A/N: First of all I want to apologize for not updating in such a long time. I forgot count, that's how long it's been. I've been working all summer, which was great for experience (and my bank account) but not so great for my story. But the weather sucks (so much that I had to turn of my computer in the middle of writing this chapter because of a thunderstorm) and it's Sunday so there wasn't anything I was supposed to do, so I finally sat down to write a new chapter. I've been kind of uninspired lately, but this morning it all came to me and I wrote this long chapter with the only interruption of the thunderstorm. Also, in between I've written a post season-6 story called Yellow Boots. If you haven't read it yet, I'd advice you to do so :P
I'm jumping a little bit forward in time in this chapter. Last chapter Emily just started her radiotherapy and in this one she's nearly finished. How everything else is going, plus the timeframe will be clear when reading this chapter!
So, better late than never I want to thank all of you who read and reviewed the last chapter, and of course, don't forget to leave me a review for this one!
Chapter 25 – Forgetting and forgiving
"Lorelai come on. How many times do you want me to tell you I'm sorry? I'm sorry okay. It will never happen again."
Lorelai stopped halfway up the stairs. "I can't be around you right now Luke. Don't bother coming after me, and don't bother coming up here to sleep tonight. The couch is all you're getting tonight." And with that she climbed the remaining few steps, walked towards their bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
Luke watched Lorelai leave and cursed inwardly. "I'm sorry," he whispered and waited to hear if Lucan woke up from her yelling and the door slam. After a minute or so he heard their bedroom door open again. He sighed in relieve, hoping that she would finally listen to his apology. She appeared at the stair case and threw his pillow at him.
"Here. And there are blankets in the closet downstairs." With that she turned around, slamming the bedroom door behind her once again. This time it took only 5 seconds before Lucan started crying. Just when he was about to climb the stairs, the bedroom door opened for the second time that evening. "Don't bother." She yelled downstairs as she walked into Lucan's bedroom.
Luke sighed and sat down on the bottom stair, inwardly killing himself for forgetting.
- Earlier that day - 8. a.m. –
"Lorelai, hurry up."
"I'm not the one in a hurry Luke. I only have a meeting at the inn at 9."
"But I need you to take Lucan."
"Put him in the playpen." She yelled downstairs, where Luke was waiting impatiently.
"He starts crying the minute I put him in there."
"Not my problem. Just put some toys in his hands. He'll be fine."
"Lorelai." He sighed.
"I'm almost done. I just have to do my hair and my make-up."
He sighed again, knowing how long that would take. "You're already beautiful as you are."
"Thanks, but I'm not falling for that. And if you won't stop complaining now, it'll only take longer."
He turned around just fast enough to see how Lucan was about to throw a glass off the table. "Lucan no." He grabbed the glass from his son's hand, who started crying immediately. Luke put the glass in the middle of the table and kneeled down in front of his son. "You're not supposed to touch the glasses, you know that." Lucan remained crying so Luke pulled him in for a hug. "It's okay buddy. It's okay. Daddy's not mad."
"What did you do to my son?"
Luke stood up with Lucan still in his arms. "He was about to throw a glass on the floor so I told him no."
Lorelai walked towards Luke and took Lucan out of his arms. "You're supposed to behave when you're around your father my son."
Lucan pouted when he placed his head on Lorelai's shoulder.
She shook her head. "You silly boy. Let's get to work okay? Then you can bug Michel."
"I'm sure it's Michel who's teaching him all these things Lorelai. He never misbehaved before."
"Oh come on, he's not misbehaving. He's just testing us and trying to get our attention. That's the age. Wait until the twins are born. It will only get worse."
"That's just great."
"What's with you this morning Mr. Grump?"
"Nothing."
"Uhuh." She placed a kiss on his cheek. "I'm sorry okay. I didn't intend to fall back asleep after you woke me up."
"Three times. I tried waking you up three times."
"You could have just gone to the diner while bringing Lucan with you."
"But it's your day to take care of him. Plus, I have a bank appointment at ten."
"Since when?"
"Since yesterday, why?"
"Because we," she pointed at herself and then at her stomach, "have a doctor's appointment at 11."
"Oh damn, I forgot. But I'll be there. I'll just meet you over there okay?"
She nodded. "Okay."
"I better go now. I'm already an hour late for breakfast rush so I'm sure Lane and Caesar are about to kill me."
"Well, you better stay away from the diner then. I'd like to keep my husband for a while longer."
