A/N: Chapter 4! For anyone who cares, the first segment of this was written while I was being forced to watch the Grinch movie, and not the animated one. So to avoid watching Jim Carrey traipsing around in a furry green suit, I decided to work on my story.

Actually, on the last chapter I forgot to ask: How was I at writing Emily? I mean, I haven't used her character very much, and wanted to make sure she wasn't too out of it or anything. She's in this chapter, too. Feedback (positive or negative) would be great on that front.

Also, I don't know everything about funeral planning and such, but I know a great deal. I went through this a year ago. I know I'm only 14 (old to me, possibly young to you), but I'm gonna try to write this with as much accuracy as I can based on my history.

Sydney453: I was very glad to hear some constructive criticism. I do agree that Lorelai is a little OC and that she probably wouldn't just accept this. But for the purpose of this story, the L/L storyline, I had to have her need some help. And while her having to take control and see everything before she believes it would be likely, I think that this reaction would also be a possibility, seeing as she may be just… emotionally drained after such a huge loss.

Menghis: I'm flattered! Thanks for reading!

Charmedchic72: Huh… I hadn't thought of that yet. Where is Chris? He was never around before, though. I'm gonna assume that Emily and Richard called him. I'll probably throw him in either in this chapter or the next. Thanks!

J.Stone: Hey, I make no promises! I will at least try to write some fluff. I cannot guarantee that it'll make your teeth hurt, however. But I will shoot for a tiny toothache.

(And here ends my obnoxiously long A/N.)

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"You know what I like most about the stars? You look at them, at all of them up there ... and you just know there's gotta be something more than..."

"Life?"

"There has to be."

-Bailey and Tibby, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (the movie)

--

Luke left during her shower, leaving only a short note in his wake. He headed off to grab some clothes from his apartment. On his way back, he made sure to stop by Miss Patty's and inform her of the funeral date.

The entire way back he avoided eye contact with other citizens. He couldn't take the sympathetic, teary-eyed looks anymore. At a young age, he'd had his fill of them.

When he returned, he could still hear the water flowing.

She certainly had a lot to think about.

The second night was again spent in Lorelai's bed. She had repeated the question from the previous evening in the same small, shaking voice, while her eyes betrayed her and revealed her desperation.

During the day, Lorelai managed to evade thinking about her daughter. She tried her hardest to keep everything as close to 'normal' as she possibly could. But when night fell, she could no longer hide behind her well-built façade of wit and charm.

So Luke held her close to him as she cried herself to sleep with the foolish belief that everything would be better in the morning.

--

Lorelai tried in vain to force Thursday to pass as slowly as possible. She wanted to avoid the closure that a funeral would bring for as long as she could.

But this tactic seemed to backfire, however, and the day sped by like a blur. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of her open closet doors and 10:57 on Friday morning, damp hair pulled back and a robe wrapped around her, trying to figure out what the hell you're supposed to wear to your daughter's funeral.

By 11:15, she'd decided on a knee-length dress. But it wasn't black. It was bright red.

She knew she'd be bombarded with inquiries over her decision on her outfit. And she would counter them all by telling them that she knew her daughter wouldn't want her to be sad. So she was going to wear a colorful dress, trying to convey her hidden message across whatever barrier it is that exists between life and death.

Lorelai had never been really religious. But she did believe in God. Somehow she knew that there was something more beyond this. Maybe not heaven, exactly, but something.

And she knew that wherever her daughter was, she was happy.

--

She walked arm-in-arm with Luke, who gave no question to her choice in clothing. They arrived fifteen minutes early, making sure they were seated in the front row. After five minutes of silence, they rolled the casket in and set it up in the front of the church.

Staring at the dark wood of the elegant coffin, Lorelai took a deep breath. She would not – could not – cry. Tearing her eyes from the casket, Lorelai scanned the church. She spotted her mother standing in the doors of the church, greeting the guests, the majority of which she didn't even know.

Lorelai muttered a quick "I'll be right back," to Luke, who just nodded, before rising from her seat and striding down the aisle to speak with her mother.

"Thank God. I needed to – What are you wearing?" Emily asked.

"It's a dress."

"It's red." She glanced from her daughter's bright colors to her own black attire.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just don't look that great in yellow." Lorelai tried to joke, but her voice just didn't sell it.

Her mother ignored her feeble movie reference and continued with their conversation. "We need you to give the eulogy."

Lorelai's jaw dropped slightly, all thoughts of Joaquin Phoenix forgotten. "W-What?"

"You need to give the eulogy." Emily stated, as if her daughter were five years old.

She just shook her head, taking her time to form the right words. "I… can't." That was all she could come up with. The eulogy? What was her mother thinking?

"You have to, Lorelai." Her daughter needed to step up to the plate. She herself had done it before.

Lorelai shook her head again, more vehemently this time. "No way." She could hardly keep up her composure. Speaking about her daughter was out of the question.

"It's your obligation." Why wouldn't her daughter just listen to her for once?

"I can't do it, mother!" Lorelai shouted. The room silenced as all the patrons turned to find the source of the sudden noise.

Emily's eyes widened at her daughter's appalling behavior as Lorelai's cheeks turned to the color of her dress. The younger Gilmore turned and headed back up the aisle to her seat, eyes fixed on the floor, embarrassed.

Lorelai slouched as she sat, resting her head on the back of the pew. She stared at the high ceiling. After a few minutes of thought, she felt a hand on her knee. She looked over at Luke, who quickly removed his hand, knowing he'd gotten her attention.

"It's, uh, starting," he told her. She nodded, being speechless.

Throughout the service, Lorelai kept her eyes trained on the crucifix hanging on the far wall. She half-listened to everything, afraid that if she paid full attention that she would break down. And that certainly couldn't happen, not in front of her mother, not in front of her town.

At some unidentifiable point during the service, she began resting her head on Luke's shoulder, needing to have physical proof of his support. When the funeral ended, she realized that, once again, she had been gripping Luke's hand like a lifeline. She didn't remember taking hold of it, but she was so glad she did.

Because without it, she would've been lost.

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Luke took her home afterwards. Through the entire walk, not a word was spoken. It was as if they were soaking everything in. When they reached her front door, he broke the silence.

"I guess I'll see you around." He couldn't imagine not staying with her another night. It was amazing how routine it felt to be with her twenty-four hours a day, even though he'd never spent that much time with her before. He wrapped Lorelai in his arms one last time.

As he held her, he whispered, "It'll all be okay." He patted her back lightly before pulling away and heading back towards the street. Just as his foot was about to hit the driveway, her voice stopped him.

"Stay."

It was so quiet, he wasn't sure if she'd actually said a word. He turned to face her. The moment he saw the look of hope in her eyes, he knew he hadn't been hearing things.

Lorelai was frightened that he would leave her there alone, in this suddenly huge, empty house. He hadn't said a word, so she added an equally quiet, "Please?"

Luke smiled slightly before walking back to meet her.

Maybe he wouldn't have to go home after all.

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To Be Continued…

Reviews are welcomed and appreciated!