A/N: Sorry this one's a little late, but the holidays distracted me. Happy late Easter to everyone who celebrates it. This chapter's a tiny bit shorter than the rest, due to my own stupidity (long story). Sorry.
Visits.
[Cut To: beneath LORELAI's window, LORELAI and RORY are climbing the tree. They reach the window and RORY tries to open it]
Rory: Stuck.
Lorelai: Here, let me do it. (RORY moves away and LORELAI opens the window, they both climb in)
[Cut To: Gilmore House, Lorelai's room, LORELAI closes the window and RORY goes over and plays with some toys]
Lorelai: You know, every time we do that I feel guilty that my three year old knows how to climb a two-story high tree.
Rory: Almost four year old.
Lorelai: Either way. Okay, so, you know what we're looking for?
Rory: (playing with some dolls)Huh? Yeah.
Lorelai: I can see you're going to be a lot of help.
Rory: It's in the closet and the box has my name on it.
Lorelai: I take it back, you are a lot of help. Thanks.
Rory: You're welcome.
Lorelai: (going over to the closet and pulling out the box)How'd you know it was here?
Rory: Gramma told me.
Lorelai: Why?
Rory: She said you'd forget.
Lorelai: Nice. Well, that went a lot faster than I expected. Let's go.
Rory: No.
Lorelai: Yes.
Rory: I want to play for a little while. They don't even know we're here.
Lorelai: Five minutes.
Rory: Thank you, Mommy.
Lorelai: You're welcome. And remember where everything was. Mom'll notice if it's out of place.
Rory: I know.
Lorelai: Okay. I'll call the cab. Exactly five minutes.
Rory: Whatever.
Lorelai: (dialing)You have such a high level of respect for me. I love that. I say jump and you don't even ask how high, you just jump. (phone)Yeah, 7835 Hemingway. Ten minutes? Thanks, bye. (to RORY)Because I said to, you did it. Isn't that great?
Rory: Yeah.
Lorelai: That sounded like a sarcastic yeah. Not truthful, not heartfelt, not...what's that?
Rory: What?
Lorelai: (sighing)Christopher.
Rory: (screaming)Daddy?
Lorelai: Shh. (to herself)Why today? Why now?(she walks over to the window and opens it)Hi.
Christopher: Hey, Lor. How'd you know it was me?
Lorelai: I've heard you climbing up this tree too many times not to recognize it.
Christopher: (climbing in and kissing her on the cheek)So, what's up?
Rory: Daddy! (she runs to him and he picks her up)
Christopher: Hey, Rory.
Rory: I haven't seen you in forever.
Christopher: I know, sorry. What have you guys been up to?
Lorelai: That's all you have to ask?
Christopher: Um, yes. Is there something else I should be asking?
Lorelai: Oh, Chris. (she goes over and hugs him)Thank you.
Christopher: You're...welcome. I think. Why are you thanking me?
Lorelai: (letting go)My parents, they were so awful. They wanted to know where and why and they wanted to come get me. But you understand. And you don't have to ask, because you know why, right?
Christopher: Why what, Lor? Are you okay?
Lorelai: Why I left.
Christopher: (laughing)Why, did you go to Vegas or something?
Lorelai: Chris, I...we left. We moved out.
Christopher: What?
Lorelai: (as tears form in her eyes)You knew that, right?
Christopher: You moved out?
Lorelai: (crying)We've been gone for more than a week.
Christopher: You...you...where did you go?
Lorelai: You didn't even notice? We've been gone for over a week, Chris! A week. And you didn't even know?
Christopher: I was at school.
Lorelai: (getting RORY back from CHRISTOPHER)Right, school. I forgot you had school. And school, that's...that's much more important than family. (she starts to leave through the door)
Rory: (crying silently)The box, Mommy.
Lorelai: Right. (she goes back and picks it up)Bye Chris.
Christopher: No, Lor, where're you going?
Lorelai: Say goodbye, Rory.
