"Uh-oh." said Sookie.

"Sook. Sook. Hello. Are you there?" said Lorelai.

"Mom, is that you?" said a frantic Rory onto the other line. Lorelai didn't think that Rory would be on the other line, and was very shocked.

Once Rory had heard her mothers name escape from Sookie's lips, she immediately grabbed the phone from her.

"Rory?" asked Lorelai in an unsure tone.

"Mom. Where are you? Where have you been? It's been 8 months. I was worried. I missed you. Where are you?" Rory was crying now.

"Oh. Rory. Hun. Don't cry. I'm fine. Don't cry."

"But you're not here. You haven't been here for the past 8 months."

"I know hun. I'm sorry. I just had to get away from there. Without you and Luke, I was just-"

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry for quitting Yale. For putting you in that crap. I'm sorry I made you leave. If I had known that you two had broken up, I wouldn't of had told you about Yale. I wouldn't of had done it too."

"Hun it's ok. It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was. And now you're gone."

"Hun."

"Come home."

"What?"

"Come home. Please."

"Rory. I don't know if-"

"Please. Just. Come home. I miss you mom."

"I miss you too babe. But I don't know If I can. I'm not sure if I'm ready yet."

"Mom please. Come home. For me."

Lorelai's heart melted once she heard her daughter pleading for her to come home. "Tell you what, I'll ask my boss if I can. It's been hectic these past few weeks and I don't know if I can get away. But I'll try."

"Ok. Call me once you've got the verdict. I really miss you mom."

"I miss you too babe. So much. I have to go. I'll ask my boss about it then I'll call you, ok?"

"Ok. You can still reach me at my cell, or at the house, or here at the inn. Call me, no matter what."

"I will babe. Bye."

"Bye. I love you."

Lorelai smiled. "I love you too." Rory hung up the phone, still crying a little, but not frantically. She then looked up to find Sookie looking very guilty.

"I am so sorry Rory for not telling you."

"8 months. 8 moths you knew where she was?" Rory exclaimed, her voice rising with anger. "We asked you. Dad and I, we asked you about mom a hundred times. Of where she was, if she was ok. If you knew anything. And you said no. but you knew all along!"

"Rory. I didn't mean to keep this from you. Your mother told me not to tell you. Believe me . I would have told you. But I couldn't betray her. She's my best friend. Please don't be mad at me. I can't stand it when you're mad at me."

Rory looked at an apologetic Sookie. Her anger washing away slowly. She couldn't be mad at her. No matter what she did. She was like a second mother to her. Or a very crazy pet. Rory sighed and sat back down on the chair.

"I'm not mad at you. I could never be mad at you. You know that Sookie? I just got really upset that you didn't tell me or dad about mom."

"Oh my god! Luke. I mean your dad. Oh, when he finds out I knew where your mom is he is going to be so mad. He's probably gonna kill me."

"Don't be so dramatic Sookie. Yes he will be mad at you. And there is a possibility that he will kill you. But I doubt it. Once mom tells him why, he'll…probably understand."

"So you're gonna tell your dad?"

"I don't see why not. He's been very depressed ever since mom left."

"You're right. He's very lucky to have you in his life now. If you weren't there, he would of probably killed himself."

"I know."

"So you're mom's coming home?"

"I'm not sure yet. She says that she'll ask her boss if she can come home. She has a job?"

"Oh, yes. My friend, Julie, gave her a job."

"Oh. And how does Julie know her?"

"That's because she's living with her. You see, when your mom came to me, she said she wanted to leave town for a few days, or weeks. I suggested she stays with Julie, who lives in New York, she has a two bedroom apartment, and she is currently looking for a room-mate right now. So, maybe she could stay at her extra bedroom until she cools off. And I know Julie, she hates living alone, so when I asked her if your mom could stay with her, she said yes. And I guess, she still didn't want to come back, so she decided to stay there. Julie offered her a job at her office, and that's all I know."

"That's ALL you know?"

"I swear Rory. That's all. When she first left, sure, I called her everyday, just to see how she was doing, and asking when she would come home. And then, when you came back and you and Luke started your relationship as father and daughter, I wanted to tell her so badly. I wanted her to know that the two people she loves the most in the world are together, and it would be much more perfect if she was there to complete it. But Julie told me that she wanted to live there with her and that she already offered Lorelai the job. I never got to talk to your mother ever since."

"So you haven't been checking up on her?"

"I have. every time you or Luke ask me about her, I would call her but Julie always answers. I was just lucky this time that your mom answered."

"And I was lucky to have heard you. I have to go to the diner and tell dad." Rory immediately sprung from her seat.

"Oh, so you're gonna tell Luke?" asked Sookie nonchalantly.

