BluJPlover: :-) Thanx really much for your nice review!
LukelovesLorelai: Thank you so much! Keep reading.
sugary sweet: I haven't actually thought about love interests yet. Any ideas:-) And yes I want her to go to Chilton. Thanx for your review and interest.
Synch14: I'm thinking about a proper revenge. Also thank you to you for reviewing.
roywthepoddles: Thank you very much. Here the update.
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lorelai gilmore danes1: Here the update. Thanx for reviewing.
epone9009: Yeah, I guess I thought to much in this chapter. Thanks for pointing out my mistakes, I appreciate it. And thanx for reviewing every time. That's so nice.
AthleticCharmedOne: And finally also a big thank you to you. Keep reading. :-)
Thank you too all the readers and reviewers out there! This chapter, turned out a little bit wierd I personally think. This week I just couldn't find inspiration so thischapter is more of a filler again. Next chapter will concentrate on town life, grandparents, life at home. More interesting I guess!
Chapter 9:
Lorelai couldn't remember when she had been that happy the last time. As soon as she had woken up from the uncomfortable position, she and Rory had been sleeping in, she had noticed a little piece of paper, lying on the table beside her. Carefully, she leaned over to have a look at the mysteriously note, making sure she wouldn't wake Rory, who was still deeply slumbering in her lap. For a moment, her eyes had to adjust to the intensive light, which was shining through the huge glass windows of the hospital, before she let her eyes drift over the neatly written letters of the paper.
"I'LL COME HOME" Lorelai silently read out loud, trying to grasp the meaning of the message. She could have sworn she had heard a little "Bing" in her head as she finally realised, whoms note that was. She let out a high pitched squeak, but quickly covered her mouth with her hand, afraid to have woken up her sleeping daughter in her euphoria. Too late however, for Rory's eyes slowly fluttered open, and looked up to check what had made her mother cry out excitedly. Sleepily, she rubbed her eyes as she sat up, to see if everything was alright .
"Good morning. Hopefully, Milady had a descent night of sleep" she said jokingly in her typical Lorelai way of being.
"God…how can you be in such a mood this early" Rory said disgusted, as yesterday's events slowly came back to her. "Yesterday was not a dream, was it?" she stated, gently rubbing her aching neck. Falling asleep in that position had definitely been a big mistake.
"No it wasn't. But guess what I have found?" Lorelai said excitedly.
"One of those neck thingies?…I really need one right now."
"A neck brace?" Lorelai asked.
"Yeah…my neck is killing me. How could you let me fall asleep like that?" Rory said accusingly.
"Sorry daughter of mine. Guess again…no wait forget it! I'll show ya." She said as she smilingly gave her the piece of paper.
"Is that from…" Rory said astonished, as her eyes scanned over the note over and over again.
"Avery…yep" she finished her sentence, watching her daughter's reaction. "I know…it's just a tiny little step. But….it's a beginning. And I'm sure if we won't push her and act normally around her, she will trust us soon" Lorelai told her happily.
"She came to us…and it was her decision. God, I'm so happy about this." She squeaked as she tightly hugged Rory. In that same moment, Luke walked around the corner with two mugs of steaming hot coffee in his hands.
"Heaven has sent you" Lorelai said excitedly, as she let go of Rory and grabbed one of the mugs.
"I guess you feel better" Luke stated in his typical Luke gruffly voice.
He was glad that Lorelai was able to smile again. He really had been afraid, that yesterday's events would change something in Lorelai. He was afraid that she would loose her sense of humour and ability to smile, her inner Lorelai, as he would call it. And although he always pretended to be unnerved by her behaviour, it was in fact her unique personality, the mocking, pouting, ranting and joking, that made him love her so much. Yesterday had truly scared him, because for the first time, since he had known Lorelai, she seemed small and helpless. Yes it had scared him, but at the same time it had made him love her all the more because for once she had let down her wonder woman mask and had let him see everything of her. And while she had put down her mask for a second he had also put down the "Luke the gruffly diner owner" side of him. And so he prayed that after yesterday she would finally see him, not Luke the friend but the real Luke.
"I do in deed" Lorelai answered Luke's question and then showed him the note too.
"Oh yeah, that must have been around 3 a.m. I saw her, when she walked back into her room. She gave me small wave" he told her about the little nightly encounter.
"You should have woken me Luke" Lorelai said seriously and astonished at the same time that Avery would open up to him that much.
