Author's Note:
Rory comes home for the holidays and finds that things change, even in Stars Hollow. It takes place four years after Bon Voyage, not necessarily A Year in the Life compliant, but I tried as hard as I could without actually having to watch it again. It does evoke some similar themes, so it may be something of a fix fic, if you squint.
The story's six chapters are all complete and will be posted shortly. Future installments will feature Lorelai, Jess, and Luke, as well as various townie shenanigans.
Back to the Old House
I would rather not go
Back to the old house
…
Here began all my dreams
The saddest thing I've ever seen
-The Smiths, "Back to the Old House"
There was a CVS on the Stars Hollow town square. Stars Hollow, home of Le Chat Club and Sophie's Music and Taylor's Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe and countless kitschy festivals, had a CVS.
The revelation startled Rory, who knew this town inside and out. Who grew up wandering these streets with Lane. Who had only been gone for…
Huh. Had it really been six months? She'd come for Michel's wedding in June, but surely she'd been back since then. Maybe for the…?
No, she had to admit it had been six months. Just long enough to build a CVS, apparently.
With one last glance at the neon lights of the CVS sign, she continued trudging along the snowy sidewalk, clutching her coat tighter around her.
She opened the door to Luke's, the bell tinkling above her head as the warmth of the diner enveloped her. Old reliable Luke's. This place had fed and coffee'd her since she was old enough to hold her own mug. The kind of place where a hooligan nephew had to come to town for the special to ever change. But had that bell on the door always been there?
Luke wasn't there, which surprised her. It's not that he never left the diner, but in her mental picture of the place, Luke always loomed large behind the counter, gruff and kind and reliable.
"Whacha doing here, doll?" asked a throaty voice. Rory turned to see Babette and Morey sitting at a table to her right, eating classic Luke's burgers. She'd missed those burgers. "Your mom said you wouldn't be able to make it until just before Patty's Christmas pageant tomorrow."
Rory shrugged. "I got off work earlier than expected."
Babette barely acknowledged this, eager to move on to juicier topics. "So, how's the dating scene in New York? I know those Sex and the City gals have always got a fella to get dirty with. You got anyone special keeping you warm at night?"
Not quite sure how to respond to this, Rory gave the couple a demure smile and said, "The dating scene in New York is about the same as anywhere else."
"Oh, that can't be true! In a town like this, you find a good man and you gotta hold on to him"—Babette grabbed Morey's arm for emphasis—"but you must just have a buffet of options in the Big Apple."
Rory remembered being teased for calling it the Big Apple, when she'd skipped school and spent the day looking at records and eating hotdogs and feeling things.
"I suppose you could look at it that way," she allowed. "Look, it's been great seeing you, but I should go ahead and order. My mom's starving at home, and you know her appetite won't wait for anyone." Not that she'd actually talked to Lorelai today—she'd just sent her mom a quick text this morning saying she was coming home early—but it was probably a safe assumption that she was hungry.
"Alright, sugar, you go feed that mother of yours. We'll see you at the pageant!"
"It's good to have you back," Morey added more sedately.
She nodded at them and proceeded to counter, where Lane was just popping out of the back room.
"Rory!" Lane cried, almost dropping the jar of pickles she was holding.
"Hey, Lane." Lane set down the jar and came around the counter to give Rory a hug. "I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow—didn't you have a big assignment to finish?"
Rory gave her a small smile. "Things just happened to work out this way. So, what's with the Luke's merch?" She gestured up at the wall, where instead of shelves with rows of mismatched mugs, there was a collection of branded Luke's merchandise for sale, baseball caps and t-shirts and travel cups. "I never thought I'd see the day when Luke would go corporate."
Lane frowned. "He hasn't gone corporate, he's just trying to keep up with the times. It was actually Zach's idea."
"Oh, cool," Rory said, somewhat unconvincingly, before changing gears. "So, how are my godchildren? Have they picked up any instruments yet? I haven't seen them in forever!"
Lane let out a laugh. "Well, Kwan has been really into the piano, mostly he just wants to learn the Dora theme song, but still, and Gil's been teaching Steve how to play the gayageum. But they miss their Aunt Rory. I don't think they've seen you since we went to Zach's Vapor Rub gig in New York. That was, what, three months ago?"
"That sounds about right. Good show, though."
"He's really talented," Lane said proudly.
Rory just nodded. She really shouldn't say anything. Lane was a grown-up making her own choices. But, despite her best efforts, she couldn't help herself. "You're really talented."
She could see Lane tense up, like Janie Fertman was trying to be her friend again. "I know."
"It's just—you've always dreamed of being a real drummer."
"I am a real drummer." Lane looked away from her and began bussing some plates with more force than necessary.
"No, I know," Rory said placatingly, half wishing she could take back what she'd said.
"Hep Alien is a real band. We play gigs all the time." Lane walked over to start bussing another table, forcing Rory to follow after her. She noticed Babette and Morey and a few other diners watching them with interest.
"At churches."
"Yeah, at churches, and at house parties, and even at a couple of bars in Woodbury."
Rory tried to help Lane with a couple of glasses, but Lane snatched them from the table before Rory could get to them. "Okay, I didn't know about Woodbury," she conceded. "But—"
"But what, Rory?" Lane gave up any pretense of working. "I have two four-year-olds! I don't have time to work and take care of them and try to get a gig with a touring band. Which you'd know, if you were ever around."
Rory dropped her head. "I know. I'm sorry."
Lane sighed and rubbed a hand across her face. "I'm sorry, too—I'm just stressed. I've got to get back to work." She turned to walk back to the counter, but stopped to ask, "Do you still want to meet up at the pageant tomorrow?"
"Of course."
