Here we go! Chapter three is up! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! You all totally rock and made this old lady's day! Does happy dance :) In this chapter: Matthew and Emmy meet the grandparents and big sister, and Lorelai recovers from her big day, but not before facing one more hurdle. Relax people, it's not that bad! I actually had to go through it and what the nurse says was true in my case! Makes you want to read and find out huh? Enjoy! Please be my coffee and review! :)
Disclaimer: I own only the characters I create. All others belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Chapter 3: One step at a time
Richard and Emily Gilmore stood at the NICU window watching their daughter and son-in law holding two tiny bundles. Emily noticed the look of joy on the daughter's face, as she held her baby to her breast. Luke couldn't stop smiling, as he marveled at the newborn in his arms. Nurse Sandy greeted them at the door and escorted them in to see their new grandchildren. Lorelai and Luke were so caught up in their babies that they didn't notice the elder Gilmores quietly walking over to them.
"Congratulations to the both of you," Emily said, announcing their presence. "How are you feeling Lorelai?"
"Like I've been poked, prodded, kneaded, pummeled from the inside by that creature that burst out of John Hurt's belly in Alien, and then gutted after about 12 hours," Lorelai replied with a chuckle.
"Must you be so graphic? Really Lorelai, a simple 'I'm in pain after a long labor and c-section' would have been sufficient," Emily said rolling her eyes.
"Yes, but it wouldn't have gotten the same reaction," Lorelai stated, smiling. "But yes, now that you mention it, I AM in pain, but the med they gave me is taking the edge off it."
"So can we hold these beautiful babies," Richard inquired, as he and Emily sat next to Lorelai and Luke.
"I might be persuaded to part with this one for a moment, but I don't know about Lorelai," Luke laughed. "Apparently she and her tiny clone are conspiring against us."
"I have to train her early Luke," Lorelai giggled. "See, she already has the pout down pat!" Lorelai placed a squirming Emmy in her grandmother's arms. "Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Emily Ann Gilmore Danes."
"Oh!" Emily gasped and stared at the infant in her arms. Her eyes filled with tears, and she didn't try to contain them as they slid down her cheeks. She was so moved that Lorelai would name her daughter after her. She touched the baby's downy hair and stroked her cheek. Emmy reached up and grabbed one of her grandmother's fingers.
"She's beautiful Lorelai," Emily said softly. "I can't believe how much she looks like you as an infant. She's a carbon copy. I feel like I'm holding you all over again."
"Except that Emmy doesn't have a big head," Lorelai said, smirking.
"All babies have big heads Lorelai," Emily retorted. "I'm sorry that you can't let that incident go. It was so long ago. Yes, I said things to you that I will always regret and I'm sorry. You needn't bring it up at every opportunity. I have enough guilt of my own."
"You're right Mom," Lorelai soothed, seeing her mother's obvious discomfort at her lame joke. "Let's leave the past in the past and focus on right now. Unlike Rory, who looked like one of the Coneheads from Saturday Night Live at birth, Emmy and Matthew have perfect shaped heads. At least there's one plus for having a c-section!"
"Hey! I heard that," a voice called out from across the room.
"Hey hon," Lorelai said, greeting her eldest daughter. "You're still Mommy's favorite Conehead! Come meet your baby brother and sister. This is Emily Ann Gilmore Danes, and that sleeping bundle is Matthew Lucas Gilmore Danes."
"Wow! She looks just like you Mom," Rory marveled, as she studied the newborn.
"That is the consensus," Lorelai stated.
"Except she doesn't have your huge head," Rory added, smiling.
"Oh, good god," Emily groaned shaking her head. Lorelai just laughed. "Like mother, like daughter. I swear you encourage her in her sarcasm," Emily snapped.
"Well she IS my daughter," Lorelai announced, beaming with pride at Rory. "Hug the mommy," Lorelai said, putting her arms out to Rory, who in turn gave her a big embrace.
"How are you feeling," Rory asked, as she rubbed her new sister's fuzz covered head.
"Do not launch into the disturbing analogy you so gleefully recounted to your mother and I when we arrived," Richard warned his daughter, when he spotted a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Aw, come on Dad," Lorelai smiled, "that was some of my best stuff."
"The alien bursting out of John Hurt's stomach bit," Rory inquired with a smile.
"You go through not one, but TWO, fetal versions and 12 hours of labor only to have a c-section anyway, and tell me if you'd feel differently," Lorelai retorted with a pout.
