Gilmore Girls FanFic: Take Good Care of My Baby

April

The fog is thick, and there's a light rain coming down at the Hartford Cemetery. Lorelai and Rory stand together huddled under a black umbrella. A large group of people is gathered around the coffin of Emily Gilmore. There's a tent covering the funeral group, but Rory and Lorelai stand off from the rest of the crowd; they are ready to greet the mourners as they leave the gravesite.

An older woman approaches them. "I'm so sorry about Emily," she says as she takes Lorelai's free hand. "We were in the DAR together. I didn't even know she was sick! We hadn't heard from her in months." Lorelai gives her a smile, and the woman moves on.

Christopher approaches them slowly. He kisses both women on the cheek. "Hey, Chris," Lorelai says.

"I guess it would be inappropriate for me to show up at your house later with a bottle of booze," Christopher jokes. Lorelai tries to laugh, but her grief is too much for her. Her eyes fill with tears, and Christopher doesn't know what to do. Luke approaches them, and Christopher physically stiffens at the sight of him.

"Thanks for coming, Christopher," Luke says as he puts out his hand.

"Of course," Christopher says, surprised, as he shakes Luke's outstretched hand. "Emily was a force to be reckoned with."

Luke nods. "She sure was."

"Gigi is sorry she couldn't make it. She's in Paris with her mom for Spring Break." Christopher looks at Rory. "You feeling okay, kid?"

"Yeah, Dad, I'm okay. Thanks," Rory tells him. He kisses her cheek one more time and walks away.

"That was very nice of you," Lorelai says to Luke.

"Well, all that stuff was a long time ago. This is bigger than all of that," Luke tells her.

"I just can't believe she's gone," Lorelai says. "I can't believe she didn't tell us she was sick. How come she didn't tell us?" She's on the verge of more tears, but she purses her lips and greets the next group of people leaving the cemetery.

When everyone else is gone, Lorelai, Luke, and Rory make their way to the limo waiting for them. Berta appears out of nowhere and hands Lorelai a sealed envelope. "What is this, Berta?" Berta is too distraught to answer and quickly walks away. Lorelai looks down and sees her mother's familiar handwriting. The envelope simply reads, "Lorelai and Rory." She shows it to Rory, but puts it in her purse for later.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next day Lorelai sits at her kitchen table with the sealed envelope sitting in front of her. Rory walks in the door from her latest doctor's appointment.

"Are you ready to do this?" Lorelai asks her. Rory sits down next to her mother and stares at the envelope.

"I guess so," Rory says. Lorelai tears open the envelope and begins reading aloud.

Dear Lorelai, Rory, and my unborn great granddaughter,

If you're reading this, then I guess that means the cancer took me sooner than expected. I hope you at least have the good sense to read this at home and not at that greasy spoon of a diner."

"Man," Lorelai says. "Only my mother can judge me from beyond the grave." She keeps reading.

I'd hate to think of my last communication with you covered in sticky syrup with big coffee stains on the corner.

"As if I'm a child," Lorelai says, exasperated.

"Mom, just read the letter, please," Rory begs.

Sorry," Lorelai says before continuing.

I'm sure you're upset with me for not telling you about the cancer, but I did what I thought was best. I didn't want a big, dramatic goodbye filled with unnecessary sentiments. That's not the Gilmore way. But I did think it was only fair of me to write this letter in hopes that you would not be angry with me after my passing. Lord knows we don't need that to be the last thing on your long list of grievances against me, Lorelai.

I do want to tell you this—I love you. I know I did many things you thought were cruel or unnecessary, but I hope in the end you know I did them out of my love for you, my only daughter. I wish we had been closer over the years, but life sometimes doesn't work that way. I hope you can forgive me and remember me fondly.

And Rory, no grandmother was ever as lucky as I to have you in my life. You have been a joy and constant source of pride for me, even after you told me you were pregnant.

"Oh, geez," Rory says.

"Shhh, I'm reading," Lorelai tells her.

I can only hope you have the same relationship with your daughter as you do with your mother. I spent many years watching with envy the way you and your mother were so close. Cherish that child the way your mother cherishes you, and I know you will be just fine.

And finally to that precious baby I won't ever get to hold. Don't be like your mother and grandmother. Eat three, healthy square meals a day. Play a sport. Go to the theater—the real theater, not those germ-infested movie theaters. And for God's sake, don't get pregnant! Someone needs to carry the Gilmore name with pride and decency.

Thank you for being my family. I love you all.

Love,

Mom/Grandma