Who's crazier?

Family Ties

The Marianos pulled up outside the Gilmore's house, and Liv looked in warily.

"Hey," Jess said, squeezing her hand, "if it's that bad we can sneak out over the back wall."

Live chuckled weakly, remembering when he climbed over the wall to see her while she stayed here for a month.

"We need a code word, and if we say it, I'll throw the kids over my shoulders and we'll make a run for it," Jess suggested, "how about greenhill?"

"Greenhill?" Liv laughed.

"Yep. Say it and we get out of here," he grinned.

"Greenhill!" Ava sighed, "I don't wanna go," she huffed.

Liv turned around to look at her, "it'll be fine. Just sit there, look cute and smile, say a few cute things and you'll be fine."

"But they're mean," James sighed.

"They love you three," Jess told them, getting out of the car.

"Yeah, because they haven't been a major disappointment to them yet," Liv pointed out.

They got the kids out of the car and walked to the door. As the maid opened the door, Ava stood planted where she was.

"Ava Mariano, get in there now," Liv said through gritted teeth, smiling at the maid.

Ava huffed and followed her in. They were the last ones there - of course - but Emily and Richard hadn't come down yet.

"Thank god we're not late," Jess said, grabbing a glass of lemonade. Lorelai raised an eyebrow at his choice of drink and he shrugged, "driving."

"Where are they? It's 5 past 7," Liv frowned, sitting next to Rory and Alex, lifting James to sit on her lap. Jessica was with her dad, naturally, and Ava went straight to Lorelai, her scowl still on her face.

"They haven't even started putting any food out," Rory said, "it's odd."

Liv nodded, and everyone settled into a comfortable conversation, not noticing Emily and Richard make their way downstairs. They stood back, and watched everyone laugh at Lorelai's attempt to make Ava smile.

"Maybe we shouldn't tell them yet," Richard whispered, "they look happy. I don't want to spoil that."

"You need to tell them, Richard. You don't have much time left," Emily sighed, putting a hand on his arm. They looked at each other, and smiled slightly.

Emily cleared her throat, stepping more into the room, "hello, everyone. Sorry we're late."

"What time do you call this, mom? As a child, I was terrified of being hung, drawn and quartered if I wasn't down for dinner at 7," Lorelai pretended to scold them.

"Actually, we haven't prepared any dinner yet. Your father has some news that he needs to tell you," Emily said, her tone making everyone fall quiet.

"I'm ill," he blurted out.

There was a silence, before Luke cleared his throat, "how ill?"

"I don't have much time left," Richard said, choosing his words carefully.

Liv stood up, placing James down on the sofa, and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around him tight.

Jessica, who was sat on her dad's lap, her arms around his neck loosely, looked at Jess with wide eyes, "is grandpa Richard going to die?"

Jess caught Emily's eye, who walked over to the chair they were sat in, and put a hand on Jessica's shoulder, "unfortunately, yes. But he's in a lot of pain at the minute, so he won't feel that pain anymore."