AN - Thanks everyone, the assignment is in so time to focus on the Gilmore's :) House buying yuck! but needs to be done, bedrooms are addressed in this chapter :) In response to Emily, yes very bossy the last chapter but it's her wanting to stay involved. I always felt in the show that when Lorelai and Emily started to let their guards down you saw the relationship they could have but when they rarely did let their guards down with each other it was usually interrupted by Richard or Rory and they would both put security to maximum with each other. The last couple of chapters Lorelai's guard has been down and she has let Emily in and Emily is desperate to cling onto that. Anyways I hope you enjoy the next chapter, Let me know what you think, x

Chapter 21-Paint

Lorelai looked up from the kitchen table as Luke entered the house via the back door with a loud crash. She stifled a smile as he swore and dropped the pile of cardboard. "You OK Hun?" she asked innocently.

He gave her an annoyed look, bent down and picked up the pile of cardboard, marched across the kitchen to Rory's room, threw the cardboard into the room and slammed the bedroom door. "More boxes."

"Why do we need more boxes?" Lorelai's brow creased in confusion. "We already have like a thousand."

"And we are going to need two thousand, given how you have nine million tonnes of stuff." Luke pulled the chair out and shifted it beside her. He sat down beside her and gave her a tired look. "You know, you could use this as an excuse to clear out."

"Clear out what? My many varied collections, I think not!" Lorelai shook her head dramatically and gave him a beaming smile. At his exasperated look she leaned forward slightly. "I have cleared out a bit. A bunch of tapes that I have duplicate on CD or DVD and a whole bunch of magazines that I must have moved in here with," she tilted her head inviting him wordlessly to kiss her. With a smile he leaned forward and gave her a quick tender kiss and she settled back in her chair with a contented smile. "Plus a whole bunch of scrap fabric that I've been saving, just in case."

"That's a start," Luke sighed. "How is the planning coming along. Tom said he needs the final colour choices Friday."

"I know," Lorelai lifted the paint chit sample chart and rifled through it. "I figured this for the downstairs." She pointed out a warm creamy white. "It's basically what is there now but if we just give it a fresh coat. It's not offensive at all and we can dress it up with whatever curtains and pillows we decide and we can always change it later. The same for the bathrooms. For the nursery this," she rifled through the yellows, pausing the show him a soft pale buttery colour, "because neutral and pretty. The guest room slash will be one of the baby's room later the same. Our room which is probably the most needed change one because of the whole pink thing they have going on, this," she pointed out a soft warm blue, "or this," she pointed out a similar toned green.

Luke considered the two colours, "the blue."

"Blue it is," Lorelai scribbled on her notepad. "Base boards are all white so just redo that. So we just need Rory and April. Rory is in exam mode now so I figure we just use the cream colour for the loft room and I can tart the room up with fabrics. But if I catch her at a moment when she is not in final mode panic I will ask her."

"And I'm checking with April on Thursday," Luke took the paint chart away from her. "So we're done?"

"Almost."

"And you won't change your mind?" Luke scrolled through the chart looking at her with a hopeful nervousness.

"Nope," Lorelai shook her head as she scribbled something else on her pad. "I, we, have too much to do."

"Don't overdo it," Luke fixed her with a concerned look, his eyes trailing down to her belly before back up to her face which was creased in concentration.

"I'm not," she glanced up from her notepad. "Stop worrying."

"No heavy lifting, no bending and stretching or climbing ladders."

"I won't," Lorelai looked up from her notepad and gave him a grateful smile. "Me and the bambinos are fine and I am not going to do anything to change that."

Luke gave her a satisfied smile and stood up. He bent down and kissed her, his hand coming down to stroke and then pat her stomach. "Good. I'm going to get more boxes."

"Me and my nine million tonnes of stuff thanks you." She called after him as he walked out of the house.

xXx

Rory rounded the corner and darted out of the way of an equally harried looking student. The halls, corridors and pathways of Yale were filled with the many faces of stressed students as the end of semester exams descended upon them. She had completed one exam so far and had just submitted her coursework for her writing seminar. She had yet to even begin to go over her notes for her other classes and she was feeling overwhelmed by the thought that she was slipping behind. She paused as she rounded another corner, nearly causing a traffic collision as students walking behind her almost banged into her.

