Author's Notes: Thanks to all my reviewers! Y'all great!

Jeremy Shane- You have a bad feeling? Yes, probably justified, but things will improve! I promise. Chloe2007- Her parents certainly will try to help her through it, but you know Lorelai: stubborn.
lorelailauren- Ohh new reviewer! hugs. I loved your review, actually. I bear no shame!! I can ensure you 100 that Luke and Lorelai are NOT over! Not now, not later. I'm glad you love my writing and the story, makes me happy to know. I know Luke did nothing wrong, Lorelai doesn't blame him for anything, she's just not sure how to talk to him about it...lack of communication. JavaJunkie ending? Oh, more than that...they'll have a middle too :).
Kat321- I love that you loved Lorelai being at her parents. And the cookie making thing was just fun to write, I wasn't going to keep it but then thought "eh, what the heck?" glad you liked that also. Lorelai isn't talking to Luke about her "situation" of stress etc so he can't help but be clueless since she's also avoiding answering any of his questions, he thinks it's best to give her time. Trust me, he'll do something. He's not about to let Lorelai slip further away from him. Also, Lorelai "fitting" into her parents world is continued to be explored in this chapter, hope ya like.

The Luke/Lorelai issues are going to be a bit more dealt with this chapter and so forth, things are only going upwards from here. I am very excited to hear what you all think of this chapter as it's one I am more proud of and I love the storyline for it. So please let me know what you think. There are more flashbacks here also, enjoy!!

Chapter Nineteen

Luke paced back and forth in the kitchen a few days later. He then growled and picked up the phone and dialed.

: She's fine…really! Not.

'Phone!' Richie called to Lorelai but she was in the changing room.

'Answer it!' Lorelai called back.

'What do I say?'

"Lorelai's phone, may I ask who's calling?" Lorelai suggested, but with a classic French accent.

Luke listened to the rings until someone finally answered.

'Lorelai's phone' Richie said politely (without the accent of course). 'May I ask who's calling?'

'Richie?' Luke asked.

'Mum! It's dad!' Richie said, not realizing Luke could hear every word he was saying since he'd forgotten to cover the mouthpiece. 'Are we mad at dad?'

'No honey' Lorelai replied.

'Hi dad' Richie smiled.

'Hey' Luke replied. 'Ah, is your mum there?'

'She busy' Richie replied. 'We're on a little holiday because mum is sad and doesn't know what to do about something' he said. 'I dunno what, but she's sad. But dad, mum loves you very much and saids you not make her sad' he said and took a breath. 'I miss you dad'

'I miss you too kid' Luke sighed.

'Okay, done' Lorelai gasped out, leaving the changing room.

'You look pretty!' Richie grinned. 'Very pretty dress mum'

'Thanks hon' Lorelai kissed atop his head. 'Is daddy still there? Can I talk to him?'

'Yup' Richie handed over her cell phone.

'Hey' Lorelai said.

'Lorelai! Hey' Luke breathed in relief.

'Hey' Lorelai said again. 'Oh! Luke, you should come to Friday night dinner. We'll be here but we're not coming home yet. Richie is having a lot of fun here and I need him'

'What's going on?' Luke asked in concern.

'I just need time to think, don't worry…it's not you' she assured. 'See you Friday?'

'Yeah…ah, okay'

'Okay, bye ' Lorelai hung up rather hastily.

'Bye…' Luke stared at the phone and knew Lorelai wasn't being entirely truthful.

'Lorelai?' Emily approached her later that afternoon. 'I got a call from Rory, she saids she can make it to dinner tomorrow'

'Oh, nice' Lorelai smiled a little. 'Hey? Don't you have some sort of party tomorrow?'

'I can cancel' Emily told her.

'Nah, don't cancel' Lorelai smiled. 'It might be fun'

'Fun?' Emily was very shocked by Lorelai now; she was the exact opposite to the person she could remember as her daughter.

'Yeah, don't cancel it'

'Okay' Emily nodded slowly, very confused.

Luke and Rory were invited inside the mansion that Friday night. And the first thing that they noticed was that the maid looked very white. She was stuttering and thoroughly exhausted.

'Are you okay?' Luke asked in concern for the poor woman.

'N-n-n-' The maid shook her head fearfully and rushed off with their coats. Luke and Rory then noticed the music that was playing and the volume of the chatting going on in the living room. The pair wandered deeper into the house and saw a crowd of people standing around, talking and laughing.

'Did you know about this?' Luke wondered.

'No' Rory raised an eyebrow until she spotted her mother. 'Oh, Woah' she gasped, seeing the way Lorelai and Richie were dressed in very fancy clothes. 'Behold, Jekyll and Hyde' she said in shock.

'Hey you' Lorelai smiled at Rory and gave her a hug, then a kiss to Luke.

'Daddy!' Richie ran over and hugged him tightly. 'Hi Rory' he then smiled.

'Hey' Rory nodded. 'Mum, are you okay?'

'Happy as a clam' Lorelai replied and snapped her fingers, getting the attention of a waiter with a tray of martinis. 'I love doing that' she sniggered afterwards.

