A/N: The face-claim to Delilah Gilmore is Leighton Meester. The face-claim to Samantha Walsh is Taylor Momsen. The face-claim to Matthew Moor is Finn Roberts.
Chapter 1: Hey There, Delilah
"Delilah, I can promise you that by the time we get through,
The world will never ever be the same and you're to blame.
Hey there, Delilah."
Plain White T's – Hey There, Delilah
The smell of the strawberry muffins stirred Delilah's appetite, even as she wrapped them in Saran wrap.
"Lila, do you have my Macy Gray CD?" asked Rory.
"I don't listen to her, so why I would take it from you?" replied Delilah as she wrapped a muffin.
"Oh, right, your taste is more metal and hard rock," said Rory with an eye-roll.
"Rock on, sis," replied Delilah doing the devil horns. She went back to wrapping up the muffins.
"I still don't know how you can use Saran wrap without getting it stuck together," said Rory. She was watching closely as her twin wrapped a muffin. "Here, let me try one."
Delilah stood aside while Rory tried (and failed) wrapping a muffin. "Sorry, sis, but it takes practice. It's not something you can learn right away."
Rory looked irritated at not getting it right away.
Rory was more of a perfectionist, which was why she wanted to go to Chilton, to go to Harvard to become a journalist. As far as Delilah remembered, Rory never got anything lower than an A before.
Delilah was more of the 'go-with-the-flow' type of girl, who could live with herself if she flunked a class (which she never had). She was content with having Cs and Bs. Her passion was towards baking. It was why she got a part-time at Weston's Bakery. She wanted to open her own chain bakery one day and starting from the bottom was going to help her. It was something her mother taught her, 'start from the bottom and work your way up.' It was something that her mother had done at Independence Inn and Lorelai was now an executive manager after starting off as a maid at sixteen.
"You better wrap that up quickly," said Rory. "We have to go to Luke's."
Delilah nodded and finished wrapping up the muffins very quickly. She had set some aside in a container for her friends, Matthew and Samantha.
"Bad news, Lila," said Rory. "Mom didn't save us any coffee." She held up the empty coffee pot that had signs of holding coffee.
"Sucks for you," said Delilah as she grabbed her black and white polka-dot backpack.
After a month of binge-eating junk food during the summer with her twin and mother, she had gained some weight. She spent the remainder of the summer, dieting and jogging, to lose what she had gained. It was times like that she wished she had a fast metabolism like her sister and mother. She didn't need all that caffeine anyway, even if she wanted it.
She stuck the container in her backpack.
"Why can't Matt get a job to feed himself?" asked Rory.
Deliliah felt disgusted at what Rory asked. It wasn't like Rory didn't know Matt. She knew him since seventh grade. She knew what Matt's mom was like.
"He does," replied Delilah slowly. "She takes his checks for herself so he can't buy food."
Besides, she didn't mind making food for her family and friends. It was fun making something from scratch, and it was practice. She loved seeing how her friends' faces brightened when she would hand them a container of food. It always made her feel warm and fuzzy inside, like she had done something right.
"Why doesn't Sam feed him, then?" asked Rory.
"First, she does," said Delilah. "I give him breakfast and she gives him lunch. He skips dinner, unless he sleeps over here or at Samantha's place. And second, she doesn't like being called Sam or even Sami, or whatever. She likes her full name, so please use it."
"She lets Mom call her Sam," Rory pointed out.
Delilah replied, "She likes Mom, so she's fine when it's Mom calling her Sam."
"Let's get going," said Rory, tossing Delilah her gray fur-lined hoodie. Deliliah put it on, along with the fingerless arm warmers that Samantha knitted for her.
When they got outside, Rory inhaled, "Its freezing."
"If we run, we might warm up," Delilah said.
They walked in Luke's.
"Hey, it's freezing," said Rory as she walked in. "And Lila wouldn't let me borrow her arm warmers."
