Hey everyone, well sorry it took me so long to write this next chapter. I have been really busy with end of the year tests. Anyway.
If anyone one is still reading this please Review, this was 10 pages typed on microsoft word and it took me a while. So please please Leave a message and review.
I hope people are still reading this!
Chapter 35...Of plays and crashes.
The leaves had begun changing color and began to fall off the trees. November quickly approached and Thanksgiving is only a week away. This year Luke and Mark's birthday happens to fall on that same day, the 25th. It is now the weekend before Thanksgiving and Mia is starring in the Annual Stars Hollow holiday play for the third year in a row. The night before the play, this little six year old is having second thoughts.
"Mom." She calls from her bed. Lorelai enters the room and sits on the edge of Mia's bed.
"What's wrong sweetie?"
"I'm sick." She does a fake cough, which Lorelai notices.
"Oh really."
"Yeah, my head hurts and so does my legs. I don't think I can walk." Lorelai is trying hard not to laugh.
"Well then maybe we should take you to the doctor and I guess you have to miss the play tomorrow since you can't walk."
"I guess so." She makes a pathetic sad face.
"Okay Mia quit the act. Why don't you want to go to the play tomorrow?"
"I'm sick mommy." She whines and pouts.
"Kid, I invented that pout. Now come on, tell mommy what's wrong."
Mia crosses her arms and huffs.
"Fine, but I'm "Fine, I don't want to be in the play because I boy Nicky in my class told me that I was going to trip on stage and forget all my lines."
Lorelai pulls her up and talks to her.
"Sweetie, you are a smart non-clumsy, very talented little actress and you are going to be great in that play tomorrow. That boy is just trying to scare you. You won't forget you lines because I know you know them by heart. Now get some sleep, you have a big day tomorrow."
Fine but I'm pouting all day tomorrow!" She yells to her mom as she is leaving.
"Looking forward to it." Lorelai turns out the lights and bumps into Luke in the hallway.
"Hey is Mia okay?"
"Yeah she's just having a little case of cold feet."
"About the play?"
"Yes and I think I know the real reason." With that said Lorelai walks downstairs and flips on the T.V.
"What's the reason?" Luke asks.
"She says it's about something a kid in her class said but I know there is more to it."
"Like what?"
"Um….just forget it, it's not important."
"Lorelai if it concerns our daughter then it is important."
"Okay fine!" Lorelai lashes out at Luke. "I think she doesn't want to get disappointed by her father again."'
"I have never once disappointed her!" Shocked at her accusation. Lorelai takes a deep breath and calms herself down before she continues to talk to Luke.
"Luke, think back these last two years, they haven't been the greatest. Now I know that the summer and up to now have been great but those last two years haven't. Anyway, Mia has had the starring role in that play for two years. She is very talented; I think we may have a star in the family. Each year Mia would be half way through the play and she would look out into the crowd. She saw an empty seat between Mark and I the first year, then last year Rory went we us because I was a few months pregnant and she didn't want me to go out with the kids alone, don't ask me why. Anyway, once again Mia looked out and saw an empty chair. That was when you were off helping Rachel. After the show was over I would see her with tears in her eyes but trying not to cry. I think she doesn't want to look out in the crowd and see once again that her dad isn't there to watch her perform."
Luke sits back further in the couch.
"I feel awful but I can't turn back time Lorelai. She has to know that this year is different."
"You still managed to go to Mark's baseball games and you would look so proud and cheer him on. I think Mia wants a chance to shine in the eyes of her father."
"I'll be there, I promise."
"It's not me you have to promise Luke."
"Right." He looks at his wife. "I'm sorry."
"I know, I love you" She kisses him.
"I love you too and what the hell are we watching?" He looks at the TV while cuddling with Lorelai on the couch.
"Oh it's a classic…….
The next morning everyone is sitting around the table eating breakfast and talking about what they are doing today.
"Okay here's the plan for today you guys. Mark, you will spend the day with your dad and Michael. The girls will go over to Miss Patty's and get ready for tonight. Deal."
"Deal." Mark and Mia shout.
"Mark can you put your brother in the car, I have to talk to your sister."
"Sure dad, come on Mikey." He takes Mikey from Luke and he grabs onto his big brother. Lorelai takes Lauren and Sam out of the room to give Mia and Luke some daddy/daughter time.
"Hey kiddo can I talk to you for a second."
"Sure daddy." They both sit back down at the table.
"I'm sorry I have missed your plays in the past but I promise I'm going tonight and every time after that. I realize that you get stuck in the shadow of your brothers and sisters but I will, from now on, have as much time for you as one dad can." Mia's face lights up. "Just because I didn't come in the past does in no way say that I don't love you or that I love Mark more than you. I just thought I should tell you that."
