Rory stood in front of the bed, examining possible outfits for her date tonight. After a few minutes, she finally decided on a black skirt and a white sweater. Checking the clock, she saw she had just enough time to get Lori to her mother's house and get back to get dressed.

She walked out of the bedroom and headed down the hall to her daughter's room. As she entered the room, she found Lori sitting on the bed. She walked in the room, sitting next to her daughter.

"Lori, are you ready to go?"

"I don't feel good mommy."

"What's wrong?"

"My tummy hurts."

Rory felt her daughter's forehead.

"You're not hot."

"It really hurts mommy."

"Okay. Why don't you lie down. I'll call grandma and tell her we aren't coming."

Lori nodded as her mother stood up. She crawled under the covers and Rory pulled the blanket up to her chin. Rory placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead and walked out of the room. She picked up the hallway phone and dialed the number for the Independence Inn.

"Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking."

"Mom its me."

"Hey sweetie. Aren't you supposed to be on your way here?"

"I'm not coming. Lori's sick."

"What's wrong?"

"She has a stomach ache."

"Does she have a fever?"

"No."

"Is she throwing up?"

"Gross but no."

"And she's sick 2 hours before you are supposed to go on your date."

Rory's eyes widened.

"You mean she's faking it. Why would she do that?"

"I don't know. I mean you haven't gone out with him before. You haven't been dating anyone that I can remember."

"Thanks for the reminder." Rory said, "Well I am going to have a talk with Lori."

"Are you going on the date?"

"I…I don't know."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Rory hung up the phone and walked into her daughter's bedroom. Lori was still under the covers when Rory sat down on the bed.

"How are you feeling honey."

"A little better."

"Lori, do you not want me to go out tonight?"

Rory saw her daughter's chin begin to tremble. Before she could stop her, tears began to flow down her cheeks. Rory pulled her daughter into her arms. She rubbed her back and pressed a soothing kiss against her forehead.

"Its okay Lori." She whispered

Slowly she pulled her daughter away.

"So why are you upset?"

"I don't want you to forget about me."

"Lori why do you think I would forget about you."

"It would be just like daddy."

"Your daddy love you very much Lori."

"He loves Callie and Michael."

"When we were in Maryland, he took you our every day."

"And he brought Michael with us."

Rory felt her heartbreak. She knew that whatever had happened this weekend, that Jared didn't mean to do it. Slowly she lifted her daughter out of her arms.

"Why don't we get a pizza and watch some movies. Just you and me."

"What about your date?"

"I'll take care of it." She said, "Why don't you go pick out a few movies."

Lori smiled and climbed out of her bed. She ran downstairs and Rory walked back into her bedroom. Slowly she picked up her phone and dialed his number. It rang 3 times and his machine picked up. She listened to the message, then said

"Tristen its me. I know its short notice but I can't do tonight. Call me later."

She hung up the phone and walked over to the bed. After a minute, she picked up the skirt and sweater, then hung them in the closet.

Rory walked downstairs to find Lori sitting on the couch. She sat next to her and said

"So what have you picked for us this evening?"

Lori held up two movies.

"Casper and Hook." She said, "Excellent choices. So which one is first?"

"Casper." Lori said.

Rory took the box from her daughter and walked over to the DVD player. She set the movie in the tray and walked back to the couch. Grabbing a blanket, she sat down, pulled her daughter into her lap and wrapped the blanket around them both.

They were halfway through the movie when the doorbell rang. Rory eased her daughter off her lap and stood slowly. She unlocked the door and opened it slowly to find Tristen standing on the other side, dressed in a dark suit. In one hand, he held a rose.

"Tristen…hi. Come in."

Tristen stepped inside, staring at her. He took in the jeans, faded Harvard sweatshirt and her messy ponytail.

"Am I early. I thought we agreed on seven."

"Tristen, I left you a message. I can't go. Lori is…was…Lori wasn't feeling well."

"Is everything okay?" he asked, sounding worried

"She's fine. We're kind of having a mother/daughter night. Can we reschedule."

"Sure. Give me a call later.

Rory leaned forward to kiss his cheek. She opened the door to let him out when she heard.

"He can stay mommy."

They both turned to see Lori standing in the living room archway. Rory walked over to her daughter.

"Are you sure. I mean this was going to be our night."

"Yes."

Rory stood slowly and turned back to Tristen.

"Would you like to stay. We can offer a couple movies and some pizza."

"I would love to stay." He said, moving towards them.

He knelt down in front of Lori and held out the rose.

"For you my lady."

Lori giggled as she took the rose. He stood slowly, looking at Rory. Her eyes widened.

"What about you clothes. I mean I don't think you will be comfortable in that suit."

"I have some stuff in my car. Just give me a minute."

Tristen turned and walked out of the house. Rory looked down at her daughter, who was holding the rose.

"Thank you Lori."

"Welcome Mommy."

Tristen came back in a few minutes later, carrying a bag.

"Where can I change?"

"Bathroom is first door down that hall on the left."

Tristen nodded and headed down the hall. Rory turned to her daughter.

"Go stop the movie and I will order the pizza."

