Posting this in-between WCHB... its something to read while you pass the time...

On with the story...

Rory Gilmore looked across her bedroom to her wall. Tears ran down her face as she stared at the pictures that were hung there. The pictures were of her two year old daughter Jenny.

" Oh Jenny," Rory cried softly to herself. Oh how so missed her angel darling so much. Her precious daughter was gone.

Rory sat on her bed, alone. She'd been alone ever since her husband left her, two weeks ago, taking their daughter with him. He had abandoned her.

I should have known better than to get married at 18, Rory thought. I'm only 20 and I have a kid and a husband, who has left me. I'm only 20 and my mother, my best friend, has died.

Rory was presently living in an apartment in Hartford; the apartment that her husband and her had rented, since they'd gotten married, two years ago.

When her husband had left taking Jenny with him, he had taken all their money and their one credit card. Rory had nothing, just the apartment and a few basic things, such as food and clothes. Those things would be running out soon. Rory was broke and had nowhere to go.

Rory's mother, Lorelai, had died right before Jenny had been born. Rory had been so heartbroken she hadn't been sure if she would go though with her pregnancy, but she had. She had been so close to her mother.

Her father, Christopher had died many years before Lorelai. So Lorelai had remarried to a wonderful man and a good friend of the family, Luke. When Lorelai died a few years after their marriage Luke had gotten ill. Not physically but mentally as if he didn't want to go on after his Lorelai had died. Soon after Jenny had been born, Luke died.

Rory had lost everyone she loved in just a few years and now her precious daughter. She turned from the wall and looked at the picture on her nightstand next to her bed. It was a picture of Jenny and her husband Jess. Jess had been Luke's nephew. How Rory had loved him, but what he'd done was unforgivable. Traitor, Rory thought and cried anew.

After a few minutes Rory got up and went to get her laptop. It was the one important thing Jess had not taken. She got it and sat back on her bed. She opened it as she got an idea. Rory quickly logged unto the Internet and searched for Master Card's telephone number. She found it, then picked up her telephone and called the company.

" Hello. Master Card. Customer Service, how may I help you?"

Rory took a deep breath and said calmly, " I need to know my month's previous transactions, please."

" Sure, one moment please." There was a short pause as the woman typed something on her computer, getting the proper page.

" Ok," the customer service lady said. " For starters I need your name and your Master Card's account number."

Rory was grateful that she had memorized her account number.

" My name is Lorelai Leigh Mariano. My account number is 76845336."

Rory heard typing as she said her name and number.

" Maiden name?"

" Gilmore."

" Great. Ok. Well all the transactions are here. Would you like me to fax them to you?"

" Yes please," Rory said. Standing up and going towards her fax machine. A few minutes later a paper came out.

" Thank you very much, it came in," Rory said then hung up.

She looked at the page. The first transaction marked was the name of a hotel not far from here, still in Hartford. She looked at the next transaction. It was another hotel. Each transaction was for a one-night hotel room going west of Hartford. She looked down the page, reading each transaction, until she was at the last transaction. It was a gas station is California.

Rory sighed. California. That was so far away. Rory suddenly knew what she'd have to do. She needed to go there and bring her daughter back home.

Rory knew that her lease was up in two weeks. That gave her the perfect amount of time to do what she needed to do.

That night Rory stayed up all night separating her clothes. The ones she wanted, that where still in good condition, and the ones that she needed to get rid of. The good ones she packed in a huge suitcase. Rory soon fell asleep on the floor next to her clothes.

The next day Rory took the bus to Stars Hollow. It was hard going there since her mom and stepfather had died there. But she had to if she wanted to get her daughter back.

Rory got off the bus and walked down the well-known street. She avoided eye contact from the people and quickly walked to her destination. She didn't want people asking why she was there and she really didn't want to have to repeat herself more then once.

Rory walked until she was right next to Luke's Diner. It brought back good and bad memories. She walked into the store next to Luke's Diner, The Soda Shoppe. The owner saw her and ran over and hugged her.

" Hi. Taylor." Rory hugged him back.

" Rory! What are you doing here?" Taylor asked concerned.

A lot of people hated Taylor. Taylor could sometimes be annoying but deep down he was a teddy bear.

" I need to hold an emergency town meeting, Taylor."

Rory looked him straight in the face. " I'm serious and it's very important."

Taylor nodded. " I'll spread the news. Tonight at 7:00."

Rory thanked him then left.

At a quarter to seven Rory went to Miss. Patty's for the meeting. Taylor started the meeting then asked her to come up.

Rory was nervous. How would people react? Rory took a deep breath then walked up.

" Hello, everyone," Rory greeted them and then waited for them to greet her back.

" As you all know about two years ago my mother and stepfather died, and that my father had died many years before," they all nodded so Rory continued, " And you all know Jess and Jenny."

They nodded again. Rory smiled then continued. " Two weeks ago Jess took off with Jenny. He left and he took her without telling me," Rory heard many gasps.

" He also took all our money and our only credit card! But I traced him down; by checking the transactions he's made of our credit card. He's in California. The problem is I have no car and no money. I need help."

Miss. Patty, who was sitting down next to where Rory stood, said, " Rory, Dear, that's horrible. You need to get Jenny back. You can take my car and drive there. Don't worry about returning it fast, take your time."

Rory smiled and hugged Miss. Patty. " Oh thank you so much, Miss. Patty."

" Rory, Doll, you can borrow money from Mory, and me," Babette said and Mory nodded.

" Oh thank-you but I'm not sure when I could pay you back."

Babette smiled " You can pay us back whenever you can."

Rory smiled and nodded.

Gypsy and Andrew piped up. " Bring Miss. Patty's car to my shop and I'll take a look at it for you," Gypsy offered, " And I'll see if I have some road trip maps for you in my store," Andrew offered too.

Rory felt a tear roll down her face. After all the stuff she'd been through and the town still loved her.

" Thank you guys." They all nodded.

After the meeting Rory went to Miss. Patty's and got her car. Then drove back to Hartford.

The next day Rory went back to Stars Hollow and got the car checked up and got her road maps from Andrew. Then finished packing her stuff.

The last week before her lease was up Rory told her landowner that she was leaving. Near the end of the weekend, Rory had professionals move her furniture to a depot where they would keep it there for her for a fee.

That week, on her last day at her apartment she packed all her luggage into her car. Then she took off in a desperate plea to find her daughter… and her husband.