Previously on Anywhere But Here:

She was so scared. She had just been caught in the middle of a fire. What else was she supposed to feel? She was relieved that she didn't get burnt or die. But she was still scared that it had happened to her.

"It's okay Gracie there's nothing to be scared about while you're with me. Everything is going to be okay." Lorelai said embracing Gracie in a hug.

"Everything will be alright. Just you wait." Lorelai said more to herself then to Gracie. After the conversation with Cynthia she needed all the reassuring that she could get.
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Lorelai figured that Sookie had everything under control over at Luke's so she and Gracie went over to where Rory was entertaining the kids. Lorelai laughed inside and made a mental note to mock Rory later on for having her socks on her hands using them as puppets. Rory didn't notice Lorelai and Gracie walk over so she continued with the sock puppets. Both girls noticed she kept repeating the same things, yet the children didn't seem to notice.

"Maybe if we stand completely still she won't notcie us" Gracie whispered.

"Aha maybe, let's make some faces shall we?" Lorelai said in a jokingly tone.

Gracie only nodded in response and looked over at Rory. She still had yet to notice they were there. Or did she. What neither Gracie nor Lorelai realized was that Rory had spotted them walking over but made a secret plan.

"Ok let's get it started shall we" Rory said to herself trying to hide her smile as best as possible.

"Mr.Sockpuppet had to go to a business meeting at the Inn the Lorelai worked at. A girl names Gracie stayed there who Mrs.Sockpuppet knew very well. Mrs.Sockpuppet brought Gracie to the doctor when she got sick but then she got better. Lorelai was being very stubborn with Mr.Sockpuppet. She wouldn't give Mr.Sockpuppet anymore complmentary bottles of champange because she said he was already drunk."

"Oh no. She did see us." Lorelai said. Remembering that night when a Mr.Duchene came in drunk asking for champagne.

"How do you know" Gracie asked completely oblivious to what was happening.

"Lets just say its a mom thing" Lorelai replied smirking as they walked over to Rory.

By then Rory was laughing full on. Rory and Lorelai were the only people who understood.

"How did you know?" Rory inquired as Lorelai got to her.

"'She wouldn't give Mr.Sockpuppet anymore complimentary bottles of chanpagne' gave you away." Lorelai said.

"Man!" Rory said between laughs.

Gracie was just standing there witnessing all of this. Why didn't her mother have any moments like this with her? She knew she was missing out but she didn't think that she was missing out this much!

"It's okay. Gracie didn't get it." Lorelai said getting Gracie in the conversation.

"Obviously! Like I know anyone who would want extra complimentary champagne!" Gracie said.

"Wait I take that back." Gracie said after a couple of seconds.

Lorelai and Rory just laughed.

But Gracie didn't laugh. She did know someone who would ask for more alcohol... her dad. She'd never told ANYONE about her dad being an alcoholic. Not even Lorelai or her friends. Noone needed to know. Whenever her dad drank she would go out to a friends house. He didn't hurt her or anything but it was still something that haunts Gracie about her family.

Lorelai noticed that Gracie wasn't laughing but wasn't going to ask any questions... just yet. They were having a good time. Gracie had been having a tough time that week. Being in the hospital and being caught in a fire was a lot to handle. Especially for a 13 year old.

They walked towards Luke's diner.

"Mom. I have to go to school." Rory said after she checked her watch.

"Oh okay." Lorelai said. Clearly sad that she had to go.

"But if you need me just call and I'll be here!" Rory stated.

Lorelai grasped Rory into a hug.

"We had a fire." Lorelai whispered.

"I know" Rory said as Lorelai let her go.

"Call me if you need anything." Rory said.

"Okay, sweets. See ya." Lorelai said.

Rory walked off towards her house to get changed for school. Lorelai and Gracie walked into Luke's diner.

"Thanks for putting up with us Luke" Lorelai said when they saw Luke.

"It's no problem." Luke said walking out from behind the counter.

"Lorelai, I told Miss Patty that I would help her answer the phones. Will you come and get me when our food is here?" Gracie asked.

"Sure, sweets. You go help Miss Patty." Lorelai said.

"See ya Luke." Gracie said before rushing out of the diner to go help Miss Patty.

"She likes you." Lorelai said to Luke.

