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Wednesday Stars Hollow

Dawn led Willow and Tara into the bookstore. "Hi Andrew, this is Willow and Tara."

"Pleased to meet you ladies," said Andrew smiling at the three. "So what can I do for you today?"

Dawn leaned in close lowering her voice, "Is Rory here?"

"No, I think she had plans with her mum. Why?"

"Oh well, we wanted to buy her a book for her birthday and want to keep it a surprise," explained Dawn. "So is there any book you know Rory would really like?"

"Well yes as a matter of fact I know she really wants the new Compact Oxford English Dictionary. It has every word ever recorded in the English language plus origins and earliest usage. It is very expensive though," said Andrew.

"That's okay, we'll take it," said Tara pulling out her purse.

* * * * *

The three exited the bookstore, Dawn carrying the heavy book in a brown bag, and headed for home.

"Oh Dawn, I forgot to tell you, Giles phoned last night after you'd gone to bed," said Willow. "He is planning on visiting sometime next week. He has to be in Hartford to collect some books that he bought over the net from an estate sale."

"Oh my god, you do realise the world's ending, right," gasped Dawn in mock horror. "Giles using the net."

Tara laughed along with Willow. "I pointed out the same thing. I think Anya has finally bullied him into the twenty-first century."

"So when's he planning on getting here?" asked Dawn.

"He's not sure yet. Carol's mother was taken ill Sunday, so Giles being Giles is allowing her extra time off to look after her mother and taking up the slack himself at the Gallery," explained Willow.

"Why doesn't he get Xander or Faith to help out...? Okay very bad idea. My Gallery would end up going bankrupt," said Dawn off their looks. "But he should get more help with the Gallery, he's also Faith's Watcher, I don't want him getting so tired that something happens to him."

"None of us do sweetie," said Tara. "We'll all have a talk with him when he gets here."

* * * * *

Dawn sat at her desk in her bedroom, the large stack of notes Madeline had loaned her to aid in catching up with the classes they shared laying on the top. 'It'd be much easier if Madeline was here with me... Well maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea?' she thought blushing a little.

Dawn had spent most of her three days at Chilton in the company of her friend but was still no closer to finding out if the brunette felt the same way as she did?

'Maybe I could do a true love spell?' "No they never workout right and Tara would freak!" she said aloud. 'Maybe I've been being to subtle! She likes girl bands! I like girl bands, but she also likes boy bands and so do I!' Dawn growled in frustration, she stood and began to pace her room.

'Maybe I could get some help from her friends? No bad idea, Rory may be okay with Will and Tara but if she thinks I was lusting after one of her friends, it might be bad? And I really don't know Louise or Paris well enough to ask them... I could end up ostracised at school. I don't think I could stand having no one to talk too!' she sighed and sat back down picking up the next folder and began reading.

* * * * *

When Dawn went to the kitchen to get a snack a little later it was to see Tara coming in the backdoor carrying a bag of groceries with Rory following.

"Hey," said Dawn as she grabbed some cold meat from the fridge to make herself a sandwich.

"Hi Dawn," said Rory. "I just came over to ask you if you wanted to come to my birthday party at my grandparents on Friday. I know you didn't get an invite on Monday but I'm sure it would be okay."

"Thanks Rory," said Dawn. "But I don't think I can. I have three make-up tests next Monday and a lot of notes to go through that Madeline lent me."

"Ok," said Rory a little disappointed. "I was hoping having you there would at least make it a more pleasant experience."

"I'm sorry, really, but I sort of promised myself that I was going to make it at Chilton and it's turning out to be harder than I thought, I may even have to drop the idea of trying out for the Mintonettes tomorrow."

"No I wouldn't do that if I were you," said Rory. "Headmaster Charleston likes to encourage the students to participate in after school activities."

"So what after school activities do you do?" asked Tara as she started putting the groceries away.

