AN - Thanks everyone. I'm glad you enjoyed it, is enjoyed the right word? This is part 2 so to speak. As one reviewer said I wish the show had treated mental illness seriously, all of the girls imo had some kind of issue and it was always brushed away with jokes which Ok was the nature of the show I guess but the Rory destruction of series 5 could have been handled very differently, she was never remorseful and they never really said what she did was wrong or looked into the reason why, just her being told No, and then it was all brushed under the carpet when she went back to Lorelai where she was a complete B to Richard and Emily who had tried to take care of her. So that storyline is nixed for a new exploration of what Miss Gilmore could have become ;) I have taken a bit of an artistic license with the mental health involvement from the school, I'm basing it on very limited info I can gleaned from the Yale website which is obviously 10 years on, but if ASP can take artistic license over Rory's major (Neither Yale or Harvard offer a journalism major) I can do this :P. Anyhoo aftermath time. Hope you enjoy, let me know what you think ;P

Chapter 11 - After the Storm

Luke carefully set Rory on the bed and took a step back, allowing Lorelai and Emily to move forward and tend to the still weeping young woman. He had never seen Rory like this and he could see how tense and anxious Lorelai was. Tenderly he brushed his hand across her back, for a moment she tore her eyes away from her daughter and looked up at him. She gave a faint nod, the barely perceptible movement of her head telling him that she was Ok and she was pleased that he was here. Luke nodded back and slowly backed away leaving the Gilmore women to take care of their own.

Lorelai watched Luke take a step back and returned her gaze to Rory. She was still crying, crying so hard she was barely able to breathe and Lorelai hadn't seen her cry like that since she was about 4 years old. Tenderly she pulled her daughter into a sitting position knowing it would help her breathe better. She sat beside Rory on the bed and wrapped her arms around her shoulders holding her as tightly as she could. She rocked back and forth, stroking Rory's hair, trying to comfort her like she used to when she was a little girl. Lorelai was vaguely aware of her mother moving around the room but the majority of her focus was on Rory's sobs and ragged breathing.

After a few minutes Emily appeared by their side holding a damp washcloth which she held out to Lorelai. Lorelai took the cloth and then watched her mother set a pile of clothes on the bed and then sit down on the other side of Rory.

"Here we are," Lorelai spoke gently. "Let's wipe away those tears," she coaxed Rory's face away from her shoulder and tenderly began to wash her daughter's tear swollen face. "There that's better. You look like Human Rory not panda bear Rory. I think we need to invest in some waterproof mascara for you Babes," she smiled weakly as Rory made a noise the sort of sounded like one of amusement. "Grandma's brought you some clothes to change into, something more comfy then this dress," Lorelai rubbed her hands up and down Rory's arms. "How bout it huh? Change of clothes and then snuggle down into this comfy bed Grandma always has all ready for you. We can talk or not or nap or have a pillow fight," she smiled as Rory nodded softly. "Yeah? Good?"

"Would you like anything to eat?" Emily asked gently.

"Sure Mom, why don't you bring us something. I'll get Rory ready." Lorelai smiled gratefully at her mother. "Anything is good," she turned her attention back to Rory as Emily quietly left the bedroom. "We haven't had a Mommy Rory nap for ages," she leant forward and touched her forehead against Rory's, before kissing her daughter's crown. "Not since you itty bitty teeny weeny Rory."

"Mom," Rory whispered. "I'm…"

"I know," Lorelai kissed her once more. "I know."


xXx

Luke walked tiredly down the staircase. Unsure with what to do with himself he looked across the large house to a doorway that had been closed moments earlier. Richard sat hunched with his hands scrunched in his grey hair. His large frame curled in an uncomfortable looking ball. He was still wearing his jacket and Luke realised that the older man had returned home in the few moments of chaos and had most likely seen all of it. Luke slowly made his way across the perfect mansion and knocked on the door. "Mr Gilmore?"

Richard uncurled himself looking up at Luke. His large blue eyes were filled with tears he sniffed ominously and tried to smile, "Luke."

"Lorelai and Emily are looking after her," Luke told the older man.

"That's good," Richard nodded looking down at his hands. After a minute of silence he released a shuddering breath. "How did we lose her so badly? How did we lose that beautiful girl?"

"She's not lost, we've got her, she's just off from where we want her to be," Luke told him sagely. "We've got her and she's safe, we just need to figure this all out. That starts with her talking to us." he sighed.

