Rory heard her mother's groan with some alarm.
"Are you okay?"
"Well, I'm very concerned over the situation in Iraq but otherwise, I'm fine."
"Do you want something to eat?"
"What have we got?"
"Um... Lima bean casserole?" offered Rory.
Lorelai groaned again.
"No really, I know it sounds gross, but it's not, there's—"
"If you say 'just something about it,' I will scream." Lorelai told her.
"I was going to say 'there's plenty left and it's really surprisingly good.'"
"Oh, well that's hard to believe but, okay then. I'm holding you personally responsible though."
"Noted."
"Um... Rory... When do you leave for the diner?"
"In about half an hour."
Lorelai began worrying the sheet edge. "Is Luke working tonight?" she finally asked.
Rory looked at her mother sympathetically, "Uh... his hours haven't been real consistent lately..."
"Oh."
"I'm worried about him."
Lorelai sighed, "I know, me too kid." She looked up at Rory sadly.
"Mom, he came in last night looking awful and made a phone call and then just hung up... And, the weird thing was that Kirk was with him! And his suit was all covered in grass, Luke's that is, not Kirk's... And then he sent me home. Said he didn't think you were feeling too well. Then Lane called me this morning at the paper and said that after I left, he and Kirk just sat at the counter drinking coffee without talking—Coffee! Luke doesn't drink coffee. And then he left Lane a twenty dollar tip and just went upstairs without saying a word."
"Oh boy. And what did Kirk do?"
"Lane said he followed him upstairs and then came back down mumbling something about brotherhood..."
"Brotherhood?" asked Lorelai, wide-eyed.
"Weird, huh?"
"Very," said Lorelai in consternation.
"Mom, what is going on?"
"Luke is having a hard time, honey. Last night he transformed into the Kubler-Ross of all Supermen and leapt from Denial to Anger in a single bound. And God only knows what stage he's at right now.... Probably whichever one involves communing at Home Depot..." she sighed.
"Okay, I am going to interpret that to mean that he is worried about you and has been compulsively building things to avoid dealing with it," assessed Rory.
"You are correct, sir! He has been the busiest of beavers..." Lorelai paused. "Honey, he had to watch me go in the ambulance..."
Rory's blue eyes filled, "Oh, poor Luke."
Lorelai nodded "I don't know what to do for him, Rory."
"You'll figure it out. Luke's... well, he should be in here... with us somehow."
"You're a good kid," said Lorelai looking at her daughter. "What about you? How are you doing?"
Rory shrugged, "I'm sad and I'm worried, but I like working. Working helps."
"It sure can," Lorelai acknowledged. "You know I love you right?"
Rory nodded.
"And this sucks, but here it is. Once I get through the next Tilt Table test maybe we can figure things out a little better, but... We'll just deal, okay? That's what families do. Because I'm not going any where. You know that, right?"
"Yes, not only do I take your word for that, but I have done extensive research to verify it as well. I find research very comforting."
"Well, that's my little professor," smiled Lorelai thinly. "Rory, do we need to talk about Dean?"
Rory looked down at the book in her hands. "He said he still loves me. In the letter," she said quietly.
"Oh. How do you feel about that?"
"I don't know. I love him too, you know? I always will, I think, but this... We just have to be in really different places right now."
Lorelai nodded in understanding.
"Man, being an adult sucks," grumped Rory then.
"Yeah, we've got taxes and all that personal responsibility stuff, not to mention dealing with unresolved emotional issues but, then again, to balance it out, we get to drink."
"Right," nodded Rory. "So I'll go warm up some casserole for you before I go."
"Thanks."
"Do you want me to say something to Luke for you tonight, Mom?"
"No."
"Because, I will... I know you hate being stuck at home, and if I can help, I want to."
"I know you do, honey, and that's great of you, but I don't want to put you in the middle of anything," said Lorelai.
"All right."
"But maybe..."
"Yes?"
"Just tell him not to drink any more coffee, it isn't good for him," said Lorelai thoughtfully.
"Okay. Will do," Rory smiled.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Later that night Lorelai sat up and picked up the phone on impulse. It rang several times before Luke answered.
"Hey," she said, "I hope I didn't wake you."
"Lorelai?" he said in surprise, "No, didn't wake me. I just didn't want to answer. I was afraid it was Kirk calling to check on me again," he sighed.
