"Uh, hi Rory," Dean shifted uncomfortably, not knowing how Rory would react to him being there.
"DEAN!" Rory jumped out of her seat and engulfed him in a hug. "It's so good to see you! Sit down and eat with us. Luke said that I can have anything, so whatever you want, I'll order it and you can eat it – just not when Luke is looking."
Dean laughed, "That's okay Rory, I'm not really hungry, and Luke's never liked me much anyway so I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't want to make me any free food. So what are you doing in town?"
"Uhh," Rory hesitated, not quite ready to answer his question.
"She's actually here to take care of me for a while," Lorelai broke into the conversation, "I'm pregnant," she whispered, patting her stomach. Rory glared at her.
"You're pregnant? Congratulations!" Dean said, loud enough to turn a few heads.
"Well actually you say congratulations to the man and you offer the woman best wishes."
"I thought that was only for weddings."
"It is."
"Oookay," Dean looked confused, "Best wishes then."
"Why thank you Dean. How thoughtful!" Lorelai did a remarkable impression of her mother. Dean and Rory both rolled their eyes.
"So Rory, do you have some spare time, because I was thinking that it would be nice to catch up."
"Yep, spare time is what I've got. How about later tonight?"
"Sounds great. I'll pick you up at 8:30?
"Yeah."
"Okay, see you then," Dean got up to leave.
As soon as he was out of sight of the diner Rory jumped up from her seat. "I have to go get ready. I only have two hours," she squealed as she ran out of the diner.
"Where did she go?" Luke walked up with Rory and Lorelai's plates of food.
"It's a girl thing. We're going to go," Lorelai said, pointing to the plates of food. "Oh and by the way, Dean says 'congratulations'."
"For what?" Luke looked back confused.
Lorelai walked into her bedroom to find Rory going through her closet, picking out clothes, and throwing them on the bed. "I didn't bring any clothes with me. I left in such a hurry that clothes were far from what I was thinking about.
"It's okay, borrow whatever you want, but sit down a minute first." Rory sat down and her mother continued, "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you sure you want to go out with Dean right now? I mean, you just left Logan, you guys aren't even divorced yet, and you're going out on a date with Dean."
"THIS IS NOT A DATE!" Rory looked appalled.
"Oh really? You and Dean – your ex boyfriend, are going out together, alone, at night, and you're flipping out over what to wear. This is a date honey, and I just want to make sure that you're ready for it."
"Mom, listen, Dean and I are two sensible adults. We can hang out together without it being a date. I'm fine, really."
"Okay, just remember what happened last time one of you was going through a divorce, and how it turned out."
"Things are going to be different this time."
"AHA! So it is a date!"
"I did not say that! I mean they're going to be different because I don't love Dean anymore, and he doesn't love me, this is just a friendly thing tonight."
"Fine if you say so. So what have you picked out to wear?"
"I don't know. I can't find anything."
Lorelai looked down at the pile of clothes on her bed. "I've got it. This shirt with these pants." She pulled out a royal blue sweater and a pair of black jeans.
Rory tried on the outfit and it fit perfectly. "I don't get it. How can you always do that?"
"Experience babe."
"Thanks Mom," Rory hugged her mother, "thank you for everything."
An hour and a half later
The doorbell rang and Rory answered it. "You're five minutes late!" she said to Dean.
"Purposefully," he replied.
Rory scoffed, "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Well, I mean that you are never ready at exactly the time that you say you will be, so I decided to give you more time, but since you're ready, let's go."
"Who says I'm ready?"
"What? Now you're just screwing with my head."
"You're right. I am ready. We can go now." She pulled on her coat, "What exactly are we doing tonight anyway?"