Author's Note: See Disclaimer and Title in Chapter One. Sorry it took so long to update. I had only planned ahead to the last chapter so after I wrote it I was stuck. But my brain has been on overdrive the past couple of days and not only do I have the rest of the story planned out in detail, but I have some ideas for a sequel in mind too. I am probably getting ahead of myself here but if there is interest when this one is done, I will be prepared to write. Also, sorry this chapter is sort of long. I had actually planned on including more but this one was already five pages so I had to break it off and add a chapter. I had a lot of fun writing Emily so let me know if she is in character. I have every chapter planned out now so I am prepared to post every day now, except every time I go back over my notes I find another chapter I want to add so the story keeps getting longer and longer. Keep the feedback coming. I crave it now.

P.S. If anyone happens to know what Andrew, Bootsy or Gypsy do for a living and can point me toward an episode with that in it, I would be ever so thankful.

On with the story....

Chapter 9: Bloody Mary's and Lucky Charms

"And then, Kirk seconds him!" said Lorelai as she pulled into her parents' driveway.

"I can't believe Taylor suggested a bachelor auction for the next town fundraiser," Rory said. She loved coming back early on Fridays to ride to Hartford with her mom. It gave them time to catch up before they had to face dinner with the Gilmores.

"Well I guess he thought some elbow-patch-loving lass would like to do the bridge some good." Lorelai shut off the ignition and removed her seatbelt.

"Has anyone ever told Taylor that big rocks would work just as well as the bridge? That pond is so small it dries up on hot days for gosh sakes!" Lorelai laughed at her daughter. She missed marveling at the town's craziness with Rory. "Why was Kirk so anxious to help?"

"He finally has someone who is required to buy him" Lorelai explained as they approached the front walk.

"Oh, that's right. Lulu was it?"

"Yeah, he's even practiced his beefcake routine"

"Liar!"

"Would I use Kirk and beefcake in the same sentence if I wasn't serious?"

"Sorry. Please continue" Rory said, ringing the bell.

"Yeah, it goes a little something like this. Bow chicka bow wow" Lorelai sang, taking off her scarf and twirling it around her head.

"Okay, you had me going for awhile. You are the master." Rory rolled her eyes, but Lorelai just kept singing adding a slight hip swivel to her dance. She was so into it that she didn't hear the door open behind her. Only when Rory snickered did she stop.

"Lorelai Gilmore! What on earth are you doing?" Her mother's sharp tone brought back quite a few childhood memories. Lorelai straightened up quickly and turned around.

"Oh. Hi Mom. I was just explaining my new job to Rory." Lorelai said straight faced.

"What?" Emily's eyes were large and round.

"Yeah, you know, some extra money, just until the inn is up and running." Emily face continued to register shock until Lorelai added, "I was just telling Rory I could get her a job there too. Some spending money while she's in college." Emily adopted her usual stern stare and Lorelai was forced to hold back a grin. "Can we come in or are we eating on the porch tonight?"

"Yes, come in." Emily ignored Lorelai's jokes and turned to head into the living room. By the time they got there she seemed to brighten. "Please sit, girls" she said with a smile. Lorelai and Rory exchanged a curious glance. "I thought tonight we would have a little fun. I've made my special . . . " Emily paused for a moment before bellowing "CELERY!"

"You've made special celery?" Lorelai asked with mock innocence. "Ooh, is that like 'special' brownies, because those would be fun." Lorelai rubbed her hands together in anticipation. Emily looked confused, as she usually did when Lorelai babbled like this.

"What are you talking about Lorelai? I was calling the maid" Emily said annoyed.

"Your maid's name is Celery? Where's she from?"

"I was asking for the celery" Emily said exasperated as a scared looking girl hurried into the living room with a tray full of celery. She set it down on the side table and began to hurry back out when Emily cleared her throat loudly. The woman froze and turned. "Coats" Emily said sternly, arching one eyebrow at her. The girl turned and hurried over to Lorelai and Rory.