"Well, I'm glad you decided to... answer, that is.." Lorelai laughed a little nervously.
"Me too."
They paused uncomfortably.
"So, I hear you're turning into a coffee fiend."
"Hardly. I only had a cup."
"That's how it starts, my friend," said Lorelai wisely.
They paused again.
"Lorelai, I'm sorry.." began Luke.
"Oh no, no.."
"But I am. I just don't want you to think..."
"Yes?"
"I just don't want you to think that I feel anything.. less... for you..." he told her.
"I--" she tried.
"Because, I don't... feel less, I mean..."
"Good."
"If anything, I feel more..."
"Because I have a heart condition?"
"No. I just... I'm not saying this right. I've been an ass. And I don't know why."
"Because you're scared, Luke. So am I." Lorelai explained simply.
"Yeah, well it sucks," he told her.
"I know," she agreed. "Sex is much better," she reflected lightly.
They paused at that.
"Luke, I'm still me," she reminded him gently.
"I know."
"But... I don't know if I can ask you to... take me on now..." she went on.
"Lorelai..."
"But, I don't want to lose you." She felt the tell-tale stinging in her eyes.
"You won't and there's only one way I can have you now, anyway. I wouldn't know how to go back. I don't want to go back," he said definitively.
"Oh Luke, I don't want you to be Mr. Noble."
"I'm not being Mr. Noble."
She felt herself really losing it now. "Okay. Well, listen, I'm tired..."
"Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
"I'm fine. I'm just tired," she sighed.
"But are you sure you're okay? I mean... are you dizzy or anything?"
"No Luke, I'm not dizzy. I'm sad and frustrated and stuck at home, when my whole life is.. Out there... Someplace else!..."she said in exasperation.
"I wish I could..."
"I know. You've got to just trust me to tell you the truth about... things. About how I'm feeling and stuff. I don't want you to constantly be at Defcon Red..."
"Well, I don't know if that's possible!"
"Well then, we've got a problem."
He didn't respond to that.
"Look Luke, I'm going to sleep now. You get some rest too."
"Lorelai, it's not fair to expect me to just treat you the same now, as if nothing's changed!"
"Well, then I'm not being fair!" she cranked.
"Lorelai..."
"I'm really tired, Luke."
"All right," he sighed in frustration.
"Goodnight, Luke."
"Lorelai?"
"Yes?"
He paused.
"Goodnight."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Good Morning, Lorelai!" called Emily cheerfully as she came in carrying a tray.
"Well Good Morning, Mary Sunshine," said Lorelai with an arched brow.
"How are you feeling today?" Emily asked pleasantly as Lorelai sat up and took the breakfast tray from her.
"Better and, did I just wake up in an episode of 'Upstairs, Downstairs'?"
"I don't think so," smiled Emily as she smoothed the sheets.
"Mom," said Lorelai as she looked down at her plate, "This is Luke's food, and his coffee," she said with a sip.
"Yes, he just dropped it off a little while ago."
Lorelai sat the tray down then and got out of bed to look out the window. Looking down, she saw the hammock was now fully set up and not looking at all like it had been a defenseless victim of a random beating.
"How did he seem?" asked Lorelai casually as she sat back down to eat.
"He seemed... serious," said Emily knowingly. "Oh."
Emily turned to leave then, but quickly turned back. "Oh, he asked me to deliver a message to you."
"He did?" Lorelai looked up.
"Didn't quite make sense to me, but he was very specific about it."
"Oh?" Lorelai felt her heart race a little (that had to be good, right?)
"Yes, he said I should look you in the eye, and say for him," Emily looked her in the eye then, "I was Very Wrong and am Very Very Sorry."
Lorelai stared at her, speechless.
"I invited him in to tell you himself. But he said you would enjoy it more if you heard me say it. Whatever that means. Nevertheless, I have now fulfilled my duty." Emily scooped up a handful of laundry then and turned to leave, before turning back once more, "Was he wrong about something, Lorelai?" she asked.
"Uh..." Lorelai stammered out of her stupor, "Um, not really."
"Hmm," reflected Emily, "Smart man then." And she left to go to the laundry room.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"...So dear, you know I'm no cook, but I had to bring something and this seemed the best form of entertainment for the bed-ridden I could bring," winked Miss Patty from the bedside chair later that morning.
