CHAPTER 12

SOMETIMES I WONDER

Inquisitive1

CHAPTER 12

MONTH LATER: STARS HOLLOW

"I'm so glad you're here kid." Lorelai smiles

"So am I." Rory rests her head on her Mom's shoulder.

"So having a good time in LA?"

Rory nods "Relaxing. Reading a lot. Julian has a library filled with books."

"What else are you doing?"

"I've gotten to know his sisters."

"What are they like?"

"Sydney and Julian fight constantly. Nadia plays the peacekeeper. Their nice. Their Dad's a decent guy as well."

"What else are you doing?"

"Not much." Rory admits

"So how does it feel to be back in Stars Hollow after being in LA?" Lorelai asks

"LA's big and busy. I see why Julian doesn't like it."

"Why doesn't he leave? Move out here?"

"He has a contract." Rory sighs. "He's hoping when its done he'll be able to figure out what he wants to do."

"How long are you going to be here?"

"He's supposed to be gone for a week. He didn't want to leave me there alone for the week. His sisters are in and out as well so... he thought I'd have a better time here."

"And will you?"

"Of course." Rory grins. "I get to spend time with my favorite Mom."

"I'm your only Mom."

"Good point." Rory frowns "Think I could trade up?"

"RORY"

Rory giggles as her Mom hits her with a pillow. She grabs a pillow as well and hits her Mom.

LATER

Rory and Lorelai sit on the couch eating ice cream and watching a movie, "So you love him huh?"

Rory nods smiling, "He makes me laugh"

"An important trait in a boyfriend." Lorelai grins "So the sex?"

Rory glares at her Mom, "Do I ask about your sex life?"

"No but"

"Mom"

"Fine." Lorelai grumbles eating her ice cream.

"So my grades came in."

"How did you do?"

"Better than I expected."

"Good. What about next year? When is registration?"

"Not for a while."

"What are you going to take?"

"I've looked over the tentative schedule but I'm not going to make up my mind until the set schedule is decided."

"Good." Lorelai nods "So can I ask you something?"

"Hasn't ever stopped you"

"How serious is this relationship getting? Is it you know going to become one where I'm going to have to introduce him as my son-in-law?"

'Already is.' Rory shrugs "Things are complicated Mom. He has his job... I have school."

"I know but you seem so happy with him."

"I am." Rory assures

"Wonder what he's up too" Lorelai muses

"Who knows."

SAME TIME: SOMEWHERE

Sark looks around the room noting the surveillance photos of himself... and Rory. 'Someone has been watching my wife.' Suddenly he hears a gunshot and a sharp pain. As he falls to the floor as someone steps up to him he blacks out just as he sees who it is and footsteps walk away. 'Rory' He hears the person's voice as they exit the room

"Its done."

'Rory.'

STARS HOLLOW

Rory shivers looking around

"Cold?" Lorelai asks

Rory shakes her head, "No... just a sudden chill." She looks at the ice cream, "I think I'm done."

"Rory are you OK? You never push away ice cream."

Rory shrugs "I'm full." She sets the ice cream aside pulling her knees up to her chest. 'I suddenly miss my husband. I wonder if he's OK.'

NEXT DAY: LA

"Find him." Jack orders his anger rising.

"Should I call Rory and see if she's heard from him?" Sydney asks

"He wouldn't go to her... not if he's in trouble. He's proven he's overly protective of her... he won't put her in danger." Nadia rationalizes.

"I agree." Jack nods

"I told you he would run." Vaughn states

"We all know how you feel Agent Vaughn." Jack says calmly. "You have made your feelings well known." He walks away leaving the others standing around.

"Why after all this time would he run?" Weiss wonders. "He's had plenty of opportunity before... yet he's stayed."

"Whatever the reason must be big." Nadia remarks

"He's plotting something." Vaughn shrugs "Now we stop him and lock him up for good... if he's lucky."

THAT NIGHT: STARS HOLLOW

"Yes if he does call I'll tell him to call you." Rory assures hanging up.

"What's wrong babe?"

"Oh nothing. Julian's just ignoring his sisters right now." Rory answers with a shrug. "Like he does every day."

"Sibling rivalry at its best, huh?"

Rory nods

6 NIGHTS LATER: STARS HOLLOW

Rory awakens startled when she feels a hand shake her. "Ma" she stops mid protest when the bedside lamp turns on and she sees Sark looking paler than normal. "Jul" she's stopped when he puts his finger to her lips.

