No sooner had Emily put the phone down did it start ringing again. She sighed, but picked it up anyway.

"Mummy," cooed the voice, causing Emily to heave another sigh. "I was thinking about it and… I don't know if I can come to that party on Thursday after all." The last part came out all in a rush, like Lorelai was trying to get it over and done with…which she probably was.

"Oh really?"

"Yes really," Lorelai continued with the lie she and Rory had come up with the night before over dinner, "It turns out that it is Michel's birthday is this Thursday; the same day as the party. Unfortunately, I told him a couple of weeks ago that he could take the day off. Now I find that there's no one to cover for him… So I'm going to have to do it."

"That's too bad." Emily said.

"Yeah," Lorelai agreed, surprised by her mother's kindness. Something was wrong. He mother has never let her get out of something this easily. "I was looking forward to it as well. I'm really sorry Mum."

"Don't feel bad, Lorelai. You aren't the only one to have cancelled." Emily sounded utterly defeated, something that Lorelai had never heard before. It played at Lorelai's heart strings. Then Lorelai said something that neither Gilmore was expecting.

"You know what; I think maybe I could get someone else to cover after all." Silence, "I know this party means a lot to you and I really do want to be there."

"Okay," Emily managed.

"Yeah. Okay. So I'll see you then." Lorelai smiled, knowing that she'd done a good deed.

Just before she hung up Emily spoke again. "Oh, and Lorelai…?"

"Yes Mum."

"Bring a date."

'Crap!'

"She knows!" Lorelai told her daughter while the two of them walked towards the diner the next morning.

"No, Mum. She doesn't know. How could she know that you're going out with Luke? She doesn't have spies watching us 24/7."

"She must have over heard me talking to him on the phone while we were out shopping. But I wouldn't be surprised if she was having us watched." Lorelai looked over her shoulder, checking they weren't being followed.

"When are you going to realize that Grandma is not an evil mastermind?" Rory asked her mother.

Lorelai stuck her tongue out at Rory and stormed ahead. Rory sighed. Why did she always have to be the parent?

The two Gilmore's entered the diner together, after Rory apologized and recited 'Emily Gilmore is evil. She is. She is. She is.' three times over.

Lorelai was disappointed to see no seats at the counter, so instead followed Rory to a table by the window.

An unusual silence fell between the two girls. Rory was contemplating the essay that she would be writing over the weekend. Lorelai, however, was thinking about how to bring up Chilton. She still hadn't told Rory about it since Emily brought up the idea; nearly two weeks ago. It was the longest she had ever kept this kind of secret from her daughter and she felt incredibly guilty about the whole thing. She was sure that she was going to have to tell her today… the guilt was becoming too much for her. But how would she do it?

"Rory…?" She started.

Rory looked up. "Yeah?"

'Oh God! What to say…'

"You like your school right?"

A look of confusion covered the young girl's face. "Yeah, I guess."

"And it's not, I don't know, too easy?"

Rory shook her head, but still looked baffled. "Mum, what is it? What's going on?"

Truth time; Lorelai took a deep breath before she began talking. "You've heard of Chilton Academy, right?" Rory nodded, so she continued. "Well, somehow, your Grandmother has managed to get you a place there…if you want it."

Rory's eyes widened and looked like they might burst out of their sockets. "What? How?" She whispered, totally taken aback by her mother's words.

"It doesn't matter. The point is there is a place for you if you want it. So, what do you say?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "Can I think about it?"

"Of course, Hon."

Lorelai was in a better mood by the time that she reached the Inn that day, having gotten the Chilton thing over and done with. She danced over to her post at the front desk and after checking the computer, she headed into the kitchen to find Sookie.

"Sookie? You in here?" she called. The kitchen was surprisingly empty and there was no sign of Sookie anywhere. Lorelai wandered back into the foyer in search of an explanation for her missing staff.

"Michel, where's Sookie?"

"Hospital," he stated simply.

Panic washed over her and for a moment she was speechless. Why would Sookie be at the hospital? "Oh my God! Why? What happened?"

"How should I know? It's not my job to keep and eye on her. I do actually have a job to do, you know? You're always taking…"

Lorelai interrupted him. "Always taking you for granted… Yeah, yeah, I know. What happened to Sookie?"

"I don't know…something about falling over or something. Like I said, it's not my job."

"Thanks for the help Michel," Lorelai sighed.

Less than an hour later, Sookie was back in the kitchen, with her left arm in a sling. She explained to Lorelai that she had spilt some oil on the floor and slipped on it. That was all. She also pointed out that she had explained that to Michel and, knowing that he wouldn't tell Lorelai, had even given him a note to give her…which of course, he didn't do.

"Gah! I could kill Michel!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Calm down, sweetie. If it will make you feel better I will add some extra blueberries to his pancakes tomorrow."

"It would, thanks," Lorelai smiled. "Okay, so… I told Rory about Chilton this morning," she told her best friend, while taking a seat.

"Oh! And what did she say?" Sookie stopped mixing and looked genuinely curious.

Lorelai sighed. "She said she wanted to think about it."

"And that's a bad thing?" Sookie asked her, confused.

"No, not a bad thing… I just can't help thinking that my mother is going to come up with some utrageous clause. Like Rory can only go to this school if I sell her my soul or something."

Sookie giggled. "Your mother isn't the devil, you know?"

"God! What is it with everybody defending her today? First Rory, and now you."

"Oh, Hon, I'm not defending her… I'm just saying that she's your mother, why would she do something like that? She's just doing a nice thing for Rory is all."

"Whatever you say," Lorelai sighed. "I think I'm going get some lunch at the diner. Will you be alright?"

Sookie sighed. "Of course I will be okay!"

"Well alright." Lorelai said, not entirely happy leaving Sookie unattended. "Make sure she doesn't hurt herself again." She said to the other chefs, who were working furiously.

And with that Lorelai headed off to Luke's.