I'm sooooo sorry about the few days off! We had a busy weekend! We had a family gathering so I had literally had no time at all! But things should go back to normal now. :) Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews. They really are the reason I carry on writing and I really appreciate them. :) Here's a much longer chapter to make up for the few days of nothing! :p

Chapter 14

Lorelai led Richard back into the inn. She took him through to the dining room where they sat down. Mia saw them and offered to get them a drink which they both accepted. When Mia brought them the drinks, she then left them to it knowing they would need some privacy to talk having talked to Richard earlier that evening. She knew they had a lot to talk about.

They sat there for a moment or so just sipping their drinks sitting in awkward silence.

"Does mom know you're here?" Lorelai asked.

"She's at a DAR event this evening. I made an excuse that I had to work on something so managed to get out of it." Richard said. "So no."

There was another moment's silence before Richard continued.

"Lorelai, I want to be part of your life. Now I've found where you've been living all these years, I don't want to let you go this time. I've been trying to look for you since you've left." He admitted.

"You have?" Lorelai asked surprised.

"Ever since you left. I haven't given up looking." He said.

Lorelai realised how similar it was to her looking for Rory. All this time that she's been looking for Rory, her dad's actually been looking for her. Lorelai sighed. "Dad, it's going to take a while for me to trust you. How do I know this isn't just another of your and mom's games?" She asked.

"I know I'm going to earn your trust back. I accept that. But I can assure you that I'm not here to take Rory away from you again." He said.

"Then why did you come? After all these years?" Lorelai asked.

"I was afraid you wouldn't want to see me and I guess I was a coward. And I just found out where you lived." Richard admitted.

Lorelai was taken aback by his honestly. "Dad..."

He shook his head. "No you had every right to hate us." He said. "But today when I saw your mother and Christopher together again, it took me back to 7 years ago at the hospital." He admitted. "I don't know what but they're planning something again."

Lorelai's head shot up. "What? What are they planning?" She asked worried.

"I don't know. But when I saw them together, I knew I had to warn you this time. I couldn't stand back and do nothing like before." Richard said.

"So you came here to warn me?" Lorelai asked.

"I came here to make sure you were ok firstly. I'm still your father. I was worried." He said. "But I wanted to warn you as well."

"You don't know what they're planning?" She asked.

"No. But your mother isn't happy that Rory ended up in this town." He said.

Lorelai snorted. "Of course she isn't. She would never want Rory to have a normal life." She said sarcastically.

Richard hesitated for a minute before speaking again. "I can't help but notice Rory isn't here. Does she not live with you?" He asked cautiously.

"No." Lorelai said quietly. "It wouldn't have been fair on her. I'd like to think we have more of a mother/daughter relationship now but I had to work for that. It stills feels amazing whenever Rory calls me mommy." She admitted. "Anyway, Rory was settled where she was with Luke and his mom. She'd been brought up there. I didn't want to take that away from Rory or from Luke and Katherine. Rory means everything to them. It wouldn't have been fair." She said quietly.

"That was very noble of you." Richard said.

"I had to think about Rory. And Luke and Katherine had been so lovely to me. I owe them so much. They've given Rory such a loving and safe home." Lorelai said. "Plus I had finally found her. That was all that had mattered to me."

"How did you end up here?" Richard asked.

Lorelai shrugged. "I just got on a bus. I didn't care where I was going, just so long as I got away from the house. This was the last stop."

"And you came here, to the inn first?" He asked.

"Yeh someone recommended the inn for somewhere to stay so I went and that was when I met Mia. She saw how desperate I was. I don't know why, I just told her everything that night. It just came out. She offered me a job and somewhere to stay." Lorelai said.

"At the inn?" Richard asked.

"Uh no…not exactly…" Lorelai said quietly. "Um there's a potting shed round the back."

"Oh Lorelai…" Richard said feeling awful.

Lorelai shook her head. "It's fine. I made it homely and it was somewhere to sleep. Plus Mia didn't let me pay rent so it was free accommodation. I owe Mia so much. She was like my guardian angel."

"And you've lived here for 7 years?" He asked.

Lorelai nodded. "Basically. I was also searching the county for Rory so I would travel a bit but I didn't have much money so yeah.." She said.

"But you finally found her? In the square?"

Lorelai smiled. "Yeah…I couldn't believe. I didn't know she was my daughter first. I went into the diner and met Luke and Rory was there and he said she was his daughter so I thought nothing of it. But then I grew close to them and I babysat Rory one night and then I found this blanket. I'd made it and stitched Rory's name into it."

"I remember it." Richard nodded.

