Im sorry it's been a bit since I've updated - life sucks sometimes - thats all I can say to that - but I hope you'll bear with me - hoping to update a few times tonight and maybe this weekend :) Please leave reviews - those were the things that helped me realize I should write some more - so if you want more, please review!

"Rory, I can't believe you drove back and forth to school everyday."

Rory just smiled, and said, "I just couldn't bear to leave the house all alone." She turned back to the box of books in front of her. "How on earth do I decide which books I need? I mean, there's no way I can leave all my Dicken's, but then I might not have room for Henry James and Anna Karenina."

She knew what books she wanted to take. That was the least of her worries right now. How on earth can I leave my mother alone? Leaving the only person I wanted for so long? Her mother was looking a bit better – at least a bit better since the night Rory had overhead the breakdown. She looked up to see her mother's bruises on her face fading even more, the dark circles just a little bit less dark under her eyes, and the stitches on her arm were scheduled to come out in a few days.

But her eyes.

There was no sparkle. None of the feisty, playful sparkle in her eyes. Just deep blue sadness. Rory could still see it.

Because of you.

"Is there something wrong, kid?" Her mother asked, and Rory realized she had been staring into her eyes.

Because of you. She suffered and stayed in that horrible situation because of you.

Rory just hid all the emotion from her face, not ever wanting her mother to know that she knew the story. "No, just weird thinking leaving this place."

Folding the last of the clothes, Lorelai smiled, and said, "Oh, you're not leaving this place, silly. In fact, you had better be back here in no less than three weeks to catch up on junk food nutrition and horrible TV shows."

Smiling a fake smile, Rory nodded and turned back to her books. "Well, I think that should be enough. I can always come back and get anymore if I need them."

"I'm glad Paris had an extra bed open in her suite." Her mother said, then smirked, "But Paris, Rory?"

Rory just grimaced, "Well, better to move in an inconvenience her than someone else."

"But PARIS?"

Rolling her eyes, she said, "I know." The fastest way into a dorm at school.

Her mother picked up the last box of clothes. "Mom, are you sure that's not too heavy?"

"I'm not an invalid yet." Lorelai shot behind her as she carried the box to the front room.

Rory turned and looked at her room. The bed was still the same. She was going to miss the security this had offered during the times she didn't know what was happening in her life. The quiet struggles she had suffered here alone without her mother there to comfort her. The times she was sure someone had broken into the house but was too afraid to move. The times she had cried herself to sleep missing her mother. The dent in the wall from her being angry at her mother for leaving her alone. How could you be angry? She asked herself. There was nothing she could do. It wasn't her choice. She almost called out and said she was just going to stay here. Until she remembered. Your mother lived through hell and is still suffering because she tried to protect you. If you're not here, she won't have to protect you. She won't have to worry about you. You won't be the constant reminder of why she went through so much. No, you can't stay.

She turned the light off, and walked outside to where Luke was standing there helping load up her stuff in her car.

"Were you saying goodbye to the books you had to leave here?" Her mother asked, a mocking tone in her voice.

She handed Luke the box of books she was carry, and he said, "You mean she LEFT books here? They're not all in here?"

Rory just laughed at him, "Don't ask." Then she turned to her mom, who was standing there, with her hands in her jean pockets, looking excited and sad at the same time.

"Mom, are you sure you're going to be ok?" She asked out of concern, "I can call Paris and stay another night here if you need me to."

She could tell her mother was just putting on a brave face. She didn't want Rory to go, because they had both been apart so long. Rory could tell she was conflicted. She could read her mother just like a book. Her mother desperately didn't want to be apart from her – but she also wanted Rory to pursue her career and college as best as she could. And you're using that to get out of her mind to give her time to heal. She reasoned.

"I'll be fine, Rory." She said, and pulled Rory into a big hug. She just held her, and Rory settled into her embrace, wanting to never let go. "Don't worry about me. Go be the best student ever."

Her mother pulled away from the hug, but Rory couldn't bear to let her go so quickly. She held on even tighter, and felt her mother's heartbeat against her chest. She felt her mother's breath on her neck. She felt her mother's hands around her. And she just held on. And she thought all of the things she wished she could say. I'm so sorry this happened because of me. I'm sorry I pushed you and dad together. I wish I could stay here forever. I don't want to go. Don't let me go. But instead of saying this, she just said, "Stay safe. I love you." She whispered through tears.

And then she turned to hug Luke, who's strong arms wrapped her completely in a safe and secure hug. He said, "Drive safe."

And she let go of the hug, looked up at him, and whispered so her mother couldn't hear, "Don't let anything happen to her."

He just nodded. And she trusted him.

And with that she got into her car. Buckled up. Waved goodbye. And was gone. And once she was out of sight of the house, she pulled over to the side of the road, and she cried.