SATURDAY

Rory opened her eyes with a smile on her face.

She stayed like that, unmoving for a minute, while trying to remember the pleasant dream she had awoken from.

After a while she abandoned the attempt, pulled herself into a sitting position and stretched her upper body. Her eyes landed on the brilliant stone on her finger, which suddenly had transformed into something magnificent when capturing and radiating the streams of morning light that slipped through the window. She smiled, touched the stone with her other hand and was momentarily lost in thoughts of love and longing.

Last night they had been on the phone for almost two hours, and she was therefore supposed to feel fulfilled and recharged. That was not the case, though - as her whole body was aching for him. They had talked about the first day at his new job, (which had gone very well, by the way) and their new house (which was filled with boxes just waiting for them to unpack).

Rory informed him that she had found a new job vacancy which she felt instantly curious about. It was at a new, independently driven, webpage that was created as an alternative to the dominating daily newspapers in San Fransisco. She had stumbled upon the information by chance when she was doing the groundwork for her job-application for the Chronicle and the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and was very exited about it.

She also told Logan about the phone-call she'd received during the day from Hugo Gray, who (to her surprise and exitment) had asked to meet her. "That's huge, Ace!" she had heard an equally exited Logan say "You got to go to that meeting! You know, Hugo has become a pretty big deal in the industry since the launch of his webpage."

"Yeah, I know!" Rory echoed, smiling broadly "We're actually meeting up on Monday, for a business-brunch in the city."

"That's sounds very exciting, Ace!"

"Yeah, and very businessy. You know, I'm suddenly feeling very frisky'ish."

"Wish I could be there and see it. Rory Gilmore; feelin' frisky."

"Logan! I didn't mean it like that..."

"As I've said before, Ace. I love it when you're working blue."

"Logan!"

The last hour of the conversation had been spent in the same manner - with the two of them talking about nothing at all. They had reflected upon the remaining days until they got to see each other, and concluded that despite the fact that it sucked to be apart, they soon would be together again - always. Despite that, Rory still had to convince Logan a while later, that the idea of him flying down over the weekend was pretty bad - considering that he had just gotten there and she had the whole weekend planned out anyhow.

She sighed and rose from the bed, heading for the shower. She had decided to not be pouty, despite the aching longing she felt for her fiancé, and was determined to follow through on that decision. Passing a window facing the front yard, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a moving figure outside. She paused, while gazing out the window, trying to get a better sense of what was going on.

It was of course her mother, Rory soon realized. She was seemingly busy with something - undefined -, Rory concluded. Grabbing hold of something, to Rory's eyes, similar to a giant yellow umbrella (extracted from the trunk of her car) Lorelai was entering the garage. When she disappeared out of vision, Rory turned away from the window and went to the bathroom. Her face was covered in a grin, and she even took a couple of dancing step on her way through the house - as she felt pretty damn good.

Her mother sure was awesome, Rory thought - and she was convinced that come Wednesday, an awesome surprise would be waiting for her. No, she concluded; no time to be pouty.

Positioned in an armchair a very content Christopher watched his two daughters, who both currently were engrossed in the book that told the adventures of Charlie, Willie Wonka and the infamous chocolate factory. His eyes took in the picture before him, as the girls were tightly bundled up together on the couch.

His eyes suddenly met Rory's, and she gave him a look of significance, while nodding in direction of her little sister. Smiling in response to Rory's meaningful look, he saw the same thing she did.

The two girls had undeniable similarities, and the way Gigi so obviously was held captive in the story reminded him of a young Rory. While his oldest daughter continued to read aloud, Christopher continued to absorb the scene. Gigi she had found the entranced to the wonderful world of Roald Dahl, and he smiled when thinking about that there wes no turning back at this point.

The threesome had spent the entire morning together, and after a lavish breakfast made by the household's master himself in the best of his ability, they were now soothing their bellies and resting their way through the early part of the day in the living room. Lorelai was expected to come by any minute now to fetch the fruit of her loin, as the two of them were heading out on their weekend-long and long-awaited road-trip.

Christopher suddenly felt somewhat downcast, where he sat. He wasn't proud of it, but couldn't help but feeling left out. Rory was of course closest to her mom, but seeing his two girls getting along so well made him yet again realize that things had gone terribly wrong this year. In his heart he felt that things were not supposed to be this way, and the splitting of their family was the source of his current discomfort.

