Stars Hallow

Lorelai and Rory are walking down the main street in Stars Hallow following their disastrous Thanksgiving dinner at the Gilmores's. Lorelai has her hands shoved in the pockets of her coat and Rory is walking along next to her, trying to keep up with Lorelai's fast pace.

"You're not mad are you?" Rory asks.

"No, I'm not mad," Lorelai answers, without looking over at her daughter. Rory frowns, knowing that her mother isn't telling the truth.

"You seem mad and you seemed mad when we walked out on Grampa and Gramma." Lorelai glances over at Rory, seeing the worry in her daughter's eyes.

"Hun, I'm just trying to wrap my mind around this. Yale. Wow. Yale." Lorelai shakes her head. Rory wraps her arm through Lorelai's.

"But I'm not going there. I just needed back up schools. I'm going to Harvard," Rory insists. Lorelai nods.

"We'll talk about it when it gets to that point," she responds. Rory nods. She glances over at Luke's Diner but Lorelai's walking past, her face still straight ahead.

"Why don't we go to Luke's? We didn't really eat at Grampa and Gramma's. We really didn't eat that gross tofurky at Lane's. And we didn't stay long enough to get the deep fried turkey at Sookie's. How about a burger?" Rory looks up at her mother, hoping for a positive response.

"We can get something at home," Lorelai responds blandly. Rory stops in her tracks.

"Are you serious? What are we going to eat other than steak sauce and month old Chinese food?" Lorelai stops and turns toward Rory.

"Rory, don't do this now. We can stop at Al's and pick something up," Lorelai says, quietly keeping her anger inside.

"No we can't. It's Thanksgiving, Al's is closed," Rory informs her mother. They stare angrily at each other, a matching pair, both with hands on her hips. "I know that you and Luke are fighting, don't ask me why this time, but I'm hungry, we have nothing at home and my boyfriend is in there so I'm going to go get a burger at Luke's. You can stand out here and be stubborn in the cold all by yourself." On that note, Rory turns on her heel and walks inside Luke's. Lorelai purses her lips thinking over her options. Sighing, she follows Rory inside the diner.

Since it is Thanksgiving, the diner is pretty empty. Anna and April are sitting at one table eating. Luke is walking around bringing out food and Jess is making coffee. Jess looks back the Gilmores when they walk into the diner. "Here for your fourth dinner?" he asks. Lorelai smiles faintly. Rory grabs Lorelai's arm and drags her to the table by the door. Lorelai sits but Rory doesn't.

"We haven't really eaten dinner yet, although we made a few good attempts, but we really wanted to come here," Rory says. Jess walks over to them. He and Rory share a kiss. "You still have food left?"

"Probably not enough for you two," Jess jokes. Rory blushes. Luke walks out of the back with a bowl of mashed potatoes but stops noticing Lorelai and Rory. He hesitates a moment but walks over to them.

"Hey, are you two actually eating?" Luke asks, surprised.

"We saved the best for last," Rory says. Luke nods. He glances at Lorelai, who fiddles again with her ring.

"Hey I'm making something upstairs, come help," Jess says, motioning with his head towards the curtain. He tugs on Rory's sleeve. Rory glances over at Lorelai, wondering for a moment if she should leave her mother. Lorelai nods to Rory.

"Okay," Rory agrees. She and Jess take hands and walk out.

Lorelai swallows and looks up at Luke. "You've got a busy place here," she manages. Luke nods. "They come here a lot?" Lorelai asks, motioning with her chin at April and Anna. April chooses that moment to notice them and she waves to Lorelai, who waves back.

"Anna didn't want to cook this year, April said, so I invited them to come here for dinner," Luke explains. Lorelai nods. "I'm surprised to see you here. Jess said you two had five other dinners to go to."

"Three," Lorelai says, raising three fingers. Luke shrugs. Lorelai sighs. "We didn't really eat three though. My parents's was a disaster. I found out that Rory applied to Yale."

