Author's Note: So, I have some (potentially) good news. This is NOT the last chapter. Inspiration stroke, and I realized that I couldn't wrap up this little doozy in just one more chapter. I finally bit the bullet and decided to see Season Season from start to finish (in contrast to the scattered scenes on Youtube-aka all the JavaJunkie moments-and all the transcripts I'd read), and well, after that, I found myself so frustrated at Lorelai that I channeled it into this fic. Suddenly, this fic became not only a story about Gigi and Christopher grappling with the events from 10 years ago, but it also became a story about Lorelai once again coming to terms with the damage she had done-that, although she and Luke had gotten past her other marriage, there was someone very important she had forgotten to take into consideration (the same little girl who this fic is mostly about). So, voila, more chapters for you, and more work for me! It'll be angsty, but I hope it's worth it. I'm thinking it'll be about 6 or 7 chapters before I wrap this baby up. (In case you were wondering-I haven't been a Gilmore fan for very long. So I haven't avoided it for the last 3.5 years or anything).

Feel free to skip this other paragraph to the story since this chapter is just a humorous aside, but I just wanted to add a little random factoid about our favorite TV show and fanfiction: I have a bit of an obsession with reading "historical fiction" fanfictions. Ie, fanfictions that were written before a series or TV show was finished. In Gilmore Girls, those fanfics are stories that were written pre-Luke and Lorelai getting together (in about 2003 or earlier!), and MAN, are they funny (this does not concern AU stories of how Luke and Lorelai got together before "Raincoats and Recipes," but stories that were actually written long before the famous episode). Some are pretty darn good at characterization in an almost freaky way, but with others, I'm shaking my head, pondering how OOC Luke and Lorelai seem while in a relationship. In one of these fanfictions, Emily still asks Lorelai to bring Luke to dinner (albeit Friday Night dinner) so she can "meet him", and Lorelai still says, "But you've already met him," which was impressive. On the other hand, Lorelai asks Luke if he remembers when they first met, and he says, "No." It was a commentary about how they've known each other for so long and so well that they've just taken for granted each other in their life, so not a bad thing, but it was still funny, since the horoscope meeting has become so accepted in L&L's relationship.

The best, however, was a conversation at the said Friday Night dinner between Richard and Luke. Richard asks Luke if he has any children (this was set after Lorelai and Rory return to Stars Hollow after their trip to Europe), and Luke, of course, replies, "No." Richard in return replies, "Are you sure?" and Luke answers, "I'm pretty sure that's something I would know." Oh my God, you guys, you have no idea how hard I laughed. I could just imagine the author's eyes bugging out when April first entered the scene. Darn that Anna.

(Btw, this story wasn't on fanfiction or Black and White and Read. So I regretfully couldn't write a review telling the author how great it was, because despite some outdatedness-which was NOT the author's fault-it was quite a good, well-written fic, and I'm sad I couldn't write a review).

But without further ado, here is Chapter Three of "Her Father's Second Wife"!

As soon as Gigi and Christopher made their way back to their hotel room at the Ritz, Gigi shut herself in her room. They had two connecting rooms, which made this possible. Though Christopher had taken Gigi on the promised shopping trip, it had been even more unpleasant than he'd suspected. Gigi had pouted almost the whole time and had only filled one bag full of clothes, in contrast to her usual three. Even the cup of hot chocolate he had gotten her on the way back did not manage to improve her mood.

Inside his own room, Christopher sighed. Deep down, he knew that Gigi was not upset at him, but he wished he could understand the depth of her anger. That was the problem with being a single dad, raising a teenage girl. Despite the fact he hadn't been very involved in Rory's life, Rory had been a lot easier to deal with. Gigi, however, was an especially difficult child. It was true she did not have tantrums anymore, but her teenage mood swings weren't much better.

At a quarter after six, he knocked on the door that connected Gigi's and his rooms. "Gigi, we have reservations with Jane and the kids at seven," he said.

