Chapter 52: Yes, dear!
"Luke, please sit down, you're making me dizzy!"
Lorelai watched her husband for almost 10 minutes now, talking to himself in one of his under-the-breath rants while gesturing to himself and running around in circles, and she was not quite sure what had triggered it.
It was New Year's Eve, they would be celebrating in Hartford and also stay the night at Richard's and Emily's place, together with Rory, Jess and Doula, and some of her parents' friends.
"Luke…"
He still did not listen to her, ranting about seatbelts now, which had Lorelai frown. They had had the car discussion before. After the scare with her car's engine she had managed to have it replaced, and while Luke maybe did not understand her sentimental clinging to her Jeep, he also had not further commented on it.
Well, except for the fact that he wanted to sell his truck and buy a minivan.
After she was done laughing about the mental picture of Luke in a minivan, she had talked him out of it. The Jeep was perfectly fine and he needed the truck.
The rant shifted from seatbelts to baby seats and what a fortune they cost.
"Luke."
Lorelai leaned back on the couch, her hands resting on her bump (which was rather a BUMP by now) and rolled her eyes. Seriously? They also had had this conversation, and actually, the car seats for Sid and Nancy were already waiting in the basement for their first usage. Still, even though most pregnancies with multiples were not carried to term, she had still two more weeks to go, and nothing was pointing towards her immediate popping.
The rant shifted towards baby food and what a fortune that cost, Luke still running up and down in front of the couch.
"LUKE!"
The sheer volume of her voice made him jerk around, finally reacting to her tries to figure out what was wrong. Before she could say a thing, he opened his mouth again.
"We're staying home tonight."
That got him the mother of all frowns, and then a grim expression from his wife. He had been so relaxed and calm the past months when she thought he would be freaking out on a daily basis because of all of the changes.
And now, that all was settled and they only had to wait for the twins to come he decided to freak and become overprotective?! When her Mother's description of the food already made her mouth water?
"No, we're not."
"Lorelai, you…"
"Luke, I am serious, this is one of the rare occasions where you should do your duty as a husband, nod your head and answer Yes, dear! Because this is most probably the last occasion I have the chance to be around my family without two little babies being in constant need of my attention. Whatever has freaked you out now, just shut it. I am fine, I will let you know the second that changes, and actually, around Hartford it's way easier to get to a hospital when compared to Stars Hollow."
Her blue gaze made him actually squirm a bit, shoulders tense.
With a sigh, her voice got softer.
"I am really fine, Luke. And I am really looking forward to that party. Hey, maybe Dipshit Huntzberger will appear, you could let him know what you think about his messing with Rory's head.
Her husband stared at her for a moment.
"Great… now you're luring me to a party at your parents' place in the middle of a snowstorm with the vague promise of me being allowed to kill that oaf."
"That's my Luke, always see the bright side. And two snowflakes are not a snowstorm, by the way", she answered with a smile and a tilted head, making him chuckle.
"Yes, dear…"
"What has Luke so grumped up today?"
Rory bounced down onto the couch next to her mother who was just smiling at a very considerate waiter who not only passed by with every tray by her couch, but also brought her a drink and a plate so she could have more of the canapes.
Actually, she had thought this would be only a small thing, family and a few friends, but Emily Gilmore rarely did go for small. At least there were only people they liked. And no Huntzbergers.
"Your step-father decided it was time to go all overprotective on me the one time I actually wanted to visit my parents. Guess who won. I intend enjoying the time until I pop."
Rory snickered at that, snatching one of her mother's canapes from the plate and popping it into her mouth.
"And he was so relaxed about everything… I thought you were dosing him with valium or stuff…"
Maneuvering her food out of Rory's reach, Lorelai made a face at her daughter.
"Find your own waiter to spoil you with all the good stuff."
Leaning back on the couch, the younger Gilmore leaned against her mother.
"I made a decision, you know."
Lorelai just tilted her head, patiently waiting.
"I'm gonna take the job at the Stamford Eagle-Gazette. I like the people there, I like the editing job, and I have to start somewhere, right? And no, I'm not doing this because it is the easiest way. I drove Jess nuts the past days with all my lists…"
Bumping Rory's shoulder, Lorelai smiled.
"You happy?"
"Yes. And relieved. I feel way better now that I made that decision. Charlie was thrilled to bits when I called him."
"And Jess?"
"Uhm… I may have been a bit rude when he disturbed me… He's been answering to all of my questions with Yes, dear and saluting me for the last two days. I think I may have to make up for that to him…"
"TMI, kiddo! TMI!"
"Really? Since when is there TMI for you? You've been asking me all details about Doyris' getting back together."
"Yeah, but that's like watching a telenovela staring Paris and Doyle. By the way, when are they going to kick Izzie out of Grey's Anatomy? I couldn't stand her at the beginning, and now she's making Alex feel bad…"
Rory shook her head and smiled.
"You are totally seizing the opportunity to enjoy your last baby-free moments, huh? How many episodes have you watched in the past days?"
"Uhm… almost the entire season. Is it only me who sees this marriage of the two of them doomed?"
"Mom, you never liked Izzie. Just as you also never liked George. Those two are the puppies of the show!"
"No. They are annoying. Alex and Mark are the puppies. And I never thought I had a thing for redheads, but I just love G.I. Joe."
"You just say that because you love Christina. Oh boy, I missed those conversations! Can I still call you in the middle of the night and talk about movies, or weird dreams, Mom?"
"Of course you can. Actually, you have to, because I will be bored beyond belief while feeding your siblings in the middle of the night."
Both women were laughing, and Lorelai grabbed her plate again, devouring another of the delicious canapes and offering the last bit to her daughter.
"Could you find Luke and bring him here? I'd like to make out with my husband at midnight."
"TMI, Mom!"
"Pft, as if the two of us were not your daily soap-opera."
"No, I'm also hooked on The life and love of Doyris."
"That title sucks, kid. It's Doyris of our lives."
"Please, never let Paris know about that… I'd like to keep my head. She's still trying to rope Jess and me into a double date, because obviously that's what friends do. God bless having Doula, she's the best excuse ever to not share a Dinner date with them…"
Both of them chuckled again, Rory leaning against her mother.
"Hey, Mom, you know what?"
"Hmm?"
"Whenever you really feel bored when feeding Sid and Nancy you can also give me a call, no matter what time."
"Oh, Sweets, I definitely will do that, just don't blame me for ridiculing you in front of all your colleagues when Supermom calls you in a meeting and complains about her sore nip…"
"TMI MOM! You can call Jess for complaining about that!"
"And scar the poor boy for life? I'd never do that."
"You just threatened to do that to me."
"Well, since you know them intimately, I think…"
"You know what, Mom, I will stand up now and go looking for Luke, because I don't want to have this conversation."
With that the younger woman leaped up from the couch and started to stalk away.
"Go find the cute waiter while doing that. I'm still hungry, someone ate my food", Lorelai called after her, making her snort.
When Rory just turned around and walked away, Lorelai raised her voice again.
"You know that the correct answer was Yes, dear, right?!"
