Oneshot about Charlotte turning thirteen!
Charlotte rolls over for the hundredth time, unable to drift off. There is glitter on the pillow from the party earlier and Charlotte scowls, getting out of bed. Turning on the light, Charlotte blinks at her reflection in the mirror. She is newly thirteen. Being a teenager is supposed to be a big deal but so far it's mainly been a disappointment. Picking up her hairbrush, Charlotte tries to get the rest of the glitter out. She turned thirteen yesterday but it was Annie's birthday today. No one cares about her being a teenager anymore. The whole day was focused on Annie's fairy party. The house was in chaos and Charlotte stood in the corner, making sarcastic comments until Rory finally sent her to the store for soda. Charlotte knows it was just to get her out of the house and she scowled the whole way there in the car, not making any conversation with her father, refusing to admit she was green with jealousy. Jess tried getting her to talk but, after Charlotte would only shrug or nod, he gave up. Charlotte knew she was being a pain but was too mad to care and, later that night, when her parents were clearing up, Charlotte overheard her mother say, "Those hormones kicked in the second she hit thirteen."
Fine, Charlotte thinks angrily. If they're going to expect a teenage attitude they can get one. She doesn't even want to be thirteen. She wants to be five again, like her little sister, when everything was easier. Placing the brush down, Charlotte catches sight of the earrings Logan gave her. They're beautiful, golden, with blue drops at the end. Charlotte had been so happy when she opened them. Logan's gifts, while always expensive can be kind of hit and miss, but the earrings were perfect. How did he know she'd been campaigning to get her ears pierced? Charlotte didn't remember telling him but obviously she had, either in email or over the phone and he remembered. Logan isn't the most reliable at remembering things but he remembered this, he knew she wanted them, and Charlotte's happy surprise had lasted all day, all through the rest of the gifts and the special birthday dinner and the movie night with Nana Lorelai. Charlotte couldn't stop smiling. She caught sight of Jess when they were clearing the things away and he looked sad. Charlotte loved his gift too, a book she'd wanted for weeks and a token for another, but it wasn't as surprising. Jess had instantly given Charlotte a quick smile as he looked up, but Charlotte knows he was sad. She was still happy, not lingering on that, and was actually excited to call Logan to thank him. He hadn't answered the first time Charlotte called but picked up the second time.
"Thank you!" Charlotte had exclaimed and for a second Logan sounded confused, until Charlotte reminded him about the earrings.
"Right," Logan said, more confidently. "Happy Birthday!"
"How did you know?" Charlotte asked, bursting with excitement. "They're perfect!"
"I know girls like jewellery," Logan replied. "I bet these will go great with your collection."
Charlotte's bubble of joy started to puncture. "My collection?"
"I bet you get your mom to buy earrings all the time."
"These are my first set," Charlotte said quietly, feeling herself droop. "I don't have my ears pierced."
"What?" Logan exclaimed. "No way. I swear you got your ears pierced way back."
"No."
"I remember when you came to London to see me when you were two, three, maybe, and I said you could get your ears pierced at a jeweller around the corner. Your mom went ballistic."
Charlotte laughed hollowly and Logan said, "I hope your mom lets you get your ears pierced now. I mean, you have the earrings!"
"Yeah," she said quietly and Logan said, "Listen sweetie, I have to go. Happy Birthday. You're thirteen now, right?"
"Right," Charlotte said, hating that he had to check. She knows he was checking. "I'm thirteen."
"My daughter's a teenager. I don't know how that happened."
Charlotte made a non-committal sound and Logan coughed.
"Well, I should go. Happy Birthday!"
"Thanks," Charlotte said and then she heard him hanging up. She held the phone in her hand for a moment, blinking back tears, before forcing them back and leaving the hall. Rory asked how Logan was and Charlotte had simply said he was fine. She didn't tell her or Jess or Lorelai the truth. They were already busy talking about Annie's birthday.
Charlotte doesn't even like the earrings anymore. Snapping the box shut, she exits the bedroom and goes into the kitchen. She knows she won't sleep. Opening the fridge, she sees her birthday cake and, after looking guiltily behind her, slides it out. Whatever, Charlotte thinks. It's her cake. Finding a plate and a knife, she starts to cut herself a slice and almost leaps into the air as a small voice says, "What are you doing?"
Charlotte turns to see Annie, frowning at her, and Charlotte automatically says, "Nothing."
"You're eating cake."
"None of your business."
