Lorelai and Rachel were driving home late one evening. Rachel had a volleyball practice and Lorelai had offered to pick her up because Hotch had some work he had to get done. Lorelai had even gotten there early enough to catch some of the practice.

"You seem to be fitting in on the team very well. And you have a talent for it from what I saw." Lorelai said

Rachel smiled. "Thank you. Yes. Everyone on the team has been really nice and welcoming. I finally think I fit in at school also. The girl who I fought with even apologized for saying what she said." She told her

"That's great." Lorelai smiled. "I'm glad you have friends. You can invite them over sometime. I'm sure dad would like to meet them, and I would too." Lorelai told her little sister

"I'll think about it." Rachel said as the car started to make noise and slow down and turn it-self off.

"Shit." Lorelai said. Before turning to her sister and saying. "Don't repeat that."

She tried to restart the car, but it wouldn't turn over. She looked at the gas tank indicator but that was fine. Lorelai opened the door. "Stay in the car." She told her sister. They were in the middle of a country road. "And call dad." She added closing the door and locking them so her sister would stay in. She lifted the hood and it let out some steam. "Fuck." She said quietly. Her dad had been after her to get her car to the shop. It had been acting up for awhile. When she bought her car, it was already kind of crap, but it had been all she could afford at that time. She checked all the things she knew how to check before she got back in the car.

Rachel stayed in the car and called dad telling him what had happened. Lorelai got back in the car and used her phone to call the tow company to come get her car.

Aaron was working late to finish up some paperwork and when he got the call, he was annoyed. He had told his eldest daughter several times to get her car to the shop. He didn't want her getting stuck somewhere dangerous especially with her sister or brother. And that's kind of what happened. She was on a country road with nothing around. He knew Lorelai could defend herself and her sister if needed but he still worried. He told Rachel he was on his way.

Rachel told Lorelai that dad was on the way when she got off the phone when the tow company.

Lorelai nodded. "You'll go with him when he gets here. I will wait for the tow truck and get it to the garage." She told her sister

"Do you know what's wrong?" Rachel asked

"Not sure no." She told her sister

"Dad sounded annoyed." Rachel told her.

"At me. Not you. He's been telling me to get my car fixed for…awhile." Lorelai said

"Oh. So, your in trouble…" Rachel said

"Yep." Was Lorelai's only response

"Not judging. Why didn't you do it?" Rachel asked.

"Because I've been busy. And I'm stubborn." Lorelai admitted. She suddenly felt that feeling of being watched again. She looked out the windows and saw no one but it was dark. She made sure the doors were locked.

Rachel nodded. "Think being busy will be an excuse enough for dad?" She asked

"Nope." Lorelai said leaning her head forward against the steering wheel in front of her.

A few minutes later Aaron pulled behind Lorelai and got out. Lorelai saw that it was him and she took a breathe before getting out as well. "Dad…I'm"

Aaron held up his head for her to stop talking. "We will discuss it later." He said

Lorelai stopped and nodded.

"Are either of you hurt?" Aaron asked

"No. It just slowed down and stopped on its own." Lorelai said

"Do you know what's wrong?" He asked her

"No. I tried to look around and the things I looked at seem to be fine. I called the tow company." She said.

Aaron nodded. "Okay. Do you have a time?" he asked

Lorelai looked at her watch. "10-15 minutes from now. You can take Rachel and go." She said

Aaron raised his eyebrow. "Not a chance I am leaving you alone out here."

Lorelai nodded. "Okay."

Rachel got out of the car too.

Aaron gave her a small hug and told her she could go wait in his car.

Rachel went giving her sister a look of sympathy.

Lorelai looked at her dad. "Can I please just…" But she stopped when she saw the look. Lorelai sighed and leaned against her car.

Aaron took a breathe. "You can say whatever you want. It, wont change a thing." He told her

Lorelai nodded. "I don't apologize to change things… I apologize because it's the right thing to do and its how I feel." She said. "I'm not trying to excuse what I did."

Aaron stood in front of her. "This is what I was trying to avoid by asking you to get your car fixed." He told her.

"I know. Trust me I don't feel good that I put Rachel in this situation. I've just been busy." She said

"That sounds like an attempt at an excuse to me Lorelai." He said

Lorelai hung her head. "Your right."

"Look at me." He said

Lorelai looked up.

"I know you had no intention of this happening. I know we all get busy. But when you drive through areas like this. You -need to take car of your car. Especially when that car had the trouble yours does. This isn't the first time it has broken down on the road either." He told her

"Yes Sir." She said

"And I have been telling you for six weeks. Six. Weeks. To get this car fixed. You have had time between then and now to get this fixed. Being busy is not an excuse. Understood?" He said

Lorelai looked down. "Yes Sir."

"Look at me Lorelai. I will not tell you again."

Lorelai looked up quickly. "Sorry." She said

"What do you think I should do about this?" He asked

Lorelai sighed. "Does it matter what I think?" She asked

"Yes. I want to know what you would do if you were the parent in this situation." He said. He knew what he wanted to do but this father daughter relationship was unique he wanted to know what she would do.

Lorelai took a breathe. "It would depend. If I had bought the car and paid the bills for my sixteen-year-old and such I would take the car away for a period of time. If they had bought the car themselves and paid their own bills like I do. I don't know." She said

Aaron nodded. "I feel similarly. Except that yes. You pay your own bills. Even though I offered to help. But having a car and being responsible is more than paying the bills. Its about being responsible and taking care of regular maintenance of the car." He said. "Especially when the car isn't in the best condition on a good day." He added

Lorelai nodded. "Yes Sir."

