AN - Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful comments. I promised things would get better see I'm not a liar honest :) plus now Rory's back in Stars Hollow it gives me a chance to pull some more characters in (more this chapter :) I hope you enjoy, thank you for reading, let me know what you thinkx


Chapter 29 – Intelligence Gathering

"No Mommy," Grace shook her head, her face twisted in disgust. "That's yuck."

"You don't think people would want to sit in mud?" Lorelai smirked as she moved the post it with mud bath written on to a pile of discarded post its.

Grace stared at her incredulously. "It's mud."

"Good point Shortcake," Lorelai looked at the next post it. "Hot stones?"

"Stones that are hot," Grace stared at her unblinkingly. "How does that make you pretty?"

"It makes you relax, removes all your tension," Lorelai explained. "So you don't look like this," she pulled an angry face, "And end up with a hunchback."

"Stones that are hot," Grace repeated as if it was the most stupid thing in the world. The little girl shook her head and slid off her chair. "I'm gonna go read."

"Ok Shortcake thanks for your help."

"Welcome," Grace muttered, trotting out the kitchen. "Hi Rory."

Lorelai looked towards the front door as Rory came through looking exhausted. "Cutie get to school OK?"

"Yeah," Rory stumbled into the kitchen and sank into a chair. "God, that's exhausting."

"The driving?" Lorelai asked moving her post its about on the table. "You going to take a nap?"

"A lie down," Rory nodded. "Can we got shopping this afternoon?"

Lorelai smiled, Rory had been a hermit for nearly a month, only venturing out for therapy appointments and this last week Gigi's school run. "What do you need to go shopping for?" Lorelai raised her eyebrows. "We just need to unpack some of those boxes."

"I have the alumni thing on Tuesday and nothing really fits right and it's Paris and everyone I used to go to school with and I really don't want to have anything to be got at. I know Paris will 'protect me'," she air quoted with a heavy sigh, "but I need something that says 'I'm a normal human not someone who should be wearing a strait jacket.'"

"Who needs a strait jacket? You're no Judy Martin," Lorelai shook her head. "But yeah we can go. We should maybe go before lunch, eat while we're there so I'm back in time for pick up. Are you OK with Grace being there? She's very good at clothes. Though she may find you something with unicorns on," Lorelai continued to shuffle her papers around. "If not, I can see if Luke is OK with her in the diner?"

"I can use some whimsy." Rory looked at the pile of post its. "What is all this?"

"Oh, I have to decide what treatments we're going to offer and what gym equipment we're going to have, so that we know how many electrical sockets we need and if there are any special features that need to be built in or any special power requirements. Tom needs to know for loading," she shrugged in lack of understanding. "I also need to know for hiring folk but that is a later on thing. And ordering stuff and the nine million other things I have to do."

"Sounds complicated," Rory rolled her eyes. "My brain can't cope with that."

"Mine neither but I have no excuse," Lorelai grinned. "Go have a lie down we'll head out about 11, introduce Grace to a smorgasbord and get you something to wear for your school thing."

"Thanks Mom," Rory heaved her way out of her chair and crossed to stairs. She paused and looked back at Lorelai. "Was Sam crying yesterday?"

Lorelai breathed a sigh of relief, it was slow to sink in but Rory was starting to notice things, slowly coming back to that observant person she had always been. "Grizzling. He doesn't want to have Friday Night Dinner at Mom's House. He wants to have it here." Lorelai ran her hands through her lose hair and tried to smile. She understood the mini meltdown that Sam had had yesterday afternoon. "He said he keeps expecting to see Grandpa and it makes him sad. That's why we're going to Sniffy's."

"We are? Did you say?" Rory looked alarmed.

Lorelai frowned trying to think about if Rory had been present for any of the conversations when it had come up "I…" she pouted. "Maybe not with you. But Mom was OK with it so we're taking the opportunity for everyone to get a night off and we don't go nearly as much as we should to see them." Lorelai scratched her head cursing herself at her own forgetfulness in telling Rory. "Go lay down sweets I'll wake you up in an hour."


xXx

Emily smiled gratefully at April as her granddaughter held the door to the restaurant open for her. The restaurant was loud, stuffy with overzealous heating, hot air from the kitchen and hot air from the customers all talking loudly to be heard over the general hubbub of the busy Friday night crowd. Familiar laughter drew her attention to the back of the restaurant. The twins cackling in delight at something they had just heard. A server was approaching and Emily pointed walking forward without a word.

