❝Saved my soul at the bottom through the lowest of lows,
My god was having no options but to give up or grow,
The skeletons in this closet can lead to hell or to home.
So instead of living life haunted, I built a bridge with their bones.
Can't fall in place until you break.
'Cause I was made
Made by misery,
Suffered to save
Who I'm meant to be,
I've learned that lonely roads
Can lead to hearts of gold.❞
𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚗 𝚂𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚛 – 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝙱𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚢

Liberty told Luke about Max's proposal to Lorelai, because she thought it wasn't fair that somehow he was kept in the dark about the proposal.

Thea was amazed that word hadn't spread back to Luke, but he was never one for town-wide gossip.

Luke wasn't an idiot, of course, he put two-and-two together before Liberty told him. She just confirmed it for him.

So when she got to the diner, a crowd of people were crammed against the windows, looking for Luke's reaction. Sucks for them, because Liberty told him. 

When she walked in, Thea heard Rory saying, "Because everyone knows that Luke has a thing for you."

"Luke does not have a thing for me," Lorelai replied.

"I didn't know Cleopatra was in town," Thea said.

"Don't you Queen of Denial me," Lorelai told her.

Rory said, "Tell him, Cleopatra, Queen of Denial."

"Stop Pam Tillis-ing me," Lorelai said. "Besides, we can barely get through a single conversation without biting each other's heads off."

"That's called flirt-fighting," Thea said.

"Tell him," Rory repeated.

"Everything about me repulses that man," Lorelai added. "My coffee drinking, my eating habits. Remember when I called Ranger Bob last week? He hated that!"

Thea went to the counter. Georgia was already there.

Georgia asked, "Getting a front row seat too?"

Thea laughed, "More like waiting to see my mom's reaction when she finds out that Luke already knows."

Luke poured Thea a mug of coffee as Lorelai came up to the counter. "Fresh coffee will be ready in a minute, unless you wanna just roll up a dollar bill and go nuts."

"No, thanks, I can wait," Lorelai said.

Sage, Aiden, and Todd pushed their way through the crowd to get in the diner. Aiden and Sage of course kissed Thea as a greeting, greeted Georgia, and went to sit down.

Luke finally spotted the crowd in the window, "What the hell's going on with them?"

"I think I lost my virginity in that crowd," Todd said. They all just looked at him weirdly. "I felt like I had to climb over everyone just to get in here."

"That's because they're crazy people," Luke said. "Whole town should be medicated and put in a rec room with ping pong tables and hand puppets."

Todd looked offended, "My cousin went in a mental hospital because he has bipolar." He glanced at Lorelai, "Actual bipolar disorder."

Luke looked at Lorelai, "What's up?"

"Nothing," Lorelai replied. "I...well, I have something to tell you. No, I have something to share with you actually."

Georgia looked like she was ready to snap, 'Out with it already, woman.'

Luke said, "To share with me."

"Yes, 'cause when exciting things happen in your life, you want to share them with the people in your life who you think will find them exciting, which I think you will," Lorelai said.

"Like my dad getting released from prison in June," Aiden said with a grin.

"Yeah, exactly like that," Lorelai replied dryly.

"It'll be the first time in almost nine years that I saw in something other than a prison jumpsuit," Aiden stated.

Luke asked Lorelai, "What is it?"

"Well, it's very..." started Lorelai.

"Exciting, I've heard," Luke said. "I'm all prepared to jump up and down if necessary."

"Okay, here it is," Lorelai said. "Um, Max has asked me to marry him."

And Thea was pretty sure that it was something that not even Lorelai wanted to agree to. If she wanted to marry Max, she wouldn't have needed all this time to think about her answer.

"Yeah, I figured," Luke replied.

"You did?" asked Lorelai.

"Well, it was obvious," Luke said. "You know, you too were getting kind of close. He was around a lot. Then last night with that 'life changing thing' comment, you know, I put two and two together and figured it out. Also, Libby told me."

Lorelai seemed shocked, asked, "She told you?"

