DISCLAIMER : I don't own anything. Oh! If I was a powerful god, then Lorelai would be mine...but alas...what a sad reality... :(

pourquoimoa: you're reading my mind.

Professor: Luke is going to there a lot since Lorelai is left alone without Rory.

CHAPTER 2 "Separated Girls"

Rory was lost in her thoughts. She barely felt the car moving. Her dad was really silent today. Normally, he would talk so much, thinking that a three hours ride would catch all the time he was missed with his daughter. All the time that he didn't care enough to show up. Rory looked at him a little. Concentrated on the road, he was pretty hot looking. She had to admit. Beautiful bleu eyes and a handsome face. She could understand why her mother had fallen for him years ago. Then, again, Lorelai's face popped in her head. Anger took over. She shook her head, trying to get the image off. But there was no use. No matter what she did, her mother was always there at the back of her mind.

Christopher turned his head and saw his daughter starring at him.

"What?" he asked, smiling

"Nothing" Rory forced a smile for his sake.

"Telling yourself how sexy is your dad?"

"Yeah..."Rory responded, her mind elsewhere.

After a few more minutes, Chris pulled the car into the driveway.

"Home" he sighed happily

This time, Rory smiled, truly. She hated being in cars for long drives and the idea of sleeping in a big comfortable bed was appaling her. For one of the first nights, she could actually spend a quiet night without hearing her mother's ranting and babbling about this or that.

They got out of the car, Chris carrying the heavy bags and Rory, her book. As soon as they got in, strong arms pulled Rory into a hug. They held her so close Rory had to choke a little. It was Sherry. Chri's tiny little wife. Except the word tiny wouldn't fit. She had to admit that the word "chubby" fitted more her step-mother.

"Rory! You're here!" Sherry squealed.

"Hey Sherry!" Rory answered, not nowing what to say. As she took a glance around her, her eyes grew wide, but thank god, she could hide it before anyone noticed. The walls were painted all green. A disgusting kind of green. The furniture had flowers all over them. Rory kept looking, being grateful to have inherited the good taste of her mother's. Then, again, her mother came back.

"No! Go away!" she said, until she realised she had said it out loud to no one in particular.

Her father was looking at her, surprised.

"Rory, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I was just...thinking. You house...looks...hum...really...modern." Rory struggled to find the right words.

"Yeah! All my friends said the same thing." replied Sherry, apparently very proud that her house looked like a giant green highlighter.

Rory only nodded. Then, remembering she hadn't saw her little sister yet.

"Where's Gigi?"

"She's sleeping. She wanted to wait for you and see you but she couldn't stay awake." said Sherry

"Oh! It's ok! I'll see her tomorrow." Rory loved her little sister. She was so cute. And Gigi loved her too.

"Hum, do you want to eat?" Chris spoke quickly, grabbing the phone.

Rory shook her head no. "If you don't mind, I thnk I'll just go to bed. I'm really tired."

"Yeah! Okay, good night Rory."

Rory smiled, relieved that she wouldn't have to deal with Sherry anymore. The woman freaked her out. She kissed her dad on his cheek, and to her great misery, Sherry took her into another bone-crashing hug.

"G'night dad. G'night Sherry."

Rory turned around and walk to her room. Only when did she hear Sherry call "G'night babe" after her that she hurried to her room and closed the door.

Her mother used to say that. Again, her mother was hunting her again.

"Get out of my head, mom! Get out" Rory's anger became visible. She couldn't understand why her mother was in everywhere and everything she did. After all, she left the house because she couldn't stay around her mother anymore. She was the one mad at her. She was the one who shouldn't care. But still, she couldn't stop wondering what her mother was doing now.

The day after, Lorelai awoke to a terrible pain in her neck. She slowly opened her eyes. The bright alarm showed her 5 a.m. in the morning. Itwas still a little dark. It was dawm. Still, there a little bit of light. She massaged her neck, slowly rosing and sitting on the bed. Everything looked the same. It was probably a bad night and she had slept on her daughter's bed. She looked around her. Rory was not there. And the memories came back. Rory had left her the night before.

Lorelai stood up, noticing that her clothes were still the same as last night's.

She got changed, deciding to go to Luke's. There was no way she could go back to sleep and Luke might be able to comfort her. Outside was a little bit chilly, still very fresh. It was the kind of temperature she had come to like. Not to hot, not to cold. Just enough to wear those little cute jackets. Pushing the dinner's door open, she noticed that Luke was not there. She was probably in the back, doing inventory. Or preparing to get deliveries. No one usually came of this time of the nights. Except Kirk. But Kirk was a usuable. He could serve himself.

Lorelai sat on the counter, grabbed a donut and waited for Luke to come. Not too long after, Luke came out of the store room, a box in his hands and his usual crabby face. Only when he saw Lorelai, his face turned into a surprised smile. Lorelai never came this early and not without dragging Rory with her.

He dropped the box on the counter and came close to Lorelai for his usual good-morning kiss. Lorelai didn't realise what was happening when soft lips locked with hers for a kiss. It was Luke. She smiled through the kiss. Luke pulled back, but Lorelai put her arms around his neck, urging him to kiss her again. They kept kissing.

After a long moment, Lorelai let go of his neck. Luke flashed her oneo of his bright smile.

"Coffee?" inquiered Luke

"Do you even have to ask?"

Luke chuckled. He brought her a mud and poured her coffee. Lorelai took hold of the cup and drank it in one shift. Then, smiling flirtingly, she holded up the cup to Luke. He pourred her another cup without even arguing.

Lorelai frowed. "No fighting and grunting?"

"Not now"

"Why?"

"Because you look like you need the coffee right now." Luke said gently, looking deeply into her eyes.

Damn, am I that transparent, though Lorelai

"So you wanna tell me what happened?"

"I,I..it's a long story." Lorelai said hesitantly, looking around her. She didn't want every Stars Hollow citizen to find out what had happened between her and her daughter.

"I have two hours before the morning rush."

"I..." Lorelai looked around her nervously.

"Upstairs" Luke pointed to upstairs. Lorelai stood up, grabbed her coffee and another donut and headed upstairs. When she reached upstairs, she stopped in front of the mirror in the bathroom.

"No wonder he read me like a book. I really do look like crap." she said to no one in particular. Her eyes were puffy red, her hair flying everywhere and her so usually happy and smilly face was replaced by a tired Im-Lorelai-thirty-five-years-old-tired-inn-owner.

"Damn Rory!" she yelled in anger "It's all your fault"

"Why?" asked a very curious Luke who happened to be just entering the appartment. Lorelai scared him a little today. He hadn't seen her that serious.

Lorelai sat on the bed and sighed, taking a large sip of coffee.

"Well...it all started 3 weeks ago..."

A/N: Please, review. BE HONEST! Feel free to say everything you think, without holding back. Any suggestions or ideas are always welcome.