---

As Rory finished uttering the words, Lorelai emerged from her room.

"Kirk I'm sorry I..." Lorelai trailed off, taking in his suit and slightly unusual tie.

"Lorelai, I-" Kirk started, standing up quickly. "...you...you..."

"Oh my god," Lorelai whispered to Rory as she brushed past her.

"Be nice," Rory whispered back, and barely managed to stifle a giggle.

"...you...look...you look..."

"Are you ready to go Kirk?" asked Lorelai, trying desperately to control her sniggers.

"Amazing!" Kirk managed to get out. He cleared his throat. "I would love to."

Lorelai smiled and called to Rory, "Okay sweetie, I'm going now. Don't wait up."

"Yeah, I'll probably be in bed by about eight thirty!" Rory called back.

"Isn't that kind of late Lorelai?" asked Kirk, once out of earshot.

"What?"

"Eight thirty. Mother made me go to bed at eight until I was twenty four."

"Well, it's a weekend." Lorelai said, as she pulled the door closed. "So, where are we going?"

"Well, I took the liberty of asking around, to find out what kind of food you liked,"

"How thoughtful!" Lorelai interjected.

"Well, I wanted to tonight to be perfect," Kirk said, and blushed. "So we're going to Al's."

This caught Lorelai off guard. "What?"

"Al's. Al's Pancake World. You like it there, right?"

"Umm...yeah. I love Al's."

Kirk looked at his watch. "Drats. We're really late. I hope he kept our table."

"I'm sure he did," Lorelai responded, sighing. "Should we walk or drive?"

"Uh...let's walk." Kirk replied, slightly embarrassed. "I can't drive."

"What?" asked Lorelai, looking at him. "You never learned to drive?"

"No, my Mother wouldn't let me. She said it was too dangerous."

"Weren't you a mechanic last year?"

"Yes. I worked with Gypsy."

"You were a mechanic, yet you couldn't drive. Huh." Lorelai mused.

"Yes. It's alright though, because I couldn't afford a car."

"Don't you have any savings or anything? You work at so many places, you must have quite a bit by now."

"Mother felt that lessons were more important."

"Lessons?" asked Lorelai, looking a bit disturbed.

"Yes. Dance lessons..." Kirk replied.

"You took dance lessons?"

"Take actually."

"Kirk, I never knew you take dance lessons!" Lorelai exclaimed. "No wonder you won-"

"Yes, well, I don't like to speak of my wins. Of which there have been many," he added pompously.

"What kind of dance lessons do you take?"

"Oh, everything. Swing, square, line, ballet, tap, jazz, modern..."

"Wow!" Lorelai said aloud. 'Rory's gonna love this!' she thought.

"Lorelai, I have something to tell you..." Kirk said, and looked into her face.

Lorelai froze. "Yes Kirk?"

"Thank you."

"For what?" asked Lorelai confused.

"For...for going out with me. I know it must be intimidating."

Lorelai blinked. "Sorry, what's intimidating?"

"Going out with me. I know you're a feminist, and-"

"Who told you that I'm a feminist?" she asked, slightly peeved at the turn of events.

"Oh, Emily."

"Excuse me?" Lorelai gasped, and stopped walking. "Emily who?"

"Emily Gilmore. Your mother..." Kirk replied, straight faced.

"You talked to my mother?" Lorelai asked incredulously.

"Well, I told Luke that I was going to ask you out, and he told me that I should check with your parents first, so I asked Patty for the number and..."

"Huh." Lorelai cut him off. "Well, what did my mother say?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"Oh, she said it was fine with her, but you are still having trouble with relationships, and I shouldn't be too offended if you leave part way through the date or..."

"Yup, that sounds like Emily." Lorelai sighed. "Oh look, there's Al's," she said, glad for a distraction. She would deal with Emily Gilmore later.

Kirk offered Lorelai his arm, and together they crossed the street.

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