A Week Later- Hartford Funeral Home-
"We meet here today to honor and pay tribute to the life of Richard James Gilmore, and to express our love and admiration for him."
Reverend Skinner takes a deep breath as he pulls his thoughts together, and looks back down at his carefully planned notes, "Richard died peacefully last week at Hartford Memorial, with only daughter, Lorelai Victoria Danes and son in law, Lucas William Danes, by his side."
As he speaks, his eyes wonder to the front row where Lorelai is being held by Luke's strong arms.
Lorelai hasn't eaten in days and has barely slept at all.
The whole town doesn't even know about the amazing pregnancy, because Lorelai has barely said a word to anyone, not even Luke, since the day Richard passed.
Reverend Skinner clears his throat, making Lorelai come out of her daze, "Lorelai, would you please come up and say a few words?"
Lorelai nods as she stands, practically falling over.
Luke catches her before she hits the ground.
He holds her up as they make their way to podium.
Lorelai looks at Luke with sad but loving eyes before turning to the guests, "Hi. So this is really hard for me. My father was a loving, brilliant, daring, God loving, larger than life man. He loved stamps, books, his five grandchildren and his six great grandchildren, and my stepmom. But he also loved me more than anything. He took my side when I got pregnant at fifteen, then pregnant again at twenty one. He approved of my marriage when no one in that rich society would. He loved my husband. He was like a son to him until his last breath. My father let me go to school and let me live like a normal kid. He let me chase my dreams and let me wear jeans…" Lorelai pauses to lean her head on Luke's shoulder and let out a soft sob.
Once Lorelai gains her composure, she looks back up at all the people she loves and speaks again, " The day he died, I had found out something spectacular. Once I found out, Luke and I rushed over to tell him. Because, we were unsure of how long dad had left. He was so excited…" She pauses again to cry and wipes her eyes quickly, "… I told him that I finally was going to give him grandkids one more time. Three. I'm having three this time. He told us that he was so proud of the both of us. And that we will be such amazing parents again. Those were his last words. He died peacefully knowing that we would be alright, and that I'd have something or mostly someone to worry about when he was gone."
Lorelai takes the ultrasound photo out of her notebook and takes a deep breath as she holds it up for the attendees to see, "When he died, he had let go of my hand, but he didn't let go of the picture. It was his way of saying that he'll still be around for his grand babies in spirit. But it was time for him to let go. He did his duties as a father and I couldn't be prouder of all he's done. Thank you everyone for coming. It would mean the world to him to know how much he was loved."
Lorelai lets go of Luke and bolts out of the room, tears streaming from her baby blues.
20 Minutes Later-
After every Danes family member has finished speaking on behalf of Richard, Luke goes on a search for Lorelai.
When he sees Lorelai from across the room, he notices a tall man in an expensive suit introducing himself to his wife.
Lorelai forces herself to shake the lawyers hand, "Nice to meet you Daniel. Thanks for coming. What can I do for you?"
Daniel nods and pulls out a legal pad, "I have your fathers will. It contains things you need to know."
Lorelai takes a deep breath and reaches out for Luke who suddenly comes to her aid, "Go on."
Daniel sighs, "Lorelai Victoria Danes, your father has left behind his fortune, his home, and the cars. He has also wanted you to know the secrets he has hid from you all of your life."
Luke grips Lorelais hand tightly as Daniel speaks again, "Before you were born, Richard had the house built in Stars Hollow. He had the town hide that from both you and Lucas. Next, your father and mother were actually extremely close to Lucas's parents. Your father grew up with his father, and your mother with his."
Lorelais eyes widen, "Hold on, but Emily hated Luke's family. What in the world are you talking about?"
Before Daniel could speak, a soft voice speaks over the silence, "Lorelai."
Lorelai looks over across the room, to a older version of herself and stares questionably at the woman, "Wait, you're Pennilyn Lott. My dad talked a lot about you. What are you doing here?"
Pennilyn looks toward Daniel and shoots him a confused look, "Daniel, did you not tell her?"
Daniel rolls his eyes, "Lyn, I was going to but you interrupted me."
Pennilyn looks back at Lorelai, "Hon, I'm your real mother."
Lorelai looks over at Luke, tears filling her eyes, then back at her newfound mother, "How?"
Pennilyn sighs, "Sweetheart, Emily took you and your father away from me."
Lorelai looks at her with a confused face, "What do you mean?"
Pennilyn takes a deep breath, "Your father was married to me. And Emily came in and wrecked our marriage. She promised him that she was perfect for him and could give him the perfect city life. Your father didn't want any of that. He was a small town man. He hated the city. She wanted to make him something he wasn't. He didn't want her. Emily forced him to leave me because the socialites wouldn't except me. So he was forced to marry her. She slept in my bed, right beside the love of my life. He changed for her. But he called me every night, telling me he missed me and that he loved me so much. He just wanted to get away from her so badly."
