a/n: okay, so this is embarrassingly short, but i'm almost done with the next couple of chapters and just wanted to prove to all that: a) i'm still alive and b) i'm still working on this story!

Chapter Six

The next morning, Rory awoke to bright sunshine streaming onto her face.

"Ugh, who'd be mean enough to leave the curtains open? Oh, duh"

Now on a mission, Rory quickly got dressed and hurried down the stairs to the front desk. A serene Michel stood there, one eyebrow raised.

"May I help you?"

"Where's Mom?"

"Check the kitchen…" his voice trailed off as Rory's retreating figure rounded into the dining room.

Rory triumpantly pushed open the kitchen doors. "Aha!"

Sookie and Lorelai stood around the middle island, Lorelai with Sookie's new baby in her arms;Sookie with 1001 Names for Baby in her hand, half open.

"YOU left the curtains open!" said Rory, half-accusingly pointing a finger at Lorelai.

"That would be correct (pause), next one Sook" Lorelai smiled, knowing Rory would soon drop the subject.

"Berlin, Bertha, Bertrice," read Sookie.

"German city, just wrong and…" Lorelai stated.

"The little girl's name from Hope Floats" Rory contributed.

"So what are you doing back already Sookie? Are you supposed to be a home, resting with little Baby Melville?" Rory questioned.

"Yeah, I just ran in to check on the kitchen and read the B's section out loud to your mom, get some non-Jackson input" Sookie giggled, her usual manner restored since the birth of her second child.

"Tell ya what, Sookie, I'm gonna come by after work, drag Rory along and we'll get all the way through the G's"

"Oooh! A big dreamer, I like you! See ya around seven?"

"Sure thing"

After Sookie had left, Lorelai returned to her post at the front desk,while Rory tagged along.

"So, what are we doing today? Surely you got a replacement for today…MOM!" Rory said, noticing Lorelai's guilty look.

"No, I have to work all day. Darn these job requirements! Meet ya for lunch at Luke's though, say around noon?" Lorelai flashed her trademark grin.

"Ohhh-kaaay" Rory drug out the syllables.

"Gosh, that uber-expensive Ivy League education sure isn't helping you much with annuciating.

"Yeah, yeah. See ya at 12"