"Poor Mom," Rory said, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. "Well, the worst is over now and you have these two great babies to show for it."
"That's what I keep telling her," Luke added, putting an arm around Lorelai's shoulder and leaning over to kiss her tenderly on the lips.
Lorelai leaned into the warmth of Luke's embrace and sighed. It really had been a rough twenty-four hours, and she was so exhausted she felt she could sleep for a week, but seeing those two tiny bundles being given such loving attention from their grandparents was worth it. She had been sitting with the babies for several hours and was beginning to feel tired. She just didn't want to leave them in the NICU. After visiting with her parents and Rory, she began to feel sleepy and closed her eyes.
Luke noticed that Lorelai was asleep in the rocker and he motioned the guests aside. Everyone agreed that Lorelai needed as much sleep as she could get while in the hospital, because that would be a luxury when she came home. They said their goodbyes, kissing a sleeping Lorelai on the cheek without waking her, and left to catch some rest themselves. Luke brought the wheelchair over next to the rocker and locked the brakes. He gently shook Lorelai until she opened her eyes. She gave him a glassy stare, yawned and then groaned. The pain was back with a vengeance.
Luke moved the IV pole to the side and, as delicately as he could, helped Lorelai up from the rocker and into the wheelchair. She couldn't even stand upright and leaned over, holding her lower abdomen until Luke helped her to sit. He covered her with the blanket and brought Emmy and Matthew over so she could kiss them. He placed the sleeping twins back in the isolet and wheeled Lorelai back to her room. She grimaced and moaned softly, biting her lower lip, as the cramping returned full force.
When they reached the room, Lorelai's face was flushed and she was sweating. A nurse noticed and came to take Lorelai's temperature.
"Mrs. Danes, you're running a fever," the nurse announced. "It's actually not that uncommon. I'd like you to walk around. Believe it or not, it actually helps lower the fever."
"I can't," Lorelai groaned. "It hurts too much."
"Yeah, really, what good is putting her in more pain gonna do," Luke interjected gruffly.
"I'll bring your wife something for the pain," the nurse stated, "but it really will lower the fever having her take a short walk around the halls."
"Let's just get it over with," Lorelai groaned. "I'm tired and hungry."
"Dinner will be arriving shortly," the nurse stated. "I'll be back with some percocet for the pain."
"Luke, help me up," Lorelai said softly.
"You're not really gonna walk around," Luke barked in disbelief. "You just had major surgery!"
Lorelai sighed. "Please, let's just get this over with."
Luke rubbed his scruffy jaw. He was just as exhausted as Lorelai, but if she were willing to walk, then he would suck it up and be there for her. "Okay, but I'm staying right beside you," Luke said. "I don't want you falling over."
He locked the brakes on the wheelchair and put up the foot rests so Lorelai could place her bunny slipper-clad feet onto the floor. After removing the blanket, Luke wrapped his arms around Lorelai's back and gently pulled her to a standing position. She grunted and groaned, holding on to him. He could feel her body trembling from pain and fatigue, her beautiful features contorted with silent signs of that pain. She panted through the stabbing pain in her abdomen, unable to stand fully erect. With one hand, Lorelai held onto the IV pole, while the other hand put gentle pressure on her bandaged abdomen.
Luke walked beside his wife as she very slowly walked down the hall, her face wearing a look of determination, the pain evident in her glistening eyes. One step at a time, Lorelai made her way down the corridor. Luke kept his arm around her waist as they walked. It broke his heart to see her bent over, taking slow shuffling steps like a frail elderly woman, in her ridiculous bunny slippers. Knowing Lorelai for as long as he had, made Luke aware of her every nuance. He noticed now how her chin trembled slightly, her breath catching as she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
"Lorelai, are you okay," he inquired when she stopped halfway down the maternity ward corridor. "You don't have to continue. We can just turn around and go back to the room."
"It just…hurts," Lorelai whispered, as two fat tears slid down her cheeks. She tried to hold it back, but she was exhausted, and apparently still hormonal.
"Let's get you to bed," Luke replied, brushing the tears from Lorelai's face.
"Hey! Not so fast sailor! That's what got me in this mess in the first place," Lorelai chuckled, sniffling back her tears.
"Come on, Crazy Lady," Luke said laughing. "Maybe they'll bring you some chocolate pudding for dinner."
"Mmm… pudding. Now THAT would take my mind off my agony," Lorelai sighed, giving Luke a watery smile.
