It was December 23rd and Lorelai was so blissful about sharing her baby news with Luke. It had only been a few days since she'd known and it took everything she had not to tell Luke. She was drinking less coffee and to keep him from noticing she made excuses like that she had a lot at the inn, and she kept a plastic to-go mug full of water.
Tonight she had to come up with a reason not to have a drink at Friday night dinner with her parents. The Christmas party was last week and while Richard and Emily usually went out of town, this year they'd stayed home because of a few engagements- the Rory Gilmore Yale building dedication, Richard received a company lifetime achievement award, and Emily was the recipient of this year's Abigail Adam's award from the DAR. Since her marriage, Luke was now also subjected to the weekly soiree. Hiding it from 3 people was going to be interesting.
A buffer. I need a buffer tonight. Lorelai mulled the idea of who to bring. Kirk was a nuclear option but would do since his mere presence would confuse the Gilmores. As she was thinking it over, she was in the supply closet getting extra soap for a guest. She walked out and literally bumped into a solution. She managed to remain standing but the soap in her hands hit the floor along with papers from Whitley's hands.
"Whitley!" Lorelai said, ignoring the stuff on the floor and causing a pause from the young curly haired beauty who was about to begin the task of collecting the items. The look on Lorelai's face spelled mischief and Whitley had learned to recognize that.
The young woman sighed. "Should I ask why you're excited to see me when I saw you at the service desk not 5 minutes ago?" The trepidation in her voice was noticeable.
"How would you like to have a lovely meal tonight at a very pretty house with the best apple tarts in the state for dessert?" Lorelai had only agreed to the Christmas eve eve dinner after bargaining for more apple tarts.
"What's the catch?"
"The catch is my parents. They're very… particular. But I'm sure they'll love you and if not you, then definitely Jazz."
Whitley sighed. "What are the chances you'll allow me to say no?"
"None. This would be a huge favor to me, my friend. I need a buffer tonight and you'll be a welcome distraction."
"Fine. Jazz and I will go."
"I like how you've learned to concede before I even begin to wear you down. I'll call mother dearest and let her know. Dress is fancy so put Jazz in that cute dress I made her last week."
oOo
That evening they stood up to a large door in Hartford. "Lorelai, why is it that every time you bring a new person we stare at this door for an extra 5 minutes before ringing the bell?" Luke groaned.
"I have to mentally prepare for the possible Gilmore attacks."
"Attacks? You didn't mention attacks. Should I have brought under armor?" Whitley was now nervous from the exchange and Lorelai's hesitation at the door.
"No sweetie, don't worry. We'll be ok. You may end up a little nauseous though like you just got off a rollercoaster." Finally Lorelai rang the bell and a pretty redhead maid answered ushering them to the living room.
"Lorelai! You're here," Emily chimed.
"Thank's for the newsflash mom."
"Well welcome. I made Martinis. You want one with a twist?"
"Oh no, We're toting a toddler and I'm driving so I'll abstain tonight, just ginger ale if you have it."
"Ah, yes. What a beautiful child. You should put her in pageants. There's one for the DAR in March."
"Speaking of, mom, dad, this is Whitley and her daughter Jazz."
They all exchanged greetings and were made drinks before being seated.
"So Whitley, Lorelai tells me you work at The Dragonfly?" Richard asked.
"Yes sir. I'm front desk. Lorelai's taught me a lot about business management. It's my first real job other than babysitting so I'm just soaking it all in."
"And what do you do with the baby?" Richard followed up.
"She's in day care."
"No father to speak of?" Emily chimed in.
"Mom" Lorelai warned. "Be nice."
"I'm sorry. I was just curious if she was single parenting."
"That's ok, I'm an open book, not ashamed of my life. No, Alex (her father) just found out he's having another kid. He'd said he wanted to try to move with me to Stars Hollow but a couple weeks ago he broke the news. He still wanted to come, but I told him not to bother." Whitley offered this information calmly and without any sense of connection as if reading a news article aloud. This news shocked even Lorelai. Whitley hadn't mentioned this news before.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry to hear that," Emily said to break the slight silence. Lorelai smirked at her mother's lack of ability to dig into Whitley. What a great buffer.
