Luke and Lorelai sat in the truck outside Luke's house with Jess and Rory sleeping in the back seat. "Are you ready to go inside?" Luke asked.

"I guess," Lorelai replied while gathering her bag.

Working carefully and quietly in an effort not to disturb the sleeping babies, Luke and Lorelai climbed out of front seat and retrieved the babies, still in their car seats, from the back seat. They were walking up the porch steps when the front door opened wide and William stepped onto the porch.

"Welcome home," William greeted his son. He turned to face Lorelai. "You must be Lorelai. I'm William Danes." He held out his hand to shake hers.

Lorelai struggled to shake William's hand while holding her bag and Rory's car seat. Eventually, she gave up with a shrug. "It's nice to meet you. I'd shake your hand, but, um…"

"But you've got your hands full," William finished for her with a chuckle.

Lorelai smiled shyly and agreed, "Just a little."

"Well, come inside," William directed as he took Jess' car seat from Luke.

With his hands free, Luke turned to Lorelai. "May I?" he asked as he reached for Rory's car seat.

"That's okay. I got her."

"Lorelai."

"What?"

"Let me help you."

"You're already helping me."

"So you shouldn't be stubborn now," he insisted as he gently removed her hands from the handle of the car seat.

"Are you coming?" William called from inside.

Luke called back to his dad, "Just a minute!" He then spoke more quietly to Lorelai, "Ready?"

"Okay," she whispered with a nod.

Luke guided her into the house and then into the living room. William was sitting on the couch, holding Jess, who was now awake and staring intently at his grandfather. "Luke, why don't you show Lorelai and Rory to their room and help them get settled? Lorelai, I put some things in your room that you'll need these first few days. I'll hang here with Jess.

"Okay, Dad."

"Thanks, Mr. Danes."

"Lorelai, you can call me William."

"Okay, William."

"That's better."

Luke put a hand on the small of Lorelai's back and guided her toward the stairs. "Come on. Your room is upstairs."

L&L L&L L&L

Luke and Lorelai stood in the doorway of the guest room. Lorelai's mouth hung open in shock. There were piles of clothes on the bed, a bassinet next to the bed, and stacks of baby supplies on the dresser.

"Luke, this is more than a few things. Where did all this stuff come from?"

"Some of the clothes are things that Liz left behind or things that Jess has outgrown. The rest of the clothes and everything else came from some of the townspeople. My dad made a few calls."

"I can't accept all of this. I'm not a charity case."

"I know you're not a charity case, Lorelai. This is just how things are done in Stars Hollow. Today, you need help, so those who could help you, did. When someone else needs help and you're able to help, you will. You're one of us now and we take care of our own."

Lorelai felt a tear roll down face.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked, startled by her emotional response.

Lorelai nodded as another tear fell. "It's just that I've been in Stars Hollow for less than an hour and I already feel like I belong here more than I ever did at my parents' house," she told him with tears streaming down her face.

Luke set down Rory's car seat and wrapped Lorelai in a tight hug. "Hey, don't cry. You do belong here. Everything will be okay. I promise," he mumbled into her hair in an attempt to reassure her.

Lorelai returned the hug and pressed herself tighter against Luke. She spent several minutes crying into his shirt. Finally, Lorelai's tears slowed and then stopped. After a few last sniffles, she pulled herself out of Luke's embrace. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to cry all over you."

"No problem. You've had a long few days."

Lorelai laughed humorously. "Try a long few months."

"It will get better."

Lorelai nodded, but it was clear she didn't believe him. They stood in uncomfortable silence until Lorelai couldn't take it anymore. "So," she started uncertainly, "this all came from your dad's friends?"

"Yeah. I think he said they called it a pre-shower."

"A pre-shower?"

"Uh-huh. They just wanted to give you a few things that you and Rory will need right away. I guess they want to hold an actual baby shower in a few weeks when you've had a chance to settle in."

"There will be more?" Lorelai asked in astonishment.

"Babies need a lot of stuff," Luke explained with a shrug.

"I know babies need a lot of stuff. What I don't know is why your dad's friends would want to throw me a baby shower and give me more stuff? They don't know me and they've already given me so much," she explained while gesturing wildly at the piles of clothes and baby supplies that were scattered around the room.

"They want to help and they want to know you. Plus, the people in this town will use any excuse to party. Really, you're doing them a favor."

Lorelai scoffed in disbelief.

"I'm serious. You'll understand when you start to meet them."

Lorelai quirked an eyebrow, signaling her continued disbelief. "I'm sure I will."

Before Luke could respond, Rory started to cry. Lorelai immediately dropped to her knees and unclipped Rory from her car seat. "I need to feed her."

Luke blushed. "Oh, um, right," he said as he backed toward the door. "You do that. Get settled in. Bathroom's next door. You can clean up. Shower. Whatever. I'll be downstairs with my dad and Jess. Call if you need anything." Luke fled the room.

L&L L&L L&L

Lorelai finished nursing Rory and placed her gently in the bassinet. "You'll be okay here for a few minutes, right? I just need to go to the bathroom really quick. I promise I'll be right back. If you need anything, sweet girl, you just cry."

Rory stared up at her mother with big blue eyes. She appeared to understand exactly what Lorelai was telling her. Lorelai leaned over the edge of the bassinet and brushed a kiss across her daughter's temple. She left the room, intending to use the bathroom quickly and return before Rory could even notice she was gone.

Once in the bathroom, Lorelai took a moment to study her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were still red from her earlier bout of crying. Her hair was a tangled mess. She barely recognized herself. Lorelai sighed miserably, wondering how long it would take for her to be able to recognize her post-pregnancy body.

She decided the only thing she could fix right now was her hair and began searching for a comb. In the third drawer she opened she found both a comb and a hair tie. "Yes!" she exclaimed quietly. She quickly tamed her hair and tied it back, all while avoiding the mirror. She continued to avoid the mirror as she washed her hands after she finished using the bathroom.

When she was done, she headed back to the guest room. She scooped up Rory from the bassinet and began a one-sided conversation with the newborn. "Did you miss me, sweet girl? You did? Well, don't worry. I'm back now. Should we go find the men folk? Yeah, I think so too." The pair headed for the living room with Lorelai chatting to Rory the entire way. "Do you like our new friends? You do? Me too. What about your new bed? I bet you like having all that space to yourself, huh?" Lorelai grew quiet as she entered the living room.

Luke noticed her first. "Hey, you're back."

"Ummm…yeah?"

"We didn't expect you to be back down here so soon."

"She's a baby, Luke. She can only eat so much."

"Yeah, but you were supposed to take your time, get settled, take a shower. You know, make yourself at home."

Lorelai shrugged helplessly. "I didn't want to leave her alone long enough to take a shower."

William stood up from his place on the couch and approached Lorelai. "Hand her here," he said, reaching for Rory. "We'll get acquainted while you shower."

Lorelai hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Of course, I'm sure. Rory and I need to get to know each other." William gently took the baby from her mother's arms. "Go. Shower. Take your time. We'll be here when you get back."

Lorelai didn't move. She just stood there, watching the man she barely knew cuddle her daughter.

"We'll be okay, Lorelai," Luke told her. "There's shampoo and conditioner and stuff in the bathroom. Don't forget, there are clean clothes for you on your bed. Use them. I'll help you put everything away after dinner. Right now, just take a little time for yourself."

"You'll come get me if she needs me?"

"Yes, Lorelai," Luke assured her. "Now, go."

"Okay. I guess I could use a shower. I won't be long. I promise."

"Take your time."

Lorelai nodded once and headed upstairs.