Thank you so much for your lovely reviews! I notice sometimes when I update that my story sometimes doesn't go to the top so keep checking back! Thought I'd treat you and give you another chapter. :)

Chapter 11

Lorelai was surprised when her mother rang up during the week and enthusiastically invited them all to their Christmas party. "Ok, who are you and what have you done to my mother?" She said.

"Lorelai!" Emily said. "Is it not too much to ask for the family to join us at our party? We want you there."

Lorelai was still suspicious. "What's the catch, mom? You hate Luke and you hardly say anything to Jess and Alice when we come over for dinner. Why are you all suddenly adamant that we all come?"

Emily sighed. "Rory didn't tell you?" She asked.

"Tell me what?" Lorelai asked confused.

"You should ask her." Emily said. "She found something which upset her and I may have said something which upset her further and she broke down." She said quietly.

"What did you say to her?" Lorelai asked getting angry.

"I apologised and we're ok but you should talk to her." She said. "We'll see you all on Friday." She added and then hung up.

Lorelai stood there for a moment before grabbing her bag. "Hold the fort, Michel." She said.

"I always do anyway." He said.

Lorelai ignored him and got into her jeep and drove home. She found Jess and Rory home with Alice. "What happened at your grandparents' house?" She asked.

"What?" Rory asked.

"Your Grandma called and said you got upset, that you broke down over something. What happened?" Lorelai asked.

Jess got up and went over to Alice. "Hey, why don't we go see if there's anything to eat?" He said and then led her to the kitchen.

Rory was quiet for a moment. Lorelai sighed and went to sit by her. "What is it?" She asked softly. "Please talk to me. We always talk to each other."

"I'm scared Chris will worm his way back in." She admitted.

Lorelai was stunned. "What? Why would you think that?"

Rory shrugged. "He's staying in Hartford, he obviously still has a thing for you or he wouldn't have come back. I'm pretty sure he still hates dad. I don't want him to ruin our family again."

"Oh Rory..." Lorelai said softly.

"I was in your old room at Grandma and Grandpa's and I found a photo album of you when you were younger. And then at the back there was a strip of photos of you and him making funny faces. You looked happy." Rory said quietly. "Everywhere I look, he seems to appear."

Lorelai sighed. "Hon, Christopher was my first boyfriend. He gave me you and I really can't regret that."

"Did you love him?" Rory asked.

"At the time I probably thought I did but I didn't really know what love felt like until I met Luke. I'm really happy, Rory. Chris is not going to mess up our family, I promise." Lorelai reassured her.

Rory sighed. "I probably sound stupid..."

Lorelai shook her head. "No you don't. It's natural to worry and I'm sincerely sorry that you didn't grow up with good memories of Chris." She said.

Rory shrugged. "I had Luke."

"Yeh. You did." Lorelai smiled. "Hon, promise me, if you ever feel like this you talk to me ok? You will always have Luke, no matter what. I can assure you of that."

"So can I." A voice said from the doorway.

Lorelai and Rory turned round to see Luke coming into the living room.

"What's going on?" He asked.

Rory looked at her shoes, embarrassed.

"Rory just needed some reassurance." Lorelai told him. "She found some photos of me and Chris when she was at my parents' house and what with him returning recently, I think she's just a bit worried he's going to ruin everything again."

"I don't want him to push you away." Rory said quietly, still focussing on her shoes. "You're the only real dad I've had. I don't want to lose you."

Luke went over and sat next to them. "Rory, look at me." He said gently.

Rory slowly looked up at him.

"I will always be here for you ok?" He promised.

"What if something happens with you and mom?" Rory asked. "I don't want it to but you can't promise everything's going to stay like it is now."

"No but I can promise whatever happens, I won't abandon you. I will always be here for you." He said. "I promise."

Rory nodded. "I'm sorry." She said leaning over to give him a hug.

"You don't need to be sorry." Luke said. "You've had to deal with a lot. But you will always have me. You can come to me for anything. You got that?"

Rory nodded. "Can I ask you a favour?" She asked pulling away.

"Sure." He said.

"Ease up on Tristan a bit?" She smirked.

