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Chapter 6

Rory heard movement in the living room and turned round in her bed to look at the clock which read 3:30am. She sleepily got up and headed towards the living room and found her mom sat on the sofa with a blanket over her and the window wide open.

"It's freezing in here. Why have you got the window open?" Rory said heading towards the window to shut it.

"No, don't." Lorelai stopped her. "Can you smell it?" She grinned.

"Smell what?" Rory asked.

"Snow! It's coming!" Lorelai grinned.

"Ah that's what this is about." Rory said understanding going to sit next to her mom and using some of her blanket to put over herself.

"Can't you smell it?" She asked.

"You know, I think it's one of the things only you can smell." Rory smirked.

"I love snow." Lorelai smiled. "It's always cheered me up when times were bad."

Rory glanced at her mom and leant her head on her shoulder. "You know what this means right?" She smiled.

Lorelai turned to her in excitement. "Really? A midnight walk in the snow with coffee and donuts?"

"Yep!" Rory grinned. "How fun was it last time? Katie and LJ throwing snowballs at Jess and dad trying to be all grumpy about it but actually enjoying it sercetly."

Lorelai smiled at the memory. "It was fun."

Rory yawned and got up. "Ok as much fun as it is sitting in our freezing cold living room, I've got school tomorrow and need to sleep. Night mom." She said giving Lorelai a kiss on the cheek.

"Night hon." Lorelai smiled watching her disappear off to her room.

The following day, sure enough, Lorelai's prediction was right. The snow had come quickly and in high volume. Stars Hollow looked like it was covered in a white blanket. She headed to the diner to get some coffee before her day at the inn. She found Luke behind the counter.

"Hey hubby!" She grinned.

"Hey." He grunted.

"Well isn't that a cheery greeting." Lorelai joked.

"Sorry." Luke grunted, leaning over to give her a kiss. "It's just this weather. I hate it."

"How can you hate the snow?" Lorelai exclaimed.

"We're not going through this again. We go through it every year." Luke said giving her a look.

"Well it isn't winter unless we have a snow-related rant from you." She grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes. "Where's LJ today? I thought he was going with you to the inn?"

"Yeah but then I realised I have this long meeting at lunch so there would be no one to watch him. He's at Patty's." She said. "I'll pick him up after my meeting."

Luke nodded. "Ok. Katie and Rory get off to school ok?" He asked.

"Yep everything was fine." She nodded.

"Good." He said.

Just then Katherine appeared with her winter jacket on.

"Where are you going?" Luke asked surprised.

"I just need to go see someone." She said. "Hi Lorelai." She smiled noticing her daughter-in-law.

"Hi Kathy!" Lorelai smiled. "How are you feeling?" She asked. Katherine had had good and bad days with her cancer.

"I'm feeling ok today." She smiled.

"Good." Lorelai smiled.

"Mom, where are you going? It's freezing out. Surely it would be best for you to stay inside in the warmth?" Luke asked concerned. "Are you seeing a doctor or something?"

"No, nothing like that." Katherine assured her son. "I just need to see someone. I won't be long, I promise." She said.

"But.." Luke said.

Lorelai put his hand over Luke's hand. "She'll be fine. Some fresh air might be good for her. You can't keep her in here forever." She said quietly.

Luke sighed. "Ok, but be careful mom please." He said. "And you start feeling sick, please just come back."

"I will." Katherine said. "I'll see you later." She said before leaving.

Lorelai saw the look on her husband's face. "Luke, she'll be fine. She should still be able to go out if she wants to. She's sensible. If she doesn't feel well, she'll come back."

"I know.." Luke sighed. "I just.."

"I know." Lorelai said softly. "Anyway, I better get to the inn but meet you in here for dinner?"

"Sure." He said. "Have a good day."

"You too." She smiled and left after giving him another kiss.

Meanwhile, Katherine had driven herself to Hartford and had driven into the driveway of the Gilmore Mansion. She got out of her car and went to the door. She took a deep breath before knocking on it.

Richard answered it and was surprised to see her. "Katherine?"

"Hi Richard. I was wondering if I could talk to you and Emily for a minute." Katherine said.

