Authors Note: Thanks Riska for your review. I really like to read your thoughts and criticism is appreciated as well as praise.

Chapter 28: Presents

The girls are here for Friday Night Dinner. We're already having dessert.

„And of course next week my famous Christmas Party will be, so you better have nothing else to do – not that you'd be free on a Friday anyway." I say.

"So you're hosting it again, I nearly thought you wouldn't this year." Lorelai says.

"Well why wouldn't I?" I say looking at her.

"Well you know with everything what's going on between you and Dad I thought – "

"You thought what?" I say getting angry.

I hate when she's talking about the separation, that's none of her business. I see Rory shaking her head slightly, motioning for Lorelai to stop.

"Forget it Mom. - So apple tarts, yum yum."

"Who's coming Grandma?"

"Well some of the usual, my friend Natalie and her husband Douglas, the Prescotts, you two and of course Richard and I." I add, knowing that's the reason why she's asked the question.

She's so much more considerate than her mother.

"So Grandpa will be here." she says smiling.

"Of course he will – noone would like to miss my Christmas party."

"And the apple tarts – there are apple tarts right Mom?"

"There are always apple tarts Lorelai, so yes of course there will be apple tarts this year, too."

"Great, cause those apple tarts are amazing."

They're really nothing special – they're tasty but not that delicious – well at least one thing she likes about this dinner.

"Moving on to Christmas Day – I'll expect you to be here around 4 pm – as usual."

"And what about Dad – are we supposed to have tea with you and dinner with him for a change?" Lorelai asks.

"No you'll have tea and dinner here – and Richard will be here also. We've decided that since it's Christmas it wouldn't be appropriate to celebrate two times. We thought you'd be pleased with this arrangement." I say.

I can see the amazed looks on their faces – I knew it.

"It wouldn't be appropriate." Lorelai is mimicking sarcastically.

"We love that Grandma. That's really a good arrangement."

„I thought so." I say smiling at Rory and then giving Lorelai the look.

But whatever she's saying I have the feeling that Lorelai is pleased about this either.

My Christmas Party was as terrific as always. Richard and I got along just fine – like at the Yale Party – and well the evening was quite a success. The decoration, the apple tarts – somehow there aren't any left, I'd take a guess who got in the kitchen to get them… but well I'm quite relieved.

I even think that with this evening we could minimize the rumours about us being separated. I'm really looking forward to Christmas Day now.

The only thing that I'm not so sure about is presents. It's Gilmore tradition that the girls will give us their present at my party and they'll get our presents on Christmas Day lying under the tree. And Richard and I exchanged presents on Christmas Day, too. Normally I'd receive some jewellery – but I don't think that will be the case this year. And I really don't know what to buy for him, or if I should buy him anything at all.

I've even thought about talking to him about the 'gift-situation' but well that's not appropriate – I just have to buy him something small and nice and when I'll receive something I'll give him mine also - and when I'm not getting anything then he won't either.

Thinking about presents I just remember the weird way in which Rory gave us theirs this time. Normally we're not opening them until everybody left, but this time the girls stayed until everyone else was gone.

"How's Uncle Maurice, Grandma?"

"He's getting better everyday – he's at home now and Hope has to put all her effort in trying to keep him in bed." I answer – a little surprised that she's thinking of that now.

"Yeah – I can imagine." she says laughing a little.

Somehow she's weird – and normally Lorelai would've left as soon as she got the opportunity – right now she's just standing there – looking at Rory.

"Don't you want to open our present, Grandma?"

"Of course I do – when we have time for it – as always." I say a little irritated.

"Well couldn't you have like time now, please Grandma, Grandpa?" she says her eyes pleading.

We're looking at her and at each other. Lorelai isn't saying anything about this. She knows Rory will win this, we just can't say no to her.

"Alright, so let's see what you've got us this time." I say.

I'm unwrapping the present – there are framed pictures in it. A gorgeous picture of Lorelai and Rory twice (for each of us I assume) and the other one is a collage including several pictures. The wedding picture of Richard and me, a picture of Lorelai and Rory when she was about 5, a picture of Richard and me holding Rory as a baby, a picture of me holding Lorelai as a baby, one of the four of us we took after I've spend the day with Rory in Stars Hollow – she requested this picture back then, another more recent one of Richard and me; well I get what she wants to tell us with them. And of course the collage is there twice, too – one for Richard and one for me.

"Well thank you – you look gorgeous in the picture, it will get an honoured place." I say, only commenting the picture of the two of them.

"It certainly will. Thank you." Richard says.

„You're welcome." both of them reply.

"And the collage? Do you like it?" Rory asks hesitantly.

„Yeah do you, cause that was a lot more work, than the other picture." Lorelai says.

What to say now? I don't appreciate them to meddle with our relationship or even making hints, but to give it to us as a present – very smart move, I wonder who had this idea? Very reluctantly I come to the conclusion that it probably was Rory's. I decide to go the polite way.

"It's beautiful, isn't it Richard?"

"Yes it is."

And where do you got our wedding picture from?

„I'm glad you like it." Rory says.

She really looks relieved – she knew she was walking on thin ice with this collage – now I know why she had to be there, when we're opening it.

"Well we do, though you shouldn't have put so much work into it." I say standing up and putting them on a table.

"As long as if it was worth it." I hear Lorelai mutter, but decide to ignore it.

"I know you can't wait for your presents, but as you know you have to wait a little longer. And I really have to take care of the cleaning now, so if you'd excuse me."

They left soon after this. I saw Richard staring at the collage. They really knew what they were doing and I too hope that it was worth it. Those pictures are telling me how everything is supposed to be – I really hope we're getting there again.

