A/N: Again, thanks for all the reviews! They make me happy.

Thena-I'm making Luke about 21, and Lorelai's 20 right now.

[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI and RORY are standing next to MISS PATTY, who's talking]

Miss Patty: And I just said 'Harry, you listen to me. My dance lessons were the only reason your wife agreed to marry you, and I deserve a little something in return.'

Lorelai: (not listening)Uh-huh.

Miss Patty: And of course, the stubborn little man he is, he wouldn't agree to give it to me.

Lorelai: Yeah, stubborn.

Miss Patty: So anyway, one big fat rumor about his hair-or lack thereof-later, and I had my studio. Now it's all mine.

Lorelai: That's great, uh-

Miss Patty: Do you dance, dear? You must, you've got the perfect little body for it. Small, skinny.

Lorelai: No, I don't.

Miss Patty: What about your sister? Does she?

Lorelai: No , this is my daughter. And she doesn't, either.

Miss Patty: What?

Lorelai: She doesn't dance.

Miss Patty: (quietly)Your daughter? I, uh, just remembered that I need to go. Sorry. Bye.

Lorelai: Sure. (MISS PATTY leaves, to RORY)Who was that?

Rory: She talked for so long.

Lorelai: Did she ever say her name? I never heard it.

Rory: How long have we been standing here?

Lorelai: (sighing)I'm tired.

Rory: Me too.

Lorelai: Do you still want that milk?

Rory: No.

Lorelai: (looking at her watch)It's almost time for work.

Rory: Let's go home.

Lorelai: Don't be lazy.

Rory: Fine, let's go somewhere else.

Lorelai: (whining)No, let's go home.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 17, LORELAI is cleaning and RORY is sitting on the floor]

Rory: Does Daddy know we're here?

Lorelai: Almost every time we're cleaning, how can that be? Does something about the smell of ammonia make you think of Chris?

Rory: Ammonia?

Lorelai: Um, cleaning stuff. I don't know if Daddy knows where we are.

Rory: We should tell him.

Lorelai: No.

Rory: Why not?

Lorelai: No.

Rory: (whining)But I want to!

Lorelai: Too bad.

Rory: Mommy!

Lorelai: No, Rory. We're not calling him.

Rory: Fine!

Lorelai: Good.

[Cut To: Stars Hollow PreSchool, LORELAI and RORY are sitting in an office, talking to the principal, KAREN]

Karen: What sound does a cow make, Rory?

Rory: Moo.

Karen: What sound does a cat make?

Rory: Meow.

Karen: Can you count to ten?

Rory: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Karen: Very good. Well, she passes.

Lorelai: (looking at RORY, whispering)Good job, honey.

Karen: And she's how old?

Lorelai: Three, but her birthday's in October.

Karen: Okay. Well, as long as she meets the age limit and you have a valid driver's lisense with your address, she can be enrolled today.

Lorelai: Driver's lisense?

Karen: Yes. Oh, and her birth certificate.

Lorelai: Birth certificate.

Karen: Little paper, says she's really alive.

Lorelai: (laughing nervously)Oh, yeah, I know. I just need to get it from home. I guess we'll be back.

Karen: Okay, see you tomorrow. (LORELAI and RORY get up and leave)

[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI and RORY walk out of the school and look around at a festival being set up]

Lorelai: Wow. They must take the Fourth of July seriously around here.

Rory: What is it?

Lorelai: I don't know. It looks like a carnival or something.

Rory: I wanna go!

Lorelai: I'll go ask that guy when it is. (she walks up to TAYLOR)Hey, excuse me.

Taylor: Oh, Lorelai. It's good to meet you. (to RORY)Hello, Rory.

Lorelai: Um, how-

Taylor: Are you off of work already?

Lorelai: Work?

Taylor: At the inn. A maid, right? Good work. I appreciate anyone who can make the world a little nicer, a little cleaner.

Lorelai: Yeah, thanks. How do you know I work there?

Taylor: Patty told me. (to WORKER)Move that flag to the left!

Lorelai: Patty?

Taylor: The dancer teacher.

Lorelai: Oh, uh, okay. (pause)Wait, she told you? She just went around telling people all about me?

Taylor: Well, I don't know who else she told, but I certainly deserve to know.

Lorelai: (growing angry)You do? Why's that?

Taylor: Do you see that market over there? (points to Doose's)My father runs that wonderful establishment. He is one of the most influential people in this town. We should know about all newcomers.

Lorelai: How is that any of your business?

Taylor: Did you not just hear me?

Lorelai: Yeah, I did. I have to go.

[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI and RORY walk in]

Lorelai: Duke, gimme some coffee. (they sit down)

Luke: How long is this 'Duke' thing going to last?

Lorelai: I'm not in the mood, Duke. You know that guy out there?

Luke: Taylor?

Lorelai: Well, I don't know. I don't know who he is, but he sure knows who I am. He said some lady told him all about me!

Luke: Yeah. Rory, too. Is it true that you've got five other kids?

Lorelai: Uh, no!

Luke: I guess the stories get distorted as they go around. By the way, I didn't know you were working for Mia.

Lorelai: I guess you do, now.

Luke: Yeah. She's nice enough.

Lorelai: But that guy, he knows! And you know! Everyone knows!

Luke: It's nothing bad. Unless you really are a hooker.

Lorelai: No!

Luke: I didn't think so. Don't worry about them. You'll get used to it.

Lorelai: Used to them talking about me?

Luke: Yeah.

Lorelai: (looking down)Where's my coffee?