Rory: No.
Lorelai: Okay. (she walks out the door)
Christopher: Lor! Lor! Where are you going? (he follows her downstairs)
[Cut To: Gilmore House, downstairs, LORELAI is walking to the front door and CHRISTOPHER is following her]
Christopher: What do you mean you left?
Emily: (coming from the dining room)Christopher? Is that you? (seeing LORELAI)Lorelai.
Lorelai: Hi Mom.
Richard: (coming in from the hallway)Lorelai?
Lorelai: Dad. Well, the gang's all here.
Rory: Gramma! Granpa!
Emily: Rory! (she goes to hold RORY, but LORELAI won't let her)Lorelai, please. I haven't seen her in ten days.
Lorelai: I need to go. I...I have to leave.
Emily: (starting to cry)Just let me hold her, Lorelai. Please.
Lorelai: No.
Richard: She is our granddaughter.
Lorelai: I've got to...(car horn beeps)Bye.
Rory: (as they leave)We're going to call you! Mia says we have to!
Emily: (crying)Bye, Rory! We love you! We miss you!
Richard: Bye Rory!
Christopher: Wait, you're just going to let her go?
Emily: She's already gone.
[Cut To: outside the Gilmore House, CHRISTOPHER runs out and meets LORELAI and RORY by the cab door]
Christopher: You're leaving? Just like that?
Lorelai: I already left, Chris. A week ago.
Christopher: Look, I'm sorry, okay?
Lorelai: No, it's not okay. You didn't even notice!
Christopher: Where are you going?
Lorelai: Home. (they get in the cab)
Christopher: Lor!
Lorelai: (to the CAB DRIVER)Go.
Cab Driver: Aren't you-
Lorelai: Go! (they start driving)
Christopher: (calling after them)Where are you going? Rory! Lor!
[Cut To: Cab, LORELAI and RORY are in the back, both crying]
Rory: Why doesn't Daddy love us?
Lorelai: (too upset to shield RORY)I don't know.
Rory: He said that he didn't know we were gone.
Lorelai: I know.
Rory: Why didn't he...why didn't he...(she starts crying too hard to speak)
[Cut To: outside Luke's Diner, LORELAI is sitting on the steps holding RORY, who has fallen asleep from crying]
Luke: (walking up)What are you doing here?
Lorelai: Forgetting. (LUKE looks at her, concerned)I don't want to talk about it.
Luke: Okay. (LORELAI doesn't say anything, or move)Want some coffee?
Lorelai: Sure.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI, RORY and LUKE walk in and LUKE starts the coffee]
Lorelai: So, how was your night?
Luke: As good as I could expect, I guess. At least he's moving away tomorrow.
Lorelai: Family, huh? (as she shifts RORY in her arms)Good for nothing.
Luke: Do you want to-?
Lorelai: No, I've got her. Thanks. You're home early.
Luke: I can't handle too much time alone with Louie.
Lorelai: (continuing the small talk)Where'd you go?
Luke: Some little restaurant exactly like this one. But of course, he couldn't be bothered to come here, so I had to drive half an hour to eat the exact same food I serve here.
Lorelai: Hamburger, fries.
Luke: Louie annoys me, but not so much to drive me to suicide. I had a salad.
Lorelai: Nice. Healthy.
Luke: Have you ever had one?
Lorelai: Before dinner, yeah.
Luke: Those fancy resurant salads? They're tiny! They don't count.
Lorelai: No, at home.
Luke: Your mom made salad and dinner every night?
Lorelai: (laughing a little)My mom? Cook? No, no, no. She "instructed" the maids.
Luke: (turning to get LORELAI a cup of coffee)Maid?
Lorelai: Oh, no. Maids. She can't hold onto one for more than a week, usually. (as LUKE hands her her coffee)Thanks. But anyway. Let's not talk about my mother. Let's talk about...(sighs)anything.
Luke: You look tired.
Lorelai: I look how I feel.
Luke: Why don't you go home? Get some sleep?
