Full Circle

Disclaimer: Still don't own them, though I probably should add that I do own Grace, and any other characters you may not recognize, they are all figments of my imagination.

Lorelai and I headed back over to the desk, she stopped suddenly like she had a second thought, my heart stopped for a moment, "Hey since you're like working for me now, it might be good to know your full name." I felt a little silly for freaking out, but at least Lorelai didn't know, "Oh yeah, that could be good, my last name is Bennett, so it's uh, Grace Bennett."

Lorelai gave me a look, I guess I shouldn't have stumbled over my name, "Sorry, I really do know my name, and it is my real name, I have ID and everything I can show you…"

"No, no, it's not that, your last name just seems really familiar." I looked at Lorelai; she didn't seem like someone who would've come from my kind of family, but maybe…

"So since you know my last name am I allowed to know yours?"

"Oh yeah, guess I hadn't thought of that either, it's Gilmore, Lorelai Gilmore." I stopped when I heard her last name, I knew that last name.

Lorelai started walking again and I followed, lost in my thoughts. I knew the name, where did I know the name from? No doubt from one of the many functions my parents were always going to. Lorelai hadn't said anything yet so I guessed that she was still trying to figure it out, "Wait a minute! Do you know… Oh wait, no, that wouldn't be right. Man, that's gonna bother me now. Oh well…"

I'll admit I was relieved she forgot about it. I was liking my new life and I wasn't ready to think about my old life.

For the rest of the morning and into early afternoon Lorelai showed me around the inn and started training me on what she called the important things, like all the ways she likes to annoy Michel. At about one Lorelai headed off to a meeting and I went up to my room.

I knew what I needed to do next, but I knew he would be mad. Well, maybe not mad, but I'm sure he had heard by now and was worried, or had he even heard yet? Knowing my parents they probably didn't even care I was gone. After staring at the phone for about 5 more minutes I finally picked it up and dialed a familiar number, the number of the one person I could count on in my family, and quite possibly the only person who cared. After a few rings the phone picked up.

"Hello?"

I paused, "Um, hey Ty."

"Gracie? Where are you? Are you ok? What happened?" I could hear the panic in his voice.

"I'm fine Ty, I'm in Stars Hollow."

"Where in the world is Stars Hollow?"

"It's about 30 minutes away from Hartford."

"Wow, you sure know how to run away, think you could've gotten anywhere closer?" I laughed, leave it to Ty to joke about it.

"Well, I'm sorry that some people don't have their parents practically throwing money at them, I can't afford one of those expensive tickets to New York." I joked back with him, very relieved that he wasn't mad.

"Oh come on now, I know for a fact that's not true, you made some good money this summer."

"Good enough to get there maybe but not good enough to stay."

"You know you could've stayed with me Gracie"

"I know Ty, but this is just something I need to do on my own." That might seem like a simple sentence, but it wasn't. Ty had always been my protector, always looking out for me, he never liked the way my parents treated me and he let them know it. Sometimes I think that it was only because of him that my parents kept me around.

"I know, believe me, I know. So what happened?"

"Ah, you mean what made me finally snap?"

"Yep, that's the story I'm looking for, so stop putting it off and tell me already." I had to smile, he knew me too well.

"To be honest it really wasn't anything that out of the ordinary. Alyssa and Matthew came over for dinner, and of course they brought the freakishly well behaved Jimmy and Carrie."

"Ah, the ever perfect daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids."

"Just like always it turned into a full on attack and I just couldn't deal with it anymore. I gathered up what little I actually wanted to bring with me and I snuck out. I'm surprised she actually called and told you I was gone."

"Well we both failed to make an appearance at the Spaulding's party so she called to complain, and after I told her I had a business meeting she casually mentioned it." Sounded like my mother, only caring that I had missed a function.

"Do you think I should call them? I don't want them to worry."

I heard him sigh, "Honestly Gracie, I think they deserve to worry, and if it were me I would probably let them, but you're not me and I know you would worry about them worrying, so they should probably know, but let me be the one to tell them." I started to protest when he stopped me, "You know that if you talk to them they are going to freak out at you. You might as well let me tell them, they can never stay mad at me for long." He had a point.

"Yeah I guess you're right. I'd better get going; I'm supposed to be going to find an apartment soon. Can you believe it? I'm getting an apartment, my own apartment!"

"Let me know how it goes, and if you need anything, and I do mean anything you better call and let me know."

"I will Ty, thanks."

"Always Gracie, always. Love you."

"Love you too, bye."

I hung up the phone and was glad I decided to call. I needed to talk to him and I needed to know I had his support. I headed downstairs to meet Lorelai; it was time to apartment shop.

4 hours later at Luke's

Lorelai and I had no luck, everything was too expensive or too gross, although I suppose I'd go back to the gross if nothing else turned up. No matter how it turned out, it would be my place. The diner was busy and Lorelai was starving so she went to find Luke and beg for our food to be put right away before she starved to death, she's definitely a little dramatic, but it keeps things interesting.

Lorelai came back and sat down, "The quest for food didn't turn out so well, all I got was a 'Wait your turn, I'll be there in a minute,' in that really crabby Luke voice, that I will admit I think is so very sexy, but I did get some coffee so I'd say it was a partial success." I laughed at her rambling; Lorelai could talk more than any person I had ever met.

"Ok, what can I get you?" According to Lorelai, Luke had, "finally," come to take our order. After taking our order Luke came back to talk about the apartment hunting.

I sighed, "It sucked, nothing was right, everything was way too expensive or way too nasty." Luke seemed genuinely sorry, "Hopefully something will turn up,"

I gave him a small smile, then he turned to Lorelai, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" They headed off to somewhere I couldn't see them and I continued to sit and pull out the newspaper again to try and find a place.

Luke's apartment

(Nobody's POV)

Luke quickly ushered Lorelai in and shut the door, "Ok Lukey, where's the fire?"

Luke glared at her, "Don't call me that."

After a nervous and very awkward moment Luke spoke up, "Lorelai I have something I want to run by you."

Lorelai nodded for him to continue, "Well you know we're getting married soon,"

Lorelai laughed, "Yes Luke, I was aware of that fact."

Luke nervously laughed, "Right of course, well I was just thinking that since we are getting married and eventually will be living together that maybe we should just move in together now."

Lorelai immediately smiled and went to give Luke a big hug, "I would love that."

They stood there for a moment just enjoying each other's presence and thinking about the future before Lorelai had a thought, "Luke? You realize that you're now going to have an open apartment."

Luke looked at her knowing the both had the same thought, "Yes, the thought had crossed my mind." They both smiled, "So do you think she would?"

Lorelai leaned in to kiss him, "I think she would love it." They both headed back downstairs to talk to Grace.

A/N: A lot of this chapter ended up being Ty and Grace's conversation, but you will eventually come to see that Ty is a very important person to Grace. You may also notice that Lorelai and Grace's backgrounds are starting to look a little similar. They are, in a way, more will be revealed about Grace's parents later. And the next chapter will be Luke and Lorelai talking to Grace about the apartment and Rory will make her first appearance. Thanks again for reading and please review!