Sorry I haven't updated for ages! I've not been very well this week so haven't been up to writing but I'm finally feeling better so here's the next chapter! :)

Chapter 7

Lorelai was sat in the hallway with Luke for what seemed like hours but in reality it had only been about an hour and a half.

"Mom!" A voice suddenly called.

Lorelai looked up to find Rory rushing down the hallway. "Hey kid." She said relieved, giving her a hug.

"Am I too late? Is he..uh..?" Rory asked.

"No hon, Grandma's in with him at the moment." Lorelai said. "They do need to take him through to operate soon though."

Rory blinked back tears. "Have you been to see him?"

Lorelai blinked back her own tears. "Yeah I've been in." She suddenly stopped and looked behind Rory. "Jess..." She said surprised.

Jess had hung back not wanting to interfere but slowly walked forward. "Hey..uh..Lorelai..." He said awkwardly.

"Hi?" She said still not sure what he was doing there, glancing at Luke and then back at Rory who weren't really looking at her.

"Jess was with me when Luke rang. He was actually the one who answered the phone. I asked him to come with me." Rory said awkwardly.

"Jess was with you?" Lorelai asked confused. She glanced at Luke. "Why didn't you tell me you spoke to Jess?"

"It didn't seem like the right time." Luke said. "I asked Jess to come with Rory because I knew you wouldn't want her by herself on the way back here."

Lorelai sighed. "Yeah you're right. I'm sorry..I just..my head's all over the place at the moment." She said.

"Understandable." Luke said getting up, giving her shoulder a squeeze which didn't go unnoticed by Rory. He then turned to Rory. "He's in room 201. You can go straight in."

Rory hesitated. "Mom..."

"Yeah?"

"Come in with me?" She asked quietly.

"Hon..." Lorelai started. "I've...I've already been in."

"Then come in again. Please! I can't do this by myself! Please mom!" Rory begged.

"Ok...ok I'll come." Lorelai said putting her arms round her daughter's shoulders. "Let's go." She said.

Luke and Jess watched them go and then sat back down on the seats provided. Luke glanced at Jess. "Thanks for coming with her." He said gruffly.

"She asked me to." Jess shrugged.

"So..uh..what were you doing at Rory's?" Luke asked cautiously.

Jess sighed. He knew that question would come up sooner rather than later. "Just visiting." He said.

"Just visiting?" Luke raised his eyebrows.

"Yes! I called her to congratulate her on her internship and then I mentioned I was going to be in New York for a couple of days anyway to see an editor and I...we agreed to meet up for a catch up and yeah..." He shrugged.

"An editor? Why were you seeing an editor?" Luke asked. "Wait, have you written another book?"

"It's not ready yet." Jess said glancing at the phone.

"You wrote another book?" Luke said, the pride evident in his voice.

"Yeah.." Jess said.

"Wow, that's...that's amazing!" Luke smiled.

Jess gave him a small smile. "Thanks." He said quietly.

They sat in silence for a moment. Luke glanced at him again. "You still like her, don't you?"

Jess looked up at him in surprise. "What? No..."

"Come on, Jess...I can read you like a book." Luke said.

Jess just glanced back at the ground. "Feelings can't just go away..." He said. He looked back up at Luke. "You know that..."

Luke thought about Lorelai and nodded. "Yeah I know that." He said softly.

"You're not mad at me?" Jess asked surprised. "You don't want to kill me?"

Luke chuckled. "Life's too short." He said. "This should prove that." He said gesturing around them.

"Yeah.." Jess said not able to not think about how Rory was feeling that moment. He glanced at Luke. "I'm not the jerk I was back when I was with Rory."

"I know that." Luke nodded. He had to smile at Jess' surprised face again. "Look, Jess, I know I got on to you back then when you were with Rory, but you've grown up. You've written to books, you work at a publishing company..." He said. "And you were the reason Rory went back to Yale."

"Wait what? How did you...?" Jess asked.

"Rory told me." Luke said.

"She did? Does Lorelai..?"

"She doesn't know." Luke said.

Jess sighed. "I will never win her round. She hates my guts."

"No she doesn't." Luke said. He saw Jess raise his eyebrows and him and had to smirk. "Ok, well she doesn't exactly have good memories of you. But you did break her daughter's heart." He pointed out. "But I know Lorelai. She would come round."

"Hang on, are you actually telling me to go for it?" He asked.

Luke smirked. "Weird huh?"

"Just a bit." Jess nodded.

Luke sighed. "Look, I know what it's like to try and ignore your feelings for someone and move on. I've been there. If you really want Rory, you've got to talk to her." He said softly.

"You think?" Jess asked quietly.

"You might be surprised." Luke shrugged. "She might be feeling the same."

Jess shrugged. "I messed up bad with her."

"You made a mistake but you were young." Luke said. "I've made hundreds of mistakes but you never know what could happen and what you could fix unless you talk."