Lorelai: Yeah. Sleep.
Luke: At least Rory's asleep, right?
Lorelai: (sadly)From the crying. (after a minute)Bye.
Luke: Bye.
Lorelai: (reaching into her pocket)Oh, for the coffee.
Luke: No charge.
Lorelai: No. Don't you dare. (handing him the money)Here. See you tomorrow.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, RORY is asleep in bed and LORELAI is awake]
Lorelai: (singing softly while she cries)You were so young and you were so wild. I knew you were nobody's innocent child. The first day I saw you, you really got to me. I thought I could change you. What good did it do me? Things got rough and you couldn't wait. Now you're tripping back, but babe, babe it's too late.
[Cut To: Stars Hollow PreSchool, LORELAI and RORY are in KAREN's office]
Karen: I'm still going to need your driver's lisense.
Lorelai: I don't have one.
Karen: Uh...a bill with your address on it?
Lorelai: Hmm, no.
Karen: I'm gonna need something.
Lorelai: I live at the Inn, I don't have a bill or anything.
Karen: The Dragonfly?
Lorelai: The Independence.
Karen: Oh, Mia's place. Well, I'm going to write that address down, but you'll need to give me a signed letter.
Lorelai: Yeah, from Mia? Sure. Tomorrow.
Karen: And that's it. You've given me everything I need. I'll send out a packet with everything you need-supplies, etc. School starts August tenth.
Lorelai: Oh, wow, early.
Karen: But they get out earlier.
Lorelai: I guess. So, we're done.
Karen: Yup.
Lorelai: Bye.
Karen: Bye, Rory.
Rory: Yeah.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI and RORY walk in]
Lorelai: You want to go get us a table? Wait for me for a sec?
Rory: Whatever. (she goes over and sits at an empty table)
Lorelai: (at the counter)Hey.
Luke: What's up with Rory?
Lorelai: She's...(trying to lie, but giving up)horrible. She's taking it so badly.
Luke: Taking what badly?
Lorelai: The things Chris said to me. Right in front of her! God, I could kill him.
Luke: Who's Chris? What'd he say?
Lorelai: I mean, she's young, but she's not too young to know what he meant.
Luke: Meant when he said what?
Lorelai: (in a mocking voice)"I was at school." (regular voice)You know, I thought he'd be worried sick. I thought that maybe he'd have tried to find Stars Hollow, maybe he was up all night thinking about us.
Luke: Chris?
Lorelai: Yes, Chris. Son of a-.
Rory: Mommy?
Lorelai: Hi hun.
Rory: Miss Patty's over there.
Lorelai: And?
Rory: She's talking to me.
Lorelai: And?
Rory: She talks a lot.
Lorelai: (laughing a little)Okay, let's go. Bye, Duke.
Luke: Coffee?
Lorelai: And pancakes. (seeing RORY's sad face)And strawberries.
Luke: I don't think we have any-
Lorelai: Please?
Luke: (seeing RORY)I'll go to Doose's.
Lorelai: I owe 'ya. (they walk over to the table)Hi Patty.
Miss Patty: Hello, dear. I see you were talking to Luke.
Lorelai: You saw correctly.
Miss Patty: He's a very nice boy.
Lorelai: Yes, he is.
Miss Patty: Very nice.
Lorelai: So, what were you and Rory talking about?
Miss Patty: Oh, I just wanted to tell you two personally about the opening of my studio.
Lorelai: Right, you told us. Studio, Harry, hair. I remember.
Miss Patty: And I was thinking that it'd be wonderful for you to join us in a little dance that we're having.
Lorelai: A dance? Like, a high school dance?
Miss Patty: A little like that, I suppose.
Lorelai: Sure, we'll be there.
Luke: (coming over to the table with their food)Pancakes with strawberries.
Lorelai: We'll be there...with Luke.
