It had been a couple since Lorelai and Spencer got married. Lorelai was at the park with Hailey and a few other mothers and babies from a weekly mommy and me 'class' at the park. Really it was just an excuse to get out of the house with the babies and let them play so the mothers could have some adult conversation.

Spencer and the rest of the team were away on a case.

Lorelai was watching her baby and talking with another mother when her phone rang. She looked at it and answered. "Hey Rach, what's up?" She asked

"Sorry to bug you. Jack and Lily will not stop fighting. I sent them both to their rooms and they just ignored me and kept fighting. I don't want to call dad I was wondering if you can help?" Rachel asked sounding overwhelmed.

Lorelai got up and picked up Hailey. "I'm on my way." She said. She said bye to the others before she went out to her car. She got Hailey in her car seat and headed off to her dad's place. When she got there Rachel was physically keeping them apart.

"Jack Hotchner, Lillian Prentiss you both stop it right now." Lorelai said with authority in her voice. Jack stopped instantly but Lily kept going.

"Jack your room. Now." She said

Jack went quickly. Lillian tried to follow but Lorelai grabbed her. "I said stop it." Lorelai said.

Lillian fought against her arm. "Let me go!" Lily said

"I will let you go if you calm down." Lorelai said.

Lily dug her nails into Lorelai's hand.

Lorelai whimpered and released her grip on Lily. And Lily got away and went to run upstairs.

"Keep an eye on Hailey please." Lorelai said to Rachel. She had set down her car seat when she had come into her room. Lorelai ran upstairs and found Lily going into Jack's room where the fighting was continuing.

Lorelai went in and Jack had been backed into a corner and was going to push her.

"Jack stop. I will handle it." She assured him "Lily get out of here and go to your room. Now." Lorelai said

"NO!" Lily said

Lorelai swatted Lily's butt. Which surprised Lily into stopping.

"Room. Now. Lillian." Lorelai said

"Y-You just…" Lily started

"Now Lillian." Lorelai said again

Lily went quickly in tears.

Lorelai looked at Jack.

"Even Emily has never spanked her…" Jack said

"What?" Lorelai said instantly realizing she might have messed up.

"Emily refuses to." Jack said

"What does dad say about that?" Lorelai asked

"I- don't know." He said

Lorelai nodded. "What happened to cause this fight?"

"She made a mess in the kitchen. Rachel asked us which one did it and I said it was Lily. Lily said it was me. She started to call me a liar and yell and scream like she does all the time." Jack said. "I yelled back… and we started to physically fight…"

"Who threw the first hit?" Lorelai asked

"She did. I promise." Jack said

"Okay. I believe you. But did you hit back?" Lorelai asked

Jack nodded. "And I could have just walked away. I'm sorry." He said

Lorelai took a breathe. "Stay in your room. We will discuss this more later." She said before leaving the room.

She went to check that Lily was in her room which she was before she went back downstairs to Rachel.

"Is it true that Emily refused to deal with Lillian?" Lorelai asked her sister

"Yup." Rachel said

"And what does dad do about it?" Lorelai asked

"Nothing. Says she is Emily's daughter and just lets it happen." Rachel said

"Dad. Our dad? Does nothing. And lets that girl control things?" Lorelai said

"Yeah. I cant explain it either." Rachel said

"Well, I'm dead." Lorelai said

"What? Why?" Rachel asked

Lorelai gave her sister a look.

"Shit. Did you? Have you? Damn." Rachel said

"I figured there was no way Emily would let her get away with what she was doing." Lorelai said

"Well. Nice knowing you." Rachel said

"Oh. Stop it." Lorelai said. She texted her dad. 'When you and Emily have a minute can you both call me. Its important.'

Lorelai sat on the couch and looked at her baby who was laying on a blanket on her tummy.

"You going to stay for dinner?" Rachel asked

"Well, I'm going to stay till I talk to dad and Emily on the phone so probably." Lorelai said

A couple hours later her phone rang. She looked at it. It was her dad. She answered it. "Hi dad." She said.

"Lorelai. Emily is here too. On speaker. Are the kids okay?" He asked

"They are fine. Rachel called me when she couldn't get them to stop arguing. When I got here she was physically keeping them off each other." Lorelai said.

"Wait. Physically fighting? Jack was hitting Lily?" Aaron asked

"I think more like pushing. They both were. When I came into the room I told them both to stop. Jack instantly stopped. Lily kept trying to hit him. I sent Jack to his room. He went right away, and Lily went to go after him. I physically grabbed her arm. Just to stop her. It wasn't hard by any means. But she dug her nails into my hand and got away. She ran up to Jack's room. When I got up there she had backed Jack into a corner. I told her to stop and go to her room. She didn't listen." Lorelai explained.

"You smack her butt didn't you?" Aaron asked

Lorelai sighed. "Yes sir."

"Hold up. You hit my daughter?" Emily asked

"I was unaware that you had not. Were not. Didn't use that method of punishment. I did what I would have done if it were Jack." Lorelai said

"Lorelai. I gave you permission to do that with Jack. Emily has not with Lily." Aaron said

"I know. I realize I overstepped. And I shouldn't have." Lorelai said.

