[karana]

Filler chapter before the big bang:

Chapter 16: Jeffrey


After they had put the kids into their beds and kissed them goodnight, Lorelai walked into the bathroom to take another shower, the third that day.
Luke walked downstairs and found Rory in the living room on the couch, watching TV.
“We talked with Laila and she would be happy if you would sleep in the other bed in her room the next few days.” Luke said and sat down next to her.
“That´s nice and I gladly accept the offer for tonight, but I will leave tomorrow.” Rory answered. She didn´t sound angry. Hurt, maybe, but not angry.
“Rory, listen: I´m sorry I freaked out and I shouldn´t have yelled at you. But I am not going to take back what I said, at least not the basics, although part of the stuff I blamed you for is not your fault, but your mother’s. We talked about it and we´re good. And I don´t want you to leave, just because I lost it.” He told her sincerely.
“I don´t know what exactly happened to make you freak out like that, but I understand part of it. I know I wasn´t there for you or the kids and I can´t blame anybody for the negative picture they have about me. I promise you, that I will work it out with you and them someday, but at the moment I just can´t deal with it. I need someone who is there for me. I called Paris and Lane while you were gone and I will fly back to Yale tomorrow and Paris and Lane are going to come over. We are going to have a girl’s night, talk, gossip... “
“Eat lots of crap.” Luke finished with a smile.
“Yeah, that too.” Rory smiled back.
“Good night Rory.” Luke said, then stood up, kissed her on the forehead, and went back up into the bedroom.


“And everything grey in pleasant-ville again?” Lorelai asked when he sat down on the bed beside her.
“Huh?” Luke asked confused, Lorelai giggled.
“Did she accept your apology?” She clarified.
“I think so, but she said she wants to go back to Yale tomorrow to spend time with Lane and Paris.” Luke told her.
“Oh.” Lorelai said disappointed.
“I´m sorry.” Luke said as both of his hands dove into his hair, he closed his eyes and sighed. Lorelai rolled onto her stomach and moved closer to him. She took his hands in hers and gave them a squeeze.
“I never wanted to drive Rory out of the house, I´m really sorry.” He told her again.
“You didn´t. I would have liked her to stay, but maybe it is better. We can spend some time with the three little one´s, they sure could use some undivided attention, at least from my side. From you, I don´t know, maybe they are sick of you already because they saw you so much during the last year.” She grinned.
“Maybe. Maybe I should go and look for some blonde chick to spend the rest of my holidays with, while you are looking after the three monsters.” Luke grinned back, which earned him a slap on the chest.
“Don´t you dare.” Lorelai whispered and kissed him.


The next morning they were woken up by the ringing of the phone.
“Oh, no, who is that?” Lorelai mumbled and searched for the phone on the nightstand, with one hand and closed eyes. It took her some seconds to find it and, still with closed eyes, she answered it.
“Yeah?” She asked sleepily.
“Lorelai, I thought I taught you to never answer the phone this way.” Emily´s voice came through the speaker.
“Was that it? Can I go back to sleep?” Lorelai yawned.
“If you give me Luke before you do then you can, I didn´t want to talk to you.”
“You didn´t?” Lorelai asked, sat up and opened her eyes.
“No, I want to talk to Luke. Can you get him on the phone please?” Emily demanded.
“Luke, Luke! My mother’s on the phone for you.” Lorelai said and nudged him. He only held out his hand, still with closed eyes and took the phone from her.
“Good morning, Emily.” Luke said sleepily.
“Good morning, Luke, I hope I didn´t wake you up.” Emily said. Lorelai, who had put the speaker on, so that she could hear everything, huffed.
“It´s okay.” Luke only said. Lorelai huffed again.
“Now as for the reason why I am calling. You remember I told you about Jeffrey?” She asked and Lorelai looked at Luke with raised eyebrows.
“Yes, I remember Jeffrey.” Luke nodded and sat up.
“Who is Jeffrey?” Lorelai whispered to Luke, who just placed a finger over his lips to signal her to be quiet.
“He stopped by yesterday, with a huge... thing and then he stuck it in and made a mess.” Emily explained and Lorelai burst into laughter. Luke grinned and placed his hand over her mouth.
“After he made that mess, he decided to get on top of the roof.” Emily went on.
“Oh my god, this is beyond dirty! Who is Jeffrey? Her callboy?” Lorelai laughed.
“But when he left, after nearly three hours and an incredible mess, he didn´t fix it to my satisfaction and now I wanted to ask you if you could stop by when you get back and look at it?”Emily asked.
“Gross mom, he is my husband, I am not going to share!” Lorelai said loud enough for Emily to hear.
“What is she talking about Luke?” Emily asked.
“I have no idea.” He lied and grinned at Lorelai.
“So could you stop by and fix it?” Emily asked again.
“Geez, mom, get dad some viagra.” Lorelai whispered and Luke had to laugh.
“Yes, I will stop by as soon as we get back.” Luke told her and they said their good-byes.
“Tell me that you are not having an affair with my mother.” Lorelai said as soon as he hung up.
“I am not having an affair with your mother.” He told her with a serious expression.
“But with her gardener or what?” Lorelai pouted and lay her upper body on top of his.
“Ah geez.” was all Luke said before he kissed her.
“Good morning beautiful.” He smiled when he pulled back.
“Luuuuke?” She pouted instead of returning his greeting.
“Yes?”
“Who is Jeffrey?” She wanted to know.
“That you want to know!” He only grinned and got out of the bed.
“Luuuke.” She whined.
“I´m going to make breakfast, any special requests?” He asked and slipped on sweatpants and a shirt.
“Jeffrey?” She asked with a pout and puppy-eyes.
“I don´t know the recipe for that one.” He said, kissed her again, and walked out of the bedroom.


