Author's note: I just want to state that this will not be a happy story. It will have some happy moments, but the gist of it will be dealing with the struggles of the characters. I wanted to try writing a different type of story. It will focus on the Luke/Lorelai like all of my stories, but I will also include Rory and Logan (and a few other characters). Rory did not steal the yacht in this story, but Michum still told her she doesn't have "it" (that will be a plot point later on)
Please leave a review and let me know what you think. You reviews encourage me to keep writing. There will be more chapters later…
Lorelai stepped out of the doctor's office and let out the breath she had been holding. The doctor had just officially given her the diagnosis of breast cancer. She had first felt the lump in her breast when she was in the shower on a normal morning a little over two weeks ago. She had told no one about it. She didn't want to worry Rory, Luke, her parents or anyone else if it had turned out to be nothing. She decided to go to the doctor and get tested alone. Whenever someone asked where she was going, she had used the excuse that she had errands to do. She went through all of the necessary tests and procedures alone. She was surprised that she had managed to keep it all a secret for so long, but she knew now was the time to tell everyone. She had scheduled another appointment to go over a treatment plan once the doctor had conclusive results on what stage the cancer was at.
She quickly calls Rory and leaves a message for her, asking her to come home after she writes her last final of the year. When she gets home, she distracts herself by watching T.V. Her cell phone starts ringing and she checks the caller I.D before she answers.
"Hey." She answered.
"Hi. I haven't seen you all day, how are you? How's the Inn?" Luke asked.
"Um, the Inn is fine, not too busy. I'm okay, just a normal day you know?" She lied. She didn't know how she was going to break the news to him. She needed to tell Rory first.
"Yeah, so do you wanna go out tonight? Maybe see a movie or go to Sniffy's or something?" Luke inquired.
Lorelai took a few seconds to respond. "No, sorry, Rory's coming home tonight and I want to have a girl's night with her. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Oh, that's right. I forgot Rory was coming home tonight. You want me to bring you guys some food?"
"No, that's okay. We'll probably just order a pizza. I'll probably come to the diner for breakfast tomorrow, okay?" Lorelai's voice shook a little and she almost curses herself for it.
"Okay. Are you okay? You sound kind of strange." Luke sounded worried.
Lorelai hated not telling him, but she knew she couldn't do it over the phone and she didn't want him to worry. "I'm fine, hon." She heard the front door open. "Rory just got in, I have to go."
"All right, I'll see you tomorrow, bye." Luke said slowly.
"Bye doll." Lorelai ended the call.
"Hey, Mom," Rory walked into the room and greeted Lorelai.
Lorelai smiled, "Hey, hon. How was your final?"
"Fine," Rory answers quickly.
Lorelai noted that Rory's seemed nervous, but she decided not to bring up her concern. She knew that it would be best just to tell Rory her news and not put it off.
"Sit down." Lorelai patted the spot next to her on the couch.
Rory sat down next to Lorelai. She looked at Lorelai's face. "Is everything okay Mom?"
"Um… actually no it's not. We need to talk." Lorelai met Rory's eyes.
Rory nodded. "Okay, so talk."
"Well… don't get mad I didn't tell you this right away. I didn't want you to worry, but um I've had a few doctor's appointment the past couple weeks. I knew I needed to get checked out when I found I had a symptom of breast cancer. I had some tests and… um the doctor told me today that I have breast cancer." Lorelai took a shaky breath as she felt tears prick her eyes. She wasn't ready to see Rory's reaction.
Rory stared at her mother. She doesn't know what to say or how to react. "I…" She stopped.
Lorelai reached out and touched Rory's shoulder. "I know hon… I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I just didn't want to have you worry if it was nothing. But it isn't nothing…" She stopped, not knowing what else to say.
Rory swallowed the lump she felt in her throat. "I don't know what to say. Are you um going to get treatment… of course you're going to get treatment, what am I saying? I just…" She put her face in her hands for a second before she glanced at Lorelai.
Lorelai nodded slowly. "I'm arranging my treatment plan with my doctor at my next appointment. You're the first person I've told… it's still surreal to me. I mean, you hear people's cancer stories on the news or just… everywhere really. I never thought I would end up having cancer." She looked down and let out a deep breath. She was still coming to terms with her diagnosis, but she knew her family and friends would be there to support her no matter what.
"Wow, you didn't even tell Luke yet?" Rory whispered.
"No. I wanted to tell you first. I'll tell Luke tomorrow. And then, I'll have to tell your grandparents and Sookie…" She trailed off as she started to imagine everyone's reactions. She let a few tears fall down her face.
Rory stood up abruptly. "Come here." She said quickly as she held out her arms.
Lorelai couldn't help but smile at her daughter's gesture. She stood up and allowed herself to be pulled into Rory's embrace.
"Everything is going to be okay, you're going to beat this." Rory told Lorelai, but her voice was unsteady. She had started to cry too.
They held each other for a long time. Lorelai was the one to pull away. She kissed Rory's forehead. "I love you, kid." She said.
Rory pressed her lips together then gave Lorelai a tiny smile, "I love you too Mom."
Neither one of them had the appetite to eat both went upstairs to Lorelai's bedroom without saying another word to each other. As Lorelai got ready for bed, Rory thought about everything. She decided that she didn't want to go back to Yale for her final year. She didn't know how long Lorelai would need to receive treatment, but she knew she needed to stay by her side. Rory also doubted herself. She wasn't so sure that she was meant to be a journalist anymore. She didn't tell anyone what Mitchum Huntzberger had thought of her performance. His words had cut deep, but she didn't really let herself dwell on them. She didn't want to believe that he was right, but as she thought about it, she started to feel more and more convinced that she didn't have "it."
Lorelai came out of the bathroom and lied down on the bed next to Rory. She knew she didn't have to ask Rory if she was staying in the bed. She turned off the light.
"Goodnight hon." She said softly.
Rory took a couple seconds to reply, "Night Mom."
Both of them had trouble falling asleep that night.
