A Pretty Ribbon Chapter 2: 2, a gilmore girls fanfic

A Pretty Ribbon: Part 2

It could have been a breath of fresh air coming through an open window, or the delayed rush of air you feel just after a door has been closed. But this draft or breath of fresh air felt different and was coming from somewhere else, maybe from a dream, though dreams never feel supremely real nor are they supposed to be warm- but it, yes, it really was real and she could feel it against her cheek.

Emily came out of that weird state between sleep and consciousness while opening her eyes slightly and attempting to bat off the gushing streams of light trying to make their way through her eyelashes. Her glazed eyes traveled around the room and she felt a sense of purity surrounding her being. It was only then that she felt pressure on her stomach, the pressure she had been oblivious to previously. Her jumpy state caused her to jolt and disturb her husband- the person responsible for the pressure and the air.

Richard had slept for the first time in days and by the way in which he reacted, only began to describe how regretful he felt for falling asleep on her. Since Emily arrived in hospital just a few days ago, Richard had made it his new goal in life to always be there for his wife, though, Richard knew just as well as anyone that no sleep did no one any good. Except, in this situation he wasn't dealing with a phone call or a business deal, he was dealing with his awfully ill wife and that scared him, being there for Emily was never a problem- she wasn't weak and she wasn't dependant on anyone, however, now she was and he didn't know how to deal with that. It seemed that taking away his sleep and being there for her every waking and non-waking hour was the only way he could convince himself that he has been there for her.

The looks on their faces were strange, as if they had never seen each other before and whether or not it was the sleep deprivation on Richard's part responsible for the blank look, it could only be assumed that he didn't have a clue as to what he should say- nothing here was scripted, nothing at all ordinary.

So he waited for her to speak instead, even though he felt somewhat selfish for his actions, Emily was always the first to speak no matter what the circumstance. And what felt like minutes that passed by, the looks they exchanged expired and Richard moved his hand onto hers.

With a rub of his thumb, he opened his dry mouth and-

"Richard." A word, a word was spoken. In that moment, conviction and emotion conveyed in that single name was expressed, small and timid.

-And it was like she hadn't spoken to him in a century as Richard breathed out and forced on the end, "Emily." He swallowed and shook his head, "you're awake."

"It certainly seems like it." She tried to move to gain a more comfortable position but failed as her muscles denied her.

"I should, I, ah, I'll get the nurse." Before Emily had the chance to reply, he was off the chair and out the door.

The squelching sound made as Luke and Lorelai roughly trampled across the grass in the front yard only reminded them that it had been raining for the past couple of days. There was mud he noticed as they climbed the steps of the front porch, actually, it wasn't just mud, there were leaves and twigs and a myriad of other plant debris. They hadn't been home for a few days- Luke hadn't been in the right frame of mind going to work knowing that the woman he loved was upset and going through something he went through many years ago with his Dad. So, in a sense, he wanted to help her through it since he had an idea about what she was going through even though the relationship with Lorelai and her mother was pressed and practically non-existent, he knew that she wasn't done trying to figure her mother out yet. Most people who knew Lorelai and her relationship with her mother would be certain that they had each other figured out down to the last detail, but they weren't even half way there- and Luke knew this.

And so did Lorelai. It was weird that she felt drawn to her childhood home for probably one of the first times in her life. He could see it in her face- she was preoccupied. She slid the key into the lock and listened to the click it made as the door opened.

Lorelai pushed the door and turned around to see Luke before she spoke, "Are you coming?"

There was something different, indeed. A faked contentment in her voice not totally disguising the coldness and worry apparent.

"Of course." Luke motioned forward and she turned away into the house briefly holding the door open for him.

When the door closed, the dull, wooden sound that emanated from it's core seemed as if it shook the walls as they stood there in the entryway, waiting for something to happen. It felt that there was nothing left to say.

The phone rang and Lorelai looked over at the hall way table feeling that she should run and shield herself from what she thought she knew was coming.

But, in fact, she had no idea what was coming. Luke picked up the phone and answered having a fair idea of who it was.

"Luke, Luke it's Richard- is Lorelai there, or, just, tell Lorelai that her mother is awake now-"

"Luke, what's wrong?" Lorelai asked in the background putting her hand on his arm.

"What's going on?" Lorelai said as Luke took her bag and dragged her out of the door.