A/N: This is another story I wrote a long time ago that I found on my computer. It takes place when Christopher finds the letter that Lorelai wrote for Luke when he was trying to get joint custody of April. What if he had reacted much differently to the letter? Who would be able to save Lorelai? If you like the first chapter I will upload the rest. Someone may have written something like this, I haven't read a lot of GG fanfiction in a long time so I apologize if someone did. I've started to rewatch the show and I remembered I had this so I figured I would upload it. Anyway, like I said...if you like it I will upload the rest! Thanks!


Lorelai stood in front of the stove stirring the pasta in the pot. Her body was going through with the actions but her mind seemed to be a million miles away. This wasn't anything new…it had been like this since she walked away from Luke outside his Diner on that terrible night in May.

Sighing, she tried to remind herself that this was the way her life was now. She was married to Christopher, he was her husband and she was his wife. It still felt strange to her, after all this time; after all they had been through to actually think they had actually gotten married. She had given up that dream a long time ago, and if she was being honest with herself it was the last thing she wanted. Sure, she wanted to be married but not to Christopher, she wanted to be Mrs. Lorelai Danes not Mrs. Lorelai Hayden.

But…everything had blown up in her face and she had made a choice that had changed her life forever. Now she just had to learn to accept it…there was obviously no going back now. When she heard the footsteps coming down the stairs she took a deep breath and once again she tried to force a smile on her face, the same thing she had been doing for months now.

"Hey, dinner's almost ready!" Lorelai called as she moved about the kitchen to try and find a strainer, "What do you want to drink?"

"What the hell is this?" Christopher's voice boomed through the kitchen causing her to jump and turn back to him.

"What is what?" She asked holding the strainer to her chest, her eyes fell down to the letter clutched tightly in his left hand. "Oh. That…" She took a deep breath and tried to take a step closer to him, "Chris I-"

"Why would you write this letter?" He asked closing the distance between them, "I mean Jesus Lorelai…" He looked down at the words again, "Once Luke Danes is in your life…he's in your life forever?" He looked back up at her menacingly, "How is that supposed to make me feel?"

"Chris I…I just…" She stepped back, feeling afraid of the anger that seemed to be bubbling up inside of her husband, "He was in trouble. He was going to lose April and I felt bad…I mean he already lost so much time with her and I didn't want him to lose anymore…"

"Why do you even care?" Chris yelled at her, "Why do you care Lorelai? You're with me now aren't you?"

She swallowed the lump that was growing in her throat, she had known Chris for a long time but she had never seen him this angry before. "Of course I'm with you…"

"Then why does it matter what happens to him?" He asked stepping all the way up to her again, he was just inches from her face, "Why does it matter?"

"I…I just…" Her hands started to shake when she realized she was backed up against the counter and had no way of getting away. "I wanted to help…he…he helped me a lot with Rory and-"

He rolled his eyes and started to pull away as he paced the room, "Oh here we go. Here comes the lecture about how perfect the Diner guy is who was there for all the stuff with Rory that I missed."

She shook her head as she placed the strainer down behind her, she grasped the counter top for strength, "I didn't mean it like that. I just felt like…I felt like I owed him…" She winced at her words when he turned back to her and closed the space between them again, "Chris I-"

"Do you still love him?" He asked glaring down at her with such anger, Lorelai felt every fiber of her body screaming at her to run but she knew she couldn't.

"Chris please-" She whispered softly as the tears started to fill her eyes.

"Do. You. Love. Him?" He ground out each word as he leaned in closer to her.

"I…" Her heart was pounding in her chest, she knew what the answer was but she couldn't tell him. "No. Of course not."

"Do you love me?" He asked leaning so close she could feel his hot, angry breath against her face.

She swallowed the lump in her throat again, "Of-o-of course I do. You're my husband."

Christopher snickered, "But he was supposed to be your husband first wasn't he?"

She bit her lip nervously, "Chris don't…"

He laughed bitterly and stepped back, "This is just great. This is fucking fabulous!"

"Please…" She whispered as she pushed herself away from the counter as she tried to reach for him, "Luke and I broke up, okay? It's over. I was just trying to help him with April. It didn't mean anything. We are together now. You and me. We're married."