A/N: The song Lorelai sings is "Where Were You When I Needed You" by The Bangles. Also, I know Rory climbing a tree is a little far-fetched, but I've seen three year olds do it before. So, just trust me, here.
Visits.
[Cut To: beneath LORELAI's window, LORELAI and RORY are climbing the tree. They reach the window and RORY tries to open it]
Rory: Stuck.
Lorelai: Here, let me do it. (RORY moves away and LORELAI opens the window, they both climb in)
[Cut To: Gilmore House, Lorelai's room, LORELAI closes the window and RORY goes over and plays with some toys]
Lorelai: You know, every time we do that I feel guilty that my three year old knows how to climb a two-story high tree.
Rory: Almost four year old.
Lorelai: Either way. Okay, so, you know what we're looking for?
Rory: (playing with some dolls)Huh? Yeah.
Lorelai: I can see you're going to be a lot of help.
Rory: It's in the closet and the box has my name on it.
Lorelai: I take it back, you are a lot of help. Thanks.
Rory: You're welcome.
Lorelai: (going over to the closet and pulling out the box)How'd you know it was here?
Rory: Gramma told me.
Lorelai: Why?
Rory: She said you'd forget.
Lorelai: Nice. Well, that went a lot faster than I expected. Let's go.
Rory: No.
Lorelai: Yes.
Rory: I want to play for a little while. They don't even know we're here.
Lorelai: Five minutes.
Rory: Thank you, Mommy.
Lorelai: You're welcome. And remember where everything was. Mom'll notice if it's out of place.
Rory: I know.
Lorelai: Okay. I'll call the cab. Exactly five minutes.
Rory: Whatever.
Lorelai: (dialing)You have such a high level of respect for me. I love that. I say jump and you don't even ask how high, you just jump. (phone)Yeah, 7835 Hemingway. Ten minutes? Thanks, bye. (to RORY)Because I said to, you did it. Isn't that great?
Rory: Yeah.
Lorelai: That sounded like a sarcastic yeah. Not truthful, not heartfelt, not...what's that?
Rory: What?
Lorelai: (sighing)Christopher.
Rory: (screaming)Daddy?
Lorelai: Shh. (to herself)Why today? Why now?(she walks over to the window and opens it)Hi.
Christopher: Hey, Lor. How'd you know it was me?
Lorelai: I've heard you climbing up this tree too many times not to recognize it.
Christopher: (climbing in and kissing her on the cheek)So, what's up?
Rory: Daddy! (she runs to him and he picks her up)
Christopher: Hey, Rory.
Rory: I haven't seen you in forever.
Christopher: I know, sorry. What have you guys been up to?
Lorelai: That's all you have to ask?
Christopher: Um, yes. Is there something else I should be asking?
Lorelai: Oh, Chris. (she goes over and hugs him)Thank you.
Christopher: You're...welcome. I think. Why are you thanking me?
Lorelai: (letting go)My parents, they were so awful. They wanted to know where and why and they wanted to come get me. But you understand. And you don't have to ask, because you know why, right?
Christopher: Why what, Lor? Are you okay?
Lorelai: Why I left.
Christopher: (laughing)Why, did you go to Vegas or something?
Lorelai: Chris, I...we left. We moved out.
Christopher: What?
Lorelai: (as tears form in her eyes)You knew that, right?
Christopher: You moved out?
Lorelai: (crying)We've been gone for more than a week.
Christopher: You...you...where did you go?
Lorelai: You didn't even notice? We've been gone for over a week, Chris! A week. And you didn't even know?
Christopher: I was at school.
Lorelai: (getting RORY back from CHRISTOPHER)Right, school. I forgot you had school. And school, that's...that's much more important than family. (she starts to leave through the door)
Rory: (crying silently)The box, Mommy.
Lorelai: Right. (she goes back and picks it up)Bye Chris.
Christopher: No, Lor, where're you going?
Lorelai: Say goodbye, Rory.
Rory: No.