Rory was already at the door when she talked. She looked back at Sookie who was trying her best to hide her worry. She sighed. "Tell you what. I won't tell dad until I get an answer from mom about her coming. If she says yes, I won't tell dad at all until she comes so she can explain to him why you didn't tell us. And that way I can surprise him. And mom too. But if she says no, then I will tell him. And I'm sorry, I cannot guarantee a positive reaction. But I don't think he would kill you, we're gonna need you so we can look for mom in New York anyways."

"Oh thank you angel." squealed Sookie, hugging Rory tightly.

"You're welcome Sookie. You're just lucky I love you."

"I love you too."

"Hey Lorelai. Let me just get my coat and we can go to lunch. Kay?"

"Sure Julie."

CAFÉ

"And that her mother said that he can be superman when he grows up if he wants to. And apparently, 35 years later, he still wants too." giggled Julie taking a sip of her cappuccino. Lorelai just gave her a weak smile. "Lorelai, is everything ok?"

"What? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Everything's fine. Why do you ask?"

"Because you haven't made any sarcastic or witty remark on my story about my client."

"Well, I'm fine. Really." not really convincing.

"Are you sure. Cause you seem a little distracted."

"Distracted? I'm not distracted. Why would I be distracted?"

"Because you're putting salt in your coffee."

Lorelai looked down to find herself putting salt into her cup. "Oh. Well, you know it's the new thing now. Salt is the alternative to sugar." she joked.

"Lorelai. What's wrong?"

Lorelai sighed. "Sookie called today. Just before we left actually."

"She did? Oh, wow. I haven't spoken to her in two weeks. How is she?"

"Well, I didn't get to talk to her, unfortunately."

"Why?"

"Rory somehow overheard her calling me and she took the phone from Sookie and we got to talk."

"You talked with your daughter? What did she say? What did you say? How did you feel." now being in therapist mode. Julie always loved talking to Lorelai. She was very interesting. She has so much emotions hidden inside her.

"Well, it was pretty shocking hearing from her. I thought she was with my parents. Cruising the Cape Cod. Being little miss drop out, since she was. But when I heard her talking, she was crying so much. She said she was sorry about what happened. And she was sorry for making me leave. And she missed me. And I miss her too. It was just so, I just love her so much. She's my only daughter. And she was begging me to come home. She was really crying wanting me to come home."

"Well that's great. You should go home. Not that I'm kicking you out or anything. I just think that you need to reconnect with your daughter. Part of the reason you left was because of her. This is your chance to patch things up with her."

"I know. And I want to. I love my little girl. Even though she's not so little anymore. But the other part of the reason of why I left was because of…"

"I see. But you need this reconnection with your daughter. You should go."

"But I don't know if I'm ready yet."

"To what? Reconnect with your daughter?"

"No. To face him."

"Oh. I know that that is still unresolved. But your daughter, she needs you. She misses you. And I know you miss her and need her as much as she needs you."

"I know."

"So do this for your daughter."

"Maybe I should. But what about work."

"Lorelai don't worry about work. You've worked hard enough. Too much actually. You need a break."

"But I don't want to leave you guys. What if you need me, to make copies, or for coffee. What if Joe is in a mood again and needs a witty, sarcastic, and very attractive woman to lighten his mood?"

"Lorelai. Everything will be fine. Tell you what, I'll give you the whole week off, starting Tomorrow. That way you can stay in Stars Hollow for a whole week, bond with your daughter. See the town again. See if anything has changed."

"Nothing ever changes in Stars Hollow."

"That's true. But you know, a week out of New York might do you good. And I'll even go with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. For a day or so. I would really like to catch up with Sookie. And see the town again. It's been about ten years since I've been there. So, why not."

"Well, if you're gonna be there for a few days, then I'll just be there for a few-"

"No. stay the week. I want you to catch up with your daughter. Don't you want to?"

"I do. i really do. Thank you so much Julie."

"No problem. So it's set." exclaimed Julie pulling out her palm pilot. "We pack tonight. And, oh, can we leave tomorrow in the evening? I have an afternoon client, who paid really big money to see me."

"Sure."

"Good. We leave tomorrow. I'll have to come back on Tuesday. And do you want to come back Saturday or Sunday?"

"It depends."

"Ok. Homecoming undecided. Got it. Alright. We're all set."

"That's great. I'll call Rory and tell her I'm coming home."

"You do that."

Lorelai smiled and pulled out her cell phone. She pressed her number 1 for the one touch dial. She has never changed her speed dial. Rory is still number 1. And Luke is still number two.

"Hello?" answered Rory after two rings.

"Hey hun. It's mom…."

i know. it's too much verbal. but i like dialogue. review please.