Arielle

By: Alyson Tierney

Disclaimer: I do not own Lorelai or Rory Gilmore, or any other character associated with Gilmore Girls the way it is seen on television. Those characters and other related things and ideas belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB Network. However, I do own Alicia and Arielle, since I made them up.

Author's Note: This story idea is taken from the book "Baby" by Patricia MacLachlan, so I'd like to thank her for the terrific story idea, and I hope I did it justice in this story. It takes place this Christmas, and is an idea I've been working on for awhile. I hope you like this, and have a very good Christmas season. The next chapter will not be available until after Christmas, but if you guys want to check out my story "Gunshots and Secrets" you can access it on my profile. Have a wonderful Christmas!

CHAPTER TWO

"Lucas! Look who's home!" Lorelai called out as they entered Luke's. The diner was nearly empty, so Lorelai and Rory took seats at their favorite table. Luke came out of the storeroom, smiling.

"Hi, Rory, welcome home! How were your finals?" Luke asked.

"They're done." Rory deadpanned, and then laughed, "They were fine, actually. I may have aced one of them."

"Good for you!" Luke exclaimed, as proud of Rory as a father would be of his own daughter.

"Thanks. Nice decorations." Rory said, giving Luke a teasing grin.

Luke shrugged, "Your mom thought this place needed a little Christmas cheer."

Rory grinned, "Uh-huh. Well, you have a nice touch."

Luke looked like he wasn't sure what to say to that, so he turned to Lorelai and gave her a kiss, "And how was your day?"

"It was pretty good. Michel only broke three ornaments, Sookie only burned one potato, and the Inn looks like a Christmas catalog." Lorelai informed him.

Luke smiled, "So, what are your plans for the Christmas holidays?" he asked.

"Well, I'm off tomorrow and this weekend, but I'm working Monday and Tuesday. Rory's just going to write the Great American novel while I do that. Other than that and the Christmas dinner at the grandparents, we're just going to hang out, right, babe?" Lorelai asked.

Rory giggled, "Yeah. Oh, and we're going to decorate the inside of your apartment, too."

Lorelai laughed, "Yes, with wreaths, and tiny Santas, and candy canes. Peppermint ones."

"Because it's not the new century yet in Mom's world." Rory piped up.

Luke shook his head, "Tell me when you're ready to order."

"What do you want, babe?" Lorelai asked.

"I'll have a burger and fries, with extra pickles." Rory requested.

Lorelai was taken aback, "You hate pickles."

Rory grinned, "Not anymore."

"Wow, she likes pickles, olives, and raisins now. Look whose taste buds are maturing!" Lorelai smiled at her daughter, and then turned to Luke, "I'll have a burger, too, with chili fries and some coffee."

"Yeah, coffee!" Rory repeated.

"You got it." Luke smiled at Rory again, and then practically skipped away to the kitchen area.

Rory looked at her mom, puzzled, "He's happy," she remarked.

"Yeah, well, I did a little more than just asking to get him to decorate." Lorelai said, fluttering her eyelashes at Rory.

"Mom!" Rory exclaimed.

Lorelai chuckled, as Rory yawned, "Tired, babe?" she asked.

"A little. I haven't gotten much sleep, with finals and all." Rory admitted.

"Aww, well when we're done here, we can go home and watch movies and sleep, and we'll do whatever you want tomorrow because…guess who's on the road to conflict resolution?" Lorelai asked.

"Um…Xander and Anya?" Rory asked, yawning again.

"No. Your grandma and grandpa…my parents…are going to marriage counseling." Lorelai said with an expression of mock surprise on her face.

"You're kidding!" Rory was completely surprised. She'd thought her grandparents were too stubborn and full of pride to talk to someone else about their marriage difficulties.

"Not kidding! Apparently, the strain was getting too much for Mom after her date with the only other guy she's ever dated since she was in college, so she dragged Dad into counseling." Lorelai explained.

"So there's no dinner tomorrow night?" Rory wanted to clarify.

"That's right." Lorelai grinned.

Rory yawned again, "That's so great! Are they getting back together then?"

"I don't know, babe. They're just talking." Lorelai's tone became serious, "Some of the things have been bugging them for 40 years."

"At least it's marriage counseling, and not divorce counseling." Rory tried to keep an optimistic view. Everyone seemed to be splitting up lately, and she did not want that happening to her grandparents. She could tell how much they loved and cared for each other, and didn't understand how anything could be so terrible as to rip them apart.

"You've got a point there. We'll stay hopeful." Lorelai smiled reassuringly at her daughter, as Rory covered her mouth to yawn again.

"Mmm." Rory let out a grunt, and then turned as she heard someone shout out her name.

"Rory!" Lane cried as she entered Luke's for her dinner shift. She practically leapt into her best friend's arms and hugged her tight.

"Hey, Lane!" Rory immediately became alert and excited. She hadn't seen Lane since Thanksgiving, and had missed her almost as much as she'd missed her mom. The girls hugged tightly before Rory pulled back and looked into her friend's brown eyes, "What's new?" she asked.

"Funny you should say that." Lane said, "I've recently come across our Third Musketeer on my travels to and from work and band practice."

"Alicia?" Rory asked, incredulously.

"Alicia. Her hair's much shorter and she's put on weight, but nevertheless, it's our little Lissi." Lane smiled. Alicia had been their best friend from 6th grade to 9th grade, when she'd moved away to Newark, New Jersey. They'd cried for a week when she'd had to move. Rory immediately thought back to the young woman she'd seen crossing the street. That was Alicia! No wonder she'd recognized her.

"You're kidding! What is she doing here?" Rory glanced at her mom, who looked equally excited, "Is she around today?"

"She's looking for a job today, but she said she wants to see you. She was going to college in Stanford, but then came up here for some soul-searching or whatever." Lane shrugged, but smiled broadly.

"That's awesome! I've missed her so much! What has it been like five years since we've talked?" Rory guessed.

Lane nodded, "At least! My God, when I saw her, I just couldn't stop smiling."

Rory grinned, "How about we get together tomorrow?"

Lane nodded again, "Absolutely, I'm not working, so I'll just give her a buzz, and you call me tomorrow, ok?"

Rory smiled, "You got it!" She smiled and hugged Lane close to her when Lane dived in for another hug. She watched as Lane got up and headed behind the counter to start her shift. She looked back at her mom, who'd already wolfed down half her burger, "Mom!" Rory exclaimed.

"What? Knowing you and Lane, you could have talked for the next three years! I was hungry!" Lorelai said, with a fake pout.

Rory sighed, "Fine." She picked up her burger and ate it quickly, anxious to get home to DVDs and bed. The sun was slowly setting outside, and Rory watched as the townies scurried to get home before dark. She glanced at her mom, who was nearly done with her burger and smiled. It was great to be home for Christmas. Time with her mom, Lane, and an old friend she hadn't seen in five years? It was going to be a blast.