"Glad to hear. So, I'll meet you at dr. Elder's office at 11?"
"Uhuh, don't forget."
"I won't." He kissed her once more and then kissed Lucan on top of his head. "Behave today little man."
Lucan looked up at his father and smiled.
-xxxxxx-
Lorelai walked into the doctor's office, carrying Lucan. The boy protested that he wanted to walk, but she was already running late. When she entered the waiting area, she looked around, searching for Luke. To her surprise he wasn't there. "Damn it. Looks like your daddy is running late as well." She walked towards the reception area to sign in.
"Good morning Lorelai. No Luke today?"
"He was supposed to meet me here. I guess he's running late."
"Well, he'll probably be here soon. We're a little behind on schedule so you have to wait a while longer anyway."
"So I rushed for no reason." She let out a sigh.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. Is it okay to use a cell phone in here?"
"Yeah, no problem."
"Ok, thanks." Lorelai walked away and put Lucan on the floor. Then she took her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Luke's number. All she got was his voicemail. "Luke it's me. I guess you're still on your way here. You don't answer your phone while driving. Anyway, I'm waiting here at the doctor's office. They're running a little behind so I guess you'll still make it in time. See you soon."
Lorelai sat down and kept an eye on Lucan, who was playing with a toy car on the floor.
Ten minutes later Lorelai was called to come inside. Luke still wasn't there. Lorelai looked around one more time before picking up Lucan and following doctor Elder into her office.
"Good morning Lorelai." Lorelai sat down and so did dr. Elder. "Hello there Lucan." The boy smiled shyly at the doctor. "He's getting bigger every time I see him." She looked around and for the first time she noticed Luke was missing. "Was Luke not able to make it this morning?"
"He was supposed to meet me here, but I guess he's running late at the bank and has to miss it this time."
"That's okay. How have you been feeling the past few weeks?"
"Okay I guess. I'm a little more tired than usual. And the babies are starting to put pressure on my bladder so I have to run to the ladies room like every 15 minutes or so."
Dr. Elder smiled. "That's a normal symptom at this point in your pregnancy."
"I didn't got it with Lucan until much later."
"That's correct, but then there was only one baby inside you, now there are two."
"True."
"So, when you say you've been more tired than usual, how much more are you talking about?"
"It's really hard to stay focused at work for a full day. I fell asleep on my desk three times over the past two weeks. When I come home from work, I'm exhausted. I just have some dinner with Luke and Lucan, then we put him in bed and I feel like doing the exact same thing. It's like 7.30 then. And that's not really normal for me."
"Carrying two babies takes a lot of energy. Are you still working five days?"
"Yeah, but I doubt if I can keep doing that for long."
"I'd advice you to stop doing that immediately. Giving what happened when you were pregnant with Lucan, it'd be best to take it calm. I don't say you can't work at all, but I think 3 mornings a week is more than enough at this point. I know how much you love your work, but you and the babies come first."
"I know. I'll see what I can do. I'll talk to Sookie and Michel when I get back this afternoon."
Dr. Elder nodded. "Also, it's possible that you're a little anemic. I'll draw some blood to see if that's the case. Because if it is you need to take iron pills."
"That won't be bad for the babies?"
"No, it's important that your body stays healthy. We don't want you to go into early labor. Definitely not at this point in your pregnancy."
"Is there a possibility that I can?" Lorelai looked scared.
"There's always a possibility. And because of your age and your history you have a higher risk. That's why I want to start seeing you once every week now. I want to make sure you and the babies stay healthy, and that they stay inside of you as long as possible."
"I agree."
"Good. I want to take your blood pressure now and draw the blood, and then we'll listen to the babies' hearts after that, okay?"
Lorelai nodded, still trying to digest everything doctor Elder just told her.
"Okay Lorelai, why don't you put Lucan on the floor, so you can sit down on the exam table for me."
"Sure." She put Lucan on the floor and handed him some toys. "Be good." She placed a kiss on top of his head and climbed on the exam table. She extended her arm so dr. Elder could take her blood pressure.
"150 over 92. That's a little too high."
"Is that bad?"
"No, but it does make it extra important to take it easy and to monitor your carefully. I want you to come back in a day or two so I can check your blood pressure again. It's possible that it will be back to normal then."
"And if not?"
"Like I said, you have to slow down at work, and even better, stop working at all. You've had a rough couple of months with your mother's breast cancer and it's possible that your body starts reacting now."
