AN: I officially hate when the review alerts are broken! It's a nuisance for both the authors and the readers... arrg. I also can't even begin on how much I hate Chris, especially with this last episode (didn't see it, but felt as though I did). How dare he give Rory's room to Gigi without having even asked her!?! I can't wait until LC goes to hell, then maybe the show can become more enjoyable. Then maybe I can even start watching again.
AN2: On a more happier note, I just ordered my new laptop, so I'm finally gonna have a good computer :D And Steph is always a wonderful beta. This time I'm also gonna send Kudos to her mom who would've fed Chris dog food if she'd been in Lorelai's current situation!
rollsdownhill - I love seeing the soft side of Luke, so I'm happy to finally get to really bring it out. Expect it to happen a lot. William has a big hold on him ;)
spinningcreation - I'm speechless. lol
Asta-Gilmore - Trust me, it's not your hotmail, it's the site's update alerts that aren't functioning. I'm not getting alerts when people review at the moment, either. My best tip is to check in every two or three days just to see if there are updates. Unless I get a writers block or internet problems that will most likely be my update rate.
LorLukealways - When I said he was gonna be a catalyst for change I didn't mean the second he was out, although he does have some effect on people already. He's still only a couple of days old, you know.
Gymtig - The story of 'Rosie' was inspired by my niece. She has this pink doll that we call 'Rosa', which is norwegian for 'Pink'. She loves this doll. She's had it since she was a a tiny baby (she's 3 1/2 now) and she's still very attached to her. So much that we had to sew on new fabric to keep her from falling apart. And I just try to imagine if Emily ever saw 'Rosa'... and well 'Rosie' was born from that thought.
As they had agreed on Rory picking her and William up at five thirty, one could imagine Lorelai's anxiety when the clock passed a quarter to six, then six and still there was no sign of her daughter. She was in the middle of changing the third poopy diaper of the day and was contemplating on giving her son the nickname 'poopynator', when Rory finally popped her head in the door.
- Finally, Lorelai sighed. - You were supposed to be here ages ago, what happened?
- Babette was home, Rory explained. - I was this close to her seeing me take the car seat out of the jeep. If I'd been a minute later at it, then our whole plan would've been spoiled.
- I knew we should've asked Luke to do it.
- And Luke skulking around our place when everyone knows we're not home wouldn't've been suspicious, Rory pointed out, rolling her eyes. - At least I can come up with a good excuse.
It had been Lorelai's idea to persuade the hospital to move her and William's discharge to Friday afternoon in stead of Wednesday afternoon/Thursday morning as they otherwise would've done. With the whole town being aware of William having been born and Lorelai not getting a single visitor except Luke, she knew they were probably planning a big welcome home shindig in William's honor, as they had been deprived from doing so for Sookie and Davey, due to the home birth. As sweet as the thought was, Lorelai knew it would just be a bit too much for William to experience such a rush of people on his first day home, so she'd asked Luke and Rory to keep the coming home date under wraps. As a precaution, not even Sookie had been told about it. However with the town watching every move made of the diner owner and the prodigal daughter of Stars Hollow, managing such a thing was downright impossible.
That had been until Lorelai had come up with the ingenious plan of hers. Instead of going home directly from the hospital, they would instead take the route by the Gilmore Mansion for the regular Friday Night Dinner. Of course, for this to go well, Lorelai needed an appropriate attire for the night, as well as the car seat Luke had helped her install in the Jeep three weeks prior. Which had been why Rory had taken the route through Stars Hollow on her way from New Haven.
- What did you tell her, Lorelai wondered.
- That I had to pick up something for Friday Night Dinner, since it was laundry day at Yale and all the machines were full.
- Impressive, Lorelai told her daughter. - You're getting better at fibbing for each passing day.
- It wasn't a flat out lie, Rory shrugged. - I just failed to mention that I wasn't picking up something for me and that one of the machines had been washing my clothes.
- Have I ever been prouder of you in my entire life, Lorelai asked.
- I should hope so, Rory laughed.
- So what did you pick out? Hand me the bag, will you?
Lorelai reached her hand out for the bag, but Rory stepped back.
- I'm gonna wait until you finish doing that, she said, gesturing to her brother on the changing table.
- Geez, you get peed on one time, Lorelai remarked, rolling her eyes.
- Hey, unlike you I don't have anything to change into, Rory pointed out, gesturing to her attire. - Besides, it wasn't just one time.
