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First Steps

Rory clapped her hands together, reaching for the spoon in Lorelai's hands. "You want more?" Lorelai spooned more of the applesauce into Rory's mouth and Rory grinned, causing some of the applesauce to slide down her chin. Lorelai laughed and wiped it away.

"Lorelai," Emily said from the end of the table.

Rory let out a impatient whimper and reached for the spoon.

"Your father and I are going out tonight."

Rory grunted as she snatched the spoon from Lorelai then let out a triumphant giggle.

"I'll ask Rachel to stay with you."

"I think I'm old enough to stay home alone, mom," Lorelai said, her voice edge with annoyance.

"I meant to help you take care of Rory," Emily said evenly, watching as Rory messily spooned the applesauce into her mouth which seemed to go unnoticed by Lorelai.

Lorelai let out an annoyed sigh, "I can take care of my kid on my own mom."

"Lorelai-" her mom started equally annoyed.

Suddenly Lorelai felt something wet hit her check and begin to drip down her chin. She turned to a giggling Rory and grinned. She dipped her finger into the applesauce and smeared it on Rory's nose. Rory laughed loudly, hitting the highchair tray with her spoon.

"Lorelai, please don't encourage her," Emily said, the exhaustion of dealing with Lorelai's ways of parenting obvious in her voice. Ever since Rory was born Lorelai had done little to discipline her, despite Emily's constant reminders that if Lorelai didn't control her daughter now she wouldn't be able to as she got older.

"Mom would you please just let me take care of my kid how I want to."

"You need to discipline her," Emily told her, "You have to start being more responsible with her."

"Mom I've got it covered." Lorelai wiped the applesauce off of her face then off of Rory's, ignoring her mother's tirade.

"For the past year you've been dealing with Rory as if you were her babysitter. You have to start disciplining her Lorelai, nobody else is going to do it for you," Emily said as Lorelai lifted Rory from her high chair, "You have to let her know who's in charge."

Lorelai looked at Rory and rolled her eyes as they headed upstairs. She refused to bring Rory up the same way she had been. No matter what she was going to make sure that Rory didn't turn out like her. Rory would finish high school and go to a college that would let her do anything she wanted with her life.

Lorelai set the duffle bag on her bed and began pulling clothes off of hangers and out of drawers and stuffing them in to the bag. Rory watched quietly from her crib. Lorelai pulled the stiff, lacy white dress Emily had insisted on buying Rory, "We don't need this do we?" she asked Rory before putting it back in the closet.

She grabbed Rory's diaper bag and began stuffing it full of diapers. Ever since Rory was born her mom had been trying to turn her granddaughter into to the daughter she never had. Lorelai didn't want Rory growing up in this world of debutant balls and starched white dresses you couldn't play in. She wanted Rory to grow up in the normal world where dinner was only one course long and you had to clean your own room.

She grabbed all the money she had saved up and stuffed it in her pocket. Then she scoped Rory up out of her crib and sat her on the bed so she could put her coat on her. Once Rory's coat was zipped Lorelai slid her coat on and glanced around the room, "Oh," she said spotting Rory's favorite blanket, "Can't forget this," she handed it to Rory, "Can you hold it for me?"

Rory grunted as she grabbed for the blanket. She clutched the blanket to her chest and let her self fall onto her side, she pulled the blanket up towards her face and watched as her mom rushed around the room.

Lorelai put the duffle bag over her shoulder and across her chest and put the diaper bag across her other shoulder. She picked up Rory and hurried down the stairs, knowing her parents were still getting ready for their evening. "Should we leave a note?"

"Huh," Rory grunted as she grabbed a chunk of Lorelai's hair and put it in her mouth.

Lorelai sighed, "Okay, you're too nice." Lorelai grabbed a piece of paper from her dad's office and wrote her parents a quick note.

Dear Mom and Dad,
I can't live off you guys forever so Rory and I are going to build a
life of our own. I don't know where we're going but I'll call you when
we get there.
Love,
Lorelai and Rory

She shoved the note in an envelope and dropped it on the dining room table on her way toward the door. She put Rory in her stroller, "Wave bye-bye."

Rory waved with her blanket still in her hand and Lorelai eased her stroller onto the porch and shut the door behind her.

