Chapter 20: Card Sharps
Lorelai stared at the cards in her hand, trying to concentrate. But she failed, and her gaze drifted to the counter where the timer sat.
"Hey," Rory said, from across the table. "It's not going to move any faster by you watching it."
"I wasn't watching it," Lorelai denied.
"Yes, you were. Now ignore the timer and let's play."
"You're mean," Lorelai pouted.
"It's your turn, so play."
"Alright, alright." Lorelai turned back to her cards and thought about her next play. After a moment she, nodded her head and said, "Ah ha. I've got it. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready."
Lorelai narrowed her eyes at Rory and asked, "Do you think you can handle it?"
Rory narrowed her eyes back and said, "Hit me with your best shot."
"Alright, you asked for it." Lorelai looked Rory in the eyes and said, "Got any sevens?"
Rory smiled and said, "Nope. Go fish."
"Rats!" Lorelai reached out to draw a new card. Her hand stopped just above the cards when the timer dinged.
Both Gilmore women turned and looked at the timer, then turned their gaze to the small plastic case beside it. After a moment Lorelai sat her cards on the table, turned to Rory and asked, "Are you going to look at it? It is your test after all."
"I don't have to look, because I know what it's going to say."
"You're positive about that, are you?"
"Yes, I am."
"Because," Lorelai started, "all birth control has been proven to be totally 100% effective."
"Still not worried," Rory answered.
Lorelai shrugged and said, "All right, I'll look."
As Lorelai started get up, Rory's hand shot out and grabbed her arm saying, "No." Rory swallowed and said, "I'll… I'll check myself."
Lorelai nodded her head in response.
Rory swallowed, then slowly stood and walked to the counter. She neared the counter but could not bring herself to look down, prompting Lorelai to say, "Okay, I'll look."
"No. I'll do it," Rory said, before Lorelai could stand. Rory took a deep breath and looked down at the kit. When she saw the large minus sign she let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She picked up the kit, held the result towards her mother and said, "There, see. Negative just like I said."
Lorelai shrugged and said, "Okay, let's get back to our game."
"Wait a minute," Rory challenged. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Lorelai looked at Rory then said, "Let me see." She appeared to ponder for a moment, and then said, "Nope. Nothing. Your turn."
"Nooo," Rory started, "I think it's your turn."
"Nope," Lorelai replied, "I asked if you had any sevens, and you said, go fish. That makes it your turn."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Rory grabbed a box off the counter, handed it to Lorelai and said, "You promised, that if I took the test first, you'd go second."
"No I think you're confused," Lorelai countered. "That wasn't MOM that made that promise that was TOOOOMMMM."
Rory grabbed her mother's arm and began pulling her out of her chair. "No, I don't think so." She pulled Lorelai to her feet, put the box in her hand and said, "Now go."
"But…"
"No buts."
As Lorelai slowly moved towards the bathroom, she said, "Well, it's going to be negative."
"That's fine."
"Cause I'm not pregnant."
"If you say so."
Lorelai stopped, a panicked look on her face, and said, "But what if I am pregnant? What am I going to do?"
Rory pushed her towards the bathroom and said, "First let's figure out if, then we'll worry about what."
Lorelai stopped and looked at Rory with a frightened look, and said, "Honey, I'm scared."
Rory hugged her mom and said, "I know, but one way or another it'll be better when we know for sure, alright?"
Lorelai nodded to Rory. She took a deep breath and then turned and walked into the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later Rory was back sitting at the table watching her mother pace back and forth across the kitchen. "Mom, will you sit down?"
Lorelai stopped and looked at Rory for a long moment. She shrugged and sat in the chair next to Rory. She stayed there for a total of ten seconds, and then stood back up saying, "I'm sorry, I can't sit still."
"Would you like me to fix you some coffee?" Rory asked.
"Right," Lorelai answered. "That's the last thing I need now."
Lorelai resumed her pacing. Not sure what else to do, Rory grabbed the deck of cards still sitting on the table and began to shuffle. She had just began to deal a hand of solitaire when Lorelai turned to her and asked, "Rory, what am I going to do if I'm pregnant?"
"Well, the common theory is that you'll have a baby."
Lorelai's eyes narrowed in anger, as she said, "Can't you be serious for just one goddamned second?"
Rory's eyes grew large in shock and fear, but she remained silent.
Lorelai's anger fell away as she stepped towards Rory and said, "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that."
"That's okay," Rory answered, not looking up from the cards. "You're scared."
"No, no, it's not alright," Lorelai said. "Here you are giving up your weekend, and study time, to be with me and try and help me, and I repay you by biting off your head. I am so sorry."