- Well, I'm sorry, but the diaper falling off was your own fault for not attaching it good enough.
- I attached it fine, Rory insisted. - Besides, what about that time when you were changing him and he managed to hit me instead?
- Oh yeah, Lorelai giggled. - He does seem to have a pretty good aim.
Lorelai smiled down at her baby boy, as she picked him up.
- Do I detect some sibling rivalry, she asked him, kissing his head.
She handed him over to Rory.
- Remember, William, she said, in a mock-strict voice. - You behave now. No peeing on your big sister. You hear me?
William simply yawned in reply.
With the delays, Lorelai barely had time to change. Luckily she'd managed to grab a quick shower while William was sleeping earlier that day and with Rory already having picked out her outfit there was no clothes emergency to speak of. She was happy to see that Rory had gone with her black viscose top and a black pair of pants in stretchy material. As she finished changing, she examined her profile in the mirror. It would still be a long while until she had her figure back, but thanks to the special cut of the top and the weight loss at the birth, she did appear less fat than a week ago. That was promising.
When she came out, Rory had already dressed her sleeping brother in outerwear and carefully strapped him in the car seat and covered him with another blanket.
- I hope you were paying attention when Luke installed this thing, she said. - Or else we'll be really late.
- If all fails, then we'll just call and have him instruct us over the phone.
- We're so gonna be late, Rory sighed.
- Can you take the bags, Lorelai asked. - I'll carry William.
Lorelai knew very well that newborns shouldn't sit in a car seat for too long, as too much sitting before they were able to support themselves were bad for their backs, so she was glad that their first trip only would be for the ten minutes it took to drive to her parents' house. As they reached the car, Lorelai actually realized that she had been paying attention when Luke installed the seat. Sure, it took about twice as much time as it took him, but they managed without having to resort to calling him. During the drive, Lorelai insisted on sitting in the back, keeping an eye on her son.
- So, Rory said. - You did remember to call grandma to tell her you were coming, right?
- Um, no, Lorelai replied, sheepishly.
- But you did call and tell her you were at the hospital, right?
- Rats, I knew I forgot something, Lorelai quipped.
- Mom, Rory exclaimed. - How can you not have told her?
- Well, I kinda forgot about it the first couple of days with the whole 'pushing a human being out of me' bit to really think of anything else.
- You called Sookie, Rory pointed out.
- Well, Lorelai shrugged. - She's more fun to call.
- Mom, Rory exclaimed. - This is gonna be the 'why didn't you tell me you were pregnant'-dinner all over again.
- What can I say, Rory. I was happy, Lorelai sighed. - I didn't want anything to ruin it. The minute mom gets involved in anything good in my life it goes to hell in a handbasket and I didn't want that to happen yet. I just wanted a couple of days, just me and my son before all the complications in my life catch up with me.
- You know this dinner is gonna be hell, Rory asked.
- I know, Lorelai sighed, watching her baby boy sleep peacefully as they closed in on the Gilmore's neighborhood.
As Rory parked in the driveway, Lorelai leaned over and carefully unstrapped her boy from the seat and picked him up, gently so that she wouldn't wake him up. She wrapped the blanket around him, as it was pretty cold outside. The only skin that was visible was his incredibly tiny face. She rested him against her shoulder and walked up to join Rory in front of the door and rang the bell. As usual a new maid answered.
- Hey, Lorelai said. - We're the Slotski's, table for three?
- What, the maid asked, confused.
- Ignore her, Rory replied. - We're here for dinner?
- I thought there was only one coming, the maid said.
- Marjorie, Emily called out, entering the hallway. - What's taking so... long.
She stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted Lorelai and William.
- Hey mom, Lorelai smiled, sheepishly, adding the only other thing she could think of. - Surprise.
Even though she knew she was in for one hell of an evening, Lorelai couldn't help but revel in the fact that she'd temporarily stunned Emily into silence.
- Emily, Richard said, as he too entered the hallway. - What's... oh, Lorelai?
- Hey dad, Lorelai said, biting her lip. - I'd like you to meet your grandson, William.
While Richard seemed to be at a loss of words, Emily slowly started to come around again. Lorelai saw a look on her face that she couldn't remember having seen before... hurt. Suddenly, Lorelai felt nothing but shame for keeping William a secret from her parents.
- Well, Emily said, her voice emotionally unreadable. - I suppose we can't all stand here all night.
Before Lorelai could even form an apology in her head, the old Emily took charge again.
