Katko: I'm actually surprised at how well bribery worked … and kinda scared. The power I possess with a simple bribe. I'm thinking world domination.

No.13dreamer, Kylie1403, and Bloomin' Daisy: Major cliffhanger … I just love torturing you guys. Not really. You know, I felt the need to explain that I actually don't enjoy torturing people or small animals. Who does really? Okay, psychos. And the French .. in the olden days. They've grown out of that … hopefully.

Taer: Your problem with chapter 3 can easily be remedied by continuing to read. Don't give up on the story yet. There's chapter 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 … and now 13.

Waitingtuesday: Thank you soooooooooo much. Seriously, it's (I just fixed it's, there's an apostrophe because it's like 'it is.' Don't worry, I have a theory that English teachers are all in a cult that implants chips into our heads while we sleep.) so, anyway it's great to know that at least someone likes this story.

J.Stone: I read your review and for the last five minutes I've been searching my house for a snickers bar. I actually went to the store. Cravings suck. So, now that I have my snickers (takes bite) I'm glad to inform you that the camping trip will be coming up soon.

Gilmoregrl1519: I'm so sad about that. Sad, sad, sad. I've been depressed all week. And I love birthday's. This ruins it. The writers should get a stern talking to. They might as well have run around telling all the small children that the tooth fairy is scared of dentists, Santa Clause called 1-800-JENNY and is now slim and fit, and that leprechauns don't exist. Poor leprechauns.

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A/N: Thanks. Evil cliffhanger. I know, I love being evil. Come on … at least as evil as the Brain … Pinky?

"Mom…"

"No, Rory. It's not good enough. You can't just decide that you actually do like your old life better …"

"I didn't …"

"Rory. There had to be something. Sure, I still choose to blame Mr. Huntzberger. But it has to be something bigger than that."

"Why? Why can't we just agree that Mr. Huntzberger is why I …"

"No."

"No?" Rory stared at her mom, but Lorelai's eyes were set on the floor. "Mom, you can't just say no and assume that it's the answer. No cannot be an answer here."

"No. It's not just him. I know you Rory. Or I thought I knew you. The Rory I know would need a better explanation for letting her entire dream, her whole life fall to pieces. There just has to be more. There has to be Rory."

Both girls were silent. "What if I can't do it?" Tears slowly started running down her face.

"What?"

"What if I can't do it, mom? It's so much and I just don't know if I can. Chilton was hard, but this. I'm just so stressed, but more than anything I'm afraid. What if things don't work out? Let's just say I survive this whole Yale thing. What if even with my education I'm not good enough?"

"How can you think that?"

"I don't know. I just do. And every time life throws me a hurtle I end up questioning if I can really get over this one. I just don't know when the hurtles are gonna stop coming."

"They're never gonna stop," Lorelai said so matter-of-fact and bluntly that Rory was stunned.

"What?"

"Rory, they're never gonna stop. Life is one hurtle after another. Some are bigger than others. You're going to easily get over some, but others you're going to trip over and you might even fall down. But you get back up Rory; you have to. Some turn out to be amazing life experiences and others turn out to be just a pain."

"But what if I can't get over one, mom. What if I just can't."

"If you really can't get over one, that's why you've got friends and family; to help you. If they can't help, I never said you couldn't find a way around a hurtle. You have to keep trying. You can't give up on your life."

"We're home!" Luke yelled and in a few seconds he was entering the kitchen with Piper holding two Luke's take-out bags.

"See, dad. I told you we'd need more food," Piper told Luke, oblivious to the moment she was interrupting.

"What, you're psychic now. You knew Rory would be over here."

"No, I'm not psychic, I'm right," Piper explained to Luke like he was in kindergarten.

"Fine. You're right … due to a lucky guess."

"Thank you, now are we gonna make more food or what?"

"No, it's okay," Rory turned her attention to Luke and Piper realizing that her and her mom's conversation was over. "I actually have to go."

Luke turned to Piper, "Ha. I was right."

"Come camping," Lorelai blurted out.

"What?" Rory stared at her mom, confused.

"Come camping," Luke jumped in. "We're all gonna go. Piper and I are gonna fish, hike, explore. You and Lorelai can keep each other company. And you could talk."

"When?"

"We were all going to leave tomorrow morning at eight," Piper told her when both of her parents stayed silent.

"I don't have any classes tomorrow or the rest of the weekend."

"So, we'll see you then?" Piper asked, again noticing her parents were mute.

"Yeah."

No one said anything for what seemed to everyone like a very long time. "Are you sure you don't wanna stay for dinner?" Piper asked, seeing that her parents were intent on staying awkwardly silent.

"No, it's okay. I've gotta pack." Another awkward pause. "So … I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Piper replied again, accepting the fact that her parents had simply decided that becoming mimes seemed fun. Once Rory left, Piper turned to her parents, "You two are strange." And with that she went into the living room to pick out a movie.

A/N: Lions and tigers and bears … oh my. Oh, camping.