"Well none at school but lots of things here," explained Rory. "I've managed to avoid it at school so far but now I'm getting rides from you, I can't use getting the bus as an excuse anymore," she groaned.

Dawn smiled at her friend, "Sorry about that."

"Thanks," said Rory smiling back. "Okay, well I guess I should get back to my homework. See you," she said leaving the same way she had come.

Tara glanced at Dawn, "You sure you don't want to go to Rory's birthday party? Won't the person you're interested in be there?"

"Yeah she got her invitation Monday," said Dawn musing over the idea of maybe spending more time with Madeline, 'Maybe in an out of school setting could give me a better chance to find out if she feels the same?'. "But I do hav... Oh god, I didn't mean to tell you that," she said her eyes going wide when she realised she had let it slip that the person she liked was female! "Please don't say anything to anyone, please."

Tara smiled gently at her Ward, "It's okay sweetie, it'll be our secret. How long have you considered yourself gay?"

Dawn shook her head, "I don't think I do. I mean I like a girl, not all girls... I mean like that. I mean you did know I had the longest crush on Xander right?"

"Of course sweetie, it was kind of hard to miss," said Tara.

"Well then what does it mean, me liking a girl! Am I turning gay 'cause I'm living with you and Will. 'cause if I am it's totally cool with me under the circumstances," said Dawn sitting down at the table.

Tara took the seat next to the teenager and pulled her into a hug. "You know living with a gay couple can't change someone's sexual orientation sweetie. To be honest with you no one can, or should, tell you you're gay or straight, that's something everyone has to find out for themselves. But whatever happens in your life, Willow and I will always be there to support you."

"Thanks," said Dawn weakly pulling out of the hug. "I guess I should get back to my schoolwork?"

As Dawn headed towards the stairs with her sandwich, Tara frowned, "Ah Dawn. This girl, it's not Rory is it?"

Dawn laughed lightly, "No. I think that would freak out Lorelai more than it would if she suddenly found out her mother was gay."

* * * * *

Thursday Stars Hollow

"That's it," growled Lorelai storming into the inn and quickly walking behind the reception desk. "Marvin is going down," she grabbed her car keys and headed towards the door again.

Michel smirked as he saw the large whitish patch of bird dropping's on the back of Lorelai's jacket.

To give Dawn a break from all the extra homework she was doing Rory, with help from Tara, had persuaded Dawn to help her with the inn's latest mail shot. So the two teenagers happened to be nearing the inn when Lorelai pulled up in her jeep, brakes screeching, they watched in horror as she jumped out with a shotgun.

Both girls looked at each other, their eyes mirroring the others as they went bug-eyed for a moment before turning back and started running after the crazy woman with the big gun.

Rounding the side of the inn, they were in time to see Lorelai raise the gun, apparently aiming at something in one of the trees. They watched as the older woman pulled the trigger.

Several things seemed to happen at once as the sound of the shotgun echoed around the grounds, Lorelai watched as a large branch from one of the trees dropped onto one of the flowerbeds and she found herself on her back with pain in her right shoulder.

Then as she saw people running towards her out of the corner of her eye the devil bird flew calmly from a branch at least ten feet from where the one that was now on the ground had fallen from. As it passed over her, she watched with resignation as she saw a trail of bird dropping leave the bird and a second later hit the front of her jacket.

Then Rory was kneeling next to her, concern on her face, "Mum, are you alright?"

Lorelai could not help herself; she began to cry, "Oh Rory, I can't take it anymore, every time I go into the grounds, Marvin's waiting. I'm a good person aren't I? I help people, join in town activities; I raised you virtually on my own, so why is this happening to me?"

Rory gently pulled her mother into her lap, "Of course you are. Mum where did you get the gun?"

"Kirk, it was his dad's," said Lorelai wincing a little.

As Rory saw Jackson taking charge of the shotgun concern crossed her face, "What's wrong mum?"

Lorelai winced again, "My shoulder hurts."

