A/N: As we draw closer to the end, I have to give more thanks to dimoreien for all her help. Also, thank you for all the wonderful reviews and comments. Enjoy.

She Always Takes Me Back

Chapter 22: Are You freaking Kidding Me?

Before he opened his eyes, Luke felt a pain at the back of his head and the cold tile floor underneath him and wondered what he was doing there. When he opened them and found Rory, Richard and Emily Gilmore staring over him, he remembered.

Lorelai was pregnant. Pregnant with his baby. He was going to be a father. He was feeling lightheaded again but Rory's Bambi-like voice helped ground him.

"Luke, are you okay?" she asked. "I've haven't seen anybody hit the ground like that since Paris and I debated some kids from the Westminster School."

"I'm okay," he said as he sat up. "I can't believe I did that."

"It really was quite the spectacle," Emily said walking away.

Luke got off the floor, sat down in a chair and readjusted his cap as Rory handed him a bottle of water.

"Was I out very long?"

"About 30 seconds," Richard said. "The doctor isn't even back with help yet."

"I'm fine. I guess I was a little shocked to hear that."

"I take it you didn't know about Mom?"

"No. Did you?"

"No, she didn't say anything to me. I wonder if she knows?"

"I don't know," Luke said as he began to take a few deep breaths "When I woke up this morning, I wasn't expecting my whole life to change in about six different ways."

"I know how you feel. I'm going be a big sister."

"Aren't you already a big sister?"

"Yeah, but I never see Gigi. If Mom has a baby, I know I'll see her or him all the time. I'll be part of its life."

"I still can't believe this," Luke said again. "How did this happen?"

"Well, Luke…"

"Not that, jeez."

Before their conversation could veer into a land that was any more uncomfortable, the doctor reappeared.

"Oh, you're up," he said to Luke. "I was about to order you a bed."

"I'm fine. I'm sorry I caused a commotion."

"It happens all the time around here. I just checked, and Ms. Gilmore has been moved to her own room. You can go and see her if you like."

"Thank you, Dr. Conner," Rory said. "What room is she in?"

"Room 762F, just through those doors. She's still unconscious, but she should wake up shortly."

The doctor left the group in the waiting room, who flocked like sheep to Lorelai's room. When Luke entered, he couldn't help but notice how small and fragile Lorelai looked. Her shoulder was bandaged and her arm was in a sling. She was asleep.

"Luke, you don't have to stay," Emily said. "Her family is here for her."

"Emily, Lorelai and I may not be married, but she is just as important to me as she is to you. I'm not going anywhere until I know she is okay. If you have a problem with that, you can leave and I'll call you."

"Fine," Emily said, an air of indignation in her voice. "I'm going to get some coffee and talk to the nurses about making sure Lorelai stays in a private room. Richard, come on."

"Yes, Emily," he said following her out of the room.

Luke and Rory each pulled up a chair on either side of Lorelai's bed and waited for her to wake, hoping it wouldn't be very long.

Rory was just nodding off when Lorelai first began to stir. Luke, who was feeling too much to sleep, jumped out of his chair at the first movements she made. The Gilmores waited for an hour, but said they would return in the morning since the room was too small to accommodate all of them.

"Lorelai?" he said. "Can you hear me?"

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"Rory? Luke? Where am I?

"You're in the hospital, Mom. You had surgery because you were shot in the shoulder. Are you in any pain?"

"No, whatever they have me on is pretty good stuff because I can't feel a thing. How did I get shot?"

"You don't remember being in the diner?" Luke said taking the hand not attached to her injured shoulder. "You came down the stairs and were shot by the guy robbing the diner."

"Oh yeah, I came down to see what was taking you so long because my surprise was getting ruined. Then I saw someone in black and felt a pain in my shoulder. I don't remember much after that, just fading in and out."

"Well, they took you in for surgery because the bullet was still in your shoulder," Rory said as sat on her mother's bed. "The doctor said he got it out and you should be fine, but pretty sore. He also told us something else."

"What? Am I dying? Do I have cancer?" Lorelai said, suddenly getting agitated

"No, not that. I think, and Luke, think it's good news."

"Yeah, it's great news," Luke said giving her hand a squeeze.

"Mom, you're going to have a baby."

"Excuse me?" she said as she tried to comprehend the words through the haze of painkillers.

"You're pregnant. The doctor told us after your surgery. He said your baby wasn't harmed."

"Luke, what is she talking about? I'm not pregnant. I'd know if I was pregnant and I'm not pregnant. I don't just get pregnant!"

Lorelai had the look of a rabbit trapped by a cougar.

