"Lorelai," Said Tom as he came and collapsed beside her pulling Lorelai impossibly close to him, kissing her neck, completely unable to get enough of his new fiance, "I love you so fucking much,"
"I don't think I've ever heard you swear before," panted Lorelai, as he continued to kiss her neck, "I rather like it,"
"I'll take note of that," Said Tom, as the warmth brought by her presence pooled within him, fillig him up and making him feel whole, "You are so beautiful,"
He continued to kiss her, her neck, her chest, her lips, he just could not stop touching her, and eliciting the most beautiful sounds from her,
"So, when we get married," Said Tom as he kissed down her stomach, until he was right between her legs,
"If this is a trailer, I'm excite- Oh fuck," Said Lorelai when he licked her,
"We are going to get a home together," He said, "Anything you want, you can have,"
She moaned and whimpered as he licked her again, and put a finger inside her and begun to move it,
"All you have to do is be my wife," Said Tom as her moans got louder,
"I already agreed to that, just, please, please," She called, gripping the sheets and her back arched as he hit the spot that was essentially a promised pass to euphoria, "Please, Tom!"
"Please what?" He asked, "What do you want?"
"Just fuck me again, please, fuck me, make me come, oh my fucking go-" She yelled, and Tom was hard again so he kissed her as he entered her, and he had to admit the hole making her orgasm as he entered her was far better than having to wait,
Her nails dug into his back, because she couldn't control it, and Tom loved it, Tom loved her, he was semi convinced that even without the feeling of warmth she brought he would still love her. She was everything he wasn't, and she was all his.
He came and he was down beside her again, and this time she pulled him close.
"I love you, you know that?" She asked,
"I might need some convincing,"
"Oh yeah?"
"In the morning maybe."
--
Tom was worried. He was at work at the front desk and he was thinking. He'd had a good morning. A really good morning, that had involved Lorelai's mouth on his- it was unimportant now because he was worried.
Who would he invite to the wedding?
How would he fill out his groomsmen?
He couldn't invite his knights. Because, well, Lorelai was a muggle. A muggle who was very pretty, and so funny, and so compassionate, and so- the whole love thing was rather foreign to him so the little things that happened throughout the day that reminded him of her hit hard.
He'd smiled at a chipped mug in the billings office because it reminded him of how much Lorelai had laughed when he'd broken one of her mugs and had apologized. He hadn't been able to fix it with magic because Lorelai had been in the room, but she just laughed at his expression and put the date on the mug, placing it on a higher shelf,
Tom couldn't go two goddamn hours without thinking about her,
Maybe if they eloped? No, Lorelai seemed the traditional type.
Plus her family would not hear of it. Eloping? A Meira?
Then there was the matter that Tom did not want to deal with her niece and nephew as much as she hoped he would.
But Tom also knew that there were oh so many risks to legally binding himself to her.
If her brother died, which was more than likely when it came down to it, he would also be considered a legal guardian. And he did not want to have children that weren't his.
If he was going to be stuck raising anyone's kids, they would be Lorelai's and his. And they would have her features and his dark green eyes and hair, and they would be so happy. Fuck! He had to stop thinking about her,
Tom and Lorelai Riddle.
That sounded nice didn't it? Focus, Voldemort, you are a future evil dark lord who will one day take over the wizarding world who will also have a secret family.
A secret beautiful wife who gave him such perfect love. Tom looked over his next object for a Horcrux, and then Lorelai would make it all better again.
Lorelai made everything better. Even when he read his magic books in bed as she caught up on sleep in his arms, she didn't even say anything and yet she made it more enjoyable.
Tom also enjoyed how late she came home sometimes, or how she was out when he was out, because Lorelai didn't even know how late he came home. She wasn't suspicious of anything. She thought he was perfect.
--
"Is this man perfect?" Asked Val as she looked at Lorelai's ring in the breakroom of the hospital, "And he cooks for you?"
"He doesn't let me cook." Said Lorelai,
"I can understand that but still," Said Val, "Are you going to quit your job now?"
"Absolutely not." Said Lorelai and literally everyone in the breakroom took a breath of relief, because she did everything she could to help including taking graveyards no one wanted so she could take some weekend days off,
And she was generally a nice person. Who was one of the most caring people in the world even by nurse standards,
"Thank the lord," Said Val, "I wonder when Micheal will propose. We've been dating for like six months."
"Soon then. I see how he looks at you." Said Lorelai, looking at her own engagement ring fondly. She really loved Tom.
When they were together it was like their was a veil between them and the rest of the world. And he was the best person to sleep on. He was just so full of warmth.
"I'm sure," Said Val, as Lorelai finished her coffee,
"I have some afternoon rounds to complete, and you needed me to take your shift?" Said Lorelai,
"Yeah, I really need to have a good and proper date night with Mike, You know some dating. At night." Said Val, losing herself in her own coffee cup, "With some dating. At night. In bed with the clothes, just gone,"
"I catch your drift. In fact I caught it so good that they are making me wide receiver for an american football team," Said Lorelai,
"You suck at analogies." Said Valerie and Lorelai nodded,
"And I accept that." Said Lorelai, "Have a fun date night."
"I will." Said Val, as Lorelai left the breakroom, clipboard in hand, she stopped at the nurse's station to pick up some magazines and some coloured pencils that her patients had asked for,
"Nurse Meira?" Said Doctor Scott and she turned around and braced herself for what would come next, "I need you to get blood samples from these patients, and assist at the blood drive on Saturday,"
"Do we not have a phlebotomist on hand?" She asked,
"But you always find the vein on the first try, sweetheart," Said Doctor Scott, "You'll make more money if you go,"
"I need to go to my nephew's soccer match, can't miss it." Said Lorelai, tucking everything into her pockets, "It's at two, I can stay until one thirty,"
"I appreciate the initiative, I trust you will tell the other nurses how to do it, sweetheart?" Doctor Scott said and Lorelai gave him a thin lipped smile before turning away, "Oh, and there's a new Surgeon from Oxford with us. Doctor Sampson? Give him a warm welcome, okay?"
"Will do," She called over her shoulder as she walked down the hall.
Lorelai turned the corner and walked into the room in the children's ward,
"Lorelai, thank god. She is driving me crazy," Said Tony Morello, sitting up in his bed, Maria in the bed next to his crossed her arms over her chest and frowned,
"Driving you crazy? You're the one who says that cherry is an acceptable flavour of jello," Said Maria Santos,
"Look at it this way, because Tony gets the cherry, you always get the last lime," Said Lorelai, passing them each their favourite flavour of jello, "Can you imagine the wars if you both liked the same flavour?"
"Mayhem," Said Maria defeatedly, "You brought me magazines?"
"Yes of course, I am like santa only I don't get the cool suit," Said Lorelai passing her the magazines, before giving the coloured pencils to a now chipper Tony,
"I love coloured pencils," Said Tony, and Lorelai passed him blank sheets of paper on the tray over his bed and for the first time since he had been diagnosed, he seemed excited,
It had taken Lorelai a while to get to know what he liked. He had been so down and it had taken a lot of asking and questions to his mum to figure out that Tony had a small passion for art.
"Thank you, Lorelai," He said,
"No problem, and I'm sure Maria will let you use her magazines as reference photos," Said Lorelai and Maria sighed,
"Fine, but I want a portrait," Said Maria,
"But I'll have to use so many colours on your eyes," Said Tony before turning a particularly bright shade of pink and turning to Lorelai, "How are you?"
