Lorelai sat in a coffee shop in New Jersey. It had been about a week, and she had taken a few days off to go and see Delilah and because somehow a news reporter caught wind of her entire history and have broadcasted it to the entire world on the evening news a few days ago. She needed to get away from the people who were just giving her looks of sympathy.
Delilah came into the coffee shop and sat at the table with her. She noticed a couple of men who came in shortly after her and sat at a table. She could tell they were FBI agents. She knew Morgan had arranged for a few agents to be a security detail for her.
"They really know how to stay on my ass." Delilah said
Lorelai chuckled "To much?" she asked
"No. I'm grateful. Just. Haven't had a moment to myself." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded. "Yeah. There was a time when I had personal bodyguards. It was a pain in the ass. As necessary as it was."
Delilah chuckled. "But lets talk about something better. How have you been?" Delilah asked
"That's a loaded question given the years we haven't seen each other. But at this point I'm really good. I got what every kid in foster care wants. Their forever family. And a good one at that. Hasn't always been easy but I'm happy." Lorelai said
"How did you end up adopted?" Delilah asked
"Well. That's a long story but I suppose we have time." Lorelai said before she explained her entire story of coming to the FBI and finding out the truth about her age and ending up back in foster care and in the end being adopted by Aaron.
"Wow. They lied about your age? They really did you no favors did they?" Delilah asked
Lorelai shook her head. "And I found out it was them when they did the tear down of the foster home and I met up with them to get closure. Didn't truly get closure till they both died. I know that sounds awful. I know she was your best friend but the two of them really didn't help me in anyway."
"I get it. She was my best friend. Doesn't mean I didn't wish she was a better mother. To be honest we got into a huge fight after I offered to take you for a few months so the two of them could go get treatment. She accused me of trying to steal you and we stopped talking." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded. "Well. Thank you for trying to help me. It means a lot."
"I wish I could have done more." She said
Lorelai shook her head. "You did what you could and had to turn your entire world on its head because of it. And you weren't the one who was supposed to protect me."
Delilah took a breathe and nodded. "So did you have to figure out what I did?"
"Yeah. I found out. I don't know the details, but I know the charges. Agent Morgan is trying to figure out how to make sure you don't end up being formally charged." Lorelai said
"Not much will come of it. I'll be dead in a few months anyways." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded. "Cant change your mind I take it?"
"I don't have much to live for." Delilah said, "And you think I will do well in prison?"
"Well, its being worked on so you wont have to go to prison. And you will get to have you must have friends. In AA. And you've lived here for many years. You must have people here who would miss you." Lorelai said. "And I just got you back. I would miss you. But it is your decision of course."
Delilah smiled and nodded. "Of course, I have friends, but loss is a part of life. They understand. Even with treatment I might not make it very much longer. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a hospital bed. And you are thriving in your life. You don't need me to keep that good life."
"But now I can get to know you as an adult. And you can be there when I get married. Have kids. You can tell me the good things about my birth mother." Lorelai said
"Well, what do you want to know about her? I can answer your questions about her." Delilah said
"Was I planned?" Lorelai asked
Delilah shook her head. "No. But when your mother found out she was pregnant. She was excited. She stopped drinking and using. The moment she found out." Delilah said
"Really?" Lorelai asked
Delilah smiled and nodded. "She said she wanted a better life. For you. The first six months of your life she was sober too. Than her and your father got into a fight. He… was abusive. She left you with me and went and got drunk and I never saw her sober again."
Lorelai nodded. "Do you have any pictures?"
Delilah smiled and nodded. "I have three albums full of pictures of you and her. She loved you. The drugs and alcohol. They are very controlling."
"You got clean." Lorelai pointed out
"I fought hard for that. And it wasn't easy." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded. "Well, I'm proud of you."
"Thank you hunny. That means a lot." Delilah said with a smile
"Did my mother know you hadn't passed away?" Lorelai asked
"I don't know. I never called her. I was so closely watched for along time. I didn't have a chance to tell her the truth." Delilah answered
"You both grew up in that home. Was Jessica ever. Less abusive?" Lorelai said
Delilah shook her head. "I still don't know why the police protected her so much."
