After service, Lorelai made her way to the front of the church. She excused herself through the small group of people and made her way to Rory.

"Great job, hun." She replied as she leaned over and gave her daughter a hug.

"Rory is just so talented!" Sheila announced. "It simply amazes me."

Rory smiled. She had to admit, she loved the praise that Sheila was constantly giving her. Lane and Eric walked over to Lorelai.

"Hey, Lorelai." Lane greeted. "Did you like the skit?"

"Yeah, you guys should think about taking your act to Hollywood." Lorelai smiled.

"They could make it." Tom added as he placed his hand on Sheena's shoulder. "They sure could make it."

Sheena pulled Rory aside from the group. "So, we start Chilton tomorrow." Sheena noted.

"Yeap." Rory replied casually.

"I was thinking, why don't you spend the night with me tonight? We could get up together in the morning and get ready."

"Oh, I don't know." Rory said unsure. "I should probably stay home."

"Aw, come on… Please." Sheena begged.

"What if we stay up all night talking and don't get any sleep?' Rory asked.

"We'll get sleep." Sheena giggled. "Come on, stay." Sheena insisted.

Rory bit her bottom lip. "I don't think my mom would like that. But maybe I can come stay this weekend."

Sheena frowned. "Okay. But I'm holding you to this weekend."

"I promise. I'll come stay Friday night."

"Alright." Sheena smiled. "We'll be at your house around 7:00 in the morning."

"Sounds good. I'll see you in the morning."

Lorelai walked over to Rory. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Rory replied. "Let me just grab my jacket."

Rory walked over and picked up her jacket from the pew. Lorelai stood there silent, as she waited for her daughter. Lorelai couldn't help but over hear voices, she turned and looked out the church door and saw Sheila standing by her car.

"It all makes so much sense now." Sheila continued. "That poor girl."

"Now, Sheila…" Tom said sternly. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions."

Sheila put her hand on her hip. "Thomas Stepp, that girl has had a rough life, forced to choose between her mother and father. She's been raised by a child herself. She's in desperate need of guidance and there's no need to jump to any conclusions to see that." Sheila slipped into the car.

Lorelai stood there trying to decide if she had heard the woman correctly.

"Mom." Rory said as she walked up behind Lorelai. "You okay?"

Lorelai turned around. "Yeah." She answered as she blinked a couple of times. "Let's go."

Once they were home, Rory walked straight into her bedroom. Lorelai stood around in the living room for a few minutes, until finally she built up her courage. She walked into Rory's bedroom and accidentally caught her changing into her pajamas.

"Mom!" Rory replied as she quickly covered herself.

"What?" Lorelai asked unaffected. "I've seen you change clothes a million times."

Rory quickly dressed herself. "You could have knocked first."

"The door was open." Lorelai replied as she sat down on Rory's bed. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing." Rory replied as she began to brush her hair. "Why do you ask?"

"Because you…" Lorelai paused; she tried to make sure she chose the correct words. "You've seemed distant lately."

"I've been busy."

"I know." Lorelai shook her head. "But, it's not just physical distance… I mean we haven't talked, or watched a movie or anything all week."

Rory sighed. "It'll be like that sometimes. I have a lot of stuff to do."

"We always promised we'd stay close."

"Mom…" Rory replied in a dry tone. "You're worrying about nothing."

Lorelai stood from Rory's bed and walked over beside her. "I think there's something wrong." Lorelai continued. "You won't talk to me. And I can't figure out how to fix it until you do."

"There's nothing to fix." Rory replied becoming annoyed. "Why are you so against me going to church?"

Lorelai shook her head quickly. "No, sweetie, I love that you're going to church. Church is a good thing, but maybe…. Maybe not that church. I'm just afraid you could be going for the wrong reasons, or just really confused about some things right now. I just want to help you."

Rory walked past her mother and crawled into bed. "I'm fine." She replied as she slid under the covers. "I need to go to sleep. It's a big day tomorrow."

Lorelai was not going to give up, not yet anyway. She had started this conversation for a reason. She walked over and sat down on her daughter's bed.

"Why don't you want me to take you to Chilton tomorrow?" Lorelai asked. "And you can be honest."

Rory rolled over. "Sheila's taking me." She simply replied.

"Rory, you knew I would have taken you." Lorelai said softly. "You knew that I wouldn't miss something like that for the entire world."

"Sheila offered." Rory said as she rolled back over, refusing to notice her mother's hurt feelings. "I figured you wouldn't mind."

"It's not that I mind." Lorelai clarified. "I just thought you'd like to have me with you on your first day there."

Rory sighed. "I don't know what to say, mom. Sheila's already made plans to take me."

Lorelai hung her head. There was a long pause before Lorelai said another sentence. Rory assumed the conversation was over, and was expecting Lorelai to leave her in peace. "Do you ever feel like you've had a rough life?" Lorelai asked awkwardly.

"What?" Rory suddenly had no idea where this conversation was going.

"I mean, because of your dad and me?" Lorelai continued. "Did you ever felt like you were forced to choose?"

Rory sat up in her bed. "Where is all of this coming from?"

"I just want to know." Lorelai replied, trying to keep herself from letting a tear fall from her eyes.

"No." Rory declared. "I've never felt any of that." Rory stared at her mother and realized she was upset. Rory's defensive walls suddenly come tumbling down. "What's wrong?" Rory asked sympathetically.

Lorelai wiped at her eyes. "It's nothing. I guess I'm just overreacting." She smiled the best she could, hoping that it would ease her mood.

Rory reached over and took her mother's hand. "I'm sorry we haven't talked any. And I'm sorry we haven't watched a movie."

"It's okay…" Lorelai replied. "We'll catch up." Lorelai stood ready to leave the room.

"I'll call Sheena in the morning. I'll tell her that you're taking me to Chilton."

"Oh, no." Lorelai objected. "Don't do that. You've already made the plans." As much as Lorelai wanted to accept the offer, she knew that she couldn't be that selfish.

"No." Rory replied aggressively. "I want you take me. It's my first day and you should be there… with your camera and all."

"Are you sure?" Lorelai asked.

"Positive." Rory asserted.