AN: Okay, short shoutouts this time (cause any longer and I won't be able to update until this evening, so I opted for faster update). The reason this update took 4 days is I got a new laptop and had to spend a whole day transferring files. Plus I've made some prep work for coming chapters. Nothing intelligent to say, I've been up all night and I'm heading straight for class... yay. As always, thank you, Steph for your beta-work :)

smileyGGfan - Newborn isn't as hectic as when the baby gets older and is awake more, all I'm saying about that ;) I haven't watched the whole episode, I just watched the Luke scenes. You know, I didn't really dislike Anna before, but in this episode, I thought she was really mean and selfish and I loved how Luke stood up to her. And uncle Luke reminds me a lot of daddy Luke :) And daddy Luke was great too :)

CaraB - I keep re-reading review. I simply love to have some readers who actually agrees with the decisions I've made, who understands what lies behind it. I hope to continue do things to your liking ;)

Cinny72 - Thank you for your support. My rant was more than just about me. I heard stories from some other people as well, which is what lead to me forming my opinion. But like we decided and many people have told us, we don't need that place. We are doing well enough where we are.

cywen69 - Next one has his presence, I promise ;)


How typical wasn't it that when you craved entertainment the most that it was nowhere to be found? Lorelai had put a drowsy William in the bassinet and had taken the baby monitor with her downstairs as she wasn't remotely tired enough to go to sleep. Ten minutes later she had gone upstairs, just to check on him. She'd found him in his usual position, on his back, arms flung upwards, his head turned sideways, facing the bunny she'd placed next to him. Placing a kiss on his little head, she'd returned downstairs and resumed channel surfing.

Nothing was on. She flicked through her entire channel list over and over again, searching for that different angle that would make what seemed like dreary crap into something enjoyable. So far she simply hadn't succeeded. As much as she loved William and thoroughly enjoyed every moment she could spend with him, whether he was cooing contently or screaming at the top of his lungs, it was the quiet time when he was sleeping, which she knew she would relish once he got bigger and more demanding, that was the worst.

Of course she'd barely noticed the downtime until now, due to the constant flow of visitors. Not wanting to subject William to germs just yet, Lorelai had decided that William's first week out of the hospital was to be spent at home. This of course made it impossible for her to leave the house herself. Lane had stopped by and done a couple of favors for her, like going grocery shopping or bringing Lorelai her take-out orders from Luke's when Luke was caught up in the breakfast or dinner rush and simply couldn't leave the diner. The girl had also offered to help out with laundry, since she knew how much Lorelai hated to do it herself.

It was clear how guilty Lane felt for the whole band practice debacle that had happened last Saturday, even though she had in no way been to blame, as she hadn't even arrived when Zack, Brian and Gil had started playing. But as Lorelai couldn't manage to convince the girl that she didn't blame her one bit, they instead came to an agreement that Lorelai would pay her a couple of bucks for the favors, not nearly as much as she wanted to, but Lane was surprisingly stubborn.

Luke usually showed his face in the evenings. As Lorelai still couldn't get herself to tell the man what he deserved to know, she had made a promise to herself that he was to see his son at least once a day. More, if she could manage. Monday evening, he had come by with a bag of groceries, not knowing that Lane had already run errands for her. He had been by that day with her lunch and noticed that Lorelai had already come close to running out of a couple of food items as well as diapers, so knowing that she was unable to leave the house because of William, he'd decided to be considerate and get everything for her. Tuesday, she'd deliberately called him half an hour before closing, ordering food, knowing very well he would deliver it personally, making sure she answered the door with William in her arms. On Wednesday she 'needed his help' putting the curtain up around William's crib, which would shield him from any bright light entering her bedroom window. And on Thursday her porch light conveniently needed changing.

Friday, he had come over bearing coffee after a dreary Friday Night Dinner. What her mother had said last week still hung over her like the sword of Damocles. She wouldn't be too surprised if Emily decided to give Chris a call. True her mother didn't have the man's phone number, but a quick call to Francine would be all she'd need. However, that day Lorelai had learned to appreciate college football and all the lunacy that followed the sport. As the main subject at the dinner table had gone towards the game and how they wanted to share the experience with Rory, who looked more like a deer caught in the headlights than a sports enthusiast, the subject of William and the identity of his father seemed to be far from her parents minds.

