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 I want to get this out of the way, so I can do other fics for this Christmas season, as this one takes place a year ago. I hope you will enjoy this, I wrote it last winter, and that's when it takes place. This is the sixth chapter, and there will be at least two chapters following this. I forgot to thank you guys for reviewing the last chapter so DOUBLE THANKS!!!!!! You all rock!!! Enjoy and review as always!

CamdenCav12: Take your time, there's no rush to review every single chapter. That's why we have more than one reviewer wink And you'll find out about the kidnapper. Not this chapter, but soon. Ooo! I love Christmas commercials. Especially the red-and-green-m&m one. Thanks for the review!

Ocdwithlhg: Aww, now, there will be no more almost being late for school! Next time, you wait until you get home! wink Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoy this installment.

Smile1: Thanks! Could that possibly be because I actually re-did chapters four and five before I posted them? I was unhappy how I'd written them a year ago. So thanks, I'm glad the changes showed!

OTHlover04: Thanks! Keep reading!

Chapter Six

Lorelai and Rory walked up to the front door of the Gilmore mansion on Christmas Eve. Lorelai had noticed Rory opening up a little more over the past day and a half. She'd spent most of Tuesday in the house, but this morning they'd gone to Luke's and she'd been hanging out with Lane most of the day before dinner at the grandparents. Rory still hadn't shared what had happened with anyone, even Lane. Lorelai knew that because she'd asked Lane just as she was leaving their house for Christmas Eve with the Kims. Lorelai wished she knew what had happened. She knew Rory would tell her when she was ready, but Lorelai knew from experience that it was never good to keep feelings bottled in.

"I'm sorry we couldn't get out of this tonight. Your grandma used the 'We haven't gotten to see her since before it happened, and we're going out of town Friday.' argument." Lorelai said, as Rory slipped her hand into her mother's.

"It's okay." Rory smiled, "It won't be too bad."

Lorelai sighed, "It's bad enough that we have to see them, but there's going to be others there, also. 'Let's just parade Rory around for everyone to see.'"

"Well, I am in college now." Rory reminded her mother.

"True." Lorelai nodded, and put her arm around her daughter before she rang the doorbell. She knew Rory was feeling better, but she was almost positive this was not a good idea. She was sure she would be in a fight with her parents before the evening was out. They meant well, but when it came to what were proper manners, they were the king and queen.

"Hello!" Emily's voice sang as she came to the door, "I trust Rory is feeling better?" she asked, giving Rory a hug.

"Hi Grandma, I am feeling better, thanks." Rory said, flashing a smile. She accepted the hug with one arm, the other hand clutching Lorelai's.

"Hi, Mom." Lorelai said, not letting her daughter step more than a few inches away.

"Come in, come in, it's cold." Emily said. A maid took their coats, and they followed Emily into the living room, where several people were already gathered, "Mingle for a bit, we've got a few more people coming and then we'll have dinner."

"Thanks, Grandma." Rory smiled, clutching her mom's hand in a death grip. She was feeling self-conscious about her ordeal and wondered exactly how much people here knew or didn't know. Were her grandparents going to parade around like everything was normal or was she going to get bombarded with sympathetic gestures and questions?

"Apple tarts?" Lorelai asked, and Rory nodded eagerly. Apple tarts were their favorite part of their grandparents' holiday meal. They went over to the appetizers, and began chomping down. Rory went slowly, her throat still sore from rough hands on her windpipe.

A man and woman came up to them then, "Lorelai? How are you?" the woman said, very primly.

"Caroline? Wow! I haven't seen you in ages!" Lorelai smiled, "This is my daughter, Rory."

"Nice to meet you, Rory," Caroline said, and shook Rory's free hand, "This is my new husband, Darren." She gestured to her belly, "And this is Darren, Junior or Roxanne."

"Nice to meet you, Darren. Wow! You're pregnant? Congratulations! How far along?" Lorelai asked.

"Just nine weeks." Darren said, proudly, his arm passively around his wife's shoulder.

"Wow! That's nice." Lorelai said. 'Oh, my God, get me out of here. This baby is going to be the most spoilt brat on the planet.' She thought, squeezing Rory to her playfully.

"Lorelai! Rory! Hi!" another man and woman came over to greet them.

"Oh, Judy! Hello! This isn't Robert, is it?" Lorelai asked, puzzled. Judy had been married to Robert only a year ago.

"Oh, no, we're divorced now. This is Sherman." Judy introduced her new friend.

"Hi, Sherman, it's nice to meet you. So you two are...?" Lorelai started the question, hoping Judy would pick it up.