He reared away from her hand, "But you wish it was him here don't you?"

Her heart was screaming yes but she adamantly shook her head, "Of course not!"

"You know…I've known you for a very long time Lorelai. You forget that I can read you like a book." He said stepping towards her again.

"Look let's just…let's forget about this okay? I promise after this letter I will not do anything for him. I won't even talk to him!" She yelled as she stepped back again bracing her hands behind her waiting to feel the counter dig into her back.

"And how the hell is that going to work Lorelai? We live in the same freaking town as the guy!" Chris yelled as he lifted the letter between them and glared down at her, "We have to stay in this fucking town because you won't leave and I know it's not because of the Inn! I know it's because you don't want to leave him. I'm not stupid."

She shook her head, "It is because of the Inn! And because this is where Rory grew up and-"

He laughed bitterly, "Rory's a big girl now Lorelai. She doesn't need to stay in the house she grew up in forever. She doesn't even live here!"

Lorelai gasped for a breath, trying to think of what she could say to calm him down. "Christopher please…please calm down. You're starting to scare me…"

He ignored her as he pushed her back against the counter, "She doesn't live here but I know she wishes it was Luke you married instead of me too. I'm her actual father and yet she still wishes that stupid Diner guy was here in this house. Do you know how that makes me feel Lorelai? Do you?"

"I'm…I'm sorry okay? Luke has been a big part of her life for a long time. I'm sure it is difficult for her to just cut him out the way she has had too. You can't be mad at her for that." She said trying to plead with him to understand.

"Who has it been harder for Lorelai, you or Rory?" He asked tauntingly, "How much do you miss him, huh?"

She flinched as she felt his right hand grab hold of her waist as he continued to push her against the counter, "Chris please stop…"

His lips were against her ear as he continued to yell at her and his hand dug harder into her hip making her gasp in surprise and fear, "Do you wish it was him who was here with you tonight? Do you wish it was him who was touching you when we make love? Is that it? Do you picture him when I'm inside of you?"

The tears were falling freely now and she tried to push him off of her but it was no use. "Stop. Please stop!"

"Answer me Lorelai!" He said shoving her back against the counter again making her shriek, "Do you wish it was him when I kiss you? Do you wish it was him holding you at night?" He asked as other hand crushed the letter against her other side. "You want him Lorelai? Not me?"

She could barely breath now she was so afraid, she wanted to run and get as far away from his as she could but she knew she couldn't fight him off. "Chris-" She chocked out as he continued to shove her back, digging the hard surface into her lower back. "You're hurting me. Please…please stop."

"I bet you are thinking your precious Luke would never do this aren't you?" He said pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes. "Is there anytime you aren't thinking of him?"

"Stop! I'm not thinking about anyone else! You're my husband!" She yelled hopefully as the tears spilled down her cheeks and onto her shirt.

Chris glared at her as he pulled all the way away finally letting her go, "Don't you forget that."

He lifted his hand and before she could even react his full hand came in contact with her face making her scream in pain. When he pulled it back he didn't even try and apologize when she lifted her own hand to try and soothe the stinging against her red cheek. He lifted his hands again and she jumped as he shoved her back and she knew her back would be bruised in the morning along with her face.

He shook his head and began to walk away, when she heard the front door slam behind him she slunk down the side of the counter as she continued to sob. She could hear the water bubbling over in the pasta pot but she couldn't lift herself up to take it off the stove. She felt sick and her whole body was on fire. She was so scared and lost in her own thoughts she didn't even hear the knock on the back door, she didn't hear the footsteps coming up beside her.

She jumped when she felt the hand on her shoulder, "Sugah?" The familiar voice of Babette whispered to her as she knelt down in front of her.

Lorelai turned her gaze to see Morey turning off the stove and picking up the pot before placing it in the sink. "B-b-babette?"

