AN - Lorelai didn't see the room the moving day but of course she will see Rory's attic palace at some point, basically the house is my dream house layout wise so forgive the wishfulness :) I loved Maisy and Buddy they seemed so fleshed out for one scene characters, probably because the actors were so good. I would have loved to see more of them, especially because it gave Luke someone. So with this new chapter we're halfway :P, Hope you've enjoyed the ride so far thanks for sticking with it. Please enjoy and let me know what you think

Chapter 25 - The Rise of Miss Lorelai Gilmore

"Hey," Rory smiled as she walked into the diner.

"Hey," Lane greeted her brightly. "Did everything go OK?"

"Pretty much," Rory sat on the stool near the register. "They got a load of stuff unpacked. Luke says he might be in later, it depends how much stuff he can get sorted. He doesn't want Mom to do too much."

"It's the usual here, so it's fine if he doesn't," Lane shrugged. She grabbed the filled plate as Cesar yelled order up and set it on the counter in front of Kirk. "Here you go."

Kirk smiled at her and turned to face Rory. "How are Luke's muscles? Mine have been aching something terrible."

"He seemed fine Kirk," Rory smiled at the man next to him.

"He must have stretched," Kirk nodded in deep thought. "Do you think he would want assistance today. I am more than happy to assist Luke with anything he might need," he took a mouthful of eggs. "Just for today though, I'm assisting Taylor tomorrow and the day after, Miss Patty on Wednesday, I can help Luke again on Thursday."

"I'll let him know Kirk," Rory cut him off, sensing that Kirk was about to give her a full play by play of his calendar.

"Very good," Kirk nodded and turned his attention to his breakfast.

"So, what do you want?" Lane asked pouring Rory a cup of coffee, "You just here for coffee?"

"French toast," Rory requested, "with a side of sausage."

"Coming up," Lane grinned at her and turned to the kitchen to place the order.

"Hey Kiddo."

Rory swallowed and turned in her seat to stare at her father in surprise, it had been the best part of the year since she had even spoken to him, and she knew without asking that the only reason that he was here stood with that annoying as if nothing was the matter was because Francine had told him what she had said.

"You wanna join your old man for brunch?"

"No," Rory folded her arms and stared at him, his smile wavered. "Why you are here?" she grimaced as the entire diner seemed to go quiet.

"Why don't we go somewhere and talk," Chris smiled uneasily at her. "The gazebo maybe," he looked around as Patty walked into the diner and seemingly froze in the doorway, the older woman taking in the situation in one glance and closed the door behind her but stayed rooted beside the door so no one could get in or out.

"I don't want to go anywhere with you." Rory shook her head trying to ignore the burning sensation in her cheeks, a mixture of alarm, embarrassment and anger. "What do you want?"

"Well Mom spoke to me and I think that what you said was a bit unf…"

"Oh I'm sorry do you think I'm being unfair," Rory interrupted him and folded her arms across her chest. "You mean unfair like how you haven't contacted me or didn't sent me a birthday or Christmas card or ever shown up when you said you would, not just this year but my entire life?" Chris' face paled and Rory took a deep breath. "You don't give a crap about me."

Chris started to protest. "Now come on Ro…"

"No," Rory shook her head, squeezing her biceps as she tried to keep her emotions in check, it was one thing saying to her other grandmother it was quite another saying it to him. "If you did care, you would have made an effort. I can name on one hand the things you have done for me that haven't been coerced or obligated. You are only here because you don't like being told what to do or what you can't have."

Christopher stared at her open mouthed. "I am you father Rory…"

"Just because you impregnated my mother, does not mean you are my father." Rory shook her head resolutely she tried to stop herself from flinching as the diner patrons seemed to take a collective gasp.

Christopher scowled at her. "This is bullcrap Rory, just because your mother married…"

"This has nothing to do with Mom marrying Luke, but trust me when I say he is more my father then you ever have been. Hell, every single man in this crazy town is more of a father to me then you. Everyone in this town loves me more than you do. But this has nothing to do with Mom or anyone else. This is about you and me." Rory took a deep breath and fixed him with a deadly serious stare. "This is about me finally sorting my head out and processing the crap in my life and realising that this toxic crap you pull on me is poisoning me and I don't want it. You are not my father, you never even tried to be. There are only two things I want from you; that you leave me alone which shouldn't be a stretch and that you allow me to see Gigi because you're pulling the same crap with her. If you care one iota for me or her you will let us get to know each other and be sisters."

Chris blinked at her in surprised, and opened his mouth several times at a loss of what to say.

