A/N: Spoiler Warning! Spoilers for episode 5.06-If you are not spoiled, do not read this. Wow, you guys get another long chapter. Let me know what you think.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Kris Wright, who graciously allowed me to steal a scene from one of her fics. Thanks, chica!
To freecityy: Thanks. I'm glad that I'm staying in character, then. You are the only one who guessed the mystery guest correctly, btw.
To lorelaivictoriadanes: Your answers await! Glad you liked!
To Parker Austin: I thought Jason was pretty nutty too. Now he's really nutty. Thanks for reading!
To kate ( ): I love cliffhangers. Answers in this chapter.
To greengolferfc ( ): Here's an update! I tried to get it out asap.
Four heads swiveled to look at the doorway in perfect sync. It was a moment before anyone spoke.
"Dad!" Rory exclaimed, jumping up out of her chair. Her father set down the car seat he was carrying on a near by table and hugged her tight.
Lorelai's world fell out from under her. Christopher.
Luke's world fell out from under him. Christopher.
"Really, Christopher. Must you be so crude?" Emily scolded, but in a way that revealed she wasn't really angry with him. He smiled sheepishly.
"Couldn't stop myself." He replied, letting Rory go.
"Georgia!" Rory squealed, peering down into the car seat. "Oh, she's so big." She went on, looking at her dad.
"Do me a favor, take her to the back and heat up her bottle for me?" Christopher said, directing his gaze at Lorelai, but speaking to Rory, handing her a diaper bag. Rory picked up the car seat and slung the bag on her shoulder, heading to the back room where Sookie and Lane had disappeared to. It was a good thing Sookie was back there, because Rory had no idea how to heat up a bottle.
"Lorelai." He said, in a manner that spoke volumes.
"Christopher." She whispered his name, and Luke almost visibly flinched. If there was one man in Lorelai's life that could cause trouble in their relationship, this man was it. Christopher settled himself in Rory's now vacant chair. The shock of seeing him wore off, and Lorelai whacked him on the shoulder in mild anger. "What are you doing here?" She practically demanded.
"Business. Besides, Rory hasn't seen her sister in awhile, so I thought I'd stop out. You mom told me that your inn had just opened, so I thought I'd check that out while I was here too." Lorelai threw an accusing look at her mother during Christopher's explanation, but couldn't bring herself to look at Luke. She'd felt him tense up beside her when Christopher had made his presence known.
"Lorelai, really. He just got here. Let's not re-enact the Spanish Inquisition. You haven't even let him greet Luke." Emily protested, meeting Lorelai's annoyed gaze.
"Fine. Christopher, you remember Luke. Luke, you remember Christopher." Lorelai said, sounding as if she'd rather be having her teeth drilled than reintroduce the two most important men in her life. They briefly shook hands, while Lorelai held her breath.
"So, Emily, how was Europe?" Christopher looked at Lorelai's mother.
"It was good." Emily barely got out before Lorelai interrupted.
"You called him?" She shouted at her mother, getting up. Luke was in awe. He'd heard about Lorelai's disagreements with her mother, but had never actually seen one up close. Emily rose as well, and the two men shared a look. This would not be pretty.
"Yes. Yes I did!" Emily defended herself. "His daughter was coming home from Europe and hadn't seen her father in several months, I thought it only fitting to invite him to her welcome home party."
"You didn't say anything about it, Mom." Lorelai refuted.
"I wasn't aware that I had to RSVP, Lorelai. It's not like this is a five star restaurant." Emily replied, sarcastic.
"Mom!" Lorelai shouted again. How dare she insult Luke like that?
"Listen, Lor, if you don't want me..." Christopher interrupted. She held up a hand to silence him.
"You're already here, so you might as well stay. Rory would be upset if you left now." Lorelai told him. He nodded. Luke silently agreed, relieved that Lorelai had no idea he was coming, and clearly had issues with him staying.
Lorelai wasn't finished with her mother.
"How dare you come in here and insult Luke like this?" She continued, in a tone that made Christopher stare at her in surprise. "This is his business, his pride and joy. It's how he makes his living. How can you just come in here and treat it like it's nothing because some uppity newspaper or magazine didn't deem to come all the way down here and grant it with something as stupid as stars?" Lorelai went on.
"Lorelai, it's ok." Luke interrupted, touching her arm. She shrugged him off.
"It's not okay, Luke. It's not." Lorelai protested. "Apologize." She snapped at her mother, shocking herself.
"What?" Emily was practically beside herself. "I will not. Really, Lorelai, get a hold of yourself."
"Apologize now, Mom, or leave." Lorelai issued her ultimatum as Rory lingered in the doorway, Georgia in her arms.
"I said I won't and I won't." Emily refused.
"Then get out." Lorelai said, shocking even herself.
"Mom!" Rory interrupted, handing her sister to her father. "What is going on here?" She demanded. Neither of them answered her. "Well?" She asked.
"It's nothing, dear." Emily's tone was tight as she finally spoke. "Could you do me a favor and drive me to the inn? I'm rather tired."
"That's a great idea." Lorelai agreed tersely, purposely not looking at her mother. "Take Lane with you, and then you guys can go hang out and catch up."
"Really?" Rory asked her mom, unsure if she should leave in the middle of this mess.
"Really." Lorelai forced a smile.
"Okay." Rory agreed. Everyone faced an awkward silence as Sookie announced that she would be joining Rory, Lane and Emily on their way back to the inn.
"Call me later." Sookie whispered to Lorelai, and then headed out the door. Christopher looked from Lorelai to Luke.
"I'm gonna go change Georgia. Is there a bathroom?" He asked. Luke pointed to a door in an obscure corner of the diner. Christopher disappeared inside.
Luke and Lorelai just stared at each other for a minute. Luke smiled.
