Stop! This is Part two of an already ongoing story. If you haven't read the first part, go read that first. Otherwise, you can continue.

Disclaimer: This story follows the series!

Chapter 1

Once again, the school year was wrapped up and Shelby had to say good-bye to another teacher and set of classmates. This time, though, it was harder to do so since this was the first year she had a favorite teacher and was well liked by her classmates despite having the scariest dad in all of second grade. Something of which Rachel found amusing when she found out.

On the last day of school, Shelby and the boys stopped by the diner for an afterschool snack with their shirts written on all over with everyone's autograph.

Luke did not understand why the kids had writing all over their shirts. "Shell, why did you let your class write all over you?"

She shrugged. "It was fun." On the bright side, Shelby was really coming along on her ending T struggle. Ever since Jess had successfully gotten her to say the words on their own, Miss Kelly had continued to work with her getting them down in complete sentences. Though, some days were harder than others just because of Shelby not feeling up to practicing, on the count of everything that had happened. Despite all of that, because of her cousin's coaching, Shelby was still able to almost master the ending T, only occasionally slipping up.

Luke still wasn't set on having one of her shirts written on, but didn't push it. Instead, he made sure to let her know the shirt wouldn't be able to be washed, otherwise, her class' autographs would be washed off.

"I's okay," she shrugged it off. "The shir's kind of ge'ting small anyway."

Her optimism put a smile on his face. "What would you three like for your snack?" he asked the kids.

"Actually, we were wondering if we could get our snack from next door," Ethan was the one to ask, pointing towards Taylor's new store.

The smile quickly vanished though tried to hide his displeasure, considering kids didn't care who was distributing it if ice cream was involved. "Sure," he told them.

They cheered before rushing back outside, knowing Shelby had money in her wallet. The only reason they probably stopped there first was because Luke preferred Shelby checked in before going anywhere else after school.

Rachel had requested if she could pick Shelby up on her last day but that was when Luke informed her, Shelby wasn't getting picked up from school anymore unless there was an appointment or something they had to go to right afterwards. He also told her that Shelby was now going off, on her own now, either by herself or with her friends, and was even riding her bike to the Independence Inn to help out. Though, the last few months, Shelby had to help out without any compensation since the inn caught fire and Lorelai had to lay off most of the employees. The kid didn't mind, of course, happy to be of help and wanted to still wanted to help out when the Dragonfly finally opened.

Letting Shelby decide when she wanted to finally see her mom, they decided on the Saturday after school was out for the summer, wanting her dad there. Lorelai and Rory had already left for their Europe trip and Jess was still gone. To Luke's surprise, Jess did call, out of the blue, but he only said enough to ask for Shelby.

A part of him wanted to go downstairs and pick up the phone to listen in. Luke figured he was already in hot water enough that it probably would add fuel to the fire, so he chose not to. He did try to ask how Jess was doing which all Shelby said was that he was doing okay. Luke was just glad Jess was keeping his word and keeping in contact with his cousin this time.

Rachel showed up at the diner, late in the morning, between rushes when the diner only had a few customers.

Informing Caesar he was going upstairs, Luke took her up.

"Is it me or does Caesar look different?" Rachel pointed out as they climbed the stairs.

"Uh, that's actually a new Caesar. The old one had to move home to help care for his mother," he explained.

She gave him a confused look. "You hired another cook with the same name?"

"It just worked out that way by coincidence," he shrugged as they reached the top. Luke and Rachel headed inside where Shelby was inside, playing her GameCube. Since Lorelai, Rory, and Shelby would be all out of town during her birthday, Lorelai wanted to get Shelby a new game, and also had to reassure her, it was okay since she had been been there when Rory found out about the financial aid for Yale falling through and Lorelai lost her job due to Mia having to sell the Independence Inn. Shelby had told them she would have been satisfied with a gumball for her birthday.

"Now she tells us," Lorelai had said before admitting she was only teasing and assured it was just fine, that she had plenty saved for quite a while.

"Hey, kiddo. Look who it is," Luke announced when they came through the door of the apartment.

The kid peeled her eyes away from her new Legend of Zelda game to look over at the adults coming in.

Rachel took a few more steps closer than Luke did. "Hey, Peanut," she greeted. "I've missed ya."

Shelby looked down at her wireless controller to press the start button to pause her game, bringing up the items menu. She then set it on the coffee table before standing to her feet, and slowly made her way around. Her eyes never left her mother.