"So Luke, how are things at the Diner?" Richard moved on.
"Things are good. I just re-did the floors."
The maid came and announced dinner and the rest of the night went without incident. Jazz was a star and the Gilmores doted on her manners. Emily gave a slight to the newlyweds about when more grandchildren might be on the horizon. If only you knew, Lorelai thought.
The apple tarts were delicious as promised. Lorelai managed to sneak 6 in her purse with baggies when she snuck into the kitchen saying she had to use the bathroom.
oOo
Around 2:30am, Lorelai got a violent wave of morning sickness. She jumped up and rushed into the bathroom thankful she'd put her hair in a messy bun that night. Her commotion woke Luke.
"Lorelai, are you alright?" He stood in the doorway feeling helpless with a deer in the headlights look.
"I'm fine, just not feeling well."
"No, you're not. People who are fine don't pull an exorcist at 2AM. Did you eat too many apple tarts?"
"Luke, it's alright," Lorelai managed between two waves of vomiting. "I'll be ok in a minute," she tried to comfort without revealing her news. She had a cute plan to tell him. She'd been holding back for this. But when she was finished, had swished some mouthwash, and was looking in his blue eyes, so full of concern she couldn't hold it anymore.
"Luke," she sighed. "I'm not sick."
"Of course you are. You were just-"
She cut him off. "I'm pregnant. Sookie made some cookies shaped like positive pregnancy tests and rattles to give to you in a gift downstairs. I wanted to surprise you but apparently your offspring betrayed me too soon."
Luke was stunned. He wasn't breathing, only staring at Lorelai who was standing in front of him trying to figure out what he was thinking.
"Luke, breathe. Say something. We talked about another kid or kids at the Twickam house but I get it if you changed your mind since then."
She was rambling but she did get him to breathe. Finally a smile spread across his face. "You- me- we're having a baby! A baby!" He picked her up and twirled her into their bedroom stopping at the foot of the bed. This elicited giggles from Lorelai. As he let her down he pulled her close into him and kissed her. The kisses became more passionate with "baby, us" "I love you" and other words of excitement being exchanged when they came up for air.
oOo
On Christmas Eve, Whitley packed Jazz up and drove her to Stamford. For the first time since she'd moved, they were going to visit Alex. She refused to go in that house so they agreed on a Denny's restaurant that was open and just off the highway.
They arrived and she quickly spotted the handsome 19 year old. He was wearing baggy clothes with a red shirt and a hat with the sticker still on it. The hat made her smile because it reminded her of Luke and how different of a statement the accessory made on the two men.
"Daddy!" Jazz ran up. It broke her heart a little to see how much her daughter missed him.
"Hey Alex," she said as she sat down, watching the man embrace his daughter.
"Hey babe," he replied.
"Not babe… Whitley," she said.
"Whit, don't be like that."
"Alex, we're not together."
"Ok," he conceded. "but you look good." He eyed her. She'd lost some weight since being in Stars Hollow from running around and working. She was smaller than her pre-baby weight even.
"Thank you." She blushed.
"I want you to come back here."
"I can't. I have no money, nowhere to stay, and no job here. We have an apartment and I have a job. We're settled in Stars Hollow."
"You can stay with me," he offered.
"No… I can't. Don't you remember the day I left?"
"He says he's sorry. He said he was just playing with you and you took it too seriously."
"He was NOT playing Alex! And I am never ever going back there," she said as tears welled up.
Ale didn't know how to respond. He didn't fully believe her, or he didn't want to believe her. "I just miss my daughter."
"She misses you too. You have a car though and we're not even that far of a drive away. You could visit you know."
Yeah," he agreed. But he wouldn't. Whitley knew he wouldn't. Any time it came to putting in effort to see his daughter, Alex fell short. He'd never even bought diapers and now there was another baby on the way. But it was Christmas so she didn't bring it up.
They ordered and ate. Whitley ended up having to pay the bill herself. He didn't even get her a gift saying Jazz wouldn't remember it.
As she drove back to Stars Hollow, she resolved not to go back. Dinner with strangers yesterday had felt more like home to her. Somehow, the sleepy town had become home to her.