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Chapter 31: Meeting the Maker (Part 2)

A/N: Hey my lovely people!! I am so terribly sorry that this is a day late. I promise I am really really trying to stay on top of it, I'm just perpetually struggling it seems. But this chapter is just a smidge longer than usual, so I hope that can sort of make up for it. Thank you all so much for sticking with me!!!

Chuck led you down the long corridors with Lorelai. He stopped in front of one of the doors with your name on it. Lorelai leans to the side to whisper to you.

"This is the part that makes the decision hard."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see." She nodded at Chuck who opened the door.

You looked warily between the two. What was in the mysterious room that was going to persuade you to stay? There wasn't much, you thought, that could convince you not to go back to the boys.

"Go ahead," Chuck told you. "I'll open the door after you've been in there for a few minutes."

You hesitantly walked into the room and felt overwhelmed by the sight. It was the living room from the house you grew up in. The carpet was the same faded brown color you remembered. And the couch...you couldn't help but chuckle. It was the ugliest mustard yellow color, but it was home and you hadn't seen it so long.

You noticed all of your baby doll clothes scattered across the floor by the finger smudged coffee table. It seemed like you were being drawn to it, perhaps by the need to feel connected to your old life. You walked over to the toys and sat cross-legged on the ground, picking up your baby doll and cradling it like you would have done when you were a child.

The reflection of yourself in the coffee table glass caught your eye. You weren't the you that you expected to be. The glass showed your hair pulled back into a messy braided ponytail, your shirt was a pinked striped Strawberry Shortcake shirt, and your face was young. This outfit was one you remembered wearing all the time when you were young, specifically when you were five years old.

Some noise caught your attention and you looked into the entryway to see your parents walking in.

"Mom? Dad?" you questioned in disbelief. Your heart jumped at seeing their faces again.

They walked in and knelt beside you.

"Hey precious," your dad said, using the nickname he frequently called you.

"We have a surprise for you," Mom said, standing and taking your hand.

It was then that you realized that you were in an actual memory your childhood, so you played along and said what you knew you said back then.

"A surprise? What is it?"

"You'll have to come with me." She started to lead you out of the living room and into the kitchen. You were excited to be able to see the blue and orange floral wallpaper, and the peeling tan linoleum, and the sun peeking through the window by the dining table. You could picture the way it would showcase the dust floating through the air like it so frequently used to. The excitement of seeing another part of your childhood built on top of the excitement you had for getting to see your surprise.

Suddenly, just before you walked into the kitchen, your dad made a loud noise while running up behind you and scooping you into his arms. He tossed you up into the air a few times, causing a high pitched squeal and some giggles to come from you. Your response made your dad expel a hearty laugh. The sound swelled and filled your ears. It was a sound you didn't realize you missed so much.

Dad held you on his side with your legs wrapped around him. Your tiny little fingers stretched up and rubbed the stubble on his face. "You need to shave, Daddy."