The Gilmore Years

A series of stories based on an actual reference made in Gilmore Girls about Rory's childhood.

Disclaimer: I own nothing worth mentioning, including the Gilmore Girls and all that the show encompasses.

I also apologize in advance for any bit of history which is slightly wrong. This includes when they moved in to the house, when they got the jeep, etc. It's just easier this way!

To my reviewers: Kudos to you all! J LorelaiGilmore46 that's a good point! How very observant of you hehe. I guess that's one bit of history that's wonky , but since I'm unsure as to whether Lorelai lived in the potting shed till or lived somewhere else for a while, then, it's probably easier for me to leave them in the house! And PurpleLollipop17 you are right, I forgot that Rory specifically said Kindergarten till I was halfway through the story, and I didn't want to change all the dialogue I had written. I was unsure how old American kids go to kindergarten, is it 5? Anyway, I guess we can just put it down to the fact that Rory is a very articulate (and smart) child J Anyways thank you everyone for your enthusiasm and encouragement. So especially for you here is the next chapter!

Part 2- Aye Aye Captain Obvious

Based on the reference Sookie makes in 1.12 'Double Date' during the double date with Jackson, Rune and Lorelai about the time she and Rory made mud pies, but Rory's was actually made of mud.

(Rory is 8)

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'Alice the camel has…5 humps.

Alice the camel has…5 humps.

Alice the camel has…5 humps,

So go, Alice, go

Boom boom boom.

Alice the Camel has…4 humps

Alice the camel has...Lane?'

Rory turned to face her friend mid song. Lane had stopped walking and was intently watching a brown Toyota cruising idly down the street.

'Lane, c'mon. Talking to that boy- Chad, Jad, made us late already. My mom said I had to be home straight after school so Babette didn't worry. She's working late tonight and I…'

'Brad.'

'What?'

Lane finally turned and grabbed Rory's shoulder.

'His name was Brad. Walk.'

'Lane…What?'

'Just…walk. Really fast. I think that car's following us.'

'What car? Lane…Come on. You're joking'

'Normally, yes, but not now. Just keep walking.'

'Lane, where are you going. This isn't your street.'

'We're going to Dooses. I don't want him to know where we live.'

Rory stopped. 'Lane! You're crazy. He's not following us.'

Rory glanced over her shoulder to prove her point. The car, slowly gliding along the street, had stopped. Rory turned and started walking again. She heard the car begin to move again.

'Now do you believe me?'

Rory didn't answer, but grabbed Lane's hand and pulled her into the market.

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'Rory Gilmore. What a pleasant surprise. Do you plan on buying something or are you considering on becoming a window display?'

Rory and Lane turned from where they had hid behind the tinned plums, watching out the window to make sure the car had gone.

'Sorry Taylor. We were just leaving.'

Rory and Lane meekly traipsed out of the market into the sunshine.

'Do you think we were just being silly, Rory?'

Rory shrugged. 'Maybe. But my mommy always tells me about Stranger Danger. We were doing good to go in the market instead of keeping on walking.'

Lane nodded. 'Okay. If I tell my momma though I won't be allowed outside for like a week.'

'You better tell your momma, Lane, otherwise that's lying.'

Lane wrinkled her nose.

'I guess. There's Miss Patty. I'm gonna follow her to my street just incase. Are you gonna be okay?'

'Yeah. I'll run home. Babette's waiting anyhow.'

Lane waved and hurried after Miss Patty. Rory glanced around warily again and took off for home.

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'Oh, Sugar, there you are! I was so worried. I called your mother to see if you had gone to the Inn, but here you are. You're all in once piece, right?'

'I'm okay, Babette.'

'Well, good, pet, good. Come inside and have some cookies while I ring your poor mother and tell her you got here.'

