Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, but I do own Vanessa Gilmore. She is made-up by me, so she is mine. So is her best friend, Angie.

Chapter 2

And That's Fate, Kid

Vanessa drove home that following afternoon, exhausted and wanting to whine to her parents about her horrible job and mean ole Taylor.

"Mommy," Vanessa whined, shuffling to the kitchen. She stopped when she saw the mountain of Girl Scout cookies on their kitchen table.

"Oh, baby, what's wrong?" Lorelai asked, drinking a glass of milk.

Vanessa stared and pointed at the boxes. "What the hell are those?"

"Girl Scout cookies. I'm going to pretend that I baked them and sell them to people."

"People like Kirk?" Vanessa asked, slightly smiling.

"I didn't think of him!" Lorelai proclaimed. "I could sell them all and the world will be mine! OK, so tell me about your day."

"Taylor caught me," Vanessa responded.

"You knew he watches all those security tapes in his free time, it was bound to happen," Lorelai told her.

"Yeah, but then we told him that they could survive a nuclear war and he seemed interested."

"Hmm. Tastes like perfection. You know what he told me when he found out I was pregnant with you?"

"'Yes, a Rory clone?'"

"No, but close. He said, and I quote, 'By God, they're multiplying.'"

"Well, at least I know I'm appreciated. Hey, I want some peanut butter patties," Vanessa said, putting out her open hand, indicating she wanted some.

"Hell no. I slaved over a hot stove for these," Lorelai joked.

"Uh oh," Vanessa remembered. "It's not Friday, is it?"

"No sweetie, it's Thursday," Lorelai soothed her daughter. "No Friday night dinners today. You work too hard."

"Damn Taylor," Vanessa groaned, putting her head down the kitchen table.

"Friday night dinner's tonight!" Luke, who had just walked into the room, asked fearfully.

"No Dad, it's tomorrow," Vanessa told him as Lorelai patted her back.

"That's good. I'm not your grandma's number one fan," Luke informed Vanessa.

"Same here. She expects me to be like Rory," Vanessa replied.

"Does not," Lorelai argued.

"Does so! 'Oh Vanessa, how's Chilton? You know, Rory absolutely loved it when she went.' 'Vanessa, how are your grades?' 'Vanessa, how's il duce?' Oh wait, Mom asks me that one." Vanessa smiled at her mother, who was pretending not to be amused.

"How was I supposed to know that Max is the headmaster now?" Lorelai asked.

Vanessa shrugged. "I'm a good kid, I don't get sent there often."

Suddenly, the phone started ringing. Luke answered it. "Hello. Babette? Is that you? C-calm down, stop screaming. You're gonna scare the cats – WHAT!"

Vanessa and Lorelai jumped in their seats. Luke turned to his wife and daughter, replying, "OK, I will. No, thank you. Huh. Well, I'll tell Lorelai and Ness if you want me too." Hanging up the phone, he crossed his arms.

"Uh oh, we did something bad," Lorelai stated.

"It was all Mom's idea," Vanessa said, pointing to her mother.

"Oh gee thanks, kid. I was in labor for hours and hours with you and here you are turning against me."

"Did you know Babette's nephew moved to town? She is very very happy because I let him have a job at the diner," Luke told Lorelai.

Lorelai nodded, "That's nice. Vanessa and I are sick of picking on Kirk."

"But you have to admit, it never gets old," replied Vanessa.

The Next Day

Vanessa had the day off, so she and Angie decided to go out, buy magazines, head back to Vanessa's house, and make collages.

"OK, I call Adam Brody this week, got it?" Vanessa told Angie.

"Damn you! I want Adam Brody!" Angie pouted. Suddenly, she put her arm up against Vanessa's stomach, stopping her. She pointed at a boy no older than them, on a park bench, reading Guitarist Weekly. "Ooh, he'll do."

"What about Jude?" Vanessa asked.

"Who?" Angie responded. "This guy is the Adam Brody of Stars' Hollow. Real life, breathing Adam Brody look-alike. He's got the shaggy Jew curls, the indie rock look, the intellect-"

"How do you know? We don't know him."

"Oh, but we will. Because you are going to go talk to him," Angie commanded, pushing Vanessa towards him.

"What!" Vanessa gasped, stopping in her tracks and whirling around.

"You're a star, and he's gonna love you, and you're gonna love him, and he's gonna love you for loving him, and you're gonna love him for loving you. And you looooooooove each other. And that's because neither one of you got enough love in your childhoods. And that's fate, kid," Angie responded.

"No more Chicago references for the rest of your life, Angie," Vanessa told her.

Angie shook her head, telling Vanessa, "Sorry, no can do. This summer's musical is Chicago. I'm going out for Roxie. You're auditioning with me."

"If it's the only way Taylor won't annoy me," Vanessa responded.

"OK, well, go talk to that guy," Angie demanded.

Vanessa sighed, turning around. "He's gone!"

"Dammit," Angie muttered. "Well, we're bound to see him. Star's Hallow is a small town."

Vanessa said, "Yeah, I guess so. Let's go to Doose's and get those magazines."