Author's Note: See Disclaimer and Title in Chapter One. Well the Java Junkie fever has gotten me too. I didn't intend this chapter to have any Lorelai and Luke action. I originally wanted Lorelai and Sookie to have some time to talk because Sookie is her best friend and I haven't written her yet, but then it ran away with me and I had to throw some in there. I found out writing Sookie doesn't come as naturally as the others yet, so you might not see her a lot. I'm still trying to hold back my true JJ-ness in order to keep them in character to let me know right away if anything is OOC. I guess I don't have much to say this time, except that I am almost at 100 reviews and I am very excited. Read, enjoy, review.

On with the story....

Chapter 16: Baby Bonding

After leaving the diner, Lorelai headed for Sookie's house. She knocked lightly and soon a haggard looking woman answered the door.

"Wow, Lucy! Little Ricky giving you some problems?" Lorelai asked hugging her friend.

"Remind me why reproducing is a good thing." She sounded hoarse.

"Tax write-off" Lorelai said matter-of-factly. "Are you okay, honey? That little bundle of skin giving you problems?" Poor Sookie looked like she hadn't slept in weeks. Her hair was pulled back haphazardly and held in place with pencils all over. The bags under her eyes were the prominent feature on her face and her clothes smelled like a mixture of diaper cream and formula.

"Colic. I think. Maybe he just hates me." Sookie was too tired to even sound depressed.

"Oh honey, he doesn't hate you. Lots of babies go through bad periods. It will get better."

"Did Rory?"

"No, I think I cried more when Rory was a baby than she did. Maybe she can give you some pointers." Sookie managed a small smile. "I do have one tip though."

"Anything" Sookie said desperately.

"Take a shower. Babies like the smell of mommy and right now that is all blocked out."

"Oh!" Sookie pretended to be offended. "You don't look so hot either."

"Bad night." Sookie raised her eyebrows. Lorelai waved her off. "I will tell you later. First, go take a long bath. I will take care of Davie for as long as you need."

"Really?" Sookie asked as if Lorelai had just offered her a million dollars.

"Yep. Now scoot." Sookie felt energized for the first time since she had the baby and shot off up the stairs. Lorelai settled on the couch to watch tv. Right away she heard fussing on the baby monitor. Soon, she was feeding Davie in a carrier in the kitchen. That reminded her that Sookie probably hadn't eaten a good meal in days. Rory was grown now, but Lorelai remembered the exhaustive days like they were yesterday. She grabbed the phone and dialed.

Sookie was still in the bath when the doorbell rang. Lorelai ran to the door. Just as she opened it, a loud wail was heard from the kitchen.

"What is that?" Luke hollered.

"It's a baby, Luke, duh. I just got him to sleep too." Lorelai gave him a scolding look.

"Oh. Well, here's your food. I will just let you get back to that." Luke backed up slowly, but Lorelai grabbed his shirt.

"No way, Jose. You are not leaving me with this. You started him up and you are going to help." She pulled him by the wrist into the kitchen with her. Usually, Luke would follow her wherever she dragged him, but this was one time he sincerely didn't want to go. It wasn't that he really hated babies. He hated things about them. There was always something coming out of them and you never knew what would set them off. He didn't really mind the idea of babies, but in all actuality, they scared the living hell out of him.

Lorelai scooped Davie up and began to lightly bounce him in her arms and shush him. Luke stood amazed as Lorelai sang a little made-up song and Davie quickly quieted. Luke knew she was good with kids, but he had never seen Rory as a baby so this was all new to him. For some reason, unknown to him, he found this situation an okay kind of uncomfortable. It was just like all the other times that Lorelai dragged him somewhere. He wasn't in his element, but he didn't want to run either. He heard the bathtub drain upstairs and began unpacking the food.

"Here. Can you hold him for a minute?" Lorelai asked walking toward him. Luke tried to back away but the wall was behind him and he had nowhere to go. "He won't bite, Luke. He doesn't have teeth yet." Luke still looked scared and Lorelai rolled her eyes. "He's asleep. All you have to do is not drop him. I need to take Sookie some food. I will be right back." He shrugged helplessly. Lorelai smiled and instructed him how to hold the baby. Handing Davie over took a few minutes because Luke couldn't get the position right. Lorelai assumed it was because he was nervous, but really Luke was distracted because Lorelai's face was only inches from his. Davie was between them and their bodies were against his sides. Lorelai was bent over adjusting Luke's arms. She was close enough that Luke could see every lash around her blue eyes as she looked from him to the baby. She whispered and Luke began reading her lips but soon found himself staring at the fullness of them.

Lorelai also found herself affected by this position. She could feel Luke's breath on her cheek as she bent over Davie. She looked up and started to say something but stopped when she looked into Luke's eyes. She had never seen them that close and she smiled as she stared into the deep pools.

"Looks like you've got it" she said backing up. Being that close to Luke was making her lightheaded and she wasn't sure why. She blamed this too, on her lack of sleep. The sight of the usually gruff Luke holding a tiny baby was amusing, but unbelievably sweet at the same time. She turned and ran the food up the stairs.

Sookie was sitting on her bed in a robe when Lorelai walked in. She was carrying a tray of food and her face looked flushed.

"I brought you something to eat" Lorelai said without looking at her.

"Are you all right?" Sookie asked. Lorelai nodded. "Where's Davie?"

"Luke's holding him while I bring this up." Sookie smiled. Someday they would figure it out. She knew pushing Lorelai only made her deny it more, but she enjoyed watching the two together.

"What's he doing here?" she asked casually.

"I ordered some food for you." Sookie nodded, still smiling. "I had better go relieve him. I'll put Davie in his room and come back. We have lots of talking to do." Sookie clapped her hands together excitedly and Lorelai rushed back downstairs.

Luke handed Davie over much faster this time. Lorelai's closeness was still lingering with him and the less time he spent in that situation again, the faster the thoughts would go away. The last thing he needed was to spend more time thinking about her. He knew his mind would be racing at the movie night. The more time he spent calm before then, the better.

Lorelai walked Luke to the door, leaned in and whispered "Goodbye" in Luke's ear. Part of her loved to tease him but now a bigger part liked leaning in close to him just as much. She hurried upstairs. She and Sookie had some major analyzing to do.