Hi everyone! I finally finished this chapter! Sorry it took so long. I had company (my mother) visiting from out of town for two weeks, so I had very little time to write. This chapter may seem fluffy, but I assure you it's very important to the story. Matthew and Emmy celebrate their first birthday and other baby filled wonderfulness. Today is my birthday too, so I would love some wonderful birthday reviews as presents! Lol! I hope people are still reading and enjoying this story. Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewed in the past. You guys are awesome! :D Now I'm off to have some Happy cake of my own, and yes, I am actually wearing a birthday tiara...all day...much to the dismay of my teenaged daughter! Lol! Now on with the story!

Disclaimer: I own only the characters I create. All others belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Chapter 7: Baby talk and Happy cake

Matthew snuggled up in his mother's arms. A loud noise had woken him from his peaceful slumber and frightened him, so he did the only thing a tiny boy could do; cry for his mother. It worked for she came bounding into the room to him. He stood up in his crib and reached a chubby hand out to her.

"Mama! Up," Matthew sobbed, reaching for his mother.

"Mama's here sweet boy," Lorelai cooed, as she picked him up. "Did Mama wake you up? You can blame Dada for tickling Mama. Let's go tell him how mad you are for losing your beauty sleep."

The little guy would have continued to wail, had his mother not been so soothing. Lorelai rocked him in her arms as she made her way back into her bedroom. She stroked his soft curls and kissed his head as she held him close. Matthew wiped his tear filled eyes with his tiny fist and rubbed his face on his mama's t-shirt. He wrinkled his little nose for a moment in confusion: his mama looked like his mama, but smelled like Dada!

Matthew crawled off his mother's belly and rolled in between her and his dada. He knew he wasn't in his crib any more and figured it must be playtime. He sat up and began to slap his father on the stomach.

"That's right Matty, let Dada know how mean he was to tickle Mama," Lorelai giggled.

"Don't encourage him," Luke growled. "Oof! Hey now! Why are you smacking me for anyway? It was Mama's screech that woke you up."

"Da da da da Dada," Matthew intoned with glee as he drummed on his father's stomach.

"See! He knows who's to blame," Lorelai said laughing.

"Come on you," Luke said, as he scooped up his baby boy and blew a raspberry on his little round belly. Matthew chortled with delight. "Time to go back to sleep before you wake up your sister."

"My turn," Lorelai said plainly. When Luke gave her a questioning look, she added, "You got to put them to bed earlier. Now I want my time with them."

"What? Are you gonna wake Emmy up just so you can put her to bed," Luke inquired with a confused shake of his head.

"Yeah sure, cause I love to hear her scream like a banshee when I wake her up out of a dead sleep," Lorelai snarked. "I'm just gonna sit and rock this squirming little bug while I watch Emmy sleep. Come on Matty," Lorelai said softly, taking her boy from his father's arms. "Time for little babies to go nighty night."

Lorelai carried Matthew back into his room and placed him on the changing table. She quietly changed his diaper and gathered him up in her arms again. She walked the floor with him, as he yawned and settled against her shoulder. Lorelai could see Emmy sprawled out in her crib, blanket tangled around her, her little thumb in her mouth. She looked so peaceful. Lorelai focused her attention back on Matthew, who was wrapping her hair around his chubby fingers as he snuggled against her shoulder. She rubbed his back and kissed his silky curls as she gently rocked him in her arms.

"Hey little boy," Lorelai whispered, as Matthew looked up at her and blinked his sleepy eyes. "Stop fighting it. You know you're tired. Go to sleep so Mama can snuggle up with Dada."

"Uhn," Matthew grunted, reaching a small hand out and leaning over. "Dis? Dis?"

"What do you want Matty," Lorelai inquired, as her baby boy continued to wriggle in her arms, reaching out for something beyond his grasp.

"Mama, dis," Matthew pleaded again.

"You want this," Lorelai asked, spotting his favorite blanky in his crib.

"Dis! Dis Mama," Matthew exclaimed excitedly, reaching out with both hands. Lorelai leaned over and retrieved the coveted blanky from the crib and handed it to her son.

