The Gilmore Girls and Boy

Prologue

Highway 110. Tuesday, December 28th, 2020. Early Morning

It was a foggy, dark day on the road. Silence filled the air. The faint sounds of a song plagued both of their ears. Neither one of them dare turn up the volume. It was supposed to be quite. Reflective. Her, with a tear stained face. Him, a look of sadness and regret. Regret for not getting to know him better. Regret for not wanting to spend his vacation time in Stars Hollow. Her regret was deeper...more poisoning to the soul. She'd left that part of her life only to return in time of trajedy.

Rory Gilmore sighed a heavy sigh, looking over to the passenger seat and smiling faintly to her son. Her son. She still had trouble believing it. How a moment of sadness, passion, and regret could form this being of pure joy and love into her life. Facing Lorelai again was going to be the topper. They'd been to visit every now and then, but it was usually a quick dinner and exchanging of gifts and she was gone again just like that. It hurt to be there. To see how much pain she had caused her best friend. God, how she must hate her.

"Mom." Hayden Richard Gilmore said quietly as if not to disturb her. His deep blue eyes looking to her with worry and fear. They hadn't been to Stars Hollow in almost a year now. Each time they were, was met with both awkward conversation and bittersweet silence...most of which he believe he was the cause for.

"Yeah, Babe." Rory answered meekly as she passed the Welcome to Hartford sign. She no longer was the confident, over-achieving, ace reporter for the New York Times as she was not 24 hours before. No, she was a shell of that. A meek, introverted shell.

"What time's the funeral?" Hayden asked, trying to get a feel for what to expect and when to expect it at.

"Umm...three, I think." Rory said looking to him. "I think we're meeting at your great grandma's to go over great grandpa's will." She said tears threatening to cross the barrier.

"Isn't it costumary to do that after the funeral?" Hayden asked confuesed. He knew his family wasn't the sanest bunch, but they still did things by the book...well...most of them anyways.

"Yeah, well, everything happened so suddenly, and with Grandma wanting to get the funeral done as soon as possibly, this was the only time the attorney could come. It'll be fine. I'm sure it'll be fast." Rory said as she place her hand on her son's. "Don't worry, Hay. We'll get through this." She said as she wiped a tear from her face.

"Yeah." Hayden said with a fake smile as he sat back in his seat and stared blankly ahead as they came upon the familiar road and pulled into the driveway. He noticed that Granpa Luke's truck was parked outside...meaning both he and Lorelai were there as well.

Rory pulled up behind the truck. Her gut wrenching at the family reunion that was about to take place. She stepped out of the car, the black dress falling passed her knee as she walked up to the door. She knocked softly recalling the moments that lead to this very feeling of nervousness and guilt.

Flashback

"It's blue. What does that mean?" A 19 year old Rory stated looking to her mother. She knew what it meant, but she needed for someone else to tell her. Maybe she was just dreaming...or maybe it was a practical joke.

"It means you're pregnant." Lorelai said tears beginning to form at her eyes. No! Not her daughter. Not HER daughter. She was doing so good. She was at Yale and she was on the way to having everything she ever wanted...everything Lorelai never had.

"I have to go." Rory said in a state of shock. She couldn't believe it. She gave her virginity up to a married man. Her first love. And now, she was with child and her plans and her mother's plans for her were ruined. What would everyone say? What would they think?

"No, you are in no condition to drive. You're in shock, I know that. We'll get through this. We will. We just need to get some sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning." Lorelai stated as she took Rory to her bedroom and tucked her in as if she were a little girl. Rory's eyes shut, and Lorelai left the room allowing Rory to cry freely into her pillow.

Lorelai woke up groggily the next morning. Her face stained from the night of crying. She headed downstairs. It was time to discuss the game plan. Opening the door to Rory's room, she found it empty. Walking over to the freshly made bed, she found a letter with Mom written on the outside. Tears began to stream down her face.

Dear Mom,

I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to disappoint you this way. I was supposed to make it...for you. Now, I'm 19 and pregnant with a married man's child. I know you said we'd get through this and part of me wanted to believe you so much, but I can't face everyone. Not now. Not ever. If there was anything you have ever taught me, it was to be independent. To do what you have to do to survive. You did it for me. Now it's my turn to do it for my little boy or girl. So I'm leaving. I'm not sure where I'm going yet, but when I do, I'll call. I can't stay here knowing the pain I've caused you. The pain I've caused everyone. I'm so sorry, Mom. I love you. Goodbye.

End Flashback