A/N: This being Before the Beginning's 10th chapter (yay!), I'd like to thank each and every person who has reviewed so far. You guys inspire me and I'm glad you're reading-and liking, hopefully-this story.
FF.net: karen elizabeth, awshucks, voodoo-lvr, skijump, thena, melissa larkin, ggobsessed, phrog, princessdeleon, molly22, bbwholly1981, SilverTree, carrielynn, freebird777, Nat1, selestria, rat bastard, DriftAway, angleic1, ccabello, rayann, sarah, StephieM, imaslacker, Brooke-L, Silversun, Steph, Miss-Lionesse, Rory Granger, Skittles6, Kaity, Immaginary-Immortal and dawn
Fan Forum: Alissa, Thena and Silversun, who are listed twice because they're nice times two.
Stars-Hollow.Org: aleck and mrslukedanes
See, this is why the last chapter was shorter. I had counted "Visits" as chapter 10 and added this at the top, then I took it away and...you don't care, do you? Okay, well, on with the story.
Apologies.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI, RORY and MISS PATTY are sitting at a table and LUKE has just served them]
Lorelai: We'll be there...with Luke.
Luke: That'll be pretty hard, seeing as I'm not going.
Lorelai: Of course you are.
Luke: (sighing)These conversations with you, they just drain me of all my energy.
Lorelai: (smiling)I love that about me.
Rory: (excited)Are you really coming with us?
Luke: No.
Rory: (sadly)Oh.
Lorelai: Hey, Duke, can I talk to you up at the counter for a minute?
Luke: Why?
Lorelai: Come on. (they walk behind the counter)What was that?
Luke: What?
Lorelai: Her father just told her last night that he didn't know she was gone-
Luke: He said that?
Lorelai: And now you can't even take an hour or two out of your life to go to some dance with us?
Luke: I didn't know.
Lorelai: She needs this, Duke. Did you see how excited she was?
Luke: (feeling bad)Yeah.
Lorelai: And you remember her last night?
Luke: (sighing)Yes. (LORELAI looks at him)Fine, I'll go.
Lorelai: Thank you. Go and tell her that. (LUKE goes back to the table and LORELAI follows)
Luke: Hey, Rory?
Rory: Yeah?
Luke: I guess I can go with you to the dance.
Rory: Really?
Luke: Sure. (RORY smiles)
Lorelai: (to LUKE, quietly)Was that so hard?
Luke: (to LORELAI, quietly)I'm not dressing up.
Lorelai: (to LUKE, quietly)That's what you think.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 15, LORELAI is cleaning and RORY is jumping on the bed]
Rory: And I can wear a dress! Can I wear a dress? A really pretty one like (a little quieter)the ones I used to have.
Lorelai: I don't know.
Rory: When is it?
Lorelai: I don't know, she didn't say.
Rory: Maybe it's not for a long time, so we can save up some money.
Lorelai: I don't want you to worry about money. We've got...enough.
Rory: So I can have a dress?
Lorelai: Yeah, we'll see.
Rory: Are you going to wear a dress?
Lorelai: I don't think so.
Rory: Oh. Then I won't, either.
Lorelai: Sure you will. Listen, we probably don't even need to think about it for a while.
Rory: Luke's coming with us.
Lorelai: I know.
Rory: But Daddy's not.
Lorelai: I know that, too.
Rory: Hmm.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, lobby, ALECK is behind the counter and LORELAI walks up to him while RORY sits on the couch]
Lorelai: Excuse me?
Aleck: Yes?
Lorelai: Can you tell me where Mia is?
Aleck: She's got the day off today.
Lorelai: Oh, really? She- (remembering, to herself)Monday. Oh, God. (to ALECK)Thanks. (she walks over to RORY and gets her hand)
Rory: Where are we going?
Lorelai: Home. But only for a minute.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, LORELAI is going through their bags and RORY is sitting on the floor watching]
Rory: Are you done working?
Lorelai: No. Don't you have anything black?
Rory: Gramma doesn't like black on me.
Lorelai: And that didn't motivate me to buy a black shirt?
Rory: Uh-
Lorelai: Here (handing her a bag). Go through this and look for a dress, okay?
Rory: For the dance?
Lorelai: No, not for the dance. Just find one. And I have to find a shirt.
