Chapter Twelve

"Hey son how are things going," asked Edward later that day. He slowly walked over to Luke and cautiously sat beside him.

"How's are girl," he asked looking over at Lorelai who was fast asleep.

"She's running a temperature," Luke sighed.

"Oh dear," he replied. "I hope it's not too serious, she was really starting to turn a bend."

"According to her doctor we have to wait and see how it develops. How's Teddy," he asked not wanting to discuss Lorelai's condition any longer.

"He misses his Mom but the doctors won't let him visit," said Edward.

"Damn doctors," Luke murmured.

"You could go to the house and see him," Edward offered.

"I'd love that but I can't leave Lorelai, especially now. I can't wait to see him and know him believe me but for now my place is here."

Edward nodded his head with understanding then looked back over at Lorelai. The two were then silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally Luke spoke up, "How long has Lorelai been in the hospital," he asked.

"About five days I think, Kate found her unconscious and called an ambulance. That was on Wednesday, she was so sick I got worried and contacted you."

"I'm glad you did, we've all been so worried about her," said Luke.

"How long has it been since you talked, I mean before David got in touch," Edward asked delicately.

"One year, two months, four days and sixteen hours," said Luke with certainty.

"I'm sorry," said Edward.

"Me too, I just can't understand why she did that. To me, to her family, her daughter.

They were so close, inseparable almost. I've never met two people who were so in sink with one another."

"Lorelai never talks about her, not ever. She was so sad when we met, I knew something was hurting her but she would never tell me about it," Edward confessed.

"Rory, Lorelai's daughter dropped out of college and moved in with her grandparents. It broke Lorelai's heart, she always wanted more for Rory than she had herself."

"I understand we all want that, for our children to be better than ourselves. But Lorelai seems to have taken their fall out a bit to far. I've told her over and over to make peace with her family but I don't think she can."

"It's my fault that she moved so far away," said Luke suddenly.

"Yours," Edward asked taken aback.

"Lorelai was trying to tell me she was pregnant but she never did. I think I gave her the impression that I'd never want to be a father. Maybe I didn't at one time but that all changed when I met Lorelai. I knew instantly that there was nothing I wanted more than to be with her and to have children with her."

"It's not your fault son that she left, she should have told you. God knows I love Lorelai like she was one of my own but she made a mistake not telling you that day. She knows that, I know because of all the people she stopped talking about she never stopped talking about you."

"She talked about me," Luke said softly, clearly stunned.

"All the time," said Edward with a smile.

By the time Lorelai woke Edward had left to spend some time with Teddy, leaving them to each other.

"Hey, do you want anything to eat," asked Luke.

"I'm not hungry, I keep thinking about Rory and my parents," said Lorelai.

"I think you should call them Lorelai, it's not fair to keep them waiting."

Lorelai sighed as she let her chin drop to her chest, "Okay," she said finally.

Luke called the nurse to ask if they could use Lorelai's cell phone in her room and she said it would be okay.

Lorelai's hands shook as she dialled the number so Luke placed his hand on her arm for moral support.

The phone rang once and on the second ring it was hastily picked up from the other end.

"Hello," asked an apprehensive voice over the line.

"Mom, Mom it's Lorelai," she said shakily.

"Lorelai," said Emily coldly.

"Yes, I'm...," Lorelai couldn't help but release a sob as she fought for control.

"Lorelai," Emily asked again with concern.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed again then quickly passed the phone to Luke.

"Lorelai, Lorelai," Luke could hear Emily calling.

"I'm sorry but Lorelai's too upset to speak right now," said Luke.

"Is she okay," asked Emily.

"I think so, she's just not coping too well with this. She wanted to talk to you and apologise, I just think hearing your voice again made her upset."

Lorelai was then able to find some control and reached for the phone. "I shouldn't have left you without any word, I'm sorry."

"Why Lorelai," asked Emily softly.

"We had a plan, I asked for your help and you went against me. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to ask for your help. I thought we were finally on the same page."

"So because of that you put us through hell. Good God Lorelai you could have been dead and we wouldn't have known. How could you do that, not just to me and your father but your daughter too.

She's been so distant these past months, you broke her heart. Why Lorelai, we didn't deserve this no matter what mistakes we've made in the past."

"I'm sorry, but believe it or not you weren't the main reason that I left. Something happened between me and Luke, I felt so isolated. I made a mistake, a big one."

"Huge," Emily shouted causing both Luke and Lorelai to jump.

"Please don't shout, I can't, I don't... I don't know what else to say," Lorelai stuttered.

"Where are you now," Emily shouted again.

"San Francisco Mom, I thought Luke told you."

"Where specifically," she asked harshly.

"San Francisco General Hospital,"

"Why, why are you in the hospital, according to your father Luke wouldn't say."

"I had Pneumonia," said Lorelai.

"Pneumonia, it must have been bad if you were hospitalised. Why didn't you get in touch sooner."

"I was too sick," said Lorelai softly.

"Luke knew," she said childishly.

"My friends called him, I was very much out of the decision process."

"They knew to call him and not your own family."

"I guess I just talked about him more," said Lorelai.

"God Lorelai you must really hate us when strangers know more about your life than we do."

"I don't hate you Mom. I told you my leaving has nothing to do with you, not really."

"So what your saying is that Luke was the reason. Luke, the same man who's been to our home countless times trying to find you. He's spent so much time concentrating on leads that he put his life on hold for you."

"Mom, I'm so glad you see Luke like I do," said Lorelai, spectacularly changing the subject.

"Like you do, I don't understand," Emily puzzled.

"Look right now that's not important. Lets just say I should have had more faith in him. I didn't allow him to know something about me because I let my fears control me."

"Lorelai, what in the world are you talking about," Emily replied.

"Nothing, never mind. What happened between us is between us, me and Luke. It has nothing to do with you and me. I just wish we had been speaking at the time, you never know you could have straightened me out."

"I doubt it," said Emily with humour.

"We'll never know. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry."

"Rory deserves this apology more than I do."

"I know she does and I want to say it to her. I thought she wouldn't want to speak to me."

"Lorelai your her mother, of course she wants to talk to you."

"If she's anything like me, she may not."

"You and me are not the same and you and her and anyway you talked to me eventually."

"I'm so sorry Mom, please believe me," Lorelai sobbed again.

"I do, now get ready," said Emily,

"Ready for what?"

"Me, Rory, your father, were coming to be with you."

"You are,"

"Of course we are and Lorelai for what it's worth I'm sorry too,"

"It's worth a lot," said Lorelai.