A/N: I am the worst person in the world. I know it. I do, really. And I'm so, so sorry for the long wait. But life...you know...it gets in the way! School's almost over (Thank God!), so I should have some more time to write soon.

Black Eye.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, LORELAI is unpacking their bags and RORY is just waking up]

Rory: Mommy?

Lorelai: Hey, you're up.

Rory: (coming to the foot of the bed)What are you doing?

Lorelai: Unpacking.

Rory: How come?

Lorelai: 'Cause we can't live out of these bags forever. Plus it's all nice and clean now, right?

Rory: Right. We cleaned it.

Lorelai: Yeah.

Rory: Are we going to see Mia today?

Lorelai: I think she'll be there. Why?

Rory: I made her a picture.

Lorelai: Lemme see. When'd you make it?

Rory: (as she goes over to the table)Last night.

Lorelai: Maybe I should set a bedtime.

Rory: (coming back)No!

Lorelai: (looking at it)Pretty.

Rory: Thank you.

Lorelai: You're welcome.

Rory: Do you know what tomorrow is?

Lorelai: What?

Rory: The day we call Gramma and Granpa!

Lorelai: (without enthusiasm)Woohoo.

Rory: I'm going to tell them about our new house and our new job and Luke and the diner and the dance and-

Lorelai: Breathe, babe. (RORY takes a deep breath)Okay, so-

Rory: And Mia and the festival and school and...

[Cut To: Independence Inn, hallway, LORELAI is walking by, with RORY on the cart. She passes a MAID, the same one she saw when she first started]

Rory: (reading from her book)Hi.

Maid: (thinking RORY was talking to her)Hello.

Rory: Hello.

Maid: What's your name, honey?

Rory: (she looks at LORELAI for approval, LORELAI shrugs)Rory.

Maid: Lori?

Rory: Rory.

Maid: Tori?

Lorelai: It's "Rory," actually.

Maid: (obviously disappoving of LORELAI)You came up with that, I guess.

Lorelai: Yeah, I did.

Maid: Figures.

Lorelai: (getting angry)I'm sorry, do you have something to say to me?

Maid: No, why?

Lorelai: (getting a key out of her pocket and handing it to RORY)Here, hun, room seventeen. Go.

Rory: Okay. (she walks to the room and uses the key to go in)

Lorelai: Listen, lady, what's your problem?

Maid: I don't have a problem.

Lorelai: You don't?

Maid: None at all.

Lorelai: I am sick of the disapproving stares and the whispers behind my back. I am sick of people who pass me in a hallway like I'm not even there! So if you've got something to say, now's the time.

Maid: I don't know what you're talking about.

Lorelai: Don't you ever talk to my daughter again.

Maid: You're making a lot of enemies.

Lorelai: Excuse me?

Maid: Didn't you say something similar to that to Taylor?

Lorelai: Gotta love small towns, huh?

Maid: We've all got our eye on you. And we're just waiting for you to screw up. Again, I mean.

Lorelai: Again?

Maid: How old are you? And already a mother.

Lorelai: How dare you! How-don't speak to us again, don't look at us again and don't even walk near me unless you want to get a black eye, okay? (she takes the cart to room 17)

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

Rory: You always make me leave.

Lorelai: Because these people always make me mad.

Rory: So?

Lorelai: I don't want you to hear me yell.

Rory: I could yell, too, if you want me to.

Lorelai: (cleaning)No, I don't want you to, honey.

Rory: But you yell. And then people could say, "That girl is just like her mother."

Lorelai: There's other ways that we're alike. And you don't want people to say that. They can say, "That girl is so sweet and so smart and who's that with her? It's some crazy woman who's yelling." (RORY laughs)I don't want you to yell. I want you to be the nice girl that you are.

Rory: But I don't like having to leave. It makes me feel like a little girl.

Lorelai: Which you definitely aren't.

Rory: Don't make me leave anymore.

Lorelai: Fine. But when you need therapy when you're ten years old, don't come crying to me.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, lobby, LORELAI and RORY walk past the doorway and notice MIA, then walk into the lobby and up to the desk]

Lorelai: Mia, hi.

Mia: Hello.

Lorelai: How are you?

Mia: Oh, I'm fine.

Lorelai: Really?

Mia: Yes, of course. I'm alright now.

Lorelai: That's good to hear.

Mia: Actually, I wanted to talk to you.

Rory: (coming around the counter)I made you a picture!

Mia: You did?

Rory: Here.

Mia: It's so pretty, Rory. (pointing)Who's that?

Rory: You.

Mia: (pointing to the other person in the picture)And who's this? Your mother?

Rory: No it's your mommy. I didn't know what she looked like so I drew her like Mommy.

Mia: That was a very good idea. Rory, it's very nice. Thank you.

Rory: You're welcome. (she hugs MIA)

Mia: Now, Lorelai-

Lorelai: Yes?

Mia: Would you like Rory to go sit down?

Lorelai: No, she's fine.

