Disclaimer: I don't own it.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. Here is the next chapter, as promised.

Chapter Sixteen: Check Please

Rory walked into Francesca's, immediately being hit by the strong aroma of meatballs and marinara sauce. The restaurant was busy, people waiting on either side of the hostess booth. She saw her father and noticed a woman across from him. The woman's back was to Rory and she couldn't help but think that she looked familiar. As she neared she recognized the woman's hair, the soft billowing curls, it was her mother. She nearly turned away but resolved to be strong. She continued on, determined to get through lunch.

"Hi Dad," She said, refusing to look at her mother. Lorelai was smiling nervously but it faltered when Rory neglected to acknowledge her.

"Hey Rory, uh, did you see that your mom is here?" Rory was she was cornered and gave her mother a banal greeting.

"Rory-" Lorelai began, but Rory cut her off, turning to Christopher.

"Dad, what would you get here?"

"Rory, your mom was trying to say something,"

"The fettuccini looked good. Someone had it at their table when I got here," Rory continued, ignoring Chris's comment.

"Rory,"

"Look Dad, you wanted me to come and I came,"

"Just listen to us, please," Chris pleaded, glancing quickly at Lorelai. She was sitting quietly in her seat, staring blankly at the empty plate before her.

"Dad, I'm tired of listening. Before I would've listened, but now I'm sick of it. I've heard too much already," Lorelai stood up abruptly, facing her daughter. Her face was pained and Chris could tell she was near tears.

"Rory, this is ridiculous. We're trying to make things right and you're acting like a child! I'm sorry we didn't tell you, we thought it was for the best,"

"The best for who Mom?" Rory retorted. Lorelai shook her head, frustration getting the best of her.

"I can't take this anymore. Bye Chris," She said curtly, walking away.

"Lor," Chris got up, shooting his daughter a disapproving look. Rory watched them go, tears filling her eyes. The waiter approached, taking out a pad of paper.

"Miss, what would you like?" Rory' wiped her eyes, looking up at the waiter.

"Tiramisu, the biggest piece you've got,"

"Wow," Lane commented, walking with Dave on the ocean's shore, waves gently spraying them with a mist of water, "It is really beautiful here,"

"Yeah, it is. The sun is great. Now I'm not pasty anymore," He said happily, looking at his uncovered arms. Lane giggled, glancing at his pale skin.

"Dave, you're still pasty,"

"Just give it a few more weeks Lane, I'll be brown, well, brown-er,"

"Well, as long as you don't turn orange," Dave smiled giving her a quick kiss.

"So, how pissed was your mom you called her?"

"Not as bad as when I first told her I was in an airport in California,"

"Yeah, that one was pretty bad. I could hear her voice from your phone and I wasn't even standing next to you,"

"One month isn't that long," Lane mused, "In regards to that she was okay. She just made me promise that I would stay at the all-girl suite that I am supposabely booked at," Dave smiled.

"You told her you were staying at an all-girl suite?"

"Well, I couldn't tell her I was staying with you,"

"Right, boys are bad, I remember," Lane smiled, linking her arm with his.

"Yes, but my mother likes you. She thinks you're wholesome and righteous. She let you sit in our pew at church,"

"Oh yeah, she did. You're right, she does like me," Dave looked down at his watch and groaned.

"Class is in ten minutes, we better go," He began to walked with her but she stopped him.

"Dave, I think I'm going to stay down here,"

"Are you sure? My dorm is pretty stocked. I've got wireless Internet," Lane smiled, nodding.

"I'm sure, I like to sit by the ocean, it's very...calm,"

"Okay, bye Lane," She sat down on the grainy sand and hugged her knees. Wind hit her face and she closed her eyes, feeling the water gently spray her face. She loved Dave, she did and she was happy to be with him. However, as she sat alone watching the waves roll on the glassy surface of the water she couldn't help but feel somewhat hollow. She missed home.

"I need lots of coffee Luke. Don't you even think of denying me any either," Lorelai said, collapsing onto the stool.

"Lore-"

"Okay, I've already had six cups but I need coffee. I need coffee," Lorelai whimpered, shooting Luke a pathetic look. Luke poured her a cup, setting it down in front of her.

"What happened?"