"Because Thea told her, so Libby told me," Luke said. "I mean, I like to think I raised Libby well enough to where she feels comfortable telling me things, you know."

Sage, Aiden, and Georgia sounded like they were trying to muffle their laughter.

Thea was sure that was a subtle dig at Lorelai's parenting.

"Congratulations by the way," Luke said a little to loudly, probably to drown out the muffled laughter.

"Thank you," Lorelai said.

"You set a date?" asked Luke.

"No, I haven't answered him yet," Lorelai replied.

"You're gonna say yes," Luke said.

Liberty distracted Thea long enough by bringing out food while Luke and Lorelai chatted about the proposal.

Luke asked, "Where you gonna live?"

"What?" asked Lorelai.

Luke asked, "Here? Hartford?"

Thea felt a pang of fear. She didn't want to live in Hartford. She noticed how terrified her friends looked at the mere thought of her moving away. If she lived with Mr. Medina, would he enroll her in Chilton?

"Here," Lorelai replied. "I don't know; we haven't talked about it actually."

How can you not discuss that to the person you're engaged to?

Thea told herself that if she were to ever get engaged, she shouldn't handle it like what Lorelai was doing.

"That is a bit rough though," Luke said. "Thea goes to school here and Rory goes to school in Hartford."

"Yeah, I guess," Lorelai said.

"Of course, it is a little far from the inn," Luke added.

"Uh, yeah," Lorelai said.

"But who knows how long you'll work after you're married," Luke said.

Lorelai seemed offended, "Excuse me?"

Luke said, "Oh, but you probably already talked about that, right?"

"Uh, no," Lorelai said. "But I do think he and my father have come to an agreement on how many goats I'm worth."

"Hey, I'm just talking here," Luke said. "It's great, really. You gonna have more kids?"

"Hi, personal," Lorelai said.

Luke said, "I mean, he wants kids, right?"

Lorelai replied, "In the world? Yes, he wants kids."

"Sounds like you two haven't had that discussion that either," Georgia said, taking a drink of her orange juice.

Thea was enjoying this.

"Okay, you know, what we have and have not discussed is none of your business," Lorelai said. "And neither is it theirs."

Luke asked, "Joint checking accounts?"

"If they hadn't discussed where to live, I doubt they discussed that," Aiden said.

Luke joked, "You do know his last name don't you?"

"I'm regretting telling you this," Lorelai said.

"Fine, it's your business," Luke replied.

"Yes, it is," Lorelai said. "It's my business." She turned to the teens, "And neither is it yours."

"Hey, some people go their entire lives without having these kinds of conversations. My parents didn't discuss a damn thing my entire childhood. Worked fine for them. Of course, when my mom died she had to tell my dad where the coupon drawer was. Took him ten years to find it. Used a coffee can the whole time."

"Okay," Lorelai said.

"Five years ago, my dad found my mom's mug-shot from her early twenties, because she used to rob banks," Todd said. "Total shock."

"My dad found out my mom was pedophile when I was eight," Aiden said, looking haunted. "Then he killed her."

Sage asked, "Coupon can?"

"I don't care what you say, Sage," Luke pointed a finger in his face. "A coupon can is not as good as a coupon drawer." Sage tried to bite his finger and Luke pulled back. "Teddy, your boyfriend's rabid."

"Could be worse," Thea replied. "He could be using a coupon can."

Luke looked at her while her friends laughed.

Lorelai said, "How are those muffins coming?"

Luke got them the muffins, "Two blueberry muffins."

"Thank you," Lorleai said, taking the two plates.

"And congratulations again," Luke told Lorelai.

Lorelai went to the table.

"They're so not going to get married," Thea stated.

"Thea," Luke admonished.

"Their relationship is so short," Thea said. "They've dated, like what, a couple of months? Broke up for a couple of months and got back together when he proposed?"

"Yeah, that's true," Georgia said.

Lorelai stalled multiple times before going up to the door.

Thea could understand being nervous about telling parents you've been proposed too, but one would think that you would be happy and excited to tell your parents.

