A Gilmore Christmas

By: Alyson Tierney

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 may end up being more than eight chapters long, but, hey, more fun for us right? Thank you to everyone for your very nice reviews, they were greatly appreciated! Enjoy this chapter and please review as always.

Chapter Four

Lorelai watched her seven-year-old daughter out the window of the small potting shed that was their apartment. She was sitting on a tree stump, feeding the ducks in the pond. She watched as Rory reached out to the ducks, teetering a little. She bolted for the front door, but before she got there, Rory had sat back, deciding that wasn't such a good idea. She watched Rory a little more, smiling at the peaceful look on her daughter's face. The microwave pinged behind her and she called out, "Hey, honey, lunchtime."

Rory turned back, and smiled, but before she came, she leaned over and picked a yellow dandelion and ran with it to her mother. "Here, Mommy. It's for you," Rory said, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Thank you, darling." Lorelai said, and gave her daughter a hug.

'Five days. It's been five whole days since I've seen my baby.' Lorelai was watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the living room couch on Monday afternoon. She sighed and dropped her head onto the pillow. She just wanted to sleep, but she'd gotten maybe an hour of sleep each night since her daughter disappeared.

Lorelai grunted and switched the television off. "Hey!" three male voices chorused.

Lorelai rolled her eyes at her father, Luke, and Jackson, "It's not the same without Rory." she said, sadly, tears coming to her eyes.

"I know." Luke said, and surprising even himself, he gave Lorelai a long hug. "Listen, we will find her. She's a Gilmore, she's capable."

Lorelai had to smile at that, "That is true, we are aren't we?"

The phone rang then. "I'll get it!" Sookie called from the kitchen. A moment later, she came into the room, "Lorelai, its Chief Denhauser."

Lorelai grabbed the phone from her best friend, "Chief?" she asked, frantically.

"Ms. Gilmore, we have just received word from a witness who says she saw a bearded man with glasses take your daughter. We've narrowed down where he lives." The chief informed her.

"Just now? Where was the witness five days ago?" Lorelai asked, frustrated.

"She's only four. She saw Rory's picture in the paper and told her mom about it."

"I'm coming. Don't do anything without me." Lorelai wasn't about to leave her baby alone and scared any longer than necessary.

"Lorelai..."

"I said, 'I'm coming.'" Lorelai used such force that even her father looked up, surprised. She hung up the phone, "We've got a tip. I'm going to get my baby, and anyone who wants to come better get in the car in five seconds!" she informed everyone, grabbing her coat and keys while she was talking and heading towards the door.

After arriving at the police station with everyone in tow, Chief Denhauser tried to get Lorelai to stay at the station while the FBI took over and busted into the house in the woods, but Lorelai was having none of it. If Rory was there, she'd be scared and alone, and would need her mom. If she wasn't already...but Lorelai couldn't think about that. He finally agreed that Lorelai could accompany the police, but was told to stay in the squad car until they told her differently. Lorelai nodded her agreement, and headed out to the police car.

The drive was about twenty minutes, deep into the Connecticut woods. Lorelai was getting pretty sure the guy had taken her daughter all the way to New York State, but then the car turned down a driveway and stopped at a ramshackle house. It was old and grey with peeling paint and shutters that were coming off. It had once been a beautiful home, but now it was the kind of place convicts owned.

Lorelai watched tensely as the FBI swarmed the house and knocked in the door. She heard yelling and screaming, a few gunshots, and then silence. Two agents led a man in a scruffy beard and big glasses out. He was grinning, like he didn't even care that he'd been arrested. Lorelai's heart dropped down to her shoes and she very nearly stopped breathing as she waited a few more tense moments. Then Chief Denhauser exited the house and raced down to the squad car, "Lorelai?" he asked.

"Yeah? What? Is she there? Is she ok?" Lorelai asked frantically.

"She's in there. She's asking for her mommy, and won't let anyone touch her. It's clear to go in. Can you..." Lorelai was out of the car, racing inside, before he could even finish. The main room in the house just had a couch, a tv, and a mattress in it, and a closet at one end of the room. There were several agents and officers surrounding the closet, speaking in hushed tones.

"Rory?" Lorelai asked, in a not-too-loud voice, in the one she used when comforting her daughter.

"Mommy?" the little voice called back.

Lorelai rushed forward, through the officers, and knelt in front of the closet, "Hi, angel." Lorelai said in a soft voice.

Rory was sitting on the floor, her legs curled up to her chest, and her arms wrapped around them. She was rocking back and forth slightly, but did manage a small smile when she looked at her mother with her blue, soulful eyes, "Mom?" she asked, amazed.

"I'm here." Lorelai assured her, reaching out for her daughter. Rory let her mom take her arms and Lorelai pulled Rory out of the closet into her arms. Rory melted into them, clutching her mom for dear life. She started to sob, first quietly and then with big, gut-wrenching cries. "I'm here." Lorelai murmured over and over, "I'm here."

"Don't leave." Rory said in a small and anguished voice.

"Never, little one, never." Lorelai assured her, holding her daughter tight.