Hi guys. This is my second fic. It's not a one-shot like my first one (btw, I'm working on a sequel for "Worth It." I don't know what it's going to be called, but I hope it will be at least okay.)

I feel a need to warn you that I am a crappy author in the fact that my chapters aren't that long; I don't update that often; and I am subject to long bouts of writer's block (but then again, aren't we all?). I will try and do my best (you know, the usual: find a muse, get inspired, all that jazz.

I hope you all like it. I worked pretty hard on this. There's Lit in later chapters. I'm not rushing this; making it go too fast. I'm setting it up. (Don't get the wrong idea. I do like Logan, but I hate him with Rory. If he was with any one else, or if he was just Rory's friend, then I would totally love him.)

So on with the story.

Prologue

Gabrielle curled up in a ball as she shuddered to the sounds of her parents yelling. She was only ten years old, and her parents were performing the current fight, as if it had been previously rehearsed (which, considering the numerous amount of times the argument occurred; you might say it had been rehearsed). Her parents were Lorelei and Logan Huntzberger, both thirty-three years old. Through her tears, she mouthed the words of the much heard battle.

"Where have you been?" That was her mother.

"Out with my friends," came her father's overused response.

"Friends?" Her mother yelled, sarcastically. "Oh yeah, I really think the stripper that was all over you at the bar was a friend."

"You've been spying on me?" Her father sounded surprised as well as angry.

"It might have occurred to you that I also have friends. We happened to be at the same club as you and your friend."

At this point there came a slap-ping sound that meant that Gaby's father's hand had just made contact with her mother's cheek. This was soon followed by a thump, as her mother's body hit the floor. This startled Gaby. This form of brutality normally didn't occur till further into the argument. Apparently, Logan wanted to end this early.

Gaby hurtled herself into her bed, a princess-canopy number her great-grandmother had picked out, at the sounds of her father stomping down the hallway. Burying her face into the pillow, she pretended to be asleep. Her father walked into her room, stumbling a little. He kissed her on the back of her head, and Gaby immediately knew that he was drunk.

"Good night Gracie-Gertrude-Gwen?" He couldn't remember her name. The stench of alcohol was so strong Gaby had to will herself not to throw up.

Logan wobbled back out of the room, slamming her door behind him. Five minutes later, convinced that he was passed out in his room by now, Gabrielle slowly made her way out to the living room where she knew her mother would be.

True to her thoughts, Rory was curled up in a ball, (similar to the position Gaby had been in minutes earlier) whimpering.

"Mom? Mommy?" Gabrielle reached out a hand to touch her mother's heaving shoulder. Rory seemed to seize up at the contact. But noticing it was only her daughter, Rory relaxed.

She sat up and pulled Gaby onto her lap. "Mommy's fine, kiddo." This, Gaby didn't believe for a second. For even as she said it, Rory's eyes filled with new tears. "Gabrielle?" Gaby noticed that her mother looked very serious. "You must not tell anyone about this." She must think this is the first time I've ever had any idea that Logan hit her, Gaby thought. Jerking her arm, Rory said, "Do you understand, Gabrielle? You can't tell anyone what happened to mommy, okay?"

Feeling much older and bolder than her ten year old self, Gaby pulled herself up to her full height (four feet, six inches) and said, "Why? Logan's hurting you."

"Call him Dad. He's your father."

"That monster will never be my father," Gabrielle spat back. With that, she walked back to her room and was about to slam the door before she remembered that Logan was just down the hall. She softly closed the door, and climbed into her bed.

A/N I know I go from Gaby to Gabrielle, but that's just because I'm weird and couldn't decide what to call her... just don't get confused.