Lorelai had been surprised when Emily had called her. The older Gilmore had said Rory was insisting on seeing her mother, and Emily had decided to allow it. She didn't want Rory running off again, but she made it clear that the visit would be supervised. Lorelai had to bite her tongue, a supervised visit was better than nothing she supposed. She just want to see Rory.

"Hey, pretty girl!" Lorelai grins when her daughter comes running into the inn. Emily was just steps behind her, and scolds Rory for running indoors. "Have you gotten taller?"

"It's only been three days." Rory giggles. Lorelai smiles and kisses the top of Rory's head. She'd never get over the feeling of hugging her baby. It was the best feeling ever.

Lorelai leads Rory and her mother to the sitting room. She offers Emily tea, and Rory hot cocoa. Lorelai herself has a cup of coffee still from her trip to Luke's diner earlier. She knew she was going to need it if she had to deal with her mother.

"Lorelai...what is that on your finger?" Emily asks when Lorelai picks up her coffee. She mentally smacks her forehead. How had she forgotten to take off this ring? Both she and Luke had thought it would be best not to tell anyone of their engagement yet. Not until they had spoken to their lawyers.

"Oh...uhm it's a ring." Lorelai says lamely.

"I can see that!" Emily snaps. "Are you honestly telling me that you and this Luke are getting married? I thought you wanted your daughter back!"

"You and Luke are getting married?" Rory asks with excitement in her voice. "That's so cool!"

"Yes we are, sweetie." Lorelai smiles warmly at her daughter before turning to Emily. "Who says I can't have both?"

"Luke is not father material." Emily states with disgust.

"Again, you don't even know him." Lorelai is growing irritated. "Luke is a wonderful man and I love him. He is going to be a great father and step father."

"So you and Luke are going to have children?" Emily asks. "Why so your parents can raise that one too?"

Emily knows she's pushed too far when she sees Lorelai's face. Pain, anger, sadness and complete betrayal wash over Lorelai's features. For a moment Emily feels guilty.

"Yes, someday Luke and I would like to have children. When we decide the time is right, we will raise them together. You and Richard will not be welcome anywhere near our family." Lorelai's threat is enough to make Emily cringe. Lorelai had just confirmed what Emily had fear; if she won the custody battle, Lorelai would take Rory from them.

"Until you can act like an adult, you are done with our visits. Come on Rory." Emily rises. She had to show Lorelai that she still had the upper hand.

"No!" Lorelai exclaims, growing tearful. "Please! Don't take Rory just because you're mad at me, that's not fair."

"You will learn who here is in control, Lorelai." Emily's voice is icy.

"Grandma, please, I want to stay with my mom for a little while. You said I would get to see her." Rory cries.

"You did see her, and now it's time to go." Emily begins to walk to the door. Rory sighs, knowing there was no point in arguing. Emily's mind was made up.

Rory turns to her mother and gives her a tight squeeze. Lorelai understood that Emily was angry at her, but how could she do this to Rory? Lorelai couldn't wait until Emily would no longer be able to keep them apart.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" Lorelai says cupping Rory's face. "No tears, baby. It won't be long."

Rory nods, still trying not to cry. Lorelai kisses Rory's forehead and gives her one last hug. Emily is watching from the door. It surprises her and how natural Rory and Lorelai look together. They fit with each other. Emily brushes it off and calls for Rory to hurry along.

Luke and Lorelai had met with the lawyer Mia had suggested. She had eased much of their worry. The one thing she did say was what they already knew; their chances be better if they were married. Lorelai's chances were good, but if her mother used Luke against her, their best option was matrimony. It would go against Emily's claim that Lorelai couldn't commit.

"We only just got engaged." Lorelai had explained.

"I'm not saying this is the only way you will win," The lawyer, Catherine, assured. "I have high expectations for this challenge, especially if your daughter chooses to be with you, but Luke being your husband would be even better."

"Wouldn't it look suspicious?" Luke asks. "I mean the Gilmores would probably claim that we only got married so we would have better chances in the courtroom."

"True, Emily and Richard could argue that, but I don't believe it would hold." Catherine replies.

After they leave Catherine's office, Luke and Lorelai had a lot to think about. Eloping would be crazy, everyone would think so, but they had to admit, it sounded nice. They could do a real wedding later. They both wanted to be married soon anyway, so why not now? They were practically married already, just not on paper.

"Luke?" Lorelai asks him over dinner. "I've been thinking about what Catherine said."

"Me too." Luke admits. "Lorelai….will you elope with me?"

"I'd love too." Lorelai grins. She leans over the table and kisses Luke.

They decided they'd take a three day weekend to celebrate their marriage before facing the judge the following Monday. They were both unbelievably happy about their decision. It had taken so long for them to finally admit how they felt, and then even longer for them to actually get together, but here they were.

"How does it feel to be Mrs. Danes?" Luke asks as he carries her over the threshold. They'd agreed not to actually go anywhere for their get-a-way. They wanted to be close to home for the battle that was approaching. They'd agreed that they'd rather plan something with Rory anyway.

"It feels perfect." Lorelai smiles leaning down and kissing her husband. She'd never get tired of saying that word. "Being married to you feels perfect."

"I love you, Lorelai." Luke says, setting his bride back on her feet. "Forever."

"I love you too." Lorelai wonders if she'll ever stop smiling. "And I am so glad that I no longer share a last name with my parents."

"About that…" Luke starts. "Rory's last name is Gilmore, and I know you said Christopher wasn't around much before your parents took Rory….how hard would it be to change her last name to Danes?"

