AN: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. It's such an encouragement to hear positive things from writers I admire – so thank you.

This is, believe it or not, an LL fic, but I've got to get the pesky kid out of the way first. Next chapter features the Return of the Luke. I realize this story is a lot of people arguing with each other right now, but that will change as the storylines progress. Thanks for sticking with me through the angst.

Lorelai made it within three feet of the coffee machine before her super-stealthy footsteps were detected.

"Lorelai?" Damn.

"Hey, Sookie."

"Any particular reason you're wearing the same clothes you wore yesterday?" Sookie's eyes widened. "Oh my god! How was it? You have to tell me everything! I need details. Did he take off the hat?"

"What?"

"Come on, you're here in the morning, dressed in the same clothes you wore yesterday, you've just started dating Luke."

"Oh, Sookie, no, no it's not that."

"Sure."

"Really, Sookie, it's not that."

"Uh-huh."

"Sookie, look at me. Do I look like I've just had sex?"

"No—" Sookie's face fell. "You've got those bags—your hair—are you okay?"

"Better before I got the rundown from Mr. Blackwell."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. You just look like you didn't get a lot of sleep last night. And not for the good reason."

"I didn't."

"Rory?"

Lorelai dropped her eyes. "Yeah."

"Ok, this is just too weird. You and Rory have never been this way since I've known you. What is going on?"

"Sookie, it's just—" she shook her head. "I tried to talk to her last night and it turned into this huge argument and we said terrible things to each other – she keeps trying to push me out and she keeps saying how independent she wants to be, and I want her to be that way, but—"

"—but she's never been independent from you."

"She's always been able to talk to me. We have our fights, we make up, and the next week we're eating ice cream together and she's wearing my shoes. And now, suddenly, it's just—it's never been like this before."

"I'm sorry." Sookie reached over to squeeze Lorelai's hand.

"Thank you." Lorelai squeezed her hand in return.

"Triple-shot espresso and my amazing raspberry chocolate tortes?"

"You're a lifesaver."

"Coming right up."

Lorelai ventured home just long enough to change clothes and grab a shower, creeping by Rory's still-silent door on her way out. She paused, one fist raised, then dropped her hand to her side and turned to leave.

She froze when she heard voices, low and soft, then a laugh. Lane. She didn't know whether to be relieved or furious. It was good that Lane was here, good that Rory had someone to talk to.

Horrible that it's not me, said the little voice inside her head.

She'd managed to delay the inevitable for a week and a half, but all good schemes (and bad daughters) must come to an end. Michel passed the phone to her as she made the mistake of walking by the front desk.

"Lorelai, it is your mother."

She glared at the handset. "Did you tell her I was available?"

"Of course I told her you were available. Who would not make time to talk to such a charming woman?"

"Michel, how many times are we going to go over this?"

"Once more, I suppose." He smiled sweetly. "Here you are."

Lorelai snatched the phone from his hand and took it into her office, shutting the door behind her.

"Hi, mom."

"Hello, Lorelai. I just wanted to let you know you dinner will be at the regular time on Friday."

"And will it be at the regular place?"

"Yes, it will."

"Is Dad going to be there?"

"No, your father will be away."

"Let me guess, business in Philadelphia?"

"No, he's agreed to alternate with me."

"He's—Mom, that's crazy. This is Friday night dinner, you can't just pass it off like a…a football!"

"I'm not passing anything like a football. Your father and I have agreed to a schedule, and that is what we will follow."

"I thought this was about all of us having dinner together, as a family."

"Lorelai, you have taken every opportunity in four years to avoid coming here for dinner. You will not lecture me about having dinner together."

"I'm not lecturing, Mom, I just thought it would be a good chance for you and Dad to spend some time together."

"Your father and I have had enough of your 'help'."

"If at first you don't succeed..."

"I'll see you on Friday. Goodbye, Lorelai."

"Bye, Mom."

Lorelai leaned against her desk, head beginning to throb. She knew from experience that the best cure for a tension headache was coffee. Luke's coffee.

But it just seemed too far to go.

Rory was back on the couch when Lorelai opened the door, ending all hope of a peaceful retreat upstairs.

"Hi." She was going for neutral, but it didn't quite come out that way. Rory kept toying with the hem of her quilt.

"I guess I was pretty harsh yesterday."

"On the evil dictator scale of one to Hilter? I'd give you five Mussolinis."

"I'm sorry."

"You are?"

"I'm not sorry I said I needed to work this out on my own," Rory took a breath, "but I'm sorry I said all those things. I didn't mean them."

"It's okay."

"Really?"

"No, but that's what the good mother is supposed to say right now."

"And what is the woman with the Puss In Boots pajamas thinking right now?" She attempted a light tone, and almost succeeded.

"I think we're both still pretty pissed, but this is—" Lorelai shrugged. "this. This is better."

"No long-winded lecture?"

"You must have me confused with your other mother; I do not give long-winded lectures."

"The great tree-fall of '89?"

"You nearly broke your neck, and you're my daughter, what were you doing on an athletic endeavor anyway?"

"Point made."

"Fine. But I'm saving up."

"Duly noted."

They paused for a moment, still looking at each other, the light moment fading.

"We do have to talk, kid."

"I know, just—"

"—not right now."

Rory nodded. Lorelai lowered herself onto the edge of the couch and wrapped her arms around her daughter, reaching one hand up to smooth her hair. Rory let her stay that way only a moment, then pulled away. Lorelai felt the tearing sensation again.

"I'm gonna go do some reading. If Lane comes over, send her to my room, okay?"

Lorelai nodded.

"Okay."

When she climbed the stairs that night, the house was quiet.