But not Lorelai, who rang the doorbell after briefly bantering with Rory.

Emily opened the door. "You're here. Richard, they're here." She was happy and some part of Thea wondered if Emily and Richard had found out about the proposal.

Richard shouted, "Wonderful!" from another room.

"Come in, come in, come in," Emily told them.

"Uh, no," Lorelai stated.

Emily asked, "Why?"

"Because you're scaring Rory," Lorelai stated.

Emily's good mood was a little off-putting, but Thea preferred off-putting over Lorelai's stalling, so she walked in.

"Well, since Thea isn't scared, you two can get in here," Emily said. She dragged Lorelai and Rory inside by their arms. "Scaring Rory, you're so silly sometimes. Let's get you a drink. Put your coat down. Oh, and are you hungry? I had Antonia make some Roquefort puffs. Antonia, bring the puffs! Come, sit down, sit down." She called out, "Richard!" She really was in a good mood.

Richard shouted, "Say nothing until I get there!"

Emily shouted back, "Well, hurry up!"

"Mom, what's going on? Ooh, the nails, the nails, the nails," Lorelai said. Emily seemed to push Lorelai onto the couch. Rory went to sit with Lorelai and Thea went to sit on the other couch, like how it normally was.

Emily asked, "So, tell me what's new with you girls?" She had gone to get a bottle of wine and a wine glass.

"Uh, nothing," Lorelai said looking at Rory.

"Hey, Grandma, what about you?" asked Rory, "Did something special happen?"

"Well, as a matter of fact," Emily started. She went to stand in front of them, "Oh for goodness sake." She called, "Richard, damn it!"

Lorelai asked, "Mom, why don't you just tell us what's happening now?"

"Oh, all right," Emily said. She sat down in a chair, still holding the bottle and glass. "I can't wait for your grandfather any longer. Well, you know, I'm very good friends with Bitty Charleston, the headmaster's wife."

Lorelai hummed.

"Well, we had this little arrangement where she keeps me apprised of all the goings-on at Chilton. You know, she tells me all the gossip on the students and their parents, and any piece of information I might find useful. Well, this afternoon, she called to tell me the class list just came out and Rory has finished in the top three percent!"

That was it? She expected a little more than Rory finishing in the top three percent. Apparently that was cause for celebration.

"I know," Lorelai said.

"You do? Well, who do know at Chilton?" Emily asked.

"Um, Rory," Lorelai said.

"Oh," Emily said.

"It wasn't definite, but I had a pretty good idea," Rory said.

Richard walked in, "Rory, wonderful news. You finished in the top three percent of your class."

"Oh, yeah, Dad, J. Edgar Hoover over here was just telling us," Lorelai told him.

"What? I told you not to say anything before I got here," Richard told Emily.

"Well, you took too long," Emily said.

Thea said, "We already knew that she made it in the top three."

"It's a simple request," Richard said to Emily.

"Just hang up the phone," Emily replied back.

"Okay, good news either way," Lorelai stated. "Let's all agree on that." Apparently Lorelai wasn't going to say anything about her being proposed to. Thea would've said it out of spite, but she'd rather not get yelled at for telling the grandparents before Lorelai could.

"I am immensely proud of you, Rory," Richard told her.

"Yes, we knew you could do it," Emily stated.

"Oh, we certainly did," Richard added.

Thea looked at her shoes. Sometimes it sucked being the average one. The only accomplishments she managed to get was two boyfriends and a spot on the Vegas Shoot tournament for January and February 2002, but those weren't as exciting as Rory's top three percent spot; although Francine and Straub were happy for when she told them about the archery tournament and agreed to take her there (and a few friends) because they knew she would win.

Emily said, "We have to celebrate. Next week, we will have a special dinner."

"Grandma, all of your dinners are special," Rory told her

"Well, this one will be extra special. We'll make all your favorite foods, and you can invite some of your friends," Emily told her.

"There's an excellent chance that presents might be involved," Richard added.

"You guys do not have to do this," Rory said.

"We most certainly do," Emily countered.

