Chapter Three

"I think I made a mistake," Rory states pacing in front of the counter at the diner. "I don't know if I can do this."

"You could call her, and cancel," Adam suggests, "it's not too late. Tell her you're not ready and maybe take a rain check."

"No," Luke shakes his head. "I think this is something you have to do Rory."

"I don't even know what she's going to be like," Rory states collapsing onto one of the stools.

Luke wraps an arm around Rory's shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze, "you put a month of thought into this," he states. "You're a smart girl and I know you made the right decision."

"Dad," Rory whispers, "I'm scared."

"I'll have Ceasear throw her out if you'd like," Luke jokingly promises. "Or have Taylor town selectman her out."

Rory glances around the busy diner, "how'd everyone find out anyway?"

"It's Stars Hollow and you're their queen," Luke reminds his daughter. "They have their ways of finding these things out..." Luke raises his voice mid-sentence, "...the nosey busy bodies."

"She's not coming," Rory can't hide the disappointment in her eyes or in her voice an hour after the time she was supposed to meet Lorelai for lunch. "She must have changed her mind."

"Rory I'd..."

"Dad," Rory cuts her father off. "Please don't try to make this alright, okay? Because right now, it's just not going to be. I just want to be alone right now, okay?"

Luke nods, "sure, I'll bring you up something to eat in a while, okay?" Rory nods gently before disappearing up the stairs and into the apartment above the diner. Once she is gone Luke turns towards the town residence, "okay, everyone out now I'm closed." Not for the first time in the towns history Luke's was closing early because of Rory Danes but for the first time ever none of the town's residence protested.

"Luke," Sookie St. James stops on her way out of the diner. "If Rory needs anything..."

"Thanks Sookie," Luke nods.

"I mean anything," Sookie adds, "baked goods or...well you know anything...if it becomes a situation where she needs a woman since Rachel isn't around..."

"Thanks Sookie," Luke cuts Sookie off this time. "But I think for right now she needs to be alone and after that who knows what she'll need."

"Luke maybe we should stay," Lane gestures back and forth between herself and Adam.

Luke shakes his head, "I don't think you can..." he stops short as a tall brunette blows into the diner. "We're closed," Luke barks at the women.

"I'm sorry but..."

"We're closed," Luke snaps again as Adam and Lane exchange glances.

"I'm need to..." The woman is obviously getting angry.

"Whatever you need you can walk down to Doose's market and take it home and cook it for yourself, we're closed."

"Luke," Lane elbows Luke.

"What?" Luke looks down at the young Korean employee.

Lane rolls her eyes and Adam asks, "you aren't Lorelai Hayden, are you?"

The woman looks taken aback, "how'd you...?"

"You're late," Luke's mood only worsens at the revelation that this is the woman his daughter had been waiting for for more than an hour.

"I know," Lorelai nods, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be...is she around?"

"Yeah," Adam nods, "I'll go get her."

"And could I get some coffee?" Lorelai directs her question at Luke.

"Wow," Lane murmurs, "she definitely is related to Rory."

"Lane, why don't you get the coffee in the kitchen?" Luke urges sharply.

"Yeah," Lane nods before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Listen up," Luke points at accusatory finger at Lorelai. "Don't hurt her."

"Excuse me?" Lorelai's tone is immediately offended. "Of course I won't hurt her, she's my daughter."

"Who you gave up for adoption, Eighteen years ago what makes you think you have a right to just waltz in here and..."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Lorelai demands.

"I'm her father, you know, the one who's been her for her during the Eighteen years you chose not to be a part of her life."

"Rory," Adam knocks quickly on Rory's bedroom door.

"Adam, please." There are tears in Rory's voice when she responds, "I was serious, I really just need to be alone right now."

"I know," Adam pushes the door open, "but she's here, and she came to see you so that kind of makes it hard for you to be alone...Unless you've changed your mind about changing your mind about seeing her."

"She's here?" Rory sits up on her bed and stares at her boyfriend, dashing at the tears on her cheek.

Adam nods, "yeah, she is. Late but here, and Ror' you've go to see her she's looks just like you. And she seems nice."

Rory sniffs, "really?"

"Yeah," Adam nods again. "Do you want me to go down and tell them that you'll be down, so you can pull yourself together?"

"I'd appreciate it, thanks." Before Adam leaves Rory pulls him to her so that she can kiss him, "I love you."

"I love you too," Adam responds. "And I think this is going to be okay."

Rory bites her lip, "I hope so."

Walking down the steps into the diner Rory stopped probably three times, to catch her breath and attempt to calm her nerves. Stepping into the diner didn't help either, the tension was obvious enough that she could feel it from the second she stepped foot in the diner and all the eyes were on here. And from experience Rory knew that her father was probably at the center of the tension, Luke loved Rory but she knew that occasionally her took his over-protective father role a little to far.

"Look at you," Lorelai's words greet Rory first. "You're beautiful and so grown-up."

"Yeah, Eighteen years'll do that to you." Luke mutters.

Rory shoots her father an angry look, "Dad."

"Sorry," Luke apologizes, "I'm not helping."

"You're just not at all what I expected," Lorelai states. "I don't know what I expected but..."

Rory nods her head subtly, "you're not what I expected either."

"What'd you expect some crack junkie?" Lorelai guesses.

Rory shrugs taking in Lorelai's expensive appearance, "I don't know." Rory takes a deep breath, "maybe we should just trying this again...or some other time or something..."

Lorelai shakes her head, "I'm here right, and I am really sorry I'm late. Maybe we could try some place not closed," Lorelai shoots Luke a sidelong glance.

Rory looks between Lorelai and Luke and finally nods, "okay, I guess we could do that. There's a bakery and coffee shop and bakery down the street, if you'd like to go there?