Chapter Seven

Lorelai was flicking though the newspaper absently as Edward walked into the room. "Hey, what you doing," he asked noticing her slightly wrinkled brow.

"Looking for a job," Lorelai replied vaguely. Edward stared at her, his own brow knotting with concern.

"Lorelai you just had a baby, your still not a hundred percent and you want to go back to work," he asked.

"Edward I can't keep living off you, my savings are dwindling and I still have hospital bills to pay," Lorelai replied.

"I never asked for anything from you Lorelai, I never will."

Lorelai looked over at Edward as he looked down at the floor unable to meet her gaze. "Your a very special man, maybe the best I've ever known," said Lorelai solemnly. "But I can't keep doing this, god knows what your children think of me. Milking their father, taking advantage of his kindness. I can't do that, I won't do that."

"My children think nothing of the sort and you know that. In fact I know how grateful they are that your here, keeping an eye on me."

"Your a sweet man, but I need to do this. I've always been incredibly independent, to a fault perhaps. But it's how I am and I can't change now." said Lorelai firmly.

"Independence is good but not when it hurts you," said Edward with equally certainty.

"Edward I learned to look after myself at a very early age. I've worked hard every day of my life and everything I got I earned. I taught my daughter the same work ethic and I have to teach that to Teddy too."

"Wait a little longer, Teddy needs you here not away at work. Teach him a work ethic when he's older and allow yourself a much needed respite."

"I can't I have bills to pay and before you say it, no I won't allow you to give me any money."

Edward looked at her stubborn face and was instantly reminded of his own sons determination when they were younger. He knew it was hopeless, she wouldn't except his money and that broke his heart a little.

Within the next few weeks Lorelai found work at the local mall as a sales assistant. She was overqualified and underpaid but the job was local and she could pick and choose her hours which suited her. When she was away at work Teddy was taken to day care or looked after by Edward who always begged for the position. He hated to see the little guy left alone at day care and even though Lorelai feared Teddy would be too much for him she let it be for Edwards sake.

With the little money she had coming in she used it to pay off her existing bills. Every month she was able to lessen her debt and give herself some much needed peace of mind.

With her new routine Lorelai had little time left to think much of the life she left behind. At night exhaustion helped her off to sleep and her numerous activities during the day kept her troubles at bay.

Meanwhile time was moving on, Lorelai had now been missing for a year and two months. She hadn't made contact with anyone and Teddy was almost six months old.

His hair was longer, with a slight curl like Luke's. His eyes a perfect duplicate of his mothers. Teddy was constantly babbling to the amusement of everyone he interacted with. He could roll over and kick out his chubby legs and with a little help he could sit up too. Everyday he seemed to learn a new trick and with him always cheering along was Lorelai.

Sometimes when she heard him call out for her attention or reach up to her with his small grasping hands she would think about Luke and what he was missing. Six months of his life had gone by, lost forever and Luke had missed it all.

The days passed by in a blur of activity, there was always something to do or somewhere to go for Lorelai.

Edward had been laid up with a broken ankle, caused when he jumped down the stairs one morning a little too enthusiastically.

He claimed he forgot just how old he was with a youngest in the house again and feeling so happy to see them he had moved a little to fast.

Lorelai waited on him hand and foot and nothing it seemed was too much for her to accomplish for him.

Then just when his ankle seemed to be improving Teddy caught a bug at day care, that kept them all worried for a while.

Lorelai worked when she could, cared for her baby and her friend and helped to clean and keep the house tidy. Lorelai was never still at times and always on her feet, until one morning when she failed to greet Teddy with his morning bottle.

Edward when to see where she was and was surprised to find her still fast asleep in her bed. He roused her and quickly noticed the flush to her cheeks.

"Are you feeling okay," he asked uncertainly.

"I fine," Lorelai croaked as she made to get out of bed. As soon as her feet touched the carpet the room seemed to swim before her eyes. Edward reached for her arm to steady her as she staggered forward.

"Your not fine, get back in bed," he ordered.

"Teddy," Lorelai muttered, hearing his voice cry out for attention across the hall.

"I've got him, you rest up. You've been working too hard and your body's rebelling."

Lorelai reluctantly settled back in bed, watching forlornly as Edward walked out to comfort her son.

The days passed and Lorelai struggled to keep up with her many chores. She was sick and tired but wouldn't stop or take a break. Edward was worried about her and asked his son who lived nearby for help.

David tried to lift some of Lorelai's burdens and both him and his wife tried to help out more. But the damage it seemed had been done as Lorelai's health deteriorated.

Then one morning David's wife Kate found Lorelai collapsed on the floor of the nursery. She was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered her body was fighting a nasty case of pneumonia.

Edward never left her side, shocked by the seriousness of her condition. Kate stayed at the house and cared for Teddy, while David looked on with his Dad.

"Isn't there anyone you can call," David asked that night. "She has a daughter, but I don't know how to contact her," Edward replied softly.

"No one else?" he asked, surprised that such an gregarious person as Lorelai would be so alone.

Edward was quiet as he though back over everything Lorelai had ever told him. Suddenly Luke flashed before his eyes, Teddy's father should surely know what was going on.

"There's Teddy's Daddy," Edward confessed.

"Do you know his number," asked David.

"No, all I know is he owns a diner in Connecticut named Luke's after him. Wait it's in a small place, damn what was it called. Something Hollow," Edward said tiredly.

"I'll look it up on my phone, back in a minute," said his son as he dashed from the room.

Ten minutes later he returned, "Could it be Stars Hollow," he asked.

"That's it how did you find it," Edward asked.

"I looked up small towns in Connecticut ending in Hollow, I found quite a few. When I looked on the Stars Hollow visitors website I saw a picture of the town square and Luke's diner was in the picture."

"Have you found him," Edward asked nervously.

"He didn't have a website unfortunately, but I emailed the guy who set up the website, Taylor something. Hopefully he will contact me soon."

"Hopefully," said Edward as he looked back at Lorelai, fast asleep in her narrow hospital bed.