By Stew Pid

Rating: Should be okay.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the Stew Pid stuff.

A/N: Thanks again to my reviewers and whoever reads this.

(Washington. Rory is folding clothes while balancing the phone against her ear on her shoulder.)

Rory: So we should be back in Connecticut tomorrow by 10:30.

Lorelai: Okay. So I'll be there at 10:30.

Rory: Okay, but make extra time for yourself in case there's bad traffic. It's better to get there before ten thirty than after.

Lorelai: I don't mind getting there after.

Rory: Mom.

Lorelai: I will be there at 10:30 and not a minute after. How is Paris getting back home?

Rory: Well, she's still trying to figure that out. Her parents are away and her nanny's license is expired. So…

Lorelai: Uh oh.

Rory: Come on, mom. It would be a nice thing.

Lorelai: And we already talked about doing these nice things. I don't like to do them when they are not going to be nice for me.

Rory: It would also be the selfless thing to do.

Lorelai: Hey, survival of the fittest, babe, leaves no room for selflessness.

Rory: I promise you, you will survive a ride to Hartford with Paris.

Lorelai: All right, all right. But couldn't we dress her up like Britney Spears and make her hang out the window singing, "I'm not Girl?" That would be really funny.

Rory: It would, but no.

Lorelai: You're no fun.

Rory: I know.

Lorelai: Party-pooper.

Rory: Sticks and stones…

Lorelai: Emily Gilmore

Rory: I'm not offended.

Lorelai: Paris clone.

Rory: Now that was a low blow.

(Luke's apartment. Luke comes upstairs carrying a box. Jess is organizing CDs.)

Luke: Listen, um, Rory comes back tomorrow and Miss Patty and Taylor had some kids make a banner and blow up some balloons to put around the diner. You wanna come set this stuff up?

Jess: Not particularly. I'm doing something right now.

Luke: Yeah, I think those CDs will still be here when you come back in fifteen minutes.

Jess: Luke, it's not that complicated. Hang the banner, put up some balloons. I think you can manage.

Luke: I just thought you might want to help.

Jess: Now why would I want to do that?

Luke: It's for Rory.

Jess: So.

Luke: I'm sorry, I thought you were friends.

(Jess ignores the remark and leaves.)

(In Washington, Rory and Paris are still packing.)

Rory: Why is it so much harder to repack? I brought an empty duffel bag, and now it's full too and there still isn't enough space. I know I didn't buy that much stuff.

Paris: Get rid of your menu collection. It's not like Washington restaurants deliver to Stars Hollow.

Rory: But they're souvenirs of every place where I had Washington coffee. They have sentimental value. I can't get rid of them.

Paris: Fine. Look, I have problems of my own. I don't know what to do with these notebooks.

Rory: Why did you bring so many notebooks?

Paris: I bought them here when I ran out.

Rory: You took that many notes? How?

Paris: I pay close attention to detail. Like the campaign manager who spoke last week, he had three stains on his tie that looked like mustard stains. I pay attention to those kinds of things and jot them down.

Rory: And those things are important because…

Paris: It's the stuff that makes for good rhetoric. "His tie as dirty as the under the table campaign scheming he has been known to pull."

Rory: That doesn't sound New York Times or Wall Street Journal worthy.

Paris: It's good for an exposé.

Rory: Help me to sit on my suitcase.

Paris: I am not sitting on your suitcase.

Rory: Come on. You know you're going to need me to sit on yours.

Paris: (defeated) Oh, all right.

(They sit on the suitcase and Rory zippers it up.)

Rory: (picking up a book) Oops. I forgot to put this in there.

Paris: If you open that thing again, I'm not sitting on it.

Rory: Um, I'll just carry it.

(Back at Luke's. Lorelai comes in and looks around.)

Lorelai: Hey, this looks nice. You did this for Rory?

Luke: Not really. Miss Patty and Taylor forced some kids into making the banner and blowing the balloons.

Lorelai: Well, don't tell Rory that forced child labor went into this and I won't tell people you made those glittery designs on the banner.

Luke: Deal.

Lorelai: I can't wait 'til tomorrow.

