Title: The Way We Were
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Lazy Hazy/I Can't Get Started
Rating: PG
Summary: My version of the Mimi scene (where L/L make up) only if it had
taken place earlier in the summer. I used some of the dialogue from that
scene to make it fit my version of events.
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba
Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman-
Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
"Your girl is lovely, Hubbell"
Lorelai Gilmore sat alone in front of her television, riveted by Barbra Streisand's French manicured nails, Robert Redford's freakishly handsome jaw and surprised by her own tears.
I can't believe this stupid movie is making me cry. If Rory were here, she'd so be making fun of me right now. We usually sit here and mock this kind of sappy stuff, but here I am identifying a little too closely with La Streisand's Katie. Hell, even Christopher kind of looks like Redford!
"Memories, like the corners of my mind, misty water color memories of the way we were"...
The way we were. Chris and I, a mere three weeks ago when everything was finally coming together. They were falling in love again and there was a good chance he could finally be a real, full-time dad to Rory. It took over 17 years, but it was happening. But then Sherry had to get pregnant and spoil everything and Chris was going to live up to his responsibilities.
Although the bitter irony of the situation left her angry, she did miss him. Chris left Lorelai at least one voicemail every day since the news, begging her to talk to him. But she refused to pick up the phone. Sherry was pregnant, he was going to stay with her and nothing in the world would change that.
As the credits rolled, she shut off the TV in disgust. She grabbed a tissue to wipe her eyes and blow her nose, but the tears kept falling. What the hell is wrong with me?
The truth was she was lonely. It had been a long time since Lorelai had felt this lonely. Rory was at her a political conference for another few weeks. Sookie was still on her honeymoon with Jackson in the Bahamas. Her parents were away in the Vineyard for the summer, not like Lorelai was about to spill her guts to them about her latest romantic failure. She even missed her neighbor Babette, who was with her husband in NYC for a jazz festival. Lorelai wished she had someone to talk to.
Let me make some coffee, that'll fix it, it always does Lorelai walked into the kitchen and put some strong smelling java in the coffee maker. As it brewed and percolated, the familiar smell reminded her of something, more like someone - Luke. She hadn't really talked to him in weeks and when they did speak it was forced and awkward. Even though she apologized to him until she was blue in the face, he continued to pull a Mr. Freeze on her. Even in the middle of summer, his stone cold glare gave her chills.
Why does he hate me so much? She wished things were the way they were before that horrible night, the night of Rory and Jess' car accident. She regretted blowing up at Luke and telling him to go to hell. That's why he hates me, if someone told me that I would never forgive them
Lorelai was afraid that with those words, she had nailed the coffin shut. Here lies Luke and Lorelai's long-term friendship, murdered by my big mouth This made her feel sadder than the movie had. She poured herself a hot cup of coffee, but it didn't help. Swallowing the hot liquid only reminded her that it wasn't just Luke's coffee that she needed. She was Luke-less and she couldn't stand it anymore. She decided there was just one thing to do. It was after 10PM but she picked up the phone and dialed. It rang three times before she heard Luke's voice on the line. "Hello?"
Lorelai sniffled into the receiver.
"Who is this? If this is a crank call, I'm calling the cops."
"It's not a crank call, it's me."
"Lorelai?"
"Yes"
"What's wrong? Is Rory ok?"
"She's fine, she's in DC for the summer, remember?"
Luke remembered when Rory dropped by the diner the morning she left for DC. Rory gave him a hug and told him that she hoped by the time she got back that he and her mom would've patched things up. Luke just nodded and gave her some coffee to go on the house.
"What's wrong then? Why are you calling so late?"
"I'm sorry, it's just."
Luke heard her sobbing on the line. "Do you want me to come over?"
"You wouldn't mind?"
"I'll be right there."
