Part 11
Lorelai leisurely walked to and fro in the bedroom. She was barefoot and wore one of Luke's blue and gray flannel plaid shirts, and her navy, open legged sweatpants, tied below her protruding belly. The shirt, unbuttoned, exposing her bare belly and breasts, had already absorbed some of the wetness from her long, recently shampooed curls, and the dark water stains in the cloth were slowly expanding on her shoulders and down her back.
She held the phone to her left ear, animatedly talking, as she continued to unhurriedly pace the room, while gingerly massaging her stomach with a soothing, subtly scented oil.
"So, Grandma already called me twice today."
"Me too, me too," Lorelai claimed in exaggerated mock enthusiasm. "I thought she liked you better, I guess it was just my childhood insecurities speaking."
"They have a voice of their own?"
"A really nagging voice," Lorelai paused. "But, she's getting better, Grandma, with the time difference. After they're back, I'm sure she'll have it all mastered. This morning she actually waited till seven fifteen to phone in a detailed description of her lunch. To tell you the truth, it wasn't as exciting as the five forty five AM account of her first Helsinki lunch on Sunday. Nothing like a smelly herring, lox and caviar wake up call at five forty five in the morning. I was nauseous the whole day, and it definitely wasn't due to Monty here," Lorelai saw Luke entering the bedroom and gave him a little wave and smile as he approached her.
"Hi, Hon," they lightly kissed on the lips.
"Mom? We said 'Hi!' ten minutes ago."
"Just saying 'Hi' to Lucian, my Romanian private masseuse," Lorelai grinned at Luke who rolled his eyes and with an acquiescent smile slowly led Lorelai by the elbow towards one of the armchairs near the window, where he helped her sit down and raised her feet onto the ottoman.
"It's only five. Why is Luke home so early? Are you feeling Okay?" Rory sounded concerned.
Lorelai, with her great belly now seemingly growing out of the armchair, resembled a contented, feminine Buddha. Luke knelt next to her and squeezed a few drops of the oil onto his left palm. He rubbed both palms together, and opened Lorelai's shirt further with the dry, unoily tips of his fingers, and slowly started to massage the delicate stretched skin of her belly, waist and breasts, continuing what Lorelai had begun minutes earlier, as part of her twice daily regime.
"I'm fine. We're going for an early dinner at Al's Pasta World, a.k.a. Al's Second Pancake World."
"Ugh. Yes, you're known for your fine palate. But, that's a minute away from Luke's. You could've met him there. Can't you walk on your own? Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, yes, Ms. Nightingale. I can. I am. Luke came home to be a proper escort to a proper lady."
"I'm positive there was one too many 'propers' in there," Rory laughed.
"I know. I tried to tell him a proper escort would don a white suit, white leather shoes, thick gold chain, have thick chest hair, bring candy and have a carriage awaiting outside. To no avail. But, you should see him now," Lorelai paused and slipped her hand under her aching back. "As we speak, favorite daughter of mine, Luke is helping me keep my poor, abused skin all elastic, supple and stretch mark free. Right now, he's professionally massaging this fantastic oil into my bare belly and breasts…"
"Why are you telling her that?" Luke demanded. "Don't tell her that," he pleaded, frowning.
"Relax, it's Rory. My own flesh and blood. She knows everything. We share the same menstrual cycle…"
Luke shook his head, and took a deep breath. He had no problem attending to some of his wife's feminine needs these days, but there were some details he really didn't need to hear, especially women's issues involving his step daughter.
Lorelai continued, ignoring Luke's amusing uneasiness. "Well, we used to share a menstrual cycle, when I still had one. I hope we get back in sync after Monty. It was just so convenient being moody and bloated together. We needed the same foods and music and avoided the same people," Lorelai smiled and shrugged at Luke.
"Mom, what are you using?"
"What are you implying, that I'm doing some kind of illegal substance?" Lorelai sank further into the comfortable soft armchair and closed her eyes in pleasure as Luke delicately applied the oil on her breasts in slow circular motions.
