Growing up Gilmore

A series of stories based on events in Rory's earlier years, as she grows up a Gilmore.

(Each chapter is a new story.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Sad, but true.

I also apologize in advance for any bit of history which is slightly out of whack. For example, I don't think the girls lived in that house till Rory was about 12, but for the purpose of the story they moved there when Rory was 6. Oh, and they also already have the jeep.

Part 1- Rudolph's nose is broken.

(Rory is 6)

12:00......12:00......12:00

12:01......12:01......12:01

12:02......12:02......12:02

Rory turned her back on the clock and tried determinedly to get to sleep. She closed her eyes and counted to 10. She breathed in, and out, slowly, 5 times.

Then she started on the sheep. Squeezing her eyes closed, she counted them. 1....2....3....4....she didn't really like sheep. They were smelly and followed you around. Once, one had snuck into Taylor's flower patch and chewed the heads off all his tulips. Then it had smelled something in Kirk's pocket and followed him around town all day. Kirk didn't even notice until he had stopped to cross the road and the sheep walked right into him, and started chewing on his pants.

It had been funny until the sheep realized Kirk only smelled like grass and instead turned its attention on Rory, who had been standing with her mom behind Kirk, and started chewing on her connect the dots book. Come to think of it, maybe it was a goat. Well whatever it was, Rory thought, I'm really not too fond of....

'BOOM'

'CRASH'

Rory stuck her head under the covers. It was impossible. She would never be able to sleep as long as the storm was going on outside. It sounded like the thunder was getting closer. She poked her head above the covers, just as lightening flashed and illuminated her room. She caught a glance of a recent photo of her mom and her, at her 6th birthday party, before she ducked back under the covers again, shaking.

'BOOM'

'CRASH'

The thunder was definitely closer this time. Rory tried to stay in her bed. Her mom knew she hated storms. Lorelai claimed she watched too many of those 'Natural Disaster' shows on television. However if Lorelai woke, realizing it was stormy outside, she would turn on her bedside lamp, and often Rory would crawl out of bed afraid, see the light under her moms door, and join her in bed. There, she would be able to sleep.

Most of the time, however, Lorelai didn't wake up. But Rory would just go in anyway. Her mom could sleep through pretty much anything. Rory wished she had her mom's ability to sleep so deeply.

Lightening flashed again, but still under the covers, eyes tightly closed, Rory didn't notice. She had to be a big girl. Only babies were scared of storms.

'BOOM'

'CRASH'

Rory was out of bed and up the stairs before the rumbling stopped. Approaching the landing, Rory could see there was no light under her mom's door tonight. Rory put her hand on the doorknob, ready to go in anyway. Her mom wouldn't mind. She never did.

Then she took her hand off the doorknob, and hesitantly crept back down the stairs. She was a big girl. Only babies were scared of storms. She tiptoed across the kitchen tiles to the sink, thirsty and reluctant to go back to her room. She reached into the cupboard for the nearest cup, and grinned. Her mom had put the Christmas mugs out. Momentarily forgetting about the storm as she thought about all the upcoming Christmas traditions she had to look forward too, she filled a mug shaped like Rudolph's face with water from the water bottle, and took a sip.

Water made her remember a show she'd seen once on television. A sailor had been steering his motorboat into the harbor, when lightening struck and destroyed the roof and windshield, leaving him with 1st degree burns.

There was another story where a woman had been washing her hands at the sink, and lightening came through the tap and electrocuted her.

Just then the lightening flashed again, lighting up the window and the garden. Rory screamed, and jumped as the mug crashed to the tiles. She crouched down, crying. Her favorite mug was in pieces on the floor, water spreading.

'BOOM

CRASH'

Rory cried harder, and crouched against the leg of the kitchen table, eyes tightly shut.

Lorelai woke to a scream. Her eyes instantly shot open.

'Rory?'

Something shattered in the kitchen downstairs, and Lorelai was out of bed and down the stairs before the heard the rain and realized there was a storm.

'Rory? Are you okay?'

She approached the kitchen, and saw pieces of mug on the tiles. Then she saw her daughter, crouched, shaking, against the table leg. Lorelai knelt down in front of her.

'Sweetie? It's okay. You're okay.'

Rory looked up, and a sudden flash of lightening lit up her tear-streaked face. She jumped at the flash and shot into her mother's arms, sobbing.

Lorelai picked her up, hugging her as tightly as she could, Rory's face buried in her shoulder.

'Its okay, baby. Mommy's here. You're okay.'

She carried her up the stairs, and into her room. Stroking her daughters back, she awkwardly climbed into bed, and lay down on her side. Rory lay facing her, fitted against her stomach and shoulder.

'Shhhhh. Its okay baby. Shhhhhh.'

Slowly, Rory's shoulders stopped shaking, and her breathing became even. Still stroking her daughters back, Lorelai relaxed into the pillow, her daughter sleeping comfortably in her arms.

'Mommy?'

Lorelai opened her eyed again.

'Sweetie?'

Rory closed her eyes, sleep beginning to overcome her.

'Rudolph's nose is broken.'

Lorelai smiled, and closed her eyes again, feeling herself drifting off to sleep like her daughter.

'Its okay, baby. We'll fix him tomorrow.' She murmured.

Neither noticed the storm, quietly retreating into the distance.