"Wow," Rachel said in amazement, "you've grown in the last year, Peanut."

"I'm seven now. Almos' eight."

She smiled. "I know. You're growing up so fast, I can't believe it."

Shelby didn't say anything that time.

There was some awkward silence until Rachel broke it, trying to make small talk. "How have you been?"

"Good," Shelby replied. "I jus' finished the second grade."

"I heard. Did you have anymore school concerts like you did in first grade?"

"I had one righ' before Chris'mas," she replied.

Back and forth, the two would make small talk as Luke volleyed his eyes between mother and daughter. He could see Shelby holding onto the bottom hem of her Celtics jersey. Her own eyes kept dropping towards the floor even when Shelby would lift them up towards her mother again.

"Your dad says you love basketball now," Rachel pointed out. "How's that going?"

"Good," she replied. Luke could tell how nervous the kid was by the short answers. "I broke my arm during a game and had to have surgery to put pins in my elbow so it could heal."

"Ouch," she replied in sympathy. "I broke my arm when I was a kid, too, jumping off the roof."

That puzzled look of Shelby's appeared on her face. "Why would you jump off your roof for?"

"Well, when you're four years old and have an older brother, stuff like that happens. Your uncle told me I could fly like Mary Poppins if I jump off with an umbrella." Rachel laughed at that.

Shelby did not. "The only thing Jess told me was that he could punch me to help my tooth fall out. He didn' though," she shook her head.

"That's good to hear." More silence followed.

This time, it was Shelby who finally broke it. "Want to meet Gexie?"

"Sure."

Shelby headed over to her side of the apartment, motioning for Rachel to follow. Luke watched them until he decided to head over to the kitchen area to tend to the dishes that were left in the sink.

"This is mine and Jess' room," he heard Shelby say. "Dad got us bunk beds."

"It looks nice. I never got to see the place once it was done," Rachel replied.

"I like it," she said. "I sleep up top." The bed creaked, letting Luke know Shelby had climbed up there and then it sounded like she climbed back down. "This is my newes' 'tuffed animal, Charizard. He's my favorite Pokemon."

"Still like dragons, I see," Rachel commented, harmlessly teasing her.

"Charizard isn' a dragon type," Shelby corrected. "He's a fire-flying type."

"Oh. He looks like a dragon, though."

"He's not."

"I'm just saying…"

"He's not, okay!" Shelby suddenly snapped, taking even Luke by surprise.

Drying his hands on a dish towel, Luke walked over to see around the wall divider. "Shell, you okay?" She was holding Charizard in her arms, staring at it.

She looked up at him to reply, "Yeah, I'm okay, Dad."

"You sure?" He felt he had to double check which she nodded. Luke then went back to washing the dishes. The bed creaked a couple more times. Luke looked behind him to see Shelby heading over to Gexie's tank, not holding Charizard anymore, and lifted a corner of the lid to place her hand inside. It was one of the rare moments the little leopard gecko was awake during the day. She moved into the kid's waiting hand and allowed Shelby to lift her out.

Now using two hands to make sure Gexie didn't fall, Shelby introduced the little critter. "This is Gexie."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rachel kneel to the kid's level. "Hey there, Gexie. It's nice to meet you." She asked for permission to pet her.

"You have to be very gentle and only use one finger," Shelby explained. "And you have to wash your hands afterwards because leopard geckos have a slimy film that can make you sick."

Rachel smiled at her daughter's knowledge of her pet leopard gecko. "Okay," she agreed. Like Shelby had told her to do, Rachel reached over to pet Gexie, using only her finger. Being skittish, Gexie scurried up the kid's arm away from the newcomer.

"Gexie is shy like me," Shelby told her mom, holding a hand up, protectively, making sure Gexie didn't fall off her arm. "I's okay, Gexie. I's just my mom. No need to be afraid." Luke couldn't help smile at his daughter trying to reassure her leopard gecko. "It takes time before Gexie will be okay with you. It took a long time for her to like Jess, too. It also took time for Jess to like Gexie so tha's probably why. Lor-lai isn' allowed to gecko sit if Dad and I ever go camping."

"Why is that, Peanut?"

Shelby retold the hamster story Luke had told her, making sure to include the turtle.

"I'm sure Lorelai isn't that bad with pets. Small caged pets are harder to care for than cats and dogs are. Maybe one day she could get a dog or something. I can see her as a dog owner more than anything."