"Uh, Mom, I hate to disagree with you, but if you didn't get pregnant, I wouldn't be here."

"But I was young and stupid then. Luke and I are always careful. Right, Luke?

"Well, you remember the night we got back together? I don't think we took every precaution every time. It was five times."

"Oh, I don't want to hear this," Rory said as she shuddered and walked away from the bed. "This is too much information."

"Lorelai, I'm a little freaked out about this myself. I passed out in front of your parents in the waiting room when the doctor told us."

"My mother knew I was pregnant before I did? This is every nightmare I've ever had come to life. Next thing you know, Christopher will walk in here and tell me we really did get married as teens and I have a DAR meeting tonight."

At the mention of Christopher, Lorelai noticed both Rory and Luke's expressions change.

"What did I say that gave both of you that look?"

"What look?" Luke said, making his facial expression even more obvious to her.

"The something-else-really-bad-has-happened-and-you-don't-want-to-have-to-mention-it-to-me-face."

Luke smiled that she knew him so well. Oh well, he thought. I might as well get it over with. It can't be as bad as finding out you're pregnant.

"The man who shot you. After he pulled the trigger, I threw a full, hot coffee pot at him and hit him in the face."

"You broke the coffee pot?"

"Focus, Lorelai."

"Sorry, please continue."

"Well, that took him out and I pulled off his mask. It was Christopher."

"Christopher? My Christopher? Rory's dad Christopher?"

"Yeah. He was arrested after I kicked him a couple of times and tied him up with tape."

"Why would Chris rob the diner?"

"I don't think he was robbing the diner. I think he came to kill me. Lorelai, you saved my life."

"Why would he want to kill you?"

"Because, Lorelai, if you were with me and happy, he never stood a chance. I guess he thought he could eliminate the problem.'

"Well, he was a fool, Luke," Lorelai said wrapping her fingers around the hand holding hers. "I wouldn't go back to him if he was the last man on Earth after the way he started hanging out at my house at night."

"Mom, I'm going to get some coffee. I'll be back in a few minutes."

When Rory left, Luke got up and sat on the bed next to Lorelai.

"Lorelai, about this baby," he said as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I know this is not something we had planned."

"I'll say," she said with a smile.

"But I'm very happy about this. There's also something else. I've been lying to you."

"About what?"

"You know how I've been helping Taylor?"

"Yeah? Oh my God, are you having an affair with Taylor?"

"What? No, of course not," he said getting flustered.

Lorelai smiled.

"I have been helping Taylor with the Twickham house because I want that house. I want to live there. I've always wanted to live there. It is the perfect home to raise a family, and now, this has happened. I want us to live there. I want us to get married. Now, you may be a little high right now, but whenever you're ready, I'm ready."

"Luke, have I told you how much I love you lately?"

"Yes."

"Good, and don't forget it. We don't have to decide this right now, but thank you for telling me about the house. Let's talk to the doctor first and see what's going on with this alleged baby. I still can't believe I didn't know. Of course, I didn't know about Rory until my jeans wouldn't zip and I was throwing up at the smell of fish"

"Okay, we don't have to decide our entire future from your hospital bed. Why don't you get some rest. I'll send Rory in, get something to eat, open the diner and let all of Stars Hollow know you're alive."

"Please don't tell them I might be pregnant. If I am, they'll know soon enough."

"You got it," he said kissing her on the lips. "I'll be back at about nine."

After another kiss, Luke left to update Rory while Lorelai tried to process how her life had just changed.

Pregnant, she thought. How could she be pregnant? Luke and I are going to be parents. As she let the emotions wash over her, she then tried to comprehend the second piece of information Luke had given her.

What had happened to Christopher? How had he gone from weak-willed boy to attempted murderer?

She wasn't allowed to think about it much more because Rory came back in and sat down.

"Mom, are you tired? Do you want to sleep?"

"Yes, I do. It's been a crazy few minutes."

"Okay, I'll be here when you wake up."

"Thanks, hon."

"Oh and Mom? I'm happy about your baby. I think you and Luke are going to be great parents together because you are already the best mom in the world."

Lorelai smiled and closed her eyes. Her and Luke's baby would be a sight to see, she thought as she drifted back to sleep.

When Christopher woke up in his cell, he saw two figures outside it, his mother and his daughter.

"Mother? Why did you bring that here?"

"Christopher, that thing is gone. This is Georgia."

"Daddy, why are you in here?" Gigi said in her normal voice. "What happened?"

"Gigi, baby, is that really you?" Christopher felt tears rolling down his cheeks as he held Gigi's hands that were protruding through the bars. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Daddy, but what about you?"

"It's a misunderstanding, honey. I'll be out in no time."