[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI and RORY are walking]
Rory: So where are we going?
Lorelai: Mia's mom died.
Rory: Today?
Lorelai: No, today's just the funeral.
Rory: Funeral?
Lorelai: Funeral.
Rory: What's that?
Lorelai: It's...um...it's when people remember those they lost.
Rory: Oh.
[Cut To: Stars Hollow church, the funeral is over and LORELAI is holding RORY, they're up near MIA]
Lorelai: Hi, Mia.
Mia: Lorelai!
Lorelai: (hugging MIA)I'm so sorry.
Rory: (opening her arms for a hug)Me, too.
Mia: (hugging RORY)Thank you. What are you doing here?
Lorelai: We came as soon as we remembered. I can't believe I almost forgot.
Rory: I wore a dress. It's not black.
Mia: Well, it's very pretty.
Lorelai: Sorry about that. We didn't have any black dresses. We stick out.
Mia: No, of course not. I'm so glad that you came, though.
Lorelai: Me too. It sounds like she was a really great woman.
Mia: She really, really was.
Luke: (walking up)Mia.
Mia: Lucas. (they hug)
Luke: How are you?
Mia: Alright.
Luke: Do you want to come over to the diner?
Mia: Oh, I'm meeting Luke and Carrie.
Luke: You can all come, if you'd like.
Mia: Okay, well, we'll meet you there?
Luke: Yeah. (to LORELAI)You can come, too.
Lorelai: Oh, no, we shouldn't.
Mia: Please?
Lorelai: Actually I really need to get back to work.
Luke: Right, of course. Then I'll see you later?
Lorelai: Yeah.
Luke: Okay. (to MIA)I'll see you in a little while.
Lorelai: (to MIA)And I'll see you tomorrow.
Mia: Goodbye.
Rory: Bye!
Lorelai: Bye. Bye, Duke.
[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI and RORY are walking home]
Rory: Why was I sorry?
Lorelai: What?
Rory: I said I was sorry but I don't know why.
Lorelai: Then why would you say it?
Rory: Because you did.
Lorelai: Well I said it because I felt bad about what happened.
Rory: Well I did, too.
Lorelai: Okay.
Rory: When are we calling Gramma and Granpa?
Lorelai: Wednesday.
Rory: What's today?
Lorelai: Monday.
Rory: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Two days.
Lorelai: That's right. Two days.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 17, LORELAI is cleaning and RORY is sitting on the bed]
Rory: Are you going to die?
Lorelai: What?
Rory: Mia's mom died.
Lorelai: Have you been thinking about this? Is that why you've been so quiet?
Rory: Are you?
Lorelai: Not soon.
Rory: Where will I go?
Lorelai: I'm not going to die any time in the near future.
Rory: I'll have to live all by myself! And I'll have to get a job and work all day and I can never go to school.
Lorelai: No, you won't. Because I'm not going to die now.
Rory: What if you did?
Lorelai: Then you'd go live with Gramma and Granpa, or Daddy-
Rory: Not with Daddy. Never, ever with Daddy.
Lorelai: Honey-
Rory: No!
Lorelai: Well don't worry about it because I'm not dying.
Rory: I'm never even going to talk to Daddy. I'm not calling him.
Lorelai: You don't have to.
Rory: Only Gramma and Granpa. Only them.
Lorelai: Okay. You don't have to call anyone else.
Rory: Because we hate him, right?
Lorelai: (uncomfortably)Uh...you shouldn't hate people.
Rory: But-
Lorelai: Why don't you go back to your book? I need to hurry up.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, night, LORELAI is knocking on the door]
Luke: (opening the door)What are you doing here? Are you okay?
Lorelai: (coming in)Did you just come from upstairs? What's up there?
Luke: I live there.
Lorelai: No!
Luke: Yes.
Lorelai: Cool.
Luke: Yeah, it's awesome. What did you say you were doing here?
Lorelai: I didn't wake you up, did I? I'm sorry.
Luke: No, it's fine. I wasn't asleep.
Lorelai: Well, good.
Luke: So?
Lorelai: Uh, well...(to RORY)Go sit down, babe. I'll only be a sec. (to LUKE)Can I talk to you?
Luke: Yeah, sit down. (they sit at the counter)
Lorelai: I just wanted to apologize.