Babette kneeled down in front of her, "We heard yelling and we thought we would come see if you are okay…"

Lorelai's hand was still on her cheek as she whimpered, "I-I didn't-I-"

Babbette reached up and pulled her hand away, grimacing when she saw the large red handprint burning on Lorelai's cheek. "Oh sugah…"

The tears that had been falling quickly turned to loud and terrified sobs as she fell forward against her neighbor. Babette began to wrap her hands around her shoulders and rub her back trying to calm her. Lorelai was faintly aware of the sound of Morey's voice as he talked into her home phone. She couldn't pull herself out of her fear to understand what he was saying or whom he was talking too.

Her head was spinning and every part of her body and mind was searing in pain. How had this happened? How had it all gotten so screwed up? Never in her life did she think she would be the type of woman to be with a man who hit her. And she never would have thought Chris of all people could do that to her. Sure, they had been through some bad times but she had never, ever been afraid of him.

"Lorelai sweetie…" Babette whispered as she continued to hug her, "You should get up honey. Morey just called the police and they will be here soon."

Lorelai instantly sat up and began to pull her aching body up off of the floor. "No. No. No! Call them back. They can't come here!"

"Christopher assaulted you Lorelai…you can't just let him get away with it." Babette said as she stared at her in confusion.

"It was…it was just-" She was still trying to stop crying and her words came out in a rambling mess, she fell back against the counter again. "It was a misunderstanding. He didn't mean it…he won't do it again."

"Lorelai…" Babette whispered leaning towards her again, "Sweetie you can't-"

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Lorelai said as she walked on shaky legs as she walked around her, "Thanks for-for checking o-on me. I just n-n-need to go find Chris and fi-fi-fix this." She hiccupped as she walked away.

"You are in no condition to be going anywhere and you certainly aren't going to talk to him." Morey said trying to follow her down the hall.

Lorelai waved her hand back at them, "Just-just go. I'm fine. I swear I'm fine."

"But Lorelia-" Babette said scurrying after her.

"Please just go Babette, please." She stopped at the base of the stairs and quickly turned to look at her friends, "Please don't tell Rory."

"But Lorelai-" Morey tried to reason with her.

"Please." She said with more determination, "Please don't tell her. Just…call the cops tell him everything is fine and just go home. I'm okay." She said desperately trying to search both of their eyes, "Please…"

Something in Lorelai's tone of voice made Babette realize they weren't going to get anywhere with her. Sighing, she reached for Morey's arm and began to pull him back. "Okay sugah…whatever you want. We'll deal with the cops and I promise we won't call Rory…"

Morey turned to look at his wife, "Babette-"

She squeezed his arm, "You just call me if you need anything okay?"

Lorelai swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, "Sure. Sure. Thanks again."

Babette waited until Lorelai turned and fled up the stairs to her bedroom before turning back to Morey. Then she began to pull him once again towards the back door and quickly exited the house.

"What was that?" Morey asked running after his wife. "We have to tell someone-"

Babette looked back at the house to make sure that Lorelai wasn't lingering anywhere to hear them before she looked at him again, "Of course we do. But if we push her she'll run Morey…did you see her face? Did you hear her voice? I've never heard Lorelai that scared…"

Morey sighed and walked up the steps with her back to their house, "So what do we do now?"

Babette sighed, glanced up at Lorelai's bedroom window and then ran into the house. She had a lot of phone calls to make…


An hour later, Babette and Morey were standing on the street far enough away from Lorelai's street as Miss Patty, Sookie and Jackson approached them.

"Where is she?" Sookie asked frantically trying to walk past them to Lorelai's house.

"Shhh…" Babette said grasping the woman's arm and pulling her towards her, "You can't go in there or she will freak."

"But she needs me! She needs someone!" Sookie yelled pointing back at the old white house.

"You know Lorelai…you know how stubborn and tough she tries to be. Well she's scared and she doesn't want to need people. She wants to deal with this on her own." Babette said.

Jackson sighed, "Have you seen Chris at all?"

Morey shook his head, "Not yet."

"Did you call Rory?" Miss Patty asked glancing around the street.

"She should be here soon. She was coming home anyway tonight." Babette said.

"Oh God…poor Rory…" Sookie said putting a hand over her mouth, "Does she know exactly what happened?"

Babette shook her head, "I was afraid to tell her over the phone. I didn't want her driving home if she was that upset. Plus I was afraid she would call Lorelai about it and I promised her I wouldn't do that."