"You start late, have to catch up, and by the end of the year, you've overtaken everyone," Richard said, "A true Gilmore."

"Through and through," Emily added

"Dinner is ready," an older woman called.

"Thank you, Antonia," Emily said. "Shall we?"

"Ah, ah, ah, ah," Richard made a disapproving noise, "after the top three percent in her class."

"Well, thank you very much," said Rory.

"Uh, just go ahead and start without me," said Lorelai. "I got to check in at the inn. Michel's there by himself, people could die."

"Well, hurry up," Emily told her.

Thea wasn't all that hungry. Sure, she was glad for Rory, but it made her realize that she barely had any accomplishments under her belt.

"I am extremely thrilled about this," Emily said. "Do you think you'll get a certificate?"

"I'm not sure," Rory said.

"Well, they certainly should give you a certificate or a plaque or something. I'll talk to Bitty about that tomorrow," Emily replied.

"I can't wait to tell Tellman McCabe about this," Richard said.

"Oh, Richard," Emily sighed.

Richard continued, "Oh, he's always bragging about that simpleton grandson of his."

"William is a lovely boy," Emily said.

"His head is shaped like a football," Richard said.

Thea immediately of Arnold from Hey Arnold! which she used to watch when she was eleven-years-old.

"It is not," Emily said.

"If he fell asleep in the park, someone would try to punt him," Richard said.

Thea snickered at that.

"Tellman is a very dear friend of yours," Emily admonished.

"Yes, he is. And one should always share wonderful news with one's very good friends," Richard said.

"You just want to brag," Emily pointed out.

Richard replied, "Well, I think I have a right, don't you?"

"Well, goodness you'd think you were the one who finished in the top three percent of your class," Emily said.

"Well, it was my genes, I get to claim a little responsibility," Richard said.

Rory nudged Thea, who looked at her. Rory looked at Lorelai, who nodded.

Rory screamed, jumped up, and ran over to hug Lorelai. Thea stayed put, but she nodded at Lorelai.

"Oh!" exclaimed Richard.

"Goodness," Emily said, turning to look.

"I just spilled on my shirt." Richard looked at them, asked, "What are you doing? What are they doing, Emily?"

"I have no idea," Emily said. "Stop that you two!"

"Sorry," Lorelai said.

"Yeah, sorry," Rory said.

Emily asked, "What is going on?"

"Uh, I'm just really jazzed about this whole three percent thing," Lorelai lied.

"Yeah, really, really, jazzed," Rory added.

"So jazzed," Thea added.

"Yeah," Lorelai said. She hugged Rory and there was more excited screaming.

"Don't even try to understand, Richard," Emily told them. She yelled, "Antonia, please bring some club soda for Mr. Gilmore's shirt!"

"She said yes to the proposal," Thea told Liberty and Georgia.

Liberty snorted, "About that."

"And she couldn't even tell them that she got engaged," Thea added.

Georgia shook her head, "Once she's at the altar, she'll run away."

"Yeah, then she'll announce her deep feelings for my dad," Liberty said.

"Not," Thea told her. "She's in denial at the moment. She refuses to believe that he has feelings for her."

Georgia groaned, "It's like you, Aiden, and Sage all over again."

Sure, Thea denied that she had feelings for them both because they had entered 'just friends' territory, "At least we figured it out very quickly though."

"A few months to late though," Liberty added.

"She's not going to marry him," Thea said. "You can just tell."

"Well, if she does or doesn't, that's her decision," Georgia told Thea.

"I know that," Thea said. "I mean, I had a few conversations with him and suddenly he thinks he's step-dad material. He's just so boring."

Liberty started giggling, "Really?"

"I refuse to believe sex with him is interesting," Thea continued. "It's probably just missionary position and the occasional okay oral. When his jaw hurts, he probably whispers lines from Shakespear and when he climaxes, he probably screams lines from Proust. Fun."

Georgia gagged, "Gross, Thea. Why are you thinking about that?" She started laughing.

"It kind of is true, though," Liberty said. "I've seen him for a good few minutes but even I forgot what he looked like."