"I want you to go now," Rory told him before she chewed the inside of her lip trying to stop herself from crying.

"Rory," Chris found his voice.

"She asked you to leave," Patty spoke coolly from behind him, opening the door and inclining her head, reiterating to him he should go.

"Look this is between me and my daughter," Chris scowled at Patty before turning to look at Rory imploringly. "Come on Kiddo."

"Don't call me that," Rory swallowed dangerously. "I want you to go."

"You heard the lady," Kirk got up from his seat and put himself between Rory and Christopher. "You need to go."

Chris took a step forward and several other people rose from their tables, whilst Cesar moved out of the kitchen and Lane darted around the counter.

"The door is this way," Patty called still holding the door open as a crowd gathered on the pavement outside, unwilling to enter yet unwilling to leave.

"Come on now young man," Taylor beckoned from outside. "It's time for you to leave."

Christopher cast one last look at Rory and with an angry exhalation stormed out of the diner. Rory swallowed as she watched him stalk along the street, Taylor and Revd. Skinner following him down the street. She clung onto her to biceps feeling unbearably unsteady.

"Come on," Lane wrapped her arm around her shoulder and guided her off the stool. "Kirk can you bus? Patty?" she sent a pointed look to the dance teacher who discreetly pulled her phone out as Kirk ducked behind the counter. She guided Rory into the back room and hugged her friend properly. "That was so brave."

"They all stood up for me," Rory whispered as she clung on to her best friend.

"We all love you Rory. We're not about to let anyone hurt you." She rubbed Rory's back comfortingly. "You can cry if you want."

"I don't want to, I just feel like I will," Rory whispered, refusing to let go of her composure.

"I'm here, you do what you need," Lane whispered, pulling Rory to sit on the counter with her.

They stayed huddled together for a few minutes not talking and Lane just providing silent comfort until a faint knock on the store room sounded and Kirk entered inexplicably wearing a flowered apron to deliver Rory's order, which she and Lane silently shared. Several more minutes passed and another knock sounded followed by Lorelai and Luke both wearing identical expressions of concern. With a soft comforting smile Lane rose and left the store room. Rory smiled weakly at her mother and slid off the counter.

"Patty filled me in," Lorelai whispered holding her arms out to Rory.

"I did it. I told him I didn't want to see him anymore." Rory stepped into her embrace. "I closed the door," she took a deep breath. "I'm Ok Mom, it just caught me by surprise. I didn't mean to make a fuss."

"You didn't," Lorelai assured her. "I mean Luke is silently fuming over Kirk being behind his counter."

"Its fine," Luke shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. "You OK?"

"I'm good," Rory nodded weakly. "I am," she gave them a reassuring smile. "It's all going to be great, this year is going to be my year," she hugged her mother tightly. "Our best yet right."

"Right Kid." Lorelai kissed her softly. "The best!"

xXx

Rory peered surreptitiously round the corner of the stairwell and took a deep breath. He was here, this was happening. She stood up straight, squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath. There was no need to feel so nervous. It was just a date and it wasn't as if it was a blind date. She had spoken to Spencer numerous times and in the two weeks she had been back at school they had met up for coffee together several times, but this was different, this was dinner. She took the last step and slowly walked out of her dorm into the January night towards him. "Hi!"

"Hi!" Spencer smiled gratefully at her. "You look nice."

"Thanks," Rory looked down at her brown suede jacket and red corduroy skirt and blushed slightly. "I like your coat..it's…um long."

"Yeah," Spencer looked awkwardly down at his long black coat and then fumbled inside his pocket for something. "I was gonna get you flowers and then I didn't know if you liked flowers or if you have a favourite…"

"Sunflowers," Rory blurted.

"Sunflowers," Spencer repeated blinking as he absorbed the information. "Right, well, I didn't know that and then I thought candy but with the whole holiday thing just gone I wasn't sure if you would want any more. And I realised you like books so," he pulled a slim volume out of his coat pocket and handed it to her, "this is for you."

Rory took the book and read the cover. "A guide to the meaning of flowers."

"No idea if it's any good, it's probably like a century out of date but I thought might come in handy with your literature analysis," Spencer blushed and gave her a nervous smile.

"Thanks," as the symbolism behind his gift struck her Rory grinned, a warm glow flaring in her chest and she opened her purse to slip the book inside. "I didn't bring you anything."

"You don't need to, that's the guy's job."

"Oh OK," Rory nodded with a soft frown. "So…"

"So, dinner," Spencer stepped sideways indicating to her which way to walk. "I've not been very adventurous I know you said you liked pizza so…it's this way."

