Chapter 20 - wow - and we still have a looooong way to go yet - are you still enjoying this or should I speed it up some more? Please do tell me. So I've gotten a few PM's asking why I thought Emily had had an abortion - my thoughts are, the way she quickly shoots that option down in the episode Dear Richard and Emily it just makes sense, plus she is a high society lady of that time, they would rather have the baby removed than cast a shadow over the family by a child having a child, but if you've gone through one you often think twice about it - and I think Emily has been through one also thinking about the fear that was in the 60's about getting pregnant if you weren't married and so on, abortion was illegal and not something you talked openly about. So I am certain that they had been less than carefull and I will elaborate some more in this chapter.

I hope you will enjoy this one as well

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Emily was sitting in bed, indian style, reading when Richard opened the door and smiled at her. She placed her finger to the paragraph she had gotten too and looked over at him.

"How did it go?" she questioned

"Well she has a lot on her mind and she has conflicting feelings."

"Like what?"

"Well to begin with Christopher didn't pick her for a team assignment, but some other girl. She is sad, lonely, confused. She wants to set up the baby in her own room." Richard moved over and sat besides her "And she wanted me to ask if you would be willing to answer all her pregnancy questions tomorrow." he sneaked a hand under her book and placed it on her belly, caressing it softly.

Emily closed her book and put it on the bedside table "Of course I will, but why is she sad? I understand the lonely part, but we cannot risk anything until we've figured everything out plus we promised the school to keep a tight lid on this."

"She is sad because she has no one to share these things with."

"She has us." Emily defended

"She actually told me that she hates seeing us happy about this one." he patted her stomach "She feels all alone and with Christopher hooking up with other girls for assignments and the guys for fun, excluding Lorelai the feeling of you and me being able to share the pregnancy, the joys about it, makes her feel sad."

"Lorelai has never been one to hold back."

"I think maybe the fact that we said this was to be kept quiet, and with Christopher's lack of desire to cooperate with Lorelai in school as well as outside of school it is hard for her. Her head is filled with questions about things she doesn't know about, but wants to know about - and clearly it wasn't things she wanted to talk with her father about."

"You probably wouldn't understand half of it anyway darling." she cupped his cheek

"I beg your pardon?"

"I promise you, it's true, until the day you have to share your stomach area with another person, go through ligament pains, food cravings of food you wouldn't normally touch, skin changes and discoloring and push a baby out through your loins, you will never understand it." she finish with a kiss and a smile.

"I guess you are right." he muttered

"I know I'm right. What would your answer be to Lorelai if she asked you anything intimate?"

"Go ask your mother."

"Exactly - you wouldn't be able to answer and you wouldn't want to answer." she tilted her head smiling at him.

After a short pause he cleared his throat and looked up at her "I uhm….I told her about the abortion."

"No you didn't?" Emily's face fell and looked at him nodding "Why?"

"She asked if we'd ever done something our parents didn't approve of."

"Why didn't you just tell her something, made up anything?"

"Because she knows my sign when I lie, because her mother told her about it." he looked at her pointedly and smiled as Emilys lips formed a soundless oh. "And she asked for honesty. Besides you've been very clear several times about the fact that she would never have an abortion, she questioned that."

"I see. well alright honesty, I think I can work with that."

"What do you mean by that?"

"How much honesty do you want to share with our pregnant sixteen year old."

"Emily."

"No Richard, do you want to tell her everything, how I slept with you while you were engaged to another woman, or how about when we were caught red handed in the theater, sex in the car, oh yes let us tell our daughter how we christened every single room of this house when we moved in, that will go over big." Emily threw the covers aside and stood up started pacing the room.

"Emily please."

"No Richard, these are our private business and our daughter should not know about it all." Emily was angry and stopped in front of him with her hands at her waist.

"My love, I don't expect to tell her everything, but I think that Lorelai will appreciate honest answers to her questions." he pulled her towards him, she follow his lead but her anger was still very much noticeable.

"You know how obscene she can ask, what do you expect me to tell her tomorrow?"