"Rory won't talk to me. We had a huge blow out and now she won't talk to me. She won't even look at me." She took a long sip of coffee, the hot liquid burning her throat.

"Why won't she talk to you?" Luke asked cautiously, curious of what could cause Rory's silent treatment.

"It's a long story that even coffee can't make me tell,"

"Okay," Luke looked at her, unsure of what to do. After several moments of silence he grabbed a donut, placing it down in front of her.

"It's on the house," She looked up at him, smiling with gratitude.

"Thanks Luke," She sighed, picking off a sprinkle from the frosted donut, "but I think it's going to take a lot more than a donut and coffee to fix this. I messed up, and I don't know what to do,"

"Don't worry, she'll come around," Lorelai nodded, taking a large bite of her donut; at least she still had her fast metabolism.

"You look like hell," Stephanie commented, sitting next to Rory on her comfy plush couch. Rory grunted in response, eating another cookie.

"Paris called me. She was worried about you," Stephanie continued, surveying the large amount of junk food sprawled out on the coffee table.

"How would Paris know about me? She's always stuck up in her room," Rory said dryly.

"Well, I can hear you moping around!" Paris called out from her room.

"How do you know I'm moping?"

"Because I can hear you chomping on food all day! It's disgusting Gilmore, totally disgusting!" Rory pouted, grabbing a handful of chips.

"Rory, what happened?" Stephanie's eyes went wide as a thought occurred to her, "Oh no, you and Logan broke up?"

"No, Logan and I are fine. My mom and I broke up," She shook her head, "That sounded so wrong,"

"Rory, I'm sorry,"

"She pulled the whole 'I was trying to protect you' thing. How ridiculous is that?"

"Maybe she was,"

"No, she just didn't want to tell me. She was being a chicken,"

"You like chicken," Stephanie replied weakly.

"Yes, fried chicken, not my mother in chicken form," There was a knock on the door and Rory just yelled for them to come in.

"I'm guessing lunch didn't go well," Logan said, taking in the entire mess before him.

"Oh no Logan, I got tiramisu and a whole table to myself, lunch went wonderfully,"

"Wow, sarcastic comments regarding your favorite dessert, something is definitely wrong," He sat next to her, putting his arm around her narrow shoulders.

"Her mom and her had a fight," Stephanie chimed in, saying what Rory was avoiding.

"Hey!" Rory called out, looking angrily at her friend.

"Well, he has a right to know why you're acting all emo,"

"I am not acting emo! My legs aren't numb from too tight jeans and my bangs are no where near my eyes,"

"Well, you're acting like it," Rory sighed, resting her head on Logan's shoulder.

"I hate this. My mom and I never fight,"

"Well, maybe you and Lorelai will finally have a normal relationship," Stephanie mused. Rory sniffed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I don't want a normal relationship," Logan wrapped him other arm around her, kissing her cheek tenderly.

"Don't worry Ace, things will work themselves out,"

"I miss her already. Tonight was usually our weekly call; it's strange not to talk to her,"

"Ace, you talked to her almost every day,"

"Yeah, but most of those times were spontaneous, when I thought of something funny. Tonight was our only planned phone call,"

"Well, why don't you call her?" Rory wiped her eyes, looking up at Logan.

"What?"

"Call her. You just said you missed her, you're obviously miserable without talking to her. Just call,"

"I can't,"

"Ace,"

"I was so mean to her earlier,"

"Call her and apologize. Then listen to her, listen to what she has to say. Who knows, she might say something worth listening to,"

"What if she hangs up on me?"

"I highly doubt that will happen," Rory picked up her phone, staring at the blank screen.

"Call already!" Stephanie cried out exuberantly, gesturing to her phone. Rory took a deep breath and dialed. The moment her mom answered she hung up, her heart beating rapidly.

"Ace," Logan grabbed the phone and redialed.

"Logan, I'm not ready," Rory pleaded. Once Lorelai answered he handed the phone to Rory. She put the phone to her ear and spoke apprehensively.

"Hello," She smiled sheepishly, tears filling her eyes once again, "Yeah, that was me before. Mom, can we talk?"

A/N: I hope that you liked it! Please review. I have another chapter ready so the more reviews I get the quicker I will update!!