Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters all belong to Amy Sherman Palladino. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit will be made from this story.

Richard had a hard time keeping his eyes away from Emily. She was stunning in her new dress, her hair perfectly done, her smile polite and her posture erect. Her back leaned lightly against the chair, while her hand played with the beans on her dish, the fork weakly between her fingers. No one could have noticed the slight tiredness around her eyes, the way she turned her head every now and then to find his reassuring gaze. Nobody could have known she was anxious about the election, but he wasn't nobody. He was the man who had cuddled her to sleep the night before, whispering reassuring words in her ear in order to calm her down.

He knew there was something more going on, not only the presidency of the DAR or the silence from Lorelai were bothering her, her mind was occupied on something else. Or on someone else. That man, too tall, too gentle, too close. He was definitively too close to his wife. The intense glances he shoot her were at least offensive for him. If it weren't for the secrecy of their reconciliation, he would have already hit that man on the face. But he knew he couldn't act on impulse, a stupid behaviour from him would have embarrassed Emily terribly. So he swallowed his pride and kept his fury under control.

A couple of hours later he finally had the chance to talk to her alone, far from curious eyes.

They were on the club's terrace, their coats on the shoulders, their breaths making little clouds because of the cold.

"You're beautiful my dear Emily." He whispered in her right ear.

"You're handsome too, a bit too elegant maybe, but very fascinating. I saw more than a couple of women eating you with their eyes." She responded, her head leaned on his chest.

"Are you okay darling? You seem nervous." He asked putting his arms around her slender waist.

"I think it's this whole presidency thing. You know, there are somebody who would prefer Constance to me. I'm tense because of this." She responded, the voice less more than a whisper.

"Are you sure it's only that? I mean, you seem distracted from something else. Someone else." He said pulling away lightly to look directly in her eyes.

She stared at him silently for a moment. It was obvious that he had noticed Marcel and the way he had moved around her all night long.

"You do remember I told you about a man I dated during our separation. He's here, and well, he said something, and I…. you know, I tried to make him understand, but I don't want to hurt him." She said hesitantly, her fingers playing with the black buttons of his coat.

"What does it mean you don't want to hurt him? Are you telling me you're still interested on him?" He asked hastily, the blood boiling uncontrollably in his veins.

"No Richard, how could I still have romantic feelings for him? I love you , and only you. You should know that. Do you really think I could be attracted to someone else? God Richard, you're exaggerating." She responded defensively.

"I'm not exaggerating Emily. He whispered in your ears, he touched your hands, your arms and your shoulders. He danced twice with you tonight. Twice. I didn't dance with you at all. What should I think? I'm not even allowed to look at you. You don't want me to be too close tonight, but you allow him to be around you for all the time!" He said angrily.

He was so out of him that he had difficulties even thinking rationally.

"Are you insinuating something Richard?" She asked growing annoyed by his paranoiac statements.

"You flirted with that man under my eyes Emily! Not any man, but the man you dated when we were separated. How could I be sure you didn't…." He responded, but cut off himself before it was too late.

"That I didn't what Richard? Are you telling me you don't trust me enough to believe to what I told you?" She almost cried out.

"No, Emily, it's only that…." He was saying when a woman stepped in the terrace making him falling silent immediately.

"Good bye Richard." She said, and then disappeared behind the French door.

Richard had a hard time to control his racing emotions. He hated himself for what he had done. He should have supported her, calmed her, reassured her, instead he did the contrary. He made stupid insinuations, making her feeling attacked by his questions.

"Emily, I was wondering where you were." Marcel told her approaching to her in the middle of the room.

"I needed a bit of air." She responded briefly.

"You seem agitated, did something happen?" He asked gently, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"No, I'm simply tired. The only thing I want now is to go home." She responded taking a step back.

"Do you want I drive you home, then?" He said closing again the distance between them.

"I'm here with my car, but thanks for offering. Besides, I need to wait until the the new president's election." She responded with a weak smile.

Her head was spinning, and she felt tired. Not physically, but emotionally. The accusations Richard moved to her had hurt her deeply. She had been sure that the things were changed between them. But his insinuations, that fire on his eyes while he had asked her if she still felt something for Maurice, had hit her. The realization he didn't trust her completely made her rethink the entire reconciliation thing. Their relationship worked well, it was a fact, but he hadn't come back to their house. He spent some nights at week there, nothing more. What if they wouldn't have been able to keep that easiness when he would come home stably? What if she would feel alone and neglected again?

A sudden fear filled her heart.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Thanks to all for reading and reviewing!! I'm sorry it took so long to write this chapter, and I'm even more sorry for the shortness of it.... I promise I'll try to update more often....

For Mary.... Thank you....