"Sorry," she whispered stepping out of the way. He, Spencer, was stood at the coffee cart. It was the second time she had seen him at the cart since their initial meeting there. Ever since she had taken Grandpa to the fundraiser table at the football game she had been seeing him everywhere. On a large campus with its many thousands of students, academics and other staff it seemed unusual. It didn't help that he made her feel a bit weak at the knees. She hadn't found a guy this distracting since she was seventeen and had had a crush on Jess.

She stood still for a little while, hoping he would move away so she could buy her coffee but her internal clock was counting, ticking down the seconds she was wasting, seconds that she didn't have because she should be studying. With a sigh she stepped into the flow of students and hopped out again jumping into the queue for the cart and looked down at her book.

"Hey Rory."

She looked up and smiled, despite the odd feeling in her chest, as Spencer spotted her. "Hi Spencer."

"How are the exams going or should I not ask?" he stepped alongside her with a sympathetic smile.

"Not enough hours in the day," Rory grimaced. "I just need a java jolt then its back to it."

"I don't envy you," he scanned the line. "Here," he lifted the lid off the coffee cup he was holding, took a mouthful and then replaced the lid. "You need it more and there's a coffee store near to the lab." He held out the coffee to her.

"Oh you don't…" Rory started to protest but he waggled the cup slightly. "Thanks," she took the cup and stared at him for a few moments unsure what to do now.

"No problem," Spencer smiled kindly at her. "Could I maybe give you my number?"

Rory blinked as it seemed all her mental faculties drained out of her.

"Once the exam craziness is over maybe, if you like you, could give me a call and we could go for a proper coffee." Spencer gave her a slightly nervous smile as he wrote his number on a piece of paper and handed it to her. "Only if you would like."

"Er…thanks," Rory blinked away her surprise and took the paper.

"Well, Good luck with the exams," Spencer put the lid on his pen, with a faintly embarrassed nervous look. He smiled hopefully at her. "See you Rory."

xXx

Emily looked up from her card writing at the sound of the doorbell. She glanced at her watch, considering for a moment who it could be. When it appeared that the current maid was nowhere to be seen she gave a huff and got up so she could open the door. Her annoyance melted away as she found Rory on the other side and she gave her granddaughter a beaming smile. "Rory!"

"Hi Grandma."

Emily forced herself to keep her delighted expression on her face. Rory looked tired and stressed, her shoulders were tense and high and her eyes were wide. "Well, this is a lovely surprise. Come in out of the cold," she held her hands out to Rory and guided her into the house.

"I'm sorry I didn't call," Rory mumbled.

"I've told you, you can pop in whenever you want," Emily smiled warmly at her granddaughter as she tried to gauge how upset Rory actually was. "Now, take your coat off," she noticed the maid and beckoned. "Take my granddaughter's coat and then we will need tea. Toast the English muffins and bring jam and honey."

Rory shook her head. "You don't…"

"Nonsense," Emily patted her forearm. "I needed a break from Christmas card writing and it's so cold out there," she took Rory's coat and handed it to the maid. "Your Grandfather has all these people we have to send cards to yet he's away on business and I'm the one who has write them. Now let's go into the living room." She placed her arm around Rory's shoulder and guided her through the house to the couch in the living room and sat down. Rory sat a fraction of a second later, sitting far closer then she would normally. "Rory, Honey, what's wrong?" Emily asked deciding that there was no point in trying to skirt over the issue. Rory gave a shuddering sigh and suddenly snuggled in against her, her head falling onto Emily's shoulder. Emily's eyes widened and her arms instinctively came up to encircle her granddaughter. "Rory?"

"I'm OK. I'm just having a bad day," Rory whispered, nestling into Emily's embrace.

"Well I'm glad you came here," Emily kissed her crown. "Is it the exams?"

"Yeah, and everything else and I have my last session coming up and I don't feel ready to stop and I have so much to do and it's all too much and I want to talk to Mom but she's got so much going on…"

"Rory no," Emily stopped her. "Your mother will always find time for you," she frowned as Rory started to cry. "Oh Honey!"

"I'm sorry, it's just everything is so…" Rory dissolved into heavy tears.

Emily closed her eyes and just held her granddaughter as Rory cried, waiting for Rory to stop before she tried to speak to her again. After several minutes Rory stopped crying and just started to sniff and Emily coaxed Rory's face away from her now sodden shoulder. "Rory, it's Ok. I know there are a lot of changes going on, and it's overwhelming but it is OK. As for the sessions it's your last court ordered one. You can still continue to go to them, if you think they will help."