Richard swallowed. "I need a drink, do you want one?" she rose from his chair and pushed past Luke to go to his bookcase where he pulled out a bottle of single malt whiskey. He pottered with pulling two glasses out from under a statue. Drinks poured, he replaced the bottle and held out the glass to Luke. "I have so many horrible things running through my mind," he admitted quietly as he took his seat once more. "All these awful things. I should have kept her safe, whatever it is that has made her fall apart. I should have protected her from that."

Luke sat on the hard leather seat and regarded the older man. "I feel the same way but we can't protect them from everything, as much as we want to, as much as we can try. We can't protect our families from everything."

Richard took a sip of his drink and then stared at the surface of the amber liquid as he clutched the crystal glass in his hand. Finally he looked up. "You love my daughter and granddaughter."

"Yes Sir," Luke nodded.

"What are…Do you…" Richard frowned as he stumbled over his words. He pressed his lips together "I know my daughter is an independent woman, her view on what I am allowed to ask and say on her relationships probably differs from what I would wish, but as her father I want her to be happy and…" he fixed Luke with a serious gaze, "and I believe you are the person who can give her what she deserves."

Luke raised his eyebrows as he considered the meaning behind Richard's words. "You're giving me your blessing."

Richard gave a curt nod, "Not that you need it and this is not a …" he trailed off and sighed. "I want them happy and safe, you provide that for them." He looked at his hands as he considered what he said next. "Have you considered…"

"Asking Lorelai to marry me?" Luke nodded softly. "Yeah," he took off his baseball cap so he could run his hands through his hair and then put it back on. "I'm trying to get my Mom's ring. My sister has it but I don't think she ever used it and if she hasn't then I'd like to give it to Lorelai. That's if she still has it. Liz can be flaky at times but I hope she hasn't given it away or sold it. That's if Lorelai wants it."

Richard smiled at Luke, his relief and pleasure at what Luke had just said written all over his face. "She wants it, what it represents and what it means. If your sister doesn't have your mother's ring or if she doesn't want to give it to you I have Lorelai's grandmother's my mother' ring and Emily has her mother's ring. We would be honoured if you wanted to use them."

Luke nodded. "I'll bear that in mind," he looked at the drink in his hand and took a tentative sip. He gagged the drink much stronger then he was used to.

Richard chuckled. "Not used to the good stuff eh?" the older man took a swig of his own drink. "I shouldn't laugh, not with…"

"Laughter is the best medicine," Luke muttered. "We'll get her sorted out Richard. She just needs a bit of time."


xXx

Lorelai tenderly stroked Rory's arm as they lay on their sides facing each other. She had managed to get Rory changed and Emily had managed to get Rory to eat a small piece of bread before Rory had muttered about being tired, so Lorelai had coaxed her to lie on the bed and Emily had left them alone. Rory hadn't fallen asleep instead she had thrown her arm over Lorelai to pull her close and was just lying staring at her while Lorelai kept the rhythmic downward motion of a tender touch going. The action and the proximity seemed to have calmed Rory, her breathing back to normal, in fact it was slower as Rory seemed to be relaxing and finally coming down from whatever had caused her freak out.

"Mom," Rory whispered, her fingers flexing against the fabric of Lorelai's top.

"Yeah Babes," Lorelai continued her gentle motion wanting her daughter to lead the conversation.

"I'm sorry," Rory closed her eyes for a moment. "Everything is so messed up."

"I know," Lorelai brought her hand up to brush a strand of Rory's hair out of her face. "If you tell me what it is maybe I can unravel."

"It's all too much," Rory whispered.

"Ok," Lorelai nodded, resuming her gentle motion on Rory's arm.

They lay in silence for several minutes before Rory finally spoke again. "I didn't finish my exam. I walked out."

"I know, but they said you could retake."

"I've never walked out of an exam."

"I know."

Rory sighed. "I can't turn my brain off, everything is all jumbled. It's all too much."

Lorelai bit her lip before taking the plunge, "What's all too much Sweetie?"

"Everything." Rory told her softly. "What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing is wrong with you," Lorelai leaned forward and kissed Rory on her forehead before shuffling back to her position and giving Rory a soft reassuring smile. "You're just a bit overwhelmed and it's got on top of you. If you tell me maybe I can help you unpick it all," she took a tentative breath as Rory seemed to consider here words.

"You won't be mad?"

"I won't be mad." Lorelai assured her, "sanctuary."