Lorelai looked down in some amusement at the stack of Playgirl magazines in her lap. "Well, that was very.... thoughtful... of you, Patty."
"I think I shocked your mother though, darling," she stage-whispered to Lorelai
"Nonsense," said Emily airily as she entered the room. "I was a bit... surprised, perhaps.... but," she straightened her shoulders, "I am a Mayflower decedent, after all."
"What's that got to with anything, Mom?" asked Lorelai in confusion.
"Lorelai, if the early colonists could face famine and disease and winter in burlap, I can certainly deal with a few... magazines... in the house."
Patty and Lorelai exchanged a look over that. "Okay..." said Lorelai doubtfully. "You are pretty damn cool, Mom."
"Now, could I get you and your guest some ice tea?" asked Emily sunnily.
"Oh, that would be lovely," enthused Patty.
"Sure... Thanks, Mom," said Lorelai as she watched her mother go. "I don't know what's come over her, Patty. She's not normally so... agreeable. Insane, yes. Agreeable, no." mused Lorelai.
"Oh honey, it's perfectly clear to a woman of the world," commented Patty as she fanned herself knowingly.
"It is?"
"Darling, she has the glow."
"The glow?" Lorelai knit her brows over this.
"The glow..." said Patty meaningfully.
"Oh!" exclaimed Lorelai, the bulb lit, "The glow! Huh... Really?"
"Sweetheart, she's radioactive. Just open your eyes."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::
"There now. Don't you feel better after a nice shower and all dressed?" asked Emily later.
"Yeah, I do," admitted Lorelai as she helped her mother change the sheets. "So, Mom, Miss Patty thought maybe you were.. Um... in love... or something."
"Really?" Emily smiled to herself as she shook a pillow out of its case. "What a curious woman."
"Yes, she thought you might have been having... romantic... liaisons... or something," shared Lorelai in all innocence as she folded the quilt.
"Did she?"
"Yes, she did....And--Well...?"
"Well what, Lorelai?" asked Emily.
"Have you?"
"That's none of your business, young lady," snapped Emily as she collected the sheets and marched to the door. "And, yes... as a matter of fact, I have," she threw over her shoulder before leaving the room.
Lorelai only had a moment to digest that before she heard the door open and close downstairs and then Rory hurry up the stairs.
"Oh good, you're dressed!" she smiled when she came in, "Good job, Grandma!" Rory called over her shoulder then.
"Excuse me, but I have been dressing myself for years now," Lorelai told her.
"I know. I know. Now, come on... Oh, my God, are those Playgirl magazines?" laughed Rory.
"Come on where?" asked Lorelai as she ushered her daughter out of the room and down the stairs.
Rory handed her mother her purse when they reached the hall, "We are going on a doctor-approved field trip."
"We are?" said Lorelai in some excitement. "Where?"
"That I cannot tell you. Come on, Grandma!" she called up the stairs.
"Coming! Coming!" said Emily hurrying down to meet them.
"You were in on this?" Lorelai asked her mother.
Emily smiled.
"Come on, Mom."
"But where are we going?" whined Lorelai as they headed out to Emily's car. "And why aren't you at work?" she asked suspiciously. "Plagiarism?"
"Nope," said Rory "Just good old fashioned yellow journalism: I am creating the story I am going to cover."
"Ooo! Intrigue! Hey, since when do they let fact-checkers cover stories?"
"Since they learned to stage-manage them, themselves."
"Useful," observed Lorelai.
And they were on their way—Lorelai getting no answers to her persistent questions en route.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Here we are!" called Emily happily as she pulled into the drive of The Dragonfly.
"We're at the Inn?"
"Yes, we are," smiled Rory as she pulled her mother out of the car.
"Oh, hello beautiful Inn!" called Lorelai, "I've missed you so much!"
"Come on, Mom, they're all in the back!"
"Who?" laughed Lorelai as Emily and Rory each took one of her arms and pulled her around the building.
"Ooo! Did The Bangles reunite again? Are The Bangles here?"
"Who are The Bangles?" asked Emily.
"It's not The Bangles," said Rory.
"Well, have you reunited any of my favorite disbanded groups?"
"No."
"Well, what then?" They were stopped on the back porch now.