"So you and Lorelai have talked?" Jess asked looking up at him.

Luke ducked his head.

"I'm guessing you have considering you're here and you and Lorelai seem as close as ever." Jess smirked a little.

Luke couldn't help the smile on his face. "Yeah we talked..." He admitted. "We..uh..We've agreed to give it another go."

"Good." Jess nodded. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks." Luke smiled.

Jess looked towards the doors that Lorelai and Rory had gone through. "How do you think they're doing?"

Luke sighed. "I don't know. We just need to be there for them."

Jess nodded. He glanced at Luke and gave him a small smile. "It's good to see you uncle Luke." He said.

Luke smiled. "You too, nephew."

Meanwhile, Lorelai and Rory were sat next to Richard's side while Emily was on the other not letting go of his hand.

"So then I actually got an assignment at the end and I'm to work on it all week..." Rory was telling Richard.

"That's great..." Richard said hoarsely. "And the apartment?"

"Is perfect. Thank you for organising it for me." Rory said.

"You're very welcome." He said giving her a small smile.

Rory blinked back tears. "Grandpa..."

"Hey, there's no need for that.." Richard said reaching to take her hand.

"I love you." Rory said quietly.

This admission caused Richard, Emily and Lorelai to all blink back tears.

"I love you too. So much." Richard said, his voice breaking a bit.

The door then opened and the doctor walked in. "Oh sorry, we need to prep Richard for surgery now."

Rory leant down and kissed his forehead. "Stay strong Grandpa." She said quietly.

"Yeah dad, you can get through this." Lorelai said trying to control her voice, copying Rory's actions and giving him a kiss too. She was about to turn when Richard grabbed hold of her hand.

"I'm very proud of what you've achieved, Lorelai." He said quietly. "The inn, Rory...I meant what I said at the party. You are an extraordinary woman and I am honoured to call you my daughter."

"Dad..." Lorelai said, wiping tears away.

"And listen to your heart." Richard added.

"What?" She asked confused.

"A certain diner owner. I know how you feel about him." Richard said with a wink.

Lorelai smiled through her tears knowing that was him giving her his approval. "Thanks dad." She said softly.

"Luke's a good man." Richard said.

"I know." Lorelai smiled. She then glanced at her mother who couldn't keep her eyes off Richard. "We'll give you a minute, mom." She said.

Emily tore her gaze away from her husband for a moment to give her daughter and granddaughter a grateful smile. "Thanks Lorelai. I'll see you out there."

Lorelai nodded and then led Rory out, both of them looking back at Richard before leaving the room.

Another hour passed and the doctor finally came out to the waiting area. "Mrs Gilmore?" He said.

Emily, Lorelai, Rory, Luke and Jess all stood up. "He's got his serious face on. That's not good, is it?" Lorelai said shakily to Luke. "Oh god...no..."

"Hey, don't jump to conclusions. Let him speak." Luke said softly, grabbing hold of her hand.

"How did it go?" Emily asked the doctor.

"I'm really sorry..." The doctor started.

"No..." Lorelai said shakily, having to grip onto Luke's hand to stop her legs from giving way.

"Oh my god..." Rory said quietly, her face paling. She unconsciously reached over for Jess' hand.

Emily stared at the doctor. "Please don't say..."

"I'm really sorry." The doctor repeated. "We tried everything but your husband was too weak. He didn't make it."

Emily collapsed onto the chair. She couldn't believe it. She felt numb. She was officially a widow. She looked up and saw Lorelai find comfort in Luke. She watched as he held her tightly, rubbing her back comfortingly. She was also surprised to see Rory seek comfort in the boy who she vaguely recognised but couldn't place and couldn't help but think they looked awfully close. She was brought back to reality when she hear Lorelai's voice and realised her daughter had come and sat down next to her. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" She asked quietly.

"The doctor was asking if you'd like to see him." Lorelai said softly.

"Oh..uh..I don't know..." Emily said quietly.

"You don't have to decide now." Lorelai assured him. "God, mom, I'm so sorry." She said, sniffing.

"He was my whole world." Emily said, her voice breaking.

"I know..."

"He's gone. He's really gone." Emily said, finally letting her tears fall. "I can't believe he's gone."

"Mom..." Lorelai said, her heart breaking for her.

"What am I going to do now?" Emily asked, quietly.

Lorelai just brought her into a hug without hesitation. "We'll get through this together. I promise." She said softly. She glanced up at Luke and smiled tremulously as she saw him give Rory a comforting hug. She couldn't miss the way Jess was looking at Rory as well and couldn't help but think there was something they were all not telling her. She shook it out of her mind though as it wasn't the time to think about that. She had to stay strong for her mother and for Rory. She blinked back tears as it finally sank in that she was never going to see her father again. She held her mother tighter and sought comfort in her.

Sorry it's such a sad episode! Hope you liked it though! Please keep reviewing as I love reading your comments. Sorry again for the delay in getting this chapter up!