Well everyone, here is the next instalment. I know it's Thursday but I didn't want to rush it and this chapter is quite a bit longer than I had intended to write. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it always helps motivate me to write more so please continue lol…

SmileyGGfan: I know I had exams and college work for a long time and GG wasn't exactly inspiring me which meant a bit of writers block, hopefully out of it now tho! I have started the next chaps on both other fics and I always write paragraphs in my mind so I have ideas - hopefully I'll get those done soon! Thanks for the review, you always leave nice long ones. I agree about Chris not seeing past the walls, in my opinion he never did - even when they were 16 (lol because I knew them back then you see).

Burgerman: When I started writing this fic I had to go back and re-read it all as well to remember…shows how great my memory is! I was also annoyed by the lack of passion on the show in last season, really disappointing for fans so I read/write my own reality here lol

Oh-no-she-di-ent: Wow nice long review, love it. Btw weird question but have you ever seen the live journal blog 'oh no they didn't'. It's a celebrity blog thing and whenever I see your name it makes me think of it…yes I am random like that. I'm trying to write Chris as in character as possible, I have read fics where he is some psychotic guy which although tempting to write is not really him so I'm trying…as difficult as that may be. Lorelai's lack of remorse was something that bugged the hell out of me as well, it made me so angry. I haven't written fics in a while because well mainly college has kept me busy but also GG just didn't inspire me, just irritated me! (Although that last few eps of the season were good). That apology on the show was a joke, I was like 'Excuse me what?!?'…didn't make any sense. It's like they were in a rush to get things wrapped up and just stuck it in the last minute grrr. Haha can you tell GG annoyed me this season?

rollsdownhill: Your opinion is always appreciated, even if you think you're being picky I like it and agree that it may have been rushed. Probably because I was writing and wanting to get the next chapter out, I did take your constructive criticism into account so I took more time with this one so let me know what you think. Toodles!

LorLukealways: I agree that the breakup wasn't all Lorelai's fault, but she feels guilty atm and I want her to begin to realise that it wasn't just her fault. Yes if the Palladino's hadn't made Luke be an idiot they would have still been together, but where is the unneeded drama in that?

Wendy: I'm sure it seemed like I fell off the face of the planet but no college was busy with exams and projects, barely had time to sleep. I got an internship in an architecture firm for the summer so I've been working 9-6 everyday now which is also time consuming but I finally got some time to write! I promise I will update BTR and the other S/L fic soon, I have the chapters half done already lol…it's just finishing them that's the problem. The land of GG does seem un-confrontational with much unneeded drama for the sake of drama, that's what annoyed me a lot about the past 2 seasons. Hope you like this chap & hope all is well with you !

6 - Calm Before The Storm

-

With that she got up from her desk, grabbed her car keys and left her office, shouting to Michel that she had to go and would be back in a while. There was one thing more she knew she could do to start mending some bridges with Luke…

Lorelai pulled up outside Rory's apartment a short while later; she had called her on the way over to let her know she was dropping by. Rory had gotten back from London late the night before so she had still been in bed when Lorelai had called.

"Hey mom, so you couldn't wait just another day to see me huh?" Rory joked when she opened the door for Lorelai, still in her pyjamas.

"Well you were in London so of course I had to come by and check the English hadn't tried to convert you or something" Lorelai said as she gave her daughter a tight hug.

"Convert me to what?"

"I don't know English things; like from coffee to tea or from pancakes to crumpets" Lorelai countered, putting on a highly exaggerated British accent.

"Blasphemy!"

"Ahh good my baby is still waving the old red, white and blue"

"You know the British flag is red, white and blue also" Rory smirked.

"Whatever" she waved off.

"So how was the trip, Logan still enjoying it?"

"It was great, I'll show you my pictures when I come home tomorrow, and yes Logan is still enjoying, seems to have really found himself since he has been there; in a business sense I mean"

"That's great, and I can't wait to see your pictures. Do I hear 'slideshow'?"

"No slideshows just pictures, simple"

"Boo" she cried out.

"So how are things in Stars Hollow? How's dad?"

"Things with me are good, Christopher is fine. He got back from Paris a few days early with Gigi so they'll both be there when you come home and the town is it's usual craziness"

"Good, good. So is there any reason for the visit or just checking I hadn't been converted?"

"I created you kid, it's biologically predetermined that I can call by to check on you whenever I take the notion…however this time there is a particular reason why I came over"

"And that is…" Rory probed.

"Luke called by the Inn today to see me"

"What for?" Rory queried, intrigued that her mother was speaking of Luke to her; since the break up whenever she had asked how things were with him Lorelai had shut her out, refused to discuss anything whatsoever.