Lorelai looks at her feet then back at her mother, "How did I get here if you and dad had been forced to separate?"
Pennilyn bites her lip, "After he left, I found out I was pregnant with you. I told him and he was overjoyed. But Emily overheard our conversation, and forced me to give you to her. I fought her on it and she didn't give in. Emily said that when you were born, that I had to give you to her. If I wanted you to live a normal life I had to."
Pennilyn looks up at Lorelai as she fights the tears, "We had lived with William and Rebecca during that time. They did everything in their power to protect you and I."
Luke gasps, "Mom and dad? You lived with them?"
Pennilyn nods, "Yes sweetie. We were actually best friends with them. We grew up with them in Stars Hollow. We were also at your birth because your mother insisted that we'd be there."
Luke sits back and rubs his forehead as he takes in the new information.
Lorelai takes a long breath, "The day I was born, did you feel like your heart was ripped out of your chest as I was taken away from you?"
Pennilyn nods, "More than anything. I felt like I lost the other half of me. I had already lost your daddy, but I had to lose you too."
Lorelai shakes her head, "She ruined my life. She hurt my children. Your youngest granddaughter is blind because of her. I was kidnaped by a man who she had forced on me as a teenager and I have so many scars left. The same guy she forced on me, almost killed your son in law, in our house. She kidnaped our three youngest children. She ruined my marriage, but luckily for us we have been able to patch it back up and are expecting triplets. And I can go on and on about the shit she did. But she shouldn't have been in my life. I don't care that those idiots at the club didn't want people from Stars Hollow living in their snobby ass town. You deserved to be with your family. I needed you, and Emily took that away."
Pennilyn takes Lorelais hand gives it a gentle squeeze, "You got me now kid. I'm not leaving you and I'm not letting anyone take you from me this time."
Lorelai stands up and pulls her mother into a tight hug, "Promise?"
Pennilyn nods and kisses her daughters soft brown hair, "I promise."
Luke looks up at the loving embrace of the reunited mother and daughter and feels tears fall down his scruffy cheeks.
Lorelai pulls away for a moment to look at her mothers tired face and smiles a slight smile in the midst of her heartbreak, "Thank you. Thank you for coming back. Dad would be happy you're here."
Pennilyn smiles slightly, "I know kid. I know."
A few seconds later, four young brown haired children run to their grandmothers side.
Newton pulls on Lorelais dress and gives her a big grin, "Mammaw!! Can we go play with Melly??"
Olivianna and Madelyn give her their best puppy dog eyes, "Please mammaw??"
Mia walks over with Theodore and rolls her eyes at her little sister and cousins, "Really guys? Mammaw doesn't have time for this."
Lorelai looks up at her mother who is in awe of all the tiny children who look a lot like her, "Mom. I'd like you to meet these five beautiful children who I have the honor of calling my grandchildren. I know it's strange to meet the offspring of my loin fruit before meeting the loin fruit. But they beat them to it.
Pennilyn smiles bright, "Lorelai, they are beautiful."
Lorelai giggles and points to them, "My oldest is Amelia, she's eight and Rory's oldest with Marty. Then the two sets of twins. Rory's youngest, Madelyn and Theodore. They are both four. Then you've got Aprils only children with Ray right now, Newton and Olivianna. They are the same age as are Maddie and Theo."
Pennilyn looks at Lorelai her eyes wide as Lorelai takes the words out of her mouth, "Yes the girls weirdly got pregnant at the same time. And gave birth to them the same day."
Pennilyn smiles wide at her only daughter and looks down at the five sets of blue eyes looking up at her, "Hi sweet babies. I'm your great Mammaw."
Newt smiles wide at her and reaches out to shake her hand, "Hi new Mammaw. I'm Newton James. But you can call me Newt…," He pauses to grab his twin sisters hand and points to her, ",… And this is my sister Olivianna Jasmine. You can call her Liv."
Liv giggles, "Newty gets nervous. It's nice to meet you new Mammaw."
Lorelai smiles wide at the joy on both of the twins and her mothers face.
Maddie comes over with her twin brother Theodore and smiles brightly with a curtsy, "Hi new Mammaw. I'm Madelyn Isabelle and this is my brother Theodore Vincent. You can call me Maddie and him Theo. I know Mammaw has always wanted a mommy like you. So I'm glad you're here."
Lorelai looks up into her mothers matching set of baby blues, and sees her eyes are full of tears.
Mia looks over at her great Mammaw and ruins right over into her arms, giving her the biggest hug she could give, making Lorelai find Luke's strong shoulder to lean on as she sobs quietly.
5 Minutes Later-
Rory, Marty, April and Ray walk over to the reunion and they all look confused.
Rory speaks first, "Mom, what's going on?"
April chimes in next, "Yeah. You guys okay? Not a dry eye in the house."
Ray chuckles at April and Rory smacks him in the chest, "Ray shut up. Mom I'm serious. Dad do you get it?"