Lorelai laughed. "Oh you're good! You are so my daughter!" She joked.

Luke had to smirk as well. "Ok fine but if he hurts you..."

"Yes you and Jess are welcome to kill him." Rory smirked.

"Good." He nodded.

That Friday, they all went to the Gilmore Mansion for the annual Christmas party. "Why the hell do they celebrate Christmas three days early?" Luke asked.

Lorelai laughed. "Come on Scrooge." She said walking inside after the maid let them in.

Emily came and greeted them. "You came." She said, looking genuinely pleased.

"I said we would." Lorelai said.

"Yes well I never know with you." Emily said. "Luke, it's good to see you again."

Luke was surprised by the greeting. "Uh yes you too, Mrs Gilmore."

"Oh please, call me Emily." She said. "I mean you are family." She said. "Come on, everyone's in the other room."

"Ok is it me or is that a clone of my mother? It sure looks like her but it definitely doesn't seem like her." Lorelai joked.

Luke shrugged. "Maybe she's had a few drinks already."

They all went into the living room and greeted the other guests. They sat down and had drinks for a bit, Lorelai disguising hers. Soon dinner was announced and they all made their way into the dining room. As Luke got up, he noticed Richard fussing with his tie and looking uncomfortable. "Are you ok?" He asked.

"What? Oh yes, I'm fine. Just a bit hot." Richard brushed it off.

Luke was unconvinced and as they sat down for the meal he could see that Richard was struggling. Noone else seemed to notice.

"Richard, will you quit fussing with that tie!" Emily said.

"I'm just feeling a bit hot. I'm going to go and turn down the heating." He said getting up and walking into the next room.

"Richard!" Emily exclaimed.

"I'll go help him." Luke said getting up. He felt Lorelai's hand on his arm and he turned to see her looking at him questioningly. "Something isn't right." He said quietly. Sure enough his suspicions were confirmed when he went into the other room and found Richard collapsing against the wall, struggling for breath. "Emily!" He called. He rushed over to Richard and supported him. "Just take long deep breaths." He told him.

Emily appeared at the door and gasped. "Richard!" She exclaimed in horror.

"I think he's having a heart attack." Luke said. "We have to get him to hospital. Ring 911."

Emily nodded and shakily called the emergency services. She then rushed to Richard's side. "Richard, can you hear me?"

"Can't...breathe..." He wheezed.

Luke saw Lorelai's worried expression whilst standing at the door. He then saw Jess, Rory and Alice appear. "Jess, take Alice into the other room. She shouldn't see this. You go too, Rory." He said gently.

Jess nodded and immediately removed Alice from the room. Rory stayed by her mom though, not being able to move.

"Is Grandpa going to be ok?" Alice asked Jess quietly.

Jess went through to the living room and sat down on the couch. He picked Alice up and placed her on his lap. "He'll be fine. But he needs to go to the hospital so the nice doctors can look after him."

"He didn't look well." Alice said quietly.

"I know." Jess said quietly. It had shaken him to see Richard looking so vulnerable. He had been growing closer to him over the last few weeks. "But the doctors know what they're doing. They will be able to help him."

After a few minutes, Jess heard sirens and heard movement. Luke then appeared in the living room with Lorelai and Rory. "They've taken him in the ambulance. Is it ok if you take Alice back home? I don't want her to have to wait at the hospital." He said.

"I'd rather come with you." Jess said.

"Jess..."

"Please." Jess said. "I need to know he's ok."

Luke saw his worried expression and nodded. He looked at Lorelai. "Could you ring Sookie and ask her to pick Alice up?"

Lorelai nodded.

With Alice picked up, the four of them headed to the hospital. They arrived to find Emily shouting at the receptionist. After Lorelai managed to calm her down, the two of them went off to find out what was going on while Luke waited on some seats with Jess and Rory.

Lorelai returned after a few minutes to say that he was still in surgery but that he would be out shortly.

"Where's Grandma?" Rory asked.

"Kicking someone out of a room with a good view." Lorelai smirked.

Rory smirked a little. She then saw Lorelai look over her shoulder. "What?" She asked.

"Think someone's come to see you." She said gesturing over her shoulder.