Luke hung up the phone and sighed. What the hell am I doing? I'm supposed to be mad at her. Why does she think that she can just call me up and cry and I'll come running? Luke knew very well he had a very hard time saying "no" to Lorelai. He had no problem standing up to most folks and speaking his mind. But Lorelai, she was his weakness and knew just how to tug at his heart.
Luke grabbed his keys, left his apartment and got into his truck. He didn't even knock on Jess's bedroom door to say where he was going. He wasn't in the mood to hear Jess make some snide remark about golden retrievers.
A few minutes later, Luke pulled up in front of Lorelai's house. He realized that he hadn't been there since the night he asked Rory to tutor Jess, and Lorelai expressed her concern about Jess monopolizing Rory's time. The event that led up to their big blowup - had it really been that long?
He exited the truck and approached the front door. He was about to ring the doorbell when Lorelai appeared at the door. She looked vulnerable standing in her pj's and robe, her eyes red and face all puffy. She gave him a shy smile as she opened the door for him.
Lorelai was relieved to see him, as if she had forgotten what he'd looked like. He was the same old Luke wearing the same old uniform, except that the glare in his eyes was replaced by concern and guarded affection. She had Luke back, before she could say a word. "Thanks for coming. Can I get you something to drink? I just made coffee."
"You know I don't drink that stuff. Do you have any herbal tea in the house?"
"I might. Somebody gave us an herbal tea basket last year for Christmas. They obviously didn't know us too well."
"Well, maybe they were hoping to convert you?" Luke followed her into the kitchen and she went to the cupboard to retrieve the tea. He sat at the table and watched her as she put on the kettle.
"Ah here it is, never been touched. Let me see, we have chamomile, lemon ginger, some green tea and peppermint."
"I'll take the peppermint, thanks."
Lorelai sat down as the kettle started to heat up. Even though things already seemed better between them, she suddenly felt naked. She wrapped her robe around her tightly. "It's a cool night for July."
"Yah, it's supposed to get hotter later in the week though, so enjoy it while it lasts. Um, Lorelai, you didn't call me so we could talk about the weather, huh?"
"No. Um, well, I was watching "The Way We Were" on TV tonight. Instead of mocking it like I usually do, I found myself bawling."
"You called me because a Streisand movie made you cry? Her movies have a similar effect on me. Rachel dragged me to the "Prince of Tides" it was pure torture!"
Lorelai chuckled. "I'll have to make a note of that in my "things to torture Luke with" file. You know, the movie really didn't make me cry, it just kind of precipitated it. You have no idea what I've been through the past few weeks. We haven't exactly been the best of buddies, you know."
Luke nodded. "So, what exactly has been going on with you?" The tea kettle whistled and Lorelai got up to fetch the tea. Luke stood up and motioned her to sit down. "I'll get the tea, you sit and talk."
Lorelai took a deep breath. "Well, a few weeks ago, things were getting to be really good with Rory's dad and me. He was splitting up with his girlfriend, Sherry. Chris and I were talking about getting back together and maybe we'd finally be the picture postcard family. We were in sync, for the first time ever. Things were perfect for about one millisecond before it all fell apart."
Luke brought his teacup and saucer to the table and sat across from Lorelai. "What happened?"
"Sherry's pregnant. Chris is gonna marry her, and he's gonna be there for her while she's pregnant and he's gonna be there with her while her child grows up, and he's gonna be there for her while she does, whatever it is she does. And I'm in exactly the same place that I was in before."
"Is that so bad? You've got Rory. You've got friends, a house, a job, apparently an iron stomach."
"No, it's not so bad. I'm lucky, I know. I just, I feel like I'm never gonna have it - the whole package, you know? That person, that couple life, and I swear, I hate admitting it because I fancy myself Wonder Woman, but I really want it - the whole package."
Luke reached across the table and covered her hand with his. Lorelai noticed a warmth and an unexpected softness in his touch. She looked up and saw him looking intently at her.
"You'll get it."
"How do you know?"
"I know."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know, okay?"
