Sorry about the delay! Just got home today and I'd left my laptop here so I couldn't write. Hope you're all still interested in this! Thank you for all your reviews so far, I really appreciate them! I can't believe I got so many so thank you! :)

Chapter 2

Lorelai rushed into the diner and went up to the counter. "Hey hon, is your mom upstairs?" She asked.

"No coffee request? I'm shocked." Luke joked.

"Well I thought that was a given." She grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes but got her a mug.

"So is your mom here?" She asked.

"Yeah should be. Why the rush?" He asked.

"Sorry. It's just this wedding at the inn. Did I tell you the brides were identical twins?" She grinned.

"No." Luke smirked.

"And get this, they're marrying, drum roll please." She said dramatically as she started making a drum roll on the counter. "Identical twins!"

"Get out." Luke chuckled.

"Nope!" Lorelai grinned. "Anyway, the mother of the brides is stressing and your mom offered to help out a bit today so I was just checking to see she was still up for it."

"Well go on up. She should be there." He smiled. "Where's LJ?"

"At Babette's. Rory's picking him up after school."

"Ok." Luke said.

Lorelai leant over and gave him a kiss. "See you later."

"Yeah see ya." He smiled.

Lorelai then headed up to the apartment. She knocked on the door before entering. She saw Katherine at a table look up in surprise and immediately concealed a piece of paper by putting it in her pocket.

"Lorelai..." She said trying to regain her composure.

"Uh..hi.." Lorelai said, confused by her weird behaviour. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah everything's fine." She said. "Is there something you needed?"

"Um I was just wondering if you were still willing to help out at the inn today. I could really do with a second pair of hands." Lorelai said.

"Of course. I'm not free until about 1 but I can come over then." She said.

"That's great. Thank you." Lorelai said gratefully. She hesitated a minute. "Um ok well I better get back. Stop Michel from sticking post it notes to the backs of our grooms."

Katherine smirked. "Oh dear..."

"Well I'll see you at 1 then." Lorelai said.

"See you at 1." Katherine smiled and she watched Lorelai leave before letting out a big breath. She went to the window and saw Lorelai walking across the square. She then got up, grabbed her bag and went downstairs. She glanced down the counter at Luke who was filling up the coffee jugs. "I'm just going out." She said.

"Out? Out where?" Luke asked.

"Just to see a friend." Katherine said.

Luke frowned. "You've been seeing a lot of friends lately..."

"Yeah well, I'm keeping busy." She said.

"Who are you seeing today? Maisy?" He asked.

"Uh yeah Maisy." She nodded.

"Mom, is everything ok?" Luke asked.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? Everything's fine!" She exclaimed. "I need to go." She said before making a hasty exit.

Luke frowned watching her get into her car and drive off. He stood there for a minute before going to the phone and dialling a number. "Maisy? Hey, it's Luke." He said.

At 1, Katherine had joined Lorelai at the inn and helped her with some of the decorations that were going outside. Lorelai watched her subtly during the next hour. She had had Luke on the phone and he was worried about her. Apparently Katherine had told him she was going to see Maisy but Luke had rung Maisy and she hadn't heard from her in a couple of days. Lorelai had agreed to try and talk to her. "So..uh..Luke told me you went to see Maisy today? How is she?"

"What? Oh yeah she's fine." Katherine said.

"Did you have a nice time?" Lorelai pressed her.

"Yes very nice." She said.

Lorelai sighed. "Katherine. I know you didn't go see Maisy. Luke rang her." She said.

Katherine looked up at her. "He checked up on me? He had no right." She said stiffly.

"He was worried. And now so am I." Lorelai said softly. "You haven't exactly been yourself recently. Going out to all these supposed meetings with your friends."

Katherine sighed. "I'm sorry for snapping. It's just..." She started but then hesitated.

"What? What is it? What's wrong?" Lorelai asked.

Katherine hesitated and then pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Lorelai. She watched as she read it and then saw her look up at her stunned. "I wanted to know for sure before I told anyone." She said quietly.

"Cancer..." Lorelai choked out, feeling tears prick her eyes.

"I found out a couple of weeks ago. I went to see the doctor today to see what treatments were available..." Katherine said.