"Okay hon," said Sookie bending down to take Lorelai by her left arm. "Let's get you inside and have a look."

Rory rose and she and Dawn helped Sookie get Lorelai to her feet.

"What were you thinking mum, you could have hurt someone, it's only a bird," said Rory as she followed the others into the inn.

"It's not just a bird, it's a demon bird, it hates me," said Lorelai beginning to cry again.

"Mum, that's silly," said Rory shaking her head. She made a point of looking in Michel's direction daring him to open his mouth as she and Dawn took over from Sookie helping Lorelai to her office. "We'll see to her Sookie, why don't you get her some coffee."

"Yes please," said Lorelai not resisting the two teenagers' gentle guidance towards her office.

Lorelai allowed Rory and Dawn to help remove her jacket and unbutton her blouse. Rory sucked in her breath as she gently eased the blouse off her mother's shoulder; a nasty looking bruise was already forming around her right shoulder.

Rory looked to the door as Sookie came back with a large ice pack and the coffee. "Here you go hon," she said gently placing the pack on Lorelai's shoulder and handing her the cup.

Lorelai winced as the cold hit her shoulder; she looked up at Rory, "I guess I was really stupid?" taking a sip of the coffee.

Rory put on her best 'I am not the adult here but someone has to be' face, "Yes you were you could have killed someone. If you still want to get rid of Marvin, why don't you ask someone that knows how to shoot! I'm sure if we asked, Luke would do it for you."

"I'll think about it," said Lorelai putting down the cup and holding the icepack in place. "I know it sounds weird, but Marvin does seem to be targeting me."

Dawn frowned as she considered the possibility that something was using the bird to get at Lorelai. "Looking at your shoulder, I think it might be a good idea if you went home, I mean you're not gonna be able to get much done with that shoulder," she pointed out.

"Dawn's right Lorelai, you should go home," said Sookie. "Michel and I can look after the place."

"Okay," agreed Lorelai sullenly.

They temporarily strapped the icepack to Lorelai's shoulder and pulled her blouse back onto her shoulder and she used her jacket to cover her exposed bust line and bra.

* * * * *

After Dawn had helped Rory get Lorelai into their house, she left them and immediately went in search of Miss Patty who she found teaching a group of 5 and 6 year olds, ballet.

"Dawn, what can I do for you dear?" asked Miss Patty when she spotted the teenager standing by the door watching.

"Hmmm I was wondering if I could have a private word with you."

Seeing the seriousness in Dawn's eyes, she nodded, "Of course dear. Alright girls that's it for today, don't forget your coats and I'll see you all tomorrow," she said looking at her class.

Miss Patty waited the couple of minutes it took for the girls to leave, bending and making sure each of them had their coats done up against the chilly midwinter weather.

Dawn could not help smiling as she watched the last one leave and Miss Patty closed her door, "My mum use to take me to ballet classes when we lived in LA, but when we moved to Sunnydale there was nowhere for me to continue."

"Well if you ever feel like starting up again I'm more than happy to let you use the studio," smiled Miss Patty.

"No, it's been too long for me to get anywhere near as good again," said Dawn somewhat sadly before brightening a little, "But if you ever want any help with your students I'd be happy to help."

"Why thank you dear, we'll have to talk about that but I don't think that is what you came here for?"

"No it's not. Miss Patty, I think there's a demon or something using birds at the inn to... hmm attack Lorelai," said Dawn.

Miss Patty nodded, "Ahh so the Goga is back!"

Dawn looked sharply at Miss Patty, "You know about it? Why haven't you destroyed it?"

"I was unaware that it was back. And as the Guardian that is not my job."

"Huh!" exclaimed Dawn.

"As Guardian it is my job to discourage demons from entering the town and if they do, to encourage them to leave. As Guardian, I am able to channel the good that this area produces for that purpose. If I were to confront demons they would soon overwhelm me, I am no Slayer dear."

"Oh, so what about this Goga demon?" asked Dawn.

