Author's notes: Sorry for the wait! Things have been crazy! I would thank each of my reviewers individually but I simply don't have the time right now. But to answer any questions/comments: I'm so glad you all like the name "Richie"! The plan was to get married before Richie comes, and then within the year, but honestly it doens't end up happening that way. Neverfear, they will be getting married...just not yet. No surprise wedding though, will be planned and focused on. I'll tell more as it comes closer. Anyhow, hope you like this chapter and please let me know that you think. I also lvoe answering questions, so if you got any...:P?

Enjoy!!

Chapter 8: Baby Shower

Miss Patty and Babette entered Luke's Diner for lunch when they noticed it was rather empty. The few customers that were there seemed to fear their lives.

After taking a seat, the girls soon found out why…

'Oh my' Miss Patty said, seeing Luke dash around the Diner in a semi-panic.

'Yeah, Lorelai's due any day now' Babette told her, but lowered her tone once Luke glanced at them with a frightening expression.

'I heard she and Luke got into a fight' Miss Patty said, also being quiet.

'Yeah, last week' Babette nodded. 'She was screaming so loud that Apricot freaked and hid under our bed'

'What was it about?' Miss Patty asked curiously.

'Hard to say, but I could have sworn I heard something about-'

CRASH!!

Both girls jumped and looked over at the counter where Luke had dropped two cups, which had broken against the floor and pieces scattered everywhere.

'Wow, he looks really mad' Miss Patty raised her eyebrows.

'I think it's just stress. He won't move more than a meter from the phone' Kirk said from the counter, which was right in front of their table.

Luke gave them a glare but proceeded to clean up the cups, since he'd been trying to juggle many at once in order to only make one trip back to the counter.

Taylor entered the diner and went up to the counter with a look upon his face that everyone in the town knew to be his "I'm about to suggest something regarding the town" look. The look in which Luke really hated.

'Luke?' Taylor asked. 'I need to discuss something with you'

'Not now Taylor' Luke growled.

'It's important' Taylor insisted. 'I was wondering, after your son is born…could we use him on the poster of-'

'OUT!' Luke yelled, pointing to the door. But his expression changed instantly once he saw who was standing in the doorway. 'Lorelai? What are you doing here?' he asked and dashed around the counter.

'Paul Anka ran away' she said sadly.

'What? Why would he…' Luke glanced at her large stomach. He knew Paul Anka was getting nervous around Lorelai but he didn't think he'd actually run away.

'We'll find him honey' Babette jumped up from her seat, giving Miss Patty a nudge.

'Oh yes' Miss Patty jumped up as well. 'We'll search the entire town'

'You just get some rest' Babette patted Lorelai's shoulder. 'Let us take care of Paul Anka'

Lorelai nodded and frowned at Luke. 'I want the baby out, I'm too big'

'Any moment now' he told her, trying not to sound petrified at the idea, because he was. It was so stressful to know that the baby was going to be born at any given moment now.

'I heard there are ways to induce labor…' Lorelai spoke thoughtfully.

'Lorelai, we've talked about this' Luke glanced around to check no one was listening, but Kirk stared at them from the counter. Luke sighed and led Lorelai out the back, away from prying ears. 'Richie will come out when he's ready okay? And when he does…call me right away'

'Fine' Lorelai sighed. 'Kiss'

Luke gave her a kiss and then kissed her stomach too.

'Now go home and get some rest' he told her.

'Turnips!' Jackson announced as he carried his latest crops into the kitchen for Sookie.

'They better not be puny' she sighed, wiping her hands. She glanced into the crate and rolled her eyes. 'Puny!' she snapped, holding a bunch up and waved them in his face.

'They are not puny!' Jackson argued back but noticed a stressed expression spread across Sookie's face. 'You okay honey?'

'Yeah…no' Sookie sighed, dumping the turnips back into the crate. 'It's hard, you know? Lorelai's not here so I have to keep an eye on things. And Michel is being difficult'

'Isn't he always?' Jackson asked, putting an arm around her in offer of comfort.

'Yeah but…oh!' Sookie suddenly yelled. 'Lorelai, we have to throw her a baby shower!' Sookie got very excited at the idea.

'Oh yeah, we should!' Jackson joined in. 'But she's due any day now'

'Who cares? We're throwing her a baby shower!' Sookie squealed. 'Call Taylor, we need an emergency town meeting'

'For a baby shower?' Jackson raised an eyebrow but received a "don't question me" glare form Sookie. 'Okay!' he nodded. 'And they're not puny' he frowned, pointing at his crate of turnips.

