Rory and Matt got into Matt's car. Lorelai waved from the porch, and Matt sweetly waved back and blew her a kiss. Rory rolled her eyes. As the pulled out on to the main highway, Sookie pulled into the Gilmore driveway. Sookie beeped, smiled, and waved cheerfully as they passed. Once out on the main highway Matt turned down the radio and looked over at Rory.

"You've been acting strange." Matt stated. "It's starting to bother your mother." Rory didn't respond. "You shouldn't bother your mother like that. She's finally happy, why do you want to ruin that for her?"

"I don't want to ruin anything for her." Rory replied in a cold tone.

"Well you are." Matthew replied angrily. "You've been acting like a spoiled brat. You need to be punished."

Rory's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" She asked softly.

"I mean, that's why your mother sent you out here with me tonight. She cant bring herself to do it."

"Do what?" Rory asked fearfully.

"Punish you." Matt clarified. "Might as well get used to it Rory. I'll be the man of the house from now on and when you do something you shouldn't, I'll be the one punishing you."

Matt pulled the car over to the side of the road, he had clearly taken them out of town and Rory had not even noticed. Matthew opened the door and stepped out. He walked around to the other side of the car.

"Get out, Rory." Matt demanded. "Get out of the damn car, now!"

(The Gilmore house)

Lorelai paced back and forth until finally Sookie was becoming nervous herself. "Lorelai, what's wrong?"

Lorelai sighed and finally took a seat on the couch. "Something is up with Rory."

"Something bad?" Sookie asked.

"I don't know." Lorelai's face showed mixed emotions. "Sometimes she acts like she's happy and that she's glad I'm with Matt. Other times she acts like she hates him." Lorelai's voice was going up and down in volume. "She completely disrespects him and Rory never disrespects anybody."

"Maybe she's not ready for a stepfather." Sookie replied. "Maybe she's not ready to share you with someone."

"She's 16." Lorelai noted. "She'll be going off to college soon and I have to have a life of my own Sookie. I mean, I could understand if she was like 4."

"Hey," Sookie began leaning closer to Lorelai and looking her in the eye "It's only been you and that girl for a long time. She'll never truly be ready to share you no matter how old she is. It'll take some time, but she'll give in. Matt's a wonderful guy, and he'll win her over just like he has won everyone else over." Sookie smiled.

"No." Lorelai replied looking off into space. "Something is wrong."

(The highway)

Matthew opened the door and grabbed Rory by the arm. "When I tell you do something... you do it!" Matthew snarled. "I'm going to be your father, and you obey me!" he tossed her to the ground. Rory whimpered and began to cry. Matthew picked her back up. He took off his belt and folded it in his hands. "Take off your pants." He quoted. Rory stood looking at him as tears ran down her face. "Do I have to do it?" he asked. Rory slowly unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down. "Now bend over the car." Rory's crying had turned to wailing. "Shut up!" he yelled. He reared back his arm and whipped the belt over Rory's body. She screamed in pain. He did it again... and again... and again.

Matthew finally stopped and buckled his belt back on. "Pull your pants up." he said calmly.

"I'm bleeding." Rory sobbed.

He opened the door of the car. "Get in."

Rory crawled into the seat of the car. Matthew walked around and got in on the other side.

"You don't say a word about this." Matthew replied. Rory didn't acknowledge his statement, so he grabbed her by the face and turned her towards him. "Do you hear me!"

Rory shook her head and mumbled. "Yes."

"If you so much as breath heavy around me again... I'll make it twice as worse next time." He threw her up against the door and drove off.

When they pulled up into the drive way Sookie's car was still parked. "Great." Matt mumbled. He looked over at Rory who had stopped crying. "You better put on one hell of a show."

They got out of the car and walked inside. "Hey, Sookie!" Matt smiled as he walked in. "I was hoping you would still be here when we got back."

"Hey Matt." Sookie smiled. "Hey, Rory."

"Hey." Rory let a small smile cross her face.

"We got pizza and a movie." Matt grinned. "So you're lucky tonight."

"Oh, no..." Sookie replied. "I can't stay. Thanks so much though."

"Sookie, please stay." Rory said reaching out and touching Sookie's arm.

Sookie picked up on something strange, but she couldn't tell right off hand what it was. Nevertheless something told her to stay. "Okay... I'll stay for a little while."

"Okay, well I'll go grab some plates and napkins from the kitchen." Lorelai said.

"I'll help you." Sookie added.

"Great, I'll get the movie ready." Matthew smiled. "Rory picked out a great one." He winked at Rory.

"Sure did." Rory replied awkwardly.

Lorelai and Sookie walked into the kitchen.

"Lorelai I see what you're talking about now." Sookie said concerned. "Something feels strange when Matt and Rory are around each other. It's almost like she's afraid of him."

Lorelai looked back into the living room to make sure Matt couldn't hear them. "Why would she be afraid of Matthew? He's always been so good to her."

"I don't know. Maybe you should talk to her." Sookie suggested. "Let her know everything is okay."

"Yeah." Lorelai nodded. "Maybe she just needs some reassurance? Right?" Lorelai asked.

"Right." Sookie smiled.