Hello everyone it's been a while since I last posted for this story, but I'm back with a chapter you've been asking for. I have decided to jump back and forth in time, writing Rory at all different ages. So it won't be in chronological order, just so you know. Thank you for the reviews you left, I enjoy reading them :D

Rory is eleven in this chapter.

"Hey sweets, good day at school?" Lorelai asked when Rory made it to the house.

"Always," she replied happily. She kissed her mom hello then walked into the house. She rested her backpack on the kitchen table while Lorelai went to the counter and picked up two pop tarts.

"Here," she said, handing one to Rory. The girl eagerly accepted it and took a huge bite, chewing thoughtfully.

"I have a notice from school," she told her, pulling the piece of paper from her backpack. Lorelai took it from her grasp and held it between her fingers, before skimming the writing quickly.

"Dear parents, we would like to inform you that there has been an outbreak of chicken pox among some of our students, blah blah blah, we recommend you keep an eye out for symptoms such as a rash forming and blistering." She looked up at Rory, who was munching on her pop tart while listening intently. "Chicken pox?" she asked, immediately hoping her daughter didn't catch them. She'd been lucky to avoid the illness when Rory was younger, and she thought she'd passed the stage where it would be a problem. Obviously not, apparently.

"It'll be fine," Rory assured her. "It's not like everybody's gonna catch it." She sauntered towards her bedroom. "Let's watch a movie." Lorelai watched after her until she'd disappeared into her room then stared down at the letter again. She hoped to god Rory didn't catch it, she'd never hear the end of it from her daughter if she had to miss school.

XXXX

Sure enough, just four days later, Rory had the chicken pox. It was Monday morning and Lorelai had gone into her daughter's room to wake her up for school. That part confused her a little, as Rory was usually up and raring to go by six thirty.

"Time to get up sweets," she said softly as she brushed Rory's hair back from her face.

"Ugh," she groaned before rolling onto her back, pulling the covers tighter. It was already seven, and she showed no signs of wanting to wake up yet.

"Hey, you have to go to school," she reminded her, but she got no response. Lorelai sighed and got a firm grip on the top of the duvet, before pulling it off of her and tossing it aside.

"Hmm," came the strangled sound from Rory. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she focussed on her mother, wondering why her duvet had been ripped away from her. "What?" she asked weakly, having not woken up yet.

"School," she stated simply, moving back into a standing position and looking down at her with her hands on her hips. Rory sighed and stretched her arms above her head in her usual morning ritual. Her pyjama top rode up and Lorelai caught sight of what looked to be a rash forming on Rory's stomach. "Hey hang on a second," she said, her tone changing to one of concern.

"What?" asked Rory sleepily. Lorelai reached down and pushed her top up so she could examine the red patches, her face contorting into a frown. She met Rory's eyes and looked at her sympathetically.

"No school today," she told her. "It looks like you've gots the chicken pox." Rory's face fell visibly.

"But I need to go to school," she said desperately. "I can't stay here, I'll get behind."

"You're already three years ahead of everyone in that class Ror; you have nothing to worry about." She exaggerated the first part.

"But..."

"No buts, you're not going to school," she said firmly. Rory pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "And that's not going to work, sorry babe." She ruffled her daughter's hair and left a light kiss on her cheek.

"Aren't you gonna catch it too?" she asked curiously.

"I've already had them," she told her. "You only get chicken pox once." Rory nodded then relaxed back into her pillow, exhaling deeply. Lorelai picked up the duvet and put it back over her, making sure she was tucked in. "Go back to sleep okay? I'm gonna run to Doose's and pick up some oatmeal."

"Hmm," replied Rory sleepily, not even bothering to ask what the oatmeal was for. She certainly wasn't going to eat it and she was pretty sure her mother didn't know how to prepare it anyway.

"Do you want anything sweets?" There was a moment of silence before Rory answered.

"Mashed potatoes," she murmured before going back to sleep. Lorelai watched her for a minute or two before leaning down and leaving a soft kiss on her forehead. She hurriedly grabbed her purse then rushed round to Babette's house.

"Hey sugar!" she greeted, obviously happy to see the young woman.

"Hi Babette, listen, Rory's sick and I need to run to Doose's for some stuff, could you maybe go round a watch her for me till I get back? I don't wanna leave her by herself."

"What's wrong with her?" she asked seriously.

"She caught the chicken pox," Lorelai replied.

"Oh the poor doll, of course I'll watch her," she agreed.

"Thanks Babette, she's sleeping at the moment."

"Okay, I'll stop her from scratching if she wakes up, wouldn't want her to ruin that beautiful skin of hers." Lorelai nodded then backed away from the door.