Rory laughed. "I'm talking about the massage stuff."
"Oh, well, that," Lorelai picked up the small bottle of oil from the table placed between the two armchairs, and read off its label, in a game show announcer voice: "Today, our very own Luke Danes is using our well known Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil, containing essential fatty acid rich oils, to prevent stretch marks by increasing skin elasticity, all produced by the Mama Mio Luxury Maternity Skincare Line. Because I deserve the best luxury care," Lorelai noticed Luke smiling to himself, as he continued rubbing in the oil.
"Sounds, very lifestyle of the rich and famous."
"I know, hon. You should feel Luke's hands from all the massages he gives me with these fatty rich oils. Even Robin Leach never encountered such silky hands. I'm going to save you some of it for your stretch marks."
"By the time I need it, it'll be way past its expiration date and all smelly."
"You never know."
"Yes, I do. You know you're going to need it again long before I ever do."
Lorelai gasped. "I will not! Take that back!" she let Luke slip another pillow in behind her back.
"Besides, I'm sure the rich and famous, by the time I need anything against stretch marks, will have moved on to other luxury skincare lines."
"Well, luxury is your middle name. Oh, wait before I forget, Luke," Lorelai tapped Luke on the shoulder to get his attention, as he had moved on to carefully massage her feet. She left her hand resting on his shoulder. "Rory and Logan invited us to dinner on Thursday, instead of Friday night dinner, because they're going to the Vineyard for the weekend and my parents are still away."
"Okay."
"You just have to make the appetizers, side dishes and main courses, a selection from your diverse menu will suffice," Lorelai ran her hand through Luke's hair and smiled apologetically.
"Mom, don't tell him that. We're preparing the whole dinner ourselves, you two just need to come, empty handed," Rory protested.
"Oops, tiny correction. Only your desserts are required," she told Luke and shrugged.
"Mom!"
"What? Your and Logan's desserts are all low fat or minus fat or absent fat. And sugars. No fun. Luke has the real, all American full of cholesterol and sugars and calories stuff."
"I do not! I have fruit and low fat, sugar free Jello," Luke stated loud enough to be heard on the other side of the phone line.
"Yeah, with 78 percent fat, whipped cream on top," Lorelai smirked seeing Luke's resigned expression.
"Mom, is there anything you can't eat now?"
"Oh, you know, nothing special. I don't eat baby animals anymore. No lambs or duckies or piglets or baby carrots. It's my maternal instinct kicking in."
"It's about time."
"I have no problem eating the parents, though. No parental solidarity here. "
"You're evil. So, to summarize, basically no foods with a cutesy name or the word baby in them."
"You got it right. And nothing with a mushy texture, unless it's chocolate pudding, or anything too hard or brittle, and I can't swallow anything green or white, and nothing with alcohol or salt, and only olive oil is acceptable," Lorelai lightly rested her left hand on Luke's shoulder, while he leaned in close to casually button the shirt of his which she was wearing. Then she moved her hand to his nape, and gradually ran it over his clipped hair, stimulating his scalp with the tips of her fingers, returning massage for massage.
In response, Luke nuzzled in the sensitive spot on her neck, just behind and under her left ear, where he dispersed several moist kisses, which caused her to grin in pleasure, and twist her tongue to lick the corners of her mouth in delight, as she hugged him closely against her larger breasts.
During those sweet short moments, the other side of the line had remained quiet. "Honey, are you rethinking about the dinner invite? Would you prefer if just Luke came, without me? Rory?"
"I was just writing those menu restrictions down."
"Ah, yes, a list, of course. If there's anything to add, I'll email you," Lorelai gestured for Luke to sit on the ottoman, where her feet were resting.
"Okay, Mom. So, we'll see you guys on Thursday, around seven."
"Yes you will. And don't forget to shake Luke's hands when we get there, you have to feel them. So soft, you're not going to believe it. Bye, honey," Lorelai grinned at Luke and he slightly cocked his head as he gazed directly into her eyes.