The next Friday, Lorelai, Rory, Thea, and Dean stood on the front porch of the Gilmore house.

Lorelai rang the doorbell and Emily answered it. She smiled, "Well, hello there!" She looked at Dean and didn't sound too happy, "Well, hello there."

Rory asked, "Grandma, you remember Dean, right?"

Emily looked like she wasn't happy to see him, "Yes, I do. Nice to see you again."

"Thanks," Dean started. "Uh, your house is great. It's huge. I've never seen a house this huge before."

Emily smiled, "Well, thank you. So few people bother to notice the hugeness of the house anymore."

"Mom, it was so nice of you to tell Rory to invite a friend tonight, seeing as this is her night. That was really nice of you," Lorelai said.

"It was my pleasure," replied Emily.

"Good," Lorelai said.

"Well, don't just stand there. We have a celebration to attend. Come in, come in," Emily said.

They walked into the living room and Thea sat on her spot on the couch.

Emily asked, "So, what would everyone like to drink?"

"Uh, well, I'll have a white wine and Dean'll have a beer," Lorelai said.

Dean exclaimed, "What?"

Lorelai joked, "Corona, right?"

"No, I don't want a beer! I don't drink beer. I'll have a water or soda or anything. Or nothing. Not beer. Never beer. Beer is...beer's bad," Dean said, fumbling over his words.

Emily obviously knew it was a joke, "Relax Dean, that's just Lorelai's little sense of humor." She passed a glass of wine to Lorelai, "You're very cruel."

"Well, yes, keeps me young," Lorelai said.

"I'm just going to sit here and stare at my hands," Dean said.

"That's what I do," Thea whispered to Dean.

Emily asked, "Soda, Dean?"

"Please," Dean replied.

Emily asked, "Rory?"

"Oh, I'll have a beer," Rory joked. Emily and Lorelai laughed. "I'm sorry, Dean, we're not laughing at you." Emily passed Thea, Dean, and Rory some drinks.

"Oh, wait, I think I was," Lorelai said, raising her hand.

"I think I was a little too," Emily added and Richard walked in. "Oh, Richard, there you are. Come join us."

"Hey, Dad," greeted Lorelai.

"Grandpa, hi," Rory said, looking at Richard. "This is Dean." To Dean, she said, "Dean, this is my Grandpa."

"Hi," Dean greeted, "Sorry, uh, hi." He got up to shake Richard's hand, who was currently holding a book.

"Hello," Richard greeted.

Dean was offering his hand, "It's uh...it's nice to meet..."

"Does everyone have drinks?" Richard interrupted, walking away from Dean. Dean whispered something to Lorelai and Thea looked at Rory, who looked awkward.

After awkward small talk, they went to the dining room, where Beefaroni was being served.

Thea didn't particularly like Beefaroni, like her mother and sister. It looked like Richard didn't know what to make of the Beefaroni either.

"Grandma, I can't believe you found the recipe for Beefaroni," Rory said.

"It wasn't easy," Emily said. "Antonia thought I'd gone insane."

Lorelai started, "Well..."

"No one needs a comment from you," Emily snapped at her.

Lorelai said, "No, I was just going to say, what's the secret?"

"Well, let's just say it's not beef," Emily said.

"Oh, okay, I'm done," Lorelai said.

"Me too," Rory started.

Thea actually agreed with them over the mysterious Beefaroni that had not-beef in it.

Emily asked, "Dean, would you like some more?"

"Uh, no, I'm fine, thanks," Dean said.

"Well, then, I guess it must be present time," Emily said. She got up to get something from the cabinet.

"You didn't have to," Rory stated.

"Oh, yeah, Mom, you didn't have too," Lorelai said. "Unless you got something that'll fit me too, in which, good going."

Emily ignored her and she handed Rory a wrapped box, "Here you go, Rory. Congratulations, we're so proud."

Rory smiled, "Thanks, Grandma." She looked at Richard, "Thanks, Grandpa."

"Now go on, open it," Emily urged.

