Author: Angel Grace

Rating: PG-13, for now

Pairing: Lorelai/Christopher

Summary: An AU fic that starts in 1984, in which Lorelai and Christopher marry at 16 and raise Rory together.

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all related characters were created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, and are the propert of Hofflund-Polone, Dorothy Parker Drank Here, and Warner Brothers Television. They are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made from their use.

Author's Note: Yes, it's back. I'm having fun writing again, so hopefully all of my stories will be progressing at a more rapid pace. No promises, though. A few words about this chapter: it is not intended to advocate a particular side in the abortion debate. I simply tried to write the characters.

The Dish, the Spoon, and the Fork in the Road

By Gracie

Chapter Two: The Sound You Hear Is My Head Exploding

1984

The antique grandfather clock ticked loudly in the deathly silence of the Hayden sitting room. Lorelai and Christopher sat beside each other on the stiffly upholstered sofa, their faces frozen with trepidation. Upon overhearing their conversation upstairs, Francine marched them downstairs and then immediately went to telephone Emily and Richard.

The minutes ticked by with interminable slowness until finally Francine appeared, Christopher's father Straub in tow.

"Your parents will be here shortly, Lorelai," Francine announced.

"Did you...tell them what's going on?" Lorelai asked.

"No I did not. I decided to save that delightful task for you."

"Gee, thanks," she mumbled.

"Watch your tone, young lady," snapped Straub. "You will have some respect when you speak to my wife."

Lorelai sat up a little straighter. "Yes, sir," she said softly.

The quartet sat in awkward silence, listening to the clock tick, until finally Anna stepped into the room. "Richard and Emily Gilmore," she announced before making a silent exit.

Immediately, Emily zeroed in on her daughter. "What is going on, Lorelai? You're supposed to be studying. There had been be an excellent reason for dragging your father and me out here!"

The young woman flinched. This was it—the moment of truth had arrived. Might as well dive in headfirst. "Mom, dad—I think I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" Emily exclaimed. Richard simply sat down hard in one of the Haydens' wing chairs, his expression stunned.

"Pregnant. I—we are going to have a baby. I think."

"You think?"

"The home pregnancy was positive, but I haven't gone to a doctor yet."

Now it was Emily's turn to sink into a seat beside Francine on the love seat. Christopher's mother quickly spoke up. "This is simply unacceptable! How could you be so irresponsible, Lorelai?"

"Now wait just a minute, Francine," Richard blustered. "Christopher is just as responsible for this as Lorelai."

"If your daughter hadn't seduced him, Christopher wouldn't be in this situation," Straub declared. "He's a good boy—this is obviously all her influence."

Richard leapt to his feet. "How dare you! My daughter did not impregnate herself. Might I remind you that Christopher is not exactly a model citizen? Let us not forget his totaled car!"

Straub stood up and faced Richard. "Might I remind you that Lorelai was also in the car? I daresay it's highly likely that she caused the accident!"

Within moments, all four adults were on their feet, hurling accusations. Their parents otherwise occupied, Lorelai and Chris slipped unnoticed from the room.

They walked towards the front of the house, and sat down on the carpeted bottom step of the spiral staircase.

"That went well," Chris said dryly.

"I expected more yelling at us, actually."

"I'm sure they'll get to that eventually."

"We should probably try and come up with a plan before that."

"Do you have anything in mind?" he asked.

"I don't want an abortion, Chris."

"Okay. What about adoption?"

"I've thought about it a little. Y'know in the nine hours since it became a possible issue."

"Right."

"I'm not sure I could do it. I think I'd spend every day of the rest of my life wondering where my baby is. What do you think we should do?"

He sighed and leaned against the stair-rail. "I think I'm not ready to be a father, Lor. But if you—if we decide to keep it, then I'll do everything I can to support you."

"Thanks," she whispered. "I think...I think I need to keep it."

"Okay. Okay. Then—marry me, Lor."

She turned and looked him directly in the eyes. "Are you nuts? We're only sixteen!"

"No matter what, we're going to be a family. Why not make it legal?"

"I repeat: we're only sixteen!"

"At least think about it."

"I think you're nuts."

"But I love you, you know."

She managed a small smile. "I love you too."

The yelling from the other room finally subsided, and they strained to hear what their parents were saying.

"There's a simple solution to all of this," Francine declared. "Lorelai will simply have to get rid of it."

In the hallway, Lorelai blanched.

"'It' is a child, Francine," Emily snapped. "And as much as I wish I could make the decision for her, only Lorelai can choose what to do."

"My daughter is not having an...an abortion!" Richard declared. "Christopher is simply going to have to shoulder his responsibility and marry Lorelai. They can come live with us, and when Christopher finished school, he can join me at the firm."

"Well, now, that's the first sensible thing anyone has said this evening," Straub commented.

"They're planning out our lives in there," Chris murmured in a resentful tone.

"What did you expect? They've been planning our lives since we were born. Why should now be any different?" Lorelai asked with a shrug.

"Because this is our future! They're not telling us which clothes we can wear or what friends we can have or what school we have to go to! They're trying to dictate the rest of our lives!:

Lorelai's temper was rising. "What do you want me to do about it, Chris? We're sixteen, and I'm pregnant! That doesn't exactly give us a lot of ammunition to fight them!"

"Then marry me! At least then, we'll have the legal right to do what we want."

She stared at him sadly. "We're not old enough to get married without their permission."

Obviously, that thought hadn't occurred to him. His face fell. "Shit. What are we going to do?"

Lorelai didn't answer him right away. He brain was whirling away at ninety miles an hour, the seed of an idea taking root in her mind.

"Lorelai? What are you thinking?"

Slowly, she said, "I'm thinking there might be a way out of this after all."

"How do you figure?"

"You were right about one thing—if we get married, we can make our own decisions."

"But what about..."

"Hear me out. My father wants us to get married, and your dad agrees with him. So maybe permission won't be an issue."

"Lorelai, your dad also wants us to live with him and your mom, and then he wants me to join his firm. I don't think I can live with your parents."

"I know that. I can barely live with my parents."

"So what are you suggesting?"

"We go along with their plan. We get married. And then...we leave."