"Pizza is perfect," Rory nodded as they walked alongside each other.

They fell into an uneasy conversation both not really sure what to say to each other as they made their way along the frost covered paths to a pizzeria only a block away from her dorm. Spencer held the door open for her and ushered her inside and then they were lead to a small booth near the back by the hostess and they slid in and looked nervously at each other. They took a few minutes to study the menu before ordering a large pizza to share and then just stared at each other neither of them knowing what to do or say.

"This is stupid," Spencer shook his head as he laughed self-deprecatingly. "We had a great time the other day over coffee."

"I know," Rory chuckled with him. "I feel all nervous."

"Me too, but I don't want you to be nervous. I want us to have fun," Spencer took a deep breath. "Right, start over, this is not a date, this is two friends having pizza."

"Alright," Rory nodded with a relieved smile. "So… we started to talk about after I graduate and you were telling me about your Dad."

"You said you had some ideas you were researching," Spencer nodded encouragingly at her. "How's that going?"

"Ok, I think. I'm pretty sure I'm going to apply to do a PhD in English, well most of them are English and Comparative Literature. I don't want to just go and get a job. I still feel that there is more for me to learn. I like research and the analysis and I feel like I have more to offer, something to bring." Rory told him softly. "I'm just not sure what that is and how I do afterwards. It's not like the scientific fields like yours where the PhD is required. It's so much money to ask my Grandparents for for I'm not sure."

"There is so much you can do with it, the obvious is teaching at a university or college, academia in general with research and think tanks and policy. So much. The first year of your study is most likely guided and then that will allow you to find your specialism the thing that really gets you," Spencer grinned at her. "I think that's really great, would you want to do it here?"

Rory nodded. "I like the programme here, also Harvard and Columbia, there are a whole bunch I like but those are the ones that standout."

"Go with your gut," Spencer told her sitting back as the waiter brought them their pizza. "Which ever programme feels right for you. That's the one to pick." He smiled as Rory took a piece of pizza. "You look like a weights been lifted."

"Yeah," Rory nodded. "This, some other stuff. It just feels like for the first time in forever things are on the up."

"Well," Spencer made a toasting motion with his pizza. "Here's to things being on the up!"

xXx

"Are you sure you don't need help Rory?" Emily called from her seat at the dining room table.

"No Thank you," Rory shouted from the kitchen.

Richard looked curiously at his wife across the table. "I don't understand, what is this about? Why isn't Lorelai here?"

"Rory wanted to speak with us alone and so Rory asked if Lorelai could miss this dinner so she could discuss whatever it is she wants to discuss with us," Emily told him with an edge of nervousness. "I don't know what she wants to talk to us about."

"Alright," Richard took a deep breath. "So why is Rory cooking for us?"

"She's not cooking, Luke made the dish, she's just heating it up," Emily glanced towards the kitchen.

"But why?"

"I don't know Richard, why don't we wait and find out," Emily looked at him tiredly and took a sip of her wine. "Rory?" she called as she set the glass on the table, "Are you sure I can't help you?"

"No," Rory called as she came out with two plates in her hands. "All ready," she set a plate in front of Richard and then walked across to Emily. "Luke's beef brisket with a red wine reduction sauce with garlic and herb mash potato and winter greens," she smiled as Richard made a noise of appreciation. "I'll be right back," she disappeared into the kitchen to collect her own plate and returned to join her grandparents taking her customary seat.

"And is there dessert?" Richard asked jovially.

"Cinnamon Apple cake with ice cream," Rory smiled at him as settled into the chair.

"Well this looks lovely Rory," Emily looked down at her plate.

"My plating skills are up there with the best," Rory joked as she put her napkin across her lap.

"So?" Richard looked at Rory with interest. "What did you want to discuss with us?"

"Richard let her eat first," Emily rolled her eyes at him.

"It's OK," Rory took a quick mouthful and a sharp intake of breath. "As you know I…"

"Oh dear you're pitching," Emily laid her fork down and stared worriedly at Rory.

"Emily let the girl speak," Richard frowned at his wife. "I'm presuming that this is a request for money?"

"Yeah," Rory ran her hands through her hair feeling flustered now that her prepared pitch had fallen apart before it had even begun. "I've been thinking about what I want to do after I graduate, and well, I've decided that I would like to apply to do a PhD. I'm narrowing down my choices in institution and well I was hoping that if I was successful in being accepted that you would be willing to help me with finance."

"Of course we will," Emily answered immediately a smile of relief flushing across her face.

"In principle, yes," Richard looked at her with consideration ignoring Emily's bleat in protest at his noncommittal response. "What are your options?"

