A/N Thanks again for the reviews. This is just one chapter for now. It was a busy week. I had a big test coming up so there wasn't much time for writing. I'm away for the weekend right now, visiting family, but I took my laptop with me and found a quiet place so I could write. I hope you like it and I'll try to update more soon!!!

Chapter 9: Realisation

Luke woke up in the middle of the night. He was surprised when he noticed Lorelai wasn't there. He thought the days of morning sickness were over. Than he remembered that they had taken Rory to the airport that night. Checking the clock, he saw it was only 2 a.m. He walked out and checked the bathroom first, just to be sure. She wasn't there. He went down stairs. He turned on some lights. Lorelai wasn't in the living room. He checked the kitchen but she wasn't there either. He found her at the place he checked last. Rory's room. She sat there in the dark, staring before her. He sat down next to her, took her hand in his and asked: "Are you okay?"

She didn't responded so he asked again: "Are you okay?" Still no response: "Lorelai?"

"She's gone Luke." She looked at him. Her eyes where sad and almost begging him for telling her that she was coming back soon. But of course, he couldn't say that.

"I know."

"Why did I told her that it was okay. That I was cool with it, because I'm not. Look at this room Luke. Last year when she left for collage she called me after a few hours because she missed me. I missed her every day since, but at least there where the weekends. I saw her most of the weekends. I don't have them now. I won't see her again until June. She left this afternoon and I already miss her so much."

"I know."

"What was I thinking Luke?"

"What do you mean?

"Why did I let her go?"

"You knew it was the right thing for her."

"Yeah, well, I don't know that anymore."

"Yes you do. You know this is a one of a life time opportunity you told her yourself."

"Maybe I was lying?"

"No you where not."

"What am I going to do without her?"

"You'll see her again before you know it."

"I don't know."

"Well I do. Has she called already?"

"No, I woke up and realized that. I tried to go back to sleep but I just couldn't. I wandered around the house for a while and ended up here."

"Why didn't you woke me up?"

"I just needed some time alone I guess."

"Do you want to be alone now?"

"No." She looked at him, her eyes begging: "Will you just hold me for a while?"

He pulled her close. She leaned her head into his chest and he stroke her hair. She cried silently while he hold her. They don't know how long they remained like that till the phone rang. Lorelai looked up. "That's probably Rory."

Luke nodded and followed her into the living room. She picked up the phone and asked "Rory?"

"Mom?"

"Hey babe, you're there?"

"Yes I am."

"So how's London?"

"It seems very busy from what I've seen. But honestly I haven't seen much. Someone picked me up from the airport and took me to the university. I'm in my new room now. My roommates haven't arrived yet so for now I have the place to myself. They will come in the next few days. The introduction will start at the Thursday and the classes will start on Monday next week. I don't know my schedule yet, our anything for that matter. I decided to call you first. After unpacking I'm going to look around here. I'll get the information during introduction. You can also sign in for classes than."

"Shouldn't you get some sleep?"

"I was thinking about getting some sleep but they advised me not to."

"Oh okay. So tell me, how was your flight?"

"Good actually. The plain left in time and we landed a little early. Almost no turbulence."

"Good, I'm glad to hear."

"Mom?"

"Yeah."

"Is it weird that I miss you already?"

"No sweety, I miss you too."

"What was I thinking mom?"

"What do you mean?"

"That I could do this."

"Do what?"

"Be away from you for over a year."

"You survived 2 years at Yale. I wasn't there."

"But I saw you in the weekends."

"I know, but at first that was hard too right?"

"Yes it was." Rory smiled when she thought about her first night at Yale. She had asked her mom to stay with her. "I wish you where her now."

"Well, just call me if you miss me, so we can talk."

"I will."

"Mom?"

"Mmm..."

"Where you sleeping just now?"

"No I wasn't."

"But it's like 2.30 in the morning in there."

"Yeah well, I couldn't sleep."

"I'm sorry mom."

"Don't be sorry honey. Luke's here."

"He's awake too?"

"Yeah, you want to talk to him?"

"Sure."

Lorelai turned around to face Luke. She handed him the receiver. "She wants to say hello."

"Hey Rory."

"Hey Luke."

"How was your flight?"

"Great, thanks."

"Good."

"Luke?"

"Yeah."

"You take good care of my mom right?"

"Of course I will."

"Good. Hey, you guys should get some sleep."

"We will. You should too."

"No, that wouldn't be good for my jetlag. Besides, I slept in the plane."

"Makes the time fly by right?"

"Yeah it does."

"Just know you can call us, always, no matter what time, okay?"

"I know, but thanks."

"Good. I'll let you talk to your mother again now."

"Okay, bye Luke."

"Bye Rory."

Lorelai was back on.

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"You should get some sleep now."

"Yeah, you should get unpacked."

"Yeah, I should."

"Hey do you have a phone number where I can reach you?"

"Not yet, but I'm supposed to get one later."

"So call me and let me know okay."

"Of course."

"Good."

"So I guess we talk again later huh."

"Yeah. You can reach me at the inn till 6, expect lunchtime, you can try Luke's than. If I'm not at the house after 6 you can reach me at Luke's as well."

"I figured."

"Bye sweety."

"Goodnight mom." With that Rory hang up. Lorelai kept staring at the phone for a while, before hanging up herself. Luke walked up behind her and pulled his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him. She loved the feeling of his strong arms around her. It make her feel safe. They stood there for a while until Luke let her go. He placed his hand on her shoulder and directed her towards the stairs. "Let's try to get some more sleep. We have to be up in a couple of hours."

Lorelai nodded and walked up the stairs towards their bedroom. In there she laid down, resting her head on his shoulder, his arm around hers. Lorelai felt a lot better now she knew Rory arrived safe, so the sleep kicked in soon.