"Well he's going to court to fight for custody of April because Anna wants to take her to New Mexico. So he needed a character reference and asked me if I'd write on for him."

"Oh, okay. So you're going to do it right?"

"Of course yeah, he seemed desperate, probably the only reason he came to me" Lorelai shrugged trying to joke it off.

"Luke came to you because you know him best. I'm sure there are other people he could have asked if he just needed anyone" Rory reassured as she lifted two mugs from the kitchen cupboard.

"Like who?"

"His sister, or didn't you say Rachel was back in town?"

"He asked his sister but apparently the lawyer thought the anecdotes she wrote about would hinder more than help any"

"Still, he came to you and that's what matters" Rory stated as she handed Lorelai a cup of coffee.

"Yeah I guess. Well I wrote it earlier, was pretty easy to write actually but I wanted to do something more y'know? So I thought you being the wonderful journalist daughter of mine could write one too. I mean he was around a lot when you were growing up and it would help the judge see that he can provide a stable environment for April" she explained.

"Sure I'll do one, anything to help Luke. I mean he was always there for me a lot…even when dad wasn't" Rory said truthfully as she thought of all the times he'd helped her and her mom while she was growing up. For example when she had the chicken pox and he had made her mashed potato because it was the only thing she could eat, or when he'd come to her high school graduation even though she hadn't asked him to. When her mom and Luke had finally gotten together it had been great to see them both so happy, because although her mother tried to hide it now, Rory knew she wasn't as happy with Christopher as she'd have people believe.

"Yeah he was" Lorelai replied thoughtfully remembering in particular Rory's graduation when Luke had come and even shed a tear over it, meanwhile Christopher hadn't even thought it was important enough to postpone a business trip for.

"When does Luke need it by?" Rory queried, already planning when and what she would write.

"Well that's the thing I was hoping if you did it today then I could drop it off at the lawyers office tomorrow because I have to go into Hartford for a meeting anyway."

"Wow talk about pressure"

"C'mon just pretend you're Jack Bauer, except the writer kind and not the fighter against terrorism. See how much that guy gets done in an hour, a character reference is easy"

"Sure, the Jack Bauer of journalism…" Rory replied sarcastically with a roll of her eyes.

"Exactly!"

"Well what are you going to do while I'm doing it?" Rory asked.

"I'm haven't got any appetite for insanity right now…"

"So that rules out Paris" Rory concluded.

"Precisely, but I have some Dragonfly paperwork in the car to go over" Lorelai said,

"No singing" Rory reminded her mother whenever she returned from the car with a folder of paperwork in her hand.

"Would I ever?" Lorelai countered feigning shock.

"Um let me see…yes"

"Clearly you're delusional. When you're done we can go for something to eat, maybe go see a movie?"

"You not have to get back to the Inn?" Rory asked curiously, usually the place was buzzing around this time of year.

"It's called procrastination, now get writing Jack"

Back in Stars Hollow…

Christopher drove up to the Inn, parking his car in the space next to Sookie. Lorelai had been pretty busy since he'd returned from Paris so to make it up to him and find out about his trip they'd arranged a late lunch at the Inn. Gigi was at his mother's house for the evening so they would have some time alone.

"Hey Michel, is Lorelai around?" Chris asked Michel who was standing behind the front desk.

"No she is not. Why would she be, this is only her job" Michel snapped in his usual sarcastic manner all the while not looking up from his desk.

"Oh, do you know where she is?" Christopher asked, checking in his head that it had been 3pm they'd arranged to meet for lunch; he was sure it was.

"That's a good question, but no I do not know. Fortunately she never feels the need to share where she is going with me"

"So you have no idea where she is?" he asked getting impatient, still wondering why Lorelai had hired Michel in the first place; every interaction he'd ever had with the guy had been far from pleasant.

"No. All I know is the flannel man from the diner came by this morning, and then she rushed out an hour later saying she would be back later. What does she think; that I can set my watch to later?" he humped.

"Luke was here?" Christopher questioned, his mind already reeling with possible reasons of why he would come to see Lorelai and why she would leave not long later without telling anyone where she was going and when she would be back. 'You're being paranoid' he assured himself.

"Yes" Michel said getting more and more irritated.

"Do you know why he was here?" Christopher asked in as casual a manner as he could muster.

"What do you think?" Michel retorted in his heavy French accent, finally looking up from the desk to show Chris how annoyed he was becoming with each question he asked.

"Right, well she may be running late so I'm just going to wait in her office" Christopher explained but realised he may as well be talking to a wall; it would probably care more.