"I will see to it, but it is not really a demon, it is more like a mischievous spirit that picks someone to play pranks on. I'll see to it at sunrise tomorrow when the power here is at its strongest. Thank you for bringing this to my attention dear."

"That's okay, something needed to be done, Lorelai has already tried shooting it and got hurt," said Dawn as she exited the studio with Miss Patty.

"Oh dear, is she alright? What did it do to her?" asked Miss Patty closing the door and falling into step with the teenager.

"Oh nothing, Lorelai missed it by miles... well ten feet anyway."

"No dear, that would be part of the Goga's natural defence. It is impossible to shoot it with any type of projectile weapon that is why it normally takes the shape of a bird!"

* * * * *

Saturday, Rory's birthday party

"But Willow and Tara aren't here yet," said Rory seeing Sookie with the cake.

"They'll understand, they said they would be here as soon as they could," said Dawn.

Sookie carried the cake with Rory's face decorated on it over to the teenager. "OK! On three 'cause I'm gonna drop it. Okay, One, two..." As everyone sang Happy Birthday, Rory blew out the candles.

"Make a wish," said Lorelai smiling at her daughter before turning to their guests, "All right, everybody; I need your attention, your attention please. This is a very serious moment... Two priests, a rabbi and a duck..."

"Mum," cried Rory.

Lorelai laughed, "All right, I'm kidding. Um, I would like to propose a toast to the one thing in my life that is always good, always sweet, and without whom I would have no reason to get up in the morning. My pal Rory. Cheers," she held up her glass.

"Happy birthday," said Babette.

"And in honour of this very special girl, I now invite you all to help me eat her face," smiled Lorelai.

The doorbell rang as Sookie handed Rory a knife. "And you may have the first cut," smiled Sookie.

Rory shook her head, "There's something very strange about hacking into my own head."

The doorbell rang again. "Jeez, who the hell's ringing the bell?" said Lorelai raising her voice, "It's a party! Get your ass in here!" her face fall slightly as Emily and Richard walked in the door. "Or asses I guess," she said quietly.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" cried Rory rushing over to hug them, "I can't believe you're here. I'm so glad you came. Hey, no tie?"

"I thought I'd mix it up a little," smiled Richard.

"Grandma, look," said Rory happily showing her that she was wearing the bracelet Emily had bought her.

"Why, it looks lovely," said Emily.

"Let me introduce you to some people. This is Lane, my best friend, and Dawn, she just moved here and goes to Chilton with me," said Rory gesturing to the two teenagers who had been looking through the CD's next to the music centre. "Lane, Dawn these are my grandparents, Emily and Richard Gilmore."

"Pleased to meet you Mr Gilmore, Mrs Gilmore," said Dawn shaking their hands.

"It's always a pleasure to meet beautiful young ladies," smiled Richard.

"Grandpa!" said Rory.

"Nice to meet you Dawn," said Emily shaking the teenager's hands, "I don't recall you attending Rory's party yesterday."

"Oh, no I only started at Chilton on Monday when everyone received their invitations," explained Dawn.

"Rory, you should have invited Dawn," chastised Richard.

"I tried Grandpa, but Dawn has a lot of schoolwork to catch up on," explained Rory.

"She did Mr Gilmore, I didn't wish to impose," said Dawn.

"Well maybe we can make it up to you sometime; you must come to dinner one evening with your parents..." began Emily.

"Ah Grandma, Dawn's mother and sister died earlier this year," said Rory quickly as she saw Dawn go a little pale, "She's the Ward of one of my teachers now."

"I'm so sorry Dawn, my condolence at your loss," said Emily with genuine sympathy. "Perhaps you could come with your guardians; it is always interesting to meet Rory's teachers."

"Thank you, I'll be sure to ask Willow and Tara and then Rory can let you know," said Dawn smiling a little.

"Excellent," said Richard.

