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"Hey, Gilmore!"

Rory saw Lorelai jumping up and down, waving frantically and with a shriek Rory ran towards her, other passengers hastening out of the way.

"Mom!"

The two tangled together, hugging and laughing hysterically. Lorelai kissed the top of Rory's head before stepping back to take a look at her, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"Mom, don't cry!"

"I'm not crying," Lorelai insisted, wiping quickly at her eyes. "You're tired, you're not seeing straight. It's the jetlag."

"Right."

They looked at each other, started to laugh and Lorelai lifted her hand.

"Okay, okay," she said, managing to stop giggling. "I say we go get your bags. They're going to go endlessly round the carousel otherwise and then Hartford security will rummage through them."

"Gross."

"Yeah, plus if we don't stop laughing now I don't think I can and I don't want to live in Hartford Airport for the rest of my life. The security's great but the decor sucks."

Rory rolled her eyes and Lorelai grinned.

"Great to be back, huh?"

They found the bags untouched and Lorelai helped carry them to the car, after exclaiming at the weight – do you have a dead body in there? – and drove straight home. Rory stared out of the window, drinking in all that she'd missed, and was thankful Babette didn't see them as they headed inside. Rory had missed her and Morey but didn't want to talk to anyone else right now and sighed as her mother put on a jug of coffee.

"I've missed that."

"What, you didn't have coffee when you were away?"

"Of course I had coffee! I just didn't have your coffee and yours is better."

Lorelai smiled and ruffled her hair. Rory was horribly aware of how dirty it felt and said,

"I'm dying for a shower."

"So go shower."

"But the coffee!"

"You could drink it first."

Rory struggled for a moment and then said,

"No, I need the get the plane smell off me and I need fresh clothes."

"Okay. I'll hold off until you're ready. Unless you want to drink a cup in there?"

Rory opened her mouth to ask the logistics of that and Lorelai laughed.

"I'm kidding."

"Yeah," Rory said quickly, cheeks red. "I know."

Lorelai smirked and Rory hurried to the shower. She got dressed in some old clothes from her drawers and came out of her bedroom to find her mother looking through her suitcase.

"Hey!"

"It's good to know that backpacking by yourself didn't stop you from packing perfectly," Lorelai teased. "Not one thing out of place!"

"How come you're looking through my stuff?"

"I was checking for a dead body."

Rory rolled her eyes and asked,

"Is the coffee ready yet?"

"Yes," Lorelai said, getting up. "You took so long that I got bored. Were you making out with your sock drawer again? Seriously, why is it so heavy?"

"I accumulated stuff while I was away," Rory said, holding out a cup. "And if someone doesn't stop going through my stuff she won't get her gift."

Lorelai gasped and jumped, thankfully after she'd finished pouring the stream of hot liquid.

"There's a gift? For me?"

"For you," Rory agreed. "If you stop teasing me about how I pack."

Lorelai nodded vigorously and Rory rummaged through her bag, coming out with a jewellery box. Lorelai took it, opened it and gasped.

"Oh Rory, it's beautiful!"

Rory had got her a sapphire necklace, strung on a silver chain.

"You like it?"

"I love it!"

"I got it in Morocco. Here."

Rory helped clasp it around Lorelai's neck and her mother held the gem in her hand.

"I love it. I'm never taking it off."

"I don't believe you, but thanks."

"I do love it though," Lorelai said seriously, hugging her. "Thank you, sweets."

"There's something else as well," Rory told her, going back into the bag as Lorelai protested,

"Two gifts? You're making me feel cheap!"

Rory handed her a wrapped gift, grinning broadly, and Lorelai's mouth hung open. There was a large cup, chocolate and three bags of coffee.

"Directly from Greece," Rory said proudly. Lorelai hugged her tightly.

"Now I really do love you!"

Rory laughed and asked,

"So tell me your news, Mom. Have I missed anything major in the Stars Hollow Gazette?"

Lorelai smiled but looked abashed and Rory frowned.

"Mom?"

"I have something to tell you," Lorelai said. "I didn't want to tell you over the phone or computer."

