Love will ALWAYS Find a Way.

a/n: Thanks to phantomphan1992 and Roscette29 for the reviews! Luvs!

The Start of a Beautiful Friendship:

--Lori dialed Ray's number quickly.

"Hello?" Ray answered.

"Hey, uh, it's me, Lori. I was wondering if I could come by for a while," Lori said quickly.

"Uh, sure. What's going on?" Ray could tell that there was something wrong by the way she spoke.

"Could we talk about it when I get there," Lori paused, "I'd really rather tell you in person."

"Alrighty. I guess I'll see you in a bit," Ray replied.

"Yeah, thanks Ray," Lori said quietly.

"Any time."

--They hung up.

-Lori continued to his house with nothing but the sound of Jess's words echoing.

--He thinks I don't need him. He thinks I lied about loving him. Why is he just leaving like this? Maybe it's for the better. Maybe not. Lori's thoughts were interrupted when she realized she was about to pass her turn.

--She pulled in Ray's driveway, got out and rang the doorbell.

--Ray showed her in.

--There was a silence that wasn't really awkward, but wasn't quite comforting either.

--All of the sudden Lori had this urge. She walked briskly to Ray and pushed him against the wall and kissed his lips forcefully. He put her hands on her hips as she moved her hands down to his chest.

--Ray pulled away a few minutes later.

"Whoa," Ray gasped for air.

"I am sooo sorry," Lori apologized.

"I guess its just pay back for Christmas," Ray laughed.

"Yeah, maybe," Lori forced a smile.

"What's wrong?" Ray led Lori to the couch.

"It's just," Lori started already wiping away tears, "that guy at the diner. Tomorrow would have been our one-year anniversary, but he broke up with me about a week ago."

--Lori let her tears fall freely now; Ray nodded taking it all in.

"He usually doesn't act the way he did this morning. But a few days ago, we agreed to be just friends. We both knew we wanted to be together again someday…"

"Hey, Lori, calm down, sweetie. Catch your breath," Ray laughed a little.

--Lori took in a good breath then went on with her story.

"Then today when you came, you might not have noticed, but I could tell he was hurt. Then ya know, I went and threw up everywhere and Dad took me home. Then I call my mom, she comes, talks to me for about .3 seconds then runs off, comes back with…" Lori stopped and looked Ray square in the eyes.

"Go on," Ray encouraged.

"When I tell you this, please don't get upset. Cuz I really wanna get to know you. I really like you," Lori said as if she were in 4th grade talking to her crush.

"Promise."

"Well, she came in with a pregnancy test. Of course, I was completely against it, but she wouldn't give up. So, I took it and…" Lori began.

"It came back positive," Ray finished.

"What!" Lori was dismayed, "how could you know?"

"I'm not a complete idiot. I just put 2 and 2 together. Morning sickness and sudden bursts of hormones," Ray cracked a smile, "by the way, I really like you too."

--Lori smiled at this and leaned into him.

"I don't understand," Lori said after a few minutes of comfortable silence, "Most guys wouldn't have had anything to do with me after that sob story."

"I'm not most guys," Ray answered with a smirk.

"You remind me a lot of Kurt," Lori informed him.

"That CAN'T be a good thing," Ray grinned.

"Yeah, it is. I love Kurt. He's kinda like a big brother," Lori giggled.

"Ok, I have 2 questions," Ray stated.

"Shoot," Lori told him.

"First, why did that man at the diner glare at me? The one you left with," Ray asked.

--Lori laughed a little.

"That's my step-dad, Luke Danes. He doesn't like any guys touching us, me and Rory," ---Lori couldn't help but snicker at the question.

"Hmm."

"Question 2?"

"Does he know?" Ray questioned.

"No," Lori lowered her head shamefully and continued, "I went to tell him, but his ex called him and he's moving back to New York. I just didn't figure he'd care now."

"That's such a shame," Ray started, "I don't see how any guy could live with out you."