'Did you get a personality transplant?' Luke asked, picking Richie up for a proper hug and with the hope of protecting him from his crazy mother.

'Ah, no…why?' Lorelai pulled a face of confusion.

'This is not you' Luke told her.

'Rory!' Emily then interrupted as she spotted her granddaughter. 'How wonderful it is to see you' she smiled, giving Rory a hug. 'And hello Luke' she said to him, but not as coldly as she usually did.

'Oh! Mum, that guy over there' Lorelai pointed to one of the waiters. 'He's really slow and I heard he was changing the candles earlier. Plus he keeps rearranging the forks on all the tables'

'Really?' Emily pulled a disgusted face at the man. 'Should I fire him?'

'I dunno, maybe tell him that he's useless and see if he picks up the slack. He looks pathetic, which usually means he really needs this job'

'He does look pathetic' Emily agreed with a nod. 'Alright then, I'll talk to him' she sighed and headed in his direction.

'Good plan' Lorelai nodded also and then smiled as a couple walked past. 'Hey Suzy and Carl…having a good time?'

'Yes, we are' Suzy smiled. 'And hello' she said to Luke and Rory.

'Oh…ah, hi' Rory nodded, slightly caught off guard.

'Hello' Luke added as well but couldn't stop staring at Lorelai.

'And who is this?' Suzy used a cute voice the moment she saw Richie.

'I'm Richie' the small boy replied and offered his hand like he'd been told.

'He's our grandson, charming isn't he?' Emily said, coming back towards the group.

'Don't be silly' Richie giggled. 'It's just my new shirt' he nodded and the couple laughed before spotting Richard and wandered off to talk to him.

'You're picking up well' Lorelai grinned a Richie.

Richie just shrugged and gave Luke another hug before squirming down and wandering off to find more cake. Rory and Luke watched him as he wasn't at all shy around the people and was using napkins to pick up his cake slice, before putting it on a plate and using a fork.

'Wow' Rory gasped once Emily walked off to talk to the waiter again, more angrily. 'Mum, what's going on?'

'What do you mean?' Lorelai asked as if she had not idea why Rory and Luke were so stunned at how her and Richie were behaving.

'You and grandma are getting along…working together! Richie is different…he's more talkative; he fits in with the rich lifestyle…and the clothes? This isn't you!'

'I agree' Luke added but watched his son and wondered if things could have been different. If their lives had turned out this way, if he could provide and offer so much more for Lorelai and Richie…

'Mum' Rory took Lorelai aside from the crowd while Luke went over to Richie. The girls headed upstairs to Lorelai's room.

'I'm worried about you' Rory said. 'What's doing on? Why did you just leave like that?'

'Ah, we just needed a little trip, it's nothing' Lorelai said and tried to brush it aside.

'Mum' Rory said again. 'Really, what's this about? Why the sudden need to be Barbara Cartland?' she asked.

Lorelai was about to say how it was no big deal, but she caught a glimpse of herself in the bedroom mirror. Lorelai stared at her reflection, at herself with her hair all done up and wearing a prestige gown, along with a pearl-lined necklace…

'I'm not fine' she then realized at sat on the edge of the bed. 'I'm not okay' Lorelai admitted sadly, rubbing her forehead a little before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She felt horrible, lost…unsure as to what was real and what wasn't anymore…

--

Lorelai felt two-year-old Richie's head and gasped. She grabbed the phone since her Jeep was still getting fixed. She considered Rory but she was too busy and far away.

'L-Luke?' she said as she called him.

'Lorelai?' Luke's voice was surprised but not without a hint of hurt.

'Richie, he's sick…I don't know what's wrong. He has a fever, but he's not throwing up yet. He's not hungry and he keeps crying in pain, saying his head hurts' she sniffed, staring at their son on the couch, wrapping in blankets, his face pale and body motionless. 'My Jeep is in the garage, and we need a ride to the hospital'

'Calm down, I'll be right over' Luke said.

'I don't know what to do, it doesn't feel real…it's like everything in my life after we broke up wasn't real…it was just a bad dream. I want to wake up but…it won't let me' she sniffed. 'I'm sorry'

'Lorelai, I'll be right there' Luke said again, accepting her apology, although he was yet to say sorry as well.

'Promise?' Lorelai sniffed, wiping her eyes.

'I promise' Luke said and hung up…

Emily noticed the absence of Lorelai and Rory. She looked around the crowd but couldn't fine them anywhere.

'Luke, have you seen Lorelai or Rory?' Emily asked him.

'Upstairs' Luke pointed.

Emily nodded and wandered up the stairs. She reached Lorelai's room and was about to knock but the door was slightly ajar and she could hear Lorelai and Rory talking. Emily paused to listen.

'I know' Lorelai sighed. 'I mean, when I was young…I hated it here; I mean, I really hated. Stars Hollow was my escape from such a controlling lifestyle. Everything had to be structured, planned to perfection. Mum would never truly listen to me…dad was always working. I was so sick of being controlled. But then, when things got too tough at Stars Hollow… I came here. I guess I needed some control. And you know what I've realized? My parents are always going to be here'

'Woah, never thought I'd here you say that' Rory replied.

