After breakfast the next morning, Lorelai filled Rory in on the details of the trip. Rory asked Lorelai and Luke how they would announce their engagement.

"Well, I don't want it to spread around town" Lorelai answered. "I have to tell my parents first, and Sookie. And oh, we should call Mia to tell her."

Luke agreed. "Sounds like a plan."

Lorelai called Emily and Richard and asked them if it would be okay for her and Luke to come over that afternoon. Emily told her that would be fine.

"We can't let Babette or Patty know yet, they'll spread it around town." Lorelai muttered as the three of them walked out the front door.

Rory glanced over at Babette and Morey's house, hoping she wouldn't find them sitting on their porch. They weren't there.

When they arrived at Sookie and Jackson's house, Lorelai told Luke he could call Mia to tell her.

"You don't want to be the one to tell her?" Luke asked.

"I don't mind you being the one to tell her. You've known her longer. I have to be the one to tell Sookie."

Luke nodded. He pulled out his cell phone and looked around to make sure no one was walking around listening.

Lorelai knocked on the door and she and Rory waited for Sookie or Jackson to answer.

Jackson came to the door, "Lorelai! Rory! What a nice surprise! Come on in!"

Rory and Lorelai smiled and stepped inside. Lorelai kept her left hand in a fist; she didn't want Sookie or Jackson to notice the ring before she told them.

"Is Sookie here?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah. She's just upstairs changing Martha." Jackson replied.

Lorelai nodded. "How are the kids?"

"Fine. Two kids are hard to keep up with but we're managing."

They all took seats in the living room.

"Sookie tells me that you and Luke were at Martha's Vineyard?"

"Yep. We had a great time. It was nice to relax." Lorelai replied.

Sookie came downstairs, carrying Martha. It took a few seconds for her to notice Lorelai and Rory.

"You're back! How was the trip?"

Lorelai grinned. "It was wonderful. The most amazing thing happened there."

"Oh my gosh what?" Sookie asked.

"Guess."

"Mom," Rory groaned. "Just tell her."

"That's no fun." Lorelai pouted.

"Just tell me. I'm no good at guessing." Sookie said.

"All right. Drum roll please." Lorelai looked at Rory.

Rory rolled her eyes.

"Fine no drum roll." Lorelai sighed and looked at Sookie. She lifted her left hand slowly. "Luke proposed and I said yes!" She held her hand out.

Sookie let out a high pitched scream which caused Martha to burst into tears. "Oh no, I'm sorry sweetie."

Jackson stood up and held out his arms, offering to take Martha. Sookie smiled at him then handed Martha to him. "Congratulations." Jackson told Lorelai before he left the room.

Before Lorelai could stand up, Sookie was squealing and rushing over to give her a hug. They only hugged for a few seconds before Sookie pulled away, "Let me see the ring!"

Lorelai held her hand out and Sookie took it gently. "Oh my gosh it's gorgeous." Sookie gushed.

"I know. Rory went with Luke to pick it out, but he was the one who chose it."

Sookie grinned and gestured for Rory to stand up. When Rory did, Sookie pulled her into a hug.

"Oh," Rory gasped, not expecting it.

Sookie pulled back, "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. How's Yale?"

"Yale's fine." Rory responded.

"And how's your boyfriend, Logan right?"

Rory nodded. "He's good, he's graduating this year."

They sat back down and chatted. Sookie informed Lorelai about the happenings of the Inn.

"My surgery isn't scheduled yet so I was thinking I might come in for a few hours each day." Lorelai said.

"Sure, if you're up to it." Sookie said.

"I am. I'll come in tomorrow morning." Lorelai decided to change the subject. "I have to tell you about the trip. It was so beautiful there, Sook. The beach was nice but we also went to this Japanese garden…"

Meanwhile, Luke called Mia. The phone rang four times before Mia answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mia, it's Luke. How are you?"

"Hello Lucas. I'm well thank you. How are you and Lorelai?"

"We're fine. Better than fine actually… I asked Lorelai to marry me and she said yes." Luke grinned.

