Title: Delicate
Author: Karleen
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Warner Brothers, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone. This was just written for fun.
A/N: italicized texts are from Lorelai and Rory's past.

Chapter One: Cold As Her Heart

She opened her eyes and immediately felt the chill that she anticipated every year. As she took in her first whiff of the cold air, she could smell snow approaching her horizon. She looked over to the other side of her bed to see if Christopher was asleep. He was, and full on snoring as well. She didn't dare wake him to tell him about the snow's arrival. They had just had another fight about something she barely even remembered. Most of the time, she didn't even fight for her beliefs anymore. She settled, even if it did hurt her more than she admitted to herself.

She got out of the bed and went downstairs. She grabbed her coat and walked out of the house still clad in her pajamas as Paul Anka trailed behind her.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" She asked him as she patted him on his nose. "It's here Paul Anka, Snow's here." She whispered into his ears.

A couple of minutes later, she went back inside, grabbed his leash and decided to take a stroll even if it's early. Quarter to five kind early. As she strolled down Peach street, her mind wandered to the first snow she had with Rory at the Independence Inn.

- - - - -

Rory had been crying throughout the night. Lorelai held her in her arms and tried to calm her down.

"Come on babe, what's wrong?" She whispered into her ear, but she didn't stop. She held Rory so that her head is on the crook of her neck to soothe her back, a position that proved effective many times before but it also didn't help her that night. "Sweety..." Then she felt the tingle in her spine that told her it was going to snow, fresh powdery bliss she called it.

She wrapped her in her warmest blanket and dawned a jacket for herself. She took her daughter outside the potting shed and felt the snow hit her face slowly. As the flakes hit part of Rory's face, her crying slowly seized.

"There's nothing like snow, isn't there?" She said as she smiled as her daughter basked in the wonders of the winter chill.

She was eighteen at the time with a two year old in her arms and yet for Lorelai, it was the most natural thing in the world. It didn't matter how young she was then, she instinctively knew she had to take care of her daughter and fought anyone who was against it. She decided that she had to leave her past in Hartford to have a future for her and her daughter. She did everything in her power to live a life she always dreamed of.

Where did her will go to live a life she truly desired?

- - - - -

Lorelai and Paul Anka reached the Town Square without realization. It was empty because, well was five o'clock in the morning. Through the flurries, the only thing visible to her eyes was a delivery truck right in front of Luke's. She had not been to the diner since they broke up. She couldn't bring herself to go inside or near the place. She recalled his face when he first saw the wedding band on her left hand. He didn't say anything. His expression said it all, shocked, hurt and angry all in one.

The dog tugged at his leash, broke loose from Lorelai's grasp and brought her back to the present.

"Paul Anka, wait." She yelled after him and her voice echoed. She watched him run to a figure she could barely recognize. It was snowing harder.

He held a crate of bread in his arms from the delivery truck. She knew who that person was.

"Lorelai?" He asked as she stopped right in front of him.

"Luke, hi." She responded.

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking Paul Anka for a walk." She said as she grabbed hold on to his leash again.

"At this hour?"

"First snow of the season."

An uncomfortable silence lulled between them. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Sure." She answered with a slight hint of hesitation.

"Go right in, take Paul Anka inside. He must be cold. I just need to grab the rest of the deliveries."

"Thanks." She smiled at him and lead her dog in the diner.

He walked in and the small bell jingled as the door closed. She was sitting on the stool of the counter. She turned around and faced him.

"Where's your drink?"

"Oh, I.. Uh.." She said uncomfortably.

"I'll get it for you." He went behind the counter, took out a mug and poured the coffee.

"Thank You."

"You're welcome." He scanned around the diner. "Where's the dog?"

"Sleeping under that table." She pointed him out and he chuckled. "So, how's April?"

"She shows off her appendix scar, she's proud of the thing." He didn't say anything beyond at that point. He didn't tell her about the impending court hearing he's going to part take in a couple of weeks to gain shared custody of April. He didn't feel that it was a subject for him to bring up.

He carried Paul Anka into his apartment before the morning crowd gathered. The dog was still asleep and Lorelai didn't want to wake him. Luke told her that she could pick him up before she goes home from work to let him sleep. She thanked him again and left the diner.

Luke placed him on the couch and set up the blankets that the dog slept on before. He moved Paul Anka to the sheets and pets him on his back.

"This is why I don't like to get attached to dogs or anyone." He mumbled to himself quietly, careful not to wake him.

- - - - -

She walked in her house feeling a little light hearted. She wasn't sure whether it was the coffee or her light conversation with Luke that made her feel the way she felt.

"Lor." Chris said as he sat himself upright on the couch.

"Hey." She responded without looking at him.

"Where have you been?" He asked casually, as if the argument they had the night before didn't happen.

"Taking a walk around town" She forced a smile.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were out cold." He reached out to give her a hug. "I have to get ready for work." She backed out.

"Lor if this is about last night, I'm ..." she cut him off.

"I have to go."

- - - - -

"Dad, have you seen my Biology textbook?"

"Did you check upstairs?" He was in the diner's kitchen making her a snack.

"Not yet, I thought I'd ask you first."

"Well go look." He went to the counter and handed her a plate of spaghetti. "Wait, you're not allergic to dogs are you?"

"You got a dog?" The girl squealed as she went up the stairs and he followed behind her. He left Caesar in charge for a while.

"He's not my dog." They entered the apartment. "He's Lorelai's"

"Lorelai?" She gave him a questioning look.

"Yeah, it's a long story."

"Okay." She looked around the apartment. "Where is he?"

"He was sleeping in that corner" he pointed at the massive heap of blankets on the floor. "He's probably hiding now." He spotted the dog behind the couch. "Here, Paul Anka." The dog walked towards him. He carried him and placed him in front of April.

"That's his name?" She smiled. "That's so cute, he's cute." As she petted him.

"Yeah well don't get too attached to him. Lorelai is going to pick him up later." They were already bonding. He smiled and asked, "What about your book?"

"I'll check later."

- - - - -

"What's this?" He asked as she handed him a small box.

"Earl Grey tea. We have a new supplier at the Inn and I thought you might like it."

"You tried it?"

"No, but Sookie said it's great."

"Thank You." He placed the box under the counter. "I fed Paul Anka a burger, just the way he likes, rare plus."

"I can tell."

"How?"

"He hasn't smirked that way in a long time." They gave each other a smile. He looked at her and she looked back intently. Silence overtook them.

"Luke!" Kirk broke the silence as he stormed in the diner frantically.

"What Kirk?"

"Oh nothing, I just wanted to order." Luke sighed. Lorelai got up from the stool and walked out with her dog. She looked in through the glass window and mouthed 'thanks' to him and he nodded with appreciation.

to be continued . . .