Gilmore Girls: Another Year in the Life

[WINTER] Chapter 8: Happy New Year, Baby! (Version 2.0)

[Note: A lot of my readers made excellent points about the characters acting weird in this chapter, and the plot being too out of line with the rest of the story, which I agreed with. I had originally posted a different version of this chapter, but decided I really didn't like it, so I rewrote it and went a different route with the plot. Some of the scenes are still the same though. Enjoy!]

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It was late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve, and everyone was busily preparing for April's early graduation party at the Dragonfly Inn. Being the so-called genius of the family that she was, April had graduated one term early, in winter, and Lorelai had the wild idea to throw her the graduation party of a lifetime on the last day of the year while April was still in town for the holidays.

"I love the theme." said Sookie, finishing up the decorations on a giant multi-tiered cake, complete with gold and silver edible glitter and a tiny silk top hat. "It's the start of a new year, but also the start of a new phase of life! She's gonna love it, Lorelai."

Lorelai was taking a small break from her party prep duties. She put down her clipboard and picked up a silver cookie in the shape of a graduation cap, biting into it and nodding with approval.

"Oh my god, this cookie is amazing! Sookie, promise me you'll never leave again. I know your sabbatical was great and all, but I really missed you here. The Inn is still partially yours, after all."

Sookie put her hands on her hips and beamed as she looked around the kitchen, which was bustling with activity as the cooks prepared for dinner. "You know, I really missed this place too. It feels good to be back. I hate to say it, but I even missed Michel. And I missed you too!" She rushed forward and squeezed her best friend in a giant hug, causing her to drop her cookie and burst with laughter.

Just then, a little boy with dark curls and big brown eyes, no older than five, rushed in through the double-doors and peered up at them both. He saw the plate full of cookies, smiled devilishly, and before Sookie or Lorelai could stop him, he grabbed a handful of them and darted back out through the doors. Two seconds later, Michel appeared, panting and looking exhausted.

It took him a minute to catch his breath. "Have you...seen..."

"Max? Yeah," Sookie said, "he just ran away with some of my cookies!" She shouted toward the door, from which came a high-pitched giggle.

Lorelai shook her head. "Michel, I said it was okay if you brought your son today, but you need to keep him occupied so he doesn't get in the way. Kirk's here early, why don't you let him take Max out to the horse stables or something? Huh? Give you a breather?"

Michel unbuttoned his designer suit, then leaned on the table with both hands to gather himself. "No. Way! I don't trust Kirk as far as I could throw him. Besides, he's way too fast for that slow, stupid man. It wouldn't last two seconds before Max would run into the street or climb up a tree and get hurt..."

Sookie looked at Lorelai and said out of the corner of her mouth, "Jeez. What, did he give the kid a Redbull for breakfast?"

"I started drinking coffee when I was his age and it didn't have the same effect on me!" Michel said, clearly offended. He stomped his foot and turned to leave. "Maximilian! Come back here at once! Or we will have a stern talk with daddy when we get home!" More giggles echoed through the inn as Michel resumed his chase.

Sookie and Lorelai looked at each other again. "Yep, sure did miss this ol' place," Sookie said with a contented sigh.