Chapter 7 - First Steps and Something Else...

Thanks to my fantastic reviewers - Cherrykisses188, Shawn-n-Bell, TheCoffeeBean, and GilmoreGirljavajunkie. You guys are A-MAZ-ING!

A few months passed and things were going great in Stars Hollow. The weather had turned colder and the leaves had changed colors, covering the small down in red, orange, and yellow. Rory had learned to crawl and was trying to master walking. Luke and Lorelai were still going out and happy as ever. Things were going so well Lorelai began to wonder if everything was real. Then she wondered how things would be if she still lived with her parents. Her whole body shuddered at that terrible thought.

"Come to mommy, sweetie." Lorelai called to her daughter. Rory pulled herself to her feet and made various baby noises. She looked where she had to walk and let go of the chair she was using for support.

"Great job babe!" Lorelai cheered. "You're standing!"

Rory grinned and picked up her foot and stepped. She giggled with satisfaction and looked st her mother who had never been so proud.

"Come on sweetie! You can do it!"

Rory picked up her other foot and stepped. She clapped her tiny hands together and took another step. She wobbled for a minute, but then she fell down. Lorelai came rushing to make sure she was ok.

"Oh Rory are you hurt?" Lorelai asked as she inspected her daughter. Rory was all smiles and she began giggling again. Lorelai held in high in the air. "You did it! You walked!" Just then there was a knock at the door. Lorelai put Rory on her hip and opened the door and was instantly excited when she saw him.

"Hey." Luke said as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Hey sexy." Lorelai said seductively.

Luke rolled his eyes. "Hi Rory." he said as he touched her cheek. Rory giggled and put her arms out towards him. Luke gave Lorelai a confused look.

"I think she wants you to hold her." Lorelai said, softly laughing.

"Oh." he looked uncomfortable. Rory kept reaching for him and Lorelai laughed harder.

"No sweetie. He's mine." Lorelai joked. She looked up at him. "You can hold her. She's pretty solid now."

Luke still looked nervous. Lorelai held the baby out for him. Hands shaking, he reached and brought Rory close to him. Rory looked up at him and smiled. She reached and pulled on his nose. Lorelai laughed and looked at Luke. For the first time she actually felt like Luke could be the one. But she couldn't possibly know that. She was only 16. Seeing him with Rory...it just seemed right. Everything withe Luke seemed right.

"Rory." Lorelai said, trying to be serious. "Don't pull Luke's nose."

Rory turned to face her mother and opened her mouth in surprise. Luke chuckled.

"It's ok Rory."

"So...ya wanna come in?" Lorelai asked stepping aside.

"Sure."

"So umm where should I uh.." Luke said

"Oh, ummm you can just put her down." Just as Luke as going to put Rory down Lorelai yelled.

"Wait!"

Luke almost fell over and quickly picked Rory up again. "Yes?" Luke said staring at her confused.

"Sorry. You can put her down."

Luke placed Rory on the floor and sat next to Lorelai.

"Watch this!" she said enthusiastically. "Rory. Rory, sweetie come to mommy." Rory's face lit up at the chance to walk again. She pulled herself to her feet and smiled. As she began to walk Lorelai cheered and Luke was amazed. He was so proud of her. He almost felt like he was her father. When Rory fell over Luke walked over to her and lifted her in the air.

"Alright Rory!" He cheered. "Great job!" Lorelai remained seated at looked at Luke and smiled. Their celebration was quickly interrupted by a loud knock at the door. Luke took Rory and opened the door.

"Liz. Hi." Luke said. He noticed a terrified look on her face and his smile immediately faded. "What's wrong?"

Tears were beginning to form in her eyes. "Luke." she said softly. "Dad. Dad was..." she put her head in her hands.

"Dad was what? What happened?" Luke said feeling knots in his stomach.

"Dad was in a car accident." she said as tears ran down her face. "Someone just called from the hospital."

Luke just stood there in shock. Lorelai had overheard and came to take Rory from him. She hugged and kissed him. "We have to go."

"No. No, Lorelai I don't want you to come." Luke said.

Lorelai was shocked by this response but she didn't argue. "Oh, ok. Well call me when you get there?"

He nodded and walked out the door. Liz was also shocked by this and stood there for a minute before she spoke.

"He turns into this weird 'leave me alone' guy sometimes." Liz said. "Since our mom.." her voice trailed off.

Lorelai nodded. "Well you'd better go."

Liz turned around to leave but Lorelai spoke.

"Don't worry everything will be ok. I can tell." Lorelai said trying to be optimistic.

"I hope so." Liz said as she left.

Lorelai closed the door and sat on her bed. As she began to think she became very angry. "Why is it that my parents are assholes and they are perfectly healthy, and Luke's parents are and were amazing and loving and his mom died and now his dad..." She began to cry and Rory cried as well. Probably because she saw her mom crying, but it was kind of sweet anyway. Then she wondered why Luke had said she didn't want her to come. Maybe he thought she and Rory would get in the way. But she could leave Rory with Mia and she just wanted to be there for him. He was just upset. That was the reason, she hoped.

Lorelai waited by her phone for a few hours but Luke didn't call. She became increasingly worried as the hours passed and when it got late she put Rory to bed. She tried calling Luke's house as well as his cell and no one answered. She wanted to walk over to his hose to see if he was there, but he obviously didn't want to be bothered. So, she went to bed. In the morning she got dressed, dropped Rory off with Mia and walked over to Luke's. She knocked on the door and Liz answered.

"Hey Liz. Ummmm how's your dad?" she asked cautiously.

"They say he could go either way. He kind of drifts in and out of consciousness."

"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry." Lorelai said sincerely. "Is Luke here?"

"Yeah. He's upstairs in his room."

Lorelai walked in and up the stairs. She knocked on the door.

"Luke." she said. "It's Lorelai."

Luke opened the door and took her by the hand. "Hi." he said softly. He led her over to his bed and they sat down. She hugged him tightly and he pulled away.

"Luke...I'm...I'm so sorry." Lorelai said, holding his hand.

"Lorelai, we need..." he sighed. "We need to talk."

"Ok." she looked up and saw sadness in his eyes.

"Lorelai, all of this...this is just too much."

"Luke I know. I'm here for you."

Luke rubbed his face with his hands. "It's too much." he said again.

Lorelai could sense that he was about to say something bad and her stomach began to knot.

He looked into her eyes. "I don't think I can see you anymore." he whispered.

Lorelai instantly felt tears in her eyes. "What?" she whispered back.

"I'm sorry. But I can't handle all of this and ..."

"But, Luke I want to help." Lorelai interrupted.

"I just can't." he said "I mean, if my dad...ya know...I would have to run the store and take care of Liz. I would have to pay bills and be like a dad to Liz and...I can't have a girlfriend too."

Tears ran down Lorelai face. She had never felt so miserable in her life. "Luke. No. I can help. You don't have to go through this on your own."

He watched the tears run down her face and it killed him to hurt her. "I'm sorry Lorelai." He stood up and opened the door.

"No!" she yelled. "Luke! Don't do this!"

He kissed her on the cheek and led her downstairs. Liz saw them comedown and noticed Lorelai was in tears. "Oh no." she thought. "Luke... no."

Luke opened the door and she looked up at him. She turned her face away and walked out the door. She just stood there for a minute trying to process what had just happened. Luke broke up with her. The man she thought was the one. The man who had seen her child born. The man she ...loved. She began sobbing and ran all the way back to the potting shed and buried her face in her pillow.

A bit sad I know. But I think it needed some edge. hehe...well don't fret, I heart happy endings:)