Lorelai: Okay. (she walks out the door)
Christopher: Lor! Lor! Where are you going? (he follows her downstairs)
[Cut To: Gilmore House, downstairs, LORELAI is walking to the front door and CHRISTOPHER is following her]
Christopher: What do you mean you left?
Emily: (coming from the dining room)Christopher? Is that you? (seeing LORELAI)Lorelai.
Lorelai: Hi Mom.
Richard: (coming in from the hallway)Lorelai?
Lorelai: Dad. Well, the gang's all here.
Rory: Gramma! Granpa!
Emily: Rory! (she goes to hold RORY, but LORELAI won't let her)Lorelai, please. I haven't seen her in ten days.
Lorelai: I need to go. I...I have to leave.
Emily: (starting to cry)Just let me hold her, Lorelai. Please.
Lorelai: No.
Richard: She is our granddaughter.
Lorelai: I've got to...(car horn beeps)Bye.
Rory: (as they leave)We're going to call you! Mia says we have to!
Emily: (crying)Bye, Rory! We love you! We miss you!
Richard: Bye Rory!
Christopher: Wait, you're just going to let her go?
Emily: She's already gone.
[Cut To: outside the Gilmore House, CHRISTOPHER runs out and meets LORELAI and RORY by the cab door]
Christopher: You're leaving? Just like that?
Lorelai: I already left, Chris. A week ago.
Christopher: Look, I'm sorry, okay?
Lorelai: No, it's not okay. You didn't even notice!
Christopher: Where are you going?
Lorelai: Home. (they get in the cab)
Christopher: Lor!
Lorelai: (to the CAB DRIVER)Go.
Cab Driver: Aren't you-
Lorelai: Go! (they start driving)
Christopher: (calling after them)Where are you going? Rory! Lor!
[Cut To: Cab, LORELAI and RORY are in the back, both crying]
Rory: Why doesn't Daddy love us?
Lorelai: (too upset to shield RORY)I don't know.
Rory: He said that he didn't know we were gone.
Lorelai: I know.
Rory: Why didn't he...why didn't he...(she starts crying too hard to speak)
[Cut To: outside Luke's Diner, LORELAI is sitting on the steps holding RORY, who has fallen asleep from crying]
Luke: (walking up)What are you doing here?
Lorelai: Forgetting. (LUKE looks at her, concerned)I don't want to talk about it.
Luke: Okay. (LORELAI doesn't say anything, or move)Want some coffee?
Lorelai: Sure.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI, RORY and LUKE walk in and LUKE starts the coffee]
Lorelai: So, how was your night?
Luke: As good as I could expect, I guess. At least he's moving away tomorrow.
Lorelai: Family, huh? (as she shifts RORY in her arms)Good for nothing.
Luke: Do you want to-?
Lorelai: No, I've got her. Thanks. You're home early.
Luke: I can't handle too much time alone with Louie.
Lorelai: (continuing the small talk)Where'd you go?
Luke: Some little restaurant exactly like this one. But of course, he couldn't be bothered to come here, so I had to drive half an hour to eat the exact same food I serve here.
Lorelai: Hamburger, fries.
Luke: Louie annoys me, but not so much to drive me to suicide. I had a salad.
Lorelai: Nice. Healthy.
Luke: Have you ever had one?
Lorelai: Before dinner, yeah.
Luke: Those fancy resurant salads? They're tiny! They don't count.
Lorelai: No, at home.
Luke: Your mom made salad and dinner every night?
Lorelai: (laughing a little)My mom? Cook? No, no, no. She "instructed" the maids.
Luke: (turning to get LORELAI a cup of coffee)Maid?
Lorelai: Oh, no. Maids. She can't hold onto one for more than a week, usually. (as LUKE hands her her coffee)Thanks. But anyway. Let's not talk about my mother. Let's talk about...(sighs)anything.
Luke: You look tired.
Lorelai: I look how I feel.
Luke: Why don't you go home? Get some sleep?
Lorelai: Yeah. Sleep.
Luke: At least Rory's asleep, right?
