Note: Hi everybody! Thanks for all your support throughout this story. You really kept me going. You guys rock! Well here is the last chapter of my first fanfic. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Hope Floats
Chapter 34:
Luke, Lorelai and Emma are driving back to Stars Hollow.
"I can't wait to get home, to lie in my own bed and have some real food and coffee from the diner. That food was really disgusting!" Lorelai says, while making a face at Luke. "I'm really glad the doctor finally decided to release us from the hospital." She says, smiling at little Emma.
"What are you talking about?" Luke replies. "You've only been there for one day and I brought you food last night and this morning. Besides I think the doctor was very eager to get rid of you and your non-stop flow of questions on how everything worked and if it resembled ER at all."
Lorelai starts to laugh. "Yeah, I guess I was driving him a little bit crazy, but I just wanted to share the knowledge I gained while watching ER for the last ten episodes or so."
"I did have a lot of fun with the nurses though. They sneaked in some apple juice last night and we had a little juice party. They enlightened me on all the gossip that is going around in the hospital. You wouldn't believe the intrigues that are playing there. It is even worse than in ER. Did you know that doctor Graham is in love with Nurse Stephanie? Apparently she feels the same way, but she is married and cannot act on it. Oh and Lisa, from the reception used to date Nurse Karen, only they had to brake things of because they were afraid to lose their jobs if they didn't."
Luke just nods and smiles at Lorelai's stories, thinking how he is the luckiest guy in the world having her and having this beautiful baby girl.
Suddenly Lorelai's monologue gets disturbed by her phone. The show tune of the A-Team is blasting through the car.
"Where did you get that tune from?" Luke asks her.
"One of the nurses sent it to me." She says, while picking up her phone.
"This is little Emma speaking. I'm too small to talk right now. That's why I'm using my telepathic powers to talk through my mother."
Luke gives her a strange look and decides to ignore her and just concentrate on his driving.
"Hey little Emma! I was just wondering when you and mom are getting home." Rory says, playing along.
"No Emma! Let me talk to Rory. I want to talk to her, okay? You can talk to her later." Lorelai says and Rory starts to chuckle, while Luke just shakes his head.
"Hi honey! Wow that girl has some strong powers here. I better watch myself. But to return to your question, if you walk outside just about now, you can see us drive up the driveway."
Rory and Tristan walk outside, just in time to see the car pull up. Immediately Rory runs over to the car and gives her mom a big hug.
In the mean time Luke takes Emma out of the car and they all walk inside the house.
"I can't believe they already released you from the hospital? Rory says to her mother.
"Well, we Gilmore Girls are very tough and won't be put to bed that easily. Besides we annoyed the doctor to no end, so maybe that's got something to do with it." She says, while raising her shoulders.
"I 'm betting it was the second part" Luke responds and both Tristan and Rory start to laugh.
"Well I'm glad I'm home anyway, no matter what the reason is." Lorelai responds. "Can we go to the diner now? I'm starving."
"Sure! Let's walk, shall we?" Luke says and they all start walking to the diner.
When they get there, they are greeted by a big pink banner that says: 'Welcome home Emma!' And inside everybody is waiting anxiously to meet the little girl.
Lorelai is jumping up and down, hugging everybody. "Wow you guys, this is great! How did you pull this off this quickly? Sookie, how did you manage to make all this food in just one day?"
"I have been on high alert the last two weeks, so I would be prepared the moment you went into labor. And of course I had a lot of help from the kitchen staff at the Dragonfly." Sookie responds beamingly.
"Well I like you all to meet Emily Sophia Danes-Gilmore, or for short Emma."
Everybody turns to Luke, who is still carrying Emma and is now looking very protective.
Miss Patty bends over Luke to look at Emma. "Oh my, she's a real beauty. Just look at those big blue eyes. She's gonna be a heartbreaker when she gets older, just mark my words. You'll have your work cut out for you Luke."
Next in line is Kirk who immediately sticks out his hand to touch Emma's face.
"Ah, ah, ah!" Luke slaps his fingers. "What have I told you Kirk? Just look, don't touch." Luke says in an angry voice.
"Alright, but can I take a picture. I want to show her to Lulu, because she cannot be here today. "
"Yes you can make a picture, but only if you give us a copy as well" Lorelai quickly steps in.
"Could you also take a picture of the whole family?"