Shelby didn't respond for a moment. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw she was watching Gexie.

After a minute or so, Rachel told her, "So, listen. I have a very special friend I'd like you to meet, too. He's really nice and would love to meet you."

Shelby looked up. "You mean a boyfriend?" she asked, knowing what special friend really means.

"Well, yes, actually. Would you like to meet him?"

Luke didn't hear her respond but when he looked back over his shoulder again, he saw her shoulder go back down as if she had shrugged. Finishing the last dish, Luke set it in the other sink and let the soapy water out of the one he was washing the dishes in. He dried his hands off on the same dish towel as he made his way over.

"Rachel," he got her attention. "Maybe hold off on introducing Shelby for the time being."

"I was just asking, Luke," she assured him. "I wasn't going to force her." Rachel turned back to Shelby. "I told him about how it's hard for you to speak to new people, Peanut. So he won't expect you to, right away."

Shelby was watching Gexie again, petting her head with the side of her finger.

Luke gave his little buddy a few minutes to answer before answering for her. "Maybe wait until Shelby comes home from her trip," he suggested and made sure to check with her. "That sound good, kiddo?" He saw her head nod without lifting from Gexie.

"Okay, Peanut. We can wait until after you get back from your trip," Rachel willingly accepted. "I'm just glad to be able to see you." She reached out to rub the little girl's upper arm. Shelby still did not look up. "I still love you, Peanut. That never changed, I promised."

"I'm sorry I told you I hated you," Shelby finally uttered.

"That really hurt to hear," she said, making Luke let out a quiet sigh under his breath. "I was only looking out for you, Peanut."

Shelby continued petting her little friend instead of responding.

"I know now you didn't mean it and I'm glad to be able to see you again. I really have missed you, and I thought of you every single day. Your aunt Rebecca has kept me up to date about what's been going on the past year and I hear my family been spoiling you, rotten." Rachel tried to laugh a little to help lighten things, making a playful grab at her side.

Shelby finally moved to place Gexie back in her tank, who wandered inside her warm hide to go back to sleep. "I have to go wash my hands," she informed her mother, holding up both her hands.

Rachel nodded before the little girl headed for the bathroom. She rose to her feet, pulling out a small container of hand sanitizer, squeezing some into her palm. Interlinking her arms in front of her, Rachel watched the floor as she stepped a bit closer to Luke.

"Guess we're starting over, huh?" she said, softly.

"Looks like it."

Rachel made small talk with Luke, as well. "Since I can be in her life again, I was thinking of reopening my studio."

"Sounds good," he quickly shrugged.

"Kirk find another job just fine? I kind of walked out of him too without an explanation."

"Trust me, Kirk's had many jobs since you left," Luke assured her.

"That's good," she nodded. "He was a pretty good assistant and a hard worker. I would have gladly been a reference for him."

"I'm sure he would have liked that." He looked up in time to see Shelby had emerged from the bathroom, and headed straight for where she left her wireless controller, picking it up and pressed start to resume her game. "Shell, you still have a guest."

Shelby made to press start once again until Rachel spoke up.

"That's okay." She walked over to where Shelby was sitting on the edge of the couch. "Mind if I watch, Peanut?"

Shelby shook her head and continued playing.

Rachel sat down on the end of the couch to watch. "You got a new game, I see." She tried to smile for her.

"Lor-lai got it for me for my birthday since we both wouldn't be here for it," she explained.

"They got the system or the game?"

"The game. Everyone got me the GameCube for Chris'mas."

"Oh, I see," Rachel nodded, watching the TV screen. "It kind of looks like the one the boys gave you."

Shelby didn't respond that time. Since it was a game her and Jess would play together, Shelby didn't want to play that particular Legend of Zelda game anymore, or at least not at the moment. She tried but shortly after starting up the game and playing around for a minute or two, Shelby had to turn the game off. She did admit she was happy to have this new game and the sequel to the other one that she also had gotten from her cousins. The Legend of Zelda series was slowly becoming her third favorite video game series after Pokemon and the Super Mario Bros. It was very clear that Luke was raising a gamer kid. He, himself, had spent a good amount of time in the town's arcade as a teenager so it wasn't really much of a surprise.

Leaving the girls alone, Luke headed back to finish the dishes. He couldn't help snicker to himself when Rachel had commented on the absence of the cord on her controller just as Lorelai had.

Rachel stayed for another hour before Luke had to head back downstairs for the lunch rush.