"So what did you say?" Miss Patty asked.

"I told her I had gone over for a visit and saw that Lorelai wasn't feeling so great. I told her she was asleep so she shouldn't call her…" Babette said nervously.

"Do you even know what happened?" Jackson asked.

Morey shook his head, "We heard a lot of yelling…and she had a mark on her face…we couldn't see if he hit her anywhere else."

Sookie's lips started to tremble, "I just can't understand what would make Christopher do something like this. He was never my favorite guy…but I didn't think he would be capable of something like this."

Before anyone could say anything else, another car pulled up and they held their breath hoping it wasn't Christopher. But when Rory stepped out of the car, they sighed with at least some relief.

But for Rory, the sight of many of her neighbors and friends outside her mothers house, she began to wonder what exactly was going wrong. Her heart started to pound in her chest and she looked at her house before slamming her car door. She walked right past them until Sookie grabbed her arm.

"Rory wait…" Sookie whispered trying to pull her away from the house.

"What's going on? Where's my Mom?" Rory asked frantically trying desperately to get to the house.

"Oh Rory honey…I just…I don't know how to say this." Babette said starting to tear up.

"Say what?" Rory asked turning quickly towards her, "What happened? Where is she? Where's my Dad?"

"We don't know where he is…" Morey whispered.

"What do you mean you don't know where he is?" Rory asked looking between the people she considered to be her family. "What does that even mean?"

"We…we don't exactly know what happened." Babette started, "Its just…Morey and I heard some arguing coming from your house and…it kept getting louder so we went to go see if everything was alright…"

Babette's voice began to crack and she looked over at Morey unable to continue, "What happened?" Rory asked again desperately.

Morey put an arm around Babette and looked back at Rory, "Well…your mother she was crying, she was sitting on the floor and…"

"And?" Rory asked as she stepped closer to him, she was pretty sure her heart was about to leap from her chest.

"She had a handprint on her cheek Rory…" Morey said softly.

Rory let the words sink in; her head was spinning as they all stared nervously at her. "No. No he wouldn't do that."

"Rory…" Sookie said walking closer to her, "Sweets I can't even imagine what you must be feeling and thinking right now."

Rory shook her head, "My Dad is a lot of things but he's not the type of man who would abuse someone. And he definitely wouldn't hurt my mother…" She gulped for air before shaking her head again, "At least not like that…"

"She begged us not to call you and she made us call the cops and tell them not to come." Babette said softly.

Rory looked back at the house, she wanted to go in and hold her mother but she was afraid, "I don't understand…"

Sookie pulled her in for a hug, "It's going to be okay Rory. I promise we are going to figure this all out…"

"Why? Why would he do this?" Rory asked as she began to cry, clinging to her mothers best friend.

"What do we do if he comes back?" Miss Patty asked as she leaned into Jackson, "We can't let him back in that house…"

"I wish Lorelai would let the cops come over…they would know what to do." He answered back, "Should we call them again anyway?"

Rory pulled away from Sookie and shook her head, "She'll freak."

"Then what do we do? We can't just let him get away with this!" Miss Patty said anxiously.

Rory looked back at the house and took a deep breath, "There's only one person that she might listen too…"

Sookie looked at Rory and smiled sadly, "You mean Luke?"

Rory wiped her tears away, "I don't really have to ask what this was all about…I think we all know what probably happened."

"But Luke will freak out." Babette said nervously, "You know he'll go after Christopher…he loves her whether he'll admit it or not."

"Yeah he will go after my Dad…but not after checking on my Mom first." Rory said walking around them towards her car, "Stay here and make sure my Dad doesn't come back. If he does…" She took another nervous breath, "Call me."

Rory jumped in the car without looking back and sped towards the Diner. She wasn't even sure she had put the car in park fully before she swung the door open and ran into the Diner. It was a Sunday night and it looked like Luke was closing up early because there were no customers inside.

She could see him behind the counter wiping up and she began to quickly rap on the locked door. Luke looked up from where he stood and his heart dropped to his stomach when he spotted the young woman standing outside his Diner. God he had missed her, just like he had missed her mother but everything had gone so wrong so fast.

