An: I know, it's been a really long time, like about 8 months, but I couldn't help it. I just had too much going on and fanfiction got put on the back burner. So despite the 1 million things I have to do, I am taking the time to post this chapter now. I know it's a bit shorter than so other chapters I have written for this story. It's the best I can do at the moment. I hope you all a still reading. I know many aren't interested in it anymore. But anyway, here's the next chapter.

I'm sorry once again.

Reviews are appreciated! :)

Enjoy!!

Chapter 17- Conflicts, Luncheons, and Phone Calls

"Lorelai, you home?" Christopher called throughout the luxurious condo that Straub and Francine had bought for Lorelai and him.

"Yes, but not for long; I have to go pick up Rory from Kindergarten and then I have to meet our mothers for a luncheon," she responded as she walked through the main hallway with her purse in her hand.

"Funny, how you seem to be doing that a lot," he kissed her hello.

"It's all your fault."

"Me? What did I do," Christopher questioned.

"You claimed that you wanted to marry me," she playfully said.

"I don't know if I want to. I've seen the disgusting side of you now," he kidded.

"Well, too bad. You'll have to deal with me now."

"And I will happily do so." He gave her another kiss. "I have great news. I got a job."

"A job? Don't you have a job at your Dad's firm?"

"Yes, but this is an even better one. It's for a new computer company. They sell them to businesses and fix them."

"So you're gonna be Wily Loman?"

"No, they do that. I invested in it and I'm the big guy overseeing everything. I partly own it," he proudly said.

"What! Are you insane!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"It's an investment. It'll be worth it. A few years from now, we'll have all that money back and even more. We can buy a house and put Rory in the best prep school in Connecticut."

"It's a new company. There's a chance it can fail. Then what? It's money that we don't have down the drain!"

"That's not gonna happen."

"How do you know? There's a possibility. You have to think rationally," she fumed.

"Lore, you have to have faith in me. I know what I'm doing," Christopher convinced.

"Christopher, stop and think about this. You're taking a risk and jeopardizing our future."

"Why can't you ever have faith in me? I'm not a teenager anymore. You can trust me now."

"I have to go," she pushed passed him to get to the door.

"Lore, let's talk about it."

"There's nothing to talk about. You've already made up your mind and put the money in without informing me."

"Lore," he called out as she put on her coat and opened the door.

"Christopher, I have to go."

"Can you just believe that I did the right thing?"

Lorelai walked out the door without answering.

"Damn it!" he cursed as he heard the door slam shut.

-X-

At a Hartford restaurant, Lorelai sat with her mother waiting for Francine. Rory was sitting quietly next to Lorelai reading a book.

"So, I was thinking about the seating arrangement and I thought that tables of eight would be sufficient. If we had ten per table, it'll seem very empty and lord knows we do not need a repeat of Melinda Rutherford's son's wedding," Emily stopped seeing Lorelai's eyes and thoughts in another direction. "Lorelai!" she did not reply. "Lorelai!" she spoke louder.

"What?" she snapped out of her daze.

"Could you show some effort into this? Francine is going to be here soon."

"Sorry mom," she apologized to her mother, something she had grown accustomed to.

"So what sort of floral arrangement should go on the table as the center pieces? I was thinking lilies with…"

-X-

-Stars Hollow Hospital-

Luke stared out through the little window separating his father's room and the cold hospital hallway. William had been in the hospital for a little over a year. Doctors found that the cancer had spread very quickly and started treatment immediately. At first, they were told to admit at Hartford Memorial, since they had all the equipment, William being his stubborn self demanded treatment to come to him and the necessary arrangements were made. Treatment seemed to work for a little time and from that point it became hard to transport his dad back and forth from the hospital and home. Soon he admitted him to Stars Hollow Hospital. Becoming very weak and losing a lot of weight quickly, William had not been well enough to leave the walls of the hospital besides the occasional strolls in the hospital court yard on days he was up to it.

Luke gripped the door handle and pushed it open. He walked in greeting his dad.

"Hey dad," he took a seat at the chair by the bedside.

"Hello son," William managed to say weakly.

"How are you doing today?"

"How about I ask you that?"

"Ok," Luke replied.

"Just ok?" William said followed by a cough.

"Yup."

"Seeing anyone?" He asked.

"Nope."

"Luke, I'm worried about you. You don't do much. You don't have a life. You're 24 years old and going to be 25 in two weeks," he scolded.