'I know, but it's true…they never kicked me out when I needed help. I mean sure, they've backstabbed me, manipulated everything…but my room was always my room. I guess, I know that this was the place to go…so I did, I came here' Lorelai shrugged honestly.

'But why?' Rory asked again. 'I don't understand'

'It's a long story' Lorelai sighed. 'But don't worry, I'm sorting things out…it's mainly just stress'

'Okay' Rory nodded, but was still a little unconvinced. 'But you're not alone, you know that right? And Luke, he's so worried about you'

'I know hon' Lorelai nodded with a small smile.

Emily then heard movement inside the room so she headed back downstairs quickly before they noticed she was there.

'Come on, people will start to wonder where we went. Poor Luke will be talking to Mrs Kenny or Mr Baxter, and boy do they know how to talk!' Lorelai sighed, back to her chipper mood.

'Where were you?' Luke asked as the girls rejoined the crowd.

'Making out with the bartender' Lorelai joked. 'Although Rory had her eyes on the English Waiter the whole time'

'Mum!' Richie snapped, not knowing what she meant but he didn't like the way she'd said it.

'Geez, sorry' Lorelai frowned. 'You don't have to stay' she then added to Luke. 'Go home'

'You want me to leave?' Luke asked.

'No, but I know you want to leave' Lorelai told him. 'Don't worry about it, I'll call you later'

'You promise?' Luke asked, giving in since he really did not like gatherings such as this one.

'Yes, go home' Lorelai kissed him.

'Fine' Luke sighed and patted Richie's head. 'Bye'

'Bye dad' Richie said sadly and waved. 'Hello Mrs Tinkle' he then spotted the elderly lady and smiled.

Rory and Lorelai watched him and it was perfectly clear that Richie really did fit in with the rich lifestyle, and that worried Lorelai because she didn't want him to become too attached. Although, she also feared that she was becoming too attached herself.

'Oh god, I need a martini' Lorelai sighed loudly and headed straight for the bar.

It was a few days later and Lorelai was already awake by seven. She just lay on her back in bed and stared at the ceiling, her mind working on it's own.

--

Lorelai stood a few meters from Richie's hospital bed as the doctors examined him. Luke came back from talking to one of the nurses and saw Lorelai. She was standing there, her arms wrapped around herself as she desperately tried to remain warm. There were tear trails down her cheeks also, just seeing Richie like that in the hospital bed was horrifying and sad. Especially since he had a bandage wrapped around his head, just enough for it to be noticeable and it brought more tears down Lorelai's cheeks, seeing her baby like that.

Lorelai gasped in surprise as Luke came up to her and rubbed a hand on her back. She wiped a tear and clung to him, burying her face in his shirt as she closed her eyes. All the hurt they'd caused each other in the last year or so was wiped from their minds as they only thing that mattered was their son. Luke held Lorelai close as she just rested against him. No matter what they'd gone through, they were both always there for Richie; they were always on the verge of friendship. But that night had sort of awoken them both in a way, making them realize just how much they had missed each other, just how much they needed each other.

Riche had frowned and opened his eyes, sobbing a little. He looked around and got scared.

'Mummy? Daddy?' he pleaded, tears leaking down his face.

'We're here sweetie' Lorelai rushed to his side, Luke right beside her, holding her hand in comfort.

'We're always here' Luke added.

--

Lorelai frowned a bit and then got out of bed, wandering down the hall to where Richie's room was. She'd had her mother give Richie his own room since he really needed his own space. Plus, he loved the chalkboard, toy box, train set and armchair that Emily had added to make it a little homier. Lorelai pushed open the bedroom door carefully and peaked inside. Richie was sitting at his desk, listening to music of some kind via his new ipod. His legs were swinging slightly as he drew a picture. Lorelai wasn't surprised to see that he was still in his pyjamas, but the sight of how bored he seemed…and how lonely he looked; it made her sad. Lorelai bit her lip and moved away, leaning against the wall beside his room. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes tight. Lorelai crossed her arms and just stood there for a moment, deep in thought…

Luke glanced at the clock as he walked into the kitchen. He saw it was almost nine in the morning but he didn't need to get to the diner until eleven. He was still used to getting Lorelai up for work and then making everyone breakfast. He would then follow Lorelai outside. They'd say goodbye, get into their cars and leave. It was a casual routine, but he missed it right now. Since it was so quiet, no one was there but him and the dogs.

Luke then jumped as he heard a car pulling up outside. He glanced out the window and then rushed to the front door.

'You're back!' he breathed in relief, seeing Lorelai heading towards him. He winced at the serious look on her face though, she was obviously nervous about something.

'I'm ready' Lorelai told him while Richie remained asleep in the car.

'What?' Luke asked. 'For what?'

'Another kid…I'm ready' Lorelai nodded seriously. 'I want another kid, Luke…now' she told him.

Author's Notes: Ta-da! Cliffhanger...just like the season 5 finale. grins proudly. So, what did you all think of that? I put a lot of work into this chapter especially cuz it had to be done right and I think I acomplished that. Let me know what you think and I'll update asap!

-Mel