"Uh of course." He said letting her in. "Is everything ok? Lorelai? Rory? The kids?" He asked concerned.

"Oh yes, sorry I didn't mean to worry you. They're all fine." She assured him.

Emily then appeared. "Katherine?" She said surprised. "Were we expecting you?"

"No. I'm sorry I didn't call first but I really need to talk to you. I'm not disturbing anything am I? You're not on your way out?" She asked.

"No you're not disturbing anything." Emily said. "Come on through. Would you like a drink?"

"No I'm ok thanks." Katherine smiled.

The three of them sat in the living room on the couches. Katherine took a deep breath. She knew their relationship with the Gilmores had been rocky but it had definitely improved and she needed their help.

"I need to tell you something and ask you something." She started. "I...uh...I recently got diagnosed with cancer. And it's...uh...it's terminal. There's nothing the doctors can do." She said quietly.

Emily and Richard exchanged shocked glances. "I don't know what to say. I...we're so sorry." Richard said sincerely.

Katherine gave them a small smile. "Thank you. I told the family a couple of weeks ago. I've had my good and bad days but I know it will get gradually worse for me. That's what happened with my husband." She said sadly. "Which is why I need to ask you something before it's too late. I need a huge favour." She admitted.

"You can ask us anything." Richard said.

"I need you to look out for Luke when my time does come to an end." She said quietly. She sniffed a bit fighting back some tears. "I...I know Lorelai will be there for him and will always be there for him but when I go, Luke will be an orphan. It...It would make me feel better if you were there to look out for him as well. He tends to hide his emotions and he might need some parental figures to talk to. It would mean a lot to me if you were there for him." She said quietly.

Richard reached over and took hold of her hand gently. "Of course we will look out for him." He said softly. "Won't we Emily?" He said glancing at his wife.

Emily was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Of course." She said quietly, nodding. "I know what it's like to lose your parents. Of course we'll be there for Luke if he needs us."

Katherine gave her a tremulous smile. "Thank you." She said. She got up slowly. "I better head back or Luke will worry. I'll let you get back to what you were doing. Thank you for your time." She said sincerely. "It really puts my mind at rest."

"Of course." Richard said. "If there's anything we can do, let us know."

"Thank you." She gave him a small smile and then left.

Later that evening, the weather intensified and a big snowstorm broke out. Lorelai, Katie and LJ were all at the diner for dinner with Luke and Katherine.

"Geez, it's getting bad out there!" Luke said looking out of the window. "Where's Rory and Jess? They should be here by now right?" He said worried.

Lorelai looked at the clock and frowned. "Yeah they should be." She said starting to worry as well. Before she had any time to worry though, her cell rang. She picked it up quickly. "Hello? Rory?" She answered.

"Hi mom!" Rory said.

Lorelai let out a breath. "Hey hon. Where are you? You're not out in this are you?"

"No, we went over to Lane's after school before the storm started. Mrs Kim said we can stay the night." Rory said.

Lorelai relaxed and smiled over at Luke's. "They're at Lane's." She told him and saw him relax. "Ok good." She said.

"Yeah we didn't want to risk heading home in this. Sorry if we worried you." Rory said.

"No it's ok. We're not actually home anyway. We're stuck at the diner." Lorelai said.

"Oh right ok. Well assure dad that Jess and I are fine." She smiled.

Lorelai smiled. "I will." She said softly. "How did you get Mrs Kim to agree to Jess staying the night anyway?" She smirked.

Rory laughed. "Well it's on condition that he sleeps about 10 feet away from Lane." She joked.

"Sounds about right." Lorelai laughed. "Well have a good time and we'll see you tomorrow." She said.

"Yeah we can have our snow walk tomorrow." Rory smiled.

"Sounds good hon. Night."

"Night mom." She smiled.

Lorelai hung up and looked over at Luke. "They're fine. Mrs Kim said they can stay the night there." She said.

Luke nodded. "Good." He smiled. He then spotted the reenactors walking by the diner. "Geez they're still doing that stupid reenactment?" He exclaimed.

