TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Rory on the campaign trail or perhaps not, something I think could have happened had ASP ended the tale herself with Rory pregnant at 22.
Disclaimer: Nope not mine, just borrowing them to make my tales fun for everyone.
A/N:Truth be told I never found the 'tradition' of Lorelai telling Rory about her birth charming, so here is my perceived result.
Chapter the Eleventh - No Dynamite!
Rory was now in her ninth month and she was overly stressed, even to the point where she would grumble in her sleep, 'no splits on dynamite', and then cry until Logan woke her and soothed her, she refused to tell him what it meant, and he was very worried. They were having weekly visits and Logan decided enough was enough he would bring this concern to the doctor, it seemed Rory wasn't sleeping well and he wanted to be sure she was okay.
"Well, the ultra sound shows baby is head down and we are on the home stretch, any questions or concerns?" Dr. Bass was a sweet woman and very concerned about Rory who hardly asked questions, unusual for a first time mom, she never even asked about an epidural or the effects.
Logan spoke up, "Actually doctor, she hasn't been sleeping well, it seems he is having nightmares abut dynamite, I don't know what that means, but maybe you can help."
Dr. Bass looked at Rory for an explanation, Rory looked at both of them blushing, "Well, every year my mom tells me about the night I was born, she pelts the nurses with ice chips, is in great pain and then when I am born it is like doing the splits on dynamite, that sounds horrible, does it have to be that way?"
Dr. Bass smiled, "How old was your mother when you were born?"
"She was just 16, why?" Rory looked curious.
"Well, at 16 the female body is simply not developed for childbirth, sure it can do it, but not without great struggle, you however are older, more mature, and it will not be as bad and if you want we can give you pain medicine so you hardly feel a thing, it was probably offered to your mom, but she was young, alone and confused and didn't understand what was being offered or perhaps she came in too late for medication, being so young and alone made the pain greater because of the fear." The woman smiled at her sweetly, "It can be a beautiful memory, if you let us help. I can still recommend you to a Lamaze Class, you would have to go nightly now, baby is ready to come, but the breathing and techniques are helpful for calming you."
Logan was excited, "Absolutely, we will go, I want Rory to have the easiest time possible and please schedule the pain medication, we can always change our minds." He was so grateful to reduce any pain she may have in hopes of having more children with her, if this is why she was an only child he wanted to correct the error quickly.
Rory noted Logan's ease and enthusiasm, she realized he wanted more children, it made sense he had a sister, and it made her feel better because she was worried the heir would be enough. She was still terrified about the birth itself but hoped the classes would help, education was always her vanguard, no , more accurately, her safe haven. That Logan had seen her fear and found a way to assuage it was beyond, he was now elevated to hero, and that was quite an elevation, sense the last man she thought of as hero was Luke.
Rory loved Logan, she was surprised he knew her fear of birth, but happy he brought it up to the doctor she thought her fear silly, being told her mom's age made it more traumatic and that she was alone, even worse, Rory understood her mom's story did not have to be hers. She realized, she wasn't unprepared, alone and scared, she was loved, having a much wanted child and far more educated, it made a difference.
Logan was excellent about coming to pick her up for class nightly, pillows in hand they entered the room and participated in the classes, deep breathing, gentle massage, panting, soft music to focus, directional focus (choose and item you have a happy memory and look at it, recall the memory), more and more Rory wanted the medication, she knew it might make baby loopy for a few hours, and that made her feel a bit guilty, then she thought of him at 16 and felt a little less guilty. She had actually used the experience to interview women of many ages about birth and received a wealth of information that allowed her to create a 'pro/con' birthing table that she had published and had a great deal of feedback on. It brought forth many stories pro/con medication, reporting it was great for her and also very informative.
Logan and Rory were making dinner, 'baby' was very active, Rory laughed, he will be like you, full of mischief, maybe we scrap family names and call him Loki." She laughed, then doubled over in pain, she began the hee, hee breathing technique she learned.
Logan called the doctor and led her to the elevator.
"Shit" Rory declared, "I think my water broke, I hate to make Henry clean it up."
Logan sighed, Henry had cleaned up worse for him, " I will make sure he is well compensated Ace, somehow I think this mess he doesn't mind."
They arrived at the hospital and Rory was placed in a wheelchair, having pre-registered all they had to do was get Rory to a room and into a hospital gown, Logan helped her and then rinsed her wet undergarment, because she was so insistent.
"Ace, honey, none of this matters, you need to relax and stop feeling like you are an inconvenience, you are having a baby, the rest of us can take care of anything else." He kissed her sweetly and held her hand, the doctor had been outside the door and heard the exchange.
"Logan is right Rory, you just need to relax and have a heathy baby."
Rory leaned into him and cried, "She's not here."
He knew who she meant and sent a text, "Grandson on his way, Hartford Memorial NOW! She needs her mommy! love Logan"
Lorelai had received the text an hour ago and yet she was sitting on her couch, she was staring at the blank TV screen and not moving to go to her daughter who needed her. She had always been there, or had she? Lorelai's mind was dissecting the whole of Rory's life, was it her fault Rory had married a Huntzberger, joined the DAR and become the darling of society? She had raised her to be independent, to eschew wealth and privilege, but her daughter was there in the thick of it hosting fundraisers and paling about with Emily and Shira, but was that her fault too? Had she really pushed her daughter away and made it impossible for her to come home.
This was how Luke found her, dazed and confused, staring at a grey screen sitting shock still on her couch, "Lorelai, what are you doing?! Rory, your daughter, your ONLY CHILD, is having a baby, your grandson and you are sitting here doing nothing?! She needs you, now get up get in the truck and lets go!" Luke found an inexplicable need to slap her like they did shock victims in old movies, but of course he didn't he just pulled her from the couch and pushed her to towards the door. He led her to the passenger side, hoisted her into the seat, buckled her in and began to drive to the hospital, he was so mad at her right now. "Lorelai snap out of it, I get it you hate that world, but you love your daughter, sure you took her away, but you also are the one that put her back, you sent her to those snooty schools, what did you expect she would find a bricklayer at Yale? She found a guy who's family owns newspapers, lots of them, she fell in love with a man, not a trust fund and you taught her the difference. Instead of fighting this, you should be happy. Your daughter found love, real love in a world that you have told me has none. You need to stop acting like a spoiled brat who isn't getting her way and be the mom I know you can be." Luke had stopped at the hospital doors, he leaned over unbuckled her restraint, then reached over and opened the door gently pushing her out. " I am going to park, you act like an adult and go find your daughter she needs you to be the grown up tonight, she is a frightened child on her way to becoming a mother, the toughest job in the world, go help her." He pointed at the door then when she was clear pulled the door shut and drove off.
Lorelai stared at the doors for a moment she felt alone and unsure, she remembered the night Rory was born and how lonely and afraid she had been, but she had done that to herself, she had snuck away to have a baby, not letting anyone be there to support her. Now that baby needed her, she needed to be there for her.