"I know you love me daddy and I know you try your best to come to my shows, can I tell you something that I didn't tell mommy."
Luke is hesitant but says, "Sure."
"I don't like being the middle child. You are with Mark and mommy is with the triplets, who do I have? No one, I'm just stuck in the middle." Luke let's his little daughter sit on his lap.
"How long have you felt like this Mia?"
"Since the triplet's were born."
"You should have said something. Your mother and I try our best but it's hard with five kids in the house. We try and give all of you the same amount of attention and every once in a while someone is going to get the short end of the stick."
"Daddy, I don't want to hold a stick." Clearly having no idea what her dad meant.
He laughs. "You don't have to hold a stick. It's just an expression. It means there is always someone who will end up with a less amount of something than someone else. Understand now?"
"Um…Yeah." She has a better idea of what he is saying.
"Good. I want you to know that no matter what, your mom and I love you very much and I want you to promise me something."
"What."
"I want you to promise me that if you are every feeling like you are getting ignored too much, you come and talk to me or your mom."
"I promise."
"Okay, now go get ready to go; I'll see you later tonight at the play."
"Pinky promise." She sticks up her pinky.
He wraps his pinky around hers and says, "Pinky promise."
She gives him a big hug and skips out of the kitchen and upstairs.
"I had no idea she was feeling like that, how did you know to bring that up?" Lorelai says as she walks in with Sam on her hip and Lauren standing next to her.
"You have to promise not to mock me if I tell you."
"Okay." She says even though they both know she will mock him.
"I read in one of those parenting books that in large families a child, usually the middle one, can feel left out and ignored. It's not good for a kid's self esteem to feel left out."
"I wouldn't mock you for telling me that Luke. I'm glad you are so into them, but I think we are going a pretty good job raising these 5 so far." She tickles Sammie and Lauren wobbles over to her dad, he picks her up.
"Yeah, I think so too, don't you think so Lauren?"
"Daddy, we go bye bye." Lorelai looks at the clock.
"Oh shoot, we had to be at Patty's like 5 minutes ago. Come on girls let's go." She picks up Lauren, gives Luke a quick kiss goodbye and heads out to the car. "Oh crap." Lorelai runs back inside.
"Mia, come down here, it's time to go." I can't believe I almost forgot her.
"How do I look mom?" She twirls around in her dress.
"Beautiful sweetheart, now let's go, were late." They run out the door along with Luke. Both cars pull out of the driveway and go there separate ways for the rest of the day.
2 P.M at the Dance Studio.
"Hey Patty sorry we are late."
"Oh don't worry about that darling, after all nothing starts until the star gets here."
"Hi miss Patty."
"Hi dear, now are you ready to practice and perform today."
"I can't wait!" She says excitedly.
"You know, I heard there is going to be a director here tonight. Lord knows why he would come here but he is. This could be your big break Mia."
"You mean I could go on T.V!" She jumps up and down.
"Sweetie, you're still young. They may want to pick someone with more experience." Lorelai says, trying not to get her daughters hopes up to high. They all walk to the back and start getting set up for tonight.
Meanwhile at the diner….
"Hey it's pretty slow here, do you want to do anything today Mark?"
"Could we go to the big movie theater in Hartford?"
"Umm…" He looks at the clock. "We can if we go right now." Mark jumps off the stool and runs out to the car. Luke takes Mike out of the playpen and follows him while yelling, "Caesar you're in charge."
The play starts at 6:00 and it is now 5:15. At the dance studio Lorelai just finished up helping Mia go over her lines.
"Sweetie that was perfect, you know all your lines by heart. You are totally ready for this."
"Thanks mom, is daddy and the boys here yet?"
Lorelai straightens out Mia's costume, "Not yet, but they will be. You know who is on her way right now?"
"Who?" She says excitedly.
"Rory!"
"Rory's coming! I can't wait until she gets here; I haven't seen her in a long time."
"I know, let's go wait outside for her."
"Okay." Lorelai pushes the stroller outside while holding Mia's hand. After waiting only a few minutes they see Rory's car pull up.
"Rory! Rory!" Mia screams and runs to her big sister. Rory picks her up and gives her a big hug.
"Hey kiddo, are you excited for the play?" Rory asks while carrying her back over to Lorelai and the girls.
"Yeah, I can't wait but daddy's not here yet."
"Oh well he will be here, he wouldn't miss this for the world."
"Hey mom." Rory says as they approach Lorelai. She gives Rory and huge hug.
"Hey kid I've missed you around here."
"Yeah well I'll explain more later."
"You better." Turns towards Mia. "Okay time to get back inside."
"Okay mommy."
The five of them go back inside to finish helping Mia get ready.
At the movie theater…….