--Lori snuggled closer to Ray.

"I think this is a start of a beautiful friendship," Lori beamed.

--Ray held her tighter and laughed lightly.

--They sat on the couch and watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

"That was a great movie," Lori smiled after it was over.

"It was alright," Ray said tiredly.

--Ray looked down at Lori; her head rested in his lap.

"You hungry?" He asked once again breaking the silence.

--Lori nodded slightly.

"I don't cook. So, uh," Ray paused, "Pizza?"

"You are officially my favorite!" Lori gleamed up at him.

--Ray reached over and grabbed the phone. Lori gave him a number to the 'best pizza place in town' and he dialed and ordered.

--They had some good conversations for the next few hours.

"What time is it?" Lori wondered as she laid her head on Ray's shoulder.

"6:30."

"Hm. I need to do something, but can I come back here afterwards," Lori paused, "I don't wanna be too forward or anything. I don't want you getting the wrong idea. I mean, I don't want you thinking that I'm using you, cuz I'm not. I just want to spend time with you and get to know and…"

--Ray kissed her words to an end.

"It's okay. I don't think you're using me, and even if you were…I wouldn't mind," Ray winked.

"Ha. Funny," Lori said sarcastically.

--Ray smirked.

"Well, this shouldn't take me long," Lori informed him.

"What won't?"

"Telling my grandparents. They'll probably just look at me like I'm trash then kick me out," Lori said dryly.

--Ray shook his head; he couldn't believe people could treat others like that.

"You want me to come with you?" Ray inquired.

"Nah, I gotta do this on my own."

--Ray ushered her to the door and watched her drive away.

--A few minutes later, Lori pulled into her grandparents' drive way. She got out and made her way to the door.

--She paused a few seconds before ringing the doorbell.

--The maid answered the door politely, and took Lori's coat. The maid then showed Lori where her grandparents were.

"Grandma," Lori said quietly coming into the living room.

"Lorilyn?" Emily looked up, "Why are you here?"

"Umm, I need to talk to you and Grandpa about something," Lori said shyly.

--Emily called for a maid, and then sent her to find Richard.

--Richard entered the room moments later.

"You might want to sit," Lori warned them.

"Good heavens, it can't be that bad. Just hurry it up already," Emily said aggravated.

"Well, it's just I'm…Uh…" Lori waited for the words to come out, "I'm, uh, pregnant."

--Both Emily and Richard's jaws dropped in shock.

"I should've known this would happen! Had your mother done a better job raising you this wouldn't have happened!" Emily raged.

"This is NOT my mom's fault! She warned both me and Rory that this could happen," Lori defended her mother, "but me being me didn't care what anyone had to say. So, don't blame this on her!"

"Well, it's true," Richard said calmly, "she hasn't been much of a good example."

"She should have listened when I said to only keep on of you two, but she wouldn't!" Emily said not knowing Lori could actually hear her.

"Excuse me?" Lori asked.

"When you and Rory were born I begged your mother to give on of you away," Emily started.

"And what if she would've sent Rory away, you'd still be stuck with me," Lori said quite rudely, "I know I may not be perfect, but I do the best I can. I know you'll NEVER accept that, but that's just the way life goes."

--There was an awkward silence that filled the air.

"I shouldn't have told you," Lori said thru tears.

"We wouldn't have found out eventually," Richard rebutted.

"You're right. But it would only because my mom told you. From this point on, I want nothing to do with you. I don't want you in mine or my child's life," Lori looked at both her grandparents with blank expressions, "I can see you are both are really bothered by that. What I should do is rub it in your face. Show up to all your fancy parties and bring this baby and just tell everyone what you truly are!"

--Lori began to see some sort of emotions in their eyes.

"So, I guess this is good bye," Lori turned to leave, but quickly turned back around, "just to let you know, even though you two treated me like shit, I still loved you. I wanted to be accepted by you. But obviously that will NEVER happen."

