Here's the next chapter! Please please please keep reviewing as I love to know what you all think! And it really does spur me on! :)

Chapter 10

Lorelai was discharged from the hospital that weekend but was made to wear a sling for several weeks. Rory had been trying to find out what her mom and grandmother had fought about but she didn't want to talk about it. Rory knew it must be serious as she saw the sadness in her mom's eyes whenever she mentioned it.

Monday soon came and it was Rory's debate at Chilton. Her mom, Luke and her dad were all going. She was really happy about this, especially as Luke and her dad were being civil to each other. Rory was up on the stage trying to stop an intense Paris shouting at the organisers when she spotted them arrive. She smiled and jumped off stage and went to greet them.

"You came!" She grinned.

"Of course we did!" Lorelai smiled.

"So that's Paris huh?" Christopher said looking at the stage.

"That's Paris." Rory said.

"She looks very...um..." Luke started.

"Intense, scary, mad..." Lorelai grinned.

"Yep she's all those things!" Rory joked. "But she's on my team so I guess all those things are a bonus!"

"Rory!" Paris shouted from the stage.

"I better go. Thanks for coming! I'll see you after. Wish me luck!" Rory smiled and rushed back to the stage.

"What's up Paris?"

"All the seats are in the wrong places and we need to make the debate blocks shorter." Paris ranted.

"Paris, everything will be fine. Just relax." Rory said.

"Rory, this is an extremely important debate. We have to win it."

"And we will. Paris, we've been preparing for weeks. I don't think the judges are judging the seats or the debating blocks. They're just judging us." Rory reassured her.

Paris sighed. "I guess..."

"Let's go sit down for a bit."

"So who were the men?" Paris asked.

"What?"

"The men with your mom."

"Oh, well they were my dad. And Luke." Rory said.

"Wow it seems like you have big support." Paris remarked.

"Yeh." Rory smiled. "Yeh I do." She said as she looked out to the audience and saw the three of them sat near the front.

"Wow, Rory can really seem to calm Paris down." Christopher remarked.

"Yeh Rory has that effect." Lorelai smiled.

"So are Rory and Paris like friends now?" Luke asked confused. "I thought they hated each other."

"Hmmm I wouldn't say friends but I think they have a grudging respect for each other." Lorelai smiled. Her smile faded however, when she heard an all too familiar voice.

"Lorelai Gilmore!"

"Oh god..." Lorelai said and looked back. Emily and Richard had entered the hall. Lorelai glanced at Rory who shrugged, making her mom know that she didn't know why they were there.

Luke put a protective arm around Lorelai.

"What is it mom?"

"You have been ignoring me all weekend and now I see you haven't even saved us any seats." Emily replied coldly.

"Emily, there are plenty of seats available." Richard tried to calm the situation.

"That's not the point. I want to know why my daughter won't speak to me." Emily said.

Everyone had gone quiet and were watching them.

"You want to know why mom?" Lorelai snapped angrily standing up. "Have you forgotten our argument at the hospital?"

"Oh you're being overdramatic as usual. That was nothing but a disagreement!" Emily said.

Everyone was listening intently as Lorelai hadn't told anyone what the argument was about, not even Luke.

"A disagreement?" Lorelai shouted incredulously. "You told me I was such a disappointment and that I brought disgrace to the Gilmore name. You said I ruined my life but guess what mom? This is a life! I have a life in Stars Hollow with people who actually care about me and Rory. And then you try and meddle in my life. Well guess what mom? It hasn't worked! I love Luke and I want to be with him!" She took a breather.

"Oh come on, Lorelai. What are you teaching Rory? That it's ok to just go out with anyone?" Emily replied haughtily, not caring that Luke was there.

"Emily, that's enough." Christopher said standing up and so did Luke. "This is Rory's day. We're here to support her." He said.

"If you can't be pleasant, I think you should leave." Luke said firmly putting his arm round an upset Lorelai.

"Christopher, you can't surely think this man is good enough. What about your daughter?" Emily said incredulously.

Christopher looked at Luke and Lorelai and then up at Rory. "I agree Emily. At first, I was jealous. I'm happy to admit that. But staying with them and seeing them both with Luke made me realise that Lorelai has moved on. As much as I hate to admit it, I can tell they love each other and Luke cares for Rory a lot. I've learned that I have to move on so maybe you do too." He said.

