Disclaimer: This is an original story based upon the characters of Gilmore Girls. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit will be made from this story.

Author's Note: Thanks for all who left feedback. I really appreciate it! As I said in the last chapter, my story has now taken on a life of it's own and has little bearing on what is or could be happening in the future on the show. It is still based on spoilers coming up though so the spoiler warning is still in effect!

"Emily, I'm serious! You look great!" Missie says as I walk out of the dressing room wearing the fourth outfit I have tried on.

"Are you sure?" I say, looking myself over in the mirror.

"Trust me!" she says enthusiastically. I look at her and we both start to giggle.

"Okay!" I say and go back into the dressing room. Moments later we are walking out of the store with a new dress added to our load of sacks.

The last three weeks have been the best I've had since the wedding. Suddenly I have a daughter again and I am remembering what it is like to have a friend, a companion to "hang out" with and do things with. Even on our good days Lorelai and I have not had this in years. I had forgotten what it was like. For the first time, I have had an inkling of what it must be like to be Lorelai and Rory.

"Where to next?" Missie asks.

"I don't know about you but I'm starving," I reply.

"Me too! Let's eat!"

"Where do you want to go?" I ask

"Let's just get something at the food court."

I stop in my tracks—the food court. The last time I was in that food court, I was there with Lorelai and Rory—and I had told Lorelai that I envied her life. I was so grateful that they were there. I had felt so alone. Suddenly I am overwhelmed with sadness. I miss my girl.

"Actually dear, I completely forgot Richard needed me home by three. There are some household accounts we need to go over," I say quickly. I can see the disappointment in her eyes and I feel bad. She has no husband to go home to.

"Okay…that's just fine,"

"Richard and I would love to have you for dinner tomorrow night though," I add quickly. She seems to brighten at that.

"Yes…I would love that," she replies.

"Good—we'll see you then," I say then we give each other a quick hug and head our separate ways to our cars.

I feel guilty—I feel guilty for having such a wonderful time with Missie. I feel guilty for sending Missie away. She is so lonely. She is such a wonderful woman. She makes me laugh so hard I start crying, and I feel safe around her—I can just be silly and not have to worry about what she thinks. We can talk about anything and everything. There's just one problem—she's not my Lorelai.

"Mommy...Mommy wake up,"

"Wha…what's the matter Honey?" I awoke suddenly. Tears were slowly dripping down her cheeks.

"I had a bad dream," she replied, "Can I sleep with you?"

It was one of those times where my head said one thing and my heart screamed another. I wanted to hold her—sing her her song and sleep the rest of the night listening to her breathing next to me. But she was eight—and my head was saying that eight year olds were too old to sleep with their mommies—even after bad dreams.

"Lorelai, I want you to be a big girl and go back into your own room."

"But Mommy…" she cried imploringly—her lower lip starting to quiver.

"No buts Lorelai, you're a big girl. You go back to your room now,"

She stood there looking at me for a moment and "the look" came back into her eyes—disappointment, disillusionment—betrayal.

"Okay Mommy," she says quietly. She turns to leave and I reach out and catch her arm and turn her around.

"Hey…"I say, reaching out to stroke her cheek. "I love you,"

This time she just looks at me, for what seems like a long time and the look in her eyes frightens me. She turns back around and heads for the door.

"Goodnight Mom," she says quietly.

That was the beginning of the end.

"Emily," Richard begins as he walks into the foyer tying his tie, "Don't you think it will be a little awkward for Rory to have Melissa here for dinner as well."

"Why on earth would it be awkward for Rory—she's my friend?" I ask as I help him with his tie.

"I don't know—it just seems a little odd, inviting this girl over for Friday night dinner. It kind of seems like we're replacing Lorelai,"

That struck a chord—was that what I was doing?

"Don't be ridiculous Richard," I say, trying to be sound confident, "The woman is my friend, she is lonely, I wanted to invite her for dinner—end of story."

"Whatever you say," he replies quietly.

The doorbell rings—displacing the awkward moment. It's Rory.

"Hi Grandma, Hi Grandpa!" she says smiling.

"Hi!" we both reply in unison.

"Richard why don't you bring Rory into the living room for a drink and I'll wait for our other guest," I say, to which Rory gives me a horrified look. I chuckle.

"Don't worry Dear, it's not a man," She smiles back and goes with Richard. Moments later the doorbell rings again.

"Hello Emily," Missie says smiling.

"Come in, come in" I say, "Let me take your coat."

"Richard and our granddaughter Rory are in the living room," I say putting my hand on her back and leading her into the living room.

"Richard—you know Mrs. Bates, and this is our granddaughter Rory. Rory, this is my good friend Mrs. Bates," I make the introductions. Rory stands up and extends her hand. She has a very strange look on her face—my guess is that she is as surprised and Lorelai and Missie's similarities as I was.

"Hello," Rory says cordially. "It's nice to meet you."

Missie smiles warmly, "The famous Rory. You're grandmother talks about you constantly. It's so nice to meet you."

Rory looks at me and I wink at her. "Alright, let's all have a drink."

The drinks go well—though Richard and Rory were a little awkward around Missie. I knew that Rory was probably thinking the same thing Richard was—that I was trying to replace Lorelai. I was almost relieved when Bianca came in and announced dinner.

"Alright, everyone. Let's eat." I say and we all head into the dining room.

