Chapter Six

I know it's been forever since I updated, but you can't really hate me cause an update's an update, right?

The silence that had descended around the three generations of Gilmore's and Emily finally breaks it, "well Lorelai shouldn't you introduce everybody?"

Lorelai who has just a hint of tears shimmering in her eyes nods, "um, Rory this is Sydney and Pierce I told you about them. Syd, Pierce this is Rory, your dad and I have told you about her."

Pierce steps forward and shakes Rory's hand, "it's nice to meet you."

Rory offers a polite smile, "it's nice to meet you too."

Pierce steps away before elbowing his older sister into movement, finally Sydney steps forward and Rory can't help but notice how much Sydney looks like shehad three years ago. "Nice to meet you," Sydney's words portray any emotion other than nice.

Trying her best to be nice Rory's smile brights, "it's nice to meet you too."

"And these are my parents, Richard and Emily Gilmore."

"It's so good to meet you," Richard greets.

Emily nods, "we're so glad you agreed to come to dinner. So glad we have the chance to meet you."

"So Rory, tell me, where do you go to school? The local school I assume?" Richard questions everyone has settled into the living room.

Rory shakes her head, "I actually go to a private school, Chilton it's in Hartford."

"You go to Chilton?" Emily asks, "that's an amazing school."

Rory nods, "I like it a lot."

"So then is it safe to assume that you plan on going to a Ivy League school next year?" Richard questions.

"Dad, how about we chill on the interrogation about her life plan?" Lorelai suggests.

Rory offers a small smile in Lorelai's direction but states, "it's okay, I don't mind." Then back toward Richard she states, "actually I turned in my Harvard application last week."

"Harvard, really?" Emily asks.

Rory nods, "I've decided a long time ago that I want to be a foreign correspondent and I've always wanted to go to Harvard, I'm not exactly sure where that comes from, probably my Dad."

"You've applied for back-up schools, though, just in case I hope?"

Rory nods, "Yale and Princeton, just in case. But assuming I get into Harvard that's where I'll go."

"Yale is actually my old Alma Mater," Richard states proudly.

"Oh really?" Rory questions.

Richard nods, "best years of my life." Richard stops for a minute and then states, "now here's a thought. Emily and I are going over to New Haven for the day next weekend for my Whiffenpoof reunion, you should come along with us and take a look at the campus, as long as it's a school you're considering."

"Dad," Lorelai snaps, "slow down. She's only been here ten minutes and you are trying to control her life."

"Your father is not trying to control her life Lorelai," Emily states. "He's merely making an offering that Rory may want to take us up on, touring the campus isn't control. Besides your father and I would like to get to know our granddaughter a little better."

"So what do you say Rory?" Richard asks Rory, and Rory is suddenly aware that everyone at the room is staring expectantly at her and that what she says will cause everyone to form their own opinions off her that might be wrong and hard to change.

"Don't feel pressured, kid," Lorelai offers, "if you don't want to do this it's okay."

Rory bites her lips and lets out a slow, soft breath, "um, sure, yeah, that sounds like fun."

"Rory, you don't have to do this," Lorelai assures Rory.

Rory shrugs, "there's no harm in seeing the campus."

"Then I'm coming," Lorelai declares firmly.

"Excuse me?" Richard and Emily both look stunned by Lorelai's declaration.

"If you're going to take her to your alma mater dad I'm going to stay and make sure that you're not trying to convince her to go to Yale instead of Harvard."

"Lorelai, really," Richard sighs. "You're welcome to come, but I was just suggesting the trip to show Rory the campus."

"Well, I'm coming," Lorelai states again.

"We'll you're more than welcome to come," Richard replies. "Everyone's more than welcome to come Sydney, Pierce would you guys like to come with us as well?"

Pierce shakes his head, "I have basketball practice all weekend."

"Sydney what about you?" Richard asks.

Sydney immediately shakes her head, "I just don't want to."

"Sydney," Emily scolds, "that was rude."

Sydney sighs and crosses her arms, "sorry Grandpa."

"Dinner is ready," the maid announces before hurrying out of the room.

"How was it?" Luke is waiting up for Rory when she gets home, with a slice of apple pie.

Rory wraps her arms around Luke and hugs him tightly, "I love you Dad."

"That bad?" Luke questions.

Rory shakes her head, "no. It was nice, we had a nice dinner. Lorelai's parents are nice, and so is her son, but I think her daughter hates me."

"Your sister?" Luke suggests.

Rory makes a face as she digs into her pie, "don't call her that, it's weird."

"Sorry," Luke looks stricken and suddenly Rory realizes what the inner turmoil must be like for her father.

"No, I'm sorry," Rory sighs loudly. "It's just weird, you know. And I don't know that I'm ready to consider them right now, maybe ever. I guess it'll take some getting used to before I even think about her as my sister, or brother or whatever...It's just so weird..." Rory sighs again.

Luke nods wrapping an arm around his daughter, "so tell me about the dinner."

Rory shrugs, "I told them about Chilton, they've heard of it. I told them about applying to Harvard."

"Bet they were impressed by that," Luke comments.

"They were," Rory nods suddenly nervous to tell her father about her upcoming trip to New Haven, "and they invited me to go with them to New Haven to see the Yale campus, and I kind of agreed."

"They did what? And you agreed?" Luke's reaction is exactly the one that Rory had been fearing.