"It's tradition." Lorelai smiled watching the reenactors get into position.

"It's stupid!" Luke ranted. "It's freezing out and what's the point? It's a stupid concept anyway!"

Katherine just shook her head. She was used to her son's ranting. "Ok so I guess you're all stuck here tonight. Who's up for a sleepover with Grandma?" She smiled at Katie and LJ.

They nodded excitedly. "Can we bake?" Katie asked.

"Of course! And we can make hot chocolate too." Katherine smiled. "Come on, let's get upstairs. It's warmer up there." She said.

Katie and LJ excitedly followed their Grandma upstairs with Lorelai in tow. Lorelai turned to Luke. "You coming hon?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'll be up in a minute." He said.

"Ok." She smiled and headed upstairs.

She helped Katherine get Katie and LJ into pyjamas. Luckily they had some of their spare pyjamas their already in case they ever slept over. Lorelai spotted Katherine by the window in the kitchen and went and joined her. "What are you looking at?" She asked.

"He always does it." She smiled.

Lorelai looked outside and smiled when she saw Luke heading over to the reenactors with a try of hot drinks. "He does this every year?" She asked. She'd never actually witnessed it before.

"Yep. He rants about how stupid it all is and then always prepares some hot drinks and takes them out to them." Katherine smiled.

"He's an old softy really." Lorelai smiled.

"I still remember Will standing out there year after year." Katherine smiled. "Luke thought he was a fool as well." She laughed.

Lorelai smiled. "Well I'm sure William would proud of him taking care of his fellow reenactors." She said.

Katherine smiled. "Oh no he would think he was a big softy as well!" She laughed.

Lorelai laughed. "Guess they're quite similar then."

"Oh yeah very." She smiled.

"Grandma, can we bake now?" Katie asked interrupting them.

Katherine turned back to her granddaughter. "Of course. Are you both ready?" She asked.

Katie and LJ both nodded.

"Lorelai, you want to help?" She asked.

"I think I'll just watch. This feels like a Grandma/Grandchildren activity." She smiled and went and sat down at the table and watched as they all starting baking.

The following evening, the storm had died down but there was still a lot of snow around so the Danes family all went out for their traditional snow walk much to Luke's chagrin. Even Katherine joined them.

"Are you sure you should be out here mom?" Luke asked as he walked alongside his mom and Lorelai.

"I'm fine." Katherine assured. "Besides I want to make the most of this." She added quietly.

Luke swallowed a lump in his throat when he knew his mom was implying that she may not be here for it next year. "Ok." He said quietly.

They looked up and laughed as Katie and LJ ganged up on Jess and were throwing snowballs at him along with Rory.

"Why am I always the target?" Jess exclaimed.

"Because you're the most fun to annoy!" Rory grinned.

"Poor Jess." Katherine chuckled. "Every year..."

"Nah he enjoys it really." Lorelai laughed. "Plus he always gets even." She smiled as she saw Jess suddenly pick up a whole lot of snow and started to chase Katie and LJ who started shrieking. She glanced at Luke who she caught smiling watching the kids. "Admit it, you're having a good time." She teased.

Luke smirked. "Never."

Suddenly a snowball hit Luke on the arm and Lorelai had to stifle a laugh.

"Hey!" He exclaimed looking up at Rory and Jess who were grinning and Katie and LJ who were giggling.

Lorelai watched Luke to see how he would react.

Luke glanced at his mom. "You want this to be a walk to remember? Watch this." He smirked and he surprised everyone by rolling some snow into a snowball and throwing it into the kids' direction.

Katie and LJ shrieked in delight at their dad joining in and even Rory and Jess were surprised but quickly sprang into action as some snow came heading in their direction.

Soon a full scale snowball fight broke out and Katherine watched on from the side, smiling and laughing, knowing she was definitely going to remember this moment. She caught Luke's eye who smiled at her and nodded before being brought down into the snow by Katie and LJ who had thrown themselves on him. This was definitely going to be a great Christmas. She was going to make sure of it.

So I hoped you liked it! :) Please keep reviewing as I love hearing what you think and you really do motivate me to continue so thank you! :)