A/N Thank you for the lovely reviews.

Lorelai had just finished her lunch when someone knocked softly on her door. She glanced at the bassinet next to her bed to make sure Rory hadn't woken up. When she was sure her daughter was still asleep, she called softly, "Come in."

The door opened quietly and Luke entered the room carrying an infant car seat.

"Hi," Lorelai greeted Luke with a smile.

"Hey," Luke said with a smile of his own. He looked around the room, noticing Rory asleep in the bassinet next to Lorelai's bed and the empty lunch tray on the bedside table. "Did you just finish lunch?"

"Yes."

"Was it any good?"

"There was pudding."

"That stuff will kill you."

"But what a way to go," Lorelai joked.

Luke chuckled.

"It looks like you and Jess are ready to go," Lorelai said with a nod toward the car seat Luke was carrying.

"Yeah. Whenever you're ready, we can head home."

"Oh. My doctor hasn't been in to see us yet."

"That's okay," Luke said as he placed Jess' car seat next to Rory's bassinet and settled into the chair next to Lorelai's bed.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"I don't mind waiting."

"But you're doing so much for me and already I'm causing problems by making you wait," Lorelai protested.

"Lorelai, it's not a problem. You're not a problem."

Lorelai blushed. "Oh. Well, I'm sure it won't be too much longer."

L&L L&L L&L

Within an hour Lorelai and Rory had been discharged, Lorelai had changed out of her hospital gown, and they were all on their way to Stars Hallow.

Lorelai spent the first half of the trip silently staring at the man in the driver's seat. As the minutes ticked by, her apprehension regarding their strange situation grew until she couldn't stay silent any longer. "Are you sure this will work?" she asked suddenly.

"Yes."

"What if you don't like me?"

"I do."

"What if your dad doesn't like me?"

"He will."

"What if…"

"Lorelai," Luke interrupted, "everything will be okay. Trust me." He reached over to take her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Lorelai looked down at their joined hands and took a deep breath. "Okay," she agreed.

"Good."

They fell back into silence and soon Luke was driving them through Stars Hollow. As they passed the only pay phone in town, Lorelai gasped. "Stop!" she cried.

Luke pulled over immediately. "What's wrong?"

"There's a pay phone. I need to call my parents."

"I thought you were going to leave a note."

"I changed my mind," Lorelai explained with a shrug. "I was supposed to call them when I was ready to be picked up."

"You scared me half to death. You can call from the house."

"I'd rather use the pay phone," Lorelai told him as she dug through her bag, looking for her wallet.

"Why?"

Lorelai found her wallet and was looking through her change for a quarter. "I hope it will make it harder for them to find me."

"I thought you said they'd be relieved."

"Yeah, but they're big on obligation. Aha!" Lorelai exclaimed and held up a quarter.

"Whatever you say."

"I promise I'll be quick."

"Okay. The kids and I will wait here."

"Thanks," Lorelai said as she climbed out of Luke's pickup truck and headed for the pay phone. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves before inserting her quarter and quickly dialing her parents' phone number. While she listened to the phone ring, she closed her eyes and took another deep breath. She opened her eyes when she heard an unknown voice, presumably one of her mother's many maids, on the other end of the phone. "Hello, this is Lorelai Gilmore. Are Richard and Emily Gilmore available?" Lorelai sighed when she was informed that neither of her parents was available. "Could you please tell them I've left the hospital and will write to them when I can?" She waited while the maid confirmed she would relay the message. "Thank you." Lorelai hung up the phone and returned to the truck.

"How'd it go?" Luke asked as Lorelai buckled her seatbelt.

"They weren't home?"

"How's that possible when they were supposed to be waiting for your phone call?"

"I don't know. That's just Richard and Emily. Well, mostly Emily."

"Oh. Okay."

"Can we go now? Please?"

"Yeah, let's go home."