Authors Note: Thanks Lore2, emilygilmore and cmbarrytx for your reviews. I'm so glad you've enjoyed the last chapter (especially the letter) and that you still think that I'm getting the true Emily. Cause that's what I want more than anything.

Chapter 17: Agreements

It's Wednesday. I'm home for a few days now. Richard has employed a valet – just as I suggested – his name is Robert. I've employed a new maid, too. Madonna Louise. Until now we're getting along quite well. I hate to admit that, but sometimes I'm just talking to her because I need to talk. And who else is there to listen?

Richard and I haven't changed. There was no big fight, only some polite talk. And we didn't even speak to each other every day. I was thinking about Hope's words – about going to him to apologize for … whatever, but I couldn't. I don't know why, I think it's because I'm not even sure that he wants me to come. He was barely asking about Europe and he never asked something about me – how I'm feeling or how I think things should be from now on. So I'm having my own thoughts.

I just don't want to have Friday Night Dinner with him anymore. Thinking back to the before Europe dinners – they were awkward. We would just sit there, staring at each other – trying not to fight in front of the girls. And now that they know about the separation I don't see why we should fake harmony.

So I thought that maybe he could have drinks with the girls before dinner – he's always liked drinks. After that they could come over to me. Granted I have more time with them, but we can't split the dinner right? And Friday Night Dinner was my idea. He would've given Lorelai the check and we wouldn't have seen them ever again (except for the holidays of course – she always came then. I've lived for those holidays for so many years of my life.) So since to me this relationship is much more important – I'm not the one who was jeopardizing it for my business – it seems only right that I get more time with them. I'll go over to Richard as soon as he gets home.

He just came home. I'm going outside heading towards the pool-house. I'm knocking at the door. His valet is opening it.

"Ma'am?"

"I would like to speak to Mr Gilmore."

"I'll tell him."

With that he's turning around. I'm stepping inside waiting at the door. He has changed the pool-house – it's not that messy anymore, but certainly not something I could live in. I'm so glad that he agreed to me living in the house. Richard is coming out of his 'bedroom' – I think.

"Emily!"

"Hello Richard."

"Did something happen?"

"No, I just wanted to talk to you. If you don't have time now I'll come back later."

"No, that's okay. Please sit down. – Do you want something to drink?"

"No, thank you. – Richard we need to figure out a plan for Friday Night Dinners. I don't think that it would be sensible to have them with the four of us. Since Lorelai and Rory are aware of our situation I see no reason to fake anything. You agree?"

"If that's what you want."

I asked about your opinion. Can't you listen to me?

"So you think it wouldn't be awkward? You want to have Friday Night Dinners the way we had them before?" I say – raising my voice a little.

"No – I guess you're right. So what's your plan? I'm sure you have one already."

"Yes I do. And don't be sarcastic. It's not that your coming up with any great ideas or that you're thinking about this at all. But if you have another solution feel free to share it with me."

"I haven't even heard yours. It would be very kind of you to fill me in here, cause I can't read minds."

No you certainly can't. Though there were times in which you knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Emily I have something for you." Richard said coming home from work.

"What?"

"Well look."

He was handing me an envelope. I opened it. Inside were tickets for the premiere of the new Broadway Musical. The one I wanted to attend – I'd mentioned it weeks ago, hoping he would surprise me with tickets - but I gave up on that wish, when he told me he'd have to leave for a business trip next week.

"Well – you're going there with me?" I asked confused.

"It's two tickets, right?"

"But I thought you would have to go to Canada next week."

"Well when I saw your disappointed face when I told you about that trip I was thinking about what could have caused it. After some time I remembered that you wanted to see this musical. So I made some calls, pulled some strings and now someone else is going to Canada."

I can't believe that he did that. I didn't even ask him to do this.

"But the tickets were all sold out. And these are top seats."

"Well again I made some calls."

I don't know what to say.

"Thank you so much Richard. That really is a surprise. You're the most wonderful husband a woman can wish for." I say hugging him.

"I love you Emily."

"I love you Richard."

Then I kissed him. We spent a wonderful weekend in New York.

Back then I came first and then his business, not that he could do this very often but he did. Well those times were over a long time ago.

"Emily! Are you even hearing me? What do I have to do that you will fill me in on that plan of yours?"