"It was on her bed. I freaked out. Luke managed to calm me down and then yeah…we talked. I gradually spent more time with Rory and then eventually told her to truth. Rory's amazing, dad. She's so smart, she's funny, she's caring." She gushed. "Luke did an amazing job with her."

"So you and Luke are...serious?" Richard asked, hoping he was prying too much.

Lorelai couldn't help but smile a little thinking about Luke. "I'd like to think so." She said quietly. "I mean it was only our first date tonight but we had a really nice time and I really really like him." She admitted.

Richard nodded. They soon finished their drinks and were quiet again. Richard looked up. "Do you think that maybe...maybe I could meet Rory?" He asked hesitantly.

Lorelai hesitated. "I don't know..." She said. "Luke might not be too happy..." She said thinking about how worried he was when he found out her mother knew where they lived. "He's already concerned that mom will take Rory again. When he found out she knew where we lived, he was worried."

"Ok well what if I meet him first then and assure him that's not the case?" Richard suggested.

"I don't know dad..."

"Please Lorelai. I would like to meet the man who brought up my granddaughter and I would like to meet the man who you are smitten about." He said. "Please."

Lorelai sighed. "Ok, but it will have to be tomorrow. It's late and Rory will be in bed now." She said. "Can you come back tomorrow morning? I'd offer you a room here but I'm assuming mom will wonder where you are." She said.

"I could always give her a ring and say that there was a last minute business meeting and I had to book a hotel last minute. That way she won't feel compelled to come and join me." Richard mused.

"Well it's up to you." Lorelai said.

"I think I'd rather stay here tonight." Richard nodded deciding. "I will call your mother and make an excuse."

"I'll get Mia to show you to the room and then I will meet you outside tomorrow morning." Lorelai said.

"Ok." Richard nodded.

Lorelai nodded and went to walk off.

"Lorelai?" Richard said.

Lorelai turned back. "Yeh?"

"Thank you. For hearing me out… and it's good to see you." He said sincerely.

Lorelai just nodded and went off to find Mia. God today has been a surreal day!

The following morning, Lorelai met her dad outside the inn. She didn't particularly fancy showing him where she was living. They then headed over to the diner together. Lorelai decided to take her dad the back way in so not to cause gossip around the town. She knocked on the door of the apartment before opening it slowly. "Luke?" She said. She spotted him sat at the kitchen table staring at a piece of paper frowning. "Luke?" She said again. "My dad came to see me yesterday evening. He wanted to meet you." She said.

"Get him away from me." Luke said.

"Luke..." Lorelai said going in with Richard following behind her.

"I mean it Lorelai!" Luke growled. "He's not taking her! They're not taking her!" He exclaimed, getting up from his seat.

Lorelai was taken aback. "He's not here to take Rory."

"Then how do you explain this?" Luke exclaimed giving her the piece of paper. "You promised me! You promised me they wouldn't take Rory away from me! You promised!" He exclaimed.

Lorelai took the piece of paper and read it. Her eyes widened and she turned to her dad. "Chris is going for custody." She said, handing him the paper.

Richard took the paper and read. "I should have guessed it would be this." He said quietly. He looked up and saw Lorelai go over to Luke and place her hand on his chest.

"Luke, please calm down." Lorelai said softly.

"How? How can I calm down?" He exclaimed. "He's going to win! I'm going to lose Rory. We're going to lose Rory! Don't you care at all? You could lose her again! Why aren't you angry? I'm not going to let this happen. Rory's everything to me! I can't lose her!"

"Of course I care! I just found her! Do you really think I am going to let her go again?!" Lorelai exclaimed. "Shouting at me won't make it go away though."

Luke took a deep breath. "Sorry." He said quietly.

"It's ok." She said quietly. She glanced over at her dad who was just standing there watching them. "My dad wanted to meet you. He wasn't in on this, Luke. He came to warn me Chris and my mother were planning something. He wasn't in on it." She said.

"And you believe that?" Luke asked. "They took your kid away from you!"

"I know." Lorelai said quietly. She glanced at her dad again. "But I believe him." She said softly. "He didn't have to warn me, did he? Please Luke." She said quietly.

Luke took another deep breath and tried to calm down.

"Rory at school?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah, mom took her." He nodded.

"Ok good." Lorelai said. "Gives us the day to try and sort this out."

"How?" Luke asked. "He's going to get custody. He's obviously got your mother behind him. They're going to win."

"They're not." Lorelai shook her head. "I won't let them."

"May I be of assistance?" Richard asked. "There are a few scenarios we could take here, if push comes to shove we could counter his petition with Lorelai going for custody and from what I gather from what she has told me, she will never take Rory from you." He said directly to Luke, who looked at Lorelai lovingly.