Rory took a deep breath and then the words started to spill out of her. "I stole a boat because Mitchum told me I wasn't good enough to be a journalist, that I didn't have it and it hurt because he was right. I've never really had anyone tell me no before not with school or work. Everyone always says yes and I always get what I work for and it's so stupid and so childish but it's just the final straw. I think I've known I wasn't good enough for a while, I can write well enough but sometimes I just feel like I was going through the motions. And then last summer when I should have been interning or something, I went off around Europe with Grandma and it only bothered me because I felt it is something I was supposed to have done not because I wished I'd done it. Everyone wants me to be a journalist ever since I was a little girl and saw Christiane Amanpour on the TV and said I wanted to be like her. I didn't want to let anyone down because I already let everyone down with everything else."

Lorelai held her breath for a moment trying to process what Rory had just said. "How do you let everyone down?"

"My whole existence, I ruined everything because when you had me," Rory told her quietly. "My other family didn't even want me, and you and Grandma and Grandpa, you all treat me like I'm so special because I'm supposed to fix the Gilmore name and do all the things that you didn't do. I can't do it and now Francine wants to know me and she didn't even act like there was anything weird about her never wanting to see me or speak to me my entire life. She just acted all friendly and started going on about how it was wonderful I was at an Ivy League school as Dad was supposed to go to Princeton. At school we're supposed to be effortlessly excellent but it's so hard sometimes. It just all too much."

"Rory we never meant to make you feel like that," Lorelai whispered softly, brushing the tears from Rory's cheeks. Her own tears where threatening but she forced herself to be strong.

"I know," Rory nodded, "and I wanted to do it because it made you happy and it made Grandma and Grandpa happy and I like making you happy and I don't think it ever bothered me before. But then Logan's Mom and Grandpa said I wasn't good enough for him it just…it just hit me because I was trying so hard and I still wasn't good enough." She sniffed as she tried to stop crying. "I like Logan and I wanted them to like me, he's fun but he's caring like he wants to make sure I'm Ok but he doesn't mind if I don't want to do something. Dean always used to get huffy if I didn't want to do something he wanted to do and Jess was fun but never seemed to care what I wanted to do, he cared about me, they both did but it was different. And with Logan we were doing things that were fun, the parties it helped me forget everything and he made me feel safe because he was the one that rescued me."

"Rescued you from what Rory?" Lorelai asked not sure that she really wanted to know but knowing that she needed to.

Rory wiped her face a couple of times trying to hold her composure, "the night I broke up with Dean I had to get out of my dorm. I ended up at this coffee bar and when they closed, this guy was following me and at first I thought it was just a coincidence and then I realised he wasn't he was waiting until…until I was somewhere that was out of the way. Logan ran into me just in time and he knew what that man wanted and he took me to the campus security and he took me home and he stayed with me until he knew I was Ok."

Lorelai took a shuddering breath, "but nothing happened with this man…"

Rory tensed her grip. "No. But the idea of what could have happened really shook me up and then everything just got too much and I stopped caring, I didn't care that I wasn't doing so well in school and that bothered me that I didn't care and I just got all mixed up. I stole a boat Mom."

"I know."

"I…I…Mom," Rory clung to her. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh Baby," Lorelai hugged tightly her back. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you stop talking to me?"

"Because you were happy and then everything with Luke and Anna and April, and then you were happy again." Rory sniffed. "I should have."

"Yeah kid you should have." Lorelai kissed her three times on the forehead. "Never think you can't tell me something and if I am ever not around please, please, please talk to your Grandma or Grandpa or Luke or someone from town like Sookie, or Miss Patty or Babette. God even Mrs Kim or Taylor, just talk to someone because believe me, us being a bit annoyed is nothing compared seeing you like this, none of us want you like this," she stroked Rory's face. "My beautiful girl."

"Mom," Rory snuggled into her. "I'm so sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry," Lorelai resumed her motion of soothingly stroking Rory's arm. "Everything is going to be OK."


xXx

Luke made his way into the kitchen to get a glass of water, his head was beginning to feel muzzy from the two glasses of whiskey he had consumed with Richard and he wanted to be sober and ready just in case Lorelai or Rory needed anything. In the dying light of the late spring day the room was gloomy and he hit the light switch. He paused in surprise at the sight of Emily stood by the island staring at a plate of food sadly. "Emily, sorry I didn't realise you were in here," Luke mumbled.