"Look for yourself!" smiled Rory.
"Are you okay?"
"Well, I'm very concerned over the situation in Iraq but otherwise, I'm fine."
"Do you want something to eat?"
"What have we got?"
"Um... Lima bean casserole?" offered Rory.
Lorelai groaned again.
"No really, I know it sounds gross, but it's not, there's—"
"If you say 'just something about it,' I will scream." Lorelai told her.
"I was going to say 'there's plenty left and it's really surprisingly good.'"
"Oh, well that's hard to believe but, okay then. I'm holding you personally responsible though."
"Noted."
"Um... Rory... When do you leave for the diner?"
"In about half an hour."
Lorelai began worrying the sheet edge. "Is Luke working tonight?" she finally asked.
Rory looked at her mother sympathetically, "Uh... his hours haven't been real consistent lately..."
"Oh."
"I'm worried about him."
Lorelai sighed, "I know, me too kid." She looked up at Rory sadly.
"Mom, he came in last night looking awful and made a phone call and then just hung up... And, the weird thing was that Kirk was with him! And his suit was all covered in grass, Luke's that is, not Kirk's... And then he sent me home. Said he didn't think you were feeling too well. Then Lane called me this morning at the paper and said that after I left, he and Kirk just sat at the counter drinking coffee without talking—Coffee! Luke doesn't drink coffee. And then he left Lane a twenty dollar tip and just went upstairs without saying a word."
"Oh boy. And what did Kirk do?"
"Lane said he followed him upstairs and then came back down mumbling something about brotherhood..."
"Brotherhood?" asked Lorelai, wide-eyed.
"Weird, huh?"
"Very," said Lorelai in consternation.
"Mom, what is going on?"
"Luke is having a hard time, honey. Last night he transformed into the Kubler-Ross of all Supermen and leapt from Denial to Anger in a single bound. And God only knows what stage he's at right now.... Probably whichever one involves communing at Home Depot..." she sighed.
"Okay, I am going to interpret that to mean that he is worried about you and has been compulsively building things to avoid dealing with it," assessed Rory.
"You are correct, sir! He has been the busiest of beavers..." Lorelai paused. "Honey, he had to watch me go in the ambulance..."
Rory's blue eyes filled, "Oh, poor Luke."
Lorelai nodded "I don't know what to do for him, Rory."
"You'll figure it out. Luke's... well, he should be in here... with us somehow."
"You're a good kid," said Lorelai looking at her daughter. "What about you? How are you doing?"
Rory shrugged, "I'm sad and I'm worried, but I like working. Working helps."
"It sure can," Lorelai acknowledged. "You know I love you right?"
Rory nodded.
"And this sucks, but here it is. Once I get through the next Tilt Table test maybe we can figure things out a little better, but... We'll just deal, okay? That's what families do. Because I'm not going any where. You know that, right?"
"Yes, not only do I take your word for that, but I have done extensive research to verify it as well. I find research very comforting."
"Well, that's my little professor," smiled Lorelai thinly. "Rory, do we need to talk about Dean?"
Rory looked down at the book in her hands. "He said he still loves me. In the letter," she said quietly.
"Oh. How do you feel about that?"
"I don't know. I love him too, you know? I always will, I think, but this... We just have to be in really different places right now."
Lorelai nodded in understanding.
"Man, being an adult sucks," grumped Rory then.
"Yeah, we've got taxes and all that personal responsibility stuff, not to mention dealing with unresolved emotional issues but, then again, to balance it out, we get to drink."
"Right," nodded Rory. "So I'll go warm up some casserole for you before I go."
"Thanks."
"Do you want me to say something to Luke for you tonight, Mom?"
"No."
"Because, I will... I know you hate being stuck at home, and if I can help, I want to."
"I know you do, honey, and that's great of you, but I don't want to put you in the middle of anything," said Lorelai.
"All right."
"But maybe..."
"Yes?"
"Just tell him not to drink any more coffee, it isn't good for him," said Lorelai thoughtfully.
"Okay. Will do," Rory smiled.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Later that night Lorelai sat up and picked up the phone on impulse. It rang several times before Luke answered.
"Hey," she said, "I hope I didn't wake you."
"Lorelai?" he said in surprise, "No, didn't wake me. I just didn't want to answer. I was afraid it was Kirk calling to check on me again," he sighed.
