Disclaimer: ASP and the WB
Author's note: That's it, after 63 pages and over 40.000 words this is the last chapter. I am actually sad to end this story, but as I said before, I always wanted to end this story at this point. It leaves so much place for a sequel, which is already in my head.
I want to thank all of you for reading and reviewing, I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I loved writing it. You're great! Thank you soooo much!
Dedication: Once and for all for lilienprinzessin. A girl couldn't whish for a greater beta. Thanx for al the critique and for kicking my ass when I took too long! Huggles!
Dear Mrs./ Ms. Gilmore
Emily enjoyed the short walk to Luke's diner and used the time to let the afternoon replay in her head. She didn't know what the outcome of the talk between her and her daughter was going to be, but she hoped that Lorelai had gained a new understanding for her.
Some of Lorelai's words had hurt and the accusations still rung in Emily's head. She was able to understand her daughter's feelings to some extent.
Emily thought back to the day when she had found Lorelai burning her baby pictures. Emily had been angry at first, but then it dawned on her that all her jokes about Lorelai's huge head must have hurt the young child deeply. She had tried to be especially nice and understanding in the time following the incident, but Lorelai would probably have needed an apology more.
When Emily reached the diner, she instantly noticed the happy buzz that was going on there. She spotted Richard sitting on the counter with a beer in his hand- a sight she had never thought she'd see. He hadn't noticed her, which wasn't surprising with the constant opening and closing of the diner door. She slowly walked up to him and then put a hand onto his shoulder. He turned around to her and smiled at her softly.
"Hey," he said simply, eying her closely. She looked tired, but content.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked back, smiling at him to show him that she was alright.
"Of course, I just need to say goodbye to Luke," Richard answered. They didn't have to wait long for Luke to walk out of the kitchen again.
"Oh hello Emily," Luke said.
"Hello Luke," Emily replied, smiling at him.
"Is everything okay with Lorelai?" he asked carefully- not sure what to expect.
"Give her half an hour before you call her," Emily advised him, thinking back to the two gifts she had left behind.
Luke simply nodded.
"Can I get you something?" he asked Emily. By now he felt comfortable enough around Richard, but Luke still didn't know what to expect from Emily Gilmore.
"No thank you Luke, we're going to drive home now," Richard answered the question. "Thank you for the beer. The next time I'll be the one inviting you," Richard said and smiled at Luke warmly.
"Good idea," Luke said and returned Richard's smile. Emily knew that Richard felt very differently about Luke ever since the fateful night of the accident. It made Emily confident that she could change her behaviour towards him as well.
"Yes Michel I'll talk to the insurance company tomorrow. Do me favour and keep Sookie away from the stove now… no, I don't care how you do that," Lorelai said into the phone, trying not to growl in frustration. She was glad when she was finally able to end the phone call.
"I am sorry, that was Michel, it…," Lorelai said as she walked back into the living room, but stopped short when she noticed that the room was empty.
"Mum?" Lorelai called out, listening for any kind of response from her mother. She looked around the room and noticed that her mother's purse was gone as well. This was odd, her mother would never leave without saying goodbye. What would Ms. Manners say to that one? Lorelai thought quietly, but then she caught sight of the two gifts, which lay on the table. She slowly walked over to them, and studied them for a moment. They were wrapped in red and blue paper, a bow attached to each of them. One was a large square box and the other a flat longer box.
She sat down on her chair again and with childlike logic took the larger box into her hands. Larger box meant larger gift, Lorelai reasoned and began unwrapping it carefully. She instantly noticed that the box was from one of the exclusive jewellery stores in Hartford. She had often looked into the shop window, admiring the beautiful rings and necklaces that were displayed there. When she put the last piece of paper away, a little envelope fell out and landed on the floor. Lorelai picked it up and recognized her mother's slender handwriting.
"For Lorelai" the letter said and Lorelai opened it with trembling hands as she put the box down for a moment. She retrieved the elegant stationery and began to read.
Dear Lorelai,
I don't know how our talk, which I hope we just had, will go and what the outcome will be. Whatever will happen, I want you to know that I thought about our situation a lot during the last weeks. I've come to the realization that Luke is the perfect man for you and I whish you all the best for your future together.
Lorelai shook her head in amazement as she read this. Why hadn't her mother said that while they were talking? It would have eased the whole situation.
I don't know if you remembered the gift I mentioned when you told me that you and Max called your wedding off. It was an antique vase, which I thought would look lovely in your house. While I still consider the vase to be very beautiful, I think you would have turned it in for another monkey lamp. Therefore I have it safely stored away in our basement, in case you want to have it some day.
I remembered the old saying that a bride should have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Now while it is the maid of honour's job to gather those things, I take it that the bride mother usually offers the old gift. I tried to think of something to give you and finally remembered your problem regarding the veil. So you'll find my special treat for you in this box. I had it slightly remodelled and polished. I hope you like it, and I hope that it will bring you as much luck in your marriage as it brought to me. May you and Luke enjoy your marriage as much as your father and I did and still do.
Love,
Your Mother
Lorelai put the letter down and felt her eyes misting over. She picked up the box again and carefully opened it. She gasped as she realized what lay inside the box. She put her hands inside and carefully retrieved the beautifully modelled tiara. Lorelai admired it as the sunlight made the tiny diamonds, which were built in at the top, sparkle. She stood up and with the outmost care walked over to her mirror.
She put the tiara on top of her head with trembling hands and looked at herself in the mirror. To her surprise it didn't look ridiculous, it looked as if the tiara belonged there, as if it had been made for her. A single tear escaped as it hit her that her mother had shared something very special with her- the tiara she had worn on her own wedding day.
Lorelai walked back to the chair and sat down again. She carefully put the tiara back into its box and put her mother's letter next to it. She then turned to the second gift. It was from the jewellery store as well.