"Why Emily, this looks lovely," Missie says.

I look over to Rory and notice she is giving me an angry glare. She points her eyes in the direction of Missie's place setting—in Lorelai's place. I shoot her back a "not now" glance and we all sit down. Suddenly I am feeling very unsettled—here we were on Friday night dinner and it did feel like I was trying to replace Lorelai.

I never even heard the doorbell ring. I always block it out during dinner. I never in my wildest imagination thought this would happen—of all the times for her to come.

"Um…gee, hi. Am I intruding on a family occasion here?" Lorelai said as she walked into the room.

"Lorelai!" I exclaimed, "What on earth are you doing here?"

She ignores me and walks over to Rory handing her some papers.

"You left these at the house, they're the ones that are due tomorrow right?" she says nonchalantly.

"Yes—thank you so much Mom."

Lorelai nods and then turns away. Missie stands up and extends her hand,

"Lorelai, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

Lorelai shoots me a look,

"Really? That's nice. Excuse me, I have to be going now," she says walking out of the room. Rory starts after her,

"Mom wait," she calls.

I put up my hand, "I'll go."

"Lorelai, Lorelai wait," I call as I follow her out the door.

"I don't have anything to say to you Mother," she responds. I reach out and catch her by the wrist.

"What is the matter with you?" I ask.

"Nothing…nothing at all."

"Tell me what the matter is," I insist. She gives a little sarcastic snort.

"It's not a big deal Mom, I just feel really stupid that's all,"

I stare at her incredulously.

"What is it?" I ask in. She turns around as if trying to gather herself, and then turns back around,

"I saw you at the mall Mom. I was in the store and I saw you with her. I watched you shop together and try on clothes and laugh and talk. And do you know what? I started to feel sad…I started missing you and thinking that maybe I was wrong to get so upset and I saw how you were with her and I wanted that so badly! So, I came here tonight because for the first time I wanted to come to Friday night dinner. I wanted to come and apologize to you and try to repair some of this relationship! And then I come in and find her here too—with my kid! What did you do Mom? Go down to the Daughter Factory and pick you up a replacement? I sure hope I was under warranty!"

"You are being completely ridiculous," I reply. She puts her hand up,

"Whatever Mom. You have what you always wanted now. I hope you'll be happy," she says.

"Lorelai…you don't understand." I start, but she brushes past me, gets in the car and drives away. I stand alone outside on the empty driveway.

I can't do anything right.

"Emily…what are you doing?" Richard asked as I crept softly towards Lorelai's room.

"I just want to check on Lorelai," I replied.

"Emily, the girl is fourteen. She doesn't need you to tuck her in" he said condescendingly.

"I know, I know. I just haven't seen her all day what with all my meetings and the party. I just want to see her."

He shook his head and smiled at me. I opened the door carefully, the only sound in the room was the swishing of my party dress. I make my way over to the sleeping girl in the bed and ever so slightly reach down to kiss her goodnight.

…she isn't there. The lump in her bed is a bunch of pillows.

"Richard! Richard!" I scream. He bolts into the room and is at my side.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he yells fiercely. I throw back the covers and show him the pillows.

"She's not here! She's gone!"

"Emily, don't get hysterical. Maybe she's down in the kitchen getting something to eat."

Both of us run down the hall calling her name. There is no answer.

"What are we going to do?" I cried. Richard bolted towards the phone to call the police.

"This is Richard Gilmore, my daughter is missing, I need you to send someone immediately." He hung up the phone and put his strong arm around me.

"Richard…do you think someone has her? Do you think someone took for a ransom?" I felt like I was on the verge of fainting. It seemed like hours before I heard the policemen sirens in the back round. I was going over every scenario in my head—some deranged psychopath had the Gilmore daughter and was holding her for ransom.

Richard was pacing the floors, his coat on ready to go look for her. The door bell rang and we both sprang to our feet. The policeman started taking the report asking her name, age and other factors.

"You say the girl's fourteen. Do you think it's possible she snuck out?"

"Excuse me?" I said incredulously, "Lorelai would not sneak out. She is a good kid. I trust her."

"Are you sure?" the policemen asked again, "Do you know how many missing persons reports I get from first time parents when their kid sneaks out? Happens all the time"

Richard leans forward and grabs the man by the collar,

"Richard!" I cry out in warning.

"Look," Richard says, his voice raising, "My daughter is not some statistic. I don't care how many other people's children run away in the dead of night but our's did not. My daughter is smart and careful and she would never do such a thing. Now she is missing and if you won't do something about it, then I will!" he says dropping the man back down and then starting towards the door. He opened the door and there she was—unharmed, fully dressed and looking sheepishly up at us.

"Lori-Bug!" Richard breathed, the relief in his voice palpable. He hugged her to him feeling all over her for anything broken.

"Lorelai!" I cried out and ran to them, hugging her as well, "Are you alright?"

"Um…yeah. I'm fine" she said quietly. "What are you guys doing home so early?"

We both break away from her, staring at her.

"What do you mean?" Richard asks. She looks down at the ground.

"There was this party and…"

Richard shudders, and I put my hand over my mouth in utter surprise.

"Lorelai, get up to your room." Richard says, his voice thick with anger. She nods and walks away.

"I'm going for a walk Emily," Richard says quietly and walks down the driveway—the red and blue lights still swirling on the police cars reflect on his tired sagged shoulders.