AN INDECENT PROPOSAL, part two

by Janie

Lorelai stepped into the familiar diner and took a seat by the counter. She was still a bit shocked about the marriage bet, but brushed it off. She had enough on her mind.

"We're out of coffee," Aaron called out from inside the kitchen before she asked.

Lorelai frowned, surprised. "How did you know I was here?"

Aaron walked behind the counter and gave her a look. "Because you're here everyday. Without fail. It's annoying."

She smiled sweetly. "But it's fun to annoy you." Lorelai put her purse on the counter and looked suspiciously at him. "Did you say something about the coffee before?"

Aaron shook his head with frustration. "We ran out." He repeated.

"So open your secret stash or something," Lorelai said matter-of-factly.

"Secret stash? I have no secret stash," Aaron frowned.

"You know, in five more years you're going to have the biggest forehead wrinkle," Lorelai laughed, tracing Aaron's frown with her finger. Aaron frowned more and tried unsuccessfully to squat her hand away.

"I'll stop if you get the coffee," Lorelai smirked.

"We. Are. Out. Of. Coffee!" Aaron repeated once more with emphasis.

Lorelai pulled back, surprised. "Wow, you're serious."

"Yeah, I am. So hold on and I'll get you some tea," Aaron reasoned.

"Wait," Lorelai said, going through her purse. "Ah ha!" She cried out happily, pulling out a plastic bag with coffee in it. She waved it in Aaron's face and smiled.

Aaron looked at her skeptically. "You carry coffee?"

"24/7. In case of emergencies. I have instant too," Lorelai nodded eagerly.

"You need a shrink," Aaron grabbed the coffee and put on a fresh pot.

Lorelai watched him as he made the coffee for her. A smile involuntarily crept onto her face, remembering when she had dressed him up and told him to turn around. That was quite a view...

"Hey, what's that?" Aaron asked, breaking Lorelai's reverie.

"What's what?" She asked, confused.

Aaron pointed to her index finger, to her engagement ring. "It looks expensive."

Lorelai suddenly grew nervous, to her surprise. She quickly drew her hand back and hid it behind her back. "Yeah, it probably is. Hey Aaron, don't worry about the coffee. I-- I've got to run because of-- because of something important, okay?"

"Lorelai!" Lorelai turned around to see Sookie rush into the diner excitedly. Sookie hugged her and smiled. "I can't believe you're getting married! Do I get to wear a pink dress? With glitter?"

Lorelai motioned for her to stop talking. Sookie bit her lip and turned around to see Aaron standing there in shock. "Oh no," Sookie muttered and started to apologize.

"The ring-- you're--" Aaron began, in disbelief.

"Aaron," Lorelai began.

Aaron raised a hand for her stop. Dejectedly, he pushed the cup of coffee towards her. "Here's your coffee." He muttered bitterly. Aaron refused to look at Lorelai and left into the kitchen.

"Aaron!" Lorelai called out, but he didn't answer. Upset, Lorelai left money on the counter and turned to leave the diner.

"Honey, I'm so sorry! It's my fault really, I shouldn't have said anything-- I should have known--" Sookie babbled as they walked into the street.

Lorelai smiled weakly and stopped her. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I said 'yes', and I didn't even think about the effects. Did you know that Miss Patty, Nadeem, and Brian had a bet going on? That I would marry Aaron?"

"Sweetie--" Sookie hugged her sympathetically.

"I just want to go home," She sighed. Sookie nodded with understanding and they walked back to the Gilmore house in silence.

"Do you want to talk for a while?" Sookie asked, concerned.

Lorelai shook her head and smiled weakly. "Nah, I think I'll just eat some ice cream or something. Maybe order some pizza."

Sookie sighed, but didn't argue. "All right. Call me if you need anything. And don't worry about it, Aaron will be okay."

Lorelai smiled gratefully and waved as Sookie left. Exhausted, Lorelai closed the door behind her and called out for Rory. She found her writing in her room.

"Hey there," Lorelai sat down on Rory's bed. She noticed an old book sticking out from her bed. It was a copy of Wuthering Heights, a very expensive looking copy. Lorelai reached down and picked it up. "I didn't know bag boy wages were this good!"

Rory looked up and noticed the book. "I'm not reading that. I mean, I've read the book, but I don't want to look at that."

"Aww why? Are you finally getting bookphobia?"

