A pack of cigarettes and continuous cursing and mumbling later, Jess found himself at the Gilmore house standing next to Rory's window. He tapped on the window, and scanned the area around him.

From inside her room, Rory heard the tapping and went and opened her window.

"Hey," Rory said.

"Hey,"

"Luke let you out early?"

"Something like that."

"Why don't you go to the front door, and we could take a walk."

Jess nodded his head and walked away, while Rory pulled on her shoes and walked out of her room.

Rory opened the door and stepped outside, linking her left arm with Jess's right one.

"What have you been up to today? I thought you were supposed to work in the diner until 6."

"It's not really fun to spend time with someone you're in a fight with."

"You and Luke got into a fight?" Rory asked and stopped walking.

"Yeah"

"Why?"

"I don't know the guy is crazy. You give him a piece of news, and he freaks out."

"What piece of news?" Rory asked, already knowing.

"I told him about school."

"Oh." Rory said quietly. They started walking again in silence. After a few minutes, Rory broke the silence.

"Mom and I got into a fight. It was probably none of my business, but I told her about the party and the fight, and that led to telling her about you not graduating. She basically flipped out even though she said she wouldn't, and I'm sorry for saying anything. Anyhow, she yelled, I yelled…"

"Huh." Jess said, not making eye contact.

"I'm sorry for telling her."

"No biggie."

"It just slipped."

"Huh." Jess repeated.

"You're not mad?"

"I'm not mad." He confirmed.

"Okay."

"How was school?"

"Good, thanks. Paris is crazier than ever, but finals are almost over, and I'm pretty confident about it. I was going to tell mom this earlier but because of the fight…I didn't get to it. I was actually voted valedictorian."

"I believe a congratulations is in order." Jess said smirking, and then kissed her.

Lorelai walked into Luke's and took a seat at a table near the corner.

"Coffee?" Luke asked walking up to her.

"Sure." She said

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yup."

"Anything you wanna talk about?"

"I'll take a big fight with Rory, and a side order of interrogation please." Lorelai said annoyed

"Okay. Sorry. Just thought maybe you wanted to talk. What do you want to eat?"

"Cheese burger, fries, and onion rings."

"Coming right up." Luke said and walked away.

Lorelai sighed and stared at the table.

Around six thirty, Rory got home to find the house empty. She sighed and picked up 'What happened to Bob?' and popped it in the DVD player. She went into the kitchen and put a bag of popcorn into the microwave, and some strawberry pop tarts into the toaster. She then walked into her room and looked around. She sighed and with tears in her eyes walked over to her bed and sat down. After another minute, the microwave beeped and she got up to go watch the movie.

By the time Lorelai got home, it was almost eight. She stopped by Sookie's, dreading going home and what will happen with Rory. She dropped her purse by the door, and hung her coat up on the rack. She walked into the living room to find Rory asleep with a bowl of popcorn covered in chocolate syrup sitting in her lap and the menu to 'What happened to Bob' on the television screen.

She quietly walked over and sat next to Rory, staring at her face. Knowing Rory would probably wake up if she talked, she started,

"Ya know I don't often freak out about stuff, because I trust you."

Rory woke up staring at her mom.

"I have faith in your judgment, and I don't worry about you because you are a great kid. But, when I think that there is a way for you to get hurt, I freak. That's the bottom line. We never agreed about Jess, had multiple disagreements, and a few fights. I know that you love him, and I am pro Rory happiness, but I can't escape this feeling I get in my gut when something like this happens. I don't have much room to talk about graduating, I know, but I think somewhere along the line, you will understand where I am coming from. I'm worried about you and Jess. I'm worried that Jess may hold you back, but I am going to try to over look that because you are strong. I know you can take on any challenge and so that's why I want to apologize…I'm sorry hun."

After a short pause Rory replied, "S'okay. I'm glad that you trust me because if I didn't feel good about this relationship, I wouldn't be in it. I love Jess, and right now no one's opinion will change that. I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"Fight over?" Lorelai asked hopefully.

"Fight definitely over." Rory said with a grin.

Before Rory's alarm went off the next morning, Lorelai burst into her room.

"You are my sunshine! My only sunshine! You make me happy when skies are grey! You'll never know dear! How much I love you! Please don't take my sunshine away!" Lorelai sang very loudly and very off key.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Rory moaned into her pillow.

"Sunshine? Suuuuuuuuunshine." Lorelai said trying to get Rory awake. Rory's head popped up from her pillow and she looked over at her alarm clock, and then glared at her mother.

"It's early."

"Not too much earlier. Only a half hour!" Lorelai defended herself.

"Half hour is a lot of time!" Rory said sitting up.

"So I was thinking," Lorelai started, ignoring Rory's comment "No fight is officially over without a day spent for healing. Dream with me kiddo, a day filled with shopping, eating out, an ice cream pit stop on the way home. Huh? What'd ya say?" Lorelai asked

"Mom, you know I have finals today. It's my last final and then I have to go meet grandma to help her figure out something to wear to my graduation."

"Oh alright." Lorelai said pouting. "What about this weekend?"

"Kiwanis luncheon and I have to get my valedictorian speech finished. Plus, I need to get my packing started for Eur –

"Valedictorian speech?" Lorelai asked, confused.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you last night."

"Well in between the making up and 3 extra hours of studying, it's easy to forget the most important woman in your life." Lorelai said faking offended. "So…Valedictorian huh?"

"Yup."

Lorelai walked over and sat down on the edge of Rory's bed.

"That is so great sweets, I am so proud of you. We definitely have to celebrate. After today and all the craziness, we are going to celebrate big time, because that is amazing."

"Thank you, mom" Rory leaned forward and hugged Lorelai. After a few minutes, Rory pulled back. "I should get ready for school. We can hit Luke's before my bus comes."

"Okay. Sounds good. I'm gonna go get some more coffee."

"And I am going to get a shower." Rory said getting up off her bed.

After Rory got out of the shower, she went into the kitchen, and got herself a cup of coffee. Lorelai was sitting at the table reading the paper.

"Hey Rory, did you hear that Fran died?"

"Oh yeah, I did. That's so sad." Rory said

"It is too bad. We'll all miss her."

"I wonder if they will keep Weston's open."

"I imagine so, that bakery has been around since we moved here" Lorelai answered

"I sure hope so; they have the best custard pie there. Plus it will be nice to have a piece of Fran still around."

"It will. Anyways the funeral is tomorrow around eleven. Since you don't have school or anything, we should go."

"Definitely."

"Okay. So you ready to hit Luke's?"

"Yeah, lets go."

When Rory and Lorelai walked into the diner, Luke's head whipped up and he rushed towards them.

"Hey, uh why don't you guys sit here." Luke said pointing at the nearest table.

"Uh, sure Luke." Lorelai said confused by his behavior.

"Oh! Lorelai, before you sit down. I need you to come to the storage room with me. Because I got this shipment of um…chocolate…chips. Chocolate chips, a different brand. I was figuring since you like chocolate so much, you could taste them. You know, see if they are good enough to put in some brownies or something?" Luke said nervously

Lorelai narrowed her eyes at him and answered, "Sure Luke," Lorelai said and turned to Rory. "I'll be right back." She said

Once in the storage room, Lorelai started the conversation.

"Luke, what is goin –

He cut her off…

"Jess is gone."