Notes:

Long weekend at home after finally being done with classes so no review responses this time. Sorry about that, but I still do appreciate all the reviews.

The Hospital

Rory stops in the bathroom on her way over to the NICU to throw water on her face and get control of herself. She runs a hand through her hair as she takes a moment to look in the mirror. Her mother's blue eyes look back at her. She reaches up and runs her fingers over her face feeling her mother's high cheek bone, her mother's soft white skin, her mother's thin pink lips. And she chokes back a sob. "I don't want this to be all I have left of you," Rory whispers her chin trembling. She sighs, looking down. With one more glance at her reflection in the mirror, she walks out of the bathroom.

Wrapping her arms around her stomach, Rory walks over to the NICU. Emily and Richard are standing outside, just staring inside at all the small infants. Rory walks up beside them. "Hey," Rory says quietly.

"Rory," Emily says. Richard hugs Rory close and then Emily gathers her granddaughter in her arms. "Is Luke still with your mother?" Rory nods as she lets go of Emily. "Are you doing all right, Dear?" Rory nods again, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile.

"I'm doing the best I can," Rory answers.

"Well, we're here if you need anything," Richard says, squeezing Rory's shoulder. She nods, tucking a hair behind her ear. She glances in the room.

"Have you seen them yet?" Rory asks. Emily and Richard share a look as Emily stares back in.

"No," Emily whispers, shaking her head. She clears her throat. "Sookie and Lane went in to see them right after you and Luke took off but they went down the cafeteria to find you some coffee."

"I don't want any," Rory says quickly. She sighs, looking away. "I couldn't…" Richard nods.

"We understand," he says.

"You should go see Mom," Rory tells them. "Or you could wait until she wakes up and is able to talk to you, depends how much her talking really annoys you." Rory smiles as she says this. Emily and Richard share a hesitant look.

"Are you going to go see your new siblings?" Emily finally asks. Rory nods. "Do you want us to go with you?" Rory glances inside, a slight look of pain on her face.

"Yeah, that would be great," Rory says, a little relieved. Emily reaches out and rubs Rory's arm. "Oh, I need to call April," she realizes.

"I think Sookie did that all ready," Emily tells her. Rory breathes a sigh of relief. "You know, you don't have to be the strong one, you can lean on other people."

"I can't, actually," Rory insists. She sighs. "I'm my mother's daughter." Richard and Emily share a look, both happy and unhappy that Rory's so much like her mother. Rory looks back inside. "Well there's no time like the present, Luke'll be here soon. You coming?" she asks looking back at Richard and Emily. He nods. "Okay." Rory opens the door as they stop in the middle room and gown up and then walk in. She glances around making sure she's looking at the right babies. Richard points over to the two Danes babies. Rory walks over to stand between the two. Emily stands by the girl and Richard by the boy.

"She almost looks like you did," Emily whispers. Rory stares down at the small infant, fighting for her life and tries to remember the baby pictures Lorelai had showed her.

"Does she really?" Rory wonders, really trying to see it in someone so small.

"He's a strong one, going to be a health baby, like a true Gilmore," Richard says, smiling down at the boy.

"He's a Danes," Rory reminds him quietly as Luke walks into the NICU. He and Rory share silent words as they look at each other. "Hey Gramma, Grampa, do you mind going to get Sookie and Lane? You guys can all check on Mom, make sure she's not alone when she wakes up." Richard glances over and notices Luke.

"Yes, we will. Emily?" Richard walks over and puts an arm around Emily. She glances up at him.

"She's so small Richard," Emily whispers.

"She's a fighter like her mother," Richard promises. Emily nods. They walk out, with Richard's arm around Emily's shoulders. Luke nods to them and then walks over to stand next to Rory. She glances up at Luke, watching his response.

"Wow," he whispers. He reaches out and places a hand over the glass that's over his son. He swallows.

"You ready for this?" Rory asks.

"You don't get to be ready for this," Luke replies. She nods, looking back down at her new sister. "I never imagined it would be like this. From the moment she told me about them all I could picture was Lorelai and me in a nursery holding our child. Us together…" Rory rubs his arm. "I just can't do it alone." He chokes back a sob, a pained expression on his face.

"You won't be alone, Dad," Rory promises. Luke takes her hand in his and squeezes it in response. "Did you guys name them yet?" Luke shakes his head.

"I wanted to name him after my father," Luke tells her.

"William?" Rory asks. Luke nods. "That's very Cats In The Cradle of you. I think Mom will be fine with that. William…" She reaches out a finger and traces his outline over the glass. Then she looks over at her sister. "And Miss no name." She traces her sister's outline as well.

"I love them already," Luke says. Rory looks up at him smiling. Luke glances over at her with uncertainty in his eyes. "Do you think it would be weird if I talked to them?"

"I think it would be weirder if you didn't," Rory responds. Luke nods. He looks down at his son and then over at his daughter, placing a hand over the glass separating each of them from the outside world.

"Hey Kiddos," Luke says after a moment, his voice sounding a little choked up. "I don't want to scare you, but I'm your father. I'm Dad. I'm the one who will be there for you and protect you and love you no matter what. And then, of course, there's food and clothes and I'm also good for a buck or two when you need it." Rory giggles. Luke glances over at her and winks. "And this is Rory. She's one of your big sisters. Keep in mind she doesn't seem scary but she's just as crazy as your mother." Rory giggles again. Luke nods and looks back down at each of his children. "I know you guys want your mother, and believe me, I know she'll rip out her IVs just to get to you. You're going to love her. And your sisters. And I just hope I'm not a disappointment." Rory lays a hand on his arm and he looks back at her. She shakes her head at him.

"Luke don't think that. You're Mom's rock and mine. You've always been there for me. There's a reason I chose you as my dad beyond you marrying my mother," Rory tells him. Luke looks back down at his kids, wanting to believe her. His son kicks his feet as he squirms around. Luke chuckles. "He's going to be an active one."

"Hopefully that means I'll have one child to play sports with," Luke responds.

"Maybe two," Rory adds. Luke looks over at his daughter, seeming so small and fragile in comparison to her brother.

"Rory, I love this little girl so much. In my mind she's already running races in grade school and clapping for fireworks on the Fourth of July." Rory squeezes his arm.

"She will. She'll have all that. She'll get better, Dad. She was just holding out for a hero," Rory assures him with a soft smile. Luke tears his eyes off of his daughter to look across at Rory.

"Yeah?"

"And now you're here."

"Yeah..." Rory nods and looks down at her sister, recalling Luke's voice in her head. She looks back up at him.

"Hey. You should tell her you don't want her to die, people like to hear that," Rory says softly.

"Where'd you hear that?" Luke asks, pretending as if he doesn't already know. Rory just grins.

"From this really awesome guy who closed up his restaurant, drove 30 minutes in the cold and snow, and waited around in a place that gave him the creeps because my mother and I needed him." Luke nods, a lump forming in his throat at Rory's kind words.

"Thanks Rory," he finally manages.

"You're going to be a great Dad. I've never doubted it."