Rory turned round and was surprised to see Tristan standing awkwardly. "Tristan! Wha...What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I got your text. I figured you might want some company." He said.

Rory smiled and went over and hugged him. "It was awful..." She said quietly.

"Hey, how about you two go and get some drinks?" Luke suggested. "You too Jess." He pulled out his wallet and gave them some money. "Grab something to eat as well."

"You sure?" Rory asked. "But Grandpa..."

"We'll come and get you as soon as we know anything." Luke promised.

Rory nodded and the three of them headed off.

"Still think Tristan's trouble?" Lorelai asked sitting down next to him.

"He's won some brownie points today at least." Luke said.

They sat in silence for a minute.

"You ok?" Luke asked softly.

Lorelai sighed. "I know I've never been that close to my parents but seeing him like that, so helpless..." She said quietly.

"It's hard." Luke nodded. "They're still your parents."

"You stayed so calm. How did you do that?" Lorelai asked. "I should have rushed forward to help but I froze. I couldn't move."

Luke sighed. "I know how you felt. I felt the same years ago..."

Lorelai kicked herself. "Your dad..." She said quietly. "Oh Luke I'm so sorry. I didn't think..."

"It's fine." Luke assured her. "I should have done something sooner though. I saw the symptoms during the night. I recognised them." He said.

Lorelai shook his head. "You were amazing, Luke. You kept calm and you controlled the situation. You were great with dad and I'm sure he'll say the same."

"She's right." A voice said from the doorway.

They looked up to see Emily watching them.

"How is he?" Lorelai asked.

"It was just angina." Emily said obviously relieved. "He needs to exercise and change his diet but he should be fine."

"Oh thank god." Lorelai breathed. She felt tears in her eyes as she turned to look at Luke. "He's going to be ok."

"I heard." Luke smiled. "Come here." He said pulling her into a hug.

Emily watched them interact and she saw the love between them. She watched how Luke wiped the tears from her face tenderly. She then saw him say something quietly to her and she saw Lorelai smile in reaction. She saw how genuine that smile was as well. "Where are the kids?" She asked after a while.

"We got Sookie to pick Alice up. Jess, Rory and Tristan have gone to get drinks and some food." Lorelai said. "Oh we said we'd get them when we knew anything."

"Lorelai, why don't you go and get them and then you can go in and see your father? He's a bit groggy but I know he would like to see you." Emily said.

Lorelai nodded and headed off to find the kids.

Emily sat down next to Luke and he straightened up. "I'm glad he's ok." Luke said.

"I'd like to thank you." Emily said.

"Me? Why?" Luke said surprised.

"Lorelai was right. You handled the situation so well. You really helped calm Richard down and I know that helped. So thank you." Emily said sincerely.

"You don't need to thank me." He said awkwardly.

Emily was quiet for a minute before she turned to look at him. "Your dad...I heard you talking to Lorelai. He died of a heart attack?" She asked cautiously.

Luke nodded slowly. "He had cancer but it was a heart attack that killed him. I found him collapsed in our shop." He said quietly.

"I'm sorry. That must have been awful." Emily said, feeling for him. She hadn't really thought about Luke's past. She had noticed his parents weren't at the ready but she wasn't that interested at the time. "Your mother?" She asked cautiously.

"She died when I was much younger." Luke said. "She got cancer as well." He said feeling a lump in his throat.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry." She said quietly.

"It's fine." Luke said. "It was a long time ago."

"Still your parents though." She said.

Luke nodded. "Yeh." He said gruffly.

Lorelai then reappeared with Rory, Jess and Tristan. "Hey are you coming in with us?" She asked Luke.

"Uh yeh if you want me to?" He said.

Lorelai nodded. "I know you hate these places but it would help." She admitted.

"Then I'll come." Luke smiled getting up.

Emily watched as they headed down the corridor. Suddenly something caught her eye. She noticed that Rory was drinking coffee but she had given Lorelai a bottle of water. Her eyes widened when she saw Rory hand her an apple. Something clicked in her brain. These were all signs. Why hadn't she noticed it before?

So what do you think? :) Please keep the reviews coming! I really appreciate them all so thanks! :)