Chapter 10

Luke walked back into the house to find Loralai sitting on the couch waiting.

"Hey", she whispered, "I finally got her to go to sleep."

"Hey", he said, "That's good…"

"Is everything okay Luke", Loralai asked worriedly.

Luke sighed and sat down next to his wife.

"Is it the baby", she asked softly.

"No", he said quickly, "it's definitely not the baby… it's Jess…"

"What happened, Luke?"

"He's gone", he whispered because he didn't want to wake Rory.

"Gone", Loralai asked, "he's gone?"

"Yeah", Luke said and looked down, "I'm sorry…"

"Where did he go", she asked.

"Back to Philly I'm assuming", Luke said, "he didn't say…"

Loralai looked straight ahead and closed her eyes. "She loves him you know…"

"I know", Luke said, "And you do know he loves her too, right…"

"I know", she nodded.

They both settled back on the couch and stayed that way silently until they decided to go to bed.

---

Two Weeks Later…

"Jess", Chris called, "phone!"

"Who is it", Jess called back.

"Some guy named Luke", Chris yelled shrugging, "says he's your uncle."

"I'm not here", Jess told him.

"Jess you've been avoiding his calls since you got back", Chris said, "what the heck happened down there…"

"Reality", Jess said and walked away.

Chris took the call off hold and relayed the message to Luke. He'd been telling him the same thing for two weeks and was getting annoyed of lying for his friend.

"Jess", Chris followed him into the small kitchenette of the publishing house, "you can't keep avoiding your uncle like that man… he's your family…"

Jess sighed. "I know what he's going to say… I don't need to hear what a disappointment I am to him."

"What happened dude", Chris asked.

"I saw her Chris", Jess was finally opening up to his friend, "and I wish I'd just stayed away."

"You can't mean that", Chris was saying.

"She hates me man", Jess whispered, "and I can't blame her."

Jess walked away without giving any more explanation.

---

"Today's the big day", Loralai was saying.

"Yeah", Rory smiled sadly.

"Okay sweetie", Loralai said, "if you greet Lori that way at the airport she's going to think you don't want her home."

"I know mom", Rory said, "I'm happy… I promise…"

"You can't lie to mommy", Loralai said, "honey Jess is gone… and I don't think he's coming back."

"I know", Rory smiled, "I just…"

"I know baby", Loralai cut her off.

"I love you mom", Rory smiled.

"I love you sweetie", Loralai smiled, "let's go get our princess."

"Yeah", Rory smiled getting up.

---

Lori walked out of the terminal looking for her mom.

"Hey Gilmore!"

She looked up and saw her mother and grandmother. She ran towards them and hugged them. Logan watched from the gate. Rory looked up at him and smiled mouthing a thank you to him. He nodded.

After Logan and Lori saying good bye to each other and promising to call the three girls were on the way back to Stars Hollow.

"Mom", Lori was saying, "California is so pretty and Disneyland was so fun. I love it."

"I'm glad you had fun babe", Rory said, "but I missed you."

"I missed you and grandma and grandpa too."

"We missed you", Loralai said, "and we have something to tell you."

"Now", Rory asked.

"Sure", Loralai smiled, "Lori honey, you're getting a new aunt or uncle."

"What", Lori asked.

"I'm having a baby", Loralai said.

"Really", Lori smiled, "cool!"

Rory smiled softly.

"Mom", Lori asked, "is everything okay?"

"Yeah babe", Rory said looking back. "I'm just glad you are back."

"Me too", Lori said sitting back into her seat.

---

Luke was placing an order to Cesar when his girls walked in so his back was to the door.

"Grandpa", Lori shouted causing him to turn around.

He smiled and walked around the counter to pick her up. He'd missed this little girl so much, that he didn't think he'd ever let Logan take her away again.

"Where's Jess", Lori asked looking around for her new friend, "I brought him something from Disneyland."

Everyone in the diner became silent. They didn't know what to say to Lori since no one had ever indirectly walked out of her life. She was going to be crushed.

"Sweetie", Rory decided as a mother she should be the one to tell her, "Jess is gone."

"What do you mean gone", Lori asked not understanding.

"He went back to Philadelphia", Rory said, "You know… that was where he lived."

"Is he coming back", the little girl asked.

"I don't think so", Rory said softly.

"Oh", Lori said looking down.

"I'm sorry baby", Rory apologized.

"Yeah", Lori said, "me too mom."

---

Luke sat down at his desk in his office. He was looking around the room. He'd tried calling Jess again after seeing Lori was upset to try and talk some sense into him to come back. He'd given up after today because there really was no point in arguing with Jess Mariano.

Luke looked up on his picture mantel and noticed a space in between pictures. He knew immediately what were missing, a framed picture of Luke, Loralai, Rory and Lori on Lori's sixth birthday at the house this year and an old picture of Jess and Rory Christmas Day ten years ago. He smiled knowing his nephew had taken them.

Maybe he didn't have to give up just yet.

