"Morning Mom" Rory heard as she stumbled into the kitchen at 9 the next morning. She felt like she had been hit by a truck, but also like the world had been lifted off her shoulders. "Nani's at Luke's already, it's shocking that she's even awake at this hour, but she said you had to talk to me alone. So what's up?" Lorly asked then realizing her mom hadn't even had a cup of coffee.

"Wait, need coffee, can't think." Rory mumbled pouring a cup and all but chugging it down, then refilling the mug. "Let me wake up then we'll talk."

"Ok. Let me get you some breakfast." Lorly replied putting a strawberry pop tart in the toaster for her.

After a pop tart and another full cup of coffee Rory was as ready as she'd ever be to talk. "So you know that old friend I ran into last night?"

"Yea what about it?" Lorly asked not understanding the direction of the conversation.

"Well it was your dad." Rory said bracing herself Lorly's reaction.

"What!? Why didn't you tell me last night?" Lorly asked shocked at what she'd just heard.

"It wasn't the right time. There's more."

"What? Just tell me."

"You know him." Rory started trying to break the news as gently as possible.

"Who is he?" Lorly asked getting annoyed.

"Well you like him." Rory said realizing the conversation closely resembled the one she'd had with her mom when she started dating her teacher. "It's your coach. He's Dean Thompson, your dad. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but hey I was a little shocked myself! I mean I never expected to see him, much less in a parent-teacher night for the daughter he didn't even know he had."

"I… Wow. I think I need a minute to get a hold of this."

"Take as many minutes as you need. I'm still waiting for it to sink in."

"How is this possible? How did this happen? Where has he been for the last 16 years? Did he even know who I was? Are you…"

"Hold on one thing at a time." Rory said laughing at the fact that she had done the same thing last night. "First off I think we both know HOW it happened. I know your not into boys too much yet, but your not THAT in the dark. Second off he was in California up until a year ago. He went to college out there and was a lawyer and part-time soccer coach. Then he was offer the position as head-coach at Chilton and couldn't turn down the opportunity to come back east again. He didn't come back to Star's Hallow because he thought I had moved and couldn't bare the thought of living here with all the memories. He didn't know you were his daughter till last night. Remember when I told you the story? I never got the chance to tell him about you. But he's glad to know about you and he's coming over tomorrow… If that's ok with you." Rory told her, thanking God she wasn't mad.

"Oh yea of course. I want to see him, but it's going to be a little weird I mean he's my coach AND my dad! That's strange." Lorly explained realizing just how odd the situation was.

"Well that's the other thing. For the rest of the school year, all three weeks that are left, it might be a little weird and awkward, but next year he won't be coaching so it will be fine."

"What? Why? Is it because of me?" Lorly suddenly felt guilty for making him quit.

"Oh no it's not you babe! Chilton just wasn't where he wanted to be. They weren't paying enough for bird to live off and he got an offer from a law firm in Hartford. He had already handed in his resignation letter. Don't think it was you." Rory explained. The two sat and talked for most of the morning. Rory told Lorly everything about Dean. Later when they went to Luke's they had burgers and coffee waiting for them. Lorly was so excited she could hardly contain herself. A dream she'd had since she was four was about to come true. She was going to have a dad.