"Oh. I have that answer. Jessica and Dillon were in love. They had a kid together." Lorelai said
"What? Are you serious?" Delilah asked
"Yes. My best friend. Rebecca Harris. She is biologically Jessica and Dillon's kid." Lorelai said. "We didn't know that till Rebecca did a DNA kit thing and was connected to him. When she spoke to him he told her about her birth mother." Lorelai said
"So, he allowed his daughter to be abused." She shook her head.
"Yup." Lorelai said
"Wasn't he married? With a son?" Delilah asked
"Yes. Kevin his son. But when his wife found out the truth she left him." Lorelai said
Delilah shook her head. "You and Kevin friends?"
"We were. Actually, we were somewhat involved before I left the home. But at this point he hasn't spoken to me since a few days after his father was killed…" Lorelai said
"He was killed at the same time as your birth father right?" Delilah asked
"Yes. I did what I had to do. But understandably his son. Was, and probably still is angry." Lorelai said
"When you say you two were involved?" Delilah asked
"I was pregnant when I left. I had to terminate the pregnancy due to my own health issues." Lorelai said
"Wow. You two were in love?" Delilah asked
"Well. No. Um. It was more. Convenience." Lorelai said
Delilah nodded. "Do you currently have a boyfriend? or girlfriend?"
Lorelai smiled. "Boyfriend. Yes. His name is Spencer. Actually, we work together."
"Ooh. That young guy?" Delilah asked
"Yes." Lorelai said
"I wouldn't have ever known. You must be good a keeping things professional at work." Delilah said
"We do our best." Lorelai said
"He's good to you?" Delilah asked
Lorelai nodded. "Very. As cliché as it sounds. He treats me like a princess."
Delilah smiled. "Good."
They were quiet for a few minutes.
"Do you have any more questions about your mother?" Delilah asked
"She was raised in the foster home. Did she ever talk about her biological family?" Lorelai asked
Delilah nodded. "Um. Her biological mother died in childbirth. So, she never knew her. They couldn't find her birth father, so she went into the home. When she was eighteen she went looking for him. He was in prison."
"What for?" Lorelai asked
Delilah took a breathe. "Raping a string of women. When she went to visit him he basically admitted that she was the product of rape. Her mother never reported it so he couldn't be charged."
"Wow." Lorelai said.
"I know that's a lot. You okay?" Delilah asked
"Honestly. Nothing surprises me anymore." Lorelai said
"I imagine you see a lot in your line of work." Delilah said
"I do yes. But I mean when it comes to my biological family. Actually, what surprised me most was my biological father has a brother. Who is actually a good person." Lorelai said
"I didn't know that. But I didn't really know your father. And what I did know…" Delilah said
"You didn't like. Its okay. I get it. He was a bad man." Lorelai said
"There must have been something good in him. Your mother did love him." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded.
"And I think whatever good was in him is what you got from him. I've done some research on you. After seeing a certain news report. I stumbled upon an interview one of your bosses did talking about your team. He spoke highly of you. Well, all of the team. But said that having a young persons point of view on things has seriously helped the team." Delilah said
Lorelai made a face. "What interview?"
"It was some podcast. It was Agent Rossi. I think it was about one of his books, but the conversation morphed." Delilah said
Lorelai smirked. "He didn't tell us about that."
"Oh." Delilah chuckled
"I'm going to need the name of that podcast." Lorelai said grin spreading across her entire face.
"Your team. You are all pretty close?" Delilah asked
Lorelai nodded. "They are my family. They saved my life. In more ways than one."
Delilah nodded. "I'm really happy you got your happy ending."
"I am mostly happy yes. But I am still struggling." Lorelai said
"I understand that. It took me along time for me to move past my past. And now that. Its been revealed to more people than you probably wanted…" Delilah said
"You have though? It happens eventually?" Lorelai asked
"Yes. I found true peace when I realized that holding onto the anger and trauma wouldn't benefit me anymore. I knew I was safe." Delilah said
"Even with the fact that you had to change your name and everything?" Lorelai asked
"I moved past it before that. That brought other trauma but honestly. As long as I was quiet I knew I was safe." Delilah said
"Well. You're safe now. The person you reported to is dealing with the consequences. And in fairness to him he wanted to do something but at the time his superior told him to burry it. And that person died a few years ago." Lorelai said
Delilah nodded. "The Agent who took my statement. He still working for the FBI?"
Lorelai nodded. "Its not hard to look it up so I'm going to be honest. He's director at this point… He brought me into the FBI. He didn't know who I was at first. I think its his karma that brought me to him."
