Thanks for reading! Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy. xxx
"Excuse me, but are you Sookie St James?"
"No," replied the woman.
"Oh, sorry to bother you," apologised Rory and she turned to go back to her table.
"I mean, I used to be but I got married and became Sookie Bellville," the woman added. Rory turned back to the woman. "Do I know you?"
"No," Rory said quietly. "But I think you used to ... and my mom. My name's Rory Gilmore and my mom's name was-" but she was cut off by the woman who squealed and stood up quickly.
"Lorelai Gilmore. And you're Rory, you're Rory," squealed Sookie.
"Yes. So you remember," Rory smiled.
"Of course I remember. But the last time I saw you, you must have been ..." the woman trailed off, thinking of how many years it had been.
"I was 3," Rory supplied.
"I used to babysit you all the time whilst you're mom worked and the three of us would always to the park together and watch movies ... well your mom and I watched movies and you played," gushed Sookie. "Sit down, please," she added, when she realised they were still standing.
"I didn't know whether you'd remember."
"Of course I do. I tried to see you after ... after the accident ... I found your grandparents number and I tried phoning and I sent letters but Emily kept making excuses about why I couldn't visit or you couldn't visit me."
"Really?" asked Rory, she hadn't seen the letters among the stuff Emily had saved and so thought they must have been thrown out.
"But everything was alright? Right?" asked Sookie suddenly.
"I had a good childhood, got a good education," smiled Rory.
"But it wasn't quite right," thought Sookie out loud.
"No," admitted Rory. "I found out about Stars Hollow after finding some of my mom's things ... she kept diaries, I don't know if you knew."
"No."
"Well she mentioned you a lot and then when I overheard your conversation ..." explained Rory.
"I'm glad you found me," smiled Sookie. "You look so much like your mom, we were best friends," she added.
"Sookie, your coffee's ready," called Luke from behind the counter. He had been in the back.
"Luke, do you know who this is?" asked Sookie excitedly.
"Should I?" he asked, studying Rory carefully.
"It's Rory, all grown up ... Lorelai's daughter," Sookie explained.
"Lorelai?" Luke gasped.
"You remember her daughter?" asked Sookie.
"Of course. That's why you look so familiar."
"Luke had a soft spot for your mom," smiled Sookie.
"She drank a lot of coffee," shrugged Luke.
"It was more than that," Sookie said.
"What about my dad? Christopher ... did he visit?" Rory asked, she needed to know.
"Sometimes," replied Sookie. "About once a month maybe?"
"Right," replied Rory.
"Oh do you have time for me to show you the town? I can show you the park and the Inn and the lake," gushed Sookie.
"Sure, I'll just get Logan ... he came with me," explained Rory, signalling for Logan to join them. Rory introduced the two and explained that they would be going for a walk and he could join them if he wanted but didn't have to.
"I'd love to come," smiled Logan.
"So are you two going out?" asked Sookie. Rory blushed and then hesitated. Were they? They had spent the night together and kissed and he had driven her out here but were they actually boyfriend and girlfriend?
"Yes," Logan filled in the silence and Rory smiled.
"Do you both live in Hartford?" asked Sookie, leading them out the door.
"I do at the moment but I'm moving to New York in a couple of weeks which is where Logan's moving too," explained Rory.
"I've lived in London for the past couple years but my family live in Hartford," added Logan.
"So how long have you been together?"
"Not long," smiled Logan.
"Why are you moving to New York?"
"I have a job there. At the New York Times," smiled Rory.
"Really? I'll tell Jackson that we have to start subscribing," replied Sookie.
"You don't have to do that," blushed Rory. "What's going on out here?" asked Rory, spotting all the men with walkie talkies.
"They're setting up for the Halloween festival."
"Did I used to come to the festivals?" Rory asked.
"Of course. You and your mom never missed one."
"Do you miss her?" asked Rory, wondering if she was overstepping a mark.
"Everyday ... even after all this time. She was my best friend and I've never met anyone like her."
By the time they'd gone to the park and lake, most of the square had been informed that Lorelai Gilmore's daughter was back. Those that remembered Lorelai were desperate to meet her and all congregated in the square with a view of Logan's car so they wouldn't miss her.
"I can't believe that's where we used to live," said Rory when they walked away from the Independent Inn after being shown the shed.
"It was a lot nicer back then and you did used to spend a lot of time at my place. I offered to let you both move in but Lorelai wanted to make it on her own."
"Umm ... why do people keep walking past us and staring?" asked Logan. He was sort of used to it because of his name but he was sure they weren't staring because of that.
"I bet Luke told someone that you were here," realised Sookie. "He doesn't normally gossip but if he was caught at a weak moment then Miss Patty or Babette would have gotten it out of him."
"Why would they be bothered?" asked Rory.
"Because ... they all adored you as a kid," explained Sookie.
"But it's been so long."
"No one's forgotten. Every year we mark the date with a memorial in the square. You and your mom might not have been here long but you definitely made your mark."
"Wow ... I didn't realise."
"Do you have to get away or do you have time for a coffee?" asked Sookie. Rory looked at Logan who nodded.
"We have time for coffee," she smiled.
"You're not an addict are you?"
"As good as," shrugged Rory.
"Pleased we came?" asked Logan as they sat in the bandstand.
"Yes. Thank you so much for coming with me. It means a lot," smiled Rory.
"My pleasure. Are you ready to leave or do you want to stay longer?"
"I'm ready. I know it's going to be here another day."
"Whenever you like. We can come at weekends when we're both in New York."
"So ... what you said before ... about us being in a relationship," started Rory.
"Is it too soon to say that?" asked Logan. "Sorry, I just thought ... after last night and everything ..."
"I liked it," admitted Rory.
"Well I meant it." Logan stood up and held a hand out to Rory who took it and stood up herself.
"I've never met anyone like you," said Rory.
"I could say the same about you." Logan leant down and kissed her softly, wrapping his arms around her. In the distance he heard several people gossiping, probably about him and Rory but neither of them cared.