Authors Note: Thanks Lore2, cmbarrytx and AliseAndrews for your reviews. Reading them motivates me to write more.

Chapter 10: Phone Calls

Rory and I are walking back into our suite. We were both silent most of the time on our way back to Paris. I needed time to think, and I guess she knew it. Suddenly I notice that we haven't called anyone back home since we've arrived in Paris. At least I haven't.

I admit that I was thinking about calling Richard, but decided otherwise yesterday. But now after Hope's words – maybe I should call him. Maybe she's right and he's expecting me to make the first step as much as I am expecting him to do it. Does he care at all whether I call him or not? I'm really unsure about this.

"Have you called your mother to tell her we arrived in Paris safely?"

"No." she answers curtly.

"Well I think you should."

"Why – have you called Grandpa?" Rory says, sounding a little aggressive.

I wonder what's up with them. Is she really comparing my separation from Richard with the relationship between her and her mother? I must have been staring at her, cause now she mumbles:

"Sorry."

"No I didn't. But what about a deal – you'll call your mother and I'll call Richard."

She looks at me suspiciously. Why am I doing this? Why do I care so much about their relationship? – I know why, because I don't want them to become like Lorelai and me. Despite everything she did to me, I don't want the same happening to my daughter. I don't want her to feel the pain I did – and still do.

"All right. You start." she says.

I can't believe that she wants to set the rules – but fine. At least I'm getting over with it this way.

"Okay." I say.

Her eyes can't hide her amazement. I'm going into my room and pick up the phone. Thank God she's not following me. I stare at it for a minute, half-hoping he wouldn't be home. Finally I dial the number. He picks up after the second ringing.

"Hello. Richard Gilmore speaking."

"Hello Richard."

"Emily?"

"Yes."

Of course it's me.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes. That's why I'm calling. I wanted to tell you that we've arrived in Paris."

"Good."

That's even more difficult than I thought it would be. What shall I say to him? Oh, I know.

"We've visited Hope already."

"Really? That's great. You haven't seen her for such a long time. How is she?"

"She's fine. It was wonderful to see her again. She hasn't changed."

"We should have visited her earlier."

"Yes."

And what now? I can't tell him about our talk.

"Is Rory alright?"

Part of me is relieved that he mentions her, but the other part is disappointed that all he's interested in is Rory.

"Yes. Do you want to talk to her?"

"I'd love to."

"Rory! – Come into my room. Your Grandpa wants to talk to you." I yell.

I hear her coming.

"She'll be here right now."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Emily?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for calling me."

Perhaps I was unfair. Maybe he doesn't only care for Rory. Something in his voice makes me believe that he's grateful to hear my voice. But perhaps I'm imagining this. We're so screwed up, I don't know what to believe.

"You're welcome."

I know this response is lame, but it's all I can think of right now. Rory is coming in.

"Your Grandpa wants to speak to you. – Goodbye Richard."

"Goodbye Emily."

That's the last thing I hear before I'm handing the receiver to Rory. I'm leaving the room. I hear her talking to him (I didn't close the door), telling him about the flight, Paris and Hope. How I wish I could talk to him that way again. I don't know how to overcome the distance between us. I notice the irony in this. I wanted nothing more than to get away from him, and as soon as I've accomplished that, I'm thinking about how to overcome the distance. And then it hits me.

I haven't asked once if everything is alright with him. Am I that self-centered? But has he? Besides his first question, he was only speaking about Hope and Rory.

Rory comes into our living-room.

"Do you want to speak to Mom, too?"

"If she wants to."

"Okay. I'm calling her now."

She leaves for her room, and I give her the same privacy she gave to me. It's like an unspoken law - our form of respect for each other. I hear her talking. I don't understand the words and I don't want to – well perhaps that's not true. I would love to hear what they're talking about. But I will not eavesdrop, I respect her too much than to act like that.

After a couple of minutes (and honestly it weren't more) I hear her calling for me. I'm going into her room.

"Mom wants to speak to you."

I take the receiver.

"Hello?" I say loudly.

"Mom, geez, I'm hearing you – don't yell."

"Sorry – you know oversea phone calls…"

"You're crystal clear. How's Aunt Hope? Rory told me you've visited her already?"

"She's fine. I shall send you her greetings."

"Thanks – give her mine, when you see her tomorrow."

"I will."

"Is everything alright, Mom?"

"Of course it is, Lorelai."

Don't try to bring up the separation again. When will you learn that I won't talk to you about this part of my life.

"I mean with Rory." her voice changes as she says that.

"Everything is alright with her Lorelai. Is there a reason why you're asking this?"

"No – just take care of her Mom, will you?"

"Of course I'll take care of her, don't worry." I say softly.

"Thanks Mom."

"You don't have to thank me for that, Lorelai."

"I'm sorry Mom, but I have to go – Michel is having some problems with the guests."

"Okay. Goodbye Lorelai."

"Bye. And have fun shopping tomorrow."

With that she's hanging up. So Lorelai knew about Hope and the shopping – I guess that's all Rory told her. She didn't have time for more. If I'd only know what they're fighting about. I'm about to ask Rory but decide otherwise. It's better she comes to me on her own. But what if she never comes? Well we're spending the next eight weeks together so there's no need to rush anything.

