In the words of our beloved Lorelai Gilmore: "I SMELL SNOW."
I got home from work and the forecast called for snow...I instantly got inspired to write the next chapter. And if by chance I get a snow day tomorrow I will probably write the following chapter as well.
I think so far this has been my favorite chapter to write. It is filled with a lot of emotion form all different aspects. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thanks all!
Fifteen minutes later, Lorelai and Luke came running into the Inn together. Tobin was standing at the front desk with two Police Officers and Sadie in his arms. She was wailing and Tobin looked terrified.
"Is she okay?" Lorelai asked pulling the little baby into her arms, Sadie nuzzled into her shoulder as she continued to cry, "Shh...shh it's okay baby girl."
"Are you the owner of this Inn?" One of the Officers asked.
Lorelai nodded, "I am."
The man sighed, "This is a highly unusual situation."
Lorelai nodded and rubbed Sadie's back, "I know…"
The second Officer stepped up to her and asked, "Do you have any contact information on the child's Mother?"
Lorelai's heart started pounding a way in her chest, "I…" Luke could feel her nervousness so he stepped up behind her and pressed a hand to her lower back to let her know he was right beside her, "I know her name...her first name."
The Officer raised an eyebrow, "Just her first name?"
Her face flushed, she was about to speak up when Tobin interrupted, "Kerri said Jessica told her that her last name is Herring."
Lorelai sighed, "What's going to happen now?"
"Well first we need to try and track down Jessica." The first Officer said, "But we also need to find out where we can place Sadie for the time being?"
Lorelai held Sadie closer, feeling incredibly protective, "Like a children's home?"
"It's the middle of the night. There is no other option right now." The Officer said with a frown.
Lorelai felt like the world was spinning, she couldn't imagine handing Sadie over to someone not knowing where she was going. Before she could think of what to say her husband spoke up behind her, "Couldn't she stay with us?"
Lorelai turned to look at him, "Luke?"
Luke smiled softly at her and stepped around her, "Sadie should be somewhere safe...with someone who knows her. She can stay with us until we sort this all out."
Lorelai turned back to the Officers, hoping they would agree, "Well...it does make sense at least for now." The first Officer said, "You two would be okay with that?"
"Yes!" Lorelai shouted, she was startled by her own voice and all the eyes in the room turned to her, Luke rubbed her back again gently, "I mean yes...yes of course she can stay with us. We will look after her."
The Second Officer nodded, "Okay. Well we need to take some statements from you for now and then we will let you take Sadie home. After that we'll be in constant contact with you until this is sorted out."
Lorelai nodded, "Right. Of course. Anything you need we will help."
Luke looked at her, "I'll go upstairs and get the crib to bring home." He whispered to her as the Officers turned to talk to Tobin first.
Lorelai's eyes filled with grateful tears as she looked at her husband, "Luke…"
He smiled and squeezed her arm, "Everything is going to be okay."
"Thank you." She whispered, leaning her head against Sadie as she snuggled into her embrace, "You didn't have to do this."
Luke shook his head and put his hand on top of Sadie's head, "Sadie didn't ask for any of this. She needs someone to look out for her."
"I know I've said it a lot lately but…" She sighed, "You're a hell of a husband."
He smiled, leaned forward and kissed her cheek before walking upstairs to get what he could for Sadie. Lorelai looked down at the little baby in her arms who was beginning to fall asleep again and wondered how Jessica could have walked away from something so precious no matter how scared or unprepared she felt. Sadie deserved more than this…
An hour later, Luke was setting the crib up for Sadie in his and Lorelai's bedroom. Mia was helping Lorelai tend to Sadie on the bed as he worked.
"What did the Police Officer's say?" Mia asked.
Lorelai sighed and strapped on the new diaper for Sadie, "That they would call when they know more and check in with us. But for now to try and keep Sadie happy and safe."
Luke finished up what he was doing and checked the sturdiness of the crib, "As soon as Doose's opens I'll go pick up some more supplies."
Lorelai looked up at him, "Hon you should go into the Diner."
He shook his head, "No. I'm going to stay here with you today."
"Mia's here…" Lorelai whispered, "We'll be okay."
Luke smiled at her, "I'm not going anywhere. If the Diner has to be closed for a day...so be it. This is more important."
Mia looked at them both and smiled, "I think I'll head back downstairs…"
Lorelai turned to Mia and smiled, "Thanks for everything Mia."
