Celia
Even though he found himself busy most days with his cheesemaking, Leroy still knew what had been going on. Everything that had been going on in the town had gotten worse and worse over time. Between the wolves, between the new deaths, and between constant fear they wouldn't find a cure.. 

Well, he decided to go see his sister. Seeing as she was involved with a lot of the more.. Medical sides of Briar Ridge.. He figured there wa some of the recent events that might be affecting her. 

He showed up at her apartment, to which she didn't answer upon the first knock so Leroy instead picked the lock and made his way in.

He made his way to her bedroom, and stood over her before grabbing her and shaking her. "AHHHH WAKE UP!"
Richard
She had gotten off a long... Long shift at the hospital. Even when things with the moon weren't immediately happening, there was always something to manage, wasn't there? People were still recovering from attacks, those poor orphaned babies were still very much in need of care after their mother's untimely demise, and then there was all the normal aches and pains of Briar Ridge. Doctor Ashworth couldn't do it all, could he? No, of course not! So, she stayed later than usual, and when her days off rolled around, she found herself sleeping in. 

She hadn't had a single moment to try and even catch up with her family, much less Leroy of them all. He was the eldest, he was always busy making cheese and living his own life. She was grateful that it was one less person she needed to worry about, even if she still tended to worry. Of course, she always wanted to see him... But not in the early morning, when she was still sleeping. 

She jolted awake, her fist flying out and striking her brother in the nose before she realized what was going on. "Oh!" Lorelai gasped, swinging her legs off the bed to take a stand in her nightgown. "Leroy, what in the hell are you doin' in my room? How did you even get in here?"
Celia
He frowned a bit at her reaction, as she stood up and moved away. He crossed his arms over his chest, and took in a deep breath. 

"Well damn, Lorelai.." He said as he looked at her and then to the dresser he leaned against, messing with a trinket on top of it. "I was checkin' on my sister.. Guess I should go fuck myself for bein' worried about you.." He said glancing over at her. 

"I can't even be worried about my own damn lil' sister.." He said as he ran a hand through his hair. "Just you know.. Ya got a lot goin' on so.." 

He glanced at her and a grin spread over his face, "I just picked the lock.. Ain't even that big a deal.." He said rolling his eyes. "How ya doin'?"
Richard
She picked up her pillow and promptly whacked her brother's arm with it, a scowl across her face as she did it. "Hell, you damn scared me to death, I swear..." She swore and turned away from him, trying to shoo him outta the room a moment. "Can you gimme a moment of privacy to make myself decent? At least... Turn around." Wasn't like the Roswells had ever had much privacy in their damn life, anyhow. She'd been tossed in enough baths with her brothers and sisters as a youngin' to not have all that much shame 'bout it. 

Once her brother had properly turned, she set about finding a dress to pull over her head as she replied. "Tired. Just... You know. It's always hard." She mumbled. "After the moons." She turned over her shoulder, grabbing his as she finished dressing. "What 'bout you, Leroy?" She looked him over. "You doin' alright?"
Celia
He rolled his eyes, "You're incredibly dramatic you know.." He said with a big deep sigh. "But whatever you say.." He said as he turned around with his arms crossed. 

"I didn't mean to scare you, you know? Just not used to people sleeping this long. You know in France they barely sleep at all.." Whether that was true or something he was just.. Making up about France again, well.. Who knew? 

He nodded, "I bet.. You got too much going on." He said with a shrug. "I ain't think it's really good for you.." He said with a tsk noise. 

"I been mindin' my own, makin' cheese.. I've been talkin' to this one real pretty lady.. But don't tell no one because I'm also talkin' to her sister." He said with a snicker. 

"You focused on anything but those damn wolves?"
Richard
"I ain't dramatic," She grumbled, pushing him out her bedroom door so they could sit properly on the couch. Her hair was still a bit of a mess, even after she had managed to pin it up into something slightly more presentable.

Ah, Leroy really knew how to push her buttons, didn't he? "I barely got to sleep in," She grumbled to herself, shaking her head as she crossed one leg over the other as they sat down. "Not much I can do about the workload, Leroy, I don't ask for people to get attacked every moon," She pointed out, shaking her head in exasperation. "While yer out there makin' cheese and havin' a good time, the rest of us are tryin' to make sure that Briar Ridge isn't dyin."

