Thank you everyone who's reading and for those who have reviewed. Originally this started as a 2 chapter story and it's grown from there. Hope you enjoy the next part.

3

Lorelai reached over her shoulder to pull the blanket from the back of the couch to cover her legs; September was turning cold especially at night. It was the third movie night she had had with her mother and surprisingly she was actually enjoying them. It was an incredibly safe way to spend time with her mother in that there was no talking, and the topic of conversation when she made her escape from the house at the end of the night was restricted to discussion of what they had just watched and drive safe. Her mother had actually asked for this movie night in her indirect way; going on that Richard was going to be around every Friday until the holidays and then it was the holiday rush and he was going to be away this night and she wasn't sure when he would be going away again. Agreeing to come over on a Wednesday night to watch a movie was easier than an argument and it was strangely nice to be wanted by her mother. Luke had teased her about setting a precedence but a happy Emily was a happy everyone.

She looked into at her bag as her cell rang "It's Rory," she told Emily as she recognised her daughter's number and answered the call, "Hey."
"Are you at Grandma's?" her daughters voice sounded impatient.
Lorelai rolled her eyes, "Hello daughter dearest, why yes I am currently seated resplendent at your Grandmother's surveying a moving pict..."
Rory gave a huff as she interrupted, "Why aren't you opening the door then?"
"What..." Lorelai sat up straight, "No! You're not…" she gave a delighted squeal as she kicked off the blanket and ran out of the room. Once through the door she could make out the sound of the doorbell being rung repeatedly. In the background she could hear her mother calling after her, asking what was going on and if Rory was ok. Moving down the 2 flights of stairs at a dangerous speed Lorelai heard her daughter laugh down the phone. "This better be you," Lorelai threw open the heavy wooden door. "It's you!" She cried in delight and wrapped her arms round Rory as tightly as she could. It was the first time she had seen her daughter since Rory had left, no amount of phone calls made up for not being able to see her. "You're here, how are you here?" Lorelai held Rory away from her to study her. Her daughter looked older, her clothes rumpled, her hair mussed up, her eyes weighed by a sheen of tiredness, but she was still her Rory.

"Rory?" Emily called with delighted surprise as she joined them in the foyer.

"Grandma!" Rory shrugged out of Lorelai's grip so she could hug her grandmother tightly.

"Did you know she was coming?" Lorelai asked Emily,

Rory shook her head as she stepped out of her grandmother's embrace. Her hand stayed on her grandmother's forearm, like she was using Emily to steady herself. "I didn't know myself until lunchtime. The event we were supposed to be covering was cancelled and the next one isn't till Friday, so we have a free night" Rory told them breathily, the words tumbling from her mouth in excitement. "James one of the other reporters, he's from Boston, it's his dad's 70th birthday and he wanted to get back for it and he knew how much I was missing you and he offered me a lift. It's a complete flying visit he has to pick me up at 9.30 tomorrow so we can get back to the bus in time."

"James is in my will," Lorelai grinned, "which one is he?"

"The one who is convinced Rory is short for Aurora," Rory wrinkled her nose in distaste. "But I had to come and he dropped me at home and you weren't there so I called the inn and Michel said something cryptic about you not being there so I figured you must be at Luke's for food and when I got there he said you were here but Lane was there and she went and got the twins," Rory gave her mother a beaming smile, "they are so big Mom. And cute. And then I came here." She took a big breath, "Luke said movie night. Does that mean Grandpa isn't here?"

"He's gets back late tomorrow night," Emily told her softly, holding still as she let Rory cling onto her.

Rory frowned and shook her head in distress, "I can't believe I missed him! I don't know when I'm going to get back to see you guys."

"We'll call him," Lorelai assured her. She caught Emily's eye a look of silent concern passing between them over Rory's slightly panicked state, "have you eaten?"

"Luke made me a cheeseburger," Rory told her, "and its movie night right so there's candy. Come on let's go," she started towards to staircase. "I want to see the den Grandma, Mom said you got new pillows and stuff."

"I gave it a bit of a spruce," Emily answered, as Lorelai started after her daughter Emily caught Lorelai's elbow making her stop so she could mouth is she ok?.

"I think she's just tired," Lorelai whispered. "Come on." They followed Rory up to the top of the house, watching her carefully. "I wished I'd known you were coming babes I would have got you a proper birthday present," Lorelai came alongside her.

Rory looked at her, "I don't need anything, just being here, just being home," she entered the den and cast a look around as she made her way to the couch, dropping into the squishy cushions and finding a comfortable position, "it's great Grandma."

"Thank you Rory," Emily hesitated at the door.

"Grandma sit," Rory patted the seat beside her.

"Just a moment," Emily turned and left the room.

Rory cast a confused look at her mother before nestling into Lorelai's side. "It's so good to be home, it just smells of home."

