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When Lorelai walked downstairs a few minutes later, she could practically reach out and grab a handful of tension from the air. Luke's eyes showed obvious relief as he stood, and she smiled nervously.
"Hi, Mom," she said. "What are you doing here?"
"I think you know why I'm here, Lorelai," Emily snapped. "And I want to know what's going on."
"Grandma, this was my decision," Rory said. "Mom and Dad don't have anything to do with it."
Emily stared at Rory. "First of all, young lady, this man is not your father," she said. "Christopher is your father, and if he knew about this he would be absolutely appalled."
"But he doesn't know about this," Rory replied. "Because he doesn't care!"
"Rory, that's ridiculous," Emily replied. "He's your father, of course he cares about your education."
"Then how come he didn't offer to help pay for Chilton? Or Yale?" Rory asked. "He doesn't care, Grandma. He stops by here a couple times a year, yeah, he says it's to see me, but ultimately, every time he comes here he ends up trying to get back together with Mom. He doesn't care about me as much as Luke does."
"This is not what I came here to discuss," Emily said. "This is a conversation for another time." She turned to Lorelai. "Why are you letting her do this?" she asked.
Lorelai sighed. "Mom, I really don't need your advice on how to raise Rory."
"I can't believe this, Lorelai," Emily said. "I would have thought that you wouldn't want your daughter to throw her life away like you did with yours."
"Oh my God," Lorelai said. "How many times do we have to go through this? I did not throw my life away! I made a mistake, yes, but what became of that mistake is something that I would never give up. Rory's my life, Mom, she has been ever since the strip turned pink. And I can't believe that now, twenty one years later, you're still holding that over my head."
"This isn't about you, this is about Rory," Emily replied. "She knows that you just live by your own free will, you never do what you should, you do what you want. And now she's doing the same thing and ruining her own life because that's precisely what you did!"
"Grandma, that's not true!" Rory cried. "Why aren't you listening to me? I told you, I'm an adult, I can make my own decisions!"
"And your mother needs to know that when you make poor decisions she has to interfere for your benefit," Emily replied.
"No!" Rory cried. "Don't you get it? That's what's wrong with your relationship with Mom. You tried to interfere in her life, and that's why she ran away with me when I was a baby. Why can't you see that interfering with someone else's decisions is not what's best for them?"
Emily stared at Rory. "I do not appreciate that tone, young lady," she said.
Luke, who was standing with Lorelai next to the stairs, turned to look at her when he heard her gasp quietly. "Are you okay?" he asked, growing concerned when he saw her holding onto her stomach. "Lorelai, what's wrong?"
"It hurts, Luke," Lorelai said as she reached for his hand. "The baby…"
"What's wrong?" Luke repeated.
"I don't know," Lorelai said.
"Okay, okay, let's get you to the hospital," Luke said, trying to stay calm for Lorelai's sake. He guided her towards the door, and when Rory saw them se frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," Luke said. "We've got to take her to the hospital."
"Luke," Lorleai whispered. "What about the baby?"
"The baby's fine," Luke said gently. "We're just going to go, and they'll probably give you some medicine or something."
"I'm coming with you," Rory said as she followed them out to the car, leaving Emily staring after them in shock.
"Rory, you drive," Luke said, handing her the keys to the jeep. "I'll sit in back with her."
As Rory rushed them to the hospital, Luke could see that there was something really wrong with Lorelai. She was leaning on him, and he could see a thin layer of sweat beginning to cover her forehead. He swallowed hard and held her tightly, hoping that there was nothing seriously wrong with either her or the baby.
When they got to the hospital, Luke helped Lorelai out of the car and into the Emergency Room. He helped her sit down in a chair, then knelt down in front of her. "I'm going to go get a nurse okay?" he said softly. "I'll be right back."
Lorelai nodded distractedly. "Hurry," she said softly.
Luke stood and hurried over to the desk. "Excuse me," he said to the nurse. "My wife is pregnant, and she says that something hurts, and I think she's a little delusional. I need someone to help her, now."
"All right," the nurse said as she stood up and came around to the waiting room. She took a wheelchair from the corner and followed Luke over to Lorelai. "What's her name?" she asked Luke.
"Lorelai."
She nodded as she knelt down in front of Lorelai. "Lorelai?" she said softly. "My name is Stephanie, and I'm going to help you feel better, okay? Can you understand me?"
Lorelai nodded slightly. "I need Luke," she mumbled.