"I won't be long," she called as she turned around and hurried towards the town square.

XXXX

She browsed the aisles in Doose's, still not completely familiar with the layout of everything. It took her a couple of minutes to find the oatmeal, but when she did, she threw four large bags of it into her cart. She rounded the corner, searching for instant mashed potatoes. She found them a little while later tucked away in a corner with other instant foodstuffs.

She took a moment to read the preparation instructions on the back, frowning when she realised that even instant mash would be a challenge for her. She placed the packet back on the shelf and headed towards the checkout, picking up a multipack of bottled water along the way. She knew there was only one place she could get some mashed potatoes, and she planned on heading right after checking out.

"My, this is a very healthy Lorelai," said Taylor as he rung up her bill.

"It's for Rory actually," she informed him. "She has the chicken pox."

"Oh, well keep her away from the town square; I don't want her infecting everything."

"Don't worry; she's in bed as we speak." Taylor nodded, pleased to hear it.

"So that's six eighty five..."

XXXX

After visiting Doose's, Lorelai walked down the sidewalk to Luke's, hoping he knew how to make mashed potatoes. To her it was a mystery, as was anything remotely related to cooking. She entered the diner, causing the bells to ring, and rushed over to the counter.

"Luke," she called.

"Hang on," came his muffled reply.

"This is urgent," she called. "I'm kinda in a hurry."

"I said hang on," he called gruffly. She sighed and followed the direction of his voice, finding herself in the doorway of the kitchen.

"I need mashed potatoes," she told him. His head snapped up to look at her, his eyes leaving the frying pan of bacon he was making and meeting her questing gaze.

"What are you doing back here?" he asked, completely ignoring her request. "Get out from behind my counter." He checked the bacon then tossed it onto a plate, along with some toast that had just popped out of the toaster. He walked towards the entryway and pointed to the stools along the counter. Lorelai reluctantly complied and perched herself on a stool as he delivered the plate to a customer.

"I need mashed potatoes," she repeated once he was behind the counter again. She had put the water and oatmeal on the counter in the Doose's bag, and Luke spied them suspiciously.

"Why?" he asked confusedly. "And why do you have four bags of oatmeal, plus a dozen bottles of water?"

"Rory's got the chicken pox and the oatmeal's for her to bathe in," she explained. "The water's to keep her hydrated and the mashed potatoes were requested by Rory herself. Do you even know how to make them?" Luke rolled his eyes.

"Of course I do." There was a moment of silence. "Is she doing okay?"

"So far," she answered. "I noticed the rash this morning but the blisters haven't shown up yet."

"It's only a matter of time," he shrugged. "I hope it's not too bad for her."

"Hmm me too, she's already argued with me about going to school," she chuckled. "She's suffering enough as it is."

"She'll be fine, she's already ahead of all those dumb asses anyway." Lorelai smiled.

"I wonder what the parents would say if they heard you talking about their kids like that."

"They can say whatever the hell they want," he said gruffly. They sat in a comfortable silence for another few moments before Lorelai remembered her whole reason for being at the diner in the first place.

"Oh I need those mashed potatoes, stat," she reminded him. "Rory's at home and I wanna get back to her before she wakes up."

"Is she there alone?" he asked, seeming to panic a little.

"Babette's there with her," she assured him. "I'd just rather be there when she comes back to earth."

"The potatoes won't be long," he promised before disappearing into the kitchen again.

"Make 'em extra creamy," she called after him, gaining a grunt in response. Ten minutes later, Luke emerged from kitchen with a plastic container filled with mash. "What took you so long?" she asked, having gotten impatient shortly after he'd disappeared.

"I had to boil the potatoes," he told her. "It's not a two minute job." She shrugged her shoulders and reached for the container, before picking up the stuff she'd purchased at Doose's. "Here," he said, holding a to-go cup out to her. She organised her bags so she had a free hand then gratefully took it from him.

"Thanks Duke," she called as she made her way towards the door. Luke watched after her and shook his head, she really got on his nerves sometimes, but he couldn't stop himself from admiring her rear end and she sauntered out of the diner.

XXXX

"Hey, was she okay while I was gone?" she asked Babette when she got back to her house.

"She started scratching a little when she woke up, but I held her hands up to stop her," she replied.

"Thanks Babette," she said gratefully. "I'm bought some oatmeal so I'll get her in the tub pronto."

"Have fun sugar; I hope she gets better soon."

"Me too," she hoped.

"Mom?" came Rory's weak voice from her bedroom.

"That's my cue." The older woman said goodbye to both Gilmore girls then scurried back round to her house. "You feeling okay hon?" she asked as she entered the room.