Lorelai nodded. "I'll do anything it takes for these babies to stay healthy."
"That's good."
"What can it do to the babies, if my blood pressure stays high?"
"Let's not go there now alright? Worrying will only increase your blood pressure and that's something we don't want. Plus, it's the first time that your blood pressure is a little elevated, so it may be related to stress of some sort."
Lorelai nodded. "I just wish Luke were here."
"Do you want to call him? See what's keeping him?"
"I tried calling him before, but his cell went straight into voicemail."
"You can always try again if you want."
Lorelai nodded again. "I'd like that." She took her cell phone out of her purse and dialed his number. It went straight into voicemail again. "Hey it's me again. I guess you're still on the road. I'm already in the doctor's office so… well just call me if you get the messages okay. Bye."
"Still nothing huh."
Lorelai shook her head. "No. I guess he's either still on the road, or still at the bank."
"Well, let's draw that blood then, so we can listen to the babies' heart beats after that."
"I'd like that." She extended her arm once again and winced when she saw the needle. No matter how many times they had to draw blood, she still didn't like it. Silently she once again wished that Luke were there so he could hold her hand. Like he always did. Now she focused on Lucan who was playing with his small pick-up truck.
"There you are. All done." Dr. Elder put a bandage on the small hole where the needle was before. Just put a little pressure on it, so it won't leave a bruise."
Lorelai did as she was told.
"Okay, why don't you lay down now so we can listen to the babies' heart beats?"
Lorelai lay down and lifted her shirt. Dr. Elder felt the outside of Lorelai's stomach with her hands first, then placed some cold gel and a Doppler machine on her stomach. First she found Lorelai's heart beat and then one of the twin's.
"Nice and strong, just the way we like it."
Lorelai smiled. "How about the other one."
"Let's see where that baby is hiding."
"Trust me, there's no space left for them to hide in there."
Dr. Elder smiled. "There we are." They both listened to the heart beat. "Nice and strong, just like the other baby. They're both perfectly healthy. You can dress and then come back tomorrow so I can check your blood pressure again."
She nodded. "Thanks for everything. I'm sorry though. You're probably even more behind on your schedule than you were before."
"That's not something you have to worry about Lorelai. I take all the time I need with all my patients, okay?"
Lorelai nodded again. "Okay."
"Good." She turned around to face Lucan, who had walked to her supply cabinet and was about to take out some of her syringes. She took his hand away from the cabinet and lifted him up in her arms. "You can't do that. Your mommy brought you toys to play with. Those are mine."
Lucan started crying immediately.
Lorelai stood up and took Lucan from dr. Elder. "I'm so sorry. It's his way of getting attention lately. I already warned Luke this morning that it will only get worse once the twins are born. It's not like he doesn't get enough attention now, but once the attention is taken off of him, he starts doing things he's not allowed to."
"He'll get passed it."
"Yeah I know." She looked at her son. "Stop crying you. You know perfectly well that you're not allowed to touch dr. Elders things. You have your own toys to play with."
He looked at his mother guilty and stopped crying.
"See, he knows perfectly well what he's doing."
Dr. Elder smiled. "And he got you right where he wanted."
"Yeah I know. I guess Luke and I have to start talking about a way to punish him when he's misbehaving, otherwise it will only get worse."
"Well, that's something for the two of you two figure out. For now I'd like to say that we're done here. You have to start thinking about slowing down at work, and preferably stop working at all. Also, ask Sophia for an appointment tomorrow so I can recheck your blood pressure."
Lorelai nodded. "I'll do all that."
"Good. Then I see you tomorrow."
Lorelai nodded again, and kneeled down to get all of Lucan's stuff off the floor. "Say bye bye Lucan."
The little boy waved his hand at dr. Elder.
Lorelai smiled. "Bye."
"Bye."
-xxxxxx-
Once Lorelai had Lucan buckled up in his car seat, she sat down in the driver's seat herself. There she took out her cell phone once again and tried calling Luke. After receiving his voicemail once again, she started to get worried. After leaving another message, she called the diner to see if he checked in there. She was surprised when Luke answered himself.
"Luke's."
"Luke it's me."
"Oh hey. How's it going?"
"I'd better ask you. Where are you?"
"Since you called me at the diner, it's pretty obvious where I am."
"Yeah okay. Let me rephrase. Why are you there?"
"Because I work here. I came straight back after the appointment at the bank."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
She sighed. "Why is your cell phone off?"
"Because it's charging upstairs. What's with you?"