"Answer her questions."

"Let's say she asks if we still have sex, what do you want me to answer her then?"

"That it is private."

"So that wasn't an option with the abortion? What did she ask since you offered her the answer she got?"

"Oh I can't remember it was something about how she would be screaming if you had said she had to have one, and I told her that you would never ask that of her and then it just…I don't know slipped out. Emily she knows we were young, not married and that we would never have been together if our parents had known, your father would have locked you up and I would never have seen you again."

She laughed out loud and all her anger disappeared, again she cupped his cheeks "Oh yes he would have done that, and he would probably also have tested out his riffle at you."

Richard kissed her belly "I'm glad we handled things the way we did. It was not an ideal start to a relationship, but…"

"It was a scary start."

"Yes it was. I was so scared that day." he held out a hand "See I'm still shaking just from thinking about it, we had heard so many bad things that had happened during those procedures to others. I was just glad that this guy actually had a clinic, thank God for Sweety and Davis."

"I don't want to think about what could have happened, we are here, happy, healthy…" she took a deep breath and looked down at her extended form "…and again very pregnant."

"But with a better outcome." he stated.

"Much better outcome." she bend down to him and kisses him deeply, pushing him backwards on the bed as she crawled over him.

When they broke the kiss he smiled up at her "Why Mrs. Gilmore, I thought you were tired since you had already retired."

"Oh shush you." she kissed him again, even more hungry than before, his arms wound themselves around her as he rolled them around, careful not to crush her.

"Lorelai has also said goodnight, and I think she may already be asleep." he started unbuttoning her pajamas.

"Good." she smiled and turned off the light.

The next morning, Lorelai had hurried out of the door only leaving room for Emily to tell her that when and if she wanted to talk, she would be there for her. As the day progressed, Emily found herself in constant pain, her back was not easy on her, she couldn't bend down and pick something up, she couldn't just rise to a stand without easing out of the chair, leaning on the kitchen counter was the only comfortable place she had found, which was not practical at all.

As she began to climb the stairs, the pain was excruciating, she groaned loudly a few times, and she could hardly pull herself up to climb the rest of the steps, she hadn't felt this kind of pain before and was feeling a little nervous. When she took the last step the pain shot through her pelvis so hard that she cried out.

The mai came running "Mrs. Gilmore is there something I can do?"

"Yes Greta, please get me to the bedroom and give me the phone." Emily breathed heavily and held on to the wall.

The maid supported her to the bedroom and help her into the bed, quickly handing her the phone "Do you want me to collect Mr. Gilmore?"

"No, no thank you - but please bring me some cold ice tea." Emily tried to get comfortable as she dialed a familiar number. The maid hurried out of the room as Emily waited for answer "Joshua, I need you, I can hardly move, walk, anything." she listened and could feel her worry turn to fear "Yes, please do come. Thank you." she hung up and leaned back slightly, another pain shot through her as she did and tears sprang from her eyes, she cupped her belly with one hand.

The maid returned "Mrs. Gilmore, don't you think I should call your husband." she quietly asked as she hand Emily the glass.

Emily took a sip "No not yet, my doctor is on his way here, if he is alarmed then we will call. But please get me those pillows over there and stuff them in behind me." she requested. The maid did as asked and went downstairs again to wait for the doctor.

When Lorelai came home from school she noticed the doctors car in the driveway, all sorts of terrible pictures flashed through her head, and she ran inside almost bumping into the maid "Is my mom alright? The baby? What happened? Why is the doctor here? Have you called my dad? Where is she?"

"Miss Gilmore, please I can't get a word in." She saw Lorelai's frightened eyes "Your mother is upstairs in her bedroom with the doctor. Your mother requested that we didn't call Mr. Gilmore unless the doctor advised us to, but that is all I know at the moment."

Lorelai threw her book bag into the hallway and ran upstairs, she ran to her parents bedroom straight away and burst through the door "Mom." she cried out

Joshua turned his head slightly to look at the teenager, never removing his hands from her mother "Lorelai, relax it's not good for you to be so upset, take a deep breath and sit down." then he returned his attention to Emily who was laying on the bed, one arm thrown over her eyes.

