A/N: First of all, I need to tell everyone that the rating of this story has been bumped up from G to PG for mild language in this chapter and a previous one. I'm sorry if anyone has been offended. Also, this update marks the very first double chapter ever in Before the Beginning history. There's lots of filler in this chapter, lots of foreshadowing, so I've decided to add another, second chapter. I wouldn't expect this often. :) It's also as a thank you to anyone who's ever read or reviewed (or, hopefully, read and reviewed), and everyone who's helped me, been an inspiration, or written a great story. You're all great people and I love you all.

Protection.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, LORELAI and RORY walk in]

Lorelai: It's late. Let's go to bed. (RORY opens her mouth to protest)Yes. We're going to sleep. Go change.

Rory: Curtains?

Lorelai: No, we can't put 'em up tonight. It's too late.

Rory: Where are they?

Lorelai: (looking around)Don't you have them? (RORY shakes her head)I don't know. Um...oh, did we leave them at Luke's?

Rory: Yeah.

Lorelai: Okay, well, we'll get them tomorrow.

Rory: And put 'em up?

Lorelai: Yes, and put them up.

Rory: (changing)Miss Mia and Miss Fran knew.

Lorelai: They did.

Rory: Everybody knows.

Lorelai: No, sweetie, not everyone knows.

Rory: Everybody knows.

Lorelai: Well let's not think about that.

Rory: I won't. I don't.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, potting shed, morning, LORELAI and RORY are up and dressed]

Lorelai: We're not going, are we?

Rory: No.

Lorelai: Okay, but we have to go, honey. Mommy needs the coffee.

Rory: So go.

Lorelai: No, you have to come with me.

Rory: I'm okay.

Lorelai: I'm not leaving you here. No. We haven't had a lot of luck with that.

Rory: I'll be fine. Waffles, please.

Lorelai: I'm not taking orders and I'm not going without you.

Rory: Fine.

Lorelai: Okay. We'll just...we'll have to find coffee someplace else.

Rory: (thinking for a minute)Wonka!

Lorelai: What?

Rory: Wonka coffee!

Lorelai: Oh, no, sweetie. That was chocolate. It was a lake of chocolate.

Rory: Oh. Chocolate, then.

Lorelai: Well, as much as I'd love to drink from a chocolate lake, I don't really have the directions to the Chocolate Factory.

Rory: Oh.

Lorelai: Yeah. (thinking)It's okay. I've got an idea.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, kitchen, LORELAI and RORY walk in]

Lorelai: (looking around)Do you see it?

Rory: I don't know.

Lorelai: (sniffing)I don't smell it. Do you smell it?

Rory: Nope.

Lorelai: Where is it? (they start walking around, to a young, male KITCHEN WORKER)Hi, um, the coffee?

Kitchen Worker: None yet, sorry.

Lorelai: What?

Kitchen Worker: Breakfast is at nine, so we haven't made any.

Lorelai: But...but...I need the coffee.

Kitchen Worker: There isn't any, I'm sorry. (he tries to step around them, but LORELAI blocks him)

Lorelai: Can you point me to the coffee maker and I'll make some myself?

Kitchen Worker: Do you work in the kitchen?

Lorelai: No.

Kitchen Worker: Then no.

Lorelai: Okay, you have obviously not yet experienced the desperate need of coffee. I have. In fact, I'm feeling that need right now.

Kitchen Worker: We'll make it in half an hour.

Lorelai: I'm sorry, that's unacceptable.

Kitchen Worker: You're not my boss.

Lorelai: I'm calling seniority.

Kitchen Worker: Too freaking bad. I need to work.

Lorelai: You need to shut up and walk over there and make me some coffee!

Kitchen Worker: No!

Lorelai: Yes!

Kitchen Worker: No!

Lorelai: Yes! (a older man who seems to be the head CHEF comes over to them)

Chef: Is there a problem?

Lorelai: (turning to him, sweetly)Oh, hi. Um, listen, I know that coffee isn't usually made until a little later, but I've got somewhere to be at (she looks at her watch)8:30, so I was wondering if maybe I could be pointed towards the machine to make myself a cup? I'll wash out the pot and the cup after, sir, I promise.

Chef: (smiling)Don't be silly. You just sit down and Josh'll make you some. (to JOSH)Won't you?

Josh(Kitchen Worker): (grudgingly)Sure.

Chef: And why don't you get her and the little one a donut, too?

Lorelai: Thank you.