"Well, I'm glad you decided to... answer, that is.." Lorelai laughed a little nervously.
"Me too."
They paused uncomfortably.
"So, I hear you're turning into a coffee fiend."
"Hardly. I only had a cup."
"That's how it starts, my friend," said Lorelai wisely.
They paused again.
"Lorelai, I'm sorry.." began Luke.
"Oh no, no.."
"But I am. I just don't want you to think..."
"Yes?"
"I just don't want you to think that I feel anything.. less... for you..." he told her.
"I--" she tried.
"Because, I don't... feel less, I mean..."
"Good."
"If anything, I feel more..."
"Because I have a heart condition?"
"No. I just... I'm not saying this right. I've been an ass. And I don't know why."
"Because you're scared, Luke. So am I." Lorelai explained simply.
"Yeah, well it sucks," he told her.
"I know," she agreed. "Sex is much better," she reflected lightly.
They paused at that.
"Luke, I'm still me," she reminded him gently.
"I know."
"But... I don't know if I can ask you to... take me on now..." she went on.
"Lorelai..."
"But, I don't want to lose you." She felt the tell-tale stinging in her eyes.
"You won't and there's only one way I can have you now, anyway. I wouldn't know how to go back. I don't want to go back," he said definitively.
"Oh Luke, I don't want you to be Mr. Noble."
"I'm not being Mr. Noble."
She felt herself really losing it now. "Okay. Well, listen, I'm tired..."
"Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
"I'm fine. I'm just tired," she sighed.
"But are you sure you're okay? I mean... are you dizzy or anything?"
"No Luke, I'm not dizzy. I'm sad and frustrated and stuck at home, when my whole life is.. Out there... Someplace else!..."she said in exasperation.
"I wish I could..."
"I know. You've got to just trust me to tell you the truth about... things. About how I'm feeling and stuff. I don't want you to constantly be at Defcon Red..."
"Well, I don't know if that's possible!"
"Well then, we've got a problem."
He didn't respond to that.
"Look Luke, I'm going to sleep now. You get some rest too."
"Lorelai, it's not fair to expect me to just treat you the same now, as if nothing's changed!"
"Well, then I'm not being fair!" she cranked.
"Lorelai..."
"I'm really tired, Luke."
"All right," he sighed in frustration.
"Goodnight, Luke."
"Lorelai?"
"Yes?"
He paused.
"Goodnight."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Good Morning, Lorelai!" called Emily cheerfully as she came in carrying a tray.
"Well Good Morning, Mary Sunshine," said Lorelai with an arched brow.
"How are you feeling today?" Emily asked pleasantly as Lorelai sat up and took the breakfast tray from her.
"Better and, did I just wake up in an episode of 'Upstairs, Downstairs'?"
"I don't think so," smiled Emily as she smoothed the sheets.
"Mom," said Lorelai as she looked down at her plate, "This is Luke's food, and his coffee," she said with a sip.
"Yes, he just dropped it off a little while ago."
Lorelai sat the tray down then and got out of bed to look out the window. Looking down, she saw the hammock was now fully set up and not looking at all like it had been a defenseless victim of a random beating.
"How did he seem?" asked Lorelai casually as she sat back down to eat.
"He seemed... serious," said Emily knowingly. "Oh."
Emily turned to leave then, but quickly turned back. "Oh, he asked me to deliver a message to you."
"He did?" Lorelai looked up.
"Didn't quite make sense to me, but he was very specific about it."
"Oh?" Lorelai felt her heart race a little (that had to be good, right?)
"Yes, he said I should look you in the eye, and say for him," Emily looked her in the eye then, "I was Very Wrong and am Very Very Sorry."
Lorelai stared at her, speechless.
"I invited him in to tell you himself. But he said you would enjoy it more if you heard me say it. Whatever that means. Nevertheless, I have now fulfilled my duty." Emily scooped up a handful of laundry then and turned to leave, before turning back once more, "Was he wrong about something, Lorelai?" she asked.
"Uh..." Lorelai stammered out of her stupor, "Um, not really."
"Hmm," reflected Emily, "Smart man then." And she left to go to the laundry room.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"...So dear, you know I'm no cook, but I had to bring something and this seemed the best form of entertainment for the bed-ridden I could bring," winked Miss Patty from the bedside chair later that morning.