"Bookphobia?" Rory asked, skeptically.

Lorelai nodded. "Fear of books. You looked at them so much you're sick of them."

Rory shook her head. "Mr. Ivy gave it to me today. He apologized for having bad grammar and big hair."

"What?" Lorelai asked, confused.

Rory was about to explain when the doorbell rang.

"Tell me about the hair when I get back," Lorelai nodded. She walked down the hallway and wearily opened the door.

"There you are," He smiled. Low and behold, Jim Ivy was standing behind the door.

"I didn't know you made house calls," Lorelai laughed. Realizing he wasn't moving, Lorelai motioned for him to come in.

"Well, I was in town and I just wanted to drop by--" Jim trailed off. He looked down at Lorelai's hand in confusion.

"What?" She asked.

Jim held her hand and looked at closer. "Did you take off the ring or something?"

Lorelai glanced down at her hand and stomped her foot in frustration. She cursed under her breath and looked apologetically at Jim.

"What? What's wrong?" He asked, searching her eyes.

Lorelai shook her head quickly and grabbed her purse. "I'll be right back, all right? Don't go anywhere." With that, Lorelai rushed out of the house and started running down the street.

"Where is she going?" Rory asked, peeping out of her room.

"I don't know. Maybe she misplaced the ring or something." Jim wondered.

Rory looked at Jim in disbelief. "Ring?"

Jim nodded slowly, already hearing the sound of the bedroom door slamming before Rory slammed it.

"Guess she didn't like the book," Jim muttered.

Lorelai ran down the street and pushed through the diner's door hard. The door slammed and Aaron immediately looked up.

"Aaron," Lorelai managed, out of breath.

Aaron looked at her with surprise, then realized that she was actually there. She came back for him. She told Jim that she couldn't marry him because she just realized how much she loved him. And here she was, out of breath and looking more beautiful than ever. Aaron glanced down at Lorelai's hand. The ring was gone. Aaron's look softened and he smiled at her happily.

"Aaron, I think I left--" Lorelai began, but was interrupted as Aaron stepped out from behind the counter and kissed her fully. Her eyes flew open in shock, but she didn't pull back to her own surprise. Aaron held her close as Lorelai kissed him back. Breathless, their lips lingered on each other's as they broke apart.

Aaron searched her eyes, touching her cheek softly. Lorelai, more confused than ever, pulled away slowly. Touching her burning lips, Lorelai tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Aaron looked at her questioningly. He had expected for her to feel the same way. Her eyes definitely said so. Maybe the kiss was too much, he wondered.

"My ring-- I think I left it here," Lorelai blurted out suddenly. "I--I was wondering if you saw it."

"Oh." Aaron pulled back in disappointment. She didn't come back to tell him that she was in love with him. She had lost her engagement ring and Aaron, like an idiot, thought otherwise and kissed her. He was beyond embarrassed. Aaron quickly adverted his eyes and cleared his throat. "God, I didn't--"

"Aaron--" Lorelai began.

Aaron began to wipe down the counter feverishly. Lorelai's hand caught his arm and she turned him around. "Aaron, I don't want you to hate me. You've been so good to Rory and me these past years. And I'm so thankful for that."

"Yeah and I make great coffee, what's your point?" Aaron sighed.

Lorelai shrugged and let out a deep breath.

Aaron softly touched her arm and looked at her seriously. "That kiss was-- meaningless?"

She couldn't answer. She didn't know how too. In that one moment, Lorelai forgot about Jim. She had kissed him back and realized how much she loved Aaron Danes. Lorelai knew she had a thing for Aaron, but had pushed back her feelings for Jim. Jim was so romantic and perfect, but Aaron-- he was the real thing. She felt at home with him and she knew he loved Rory. Not to mention the kiss. It burned right through her soul.

"I was going to get married in three months," Lorelai laughed nervously. "But then this happened. I lose my mind, I lose my ring, but I gained something I never realized."

He needed so desperately to tell her the truth. Aaron looked at her softly. "Lorelai, I'm in love with you."

Lorelai closed her eyes tightly and felt the tear trickle down her face. Opening her eyes, Lorelai smiled back at him and moved in to kiss him wordlessly. Abruptly, she pulled away and reached into her pocket.

She laughed in disbelief and laid it down on the counter. "I had the ring the whole time."

Pure fate.

The End