Authors note: Just keeping everyone who is reading on the same page. If we are following the timeline we are at about mid season four. I will still be writing but it will probably be slower chapter updates. I am glad it seems so many are enjoying this.
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Lorelai woke up on her birthday at 8 am. She laid in bed and looked up at the ceiling. She had caved to having a small gathering for her birthday. She had never had a birthday party. At least not one she could remember. In the home when it came to birthday's they were basically ignored by their foster mother, and she never told the other girls when her birthday, so they didn't even know. If the other girls shared their birthdays sometimes they would get handmade cards or pictures from others in the home, but it wasn't anything that was really celebrated.
She looked at her phone. She had several texts saying happy birthday and she smiled a bit. She did have to admit it felt good to have people who cared enough to text her, so she had the messages to wake up to. She sent back thank you texts before getting up and going into the kitchen where things were already underway.
"Happy Birthday!" Rachel said to her as soon as she saw her and ran and hugged her.
Lorelai smiled and hugged her little sister. "Thank you."
Aaron handed her a cup of coffee. "Happy Birthday. Your job today is to sit and be pampered." He said
Lorelai took the coffee and took a sip. "But.."
"Nope. Those are the rules. You're birthday. You just relax. Now enjoy you're coffee. Breakfast will be ready soon." He told her.
Lorelai sighed but went and sat in the living room and sipped her coffee. She looked around the room that had been decorated with balloons and streamers and a birthday banner.
It wasn't long before Jack came running into the room and tackle hugged her. She had heard the knock on the door just a couple minutes before it was obviously Haley and Jack had arrived. Haley had been spending more time with them all recently and Lorelai was happy about it because even though she obviously knew about most of what caused the divorce, she was also seeing that the two still seemed very close and she hoped that maybe with her coming around more often that maybe they could rekindle something. She knew better than to meddle but didn't mean she couldn't see what was happening. And how happy Aaron was with her around.
"Hey Jack." She said setting her coffee down and picking him up and giving him a tight hug.
"Happy Birthday!" He said loudly.
Lorelai chuckled, "thank you little brother."
Haley came into the room. "Morning. Happy Birthday Lorelai."
Lorelai looked up at her. "Thank you." She said
They were all called to come into the kitchen for breakfast.
Aaron had made pancakes and bacon. There was an array of fruit and other toppings for them all to top their pancakes.
Lorelai set Jack in his seat before she sat down as well. The five of them sat and ate breakfast together.
After breakfast Lorelai tried to help clean up but was told no. She didn't argue. Instead, she went and got herself ready.
When she came back out about an hour later. They had finished decorating the house. Lorelai smiled. "You didn't have to do all this." She said
Haley smiled. "Its your birthday. This is how it works. You get decorations."
Lorelai shrugged. "Okay. Well, thank you all. It looks great."
Jack hugged her leg tight. Lorelai chuckled. "You know that makes it very hard for me to move."
Jack giggled and nodded.
Lorelai walked over to the couch kind of dragging Jack with her causing him to giggle some more.
She sat on the couch. Jack let go and went and started to play with some toys.
Once the dishes were done and they had made sure to prep everything for the BBQ they would be having later. They all sat and waited for the rest of the guests to arrive.
Lorelai was surprised when Rebecca walked into the living room a few hours later. She had no idea she was coming. "Surprise." Rebecca said.
Lorelai stood up and went and hugged her. "Happy birthday." Rebecca told her with a smile hugging her.
Lorelai shook her head. "Dad. Why didn't you tell me she was coming?"
"That would defeat the purpose of a surprise." Aaron said with a smirk
Shortly after the rest of the guest arrived. It was the team as well as JJ's partner Will and their son Henry.
After the greetings and hugs they all headed outside to start the party. They had decorated outside too. She smiled.
The day went on and Aaron and David took turn grilling as they both seemed to think they were better at it than each other. Lorelai chuckled watching the interaction.
Spencer sat down next to her. "Are you enjoying your party?" He asked
Lorelai nodded. "Of course. A lot of work seemed to have gone into it." She said
Spencer shrugged. "It's what you do when you want to celebrate someone you care about."
She nodded again. "I guess I am still getting use to it all."
"Understandably." He said before Rebecca dragged Lorelai away to another spot to talk girl talk.
Lorelai smiled. "Hey. I am so glad you are here." She said
Rebecca smiled. "Me too. Guess what?"
"What?" Lorelai asked
"I found my soulmate." Rebecca told her
Lorelai smiled. "That's awesome! Who is it?"
Rebecca spent the next thirty minutes talking about her new guy. The conversation was ended when Aaron called them to come over to get food. Both girls went and filled their plates with BBQed burgers & corn as well as some salad before sitting down with the rest of the group and eating. When they were done eating, Lorelai opened up the gifts she received and ended with a small box.
"This is from Rachel & I." Aaron told her
Rachel spoke up. "I didn't do much to help with it." She said
"Sure, you did," Aaron told her.