"I talked to the lawyer," Francine said. "He thinks that as long as you keep talking about demons, you might be acquitted by reason of mental defect and have to spend some time in mental hospital. Once the doctors are sure you are no longer a threat, you'll be set free."

"I'm not crazy, Mom. That really happened."

"Well, Christopher, you are going to have a hard time proving it that your daughter is a demon from Hell that was forcing you to do its bidding."

"I see your point, Mother."

"Good, then keep telling your story, and I'll get the finest doctors in New York. Hopefully, you'll be out in less than a year, but if you want my help, you are going to have to leave Connecticut and never come back."

"I can't leave Rory and Lorelai."

"Rory is 20 years old, Christopher. She can travel to see you anywhere, if she wants to see you. As for Lorelai, I'm pretty sure she is not going to be too forgiving about you shooting her."

"But that was an accident. I'm sure she'll understand."

"You are not that charming, Christopher, and not even Lorelai Gilmore is that dense! Give up, Darling. Find yourself someone new, or just go back to Sherry."

Christopher sighed. His mother never would understand. One day, he didn't know how long, he and Lorelai would eventually be together. But, for now, he needed his mother's help, and he would do what she said. Plus, there were plenty of states nearby.

"Okay, Mother, I'll do what you say. I'll stay away and play crazy"

"Good, Christopher, because you are far too pretty to go to prison. Just remember that."

"Duly noted, Mother."

When Luke opened the diner that morning, he was besieged with twice the number of customers who all wanted to know what had happened. He was his usual gruff self and would only confirm that Lorelai had been shot, but she was going to be fine and the robber was Rory's dad.

As soon as he knew Caesar had the diner under control, he headed back to the hospital where Rory and the Gilmores were keeping Lorelai occupied.

"Mom, the bed is fine. I don't need a down comforter. I'm hoping I'll be out of her tomorrow anyway."

"Really, Lorelai, you should be as comfortable as possible."

"I am, Mom. I can't feel a thing."

"Uh, good morning, everyone," Luke said entering the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a million bucks," she said. "Everything all right at the diner?"

"Well, apparently, you stopped the diner robbery by karate chopping the assailant and got shot in a struggle over the gun."

"That sounds about right."

After the doctor examined her shoulder, Lorelai requested to see a gynecologist, who confirmed she was indeed four weeks pregnant. The doctor told her the fetus was healthy, in good shape, and not effected by the bullet or the painkillers she was taking. She also allowed Lorelai to hear the heartbeat, which was a jackrabbit fast thumping sound she hadn't heard since the day she first heard Rory's heartbeat

"Wow, I can't believe this is happening," she said as the doctor removed the stethoscope from her stomach.

"Well, it is, Ms. Gilmore. It's still very early in your pregnancy, so you are going to have to begin watching what you eat and give up alcohol, tobacco and caffeine."

"Oh man, I don't know if I can give up coffee."

"That's what decaf is for. You just have to decide what's more important: a healthy baby or a caffeine high."

"That's really not a fair way to put it."

"I just tell it like it is, Ms. Gilmore. My sole job is to make sure you have a happy, healthy baby, but I can only do so much."

"You have nothing to worry about. I'm sure this baby's father is going to have me on a macrobiotic diet the second I'm out of the hospital"

"Good because it's important for a woman of your age to take every precaution to have avoid all complications. Keep that in mind when you want coffee."

"Well, it's official," Lorelai said to Luke when she returned to her room and got situated into her bed. "We are going to have a baby."

"So how do you feel about it?"

"I think I'm really happy about it, Luke. I think we are going to be great parents and hopefully, we won't screw up our kid too much."

"Well, considering the great job you did on your own with Rory, I just hope I'm going to be a good dad."

"You are going to be a great dad, Luke, because nobody cares about family more than you do."

Luke leaned over and kissed Lorelai tenderly on the lips.

"So, what do you want a boy or girl?" she asked as she took his hand.

"Well, you already have a girl, and I don't think we could do much better than Rory. How would you feel about a boy?"

"A boy, a girl. I just want him or her to look just like you."

Luke made a face, then smiled.

"Let's hope if it's a girl, it looks more like you, unless you want a daughter to be a linebacker for Stars Hollow High."

"Well, at least she'd be a pioneer. Hey, why don't you come and get in bed with me?"

"Gladly," he said as she moved over and he joined her in the small bed and kissed her on the temple. "Hey, you know the best thing about this baby?"

"What?"

"This means we'll get a free worker for the diner and the inn. Think of the money we'll save."

Lorelai smiled and kissed him.

"Only you would think that's the best thing about having a kid."