Lorelei was at her mother's side in an instant, wetting her forehead with a cool washcloth, and putting a glass with a splash of ammonia under her nose. Emily had regained consciousness within seconds. "Grandma, are you Ok?" Rory was asking, holding Emily's head in her lap like a baby's. The older woman let a few quick breaths out, and tried to sit up without losing her balance.

"I am fine, Rory." She hissed, motioning for her grand daughter to come closer. "Your grandfather and I have done everything for you and this is how you repay us? By gallivanting away with your mother? Lorelei of all people." Rory blinked back tears, but helped her grandmother to her feet.

"She's my mom, grandma. And I'm not leaving you. I just want to get to know her better. Then I'll be back, I promise." Emily shook her head, looking out into the courtyard where Lorelei stood with the flannel clad man, loading Rory's possessions into the back of a truck. She closed her eyes, holding onto Rory's shoulder for support.

"If you're not leaving forever, then why, Rory are you taking all of your things? The nerve of your mother, packing them when I was defenseless." She slowly seated herself on the couch, and closed her eyes.

"Grandma, they were already packed." Emily's eyes flew open, and the color drained from her face.

"What?" She spat, fire burning in her eyes, and Rory recoiled, taking a step backward and nearly tripping over the coffee table.

"For the retreat, remember? In Washington? That's going to last all summer that I don't want to go on, that can in no way better my performance at Chilton because I've already taken all the classes it's offering? The one you're sending me on because of no reason other than that Cadence Longwellow has to go, and her mother is on the Reforms Board with you, and you wanted me to be friends so you can confirm her vote?" Emily was taken aback. The child had never spoken to her like this before. She inwardly cringed. This was all Lorelei's doing. If she hadn't come back, Rory would have continued living happily… they had a nice little family, didn't they? She had always assumed Rory was happy…

"Rory, I will not accept this behavior from you, do you understand me? How dare you speak to me in that manner! Where are the manners we taught you, young lady?" Without giving Rory a chance to respond, Lorelei blew back into the house, a smile on her lips.

"Alright kid, are you ready for the greatest adventure of your life?" Emily discreetly shot a glance at Rory, the pain in her heart deepening as she saw the excitement that had rosily colored Rory's cheeks. She nodded, and practically jumped to her feet. She was halfway out the room when she stopped and turned back to face her grandmother. She fell to her knees and held Emily's hand in her own.

"Grandma, I love you and Grandpa more than anything. You know this. And I mean, I don't even know mom. I might hate it with her. And then I'll be back quicker than you think." She looked towards the door where Lorelei and the flannel man stood arguing over the placement of her bags. "I just… don't want you to be mad at mom, Ok? I want us to be a family." She leaned up and kissed her grandmother's cheek. Then stood, and started for the hallway. She wasn't a few inches out the door when Emily called her back.

"Rory?"

"Yeah, Grandma?"

"We love you too." Rory smiled, and then ran out of the house. Tears threatened in Emily's eyes, and she blinked them away, standing as soon as she was certain that they were gone.