"We can ask them tonight, they should be here soon," said Rory. "Dawn lives next door," she clarified. "Oh here they are now," smiled Rory looking over Emily's shoulder.

Rory hurried over to greet Willow and Tara as they came in, so she missed the complete look of shock on her grandmother's face, but Dawn did not, "Are you alright Mrs Gilmore," she asked as the colour bled from the older woman's face. Receiving no answer, she looked at Richard who had turned with his wife to see the two women enter, "Mr Gilmore is Mrs Gilmore alright?" At that moment Lorelai came over, "Mum, are you okay?" she asked as she touched Emily's arm.

"What! Oh Lorelai I suddenly feel a little light-headed, is there somewhere I can lie down?" she asked holding onto Richard for support.

"Yes of course," said a worried Lorelai, "You can lie down in my room," she said guiding her mother to the stairs.

"Grandma, what's wrong," asked Rory coming over with Willow and Tara in tow.

"Your grandmother is not feeling very well," explained Richard, "Your mother is just helping your grandmother to her room, so she can rest for a while."

"Can I get you anything Grandma?" asked Rory worriedly.

"No dear, I'll be fine after I've had a little rest, you should see to your guests." Emily glanced at Willow and Tara, "I'm sorry that we will have to wait to get to know each other."

Tara frowned as a look of loss came to Emily's eyes when she looked at Willow, she glanced at the others around her but she was sure no one else saw it.

"Grandpa, aren't you going with Grandma?" asked Rory when she realised Richard had remained at the bottom of the stairs.

"Not at the moment Rory, I'll let your mother see to her, but I'll check on her in a little while," he said giving Willow an uneasy glance.

"Oh okay," frowned Rory. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Thank you Rory, I'll have a scotch on the rocks if you have it," said Richard smiling at his granddaughter.

"Of course... Oh sorry almost forgot, this is Willow Rosenberg and Tara Maclay they're Dawn's guardians, Willow's my Computer teacher at Chilton, and Tara is attending the University of Connecticut," said Rory. "Willow, Tara, this is my grandfather Richard Gilmore."

Willow shook hands with Richard, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Gilmore," she said with a small smile, "I hope Mrs Gilmore feels better soon."

"Yes pleased to meet you, I'm sure she will." Richard hesitated for a moment, "Excuse me for prying, but are you by any chance related to the late Rabbi Isaac Rosenberg of Hamden?"

"Yes," smiled Willow, "He was my Grandfather. Why did you know him?"

"No, I never met him, but I once met his son Ira at Yale," explained Richard. "And Emily was very close to his daughter Ruth."

"Ira's my dad," smiled Willow, "He's teaching at Oxford along with my mother, Shelia at the moment."

"Please pass on my regards when you speak to him... And Ruth, your aunt, how is she?" edged Richard.

"Ooh I guess you didn't hear?" said Willow sadly, "She died in 1965. She was in a coma for months after being injured during the Free Speech Movement protests at Berkeley in '64."

"I'm sorry to hear that, has your father ever told you that you look remarkably like her?"

Willow smiled, "Yes, I once found some old photos of her when I was younger and asked how there were pictures of me in New York when at the time I had not been there," she laughed before she made the connection, "Is that why Mrs Gilmore suddenly didn't feel well? You said she was very close to my aunt."

"Yes, they met in junior high school and until their junior year at Yale they were virtually inseparable. I don't know the full story but I believe they did not part on the best of terms and your aunt went with the Freedom Riders, working to register African American voters during the summer before turning up at Berkley," explained Richard.

For someone that said he did not know much about Willow's aunt, he was very quick to pass on little bits of irrelevant information on the subject, Tara thought.

Lorelai guided Emily into her bedroom, "Can I get you some water or something?" asked Lorelai.

"Yes thank you Lorelai."

Nodding, Lorelai left her mother sat on the bed. Emily looked around the cluttered bedroom, smiling to herself, 'She hasn't changed. I've lost count of the times I told her to tidy her room.'

