Emily gently knocked on Rory's door. She waited several seconds before she finally allowed herself in. Rory was laying quietly on her bed. Emily walked over to her granddaughter.

"Dinner will be ready shortly." Emily replied as she gazed down at the puffy eyed girl.

"I'm not hungry." Rory said, as her voice was muffled through tears and her pillow.

"You must eat, Rory." Emily said sternly. "Even if you're angry with the entire world, you need to nourish your body."

"One day won't kill me." Rory turned over to the other side of the bed. "Please, leave me alone."

Emily placed her hands on her hips. "Young lady, as long as you are staying in this house you will be down stairs promptly at 7:00 pm to eat dinner. Also, I demand respect."

Suddenly, a thought crossed Rory's mind. She turned over and faced her grandmother. "Can I invite guests over for dinner?" Rory asked.

Emily was a bit caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation, but nevertheless she answered the question. "Whom may I ask did you have in mind?"

"A friend from Chilton, and her family."

Emily smiled. "A Chilton friend? Well, of course. I'll have the maid prepare extras, you hurry along and call them so they can arrive on time." Emily rushed out of the room.

Rory grabbed the phone beside her bed and dialed Sheena's number.

Lorelai had left Luke's diner and was taking a walk to clear her head. She had been walking for nearly an hour, and all she had accomplished was five circled trips around the pond. The confusion and helplessness she felt only made her want to cry more. Leaving Rory at her mother's house couldn't be the way to solve this. She had to talk to Rory she had to make her understand and make things okay again. Lorelai hurried to the direction of her jeep. She was not going to let this hole between her and her daughter become any wider.

(Emily and Richard's)

"Sheila, you must tell me where you got that breath taking diamond bracelet." Emily replied as she took a sip of her water.

Sheila glanced down at her wrist. "My wonderful Thomas bought this for me for our tenth wedding anniversary." She smiled and looked over at the skinny man. "I told him that 40,000 dollars was far too much to pay for a single piece of jewelry, but he insisted on buying it anyway."

"Nonsense." Emily smiled. "A fine piece of jewelry such as that is worth every cent. Isn't it Richard?"

Richard wiped his mouth. "Yes, dear, it certainly is."

"Well, now Sheila…" Tom began. "I'm not so sure if it cost quite that much."

"Of course it did Tom." Sheila said as she glared him in the eye. "I remember perfectly."

Tom didn't reply, instead he took another bite of lamb and discarded the entire conversation.

"So, you must be very proud of Sheena." Emily stated as she began another conversation. "Rory has told me wonderful things about her."

"Sheena is a blessing." Sheila said sweetly. "I don't know how life would be without her, I couldn't even begin to imagine."

"She sure is something." Tom added. "Rory is quite the young girl as well."

"We're very proud of Rory." Richard replied. "She's worked hard to get into Chilton."

"Ever since Sheena's mother passed away, the poor thing has been seeking love and affection. Tom and I are just more that happy to have her."

"Oh, my." Emily gasped. "I had no idea that her mother passed away." Emily glanced down at the table. Sheena was sitting quietly as if she had not even heard the conversation. "Sheena, I am so sorry to hear about your mother."

Sheena glanced up and smiled. "It's okay Mrs. Gilmore. I love living with Tom and Sheila."

"I feel as if Sheena is my daughter." Sheila said directing the conversation back to herself. "As long as I am alive, she will never feel neglected or unloved."

"That's very charitable of you." Richard noted. "Both of you."

"Oh, it's a pleasure to have Sheen around." Tom smiled.

Shelia opened her mouth, then paused. She leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. "You don't keep Rory often, do you?" She finally asked Emily.

Emily didn't immediately reply to the question. She cleared her throat. "Well, no. Lorelai had some things to take care of tonight, so Rory is staying here. But nevertheless, we love having Rory, don't we Richard?"

"I was wondering where Lorelai was." Tom replied. "I've been wanting to meet her."

Rory suddenly began to become uncomfortable with the conversation. She had been hoping and praying that Lorelai's name would not be mentioned.

Sheila leaned back in her seat. "Have you ever thought of keeping Rory more often?" Sheila asked. "Or making sure that she spends more time with her father?"

Richard set down his fork. "Excuse me?"

"It's just, I know that Lorelai neglects Rory in many ways… A child should have both a male and female to help guide them through life." Sheila looked down at Rory and Sheena. "God has put these two girls together for a reason. Look how much they have in common. They've been hurt, but they both have people who care about them."

The doorbell rang. Emily called for the maid to answer it.

Richard was beginning to take offense to Sheila's comment. "Lorelai does not neglect Rory." He stated boldly.

"Richard." Emily called.

"Well, not physically of course." Sheila clarified. "But mentally and emotionally."

"Sheila, perhaps another time." Tom said in a low voice.

"Rory, are you mentally or emotionally neglected?" Richard asked.

Rory stuttered. "I.. I.." She looked at Richard then to Sheila, she had no idea what to say. "I don't know." She finally answered.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Emily asked. "Of course you're not."

"Lorelai and Rory have been having many problems." Sheila replied as she folded her hands. "Rory's feelings have been hurt tremendously. She'd love to spend more time with her father, but she feels as if Lorelai would become upset."

Emily glanced at the heavy set woman and then back to her granddaughter. "Rory, what is this woman talking about?"

Rory tried to think of a practical answer. Her eyes widened and a small gasp escaped her body as she looked up and saw Lorelai standing in the doorway.