- Marjorie, she said, sternly. - Do we usually have the guests stand in the hallway for five minutes before you take their coats?
- No, ma'am, Marjorie said quietly.
- Well, then get to it, Emily barked. - And make sure to put on an extra plate for my daughter.
Lorelai shot the girl an apologetic look, as the girl bowed her head and did as told. Of course Emily would take it out on the help. She always did. Though Lorelai suspected she wouldn't be off the hook for a long time.
- Anything you need, Lorelai, Emily asked her.
- Um, well, Lorelai said, a bit surprised by the question. - William's sleeping, so I need somewhere to lay him down.
- I guess we could always see if we can find Rory's old bassinet somewhere, Emily suggested.
- No, Lorelai shook her head. - That's not necessary. If I can just have a blanket, the couch will be okay.
- Alright, Emily nodded, not giving a single objection, which surprised Lorelai.
As they reached the livingroom, Lorelai gently put William down on the blanket that Marjorie came carrying. She stripped off the outerwear and then covered him up with the baby blanket. William slept the same way he'd done in the hospital, on his back, his head turned sideways and his hands sticking up from the blanket covering him.
- A drink, Lorelai, Emily asked, already up at the drinks table. - Martini, right?
- Actually, Lorelai replied. - I'll have a club soda.
Emily gave her a questioning look.
- I'm breastfeeding, Lorelai explained.
- Alright, Emily replied. - Rory, how about you? Soda? Water?
- Soda's fine, Rory replied, politely.
Emily made the drinks and took a seat next to Rory, since Lorelai and William took up the other couch. Richard sat in the recliner next to the couch. At first they all just sipped their drinks. Lorelai saw Emily and Richard from time to time throwing a stolen glance to their sleeping grandson.
- So, Emily said, breaking the silence. - I'm guessing everything went well.
- Very well, Lorelai nodded. - My water broke around five in the morning on Saturday and, this little guy was out twelve minutes to five in the afternoon.
- So he was born six days ago, Emily noted.
- Yes, Lorelai sighed, awaiting her mother's wrath.
- But you haven't announced it in the papers yet, Emily stated. - If you had, I'm sure your father and I would've noticed.
- No, Lorelai confirmed. - With everything I just forgot.
- I thought you said it all went well.
- It did, Lorelai insisted. - Mom, you know how it is when you have a baby. Everything else just fades away.
- How convenient, Emily remarked, dryly.
- Emily, Richard begged. - Please, lets not get into this right now. What Lorelai did was wrong, and I think deep down she knows it. But aside from that, we have a grandson, now. We should be celebrating, not scolding each other.
- Well, clearly Lorelai doesn't want us to celebrate, Emily replied. - If we had gotten even a day's notice we would have a cake, some presents. Instead she just shows up with no warning, almost giving us a heart attack.
Lorelai hated when her parents talked about her as though she wasn't even present in the room. She turned her head away and tried focusing on her son instead of what her parents were saying.
- Clearly she doesn't want us to know anything about her life, Emily continued. - First she waits months to tell us she's pregnant. She evades every question regarding the father. Then she even obtains a doctors note to excuse her out of coming here.
As if fate decided to smile at her, that was the precise moment the maid chose to announce that dinner was ready. As Rory got up, she gave her mother a look that said 'I told you so' before following her grandfather and the maid towards the dining room. Lorelai bent down to give her sleeping son a kiss, before getting up, herself.
- Are you just going to leave him here, Emily asked her.
- He's perfectly safe, mom, Lorelai sighed.
- What if he wakes up?
- He'll probably wake up in about half an hour, but I'll check on him again in ten minutes, in case he wakes up sooner.
- Marjorie can do that, you know, Emily pointed out. - That way you won't have to interrupt your meal.
- Well, I want to do it, Lorelai said, stubbornly. - Besides, he'll be hungry when he wakes up, so I'd have to leave the table anyways.
- I'm sure Marjorie could give him a bottle.
- I'm breastfeeding him, Lorelai reminded her.
Lorelai wouldn't exactly call dinner pleasant, nor was it really a torture. Apparently her parents had reached a silent agreement to avoid the topic of Lorelai and William for the time being and just focus on the events in Rory's life instead. As she had told her mother she would, Lorelai got up from the table ten minutes into dinner and walked back to the livingroom to check on William. He was still sleeping soundly, his little chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm.