Mia: Are you sure?

Lorelai: Yes, I am.

Mia: Okay. Um, Dawn talked to me this morning.

Lorelai: (confused)Dawn?

Mia: She's one of the other maids. About 5'4", brown hair?

Lorelai: Oh. (getting upset)Her.

Mia: Ah, you remember. Apparently there were harsh words exchanged?

Lorelai: Uh, no, I don't know what you're talking about.

Mia: Lorelai.

Lorelai: I don't even know if I remember Dawn. I'm sorry.

Mia: You said she couldn't pass you in the hall.

Lorelai: Oh, that.

Mia: You said you'd beat her up!

Rory: You did?

Lorelai: (to RORY)Shh. (to MIA)I believe I said "black eye."

Mia: Why would you do that?

Lorelai: She was being a jerk.

Mia: So you threatened her?

Lorelai: She was a jerk!

Mia: Lorelai, you can't do that.

Lorelai: She shouldn't be able to say the things she did.

Mia: She's a co-worker!

Lorelai: I'd call her something other than a jerk, but my kid is standing right here.

Mia: I'd fire people for this. I've never had to, but I would.

Lorelai: So you're-

Mia: No, I'm not. But I should. I'd do it for anyone else.

Lorelai: Well, um-

Mia: I shouldn't be cutting you breaks like this. It isn't fair.

Lorelai: No, I know it's not.

Mia: But I look at you and I look at Rory, and it's impossible not to help you as much as I can.

Lorelai: Mia, I'm sorry. I just, I mean, she totally deserved it, but I probably shouldn't've.

Mia: Probably not.

Lorelai: I'm sorry. It won't...nothing like this...not if it disappoints you. I'm not going to do anything that disappoints you.

Mia: Thank you. But you could never do such a thing. (LORELAI smiles, and she and RORY go back down the hall to their next room)

[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LORELAI and RORY are sitting at a table]

Rory: And mom said she'd beat her up!

Lorelai: "Black eye." I said "black eye," why can no one get that right?

Luke: What'd she say?

Lorelai: (looking at RORY, then back at LUKE)It's not important, is it?

Luke: Uh...no.

Lorelai: Well, good. So we'll have a cheese burger and fries and-

Rory: A real burger and cheese fries.

Luke: She got that from you.

Lorelai: (smiling)I know, and I'm so proud.

Luke: It's comin' up.

Rory: (in a sing-song voice)We're calling Gramma and Granpa tomorrow, we're calling Gramma and Granpa tomorrow!

Lorelai: I know, I've heard. The first twelve times you told me, I heard.

Rory: (acting innocent)Don't you want to?

Lorelai: I'd rather eat a salad.

Luke: (coming over to them with coffee and pouring it)I just caught the end of that, but did you say you were eating a salad?

Lorelai: Oh, that's just so far from what I said.

Luke: Coffee?

Lorelai: Considering that it's already in my cup, yeah, sure.

Luke: You don't want it?

Lorelai: Don't be crazy, of course I do. I'm just messing with ya. Thanks.

Luke: Your welcome. (he doesn't leave)

Lorelai: Something else?

Luke: You really said you'd give her a black eye?

Lorelai: Shut up.

[Cut To: Stars Hollow PreSchool, LORELAI and RORY are in KAREN's office]

Lorelai: So I've got the letter and everything and that's it, right?

Karen: That's all.

Lorelai: We'll go then. (they stand up)

Karen: Oh, no, wait.

Lorelai: Yes?

Karen: We haven't, uh, we haven't received your payment yet.

Lorelai: Payment? For...

Karen: Supplies, classroom things, you know.

Lorelai: Supplies? This is-this is a public school.

Karen: It certainly is.

Lorelai: A public-a free-school.

Karen: Well, the tuition is free.

Lorelai: Since when do public schools cost money?

Karen: No, it's just a fee.

Lorelai: Of how much?

Karen: A hundred dollars.

Lorelai: A hundred?

Karen: It's just a fee. I didn't tell you this either?

Lorelai: Uh, hi, incompetence.

Karen: Excuse me?

Lorelai: Nothing. I-when's this due.

Karen: By the first day.

Lorelai: Okay. Bye.

Karen: Bye.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, hallway, LORELAI and RORY pass DAWN]

Dawn: Look who it is.

Lorelai: Oh, yes, look. Heard you had a little chat with Mia.

Dawn: I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Lorelai: I'll give you a hint. It went something like "Mommy, Mommy, the other maid's being a meanie. Help me please. Sure, I was a jerk to her, but let's not talk about that."

Dawn: I didn't-

Lorelai: You don't want to mess with me, Dawn.

Dawn: Oh, why's that?

Lorelai: 'Cause you're not going to like the outcome.

Dawn: Is that a threat?

Lorelai: I'm walking away, okay? I'm walking away and hoping that I won't run into you again.

Dawn: Why, are you leaving scared?

Lorelai: No, not scared. Smart. (turning her back)Bye-bye, Dawn.