Luke: I figured that much.

Lorelai: I don't even feel like sleeping tonight. I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Luke: You're pretty much always like a kid.

Lorelai: But I don't know how I'm going to stay up. After a while my eyelids will get heavy.

Luke: Close them.

Lorelai: Then comes the yawn and the stretching.

Luke: Then comes sleep.

Lorelai: Right. But I don't want to sleep. Remember, kid on Christmas Eve.

Luke: Well that is a predicament.

Lorelai: Isn't there something legal and sane that could keep me up?

Luke: I could send Jess over to your house with his radio, but I don't know how legality and sanity would play into that.

Lorelai: Maybe something digestible, what do you think?

Luke: Those energy pills can be dangerous.

Lorelai: No, something more natural.

Luke: I can't think of anything.

Lorelai: Something hot to drink that smells really good, made from fresh beans produced somewhere probably in South America… or New Jersey?

Luke: Sounds vaguely familiar, but I still can't put my finger on it.

Lorelai: Okay, I give up. Could you please get me some coffee?

Luke: Coming right up.

(Miss Patty comes in.)

Miss Patty: Oh honey, I tried calling you at your house but I got no answer so I figured you were here. Luke, she wasn't supposed to see it until tomorrow.

Luke: And how was I supposed to hide it?

Lorelai: See what? I haven't seen anything.

Miss Patty: Why, the banner and the balloons.

Lorelai: What banner? Where are the balloons?

Miss Patty: There're all around here, don't you see them. Are you feeling okay?

Lorelai: Oh. Now I see them. How nice. But Patty, I thought I wasn't supposed to see it 'til tomorrow. Now you've spoiled my surprise.

Miss Patty: (first confused, then catching on) Oh, now, stop it. Anyway, the surprise is for Rory.

Lorelai: You're not going to throw her a party are you? Because I think you should remember what a terrible dancer she is?

Miss Patty: No, no. We just assumed this would be the first place she'd stop at after home, so we wanted it to look nice for her.

Lorelai: Well that's very sweet. Thank you, Patty. Rory's going to love this.

Miss Patty: She's such a good kid. (Jess comes in, soaking wet.) Unlike some others. Well, I'll see you two tomorrow. I have to get my beauty sleep. (She leaves.)

Lorelai: That sleep would have to last longer than Rip Van Winkle's.

Luke: I was just thinking the same thing. (to Jess) Where were you and why are you wet?

Jess: Well, you should be able to figure out the first question if you thought about the second. I went for a swim.

Luke: Well dry up and come back down. I'm closing up. (Jess heads upstairs.)

Lorelai: Hey, I haven't finished my coffee.

Luke: You can finish that in a few minutes.

Lorelai: Yeah, but not the second cup you're going to give me. Kid on Christmas Eve. Please.

Luke: Finish the first one before you start thinking about seconds.

Lorelai: Grinch. (drinks her coffee.)

(Gilmore Residence. Lorelai is watching a movie eating ice cream when the phone rings.)

Lorelai: Hello.

Lane: Hi! It's me, Lane.

Lorelai: Hey Lane, how are you?

Lane: Okay, I guess. I'm not supposed to be calling anyone, so I had to sneak around. I'm still grounded tomorrow, and my mom said if Rory wants to see me, she has to come by the store and can only see me for five minutes. I understand if she doesn't want to do that, but I left her a Welcome Back present with Dean at the market and if you could please tell her I said welcome back and I'm sorry I can't really see her, I'd really appreciate it.

Lorelai: I'll definitely do that, but do you want me to talk to your mom and see if we can make a better deal.

Lane: No, don't. She's not going to budge. This should hopefully be over in a few days. (Mrs. Kim shouts out "Lane! Where are you?") Or maybe not. I gotta go. Thank you. Bye. (hangs up)

Lorelai: Bye. (hangs up)

(The next day. Lorelai bursts into Luke's)

Lorelai: Okay, I need six coffees and a dozen assorted brownies.

Luke: Do you intend to feed everyone who gets off the plane?