"What? How could you possibly smile after what just happened here?" Lorelai asked, sounding upset.
"You and your mom had a conversation about us a few years ago?" Luke said.
"Yeah." Lorelai drawled out slowly as Luke's grin widened. "So?"
"You've been pining for me." Luke pointed out. Lorelai gasped.
"I have not." She denied.
"Really." He replied, clearly not believing her. She finally smiled back.
"Well, maybe just a little." She admitted, squinching her fingers together in a demonstration. He pulled her to him.
"I love you." He told her.
"I love you too, Luke." She kissed him.
"When did that happen?" Luke wanted to know after a minute.
"I've been pining for you, remember?" She joked. Her smile disappeared. "Listen, you're not upset that Christ is here, are you?" She questioned. His face lost his smile as well.
"His reason for being here seemed a little fishy, but as long as all he wants is to see Rory, then no, I'm not upset." Luke answered.
"Good." Lorelai replied, playing with the collar of his flannel shirt. "Okay, I'm going to take Christopher and get him a room at the inn, and then find my mother and work this thing out. Will I see you later?" She asked.
"Count on it." He said, kissing her. Christopher came out of the bathroom, and visibly flinched as he saw Luke kiss Lorelai. The bells over the door jangled for the third time that evening. Luke pulled away from Lorlai at the sound and Chris came out of the corner towards them.
"Doesn't the sign say we're closed?" Luke asked rhetorically. Lorelai had gone rigid and silent as soon as she saw their guest. Jason stood before them, his hair a mess, and his clothes wrinkled. He was scruffy looking, with day old beard on his face. Luke grimaced. Chris looked back and forth between them, trying to figure out what was happening. He recognized the guy they were staring at after a second.
"Oh my God, Jason Stiles?" Chris realized. He walked over and stuck out a hand.
"Christopher? Wow, small world." Jason said, shaking his hand. Lorelai's legs almost went out from beneath her. After everything else that had happened, this could not be happening too.
"So, what are you doing here?" Chris wanted to know.
"I'm here to see Lorelai." Jason replied, looking at her. Chris was confused.
"Ah." He said. Jason approached Lorelai and she gripped Luke's hand tightly.
"What are you doing here, Jason?" Lorelai demanded, hoping her voice wasn't shaking too much.
"I had to see you." He said.
"I asked you to leave me alone." She told him.
"I have to make you see how right we are." He went on, like she hadn't even spoken. Luke started to move towards him, but Lorelai squeezed his hand and stopped.
"How right we are?" Lorelai cried. "Look, I've moved on. You need to leave me alone. Stop calling me, stop sending me flowers, and for God's sake, stop coming to see me!" She shouted at him.
"We're perfect for each other, Lorelai." He continued. All the three of them could do was stare. "I don't know why you don't see it."
"Maybe because we're not." She said. "Now, please leave."
"There's one thing I have to do first." He told her, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a velvet box. Lorelai gasped, and flushed a bright red. Oh, God. He wouldn't really...
Jason dropped to one knee.
"Lorelai Gilmore, Will you marry me?" He asked, holding up the ring box.
"I've heard enough." Luke finally spoke, and grabbed Jason by the arm. He hoisted the man up. "This is my diner, and I'm asking you to leave right now. Lorelai has asked you repeatedly to leave her alone and if you don't start listening, we're going to get a restraining order. Now get gone." Luke shoved him towards the door, past a speechless Christopher, who was holding a sleeping Georgia.
"I'll be back, Lorelai." Jason called behind him. Luke turned to Lorelai.
"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned.
"Yeah, fine." Lorelai said absentmindedly.
"Your sure?" He asked again.
"Yes. I'm fine." She reassured him. "Chris, let's go get you checked in. Then I'm going to find my mother. As if this night couldn't get any worse." She muttered, squeezing Luke's hand in good-bye. Luke watched as Lorelai and Chris disappeared into the night.
"So, you and Luke?" Chris answered in the awkward silence.
"Yeah, me and Luke." She answered.
"Can I ask about the whole Jason Stiles thing?" He wanted to know.
"We dated awhile ago. He sued my dad, so we broke up." Lorelai gave him the short version.
"Lorelai, he just proposed to you." Chris pointed out.
"I know. I know." She replied.
"Is he stalking you or something?" Chris put it into words. She didn't answer.
"Lorelai..."
"Drop it." She said shortly. He shrugged in mock surrender. "Why are you here?" She asked. "Really."
"Sherry left me." Chris admitted.
"I'm sorry." She apologized.
"Me too."
The jeep was quiet as Rory made her way back to Lane's apartment. The two girls hadn't said much since dropping off Sookie and Emily. They pulled up and got out of the jeep. Lane unlocked the door. They slipped off their coats and flipped on the lights.
"Where's Zack and Brian?" Rory asked.
"At a party." She answered.
"Ah." Rory replied. Lane whirled around to look at her.
"I know about you and Dean." Lane blurted out.
"What? How?" Rory was shocked.
"Dean told me." Lane replied. "He needed someone to talk to about you, so he spilled the whole story."
"Wow. Uh.." Rory was speechless.
"I think he really loves you." Lane told her.
"You do?" Rory was infused with happiness.
"Yeah. He's divorcing Lindsey, and not just because of her finding out what happened. It's because he never loved her like he loves you." Lane said.
"Wow, you're a veritable font of information." Rory was in awe.
"So, does this mean that you two are going to get back together? What did he say when he came to Luke's?" Lane asked.
"That he loves me and he wants me back, but that he wants me to think about it and he'll call me tomorrow." Rory summed up what Dean said in a nutshell.
"Wow."
"I know."
"What are you going to do?" Lane was dying to know.
"I love him, Lane." Rory said.
"Wow."
"I know." The two girls giggled.