The months flew by in stars Hollow, thankfully for Lorelai and Luke will little mention of Christopher or Liz. Lorelai, Sookie and Sarah because a trio of best friends. Lorelais bump continued to grow and Sarah's was starting to become visible too.
2 weeks before Lorelais birthday Sarah came running up to her in the Inn just back from a doctors appointment, "I'm having a little girl!" She squealed and her and Lorelai started jumping about as excited as they could as Lorelai was now 8 months pregnant, "did Brian make it to the appointment?" She asked.
"No." Sarah's smile faltered, "I phoned him from the hospital though, he says he is really pleased."
"Come on," she dragged Sarah from where they stood to change the subject and return the smile to her face, "we've got to tell Sookie and Mia, they're going to be so excited!"
During their lunch break the three girls walked over to the diner as they so often did with wide smiles on their faces talking excitedly.
"Oh Lucas!" Lorelai called when they walked missing the sour look on his face from her excitement, "we need something pink, pronto!"
"What?" Luke asked annoyed, he didn't wait for a response and walked behind the counter as Sarah and Sookie made for a table.
"I said," Lorelai repeated herself, "we need something pink."
"I don't have anything pink." He said gruffly.
"What's wrong?" Lorelai frowned looking him in the eye seeing that he looked considerably more stressed than when she had seen him this morning, "what's happened?"
"Nothings wrong." Luke dismissed, "what were you saying?"
Lorelai narrowed her eyes at him slightly, "we can talk about that later," she promised moving back onto the topic she'd started on with a grin, "we need something pink!"
"I dread to ask but why?"
"Celebrations of course."
"Celebrations?"
"Yes of a baby!"
Luke looked puzzled for a second, "oh Sarah's baby, it's a girl! Tell her congratulations, I'll see what I can do for the pink."
"Tell her yourself you weirdo she's right over there." Lorelai shook her head lovingly at him and waddled slightly over to her table.
"What are we getting that's pink then?" Sookie asked with a giggle.
"God knows, he's in a weird mood." Lorelai frowned slightly but turned to Sarah, "he did say congratulations and that he would see what he would do for the pink whatever that means."
Luke turned up a few minutes later to find the three girls gasping for breath from laughter, "sorry to interrupt," he said trying not to roll his eyes placing a plate with three donuts on it down on the table the donuts were glazed pink, "you should feel special, these are tomorrow's donuts and congratulations by the way Sarah."
"Thanks Luke." Sarah said with a wide smile one hand on her slight bump and the other grabbing a donut.
They stayed chatting for their lunch break but Lorelai kept one eye on Luke, he was snapping at people a lot more than he usually did and a frown had found a permanent place on his face. As they were leaving Lorelai told the other two that she would catch them up.
"Hey." She said softly walking up to the till where he stood.
He narrowed his eyes slightly at her, "why would you pay?"
Lorelai rolled her eyes, "what's wrong?" She changed the subject getting right to the point.
"I'm good Lorelai," he said and then added, "just had a difficult morning."
"You'll talk to me later?"
"Course I will, don't you need to be getting going?"
Lorelai faked outrage, "aren't you going to give me a kiss first?"
Luke's face shifted from stressed to amused and he walked around and quickly kissed her, "I'll see you later."
Luke returned home late that night as he was closing the diner more often in the run up to Theo's birth in order to be able to work less once he was born. He found the house quiet and their room empty so he walked into the recently decorated nursery to find Lorelai asleep in a rocker in the corner with her hands protectively over her now very large belly.
"Hey pretty lady," Luke said softly kneeling in front of Lorelai waking her up, "you ready to go to bed?"
"Yeah." She yawned reaching out her hands as Luke pulled her to her feet, "hey?" She asked as they made their way across the hall towards their room, "what was up with you today, you seemed really tense."
"Liz phoned the diner in a frenzy expecting big brother to save her as he always does but I let her down." Luke mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"She wants money. Can't pay her rent. Same story as before. I told her we can't just keep bailing her out, you're about to go on maternity and I'm trying to cut my hours for the new baby. She just yelled that she needed me. Said she's going to go speak to Maizy but I know Buddy won't pay her rent, they've offered her a place with them to get her on her feet not that she'll take it. She just makes me feel so guilty and so angry."
"I know," Lorelai frowned shifted over so she lay closer to him, "but you are doing the right thing, we aren't just a place she phones when she can't pay your rent and you said it yourself she can stay with Buddy and Maizy if she wants to."
Luke who had been laying flat on his back rolled over to face her propping his head up on his hand, "I know but she'll never go stay with them. And in her mind I'm magical big brother Luke who has my life together and can fix hers if only I want to."
"Well Luke no offence but that just isn't true. Yes you do have your life together but you're not magical and you can't fix her life only she can do that."
"I could help her."
"Giving her money every time she asks for it isn't really helping her."
"Yeah I know." He sighed, "I wouldn't be that surprised if she turned up here, I've never said flat out no before."
She didn't turn up or even phone back it was soon Lorelai's 20th birthday.
Lorelais birthday fell on a Monday so Luke had thrown her a party two days before her birthday keeping it small and low key because of how pregnant she was now.
"It's good not to have teen in my age anymore, makes me feel more grown up." Lorelai said over breakfast that morning after Rory and Jess has sung happy birthday to her and Luke gave her a small present.
"Yeah?" Luke looked at her.
"Yeah, you know I'm in my twenties now, that's a respectable adult."
Luke smirked, "I think calling you a respectable adult is a bit of a push."
