Hello Readers! Thanks for clicking on this story! I have had this idea for a while and wanted to upload it and see the response.

Please let me know if you'd like this continued.

This isn't a complete AU as it still follows the series, however with the added character.

All rights go to Amy Sherman-Palladino for the creation of the characters and series!

It is going to be set in early on in the series - not necessarily going to follow all episodes. (SPOILER WARNING)

It will be the usual pairings!

Thanks, Vanilla xx

YEAR : 1976

Emily sighed as she sat at the marble counter in the kitchen, waiting patiently as the oven buzzed. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, she had a grey tea towel tucked into the waistband of her navy Chanel skirt, and the sleeves of her ivory blouse were rolled up to her elbows. It was late afternoon and little eight-year-old Lorelai was coming home from her week-long class field trip.

Emily knew the one thing Lorelai wanted more than anything when got home was pizza. She had reminded her mother endlessly before she left Sunday morning. A smile tugged at the corners of Emily's lips, she had a special relationship with Lorelai, one she thought never break. The alarm echoed, and Emily practically leapt to her feet, clambering towards the oven in a hurry. The last thing she wanted was for her baby's pizza to burn.

The aroma of Italian tomatoes and freshly melted cheese immediately invaded the large kitchen, as Emily delicately removed the cheese pizza from the oven, placing it on the stove to cool. Emily glanced at her watch, scurried around the island, grabbing the pizza cutter from the second drawer and a plate from the corner cupboard. It was quarter past five and Lorelai would be home any moment. Emily swiftly cut-up the pizza, placing it onto the plate just as she heard the door click.

"I'm home Mum," Lorelai shouted, trodding through the house with fatigue.

Emily felt her heart stop, "Gerta," she summoned, pulling out her ponytail as the maid rushed into the kitchen. She ripped the tea towel out of her Chanel skirt, throwing it to the maid. Emily unrolled her sleeves and quickly walked out of the kitchen poised and refined, like nothing had happened, "Lorelai, darling," Emily grinned, cuddling her daughter's small frame watching as Richard carried in Lorelai's bag.

He looked up to grin at his young wife running her fingers through Lorelai's long chocolate locks, "Hello Emily,"

Lorelai looked up at her mother with a childish grin, "Do I smell pizza, mum?"

Emily stifled a nod, "I had it especially made for you," she smiled, denying herself all credit, after all, it was her secret, "it's in the kitchen waiting now,"

Lorelai instantly brightened. She sprinted passed her mother, rushing through the kitchen to see the maid cleaning the pizza tray, "thank you," she giggled, taking the plate into the dining room.

Richard walked over to his wife pulling her in for a slow passionate kiss, "How was your doctor's appointment?" He asked curiously, holding her in his arms protectively.

"Oh fine, the results come in on Tuesday," Emily whispered quietly, hoping her husband would dismiss the conversation and concentrate on his work as usual.

"Tuesday," Richard mused, "I think I'll join you then," Emily let a small unnoticeable hiccup of fear as they turned to find Lorelai's hands and face completely covered in pizza sauce.

"Lorelai," Emily growled.

Emily glanced at her a crystal watch impatiently, her heels tapping against the starch hospital floors. It was Tuesday, and Richard, like promised, attended her appointment. Richard had always been uncomfortable with sickness or the idea of being surrounded by it.

Emily had been studying her husband through the mirror across from them, attempting to rid her mind of the horrid thoughts consuming it. His posture was stiff but tall, his hands knotted together, twisting in fear, whilst his face blank of emotion.

He looked awful.

"Emily Gilmore," one of the hospital nurses called out into the waiting room, "Doctor Radnor, is ready for you," she announced, gesturing them to follow her as she scribbled down on her clipboard once more.

Emily felt herself heighten in fear, as she turned the door handle of her doctor's office. "Ah Emily," Radnor greeted casually, "and Richard, my old bulldog," he continued shaking Richards's hand.

"Good morning, John" Richard felt himself relax slightly as he conversed with his old Yale friend. "Now, let's get down to the facts," Richard stated, only further intensifying Emily's fears.

John nodded, "Now Emily, I don't want you to worry because we found cancer in your blood." A single tear escaped Emily's eyes, as the rest of her body became momentarily paralysed. "You are stage one, and there are many ways in which we go about treatment," John explained, as Richard squeezed his wife's hand.

"Emmy, you're going to be fine," Richard reassured, settling his trembling wife.

"Here's the thing Emily, you're barely 31. Your body is young, strong and can easily fight this with the appropriate treatment," The doctor attempted to explain, "you are extremely fortunate in the sense that if you hadn't seen me about your alarming number of miscarriages, things may have been severe,"

Emily felt her heart drop at the mention of her miscarriages. She and Richard had been trying for another child for almost four years, but alas it hadn't been successful. Emily had lost nearly five fetuses across the four years, the devastation greatly affecting both Richard and Emily. Swarms of tears burnt in her eyes as Radnor discussed her treatment with Richard, yet, her mind was consumed by the thoughts of her daughter.

