Luke listened intently as Lorelai relayed the events, which had unfolded over dinner.

'Jeez.' He murmured, 'and noone had any idea?

Lorelai shook her head 'Nope. Nothings. Nada.'

'Wow.'

'My thoughts exactly.'

'So, how's Rory? How did she take it?'

Lorelai shrugged. 'I don't think I've ever seen her so quiet. She's over at Lane's. She was pretty shocked.'

'I can imagine.'

'I just can't get my head around it. I mean, how the hell do you have a daughter and not know anything about it? How can you be so ignorant, so oblivious to it all? It just doesn't make…' she stopped, realising what she had said. 'Oh, Luke I'm sorry I didn't mean you. I wasn't thinking about you and April, I mean, that's obviously different. That was like, eleven years. This is over forty.'

'It's okay, I know…'

'Me and my big mouth.' She sighed, shaking her head.

'So what now?'

Lorelai shrugged. In a way she was happy with how her life was now, she didn't feel like she needed anybody else in it; but then she wanted to get to know her new sister. She felt like she had to.

'Oh my God!' Lane gasped. 'A secret daughter?'

Rory nodded. 'Totally out of the blue, she just arrived at dinner. So unexpected.'

'So what is she like?'

Rory shrugged 'She seems nice but…'

'But?'

'She doesn't seem like a Gilmore. Probably because she isn't really she's a …I don't even know her last name. She has kids though. A girl and a boy. I have cousins.'

'I wonder what they're like?'

Rory pondered this for a moment.

'How cool would it be to find out there is a whole family out there you know nothing about, but they're going to be such a big part of your lives. I'm sorry that's insensitive.'

'Nah, it's okay. I just haven't really taken it in properly yet. This is big Lane. This is really big.'

Lorelai was busy tidying.

'I never realised this place was such a sty.' She complained, shoving a pile of magazines into one of the kitchen cupboards.

'Seriously?' Luke seemed astounded.

'Not the time Luke.' She stopped him before he started the lecture she knew almost by heart.

The doorbell rang.

'Oh my God, they're here.' Lorelai's stomach was doing somersaults.

'Shall I?' Luke offered, but Lorelai was already almost at the door.

'Hey!' she greeted them a little too cheerily. 'Come On in. Come on in.'

Rebecca and James followed their mother into the lounge, as Lorelai dashed into the kitchen to fetch coffee and cakes, all courtesy of Luke's.

Conversation didn't flow easily among them, which resulted in Lorelai and Rory taking it in turns to fill the silence with nervous babbling.

Rebecca barely spoke a word, deciding she didn't want much to do with her new family, while James equally looked like he would rather be any place but where he was. Lorelai couldn't blame them; this couldn't be the best way to spend the Christmas holidays.

'So do you like to read?' Rory asked, quickly running out of small talk topics.

Rebecca gave her a look, which spoke volumes. 'Not really.'

She turned to James who shook his head replying 'I like comics.'

'I love books.' Rory started, but decided to leave it at that. She didn't want the tension to mount any higher than it already was.

'So, Luke has a daughter – April. She's fourteen. We'll have to introduce you.'

'Sure.' Rebecca seemed less than thrilled.

Lorelai searched her mind for something that might appeal to these sullen teenagers. She realised how lucky she had been with Rory. Rory had never gone through this stage.

'How about films?' Luke offered. 'Lorelai and Rory love movies.'

Rebecca nodded. 'Yeah, I like movies.'

'Me too.' Agreed James.

'Great, shall we go get DVDs.' Lorelai jumped to her feet. 'And how about junk food? Twizzlers? Popcorn, potato chips?'

The teens nodded, almost enthusiastically.

'And we could call by Luke's and get some supplies.' Contributed Rory, 'burgers, fries, onion rings. Anything you like.'

'You Lucas Danes are my hero.' Smiled Lorelai as she locked up the house. 'I don't know how I shall ever thank you enough.' She raised an eyebrow. 'Well…'

Luke laughed. 'Not in front of the children.'

'They are not children.' Lorelai smiled 'They are…. very difficult adolescents who probably know a lot more about the ways of the world than I could ever teach them.'