After a failed marriage with Rory's mom, Christopher had momentarily lost the ability to understand what was supposed to happen next. As he had in some sense always seen himself as growing old with Lorelai, (rooted in an 25 year old certainty that they would eventually end up together) he had after their failed marriage found himself in a state of shock. When the shock eventually had worn of, he had realized that he now was emptyhanded on many levels. He hadn't yet found a way to pick himself up from that.

He continued to watch the bundle of the two absorbed girls in front of him, and he smiled with a stroke of sadness.

The fact that Rory actually was getting married, was to him pretty hard to process. To Christopher, who had missed out on so much of Rory's life, she was still a young girl. For her to even thinking of marriage, was actually making him a bit uncomfortable. He had to admit, though, that he really liked that Logan-guy. Another thing was that he could clearly see that they made sense together as a couple, and he also knew that Logan made his daughter very happy.

He remembered the first time he met Logan, and reflected upon how the awkward beginning now had been turned around into something as a mutual understanding and liking between the two men. So yes, he liked the guy.

The thing he didn't like, not one bit, was the current situation. The truth was, Christopher though, that Logan had forced his daughter into moving to the other side of the country. When he had proposed, he had also asked Rory to give up her entire life, and her life-long dream of working as a journalist at the New York Times. That was a thing Christopher neither liked nor approved of.

His general and collected thoughts regarding the situation was in the end that Rory, with her unfailing sense of right and wrong, was more capable of choosing the right path than he himself had ever been. Therefore, as her father, he had decided to support her decision. As her dad, he would be waiting on the sidelines - ready to jump in if help was ever needed.

Rory read the last line of the story, and then closed the book's covers firmly but gently, while keeping an eye at her sister who were lost deep in thoughts. Rory yet again gave her father a knowlingly smile, and then turned to Gigi and asked in a somewhat amused voice;"Did you like it? You know, when I was younger, it actually used to be my favorite book. I have probably read it a thousand times. I even slept with it under my pillow, for a while." she hesitated, reflecting for a second before continuing; " That was, until my mom found out. Then she made me promise to read something else, and she brought a bunch of other books home and..." she paused when realizing that she was losing track of the conversation, and started over.

"So, did you -like it?" she asked her younger sister again.

Gigi, who had turned her little face towards Rory while listening to her speech, answered by nodding in silence.

"Well, good!" Rory said with a firm and serious voice, nodding once before continuing; "The truth is that I actually brought it for you."

Gigi's eyes widened slightly and she bursted out in a thrilled voice; "Can I have it? Please!"

While watching Gigi, trying to repress the bemused smile on her face she said; "Yeah, its yours. I think you'll have better use of it than I do now, and also - I want you to have something to remember me. You know, I am going pretty far away, and I wont see you very often from now on." She smiled at Gigi and concluded with saying "So, here you go!" and handing the book over to her excited sister, who instantly opened and started to browse the pages.

"Oh, that's right!" Rory exclaimed, instantly rising from the couch. While hastening towards the entrance hall she continued; "Dad, I have something for you, too!"

After a minute she returned with a package in her hands, and handed it to her father with an excited look in her face.

Christopher was obviously touched, and had to clear his throat before speaking; "Thanks Rory" He began "but, really you didn't have to do bring me anything! Thanks!" he continued after a slight hestiation; "You are actually making me kind of scared, with all that talk about keepsakes to remember you. You make it seem like we're never gonna see you again…"

"No, it's not like that." Rory responded in a bright voice, waving her hand in reassurance, and continued excitedly; "This is just something that I wanted you to have anyway. Come on! Open it!"

The gift-wrap was hastily removed, uncovering a framed picture. Christopher inhaled in surprise and felt a sudden throb when the old memories resurfaced. The photo was from last autumn, and centered on three smiling figures sitting in a rain of falling leaves. The afternoon sun was streaking the ground through the crowns of the trees, and bathed the whole picture in golden glimmer. In short, it was a beautiful image. Christopher examined the two girls in the photograph, and found that even here the similarities between the two of them were apparent, even though one was blond where the other one had chest-nut colored hair. He himself seemed happy as a clam, and why wouldn't he be, while surrounded by two beautiful daughters and having a nearly perfect day.