"er kid, don't scare Mommy, this isn't home, this is your grandparents'," Lorelai wrapped her arms round Rory's shoulder holding her tight.

"No I don't mean that, I do but I don't, Grandma's perfume and the books. The smells, this is home, it's stupid…"

"Here we are" Emily came back holding a carrier bag, "What is it?" she frowned slightly as Lorelai giggled.

"Nothing Mom, Rory was just saying you smell…"

"No I didn't," Rory playfully swatted at her mother. "I said you smelt of home, your perfume, it's familiar, it's nice. I missed it."

"Well," Emily gave a soft happy sigh as a pleased smile played on her lips. "I got you this as part of your birthday gift."

"You already got her a present," Lorelai countered as her mother handed the bag over to Rory. "Which if you don't want I will totally take off your hands."

Emily frowned as she sank into the couch beside Rory "Well you said to keep that gift light and then Rory said she was getting cold and I was shopping… Open it, see if you like it." Rory did as she was told and opened the bag. "Now the girl in the store said it's the best in the range," Emily explained as Rory pulled out a black jacket. "It's meant for people who are hiking, so its light weight and breathable but keeps the heat in, its water proof and there is a hood. I thought with you going all over the country with any weather possible it was a practical choice. I chose black to stay professional but it has bright blue lining for a bit of youthful funk. Do you like it?"

"It's great Grandma" Rory ran her hand over the fabric before kissing her grandmother in gratitude, "It's just what I need."

"Good, I'm glad," Emily carefully folded the discarded bag. "now let's call your grandfather" Emily quickly dialled the number of Richards's cell phone. "Hello Richard...yes I am but we have an unexpected visitor who is rather upset you're not here and I promised her that we could call you...yes it's Rory...no we didn't know at all...yes Richard I am aware of that...did you want to talk to her?...alright I'm handing you over" Emily handed over the phone to Rory who quickly rose from her seat and scurried out the room.

Lorelai stared at the closed door for a few moments. "Should we be offended?"

Emily shook her head tiredly, "goodness know what they talk about but your father always takes her call privately in the study. He gets a good extra 10 minutes on the phone with her."

Lorelai stifled a laugh at her mother pouting expression. "The coat is great Mom," she changed the subject.

"I'm glad she liked it, there was so much choice" Emily lifted the discarded coat and neatly folded it "I had no idea that there was such a demand for clothing used in outdoor pursuits."

"Well there are some crazy folk in the world, wanting to hike up mountains and other such dumb things like that," Lorelai smiled affably at her mother. "If she gets the coat does that mean I can have her spa vouchers?"

"No." Emily gave her a withering look.

"What spa vouchers?" Rory asked as she slipped back into the room.

"Lorelai!" Emily huffed in annoyance.

"How was I supposed to know she was about to come back in?" Lorelai protested. "You were the one who said ten minutes."

"Oh should I not know?" Rory sank back onto the couch in between her mother and grandmother.

"Your grandma and grandpa got you fancy spa vouchers," Lorelai ignored her mother's annoyed expression.

"Well thank you for ruining that surprise," Emily rolled her eyes. "I thought you deserved to be pampered. The vouchers are for a spa chain that operate within hotels across the country. I thought a periodic massage throughout your travels or a nice manicure," she cast a disapproving look at Rory's less than perfect nails, "would ease some of the rigours of the road."

"Grandma that would be great." Rory kissed Emily on the cheek. "A massage would be lovely."

"Good," Emily smiled pleasantly. "If you spend them wisely you should be able to get 10 standard massages according to their price list, but if you need to make up the difference, let me know and I will arrange it," she raised her eyebrows as Lorelai and Rory looked at her incredulously. "What is it?"

"Ten treatments, Grandma that's too much!"

"Nonsense," Emily shook her head. "My granddaughter deserves to be spoiled."

"If you don't want them, I'll have them," Lorelai poked Rory in the side childishly.

Emily sent another glowering look in her daughter's direction. "You will do no such thing, and if you're that desperate for a spa day I will happily arrange one. Maybe we could go together."

"No you're good," Lorelai shook her head. "Last time your Grandma took me to a spa she arranged us a couple's massage," she whispered conspiratorially to Rory.

Rory giggled "Isn't that for couples like married couples?"

"Uh huh," Lorelai grinned cheekily. She caught the look in her mother's eye that told her she had crossed a line and she held her hand up in defeated apology. "I'm just pulling your leg Mom."

"Well don't," Emily folded her arms.

"If you get stuck for ideas for Christmas though," Lorelai threw the blanket over her and Rory's legs. "Then I wouldn't say no to spa vouchers."

"I already have your Christmas present," Emily answered quickly.

Lorelai blinked in surprise. "It's September!"

"So?"