Rory said, "Okay." She opened the box and Thea awkwardly crossed her arms and averted her gaze, looking at Richard, who was just staring at Dean.

Thea wanted to say something to Rory, but the questionable not-beef seemed to glue her jaw shut.

"Oh, pens," Lorelai said, "All yours."

"I think the top student deserved the top tools," Emily said proudly.

"Thank you so much," Rory stated, "Really."

"Uh, uh, well, pens are very nice, but I just bet there is a fabulous fancy dessert just sitting out there in that kitchen of yours," Lorelai said.

"As a matter of fact there is." Emily said, "Twinkies."

Lorelai asked, "What?"

"Well, Rory told me that was her favorite dessert," Emily stated.

"Emily Gilmore, you are one classy broad," Lorelai told her.

"Antonia, please bring out the Twinkies," Emily said.

"I can't believe I just heard you say those words," Lorelai said.

"Well, don't get used to it," Emily retorted.

Richard finally asked, "So, Dean, where are you planning to go to college?"

Dean seemed startled, "Oh, uh, well I..."

"Geez, Dad, start off with 'what's your favorite baseball team' or something," Lorelai stated.

"I don't know yet," Dean replied.

Richard asked, "You don't?"

"No, not yet," Dean said.

Richard asked, "Well, what kind of grades do you get?"

"Richard, please, don't grill the boy," Emily admonished him.

"I'm not grilling the boy, Emily. It's an easy question." Richard took on a nicer tone, "A's, B's, C's?"

"I get a mixture actually," Dean answered.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Thea said quickly, getting up. She left the dining room and went to the bathroom.

She closed and locked the door. She grabbed the countertop and forced herself to blink back tears.

It was Rory's night. She earned her position at Chilton. She was a month behind and somehow managed to claw her way to the top. It just sucked not having any accomplishments to make them throw a small dinner party with her favorite food and dessert.

If she did have something, they probably wouldn't be impressed because Rory had done it first. The only thing she had gotten was a spot on the Vegas Shoot for next year and apparently that wasn't worthy of celebrating; at least to the Gilmores. The Haydens were happy for her.

She rubbed her eyes, not caring that she smudged her eyeliner. She was just tired of the blatant favoritism of Rory. She didn't know why she was needed at these stupid Friday night dinners. She wasn't going to Chilton. She didn't have to be there. She skipped one dinner and Emily demanded for her to be there. Sometimes it just hurts being overlooked in favor of Rory.

She washed her hands and left the bathroom. She came back to the dining room.

"Rory," Dean started.

"You don't even know him," Rory told Richard.

"I know enough," Richard replied.

"No, you don't. Dean is incredible and he's special to me and I bring him here and you attack him," Rory snapped.

"I will not be spoken to like that in my house," Richard replied, glaring.

"Richard, here, give her the book," Emily said.

"This family has standards. You live up to them, and you should expect that everyone that you spend time with lives up to them also," Richard was speaking to Rory. "You are a gifted girl with immense promise and you should learn very early that certain people can hold you back."

"Grandpa, stop it! You cannot treat Dean this way," Rory told him.

Thea really felt like she had missed something.

"I'm sorry, excuse me, I have to work," Richard stated, before leaving the table.

"Grandpa!" Rory looked at Emily, "Thank you for the dinner and the gift, Grandma, but I really think we should be going." She put her napkin on the table before leaving.

"Thanks," Dean said. "Sorry." He followed after Rory.

Thea was still a little bewildered by what happened.

"Am I crazy?" Lorelai said, "That's supposed to be us, right?"

They went back home, the drive being an awkward silence.

As they got out of the jeep, Lorelai asked Dean, "Well, want to come in and have some dessert? You never did get your Twinkie."

"Uh, no thanks," Dean said. "I think I should get going."

Rory asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Dean replied.

"Okay, well, Dean, all I can say is that tonight, you officially became a Gilmore Girl." Lorelai asked, "Feels good, huh?"

Honestly, it didn't feel good not being good enough. That was something that Thea had learned at a young age.