The Gilmore Years

A series of stories based on actual references made in Gilmore Girls about Rory's childhood.

Disclaimer: I own nothing worth mentioning, including the Gilmore Girls and all that the show encompasses.

I also apologize in advance for any bit of history which is slightly wrong. This includes when they moved in to the house, when they got the jeep, etc. It's just easier this way!

Note: If you know of any references I have missed let me know and I'll see if I can shape a story

Part 1- Attack of the Dancing Vegetables.

Based on the reference Rory makes in 2.21 'Lorelai's Graduation day' when she is at her Grandparents without Lorelai and talks about being a vegetable in her kindergarten pageant that she didn't tell Lorelai about.

(Rory is 5)

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'…And left, 2, 3, 4 and right, 2, 3, 4 and RIGHT Marcia! No that's left! RIGHT! Okay from the top ladies.'

Rory sighed and ceased peaking through the side curtains at the kids on stage. She went to sit down next to Lane, but her broccoli suit refused to bend.

'Lane? Can you help me out here.'

'I'm not Lane.' The carrot opposite her said. 'She's over there, with Amanda.'

Rory turned to look, her broccoli head partially obscuring her view.

'What's Amanda?'

'A turnip.'

Rory wandered over, slightly unbalanced.

'Oh my gosh, Lane, these costumes are awful.'

'I know. I think I'm allergic to mine. And it's beginning to smell a little like goats cheese.'

Rory wrinkled her nose.

'How many more rehearsals before we perform this thing?'

'And destroy our costumes and throw a party? Just one.'

'Too bad we can't really destroy them, since the school owns them.'

'Yeah but just think. We get to laugh at the kindergartners wearing them next year.'

Rory laughed.

'Good Point. C'mon, Miss Wheelers calling the vegetables for the tap dance.'

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'Rory! Hurry up. This food isn't going to eat itself.'

'Well if it doesn't you probably will.'

'True. All the more reason for you to get a move on!'

'Coming!' Rory hurried out of her room in her pajamas and carrying a blanket. She took a running leap on the couch, landing partially on top of her mother.

'Ooof! What has your mother been feeding you? Oh wait, this.' Lorelai laughed as she gestured at the pizza, fries, garlic bread and sodas in front of them.'

'So what video did you get?'

'Ahhh. That my friend is a surprise.'

'Mom. It's not 'Garfield Goes Hollywood' again is it? That movie just isn't funny anymore.'

'Hey. That movie is still funny. He's a fat cat. You can't get much funnier than that. AND it rhymes! Fat. Cat. That's some funny stuff right there. '

Rory sighed and crossed her arms mockingly.

Lorelai gave her a poke. 'Fine, no, it's not Garfield again.'

She whipped out the video she had been hiding behind her back and waved it in her daughters face.

'Poor guy just can't catch a break.' She muttered.

Rory grabbed the video off her mother and grinned. 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!'

Lorelai grinned and took the cassette off Rory to pop it in the VCR. The two snuggled up under Rory's blanket and settled back to watch the movie.

'Oh Rory- by the way. I'm really sorry babe but I'm going to be at Inn for most of the weekend sorting out the Sheffield wedding, so Babette said she'll keep an eye on you. And you can come and man the Guestbook at the wedding on Sunday if you like. I promise you we'll have a big girl's day out next weekend, okay?'

She kissed the top of Rory's head and put her arm around her. Rory nodded, pretending not to care. The play was Saturday night. She didn't want her mom to feel like she had to come. She'd be really tired from being at the Inn all day. Maybe she just shouldn't tell her. Then her mom wouldn't have to feel bad about being too tired to come.

She took a handful of fries and laid her head on her mom's shoulder.

Who wanted to watch a bunch of dancing vegetables anyway?

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'One, two, three and turn and one two three and…drat! One, two, three and turn and one, two…OW!'

'Rory? You alright sugar?' Babette hurried out onto her porch to find Rory leaning against the railing, holding one foot.

'Fine, thanks Babette. I just stubbed my toe.'

'You've been out here practicing that dance for hours! Miss Patty got you working to hard?'

'Well, actually…'

Rory started to explain about the pageant, then stopped.

'No, it's just taking me a little longer than the others to pick it up.' She finished lamely.

Babette smiled. 'You got the work ethic of a professional, kid. I got lunch on the table when you're ready.'

'Thanks Babette. I'll just be a minute.'

Rory continued her practicing, wondering why on earth she had picked broccoli as her vegetable of choice.

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The auditorium was already packed with people when Lane and Rory arrived.

'Lane! I told you. We should have left earlier. Early people get good seats!'

Lane's mom, who had walked them there, sighed and left to find a seat. Rory and Lane went in the side entrance to collect their costumes.

'How come you're mom's not coming?' Lanes asked, rummaging through a box to find her orange tights.

'Oh, she had to stay late at the Inn.' Rory mumbled, crossing her fingers behind her back. She knew perfectly well her mom was at home tonight, under the impression Rory was at Lane's.

'That's too bad. Do these look orange or yellow to you?' Lane asked, squinting under the dim lights.

Rory looked up.

'Yellow. I think. Try the other box.'

Rory pulled on her own green tights, every minute wishing more and more than her mom was in the audience.

