Emily's Secret

Disclaimer: Iown nothing. The characters all belong to Amy Sherman - Palladino. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit will be made from this story.

Author's Note: This is a story told from Emily's POV. It's written for the Minor Character Ficathon. It takes place one year after season 6. Rory is back at Yale and Luke and Lorelai are married. Richard and Emily did attend the wedding, but the relationship between them and Lorelai still isn't the best one.

I want to thank my great beta llanoestacado, who helped me with grammar and the story as a whole. Your work is very appreciated.

Chapter 1: Sept. 22nd

"Lorelai, I'm inviting you and your husband to dinner – so stop being rude." I say to my daughter as I'm walking through the living-room, the phone in my right hand.

I haven't seen them for weeks. I don't know why she can't come over once in a while.

"Mother, I have guests here, I don't have the time to argue with you."

"So, will you be there?"

"When?"

She can't be serious – didn't she listen to me at all?

"Sept. 22nd, I just invited you and Luke to dinner on Sept. 22nd – really Lorelai, you shouldn't talk to someone when you're not listening anyway."

"Fine – I have to go. Bye Mom."

"So I'll see you Tuesday? Lorelai!"

She hung up on me. I can't believe it. Why is it that my only child can't come over to dinner, can't even have a decent conversation with me? What did go wrong? I sigh. Rory instead – I'm really glad to have her. She comes every Friday. I enjoy these evenings. But Sept. 22nd isn't a Friday. It's a Tuesday. I dial the telephone once again.

"Hello?"

"Rory, it's your grandmother."

"Hi Grandma. How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you Sweetie. I was wondering if you could come to dinner on Tuesday next week."

"Tuesday?"

"Yes, that would be nice."

"Uh – Tuesday, yeah, I think that would work."

"It's just this one time, and I'd love to have you over."

"Okay – I'll be there on Tuesday. I'd love to come Grandma."

"Wonderful. Thank you, Rory. And don't worry - it's a one-time occasion."

"So, what's so special about this Tuesday?"

I've dreaded this question. Lorelai didn't even pay enough attention to ask it, but Rory...

"Nothing. I just want to have dinner with the whole family every now and then." I say matter of factly.

"So, Mom and Luke will be there as well?"

"I invited them, but your mother wasn't sure if they'd have time."

"Oh – well Grandma I'm sorry but I have to leave for class right now."

"Of course you have to. I didn't mean to disturb you. See you on Friday, Rory."

"See you on Friday."

At least that went well. I'm thinking about calling Lorelai again. It really is important to me to have her here on Tuesday, but she was so rude, so oblivious to me. I sigh again.

Richard and I are having dinner. I'm quietly eating.

"How was your day Emily?"

I look up at him.

"Fine," I lie.

We're quiet again.

"How was your day?" I ask him.

"Fine," he answers, giving me a look that tells me he knows perfectly well that my day wasn't 'fine'.

I sigh.

"I've invited Rory and Lorelai for dinner Sept. 22nd, Rory agreed to come but Lorelai… she was rude and wouldn't answer my invitation."

When I mention the date his face falls. I stop talking. I don't want to discuss this day, it's just too hard. After a minute he speaks again.

"You want her to come, don't you?" he asks me hoarsely.

Of course I want that and you know it. I've always tried to get in touch with her on that day. After she'd left us with Rory that was nearly impossible, I only managed to get in touch with her twice on that day until Rory went to Chilton.

I nod at Richard.

"She'll be here. Don't you worry," he says.

I think about asking him how he wants to do this. To tell him he shouldn't do this. To tell him that it means nothing when she's only coming because of some threat by her father or guilt or whatever the reason that will bring her here. But I can't. I want her here. I need her here. More than Rory. And even if her reasons aren't the best, I don't have any other choice than to accept it. I nod at him again.

It's Saturday. I figured that Richard was going over to Stars Hollow today. When he arrives home I'm waiting for him.

"And?" I ask impatiently.

"They'll come."

I'm relieved. I walk over to him to give him a hug.

"Thank you, Richard."

I look at him and I can feel tears glistening in my eyes, as I gaze into his equally tear-filled eyes.

Lorelai didn't come. I don't get it. I had trouble pretending it wasn't a big deal around Rory. Thankfully she had to leave early. As soon as she shut the door I went upstairs. I know that Richard tried to call them but he didn't have any luck. What are they thinking, that all of this is a big joke? Hey Mom wants us to come so let's first decline then say we're coming only to end up not to and not to even answer the phone?

Part of me wants to drive to Stars Hollow to give her a piece of my mind. But I'm too sad to do this. More sad than angry right now. And it would be too dangerous, I would say things she doesn't need to know and she would ask questions I don't want to answer.

Richard is coming in. I'm standing at the window staring outside, I don't want to face him right now – it would hurt both of us. When he approaches me he puts his arms around my waist.

"I'm sorry Emily." he whispers into my hair. "They promised me they would come, I swear. Both of them."

"It's not your fault," I manage to say.

"I would like to drive out there to give them a piece of my mind. I would have never thought they'd break their promise," he says and I can hear the anger in his voice.

"Don't leave me alone," I whisper.

"I won't."

"Leave me alone, Richard!" I yell.

"But Emily – "

"No, you don't understand anything. Leave me alone!" I demand again – this time threateningly calm.

I hate myself for the hurt look these words bring to his face, but I can't help it. He slowly retreats and shuts the door. I begin to cry.

How things have changed…