"Her friend made them for her," said Lorelai. "And what do you need? Hot tea or coffee?"
"Hot tea," Delilah said.
"Lip-gloss," replied Rory.
Lorelai passed some money to Delilah and took out a make up bag out of her purse. "I have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and toasted marshmallow."
"I'll take vanilla," said Delilah. Lorelai passed her a tube of lip-gloss.
"Anything in there not resembling a breakfast cereal?" asked Rory.
"Yes," replied Lorelai as she pulled out another bag.
Delilah decided to go get her tea while her family talked.
"How's it going, Lila?" greeted Luke. "I think I saw your boyfriend and girlfriend walk by."
"Oh, thanks – what?" replied Delilah.
Luke laughed, "Just kidding. What did you need?"
"Green tea," said Delilah. "I made some strawberry muffins. Want one?"
"Sure," said Luke.
Delilah handed him a wrapped muffin and Luke handed her a cup. Delilah handed him the money, but Luke refused, "Consider your muffin as payment."
Delilah nodded and went back to the table, passing Lorelai on the way.
"Mom took my CD," Rory said.
Some guy wearing a brown flannel overcoat came up to the table, and Delilah looked at him, "I have never seen you around before."
"Yeah, I've never been here before," the guy said.
Lorelai walked up to the table, with a forced smile, "You have too."
"Busted," Delilah muttered under her breath as she took a drink of her tea.
The guy straightened up, "Oh, hi."
"You really like my table, don't you?" replied Lorelai.
"I was just, uh…" started the guy.
"Getting to know my daughters?" started Lorelai.
"Your…?" started the guy, looking at the two teenage girls in shock.
"Are you our new daddy?" asked Rory sweetly with a false smile.
"Wow," replied the guy looking stunned. "You do not look old enough to have two daughters."
Delilah arched an eyebrow as she drank her tea, waiting for this guy to keep burying himself deeper in that hole he dug.
"No, I mean," the guy continued, "And they do not look like daughters."
"That's sweet of you, thanks," said Lorelai.
"So…daughters," the guy said, "I am traveling with a friend…" He pointed to a blond haired man behind him.
"No," replied Delilah flatly, knowing where that was heading.
"They're both fifteen," said Lorelai.
"Bye," replied the guy quickly, leaving with his friend.
Delilah rolled her eyes as her sister and mother started laughing. "What a tool and a fool."
"Hey, guys, wait up!" called Delilah, catching up to her friends at the school. Her sister had to double back round to get her things.
Samantha had the most beautiful blue eyes that Delilah had ever seen and rocker-styled white blonde hair.
Matt, too, had beautiful blue eyes, and short dark hair.
"Hey there, Delilah," Matt greeted.
Samantha nodded in acknowledgement. She had a smile on her red glossed lips.
Delilah passed them the container of muffins, "Here. I gave one to Luke, so that's why one of them is missing."
"I would marry you, if it was legal," said Samantha. "Matt, you need to marry this girl before I do." Matt laughed.
'I think I saw your boyfriend and girlfriend walk by' Luke's words came to mind.
Delilah banished that to the side. That was a joke; he was just teasing her over how close they were.
Maybe that was why she didn't have lines of people waiting to ask her out; besides the fact that she's nerdy Rory's twin sister.
"Oh, please," said Delilah. "If I could, I would marry the both of you in a heart beat."
"If that was morally acceptable," replied Samantha with a smile.
Delilah put her arms around their shoulders. "I'm thinking a nice wedding in front of a nice lake. It'll be in spring. How do you both think about a nice blue wedding?"
Samantha laughed. "How about a nice plum color?"
"I'll look terrible in plum," said Matt.
"You look great in anything," said Samantha. Delilah nodded in agreement.
They walked in silence.
"Some man tried hitting on me and Rory," Delilah said to fill the silence.
"What? Who? I'll make him bleed," replied Matt angrily.