Mia leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head, "Let me know if you need anything."
Luke smiled at the older woman and waited until she left the room before he walked closer to his wife. He smiled when he saw Lorelai leaning down to tickle Sadie, trying to make her laugh. He walked up to the bed and carefully sat down.
Lorelai looked up at him, "You really can go to work if you need too."
Luke shook his head, "Not today Lorelai."
Lorelai sighed and looked down at the little baby on her bed, "Tobin was going to call Michel and fill him in on what happened."
Luke nodded and rubbed his leg, an anxious habit, "Good. Good."
He watched as she carefully put Sadie's clothes back on, even after all these years she looked so natural. As if she had just had Rory a few years ago. Lifting the baby up, she held her to her chest and stood up, rocking her back and forth as she paced in the small room.
"You didn't have to do this you know…" He heard her whisper in the dimly lit room.
Luke sighed, "I told you...Sadie didn't do anything wrong."
Lorelai nodded, "I know." She sighed and pressed a kiss to Sadie's head, "But it's still a big responsibility."
"Yes. It is." He agreed, "But Sadie should be somewhere safe."
Lorelai sighed and carefully placed Sadie back down in the crib, she smiled down at her, "She's asleep…"
Luke let her stand over Sadie for a moment, watching her carefully as she slept, then he spoke to her, "Do you want to talk about it?"
She was oddly quiet then turned to him and shrugged, "What's there to talk about? This is my fault."
Luke sighed and bowed his head, "Lorelai this is NOT your fault."
"Isn't it?" She asked sadly, the way her voice cracked made him feel like someone was ripping his heart out.
"Come here." He whispered softly, holding his hand out to her.
Her shoulders started to shake and she quickly but quietly walked over to the bed and sat down beside him, "Luke…"
He held his arms out to her and she fell into them, he felt warm tears against his shoulder, "None of this is your fault. Okay? Do you hear me?" He heard her mumble his name and he shook his head, "I mean it. Jessica made her own choices."
She sniffled and nuzzled herself into the crook of his neck, "But what if I pushed her way?"
"You didn't." Luke whispered, "You were trying to help her. I think that Jessica wanted a way out."
"And I gave her one." She said pulling away.
He sighed and reached his hand up to wipe away her tears, "I think that she would have done this one way or another. At least she is somewhere safe right now…"
"But she abandoned her daughter." Lorelai said sadly, "I mean that little baby is all alone now."
"She has us." Luke whispered, " Until we figure out what to do. She will stay here with us. I promise that nothing will happen to her."
She sighed and looked over at the sleeping baby in the crib, "What if they can't find her?"
Luke sighed, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"But what if they do find her?" She asked again, "I mean...how do we know that she wouldn't' do this again?"
"We don't know that. We don't know what is going to happen." Luke whispered, "But I promise you Lorelai…" She turned to him when she heard the sincerity in his voice, "We will make sure that no matter what happens Sadie is safe. Okay?"
She sighed and nodded slowly, "Okay."
He leaned forward, pressed a kiss to her temple and then began to kick off his shoes, "Come on. We need to try and get some sleep."
Lorelai sighed and crawled up to the top of the bed and pulled at the covers. Luke lay beside her and and put his arm out to her, she snuggled up beside him, resting her head against his chest needing to hear the steady beat of his heart to keep her grounded. She breathed him in and wrapped an arm around his middle, her eyes were on the crib making sure that Sadie was okay. Luke played with her hair, something he knew that soothed her.
They lay in the silence for awhile until she spoke, "Once when Rory was a little over a year old...I thought about it."
He let her words sink for a moment, "What?"
She sighed and pressed her nose against his chest, she closed her eyes tightly, "She had been sick. It had been four days of no sleep...nothing I did was making her feel any better. She kept throwing up the medicine that the Doctors gave me. I was just at the end of my rope…" Luke gave her a squeeze letting her know he was right there, "She was just screaming and screaming and I didn't know what to do. I remember putting her down in her crib and sitting down on the floor and I just started sobbing...I could barely breath. And I thought…" Her voice cracked, "I thought if I just get up and leave no one will ever find me. I'll change my name and no one will know I ever had her...she'll be fine and I can start over."
