Authors Note: Thanks Lore2 and cmbarrytx for your reviews. It's good to know that you're still enjoying the story. Now the chapter you've waited for so long.

Chapter 16: Coming Back

We're on the plane back to New York. Only a few hours – only a few hours and I will have to face reality. I'm going to miss Rory. I know my house will be very lonely. I enjoyed the fact that I could talk to her whenever I wanted to.

"Rory?"

"Yes Grandma?"

"You know you can come to visit me whenever you want."

"I know."

"I would really love to have you over – your room will always be ready, so when you just need a break from Stars Hollow or Yale – feel free to come."

I hate that I'm sounding so desperate. But what shall I do – it's not that Lorelai will come over to visit me (except for Friday Night Dinner of course). She's looking at me intensely.

"I will Grandma."

I smile at her – she's trying to stifle her yawn.

"Try and get some sleep Sweetie."

"I wish I could, but I can't get a comfortable enough position."

"Lay your head into my lap. Like you did when we were flying to Europe. You could sleep then."

"But you couldn't."

"I don't think I'll sleep much anyway. So go ahead."

"Thanks Grandma."

I was right. This way she was able to get some sleep (and to fondle her hair gave me some much needed safety. I felt needed). I don't think I got much sleep though. But I have so many things that I can't get out of my head. Will Richard be home? How will our first meeting be? What about the next weeks? Emily Gilmore you wanted to wait and see, so don't think about it – but I can't.

We're in Stars Hollow. The driver just parked the car in front of Lorelai's house. I've noticed that Rory was getting a little nervous as soon as we were coming into this town. Not that I'm not nervous myself, but more because of my meeting with Richard – not Lorelai. We're getting out of the car.

"Grandma – do you mind if I would go ahead?"

"No – go."

She's smiling gratefully at me. Then she's off to go into the house. I'm turning to the driver.

"I want you to unpack all the luggage with the label "Rory Gilmore" on it and bring it into the house. I'll be right back."

"Yes ma'am."

I'm slowly walking towards the door. I want to give her some privacy with Lorelai. I'm really curious how the atmosphere will be when I'm coming in. Lorelai's garden is a mess by the way. I'm walking through the door.

"Hello!" I'm calling out cheerfully.

"Hi." Lorelai is yelling from the kitchen.

I'm going into it. Sookie is there – so no privacy for them – I could've just gone with Rory.

"Hello, Lorelai. Hello, Sookie."

"Hi, Emily." Sookie says.

"Hi, Mom." Lorelai says – trying to hug me.

What's this about? Since when do we hug each other? I mean she must've noticed that we didn't hug each other for years. She's totally caught me off guard.

"Don't! I smell like airplane." I say rising my hands.

That's a lame excuse but it's all I can think of right now. It's not that I don't want to hug her, but this is just not the way our first hug for years is supposed to be. And it's working, she's retreating.

"I guess I should go get my bags." Rory says.

I was right – she'll never learn.

"Rory, you do not touch bags." I scold her.

"Oh, I thought that was just a Europe thing."

Why should it? I don't get the logic behind that sentence, but then I don't want to get into this right now.

"The driver's bringing them in." that's all I reply.

Then I'm turning to Lorelai.

"Oh we had such a trip. Rory will fill you in. Spare her the more salacious aspects."

"Salacious aspects?"

I knew that word would intrigue you.

"Those European men -- young, old, in between -- they saw us coming."

"They saw you coming where?" Sookie says.

I don't think she's getting it, so I ignore her.

"We were like magnets. Such high libidos."

"You weren't walking around wearing your "hot and wealthy" sandwich board, were you, Mom?"

Well you and your humour.

"She was very popular." Rory says.

Who would have thought she would support this story?

"Well, I should go. I bring you back a charming, cultured, well-mannered young lady. Don't undo it." I say to Lorelai.

Not that you will listen to me, but I just had to say it.

"I will definitely try not to not undo it."

Yeah – I thought so.

"Well, goodbye, all. Goodbye, Rory."

