Disclaimer: This is an original story based on the characters of Gilmore Girls. No profit will be made from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Nope, you aren't imagining it. After I think about what…two, three years? I am finally updating this story. I don't have much of an excuse as to the long wait, just that these haven't been the easiest couple of years. My biggest concern is having to answer to Emily for leaving her in such an awkward position for so long. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Thank you for all the feedback and support!

It all happened so fast.

It was all a blur really…the doctor handed her a consent form for the operation and she signed it automatically. Mia was then whisked away, pausing quickly to press her hand against Emily's forearm. Emily nodded in response and then Mia was gone. Luke left without a word and began to walk the halls, clearly be driven mad by the waiting.

And so she was alone. She sat down in a chair and covered her face with her hands. Her exhaustion was palpable. Her body ached with fatigue but at the same time her nerves were like live wires. She stood up again, rubbing her arms with her hands. She desperately wished for Richard. For a moment she thought about going after Luke or searching out someone from the town…anyone, so she wouldn't have to be alone. She began to pace the floor, and tried to concentrate on the symphony silent auction the next Thursday or the DAR All-Star benefit…anything to escape the helplessness she felt. She sat down again and clutched at her purse, turning around and staring out the window. She put a hand to her mouth as she began to cry, putting her head against the glass. For a moment she longed for her mother. Her mother had a remarkable way of banishing her fears. When she was little, the monster that haunted her was the green-eyed beast of her imagination that lived in the large armoire in her parent's room. Growing up, the source of her haunting became something else. A different terror grew inside her, fueled by a man who had desperately wanted a son, and had got two daughters instead. He was a man who was respected and honored in the community, but at home was a different kind of man. No…her father had never hurt her physically, but his harsh words still hurt…even thirty years after he had gone.

She had lived with it for years, never letting on, never wanting to spoil the image her friends had of her family as the perfect and proper home. She desperately worked to excel in all she did, thinking that somehow the next "A" or the next piano recital, would convince her father that she was of merit…that having a daughter was just as good as having a son. But…time again, she failed. He reminded her of her failures constantly, to the point where even the word filled her with revulsion. Even now, after leaving her father's house over forty years ago, Emily still felt like she continually came up short. She still felt she had failed. In the end, her biggest failure was that of being a parent. In the end…she had become her father…always critical, always demanding…always condescending and putting down the person she loved more than she had loved anything before. And now that girl, her beautiful talented girl, was being saved by someone else's kidney…once again, she had fallen short.

She stood up again and shook her hands, as if trying to shake off the feelings that berated her now. In her mind she could hear so many of the sharp things she had said to her daughter. She clenched and unclenched her hands into a fist, wondering how many times she had referred to something her daughter had done as "stupid." How could she have treated her daughter, her baby so cruelly? How could she be surprised that Mia's kidney was the one Lorelai needed? Hadn't Mia already saved Lorelai's life once before?

"Emily?" she turned as Luke came into the waiting room. "Are you all right?"

She tried to dry away some more tears, "Are you?"

"No,"

She said nothing in response, just sat down again.

"It's going to be a long wait," Luke said as he handed her a Styrofoam cup of coffee. She smiled at his thoughtfulness.

"Thank you."

The door opened and Sookie and Jackson came in. Emily caught Sookie's eye and tried to give her a small smile. Sookie's face was streaked with mascara. Soon Miss Patty came in, and then the blond one…Babette was her name. Emily watched as the room slowly became filled with Stars Hollow townspeople…those weird but wonderful people her daughter had made a home around. She felt a little self-conscious as some of them looked over at her. She didn't know some of them, but wondered what kind of reputation she had gained from Lorelai over the years.

The time passed interminably slowly. For a while the only sound was the clock on the wall…ticking away each second. A half hour…an hour…time dragged on. At one point Luke leaned over to her, and tentively put a hand on her shoulder.

"The doctors can fix everything these days," he said quietly. "She'll be fine."

She turned to look at him, "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

Again the clock ticked on…another half hour…there had to be something wrong…Dear God, what would she do if she lost her?

She suddenly stood up, causing everyone to turn and look at her.

"Are you all right?" Luke asked.

"I'm fine," she insisted, "I just…I'm going to go wait for Richard and Rory." She walked out of the waiting room and into the hall, trying to ignore the nightmare scenario that threatened to crush her. Any moment now, the doctor could come around the corner and tell her that Lorelai was gone…that she had lost the light in her life, the light she didn't know she had. She had no idea, after so many years of fighting and hurtful words, just how much Lorelai still meant to her. She turned into a small nook in the hall and leaned against a vending machine.

"Please God," she spoke in a shredded whisper. "Please don't take her away from me. Please, show me what I am supposed to do." She swallowed hard and continued down the hall, every part of her body aching. She was just passing the elevator when the door opened and the familiar scent of musk and aftershave filled the air. She went weak in the knees with relief…Richard.

"Grandma!" Rory cried out as she exploded from the elevator.

Instantly Emily had her arms wrapped around her. "It's all right Sweetie, It's all right" she murmured as she held the girl in her arms. Richard's strong arms enveloped them both and she leaned into him as she caressed Rory's hair.

"How is she?" Rory asked and Emily felt the urge to cover the truth, but there had been enough of that. Rory deserved the truth. Emily reached out and caressed her granddaughter's cheek, "I don't know Sweetie." She's been in the operating room for two hours. She was in pretty bad shape when she got here. She's getting a kidney transplant and they are repairing her collapsed lung."

Rory put her hand to her face.

"They found a match?" Richard confirmed anxiously.

Emily tried not to flinch for Rory's sake, "Yes, Mia is donating one of her kidneys,"

She was profoundly grateful for the supportive strong grip of Richard's hand on her shoulder as soon as she said it. It communicated so much.

"Come on Sweetie" she said as she put her arm around Rory. "Let's go back to the waiting room." Rory put her head on her grandma's shoulder as she led her back to the room. There were more people there than when she had left. It was a site to see. Four or five people offered to give up a seat for Rory and Emily gently led her to it.

"All right Sweetie, you sit here and I'm going to get you some coffee." She turned to go out again and there was a little girl standing there with long strawberry blonde hair. She smiled up at Emily. She was missing her two front teeth and had a cute dimple on the side of her cheek.

"Are you Lorelai's mommy?" she asked softly.

Emily swallowed a sob, "Yes, I am."

The child smiled again and brought out a handful of wild daisies. "These are for you," she said, "Lorelai's my friend."

Emily reached down and took the flowers and then softly caressed the girl's head. "Thank you," she whispered. She brought Rory her coffee and as she sat down next to her, Rory curled into her side and put her head against her shoulder. She kissed the top of Rory's head and then looked at the flowers in her hand. She reached out and caressed the petals.

"Lorelai's mommy" she repeated to herself. She looked down the hall.

"Hold on Angel," she whispered. "Hold on."