I was lost in my thoughts. Thinking about the way we were.

"Sorry I just – Well -"

"What?" he's asking impatiently.

I have to pull myself together. It's bad enough that I've allowed myself to think of that memory in his presence.

"I thought that the girls could come over for drinks to you. You've always liked drinks – and you could easily make them here. After you've finished that, they come over to me to have dinner."

"So I get them for drinks – which last 30 min at most – and you get them for the whole dinner? Very clever."

"Well we can't split dinner right? And what could you cook here anyway. But if you have a better solution…"

"You've already made up your mind about this Emily. I don't think that I could convince you otherwise. Alright this is the way it will be from now on."

"Good. Thank you."

He's not replying anything. I'm looking around. He really did furnish it a little.

"The place looks nice. You've made something of it."

"Thank you. – Is there another agreement you want to make? Otherwise I have to work."

"I see. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'm sorry."

I'm standing up to leave.

"I'll call the girls to tell them about our new agreement."

"You do that."

"Goodbye Richard."

"Goodbye Emily."

I'm going back to the house. He wasn't pleased with it, but he agreed – and that's the main point. And I was right in doing it. He doesn't want to talk to me. That was obvious.

I'm picking up the phone. Lorelai's ridiculous answering machine picks up. I hate those messages. It's a mystery to me why she can't leave a proper message. I refuse to speak with the machine. Perhaps she's still working. So I try the Dragonfly.

"Dragonfly Inn Lorelai Gilmore speaking."

"Lorelai it's your mother."

"Hi Mom."

"Do you have a moment? I have something to tell to you."

"Sure – what's up?"

"Your father and I agreed on that you're coming to the pool-house for drinks on Friday and when you're finished there, you head over to me to have dinner."

"Is that really necessary Mom?"

"Yes it is – and I didn't call to discuss this. I'm just filling you in on the new agreement. So on Friday you two head straight to the pool-house, you understand?"

"I'm not dumb."

"Lorelai you don't have to take that attitude with me."

"Sorry."

"So are you and Rory fine?"

"Of course we are. Is there something else Mom, cause otherwise I have to hang up now."

"You told me you have time."

"Yeah, but that was before Sookie was waving frantically in my direction."

"No that was all – I don't want to hold you back from work. See you on Friday Lorelai."

"Yes. Bye Mom."

"Bye."

It's Friday. The girls arrived 15 min ago. I've seen them going to the pool-house.

"Madonna Louise?"

"Yes Mrs Gilmore?"

"How long until dinner is ready?"

"Dinner is ready any minute."

"Then please go to the pool-house to get my daughter and granddaughter."

"Yes Mrs Gilmore."

She's leaving. I'm waiting for her to return. After a few minutes the girls are coming.

"Hi Grandma." Rory is saying while hugging me.

"Hi Sweetie – I've missed you."

"Sorry I didn't come by but I had a lot to do. Yale and everything."

"I understand. Hello Lorelai."

"Hi Mom."

"Well dinner is ready, so let's sit and eat."

Madonna Louise is bringing out the soup.

"Hmm. Soup in 100-degree weather. Cool." Lorelai says.

Why does she always have to complain?

"I have the air-conditioning on, Lorelai."

"I like it, Grandma."

"Oh, my God, the sucking up." Lorelai says.

"Stop it." I say to her. Then I'm turning to Rory

"Thank you. It's fennel potato puree with a touch of chili to give it spice. I thought we could go more exotic now that it's just us girls."

"If you really want an exotic girls' night out, Mom, let's hit Baja."

I'm ignoring this. I don't know what she's talking about anyway.

"So, Rory, tell me, what's new?"

"Different room, same reaction." Lorelai says.

"Oh, nothing much." Rory replies.

I don't believe that. With Yale starting and anything there has to be something going on. So I'm continuing. And after Lorelai's comment she must have told Richard something. I hate it when I miss out on things.

"Really? Well, what was new 20 minutes ago?"

"Excuse me?" Rory says.

"What did you talk about with your grandfather?"

"Oh, well – "

"I mean, just because he gets you first in the evening doesn't mean you get to waste all the good stories on him."

"I didn't wa – "

"So, you just tell me everything you told him exactly as you told him, leave nothing out."

