. The evening with Nick and Julia had brought her back to reality, reminding her of what was truly important. Whatever happened tomorrow, she realized, she had people in her corner who believed in her. And really, that was what mattered most.
It was the next day after lunch that the news finally came through. Lorelai returned to her desk to find an official looking envelop waiting on the surface, and it was with trembling hands that she ripped it open and scanned the contents.
Her hard work had paid off. She'd gotten it, and she found herself staring at the official MACUSA letterhead in shock, her eyes scanning the formal language multiple times as if to make sure she wasn't imagining things. Kirby's signature at the bottom was still glistening.
"Holy shit," she muttered, running a hand through her dark hair.
Pride she didn't normally feel washed over her, accompanied by a sense of accomplishment, and then her mind began racing with the implications. More autonomy, higher clearance, bigger cases - all things she'd been striving for. And she'd achieved it faster than most, both in terms of her age and the length of her tenure with MACUSA, a fact that sent another thrill of satisfaction through her.
Lorelai found herself reaching for her phone, her fingers hovering over Dean's name in her contacts. The urge to share her news with him was overwhelming, but as quickly as it had come, reality crashed back in. Dean didn't know about this part of her life. He had no idea about MACUSA, about her real job, about the magic that was such an integral part of who she was. He thought she was a hunter with a crappy writing gig on the side to help with the bills.
The realization left a bitter taste in her mouth, dampening the joy of her accomplishment. With a sigh, she switched gears and instead sent a quick text to Katie, letting her sister know about the promotion. Katie's excited response, full of exclamation points and hearts, brought a smile back to Lorelai's face, but the underlying ache remained.
She couldn't dwell on it though. This was still her moment, her achievement, and she refused to let the complications of her relationship with Dean overshadow that. It wouldn't be long before she set everything straight, and the complications would be worked out after that, one way or another.
Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out the letter and carefully tucked it into her desk drawer. There would be time later to process the implications of her secret life. For now, she had a celebration to attend.
As if on cue, a knock sounded at her office door. Nick poked his head in, a knowing grin on his face.
"So, I take it the good news finally came through?" he asked, stepping into the room.
Lorelai nodded, unable to keep the smile off her face despite her earlier moment of melancholy. "Just got the official letter. Not gonna lie, I still can't believe it."
Nick grinned and shook his head. "Well, believe it, and get ready for tonight. We're celebrating."
"We're?" Lorelai quirked an eyebrow. "Who's we're?"
"People you like," Nick assured her, and the mischievous glint in his eye suggested he'd had this planned for a while. "Conklin and Margo. Olivia and Ian. Emily. Even managed to drag Ezra out of his lab for the occasion. We're all getting together at that rooftop bar you like in Midtown."
Lorelai's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You gotEzrato agree to leave the lab? And actually socialize with other MLE officials? Now I know you're full of shit."
Nick laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I swear on my life, it's true. Though I may have had to promise to keep any of Caputo's cases off his desk for the next month."
"Sneaky bastard," Lorelai chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, I'm in. When and where?"
"Meet me downstairs at six, we'll go over together," Nick replied, already backing towards the door. "And Lorelai? Congratulations. You've earned this."
With that, he was gone, leaving Lorelai alone with her thoughts once more. She glanced at the clock, noting she had about an hour before she had to sit down with Conklin to go over all the details of her new position. Plenty of time to wrap up reports of the IDs she'd done yesterday.
When six o'clock rolled around, Lorelai found herself unable to keep still, but this time it was due to excitement rather than nerves, and she pulled Nick in for a bear hug before they even left the building.
"C'mon, let's go," she cajoled, and Nick laughed, following her out into the streets.
True to his word, Nick had organized a small gathering at a rooftop bar in Midtown. As they stepped out onto the terrace, Lorelai was greeted by a chorus of cheers from her friends and colleagues. Conklin was there, raising a glass in her direction. Margo, a fellow Auror and one of the few people in the department Lorelai genuinely liked, enveloped her in a tight hug. Olivia and Ian were beaming at her from near the bar, and as promised Ezra had been coaxed out of his lab for the occasion. He groaned when Emily arrived moments later, mumbling something about there being two of them.
"To Lorelai," Nick called out, raising his glass. "The youngest Senior Auror in MACUSA history, and the biggest pain in my ass."
Laughter rippled through the group as they all raised their glasses. Lorelai felt her cheeks flush, overwhelmed by the genuine affection and pride radiating from her friends.
As the night wore on, Lorelai found herself swept up in the celebratory atmosphere. The drinks flowed freely, and conversation buzzed around her. For once, she allowed herself to truly let loose, reveling in her accomplishment and the company of people who understood what it meant to her.