"Thank you." He breathed.

"I hope it is - ok," Rory began, somewhat hesitant when seeing the look on her fathers face. "I know that it was a day we spent all together, and that mum was the one holding the camera – but it's just -a really pretty picture!" she finally spurted out; feeling more than a bit stupid "Don't you think?"

His eyes finally left the picture, and he smiled heartfelt at his daughter. "Yeah!" he exclaimed "It's a really beautiful picture and a wonderful gift. Thank you, Rory." he hugged his daughter with one arm, while still holding on to the framed photo with the other hand. He held it up for them both to see, still with his arm around her.

"Well, the truth is that I was looking through photo albums the other day, and found this picture." Rory began in the same excited voice "And I really just wanted a copy for myself at first, to bring with me to – you know, but then I realized that you might want a copy as well. And I guess I didn't think much more than that -about… It's just such a nice picture of the three of us. I mean the sun and the leaves, and -oh, we look so happy." She heard herself rambling, and finally bit her lip to keep quiet.

"Yeah" Christopher breathed. "It really is a beautiful picture, isn't it." He paused for a moment, thinking before continuing in a lighter tone; "So, did you find any other photos to take with you?"

"Yeah" she said. "I actually went through all the old photo albums we've got - and by the way, man, do I have a sick mom. The number of photos with baby-me in strange home-made outfits would definitely get someone to revaluate her fitness as a parent. I'm talking hamburger, doughnut, hot dogs - you name it."

Christopher started to laugh, remembering the pictures he hadn't seen in years. "Your mom have always held a certain fascination for junk-food, I'll give you that."

"Yeah, and anyway, I'm not taking those. But, sure. Some with mom, and some with Lane, some with grandma and grandpa, and…" she hesitated slightly before continuing; " …of course the picture of us three."

Christopher understood that his daughter left a certain person's name out in consideration for her dad, and felt a streak of annoyance mixed with guilt. He quickly repressed the unwelcome feelings, and nodded, smiling at his daughter.

It was time, he thought, to get to the point. He had been meaning to bring something up all morning, but in their usual way - while touching upon the subject of Rory's childhood - they had avoided the subject and therefore avoided to acknowledge the fact that he had been absent as a father.

"Actually, the truth is that there is something I want to talk to you about." he began in a hoarse voice.

"What?" Rory asked in a light tone.

"Well, it's about us, and our relationship, actually." he continued in the same, strained voice.

"Ok?" was Rorys hestitant respond.

"Well" he began, clearing his throat before going on "the truth is that I always feel a bit sad when talking about your childhood. I mean - I messed up - and I missed it." he watched his daughter, who remained silent, while continuing "An that, as is probably is the stupidest thing I ever done, it's also my greatest regret."

He had to swallowed before continuing; "I would actually do anything to go back in time, and change the way things happened. My own behaviour. But - I can't, and now you're moving across the country." He took a deep breath before continuing, with obvious animation in his voice; "You're all grown up now. I mean, you are getting married."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing with more forcefulness in his tone; "What I'm trying to say is that I know that it probably is too late for me to step in as a dad here. But Rory - I really want to. And I really hope you can understand how much that would mean for me."

She met his gaze, and saw the earnestness in his pleading eyes.

"What do you mean, exactly?" she finally asked in a hesitant voice.

"I-I want to give you something." he said, and without any other words turned around and left the room. He went into his bedroom, pulled out the top case of his drawer, picked up an envelope and returned to his waiting daughter - handing it to her.

"What is it?" Rory asked. Turning it around she could with some difficulty read the inscription as her own name, written with her father's badly crooked hand.

She met her fathers gaze, and raised her brow in question.

"It's my way of making things right. It's a gift." he stated, and continued in a tentative tone; "Because- I really want you to to be happy, Rory. I-I want you to open it later, not now. And then we can discuss it."

Rory stood in silence, holding on to the envelope in deep contemplation.

Her dad.

He was who he was and Rory both accepted and cared for him in all his flaws and with all his shortcomings. She could see there he was coming from; that he wished to correct old mistakes and make things right.

In Rory's mind he already achieved just that, by caring for and bringing up Gigi. Rory's own stance was that she didn't need him like that, and that he with his absence in her childhood honestly didn't have the right to make any decisions on her part.