Lorelai faked outrage, "is anyone hearing this? Attacked in my own home! By my own husband! Oh my own birthday!"
"What ever will you do?" Luke asked her standing from the table and lifting Rory out of her seat, "you're messy," he told her, "we need to get you ready for nursery." He walked upstairs knowing that Lorelai would follow with Jess.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Luke asked Lorelai just before she left for the Inn that morning, "you don't look well again?"
"I'm ok," Lorelai brushed off his concern with a smile, "just tired."
"Did you not sleep well again last night?"Luke still looked concerned, "you're really pale."
"No I slept fine last night actually, just tired," she saw that Luke still looked worried, "I'm fine, honestly."
"Ok," Luke said, "but if you don't feel well please don't try and be brave and shrug it off."
"I won't, and I've got to go, or else somebody is going to be late." She directed the last part at Rory and Jess who were playing in the corner holding her hands out for them, "come on, in the car, say goodbye to daddy, you'll see him after nursery."
"Bye daddy!" They both said in happy voices taking turns to jump at him so he could give them a hug and a kiss.
Luke had a slow morning diner wise so spent most of his time in the back catching up on paperwork and bills trying to stay as organised as possible. At about half 11 josh came back to where Luke was sitting.
"I'll come out now if it's picking up." Luke said assuming that josh came to let him know that the diner was getting busy.
"Nah mate, it's the phone, Mia phoned from the Inn, Lorelai fell over or something."
"She fell over?" Luke jumped to his feet, "what do you mean? Is Mia still on the phone?"
"No she left she just said to get you to go over, she didn't really say what happened was in a rush to get off the phone."
"Right umm thanks, you ok to close up here if I don't come back?"
"Course I am, let me know that she's ok." Josh said and Luke rushed out the door to his truck and to the Inn.
He rushed into the Inn and everything looked normal there, seeing Sarah walk out of Mias office he rushed over to her, "Sarah? Where's Lorelai? Is she ok?"
"She seems fine Luke," Sarah smiled again him, "she's just in there." She signalled to the door behind her to Mias office and Luke opened the door and stepped inside to see a very pale Lorelai lying on the couch and Mia crouched down beside her.
"We are going to the hospital." He said announcing his presence.
"Oh good Lucas you're here, yes I was just telling Lorelai that she'll need to see a doctor."
"What happened?" Luke asked taking one of Lorelais hands and noticing that it was quite cold.
"I think I'm just tired really, all of a sudden I got all dizzy and the I wake up and Mias there.
"Lorelai you don't look well, is Theodore ok?"
"He seems fine," Lorelai said taking Luke's hand and placing it on her stomach so he could feel him kick.
"We need to get him check out anyway, and you, come on let's go, lean on me ok? Just in case you get dizzy again." Luke helped her to his feet, "sorry to ask Mia but if we aren't back by 4:30 can you pick up Rory and Jess, that's the latest they can stay in nursery until?"
"Of course, don't worry about them they're in good hands, you just worry about your new little baby, Theodore did you say?"
"Yeah," Lorelai smiled sweetly if a bit weakly, "we'll keep in touch, thanks Mia."
Luke led Lorelai out to his truck with his arms around her trying to take as much of her weight onto his as possible. Lorelai quickly fell asleep on the drive up to the hospital but she still looked just as sickly when they pulled up and Luke woke her up.
"How are you feeling?" Luke said as he got out of the truck and walked around the front to help Lorelai get out.
"A bit dizzy again not going to lie."
"Ok, do you want to sit back down or are you ok to walk in now."
"I'm ok to walk, it's not too bad."
"Ok but keep leaning on me, I've got you."
"I know you do." She threw her arm around him.
Within 30 minutes of walking in to the hospital they were being set up in the maternity ward with all sorts of monitors for both Lorelai and the baby and a nurse was drawing her blood. Once the tests had been done the nurse told them the doctor would be with them as soon as he could be and they were left alone.
"I hate seeing you like this." Luke mumbled taking her hand.
"I'm ok."
"There are so many wires."
"They're mainly for Theo, they can't see him it's harder to monitor but you heard the nurse he looks absolutely perfect."
They sat in silence hand in hand, Luke staring at the screen for the monitors not that he knew what it meant, until the doctor came in.
"Ok," the doctor said walking into the room grabbing their attention, "the good news is that it looks like you've got a very healthy baby there."
Luke and Lorelai shared a quick smile in relief.
"Unfortunately you Lorelai are quite anaemic, which would suggest to us some blood loss. Now because baby is healthy and almost full term anyway what I would suggest is that we induce labour and I would also suggest a blood transfusion before we start."
"Ok." Lorelai said squeezing Luke's hand, "sounds good, so when would I be giving birth?"
"It's hard to say exactly but relatively soon. What I would suggest, and the final decision is yours is that we start you on the blood transfusion first we will keep you hooked up here so we can see if anything changes and will probably start the process off this evening, now often times when we start it like that it can be slow, your water will break and you will start contractions but the start of labour particularly can take a long time."
The next few hours were filled with doctors nurses and midwives coming in and out giving Lorelai all sorts of things. Finally everything was done and Luke and Lorelai were told they'd have to wait for a few hours for observations before the doctor would be in to induce labour.
"Happy birthday." Luke said lamely and after a brief pause they both chuckled.
"Do you think he's going to be born today?"
"Worried about having to share your birthday?" Luke teased.
"No, I'm just wondering."
"I don't really know, it's possible."