Rory shook her head and replied, "That's okay, you're scared and worried."
"No, that doesn't excuse me. Please forgive me."
"You're forgiven."
They exchanged smiles, and then said, then Lorelai asked, "But what if I am pregnant? What will I do? I mean, given the circumstances, I can't tell Luke."
"Why not?" asked Rory. "I mean, last weekend you told me that you and Luke wouldn't mind getting pregnant."
"Yeah, but that was before everything went crazy," Lorelai explained. "Now, if I tell Luke I'm pregnant, he might stay with me just because of the baby and that's the last thing I want."
She knew the answer but Rory suggested, "Well, you could always get an abortion."
"No, not an option."
"Well, you tell him then," Rory started. "You say that you don't want him to feel trapped, but I don't think he'll look at it that way. The baby would be part of the equation now, and should be taken in consideration."
"I know that Luke loves you and you love him," Rory continued. "Now maybe you guys won't work things out and get married, but that doesn't change the fact that you guys made a baby and that happened because you guys were in love. And even if you guys are not together, this baby will be loved by the both of you."
"I know you well enough to know that you won't let Luke marry you just because of the baby," Rory said. "But I think that I know Luke well enough to know that he'll respect any decision you make and he'll do anything he can to help. That's just Luke. Now I think that I can say with some authority that you are totally capable of raising a child on your own. So I feel safe in saying that any child lucky enough to be raised by you and Luke, married or not, is going to be one very lucky kid."
"And if for some reason Luke wants nothing to do with you and the baby," Rory said. "The kid could do a lot worse than having only you as a single parent. I know I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Lorelai looked at her daughter, tears of pride and happiness freely flowing. "Aww honey, that is so sweet," she said as she opened her arms and stepped towards Rory.
Rory, her own tears staining her cheeks, stood and met her mother in a hug.
"I love you, sweetie."
"I love you too, Mom."
After a moment, they reluctantly broke apart, but continued to hold hands as Lorelai said, "You know this is going to sound crazy but I almost hope I am pregnant. If I get another kid half as great as you, I'll consider myself extremely lucky."
At that moment, the timer dinged. Both women's heads snapped around to look at the plastic case sitting on the counter. They both stared at it for a long moment, afraid to move or speak. Finally, Rory broke the silence, "I think it's ready."
Not moving Lorelai replied, "I think you're right."
Still they remained unmoving, Rory eventually saying, "Do you want me to look?"
With her eyes still on the case, Lorelai said, "No, I should do it."
Lorelai remained stationary, so Rory said, "You know you'll have to look sometime."
"I know."
"So," Rory started, "do you maybe want to look together?"
Lorelai paused for a long second, and then said, "No. It… It should be me."
"If you're sure."
Lorelai nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm sure."
Lorelai released Rory's hand, and started towards the counter. After one step, she stopped, turned to Rory, smiled and said, "Wish me luck."
Rory nodded and smiled, as she held up both hands displaying her crossed fingers.
Lorelai smiled and nodded. She turned and took another step towards the counter, then said, "This is a good thing."
Step. "A baby would be wonderful."
One more step and she reached the counter, but before she looked down she turned back to Rory, who smiled and nodded encouragement.
"Oh God, I'm scared," Lorelai said. She put her hand over her eyes and turned back to the counter. She felt around the counter for the plastic case, eventually finding it. Holding the case, but with her eyes still covered, she turned around.
Lorelai took a deep breath, and said, "Here goes." She removed the hand covering her eyes and looked down at the case in her hand.
She stood there looking at the case for a long moment, unmoving and unspeaking. Finally the suspense getting to Rory, she prompted, "Mom?"
Rory's words shook Lorelai from her trance. Her shoulders slumped, her chin dropped to her chest, and her hand fell to her side.
Rory released the breath she had been holding, and said, "Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry."
Rory stepped to her mother, putting a comforting hand on Lorelai's shoulder, and said, "I'm sorry mom. You know maybe this test is wrong, we can try again, I still have another kit."
Lorelai put her free hand over her eyes, sighed deeply and said, "No, no, that's alright."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure, because…"
"'Cause what Mom?"
Lorelai held up the kit in her hand and said, "Because I'm pregnant."
Rory looked at the case in her mother's hand and saw the large blue plus sign. Not totally comprehending, she looked at Lorelai who had a huge grin on her face. Rory found her voice and said, "You're…"
"Yep."
Almost simultaneously, they grabbed each other by the arms, and shrieked gleefully. Excitedly, they began to jump around and speak at the same time.
"You're pregnant!"
"I'm going to have a baby!"
"I'm so happy for you!"
The shrieking, jumping, and yelling lasted for several enthusiastic minutes.
