Emily Gilmore watched as her young granddaughter passionately kissed Logan Huntzberger just before he got into a cab and rode away. If it had been twenty one years ago and that had Lorelai and the boy had been Christopher Emily would have marched down there and berated both of them for their irresponsibility but now she simply watched and smiled. Her granddaughter seemed to be happy for the first time in a while. As soon as she saw Rory turn to come inside the house she sat down at the table and pretended to be inspecting her grapefruit.

"Good morning Grandma." Rory replied as she sat down at the table and began fixing a plate for herself. "I'm so excited about tonight's event. Did you feel excited about the first event you planned?"

Emily was a little surprised by the question. No one really ever asked Emily about her past. A lot of times it seemed as if most people treated Emily like she was born an adult. "No I was more nervous than excited. My first event was my mother's fiftieth birthday party. I was so afraid that she would think my ideas were tacky."

"How did it go?"

Emily smiled wistfully. "My mother told me afterwards that it was marvelous. It was the first time I really felt like I was good at something."

Rory smiled. She took a bite of her bacon and went back to checking over the arrangements. She knew that she would have to double check all of the plans that she had made. If one thing went wrong she knew that she would have to deal with a big problem.

"Rory there's something I must tell you about tonight." Emily thought it best to warn Rory about Francine's presence rather than allow the woman to shock Rory.

"What's the matter?" Rory asked cautiously. She didn't like the way her grandmother sounded so nervous about the situation.

"Nothing is the matter. I just wanted to let you know that last I talked to Francine as in Christopher's mother and your grandmother. Well she's interested in getting to know you. I suggested that she come to the event tonight. She's going to be there Rory. I thought you would like to know."

Rory didn't know how to feel. Normally this would be a moment where she would call her grandmother and explain the situation but she wasn't talking to her mother and she couldn't bash Francine to her father. "Why would she want to know me? She didn't want to know me before."

"Rory, when you were created it was a very hard situation. Your grandfather and I were best friends with Straub and Francine. I mean the best of friends. The four of us always wanted your mother to marry your father. Things wouldn't have gone as awry if only your mother had married your father. She refused. When she didn't follow the plan Christopher jumped off the bandwagon also. It was a hard time for everyone. I spent a month in bed sobbing and wondering why your mother had to leave us. Christopher was never the same after that. The four of us lost our children, and at the time it always seemed like it was because of you. Still thinking back I think your mother would have left me with or without you being conceived. Rory Francine needs you right now. She lost her husband and I know he was an ass to you but he was her husband. The two of them loved each other so much." Emily tried to make her granddaughter see why she shouldn't hate Francine.

"They actually used to like my mother."

Emily laughed a little. "They adored your mother when she was younger. I just don't know if we were ready for the types of teenagers we had. Our generation was nothing like your parents. We were more respectful. We didn't know that you were allowed to be moody. Before Straub died he called your grandfather and told him that he always wished Lorelai and you had been Haydens. He said life would have been more interesting. He apologized for the way he spoke to you as well as about you. He said you seemed to be a lovely girl."

"Really?" Rory didn't think a man like Straub was capable of such kind words.

Emily nodded sagely. "Straub had a lot of time to think those last few months. You know they have a picture of you hanging in their foyer. It's from your debutante ball. They wanted to come and tell you how lovely you looked that evening but they were afraid you would not want to give them the time of day."

"It's sad the things you learn about a person after they die. It's sort of like why couldn't they just share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns with you before they died. Why do they have to keep so many things bottled up until it is too late?" Rory replied as she took yet another bite of her bacon.

Emily looked at her granddaughter and simply shrugged. "I don't know. Well I've got to be going I've got to pick up your grandfather's suit from the cleaners. Francine really isn't that terrible. I'll see you this evening. Will Logan be there?"

"He said that he would try to make the end of it. He wants to go out to eat afterwards."

Emily nodded and smiled. "You two are very cute together. No matter what your mother thinks about the relationship I think he's good for you as you are also good for him. He keeps you young and you mature him. You two were very cute this morning."

Before Rory could even reply Emily was already on her way out. Rory knew that she was blushing. Her grandmother had seen Logan leaving the pool house this morning. That meant that she knew that he had spent the night. She sighed. She couldn't stress about this right now. She ate a couple more pieces of bacon and then left the dining room.