"So it's September," Lorelai stared at her mother incredulously.

"Well I saw it and thought of you." Emily gave her daughter an amused smile. "Is this going to annoy you until you get it?" When Lorelai nodded her smile widened. "Good. Now Rory can I get you anything."

"No I'm good," Rory shook her head. "I just wanna watch the movie."

"Should we restart?" Emily stopped Lorelai as she reached for the remote.

"It's fine, I've already seen it so it doesn't really matter." Rory snuggled down into the couch.

"You've already seen the movie?" Emily raised her eyebrows surprised, she looked past her granddaughter to her daughter. "Have you seen it before?"

"Sure," Lorelai nodded. "I've seen all the movies we've watched. I watch movies all the time," she frowned at her mother's surprised look. "Mom these movies are all like 40 years old did you really think I hadn't seen them?"

"Well…" Emily considered the question. "If you've seen all the movies and watch them all the time. How is movie night our thing?"

"I don't just watch movies with you mom," Lorelai cast a sideways look at Rory, silently telling her daughter to help her out. "It's our thing that we do without Dad, and think of it this way I'm sharing an important aspect of my life with you. You like it when I do that."

"Yeah and I like planning it with you," Rory patted Emily's knee. "I get to think about what to suggest, it's something nice to think about when I'm stuck on my own in a motel. Come on Grandma," Rory shifted slightly. "Let's watch the movie. It's our movie night, we gotta. Come on Mom press play."

"You got it little girl," Lorelai set the movie running and placed the remote on the coffee table allowing her the chance to pick up some Twizzlers and hand them to her daughter. She settled down beside Rory and held her daughter's free hand relishing the contact after so long apart. Her expert ear could tell by Rory's breathing that her daughter was succumbing to tiredness but it was her mother's soft surprised 'oh' as Rory's head made contact with Emily's shoulder 10 minutes later that confirmed Rory had fallen asleep. "You Ok Mom?"

"I'm fine," Emily voice was barely audible as if she was afraid that she might wake Rory. "Is she Ok like this?"

"For a little while," Lorelai pulled the blanket over Rory and tucked it around her, the movement woke Rory slightly and Lorelai flinched.

"Mom?" Rory's sleepy voice.

"Go back…" Lorelai started to whisper.

"Lie down Rory," Emily interrupted Lorelai softly as she carefully stood up and guided her granddaughter to lie on the couch.

More than half asleep Rory allowed herself to be repositioned to lay on the couch by her mother and grandmother. Spread across the soft couch she snuggled down into it and gripped the blankets that were placed over her.

"Sit Lorelai," Emily ordered her daughter, inclining her head towards the space beside Rory's head.

Lorelai sat in the small space and placed her hand on Rory's shoulder. "Where are you going?" she asked Emily in confusion as her mother moved to the doorway.

"To make Rory's bed up. She's too tired to drive home and with the cars it is easier. Will you stay also?" Emily told Lorelai quietly; getting a nod from Lorelai she turned the lamp out and quietly left the room.

Lorelai stared at the door for a few moments. Her mother was right, staying over was the right thing to do, Rory needed her rest. She smiled as she watched her daughter. Asleep she looked so young, it made it hard to believe that she was grown. She turned her attention to the still rolling movie but every little sound from Rory made her look down.

After a ten minutes Emily returned and after a moment's hesitation she moved to sit in the small space at the other end of the couch by Rory's feet.

"I can't believe she came all this way to see us for one night," Emily's voice sounded overly happy. "Rory is here," she tenderly rested her hand on Rory's legs, similar to the way Lorelai was touching Rory's shoulder. "It's so wonderful that she's here."

"It is," Lorelai agreed, a momentary flash of jealousy flushing across her as she took in the easy and tender way her mother was touching Rory.

"Plus there is the added bonus of a sleep over," Emily sounded strangely victorious. "I get my girls for breakfast."

Lorelai turned to look at her mother. Emily was staring at her triumphantly, but Lorelai could see the look behind, the mixture of challenge and nervousness. "I guess you do." Emily gave her a beaming smile, the challenge dropping from her eyes leaving only a look of pure happiness. Lorelai turned her attention back to the movie. It wasn't so bad staying over, Staying over had only happened once before and the morning after she had been victim of a Siberian cold front from her mother. But Rory was here. That made everything OK. With Rory here it meant it would probably be the Bahamas of breakfasts. Lorelai cast a sideways glance at her mother at the end of the couch and despite herself she scowled. Emily looked immeasurably happy and she knew it was because Rory was here. She shook her head at the ridiculousness of her thoughts. She had never been jealous of Rory's relationship with her parents, she'd only ever felt guilt about the fact that she had kept them apart for so long. But something now, something about how her mother was interacting with Rory was making her green eyed monster act out and she had no idea what it was.