When Richard said his goodbye to me it was again an awkward situation. He had already his pictures in his hands.

"So, I guess I'll be going now. The party was a success – as usual Emily."

"Thank you Richard. And thank you for coming."

"I wouldn't have missed this. Well – the girls really put thought into their present."

My hopes are raising.

"Yes they did."

Say something, anything. But he didn't. We're just looking at each other until I decide I can't stand it anymore.

"The pictures are beautiful." I say.

"Yes they are."

Again we're staring at each other and the pictures. After some time he said goodnight and left.

Even now I sigh just thinking about it. We were so close. If he'd just said anything… if I'd just said anything…

I take a look at my nightstand. I've put the collage up here – not that I'd ever admit that to the girls. Our wedding picture (I still don't know how they got it) – how happy I was on that day. And me and Lorelai – I thought I couldn't be happier. Baby Rory – I can't look at this one for long, they left us soon after the picture was taken. Then the one I hadn't seen until now – Lorelai and 5 year old Rory. They're having picnic at a lake – I wonder who took that photo. Before the tears can take over I quickly look at the picture of the four of us – finally we saw them again – regularly. Not that Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas wasn't regularly I'm thinking a little sarcastic. And finally again Richard and me – we're in the living-room – I can't remember when they took that picture. It looks like we're having an argument – maybe the maid let them in and we didn't notice. I wouldn't have forgotten this photo. Well at least we were able to argue back then…

I'm turning out the light – it makes no sense to live in the past.

The next day I'm placing the picture of the two of them on the mantle. They really look adorable. Just when I'm about to go shopping for Christmas presents the phone is ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hello Emily."

"Hello Bitty."

I wonder what she has to say. I'm dreading that she heard someone talking about Simon and me.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine – I just wanted to go shopping – Christmas you know."

"Yes, I've to do that myself. It's stressful isn't it?"

"I like it. – And how are you?"

"I'm fine, but did you hear about Straub?"

I knew it – there had to be some news when she's calling. I'm so relieved that it's not about me – but now I'm intrigued – I wonder what he did.

"No what about him?"

"He's diagnosed with cancer – poor Francine is devastated."

"Oh no – that's terrible."

"Yes isn't it – he was such a good man. Did a lot of charity work."

He was a big ass to my family. But I feel for Francine.

"Well so there is no hope – I mean no treatment would help?"

"It's pretty serious – they say that he can be lucky to see the next year."

"Oh my god. That serious?"

Well he wasn't nice to us, but that – somehow I feel for him, too. After all he is Rory's grandfather.

"I'm afraid yes – so you didn't know?"

"No – as you know we're not that close anymore."

"Yes, well I just wanted to fill you in, but I don't want to keep you from your shopping."

"Yes, thank you Bitty – my greetings to Henlin."

"And mine to Richard."

So this call was not at all about Richard and me. Straub dying? Maurice having a heart attack – I'm getting the idea that fate is going to tell me something. And I so would like to make peace with Richard – if we could only get over our stubbornness… if only someone would make the first step… but then the reasons for my leaving are coming into my mind again. He should make the first move – he really should…

Slowly I'm walking to the car to get to the mall.

I'm sitting in the living-room. I look up, because I heard a knock – it's Richard. I'm standing up to open the door for him. I wonder why he's here. Has he heard about Straub, too?

"Hello Emily."

"Hello Richard." I say while stepping back so that he can come inside.

"Do you have a little time for me?"

"Yes. – Do you want something to drink, a coffee maybe? It's so cold outside."

"Coffee would be great."

"Marissa?"

"Yes Mrs Gilmore?" my newest maid answers.

"Please get us some coffee."

"Yes ma'am."

I'm turning to Richard again.

"Actually it's good that you came over, cause I've news for you."

"About Maurice?"

"Well no – Maurice is getting better and better – about Straub."

"What about him?" Richard asks and I can see his face darken. So he doesn't know.

"He's been diagnosed with cancer – it's very serious."

"Oh."

"Francine is devastated – he always was very healthy and now…"

"But there's treatment."

"It could be too late – they say he can be lucky to see the new year."

"Hmm."

"What?"

"Well it's not that I liked him lately, but this – "

"Yes, I know. I've felt the same way. How fast things can change."

"Yes."

We're looking at each other – and if we're not thinking the same now, then I don't know him at all. But he's not saying anything – maybe he has to process first. Before it can get awkward I'm giving him a questioning look.

"But you wanted to tell me something?"

"Well - I've thought about the presents – for the girls." he quickly adds – too bad, just when I had my hope raising again.

"Yes?"

I'm a little surprised, normally I'm getting the presents for them.

"I've found a great book for Rory, she will just love it, however for Lorelai I'm at a loss. So do you think I could bring you that book and you'll get all the other presents and arrange it that everything will be lying under the tree?"

"Of course – that sounds sensible. Just bring it to me in time."

"Good. Do you have any ideas for other presents?"

"I've seen some adorable dresses, however I'm not sure if they'll like them, so I think they'll get a voucher for the mall as well as those dresses. That way they can also get themselves something they really want. And I've spotted some antique furniture – maybe Lorelai wants it for her Inn."

"That sounds good."

I can see that he is relieved – did he really think he had to get them presents on his own? Somehow this amuses me. Marissa is coming with the coffee. We make polite small talk but that's it. No more mention of Straub and no mention of whether or not he'll get me a present and I don't dare to ask. Well I'll see.

And again I'm encouraging everyone to review. It means so much to me, so please give me the few minutes as a present for me.