"So that's one option, but in the mean time we could try and shut this whole thing down with a DNA test?" Richard spoke as if he was in a business meeting, springing into to action.

Both Lorelai and Luke looked round at him. "What?" Lorelai asked.

"Christopher mentioned that you told him that Rory might not be his." Richard said.

"Yeah.." Lorelai said.

"Well if you can prove that, he doesn't have a case. If you can prove Rory isn't his biological daughter, the case will have to be dropped. He won't have any grounds for custody." Richard said.

Lorelai turned to Luke. "What do you think? It's worth a go." She said softly.

"But what if she is his?" Luke asked. "How sure are you that she isn't?"

Lorelai sighed. "It's 50/50 but somehow I just feel like she isn't his. I don't know what it is but I just feel that."

Luke was quiet for a moment. "Rory hates blood." He said quietly.

"Then we will both go with her and hold her hand." Lorelai said. "This could be dropped if we have proof, Luke. Surely it's worth a shot?" She said.

Luke sighed but nodded. "Ok. But what if she is his?"

"Then we will figure out how to deal with that if and when it happens." Richard said

Lorelai turned to her dad. "Do you know how to sort it out?" She asked.

Richard nodded. "Leave it to me."

"Thank you." She said. She turned back to see Luke collapse onto the couch and put his face in his hands.

"I can't lose her." Luke said quietly.

Lorelai sat next to him and put her hand on his arm. "Neither can I. But we have to be positive. I'm not going to let them win again." She said quietly.

Richard finally plucked up courage to walk towards them. He sat down on a chair at the table. "I'm really not here to take Rory away from you." He said to Luke. "I wanted to meet the man who raised my granddaughter by himself."

"I didn't do it myself. I had my mom and my dad when he was...well...around." He mumbled.

Lorelai knew how hard it was for Luke to talk about his dad. She looked up at her dad. "Luke lost his dad a couple of years ago." She explained quietly.

"Oh I'm sorry." Richard said sincerely. "I know what it's like to lose a dad when you're young. It's really hard."

Luke glanced up at him and just nodded.

"Rory knew him then?" Richard asked cautiously.

Luke nodded. "He loved her and she adored him." He said. "Rory was what got me through it when he passed away. I couldn't have done it without her." He admitted.

Lorelai put her arm round him. "I'm so sorry they're doing this to you." She said softly.

"It's not your fault." Luke said quietly. He looked up at Richard. "I'm sorry about before. I was angry." He said.

"No need to apologise. It's totally understandable." Richard said.

"If Chris isn't the dad, could your wife go for custody?" He asked.

"It's possible." Richard said. He saw Luke's worried face again. "But she would have a very weak case. Considering she doesn't even know Rory and Rory doesn't know her, it would be very unlikely that the court would give her custody." He said.

Luke nodded, feeling a bit more relieved. He felt a bit more comfortable with Richard as well considering how much he was willing to help them. And like Lorelai said, he seemed genuine.

Later that afternoon, Richard had stayed at the apartment after both Luke and Lorelai had agreed to let him officially meet Rory for the first time. They had introduced Katherine to him and they had chatted for a bit. They were sat at the kitchen table when the door opened and Katherine brought Rory in.

"Daddy! Look what I did at school!" Rory grinned showing him a drawing she'd done.

"That's amazing!" Luke smiled proudly, looking at it. He passed it to Lorelai. "Here, look at this."

"Mommy!" Rory exclaimed noticing her and going over to give her a hug.

Lorelai smiled when she looked at the picture and saw that Rory had drawn her family including Lorelai. "It really is amazing." Lorelai said softly trying to not well up infront of everyone whilst giving her daughter a hug and a kiss.

During this, Richard remained quiet just watching their interactions with Rory. His heart swelled at seeing her interact with Lorelai and hearing her calling Lorelai mommy. She acted just like Lorelai.

Lorelai glanced at her dad and took a deep breath, not knowing how Rory would react. "Rory, I'd like you to meet someone." She said. "This is my dad. He's your grandpa." She said softly.

"Hello Rory." Richard gave her a small smile.

Rory's eyes widened and suddenly she ran to Luke. "No! No I don't want to leave you! Don't let him take me away! I want to stay here! Don't take me to the dragon lady!" She exclaimed clinging to Luke, tears welling up in her eyes.

Luke picked her up. "Rory, no one is going to take you." He said softly. "Your Grandpa, your mommy's dad, just wanted to meet you. That's all. He's not here to take you away. You know I wouldn't let that happen, right?" He said.

