Disclaimer: I am not affiliated in anyway with the television show Gilmore Girls.

"Should we knock?" Lorelai and Luke, decked out in their finest, Lorelai in what had recently become a uniform of Luke's oldest plaid bathrobe, a pair XXXL drawstring sweatpants and a Bangles t-shirt, Luke in, upholding tradition in flannel, jean, and the baseball hat.

"Do you want to knock? It's been 3 days, don't you think that if she wanted to talk we would have talked by now?" Luke sighed, rubbing his temples, and frowned. Lorelai shrugged.

"This is a big step, her coming home. I don't know how or why it happened, only that I'm grateful. So if she doesn't want to talk just yet, then we don't have to talk." She unknotted the bathrobe once, only to pull it tighter, and rubbed her arms. "I just…I'm worried. She hasn't asked for anything. Not coffee, or her bags, or anything. Just sat in there. She hasn't even gone to the bathroom." Luke glanced at her skeptically, comically raising an eyebrow. Lorelai shrugged. "I've been watching? So what? I'm trying to get my fill of-" Her words were cut short by the door opening, and Rory standing in front of them looking haggard and weary, dressed in the same clothes she'd come in, the rims of her eyes splotched red.

"Um. Hi mom. Luke." She murmured, mumbling a soft excuse me as she pushed past them into the kitchen. "Is there any coffee?" Lorelai and Luke stared at her dumbfounded. "Oh my god! I'm sorry, of course there isn't because of the baby. That makes sense." Lorelai opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Luke stepped forward, and clasped Rory on the arm.

"I can make you some, Rory. I have some non pregnant non decaf somewhere." Rory's cheeks went pink, but she nodded her thanks, and neither adult noticed, as they tried to calmly assess their situation.

"So, I was going to go into the Inn for a final meeting about the billboards, but I cancelled, so we could spend the entire day together and…talk." Rory looked like a deer caught in headlights. Talking was the last thing she wanted to do. Right now at least.

"Oh, mom you didn't have to. I kind of wanted to go see Lane, anyway. If that's Ok." She bit the corner of her lip, her eyebrows rising hopefully, and although Lorelai laughed, it was forced.

"Oh hon, of course it's Ok. You don't have to ask." She smiled and hoped that it didn't look too phony.

"Thanks. I mean, thank you so much. I mean it." She leaned over her mother, and planted a kiss on her forehead. Luke stood awkwardly, his hands resting at his hips, his shoulders squared.

"You know Rory, I have empty the apartment over the Diner, and I could stay there a few nights if you wanted to get more situated." Rory sighed, and with a complicated smile, rubbed her temples, placing her small hand on his shoulder. Then something dawned in her eyes, and her face fell.

"Where-where's Jess?" Her words were barely a whisper. Lorelai and Luke shared a quiet look of understanding.

"Jess?" Luke asked slowly, and Rory frowned, her pale cheeks coloring. She bit her lip.

"He was staying over the diner. I know he was. Did he leave?" Unbidden, his words came back to her. I love you. And when you're ready, I'll be here. In the back of her mind, she'd believed him. Laughing scornfully, she nodded. "Of course he did. That's what he does."

Author's Note: I know, it's short, and not some of my best writing. I dunno. This one just didn't want to be written. It'll get better I promise.