Disclaimer: I own nothing...my life would be so much different if I did.
Author's Notes: It's been awhile, I know. Please don't hate me. This chapter was hard for my mind to grasp and get. I'm working on the next chapter now so hopefully it's done sooner than this one is. My mind is starting to flow with so many ideas for future chapters...let me know if you think I should keep going, let me know what you think! Thanks ya'll...and I hope you are enjoying your summer break so far!!
The drive to the hospital felt too long to Lorelai, who sat wringing her hands together in the passenger seat of Luke's truck. She was nervous. It was too early and oh how that phrase was useable in many different aspects of her life right now. It was too early for Sookie to be in labor. She'd had enough problems with this pregnancy at it was, a complicated birth was just too much. She stared out the window silently, afraid to speak, afraid to let her emotions out.
Was it too early for her and Luke too? There was so much she wanted to say, so much they still needed to talk about, but this wasn't the time. They had both talked about moving slow, rediscovering their relationship, and yet tonight their first date back together they had ended up in bed. She smiled slightly at that thought though. Sleeping with Luke had never been something she'd regret, ever. He was the one person who could see down into her soul and his touches were magic. No, she thought, I could never regret being with him.
But still, they threw caution out the window and slow was completely gone from their minds as they made their way upstairs to his apartment. She worried and thought now that it might be something he was regretting. Okay, maybe regretting was the wrong term to use, but still, he hadn't said anything about it. He had told her he loved her tonight, several times. Her mind was going a million miles a second and trying to think about anything was futile.
She sat back and decided she would focus the rest of the drive on Sookie and the baby, which was a safe enough topic for now.
Luke sat in the driver's seat, mechanically making her way towards the hospital, a route that would forever be engrained in his brain no matter how hard he fought to forget it. Hospitals were so not his thing, especially with his dad's illness. Hospitals were easily on the top ten most hated list.
He was worried tonight too, which didn't make anything easier. He was worried about Sookie and Jackson and their baby, worried about Rory and everything she's been going through, but mostly worried about Lorelai. She hadn't uttered more than five words since they had left for the hospital and he knew she had to be thinking about everything and trying to process what was going on. He didn't know what to say, he hadn't ever been good words, that was the reason they'd been separated for the past year, that was the reason he wasn't married to her right now, and that frustrated him. Not knowing what else to do he leaned over and entwined his fingers with hers squeezing gently. She glanced over at him, a sad smile on her face. He didn't say anything but he knew they'd be okay, that everything would be okay and he smiled at her, warm and gently making his sentiments known.
They arrived at the hospital in a furry and immediately Lorelai went to the nurse's desk determined to get some information.
"I'm here for Sookie Belleville."
"Mrs. Belleville is in the delivery room now, she is progressing quite quickly," the blonde nurse answered kindly and Lorelai let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Is everything ok? Is she ok?"
"Oh yes ma'am. Everything is going well. Please have a seat and we'll let you know when she's delivered."
"Thank you." Lorelai answered and walked over to where Luke was sitting and sank down into the chair next to him. "She's going to be okay. The nurse said everything is going good."
She leaned back and pressed her head against the wall. He knew she was thinking how easily it could have been a different answer.
"Lorelai…" Luke whispered, not sure exactly what he was going to say, just knowing he wanted to say something.
"Yeah?" she answered not lifting her head.
"I just…I just want to you know how much I love you. You mean everything to me." He knew it was cheesy, but she brought that side out in him and he meant it, every single word.
Lorelai smiled sleepily, "Love you back."
She laid her head on his shoulder using him as a pillow and he placed a gentle kiss on her temple. They both started to drift off to sleep, smiles on their faces. Luke knew there was no way he was going to let her go again. He was going to build a family with this beautiful, coffee-addicted woman and be the happiest man on earth.
