Thank you for all of your reviews. This train for the oneshot has been thrown out the window, and because of the incessant wonders of my mind I bring another chapter. Enjoy.
"You leave a message?" Luke asked her from the hallway, as a second check. His hands were slightly in his pocket as he walked over to her and kissed her forehead.
"I did." She smiled at the least, even though she felt another contraction coming along, stronger than before. She winced slightly, but excused herself to walk back towards the couch where she had dropped her purse earlier. Shifting Thomas with only a brief stir from his end, she hooked her purse over her arm.
"And I thought I was getting good at the one hand thing." Luke teased watching her with while he waited patiently with her suitcase by his side.
He had learned from the birth of Thomas that she was not just going to be pushed out of the door just because she was going out to give birth. At that time he had only known what had read in books and instinct that made him incessantly rant. So after they had learned of the surprise pregnancy of the second Dane, this time a little girl, he was now a little more laid back.
Sure they hadn't agreed on a name for her, but it would come to them eventually, right? For Thomas they had always had a middle name and had finally decided that Thomas William Danes was the best choice, and the strongest in their conscious. But as for a little girl name they came to find out that it wasn't as easy to choose.
"You know I was thinking, and just go with me on this one," She started off on a high note as she made her way back to the front door. He exhaled, picking her suitcase and opening the door for her. "That we pick a name before we leave the hospital so she won't be known by 'Baby Danes' for the rest of her life." Luke rolled his eyes, remembering the nurse the day that had just come on shift and had been assigned to recheck Lorelai, and to see how Thomas was doing before the doctor came in to discharge them from the hospital. "Nurse Carlie" as she had been known by, well at least by her name tag, had incessantly kept telling them that if they didn't pick a name soon their little boy would be nameless. Of course they already had a name for him, but Carlie hadn't cared to check the chart.
Helping her out the door he closed up and locked the door behind them. "Yeah well it all goes by that we have a list and now we just need to narrow the last down." He supplied as she leaned upon his hand as they carefully made their way down the steps.
She squeezed his hand tightly as another contraction came along as she began to breathe in and out. "Don't look now but I'm pretty sure that's Babette walking down her driveway."
She took in a deep breath, looked up quickly then back over. "Okay, just what we don't need. But I'm pretty sure that if we just keep walking—"
"Yahoo, Lorelai." Babette waved from a distance, holding her newspaper with a big smile on her face. The one that told her that her neighbor was about to grab some juicy details of their life.
Still Lorelai cringed, exchanging a glance with Luke as they continued to walk towards the car. Babette was getting closer and ten to one she had already spotted the suitcase in his hand. "Too late." She whispered to him then turned towards Babette with a forced grin and a wave. "How's it going Babette?" she offered quickly walking towards the car, and to the side of Luke
"Oh you know it's certainly going well." Babette sparked with interest, with a sparkle in her eye. Couldn't have spelled trouble any more than it did.
"So here's the plan" Lorelai suggested softly as she gazed around her neighborhood. "You take the suitcase, put it out of sight somewhere and attach Thomas safely in his seat. I'll take care of Babette."
"Are you serious? What makes you think that she hasn't seen the suitcase already?" Luke questioned, digging in his pocket for his keys—although coming out empty handed. He exhaled, "I can't believe this I forgot my keys." Placing the suitcase behind her he kissed her on the forehead and turned back towards her and the direction of the house.
"Go get them, we'll wait." Lorelai teased lightly, stepping closer and kissing him on the lips.
He sighed, stepping away. "You're so good, I'm laughing already." Lips curling up in a small smile, he began to head back towards the house. She nodded, just as Thomas began to stir. On her watch she noted the time, almost four o'clock and noted that it was almost time for her son to wake up.
"I couldn't help notice that you two were in a hurry." Glancing at the suitcase, Babette was standing just a few feet away from her. "Going somewhere doll?"
Thomas lifted his head sleepily at the new voice entering into his silence, just as she answered. "You know we were just getting ready to go on a picnic, with Rory. She's been busy with school and all and hasn't been around much." Lorelai explained tiredly, just as she heard the front door close again.
"Since when did you start putting your food in a suitcase?" Babette asked her suspiciously, gazing at Luke who was making his way down the sidewalk towards him.
"Oh, well it's our new big thing." Gazing slightly over at Luke, she looked relieved that he was back. "I guarantee everything is tied down and everything." Adding she nodded, shifting Thomas in her arms as he sat up; his little hand grasping her necklace.
"Ma ma." Thomas mimicked, raising the silver chain up to her in pure joy, as if he was asking her what it was. Time seemed to be moving quite slowly, but she was thankful for the joyful distractions of her son.
"Necklace baby, necklace." Twisting it around, he eyed the silver chain again. It was then that she felt to the comforting squeeze on her arm.
"Hey, he woke up." Luke smiled, his son gazing him at the same as he kissed his forehead, and then went to unlock the door.
"Lorelai tells me you're going on a picnic." Babette informed him as he proceeded to load the suitcase in the car hen load Thomas into his car seat.
"Yeah we're trying to get more family outings, New year's resolution." Ducking from the frame of the car he closed the door. "We're going to be late if we don't get going."
Babette backed up slightly, with a twinkle in her eye. "Well don't let me keep you doll, you three have fun now." Luke nodded and helped Lorelai into her seat before going around to his side of the car, giving Babette a brief wave of his hand and they left.