Lorelai: No, I'm going to need a coffee while I'm going to the ariport, a coffee while I wait, and a coffee coming back. Rory's been so deprived of your coffee that she's going to need two, and I'm driving Paris to Hartford, so I figured I should get her a coffee. If she doesn't want it, it's not like I won't need it. And well, you can never have too many donuts.

Luke: I'd hate to be a fly on the windshield in that car. You want six individual cups, or put six cups worth of coffee into a thermos and give you the cups with it.

Lorelai: Well a thermos would be nice.

Luke: Okay, but you have to bring it back tonight.

Lorelai: What would you do if I didn't bring it back tonight?

Luke: Just bring it back tonight.

(Jess fills a thermos with coffee while Luke gets the donuts.)

Jess: (to Luke) I'm out now. (takes his book-bag and leaves.)

(Outside. Jess is leaving the dinner as Dean walks towards it.)

Jess: Beautiful day today isn't it?

Dean: As a matter of fact, it is. Look, you're not going to be able to annoy me today. Rory's coming back, I got the day off from Taylor, and so I get to spend the whole day with her. You, on the other hand, have summer school, detention, and work. So no matter what you do or say, all I'll do is picture me with Rory and you cleaning desks. You can't touch me.

Jess: You've got quite the romantic day planned I see. I hope it works out.

Dean: (looking at him suspiciously) What are you up to?

Jess: Oh no. You're right about me. School, detention, and work for me. But if you think you can tear Rory away from Lorelai for more than two minutes her first day back…well, good luck. (Jess walks away smirking and Dean enters the diner.)

(Inside.)

Lorelai: (holding the coffee and donuts.) Hi, Dean.

Dean: Hey. I see you're all packed.

Lorelai: Just the essentials. So what brings you up so early in the morning?

Dean: Actually, I was wondering if I could come with you to pick up Rory. I can't wait to see her.

Lorelai: Oh. Um, yeah. Fine by me. Only I should warn you, we're driving Paris home, and Rory is definitely gonna want to ride shotgun so that leaves you in the back with Paris. Still want to go?

Dean: For Rory, I'll live with it.

Lorelai: That's a good man.

Dean: I'll take that for you. (He takes the thermos and the box of donuts)

Lorelai: Thanks. I know you mean to be a gentleman, but word of advice. Never take coffee away from a Gilmore.

Dean: Noted. Sorry. (He returns the thermos.)

(In the car)

Dean: So what times does their flight come in?

Lorelai: Should be in by ten thirty.

Dean: A little early aren't we?

Lorelai: A lot early. The place you live in always seems so much more interesting in the airport. I like to window shop for souvenirs, but since we're driving Paris back, I won't be able to do it after they've come in, so I figured I'd do it before. Sorry, I should have warned you about that too.

Dean: No. It's fine by me.

Lorelai: So, how's Cathy?

Dean: She's okay. She's a friend I met through Lane. She's pretty cool. We're all supposed to hang out now that Rory's going to be back.

Lorelai: We?

Dean: Yeah, me, Rory, Lane, Cathy, and Rory wants to invite Paris also, but I don't know.

Lorelai: Oh yeah. And definitely not after you've been stuck with her in the back of the car. So, Lane never introduced her to Rory before?

Dean: No. She's a friend from the cheerleading squad. I think Lane felt weird introducing a bunch of cheerleaders to Rory.

Lorelai: Yeah, you have to be careful with Rory and cheerleaders. Nice as Rory is, she can be merciless sometimes.

Dean: Yeah, but she'd like Cathy.

Lorelai: Yeah. As long as Cathy's not wearing her uniform or waving pompoms, she'll be fine with her. Rory likes everyone.

Dean: (slightly under his breath) She sure does.

(Rory and Paris are boarding the plane. They are seated in the middle section. They struggle accommodating their carry-ons.)

Rory: Paris, if you want me to put this up there, then I have to sit at the aisle. My books are in here, so it's either that, or you get up and switch my book when the time comes.

Paris: Why don't you just pick one book and keep it with you?

Rory: What if I get tired of the book I'm reading? You know, I go through these mood swings when sometimes I'm in the mood for some light short stories and then I suddenly feel like reading Hardy, then sometimes I get all of a sudden reflective and I like to sit down with essays, and I can switch through all these moods in under two hours.