Lorelai looked down in some amusement at the stack of Playgirl magazines in her lap. "Well, that was very.... thoughtful... of you, Patty."
"I think I shocked your mother though, darling," she stage-whispered to Lorelai
"Nonsense," said Emily airily as she entered the room. "I was a bit... surprised, perhaps.... but," she straightened her shoulders, "I am a Mayflower decedent, after all."
"What's that got to with anything, Mom?" asked Lorelai in confusion.
"Lorelai, if the early colonists could face famine and disease and winter in burlap, I can certainly deal with a few... magazines... in the house."
Patty and Lorelai exchanged a look over that. "Okay..." said Lorelai doubtfully. "You are pretty damn cool, Mom."
"Now, could I get you and your guest some ice tea?" asked Emily sunnily.
"Oh, that would be lovely," enthused Patty.
"Sure... Thanks, Mom," said Lorelai as she watched her mother go. "I don't know what's come over her, Patty. She's not normally so... agreeable. Insane, yes. Agreeable, no." mused Lorelai.
"Oh honey, it's perfectly clear to a woman of the world," commented Patty as she fanned herself knowingly.
"It is?"
"Darling, she has the glow."
"The glow?" Lorelai knit her brows over this.
"The glow..." said Patty meaningfully.
"Oh!" exclaimed Lorelai, the bulb lit, "The glow! Huh... Really?"
"Sweetheart, she's radioactive. Just open your eyes."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::
"There now. Don't you feel better after a nice shower and all dressed?" asked Emily later.
"Yeah, I do," admitted Lorelai as she helped her mother change the sheets. "So, Mom, Miss Patty thought maybe you were.. Um... in love... or something."
"Really?" Emily smiled to herself as she shook a pillow out of its case. "What a curious woman."
"Yes, she thought you might have been having... romantic... liaisons... or something," shared Lorelai in all innocence as she folded the quilt.
"Did she?"
"Yes, she did....And--Well...?"
"Well what, Lorelai?" asked Emily.
"Have you?"
"That's none of your business, young lady," snapped Emily as she collected the sheets and marched to the door. "And, yes... as a matter of fact, I have," she threw over her shoulder before leaving the room.
Lorelai only had a moment to digest that before she heard the door open and close downstairs and then Rory hurry up the stairs.
"Oh good, you're dressed!" she smiled when she came in, "Good job, Grandma!" Rory called over her shoulder then.
"Excuse me, but I have been dressing myself for years now," Lorelai told her.
"I know. I know. Now, come on... Oh, my God, are those Playgirl magazines?" laughed Rory.
"Come on where?" asked Lorelai as she ushered her daughter out of the room and down the stairs.
Rory handed her mother her purse when they reached the hall, "We are going on a doctor-approved field trip."
"We are?" said Lorelai in some excitement. "Where?"
"That I cannot tell you. Come on, Grandma!" she called up the stairs.
"Coming! Coming!" said Emily hurrying down to meet them.
"You were in on this?" Lorelai asked her mother.
Emily smiled.
"Come on, Mom."
"But where are we going?" whined Lorelai as they headed out to Emily's car. "And why aren't you at work?" she asked suspiciously. "Plagiarism?"
"Nope," said Rory "Just good old fashioned yellow journalism: I am creating the story I am going to cover."
"Ooo! Intrigue! Hey, since when do they let fact-checkers cover stories?"
"Since they learned to stage-manage them, themselves."
"Useful," observed Lorelai.
And they were on their way—Lorelai getting no answers to her persistent questions en route.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Here we are!" called Emily happily as she pulled into the drive of The Dragonfly.
"We're at the Inn?"
"Yes, we are," smiled Rory as she pulled her mother out of the car.
"Oh, hello beautiful Inn!" called Lorelai, "I've missed you so much!"
"Come on, Mom, they're all in the back!"
"Who?" laughed Lorelai as Emily and Rory each took one of her arms and pulled her around the building.
"Ooo! Did The Bangles reunite again? Are The Bangles here?"
"Who are The Bangles?" asked Emily.
"It's not The Bangles," said Rory.
"Well, have you reunited any of my favorite disbanded groups?"
"No."
"Well, what then?" They were stopped on the back porch now.
"Look for yourself!" smiled Rory.