Rory sniffed but nodded slowly. "And he won't take mommy away again?" She asked quietly.

"No." Luke said. "No, your mommy's not going anywhere. We're stuck with her." He said sending a small smirk in Lorelai's direction.

She smiled back. "He's right, Rory. I'm not going anywhere and you're not either." She said softly.

Luke put Rory down. "Why don't you say hello?" He smiled encouragingly.

"Hi…" Rory said shyly.

Richard gave her a gentle smile. "It's so good to meet you, Rory." He said softly. "I promise I'm not here to take you away from anyone. I just wanted to meet my granddaughter, who is a very pretty young lady."

Rory smiled but still clung to Luke's hand.

Richard didn't really know what to say but then he spotted some books by a bed which looked like Rory's. "Do you like reading?" He asked.

Rory nodded but didn't say anything.

Richard smiled. "I love reading too. Maybe I could lend you some of my books?" He suggested. "Next time maybe?" He glanced at Luke and Lorelai. "Of course, only if that's ok with your daddy and mommy?"

Luke nodded and Lorelai smiled at him and nodded.

Richard smiled gratefully at them. He turned back at Rory. "Would you like that?"

Rory nodded slowly. "Ok." She said quietly. She hesitated for a minute before finally letting go of Luke's hand. "Would you like to see my books?" She asked shyly.

Richard's heart swelled. "I would love to." He said. He followed Rory to her bookcase and Luke and Lorelai smiled when they saw Rory hand him one of them and he started reading some of it to her. After several minutes, they returned to the kitchen. Richard smiled at them. "I'll leave you to it." He said standing up. "It was lovely meeting you Rory." He said to his granddaughter.

Rory gave him a shy smile.

Richard then turned to Luke and Katherine. "It was nice meeting you too. And thank you. For letting me see Rory." He held out his hand to Luke. "Take care of my daughter. I hear you two are together."

"Wha...How?" Luke said shocked.

"He saw us. Yesterday evening. Outside the inn." Lorelai said. "So I told him."

"You're a good man, Luke. Take care of them." He said sincerely.

"Thank you. I will." Luke said shaking his hand.

Richard then turned to Lorelai. "Lorelai." He said softly. "Thank you. I know it will take a long time for you to totally regain your trust again but I will do anything to get it back. I want to make things right. I really do."

"I believe you… please don't tell mom about any of this…" Lorelai said.

"Of course not darling."

She then surprised him by giving him a hug. "Bye dad." She said quietly.

"Goodbye Lorelai." Richard said taking comfort in his daughter's affection. He then left.

A bit later, Katherine went down to cover the diner while Luke and Lorelai talked to Rory about the DNA test.

"Come and sit down here for a minute, Rory. We'd like to talk to you about something." Luke said.

Rory went over to the couch and sat between them.

"The thing is, I received something in the post today which makes things a bit complicated." Luke started. "Your biological dad, well, he thinks he's your dad." He said glancing at Lorelai who nodded encouragingly at him. "The thing is, Rory, he wants to see you which means we might have to go and see a judge." He said softly.

Rory's eyes widened. "I want to stay here!" She said.

"I know. And I will do anything to make sure you do. But there's something you could do to help." He said gently. He looked at Lorelai for help.

"Hon, how would you feel about taking a DNA test? Do you know what they are?" Lorelai asked.

"To find out who my biological parents are." Rory said quietly.

"That's right." Lorelai nodded. "The thing is, they might need to take some blood in front of witnesses. I know when I did mine, I just needed to take a strand of your hair but this time it has to be done in front of officials so they know it's not tampered with." She said softly. "Now your daddy said you hate blood but we both promise to be right next to you while you have it done and we'll take you out for a treat afterwards."

"This would help me stay here with you guys?" Rory asked quietly.

"If we can prove he isn't your biological dad, then he doesn't have a case and he can't demand to see you." Luke nodded.

"Ok." Rory said quietly.

Luke and Lorelai breathed a sigh of relief, knowing this could really help.

A few days later in the morning, Lorelai and Luke were sat next to Rory as she was having her blood taken. Both were holding onto her hand.

"You're doing great sweetheart. They're nearly done." Luke smiled at her.

"It hurts." Rory sniffed.

"I know hon. But this could really help. You're being so brave. Just hang on in there for the next few seconds." Lorelai said softly.

A few seconds later the nurse smile at Rory. "All done. Well done." She said. She then cleaned it and put a band-aid on it.

They were told it would take a few hours to process the results so they headed to the court house to have a meeting with a lawyer which Richard had set up. They wanted advice in case this case did have to go to court. They met up with Richard outside and went in together. As soon as they went inside, they saw Emily and Chris there.