"Mmhhh..I couldn't bring it over me. You were so peacefully drooling on Rory's shoulder," he chuckled lightly.
"That is so….not true" Lorelai said indignantly, slapping him lightly on the shoulder.
"Uh, gross mom" Rory mumbled disgustedly into her coffee. "I told you….you are… drooling… in your sleep," she said between sips.
"Would we please stop that conversation about my drooling habits now" Lorelai sighed frustrated, as she laid her head back into her neck to enjoy this new feeling of happiness inside of her.
"Ah…good morning, I hope your night was not too bad" the voice of Mrs. Stevens suddenly interrupted there little banter.
"I remember better ones but thank you" Lorelai said politely, giving the nurse a little smile. "Can we take Avery with us today?" she quickly added.
"Medically seen there is no reason why she should stay here. She still needs rest…but she can also rest at home. However…the question is….will she come with you voluntarily?" the woman asked, with raised eyebrows.
"Don't worry, she said she would" Lorelai told her, not wanting to go further into the details.
"Oh….alright…I'm really surprised now…but that's great" the nurse said, excitement ringing in her voice. "I will make everything clear for her release." She told them before running off down the hallway.
"So I guess we better get her and then back into funky town" Lorelai said happily, as she lightly knocked on the door, before entering the room.
Avery had hardly slept that night, because she had been constantly questioning herself, if she had made the right decision in writing that note. About ten times she had caught herself getting up, wanting to go out and take the message back. But every time she had stopped herself from doing so, as she had watched the content looking silhouettes of her mother and sister in the darkness of the night. They seemed so calm and peaceful together and an unbelievable trust could be seen between the both of them. So, every time she would make her way back into bed again and start to think her decisions through anew. She wished she would have had a piece of paper where she could write one of her lists like she always did. However, she had used the only paper-like-material, the hospital's menu card for today's breakfast, to scribble down the message for her mother.
Writing a list was something she had always done as long as she could think back. She would write down things she had to do and most importantly things she would say to other people. The constant oppression of her stepfather had really taken every spark of self-consciousness from her. It had become really difficult for Avery to lead a conversation without the anxiety of saying something wrong.
A list gave her a certain feeling of security and comfort. Through this lack of talking and being extremely shy and silent all the time, she never really had made friends. Nobody would talk to her, because they already knew that the conversation would only be one-sided.
Right now, she cursed the hospital for not having paper in their rooms. She so badly wanted to write down the things she could say to her mother and sister! Not being able to do so, made her completely nervous and supported her inability to fall asleep all the more. Until the early hours of the morning, when the first sunrays of a new promising day finally found their way over her porcelain looking face, she sat upright in bed and went through the things she would or could or should say to Rory and Lorelai. Around 8 a.m. her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a light knock on the door and in came her mother like a dazzling hazard.
"Morning morning morning beautiful" she said enthusiastically, happiness radiating from her face. "Ready to go home?"
Avery looked astonished up from her current position as she studied the action of her mother closely. Like yesterday she felt this incredibly feeling of comfort and security, when her mother was around her. This time, however, she didn't break the contact between them, like she had done yesterday. No, today she relished the comfortable new sensation she felt every time her new family surrounded her. So, Avery's eyes kept fixated on her newly found mother as she happily chattered with Rory and Luke, who followed closely behind.
"You know what I think" Lorelai asked Rory the second time this day.
"That you need to apologize for your drooling attack on me?" Rory smiled sheepishly at her.
"For the last time, could we drop that topic for once and all"? she answered, throwing her arms dramatically above her head.
"No…I thought that we could pull a major all nighter today. With fries, burgers, onion rings, ice cream, red vines, marshmallows, jelly beans, chocolate kisses, cookies, rolos, pizza,….Have I forgotten anything?" Lorelai asked with shining eyes, at a speed of 100 km per hour.
"Jeez, take a breath" Luke interrupted her rant.
"Just me, Rory, you…" she pointed at Avery, who stared at her completely perplexed.
"And also you Luke…are invited to our little food orgy" she told him.
"I don't know Lorelai" Luke said a little embarrassed while playing with his baseball cap.
"Oh come on Luke! It'll be fun…and if you want to you can even bring your rabbit food" Lorelai said while giving him her best pout.
"Rabbit food…what's that supposed to mean" he asked, although he already suspected what was going to come now.