She unwrapped it quickly, and another letter fell out. She opened the envelope to find a single card inside.
Since you so badly wanted some of those
Lorelai raised her eyebrows at that and then opened the box. What she found inside made her laugh out loudly- six silver ice tea spoons. Lorelai shook her head, wiping two tears away that had escaped as she was still laughing softly. Her mother had known that she would open the larger gift first.
When Luke came storming into the house half an hour later- partly because he was worried and partly because his curiosity had gotten the better of him- he found Lorelai sitting in the kitchen, sipping coffee.
"Hey, everything alright with you?" he asked carefully, noticing her still somewhat puffy eyes. She nodded before she got up to kiss him tenderly.
"Sit down, I want to talk with you about something," Lorelai said before she began telling her fiancé about the afternoon and the plans that had ever since started to build in her head.
A little over a week later Emily still hadn't heard anything from her daughter. Even though it surprised and upset her a little, Emily forced herself to be patient. She was certain that Lorelai would show up at some point.
In the meantime she had kept herself busy. Richard had spent the rest of the week encouraging her to drive a car again. Emily had been really surprised at how changed her husband was. Instead of growing impatient with her as he usually would have been, he took his time to very gently take her fears of driving away. She was still shaking when she started the engine, but it got better and yesterday she had even managed to drive to the DAR meeting on her own.
Emily had to smile as she thought back to the meeting. She had been a little late, and Margaret Livingston had just been saying that Emily probably couldn't make it again and that the Ladies should maybe consider electing a new president, when she had strode in. Perfectly styled she had held her head high as she had marched past Margaret to the front, where she had thanked all the members for their support before she had presented them with an elaborate plan for the spring ball. She had it all planned and couldn't keep the smirk off her face as she saw the dear Mrs. Livingston sulking in the back, because yet another chance to become president of the DAR had passed for her. The fellow women had been thrilled at Emily's plans and Emily had yet again managed to secure her head position in society.
She was tending to the roses in the living room when she heard the front door opening and Richard calling out her name. He had been on the golf course, and returned with innumerable grass stains on his polo shirt.
"Oh look at you," she softly rebuked as he came over to kiss her hello.
"Yes well, golf is a tough sport," Richard remarked and feebly tried to clean his shirt. Emily smiled at him as she removed the golf cab from his head. Richard really was no man for hats, and she had never liked him wearing them. He decided to let the grass stay where it was and instead pulled Emily close to him.
"Hello," he said huskily, and looked deeply into her eyes.
"Hello," she gave back and readily gave in when he kissed her deeply. When they heard someone clearing his throat behind them, they quickly broke the kiss again.
"The mail arrived," the new maid said meekly, holding the letters she was carrying out to Emily.
"Thank you Maria," Emily said and took the letters. The maid nodded curtly before she left the room again.
"Maria, hm?" Richard asked and wasn't quite able to keep the amusement out of his voice.
"Yes, this Sabina broke three of my most favourite champagne glasses, there was no way I could keep her," Emily explained, daring Richard to disagree.
"I see," Richard simply said and felt a little sorry for the poor thing. Maybe they should give her a little bonus for being unfortunate enough to get between the lines of fire.
"I'll go and change, I guess dinner will be ready soon," Richard said, but only got a short nod in response, as Emily focused on the mail.
She swiftly sorted through the bills, but stopped when she came across a plain white envelope with her address on it. She opened it, and began reading.
Dear Mrs. Gilmore,
I have heard of your great reputation as organization talent. I am currently planning my rather short notice wedding to my fiancé Luke Danes and wanted to ask you whether you might find the time to help me with the preparations. That would be greatly appreciated by me and my future husband.
If you find yourself able to spare the time, I have a dress fitting on Tuesday, 9 o'clock in Stars Hollow and would really like your advice on a thing or two.
I am looking forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Lorelai Victoria Gilmore
P.S: If I had the chance to change one thing in my life, I would get to know you.
"Emily, have you seen my blue shirt? I can't for the life of mine find it," Richard said as he walked down the stairs again. He stopped short when he saw Emily holding a letter in her trembling hands. Tears were pooling in her eyes, and just about to spill.
"Emily?" Richard asked with concern in his voice. She turned to him, sniffling ever so softly as she held the letter out to him. Richard raised his eyebrows questioningly as he took the letter from his wife and began reading it.
When he had finished, he put the letter down and looked at Emily with a soft smile, before he drew her close to him again. She put her head onto his shoulder andallowed a couple of happy tears to escape as she felt Richard patting her back.
She thought of the months ahead of her and her little family and how far they had managed to come in the past weeks. How she would have never thought that Lorelai would allow her to organize her wedding or to even help her planning it.
When Richard pulled back again, she sighed happily as she looked into his loving eyes.
"I take it you will be very busy those next weeks?" Richard asked teasingly, and enjoyed it when he saw his wife's eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I think so," she replied, knowing that he was just as happy as she was. Her husband had never been one to show emotions easily, but she knew that like her he loved his daughter very much and wanted nothing more than a closer relationship with her.
When her eyes fell onto the giant family portrait, she smiled softly. For the first time in two decades she didn't feel a pang of sadness while looking at it. For the first time she felt hopeful and happy when she looked it.
"What do you think of a new family portrait, Richard? One with Rory and Luke on it?" Emily asked softly.Richard's gaze wandered to the painting, and back tohis wifeagain.
"I think that's lovely idea, but this time you'll be the one tying Lorelai down when she wants to bite the painter," he said and then joined his wife's carefree laughter of which both hoped they'd hear a lot more in the following months and years.
The End
And so it ends ;) It's an open ending and there may be some questions left unanswered, but did I mention the sequel yet? lol
As always I'd love to get reviews, just one more time ;)