Disclaimer- I own nothing except the idea.
Get Back Up Again
Lorelai stood in the doorway of her house and gazed around the living room. The Christmas tree in the corner was lit up and casting a red and green glow around the room. There were two stockings hanging from the mantel on which a number of pictures sat. Lorelai's gaze finally rested on her 12-year old daughter, Rory, who was contentedly reading on the couch. She hadn't even heard the door open when Lorelai came in from the chilly air. Lorelai smiled at her daughter's concentration and obvious love of reading.
Today was Rory's last day of school for the upcoming winter break and Lorelai had planned a celebration of sorts for them. It wasn't really any different then the other movie nights they always had, but Lorelai was in a good mood and felt like celebrating. She had heard earlier that it might snow later, and she was excited. To the Gilmore Girls, snow was magical and something they always looked forward to.
"Hey, Sweets," Lorelai said to get her daughter's attention. Rory looked up at her mom and smiled.
"Hey, Mom. I didn't hear you come in."
"I noticed," Lorelai said with a smile.
"How was work today?" Rory marked her place in her book and gave her mother her full attention.
"Today was a good day," Lorelai said, stepping into the room. "Sookie didn't break anything and Michel didn't make anyone cry. I guess maybe he has a little holiday spirit after all. How was school?" she asked, slipping her shoes off and sitting down on the couch next to Rory. She placed the bag she had been carrying on the coffee table.
"Oh fine," Rory said. "Same old, same old." Rory loved school and she loved learning, but sometimes she didn't feel challenged. "What's in the bag?"
"Nothing much," Lorelai answered. "Just one of the best Christmas movies ever." She took the movie out of the bag and held up "A Christmas Story" for Rory to see. Rory's face lit up. She loved that movie!
"I also stopped at the pizza place on the way home and ordered us some dinner which should be arriving soon. All that's left to do now is get out the snacks, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy."
"I'll get the snacks," Rory said as she made her way to the kitchen.
Lorelai was right behind her, "I'll get the hot chocolate!"
The red and green lights from the Christmas tree were now joined with the glow of the TV as the movie played. There was half a pizza in its box on the table along with two empty glasses of hot chocolate on the table. The bag of leftover Halloween candy was on Lorelai's lap so they could get to it with little effort.
"You'll shoot your eye out, kid," Lorelai said along with the movie. "I wonder how many times they actually say that in the movie. Don't you think that would make an interesting study, to actually count the number of times the line 'You'll shoot your eye out' is spoken in "A Christmas Story." Rory just gave her mother a look of slight annoyance.
"What?" Lorelai asked innocently. "Inquiring minds want to know."
"Why don't you just watch it again and count how many times it is said and then you can tell the millions of people in the world who really want to know. You'll make history."
"Ooohh, sarcastic. Is that what you learn everyday in school?"
"Nope, I learned that here," Rory said.
"That's my girl," Lorelai said, her smile proud.
It was Rory's turn to quote now. "Oh fuuuu" Lorelai gave her a warning glance. "dddgggeee," Rory said one of the classic lines of the movie and just smiled at her mother.
When the movie ended, Lorelai went to clean up the kitchen and Rory went back to her book. She wanted to finish up the chapter she was on when her mom came in. She was able to grab another piece of candy before Lorelai put the bag away. She finished that chapter and a couple more while trying to fight the tired feeling that was washing over her. Despite the best efforts of all the sugar she ate, Rory was losing the battle to stay awake. She put her head down on a pillow where she was laying on the couch and continued the read.
Lorelai watched in amusement from the hallway leading from kitchen as Rory tried to suppress another yawn. When she was little, Rory always fought sleep. She was so afraid she was going to miss something. Lorelai knew how smart Rory was and how grown-up she could act, but she also knew that Rory was still just a little girl in so many ways. And at the moment, she was a tired little girl who needed to be put to bed.
"Rory," Lorelai said as she walked into the living room.
"Yeah, Mom?" Rory's head shot up to look at her mother. She looked for all the world like someone who had been caught sleeping in school.
"You need to be getting to bed now." Rory sighed as she marked her place in her book. "Come on now," Lorelai said as she walked over to her daughter. "We've got to go to your grandmother's annual Christmas party tomorrow and we want to look our best, don't we?" Lorelai said, her tone filled with sarcasm. The Christmas party was one of the few times during the year that Lorelai and Rory saw Lorelai's parents.
"Okay, goodnight," Rory said as her mother kissed her on the cheek.
"'Night, Hon."