"Say blanky Matty," Lorelai encouraged softly. "Blanky," she repeated, pronouncing each syllable carefully for him.

"Banky," Matthew repeated, cuddling the soft blue receiving blanket to him and wrapping the edge around his fingers.

"Close enough, sweet boy," Lorelai whispered as she smiled at her son. "Now go to sleep or Mama will have no energy to plan the big first birthday bash for you and your sister."

"Banky," Matthew repeated softly. "Banky, Mama."

"I see that, baby," Lorelai whispered, taking a seat in the rocking chair.

Lorelai rocked in the chair, cradling Matthew in her arms. She stroked his head, as he bunched his beloved blanky up in his little hands. He rubbed the edge against his cheek and yawned. She patted his diapered bottom as he drew his legs up, curling and uncurling his tiny bare toes on her arm. He sighed, yawned again, and drifted off to sleep.

Luke listened through the monitor in the bedroom, his arms behind his head, as he lay stretched out in bed. He loved how Lorelai would make up her own bedtime stories to tell the twins and would do goofy character voices, which made them both laugh. Sometimes she would sing softly to them when she thought no one was listening. As huge a ham as she was, she was surprisingly shy about singing in front of people. She didn't think she could sing well, yet she had a beautiful singing voice. Now though, everything was silent for some time.

Luke sat up, listening to the stillness. He threw back the covers, grabbed his boxers and slipped them on. He padded across the hall to the nursery and peeked inside. There was Lorelai, sitting back in the rocker, her mouth slightly opened, as she slept as soundly as the baby boy who was curled up in her arms. Luke stepped over to her and brushed a lock of hair from her face. He placed a soft kiss to her head and she opened her eyes, blinking at him sleepily.

"Come on sleepy girl," He whispered. "Let's get this little guy in bed so we can snuggle."

He gently lifted Matthew from her arms and carried him to his crib. Once he settled the boy down, he looked over at Lorelai and noticed she was still in the rocker and had fallen back asleep. He shook his head and smiled as he scooped her up and carried her back to their bedroom. He placed her down on the bed and she immediately sighed and rolled over on her side. Luke climbed in next to her and she snuggled against his chest.

Rory pulled into the driveway of her old home the next day and smiled. She turned off the ignition and grabbed her purse. Before she even reached the front door she could hear it, the squeals of laughter from her siblings. She opened the front door, knowing all too well that there was no knocking on the door of the Crap Shack. Her mother wouldn't hear of it. Lorelai had to remind Rory that the Crap Shack would always be her home, no matter where she lived.

"Hey Mom," Rory called out from the foyer, just as a screeching Emmy toddled by on her toes, wobbling from side to side.

"Gotcha," Lorelai exclaimed, as she scooped up Emmy and tickled her belly. "Oh hey Sweets. You wanna help me tag team the terrible twosome?" Emmy continued to chortle as she tried to wriggle free of her mother's grasp.

"Down," Emmy demanded, kicking her tiny feet. Lorelai set her on her feet and she took off into the living room as fast as her wobbly little legs could carry her.

"I don't know how you do it," Rory marveled, as she watched Matthew and Emmy chasing each other around the coffee table, while they babbled to each other in a language only they could understand.

"I've had to get a complete transfusion," Lorelai said smirking. "That's right, I no longer have blood running through my veins. It's pure coffee! Juan Valdez would be proud. I've decided to stop making the coffee and have elected to just chomping it down by the bowlful with some milk or flavored creamer."

"That's disgusting," Rory groaned, making a face.

"Breakfast of champions," Lorelai stated with a smile.

"No, that would be Wheaties," Rory corrected, "and I doubt that you're eating anything remotely resembling a whole grain."

"Hey now, I had some cheerios with the kids this morning," Lorelai announced proudly. "Cheerios are whole grain! It says so on the box."

"Was that before or after your bowl of coffee grounds with milk," Rory inquired, giggling.

"After," Lorelai laughed, as she walked over to the couch.