Of course, she didn't mention any of this to Luke. If she couldn't tell him he was William's father, what good would mentioning her mother's theory, no matter how ridiculous it was, do? No, their conversation subjects were safe ones. Lorelai talked about William, his attachment to the bunny Luke had bought him and the various crazy things her visitors had said or done. Luke talked about things that had happened at the diner. Neither one of them mentioned the rumors that were spreading around town about them, even though Lorelai knew they had reached Luke, thanks to Sookie having witnessed one of his rants about how Babette and Miss Patty ought to mind their own business instead of reading too much into everyone else's. Nicole was mentioned briefly, though only indirectly and certainly not by name. Lorelai had asked him of his Saturday plans and he'd reluctantly told her he had a date. She felt no need to ask any follow-up questions. When you were married, even when you and your wife only dated, it was a given that you only dated each other.

She peered around in the room. Strewn around her were the various presents her fellow townspeople had come bearing at their visits. Lorelai was surprised she'd managed to talk Miss Patty out of throwing a baby extravaganza for William. Instead she had ended up with more visitors in that one week than she usually got in a year, if you excluded Luke and Sookie from the list, that was. Most of the gifts were toys and clothes in all shades of blue, all sized newborn to three months. Taylor had stopped by to give her baby proofing supplies, as well as informing her there was a special running on diapers. Lorelai didn't quite see what Kirk's gift was at first, but then she realized it was a breast pump, which Kirk told her he had given her since he had heard through the grapevines (Babette, Miss Patty) that she was breastfeeding and that a breast pump would come in handy should she need someone to baby sit. Of course that was a hint.

With the TV still not showing anything of even slight interest, Lorelai was contemplating tidying up the room, when the phone rang. Almost throwing herself at it, she answered.

- Talk to me.

- Hey mom, Rory said.

- About time you called, Lorelai exclaimed. - How long is a football game supposed to take?

- A while, but it didn't start until one.

- Then why the hell did they ask to meet you at nine?

- Clearly, there's more to this game than just football. They had a bunch of stuff we had to do first.

- I'm intrigued, Lorelai replied. - What kinda stuff?

- Is there a chance I can just say that if you'd been here you'd never run out of jokes, then move on, Rory asked.

- Not a chance, Lorelai grinned. - I'm starved for entertainment, so start singing.

- What? My baby brother's not being festive enough for you?

- He's asleep, Lorelai informed her. - I put him down about half an hour ago. Since then I've been channel surfing.

- Lemme guess, nothing?

- Nada, zip, zilch. It was like I was watching the Witch Blair Project all over again.

- Didn't we have fun mocking that one, Rory asked confused.

- Witch Blair, Lorelai replied. - Not Blair Witch.

- Right, Rory said in realization. - I hate it when they make such confusing titles.

- Unfortunately it's impossible to mock a parody.

- At least we tried.

- They should build us a statue for even bothering to try.

- I think they're saving the statue for whoever watches the whole thing.

- Hey, we watched it, Lorelai objected.

- You fast forwarded the last 5 scenes.

- Oh, right, Lorelai chuckled.

- So, did nothing exciting happen today, Rory asked. - I thought you said you and Sookie were gonna take William and Davey out today.

- Davey had a stomach ache this morning and was really crabby, Lorelai sighed. - So me and Sookie agreed to postpone it for tomorrow instead. Wanna come with?

- I can't, Rory replied, sadly. - I have to study.

- But it's your brother's first outing, Lorelai pointed out. - It's a once in a lifetime experience. Why do you think we're going to the diner?

- Because you're making sure William see's his dad as often as he can.

- Ok, true, Lorelai admitted. - But also because it's an important event that Luke can't miss.

- You do know that telling Luke would make it a lot easier to make sure he doesn't miss things.

- I'm working on it, Lorelai sighed.

- Expect a big fat 'told you so' when the whole thing blows up in your face, Rory warned her.

- But we weren't talking about Luke, Lorelai replied. - We were talking about you missing out on important events in your brother's life.

- Well, unless you want me to flunk out of college, there will be events that I'll miss.

- You won't flunk, Lorelai pointed out. - You're too smart.

- I'm afraid smart doesn't cut it at Yale. You have to be hard working as well.

- So, do you think you'd be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, Lorelai asked.

- What, Rory asked.

- Well, if you were to define yourself as 'smart' or 'hard working' which would it be?

- Mom, you know that Hufflepuff's the leftover house, right?

- What? I could've sworn it said they were hardworking.

- No, the other three houses look for a specific quality, but Hufflepuff doesn't think it's important and treats everybody the same.

