A/N: Last week's update came in the form of me re-writing parts of the last chapters so that Rory sounds more her age. It's nothing much, very minor changes, but I overestimated the amount of work so I didn't write a new chapter. Those chapters should be updated soon, 'cause they're all done. I hope you enjoy this one. A special thanks to Nicky, you all owe this chapter to her, I'd think. She's one of my only interactive readers, and her presence-even when it's only in my head-is what makes me write. Yes, it's out of guilt to her but I mean that in the best way. Thanks, Nicky. You've been way too nice to me, I don't deserve it.

karen elizabeth-What's a conconciliation?

XFilesOstrich-Don't feel stupid. It was an easy mistake.

Thanks to all my reviewers.

Trying Again.

[Cut To: Luke's Diner, LUKE comes to refill LORELAI's coffee after breakfast]

Luke: What's in the bag?

Lorelai: Nosy, nosy.

Luke: Sorry.

Rory: (happily)Guess!

Lorelai: Yeah, guess what it is!

Luke: Something that makes you happy?

Lorelai: Yes.

Luke: Coffee maker?

Lorelai: Hey, I haven't quite hit 'Beverly Hillbilly' heights yet, mister. Money doesn't grow on trees.

Luke: Okay, then what?

Lorelai: Guess!

Luke: Socks.

Lorelai: Socks?

Luke: Yeah, socks. Is it socks?

Lorelai: Uh, no. (after a pause)Who gets excited about socks?

Luke: I don't know.

Lorelai: That's not what it is.

Rory: It's curtains!

Lorelai: Rory!

Rory: Sorry. But he couldn't guess.

Lorelai: (to LUKE)Yeah, you suck at this game.

Luke: A curtain?

Lorelai: (happily)No. Curtainssss. One for around the bathtub and one for the window!

Luke: I don't get it.

Lorelai: Do you know how bright the sun is? I'm blinded every morning.

Luke: What time do you get up?

Lorelai: Eight. In the morning! And now, look at me. If I don't want to get up until 11:58, then fine! The sun's not going to wake me up!

Luke: (slowly)Okay.

Lorelai: And the bathtub, hi, enough said.

Luke: And you're happy about this?

Lorelai: I am ecstatic about this.

Luke: Well, good, then.

Lorelai: Yes, it is good. Thanks for the coffee.

Luke: Sure. (he walks away and MISS PATTY comes in and sits down at their table)

Miss Patty: Lorelai?

Lorelai: Oh, Patty, hey.

Miss Patty: Hi, dear. (to RORY)Hello.

Rory: Hi.

Miss Patty: (to LORELAI)So, now, I know you've heard some things, but I assure you, I started no rumors.

Lorelai: Um, okay.

Miss Patty: Someone must have been there when it happened, because I only told one or two people, and in casual conversation, I promise. It just came up.

Lorelai: Patty, I don't know what you're talking about.

Miss Patty: You don't? Oh, you haven't heard?

Lorelai: No, I just got here.

Miss Patty: Oh, okay then. (she gets up)

Lorelai: No, wait. (MISS PATTY sits down)What is it?

Miss Patty: Well, a man enquired after you.

Lorelai: A...a man? What man?

Miss Patty: Oh, very nice-looking. Believe me, if I weren't married, ha! I'd be on him in a second!

Lorelai: Who? What was his name?

Miss Patty: Chris, I believe. (LUKE, who is behind the counter, looks up at the name)And Chris, such a strong name. Chris. Chris. It sounds good, doesn't it?

Lorelai: Uh...uh...

Rory: (quietly, too quiet for MISS PATTY to hear)Daddy?

Lorelai: (trying to sound calm)Um, where is he? When did you see him?

Miss Patty: This morning. So early! I was getting my paper, I was barely awake! But at the sight of that young man...

Lorelai: I have to go. (she stands up and picks up RORY, they leave)

[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI is carrying RORY and walking quickly back to the inn, they pass Kim's Antiques as CHRISTOPHER comes out]

Lorelai: Oh, God, no. (they turn around, heading back to LUKE'S)

Christopher: Lor!

Lorelai: (to herself)No, no, no. No.

Christopher: (getting in front of her)Wait, Lor. Just wait a second. (to RORY)Hi, baby. (RORY turns her head away, to LORELAI)Okay, let's talk.

Lorelai: No, no talking. Wasn't the last time enough for you?

Christopher: I drove all night! I couldn't find this town if my life depended on it, I must have passes by it twenty times.

Lorelai: I don't care.

Christopher: I want to talk to you.

Lorelai: Well, I want to run you over with a car repeatedly. Let's see who gets what they want. (she starts walking again)

Christopher: Okay, I see you're a little mad.

Lorelai: I'm a little homicidal.