Paris: Fine. Take the aisle seat, but you're going to have to grab my medication if I have an allergic reaction to the fabric of the seats.

Rory: Deal.

(They get everything together and sit down.)

Paris: (looking at the seat next to her.) I wonder who's going to sit here. I hope it's not some yapper who gets constant nosebleeds on airplanes or some loser like that.

Rory: Hey, I spent a whole bus ride sitting next to a guy who spit into a can.

Paris: I don't want to sit next to anyone who is going to release any type of bodily fluids.

Rory: Or gases.

(A big man dressed in biker clothes chewing tobacco puts his bag above the seat next to Paris.)

Paris: (sighs) Back to Kansas.

(Later. Both Paris and Rory are reading, or trying to. The man next to Paris is asleep, snoring very loudly.)

Paris: (closing her book) I can't do this. I'm going to wake him up.

Rory: You can't do that. He has just as much a right to sleep as you have to read.

Paris: A man's right to swing his arm ends where the other man's nose begins. His sleeping is disturbing my reading.

Rory: Not according to Seneca.

Paris: What?

Rory: Seneca. He said that if external things distract it's only because there are internal distractions. Now what's bothering you?

Paris: Rip Van Winkle over here.

Rory: No. That's just the symptom of a deeper distraction. Come on.

Paris: I get nervous on planes.

Rory: You were fine when we were leaving to Washington.

Paris: That's because we were leaving.

Rory: Ah. I see. You're nervous about going back home.

Paris: Well give the girl a silver dollar. Look, it's no big deal. I'm fine. (She picks up her book and reads. Rory bends to see what Paris is reading. Now she cannot return to her reading.)

Paris: What's your problem?

Rory: Nothing. I just don't feel like stories now. I think I'll get my essays.

(She gets up and switches the books. She cannot settle down to the essays either.)

Paris: Now what's your internal distraction?

Rory: Nothing. I'm fine. (She buries her head in the book. Paris rolls her eyes.)

(Lorelai and Dean at the airport looking through the shops.)

Lorelai: Look at this. This is where the Hartford Convention took place and the first Amistad trial. Can you believe it? And there's an everything about Harriet Beecher Stowe place, and in this Rare Books and Manuscript library they have one of the original Gutenburg Bibles. Isn't that something?

Dean: Yeah. Amistad was a great movie.

Lorelai: Wasn't it? Look at this, a lighthouse and a castle in Connecticut. Have you ever seen this lighthouse?

Dean: Can't say that I have.

Lorelai: Gosh, have we seen anything? I mean, why even go to Washington when we have all this stuff right here that we've never been to.

Dean: I guess you'll be planning a road trip through Connecticut soon.

Lorelai: Well, I have to see this castle. Rory and I would build castles in the house and Rory would play the wicked stepmother, and I would be the kind and beautiful princess waiting for some Prince Charming to whisk me away. Maybe he went to the wrong castle and has been waiting for me right here (she points to the post card) for twelve years.

Dean: Could be.

Lorelai: What time is it?

Dean: (pulls out his cell phone and check.) Uh oh. It's ten thirty-one.

Lorelai: Okay, run.

(At the terminal. Rory and Paris wait with their bags.)

Paris: Maybe they forgot about you. It's happened to me before.

Rory: She didn't forget, Paris. She's just late. My mom is often late. Or maybe she had traffic troubles.

(Lorelai is running to Rory and Dean is running after her.)

Lorelai: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was here early but I was looking through the shops and I lost track of time. (Lorelai hugs Rory tightly.) I missed you so much.

Rory: Until the castle postcards distracted you.

Lorelai: How did you know it was the castle?

Rory: I know you well.

Lorelai: Well I brought coffee and donuts. You forgive me.

Rory: How many cups?

Lorelai: Two.

Rory: I forgive you. (They hug again.)

(Dean steps forward.)

Dean: Hey, Rory.

Rory: Dean. What are you doing here?

Dean: Well, it's great to see you too, Rory. Why do you think I'm here? (He hugs her, but Rory is still perplexed.) I thought you'd be happy to see me.