"I'm good, remember you have your chemo session at four I'll take you," Said Lorelai, and he nodded as she checked his vitals, and switched his IV,
"I like it when you take me. Nurse Carry always misses my vein." Said Tony, too excited over the pencils to be paying her much mind,
"It's nice to be appreciated,"
"Some day I am going to be a famous star," Said Maria, "And I am going to wear this dress,"
Maria showed Lorelai the picture of Rita Hayworth in a fabulously expensive dress,
"It's gorgeous, and worth more than my flat. You'll remember me won't you? When you're a big star?" Asked Lorelai, checking Maria's vitals,
"You'll have a chapter in my memoirs, I'll call it Hindsight and whatnot," Said Maria, causing both Lorelai and Tony to laugh,
"That is the single most exceptional name for a memoir I have ever heard." Said Lorelai, "You'll be having your session with Everlee,"
"Everlee?" Said Maria disappointed, "Can't I take it with Tony?"
"I don't control the schedule," Said Lorelai, "That would be doctor Scott,"
"I hate that guy." Said Tony, scowling now,
"He's just had a stick up his- I shouldn't say, it's too rude," Said Lorelai, and the two thirteen year olds laughed, "Arse. You're old enough."
They laughed again and her heart warmed, she was happy that they were happy. In her eyes, this was her purpose in life. Putting as much good into the universe as possible.
Essentially the opposite of the dark lord. But she didn't know it.
--
Lorelai walked into the flat and he knew something was wrong. She just walked to the sink and washed her hands, Tom came up behind her and she leant into him.
"I lost a patient." She whispered, "It was a terminal case, and there was nothing I could have done, but I just-"
Lorelai shut her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
"I wish I could have done more." Said Lorelai as Tom wrapped his arms around her,
"It's okay. Part of the job, right?" He said, bringing her over to the bathroom and starting the shower,
"I just,- It just- I hits me every time. How can perfectly good people be taken out of the world so quickly?" Asked Lorelai as Tom undid her hair and her dress, removing all her clothing before nudging her into the shower,
When her back was turned he magically removed his own clothing and walked in after her, wanting to help her wash away all the grief she felt for her patient,
Because they had a very caring and romantic relationship. At least in the beginning.
--
Tom had gone away on a business trip, he said he would be gone for two weeks. Lorelai was on week three.
Lorelai practically ran up the steps to Dahlia's dance class, and checked her watch, right on time, and right on time to take in all the judgemental stares of stay at home moms,
"Hey," said Lorelai awkwardly, and they all looked away and she checked her uniform,
She didn't have any bodily fluids on her or anything so why were they looking at her like that?
The door was opened and the moms plus Lorelai walked in, and Dahlia smiled running over to her and hugging her legs,
"I love it when you're on time," said Dahlia,
"You did get me a watch for Christmas last year, I got the hint," said Lorelai as Dahlia didn't let go, the watch was small and plastic but Lorelai still used it, "Are you okay, Dahlia?"
Lorelai removed Dahlia's arms from her legs and crouched to her level only to have Dahlia hug her tighter than before, Lorelai hugged back and furrowed her eyebrows,
"What is it?" She asked, and Dahlia sniffled,
"I don't want to go home." She said, "Don't make me go home,"
"Come on, we'll get something to eat and you can tell me everything," said Lorelai, trying to stand up but Dahlia wouldn't let her, "Oh, Dahlia, What's happened?"
"Can't I come and live with you, Auntie Lorelai, please?" Said Dahlia,
"She's been dreading the end of class, won't tell me why." Said Madame Francine, "Lorelai, What is going on at home?"
"My brother has another baby on the way," she said, "The mother is um, a unique individual,"
She actually felt Dahlia begin to cry a little, and she hugged her back tightly,
"It's not that." Whispered Dahlia,
"Dahlia, What would make you feel better right now?" Asked Lorelai soothingly,
"Nothing permanent. I'm still going to have to go home eventually," said Dahlia,
"Have you talked to your daddy about this?" She asked,
"Daddy is always trying to make Hope happy, he doesn't care about us anymore." Said Dahlia, "And Grandma has been taking care of him again, somethings wrong,"
"Madame Francine do you have a phone?" Asked Lorelai,
"Yes, it's in the office," she said,
"Would you mind watching Dahlia for a minute while I make a call? Like do you have a puzzle or a colouring book, or a third year university text book?" Asked Lorelai,
"I have some books," said Madame Francine, everyone else had left, and Dahlia was the ballet teacher's absolute favourite, so she was a little nicer to her,
Lorelai smiled, "Dahlia I'm going to call your Daddy and tell him that you are staying with me tonight, okay?"
Dahlia sniffled and nodded, removing her arms from Lorelai's neck, Lorelai walked into the office and found the phone, she dialled Darren's house number,
"Hello?" Came her mother's voice,
"Mum? It's me, Lorelai. Is Darren using again?" Asked Lorelai quietly,
There was a long silence, and she heard her mother sigh,
"We didn't want to worry you. With your engagement, and everything at work," said her mother, "We just wanted you to be happy,"
"Mum, Darren needs help, more help than you or I can give him," said Lorelai, "And you need to tell me these things. I'm part of the parenting team for those kids, and let's face it, Hope sucks."
"I figured you'd want to be fazed out of their lives. After all you'll be starting your own family soon enough," said her mother,
"I will never turn my back on people who need me." Said Lorelai, "Mum, Dahlia is in tears because Hope is cruel and she doesn't think her father cares about her. I assume Danny is worse. If we put Darren in a facility, then he can get better,"
"What about the new baby? It's two months away," said her mother,
"Mum. Please. It has to be done." Said Lorelai, "I'm taking the kids tonight. I'll be by for Danny as soon as possible, and you are going to talk to Darren,"
"I'll give him the phone now, talk to him yourself," said her mother,
"Heyyy, Lor, I'm so happy right now," said Darren, and Lorelai took a deep breath,
"Why don't your kids think you love them?" Asked Lorelai, ignoring the waver in his voice, he was going to listen to her god damnit.
"But I do love them." He said,
"Why don't they know that?"
"Kids are stupid," said Darren,
"Not yours. And why are you letting Hope be mean to them? It's not okay." Said Lorelai, "Darren? Are you using again?"
"No...... maybe. What's it to you?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Asked Lorelai,
"You're engaged now, and mum says that when a woman finds a man her priorities change, and I shouldn't lean on you as much anymore," Said Darren,
"Darren, you can lean on me as much as you want, because I am your sister, and no man will ever change that. You're kids don't think that you care about them. And Hope is so mean. She spent her entire baby shower bullying me. I set the thing up. I am taking the kids tonight and you and mum are going to have a conversation about getting you real help." Said Darren,
"Look at you, taking care of me," Said Darren, "When was the last time someone took care of you?" Asked Darren, and Lorelai rolled her eyes,
"It doesn't matter. But Darren. This is the last time I am asking you this, because you are playing a dangerous game,"
"Ha, a dangerous game, like biking, or football. Oh, Danny plays football, lol," Said Darren,
"What does Lol mean?" Asked Lorelai,
"How should I know? I'm high out of my mind right now, the view from up here is really nice."
"I'll come get Danny soon." Said Lorelai, "And you are going to a facility, because you have a problem."
"The view must be nice from that high horse of yours." Said Darren, "God, do you know what it's like to disappoint someone as perfect as you?"
"I'm not perfect, Darren." Said Lorelai,
"No, you are, and that's good. Because I'm not," Said Darren, "And my kids love you more than me."
