Lisa untied the strings on her pale blue apron and tossed it back in the kitchen closet of her Stars Hollow house. She tapped the wooden spoon on the edge of the rice pan and then set it on the counter, nervously brushing a hair back from her clip as Max opened the door. He stopped short in the threshold and raised his head, sniffing the air suspiciously.

"Hm," he mused. "What is that?"

Lisa fell to her heels, disappointed. "Its-um-chicken and rice?"

"Oh...that's odd."

"Does it smell that bad?" Lisa frowned, her heart thudding.

"No!" he quickly enveloped an assuring arm around her waist. "It smells great! Just unusual. You never cook."

"Yeah, well," she warmed to him, relieved.

"What's the occasion?" he pecked her on the cheek and removed his jacket.

"Well, lets start eating and I'll tell you."

Lisa sat in her chair at the spacious dining room table and Max at his but didn't pick up her fork. He began eating and she felt his expectant brown eyes on her. Finally, she spoke.

"Okay," she swallowed hard. "First, let me explain everything first and you can get mad after. Promise?"

"Jesus," Max shook his head nervously. "Fine."

"I'll tell you the good news first," she offered. He nodded.

"I'm pregnant," she cracked a small smile. Max's entire face lit up.

"God, Leese, are you serious?" he jumped from his seat and kissed her excitedly on the forehead. "How long have you known? Is it mine? It must be. Oh, god. Yes. Yeah, I'm going to be a father!"

She smiled happily, then darkened. How she hated to tell him this next. "I've known a couple weeks. Now...sit. Please." He chuckled and did so.

"Ready?" he nodded again.

"I went to see Jackson."

His smile evaporated. There was silence. The phone rang but neither moved to answer it.

"Max?"

"I can't say I'm surprised," he sighed in annoyance. "Its clear you've always had a thing for him."

Lisa reddened. "No! What are you talking about? I hate him!"

"Whatever you say, Lisa. If that's not the case, then why?"

She froze. What could she tell him? She didn't really know the reason herself. "I...I don't..."

"You damn well do know. You wanted to check up on his welfare. You feel guilty."

"I do not!" she stood, feeling almost childish.

"Why didn't you at least tell me?" his voice was raising. "I'd have gone with you!"

"I don't need a protector!" she snapped. "I do just fine on my own! And besides, if I'd told you, you wouldn't have let me go!" she knew she was right by the look in his eyes.

"You couldn't have waited until after the goddamn trials," he yelled. "You had to go and recklessly endanger yourself-"

"There were cops, you moron!" she snapped back.

"I meant mentally, not physically!" he smacked himself in the head to make his point. "He says stuff, Lisa, he manipulates and brainwashes."

"What, do you think I slept with him or something because he brainwashed me into thinking he was you?"

"Stop putting words in my mouth." He paced angrily into the living room.

"I can't believe you're angry over this," she cried. "You hormonal chauvinist."

"You know what?" he snapped curtly. "You're just like him sometimes, so goddamn stubborn!"

Lisa let his words sink in and her mouth fell slightly open in shock. Finally she turned on her heel, grabbed her jacket, and left the house, slamming the door behind her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"No, you're prettier," Lorelai giggled jokingly to Luke over the phone.

"Well, can't argue with that," he chuckled. Lorelai leaned on the Dragonfly desk. "So are you still coming by tonight?"

"Yeah, once-" Lisa threw open the door, her face wet and livid. "Well, once Lisa gets here. Which she just did. See you in a bit." She hung up and turned to her friend. "Hey, Leese what's up-"

"The bastard," she growled, tossing her jacket behind the desk. "Just because he's-"

"I'm guessing the dinner didn't go well?" Lorelai interjected sadly. "God, I'm sorry, Leese."

"Yeah. So now he thinks I'm this helpless little slut who does shit just to piss him off. Bastard." Lorelai stepped back. That was the most she'd ever heard Lisa curse in one sentence.

"I'm sure he doesn't think that," Lorelai assured sympathetically. Lisa erupted in tears.

Lorelai sighed and sat down, clicking off her cell phone. This could take a while.