Ha! An update! And it only took a month and a half to get it! I'm just kidding. I'd be wanting to strangle whoever was writing this story if I was reading it but since I'm the writer…I can't strangle myself. I hope I haven't lost all my readers and I really am sorry for not updating. My computer stopped working so I couldn't post anything and then I got busy with my other stories that I stopped working on this one. And considering this is my most read story it probably should be my top priority so I'm sorry.
Lorelai rang the doorbell to the Gilmore Mansion. The maid answered.
"We're here to see Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore" Lorelai said.
"They're in the living room" the maid said as they stepped inside. "May I take your coats?"
"Thank you" Lorelai said handing her Isabel's coat and her own coat.
They walked into the living room.
"I'm so sorry we're late" Lorelai said.
"That's okay we've been catching up on old times, haven't we Strobe" Richard said.
"Indeed we have" Strobe said.
Lorelai sat on the couch with Luke and Rory, Isabel was on her lap.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hayden, I believe you've already met Izzy and Emma" Lorelai said. "And this is my husband, Luke, and this is Rory, your granddaughter"
"It's a pleasure to meet you" Francine said. "All of you"
It was quiet for a second.
"So Rory" Strobe said. "Richard tells me you've just started your senior year at Chilton"
"Yes, I have" Rory said.
"Any plans for college?" Strobe asked.
"I've applied to Princeton, Harvard, and Yale" Rory said.
"Do you have any preferences?" Strobe asked.
"I was thinking Harvard but Yale is starting to rub off on me" Rory said.
"Ah, well I assume that was Richard's doing" Strobe said. "But many Haydens and Gilmores have gone through Yale"
"I'm aware of that" Rory said.
"And there's quite a legacy to live up to" Strobe said.
"Yes, I know" Rory said.
"And we wouldn't want to let that legacy down" Strobe said.
"But ultimately the decision is Rory's" Lorelai said cutting in. "And I am confident she'll make the right one"
"And who will be guiding her?" Strobe asked. "Obviously not you, you didn't even complete high school. You ruined your future and my son's, and now hers"
"I will help her" Lorelai said. "And Luke, and my dad, and my mother will"
It was quiet again. Strobe shook his head.
"She could have had better" Strobe said. "Instead you run off and raise her to be wild and incompetent, just you"
"Rory, I think you should take Izzy and Emma upstairs" Emily said.
Rory took Izzy from Lorelai's lap and then took Emma's carrier. When she was gone Richard stood up.
"I will not have to speak to my daughter that way!" Richard exclaimed. "She's is just as intelligent and responsible as we are and we are very proud of her. She has raised Rory without anyone's help to be a smart and responsible young woman"
"You say that now, but what about seventeen years ago" Strobe said. "Do you know what people thought when they found out Christopher and she weren't even getting married and it was his child?"
"If we had gotten married neither of us would have been happy" Lorelai said.
"Sometimes you don't do things just for your own happiness" Strobe said. "It's about responsibility"
"You think she doesn't know that!" Luke exclaimed.
The maid came into the room but Emily shooed her away.
"Luke…" Lorelai said.
"No! I have sat here and listened to this man insult you for far too long" Luke said upset. "She has given up so much for Rory, so that Rory could have a good life. She raised that girl better than anyone ever could. The only thing that marriage would have done was hold everyone back from what they want. So now it's time to get over it and start concentrating on the fact that you have an intelligent, responsible, granddaughter whom you've never taken the time to meet. Now if you are to self centered to get past being ashamed of something that you should be proud of then I think you should leave!"
Everyone sat there stunned for a second.
"Francine, I think we should be leaving now" Strobe said. "We've had enough of this foolish nonsense"
Francine looked at Emily with a sympathetic glance before getting up and leaving. After they left it was quiet.
"I'm going to go get the girls" Luke said.
"Yeah" Lorelai said out of it.
Luke got up and went upstairs. He found Rory and the girls in Lorelai's old room. She was looking at a photo album.
"Hey" Luke said. "What's that?"
"Mom's photo album" Rory said. "I found it when I was stuck here during the snowstorm last year"
"Oh" Luke said.
Rory flipped one of the pages.
"Sometimes I wonder if I messed things up" Rory said. "Mom's photo album stops with her in a dress that she never got to wear. She told them she was pregnant and things got bad. People stared at her and criticized her and they still do. Then she gets yelled at because of me"
"Rory, some people don't get that you helped your mother" Luke said. "If you had never been born then she would have never came to Stars Hollow. She would have never learned to work her way up from a maid to a manager. She never would have built a life for herself from scratch. Not only did you being born help her, but it helped me in a big way. I would have never met the crazy, caffeine addicted woman you call Mom. I would have never learned how much I love being a husband to that crazy person and I would have never learned how much I love being a dad to that crazy person's daughter. You have brought so much happiness into your grandparent's life, your mom's life, your sisters' lives, and my life"
Rory hugged Luke.
"Thank you, Dad" Rory said.
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On the car ride home Lorelai didn't say a word. At a stop sign Luke reached over and took Lorelai's hand. Lorelai looked over at Luke.