"But…."

"Lorelai please do as you are told." Emilys voice sounded pained

Lorelai sat down and starred at the two people in the room quietly "Does it hurt if I press here?" Joshua asked as he pressed his fingers in above her left hipbone, at Emily strained cry he nodded "What about here?" again he was rewarded with a cry "Emily this is going to feel very uncomfortable but I need to press softly here on your pelvic bone alright." Emily nodded and drew in a sharp breath as Joshua pushed down she bolted up in a sharp cry.

"What are you doing to my mom?" Lorelai was on her feet and next to her mother in a matter of seconds

"Lorelai, stop it, I called for Joshua to come, I have these terrible pains in my lower body, he is just examining me, please go to your room." her voice was strained and she was short of breath

"I'm not leaving, he hurts you." Emily looked up at her daughter, she could suddenly see the little girl who had been clinging to her side for years, asking a million questions a day, kissing her cheek, smiling wide as she got the wanted snack or thing.

"Lorelai please, I promise you that I will call out for you if I need you in here, right now I need to have Joshua check that something isn't wrong." she took hold of Lorelai's hand and gave it a squeeze. Lorelai nodded and sent Joshua an angry look before she walked out of the room.

"Very protective." Joshua laughed

"Had this not been on it's way I doubt she would have been this protective." Emily stated as Joshua got her settled back up against the pillows

"I know your history so I will agree with you on that, now I have a few follow up questions and I do believe that it is wise that your daughter is not here."

"Oh, how come I mean she is pregnant, I do hope she won't experience this as well, but wouldn't it be good if she knows what this is?"

"Emily my first question is, when did you and Richard last have sex? Do you want to answer that question with your sixteen year old in the room?" He smirked as she blushed.

"No you are right, as always, I don't want to answer that with her standing by." she looked down at her bump.

After a long silent pause, Joshua lifted up his eyebrows and looked at his patient "Well?"

Emily looked up at him "That was an actual question." Joshua nodded "Uhm well last night." she mumbled

"Last night, okay and was it painful in any way?"

"Joshua."

"Emily I have to ask, I think you are suffering from pelvic girdle pain, so tell me was it painful in any way?"

"No, Richard has always be gentle."

"I really do believe that. So when he penetrated you it didn't feel uncomfortable or painful og unnatural?

"No Joshua, it wasn't until late morning I started feeling this stiffness and I couldn't bend to pick up things, I couldn't sit by the desk I couldn't stand, the patio furniture was a pain to get up from and the only place I was comfortable was when I was practically hanging on the kitchen table, which isn't very practical for me or the staff, then I decided to go up here to try making my phone calls from the bedroom I thought the softness of the bed would work for me, but the stairs nearly killed me." As Emily was elaborating, Joshua noted down.

"I'm positive that this is pelvic girdle pain, it is terrible pains caused by the load your pelvis joints is being put through it happens to 1 in 5 pregnancies, and though it is very painful for you, it will not harm your baby, you probably had a slight hint of it during your pregnancy with Lorelai, but nothing major so you probably just thought it as the baby moving around then, but just remember it is very treatable and the sooner we get you started the more likely you are to feel better." Joshua explained.

"Alright what should I do?"

"Well first…." he didn't get further before the door was thrown open again, this time by Richard.

"Emily are you alright?" he hastened to the bed grabbing her hand.

Both Emily and Joshua looked at him "Richard why are you here?" she asked

"I live here." he looked her over, inspecting the cause for their doctor being there.

"I know that dear, but you shouldn't be home yet." she twisted her upper body to look at the clock and a pain shot through her again, and she cried out and clutched Richards hand.

"Joshua what is wrong?" Richard sounded panicked and looked to him for answers

"Emily is suffering from pelvic girdle pains, they are terrible painful but treatable, now Richard relax." Joshua explained in a calm and soothing voice.