"So you're running on caffeine and pure exhaustion," Rory commented with a grin.

"Exactly," Lorelai sighed, plopping down on the couch. She propped her feet up on the coffee table, effectively blocking the path of her energized babies.

Emmy had been running around the table when she collided with her mother's outstretched legs. The impact caused her to fall back onto her diapered bottom with a crinkly thud. Matthew figured this was part of some new game, so he too let his legs give way as he landed on his butt near his sister. Emmy, startled by the abrupt end of her travels, began to pout, her lower lip quivering.

"Aw, don't cry Emmy," Rory soothed, as she reached over and picked her sister up. "Mommy thinks it's funny to watch you guys fall on your butts."

"I do not," Lorelai gasped, trying to stifle a giggle. When she saw the look on Emmy's face, she burst out laughing. Emmy clung to Rory and buried her face in Rory's chest. "She has you wrapped around her manipulative little finger," Lorelai exclaimed.

"Don't listen to her Emmy," Rory said to her baby sister, as she kissed her on the head. Emmy turned to face Lorelai, a gleam in her eyes.

"See! She's such a faker," Lorelai chuckled. "Look at the face! I know that face! I perfected that face! I used it to get whatever I wanted from my parents when I was little! THAT my friend is the Gilmore pout! It actually supercedes the Rory face in its manipulation abilities."

"No," Rory gasped, snapping her head down to look at her sister. Emmy looked up at her with wide innocent eyes and suddenly her pout spread out into a huge toothy smile. "You stinker," Rory said, laughing. "You are your mother's daughter!"

"I told you," Lorelai gasped, doubled over with laughter.

"I can't believe I fell for that," Rory giggled. She tickled Emmy's belly and the girl squealed with laughter.

"Don't feel bad," Lorelai stated. "While I am clearly the foremost expert on the Gilmore Pout, she still manages to pull it off with me now and then."

"And with Luke," Rory inquired.

"Every single time," Lorelai giggled, picking up Matthew and sitting him on her lap. "But not you," she cooed to Matthew. "Emmy may have Daddy wrapped around her little finger, but you're Mommy's little man. You don't need to show off to get the attention from all the girls. All you have to do is smile."

Matthew watched his mother's animated fuss over him with quiet amusement. He gave her a toothy grin of his own and she wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. He stiffened a bit and wriggled out of her embrace.

"Down," Matthew commanded, while trying to free himself from his mother's grasp.

"Not so fast there Speedy Gonzales," Lorelai said, standing up with Matthew in her arms. "Mommy is worn out. You and the Roadrunner over there are getting penned for a while. Mommy needs a break."

She carried Matthew over to the pack and play and placed him in. He sat down and began to reach for one of his toys. He didn't seem to mind playing by himself. Emmy, on the other hand, hated the pack and play and did everything she could to avoid the imprisonment of the playpen. She screamed until she was emancipated. After seeing to Matthew, Lorelai curled up on the couch again next to Rory, placing a still sobbing Emmy in Rory's arms.

Rory jostled her baby sister in her arms, trying to sooth her. Eventually Emmy fell asleep on her shoulder. Rory lightly stroked her sister's soft curls and kissed her flushed little cheek. She could feel Emmy's warm breath on her neck and hear the soft sucking sounds as Emmy sucked her thumb. It was so nice having baby siblings, but Rory began to yearn for one of her own. She wondered how Logan would handle being a father.

"Sookie's making chocolate cake," Lorelai announced suddenly, startling Rory from her thoughts.

"What," Rory inquired in a daze.

"Chocolate cake? For the twins' birthday? Hello? Earth to Rory," Lorelai said softly, trying not to wake Emmy. "That's why you're here…to help me plan the party?"

"Oh, right," Rory responded distractedly. "Mom, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, hon," Lorelai replied. "Is everything okay? I mean, I don't see you as much now that you're a married working woman."

"Everything's fine," Rory stated. "Things are really good. I'm settled in at work and things couldn't be better between Logan and me."

"But…," Lorelai began.