"You'll have some dinner, some nice pain meds and sleep, so I can go home and catch some much needed rest myself," Luke said, helping Lorelai back down the hall.
"You're not staying with me tonight," a surprised Lorelai asked. "But I need you here."
You'll be fine," Luke stated. "Besides, husbands are not included in the 'rooming in' perk, only newborns."
"Not fair," Lorelai whined, pout fully in place. "I need to snuggle with my hubby. It's hard enough dealing with the fact that I can't keep the twins with me tonight."
"Come on," Luke soothed, sensing another meltdown coming. "I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."
"Okay, but you're climbing in bed with me and I won't take no for an answer," Lorelai said as she slowly made her way back to her room.
Once in her room, Lorelai walked over to the bed. Luke pulled back the covers and lifted the head up to a sitting position. Lorelai sat on the edge and slid back onto the mattress with a groan. She turned her body and brought her legs up. The effort caused her to cry out in pain. Luke removed her slippers and began to rub her swollen feet. He looked up and noticed Lorelai wiping at her tear stained face.
Luke hated seeing his wife in so much pain. Lorelai was trying to be so strong, but it was getting harder to keep it together. Where was the nurse with her pain med? Luke climbed up on the bed next to Lorelai and she leaned against him, moaning softly and sniffling back her tears. The nurse finally arrived with the percocet and Lorelai's dinner. Lorelai took the pill and swallowed it with the water on her tray as the nurse set up her tray table.
"What is this," Lorelai said turning her nose up at the plate in front of her. "This isn't food! Even I can make food that looks better that this!"
Luke had to agree: the contents of the plate looked pretty unappetizing. "Can you wait a bit longer to eat," he asked Lorelai.
"Are you going to get me some REAL food? Cause I can wait for that," Lorelai replied hopefully.
"Well I sure as hell am not eating that crap," Luke said. "I'll go out and get us some real food and then we can eat together. So, can you hold off a while longer? I know how you Gilmore women need to eat regularly or you get really cranky."
"What!? I never get cranky! I'm always an angel! How can you say that I get cranky if I don't eat! I just can't eat THIS. It looks like someone else already did and didn't like it! I'm not cranky, just hungry," Lorelai ranted.
"I rest my case," Luke stated. They gazed at each other for a moment and Luke smiled. Lorelai caught on and a wide grin spread across her face. They both burst out laughing.
"Ooh! Stop! Laughing hurts," Lorelai gasped, grabbing her abdomen. "Start running Burger Boy. And make it hot, greasy and nutrient free. This new mommy is gonna need all the energy she can get."
"Your eating habits still repulse me," Luke grunted, making a disgusted face. "I'll be back," he added, leaning over to kiss her tenderly on the lips. "Have I told you how beautiful you look and how happy I am to be a new dad?"
"Really? Even though I nearly ripped the flesh off your arms and screamed enough obscenities to make a sailor blush?"
"You wouldn't be you if you didn't make your feelings known as dramatically as possible," Luke said smiling. "I'll be back. You rest up. You're gonna need your strength to consume the intestine clogging meal you requested."
Lorelai leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. The pain was beginning to subside and she was finally able to relax. What a day it had been! She smiled, thinking about Luke bonding with his new son and daughter. He had always avoided interaction with babies, never really liked them and their jam hands and unpleasant bodily functions. Yet when she saw him with his infant niece Doula, she knew that something had definitely changed. Now seeing his awe in his babies both astounded and moved her. He was so gentle and loving with them. Lorelai smiled softly then yawned and dozed off.
The aroma of cheeseburger permeated Lorelai's dreams, causing her to inhale the delightful scent deeply. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times to clear her vision. Before her stood her knight in blue flannel, a bag of sustenance for her, and a grin spread across his face. She pushed the button to raise the head on the bed as high as it would go. Luke set the feast out on the tray table and slid it over her lap. He then toed off his boots and climbed up on the bed next to her, giving her a kiss.
"You brought me cheeseburgers and fries," Lorelai cooed with adoration for her Burger Boy.
"And onion rings and a large chocolate shake," Luke added, opening the salad he picked out for himself. "If you're not too full afterwards, there's pie for dessert."
"Pie! Luke will you marry me?" Lorelai laughed and took a huge bite out of her burger.
"Already did," Luke stated, smiling as she wolfed down her meal, while making happy moans of hunger fulfillment. "You're gonna throw up if you don't slow down," he warned.
