Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. I hope ths wait for this chapter wasn't too long. I still don't own Gilmore Girls.

The next day Lorelai drove to Hartford with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had thought about her conversation with Jess all night and she had come to a decision. She had to take action in her situation with Luke. She either had to commit to being with him or sever the relationship completely.

Luke had finally called her back. Unfortunately Lorelai had been in the shower and she couldn't get to the phone. She decided she wasn't going to call him back. She was going get her life together and that included a visit to her parents.

Lorelai thought it would take a miracle to get her parents in the same room together. Surprisingly both seemed open to the idea of a face-to-face sit down with their daughter. Of course neither knew what she was going to ask, but they each wanted Lorelai on their "side." That had been evident since the day she announced she was dating Luke. Emily fawned over Luke at dinner. Richard took Luke to the Country Club. It was sad that they had fought over him like a new toy, but that was the Gilmore way.

Lorelai pulled up to her parent's house and got out of the car. She smoothed out her coat and rang the doorbell. Emily answered the door happily.

"Lorelai," she said as she ushered her in. "Come in, its cold out. Is it just you? I thought for sure you'd be bringing Luke with you."

Lorelai had failed to mention her break up to Emily and Richard. It was too painful for her to talk about and she didn't want her parent's judgment hanging over her head.

"Why would I bring Luke Mom?" Lorelai asked taking off her coat. "I didn't say he was coming."

"Well, I just thought maybe he was," Emily said the smile fading from her face. "Richard, Lorelai is here," Emily called as they walked to the living room.

"Dad's in the house?" Lorelai asked surprised.

"You said you'd be here at six," Emily said.

"Yes, but I figured Madonna would have to take a break from Kabala and fetch Jeeves to get Dad to come over," Lorelai said.

"Is that funny?" Emily said fixing drinks.

"Apparently not," Lorelai sighed.

"Richard," Emily bellowed again.

"I heard you the first time Emily," Richard said entering the room with his paper.

"Hello Lorelai," Richard said looking up. "Where's Luke?"

"Jeez, is Luke like the ultimate party favor? Everyone is so interested in why he's not here," Lorelai grumbled.

"Well I'm sorry," Richard replied. "I just assumed he'd be here. You don't often come by without reinforcements."

"Who wants a martini?" Emily said quickly changing the subject and walking over with a tray of drinks.

Lorelai grabbed a glass and took a sip. She flinched remembering her drunken evening with Christopher a few nights earlier. She cleared her throat and set the glass on the table.

"So Lorelai, what can we do for you?" Richard said.

"Well, I first wanted to say that I appreciate you both talking to me," Lorelai started nervously. "I know it's not easy for the two of you to be in the same room, but since this concerns both of you I thought this was best."

Emily and Richard exchanged a look.

"You know that Luke and I were dating," Lorelai began shakily.

"I knew it," Emily said hitting Richard hand. "I told you."

"Told you what Mom?" Lorelai asked.

"But why isn't he here? I would have thought he was a stand-up man," Richard said ignoring Lorelai.

"Richard who cares, it's finally happened," Emily said gaily.

"What's happened?" Lorelai raised her voice. She was baffled by her parent's animated conversation. They'd hardly spoken ten words to each other in weeks and apparently 8 words from her stimulated conversation between them.

"You were right to have me keep that account open," Richard said. "It'll save us money in the long run."

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Lorelai shouted getting both the elder Gilmore's attention.

"Lorelai," Emily gasped. "Please don't raise your voice."

"Sorry," Lorelai replied looking down and reverting to her 4-year-old self. "I just don't understand why you two suddenly started a reenactment of the Pick-A-Little ladies."

"Well you're engaged to Luke," Emily said as if she couldn't understand Lorelai's attitude.

"What?" Lorelai replied horrified.

"You asked your father and I to meet with you and then you started the conversation talking about Luke," Emily explained. "Although I would have thought he would have been here for all this."

"And asked me for your hand," Richard added. "I know it's an old custom, but it would have been nice."

"Wait, just stop," Lorelai said standing. "Luke and I aren't getting married. That isn't why I came here today."

"You're not?" Emily asked.

"Then why are you here talking about Luke?" Richard asked.

"Because we broke up," Lorelai finally admitted.

Lorelai could almost feel the room deflate. Once again all Emily and Richard's hopes and dreams had faded away.

"Oh," Richard said.

"Of course," Emily added, her smile fading.

"Of course," Lorelai repeated bitterly. "Thanks Mom."

"Well, I should have known not to get my hopes up that you'd actually get married," Emily said. "It always ends the same with you Lorelai. Is this about Christopher? I told you it was mistake to take him and that child into your house."

Lorelai shifted on her feet uncomfortably and picked up her drink, taking a large sip. She composed herself and sat down again.

"This has nothing to do with Christopher," Lorelai said flatly. "And for your information Chris went back to Boston on Monday."

"I don't understand," Richard said. "If this isn't about getting married and this isn't about Christopher then what is this meeting about? You called us here to announce your break up?"

Lorelai could tell by the irritation in his voice that he was as disappointed as Emily that there would be no wedding. She hadn't expected this reaction at all. Sure, her parents had fought over Luke's affections, but it was because of the separation. It was part of their game of one-upping each other. That was why they liked Luke so much. Or so Lorelai thought. Now that she saw their faces and their reaction to the news she thought that maybe, just maybe, deep down they liked Luke and thought he was good enough for her.

"It's about money," Lorelai said matter-of-factly.

"Of course," Richard said in the same tone Emily used earlier.