"I'm here, baby," Luke said, bending down and taking her hand. "I'm going to help you into the wheelchair, okay?"
Lorelai leaned against him as he transferred her into the wheelchair, then walked beside the nurse as she wheeled Lorelai to the nearest examining table.
"The doctor's on his way," she said softly to Lorelai. "We're going to make sure that you're all better, okay?"
Lorelai nodded as she slumped back onto the pillows. Luke watched her, a feeling of helplessness washing over her. "What's wrong with her?" he asked as he brushed some hair out of her face.
"She has a slight fever, and her blood pressure is a little high," the nurse replied. "If she was having abdominal pains, it's possible that she's having Braxton Hicks contractions."
"Oh," Luke said. He'd read about them, and as far as he could tell they were serious but not fatal.
"Sir, I'm going to need you to step outside when the doctor comes in to examine your wide," she said gently.
"What?" Luke asked. "She's my wife."
"I understand sir, but the hospital requires that there aren't any family members present at this kind of examination."
"She's my wife," Luke repeated. "She needs me here."
"It will only for a few minutes," the nurse assured him. "Then you can come back in to hear what the doctor diagnoses."
Luke sighed. He hated leaving Lorelai, but the hospital wasn't giving him much of a choice. He bent down next to Lorelai and kissed her cheek gently. "I'm going to be right outside," he whispered. "The doctor's going to look at you and then I'll be right back in."
"Luke, what about our baby?" Lorelai whispered.
"The baby's going to be fine," Luke whispered back. "You're both going to be fine, but the doctor's going to look at you, just to make sure, okay?"
"Okay," Lorelai replied.
Luke placed another kiss on the top of her head before he stepped back and the nurse gently led him out of the room.
Outside, he stood in the waiting room, to anxious to sit still. He paced the room, wondering what was taking so long. From one wall and down the hall to the coffee machine, he kept his eyes trained on the door from the emergency room to see when the doctors came out to tell him that he could go back to Lorelai.
He felt a tap on his shoulder a few moments later, and he turned to see Rory. She looked up at him with fear in her eyes, and he swallowed hard before he smiled slightly. "The doctors are examining her," he said. "I don't know what's wrong."
Tears filled Rory's eyes. "It's my fault," she whispered. "I was the one who was fighting with Grandma, that made her upset."
Luke took Rory in his arms and held her for a moment. "This isn't your fault," he said softly. "I'm sure that there's nothing seriously wrong. She has a lot going on right now, and she probably just got overexhausted. I'm sure that she's going to be fine."
Rory pulled back and looked up at him. Before she could say anything, the door to the Emergency Room opened and a doctor stepped out. "Mr. Danes?" he asked.
Luke untangled himself somewhat from Rory, leaving an arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders. "How's Lorelai?" he asked.
"She'll be fine," the doctor replied. "She was having Braxton-Hicks contractions. Most women experience this at one point in their pregnancy, although it's a little early for your wife. I gave her some prenatal vitamins, and I'm suggesting she rest as much as possible in the next two weeks."
"Can we see her?" Rory asked.
"Yes, but take it easy," the doctor said.
Rory swallowed hard as she followed Luke and the doctor into the Emergency room. When they reached Lorelai, she had to fight back tears. She'd never imagined her mother as weak and fragile as she looked in the hospital bed.
Luke sat down on the edge of her bed and leaned over to press a kiss onto her forehead. "Lorelai," he whispered softly.
Lorelai's eyes fluttered open and she smiled slightly when she saw Luke. "Hi," she said.
"Are you feeling better?" Luke asked.
"A little," Lorelai replied. "They're moving me to a regular room overnight."
Luke nodded. "Does everything feel okay?" he asked. "With you and the baby."
"I think so," Lorelai replied. "But those Braxton-Hicks contractions were pretty painful."
Luke smiled slightly. "I'm glad you're okay," he said.
Lorelai squeezed his hand, then let her gaze travel to Rory. "Hey, kid," she said.
"Hi Mom," Rory said softly. "I'm glad you're okay."
Lorelai tilted her head to the side. "You okay, Rory?" she asked.
Rory nodded. "Yeah," she said. "I just…I've never seen you like this before."
With her free hand, Lorelai reached out to take Rory's. "I'm fine, hon," she said. "I was just getting a little to overwhelmed, and your brother, being the smart little boy that he is, decided to help me take it easy."