He was so consumed in his thoughts of regrets; he didn't notice the panicked look on her face. When she slammed her hand against the glass urgently he jumped into action and ran around the counter.

He reached for the doorknob and flung it open as fast as he could. "Rory-"

"I'm sure you hate my Mom for what she did." She said as she walked all the way into the Diner and began to pace, "I'll understand if you do. But you have to know she was hurting…she was afraid you didn't love her and-"

"Rory please…" Luke said as he sighed, closing the door behind her. "I don't think you should-"

"What she did was wrong…I know that. But I also know she is still hurting…I know she still loves you." Rory said as she stopped pacing and turned all the way to face him. "And I think you still love her…"

Luke stared at her for a moment, he had been worried something like this might happen, "Rory just because things with your Mother and I didn't work out…I don't want you to think I'm not here for you." He shrugged, "I don't want you to be afraid to ask me for help. I'm here for you. I always will be but-"

"That's why I'm here." Rory whispered nervously, "I need your help."

Luke tried to study her face to understand what she was about to say, "Well…what's wrong?"

"I…" Rory felt her lips tremble and her hands began to shake. "My Dad he…he..."

Panic started to bubble up in Luke's chest; he took a large step towards her and reached for the girl's hand. "What? What did he do?"

"I don't know all the details…all I know is he hit my Mom." She said quickly.

Luke didn't even let her say anything else; he turned on his heel and flew out the Diner door. He could hear Rory running behind him frantically but he couldn't seem to stop his feet as the pounded on the pavement. He was seeing red…nothing but red and he wanted to wrap his hands around Christopher's neck.

It wouldn't be the first time he felt this way towards that man but this was different. He had dared to raise a hand to Lorelai and he wanted blood. He didn't need to know what happened or why it happened, it didn't matter. All he needed was to get his hands on Christopher…but first he had to see her. He had to see her face, he had to know that she was going to be okay.

"Luke wait!" Rory yelled trying to keep up with him.

Since the distance between the Diner and Lorelai's house was so short, before she knew what was happening she could see everyone else standing outside the house. She looked at them frantically hoping someone could help but they knew no one would be able to stop him.

Jackson lunged trying to grab Luke but he tossed him aside. "Move!" He yelled.

"Luke wait!" Rory screamed at the man she had so long considered to be a father, "Please!"

At her words, Luke's whole body froze at the bottom of the porch steps. His heart was hammering away in his chest but the fear in the young girls voice scared him. He turned to look at her; he searched her face as she came to a quick stop in front of him, completely out of breath.

"Wait…" She said panting as the rest of their friends running up behind them.

"Rory…" Luke said stepping towards her, "I can't just-"

"I know!" Rory yelled, "I know. I want to run in there too. And I also want to kill my Dad for doing this…" She said as the warm tears fell down her cheeks. "But…she's…she's going to be scared…"

"Of me?" Luke asked leaning into her as he placed a hand on his chest, "I would never-"

Rory shook her head, "No! I know that. I know that."

"Then-" He started turning to go back up the steps to the house.

She grabbed his arm again, "Wait…"

Luke groaned and stepped back down to face her, "Rory-"

"We just…we have to think about this…" Rory whispered nervously looking back at Sookie for help, "You now how Mom can be…"

"She was insistent that we couldn't call the cops or Rory." Babette said trying to reason with him, "She might be very angry when she realized I didn't do what she asked me too…"

Rory nodded and turned back to Luke, "I just think…I think if you and I go in there calmly it will be better. If we run in there and bombard her she might break apart…"

Luke swallowed the lump that was growing in his throat, he rubbed a hand over his face trying to calm himself. "How the hell did we get like this?"

Rory took a step closer to him and put a hand on his arm, "I don't know…"

He shook his head as he felt the tears burning in his eyes, "I am so sorry Rory. I am so sorry…I let you down. I let you both down…"

Rory shook her head adamantly, "We can't…we can't do that right now okay? One thing at a time…I came to you because I knew you would protect my Mom. I knew you would protect us both…and I know your mad but I need your help with this one Luke…"

He nodded slowly, "I'm not going anywhere this time Rory…I promise."