In the same time she felt the throbbing and undeniable wish to make her dad happy. He was what he was.

He was her dad.

"I really appriciate the offer - and the gesture" Rory's gentle voice said "but you really don't have to feel like you have to make things right, dad. I-I mean, I understand that you feel that you haven't always been there, but honestly that's not the way I feel." she hestitated, then decided to tell him the truth; "Anyway, not anymore. But, I mean - we have really started to getting close lately, and I am so happy for that!" she gave him a quick smiled before continuing; "And also, the way you stepped up and helped me when I really needed it, by paying my Yale tuition, that meant so much to me." she paused for a second, frowning as she thought "Maybe I never really told you that, - I guess I never did, did I? But, the thing is that by doing that, you really did more that enough!"

Christopher felt the wormth of his daughter's words resonate inside, and felt a smile steadily forming on his face. Then he saw that Rory was holding out the envelope, silently trying to make him take it back, and shook his head in response.

"Really" Rory said, shaking her head slightly "I can't take it with me, if I don't get to open it now. I-I don't want to leave without even knowing what it is you are trying to give me."

"Just take it." Christopher said in a low, calm voice, "and we'll continue this converation after you have seen what's inside."

And that had to be the end of their argument, as the doorbell rang and a howling Gigi ran past them to open the door. Rory saw her mother's figure in the hallway, and gave her father a last glance of opposition before giving up and finally placing the envelope inside her bag.

Her father promised to be at the airport come Thursday, so their goodbyes were not of a final nature. Rory left the building accompanied by her mom, excitedly involved in a heated descussion regarding the trip ahead, and momentarily forgot both the envelope and all it signified.

They were finally on their way. The last time they had been on a road-trip had been their delayed celebration of Rory's 21st birthday, and that was a long time ago. This time it was different, because they hadn't planned in advance where they were going.

Rory sat in the passenger's seat glancing at her mother - who had turned their homemade CD on, and was currently head-banging her way through the chorus of her favorite song with the Go-Go's. She pulled out her notebook from her purse, and began scribbling. As she had been strictly forbidden by her mother to plan ahead, Rory now had to begin from scratch with the weekend's schedule. A content smile spread across her face - as planning and organizing was one of her favorite things.

Hmmm... They had to be back at least at 8 pm tomorrow, as she had to get up early and drive to New York for her brunch-business-meeting with Hugo Gray. In usual Rory-style, she had already prepared everything she needed for the meeting, so the only thing important, Rory thought, was that they got home in time for her to get a good night's rest.

That gave them around 5 hours on the road today, as they would probably choose to make a couple of stops. If they got up early tomorrow they would have…

Suddenly her notebook was in her mother's hand instead of hers. Lorelai gave her daughter a sweet smile as opened the window, getting ready to throw out the object in he hand

"Mom, don't do that! I promise - no more planning. Ok?"

"Oh! 'Override command for target', attagirl!"

"Haha! Very funny." Rory said in a offended voice, as ther obsession with organisation was somewhat of a sore spot.

"You know" Lorelai continued in a deadly serious voice while she handed Rory the notebook "Actually, you're up for a road trip like no creature ever experienced. The mere thought of the awesomeness that we are going to embark upon is enough to kill a man."

"Like - the Killer Joke?"

"Pfft! Youngling… More like…Um, 'Eraserhead'."

"Hm. sounds scary."

"Yeah! You bet it's scary."

Rory's eyes fell on the road signs as they passed in fast speed, and after a while she asked her mother which way they were going. Her mother's answer was to reach for her bag and grab something from inside it, then holding the object out for Rory to take.

"Seriously mom?" Rory asked in a somewhat testy voice; crossing her arms and directing a frown at the other woman. Lorelai finally got tired of extending her arm and therefore firmly placed the object in her daughter's lap.

Rory sighed, thought of prolonging her resistance for a while, but finally yielded and took hold of the Magic 8-ball that her mother had given her.

"Live a little!" her mother said in a frisky tone.

"Yeah," Rory answered in a skeptical voice "Life on the dark side."

They followed through with the whole magic 8-ball thing and had, as the magic ball had directed them, made their first stop in a town with remarkable resemblance to Stars Hollow. They had even found a diner named "Laura's", and was overwhelmed when they saw the owner, Laura, in the flesh.