'They're puny!' Sookie replied, standing her ground and waved them in his face again.

Luke heard the bell above the Diner's door ring and jumped, thinking it was the phone. He breathed again and glanced up to see Jackson heading over, looking very mysterious.

'Hey' Luke raised an eyebrow.

'Hi' Jackson nodded. 'Is Lorelai around?'

'Do you see her?' Luke asked, wondering how anyone would miss Lorelai if she were here. 'No, she's not…why?'

'The town is planning a baby shower' Jackson whispered.

'You don't have to whisper, she's not here' Luke sighed. 'And when?'

'Tomorrow afternoon, just after sunset' Jackson continued to whisper while looking around nervously. 'Could you bring her by Miss Patty's place without her knowing?'

'Sure' Luke shrugged. 'We'll be there'

'Cool' Jackson said, even quieter. He then cautiously made his way back outside as if he was a secret agent or something.

Luke sighed and jumped again as the bell rung a second time.

'Stupid bell' he growled. 'Oh, hey Liz!' he grinned, moving to give his sister a hug.

'Hey big brother' Liz smiled. 'Lorelai popped yet?'

Luke shook his head but didn't like Liz's use of the word "popped".

Kirk finished his meal and headed out the door since he had work to do.

'So what are you doing here?' he wondered.

'I got a call, saying there's some baby shower for Lorelai going on tomorrow…I wanted to be here for it. T.J as well'

'T.J wanted to be here?' Luke raised an eyebrow.

'Well okay, so maybe I had to make him…but we're here, that's what matters, right?'

'Yeah' Luke sighed. 'Can you keep a secret?' he wondered.

'Sure' Liz nodded.

'You cannot tell T.J' Luke added.

'Oh, well then…no' Liz shrugged apologetically. 'But he's a good secret keeper!'

'I'll pass' Luke frowned. He was just itching to tell everyone the name of his son. He especially wanted to tell Liz because the baby was having their father's middle name.

'Lorelai's gonna pop any day now, hey?' Liz asked in excitement. 'Finally, I get to be Aunty Liz!'

'Do you have to say, "pop"?' Luke frowned.

'Well fine, Lorelai's gonna blow any day-'

'Forget it, use pop' Luke shook his head. 'And yes, any day now…wait, who told you about the baby shower?'

'Some guy named Kirk' Liz shrugged. 'Why?'

'How'd he get your number?' Luke wondered.

'Said he got it from Lorelai's friend Sookie' Liz shrugged. 'Don't you want us to come?'

'No! No it's not that, I was just wondering who else got invited' Luke replied.

'Jess is coming, did I tell ya?' Liz smiled proudly.

'Jess? Why?'

'It's his cousin!' Liz replied in a tone that made Luke feel stupid. 'T.J said he's probably just coming for the free food, but I reckon it's something else. You know, he always liked you Luke…'

'Jess or T.J?' Luke asked confused to whom she was talking about since he was sure neither of them liked him.

'Jess' Liz replied, using her "Luke's stupid" tone again. 'He'll be here tomorrow morning sometime. He saids he wants to stay a few days…that okay with you?'

'Yeah' Luke shrugged and then jumped again as the bell rung above the door to announce another customer was entering the diner.

'Damn bell' he cursed under his breath.

The following day went by nervously for Luke (which wasn't anything new at this point) …but it was making him madder at his bell. He even asked Kirk to tear it down at one point. Although Kirk tried many times, the bell lived on to annoy Luke for many more hours.

While Luke went to pick Lorelai up, the residents of Stars Hollow (those that were closest to Lorelai as friends or neighbours) started to arrive at Miss Patty's with gifts, banners and food. Rory had been one of the first there and soon after she began to get nervous since she knew her father had showed up as well.

Christopher said he'd been invited and wanted to show his support, but Rory knew Luke wasn't going to see it that way. Liz and T.J showed up with Jess not long after and Logan also dropped by to celebrate the baby shower being held for Lorelai. Even Emily and Richard had managed to turn up proudly.

'Where are they?' Babette asked as Luke and Lorelai were now more than ten minutes late…

'Luke! Come on, we'll be late for my surprise baby shower' Lorelai complained as Luke made sure he had the bags with them in case something happened.

'What?' he asked. 'How do you know about it?'

'Sookie asked for guest lists for a pretend party and wondered what food was best for celebrating a baby…I worked it out' Lorelai said, shutting the truck door.

'And you didn't tell her?'

'No, it's a surprise' Lorelai argued.

'But you know' Luke frowned, confused. Which happened a lot whenever he spoke to a Gilmore Girl.

'Just drive' Lorelai rolled her eyes.