She let out a long breath. "Don't toy with them girls' hearts, Leroy, that's just cruel." Lorelai let out an exasperated breath. "Not like I can focus on a lot more than wolves these days. But..." She trailed off and her cheeks colored pink a moment, as she couldn't help but recall sitting on that bench with Miss Carina Templeton. 

"You met the new doctor yet? Doctor Nathaniel Ashworth?" She cleared her throat. "He's a real nice fella, Leroy."
Celia
He shrugged his shoulders as he was pushed out of the room, "Now, now.. That ain't true. You are a tad bit dramatic.." He said, though his words really had no founding in this situation since he had in fact broken into the house to bother her while she slept out of unfounded worry. 

He shook his head as he sat down and dug around in his pockets before he pulled out a box of cigarettes and took one out, putting it between his lips and lighting it without so much as a thought of whether the gesture would be appreciated. "That ain't a fair assessment, it really ain't.. Cheesemakin' is more important than you could even know.." He said taking in a deep breath. "You know.. It's food.. It's sustience.. We all need something ta' live on.." He said his voice close to a grumble. 

He took a drag off the cigarette and blew it away from her, with a shrug. "I ain't.. I just ain't picked which one I like more yet.." He said shaking his head, studying his sisters face for a moment. 

"Mmm.. No I ain't.. You like him or something? He a reallllll nice fella?" He grinned and shook his head. "Bet he is.. He a pretty boy? I know you like yer boys reallll pretty.. Don't ya?" He chuckled. "I'll keep an eye out for him.. Make sure yer not gettin' yourself inta any trouble.."
Richard
She was grateful that he was blowing the smoke away, but she would've preferred he didn't smoke in here at all. The smoke always clung to her throw pillows like a blanket of ash. She didn't quite like the smell, but she could deal with it. Like with most things with her family, she tended to just let things go. 

Her eyebrows shot upwards and her cheeks flushed a bright, crimson red. "No, I ain't like Doctor Ashworth like that, he is my boss," Lorelai reminded her brother with an indignant cry. "He's a very lovely man, and I'm sure he will be a very good husband to someone, but that will not be me." She assured him, shaking her head. "I don't think I could ever be with somebody I work with." Not again, at least. 

She bit down on her lip and glanced to her brother and away again. "Besides, he ain't my type anyhow." She said after a moment. She felt her chest get all tight. Maybe she should just say somethin'. Maybe he would be open-minded about it! But then again, what would that really do? Wasn't like there were any ladies lookin' to hold hands or anything with her... What was the point?
Celia
He shook his head, "Well then I ain't really understand why yer tellin' me how nice he is. Pitchin' him for me?" He asked with a snicker, taking another inhale in. "Doctors ain't my type.." He joked as if that were the only problem with it. "I ain't wanna date nobody who might be smarter than me.." He said with a howl of laughter. He really cracked himself up. 

"Well.. I hope to God you find someone soon.. You are not gettin' any younger and it's a lot harder for a woman who can;t have no babies to get hitched Lorelai.." He said taking in a deep breath. "I don't see what working with him has to do with it.. Plenty of women marry their bosses but.. You know whatever.." He said waving his hand. 

He looked over to her, and turned, batting his eyelashes at her. "Oh is that so?" He took another drag and blew it away before looking over to her. "And what exactly is that then?"
Richard
She rolled her eyes a little. "Then I guess you'll never date, Leroy, I think everybody in town is smarter than you," She snickered and swatted at him playfully before she slumped down on the couch a little more. "Who says I want babies?" She asked him curiously. "I don't think I even want. I mean, 'specially not now..." She bit her lip. "Maybe I'm fine just bein' married and livin' in a nice little house." 

Her hands twisted in her skirt more and she felt her heart pick up the pace. She felt like she might get sick. She could feel Leroy staring at her out of the corner of her eye, and she whipped her head around to look at him. 

"I'm—" She opened and closed her mouth a few times before she looked to her lap again. She took a few quick breaths before she just broke down and said it. 

