A/N : Full name = Margaret "Macie" Rose Gilmore. Nickname/Predominantly Used Name = Macie.


YEAR: 1991

"Macie darling," Nydia soothed, rubbing the small of her 11-year-old daughters back, "it's time to wake up baby," she cooed attempting to get her out of bed. Today was especially eventful and most definitely an exciting day for the young girl. It was her first day at her new prep school, Chilton, whilst her two older brothers attended Kingswood-Oxford School. Her family had moved home from London during the summer break and the young girl was extremely anxious about starting at her new school.

"Five more minutes, mum," The young girl slurred, shaking her head. Macie refusing to open her eyes, attempted to pull the covers over her head, shielding her from the morning sunshine, her terrors had refused her sufficient sleep yet again. She had been worrying all week about starting at a new school. She hated having to talk to new people, or even to teachers for that matter, and to make matters worse her English accent tends to arise when she is angry or nervous about something. The last thing she wants is to jump randomly from American to English to American, she wanted to make friends at her new school, not be the laughing stock. She was always extremely quiet around teachers and new people and struggled to make new friends. She missed her friends from the London, her best friends she had to leave behind and to make matters worse, her two older brothers, Ben and Matt were at another school now across town.

"Uh-ah," Nydia protested, pulling the covers back down over her head, "You have to get up now, honey," The young mother persuaded her sleepy daughter out of bed. "You're going to be fine, I promise you," Nydia sighed attempting to comfort her daughter. "You're going to make so many new friends, I promise,"

"Fine, I'm up," Macie sighed, finally opening her eyes, to reveal her sapphire blue orbs that made her mother melt inside.

"That's my darling girl," Nydia smiled brightly, patting the sheets beside her daughter. "Your father is making your breakfast this morning, so I'll leave you to get ready," Nydia answered, kissing her daughter's forehead before leaving her room.

Macie grabbed her uniform out of her closet. She buttoned up her white shirt and adjusted her checkered blue skirt and checkered crosstie. She tugged her black stockings up her tiny physique as she jumped around her room in order to pull them up fully. She slipped on her black and white school shoes and began braiding her hair into two plaits, before adding in her navy blue ribbons. She put on her navy blue school cardigan and grabbed her remaining school books from her desk before placing them in her bag. Macie picked up her school bag heading downstairs to meet Flash, the family Husky, at the bottom.

The pup began panting hysterically as he chased Macie around the foyer and towards the kitchen, skidding into the wall as the young girl made a swift turn on him.

"Morning dad," Macie chirped, running towards her father for a hug, Flash on her tail once more.

Scott laughed, serving up the buttermilk pancakes he had just cooked. "Hey, darling," Scott scooped his daughter up into his arms embracing her tightly, as his wife Nydia took a seat on the island. "You excited to start at your new school today?" He questioned the little girl resting in his arms.

Marie nodded hesitantly, "I think so..." Macie gave her father a sombre expression, "Ben and Matt aren't going to be there..." She mumbled gloomily, rubbing her eyes lightly.

"I know, darling, but you're a strong growing girl," Scott mused to his daughter, "I promise you, Chilton is a great school and you're going to make some incredible friends... okay?" He asked, looking into his daughter's sapphire orbs kindly.

The young girl gave a small nod, wiping her eyes once more, "Okay, as long as you promise," She smiled, wrapping her arms around her father tightly.

Scott grinned, he hated seeing her sad, they all did, "Now pancakes with whipped cream, maple syrup and blueberries for my beautiful little girl," He said holding up the plate of pancakes in his daughter's reach.

"Yay!" Macie cheered, "Just the way I like it, daddy," She giggled, kissing his cheek as she sneaked a whipped cream covered blueberry into her mouth.

Nydia smiled, happy to see her daughter beaming once more. The mother was seated at the white island, sipping her coffee as she heard her two sons stumbled tiredly into the room, "Morning," Nydia greeted, folding up the paper she was reading.

The two boys dumped their school bags beside the dinning room table, "Morning, Mum," They replied, kissing her cheek on the way to the fridge.

Ben grabbed the orange juice, pouring three glasses, whilst Matt sat down next to Macie at the island, "Morning Macie," He grinned kissing her head, before digging into his pancakes.

Macie looked up at her brother with whipped cream covered grin. Matt chuckled, grabbing a tea towel he wiped the cream from her small face. "Thank you," she giggled.

"Here we go," Ben said, handing Macie and Matt a glass of orange juice. The older of the two boys then joined his siblings at the island.

"Do you boys have football practice tonight?" Scott asked curiously, handing his sons the remainder of the pancakes. The pair nodded, barely taking a breath between bites.

"I'm working late at the hospital tonight, so I won't be able to take you boys," Nydia announced, clearing her dishes from the bench.