He sighed and took a deep breath, "Lorelai…"
"I think I feel asleep because I was crying so hard." She said with a sniffle, "But I wasn't out for long. When I woke up...the room was quiet and for a moment I panicked. I jumped up...ran over to the crib and I looked down. She was sleeping...sound asleep and so peaceful. It was so strange to see her that way after four days of non stop crying. I remember falling against the side of the crib and I started to cry again...but that time it was because I felt terrible for ever thinking of leaving her. She looked so peaceful and perfect and I thought...she's done nothing wrong. She deserves better than me...and I swore then that no matter how hard it got I would never ever leave her. I would never even think it. But I've thought about it from time to time...how I ever even considered it. And it breaks my heart."
Luke sighed and gently tilted her head back so she could see his face, "You are the most incredible Mother. Do you know that?"
Her lip trembled, "But I thought it...I thought about it Luke."
"You may have thought it...but you didn't go through with it." He whispered, "And that makes all the difference. Do you think you're the only parent that was ever fed up? It's okay. Dont you for a second think that you could ever be compared to Jessica."
She clung to him, "I love Rory. I've always loved Rory...I was just-"
"I know." He whispered leaning forward to kiss her, "I know."
"How could she do this?" She whispered, "Why didn't I see it coming? Why didn't I know?"
"Shhh…" Luke whispered, "Everything is going to be okay. I promise. I promise Lorelai. We'll figure this out."
She rested her head in the crook of his neck again trying to relax and understand how this all could have possibly happened…
Later in the morning, Luke got up and decided to go to the store to get diapers, food and whatever else they would need for Sadie. Lorelai was up and taking care of Sadie with Mia's help. When he got back, he found Mia cleaning up in the living room.
"Where's Lorelai?" He asked her.
Mia nodded towards the kitchen, "She's giving Sadie a bath in the sink."
Luke nodded, "Anyone call?"
Mia shook her head, "Not yet." She sat down on the couch, "Did she get any sleep?"
Luke sighed, "A little. But she was pretty restless. She feels like somehow this is her fault."
"I know." Mia whispered, "It might take her awhile to realize it but Jessica made her own choices."
Luke frowned, "She's worried because she once thought about leaving…"
Mia nodded, "I remember that. She told me about it when it happened...she was so distraught. I tried to make her see that it was normal when you're that tired but I know she's always felt guilty about feeling that way. About even thinking it. I'm sure now with this happening...it's brought up a lot of those old feelings."
Luke sighed, "She has to know what an incredible Mother she is."
"You know how it is Luke...even with April being older...you think about all the mistakes you've made. It's part of being a parent. I've felt it with my own children...Richard and Emily felt it with Lorelai. Your own parents felt it with you." She said with a shrug. "There's no getting around it. Ever parent make mistakes and at some point they dwell on those mistakes because they worry that they have ruined their children."
He sighed, "I just...I don't want this to break her heart. I was worried about what Jessica was going to do but I didn't expect this."
"No. Neither did I." Mia said with a frown, "I don't think anyone expected this to happen. But...it was good of you to volunteer to let Sadie stay here."
Luke sighed, "I didn't like the idea of her being whisked off to some place...where no one knew her. It didn't feel right."
Mia smiled, "You're a good man Luke."
He stared at her for a moment, "Are you going to stay for awhile? You don't have too."
Mia nodded, "I'm going to stay as long as you all need me."
"Thank you." He whispered, "I know it means a lot to Lorelai that you're here." He smiled softly, "It means a lot to me too."
She smiled back at him and he turned and took a few bags with him to walk towards the kitchen. He heard Lorelai laughing and his heart soared. That was one of his favorite sounds. Her laugh always stirred something in him. It always had. Even before they became a couple...on some of his darkest days all it took was to hear her laugh or see her smile to make him instantly feel better.
He stopped at the end of the hall and felt his heart start to pound in his chest. The picture in front of him was something that he had thought about often but finally assumed he would never be able to see. He imagined watching Lorelai giving their own son or daughter a bath and regret flooded his heart…
Sadie's little hands splashed in the water and Lorelai laughed, "I don't know who is more wet here kid. Me or you!" Sadie giggled, "Do you think that's funny?" Sadie giggled again, "You do huh? You think it's funny?" She smiled and leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head, "You're a funny little girl Sadie...a beautiful girl. And you're safe here. I promise you'll be okay."
Luke took a deep breath and tried to understand what he was feeling in this moment. But suddenly he was taken from the moment when he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. When he looked down at the screen he saw Rory's name pop up and he knew what he had to do. He put the bags down and then turned to walk out of the house and onto the porch.
"Hey Rory." He whispered as he closed the door behind him.