"I don't like men, Leroy," She said, quickly. "I like ladies." She clapped her hand over her mouth in terror. Had she really said it out loud? Had she actually spoken it into existence? 

Her eyes watered and she stood up, sniffling. "I don't know what I'm talkin' bout, I think I might a lost my mind," She said, breath coming quicker as she wiped her eyes.
Celia
He rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah.. I'm not judgin' you.. Who the hell wants babies these days anyway? Babies are terrible and so is this town.. Ain't exactly the best place to raise them.." He said with a snicker as he put out his cigarette on the side of his shoe, before tossing it onto he table. 

As his sister struggled to get his words out, he arched a brow and leaned closer. Sure seemed like she had something real important to said. 

When she did speak, he blinked in surprise and stared for a moment before he saw her stand up, with tears in her eyes and he quickly shook his head. "Lorelai.." He said as he took in a deep breath. 

He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her towards him, pulling her into a hug. "Calm down.. It's okay.. You meant it.. You know what you said.. That is a fine thing ta' say.. Don't you worry about it.." He said kissing the top of her head. "Don't you even worry about it."
Richard
Her shoulders sagged and she gasped out a shaky breath, arms coming around her big brother to hold on real tight. Oftentimes, she started feeling like *She* Was the oldest— like she had to take care of everybody else around her. That even Leroy needed her to come around and pick up his things off the floor and make sure he didn't have stains in his shirts. Maybe it was because she was the eldest daughter; it was expected, wasn't it? Make sure her brothers stayed out of trouble, make sure the little ones didn't have food on their face. 

But for once, Leroy felt like a real big brother. She pressed her face into his chest and cried; big, fat tears rolled down her face and soaked into his shirt. "You smell like cheese," She whispered quietly, hiccuping a little. She pulled back to look up at her big brother and wipe her eyes clear of tears. 

"Don't tell Ma and Pa, I don't know how they'll feel bout all this," She begged softly, sniffling. "I just don't know, Leroy, I'm scared. What if— yknow, what if I'll never find nobody who loves me?" 

She wiped her eyes and hiccuped again, trying to take deep breaths to focus. "I had this— I had a lady, once. When I was in France," She whispered. "But it didn't end well. And how am I supposed to ever know again?" She asked. "I don't know what to do, Leroy. I feel like I'm cursed of sumn."
Celia
Leroy shook his head, "Yeah Lorelai.. I make cheese.. I'm gonna smell like cheese." He said, as his hand ran up and down her back slowly, giving her another squeeze before she had pulled back a bit. 

As she continued, he shook his head, "I ain't gonna tell no one.. Not ma and pa, neither.." He said as he reached up to wipe at her tears with his sleeve. "I promise.. You ain't gotta worry about that." He said as he pushed some hair away from her face. 

As she continued, he let her speak everything out. Her fears, her past, all of it, but he scoffed. "Oh come on.. That ain't truth.. You ain't cursed and you sure as hell are gonna find someone who loves you.." He said as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her lightly. 

"Hell.. There are plenty of fruits hangin' round.. You just gotta.. Keep yer eye out.. I have.. On occasion, had a taste." He said putting his hands up in defense. 

"'Sides.. You ain't find anyone and I'll take yer ass right back to France.. They all go both ways there, you gotta know that.." He said with a grin. "I ain't gonna let my little sister live on her own. Yer too kind, and pretty and special for all that." He said giving her hair a little scuffle.
Richard
"You ain't know that for sure." She said real soft like. She wasn't so sure that Leroy quite knew what he was talkin' bout with this one. Sure, he might'a said he'd tried a few things on himself, but he could always be with a lady himself. He could always have that option and always be true to himself, but Lorelai... She ain't got that option. Who could she seek out without the fear of exposure? How could she possibly know? 

"I don't think I even got time for romance," She admitted softly. "I think I oughta... Give up on the whole thing. Maybe I'll end up marryin' some man who ain't so bad, just... Wishin'." She had resigned herself, and wiped her eyes on her sleeves. She was so tired. She wasn't sure she had the fight in her anymore. 

