I know I'm horrible for leaving everyone on a semi-cliffhanger but I've been really busy. I'm also really sorry that I'm not responding to any of my reviewers but the new thing they created just makes it really hard because it takes a lot of time. I can hardly find time to post chapters. Luckily my holiday break is starting in 5 days so I should be able to update faster.
THE NEXT MORNING.
Lorelai's eyes fluttered open as she remembered everything that had happened. She looked around the room and saw Luke asleep in the chair and Rory asleep on the cot the hospital provided. She sat there until Luke and Rory woke up.
"I think my neck is broken" Luke said. "And my back"
"Don't be such a wimp" Lorelai said laughing.
"Good morning" a nurse said coming in.
"They like to switch my nurses to confuse me, don't they" Lorelai said.
The nurse laughed.
"My name is Lauren" the nurse said. "I'll be your nurse this morning and tomorrow morning"
"You wouldn't happen to know how Emma is; would you?" Lorelai asked.
"The doctor will be in here in a few minutes to tell you about Emma" Lauren said. "But from what the other nurses are saying, she's doing much better"
"Yes!" Lorelai exclaimed.
Luke and Rory smiled.
Just then the doctor came in the room.
"Hello Mrs. Danes" the doctor said. "I think I have some very good news"
"I hope it's what I think it is" Lorelai said excited.
"Emma is doing very well" the doctor said. "We hope to have her off the ventilator by tomorrow"
"Thank god" Lorelai said.
Luke breathed a sigh of relief.
"I have to say, this is one of the most miraculous things I've ever seen" the doctor said.
"Emma's a fighter" Lorelai said. "After all, she's a Gilmore and a Danes"
The doctor smiled.
"You seem to be doing well too" the doctor said. "I think by this afternoon you should be able to go home, but I want you off your feet for a week"
"A week?" Lorelai said surprised. "Are you kidding me?"
"No" the doctor said. "It wasn't a normal C-section you went through; you aren't going to bounce back within a day or two"
"This isn't going to affect me ever having another baby, will it?" Lorelai asked.
"I don't know" the doctor said. "It shouldn't, but I can't for sure say that"
"What about Emma?" Luke asked. "When will she be able to come home?"
"When she's off the ventilator and has gained enough weight" the doctor said. "My guess is in a couple weeks, maybe a month"
Lorelai sighed.
"It's going to be really hard going home without my baby" Lorelai said.
"I know, but you'll have something to look forward to in a couple weeks. Plus you can come see her whenever you want during the day, in fact we recommend it" the doctor said.
"Emma's really going to be okay?" Luke asked.
"Yes" the doctor said. "You two must have been crossing your fingers the entire night"
The doctor went out of the room. Rory hugged Lorelai.
"I knew Emma would be okay" Rory said.
"You know, Luke, I think you've been so busy that you've forgotten that you have three daughters now" Lorelai said smiling.
"And I love every one of them" Luke said.
Rory then hugged Luke.
"Thank you, Dad" Rory whispered in Luke's ear.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in" Lorelai said.
Emily and Richard came into the room. Emily was holding Izzy.
"How are you feeling Lorelai?" Emily asked.
"Much better" Lorelai said smiling. "Emma's going to make it. The doctor came in here and said they hope to have her off the ventilator by tomorrow"
"That's wonderful" Emily said.
"Truly a miracle" Richard said.
Izzy clapped her hands and smiled at her mom.
"Can I see my little girl?" Lorelai asked.
Emily set Izzy down on the bed.
"Come here you silly girl" Lorelai said.
Izzy crawled up to her mom. She kissed her on the cheek.
"Now who taught you to do that?" Lorelai asked smiling.
"Don't look at me" Luke said.
"I taught her that" Rory said. "She was following me around the house and copying me. Then Dean came over and I kissed him on the cheek and so she cried until he picked her up. Then she kissed him on the cheek"
Lorelai laughed.
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THAT AFTERNOON.
"Home sweet home" Luke said opening the door.
"Good, that hospital food was disgusting" Lorelai said.
"After two days of being away from home, the first thing she thinks about when she's back is food" Luke said.
Rory laughed.
They walked into the living room where Sookie was sitting with Izzy.
"Welcome home!" Sookie exclaimed. "We missed you"
"I missed everyone too" Lorelai said.
Luke helped Lorelai sit down on the couch.
"What do you want to eat?" Luke asked Lorelai. "And it has to be healthy"
"A burger" Lorelai said.
"That's not healthy" Luke said.
"Yes it is"
"No it isn't" Luke said.