"I'll rip out his eyes," Samantha said.
"Its fine," said Delilah. "My mom made him leave when she told him that we're fifteen."
"Good," replied Samantha crossing her arms. She wore red nail polish.
Delilah looked at her nails. She painted her middle finger red, more to flip other girls off when they would eventually pass her red nail polish. It was hilarious to her and her friends.
"Here's the container back," said Matt, holding the now empty container to Delilah.
"Oh, thanks," replied Delilah, opening her backpack.
"I want to go to that," said Samantha.
"Go to what?" Matt asked.
"The hayride," replied Samantha, pointing at the flier. "It'll be fun." She gave them puppy-dog eyes.
Delilah felt herself crumble quicker than usual, "Fine, fine."
"Yeah," replied Matt. "I'll sit in between you two and we can snuggle."
It sounded nice when he put it like that.
"Agreed," said Samantha with a smile.
"I'll pack hot chocolate and we can split it," Delilah said. "I'll put a hit of vanilla in it since I know you two like vanilla."
Samantha and Matt looked at each other.
"She loves spoiling us," replied Samantha with a rather dreamy smile. "She'll be a good mother someday."
"She will be," said Matt with a smile of his own.
The way they smiled at her like that, made her blush.
It was from embarrassment.
That's at least what she tried to tell herself.
After school, they headed to Samantha's home, which was usually empty.
"My dad says that he'll be gone 'til six," Samantha said as she led them to the kitchen. "We can order pizza."
"How about your mother?" asked Matt.
"She's with Kathleen," said Samantha. "My mom won't be home 'til eight. What time do you both have to be back?"
Delilah shrugged, "Probably when Mom calls you."
"My mother would appreciate it if I never returned," Matt grumbled.
"What color do you want your cardboard box?" Delilah joked as she opened the fridge. She took out some sandwich meat and tomatoes.
"I have the good wine," said Samantha as she went down to the wine cellar.
"Only one bottle!" called Delilah. "I can't walk for crap when I'm drunk."
She still remembered falling on top of Samantha's chest when she was tipsy.
Samantha's parents really didn't care if they drank alcohol, since they figured that if it was treated as some forbidden thing, the teens wouldn't be tempted to drink every night. So, they were allowed alcohol, as long as they were responsible with it, and didn't get drunk every night.
Matt started on making popcorn.
"What movie do you guys want?" asked Samantha. "I'm thinking of something scary."
"Did you walk in on your parents having sex again?" joked Delilah.
Samantha groaned and rubbed her eyes, "Did you have to remind me? That was a nightmare. And my mom tried giving me the Talk afterwards, which was scarier."
Matt shuddered as Samantha grabbed some wine glasses.
"Where's Mom?" Delilah asked she walked in house. "I didn't see her in the lobby at the inn."
Rory had changed out of her large white sweater.
"I'm not sure," said Rory. "We're going to the inn's kitchen. We have no food here."
"What for?" asked Delilah, as she looked for a note in the kitchen that might have been left behind.
"Mrs. Kim made me and Lane eat sprouted wheat muffins," said Rory with a grimace. "I wish you could teach her how to make actual muffins."
"I would, but she hates me," said Delilah. "And what's sprouted wheat?"
"Not sure, but I don't want it again," said Rory.
They headed to Independence Inn and headed to the kitchen. Delilah waved at Michel as they passed by. Michel waved back at her.
"—we can finally have a mother-daughter relationship," Lorelai was saying.
"Oh good," said Sookie.
There was giggles.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Delilah confused.
"Yeah, Mom?" replied Rory, sounding confused.
It wasn't unusual seeing Lorelai look happy, but it was usually after she got laid or a boyfriend.
"Oh, girls!" Lorelai said, but it seemed like she couldn't stop smiling.
"You look happy," said Rory.
"Did you rob a bank or something?" asked Delilah.
"She probably did something slutty," Rory said to Delilah.
