A Gilmore Christmas

By: Alyson Tierney AKA Halliwellgirls1

DISCLAIMER: The characters of Lorelai Gilmore, Rory Gilmore, Richard Gilmore, Emily Gilmore, Luke Danes, Sookie St. James, Jackson Melville, and Davey Melville are solely the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB network. The song is "All I Want for Christmas" by Roxanne. I'm just borrowing them for entertainment purposes. Don't sue; I'm a very poor college student who only paid $91 for 14 people's Christmas gifts.

NOTE: Yes, I am well aware that Christmas isn't for a month and a half, but trust me, by the time we get to the end of this, it will be Christmas, so humor me ok? I hope you will enjoy this, I wrote it last winter, and that's when it takes place. This is the second of eight chapters, so please review and hopefully I can get the next chapter up soon.

CamdenCav12: Thanks! Hell, yeah there's nothing wrong with that! I wear my Christmas pajamas from like October to April lol, as long as it's cold enough outside. Thanks for the review and I hope you like this chapter as well.

Professer: Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoy this chapter.

GGobsessed: Thanks for your words of praise! It really encourages me to write more. Hope you will enjoy this chapter!

Smile1: Thanks for reviewing. Sorry to hear that, but the story isn't quite finished yet, it's up to you to keep reading though!

Miss-Lionness: I am the Master of the cute! Hehe, thanks for the review!

Poodernite: And see where this is going you shall. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Two

"Airpwane, mama! Airpwane!" Two-year-old Rory demanded of her mother, holding her arms up to Lorelai.

"Sweetie, Mommy can only do the airplane for you a certain number of times a day." Lorelai explained to her daughter.

Rory's lower lip poked out, and she said in a mournful voice, "Pwease?"

Lorelai grinned, "How can Mommy say no to that? Okay, darling, up we go." Lorelai picked up her daughter and swung her around and Rory giggled delightedly. She kissed the top of Rory's head and set her back down.

"Fank oo, Mama." Rory said, in her sweetest voice.

"You're welcome, darling." Lorelai said.

They hadn't found her. For two hours, the security team had been stationed at the store exits, but no one matching Rory's description had left the store. The police had questioned Lorelai, who had managed not to burst into tears until the very end. Sookie St. James, her best friend, had brought her home, and before she knew it, her house was filled with people all concerned for Rory's whereabouts. Sookie was there, along with her husband, Jackson, and their son, Davey. Luke Danes, who owned the diner, was there with a burger and a milkshake for Lorelai, but she barely touched it. Her parents, Richard and Emily Gilmore were also there. Dozens of Stars Hollow citizens had stopped by, and a town-wide search was in progress.

Lorelai just couldn't join in, though. Her daughter had now been missing for almost five hours. She had this huge dreading feeling in her gut that Rory was hurt or beaten or unconscious. She choked back a sob as she sat on the couch, clutching a pillow in her hand. The five-o'clock news was playing softly in front of her, but she barely heard it. Christmas is only eight days away. All those Christmas commercials. Rory and I should be laughing at them and eating junk food. What if... what if she doesn't make it home for Christmas? A tear dripped down Lorelai's face, and another and another. She could feel Sookie's arms around her, and she leaned over onto her shoulder.

"Did anyone call Christopher? He should know," Emily said, "Lorelai, did you call him?"

"Mother, he's in Hawaii with Sherry and Gigi until January 10th." Lorelai reminded her.

"But, he should know! He has the right to know that his daughter is missing. How would you feel if Rory stayed with us, you were somewhere else, and she got kidnapped, could very well be dead...."

"Shut up, mother." Lorelai growled.

"Lorelai!" Emily said, aghast.

"Emily." Richard interfered, "Just give Lorelai some time. I'm sure Lorelai was planning on calling him as soon as she gets her bearings."

"Gets her bearings? Someone could be beating Rory with a stick and you want to wait to call Rory's father?" Emily went on.

"Mother! Leave my house!" Lorelai screamed, "Anyone who isn't going to help find my baby needs to go." Lorelai had tears streaming down her cheeks now.

Emily looked crestfallen, "I'm sorry. I want to find Rory, I really do."

Sookie stood up, "Okay then, Luke, Richard, and Emily, you guys go help search. Jackson, take Davey home." she ordered. As soon as she ushered everyone out of the house, she went back to Lorelai, who was still crying, "Oh, honey. We will find Rory, I promise."

Lorelai nodded, "I know."

"Do you want some coffee?" Sookie asked.

Lorelai nodded again, "Please."

"I'll be back then." Sookie gave Lorelai another hug, and went to the kitchen. Lorelai could hear her filling up the coffeepot. She looked at the TV screen, just as they finished up the weather report.

"From Stars Hollow, the town where nothing ever happens, a college girl goes missing. Nineteen-year-old Rory Gilmore, a Yalie, and a Stars Hollow native, went missing just after noon today from Stars Hollow Shopping Center. If anyone has seen this young woman, please call the police station at 555-9200."

Lorelai found herself tearing up again. Young woman. Rory was a young woman. To her, she'd always be her baby, though. Oh, God, please keep her safe.

"One, two, free, four, five. Mama, you has five fingders!" Three-year-old Rory announced, holding her mom's hand up for Lorelai to see. They were in their bed early on a Saturday morning, Lorelai still tired, but happy that her daughter was happy.

Lorelai gasped, "That's right, sweetie, Mommy has five fingers." Lorelai said, making sure to enunciate her words as she spoke. Rory was talking very well, but still tended to mispronounce things.

"Mama, I want some eggs." Rory said, "They look like dannylions!"

"Eggs look like dandelions?" Lorelai asked, amused.

"Yeah!" Rory said, and Lorelai laughed. Her daughter was very precocious; she thought and observed with such great flair.

Lorelai found herself awake at just before six AM on Saturday. She rolled over, sighing as she looked out the window. Light snow was falling outside, a blanket of snow already covering the lawn. "Hey Ro-!" Lorelai began to shout, and then she remembered—Rory was missing. For three days now. Three whole days, and no one could find her baby girl. She shuddered, wrapping arms around herself to keep warm. 'I'll take a shower. Then I'll call the police and see if there's anything.' she decided. She stepped into the warm spray a few minutes later, relaxing into the soothing caress of the water running down her back. 'Oh, God. Most people who are kidnapped are dead within three hours. It's been three days. Please don't let that happen to Rory.' She broke down right there in the shower, sobbing into the spray, letting her tears mingle with the rush of water.

The phone rang as Lorelai stepped from the shower. She ran to answer it, snapping it up, "Rory?"

"Lorelai Gilmore?" a man's voice said at the other end. It was Chief Denhauser, the Stars Hollow Police Chief.

"Yeah, it's me. Anything?" Lorelai asked.

"I'm going to need you to come down to the police station. We have a situation," Chief Denhauser said, brusquely.

"What kind of situation? Did you find her?" Lorelai demanded.

"Ma'am, please head down to the police station as soon as you can." the chief said, his tone sounding very grave.