"Yeah sure!" Kirk replies.
"Rory! ET! Come over here. Kirk is gonna take our picture, so we can put it on the wall in the diner."
The festivities go on for another hour or so. Emma already fell asleep after 10 minutes, but now Luke notices that Lorelai is also very quiet.
He walks over to her and puts his arm around her shoulder. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
"I'm relishing the moment. I'm loving every minute of it" She replies with a smile. "I never would have thought I could be this happy."
She looks at him smiling and he returns the smile. "Me neither! Not in a million years."
Lorelai tries to hide a yawn, but Luke notices anyway.
"Okay, I guess it is time to rest, young lady. Let's get you and Emma home."
"Ay Ay Boss!" Lorelai says saluting and then gives him on of her dazzling smiles. "But before we go, shouldn't we talk to Lane first about what we discussed earlier."
"Yeah your right! I almost forgot about that"
"Rory, could you watch Emma for us? We'll be right back."
Lorelai walks over to Lane. "Lane, could you come to the back with us? There is something we would like to discuss with you."
"Sure!" Lane replies and follows them to the back.
Luke starts rubbing his hands, finding for a way to start "Okay here is the thing. As you know I've got little Emma now to look after, so I was thinking about cutting back my hours a bit. And I'm not just talking about the catering, but also about managing the place. You are by far the best and the most trustworthy employee I've got and therefore I would like to ask you if you are willing to take over that responsibility."
Lane wants to respond, but is cut off by Luke.
"Before you answer, I would want you to think this through. Because if you decide to take over this responsibility, I would demand of you that you get a managing degree. I already looked into it and you can get it in Hartford. It is only a part time study and it will be fully paid for by me of course. Now I know you are very into your music and I don't want to stand in your way with that, but I think it is very wise for you to have something you can fall back on. So what do you say? Of course you don't have to answer me now. You can sleep on it if you want."
Both Lorelai and Luke are looking at her expectantly.
"Are you kidding me? This is great! Of course I would be happy to take this opportunity. You guys rock!" And she gives them both a big hug.
Rory and Tristan are still sitting with Emma, when Luke, Lorelai and Lane return. Seeing the happy faces, Rory immediately jumps up and runs over to Lane to give her a big hug.
"Oh my got you took the job! That's great Lane. I actually wasn't sure if you would want to, you know with your music and stuff."
"Yeah I know, but I figured this is a great opportunity for me and I will find away to combine it with my music. I have a lot of practice in that area, you know."
"Yes I know. That's why I know that you will be a great manager some day. Of course, next to you being that famous sexy rockbitch."
"Yes of course!" Lane replies and they all start to laugh.
"Alright everybody. I have to get Lorelai and Emma home so they can get some rest. You just stay and enjoy the rest of the party. There are free refills for everybody at the counter."
At that he looks at Lane, who just nods in understanding.
Lorelai walks over to Rory. "Are you staying here?"
"No we're going with you if you don't mind. We thought we might rent babyboom and watch it all together, before we go back to Yale."
"That sounds like an excellent idea. Come on Mr. backward baseball cap, let's go home."
"Yeah, let's go home!" And with that the whole family walks out of the diner.
Everybody watch them go.
"Ah would you look at that! Don't they just look like the perfect happy family?" Miss Patty responds. Then she turns around to face the others. "So I guess we have to start some new betting pools. Anybody have any ideas?"
"Yes how about how long will it take for Lorelai and Emily to be back at each others throats?" Sookie replies.
"Yeah, or how many days it will take for Lorelai and Luke to get into an argument about raising Emma." Babette joins in.
"Oh I know." Miss Patty says excitingly. "How long will Rory hang on to this stud before she moves on to the next one?"
Well I guess we will just have to wait and see, will we? All we know is that at the moment it seems perfect and they better cherish these perfect moments, because nobody knows what the future will bring. (Hahaha, or maybe I do)
The End
xxx
A/N: So! That was the end. I hope you all enjoyed it. I'm planning on writing a sequel in the near future, but you probably have to wait on that a little while longer, cause first I hope to graduate in December (Yay, I'll finally have my MSc in Aerospace Engineering).
I'm also thinking of writing a story, which is a crossover of GG and the movie 10 things I hate about you, slightly altered of course, cause we wouldn't want to miss Lorelai. So tell me what you think, which should I write first?