"Money?" Lorelai asked holding out her hand.

"Lorelai!"

"It was worth a shot. One-word commands seem to work for you" Lorelai grumbled.

"As I was saying," Emily continued. "I made my special Bloody Mary's, minus the Vodka for Rory of course."

"Of course" Lorelai raised her eyebrows at Rory. Rory held back a giggle. Emily, back in her chipper mood, handed Rory and Lorelai drinks and sat across from them.

"So, Lorelai, what's new?" Emily said with a big smile.

"Well, Janet Jackson sullied the good name of the Super Bowl. But, really, how good a name was it?" Lorelai sighed and shook her head disapprovingly.

"With you, Lorelai. What's new with you?" Emily held her smile, determined to be polite.

"Oh, same old, same old."

"How's the inn?"

"Fine."

"And Sookie?"

"Also, fine." Lorelai was used to her mother wanting to know everything about her life, but she wasn't used to her being so upbeat about it. She wanted to see how far her patience would go. Rory, who had been watching the two as if they were a tennis match, nudged her mother. When Lorelai glanced at her, she shot her a look telling her to be nice. Lorelai took a deep breath.

"Everything's good, mom. The construction on the inn is almost finished. It's mostly cosmetic now. Sookie's good. Davy is getting bigger every day and Jackson has more free time since we have six more weeks of winter now." Emily sighed, relieved, and nodded along.

"How old is little Davy now?"

"Three months. All signs point to a fourth, now that Michel has agreed not to baby-sit again." Emily looked to Rory to explain.

"There was an incident," Rory began. "Michel was playing a game and some how Davy ended up under the bed." Emily looked shocked but Lorelai and Rory nodded as if that explanation was more than sufficient. Emily decided to let it go.

"Well, that's good then. Anyone new in your love life, Lorelai?" Lorelai flinched in mid-sip.

"Uh, no." Lorelai played with her celery stalk.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You winced."

"I didn't wince."

"Yes, you did."

"Really, it was more of a shudder."

"Fine. Why did you shudder?"

"A new tic? It's barely noticeable when you compare it to the Tourettes-like outbursts. " Rory nudged her again. "It was nothing mom, really. I was just startled. The question surprised me is all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. Positive." Emily's curious stare was interrupted by the maid announcing dinner. As Emily walked to the dining room, Lorelai gave Rory a fearful look. Rory just shrugged her shoulders helplessly. Both girls joined Emily at the table, where she continued her cheerful questioning.

"Rory, how is school?"

"Good." When Lorelai snorted, Rory quickly elaborated. "Classes are good. Paris is gone a lot so I have the room to myself to study as much as I need to. Tana spends a lot of time with her new boyfriend, when she remembers." Emily looked intrigued. Lorelai smiled, amused not only at Rory's odd roommate but also at the look on her mother's face. She kept quiet though, grateful that Rory was such a good distraction. "Paris strategically cut pieces of Janet's trampoline so that it looked normal, but when Janet went to jump on it, it tore through completely. All was quiet until Janet took up Tae Bo to bug Paris. Now there is a lot of sweating and grunting."

"Dirty" Lorelai giggled and both women looked at her momentarily before continuing the original conversation.

"I thought you said Paris wasn't around much?" Emily asked.

"She's not. Janet does it at night, and Paris is usually out late every night. I pity Billy Blank the first night Paris stays in." Emily laughed a little harder than normal and Lorelai gave her a skeptical look.

"What is Paris doing that she's always out so late?" Rory looked at Lorelai unsure how to answer. Lorelai mimicked Rory's earlier shoulder-shrug.

"Um, just some stuff for school" Rory said nervously.

"Like extracurriculars?" Emily questioned.

"You could say that" Lorelai said cryptically. Emily gave her a confused look for a moment.

"Have you ever thought of joining her?" Emily asked Rory. Lorelai choked on the water she was drinking. "Lorelai, it wouldn't hurt her to get a little more involved."