"I'm not that happy," Lorelai replied.
She and Sookie giggled some more.
"Here," said Lorelai handing Rory a gift bag.
"What's going on?" asked Rory, taking the bag.
"Why is everyone acting so weird?" asked Delilah.
"Open it," said Lorelai.
Rory took out a plaid skirt and asked, "We're going to be in a Britney Spears video?"
"The skirt's a little to long for Britney Spears though," Delilah pointed out.
"You're going to Chilton, Rory," said Sookie. Lorelai smacked Sookie's shoulder. "Oh, sorry."
Delilah felt like she was off-balance. Her sister. Going to Chilton. Without her.
It wasn't that she wanted to go to Chilton. She knew that she wasn't smart enough for it.
It was just that she was going to be stuck going to a public high school alone for two more years.
It was fine. Everything was fine. She had her two friends with her.
How can her mother afford it?
Lorelai and Rory hugged.
"Lila, I'm going to Chilton," said Rory.
Delilah hugged her. She was proud of her sister, sure, but it was going to be weird.
"Sookie, I'm going to Chilton," Rory said to the cook. They hugged too.
"I'll make cookies," said Sookie. "Protestants love oatmeal."
"I'll help," said Delilah.
Sookie nodded and went to get her an apron.
Rory and Lorelai left, with Rory saying something about how she had to call Lane, and Sookie started to sing and dance about how Rory was going to Chilton.
Sookie tossed the dish towel over her shoulder, but it landed on the stove, catching fire.
Delilah stared blankly at it, far used to Sookie's disastrous ways in the kitchen. Delilah practically grew up in the kitchen, watching Sookie and trying to learn her ways, because she was a brilliant chef, despite her being chaotic in the kitchen.
The other cook, Salvador, calmly went over to the now fire and put a lid on it to contain it.
"Where are you going dressed up for?" asked Lorelai.
Delilah looked at her dark blue pleated skirt with thermal gray tights and a black long-sleeved shirt. She even curled her brown hair and put in a red headband and she frowned at her reflection, knowing that she was missing something. "I was going on a hayride with Samantha and Matt."
"Sometimes I can't tell who you're trying to date," Lorelai joked.
"Neither," replied Delilah. "What am I missing?"
"Eyeliner and lip-gloss," said Lorelai. She held out her makeup bag.
"I'm not trying to date them," Delilah repeated as she took the makeup bag.
"You can wow someone there, then," said Lorelai with a smile.
The thought of impressing someone on the hayride kind of grossed Delilah out as she applied the vanilla lip-gloss
"You say as you apply lip-gloss that you love telling us that's of one of their favorite scents," replied Lorelai. "Don't forget, dinner is with your grandparents tomorrow night at seven. I talked to Fran at the bakery and she agreed to let you leave early."
"Why? There's no holiday this month," Delilah said confused. She only ate dinner with her grandparents on Christmas and Easter.
"I know," said Lorelai. She didn't look happy about it either. "It's just dinner." Delilah nodded and looked in the mirror again as she applied eyeliner. "I want you to have fun on your date."
"It's a hayride, not a date," replied Delilah.
"Whatever you say, Lila," said Lorelai.
Delilah went to leave the house.
"Kiss," replied Lorelai.
Delilah kissed her mother and went to leave the house.
"Have fun on your date," Rory joked, handing Delilah the thermos of hot chocolate.
"It's not a date," hissed Delilah as she went to the door.
"You say as you wore that outfit," replied Rory, pointedly eyeing the outfit.
Delilah glared at her twin as she left the house to meet up with her friends.
"Hey there, Delilah," Samantha greeted. She wore a light blue pleated skirt that she wore with black leggings and a gray long-sleeved shirt. She wore a denim jacket.
Matt wore regular jeans and a button down shirt over a white shirt. Oddly enough, it seemed like they over-dressed for a regular friendly outing. Maybe she was being paranoid over the whole 'enjoy your date' her family threw at her. To be fair her friends looked good.
