Chapter 1: Blown in with Snow

The snow flurries clung to the windows of the bus as it began to slow down. Another stop. 16-year-old Lorelai Gilmore checked the meager purse she had brought. Nothing, she found. No more change to renew her fare. She turned to the car booster in the seat next to her, which held her 14-month old daughter, Lorelai Leigh "Rory" Gilmore.

"This is our stop, little one." As the bus finally ceased in its movement, Lorelai gathered all the things she owned: her daughter, her purse, and the single suitcase that carried whatever she had managed to squeeze into it. As she went up the aisle, she could feel the eyes of the other passengers on her, silently judging her. But she held her head high and politely thanked the bus driver before disembarking.

Only after the bus had disappeared into the distance did the teenage runaway mom take in her surroundings. Where was she? Was it still in Connecticut? Both questions were answered relatively quickly, when she saw a pleasant sign that read WELCOME TO STARS HOLLOW, CT. Lorelai did not know how far that was from Hartford, but hoped that it was a good distance. Squaring her shoulders, she hoofed into the town.

At least, it had to be a town, judging from the size. The storefronts were small, quaint, usually historically preserved in their aesthetics. The streets weren't too wide. And everywhere Lorelai looked, there was a sign commemorating some history of the town. It had apparently been founded during the Revolutionary War, in 1779; a Battle of Stars Hollow had even been fought here, though not many details were given.

A gust of freezing wind nearly blew Lorelai off the street. Clutching Rory close to her chest, she pushed into the gale head-on, even as she shivered. "Can't feel my toes... my fingers... or nose..." That rhymed. How creative, she thought sarcastically. Was she starting to go delirious? The few passerby she met on the streets were bundled up in large overcoats. Most just hurried past at the sight of her with a baby, as if afraid she might call out to them, but Lorelai did not. She might have to, soon, though. She looked down at Rory and was horrified to see that her little lips were already a faint shade of blue. They both had to get somewhere indoors before they died of hypothermia, and quick!

Lorelai rounded the next corner to find the lights on in one shop - the only one that seemed to be open along this street, and at this time of night. Or was it the wee hours of the morning? No matter the time, it looked cozy and inviting, and was possibly her and her baby's last chance. She stumbled towards it, and pushed her way inside.

"We're closed. Come back in a few hours," a young man who looked to be in his early twenties said gruffly.

Lorelai didn't move. "Help," she croaked out, and she was terrified to find her voice nearly gone. "Please help me."

Her soft plaintiveness made the man look up. He was handsome, with rugged scruff. But his friendliness was wanting, as he frowned and came around from behind the counter. "No solicitors..."

"Do I look like a solicitor to you?" Lorelai defended herself, taken aback by the assumption.

"Anyone who comes in after hours is usually a solicitor," the man assumed gruffly, as he made to shove Lorelai towards the door.

"Well, not every solicitor has a baby!" Lorelai snapped. The statement made the owner look down as he bumped into her.

The car seat was swaddled with every possible blanket imaginable. From the bundle, a small whimper could be heard. Rory was just beginning to stir from her slumber. Pulling back one cloth, the owner indeed saw a baby squirming in the last vestiges of sleep.

The man could never explain why, even years later, but for some reason he found himself entranced by the little infant. She had a pretty face, chubby cheeks and - most strikingly - a pair of sparkling sapphire blue eyes.

And from the looks of it, she needed warmth - and quickly.

The man ran a hand over his face, guilt eating away at him. Finally, he said to Lorelai, "Look, you can't stay here..." - her face fell - "...but I know a place where you might be able to."

The teen mother's eyes filled with tears of relief. "Oh, thank you!"

"My truck's out front. Wait in here while I go out and crank up the heat." He moved to the door, but then turned back. "But if you're coming along, I've got to know who you are."

"My name's Lorelai. Lorelai Gilmore. And this is my daughter, Rory."

"And I'm Luke Danes. I'll call for you when the truck is ready."

Lorelai took in the place as Luke went outside. Tools and other gardening supplies lined the shelfs. Nails, hammers and bolts sat in containers almost strewn about the room. A hardware store. It seemed rather fitting for someone like Luke. Her thoughts were interrupted by someone tapping at the window.

"Jump in!" Luke called.

Lorelai grabbed her things and leapt into the shotgun seat of Luke's truck. He stepped on the gas, and they sped off around the small streets of Stars Hollow. The ride passed by in silence. Lorelai was surprised Luke did not ask the questions she had been expecting would come her way from all sides, no matter who she encountered. Yet he asked none. And from how he was not looking at her or Rory, he seemed to not be judging either of them in any way. Over the past year or so - almost two years since she became pregnant - the young Gilmore had become quite skilled at knowing when people were judging her, even when no words were spoken. Finally, Luke pulled up a hill overlooking the town, where the Independence Inn (Lorelai read the sign) now sat like a sentinel.

Luke parked the truck as close to the building as was allowed before helping the Gilmore girls out and hustling them inside and out of the snow flurries.

"Mia!" he called upon entering. "We have a situation here!"

A middle-aged woman, almost grandmother-like in her looks, came rushing around from behind the front desk. "Luke? What's going on?"

"They need warmth - immediately! Especially the little one!"

Mia clapped a hand over her mouth upon seeing a now-wailing Rory. "Oh!" She wasted no time in fussing over the girls and ushering Lorelai into an armchair besides a blazing fire. "Warm yourself here, honey!"

Lorelai relaxed slightly at the wave of heat washing over her, but not before she had placed Rory as close to the hearth as possible. As she watched her baby's whimpers turn into coos before she eventually fell back to sleep, Lorelai could hear Luke and the Mia gal whispering behind her.

"Who is she?"

"Lorelai Gilmore, apparently. She barged into my shop about fifteen minutes ago looking half-dead!"

"Where did she come from?"

"She wouldn't say."

"Oh, the poor dears! Do you think we should get a doctor? What if they already have hypothermia?"

"Let's gauge it for now. Mia - can they stay here? I have to get back to the store. Call me if nothing improves!"

"Of course, Luke. In fact, I could have the potting shed ready for them in the next few days. They can stay as long as they like."

Luke breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." He tentatively approached Lorelai and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Will you be all right here?"

Lorelai looked up at him, and all at once, tears streamed down her cheeks. She was pretty sure the kindness of these two strangers had just saved Rory's life, and hers. "Yes. Thank you."

Luke made no reply, only glancing awkwardly away before hustling out of the inn. After he was gone, Lorelai gently lifted Rory from the booster seat and began to rock her. She felt her little cheeks. They were warm! Warm! And her lips were once again a very-appropriate shade of red. Mia now approached the destitute girls.

"For now, there's one available room upstairs." She handed Lorelai a key. "Room 221."

Lorelai took the key with a small murmur of thanks, before hauling everything upstairs. Unlocking the door to Room 221, turning on the light, she nearly wept at the welcoming amenities that awaited her. A queen-sized bed. A bathroom off the main entryway. Dressers. She had to remind herself that this was temporary; Mia had mentioned something about a potting shed...

Too exhausted to do anything else, Lorelai flopped onto the bed, nestling Rory into her for warmth. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at her daughter. They had nearly died today. Overcome with love, she kissed Rory's forehead. "I love you!" she let out in a choked whisper. "You're safe now."

Before going to sleep, Lorelai managed to dig out one thing from her suitcase: a cassette player and tape, which she now popped in. Sweet music began to play; it usually helped Rory go to sleep, or at least, stay asleep.

"On my own, pretending he's beside me / All alone, I walk with him till morning...

A/N: Like it so far? Review, review!