I hope you guys are still interested in the story. I am so thankful for all of your support. It means so much to me.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. The New Years Eve party will cause some drama.

A Place to Call Home

Chapter 38: You are Slime

After her amazing kiss with Luke, Lorelai had talked to the kids about it. They all convinced her that they were okay with it. All they wanted was for their mom to be happy. She told them that she didn't know what was going to happen with Luke. They want to take things slow and see where things will go. She was relieved that the kids were okay with it. She didn't want to do anything that would upset them.

Both she and Luke had agreed that they would go on their first real date after Christmas break. Lorelai wanted to spend as much time with the kids as possible. She knew that although Ryan hadn't talked about his dad and what he had overheard, he was still having a hard time dealing with it. Lorelai knew that she needed to talk to him about it, but it was too hard for both of them. She wanted to forget it ever even happened. She hated that Christopher always had a way of making her life difficult. It wasn't fair, and she was tired of it.

Another thing she hated was Gilmore mansion parties, but here she was, standing in front of her parent's house with her kids. It was time for the first annual Gilmore New Year's Eve extravaganza. Lorelai patted herself on the back. She came up with that name all on her own.

"Mom." Rory tapped her on the shoulder. "Several people have gone in ahead of us. Are we just going to stand here all night?"

"Sounds good to me." Ryan answered. He had complained all the way to Hartford.

Lorelai felt the same way, but she had promised her father that they would be there. "We are going to go in." Lorelai told her kids but didn't move.

"Next week?" Rory said sarcastically.

"Do you think she will have apple tarts?" Ruby asked. "I really want one."

"I hope so. That's the best part about a Gilmore party." Lorelai kissed her little girl's forehead. "Let's do this." She held onto Ruby's hand and knocked on the door. She took a deep breath and sighed. "Here we go." She said quietly.

The door opened and instead of a maid, Emily was standing in front of them.

"Mom." Lorelai was surprised.

"Lorelai." Emily didn't know what to say to her daughter. "Kids." She smiled. "Come in." They all followed her into the house.

"Hilda, take their coats." She told one of her maids. Hilda took their coats as she was told. "Oh I think you have all grown three inches." Emily took turns hugging each grandchild. She shared a look with Lorelai.

"Grandma, may I have an apple tart?" Ruby asked.

"I made them just for you." She told the little girl. "You two take her into the dining area. There should be some on the table." She told Rory and Ryan. They both nodded and took Ruby with them. Lorelai and Emily were left standing in the foyer awkwardly. "Lorelai, I think we should talk."

Lorelai shook her head. "I'm not here to talk, mom. I came because dad asked me to. I suggest you spend your time with your grandchildren." Lorelai walked past her mother. Emily sighed. She needed to talk to her daughter.

"Lorelai." Richard greeted her.

"Hey dad."

"I saw the children. They were already devouring apple tarts."

"Lead me in that direction. I want to join them." Lorelai laughed as she made her way to find her children.

"Did you talk to her?" Richard asked his wife.

"No. She doesn't want to have anything to do with me." Emily said sadly. "I don't think I'll ever be able to fix our relationship." The realization was extremely hard for her.

In the dining room, Rory and Ruby were drinking punch and enjoying snacks. "I hope you have saved some for me." Lorelai told them.

"They are all mine." Ruby giggled.

"No way." Lorelai tickled her. "You have to share with mommy."

"Okay you can have one." Ruby handed her one.

Lorelai took a bite. "Delicious."

"That's what we said." Rory told her.

"Hey." Lorelai looked around. "Where is your brother?"

Rory and Ruby both shrugged. "Probably trying to hide from all the old women. You know they always flirt with him."

"Well yes because he is always the most handsome." Lorelai continued to look for him but figured Rory was right. He was probably hiding, like she wanted to do. Neither one of them wanted to be there.

Ryan knew that he shouldn't have stolen a glass of champagne, but he needed something to take the edge off. He didn't want to be there. After he finished his first glass, he decided against his better judgement to take another one. He would be able to hide it from his mom. She would never know.

"Ruby." Rory called for her little sister as she walked up the stairs. She had lost her in the crowd. A lady told Rory she thought she saw the little girl go up the stairs. "Ruby." She called out again as she opened the door to her mother's old bedroom.

Ruby was staring at the dollhouse.

"What are you doing?"

"I wish grandma would let us take it home." She told her big sister. "I think it is so cool."

Rory smiled as she remembered her mom talking about the dollhouse. Lorelai told the girls that her mom barely let her play with it, but it was still her favorite toy. "You know she won't. We have asked her before."

"It should be played with. Mommy would love to have it at home."

Rory knew her little sister also would love to have it at home. "I doubt she will ever give it to us."

Ruby sighed. "Can I take this picture?" Ruby asked as she held up a picture of Lorelai and the dollhouse.

"Sure. Why do you want it?"

"Mommy looks happy."

"Here. You can put it in my bag."

Ruby slipped the picture into Rory's bag. She was happy to have it.

"We could play with it now." Rory told her.

"Really?" Ruby asked excitedly.

"Yeah." Rory knelt down next to Ruby.

Ruby handed her a doll. "Thanks, Rory." She was so excited. She really did look up to her big sister. She wanted to be just like her one day.