"Hey! Is my Mom with you? I was tried the Inn but they said she wasn't in today. And she didn't answer her cell or the house." He heard her say.
Luke sighed, "I just got home. She's here."
He heard a nervous silence before Rory whispered, "Luke is everything okay?"
"You're Mom's okay. But...there is some stuff going on here. Some things you should know about. I think your Mom might need you." He said looking back at the door.
"Luke...what's going on?" She asked anxiously and waited for him to tell her what happened.
A few hours later, Mia had excused herself to the living room to call Howard. Luke was cleaning up from a late lunch when Lorelai walked into the room after putting Sadie down for a nap. She sat down at the table and sighed, "She's asleep."
Luke nodded and wiped his hands on a towel, "That's good."
She rested her head in her hand and looked down when she felt something on her leg. She smiled when she saw Paul Anka resting his head on her knee, "Hey boy...you must be confused. You're used to getting all my attention."
Paul Anka whined and Luke smiled as he leaned against the back of the counter, "I am surprised he's not totally freaked out by the sound of her crying. I assumed he would be."
Lorelai sighed and scratched behind his ears, "I think he's mellowed a bit in his old age."
Luke smiled, "Maybe."
The old dog moved his head to lick her hand, "You're a good boy Paul Anka...you know that?"
"He knows." Luke whispered as he went to sit beside her at the table, "He's had a good life with us."
Lorelai smiled, "He's not gone yet…"
Luke nodded, "I know. I didn't mean it like that…"
She sighed, "I know. But...I suppose it is something we have to start preparing ourselves for."
"Maybe." Luke whispered, "But let's not worry to much about it yet. We've got enough going on as it is."
She looked up at him as Paul Anka moved to lay at her feet, "When you were in the shower the Police Department called."
Luke fidgeted in his seat, "What did they say?"
"There has been no sign of Jessia. But...they think they found her parents in New Hampshire." She said softly.
Luke took a deep breath, "So what happens now?"
"I guess they will talk to them...see if Sadie can stay with them until Jessica is found." She said in a strained voice.
Luke grimaced, "But I thought they didn't want Sadie?"
"I don't know." Lorelai said with a shrug, "I mean how do we even know if anything Jessica told me was true or not. She could have run away like I did? Maybe they will want her…"
Luke swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to understand why the thought of handing Sadie over to her Grandparents made him so upset, "Yeah...maybe."
They sat in silence for a moment, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It's not really in our hands."
Luke nodded, "No. It's not…"
She smoothed her hands on top of the table, "I told them that she could stay again tonight."
Luke smiled, "Of course. She can stay as long as she needs to...until we figure this all out."
She looked at him for a moment, "Okay."
Luke smiled at her and then looked at his watch, "So...there's something you should know."
She cocked her head to the side and frowned, "What?"
"Rory is going to be here any minute." He said softly, unsure if she would be happy or upset about this, "She called me looking for you and I filled her in on everything."
Lorelai took a deep breath, "I meant to call her back...but I was so busy with Sadie that I forgot."
Luke nodded, "It's okay. But she wanted to come see you...to help."
Lorelai's eyes welled up with tears, "Luke…"
"I hope you aren't mad at me. I just...thought she should know." He said with a shrug.
Lorelai took a deep breath, and then quickly pushed herself up off of the table. He watched her carefully, trying to read her expression. She smiled softly at him and positioned herself between his legs, he smiled and opened his arms to her. She sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, "See...damn good husband." She whispered leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips.
He smiled against her and held her close, wanting her to understand without words that no matter what happened he was right here beside her. They sat in silence for a moment, embracing each other needing to feed off each other's strength. Suddenly the front door opened and Lorelai pulled away just slightly when she heard that familiar voice, "Mom?"
Lorelai turned to her husband and smiled, "I love you."
He gave her hips a squeeze and smiled, "Right back at you."
"In here hon." Lorelai said standing up slowly to step into the middle of the kitchen. She heard Rory's shoes on the floor, she held her breath for a moment and waited until her daughter was standing in front of her, bags in her hands, "Hey kid."
Rory stopped, dropped her bags and smiled, "Hey."
Luke stood up slowly and walked over to Lorelai, "I'll go check on Sadie…"
Lorelai smiled at her husband, knowing he was trying to give her a moment with her daughter and she was grateful for that, "Okay."
Luke smiled, walked over to Rory and squeezed her shoulder. "It's good to have you back kid."