---

Jess sat on his bed staring at his bedside desk holding two frames he'd taken from Luke's office. He wondered if Lori was back yet from California and sighed because he'd never see her or her mother again. And that was all his doing.

"Jess", Christ knocked on his door, "you've got a package."

"I'll see it later Chris", he called out not moving.

Chris opted to walk in instead. "It's not from work."

Jess stared at him inviting him in. Chris placed the package on the bed and walked back out. Jess noticed the return address was Luke Danes and wondered if he'd left something and his uncle had mailed it to him. Jess slowly opened the package and smiled when he saw what was inside. He pulled out an autograph book from Disneyland and when he opened it he saw all the character's autographs. He smiled knowing it was a gift from Lori. All the autographs were made out to him and for some reason he knew this was the best gift he'd ever received. He looked over to his phone and wondered if he should in fact call.

---

Rory sat outside of her mom's house on the porch drinking a cup of coffee when she heard the door behind her open.

"Hey honey", Loralai said.

"Hey", Rory smiled.

"You okay", Loralai asked slowly.

"If I said yes would you believe me", Rory asked.

"Nope", Loralai smiled.

"Then I choose not to answer."

"Honey, I don't want you to pine over him", Loralai said.

"I'm pinning mom", Rory said, "I'm hurt."

"Sweetheart", Loralai said, "not because of anything but you pushed him away."

"I know", Rory said, "And now I have a little girl who is upset because of it."

"Honey…"

"Why do you think I haven't dated in six years mom", Rory asked, "because I was trying to avoid this."

"Baby…"

"I'm done", Rory said causing Loralai to look at her confused, "we're moving."

"What", Loralai said, "What do you mean your moving."

"The Times offered me a full time job with at the office", Rory was saying, "and I took it."

"How long have you known", Loralai asked.

"About a week and a half", Rory said.

"When were you going to tell me", Loralai asked.

"I was waiting for the right time", Rory said, "We move this week."

"Oh my God", Loralai closed her eyes and breathed in.

"I'm sorry mom", Rory said.

"I can't believe you'd be this selfish."

"What", Rory asked.

"You're just going to pick up and leave", Loralai said, "Just like that."

"It's a great opportunity mom", Rory was saying.

"Yeah", Loralai said, "well goodnight."

Loralai walked into the house living Rory outside to question her decision.

---

Loralai slid into bed violently causing Luke to stir.

"Loralai", he grumbled, "What's wrong?"

"Rory and Lori are moving to New York", Loralai stated.

"What", Luke asked, "when?"

"Next week", she informed him, "she just told me."

"I'm sorry sweetheart", he said.

"Goodnight Luke."

---

One Week Later…

Rory was packing up the car with her and Lori's belongings. Luke had been helping her all morning. She was a little upset because everyone was bidding her farewell except her mom. They hadn't spoken all week and Rory felt bad but she also felt she had to do this.

"Thank you Luke", Rory said softly, "for everything."

"I wish your mom had been here", Luke said.

"Me too", Rory sighed, "well I better go. I still need to make a pit stop in Hartford to see my grandparents."

"Drive safe", Luke told her before closing the door of the car, "call when you get to New York."

"I will", she smiled and waved as she drove away.

---

The doorbell rang at the Gilmore house and the maid opened the door to Rory and Lori.

"Hi", Rory smiled, "I'm here to see my grandparents."

"Yes Miss Gilmore", she said, "they're coming down."

"Rory", Emily Gilmore walked up to greet her granddaughter, "Lori I missed you."

"Hi grandma", they both said.

"Richard", Emily called, "the girls are here!"

Richard Gilmore came out of his study to greet his granddaughters, "Rory, Lori so nice to see you."

"Come in", Emily ushered them in, "lunch will be served in a few minutes…"

"Thanks grandma", Rory smiled.

"So do you have your apartment ready for when you get there", Emily was asking.

"Everything is all set, including a day care for Lori by work", Rory answered.

"Are you excited", Richard asked.

"A little", Rory answered, "what about you Lori, you excited?"

"Yes", Lori answered sadly.

"What's wrong dear", Emily asked.

"Mom didn't watch us leave", Rory answered.

"Was she at the Inn", Emily asked.

"No, she just didn't come out…"

"That's ridiculous…"

Rory shrugged. "It's okay really…"

"Lunch is served Mrs. Gilmore", the maid announced.

"Come, let's have lunch. We don't want to hold you from your trip for very long."

---

Rory was arriving into New York about three hours after leaving her grandparents house. Lori was asleep the whole ride up so she woke her up so they can take their stuff upstairs. All they had were some clothes for the weekend, since the movers would be there on Monday with their furniture.

Rory opened the door to her new apartment and walked in and both girls stood in the center of their two bedroom studio. The Gilmore's had helped her pay for it, since she would never be able to afford it alone.

Rory looked around and sighed. This was home now.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please be patient. I'm going somewhere with this I promise. Stay thirsty, because you're thirst is about to finally get quenched.