"Food that grows on trees or on the floor….salad, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes…spinach…..aahhh…peas and carrots….aaaannnd zucchini….ahm…. beans, ….how long do you want me to go on" she sighed frustrated.
"Just wanted to see how long you would hold through" he smirked. "Actually I'm quiet surprised you could name so many vegetables considering the fact you hardly ever eat them.
"Vegetables, that was the word I was looking for" she said in a "duh" voice.
Avery, who had fascinated watched their little banter from the bed, sat there, mouth wide open, and wondered how one person could talk that much in such a small amount of time. Only listening to her words made her head spin. That woman was acting so differently than any other person she had ever met before. Never before had anyone paid so much attention to her or asked her to do something with him. Even though she didn't quiet know what a all nighter was, for the first time she had the slight feeling of belonging to somebody. And that was a terrific feeling.
"So are you okay with this tonight or don't you feel like having a movie night?" Lorelai then asked Avery.
"Oh my god…has she asked me a question?" Avery thought as panic started to rise up in her.
"Say something Avery….say something…come on they are waiting. Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Have you seen Willie Wonka before? You will love the Oompa Loompas! Everyone loves the Oompa Loompas, right?" she said more like a statement than a question, continuing herflow of questions, in which Avery seemed to drown any second.
"Yeah…but if love turns into insanity, like when you want to marry them…then I would really start to worry." Rory grinned mischievously.
"It was a dream alright…only a dream" she countered, nudging her side.
"Ahm…are you okay with it Hon?" Lorelai asked again, as she watched Avery, whose body seemed to shake slightly.
"Get a grip and say something." She told herself, as she finally nodded her head yes.
"Yes" she whispered silently.
"Great!" Lorelai said, as she quickly tried to change the topic, for Avery seemed really uncomfortable in her current state. "Then lets go home" she gave her daughter an encouraging smile before they finally left the hospital.
"People will be so excited to meet you" Lorelai told Avery, who was sitting beside Rory on the backseat of the car.
"You will love Stars Hollow, believe me. You never get bored. Cute little shops and cafes…:"
"Crazy, people, annoying town meetings…" Luke continued.
"Stop it…don't tell her something like that" Lorelai said, rolling her eyes. "He is an old grumpy man, don't listen to him."
"Luke here owns a diner. We would have died a slow and painful death a long time ago, if Luke wouldn't feed us" she explained seriously.
"And then there is of course the library" Rory went on explaining the little city. "That's where I spend most of my time. I love reading…."
"That's the understatement of the year. This girl can't live without books." Lorelai interrupted her.
"Anyways, I have dozens of books. You can borrow some of mine. Do you like to read?" she asked her sister, who silently sat beside her.
"I do…..Had she said that out lout now?" she thought as she looked over to Rory.
"That's great!" Rory said.
"Obviously she had," she thought relieved.
"Mom, have you called grandma and grandpa?" Rory suddenly asked.
A small gasp could be heard from the front of the car. Lorelai had been so caught up in yesterday's events that she had completely forgotten to call her parents and tell them that their granddaughter was alive.
"Oh oh" she said turning back to Rory.
"They will be so mad that you haven't called them immediately." Rory said.
"They don't have to know, right?" she said mischievously, as Rory shook her head like a mother would do to her child.
"Sorry mom" Lorelai said sarcastically. "God, I haven't even called Sookie or the hotel. You really think that I have called my parents when I haven't even phoned them?" she asked.
"Meeting my parents, sweetheart, is such an enrichment on your personal life, an experience you don't want to miss….it is…
"Mom, stop it." Rory said, shaking her head. "They are not that bad. Really not, Avery."
"You know Avery…we need to find you a nickname." Lorelai said suddenly.
"Rory is actually short for Lorelai…don't ask how I came up with that...but I think we should hold on to this little tradition. So any suggestions?" she asked as she tried to think of something original.
"Ave…Ava…Ery…hmmmm….or Eli….Liz…Beth…ugh I can't believe I suggested that right now…oh….oh….I know…Ella. I think you look like a Ella! What do you think? Like, dislike?"
Avery stared at her mother as she tried to find a perfect nickname for her. Had anyone ever done such nice thing for her?
"Maybe for once, things would turn out right" Avery thought, as she watched her mother amused. She couldn't remember if she had ever looked that positively into the future and as she was sitting there, watching these people, who seemed to take such an interest in her, she was really glad that she had written that note. It was definitely the start of a new promising day, no future.