Chapter 12-Welcome to the world little girl!

The next morning, Lorelai awoke to Luke massaging her feet which were hugely swollen. She tried to scoot closer to him loving the way his hands felt against her skin. She glanced over at the clock on the bedside table and saw that it was almost noon. She found it sweet and sort of odd that Luke was here with her, instead of at his usual location, working the hardware store. She laughed a little as Luke began massaging her toes. "It's a massage; it is not supposed to tickle". Luke said grumpily. Lorelai still continued to laugh and then before she knew it, Luke was gone. She wondered where he had disappeared to, and tried unsuccessfully to get out of bed to find out Luke's whereabouts. Finally when she managed to get out of bed, Luke materialized right in front of her carrying a full breakfast tray. "Back in bed, missy". He said setting the tray down on the level part of the bed. "Here, eat, I'm not taking no for an answer". He said beginning to sip his cup of tea. "You take such good care of me Duke". Lorelai singsonged as she dug into her scrambled eggs. "Yeah, well someone has to." Luke replied dryly. Lorelai noticed Luke looked very tired and wondered what he was planning to do for the rest of the day. She hurried to chew the bite of eggs so she could find out. "What's the rush"? Luke asked as he watched Lorelai scarf down her food in mere seconds. "I'm starving; this girl here is sucking all my energy". Lorelai said with her mouth full of pancakes. "I know but you cannot tell me that you haven't absolutely loved the experience"? Luke asked rhetorically. Lorelai gave a grunt of sarcasm and continued eating her breakfast.

"So what are you planning to do today"? Lorelai asked after taking a long gulp of coffee. "I'm not sure, I honestly have no plans". Luke replied looking at the bedside clock. "Sookie is supposed to come over and help me with something later". Lorelai said setting her coffee mug down. "Oh well that sounds like fun," Luke replied. "I'm hoping she comes soon though, it's getting so uncomfortable". Lorelai whined like a child. Luke smiled he could not help but laugh at Lorelai's behavior. It was hard to believe that soon enough, Rory would be here and their lives would change forever. He wondered what she would look like, and hoped she resembled Lorelai. He sat beside her and began rubbing her shoulders. "You look beautiful". He whispered in her ear. She giggled and tried pushing him away. "Go, you're distracting me". She said playfully. "Oh, no worries". Luke said trailing kisses all down her neck and then suddenly Lorelai winced in pain. She clutched her stomach and made a face of such contortment, Luke winced just watching. "What's the matter"? He asked jumping to his feet in alarm. "I'm having pain, like contractions". Lorelai practically screeched as another pain jostled through her. Suddenly she moved in an effort to get out of bed. "Help me to the bathroom Luke". She said trying to get up without knocking over the breakfast tray. Luke was in full panic mode as he struggled to help Lorelai to the bathroom. Suddenly, a large puddle fell between Lorelai and the first step and she fell to her knees clutching her stomach in pain. "Oh, no I think my water just broke". She said in alarm. Luke was flabbergasted as he tried to help Lorelai down the stairs. "Oh, no that means, it's time for her to come ". Luke said gently guiding Lorelai down the stairs. "Here, go to the bathroom and I'll go warm up the truck". Luke said quickly heading out the door of the house. He barely got the key into the ignition when Lorelai opened the front door and moaned in pure agony and then collapsed on the porch. Luke raced to Lorelai wheezing all the way in the cold October wind. Luke tried to wake Lorelai but she was out like a light, he felt for a pulse when suddenly Sookie pulled into the driveway. She saw Luke kneeling next to what looked like an unconscious Lorelai and she practically leaped on the other side to get to Lorelai. "Lorelai, sweetie, wake up". She said trying to shake Lorelai. "What happened"? Sookie asked running her hands through Lorelai's damp hair. "She started having contractions and then she said she had to go to the bathroom and then on the steps, she… Luke stammered in response. "She, what"? Sookie demanded trying to help her friend. "Her water broke and I went to start the truck and she collapsed here". Luke explained. Sookie shook her head. "Ok, call 911 and I'll call Richard and Emily". Sookie said pulling Luke to his feet. Sookie placed a pillow from the porch swing under Lorelai's head as she waited for someone to answer the phone at the Gilmore residence.