She smiled at him as she turned back to the others, Sookie reached out and squeezed her arm letting her know they were right there too. Luke stepped up to the top step and waited for Rory to follow him, he let her walk all the way up to the door and unlock it.

It felt strange to walk back into the place he had hoped to be his home. His heart was doing flip flops, he felt confused and angry and he was trying to stay calm. It didn't matter what had happened between he and Lorelai anymore. None of it mattered, it didn't matter how hurt he was…all that mattered was that he made sure she was going to be okay.

They walked up the steps in silence before stopping outside Lorelai's bedroom door. Rory looked over at Luke and wondered what he was thinking, the would be walking back into the room he had renovated to share with her mother. The same room that she now slept in with her current husband, who just happened to be her father and also the one man who he hated the most. She couldn't imagine how much he hated her now that he knew what he had done tonight…

Luke gave her a quick not of encouragement, she took a deep breath and lifted her hand to knock. But she stopped when she heard the loud sobs coming from the other side of the door. She felt sick to her stomach and suddenly began to lose all her nerve.

The sound of Lorelai crying had always been the one noise that could cut him like a sharp knife. It felt like someone was ripping his heart out slowly as he listened to her cry. It was hard to keep his feet planted on the ground because he wanted to turn and run until he found Christopher.

When he heard Rory whimper beside him he knew he had to be strong for all of them. He cleared his throat nervously and lifted his own hand to knock on the door. They could hear Lorelai scrambling up off of the floor but it didn't sound like she was walking towards the door.

"C-C-Chris?" She managed to force out, "I-I just-Is that you?"

Rory cringed when she heard her mothers broken voice, "Mom…Mom it's me can I come in?"

They both heard the sharp intake of breath, "Oh Rory…I…honey I'm not feeling so great. You shouldn't come in here…I don't want to get you sick."

Rory reached up to wipe her tears away, "Mom…please open the door…"

"Really sweets…I'm good. I just…my stomach is all…I just I think…" She stammered out.

Rory looked at Luke frantically, unsure of what else to say to get her mother to let them in. "Lorelai…?" He said in a strong, soothing voice.

They were greeted but nothing but silence on the other side of the door. Luke worried his presence might only make things worse. He turned to Rory to say something but he was interrupted when he heard the door creak open slowly.

Both Luke and Rory turned quickly to see half of Lorelai's face staring out from the dark bedroom. "L-L-Luke?"

He tried to smile encouragingly at her, "Yes. It's me Lorelai…can you let us in?"

He watched her squeeze her eyes trying to hold in the tears, "You shouldn't be here Luke…you should go home."

Luke's heart ached at her words; he knew she was saying them out of fear. "Lorelai I'm not going to let anything happen to you okay?"

Her eyes shot open again and she stared desperately at him, she wanted to fling the door open and make him hold her. She wanted to erase the last few months, pretend none of them had happened. She wanted it to go back to the way it once was but she knew it could never happen…

Rory looked between her broken mother and then to Luke, "Mom…just open the door."

Lorelai's eyes turned towards her daughter again, she took a deep, shaky breath before she opened the door fully. She ignored the sharp intake of breath that Rory took at the sight of the growing bruise across her mothers face.

Luke felt like someone had punched him in the gut as he looked at her, tear marks ran down her face, her shirt was soaked and the imprint of Christopher's hand was still burning on her face.

"Lorelai…" He wasn't even sure if she could hear him because his voice cracked as he spoke, he couldn't hide the tears that were burning his eyes.

"Oh Mom…" Rory started to cry harder as she pushed past Luke and wrapped her Mom in her arms. "Mom I'm so sorry…"

Luke tried to ignore the fact that Lorelai seemed to wince as Rory wrapped her arms around her mother. He began to wonder just where else there might be bruises growing along her body. His blood began to boil again and the need to hunt down Christopher returned again. But when he noticed Lorelai staring desperately at him, he knew there was no where else he could go right now. He wasn't going to leave her side again…not until he knew exactly what happened.

But once he did…he made no promises that Christopher would end up unscathed.


So what did you think? Do you want to know what happens next? Let me know and I'll upload the next chapter once I hear from some of you :) Thanks!