"And?" Lorelai asked.

Katherine just shook her head. "There's no point."

"No point? What do you mean there's no point?" Lorelai asked.

"It's spread so much. Having treatment wouldn't cure it. There's no point." Katherine said quietly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh Kathy..." Lorelai said emotionally hugging her. "You should have told us. We could have gone to these appointments with you."

"I didn't want to worry you especially if it was nothing." She said. She put her head in her hands. "I can't tell Luke. This will devastate him."

Lorelai swallowed a lump in her throat. "I know it's hard but he deserves to know. I can't keep this from him. It's too big."

Katherine looked up at her. "This is the first time I've cried since finding out." She admitted.

"Well sometimes having a cry helps." Lorelai said giving her a small smile.

Katherine let out a shaky breath. "Promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you'll be there for Luke when I...well when..." She said not being able to get it out.

Lorelai understood what she was trying to say. She didn't want to think about the outcome but she could tell how important this was to her. "I promise." She said.

"Thank you." Katherine said. "He had to go through this with William. I hate that he has to do it again with me."

"Who else knows?" Lorelai asked.

"No one. God the kids...How am I going to tell the kids?" She said.

"We'll worry about that later. You just think about talking to Luke." Lorelai said softly.

"Do you mind if I...?"

"Go now. We'll be fine here." Lorelai nodded. She gave her mom-in-law another hug. "We'll all be here for you ok?"

Katherine gave her a watery smile. "Thank you."

Lorelai watched as she leave and then let her tears fall.

Meanwhile, Rory was getting something from her locker at school when she felt someone lean against the locker next to hers. She turned to see who it was and was annoyed to see Tristan. "What do you want?" She asked.

"Well isn't that a nice greeting?" He smirked.

"Don't you have anyone else to bother?" She exclaimed.

"No one as fun as you." He grinned cheekily.

Rory just rolled her eyes and turned back to her locker.

"I told you I'd keep trying." He said.

"Oh yeah. A week ago!" She exclaimed. "I thought you'd get bored. At first I thought it was sad. Now it's just annoying." She said.

"Ouch!" Tristan smirked.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt your massive ego? Maybe one of those girls will help ease your pain." She retorted gesturing over to the flock of girls nearby watching him and giggling.

"Nah, I'd rather you help ease my pain." He said. "Unless you already have a boyfriend. Do you?" He asked cheekily.

"None of your business!" Rory exclaimed.

"What? I can't think what other reason you would keep blanking me." He defended himself.

"You really do think highly of yourself, don't you?" She rolled her eyes.

"I just think we'd be good together, Mary. Why do you have to keep denying these feelings we have for each other?" He grinned.

"Maybe it's because you can't learn my name. Bye Tristan." She said and then walked away, slamming her locker door shut before she went.

Back in Stars Hollow, Katherine was stood outside the diner plucking up courage to go inside. She took a deep breath before entering. She saw Luke behind the counter and went over to him.

"Mom I know you didn't see..." He started.

"I know. Lorelai said." Katherine said. "Come upstairs. I need to tell you something."

Luke frowned, worried. He asked Caesar to hold the fort and followed his mom upstairs with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He watched as she sat down at the table.

"Mom..."

"Come sit." She said softly.

"Mom..." Luke said.

"Please Lucas." She said.

Luke walked slowly over to the table and sat down next to her. "Please tell me what's going on. You're worrying me, mom." He said.

Katherine took a deep breath. "All those meetings with friends...I haven't actually been going to see friends. I..uh..I've been at the doctors." She said quietly.

Luke's heart dropped and his mouth went dry.

"I'm so sorry but I have...uh I have..." She tried to get it out but she couldn't and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

Luke put his hands over hers. "Tell me please." He said quietly.

"I have cancer." She said softly. "And..uh..there's nothing the doctors can do..."

Luke felt like someone had just shot him. He could feel his heart beating and his head pounding.

"I know it's a shock. It was for me too." She said emotionally.

Luke couldn't say anything.

"Lucas please...say something." She said.

Luke suddenly stood up, rubbing his hands through his hair.

"Luke?"

