Chapter 19: Just an Ordinary Day

The first snowfall of winter had blanketed the town of Stars Hollow as its residents slept in their beds. The first flakes had begun to fall late in the night, and had continued until the sun shone upon them in the wee hours of the morning. Snow was not an uncommon occurrence in Stars Hollow, especially in mid-December, so when the town awoke it was an interesting sight, but not one of great importance.

It was one of the few things that Lorelai Gilmore looked forward to anymore though. So of all the townsfolk, she was the most excited.

It was around 9:30 when Rory awoke. Pulling back her curtains, she was surprised to see the ground covered in white powder. She smiled a little. Her life had sort of become less than exciting since she started college. It was formulaic and monotonous. A week at school, a weekend spent at home. Another week at school, and another weekend spent at home. She did enjoy it, sometimes. It was nice to see her family, and her friends, and her boyfriend. But it had just become sort of repetitive. Since it was coming up on Christmas time, she had started break. She'd be off till a week after New Years. It'd be a nice chance to relax.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Rory answered.

"Hey, honey. Did you look outside?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah, it's pretty huh?" She replied semi-enthusiastically.

"Wanna go outside? We can get some coffee and enjoy the snow?"

"Sure. I'll be right out." Her mother nodded and shut the door behind her. Rory contemplated what to wear. A pair of jeans, and a sweater was her decision. 'How ordinary', she thought. Grabbing a winter jacket she headed out the door.

*

I just went about my business

I really don't have much to say

The city cars just keep on rolling along

It's just an ordinary day

*

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"It's been a while since we've actually talked." Lorelai started as they walked down the sidewalks of the town.

"Yeah, we've both been so busy." She replied. "You've got The Dragonfly, and I've got school."

"I know. I wish I had more time, but right now things are just starting up at the inn and I need to be there."

"Yeah, I know." She smiled, and stopped to reach into the snow. She picked up a handful, and threw it at Lorelai. Lorelai began to act, or at least try. She didn't actually succeed, it was pretty bad.

"I'm hit, go on without me." She held her arm where Rory had hit her, and grimaced. Erasing the grimace and replacing it with a smirk, she reached down and grabbed her own handful of snow. "I'm gonna get you, sister." She chased her daughter around, finally catching her and hitting her with the snowball.

"Are we even?" Rory asked between giggles.

"Sure, let's go get some coffee babe." Lorelai put her arm around her daughter's shoulder.

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"Sookie, are you sure you should be here?" Jackson asked his very pregnant wife.

"Jackson, I'm fine. I just really need to help out here. I can't just sit at home when they have so much work to do."

"Sookie, they don't have that much to do. It's not like there's some big dinner going on. They're just cooking for regular guests. Please go back home."

"Just let me make sure these pies are cooking correctly, all right?"

"Fine, but I'm staying right here and driving you home." He replied as she opened the oven, and looked at the pies.

The kitchen door swung open.

"What are you doing here, Sookie? Hi Jackson, what's she doing here?" Lorelai asked.

"That's what I've been asking her. She doesn't just want to stay at home; even though she is due to deliver her baby, VERY soon." He raised his voice.

"Sookie, Jackson is right. You should be at home. Go rest up, and take care of that baby." Lorelai added turning her around.

"I just want to check on some things, Lorelai."

"Nonsense, this is for your own good. I'm the veteran on this topic. Do not argue with me." Sookie looked at her friend.

"Thanks, for watching out for me." She smiled a little.

"I know you worry about things here at the inn, but they are under control, okay?"

"I guess." Jackson came up beside her.

"Let's go home, Sookie. We can discuss names for the baby. If it's a boy, what do you think about Arnold?" He asked as they walked out of the kitchen.

"Do you want our kid to be named after a pig?" Sookie replied. Their conversation faded as they walked out of the inn.

Lorelai sighed as she stood in the middle of the kitchen. 'When had life become so habitual?' She asked herself. She left the kitchen and thought she'd head over to the diner for some lunch. That was a routine occurrence now that she was dating Luke, and her daughter worked there. She stepped outside, and a small wind wafted past her. Life was mundane now, but she felt change coming in that wind that blew threw her hair.