Rory smiled up at him, "Thanks for filling me in."
Luke squeezed her shoulder again, gave Lorelai another smile and then walked down the hall to leave them alone. Lorelai took a deep breath and stared at her daughter. She had been spending so much time with Sadie lately sometimes she forgot how grown up her actual daughter was. It really was true that some days it felt like just yesterday that Rory was the size of Sadie...and yet here she was all grown up and writing her first book. Ironically...about their life...a book that was much different than the life that poor little Sadie was about to endure.
"Mom?" Rory asked softly, "You okay?"
Lorelai sighed and held her arms out to her daughter, "You have no idea how good it is to see you kiddo."
Rory smiled and walked over to her Mom, instantly wrapping her arms around her, "Why didn't you call me?"
Lorelai squeezed her tighter, "Well for starters you do have your own life."
Rory pulled back and frowned, "I'm never to busy for you Mom. You know that."
Lorelai smiled and pushed her daughter's hair behind her ears, "I know. But I didn't think there was much to tell you to be honest. I didn't see this coming. Maybe I should have but I didn't."
Rory shook her head, "Luke told me everything I think...but I want to hear your side of it."
Lorelai nodded and turned to walk towards the table, "Coffee?"
"Do you really have to ask?" Rory asked with a smile, "I am your daughter after all."
Lorelai laughed and walked to the counter, "That you are."
Rory sat down at the table and watched her Mom walk around the kitchen with ease, "So...she just left?"
Lorelai nodded as she put the pot on and went to grab to mugs, "So it would seem."
"How could she just do that?" Rory asked curiously, "I mean how do you just abandon your baby?"
Lorelai cringed thinking about what she had told Luke the night before, "I don't know hon." She turned back to Rory as she waited for the coffee to brew, "It's complicated. Maybe more complicated than we even realized. I don't really know what's true and what's not true. She could have fed me a bunch of lies."
Rory started to pull off her coat, "She didn't leave a note or anything?"
"Not that we found." Lorelai said with a shrug, "Maybe she will come back?"
"Luke said she took everything except for anything that had to do with Sadie. Doesn't sound like she is planning on coming back." Rory said with a frown.
"No. I guess it doesn't…" Lorelai said sadly as she folded her arms and looked down at the floor.
Rory watched her Mother for a moment and tried to think of a time that she had looked so sad. Sure there had been the times she was apart from Luke. Then she had been devastated...she knew that. But this sadness she saw on her Mother's face was different and it broke her heart to know that there wasn't really anything she could do to fix this for her. No amount of red vines and old movies would make this situation better.
"Mom?" Lorelai looked up at the sound of her daughter's voice, "Talk to me…"
Lorelai sighed and walked over to the table, she sat in the chair next to Rory's and reached out to take her hand, "I'm okay hon. I promise."
Rory leaned against the table, "Mom...I know you."
Lorelai sighed and leaned back again, pulling her hand into her lap, "You sound like Luke."
"We're just looking out for you." Rory said with a shrug, "We are the two people who love you most in this world."
Lorelai smiled softly, "Yes you are. And I love you both more than I can express. The thing is I am okay...the whole situation is just weird. Brings up a lot of different emotions."
Rory had often wondered how her Mother had been brave enough to raise her on her own at such a young age. How she had juggled all the roles she had to play. Mother and Father, hold a job and still provide for her daughter's every need at all times. In writing her book she had tried to put herself in her Mother's shoes but she really couldn't imagine it. She didn't know if she would be able to be as brave as her Mother was.
Many times in her life she had come to realize that her Mother held a strength that many never would understand. She never let anyone see her sweat. Yet after all these years she had to imagine there were emotions...deep rooted emotions that never truly been dealt with because Lorelai would want to be strong for her daughter. But now...in this crazy situation those feeling shad to be coming to the surface.
"It must have been weird seeing her stand there…" Rory whispered.
It took Lorelai a moment to understand what her daughter was saying, but when she did she just nodded, "It was like looking in a mirror kid. At least for a moment...I wanted it to be the same. I don't know why it was so important to me but I see now that Jessica and I are very different."
"Not everyone is capable of being as brave as you Mom." Rory said with a sad smile, "I've been telling you for years that you are Super Mom. You just never believed me. Maybe now you will."
Lorelai smiled sadly and stood up, she shook her head and walked back over to the coffee pot, "Whether you remember it or not Rory I made a hell of a lot of mistakes. I still do."