She placed the phone on the table next to her. Luke had slipped both hands under the legs of her sweatpants and was rubbing her silky shins and calves, up and down in long strokes. They silently observed each other for a few seconds.
Lorelai broke into a small smile. "What?"
Luke bent towards her and caressed her right cheek, then tucked her damp hair behind her ear.
"Can I help with anything else, before I head for the shower?"
"Mmmmmm," Lorelai frowned, pretending to think things over. "Can you paint my toenails?"
Luke sighed and wrinkled his forehead. "Are you serious?"
"You did such a good job last time."
"First and last time. Besides, I thought you didn't like nail polish on your toes any more."
Lorelai placed her feet on Luke's lap and wriggled her toes. "Don't they look too bare? They're naked and pale," she shrugged.
"They look perfectly natural to me."
"Not too natural? I don't want to bore all those gorgeous doctors when I go in to have Monty."
Luke placed a hand on Lorelai's belly. "No chance of you ever boring anyone! Besides, you'll probably keep your socks on in the hospital anyway. But…nevertheless, would you like me to paint your toenails? Just tell me where the polish is, and I'll do it."
Lorelai flashed a smile and covered Luke's hand with her own, adding height to her already prominent belly. "Actually, I think I'll have it done tomorrow."
Luke raised his eyebrows. "What's tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, at two o'clock, after work I'm going to get pampered from head to toe. Manicure, pedicure, facialcure. Haven't decided yet about haircure. These are the last moments before everything changes and I won't have time to prim and primp, tweak, wax, pluck, brush, clip, rinse or dye, and I want you to have this last imprint to remember me by from the time that I was still your beautiful, gorgeous wife. So tomorrow, you get your newly remodeled wife, and that image needs to last you for months, maybe years," Lorelai gave Luke a mischievous smile.
"I thought you weren't going in to work tomorrow."
"I have to. I set these appointments for after work, so that means I first have to work, before I get pampered, otherwise, it won't be after work," Lorelai easily explained, maintaining a straight face.
"Oh, right, that makes perfect sense. But, who's going to know?"
"I will."
Luke dropped his head momentarily. He couldn't beat her logic.
"So, what do you say?"
"I think you always look perfect, with or without the various cures you mentioned," he looked at her, daring her to challenge his sincerity.
Lorelai laughed. "I meant the hair. Should I do something with it?"
Luke shook his head. "I'm not saying a word. Last time I said anything, you didn't speak to me for a whole day."
Lorelai gasped. "You didn't like my hair color."
"I did like it. I only answered your question about which color I liked best. I said your natural color. That was supposed to be a compliment."
"Not when I'd been going around with all those highlights for months and after all the money spent on them," Lorelai pushed Luke's thigh with her bare feet.
"See," Luke shook his head, "I'm staying out of it. You decide what you want. Whatever it is, it'll be great," he said decisively, and fondly, lightly slapped her thigh, ready to get up.
"Just decided. I won't do anything to my hair. I want Monty to recognize me."
Luke raised his eyebrows and took a deep breath. She really never ceased to astonish him.
"But if I just have an inch or two cut off, do you think he'll notice?" Lorelai shrugged.
Luke frowned at Lorelai then his face broke into a wide grin. "I'm pretty sure he won't notice," he got up to head for the shower.
"You're mocking me," Lorelai shouted after him, pretending to be offended.
Luke turned around and returned to stand in the bathroom doorway, making eye contact with her, grinning. "No, I'm absolutely sure he won't notice," he emphasized.
Lorelai gestured to Luke, shooing him back to the bathroom. "Yeah, yeah. Go scrub that smirk off."
Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I've missed you
Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go
Mamma mia, now I really know
My my, I could never let you go
Luke pulled the covers over his head. What was that singing? It was seeping in, disturbing, and penetrating his deep sleep. With the blanket still covering his face, he reluctantly opened his eyes, trying to detect where it was coming from.
"Lorelai, why are you singing," he turned to her, feeling her side of the bed. It was empty.