" Are you kidding? This is the first meal I've had since breakfast YESTERDAY," Lorelai mumbled with a mouth full of food. "I've been too nauseous to eat anything until now, so let me enjoy it. Mmm… so good."
"I swear your stomach is lined with cast iron," Luke marveled, shaking his head. He stabbed another forkful of grilled chicken salad, chasing it with a swig of water from the bottle sitting next to Lorelai's shake.
Lorelai belched, then giggled. "Excuse me. Man I can't wait to go home and eat your cooking again! You have me spoiled."
"No, I have you eating real food and not that crap that's full of chemicals, that rots your insides," Luke reiterated calmly. "If you are going to nurse, you're going to have to eat better. Remember, everything you eat passes on to the babies through your breast milk."
"Look who's been reading baby books," Lorelai retorted. "Look, I cut down on my junk food, and I'm even eating those horrid green things, but I draw the line at coffee restriction! I need my caffeine to function!"
"You can have your precious coffee," Luke said, "just not so much of it. One cup of leaded is all that your system can handle before affecting you."
"So one giant cup," Lorelai asked hopefully.
"No, one normal mug size," Luke stated, ignoring Lorelai's pouting. "When you stop nursing, you can have more."
"Maybe I shouldn't start," Lorelai mumbled, frowning.
"Do it for Matthew and Emmy," Luke said, playing her heartstrings like a virtuoso.
"Okay," Lorelai conceded. "But don't expect me to like it!"
After they finished eating and Luke had cleared away the trash, he settled back on the bed, taking Lorelai in his arms. She sighed as she leaned against him. He stroked her hair and rubbed her arm. She gazed up at him, her eyes glassy from fatigue, the redness and bags under her eyes evidence of her ordeal. He knew he had to be a sight as well, having not slept much himself in two days. All he wanted to do was go home, take a hot shower and crawl into bed.
"Have I told YOU just how happy I am to be a new mom," Lorelai asked softly.
"Never would've guessed," Luke snorted, giving her a blazing smile.
"I know I've been a handful today…" Lorelai began.
"To say the least," Luke interrupted.
"But I want you to know, that I couldn't have done this without you Luke," Lorelai murmured, rubbing his flannel-covered chest.
"Yeah, well, you almost had to," Luke said sheepishly. "I almost passed out more than once."
"Well, I know how you are with bodily fluids and hospitals in general," Lorelai stated, kissing his scruffy cheek. "It just makes what you did even more incredible."
"It was probably the most disgusting, yet beautiful, experience I've ever had," Luke chuckled.
"And I don't want you to ever forget it," Lorelai whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I need you to always remember it, because I missed it. I need to experience it through your eyes."
"I will recount the full experience, in all its disgusting detail, whenever you want," Luke promised. "As gross as parts of the birth experience was, for you, I'd go through it again." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. She turned and sweetly kissed his lips.
"That's okay. I think I'm good with these two for a while," Lorelai said. She paused a moment, then added, "You'd really have more kids with me?"
"If these two don't drive us to the nut house, yeah I'd consider it," Luke chuckled. "Wouldn't you?"
"Well considering the 'nut house' according to you is Stars Hollow, then we're already there," Lorelai giggled. "Let's see how we do with Matthew and Emmy first, cause I have a feeling that if Emmy has my personality we're in for trouble."
"So that's why your mother was gloating," Luke said
"Hello! Prophesy fulfilled! I've been hearing since I was ten: 'Lorelai, I hope to god that one day you have a child who acts just like you'. Well, I figured that since Rory turned out okay, I was free of the curse, but no!" Lorelai sighed and shook her head. "I have a feeling I'll be apologizing profusely to my parents for the next eighteen or so years!"
"Well I wouldn't worry about that now," Luke soothed, giving her a hug.
"Yeah, maybe it won't happen," Lorelai mused. She stifled a yawn and rubbed her eyes.
"And if it does, I will lock her in her bedroom till she twenty-one," Luke smirked.
"Yeah, but if Emmy's anything like me, she'll know all the ways to escape," Lorelai said smiling. She was falling into a cozy relaxed state and fought to keep her eyes open.
"Then Mr. Baseball bat and I will have a nice chat with all her prospective boyfriends," Luke declared. He could tell Lorelai was fading fast by her even breathing.
"You're gonna be such a great dad," Lorelai sighed as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
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