Sam was the first to spot her, his little face transformed from giggling to concern. He slid from his chair only pausing when Luke caught the sleeve of his zip hoodie. When Luke saw her he nodded in greeting and let Sam go. Sam hurried over and came to a stop just short of her. "Hi Grandma!"

"Hello Sam," Emily smiled down at him.

"It's really good to see you," he smiled nervously up at her.

"It's lovely to see you too. And so lovely to be out of the house," Sam's face erupted in a delighted smile telling Emily instantly that Lorelai's babbling about the kids wanting a change of scenery was in fact Sam. "Am I sitting with you?"

"No," Sam pointed at a spare chair between Willow and Grace. "Willow wanted to sit with you. April sitting by Daddy," he reached to take April's hand to pull her to her seat.

Emily smiled as Willow scampered over to her, without a moment's hesitation, the child threw her arms around Emily's middle and cuddled her tight. "Hi Grandma."

"Hello Precious," Emily instinctively smoothed Willows hair. "Sam tells me I'm to sit with you."

"Yes between me and Grace," Willow pulled her over to her side of the table. "Remember we don't order here. Auntie Maisy and Uncle Buddy just bring food."

"Am allowed to at least see a menu?" Emily stumbled over the mess of chair legs, fallen down coats and bags.

"No," Grace looked up from her colouring sheet; she smiled at Emily and slid the sheet into Emily's place. "For you."

"Thank you Gracie," Emily studied the picture. A dancing cartoon mouse that Grace had intricately coloured in almost perfect stripes. "It's lovely." She slowly shrugged off her coat and looked around the table. "Hello everyone. Hello Lorelai," she almost winced as Lorelai looked bemused at why she should be singled out for a named hello. "Luke," she added.

"Yeah?" Luke looked up at her.

"I was saying hello," Emily sank into her seat. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Maisy approaching holding two glasses and she breathed a sigh of relief at the distraction.

Maisy stopped in front of her on the opposite side of the table and gave her an eerily knowing smile before leaning over Kitty to place a glass of white wine in front of her. "Chablis." Maisy straightened and walked down the table to April, "and a ginger ale. Buddy's making you you're favourite," she affectionately tugged April's ponytail and then crossed back to stand in front of Emily. "Now I'll make you a Caesar salad even though that's just a side but you have got to eat at least a slice of my cheesy bread. The kids can help you finish it, won't you?" Maisy quirked her eyebrows at Grace who nodded with an eager smile.

"The cheesy bread's really good," Kitty flared her eyes at Emily excited. "Can I have barbeque sauce?"

"You think I'm going to serve you chicken dippers without barbeque sauce," Maisy tapped Kitty on the head with a wry shake of her own.

"I love chicken dippers," Kitty grinned.

"I know," Maisy squeezed Kitty's shoulders. She studied Emily closely, her eyes narrowing. "You know what, no, you're not getting salad. You eat too much of that. You're going to have brisket." Without another word, Maisy turned and walked back to the kitchen to amend her order.

"The brisket is really good Mom," Lorelai called from the other end of the table. "Everything is good here, but the brisket is really good."

"Why did she change her mind?" Emily sought out Luke. Her son in law was studying her in a similar way to Maisy. Almost as if, he was reading her.

He took a sip of his beer and smiled softly at her. "When it comes to food Maisy always knows what a person needs and wants. Sometimes she gives you what you want. Sometimes what you need," he glanced at Lorelai. "But at least you know what you are getting, we don't find out till the plate arrives."

"They've never been wrong yet though," Lorelai fiddled with her cutlery. "Do you think I can get some caramel apple pie for dessert?"

"You've had it every time you come in here. Even when we came in for breakfast you always get caramel apple pie," Luke rolled his eyes and looked back towards Emily. "You'll have to have some dessert. Maisy really won't take no for an answer."