Luke threw the covers off, and looked at the alarm clock. The big red numbers read 5:27. He listened intently. The singing wasn't from the shower. It was from the corridor, it was getting louder, and he could hear the footsteps getting closer. "Good, she's coming back to bed," Luke thought to himself before he heard the footsteps moving away again. More than he was tired, Luke was now puzzled, and he got out of bed.
Just as he reached their bedroom's doorway, Lorelai had turned, and was walking in the opposite direction, down the corridor, away from him. She was holding her iPod, earphones in her ears, rubbing her back and belly with the other hand and still singing Abba's Mama Mia along with the recording.
Approaching the end of the corridor, near the steps, Lorelai suddenly bent over, pressed her palms into her thighs, and swayed her hips in a monotonous circular motion, as she tried to continue singing, her voice sounding strained and pained.
Luke was at her side the second he realized what was going on, gently massaging the small of her back.
20 seconds later, Lorelai straightened herself, and took the earphones out letting them fall around her neck. She turned to Luke, giving him a weak apologetic grin.
"Hey, you're up."
They started heading back towards their bedroom.
"How long has this been going on?" Luke inquired, his hand still applying deep pressure to the small of her back and hips.
"A few hours," she admitted.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"I didn't want you to immediately freak out that I was in labor, and have us rush too soon to the hospital," she pouted.
"But you are in labor. You're having contractions every minute, and you're bending over in pain, and you're singing…" he was trying to be reasonable.
"See, you're freaking out. I don't have contractions every minute. More like every three minutes," she watched Luke throw his hands in the air, sighing.
"Besides, apart from the fact that he's not due for another week, at first I wasn't sure. I thought it was some of those fake contractions."
"Braxton Hicks?" Luke chimed in.
"Yes smarty pants, Braxton Hicks. After that, I thought it was just a nasty reaction to your chili from last night. Now, don't get me wrong, you make the best chili. Spicy and thick and meaty, and no beans just for me..."
"We had a turkey sandwich, which you barely touched, last night" Luke ran his hand up and down her back.
Lorelai smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "Actually, after you went to sleep, I defrosted some that you made a few weeks ago. I was hungry, and I didn't eat a lot, only a quarter of a bowl. So anyway, that's why I wasn't sure."
"But, it's not the chili, right?"
"No, it's not the chili. And, for your information, I did try to wake you. I showered loudly for a full hour, which by the way did wonders for the pain, and I sang songs that you hate out of tune."
"Maybe it had an opposite affect. I didn't hear a thing, till now" Luke shrugged. "So, now are you sure?"
Lorelai stopped short and clutched Luke's arm, obviously in pain again. "Oh, god," she moaned, "Yes, I'm sure now."
Luke positioned himself in front of Lorelai, and she hung down his shoulders, bearing her full weight on them as he massaged her back and sides.
"Are you sure you've never done this before?" she managed to utter through her pain.
He continued to rub his hands over her back. "Only in my imagination. Does that count?"
"Well, you must have a very vivid imagination," she felt the pain subside, and she stood up on her own again and loudly heaved a sigh.
They both knew very well that they had in fact practiced all kinds of positions and massages beforehand, but nothing could prepare them for the true sensations and needs during the real thing. And what Luke was doing at that moment, felt right for Lorelai.
The contractions were barely three minutes apart and Lorelai agreed that they needed to get to the hospital. Luke helped her change. She wore a loose dress and over it, Luke's burgundy plaid flannel shirt, the one she planned to give birth in. She placed a fresh pad in her new panties, to absorb the trickle of amniotic fluid, and after Luke put her socks on her feet, she slipped them into her brown leather clogs.
When another contraction hit while she waited for Luke to quickly brush his teeth and get dressed, she sat on the edge of the bed, bouncing a bit and moving her hips around to try and control the severe pain.
Less than 15 minutes after Luke had woken up, they were already in Lorelai's Jeep on their way to the hospital.
Lorelai watched Luke as they drove away from their home. They were still in Stars Hollow's boundaries and there was barely any traffic, the town seemed to be in a yawning daze.