"I don't care," came her sullen reply.

"Gigi, I know you're upset, but Jane has done nothing to you. At the very least, can you bottle up those feelings towards me and be polite to Jane?"

"I'm not mad at you."

Though he had suspected as much, Christopher found himself letting out a deep breath. "You're not?"

His daughter seemed to reconsider. "Well, not much, anyway."

Opening the door between them, he found Gigi huddled on her bed, her headphones in her ears. Her phone was in front of her, and she appeared to be texting one of her friends. Though she tensed when he approached her, he nonetheless positioned himself next to her. "Gigi, tell me what's wrong."

Her voice was muffled. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Gigi…"

"I'm serious, Dad!" she said, and he was startled to see a tear rolling down her cheeks. "I don't want to talk about it. Can I just stay here…alone?"

Christopher let out a breath. Although his own parents would have pressured him to come with them, he could still remember how frustrating that had been. "Okay," he said quietly. "You can stay here. I'll leave some money for you to get room service or something. Just call my cell if you need anything."

For the first time that day, Gigi almost smiled. "Thanks, Dad," she said quietly. "I'll do that."

After leaving a decent amount of money for Gigi's room service, Christopher went back into his own room and called Jane. The last thing he wanted was for Jane to think that Gigi was purposefully avoiding him. Though he had not ruled out that possibility completely, something told him Gigi's feelings were more serious.

Jane's tone was bright when she answered him. He always admired that. From personal experience as a single father, he was always surprised by her cheery attitude. Being a single parent definitely wasn't as easy as Lorelai had made it seem. Though he knew that even the docile Rory had been a lot of work, he had nonetheless always admired Lorelai's brave facade.

"Hi, Chris. You and Gigi still coming?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Christopher said with a sigh. "Gigi's not in the best mood right. I don't know why, but it definitely doesn't have with you or the kids. I'll be there, but she asked me if she could stay home tonight. She's really upset, so I thought it would be best to give her some space."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jane said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "Any idea what triggered it?"

Christopher hesitated, trying to think back to what had happened that day. "I don't know, really. I mean, I guess it could be…" He stopped, reconsidering it.

"Could be what?" said Jane gently.

Christopher let out a breath. His first instinct was to make something up. After all, he wasn't sure how he would react if Jane ran into her first husband, and he guessed that Jane would feel the same way. It wasn't as though anything had happened, after all. Yet at the same time, he remembered how quickly Lorelai had told Luke about seeing him. Regardless of how he felt about their relationship, it was obvious their marriage was working. Maybe it was time he gave Lorelai's way a try.

"We ran into my ex-wife-Lorelai, Rory's mother-and her two kids when we were out shopping for your kids' presents today," Christopher said finally. "I don't really know why, but Gigi was pretty upset after it. It was a pretty confusing time for her, during that marriage, what with Gigi seeing her mom again and all, and I don't know…I guess it's possible seeing Lorelai triggered it."

"That sounds about right," said Jane. "I can only imagine how Brie and Bradly would feel seeing their dad again." Similar to Sherry, Jane's husband had left Jane in the middle of her pregnancy with Bradley. The six-year-old Brie, who had been three when her dad had left her, barely remembered her father, either. "It has to have brought up really confusing feelings for Gigi. Of course she can stay home. Is she going to be okay, without eating dinner and all?"

Christopher let out a breath, relieved by his girlfriend's sensitivity. She did not even seem upset that he had run into his ex-wife. Perhaps Lorelai and Luke had it right, after all. "Yeah, I left her some money for room service. She loves ordering room service, so hopefully that will cheer her up some."

"That sounds good. Maybe we can even bring her back some dessert or something. Make sure to tell Gigi that I hope she's feeling better."

"Will do."

"Oh, and Chris?" Jane's voice was quieter now, in what he recognized as her more intimate tone. "Gigi or no Gigi, I can't wait to see you again."