"Bye, Grandma." Rory says, leaning forward to hug me.

"Nope. Airplane."

I really want to hug her, but I have to say it after I'd said it to Lorelai before. Otherwise it would be too obvious. But luckily Rory isn't listening.

"Oh, I can take it. Thanks, Grandma."

"Ciao."

With that I'm turning around to go – I admit it was a little awkward. But the real awkwardness is lying in front of me – meeting Richard.

Coming back is weird – the house seems weird, a little dusty of course. I'm asking my driver to carry the luggage upstairs (since I'm not sure Richard will do it). After he's gone I'm alone. No sign of Richard. I guess he has to work – his car is away. I can't tell whether he's slept in our bedroom for the last days – could be.

I start unpacking. Just when I'm about to check out the pool-house to see whether he has set it up already I hear the front door. It's Richard – I recognize his steps. I always do. I'm going down the stairs.

"Emily." he says.

Does he sound surprised? He knew I would come home today.

"Hello Richard."

"You're back."

Well that's obvious.

"Yes I am."

"How was the flight?"

"Good."

"And the trip?"

"Wonderful – we visited a lot of great places. But you know most of them."

"And Rory's fine?"

"Yes she is."

"Have you seen the pool-house already?"

"No – I was about to go there now."

"I've furnished it a little."

"That's good. So you've been sleeping there already?"

"No."

"But you do tonight?"

"That's what we agreed on, right?"

"Yes it is. – Thank you Richard."

"You're welcome. – So – I guess I should go there."

"Do you need anything from here?"

"No – I don't think so."

He's leaving for the pool-house. Before he's out the door I call him back.

"Have you thought about employing another servant?"

"No –why?"

"Well I don't think the maid is able to handle two households, (seeing the state of this house she isn't even able to handle one) so maybe you should consider to employ a valet."

"Yes – I'll see to it."

"Good."

Then he's gone. So that was the meeting I was so nervous about? I'm so relieved that he hasn't forgotten about our agreement – and I'm sad that everything is the way it was before I went to Europe. We've lost the ability to talk to each other. I'm going upstairs again to finish unpacking.

For the first time in two months I'm lying in my own bed. It feels good – so normal – but when I look at the place beside me I know nothing is normal. One important part is missing – Richard of course. In Europe there were times, in which I could sleep quite good, I wonder if that will change now.

I'm stretching my hand out to pick up Hope's letter. I've waited until now to read it, I wanted to have time, time no one would interrupt. I open it.

Dear Emily,

I hope you're at home now, cause otherwise you would've broken your promise. But I doubt that you did that. So how was your meeting with Richard? Has he changed? Have you changed? I really hope you didn't fight. I'm writing this letter to you, so that you have something you can always read again. Spoken words are forgotten so easily. Whenever you feel like hearing my opinion you can read this letter. I hope you two will be able to solve your problems. You're simply made for each other. Try to get his point of view. Have you thought about how he must be feeling – being in the pool-house now? (I guess he is, cause that's what you've agreed on, and I don't think he would break that agreement.) Please remember what I told you – he feels abandoned, too. He's waiting for you just like you are waiting for him. Go to him. Try to find your mistakes. Go to him and be the first one to apologize. I'm sure he'll listen to you this way. But don't spare him your point of view, either. He has to know how terrible you've felt for the last months. I know this will be hard for both of you, but if one couple can make it, it's the two of you. I wish I could be with you to support you, but I couldn't go to him anyway. That's something you have to do. Don't wait too long. Don't drown in self-pity. You can change the situation. Just do it. Tell him that you're sorry and that you love him.

Love Hope

P.S.: I'm always there for you.

So that's her letter. I'm rereading it.

Dear Emily, I hope you're at home now, cause otherwise you would've broken your promise. But I doubt that you did that.

I admit I was tempted to read it earlier, but you're right – I waited.

So how was your meeting with Richard? Has he changed? Have you changed? I really hope you didn't fight.

How was our meeting? He hasn't changed. Have I changed? No, to be honest I haven't changed either. But we didn't fight – at least that's a plus.