Luke nods at her as he gives his son in law a stern look, "Yes Pumpkin. I get it."
Lorelai squeezes Luke's shoulder as she looks over at Pennilyn, "Girls, I'd like you to meet your biological grandmother, Pennilyn Angela Lott Gilmore. And Mom, I'd like you to meet your oldest granddaughters, Lorelai Leigh Danes-Crocker and Aprilanne Marie Elizabeth Danes-Romano. I gave birth to Rory, as you know from the town, at sixteen. And also a town relayed message, April at twenty-one."
Pennilyn looks at the oldest Danes Girls with a sweet smile and reaches out for their hands, "Hello my beautiful girls. Finally I get to meet you after years of waiting. You both look just like your mother with a touch of your father."
Rory giggles, "You obviously haven't met our younger sister Melody yet. She's literally the spitting image of mom."
April nods with a soft smile, "You'll love her. She's as witty as mom. But a reminder, she's blind because of Emily so she can't see you."
Lorelai smiles with a sense of pride, "They are right. She's my twin. As she is a twin to to her brother Lucas junior."
Pennilyn grins, "You had twins too?"
Lorelai nods happily, "Luke and I got home from our honeymoon when I took the pregnancy test. It's been fourteen years since they were born. We've been married fourteen years now. It feels like it's been forever ago."
Luke softly places a kiss on to Lorelais forehead and smiles, "It does feel like centuries ago. We were in our thirties and finally got to have our happily ever after. Even though sometimes it didn't feel like it because of our problems. But it was the greatest thing we ever did. I still remember how beautiful you were on our wedding day."
Lorelai feels a tear roll down her cheek, "That was a magical day babe."
A few minutes later, the twins in question come running in with both of their brother in laws in tow.
Both Ray and Marty are switching between who guides Mel.
Once Mel is standing in front of Lorelai and Luke, she feels her mothers arm rap around her shoulders.
Lorelai takes a deep breath, "Melody Victoria Rose, Lucas William Richard Danes, I have someone you both need to meet. Raymond, Marty, you too."
Mel nods, "Okay mom. Who is it?"
Lorelai smiles, "It's your real Mammaw kid. Her name is Pennilyn."
Junior giggles, "Papaw talked about you a lot."
Pennilyn holds back tears, "He did?"
Mel nods, "He did Mammaw. All the time. He missed you."
Lorelai looks over at Luke, who's eyes are filled with tears still and whispers to him, "Baby are you okay?"
Luke nods quickly while holding back tears, "Yeah honey I'm fine."
April takes Rays hand in hers and turns to her grandmother, "Mammaw, I'd like you to meet my husband Raymond. But we call him Ray."
Ray extends his hand to Pennilyn, "Hi Pennilyn. It's really great to meet you. My wife is elated to have you officially in her life."
Pennilyn suddenly pulls Ray in for a bear hug and holds on for a few minutes before pulling away and giving him a soft smile, "I'm pleased to meet you Ray. You're really funny. I've seen every episode of Everybody Loves Raymond."
Marty walks over and pushes Ray out of the way with a laugh, "Somebody's being a kiss ass."
Rory laughs too, "Mammaw, this is my husband Marty."
Pennilyn grins, "My dear boy, you are quite a vision. Rory is a very lucky lady."
Marty blushes and he goes to give her a soft hug, "Thank you. That's very kind of you to say."
Daniel walks over and nods his head at a guard standing over by the door before walking back over to Lorelai and the rest of the family, "Lyn, are you going to tell her or not? It's the biggest secret of them all. She needs to know,"
Pennilyn turns her head to him and whispers, "Why so impatient dear? Richard wanted me to tell her at the right time."
Lorelai looks up from her four youngest grandchildren, "Mom what's going on?"
Daniel says in annoyed tone, "Your mother is trying to not tell you. But it's an urgent matter. Get on with it Lyn."
Pennilyn takes a deep breath, "Lorelai, you are in line to be the successor of your grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the second."
Lorelais mouth drops open and she puts a hand over her mouth in disbelief, "What the hell…"
Pennilyn nods, "Hon, you are the future queen of England. You are the princess of Wales."
Luke looks wide eyed over at his wife as she takes a deep breath herself, "Lorelai are you okay? This is really big. Extremely big news."
Lorelai rubs her head with the palm of her hand, "This is a lot to take in. Like a lot."
Pennilyn looks over at her son in law, "Luke, your mother was a queen of the neighboring country. You're actually the king of of Scotland.
Luke's eyes grow wider, "Holy shit."
Pennilyn glares at Luke, "Lucas, language."
Lorelai pokes Luke in the ribs with a sly smile, "Oh you're in trouble. Hahah."
Luke turns to give her a dirty look with a small laugh, "Shut up Lorelai."
Pennilyn laughs and gives the couple a positive smile, "I feel like you both are going to be some work. But I think this will be an interesting journey."