She wasn't Lorelai. Still, Christopher found himself beginning to smile. "Yeah, same here."

After Gigi started on her room service-a fancy chicken dish and a piece of double chocolate cake-she found herself surfing Rory's Facebook. Rory's Facebook was more conservative, so that she could maintain her reputation as a serious reporter. As it went, Rory mostly used her Facebook for linking people to her articles and giving the occasional funny status. She also had a quite few photo albums of her family, including a picture she had taken with Christopher and Gigi at the Statue of Liberty the year before, but Gigi mostly tried to avoid this particular album.

Now, she found herself following the link to Rory's mother. Lorelai Gilmore's Facebook was mostly public, so that Gigi could see most of her information without being her friend. In contrast to Rory's, it was as out there as a Facebook could get. Whereas Rory's profile picture was an image of a smiling Rory and her boyfriend, Lorelai had added Bono for "Add a Picture of Your Favorite 80s Singer Week". Though Gigi had not participated in the challenge (her music tastes were more contemporary), she recognized it from her dad, who had added Dexter Holland from the Offspring.

Aside from her profile picture and the various apps Lorelai had added to her Facebook (mainly, a few Bumper Stickers and a massive Flair board), Lorelai's Facebook was similar to Cynthia Holland, whose kids Gigi babysat. Both Lorelai and Cynthia had traces of their kids all over their Facebook. Like Cynthia, Lorelai's quote page was filled with random funny things Will and Lucy had said, though unlike Cynthia, she had also added many, many movie quotes. Her status was also a shout-out to Lucy: "Not only did I raise my eldest child to love the Bangles and turned my stepdaughter on to them, but my youngest is a fan, too. Now to work on Will and Luke." It was strange to see this status, which Gigi recognized as a shout-out to how Lucy had named her stuffed dog "Susannah Hoffs".

What was most similar about Cynthia's and Lorelai's Facebooks were their photo albums, filled with family portraits. Lorelai had a Facebook album committed to almost every member of her family. Gigi clicked on the one entitled "The Luke Danes Scowl," which featured her flannel-wearing husband. One had a picture of Luke yelling at an older man who was dressed in a cardigan. Another appeared to have been taken at Disney World or Disneyland. Rory and Lucy were standing next to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, both wearing identical Minnie Mouse ears. Will, who was wearing Goofy ears, had also been pulled into the picture, though he did not look as excited as his sisters.

The highlight of the picture, however, was Lorelai's husband. Though Luke was not the center of the picture, she could still see him standing off to the side, with a huge scowl on his face. He appeared to have been glaring at the two Tweedle's, as if he couldn't believe he had been dragged to Disneyland, in the first place. His glare almost foreshadowed the center display of Lorelai's three children.

Her surprise came at the end of the album. This picture showed Luke, sitting on a couch in what had to be in his house, listening to a young woman with glasses, who was tagged as "April Nardini". Will and Rory stood on the couch next to April, and Lucy was sitting in her father's lap. Various pictures of turkey hands and red and orange streamers decorated the house. In contrast to the various scowls of the other pictures, in this picture, Luke was actually wearing a small smile. The picture didn't appear to have been staged, which made the smile more relevant. As a caption under the picture, Lorelai had written, One Luke Danes smile is worth a thousand frowns. They might be rarer, but they're always more meaningful when they do happen. Love you, babe. XOXOXO. The picture had received many "likes" and comments, including one from a "Babette Dell," that read, "You and Luke are an inspiration to us all-most adorable couple ever!"

She looked at a comment from Rory, who had written about how much she had enjoyed that past Thanksgiving. It was strange to think her half-sister had a whole family separate from her. Though it was true Gigi had her own family too-not that Sherry and her husband seemed like family-Rory's family was so much bigger than hers. She had three half-siblings and a stepsister. Gigi knew that Rory loved her, but after looking at the Facebook albums, she couldn't help feeling like the odd one out.