Lorelai blinked her eyes open trying to gain a sense of where she was and the time. She then remembered the events of the evening before and found she and Luke had slept for some time in the waiting room. Leaning forward, rubbing the sleep from her eyes she noticed a full cup of coffee sitting on the table with a note attached that simply read;
Went to find us some breakfast, drink up. Love you.
Lorelai smiled at his sloppy and almost illegible writing as she drank the steaming liquid that would fuel her for the day. Not more than five minutes later Luke reentered the waiting room, a white bag in hand.
"Morning," he greeted her with a kiss, handing her the bag.
"Good morning love," she answered smiling, pulling a cherry Danish out, "Have you heard anything about Sookie yet?"
"The nurse came over here just before I left and said that labor was progressing well and little baby Belleville should be making his or her appearance into the world soon." Luke answered draping his arm around her shoulder.
"Good, I'm glad. So, no complications?"
"None she mentioned, everything is going to be fine Lorelai."
"I know, I just worry," Lorelai said, then quickly added, "Oh God, Rory! I need to call her and update her on what is going on."
"Already did."
"You are perfect," Lorelai gushed, kissing him deeply.
Luke responded flippantly, "well, I am working on that." They were both smiling happy at the flirting. Luke grew serious, "Lorelai, there is something I need to tell you."
Lorelai inadvertently prepared herself for the worst, once again doubting the relationship she valued so deeply, but instead she was relieved to hear nothing but love in his words.
"Lorelai, you are it for me. I will never let anything get in the way of our relationship again. I can't loose you, I refuse to loose you again."
Tears weld up in her eyes at this admission and she kissed him again. They sat there, forehead to forehead for several minutes before they were interrupted by a very excited and energetic father.
"It's a girl!" Jackson bellowed to the waiting room. Luke and Lorelai went to meet their friend and celebrate with him.
"Congrats Jackson!" Lorelai hugged him.
Luke extended his hand, "I'm happy for you guys."
"Here, come meet my new daughter." Jackson led them back to Sookie's room, where she was tiredly holding the infant girl.
"Lorelai, Luke hi!" She exclaimed motioning them closer. "I'd like you to meet Alexandria Lorelai Belleville."
Lorelai gasped her eyes watering again, "Oh Sookie."
"It's only right to give my daughter the name of my best friend."
"Let's just hope she doesn't inherit all of her namesakes' quirks," Luke's words were met with slap on his arm from Lorelai and the rest of the room laughed.
"I wouldn't mind that at all," Sookie responded, sticking up for her friend. "We'll call her Lexie for short."
"Hi Lexie," Lorelai spoke softly to the little girl that now sat in her arms and was answered with a soft coo. They stayed for only a few more minutes before leaving so that both mom and daughter could get some rest. As they were leaving they promised to bring Lexie's older siblings by later to give them a chance to meet the newest addition to their family.
Rory had never been the one for babysitting, kids honestly just made her nervous. But, despite this anxiety her morning with Davy and Martha had gone fairly well. There was the small problem of trying to explain why mommy and daddy weren't there when they woke up and even harder to try to explain what it meant to have a little sister coming home. Rory had quickly moved on and started entertaining them with a game.
Luke's call that morning had been a welcome distraction and although the news wasn't quite great (Sookie was still in labor, it had been what 4, 5 hours now?) she was thrilled that it was going smoothly. She smiled at the thought of her mom and Luke back together and then remembered the boxes she had hid at Lane's house for the past year. She would get those from her today.
Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. "Hello?"
"Hey, I was wondering if you want to bring the kids over to the diner for some lunch?" Lane's voice answered cheerfully. She envied her friend's happiness, she was married with two amazing kids, she had her family.
"Wow, actually that would be great! Davy was just complaining that he was hungry and I was getting nervous. There isn't much in this kitchen I know how to make." Rory laughed at her own admission. Even after graduating from an IVY school she was helpless in a kitchen.
"Great! I'll meet you over her in, let's say twenty minutes"
"Perfect."