"Engaged. To be wed in April." Judy filled in.

"How nice!" Lorelai gagged inwardly. 'Sherman?' she could tell Rory also wanted to laugh.

"So, Rory, how's school?" Judy asked.

Rory squeezed her mother's hand, "It's fine."

"Not too hard?" Judy inquired.

"It's hard, but fun at the same time." Rory said, wanting to answer the questions as quickly as possible.

"I remember college. I was so stressed out about my first year at Princeton that I threw up every night of finals week. My roommate made me herbal tea and she put a special ingredient in it..." Judy began to prattle on. Sherman smiled proudly and wrapped his arms around his fiancée. Rory leaned into her mother, putting her head on her mom's shoulder. Lorelai pulled her closer as she nodded and smiled, including herself in Judy's story, for she knew Judy back then.

"Lorelai, may I speak with you?" Emily asked, after dinner and dessert. Lorelai could tell she was upset about something.

"Sure." Lorelai said, "Honey, why don't you get some more snacks?" she suggested to her daughter.

Rory nodded, not wanting to leave her mother's side and go into the throng of people, but she also didn't want to offend her grandmother, who already looked bothered enough. She wandered over to the side of the room, staying as much out of the way as she could.

"What is it, Mom?" Lorelai asked, as she followed her mother into the kitchen.

"Your daughter is embarrassing herself out there. She can't let go of you, even at the table, and she barely talks." Emily said.

"Well, she did just get home two days ago from being abducted." Lorelai didn't really have the energy to fight with her mom, so she just made her excuse simple. She knew her mom wouldn't bite though. She was too concerned with how everything looked to the Proper Society out in the living room.

"Lorelai, do you understand that everyone is going to think your daughter is some anti-social person who can't handle being around people. Do you want that?" Emily asked.

Lorelai very near slapped her, "You know what, Mother? I've had it with you. You have done nothing but whine and complain and bitch—yes, I said bitch—since Rory went missing, and now you want what from her? We came, against our wishes, and now you're complaining that she isn't social enough. I don't care about that! I care that my daughter is safe, I don't give a damn what these people think! Do you understand at all what happened to her? She was held captive against her will for five whole days. She probably would have been killed eventually. Do you understand that? And she is not 48 hours away from that hellhole, and you want what from her? Mother, do you actually have a shred of moral fiber in your being? Huh? Do you?"

"Lorelai..." Emily started.

"No, Mother. I will not be told I'm being unreasonable, because I'm not. My daughter could have died, for all we know. Who knew what that wicked, evil man was going to do to her? I am not being unreasonable, Mother, I..." Lorelai was interrupted by Emily.

"Lorelai, I was going to say, 'I'm sorry.' I've just never been in this situation before." Emily said, sadly.

Lorelai backed off a few paces, "I know, neither have I."

Emily relented, "Maybe you should take Rory home, huh?" she asked.

Lorelai nodded, "I will. Thanks." Lorelai headed into the living room, but she didn't see Rory, "Hey, Dad, have you seen Rory?" she asked.

"I saw her go upstairs a few minutes ago." Richard pointed to the stairs leading to the second floor.

"Thanks, Dad." Lorelai said, and hurried up the stairs. Even though Rory had been presented with her own room at her grandparents', the door was open and the room dark. Lorelai turned and went back down the hall to her old bedroom. The door was closed, and she knocked quietly, "It's me." She called.

"Come in." Rory's small voice answered.

Lorelai opened the door. Rory was lying on her mother's old bed, hugging a stuffed animal to her chest. She sat up when Lorelai came to her and sat down next to her, "You okay, honey?" Lorelai asked.

"I'm okay. I'm not great, but I'm okay." Rory admitted.

"You want to go home?" Lorelai asked.

Rory nodded, "Yeah. I just...I'm tired of the party. Are things okay with Grandma? Is it okay if we leave?"

"Yeah, your grandma and I had a minor disagreement, but it's okay now. She actually suggested that I take you home." Lorelai said, standing up and reaching out for her daughter.

Rory took her mother's hands, and stood up, too. They walked towards the door, when Rory suddenly stopped, "Mom?" she asked.

"Yeah?" Lorelai asked.

"He came from behind me and pulled me in. He had a rag of something or other, and I blacked out. That's why I couldn't yell for you." Rory explained.

"Oh, honey." Lorelai said, and put her arms around her daughter, "I'm sorry."

Rory sniffled as she tried to hide her tears, "I want to go home."

"Let's go then." Lorelai said, her arm around her daughter as they walked down the hall.