"I'm hungry," she complained, sitting up slightly in bed. Lorelai brought her hand to her daughter's forehead and was met with a radiating heat.

"You're burning up," she said.

"Did you get mashed potatoes?" she asked hopefully, licking her lips at the thought of them.

"Yes I did, Luke made you some," she said happily, hoping that the food would cheer her up. She was miserable because she couldn't go to school. She went into the kitchen and plated them up before taking them back to Rory. The eleven year old took the fork and dug into them greedily, not stopping to take a breath between bites.

"Luke makes good mashed potatoes," she said thoughtfully before shoving another forkful into her mouth.

"Good, now eat up, I'm gonna go prepare an oatmeal bath for you." Rory grimaced slightly, hating to think of what she was going to go through in the next hour. "No scratching while I'm gone."

XXXX

That evening, Luke parked his truck in Lorelai's driveway and pulled the take out bag off the seat. He strolled across their lawn, muttering to himself about her needing a walkway, then knocked twice on the front door.

"Come in," Lorelai called from her place on the couch. "If you're a burglar or serial killer, we don't wanna know." Luke rolled his eyes as he pushed the door open, walking into the living room.

"That's no way to answer the door," he told her.

"Works for me," she shrugged.

"I don't think a burglar or a serial killer will just leave when they hear you say that."

"Heh, it doesn't really matter, I mean, how many serial killers do you know in Stars Hollow?" Luke rolled his eyes again. "What are you doing here anyway; shouldn't you be at home doing...hermit things?" she asked curiously.

"I came to see how Rory's doing," he said matter-of-factly. "And I brought more mashed potatoes." He held up the Luke's bag and her eyes narrowed.

"Is there something besides mashed potatoes in that bag?" she asked, sensing the familiar scent her nostrils were picking up on.

"Maybe," he shrugged. "What do I get if there is?" Lorelai gasped.

"Dirty! Really Mr Danes, with my daughter in the next room," she tutted. Luke felt a blush creep onto his cheeks, and did his best to hide it.

"Here, cheeseburger, fries, onion rings and, of course, coffee," he listed as he pulled each item out of the bag. Lorelai's eyes lit up as soon as the word 'cheeseburger' fell from his mouth.

"My hero," she gushed before unwrapping her burger and taking a bite. Luke needed to get out of there before he did something he knew he'd regret.

"Should I uh...take this in for her?" he asked, referring to Rory's dinner.

"Yeah that'd be great, thank you," she said gratefully, her billion watt smile lighting up her face. "She was reading last time I checked on her." Luke walked through the archway and knocked lightly on Rory's door, which was slightly ajar.

"Hey, can I come in?" he asked as he poked his head in.

"Luke, what are you doing here?" she asked confusedly, although it was obvious she was happy to see him.

"I make the food remember," he teased lightly. "You hungry?"

"I fancy some more mashed potatoes, the ones you made me earlier were really good."

"Good job I brought you some more then isn't it?" He pulled another container out of the bag and handed it to her. "I'll get you a fork."

"Thanks, second drawer on the left," she told him as he got up and went into the kitchen.

"Hey there are only plastic ones in here, where's your proper cutlery?" he asked as he poked his head back around the doorframe.

"Mom says plastic is better cause you don't have to wash them afterwards," she explained. "We don't use proper knives and forks." Luke rolled his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time since he entered their house.

"Plastic it is," he muttered as he went back into the kitchen.

"Duke?" Lorelai called, searching for his attention.

"It's Luke," he reminded her.

"Got any ketchup in that bag of yours?" she asked, ignoring his correction. He reached into the bag, which was now on the kitchen table, and fished out three sachets of ketchup. He walked into the living room, dropped them on the table then went back to Rory's room with a plastic fork for her. "Thanks Duke," she shouted after him.

"You're mom's impossible," he complained as he sat on the edge of Rory's bed.

"She likes it that way," she shrugged as she shovelled some mash into her mouth. "How do you make mashed potatoes?" she asked. As academic as she was, she was clueless when it came to cooking.

"You boil some potatoes in water, then mash them up," he explained, unable to hide his smile at the obviousness of his answer.

"Mash them with what?"

"A potato masher," he told her, his smile growing.

"Oh, makes sense," she said with a nod.

"Yeah, then you add a little butter, mix it in and there you have it."

"Cool," she replied. Luke looked at her hands, suddenly noticing that they were covered.

"Why are you wearing mittens with some cat on them?" he asked incredulously.

"That cat, is Hello Kitty," she told him. "And mom made put them on so I can't scratch properly."

"Is it really bad?" he asked, feeling sorry for her. Rory nodded.

