Story summary: One step closer to the dance and the inevitable revealing of the truth.

 

 

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the characters in my story. The characters belong to the WB show “Gilmore Girls”, its writers and creators.

 

 

INT: GILMORE HOUSE: LIVING ROOM-NIGHT

 

Lorelai walks into the living room where Christopher is seated on the couch between Lane and Henry. As Lorelai enters Chris gets up off the couch and goes over to her.

 

CHRIS: (a slight whisper) So how did it go?

 

LORELAI: Great. Super.

 

CHRIS: I know that face…that’s the lying face.

 

LORELAI: Please! Give a girl some credit. The lying face is much more twisted and looks some what like the half-truth face.

 

CHRIS: Which would be the one you’re wearing now?

 

LORELAI: This would be the face of “mission not accomplished.”

 

CHRIS: You didn’t tell her?!

 

LORELAI: Don’t get your boxers in a bunch. I started to…and then she started in about how she thinks I’m the most wonderful mother ever and there was a ceremony of sorts to crown me…and gosh I *love* being *loved.* You know that.

 

CHRIS: Lorelai…you have to tell her.

 

LORELAI: I have an idea…why don’t you do it? You be the villain that causes your only daughters world to come crashing down.

 

CHRIS: Mostly…because I don’t want to and if memory serves me correctly…I’m not the one who gave up the goods to Dean.

 

LORELAI: It was an accident!

 

CHRIS: And that’s what you tell her. Now get in there!

 

Chris playfully turns Lorelai back towards Rory’s room but she gets no farther than the door before the doorbell rings.

 

LORELAI: Oopsie! You get the door and I’ll put my WPM into overdrive.

 

Lorelai heads hurriedly towards Rory’s room as Christopher answers the door to find Emily and Richard Gilmore standing there.

 

CHRIS: Emily…Richard. What a nice surprise. Come in. I’ll go get Lorelai.

 

Chris heads away from the door as Richard and Emily head into the living room where Lane and Henry have slowly inched their way across the couch to each other. Henry is about to make a much anticipated move to give Lane a small kiss when Richard enters clearing his throat. Lane and Henry immediately move over to their respective side of the couches.

 

LANE: We…uh…teeth…had something in them. Henry was just…helping.

 

EMILY: Certainly. Richard do you have the camera ready?

 

RICHARD: Yes dear.

 

EMILY: Well take a picture of them. They make a lovely couple.

 

RICHARD: Where shall they stand?

 

EMILY: Yes…we need a good backdrop. How about over by the…or maybe the…you know what lets just keep them on the couch.

 

RICHARD: Excellent idea.

 

EMILY: Lane why don’t you sit next to your date…what is your name?

 

HENRY: Henry ma'am.

 

EMILY: That’s fine. Henry put your arm around Lane now and lean in a little closer.

 

Henry and Lane comply and Lane’s smile just beams across the room. Henry has his arm around her and she is so excited!

 

EMILY: How’s that dear?

 

RICHARD/LANE: Perfect.

 

Richard smiles slightly and begins taking the pictures as Emily continues to orchestrate lighting, background…etc.

 

Chris reaches Rory’s room as Lorelai and Rory are just sitting down on her bed. His glance is drawn towards Rory in her new dress.

 

CHRIS: Rory…hon…you look…great.

 

RORY: (blushing) Thanks Dad.

 

Chris takes in the vision of his grown up daughter and forgets for a moment why he came in to the room.

 

LORELAI: We uh…were just about to have a little *talk*.

 

CHRIS: Right…I know this is really bad timing…but I wanted to issue a “MOM” alert.

 

RORY: Grandma is here?

 

CHRIS: And Grandpa. They came to take pictures.

 

LORELAI: Okay their timing sucks.

 

RORY: Okay…what aren’t you guys telling me?

 

LORELAI: Nothing…we just wanted to tell you to have a good time tonight.

 

RORY: The half-truth face…interesting. Whatever it is…you can tell me.

 

Lorelai looks over at Christopher who at that very moment is joined by Emily Gilmore.

 

EMILY: Oh…Rory. You are a vision.

 

RORY: Thanks Grandma.

 

EMILY: Red really is your color. Stunning. Stand up so I can get the full effect.

 

Rory complies and stands up so that her Grandmother can see the whole picture…dress, hair, makeup and shoes.

 

LORELAI: Mom…Rory and I were…

 

EMILY: Richard come here…You have to see your Granddaughter. What Lorelai? You and Rory were what?

 

LORELAI: Hoping you would drop by…(under her breath)or something equally as lame.

 

EMILY:  I can’t hear you when you mutter Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Yeah…uh huh…so why don’t we all take this out to the living room. Obviously tonight is going to be nothing but surprises.

 

As everyone heads towards the living room the door bell rings again. Christopher heads towards it.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I’ll get it. You do…damage…control.

 

LORELAI: You want me to tell her now…with my mother here? Seriously…stay out of my liquor cabinet pal. Cause you must be drunk.

 

CHRIS: Fine. Point taken.

 

Chris heads over to the door and opens it to find Tristan, Paris and Vicky standing there.

 

CHRIS: That’s more like it. People we actually *are* expecting. Come in.