Still, she loved her older sister. As an eighth grader working towards acceptance to an Ivy League school (though her goal was Princeton, not Yale), she greatly admired her sister's persistence. Rory had given her lots of school advice over the years, and sometimes, Gigi even found herself admiring a certain coat or sweater Rory owned and buying a similar one from the same store. Rory was her role model in many ways.

Smiling at the thought of hearing Rory's voice, Gigi picked up her cell phone and clicked on Rory's number. Within moments, the phone was ringing. But when someone picked up the phone, it was not the familiar voice Gigi had been expecting. Instead, it was a voice she had heard just hours before. "Rory's secretary speaking, how may I help you?"

Gigi froze. More than anything, she was tempted to hang up the phone and call back later. Still, she was almost positive that Rory had caller I.D., and the last thing she wanted was to cause drama. "Um, can you put Rory on? It's Gigi."

"Oh, Gigi!" said Lorelai, her voice higher-pitched than it had been in person. "Yeah, the phone said it was you, but I didn't want to pretend I was Rory or anything, hence my greeting. According to Rory, I do an awful imitation of her, and she was really mad at me when I tried to masquerade as her in the past. Anyway, how are you? Did you get any really cute clothes on your shopping trip?"

"Um, a few." She could hear what sounded like a T.V. blasting and Will complaining that his sister was squishing him. In return, Lucy made a comeback that he was the one who was squishing her.

"Sorry about that," Lorelai said, as if reading her thoughts. "We're all at the hotel right now, and Rory came to spend some time with us before heading back home. Her boyfriend's away on business, so she's feeling kind of lonely. Rory's in the other room, reading to Will and Lucy, but I guess she left her cell phone here. It's one of their traditions to all squeeze in bed together and for Rory to read to them. Only it's even more crowded because my husband's listening too, though I don't know if Lucy's managed to convince him to join them in that bed or not. Speaking of which…" The T.V. was turned off, and Gigi heard the sound of footsteps. After a few moments, Lorelai spoke again. "Luke, as the father, isn't it your role to quiet down the kids? Our offsprings' squabbling is interrupting From Here to Eternity."

In spite of her words, Lorelai did not sound upset; instead, Gigi could tell that this was a well-rehearsed banter the two had practiced many times. When Lorelai's husband spoke, it was in the same faux angry tone that Lorelai had spoken in. "As though you don't know that movie by heart already. And as long as we're on that note, why don't you turn your movie down? Rory's nearly having to yell, your movie is so loud."

"Luke, it's fine, really," said Rory, sounding amused. "My voice doesn't hurt, I promise."

"Okay, I just don't want you to lose your voice for Christmas."

Rory ignored this comment. "Mom, did someone call for me? You're holding my phone."

"Oh, it's a man with a very sexy voice asking for you," said Lorelai in an exaggerated tone. "Apparently, he read your articles and then just had to speak to the great Lorelai Gilmore the third herself. I tried to impress him by telling him he was talking to Lorelai Gilmore the second, but apparently only Rory Gilmore the reporter will do."

"Well, it is hard to top the great New York Times reporter," said Rory with a laugh. "Now, who is it really? Is it a work call or do you think I could finish the chapter? I just have a few pages left, and we were already interrupted once, when Lucy had to go the bathroom."

"Actually, it's your sister-and by 'sister' I mean your only sister with blonde hair, not those two brunette beauties who sometimes come around." Her voice became more muffled. "Hey everyone, say hello to Gigi, the one and only blonde beauty!"

"Hi Gigi," came the joint chorus of Rory, Will, and Lucy.

"Oh, Gigi, it's great to hear from you!" Rory added, sounding genuinely enthusiastic. Despite her current mood, Gigi felt herself smiling, happy that her sister was glad to hear from her. "Hey, do you mind if I talk to you in just a few minutes? I'm almost done reading a chapter of Pippi Longstocking, and I think Luke might kill me if I stop and start again."