"The paramedics are on their way, how is she"? Luke asked kneeling next to Lorelai. "I think she's ok, I haven't seen her progress so I'm assuming she's ok". Sookie replied her face turning a bright pink. "The baby"! Lorelai screamed clutching her stomach as she awoke from her fainting spell. "No, sweetie, don't try to move, the baby's fine the paramedics are on their way". Sookie said holding Lorelai's clammy hand in hers. Within seconds, the ambulance arrived and loaded a groaning Lorelai onto the stretcher and into the ambulance. "Who's riding with her"? They asked before shutting the doors. "I'm riding". Luke said climbing in. Sookie nodded and smiled at Luke who got into the ambulance with Lorelai. "Try to breathe, miss, you're doing fine". The female medic said to Lorelai as the ambulance drove away.

"She's about three centimeters dilated and having contractions about 4 minutes apart. The medic reported to the doctor as they wheeled Lorelai into the hospital's emergency entrance. "Ok, miss, can you hear me"? The doctor asked as they led Lorelai to a room. "I'm here". Lorelai replied faintly. "Ok, let's get you some cool cloths and an epidural". The doctor said instructing the nurses to get her vitals. "Is this your first baby"? The nurse asked beginning to start an IV on Lorelai's arm. "Yes, and probably my last". Lorelai replied gritting her teeth from the pain. "It's ok Lorelai, just breathe". Luke said trying to comfort her. "Ok, your doctor is on the way, just came from another delivery so just hang tight Miss Gilmore". The nurse said leaving the room. Within minutes Sookie, Richard, and Emily arrived to Lorelai's room. "Mom, Dad, you came"! Lorelai exclaimed. "Well of course we came, you're our daughter and you're having our granddaughter". Emily replied appalled by Lorelai's statement. "Richard, Luke why don't you two go find some coffee"? Emily suggested wanting some alone time with Lorelai. "It hurts mommy". Lorelai said squeezing her mother's hand. "There, there, it's alright, you're doing beautifully." Emily said stroking her cheek. "Ok, Miss Gilmore, I'm Dr. Benson, and will be administering your epidural today". A tall man with a bright brown beard said handing some forms over to Lorelai. "Here, allow me". Emily said accepting the forms for Lorelai. "I'm her mother". Emily replied signing the form quickly so her daughter could get her epidural. "Ok, do you have any questions before I begin"? Dr. Benson asked. "No, just please give it to me". Lorelai begged on the verge of tears. "Ok, it will be some numbing solution first stick, and we'll place some antiseptic on the area and now you'll feel some pressure, so bear with me Miss Gilmore". Dr. Benson said after wiping Lorelai's spine with antiseptic fluid. "Ok, now relax and that should take effect". Dr. Benson said helping Lorelai lie down again. Dr. Benson left the room just as Richard and Luke returned. "Here, I took the liberty of getting you some coffee Emily". Richard said handing one of the paper cups to his wife. "Thank you". Emily said accepting she noticed Lorelai was practically asleep. "She got her epidural". Emily whispered to both Richard and Luke. "Where's Sookie"? Luke asked. "She had to run home for a bit, she said she would be back". Emily replied yawning deeply. It was nearly six in the evening and Luke had not even realized how late it had become. "The doctor should be here by now". Emily said in an irritated tone. "He just left not too long ago," Richard corrected his wife. "Why didn't you tell me"? Emily demanded. "I did not want to disturb you". Richard replied. "The doctor said it shouldn't be much longer". Richard said. Luke watched as Lorelai's chest rose and fell as she slept through the rest of the night. It was hard to believe that soon enough, Lorelai would be a mother. Luke left to get a snack and when he returned he found Lorelai was awake and watching TV. Richard and Emily had left to get dinner while Lorelai slept.