Everyone was stunned by his speech, including Emily.

"Come on Emily. I think we should leave." Richard said.

"Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." Emily said coldly and left.

Lorelai looked at Christopher. "Thanks." She said quietly and Luke nodded his thanks too. She then looked up at Rory who was watching them. She gave her a small smile to reassure her that she was ok.

The debate started and finished. Rory and Paris won and they went down to see Chris, Lorelai and Luke.

"You were amazing!" Lorelai said proudly and hugged her daughter. "You too, Paris."

Rory smiled at her. "Are you ok?"

"Yeh I'm good. Thanks to my two bodyguards here." She joked.

Rory laughed.

"Hey why don't we go to the diner for a celebratory meal?" Luke suggested. "Anything you want on the house." He smiled at Rory.

"Thanks Luke!" Rory smiled.

"You too Chris." Luke said looking at Christopher. "I think I owe you a meal."

Christopher nodded. "Thanks."

"I'll leave you to it." Paris said starting to leave.

"Wait! Do you want to join us?" Rory asked.

"Really?" Paris asked surprised.

"Yeh well it was a team effort. I wouldn't have won without you." Rory smiled.

"Ok thanks." Paris smiled.

They all headed to the diner and sat down at a table. They had a really nice meal and everyone, for once, got on and had a laugh.

Wednesday soon came and it was the day of the basket auction. Lorelai and Rory were very excited. They'd bought baskets and were all ready. Taylor was at the front auctioning the baskets off.

Rory's basket was first.

"£10!"

"£15!"

"£20!"

Bids were coming in all over the place. Suddenly a voice said, "£50!" Rory looked around and grinned. It was her dad.

"Going once, going twice, sold for £50!" Taylor said.

Rory grinned and ran over to her dad. Lorelai watched them smiling, glad that they were finally forming some sort of a relationship.

Soon it was her go. The bids were coming in quick and fast and Lorelai got suspicious. She then knew what had happened. She ran to the diner.

"Luuuuuuuke!" She said. "You need to bid on my basket!"

"I told you I don't get involved in this crazy town's activities." He said.

"Please! There are several men bidding and they don't look like they come from around there so that only gives me one guess. Please save me!" Lorelai begged.

Luke growled. "Fine! But this is just because I don't want you eating with another man. This isn't for the town." He said.

"Of course!" Lorelai grinned.

They got back to the square.

"£42.50!" The bids were still coming in.

"What? £42.50 for a pop tart and two slim jims?" Luke said.

"Yeh not getting the whole saving me here!" Lorelai said.

Luke sighed. "£52.50!" He shouted.

"But we can't jump like that!" One of the men said.

"Going once, going twice!" Lorelai shouted.

"Hey that's my job. Going once, going twice, sold to the grumpy diner owner!" Taylor said.

"Watch it Taylor!" Luke growled and went forward to collect the basket.

Both Rory and Lorelai ended up really enjoying their picnics. When they got home though, Christopher had some news.

"I have to leave." He told them.

Luke went into the kitchen giving them some space.

"What why?" Rory said disappointed.

"I can't keep staying at your house. It's not fair on your mom." He said. "I'm sorry kiddo. I have to move on and my business is taking me to Boston."

"Boston? But that's ages away!" Rory said upset.

Lorelai sighed. She knew it was too goo to be true.

"I'm sorry Rory. I don't have a choice." Christopher said.

"Fine. Just go. I'm used to it." Rory said bitterly.

"Rory please..."

"No it's fine! I should have know it was too hard to believe that you would actually stick around this time." Rory said. "Just go dad." She said and ran to her room.

Christopher sighed. "Lore..." He said looking at her.

"Chris, she was just getting used to having you around. She really liked it." Lorelai said.

"I know but I have to work." He defended himself. "Plus she has you and Luke."

"It's not the same." Lorelai said. "She's really started forming a relationship with you Chris. If you knew you were just going to leave again, you should have just gone earlier to prevent all of this. Now I need to go check on our daughter. You know where the door is." She said and left Chris standing in the living.

He sighed. There was a reason why he was leaving and it wasn't work but he couldn't tell them what it was.

Hope you enjoyed it! Please please please let me know what you think! :) Thanks! :)