She gathered the strange quilt that lay half on the floor and lifted it to look more closely. "I made that," Lorelai's voice came from the doorway.

Emily turned to take the glass of water. "Really?"

Lorelai nodded, "From Rory's old baby clothes."

"How nice. Hope you washed them first," said Emily.

Lorelai smiled, "Oh, rats. I knew I forgot something."

Emily spotted a picture of Lorelai on crutches; walking over to it, she picked it up. "What's this?" she asked.

"Well, that's me, Mum."

"I know that's you. You're wearing a cast," said Emily a little exasperated.

"Yeah, that's when I broke my leg."

"You broke your leg?" asked Emily shocked.

"Yeah, three years ago during a yoga class. The headstand portion took a very ugly turn," explained Lorelai. "The good thing was I brought the smug, blonde, pretzel chick down with me. I've since learned that I'm a bit too competitive for yoga."

"I never knew that you broke your leg."

"It was no big deal, Mum," said Lorelai gently. "If I'd been really sick you would have known."

"Yeah, well...You know, you could get a maid in here once a week to at least tidy the place up," said Emily in an attempt to change the subject.

"I like it cluttered," said Lorelai softly. "Are you going to be okay up here on your own?"

"I'll be fine Lorelai," said Emily returning the picture among the cluttered chest-a-draws, went back to the bed, and laid down absently clutching the quilt.

Lorelai looked down, worry on her face, "Are you sure?"

"Yes Lorelai."

After about half an hour, Emily felt strong enough to face the party, but consciously tried to avoid spending to much time around Willow. "Lorelai, I just tried some of these hors d'ouevres. They're unbelievable. Who is your caterer?" she asked entering the kitchen.

"Sookie," said Lorelai smiling.

"What's a Sookie?" asked Emily.

Lorelai gestured to Sookie, "That's a Sookie."

"Hi. Sookie St. James," said Sookie.

"Sookie's the chef at the inn, Mum," explained Lorelai.

"My dear, you are very talented," Emily complemented her.

"Thank you," smiled Sookie.

"Well, you must cater my next party," said Emily. "When my friends get wind of you, you're going to have so much business you won't know what to do with yourself. But remember, I discovered you."

"Mum, Sookie has a job. She's the chef at the inn," pointed out Lorelai. "The inn where we work, my inn. Six days a week, Mum." Seeing the look her mother was sending her way she turned to Sookie, "Just give her your number or we'll never get out of here."

"OK," said Sookie.

Lorelai walked into the living room smiling over at Rory (where she) stood talking with Dawn and Lane next to the music centre. She walked over to Richard who was looking over the fireplace. "So, how does it look?" she asked.

"Well, it doesn't look structurally sound," said Richard straightening up.

"Drink up, Dad," said Lorelai handing him his glass.

Richard smiled and walked over to join his granddaughter.

Sookie ran into the living room. "OK, don't panic," she said standing in front of Lorelai.

"Good opening line. What's wrong?"

"We're out of ice," said Sookie.

"How could we be out of ice? We had a ton of ice. It was like a penguin habitat in there," exclaimed Lorelai.

"I don't know how it happened; I just know it happened and somehow we have to deal with it."

"I will go and get some then," said Lorelai heading for the door just as Luke came in carrying ice. "Oh! Oh my God! You're a vision! Sookie, we have ice!"

"Hallelujah," said Sookie.

"How did you know?" asked Lorelai.

"Well, a good rule of thumb is you can never have too much ice," said Luke with a half smile.

"Oh, you're the best," said Lorelai enthusiastically hugging Luke just as Emily came out of the kitchen. "That's... Oh, hi, Mum. This is my friend Luke," she said blushing a little.

"How are you doing?" said Luke.

"Fine, thank you," said Emily with an icy stare.

"Well I'd better get these in the freezer before they melt," said Luke heading towards the kitchen.

"Well, not very likely in here," said Lorelai quietly.