"No they don't. You are their father. And you can talk about all this with your therapist. That I am going to find you," Said Lorelai,
"I love you, Lor, you are the bestest, the bester, the oh look a butterfly," Said Darren,
"Love you too, Darren." Said Lorelai, hanging up the phone, and taking a shaky breath,
"Lorelai," Said Madame Francine, "Is your brother sick or,"
"He's got a disease." Said Lorelai, sighing, "I should take Dahlia to mine,"
"I think you should try to get custody of Dahlia and your nephew."
-
Week four of Tom not being back, Lorelai's mother had a stroke. She was in stable but serious condition and Darren had fallen off the wagon. Again. Hope had started an affair with her old choreographer so that was fun.
Leaving Lorelai to take care of the kids, and having the actual authority to put Darren in a rehabilitation centre,
Which she did.
It was the right thing to do.
She was at work, and there was someone at her desk at the nurse's station,
"Can I help you?" Asked Lorelai, and the doctor looked up and smiled,
"I'm the new surgeon, Doctor Sam Sampson," he said, and she smiled politely,
"Can I ask what you're doing at my desk, Doctor Sampson?" She asked walking over and grabbing the files she would need for her afternoon patients,
"I was looking for a nurse, and I just got distracted," he said, "Are these your children?"
"No, no, they're my brother's. but I love them like they're my own," said Lorelai, "Can I help you with anything?"
"I was wondering if you knew where the patient file was on the Mrs Martins?" He asked and Lorelai found it in a matter of seconds, "Thank you,"
"So your name is Sam Sampson?" She asked, an amused smile on her face,
"Doctor Sam Sampson." He said, "It's okay to laugh,"
"Thank god," said Lorelai, laughing a little bit as she attached documents to her clipboard, "Your parents must have known what they were doing to you,"
"They never predicted my meeting a pretty nurse who found my name funny," he said, and she wasn't paying attention at that moment,
She was thinking about all her finances and then someone was wheeled by in dire condition, and her heart stopped,
Did Darren try to kill himself? She followed along, ignoring Sam, and turned to the Doctor,
"What's wrong with him?" She asked,
"Overdose," said the Doctor, "We are getting him to emergency care, there are nurses on staff, you aren't needed,"
"It's my brother." She said, keeping up easily,
"Even more reason, a conflict of interest." Said the Doctor, "Well take good care of him Lorelai. Don't worry."
Lorelai stopped walking and let them pass her, tears beginning to form in her eyes,
Maybe she had done something wrong, making him receive professional help. Maybe this was all her fault. And now she was alone.
Tom wasn't back. Maybe he would never come back. Maybe he had left her and this was her hour of need, and he was just gone.
"Nurse Meira?" Said Sam as he caught up to her on his way to the stairs, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," said Lorelai, "I'm just going to use the ladies room if you'll excuse me,"
She walked away and into the bathroom, tears flowing down her face now as she shut the stall door. Lorelai held her head in her hands and shut her eyes tightly.
Darren was her best friend, and brother.
What if he didnt make it? It would be the first time in their lives that they were truly separated. They'd gone to war together, they could always make the other smile.
Not to mention his two kids would be left to Lorelai and her mother to raise. They wouldn't be okay loosing their father so young,
And what if her mother didn't make it? Then Lorelai would truly be on her own.
She tried to breathe deeply but it was no use. Because Lorelai would be the one who had to break it to Daniel and Dahlia that their father was an in patient at a hospital in a bad condition, that is if he even made it at all.
Lorelai took a deep breath and walked over to the sink and washed her face, she could get through this. Lorelai Meira could get through anything.
And there were people who needed her more than she felt desperation.
Lorelai would never turn her back on people who needed her.
Unlike her fiancé who was the reason the world would need saving.
-
Week five of Tom not being home, Lorelai was helping Daniel with his multiplication homework while Dahlia, quote, 'wrote a new form of government'.
"I hate math," said Daniel, erasing the numbers on the page,
"And I hate taxes but without them the world would fall apart, now seven times two is," she said,
"Fourteen,"
"Good, and three times seven is..?"
"Twenty-One," said Daniel, "And then four is twenty eight, and eight is fifty six, can I draw now please?"
"And seven times nine is?" She asked,
"Sixty three." He said and she smiled, handing him paper,
"Perfect, I'm going to-"
"Please don't cook dinner," said Daniel, and she sighed,
"I was going to order pizza but that attitude demands a classic potluck dinner," said Lorelai, standing up and smiling as both kids groaned, "Kidding, kidding, Mrs Kravits across the hall made too much spaghetti, and I know that's your favourite,"
"I love it. Is it string? Is it food?" Said Danny, smiling at his aunt,
"Only God knows," said Lorelai, and Danny laughed a little,
"Auntie Lorelai, do you have any glitter?" Asked Dahlia, "Also where's Tom, and more importantly, where is the glitter?"
"The glitter is in the drawer and Tom is on a business trip, but most importantly I got new glitter, and I don't want you to get it in your hair," said Lorelai, as Dahlia hopped off the chair and opened the crafts drawer, grabbing the new pink glitter,
"I love it." She breathed as she returned to the table,
"Good." Said Lorelai, "I'm going to get the spaghetti from Mrs Kravits,"
Lorelai left for a few moments,
"Where is Tom?" Asked Danny,
"I don't know, but business trip seems phony,"
"Do you think they broke up?" Asked Danny,
"Probably," said Dahlia,
"Do you think it was because of us?" Asked Danny,
"No." Said Dahlia, "There's something else afoot."
"Afoot?"
"Auntie Lorelai bought me a dictionary," said Dahlia, "remember when you got the sketchbook?"
"Right, right." Said Danny as Lorelai returned with a big bowl of spaghetti,
"Dinner is served," said Lorelai, setting the bowl on the counter and getting plates out,
-
It was the middle of the night when it happened. Lorelai was in bed asleep when suddenly this seeding cold feeling broke through her. It was as though her entire body was ice for a fleeting moment and then nothing.
Lorelai sat up on her pull out bed and looked to the window, but it was shut, and then suddenly her ring felt hot. Truly scalding hot, so she took it off her finger, and the feeling went away,
Lorelai then looked at the ring and she felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. No love, no hate.
She used to be filled with boundless amounts of joy but now it was nothing. She looked at it and all she could feel was the slow beating of her own heart. She felt no connection to Tom.
She felt nothing.
There was no veil between them and the rest of the world, there was simply a complete and utter lack of feeling. And it scared her.
She'd fallen in love rather abruptly, but to fall out of it so soon?
The man had been gone for five and a half weeks at this point, so maybe he had simply left her.
Maybe this was for the best.
Lorelai set the ring down by the couch and lay down again. She felt where it used to be and felt nothing. No love for Tom Riddle, like there was this teather that had connected them that was just gone now.
She shut her eyes and tried to go back to sleep and then a knock came at the door, she got up and opened it to see Tom Riddle.
He looked to be on the brink of death again. Only this time it seemed worse. He pulled her close to him, hugging her, and she grabbed her keys from the end table by the door and pushed him into the hall,
"Where the hell have you been?" Asked Lorelai,
"Business trip ran long," he said, as warmth pooled within Tom, he touched her skin and then something odd happened.
As his skin warmed, hers cooled, he ignored it and looked into her eyes, but there was no love there,
Only concern.
"That's not an excuse, Tom. I thought you'd left me. And, and-" Said Lorelai, "I don't love you anymore."
His heart shattered, because she spoke the words so decidedly and with so much honesty that her words struck like arrows,
"What?"
"I don't love you anymore. My mother and brother are in the hospital and you look like you are so hungover you could die," said Lorelai, "I'll fetch your family ring. Wait here."
She unlocked the door and walked into her flat, but he didn't wait there, he followed her in,
"You mean you don't want to marry me?" Asked Tom,
"I want to marry for love," said Lorelai, "So no. I don't want to marry you."