She hung up the phone smiling. It was great to be spending the summer here at home with so many people she loved around her, but everywhere she turned she was reminded of how many people were moving on with their lives, growing up. She felt stuck, stranded between childhood and adulthood, not sure of her next move.
Thirty minutes later she sat and the window table watching Davy and Martha hungrily eat their macaroni and cheese, her and Lane talking about nothing really, but having a great time. This moment made her miss Logan again. Lane watched lovingly as Zach flew around the diner, delivering food, taking orders talking about the gig he'd been offered and left for soon. She let her mind wander to Logan.
It was hard. As much as she wanted to deny it she still loved him, still wanted to be with him, and the fact that she had let him walk away ate at her insides. She wondered if he would read her letter when it arrived, if he would respond.
Rory's thoughts were interrupted as her mother came rushing into the diner in a fury.
"Hey sweetie."
"Hey mom, how's Sookie?"
"She's great, as is her new daughter Lexie. They're both doing great!"
"That's so great to hear." Lane threw in, tending to Kwan as she did so.
"Yup, we are actually here to pick up Davy and Martha to drive them to the hospital, Jackson and Sookie are anxious to see them." Lorelai ruffled Davy's hair as she stood behind him. "How were they?"
"No problems, we played and watched cartoons. It was an easy morning." Rory, as if on cue yawned.
"Hey, while we take them why don't you go home and get some sleep. You look beat." Luke suggested as he came up next to Lorelai, jumping in on the conversation.
"Not a bad idea, Luke." Rory agreed and they said their goodbyes. Luke and Lorelai ushered the Belleville kids to the car and Rory headed home but not before wrapping both her mom and Luke in separate hugs.
"Thanks for coming back up here with me, Luke. You really didn't have to." Lorelai rejoined Luke in the maternity ward waiting room, after dropping Davy and Martha off in Sookie's room.
"No big deal."
"Very big deal, I know you don't like hospitals."
"Yeah, well." Luke shrugged. How was he supposed to tell her the reason for coming back was a question that was burning in his throat? "Can I ask you something?"
"Well, technically you just did…" Lorelai teased but his expression quickly silenced her. She nodded.
"Well…do you? What do you think…I mean, what you would think about us, I dunno, about us maybe having kids?" His voice was barely a whisper and Lorelai strained to hear his stuttered thoughts.
Lorelai knelt in front of him on her knees and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Kids would be good."
Rory awoke refreshed and reenergized ready to take on the rest of the day. She blamed her earlier thoughts of loneliness and Logan on lack of sleep and quickly showered and dressed. She planned on calling her mom to see about meeting up for dinner and a movie, some typical Gilmore girls' bonding time.
As she went to grab her phone she notice Stan the mailman dropping the mail off and waived. He waived back before heading down the street. She went to retrieve the mail, half hoping to hear from one of the newspapers she had sent her resume to.
She wasn't disappointed. Three envelopes were addressed to her with return mailing address of newspapers, one from the Boston Globe, another from the Tampa Tribune, and the third from the San Francisco Chronicle. Rory sank down on the couch and prepared to open them, trying hard not to get her hopes up. She could hardly breathe and she opened the first letter. She smiled dropped as she read yet another rejection letter and the second letter was pretty much the same.
She almost didn't even bother opening the third, not sure if she would be able to handle yet another I'm sorry, but at this time we don't have any positions available, staring back at her. She decided to suck it up and tore into the last letter left. She skimmed the first several sentences before dropping the letter in her lap. She couldn't believe it.
They wanted her to interview for a position. Soon.
She picked up her phone and dialed the number. "Yes, I'm calling for Matthew James...this is Rory Gilmore."
A/N: So, I know, a bit on the mushy side here and there. But, hey, it's working, it's flowing. And I know, I left it on a clift hanger...but that brings you back for more! Read and review, ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns, etc, I need them all. The more reviews I get the more likely I am to update quicker. Those little notes propel me forward with new ideas. So, please, pretty pretty please, hit that little button and leave me a little note!