Rory sighed and stood up, she walked to the fridge to get some milk, "Maybe. I suppose no one is perfect but you were pretty damn close." She walked over to her Mom, "Besides...no matter what happened you never gave up on me. That is what counts."
Tears burned in her eyes, "Rory...I need to tell you something."
Rory shook he head, "You don't have to say it."
Lorelai cocked her head to the side, "What?"
"Luke told me…" Rory whispered, "About the time you thought about it…"
Lorelai's mouth hung open for a moment. She thought she would feel angry and yet...she didn't. She weirdly felt relieved that it was out in the open. But then the tears came and she crumbled, "Rory I'm so sorry."
Rory shook her head and leaned forward to pull her Mom in her arms, "Mom you have nothing to apologize for. I think anyone in your situation would feel that at some point."
"You are my world." Lorelai said as she held her close, "Everything that is good. I never for a second didn't love you...I just...I-"
"You were human." Rory said pulling back slightly, "You were human." She repeated.
"I never would have done it. I never could have done it." She said sniffling as she put her hands on Rory's face, "Never. Never ever."
"I know." Rory said with a nod, "I know. It's okay."
Lorelai sighed and pulled her in for another hug, "I love you to the moon and back. And back again and again and again and-"
"Mom." Rory said squeezing her tight, "The one thing I've never questioned in this life is whether or not you love me. Not for one second."
Lorelai sighed and breathed her in, "Good."
She pulled back and smiled, "Yeah. Good."
A voice echoed through the hall, "I smell coffee. And I hear my favorite girls voice."
Rory turned to Mia, "Hey Mia."
Mia sighed and stood by them at the counter, "It's only been two weeks since I saw you last and yet you're even more beautiful." She held her arms out to her, "Get over here."
Rory pulled away from her Mom and walked over to Mia, "It's good to see you too. Thanks for coming to check on my Mom when I couldn't be here."
Mia smiled as they pulled apart, "Always." She looked her up and down, "How's the book coming?"
Rory sighed and sat back down at the table again, "It's coming. Slowly but surely."
"You'll have to write a new ending." Lorelai teased, "Some sort of full circle moment...coming back around again."
Rory smiled as her Mom put a cup of coffee in front of her, "I was thinking about that on the way here."
"The world does work in mysterious ways." Mia said as she poured herself her own cup of coffee, "I always believed you two showed up for a reason."
"And did you ever figure out what that reason was?" Lorelai asked as she joined them both at the table.
Mia smiled at her, "Simply that this is where you were meant to be."
"I guess it was." Lorelai said with a smile, "It's funny...I was trying to remember how or why I ended up here."
"I've always wondered that." Rory said, "What brought you here?"
"Truthfully?" Lorelai said with a laugh, "You wouldn't stop crying on the bus and the Bus Driver basically told me I had to get off the bus." The two women beside her laughed, she shrugged and lifted the cup to her lips, "I didn't really have a destination in mind. But when I got off...something about this place felt safe" She took a sip and then placed it back down, "I figured I'd stay for a night or two...but once Mia let us stay I just didn't feel like I could leave. I felt comfortable here."
Rory smiled, "Well whatever the reason...I'm glad we ended up here. I can't imagine growing up anywhere else than this crazy little town."
Lorelai smiled, "Me either."
Rory smiled realizing that the truth was her Mother too had grown up here, "Besides...if you hadn't of ended up here you never would have met Luke."
Lorelai's face flushed, "No. I wouldn't have."
"Was it really his idea to let her stay here?" Rory asked lifting her own mug of coffee.
Lorelai laughed a little, "Yes. It was. And he surprised the hell out of me when he said it. I was thinking it...but I didn't want to freak him out."
"He's a good man." Rory whispered softly, a little smile playing on her lips.
"A damn good man." Mia said lifting her cup in the air slightly.
"The best man." Lorelai said feeling her heart swell in her chest, "He's a Saint for putting up with me for all these years. Especially in the last few days…"
"He loves you." Rory said with a smile, "That's been pretty clear since I was about thirteen years old. Just took you awhile to figure it out."
Lorelai smirked, "Yeah well...we're married now. So that's all that matters right?"
"Right." Rory said in agreement, "Who knew the beginning stage of your marriage would be so dramatic." She teased.
Lorelai laughed, "We should have known nothing in our lives could ever be simple."