"She has good taste." Luke said.

"No, I mean it. She really likes you. And you know what?" Lorelai said.

"What?" Luke asked.

"So do I." Lorelai flirted.

Luke just looked at her.

'She's so pretty.' Luke thought.

Luke led Lorelai upstairs to his apartment. They both walked in and Luke closed the door.

xoxoxo

The phone starts to ring in Miss Patty's. Miss Patty answers the phone.

"Hello, this is the Independence Inn emergency headquarters. I'm Miss patty, I'll be assisting you today. How may I help you? pause The printer will be here in half an hour, I'll let him know. Thank you. Goodbye. hangs up The printer will be here in a half an hour."

"I heard. And you have to shorten your greeting Patty." Gracie stated.

"What?"

"You don't need to recite the Gettysburg Address everytime you answer the phone." Gracie said.

"I was Ricardo Montalban's receptionist for six months and he never complained" Patty stated.

"Who?" Gracie asked.

"If you were anyone else in the world I would hit you." Patty said.

"Good thing I'm not anyone else in the world." Gracie stated.

The phone rings.

"Yeah?" Patty says as she answers the phone.

"Well you need to say more then that" Gracie stated.

Patty covered the end of the phone. "Well make up your mind." Patty stated.

"Yes, the printers will be here in a half an hour. pause Yes we will fax it over to see. pause Thank you. Goodbye. hangs up"

"Next time let me answer the phone." Gracie stated.

The phone rang again.

"Hello, Independance Inn emergancy headquarters. How may I help you? pause Yes. The fax machine is already here. pause We'll send it over as soon as we get it. pause Goodbye." Gracie hung up the phone, "And that's how it's done."

"Ya, ya." Patty said.

"I'm going to go get something to eat. My food has to be ready by now. See ya Patty." Gracie said.

Gracie walked towards the diner. She opened the door and found that her food was on her table. But Lorelai and Luke were nowhere to be found.

"Hey Ceaser. Where's Lorelai?" Gracie asked.

"She went upstairs with Luke a little while ago." Ceaser replied.

"Thanks." Gracie said.

Gracie walked upstairs. She opened the door to Luke's apartment. And when she walked in she saw Lorelai and Luke... horizontal on the couch.

"Oh" Gracie said as she turned to look away.

If Lorelai and Luke flew apart any faster there would have been some major injuries.

"Gracie." Lorelai said.

"Ya?" Gracie asked, still not turning around.

"You can turn around now." Lorelai stated.

Gracie turned around.

"We really need a signal." Lorelai said.

"Oh ya." Gracie stated.

"Yes."

"I'm just going to go now." Gracie said.

"Okay." Lorelai said.

"Luke are you okay?" Gracie asked as she noticed that he hadn't said anything.

Luke just sat there, blushing.

"Luke, it's okay. I won't tell anyone." Gracie said, "Except, Rory. Oh and Miss Patty and Taylor and Babette."

"Now, now Luke. She's only kidding." Lorelai said when she noticed Luke started to blush even more.

"It doesn't sound like she's kidding." Luke whispered.

"Don't worry Luke. I'm kidding." Gracie insisted.

"Ya. Okay." Luke said.

"I'm just going to leave now. I'm going to go eat." Gracie said.

"Okay." Lorelai said.

"Carry on." Gracie said before racing out of the apartment and into the diner. She didn't want that to happen again.

She wolfed down her food then went back to help Miss Patty.

Thursday:

Gracie was leaving today. Her mom decided that she wasn't going to stay for the function. Her dad was going to go instead.

Lorelai, Rory and Gracie moped around all day Wednesday. Not wanting to believe that this was really happening. All of the postponing that had happened. They hoped that Cynthia would call and say that she wasn't going to come for a lttle while longer. But the call never came.

A black limo pulled up into Lorelai's driveway. All 3 girls knew who it was. Who else would be driving up to the house in a limo? Gracie grabbed her bags. Lorelai wiped a tear that was making its way down her cheek.

Gracie dropped her bags by the limo. She turned around and saw Lorelai and Rory standing in the doorway. She couldn't take it anymore. She ran up to them and hugged Lorelai first. Gracie started crying. So did Lorelai.

