What's Next?

Not What I Expected

Update: Obviously I have not written in a long while, so I'm going to update this story into "present" time. Please forgive me if the ages and dates of any characters are inconsistent. I rather just begin writing than to go back and figure out all the little details. I'm uncommissioned and unofficial as of now, so I don't feel the need to keep everything strict.

Update details and background: First off, I wish I had never added the part of the story where Rory ran off because it was so unlike her character, but I'm going to keep that part. I wish I didn't make Jess such a shitty husband either. Rory and Jess are now separated. Rory lives in the same house that she and Jess shared previously, while Jess is staying in an apartment in Boston. Rory is in her late 30s, Jess is 40, Haeven is 5, and Rosalyn and Adley are 3. Haeven is about to start kindergarten and the twins are in preschool.  I'll try my best to keep the story current to the real world with the events and characters all fictional. I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of the characters. I write about them. Enjoy.

"This is not how I imagined anything to go, mom," Rory balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder as she attempted to log into her eldest daughter's school site. "She was supposed to make friends, eat lunch with her classmates, and enjoy her first year away from home."

Lorelai remembered taking Rory to her first day of Kindergarten, It was something that every parents dreams of and dreads.

"It's just not the same sitting in the kitchen and staring at a laptop while a teacher attempts to teach kids to read."

"I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry that this is all happening now."

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," The computer chimed and Rory checked the new message that popped up. "Great. Looks like I have the wrong password. I'll talk to you later mom, I gotta figure this out before Haeven goes to her first day of "school."

"Bye, hun. Good luck."

"Mommy, is it time for Kindergarten yet?" Haeven came down the stairs, dressed in overalls and light up sneakers. She looked so old now, with her backpack and curly brown hair in pigtails.

Rory forced any negative emotion away and smiled. "Oh, honey." She gasped.

The 5-year-old sat down in front of the computer. "I can't wait for kindergarten!"

"You're gonna do great!" She turned on the video and helped her daughter engage in her first day of class. She didn't want to be sad today. But it was hard to suppress feelings that tugged at her heartstrings.

Of course every possible problem occurred. The monitor froze, the dog barked, and at the worst possible moment Rosalyn decided to scream her announcement that she needed to go potty.

Could she handle all of this alone? Three kids, three online classes...and a dog.

The twins' first day went rather smoothly. Both engaged in singing and reading time. They didn't seem too distracted and actually enjoyed seeing their teachers on the screen.

Everything was going great until it was time to talk about mommies and daddies. Miss Sheridan, the twins' teacher asked all the parents to be on screen. Adley made the realization that everyone else in class had two parents with them. She looked around beside her before blurting out, "My daddy moved away!" She didn't sound upset. Just...loud. A little too not upset.

Everyone stopped talking and stared at the screen. Miss Sheridan tried to deflect. "Well, I think it's time for break. Everyone go grab your favorite snack and meet back in five minutes!"

Rory quickly reminded her 3-and-a-half year old that some things are best left to be said when we aren't at school.

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