Lorelai took a large gulp of her champagne. She was already tired, and they hadn't been there very long. People kept asking about her divorce.

"Lorelai, sweetheart." A blonde woman came up to her and gave her the fakest hug. "I am so surprisee to see you here. I heard you moved to that tiny little town because your broken heart was just too much for you."

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Vivian that's not the reason we moved."

"Oh honey you don't have to lie to me. We are friends. I know all about divorce. I mean I'm on my third husband. After the second divorce it's like changing your underwear. It is no big deal."

Lorelai looked at Vivian as if she had lost her mind. She didn't even know how to respond.

"Oh Lorelai there you are." Emily said as she pulled her daughter's arm. "I'm sorry Vivian. I need my daughter."

"Oh of course Emily."

Lorelai looked at her mother as she led her out of the room. "What is it? Are the kids okay?"

"Of course." Emily let her daughter's arm go. "You looked like you needed to be rescued."

Lorelai gave her mother a look. "Thank you but I was fine."

"Those people are driving you crazy. I can tell."

"No more than usual. These people have driven me crazy since birth." With that said, Lorelai walked away from her mother.

Emily sighed. She felt defeated. She wanted Lorelai to know that she was trying. She wanted to make amends.

Ryan was feeling a little tipsy, but the champagne was helping. The party wasn't so bad. He had been able to stay away from everyone, and didn't think anyone had noticed.

He grabbed another drink off of the server tray. He was relieved the servers weren't saying anything.

"Whoa there, buddy," Christopher grabbed his arm. "Last time I checked you aren't 21." He took the drink.

Ryan scowled and pushed away from his dad. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm the one that will ask the questions." Christopher crossed his arms, trying to play the stern parent card.

"You don't get to ask me any questions. You can't parent me." Ryan yelled and stumbled.

"I'm your parent. I think that gives me the right to parent you." Christopher argued but tried to remain as calm as possible.

"No." Ryan pushed back again. "You are slime."

"Ryan, watch your tone." Christopher was beginning to get embarrassed. He knew people were beginning to hear them. He touched his son's arm. "Let's go get you some coffee."

"Don't touch me." Ryan yelled again. "You big fat lying jerk." He spat.

"Where is your mom?" Christopher looked around.

"She doesn't want to see you. Stay away from her. She hates you and so do I."

"Ryan Gilmore." Christopher yelled.

People began to make their way to where the two were arguing. Richard and Emily included.

"Go away. I know what you did. You are the worst person on the planet. You have never cared about us." Ryan looked around at everyone. "You are nothing but a liar and all these people think you are an upstanding citizen, but you aren't. You put mom through hell."

Richard stepped between them. "Ryan, Christopher. What is going on here?"

"Oh nothing, grandpa. Just spending time with my dad." Ryan stumbled again.

Lorelai made her way into the room, realizing one of the voices belonged to Ryan. "Ryan." She was then surprised to see Christopher. "Christopher, what are you doing here?" She wasn't happy about it.

"Ruining our lives like always." Ryan answered for his father.

"Honey," She touched his shoulder. "What's going on?" She could tell that he wasn't himself. "Have you been drinking?" She already knew the answer. She could smell the champagne all over his breath.

Ryan didn't say anything.

"Come on, hon, let's go get some coffee." She was concerned about her son.

"No." He pulled away from her. "I'm fine."

"You are not fine." Christopher argued.

"Shut up." Ryan yelled.

"Ryan." Emily finally spoke up. She couldn't watch this any longer.

"He doesn't get to talk to me."

"Ryan we should go to the kitchen." Emily encouraged.

"No grandma. I don't want to. I want everyone to know how awful he is."

Lorelai tried to intervene. "This is not the place to discuss this." She said sternly.

Rory and Ruby made their way back downstairs. Rory was surprised to see everyone standing around Ryan.

"There is never a good place to talk about this. He is a gambler, a cheater, and a thief. I hate him for ruining our family." He looked at Christopher. "I never want to see you again." He ran out of the house.

Christopher started to follow him.

"No. You aren't going after him. You have done enough." Lorelai stopped him.

"He is mad at me. I can't believe you told him."

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "I didn't tell him. He overheard us. I can't believe you came here."

"I needed to see you."

"And I can't believe you invited him. It was probably all a setup. It always is with you." She accused her mother.

"I didn't invite him." Emily defending herself.

"Whatever." Lorelai sighed. "Just stay away from us Christopher." Lorelai leaves.

Richard stops Christopher from going after her. "You need to go."

"Richard you don't understand."

"You aren't welcome in this house." Richard informed him.

Christopher looks around and finally decides to leave.

Emily turns her attention to Rory and Ruby. "Girls why don't you go back upstairs."

"What's going on?"

"Daddy left again." Ruby noticed. He was always leaving.

"Well that is okay. Let's go upstairs." Emily walked up with them.

Lorelai comes back inside. "I can't find him."

"We will find him." Richard assured her.

"My car is missing." Christopher walked back into the house.

"What?" Lorelai was terrified. "He's been drinking."

Alright, let me know what you thought!

By the way, Nancy the title of this chapter is just for you!