All too quickly, Luke removed his hand from Lorelai's and he took another sip of tea. Lorelai gazed at him with affection and gratitude. "Thanks, Luke."
"Hey, I guess I should go, it's almost 11. I was about to get ready for bed when you called."
"Sorry, I guess I took away an hour of your beauty sleep."
"I'll live. It's just that we non-caffeinated folks need extra sleep because we don't have the luxury of a coffee addiction to wake us in the AM."
Lorelai watched him get up from the table. She was not about to let him leave before letting him know just how glad she was to have him back.
Luke walked to the kitchen door. When he turned around to say goodnight to Lorelai, he was surprised to find her arms wrapped around his waist. He felt awkward whenever he found her in close proximity, not that he minded. He returned the embrace, placing one hand between her shoulder blades and the other on the small of her back. He felt something wet on his t-shirt and realized that Lorelai was crying again. "Oh Luke, I really missed you. Promise me that we'll never let anything come between us again. I don't want my life to be Luke-less."
"Luke-less? Is that a word?"
Lorelai looked up at him with a hopeful expression. "It is now. Promise me? I'll be a better friend, I'll stop taking you for granted, hey, I'll even try decaf!"
Luke smiled down at her. "Liar..Lorelai, no promises necessary, we're fine."
"I'm sorry - I guess I got carried away. I'm just happy to have my Luke back."
"I'll always be here. Good night, Lorelai, get some sleep - I don't want to see your pretty face all puffy in the diner tomorrow."
Lorelai released Luke from their embrace and she opened the kitchen door. "Good night, Luke."
Luke left her house and got back into his truck. As he turned the key in the ignition he reflected on what just happened. Once again, he would see her every morning. He'd provide her with her daily caffeine fix, they would banter and things would go back to normal. Wait a second, did Lorelai just call me "her Luke?"
Lorelai locked the kitchen door and went upstairs to get ready for bed. As she washed her face, she looked into the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She looked forward to going back to Luke's in the morning and of course, his coffee. Wait, did Luke just call me pretty? Maybe things are not going to go back to the way we were, after all.
"Your girl is lovely, Hubbell"
Lorelai Gilmore sat alone in front of her television, riveted by Barbra Streisand's French manicured nails, Robert Redford's freakishly handsome jaw and surprised by her own tears.
I can't believe this stupid movie is making me cry. If Rory were here, she'd so be making fun of me right now. We usually sit here and mock this kind of sappy stuff, but here I am identifying a little too closely with La Streisand's Katie. Hell, even Christopher kind of looks like Redford!
"Memories, like the corners of my mind, misty water color memories of the way we were"...
The way we were. Chris and I, a mere three weeks ago when everything was finally coming together. They were falling in love again and there was a good chance he could finally be a real, full-time dad to Rory. It took over 17 years, but it was happening. But then Sherry had to get pregnant and spoil everything and Chris was going to live up to his responsibilities.
Although the bitter irony of the situation left her angry, she did miss him. Chris left Lorelai at least one voicemail every day since the news, begging her to talk to him. But she refused to pick up the phone. Sherry was pregnant, he was going to stay with her and nothing in the world would change that.
As the credits rolled, she shut off the TV in disgust. She grabbed a tissue to wipe her eyes and blow her nose, but the tears kept falling. What the hell is wrong with me?
The truth was she was lonely. It had been a long time since Lorelai had felt this lonely. Rory was at her a political conference for another few weeks. Sookie was still on her honeymoon with Jackson in the Bahamas. Her parents were away in the Vineyard for the summer, not like Lorelai was about to spill her guts to them about her latest romantic failure. She even missed her neighbor Babette, who was with her husband in NYC for a jazz festival. Lorelai wished she had someone to talk to.
