Set during Rory's time at Chilton.... Minor spoilers if you have watched through Season 4, you're golden. :)

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Lorelai sat in the kitchen of her little house in Stars Hollow, listening to Babette and Morey discussing garden gnomes just a little ways from the house. She smiled, not minding the quiet in her house, as she sipped on her 3rd cup of coffee that day, and waited for her daughter Rory to wake up. She looked at the clock, frowning slightly as she could see that Rory was going to be late for school... which happened on a zero percent chance.

"Rory, sweetheart, its time to get up." She called from the kitchen table, knowing that Rory would be able to hear her.

Rory grumbled softly, before climbing out of bed and wrapping a soft blanket around her shoulders tightly. She walked into the kitchen, and sank down into a chair heavily, before resting her head on her arms.

"You okay?" Lorelai asked in concern, watching Rory thoughtfully. She had heard from her mother, Emily, that there was a lot of sick kids out of school at Chilton the past week.

"Yeah, just tired." Rory said, her voice rougher than it normally was when she first woke up.

"Coffee?" Lorelai offered, ready to stand up and get Rory a mug if she said yes.

Rory swallowed hard, before shaking her head no. "I'll get some at school." she promised, getting up slowly and retreating to her room to get dressed.

Lorelai waited a minute, before getting up and calling Luke's Diner.  

"Luke's Diner?" A young male voice answered.

"Luke, are you getting younger again?" Lorelai teased playfully, knowing all the while who it really was.

"Luke, its for you." the voice yelled. "Just a sec, Taylor has him tangled in another pointless discussion." the voice said to Lorelai.

"Ah Taylor's finest. I just need to order a few things for delivery, you mind?" Lorelai asked, purposefully leaving out that Rory was going to be home all day.

"Sure... Oh hang on, a sec." the voice said, before being replaced by Luke Danes.

"Hello, this is Luke." Luke said gruffly, sounding more than a bit agitated.

"Hey, Luke, its Lorelai. I need to make an order for delivery." Lorelai said pleasantly, not at all bothered by Luke's gruffness.

"Sure, Lorelai, no problem. What do you need, and where to?" Luke asked, making some noise as he searched for a pen and paper.

"The house is fine, Rory is sick and going to be staying home. But I still have to go to the Inn. I need chicken noodle soup, 2 burgers, lots of fries, and a couple different flavored milkshakes." Lorelai said thoughtfully, making a note to stop at Doose's on her way home.

"Is she okay?" Luke asked immediately, concerned for the girl he'd come to care for immensely.

"Yeah, she is fine. There's been a flu bug going around Chilton, looks like she caught this round." Lorelai said simply, hating that Rory was sick. She could hear muffled coughs and sneezes coming from her daughter's room, and wished she could just take away her discomfort.

"I'll include some of her favorite toast and orange juice. Do you have all the meds and what not, she will need?" Luke asked, knowing Lorelai may need a few things even without her saying so.

"I think we're good, but i will stop on my way home. Gotta run, still have to convince Rory to stay home." Lorelai said with a brief sound of dread.

Luke chuckled softly. "Good luck, it will be delivered in about 20 minutes." Luke said before hanging up.

Lorelai walked over to Rory's door, knocking lightly, before opening the door and walking inside. She looked at her daughter in sympathy, seeing how miserable she felt.

"I don't think I will make it to Chilton today." Rory said hoarsely, coughing painfully into the crook of her elbow.

"I think that may be a good idea. I already ordered food from Luke's for you, and I will try to get home as soon as I can." Lorelai said gently, helping Rory up and into the living room.

"Okay, can I have some Tylenol before you leave?" Rory asked, rubbing her temples with her fingertips.

"Of course, anything else I can get you?" Lorelai asked gently, not liking how pale and exhausted her daughter looked.

Rory shook her head no, before coughing so hard she gag softly.

Lorelai grabbed a big bowl from the kitchen and a glass of water, before returning to Rory's side. She offered both to her daughter, inwardly relieved when Rory only took the water.

"I'm okay." Rory panted, sipping on her water slightly.

Lorelai grabbed the Tylenol, bringing her the bottle, before grabbing her purse and phone. "Call me, if you need me... okay?" she said firmly.

Rory nodded, curling up on the couch with a yawn. She took a couple Tylenol, and sipped the water a bit more. She closed her eyes, planning to only doze until the food got there.

Lorelai left, heading to the Inn, knowing she would much rather be at home with Rory.

Jess walked up to the front door, knocking loudly, hoping that Rory would hear him. When there was no answer, he knocked again, hoping to be heard. He listened quietly, hearing muffled coughing from the living room.

He reached for the door handle, relieved that it was unlocked, before walking into the room. "Rory?" he asked in concern, not wanting to her freak out that he had walked inside.

"Jess?" Rory called softly, coughing harder and harder.

Jess put his bags down, rushing to her side. He rubbed her back lightly, as she reached for the bowl in time to gag up some of the water from earlier. He pulled her hair away from her face, continuing to rub her back.

"You're okay, slow breaths." he said gently, relieved that Lorelai had left the door open.

Rory stopped gagging up the water, and leaned back slowly on the couch. "Sorry about that." she said in a raspy voice.

Jess took the bowl and washed it out, before walking back into the living room. "It's fine. You're sick, so I don't blame you." he said, with a shrug.

Rory blushed faintly, coughing into her elbow again. "Did you bring the food?" she asked softly, flinching as she tried to swallow.

Jess laughed. "Yeah, ready for some soup and orange juice?" he asked, walking back over to his bags. He took them into the kitchen, returning with cough syrup and cold medicine.

"Sounds good." Rory said softly, not wanting to raise her voice too loud with how crappy she felt.

"Take these first, then I will bring you the juice and soup." Jess said gently, giving her the proper dose for both meds.

"We didn't have those..." Rory said, after swallowing both nasty liquids with a grimace.

"Luke sent me to Doose's for them." Jess said with a shrug. He returned to the kitchen, walking back into the living room a couple minutes later with the soup and juice. "Take it slow, and see how your stomach takes it." he instructed.

Rory nodded, sipping on the soup first. "Are you staying?" she asked hoarsely.

"Only til your mom gets home. someone's got to make sure you don't keel over." Jess said, pulling out a book from his back pocket.

"Oh... what about school?" Rory asked curiously, putting the soup down, and cuddling up under her blanket beside him.

"Called out sick." Jess admitted with a shrug. "Get some sleep, I'll be here when you wake up." he promised.

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Rory smiled, dozing off almost immediately. When she woke up next, her mom was home and Jess was asleep on the couch beside her. Her mom helped her get better, and she only missed 3 days of school, when she ended taking care of Jess who got it next.

I hope you enjoyed this little fic. Please comment, vote, and request away! <3