Rory leaned down to hug her mother. "I'm sorry if I made you stressed," she said. "I feel like this is all my fault."
Lorelai hugged Rory tightly. "None of this is your fault," she said. "It's not anyone's fault. Rory, I would never in a million years blame you for this, so stop apologizing."
Rory smiled slightly. "Okay," she said.
Lorelai yawned slightly, and Luke patted her thigh. "We'll let you get a little rest," he said. "I'll go home and get some things for you, some more comfortable clothes and a book or something. I'll come back in an hour or two."
"Okay," Lorelai replied, her eyes already closing. "Love you."
"I love you too," Luke whispered.
He and Rory walked out of the hospital and back to the car. As Luke started the jeep and pulled into the street, Rory was silent, staring out her window. Luke knew there was something wrong.
"Rory?" he asked after a few more minutes of silence. "What's wrong?"
Rory sighed as she turned to look at him. "I was just…thinking," she said.
"About?" Luke prompted.
Rory sighed. "I never really understood how my mother felt when I was a baby," she said. "I mean, of course it was hard, and I knew that she didn't get along well with her parents. But today, when my grandmother was yelling at me, for the first time I realized what my mom must feel like every time my grandparents belittle her so much."
Luke sighed. "They love you, Rory," he said. "Both of you. They just…have a weird way of showing it. And I admit that they're not my favorite people, but in their own weird way they're doing what they think is best for you."
"I know," Rory replied. "I just…I feel so bad that I never really understood what Mom went through, and now I do and I have so much sympathy for her."
Luke nodded. "I think she tried to protect you from knowing what she felt like," he said. "And I think she did a pretty good job of raising you all by herself."
"Yeah, me too," Rory replied. "The baby's very lucky. He has two great parents."
Luke smiled over at Rory before he returned his attention to the road.
XXXXX
When Luke entered Lorelai's room later that afternoon, she smiled up at him. "Boy am I glad to see you and not another nurse," she said. "Geez, they're so nosy."
Luke laughed slightly. "I think it's their job to make sure that you're okay," he said.
"I know," Lorelai said with a sigh. "Oh! What did you bring for me?"
Luke smiled as he set the duffel bag he was holding on the edge of her bed. "Some comfortable pajamas," he said. "So you don't have to wear a hospital gown."
"Essential," Lorelai said with a nod.
"The book you were reading," Luke replied.
"Thank you," Lorelai smiled.
"And a double chocolate bar," Luke said.
"Oh my God!" Lorelai cried. "You're the best husband I've ever had!"
"Gee, thanks," Luke replied dryly. He turned serious and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Almost all the way better," Lorelai said. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I feel so stupid that I made such a big deal and it was really nothing."
"Don't be sorry," Luke said. "If we hadn't taken you here, it probably would have gotten worse."
"You went home and looked it up in the book didn't you?" Lorelai asked with an amused smile.
Luke blushed, and she tugged on his hand to pull him towards her. When their foreheads were touching, she whispered, "This is why I love you," before she pressed her lips against his.
When they pulled apart, Luke pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down in it. When Lorelai frowned down at him, he asked, "What?"
"What are you doing?"
"Sitting."
"Well, get up here and keep me company," Lorelai replied. "I want you close to me."
Luke smiled as he slipped onto the bed next to her. Lorelai smiled as she snuggled close to him. He kissed the top of her head, and a hand traveled down to her belly.
"When can I go home?" Lorelai whispered.
"The doctor said if everything stays the same you can go home tomorrow morning but you'll be on bed rest for a couple of weeks," Luke replied.
Lorelai looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hmm, that might be nice," she said. "You could wait on me hand and foot."
"Like I don't already do that," Luke grumbled good naturedly.
"Like you don't love it," Lorelai said.
"Maybe I don't," Luke countered.
"Ha!" Lorelai cried. She poked him in the chest as she said, "Lucas Danes, I know that you're completely in love with me, and will therefore succumb to my every request."
Luke leaned his head against hers and sighed. "You're right," he said softly.
"I knew it," Lorelai said as she rested her head back against his chest. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, the door opened and a nurse came in with a dinner tray.
"Here's your dinner, Mrs. Danes," she said as she placed it on the table. "Make sure you eat it all to keep strong for the baby."
Luke slid off of the bed as Lorelai rubbed her eyes, and sat up. As she looked at the tray, she made a face and looked up at Luke. "Luke, you're the health food freak," she said. "Please tell me that you don't want me, your wife, the woman who is nourishing your baby, to eat this."