"I don't want to go." Gracie said inbetween sobs.

"I don't want you to go either. But it's not our choice to make. We'll see each other again soon. Don't worry." Lorelai said trying to make the mood a little less sad.

Gracie then moved onto Rory.

"You know I love you right?" Rory said.

"I know. I love you, too" Gracie said.

Gracie turned towards Lorelai.

"I love you" Gracie said.

"I love you, too kid." Lorelai said.

And with that Gracie walked towards the limo. She turned around one last time. She turned back towards the limo and walked in. As, she got in she saw her mom sitting there with a smile on he face.

"Hello, Gracie."

"Hello, mother." Gracie said coldly. But her mom couldn't detect it.

Gracie stared out her window the rest of the way home. A stray tear made it's way down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. She didn't want her mom to see her crying.

She wasn't supposed to feel like this. She knew it. You're supposed to be happy when you see you're parents. But then why does she feel so miserable? She knew that you cry when you're going to miss someone. But it's not supposed to be like this. She knew it.

"Gracie, I heard you had a good time." Cynthia said. Trying to get her daughter to talk. She was normally very talkative.

Gracie just nodded. The less words the better. But she had to ask something. Just one thing and then nothing else for the rest of the trip.

"When are we going to go back to Stars Hollow?" Gracie asked.

"I don't know, Gracie." Cynthia replied.

"Soon?"

"Probably not too soon. But soon." Cynthia said.

That was it. That's all Gracie had to ask. Now there was no more talking for the rest of the trip.

3 months later:

Gracie walked out of her math class. She got excused early because she had to go to a function with her mother. Her mom hadn't told her where it was. But she didn't really care. She got out of school. That's all that mattered.

She walked down the hallway and towards her locker. She dropped off her books and grabbed her coat. She walked outside and her mother was waiting there with a limo. She walked into the limo and they were off.
xoxo

Lorelai and Luke were in a very serious relationship now. Lorelai had mentioned, to Rory, a few times that Luke was probably the one. They had liked each other for 6 years, at least. They dated for about 4 months. Lorelai thought nothing in her life could get any better. Except for the emptiness that she felt. It started right after Gracie left.

Lorelai and Gracie had been keeping in touch through e-mails. They didn't allow cell phones at Brantford Prep. E-mail was more efficient for Gracie because she was always on the computer for homework.
xoxoxo

Gracie recognized the streets that they were taking. They were going to Stars Hollow. She was ecstatic! She couldn't believe that she was finally going to be able to see Lorelai and Rory again! She missed them.

The limo driver pulled up into Lorelai's driveway. Gracie jumped out as fast as she could. She ran up the front door and got the key out of the turtle. She unlocked the door and ran in.

"Lorelai! Rory!" Gracie called.

"Gracie?" Lorelai called from upstairs. She'd know that voice anywhere.

"GRACIE!" Rory exclaimed running from her room.

Both Lorelai and Rory came running to the entrance. They almost bulldozed Gracie over. Good thing Cynthia was there to make sure that she didn't fall.

"Gracie." Cynthia said sternly.

"Yes mother." Gracie said. Imidiatly proper and polite.

"Would you please go to the kitchen with Rory. I need to talk with Lorelai about something." Cynthia said.

"Yes ma'am." Gracie said.

She grabbed onto Rory's arm and pulled her into the kitchen. Rory looked at her with wide eyes.

"Is it always like that with you and your mom?"

"Ya." Gracie replied.

"That was... tense and awkward." Rory said amazed.

"Ya, I'm used to it." Gracie said.

"Ya, I guess."

"Rory, could I have water please. I haven't dranken anything since I left school." Gracie said.

"Oh sure. Here" Rory said handing her a water bottle.

"Thanks" Gracie said.

"No problem."

"I heard you updated your book collection. Can I see it?" Gracie asked.

"Of course!" Rory exclaimed.

Gracie and Rory walked into Rory's room. They were both ready to discuss books.
xoxoxo

Lorelai led Cynthia to the couch.

"Lorelai I need to talk to you about something. And I need you to be serious and honest." Cynthia said.

"Okay." Lorelai replied.

"I need to talk to you about Gracie..."
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A/N This was a longer chapter. There's probably only one chapter left! Please review! Thanks!