Just then the sound of the Jeep was heard and Lorelai, who had rushed from the Inn as soon as she had hung up from Babette's call, breaking several speed limits on the way, pulled into the driveway. Her heart finally began to cease thumping in her throat when she sighted Rory and Babette on the porch. Rory came running to the car and Lorelai got out.

'Rory, thank god.' She bent down and hugged her daughter.

'What took you so long, hmmm? Not talking to bikers again were you. I thought you told old Snake tooth to back off.'

Instead of laughing Rory just hugged her tighter.

'Hey, baby? Why so glum?'

Lorelai grabbed Rory's hand and led her towards their house.

'Thanks Babette! I think I'll give the payroll a miss tonight. Work can wait.'

'No problem Sugar. Have a good evening!'

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Rory was in bed early, even for a school night. Lorelai found this rather worrying. Her daughter tended to lay awake reading, till Lorelai noticed the light under her door and turned it off. But not tonight. She left her post in the doorway to kiss Rory and then went upstairs to bed. Rory would tell her what was up, sooner or later.

Rory opened her eyes when she heard her mom leave. She hadn't felt like answering questions. But the more she thought about having to walk home tomorrow, the more she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. She was going to have to tell her mom so that her mother wouldn't want her to walk home by herself.

She crept out of her bed and up the stairs, carefully avoiding the creaky step. She slowly inched open her mom's door and climbed silently onto the bed, where she sat at the end of the bed, hugging her knees, and waited.

After a couple of minutes Lorelai partially woke up and rolled over, adjusting her pillow. Suddenly her eyes flew open.

'Rory!'

'Mommy.'

'God, you scared me. What's wrong? Are you alright?'

'Mommy, I think I learned about Stranger Danger today.'

'Uh huh. Did, uh, Mrs. Lucey give you a talk about it? Cause this is really an interesting time for you to pick to tell me about it.'

'No. Mommy, I think someone followed me and Lane home from school.'

Lorelai felt her heart skip a beat. Maybe she was having a heart murmur. Whatever that was. What did a heart murmur feel like anyway?

'What? Is that why you were so quiet this afternoon? Is that why you were late home?'

'Yes. We…we went to Dooses instead of home. Lane didn't want to show him where we lived. But then Taylor kicked us out.'

'Oooh that Taylor...I swear I'll…'

'It was okay mom, the man had left.'

'Are you sure he was a he?"

'Well, no, we just presumed. He was driving a browny colored car.'

'Well I'll ring the school and tell them tomorrow, they'll probably want to let the police know just incase, anyhow.'

Rory sniffed

'It was scary, mommy. What if he'd tried to take us away?'

Lorelai opened her arms and Rory crawled across the bedclothes to snuggle into her mom's embrace.

'Aw honey. It's, okay you're safe. You and Lane did a good, smart thing today, going to the closest place you knew was safe.'

'I listened to what you said about strangers and stuff. I do listen sometimes, you know.'

'Well I appreciate that. Listen, baby, why don't I pick you and Lane up from school tomorrow. You can stay with me at the Inn till I finish.'

Rory breathed a sigh of relief. 'Can Lane come to work, too?'

'Sure, she can keep you company. I'll arrange it with Mrs. Kim in the morning.'

Rory climbed under the bedclothes beside her mother and squeezed her eyes shut.

'Can I sleep here tonight, mommy?'

Lorelai gave her daughter a lingering kiss and settled down beside her, trying to forget the worrying news she had just received. She put an arm around her baby, drawing security from the fact that Rory was here with her now.

'Sure, baby, of course. Night Rory.'

'Night mommy.'

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'Sookie! Come out here and look what we made!' Sookie glanced out the Inn's open kitchen window at where Lane and Rory were playing on the grass. There, set on a large tree stump, was a group of what appeared to be horse droppings.

'Uh, Rory. Where did you get that from, sweetie?'

Rory giggled. 'It's mud, silly. We're making mud pies! Just like yours!'

Sookie smiled and patted her apron.

