[Cedric]

so, guys..
finally, the new part...

reFB for Maxi:Yes, it was a part for calming down, you're right...there's more action in this chapter..

and, Emmy, of course I would be happy about a girl, too. But I don't know a Lil'Bro would be cooler...*lol*


alright, the next chapter is for Emmy, I don't know why. But it's for you...


part XVI:


"I knew he cheated on me. And I didn’t say anything. I thought that he’d be loving me... I thought he was the one who’d stay forever", I snorted, "But this forever has come and gone. And I... I was still alone, ‘cause he was only playing with my heart... I just never should have trusted him. I sometimes think that I deserved to be cheated..."
I broke off, incapable to speak further. I tried to swallow my tears but it was a lost battle. I shut up for a few moments.
Luke didn’t say a word either. He just sat there, looking closely at me. His face was full of care. It encouraged me to tell my story.
"But I... I could have lived with just the cheating, I guess. I had no choice, no money, nowhere to go... and I had Rory, I never could have left her behind. It was a vicious circle. But it became worse, I remember one day... He came home late, and I went too far... I accused him having sex with other women and he totally freaked out... he... but he never did... Rory saved me. After that day it had been better for about half an year but it wasn’t permanent, of course. One day, I think it was Halloween – scary night – well, he came home late, after midnight. And I had the nerves to ask him how work was. I realized too late, he was drunk. And then it happened, he hit me..."
I had to stop because Luke had sprung up.
"He did what?", he almost shouted.
His face was like a mask, shocked and angry at the same time.
Seeing Luke’s reaction really touched me. Nobody ever – of course, except Rory – really cared for me. Neither my parents, nor Christopher. My so-called friends did not, too. As they discovered I was pregnant, they walked away from me, forever.
But to see Luke now, a person I knew for only a few weeks, furious like that, I couldn’t help but to feel secure somehow.
"Did you call the police? Have you done anything about it?"
I shook my head, "No."
Luke’s look now, again, was worried. He sat down beside me and pulled his arm around me. Quietly, he asked me,
"Why?"
"I don’t know. In the morning he came home with a bunch of yellow daisies – my favorite flowers – and promised me never to do it again. And I... I believed him, I guess."
Luke slightly nodded, "But he lied, didn’t he?"
Now it was my turn to nod.
"It became worse... but everytime he promised me to behave better. A few times I considered to run away but I had Rory to look after. I wanted her to have a bright future, a better future than me. And Christopher was the one, who could offer her that... and I was too naive, maybe, to believe that he would change. He made my blue eyes blue..."
Again, my voice cracked, tears were dropping down to the ground and for the first time I was aware that I was freezing. Again, I looked at Luke. He looked as worried as ever. That dark cloud overshadowed him again.
"But why did you run this time? What did he do?", he carefully asked, pulling me up closer, so I wouldn’t freeze.
"Well", I began.

Saturday afternoon had come and all the late summer world was bright and fresh and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart and if the heart was young, the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in every face, and a spring in every step.
At least, I felt this way. I was sitting on our small balcony, as I heard my husband enter the apartment. He stepped outside and asked rather harsh,
"What’s for dinner, Lore?"
I looked up.
Is he kidding? Like I ever cook...
"Well", I answered friendly, "You can order something from Yu Li or from Marco’s."
Once again, Christopher’s temper rose.
"What’re you doing the whole day? Couldn’t you just cook once, for heaven’s sake?"
Now I was really alarmed, I smelled his breath – this time it was whiskey. I got up and walked into the kitchen to fetch the take-out brochures but as I handed them over, Christopher didn’t even look on them, he simply threw them to the floor. The next thing I knew was that he slapped me on the cheek. I could feel my cheek burning. I immediately turned to run but he was too fast, too strong for me. He caught my arm and hit me once again. And again. I didn’t defend myself anymore. I knew, I had no chance. I just let it happen, he would become tired...
But suddenly, I heard a choke. I recognized it immediately. It was Rory’s.
Christopher must have forgotten to close the door behind him properly, so Rory could easily come in, arriving from one of her friends.
Anyway, she now stood behind my husband, who was still punching me, obviously not hearing Rory sober. I was lost. I really wanted to caress her but I couldn’t. I began to fight him, but still I had no chance. I saw Rory step towards her dad. I desperately shook my head.
Don’t Rory...
But it was too late. She tipped him on the back. He turned but he was too much in rage and hit her, too. I guessed it was unintentionally, happened in the heat of the moment. And indeed, he looked kinda shocked.
"Rory, I’m so sor..." , he began, but I interrupted him.
"Christopher, go away. I mean it . Go."
First, I thought, he wouldn’t leave but then, fortunately, he did so. He almost ran.
Immediately, I got up and approached to Rory. Tears rolled down her cute little face and that fact completely broke my heart.
"Sweetie", I said, "Are you okay? Anything hurting?"
Silent, Rory shook her head and I breathed relieved.
"Okay, hon, go on and pack your things. Just the ones, which are necessary. We’ll move. Tonight."
Rory looked at me with big eyes.
"Okay, Mommy."
Half an hour later, the two of us were packed and for the last time, we closed the front door behind us.
Our future was uncertain – we literally plunged into the unknown- but certainly it would be better than this.

After I finished my story, Luke remained in silence. The expression in his face now was concerned. Finally, he talked, slowly, quietly,
"I’m so sorry, Lorelai. Nobody deserves something like that."
He raised his hand and tried to wipe away my still rolling tears. But again it was a lost battle. Then, he carefully, kissed me on the cheek. I couldn’t help but to notice a soothing shiver inside of me.
"It’s just... I thought I could get away from him, from this nightmare but obviously I can’t. I mean, he even dared to call my parents... I don’t know why..."
Luke looked like he wanted to say something but the words didn’t came out. Again, we sat in silence. Then, Luke softly said,
"Lorelai, come on. Let’s go home. It’s freezing here. Try to forget about it for the night. Tomorrow, we’ll figure something out, okay? Try to get some sleep, or play with Rory..."
Suddenly, he looked horrorstruck. Then,
"Oh my god. Rory and Mia... they’re waiting for us..."
With those words, he sprung up, took me by the hand and together, we went back into the town.