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"Luke dear, how is the set building going?" Patty asked making her way over to him.

"Patty, would you kindly not call me dear?"

"I call everyone dear, dear. It's how I talk." She replied.

"I know. Just not me, okay?"

"Fine, how is the set building going, Luke?"

"Fine, Patty. I've got this one almost all put together. I've got to cut out the pieces for the next one, paint 'em up and get 'em all together."

"Good. I really appreciate you doing this, Luke."

"Right, when I'm done with that piece of the set, I am going home for the day."

"That's fine. Thanks again dea---Luke." Patty wandered off to start rehearsal.

Rory opened the double doors to Miss Patty's. She came bearing food. Looking across the room, she spotted Luke assembling things.

"I thought you might like something to eat." She said offering him a box of food from the diner. He looked up.

"Thank you, Rory. That's very thoughtful of you." He replied setting down his hammer and opening the box. It contained carrots, a healthy sandwich on wheat bread and some dip for the carrots.

"Oh, here's some water too." She added handing him the bottle she had been holding. "I better get back to the diner. Pretty busy, I don't think Jess could handle it alone."

"Rory, I really appreciate you working. I don't really know why you are, but it helps." He smiled.

"I just wanted to get a little extra money, and I figure it would be a good way to see Jess more than I would otherwise. It's been crappy for both of us having to hardly ever see each other. Talking on the phone is great, but it's better to see each other in person."

"Yeah, I see your point." He replied taking a bit of his sandwich.

"Rory honey, come here." Patty called. She obeyed.

"Yes, Miss Patty?"

"Our female lead is not here yet, so I was wondering if you could read this scene through with Kirk."

"I really should get back to the diner, Jess is waiting."

"Here, just read this one scene, okay?" Patty smiled at her.

"All right, give me the script."

"Now this scene calls for you to be madly in love with Kirk's character and well, the scene progresses onward from there. Go ahead." Patty replied.

Rory looked at Kirk, who winked at her. She cleared her throat.

"Oh sir, I know it is not good conduct that a servant of my position should love a king such as you are, but I cannot deny my feelings. My heart beats for you; my breathing is in time with yours. I love you."

"Oh fair maid. I too feel this love that runeth betwixt us. Doest thou wish to become my bride?" Kirk croaked. Rory swallowed hard and knew that she was blushing because of her embarrassment at this scene.

"Yes. Kiss me, kiss me my king. I will marry thee." With that Kirk dashed forward to her face and kissed her on the lips.

"Cut!" Patty yelled. "Kirk, this is a read through, you do not have to kiss Miss Gilmore." Kirk looked slightly embarrassed and Rory purely frightened.

"I got a little caught up in the moment, sorry." He replied. "Take two?" He asked.

"Patty, I really have to go. Here's your script. Luke I hope you enjoy the lunch." She replied as she ran out of Patty's.

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Lorelai entered the diner and the little bell above the door rang. She seated herself at the counter, and waited for service. A few minutes later Jess came by.

"Can I get something to eat over here?" She asked.

"Can you hold on for a minute? I've got a lot on my hands right now." He replied sarcastically. Rory ran in the door just then. "Rory, where have you been? It took 20 minutes to deliver a sandwich to Luke?" He asked.

"No, Patty roped me into doing a scene in her play because her lead female was not there. So that took 10 minutes and then Kirk kissed me, so I ran out of there."

"Kirk kissed you?" Both Lorelai and Jess sounded shocked.

"It was in the script, but he wasn't supposed to. It's a mess."

"I'm sorry, honey." Lorelai replied genuinely.

"Thanks, Mom."

"Was he a good kisser?" Jess scoffed.

"It was like sucking on a limp wet noodle." Rory replied. "I've had much better." She added.

"Oh yeah, like who?" He replied.

"It's someone standing in this very diner." She gave him a quick kiss.

"Rory, I hate to break up Love Story over there, but could I get some food?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah sure, what would you like?" She asked. Lorelai just stared at her. "Right, that was stupid of me. Why do I even ask?" She replied turning to Caesar. "Caesar, I need a hamburger with fries please."