"Thank you for what you said tonight" Lorelai said.
"I was only stating what everyone in that room was thinking" Luke said.
"I'm pretty sure that wasn't what Strobe was thinking" Lorelai said.
"Well…he's…" Luke stopped glancing back at the kids. "He's stupid"
Lorelai smiled as Luke focused back on the road.
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THE NEXT MORNING
Rory came out of her room ready for school. She saw her mom sitting at the table in the kitchen with a mug of coffee. The kitchen was empty and Lorelai's back was facing Rory. Rory could hear her quietly crying.
"Mom?" Rory asked softly.
Lorelai quickly wiped away her tears before turning to Rory.
"Hey kiddo" Lorelai said with a false smile.
"Mom, why were you crying?" Rory asked.
"Oh, I was just having one of those moments" Lorelai said. "You know, that time of the month and all"
"Oh, okay" Rory said.
It was quiet.
"Yeah, where is everyone this morning?" Rory asked.
"Diner" Lorelai said.
"Oh" Rory said.
It was quiet again.
"You should get going" Lorelai said. "You don't want to be late"
"Yeah" Rory said. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine" Lorelai said smiling.
Rory went over and hugged Lorelai. Lorelai smiled and shooed Rory out the door. That afternoon Rory called the inn to tell Lorelai she was going to Lane's. Michel answered the phone.
"Dragonfly in, Michel speaking" He answered unhappily.
"Put my mom on please" Rory said.
"Maybe after you're done talking to her then I could" Michel said. "But the on the busiest day no one can talk to her…"
"Michel, what are you talking about?" Rory asked.
"She's not here" Michel said. "On one of our busiest days she calls in to say she can't come into work"
"Oh" Rory said. "Is she at home?"
"How should I know? Do I look like a psychic or a…"
"Never mind Michel" Rory said.
She hung up and then called her house.
"Hello" Lorelai said.
"Hey, it's me" Rory said. "I called the inn to tell you I was going to Lane's but Michel said you weren't there"
"Yeah, I was just really tired from Emma waking up a lot last night" Lorelai said. "I figured I'd just use today to sleep"
Rory was quiet.
"So you're going to Lane's?" Lorelai asked.
"Yeah" Rory said.
"Well…have fun" Lorelai said.
"Are you mad at me?" Rory asked.
"What? Why would I be mad at you?" Lorelai asked.
"I don't know" Rory said. "Are you?"
"Of course not" Lorelai said. "I'm just tired"
"Okay" Rory said. "I guess I should be going then"
"See you when you get home" Lorelai said.
"Bye"
Rory hung up. When she reached the familiar Kim's Antiques sign she was about to open the door when Lane opened it.
"Wow" Rory said. "Were you waiting for me?"
"Two days of not seeing you and those two days being filled with seeing my mother, yes I was waiting for you" Lane said. "Come in, I haven't talked to you in forever"
"Lane, we were on the phone last night" Rory said.
"Well it seems like forever" Lane said.
They went into Lane's room and sat down.
"So, what's new?" Lane asked. "Did Jess magically get nicer, did your mom finally get Izzy to do the pout?"
Rory was quiet.
"Rory, what's wrong?" Lane asked.
"It's just…something happened at that dinner with my other grandparents. My dad's dad started insulting my mom and telling her she ruined my future and my dad's and it was just stupid because none of it was true" Rory said. "And Luke and my grandpa started yelling back at him and then Luke told him he should leave if he couldn't accept me he should leave and he did. I thought it was all over but today I walked into the kitchen and I saw my mom crying at the table. I have never seen her do that, maybe while watching a movie, but I've never seen her cry like that"
"Does Luke know she was crying?" Lane asked.
"I don't know; he's been at the diner all day with Izzy and Emma" Rory said.
"Maybe you should go over there and tell him" Lane said.
"I just feel like I should do something" Rory said. "This is kind of my fault"
"How?" Lane asked. "Last I knew you didn't choose to be born. If you did, I for one, would be living with rock star parents"
Rory looked at Lane.
"Sorry, that was a little off topic" Lane said. "But it's not anyone's fault except your other grandpa's"
"Well I don't think I can get him to take back what he said" Rory said.
"I don't get it" Lanes said. "You're mom doesn't seem like the kind of person who's affected by one person's opinion"
"I know" Rory said. "Maybe if I call Sookie and we do something to get her mind off of it"
"That might work" Lane said. "You guys could have a girls' night out"
"Or a cook out" Rory said. "Wait, that's perfect! We can have a cookout and all of her friends can come over and then she'll see how important she is"
"I'll supply music" Lane said.
"And Sookie can do the cooking" Rory said.
"This is great, the last time we had a good party was Izzy's birthday" Lane said.
"I should call Sookie" Rory said.
"You might want to ask Luke about this first" Lane pointed out.
"Good point" Rory said. "I should get going"
"Call me when you have the details" Lane said.
"I will" Rory said. "Bye"
"Bye"
Rory hurried out the door to Luke's.
Okay that was kind of a crappy chapter but I promise you I will update within a week. If I break that promise you can all strangle me…okay maybe not but you get my point.