"You remembered?"

"If course I remember. What kind of father do you think I am? I have cancer, not brain damage. Well, not yet anyway."

"Sorry," he looked down at his shoes.

"You know something don't you?"

"What," he looked up.

"You know something. You have been acting weird and awkward. You've always been a lousy secret keeper. Did the doctor tell you something?"

"There may or may not have been a conversation."

"Luke, it's ok. I can take it. I've been here for a year. I rather be dead than stay here another year."

"Don't say that."

"Well, this ain't doing me any good. I can't eat, can't sleep. I don't have any hair and I crap in my pants. This is no way to live, Now tell me, what did the doctor say?"

"He said that," he hesitated, "that there isn't much they can do for you now. You've stop responding to medication and chemo just makes you feel worst. It's not doing anything."

"So what do they want me to do?"

"You can either proceed with therapy hoping it'll do something," he took a deep breath.

"Or?"

"Or you could stop all treatment and um- um, live your life," he stuttered out, not knowing how to say it.

"Well, I guess I have a decision to make and both alternatives are supposedly gonna result in the same thing huh?"

"It's up to you."

"You aren't gonna say anything?"

"I actually don't know what to say or tell you. I just know I don't want you to die."

"Luke, that's term you're gonna have to accept whether you like it or not."

"Yeah, I know," he looked down and said.

"Do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Could you get a hold of Lorelai?"

"Lorelai?"

"Yeah, remember her, tall, brunette, blue eyes?"

"Yeah, the raped girl with the kid from the street you picked up."

"Lucas."

"What?" Did I leave something out?"

"Be nice."

"Why do you need me to get a hold of her?"

"I want to see her and Rory one last time. She helped out so much with the store and at home even after working her shifts at the inn. She was such a hard-working girl."

"Dad-"

"Just get a hold of here."

"Fine."

-X-

-Later that Day-

Luke entered through the front door at the Independence Inn. He walked up to the front desk and greeted Mia.

"Hello Lucas," Mia greeted him.

"Hello Mia," he answered back.

"How's your father doing?"

"He's –uh- not doing well. The doctors don't have anything more they can do," he replied.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that? Is there anything I do?"

"Actually there is. Do you remember Lorelai?"

"Of course I do."

"Do you have her number?"

"Lucas, don't you chase her now. She's getting married in a month, don't confuse her."

"What? Mia, no, that's not- that's not why I need her number. My dad wanted to speak to her and see her again."

"Ok, for you father, anything."

-X-

Luke arrived home after leaving the inn. He set his keys on the counter next to the phone. He looked at the phone, contemplating whether or not to pick it up and call Lorelai. He could still remember the scent of her hair from that night five years ago where he had spent the night with her when she had that nightmare. Now, he just found out she was getting married. He pulled out the little slip of paper with her number scribbled on it.

"Well, it's now or never," he muttered to himself and picked the phone up off the receiver. He dialed the number and listened to the line ringing go on and on. Then he heard a man's voice answer.

"Hello?" the man answered.

"Uh, hi, is Lorelai there?" he hesitantly spoke.

"No, she's not. May I take a message?" Christopher grabbed a piece of paper.

"Yeah, sure, um- could you tell her that Luke Danes called from Stars Hollow? My dad would really like to see her and Rory. He isn't doing so well an-"

"Aren't you that baseball player?" Chris interrupted.

"Yeah, I am, was, but could you please tell Lorelai that my d-"

"They were talking about you on the radio today," Chris interrupted again. "You quit all of a sudden didn't you?"

"Could you please just give Lorelai the message that my father isn't doing well and wishes to see her and Rory?"

"Yeah, I could." Christopher spoke with suspicion.

"Alright then, thanks."

"Sure anytime," he cheerfully said.

After he hung up the phone, Christopher started to wonder if Lorelai was still working in Stars Hollow. How often did she go there? Did she ever have an affair with the baseball player? He tore up the paper that contained Luke Danes' message and discarded it into the waste basket. He wasn't going to lose Lorelai again.

-X-

TBC

I'm evil, I know. I just wanted to get an update in this year. LOL.

I will try my hardest to get this story as well as The Earth's off its Axis updated very soon. I also have more stories I want to post, but I don't have the time to sit down and write as I used to.

Please REVIEW!!!!!

Thanks!