Maisy really didn't take no for an answer and after a decent sized helping of beef brisket with roasted new potatoes and vegetables Emily was presented with a generous slice of apple pie which Maisy informed her was 'just straight'. She took a bite to be polite but upon tasting it found she couldn't stop. The pie was the most delicious she had ever eaten, sweet but tart, the pastry, buttery and crumbly. Emily devoured it in an almost stupor. When she hit plate she almost wanted to ask for more despite the fact she had eaten more tonight than she had at any meal in the 6 months since Richard's passing. She could feel her stomach straining though she didn't feel sick. She leaned back to make more room for her stomach. An action that was being carried out by most of the table occupants apart from Grace who was still wading through an ice-cream sundae bigger than her head and Lorelai who was leaning forward studying the table with a wide smile on her face. Their eyes connected for a moment and Lorelai's smile brightened even more then possible before she quirked her eyebrows and gently inclined her head. Emily turned her head and looked at Rory sat at the end of the table with Spencer, her granddaughter was smiling and from the looks of it the couple were holding hands beneath the table. She turned back to Lorelai and returned her smile. Luke caught her eye and he raised his beer in a knowing toast. Somehow everything feeling that little bit better. A little bit more tangible out of the confines of her self-imposed prison of home.


xXx

Rory peered up at the stone façade of the building she had last been in thirteen years ago. It didn't look any different than it had when she has been a student except that the teenagers walking around looked far more polished then she remembered she and her classmates being. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of a black BMW whipping into the parking space behind her. Instinctively she braced herself, with the speed the car was going, knowing it would be impossible to stop in time. The car did not in fact hit her but she could almost feel the shockwave caused by its speed and velocity. She didn't need to look in her mirror to know who this was. With a sigh she pulled herself out of the car and tottered on the heels that she had once been able to wear with ease and now made her feel like Bambi to the back of the car. There was less than half an inch between her rear bumper and the front bumper of Paris' car.

Paris climbed out of her car with a beaming smile that looked almost sinister combined with the sharp suit and severe bobbed haircut. "Well you look perfectly normal. What was all that bleating about?"

Rory blushed. "I haven't really gone out much at all."

"Mommy dearest keeping you on a leash?" Paris glanced down at the lack of space between the cars with a self-satisfied smirk. "You were always too co-dependent."

"It's nothing like that, more like the meds," Rory self-consciously hugged herself. "I'm just so tired all the time."

"I can't say I've ever had that problem with tranquilizers. I always have to take double the dose to get any kind of effect," Paris's smile softened. "I'm glad you're OK though. Moreover, you have to take it as an opportunity. You are too good to be languishing in a low-rent college."

"A state university is hardly a low-rent college," Rory scowled. "And how am I supposed to look for opportunity when I don't know what I want to do."

"Well we can figure that out. I booked us for cocktails at a bar after this. I mean this is a lunch event how good is it really going to be," Paris waved her hand dismissively when Rory began to protest that she couldn't drink with her meds. "One cocktail never hurt anyone. Come on lets go in."

Rory wordlessly followed the tornado that was Paris Geller across the parking lot and into the school administration building. A young student visibly shrank at the sight of Paris barrelling towards her and Rory thought she saw a few of the recognisable faculty members suddenly disappear from the atrium. Rory hung back and let Paris register. When the student handed Paris a name badge Rory stepped in sensing that Paris was about to launch into some kind of rant about the pin and her jacket. "Rory Anderton-Gilmore."

"Oh Yes," The student looked visibly relieved. "Your schedule. And the map."

"Like we need a map. This place hasn't changed at all. Nice to know the donations I made to the capital budget has been invested," Paris mumbled. "Where are you giving your talk?"

"I'm not giving one," Rory breathed a sigh of relief. "Just a meeting with Headmaster Charleston and then milling around with everyone else. Do you know if Madeline and Louise are coming?"

"Madeline is doing some fashion shoot. Who know that airhead would actually be good at something. Louise said she might be coming but it depended on the puffiness. How come you're meeting Charleston? I don't have a meeting with him." Paris furiously scanned her list again.

"I don't know. What puffiness? Is Louise OK?" Rory asked instinctively pulling her schedule towards her so Paris didn't try and grab it from her.

"Didn't you hear? Husband number 2 actually knocked her up. She had her baby 8 weeks ago, the baby weight sucked out 2 weeks ago. I gave her a good rate." Paris shrugged. "I better get going."

"Oh right," Rory blinked, feeling almost bruised from the encounter. "I'll see you later."