Rory: But I wasn't expecting to see you so soon.

Dean: I couldn't wait.

Rory: Um, yeah.

Paris: Are we going to make this our new home or are we leaving. I could have taken the bus and been half-way home by now.

Lorelai: (forcing a smile) Well thank you for waiting for us, Paris.

(On the road)

Rory: And then we spent our last day at Arlington, and that was it.

Lorelai: What a way to end the trip.

Rory: The irony did not die on Paris and me either.

Lorelai: Paris, you've been awfully quiet. How did you like Washington?

Paris: (reading) Just fine, thank you.

Rory: See mom, this is Chilton Paris now. You can't ask Chilton Paris about Washington because she wasn't really there.
Lorelai: What about Roller Blading Paris, was she there?

Paris: I had a very nice time in Washington. It was great. Is that enough for you?

Lorelai: Plenty. Thanks. (Lorelai looks at Rory who shrugs apologetically and Paris returns to her reading.) So whatcha reading there Paris?

Paris: I'm trying to read Oliver Twist.

Lorelai: Didn't you girls read that already for class?

Rory: Paris reads most books at least three times.

Lorelai: Chilton Paris or Roller Blading Paris?

Rory: Pretty much all the Parises.

Paris: This is my house right here. (She points out the window.)

Lorelai: All right. (She pulls up and parks the car.)

Rory: I'll help Paris with her stuff.

Dean: No, I got it. (Dean takes Paris' luggage.)

Rory: Well, bye Paris. I'll see you around.

Paris: Yeah. We still have this Franklin thing to work on.

Lorelai: Says Party Paris. (Dean and Paris walk with the luggage to the front door. In the car.)

Lorelai: Why don't you go to the back?

Rory: Why?

Lorelai: Because Dean will get lonely back there by himself.

Rory: But I always ride shotgun. And if someone's going to be in the back seat, someone has to ride shotgun.

Lorelai: Just put your suitcase here.

Rory: Why? I can talk to Dean from here.

Lorelai: Because Dean came all this way to see you.

Rory: I didn't ask him to. We had a designated spot where he was supposed to wait for me.

Lorelai: But he was excited to see you, and I'm sure you were excited to see him.

Rory: I was, but…all right. I'll go in the back. (She gets her suitcase, puts it in the front seat, and goes in the back.

(Dean returns and smiles when he sees Rory in the back.)

Lorelai: She was misbehaving so I threw her in the back.

Rory: I missed you so much.

Dean: Me too.

Lorelai: Nothing funny in the back there. I can still see you.

(They arrive in Stars Hollow.)

Lorelai: So what's the game plan for today?

Rory: I haven't had a movie night in six weeks.

Lorelai: And all I've had for six weeks is movie nights.

Rory: Okay, we'll do something else.

Lorelai: No, no, no. It's your day. What's your pick?

Rory: Well, how 'bout a Hogan's Heroes marathon?

Lorelai: Sounds good. Are you in, Dean?

Dean: Sure.

Lorelai: We have to stop by the diner, though.

Rory: Yeah, I want to thank Luke for the coffee and donuts.

Lorelai: And pick up some more.

(Luke's. Rory walks in and is surprised by the banner and balloons.)

Rory: Oh my God, who did this?

Lorelai: Taylor and Miss Patty had them made and Luke set it up.

Luke: Hey Rory. Welcome back.

(Rory gives Luke a hug.)

Rory: Thanks, Luke.

Luke: Did any of that coffee make it to you?

Rory: Well, a cup and a half.

(Miss Patty and Babette come in.)

Babette: Lorelai, we saw your car parked out front. Rory!

Miss Patty: How was it, hon?

Rory: It was great. Thanks. Thanks for all of this. (She gestures to the balloons and banner.)

Miss Patty: Oh it was nothing. (Luke and Lorelai give each other the same knowing look.) You deserve it, hon.

Babette: We missed you so much.

Miss Patty: You'll have to tell us all about the trip.

Rory: As soon as I develop the pictures.

Babette: Oh that's great. I can't wait. We're so glad to have you back.