"Shh. Listen."

"Your sisters called... they asked if I had seen you. Where have you" she is silenced when he kisses her. "You had me worried." She whispers

"Shh... I don't have much time. Something happened... I have to leave."

"What? Why?"

"Its complicated Darling."

"Julian what is..."

"I was looking into a situation... and someone tried to kill me."

"Who?"

"I don't know who... but I have to leave." He reaches out brushing her hair back, "I want you to come with me."

"But... Mom... school" Rory protests

Sark nods kissing her forehead, "I love you more than life." He whispers. "When the time is right... I will come back for you."

Rory stares at him tears filling her eyes, "Julian"

"Whatever you need Jack will take care of it. Simon will be around as well. They will be around if you need anything." He kisses her lightly. "I love you" he stands heading to the bedroom door.

"Julian"

Sark stops looking at Rory who is standing. "Rory I can't stay here"

"I want to come with you"

"Rory"

Rory steps up to him, "You are my husband..." she cups his cheek, "I want to be with you."

"This means you leave your Mother... your Grandparents... everything. No birthday's with your fam..."

Rory kisses him, "You are my family as well."

"Are you sure about this?" Sark asks stunned. "This will change everything for you... we will be on the run. Especially once they realize you are with me... I don't know if I will be able to keep you safe."

"You will." Rory whispers. "You'll find a way... I just... I have a hard enough time being apart for two weeks at a time... how am I supposed to be without you for more than that?"

"You could divorce me... move on to someone... normal. Someone who won't cause you pain... someone who can give you a normal life now... rather than later."

Rory shakes her head, "I don't care about that... I want to be with you. I need to be with you."

"I want you to be sure... this isn't something you can go back on. If you come with me... I don't know if or when we'll be back."

"I know" Rory kisses him lightly. "I need to leave Mom a note."

"Make it fast. We don't have long." He looks around Rory's room. "What do you want to take with you?"

Rory grabs a pad of paper off her desk and begins to write, "The photo album on the bottom shelf of my bookcase. My backpack is in the closet."

"What else?"

"My copy of Catcher in the Rye... oh and my ring its on the upper ledge inside my closet."

Sark opens the closet reaching up onto the ledge pulling down a taped ring box and opens it removing the ring. Walking over to the desk he lifts up Rory's left hand and slips the ring onto her finger.

"Thanks" Rory says not stopping in her writing.

"Anything else you want my love? We have to make this fast."

"I'm almost done." Rory assures

"You can write them letters and I'll make sure they get here."

Rory nods

Sark tosses a couple changes of clothes, "I put some changes of clothing in. Anything else?"

"Birth control pills nightstand drawer."

"Definitely can't forget those." Sark remarks opening the nightstand drawer he removes the pill pack. "Whatever else you need we'll just get."

"Oh my diary" Rory opens the desk drawer removing her diary she tosses it on the bed.

Sark picks up the book and puts it in the bag. "Rory darling as much as I know you want to make this letter heartfelt..."

"I'm almost done." A few moments later she speaks, "Done." She folds up the note and stands grabbing her coat off the back of the desk chair.

"Are you absolutely sure about this Rory?"

Rory nods "I wouldn't do this if I wasn't sure."

Sark picks up her backpack, "Have everything?"

Rory looks around the room sighing at the sight of her childhood possessions knowing she can't take them with her. "I'm sure."

"Good." Sark takes her hand and they walk out of the room.

Once out of the bedroom Rory sets the note next to the coffee maker. She takes a deep breath than looks at Sark, "Lets go." She walks out of the house with Sark across the darkened backyard and through the other yards.

"I thought it best to walk here..."

Rory nods watching as he walks beside her looking around. 'I did the right thing.' She looks at Sark, 'I chose to be by my husband's side... it was the right decision.'

Sark continues moving fast keeping his attention on his surroundings and Rory. 'She chose me... she chose to leave her life to be with me. No one has ever sacrificed this much for me... I will protect her the best I can.'

Once in the car Rory speaks, "Where are we going?"

"I'm not sure... I have things to figure out." Sark squeezes her hand. "It will be fine."

"I know." Rory smiles at him.

NEXT MORNING

"Daughter m" Lorelai stops mid-word as she opens the bedroom door to find the room empty. "Huh" she shrugs walking over to the coffee maker to turn it on. She smiles "That's my girl." She picks up the folded piece of paper and reading her smile fading quickly.