'Well sure, but you realize that my mud pie is mud by name only. It's made from homemade chocolate cookies and bittersweet ganache.'

Rory looked confused.

'Well ours is made of mud, so ours is a real mud pie.'

'Now hang on a second, you can actually eat mine. I would strongly advise you girls to not eat those.'

Sookie then noticed the mud smears on Lanes chin.

'Of course, silly billy. We only pretend to eat them.' Rory giggled and took a handful of mud pie.

'Yes, but…'

'Sookie.'

Sookie turned around to see Lorelai standing in the kitchen behind her, an amused look on her face.

'You're arguing with my 8 year old daughter.'

'Lorelai…I mean, she's comparing her mud pie which is made of , well, mud, to my painstakingly prepared, chocolate rich, main dish for tonight's dessert menu!'

'And again, I find I must point out. She's eight.'

'Yes, but mines…edible'

'Aye Aye, Captain Obvious.'

A yell cut off the bantering between the two.

'Lorelai!' Lane came pounding up the stairs leading to the side door, which Lorelai hurriedly opened

'It's that man! The one with the yucky brown car. He's talking to Rory.'

Lorelai glanced up, and instantly panicked. A strange, dodgy man was standing there, in broad daylight, holding a conversation with the most precious thing in her life.

'RORY!' Lorelai rushed down the stairs, thanking god she didn't trip. Sookie took up the rear, brandishing a spatula and yelling. Boy could Sookie yell.

'Get away from her!'

The man, startled, grabbed Rory's wrist, which caused Rory to cry out, frightened that both her mom and Sookie were yelling, and he had a really tight grip.

Out of the blue, and absurdly comically, Sookie made a running jump and tackled the man, pinning him to the car. Rory, suddenly free, rushed towards her mother. Lorelai knelt to grab her daughter in a bear hug, and kissed her fiercely.

'Oh, baby. It's Okay. Shhh. I've got you. You're okay.'

Rory gripped her mom tightly as she looked up and saw Sookie still grappling with the man as he protested. She hid her face back in her mother's neck. Lorelai stood, up, still hugging her daughter tightly, and walked over to Sookie and the man. She blinked, and looked again.

'Sookie, leave him. It's okay.'

Sookie turned around, surprised.

'Are you sure? Cause I have a really heavy duty fish slicer back in the kitchen…'

'Not necessary. I know the scoundrel.'

'You do?'

Lorelai retained her firm grip on her daughter.

'Hi, Chris. Didn't recognize you. You…uh… decided to give up razors?'

Rory finally raised her head.

'I thought it was you, daddy! Honest I did. But I wasn't sure. You looked better without the caterpillar on your lip.'

'What were you doing following my daughter, Chris?'

'Our daughter, Lor. And it was in desperation to track you two down. You don't tell me anything, anymore! I'm her father.'

'Only by blood, and even that gives me nightmares.'

Lorelai turned to go, then stopped.

'There's a reason I don't tell you anything, Chris. It took you over a month to figure out we were gone, and since then you only come around town every now and then when you remember you actually have a daughter.'

'That's not fair, Lor.'

'No, it's not. It's not fair that Rory got stuck with a daddy who only comes around when the rest of the world is boring him. I'm doing what's best for her Chris. I'm not going to tease her with what she'll never have. Maybe if you stopped thinking of yourself for a split second, you'd understand that.'

With that, Lorelai marched back into the Inn, carrying Rory, and trying to ignore the fact that for some reason, mud was dripping into her hair.

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That's it, gang. There's been plenty of Christopher comes to town stories, so I don't really think I need to elaborate, do I? It's just the next story is based on a reference of when Rory was 10, so that's a bit down the track. If anyone can come up with another reference for when Rory was 8, maybe I could work in what happens with Christopher. But if not, lets just say he came, he was his usual 'I'm a good dad, really' self for a couple of days, he left, and Lorelai got on with her life coping just fine without him.