Christopher Hayden sat in the parlor of his parent's old house. He felt like he was sixteen again waiting for his parent's to be ready to go to some stupid event. Instead of being excited about seeing Lorelai he was now excited about seeing his daughter. When his mother called last night and suggested that they attend the event together he was more than just a little surprised. Then when he got here he realized she was nervous. She was fidgety. She was anything but her usual self. "Mom you know I realize you haven't been to an event in a while, and that it is your first even without dad, but do you think we could hurry it up a little. I'd like to see Rory before she gets super busy."

Francine Hayden looked at herself in the mirror one last time and then sighed. She took a deep breath and then made the sign of the cross. She wanted Rory to get that she wasn't that woman she had met all those years ago. She walked down the stairs and smiled at her son. He seemed to be shocked by her appearance. She looked down and wondered if she looked dreadful. It had been a long time since she had found herself dressing up for something like this, at least a couple of years. Straub had been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago and since then they spent most of their time wondering how they got to be so alone. "What do I look bad?"

"No it's just…isn't that the necklace Lorelai gave you for your fortieth birthday?" Christopher knew the answer was yes. They had been fifteen at the time and had spent an entire day looking for that necklace. As soon as Lorelai saw it she knew that his mother would love it. Francine wore it everyday for the next year. She was actually wearing it the night Lorelai announced she was pregnant. The necklace went back into its jewelry box that night and didn't see the light for the next twenty years.

Francine smiled. "I thought it would be a nice touch. I want Rory to know that I don't hate her or her mother." Francine looked down at her feet. "You know Christopher your father always regretted the way he acted after you became a father."

Christopher nodded. "I think you look stunning. Now let's go or next thing you know we'll show up and it'll be nearly over."

Rory was busy ordering people around when she felt two hands snake over her eyes. She jumped a little and then smiled.

Logan whispered softly in her ear. "Guess who…"

"I don't know is it…Theo Epstein?" Rory replied with a sly smile.

Logan laughed. "You wished. No instead it's just little old me."

Rory gave him a kiss. "I thought you weren't coming until the end."

Logan shrugged. "What can I say I felt like I should be here to support you. I always thought you should know that my parents are going to show up unannounced. They asked me if it was true if you were the one organizing the event. So I decided to be extremely sweet. Colin, Finn, and Stephanie are on their way here. We're not going to let my douche bag parents to ruin your big event."

Rory looked at him and smiled. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and then a big hug. "My grandmother Francine is going to be here tonight."

'Francine?" Logan had never heard Rory refer to anyone as her grandmother other than Emily. Then again she never discussed her father either.

Rory sort of laughed. She realized that Francine and Straub was just another thing she had never told Logan about. God he used to think she was so easy to get. That was the biggest and dumbest assumption anyone could ever make about her. She was probably the most complicated debutante in the history of Hartford. "My father's parents are Straub and Francine Hayden. You may have heard of them. My grandfather was one of the most successful attorneys in the state. I once read that he did a lot of pro bono work. My grandfather is dead. He was an ass the one time I met him. So I never really talked to them. Now Francine is alone and she wants to know me. She's coming here tonight, presumably with my father."

"Your father is Christopher Hayden as in the Haydens." Logan asked shocked. He always wondered about Rory's pedigree. He never really thought to be two and two together.

"Yeah I'm guessing you didn't realize that. Still I hear she once was a very lovely woman. Aren't you even going to give me an I hope you feel better kiss?" she asked sweetly. She had spent most of the day thinking about Francine and had decided that she get to know this woman as a widow and then make her decision.

Logan gave her a quick kiss and then another quick kiss. He started to kiss her again but stopped himself and explained. "I must leave you to do your chairperson duties. You better save a dance for me."

"Oh I will trust me." She watched as he started to walk away. "Logan…" she called after him.

He turned around and looked at her. "Yeah Ace?"

"Thanks for coming tonight. It really means a lot to me." she said with a small smile. It was the first time she ever had a boyfriend who did these things for her. Dean tried but he just didn't have the class. Jess never even attempted trying. Logan he did it and he did it well. She felt like she finally found somebody who she could love.

Francine spotted Rory as soon as she walked into the event. Her granddaughter was wearing a getup from the 40s and looked smashing. She looked up at her son and smiled. She patted his hand and said "Go find your old friends I'm sure there is somebody here that you could talk to."

"Are you sure?" Christopher asked his mother. He thought that she would want him to stay near all evening.

She simply nodded. "It's time for me to make my debut. I need to seem independent. Plus you'll make me seem so clingy." She joked and gave her son a quick peck on the cheek. "Do bring Rory over here in a little while so I can get acquainted with her."

