Summary: After Rory is born, 16-year old Lorelai Gilmore decides she needs to get out of her high society life. She goes as far as her money will take her: California. [L/L, R/J] See A/N.

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls is owned by that Amy lady, whose last name I can't remember.. and the WB.

Rating: PG

Spoilers: None, I think.

AN: I'm sure many of you are wondering how I am going to make this an L/L and an R/J. Let's just say nothing in Star's Hollow is different except for the absence of the Gilmore girls. But the two couples will meet. =) I have my ways.

-Ggirl

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1984

Sixteen year old Lorelai Gilmore cradled the sleeping baby in her arms and pressed the phone against her shoulder with cheek. It rang twice before someone picked up.

"Hello, Gilmore residence."

Whew. It wasn't Emily. "Marie?" Lorelai adjusted the phone against her shoulder. "This is Lorelai."

"Oh, Ms. Gilmore," the voice said. "I'm new, I'm Janice."

"Oh, okay. Well, can you tell my mother that I'm going to take a cab home and there's no need to send Walter? Thanks."

"Um, let me just put her on the phone..."

"No!" Lorelai interrupted. "I mean, no, that's fine. Just tell her I said that." Before Janice could protest, Lorelai hung up. Rory woke up and yawned before looking up at her mom with her clear blue eyes. "Hey, baby," Lorelai cooed, nuzzling her nose against the baby's. "We're gonna go somewhere warm..."

"Lorelai."

She swerved around to come face to face with Christopher.

"Chris.. Hi."

"Why didn't you tell me you were being discharged today?" He looked irate. "I am her father, you know. Don't you think I have a right to know?"

Lorelai gently pushed him aside so she could pick up the bag next to his feet. "Don't worry about us.."

"Lorelai!" Chris said, a little too loudly. The other people in the lobby stared at him. Uncomfortable, Christopher shuffle his feet. "Look, I.. I still think we should get married..."

Lorelai shook her head. "My answer still holds. We can't do that."

"Why not? I mean, with the baby and all..."

"She has a name, you know," Lorelai said pointedly. She slung the duffel on her shoulder and started to walk out.

"Wait! I'll give you a ride home," Chris replied.

"No thanks," Lorelai said breezily and pushed through the glass double doors. "My ride's here." She crooked her head towards the yellow cab. Lorelai got into the cab and before closing the door, she looked him in the eye. "Bye, Chris." Bye for a long time.

Chris frowned but didn't protest. "Bye..."

As the cab pulled away, Lorelai looked behind her shoulder at him for the last time. Hands stuffed in his pockets.. face downcast.. She loved him. But this was for the better for both of them. She looked down at the little girl in her arms. For all of them.

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"She said she was going to take a cab?!" Emily yelled at the maid. The girl cringed.

"Yes, ma'am," Janice replied, cowering. "I offered to put you on the phone, but she hung up immediately."

Emily closed her eyes. She couldn't blame the girl for that. It was the type of thing Lorelai would do. "How long ago was this?" "Um.. I believe it was an hour ago," Janice answered nervously.

"An hour ago!?" Emily seethed. The hospital was barely 15 minutes away. I should have sent Walter hours ago to wait in front of the hospital for her. "Where would she go? And with a baby, no less." She cringed at the thought of her 16-year-old daughter walking around Hartford with a newborn, giving everyone in society a look at what they had been gossping about for months. Lorelai Gilmore, top of her class.. pregnant. Pregnant! Whenever Emily Gilmore had gone in the past few months, she had been hit with high society's tittering, with their long stares full of pity.

Her only daughter was pregnant. And now, her teenage daughter was a mother. Perhaps she was being vengeful, but Emily couldn't help but think that Lorelai was going to be getting a taste of her own medicine soon. But for now, she had to find her.

"Find her. Call Christopher. Call Richard." Emily rubbed her temples. "Call everyone."

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She had been planning this for days from her hospital bed. Call the airport for the plane tickets. Figure out what to do for money. Where will we live? How will I make money? Should I go to school? Who will take care of Rory?

School was out of the picture.

As much as she hated school, she had to admit that she was rather disappointed in that prospect. Without her high school degree, she doubted that she'd get very far in her job search.

But that wasn't what she wanted to think about it. Because if she kept thinking like that, she would back out. She would take the easy way. Rory and she would go home and her daughter would have to live the life she had.

No way, jose. Lorelai shook her head and looked at Rory. "We're gonna be fine, kid." Was she assuring Rory or herself? She smiled at her baby. Both.

"Flight 673, American Airlines to Los Angeles is now boarding."

She took a deep breath. Time to go. Lorelai picked up her bag and held Rory tightly. She walked past the tourist shops and cafes and walked straight up to the gate.

Lorelai pulled the plane ticket out of her pocket and handed it to the attendent at the door.

"What an adorable baby!" The woman remarked, cheerfully. "She's very young, isn't she?"

Lorelai forced a smile. "Yes."

"Where's your mother?"The lady's smile seemed to be growing by the minute.

She hated inquistive people. I'm the mother, you nosy fake. "Oh, my sister and I are meeting her in LA." She put on a supersweet smile.

"How nice," She replied, still smiling. "Well, have a wonderful trip."

"Thank you," Lorelai replied and walked through the gates.

To freedom.

To California.