A/N: Sorry for another Author's Note, but I keep running into small detailed problems. I am not sure if Emily's maiden name is ever mentioned in the show. To my knowledge, no it is not. However, I have came up with a suitable last name for the younger Emily. Hanson. It's short it's sweet and it's sophisticated. I know it may not sound like the name of a rich high class family, but what do you expect Vanderbilt or something? Lol…

"But Mommy…" Lorelai pouted.

"No buts, Lorelai." Emily interjected. "You're wearing this dress."

"I can't play in a dress."

"Young ladies are not supposed to run around like chickens." Emily straightened the ruffle on Lorelai's dress. "You look marvelous."

"I feel stupid." Lorelai frowned. "Why can't I just wear jeans?"

"Lorelai, I have paid more than enough money for this dress and this party." Emily lowered her voice. "Do not put up a fight with me."

"This party is for you." Lorelai replied. "It's not for me."

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course it's for you."

"It is not!" Lorelai objected. "You just want to show off in front of your friends."

"That's enough." Emily replied sternly. "You're going to wear this dress, present yourself as a lady, and do as your told. Understand?"

"I hate you!" Lorelai screeched. "I hate you!"

Lorelai ran from her bedroom and slammed the door. She continued to run until she had ran completely out of the house and outside to the garden. She stopped when she reached the fence. Her face had turned beat red from crying. She knew that running to the garden would not cease Emily Gilmore, and sure enough it was only a brief moment of solitude.

"Lorelai Victoria Gilmore!" Emily stomped out into the garden. "You march right back into that house, immediately!"

Part of Lorelai wanted to jump the fence and just keep running until she couldn't run anymore. But in all honesty, she knew that she had to go back inside. She had to go to the party and wear the dress. She had to act as if she were a young lady. She would sit perfectly still and not run around or play.

"I said immediately!" Emily roared again, pointing back to the house.

Lorelai brushed by her mother and hurried back into the house. She passed Richard on the way inside.

"What is going on here?" Richard asked as he placed his briefcase on the table.

"Nothing." Lorelai continued up the stairs to her room.

Emily stepped into the house and closed the door behind her. "Richard, you made it." Emily noted.

"Yes." Richard replied. "Jenkins was more than understanding about the party."

"Good." Emily smiled. "I knew you'd be here." Emily walked passed Richard and into the dinning room. "Joan…" Emily called the maid. "Make sure the delivery men know where to set up the tables. I have to bring Lorelai's presents up from the basement."

"Yes ma'am." The maid replied.

Richard ascended the staircase to Lorelai's room. He found her sitting by the window.

"That's a beautiful dress." Richard said as he set down beside his daughter.

"I hate dresses." Lorelai remarked.

"I know." Richard answered. "But sometimes you have to wear them."

"Why?" Lorelai asked quickly. "How does wearing a dress make anything different? Except for me being miserable while I'm in it."

"Women are supposed to wear dresses." Richard concluded. "It's just a part of society. I'm not saying you have to wear them all the time, but in certain circumstances, they're appropriate."

"I'll never make my daughter wear a dress." Lorelai said assertively. "She could wear jeans every day, and I wouldn't care."

"You know in some countries, women aren't even allowed to drive… or vote… or even leave the house without a man with them."

Lorelai's attention was suddenly focused on this comment. "Really?"

"Really." Richard repeated. "That's one of the great things about living in America. We have freedom. If you think about it, compared to not being able to do all of those things, wearing a dress for a party doesn't seem so bad."

Lorelai exhaled deeply. "I guess not."

Richard smiled as he patted the girl on the head. "It's just for a few hours, sweetheart. You can tolerate it for a few hours."

"Okay." Lorelai finally caved.

After the party had came to a close, Emily stood by the door and watched as every guest left.

"Good bye, Marge, Theodore, Luster." Emily nodded her head with each name.

"Wonderful party." Marge replied. "You out do yourself every year."

"Great crab cakes." Theodore added.