"I can?" Rory looked at her in surprise. "But it's therapy, we don't do that."

"We do whatever we need to do," Emily told her pointedly, "and if you need them, then you will carry on with them. Your Grandfather and I are more than happy to pay for the sessions for as long as you feel you need them."

"But you said it's what deviants do," Rory mumbled tearfully.

"It might surprise you but I am not always right," Emily wiped Rory's cheeks. "I was wrong about Luke and your mother."

"I guess."

"Rory," Emily tried to make eye contact with her granddaughter but Rory was looking at her chipped nails, "if going to therapy is helping you, then it does not matter what my opinion of it is. All that matters to me is that you are getting what you need. I just want you to be healthy and happy. That is what is important."

"Thank you," Rory mumbled, as she wiped her face with her sleeve.

"So are exams and worrying about the ends of your sessions all that is bothering you?" Emily pressed gently. She frowned as Rory shook her head. "What else Sweetie?"

"I'm still not sure what I want to do and I have to start finalising that for next year. I spoke with Francine because she wants to arrange our meet up and she wanted to know if I wanted to see Gigi. I know I've spoken to Francine a bunch of times, but she only asks about me and how I am doing. I never ask about Dad she never mentions him. I haven't spoken to him since your vow renewal. I forgot about Gigi. I forgot I had a sister which made me feel awful. It just made me realise that Dad…that he doesn't care about me and he doesn't care that I don't have a relationship with my own sister." She took a shuddering breath and tried to stop herself from crying, "and then there is guy and he's really nice and he gives me that feeling like it's hard to breathe but I don't feel ready for that and then the house. I know Mom isn't selling it, but it won't be our house someone else will be living there and there is all this stuff going on and I know it's really stupid and selfish but I like knowing that I have my room. That I always have that."

"Oh Honey," Emily grimaced as she saw Rory's eyes fill with tears again and she held her arms out to cuddle Rory once more. She rocked her granddaughter tenderly as Rory cried for several minutes more, until Rory pulling her face away from Emily's face unprompted. "Does it feel better to say all this?"

Rory nodded and wiped her face with her sleeve. "I should be stronger then this," she shook her head as Emily went to respond. "Everyone is taking care of me and I'm still this big mess. You, Mom, Luke, Paris. The guy, Spencer, gave me his coffee because I looked like I needed it. I'm supposed to be ready to go into the big wide world in eighteen months, that's how long I have until I graduate. I feel like I'm a little kid and I still need help with everything."

"The feeling never goes away," Emily admitted softly to her. "I still get that. I'm sure your mother still feels like that. Growing up is about how we handle that feeling and how we handle what comes our way," she smiled lovingly at her granddaughter. "Coming here today shows you are growing up. You knew you needed help, so you found it. Six months ago you would have gone out drinking and would have bottled it up. If you can learn that in six months think what you will be like in eighteen months."

"I guess," Rory sniffed again. "I'm sorry Grandma."

"There's no need to be sorry," Emily brushed tenderly brushed Rory's hair out of her face. "You've done absolutely the right thing," she looked past Rory to the tea tray the maid had set on the dining room table clearly not wanting to interrupt what was going in the living room. "Now, how about we girls have some tea and we think about what we do next."

"Next?" Rory took a shuddering breath.

"Well, do you have an exam tomorrow?"

Rory nodded, "at 2."

"Alright, do you have your books with you?" Emily asked carefully.

"My book bag is in my car," Rory told her softly.

"Good. Well how about you stay here tonight? You can study while I finish these cards and we can keep each other company. I'll book you a nail appointment," Emily took Rory's hand and studied the chipped nails critically, "for first thing in the morning. A good night sleep, some good wholesome food and a manicure will make you feel better. Ready to battle through these exams."

Rory gave her a teary smile. "Thank you Grandma,"

"It's my pleasure Rory," Emily kissed her softly.

xXx

"You, are in, my space." Michel hissed in annoyance as Lorelai opened the drawer on the desk.

"What?" Lorelai looked up at him.

"You, are in, my space," Michel repeated staring pointedly at the lack of space between him and Lorelai's stomach.

Lorelai scowled. "Technically this is my space. All my space, it's my inn."

"This is my personal space," Michel matched her scowl indicating the immediate space around him. "You must respect it, just because you do not know your own personal space requirements, does not mean you invade mine."

"Well tell me where you hid the tape dispenser thingy and I will get out of your space," Lorelai turned her attention back to the drawer. "The packing one, the tape gun."