Rory thought for a moment about whether or not she was ready to divulge her desire to start a family with her mother. Lorelai was still a bit overprotective of her since the accident. Maybe she wasn't ready for the full time commitment of motherhood. After all, she was just settling into her career at the Hartford Courant. She still had plenty of time to have a baby. She shifted Emmy on her shoulder and sighed.

"Logan and I were having a discussion one day about if I was capable of having children," Rory began.

"Oh my god, you're pregnant," Lorelai gasped, bouncing in her seat.

"No! God no," Rory exclaimed. Emmy startled but fell back to sleep almost immediately.

"Don't do that to Mommy," Lorelai whispered loudly, her hand on her chest. "So you and Logan were having a discussion about children?"

"I told him that the doctor says I should be able to conceive and carry a baby without any problems," Rory stated. "I was just thinking that I'd really like a child."

"Now," Lorelai inquired. "You're still getting your life back on track."

"I know," Rory replied, rubbing Emmy's back as her sister sucked her thumb. "I was just thinking that's all. I haven't even mentioned it to Logan yet. I don't know if he's ready for parenthood yet. It's just that I love spending time with Matthew and Emmy and I think I'm handling them just fine when I baby sit for them."

"You're a great big sister, hon," Lorelai said softly as she stroked Rory's arm. "But watching your brother and sister occasionally is one thing. Raising a child of your own is different. You have challenges most mothers don't have to deal with."

You don't think I could do it," Rory asked in surprise and a bit of disappointment.

Lorelai gazed at her daughter. Rory's very existence was proof positive that she could do anything if she really wanted it. As a mother, there is nothing harder than watching your child suffer and fight for her life. Rory had a quiet strength that never ceased to amaze her. Lorelai was sure that Rory's strength would help her accomplish any goal she set her sights on. But becoming a mother with the physical challenges that Rory had would be another battle. Lorelai didn't want to see her daughter struggle.

"It's not that, sweets," Lorelai said with a sigh. She gave her daughter a small wistful smile. "I guess I just worry about you. That's what mothers do."

"I wouldn't be having a baby alone, Mom," Rory assured her. "I'd have Logan. I see how he is with the twins. I think he'd make a good dad. The important part is that we'd be parents together. I'd have support. Not to mention, I'd also have you."

"Well, being the world's greatest mother does have its perks," Lorelai chuckled. She leaned over and kissed Rory on the cheek. "If you really want to start a family, then do it. Just promise me that if you have a girl you won't name her Apple or any other fruity name. And stay away from those weird celebrity names. I swear those famous moms were higher than me when they gave birth!"

"So Pilot Inspektor is out huh," Rory giggled. "Although I was kind of leaning toward Newspaper Writer for a boy. We'd call him Newsy for short."

"Ew! Over my dead body," Lorelai exclaimed. "If you must go with a fruity name, how about kumquat? Gah! Too dirty! Ooh! I know! Pez! Pez Huntzberger…you can't go wrong with candy!"

"What? As a name? Ew," Rory giggled. "How do we always wind up in these discussions?"

"Your mother has a weird sense of humor? Whatever you decide to name my future grandchild will be fine with me," Lorelai said, smiling. "So…you okay now?"

"I'm great," Rory answered with a nod. "So what else are we having besides chocolate cake?"

Lorelai excitedly went on with the plans she'd made, asking Rory for her opinion. There was so much planning for an event that would come and go in the blink of an eye. When the big day arrived, the two celebrities were arrayed in their finest attire. Never had two babies looked so cute or received so much attention. Matthew and Emmy barely had time to run around: they were constantly being picked up and cuddled.

"Patty, I need my son," Lorelai said, as she extricated Matthew from Miss. Patty's arms, where he'd been for the last half hour.

"This sweet boy? I could just eat him up," Patty cooed, pretending to chomp on Matthew's belly. Matthew grabbed her hair and squealed in delight.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Lorelai chuckled, securing her son in her arms. "The birthday boy needs to get ready to have his cake and eat it too."

"Patty, are you mauling my son again," Luke asked, coming over to Lorelai with Emmy in his arms.