Downstairs he found a notice on the kitchen door saying that Rory had already left and that she would call once they were back at Stars Hollow. Luke took the paper, sighed, and walked into the kitchen, where, to his big surprise, he found William coloring.
“Will, what are you doing in here? I thought we told you not to go into the kitchen alone.” Luke said.
“But I wasn´t alone. I heard something and thought it was you, but it was only Rory and so I stayed here and superlized her so that she wouldn’t set the kitchen on fire.” William defended himself and Luke had to laugh.
“You mean you supervised her, Will. Good morning.” Luke smiled and placed a kiss on William´s head.
“Morning daddy.” William yawned.
“How long have you been up?” Luke wanted to know while he filled the coffee-machine.
“I don´t know. But I colored two Winnie-the-Poohs since Rory left.” William told him and held up the coloring book for Luke to see.
“Really great Will. But why don´t you set the table while I make breakfast?” Luke suggested.
“Okay.” William shrugged and went to work.


“Daddy?” William asked after some time. Luke was making the pancakes now and William placed the cups on the table.
“Mmh?”
“Did Rory leave because of me?” William wanted to know.
“Why are you asking?” Luke asked back. He didn´t really know what to say to that.
“Because I think mommy will be sad and maybe she will leave also. I was in the kitchen the whole time and watched Rory leave, because I thought maybe mommy wanted to go with her and I wanted to say bye.” William admitted.
“Will, Rory left because because we talked to her and told her that you and your sisters are more important than anything else and that we want to have a nice time with you. And because she said that she needs someone who has a lot of time right now, we said that we can´t help her at the moment. She understood that and decided to go and spend some time with Paris and Lane, because she loves you too and wants you to be happy.” Luke explained and hoped that William wouldn´t sense that he was not telling the truth a hundred percent.
“So mommy will stay with us here and not go to Rory or the hotel because I wasn´t behaving at the water-world?”
“Will, I think you know that your behavior towards Rory was not acceptable. I think you should apologize to her when you see her the next time, because she was very sad about that. And your mother will stay with us the whole time and she will be around more after we get back .”
“She said that?”
“She promised it.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I believe her.” Luke nodded.
“Okay, then I do too.” William decided and nodded approvingly in Luke´s direction.
“Good.” Luke said smiling and ruffled through William´s hair, then flipped the next pancake.


After William had woken up Lorelai and the twins, they all sat together and ate breakfast.
“Luke?” Lorelai asked.
“Mmh?” He grunted, knowing what was coming.
“Jeffrey?” She said with a pout and puppy eyes.
“Jeez, mommy, why are you saying Jeffrey every few seconds?” Laila asked annoyed.
“Because your grandmother is having an affair and your daddy knows it and he won´t tell me!” Lorelai yammered.
“What?” William asked shocked. He did not know what an affair was, but he knew that it wasn´t good.
“Don´t listen to your crazy mother, she doesn´t know what she is talking about.” Luke told the kids and Lorelai´s pout got more extreme.
“Daddy what are we doing today?” Sara ignored her mother.
“Why are you asking your daddy?” Lorelai immediately asked.
“Because daddy decides.” Sara shrugged.
“So not true! I have the power here and he is my willing slave.” Lorelai said and laughed evily.
“You wish.” was all Luke said and the kids laughed.


They spent the rest of their day on the beach. While they lay next to each other on their towels Lorelai whispered “Jeffrey” from time to time and no matter what Luke did, she wouldn´t stop.
“Okay that´s it!” Luke said annoyed after three hours and jumped up.
“What? No, Lukey please stay.” She whined and grabbed his hand, to stop him from going back to the house.
“Then shut up already! I won´t let a stupid guy who tried to repair your mother’s fireplace ruin my vacation!” He said.
“Ha! I win I win!” Lorelai laughed and rolled around in the sand, then suddenly stopped.
“What?” Luke asked smiling and sat down beside her again.
“I just remembered, that when we get back a week later there will be the chocolate festival, isn´t that great?” She smiled back.
“I am not going this year!” He told her.
“I bet you will.” She grinned and kissed him.


TBC