Emily slowly raised her head and she gave him a well-practiced, slightly false looking smile. "It's fine Luke. Can I get you something?"

"I was just going to get some water if that is alright?" Luke asked softly moving awkwardly into the kitchen properly.

Emily gave a courteous nod and crossed to a cupboard from which she pulled out a bottle of spring water. "Here you are."

Luke took the water, frowning slightly at the forced cheerfulness in her voice. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Emily washed the false smile across her face once more. "Would you like anything to eat? We have plenty Sumaira went shopping yesterday."

"No, no I'm fine," Luke waved his hand to further indicate no. "Have they eaten?" he flicked his eyes towards the ceiling.

"I managed to get Rory to eat a little," Emily told him, her lip trembling slightly.

"That's good," Luke nodded, he watched the older woman, she was desperately trying to keep her mask of perfection in place and he admired her ability to do so, but it was slipping, there was the same look in her eyes that she had had the night of his almost breakup with Lorelai. It was deep and primal and he now understood it to be the unconditional love she felt for Lorelai and Rory. "She's going to be Ok," he offered her softly.

"Of course she will," Emily nodded curtly. "She's a Gilmore."

"Even Gilmore's crack on occasion," Luke muttered softly. "Sometimes there are days when it is Ok to admit the day is crappy." Emily held his gaze as she visibly swallowed tensely and brought her shoulders stiffly up towards her ears. Sensing that Emily was not going to say anything he held his water bottle up. "Thanks for this. I'm gonna get some air."

"Very well," Emily turned away to the sink, taking the plate of food with her and tipping the contents into one half of the sink while turning the faucet on to flood the other half. "The patio heater's need to be switched on at the wall socket."

"Thanks," Luke nodded and quietly made his way out of the kitchen and then out onto the pristine patio. The air was chilled but filled with the dying scent of the perfume of the abundant flowers. There was a peacefulness to this place that belied the turmoil that was going on inside the house. He sat on the stone wall and opened the water, taking a long soothing sip. He wiped his hand across his face and held his forehead as he breathed slowly and deeply.

"Luke?"

He looked up, surprised to see Lorelai, surprised that she would leave Rory. "Hey, is everything…"

"She's asleep. I just really needed some air," Lorelai told him as she made her way over to him. She took his water bottle and took a long drink.

Luke shifted backwards on the wall and opened his legs. "Come here," he took her free hand and pulled her to sit down between his legs. She did so, pressing her back into his front and gripping his arms tightly around her, her fingers digging into his flesh. "It's Ok Lorelai," he whispered, softly pressing a kiss into her temple. "She's going to be OK."

"I know." She squeezed his arm. "Thank you for being here."

"Where else would I be?"

"Work." Lorelai mumbled laying her head onto his shoulder. "Home, you didn't have to stay."

"Yes I did," Luke kissed her again.

"What have you been…?" Lorelai stopped herself and pulled his arms tighter around her. "Have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry," Luke assured her. "Your Mom offered and your Dad has given me Whiskey I'm fine."

"Are they…"

"They're processing," Luke told her softly. "They feel about as good as we do but they will be OK. We all will be OK."

"I hope so."

"I know so," Luke kissed her for a third time. "Rory will get better, we'll move forward when we're ready. Everything will be OK."

"Ready for what?" Lorelai asked her voice catching in her throat.

"Us getting married, having kids" Luke took a sharp intake of breath surprised at himself that he had just said that, the two glasses of strong whiskey destroying his normal caution. "If you want or not if you don't, I mean we don't have to, whatever works, whatever you want, but you know when we're ready we can talk about that. I mean I want that but you know…" he trailed off and squeezed his arms around her, annoyed at himself for saying that to Lorelai when she had so much else going on. "When you're ready."

"Oh," Lorelai whispered she stroked his arm in return, feeling warm and safe and a little less like the sky was falling. In his arms even the insurmountable seeming achievable. "Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm ready."

"Ok." Luke swallowed as happiness swelled in his chest. "So we're ready to have the conversation when things calm down."

"No Hun," Lorelai turned her head pressing her cheek into his chest to stop him from babbling. "I want to marry you, I'm saying yes."

"You are?" Luke tightened his grip.

I am," Lorelai smiled happily despite her worry for her daughter. She smiled as her newly minted fiancé made a little soft pleased noise and snuggled into him as tightly as she could. "I'm going to marry you Luke."