Luke drove out of the driveway and was too busy keeping an eye on the road to notice Lorelai pulling a weird face. She placed a hand on her enlarged stomach, wondering if the feeling she was getting was normal…

'They're here!' Lane called out to the group.

'We can't jump out and yell, she'll burst!' Babette then panicked.

'It's true' Kirk nodded.

'Surprise' everyone said quietly to Lorelai as she entered Miss Patty's with Luke's support. Luke then wandered over to where Jess was.

'Oh wow, this is great!" Lorelai grinned, giving a hug to everyone within her reach. 'Hey mum, hey dad' she smiled. 'Hey…' she paused as her eyes fell upon Christopher. 'What are you doing here?' she hissed, checking Luke wasn't nearby since she knew he would freak out over it…he always did.

'I was invited' Christopher shrugged. 'But I could leave-'

'What is he doing here?' Luke asked, spotting them.

'I invited him!' Sookie jumped in. 'I asked Lorelai for the guest list and…oh, sorry' she winced at Lorelai. She had tried to cover up for her friend but ended up making it worst.

'You wanted him to be here?' Luke asked her, the stress of the last few days had been getting to him and having Christopher show up wasn't the cherry to top off his week.

'He's Rory's father' Lorelai frowned.

'I should go' Christopher sighed.

'Yeah' Luke agreed.

'No' Lorelai butted in. 'He's my friend, he's Rory's father…he'll always be a part of our lives. You can't just send him away every time he shows up Luke'

Luke was about to argue back but noticed how the entire group was silent and watching. He sighed and just stayed quiet.

Christopher sighed also, feeling the utmost awkwardness that was now between him and Lorelai.

Sookie shifted her feet nervously but then had an idea. She took a microphone off Taylor and went to the front of the room.

'Hi everyone!' she said, getting their attention and giving them a big, proud smile. 'As you are all aware, this party is a way of saying congratulations to Luke and Lorelai, not only for their engagement but also for their new baby boy which is due any minute now' she said.

Lorelai knew the engagement was mentioned to shut Christopher up and remind Luke that Lorelai was marrying him, not Christopher…it almost worked too.

'Now as you know…' Sookie continued but Christopher was feeling more awkward by the moment.

'It wasn't supposed to be like this' he whispered to Lorelai, forgetting that Luke could hear him.

'What?' she asked, looking at him while Luke tried to ignore them.

'This' Christopher hissed. 'You and me' he sighed, but it hadn't come out exactly as he'd planned. He had been referring to how they couldn't even act like friends anymore, but Luke had interpreted a different version of what he'd said.

'No Luke' Lorelai said, trying to stop Luke from yelling at Christopher. She knew it was stress and built up rivalry, but she did not want to deal with it, not now.

Sookie tried to talk over the arguing that was going on between Lorelai, Luke and Christopher…but her efforts failed. Rory butted in as well but in the end it wasn't much help.

Lorelai stopped arguing but no one had noticed. She placed a hand on her stomach again and gasped.

'Ow' she said softly and thought it was just some gas for a moment but then it hit her full on. 'Oww!' she cried out, which still went unheard due to the yelling.

'Mum?' Rory asked, seeing Lorelai's expression of pain. Rory panicked and rushed to Sookie, grabbing the microphone.

'Hey! Mum's water broke!' she yelled, catching everyone's attention at last.

'Oww!' Lorelai winced again.

Luke inhaled quickly and rushed to her side. He tried to help her towards the truck but it was too far and Lorelai couldn't move.

'Take my car!' Rory said, giving him the keys. 'Jackson, get the bags from the truck and put them in mine'

Jackson nodded and rushed off, along with Emily who was determined to help.

Luke was having difficulty with getting Lorelai to the car, even when Jess rushed over to help. He paused and gave Christopher a glance, which he got.

Lorelai cried out again as Luke and Christopher helped her towards the car. Jess was there to hold the door open for her.

'Oh look!' Lorelai said loudly but with a hint of pain. 'It's starting to snow' she smiled, reaching out to touch it.

'You're having a baby!' Christopher snapped in shock.

'Get into the damn car!' Luke added.

As the few cars drove off into the snow-filling night, the friends of Lorelai's just stood outside Miss Patty's and watched. They knew that the time had finally come to bring Lorelai's second child into the world and with Lorelai on her way to the hospital…they were all giving their silent prayers.

Author's notes: There! What didya think? Richard doesn't know the baby's name yet, he won't find out til next chapter. But the baby is on his way...

Hopefully some reviews are on their way to me? smiles innocently lemme know whatcha think!