"I can't believe that you're going to Chilton," said Samantha sadly.
"Just Rory," replied Delilah.
"Why her and not you?" asked Matt.
"I'm not smart enough for that's school, and it's expensive," replied Delilah. "I saw the tuition fee. There's so much zeros that I almost fainted. I don't know how she's going to afford it." She really didn't.
"Hey, Lila," said Lane, Rory's friend.
Lane was with two Korean boys and she looked miserable.
"Hey, Lane, what brings you to the hayride?" Delilah asked confused.
"My mother," Lane replied.
"Of course," muttered Delilah.
They boarded the hayride wagon.
Delilah and her friends got near the front. Samantha nearly fell off, but Delilah grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. Samantha sat down and Matt sat down in the middle like he had promised. The two scooted close to him for warmth. It was oddly nice.
"Can I have the thermos?" asked Samantha.
Delilah passed it to her and Samantha uncapped it.
It was a pleasant night, really. Just her and her two favorite people taking a nice stroll through the night on a hayride…with Lane and her two friends…and with a bunch of other people…. It was nice and oddly romantic.
Banish that thought; banish that thought…Delilah thought.
She looked over and Samantha had rested her head on his shoulder. Matt put one arm around Samantha's waist, so Delilah scooted closer to him and Matt put his other arm over her shoulders.
They passed by the diner and Delilah saw her mother and sister leaving. Things looked tense, so they must have argued about something. What could they have argued about though?
No. It was some 'me time'. She had to let all her worries go.
"Can I have the thermos?" asked Delilah.
Samantha passed it Delilah, who uncapped it, and took a drink. "Do you want some, Matt?"
Matt took his arms off the girls and grabbed the thermos.
Delilah instantly missed Matt's arm and from the slight whimper Samantha made, she missed it too.
"You, explain this guy to me, that Rory's into," said Lorelai as soon as Delilah walked inside the house. A Macy Gray CD was playing.
Delilah had to think about it. "I think his name is Dean. He's new here. He wears a leather jacket and he's in my math class."
"Okay, does he drive a motorcycle? Does he have any tattoos?" asked Lorelai.
"No and not any that I could see," replied Delilah. "Wait. Is this why you both left the diner brooding?"
"How did you know that?" asked Lorelai.
"I was on the hayride, like I said. Lane was there with her date and a chaperone. They looked miserable as hell," replied Delilah. "Do you want me to go talk to her?"
"No," said Lorelai. "Give her some space."
Delilah nodded and went to her room.
They stood on the porch of their grandparents' home.
Delilah wore her nice white floral dress with black fleece tights and white Mary-Jane shoes.
It was awkward, especially since it wasn't even a holiday.
Delilah knew that it was because her mother had been a teen mom and left home at seventeen to raise them alone.
Things were awkward because Rory and Lorelai were still snipping at each other.
"So, do we go in or do we stand here reenacting Little Match Girl?" asked Rory.
Lorelai looked at Rory, "Look, I know you and me are having a thing here and I know you hate me, but I need you to be civil, at least through dinner, and then on the way home, you can pull a Menendez. Deal?"
Rory replied, "Fine."
Lorelai rang the door and Emily opened the door.
"Hi, Grandma," Rory and Delilah said in unison.
"Well, you're right on time," said Emily.
"Yeah, yeah, no traffic at all," said Lorelai as they walked in.
Emily took the overcoats from Rory and Lorelai, and put them on a coat-rack.
"I can't tell you what a treat it is to have you girls here," Emily said.
"Oh, well, we're excited, too," said Lorelai.
"Is that a collector's cup or can I throw it away for you?" asked Emily.
"Oh," said Lorelai like she realized she was still holding the cup and went to throw it away in the wastebasket.
"In the kitchen, please," said Emily. She turned her attention to Rory, "So, I want to hear all about Chilton."
