"What is this feeling taking over

Thinking no one could open the door

Surprise it's time to feel what's real

What happened to Miss independent

No longer need to be defensive

Goodbye old you when love is true

Miss guarded heart

Miss play it smart

Miss if you want to use that line you better not start, no

But she miscalculated

She didn't want to end up jaded

And this Miss decided not to miss out on true love

So, by changing her misconceptions

She went in a new direction

And found inside she felt a connection

She fell in love."

Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson

Chapter 6:

"Mom, you'll never guess what happened to me today," Rory said into the phone, before her mother even had a chance to say hello.

"Well hello to you, daughter of mine. I had a fabulous day, thank you for asking. Now what were you saying?" said Lorelai, antagonizing Rory. Little did Rory know was that Lorelai knew full well what had happened to her, as she had had her hand in the incident.

"Hi Mom. I'm glad you had a good day," responded Rory exasperated. "But are you going to guess what happened to me today?"

"Does whatever happened to you have to do with one Limo Boy?" Lorelai answered, a smirk evidenced in her voice.

"Yeah, it does. How'd you know?"

"Lucky guess."

"Sure it was. But anyways, guess what Limo Boy did."

"Drive all the way to Stars Hollow, get hit on by Miss Patty, and track me down at the Dragonfly all in pursuit for your number?"

"What? No, why would he do all that when he could just ask Paris?"

"Beats me, all I was doing was just guessing."

"Well, that's not right. Guess again."

"Why should I? I gave one perfectly good, solid guess, which is equal to multiple half-assed guessing attempts."

"Fine! I'll just tell you," said an impatient and frustrated Rory.

"You learn quickly my young Padawan."

"A Star Wars reference? Is that really necessary mother?"

"It's a Thursday, of course it is. Now spill."

"Well, he called and told me that the Brigade is having a party this weekend."

There was a pause, indicating that there was something missing from the conversation. That pause lasted approximately thirty seconds.

"That's it? He called you just to tell you about a party? Something that could've easily been done through the use of a flyer. Or a drunken, streaker wearing a sandwich board," Lorelai questioned.

"Would they really be a streaker if they were wearing a sandwich board?"

"I don't know. But you're avoiding the question."

"Well, you can't really advertise a Brigade event, so I guess it was more of an invitation," Rory answered, for the first time actually considering what Logan had said to her.

"A 'hey, we're all friends and you may or may not have heard about this' invitation. Or a 'do you want to be my oh so pretty date' invitation'?" clarified Lorelai.

Rory paused, mentally deliberating, trying to determine what the words and the context equated in meaning. "Well, I guess, since he didn't say directly or, in fact, subtly, that he wanted me to be there as his date and he did mention that the Brigadiers enjoyed my company, so I'm gonna go with the latter," she answered.

"Oh, well that's a bummer. Dates are fun."

"This coming from the woman who taught me that you meet a boy then jump into a relationship with him. Plus, it's not like it's an open party. If it's LDB, it's by invitation only."

"Okay, then that makes it slightly more acceptable. Now, shall we more onto more important matters, like what you are going to wear to said event or better yet, me."

"Logan said that Stephanie is coming by Saturday morning to help me find suitable attire, so that pretty much nips that topic in the bud, doesn't it? How 'bout we talk about you? Or better yet, the inn?"

"Goodie!" Lorelai squealed, "Well, Sookie's pregnancy is making her more neurotic about her cooking than usual. Yesterday, she insisted that macaroni and cheese be the main course. It was so funny; she was trying to convince Michel that it was actually a gourmet food. And Michel, that man, I wonder about him sometimes. You remember how he was freaking out about the Tolberones? Well, get this, now he is insisting that there is someone stealing the complimentary soaps! He wants to keep tracking devices in them or something."

"So, everything is normal?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"That's good to hear. There are some things that should never change."

"So, Friday night dinner. I don't want to go."

"Whoa, can you say abrupt subject change? Well, you never want to go, so what's different?"

"Ever since Adolph and Ava got back together, it's been too much for me to stomach. I'm afraid that I'm going to gain a sibling, the way they're going at it."

"Firstly, it's mean that you are calling Grandpa, Adolph."

"I wasn't, I was referring to Emily."

"Oh, well then, carry on. Secondly, I seriously doubt that you are going to wind up a big sister, given Grandma and Grandpa's ages."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Did you hear about that woman who popped out the pair of twins at like 55? If anyone is going to one up her, it's gonna be Emily Gilmore."

"Gross. Can we change the subject again?"

"Gladly. So, I got a hot date with Luke tonight and I was wondering if I should where the black skirt or the red one."

"Red one."

"That was the same one I was thinking! And Lukie loves to see me in that skirt. And out of it."

"Ew, ew, ew! That is crossing the sharing boundaries."

"I take it you're going to request another subject change?"

"You bet. Actually, I had another weird thing happen to me today."

"You ran into a group of aliens that wanted you to help them to think up plan ten, because we all know how well plan nine worked out."

"No, but that probably would've been less bizarre."

"Then what is it? You're killing me with the suspense!"

"Well, I was in the library reading Spencer, who is ridiculously boring by the way, when this girl came up to me and asked me where Pushkin was located."

"That's one heck of a story, sport. Are you sure you're not reading me Grisham?"

"Oh shush you. Well, this girl says to me that whoever I am trying to forget, that they must be very cute or else I wouldn't be reading Spencer. And then she walked away, as if she hadn't just guessed my true intent."

"Oh honey, I hate to break it to you, but you really aren't that difficult to read. And if a complete stranger could tell, then you must've been practically wearing a neon sign."

"Well, there goes my life's goal to be a super spy."

"Not all of us can be Sydney Bristow. Some of us are limited to being Maxwell Smart. Or in my case, 99."

"Very clever, Chief."

"Not Chief! Ninety-nine!"

"Okay, whatever you say. Well, I have to finish my paper for Current Issues."

"I'm not even going to ask what it's about since I probably will just end up confused. Have fun, kid."

"Love you, Mom."

"Love you too. See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Rory flipped her phone shut, laughing to herself. She still wasn't any less confused, but she was happy and knew that no matter what happened, it was supposed to be that way. She was independent and could stand on her own two feet. With the help of her mother, of course, especially since her mom had taught her a lot about love, life, and growing up. Not to mention a copious amount of pop culture.

Rory trudged off to her room, where she turned her laptop on, pulled out her research, and flipped the switch on her coffee maker (a paper could not be written without coffee). She walked back out to the common room to get a snack, noticing that the chips that had been clearly marked "RORY" were now nothing but a sack of crumbs. 'Paris has got to get her man and leash and tell him to stop eating my food!' Rory grumbled to herself, grabbing a bag of Cheetos that had yet to be found by her almost live-in editor. She walked back to her room and sat down at her desk, trying hard not to get distracted by her window and her thoughts. This paper was going to enough work without the Writer's Block and the last thing she needed was a wandering mind. 'At least I can console myself with the fact that when this is done, I can start to relax for the weekend and work on curing my newspaper Writer's Block. Maybe a stress-free party is exactly what I need.'

But poor Miss Gilmore forgot that part of the purpose of the Life and Death Brigade was to challenge its members. Something that is rarely stress-free.

A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay. I had a horrible case of Writer's Block and nothing, absolutely nothing (not even the end of the hiatus) was fixing it. But now it's gone! Thanks to all of my lovely reviewers! Please keep on reviewing, it keeps me motivated to get over the block! Next chapter has Logan in it, I swear, as I've already started on it. Also, I guess that this story is also now kind of AU since I started it before the hiatus and nothing after it is relevant to the plot! Please review and thanks for reading!