"That you will good friend. Say hello to the old curmudgeon from me," Paris pivoted without a further word and stalked off down a corridor, any students parting in front of her.

Rory glanced at the group of former classmates milling around by a drinks table. She didn't recognise any of them. Having ten minutes to kill before her audience with Headmaster Charleston she used the time to wash her hands, check she didn't look too windswept from her encounter with Paris and sit on the bench outside. She felt surprisingly serene and she knew if it wasn't for her meds she would be a swirling ball of anxiety. Just before her appointment, she slipped into the headmaster's secretary. She was shown in immediately. The Headmaster looked almost the same, just a few more lines around his eyes. He stood with a warm smile moving to greet her like an old friend. "Hello Headmaster Charleston," she held her hand out. He stopped, looking momentarily down at her hand before taking it and giving her a hearty handshake.

"Hello Rory. Please take a seat." He stepped back and offered her the seat he had offered her the first time she was in this office. "How are you? Emily said that you have been under the weather."

"You talk to Grandma?" Rory asked him evasively and forced herself to smile.

"Bitty does. Or tries. Your grandmother hasn't felt much up to socialising. Not that I can blame her. We miss Richard greatly, so we can only imagine how she feels." Charleston's smile weakened. "A great loss."

"Yes," Rory exhaled slowly.

"I understand your moving back here. I was a little bit confused over what it is you did. Are you a librarian or did you work in one?"

"No, I'm not a librarian," Rory frowned. "I was working in Academic skills at the library at University of Maryland, producing resources and running workshops. I fell into it. I worked as a writing tutor at Columbia University and then we moved to Baltimore." she sighed. "We lost a funding stream. Funding the eternal academic dilemma. My husband and I are moving back here to be nearer family."

"I understand, that is why you are currently between jobs?"

"I still peer review, not that that pays anything and I coedit a journal. I'm not unemployed, technically." Rory whispered.

"Your PhD is in English?" he continued, he held up his hand apologetically, "This sounds like prying. I apologise, but I have a motive."

"Comparative literature and linguistics, specialising in the evolution of women's literature." Rory reeled off. She felt herself retreating into the chair, concerned by the soft smile on the headmaster's lips "What motive?"

"I will have a couple of openings in the faculty. A few upcoming retirements. One in the English department, the other in the library. I thought I might save the school the cost of advertising one of the positions by offering you one. Preferably given your credentials the English department position," Charleston's smile widened.

"What?"

Charleston reached behind him and plucked a folder from his desk. "The job specifications. The English teacher is on the top."

"You want me to come and teach here?" Rory stared at him incredulously.

"You were an excellent student. You have a PhD from Columbia University. You taught there for a while. You would be a credit to the faculty." Charleston continued. "You don't have to answer right away." He regarded her for a moment. "This isn't favouritism or sympathy Rory. It happens to be one of those serendipitous moments when the perfect person for the job, Is available at the time the job is available"

"You think I'm perfect for the job?" Rory whispered, finally taking the folder from him. She stared down at the folder and then back up at him. "You'd be OK with that? A student coming back to teach."

"Teaching is one of the finest professions there is Rory," Charleston smiled knowingly at her. "This is a coup for us, not something that should be considered a failure. You would be a wonderful teacher. You clearly had talent for Columbia to want you. You always had such passion for literature." He held Rory's gaze until she finally had to look away. He cleared his throat "Think about it. Let me know your decision by the end of Monday." He shuffled forward in his seat. "Now why don't you go join the rest of the reunion. If you don't mind occupying Dr Geller I would be eternally grateful. She was very forceful on the phone and I do not look forward to her giving me her professional opinion of what I need to do with myself." He looked momentarily alarmed. "Surgery wise I mean, though I'm sure she could come up with a few colourful suggestions for the other way of taking that statement."

Rory nodded mutely. A knock at the door brought the meeting to the end and Rory gratefully slipped out of the room. The folder containing the job specs felt like a lifeline and a burning noose. She wasn't sure if Charleston was being sincere or if he was just helping her out because of his connection to Emily. She followed the path to where others from her class were milling about. Paris was holding court with a few people and she made her way over. From the topic of conversation, they were all doctors and the conversation seemed to be lamenting speciality training and the difficulties they had faced in getting into their chosen field. She listened patiently until Paris finally seemed to notice her. Clearly, she had some kind of face on because Paris turned without another word away from the group and put her arm round Rory's waist. Rory found herself buffeted outside into the school grounds, again students flowed around them although this time there was a far few number of terrified glances from students with tear streaked faces.