"I can't believe how quickly you got everything organized."
"It was all packed and I just followed the list Rory prepared for us."
"I couldn't even remember where we put the list," Lorelai paused, still staring at Luke.
"You didn't pay attention to a single thing Rory said or did concerning the list, did you?"
"Yes I did. I noticed she used Garfield stationary to write it on."
Luke gave her a mocking stare.
"What? Besides, that's what I have you for, this time around. To care for all the little trivial things so I won't have to worry my pretty little head with insignificant stuff…" she paused grinning. "Don't you feel special?"
"Yeah," he snorted jokingly.
Lorelai looked down and smoothed out the dress over her large, unquiet belly, knowing it would soon be vacant, it would soon be all over. "God," she finally mumbled, slowly shaking her head, "Luke, I'm so scared."
Luke turned to her and swallowed hard. She glanced at him and he smiled as he reached across to caress her shoulder in reassurance.
"It's going to be fine," he squeezed her shoulder once and then took her left hand to hold for a while.
Lorelai gripped his hand, her thoughts straying, only finally letting go to take her phone out of her handbag and punch in a number.
"Good morning, Dr. Levine."
"Sara, I'm so, so sorry. It's Saturday and so early and I know it's some holiday for you, I forget the name and…"
"Lorelai? How far apart are the contractions?"
"Not far enough. They're so close, you'd think they were Siamese twins or triplets or …"
Dr. Levine laughed. "Good thing you're headed to the hospital, then. You are on your way in, right?"
"Yes, of course, about 25 minutes away. I'm so sorry, really."
"Oh, please, you're really not that original. Someone beat you to it. I'm already at the hospital, been here since 4 AM. Just delivered twins," she chuckled.
"Wow, twins. I hope this won't be a disappointment to you, no multiple babies on my part," Lorelai was having another contraction and she clutched the door handle and rocked in place from side to side to try and ease the pain.
"So, you're not planning to surprise me?"
"You tell me. Dear God, Sara, I sure hope not."
"Well, Lorelai honey, you're never a disappointment. It'll be fine. I'm waiting for you in the maternity ward. Luke's with you?"
"Oh yeah, he's driving along, slowly, safely. He's not in any pain, so far," they glanced at each other, and Lorelai managed to flash a quick smile at him. God, he was solid, she thought. He seemed so sure. It was soothing and encouraging.
"Sara, please prepare all the drugs, get the suppliers up, wake the drug lords."
"Yes. I'll alert the whole druggy staff, let them know a major junky is on her way in to sample their offerings. We're all here, Lorelai, see you guys soon."
Lorelai turned off the phone, and grabbed Luke's right forearm, feeling she was drowning in pain. She closed her eyes and started a cycle of deep breaths, slowly inhaling and exhaling. She let go of Luke's arm and let him slip his hand behind her, to knead her hip and buttocks. She moved against his hand, trying to find a relaxing position.
Luke glanced at Lorelai, and watched her wriggle in her seat taking calming breaths, slowly moving her head from side to side and then in circular motions like someone trying to meditate.
"Sing," he found himself suggesting all of a sudden.
"What?" Lorelai answered with her eyes still shut, then opened them to look at him.
"Sing, it helped you earlier, you like singing," he continued to rub her back.
She looked at him sideways, amused, feeling the contraction reside. "Really? I thought hearing me scream, and cry and curse would be enough for the day, now you think I should add singing to the repertoire? Are you sure? I mean I need you, I don't want you to bolt now."
"Go ahead, sing. You're not intimidating me. You know you want to, and you have a great voice."
Lorelai silently watched him for a few seconds. "Luke" she shook her head in disbelief, furrowing her brows, "this is really happening now. This is it," she relaxed her facial muscles, then took a couple of deep breaths. "I can do this, we can do this, right?" she said trying to reassure herself, yet seeking his encouragement.
Luke nodded. "Absolutely," he paused, momentarily looking at her, smiling. "I know you can."