Shelby saved and turned her game off, letting her dad know she wanted to work her hours for the day. They walked Rachel downstairs, who ordered a coffee to go. She tried asking for a hug good-bye but Shelby wasn't up for it quite yet. Instead, they just exchanged waves as Rachel told her, she would see her later.

There was another week before Shelby had to leave for her trip to Florida. Luke made sure to help get her all packed and ready, picking up whatever she needed from the store while preparing for his own trip. Shelby wanted to bring some of her own money with her in case she wanted to spend it on either herself or to bring back souvenirs. Her, Lorelai, and Rory had promised each other to get each other something on each of their trips. So Luke ended up requesting an extra bank card for Ron or Cheryl to hold onto. By this point, they were close enough friends to them, he felt he could trust them with something like that.

When the day had finally arrived Luke would have to say good-bye to his little buddy, he couldn't help get a little choked up and protective, going off on a rant on the dos and don'ts of being in a different state and being a guest in somebody else's house. All Shelby could get in was, "I will, Dad."

Thankfully, Ron came to the kid's rescue, reassuring Shelby would be well taken care of and stated he didn't see Shelby even being a naughty child for them or his parents.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, he smiled down at his little buddy. Kneeling to her level, Luke squeezed her tight and kissed the side of her head. "Love ya, kiddo," he told her.

"Love you too, Dad," she replied, squeezing him in return.

Pulling back to look at her, he said, "Call me when you get there, okay?"

"I will."

Squeezing her one last time and holding a really long kiss to her head, this time, Luke pulled himself away to let Shelby climb into the family's minivan, next to where Alan was sitting on the front bench, fastening her seat belt.

He waved just as Cheryl pulled the side door closed which Shelby waved back. Luke watched them as Ron pulled away from the curb and headed for the airport. Even though it was the second trip Shelby was taking without him, it still did not make things any easier.

It wasn't until later that night when Luke was closing up, Shelby was able to call and check in, letting him know she had gotten there, safe. She couldn't stay on for long because Ron's parents were taking them all out to dinner, but Shelby filled him in on how the plane trip was and her first impressions of Ron's parents. Glad she was doing well so far, Luke and Shelby hung up reminding each other they loved the other.

Even though he was known as a loner kind of guy, it surprisingly was difficult being alone in the apartment for the first time in two years. Thankfully, Luke only had to do it for another few days before him and Nicole left on their trip.

"You okay?" Nicole asked once they were on the road.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine," he lied. The whole thing made him nervous to the core, and the separation from his kid wasn't helping matters much.

"You miss Shelby, don't you?" She gave him a knowing smirk, holding her arms folded in front of her.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Just a little," Nicole teased with a slight nod.

The lighthearted humor did help him relax a little.

"I'm not a parent, myself, or anything, but I'm sure she'll be okay," she reassured him. "Shelby is a tough little girl."

He nodded over at at her. "I know." It didn't keep him from worrying.

On the road trip leading up to the cruise, Luke called either Ron or Cheryl to check in and talk with his little buddy once a day, who seemed to be having the best time of her life. They had already gotten to shoot the paintball guns which Shelby was very proud of herself for hitting one empty soda can.

Luke talked and listened through the hotel room's speaker phone so Nicole could be a part of the conversation a couple times. Shelby was happy to share her tales of adventure with both of them. But once Luke and Nicole got aboard the cruise ship, the calls had to be put on hold since there wasn't any phones on the boat.

The cruise was supposed to be a getaway for couples from life's stresses. Unfortunately, not having access to a phone to talk to his little buddy only produced more stress. That, doubled with the lousy shows they went to, Luke couldn't help chug down beer after beer. With all the other guests around them, celebrating anniversaries and saying how much they loved each other, Luke couldn't help but look over and let it out. It was pretty much a blur but he vaguely remembered asking Nicole if she wanted to get married.

Both of them had been drinking so it was a blur for Nicole, too. But they remembered her saying yes which Luke added the suggestion of getting it over with there on the ship. The whole night felt like someone was constantly fast-forwarding everything. The next thing he knew, they were standing in front of the ship's captain, getting married.

The next morning, Luke woke up, immediately clutching a hand to his forehead. Man, hangovers had to be the worst.

Nicole stirred beside him.

Once the couple was able to fully wake and realize where they were and what they did, they stared at each other in utter regret.

What the hell had they done?! Luke couldn't help yell inside of his head.