Manic Penguin: I'm really glad the update made your day better. Don't worry, the tension will be gone soon (wink, wink). I know the crazy Piper-Lorelai bond makes no actual sense. But what can I say. The accepted and logical bore me.

ProFfeSseR: Thanks a lot. I'm happy it made you happy. We're all just happy.

No.13dreamer: I promise I will. (insert apology from previous chapter).

Lorelai Gilmore46: I'm glad I could write this story for you then. I don't like her either. Grr. Die. And then go back to Yale.

waitingtuesday: Half-way through your review I was like 'Great. I haven't updated in so long that when I finally do it's either extremely funny or just plain confusing. People are shocked and surprised and need to know why this has happened.' And then I read the rest and really liked your story. Thanks. A nice lift after the day I've had.

------- ---------------- ----- - --------------------------------------------- --- ----- ------ --------------

A/N: Great news. I'm fine. And Miss Kennedy Anne is doing great. Sorry again for the wait before Chapter 11, but I had some family stuff.

Lorelai entered the diner at six o'clock. She had stopped home to change and had walked over to Luke's.

She loved walking at sunset, because the humid, August heat that occupied the hours when the sun was out had already slowly melted away. The air turned into the perfect temperature to give your body the perfect amount of warmth that doesn't make you sweat, but keeps you warm in pants and a tank top.

"Wow. That was some deep thinking. And I'm talking to myself. Interesting." But the second she entered the diner she no longer felt like the crazy one. What she saw made her wish she had brought a camera. Lorelai silently cursed the fact that she was never prepared for anything.

But there it was. Her husband-to-be and daughter-to-be arguing in the doorway to the kitchen. Piper had an apron on, a ladle in her hand, and had food all over her self. Lorelai wouldn't have questioned Piper's appearance since she was cooking, but surprisingly Luke was covered in bits of food and splotches of sauce and batter.

Luke was holding a tray of food telling Piper in a very matter-of-fact way that this was not what the customer had ordered. Lorelai decided she would just sit at the counter and listen to them fight.

"But, Luke. This is better. My specialty: blueberry, banana, strawberry, double chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup, fruit topping, and whipped cream. Served with chocolate milk."

"The customer ordered a short stack of pancakes, this is a triple stack, with orange juice and fresh fruit on the side."

"There's fruit. Fruit topping. And fruit … insides? And come on, who orders the short stack when the regular costs sixty cents more. And did you really want me to serve orange juice with these pancakes. That would just be disgusting."

"Piper. I'm not going to have another kitchen brawl with you."

"Alright, alright. I'll make him his order. But I can't throw out these pancakes."

"I'll have them." Both Luke and Piper turned to Lorelai realizing for the first time that she was watching them. "The air smells like trees."

"What?" both Piper and Luke asked her at the same time.

"I guess you had to be there."

Piper set the food in front of Lorelai. "Okay, guys I have to go remake this guy's order." Piper put on her best pout and dragged her feet while walking slowly into the kitchen.

"What's with the appearance, 'cause last night when I suggested you put 'Luke covered in your choice of toppings' on the menu, I wasn't serious."

"Ah, geez. Me and Piper just had a little fight in the kitchen."

"A food fight?"

"No. She threw things … so I retaliated by throwing things. But it was not a … food fight. Just regular father-daughter arguing. Nothing like a food fight."

"You had a food fight," Lorelai practically sang.

"With a fifteen year old. It's just … girly."

"You're participating in activities your daughter likes. That's not so girly."

"Well, we're thinking about planning a camping trip. You wanna come?"

"No fair. I don't want you guys to go without me. But what will I do."

"Well, I'm thinking we could go up to my log cabin."

"You're log cabin."

"Yes. My dad left it to me and you could spend a weekend ordering take-out, watching TV and movies, and relaxing."

"Really!"

"While we're fishing you can pamper yourself all day."

"Dirty."

"Lorelai," Luke warned her in his most threatening voice.

Lorelai pushed her empty plate towards Luke and said, "Okay, okay. I'm going to go home." She gave Luke a quick kiss and walked home loving every minute of her time outside.

And then she saw it. Rory's car … parked in her driveway. And there was Rory, sitting on her porch. She walked to the door, unlocked it, and left the door open for Rory to come in if she wanted to.

Shortly after Lorelai sat down in the kitchen Rory entered.

"I yelled at him."

"Rory … what?"

"I yelled at him. Mr. Huntzberger. When he told me I couldn't make it he said I never participated in our weekly meetings. I was sitting in the pool house reading a book Grandpa gave me and I realized our Friday meetings were going to start in half an hour. So I jumped in my car and drove to the station and interrupted their meeting."

"You interrupted their meeting?"

"Yes. And I told Sam to get a life and Harry to get some guts."

"Sam and Harry."

"Yeah. And then I told Mr. Huntzberger that he might know a lot, but he doesn't know me. And that I couldn't wait to show him the determination and ability I have when I graduate from Yale and make something of myself."

"You did?"

"It's still my dream. It's always been my dream. I don't know how I could forget that."

"It's not good enough, Rory."

A/N: I know. Mean place to stop. Review and I'll update soon (oh, bribery).