Author's note: another update...I really attempted my hardest to stay in character and I think I did a good job. There will be one more chapter in this timebefore I jump to further ahead in the gilmore universe. Hope you enjoy reading as always...and comments help inspiration so keep them coming : )

Disclaimer: I don't own anything...as usually

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Rory opened her eyes to silence. She had no recollection of any dreams, how she had gotten home, or what exactly had happened the night before. Laying against her pale blue pillow, she stared out the window in ignorant bliss, lost in the moment of the present. Reality came crashing down to soon; her toes began to curl from the frigid, still air that the broken heater had failed to warm overnight. I feel like I'm in a Coldplay video; she sat up, her legs still scrunched up from lying in an awkward position for a couple of hours. Her thoughts raced back to Jess. Why did I just stand there? And do nothing?

"A nickel for your thoughts and maybe some coffee…" Lorelai appeared in her doorway, waving a mug which contained a very tantalizing appeal to her daughter's senses.

"Yes, thanks," Rory said, reaching for the cup, "but you can take the four cents back, I only needed a penny."

"Hmn, well you seemed a bit lost there."

"Yeah, just a rough night I guess."

Lorelai nodded, racking her mind for exactly what had happened to her daughter. "Anyways, come on…there's food where this came from, I went to Luke's," Lorelai said, gesturing to the bags behind her on the kitchen table.

"My hero…" Rory forced a smile and plopped on a chair to began sifting through one of the bags. Lorelai, who was not much for silence, decided to attempt to learn at least a little information of what had happened.

"So…last night, after you got ice cream, where'd you go? I had to deal with the grumpy bear at the diner alone."

Rory opened a Styrofoam package, took a whiff and frowned, "Sorry, Davy Crockett, but did you get this stuff last night?"

Lorelai raised one eyebrow, "How dare you question my survival skills? I brought food. What happened to 'my hero..'?" Rory glared disapprovingly at her mother's mock imitation of a damsel in distress. "Sorry, geeze," Lorelai muttered, "I didn't know there were so many bears in Connecticut."

Rory grinned a little and went back to looking for something edible, "Luke's off his game again. What happened?"

Lorelai shrugged, "I don't know what was wrong with the man. He just shoved the stuff in my face and grunted. I needed someone to translate for me."

Rory gave up searching and looked up at her mother, "Well, Kirk could have attempted to speak man for you."

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "He speaks his own language anyways. Come on…let's go and see if Al's decided to serve breakfast again."

"I can't really remember the last time that happened," Rory stood up and entered her room to change out of last night's clothes.

"It was long ago….," Lorelai mimicked an announcer, "The year was 1998. The town Stars Hollow. The morning started out like any other…" Rory sighed and quickly changed into jeans and an old Harvard sweatshirt. By this time, Lorelai had managed to almost finish her flashback, ending with Taylor diffusing a pancake bomb while Mrs. Patti and Babette in matching Bond girl outfits fought Al when Rory interrupted.

"Have you seen my purse?"

Lorelai responded by grabbing the purse off the couch and dangling it in front of Rory's nose, "Yep, kiddo. Found it in the mailbox. You've got a guardian angel watching out for you." Rory grabbed it appreciatively and slung it over her shoulder. "Personally, I think it's kind of creepy," Lorelai commented, "I mean someone watching you every second. I can call Jesus and tell him to sick Monica and Tess on him for you." Rory replied by exiting the room via the front door. "What's up with you?" Lorelai called after her daughter, following her outside, "You never used to be afraid of 'Touched by an Angel' jokes. It was the stalker part, wasn't it; too retro '70s slasher reference. I'll tone it down a bit." Rory folded her arms and grit her teeth in the biting wind. Lorelai fell silent and felt it best to let her daughter sort out her turbulent thoughts on her own.

They had just entered the town square when Rory slowed to a stop, staring at the object still resting halfway down the block. "What is it?" Lorelai followed her daughter's gaze, "Oh, wannabe-rebel-boy's car."

"Nothing, I just thought he would have moved it by now," Rory replied, picking up the pace again. Lorelai followed, pausing periodically to glance back at the car which was now surrounded by small crowd headed Taylor, whose shouts could barely be heard over the wind.

"Hey, look…I think Taylor's attempting sign language," Lorelai elbowed Rory, who continued walking. Rory murmured and stuck her hands in her pockets. By the time they reached Al's Pancake World, Lorelai was about ready to scream. "Okay, listen kiddo. This has got to stop. Tell me what's up and stop me from pulling up Godfather III references from my memory." Rory sighed as they found a table and tried to think of the simplest answer to get her mother off her back.

"I don't know. Jess talked to me finally, I guess."

Lorelai waited, "That's it. What did he say?"

Rory mused on the thought for a while, "That he wanted to talk to me…and I didn't let him."

"Well, good," Lorelai encouraged, "Don't even give him the opportunity."

Rory glanced up, "I thought you hated him, but that's a little harsh."

"Whatever, Luke told me some of the things Jess had said to him, so I went and told the guy to take a hike. God, that kid," Lorelai shook her head at the memory, "He even had the nerve to try to bring you up." Rory glanced up in surprise to which Lorelai caught none of.

"Well, I just don't want to run into him again," Rory forced herself to say.

"Well, don't worry; he's gone. Luke said he left on the bus this morning."

"Oh," Rory said quietly.

"Yeah, but anyways what have you decided to stuff your face with?"

"I think I'm just going to get a muffin."

"Oh come on," Lorelai said, "No moo shu pork?" Rory shook her head.