Chapter 6...Cry a little.

Luke doesn't bother knocking once he gets to Lorelai's house. Racing through the door, he sees her sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the phone. He slowly walks over to her.

"Lorelai?" He calls her name but she doesn't respond. When he sits next to her on the couch, he sees she isn't crying at all.

"Lorelai come on, talk to me please."

"I have to call Rory," She says and finally looks up at him. "Can you..Um. you hold my hand while I call her Luke? She asks him nervously.

He sighs, relieved that she is responding. "Sure." He grabs her hand and they interlock fingers as she dials her daughter's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey hon, did I wake you up?"

"Oh hey mom, no you didn't wake me. It's only 9:45; I still have prime study time left." She says laughing.

"Great." Lorelai's voice is flat and without expression. Rory immediately senses that something is wrong.

"Mom, what's going on? You sound upset."

"Rory I have to tell you something and it's not good news."

"Are you or Luke or grandma or grandpa hurt or," Lorelai cuts her off.

"Rory, I got a call tonight," Luke squeezes her hand. "It's your dad, sweetie, he died unexpectedly."

"What?" Rory whispers in shock over the phone with tears prickling in her eyes.

"I know this is difficult to hear."

"I can't believe it. What happened?"

"I don't have all the details yet." Luke can see Lorelai struggling to keep her emotions together so she can be there for Rory. "We have to fly out to California tomorrow and settled a few things. Christopher's Mother, Gigi and us are the only family he had left."

"I need to rearrange my schedule at school, but I should be able to be home tomorrow morning. Have you gotten plane tickets yet?"

"I'll get the tickets tonight. Why don't you call me in the morning and we can confirm the details."

"Okay Mom sounds good. Listen, I've got a lot to do to get ready. I'll talk with you tomorrow."

"Night, I love you sweetie." Lorelai feels she needs to add this last part in. "Your Dad loved you too kid.

"I know he did Mom. Thanks, love you too, night."

They both hang up and Lorelai looks down and sees her hand still covered by Luke's. She tries to pull away but he won't let her.

"I need my hand back please."

"Lorelai,"

"I need to book our flight."

"Lorelai!" He says loudly so he can get a word in. "Calm down and take a minute to digest everything."

She takes his advice and leans back into the couch, letting out a sigh.

"Thanks for coming over Luke. Maybe you should not have come. I know how much you hated Christopher and my relationship with him."

"Hey it's okay. I told you I would be here for you know matter what happens or where we are in our lives." She stares at him and stands up.

"You should go, I need to pack."

"Me too."

"What?"

"I'm coming with you."

"No Luke, that's not necessary."

"I am not letting you get on that plane without me Lorelai." He says sternly.

"Why do you want to come so badly Luke?"

"Because I'm scared." He admits.

"Scared of what?" She sits back down.

"That once you get on that plane to California, you won't come back."

I can't lose you again Lorelai."

She sees the love in his eyes and Luke starts to move closer to her. Panicked, she quickly moves away and gets up off the couch.

"I'm sorry Luke I'm just not ready to go that far yet."

"I was just going to kiss you; it didn't have to go any further."

"I don't think I would be able to stop and I'm just not ready." Lorelai runs up the stairs to her room and shuts the door with a slam.

Luke didn't mean to push her, but wonders why Lorelai got so upset. Then everything clicks into place. Christopher. He is gone and she is taking her grief and anger out on him. He looks over and sees her computer; he goes over turns it on and looks up flights and prices for tomorrow. He sets everything up for her. Three tickets to California, leaves at 12 noon and arrives 11:00 a.m. California time. Luke decides that Lorelai has been up there long enough and he should check on her.

He knocks on her bedroom door.

"Lorelai open up."

"Go home Luke. I'm not ready to talk with you yet."

"Come on just open the door."

"Luke please just leave me alone." Her head is in the pillow and she is wiping her tears.

"Okay I'll leave. I already booked the tickets for tomorrow, so you don't have a thing to worry about. Except packing. Goodnight, see you in the morning." He says through the door and then leaves the house.

The next morning Luke has his things packed and pulls into the Gilmore's driveway the same time as Rory.

"Hey Rory."

"Hey Luke, are you coming with us?"

"Yeah I am. I can't lose your mother again, and she needs me right now."

"Awe Luke you old softie." Rory tries to lighten the mood.

"Aw geez, you're worse than your mother sometimes."

"Well I'm a Gilmore." She laughs a little and looks around. "So, where's Mom?"

"Probably still packing," Luke says with a knowing smile.

"That sounds about right. I'll go check on her." Rory walks towards the house.

"I'll get the car loaded."

"Mom?"

Lorelai comes down the stairs carrying two large suitcases.

"Are you planning on moving to California?" She says jokingly.

Lorelai rolls her eyes. "No, I just want to be prepared. This is really not that much clothes."

"Oh really, so your saying those are really and truly the only bags you have." She eyes her suspiciously.

Lorelai gives up. "Okay fine, I have one more upstairs."

"Ha! I knew it!"

Lorelai puts the suitcases down near the front door and sees Luke packing up the jeep and all she does is smile. Rory notices this.

"So, are you and Luke back together?"

"What, no."

"May I ask why?"

"Rory I told you, I'm not ready to let him back in again. Not after how much I hurt him. It's best that we are just friends, for now."

"For now?"

"Well you never know what could happen, right?"

"Right. Now let's get the car packed so that we can get to the airport early."

"Wait a minute Rory."

"Yeah?" Rory turns around and gives Lorelai a smile, which she can tell is a cover up for her true feelings.

"Come here." She pulls her daughter in for a hug and hears Rory sniffle a little.

"I'm fine Mom, you can let go now." Lorelai is shocked. Rory should be more upset about Christopher's death.

"Sweetie, It's okay to want to cry. It might make you feel better."

"I'm fine, really. Can we just go!" Rory snaps at her Mom.

"You know what kid, it's not like I'm forcing you to cry or anything, but maybe a little sympathy for your dead father would be nice!" Lorelai raises her voice towards her.

Luke walks into the house, oblivious to the conversation between Rory and Lorelai.

"Hey, are you girls ready?" Luke looked at the two women's faces, and know something was wrong. "Is everything okay in here?"

"It's fine Luke! It's none of your business what is going on in this family anymore! Why the hell are you even coming!" Lorelai snaps.

Luke is too shocked to say anything in response. Lorelai brushes past both of them and goes outside to the car. Luke and Rory stare at each other, each take a suitcase, and walk out to the car.