Christopher: So if I could just get a second to talk to you...

Lorelai: No.

Christopher: Come on, Lor, we can get through this.

Lorelai: (she stops walking, she's in front of Stars Hollow Flowers)"This?" "This?" By "this," do you mean my relocation or your ignorance of it?

Christopher: I mean what's between us.

Lorelai: Well, ideally, a thirty-minute drive should be between us.

Christopher: Thirty minutes? Seriously? God, I was driving for hours. (LORELAI sighs and starts walking again, he hurries to catch up with her)Talk to me.

Lorelai: No.

Christopher: Yes, talk to me.

Lorelai: Leave me alone.

Christopher: Where am I supposed to go?

Lorelai: Go home, Chris. Go away. If my kid wasn't here, I might say go to hell. Just go.

Christopher: I'm not leaving. Not until you talk to me.

Rory: (turning to look at him)Go away, Daddy! (CHRISTOPHER sighs)

Christopher: I'm staying at the inn. Come see me.

Lorelai: (shocked)The inn? What inn?

Christopher: I don't know. The Butterfly, The Mosquito.

Lorelai: (sighing in relief)The Dragonfly.

Christopher: Yeah. So, I'll see you later?

Lorelai: No.

Christopher: Come and talk to me.

Lorelai: No! Leave us alone.

Christopher: I'll be waiting.

Lorelai: You'll be waiting for a long time. (she walks away, CHRISTOPHER doesn't follow her)

[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 20, LORELAI and RORY are silent, as they have been all afternoon]

Lorelai: You okay, honey?

Rory: Yes.

Lorelai: Really? You don't want to talk about Chris?

Rory: No.

Lorelai: But maybe you should. It's good to talk.

Rory: No thanks. (looking back at her picture)I made a yellow elephant.

Lorelai: That's nice.

Rory: (walking over to LORELAI)Here, it's for you.

Lorelai: Thanks, sweetie. (she folds it and puts it in her pocket)So you don't want to talk?

Rory: Now I'll make a green one.

Lorelai: Okay.

Rory: Then a blue one.

Lorelai: It's okay to talk about him.

Rory: (looking up)You talk about him. (LORELAI sighs)

Lorelai: Okay, we don't have to talk.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, room 25]

Rory: Here, it's a-

Lorelai: Pink elephant?

Rory: No, it's a tree. I made it from the square.

Lorelai: Yes, I see it.

Rory: And this one. I made it from the circle. It's purple.

Lorelai: I remember the circle.

Rory: More paper?

Lorelai: I told you to draw on the back.

Rory: I did.

Lorelai: All the backs?

Rory: Yes.

Lorelai: Okay, then maybe you should stop coloring.

Rory: (sadly)Oh.

Lorelai: There's no more paper, there's nothing I can do.

Rory: Okay.

Lorelai: How about this? I'm almost done, then we can ask Mia for some more.

Rory: (smiling)Okay.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, lobby, LORELAI and RORY look around for MIA]

Lorelai: I don't see her. We'll get some tomorrow.

Rory: No, but Mommy, I want some now.

Lorelai: We'll get it tomorrow. (they walk toward the door)

Rory: I see her! (she runs into the dining room)

[Cut To: Independence Inn, dining room, MIA and FRAN are eating dinner]

Rory: Miss Mia?

Mia: Hello, Rory.

Lorelai: I'm sorry. She's so fast.

Mia: Oh, it's fine. Would you like to join us?

Fran: We're taking a night off from the families.

Lorelai: Oh, no thanks.

Rory: (to LORELAI)Please?

Lorelai: No, we'll eat at Luke's.

Rory: (signaling for LORELAI to bend down so that RORY can whisper in her ear)Daddy.

Lorelai: What about him?

Rory: They know.

Lorelai: Oh, honey.

Rory: Please, can we stay?

Lorelai: (standing up)No, we can't. We'll eat at home, then.

Rory: No, Mommy, please?

Mia: She can stay with us, if you're too tired.

Lorelai: (sighing)No, I'll stay. Thanks.

Mia: Sure. (they sit)

Fran: So, have you spoken with Chris?

Lorelai: What?

Fran: He came by the bakery this afternoon. Didn't he find you?

Lorelai: Oh, he did.

Fran: Well, good.

Lorelai: Um, actually, I'd rather not talk about it. I'm sorry.

Fran: Oh, okay. We can talk about something else, then.

Mia: How about Patty's dance? Are you going?

Rory: Yes!

Mia: You are? What are you going to wear?

Rory: A really, really pretty dress!

Mia: Wow, how nice.

Rory: Are you going?

Mia: Can I?

Rory: Yes. Come with us.

Mia: Okay, I will.

Rory: Yay!

Lorelai: (unenthusiastically)Yay.