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—I hope you like this, and have a very good holiday season. The next chapter will be available soon, but if you guys want to check out my other stories you can access them on my profile.

I continue to be very impressed with the number of you who took the time to review parts of the story and say what you liked and what could be changed. It's those reviewers that help a writer improve her work so it can be the best it can be. I thank you very much, each and every one of you. This story is nearing a close (there are two more chapters after this one), and I want to thank those of you who are still reading. It means a lot that you stuck with a story for this long. Thanks!

CHAPTER TEN

Lorelai and Rory sang all the way home in the car, Arielle babbling along. They turned onto their street, light flakes beginning to fall. They dusted the streets, which had been shoveled since the last snowfall. Turning into their driveway, Rory noticed Alicia first, "Hey, Alicia is on our front steps," she observed.

Lorelai turned to look, and sure enough, Alicia was sitting on their steps, bundled up against the cold. She stood as Lorelai and Rory got out of the Jeep, Rory carrying the diaper bag, and Lorelai reaching in back for Arielle. Alicia walked slowly towards the Jeep, as Rory walked towards her.

"Come to get your baby?" Rory asked, in a quiet and reassuring voice. She wanted Alicia to know she knew Arielle was hers, but also that she wasn't angry about it.

Alicia looked at her friend, her eyes full of tears and longing. She nodded, and Rory pulled her close, embracing her friend with a true hug. She'd always been a tentative hugger, never knowing if she was squeezing too hard or if people didn't like hugs. The only people she hugged close to her were her mother and Lane…and now Alicia. She pulled back as Lorelai came to stand next to her, carting Arielle's infant seat. Arielle looked up at Alicia, an expression of pure delight on her face. She let out a happy, tentative coo before waving her arms and legs in a clear statement of, "Yay! My mommy is home!" Alicia chuckled, and took the seat from Lorelai. "Come on in the house, you three." Lorelai said, pulling Rory towards her, and heading into the house, Alicia following with Arielle.

"Anyone want something to drink? Soda? Coffee?" Lorelai asked, as Rory led the group into the living room.

"No, thanks." Alicia said, smiling at Lorelai.

"Pass." Rory said, and Lorelai flopped down on the sofa next to Alicia, Rory sitting on her other side. Lorelai and Rory watched Alicia's experienced movements as she undid Arielle's safety straps, slipped her out of her snowsuit, and lifted her up. Arielle giggled and clapped, reaching out to her mother's face.

"That is an adorable dress. Did you guys buy it for her?" Alicia asked, admiring the red dress adorned with candy canes and wreaths that Arielle was wearing.

"Yeah, we had some of Rory's old baby clothes for everyday clothes, but we had to go shopping for Rory's dress anyway, so we picked out a new dress for Arielle and some toys for her for Christmas." Lorelai said, smiling as she fingered the material.

Alicia smiled at her child, "Are you wearing a new dress, baby girl? A pretty new red dress? Yes! It's beautiful, angel." Arielle laughed, burying her hands in Alicia's hair as her mother began to kiss her repeatedly. Alicia then turned to Lorelai, "I'll pay you for it, as soon as I get some money. I'll pay you back for everything."

Lorelai smiled, "There's no worries. Let the doting aunties buy her some things once in awhile. Did you find a job?"

Alicia sighed, "No. Everyone in town either doesn't need anyone or isn't around for the holidays. I don't know what I'm going to do."

Lorelai looked at Rory, who nodded slightly, "Well, how are your housekeeping and management skills?" she asked.

"Well, I know how to clean. Do I keep my room clean, no, but I know how to clean…and I was head of the foreign language club at my high school, so I know how to keep events and people organized." Alicia said, sitting Arielle on her lap, and grabbing Arielle's pink teddy bear from the coffee table, she handed it to her.

"Well, we have lots of maids at the Inn, but we never hired someone to keep all the maids in line. First Michel was doing it, but he complained so much, I took over. Then I arranged with Rory that she would be what we call the House Manager while she was on breaks from school…we could use another one for when Rory's at school. You could be co-House Managers." Lorelai offered, smiling helpfully.