Luke: You drink too much coffee.

Lorelai: How would you know?

Luke: Patty told me.

Lorelai: (putting her head in her hands)Ugh!

Luke: I'm kidding. You do order the coffee from me, you know.

Lorelai: Well I'm ordering it now and nothing's happening.

Luke: Fine. (he leaves)

Rory: What's a hooker?

Lorelai: It's uh, uh-

Luke: (coming up with coffee)A fisherman. You know, hooks?

Rory: Oh. Okay.

Lorelai: (to LUKE)Thank you. (LUKE gives her the coffee)And thank you.

Rory: (looking out the window)Carnival.

Luke: You don't want to go to that. It's a crazy festival run by all the crazy people here.

Lorelai: Small town spirit.

Luke: Taylor runs it.

Lorelai: Okay, lets not go.

Rory: Mommy! (she gives LORELAI a pouty face)

Lorelai: Oh, look at that face. Fine. Duke will come with us.

Luke: No, Duke won't. Luke. Luke won't.

Lorelai: I can't go out there alone. Not with everyone already knowing all about me!

Luke: No.

Lorelai: Just because of Taylor?

Luke: Taylor and his dad are nuts.

Lorelai: According to him his dad is the most influential man in town.

Luke: He's the craziest man in town, next to Taylor himself. God I hope Taylor never takes over his dad's position.

Lorelai: Please? Do it for me? Do it for Rory?

Luke: Fine.

Rory: Yay! (she jumps up and hugs LUKE)Sorry! I forgot the rule.

Luke: It's okay. You're hands aren't sticky.

Rory: No.

Luke: I've never met a kid without sticky hands.

Rory: Sorry.

Luke: No, it's a good thing. (RORY smiles)I can't believe I'm going to do this.

Lorelai: Believe it.

[Cut To: Fourth of July Festival, LORELAI is holding RORY and looking for LUKE]

Lorelai: Where is he?

[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI and RORY walk in, LUKE is at the counter]

Lorelai: Duke!

Luke: Oh, uh, hey.

Lorelai: What are you doing? You said you'd be out there with me!

Luke: Yeah, well, it's really busy tonight.

Lorelai: (looking around at the empty diner)I can see that.

Luke: I'm not going.

Lorelai: Duke!

Luke: Why should I? I've only known you for a few days.

Lorelai: And already my award-winning charms have forced you to bend to my every will.

Luke: No.

Lorelai: Come on, Duke. (she walks behind the counter, to the man in the kitchen)What's your name?

Ceaser: Ceaser.

Lorelai: Hey, like the salad. Okay, you think you can watch the place for a couple hours?

Luke: Hours?

Ceaser: (looking at LUKE, who seems okay with this plan)Sure.

Lorelai: Thank you. (to RORY)Rory, say thank you.

Rory: Thanks.

Lorelai: Let's go. (she grabs LUKE's sleeve)

[Cut To: Fourth of July Festival, LORELAI, RORY and LUKE are walking]

Luke: How can you eat so much?

Lorelai: Hey, she ate almost as much as me.

Luke: Which is your fault.

Babette: Lorelai! (walking up to them)Hi, honey.

Lorelai: Hi-

Luke: (whispering, to LORELAI)Babette.

Lorelai: -Babette.

Babette: Tough about your husband dying.

Lorelai: Oh, no, he didn't die. And he wasn't my husband.

Babette: (a little more quietly)So it's true about the hooker business?

Lorelai: No, no. He's just...away.

Babette: Uh-huh. If you say so. (seeing Miss Patty)Patty! (to LORELAI)I gotta go. Bye, dear. (she walks away)

Lorelai: Do I really look like a hooker?

Luke: Uh, you know, I've never seen a...I mean, you don't...'cause I've never...

Lorelai: (laughing)Stop. Just stop.

Luke: Okay. So you weren't married?

Lorelai: Nope.

Luke: He left you?

Lorelai: I left. He probably hasn't even noticed yet.

Rory: He doesn't know we're here.

Luke: (feeling uncomfortable)Oh. Oh, okay.

Lorelai: (to RORY)You want some cotton candy?

Rory: Yeah!

Lorelai: Let's go get some.

Luke: Here, I'll take her.

Lorelai: Oh, thanks. (LUKE and RORY leave)

Kirk: (walking up to her)I hear you're a single mother.

Lorelai: Yes, I am.

Kirk: My own mother happens to be single, also.

Lorelai: Is that right?

Kirk: If you ever need any help, I'd be willing to offer assistance in any area. I have a very large field of interest.

Lorelai: Huh. (KIRK hands her a business card)Oh, look. Okay, well, Kirk. I will do that. Thank you.

Luke: (coming back over with RORY)Bye Kirk.

Kirk: Bye. Nice to meet you, Lorelai.

Lorelai: Bye. (to LUKE)You made him leave.

Luke: You wanted him to stay?

Lorelai: He was funny. Look, he has a business card!

Luke: With his mom's address on it.

Lorelai: Well, he's young. So what if he still lives with his mom?

Luke: He'll probably live with her forever.

Lorelai: No, he won't. He has a very large field of interest.

Luke: What kind of job could he get?

Lorelai: I don't know. He could work in the market. Or for a security company, or a mailman. Oh, or a dog walker!

Luke: Why do you just put up with these people? An hour ago you couldn't stand them.

Lorelai: They're nice. They mean well.

Luke: They're crazy.

Lorelai: That word has been overused tonight.

Luke: As long as you're not mad anymore.

Lorelai: No, I'm not. For tonight, we're happy.