Lorelai heard the judges verdict, but couldn't process it. How could they take her baby, her daughter, her best friend away from her just like that? It was like the rest of the world didn't exist. Everything was a blur. She just stood there staring ahead, but not really seeing anything. She was slightly aware of someone trying to talk to her, but couldn't get her brain to even think about who it was or what they were saying.

She felt herself moving towards the exit, but didn't feel like she was actually moving her legs, more like someone told her to leave and she was just following the command. It was a sort of numb feeling. She felt lost and completely in shock. It wasn't that she was shocked about the outcome of the case, she had prepared herself for that, but she couldn't prepare herself for actually losing her daughter. Lorelai was finally snapped out of her trance, as her eyes fell on Rory, who was sitting in a chair and had a few tears running down her face. How did she know what had happened already? That was when Lorelai realized that she herself was crying, she hadn't even noticed tell that moment. Rory quickly got up from the chair and ran over to her mom. She hugged her as tightly as she could and Lorelai hugged her back just as strongly. The two stayed like that, crying on each others shoulders for what seemed like forever.

Rory felt herself go numb when she saw her mom. She was crying pretty hard, and had a glazed look in her eyes. Lorelai was the strongest person she knew, especially in front of her, so this could only mean one thing: they had lost. After crying and hugging her mom for who knows how long, fear and curiosity overwhelmed Rory, she wanted to know what was going to happen to her, "Mom," Rory whispered. Lorelai looked her in the eye, "What did they say?" she asked.

"They said you have to live with your dad, and the potting shed is an "unfit home" so you can't stay over night there," Lorelai was trying to be clear but she was still crying, and it was hard for her to say out loud. Part of her wanted Rory to be happy about living with Christopher, but then again, the more selfish side of her wanted to keep her baby girl all to herself.

"Hey Rory, time to go," a voice cut into Lorelai's thoughts as Christopher walked up.

"No!" Rory shouted automatically as she started crying harder.

Christopher seemed frustrated, "I don't get why you're upset about this. I just want what's best for you."

"Hey Chris, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lorelai interrupted. Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed his arm to lead him to the other side of the room.

"What do you want Lor!?" Christopher exclaimed angrily.

"Well, Christopher there's a lot I want. Like, I don't know, custody of my daughter, but if you mean why did I want to talk to you, it's because I want to know why?" Lorelai said madly.

"Why what?" Christopher asked confused.

"Why do you suddenly "want what's best for Rory"? Why do suddenly want custody of her?" Lorelai asked. The question had been bothering her and she wanted a straight answer. Christopher could be easily manipulated and she wanted to know whose idea this whole mess was. Probably not Christopher's.

"Well... I... After I found out about your potting shed, I realized I could give Rory a much better life than that so... that's why I decided I needed custody of Rory," Christopher stuttered a bit, but his answer still sounded well put together. It didn't fool Lorelai though, she had known him long enough to see through his lies.

Lorelai would have pushed him more but she knew she wasn't going to get the truth, "Whatever."

"Well, I'm gonna go get Rory," Christopher said wanting to get his daughter and get out of there.

Lorelai felt her stomach flip. He couldn't take Rory away right now, could he? They needed at least a little notice, and Rory still needed to get her stuff. "What? You can't take Rory right now. She still has to pick up her things, she needs to prepare..." Lorelai started to panic a little.

"Actually I should take Rory right now since the judge claimed your shed to be unsafe. We can pick up her things up tomorrow," Christopher said defiantly.

Lorelai started tearing up again, knowing Christopher was right, "Couldn't she stay with me one more night?"

"I'm afraid we have to listen to the judges orders," Christopher replied with a slight smile.

Lorelai glared at him, but turned to make her way back to her daughter. Rory looked up at her mom with tears in her eyes, "Do I have to go with Dad right now?" she asked so quietly Lorelai almost didn't hear her.

Lorelai just nodded. Rory looked so small and scared, all Lorelai wanted to do was make her pain go away. She put her arm around Rory's shoulder for comfort.

Christopher was starting to get impatient, why was Rory so upset about this? It wasn't like she would never see Lorelai again, and he was her dad. He walked over to the girls, "Rory, can we go now?" Christopher asked trying to sound nice. He didn't want Rory to be this upset about living with him.

"I guess," Rory sighed dejectedly. She was done fighting with her dad when she knew he wasn't backing down. As they walked out to the parking lot Rory suddenly remembered something, "Wait, when will I see Mom again? We need to make a schedule or something," Rory said as she started to freak out again.

"You'll see her tomorrow Rory. Remember, we have to pick up your stuff," Christopher replied.

Rory was still upset, "But what about after that?" she asked.

"We'll figure it out," Christopher responded carelessly.

"We can make a plan tomorrow," Lorelai added. She then turned to Rory, "Don't worry about it babe, OK? We'll figure this out."

Rory nodded and hugged her mom, "I love you."

Lorelai smiled through the few tears that were starting to fall, "I love you too."

"I don't want to go," Rory whispered sadly.

"I know," Lorelai whispered back.

Christopher had opened the car door for Rory and was waiting for her to climb in. She finally got up the courage to let go of her mom and walk over.

Lorelai took a deep breath, and slowly walked towards her car as Christopher and Rory drove off. It was suddenly so quiet, and Lorelai couldn't stand it. She was lonely. Why did Christopher have to take Rory right away? Wasn't he supposed to give them at least a day? She started channeling her loneliness into anger at Christopher.

Before she knew it, Lorelai was standing inside of the potting shed. It was making her miss Rory even more. She picked up the phone and thought about calling Sookie or another one of her friends to fill the silence, but she really didn't feel like talking to anyone about what had happened today. Instead she decided to dial another familiar number. The pizza guy wouldn't ask questions and besides, she was starving. It was almost 6:30 and she hadn't eaten in forever.

Later that night, Lorelai lay in her bed, trying to fall asleep. Trying being the keyword, since the bed felt way to empty to be comfortable. She used to wish that she and Rory didn't have to share a bed because it was so cramped, but now she realized that feeling cramped was much more comfortable than feeling empty.

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Rory was lonely. She wasn't alone, but she was lonely. Her dad had tried to be super nice and friendly on the way back from court, but Rory was really mad at him for everything he had done, so she had kind of froze him out. Everything was relatively normal until Rory walked into Christopher's condo and saw Cindy.

"What is she doing here?" Rory asked.

"Well...uh, I guess I forgot to mention that Cindy moved in with me," Christopher replied sheepishly, not sure how Rory would react.

"And you thought it would be a good idea to just not tell me?" Rory said brattily.

"Sorry, it's not like I was hiding it. I told the court and was going to tell you, but I made a mistake," Christopher was getting really annoyed by Rory. He was used to her being easygoing and nice to everyone, but right now she was acting like such a brat.

Rory's attitude continued through dinner where she barley said a word, partly because she was mad, but also because she missed her mom. Cindy was bright and bubbly throughout dinner, while Christopher was trying to stay in a good mood, but Rory's attitude was really getting to him.

Finally it was time for bed. Christopher and Cindy had gotten Rory some things she would need for that night, like a toothbrush and pajamas, so she was set. After getting ready Rory climbed into her bed. She lay still for a few moments until she heard a noise, and then she thought she saw a shadow next too the closet. Rory was starting to get scared, there was no way she could fall asleep like this. No matter how babyish it was, she couldn't remember the last time she had slept in a room by herself, and now that she was alone everything seemed a whole lot scarier. All she wanted right now was to be back home with her mom, away from whatever was making all those creaking noises and shadows in here.