AN: I may like Chris but I wouldn't dream of having Lorelai get back together with Chris, never fear.

Personally, I feel my last chapter wasn't my best but it was needed for the story. The next two chapters will be much better, I promise.

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It's been so different at the inn the past few days without Lorelai. She always brought a certain kind of – magic – liveliness – to the Dragonfly, even times she was fighting with Rory or the time she was fighting with Luke. That's amazing, now that I think about it. All those years together, seven years, and they only fought once. I mean they had disagreements, but they only really fought once. Jackson and I have been together longer and we still have some big blow up at least once a year. I think that's what reminds us that we love each other. Not that I'm saying Lorelai and Luke didn't love each other because God knows they did.

I'm leaving a little early from the Dragonfly because Michel, of all people, suggested that I go see Lorelai, that I try to find out if and when she'll be coming back. She's been really depressed the past few days since the funeral. I've scarcely heard from her. When I go over there, she's in bed having not eaten or slept. It makes me want to cry or shake her, maybe both. I called Rory this morning at work and she said that she or Marty have been stopping by there daily to check on the twins and make Lorelai eat, but she wasn't allowed to take much more time off of work if she wanted a full maternity leave in March.

I pass by the diner on the way to Lorelai's place. It's still just as dark and lonely as it was the day we found Lorelai upstairs in pieces. I haven't heard what she's planning on doing with it, but it would be such a shame for it to be left forgotten. And I'm sure eventually, Taylor's going to bug her about it, probably sooner rather than later. Note to Sookie, remember to talk to Taylor about that.

Arriving at Lorelai's house, I get the key out from under the turtle. However I find that was unnecessary because the door is unlocked. "Katie! Will! Lorelai!" I call. There's no answer. I glance at my watch. At 5 o'clock on a Thursday, those kids should be home. I search around the house for a note, thankfully finding one on the kitchen table. April's taken the twins with her to her mother's. She's been good the past few days. April convinced the Harvard people to give her a week off and send her the assignments and notes because of her father's death. I have to say, she's just like Luke, always putting someone else first.

When I was put on bed rest early, a month before Martha was born, Lorelai freaked out. The Dragonfly yet to be open a year and there was an article coming out about the inn that was hopefully going to bring in more business. But I was stubborn. I never hired anyone to take my place when I went on maternity leave. So when I had to stop working early, Lorelai was stuck without a chef.

Luke, of course, came to our rescue. He let Lane and Caeser handle the diner for a day so that Lorelai would be able to keep the dining room at the inn open and so that she could search for a temporary chef. Course, I'm still Sookie. And as I said before, I'm stubborn. I couldn't handle the idea that someone else was running my kitchen, probably differently than I had. I drove Luke crazy all day trying his food and sending Jackson after him. Even still, Luke wouldn't quit because Lorelai needed him. She came first.

After apologizing and hiring Manuel as my substitute the next day, I called Luke over to my house. I apologized again for – basically being myself. But he wouldn't hear of it. Luke said he didn't just do it for Lorelai, he did it for me, and he knew eventually I'd see that. Though I drove him crazy, he still put my needs first. Luke was amazing like that. I told him I would always be indebted to him and he said someday, I could pay him back. And I suppose getting Lorelai through this is a fair exchange.

"Lorelai!" I yell as I jog up the stairs. "Lorelai!" She has to be here.

I walk into Lorelai's bedroom. It's dark and quiet but I can see Lorelai's unmistakable form curled up in the bed. She can't be like this forever. She has to get out of this. I walk over and rub her arm, she wasn't asleep. "Shove over," I say. Tough love, that's what I'm talking about. Lorelai scoots over and I sit down next to her, leaning back against the headboard.

Moving her hair away from her face, I can see that Lorelai's been crying. Her eyes are puffy and her face is drawn. "Have you eaten?" I ask. She shrugs. "You have to eat, Lorelai. You're not going to live in this bed forever, you have kids to take care of." I glance over at the night stand and see that someone, probably Rory, has left some food there. I unwrap a granola bar and hand it to her.

She takes the food from me. Lorelai sits up to eat and she does, hungrily. I rub her back, hoping to relieve some tension. I'm doing the best I can.

After she's done eating, Lorelai leans back, her head on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her head. "Feel any better?"

"Not really," she answers. At least I've gotten her to speak. "Where are the twins?"

"With April." Lorelai nods. "I know you miss him Lorelai, but your kids need you."

"I know." She sighs. "I didn't think it would be this hard."

"You loved him."

"I know, but I never realized how much. I think he always thought he loved me more than I loved him."

"That's not true."

"I know." Lorelai swallows, a tear running down her cheek.

"Okay, come on." I stand up from the bed, making her sit up because she has nothing to lean on.

"What?"

"You've got to get out of this house, come on."

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know, I don't care. Here." I pick her black sweater off the floor and hand it to her. "Let's take a walk." Lorelai doesn't move for a moment. Finally, she reaches out and takes the sweater.

"Okay." Lorelai slowly gets out of bed. She runs a hand through her hair and pulls the sweater on. "I'll get my shoes." She walks out of the room and I hear her walk down the stairs.

Looking back in the room, I shake my head. This place is gloomy. But she's upset, so it's basically setting the mood. I wish I didn't have to make her do something she doesn't want to do, but I have to. Luke would want me to. I notice their wedding photo on the dresser. "I'm doing this for you, Luke," I say. I take one more glance around then room and then walk out, closing the door behind me.

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