When You Need Me I Will Be There

Chapter 9

After what seemed like an eternity, Lucas released her from their embrace. He noticed she wasn't crying but she did look sad and lost.

"Rory, like I said before, I will be here for you"

" I know and you have no idea how much that means to me after everything that's happened."

"Have you decided what you're going to do?"

"Yes, I'm keeping this baby."

"OK"

"I'm just so scared Lucas".

"I know you are, but you are not alone."

"Everyone keeps saying that"

"It's because it's true Rory."

Rory again went over to Lucas and he just held her tight.

"Shhh Rory, everything will be all right I promise."

Lucas noticed a wet spot forming on his shoulder. It broke his heart to see her like this because of his brother. Lucas wanted to ring Nathan's neck for putting Rory in this position at this time in her life. He knew she didn't deserve what was dealt to her in her life, no one did. After a while the crying stopped and Lucas helped her sit back on the bed. With his arms still around her he decided to ask the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Lucas turned to her.

"Rory, what are you going to tell everyone?"

"I don't know yet"

"Who else knows besides me, Brooke, and Peyton?"

"No one, I'm still letting it sink in. I don't know how to tell them - especially my father. I'm afraid he'll look at me and see that I made the same mistake he did".

"Rory, I'm sure he'll love you just the same."

"He will, I just don't want to disappoint him."

"I know you don't."

Then Lucas hugged her again.

"Lucas I'm tired, I just want to go home".

"OK I'll take you."

"Thanks".

Then Rory got off the bed and headed downstairs to say goodbye to Brooke and Peyton. She found them in the kitchen eating ice-cream out of the tub.

"Hey guys I'm gonna go home, Lucas is taking me don't worry".

Brooke walked over to Rory and wrapped her in a tight hug.

"If you need anything at all I'm here."

"I know."

Then Peyton came up and joined them.

"Same goes for me Ror."

"Thank you for everything you've done, both of you."

Then the girls heard foot-steps on the stairs and turned and saw Lucas. Lucas nodded to them then turned to Rory.

"You ready to go?"

"Yeah"

Then she turned and waved goodbye to Brooke and Peyton . The ride was quiet, both of them unsure what to do or say next. They arrived and Lucas helped Rory to her room and tucked her in for a much needed rest.

"Rory, if you need anything at all call my cell"

"I know, and I will"

"Sleep well."

Then Lucas leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and turned and left the room.

He decided to head down to the Rivercourt to clear his head and to stop himself from killing Nathan. But when he got there, Nathan was on the court shooting baskets. At the sight of him Lucas' anger grew. Nathan heard someone step on to the court and he turned to see who it was. When he realized it was Lucas he got nervous. Lucas looked angrier than Nathan had ever seen him on or off the court.

"Hey Luke" Nathan said nervously

"How could you do that to her?"

"So you heard about me and Rory"

"Yeah I heard you left her for Haley, that's low man. Oh and you can tell Haley we are no longer friends."

"Why are you so bent out of shape about this?"

"You have the nerve to ask me why I'm so angry, Nate? You used Rory, you knew she loved you then you leave when things get too hard for you to handle."

"Look Luke I know you have feelings for her."

"That's beside the point Nathan. You leave her when she needs you the most. If I ever wondered if you took after Dan, I don't have to wonder anymore."

Then Lucas turned and left without saying another word, leaving a shocked Nathan behind wondering what he was talking about.

Meanwhile Rory had woken from her nap and was losing the little bit of breakfast she had eaten. She was dry heaving at the moment because there was nothing left in her stomach. She was so wrapped up in finishing so that she could feel normal again, she didn't hear the front door open and in walked her father in the front hallway.

"Rory sweetheart are you here?"

Christopher wasn't worried that she didn't respond he just figured that she was out with Nathan. But he had a gift for her that he found that was her mother's and by luck he had found it while cleaning out the Hayden mansion. He couldn't wait to give it to her because she had so few things of her mother's. So he went to Rory's bedroom to place the gift on her pillow. When he entered he saw the bathroom door open across the hallway a bit and the light on. So he thought to see if Rory had forgotten to turn off the overhead light again, which she did sometimes. What he found he wasn't prepared for. Rory was leaning against the tub; she was pale and had sweat running down her face. Christopher rushed over to her to help her stand.