"Hey, there". He said kissing her cheek. "Hey, yourself". She said smiling at him. "You sacred me back there". Luke said tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, it was not my intention". Lorelai replied. "How are you doing"? Luke asked watching the fetal monitor and Lorelai's monitor. "I'm doing a lot better". Lorelai replied. Luke smiled too glad to know she was not in as much pain. "I'm ready for her, any day now". Lorelai said drowsily.

Luke kissed Lorelai's head and went to call Will to let him know how Lorelai was doing. In the meantime, Sookie returned with Mia and Miss Patty. "How are you doll"? Miss Patty asked Lorelai. "It's a keen to doing splits on a crate of dynamite bur other than that, things are ok". Lorelai replied dryly. "Oh, honey, you're just lucky to have the technology to help you with the pain". Patty said. "Excuse me, but visiting hours are over". A nurse said to Mia, Sookie, and Patty. "It's alright doll, you hang in there". Patty said waving goodbye to Lorelai. "Hey, you know where to find me". Sookie said also leaving the room. A nurse came in and checked Lorelai while Luke was reading a magazine. "It shouldn't be long now". She said washing her hands in the nearby sink. "When do you think it will be"? Lorelai asked. "I'd say at least 2 hours". The nurse replied. By eleven Richard and Emily returned from their dinner and kissed Lorelai goodbye as they had to return to the waiting room. Luke stayed with Lorelai and tried not to blush when the doctor came in to examine Lorelai. "Is this your first"? The doctor asked Luke. Luke smiled even though technically he was not Rory's biological father, he did not feel like admitting that. "Yes". He replied which caused Lorelai to smile. After Lorelai rested some more, the nurse asked if Luke wouldn't mind walking with Lorelai to get her labor progressing. Luke happily accepted and he and Lorelai and the IV pole walked slowly down the hospital's hallway. Lorelai waddled trying not to trip over her IV cord, and stopped at a full-glass encased nursery. She smiled at all the babies and knew that soon enough, Rory would be in that nursery. Suddenly waves of pain shot through Lorelai as they were heading back to the room. "Ahhhh, god"! She screamed clutching her stomach once more. A nurse hurried over and got Lorelai quickly back onto the bed. After another examination, the nurse confirmed that Lorelai was ready to push. "I can't, I can't". Lorelai said seconds later with her legs spread wide on the stirrups. Luke tried not to watch, realizing that this was the moment they had all been waiting for. "I need my mother"! Lorelai screamed and apparently Emily had anticipated it, and hurried to her daughter's side while Luke and Richard sat in the waiting room with Will, Mia, Sookie, and Patty. "All right, one a count of five, push ok". The nurse said to Lorelai as she began pushing with all her might. "Breathe, relax". Another nurse said as Lorelai gave another big push. She was exhausted and her face was sweaty and she just wanted to see her daughter already. "Ok, I'm getting the doctor; you're about ready to deliver". A nurse said rushing out of the room. "Lorelai, this is it, we're going to meet your daughter now, push". Emily instructed rubbing Lorelai's back in comfort. "Very good Miss Gilmore, congratulations you have a beautiful baby girl"! The doctor exclaimed wiping the baby. Lorelai began to cry when she heard her daughter's first cries. Emily too was in tears as the nurses handed Lorelai her baby wrapped snuggly in a fleece pink blanket. She cried and cried some more and she kissed her daughter's forehead and calmly whispered to her "Welcome to the world little girl"! The nurses recorded all of her daughter's statistics and then carried her off to the nursery. Lorelai was shown the birth certificate and gave her fingerprints and it was then that she began to write her daughter's name,

Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Danes she thought about it and then wrote in Luke's name on the birth certificate and knew he would not mind. She rested for the next several hours, happy her daughter was finally here.

Here's what Rory's birth certificate may have looked like.

Name: Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Danes

Day: 13th Month: October Year: 1984

Time: 4:03 AM

Weight: 6lbs 0 oz.

Mother: Lorelai Victoria Gilmore

Father: Lucas William Danes