Lorelai wasn't really sure where they were going. She planned on riding the bus as far as the driver would take them based on the amount of money she was willing to pay. She was hoping when they got there what to do next would just. . .come to her.

~~~~~

The bus driver looked at Lorelai as he came to a stop in a small town about a half hour away form Hartford. "This is your stop," he told her as the doors wheezed open.

"Thanks," she said, standing up and putting the bags across her shoulders again.

"Let us help you with that hun," a voice said from behind her as she was leaning down to pick Rory's stroller up and carry it down the stairs.

Lorelai stood up and saw a shorter blonde woman standing next to a tall lean man. The woman elbowed the man and he leaned down and picked up Rory's stroller. He placed it on the sidewalk and Lorelai grinned at him, "Thanks."

"Oh don't worry about it doll face.," the woman told her with a wave of her hand. "I'm Babette and this is Morey."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Lorelai and this is my daughter Rory," she glanced down at Rory who had fallen asleep on the bus ride.

"Oh isn't she adorable," Babette said, "Are you visiting Stars Hallow?"

"No, we're staying here," Babette seemed pleased with this answer and Lorelai grinned at her. "Do you know if anyone is hiring?"

"Oh the person to ask that is Miss Patty. She runs the dance studio," Babette said. She pointed down across the street where the dance studio was and Lorelai got the feeling that there weren't very many secrets in this town.. "She always knows who's hiring."

"Thanks," Lorelai said as she turned Rory's stroller around and headed toward the dance studio.

"See you around baby doll," Babette called as they parted.

"Miss Patty?" Lorelai asked the woman who was leaning against the doorway smoking a cigarette while instructing a children's ballet class.

"Yes dear?"

"I'm Lorelai Gilmore, this is my daughter Rory-"

"Oh she's gorgeous," Miss Patty interrupted her leaning towards Rory. "Oh, look at those legs. She's going to be a dancer." Miss Patty straightened up and looked at Lorelai, "Do you dance dear?"

Lorelai smiled, she hoped everyone in Stars Hallow was as friendly as Babette and Miss Patty. "No," Miss Patty let out a disappointed sight, "I was wondering if anyone in town was hiring-Babette said you were the person to talk to."

"Oh you've met Babette?"

"Yeah."

"She's a doll isn't she?"

"Yeah, she is."

"Well I think Mia is hiring at the Independence Inn. It's down a few blocks, do you need someone to show you?" Miss Patty asked the young girl standing in front of her. She was a very pretty girl, Miss Patty made a mental note to start looking for possible guys to set her up with.

"No I'll find it. Thanks."

"Anytime dear."

"Nice town huh Rory?" Lorelai said as they walked down the street, taking it all in.

Rory began squirming and let out a little cry. Lorelai stopped and took the bags off her shoulders before picking Rory up and putting the bags in the stroller. "You getting hungry?" she asked as they started walking again.

The small town was beginning to close down for the night. People were walking home talking and laughing. There was a burst of noise as a group of children finished up their game of tag. Lorelai smiled at an older couple who were walking down the street hand in hand. This was exactly the kind of town Rory and she needed.

"I think this is it," Lorelai told Rory as they stood in front of the Independence Inn sign. Rory squirmed a little, grabbing the neck of Lorelai's shirt. "All right, we're going in," she told Rory before taking a deep breath and walking up to the Inn. "Let's hope this works babe."

The Inn was a little like B and B without the creepy factor. Lorelai walked up to the desk where a woman was going through the reservation book. "I'm here for a job," Lorelai said when the woman looked up, "Any job."

A warm smile spread across the woman's face, "What kind of training have you had?"

"None." Lorelai's heart fluttered with nervousness, what if this didn't work? What would she do then? They couldn't just live on the street. She forced herself to stop her train of thought and focus on getting a job.

The smile faltered, "Do you have any references from past jobs?"

"No." The smile completely disappeared from the woman's face as she looked Lorelai over. Lorelai was about ready to start begging when the woman finally spoke again.

"Well, we could use another maid if you're interested," she offered, the girl was so young, she couldn't just push her out onto the street.

A relieved smile spread across Lorelai's face, "Ok."

The woman smiled again, "I'm Mia."

Mia stuck out her hand and Lorelai accepted it. "Lorelai Gilmore, this is Rory."

"Hi Rory. How old is she?" Mia smiled and waved at Rory and Rory gave a little wave back.

"One." Lorelai answered as Rory curled up against her, her eyes wide as she looked at Mia. "Do you have any spare rooms?" she asked, hoping she wasn't asking for too much. She tried not to think about the fact that she could only afford a room for a night or so and then she was going to have to find somewhere for she and Rory to live permanently. She wasn't sure what her wage would be but she was pretty sure it wouldn't be enough for a house and maybe not an apartment, at least not at first.

"Of course," Mia said, then glanced at Lorelai again as she checked the reservations book. The girl was going to need more than just a job, she was going to have to stay somewhere other than a room at an Inn. "I have a tool shed out back that we never use. If you want to fix it up for you and Rory you're welcome to," Mia mentioned casually, not wanting it to seem like a hand out.

Lorelai stared at her for a moment, "Yeah, thank you," she said surprised by the generous offer. Relief flooded through her at the idea of not having to worry about finding a cheap, safe place from them to live. Eventually they would have to find a real home but this would be a great place for them to stay until she could afford a place.

Mia smiled and handed her a room key, "Get some rest and we can start your training in the morning."

Lorelai nodded and smiled again, "Thanks Mia." Thanks didn't seem like nearly enough to express her gratitude that this woman who barely knew her was giving her a place to live and a way to make enough money to support her and Rory. She took the key, "Thanks," she told her again before she headed up to their room.

End of Part 2-I'm hoping to have Part 3 up by Friday 07/11/03 at the latest.