They tried to explain their excitement to the somewhat grouchy old woman, when trying to get a refill of coffee from the jug she was holding.

"You see" Lorelai began tentatively "In our town we have a diner owned by Luke, and, here the diner is called 'Laura's' – isn't that freaky!"

She woman looked at her with indifferent eyes - still firmly holding on to the jug, and therefore denying them more coffee.

"Oh" Rory filled in "but you see, the thing is - our town, is almost exactly like this one." She gave the woman a conspiratory look and concluded with; "Freaky, huh!"

The two sitting women turned to each other and nodded in agreement.

"It's almost as if this was another version of our universe." Lorelai said.

"Yeah! A universe where Laura never married Luke!" said Rory, in an enlightened and engaged voice.

Lorelai gasped, before continuing; "This opens up so many questions. Is the gender equality somehow in balance? Did the victimized Laura become a symbol of justice?"

"Did or did not 'General Hospital' become the longest running soap-opera in history?" Rory intersected.

"You two are really weird - and I think you've had enough coffee." the scowling owner named Laura told them, before turning around and heading back to the counter.

She two women sat in silence, watching her leave, before turning to each other and simultaneously saying; "Freakish!"

"That was Officer Krupke." Lorelai said in a stunned voice.

"It so was!" Rory responded, echoing her tone.

They both fell quiet, in mutual agreement of the awesomeness of the moment, while finishing up their desserts.

The magic 8-ball later guided them towards a worn down and somewhat deserted-looking inn, called "the Beagle bark Park" - that was considerably faithful to its visible theme.

Arriving to the small, empty parking lot, they saw that the inn's garden was decorated with ceramic beagles of all shape and sizes. Standing on the front-porch they also noticed that the doorbell was shaped like a dog's head – with the nose being replaced by the actual button to press.

Lorelai gave the thing a long, loathing look - and asked her daughter in an uncertain voice; "What do you think? Too late to turn around?"

Rory shook the item in her hand with a concerned look and observed the answer it produced. Smiling she gave an encouraging nod towards the dog-shaped doorbell and said in a sing-song voice "Magic ball says!"

Sighing heavily, Lorelai extended her arm and pressed the button, then made a grunting noise when hearing the barking sound it produced.

Rory suppressed her smile when the door suddenly opened - showing the figure of an awfully tall man wearing a beagle tie and a huge grin.

"Oh boy." Lorelai said, under her breath.

As the owner guided his hesitant guest towards their room, he seized the opportunity to entertain them by telling the story behind the inn's unusual theme. The story wasn't very long - as it solely consisted the owner's immense fascination for dogs (beagles, in particular), and his wish to create an oasis for Connecticut's like-minded to turn to.

"Uhum" Lorelai nodded, with obvious engagement "That's why we are here. For the…oasis-thing."

"You have many dogs yourself?" the tall owner asked, while stroking his beagle tie and pausing in front of a door with a picture of a dog in a pirate costume attached to it.

"Well there is one. Paul Anka. He's a dog."

"Um … Is this our room?" Rory interrupted her mother while pointing toward the door; and the somewhat perplexed owner turned his gaze and beamed in her direction.

"Yes! This is the pirate-room!"

He handed Rory the keys and said in a rehearsed voice; "Welcome, I hope the stay will whisk you off your feet, and that you will have a thrilling tail for years to come!

Lorelai's eyes widened and her expression was suddenly very grave, with only the twitching corners of her mouth revealing her repressed desire to laugh. As Rory saw the warningly signs she hurriedly thanked the inn keeper and quickly dragged her mother into their room, before they both collapsed in laughter.

SUNDAY

The next day was spent by the law of the magic 8-ball, just as the previous one. Naturally, the first part of the morning was dedicated for documentation. Picture-taking was orchestrated both inside and outside the Beagle bark park, with and without the inn keeper (whose name they now knew was Paul) and with all the different beagles that adorned the inn. In the end, as the duo apparently made such a huge impression, the in-keeper handed them the smallest of the ceramic figures as a keepsake.

As so it was that they drove on towards the forthcoming destinations, with the beagle neatly tucked in and resolutly placed in the trunk of the car.

The day was with good meature just as crazy as the day before. The Gilmore-girls embarked upon the magic balls commands with great dedication, as they both felt the coming Thursday, with all it life-changing events, creeping closer and closer.