She handed his ring back to him but he refused it. He shook his head, and frowned, gripping Lorelai's exposed arm, warmth budding beneath his skin as it was drained from hers,
Lorelai winced and tried in vain to pull her arm away,
"You aren't the only person who gets a say in this." He almost snarled at her with the last of his strength, this hadn't been what he was expecting to come home to,
He expected a warm hug, and a warm bed, and some good old fashioned nursing back to health, but now she was calling off their engagement without an ounce of regret in her words,
"What are you going to do? Force me down the aisle?" She hissed, pulling her arm away, "You've been gone for nearly four more weeks than you said you'd be gone for. My brother and mother are in the hospital, and if you can't tell, I've got two kids in the bedroom asleep who don't need another inconsistent presence in their lives. So I'm asking you to get out."
"Lorelai, you are going to be marrying me, and the question you should be asking yourself isn't how I am going to fit into your life it's how those kids are going to fit into ours. They aren't your responsibility,"
"Get the fuck out of my flat now." Said Lorelai, an expression of hurt and anger crossing her delicate features,
"Why?"
"Because I love them more than I've ever loved you," said Lorelai, "And your suggestion that I abandon them in favour of a man who abandoned me for over a month shows you never knew me at all."
She pushed him out of her flat and shut the door in his face, locking it as many times as she could, he knocked on the door again,
"I'm sorry, Lorelai, I didn't mean it, I love you," said Tom desperate to see her smile, and feel her arms around him once more,
"Well I don't love you." He heard her from the other side of the door, and he left,
How was it even possible that she didn't love him anymore? How could his soulmate fall out of love with him?
-
"Doctor Scott slipped on a banana peel," said Valerie smiling at a very stressed out Lorelai who was trying to budget her life without Darren's extra income, "What's with the worry brow? Tom still giving you trouble?"
"Yes, and it sure was fun explaining all that to Dahlia and Daniel, really cherry on top stuff," said Lorelai.
"I got a picture," said Val, showing a picture of Doctor Scott slipping on a banana peel to her and Lorelai laughed,
"Make me a copy, oh please, make me a copy," said Lorelai,
"Afternoon, ladies," said Doctor Sampson, walking into the breakroom,
"Afternoon," they said in unison,
"This is the best thing to happen since glitter was invented," said Lorelai,
"Glitter?" Asked Val, and Lorelai pulled out Dahlia's new form of government with the glittery pink flowers in the corner, "Ah yes, glitter,"
"You see, Dahlia's moved on from wanting to marry into the monarchy, she wants to abolish the monarchy and instate a democracy, without electoral colleges," said Lorelai,
"Are you sure she's five?" Asked Val, as Lorelai refolded the paper and slid it back into the notebook containing her finances,
"Her birthday is next week, does that explain it?" Asked Lorelai,
"I'm not even that smart." Said Val, "What are you going to get her?"
"Well you know, she asked for a pony and for her father to come home, so I'm trying to think of the cheapest way to buy her a pony," said Lorelai, her lips forming a tight line, "So far its a stuffed animal,"
"But this is Dahlia, wouldn't she rather meet the prime minister?" Asked Val,
"No, are you kidding? She says that she does not wish to meet any member of the government until she's thirteen." Said Lorelai, "I so wonder what its like to have money."
"If I had a million dollars, do you wanna know what I'd do?" Asked Val,
"More than anything,"
"I'd buy a car and just live my life as one of those nurses without borders, you know? That and pay for my wedding, my mum's surgery, and gas, and electricity," said Valerie,
"Let's focus on the driving thing. Where would you go?" She asked,
"All over Europe. Now that the wars over. See how it all changed," she said, "See if I can find any unexplored bombs, that was an ill placed joke and I apologize."
"Thank you." Said Lorelai, "I think I would buy my mom a new house. I mean the one she's got has been falling apart my entire life, and then I would-"
"Pay for everyone else to do whatever, I know all that philanthropic crap, but what's the first selfish thing that you'll do? Or at least fun." Said Val,
"I would go to Italy. I always wondered what it would look like without war and all," said Lorelai, "Or no, I would go to Paris and get all the free cheese I could just for wearing a low cut top,"
Val laughed, Lorelai was a great person and friend, and she appreciated it,
"I'll come with you, and we can get free chocolates too," said Valerie, "And French men are meant to be so good in-"
"Aren't you engaged?" Asked Lorelai,
"What? That French actor from that one movie is on my exemption list," said Valerie,
"What about you, Doctor Sampson? What would you do with a million dollars?" Asked Lorelai, looking at him where he stood in thought by the coffee pot, he looked up and his face heated a little when he saw the pretty nurse from a week or so ago was looking at him,
"Buy a plane," he said, and she smiled before turning back to her conversation,
"Good answer." Said Valerie, "We've been thinking so small, Lorelai,"
"I know, with a plane we could go to Paris for breakfast, Spain for lunch , and Italy for dinner and then a hungover morning,"
"I thought you were sober,"
"I'm talking about you, Val, who do you think will hold that fabulous hair of yours back?" Asked Lorelai,
"Micheal." She sighed happily, Lorelai checked her watch, she had five minutes left, she looked back down at her finances,
It did not help that Hope was divorcing Darren and was looking to take literally everything from him.
"Hey, do you know a lawyer?" Asked Lorelai, looking at Valerie,
"The only lawyer I know is my sister's public defender who day drinks out of a coffee cup, and mishandled the evidence to an extent that he's in jail too." Said Valerie,
"Huh, I was thinking more a divorce attorney to speak on behalf of my brother who is hopefully cheaper than a hot drink in summer," said Lorelai,
"That would be my sister's public defender. You can visit him in prison," said Valerie, "or do you leave a book on law out and hope Dahlia reads it and can be your defence."
"I would not put it past her." Said Lorelai,
"I know a lawyer," said Sam, garnering their attention, "My brother in law, I could give you his card."
Then Lorelai smiled, and he passed the card to her, his face hearing again, because when you go to school for a long time and then suddenly a pretty girl starts paying attention to you, you take notice,
"Thank you, seriously. All my sister in law has ever done is bully me as I threw her a baby shower," said Lorelai,
"Such a jerk move," said Valerie,
"No problem," said Sam, sitting next to her at the table, "He's a good guy,"
"You don't like him very much." Said Valerie,
"What?"
"Oh he did something to piss you off when you met him," said Lorelai,
"How did you know that?" Asked Sam,
"Were just good at reading people," said Valerie,
"I also know I cannot afford your brother in law. Because I am scant on money," said Lorelai, shutting the book of her finances,
"Dahlia get you word of the day toilet paper?" Asked Valerie,
"She made it."
-
Lorelai went to the coffee shop and of course there was Tom, waiting for her. And that wasn't just a conceded thought. He held her coffee in his hand.
"Can't I have this coffee place?" She asked, sighing as she walked over to him,
"Yes." Came Joel's voice from the counter before he dealt with his next customer,
"Lorelai, this is all a big misunderstanding." Said Tom, handing her the coffee and she smelt it, he hadn't put anything in it, "I didn't spike your coffee."
"I just like the scent of Coffee. Shocking I know." Said Lorelai, and Tom smiled at her, it truly was good to see her, and he didn't understand what he had done to mess up their bond. But he was convinced that he could win her back the old fashioned way.
"I missed you." Said Tom,
"I don't understand why it all just stopped. My love was so strong and I felt so connected to you and then all of a sudden, just nothing." Said Lorelai, looking at him, "I'm sorry."