"That's okay," Scott nodded, "I should be able to take you boys, but I won't be able to pick up Macie till late then..." He said slowly, knowing he wouldn't be able to drop Ben and Matt off in time and still pick up Macie from school at a reasonable hour.

"I could catch the bus?" Macie piped up, as she chewed on the remaining cream-covered blueberries on her plate.

Nydia looked at her husband in surprise, "Honey... I don't know, you haven't caught the line that often enough yet... I don't want you to get lost," Nydia told her daughter, worriedly.

"Mum, I'll be fine, Ben and Matt showed during the summer," Macie informed them, sliding her plate into the sink in front of her, "Besides... I always caught the bus to school in London," Macie explained hopefully.

"I don't know..." Scott sighed, unsure whether he'd let his little girl catch the bus alone, "The bus practically dropped you at the door back in London,"

"I know, but you said yourself. I'm a big girl now," Macie explained, finishing the last of her orange juice.

"Maybe this would be good for her..." Ben told his parents, "What the worst that can happen anyway? She ends up in Stars Hollow?" He chuckled, packing his football gear, "If that was the case she could just find Miss Patty."

"He has a point," Nydia replied, beginning to consider the option of her youngest child catching the bus alone. "She spent quite a bit of time there with Matt and Ben during the break,"

"Nydia, what if something happens?" Scott disputed, still unconvinced by the thought of Macie alone.

His wife sighed, cleaning the last of the dishes, "Look, we'll give it a go today, and see what happens... If she ends up in Stars Hollow... then she can just call us," Nydia reasoned, writing down her number and Scott's on a slip of paper for Macie. "I don't think we have too much to worry about in that town," Nydia chuckled, remembering the vivid and caring characters she'd met the first time she went down as a child.

"Alright, just this once," Scott finally agreed, his protective nature somewhat relaxing. "Go to Stars Hollow and find Ms Patty... and stay with her until I pick you up okay?" Macie instantly brightened, excited at the thought. She grabbed the bus money and phone numbers her mother had written and placed them into her blazer pocket. She grabbed her school bag from the hallway, cuddling Flash as she waited for her brothers.

"Look, I know it's hard for you to let her go, but she's growing up now and we can't stop that," Nydia comforted her husband, resting her dainty fingers on his broad muscular shoulders.

Scott nodded, "I know, but I couldn't bear the thought of losing her." The father signed, his years in the Military forces had sent his protectiveness through the roof, especially when it came to his growing daughter.

"Neither could I," Nydia agreed, resting her head on his shoulder, "But I knew Ms Patty as a child, and I trust her to look after Macie," Scott placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips, as a signal of his agreement.

"What time will you be home tonight?" He questioned, trailing kisses down her neck, as he rested his fingers on the waistband of her skirt.

"After nine..." She moaned softly, racing her fingernails along his neck, "I'll make some dinner and leave it on the stove for you four," She murmured, pulling away from her husbands embrace to grab the car keys. "I'll also call Patty, let her know Macie is coming this afternoon around four,"

Scott gave a small nod, pulling his wife into a slow passionate kiss. "I'll see you later tonight," She kissed him farewell, wondering out of the kitchen, her heels clicking against the hardwood floors. "Are you ready, Macie?" The young girl heard her mother call from down the hall.

"I'm coming," She quickly shouted back, zipping up her bag as she skipped down the hall. Nydia opened the large black wooden doors, as she hurried her children along. "Bye dad," Macie shouted through the house, as she followed her mother and brothers along the porch towards the car.

The four of them jumped into the car, Ben in the front and Matt in the back with Macie. Nydia drove towards Chilton, after dropping both Matt and Ben off at Kingswood-Oxford Secondary School.

"Rosie, come with me, darling," Nydia called out to her daughter, opening the car door when the young girl refused to move. "Come, we have to meet Headmaster Charleston," She continued, holding her daughter's hand as they walked towards the entrance.

Macie groaned in protest, as she followed her mother nervously into the large school. Macie sat in the hall for the majority of her meeting with Headmaster Charleston, watching as the older students passed her in the hallway. The young girl stared down at her feet, as she swayed them back and forth under the bench, patiently waiting for her mother. Yet her mind kept drifting off to her mini Stars Hollow adventure later that afternoon. She was awfully excited to see Ms Patty again. She had met her multiple times over the summer break. She used to teach her mother, Nydia dance in Hartford when she was younger.

"Macie," A deep, throaty voice sounded throughout the hall. The young girl looked up to see her mother and Headmaster standing there, "let's get you settled in, shall we?" Macie gave a quiet nod, hugging her mother goodbye before following her new Headmaster silently. "Welcome to Chilton," He grinned, opening the door to her classroom, hustling her inside.


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