Lorelai smiled and opened it. She made a face. "They are keys." She said
Aaron nodded. "To your new car. And I know that you are going to argue about taking it, but you deserve it. It is your car. I think I overreacted a bit with the situation."
Lorelai was shocked. "Dad… Thank You. No. You didn't overreact. I wasn't being responsible. You were right."
Aaron shrugged. "Well. The past few months. You have proven that I -can trust that it wont happen again."
Lorelai got up and hugged him tight. Aaron hugged her. "Go on. Go check it out." He told her
Lorelai went to the front of the house and found the car. It was a nice car. Nothing super fancy but it was new. She did check it out a bit. Before heading back outback to the party. "Its great. Thank you again."
Aaron smiled. "You're welcome."
The rest of the party went on and as it started to get dark they all migrated inside everyone bringing in some things from outside to the kitchen before all gathering in the living room to finish off the night. Everyone eventually left expect Rebecca who was spending the night before heading back home.
Aaron and Rachel cleaned up from the party letting the two older girls talk and talk they did. Eventually Rachel joined them, and they talked into the night. Aaron sent Rachel to bed at midnight before heading to bed himself. The two older girls stayed up talking about everything under the sun. Eventually they feel asleep on the couch.
Aaron woke up the next morning and went to the kitchen passing by the living room and seeing the ladies asleep on the couch. He smiled and shook his head. He was happy to see that she seemed to be happier than she had been in awhile. He went to the kitchen and started to make coffee.
The smell woke Lorelai up and she went into the kitchen. "Morning." She said
Aaron looked up. "Good morning. What time did you end up crashing?"
Lorelai chuckled. "After 3."
Aaron shook his head and smiled. "A lot to catch up on?"
"Yes. A lot." She said
Aaron handed her a cup of coffee before taking his and heading to the table and sitting. Lorelai sat with him, and they both sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes.
"I'm ready." Lorelai said
"Ready?" He asked
"To come back. To work." She said
Aaron nodded and took a breath. "Okay. I need you to get approval from your phycologist."
Lorelai nodded. "I can do that."
"Lorelai. Are you sure? I know you have had a few really good days. I don't want you to come back before you are sure." He said
Lorelai nodded. "Yes. I am sure. I have been feeling ready for a few weeks. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't jumping back to quickly. I am ready."
Aaron smiled and nodded. "Okay. When you are cleared you can come back."
"I will do that this week." She said.
Rebecca came in a few minutes later and Lorelai got her some coffee.
"Thanks. I haven't stayed up that late in years." She said
Lorelai chuckled. "Well. My job keeps me awake over night often. But last night was definitely more enjoyable."
"I don't know how you can handle no sleep for days." Rebecca said
Lorelai shrugged. "When I am deep in the work. I don't notice the time."
Aaron nodded. "It's a biproduct of the work we do. We get so focused."
Rebecca nodded. "It makes sense."
Aaron looked at Rebecca. "Have you figured out what your plans for the future are?" He asked her
"Dad. Don't pry." Lorelai told him
"No. It's okay. I don't mind." Rebecca told them. "I have. I am going to law school." She continued. "I have applied all over the country and just waiting for acceptance letters. I've gotten a few rejections but still waiting for response from a few." She told them.
Aaron smiled. "That's great. Where is your top choice?" He asked
"Well, My top choice. Is Harvard. I don't have high hopes for that. I was rejected by Yale and Harvard has a lower acceptance rate. But honestly any school that I get an acceptance to I will consider." Rebecca told him.
Aaron nodded. "Good way to think of it. Wherever you go I'm positive you will be successful. If you need any help I have a lot of friends in the field I can make a few calls." He said
Rebecca shook her head. "I appreciate the offer, but I need to prove to myself I can do this on my own."
Aaron nodded, "Understood. If you change your mind you can let me know."
Rebecca nodded. "I will keep that in mind."
They all finished their coffees before they went to change and get ready for the day. Lorelai went out after getting ready and made them all breakfast. Rachel had come out ready for the day while Lorelai was making breakfast so the four of them sat down and ate afterward Lorelai and Rebecca cleaned up and did the dishes. Rebecca thanked them all for having her but told them that she should probably head out. She had to get home and back to work the next day.
"You're always welcome." Aaron told her
Rachel hugged her. Lorelai walked out to her car with her. "Thank you for coming. It wouldn't have been the same without you." She told her
"I'm happy I finally got to celebrate your birthday. I never knew when it was before so I could never do anything for you the way you did for the rest of us." Rebecca told her.
Lorelai smiled and gave her a hug. Rebecca hugged her before getting into her own car.
Lorelai stepped away from it and watched her friend driveaway. She went back inside. The rest of the day was uneventful. The three of them did their own things. Lorelai got a text from Rebecca when she got back home letting her know she was home safe. Lorelai went to bed early. She was tired and had an appointment the next day she did not want to miss.