Rory waited and then said,

"Mom, what is it? You're making me nervous."

"I've started seeing Luke," Lorelai said shyly. "We're dating. We've been dating for a few weeks."

Rory sat back against the cushions, the wind knocked out of her. She stared at her mother and didn't hear her for a moment when Lorelai said anxiously,

"Rory? Are you okay, honey? You look weird."

"I..." Rory struggled for words and sat up. "It's kind of a shock."

"Yeah," Lorelai said with a small laugh. "It surprised me too."

"It surprised you?" Rory echoed. "You were surprised?"

"Well, I wasn't walking down the street and suddenly realised, hey, I 'm dating Luke," Lorelai joked. "What I mean is, I didn't plan on it. It just sort of happened."

Rory was silent and Lorelai said nervously,

"Talk to me, Rory. Are you mad?"

"Mad?" Rory asked, shaking herself. Her voice sounded strange. "Oh Mom, why would I be mad?"

"Because I didn't tell you."

"I'm surprised," Rory said honestly. "But I'm not mad. I'm really happy for you, Mom."

Lorelai's mouth broke into a smile.

"You are?"

"Of course I am," Rory said. Her voice seemed to belong to her again. "I want you to be happy and Luke makes you happy, right?"

"Yes," Lorelai said, eyes shining. "He really does."

"Then I'm happy," Rory said, leaning over and hugging her. "You deserve this, Mom."

"I was worried you wouldn't approve."

"You know Luke passes the test," Rory grinned. "For one thing, he makes the best food."

"All went into the screening process."

They chuckled and Lorelai said shyly,

"I promise to tell you about the engagement this time."

"Mom –"

"I don't know if – we've only just got back together," Lorelai said quickly. "But if we do – I promise you'll be the first to know."

Rory kissed her cheek.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, kid."

They looked shyly at each other for a moment and Lorelai clapped her hands on her legs.

"So tell me about your trip!" she said excitedly. "You've been home for almost an hour and I haven't heard a thing about it!"

Rory hesitated. She still felt so shocked by her mother's news that for a moment she forgot everything.

"Rory? You don't have a stomach complaint, do you?"

Rory looked at her, laughed and shook her head. She sat more comfortably and began to talk.

Later that evening they headed to Richard and Emily's. Lorelai said she could get Rory out of it on account of jetleg but Rory felt wide awake.

"I want to see them," she said. "I've missed them."

"Sure you didn't smoke anything funny when you were away?" Lorelai teased. Rory ignored her and went to change.

"So what did Grandma say when you told her?" Rory asked as they walked to the front door. "About you and Luke?"

Lorelai coughed.

"Hey, is that a new feature on the water fountain?"

Rory stopped and stared at her. It was dark but she knew Lorelai was blushing.

"You haven't told them?"

"Rory, they were always weird about Luke," Lorelai pleaded. "Weird being a much nicer word than hate, if a less accurate one."

"They're going to be a lot weirder if you don't tell them!"

"Rory, we've been together for a month," Lorelai said. "I don't want them to wreck everything!"

"I know you," Rory accused. "You've put it off and put it off and justified it because it was too soon to say if it was anything, then you didn't want to assume you and Luke were on the same page and then it was too good to get Grandma involved!"

"Rory!"

"I know I'm right!"

"Yes, you are right!" Lorelai exclaimed. "And it is too good to get Emily involved! I will tell her, Rory, but I'm so happy right now. I don't want her to wreck it."

Rory paused and Lorelai added,

"I know I don't have to let her but she can be hurtful. It makes it complicated."

"Okay," Rory said eventually. "I get it but I'm just going to say this – Grandma's going to be a lot more hurtful and things will get a lot more complicated the longer you leave it."

"Tonight's all about you anyway," Lorelai said stubbornly. "Ring the bell."

A frightened looking maid answered the door and Emily pulled them inside, hugging Rory in an iron grip. They exclaimed over Rory's travel journal and then Rory got our her gifts. Rory gave Emily a necklace similar to Lorelai's, only with an amethyst, and Richard a pipe.

"I love it, Rory," Emily said. "It's exquisite."

