Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 6: PINK OR BLUE! PINK OR BLUE!
The test run went off with out a hitch, unless you counted Kirks night terrors that woke up the whole Inn. The grand opening would be one week later. A nervous Lorelai spent the next day getting the final touches for the Inn finished and trying to figure out what last night with Luke had meant to her. She felt like this was too right to screw up, but feared he may not feel the same. She worried about the timing with Rory pregnant and home and really needing her mother right now, and the opening of the Inn, if she had the kind of time he would require of her, should they become more of an item.
She decided the only thing to do was call him and clear the air, find out what was on his mind.
"Luke's." Luke said picking up the phone in the Diner.
"Hey." She said trying to keep it cool and casual.
"Hello?" Luke said over the noise in the diner.
"It's me." Lorelai said louder drawing her staffs attention to her. She decided to find someplace more private to have this conversation.
"Oh, hi." Luke said surprised.
"Can we talk?" Lorelai asked, as soon as it came out she knew it was the worst way to start the conversation, nothing good between two people has ever come after the words, can we talk.
"Well, we're kind of busy." Luke said passing a plate to a customer and trying not to kill anyone with the cord.
"I just wanted to talk." Lorelai said trying to get his attention to her.
"Talk about what?" Luke said.
"What?" Lorelai could barely hear him.
"Talk about what?" Luke repeated annoyed not with her, but with his inability to hear her, or she him.
"Could you find a quieter place?" Lorelai asked.
"Like where?" Luke said.
"I dunno, the store room." She said as she locked her self into the front closet.
Luke sat down on a box in the store room and closed the door.
"Better?" Luke asked.
" I'm good. " She replied.
"I'm good, too."
"Good!" She realized then that she hadn't quit smiling since he answered.
"So...you wanted to talk." He asked.
"Yeah. I just realized that, uh, you know, when you went to bed last night, I was, um, a little distracted. You know with the baby moving and all." Lorelai said.
"Hey, no big deal." Luke said.
" Uh, no, no, it really was a big deal. I just, um – " Lorelai started.
"Seriously, you don't need to – " Luke didn't like where he thought the conversation was going.
"We kissed. You and me, we kissed?" Lorelai said grinning from ear to ear.
"I remember."
"And it was...unexpected."
"Lorelai, relax. I'm fine if you want to just forget it ever happened, really."
"No, I don't want to forget it ever happened. It was a great kiss."
"Yeah?"
"If one of us had been a frog, it would have had some seriously impressive consequences." Lorelai said.
"Okay."
"So, what do you think?" Lorelai said.
"I think I'm really relieved you feel that way."
"So you concur?"
"Dear God, yes."
"Good. So, then, I guess we'll discuss this later." Lorelai said, to hell with timing, she had waited a long time for this.
"Tonight?" He asked, his question caught her off guard.
"Tonight." She agreed.
"Okay. Thanks for the call." Luke replied.
" Well, my pleasure. " Lorelai hung up the phone and couldn't get the thoughts of that kiss out of her head the rest of the day. She walked into the kitchen and found Sookie feeding Davey in his high chair.
"How un fair is it that you just became a mom and I am about to become a grandma?" Lorelai said sitting beside her friend.
"I know it is kind of weird isn't it?" Sookie said.
"Kind of? No, it is alternate universe weird. And there is another thing." Lorelai started.
"What?"
"I am dating Luke." Lorelai said swallowing hard after her comment.
"What?"
"We went to Liz's wedding, and then that movie and the town carnival."
"I thought you said that you thought those were friendly things?"
"I did, until yesterday, last night after you guys went to bed. He and I sat on the front porch and were talking and he kissed me."
"You are sure that he kissed you?"
"Yes Sookie I am sure."
"Does he know he kissed you?"
"Sookie of course he does."
"So you are dating Luke?"
"I think so."
"Have you talked to him?"
"I just got off the phone with him." Lorelai said smiling.
"And…"
"And we are going to go out tonight and I dunno, date."