"Well, I haven't actually started yet," Rory said.
Delilah rolled her eyes. It seemed like everyone focused on Rory, but it was fine. It saved her the trouble on talking about herself.
They headed to the living room, where Richard was reading the newspaper.
"Richard, look who's here," said Emily.
"Rory, you're tall," said Richard.
"I guess," said Rory.
"Well, what's your height?" asked Richard.
"Five-foot-seven," said Rory.
"How about you, Lila?" asked Richard.
"Five-foot-six," said Delilah.
"Five-foot-seven is tall, you're tall. Five-foot-six is about average but still tall," said Richard.
Delilah nearly pouted at being called average, but that basically summed up her entire life. Average.
Lorelai walked in, "Hi, Dad."
Richard said, "Lorelai, Rory's tall."
"Oh, I know," said Lorelai. "It's freakish, we're thinking of having Rory studied at M.I.T.."
Delilah grimaced at that.
"Ah," said Richard. "Lila is average height, though." He returned to his paper.
"Champagne, anyone?" asked Emily, holding a tray of champagne flutes.
"Oh, that's fancy," said Lorelai, taking a champagne flute.
Delilah took a champagne flute too.
"Well, it's not every day that I have my girls here for dinner on a day the banks are open," said Emily. "A toast – to Rory entering Chilton and an exciting new phase in her life."
"Here, here," said Richard holding his glass up.
Delilah downed her champagne, because she needed the entire boost she can get to make it through the dinner.
At least she wasn't in the spotlight.
"Well, let's sit everyone," said Emily. Delilah set her empty glass on the tray and sat next to her sister.
Her mind seemed a little foggy due to the alcohol.
"This is just wonderful," said Emily. "An education is the most important thing in the world, next to family."
"And pie," Lorelai blurted out. Delilah looked at her mother confused, "Joke, joke."
"Ah," said Emily.
"Rory, dear, can you please pass this to Lila?" asked Richard, handing a section of the newspaper to Rory, without looking up.
Rory looked confused and passed it to Delilah.
"Ooh, the comics." Delilah said delighted that her grandfather remembered that she liked reading them.
After an hour has passed, they made their way to the dining room where dinner was served. Delilah took the spot next to Rory.
Emily asked, "Rory, Lila, how do you both like the lamb?"
"It's good," said Rory.
"Too dry?" asked Emily.
"No, it's perfect," said Rory.
"The potatoes could use a little salt, though," Lorelai interjected.
Delilah guessed she was the black sheep of the family. She wasn't the one going to Chilton, so she was basically an afterthought, apparently; the average girl with the average dream of owning a chain of bakeries.
"Excuse me?" asked Emily affronted.
"So, Grandpa, how's the insurance biz?" asked Rory.
"Oh, people die, we pay. People crash cars, we pay. People lose a foot, we pay," said Richard.
Delilah took a mouthful of potatoes to stifle a laugh.
"Well, at least you have your new slogan," said Lorelai.
"And how are things at the motel?" asked Richard.
"The inn?" asked Lorelai, "They're great."
"Lorelai's the executive manager now," said Emily. "Isn't that wonderful?"
"Speaking of which, Christopher called yesterday," said Richard.
"'Speaking of which?' How is that a speaking of which?" asked Lorelai.
Delilah considered asking for wine, because she knew that some kind of argument was coming. She wondered how they could fight over everything. She nudged Rory's arm. Rory looked at her and Delilah rolled her eyes.
Rory gave a slight nod, because she knew what that meant.
Dinner was basically over now.
"He's doing very well in California. His Internet start-up goes public next month. This could mean big things for him." Richard spoke to Rory and Delilah, "Very talented man, your father."
"They know," said Lorelai said.
Richard said, "He always was a smart one, that boy." He spoke to the twins, "You two must take after him."
