Chapter 12: Emily Meets Luke

At Luke's Diner….

"Hey Luke," Lane said to him as she walked in the door. "I only have a few minutes before my mother realizes that I'm gone. Can you get me a quick order of fries?"

"Sure thing," Luke said smiling.

"Is Heather around?"

"She's upstairs."

"How's she handling everything?"

"Like the trooper she is. She's still trying to adjust to it all…"

Heather hadn't said a whole lot since that day when their lives had been turned upside down but Luke knew she was scared that she would be taken away from him. Logan had driven Heather back to Stars Hollow after she had run away. When she had returned, Lorelai had told Heather that she wanted to get to know her but didn't want to push. She had left Heather her business card with all her contact information and had said she would be in touch. Luke had watched as Lorelai had left the diner that day—leaving her daughter behind after all these years was nearly impossible. As Lorelai and Max were leaving the diner that night, Lane had stopped in for one of her top secret snacks. Heather had broken down at the sight of her best friend and had told her everything. Lane had listened sympathetically wishing she could be of more help. She also had the same fear that Heather did–that Lorelai would take Heather away from Stars Hollow and everything that she had known.

The phone rang at that very moment.

"Luke's. Yeah, this is he speaking."

"Luke, it's Lorelai Medina. Listen, I think you should know something. My parents figured out who Heather is. My mother is on the way right now and I'm not sure if R…Heather is ready to handle her yet."

Luke took a deep breath–unsure of what would come next.

"What should I be prepared for?"

"She's on the rampage, my father kicked her out and told her that he never wanted her to see her again."

"Got it. Listen I've got the situation under control. I'll send her over to a friend's house. Thanks for letting me know."

"No problem. Listen, do you need someone to run interference when she confronts you?"

"I think I can handle it. Any words of wisdom?"

"Wisdom. Snob. My mother is a world class snob. She's going to look down her nose at you and your diner—even Stars Hollow itself. Anything that is not a part of her world is automatically inferior. Don't let her get you down. Rory's had a great life with you—don't you let her tell you otherwise."

"Got it thanks."

Luke hung up the phone, "Lane, I need a favor."

Lane nodded.

"Go upstairs and get Heather and take her to your place for dinner. Don't come back until I call."

"Ok, Luke, is everything ok?"

"It will be."

A few minutes later, Heather and Lane were headed out the door.

About a half hour later, the door to the diner crashed open.

Luke looked up and saw a well-dressed, middle-aged woman, that looked as if she was fully prepared to kill anyone that got in her way.

"Are you Luke Danes?"

"Who wants to know?"

Emily looked down her nose at him, "You know very well who I am."

"No, I don't. Why should I?"

"You insolent man. You have no right to speak to me like this. Where is she?"

"Where's who?"

"Don't play stupid with me! Where is she?"

"I'm sorry you're going to have to be more specific."

"Rory?"

"Who? There's no one here by that name."

"Yes, there is. You have my granddaughter and I want her back."

"Who said she was yours for the taking?"

"I'm her blood relative and you quite clearly, are nothing."

"I'm her father."

"That's ridiculous. Her father's name is Christopher Hayden."

"No, I'm her father. I'm the one who raised her."

"Thanks to me."

"Thanks to you? Ok, lady I've had it with you. You come waltzing in her to ruin my daughter's life and you have the gall to say that you gave her to me?"

"I did."

"You sold her to the highest bidder who by the way left her out in the freezing cold to die. You have absolutely no right to her."

"She's my granddaughter!"

At that point, Heather walked in the door. Lane looked at Luke apologetically.

"Rory! It's you. Oh thank God!"

Heather said nothing.

"Well, come on. Pack your bags. Let's go. I'm going to rescue you from this god-forsaken place."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Don't be ridiculous of course you are. You're Lorelai Leigh Gilmore and you're my granddaughter."

"My name is Heather Danes and I'm not your granddaughter."

"Rory, you don't mean that."

"My name is Heather. Please leave."

Emily turned away from Luke and Heather with tears in her eyes and walked out the door.

"Heather, are you ok? Are you…"

Heather nodded, weakly. "Dad, you don't need to protect me from them. I can handle it. They're my… family… after all…"

Luke nodded and gave his daughter a hug.

Heather lay awake later that night–unable to fall asleep. She hadn't slept much since the day Lorelai and Max had come to visit. Her world had been turned upside down that night and now she was trying to put the pieces back together again. Yet that task was proving harder than she had ever realized. She was constantly afraid that she would be taken away from her father and never see him again. It was strange–all her life she had wanted a family and then when she finally had one–she had no idea what to do with them. Suddenly, Heather made a decision. Later that night, Heather snuck down the stairs and slipped out the door, leaving behind a note.