AN INDECENT PROPOSAL, part one

by Janie

A thousand daises.

No one had ever given her a thousand daises. Jim's proposal hit her hard. He had asked her to marry him in the middle of an argument, right after she suggested a break-up. It was insane, really. She wasn't even sure she loved him enough to marry him. Of course she liked him, but commitment was such an foreign notion. There were so many issues surrounding the proposal. Like Rory. Rory meant everything to Lorelai. If she married her teacher, how would that make her feel? The first thought that came to her mind was how crazy it would be. The second thought was a resounding 'no'. The simple word, repeated over and over in her head. There was no way she was marrying Jim Ivy. No way. She just was just at the point at her life when marriage was unfeasible.

Then she saw the daises.

She didn't know whether she should be ecstatic or scared out of her mind. It was big news for sure, but big news didn't have to mean good news. Was it good news? Lorelai Gilmore didn't know. All she knew was that the no one had ever given her a thousand daises.

"Please, please," Lorelai held out her mug.

"No," He said, giving her a look to rival hers.

Lorelai shrugged. "Fine. Well, then I guess bumble fun walabazoo."

"What?"

"I mean, kalachoo lem"

Frustrated, Aaron raised his hand up. "Stop. Geez!" Aaron took the mug out of her hands and reluctantly began to pour the coffee. Lorelai flashed him a triumphant smile.

It had been a week since Jim's proposal. Lorelai, after finding an ecstatic Rory, told her immediately what happened. Rory had asked her whether or not she would say 'yes'. Lorelai didn't answer, to her own surprise. During the week, she sat by the phone, debating whether or not to pick it up and dial his number. She was too nerve-wrecked to do so, and she still hadn't heard from Jim. It was killing her not to know what he was thinking, but the silence was beneficial. It let her think, really think, about the proposal. Which had the opposite effect on Lorelai. Thinking about Jim and the proposal drove her crazy. And she was crazy enough.

"You look weird," Aaron said suddenly.

Lorelai squinted her eyes in confusion. "Weird? What do you mean, 'weird'? Weird like Bjork in a swan costume or weird like Lance Bass's eyes?"

Aaron gave her an odd look. "Neither? And -- what?"

"Coffee withdrawal," Lorelai reasoned, pointing to the mug. "I'm going to drink the coffee now, okay?"

Aaron nodded slowly, giving her a concerned look. "Is everything all right?"

Lorelai looked up at him and laughed nervously. "Since when did you care?"

Since forever. Aaron sighed, remembering what Rachel had told him the week she left. To his surprise, Rachel left because of Lorelai. He had always known that he had a thing for Lorelai Gilmore, but it was only until Rachel pointed it out that he realized he was in love with her. It was hard for Aaron to fall in love, ever since Rachel broke his heart. Then Rachel came back and his feelings for Lorelai went on the back burner. It was only until Rachel moved back in that he realized his heart wasn't in the relationship. Rachel still loved Aaron, but things were different now. Surprisingly enough, Aaron had changed over the years. And Aaron was against change of any kind. Yet this change was involuntary. He just couldn't help it. The moment Lorelai Gilmore stepped into his life, he changed. He fell for her.

"I don't," Aaron shook it off.

Lorelai smiled. "I almost forgot you were heartless."

Heartless. If only she knew.

Rory tapped her pen against her book and wrote the last of her notecards. She was smiling widely, but not because Spanish just happen to be one of her favorite subjects. Rory had been so happy about Dean that she could have been ecstatic about anything. Including Jim's proposal to her mother. She acted excited about the proposal for Lorelai, but Rory truly didn't know how to feel. He was her teacher and it felt as wrong as the proposal sounded. Yet, Rory wanted Lorelai to be happy. And if Jim made her happy, then...

Suddenly, the door bell rang. Rory put down her book and rushed to the front door. To her surprise, Jim Ivy stood behind the door.

"Hey, is Lorelai home?" He asked.

Rory didn't move or answer.

"Rory?" Jim looked concerned.

It hit her then. She didn't want Lorelai to marry him.

"Rory, are you okay?" Jim asked, waving a hand in front of her face.

Rory backed away from him and blurted out angrily, "I think your class is really ... boring!"

Jim blinked, surprised at her outburst. "Well, that's too bad since--"

Rory interrupted him, pointing to his head. "And you have big hair!"

He shook his head with confusion, then realized what the outburst was all about. "Is this about your mom and I?"

"Me!" Rory shouted.

"No, your mom and--"

"It's 'your mom and me'!"

"Rory, calm down," Jim tried to reason.

She shook her head stubbornly and crossed her arms. "You can't marry Lorelai."

Jim frowned, growing frustrated himself. "Why not?"

"Because... because you, Mr. Big Shot English Teacher, have bad grammar!" With that, Rory pushed past him and ran down the street.

Jim stood there, shocked. He knew Rory meant a lot to Lorelai, actually more than a lot. And if Rory didn't like him, then any chance of an engagement would be gone. It was definitely a sticky situation.

He wondered if he could buy Rory a library. Or maybe a thousand books.

Lorelai grinned from ear to ear, walking down the street. Jim had just stopped by the Independence Inn, got down on one knee traditionally, and asked her to marry him.

He proposed again. Except he had a ring this time. A beautiful gold engagement ring that fit perfectly on her index finger. Jim told her that he didn't need an answer yet, but Lorelai, without thinking, answered. A handsome, romantic, sweet man was standing in front of her, asking her to marry him. It was just like a fairytale.

She said yes.

Sookie had started dancing and singing at that point, and Michel left reception to puke.

"Hey, Miss Patty!" Lorelai waved happily.

Miss Patty smiled back, surprised. "Well, well, aren't you a ray of sunshine today? I'm guessing you're feeling better."

"Definitely!" Lorelai giggled, waving her hand in front of Miss Patty. The gold ring glittered in the sun.

"Oh my!" Miss Patty exclaimed, pointing at Lorelai's finger. "Dear, you didn't!"

"I did!" Lorelai nodded eagerly. "I'm engaged!"

To Lorelai's surprise, Miss Patty looked disturbed. "Miss Patty?" Lorelai questioned, concerned.

Miss Patty looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "Oh no, it's nothing bad. This is great news! Congratulations, sweetie... I just thought you would--"

"I would what?" Lorelai asked, curious.

Miss Patty shook her head and laughed nervously. "We just had this little bet-- and I could have sworn you and--" She trailed off again.

"Bet?"

"You know, Nadeem, Brian, and I had this little bet going on," Miss Patty paused, hesitant to tell her. "We bet whether or not you would marry Aaron."

Lorelai drew back, surprised. "What?"

Miss Patty looked at her apologetically. "I'm so sorry-- it was just a stupid bet. We know how you guys have a thing for each other--"

"W--wait, I don't have a thing for Aaron," Lorelai shook her head, still in shock.

"Honey, it's okay, we know--" Miss Patty smiled.

"But, I don't! Aaron and I are just friends. He's my coffee supplier," Lorelai argued, but Miss Patty wasn't convinced.

"Don't worry your pretty little head," Miss Patty smiled and looked at her watch. "I've got to run to dance class, honey. Congratulations again." Miss Patty winked.

"He's just my coffee supplier!" Lorelai yelled loudly after her. Lorelai took in a deep breath and got a hold of herself. Ironically, she realized she had been on her way to Aaron's.