[Author's Note: Hello everyone! It's been literal years. Trying to get back into writing this story (and others!) and am just posting totally unedited content to try to immerse in this world again. I hope you like it, and please be gentle with me (Lorelai- dirty!) as I get back into the swing of things. I promise I will do editing and polishing later, but I hope someone is still following this and would love to hear from any of you who want me to get back into writing it.]

[PS: I also post this story on AO3 now if you'd like to check it out there!]

Chapter 126

"So tell me again why we're up at 6 AM."

"This is when the flower market has the best selection!"

"And nothing says coffee like six in the morning!"

"But this is Stars Hollow. Everyone loves you. They'll make sure you get what you want. Plus we aren't actually getting the flowers now."

"But we need to see the whole selection."

"Isn't this bad luck?" Jackson interrupted. Sookie and Lorelai turned around simultaneously to glare at him.

"Why would it be bad luck? Other than the fact that it's 6 AM and Mom and I have only had three cups of coffee..." Rory rolled her eyes.

"They did this the last...OW! Geez, okay!" Jackson rubbed his arm where Sookie had just pinched him. Lorelai sighed and kept walking. Rory's eyes widened.

"Oh...I didn't realize. Mom, we don't have to..."

"It's Stars Hollow, there's only so many places to get flowers for a wedding. Meaning that there's one place to get flowers for a wedding. It's unavoidable. I'm just not looking forward to..."

"Lorelai! Back again already?" Gabby smirked. Lorelai rolled her eyes. "New groom? Same groom? Think you can keep him around long enough to..."

"That's it. We're leaving," Rory announced, pulling Lorelai away as she glared daggers at Gabby. "Congrats, you just lost yourself a customer. Maybe two."

"Wait, what?!" Lorelai stopped, startled. Rory sighed and started walking away, the group following her.

"Jackson, why are you even here?"

"I'm a produce man! I have suppliers, I can help you..."

"Well, sweetie, why don't you help us later? We need some girl time," Sookie smiled at Jackson, kissing him on the cheek. He sighed and turned to walk away. "Fine. But don't be surprised if they screw you on the dahlias!"

"Why does he think you want dahlias?" "What are dahlias?" "It sounds made up. Like Daria but a flower." "So it's time for more coffee then."

"I'll run into Luke's and grab us some to go so you don't get sidetracked talking to your man," Sookie grinned at Lorelai, "Rory, sweetie, why don't you find us some stores in Woodbridge that might have options?"

"Got it," Rory nodded, pulling out her phone. Sookie walked inside and Lorelai turned to Rory.

"So...two customers?"

"I buy flowers."

"For who?"

"Um...Paris. She's pregnant! I would have sent her flowers if she didn't have allergies to literally everything. But that's the type of thing you buy flowers for."

"And..."

"...you? Mother's Day."

"You have literally never done that."

"I was thinking about starting until you made that comment."

"Rory..."

"Lane! Grandma, when she's not being awful. Sookie, to thank her for helping with..."

"But do any of these occasional situations require the type of massive flower purchase to be used as a threat against a local business?"

"Maybe my mother's funeral, if she keeps talking," Rory retorted, Lorelai's grin widening.

"You're thinking about it."

"Killing you? Yes, I think we established that. You're definitely helping your cause right now."

"Alright, alright...I'll drop it. But I'll keep that in mind for when I'm your maid of..."

"SOOKIE! YOU NEED HELP CARRYING THINGS SO I'M COMING IN."

"Real mature!" Lorelai yelled after her, Rory blushing as she rushed into Luke's after Sookie.

"I mean, at least you have the dress."

"One hell of a silver lining when literally everything we tried to find today was a bust."

"Sweetie, I'm sorry, I know it's disappointing..." Sookie put her arm around Lorelai, "But at least we can rest in comfort that Woodbridge really does suck."

"So now what?"

"I think the answer is gonna be Philadelphia."

"But Rory...you and Jess don't want me hanging around. Plus it's such a trek for Sookie, if we can't find things right away."

"I don't mind at all! I've always wanted to go to Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell, flags, cheesesteak...um...I don't really know what else but I'm sure it's all very exciting!"

"And Mom, I always want you around. Plus Jess didn't mind at all last time you came. He even...acquired donuts."

"...that's a weird way to say that."

"No follow ups or no more donuts."

"No further questions. But hon...I can't impose on you like that, and where would Sookie..."

"Why don't I research everything online so that we have a plan of attack, and you both come down for the long weekend on President's Day? I'm sure we can find a decent hotel for a reasonable price, it's not like it's high travel season for Pennsylvania in the middle of winter, and I'll make us an agenda and everything and we can do all it in one go."

"But what if it's like today and there's nothing?"

"Mom, it's Philadelphia. There will be something you like in the entire state of Philadelphia, even with your extremely idiosyncratic taste."

"Thank you, even though I'm not sure that was a compliment."

"I'm not sure either. But we also didn't have my research skills today. Have my research skills ever failed us?"

"Um...you researched the wrong day to start college."

"IT WAS ONE TIME!"

"...Sookie?"

"I think it's the best idea we've got. Plus, I can see where Rory lives! And the bookstore! Trenches?"

"Truncheon."

"Sure, that's it! It'll be great. And I can bring you food, because you're definitely getting too skinny..."

"Well, I'll never turn down your food, Sookie, but just remember I live with a grown man now who eats like my mother."

"So I'll cook for four."

"Six," Lorelai smirked.

They piled back into the car.

"So, you're coming to visit?"

"Just try to keep us away!"