Lorelai stared at the cards in her hand, trying to concentrate. But she failed, and her gaze drifted to the counter where the timer sat.
"Hey," Rory said, from across the table. "It's not going to move any faster by you watching it."
"I wasn't watching it," Lorelai denied.
"Yes, you were. Now ignore the timer and let's play."
"You're mean," Lorelai pouted.
"It's your turn, so play."
"Alright, alright." Lorelai turned back to her cards and thought about her next play. After a moment she, nodded her head and said, "Ah ha. I've got it. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready."
Lorelai narrowed her eyes at Rory and asked, "Do you think you can handle it?"
Rory narrowed her eyes back and said, "Hit me with your best shot."
"Alright, you asked for it." Lorelai looked Rory in the eyes and said, "Got any sevens?"
Rory smiled and said, "Nope. Go fish."
"Rats!" Lorelai reached out to draw a new card. Her hand stopped just above the cards when the timer dinged.
Both Gilmore women turned and looked at the timer, then turned their gaze to the small plastic case beside it. After a moment Lorelai sat her cards on the table, turned to Rory and asked, "Are you going to look at it? It is your test after all."
"I don't have to look, because I know what it's going to say."
"You're positive about that, are you?"
"Yes, I am."
"Because," Lorelai started, "all birth control has been proven to be totally 100% effective."
"Still not worried," Rory answered.
Lorelai shrugged and said, "All right, I'll look."
As Lorelai started get up, Rory's hand shot out and grabbed her arm saying, "No." Rory swallowed and said, "I'll… I'll check myself."
Lorelai nodded her head in response.
Rory swallowed, then slowly stood and walked to the counter. She neared the counter but could not bring herself to look down, prompting Lorelai to say, "Okay, I'll look."
"No. I'll do it," Rory said, before Lorelai could stand. Rory took a deep breath and looked down at the kit. When she saw the large minus sign she let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She picked up the kit, held the result towards her mother and said, "There, see. Negative just like I said."
Lorelai shrugged and said, "Okay, let's get back to our game."
"Wait a minute," Rory challenged. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Lorelai looked at Rory then said, "Let me see." She appeared to ponder for a moment, and then said, "Nope. Nothing. Your turn."
"Nooo," Rory started, "I think it's your turn."
"Nope," Lorelai replied, "I asked if you had any sevens, and you said, go fish. That makes it your turn."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Rory grabbed a box off the counter, handed it to Lorelai and said, "You promised, that if I took the test first, you'd go second."
"No I think you're confused," Lorelai countered. "That wasn't MOM that made that promise that was TOOOOMMMM."
Rory grabbed her mother's arm and began pulling her out of her chair. "No, I don't think so." She pulled Lorelai to her feet, put the box in her hand and said, "Now go."
"But…"
"No buts."
As Lorelai slowly moved towards the bathroom, she said, "Well, it's going to be negative."
"That's fine."
"Cause I'm not pregnant."
"If you say so."
Lorelai stopped, a panicked look on her face, and said, "But what if I am pregnant? What am I going to do?"
Rory pushed her towards the bathroom and said, "First let's figure out if, then we'll worry about what."
Lorelai stopped and looked at Rory with a frightened look, and said, "Honey, I'm scared."
Rory hugged her mom and said, "I know, but one way or another it'll be better when we know for sure, alright?"
Lorelai nodded to Rory. She took a deep breath and then turned and walked into the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later Rory was back sitting at the table watching her mother pace back and forth across the kitchen. "Mom, will you sit down?"
Lorelai stopped and looked at Rory for a long moment. She shrugged and sat in the chair next to Rory. She stayed there for a total of ten seconds, and then stood back up saying, "I'm sorry, I can't sit still."
"Would you like me to fix you some coffee?" Rory asked.
"Right," Lorelai answered. "That's the last thing I need now."
Lorelai resumed her pacing. Not sure what else to do, Rory grabbed the deck of cards still sitting on the table and began to shuffle. She had just began to deal a hand of solitaire when Lorelai turned to her and asked, "Rory, what am I going to do if I'm pregnant?"
"Well, the common theory is that you'll have a baby."
Lorelai's eyes narrowed in anger, as she said, "Can't you be serious for just one goddamned second?"
Rory's eyes grew large in shock and fear, but she remained silent.
Lorelai's anger fell away as she stepped towards Rory and said, "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that."
"That's okay," Rory answered, not looking up from the cards. "You're scared."
"No, no, it's not alright," Lorelai said. "Here you are giving up your weekend, and study time, to be with me and try and help me, and I repay you by biting off your head. I am so sorry."
Rory shook her head and replied, "That's okay, you're scared and worried."