"What are they doing here? Dad?" Lorelai exclaimed, worried he had set her up again.

"I had no idea they would be here. Maybe they are meeting with a lawyer as well. I heard Emily mention she had a meeting to go to today." Richard said. "I promise you. I didn't know they would be here."

Lorelai nodded, believing them.

Emily then spotted them. "Richard!" She said dumbfounded. "What are you doing here?"

"I've set up a meeting with a lawyer for Lorelai and Luke." He said.

"What? Richard! How could you? Why are you helping them?" Emily exclaimed.

"I've lost my daughter once before. I'm not letting it happen again. What you and Christopher are doing is wrong. I'm going to make sure Rory stays with the people who love her." He said. "Now if you'll excuse us, we've got a meeting to go to." He said brushing past her.

Lorelai, Luke and Rory followed after him quickly, Rory clinging to Luke's hand. "Thanks dad." Lorelai said quietly.

Richard gave her a small smile. "Come on, we'll be late." He said gently.

After the meeting, they were on their way out when they were stopped by Emily again. "You don't think you'll win do you?" Emily exclaimed, directing her question at Lorelai this time. "The court will see that Rory should be with her biological father who is able to provide for her rather than a scruffy diner owner and an irresponsible girl!"

"Look, say what you want about me but leave Luke out of this! He has done nothing but provide for Rory for the past 7 years!" Lorelai said angrily.

"Oh please!" Emily scoffed.

"Have you actually seen Rory?! She's happy, she feels safe, she feels loved! Isn't that what a home should be like? This is pathetic, mom! I'm not going to let you take Rory away from me again! Guess what, I'm not a girl anymore! I grew up as soon as the strip turned pink! You won't win, I'll make sure of that!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"The court will see…" Emily started.

"They will see nothing because this won't even get to court! We still have the results of the DNA test yet!" Lorelai snapped.

"Oh please! We all know they will come back positive." Emily exclaimed.

"Lorelai…" Luke interrupted. "Let's go go." He said gently. "Rory shouldn't hear this."

Lorelai glanced round and saw Rory watching with widened eyes. "I'm sorry." She said ashamed. "You're right, let's go." She said. She took hold of Rory, apologising to her again and then leaving the court house.

Luke glared at Emily. "You really don't know your daughter at all, do you?"

"Of course I know my daughter!" Emily glared back at him.

"You don't know anything about her!" Luke said angrily. "If you did, you would know that Rory means everything to her. God she's spent 7 years looking for her! Well we're not letting you take Rory. No way! Rory belongs with us and it's going to stay like that!"

"You're not even her real dad!" Chris interrupted glaring at Luke.

"Oh don't get me started on you!" Luke said angrily. "Why are you even bothered? You didn't even care about Lorelai enough to stay faithful to her! And then you give your blessing to separate a mother and her daughter. Why would you do that? And now you want to separate them again? You really are a jerk!" Luke then felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked round to see Richard standing there.

"Come on, let's go. Lorelai and Rory will be waiting." Richard said gently. He knew how much this meant to Luke but he knew this wouldn't get him anywhere.

Luke nodded. "Yeah sorry…" He mumbled and followed him out.

They decided to take Rory out for ice cream before going to find out the results to give her a treat and try and forget about the ugly confrontation at the court house. They then slowly headed back to get the results.

"What if it comes back positive?" Luke said quietly so that Rory couldn't hear them.

Lorelai took a deep breath. "Then we go to court and fight for her. I'm not letting them take Rory away a second time. My dad knows some of the best lawyers. We have a great case." She said trying to stay positive.

"Aren't you worried at all?" Luke said.

Lorelai sighed. "Of course I'm worried! But we have to stay positive. We can't think about court yet until we see the results."

Luke nodded. "God I feel sick." He said as they went inside the building.

"So do I." Lorelai said quietly. "But I spent 7 years hoping and believing that I would find Rory and I did. If we believe, who knows what will happen." She said softly.

Luke gave her a small smile. "You're right."

"Lorelai.." Richard said gently.

Lorelai looked up to see a nurse holding a piece of paper.

"The results have come through?" Lorelai asked.

"Yes they've been processed and checked and then rechecked. Here." She said handing them the official looking piece of paper.

Lorelai looked at Luke. "You ready?" She asked quietly.

Luke nodded and then they both looked down at the piece of paper. Lorelai took a short intake of breath.

Sorry to end on a cliffhanger but I have to keep you interested! ;) Hope you liked it! Please keep your reviews coming, I can't believe I'm nearly at 100 already! Thank you so much! :)