Lorelai: (sadly)From the crying. (after a minute)Bye.
Luke: Bye.
Lorelai: (reaching into her pocket)Oh, for the coffee.
Luke: No charge.
Lorelai: No. Don't you dare. (handing him the money)Here. See you tomorrow.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, RORY is asleep in bed and LORELAI is awake]
Lorelai: (singing softly while she cries)You were so young and you were so wild. I knew you were nobody's innocent child. The first day I saw you, you really got to me. I thought I could change you. What good did it do me? Things got rough and you couldn't wait. Now you're tripping back, but babe, babe it's too late.
[Cut To: Stars Hollow PreSchool, LORELAI and RORY are in KAREN's office]
Karen: I'm still going to need your driver's lisense.
Lorelai: I don't have one.
Karen: Uh...a bill with your address on it?
Lorelai: Hmm, no.
Karen: I'm gonna need something.
Lorelai: I live at the Inn, I don't have a bill or anything.
Karen: The Dragonfly?
Lorelai: The Independence.
Karen: Oh, Mia's place. Well, I'm going to write that address down, but you'll need to give me a signed letter.
Lorelai: Yeah, from Mia? Sure. Tomorrow.
Karen: And that's it. You've given me everything I need. I'll send out a packet with everything you need-supplies, etc. School starts August tenth.
Lorelai: Oh, wow, early.
Karen: But they get out earlier.
Lorelai: I guess. So, we're done.
Karen: Yup.
Lorelai: Bye.
Karen: Bye, Rory.
Rory: Yeah.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI and RORY walk in]
Lorelai: You want to go get us a table? Wait for me for a sec?
Rory: Whatever. (she goes over and sits at an empty table)
Lorelai: (at the counter)Hey.
Luke: What's up with Rory?
Lorelai: She's...(trying to lie, but giving up)horrible. She's taking it so badly.
Luke: Taking what badly?
Lorelai: The things Chris said to me. Right in front of her! God, I could kill him.
Luke: Who's Chris? What'd he say?
Lorelai: I mean, she's young, but she's not too young to know what he meant.
Luke: Meant when he said what?
Lorelai: (in a mocking voice)"I was at school." (regular voice)You know, I thought he'd be worried sick. I thought that maybe he'd have tried to find Stars Hollow, maybe he was up all night thinking about us.
Luke: Chris?
Lorelai: Yes, Chris. Son of a-.
Rory: Mommy?
Lorelai: Hi hun.
Rory: Miss Patty's over there.
Lorelai: And?
Rory: She's talking to me.
Lorelai: And?
Rory: She talks a lot.
Lorelai: (laughing a little)Okay, let's go. Bye, Duke.
Luke: Coffee?
Lorelai: And pancakes. (seeing RORY's sad face)And strawberries.
Luke: I don't think we have any-
Lorelai: Please?
Luke: (seeing RORY)I'll go to Doose's.
Lorelai: I owe 'ya. (they walk over to the table)Hi Patty.
Miss Patty: Hello, dear. I see you were talking to Luke.
Lorelai: You saw correctly.
Miss Patty: He's a very nice boy.
Lorelai: Yes, he is.
Miss Patty: Very nice.
Lorelai: So, what were you and Rory talking about?
Miss Patty: Oh, I just wanted to tell you two personally about the opening of my studio.
Lorelai: Right, you told us. Studio, Harry, hair. I remember.
Miss Patty: And I was thinking that it'd be wonderful for you to join us in a little dance that we're having.
Lorelai: A dance? Like, a high school dance?
Miss Patty: A little like that, I suppose.
Lorelai: Sure, we'll be there.
Luke: (coming over to the table with their food)Pancakes with strawberries.
Lorelai: We'll be there...with Luke.
A/N: The song Lorelai sings is "Where Were You When I Needed You" by The Bangles. Also, I know Rory climbing a tree is a little far-fetched, but I've seen three year olds do it before. So, just trust me, here.