Chef: It's no problem at all. (he walks away and LORELAI looks at JOSH with a proud smile)

Lorelai: So, Josh. You better get crackin' on that coffee, huh?

[Cut To: Luke's Diner, CHRISTOPHER is sitting at the counter]

Luke: You want anything?

Christopher: Just more coffee.

Luke: Okay. (he pours the coffee and walks away)

Kirk: (from the seat next to CHRISTOPHER)Excuse me, sir?

Christopher: Me?

Kirk: Yes, you. I see you're a newcomer.

Christopher: Well, yeah.

Kirk: So you're not aware of Luke's rules, I'm sure.

Christopher: Uh, no, I'm not.

Kirk: Luke has very specific rules against staying in the diner after food consumption.

Christopher: What?

Kirk: And you've not only completed your meal, but you've probably already digested it, also.

Christopher: Probably, but-

Kirk: So, speaking on behalf of Luke, I'd like to ask you to leave.

Luke: (walking over)Kirk.

Kirk: Yes, Luke?

Luke: Shut it.

Kirk: I was only informing our visitor of your policies.

Luke: Kirk, you're fifteen years old. Get a life. Or, better yet, get to school.(to CHRISTOPHER)Listen, buddy, you're fine.

Christopher: Thanks.

Kirk: I don't need to leave for another 12.65 minutes, Luke, and I think you knew that.

Luke: Whatever. (he turns around to make more coffee)

Kirk: (to CHRISTOPHER)Any friend of Luke's is a friend of mine. (he puts out his hand)Kirk.

Christopher: (shaking his hand)Chris.

Luke: (turning around)I'm sorry, what was your name?

Christopher: Chris.

Kirk: Are you the Chris?

Christopher: Uh, I don't know.

Kirk: You're Rory's father, aren't you?

Christopher: Rory? You know Rory and Lor?

Kirk: Oh, yes. We're very close.

Christopher: (eagerly)Do you know where they're staying?

Kirk: Of course. They're over at the-

Luke: Hey, Kirk, isn't it time for school?

Kirk: No, it is not. On average, I wait for four minutes, order for two and a half, wait for another six, eat pancakes for fifteen and then carry on pleasant conversation for twenty. I've only had ten minutes to talk so far.

Luke: I'll give you ten dollars to leave.

Kirk: Forever?

Luke: Nope, just 'till after school.

Kirk: Fifteen.

Luke: Ten and a slice of cherry pie this afternoon.

Kirk: Done. (LUKE hands him a ten dollar bill from his back pocket, to CHRISTOPHER)Bye, Chris. It was nice to meet you.

Christopher: See ya, Captain. (KIRK leaves, looking confused, to LUKE)You didn't have to make him leave.

Luke: Oh, it's easier this way. Believe me.

Christopher: So have you met Lorelai?

Luke: Um, yeah. I have.

Christopher: Can you tell me where she's at?

Luke: No, I'm sorry, I can't.

Christopher: Oh, she hasn't told you? (LUKE makes a little grunting noise)She has told you? Where is she?

Luke: I can't say.

Christopher: What? Why not?

Luke: I just don't want to get in the middle of this.

Christopher: She has my daughter with her! I have a right to know where they are!

Luke: You mean now that you actually know they're gone?

Christopher: Hey! (he stands up and draws the attention of the other customers)That is none of your business!

Luke: Do them a favor and go home.

Christopher: They need me.

Luke: They need you to leave. They have a life here.

Christopher: This isn't a life! Staying in some insane asylum posing as a town with a pathetic short-order cook who meddles in their lives is not what they need!

Luke: No, it's not! What they need is someone stable and dependable. Rory needs a father and Lorelai needs a friend, because she's in a new town with her three-year-old kid working as a maid and not making enough to even cover meals. But they don't have that, do they? So if all they've got is a town full of people who'd do anything for them even though they don't know them, then I think that's pretty damn good, don't you? God knows they don't have you for that. (CHRISTOPHER turns around and walks out)

Luke: (to CEASER)I'll be upstairs.

Ceaser: But, Luke, the diner's full and-

Luke: I'll be upstairs! (he leaves up the stairs)

A/N #2: Lorelai and Rory reference Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, a movie that I have no right to. Christopher references Star Trek, which I also have no right to. It's good to keep in mind that I don't own any of this stuff. Believe it or not, fanfic writes don't get paid enough to own a movie. Or at all. Read on...