"Please" Lorelai said with her pouty face.
"Lorelai…" Luke said. "Fine, you can have a burger"
"Thank you" Lorelai said smiling.
He went into the kitchen.
"You have him wrapped around your finger" Sookie said.
"I know" Lorelai said happily.
"Anyway, I have some really important news" Sookie said. "I've been saving it until you came home so that you and Rory would be the first to know"
"Okay…" Lorelai said. "What is it?"
"I'm getting married" Sookie said.
"Oh my god!" Lorelai squealed. "That's great!"
"I know" Sookie said.
"When did Jackson propose?" Lorelai said. "It was Jackson, right?"
"Yes, it was Jackson" Sookie said. "He proposed the night before you went into the hospital, I didn't have time to tell you before you left"
"Congratulations!" Lorelai exclaimed. "I'd hug you but I can't get up. Rory, hug Sookie for me"
Rory went over and gave Sookie a hug. Izzy tried to join in the hug.
"See, she's still copying me" Rory said. "Watch"
Rory crouched down and touched Izzy's nose. Izzy then touched Rory's nose. Sookie and Lorelai laughed. Just then the phone rang.
"I'll get it" Rory said getting up.
She picked up the phone.
"Hello? Hey Liz, yeah, he's right here" Rory said.
She set the phone down.
"Luke, phone!" Rory said. "It's Liz"
Luke came out of the kitchen and picked up the phone.
"Hey" Luke said.
"Hey big bro" Liz said. "Is Lorelai out of the hospital?"
"Yeah, Lorelai just got home. They have to keep Emma in the hospital until she gains weight but they were going to try to take her off the ventilator this evening"
"That's great" Liz said.
"Yeah, it is" Luke said. "So, how's everything with you?"
"It's good" Liz said. "Listen, I have a big favor to ask"
"Oh no" Luke said. "The last time…"
"Would you be willing to let Jess stay with you?" Liz asked.
"What?" Luke asked. "Why?"
"It's just, he's getting into trouble here and I can't seem to help him. I was thinking if he came to live with you until he graduates then he could start over there and you could help him. He could work in the diner, you could use the help" Liz said. "Please, Luke, I really need this, he really needs this"
"Liz, we hardly have any room in this house as it is" Luke said. "Izzy and Emma are going to be sharing a room; Lorelai and I are crushed in our tiny room. There's only one bathroom"
"What about the diner?" Liz asked. "He could stay there"
"You want a seventeen year old kid living in the diner alone?" Luke asked. "Are you crazy?"
"Probably" Liz said. "But he really needs someone he can look up to"
"And that would be me?" Luke asked.
"That's who I look up to" Liz said.
"Listen, I'll discuss this with Lorelai, we'll see what we can think of, okay?" Luke said.
"Thank you big brother" Liz said. "You're the best"
"I know" Luke said.
They hung up.
"What are you going to talk to me about?" Lorelai asked.
"We can talk later" Luke said. "Right now I'm going to finish your burger"
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TWO HOURS LATER.
"So what did Liz want?" Lorelai asked.
"She called to ask a favor" Luke said. "She wants Jess to stay with us for a little while"
"Oh…why?" Lorelai asked.
"Apparently he needs someone to look up to" Luke said.
"As much as I'd like to tell Liz yes, we have a baby coming home in a month or less" Lorelai said. "And we have a one year old"
"I know" Luke said. "But Liz has this way of thinking that when we say no it doesn't mean no"
"Well this no is going to mean no" Lorelai said. "Tell her we're sorry but we just can't fit anymore people in our house"
"Can't you tell her?" Luke whined.
"Geez, a little whiny tonight?" Lorelai asked.
"But she always manipulates me into somehow saying yes" Luke said.
"Well just keep repeating no" Lorelai said.
"Easier said than done" Luke said. "So what time do you want to go see Emma?"
"I don't know, around noon" Lorelai said. "I'd say sooner but I won't get up that early"
"Plus you're going to have to keep staying off your feet" Luke said.
"But I don't want to" Lorelai whined.
"Now who's the whiny one" Luke said.
Lorelai laughed. It suddenly got very quiet.
"I want Emma to come home" Lorelai said.
"I know" Luke said. "Me too"
"You know what's funny?" Lorelai asked.
"What?" Luke asked.
"The fact that I was dreading the constant crying and 2:00 AM feedings before Emma was born. Then the minute they told me she might not make it, all I wanted to hear was her crying" Lorelai said.
"I was thinking the exact same thing" Luke said.
There, another chapter. Everyone remember to review please!