Let me make some coffee, that'll fix it, it always does Lorelai walked into the kitchen and put some strong smelling java in the coffee maker. As it brewed and percolated, the familiar smell reminded her of something, more like someone - Luke. She hadn't really talked to him in weeks and when they did speak it was forced and awkward. Even though she apologized to him until she was blue in the face, he continued to pull a Mr. Freeze on her. Even in the middle of summer, his stone cold glare gave her chills.
Why does he hate me so much? She wished things were the way they were before that horrible night, the night of Rory and Jess' car accident. She regretted blowing up at Luke and telling him to go to hell. That's why he hates me, if someone told me that I would never forgive them
Lorelai was afraid that with those words, she had nailed the coffin shut. Here lies Luke and Lorelai's long-term friendship, murdered by my big mouth This made her feel sadder than the movie had. She poured herself a hot cup of coffee, but it didn't help. Swallowing the hot liquid only reminded her that it wasn't just Luke's coffee that she needed. She was Luke-less and she couldn't stand it anymore. She decided there was just one thing to do. It was after 10PM but she picked up the phone and dialed. It rang three times before she heard Luke's voice on the line. "Hello?"
Lorelai sniffled into the receiver.
"Who is this? If this is a crank call, I'm calling the cops."
"It's not a crank call, it's me."
"Lorelai?"
"Yes"
"What's wrong? Is Rory ok?"
"She's fine, she's in DC for the summer, remember?"
Luke remembered when Rory dropped by the diner the morning she left for DC. Rory gave him a hug and told him that she hoped by the time she got back that he and her mom would've patched things up. Luke just nodded and gave her some coffee to go on the house.
"What's wrong then? Why are you calling so late?"
"I'm sorry, it's just."
Luke heard her sobbing on the line. "Do you want me to come over?"
"You wouldn't mind?"
"I'll be right there."
Luke hung up the phone and sighed. What the hell am I doing? I'm supposed to be mad at her. Why does she think that she can just call me up and cry and I'll come running? Luke knew very well he had a very hard time saying "no" to Lorelai. He had no problem standing up to most folks and speaking his mind. But Lorelai, she was his weakness and knew just how to tug at his heart.
Luke grabbed his keys, left his apartment and got into his truck. He didn't even knock on Jess's bedroom door to say where he was going. He wasn't in the mood to hear Jess make some snide remark about golden retrievers.
A few minutes later, Luke pulled up in front of Lorelai's house. He realized that he hadn't been there since the night he asked Rory to tutor Jess, and Lorelai expressed her concern about Jess monopolizing Rory's time. The event that led up to their big blowup - had it really been that long?
He exited the truck and approached the front door. He was about to ring the doorbell when Lorelai appeared at the door. She looked vulnerable standing in her pj's and robe, her eyes red and face all puffy. She gave him a shy smile as she opened the door for him.
Lorelai was relieved to see him, as if she had forgotten what he'd looked like. He was the same old Luke wearing the same old uniform, except that the glare in his eyes was replaced by concern and guarded affection. She had Luke back, before she could say a word. "Thanks for coming. Can I get you something to drink? I just made coffee."
"You know I don't drink that stuff. Do you have any herbal tea in the house?"
"I might. Somebody gave us an herbal tea basket last year for Christmas. They obviously didn't know us too well."
"Well, maybe they were hoping to convert you?" Luke followed her into the kitchen and she went to the cupboard to retrieve the tea. He sat at the table and watched her as she put on the kettle.
"Ah here it is, never been touched. Let me see, we have chamomile, lemon ginger, some green tea and peppermint."
"I'll take the peppermint, thanks."
Lorelai sat down as the kettle started to heat up. Even though things already seemed better between them, she suddenly felt naked. She wrapped her robe around her tightly. "It's a cool night for July."
"Yah, it's supposed to get hotter later in the week though, so enjoy it while it lasts. Um, Lorelai, you didn't call me so we could talk about the weather, huh?"
"No. Um, well, I was watching "The Way We Were" on TV tonight. Instead of mocking it like I usually do, I found myself bawling."
