Authors Note: Thanks cmbarrytx and April Sunshine for your reviews. I love to hear what you like about the chapter.

Chapter 7: Telling Rory

What an exciting day. Now I'm sitting in the plane to Paris – and Rory is sitting next to me. Yes I was right, she came with me. I can't say how grateful I am for this. I think I would've gone insane if I had to be in Europe on my own. It will be so good to have someone to talk to – to occupy my mind with.

When I got up this morning, Richard was nowhere around. I asked the maid about him, but she only knew that he went outside half an hour ago. After I'd finished my breakfast I immediately called my travel agent – it took me some time to convince him that I needed this flight no matter what, but in the end a little money and some threats solved my little problem. I always get what I want (at least with people inferior to me).

And finally Richard came home.

"Where have you been?"

"I don't have to justify my whereabouts to you."

What a great start. But I have something to tell him, and now is my only chance for the next two months.

"No, you don't." I say – not wanting to begin a fight.

"Richard, I don't want to live in a hotel when I'm returning from Europe. We have to figure out another solution. My idea is, that I'll be living here."

"Well you have the best ideas." he says with lots of sarcasm in his voice.

"Honestly Richard – you're away on business every now and then, so you don't need the house the whole time anyway. And I'm certainly not spending the rest of my life in a hotel. This is my house as much as it is yours."

"I know – so both of us should live here."

"Yes, but since we're always fighting when being in the same room, I wondered that maybe you could move to the pool-house. Then we wouldn't see each other so often, but you wouldn't have to leave our property. And if you'd need something from the house, you could be here in no time."

"Hm."

Oh please not that again.

"Of course I know you can argue that I could go there as well, but as I said yesterday if you are a gentleman you will leave the house to me. Plus I can have my tea circle here and noone will notice that we are separated. That's better for your business, too. Just think about it. We don't have to change anything for the next two months, but I would appreciate if we would come to an agreement about what is happening then as soon as possible. Just think about it and tell me your decision when you've made one."

There is a pause – I can see him thinking. I bet he wants to come up with another idea.

"Alright – we'll try it your way."

Wow – this is a surprise – no counter-suggestions?

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll move into the pool-house the day you're coming home."

"Thank you Richard. I really appreciate this."

"You're welcome."

Well that worked out just fine - and without any fighting. I can't believe this. But then he always was a gentleman, that's why I brought up this point in the first place. He was raised to be one. I'm relieved that we've solved this before I was leaving.

"Is there anything else we have to talk about before you're leaving?"

There would be so many things – but I know you're not talking about our relationship, otherwise you would've come upstairs yesterday evening.

"No, I don't think so."

"Is Rory accompanying you?"

"I don't know yet. I'll go to the Inn to have lunch with the girls. I'll ask her there."

"Good. So your flight is this evening?"

"Yes."

"Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes. Thank you."

So does he still care for me? Or is this just a routine question? I really don't understand him anymore.

I'm looking at Rory. She tries to get some sleep – she looks tired, exhausted. Well it was a long day, but somehow she looks very distracted. Slowly her head is drifting and she's leaning it against my shoulder. I like the feeling. And suddenly I realize that this is the first physical contact I have, after separating from Richard – except handshaking and that doesn't count. And thinking about it Richard and Rory are the only ones I've allowed to touch me. I haven't hugged Lorelai since she was a little girl. I don't know why, but there is a distance between us, that we can't overcome. So only Richard and Rory – the stiff cheek kisses with the DAR-ladies don't count either. Only Richard and Rory – and now only Rory…

"Grandma?" she asks me – half asleep.

"Yes, Sweetie?"

"Would you mind if I'd put my head in your lap?"

"Not at all." I say – smiling.

I'm caressing her hair. I have a weird feeling about her – she seems – I don't know – changed.

I arrived at the Inn a little early. So I sat down in the lobby and watched Lorelai. I'm very impressed how she's handling everything, though I would never say this to her.

When she finally acknowledged that I was sitting there (after about 10 minutes or so) she was being overly dramatic. Saying how my simple presence scared her etc., etc. Typical Lorelai. And then she was playing dumb about our lunch. As if our leaving would mean the lunch would have been cancelled. Rory wasn't even there. I had to remind her that this whole thing was her idea and that I didn't force it upon her. In the end she gave in and called for Rory. As I said I always get what I want.

The time I was waiting for Rory to arrive gave me some more minutes to figure out which way to tell her that her grandfather and I have separated. But I only came to the same conclusion as before – there is no nice way, I just had to tell it.

When she arrived we sat down outside. The weather was lovely so I started to mention that. But I knew I was only trying to avoid what I had to say. Now or never I thought and jumped right into it.

"Well, I don't see any reason to put this off any longer. Girls, I have something to say that may shock you, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do about that now. Lorelai, Rory, Richard and I have separated."

There I said it – I was looking down at the table. It still was a little humiliating to admit it to them. But Lorelai quickly turned this feeling into anger.

"And?"

"What do you mean "and"? That's not enough? You need some sort of mob-related offing to make it interesting?"

"No, Mom, that's plenty. It's just, wealready knew."

Pardon me? When I've just decided that Rory didn't know about it, she's saying we?

"Rory didn't." I say turning towards her.

"Well, I mean, I didn't know know –"

"Why would you tell her?" I demand to know – now turning towards Lorelai.

"Mom!"

"Who else did you tell?"

"So, you haven't read "Page Six"?"

Sometimes I really hate her sense of humour. So I'm focussing on Rory now.

"Rory, if you need to talk about this to try to understand why this is happening, then by all means, do not ask your mother."

