Rory glanced around the airport. She had thought Lorelai would be there to pick her up. Suddenly she spotted her. She was standing by a payphone, talking animatedly into it. Rory grabbed her camera from her carry on bag and snapped a picture. She tucked it away and walked over to her. She tapped her on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, I need to use the phone."

"Rory!"Lorelai gasped. She hung up the phone without a good-bye and wrapped her daughter in a hug.

Rory laughed and dropped her bag so she could hug her mom back. They hugged for a minute and Rory tried to pull away. Lorelai pulled her back in.

"Not done with you yet, Kid."she said.

"Okay, okay."Rory laughed and held on until Lorelai let go.

"Okay, now, let me look at you."Lorelai stepped back."Holy mother of Mary are you tan."

"Well, that's what happens when you're out in California I guess."

"Well, you have to tell me everything. Our phone calls were never long enough. But my first question."

"Oh boy."Rory grabbed her bag and they started walking towards baggage claim.

"Were all the girls blonde? Because, I was thinking about going out there but I would have to die my hair blonde to fit in, right? Was Jess blonde? He would look funny blonde. Don't you think? I would look great as a blonde, right?"

"No."Rory protested with a laugh and Lorelai continued on.

Later that night, Rory was sitting on her bed. She had just finished unpacking all of her clothes and she needed a break before packing her backpack for Europe. That would be even more stressful because the bag was so small.

"Hey, Rory! Wanna watch movies? I taped some cool t.v. movies that we can make fun of. Plus, I found a great deal where I could buy all of the Godfather movies. So we now own those. Oh, plus, I got Clueless. Cuz there's nothing better than a dumb blonde in the 90's to make fun of, right? And, get this, she lived in California. Like Jess."

"Jess!"Rory gasped.
"What?"Lorelai poked her head in Rory's room, her arms full of movies.

"Pick a movie. I have to call Jess."

"And then we order Chinese and go to Doose's. I get to show you off!"Lorelai exclaimed and went back in the living room.

Rory grabbed the phone and dialed. It rang once and Jess picked up.

"Hello?"

"What were you sitting on top of the phone?"Rory joked.
"Pretty much."Jess admitted."I thought you would call as soon as you got home. Lily freaked out and started crying about how your plane crashed into the Rocky's and you died."

"Aw, poor thing. I'm sorry. I was unpacking. Is Lily there?"

"Already ditching me for my sister?"

"Your sister. That's so sweet. And yes. Hand over the phone."

"Lil! Phone!"Jess called and Rory heard it drop on the couch.

"Hello?"Lily asked.

"Hey Lily!"Rory exclaimed.

"Rory! You're okay! Jess said you would be and you were excited about seeing your mom but I was worried."

"I'm sorry. I'm fine, really. I just wanted to tell you I found that biography I was telling you about."
"Oh cool!"Lily exclaimed."I want to borrow it!"

"I'll mail it tomorrow before we leave for Europe."

"I want to go to Europe. Especially backpacking. Take lots of pictures for me."

"I definitely will. I'll send postcards too."

"Great!"

"Now, as much as I've enjoyed talking to you, can I talk to your brother?"

"Eh, okay. I understand you can't spend a minute apart."Lily teased."Bye, Rory. I love you!"

"Love ya too, Lil."

"Jess!"Lily screamed and ran off.

"Hey, wow is she excited."Jess said.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss that girl."Rory smiled at the thought of Lily.

"She'll miss you. So, uh, you got home okay I guess."

"Yeah. Tomorrow we'll be packing like all day but tonight we're doing a movie night."Rory explained.

"We're going with Clueless and both Legally Blondes!"Lorelai poked her head in the room and announced before disappearing yet again.

"Wow, that sounds intelligent."Jess teased.
"Well, we're lucky. Neither of us are blondes so we can make fun of them."

"Well."was all Jess said.

Rory twisted the phone cord around her finger."I should probably go."

"Yeah. Have fun in Europe."

"If I can I'll call."Rory said.

"Don't worry about it. You'll be busy."

"I'm never to busy for you and don't you forget it."Rory frowned at the thought.

"I won't."Jess said quietly."Bye."

"I love you."Rory replied.

"I love you too."Jess echoed.

"Awwww."Rory and Sasha chorused in the background.

Rory laughed to keep from crying."I love them too. Bye Jess."

"Bye."Rory hung up and took a deep breath before heading out of her room."Can we get Luke's too?"

"Oh! Red Vines and Gobstoppers and pizza rolls and marshmallows."Lorelai exclaimed, filling their basket.

"And Oreo's and peanut butter and cookie dough."Rory added.

"Rory!"Taylor exclaimed suddenly.

Both girls stopped abruptly,"Uh, hey, Taylor."

"Where on earth were you? Your mother called and told me that you wouldn't be back to work and I was very disappointed. I expect two weeks notice you know."

"I was just on a little vacation."Rory said. She and Lorelai had decided not to tell anyone except Sookie, Luke, and Lane where Rory had really been.

"Where to?"

"I went to Boston to see my dad. I'm sorry. It was last minute."

"But, we have to go now. Our chinese will be ready soon."Lorelai dumped their contents on the counter and he began scanning.

"Well, did you visit Harvard?"

"Of course."Rory answered.

"Aren't you going to be attending there in the fall?"

Lorelai and Rory sighed."Actually, I chose Yale. It's closer and just as good."

"That's an honorable decision. Now, just don't flake out on them like you did on me and you'll do fine."

"Bye Taylor."Lorelai grabbed her change and the bags and they bolted for Luke's.

"Luke!"Lorelai called.
"Coffee!"Rory scrambled for the counter and sat down.
"Rory, hey! How was your vacation in Boston?"Luke asked, already in on Lorelai's plan.

"Good. Good. Coffee!"she exclaimed again.

"Of course."He rolled his eyes and poured a cup for each of them before walking away.

"It's good to be back."Rory said and sipped her coffee. She sighed contently and drank teh rest of the cup.
"It's good to have you back kid. You have no idea."Lorelai smiled.