Mikey is sitting in between Luke and Mark. They are watching Madagascar, (A/N: I saw that movie and its really funny, has anyone else seen it? Lol) Luke keeps glancing at his watch, Mikey is throwing popcorn at Mark's face and Mark is trying to watch the movie but can't because his dad and brother are making it hard to concentrate.
"Dad, stop looking at your watch and watch the movie."
"I don't want to miss the play."
"It's 5:15, its start at 6. The movie is almost over and it will take a half hour to get there, but we will get there in time. Don't worry." A piece of popcorn hits Mark's nose. "And you, stop throwing popcorn at me." Mikey giggles at his brother.
"Give me that." Luke takes the popcorn away from his youngest son, who really shouldn't have had the popcorn in the first place because he could choke on it.
Ten minutes later the movie ended and all three Danes men and little men ran out to the car. Luke strapped Michael in his car seat and Mark jumped in the back seat next to his brother. Luke ran around the car and jumped into the truck. He sped out of the parking lot wanting to make it in time; unfortunately they hit a little traffic which slowed them down a bit. Once the traffic broke up, Luke started to push the gas a little harder when car came swerving into their lane, Luke tried to get the car out of the way but it was to late, the big SUV slammed into the truck, flipping it on the driver side and off the road.
At the Dance Studio, 5:50, Rory, Lauren and Sam are at the seats and Lorelai is back stage with Mia.
"Mom, daddy's not here yet."
"I know sweetie but there is still ten minutes and his promised he would be here right?"
"Yeah." She says sadly.
"And your dad never breaks a promise. Now go out on that stage and be the best actress you can be. I love you kiddo."
"Thanks mom, I love you too." They hug and kiss, then Lorelai goes to her seat and Mia gets ready to go on.
6:10…Lorelai has tried calling Luke's cell 5 times already and now keeps looking in the back for him. She watches Mia on stage and she is a natural but she knows that her daughter is going to look out to the audience soon.
"Mom, where are Luke and the boys?" Rory asks.
"I don't know." Just then the noticed that no one is talking, Mia had stopped in the middle of her line after she saw that her dad and brothers were not in the audience, however she continued to perform.
"I'm going to kill Luke!" Lorelai whispers loudly.
"Mom, what if something happened?"
"Rory, you don't think that thought has come to me, they could be dead on the side of the road, and they could be-
She is interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She takes it outside.
"Hello, Luke?"
"No ma'am, this is Doctor Nelson from Hartford Memorial hospital, we have your husband and two sons and we need you down here right away."
"Oh god." Lorelai is holding in her tears. "Are they okay?"
"I will explain everything once you arrive here."
"Okay thank you, I'm on my way." She hangs up and runs back into the dance studio.
"We have to go." Lorelai starts taking the girls stuff and starts pushing the stroller outside, Rory quickly follows.
"Mom what's going on?"
"That was the hospital." Lorelai chokes out through her tears.
"Oh my god! Are they okay?"
"I don't know, but we have to get down there. I'll put these two in the car, you go get Mia and meet us at the hospital."
"Mom, you can't drive. Just wait in the car, I'll take Mia early and explain everything to Miss Patty, go wait in the car." Lorelai nods and they go their separate ways.
20 minutes later they arrive at the hospital, Lorelai rushes up to the front desk.
"I'm Lorelai Danes, my husband and two boys were brought here."
"Oh right, I spoke to you on the phone. Well first your youngest son is right through here.
They enter a small room where they see Michael with just a few bumps and bruises and a cut on his arm, but all in all, he is okay. Lorelai runs over to him and the doctor that is watching him moves out of her way.
"Oh baby I'm so glad you are okay."
"Mama!" Michael says and grips onto his mother.
"Can I take him out of this room so that he can wait with us?"
"That will be just fine, but just be careful of where you hold him, he is still sore. It's a good thing he was in a car seat."
"Thank you." She turns to Rory. "Can you take the kids into the waiting room while I talk to the doctors?"
"Sure mom, (to Mia) Come on Mia let's go."
"Rory, what's happening?"
"I'll explain it to you in the waiting room."
Rory leaves with the kids and Lorelai looks at the two doctors.
"What about Mark and Luke?" Once again holding in her tears, she prays that they are okay, she loves Luke so much, and she can't live without him and raise five kids alone.
"When the car flipped over, it flipped over on the driver's side. That was the side that both Mark and Luke were on. However, they seemed to both be smart enough to move there heads up so that they wouldn't hit the pavement too hard. Mark's left ankle ended up broken along with his left arm. He also has a bump on his head, the crash did not impact him that much because he was safely in the back seat with his seat belt on the correct way. You can see him now if you would like."
"Wait, first tell me how Luke is."
The doctor looks down then back up at the sad women's eyes.
"We don't know too much yet, he is still in surgery. If you sit down we will explain his injuries to you……
