"What the hell" She said, running a hand through her curly hair. "I haven't used a one of these baby seat things in forever. 24 years to be exact." She held the baby carrier with Owen sleeping soundly, as Luke struggled with the seat belt and the base that the carrier clicks into.
There was a click and Luke triumphantly pulled out of the back seat of the jeep. "I got it!" He smiled and she handed him the baby carrier.
"Gentle." Lorelai said softly, as she watched Luke click the carrier into place.
Once they both were in the car, they sighed simultaneously.
"That was more an ordeal than it needed to be." Luke said, looking over at his wife in the passenger seat. She smiled and turned around to check on Owen. He slept soundly, as if nothing happened.
They drove back to Stars Hollow, Lorelai mostly filling the silence with a low chatter about coffee and baby flannels. As they entered the town Lorelai grew quiet.
"We need to remember this. What we were wearing, what he was wearing..."
"How many empty mallow mar wrappers there were on the floor of the car. ."
She punched him softly on his arm and furrowed her brow as they passed her house.
"You passed the house.." She pointed out.
"I know."
"But I just wana sleep. Where are we going?"
Luke pulled up in front of the Twickham house and smiled. Lorelai looked at him, still confused, and then grinned as it all sank in. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
"How!?" She asked, turning to look at the gorgeous house.
"Schmooze."
"Always works." She got out of the car and grabbed Owen's car seat. "Welcome home baby boy."
He led her up the front stairs and into the giant foyer.
"Oh my gosh... Oh my gosh..." Lorelai spun around slowly, soaking in her new surroundings. "This is ours."
"All ours.." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her forehead. "Lemme show you the nursery."
He took her hand and led her upstairs. She caught a quick glance at the master bedroom and grinned as her mind raced of the things her and Luke would do in there.
He stopped in front of a blue door and slowly turned the knob. Inside was the nicest nursery Lorelai ever saw. The walls were a sky blue, with clouds and airplanes painted on it. His crib matched the changing table, dresser, rocking chair, and play table. There were an abundance of toys and a small airplane mobile hung above his crib.
"Oh Luke..." Lorelai said, trying to find words to describe how perfect it was. "It's... Adorable. And perfect. You're amazing."
He grinned and took the baby seat from her. He gently scooped him up and placed him in the crib.
"Lemme show you the rest of the house." He whispered. He took her hand and showed her the rest of their giant home. Three bathrooms, five bedrooms, the most amazing kitchen, a gorgeous dining room, living room, sun room, and basement. Lorelai toured the house completely overwhelmed.
"How did you do this without me knowing?" She asked, sitting in the small breakfast nook in the kitchen.
"Honestly, I have no idea. You're usually so up my butt the entire time I do anything."
"That's me! Mrs. Up Your Butt Danes!"
He smiled and poured her a cup of coffee. He placed it down in front of her and watched as her mouth spread into a giant grin.
"Here it is. The moment of truth. What if I don't like coffee anymore? What if when I was pregnant with Owen, I lost all interest in coffee. What would I do with myself? How do I even drink..."
"Lorelai. Stop being dramatic."
"I'm just joking Lukey Luke."
He looked at her and grunted. "Don't ever call me that again."
She smiled and took a drink from the mug. "Oh my gosh. We're reunited and its never felt so good. Can I marry you? Oh wait... Shh don't tell Luke, but I'm dumping him for you."
The baby monitor played whimpers as Owen fussed upstairs.
"I got it. Stay and drink your coffee." Luke said, leaving the kitchen to go comfort his son.
That night, the couple laid in their new bed and Lorelai cuddled up against Luke's chest. "I still can't believe you got this house."
"I've got a way, dealing with Taylor. You bribe him. I let him rent a sign spinner guy for the ice parlor."
"I'm so sleepy.." Lorelai groaned, her eyelids closing.
"Go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"I love you." She said, looking up at him. He kissed her forehead and petted her hair.
As soon as Lorelai was out cold, Luke began to drift. Just as he was about to slip into unconsciousness, Owen whimpered through the baby monitor and started to cry.
"I got it..." Luke said, getting up and fixing his twisted pajama pants.