"Lorelai," Emily breathed.

"Oh Emmy, she'll be fine," Richard assured her, "She's a tough little girl, and we don't have to tell her straight away,"

"Or at all..." Emily groaned, hoping to hide it from her daughter. She didn't want Lorelai to have to constantly worry about her, she wanted her to enjoy her childhood to the fullest.

"Emily, if you do not wish for people to know, that's fine," Emily stifled a small nod as Radnor collected a folder off his desk, "It's unlikely that you will lose your hair as the chemotherapy will not be as strong, so you can keep this private,"

Richard looked over at his young wife, he was terrified and so was she. What were they going to do...

YEAR: 1980

Emily had successfully and privately battled cancer for three years, not soul had known, apart from Richard, and her medical team. Lorelai hadn't heard a single word of it for the entire three years until Emily had fainted one morning Richard was out. She had collapsed on the stairs in front of eleven-year-old Lorelai. Lorelai had later found out that her mother was sick and grew angry at the secrets that were kept from her. Emily and Lorelai's relationship became strained, the pair constantly fighting or arguing about some petty thing or another. It didn't matter that her mother was later cleared, it was the final string that broke the supposed 'unbreakable' bond between mother and daughter.

"Lorelai, we are going to London tomorrow, and I want you to be on your best behaviour for the few months that we are gone, understand?" Emily said, following her twelve-year-old daughter upstairs.

"Whatever, mum," Lorelai mumbled, ignoring her mother as she climbed the stairs, "I'll finally have a peace," she whispered to herself.

"Lorelai," Emily snapped, clearly hearing her daughter.

"What?" Lorelai groaned, walking towards her room, her back still turned.

Emily sighed, unamused at her daughter, "You will attend school, do your homework, manage your grades. You will not skip school, or go out with your friends unless Anna has approved your schoolwork," Emily tugged on her daughter's shoulder, "Do I make myself clear, Lorelai?" Emily warned.

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "Whatever, this place is a prison with or without you here anyway," Lorelai spat viciously at her mother.

"Watch your mouth, Lorelai," Emily growled, trailing after her daughter as she sped towards her room.

"Just go to London already, it's not like I want or need you here, you make my life a living hell," Lorelai screamed, slamming her bedroom door in Emily's face.

Emily sighed, they hadn't been the same, even after she was cleared of cancer. She and Lorelai had grown distant and there was rarely a time they didn't fight. They were heading to London for the next few months, and as much as she'd hate to admit it she didn't want to leave Lorelai, she was, after all, still her little girl.

Emily turned away heading towards her own bedroom. She stared down at her body, running her fingers over her stomach. "Hm? That's odd," Emily thought, setting herself down in the armchair by the window, "I thought I lost all the cancer weight?"

Emily stared down at her stomach, she had been cleared for almost 12 months. She knew she had been eating more than usual, had occasional nausea and fatigue, but had constantly dismissed it as her body ridding itself of the last effects of chemotherapy, but now 12 months later it was getting harder to believe. She had gained a considerable amount of weight in comparison to her tiny frame, however, she had returned to her normal figure with regular exercise.

Still, Emily ran her fingers over the bump on her stomach, it was developed by not impossible to hide. It was winter in London, meaning she'll have many excuses to hid it from Trix. The last thing she wants was for her mother-in-law to nag her about weight.

"Emily?" Richard called, entering their bedroom.

"Yes, Richard?" The young woman responded, immediately taking her hands off her stomach.

"I was thinking we could spend six or seven weeks travelling around Europe before we settled with my mother in London?" Richard grinned sheepishly, crouching beside his wife.

"Oh, Richard that sounds wonderful!" Emily beamed, placing a peck on his cheek as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. It had been years since that gone overseas alone... in fact, they hadn't been away since Lorelai was born.

"Great," Richard chuckled, sitting in the armchair across from his wife, "I just got off the phone with agent, he's planned us an entire trip,"

Emily smiled down at her husband, giggling at his excitement. "We haven't done something like this since Lorelai was born,"

"I know," Richard hummed, wrapping his arms around her waist, "It's about time,"

"This is terribly exciting!" Emily grinned, thinking of their favourite places to visit covered in an incredible blanket of snow, "I've never been to Europe during the wintertime,"

"It's absolutely beautiful! You're going to love it... I promise dear," Richard grinned, holding her hands lovingly.

"I know," Emily nodded, agreeing with her husband. "And I love you," she smiled kissing him on the check.

Please read and review! Let me know if you'd like this continued.

Thanks Vanilla xx