Delilah grimaced. That was a low blow. Her mother was smart. She started off as a maid and worked her way up, despite having no knowledge of how to manage a business, before successfully running the inn. Her mother took care of them on her own, with a little help sure. And why were they trashing her mother's smarts? Because she accidentally got pregnant at sixteen?
Before Delilah can voice that, her mother said, "Speaking of which, I'm gonna get a Coke. Or a knife." She stormed out the dining room into the kitchen.
Rory and Delilah looked at each other and then moved to get up.
Rory said, "We should go talk to her."
"No, I'll go. You both stay and keep your grandfather company," said Emily.
Delilah sat down in her seat and slumped down.
"Don't slouch, you'll get a crooked spine," said Richard.
Delilah sat up straighter.
"The wrong way? How could I have taken it the wrong way? Even Lila took it the wrong way. I saw the look on her face and she rarely gets angry," said Lorelai, her voice rising.
Delilah looked at Rory confused. She looked mad? Rory nodded, easily reading the silent question.
"Keep your voice down," said Emily.
What else was said, Delilah couldn't make out.
"Why would he bring up Christopher? Was that really necessary?" asked Lorelai.
"He likes Christopher," replied Emily.
"Isn't that interesting? Because, as I remember, when Christopher got me pregnant, Dad didn't like him so much," said Lorelai.
Emily responded, "Oh, well please, you were sixteen. What were we supposed to do – throw you a party? We were disappointed. The two of you had such bright futures."
"Yes, and by not getting married, we got to keep those bright futures," Lorelai countered.
"When you get pregnant, you get married. A child needs a mother and a father," said Emily.
"Oh, Mom," started Lorelai, "Do you think that Christopher would have his own company right now if we'd gotten married? Do you think he would be anything at all?"
"Yes, I do," said Emily. "Your father would have put him in the insurance business and you'd be living a lovely life right now."
"He didn't want to be in the insurance business and I am living a lovely life right now," said Lorelai.
"That's right, far away from us," said Emily.
"Oh, here we go," Lorelai started.
"You took those girls and completely shut us out of you life," said Emily.
"You wanted to control me," responded Lorelai.
"You were still a child," countered Emily.
"I stopped being a child the minute the strip turned pink, okay? I had to figure out how to live. I found a good job," said Lorelai.
"As a maid, with all your brains and talent," replied Emily.
"I worked my way up. I run the place now. I built a life on my own with no help from anyone," said Lorelai.
"Yes, and think of where you would have been if you'd accepted a little help, hmm? And where the girls would have been. But no, you were always too proud to accept anything from anyone," replied Emily.
"Well, I wasn't too proud to come here to you two begging for money for Rory's school, was I?" replied Lorelai.
Rory turned her head to the side, obviously overhearing that.
Now it made sense how Lorelai was suddenly able to afford the school.
"No, you certainly weren't. But you're too proud to let them know where you got it from, aren't you? Well, fine, you have your precious pride and I have my weekly dinners. Isn't that nice? We both win," said Emily.
Delilah looked at Richard, who had fallen asleep in his chair a few minutes after the argument started.
Lorelai left the kitchen, "Come on you two. We're going home."
Delilah nodded and they got up following after Lorelai. Delilah said a goodbye to her grandmother, who still seemed a little smug for Delilah's liking.
Lorelai and Rory got their coats on and left the home. Lorelai sighed deeply and leaned against the outside wall.
"Are you okay, Mom? That argument sounded intense," Delilah said.
Rory nodded in agreement.
Lorelai said, "I'm okay. I just…do I look shorter? 'Cause I feel shorter."
"Hey, how 'bout I but you a cup of coffee?" asked Rory.
"Oh, yeah," Lorelai said. "One of you drive, though, okay, 'cause I don't think my feet will reach the pedals."
"You drive, Rory," said Delilah. "I don't like driving in the dark."
Rory nodded and Lorelai handed her the car keys.
