A/N: I am not sure when Lorelai's birthday really is. I've decided to make her birthday May 24 because it will eventually fall into place with the entire story. If by chance you know the real birthday, please set it aside just for this story… thanks )

"A puppy!" Emily shrieked. "Absolutely not!"

"Emily, I've already bought it." Richard replied as he continued to play with the energetic little creature.

"Then you'll just have to take it back."

"Oh, now, Lorelai's birthday is coming up in a few weeks. We'll just call it an early birthday gift."

Emily placed her hand to her forehead. "Richard, I refuse to have a dog in this house."

Richard put the puppy inside it's box. "Lorelai needs someone she can play with, Emily. You said it yourself that she's too antisocial."

"You cannot be social with a dog!" Emily roared. "If this is some attempt to mock me, Richard Gilmore…"

"Oh, here we go!" Richard yelled in return. "You can't let the girl have any sort of a childhood! Children are supposed to have pets, Emily."

Emily's anger rose. "Yes, play the hero, Richard…"

"Excuse me?" Richard asked.

"You know you build yourself up in front of that girl… And what am I? I am the wicked mother who isn't any fun… who isn't playful… who won't go to the circus or allow animals in the house."

"Well, you're not any fun." Richard agreed.

"Lorelai thinks you hung the sun and the moon and the stars…" Emily's eyes began to water. "She loves you more than she loves me."

"You sound ridiculous Emily. So what if I spend more time with the girl… Someone has to."

"You're not giving her that dog, and that is final!" Emily screeched.

"I'll give her anything I want to give her, she's my daughter!"

"Well, she's my daughter too!"

Richard and Emily became face to face yelling at each other. Neither one of them had noticed the small girl standing in the doorway.

"I ought to just leave you, woman!" Richard replied bitterly. "You're impossible!"

"Go ahead, but don't you dare think you're taking that child a step. If you so much as even think of taking off with her, I'll call the police."

"Stop it!" Lorelai shouted as tears streamed down her face. "Stop fighting!"

Richard and Emily turned and faced their daughter. "I don't care about the stupid dog. Stop fighting… I love both of you!"

"Look what you've done, you've upset the girl." Richard said as he walked over to Lorelai.

"That's right Richard, go to the rescue!"

"Stop!" Lorelai yelled to the top of her lungs. "Please, stop!"

"Shh, it's okay." Richard said softly as he picked up the child. "We've stopped."

Emily watched as her husband comforted the crying girl. She fiddled with her earrings for a few seconds, then slowly walked out of the room.

"Mommy…" Lorelai's muffled voice called over her father's shoulder.

Emily turned around as she reached the doorway. Richard placed Lorelai on the floor. She walked over to her mother and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"You should think of a good name for your puppy." Emily whispered as she held the child next to her. "I'll find some old pillows and we can make it a bed."

Emily released herself from her daughter's grasp and continued out of the room. Lorelai turned back to her father who silently cursing himself for the horrible things he had said. His eyes moved upward and caught the gaze of his blue eyed beauty.

"Is it a boy or girl?" Lorelai asked.

"It's a girl." Richard gently replied.

"Anna." Lorelai said blankly. "I'll call her Anna."