Luke: For what?
Lorelai: Asking you to come to the dance. It was so, so, inappropriate. You're not responsible for Rory being happy.
Luke: No, it's-
Lorelai: Let me finish. It was wrong to try to guilt you into coming. So, I'm sorry and you don't have to come.
Luke: No, of course I'll come.
Lorelai: You don't have to.
Luke: Yeah, I know. But I saw how she looked when I said yes.
Lorelai: (smiling)Aww, Mr. Sensitivity, huh?
Luke: Ah, Jeez.
Lorelai: I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
Luke: So, she's been...okay? Better?
Lorelai: (touched that he cares)Yeah, better.
Luke: And you?
Lorelai: (dismissively)Oh, Dukey.
Luke: You okay?
Lorelai: I'm just...seeing Chris again was hard. But it always is, right?
Luke: Kind of extenuating circumstances, though.
Lorelai: Me running away? Or him being the father of my kid?
Luke: Both?
Lorelai: Yeah, I guess it's a special situation. After last night, you know, I thought I was over him. No feelings, none at all. But Rory asked today whether we hated him, and I couldn't bring myself to say we did.
Luke: Were you guys together for a long time?
Lorelai: Oh, yeah.
Luke: How long?
Lorelai: God, um, (after trying to count the years)our whole lives.
Luke: What?
Lorelai: We grew up together, you know? I've known him since forever. My parents-they actually like him better than they do me.
Luke: I doubt it.
Lorelai: Don't. (seeing the clock)I better go.
Luke: Okay. (LORELAI walks over to RORY and picks her up, they walk towards the door)Hey, Lorelai?
Lorelai: Yeah?
Luke: Why'd you come here?
Lorelai: To apologize.
Luke: I haven't known you for long, but you don't seem the type to come over at night, after closing, to say sorry for something so small. So why'd you really come?
Lorelai: Cheap therapy? (LUKE looks at her)I don't know. I just knew that if I came, you'd listen.
Luke: Oh, okay.
Lorelai: And I would to come to just say sorry. I'm a nice person.
Luke: I know you are.
Lorelai: Bye, Duke.
Luke: Bye Lorelai. Bye Rory.
Rory: Goodnight.
FF.net: karen elizabeth, awshucks, voodoo-lvr, skijump, thena, melissa larkin, ggobsessed, phrog, princessdeleon, molly22, bbwholly1981, SilverTree, carrielynn, freebird777, Nat1, selestria, rat bastard, DriftAway, angleic1, ccabello, rayann, sarah, StephieM, imaslacker, Brooke-L, Silversun, Steph, Miss-Lionesse, Rory Granger, Skittles6, Kaity, Immaginary-Immortal and dawn
Fan Forum: Alissa, Thena and Silversun, who are listed twice because they're nice times two.
Stars-Hollow.Org: aleck and mrslukedanes
See, this is why the last chapter was shorter. I had counted "Visits" as chapter 10 and added this at the top, then I took it away and...you don't care, do you? Okay, well, on with the story.
Apologies.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI, RORY and MISS PATTY are sitting at a table and LUKE has just served them]
Lorelai: We'll be there...with Luke.
Luke: That'll be pretty hard, seeing as I'm not going.
Lorelai: Of course you are.
Luke: (sighing)These conversations with you, they just drain me of all my energy.
Lorelai: (smiling)I love that about me.
Rory: (excited)Are you really coming with us?
Luke: No.
Rory: (sadly)Oh.
Lorelai: Hey, Duke, can I talk to you up at the counter for a minute?
Luke: Why?
Lorelai: Come on. (they walk behind the counter)What was that?
Luke: What?
Lorelai: Her father just told her last night that he didn't know she was gone-
Luke: He said that?
Lorelai: And now you can't even take an hour or two out of your life to go to some dance with us?
Luke: I didn't know.
Lorelai: She needs this, Duke. Did you see how excited she was?
Luke: (feeling bad)Yeah.
Lorelai: And you remember her last night?
Luke: (sighing)Yes. (LORELAI looks at him)Fine, I'll go.
Lorelai: Thank you. Go and tell her that. (LUKE goes back to the table and LORELAI follows)
Luke: Hey, Rory?
Rory: Yeah?
Luke: I guess I can go with you to the dance.
