I'm so sorry it's been so long! Uni has been really busy but I've finished the year now so can go back to updating more regularly and I've come back with new ideas. :) Hope you still remember the story and will keep with it! And please let me know what you think! :)
Chapter 11
A week had passed and Rory had been ignoring her dad's phone calls. She was angry at him for leaving. It had finally felt right. She was finally forming a bond with him and he and Luke were getting on. Why did he have to ruin it? She knew she shouldn't be surprised as he always ran.
Rory was at school one day and Luke was at the diner. Lorelai had come home from the inn for a break when the phone rang.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Lor?" Chris said. "Please don't hang up!" He added quickly.
Lorelai sighed. "What is it, Chris? Do you know how upset she's been?"
"I know. I've been trying to ring her but she keeps ignoring her. I need to explain why I left..."
"You already did. Work!" Lorelai said exasperated.
"I know I said that but it wasn't true. I just needed to sort some things out before I said anything.." He said.
Lorelai frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You remember the day of the basket auction? Well after that you, Luke and Rory went to the diner and I came back here to have a shower?"
"Yeh..." Lorelai said not knowing where this was going.
"I...something happened. I found something..." Chris said quietly.
Lorelai froze, having a feeling of what this was leading to.
"I found a lump, Lor." He said.
"Oh my god..." She breathed.
"I didn't want to jump to any conclusions so I decided to go back to Boston and get it checked out." He continued.
"And?" Lorelai said quietly, sitting down on the sofa.
"I went to the doctors and they did tests. I've got prostate cancer." He said and for the first time, Lorelai heard his voice cracking.
"Oh Chris..."
"That's not all." Chris said quietly. "They said it's terminal.."
"Oh god. What do you mean terminal?" Lorelai asked, feeling herself shaking too. "There's treatments, aren't there?"
"Yeh and they said they could do them and it will help me for a bit but not forever." He said.
"And you've been ringing Rory to try and tell her?" Lorelai asked.
"Yeh but understandably she won't answer me. I get why she's mad but I need her to know the real reason. I need a favour Lor..." He said.
"Please don't make me tell her. I don't think I could handle that..." She said quietly.
"No, no i wouldn't expect that of you. I've sent her a letter. It should arrive today. Just please encourage her to read it." He said.
"Of course." Lorelai said softly. "And Chris?"
"Yeh?"
"I'm so sorry.." She said sadly. "If you need anything.."
"Thanks." He said, glad Lorelai couldn't see him right at that moment as he had tears falling down his face.
Lorelai hung up the phone and could feel herself shaking. She rang Luke and asked him to come back to the house. Luke heard the tone of her voice and sensed something was wrong. He arrived within minutes.
"Lorelai? What's wrong? Is it Rory?" He asked rushing in seeing Lorelai on the sofa. He sat down next to her. "Please talk to me." He said softly.
Lorelai looked at him with tears in her eyes. "It's Chris..."
"Chris?" He said shocked.
"He rang today..." She said, still shaking.
Luke noticed her shaking. "What did he say? Did he upset you?" He asked.
"No. Well yeh, but not in the way you think." She said.
"Lorelai..."
"He's got prostate cancer..." She said and suddenly she couldn't stop herself from breaking down. Chris had been a big part of her life. Even though she was with Luke now, she always cared about Chris.
Luke was shocked and comforted her. "Wow.."
"I'm sorry..." Lorelai said wiping her eyes.
"Why on earth are you sorry?" Luke asked confused.
"I...I don't know. I love you Luke so much but..."
"You love him too." Luke said understanding.
"Not like that." Lorelai said. "B..but he gave me Rory. I will be forever grateful for that."
"I get it, Lorelai. He was a big part of your life and he's Rory's dad. Of course this is going to shake you up." He said softly.
Lorelai just snuggled next to Luke. "He's sent Rory a letter. I can't think what this will do to her. I mean she's so angry at him right now but she loves her dad."
"We'll just have to be there for her." He said softly.
Lorelai nodded, grateful to have Luke.
Later that day, Rory returned from school. The letter had arrived by then. She walked in and found Lorelai and Luke in the kitchen. "Hey mom, Luke!" She smiled.
"Hey hon..." Lorelai forced a smile.
"What's wrong?" Rory said. She could see right through her mom.
Lorelai sighed. "Your dad sent you a letter."
"Bin it." Rory said immediately.
"No. Rory, I really think you should read it." Lorelai said, trying not to lose her demeanor.
"Why? It will just be the same apologies I get year after year. I'm sick of it!" Rory said.
"Please Rory. Please, just do it for me." Lorelai said quietly.
Rory noticed the change so nodded. "Ok, I'll read it." She said taking the letter into her room.
Lorelai squeezed her eyes shut and let some tears fall. Luke reached for her hand and squeezed it.
After about 10 minutes, Rory reappeared. She had tears in her eyes too. "Mom..." She said going into the living room where her mom and Luke were watching tv.
Lorelai looked up. "Oh Rory..." She said softly.
"You knew?" She asked quietly.
"He rang me today." She said sadly.
Luke decided to give them some space so went to the kitchen.
"It's bad, isn't it? Terminal, he said. That means..." Rory said tearfully.
"Come here hon." She said reaching out her arms.
Rory went to her and sobbed and she hugged her mom. Tears were falling down each of their faces. Luke had reappeared from the kitchen and watched them feeling emotional too. It killed him to see them so upset. He knew exactly what it was like to have a parent suffer from cancer so he knew exactly how Rory felt and he vowed to himself he would help her get through it. He didn't have anyone to help him so he wanted to make sure Rory did.
Sorry, I know it's a little depressing but I hoped you enjoyed it! Will try and update regularly! Do let me know what you think! :)
