Author's Note: See Title and Disclaimer in Chapter One. Not much to say. I didn't get many review after the last two chapters that need much responding, but Thank You to those who pointed me in the right direction with the characters' jobs. In case you were wondering, I am lightly following the storylines from Season 4, but only where it benefits this story, so if you seem some events but not others, that's why. The next chapter will be kind of short so it will probably be up later tonight. As always keep the reviews coming. Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions help out a lot.
On with the story . . .
Chapter 11: Dennis and Ashton, Vivian and Shirley
The next morning when Rory awoke all she heard was silence. The Gilmore house never buzzed with activity on the weekends, but she could usually hear people outside chatting, children playing or even Morry practicing next door. She and Lorelai had made up, but she still felt bad about the whole incident. She decided to sneak out and have coffee ready when her mother woke up.
As she neared Luke's, she could see it was busy and hoped that it meant the diner owner himself was back. When she came in, he smiled at her.
"Hey Rory."
"Hey Luke. Can I get a couple of coffees to go?" He reached under the counter for cups and filled them to the brim.
"Where's your mother?" he asked gruffly.
"Before noon on a Saturday? She's still in bed, where else?"
"Of course. She hasn't been in much this week." Rory was always amused at Luke's behavior when he hadn't seen Lorelai for a while.
"She's been really busy with the inn and stuff. We'll probably be in for dinner later." Luke let out a breath, relaxing. He nodded, then realized that the conversation had stopped.
"So, how's school?" He hoped she didn't notice how nervous he was after their last conversation. She did, but she picked up his cue to leave it alone.
"Good. Hard, but good. How are things?" She hoped he would offer information but she wasn't going to ask. It was his business.
"Things?" he said suspiciously.
"Stuff. Life." She paused and he arched an eyebrow at her. "Around Star's Hollow" she added. His face relaxed when he realized she wasn't going to push it like her mother would.
"Good, it's good," he said. "Same loons, different day."
"That's good," Rory laughed. "Well I guess I better get going. Glad everything's . . . good. See you later Luke." Luke rolled his eyes.
"Bye Rory."
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
When Rory walked into the house, she heard movement and sensed Lorelai might be up.
"Hey" she called.
"Hey. Were you learning to problem-solve even when you were a baby?" Lorelai hollered from the living room.
"What?" Rory asked taking off her coat.
"Well babyhood is more recent for you than for me." Lorelai explained as Rory walked into the living room. Lorelai was stretched out on the couch reading a book. She sat up and sat cross-legged so Rory could sit next to her.
"What is that?" Rory asked handing her one of the cups of coffee.
"365 Games Babies Play" Lorelai explained, holding it up.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Only if you're little brother's name will be Jesus."
"You're not a virgin."
"Rub it in, why don't you" Lorelai said pretending to be offended. "It's Sookie's. She left it here the last time her and Davy were over. Listen to this." Lorelai read from the book. "Look before you leap into solving baby's dilemmas and identify what baby is trying to do. Support and encourage baby's effort. One situation might be that baby crawls under a coffee table and starts to cry. Instead of running over and pulling baby out, involve baby by lying down on the floor and talking about the situation, saying 'I see you're stuck under there.' Yeah right" she said with a snort.
"I see you have a stinky diaper," Rory cooed.
"I see you are choking on a cheerio," Lorelai added.
"Mom!" Rory said shocked.
"Hey, it happens," Lorelai shrugged. "Aren't you glad I didn't read when you were a baby?"
"Ecstatic" Rory dead panned. She thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you ever think about it?"
"No, I didn't have much time to read when you were a baby" Lorelai said absently, looking through the book again.
"I meant, do you ever think about having more kids?"
"I'm not that fond of goats" Lorelai said with mock seriousness.
"Mom" Rory groaned. Lorelai laughed.
"I don't know Rory. Why this sudden talk of babies?"
"You're the one reading the baby book" Rory said nonchalantly.
"It's Sookie's and babies are a little premature, don't you think?"
"Motherhood will come naturally. You don't have to worry," Rory pretended to reassure her.
"I meant, there are a lot of things that would have to come before another baby."
"Such as . . . "
"Oh I don't know. A husband might be nice. Might speed up the process," Lorelai said sarcastically.
"So someday when you settle down you might think about it?"
"I'm not settled down?" Lorelai asked.
"There's nothing wrong with it. You're just not ready" Rory amended.
"I have a daughter in college," Lorelai said skeptically.
"I'm an exception."
"You think I'm still sowing some wild oats?" Lorelai questioned.
"I wouldn't have put it that way, but sure."
"You think I'm too old, my biological clock is ticking in your body," Lorelai moaned dramatically.
"That's because it knows you're never on time for anything. You were the one reading the book," she argued again. "I was just wondering if you thought about it. It wouldn't bother me, you know," she offered.
"Aww, Rory want a little sibling to grow up just like her?" Lorelai asked in a baby voice.
"Only if they cover half of the asylum payments when you finally get put away."
"Very funny." Rory gave her a stern look. "Fine. I think about it, I guess. Only if I catch the perfect man first." She smiled. Rory looked amused.
"Who is the perfect man?"
"Dennis Quaid."
"Mom" Rory laughed.
"Fine. You want someone hipper? I could go for Ashton Kutcher, but I don't think I'm old enough. What kind of question is that anyway? If I knew who he was, I wouldn't be wasting my time with Scum-sucker fatheads." Rory was glad Lorelai was able to joke about Jason.
"I mean what do you think he'll be like?" she asked.
"Dreamy." Lorelai said in a high voice. "And I'll have his cigar and slippers ready every night and stand around in my pearls and then we'll both go to sleep in our single beds. That's a good way to have kids."
"It was a serious question" Rory pouted.
"I'm sorry, honey. It just sounded like a line out of a musical. I was expecting to burst into song."
"At least Vivian Blaine and Shirley Jones knew what they wanted." Rory said stubbornly.
"They both ended up with liars" Lorelai pointed out.
"Not a good example I guess."
"You're right. Hey let's have a movie night. I have an urge to rent Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, and Baby's Day Out."
"Baby's Day Out?"
"I miss cute drooling babies now. Besides that red head from Sex and the City is the shy little British nanny. We can mock her."
"Well as fun as that sounds, I can't. I have plans with Lane. Her band has some big gig tonight and we have to plan Lane's escape."
"Fine, start a serious conversation, then leave" pouted Lorelai.
"It'll give you time to think and we can analyze it all tomorrow."
"Fine" Lorelai refused to give up her pout. Rory kissed her cheek and she softened.
"See ya later" Rory called from the door.
"Bye kiddo."
And with that, Lorelai was left with a baby book and her own mixed up thoughts.