"So she and the baby is alright?" Joshua nodded at him

"Joshua what can we do about this?" Emily asked as the pain subsided and her breathing got back to normal

"You need to keep active but still get plenty of rest, when you stand think about tucking your bottom in a little, don't sit in the same position for to long at the time change it from time to time, put equal weight on each leg when you stand and try using a pillow under your bump and between your legs in bed - do not lift anything heavy and try to avoid going up and down the stairs too often. Try water aerobics to take the pressure of your pelvis otherwise warm baths along with heat or ice packs depending on what feels best. Ask for help and support during the pregnancy and also after the birth, I will note it down in your file so your midwife will know of this, if this gets worse or it completely limits your mobility we will talk again."

"Does she needs to stay in bed?" Richard asked and ran his thumb over her knuckles.

"No, she needs to keep the joints operating, but when she is downstairs and she needs something from up here, you are the one who gets it and vice versa, or the maid." Joshua smiled at him, he could easily understand his friends concern for his wife.

"I will make sure that she doesn't overdo anything."

"I know you will, now Emily if you start feeling worse do not hesitate to contact me again alright!" Joshua got up and started packing up his things. "Do you want me to get Lorelai for you when I leave?"

"No thank you Joshua, she will be in here the second you leave." she smiled.

"Alright." he clicked his bag closed and moved towards the door but turned around just before he opened it "And sexual intercourse is not harmfull during this, unless it becomes painful then you should stop immediately." he nodded and smiled before he left the room. The door had only just clicked closed before it was opened again and Lorelai poked her head in.

"Is everything alright?" she asked

"Everything is fine Lorelai, I'll explain it to you later. Now did you call your father?" Emily asked her daughter

"Yeah I did, but I didn't catch him, he had already left the office when I called, so he got the same shock I got with the docs car in the driveway, what an insane way to announce to people that something is wrong inside, who thought about that aspect when people would see the license plates, and why is it that just because of that he can park anywhere huh, I know he sometimes saves life and so on, but so does many other and they still gets tickets right."

"Lorelai." Emily interrupted

"Sorry - but my sister is okay right?" she asked

"Everything is fine, I just need to think a little more about my rutines. Now go do your homework so we can talk later." Lorelai nodded and left the room

After she left Richard leaned in and kissed her "Was it my fault this thing?" he was almost afraid to ask.

"No, we both participated last night, but it may have been the catalyst for it, because I was relaxed, but not your fault. This is your fault." she smiled and pointed at her bump.

"Oh that I know, but I am getting more and more proud of that!"

"Proud?"

"Yes, you were on birth control, I'm an old man." He stated and lifted up his chin

"Don't make yourself older than you are, and remember you had a little help from some antibiotics." she crocked an eyebrow, but her eyes were smiling at him.

"Oh I don't mention that minor interference - I tell them that I shot right through that birth control."

"Who are you telling this?"

"Only told a few selected friends."

"If you are saying that you shot through my birth control, then it's not telling than its bragging." she pulled him towards her for a kiss. The kiss ended when there was a knock on the door, the maid entered after she was called upon, with a tray with a glass of water and a mild pain reliever.

"The doctor said you should take this and get a little rest after." she curtsied

"Thank you Greta, could you bring me some more ice tea as well." Emily asked before she swallowed the pills and drank the water

"Of course mam, and it is not to intrude or anything but my aunt creates these belt straps that should help with what you have, they should be very effective."

Richard got to his feet, and moved towards the maid "Then let us call your aunt Greta and order a dusin." they moved out the door of the bedroom and Emily smiled as she tried to find a good position to relax in.

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I promise you the talk between mother and daughter is next - I hope you liked this one, I know I'm focussing on things that most people don't want to read about, but that is what makes it funny to write - sorry if you don't like it, but it is all part of the greater picture, the reasons for behavior and so on. So leave me a little word when you've read this - and if you don't have children yet, don't let this scare you from doing it, I've had three and would do it again in a minute and I went through this. BTW are you looking forward to how the birth is going to go after reading this? :-)