"I want cake," Annie declares. She sits at the table expectantly and, gritting her teeth, Charlotte replies, "Fine." Dividing the slice into two, she goes over to the table and Annie asks, "Why are you awake?"
"Why are you?"
"Woke up," Annie says simply. The sisters eat cake silently until Annie asks, "Can I be a fairy?"
"What?"
"'Cause of my party."
Charlotte is about to tell her no, that she's being dumb, when suddenly she finds herself say, "You're a changeling."
Annie blinks in the bright kitchen light and asks, "What's that?"
"It means you are a fairy," Charlotte says, leaning forward. "Mom and Dad aren't your real mom and dad. Your real mom and dad are fairies."
Annie's eyes are round as saucers as Charlotte starts getting into the story. "When you were born, the fairies switched you. You're not really Mom and Dad's baby. The fairies took the real Annie and left you instead. See that freckle by your ear? That means you're a fairy."
"Why did Mommy and Daddy have me?"
"Because they felt bad," Charlotte says, almost believing it. "Because you couldn't help having a different mom and dad, and they love you, so they've kept it secret. You're still family."
Looking up she, she sees Annie's lip is trembling, and Charlotte knows it went too far as she says, "I don't want to be a fairy!"
"Hey –" Charlotte is about to reassure her, admit she was kidding, when suddenly the door flings open and makes the girls jump. Rory and Jess are standing there, looking confused and then annoyed as Rory exclaims, "Girls, it's midnight. Is that birthday cake?"
Jess looks like he's trying not to laugh but then frowns as Annie wails, "I don't want to be a changeling!"
"What?"
Charlotte sinks down in her chair as the story spills out. With her arms flung around Rory's waist, Annie sobs everything Charlotte said to her. By the time Annie has stopped hiccupping and been assured it was just a joke, Charlotte knows from the look on her parents' faces that she's in big trouble.
"Come on, Annie-girl. I'll read you a story," Jess tells Annie, kissing the top of her head. "No fairies, I swear."
"As for you," Rory says to her older daughter, "We're going to have a talk about fact and fiction."
Charlotte stares at the table until the kitchen door closes and Rory explodes.
"What is the matter with you? Your little sister is five years old!"
"It was just a joke!"
"Not a funny one! You knew that would scare her, that was cruel. You're her big sister. You're supposed to take care of her, not freak her out! You're thirteen! You're old enough to know better! You're a teenager!"
"I don't want to be a teenager!"
"I don't want you to be a teenager either!" Rory retorts. "Not if you're going to be like this!"
"I hate you!" Charlotte shouts. Kicking her chair back, she runs out of the back door in her bare feet down the street, ignoring her mother shout, "Charlotte, get back here!"
Charlotte runs down the street, not turning around, knowing her mother is right behind her. She runs and runs until she reaches the main road and stops, her breath hurting her chest. As she halts, Charlotte hears her mother reach her, and before she can turn Rory has put both hands on her shoulders and is whirling her around.
"Charlotte Lorelai Gilmore!"
"Go away," Charlotte says, starting to cry. "Leave me alone!"
"Not happening," Rory says seriously. "Let's go."
"No!"
"Charlotte, I'm not leaving you outside in the middle of the night," Rory says firmly. "Come on."
Charlotte cries harder but starts walking back. When they reach the house Rory seems less mad as she asks, "You want to tell me what that was about?"
Charlotte folds her arms, sniffling, and Rory says, "Okay. You want to have some coffee?"
"Okay." Charlotte can't think of a reason to decline. The back door is still open and Charlotte wanders into the yard. It's a warm, still night and all the stars are out. Her mother joins her a few minutes later and, instead of telling her to go back indoors, sits on the step. Charlotte sits down too, taking the cup, and for a moment they sip in silence.
"Look at those stars," Rory says. "Aren't they beautiful?"
"Yeah." Charlotte nervously looks at her, afraid Rory is going to start yelling, but instead her mother puts her arms around her.
"I remember when you were a baby," she tells her, "and I took you to see Emily, and there were stars out on a night just like this. It was so beautiful. It was the middle of the night and you were crying, so I took you for a walk and we sat, you and me, and looked at the stars. They were so clear and you stopped crying. Don't they seem bigger than you? Bigger than everything?"
"Was it -was it beautiful then?" Charlotte asks, trying to find what she means. "That night, when I made you get up?"
Rory laughs fondly and says, "I don't think I was thrilled that you couldn't sleep. But it was special, taking you out to see the stars. It was just us. Just like right now. Me and my girl."