--Lori left without another word.

--Emily and Richard sat in the same room for an hour with out a word. The were shocked.

--Lori returned to Ray's house a few minutes later.

--She knocked on the door; Ray answered. Then he just let her fall in his arms.

--He picked her up, closed the door and sat with her on the couch. (Her in his lap.)

"They…Wanted…Mom…To…Get…Rid…Of…Me," Lori said between sobs.

"Lori, calm down. I can't understand you," Ray rubbed her back gently.

--Lori took deep breaths and allowed her self to relax some.

"I told them. Then my grandmother told me how she begged my mom to give one of us up for adoption. Then I told them that, that was okay, cuz I don't want them in mine or my child's life, but, Ray, I didn't mean it."

"Shh," he whispered in her ear, and held her closer.

--Back at the Gilmore-Danes house, Lorelai is in a panic.

"She left at 12:30! It's midnight now! Where the hell is she?" Lorelai paced the floor.

"Maybe her and Jess made up," Rory offered.

--I haven't thought of that. Maybe I should call over there, since apparently she can't answer her cell. Lorelai thought after she had called Lori several times.

--Lorelai dialed Jess's apartment quickly.

--No answer.

--She then called his cell.

"Hello?" Jess answered groggily from the other end. He was exhausted from his long day.

--Flashback—

--Jess drove to New York. However, the whole way there all he could think about was Lori. What did she need to tell him?

--He made his way to what had once been his and Lauren's apartment and let himself in.

--He found her crying on the couch.

"What happened?" Jess asked her.

"He left me. He said he hated me," Lauren said referring to her now ex-boyfriend Kenny.

--Figures she'd call me for something like this. Jess thought to himself.

"I'm sorry, Lauren," Jess made his way to the couch and held her in his arms.

--It didn't feel exactly right, but it felt really good to hold some one who actually needed him.

--End of Flashback—

"Where are you?" Lorelai said angrily.

"New York. What do you want, Lorelai?" Jess said getting agitated.

"Is Lori with you?" Lorelai asked even though she already knew the answer.

"No."

"Have you talked to her today? Other than at the diner" Lorelai wanted to know if he knew.

"She came over to tell me something, but we ended up fighting. Do you know what she wanted to say?" Jess said suddenly alert.

--Lauren stirred in the bed beside him.

"That's for her to tell you. I have to go."

--They hung up.

--Luke came down the stairs.

"Lorelai, baby, come back to bed," Luke touched her arm slightly.

"What have I done? I've turned her into me! I'm a terrible mother!" Lorelai sobbed.

"Lorelai, you're a great mother. For all we know she's at Averie's having a 'girls' night'," Luke pulled her closer.

--Lorelai couldn't help but laugh when Luke said girls' night.

--Luke eventually got his wife to come back to bed.

--Back at Ray's house.

"I'll let you have the bed," Ray stated, "I'll sleep on the couch."

"Ray, you don't have to do that," Lori looked up at him.

"It's fine, Lori."

--Lori still gave him a disapproving look, but headed off to his room.

--She laid there for a few minutes trying to fall asleep, but realized she couldn't. So, she got up and went back into the living room.

"Ray?" She called quietly.

"Hmm," he answered half asleep.

"Could you come lay with me a minute?" Lori asked shyly.

--She didn't want him to think she was a slut…But she didn't know what else to do.

--Ray got up slowly from the couch and made his way towards her.

"You okay?" he asked once he was close to her.

"I just can't sleep."

--Ray put his arm around her waist and guided her to the bedroom.

--They fell on to the bed. Lori placed her head on his chest and snuggled close.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"Anytime," he replied back quietly.

--Then they fell into what seemed a peaceful dream.

--But all of her peacefulness was interrupted by a horrible dream.

a/n: Whatcha think? I know their relationship is moving REALLY fast, but this is how I want it.

Coming up: New Year's Eve. Then fast forward a few months.

MwAh!