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As Lorelai was getting dressed, the doorbell rang.

"Mom! He's here!" called Rory, who had painfully retrieved her book from under her dresser, and was now sprawled on the couch.

"Who?" called Lorelai from the depths of her closet.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Santa Clause."

"Then tell him that I want a pony."

"Or you could tell him yourself," suggested Rory, returning to her book.

"Offspring-" Lorelai started, wailing pitifully.

"No."

"Roryyy-"

"No. Absolutely not. He's your date, it's your problem."

"Why is he on time? What kind of man is ever on time?" asked Lorelai, poking her head out of the door momentarily. "Other than Max of course, but Max was an exception..."

"Mom! Kirk is outside!" Rory harangued, seeing the state of undress her mother was in. "Come on woman! Get your act together! I'm not going to answer the door!"

"You have to! I'm not ready!"

"Whose fault is that? It's 6:30."

"Rory, I am your Mother, and that gives me the right to tell you to answer the door!"

"No way. Just put on your shirt, skip the pantyhose and get down here!"

"Rory...I am your mother, and I-" Lorelai started.

"Tick tock..." said Rory, turning away.

"Please! I'll be your best friend!"

"You already are."

"I'll give you twenty bucks!" Lorelai bribed.

"Hmmm...that's okay."

"Just think about all the cigarettes and dirty magazines you can buy with a crisp twenty!"

Before Rory could reply, the doorbell rang twice in succession. Lorelai pouted at Rory.

"Oh, alright!" Rory said, over the doorbell. "Jeez, I'm coming!" she said angrily to the door before she opened it. She heard Lorelai's door close. Taking a deep breathe and forcing a smile on her face, Rory pulled the door open. "Hi there Kirk!"

"Oh, hello Rory." Kirk stepped in nervously. "Your doorbell seems to be broken."

"Oh, yes. I've been meaning to get that fixed." The two stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Uh, come in Kirk. Mom's still getting ready..." He stood rooted to the spot. "Would you like to sit down?"

"No."

"Oh, okay. Something to drink?"

"Actually, I wouldn't mind a soda and tonic if you have one."

"Uh- no sorry."

"Do you have club soda?"

"I don't think so."

"Orange juice?"

"Doubtful."

"Water?"

"Now that I can do." Rory turned and walked into the kitchen, Kirk on her heels.

"Bottled?"

"Nope."

"Drats." Kirk sat down at the table and twiddled his thumbs, glancing around as if he expected Lorelai to melt in from the shadows.

"So Kirk," Rory tried, handing him a glass of water, "you look nice."

"Thank you. I rented the suit from a Hartford tuxedo shop."

"Well it's very nice. Interesting tie. I never pictured you as a Winnie-the- Pooh sort of guy."

"It's one of my passions. I can imitate every character from the movie. Would you like to hear?"

"Maybe another time," Rory said, and heartily wished she hadn't opened the door for him. Silence filled the room. "So, have you read the book?"

"What book?"

"Winnie-the-Pooh."

"No, it was a movie."

Rory blinked, not sure she had understood. "But it was a book first."

Kirk ignored her and glanced at his watch. "I did say 6:30, didn't I? I could have sworn-"

"No, you did say 6:30, but Lorelai is always late."

"I just hope they keep our table..."

"Where are you taking her?" asked Rory, her interest piqued.

Kirk glanced around again, and then leaned forward. "Al's Pancake World," he whispered, "they're saving us a table in the corner. With a candle."

"That's certainly...romantic..." Rory said, trying not to laugh.

"Rory, could you come up here for a minute?" Lorelai called from upstairs. Kirk jumped.

"I'll be right back. Just stay here and...don't touch anything..." Rory instructed.

Inside Lorelai's room, clothes were heaped into piles on the floor and bed.

"Oh good, you're here." Lorelai pulled Rory into the room and shut the door. "What's he wearing?"

"What happened to flippy shirt and ruffly skirt?" asked Rory looking at the piles of discarded clothing.

"Other way around."

"What?"

"Nothing. It just...it didn't work. So, what's he wearing?"

"I wouldn't worry about it. Get dressed. He's getting antsy."

"Where's he taking me?"

"I can't tell you that. I think it's a surprise."

"I hate surprises."

"No you don't."

"Okay, you're right. But it's true that I hate some surprises."

"Only bad ones."

"Well is it a bad one?" asked Lorelai.

"It depends if you're an optimist or not."

"I don't like the sound of that." Lorelai said, eyebrows furrowed.

"Don't worry. Just get dressed and go. You're going out with him because of 'him' not because of where he's taking you. Right?"

"Right...so flippy skirt?"

"I'd go for tight black jeans."

"Oh no. Really?"

"And a tank top."

"Oh god. My world is ending." Lorelai sat on the edge of the bed and held her hand to her forehead.

"It's not that bad. There will be candles."

"Candles? That's good..."

"I might suggest that you bring your own matches though. Just in case."

"Oh my god..." Lorelai sank further down onto her bed. "Rory, tell him I'm sick. With acute pneumonia."

"No. You are going to face this. Otherwise you're going to regret this for the rest of your life."

"I am?"

"Yes, you will." replied Rory definitely. "Hurry up. I think I smell smoke."

"Well at least that means there'll be matches..."Lorelai said to the closed door. "Okay, where are my jeans...?"