It was well past midnight when Nick finally called for a cab, both of them too drunk to safely Apparate home. They stumbled into the elevator of their building, leaning on each other and giggling like teenagers.
"Y'know," Nick slurred as they reached their floor, "I'm really proud of you, Lorelai. You deserve this."
Lorelai felt her eyes prick with tears, and she blamed it entirely on the alcohol. "Thanks, Nick. For everything."
It was thanks to Nick, after all, that she even had the job. He'd been the one to tell her about the opening on Conklin's team when she'd been feeling restless and like she needed a change from her life in London, and he'd vouched for her before she'd even formally put her application in.
They parted ways at their respective doors, Nick giving her a sloppy salute before disappearing into his apartment. Lorelai fumbled with her keys, finally managing to let herself in.
She'd barely kicked off her shoes when her phone vibrated. Stumbling to the kitchen, she pulled it out, squinting at the small screen as she flipped it open. It was a text from Dean, asking if she were still up.
Realizing that there was no way she could manage texting him back, and not thinking much past that, she called him instead and held the phone to her ear as it rang.
Dean picked up on the second ring, his deep voice rumbling through the line. "Hey, sweetheart. Didn't expect you to call."
"Deeeean," Lorelai drawled, a grin spreading across her face. "I missed your voice."
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low chuckle. "Lorelai Baudelaire, are you drunk?"
"Mmmaybe," she giggled, stumbling towards her kitchen to grab a bottle of water. "Just a little. Or a lot. I'm celebrating!"
"Celebrating, huh?" Dean's amusement was evident in his tone. "What's the occasion?"
"Oh, I uh, I got a promotion," Lorelai told him, belatedly rememberingwhyshe hadn't told him about it.
"Promotion?" Dean asked, curiosity evident in his tone, and Lorelai could sense some skepticism too. "What promotion?"
For a moment, Lorelai's alcohol-addled brain struggled to come up with an explanation that fit with what Dean knew about her life. Thankfully, the melancholic feeling that threatened to take hold as she realized she couldn't tell him the full truth helped her attempts at being dismissive sound believable.
"Oh, you know," she said lamely. "Got a raise at the writing gig. More money, better assignments. It's not a big deal."
"Sounds like a pretty big deal to me," Dean replied, and Lorelai could hear the smile in his voice. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm proud of you."
The sincerity in his words made Lorelai's chest tighten, a mix of guilt and affection swirling in her stomach. "Thanks," she murmured. "I wish you were here to celebrate with me."
The words slipped out before she could stop them, but she found she didn't regret them. It was true, after all. As much as she'd enjoyed the night out with her colleagues, a part of her had missed Dean's presence.
"Yeah?" Dean's voice dropped lower, a hint of suggestion creeping in. "And how exactly would we be celebrating?" Lorelai bit her lip, heat pooling in her belly at the implication.
"Oh, I've got a few ideas," she murmured, her inhibitions lowered by the alcohol. "Remember that thing we did in Tulsa last week?"
Dean groaned, the sound sending another shiver through her. "Fuck, Lor. How could I forget? You were so goddamn flexible."
Lorelai smirked, sauntering towards her bedroom as she spoke. "Mmm, and you were so strong, holding me up against that wall. God, Dean, I miss your hands on me."
"You're killing me here," he breathed. "What are you wearing?"
Lorelai glanced down at herself, realizing she was still in her work clothes. "A pencil skirt and blouse," she answered honestly. "But I'd much rather be wearing nothing at all."
Dean's sharp intake of breath was audible through the phone. "Fuck, Lor. You can't just say shit like that when I'm hundreds of miles away."
"Why not?" Lorelai teased, flopping onto her bed. "What are you gonna do about it, Winchester?"
"When I see you next," Dean growled, his voice low and full of promise, "I'm gonna bend you over the nearest flat surface and fuck you until you can't walk straight."
Heat flooded Lorelai's body at his words, and she let out a soft moan. "Promise?"
"You know it, sweetheart," Dean replied, his voice rough with desire. "God, I miss you. It's only been a few days, and I already can't wait to get my hands on you again."
Lorelai hummed in agreement, her free hand trailing down her body. "I miss you too, Dean. So much. Not just the sex, although that's definitely amazing. I just... I miss being around you."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and Lorelai briefly worried she'd said too much. But then Dean's voice came through, softer than before.
"I miss you too."
"It's stupid, isn't it?" she murmured, her voice soft and vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be. "We just saw each other, less than a week ago, and here I am, drunk dialing you like some lovesick teenager."
Dean's low chuckle rumbled through the phone, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. "Trust me, sweetheart, I'm not complaining. It's nice to hear you let your guard down a little."
Lorelai snorted, rolling onto her side and curling up on her bed. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it. I'm sure I'll be back to my usual prickly self once I sober up."