"In your head, in your head, Zombie, Zombie, Zombie, ee ee ee ee, uh, uh, uh …" Lorelai began singing at the top of her lungs, shaking her head from side to side, swaying in her seat, to the delight of them both.
Lorelai continued singing till the end of her next contraction, before she finally called Rory.
"Rise and shine!"
"Mom, why are you calling this early on Saturday? This better be good."
"Aw, good morning to you too, sweetie. Luke and I are driving into Hartford, and we just thought that you might want to join us there."
"I'm at the Vineyard, with Logan. Did you forget?"
"That doesn't sound like across the Atlantic to me."
"Mom, what's going on? Why are you two driving into Hartford so early?" Rory listened to the silence from the other end of the line. It suddenly dawned on her. "Oh, my god! Are you giving birth?"
"Not at the very moment. I hope. Although yes, we're heading to the hospital."
"But you weren't due for another week!"
"Well, what can I say, your brother, it seems, totally ignored the calendar that I agonizingly swallowed, with that big X mark on October 21 on it. I know you would've never ignored it."
"But how do you know it's time? Are you sure?"
"I could mention several indicators to you, but one should suffice: I'm having terrible, excruciating, piercing contractions every three minutes, is that clear enough?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Wow, I can't believe it's finally time. Can Luke help?"
"Luke's a full, one man care package. He's driving Miss Painful here. And by the way, he totally loved your list. It saved us."
"Good, good. And Mom… I'll be there as fast as I can."
"Hon, please drive safely. No need to rush, it'll probably take hours. Besides, admit it, you've witnessed me scream enough times before."
"Mom," Rory said softly, ignoring her mother's joking, "So it's bad?"
"Nothing a few mg of narcotics can't take care of. Don't worry. I'll see you later, hon."
"I love you. I'll be there soon."
"Okay. I love you too, hon."
At 6:25 they were already in the maternity ward, registering. Lorelai couldn't bear to sit in the wheelchair they had wanted her to sit in, and while Luke filled out some forms, she stood next to him with both arms stretched out in front of her, pushing against the nurses' counter, swaying her hips. She couldn't sit, or stand still and she felt the urge to push.
Suddenly, she felt a soft hand rubbing her back. She turned and met a warm, familiar, and smiling face. The two embraced for a short moment.
"Look what I've gotten myself into," Lorelai smiled apologetically.
"Well, you're going to get yourself out of it soon. Luke, hi."
"Dr. Levine," he shook her hand.
"Sara, please. Now, both of you come with me. They'll finish filling those out later," Dr. Levine told the nurse about the forms.
She led them to room 12, the birthing room, and asked them to settle in till she'd be back a couple of minutes later. She suggested that Lorelai only keep Luke's shirt on, and the socks, if she wanted to, and then she left them alone in the room.
The walls of the birthing room were painted in light hues of blues and greens and had framed colorful paintings hanging on them. No artificial lights were on, and the room was illuminated by the early daylight starting to stream in through the thin white curtains. There was a wide hospital bed in the center of the room, with several pillows and a multicolored bed spread on it, and to its left, an open doorway leading to the shower and Jacuzzi. There were two rubber mattresses, a birthing ball, two stools and several large pillows scattered around the room. There was also an armchair near the windows, several chairs and cabinets and as promised, a stereo system, TV and DVD.
Luke placed their two handbags and his backpack on the table next to the armchair, and afterwards helped Lorelai take her dress off and put his plaid, flannel shirt back on. The shirt fell half way down her thighs, and she felt comfortable and not too exposed in it.
While Lorelai paced the floor rubbing her hips, Luke quickly put the cd that Rory had compiled for them in the stereo, and music, not too loud, started to engulf the room.
When you're alone
And life is making you lonely
You can always go
Down town.
When you've got worries
All the noise and the hurry
Seems to hurt, I know.
Down town.
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,
Linger on the sidewalks where the neon signs are pretty.
How can you lose ?
The lights are much brighter there,
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go down town.
Things will be great when you're
Down town.