"What did the old curmudgeon do?" Paris almost forced her onto a bench.

"Do?" Rory stared at Paris and shook her head. "He offered me a job."

Paris looked surprised "Here?"

"Yeah. In the English department."

"Huh," Paris did a raised chin nod of seeming approval. "Why do you look so freaked then?"

"I'm not a teacher."

Paris scowled at her. "Course you are. You taught me when I couldn't understand. You were the only one who could make me understand."

"That was high school chemistry."

"And this is high school English." She paused and tipped her head in consideration. "'The women I know with strong personalities, the ones who might have become generals or the heads of companies if they were men, become teachers. Teaching is a calling, too. And I've always thought that teachers in their way are holy–angels leading their flocks out of the darkness.' "

"What?"

"Jeanette Walls," Paris shot her a sideways look. "Would you prefer I quote Stienbeck or Jung."

"Steinbeck or Jung?"

"You are being deliberately obtuse Gilmore. 'One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.' That's Jung. And that's you."

"Paris," Rory blushed, looking down at the folder with the job specifications in. "I'm not…"

"It's not just high school chemistry Rory," Paris caught her gaze. "You taught me a great many things. You will teach me a great many things. You are a very good teacher." Unblinkingly she forced Rory to keep eye contact. "You know I don't bullshit. You know I'm not lying."

"Paris."

"Don't Paris me," She scowled. "If I didn't know any better I'd give you a slap for trying to humble brag." She reached and placed her hand over Rory's and gave it a little squeeze. "This is where you should be Rory. They were always supposed to be your halls. This was always your domain."


xXx

"Sure I can be there. OK bye," Luke set the phone in the cradle and stared at in in confusion for a few moments. Behind him the door open and closed and he glanced behind him seeing no one apparently entering. He turned just in time to see a small chubby hands place on the counter and a fluff of hair appear. "Grace?"

Grace's face appeared and then disappeared as the child tried and failed to pull herself onto one of the counter stools. He rounded the counter and caught her on the second attempt, hauling her up on the seat. "Thank you Daddy," she smiled at him and then pointed to the window. "Mommy's talking on her cell."

Luke followed her pointed finger and watched Lorelai march past the window, turn abruptly at the door and march back the other way. "How long have you been out there?"

"This sixteen." Grace told him she repositioned herself on the stool. She smiled at him hopefully "Can I have some food? Mommy made a bad lunch."

"Potato chip sandwich?" Luke suggested. Grace nodded sadly. "You want some fruit? A soft boiled egg with soldiers?" Grace nodded eagerly and then made a movement with her hand. Luke watched as she repeated it, trying to decipher. "Oh." He leaned towards her. "You want me to make the fruit a pretty shape." Grace nodded eagerly again. "One egg and some fruit shapes," He turned as Lorelai stomped into the diner. "You OK?"

"That was Sookie," Lorelai slumped onto the stool beside Grace, almost spinning off with her angry movement. "She has postponed again. I mean at this point it's getting fairly obvious she's not coming back but I need to have a conversation about what this means. How to manage the restaurant. She kept changing the subject. It's just so…" she glanced at Grace and snorted in amusement as Grace clenched her hands raising them in anger and pulled a face "Exactly. Like that. Now has this one asked you for More yet? I think the refrigerator is dying, all the sandwich fillings looked and smelled gross. We had a potato chip sandwich which was better than salmonella."

"More like certain people didn't close the door properly," Luke rolled his eye. "I've got stuff here we can use. I'm making Grace a soft boil egg. You want one?"

"Nah," Lorelai reached for the cloche that covered the donuts. She lifted the Perspex lid plucked a sprinkle covered donut and shoved it in her mouth before he could say anything. Swallowing her massive bite without seemingly chewing she looked up at him. "Just coffee."

"That is not just coffee," he rolled his eyes and then looked pointedly at Grace. "No, OK."

"I don't want donuts," Grace frowned. "I want fruit shapes."

"Fruit shapes I can do," Luke gave Lorelai an imploring look. He rounded the counter leaving Grace explaining to Lorelai what fruit shapes were. Lorelai appeared a few moments later the last piece of donut in her hand. "I'll do you some too."