"You need to go back home." Lorelai said after a brief pause where both their eyes had drifted off to look at the beeping monitor screen.
"What? Why? Don't be silly I'll stay here with you." He said his eyes snapping to her.
Lorelai smiled at him, "just to get our stuff Luke, we'll be here at least tonight and I'd be willing to bet tomorrow night too, I need my hospital bag and we need the jeep not the truck it's got the car seat in it already."
"Right yes, you'll be ok here by yourself? I won't be too long?"
"I'll be fine, I'll probably just go to sleep." She shrugged showing him she wasn't concerned, "Luke you better phone my parents while you're at it."
"Oh joy, can't you phone them?" He asked not looking forward to that.
"How am I going to do that, the phone is all the way down the corridor and I've been told to stay lying down as much as possible, they'll be fine, they insisted that they be the ones to take Rory and Jess anyway my dad'll be at work you'll be speaking to me mum."
"Oh good speaking to your mum." He said standing from his seat next to her bed and giving her a quick kiss, "I'll be back as soon as I can be, I'll probably stop in at the inn and maybe the diner just to let everyone know what's going on."
"Ok." Lorelai said and then started listing the food she wanted him to bring back which meant he'd definitely be stopping at the diner.
Luke drove the truck home first and then quickly jogged over to the Inn where Lorelais Jeep was still parked. He went inside and found Mia in her office.
"Lucas!" Mia said in shock when she looked up from her desk to see who was knocking on the door, "what's going on then? Is Lorelai ok?"
Luke sighed a little bit, "yeah I think she's alright, really scary though Mia I haven't seen that many wires since dad, well he had more but still, and I really hate that place, she's anaemic that's why she passed out but they gave her a blood transfusion for that and she seems to be doing better. They're going to induce her labour this afternoon though which is why I'm here, collecting all her stuff to bring up to the hospital."
"Ok," Mia smiled, "she's fine then, and you get your baby very soon, so good news. So I'll pick Rory and Jess up from nursery and then the Gilmores will pick them up from here this evening?" She confirmed the plan that they had for if Lorelai went into Labour early before her maternity leave officially started.
"Yeah, I haven't phoned them yet, I'll do that as soon as I get home but I'll phone you to confirm afterwards." Luke said getting a bit flustered, a lot was going on.
"Ok, best get going then," Mia gave him a tight hug, "you're doing a great job, it's half 3 now I'll finish up here and go pick up Rory and Jess about 4 o'clock?"
"Thanks." Luke hugged her back not quite as tightly and left for Lorelais Jeep.
"Gilmore residence, could I ask who is speaking?" Luke had to guess the maid answered the phone because it was a female but it definitely wasn't emily.
"Umm yeah, hi, it's Luke, Emily and Richards Son in Law, would I be able to speak to one of them please?"
"One moment."
"Luke," Emily's voice came on the line, "is everything ok?"
"Umm yeah, I think so.." he was cut of.
"What do you mean you think so?"
"Well Lorelai collapsed at work this morning but she's ok now she's in the hospital and they've given her a blood transfusion and they're going to induce her later on this evening so I was just phoning to let you know and you know for Rory and Jess." He said awkwardly, not comfortable talking to Emily over the phone.
"What do you mean they gave her a blood transfusion?" Emily asked outraged.
"She was anaemic, that's why she passed out but she seems to be doing a lot better now."
"Whose blood was it?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Emily roared down the phone, "they just put some random persons blood in my daughter?"
"Well they screen it and clean it first I'm pretty sure." Luke said weakly not sure that was going to help.
Emily gave a dramatic sigh, "Oh well if you're pretty sure," she said in a condescending tone, "honestly, you've probably given my daughter aids or something. I'll be speaking to her doctors, what hospital is she in?"
"Same one she had Rory in, but I was also phoning to ask when you would be able to collect Rory and Jess, just so I can let Mia know, she'll have them in about half an hour."
"Yes I'll collect them from the Inn at about 5? But I'm going to the hospital now to see Lorelai, I want to have a word with her doctors. What room is she in?" Luke told Emily the room details glad to get her off the phone and be able to go upstairs and collect the prepacked bags that were stored in their closet.
He got everything that he needed from the house and then on the way out phoned Mia to let her know that Lorelais mum would be at the inn for 5. Driving back to the hospital he stopped at the diner to pick up food for Lorelai and some for him too and to let Josh know what was going on.
As he approached the door of Lorelais room he could hear her arguing with her mother.
"It's no big deal." She said.
"Lorelai, you never take anything seriously!" Emily said in a shrill voice.
Luke opened the door and cleared his voice to make his presence know. Emily didn't look pleased to see him but Lorelai was beaming, "you brought my food!" She held her hand out to the bags of food he held.
"What's this?" She asked in disgust holding up a salad to show him.
"Don't worry," he chuckled, "that's mine, I got what you asked for, it's all in there."
"The pair of you!" Emily huffed, "acting like nothing is wrong!"
"We're eating food mum," Lorelai rolled her eyes, "we'd be less healthy if we didn't eat this is helping us."
"I'm worried about her too," Luke said kindly to Emily, "but her doctor said she'll be absolutely fine."
"She obviously hasn't been though, how has it got to this stage?" Emily asked accusingly.
Luke looked down in shame Lorelai saw this and said, "I just thought I was tired mum, you know working, two 3 year olds and this little man is heavy." She said patting her pregnant belly, "apparently it's not that rare for people to become anaemic."