Christopher made his way into her office and took a seat on the couch; he noticed that the room was unusually tidy for Lorelai. Christopher waited ten minutes before calling Lorelai's cell phone which was oddly switched off.

There was a picture of Rory from her high school graduation behind Lorelai's desk, he walked over and picked it up to look at it more closely, he'd never seen that particular one before. After a few seconds he looked around the room to see if Lorelai had left a note to let him know where she was. There wasn't anything sitting around, he saw the notepad on the table and aimlessly flipped through it; more out of boredom than thinking she'd actually left him a note. When he came across a letter written to or about Luke, he sat down in the chair to read.

To whom it may concern,

In the nearly 10 years that I have known Luke Danes, I have come to know him as an honest and decent man. He's also one of the most kind and caring persons I have ever met.

I'm a single mother, and I raised my daughter by myself, but once Luke Danes became my friend in this town, I never really felt alone. Luke and I have had our ups and downs over the years, but through it all, his relationship with my daughter, Rory, has never changed. He's always been there for her no matter what. He was there to celebrate her birthdays. He was there cheering her on at her high school graduation. Luke has been a sort of father figure in my daughter's life. With his own daughter, Luke wasn't given the opportunity to be there for her first 12 years, but he should be given that opportunity now. Once Luke Danes is in your life, he is in your life forever.

I know from personal experience what an amazing gift that is, and not to allow him access to his daughter would be to seriously deprive her of all this man has to offer, and he offers so much.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Lorelai Gilmore.

Later that night…

Lorelai returned home in a much better mood than she had left her house that morning, she had spent some quality alone time with her daughter, and managed to help Luke with the custody case, if only in a small way. When she walked into her house she was greeted by an excited Paul Anka who seemed very happy to see her home.

"Hey" she called out, knowing Christopher was home since his car was in the driveway. When there was no answer she shrugged it off, hung her coat up on the rail in the hall before making her way into the kitchen. Christopher appeared a few seconds later from upstairs.

"Hey" she said again.

"Hi" he muttered in reply, wanting to shout and ask her why she had stood him up for lunch that afternoon, what the letter to Luke was about or why Luke had been at the Inn in the first place. Somehow he managed to stop himself, knowing she would go straight on the defensive if he broached the subject in that way.

"Good day?" she asked casually as she flipped through the mail.

"Not really, especially after being stood up for lunch"

"Oh shit I totally forgot Chris"

"Yeah I figured" he said a cold undercurrent in his tone.

"I'm really sorry hun. I had a lot on my mind today, can we do it tomorrow" she said giving him an apologetic smile hoping it would do the trick.

"Where did you go? I tried calling you all day"

"I had a few errands to run and then I went to New Haven to see Rory. My phone battery died this morning and I'd forgotten my charger" she explained.

"Why didn't you call me and we both could have gone to see Rory" he replied in a harsher tone than he had intended.

"It wasn't planned I just felt like seeing her. She'll be home tomorrow anyway it's no big deal." she countered wondering why he was in such a bad mood, it's not like he hadn't cancelled lunch on her before on short notice.

"So why was Luke at the Inn today?"

"Ah the penny drops" she muttered rolling her eyes as she saw where the conversation was going.

"I read your letter"

"What?" 'How could he have…?"

"On your desk at the Inn" he said joining the dots for her.

"It's not a letter. It's just a character reference that Luke asked me to write for his court case."

"Reads like a letter, a love letter"

"No, it's a favour that Luke asked, that's why he was at the Inn this morning"

"You know what? Before you go through a whole list of excuses, let me just ask -- is our marriage for you basically just marking time?"

"What?"'Whoa didn't see that one coming'

"You know what I mean"

"Of course it's not!"

"I mean obviously you still have very deep feelings for the guy."

"No, no, I just have known him a long time, and he's..."

"…Always been there, always will be there." He interrupted, quoting her letter to which she had no reply just a look similar to one from a deer caught in the headlights.

"Do you still talk to him? I mean, do you see him?" Christopher continued.

"This is crazy." She answered; clearly stunned at the interrogation she'd walked into.

"Hey, I have a right to know."

"Occasionally I see him because we live in the same town."

"Yeah, and I know you, Lore."

"And?"'That's what you would like to think"

"And I know that you're not done with him."

"Okay, this is ridiculous. This is -- hey, this is a ridiculous conversation, okay? I have a history with him, yes. I was engaged to him, yes. But I married you." She explained, both trying to convince both Chris and herself simultaneously; she knew she wasn't doing a great job with either.