"Mom, I don't think Rory is into that." Lorelai said placatingly.

"Lorelai, it won't kill her to try. That sort of thing could really put her in good standing at Yale."

"You could say that again" said Lorelai smirking. Rory could see her grandmother prepare to argue back and interrupted.

"I'll think about it Grandma, okay?" she asked appeasingly. Emily softened.

"So Rory, how about you? Any new names on your dance card?" Lorelai shook her head at her mother's attempt at innuendo.

"There will be soon." Lorelai snickered. Emily looked at her again with her usual combination of annoyance and confusion.

"Nothing big" Rory answered quickly to avoid a fight. "I have a date with Marty soon, but it's a casual thing." Lorelai stopped snickering.

"You're going out with the naked guy?"

"It's a casual thing." Rory insisted.

"Fine, but if at any point during the night he suggests Tit for Tat, just say no."

"Eww! Gross, mom." Rory wrinkled her nose. Lorelai grinned. Emily sighed with exasperation.

"Who is the naked guy and what is 'a casual thing'?" she asked making air quotes with her fingers. Rory looked at Lorelai but she just mirrored Emily's expectant look. Rory sighed and explained.

"You met Marty at the football game. There was a thing with a keg and some nudity in the hallway. It's just a friendly date. Nothing fancy."

"Oh, yes. I remember now." Emily nodded.

"So how about you Grandma? Anything new with you?" Rory asked, eager to change the subject.

"Yeah mom, any new lads itching to try your Lucky Charms?" Lorelai added. Emily gave her a disapproving look and Lorelai laughed. Many times, when Lorelai laughed at Emily, she laughed as if it were some inside joke only she and Rory could understand. This time she laughed as if Emily were a part of the gang and she had been harmlessly teasing her. Emily let go of her properness and considered the joke. She found herself laughing too.

"So where is Grandpa?" Rory asked.

"He's in New York for a few days." Emily said sadly. "After this whole fiasco he has had to rush off to all these meetings and assure them in person that this will never happen again."

Rory looked over at Lorelai who was pushing food around her plate with her fork. It wasn't Lorelai's fault, but Rory knew she felt guilty that Jason had done this to her father. Emily noticed the girls' behavior but figured they just felt bad for Richard. She had called Lorelai and Rory on Tuesday to tell them the news. Both had said they were really sorry and asked if there was anything they could do.

"The DAR is doing very well" Emily blurted, breaking the silence. Both girls looked up at her curiously. "We are planning a huge fundraiser next month." They nodded slowly. "Actually, I was thinking you could plan it, Lorelai." Lorelai took a deep breath. So that was what had provoked the 'special Bloody Mary's.'

"You want me to plan it?"

"Yes, well you handle events like this all the time at the inn."

"The inn burned down, mom."

"You could have it in the Town's Square" Rory piped up. Lorelai kicked her under the table. "It's pretty and it can hold lots of people." Rory said stubbornly.

"That sounds wonderful" Emily said happily. "We would be happy to pay you, Lorelai. Plus, we already did a test run, so I'm sure you are very capable."

"Uh huh" Lorelai said warily.

"What's the charity, Grandma?" Rory asked.

"Impoverished Artists" Emily said quickly, hoping they wouldn't question it.

"Aren't all artists impoverished?" Lorelai asked sarcastically.

"Aren't there any needier . . . needy?" Rory agreed. Emily sighed.

"It was Glenda Johnson's idea" she said, shaking her head. "What she didn't explain to everyone was that the impoverished artist was just her son trying to make a movie."

"Ooh! Can I be in it?" Lorelai asked. Emily's face registered defeat and Rory gave Lorelai a pleading look. Lorelai could see her mother was trying and she had to admit, Emily could be giving her more grief than she was.

"Pick another cause, mom. Then we'll talk" she said relenting. Emily smiled brightly but just nodded and the rest of dinner was finished in relative silence.