"Okay. Well, I'm moving into Branford College on Monday."

I knew there was something new to tell me.

"You know, Robert Frost said that Branford has the most beautiful college courtyard in America."

"Hmm. You don't say." Lorelai chimes in.

"You knew that?"

"No." Rory quickly answers.

Too quick. She never was good at lying. I could always see right through her when she was. I don't even know why she's still trying it.

"He told you that?"

"No." Lorelai says.

She should know even better, that they can't fool me. I'm beginning to get angry. Not only that they've discussed everything important with Richard first (in 15 min – don't know how they managed to do that anyway) but they're denying it. And they don't seem to feel like sharing their news with me, either.

"You've already discussed everything there is to discuss. You're all talked out."

"We're not all talked out." Lorelai answers.

Well then talk for heavens sake.

"He gets you first, talks you out, and I get two exhausted, empty shells."

And now Richard is coming in. What does he think that I'm not noticing him, just because he's tip-toeing? And what does he do here anyway. This is my part of the evening. Isn't it enough that he got to know the news first, now he must come to ruin my part of the evening with the girls?

"What do you think you're doing?" I say to him – angry.

"I needed to get something out of my study."

Right now? Sure. As if I would believe this. And even if that's the real reason he should have done it earlier or waited until tomorrow, but interrupting my dinner is unacceptable. I'm walking over to him. Seems that I need to remind him of our agreement.

"You are supposed to stay in the pool house. That is what we agreed on."

"I am in the pool house."

"Oh, really? Right now?"

"No, not right now. I told you I had to get something."

Yes and I'm not believing that. If the girls would have had drinks longer you wouldn't have needed it right now.

"Well, you should have called, made an appointment."

"To go into my own study?"

"You don't live here anymore, Richard. What if I was sitting in the living room stark-naked?"

Silly suggestion I know – but I can't help it.

"You've never been in the living room stark-naked. You've never been stark-naked. We went skinny-dipping one night, and you wore an overcoat."

"The water was freezing!"

He's going into his study and I'm following him.

"So tell me what is so important that you have to interrupt my evening with the girls?"

"I told you I need something."

"Well what?"

"Papers for business."

"And you haven't known this before – or couldn't get them tomorrow?"

"No and I don't know why I should – this is my study and I'll go here whenever I like."

"I think you should call before you're coming over."

"Well I don't think so. And don't get me started on this. When I agreed to move into the pool-house you've pointed out that whenever I would need something I could come and get it. Well that's what I'm doing. It's not my fault that you've changed your mind. If you'll excuse me I have to work now."

He got quite loud while saying all of this. He's leaving me standing there. That's why I wanted us to split up Friday evenings. I don't want the girls to witness all of this. And now they did. I'm still not convinced that his coming over right now was that important, but as much as I hate to admit it, I did say that he could come by and get anything he needed. I said it because I wanted him to agree to the pool-house arrangement. But I said it. Though I would prefer to change that now. Well the girls are waiting so I'm returning to the dining-room.

"I apologize. You shouldn't have witnessed this. I'm sorry you had to."

They're both nodding. The rest of the evening is a little awkward. I'm nearly relieved when they're leaving.

It's Monday. I really have to talk to Richard. We have so much things to discuss. Like the Heart Association luncheon and the question who's going to attend it. I told Madonna Louise to tell his valet about it. Plus when I was coming home from shopping this morning I saw an oil stain in the driveway. I hate when things like that happen and he knows that.

I'm sitting at my desk going through some paperwork to figure out what else we have to discuss. The Farthington's dogs are barking like mad – the mail must be here. I hate those dogs. They're terrible.

"The mail must be here." I say to Madonna Louise.

She comes back to hand me the mail. As I said until now we're getting along quite well.

"Thank you. I'd like some coffee when you get a chance."

She leaves. I'm looking through the mail. As I thought – an invitation to the Heart Association luncheon. I knew we would get it sooner or later. I'm going to the kitchen. She's already making my coffee.

"Did we ever hear back from Mr Gilmore about the Heart Association luncheon?"

"I told his valet about it."

"And what a help that was. Well, call his valet back and tell him I need a meeting with Mr Gilmore this afternoon."

"Yes, Mrs Gilmore."

„Thank you."

And again the barking continues. They'll give me headache. I really hate those dogs.