No finer place for sure,
Down town.
Everything's waiting for you.
Petula Clark sang on. Luke now stood beside Lorelai, as firm as a Douglas fir, putting counter pressure on her lower back muscles with the heel of his hand. Lorelai stretched her body, holding on to Luke's shoulders, trying to drown the pain of the current contraction, while at the same time, resisting the strong urge to push.
Soon after, Dr. Levine walked back in joined by a midwife and nurse. She approached Lorelai, and once again put a soothing hand on her back, leading her towards the bed.
"I know this is against my better judgment, but just in case," she smiled at Luke and placed a bowl of ice chips on the table near the bed.
Lorelai felt she couldn't get on the bed or lie down at all, but Dr. Levine assured her it was just for a quick check up, to see her progress, and both she and Luke helped Lorelai onto the bed and covered her with a bright blue sheet.
They quickly hooked up a portable fetal monitor on Lorelai's abdomen, and the baby's heartbeat was immediately registered as strong and normal.
Dr. Levine checked Lorelai and smiled at both her and Luke.
"Boy, am I glad you decided against the scenic route coming in here today," she dryly stated after finishing the examination, and affectionately patted Lorelai's shins as she covered her up again with the sheet. "Or this baby would've been born at a completely different scene."
"Sara, before I make a scene right here myself, I need drugs, a walking epidural would be perfect now, and I really need to push," Lorelai stressed each word.
Dr. Levine moved to stand at Lorelai's side and started to help her up and out of the bed, knowing where Lorelai wanted to be, while Luke, who had realized what the Doctor was doing, rushed around the bed to help as well.
"I know, it's okay to start pushing," Lorelai was out of the bed by then, leaning on Luke. "But, Honey, we can't give you an epidural now, you're fully dilated and this baby is coming out in 20 minutes tops," Dr. Levine spoke confidently but softly, soothingly rubbing Lorelai's tensed up shoulders.
"Noooo, that can't be. Then give me a running epidural," Lorelai implored, totally discouraged with that news, though she still managed a faint smile to match the smiles of the others in the room, responding to her humorous remark.
"And 20 minutes, isn't that too fast, should I be worried?" Lorelai inquired frantically. The contractions were now further apart and for some reason, felt a bit less painful, but her spirits were dampened.
"I have a feeling you're not going to be sorry it didn't take longer. And Lorelai, we do have some narcotics, but I don't like using them so close to the birth, because they can make you and the baby sleepy and it can affect his breathing," Dr. Levine sat on a stool, nearly directly beneath Lorelai.
"No… no…" Lorelai shook her head, rejecting the offer. "No, I don't want that for the baby."
Lorelai's arms were draped over Luke's shoulders, who held her up and gave her a heartening squeeze. She was trying to let her body relax, go flaccid, to reserve some energy before the next contraction, but she felt too tense.
Luke wet her lips with a freezing ice chip, which she welcomed.
Now that I've worn out, I've worn out the world
I'm on my knees in fascination
Looking through the night
And the moons never seen me before
But I'm reflecting light
Lorelai heard Sam Phillips' song infiltrating through her pounding pain. It was their first ever dance together. And there he was again, holding her, supporting, leading steadily. Her eyes filled with warm tears, about to overflow.
"If you change your mind or if the pain is too severe, let me know, okay? We'll try to give you something. Next contraction, you can push again."
Lorelai was still hanging on to Luke. She looked directly into his eyes.
"Luke, I'm not sure I can do this, I think I want a c — section now," she whispered, shamefully admitting defeat. She closed her eyes and the tears soaked her long lashes and dropped down her cheeks.
Luke tenderly pushed her hair behind her ears and lovingly held her damp face between both palms. "Lorelai, look at me," he calmingly asked of her. "Look at me… I love you. I love you, and you promised you'd pull my hair out, and look," he pointed to his head, "I forgot my hat. Come on, pull! I'm not going anywhere, just pull," he challenged and grinned at her and kissed her lightly on her cheeks, "… and sing, sing and pull, just sing and pull!" he added, happy to see that she was finally responding positively.