Luke leaned over to look at the food and sighed. "I can run out and get you something else," he said.
"Thank you," Lorelai said sweetly. "I want a double bacon cheeseburger."
"How about a salad?" Luke asked.
"Chicken strips?" Lorelai bargained.
"Deal," Luke said. He leaned in to kiss her, then said, "Get a little rest, I'll be in a little while."
Lorelai lay back against the pillows and nodded. "Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Luke replied.
XXXXX
Later that night, Luke and Lorelai were lying on the bed watching TV when a nurse entered. "Visiting hours are over in fifteen minutes," she said.
Lorelai frowned. "Can't he stay the night?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, that's against hospital policy," the nurse replied. She looked at Luke and Lorelai for a moment before she said, "However, after nine thirty, the nurses don't make routine rounds. They'll only come if you call or something's wrong."
Understanding what she meant, Luke and Lorelai both nodded with smiles on their faces. "Thank you," Lorelai said.
"So, should I just go take a walk and come back later?" Luke asked Lorelai.
"No, they'll see you coming back in," Lorelai said. "If a nurse comes in, just go into the bathroom."
Luke laughed slightly. "I feel like a teenager," he said. "Hiding from the parents."
Lorelai raised her eyebrows. "Whose bedrooms did you sneak into?" she asked.
Luke smirked. "No one's of course," he said sarcastically. "I was a virgin when I met you. You're the only woman I've ever been with."
Lorelai smacked him in the shoulder. "Haha," she said. "You're just an everyday comedian."
XXXXX
The next morning, Luke was putting the few things that Lorelai had with her in a duffel bag while she was in the bathroom getting dressed. She walked out of the bathroom and announced, "Okay, I'm ready, can we go home now?"
"Sit down," Luke ordered, pointing to the bed. As Lorelai complied, he added. "We have to wait for the doctor. I've told you that about twenty times in the past half an hour."
"I want to go home," Lorelai replied. "Is that so bad?"
"No, but the doctor has to discharge you," Luke replied.
As if on cue, the doctor walked into the room and smiled at them. "All right Mrs. Danes, I just have to give you a few precautions and then you can go."
"Okay," Lorelai said.
"I'm not going to put you on complete bed rest," the doctor said. "But you shouldn't be working, and don't engage yourself in any activity that will be too overexciting. Just take it easy, and if you have anything that you're not sure is okay to do or not, just give me a call."
"Thank you," Lorelai said.
"Here are your discharge papers," the doctor said. "And I hope the rest of your pregnancy is healthy and enjoyable."
"Thanks," Lorelai repeated impatiently.
"Come on, let's go," she said to Luke as soon as the doctor had left. She took his hand and pulled him out the door. Luke smiled as he followed her out the door, glad that the normal Lorelai seemed to have returned.
XXXXX
At home that afternoon, Lorelai and Luke were lying on the couch watching a movie when the phone rang. "I'll get it!" Lorelai cried.
"Sit," Luke ordered. "You're supposed to be taking it easy, remember?"
Lorelai pouted. "I hardly think answering the phone qualifies as strenuous activity," she said as Luke answered the phone.
"Um, let me see if I can find her," Luke said into the phone. Lorelai frowned and held out her hand to take the phone, and Luke held it away from her. "It's your mother," he whispered.
Lorelai swallowed hard, then shook her head. "Tell her I'll call her back later," she said.
"Emily? Lorelai's resting right now, but I'll have her call you later tonight…All right," Luke hung up the phone and looked down at Lorelai. "You okay?" he asked.
Lorelai nodded slowly. "Yeah," she said. "I just…I wish that I could talk to her, but I'm afraid that will upset me and hurt the baby."
"Maybe if you tell her that you don't want to fight, you just want to talk things will be different," Luke suggested.
"Maybe," Lorelai said. "I wish that I had a normal family."
Luke sat down next to her and put an arm around her. "Are you hungry?" he asked after a few minutes.
Lorelai shook her head. "No," she said. "I think I'm going to go soak in a bath for a little while."
"Good idea," Luke said. "That should calm you down a little bit."
Lorelai kissed him softly on the lips before she stood up and started walking towards the stairs. As he watched her climb the stairs, he could tell that something wasn't quite right with her, but he didn't want to push. Hopefully whatever she was thinking wasn't a big deal, and she would talk to him about it eventually.