"Will do." Christopher said and then watched as his mother walked over to Richard and Emily. He smiled when he saw Emily hug his mother. As long as she had Emily to watch over her he knew that his mother would be okay.

Logan grabbed Rory by her waist and whispered in her ear "Did you miss me?"

"Why of course I did." She replied and then spun around to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Are you having a good time?"

"Well it does lack the ability to form a sub-party but all in all it seems as though it's a really great event. The first time I didn't find myself wanting to fall asleep within the first ten minutes. Oh and Finn wants to know if you can score him the Andrews sisters phone numbers."

"Why does he want to hire them for his next big birthday bash or something?" Rory asked though she knew that wasn't the real reason.

Logan laughed. "No, it's more like he wants to know if they'd be interested in a triple date as in one of him and all three of them."

Rory laughed. It was then that she noticed her father talking to a guy around his age. She smiled. "Come say hello to my father with me."

Logan started to say something to her but realized that she was already walking away.

Christopher Hayden hugged his daughter and shook Logan's hand. "You look wonderful Rory. I love the costume. It's good to see you again Logan."

"I agree. We really should play another round of golf sometime."

"We really must. Well Rory I don't know if Emily told you but I came with someone tonight. She's really dying to see you Rory." Christopher stated slowly. He didn't want Rory to feel like he was pushing his mother on her.

Rory nodded. "Where is she?"

Christopher smiled. Only Rory would be this kind when it came to a woman who had been previously horrible to her. "She's with Emily. Logan if you don't mind I'd like to steal Rory for a moment."

"Oh it's no problem I really should get back to Finn on that number thing anyhow I assume the answer is no."

Rory laughed. "The answer is definitely no."

Logan watched as Rory followed her father over to where he grandmother was standing. He hoped that Francine really had changed for Rory's sake. Rory couldn't take another kick in the pants. Not with his parents on their way here.

Christopher gently tapped on his mother's shoulder and turned her around. "Mother I'd like you to meet your granddaughter again."

Francine smiled. "It's good to see you again. You've grown even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. I thought that was nearly impossible. You seem to have your mother's good looks."

Rory blushed a little at the compliment. "You look stunning as well. That's a very interesting necklace you're wearing."

Francine nodded. "Your mother gave it to me a very long time ago."

Rory looked at her a bit surprised.

"Rory I don't want to keep you from your duties I just wanted to say hello. I thought maybe you wouldn't mind coming over for lunch tomorrow afternoon. We can go anywhere you'd like. I'd like to get to know you. This event is just marvelous."

Rory nodded. "I'd like that a lot. I'll call you first thing in the morning and we can make all the arrangements then."

Shira walked into the room as if she owned the place. She didn't care that they hadn't bought tickets. She didn't care that they hadn't donated any money. As a Huntzberger it was her right to be here. She told her the girl at the front that she realized she wasn't on the list but was there any room. She watched as the girl scampered away to find the person in charge.

Rory turned around to see Lannie standing there looking exasperated. "There is a Shira Huntzberger at the front wanting to know if we have a table for her."

Rory sighed. "Just put her at my grandparent's table. They have a couple of extra seats." Rory's voice sounded defeated. She loathed woman like Shira Huntzberger who felt they could just come in here and demand a place for themselves. She would have sent her away but knew that it would be unwise. The Huntzberger's already didn't like her enough as is.

Francine looked at Shira rather distastefully as Shira introduced herself. "I know who you are. The question is do you know who I am?"

Shira shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't."

"Shira this is my good friend, and Rory's Grandmother Francine Hayden." Emily introduced the two.

"Oh it's lovely to meet you." Shira replied sweetly.

Francine looked at Shira for a moment and said. "I can't say the feeling is mutual. I've heard about the way you spoke to my granddaughter and I would just like you to know that the name Hayden has always been much more prestigious than Huntzberger. Your son is lucky to have my granddaughter. Oh and before you compare money with anyone I'd like you to know that Rory is worth much more than your son could even imagine." Francine paused. "Oh and even if she wasn't a Hayden everyone knows Gilmore's have more class and poise than a Huntzberger could even attempt to muster."

Shira stood there shocked at a loss for words. She looked at Emily who was trying to hide a smile and then at everyone else in the small group. For the first time she felt small. "Well I guess you're entitled to your feelings." Shira spit out before walking away trying to mask the fact that she blushing.

I don't know if this was awful or great. I had a good time writing this chapter. For the longest time I just couldn't start it. I wanted Francine to put Shira in her place because no one else seemed to have the courage to do so. Please tell me what you think. Oh and I'm so sorry it took so long to update.