In was past 9 pm when they finally returned to the streets of Stars Hollow, and Rory was a bit annoyed due to the fact that they were over an hour late according to her schedule. With that she was referring to the started attempt to a schedule that so hastily had been aborted by her mom the day before, and yet somehow had managed to conclude the time they ought to be back.

As they were both extremely hungry they had formed a brilliant plan, consisting of them knocking on Luke's door until he opened and then (even though the place was closed) convincing him to make them their favorite hamburgers.

Parked outside the diner they found themselves hesitating, as the idea suddenly seemed somewhat rushed. Instead, the two women wisely enough decided to find another source for food; first step would be to scrutinize their own fridge of its content.

Well at home, and with left-over from various places in her belly, an exhausted Rory started to unpack her bag. It was past 10 pm by now, and she had to go to bed. While pulling the clother out of the bag, she finally remembered the envelope. The envelope with her name written on the front, in her dad's untidy hand. The thing she so totally had blocked from her concious until now. She sighed heavily and pulled it out from its hidden place, inside the bag's inner pocket.

She held it in both hands, examining it, and contemplating how it made her feel.

Just as before, she felt the initial need to return it unopened, and to run away from having to handle whatever the content of the envelope was. She knew she couldn't do that, though. The moment she had yielded and accepted the item, she had agreed to consider the content; no matter what it was.

Therefore she finally sat herself on her bed and opened the envelope with a penknife. As the ripping sound of the torn material faded she reached inside the paper cover and resolutely pulled out its content.

It was two separate papers.

One was a letter written in her dad's messy hand, the other one was a legal document - binding and allowing her to be the recipient in a trust fund established by her dad.

As I thought, she said to herself, while examining the paper.

When her eyes finally found the figures that told her the fund's total asset - she couldn't help but flinch in surprise.

Swallowing hard she folded the paper carefully and placed it gently back inside the envelope. She then reached for the other paper that was lying on the bed, and started to read.

Her father's letter. Reading it wasn't all that easy at first, but as soon she had decoded the crooked and disfigured scrawl, she could read the content without much difficulty.

Rory

As you know I am not the best of fathers; history has proven that.

This is something I regret with a depth that I sincerely hope you will never experience yourself, nor perhaps ever fully understand.

I know that with the history we have, it would be both selfish and inappropriate for me to interfere with the way you live your life. I also know that you have inherited your mother's approach to the world in many ways, and are therefore both strong and independent.

Something you may also have inherited is your mother's approch to wealth and privileges. It is with her history understandible that she raised you to stand on your own feet, and never to ask for any unfair advantages.

With that approach to the world, you have become such an incredible woman, and I am immensely proud to be able to call you my daughter.

Because you are my daughter, and that means what is mine is also yours.

By being your father it also means that I will fight for my heartfelt wish for you to have everything and anything in the world.

This is my way of trying to give you the world, dearest daughter.

Love dad

Rory read and re-read the letter, and finally felt the implication of her father's word sink in. She sat there for a while, staring into the distance, contemplating. Then she folded the paper with a stroking and lingering motion, before putting the letter back into envelope. She carefully placed the envelope in her bag, and continued, yet again lost in thoughts, to the bathroom to get ready for bed - as she had an early morning.

Rory didn't tell her mother about the envelope, as her mind at the moment was both too stunned and too overwhelmed for her to fully comprenehend the choice she had to make.

Neither did she tell Logan.

Therefore it was; that when he asked her if something was wrong, she fell quiet - suddenly feeling both sad and alone. Alone in the burden of having to choice, and sad with the thought of hurting someone whatever she choose. Her father's wishes collided with her mother's, and the daughter found herself torn.

Rory wanted nothing more in that moment, than for him to tell her that undefined something. The words that would suddenly make everything right, and help her find her peace. She wanted to hold him, to feel warm and sparkly; as she always did when he was close. That, she couldn't do though, as there were miles and miles in distance between them.

Instead she held her silence, while Logan's voice trailed its way across the seemingly endless, separating distance. She closed her eyes and felt the night dissolve, as she was falling into darkness. His voice followed her into the slumber, and held her warm. Then she heard him say that undefined something, those words that made everything seem alright. Her last thoughts before falling into a deep sleep were warm and sparkly; the way his presence always made her feel.