"Well, at the moment I like the programmes at Yale, Harvard and Columbia. I've spoken to the programme coordinator at Yale and I know the campus so I know I would like it there but I've only done research online for the others so I want to attend the open days," Rory looked nervously at her grandfather.

"You would attend open days over the summer break?"

"No, I'm applying to do a summer camp programme for the summer," Rory told him quickly. "The campus open days would be in September."

"Alright," Richard nodded as he leaned back in his chair and studied Rory. "I'd like to come with you to these events."

"OK," Rory nodded eagerly. "But in theory you would help me with…"

"Yes Rory," Richard nodded slowly. "We would finance you through a PhD. I just want to be certain that we, you, are choosing the right programme at the right location for you. Did you have a proposed career path after completion?"

"General Academia, but that is very broad," Rory gave him a sheepish grin and toyed with the mash potato on her plate. "Something research based, most likely it would include teaching."

"Very good," Richard gave her a pleased proud smile and sat up straight once more. "Now what is this summer camp programme?"

"Like a camp counsellor, the organisation that came to Yale has camps through New England. If I'm successful I would work July August, running the activities and looking after the kids," Rory told him with an excited smile on her face.

"And you feel like you would be up to this?" Emily asked nervously studying Rory with undisguised concern. "If they cover New England you could be posted anywhere."

"I hope so," Rory nodded, nervously scratching her head. "I have to think I will be alright otherwise I will never leave home," she looked at her hands. "I think I will be Grandma. I don't know if I would get it because of what happened last year but I would like to try."

Emily gave her a comforting nod. "Well it's important to be positive."

"My thoughts exactly," Richard smiled at the pair and picked up his knife and fork to begin eating. "Emily we must get this recipe off of Luke, the last time we had brisket it was a disaster of epic proportions."

xXx

"Attending shows with loud music in such a small space is bound to damage our ears," Paris griped as Rory led her, Dee, Dee's friend Joely and Spencer through the fairly packed nightclub. "If I get tinnitus…"

"You didn't have to come Paris," Rory shot her a look over her shoulder as she moved towards an open space at the side of the club. "It's Lane I said I would support her, she was worried that as they haven't played this way before no one would show up. Also I figured that it might be nice to let our hair down. I know we've only been back a few weeks but the pressure is already mounting."

"So bad," Joely giggled shrilly. "I'm gonna hit the bar. Everyone cool with bottled beer?" Paris opened her mouth to protest against beer and then closed it gave and gave a curt nod. Rory nodded and reached into her pocket for money. "No I got it, you can get next round, it's super cheap in here," Joely waved her off and darted towards the bar.

"Not surprising party girl Barbie knows all the bars and their menu list," Paris muttered lifting her feet in disgust at the slightly sticky floor.

"Paris," Rory sighed warningly. "Again you didn't have to come. Let's just have fun."

"Fine," Paris reluctantly shrugged her shoulders. "I just don't see why you had to bring them," she inclined her head in the others direction.

Rory chewed her lip in amusement. "Now Paris just because I have other friends," she used a babyish voice which caused Paris to look at her sharply. Rory held her resolve against the scathing look she received from Paris and laughed. "Honestly Paris, we can have other friends it doesn't detract from our friendsh…"

"Except for him," Paris jerked her head back towards Spencer who stood the other side of Dee pretending that he wasn't listening, "he's the new boyfriend right?"

"We haven't defined anything yet," Spencer turned to engage, his hazel eyes falling onto Rory and not Paris. "We are just two friends who enjoy each other's company and are seeing how things go."

"Exactly," Rory smiled warmly at him.

"He wants more though," Paris whispered to Rory studying Spencer up and down with simmering angry intrigue.

"Paris," Rory squeezed Paris' shoulder. "Chill crazy lady, enjoy the sweet music and let the beat take you to…"

"Have you taken something?" Paris interrupted her shifting her study to Rory, peering into her friends eyes. "Did party girl idiot give you something?"

"No one has given me anything apart from the man with the tickets," Rory told her and shook Paris's shoulders slightly. "Just relaaaaaxxxxxx," she pointed Paris towards the stage as the band came out and raised her arm to cheer for the band.

"Hello NEW HAVEN!" Zack called out to the crowd, "we are Hep Alien and on behalf of the band, It's great to be here tonight, thanks so much to coming out. For those of you that have seen us before we're gonna start with a new song. Now this song is of majorly important because as our aliens know, me and our amazes drummer Lane are in the realms of monogamy."

"Totes rock and roll," Gil called into the microphone.