"For them to get blood transfusions and pass out?" Emily asked in the same tone.
"Umm well I think it was just precautionary really and I only passed out a little bit."
"Lorelai.." Luke and Emily both said and looked at each other the tension in the room seemed to be easing slightly.
"Midwife was with me just before either of you arrived and she said that they expect a healthy delivery from me this evening or tomorrow, so we might even have the same birthday."
"It's your birthday," Emily said remembering, "you always did like a dramatic birthday."
"What could be better?" Lorelai grinned.
"So this Mia lady that owns your Inn she's collecting Rory and Jess is she?" Emily asked changing the subject.
"Yeah, Mias great, she's probably going to get them about now." Lorelai said looking over to the clock on the wall and then to Luke who had spoken to Mia more recently.
"Yeah, she'll have them by now, she's got all their stuff and everything too and a spare key to our place in case you need anything but you should be fine."
"We will be fine." Emily said with pursed lips.
"We have been trying to prepare them for this," Lorelai said, "but they might get a bit teary at bed time."
"They'll be fine Lorelai."
"I know they will be, I'm just saying they might not want to go to bed, just tell them we love them and that we'll be with them soon we are just getting their baby brother first."
"Right, I'll let them know, I should probably be getting off anyway." She stood up and shocked everyone by giving Lorelai a hug, they were on good terms currently but they had never been overly affectionate, "keep in touch, ok? Let us know when that little boy is born. Good luck!" She smiled at her and Lorelai couldn't help but smile nervously back.
Once Emily had left without saying a word to Luke he relaxed, "never make me phone her again." He said seriously to Lorelai.
"Was it that bad?" She grimaced.
"She accused me of giving you aids."
Lorelai burst out laughing, "she does know how that usually spread between two people like us."
"Not what she meant." Luke blushed slightly, "she wasn't pleased about your blood transfusion, like I gave it to you."
"Yeah I got an earful about that too before you got here, nothing about aids though." She said thoughtfully eating her food quickly.
Once she had finished eating Lorelai fell asleep until the doctor came back nearly an hour and a half later leaving Luke bored with nothing to do but sit there and stare at his wife still pale hooked up to a lot of machine. He shook his head to clear his mind, there should be more people he could call. Everyone in town would know because Mia would spread the word, Lorelais family already knew and he didn't have any family apart from Liz..
He jumped to his feet, Buddy and Maizy!
He phoned their back phone that went behind thief kitchen because he knew they'd be at work this time of the day that was only used by friends and family.
"Hello?" Answered Maizys kind voice.
"Maizy! Hi, it's Luke.."
"Oh Lucas I'm so glad you called," she cut him off, "how are things with all of you? Lorelai must be nearing her due date soon."
"Not for a couple more weeks but we are in the hospital now, that's why I'm phoning, just wanted to let you and Buddy know that is looks like he's going to be born later on this even or maybe tomorrow, we aren't sure yet."
"Oh Lucas! That's wonderful news, I can't wait to tell Buddy! If you are up for visitors, tomorrow evening for example you phone us and you let us know, we can't wait to meet him!"
"Thanks Maizy that means a lot to me."
"Oh Lucas... I wish your parents could be here now, they'd be so proud."
"I hope so."
"There's no doubt in my mind young man, now you get back to Lorelai, I need to get tell Buddy the news!"
"Ok, hopefully see you tomorrow then." Luke said before retreating back to Lorelais room where she was still asleep. He sat in the chair next to her and just let his mind race.
Next thing Luke knew he was being jolted awake by the door opening and the doctor came in accompanied by a midwife.
"Mr Danes?" The doctor said looking down at Lorelais file.
"Yeah." Luke said uncertain of why they were addressing him and trying to sound awake.
"We are going to break your wife's water now."
"Ok." He said looking over at Lorelai still asleep he understood why they were speaking to him.
"Lorelai," he said softly shaking her shoulder slightly, "wake up, the doctors here, they're going to break your water."
Lorelai slowly woke up and saw Luke standing over her, "did you say something?"
"Yeah, the doctors here, they're going to break your water now."
Lorelai nodded and the doctor and midwife started prepping and explaining to Lorelai exactly what was going to happen. Just before they started Lorelai grasped Luke's hand tightly and scrunched up her face. Luke squeezed her hand leaning forward to stroke her hair and whisper in her ear while the procedure was done.
Water gushed out of Lorelai and she sighed in relief, "yeah that was fine." She chuckled feeling silly for feeling so nervous, "didn't really feel that."
"Well you are already slightly dilated so we expect your labour to be starting now, it won't be instant but we should see some progress soon if not we can look into some other methods." The doctor said promising to be back to check on her soon.
"Is there anything I can get you?" The midwife asked after she cleaned up and before she left.
"No we are fine for now thanks." Lorelai smiled at her.
"How are you doing?" Luke asked Lorelai once they were left alone again.
"Fine, I haven't felt anything yet really, when I was having Rory my water broke when I was at home and I got to the hospital before I had any contractions."
"How did you get to the hospital, I know you came alone."
"I drove." She grinned.
"Who drove you?"
"I did."
"Lorelai!"
Lorelai laughed a bit, "yeah my parents were very pleased with me."
"You didn't even have your licence! And you were in labour!" He smiled at her, "you really are crazy you know that?"
Lorelai shrugged, "do you remember how small they were?" She smiled at him.
"I remember how terrified I was to pick Jess up for the very first time, he looked like he would break."
"Oh yeah I remember that feeling too, they feel so indescribable now in comparison."