She thought of Carina Templeton. Proper, beautiful, *Complicated* Carina. A woman like her; she could never be someone like her, right? And yet here she sat, wondering how her hand would feel in hers, and wondered if the sugar from her cookies still remained on her lips. She wondered if she would taste sweet if they kissed. 

"Not much you can do when yer sister is a hopeless cause," She said, swatting at her elder brother's hair ruffling.
Celia
He shook his head, and took in a deep breath, "Lorelai.. I ain't never been wrong in my damn life.." He said as he gave a huff. "I am constantly right.. So.. You should trust me, you should know that by now." 

He listened as she continued and he crossed his arms as she spoke. He didn't believe a word of that. That she didn't have time for romance. He shook his head and let out a sigh. "Now now.. That just ain't gonna happen.. There is always room for romance.. You gotta make time for it.. Ain't much in this world more important than connection. I'll tell ya one thing.." He said arching a brow. 

"You marry some man I'll kill em'.." He said with a laugh, which was obviously untrue but. Even still he half meant it. "I'll kill every man you see dead till you get a girlfriend.." He said with a snicker. 

As she spoke, he shook his head again. "You ain't no hopeless cause.. Yer sweet and kind and real funny or whatever.. Yer annoyin' as hell but yer still great.. Got yer strengths and all.." He said grabbed her, swaying her back and forth as he spoke. 

"You gotta get yer head in the game an' start believin' in yerself.. You got anyone you get yer eye on?" He asked arching a brow.
Richard
"You been wrong a lotta times, Leroy," She argued with him. "Like when you thought that molasses would go good in cheese." She wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Or all them other failed experiments." Her brother would really try to throw just about anything in cheese to see if it would taste good, in pursuit of what she could only assume was the next big cheese pairing. 

But it seemed that her turn of conversation to cheese was not going to deter him, and she crossed her own arms in defiance. Her brother didn't know what it was like to be in her shoes; what it was like to want something so badly with little idea of how to get it. Say she *Was* Interested; who was to say that the woman would be interested right back? 

She was enveloped in her brother's hug, and she was calmed, even if just a little. There was a comfort in family, and Leroy *Was* The eldest, after all. "Well..." She sighed, her own arms coming around her brother and squeezing. "There is... One." She closed her eyes a moment. "But that ain't... It ain't anything. She ain't ever gonna look at somebody like me. Not a plain jane like me," She shook her head. "She's all... High society, y'know?"
Celia
He shook his head, "That don't count.. I'm talkin' about the important stuff.." He said with a scoff, "Plus that first one.. It almost tasted good.. There was just a little somethin' missin'.." He said and ran a hand through his hair. 

He felt for his sister, he knew that must be hard. Not bein' able to be your real self. It was really hard, he only had a small taste of it. He stil liked women, preferred them even. So who was he to say it was all going to be okay? 

Well, he was his brother and that was his job. 

As she spoke about this women, he arched a brow. He shook his head, "No no no.. That's enough.." He said as he took in a deep breath. "I ain't ever wanna hear you talk like that again.." He said looking her over, "You really think you're plain?" He rolled his eyes. "You are beautiful and she would be lucky to have you.. 'sides.. This is Briar Ridge, it's small.. Ain't gonna deter no one none if you ain't some fancy pants." He said giving her side a poke. 

"Plus.. You're a war hero." He said with a grin.
Richard
She gave her brother a look. "You gotta say that, yer my big brother," She argued. She didn't believe him, not even for a second! Big brothers had to say things like that, didn't they? They had to reassure their little sisters, whether they were beautiful or the most plain girl in the world. "She ain't from here, 'riginally. She was from a rich family. Real... Pretty. Real elegant. Poised." 

She glanced at Leroy and away. "Carina Templeton," She mumbled under her breath so softly. "I just don't think she's rightly interested like that," She admitted. "Which is fine, she don't gotta! I know I ain't a lot to look at and I'm always workin' my butt off at the hospital. What kinda lady wants another lady to smell like blood 'n bandages all the time?" Lorelai grimaced to herself. 

"A war hero!" She threw her hands up. "I was a nurse, hardly a war hero, Leroy," She argued. "She did seem real surprised when I mentioned it to her. Almost in tears, she was." It was so sweet, too, it nearly melted her heart into a soup.