"You want to adopt Rory?" Lorelai asks, shocked. "Luke...you don't have to do that."

"I want to." Luke assures. "I know I don't know here that well, but I want us to be a family. I want to be here dad."

"You never fail to amaze me, Lucas William Danes." Lorelai gushes leaning in for another kiss.

Luke and Lorelai begin to make lunch. They had plans of not leaving there home for three days. The just wanted to enjoy some post marital bliss before they had to face the world of lawyers, judges and Gilmores. That, however, was not going to happen. Luke had just set the timer when Lorelai hears the doorbell. She considers ignoring it, but something in her gut tells her to answer it.

Lorelai opens the door to see Rory standing there. It amuses Lorelai at first, but as happy as she was to see her daughter, she knows this can't keep happening. It was going to make her look bad in the eyes of the court if she was assisting Rory in running away.

"Rory, honey, you can't-" The ten year old cuts her mom off with a smile.

"Grandpa brought me here. We told grandma that we were going to the Yale library, but really he's going to play poker. I told him I wouldn't rat him out if let me come here." Rory explains proudly. Lorelai giggles a little and then pulls her daughter inside.

"Luke! Guess who's here!?" Lorelai calls happily. "I'll give you a hint, she's short, and pretty, and has my eyes, and her first name is the same as mine!"

"Rory's here?" Luke asks in excitement. He comes around the corner and grins. He hugs his stepdaughter. "Hey, kiddo! Are you hungry? I made lots of extra!"

"I'm always hungry." Rory giggles.

"Your mother's child for sure." Luke teases with a smile.

Once lunch is finished, the family of three sit on the sofa watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Rory had never seen it, but she is quickly entranced by the Oompa Loompas and all the candy. Sitting in between her mother and Luke, Rory has never felt more at home. She too was ready for this whole thing to be over. It wasn't that she didn't love her grandparents, because she did, but it wasn't the same. Besides, things hadn't been the same since Rory discovered that her instincts about Lorelai had been right. She was so upset with them for keeping her from this woman who was so kind, and warm, and loving.

"Rory, sweetheart, I think your grandfather just pulled in." Luke says when he hears an engine in the driveway.

"I don't want to leave." Rory pouts. Luke is amused by how much Rory looks like her mother in that moment. He wishes he could tell she could stay, but he couldn't. At least not yet.

"I know, my darling, but remember how I keep promises it won't be long?" Lorelai replies. Rory nods. "Have I lied to you yet?" Rory shakes her head.

"I will see you in a few days?" The little girl asks. Lorelai nods this time.

"You will." Lorelai kisses her daughter's head and walks her to the door, just as Richard is walking up the porch steps.

Lorelai and her father share a moment. One where they both know how the other one is feeling without either of them having to speak. Come Monday, those moments would probably no longer exist. Lorelai hoped she would never have to see Emily or Richard again after she got Rory back, even if she was grateful for Richard's actions today.

"Did you have a good time?" Richard asks his grand daughter.

"More fun than ever!" Rory exclaims. She turns to her mother. "Thanks for today, mama, I love you."

Tears reach Lorelai's eyes when her daughter wraps her arms around Lorelai's waist. It was the first time Lorelai had ever been called that. Richard watches the bittersweet moment between two of the girls he loved most. In that moment, Richard knew exactly what he had to do on Monday.

The courtroom was cold. Lorelai wishes she'd worn a warmer sweater. The moment Rory sees her mother she attempts to run to her, but Emily stops her. Rory reluctantly sits down, but still gives her mother a big smile and wave. Lorelai was glad that Rory was optimistic, because she herself was terrified.

After the judge had listened to Mia, Luke, Lorelai, and Sookie, she allowed some of Emily's DAR girls to speak on her behalf. Emily is also asked many questions. Lorelai is surprised when her father doesn't speak.

"Before a decision is made I have one more piece for you. A character reference from a mister Richard Gilmore." There are gasps throughout the room. Emily looks at her husband with betrayal. Lorelai doesn't move. She's too shocked.

To whom it may concern,

My daughter Lorelai was sixteen years old when she gave birth to my granddaughter, Rory. My wife and were disappointed by this, but we grew to love Rory with everything we had. When Lorelai was seventeen we got wind that she was going to try and leave with Rory. Emily and I then fought dirty, we took Rory into our custody, but it was unfair. Lorelai could not afford a lawyer and could not fight for her daughter the way we could.

Rory asked about her mother all her life. She wanted to know why the person who gave her life could give her up so easily. Rory then decided to find out this answer on her own and went off to find Lorelai. I knew the moment I saw them together that Emily and I had made the wrong decision.

Lorelai is and always has been fit to be a mother to Rory. It would be wrong of anybody to take that away. Rory has made her opinion clear; she wants to be with her mom and step father. I hope that everyone in this room can agree with me and give the two of them the chance to be a family. I will never be able to make up for taking Lorelai out of Rory's life for ten years, but I hope this is a start.

-Richard A. Gilmore

Lorelai has tears running down her cheeks. She had not been expecting that. Luke is grasping her hand. She turns to him and smiles. No one had to say anything, they knew. They had won.

A/N I didn't want to drag out the trial. Also I don't know how custody cases work so if this is completely wrong, I apologize. I don't think Lorelai will go right to forgiving Richard, but this is a start to seeing he wasn't a complete monster. I have lots more to come and I can't wait to hear what you guys thought of this :) -Kaila PS does anyone want Christopher to actually appear in this?