"Oh that's wonderful. I talked to Lorelai on the phone last week. She told me that you were going to Martha's Vineyard. Did you propose there?" Mia replied.

"Yeah, on the beach," Luke said gently.

"Oh how nice."

"Yeah,"

It was silent for a few moments before Mia said: "Lorelai also told me that she's done chemo and having surgery soon."

"Um yeah, we don't know that date of the surgery yet though."

"All right, call me when you know."

"I will. Bye Mia."

"Bye dear."

Luke put his cell phone back in his pocket and walked up to the door and knocked.

Inside the house, Sookie, Lorelai and Rory heard the knock.

"Oh that's probably Luke. He was calling Mia." Lorelai said.

Sookie got up to open the door for him. After she opened the door, Luke didn't have time to greet her before she pulled on his arm. Once he was inside, she threw her arms around him.

"Congratulations!" She shrieked.

It took Luke a second to reciprocate the hug. He was reminded of the time she hugged him after he told her that he and Lorelai had kissed.

"Thanks." He said quietly.

When they pulled apart, Sookie took hold of his arm again and pulled him to a chair.

"I want to hear all about the proposal from your point of view." She said excitedly.

Luke glanced at Lorelai who shrugged. Luke started to tell Sookie about the proposal.

A couple hours later, Lorelai, Rory and Luke were at the Gilmore's. Rory still had some time before she had to head back to Yale, so she decided to come along. The maid opened the door. Lorelai didn't recognise her; she figured they must have hired a new maid since they visited.

"Hi. I'm Emily and Richard's daughter and this is my daughter and my boyfriend." Lorelai greeted her.

Luke noticed that she had said 'boyfriend' but he figured she didn't want Emily to overhear the word 'fiancé.

"Oh yes of course, Miss Gilmore was here last night." The maid said gesturing to Rory. "Come on in."

"Shannon, who's at the door?" Emily's voice carried through the foyer.

"Hi Mom," Lorelai said as Emily appeared.

"Oh, hello Lorelai, Rory and Luke, I almost forgot you were visiting.

"Well I wanted to tell you something. Can we sit down?" Lorelai kept her left hand out of Emily's line of vision.

"Your father's in his office. Should I get him? Is this something he should know too?"

"Yes." Lorelai answered simply.

Emily gestured for them to sit in the living room then walked away.

Once they were seated, Shannon asked them if they would like a drink.

"Oh no we're fine." Lorelai glanced at Rory and Luke to confirm. They agreed.

Shannon left. Emily and Richard walked into the room a few minutes later.

"How was your trip?" Richard asked as he took his seat.

"Great. Thanks for letting us stay at the house. It was nice to get away and relax for a bit." Lorelai replied.

"It was very nice. Thank you." Luke chimed in.

"Did Shannon ask if you wanted a drink?" Emily questioned.

"She did, don't worry Mom. Sit, we have something to tell you remember."

"All right," Emily muttered. She took a seat next to Richard.

"So," Lorelai took a deep breath.

"Is everything all right?" Richard sounded concerned.

Luke gave Lorelai a look that said 'just tell them'.

"Well at the Vineyard, on the beach, Luke asked me to marry him and I said yes." Lorelai held up her left hand, grinning.

"Oh," Emily said gently.

"This is a good thing." Lorelai muttered almost as if to remind them of the fact. She knew that things were better between her parents and Luke; she just didn't expect this reaction.

"That's wonderful, congratulations." Richard said sincerely.

"Thanks Dad." Lorelai smiled but kept her eyes on her mother.

"Yes, it is. I'm very happy for you… for the both of you." Emily said slowly.

"Are you sure about that?" Lorelai frowned.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm sure." Emily huffed.

"Because I know you haven't always been okay with Luke and me… I mean you haven't been supportive of our relationship."

Luke put his hand on Lorelai's knee, trying to calm her.

"Yes, in the past I wasn't very supportive and I apologise for that. But I've seen how supportive of you he is and how much he cares for you and Rory. I know you love each other very much. You're happy and I'm happy for you."

Lorelai believed her. "Okay. Thank you… it's just you had a bit of a delayed reaction and you looked upset."

