What's Next?

The Golden State

*Edited December 19*

"Mommy, play," Adley pulled on her mother's shirt.

"Go ask daddy," Rory frantically typed on her Macbook.

"Daddy busy,"

"Go play with sissy then," Rory was not one to ignore her kids for work, but she had to get these applications in before 2:00 and it was 1:30.

"Sissy busy," Adley whined. "Mommy play!"

Rory stopped typing. "Give me five minutes, baby."

"Play now!"

Rory did something awful ... she handed Adley her iPad. "Play some games on this. And don't tell daddy,"

The toddler cheered and got instantly occupied with the electronic apps.

A couple minutes later, Jess came up the stairs. When he saw Adley with the iPad, he got mad at Rory. "What is she doing with that thing? You know how I feel about that!" Jess did not believe in giving children electronics to occupy them when they should be playing with "real toys," as he called it.

"Sorry, babe. But, I really just need to get this done." Rory kept her eyes on the screen.

Jess rolled his eyes and picked up Adley. "Let's go play with real toys."

"And ... done!" Rory pressed send on her applications.

"Finally, now do you have time for your family?" Jess winked as Rory walked down the stairs.

"Oh shut- be quiet," Rory kissed him on the cheek. "Sorry for giving Adley the iPad. I know you don't like it."

"Thank you, Rory." He hugged her. "What exactly were you doing on your computer."

She hadn't told him about the applications. "Uh ... just work stuff."

"Oh okay. I got us tickets for the Christmas Extravaganza in Hartford next Saturday, by the way."

Rory frowned, "I thought we were going to the annual Stars Hollow festival?" 

Jess showed her the tickets, "We go every year. And it's the same every time: Miss Patty's ballet school does a couple of kiddie dances, Luke and your mom hand out cookies, and Kirk decorates the Christmas tree ... only for it to get knocked down by him. Every year he ends up getting tangled up in those damn lights." 

Rory laughed, "But it's special. You wouldn't want to disappoint Luke would you?" 

"He only goes because your mom drags him along. We both know that. He'd much rather go to this Extravaganza." 

"Why don't we ask the girls what they'd rather do."

"Fine." 

"Girls, come in here please," Rory called. "I have something to ask you."

"If it's about a pony, then yes. I want one." Haeven stated matter-a-factly. 

Rory laughed at her daughter's sense of humor. "This is about something else."

"Aw! I really wanted a pony." 

"Would you girls rather go to the Stars Hollow Christmas Festival ... or some boring thing in Hartford?" 

Before Jess could object to the unfair descriptions, the girls began jumping up and down. 

"Stars Hollow!" Haeven said.