Lori nodded and ran into the living room. Rory picked up the phone and dialed the number for the pizza place. As she finished the order, Tristen appeared from down the hallway wearing jeans and a long sleeve white t-shirt.

"Where can I put this?"

Rory took the bag from him, causing their hands to touch. She felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine. Slowly she walked over to the closet and opened the door.

"It will be here when you are ready to leave." She said as she set the bag down.

She turned around and ran into him.

"Sorry." She mumbled, looking down.

Tristen slipped his finger under her chin. He raised her chin slowly until she was looking in his eyes. Without speaking, he leaned forward until their lips met. As he pulled back, he whispered

"Marry me?"

Rory pulled away from Tristen, turning towards the wall.

"What did you just say?"

When there was no answer, she turned to find herself alone in the hallway. Slowly she made her way back into the living room. Tristen and Lori were sitting on the couch waiting for her. Lori looked up, seeing her mother.

"Where were you mommy?"

Rory looked at Tristen, who appeared to be engrossed in the previews.

"I was ordering the pizza."

"With pepperoni and extra cheese?"

Rory walked over to the couch and sat down. Lori climbed into her lap, resting her head on her shoulder. Rory wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"I love you mommy." She whispered

"I love you too."

Tristen smiled, listening to them.

The doorbell rang about half an hour later. Rory started to get up but found that Lori had fallen asleep on her lap.

"Lori, dinner's here." She whispered

Lori shifted in her mothers lap but did not wake up. The doorbell rang again. She looked at Tristen.

"Would you mind getting the door. The money's on the table."

"How about my treat."

"Tristen I can't let you do that."

"I was taking you out to dinner tonight anyway."

"Thanks."

Tristen stood up and headed for the front door. Rory shook her daughter slightly. When she opened her eyes, Rory whispered.

"Dinner's here."

"I'm not hungry mommy."

"Do you want me to take you upstairs?"

"Yes please."

Rory stood carefully and walked out of the room. She met Tristen in the hallway.

"Where do you want this?"

"You can take it on the living room." She said, "I will be back down in a minute."

"All right." He said, "Good night Lori."

Lori opened her eyes slowly.

"Night Tristen." She whispered

Tristen walked into the living room while Rory headed up the stairs. She helped Lori change into her night shirt and get into bed. After she was tucked in, Rory turned on the music box next to the bed on. Slowly she leaned down and kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Good night " she whispered

"Good night mommy. I love you."

Rory walked downstairs and into the living room. To her surprise, Tristen had two plates with pizza, a couple bottles of water waiting. He also dimmed the lights, giving the room a more romantic feeling. She sat next to him and he handed her a plate.

"Thanks."

He took his plate and sat back next to her.

"Ready for the movie?"

Rory nodded through a mouth full of pizza. Tristen picked up the remote and pushed the play button. The movie filled the screen. After swallowing her pizza, she turned to Tristen.

"What Woman Want?"

"You've never seen it. It was with you other movies."

"Two Words Tristen…Mel Gibson."

Tristen set his plate on the table and stood up. Looking down at her, he said

"What does Mel Gibson have that I don't?"

Rory nearly choked on her pizza. She set the plate down and reached up, grabbing his arm. As she tried to pull him down, he lost his balance and fell on the couch. He was half on top of her and half on the floor.

He tired to push himself off her but when their eyes met, he leaned forward and kissed her. As he pulled back, he whispered

"I love you Rory Gilmore. I always have and I always will."

Rory was about to say something when they heard Lori's voice.

"Mommy?"

Tristen fell on the floor and Rory scrambled to get up. She rushed over to the staircase to see her daughter at the top of the stairs, clutching a stuffed animal. She walked up the stairs, stopping next to her daughter.

"What's wrong?"

"I had a bad dream. I'm scared."

Rory slipped her arm around her daughter's shoulder and led her back to the bedroom. She picked her up, set her in the bed and tucked her in. As she sat down next to her, she turned on the nightlight and said

"Want to hear a story?"

"Yes."

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Serenna. Serenna lived in a kingdom and had everything her heart desired but she wasn't happy.

"Why not mommy?"

"Because although Serenna loved her family, what she wanted was adventure. Every night, she would sneak out of the castle and explore the woods.

Rory looked down to see her daughter had fallen asleep. Carefully she slipped off the bed and stood up. She walked downstairs and into the living room, only to find the room empty. A piece of paper on the table was on the table with her name on it. She picked it up and opened it slowly.

Rory

I hope Lori is all right. I know that I should have said

good night but I did not want to interrupt the story.

Maybe one day you can tell me the story of the princess

Serenna. I hope we can do this again sometime. I'll talk

to you later. Just remember, I love you

Tristen.

Rory folded up the paper and set it back on the table. She looked around to see that he had also cleaned up the living room. Reaching down, she picked up the remote and flipped on the TV. She was about to head upstairs when the phone rang. Picking up, she said

"Hello?"

"I couldn't go to sleep without saying good ngiht."

"Good night Tristen." She said, smiling, "Thanks for cleaning up."

"No problem but it comes with a price."

"What is it."

"I'll let you know."

With that, he hung up. Rory hung up the phone and headed upstairs.