Chapter Two: Old Friends
Disclaimer:I don't own the Gilmore Girls or any of the characters. I do, however, own the little kids, new characters, and situations.
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When Rory was polishing off her second cup of coffee, someone spun her around. Two mischevious eyes gleamed at her before she was swallowed up into a kiss so passionate it took her breath away.
"Get a room." Chris muttered as he walked by.
"We've got one!" Jess yelled back.
A little voice at his side asked sleepily, " Got one what?"
Jess squatted so he was eye-to-eye with six-year-old Laura and replied "One beautiful daughter" before kissing her on the nose.
Laura giggled. "You're silly Daddy."
Rory laughed too, before playfully scolding. "Lorelai Leigh Gilmore Mariano! You march upstairs and get dressed this instant!"
"Nonsense!" Miss Patty exclaimed from her nearby table. "I think she looks adorable. I just love Barbie pajamas!"
"What do you say, Laura?" Rory prompted.
"Thank you, Miss Patty," Laura chorused.
"You're very welcome, dear. Now do what your mother told you and go change."
"Okay!" Laura ran up the stairs.
"Thank you," Rory said.
"Oh, it was nothing, dear. Now sit down and tell me what's going on with that darling Lane!"
Rory obliged. "Well, her husband just started his own medical practice. It's just him and his partner." Miss Patty nodded. That much she knew. "And," Rory continued, "Her oldest daughter is getting married.
"Really?" Miss Patty asked, intrigued. Maybe something juicy. But little Laura stopped Rory from going any further.
"Like this, Mommy?" Laura asked holding out the red and yellow dress she wore over her green leggings.
"No, not quite, sweetie. Miss Patty, will you excuse me?"
"Of course."
"Thank you. Now, sweetie, why don't I come up with you and help you get dressed and you can help me wake up Luke."
"Okay!"
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"I don't wanna get up." 12-year-old Luke's voice was muffled by his pillows.
"Yeah, well, you have to." Rory pulled the pillows and sheets off the bed, opened the blinds and turned on the light. When that didn't work, she said, "Go ahead Laura."
Laura jumped. Luke oofed. Laura jumped again. Luke oofed again.
"Okay, Laura, that's enough," Rory said, pulling Laura off her brother. "Please go get dressed in that pretty blue dress. Wear blue socks and your white tennis shoes. Go!" Laura ran off.
"I don't wanna get up."
"Boy, are you grumpy. You sound just like Luke."
Luke sat up. "I am Luke."
"I know that. What I meant was, you sound just like big Luke."
"I sound like Grandpa Luke?"
"Yes. Now get up, get dressed, eat your healthy breakfast, and I want to see you downstairs ready to go in half an hour."
"Okay." It was reluctant, but it would do.
"Laura," Rory started to the girl at her knee,"you want to go get some pancakes?"
"Yeah!"
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Ten minutes later Rory had somehow managed to seat both Laura and Chris at a table with food. By cutting up Laura's pancakes Rory had succeeded in getting at least one of her children munching away happily. Chris complained that it was the morning rush and that he should be taking orders and helping out in the kitchen. Rory looked around at the very few people in the diner and said that she'd take care of it. As she walked away she pointed to the pancakes in front of Chris."Eat!"
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The door opened and automatically Chris and Rory looked up to see the new customer. Chris glanced at the middle-aged Korean woman and turned back to his breakfast. His mother, however, shrieked.
"Lane!" Rory ran over to her and threw her arms around her old friend.
"Hi,Rory."
"Lane, how are you?"
"I'm doing fine, just like Monday when I talked to you."
"Oh, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"Because I wanted it to be a surprise. And, it is!" Lane laughed.
"I guess you're here for the reunion."
"Yeah. I kinda dread thinking about my teenage years, but it was an excuse to see you."
"Awwwww. I bet you don't like the cold, though."
"I guess I have gotten used to the warm Florida winters. But I wouldn't mind a white Christmas now and then."
"Well, then you should bring your kids to see us! We're always going down there."
"Yeah, sure. We'll have to set it up."
"By the way, how are your kids?"
"Oh, they're great. How are yours?"
"They're fine. I need to get them bundled up and ready to go. Be right back." Rory took Laura's hand and led her up the stairs. Chris was off taking orders somewhere. Rory let it pass.
Lane sat on a stool and looked over the diner. She hardly recognized anyone. She hadn't been to Stars Hollow for fourteen years, but she'd been corresponding with Rory, so she knew the stories, just not the faces. She thought she recognized someone from the back and went over to him.