They followed the same routine every night for three months, Luke would wake up, change Owen's diaper, lay him in bed with Lorelai, go to the diner to sign for deliveries and open, Lorelai would wake up, feed him, and change him, then they would go visit daddy at work. After that they would go to the inn, where Michel would unwillingly and unhappily watch him while she did her work. They would come home around 4 and Luke would be in the kitchen cooking dinner. They would eat, feed Owen, bathe him and put him down for bed. In between they would always make room for showers, meals, and intimacy, something a lot of new parents lacked.
Once Owen turned 4 months old, his entire sleeping pattern changed. He was up all night, crying nonstop no matter Luke and Lorelai did.
Luke rolled over one night, finding his other half missing. He got up slowly and padded into Owen's room. Lorelai sat in the rocking chair, rubbing the whimpering babies back, trying to lull him into a sleep. She sang soft words to a similar lullaby his mother used to sing him.
"Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, sleep my baby sleep."
He stood at the doorway and smiled. The floor creaked beneath him as he shifted his weight to one foot, and Owen began crying loudly again.
"No..No. It's okay buddy. It's just daddy. No don't cry please."
Luke watched as Lorelai totally broke down, sobbing as she rocked him gently.
"He won't stop crying, Luke. Why won't he stop crying? What am I doing wrong?"
Luke walked over to her and took Owen gently in his arms. "Go to bed Lorelai. It's okay, I got him."
She put her head in her hands as her body shook from her sobs. "I don't get it. I really don't get it."
"Oh baby. Please don't cry." Luke said, placing Owen in his crib. He gathered Lorelai up in his arms and carried her to their room.
"But he's still crying. Luke we can't just leave him..."
"Yes we can. He'll stop eventually."
"But... My baby..." Tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped at her dripping nose.
"Honey, it'll be the only way he'll stop. Trust me."
"You haven't raised a baby before, Luke! You know nothing!" He pulled her into him and rubbed her back. She cried onto his soft white shirt as Owen's whimpers stopped. After a few minutes Lorelai calmed down and rapidly apologized to her husband.
"It's fine. I know you're tired and cranky. I understand."
She smiled and kissed him lightly, as he wrapped her in his arms. They both laid back and fell asleep.
He began walking around the sixth month. He was playing in his bedroom, in his play pen, when he climbed over the gate, and toddled down the hallway. He ended up in Luke and Lorelai's bedroom. Lorelai was busy folding laundry and was startled when she saw him.
"Owen? Oh my gosh." She scooped him up in her arms and walked downstairs to the kitchen. She sat with him in her lap and called Luke.
"Luke's diner."
"He walked. Our baby walked."
"Owen? Oh my gosh Lorelai. I'm coming home, hang on."
He hung up and she bounced him up and down on her lap. He smiled and laughed, grabbing at her strings on her sweatshirt. Luke opened the front door and smiled at his son.
"Hi buddy! Did you walk for mommy?"
Owen gave him a semi-toothless grin and held out his arms for him. Luke scooped him up and placed him at the entranceway to the kitchen. He took Lorelai's hand and led her to the other side. She squeezed his hand as Owen hoisted himself up with the pot to a small plant, and toddled halfway to Luke and Lorelai.
"Oh Luke, he's walking."
Luke kissed her and picked Owen up. "You're amazing buddy. So amazing." He tickled his tummy with his pointer finger and Owen squirmed with delight.
The phone rang, making Owen crane his neck towards the sound.
"Mommy's got it." Lorelai said kissing his head and going to get the phone. "Hello?" She answered.
"Lorelai... It seemed to have slipped your mind that your parents actually exist."
She sighed, "Hello mom. How are you?"
"Fine. You?"
"Great. So I guess I'll see you tonight. 7?"
"Yes Lorelai."
"You trained me well, mother."
"And don't forget the baby."
"Mom... I'm not coming to Friday night dinner, leaving the entire purpose of Friday night dinner at home."
"You have no right to be rude Lorelai."
"Sorry mom... I'll see you tonight." She hung up and placed it back in its cradle.
"Your mom?"
"Yup..." She said, sitting next to her husband and son. "Guess who gets to meet their condescending and insulting grandma?" She said to Owen in a baby voice.
He smiled and cooed. Luke looked at her and grimaced at the thought of tonight.