Charlotte takes a big sip of coffee before saying, "I don't hate you."
"I know."
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are."
"I didn't mean to scare her," Charlotte says nervously and, at her mother's raised eyebrows, "Okay, maybe a little. But not that much."
"Can I ask why you made that thing up?"
"I don't know, I…Annie asked if she could be a fairy. And I thought it was kind of a cool story."
"Maybe don't tell her the cool story like it's real next time."
"If it was real, you wouldn't love Annie less, right?" Charlotte asks slowly. "She couldn't help having a different mom and dad, right?"
"Charlotte," Rory says, putting her cup down. "Is that why – oh, angel. Come here."
Rory is hugging Charlotte tightly, kissing her tangled hair which still has glitter in it.
"I love you more than anything in the world, you know that, right? Me and your dad, we love you more than anything. You're our daughter. You're our everything."
Charlotte smiles but as Rory looks into her eyes she says, "Logan didn't know my ears aren't pierced."
"What?"
"I thought the earrings were because of that, but he just figured I have a ton already."
"Oh, Charlotte."
"It's okay," Charlotte says automatically, even though it isn't, and knows Rory is trying to make her feel better as she says, "But you want to get your ears pierced, right? You asked if you could when you turned thirteen. And they are beautiful earrings."
"They are," Charlotte agrees quietly. She isn't so sure if she even wants her ears pierced now but doesn't say anything. Silently, she finishes her coffee, and Rory adds, "You can choose another pair, if you want."
"Okay." Charlotte feels a little better as she asks, "Do you really wish I wasn't a teenager?"
"No," Rory says and then they both laugh. "I didn't really mean that. But I might if you run out in the middle of the night again. You scared the hell out of me."
"I'm sorry."
"We're good. I love you, sweets."
"I love you too."
Mother and daughter jump as Jess appears behind them, asking, "This another impromptu party?"
"Just figuring out some stuff."
"And is it?"
"I think so," Charlotte says. Mostly, at least, she thinks. Jess smiles and then hands them each a slice of cake.
"Jess!" Rory exclaims and laughs as he says, "Rory Gilmore, it is biologically impossible for you not to want cake."
"Who am I to argue with science?" Rory declares. "Thank you very much."
They finish their cake, Jess saying that Annie is asleep with no sign of nightmares, and telling Charlotte she can apologise to her sister in the morning.
"I will," Charlotte says guiltily. Her parents exchange a look and then Rory says, "I was just telling Charlotte about the time I took her to see the stars when she was a baby. You know, when we stayed with Emily."
"Huh."
"You were asleep," Rory clarifies and Jess nods.
"I was thinking that it reminds me of when you were pregnant," he says. "Remember, Rory? That Christmas you came to Stars Hollow and were pregnant with Charlotte? You were sitting on the step just like this."
"That's right!" Rory exclaims and then smiles at Charlotte. "And here's my little baby."
"I'm not a baby," Charlotte mumbles, feeling a little embarrassed. She drinks the last of her coffee as Rory says, "I was so scared and your dad was right there."
"Took you out for doughnuts and day-old coffee."
"What more could a girl want?" Rory laughs. "But it was perfect, Jess. I knew we'd be okay."
She kisses Charlotte's cheek and adds, "Jess was your dad before he was even your dad."
"That was an honour," Jess says seriously. "I knew that too."
They all smile, Charlotte unsure what to say, until finally Rory gets up, saying it's late. She heads inside, Charlotte following, and pausing, feeling guilty about not seeming happier about her gift from Jess. Hugging him tightly, she thanks him again, and Jess kisses the top of her head.
"I knew it's what you wanted."
"It's exactly what I wanted," Charlotte says, feeling bad about the earrings again. "I love it. Can we choose another book tomorrow with my token?"
"Sure," Jess says fondly. "I'd love to."
Charlotte pauses again, saying, "I'm sorry I said that stuff to Annie. It was just a story, but…but if it was true, it doesn't matter where you come from, right?"
"Where you come from matters the least," Jess says and then he's hugging her tightly. "Nothing could make me love my daughters any differently. It doesn't matter if they have different dad or a different mom. You're my girls"
"I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Charlotte."
Charlotte gets ready for bed, suddenly exhausted. She brushes her hair again and, as she sees the earrings, puts them in a drawer. Where the box stood is a framed photo of her as a baby, rocked in Rory's arms, and Charlotte smiles. She is Charlotte Lorelai Gilmore, no need for other stories at all.