The second time she went to check on him, he was still asleep, but the minute she kissed the soft patch of hair on his head, he stirred. It was closing in on fours hours since the last time he ate and Lorelai knew that he probably was very hungry, so placing one of the cushions on the edge of the couch, she gently picked her son up, placing him at her breast. Though he was still barely awake, instinct took over and he latched on. Luckily William had a very healthy appetite.
It wasn't until half an hour later that Lorelai finally returned to the dining room. The dinner and the plates, including her own had been cleared and the three of them were eating ice cream.
- You moved on to desert, Lorelai noted.
- Well, what did you expect us to do, Emily asked, not realizing William was now awake, resting his head on his mother's shoulder. - You were gone for ages.
- Yeah, well someone was hungry, Lorelai pointed out.
- If you're still hungry I can ask Marjorie to heat the dinner up for you.
- No, that's okay, Lorelai replied. - I was done. It's just that usually you wait with clearing the plates until everyone was done.
- You just said you were done, Lorelai, Emily pointed out.
- I know that, Lorelai sighed. - But you didn't know that.
- Well, when a guest leaves the table for longer than a bathroom break it's right to assume that the guest has finished.
- Most guests don't have a baby that needs feeding every four hours, Lorelai replied.
- And most guests don't show up unannounced.
- Would you rather I didn't show up tonight, Lorelai challenged. - Would you?
Suddenly Emily rose from the table and walked out. Lorelai knew where this was heading and looked between her father and Rory, who both had been wise enough to remain quiet.
- Dad, Lorelai asked. - Do you mind holding him, while I talk to mom?
Richard seemed surprised by the question, but it didn't take him more than three seconds to nod. Lorelai went over to him and gently placed William in his grandfather's arms. Richard seemed to light up at the infant in his arms. Lorelai wasn't sure if this was just general happiness about having another grandchild or if it was his always wanting to have a boy around the house. At the moment, as long as Richard took to his grandson, Lorelai didn't care if it was one reason or the other. Ever since her and Rory had given him the proper chance to have an active part in Rory's life, he'd taken it and Lorelai wasn't afraid that Richard's affection for William being a boy would take away from his affection for Rory.
- He might still have to burp, Lorelai informed her father. - So just hold him up to your shoulder and rub his back.
Kissing William on the head, she left the room. She found her mother in the kitchen, putting the leftovers from dinner into the fridge. In a way, Lorelai could see the similarities between her and her mother. Both of them, when hurt or stressed out, resorted to kitchen work to deal with it. Lorelai with washing the dishes, Emily with storing away leftovers.
- Mom, Lorelai said, receiving no reply.
Emily had by now emptied a couple of pots and pans and was currently scraping the leftovers of the plates and into the trash. Feeling the need to occupy her hands with something, Lorelai took the empty pots and pans to the sink and filled it with soap and water. She placed every clean item on the counter and didn't even notice her mother at her side until she noticed the pile of clean dishes shrinking. It was then she realized Emily had taken a towel and started drying the dishes off, putting everything away.
- I'm sorry, mom, Lorelai muttered. - It was wrong of me not to call you and I have no excuse for it.
- So have you told Christopher yet, Emily asked.
- What, Lorelai asked, surprised.
- Come on, Lorelai. I'm not an idiot. I remember how devastated you were when the two of you didn't work out and then nine months ago you rushed out of here to see his child being born. Although I do not exactly approve of going after someone else's fiancé, I can understand why.
- Mom.., Lorelai began, trying to gather her thoughts in a way that she could form a reply.
- For months I've been trying to get an answer out of you regarding your pregnancy and it's only recently I've realized why. Something happened between you and Christopher that night.
- Mom, Lorelai groaned. - Chris and I have been over since Sookie's wedding. Yes, I went to the hospital when Sherry was having Gigi, but that was because Rory asked me to. Chris was there to see his daughter being born, nothing else.
- You don't have to protect him, Lorelai.
- I'm not, Lorelai insisted. - Chris is not William's father.
- Then who is, Emily asked.
Lorelai sighed, but didn't answer.
- Exactly, Emily pointed out with a smirk. - You wouldn't have had anything to hide if it was someone else.
- Fine, Lorelai exclaimed. - Believe what you want.
A little under an hour later, they were standing outside the front door, Lorelai holding William and Rory holding yet another book that her grandfather had found while perusing through his study. Neither moving an inch.
- I had to teach grandpa how to change a diaper, Rory informed her mom.
- Mom thinks Chris is the dad, Lorelai replied.
- You win.
TBC