I'm writing this letter to you, so that you have something you can always read again. Spoken words are forgotten so easily. Whenever you feel like hearing my opinion you can read this letter. I hope you two will be able to solve your problems. You're simply made for each other.

Yes, you're smart. You knew that without you being present I would fall back into the routine I hate. That's what I already did. I didn't ask him to have a talk. But why me? And why are you so sure that we can work this out? You have much more confidence in us than I have right now.

Try to get his point of view.

I've not forgotten that – you've preached it to me.

Have you thought about how he must be feeling – being in the pool-house now? (I guess he is, cause that's what you agreed on, and I don't think he would break that agreement.)

Again you're right – he hasn't broken it. And no I haven't thought about his feelings – he's not thinking about mine either.

Please remember what I told you – he feels abandoned, too. He's waiting for you just like you are waiting for him. Go to him. Try to find your mistakes. Go to him and be the first one to apologize. I'm sure he'll listen to you this way.

But what exactly are my mistakes? You never told me that. For what shall I apologize?

But don't spare him your point of view, either. He has to know how terrible you've felt for the last months. I know this will be hard for both of you, but if one couple can make it, it's the two of you.

Oh yes it would be hard and honestly I don't know how to do it.

I wish I could be with you to support you, but I couldn't go to him anyway. That's something you have to do. Don't wait too long. Don't drown in self-pity.

Self-pity? That's a little hard, don't you think Hope?

You can change the situation. Just do it. Tell him that you're sorry and that you love him. Love Hope P.S.: I'm always there for you.

Everything's sounding so easy – reading your letter. But it isn't. And I don't know if you're the right person to tell me that – you never were separated. It's not that I could go to him to ask or tell him 'I love you'. – You're always there for me? Well let's hope so, cause I'm calling you right now. No matter what time, that's what you told me. Writing me this letter - so that I'm unable to respond immediately.

I'm picking up the phone. It's ringing and ringing. Then a sleepy voice is answering.

"Oui?"

"Hope it's me – Emily."

"Emily? – Is something wrong?"

"Well that depends on how you define wrong – I've just read your letter."

"That's why you're calling me?" she replies a little annoyed.

"'I'm always there for you – You can call me whenever you want – no matter what time'- your words."

"I know. So what about the letter?"

"What do you think are my mistakes?"

"Emily please – "

"No I have to know – you say I should go to him to apologize – for what exactly?"

"That's for you to find out."

"Very clever."

"Honestly Emily – we all make mistakes, right?"

"I guess."

"Fine – so we agree on the part that you've made some, too. I didn't say that they're worse than his."

"Of course they're not." I'm muttering.

"But if you want to safe your marriage – this is the way to do it – in my opinion. Think about it."

Suddenly I hear another voice – Maurice. Shit I forgot about him – I thought she would be alone.

"Is Maurice there?" I ask her sheepishly.

"Of course he is – you knew he would be here for another week."

"I'm sorry – I totally forgot. I didn't mean to wake him up."

"But you meant to wake me up?"

"Well – yes. I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that. It's just – I'm sorry. Go back to sleep."

"Now I'm awake."

"Sorry."

"It's okay – I told you, you could call whenever you want. But honestly you have to find out yourself. I just wanted you to remember our talk. And I may not have said directly 'this is your mistake' but we talked about it."

"So you have something in mind?"

"Yes – but it's for you to find out. Otherwise the apology wouldn't be honest anyway."

Again I hear Maurice's sleepy voice.

"You should go back to bed. Again I'm sorry."

"It's ok – goodnight Emily."

"Goodnight Hope."

Ok this was plain ridiculous. How old am I that I can't wait for the morning? And why got I so angry – granted she never was separated, but I wanted to hear her opinion and I value it. And her letter was mainly about what I've heard anyway – just that she pointed out my mistake more. So what is my mistake? I have to think about it. And when I find it – will I be able to go to him to apologize? I don't know.

So how do you like the first chapter back in America? Please review!