"I just wasn't excepting that announcement."

"What were you expecting?"

"Lorelai, we're happy for you and Luke. Can't we just leave it at that?" Richard asked.

"I guess."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Rory spoke up:

"Hey Grandpa, I'm going back to Yale in a bit and I wanted to ask you if you have a certain book that I need for class."

"Certainly, what book is it?"

Rory gave him a look, hoping he would understand that she was trying to give Emily and Lorelai some time alone.

"Why don't we go look for it?" Richard took the hint.

Rory smiled and she and Richard left the room.

"Uh I'll go wait in the car." Luke said quickly. He pressed a quick kiss to Lorelai's forehead then left.

"Lorelai listen," Emily said then stopped.

Lorelai just looked at her.

"I just didn't know whether to expect good news or bad news. I just wasn't expecting an engagement announcement so soon."

"Oh." Lorelai looked away. She didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry… since your diagnosis I just keep imagining what else can go wrong. I should try to stay positive but I can't." Emily admitted.

"Well that's normal Mom. I have thoughts like that too. It's hard to stay strong. But the odds of me beating this are pretty high. After surgery, I'll have radiation then as long as nothing goes wrong, I'll be cancer free." Lorelai said slowly.

Emily pursed her lips. "You're not planning the wedding now are you?"

Lorelai knitted her brows. "No, of course not, that would be way too stressful.

"All right then." Emily breathed a sigh of relief.

Lorelai thought for a few seconds. "When we do plan the wedding, would you like to be involved?"

Emily stared at her. "Would you be okay with me being involved?"

"Yes. That's why I asked." Lorelai remembered how upset Emily was when she wasn't involved in the wedding planning for her and Max.

Emily's eyes were shiny, she looked as if she were about to cry. "I would like to be involved." She said.

"Good. I'll let you know when we start planning… and I'll let you know when I get the date for my surgery." Lorelai stood up.

"Lorelai, wait a minute." Emily said before Lorelai could walk away.

Lorelai turned.

"Thank you."

Lorelai knew what her mother was thanking her for. For talking to her and for promising to let her be involved in the wedding planning.

"You're welcome." Lorelai whispered. She walked over to Emily.

Emily stared at her before she reached out. Lorelai was the one to initiate a hug, surprising herself and Emily. It was a very quick hug, neither of them exactly comfortable with a longer hug.

Lorelai smiled softly before she turned and left the room. After she was out of sight, Emily reached into her pocket and pulled out a tissue to wipe at the tears on her face.

Lorelai found Rory and Richard in his office.

"Logan and I were talking about maybe going to Asia a couple days after Christmas, but I don't know… I'll have to see how Mom's doing then." Rory was saying.

Lorelai stayed out of sight. The door was open, but she couldn't see them from where she was standing. She knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but she didn't walk away.

"Well that sounds nice. I understand that your mother is your priority, but I think it's important to take care of yourself too, relax and have fun too." Richard replied.

"Yeah, you're right. We'll just have to see though." Rory muttered.

Lorelai bit her lip. She hated that Rory wasn't putting herself first. She understood it, but she also felt a little guilty and remorseful.

Rory and Richard were silent, so Lorelai walked back towards the living room to make it look like she was just coming their way now.

Just as she turned around and started walking back towards the office, Richard and Rory were walking towards her.

"Hey kid, ready to leave?" Lorelai asked.

"Yep," Rory responded. She gave Richard a hug then the three of them walked to the foyer. Emily was standing there, appearing to have been waiting for them.

"Bye Grandma." Rory hugged Emily too.

"Bye Rory. Drive safe."

Lorelai said a quick goodbye to her parents then the two of them were out the door.

"Are you and Grandma okay?" Rory asked as they walked to the Jeep.

"We're fine, don't worry hon."

Rory gave her a small smile. They got in the Jeep, Lorelai in the passenger side and Rory in the back.

Luke looked over at Lorelai after she had put her seatbelt on. "Everything okay?"

"Yep," She answered and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

Luke started the Jeep and they headed home. Once they got home, Rory got her bags and packed her car. She said goodbye to Lorelai and Luke and left.