They walked towards Luke's Diner,
"So, nice dinner at the grandparents' house," said Rory.
"Oh, yeah, her dishes have never been cleaner," said Lorelai.
"That must've been some talk you and Grandma had, if it made you angry wash her dishes," said Delilah.
"How much did you both hear?" asked Lorelai.
"Not much," replied Rory. "You know…snippets."
"Snippets?" prompted Lorelai.
"Basically the whole enchilada," said Delilah.
Lorelai started, "Well, the best laid plans…"
"Are paved with good intentions?" finished Delilah as they walked in the diner and went to a table.
"It's 'the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry,'" Rory corrected.
"Shut up, nerd," replied Delilah jokingly.
"Anyway, I think it was really brave of you to ask them for money," Rory said.
"Oh, I so do not want to talk about it," replied Lorelai.
"How many meals is it gonna take 'til we're off the hook?" asked Rory.
"I think the deli spread at my funeral will be the last one," said Lorelai.
Delilah didn't want to think of her mother dying. She frowned, "Are you saying that you'll go to Chilton?"
"Can't let a perfectly good plaid skirt go to waste," said Rory.
"Actually, Samantha would add lace to it and shorten it down a little, if you gave it to her," said Delilah.
"How can I forget that Samantha is some kind of fashion designer and makes her own clothes?" replied Rory.
She was still probably sore over Samantha poking and prodding at Rory's clothing choices and offering to 'fix' it for her.
"Anyway, you won't be sorry," said Lorelai.
Luke walked up to the table wearing a button-down shirt.
"Were you on some kind of date?" asked Delilah. She was always under the impression that Luke had a crush on her mother.
"Well, he looks nice," said Lorelai slyly checking him out, "Really nice."
"I had a meeting earlier at the bank. They like collars. You look nice, too," said Luke.
"I had a flagellation to go to," said Lorelai.
"So, what'll you have?" asked Luke.
"Coffee, in a vat," said Lorelai.
"I'll have coffee also, and chili fries," said Rory.
"I'll just take a regular soda and that cheesecake that you have," said Delilah.
"That's quite a refined palate you got there," replied Luke, before walking away.
"Behold the healing powers of a bath," said Lorelai in a stunned sort of way. "So, Rory, tell me about the guy."
"You know what's really special about our relationship? The total understanding about the need for one's privacy," said Rory. "I mean, you really understand boundaries. And why don't you get after Lila about the guys she dates?"
"I dated one guy and he dumped me after a week because he was couldn't figure out how to integrate himself in our friendship with Samantha and Matt," said Delilah. "What a shame. We really liked him too."
"So, tell me about the guy," said Lorelai.
"Mom!" exclaimed Rory.
"Is he dreamy?" asked Lorelai.
"Oh, that's so Nick at Nite," replied Rory.
"Well, I'm gonna find out anyway," Lorelai said.
"Really? How?" asked Rory.
"Lila, so tell me about Rory's guy," said Lorelai.
"He has light brown hair," said Delilah. Rory stepped on her foot. "Ow! I think he's looking for a job." Rory flicked her on the ear. "Hey! Stop it, Miss Violence!"
Luke returned with two mugs, "Coffee. Fries. Cheesecake. Soda. I can't stand it. This is so unhealthy. Rory, please, put down that cup of coffee. You do not want to grow up to be like your mom."
"Sorry," replied Rory with a grin, "Too late."
Rory and Lorelai smiled at each other, as Luke walked away.
"So, Lila, tell me more about this guy," prompted Lorelai, looking at the youngest twin with a teasing smile.
Delilah opened her mouth to say something.
"Lila, keep your mouth shut," said Rory. She called, "Check please."
"No, really, are you embarrassed to bring him home?" asked Lorelai looking at Rory.
"I'm not embarrassed," said Rory.
"Does he talk at all?" asked Lorelai.
"No, Mom. He's a mime," Rory replied.