She poured a cup of coffee for her mother. Jess returned a pot to the coffeemaker and started up a new batch.

"I've finally found someone in this place that doesn't shout orders in some weird language." He stated.

"I can, I just don't want to." Rory replied smiling.

"Lorelai, why do you do this to me?" Jess asked.

"Because it's just fun" She replied laughing.

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"I'm going now, Patty." Luke shouted from across the room.

"Thanks for the help, Luke." She approached him.

"Sure, I figured since Lorelai asked so nicely." He smiled.

"You know, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What?"

"Jess"

"What'd he do now?" Luke asked.

"No, that's just it. He hasn't done anything bad since he came back. I've noticed that, and so have several of the other town business owners. Taylor even admits it."

"Taylor admits it?" He asked.

"Yes, I don't know what Rory did, or whatever happened, but it's good. We appreciate it."

"Wait, Taylor will confess to that, on tape?" Luke stammered, stifling a laugh.

"I would appreciate you not telling Jess this, though."

"Okay, wouldn't want him getting a big head about it."

"Right, see you later Luke."

"Bye Patty."

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"It was nice of Jess and Rory to watch the diner for a while." Lorelai replied sitting down on the park bench.

"Yeah, it was. I finally get to see you."

"I know I've been at work a lot lately. I'm sorry that we haven't spent anytime together. It's just that---" He stopped her.

"I understand, Lorelai. You're a busy woman. I'll be here when you're not busy okay? I mean I waited this long to even be here, what's another few weeks or whatever." He smiled and she did too. They got up and walked to the Gilmore's house, holding hands. "You know, Patty told me that she and Taylor both appreciated whatever Rory has done to Jess. They noticed his lack of troublemaking."

"Maybe he's finally realized that he can't do that crap all the time."

"I think Rory has been a huge influence." He replied.

"Yeah, she's good that way." Lorelai nodded.

"I wasn't supposed to talk about it, so don't tell her, okay? I just thought I'd tell you how much I appreciate it. I got crap for having Jess here. I know you didn't like them going out at first or even spending time together. You were afraid he'd hurt her, but she didn't really get hurt. Sure, she drove cross country trying to get him back. He never hurt her though, and it helped him."

"I know."

"You know I care about Rory, right?" He rubbed her arms.

"Yes." Lorelai replied.

"Good. I care about you too."

"I know you do." She replied. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Bye, Lorelai." He replied. She kissed him and went inside the house.

'Imagine that. Jess actually being a semi-respected member of this community. I never thought I'd see the day.' He thought.

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*

The sun came up and down

The Earth still spun around

It's just an ordinary day

*

"I'm back, Mom." Rory said entering the house.

"Hey." Lorelai replied.

"How was your day?" Rory asked.

"Good actually, not as bad as I thought it would be."

"Me too, I thought today would be very run of the mill. It wasn't hugely exciting, but it turns out that today was not nearly as ordinary as I'd expected."

"It's not everyday that Kirk kisses you." She laughed. "Totally agree. By the way, do you have your Christmas shopping done, yet?"

"I have a few more things to get, why?"

"Want to go to Hartford, tomorrow?"

"Sure. Goodnight, Mom."

"Night, Rory." Lorelai replied. Rory wandered into her room, laid down on her bed and fell asleep. She dreamt about the double date that she'd had with Jess, Lane and Dave a few days ago. It'd gone good, and it was a nice thing to dream about. Two happy couples, whose lives were moving at light speed, four friends just having a little fun together as they forgot about their lives and let the minutes drift past.

She awoke the next morning and smiled. 'You know what?' She asked herself 'my life is really good. Maybe I like ordinary.'

A/N: The title really sums this chapter up. I felt that the whole "cast", me included, needed a more ordinary day, before some big happenings. I'd like to thank all my reviewers, especially SoapFan5, Jade and iaminlovewithaboynamedJESS. Without you there would be no point in writing this. What can I say? I aim to please, and I know that I don't always hit the target 100 percent, but I'm glad you still read. :) Anyways, the lyrics are "Ordinary Day" by Phish. I am so happy with this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!