"I don't want her here anymore Richard." Cecelia scoffed. "The woman is trouble."

"Cecelia, sweetheart, I don't understand what Joan has done to offend you so severely."

Cecelia glared at Richard. "Then you must be blind. From the first time I ever walked through the front door Joan has disrespected me. She's the reason Lorelai is the way she is, you know. The reason Lorelai back talks and treats me so badly."

"But…"

"I am your wife now, Richard." Cecelia continued. "This is now my home as well. Joan has not just been your maid, she has been a nanny to Lorelai… well Lorelai is nearly thirteen years old, well above the age for a nanny. I am here now, I can guide the young girl along… and hopefully straighten her out before it's too late."

"Cecelia…"

"Do you know that she called Karl a pansy?" Cecelia interjected. "Where on this earth did she hear such a word? Karl has never been associated with that type of language."

"Well, I don't know where Lorelai would hear such a word…"

"I know exactly where…" Cecelia narrowed her eyes.

Richard collapsed onto the bed. "I can't fire, Joan." He replied.

"For God's sake why not!" Cecelia burst out in frustration.

"Years ago, I made a promise." Richard began.

Emily continued to pace the floors. No one in the Gilmore House had gotten any sleep for days. Richard came stumbling into the sitting room.

"Emily, it's 2:00 am." He said as he rubbed his eyes.

An exhausted Emily turned her head. "I know. I can't get her to stop crying."

"Have you tried feeding her?" Richard asked.

"I've tried feeding her, burping her, changing her, rocking her…" Emily let out a small sniffle. "Nothing is working."

"There, there." Richard soothed as he came closer to his wife and child. "She's probably just having trouble adjusting to her new surroundings."

"Richard, it's been four days… four days and she's barely eaten anything at all. She hasn't stopped crying for more than ten minutes since Collier left." Emily's voice was filled with frustration and grief. "I must be a horrible mother."

"That's not true." Richard quickly corrected. "It's just going to take some time is all."

"I don't know…" Emily's voice began to crack. "I don't know if I am cut out to be a mother. God must have made me infertile for a reason."

"Emily, now you hush." Richard scolded. "This baby is ours… she is supposed to be ours."

Richard took the crying child from Emily's arms. "You go upstairs and rest. I'll sit up with Lorelai for a while."

"I can't rest." Emily replied.

The next morning, the doorbell rang. Richard, who was fast asleep on the couch, slowly made his way to the door. He opened the door to reveal a young girl.

"May I help you?" Richard asked as he tried to focus his eyesight with the blinding light of outside.

"Are you Mr. Gilmore?"

"I am." Richard replied.

"My name is Joan Addison."

"May I help you?" Richard asked.

"Sir, may I please come in. I have a lot to explain."

Richard could tell the young girl was sincere. He opened the door and allowed her in.

"My wife is upstairs. I'll fetch her." Richard replied.

Emily and Richard came back down the stairs to find the young girl holding Lorelai in her arms.

Emily stared in amazement. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" the girl asked.

"Satisfy her?" Emily clarified. "Richard, do you see this… she's stopped Lorelai's crying."

"Lorelai?" Joan asked. "That's such a pretty name." Joan smiled down at the infant.

"Please, have a seat." Emily replied as she continued to bask in bewilderment at how calm the child had became.

"My name is Joan, Mrs. Gilmore. I'm from East Hartford. I'm Lorelai's birthmother."

The room was very silent. Joan sat patiently awaiting a reply.

"That would explain why you can sooth her crying." Emily replied.

Joan smiled. "I know that she is legally yours. I would never try to take her away from you."

"Why are you here?" Richard asked, not convinced she was as innocent as she projected.

"I just wanted to see her. My parents took her away from me in the hospital. They placed her in an adoption agency right after, and refused to tell me where they had taken her. By the time I finally found where they had taken her, you two had already signed the adoption papers."

"We have been planning for this baby for months." Emily replied.

"With Collier?" Joan asked. "My father's business partner."

"How old are you child?" Richard inquired.

"I just turned sixteen." Joan answered.

"Your parents have no idea you're here." Emily stated.

"No ma'am."

"What is it that you want?"

"I am not ashamed of my baby." Joan clarified. "I would have never given her up for adoption. But just by looking at this house, I know you can give her much more than I ever could. I know this is going to sound ridiculous, if not insane… but…" Joan paused, her courage was quickly fading. "I was hoping, if you didn't mind… I could continue to see her."

"We don't wish for Lorelai to know she's adopted." Emily quickly spat.

"I understand… I guess this is where the ridiculous part comes in… I could be a maid or a nanny… or a cook… or anything… I'd never tell Lorelai the truth. I'd never try to hurt her or take her away… I just want to be with her. Watch her grow… be here to look over her."

Richard's mouth stiffened. "I'm sorry, but…."

"Richard, wait…" Emily interjected. "Perhaps that would be a good idea."

"You can't be serious?" Richard asked.

"I am." Emily replied. "As long as she doesn't harm Lorelai or tell her she's adopted."

"But Emily…"

"Richard, I am tired of not getting any sleep at night. Lorelai isn't a happy baby… and if we continue on like this, she may not continue to be healthy."

"Please, Mr. Gilmore." Joan pleaded. "You wouldn't even have to pay me. Just a room to stay in. I'll do all the housework and yard work and cooking… I'll never complain."

"You're a child." Richard replied. "You're not even of age to legally work without your parents' permission. What's going to happen when the police come looking for you and they find you here in my house?"

"My parents are not going to send the police for me, Mr. Gilmore." Joan assured. "The kicked me out a few days ago."

"They kicked you out?" Emily asked.

"I refused to marry the man who is Lorelai's real father. My parents are very strict religious church goers. To them, I have committed two of the most unforgivable sins. I know I am asking so much of you… and I wouldn't blame you for turning me down, but I beg you, give me a chance."

Richard sighed heavily. "Well, you do seem to have an immense control over Lorelai. That's the most peaceful she has been in the last four days. Alright, you can stay as long as you keep your promises and keep yourself quite about the adoption."

Cecelia couldn't believe her ears. "She's not your real daughter?"

"No…" Richard hung his head. "Not by blood. You would think something as preposterous as this would not work so well for thirteen years, but it has ran so smoothly up until now."

"She has honestly kept her promises all these years and never told or even hinted to Lorelai about the truth?"

"Never." Richard replied. "Lately, since Emily passed away, she's felt obligated to tell Lorelai the truth. She thinks it would ease Lorelai's pain."

"Well, that just sounds like one more reason why we should make her leave. Obviously, Lorelai's emotions are in grave danger."

"No. As long as she keeps her promises, she will stay here." Richard assertively replied. "That is our deal, and I never back out on a deal."