"Thank you all for coming." Emily replied.

As the last of the guests left, Emily closed the door and leaned against it. She pressed her hand to her stomach and wiped at her forehead.

"Emily…" Richard called as he walked through the house. "I could have sworn that I brought my cigar case in here. Have you…"

Richard noticed his wife's frail position. He quickly ran to her side. "Emily?" He asked concerned. "Are you okay? Emily?"

"I'm fine." Emily faintly replied. "I just need to…" Emily's body became limp as her eyes shut and her head drooped.

"Emily?" Richard held his wife in his arms. "Joan!... Joan!"

"Yes, Sir?" The maid came galloping into the foyer.

"Call an ambulance! My wife is ill!" Richard demanded.

"Yes, Sir!" The maid frantically replied as she ran to the phone.

"Emily, can you hear me?" Richard tried to hold up her head, but it repeatedly fell. "Emily, darling…" Richard shook her gently. "Emily!"

"Well, Donald it's been a spectacular party, but I have to be going." Richard replied.

"Sure was swell having you stop by." Donald said patting Richard on the back

"Thanks for inviting me."

Emily walked up behind Richard. "I'm ready, Richard."

Donald let out a huff. "Are you taking Emily home, Richard?"

"Yes, I am." Richard replied.

"Didn't you come with Walter?" Donald asked Emily.

"I did, Donald. But I have decided to leave with Richard." Emily smiled. "Be a dear and tell Walter where I've gone, incase he asks."

"Well, I doubt he'll notice…" Donald chuckled "But if he does, I'll sure tell him."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Richard said as he shook Donald's hand one last time.

Emily and Richard left the house. Richard guided Emily out to his car and opened the door for her.

"A 57 Cadillac." Emily gasped. "It's beautiful."

"You know cars?" Richard asked, becoming impressed.

"My father has a large collection." Emily admitted. "My mother gave birth to five girls. He had no son to share his love for automobiles with. I tried to learn as much as I could about them."

"That's pretty impressive." Richard replied as he closed the passenger door and walked around.

"What's impressive is that you're going to Yale." Emily retorted as Richard slipped into his seat.

"Impressive?" Richard asked. "Not hardly… My father went to Yale and so did his father and I'd say if you traced it back far enough one of my ancestors helped found it. It's more of an expectation rather than an accomplishment."

"I've always dreamed of going to a university." Emily smiled.

"Why don't you?"

"Father believes a woman's place is at home."

"Times are changing." Richard added as he pulled onto the main highway. "I heard that by the seventies, there will be more women in the workplace than men."

Emily laughed. "I don't know about that."

"I think that a woman pursuing her education at college is magnificent."

"You do?" Emily asked as a spark of light entered her eyes.

"Very much." Richard answered. "Have you applied to Yale?"

"Oh, heavens no." Emily said. "I'm only seventeen. I have another year of high school."

"Ah…" Richard noted. "Well, then I insist, you must apply to Yale next year."

"I'm not so sure my father would approve of that."

"Why, I bet if you explain to him that you want to continue your education, he'd gladly support you."

"Richard, you're so easy to talk to." Emily replied as she placed her hand on his. "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome." Richard's heart began to beat faster and faster. "So, where exactly do you reside?"

"I live on Barker's Avenue." Emily answered. "It's right up here around the corner."

Richard made a mental note of the address. "Perhaps we could meet up again sometime?" Richard asked, his body becoming tense.

"I'd like that." Emily took out a pen from her purse. "This is my private number. You can call anytime you like." Emily jotted the number down on a napkin left over from the party.

Richard pulled into the driveway. He took the napkin and folded it into his pocket. "I'll be sure to keep this."

"Good bye, Richard." Emily opened the car door. "You take good care of this car." Emily stepped out and closed the door.

"Good bye." Richard's eyes followed the beautiful creature up the sidewalk and into the house. After a brief moment of peace, Richard pulled out of the Hanson driveway.