"Nah," Dean teased, his voice warm with affection. "You're always a softie deep down. You just hide it better when you're sober. But I can see through you."
"Slander and lies, Winchester," Lorelai retorted, but there was no heat in her words. She found herself smiling, despite her halfhearted protest. "I'll have you know I'm a badass, through and through."
"Oh, I know," Dean agreed, his tone shifting to something lower, more suggestive again. "Trust me, I'm well aware of just how... badass you can be."
Lorelai felt heat, which hadn't totally dissipated, pooling in her belly at his words.
"Mmm, that so?" she purred, her own voice dropping to match his. The alcohol had seemed to truly remove any of her normal filters, but in that moment, she couldn't be bothered. "Care to elaborate?"
Dean groaned, the sound sending another spark of arousal through her. "Fuck, Lor. You're gonna kill me here. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"Maybe," she teased, her free hand idly tracing patterns on her stomach. "But I like hearing you say it."
"Yeah?" Dean's voice was rough with desire now. "You like it when I tell you how goddamn sexy you are? How I can't stop thinking about the way you feel under me, or the sounds you make when I touch you?"
Lorelai bit her lip, stifling a moan. "God, Dean," she breathed. "Keep talking."
Dean chuckled, the sound dark and promising. "You're insatiable, you know that? Especially when you drink. Not that I'm complaining. I love how responsive you are, how you arch into my touch. The way you say my name when you're close..."
As Dean continued to paint a vivid picture with his words, Lorelai found herself getting lost in the fantasy. Her hand drifted lower, slipping beneath the waistband of her skirt. She let out a soft gasp as her fingers made contact with sensitive flesh.
"Lor?" Dean's voice cut through the haze of arousal. "You okay there, sweetheart?"
"Mmhmm," she hummed, her breath catching. "Just... enjoying the sound of your voice."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Dean let out a strangled groan. "Fuck, are you...?"
"Maybe," Lorelai replied coyly, her fingers continuing their gentle exploration. "Why? Does that bother you?"
"Christ, no," Dean growled. "That's... fuck, that's hot as hell. Tell me what you're thinking about."
Lorelai closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the fantasy. "You," she murmured. "Your hands on me, your lips... God, Dean, I wish you were here."
"Me too, sweetheart," Dean replied, his voice tight with restraint. "You have no idea how much I want to be there right now, touching you, tasting you..."
Their conversation devolved into a heated exchange of fantasies and breathy moans, both of them lost in the moment. When Lorelai finally came undone, Dean's name on her lips, she could hear his ragged breathing on the other end of the line.
"Fuck," Dean muttered after a moment of shared silence. "That was..."
"Yeah," Lorelai agreed, her body still tingling with aftershocks. She felt boneless, sated in a way that went beyond just physical release. There was something about the intimacy of the moment, of sharing this with Dean even from a distance, that left her feeling warm and content. "What about you?"
Dean chuckled. "As much as I'd love to, sweetheart, I'm actually at a diner right now. Probably shouldn't give the locals a show."
Lorelai's eyes widened, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement flooding through her. "Oh my god, Dean! Why didn't you say something?"
"And miss out on that performance? Not a chance," he teased. "Don't worry, I stepped outside as soon as things started heating up. Your virtue is safe."
"My virtue," Lorelai snorted. "Right. Because that's definitely intact."
They fell into an easy banter, the sexual tension from moments before morphing into the comfortable familiarity they'd developed over the past few months. Lorelai found herself relaxing further into her bed, a contented warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the alcohol still coursing through her system.
"You know," Dean said after another beat, his voice filled with affection, "I think I like drunk Lorelai. She's fun."
Lorelai laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Oh yeah? And what am I normally, boring?"
"Nah," Dean replied easily. "You're always fun. Just... different kinds of fun. Drunk Lorelai is all soft and giggly. Sober Lorelai keeps me on my toes."
"Mmm, good save there, Winchester," Lorelai teased. She stretched languidly, feeling pleasantly buzzed from both the alcohol and their shared moment. "You know, I'm glad you texted. I like talking to you."
"Well, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't check in on my girl? You sounded stressed this week," Dean replied, his tone light and teasing.
But there was a beat of silence as Dean's words registered. Lorelai's eyebrows shot up, a grin spreading across her face.
"Oh? Boyfriend, huh?" she teased, unable to resist the opportunity. "When did that happen?"
Dean cleared his throat, clearly caught off guard by his own slip. "I, uh... I mean..."
"No, no," Lorelai pressed, her grin widening. "Please, continue. Tell me more about this boyfriend status. Do I get a letterman jacket? Should I start wearing your class ring?"
"Shut up," Dean grumbled, but Lorelai could hear the smile in his voice. "You know what I meant."