"Tell me you're not in love with him." He demanded.

"I'm not in love with him." She said trying to sound as confident as she could but it was difficult because she wasn't even sure she believed the words herself.

"I should've known. I mean, I mean, all the signs were there." He sighed.

"What signs?"

"The fact that you didn't want to leave stars hollow, that you were dead set against redoing the wedding that you didn't want to have a baby with me. I mean, it's all because of him, right?"

"I'm not ready for any of it yet that's all, doesn't mean it has anything to do with Luke" Lorelai tried to argue but it was half-hearted, she knew deep down that when she had been with Luke all she had wanted was to have a baby with him… and with Christopher a baby was the last thing she wanted.

"You know what? I-I'm sorry, I just…I can't handle this."

"Handle what?" she questioned.'What is he saying; he can't handle being married anymore?'

"This. You and him. I just -- I can't handle being your second choice. I thought I could, but I can't, all right? I can't be your rebound. I'm sorry." He muttered giving her a knowing look before turning and heading for the front door.

Lorelai sat down on the couch, her hands covering her face as she tried to figure out what she was going to do; it seemed like her life was crumbling around her and she could do nothing to stop it. The truth was she did love Christopher but it was a different type of love and it wasn't even in the same league as how she'd felt about Luke. 'I settled for a second choice so I wouldn't be alone' she thought, realising just how pathetic she'd become.


The next morning…

Lorelai woke up to an empty bed, Christopher hadn't come back the night before and she wasn't completely sure she had wanted him to anyway. Her eyes were puffy from the tears she'd shed the night before, she was a sight for sore eyes that was for sure. Once up and awake she showered and dressed quickly; wanting to avoid an awkward morning interaction with Christopher if he decided to grace her with his presence.

Just as she went downstairs the phone started ringing, she answered quickly

"Rory?" Honey, what's wrong?...Oh, no. On my way"

'Grandpa's in the hospital, Grandpa's in the hospital, Grandpa's in the hospital' Rory's voice kept repeating in her head. Lorelai's mind flashed back to the last time she'd heard those words; Christmas six years ago.

Lorelai didn't remember the drive to the hospital; it was like her brain was on autopilot to the point where she forgot where she had even parked her car. She kept having flashbacks to the last time when Luke drove her to the hospital; he'd closed the diner just so he could bring her to the hospital and had stayed until they knew her dad would be okay, despite the fact he hated hospitals. She wished he was there at that moment to reassure her that everything would be alright, somehow it always seemed easier to believe whenever he was the one saying it. When Lorelai found Rory in the waiting area of the first floor and caught sight of her anxious expression all thoughts of Luke dissipated.

"Hey hun" Lorelai greeted her daughter.

"Hey. Um, they're doing tests, so that's where he is -- blood tests and another E.K.G. They did an E.K.G. In the ambulance, but I guess they're still trying to determine how much damage was actually caused by the heart attack. But that's definitely what it was. It was a myocardial infarction, which is a heart attack. And I guess the E.K.G. Tells them how bad the blockage of his arteries is and what degree of coronary-artery disease he has, or C.A.D., As they're calling it, because, apparently, everything is -- what do you call it? An anagram? What's the thing with the letters? Acronym. The C.A.D., C.I.C.U., The E.K.G." Rory managed to get out in one breath; Lorelai just nodded sadly and wrapped her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace.

After a few minutes of hugging and Rory explaining what had happened it dawned on her that her dad wasn't there.

"Where's dad?" she queried.

"He'll be here, I called him in the car on the way but don't think he's got my message yet. I should probably try him again" she explained grabbing her cell phone from her bag and dialling his number but it went straight on to voicemail.

"Hi, Chris, it's me again. Uh... I'm at the hospital now, and, um, it was a heart attack, but dad's okay. He's just getting some tests. So, um...we're in the C.I.C.U. At John Skinner Medical Center. It's on the first floor, and there's a red stripe running down the hallway. Just please call me when you get this, okay? Thanks." she said, hating that she had to leave everything on his voicemail.