Rory: Really?
Luke: Sure. (RORY smiles)
Lorelai: (to LUKE, quietly)Was that so hard?
Luke: (to LORELAI, quietly)I'm not dressing up.
Lorelai: (to LUKE, quietly)That's what you think.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 15, LORELAI is cleaning and RORY is jumping on the bed]
Rory: And I can wear a dress! Can I wear a dress? A really pretty one like (a little quieter)the ones I used to have.
Lorelai: I don't know.
Rory: When is it?
Lorelai: I don't know, she didn't say.
Rory: Maybe it's not for a long time, so we can save up some money.
Lorelai: I don't want you to worry about money. We've got...enough.
Rory: So I can have a dress?
Lorelai: Yeah, we'll see.
Rory: Are you going to wear a dress?
Lorelai: I don't think so.
Rory: Oh. Then I won't, either.
Lorelai: Sure you will. Listen, we probably don't even need to think about it for a while.
Rory: Luke's coming with us.
Lorelai: I know.
Rory: But Daddy's not.
Lorelai: I know that, too.
Rory: Hmm.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, lobby, ALECK is behind the counter and LORELAI walks up to him while RORY sits on the couch]
Lorelai: Excuse me?
Aleck: Yes?
Lorelai: Can you tell me where Mia is?
Aleck: She's got the day off today.
Lorelai: Oh, really? She- (remembering, to herself)Monday. Oh, God. (to ALECK)Thanks. (she walks over to RORY and gets her hand)
Rory: Where are we going?
Lorelai: Home. But only for a minute.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, LORELAI is going through their bags and RORY is sitting on the floor watching]
Rory: Are you done working?
Lorelai: No. Don't you have anything black?
Rory: Gramma doesn't like black on me.
Lorelai: And that didn't motivate me to buy a black shirt?
Rory: Uh-
Lorelai: Here (handing her a bag). Go through this and look for a dress, okay?
Rory: For the dance?
Lorelai: No, not for the dance. Just find one. And I have to find a shirt.
[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI and RORY are walking]
Rory: So where are we going?
Lorelai: Mia's mom died.
Rory: Today?
Lorelai: No, today's just the funeral.
Rory: Funeral?
Lorelai: Funeral.
Rory: What's that?
Lorelai: It's...um...it's when people remember those they lost.
Rory: Oh.
[Cut To: Stars Hollow church, the funeral is over and LORELAI is holding RORY, they're up near MIA]
Lorelai: Hi, Mia.
Mia: Lorelai!
Lorelai: (hugging MIA)I'm so sorry.
Rory: (opening her arms for a hug)Me, too.
Mia: (hugging RORY)Thank you. What are you doing here?
Lorelai: We came as soon as we remembered. I can't believe I almost forgot.
Rory: I wore a dress. It's not black.
Mia: Well, it's very pretty.
Lorelai: Sorry about that. We didn't have any black dresses. We stick out.
Mia: No, of course not. I'm so glad that you came, though.
Lorelai: Me too. It sounds like she was a really great woman.
Mia: She really, really was.
Luke: (walking up)Mia.
Mia: Lucas. (they hug)
Luke: How are you?
Mia: Alright.
Luke: Do you want to come over to the diner?
Mia: Oh, I'm meeting Luke and Carrie.
Luke: You can all come, if you'd like.
Mia: Okay, well, we'll meet you there?
Luke: Yeah. (to LORELAI)You can come, too.
Lorelai: Oh, no, we shouldn't.
Mia: Please?
Lorelai: Actually I really need to get back to work.
Luke: Right, of course. Then I'll see you later?
Lorelai: Yeah.
Luke: Okay. (to MIA)I'll see you in a little while.
Lorelai: (to MIA)And I'll see you tomorrow.
Mia: Goodbye.
Rory: Bye!
Lorelai: Bye. Bye, Duke.
[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI and RORY are walking home]
Rory: Why was I sorry?
Lorelai: What?
Rory: I said I was sorry but I don't know why.
Lorelai: Then why would you say it?
Rory: Because you did.
Lorelai: Well I said it because I felt bad about what happened.
Rory: Well I did, too.
Lorelai: Okay.
Rory: When are we calling Gramma and Granpa?
Lorelai: Wednesday.