"Well that monogamy is about to get seriously official as this kick ass drummer girl has agreed to be my wife so me and my guys have written a song for our main girl Lane," Zack turned halfway to look at Lane as Gil and Brian began to play.

"Oh My God!" Rory gasped, staring at the stage in surprise as Lane giggled and clutched her sticks to her chest in delight as the boys played her a surprisingly poignant upbeat song imaginatively entitled Lane.

"Well that is going to end well," Paris mumbled turning as Joely returned with her drinks.

"Paris," Rory hissed and turned away from her friend staring back up at the stage. "I can't believe it Lane is getting married, that's so cool!"

"We'll have to hear all about it at the after party," Dee took a sip of her beer and started to bounce along to the music as the new song finished and Hep Alien began their set properly. "They're good!"

"They really are," Spencer used the opportunity of taking his beer to move alongside Rory. He casually took a sip.

Sensing his presence Rory turned to look at him and then gave a delighted squeal as the band kicked the tempo up a bit. She threw his arms around his neck in delight, their faces coming close to each other which caused her to hesitate for a moment. Nervously she leant in and kissed Spencer softly on the lips. He grinned at her and his hand came up to support her back. Rory shivered slightly at his touch and took a step back. She giggled and grabbed his hand pulling them into the crowd together so they could semi dance together.

"So much for seeing how it goes," Paris muttered subtly moving in time to the music.

xXx

Rory pulled up in front of the new house and parked in a spare space. As she climbed out she studied the new bright red minivan parked where the jeep had been the last time she had been home. Shaking her head in amusement she walked across the snow cleared path to the house and made her way to the door.

"Hello!" she called as she stepped inside the warm building.

"Hi Kid," Lorelai called.

Rory followed the sound of her mother's voice into the large kitchen. "It's weird going to the left and being in the kitchen," Rory told Lorelai as she walked across the kitchen to greet her mom sat at the new larger table surrounded by magazines. "Luke working?"

"He is," Lorelai kissed Rory on the cheek. "Just little fat old me."

Rory pulled out a chair and studied the table. "This is new, is it from the diner?"

"No," Lorelai shook her head and ran her hand over the melamine surface. "Luke got it from the place he got the diner furniture so it's a vintage relic for our new place," she smiled happily, "fills the space better."

"Yeah," Rory looked around the room as she sat down, she reached across the table and snuck a quarter of the half eaten sandwich in front of her mother. "You not hungry?"

"Thing 1 and Thing 2 are taking up a lot of room," Lorelai looked down. "I have to pace myself, but I can spare a piece. How was the gig?"

"Amazing," Rory grinned at the memory of the night before. "Even Paris enjoyed it, and Lane and Zack are engaged did you know that?"

"Luke told me," Lorelai gave a happy sigh at huge smile on Rory's face. "So you had a good time?"

"I had the best time, we all did. So I saw the new space mobile outside. Snazzy red," Rory poked her tongue out at her Mom. "You going to drive it permanently?"

Lorelai sighed dramatically. "Yes, I'm driving the soccer mom mobile, apt considering that these two are playing soccer in me all the time," she rubbed her belly. She narrowed her eyes as she studied Rory. "You look really good kid, just a post gig glow?"

"No," Rory shook her head and put the sandwich back on the plate. "I kissed Spencer," she blushed and smiled excitedly at Lorelai. "It felt really good. I really like him Mom."

"That's great Rory," Lorelai reached across the table and squeezed Rory's hand.

"I've told him I want to take it slow and he said he was cool with that so," she giggled, "we're taking it slow." Rory exhaled in delight, "I also decided what I want to work towards, what I'd like to do when I graduate."

"Yeah?" Lorelai took a deep breath preparing herself for what Rory was about to say.

"I'm going to do a PhD in English. Well apply for one," Rory told her confidently. "Grandma and Grandpa have said they will help me with finance if I'm successful."

"That's great Babes," Lorelai squeezed Rory's hand reassuringly. "Is there something you want to do afterwards?"

Rory shook her head and gave a soft sigh as she wriggled in her seat. "Not definitive. But I want to be in academia. It's my natural habitat."

Lorelai chuckled. "I guess it is, or maybe a library."

"Maybe," Rory shimmied her shoulder. "Deciding was only part of the battle now I've got to get there."

"You'll do it Kid," Lorelai assured her. "You work hard, you check and double check everything so I know you will do exactly what you need to, just take it slow and steady."

"Slow and steady wins the race."

"Yes Little Miss Tortoise it does," Lorelai lifted herself from her chair and positioned herself so she could kiss and hug Rory properly. "Well done Babes I knew you would get there!"