Miss Patty: Yeah. Well look now, I have to get back to my class. Tango beginners. I have to work that shyness right out of them.

Lorelai: Well, if anyone can do it, it would be you.

Babette: See you gals later. (Miss Patty and Babette leave.)

Rory: It's so good to be back.

Luke: So how was Washington?

Rory: I had a good time. Much better than I expected.

Luke: That's great.

Rory: I'll tell you more about it when I have the pictures.

Dean: Oh, Rory, I almost forgot. Lane sent you this. (He hands her a CD from his cargo pocket.)

Rory: Oh Lane. I have to see her. Mom, you mind if I go to Lane's while you get the videos?

Lorelai: No, not at all. Luke, we need more donuts, some brownies, and some raspberry Danishes.

Luke: Sure.

Lorelai: You don't even know how many.

Luke: I promise I'll be generous. It's on the house.

Rory: Thanks, Luke.

Lorelai: Wow, you should go away and come back more often.

Rory: I think I might.

Lorelai: Please don't.

Rory: Okay. (to Dean) So, do you want to come with me to Lane's?

Dean: Yeah, I'll come.

Rory: You'll have to wait outside, though, while I'm with Lane. So you're sure?

Dean: I'll come.

Luke: Ah geez.

Lorelai: What happened?

Luke: Jess was supposed to put this stuff in the oven before he went to school. They've been out too long now. They're no good. (he throws out two trays of unbaked goods.)

Lorelai: Is our stuff still on the house?

Luke: Yeah.

Lorelai: Oh, good. (She pretends to swipe sweat off her brow in relief.)

Rory: So, um, Luke, what time does Jess get back?

Luke: With him you never really know. He's out of detention by 4:30. He's supposed to start here at five. He usually comes in around 5: 30. Leaves for his ten-minute break at 6. Doesn't come back till 7:30. Goes upstairs to do homework supposedly. Doesn't come back down till closing, and I'm sure if I had time to go upstairs some time in between he wouldn't be there.

Lorelai: For not knowing, you sure have quite a schedule there.

Luke: That's just somedays. Somedays he actually does show up and work. Somedays he doesn't show up at all until closing. You really never know.

Rory: Well, just tell him I said hello.

Luke: I will. Here's your cavity fest kit.

Lorelai: Thanks, Luke.

Rory: Thank you so much, Luke. Great to see you again. (She hugs him again.)

Luke: Okay. Take it easy on the junk, okay?

Rory: We'll try.

(Outside.)

Lorelai: So you guys are going to Lane's and I'm going to the video store.

Rory: Correct.

Lorelai: We'll meet at the video store?

Rory: The market. Have to pick up the candy.

Dean: I have the candy already. I picked it up yesterday. It's at my house. You two can meet at the video store and I'll go to my house and meet you at yours.

Lorelai: Sounds good. Give us some time, though, so that I can take Rory to the Inn.

Rory: Oh yeah. I want to say hi to Sookie.

Dean: Okay.

Lorelai: So, I'll see you later.

(Dean and Rory walking)

Rory: Why are you so quiet?

Dean: Oh I'm sorry. I guess I just got used to being this way today.

Rory: I'm sorry, but you know, there are other people in this town that know me. And I haven't had a real conversation with my mom in six weeks. Phone conversations are never the same.

Dean: You haven't had a real conversation with me in six weeks either.

Rory: I know, I know. I promise I'll make it up to you. We'll get your favorite flavor ice cream tonight.

Dean: I don't want ice cream. I want to spend time with you.

Rory: Well you are.

Dean: Just you.

Rory: We'll have plenty of time tomorrow. Well, actually, my dad's coming tomorrow, but he goes back to Boston so we'll have the whole evening to ourselves.

Dean: Okay.

Rory: You still don't look all right.

Dean: It just feels like you were happy to see everyone but me.

Rory: I was happy to see you. I was so happy to see you, but I had already planned the way that I would see you, and when plans turn on me like that, I get very disoriented. I get dizzy, my stomach gets queasy, annoying Spice Girls' songs play in my head. It's a disturbing experience.

Dean: (laughing) All right. All right. Well, we're alone right now.