"Guilty as charged," Patty laughed.

"The day you start pinching his butt, I'm coming after you," Luke warned, a twinkle in his eye.

"You promise," Patty inquired with a wink. Luke turned red, as Patty let loose a belly laugh. "Relax Doll, I know you Danes men are off limits. Besides, the only men I like in diapers are the ones who want me to be their mama, if you know what I mean."

"Oh my god, Patty, you are so bad," Babette screeched, pulling Patty to the side. "Did you see Eastside Tilly's new hairdo? It looks like someone shoved her head in a blender and put it on puree!" The two women burst out laughing and stumbled over to the table to get more of Patty's punch.

"Remind me never to put our kids in any of Patty's classes," Lorelai said, staring at Patty and Babette, who were standing by the drink table cackling like hens.

"You do and I'm coming after YOU," Luke growled near her ear.

"Is that a promise," Lorelai challenged, with a giggle. Luke just smiled and walked away with Emmy. "Come on Matty. Let's go bring out that birthday cake Aunt Sookie made for you. Emmy gets her own cake, so there's no fighting."

"Mmm," Matthew said, as he clapped his hands together. "Happy cake!"

"That's right, birthday boy," Lorelai remarked. "Happy cake for you!"

Lorelai and Luke set the twins in their high chairs, placed a large bib on each and secured the trays. Emmy banged on the tray with her tiny hands and kicked her little feet in excitement. Matthew watched her and laughed. He didn't pound his tray the way Emmy did, preferring to rock back and forth while clapping his hands. Everyone gathered around as the lights were dimmed. Sookie entered holding two little round cakes, one in each hand, with a lit candle in each. Luke and Lorelai each took a seat next to a high chair as everyone sang Happy Birthday.

"Happy happy you you," Emmy sang along.

"Happy cake," Matthew chimed in, reaching out a hand toward his own cake.

"No no, hot," Lorelai exclaimed, taking hold of his hand. She and Luke blew out the candles and Rory turned the lights back on.

"Lorelai, you're not really going to let them eat that are you," Emily asked.

"Oh it's okay, Emily," Sookie replied. "I made these especially for them. I made a sheet cake for us."

"Oh my," Emily exclaimed, placing a hand over her eyes as Emmy dug into her cake with both hands. "I can't watch."

Emmy shoved fists full of cake into her mouth, licking the icing off, but managing to cover her face in chocolate cake in the process. When she rubbed the cake in her hair, Emily intervened with a wet washcloth. Matthew, on the other hand, gingerly picked small pieces of cake off with his fingers and ate them. He enjoyed running a fingertip through the icing, checking the consistency. Unlike his sister, he stayed fairly clean.

"Emmy definitely takes after you," Luke noted to Lorelai, as he removed the decimated remains of Emmy's birthday cake from her tray.

"Oh, you should have seen Lorelai on her first birthday," Emily remarked.

"Did you feed me my cake on a silver spoon," Lorelai joked, as she wiped a protesting Emmy's face with the washcloth.

"No Lorelai, I had the maid eat it for you," Emily retorted. "When no one was looking, you managed to reach across the table and stick your hand into the beautiful cake I had custom ordered from Dortoni's Bakery. You ruined it before I even had a chance to take a picture of it!"

"Well, you know my love of all things sweet," Lorelai shrugged, taking the cloth to Matthew's cake filled hands.

"That was nothing compared to the time you dumped your entire plate of spaghetti over your head," Richard chuckled. "Your mother had to hose you off in the kitchen sink!"

"You completely ruined the beautiful dress I'd just purchased, not to mention what it cost to have the antique Oriental rug cleaned," Emily stated.

"So that's why I had to eat all my meals in the kitchen when I was little," Lorelai exclaimed.

Rory smiled, watching the scene before her. She leaned over to Logan and whispered, "So what do you think? Are we ready for that," she asked, nodding in the direction of her siblings.

"If that's what you want then I'm in Ace," Logan replied with a smile.

Did you like? Please make me a happy birthday girl by leaving a review! :D I'll even update faster!