* * * * *

Rory found her grandfather on the porch. "Grandpa?"

"Rory, what a lovely party," said Richard.

Rory smiled knowingly at her grandfather, "I brought you something to read."

"Oh."

"It's not the Wall Street Journal," said Rory smiling. "But there's a quiz in there that determines whether you're a summer or a fall."

"Well I appreciate this, thank you," said Richard taking the magazine and sitting down.

Smiling down at her grandfather Rory turned, her mission a success, and returned to her party.

* * * * *

"That's quite an assortment of characters you've assembled out there," said Emily standing in the kitchen.

"They're great people," said Lorelai.

"This Patricia..."

"Miss Patty," said Lorelai absently.

"Rory said she teaches dance?"

"Among other things."

"And this man with the ice," prompted Emily.

"Luke," said Lorelai a little catch in her voice.

"How long have you been seeing him?" pushed Emily.

"Luke?" said Lorelai, "I'm not seeing Luke. He's just a friend."

"Mm-hmm," smiled Emily a little twinkle in her eye.

"Mum, I swear. Luke keeps me in coffee, nothing else," Lorelai insisted.

"He seems to like you," Emily's smile growing wider.

"And you're judging this by what?"

"By the way he looked at you."

"Which is how?" asked Lorelai not believing she was having this conversation with her mother.

"Like you were about to give him a lap dance," said Emily enjoying ribbing her daughter.

"Mum, he did not look at me like that," Lorelai insisted with a smile.

"You're pleased."

"What?"

"You smiled," pointed out Emily. "You're pleased that the ice man looked at you like a Porterhouse steak."

"I'm smiling because you're crazy and that's what you do to crazy people to keep them calm."

"Mm-hmm," smirked Emily as she watched Lorelai retreat from the kitchen.

"Oh, Morey, you remember the time that Rory decided that our old tree stump was a fairy ring?" asked Babette.

"I sure do," said Morey.

"How old was she then, sugar?" asked Babette looking up at Lorelai standing next to her daughter.

"I think she was about 10," said Lorelai smiling at the memory.

"Hey, all I know is that it matched the description," insisted Rory as she sat with Dawn and Lane.

"Oh, God, she was cute," declared Babette. "She used to sit out there with a peanut butter sandwich just waiting for the fairy to get hungry."

"Ok, new story," blushed Rory as Dawn and Lane fell into giggles.

"I'm still crushed beyond belief that she quit her ballet lessons," said Miss Patty.

"Oh, not me," said Lorelai. "Miss Perfect Work Ethic would prance around this room 24 hours a day."

"And I still stunk," said Rory sourly.

"I can vouch for that," added Lane.

"That's not true!" insisted Miss Patty.

"She was pretty bad," pointed out Morey.

"No, don't you listen to them. You had a true gift," Miss Patty told Rory.

Everyone laughed.

"What? She did. She was talented," said Miss Patty looking around.

Everyone laughed again.

* * * * *

Willow entered the kitchen still smiling at Rory and ballet, intent on getting more ice and saw Emily looking out the window.

"How are you feeling Mrs Gilmore?" asked the redhead.

Emily turned to meet Willow's eyes, which was when the redhead noticed the profound loss in the older woman's eyes, "Fine thank you. Hmm if you'll excuse me I think my husband is looking for me."

As Emily attempted to pass Willow, the redhead gently placed a hand on her arm Emily froze. "I'm sorry I look so much like my aunt and I'm sorry you lost her," Willow said gently.

Emily closed her eyes for a moment, "Thank you," she said before leaving Willow standing in the middle of the kitchen without looking back.

"I should go check on your father. We should be going," said Emily when she found Lorelai stood in the hallway.

"It was nice that you came tonight, Mum. It meant a lot. To Rory. Really," said Lorelai.

"Well, she is my granddaughter, after all. I should be here."

"I totally agree," nodded Lorelai.

