Lorelai slammed the door of her jeep as she sat in the front seat. Her dad, dying? No. He couldn't be. He was her dad, he'd always been there. He couldn't just leave, that's not how her life was. She needs him, just as Rory and Liv need him. She'd just gotten her life together, she didn't need this changing things yet again.

And Emily - her mum needs him. What would she do without him? Richard grounds her, makes her happy, how could she be without him?

She gripped the steering wheel in frustration and let out a deep exhale as her vision blurred. Finally the tears fell as she let her head rest on the steering wheel for a few minutes, until she heard the passenger door open.

"Mom, it's me," Liv said when Lorelai didn't look up.

"I'm okay, honey, I just needed 5 minutes," Lorelai mumbled.

"You're allowed that, I just thought I'd check in on you. We're also ordering Chinese and didn't want to without you," Liv told her.

With raised eyebrows, Lorelai turned to face Liv, "my mother is going to eat a Chinese takeout?"

"She is indeed. Hell hasn't even frozen over yet as well."

"Well, I can't be missing that can I?" Lorelai smiled.

"Are you okay?" Liv asked, softly.

"It needs to sink in, I think," Lorelai said, "you all must think I'm selfish for my outburst."

"Mom, you're losing your dad. It's understandable for you to act like that. It was better than my reaction, anyway," Liv told her, slightly ashamed.

"Did you drink?"

"I was going to. I stopped though. I'm trying my best, it's hard," Liv sighed.

"All we ask is that you try, babe," Lorelai told her.

"Thanks, mom. Come on, let's go order," she smiled, climbing out of the jeep, Lorelai following her in.

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The Mariano's arrived home a few hours later, the younger two fast asleep and Ava drowsy. Lorelai decided she wanted her twins with her that night, which Liv understood. Jess carried one sleeping child in each arm, and Liv held a sleepy Ava's hand up the pathway to the house. They went upstairs together, got Ava ready for bed and tucked her in.

Liv smiled down at her eldest daughter as she yawned from the comfort of her bed, and brushed the dark hair out of her eyes.

"I'm sad. About Grandpa Richard," Ava yawned.

"I know, sweetie, me too. But we're going to see him a lot before he leaves us, okay? We'll make sure you have lots of memories to look back on when you're older, how does that sound?" Liv whispered, worried that a higher volume would cause her voice to break.

"Good," Ava yawned, rolling over to go to sleep.

Liv sat for a few moments regaining herself, before reaching to turn of the lamp. As she reached the door she heard Ava's small voice again.

"If you're sad you can tell me. I'll cheer you up."

Liv smiled, sadly, "thank you, baby. I love you."

She shut the door quietly, and saw that Jess had gone back downstairs and did the same. She walked to where he was making hot chocolates, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind him, resting her head on his back and closing her eyes.

"Did Jessie and James get to bed okay?" She mumbled into his shirt.

"Didn't wake up once. How's Ava?" He said.

"Sad. She understands more than the other two. I think she'll be okay, though," Liv said, pulling back and picking up one of the hot chocolates.

Jess reached up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "how are you doing, beautiful?"

"As mom said earlier, it hasn't really sunk in yet. I know I'm sad but I haven't really accepted what's happening, if that makes sense?"

"Perfect sense. I don't want to argue but after earlier I feel like I need to say this...don't turn to drinking, please. I'm not mad or anything, but this is going to be a hard few months. Don't let it set you back. I'll be here for you the whole time and we can work through it all together," Jess said, tentatively.

Too tired to argue, Liv shook her head, "I won't, I promise. Tonight was just impulse, I knew straight away it was stupid."

"Good. Let's drink these and go to bed, yeah?" Jess suggested, leading her into the lounge.

"Perfect."

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Rory shut the door of the apartment behind her and Alex and leant against it exasperatedly. The shock of losing get another person was hard, at least this one she was going to be prepared for, but still.

Alex placed her hand on Rory's shoulder gently, "hey, mom. Come and sit with me."

They got to the couch, and Rory looked into Alex's eyes, before bursting into tears. Alex wrapped her arms around her, rubbing her arm as she tried to calm her down. They stayed like this for a few minutes, until Rory calmed down enough.

"I'm sorry, I-"

Alex grabbed her hand, "stop, let me talk. I know I haven't been the easiest to live with, to be responsible for, but you've done it well the past 10 years and I'm so grateful. But you're going through a lot, and this time it's my turn to look after you. And that's not just regarding Richard, but anything you need, okay?"

Rory nodded her head, grateful.

"Right, I say we have an early night and then tomorrow we stay in our pyjamas and watch films and have a girls' day?" Alex suggested.

Rory smiled and nodded again, "just what I need."

I updated!! Sorry it's a short one, however. I will be updating tomorrow, the next chapter is already written. Determined to get this done for you guys! Love you all xoxo