"Well, it's been a lovely evening in my opinion." Richard said as he slipped Ceclia's coat over her shoulders. "I do hope we can do this again soon. Lorelai… she's quite the misdemeanor sometimes, but she'll warm up to this idea eventually."

"Oh, Richard I'm sure it's nothing a little discipline can't cure." Cecelia added. "Karl's had plenty of that in his life, and look how wonderful he has turned out."

"Well, I'm not quite finished yet mother." Karl smiled. "I have much more learning to do."

"You keep that optimistic attitude, lad, and you'll succeed at anything you try. I assure you." Richard patted the boy on the shoulder.

"I suggest you come down harder on Lorelai from now on. Let her know you're the one in control. If you do not take her in hadn soon, Richard, she'll become more misbehaved with every day."

"I'll take care of it." Richard smiled. "See you soon."

"Yes…" Cecelia smiled. "You will. Come along, Karl."

"Good bye, sir." Karl extended his hand to Richard. "Thank you for having us for diner this evening."

"You're welcome." Richard replied as he closed the door behind them.

Joan had been quietly waiting in the kitchen. She slipped through the doorway as the company was leaving. Richard turned and caught her stare.

"Mr. Gilmore… I am so sorry. Please, don't take this out on Lorelai."

"There is no excuse for my daughter's actions."

"Sir, please…"

"Joan… this doesn't concern you." Richard replied.

Joan suddenly looked down to the floor. "Just don't yell at her." Joan barely said above a whisper. "She's still so fragile in so many ways."

Richard didn't reply, he headed up the stairs towards Lorelai's room. "Lorelai!"

Lorelai bolted up from her bed. "Dad…"

"Lorelai, you are grounded for two weeks." Richard huffed. "And if you ever pull a trick like this again, I'll make it a month. No tv… no reading… you are to be in bed every night by 8:00 and absolutely no playing with Anna."

"What?" Lorelai asked as she turned on her lamp. "I didn't pull a trick!"

"You are not ill… you are faking. The way you treated our guests tonight is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

"I am not faking." Lorelai said coolly. "Those two really do make me sick to my stomach."

Richard's anger rose. "Hush! I am the parent and what I say goes."

"Why do you want to redecorate the sitting room?" Lorelai asked as tears began to stream down her face. "Mom decorated that… you know she did."

"It's none of your business what I do." Richard replied. "Two weeks." He repeated. "I mean it." With that, he turned and exited Lorelai's room.

(The next morning)

Lorelai slowly came down the stairs, she was infuriated with what had transpired over the last several hours. She was about to step into the kitchen, but caught wind of Richard and Joan's conversation.

"Joan, that is impossible. Clear it from your head immediately." Richard spat.

"Mr. Gilmore, I know that I made the promise all those years ago, but…"

"But nothing…" Richard interrupted. "Nothing is to be said… nothing is to be done."

"Yes, sir." Joan slowly turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Lorelai wasn't sure what they were talking about, but she knew it must have been something important or Joan would never have brought it up. Lorelai stepped into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Lorelai." Richard replied.

Lorelai didn't answer. As far as she was concerned she was giving her father the silent treatment for a as long as she could.

"Not speaking are we?" Richard asked. "That's fine. Children should be seen not heard anyway." He poured himself a cup of coffee. "Well, I'm off to work."

Lorelai watched as her father grabbed his briefcase and marched out of the kitchen. She was beginning to feel a strange feeling towards Richard. It was sort of like the feelings she had towards Emily before she died. They were cold and bitter. It was funny, while Emily was alive Richard had been Lorelai's hero, and now in death, Emily had became the immortal parent. Lorelai didn't understand any of this. It only gave her a headache to even try to come up with an explanation of why things were they way they were. How things got so out of hand and so far off track. Lorelai knew one thing was for sure, however, if Cecelia became a part of Richard's life, it would only get worse for Lorelai.

Lorelai heard something break in the sitting room and she quickly rushed to see what had happened. When she entered the room, she saw Joan on her hands and knees picking up the glass.

"What happened?" Lorelai asked as she stepped over beside Joan.

"I knocked off your mother's picture." Joan sadly replied. "I didn't see it sitting there on the end of the table… I was walking by with the laundry basket and I knocked it off. I'm so sorry, Lorelai."

"It doesn't matter." Lorelai said as she bent down and picked up the broken picture frame. "My father is going to redecorate the sitting room anyway."

"But your mother…" Joan began.

"He doesn't care." Lorelai quickly added. "Why should I?"

"Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore just sign these papers and everything shall be taken care of." The man replied with a smile.

"You're sure that this baby is healthy?" Emily asked.

"I'm more than sure." The man answered. "She's as healthy as a newborn baby can be."

"See, Emily, I told you there was nothing to be concerned about." Richard smiled.

"I suppose not." Emily signed her name to the paper. "When will she be able to come home with us?"

"Soon, Mrs. Gilmore. Soon."