"Can you make swans?" Lorelai looked hopefully.

"No it's just like fans." Luke shook his head. "Are you going off somewhere or are you guys here until you need to pick up the kids?"

"Here," Lorelai looked around the kitchen clearly searching for something.

Luke rolled his eyes, knowing that that look was her looking for anything edible to eat. "I'm gonna do you an egg too."

"I don't want an egg," Lorelai pouted. "Can I have fries?"

"You need protein."

"Cheesy Fries?"

"No," Luke shook his head; Lorelai opened her mouth to protest. "Emily called she wants me to have dinner with her on Thursday."

Lorelai's head recoiled like she'd been hit, her head moving in a circle, her mouth closed and then when her head straightened whatever she had been about to say was gone. "Why?"

"To discuss a matter," Luke studied Lorelai carefully. She looked down at the floor her hips shifting from left to right. "She didn't say anything else. Think it's about April?"

"Maybe." Lorelai nodded thoughtfully. "Or whatever Dad left you. She said in due course. Is six months due enough?"

"I dunno. He didn't need to leave me anything," Luke sighed. He turned back to the pan, the water had begun to boil so he turned off the heat and started the timer. "If it's a male thing, like a watch or something like that. We should give it to Sam."

"I don't think it's a watch," Lorelai looked at him sadly. She looked over her shoulder at the sound of her cellphone blaring out, followed by the thud of Grace landing on the floor. Grace appeared a moment later, blue cellphone in hand. "Thank you Shortcake." She stepped into the kitchen. "I'm not in the diner. I'm in the kitchen."

"Always the loophole," Luke rolled his eyes. He studied his wife's face, her features were dancing, eyebrows moving up and down, mouth opening wider in surprise. "What?"

Lorelai held out her hand for him to be quiet and then after a quiet. "Ok Bye Babe." Looked up at Luke in surprise. "Chilton offered Rory a job teaching English."


xXx

Luke rang the doorbell to the Gilmore mansion with trepidation. He hardly ever came here by himself and it felt strange to be here without a flock of kids to herd. The ever-smiling maid opened the door and then gestured for him to go to Richard's study. Emily was waiting for him staring up at the oil portrait of a teenage Rory, the woman looking tiny as she leaned against her husband's oversized desk. "Emily?"

It seemed to take her a moment to register him but she turned slowly to look at him with a warm smile. "Hello Luke," she moved to sit behind Richard's desk. "Take a seat," He did so, rubbing his palms against the slacks he'd worn. The still felt sweaty. "I hear Rory was offered a job."

"Yeah. Did April tell you?" Luke glanced over towards the now closed door.

"The twins. We're on a group chat. I think on Lorelai's phone. They keep sending me these hieroglyphic symbols that I have no idea what they mean. It's taken me 3 months to realise the Kitty is signing off with a picture of a cat." She rolled her eyes. "At least Rory is getting better. Her and Spencer seem to be getting on well too."

"Yeah…" he stammered, discussing Rory was not something he'd been prepared for. She was doing better in aspects but it wasn't his battle to talk about. He didn't mind being a sounding block for Lorelai but beyond that he felt like anything else other than to defend her was invading Rory's privacy, even with Emily. He glanced around the office looking for something else to steer the conversation.

Emily seemed to catch his uncomfortableness. "I'm sure Lorelai told you that Richard left you something."

"Yeah, he didn't need to, its…"

"But he did." Emily shot an almost wounded look. "Richard left you the proceeds of a sale of a tract of land here in West Hartford. The sale is now completed. This." She flipped open a folder and drew out a cheque, "is for you." She slid the cheque as far across the desk as she could reach. "I believe it was his wish that you use it to expand your business. I do not care what you do with it as long as you don't fritter it. It should be used for the extraordinary not the everyday."

"Emily this is gen…" the word generous died in his throat as he actually looked at the amount written on the cheque. "A hundred and sixty five thousand dollar?"

"It was a 2 acre plot," Emily nodded, stashing her folder away.

"Emily, this is… it's too much. You should use it for…" Luke tried to protest.

"I don't need it. Richard left it for you," She gave him a tired look. "Luke that is a mere drop in the ocean to what I have."

