Chapter 5

"She's not answering. She mustn't be home," Emily complained.

"Just another moment," Richard told her softly.

"It shouldn't take this long," she rebutted as she turned and started down the steps.

"Now I know where Lorelai gets it from," he muttered, turning towards his wife. "Really," he started as the door behind him was pulled open. "What do you want now?" Natalie asked, only to pause as she realized that their was a man silhouetted on her front steps. "I'm sorry, can I. . ." she backtracked only to stop as he turned to face her. "Oh G-d. . .Oh my G-d . . ."

"Natalie, honey," Richard started as he stepped towards her.

"This can't be happening," she babbled as she backed into the wall behind her and slid to the floor. . .

"Richard, what is it?" Emily called from near the door.

"I don't know," he admitted.

"Well, don't just stand there, help me," she admonished as she pushed pass him and moved swiftly across the alcove to kneel in front of Natalie. "What is it, dear?" she asked as she took her hand in hers and rubbed it soothingly.

In response, Natalie pulled away, watching them in confused surprise. "You can't be here."

"Of course we can. And we are. I can see we took you off guard, but. . ." Richard put in as he closed the door and crossed to them.

"But they said. . . they told me. . ."

"Who told you what dear?" Emily asked

"Family services. I wanted to go back but they told me. . ."

"What did they tell you?"

"That you. . ."

"That we what?"

"That you didn't want me any more. That I was too much of a disappointment," Natalie answered softly, refusing to look at either of them.

Emily looked over her shoulder to her husband who only cursed under his breath. "How could you have believed. . ." Emily started then shook her head. "Never mind. We're here now."

"But why?'

"Because you need help getting down from that bridge, Annie Girl," Richard told her softly.

"But you don't need me. You have your own daughter back."

"Is that it, or do you not need us because you have your real parents?" Emily wondered.

"You are. . ." Natalie started only to stop.

"That's what I thought, now let's get off this floor. It's very unbecoming of a young lady."

"I don't know what if I remember how to be one."

"I'm sure, Emily can reteach you," Richard said earning him a sharp look from his wife as he extended hands to help each of them up. "In the meantime, why don't you fill us in on what we're been reading about and we'll see what we can do."

"What? You don't think that I. . ." Natalie asked off balance.

"Don't think that you what?" Emily prodded.

"Everyone here thinks I did it. My siblings. My mother." Natalie answered running a hand through her hair and not noticing Emily's stricken look at her referring to someone else as her mother. "Clint, my father, hasn't even come from London. He hasn't called either. Uncle Bo and John are trying but. . ."

"But what?" Richard asked.

"And if I want to stay out of jail, I can't count on John."

"Why not?"

"He's the investigating officer. His girlfriend's my attorney and she doesn't like that we're friends. She gave me an ultimatum. I have to give her an answer tomorrow morning. If I agree to leave town and never talk to John again, she'll do her job. If I don't she's going to throw the case. And if I try to report her, she'll make it look worse for me. I'm just nothing her. Nothing but trash."

"That is not the way for a Chilton Girl to talk! Never mind a Gilmore," Emily chided.

"I haven't been both in so long that I. . . I don't know if I remember how to be. They expect so little from me here," Natalie admitted as she led them into the living room.

"And how would a Chilton Girl or Gilmore use that to her advantage?" Richard questioned.

"I don't know."

"Of course you do."

"Then I don't remember!" Natalie yelled at them in exasperation.

"Then it's a good thing that we're here to remind you. Isn't it?" Emily rebutted as she went over and put a hand on her 'daughter's' shoulder.

"I guess so," Natalie answered sheepishly. "I'll um. . . I'll go put some water on for tea."

"Well, that's one way to start," Richard said dryly, earning a warning look from his wife and a slight smile from Natalie. "Yes," the later said. "I suppose it is."