"You still love me." He said, unable to grasp at the fact that somehow he had managed to alienate the one person who was a guaranteed source of love and affection.
"I really don't." Said Lorelai, "And I wouldn't want to lead you on. So this is goodbye, Tom."
He caught her wrist and felt the influx of heat beneath his skin but he also felt how hers cooled at his touch and how her cheeks seemed to lose colour.
Lorelai felt faint and had to sit down as Tom let go of her.
"I didn't mean to be gone so long." He said, as she drank her coffee and her skin warmed once more, "I didn't mean to suggest that you leave Dahlia and Daniel. Let me be there for you now. Let me make it up to you. Then maybe you could love me again."
"You left me. You put me through so much pain. Do you realize that, Tom? I thought that you had just up and left in my hour of need. No call. No mail. Just an absence. And now I guess I just associate you with that hurt. I'm sorry but that is the truth." Said Lorelai, "Thank you for the coffee,"
"Lorelai, this isn't over." Said Tom, a frown on his face as she left the coffee shop where they had spent so many happy moments together,
"Yes. It is."
-
Lorelai was staring at the bottom of her empty coffee mug, trying to mentally schedule the rest of her week.
"Nurse Meira?" Said Doctor Sampson, walking into the room and Lorelai snapped out of it,
"Oh I was just testing to see if I developed any supernatural powers, I haven't." She said, nodding, as she checked her watch to see she had five minutes of break time left,
"Right," said Doctor Sampson, "How was your niece's dance recital?"
"Good, she played the ice princess," said Lorelai,
"I was going to ask you if you knew any nice spots in the city," said the doctor and she was a little surprised,
"I know a few." She said,
"I'm just new to the city and you seem nice," said the doctor,
"What gave me away, my choice of profession?"
"No, no, more the fact that you haven't assaulted Doctor Scott yet," said Doctor Sampson,
"Yes that does require a certain level of inner peace," said Lorelai, nodding, "Where did you move here from?"
"Oxford," he said,
"Are you from there?" She asked,
"No, no, just went to school there," he said, "I'm from Nottinghill originally,"
Lorelai nodded and glanced at the time,
"You look familiar to me, did you serve?" She asked, and he nodded, "I was a nurse, maybe I saw you at some point,"
"I think I would have remembered you," he said, sitting across from her,
"Holy shit you're the guy who got drunk and sang put the blame on mane," she said, and he groaned as she smiled at him, "You are a true English Hero. I remember the Americans just cheered you on,"
"I blocked that out from my memory why can't you?" He asked,
"Because it was one of the best times of my war career." She said, still smiling, "I always wanted to meet you,"
"Why didn't you introduce yourself?" He asked,
"There just wasn't the time." Said Lorelai, shaking her head, "You know there was a whole ass war going on,"
"And you were doing something more embarrassing," he said, as her face heated,
"I was not." She protested,
"More embarrassing than getting drunk and singing and dancing on a table?" He asked,
"I didn't do anything," said Lorelai, shaking her head, "Oh, would you, my goodness, my break is over, I'm just going to go,"
She stood up and put her mug in the sink, rinsing it before setting it aside,
"I'll figure it out," said Doctor Sampson,
"Figure What out?" She asked, picking up her clipboard and walking out to the nurses station,
-
"You look so familiar," said Lorelai playfully, looking at Doctor Sampson, with narrowed eyes as he sat across from her in the break room, "Did you serve?"
"Yes," said Sam,
"That voice, oh I remember you, you're the guy who got drunk and sang blame it on mane, you were my hero," said Lorelai in faux surprise smiling at him, as Doctor Sampson, looked at the ground almost sheepishly,
"You should have said hi," he said, insisted more like,
"And get between you and your alcohol? I may have been at war but I never had a death wish," she said, and he smiled,
"Hey I was wondering if you would maybe-"
"Lorelai, your mother, her vitals," said Nurse Cary walking into the room and Lorelai's heart dropped, "They aren't good."
Lorelai checked her watch, she had ten minutes left of her break, and she stood up,
"Can I see her?" She asked, her face falling,
"Come on," said Cary as she left the room, Lorelai ran after her, and looked at her mum.
She'd never seemed so small, Lorelai begged her to stay, even demanded it, but in the end it was all futile. Sadie Meira was gone.
Tears were flowing freely down Lorelai's face, but she didn't sob, or wail. She couldn't do that in her place of work. Her mother had taught her better than that. She walked out of the room as doctors walked in to deal with the corpse.
Lorelai sat down and held her head in her hands. Her breaths were shaky and uneven.
She just remembered everything her mother had done, raising her, seeing both her children off to war, helping her through nursing school, helping her with her times tables,
The last hour she'd spent with her mother had been good though. She'd just put Dahlia and Daniel to bed, and they had watched Witness for the Prosecution.
Laughing at how ugly the lead was, and revelling in the Beauty of Marlene Dietrich.
How would she tell Darren when he woke up? How would she tell Dahlia and Daniel? Lorelai felt someone sit down next to her.
"I'm going to give you a hug." Said Sam, and Lorelai nodded, he pulled her close and hugged her tightly,
She felt good in his arms. To him it was perfect.
"Does it make you feel better if I tell you that my family owns a ranch with horses that you can bring your niece to on her birthday?" He asked, and she let out a bemused sound,
"A little."
-
Hope had divorced Darren. Just found a way to do it without him even signing the paper. She had money now. And she was gone from their lives with her rich choreographer husband.
Lorelai was trying to figure out what to do with her mother's house. She was in the dining room as Dahlia and Daniel played with the dollhouse, and she had her book of finances out.
If she sold the house then she'd be able to afford a nicer flat in a nicer neighborhood, and she might be able to send Dahlia to the gifted school her teacher had recommended, and get Daniel a real math tutor.
She could put him in art lessons and give them both a real shot in life.
Lorelai, sighed and looked at her childhood home, it had been falling apart since the moment she was born. But her father didn't believe in paying someone to fix something that you could yourself.
She wrote down the estimated cost of the house and how much money would be in her pocket. Because she needed the money.
But then Darren would be cross if she sold his house. If he woke up that is.
Maybe Lorelai should just say fuck it, move into her falling apart home that was very far away from the hospital and raise two children there. Fun. But she wouldn't have the money to maintain it.
Lorelai walked into the playroom and sat behind Dahlia and Daniel, who seemed to be acting out a scene from a soap opera to channel their emotions like Lorelai had taught them.
"When is Daddy coming home?" Asked Daniel turning to Lorelai,
"I don't know." Said Lorelai, pulling them both to hug her,
"I even miss grandma's meatloaf," whimpered Dahlia,
"I'm happy Hope is gone." Said Daniel,
"Silver lining." Said Dahlia, "Do we live with you now, Auntie Lorelai?"
"Yes." Said Lorelai and they hugged her tighter,
"Where are we going to live?" Asked Dahlia,
"I'm trying to figure that out."
-
"I can't believe you did this." Said Lorelai, smiling at Sam, "I swear it's the first time I've seen them really happy since mum passed,"
They were behind the fence on a Saturday, watching the Dahlia and Daniel grin as they sat on horses that were trotting very slowly around the fenced area,
"It's no problem." Said Sam, tempted to put an arm around her, "How are you?"
"I'm fine," said Lorelai,
"I'm choosing to believe you, but you should know you are a dreadful actress. Don't quit your day job," said Sam, and she laughed and even nudged him,
"Damn, and I really thought a life on the stage was my calling." Said Lorelai,
And he cracked a smile,
"It's for the best, I promise." He said, and Lorelai leant on the fence further, her smile still persisting,
"You're really great for doing this." Said Lorelai,
"It's no problem. I like helping others you could even say I'm a Doctor." Said Sam, and Lorelai rolled her eyes at him, "Valerie says you were engaged?"