"Only for an exquisite lady!"

"And my pipe is very refined," Richard remarked. "They don't make them like this anymore!"

"For a reason!" Emily said sharply. "I wish you wouldn't encourage him, Rory."

"Oh Emily, I'm collecting it, I'm not going to smoke it," Richard said, winking at Rory. "You know me."

"Yes, that's the problem," Emily snapped. "Your horrible collection of pipes cluttering up the house!"

"Now, Emily."

A maid came in to announce dinner before an argument could start. Emily and Lorelai walked into the dining room but Rory caught Richard's arm. He looked at her in surprise.

"What is it, Rory?"

"I also got you this," Rory said shyly, reaching into her purse. "I hope you like it."

It was a framed picture of Rory in Fez, standing by a market. Ancient ruins towered behind her and she said,

"Look, Grandpa. I made it to Fez."

A smile broke out across Richard's face. He looked at Rory and said fondly.

"Well done."

His words said more than a long stream of praise and Rory asked,

"Do you like it?"

"I love it. I'm going to put it in my study. Whenever insurance drones come round and they ask who you are I shall say, that's my granddaughter, Rory, who went to Fez. I knew you would go. I knew you could."

Rory leaned up and hugged him. Richard hugged her back, slightly surprised, and they jumped as Emily called,

"What in the world are you two doing out there? The food's getting cold!"

"We wouldn't want to risk a cold salad," Richard said under his breath. Rory giggled and the two repressed their laughter as they went in to eat.

Dinner went on for a while. Rory told her grandparents all about the trip, answering endless questions about the food, water and general sanitation.

"Hello, gross!" Lorelai exclaimed, fork in midair. "We're eating!"

"Lorelai, put your cutlery down," Emily said calmly. "It's bad manners to wave your fork around."

Lorelai's mouth hung open.

"That's bad manners?"

"And please close your mouth. You look like you're catching flies."

Lorelai closed it and shook her head. Emily ate a bite of food and asked,

"So, Rory, did you meet anyone while you were away?"

"What?" Rory asked stupidly, looking up. "Oh. No, Grandma."

She took a large bite of food and Emily insisted,

"No fellow travellers?"

Rory shook her head, her cheeks going red and she stared at her plate as Emily said,

"Well, I'm glad you didn't meet a Pedro or Pierre or whoever and decide to stay out there."

"Right, Grandma."

"Speaking of which," Emily said. "Doreen Winchester's son is in town. Have I told you about him?"

Rory shook her head and Lorelai said,

"Doreen? How old is her son? She sounds about ninety."

"Lorelai."

"I just don't want some May-December –"

"He's thirty," Emily said, cutting her off. "He got divorced two years ago and has a successful business."

Rory looked up and saw her grandmother was waiting for her to answer.

"Grandma, he sounds nice, but –"

"I told him about you," Emily said. "He sounded very interested."

"What?"

"And I showed him your photo."

Rory stared at Lorelai helplessly who shrugged, before whirling around as Emily said happily,

"He said he can free his schedule anytime."

"Grandma!"

"His name is Stuart. Isn't that a fine name?"

"I'm seeing Luke!"

Emily stopped talking and turned in disbelief to look at Lorelai. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were red as she repeated,

"I'm seeing Luke, Mom. We're together again."

"What?" Emily asked dumbly. "You and that man from the diner?"

"Me and that man from the diner."

"How long has this been going on?" Emily demanded and Lorelai said,

"Around a month."

"Is that more or is that less?"

"Pretty much exact, Mom."

Emily didn't say anything. She nodded, composed herself and said to the maid,

"More water, Lisa. And put ice in the jug."

"Mom!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"What is it?"

"Is that it?" Lorelai asked, staring. "Don't you have anything to say?"

Emily looked at her and said softly,

"I'm happy for you, Lorelai."

"What?"

"I want you to be happy and if that diner man makes you happy..." Emily's voice faded until she sat up and said more sharply, "though heaven knows what your wedding will entail. French fries for a bouquet, I'm sure."

"Now you're talking," Lorelai beamed. "Joke!" she added hastily as Emily exclaimed her name. "Just a joke, Mom."

