Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story idea.
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Lorelai was in the kitchen furiously putting stray dishes in the sink. "May I join you?" asked Emily.
Lorelai looked up from her work, startled. "Whatever you want," she returned shortly.
"I'm sorry we didn't dress up," said Emily as she cautiously made her way into the kitchen. "If Rory had said it was that important we would have."
"Whatever," repeated Lorelai calmly as she wiped the countertop down.
"Lorelai, please," said Emily patiently. "I'd like to speak with you. Is it too much to ask to have your full attention?"
Lorelai threw the sponge into the sink and faced her mother silently.
"Thank you." Silence enveloped them as they stood facing each other in Lorelai's kitchen, the party in full force out in the living room. "First, I want to say that your behavior the day of the lunch was childish." Lorelai opened her mouth for a stinging retort, but Emily interrupted with, "However, after much consideration, I suppose I can understand why you feel the way you do." Lorelai closed her mouth in shock. "Sorry?" she asked, confused.
"Lorelai, really. Do you honestly believe me to be without feelings?"
"Why, what did Rory say?" she responded suspiciously.
"Nothing," replied Emily, now impatient, "it's the way you act. You thoughtlessly express opinions without thinking about how they may effect others."
"And you're innocent of an offense such as this," Lorelai retorted, her words dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, no one is perfect. I'm not proud of some of the things I've done."
"What do you want me to say?" asked Lorelai. "Our entire relationship up to this point has been based on thoughtlessly chosen words. I've hurt you; you've hurt me. Where do you really think we can go from here?"
"I don't know, but I would like to be part of your life. We both would. Why do you think we forced you to come to all those Friday night dinners?"
"Gee, Mom, I wish I knew," Lorelai responded dryly. "You say one thing and do another. You force us to spend time with you and then you treat us like peasants."
Emily rolled her eyes and said, "Don't you think you're being a tad dramatic?"
"No!" cried Lorelai. "I really don't. Even before I turned into the world's worst daughter by getting knocked up at sixteen, nothing I ever did was what you wanted."
"What are you talking about?"
"Off the top of my head? The time I embarrassed you and Dad at the club by climbing up and then falling out of the big tree out front, creating a seen and losing my underpants in the process. The time I ruined Dad's first big dinner party by getting away from Greta after my bath and streaking through the dining room. The time I fed chocolate pudding the Henderson's dog and he was sick for days and they threatened to sue. The time I put an egg in the microwave just to see what would happen. The time I accidentally set the tablecloth on fire at one of your DAR luncheons. The time I – "
"All right!" cried Emily. "You've made your point. You were an incredibly trying child. I lost my temper with you every once in a while, but does that make me an ogre? You have been incredibly lucky with Rory. Does it make me an awful person that I'm a bit jealous?"
"You're jealous?" inquired Lorelai thoughtfully.
"Of course! Why do you think I've been trying to cultivate our relationship now that we're both adults? Even if we can't be friends, I'd like for us to at least get along."
Lorelai stood silently for a moment, trying to think of something to say when from the living room she heard, "Oh my God! Jackson! Where's Jackson?" With wide eyes, Lorelai ran to Sookie, who was clutching her rounded stomach with both hands.
"Sookie! Are you okay?" Lorelai reached her friend, saw the pure terror in Sookie's eyes and yelled, "Someone find Jackson! Sookie's water just broke!"