Top notch Segway, my guy. Just brava.
"Yes. For the quickest five minutes in the world." Said Lorelai, "He went on a business trip and he was gone almost four weeks more than he said he'd be. I thought that he left me. I don't like going back to people who cause me pain."
She was so honest so good
Sam wanted her. But he wasn't the only one.
Sam put an arm around Lorelai's shoulders and she smiled, distracted by the sound of laughter from the children she loved more than life itself.
"You're the first nice Doctor I've ever met, Sam." Said Lorelai,
"I like to make a good impression."
"What's being a surgeon like?" Asked Lorelai,
"Well it's sort of like stabbing people to life rather than to the death." Said Sam and Lorelai laughed,
"And you have a frame of reference?" She asked,
"Just don't tell Doctor Scott."
-
The world had a rose coloured tint to it as Sam caught up to Lorelai as she walked out of the hospital towards the bus station.
But the world was very cold from where an angry Tom Riddle stood. Watching the love of his life smile and blush at something another man said.
He turned around and felt the ring in his pocket as he walked away, he walked into the leaky cauldron and into Diagon alley, making his way into
Tomes and Scrolls, he was greeted with the familiar scent of parchment as he allowed his fingers to brush the spines of the books as he made his way to the back,
Soul magic.
He found a book on soulmates and read all the usual garbage. How they were destined to be together.
Bound by the soul and fated to crave the other until their dying breaths.
Tom rolled his eyes and flipped the page to broken souls.
Again with the basic, only your soulmate can ease the loss of your soul.
But then his eyes caught on a certain paragraph, about broken souls and the affects on a soulmate.
If the soul is fractured enough times survival instincts will come into play. The body does not recognize a sixteenth of a soul sustainable source of essence so it will seek its mate to pull from their essence, their life force, until there is nothing left. The desire for the other will be maddening.
However, survival instincts for the other will become a factor as well. Leading to a loss of love, and a distaste for the other.
It is possible to love again after the loss of a soulmate for one, but not the other.
Well. Fuck.
But all Tom wanted to do was hold her until she loved him again. Or maybe he'd try to replace her.
"Are you going to buy that, sir?" Asked the sales lady and Tom shot her a charming smile.
"Yes, I think I will."
-
Lorelai was exhausted. Physically. Emotionally, exhausted. Currently, she was trying to get her comatose brother to wake up on her break.
"Darren. Darren, I'm taking the last slice of pizza ," said Lorelai, but nothing, "If you don't wake up in the next twenty second I'll punch you in the Crown Jewels,"
Nothing. Her brother hadn't been this quiet her entire life.
"I'm bluffing. You should know that Hope left you. And that her baby wasn't actually yours. The blood types didn't match up and she's with a new man." Said Lorelai, "Mum's gone. And I need you to stay alive, okay?"
He didn't say anything and Lorelai shut her eyes tight,
"We're burying her next week." Said Lorelai, "If you want to wake up for that, cause I know how much she meant to you."
Nothing.
"Darren, just please wake up." Said Lorelai, "By the way I broke up with Tom, and Daniel made you a card."
Lorelai stood up and left his room trying to breathe deeply but it was no use.
She missed her older brother so damn much. Sure he had his faults but when it came down to it he was her best friend, and had been there for her her entire life.
Lorelai sat down on the chair outside Darren's room for a moment to collect herself.
She stood up and walked back to her desk, picking up everything she would need for her afternoon rounds.
Her shoes made their general clicking sounds on the cement floor and she turned into Mrs Daisy's room,
"Afternoon, Mrs Daisy, and happy birthday," said Lorelai, smiling kindly at the woman as she replaced the flowers in the vase,
"On year closer to death you should say." Said the old woman who was so rich that she'd bribed her way into a private room,
"I choose not to see it as death more like a blissful afterlife," said Lorelai, and the old woman laughed as Lorelai took down her vitals,
"Oh, I'm not going to Heaven, sweetheart." Said Mrs Daisy,
"Well if you go to hell, you get to meet Marie Antoinette, and I know that you love revolutionary history, which is why I got you this for your birthday," said Lorelai, pulling a paper back book out of her pocket and handing it to the old woman,
"Oh, nurse Lorelai, you do know how to make an old lady happy," said Mrs Daisy, whose family hadn't visited in ages,
"Second hand I know, but I figured you'd like the notes in the margins," said Lorelai, adjusting a few things on her chart, "You know that I read that one of Louis XV's mistresses is the reason that there are still ancient encyclopedias,"
"Madame de Pompadour, of course, inspired her own shade of pink you know?" Asked Mrs Daisy,
"Ah, of course, my nephew is obsessed with different shades of colour, and Pompadour is his favourite pink," said Lorelai,
"You should get that boy in art classes, he's got a good eye." Said Mrs Daisy, as Lorelai adjusted her pillows,
"That's the Hope." Said Lorelai, "Everything looks good Mrs Daisy, if anything you are turning back the clock, and I already told Doctor Scott about your allergy to penicillin, don't worry, he can just be-"
"An arsehole," finished Mrs Daisy,
"Oh, that reminds me, he slipped on a Banana peel the other day and Val got a picture, I made all my patients copies." Said Lorelai, handing Mrs Daisy A picture,
"Beautiful." Said Mrs Daisy,
"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to take the food tray from your room and listen to the same argument over jello flavours for the umpteenth time," said Lorelai smiling at her as she removed the food tray from her room and set it on the cart outside,
Lorelai walked down the hall when she heard a coding fit and rushed in. She administered oxygen and did everything she was trained to do until the patient begun to breathe normally again,
After that she went to Tony and Maria's room, then up the hall to where Mrs Resnikov used to be and where Mister Reynolds was now and dealt with his passes,
There were so many patients,
Then she finished her rounds and wanted to collapse but she had to get home and figure out a dinner plan.
Dahlia and Daniel has extra curriculars and friends and playgroups tonight that she would have to pick them up from and she was just so tired and she wanted someone to lean on.
For whatever reason, as she grabbed her coat to go home, her eyes flitted to Sam as he spoke with the other doctors.
-
Lorelai had really pulled out all the stops so that she could have the day of her mother's funeral off. She'd gotten a combination of Mrs Kravits from across the hall watching Dahlia and Daniel as she picked up all the shifts she could, play groups up the wazoo, them popping by to play battleship in the breakroom, and them cheering up her patients.
But she never introduced them to the ones she knew weren't going to live.
It was the day before the wedding and Lorelai had collapsed on the couch of the breakroom,
"You okay?" Asked Sam, looking at the highlight of his day, collapsed on the couch,
"She squeezed my hand so tight." Said Lorelai, showing him the grip marks on her hand from where the woman had clenched her hand tightly,
Lorelai had just assisted in six of the twenty hours of labour that the woman had endured, and was now exhausted.
"Your job astounds me." Said Sam, moving her so that she could be lying on him, and he smiled a little bit at how she felt in his arms, "I swear it's more difficult than mine."
"No, no, I've never stabbed someone to life or to death so I wouldn't have a good frame of reference," said Lorelai,
"You're so kind,"
"And you're so comfy." She muttered, and then he pulled away, prompting a small laugh to leave her lips, "What is i-"
Sam placed a delicate kiss on her lips. And then she kissed him back softly before she pulled away, her eyes wide,
"I'm sorry," said Sam, standing up, and backing away,
"Sam, I- don't be." Said Lorelai,
"I just couldn't wait anymore." He muttered, "But I should have waited until you were in a better place, and I have to go."