Lorelai apologized to me and said she didn't want to be insensitve. She barely had finished that sentence when she was asking on and on about our relationship and how she thought we would make up. I said we didn't and as soon as I mentioned the pool-house she declared that we weren't separated. I decided that enough was enough. I won't discuss my marital problems with my daughter or granddaughter so I made it very clear, that that was the end of her input in this.

"I'm sorry, Grandma."

At least Rory was sympathetic. One more reason to ask her about Europe. I figured out that it would be best not to put too much pressure on her – so I've decided to only mention my offer at the end of my little speech.

"Well, what's done is done. I'm moving on. And to celebrate the next stage of my life, I'm going to Europe by myself for the very first time since I was in college. I'm leaving tonight."

"Tonight? That's fast." Rory says.

"Well, I wanted to leave quickly, so I called my travel agent and insisted that he put me on tonight's plane to Paris no matter what. He finally managed to bump someone from a church group, and I've got my seat, and I'm leaving at 10:00. And, Rory, my offer to you still stands."

"What offer?"

"My offer to escort you around Europe this summer."

"Oh."

That didn't sound too exciting. I admit that I was a little surprised by her reaction but I've played numerous scenarios out in my head last night. I couldn't sleep anyway. So here comes my convincing speech – paired with a little understanding.

"Every young lady should do Europe the proper way at least once in her life, and I would be thrilled to have your company on this very special occasion. Of course, I know it's very short notice, so if you already have plans for the summer, I completely understand."

And then came what I could never have imagined. Not Rory was responding but Lorelai – and she was on my side.

"You know, I think Europe sounds great. I think you would really enjoy that. I mean, remember -- we loved Paris. You don't have anything special planned for the summer, do you?"

"No, nothing special." Rory answered with a weird look.

"Well, then? What do you say? Would you like to be impulsive with me?"

"Sure, Grandma, I'd love to."

"That is just wonderful! I'll call Ralphie right away and tell him to bump another Baptist. We'll have a wonderful time, you and I. It'll be just like "Gigi." Lorelai, I'm gonna use your phone."

I hugged Rory good-bye and went to the phone. Of course I got another ticket – as I said I always get what I want.

When I'm now thinking over that conversation again, it really turned out unpredictable. Who would have thought that Lorelai would encourage her precious little girl to spend the summer away from her – and with me?

And Rory was weird, too. I expected her to be a little uncomfortable with the timing but her behaviour was just odd. I still have to figure that one out. When I'm looking down at her now she looks like the darling angel she always was to us. But as soon as I look into her eyes I see something in it that wasn't there before.

"Richard, I'm leaving now." I yell through the house.

"Goodbye – have a nice journey." he says coming out of his study.

Then we're just standing there glaring at each other. It's awkward – the way it has become between us. I'm so glad that I can finally leave all of this behind. Apparently we have nothing to say to each other.

"I will." I finally say.

"My greetings to Rory."

"I'll tell her."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

That's all we can say to each other – polite chit-chat. I'm turning around and go outside, giving the maid some last instructions. Somehow it's weird to leave like this – normally we always kissed goodbye when one of us was going on a journey (most of the time it was Richard leaving for one of his numerous business trips). Going without it seems odd – even when I know that we are separated and kissing most certainly isn't an option anymore. I don't even know if I really would have wanted to kiss him, probably not – what am I thinking we are separated so move on Emily – but it's an odd feeling anyway.

I have to move on.

I wonder how long it will take for Richard to start smoking in the house. He knows how much I hate that, but now that I am gone…

My driver is bringing me to Stars Hollow – there I'm picking up Rory.

"Did you manage to pack everything?" I ask her.

"Yes – I guess. Mom helped me, so I don't think I've forgotten anything important."

"If only you have your passport – anything else I can buy for you in Europe."

"Yes, I have my passport – right here in my purse."

"Good, so ready to leave?"

"Sure."

"Where's your mother?"

"I'm here, I'm here." Lorelai says storming in.

The drive is very silent. It's mostly me talking about Europe and the places we're going to visit. I'm talking just to avoid another awkward silence. I can't take it anymore, first with Richard and now Lorelai and Rory. I sense that there is something between them. I wonder what it is. But now is not the time to get into this. I'll have plenty of time in Europe. So I continue to being cheerful.

At the airport I decide to give them a little space to say their goodbyes. I have Rory for the next weeks, and I feel that they have to say something to each other. So I give them the opportunity - but I'm watching them, and whatever it is that's going on, seems as if they're not able to overcome it. They don't even hug. Is their relationship changing, too? Like Lorelai's and mine did. But then I can't believe that – they always had a different relationship, they seemed so close. Lorelai and I were never this close. Though I'm still wondering…

"Rory Sweetie – wake up." I say, stroking her hair.

"What?" she mumbles.

"You have to wake up – we're nearly there."

Slowly she gets up and stretches herself.

"How long was I asleep?"

"A few hours."

"And you?"

"Perhaps I dozed off a little too."

But I doubt that, I'm only saying it to not upset her.

"I hope that wasn't my fault – your legs must hurt when I had my head on them for hours – you really should've woken me up earlier Grandma."

"Nonsense. That was quite alright. I'm glad that you've got some sleep. You looked exhausted – you still do."

"Yeah – I think I was. But I just have to wake up and get a clear head."

"Perhaps you better don't wake up too much. It's evening here and we should go to bed as soon as we arrive at the hotel."

We begin to pack our things. The plane will land in a few minutes. I'm wondering what the next few weeks will bring to us. I hope I can get my thoughts in order. Perhaps Hope can help me with it. Yes, I will visit my sister – we haven't seen each other for years, but we've always understood each other. She doesn't know that I'm coming, but she'd always loved surprises (unlike me). And I need someone I can talk to about my problems with Richard. There is no better person than my younger sister Hope. Suddenly I can't wait to see her again.

Still like to read it? Then please review, and yes next chapter we will finally meeting Hope!