"It's itchy if that's what you mean, but I can handle it."

"That's good, it'll pass," he told her.

"Mom made me take an oatmeal bath this morning," she winced. "It was weird."

"I bet it helped with the itching though, right?" Rory nodded again.

"She says I have to take another one before I go to sleep," she pouted, obviously not happy about it. He understood where Lorelai was coming from though.

"She's just looking out for you, she wants you to get better."

"I know," she sighed. "I couldn't ask for a better mom."

"You got that right," he agreed as he watched her polish off her dinner. He had a feeling he'd be making them a lot in the next week or so.

XXXX

And he was right. For the next ten days, he spent a lot of time round at the Crap Shack. He made a large batch of mashed potatoes and would take it round in the morning, leaving Lorelai instructions on how to warm it up for whenever Rory wanted more. He ended up leaving her a post-it note on the microwave because the information he gave her seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

It was now Thursday; exactly ten days after Rory first caught the pox. He went about his usual routine that morning before opening the diner; taking down all the chairs from the tables, doing a bit of last minute cleaning, and of course, making Rory's mashed potatoes. Little did he know, that the two Gilmore girls would be coming in for breakfast that morning, both perfectly healthy.

"Hi Luke," Rory called excitedly as her and Lorelai entered the diner.

"Hi Duke," Lorelai echoed, mimicking Rory's tone.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I'm fine," she told him.

"No you're not, you still have blisters on your face, you should be resting." He turned his attention to Lorelai. "Why did you let her come in here?"

"Oh relax Duke," she feigned annoyance. "She's fine, the blisters have crusted over, she's not contagious anymore."

"And I feel normal again," Rory chimed in for added assurance. Luke looked from one to the other suspiciously, before hesitantly nodding his head.

"Okay," he said slowly. "Do you still want mashed potatoes? I made you some." Rory shook her head, feeling a bit guilty that he'd made them for her when she didn't need them anymore.

"Bring the bacon," she told him. "I have to make up for lost time," she grinned.

"That's my girl," said Lorelai. "Same for me too please, eggs too, and sausage, and hash browns."

"Sounds good," agreed Rory. "And coffee."

"No," both Luke and Lorelai said at the same time. Rory pouted while Luke's eyes shot to Lorelai. Did she just say no to coffee? She noticed his eyes on her and shook her head to clear it.

"No coffee for her, I mean," she clarified. "I'm all for it, in fact, I'll take the whole pot."

"Never gonna happen," he said gruffly as he poured coffee into her blue mug. She took it from him and greedily took a few sips, while Rory had to settle on orange juice. "Your plated death will be ready soon." He put in the order with Caesar then disappeared into the storage room.

"Mom?" asked Rory after taking a few painful sips of juice.

"Hmm."

"Do you think I should thank Luke for coming round to see me all the time while I was sick?" she asked tentatively. Lorelai took the opportunity to glance at her and saw her daughter's innocent face staring back at her. She felt an overwhelming sense of pride at how caring her child was.

"Sure hon, I'm sure he'd appreciate that." Rory nodded and slid off her stool. "Be careful in the storage room, we wouldn't want a jar of pickles to fall on your head," she joked, mimicking Luke's rants about how they shouldn't be anywhere but where the tables are. She giggled as she disappeared through the doorway, and poked her head around the door of the storage room.

"Hey," she said, almost making him jump out of his skin.

"You shouldn't be back here, you could get hurt."

"I know, but I just wanted to say thank you," she said timidly.

"For what?"

"For making me mashed potatoes every day," she told him. "And for coming round to see me."

"You're welcome, I know it's no fun being stuck at home when you're sick." Rory shook her head.

"It's not; I can't wait to go back to school tomorrow."

"Why aren't you in today?" he asked. "I mean, you said you're fine now so..."

"Mom insisted that I take another day off to fully recover," she rolled her eyes. "It means I have to go to the inn with her." Luke nodded. "Anyway, our breakfast is probably done now, so I'd better get back out there. Thanks again." Luke was just about to turn back to what he was doing before when Rory came crashing into him, wrapping her arms around his middle in a tight hug.

"You're welcome," said Luke, awkwardly patting her head. He hated hugs, but when Rory gave him one, he found it quite funny.

"See ya," she said jollily before skipping back into the diner.

That's when Rory Gilmore realised just what Luke Danes would do for her; absolutely anything.

So the end of another chapter, I want to update this more but I'm focussing on 'It's Just Me and You Now' at the moment. I just had some time today and thought I'd write another one shot, I hope you enjoyed it, please review! I will be eternally grateful, like the aliens on Toy Story :P

Emily.