"I will not!" said what Gigi now recognized as Luke's voice.

"Hey, you've been begging me to lend you the book ever since the first time we watched the movie," Rory teased. "Don't try to protest now, mister, cause I know that's not true. So Gigi, you and I will talk in a few minutes?"

"Uh, I guess so," said Gigi, feeling trapped. The last thing Gigi heard before Lorelai's voice returned to her ear was Lucy begging her father to let her stay in his bed, because Will was kicking her.

"Sorry about that," said Lorelai, as the other voices became fainter. "My husband really has always wanted to read Pippi. He's always had some weird obsession with Pippi's individuality. He might have even compared all of his daughters and Will to Pippi at some occassion or another, since they're all just so goshdarn original. If you want, I can just entertain you for a few minutes before Rory's done."

"Um, that's okay," said Gigi quickly. She was beginning to regret her decision to call Rory.

"No, no, it's fine!" said Lorelai. "So what has the great Gigi been up to now that she's thirteen going on fourteen? You are thirteen, right? There wasn't some birthday I've forgotten?"

"No, I am thirteen. And nothing, really. Just schoolwork, hanging out with friends, and spending the holidays in Paris with my mom."

"And how is your mom, anyway? Last I heard, I think she was dating her yoga instructor?"

"Um, she married him, actually. She's not so calm now, though. She still does yoga, but it's gotten old by now."

"Yeah, I myself broke my leg turning yoga, so I can definitely understand how even a great relaxing pastime such as yoga can be stressful. And your dad. How is he?"

Gigi could not help the biting tone of her next remark. "Didn't you just see him today?"

She heard Lorelai take in a breath. "Well, yes, but I-"

"If you want to get back together with my dad, it's too late now," Gigi said, with more vigor than she'd attended. "I'm not about to be your go between. You baled on him and broke his heart, and he's not going to get his heart broken again."

There was a long pause on the other end. Finally, Lorelai said softly, "I suppose I should have suspected why you've been giving me the cold shoulder."

Gigi ignored Lorelai's comment. "You know, it's funny, but I really used to think that it was mostly Dad's fault. I mean, he had one failed marriage up your sleeve, and as far as I knew, you had none, so that pointed it to being my dad's fault, right? He's been in more failed relationships than I can count. But I never realized that my grandma was actually right-that my dad was the one who tried and you were the one who bailed-until today. I mean, what the hell was that, anyway? Being engaged to this Luke guy and then rushing off to marry my dad, while you were still in love with someone else? How the hell do you think that's supposed to make my dad feel? It's been years since it happened, and my dad still had trouble telling me about it today!"

Lorelai's tone was pleading. "Gigi-"

"And the worse thing is, now you have your own family." She was startled to feel tears welling up in her eyes. "You bailed on me, Lorelai! You bailed on me, too! You just…left, without saying goodbye to me or anything! You were my stepmother, someone who had made a commitment to both Dad and me, and the next thing I knew, you were gone! And now you're just pretending that nothing's wrong-that we can just pick up like we were when I was a little kid, no hard feelings involved? God, what is wrong with you? You've even more messed up than I thought!"

"Gigi, please-"

"You know what, I don't have to listen to this anymore," Gigi said. "You haven't been my stepmother for a long time, and you're certainly not my mother. Just because you're Rory's mother doesn't mean you have any connection to me. You or that perfect family of yours. Tell Rory I'll call her later. I'm really not in the mood to talk anymore."

"Gigi, wait!"

She disconnected the call before Lorelai could stop her. Then, she turned off the phone, took a bite of her double chocolate cake, and started to cry.

Halfway through her cake, Gigi realized that turning off her phone might not have been such a good idea. Her father called her whenever he left her alone, and he was always paranoid when he couldn't get in touch with her. Right now, however, Gigi was much more concerned with avoiding than Lorelai's potential calls than placating her father. Christopher would just have to deal with it.