"Yeah," Luke agreed, "how well do you think they're going to understand they have to be careful with him."
"Not at all." Lorelai giggle then shook her head, "no I think they'll try."
Luke chuckled, "Jess doesn't try at much." He said lovingly.
"Hey," Lorelai joked back, "he'll try if his mummy asks him to." She said with pride.
"You've got me there." Luke kissed her forehead.
"I feel bad for them."
"Why?"
"I know we've talked with them about what will happen when I have the baby and they'll have to stay with my parents but they won't be expecting it."
"They'll be fine, Rory loves your dad so much sometimes and it'll only be for a couple of days max."
"Yeah I know." Smiling at the thought of Rory when she got to see her grandpa, "still."
"Yeah I know." They sat in silence for a few minutes until Lorelai sat upwards slightly her grip on Luke's hand that had loosened tightened and she gasped slightly.
"Contraction?" Luke asked sitting upright and she nodded.
"Do you need anything?" She shook her head and before anything else could be said the contraction was over.
"That wasn't very bad, just took me by surprise a little bit." Lorelai said leaning back against her pillows.
"Ok," Luke nodded, "sure there's nothing you need?"
"No Luke I'm fine, this is just the start."
They let the midwife know that she had started her contractions when she next came in to check on her.
Lorelais labour was moving slowly much slower than it had done with Rory, by half 11 that night she was 5cm dilated and was being given her epidural with tears in her eyes as a contraction hit just when the needle went in.
"Lie down with me." Lorelai requested in a small voice once it was done.
"No." Luke said shooting a look over to the nurses in the corner and putting his arm around her instead.
"Please." She said almost in a whimper.
"You're ok." Luke said shifting onto her bed slightly so that she could lean against him and he could rub her back.
"I want this over with now."
"It won't be long," Luke promised holding her close, "you are doing amazing." He pressed a kiss to the top on her head as she started to fall asleep slightly.
By 1 in the morning the doctors and midwifes were all there again, "it's time to push." Someone announced, "whenever you next feel the urge, we need you to push."
Luke stood bent over slightly with his arm around Lorelais back and his hand in hers, "you've got this." He said in her ear just as she started pushing for the first time.
After 4 pushes at 1:13am on April 26th 1988 a cry was heard and the baby was placed on Lorelais chest.
"Oh Luke." She said her hand coming to rest to Theo's back, "look at him."
"He's perfect." Luke gently brushed his fingers over his light blonde hair.
"He looks just like you." Lorelai said as both of their eyes followed him as he was taken away to be cleaned and weighed.
"Not so sure about that." Luke said softly kissing the top of Lorelais head again.
"Look at him," she said as he was returned to her crying, "awww baby it's ok." She said softly kissing his head, "I've got you, I know it's all very hard being born but you've done it now."
"He is so small." Luke said once he had stopped crying and fallen asleep in Lorelais arms, "were Jess and Rory this small."
"He's 6 pounds." A nurse smiled over at them from where she was filling in her chart, "little on the small side but nothing to worry about he is a little early after all."
"No then, he's a little smaller than they were." Lorelai shifted so that she was sitting up better in the bed, "your turn?" She asked luke.
"Yeah." He grinned at her gently taking him out of her arms careful not to wake him and holding him against his chest.
"That's your daddy," Lorelai said speaking in a whisper to Theodore, "you'll like him."
Theo woke up a few minutes later crying, "hey little man, what's up?" Luke asked him, "are you hungry?"
Lorelai took Theo back from Luke and he latched onto her immediately, "I'll take that as a yes." Luke said running a hand gently down his back as he fed.
Theo was soon fed burped and back to sleep. "His hair looks blonde." Lorelai said softly running a hand over it.
"Remember that baby photo of me?" Luke asked and Lorelai nodded with a smile, "I was blonde when I was born, didn't last very long, my hair was more of a fair colour when I was little up but you can see what it's like now, his is probably similar."
"He is the image of you." Lorelai said fondly.
"I think he looks like you." Luke shook his head, "it's hard to tell he's so little."
"Nope," Lorelai grinned at him, "mini Lucas right here."
"Luke." He corrected her.
They stayed captivated by him for about another hour until the late hour caught up with them, "I'm going to fall asleep." Lorelai yawned.
"Give him here." Luke said taking Theo and holding him for a bit before placing him in the hospital cot provided for them, "try and get some sleep."
"Are you going to be able to sleep?" Lorelai said lying back in her bed.
"I'll be fine." Luke said sitting back on the chair in between the cot and the bed so he could see both of them, "don't you worry about me."
"You can lie down with me." Lorelai offered budging over.
"Tempting, but patients only." He said spreading out so his legs were far out in front of him, "I'll get some sleep probably."
"Ok, love you." Lorelai said as she slowly drifted off.
"Love you too." Luke smiled.
Luke woke nearly 3 hours later to Theo crying and Lorelai climbing out of bed, "sit back." Luke told her, "I've got him." He gently lifted him out of the cot and sat on the bed next to Lorelai.
"What's wrong baby?" Lorelai asked softly, "there's no need to cry anymore, daddy's got you, you're safe." She said laying a hand on him calming him down, "I know what's wrong, you're smelly, what do you think, Theo, should daddy change your diaper first? You think so do you?" She said grinning and Luke who rolled his eyes but kissed her and stood up to go change him.
"Is that better now?" Lorelai asked sweetly lifting him up from the changing table after Luke had finished, "what do you say we go for a little walk huh?" She directly at both Theo and Luke.