"Dear Mom,

I don't know how to tell you this or what to tell you... its all complicated but I promise its going to be fine. I'm gone. I left with Julian... my husband. Calm down... its not a joke... I'm serious. Julian and I were married last summer on August 15. Surprise... sorry that I didn't tell you I just didn't want you to think it was about Dean or Jess.

I don't know when I'll be in contact but I'm sure Julian will make sure it happens.

Please don't be angry with me... or Julian. We had our reasons for not telling you... and their complicated and I'm sure once his family finds out I'm gone as well they might tell you everything. Or what they can.

Just know I'm safe... and happy with the man I love... my husband.

Tell everyone I said goodbye... and if I can I will email or write. Please be happy for me Mom... I am.

I love you, Lorelai Leigh Gilmore... Lazarey

PS Weird huh? Still getting used to it."

Lorelai stares at the note, "Oh no" she reaches for the phone dialing Rory's phone. She frowns when she hears a ringing phone, "She didn't take it." She realizes "Oh Rory... what is going on. Why didn't you tell me this happened?"

SAME TIME

Sark strokes Rory's hair as she sleeps with her head on his leg as the jet takes them to their first destination. 'I hope this won't destroy her life... or our marriage.'

Rory opens her eyes, "Stop thinking."

"Sorry my love it is an obsessive trait of mine." He leans down kissing her lightly. "Sleep well?"

Rory shrugs lacing their fingers she looks at their rings, "What's going to happen?"

"I don't know darling. Things are going to happen... things I wanted to protect you from you might see or hear."

"I can handle it."

"God I wanted to leave you out of this life... let you live your life as normal as possible." Sark sighs. "Perhaps all are right... I'm just going to destroy your life."

"Julian" Rory sits up moving onto his lap. "I'm happier than I've been in... years. I don't care about normal... as long as I have you."

"Forever." Sark kisses her head, "I promise this won't be forever."

"I know." Rory snuggles close. "I love you"

"And I you." He hugs her

COUPLE OF DAYS LATER: STARS HOLLOW

Lorelai stares at the imposing man that is Jack Bristow, "So where the hell would they be?"

"We're looking for them but Sark... Julian... knows how to hide."

Lorelai rubs her forehead, "What happens if you do find them?"

"Sark broke his deal. He would have to bring in something big to avoid prison for life... or if some have their way execution." Jack answers

Lorelai winces at Jack's bluntness, "Why didn't they mention any of this?" Lorelai wonders

"Sark would have broken National Security in telling you. He barely got away with informing your daughter of his past indiscretions." Jack replies

"He's not how he used to be... even I can admit that." Sydney finally speaks "When I first found out he was married I thought it was a con on his side... but its not. He's behaved better than threats of prison could ever get him to behave in the past."

"Why run?" Lorelai wonders thoughtfully, "If you say he's behaved all this time with being allowed to see Rory... why run? Why risk prison and losing Rory?"

"We're not sure." Sydney responds. "We lost track of him last week when he was looking for something."

"And that something is?"

"Information." Sydney answers. "We think he was sidetracked by something... or someone. After that we lost him."

"She's safe with Julian, Ms. Gilmore." Nadia assures

Lorelai sighs, "I know." 'Wherever those two are if they hope to stay together they better run and be careful doing it.'

SOMEWHERE

Kissing the top of Rory's head Sark pulls the sheets up over them

"I like it here. Its peaceful."

"That it is." Sark agrees "Perhaps one day we will come back here."

"When do we leave?" Rory asks softly.

"Tonight."

"I wonder how Mom is." Rory muses

"I'm sure she's fine."

"She's probably mad"

"Probably more worried than angry."

"I hope." Rory whispers then lifts her head looking at Sark, "I love you."

"I love you too." He watches as Rory looks over the bruises and the healing wound from the gunshot. "I'm fine."

"I know." Rory whispers

Sark pulls her head down, "Sleep."

"Don't leave"

"I won't." He promises tightening his arms around her. "Sleep my sweet Rory." He kisses her head 'I have to plan a foolproof plan... this isn't just me this time. This time its my world. My wife... my heart and soul. Everything I have wanted since I was a boy was someone to love me despite who I am... what I am. Now I have that love... and nothing and no one will take it from me. At least not live in their attempt.' His happy smile turns cruel as he presses his lips to Rory's head. 'No one will take you my wife. I will seek blood from those who try.'

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