Notes:
I have been asked to remind you all again that this is a Luke and Lorelai fic. Yes, Chris will be in and out because Lorelai has to eventually deal with what happened, but I promise now, as I have before, Lorelai will never be with anyone but Luke. Never fear, I'm not ASP.
hollywoodgrl - Haha, not a total asshole. What a way to put it. Made me laugh.
LorLukealways - True, I don't like how she always forgives him either, but she does. Remember, forgive and forget are two different things.
flcrkr - They've talked a few times since he attacked her. A month later when Chris told her Jess told him and when Lorelai was in her fifth (I think I'm not positive) month of pregnancy and Lorelai told him that she and Luke were having twins together.
Luke's Diner
"Luke! Your third favorite daughter is here!" Rory calls walking in the diner. "Oh!" she exclaims, realizing that the diner is packed. Her face turns red. "I should have realized…" Luke chuckles, walking over to her.
"Hey Rory," Luke responds. They hug.
"Third favorite daughter?" Miss Patty asks. "Luke, do you really rank your children?" Luke gives Rory a look.
"Sorry, I really didn't think before I said it," Rory admits. Luke shakes his head.
"No, Patty, I don't," Luke answers. "Where's your mom?"
"She's at the hospital," Rory says.
"Couldn't convince her to come back with you?" Rory shakes her head. Luke nods, his hands on his hips.
"She said she'd be home tonight," Rory assures him.
"Yeah, I've at least been able to get her to do that." Luke glances at Patty and Babette, who are clearly listening in on the conversation. Luke motions with his head for Rory to follow him. They walk over to the curtain. "Did she seem… okay?" Rory shrugs.
"She seemed… sad, I guess. She didn't seem like Mom."
"Yeah…" Luke shakes his head sadly.
"What's going on?"
"Dr. Buxton says she's going through post-partum depression. She gave me a prescription of something she says will help her get through this, but she won't let me fill it."
"Maybe you should, she doesn't have to take it, but at least it will be around. And if it gets really bad, we'll hit her over the head and shove the pills down her throat. As long as they're not as big as a jawbreaker…" Luke looks confused. "There's a movie, Jawbreaker, where the girl chokes on a jawbreaker and dies cuz it gets stuck in her throat. It totally freaked me out, I couldn't eat for a month without thinking about that."
"That's all it takes? Did Lorelai feel the same?" Rory shakes her head.
"No, Mom's evil, she thought it was a hilarious way to die."
"Oh." Rory giggles at the bewildered look on Luke's face.
"I'm kidding of course, Luke. If she doesn't want to take the pills, then there's no sense in forcing them on her. Paris would be on our case about this." Luke looks slightly freightened at the thought. "Where's Liam?" Rory asks.
"Upstairs," Luke answers, taking the baby monitor out of his back pocket and waving it. "I've been checking on him every 15 minutes."
"Do you mind if I go get him and bring him down here?" Luke shakes his head.
"Not at all, but if you bring him down here, don't let him out of your arms, who knows what the lunatics that live in this town could do to him," Luke replies, casting a sidelong glance at his customers. Rory nods, wide-eyed, trying not to laugh at Luke's utter distain for the townies.
"Kay." Rory disappears through the curtain. Luke runs a hand through his hair.
"Hey Luke, when you gonna pick a date to marry that lady of yours?" Babette calls. Luke sighs, trying to make up his mind about whether he can possibly bolt up the stairs as well. He reluctantly walks over to Babette and Patty's table.
"I think we're going to wait until Olivia comes home from the hospital to pick a date," Luke tells them, realizing he's actually making this decision on his own.
"You're not rethinking it are you?" Patty asks.
"No, of course not," Luke answers quickly.
"Because you did wait a long time for Lorelai and to have children with her and to break up, that would just be too much," Patty tells him.
"Heartbreaking," Babette adds.
"We're not breaking up," Luke assures them. "Why did she say something to you?" Babette and Patty share a look.
"No, Sugar, I haven't seen Lorelai since before she had the twins," Babette answers. Luke breathes a sigh of relief. "But you do seem worried, maybe you should take some time off of work."
"Thank you for the advice, I'll keep it in mind," Luke grumbles. He grabs Patty's empty plate and takes it in the back.
"You think something's going on?" Patty asks Babette, as Rory comes down the stairs with Liam in her arms.
"I dunno, should we ask Rory?" Babette suggests, waving Rory over.
"Nah, let the girl be," Patty responds. Rory sits down in the extra chair that their table with Liam in her arms. "Isn't he a darling?" Babette tickles Liam's chin, cooing at him.
"Actually this is my first time seeing Liam since he got home from the hospital, I've been really busy at school," Rory explains.
"Poor girl, you look pale, are you sure you're eating enough?" Babette asks. Rory smiles.
"Yes, Babette, I'm fine," Rory assures her. Luke walks out of the back and over to them. "Hey, can I get a cup of coffee?"
"For you, right?"
"Well I was going to pour some in Liam's bottle." Rory grins wickedly. Luke folds his arms over his chest.
"You will not get my son addicted to that stuff. He will drink formula until he's old enough for baby food and then its mashed bananas and peas until he's got enough teeth for real vegetables. He can't pitch for the Red Sox on a diet of chocolate and coffee." Rory giggles causing Liam to gurgle.
"Aw, Luke, such a protective father," Patty says, a little amazed.
"Dad, your squishy underbelly is showing," Rory warns. Luke shakes his head as Babette and Patty laugh.
"Hey, was your mom still outside the NICU when you left, cuz I was thinking of going to pick her up?" Luke asks. Rory nods, the smile disappearing from her face.
"Sugar, you look a little peeked. Luke, go get your daughter some coffee," Babette tells look, reaching out to rub Rory's arm. "You okay?"
"Oh yeah," Rory responds a little distracted, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm fine." She glances up at Luke, hoping that he's actually walked away, but he hasn't.
"What?" Luke wonders, concerned. Rory sighs.
"Chris is there," Rory tells him. Luke stares at her, letting the news register.
"Your father?" Rory nods. "He's at the hospital?" Rory nods again. "With Lorelai?"
"Luke, don't worry, he's not going to hurt her," Rory insists.
"When did you become a fan of his?"
"I'm not, I just know he would never hurt her. I mean…" Rory glances over at Babette and Patty who are listening intently. "Can you take Liam a moment?" Rory asks Babette.
"Of course," Babette says eagerly. Rory carefully hands Liam over. She takes Luke's arm, dragging him outside.
"Mom says she's glad he's there, she wanted a friend and she actually seemed to relax a little once he showed up, so I think we should just leave it alone," Rory tells Luke.
"She's my fiancé," Luke reminds Rory.
"I know." Rory purses her lips. "And she knows that too."
"So you think I should just not care that Lorelai's at the hospital with him?" Rory sighs, pressing her lips together.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm not pleased that he's there either. But Mom is. And I think if you go there all upset that he's there, you're just going to get her angry with you, she's already running a short fuse as it is. And I really don't want that to happen, more than anything, Luke. I swear. Just, let her be, she'll come home tonight and he won't come back again, I'll make sure of that. Don't let this become bigger than it is." Rory gives him a pointed look. Luke huffs, pacing a bit. He folds his arms and walks back over to Rory.
"I want this to work Rory."
"So do I." Luke nods. He pulls Rory in, hugging her close. "You're getting really good at that." Luke chuckles. Rory steps away from him, touching his arm. "So we're okay?" Luke nods. "And you and Mom are okay?"
"Lorelai and I are great. And when Olivia comes home, everything will be much better," Luke assures her.