Daughter

This is a oneshot from Rory's point of view, comparing the "father figure" and biological father within her life. It's set after Rory is told that her parents are married.

The story is named after the song Daughter by Louden Wainwright III, which is featured in the film Knocked Up

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

Her parents were married. She couldn't believe it. Every other child who grew up without parents who were together dreamed of the day that their parents were married. Rory didn't. She gave up the dream at the age of 3; the first time that Christopher failed to acknowledge her existence for her birthday. She had thought that it was the only time until she was 12 and saw her mother wrapping presents in a different paper. She loved her mother so much. She had never needed her father. After the conception, he had been irrelevant. Rory had always wanted it to stay that way.

Her mother didn't seem happy. Her father did, but that was Chris. He was so oblivious to what was going on. Rory hadn't yet seen her mother smile, yet Chris was beaming. He finally got the girl of his dreams. 21 years too late. It was too late for him to start being her father.

Rory remembered the last time that she saw her mother happy clearly. It was the last time that she saw her with Luke. Luke was always there for her. Luke truly cared about Lorelai. He cared about Rory. He had never forgotten her birthday.

Rory clearly remembered a conversation that she had with Logan when they first began dating. He was, as usual, complaining about his father being absent.

"Logan, at least your father was there"

"Hardly Ace. He was always off on some business trip. Work was always more important."

"Work was more important? My mother and I lived in a garden shed at my mothers place of work until I was 11 years old. I barely knew my father until I was 16. I still barely know him."

"It was different for you Ace. It wasn't like he had a choice."

"My mom would have loved my father to take an interest. For him to care about my existence. He didn't even bother come to my Chilton Graduation."

"But he cares."

"Yeah. He cares when I'm about to make love to my future-boyfriend at my grandparents vow renewal. He cares when it's parents weekend at Yale. He cares when he either gets to ride in and be the hero to my mom. He doesn't care when I don't get perfect marks, or when it's my birthday. He didn't care when I was in hospital with food poisoning or when I fell off my bike. He didn't care when my friend crashed my car, which was wrecked, and I broke my arm. How does that make him a good father."

"The grass on the other side."

"Logan, I know you don't like to think about it, but my mom and I did it really tough. A father would have been nice."

As Rory reflected on happier times, she realised that Luke had been a participant in most, if not all, of Rory's major milestones. Luke attended the high school graduation, smiling like a proud parent, even though her own father couldn't be bothered to come.

Luke made her bookshelves.

Luke helped her move.

Luke fed her.

Luke gave her the elixir of life (coffee, of course.)

Luke was there for her.

Christopher wasn't much of a father. He wasn't a bad parent, just not a good one. He had the best intentions, although he never came through.

Chris was her father. Rory could do nothing to change that. But Luke would always be her dad.