Emily walked out onto the porch. Richard was still reading Rory's magazine. "It's time to go now," she told him.

"In a minute, please," said Richard not looking up.

"Rory, we're going to get going now," called out Emily as she spotted Rory and Dawn heading for the kitchen.

Stopping, they both came out to join the adults. "Thank you for coming," said Rory happily.

"Thanks for asking me," said Emily.

"Ah, lovely party. I enjoyed the reading material immensely," said Richard rising and handing the magazine to Rory.

"So what's the verdict?" asked Rory.

"I am an autumn," declared Richard.

"Interesting," Rory mused dramatically.

"Isn't it?" smiled Richard.

"It was nice to meet you both, Mr Gilmore, Mrs Gilmore," said Dawn.

"The pleasure was all mine," smiled Richard.

"We must arrange for you and your guardians to come to dinner very soon," said Emily. "It was nice to meet you. Good night. Lorelai, we had a lovely time."

"And with a straight face you said that," said Lorelai.

"I'd have that chimney inspected if I were you," said Richard.

"I'll get right on that, Dad."

Richard handed Rory an envelope, "For Fez."

"But Grandpa, you already took care of that," pointed out Rory.

"Fez is a very large city."

Dawn stood with Rory and Lorelai watching Emily and Richard walk to their car.

"So..." prompted Rory.

"Food fight?" declared Lorelai.

"Absolutely," smiled Rory as they both ran inside.

"And here I thought Xander was immature," laughed Dawn as she followed the Gilmores.

* * * * *

Dawn stood with Rory in the yard. "I had a great time tonight, thanks for inviting me."

"Well you're my friend and you're our neighbours," pointed out Rory. "Thanks again for the book, though you shouldn't have spent so much. How did you know I wanted it?"

"Andrew of course," explained Dawn. "And the price didn't matter, we all wanted to get you something special for all the help you gave us when we moved in as well as the help you're giving me catching up with school. We would have bought you a car but your mum vetoed that," she smirked.

"Darn," giggled Rory before sobering as she saw someone approaching from behind her friend.

Seeing the look, Dawn turned and smirked at Dean before turning back to her friend, "You can tell me all about it tomorrow." She turned and smiled knowingly at the boy, heading for home.

Standing at the sink, Lorelai looked up and saw Rory in the yard with Dean.

"I ah got you a present," said Dean holding out a small wrapped gift.

"You didn't have to get me anything," said Rory excepting the gift.

"Sorry, that's the rules. You get older you get a gift," said Dean.

"I'm sorry about this sort of sneaky thing. I just haven't told my mother yet about you," said Rory. "I mean, not that there's a tale. I just..."

"That's Ok. This is better," said Dean quietly.

Rory unwrapped the gift. "Oh my God. It's beautiful," she said.

"Well, I bought the medallion and I just cut some leather straps and drilled a hole, and well, you like it?" said Dean.

"I-it's amazing."

"Good," smiled Dean.

"Thank you."

"Here," said Dean tying it around Rory's wrist. Rory admired it then exchanged a smile with him.

* * * * *

All the way home from Stars Hollow, Emily sat quietly next to Richard staring out at the passing headlights.

Richard pulled into the garage and turned off the engine, he turned to look at his wife. He remained silent for a moment contemplating whether or not to tell her about Ruth! He sighed, "Ruth died in 1965, she never regained consciousness from injures sustained at Berkley in '64... I'm sorry Emily, really I am, I know how much she meant to you."

Emily looked sharply at her husband about to snap at him that, how could he know, when she saw it in his eyes. He did know! "H-how do you know?" she asked.

Richard smiled at her, "I've always known Emily." Her eyes went wide. "You loved her a great deal didn't you," he said gently.

Emily's eyes misted up as she allowed Richard to pull her into his arms, "With all my heart, she was my life," and the tears came.

They remained there for quite a while before Richard said gently, as he stroked her hair, "Let's go in and I'll put you to bed."

To be continued...