Rory: Yes we are. (Dean pulls her into a kiss.) Now we have to go to Lane's. Mom's waiting.

Dean: After you…So, were you planning on visiting Jess, too?

Rory: Well, I thought maybe I'd stop by at the diner again when he was there, just to say hi, but since his schedule's so erratic, I guess Luke could tell him.

Dean: But if his schedule wasn't so erratic and you went to say hi, would your mom be accompanying you?

Rory: I don't know. Maybe. If she was going to Luke's, yeah, I guess. Why are you asking all this?

Dean: It's nothing. It's just that if things worked out how you planned you'd spend more alone time with Jess on your first day back than me.

Rory: What are you talking about? I didn't plan anything. I just wanted to quickly say hello if I saw him in passing. You and I, on the other hand, are alone right now.

Dean: On your way to see, Lane, and I don't think you wanted me to come with you either.

Rory: Why would you think that? Yes, I did want you to come with me.

Dean: You said I'd have to wait outside as if trying to discourage me.

Rory: I wasn't trying to discourage you. I was just telling beforehand so you'd know what to expect. Look Dean, I wanted you to come. I want to spend time alone with you, but I also want to spend time with my mom and with my friends. You have to be okay with that.

Dean: I am. I'm just not okay with you not wanting to be with me.

Rory: But I do.

Dean: I doubted that.

Rory: Don't.

Dean: Okay, I won't. I love you. (He gives her a quick kiss.)

(At Lane's)

Mrs. Kim: Rory, how was your trip?

Rory: Good, Mrs. Kim. Thank you.

Mrs. Kim: Five minutes.

Rory: Right.

Mrs. Kim: Lane! Rory's here.

Lane's voice: I'm coming.

(Lane comes in. She runs over to Rory and hugs her.)

Lane: Rory! Welcome back. It's so good to see you. It's good to see people, but especially that it's you.

Rory: It's good to see you, too. I missed you so much.

Lane: How was it?

Rory: Good, good.

Lane: Oh come on, details.

Rory: We only have five minutes. I'll tell you everything as soon as I have the pictures.

Lane: Oh, you have pictures! I can't wait to see them.

Rory: So how have you been? Thanks for the CD. I brought you stuff too. (She hands Lane a bag full of stuff.)

Lane: Oh, thank you! (She looks through the bag.) Oh my God, you went to the Hard Rock Café.

Rory: Unfortunately, yes.

Mrs. Kim: Time's up. Rory, you have to go. Welcome back.

Rory: Thanks, Mrs. Kim. I'll see you later, Lane. (Rory and Lane hug again, and Rory leaves.)

(Later. Gilmore Residence. Lorelai, Rory, and Dean are watching Hogan's Heroes.)

Lorelai and Rory: (synchronized with the television) I see nothing.

Lorelai: You gotta love Sergeant Shultz. But I had such a crush on Bob Crane.

Rory: I had a crush on Richard Dawson.

Lorelai: Really? The magician.

Rory: Yeah. I mean, Crane was handsome in a pretty sort of way and Robert Clary was handsome in a cute sort of way, but Dawson was handsome in a rugged sort of way.

Lorelai: And Klemperer was handsome in a bald sort of way.

Rory: Oh yeah.

Dean: Uh, yeah, I'm gonna get a soda, is that okay?

Lorelai: Sure, help yourself.

Dean: You guys want anything?

Rory: No, I'm okay. But could you pass me another brownie, mom?

Lorelai: Here you go. I think Dean's a little jealous of our Hogan's Heroes.

Rory: We're going to have to say in what way he's handsome.

Lorelai: In a tall sort of way?

Rory: In a perfect sort of way.

Lorelai: Aw, how cute. So you really had a crush on Richard Dawson?

Rory: What's wrong with that?

Lorelai: The magician?

Rory: He had a nice accent too, and he was funny.

Lorelai: The magician?

Rory: Okay, I'm not defending my infantile crushes to you anymore. (Dean comes back with a soda. Rory hints at her mom.)

Lorelai: Shultz was handsome in a stupid sort of way.

Rory: Yes, and Dean is handsome in a perfect sort of way.