She reciprocated with a weak smile and a relieved sigh. That was exactly what she'd needed to hear. Luke had not only unequivocally reassured her of his constant presence and support, but he'd managed to completely restore her confidence, and from that point on, she felt able to focus and concentrate on relaxing her muscles, breathing well and pushing their baby out.
Lorelai took another deep breath. "Wait," she told Luke, feeling a contraction coming on, and she pushed him down to sit on the bed, and pressed her palms into his thighs with all her might, her legs wide apart, letting her head fall to her chest, as she bore down, while Luke soothingly massaged her shoulders, down to her hips and buttocks in a deep kneading motion.
"I think twenty minutes was an exaggeration," Dr. Levine commented from her stool.
As the contraction subsided and the pushing was over for that instance, Lorelai stood up straight, and Luke stood up right with her.
"22 years apart is way too much. It's like doing this all for the very first time for me. I tell ya, it's no bike riding. I feel so inadequate and inexperienced. Next time, I'm not waiting that long," Lorelai watched Luke's face light up, and realized what she'd just said. "Oh my God, I can't believe I just said that. I'm not even done with this one. My brain's turned to mush and sap. You're working too well for me here, Luke, stop it!" she hugged him across his back and let him collect her in his arms, so she could relax her tiring muscles and release some tension.
Luke stroked her arms, and then massaged the small of her back. Lorelai couldn't see his proud grin.
She next freed herself from their embrace and placed both her hands on Luke's shoulders and started to swing from side to side like a stationary dancer. But Luke joined her slow motions and they both rocked in heavy, yet perfect harmony.
"Now this I wouldn't miss for the world, look," Dr. Levine placed a rectangle, 10x8 inch mirror nearly on the floor between Lorelai's legs.
Both Luke and Lorelai looked down to see the wondrous, incredible sight of their baby's head crowning.
"Oh my God," Lorelai let out a few audible chuckles, "that's our kid, Luke!"
"Is that his hair? He has hair?" Luke was excited.
"Yes, that's his hair, Lorelai, anytime you can push, go ahead, it's nearly over..."
Lorelai bent forward again, and Luke immediately sat on the bed so he could be her shock absorber, as she pushed with all her force. She pushed against his shoulders. Luke gripped her sides and hips to help her maintain her balance as she slightly crouched, while she pushed hard, this time letting out deep groans, allowing herself to vocalize the cavernous uncomfortable sensation she was feeling. It wasn't a sharp pain, but rather a heavy, disturbing feeling of pressure and tightness.
Luke brought an ice chip to smear over her lips, and Lorelai gladly licked the cold traces it left. She immediately felt the intense urge to push again, and then with the third hard, consecutive push, as Frank Sinatra crooned, it was over….
Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what Spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, darling kiss me
Lorelai audibly gasped and let herself fall limp into Luke's arms as he pushed himself up from the bed to hold her steadily. He hugged her tightly, and placed a lingering kiss on the top of her head, his face breaking into a huge grin, when the voice of their son was heard in the room, overtaking the music, and the beating of their hearts and their laughter of joy and relief.
Lorelai was shaking with exhilaration in Luke's supporting grip, experiencing the joyous sense of release, and the tears freely streamed down her face as she looked down between her legs at the delightful sight of their beautiful newborn.
The midwife held the crying baby, already wrapped in another one of Luke's flannels, between Lorelai's legs and then Dr. Levine instructed the willing Luke to cut the clamped cord.
Next, Dr. Levine held the baby as Lorelai was helped into bed by Luke and the midwife. Half sitting, propped up by the raised head of the bed and three pillows, Lorelai held her arms out to welcome her son, and two minutes after he was born on Saturday, October 14th, 2006 at 6:57 AM, Leo William Gilmore Danes, was lying snugly in his mother's arms, close to her pounding proud heart and full bare breasts, grasping his father's large index finger, as both his parents alternated kisses to his full head of light brown hair.