"Ooooo this is sooo great!" Sookie said squealing.
"Yeah it is."
Lorelai arrived home later that evening to find Paris on the telephone apparently to Kirk.
"So what do you do with all the money from all of these jobs? You live at home, you don't dress extravagantly, you don't own a car, why all the jobs, what are you planning?" Paris asked questions as though she was talking to a mob Don, or politician.
Lorelai wandered into the kitchen and found Rory sitting at the table looking through a box of baby clothes.
"What is going on in there?"
"Paris thinks that Kirk is planning some kind of hostile take over of Stars Hollow." Rory replied as if that was nothing new.
"What are you up to, where did you find these?"
"The hall closet, you know we really should clean that thing out more often, did you know there is a box of stuff that Max gave you in there?" Rory said.
"Yeah…uh…oh look it is your Bananarama jumper." Lorelai said picking up a tiny out fit.
"It is so little."
"Believe me, when it is time for her to come out, you will be glad she is this tiny, in fact, you will wish she was even smaller." Lorelai said.
"Haven't I told you I am not going to have her, she is staying in there, I read all about that whole birth thing, and I decided it isn't for me." Rory said.
"Good luck with that." Lorelai said.
"So I heard from the doctors office today, I go in on Tuesday to get my ultra sound."
"Really!"
"Tuesday ten am, can you be there?"
"Of course I will be there." Lorelai said. "I get to rub your nose in it when they tell you that it is a girl."
"I never said it wasn't a girl, I just didn't understand how you were so sure it was a girl."
"I feel it in my bones."
Paris walked into the room with an annoyed look on her face.
"Phone for you Lorelai. Of course someone has to beep in right when I have Kirk on the ropes, he was about to confess everything, I almost had that story broke wide open."
"Sorry." Lorelai said taking the phone from her annoyed house guest.
"So you had him on the ropes?" Rory said.
"Can it Gilmore." Paris said.
"So I have an ultra sound on Tuesday, I am finding out if this thing growing in me is a Desmond or a Molly."
"It's a girl." Paris said.
"Why do you say that."
"I dunno, I am just guessing I have a fifty/fifty chance of being correct." Paris said.
Lorelai walked back into the room, with a sad expression on her face.
"Liz and TJ were in an accident, and Luke has to go to Maine to help them with the Renaissance Fair booth. He will be gone for a week." Lorelai said.
"Ahh…no Lukes pancakes for a week." Rory said.
"No Luke for a week." Lorelai said.
"You mean? You are going to miss him not just his food."
"He kissed me, the other night at the test run."
"Oh my God! You are dating Luke." Rory said.
"I am dating Luke." Lorelai said letting her mind wander.
"Give it up Kirk I am on to you." Paris said, reviving her conversation from before.
One week past Luke was still not back from Maine on Sunday and when he made his daily call to Lorelai he was the barer of bad news.
"It is going to be another week." He said sounding disappointed.
"No! You said a week you are supposed to be home tomorrow! You said a week."
"I know what I said, Liz and Tj are worse off than I thought they were before, I can't just leave them."
"I know, damn you for being a good brother."
"I will be home in a week."
"Will you bring me a present?"
Luke laughed.
"Yeah, I'll think of something."
Tuesday…
Lorelai left early from work to pick up Rory and drive into Hartford. Today was the day they were going to find out if they were to be buying pink or blue.
"So, did you find out with me?" Rory said.
"You missy, had your legs crossed." Lorelai said. "Too bad you couldn't keep it that way, we wouldn't be in this situation." Lorelai said with a laugh.
"Mom."
"Sorry, sorry, I am starting to warm up to the idea of little Lorelai Gilmore the fourth, I don't mean to be mean, I am just cranky."
"You miss Luke."
"No I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"Maybe."
"You do." Rory said.
Lorelai gave Rory a knowing look and the conversation was dropped. They drove the rest of the way in silence.
"Her name isn't going to be Lorelai, don't you think the world has had enough of us?"