"That is property of the inn, you cannot use it for your personal requirements," Michel scolded her.

"Again, it's mmmmmyyyyyyy inn," Lorelai rolled her eyes at him. "I pay for it anyway so I can use it."

"I will find it. Now go away," Michel shooed her. Lorelai held her ground, folding her arms and staring at him. "You should not wear those shoes." Michel hissed at her, taking the opportunity to throw her by changing the subject.

Lorelai rolled her eyes, she was getting mighty sick of people telling her what she should and shouldn't be eating, wearing, doing, she was 18 weeks pregnant at this rate she was going to kill someone before she gave birth. "Don't, it is my back, my knees…"

"I care little of your knees," Michel drawled at her. "They do not go with that outfit," he looked her up and down critically. "I manage the front desk. To be at the front desk you must be presentable. You are not presentable. The dress does not match with those shoes. I know you have other shoes in the office. You must change into matching shoes if you want to be in the front desk area."

Lorelai smiled at Michel. "You softie Michel, trying to take care of me."

"No, I am not," Michel shook his head unconvincingly. "I just want you out of my space."

Lorelai quirked her eyebrows knowingly at him. "Fine. I'm not changing my shoes, at least until my mother gets here. I will be in there," she pointed to the office. "And bring me the tape gun when you find it."

She moved into the cramped office and sat back at her desk to carry on with the ordering. In her short bathroom/ search for the tape gun break, someone, most likely Sookie, had brought her some cookies and milk and she smiled. Dunking a cookie she started back on her work.

After an hour there was a sharp knock and the door and Michel opened it without waiting for an answer "Emily is here, I have sent her into the lounge to await you."

"Thanks Michel," Lorelai called after him as he closed the door without waiting for her response. Sliding off her high heeled pumps that she knew her mother would have a conniption over her wearing, she selected her low black courts and made her way to the lounge via the bathroom for what seemed like the eightieth visit of the day.

She frowned as she entered the lounge, Emily had a large folder with her and folders never meant anything good with her mother. "Hi Mom,"

"Hello Lorelai, how are we?" Emily stood up smiling excitedly at her.

"I am fine Mom," Lorelai ignored her mother's use of the plural pronoun.

"You look bigger then Friday," Emily gauged Lorelai's abdomen for any growth that had occurred over the last few days.

"Well they keep growing. So lunch," Lorelai clapped her hands together and pointed to the dining room, already feeling exasperated with her mother, "Sookie's got a tasting platter going on, are you Ok with that?"

"Why yes that's fine," Emily sat down and set her folder in front of her. "I've been looking in the magazines and I have some wonderful ideas for the house and the nursery."

"Nope," Lorelai shook her head.

"What?" Emily looked at her in confusion.

"Luke and I are doing the nursery, you know the parents. Hands off," Lorelai fixed her mother with a determined stare.

"Oh, but there are some beautiful…"

"Nope," Lorelai shook her head once more, cutting Emily off. "We are doing the nursery, we have the colour picked, and we are going furniture shopping once we move in. The downstairs is staying the same."

Emily pouted slightly. "Alright, might I be able to do one room in the house. Rory's room perhaps, so she has somewhere of her own."

Lorelai narrowed her eyes as Emily looked downwards at her file. "What happened?"

Emily looked back up opened her mouth and then closed it again. Deciding that telling Lorelai about Rory's upset was for the best she gave a soft sigh. "Rory came to me yesterday. She's fine now but she was upset. I think exam stress just unsettled her a little. She stayed the night. I took her to get her nails done. She's feeling better, more positive. I've told her she should talk to you. She has an exam at two."

"I'll make sure I'm home by five," Lorelai nodded, chewing her lip nervously. "So the bit about somewhere of her own?"

"She feels like she will miss her room. I think she feels it is a constant, somewhere safe to be," Emily told Lorelai softly as she turned through her folder to a magazine cutting of a bookcase. "I would love to do her room for her if you would let me. I promise I will stay away from the nursery."

Lorelai sighed heavily. "Alright Mom, you can do Rory's room. It's bugging her?"

"I believe the house move is adding to her feelings of being unsettled yes," Emily told her sadly. "I've told her to talk to you and that you will always make time for her." Emily reached across the table and took Lorelai's hand squeezing it reassuringly. "She is OK."

"She thinks I don't have time for her?" Lorelai held her breath as she awaited her mother's answer.