Babette came outside and the three of them chatted for a bit before Lorelai mentioned the engagement. Babette hugged them both and Lorelai told her it was okay to spread the news.

A couple weeks later, the day of Lorelai's lumpectomy came. At the hospital, before she was taken in to prep for the surgery, she talked to her loved ones.

Emily and Richard told that everything would be okay and they both squeezed her hand gently.

Luke pulled her into a hug. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.

Lorelai pressed her face into his chest. He let her go when she lifted her head.

"I love you too." She told him. He gave her a peck on the lips.

Rory and Lorelai both reached for each other.

"Everything's going to be fine." Rory whispered.

Lorelai wanted to say 'I know' but she didn't.

"Love you." Rory said when she pulled away.

"I love you too."

Rory kissed her mother's cheek.

Lorelai took once last glance at her family before the nurse lead her away.

Thirty minutes later, after Lorelai's surgery had started, Logan appeared.

Luke was sitting a chair away from Rory and he leaned over and tapped her arm as she wasn't looking the right way. She looked up and gasped when she saw Logan. He held out his arms and she walked into them.

"I thought you had a class?" She said.

"I left early. I wanted to be here for you."

"But-" Rory started.

Logan put a finger to her lips. "No buts. I want to be here with you."

Rory just smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me Ace."

They sat down. Five minutes later, Christopher showed up.

Emily was the first one to see him. "Christopher, nice to see you," She said flatly.

"Hi Emily, Richard," Christopher looked at them before he looked at Rory.

Rory stood up and walked up to him. "You came." She said in a low voice. She had told him the date of the surgery.

Christopher looked at Luke briefly before he answered Rory. "I wanted to be here, for you and your Mom. Is she already in surgery?"

"Yeah, they should have started a few minutes ago." Rory said slowly.

Christopher didn't say anything.

"I'm glad you came." Rory wrapped her arms around him.

Chris held her close and kissed the top of her head. He sat on Rory's other side.

It was silent as they waited. Luke broke the silence by asking anyone if they wanted a drink or snack.

"A coffee with a little bit of cream would be nice, thank you." Emily said.

"I'll take a black coffee." Richard said.

"I'm good." Logan and Rory both said.

Christopher remained silent.

"You?" Luke asked him.

"Ah, no thanks I'm fine."

Luke nodded and left. When he returned fifteen minutes later, they were still silent. He handed Emily and Richard their coffees, he got a tea for himself.

"I don't think Mom would want us to be all nervous and silent like this." Rory muttered.

"I agree." Luke said. "And there's nothing to worry about." He added.

"It's a standard procedure… I looked it up on the internet." Said Richard,

"That's right, he showed me." Emily added.

Rory smiled, amused at the thought of Emily and Richard using the internet.

Christopher cleared his throat. They all looked at him. "Um, I don't believe we've been properly introduced." He said to Logan.

"Uh we kind of met before." Logan said quietly.

"But that wasn't a proper meeting."

"Right…"

Rory decided to not let things get too awkward. "Logan, this is my dad Christopher, Dad, my boyfriend Logan."

"I'd shake your hand but…" Logan gestured to Rory, who was sitting between him and Chris.

"That's all right." Christopher said. "Tell me, what are your intentions with my daughter?"

Logan was taken aback.

Christopher laughed. "I was kidding."

Luke glared at him. He didn't think it was funny. You're gonna act like a fathe now of all times? He thought.

The six of them chatted about Yale, Logan's interests and other simple topics like the weather. Luke looked at his watch.

"The surgery should be done by now." He said looking towards the end of the hall.

"Do you know how long it usually takes?" Richard asked.

"Yeah, her oncologist said it should take no more than forty to forty five minutes. They're probably moving her into the recovery room now."

They waited ten more minutes before they all started to silently worry that something had gone wrong. Luke stood up abruptly and walked away.

Rory frowned. She figured he was just going to the bathroom, but she was worried about him.

Author's not: I'm leaving it there on a cliff-hanger again…
Thank you for reading, reviewing, favouriting and following this story. As always, reviews are appreciated.