"HA! See I told you it was a girl."
They arrived at the doctors and they let Lorelai into the room once Rory was all settled in.
"I love you in that gown it is very you." Lorelai said mocking the hospital gown Rory was wearing.
"Mom!" Rory said slapping her mothers hand away.
"Hi Rory how are you feeling." The doctor said as she walked in.
"I am good."
"Morning sickness calming down?"
"For the most part."
"Notice any tenderness, any pain anywhere?"
"No not really, my feet hurt more than normal."
"That is to be expected."
"So any complaints?"
"Yes…"Lorelai started.
"Mom." Rory whined.
"She is cranky, do you have anything for cranky?" Lorelai said with a grin.
"No, I am afraid not." Her doctor said with a laugh.
"So are we ready to see this little alien living inside you?"
"There is a alien inside you? Rory you said you were pregnant!"
"Mom behave."
There was a knock at the door and a nurse came in.
"There is a woman out here said she is the great grandmother, she'd like to come in if that was all right."
"What? She must have the wrong room because…" Lorelai started.
"Mom." Rory said.
"Rory?"
"I called grandma, I just left a message, I didn't think that she would come. I just thought that she should know." She was explaining fast and not gaining any ground with her mother.
"And now she is here." Lorelai said, throwing her hands in the air.
"Should I let her in or…" The nurse asked.
"Rory it is your call." Lorelai said annoyed.
"I did invite her. I want to make things good again."
"This is Emily Gilmore, she does not just give things up, I had you 19 years ago and I am still hearing about it."
"Mom."
"Okay if you want her you've got her, just don't say I didn't tell you so."
"Let her in." Rory said to the nurse.
Emily walked into the room.
"Lorelai." She said greeting her daughter.
"Mom."
"Hi Grandma, I am so glad you decided to come." Rory said.
"I was invited wasn't I?"
"Yes, I just didn't know if…"
"Look at you." Emily said examining her granddaughter's stomach.
"Yeah. It is weird isn't it."
"It's beautiful."
"Lets see what it is, shall we?" Lorelai said.
"Is it time?" Emily said. ''
"Yes." The doctor said turning on the monitor.
Rory grabbed Lorelais hand and the doctor rolled the machine on her abdomen.
"It has a good strong heart beat." The doctor said. "There is an arm, and there is the head…" The doctor said pointing.
"Pink or blue, pink or blue!" Lorelai said.
"Rory do you want to know?" The doctor said.
"Yes." Rory said.
"Great grandma? It is you last chance are you sure you want to know?"
"I do." Emily said with a smile.
"It's a girl." The doctor said with a smile.
"My daughter is having a daughter." Lorelai said smiling and laughing and crying all at once. She hugged Rory and looked over at her mother on the other side of the bed and reached out to hold her hand. Much to her surprise Emily took her hand and squeezed it.
"It's a girl." Rory said breathing in deeply.
"It's a girl." The doctor echoed.
"Ten fingers, ten toes?" Lorelai said.
"Everything is there and seems to be running smoothly." The doctor replied.
"Mom." Rory said looking at her mother.
"I know." Lorelai said stroking her daughters hair back.
"Shall I make a print for you?" The doctor asked.
"Can you make a few? I mean one for all of us?" Rory said.
The doctor started the prints and stood up.
"I am going to go check on your blood work and I will be back in a minute."
"So will it be Lorelai the fourth?" Emily said with a smile.
"I don't know." Rory said.
"I am glad you came mom." Lorelai said.
"I am too."
"It is too bad dad could be here."
Emily's gaze darted about.
"Yes, he is away on business. Too bad isn't it. I will show him the picture."
Lorelai knew that something was up.
"Everything checked out Rory, you can get dressed and go." The doctor said poping her head back in. "Don't forget to set up another appointment in three weeks."
"I won't."
"Mom, why don't you and I step outside and give Rory a minuet huh?"
"Very well." Emily said.