He left a very flushed Lorelai in his wake, as her cheeks seemed to grow impossibly red from his words of praise.
-
Tom looked over at another fruitless conquest. Honestly. It was like they broke the mould when they made Lorelai.
He was unhappy and he was alone, and he looked out the window as a girl whose name he couldn't remember rolled over in her sleep.
He saw the cemetery across the street and spotted Lorelai, a child holding onto each hand as they buried her mother.
He hadn't known Sadie had died. Tom looked at Lorelai, at her face as cracks begun to show and she picked up the crying Dahlia.
"Come back to bed." Said the woman,
"Just a minute." Said Tom, his gaze locked on the scene unfolding before him.
-
Lorelai tried her best to keep from crying as she sat listening to the pastor speak about what an incredible person her mother had been but she couldn't help but feel watched.
Daniel refused to let go of her arm or hand and Dahlia had physically attached herself to Lorelai. With what she liked to call, a full koala.
Lorelai wished everyone well and shook the hands she could as she dealt with two crying children. The wake was to be held at her home and everyone was driving there.
Lorelai was exhausted and all she wanted was to feel good again.
When it was all over, she put the kids in their beds, and cleaned up.
What was she going to do now? Pray for Darren to wake up? Lorelai put all the empty glasses into the sink and ran the water as she begun to wash them.
All she'd heard about, all funeral was how sad it was that she hadn't had alcohol there. How tragic.
But Lorelai knew if it had been there, she wouldn't have been able to resist. And then one drink would turn into two. And two into five. And five into ten. And, well there was no use for math in grief.
Lorelai placed a towel down and put each cup there to dry. Then she moved on to plates.
Usually she would wash the dishes with her brother. But no. He'd found the ultimate excuse to get out of the dishes.
Lorelai put all the dishes away and then she heard two sets of little feet come down the stairs.
"I can't sleep." Said Daniel,
"Me neither." Said Dahlia, as they sat at the table,
"Why do you think that is?" Asked Lorelai, putting plates away,
"I can't sleep here without Grandma or Daddy tucking me in." Said Daniel, and Dahlia nodded,
"What do you think would help you go to sleep?" Asked Lorelai, halting her cleaning and turning to the two kids,
"Cake." Said Dahlia, nodding,
"And Candy," said Daniel,
"I appreciate the attempt but I'm not giving either of you cake before bedtime. It will only slow the sleeping process," said Lorelai, "Come on, I have an idea,"
They walked into Darren's room. And she put them both in the bed,
"Smells like daddy," said Dahlia, and Lorelai nodded, tucking them in,
"If I close my eyes, it's like he's here." Said Daniel,
"Yep,"
"You have to sing the song he always did. But with a lower voice," said Dahlia, and was Lorelai even in a position to refuse?
"Leaves from the vine
Falling so slow
Like fragile tiny shells
Drifting in the foam
Little soldier boy
Come marching home
Brave soldier boy
Comes marching home," sang Lorelai, truthfully it's origin was a storybook that Darren had fallen in love with by the author Iroh Mako, but he liked to say it was his own,
"I love you Auntie Lorelai," said Dahlia as she fell asleep, hugging a pillow as always,
"I love you too, Dahlia,"
"Aunt Lora?" Said Daniel, and Lorelai crouched next to him, "What if Daddy doesn't get better?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Said Lorelai, not actually wanting to think about what would happen if Darren were to die,
"What happened with Hope?"
"She left your father. The baby in her belly wasn't his anyways." Said Lorelai, still peeved at the woman,
"I'm glad she's gone. Does that make me a bad person?" Asked Daniel,
"Then I'm a bad person too. We can go to hell together," she said, and Daniel's lips quirked upwards,
"I love you Aunt Lora," he said, and she smiled,
"I love you too." Said Lorelai, as she stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door gently,
She walked down the stairs and was going to resume cleaning up when someone knocked at the door,
She opened it to see Tom, with a bouquet of flowers and she sighed, shaking her head,
"I'm not up for this. Just leave." Said Lorelai, moving to close the door,
"No. Let me be there for you." Said Tom, and she rolled her eyes,
"You just want to prey on me when I'm vulnerable." Said Lorelai, still trying to shut the door, "I never want to see you again, Tom."
"Lorelai, please, you need someone to lean on. Please just let me be that." He said, and his magic was so desperate for her that the air around him was practically buzzing,
But the air around her was stale. And something inside her lurched away from him as soon as she saw him.
"Thanks for the flowers, but I don't like guys who don't want me until they can't have me."
-
Sleepovers were a wonderful thing. And Lorelai was trying to sleep in her own bed for the first time in she hadn't even been keeping track. But she wanted something.
Lorelai stood up and put on clothing. She tied her hair up and left her flat, locking the door and going down the stairs quickly, she took a midnight bus to an apartment complex, and she buzzed the flat that bore a familiar name,
"Hello?" Came Sam's voice,
"Hi." Said Lorelai, "It's-"
"Lorelai," he said and the door clicked open and she walked in and begun mounting the stairs, he came out of his flat and looked at her, "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just couldn't wait anymore." Said Lorelai, and then she kissed him, her arms wrapped around his neck and his wound around her waist, pulling her closer,
He moved them into his flat and shut the door.
-
Sam was thirty one years old and wanted a family. He wanted a wife, and a life outside of work. And then he met Lorelai. Who was quite literally the most caring person on the face of the Earth.
She was beautiful, like truly unfairly blessed with beauty.
She was compassionate.
She was funny.
She was the best part of his day.
And now he knew she was phenomenal in bed.
She was asleep next to him and she looked so peaceful.
He decided he was going to marry this woman. And then she sat up, and looked around for a minute before turning pink and checking the time, and letting out a breath of relief,
"Oh, um, hi," said Lorelai, as he pulled her back down into bed,
"Morning," he muttered,
"Morning." Lorelai replied, easing into bed next to him,
"So." Said Sam, "Can I take you out some time?"
"I'm sorry but-"
"Don't say that," he groaned, rolling away from her, "Face it, Lorelai, you like me, and I obviously like you, so why delay the inevitable?"
"I just- I just got out of a relationship I thought would be forever. And I don't know. The next time I try I want to be sure I won't be left in another lurch." Said Lorelai, and then Sam kissed her,
"I would never leave you in a lurch." He said,
"I don't even have time to date, and dear lord the soccer moms already hate me for bringing storebought snacks after the match last friday, and-"
"Why did you come then?" Asked Sam,
"I wanted to." Said Lorelai, and Sam smiled at her, that damned handsome smile that made her insides melt, and she blushed and looked away, "Shut up,"
"I didn't say anything." He teased, "So, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes." She muttered,
"You said that word very loudly last night but you can't muster any volume this morning?" He teased and she hit him over the face with a pillow,
"I have to go," she said, sliding out of bed and he watched her get dressed,
"Why? It's Sunday."
"I have kids who were at sleepovers last night that I need to pick up," said Lorelai,
"I'll drive you." He said sitting up,
"You don't have to-"
"I insist." Said Sam,
"Fine, but only because I already missed the bus." Said Lorelai,
"You make me feel so special."
-
A week passed and then two. And there was little to no acknowledgement of what had happened between Lorelai and Sam. He had a demanding schedule and so did she, and he honestly thought he was falling in love with her even in the briefest moments they spent together.
The exchanged greetings in the hall. The small smiles through windows.
He was in the breakroom after an eighteen hour surgery and she came in, sat next to him, and played with his hair wordlessly as he rested his head on her lap.