"Rory honey are you all right?"

Rory just turned her head at the sound of his voice.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah sweetie it's me, are you ok?"

Rory didn't have time to respond as at that moment her body started dry heaving again.

Christopher was at a loss about what was wrong, so he just held her till she was finished and led her back to her room. He was worried, he had seen her sick before but it was never this bad. She was moaning and still looked ill . So he went to the bathroom and got a damp washrag to cool and calm her down. When he returned, Rory was rocking back and forth on her bed. Saying she was sorry that she didn't mean to. This got him more worried and had him thinking 'what exactly happened to his daughter while he was away.' He was desperate to find out, he was getting more worried by the moment about how she was acting. When he finally noticed her calming down and getting her color back, he decided to try and get some answers.

"Rory, what's going on? I'm scared for you"

Rory still in a fog replied "If I tell you, you'll hate me"

"Sweetheart I'll never hate you . I love you, you're my daughter, and whatever it is I'll help you"

"You promise?"

"Yes sweetheart."

"Daddy I'm so scared and I don't want to disappoint you but you have to know it was a mistake. I never wanted it to happen to me."

"OK so just tell me"

"Nathan broke my heart, we're over, and I'm pregnant".

Christopher didn't know how to respond to what his daughter had just told him. The thought that kept going around in his head was not my daughter. Not Rory. Christopher finally understood what his and Lorelai's families felt when they found out Lorelai was pregnant with Rory. But there was one big difference from what happened sixteen years ago - he would not abandon his daughter. He would support her. Then Rory's voice brought him back to the present.

"Dad say something please"

Then Christopher came out of his haze.

"I'm sorry sweetie you just shocked me".

"I know, I'm sorry, really I am. I never thought that I would repeat the mistake mom did".

"Sweetheart you were never a mistake and these things happen."

"But think about every thing you gave up for me Dad. You were sixteen."

"Rory, I couldn't picture my life without you in it. You gave me a reason to break away from where my family wanted me to head with my life."

"Dad, would you hate me if I said I that I want to keep my baby like you kept me."

"No honey I'll support any decision you make".

"Thank you".

Christopher was sad that Rory had to go through the same thing the he and her mother had to endure but he knew she was strong and could handle it. He would be there the whole time for her. Rory seemed to calm down once she knew her father wasn't angry and that he understood. Now all she had to deal was telling Nathan but she knew what his reaction was going to be but whatever the outcome, she was prepared to be a single a parent if that's what it came down to. Christopher could see her brain working on the next problem at hand and he decided to voice what they both were thinking.

"You're worried about how Nathan is going to react, right?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Easy honey, you're always worried about others before yourself".

"Yeah I know he'll act like his father. I mean he never truly loved me. He was just using me to get a reaction from

Lucas".

"I'm sorry honey".

"I just can't believe I was so stupid to fall for his act."

"Rory you are not stupid you followed your heart".

"Look where that got me - broken hearted and pregnant."

"So when are you going to tell him?"

"I don't know, I'm not sure I should".

"Sweetheart you need to. He has a right to know but it's his decision whether or not to be involved. But he needs to know."

"I know, I just don't want him to reject me or our child."

"I know honey".

"Dad, thank you for understanding."

"Rory I know what you're dealing with, never forget that. I would never do what my family did to me to you."

"I love you Daddy."

"I love you too sweetheart. Why don't you get some sleep or try to, it's getting late and we'll talk about this more in the morning."

"I'll try. Good night Dad".

"Good night sweetie."

Then Christopher kissed her forehead and left her to get ready for bed. As Rory was pulling back her covers she noticed a small box on her pillow she knew wasn't there before. So she took it and opened it and looked at the contents in the box. It was a small charm bracelet with a book, castle, and a mother and child charms. Rory lifted it out of the box and examined it. Then she noticed a piece of paper in bottom of the box which she then grabbed and unfolded and began to read it. She realized it was her mother's handwriting and her eyes began to fill with tears.

To my beautiful baby girl,

I found this one day when I was out. It symbolizes what I hope for life brings you . Knowledge, love and hope. I love you sweetheart, and I hope life gives you these things and so much more.

Love,

Mom

It was dated two weeks before she was born and again Rory wished her mother was here to help her.