No sooner had the door closed behind them than Lorelai started in on her mother.
"Dad isn't away on business is he?"
"Well."
"He doesn't know you are here does he?"
"Well no, he would be furious if he knew, he can't seem to get it through his head that this baby is happening weather we like it or not just like Rory did."
"Exactly mom."
"I know that! Why do you think I am here, I miss Rory I wanted to make sure that everything was going okay, that all the right things were being done."
"They are. I am making sure that she is doing all she should be, she might be having a baby but she is still my baby."
"I know that. It must be getting expensive though, all these doctors visits and all preparation."
"We are fine mom, Chris is helping out."
"Christoper?"
"It is his grandchild too."
"How did he take the news?"
"He threw a parade."
"Lorelai."
"He was shocked mom, like all of us, he wasn't happy but what could he do? He has paid for a couple of appointments and he is giving Rory all of Gigi old things. He is being Chris, helpful but unavailable."
"Well I want to help." Emily said taking out her pocket book.
"No, mom really we have it." Lorelai said.
"You can't have it."
"We have it, we really do, I have it under control."
"You just opened your Inn, you haven't had a steady cash flow in months this has to be hurting you."
"We are fine mom, we always seem to manage."
"I don't want my great grand child to have to manage, now please just take this check and buy her the things she needs." Emily said handing her daughter a check.
"This is for 5,000 dollars mom."
"I know the amount."
"We can't take this." Lorelai said.
"Take what?" Rory said walking out of the room.
"You grandmother is trying to give us a check." Lorelai said.
"Grandma, that isn't necessary, we are doing ok, I am working part time for mom and saving some money and dad is helping a little."
"You need to have a safety net."
"Grandma really."
"Please Rory just take it."
Rory looked at her mother and then again at her grandmother.
"How do I pay it back? I mean dinners are off since I am a disgrace, unless grandpa has changed his mind and since he isn't here I would guess that, that is a big no." Rory said.
"Rory he is still in shock."
"It has been three months, you guys haven't called, you haven't done anything, you only knew about this because I called you. I didn't call you because I wanted your money grandma, I called you because I wanted you here, because I miss you and I wanted to see you and I wanted you to be here when I found out about your great grand daughter, I thought if she was real to you, you might put it all behind you, but you obviously can't, you obviously think that all I wanted you here for was your money and that just isn't true. I guess I should have known, you have known me for 19 years and you are still mad at mom about me." Rory said crying and walking out of the building.
Emily stood there stunned.
"I am sorry mom, she is really emotional right now, you know how it can be." Lorelai said.
"I…"
"She is upset that dad wasn't here, she really misses you guys, and she hates that she disappointed you."
"I didn't come just to give you the money, I know you must need help, she must need help. There are no strings." Emily said dead pan.
"Mom, we are really doing okay."
"Just take it please, if you cash it fine, if you don't fine." Emily said handing her the check.
"Okay, but I am not going to make any promises about cashing it."
"Just take care of her okay?"
"I have been for 19 years I don't know why I would stop now."
"You're father will come around, there is just a lot of emotions left."
"Yeah well why don't you tell him he isn't the only one with feelings around here, and he is killing his only grand daughter and that isn't what she needs right now. It is too late for him to be supportive of me and I have grown accustom and even immune to his disapproval of me, but his grand daughter hasn't and to be honest I really hope she won't have to. Tell him that will you."
"Lorelai."
"I am glad you came mom, but you are a part of a set and one of you without the other just doesn't work Rory needs both of you, talk to your husband will you, for once back me up on this, I have a girl out there who is scared and feels like her own family has turned her back on them, and I know how she feels and I would do anything to stop that, so please, mom, if you love Rory please, get him to at least talk to her."
"I can't make him change his mind."
"No you can't but you can tell him how you feel, you can tell him about today and you can give him this." Lorelai said handing her a sonogram print out.
"Maybe if she is real, he will change his mind, the way he did with Rory." Lorelai said walking away.
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