Chapter 2: On Her Own

"So, his bedtime is at 8:00 PM. Wake him up for a feeding at around 10:30. The rest of the night is up to him. We'll be back in the morning. Think you can handle all that, sweets?"

Rory glanced up with a smile at her mother's question while rocking her baby brother, William Richard Danes. He was only four months old. "We'll be fine. You and Luke go and have a good time at Grandma's presentation."

Lorelai Danes beamed as she kissed the foreheads of both of her children. "I love you."


Luke and Lorelai Danes never made it to Nantucket. A tractor trailer ran a red light and T-boned them about halfway from Stars Hollow to their destination. The couple was killed instantly.

The bodies were returned to Hartford Memorial Hospital, where a stunned Rory Gilmore confirmed their identities. Emily Gilmore, distraught, came down to help Rory care for the baby and prepare the funerals.

The day of the funeral for Stars Hollow's favorite couple was rainy and overcast. Rory wore a black dress and shawl as she approached the caskets with baby William in her arms, readying him to say goodbye along with her. After the service, friends and neighbors approached Rory and Emily to express their condolences. At the edge of the field, Rory suddenly noticed a familiar face in a suit, leaning somberly against a tree. Emily stiffened at the sight.

"What's he doing here?"

Rory bit her lip. "Wait for me, Grandma. I'll be right back."

Emily stared. "You're not seriously going over there, are you?"

"Grandma: he's the only parent I have left."

With that Rory approached her father, Christopher Hayden. His eyes brimmed with tears, mixing with the rain. He enveloped Rory into a hug. "I'm so sorry, kiddo."

Rory pulled back. "You didn't have to come..."

"Of course I did. I'm glad you invited me... even if on the sly." Christopher took a deep breath. "I know I have not been there for you before, but I am now. In whatever capacity you want me. I'd like to even help with... the baby, if that's OK."

Rory looked down at the child of Christopher's former rival, then back to her father. "When I need you, you'll be the first to know." She glanced back to see her grandmother waiting for her. Christopher touched her arm.

"Will you be all right on your own?"

Rory sighed. "I'm going to take care of him, Dad. I have... the Gazette job, writing my book. I'm staying here. William needs that, for stability."

Father and daughter hugged one more time. "Drive back safe," Rory told him. "I'll call you."

And she watched as Christopher vanished into the rain.


That night, Rory returned to her parents' empty house at Number 37, Maple Street. She swaddled her baby brother in his blanket and lay him in his crib. Her heart broke at the reality that he would never know his parents. But at least he was here: the product of two people who had always been in love with each other. The epic love story of Stars Hollow. Seating herself in the rocking chair next to the crib, Rory sang little William off to sleep:

"Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee all through the night... Guardian angels God will send thee all through the night..."