"A walk?" Luke asked confused.
"Yep, it's tradition." Lorelai said and Luke still looked confused for a bit.
"That was at night not in the morning."
"It'll do," Lorelai shrugged, "besides I want to stretch my legs I'm feeling antsy."
"Antsy?"
"Yeah, come on." She led the part of three on a small walk of the maternity ward.
At 10 o'clock in the morning when visitation opened Emily appeared at their door.
"Mum!" Lorelai smiled currently breastfeeding Theo, "this is Theodore William Danes, or just Theo."
"Oh Lorelai," Emily smiled, "wonderful news, we weren't sure if he had been born yet your father is in the car with Rory and Jess we didn't want to bring them up if you were still in labour, I better go get them tell them the good news!"
"Yeah he was born 1:13 this morning." Lorelai smiled at her.
"All healthy?"
"All healthy."
"Brilliant, I better go get the others."
"Luke you should probably go explain to Rory and Jess again how careful they need to be." Luke stood up knowing Lorelai was right but not wanting to leave with Emily.
"Lorelai I think I am capable of doing that." Emily said with a slight roll of her eyes.
"No offence mum but they'll listen to him more."
"Right fine, we are parked out front." Emily said turning.
"I'll see you in a minute then." Luke said to Lorelai and with one last look at Theo rushed out the door after Emily.
"Daddy!" Jess was the first one to spot him as they approached the spot of grass that richard was playing with the kids on next to the parking lot.
"Hey bud!" Luke caught Jess as he jumped at him, "you are so big."
"Daddy!" Rory threw herself into them aswell.
"Miss me?" Luke asked giving them both a kiss on the head and he crouched in front of them. They both nodded their heads, "we missed you too."
"Is mummy here?" Asked Rory.
"Yeah she's just inside but before we go in I need to speak to you, remember how me and mummy talked about having your baby brother. Well it's very exciting but very early this morning he was born! But because he was just born he is very little so you have to be very very careful with him and with mummy too, she's very tired and a little sore."
"Mummy's sore?" Jess asked concerned.
"Just a little bit, but she'll be ok, I promise, what we need to do is we need to be extra careful ok. So we are going to go see them now but you can't jump on mummy especially if she is holding the baby ok?" They both nodded, "good." Luke said straightening up and taking one of each of their hands, "let's go then."
Luke led the group of 5 into the hospital and up to Lorelais room knocking on her door before entering to let her know they were there. She had stopped feeding Theo and was just holding him smiling as they all entered the room.
"Mummy!" Jess said getting excited and going to run at her but Luke kept a hold of his hand.
"Remember we've got to be gentle, she's holding your little brother see. That's Theo." He said crouching down again to put an arm around both of them, "can you see him?" They both shook their heads, you couldn't really see up onto the bed that well from down there.
Luke picked up Rory and placed her next to Lorelai, "Richard where is my camera?" Emily said and Richard took her camera out of his inside pocket of his suit.
Luke then picked up Jess and sat down with him on the bed too. Emily continued to take pictures of them. After a few minutes Jess was bored with his brother and was put down off the bed to run around but Rory found him fascinating, leaning right against Lorelai looking right at him.
"Do you want to hold him Rory?" Lorelai asked.
"Yeah!" Rory nodded her head enthusiastically.
"Ok, go sit in that chair over there." She pointed to the chair Luke had slept in.
"Are you sure that is a god idea Lorelai?" Asked Richard.
"She's not really going to be holding him," she said quietly, passing Theo to Luke, "Luke can 'help' her, she'll just think she's doing it."
Rory said as upright as she could in the chair with her arms out straight in front of her Luke gently lowered Theo into her arms keeping his hands below him and she beamed with pride.
"Jess, do you want to hold Theo?" Lorelai asked.
"No."
"Not even for a little bit?"
"No."
"Ok," she smiled at him as he came to lean against her bed she rested a hand on his head, "maybe in a while."
"I think it's grandmas turn Rory." Emily said after a few minutes giving the camera over to Richard and taking Theo, "he's so light! And oh my goodness Lorelai look at his head! Just like you when you were a baby!"
"I thought he looked like her too." Luke said smiling at Lorelai who was scowling slightly.
"You leave my baby's head alone, it is a perfectly normal size." She said defensively at her mother.
"Lorelai that head was exactly what you looked like when you were born." Emily said finding this funny.
"Whats she on about?" Luke asked Lorelai.
"Nothing."
"Lorelai had a large head as a baby," Emily said hearing them, "She grew out of it of course, Rory never had it but Theodore here definitely does, look Richard!"
"Lorelai your mother is right, that is what you looked like when you were born." Richard said standing behind his wife and looking down at the baby.
"Don't you think he looks exactly like Luke?" Lorelai frowned.
"Besides the big head yeah he's the image." Richard said slightly distracted as Emily handed him over to hold for the first time.
"Told you!" Lorelai said victorious looking at Luke.
"All I'm hearing is that you had a big head." Like said with a smirk.
"Shut up."
The doctor came in and confirmed that all of Lorelais blood work had come back normal and that everything looked good, they would need to stay for observation until at least this evening but if everything stayed ok they would be discharged that evening.
"Same day discharge Theo," Lorelai grinned, "you're good buddy! And don't you listen to what those mean old people said, you have a lovely head." She said kissing it and sending her parents pretend death stares as they rolled their eyes.
"Emily I had better get going." Richard said, "Lorelai, Luke, congratulations he is absolutely great."
