Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or anything else

Rory and Dean had recently broken up, so Lorelai and Zoe were almost walking on eggshells trying not to mention 'the D word.' It also didn't help that Rory had been in a mood since it happened, and they didn't know how long it would last. This had even become difficult for Zoe at school now that she and Clara had become awkward around each other because of Rory and Dean's break up.

"Okay, I need to know who you want at your birthday party." Lorelai looked at Zoe who would be turing nine in a matter of weeks.

"Just my friends from school." Zoe said as she listed off names.

"How about Clara?" Lorelai asked now.

"Oh," Zoe paused. "I mean, maybe. I don't know. We don't really talk much anymore."

"What happened?" Lorelai asked now.

"We just don't talk much." Zoe repeated gesturing towards Rory as Lorelai got what she meant.

"Just invite her," Rory muttered under her breath before getting up. "It shouldn't matter that Dean and I aren't together. She is still your friend and you shouldn't be awkward around her."

Rory's bedroom door closed and Lorelai and Zoe looked at each other in silence.

"How about grandma and grandpa?" Lorelai said now.

"They said I'll get a special dinner that Friday." Zoe said now, rolling her eyes at her mother.

Later that week, Zoe was giving out birthday invites and was clutching onto Clara's until they were grabbing their lunch.

"I wanted to invite you to my birthday but-" Zoe said, holding out the invite.

"My brother and your sister aren't together anymore." Clara finished her sentence as Rory nodded.

"It should be fun," Zoe tried to make it less awkward. "My mum is known her birthday blowouts. Last year at my eighth birthday the clown got arrested."

"No way." Clara said as a smile appeared on Zoe's face.

"It was pretty amazing," Zoe laughed. "Come if you want to. If you don't, I get it."

"No, I'll see if I can come." Clara smiled as Zoe sighed in relief.

"Do you want to have lunch together?" Rory asked as Clara nodded and they went to find a seat outside.

Zoe turned nine on a Tuesday, so her actual birthday was just dinner at Luke's where he made her a special cake and got to have any dinner she wanted, on the house. By the time they got home, they were all sugared out and Zoe was struggling to stay awake. Lorelai came into her bed not long after she went to sleep and was trying to wake her up.

"Zo," Lorelai said as Zoe was struggling to keep her eyes open. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Bedtime?" Zoe said quietly as she turned her head on her pillow to go to sleep.

"At exactly this time nine years ago, I was lying in this exact position-" Lorelai began.

"Is it not weird you do this every single year." Zoe said now.

"Shhh," Lorelai said gleefully. "It's a beautiful story."

"Debatable." Zoe closed her eyes.

They were at the Gilmore house for dinner a couple of days later, and her big birthday party was the next day. Rory and Dean had reunited, so Rory was a much happier person now. Emily had organised for Zoe's favourite dinner of mac and cheese to be made and there was a chocolate cake for dessert. After dinner, they were sitting in the lounge and Zoe was given a present.

"You didn't have to get me anything?" Zoe said as Emily handed her the gift bag with a wrapped present inside.

"It's your birthday, therefore you must get a present." Richard said as a smile appeared on Zoe's face.

"Rory gave us some ideas of what to get you." Emily said as Zoe looked at her sister while opening the gift.

"Oh my god," Zoe beamed. "It's the Harry Potter books. I borrowed the first one from the school library and now I have the first three."

"So you have to finish them and then give them to me to read." Rory said now.

"Look at that, you'll be reading all summer now." Lorelai quipped.

The next morning Sookie and Lorelai were already preparing for her birthday party. Zoe had requested the theme be her favourite movie The Wizard of Oz, and they would watch the movie and Sookie said she'd make popcorn and snacks for everyone. When Zoe got downstairs, Lorelai had literally turned the house into Oz and had to admit she was impressed.

"Wow," Zoe smiled. "I don't think were in Kansas anymore."

"Well then my work is done." Lorelai said now.

Zoe ended up recounting this as one her favourite birthdays. All of her friends were there, Lorelai had outdone herself with the party planning and there was no more akwardness between her and Clara who had come with Dean, and he was keeping Rory company.

A/N: Thank you for your reviews, as usual let me know what you think.