"Damn right you shouldn't have." Emily said

"Look. I have already over stepped so I'm going to say what I have to say. I'm sorry but based on what Jack and Rachel have told me…" Lorelai started

"Lorelai. Don't. This doesn't concern you." Aaron said

"When my little sister and brother are being treated like crap in their own home because Emily refused to discipline her daughter it becomes my business. When Rachel has to call me for help because she is so overwhelmed and doesn't know how to stop it. It becomes my business." Lorelai said

"Lorelai Hotchner Reid you stop talking right now." Aaron said

"Why? Because your so scared of losing Emily that you allow it to happen?" Lorelai said

"One more word and I will be dealing with you when I get home." Aaron said

"So. I'm going to be dealt with because I am stating facts? But the eight-year-old is running this house and she gets away with it?" Lorelai asked

"She is not running the house." Emily said

"Bullshit. When I told them to stop Jack stopped instantly. No fighting none. He went to his room without argument. And Lily continued. Why do you think that is? Because Jack knew that if he didn't he would be in big trouble. Lily figured she'd get away with it like every other time." Lorelai said

"Lorelai. How Emily and I handle the kids is non of your business." Aaron said

"She's not being handled that's the problem." Lorelai said

"Lorelai enough!" Aaron said

"Unbelievable. Fucking unbelievable." Lorelai said before she hung up the phone.

Meanwhile in Michigan where the team was Emily was furious.

"Em. Calm down please. Lets talk about this." Aaron said.

"She hit my child!" Emily said

"Well. She swatted her butt. And yes she didn't have permission." Aaron said

"There is a but there. I can hear it." Emily said

Aaron went over to her and gently led her to the bed where he sat and sat her in his lap.

"Emily. I know you are scared to spank Lily. And I'm not saying Lorelai had any right to talk to us the way she did. And I will handle it. But is she wrong? Is it really fair that Lorelai is in trouble for speaking her mind? I love you. And I love Lily. But when Rachel and Jack are feeling like she is running the house… I have to agree its not fair…" Aaron said picking his words carefully.

Emily looked down.

"Em. I know you hold a lot of guilt giving her up. But you -cant let her dictate how things go." Aaron said

"I know. I know you're right. She is getting away with things. Because I cant…" Emily said

"Emily. Yes you can. I want you to think this way. The people we deal with in this job. Some of them might not have turned out the way they did if they had parents who taught them right from wrong. And I know you love Lily. But part of being a parent is discipline. And no, it doesn't have to be spankings, but it has to be something. You understand that right?" He asked

Emily nodded abit

"So, what are you going to do?" Aaron asked

Emily took out her phone and called Lorelai.

Lorelai looked down at her phone and took a breathe before answering it. "Emily. I am so sorry. I should never have…"

"Lor stop." Emily said calmly

Lorelai stopped.

"I realize you see her as your sister. The same way Jack and Rachel are your brother and sister. And I know you handled her the same way you would have Jack. And if I didn't feel so guilty about all that happened to her because I gave her up I would have. I would have been handling it and would have given you permission." Emily said

Lorelai let out the breathe she was holding.

"What would you like me to do now?" Lorelai asked

"Bring the phone to her please." Emily said

Lorelai did so and put it on speaker.

"Lillian. The way you have been acting is done. When Aaron and I get home there is going to be a discussion about rules, expectations, and consequences." Emily said sternly

"But. But. Mommy…" Lily said

Emily took a breathe. "You do not get to run the house. You are a child, and you will listen to the adults in charge. You will stay in your room except to eat, use the bathroom and school until I get home. If you do not Lorelai or Rachel will tell me. Am I understood?" Emily asked

"Yes mommy." Lily said softly.

"Lorelai you can take the phone and leave the room." Emily said

Lorelai did so closing the door softly. She went back downstairs. "Anything else I can do Emily?"

"Your dad wants to talk to you." Emily said handing him the phone

Lorelai took a breathe

"Lorelai. I understand where you were coming from." Aaron started

"Dad I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you. To both of you. I stand by what I said but I could have said what I had to say in a more respectful way. Lorelai said. "And I shouldn't have hung up on you."

"Like I said I understand where you were coming from. But yes the way you spoke to us. Was incredibly disrespectful." Aaron said

"And I accept the consequences. Whatever they are." She said

"We will talk about that when I'm home." Aaron said

"Yes sir." Lorelai said

They ended the call and Lorelai sighed.

Rachel came into the room. "Thank you."

"For?" Lorelai asked

"Doing what I didn't have the guts to." Rachel said

Lorelai nodded. "You mean speaking my mind?"

"Standing up to him and Emily." Rachel said

"No matter what. I always have your back." Lorelai said "And for the record. You could have talked to dad. Respectfully. Told him how you were feeling. You know he has your back too right?"

"I know. I just. I didn't want to cause a rift between him and Emily." Rachel said

"I get that. I don't either. But dad will always have our backs." Lorelai said

Rachel nodded

They had dinner. And Lorelai decided that since Emily was handling Lily that she would just let her dad handle Jack. She told Jack this before she looked at Rachel "You okay if I leave? Get this one to bed." She indicated to the baby.

Rachel nodded. "I've got it."

Lorelai gave her three siblings a hug reminding them she loves them all before she left and went home.