"Wow. Sounds like it is his karma for sure." Delilah said
"I'm not happy he did what he did to you. But without him…." Lorelai said
"You wouldn't have joined the FBI. Wouldn't have found your family. I get that. I can forgive him for what he did to me. Because he has done really good things for you." Delilah said
"Even before he knew who I was. It doesn't excuse what he did. But I do think he is a good Agent. Who was just in a situation he couldn't control. He should have done something when he became director but…" Lorelai said
"I get it. I'm not angry with him. It was the past. Don't worry. I'm just glad your okay." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded. She took a breathe.
"What is it?" Delilah asked
"I just. I want to help you…" Lorelai said
"Lorelai you have. I have a security detail. Because of you. I get to use my real name again because of you." Delilah said
Lorelai smiled a bit. "I remember once when I was at your place. A guy was there. I didn't think anything of it than. Was he your boyfriend?"
Delilah nodded. "He was. I loved him. We were together. Till I… died."
Lorelai's nodded
Delilah nodded. "And it wouldn't be fair to tell him when I'm just going to die for real this time."
"Not if you get treatment…" Lorelai said
"Okay. Stop with that. I'm not going to spend my last days in the hospital." Delilah said
"Okay. I'm sorry. You're right. Its your life." Lorelai said.
"I appreciate that you care. I understand where its coming from. And I'm sorry. I should have pretended not to know you. Make it easier for you. But I couldn't help myself." Delilah said
Lorelai nodded. "No. I'm glad you told me. I'm happy to know you are alive."
Delilah nodded. "Good. But you need to promise me to not go looking up my old boyfriend."
Lorelai took a breathe "Well…"
"What did you do?" Delilah asked
"I remembered him. I looked him up." Lorelai said
"Okay. Fine. You didn't contact him though right?" Delilah asked
Lorelai took a sip of her coffee to give herself a chance to come up with an answer.
"He knows I'm alive." Delilah said
Lorelai sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you would have an issue with it."
"Yes you did." Delilah said "You did this to get your way. To get me to get treatment. Manipulative. More like your father than I thought." She said getting up.
Lorelai felt like she had just taken a punch to the gut. She took a breathe. "He doesn't know where you are. I didn't tell him that. And he begged. I'm not trying to be manipulative. I didn't tell him you were sick. All I told him is that you were forced to fake your death and change your name."
Delilah looked over at her. "Than why did you do it? Did you want to hurt him?"
Lorelai shook her head. "I wanted to be able to give you an option to see him one last time. On your terms. But I guess that was a mistake." She finished her cup of coffee in one gulp and got up and walked past her and outside.
She took out her phone and called Spencer.
Spencer was at the office when he got the call. Lorelai had told him everything and he knew where she was going. He answered. "Hey. How did it go?"
"She called me manipulative and like my father." Lorelai said
"Okay. We both know that's not true" Spencer said
"But do we? Maybe she's right. I did contact her ex. I knew she wouldn't want me to." Lorelai said
"Yes. But you didn't tell him where she was or the name she is going by. You did your job." Spencer said
"But I hurt her…" Lorelai said
"Okay but you didn't do this to hurt her. You did it because it was part of your job to keep her safe." Spencer said
"I know… I just didn't want to hurt her." Lorelai said
"And that's what make you not manipulative and unlike your birth father." Spencer said. "Now. You ready to come home?" He asked
"Yeah. I'm done here." Lorelai said.
She called herself a taxi and waited.
Delilah came outside. "Lorelai wait." She said
"No. Were done." Lorelai said. "If I'm so much like my father you wouldn't like me anyways." She said as the taxi pulled up
"Hey that's not fair." Delilah said
"I'm not going to talk to you about what's fair. Neither of us has had a fair life. But hey we both survived. If you don't think I have figured out what you were trying to do you're stupid." Lorelai said
"What do you mean?" Delilah said
"You're trying to make me hate you so its easier for me when you die." Lorelai said as the taxi pulled up. "Well, you won." She said getting into the taxi and going to the taxi and going to the airport.
She went home. When she got out of the airport Spencer was waiting for her. She went over and wrapped him in a hug. Spencer wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.
"You're home. And you're loved." Spencer mumbled in her ear
Lorelai hugged him tighter.
Spencer held her as long as she needed it. When they separated he grabbed her bag from her. "Come on. I'm going to take you home." He said