"I can't do this again. I can't." He said. "I just...I can't..." He choked out before rushing out of the apartment. He rushed down to the diner and out to his truck. He got in and drove home, needing some space to get his mind around what his mom had just told him.

Rory was getting ready to leave school when she saw Tristan walking down the corridor towards her. "Great..." She muttered.

"Hey Mary!"

"Didn't you get the hint before?" She snapped. "The name's Rory. R-O-R-Y!"

"Oh I got it. I just prefer Mary." He grinned.

"Well maybe I should give you a nickname then." She retorted. "What about cocky egomaniac?" She asked.

"Sure. Not very inventive but whatever floats your boat I suppose." He chuckled.

Rory just shook her head. "I've got to go." She said. "And before you say it, no I hope I won't be seeing you tomorrow."

Tristan smirked. "You're going to avoid me now?"

"That sounds like a great idea. Thank you." She retorted.

"We have the same classes. Isn't that going to make it hard?" He said.

"Nope. Just won't look at you. I actually am interested in what the teachers talk about so that won't be hard for me." She said, smirking a little.

"Hey, I'm interested too!" He defended.

"Sure you are." She said sarcastically.

"Alright, if you don't believe me, let's make a bet. That test on your Friday. You beat me in it and I won't bother you again. I beat you in it and I get to take you out for a coffee." He grinned.

"Oh you are so on!" Rory said. "Easiest bet I've ever made."

"We'll see. See you tomorrow. Mary." He smirked before walking off down the corridor.

Rory couldn't help but smirk as she watched him leave.

Lorelai was worried that she hadn't heard anything from Katherine or Luke so she decided to go back to the house. She was surprised to see Luke's truck there. She went inside cautiously and found Luke on the couch staring into space. "Hon?" She said cautiously.

Luke turned to her. "It's happening again! Why is it happening again?" He exclaimed.

"You talked to your mom then?" Lorelai said.

"Why? Why does the universe hate me so much? First my dad, now my mom! Who else am I going to lose?!" He ranted. "This isn't fair! What did they do? What did I do?"

"Oh Luke..." Lorelai said softly sitting next to her husband and rubbing his back comfortingly. "You didn't do anything. Your parents didn't do anything. This just happens. It sucks but it's noone's fault."

"I'm such a terrible person." He said choked putting his head in his hands.

"No you're not." Lorelai reassured him.

"Yes I am. My mom tells me she has cancer and instead of staying there to comfort her, I freak out and leave her there alone!" He exclaimed.

"Oh hon..." Lorelai said softly. "It's a shock. Your mom will understand that. You are not a bad person, Luke. You're not."

Luke turned to her. "My mom's got cancer." He said quietly.

"I know." Lorelai said, tears stinging her eyes. "Come here babe." She said pulling him into a hug.

They pulled away after a minute.

"Why don't you go be with your mom?" Lorelai suggested. "The kids will be back yet and I don't want them to know anything yet. Not until Katherine wants them to know. And you know them, they'll sense something's up. Especially Rory." She said.

Luke let out a big breath and rubbed his face with his hands. "Yeah..." He said.

"I know it's hard. So hard. But we will get through it. Right now your mom needs all the support she can get. She needs us all, Luke. Especially you." She said.

Luke nodded.

Lorelai gave him a gentle kiss. "I'm here for you. Remember that. You're not alone in this."

Luke gave her a small smile. "Thanks." He said quietly.

Luke headed over to the diner before Rory got back from school. He knew Jess was going to his mom's that day so his mom would be alone. He hesitated outside the apartment before slowly reaching for the doorknob and opening the door. He found Katherine sat on the couch.

"Luke..." She said relieved.

Luke didn't say anything. He just walked towards her and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving. I just..."

"It's ok." Katherine said relaxing into his embrace. "I understand."

"I'm so sorry mom. I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'm here for you." He said emotionally.

"I just need you. I need my son." She sniffed.

"He's here. We're all here for you." He assured her.

They pulled away from the hug and Katherine gave her son a watery smile. "Thank you." She said.

"I love you mom." He said softly.

"I love you too." She said.

So quite a heavy chapter! Let me know what you think by leaving a review! I love reading your comments! Thanks! :)