"Yale? I thought she was going to Harvard. What happened? It was always Harvard." Lorelai shrugs, folding her hands in her lap.

"I don't know. I'm just her mother." She smiles slightly, rubbing her head. "I accused my parents of trying to get their way, of convincing Rory to apply there. I mean, she said it was only a back up school, but I just couldn't get it through my head, you know? I mean I know she wasn't lying. I know she wants to go to Harvard, but anytime I feel my parents might possibly have something to do with her sudden change in mind, I don't know, it just does something to me. It's like something comes over me, I'm like Grace McCallister or something." She sighs. Luke sets the bowl down on the table and sits down in the chair next to Lorelai.

"You're not, Lorelai. You want what's best for Rory and it scares you that the best might mean letting your parents in a bit. I'm not saying you should, know that though." Lorelai nods. Luke takes her hands. "Lorelai, she knows you love her and that you're not angry with her for applying to Yale." Lorelai nods again, pressing her lips together and looking up at Luke, sadly.

"Thanks," she whispers. Luke nods, letting her hands go. He stands, picking the bowl back up.

"Who's Grace McCallister?" he asks.

"The mom on Jack and Bobby. Her kids hated her because she tried to run their lives and she was a little bit OCD," Lorelai explains. She chuckles. "She was just overprotective."

"Well, I don't think that's a bad thing," Luke responds.

"Yeah…" They smile at each other. "Well, I'll get you two some food."

"To go, I think we'll take it home so you four can finish your dinner together," Lorelai says, motioning again at Anna and April. Luke nods. Jess and Rory walk over.

"Come on, let's go box up some food," Luke says. He hits Jess on the arm as walk away. Jess rolls his eyes but follows Luke. Lorelai watches them go and then motions for Rory to sit in the chair Luke vacated, which she does.

"Does Luke need to clean the sheets?" Lorelai jokes.

"Gross!" Rory exclaims. Lorelai smirks and winks. Rory shakes her head. "Did you two have a nice civil chat?" Lorelai feigns innocent.

"Of course. Luke and I are best friends, we never fight." Rory rolls her eyes. "So we're more like Lucy and Ethel." Rory narrows her eyes.

"Which of you is which?"

"I'm Lucy of course!"

"Cuz you always wanted red hair."

"Exactly," Lorelai agrees. She sneaks a glance over at April and Anna. "Do you think she looks like me?"

"Who?" Rory follows Lorelai's gaze. "Oh, uh, not really I – I don't think – I mean you both have brown hair…" Lorelai purses her lips. Anna glances over at them, causing Lorelai to look down at her lap. Rory and Anna share a smile. Rory looks back over at her mother. "Why? Do you think she looks like you?" Lorelai shrugs.

"No – I guess – I mean the brown hair and the eyes – you know – cuz they're blue." She shrugs again. "No I guess. She's much shorter. And I guess her face is more circular." Rory raises an eyebrow.

"Putting a lot of thought into this?" she asks. Lorelai scoffs.

"No!" Lorelai responds, sharper than she intended. Luke and Jess walk over with two boxes of food. "Oh, okay." Lorelai stands and Rory follows her lead. "Thanks." She takes the two packages. "Smells good." Rory looks at her mom strangely.

"I put extra rolls in there cuz I know that's your favorite part," Luke says. Lorelai smiles and nods. "Well…" Luke shoves his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah…" Lorelai says lamely. "See you later." Lorelai nods at Jess and looks down as she walks out. Luke watches her go and then walks over to April and Anna.

"Any idea what's going on there?" Rory asks Jess. He shrugs.

"I don't really get involved in what's happening on the Young and the Restless." Rory nods.

"Okay, well I'd better go." Jess wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "Jess…" But she gives in and kisses him. Blushing she slowly pulls away. "Tomorrow." She touches his lips and winks as she walks out.