Hours later…

In the three hours that Lorelai had been at the hospital she'd left four messages on Christopher's cell phone, Logan had flown in by helicopter and, not surprisingly her mother had had many of her manic rants to many of the nurses about the lack of service she was receiving from 'this sorry excuse for a hospital'There were always newspaper reports every couple of months about the amount of slack that nurses take from patients everyday…Lorelai never appreciated just how much until she saw her mother berating one because the nurse had said something in an 'overly perky manner''…And Emily Gilmore isn't even a patient'

Emily had asked numerous times where her husband was and she kept making up excuses as to why he wasn't there yet; frankly she wished everyone would quit asking. Her daughters boyfriend had flown in by helicopter but yet her husband couldn't get there, 'Does it really surprise you he's not here?' she thought and hated the idea that it was no surprise that he probably wouldn't show. 'Shows the high expectations I have'

When the doctor's had finished their tests they had confirmed their fears; that Richard had to go in for open heart surgery. They were allowed to go in and see him; the fact that it could be the last time they saw him alive was not lost on any of them. Rory was her usual optimistic self trying to convince everyone that Richard would be fine; her mother was unusually quiet and she couldn't stop staring at her dad trying to memorise everything about him. Fearing the worst and hoping for the best was all she could do now.

Luke's diner…

It was a normal day in Luke's diner, Rachel had been out with a high school friend for coffee that morning and had just returned to start helping him out when Babette came in looking for Luke.

"Hey, Luke?" Babette said.

"Hey, Babette. What can I get you?" Luke asked when he looked up from the counter.

"Luke, I got to tell you something. Or, I don't know if I got to, but I want to. Well it's not that I want to like it's a good thing. Lorelai's dad had a heart attack."

"Oh, my god." He said clearly stunned.

"Rory called Lorelai and I was there."

"Is he okay?" Rachel asked who had overheard the conversation and felt instantly sympathetic for Lorelai with everything she must have been going through.

"Well, he's not -- he's okay...I think...right now. They're at john skinner, and I don't know, that's all I know."

"Oh, my god." Luke repeated.

"Yeah I-I thought you would want to know."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks."

"All right. Well, I'm going to go."

"Yeah. Thanks." Luke said, his mind reeling over what he could do to help. No matter what had happened between him and Lorelai in the past, this was so much bigger than all of that. It was the same as Lorelai helping with April's court case by writing the character reference; it was about his daughter and she knew how important it would be to him.

"You should go Luke" Rachel said after a few moments of watching Luke's inner turmoil over what to do.

"I want to help but I don't want to get in the way" he explained.

"It'll mean a lot to her if you're there"

"You think?"

"I know it will" she assured him.

Lorelai had left her mother in the hospital cafeteria; she couldn't take anymore of her mother talking about her father's will, insurance and every thing else that should be the least of their concern at that time. Needing some fresh air she headed downstairs towards reception to go out the front entrance when she bumped into the last person she expected to see.

"Luke" she said in a surprised voice.

"Hey…"

"Hi? Is everything okay, is April okay?" Lorelai asked, wondering why he was there.

"Yeah she's fine, I was just in the diner. Babette came and told me your dad had a heart attack." He explained nervously, suddenly feeling stupid for coming.

"Yeah" 'Babette, of course she told him' Lorelai thought but wasn't sorry that he had come.

"I swear I didn't even know what I was doing. I just walked right out the diner and drove straight here. Now that I'm here I realize I might be in the way, but if there's anything I can do, I want to do it."

"I wish there was something … I myself am walking around feeling useless" she said and suddenly felt her eyes prick with tears. Since she'd gotten to the hospital she'd been trying to stay strong for Rory and her mom but with everything going on it all began to overwhelm her.

"I'm sure it helps you being here" he said in a soothing voice after noticing her eyes welling up slightly and putting a hand on the side of her arm.

"I was just on my way for some fresh air, get out of here for a few minutes before I go crazy" Lorelai explained trying to blink back the tears.

"Do you want company?" he asked and got a nod and an appreciative smile in return. When they got outside they walked along to one of the benches on the landscaped area in front. Lorelai sat down first and Luke followed, all awkwardness from the day before had left.

"He's gone in for open heart surgery, they said it's a risky procedure" Lorelai explained, her voice wavering as she spoke. For a few long moments she sat looking down at her hands clasped in her lap, knowing if she looked at Luke she would surely break down and he didn't need that.

"Lorelai" Luke said and when she kept her eyes to the ground her placed a hand on hers.

"Lorelai" he repeated, she slowly looked up at him.

"He's going to be okay" he said in a soothing tone, when he saw the tears star to fall he felt helpless.

"You don't have to be here Luke, I don't deserve you being here"

"Hey there is nowhere else I would rather be" he said in just above a whisper as he put an arm around her shoulders and she put her head on his chest. Wrapping an arm tightly around her he let her cry while he spoke soft soothing words to her to try and assure her that everything would be okay. For those long moments everything else was forgotten, the secrets, the pain and the last eight months of their lives without each other.

See wasn't that longer than usual? Review my pretties, I'm a junkie who needs a fix!