"Of course," Lorelai agreed. "Luke loaned me money for the inn last year. Now that we're apart I don't think its right that I owe him money. I'd like to make things right and in order to do that I need to borrow money. I will of course pay you back as soon as possible and Friday night dinner will continue indefinitely."

Emily and Richard looked at each other.

"How much did you borrow from Luke?" Richard asked.

"30,000 dollars," Lorelai answered.

"30,000 dollars," Richard repeated. "Luke had mentioned his investments, but he must have been doing much better than he let on if he had 30,000 dollars to give you."

"Well he invested it in the inn actually," Lorelai replied. "But now I need to make things right. I know it's a lot to ask."

"I'll have to call the bank," Richard said getting up and leaving the room. It was clear he was tired of fighting with Lorelai and tired of fighting his disappointment in her.

"No comment Mom?" Lorelai replied once they were alone.

"No," Emily said coldly.

"Come on Mom," Lorelai challenged her. "No judgment? No disappointment?"

"No Lorelai," Emily replied. "You're certainly old enough to know what you want."

Lorelai sighed and took another sip of her drink bracing herself for the silence that would befall them until Richard returned. But then Emily surprised her.

"Why did you and Luke break up?" Emily asked.

"He broke up with me," Lorelai said.

"That isn't what I asked," Emily said a little too sweetly.

"It's really none of your business," Lorelai said.

"I think your father and I are giving you 30,000 reasons why this is our business," Emily replied curtly.

"He didn't believe in me," Lorelai shrugged.

"He didn't?" Emily said. "You just said he loaned you 30,000 dollars. I'd say that's quite a risky investment for someone with no belief in you."

"It wasn't like that," Lorelai struggled to respond. She didn't want to be having this conversation. What was worse than having this conversation was that it was taking place with her mother.

"Then what was it like?" Emily asked.

"It's complicated," Lorelai replied through clenched teeth.

"Then uncomplicated it," Emily said briskly. "Tell me what it is you're looking for Lorelai? You're not getting any younger and your relationship with Luke seemed like the most adult relationship you've had. You actually introduced him to us for heaven's sake! What was wrong with it?"

"I was wrong," Lorelai yelled back against her better judgment.

"You were wrong?" Emily asked surprised by Lorelai's response.

"Yes," Lorelai said flatly. "I was wrong. I couldn't tell Luke I loved him and he left. Are you happy? Now you know everything."

"Why couldn't you tell Luke you loved him?" Emily said. "Don't you?"

"I am not having this conversation with you," Lorelai said.

"Why not? I'm your mother Lorelai," Emily said. "I have a right to know what's going on in your life."

"I don't want to have this conversation because I don't need you judging me and I don't need your advice," Lorelai said.

"No, you never did," Emily replied bitterly. "But just know this Lorelai. One day you'll wake up in a bed all alone and you'll wonder what happened. It's wonderful to be independent and self-sufficient, but it's also wonderful to know that you have someone there to love you unconditionally. And it's horrifying to find out that the person you loved left because you were weren't paying attention."

"Mom I know you and Dad have problems, but my relationship with Luke is nothing like yours," Lorelai said shifting in her seat.

"It's more like you and Luke than you'll ever know," Emily said thinking back on her past. "And I wasn't just talking about your father. I lost you too you know."

"What are you talking about?" Lorelai sighed. "I'm sitting right here."

"Now," Emily said. "But how much time did I lose with you and Rory because I wasn't paying attention? I didn't know how unhappy you were until it was too late. I should have dragged you back here kicking and screaming, but I was hurt."

"Mom," Lorelai said softening. "I'm here now."

"Only under penalty of not getting money for Rory's school," Emily said.

"That's not true," Lorelai said.

"It is true," Emily replied. "I'm not oblivious. I just want you to think about this before you and Luke end it."

"Think about what? There's nothing to think about. Luke left me. He not only left me, but he left Stars Hollow. He's selling the diner. He went to great lengths to avoid me," Lorelai said.

"Don't let stubborn pride get in your way," Emily said.

"Why do you care?" Lorelai mumbled.

"Because as much as you'd like to think I want you to be miserable every day of your life I don't. I want you to be happy and Luke made you happy," Emily replied.

"Well, my bank is wiring the money into your account Lorelai," Richard said coming back into the room. "Don't write the check until tomorrow morning though."

"Thanks Dad," Lorelai said. "I appreciate your help."

"Well if that's all I have to get to an appointment," Richard said coldly.

"Right," Lorelai said awkwardly standing. "I guess I should go to. I'm sure you've got things to do."

"Goodbye Lorelai," Richard said leaving the room abruptly.

"Bye Dad," she called.

"I do appreciate the loan Mom," Lorelai said pulling on her coat. "I plan to pay it back as soon as I can."

"I'm not concerned about the money Lorelai," Emily said. "Just think about what I said. You know the way out."

Emily stood up and walked up the stairs. It was clear the conversation was over. Lorelai sighed. She felt like she should be happy that she could repay Luke, cut the cord that bonded them forever, yet she felt worse than ever.

Lorelai didn't sleep at all that night. She tossed and turned. The worst part about it was that her dreams, which usually revolved around Luke, now revolved around her mother. Emily's face was ingrained in Lorelai's brain. The look of disappointment in her eyes when Lorelai had asked for the money. But there was something else, something Lorelai couldn't put her finger on. Was it sadness?

Lorelai struggled with these half-thoughts, half-dreams all night until the morning came and forced her to get up. Lorelai put on her nicest suit, the one with the flippy skirt that she looked particularly good in. She had finally decided what she needed to do and there was no changing her course of action now.

TBC