"Grandma, you shouldn't buy me all these things. I don't need four new dresses."

"But they're looking so cute on you, and it's fun buying them, so let me have my fun."

"You're spoiling her Emily, but you're right they look cute on her, and a grandmother has the right to spoil her only granddaughter." Hope says.

"See, even Hope is on my side. Oh look at this skirt Rory, it's gorgeous. Please try it on."

With a defeated look she takes it and leaves to change. I love this day, it's so much fun to go shopping with Rory and Hope.

"You know that she doesn't need all these things, do you?"

"Well she might not need them, but this is my chance…"

"… to make up for the 15 years you've lost." Hope finishes.

"Exactly." I say quietly.

"That's the reason why I'm supporting this, because I know you didn't have much of a chance to do this before, and I know how much you love shopping, but remember Paris is only your first European town. So perhaps you should slow down a little."

"I know. Well – Ok. Only the skirt and then enough for her."

Hope smiles at me. Suddenly an idea is popping into my head. I don't want to stop shopping and I want to find out more about the fight that's going on between Rory and Lorelai. Perhaps this will work, I'm not sure but it's worth a try.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Aren't I allowed to smile?"

"I know you're up to something."

Yes, you know me. But you will find out soon enough. Rory is returning. She looks adorable.

"What do you think Rory? Do you like it?"

"Yes, I love this skirt, but you don't have to buy me everything I like."

"Nonsense. This skirt looks absolutely lovely and I'm buying it and don't protest, cause Hope just convinced me to give you a break. So you better take it – it's your last chance today."

"Thank you Grandma."

"You're welcome. But this doesn't mean, we have to stop shopping. The most wonderful idea just came to my mind. What do you think about this: I want to buy something for your mother from every town we're visiting. Something she would love to buy for herself, if she would have enough money. So I need your advice. What do you think we should buy her from Paris?"

"I don't know Grandma. We're always sharing clothes so she can wear all those dresses you're buying for me, either."

"But that's not the same, I want her to have something that belongs only to her. So what do you think?"

She's looking uncomfortable.

"Maybe she would like boots. Lorelai always did love them." Hope says.

"Yeah – boots are a good idea Aunt Hope."

"So let's go to find her some boots. Which size does she need?"

Rory and I are returning to our suite, with a lot of shopping bags in our hands.

"I think Lorelai will love these boots, don't you think?"

"Yeah, they're nice. She will love them Grandma."

She definitely is uncomfortable speaking about her, but she won't give anything away. Just when I'm thinking about a way to bring it up again, she changes the subject.

"Did I thank you enough for all the clothes you were buying for me? I know I said you didn't have to, but I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I love them Grandma. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I love buying them for you."

"What are we going to do tomorrow?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Sightseeing?"

"Sure. Tomorrow we're going off to see all the important things of Paris. So what did you visit when you were here the last time?"

She tells me in short the places they visited, trying to leave Lorelai out of her description. I can see that she's not willing to talk about her, so I'll leave her

alone – at least for the next time. I honestly hope she'll come to me on her own sometime.

"Rory we have to talk about our plan for the next weeks. Hope asked me again, if we want to come back to Paris to meet Fleur and her grandchildren. I told her I would call her this evening so that she can talk to Fleur. Do you want to come back to Paris to meet them?"

"Sure – why not?"

"Well the grandchildren don't speak English. And I don't want to go back, if you don't want to."

"That's okay. I know you want to meet them, and I understand that completely. Of course we're going back."

"Alright. So you can pick the town we're visiting after Paris. Barcelona? London? Vienna? Anywhere else?"

We're writing a list of the places we want to visit. After finishing it I'm going to the phone to call Hope.

"Hope?"

"Emily!"

"I just talked with Rory about the next weeks. We want to come back to meet Fleur and her children. Did you talk to them already?"

"Yes I did. Unfortunately the only date that fit in both our schedule is in six weeks."

"That's okay. Only our flight back from Rome to NYC is booked, so we're flexible to handle our time in between. I suggest we'll come to Paris before heading off to Rome."

"Sounds great. And you don't have to live in a hotel. I would love to have you here. This way we can spend so much more time with each other."

"Yes. That sounds wonderful."

"For how long will you stay in Paris this time?"

"Three more days. Then we're going to visit Barcelona, London, Stockholm, Vienna and the castle of Neuschwanstein. Rory missed it when she was in Europe last time, and she simply has to see it. It's THE castle."

"Oh, I know I love it. Remember when Mom and Dad took us to our first Europe trip and we were visiting all the Castles? We imagined to be princesses."

"Yes I do. We always wore those fancy dresses in our dreams."

"I wish I could come with you."

"Then come."

"That would be nice."

We're talking a little more about the dates so that Hope can be with us in Germany. I'm so excited. Going to the castle with my sister will bring back childhood memories. I love that she's able to accompany us. This way I'm going to see her for three weeks during my Europe trip. That's more than I could've dreamed of. Just her presence calms me down. I can think more clearly about my problems knowing that she's there to talk to when I need someone to listen. I'm really looking forward to the weeks to come.

Ten chapters already and the end is far away. I hope you liked it. Please review!