- Bah, Lorelai grumbled.

- You're really bored, aren't you?

- What makes you think that?

- Lets just say I have an inkling. Why don't you ask someone to come over?

- I am, Lorelai sighed. - I'm asking you.

- If you're rooting to have me home for all of Thanksgiving weekend, then you have to let me study now, Rory pointed out. - Maybe if I get up to speed I can make a quick trip next weekend.

- But what about my current boredom, Lorelai asked.

- Call Luke, Rory suggested.

- Luke's on a date, Lorelai said, sadly.

- Oh, Rory said in realization. - Are you alright? How did you find out?

- Luke told me, Lorelai sighed. - Not intentionally. I asked him what he was doing and he let it slip that he was going out.

- I'm really sorry, Rory said, comforting.

- Hey, Lorelai shrugged. - It was bound to happen eventually.

It was times like these that she really hated the hormones still flowing through her body. Her eyes were already moist and she felt that her voice would crack soon if she didn't get some sort of distraction.

- Ew, Rory suddenly said.

- What is, Lorelai asked, confused.

- P-Paris, Rory stuttered.

- What? Is she doing something she shouldn't be doing?

- More like someone, Rory replied, disgusted. - She's making out with...

- Honey, Lorelai interrupted. - If all she's doing is making out with someone, then I don't see what the...

- He's a professor, Rory exclaimed.

- No, Lorelai replied, in surprise. - Paris is doing an older man?

- Making out, mom, Rory corrected. - Making out.

- Yeah, for now, Lorelai pointed out.

- Sure, traumatize me, will you?

- How old are we talking here? Thirty-five? Forty?

- I can't even vocalize it, Rory said.

- He's more than twice her age?

- Try three times her age, Rory replied, mortified.

- You're kidding!

- Wish I was.

- Sixty? The guy is sixty? He practically has a foot in the grave already.

- You don't need to tell me, Rory replied. - I'm getting the visual, here.

- So, does he look sixty, Lorelai asked.

- Mom, Rory exclaimed.

- I'm sorry. I don't exactly have the protocol for what to say when my daughter's roommate is necking with someone old enough to be her grandfather.

- You could start by not listing all the euphemisms you have for kissing. It's bad enough seeing it. I don't want to hear about it as well.

- Well, then start with turning away from them.

- I need more than that. I need a serious distraction. Or else I will just be replaying the visual.

- Kirk. Breast pump. Resumé. Nanny, Lorelai shouted out.

- I'm torn between thanking you for the distraction and hating you for the new visual, Rory replied.

- But it got your attention, Lorelai pointed out.

- Yes, it did. And now I need an explanation.

- Well, you know how everyone in town, and I don't even think I'm exaggerating when I say everyone has been by this week, dropping of gifts, saying hi to William?

- Go on.

- Well, Kirk thought it'd be a great idea to give me a breast pump as a gift.

- Why would he think that?

- Because then, if say I wanted to get out for a couple of hours, I could get a baby sitter, Lorelai replied. - I'd just empty my goods in the bottle and be on my merry way.

- Oy with the visual, Rory groaned.

- Then today, he showed up with his resumé, applying for a job as a nanny.

- It's Kirk, so I probably shouldn't ask. But why does he think you need a nanny?

- Well, because I'm a prominent business woman.

- Of course.

Lorelai noticed the light on the baby monitor change slightly. First she heard nothing but the crackling sound as the monitor had detected some sort of sound, but then more and more clearly she heard her son crying.

- Hon, I have to go, she told her daughter. - Your brother's awake and my bet's that he's hungry.

- Okay, Rory replied. - Give him a kiss from me.

- And you study your butt off, Lorelai reminded her. - I wanna see my firstborn next weekend.

- Will do.

If her son wasn't already crying, she would've told her kid she loved her, but then again, Rory knew that. Lorelai took the baby monitor with her and went up the stairs. Lying in the bassinet, his face red from crying, his clear blue eyes producing large droplets of tears, her son was reaching for the bunny, which had slipped from his grasp while he had been sleeping. She gently picked him up, resting his head against her shoulder, before reaching her free hand for the bunny. Though he was still crying when his hand grasped the familiar silky tag, he started to calm down. Lorelai continued stroking her son's head, swaying gently from side to side, holding the tiny bundle close to her warm body.

William's cry started to stifle and soon the only sounds she could hear were the sounds of him sucking his tiny fist. Placing a kiss on his head, she whispered.

- I love you, William.

TBC