"Thanks dad," Lorelai smiled as Richard shook a slightly flushed Luke, "we will probably see you tonight then but if anything goes wrong we will phone you."
"Rory, Jess, you need to go with grandma and and grandpa now but we should be coming to get you before bed time." Luke said to them going to stand where they sat playing with some toys they brought in the corner.
"No I don't want to leave!" Rory said bursting into tears and crossing her arms.
"Me neither." Jess said as he ran over to the bed to where Lorelai was.
Luke picked Rory up, "it's ok sweetheart, it's only for a little bit."
"I want to stay with my baby." She huffed.
"I know, but you'll see him again later on."
"Come on, Rory Jess, your grandpa needs to get to work, we will go to the park, how about that?"
"Ok." Rory sniffed rubbing her face against Luke's shirt he set her down and she went over to Emily. Jess looked at Lorelai uncertainly and she smiled encouragingly at him and he went over to Emily too.
"Good boy." Emily smiled at him sweetly and took each of their hands, "we will see you later on." She said the Lorelai and they left.
Throughout the day they had a few more visitors. Just as Luke was thinking about going to get them some lunch, Buddy, Maizy and Mia turned up with food for them. Luke thought it was really nice that his parents friends all came together. Shortly after they had left an over excited Sookie and Sarah showed up.
Theo was quickly passed around and while Sookie and Sarah looked down at him Luke whispered in Lorelais ear, "I'm going to call Liz, I was speaking to her a few weeks ago and I told her I'd let her know when he was born."
"Ok." Lorelai put on a smile and Luke left the three girls with the new baby.
"Isn't he perfect?" Luke hear Lorelai ask the others as he left into the corridor to find a free phone.
"He's beautiful." Sookie agreed and then looked panicked when he started to cry, "is he ok?"
"He's fine," Lorelai said taking him out of Sookies arms and holding him against her, "I think he's just hungry." She said adjusting her top so she could feed him.
"Oh, do you want us to leave?" Sarah said looking slightly embarrassed.
"It's fine Sarah." Lorelai smiled at her.
"He looks just like Luke." Sarah said after a minute.
"I know he's the perfect little image." He stopped feeding and Lorelai started to gently burp him.
After he was done Lorelai passed him over to Sarah to hold.
She gasped, "he's so light, oh Lorelai, he is gorgeous!"
"He's 6 pounds as of this morning," Lorelai said and then added jokingly, "watch it! Trying to steal my man, he's gorgeous and just like Luke?"
Sarah blushed and then all the girl started giggling.
"Hey Liz." Luke said when she picked up the phone.
"Luke?" She asked confused, it sounded like she was crying.
"Yeah, are you ok?"
"I'm fine," she said defensively, "why are you calling anyway?"
"Oh I just wanted to let you know Lorelai gave birth this morning. Theodore William Danes."
"That's nice," she said shortly, "dad would have liked that."
"Thanks, I hope so."
"Listen Luke I've got to go." She said quickly.
"Right ok then, hope you're ok, phone me if you need me." He said and then she put the phone down just as he heard a mans voice shouting something he couldn't make out in the background.
Luke returned to the hospital room to see Sarah holding Theo and all three girls giggling.
"What's so funny?" He asked going over to stand next to Lorelai.
"Nothing." Lorelai said and they giggled more.
"Right." Luke said adjusting his cap.
"How'd you pick his name?" Sarah asked once the girls had calmed down returning Theo to Lorelais outstretched arms.
Lorelai shrugged, "we just both suggested names until one of them stuck, my suggestion of course. And William was Luke's dads name so he's got his grandpas name." Lorelai smiled at Theo who slept peacefully in her arms.
"I like it," Sookie said, "I think it's aDORable." She said sending the three girls back into their giggles.
Luke gave them a look, "come here Theo," he said gently lifting him away from Lorelai, "I'll take you away from these crazy people, don't you worry." He said pretending to leave causing them to laugh more.
That evening at 7 everything went to plan and they were discharged from the hospital. Luke had to take one of the toddler car seats out of the car and put it in the boot so that Lorelai could sit next to Theo on the drive to pick up Rory and Jess.
"But I'm just going to have to put it back in they can't sit in the front you'll have to sit in the front on the way back."
"I know." Lorelai smiled.
"So you want me to take the car seat out drive about 15 minutes and then put it back in just so you can sit back there for 15 minutes?"
"Yes."
"Fine." Luke said leaning into the car to wrestle out the awkward car seat, "but only because I knew how crazy you were when I married you, this is my own fault."
"Good boy." Lorelai grinned securing the blanket slightly tighter around Theodore.
Luke shot her a look over her shoulder.
"Good man." She corrected in a gruff voice.
Luke ignored her.
15 minutes later they were on the road, Theodore with a tight grasp of his mother's pinky finger.
They arrived at the Gilmores house and Lorelai and Theo, who was still sleeping in his car seat, went inside while Luke fixed the car seats for Rory and Jess.
"Where's Luke?" Emily asked as Rory and Jess ran up to give Lorelai a hug.
"Fixing the car seats for Rory and Jess, I sat in the back with this little guy on the way up here." Lorelai explained before slowly crouching down, she was still sore, to say hello to Jess and Rory.
"Thanks for keeping them mum." Lorelai said, standing up with a groan, "looks like they had fun, they're very excited."
"Yes, now we haven't eaten yet because I wasn't sure what you would be doing, would you like to stay for dinner?" Emily asked as Richard came into the room and picked up Jess and threw him into the air making him roar with laughter.