Dean: How long did it take you two to come up with that?

Lorelai: Not long. I proposed tall sort of way, and Rory immediately came up with that one. (Rory gives Dean a quick kiss.)

Lorelai: Oh no!

Rory and Dean: (startled) What?

Lorelai: There're no more donuts.

(Luke's. Jess comes in.)

Luke: I'm not even going to count how many minutes late you are.

Jess: Never did learn how to count past a hundred, did you? I had something to do after school. Took longer than I expected. I'll make the time up tomorrow.

Luke: And how are you going to do that? You don't have four-hour breaks that you can work instead.

Jess: I'll skip detention.

Luke: You can't skip detention.

Jess: Why not? The school is spotless now. I've been cleaning desks that have the smell of Pledge still on them.

Luke: You can't skip detention.

Jess: Well, I tried. (He picks up a rag and starts cleaning the tables. Without looking up or stopping to wipe...) So, did Rory get back?

Luke: She did.

Jess: 'She okay?

Luke: Yeah. She's fine. She says hi.

(Jess nods and scrubs the tables more diligently.)

(Later. Gilmore Residence. Lorelai is sleeping, while Dean and Rory snuggle together watching the video.)

Dean: I better get going. It's getting late and you look tired.

Rory: (yawning) I'm not tired, I'm full of energy. (looks to her mom) She fell asleep.

Dean: Yeah. I'll go and you can get your mom up and into her room. You need your sleep too.

Rory: Oh, all right.

Dean: I'm glad to have you back.

Rory: I'm glad to be back. (They kiss.)

Dean: Save some of that for me tomorrow.

Rory: Good night. (She follows Dean to the door. A hug, a kiss, a wave and he is gone. She turns back and wakes her mother.)

Lorelai: Huh.

Rory: You fell asleep.

Lorelai: Where'd Dean go?

Rory: The spaceship came and took him back.

Lorelai: I knew he wasn't really human.

Rory: Come on. You gotta get to bed.

(Later. Rory is in her pajamas settling into her bed. She lays down and turns from side to side, trying to get comfortable. She stops, gets up and sneaks out the house.)

(Outside of Luke's, Rory approaches. She looks inside the diner and then steps back, looking for a light on upstairs.)

Voice: (from behind) Hey.

Rory: (turns around startled and sees Jess.) Oh, it's you. Hi.

Jess: Trying to break in to steal some more donuts or something?

Rory: Actually, I was planning on stealing the brownies.

Jess: Ah.

Rory: I just came to see you. I've seen everyone except you and it bothers me when I haven't completed everything on my 'To do' list.

Jess: So you had "see Jess" on your 'To do' list?

Rory: Well, "see everyone."

Jess: Ah, that's right. So, you're quite the world traveler. Let's see, you've been to Boston, New York, now Washington. Not many people in Stars Hollow can say that, I'm sure.

Rory: And don't forget. In New York I was mistaken for a native.

Jess: That's right, you were. Well, you look different. You look worldly.

Rory: In my pajamas?

Jess: Few people could pull that look off outside. You manage it well.

Rory: Thank you.

Jess: Oh, I have something for you.

Rory: What is it?

Jess: (holding out his two fists) Pick a hand.

Rory: Hmm. This one. (She picks one hand. He opens it, but there is nothing there. He closes his fist again.)

Jess: Pick again. (She picks the other hand, and he opens it, but there's nothing again.)

Rory: There's nothing in either hand.

Jess: You were supposed to pick the same hand. (He opens the hand she picked the first time.)

Rory: Oh, a book light!

Jess: Every traveler needs one.

Rory: Oh, thank you! (hugs Jess, then pulls away.) Sorry about that. I've been in a hugging mood today. I even hugged Kirk at the videostore, which started Taylor's lecture on appropraite customer-employee behavior.

Jess: So I think you can officially mark off "see everyone" on your 'To do' list.

Rory: Yes, I can. So I'll be heading back now.

Jess: Bye, Rory.

Rory: Bye. (She turns and walks briskly away.)

Jess: Rory. (She turns around.) Welcome home.

(She smiles and turns again to leave.)

The End