"You called me because a Streisand movie made you cry? Her movies have a similar effect on me. Rachel dragged me to the "Prince of Tides" it was pure torture!"
Lorelai chuckled. "I'll have to make a note of that in my "things to torture Luke with" file. You know, the movie really didn't make me cry, it just kind of precipitated it. You have no idea what I've been through the past few weeks. We haven't exactly been the best of buddies, you know."
Luke nodded. "So, what exactly has been going on with you?" The tea kettle whistled and Lorelai got up to fetch the tea. Luke stood up and motioned her to sit down. "I'll get the tea, you sit and talk."
Lorelai took a deep breath. "Well, a few weeks ago, things were getting to be really good with Rory's dad and me. He was splitting up with his girlfriend, Sherry. Chris and I were talking about getting back together and maybe we'd finally be the picture postcard family. We were in sync, for the first time ever. Things were perfect for about one millisecond before it all fell apart."
Luke brought his teacup and saucer to the table and sat across from Lorelai. "What happened?"
"Sherry's pregnant. Chris is gonna marry her, and he's gonna be there for her while she's pregnant and he's gonna be there with her while her child grows up, and he's gonna be there for her while she does, whatever it is she does. And I'm in exactly the same place that I was in before."
"Is that so bad? You've got Rory. You've got friends, a house, a job, apparently an iron stomach."
"No, it's not so bad. I'm lucky, I know. I just, I feel like I'm never gonna have it - the whole package, you know? That person, that couple life, and I swear, I hate admitting it because I fancy myself Wonder Woman, but I really want it - the whole package."
Luke reached across the table and covered her hand with his. Lorelai noticed a warmth and an unexpected softness in his touch. She looked up and saw him looking intently at her.
"You'll get it."
"How do you know?"
"I know."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know, okay?"
All too quickly, Luke removed his hand from Lorelai's and he took another sip of tea. Lorelai gazed at him with affection and gratitude. "Thanks, Luke."
"Hey, I guess I should go, it's almost 11. I was about to get ready for bed when you called."
"Sorry, I guess I took away an hour of your beauty sleep."
"I'll live. It's just that we non-caffeinated folks need extra sleep because we don't have the luxury of a coffee addiction to wake us in the AM."
Lorelai watched him get up from the table. She was not about to let him leave before letting him know just how glad she was to have him back.
Luke walked to the kitchen door. When he turned around to say goodnight to Lorelai, he was surprised to find her arms wrapped around his waist. He felt awkward whenever he found her in close proximity, not that he minded. He returned the embrace, placing one hand between her shoulder blades and the other on the small of her back. He felt something wet on his t-shirt and realized that Lorelai was crying again. "Oh Luke, I really missed you. Promise me that we'll never let anything come between us again. I don't want my life to be Luke-less."
"Luke-less? Is that a word?"
Lorelai looked up at him with a hopeful expression. "It is now. Promise me? I'll be a better friend, I'll stop taking you for granted, hey, I'll even try decaf!"
Luke smiled down at her. "Liar..Lorelai, no promises necessary, we're fine."
"I'm sorry - I guess I got carried away. I'm just happy to have my Luke back."
"I'll always be here. Good night, Lorelai, get some sleep - I don't want to see your pretty face all puffy in the diner tomorrow."
Lorelai released Luke from their embrace and she opened the kitchen door. "Good night, Luke."
Luke left her house and got back into his truck. As he turned the key in the ignition he reflected on what just happened. Once again, he would see her every morning. He'd provide her with her daily caffeine fix, they would banter and things would go back to normal. Wait a second, did Lorelai just call me "her Luke?"
Lorelai locked the kitchen door and went upstairs to get ready for bed. As she washed her face, she looked into the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She looked forward to going back to Luke's in the morning and of course, his coffee. Wait, did Luke just call me pretty? Maybe things are not going to go back to the way we were, after all.