Emily sighed heavily, "She thinks you have a lot on and she doesn't want to worry you with anything else. I've told her to talk to you," Emily reiterated. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"I'm glad you told me," Lorelai smiled weakly at her mother. "I suppose I have been a bit self-centred lately."

"Completely understandable." Emily closed her folder as the waiter approached, "the wedding, the pregnancy. These are life altering situations, no matter how wonderful they might be, they are still stressful. You're handling everything admirably Lorelai. I don't think I would be so calm if I was pregnant with twins. Pregnant with just one was enough for me"

"You didn't enjoy it?" Lorelai pointed to the tasting platter on the menu to order their food.

"I was sick the entire time and you were late. I was enormous, uncomfortable and everything hurt," Emily grimaced. "I felt like a big mess the entire time. I do not envy you one bit," she gave Lorelai a sheepish smile which morphed into a tender affection, "Ultimately it is worth it."

Lorelai blushed under her mother's gaze and looked down at her stomach as her mind worried about her eldest. "Yeah it is."

xXx

"Hi Mom," April yelled, sticking her head into the kitchen before dashing out again.

"Don't run," April called, smiling in greeting at Luke as he followed April into the kitchen holding the beginnings of a papier Mache animal head. "Hi, how was it? Do I need to apologise for roping you in?"

"Just some boards needing to be mitred" Luke set the newspaper creation on the table. "Not really sure what it all has to do with Christmas but the kids seem to be enjoying it. What's she getting?"

"Oh her room layout," Anna grinned. "She's been working on it all week. It's a scale model." Luke raised his eyebrows and exhaled happily, glad that April was excited about the new house. "How is Lorelai?" Anna asked carefully.

"She's doing well, really well." Luke smiled involuntarily at the mention of his wife.

"April is excited. She won't let me cook or eat whatever fruit or vegetable the babies are compared to each week on that chart she has." Anna moved to the coffee maker. "Would you like one?"

"No," Luke waved his hand. "I won't stay long. Just let her show me the thing," he looked around as April clattered back into the kitchen. "Slow down!"

"Sorry," April looked sheepishly at both her parents. "This is what I want to do with my room," she held out the cardboard creation to Luke. Luke took it and stared at it; April had formed a cardboard bedroom to the layout of the room that had been designated hers. Inside this model she had stuck paint colours to the walls, pictures and created little cardboard copies of her furniture. "Mom said she could get me the curtains and the comforter," April pointed at the picture of the curtains she wanted.

"One of my suppliers sells them," Anna interjected. "I just meant I could get a good deal."

"Well if it's what you want," Luke nodded putting the model on the kitchen table. "Is this the colour you want?" he pointed at the bright turquoise colour stuck to the 'wall'.

"Yup," April nodded enthusiastically. "Take it with you Dad." She held out the model eagerly to him.

"Why don't you keep hold of the model, there's a lot of stuff everywhere at home and I don't want it to get damaged," Luke smiled gently at April. "First weekend we're in you can come and show me where you want everything. Can I take the paint colour to make sure we get the one you want?"

"Sure," April pulled the paint chit from the cardboard walls. "You promise I can help?"

"Absolutely!"

xXx

Rory stepped into the house and paused. The lights were on, but unusually there was no music or TV or sound of the coffee maker or microwave, it was just quiet.

"I'm in here Rory."

Rory smiled as her mother's voice and followed it into the living room. "Hi Mom," she raised her eyebrows in confusion at the sight of her mother sat on the floor surrounded by stacks of tapes and two cardboard boxes. "Why are you sat on the floor?"

"Less stretching and the floor is comfy today, yesterday it was the couch, tomorrow probably neither," Lorelai smiled up at her and then pushed the box out the way patting the floor beside her. "Come sit, coz I am not getting up."

Rory sank into the place. "How did you know it was me?"

"Luke's out with April," Lorelai lifted her arm to put around Rory but Rory caught it, hugging it tightly, "and Mom and I had lunch."

"What did she say?" Rory asked nervously, resting her head on Lorelai's shoulder.

"Cliff notes version. You were feeling upset, you stayed the night so she could look after you for a bit till you were feeling better." Lorelai listed, leaning her head on top of her daughter. "Wanna fill me in on the rest?"

Rory sighed and squeezed her mother's arm. "I just had a wobble. Felt all overwhelmed."

"So I know about exams. Grandma mentioned something about the house move, feeling like you won't have a constant, which you always absolutely will," Lorelai told her gently.