Emily frowned but she didn't argue and turned as Rory offered,

"Mom just told me today."

Emily's face relaxed into a smile.

"And do you approve?"

"Of course."

"I'm glad," Emily said. "And I'm glad you decided to tell us together."

"Yeah," Lorelai said quietly. "It felt right."

After dinner, as they drove back, Rory said fervently,

"Thank you so much, Mom."

"What for?"

"Saving me like that when Grandma started talking about that guy. You did not have to do that."

"It's okay."

"I know you didn't want to tell Grandma," Rory said. "It means a lot that you did."

Lorelai smiled.

"I'm glad I told her."

"You are?"

"Even if she hadn't taken it as well as she had, I'm glad she knows," Lorelai said, steering round a bend. "It's better that she knows."

"Yeah."

"And she was great about it," Lorelai said in surprise. "I can't help wondering if she has an ulterior motive. I mean, she is Emily."

"I think it's just that she loves you."

"I hope so."

The two drove in silence for a while and then Rory pondered,

"So, Stuart Winchester. Do you think I missed out?"

"With a mother named Doreen? What do you think?"

When they got back they went straight to Luke's without bothering to change. Rory had arranged to meet Lane there but she hadn't told Luke she was coming and he exclaimed in surprise as she came through the door, hugging her hard.

"The world traveller! How was the trip?"

"It was amazing, Luke," Rory said fervently. "I've got so much to show you."

"Her travel journal weighs a ton," Lorelai warned. "That was what was so heavy – more than a body!"

"Huh?"

"Ignore her," Rory grinned. "I bet you're doing that a lot with Mom's jokes lately."

Luke frowned and Rory added,

"I know, about you and Mom. I'm happy for you."

Luke looked relieved as he asked,

"You are?"

"Of course I am."

Luke nodded and Lorelai leaned over to kiss him. Rory smiled awkwardly and the door jangled.

"Oh look, there's Lane," Rory said happily. "Excuse me, guys."

She turned to see Lane, who hugged her tightly.

"I missed you," Lane said.

"I missed you more!"

"Want to bet?"

They laughed and Lane said,

"I'm assuming you know," and pointed and Luke and Lorelai, who were holding hands and laughing.

"Yep," Rory said and, as they kissed again, "though I'm not sure if I'm ready for that. Let's sit."

They took a seat by the window and Lane exclaimed over her gift of a beaded bracelet and a miniature guitar.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it! I'm going to have to keep it from the kids because they're going to love it more. Nico's almost walking."

"No way!"

"Hey, a lot's been going on since you've been gone!"

They talked some more and looked at the travel journal. Rory told her all about the trip, including Alex.

"But you didn't?"

"No."

"Are you sorry you didn't go back with him?"

"No, it would have been stupid."

"I think it's romantic," Lane sighed. "Like out a movie, right?"

Rory looked down at the worn table.

"Right," she said quietly. "Romantic."

"Rory!" Luke suddenly called, making her jump. "Phone!"

He was holding up the old, corded phone and, confused, Rory went to the counter.

"It's Jess," Luke said. "He wanted to talk to you."

Rory hesitated and Lorelai said quickly,

"Luke, I think Lane wants to show us something."

Luke took the hint and followed her to the corner. Rory put the phone to her ear and said shyly,

"Hey."

"Hey. Hear you're back from your travels."

"Got back today."

"Wow. Are you exhausted?"

"Kind of, but I'm trying to stay up until a normal time."

"Good plan."

There was a pause and Jess said,

"I got your postcard."

"I'm sorry it was so boring."

Jess laughed down the line.

"I liked it. I liked hearing about you."

Rory smiled and then asked,

"How come you're calling?"

"Oh – I wanted to check with Luke about something," Jess said vaguely. "I thought you might be back."

"I am. How's Philadelphia?"

"It's good. It's fine."

"Good."

Rory paused and looked up to see Luke, Lorelai and Lane all staring.

"I have to go," she said quickly. "See you around, Jess."

"See you around, Rory."

Rory hesitated, about to add a farewell, when the line was silent. Jess had gone.