 

Chris steps aside to let the trio in and points them towards the living room where Emily and Richard are taking pictures of Rory. As the trio walks in Tristan’s gaze searches out Rory and his breathing becomes heavier as he drinks her in with his eyes. Mesmerized Tristan realizes that he has stopped short while everyone else has proceeded into the room. A little embarrassed at his obvious approval of Rory’s appearance he heads into the living room with the rest.

 

Emily now has Richard taking pictures of Rory and Lane together as the doorbell rings once again.

 

Chris walks back to the door and opens it to find Dean and Jess, the last of the party.

 

CHRIS: Come on in boys. Pictures are in the living room.

 

Dean and Jess walk into the living room photo session.

 

LORELAI: Well looks like everyone is here now. So maybe we should be going.

 

EMILY: Don’t be silly Lorelai…we still have some pictures to take. There’s the couple pictures and the corsages and boutonnière’s…and one with you and Rory and Rory and her Dad and…

 

LORELAI: It’s not a wedding mom…it’s a Valentines dance. Could we maybe speed this up?

 

EMILY: But Lorelai…I had a list of pictures I wanted. I’m sure Rory would want the pictures for memories sake also.

 

LORELAI: Okay…fine. But Christopher and I need to be there earlier than the rest…to check in.

 

EMILY: If you’re asking if you can go first…it would be my pleasure.

 

LORELAI: Actually…I was thinking maybe we didn’t have to go at all.

 

EMILY: Explain to me Lorelai why you don’t want a picture of you with your daughter.

 

LORELAI: It’s not that I don’t want a picture…this would take less time if I just took the picture…wouldn’t it.

 

RORY: Most definitely.

 

Lorelai joins her daughter to take the picture, then Rory takes one with her Dad and lastly Lorelai and Chris join Rory for the family shot.

 

Lorelai looks at her watch as they step away from the picture taking.

 

LORELAI: Okay…now we’re really late. Chris…you ready?

 

CHRIS: Your chariot awaits.

 

Lorelai walks up to Rory and gives her a hug.

 

LORELAI: I will see you at the dance…my beautiful…not so little anymore…girl.

 

RORY: Thanks mom.

 

Lorelai and Christopher head towards the door and Lorelai takes one last glance back as Emily is preparing Rory and Dean for their “couple shot.” Lorelai turns her gaze to Tristan who is obviously having a hard time with watching Rory and Dean. But that concern seems simple to her as she watches Rory and Tristan catch each other’s eyes as Dean is putting Rory’s corsage on her wrist and Dean’s face cloud over as he realizes where Rory was looking at *their* moment.

 

LORELAI: This ain’t gonna be pretty.

 

CHRIS: Let’s just see what happens before we start worrying.

 

Christopher puts his arm around Lorelai’s waist as her ushers her out the door.

 

INT: SOOKIE’S HOUSE-NIGHT

 

Sookie is packaging the food, waiting for Jackson to come pick her up and help her take it to the dance when there is a knock at the door. Sookie walks over to the door and opens it expecting Jackson.

 

SOOKIE: Sweetie…you don’t have to…Oh…I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else…well obviously. Anyway…how can I help you?

 

ETHAN: Are you Sookie St. James?

 

SOOKIE: The one and only sweetie. Do we know each other?

 

ETHAN: I know you.

 

SOOKIE: Oh…I’m sorry. I don’t recognize you.

 

ETHAN: It has been a while…Mom.

 

As Ethan looks at Sookie she visibly whitens. And backs up…collapsing into a chair by the door.

 

INT: GILMORE GIRLS-NIGHT

 

Richard and Emily are finishing up the pictures so that the kids can leave for the dance.

 

EMILY: I’d like to get one last picture if Rory doesn’t mind.

 

RORY: Sure Grandma…but then we really have to go.

 

EMILY: It won’t take but a minute.

 

Rory walks over and stands by the wall again preparing herself for another picture. Tristan can’t help watching her, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Dean.

 

EMILY: Tristan if you don’t mind.

 

Tristan looks a little stunned that Emily is addressing him…fearing she may have caught him staring at her granddaughter.

 

EMILY: (cont.) I’d like you in this picture too.

 

DEAN: What?! Why?!

 

EMILY: It’s for his grandfather…a dear friend of ours.

 

RICHARD: I’m sure you won’t mind son.

 

Tristan slowly gets up off the couch and heads over to Rory’s side. Both are a little awkward at the situation.

 

EMILY: Could you maybe get a little closer.

 

TRISTAN: (under his breath to Rory) Why do I feel like a 7^th grader on his first date?

 

RORY: Let’s just get it over with. Put your arm around my waist so we can take the picture.

 

At Rory’s request Tristan puts his arm around her and pulls her close to him. The contact of their bodies sends an immediate reaction through both of them and like molding clay ever curve of their bodies fit together like a puzzle. Both sets of breathing become a little more labored, excited by the close contact to each other and the chemistry it always brings out into the open.

 

JESS: They really do make a cute couple.

 

DEAN: Shut up Jess.

 

As the picture taking progresses Dean holds back the urge to just lash out and tell Rory he knows what’s going on. All in good time…more convinced than before he still wants to see obvious proof and he can’t help but feel that if things continue the way they have been…he’ll get exactly what he wants.