"Yeah, it lots of little bits and I know I have a room, it's just added to everything." Rory snuggled into Lorelai's side more. "I'm still trying to figure what I want to do. I need to have a plan for that and I think I know but I need to check and with exams and everything I just feel all swirly. I thought I had to stop my therapy because we're Gilmore's and we don't do that, but Grandma says she and Grandpa will pay for them for as long as I feel I need them." She paused and Lorelai made a positive noise of understanding to press her to continue. "Francine called to arrange our meeting we are going to have for Christmas and she wanted to know if I wanted to see Gigi. I know nothing about this kid and I'm blood related to her, I don't even think about her and that made me feel guilty. Dad hasn't called me at all. I know I haven't called him, but I was sick and then back at school and I figured he'd call me for my birthday and he didn't so I kind of felt a bit 'screw you'. Francine sent a card and flowers, she's making an effort but he isn't. He doesn't care and the more I think about it the angrier I get at him." She took a deep breath, "and there is this guy and he's really nice and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that but he makes me feel nervous but in a good way. I'm sorry, I thought I was doing better."

"Oh Babes you are!" Lorelai assured her, "and it is a lot and I've not been very present to give good Mom support."

"You have a lot going on," Rory whispered. "I didn't want to upset you or stress you out."

"Kid, I will always make time for you, with the possible exception of when I'm in labour," Lorelai smiled as Rory made a sound of disgust, "but I'm always here for you. You want me to help you unpick it?"

"Not all of it," Rory loosened her grip on Lorelai's arm. "Having the time away from school, staying at Grandma's helped. School just exudes panic right now, it gets into my bones."

"She said she took you for a manicure?" Lorelai picked up on the positive.

"Yeah," Rory held out her hand to show Lorelai.

"Sparkly!" Lorelai trilled at the sparkly silver polish now covering Rory's nails.

Rory smiled and gave a soft contented sigh before lifting her head away from Lorelai's shoulder and releasing her arm. "I don't know what to do about Dad and I don't know what to do about Spencer."

"Spencer is the guy?" Lorelai studied her daughter closely, a flicker of delight passing through her as she saw Rory's lips curve upwards slightly. "Go for a coffee with him. See if you actually like him, you might be stressing for nothing. I've gone out with plenty of guys who make me feel nervous in a good way and they turned out to be total duds."

"Good idea." Rory smiled, "he gave me his number."

"Call him once your exams are over," Lorelai prompted. "As for your Dad," she sighed. "I can't magic everything right with him Kid, if I could I would have done it years ago. I know you are hurt by his lack of interest but I think if you want to have a relationship with your sister and with your other grandmother then you should do it regardless of how you feel about him. Don't punish others because of how you feel. Of everything I did when I was younger keeping you away from Mom and Dad so much because of how I felt is my biggest regret because I know how much you guys love each other. I regret I took away that time from you."

"Mom," Rory frowned at her mother's sad expression.

"No Kid," Lorelai shook her head. "I'm good. We can't change other people, we can't change what we have done in the past. You can't change your Dad. You can have a relationship with Gigi and Francine. I think you should, if you want."

"I want to. I feel sorry for Gigi," Rory muttered. "I have so many people I can go to. With Sherry gone and Dad being her Dad. As best as I can figure she's stuck with a Nanny and then passed around her grandparents but what happen when they…you know."

Lorelai stroked Rory's cheek. "You are an amazing sister, you are to April and you will be to these two," she rested her hand on her belly. "You can be the one who's there for her, the one she knows she can come to if she needs it. But do what's right for you."

"Maybe I could write to her," Rory smiled softly. "Like the stories we used to make up when I was little and we didn't have money for books."

"There you go," Lorelai smiled encouragingly at her. "You used to love getting mail as well."

"Thanks Mom," Rory smiled, her mood lifted further. "Why are you throwing all these out?" she peered into the box that Lorelai had moved to make room for her.

"Those are the ones I'm keeping,"

"The other box only has four in," Rory studied the contents of the other box. "Luke will be mad!"

Lorelai sighed dramatically "I know but the good thing is I can use these two as an excuse to pretty much get away with anything right now," she patted her stomach in delight. "I'll even use them to make sure he stays away from your books."

"He wouldn't," Rory gasped in mock horror. She dissolved into giggles and leaned forward to hug Lorelai. "I love you Mom."

"Back at you Kid."