"Oh for goodness sake Richard, for the last time stop doing that!" Emily said rounding on him.
"Sorry Love." He grinned not seeming to mean it.
"It's ok mum," Lorelai smiled, "Luke does that all the time, they love it."
"Well." She pursed her lips, "so would you like to stay for dinner?" She changed the subject.
"Ummm, let me check with Luke quickly." She said dashing outside again where she saw Luke who had finished the car seats and seemed to be taking his time locking the car.
"Hey, my mum wants us to stay for dinner." She said.
"What did you say?"
"That id check with you."
"Lorelai!" Luke groaned, "I'm tired, but now we have to stay."
"Why? We can use I'm tired that's perfect good job."
"But then it's my fault that we didn't stay."
"No it's not."
"So you say you'll check with me and then come back with an excuse that just looks like I don't want to stay."
"You don't want to stay."
"Not the point."
"So we are staying?" Lorelai basically answered her own question by taking the hat off his head and fixing his hair.
"Guess so." He nodded following her back inside.
About half way through the main course Theodore started crying, "aww baby," Lorelai said sweetly to him lifting him out of the car seat where he had been sleeping next to her chair, "do you feel left out? Are you hungry too?" She turned away from the table still in her seat.
"Lorelai!" Emily said with outrage, "you can't feed him in at the table! Go into the next room if you have to do it right now."
"Awww Theo baby, they don't want us." She cooed shooting a grin at the table before leaving the room.
"Where's mummy going?" Rory asked who was now sitting at her side of the table by herself looking sad.
"She's just going to feed your brother." Luke explained, "she'll be back in a few minutes."
"But foods in here." Rory said picking some of the food off her plate to show.
"Use your fork sweetheart, and Theo's only little he doesn't eat food like us he only eats milk."
"Nuh-uh." Jess shook his head, "milks a drink."
"Not when you are really little." Luke said.
"So Luke," Emily said changing the subject, "how's that diner of yours doing?"
"Not too bad." Luke said.
"Thought anymore about franchising?" Richard asked.
"Ummm no, I'm still happy enough with just the one."
"Right." Emily said, Luke wasn't sure that was a good answer.
"Luke," Lorelai reappeared into the room, "I need the keys."
"Why?" Luke asked getting them out of his pocket.
"I need the diaper bag, we left it in the car." She said rubbing Theodores back but he didn't look happy.
"That's ok, sit down, I'll go get it." Luke said standing up giving Lorelai his seat.
"Hi mummy!" Jess said pleased that Lorelai was sitting next to him.
"Hi Jessie!" She smiled back at him mirroring his tone, "like your food?"
He nodded.
"Lorelai you've barely touched yours." Emily said disapprovingly looking over at the half eaten plate of food.
"It's ok mum, I'll finish it in a minute when Luke comes back just need to change him first."
"Not in here."
"Yes I know." Lorelai rolled her eyes.
"Rory sweetie what's wrong?" Lorelai asked seeing the big frown on her face.
"Too big." She poked a piece of meat with her fork that Lorelai hadn't cut up for her yet.
"That's ok Rory," Richard cut in before Lorelai could respond, "I'll get it for you." Rory beamed at him.
"What do you say?" Lorelai asked Rory standing up as Luke had returned to the room to give him his seat back.
"Thanks grandpa!"
"I think I've done something to offend your mother." Luke said to Lorelai as they drove back home.
"Why?"
"She just seemed a bit off with me."
"Luke," Lorelai said seriously, "that's called her personality."
"More off than usual." He corrected himself.
"She'll get over it." Lorelai shrugged, "unless you know what you did it's hard to judge when."
"Not a clue."
Lorelai kept looking over her shoulder the whole way home. When they were nearly in stars hallow Luke asked her, "how are they doing?"
"The boys are asleep."
"The boys." Luke repeated looking at her with a smile.
"Yeah, our boys. You carry Jess just put him straight to bed I'll take Theo in and Rory's awake she can walk."
"I want mummy to put me to bed." Rory moaned when Luke sat down with her.
"She'll be in in a minute, she's just feeding Theodore. Now which story do you want?" Luke tried to distract her.
"We already had dinner." Rory moaned.
"I know we did but he's only a little tiny baby he doesn't eat dinner like us. You know you used to be the same."
"No I didn't." Rory seemed very offended by this.
Luke chuckled picking her up and laying down with her on her bed, "yes you did, when you were first born just like Theo is now."
Rory looked sceptical so Luke carried on, "you were almost as small as he is, you were a little bit bigger though, but then as you grew up a little bit into the big girl you are today you started eating with me and mummy."
"Don't think so." Rory shook her head.
"I do, I was there missy, it wasn't that long ago I remember." Luke stroked her hair as she started to relax against him and Lorelai poked her head through the door.
"She asleep?" She whispered.
"Not yet." Luke whispered back and Lorelai walked over to the bed and lay down with them making it very squished.
"I was just telling Rory that not that long ago she was almost as small as Theodore is." Luke said in a soft voice as Rory snuggled into Lorelai her eyes looking up at her waiting for her to confirm or deny.
"It's true," Lorelai stroked her hair, "you were teeny tiny just like he is."
Rory looked shocked but was finding it harder to fight sleep.
"Close your eyes baby." Lorelai kissed her head and if a few minutes she was asleep.
"Come on," Lorelai said to Luke, "let's go to bed too I'm exhausted."