"Just think really hard and I guess you'll figure it out by yourself."
"Lorelai." He sighed. "Are you mad?"
"You bet I am." And with that she hung up. "Ughhh.." She threw her phone back in her purse and turned around to face Lucan, who was looking at her curiously. "Sorry buddy, I just can't believe your father. He forgot about us. Do you believe that?"
Lucan just smiled. "Dada."
"Yeah dada. So, how about we go to grandma because I haven't thought about what to say to Sookie and Michel yet, and I definitely don't want to run into your father right now. My blood pressure is already to high."
"Gama."
"Grandma it is." Lorelai started her car and drove towards her parent's house. Once she arrived there she took Lucan out of his car seat and carried him towards the door. She rang the doorbell and waited for the door to open. She was surprised when her father opened. "Dad?"
"Hello Lorelai." He extended his arms to take Lucan, so she handed him to her.
"Why are you opening the door?"
"Because you rang the door bell Lorelai."
"Okay, but what about the maid?"
"I send her home for a few hours. And your mother is upstairs resting."
"Oh…."
"Do you want to come in anyway?"
"Yes please."
Richard stepped aside to let his daughter in. Then closed the door and followed her inside the living room.
"So, what brings you here?"
"I just had an OB-appointment and I wanted to see how mom was doing."
"She's okay, besides being tired. I send her upstairs half an hour ago, because she almost fell asleep in the car, after I drove her home from her therapy."
"I'm glad tomorrow is the final time. Maybe we can all go out to celebrate tomorrow evening?"
"I don't think that's a good idea Lorelai. All of this has taken a lot of energy. She doesn't want you to worry, but the truth is that she goes to bed at 8 o clock every night."
"She never told me."
"I know. But she does. And often she goes to bed for an afternoon nap. Just like today. The doctor says it can take a few months before she's back to normal."
"Do you think we have to cancel Friday night dinner altogether?"
"No, your mother would never allow that. But maybe it's a good idea to start it at 6."
"Do you think she will allow that? Dinner has been at seven every day for as long as I can remember."
"I'll talk to her. Can you call Rory to let her know?"
"Of course. No problem."
"Good. Now, talking about Rory. Her graduation will be in two weeks, and I want your advice on a gift for her. Your grandmother and I already gave her a car when she graduated from Chilton, so we're wondering what to get her now."
"Well, I don't know. You can always give her a book. You know what she loves."
"You don't give someone a book when she's graduating college Lorelai."
"Oh, well, I don't know. What were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking, since she and Warren will get married, they need a place to live."
"Uhuh…" Lorelai didn't see where her father was going.
"So your grandmother and I have been thinking about giving her a house. Of course we don't know her taste in houses, so we were wondering if maybe you want to help us to find her a nice place."
"Dad no."
"You don't want to help?"
"I don't want you to give my daughter a house. A house you have to earn dad. You have to work hard to buy it."
"But she doesn't have to. We'd be more than willing to help her out."
"I understand, but no."
"She's an adult Lorelai. You can't tell us what we can't give her."
"Then please just listen to me this once. Rory and Warren have been working real hard the past year. They've saved money so they can rent an apartment somewhere. They have to work themselves up. They have to do this by themselves dad. That's what Rory wants too."
"How do you know that?"
"Because it's all she's been talking about the past few weeks. Trust me, she wants to do this herself. She already agreed to let you pay for half the wedding, but that's enough.
"So, what else can we give her? Maybe a new car, although it's a little old since we already gave her one 4 years ago."
"The one she has is just fine dad. She doesn't need a new one. Like I said, just give her some old book you know she loves. It's just about the idea. You've already paid her tuition. That's more than enough. Without you she wouldn't be graduation college right now."
Richard nodded. "I'll think about it."
"Good. Just don't forget what I said. No house and no car. You've already given her more than she needs."
"Okay."
Lorelai smiled and Richard did the same. Just then they heard a crash and the shattering of glass. Lorelai jumped up and saw how Lucan was sitting in the middle of broken glass. She ran towards him and lifted him up. "What did you do?"
Richard kneeled down next to the glass. "I think this was your mother's antique vase."
"Damn it Lucan. You know you're not allowed to touch anything." She looked at her father. "I was going to offer to pay for the vase, but knowing my mother I probably can't afford it."
