Chapter 13

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters

Lorelai and Emily headed back to Lorelai's house. They didn't talk. Lorelai found this completely unnatural and turned to say something. She noticed that her mother was looking at her with a very cocky smile.

"What!?" exclaimed Lorelai.

"Nothing." Replied Emily.

"Mom, just say it."

"Ok. I'm glad to see you're doing alright."

"Are you sure, I mean you don't have anything to say about me seeing the 'diner guy'?"

"Well, we all knew that it was inevitable."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?!" Lorelai says exasperated.

"Oh please Lorelai. You two have practically been in each others' pockets for years."

"Uh…What does that mean?" Lorelai says stopping and turning to face her mother.

"Ask anyone in your town. Did you know that they used to have a bet going on to see when you two would get together?"

Lorelai looked down and rubbed her forehead, "How did you…."

"That Miss Patti told me about a year ago, when I was here visiting you. I think I even put down five dollars." Emily says trying to remember.

Lorelai shakes her head, turns around and starts walking again.

"Oh wait Lorelai. I need to stop at Sookie's on our way home. She was going to give me a recipe."

"When were you talking to Sookie?" asked Lorelai.

"Why? Am I not allowed to talk to her without your permission?"

"No mom, it's just…oh, whatever." She finishes turning towards Sookie's house.

"One of the ladies asked if I knew anyone who had a recipe for duck, and Sookie was the first person who came to mind, so I called her." They kept walking. "And it gave me an excuse to come out here to see you and make sure you were still coming Wednesday night."

"I said I was coming didn't I?" Lorelai says getting a little angry.

"Yes you did." They walk a little farther. "Ok. I talked to you on the phone the other day when Luke was over, and realized that I still feel like an outsider when it comes to your life." Emily says. Lorelai glances at her. For a moment Emily looks really vulnerable, but just as quickly as it comes, it's gone, and Emily lifts up her chin and continues, "You haven't even showed me your inn yet."

"I was going to show you when it was finished. That way you could see the whole package and not just a picture of me running around like a chicken with my head cut off." They turned up Sookie's walk.

"I believe you have it all under control, Lorelai." Emily says as they reach the door.

Lorelai knocks on the door, "Well, maybe we could swing by real quick this afternoon."

Emily smiles at Lorelai, and Lorelai smiles back. Sookie opens the door and looks at them excitedly. "Oh Emily, I just got off the phone with Kirk. I'm supposed to tell you if I see you, that you won!"

Emily looks confused, "I'm sorry?"

"The Luke and Lorelai pool! You won!" she says jumping up and down. She stops jumping and looks at Lorelai. "Don't think I'm not upset that you didn't tell me first." She tries to sound mad, but fails. "Oh come here!" she says giving Lorelai a big hug. "I'm so happy for you two." Then she invites them in.

Emily looks at Lorelai who is smiling at Sookie and says, "I am also happy for you two." Lorelai looks at her mother in shock. Then Emily adds, "Maybe I'll take my winnings and buy your bohemian boyfriend a new suit for Wednesday. He does know that he can't wear flannel, right?" Emily walks ahead of Lorelai into Sookie's. Lorelai drops her head, gestures her in with a dramatic wave of her arm and mumbles, "Ladies and gentlemen, Emily Gilmore." Then enters and closes the door.

After leaving Sookie's, Emily and Lorelai pick up the jeep and go over to the Dragonfly. They walk around and talk about the construction plans and the designs. Emily is quite impressed. On their way back to town Emily turns to Lorelai, "I want to ask you something, but I don't want you to get…the way you get."

"Well with an intro like that mom, I just can't wait to hear the question."

"Do you need any money?" Lorelai starts to get defensive but Emily continues, "It wouldn't be a loan, it would be an investment. There would be no repayments, no bargains, and no strings."

Lorelai looks at her mother. Sometimes she was hard to figure out. "Actually I'm alright now. Luke loaned us some money, and it should be plenty enough to hold us until things pick up."

Emily looks at Lorelai, "Luke?" she has a funny look on her face. "He better not think that just because he lent you money that…"

"No, mom. It's not like that!"

"Well good. He didn't seem like the type, but you never know." They pull up to Lorelai's place and they both get out of the jeep. Lorelai walks Emily to her car.

"Uh…don't you want to come in?" Lorelai asks as Emily pulls out her car keys.

"Maybe another time Lorelai. I've got lunch with the D.A.R. today and you have Luke coming over." Emily gets in her car. "But I'll see you on Wednesday. Say hi to Rory for me if you're talking to her."

"I will. Hey, don't forget to swing by Miss Patti's before you leave, she'll be waiting for you."

Emily smiles and nods before leaving. Lorelai watches her go then heads back to her house. 'She never fails to surprise me.' Lorelai smiled and closed the door.