She made everything better. He lifted his head slowly from her lap and looked around the area to check no one was watching before pressing his lips to hers.
"You're tired." Said Lorelai, as he moved his head to her shoulder,
"And you are comfortable."
-
"W-What?" Asked Lorelai, wise eyed as the expensive looking lawyer sat down across from her, her patient, Mrs Daisy had just passed and had left all her money to the one person who was kind to her in her final days,
"You Lorelai Meira are the beneficiary of Adelaide Daisy's will," said the lawyer, "You just have to sign here and all her accounts will be changed in your name."
Lorelai signed, "I have money?"
"Yes, Ms Meira. You also have a few pieces of jewelry, and Mrs Daisy gave me this to give to you," he said passing her a letter,
"Thank you, sir." Said Lorelai, as she took in the amount of money that was in her name now,
"Have a pleasant day, Ms Meira," said the lawyer, looking at Lorelai's desk, and noting the obituary cut out of Mrs Daisy set aside, and taking heart in the fact that this wasn't just a gold digging nurse,
"You too." Said Lorelai, sitting down and opening the letter,
Nurse Lorelai,
Kindness is a virtue that everyone always undervalues. I hope my passing doesn't cause you too much grief, and I hope you lead a life filled with wonder and happiness because you deserve it.
Use my money well. Send your niece to that fancy school, send your nephew to art class. And buy yourself something nice.
To the nurse who went above and beyond for me; I am eternally grateful and if I go to heaven I can't wait to see you again.
Sincerely,
Adelaide Daisy
Lorelai put a hand over her mouth, and looked up at Valerie,
"She left me almost everything." Said Lorelai,
"Holy shit. I need to start learning my patient's birthdays." Said Valerie,
"I have money." Said Lorelai, she smiled a little bit, "Is this what it's like not to worry about money? It's weird, but I like it."
"Is she okay?" Asked Sam, walking over to the nurse's station,
"Sometimes, the older patients leave us things like dentures, or jewelry, one of Lorelai's patients passed away, and she left Lorelai money," explained Valerie,
"I can pay off everything." Said Lorelai, "I can buy a nicer flat. In a nicer neighborhood. I can send Daniel to art class, and put Dahlia into a special school. I have money."
"Is this normal?" Asked Sam, who had had money his whole life so he didn't really get where this was coming from,
"A life free of financial burden." Said Lorelai, "I feel so light, so free, I'm going to donate a shit tom to the hospital because we really need some better stuff."
"Selfish, think selfish." Said Valerie,
"I can buy Maria something worthy of Rita Hayworth for her Birthday, she will be so happy," said Lorelai,
"This isn't working." Said Val,
"I can afford a babysitter,"
"Getting closer to being selfish," said Val,
"Then I can help Cary with some of her graveyard shifts,"
"Damn it." Said Val,
"I can afford rehab for my brother, a really really good one." Said Lorelai, "He'll get better."
"Selfish. Think selfish." Said Valerie.
"I could buy you that wedding dress you love but can't afford." Said Lorelai,
"Oh I like that." Said Valerie,
"I can pay for Mrs Daisy's funeral. I should get a financial advisor I trust though," said Lorelai,
"I have to get to my next shift so you can deal with this." Said Valerie, walking away,
"Lorelai?" Asked a very amused Sam, and she smiled at him,
"I can finally give them a good life." She said, and he pulled her up to hug him, "Money isn't everything, but it's nice to not have to worry."
"I'm happy for you," he said, letting go of her, and she grabbed everything she would need for the rest of the day,
"Thanks, Sam," she said,
"Would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow? I'll even let you pay." He said,
"I'd love to."
-
"Sam I have to tell you something." Said Lorelai, as she stood at his door, a week after dinner, a very pleasant dinner he might add,
"What is it?" He asked fearing the worst, but then he got the best,
"I'm late." Said Lorelai, "And not for the dentist."
"Late, as in,"
"No period since, um the first time we slept together, yes," she said, "I'm too nervous to take the test alone."
He let her come in and then he kissed her.
"Everything's going to be alright." He reassured, "If it's positive, we get married, if it's negative we get married."
"What?"
"I want to marry you, Lorelai Meira, baby or no baby," he said,
"I don't want you to propose just because of a pregnancy scare." Said Lorelai, and Sam left her for a moment and came back into his foyer with a small velvet box,
"And I don't want you to say yes just because I have a ring." Said Sam, how was completely aware of the speed at which they had moved, but was more than happy to be here in this moment with her,
"Yes." Said Lorelai, "I want to marry you."
-
Darren woke up and saw his kids and saw his sister, and saw his future brother in law and was now in rehab. The best program money could buy.
Lorelai moved in with Sam and she had custody of Dahlia and Daniel until Darren was back on his feet. Lorelai had a baby due in seven to eight months, and a wedding in one month.
She had a fiancé who was a surgeon, and had financial stability for the first time in her life not to mention someone who was taking care of her. No one ever took care of Lorelai.
Or rather they took care of each other. It was a very get what you hive relationship.
Lorelai was happy. Tom was not.
His following grew but his longing for Lorelai as he split his soul again. Everything in his body longed for a feeling of wholeness. A feeling that only she could provide him with.
Tom didn't even pay attention in his death eater meetings half the time he felt so empty inside.
He saw her wedding announcement in the paper and if he didn't know full well that killing her fiancé would only push him further out of her life then he would end Sam Sampson the surgeon.
The old money surgeon. Who had received two awards for his work in his field. Who would give Lorelai everything she would ever want in life.
And after a rather humiliating night when Tom had gone to Lorelai's old flat only to find out she didn't live there anymore, Tom was fairly certain he'd managed to alienate his own damn soulmate.
He had been so damn happy. Then he had made another Horcrux and everything had gone to shit, essentially being a crappy boyfriend was his downfall.
So he decided to tell Lorelai everything.
He waited at the coffee shop for her to walk in, forced her to sit down next to him and explained it all,
"So you see, we're soulmates," he said,
"I don't believe in soulmates," said Lorelai, "I think you work hard in a relationship and get results."
"I literally just proved it." He said,
"You also told me that magic exists and that you've killed people, I need to go." She said, standing up and then she did something peculiar,
She ordered a decaf coffee. Lorelai thrived in caffeine, as she was leaving the shop he gripped her forearm and pulled her into an alley,
"What?" She asked, exhasperatedly,
"You ordered a decaf." He said,
"So?"
"You get around four hours of sleep a night."
"Creepy."
"Lorelai, are you ill?"
"No, but I am pregnant." She said, and his heart dropped, she would never come back to him now, there was just no way, "Will you leave me alone now?"
"I can't believe-"
"I'd show you the test but I don't want to prolong this conversation,"
"Fine. Just Go."
-
Lorelai married Sam Sampson, and had three kids with him. Darren got his life back together and he and Lorelai sent Daniel and Dahlia to the best schools money could buy.
Dahlia went to Hogwarts when she was eleven and graduated top of her class. Dahlia wrote some textbooks for Hogwarts, and then became a real magical archaeologist, getting a doctorate in so many fields it was uncanny.
Daniel became a famous artist, and writer. He wrote three plays, and two became critically acclaimed masterpieces.
Lorelai had a wing of the hospital named for her for her work and donations over the years, and began a fund for single parents in the city of London.
Lorelai Meira started life in a lower middle class family on the outskirts of London. She gave her all in life, and reaped the rewards.
Tom Riddle, her soulmate, had her and lost her because he was a bad boyfriend. And we all know what he did in life.
He died alone and disgraced.
She died surrounded by those who loved and cherished her.
You get what you give.