"It's just a vase. At least no-one is hurt. Your mother will buy some other ugly vase at the next auction she goes to. Don't worry about it. I'm sure Lucan didn't intend to break it."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that if I were you. He started this new game last week. Every time he doesn't get all the attention he starts touching things, and tries throwing it on the floor. This is the first time he actually managed to break something." She sat down with Lucan in her lap and examined his hands. He was crying furiously. "You're fine. No blood, you're not hurt so no reason for crying." She hugged him against her. "Did I ever go through a phase like this? Rory never broke anything on purpose."
"You should ask your mother those things. Although I do remember this one time you broke my 500 dollar fountain pen because I wouldn't play with you. I believe you were three years old at the time. I was working home that day and you came inside my office asking if I would take you outside. I told you that I couldn't because I was working. You sat down across from my desk and asked if you could watch me work. I told you it was okay since you couldn't sit still longer than 5 minutes, and I knew you would be off to play by yourself soon. While I focused on my paperwork you grabbed my fountain pen and broke it in two."
"What were you doing with a 500 dollar pen?"
Richard shook his head. "I should have know you were going to ask that."
Lorelai smiled. "Well, I better get back to Stars Hallow. I have to put Lucan down for a nap and I have to talk to Sookie about my maternity leave."
"Already? Didn't you stop working until the last few weeks when you were pregnant with Lucan?"
"Yeah I did. But my doctor told me to take it easy. To be honest, my bedtime hours haven't been much different than mom's. And I don't want to risk going into early labor. The scare I had with Lucan was enough. If that means I have to lay down for the next three months, so be it."
"If you need any help with Lucan, just call us. I know your mother would love to take care of him."
"Oh dad, if she's already this tired without having to take care of a one-year-old, I don't think it's smart for her to do. Luke can take care of him if I can't. That is, if he doesn't forget about it."
"What are you talking about." Richard sat down on the coffee table, across from his daughter.
Luke forgot about the doctor's appointment. He was supposed to meet me there after the meeting at the bank, but instead he went back to the diner. He didn't even know why I was mad when I called him earlier."
"I'm sure something came up so that he forgot."
"I'm sure something did. But I doubt if that thing is more important than his wife and his children."
"Just let him explain, okay?"
"Maybe, we'll see."
Richard leaned forward and placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead. "You're just as stubborn as your mother."
Lorelai smiled. "Thanks dad. And once again sorry about the vase."
"I doubt if you're mother will even notice it missing."
"She notices it if a maid moves a candle two millimeters. She'll miss the vase."
"True. But she'll understand. I promise."
Lorelai nodded. "I guess I'll go back to Stars Hallow. Lucan's almost asleep already."
"Okay. So we see you tomorrow at six for dinner?"
"Tomorrow at six it is."
-xxxxxx-
"Sookie, do you have a moment?"
"Sure sweetie, what's up?"
"Could we maybe go into my office for a sec?"
"Uh, sure…" Sookie followed Lorelai into her office.
Lorelai placed Lucan in the playpen, and then sat down at her desk.
"How was your doctor's appointment?"
"I'm glad you remember at least."
"What do you mean?"
"Luke forgot about it. He was supposed to meet me there, but he never showed."
"Ouch…."
"Yeah, exactly. So anyway, dr. Elder thinks I have to start taking it slow at work. She doesn't want me to risk going into early labor."
"Sounds reasonable."
"Yeah I think so. I mean, I don't feel like sitting on my but for the next three months, but I definitely don't want anything to happen to the babies."
"So, what's the plan?"
"I think Michel and Claire can run the inn on their own from here. And I was thinking that maybe I can continue doing the paperwork at home. As long as I move all the breakable stuff on a level so that Lucan can't reach it, I can work in the new office at home."
"What did he do this time?"
"He broke my mother's antique vase while I was talking to my dad."
"Was she mad?"
"She was asleep so she doesn't know yet. And I think my dad was actually relieved that he could throw the thing away."
Sookie smiled. "Davie went through the same phase, remember?"
"Yeah I do. He somehow managed to break one of your pans."
"I still don't know how he did it. He was only a year old, but he smacked the thing into the door so hard, that the handle broke off."
"Well, at least the door had nothing."
"My pans are much more important than some stupid door."
Lorelai laughed. "I know honey. Trust me, I know. My dad said I broke his 500 dollar fountain pen when I was three."
"What is someone doing with a 500 dollar pen?"
"Exactly my point!"