"A hundred and sixty five thousand dollars is a drop in the ocean?" Luke stared at her in awe. He knew Lorelai's parents were wealthy but to hear someone so casually disregard such a large amount of money made him realise just how wealthy they really were.

Emily gave him an almost impish stare, looking like she was almost enjoying his discomfort. "It is considered vulgar to discuss money but as you are family," she gestured at him. "It comes to Lorelai anyway," her hand fluttered around her hair, seemingly unwilling to say 'when I die'. "Even before he inherited Trix's money, Richard was a very successful businessman. We had several million dollars' worth of property and stock. After he inherited from his mother, that portfolio went up to twenty six million. That is just the portfolio." She pressed her fingers together peering at him over the desk. "The dividends and rental incomes alone. Well, hence we are able to lay down sixty thousand dollars a year for April's education without hesitation." She smiled knowingly at him. "Would you like a whisky? Dinner should be ready shortly."

She rose and Luke followed her in a daze. April was already at the dining table, chattering away to Berta. She cast him a nervous look but she and Emily soon fell into a conversation that he had no idea what they were talking about and instead just sat there mute, feeling like the cheque that was in his pocket was burning through the fabric. He managed only a brief conversation with April after the dinner and somehow managed to drive home without crashing the truck.

When he walked into the house Lorelai was pottering around the kitchen. Her hair was fluffy and flyaway; she was wearing white footsie socks, jeggings and top with a stylised image of a pineapple on. She looked nothing like he imagined a multimillion dollar heiress should look like.

"Soooo?" Lorelai singsonged turning to look at him with a cheeky smile. "Was it a watch?"

He silently drew out the cheque and handed it to her. Her eyes widened as she took in the number. Her lips pressed together and then she went to her set point of humour. She blew out her cheeks in exaggeration appreciation. "MMM so many shoes. Or do you have to spend on something specific?"

"No specifics, just extraordinary not every day," he told her quietly. "I tried to give it back."

"I bet Mom took that well," Lorelai snorted in amusement. "Did she hit you? Is that why you look so" she widened her eyes and presented him with an image of someone in complete shock.

"She didn't hit me," Luke looked down at his shoes. He felt embarrassed to know how much the Gilmore's were worth. It suddenly made everything seem so complicated, even though having money made things so much easier. It just felt like everything that he, they worked for seemed pointless. Lorelai was staring at him waiting for him to elaborate, "She told me how much the stocks and property portfolio was worth."

"We can buy the shoe store then," Lorelai smirked, her expression faltered at his lack of response. "How much?" she asked softly.

"Twenty six million," Luke whispered. If her eyes had been wide before they were almost popping out of her skull now. "I know."

"That's…That's…" Lorelai stammered looking down at the cheque and then back up at him "Holy crap!"

"I know."

"That's not even normal rich that's rich rich. Richie Rich rich. Like Rich rich rich." she ran her hands through her hair "Holy mother of midas. That's…"

"I know!"

"Like with the…" Lorelai gestured wildly. "Like…Oh my god!"

"I know!"

"She could actually have a Scrooge Mcduck swimming through money thing!"

"Yeah!"

"That's why they can Daddy Warbucks everything. Just write a cheque for whatever is needing money?"

"Yeah!"

She gasped and clasped her chest. "Oh my god. Does that mean we…" she gestured between them "that we…when Mom…we?"

"I think, yeah," he nodded, "that's what she alluded to."

"Wowee," Lorelai shook her head. "Doesn't matter though. Mom is going to outlive all of us, seriously she's immortal, Grace's granddaughter will still be visiting her," She moved closer to him and handed him back his cheque. "This is for you to spend on you."

"Like what? I don't need anything. Maybe we could do something as a family," Luke took it and stared at the piece of paper.

"You don't have to figure it out right now," Lorelai rubbed his forearm. Her smile turned impish almost a mirror of the one Emily had given him earlier in the evening. "You know the spring lines are coming out though. There are some really cute…"

"You don't need any more shoes," Luke rolled his eyes. She mock gasped and placed the back of her hand to her forehead feinting a swoon. "Come on Imelda."

"But they're so pretty and you like my legs. Think how pretty they'll make my legs."

"You don't need shoes to make your legs…" he cleared his throat, suddenly feeling a different type of flustered. She smiled knowingly at him and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "We should…"

"Yeah we should."