𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚☕︎

The house was quiet in that Stars Hollow kind of way — where the silence wasn't really silence at all.

Outside the living room window, the faint buzz of cicadas drifted through the open screen, and somewhere down the street, Taylor was probably adjusting the display in Doose's window for the hundredth time.

Inside, a box fan hummed as Sienna Carson sat curled into the corner of the worn plaid couch, a cup of lukewarm tea balanced on her knee.

Her dark brown hair was twisted into a loose bun, wisps falling around her face as she glanced over at her daughter, Brooke, who was sprawled on the rug, flipping through an old Martha Stewart Weddings magazine they'd found in the back of Doose's.

"She's gonna be a knockout," Brooke said, tapping a page with a fingertip. "Like—'I'm not a regular bride, I'm a cool bride' levels of iconic. I mean, can you even imagine Lorelai Gilmore in this?" She held the magazine up, revealing a long-sleeved lace gown paired with bright blue heels.

Sienna chuckled. "Please. Lorelai would roll her eyes into another dimension if anyone suggested lace. But you're not wrong — she's going to look absolutely stunning."

"She's basically going to set a new Stars Hollow fashion standard. Like, Babette's cat is gonna have a matching veil," Brooke added with a laugh.

They were both giddy with excitement.

The wedding was less this weekend. Brooke had even borrowed glitter nail polish from Lane for the occasion.

Everything felt right.

Until the phone rang.

It was the house phone — the same beige rotary phone that had been mounted on their kitchen wall since Brooke was six.

It rang rarely, and never at night unless it was serious.

Sienna blinked and exchanged a glance with Brooke.

"Do not make me get it," Brooke muttered, frozen in her spot.

Sienna was already on her feet, stepping into the kitchen with her usual half-grumble. "If this is Miss Patty asking me to sew last-minute sashes for the wedding, I swear to God—"

She picked up. "Hello?"

There was a pause. Then a voice — quiet, trembling.

"Sienna?" It was Lorelai. And she was crying.

Sienna immediately stood straighter. "Lorelai? What happened?"

"I—can you come over?" Her voice cracked. "Please. You and Brooke. I just... I need to say goodbye."

Sienna's blood ran cold. "Babes what - What kind of goodbye?"

A breath. "Just come."

Sienna hung up the phone with shaking hands.

Brooke stood in the doorway, concern already written across her face. "What's going on?"

"We're going to the Gilmores'. Now," Sienna said.

The walk to Lorelai's house was short, but it felt unusually long that night.

Everything was normal — except for the dread building in Brooke's chest.

When they reached the porch, Sienna knocked once before opening the door — something only best friends got away with.

Lorelai was standing in the living room, tears streaking her cheeks.

Her hair was up in a messy ponytail, and she wore flannel pajama pants and an old Harvard sweatshirt of Rory's.

The wedding planning binder sat abandoned on the coffee table, wide open to a page marked "Seating Chart."

Rory was curled on the couch, eyes red. Brooke rushed to her without thinking, immediately hugging her best friend. No words needed.

Sienna stepped forward, brows drawn. "Lorelai... what is this?"

"I called off the wedding," Lorelai whispered, her voice cracking. "I can't marry Max."

Sienna blinked. "Wait. What? You were—You're supposed to be getting married in, like, two days."

"I know. I know." Lorelai laughed, but it came out broken. "I just—I didn't feel it. The thing. The spark. The forever thing. I tried, I really did, but at my bachelorette I realized I don't want a life that looks right if it doesn't feel right."

Brooke glanced at Rory, whose head was leaning on her shoulder now. She was silent, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Sienna sat down next to Lorelai, wrapping an arm around her friend. "You did the right thing. But you could've said something."

Lorelai managed a watery smile. "I need to get out before I talked myself back into it. So we're going away. For a weak. Just me and Rory. Clear our heads."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't even know yet. North. Or west. Somewhere with good coffee and no wedding chapels."

Sienna let out a long sigh. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I'll forgive you if you bring me back something kitschy and tacky from a rest stop."

"Deal."

Meanwhile, Brooke held Rory tighter. "Are you okay?"

Rory sniffed. "Yeah. I think so. I mean... I don't really get it, but I do. You know?"

Brooke nodded. "I get it."

Outside, the headlights of Lorelai's Jeep flicked on.

The bags were already packed. Brooke, Sienna, and Rory helped carry them out — not with fanfare, not with speeches, just quiet movements and hugs that meant I'll be here when you come back.

When they finally drove off into the dark, the only sound left was the chirp of crickets and the hush of a town settling into night.

Brooke stood at the end of the driveway, arms crossed, watching the red taillights fade.

She didn't know it yet, but when they returned, everything would change.