"I suppose you're right." Rory said with a smile, she paused then asked, "No word from Jessica still?"
"No." Lorelai said shaking her head, "And to be honest...I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I should want Sadie to be with her Mother but I'm also afraid that if they find her and give her back to Jessica that she'll just do this again...but somehow it would be worse."
Rory sighed, "You mean because with you she's safe?"
Lorelai nodded, "Exactly."
"If her Grandparents say they want her...she'll have to leave." Mia said softly.
Lorelai fidgeted in her seat, "I-I know."
Mia and Rory exchanged looks across the table for a moment before they heard crying coming from upstairs. "Guess she's up." Rory said.
Lorelai sighed and pushed herself up off the table, "I should go see if Luke needs help."
"You mind if I come with you?" Rory asked, "I want to meet her."
Lorelai looked down at her daughter and smiled, "Sure. I'm sure she'll love you."
Mia smiled at them both, "I'll finish cleaning up down here. Take your time."
Rory and Lorelai walked together down the hall, up the stairs and towards Lorelai and Luke's bedroom where they could hear Sadie beginning to quiet down just slightly. Lorelai paused by the slightly open door and held her hand up, she put her finger to her lips to signal Rory to be quiet. Rory stood behind her Mom but peered in the room through the crack. She smiled when she saw Luke holding Sadie in his arms, walking back and forth through the room slowly.
"There you go." Luke whispered, rubbing her back gently, "You're okay Sadie girl. I've got you...you're okay."
Rory turned to look at her Mother and saw the way that her eyes were trained on her husband. She was breathing a little heavier and her eyes were wet with tears. Her hand gripped the edge of the doorway as she watched Luke soothe the tiny baby.
"Yeah. You're okay." He whispered pressing a little kiss to her temple, "I'm Luke. I think you might be staying with us for a little while so we're going to have to get to know each other. I don't want you to rely solely on Lorelai. She needs her rest too…" He looked down at the baby snuggling against him and his heart pulled in his chest, "See? We can be buds right? I haven't had a ton of experience with babies but you're pretty cute."
Lorelai put a hand to her lips and tried to suppress the tears, she felt her daughter put her hand on her shoulder. She reached back with her other hand and held her daughter's hand close. "You're tiny." He whispered, then he laughed that deep little laugh of his, "I mean of course you are. You're a baby. Babies are tiny but…" He sighed, "But I don't know you're just...you're pretty damn loveable." He cringed, "Not supposed to swear in front of babies." Sadie didn't make a sound as she stared up at him, he smiled, "I guess my secret is safe for the time being, you won't tell anyone right?" She smiled up at him and he smiled back, "Thanks kid." He leaned down and kissed her nose gently, "I don't know what's going to happen next...but I promise that Lorelai and I won't let anything bad happen to you. Okay? You can trust me. We're going to make sure that no matter what happens you end up somewhere safe. I promise." She cooed up at him and he smiled, holding her against his chest again he breathed in the scent of her, "There you go...go back to sleep. I've got you. I've got you Sadie girl…"
Lorelai felt like her heart was literally going to explode listening to her husband's words. She was pretty sure that if he knew that she was listening right now his face would turn ten different shades of red. If he knew that his Step-Daughter had heard him too they would most definitely hear an "Aw Geez" come from his lips. And yet...she felt like she needed to see this moment. This intimate and perfect moment between the man she loved and this tiny baby that had shown up and turned their world upside down.
Rory seemed to be thinking the same thing because she leaned in and whispered to her Mom, "It's funny...I never knew if I could picture Luke with a baby. But…" She squeezed her Mom's shoulder, "He looks pretty damn good with one. Don't you think?"
She still didn't take her eyes of him as she smiled, "Yeah. He really does…"
Rory smiled, turned and walked down the hall knowing that for now Sadie was fine where she was. Lorelai watched him carefully for a few moments careful not to disturb him. When she was ready, she turned and walked back down the hall trying to remind herself not to get too attached but somehow knowing it was already to late…
Hope you liked it. I know we see how amazing Lorelai is as a Mother but I have to think at some point while she was raising Rory so young she had a moment of weakness. I feel like every parent has a moment like that no matter the circumstances. And quite frankly...it makes us more human when we admit those moments. I feel like a situation like this would bring up those old feelings for Lorelai and that is something I wanted to explore. As is the relationship between Luke and Lorelai and how they would both feel about having children...
More to come when I can! Thanks for your continued support!