Note: Wow you guys are great! I really love your reviews. I even made some people cry (never knew I had it in me). It is so good to hear that everybody is enjoying this story so much and it helps me with the quick updates.
Hope Floats
Chapter 33:
Hartford Hospital
Emily was just drifting off to sleep, when Rory and Tristan walk into the waiting room.
Rory walks over to her grandmother and gives her a big hug. "How is she doing grandma?"
"She is doing just fine, Rory. She and the baby are perfectly healthy." Emily says beamingly. "Your mother is only exhausted from the whole ordeal and she is sleeping right now."
"Do you mean that she already gave birth to my baby sister? How could that happen so soon?"
"The doctors gave her something for the contractions to come quicker, because she was loosing blood and getting weaker. But she's ok now. Why don't you go in and see her. Be quiet though and let her sleep a little while longer. When you get back I'll take you to your baby sister."
Rory looks at Tristan, who is standing a bit behind. This is when Emily first notices him standing there. "Ah you must be Mr. Dugrey! I've heard a lot about you, and not al good I must add." Emily raises her eyebrow. "Why don't we get some coffee, so you can convince me you're not the boy you used to be?" She takes his arms and gives Rory a quick wink with the eye.
Tristan is looking a bit frightened but quickly regains his composure. "It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Gilmore." He takes her arm and leads her away.
Rory walks into her mother's room and sits down by the bed. Her mom is looking so beautiful and peaceful lying there, sleeping.
Suddenly Rory can't hold it much longer and she silently starts to cry, letting all of her worries wash away. She hadn't realized how concerned she was. It only hit her the moment Emily reassured her that her mom and the baby were doing fine.
Lorelai wakes up and sees Rory crying. She takes her hand and smiles at her. "Hey kiddo! Why are you crying? We should be laughing and celebrating."
Rory starts to laugh through her tears. "Believe me, these are happy tears. I'm so glad the two of you are doing fine. You really had us worried for a while."
Lorelai smiles. "I guess you little sister just wanted to make a dramatic entrance into the world."
In the mean time Emily and Tristan returned with coffee and are now talking in the hallway. Suddenly they hear a lot of noise coming from the reception area.
"I need to see Lorelai Gilmore. You have to tell me where I can find her." Luke was nearly shouting and almost attacking the nurse.
Emily quickly walks over and calls to Luke. "Luke! Over here! She's right here in this room, but she is sleeping right now."
But Luke didn't even hear the last part of the sentence, cause he already stormed by towards the room. When he walks inside, he can see Lorelai and Rory laughing and crying.
He quickly walks over to Lorelai and strokes her hair and grabs her hand.
"Uhmm, I'm just going outside to get me my coffee. I'll be back later." Rory says and stands up to leave the room.
Luke starts to stroke Lorelai's hair again. "How are you doing, how are you feeling? Is everything alright with you and the baby? Is there anything I can do?"
Lorelai just smiles at him and gives him a kiss.
"I'm doing great and so is your daughter." She smiles at him. "If you like, you could go see her and bring her up to me?"
Luke is looking stunned. "I'm already a daddy? But how….when….?"
"Okay, first take a deep breath and let it sink in." Lorelai says laughing. It is always funny to see Luke at a loss for words.
Then he breaks down and cries. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm supposed to be there for you and the baby and when you needed me most I wasn't there."
"Shhh….It's ok! You couldn't know. And there was nothing you could have done anyway." She wipes the tears from his face. "Everything turned out fine. Besides, we are gonna need you more than ever for the rest of our lives."
He puts his head to her forehead. "And you can count on me to be there for you."
They smile and talk for a while. Lorelai tries to sit up and Luke helps her.
"Hey Luke?"
"Hmm."
"We haven't decided on a name yet!"
"Well, I told you before that as long as you don't name her after yourself or after me and as long it is easy to pronounce, I'm fine with whatever you choose. Do you have any suggestions?"
Lorelai starts to smile. "Yes I do! Come over here." She says waving her hand.
Luke bends forward and Lorelai whispers in his ear.
Luke starts to smile immediately. "I think that is perfect."
"Really?" Lorelai looks at him expectantly. "Cause I've seen her pretty face and it would go perfect with her."
"Why don't I go get her? I'm anxious to meet her. And I can bring in everybody else so we can tell them her name."
He walks out the room and sees that Richard has also joined the group in the hallway.
"Well I hear congratulations are in order. Congratulations, my man!" Richard says, while shaking his hand.
"Yes, Thank you, I guess! Emily, could you show me where she is, so I can bring here to Lorelai?"
"Yes let me show you. But I think we have to ask the doctor or nurse first if that is ok?" She responds.
"Okay, let's go!" Luke says and starts to follow Emily.
When Emily shows him his baby girl, he is totally in awe. It feels like he has known her forever and he can already feel his unconditional love for her flowing through him.
After Luke tells the doctor that he is the father and wants to take his daughter to her mother, the doctor lets them go. He tells them that they can all visit Lorelai for the next 10 minutes, but after that she has to feed the baby and get some rest. Only Luke is allowed to stay with her at all times.
Luke walks into the room holding his daughter tightly and the rest all follow him. He hands the baby over to Lorelai who immediately starts to talk to her.
Everybody is gawking over the baby, stating how pretty she is and trying to figure out who she looks like most. They can't come to an agreement, cause it is really hard to tell, so Rory finishes the debate by telling that time would tell.
Then she turns to Lorelai. "Mom? What is she gonna be called? I've been so anxious about learning her name, but you've been keeping me in the dark."
Lorelai starts to smile and looks at Luke, who also nods and smiles.
"Well, I've been keeping you in the dark, because I didn't know myself. Luke and I just decided a moment ago."
"Well tell us, what's her name?" Rory is about to pop from curiosity and Tristan starts to laugh at her impatience.
"Ok everybody! I would like to introduce you to Emily Sophia Gilmore-Danes, after both her grandmothers. But her calling name will be Emma, to prevent any confusion and because it is the name of Rory's favorite book character. You always told me you wished you had known Emma and now you can."
Rory bends over and shakes Emma's tiny hand. "Well hello there Emma! It is nice to finally be properly introduced. That's a very pretty name you have."
Lorelai looks up at her mothers face and sees that she is speechless and that her eyes are wet with tears.
"Alright everybody! I'm kicking you al out, so Lorelai can get some rest. You can visit her again at six o'clock if you want." The doctor says, while he walks into the room.
Everybody starts to say goodbye and a moment later it is just Lorelai, Luke and Emma in the room. Lorelai is feeling really tired again and starts to drift away.
"Here! Why don't you give Emma to me, so you can sleep some more? I'll wake you if she needs to be fed."
He takes Emma and sits down at the chair beside the bed. Lorelai smiles and immediately starts drifts away to sleep.
xxx
A/N: So what do you think! I know the name probably isn't a great surprise and is probably used before, but somehow it felt good. I'm probably gonna write one last chapter to finish this story. And maybe I'll write a sequel after this. So tell me what you thought of this and leave a review.