Rory: What's today?
Lorelai: Monday.
Rory: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Two days.
Lorelai: That's right. Two days.
[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 17, LORELAI is cleaning and RORY is sitting on the bed]
Rory: Are you going to die?
Lorelai: What?
Rory: Mia's mom died.
Lorelai: Have you been thinking about this? Is that why you've been so quiet?
Rory: Are you?
Lorelai: Not soon.
Rory: Where will I go?
Lorelai: I'm not going to die any time in the near future.
Rory: I'll have to live all by myself! And I'll have to get a job and work all day and I can never go to school.
Lorelai: No, you won't. Because I'm not going to die now.
Rory: What if you did?
Lorelai: Then you'd go live with Gramma and Granpa, or Daddy-
Rory: Not with Daddy. Never, ever with Daddy.
Lorelai: Honey-
Rory: No!
Lorelai: Well don't worry about it because I'm not dying.
Rory: I'm never even going to talk to Daddy. I'm not calling him.
Lorelai: You don't have to.
Rory: Only Gramma and Granpa. Only them.
Lorelai: Okay. You don't have to call anyone else.
Rory: Because we hate him, right?
Lorelai: (uncomfortably)Uh...you shouldn't hate people.
Rory: But-
Lorelai: Why don't you go back to your book? I need to hurry up.
[Cut To: Luke's Diner, night, LORELAI is knocking on the door]
Luke: (opening the door)What are you doing here? Are you okay?
Lorelai: (coming in)Did you just come from upstairs? What's up there?
Luke: I live there.
Lorelai: No!
Luke: Yes.
Lorelai: Cool.
Luke: Yeah, it's awesome. What did you say you were doing here?
Lorelai: I didn't wake you up, did I? I'm sorry.
Luke: No, it's fine. I wasn't asleep.
Lorelai: Well, good.
Luke: So?
Lorelai: Uh, well...(to RORY)Go sit down, babe. I'll only be a sec. (to LUKE)Can I talk to you?
Luke: Yeah, sit down. (they sit at the counter)
Lorelai: I just wanted to apologize.
Luke: For what?
Lorelai: Asking you to come to the dance. It was so, so, inappropriate. You're not responsible for Rory being happy.
Luke: No, it's-
Lorelai: Let me finish. It was wrong to try to guilt you into coming. So, I'm sorry and you don't have to come.
Luke: No, of course I'll come.
Lorelai: You don't have to.
Luke: Yeah, I know. But I saw how she looked when I said yes.
Lorelai: (smiling)Aww, Mr. Sensitivity, huh?
Luke: Ah, Jeez.
Lorelai: I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
Luke: So, she's been...okay? Better?
Lorelai: (touched that he cares)Yeah, better.
Luke: And you?
Lorelai: (dismissively)Oh, Dukey.
Luke: You okay?
Lorelai: I'm just...seeing Chris again was hard. But it always is, right?
Luke: Kind of extenuating circumstances, though.
Lorelai: Me running away? Or him being the father of my kid?
Luke: Both?
Lorelai: Yeah, I guess it's a special situation. After last night, you know, I thought I was over him. No feelings, none at all. But Rory asked today whether we hated him, and I couldn't bring myself to say we did.
Luke: Were you guys together for a long time?
Lorelai: Oh, yeah.
Luke: How long?
Lorelai: God, um, (after trying to count the years)our whole lives.
Luke: What?
Lorelai: We grew up together, you know? I've known him since forever. My parents-they actually like him better than they do me.
Luke: I doubt it.
Lorelai: Don't. (seeing the clock)I better go.
Luke: Okay. (LORELAI walks over to RORY and picks her up, they walk towards the door)Hey, Lorelai?
Lorelai: Yeah?
Luke: Why'd you come here?
Lorelai: To apologize.
Luke: I haven't known you for long, but you don't seem the type to come over at night, after closing, to say sorry for something so small. So why'd you really come?
Lorelai: Cheap therapy? (LUKE looks at her)I don't know. I just knew that if I came, you'd listen.
Luke: Oh, okay.
Lorelai: And I would to come to just say sorry. I'm a nice person.
Luke: I know you are.
Lorelai: Bye, Duke.
Luke: Bye Lorelai. Bye Rory.
Rory: Goodnight.