"Do I?" Lorelai challenged playfully. "Because last I checked, we hadn't really discussed... labels."
There was another pause, and Lorelai could practically hear Dean running a hand down his face, a nervous habit she'd picked up on over the months. "Look, I just... I don't know, okay? It slipped out. You don't have to make a big deal out of it."
Lorelai softened, sensing the underlying vulnerability in Dean's tone. "Hey," she said gently. "I'm just teasing. You know I'm not... I mean, we're..."
She trailed off, suddenly unsure how to finish that sentence. They were exclusive, she knew that much. They talked almost daily, saw each other as often as their schedules allowed. But they'd never put a label on what they were to each other. It was another thing that the secret she was keeping was holding her back from. But maybe that was something that could change soon… a thought that she never would have allowed herself if not for her inebriated state.
"Yeah," Dean agreed, seeming to understand what she couldn't quite articulate. "We're... us."
"Us," Lorelai echoed, a small smile playing on her lips. "I like that."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence for a moment, both of them processing the weight of the conversation they'd just skirted around until Lorelai finally broke the silence.
"So… you still in Indiana?"
"Nah," Dean replied, and Lorelai could hear the rustling of paper in the background. "Wrapped that one up this morning. I'm almost to Maine now."
Lorelai perked up at this. "Maine? What's in Maine?"
Lorelai's alcohol-soaked brain had latched onto this information with surprising clarity. Maine. That wasn't too far. She could be there in... well, seconds if she apparated, but Dean didn't know that. Still, even driving, she could be there by tomorrow night, and that was the part that mattered. Not that she'd need to worry about keeping up pretenses much longer… provided she didn't chicken out.
"Caught wind of some weird grave robberies up here." Dean explained. "Some weird sightings. Nothing too major, but thought it might be our kind of thing, so I'm looking into it."
Interest piqued, Lorelai pressed him for more details and so Dean launched into an explanation of the case, detailing the strange circumstances surrounding the desecrated graves. As he spoke, Lorelai found herself sobering slightly, her training as an Auror kicking in.
"Sounds like it could be ghouls," she mused, her mind already filtering through what she could remember on them. "They're nasty bastards, but not too hard to take down if you know what you're doing."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too," Dean agreed. "Should be a pretty straightforward hunt."
Lorelai hummed in agreement, her mind already going fuzzy again, and the words spilling from her mouth before she could give them much thought. "You know, I could come up there. Give you a hand. I'm not doing anything important here."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Lorelai held her breath, suddenly worried she'd overstepped. But then Dean's voice came through, warm and amused.
"Lor, sweetheart, are you offering to drive all the way up to Maine just to help me on a case we both know I can handle solo?"
Lorelai felt her cheeks flush, grateful Dean couldn't see her. "Maybe," she mumbled. "Is that... is that okay?"
Dean's laugh was soft, affectionate. "More than okay. I'd love to see you. But you don't have to make up excuses, you know. If you want to come up here just to see me, that's reason enough."
Lorelai's heart skipped a beat at his words. Normally, she'd deflect, make a joke to lighten the moment. But the alcohol still coursing through her system loosened her tongue. "Yeah?" she asked, her voice small. "You'd be okay with that? Me just... wanting to see you?"
"Lor," Dean's voice was serious now, tender in a way that made Lorelai's chest ache. "Of course I'm okay with that. Hell, I'm more than okay with it. I always want to see you.You'rethe one that always needs the excuse."
Lorelai swallowed hard, blinking back the sudden moisture in her eyes. "Okay," she whispered. "Then... then yeah. I want to see you. The case is just a bonus."
"Good," Dean said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Then get your ass up here, Baudelaire. I'll text you the details in the morning."
"Okay," she agreed, before yawning, the events of the day and the alcohol finally catching up with her. "I should probably get some sleep if I'm gonna hit the road tomorrow."
"Yeah, you should," Dean agreed. "Get some rest, sweetheart. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Mmm, can't wait," Lorelai murmured, her eyes already drifting closed. "Night, Dean."
"Goodnight, Lor," Dean replied softly. "Sweet dreams."
As Lorelai ended the call and set her phone on the nightstand, a small part of her brain registered that she should probably set an alarm. But the thought was fleeting, lost in the haze of alcohol and contentment that had settled over her. Instead, she snuggled deeper into her pillow, a smile playing on her lips as she settled in. She knew there were difficult realities she'd have to face in the light of day, but for the moment they could wait. And with that decision, she drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Dean and her new job dancing in her head.
Thank you all for sticking with me, I'm so sorry this was so late! I ended up being able to extend my trip and spend some more time with my sister, which was great, but put me way behind on getting this chapter ready. Should be back to normal now - no more traveling until mid-October.
Hope you all enjoyed 😊