The Aftermath - A Gilmore Girls Revival Fan Fiction

Chapter 27

Lorelai plopped down on the couch next to Luke.  He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into him, trying to block out the nightmare of an afternoon they just lived through.  He kissed her forehead and she breathed in deeply. 

"You sure you're going to be okay without us all weekend?" She asked, turning to face him.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it" he said, with a mischievous smile.  He kissed her on the top of her head and took a drink of his beer. 

She pouted, grabbing the remote from his hand in retaliation and powering on the TV.

"So, what is it?  Dinner plans with Jack Nicholson?  Hoping to get lucky?" She teased in amusement.

"No, but Kiefer and I plan to go out on the lake for some fishing while you're gone" he said, watching her surprised reaction escalate as she gasped, all the while he took another drink.

She turned to face him.  "That's it!  The trip's off!" She decided, pulling out her phone. 

"What are you doing?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Duh, I'm googling Kiefer Sutherland" she said, as if it was obvious.  "Woah!  Holy name hoarder, Batman!  Did you know he has FIVE middle names!?  Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland - try saying THAT ten times fast!  I mean, come on now, who needs SEVEN NAMES!?  Wouldn't that sorta teeter totter on the line of child abuse a little bit?" She asked with a laugh.

"And you wonder why I don't introduce the two of you..." he teased. 

"Don't pretend like it's not because you're worried he would steal me away" she said with a wink.

"No, I'm worried I'd lose my best fishing partner" he said with a laugh.

"Kiefer would love me and you know it" she said with a laugh.

He just shook his head with a smile, putting his arm back around her.  "So what time are you two heading out of here tomorrow, anyway?" He asked.

"Were supposed to meet up with everyone in New York by 2, because the flight leaves at 3.  So sometime around 11.  I'd try to squeak by with noon and then just speed the whole way there, but I have a feeling preggo's going to need to stop at every single rest stop on the way" she said with a laugh.

"So do you think she's doing okay after all the crap that happened earlier?" He asked.

"God, I feel terrible for how that backfired on her.  I totally meant for it to be a joke, and her excuses were just so entertaining...  I didn't mean to HURT her" she whispered.

He nodded.  "I know you didn't.  And she knows that, too" he said, kissing her again on the forehead. 

"Well, she's asleep.  She wanted to turn in early, she was exhausted" Jess said, walking in from the kitchen, and grabbing his jean jacket.

"Are you taking off?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, I've got an early day tomorrow, and if I leave right now I can still make it home before eleven" Jess said.

"Thank you, Jess.  For what you did for her today.  You didn't have to, but it meant everything to her that you stepped up and helped her today" Lorelai said.

He shrugged.  "It was nothing" he said, dismissing the sentimentality.

"Take some food with you for the road, it's a long drive" Luke said. 

"Oh, no thank you.  I've eaten so much I feel like if I make one wrong move I'm going to explode" Jess said with a laugh.  

"I'll walk you out" Luke said, getting up and putting his shoes on.

"Bye Jess.  It was refreshingly nice to have you here.  I mean that" Lorelai said, sounding about as surprised as Jess probably was to hear it.

Jess gave a sideways smile.  "Thank you for having me, Lorelai.  It's been an interesting evening" Jess said with a laugh, and then he walked outside with his uncle.

"It's been great having you here.  I'm really glad you came" Luke said. 

"Eh, it was no big deal" Jess said cooly.

"Seriously, listen to me.  You really came through for her today.  That was a really good thing you did" Luke assured him. 

Jess nodded.  "Yeah, I know, but she would've done the same for me" he said. 

Luke knew he was right.  "Alright, well, go on and get out of here.  Drive safe" he said, pulling his nephew in for a hug.

"Take care of yourself, Luke" Jess said, and then he turned and walked briskly to his car.

Luke came back inside and sat down beside Lorelai, putting his arm back around her shoulders.  "So, hey.  Here's a question...  When did that punk kid grow up into a relatively tolerable human being?  Because I totally missed it" he said. 

She laughed.  "We all missed that transition, baby" she said. 

He nodded and took another drink of his beer.  "So, Mrs. Danes?" he asked.

"Yes?" She asked, with a smile. 

"I've been thinking...  you're going to be gone the whole weekend, and that's the longest we've been apart since we've been married...  any chance you'd like to meet me upstairs?" He asked, kissing her.

"Why, Mr. Danes, you're so forward!" She said in mock modesty with a southern belle accent.  "Okay, just don't tell my husband.  He's the jealous type!"

He raised an eyebrow and a smile spread across his face, as they hurried upstairs.