Finally Robert told Madonna Louise that Richard would come over this afternoon. I'm writing down a list so that I'm not forgetting anything we need to discuss.

It's three o'clock and Richard is coming in.

"Hello Emily."

"Hello Richard. I'm glad you could make it. We really have to discuss some things."

"Yes we do."

"Then let's go to the dining-room. Would you like something to drink?"

"Yes water please."

"Madonna Louise!"

"Yes Mrs Gilmore?"

"Please bring us some water."

"Yes Mrs Gilmore."

After she's returned with the water (and left again) I'm starting to talk. I begin with something that's not on my list, but I just have to say it.

"Richard, I know I said one of the advantages of you living in the pool-house would be, that you could come by and get everything you need. But I think that it would be more appropriate if you could give me advanced notice."

He's not saying anything.

"Or at least refrain from interrupting me, when I'm having guests and you have notice of that. However I know I said otherwise before, so all I can do is ask you to do this."

Another pause. Then he's responding.

"I'll see what I can do – but I won't promise anything. You would only hold it against me, if I would have to break it. But I will try not to interrupt anything again."

"Thank you Richard."

I'm looking down on my list – time to start scheduling the next weeks.

"We got an invitation from the Heart Association luncheon. I don't think that both of us have to attend those events anymore. We can make up some excuses why we're attending them alone. If we're coming together I don't think we'll be able to fool anyone and I don't want anyone to know about the separation. I don't think you want that either."

"That's right, I don't."

"Fine. So what about the luncheon?"

"If you want to go there that's fine with me."

"Alright, I'll go."

That was point one. Number two – the landscaper.

"Richard the landscaper called, saying he was waiting for his payment. I thought you would take care of that?"

"I sent the check off to the landscaper a week ago."

"He claims he hasn't received it."

"Well, he's lying."

"Shall I tell him that?"

"I will stop payment on the check and issue another one."

"Fine."

Number two. That's going rather smoothly. I'm continuing.

"Now there's the issue of the Gregory's cocktail party on the fourth. Even though they did miss our Christmas party last year, you are currently involved in a business deal with Hamilton, so one of us should probably attend."

"Jancy will definitely want you to be there."

"Fine. I'll go."

I'm about to write that down when he interrupts me.

"No, that's all right. I should go."

"Fine, then you'll go."

Whatever.

"Though I had to go to the Newmans' Zoo Auction last week."

"Fine. Then I'll go."

I'm getting impatient. I hate when men can't decide what they want.

"No, it's my business. I'll go."

"Fine."

Just decide what you want.

"Unless you would like to go."

Okay I have to stop this, otherwise this will go on forever.

"Moving on to the subject of your car –"

"Excuse me?"

"You parked the Cadillac in the driveway when you worked on it this weekend, and it leaked oil all over the place."

"It's a tiny stain, Emily."

Oh please it's not. I'm not blind.

"It's a large stain, and I see it every day when I walk in and out of the door."

"Really? You can see the driveway with your nose way up in the air like that?"

Are we really reaching a level that low? How can he talk to me like that? I'm certainly not answering to this. I'm just staring at him.

"I apologize. That was uncalled for."

Oh yes it was. You better do apologize.

"I think you should restrict your cars to their garages at all times." I say, I hate that I sound a little hurt.

"I will park my cars anywhere I like."

"You never used to leave your cars in the driveway before."

"I park there when I work on them."

"Well, work on them somewhere else." I say raising my voice.

"Like where?"

"What about the filling station? It's already filthy there."

I'm really getting angry now.

"Are you seriously suggesting that I drive a priceless antique car 12 blocks away, park it next to a broken-down Chevy, and do my restoring there?"

"Yes." I say firmly.

"So this is the way it's going to be from now on."

"I suppose it is."

And don't make this my fault. You're just as much to blame for this as I am – perhaps even more.

"The filling station will be fine."

"Thank you."

I'm barely saying those words – but I do. It's the polite way after all.

"I suppose we should discuss the insurance papers."

"I suppose we should." I say calmly again.

And that's what we did. I honestly don't know how we could change ourselves.

Okay this was long I know, but I just can't bring myself to delete the actual dialogue – I really like it. If you don't want me to include it that much please tell me so (but also tell me what to delete ;-)).