"No, that doesn't excuse me. Please forgive me."
"You're forgiven."
They exchanged smiles, and then said, then Lorelai asked, "But what if I am pregnant? What will I do? I mean, given the circumstances, I can't tell Luke."
"Why not?" asked Rory. "I mean, last weekend you told me that you and Luke wouldn't mind getting pregnant."
"Yeah, but that was before everything went crazy," Lorelai explained. "Now, if I tell Luke I'm pregnant, he might stay with me just because of the baby and that's the last thing I want."
She knew the answer but Rory suggested, "Well, you could always get an abortion."
"No, not an option."
"Well, you tell him then," Rory started. "You say that you don't want him to feel trapped, but I don't think he'll look at it that way. The baby would be part of the equation now, and should be taken in consideration."
"I know that Luke loves you and you love him," Rory continued. "Now maybe you guys won't work things out and get married, but that doesn't change the fact that you guys made a baby and that happened because you guys were in love. And even if you guys are not together, this baby will be loved by the both of you."
"I know you well enough to know that you won't let Luke marry you just because of the baby," Rory said. "But I think that I know Luke well enough to know that he'll respect any decision you make and he'll do anything he can to help. That's just Luke. Now I think that I can say with some authority that you are totally capable of raising a child on your own. So I feel safe in saying that any child lucky enough to be raised by you and Luke, married or not, is going to be one very lucky kid."
"And if for some reason Luke wants nothing to do with you and the baby," Rory said. "The kid could do a lot worse than having only you as a single parent. I know I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Lorelai looked at her daughter, tears of pride and happiness freely flowing. "Aww honey, that is so sweet," she said as she opened her arms and stepped towards Rory.
Rory, her own tears staining her cheeks, stood and met her mother in a hug.
"I love you, sweetie."
"I love you too, Mom."
After a moment, they reluctantly broke apart, but continued to hold hands as Lorelai said, "You know this is going to sound crazy but I almost hope I am pregnant. If I get another kid half as great as you, I'll consider myself extremely lucky."
At that moment, the timer dinged. Both women's heads snapped around to look at the plastic case sitting on the counter. They both stared at it for a long moment, afraid to move or speak. Finally, Rory broke the silence, "I think it's ready."
Not moving Lorelai replied, "I think you're right."
Still they remained unmoving, Rory eventually saying, "Do you want me to look?"
With her eyes still on the case, Lorelai said, "No, I should do it."
Lorelai remained stationary, so Rory said, "You know you'll have to look sometime."
"I know."
"So," Rory started, "do you maybe want to look together?"
Lorelai paused for a long second, and then said, "No. It… It should be me."
"If you're sure."
Lorelai nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm sure."
Lorelai released Rory's hand, and started towards the counter. After one step, she stopped, turned to Rory, smiled and said, "Wish me luck."
Rory nodded and smiled, as she held up both hands displaying her crossed fingers.
Lorelai smiled and nodded. She turned and took another step towards the counter, then said, "This is a good thing."
Step. "A baby would be wonderful."
One more step and she reached the counter, but before she looked down she turned back to Rory, who smiled and nodded encouragement.
"Oh God, I'm scared," Lorelai said. She put her hand over her eyes and turned back to the counter. She felt around the counter for the plastic case, eventually finding it. Holding the case, but with her eyes still covered, she turned around.
Lorelai took a deep breath, and said, "Here goes." She removed the hand covering her eyes and looked down at the case in her hand.
She stood there looking at the case for a long moment, unmoving and unspeaking. Finally the suspense getting to Rory, she prompted, "Mom?"
Rory's words shook Lorelai from her trance. Her shoulders slumped, her chin dropped to her chest, and her hand fell to her side.
Rory released the breath she had been holding, and said, "Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry."
Rory stepped to her mother, putting a comforting hand on Lorelai's shoulder, and said, "I'm sorry mom. You know maybe this test is wrong, we can try again, I still have another kit."
Lorelai put her free hand over her eyes, sighed deeply and said, "No, no, that's alright."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure, because…"
"'Cause what Mom?"
Lorelai held up the kit in her hand and said, "Because I'm pregnant."
Rory looked at the case in her mother's hand and saw the large blue plus sign. Not totally comprehending, she looked at Lorelai who had a huge grin on her face. Rory found her voice and said, "You're…"
"Yep."
Almost simultaneously, they grabbed each other by the arms, and shrieked gleefully. Excitedly, they began to jump around and speak at the same time.
"You're pregnant!"
"I'm going to have a baby!"
"I'm so happy for you!"
The shrieking, jumping, and yelling lasted for several enthusiastic minutes.