"Really?" Alicia said, hopefully, "That would be great, Lorelai!"

"BabababababaBA!" Arielle put in, waving the pink teddy bear about, before it fell to the floor.

"That's your bear, Arielle." Rory said, picking up the bear and handing it back to her. Arielle squealed and let out a few coos.

"Miss Cotton Candy is one of her favorites." Alicia put in, smiling as her daughter began waving the bear around and babbling to herself.

"That's such a clever name. One of Rory's first animals was a frog named Prince Charming." Lorelai grinned at the memory, "I always hated the parents who were so original and named their children's animals Frank or Mr. Bear."

Alicia studied her child for a moment as she waved the bear around, and then brought it to her mouth. Lorelai chuckled, "Alicia, how about we get a room at the Inn for you and Arielle to stay in this winter, and this spring you guys can move out to the equipment shed. It's not very big, but we can get some stuff out there and make it a pretty place for you guys."

"That sounds great, Lorelai. Thank you. I really didn't know what I was going to do…I didn't have a place to live, or a job, or much schooling, and I couldn't find anyone to watch her while I was looking for a job…and I don't know…I guess I also needed a little break." Alicia said, sounding sad, "I mean, I'd never abandon Arielle forever, but I just needed a few days to regroup, I guess."

"I understand that. Next time, though, you can talk to me directly. Or talk to Rory directly…" Lorelai said, looking at her daughter.

"Oh, yeah, I demand that!" Rory agreed, nodding.

"We'll do whatever we can to help you, you just got to let us, okay?" Lorelai said, looking into Alicia's blue eyes.

"Okay." Alicia nodded, smiling. She looked down to see Arielle trying to pick up the bear stone on her necklace. The child's eyebrows were drawn in concentration as she tried to use fine motor skills that weren't quite in place yet. Alicia chuckled, and picked up the stone, holding it in her outstretched hand in front of Arielle, "That's a bear, sweetie. It's a little bear, like your big bear." Arielle looked up at her mother and smiled, and then yawned, putting her head down on her mother's chest, and laying her little hand on Alicia's necklace, "Looks like it's time for us to go home." Alicia said, smiling as she stood up.

"Do you want to stay with us for the night?" Lorelai asked, not seeing her own daughter's eyes widen at the prospect of Christmas spent not alone.

Alicia did notice, however, and shook her head, "No. Arielle and I will go celebrate with each other. When do you want us at the Inn?"

"Monday morning sound good to you?" Lorelai asked, and at Alicia's nod, she grabbed her purse off the table, "At least let me give you some money."

"I couldn't take it…you've already done enough." Alicia said, gratefully.

"How about I just take it out of your first paycheck?" Lorelai offered, to which Alicia smiled and accepted the money. She carefully put her daughter in her snowsuit and bundled her into the carrier, and after hugging Lorelai and Rory, was on her way.

Rory smiled as she closed the door behind them. Alicia and Arielle were safe and happy, and had a plan for the future. She yawned, as it was almost ten-thirty by then, and wandered into the living room, where Lorelai had already flopped onto the couch, resting her head on the back. Rory sat down next to her, "Mom?" she said, cautiously.

Lorelai opened her eyes and looked at her daughter, "Hey, babe."

"Are you okay?" Rory asked, concern showing on her face.

"Yeah, I'm fine, sweetie, just tired. Want to watch a DVD?" Lorelai asked.

Rory nodded, smiling, "Sure!" Rory walked over to their collection of movies, "Which one?" she asked.

"Mmm." Lorelai's reply was an incoherent mumble, so Rory just slipped a random DVD into the player, knowing they weren't going to make it all the way through it anyway. Flipping it on, she sat on the couch next to her mom, who put her arm around her daughter and pulled her closer. Rory rested her head on her mom's shoulder, pulling a blanket from the back of the couch around them, and snuggling closer as the FBI warning popped onto the screen. Rory smiled, happy that it was just her and her mom again. She knew that their lives would still not be the same with Alicia and Arielle around the Inn, but they'd still have nights like this—when they'd just curl up with a DVD after a long day.