Unconscious Fears

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, Alicia and Arielle's characters are figments of my own imagination, so I do own them. Please do not use them without my permission. Thank you.

Author's Note: This story is the sequel to my story "Arielle." Everything that has happened up to the Gilmore Girls episode "Not as Cute as Pushkin" is consistent with this story, but after that, it takes its own path, so relationships and other facts may be different than on the show. I am not a dream doctor, or a medical doctor, nor do I know anything about dreams or medicine, so if the information is way off, please don't shout at me. I just wanted to note that I am well aware of the similarities in this story to previous stories. I'm drawing a parallel that you will hopefully understand in the end. I'll probably explain it to those of you, who aren't sure, but yes, I know there are similarities, and they are there for a reason. Thank you to those who reviewed the first chapters, I'm glad to see some familiar faces as well as some new ones. One last thing, this story is already completely written, and while suggestions and comments are completely welcome, the story is written, so I'm probably not going to change anything. Enjoy and please R&R!

CHAPTER FOUR

"Spring is coming, oh yeah, yeah! Spring is coming, round the bend! Spring is coming and bringing flowers! Pretty flowers for you and me!" Lorelai sang as she skipped up the snowy walk to the front door. Rory laughed as she followed her mother, who'd obviously had a little bit too much dessert. Rory had driven home, and the whole way, her mom had been singing. Dinner was probably one of the best they'd had in awhile, with her grandparents still over the moon about their vow renewal ceremony two weeks before. Rory and Lorelai had both been Emily's bridesmaids, and couldn't stop smiling through the entire ceremony. Now, everyone was as happy as a clam, and Rory was completely thrilled. Now her grandparents were probably packing for their trip, since they were leaving early in the morning.

"Mom, I think that third piece of cake may have been overdoing it." Rory said, as Lorelai unlocked the door and skipped into the house.

"Maybe, but they kept offering to refill my plate. What would I be, saying no to cake?" Lorelai asked.

"You'd be the person who's not still going to be awake at three in the morning." Rory pointed out, as she headed into the living room. She picked up a few of Arielle's toys and tossed them into her porta-crib that they'd set up in the corner. Arielle would sometimes stay over at the Gilmores' for a few hours, so Lorelai had made it a point to have a place for her to sleep and toys for her to play with.

"Maybe I want to be up at three in the morning." Lorelai offered, picking up the pink-striped blanket Arielle had been sitting on earlier. She folded it with the utmost care, before carefully laying it over the side of the crib.

Rory chuckled and waved the plastic baby doll she'd just picked up, "With an active 7-month-old coming over tomorrow night?"

Lorelai chuckled, "Okay, maybe not. Are you excited for the party?" she asked her daughter, scooping up a red cloth ball from where it had rolled under the easy chair. Rory had called Logan in the car on the way to Hartford, and they were all set to hang out with Lane and Alicia the following night.

Rory nodded, "Yeah!" she said, smiling, "It'll be nice to introduce my two best friends to the Yale crowd. I just hope they fit in…"

"Ahh, if they don't you can just get them drunk. Drunk people always fit in." Lorelai said, chucking the toy she was holding into the crib. She then plopped down on the couch, bouncing a little in place.

Rory tossed the last armload of toys into the crib, and then sat down next to her mom, laughing, "They fit in because being drunk loosens them up so much they don't feel shy or out of place."

Lorelai chuckled, "Well, yeah!" she agreed. She watched as her daughter halfheartedly picked up a magazine from the table, and settled back into the cushions to read. Reaching out, Lorelai ran her hands through Rory's brown hair, smiling at her daughter as she looked up. She scooted closer to Rory, and picked up the remote, switching the TV on, but not really caring what channel it landed on.

The girls sat in silence for a few moments, as Rory shifted position a few times, trying to get comfortable. Finally, Lorelai pulled a pillow into her lap, and patted it, smiling. Rory grinned, laying her head onto the pillow, and looking up into her mom's face. Lorelai's blue eyes were full of joy and satisfaction, as she cherished every moment she did get with her daughter ever since she'd started college.

"So, what's up with Brad and Jennifer now?" Lorelai asked, placing her hand on Rory's forehead, brushing her hair away from her face with soft caresses.

"Who knows? I have never made a point to follow them…that's your department." Rory reminded her mom.

"Oh yeah…well with the Inn and stuff, I don't know either." Lorelai retorted with a smile, "Wow, we've grown up."

"Grown up? Says the woman with the Hello Kitty pillow." Rory grinned.

"Hey! I resent that remark!" Lorelai did her best to look insulted. She poked Rory in the side a few times, "You are teasing the woman who birthed you! After 14 hours of labor!"

Rory chuckled and then squealed as her mom poked her. Rolling away from her, she sat up and tried to defend herself from the poking. She finally grabbed a pillow from the couch and whacked her mother with it. Lorelai squeaked and bolted away from the couch and around the back of it, grabbing another pillow and tossing it in Rory's direction.

Rory ducked and then raced through the kitchen and into her room, grabbing her own pillows to use as ammunition. When Lorelai popped into the doorframe, Rory let loose with a barrage of pillows. Lorelai squealed with laughter and raced into the room, leaping under Rory's covers.

"Oh, that's going to protect you!" Rory crowed, jumping onto the bed herself and tickling her mom through the blankets. Lorelai popped out from underneath and tickled Rory back, both of them tickling and giggling until they were out of breath.

"That was fun." Lorelai proclaimed, as she ran out of the room quickly. Rory knew where she was going, so she slipped into her ice cream pajamas, bouncing up and down on her bed until her mom returned, also pajama-clad, with a carton of ice-cream and two spoons.

"Ice cream? Right before bed?" Rory asked, "You crazy woman, you."

Lorelai smiled, 'Maybe." She giggled before jumping onto the bed, "Have some?"

Rory grinned, "Absolutely." Sitting next to her mom, she grabbed for the spoon, and the girls dug in, enjoying the cold treat and each others' company.

Not long after they'd finished eating, Rory yawned, causing Lorelai to yawn, too. "Bedtime?" Lorelai asked, pulling back Rory's covers so her daughter could slip into them. After Rory did so, she tucked her daughter in, and kissed her cheek, "I love you, babe, sweet dreams." Lorelai said.

"Dreams…" Rory mumbled, "Bad dreams…" She was almost asleep, but the troubled look on her daughter's face made Lorelai hesitate. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay with her, she hadn't been sleeping well lately. Lorelai crossed the room, and turned out the light, tiptoeing back to the bed and laying down next to Rory. She felt her daughter snuggle into her from one side, and smiled. This reminded her of the first years of Rory's life, when they'd lived in the potting shed. They'd shared a bed there, and Rory was so used to her mother's presence that she'd been pretty lonely in her own room when they'd first moved here. She still, even in college, liked to have her mom nearby while sleeping if she was scared or hurt or hadn't been sleeping well.