Aaron took a breathe and was going to continue but the tow truck showed up. Aaron went over and told them where to take the car. It was his mechanic that he had already called, and they were expecting it.

The driver took the address of where to take it and loaded the car up and left towards the mechanic's shop.

Aaron looked over at Lorelai. "This is what is going to happen. Normally the mechanic would give you a rental car to use while he fixes yours. You will not be getting that car. I will be driving you to and from work and therapy until your car is fixed."

Lorelai nodded. She wasn't happy about it but right now would not be a good time to argue.

"Good. Lets get home." he told her

Lorelai got into the back of the car. Rachel had already taken the front. Aaron got in the driver's seat and started to drive home. When they got home, he asked Rachel to go get her homework started dinner would be there soon.

Rachel went. And Aaron turned to Lorelai. "To continue our conversation. If your car is unfixable because you waited to long, you will not be allowed to get a new car until further notice." He told her

Lorelai sighed but nodded.

"If it is fixable once it is fixed you can get it back." He said. "But if it happens again with any car, I will take the car away until your eighteen." He warned

Lorelai nodded. "Yes Sir."

He nodded and gave her a hug. "I know you don't like it and I know we have a unique father daughter relationship so in some ways I try to treat you like an adult. But when it comes to your safety there I no wiggle room." He said

She nodded. "I understand dad. I'm sorry I disappointed you."

Aaron was going to say something but got cut off before he could start.

"Is there anything else? Or can I go take a shower before food gets here?" She asked

Aaron nodded. "You can go. Just know I do this because I care." He said

Lorelai nodded again and went and showered. She let the tears fall in the shower. When she was done, she turned off the sadness and the shower. She got dressed and went out to the kitchen there was some Chinese food that had been delivered. She sat down with Rachel and their dad, and they ate. She forced herself to eat. She wasn't feeling very hungry, but she didn't want her dad to know that.

When they were done Lorelai went to lay down.

Rachel bit her lip. "Dad… She was upset. At dinner." She told him

"I know. Thank you for telling me thought." He said

Rachel played with her hair which was her tell that she had something to say.

"What's on your mind Rachel?" he asked.

"I don't want to be rude…" She said

"You can say what you want I'm sure in a way that isn't rude." He said

Rachel nodded. "I um. Overheard your conversation. Outside the car…and here." She said

Aaron nodded. "Okay."

"And I know it's none of my business… But I think maybe you are to hard on Lorelai…" She said

"Oh?" He said

"You know we both went through abuse that cant be explained because it was just so horrible." She said.

"Mhm." He said

"My therapist told me that it is okay to be a kid and not worry so much about being an adult. Lorelai was literally robbed of her entire childhood. She aged out but nothing changed she has always had to be an adult. She was the oldest in the home. Or perceived oldest for so long. She probably finally feels secure in being a regular teenager to some degree." Rachel said

Aaron was impressed. "You like Lorelai are wise beyond your years."

Rachel smiled and shrugged, "Just what my therapist says is all."

"I know that Lorelai is finding freedom is getting be who she is. But when it comes to you girls and your safety there is no wiggle room. She knew she was supposed to get it checked. She has been given several warnings. She choice to ignore them." He said. "Lorelai knows what she did was wrong. She doesn't disagree." He said

Rachel took a breath. "Does she? Or is she just avoiding you coming down harder on her by arguing?" She asked.

"Your sister is far to stubborn for that." He said with a smile.

"She used to be more stubborn. I think that's part of the reason she got it worse than the rest of us. Not that I'm blaming her for the abuse." She said

"She was more stubborn?" He said looking a bit surprised.

Rachel nodded. "Maybe because she had no respect for our old foster mother. She does for you."

Aaron nodded. "I see. I will talk to her again." He said. "You both are very protective of each other."

Rachel shrugged.

Aaron got up and went and knocked on Lorelai's door.

"Yeah." She said sitting up

Aaron went in. "Your sister makes me think we need to talk again."

"What did I do?" She asked

"You didn't do anything." He said. "I have a question."

Lorelai nodded.

"I know you have opinions. I know you would handle things differently in my position. Do you think my decision is fair? You will not be in trouble for telling me what you think."

Lorelai shrugged. "You get to make the decisions. You are the parent. I knew agreeing to be adopted meant I was agreeing to be in some ways treated like a regular teen." She said

"I do make the ultimate decisions. But do you think I am being unfair?" He asked

"No." she said

"Are you sure?" He asked

She nodded. "Yes. I'm not saying I like it. But I get it."

Aaron nodded. "Is Rachel right when she says your less stubborn now than you were in your old foster home?" He asked

Lorelai chuckled. "Yeah."

"Your less stubborn when you don't have to fear the abuse?" He asked

She shrugged. "I guess I was trying to show that she didn't effect me. No matter what she did. I had no respect for her. Its different with you. I have the upmost respect for you. I don't like disappointing you."

"Was that why you were upset at dinner? Disappointed me?" He asked

"I wasn't…" She started

Aaron raised an eyebrow which made her quickly change her statement.

"Yes…"

"Yes. I was disappointed. But that doesn't change. That I love you." He said

Lorelai looked surprised. He had never said that before. She knew he did, but it was something that he never said. "Okay." She said. She was too surprised to say anything else.

Aaron smiled. "Were okay than?" He asked

Lorelai nodded. "Yes. I will talk to Rachel let her know I'm okay."

Aaron nodded leaving her to her thoughts

After a bit Lorelai went to Rachel and told her she was fine. That she didn't need to worry about her.

The night came to an end like every other night. She went to bed after her cup of tea.