Telling Time

A Sequel to Knowing

Giggles and Einstein

"Whatcha doin'?" Rory Gilmore asked curiously.

The tall woman beside her didn't answer. Rory frowned, and waved a hand in front of her mother's face.

"Hello? Anybody in there? Speak to me, Lorelai…"

Lorelai blinked and refocused when her vision was suddenly obstructed.

"What?" she demanded, slightly defensive and now fully alert. "I can't stand here enjoying the view while waiting for my often-tardy offspring?"

"What view?" Rory scoffed. "You're in the town square. From here you can see the street, a couple of cars, and the diner- ohhh," she realized. She looked at her mother fondly. "Are you staring at Luke?" she asked, greatly amused.

"No," Lorelai answered witheringly. Rory just raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe," Lorelai conceded weakly.

"Do you know how disgustingly sweet and romantic that is?" Rory giggled in delight.

"Oh, my God, I know I'm pathetic, don't rub it in," Lorelai moaned.

"You're not pathetic, you're in lurve," Rory teased. "So, how is the view?"

Lorelai studied her daughter carefully, wondering if she could ask without seeming too juvenile or mockable. Rory wouldn't torment her about this, would she? Well, who was she kidding, of course she would, but hopefully at a later date when this pressing dilemma had been solved.

"Can I ask you something?" she said seriously. "And I want your honest opinion, no holds barred."

"Ask away," Rory encouraged, intrigued.

"What do you think? Of Luke?" Lorelai asked awkwardly. "Do you think he's cute?"

Rory burst out laughing, and she looked at her mother like she was crazy.

"That's enough, Giggles, just answer the question," Lorelai warned dryly.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I just had such a massive sense of déjà vu it wasn't even funny," Rory said, still chuckling. "Well, actually, it was. Funny, I mean. Which is why I'm laughing, and-" she caught sight of Lorelai's face- "why I'm stopping. Right now."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. And you asked me that exact question almost three years ago."

"I know, and you told me under no circumstances was I ever to go out with Luke. I've decided I don't trust your judgment."

"I didn't tell you not to go out with Luke, I told you you couldn't ever break up with Luke. Not the same thing."

"No, it's not," Lorelai grinned happily. "And I'm not planning, in this or any other universe, on breaking up with Luke, so, back to the question, if you please." She paused, momentarily distracted as she glanced across the street and saw Luke again.

"There is a seriously good-looking fella over there," Lorelai began, indicating Luke behind his plate glass windows with a jerk of her head.

"That's not a question."

"I know, Einstein, and by the way have I thanked you for how incredibly helpful you've been today, the question is, why have I only come to this conclusion recently? Why, all of a sudden, is he all that on a piece of toast, when I've known him and been looking at him for a really, really long time? Is it just because I'm dating him, and as a good girlfriend I'm supposed to think that he's good-looking? That's so shallow, it might even be worse than if he's been this gorgeous all along, and I've never noticed- what, my womanly instincts were so deadened that I couldn't see he's the sexiest man alive?"

Rory just shook her head and sidestepped the question. "Have you told him yet?" she asked, quite sternly.

"That he's the sexiest man alive? Oh, he knows," Lorelai answered devilishly.

"You know what I'm talking about."

"What was the question again?"

"Mom, have you told him yet," Rory repeated.

"That depends on what you mean by 'told him'," Lorelai stalled.

"It's not this complicated, you know."

"Easy for you to say, you've done it twice."

"Yeah, with not so hot results."

"Bringing me down, here, Ror."

"Sorry."

Lorelai shuffled her feet, looking down at the concrete. "Any tips?" she finally muttered ungraciously.

Rory thought for a moment. "Don't plan it out," she said. "Don't make it all about sunsets and candles and violins, 'cause you'll never get that. It never works out the way you plan. Just…do it, the second you feel it, don't let yourself second-guess it."

"So, what, I'm just supposed to go in there, and be all, like, 'Hi, Luke, great to see you, I'll have pancakes, side of bacon, two muffins, by the way I love you, oh, and the biggest cup of coffee you have, thanks a lot, bye'?"

Rory shrugged. "Why not?"

"Why not? Cause that's not how you're supposed to do it!" Lorelai wailed.

"How would you know? You've never done it," Rory said reasonably, then instantly regretted it. Nice one, Gilmore, she berated herself. Remind her that she's never trusted a guy enough, not even Dad, to tell him. It might even be that she's never even trusted a guy enough to feel it.

"I know," Lorelai said, wincing at the reminder but smiling slightly to relieve Rory's guilt. "That's what makes it so hard. So…scary. What if he doesn't-"

"He does," Rory reassured her quickly, unable to stop the wide grin that spread across her face with the certainty she felt. "He does."