'Broccolis! Carrots! Radishes! Potatoes! And Turnips! 15 minute call, your costumes should be on! Billy…that Radish suit goes the other way…the OTHER way! Claire…since when did Potatoes have orange legs?'

Lane looked up. 'My tights!'

As Lane and Claire began a rapid tight swap, Rory sneaked down the staircase to the side door. From there she could spot almost all of Star's Hollow. She could see Miss Patty, and Mrs. Kim, and Babette trying to convince Morey to take off his sunglasses. But she couldn't see her mom. She felt a tear run down her cheek, and she tried to wipe it away, but the broccoli suit was in the way. Suddenly she had an intense hate for broccoli.

'Rory! C'mon ! We have to line up backstage.' Lane tugged on her suit, and Rory turned to follow her back up the stairs.

'5 Minute call for the vegetables!'

Rory felt herself being shunted among the various vegetables jostling each other for their place in the line. Rory took her place near the back with the other Broccoli. Everyone shuffled around impatiently, coughing, whispering and being shushed by the teachers, which only made the whispering louder. Eventually the breads in front of them finished their item, and Rory followed the others to take her place on stage. She stared dejectedly at the velvet curtain, silently bargaining for it to stay shut long enough for her mom to realize there was practically no one left in star's hollow, and come looking for the townsfolk and Rory. But the traitorous curtain opened, and Rory squinted under the lights, waiting for the music to start.

And then, she spotted her mom, standing way at the back. She wouldn't even have been able to spot her out if it wasn't for the bright pink coat Lorelai was wearing. Her mom was here. Her mom had come. It didn't matter how, or why. She was here.

Rory felt her face spread into a wide grin, and the music begun. She mucked up the same turn she always did, but she was too happy to notice. Besides, most of the vegetables were just as bad dancers as she was.

After the dance was over Rory followed the other Broccolis back to the dressing room, where she triumphantly shed her costume and tights. She didn't even feel the same hatred for broccoli she had felt before.

'Wasn't that awesome!' Lane was exclaiming as she changed back into her street clothes. 'Did you see Laurence trip? It took two potatoes to pull him up again! And your turn, Rory! What was that?'

Rory laughed.

'I don't know, but I ended up facing the wall when everyone else was facing the front!'

They both laughed again as they collected their things and made their way downstairs to the audience.

Lane went off with her mother after making sure Rory was alright getting home. Rory searched through the parents, getting more worried as the number of people in the hall decreased. Had she been imagining things? Was it not her mother after all? She was going to have to walk home in the dark by herself, and worse, her mom hadn't come after all. Close to tears, she turned towards the exit.

'Rory!'

She wheeled around and ran towards the voice. Lorelai knelt down and hugged her daughter tightly.

'Nice costume, kid. You should have kept the tights-they looked great on you.' Lorelai joked. Rory just hugged her mother tighter.

'Hey, baby?' Lorelai turned Rory around so she could see her face. 'What's the matter? I was just kidding. You looked great out there.'

Rory sniffled, suddenly tired.

'Can we go home?'

Lorelai looked concerned. 'Sure, sweets, whatever you want. You look exhausted, poor thing.'

She picked Rory up and carried her to the car, where Rory promptly fell asleep as Lorelai drove home. She carried her daughter inside, trying not to wake her as she tucked her up in bed.

'Mommy?' Her voice was barely audible.

'Yes, sweets?'

'I love you.'

Lorelai kissed her daughters cheek.

'I love you to, Kid.' She whispered as she tiptoed out of the room.

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Rory watched as the man pulled the book towards him, signing his name with a flourish. He looked at Rory, then away, and then looked at her again. He lent forward as if letting her in on a government conspiracy.

'You know.' He whispered. 'I don't even like these people.'

Rory wrinkled her nose. He had bad breath.

'Is there a problem, Sir?' Lorelai asked sharply, hurrying over as she saw Rory's discomfort.

He started to say something, then stopped.

'No Ma'm.' He grimaced, and left.

Lorelai sat next down next to Rory.

'You know the last time I was called Ma'm was like…well, never.'

Rory remained silent.

'So, kid. You want to tell me why you didn't mention yesterday's little show?'

'How did you know I was there?'

'I rang you at Lanes to see if you wanted to go into Hartford tomorrow for some shopping. Lane's dad answered and told me that you were all at the school show-and that if I didn't hurry I was going to miss it.'

Rory bit her lip and looked away.

'I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just figured…you wouldn't want to come. I knew you'd be tired from being at the Inn all day, and I didn't want you to feel guilty that you couldn't come.'

Lorelai pulled Rory onto her lap and held her daughters face with both hands.

'Sweetie, I would watch your school recite the alphabet backwards, if you were a part of it. I don't want you to feel like you come second to my work, okay? Ever. Because you don't, you come first. You will always come first.'

She kissed Rory twice, three times.

'Do you hear me, kiddo?'

Rory smiled.

'I hear you. I'm glad you came, mom. I was pretty upset when I thought you weren't there.'

Lorelai tickled her.

'How could I miss it? I mean dancing vegetables, come on! That beats Garfield anytime.'

The pair were still laughing when the strange man came back to ask directions for the quickest route out of town.

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