- Back to real-time –
Luke listened how Lorelai calmed down Lucan. When he was finally quiet, she walked back to their bedroom without saying anything to him. He realized that there was nothing he could do, but to sleep on the couch that night. He took a blanket from the closet and lay down together with his pillow. He was twisting and turning for almost an hour, when he finally fell into a restless sleep.
"Luke?"
Luke slowly opened his eyes, staring into Lorelai's tearful eyes. He sat up immediately. "Lorelai?"
"I'm sorry." She let out a small sob.
Luke opened his arms immediately. "I'm sorry too." He took her in his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry I forgot about the appointment. Everything at the bank went so weird. First they made me wait for half an hour, and then they just wanted to sell me a new mortgage. I was pissed off because they made me come all the way over there for nothing. I thought something was wrong with the diner."
"But don't you know how much money you make? Don't you go over that with your accountant?"
"Of course I do. But I thought that maybe we missed something. It sounded like they were rushed yesterday. Like I had to get there soon. I was just worried."
"And you didn't tell me this why?"
"I didn't want you to worry too Lorelai."
She shook her head and let out a sigh. "You're an idiot."
"I know. I'm so sorry Lorelai. I'll promise to never miss an appointment again. When is your next appointment?"
"Tomorrow." Her voice was muffled in his shoulder, so he wasn't sure if he heard right.
"What?"
"Tomorrow." She raised her head this time, so he knew he heard right.
"Why?"
"Because my blood pressure was too high today and they want to check it again." She put her head back down.
"Is that dangerous for the babies?"
"It could be I guess. She wouldn't really tell. She just said that I have to come back tomorrow and that it can be back to normal. She also said that I have to take things slower at work, or else I might go into early labor."
He cursed inwardly once again when he heard everything he missed. "I'm so sorry you had to go there alone Lorelai."
She nodded. "I was scared Luke. I was so scared that something was wrong with the babies. That something would happen to them. And they had to draw some blood and you weren't there to hold my hand. And I was just scared."
He hold her closer. "I'm so sorry. Now I understand why you were so mad."
"I overreacted, didn't I?"
"No, you had every right to be mad. It was important and I wasn't there."
"But I still overreacted. I should have just told you what happened. I was just so mad that you forgot about me and the babies. And my stupid pregnant brain thought that maybe…."
"Maybe what?"
She buried her face deeper in his shoulder "That maybe you didn't care about us anymore."
He shook his head and pushed her back a little so he could look directly into her eyes. "There's nothing I care about more than you and our kids Lorelai. I'm really really sorry I wasn't there for you today."
She nodded. "It's okay. I'm not mad anymore. I'm sure my blood pressure will be better tomorrow. And I already talked to Sookie. I won't be going to the inn to work anymore. Not until after the twins are born. The only thing I will be doing is some paperwork. But I'll be doing that here at home, in our fancy new office."
"I'm glad you decided to do that."
She nodded. "God I'm tired."
"Me too. The bank is not comfortable to sleep on."
"Well, at least you were sleeping earlier when I came down. I haven't slept at all."
"But you were in our bed?"
"I just can't sleep without you next to me. I can't even punish you without punishing myself too."
He smiled. "That's good to know."
"Just keep in mind that it won't keep me from punishing you when you do something stupid."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Good."
She put her head on his shoulder and dozed off to sleep.
"Lorelai come on. Let's go to bed."
"Can't walk. I'm too tired."
With a smile he lifted her up in his arms and carried her to their bed. He laid her down and laid down next to her. She placed her head on top of his chest immediately. He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Night Lorelai."
"Goodnight Luke."
After a few seconds she lifted her head. "Hey Luke?"
"Mmmm…" He was almost asleep already.
"We have to think of a way to punish Lucan. If we keep hugging him if he does something wrong, he never learns the difference between doing something good and doing something bad."
"What did he do today?"
"He broke my mother's antique vase."
"How much?"
"My dad said not to worry about it. Which is probably better, because I'm not sure if Lucan can go to college if we have to pay for that vase."
"He really has to stop that."
"Exactly my point. So, what's your idea of punishing him?"
"I think that maybe it's best to put him in the playpen and not to give him any attention."
"That's an idea, but if that becomes his place for punishment, we can't put him there for any other reason anymore."
"You have a point there."
"Uhuh.." She smiled.
"I'm too tired to think about it now. We'll deal with it tomorrow okay?"
"Sounds like the best idea you've had all day." She turned on her side so she was comfortable and Luke did the same, pulling her against his chest and resting his hand on her stomach. And soon they were both asleep.
T.B.C.