A/N: Holy freak out Batman. This is happening. This was such a ridiculously emotional chapter for me to write. I know I've told you this before but my entire experience with pregnancy? Watching way too many reruns of '16 and Pregnant' and 'One Born Every Minute' and reading a lot of blogs. Which is to say unpleasant details have been skimmed over and times have been fudged. Creative licence, ok?
Ashley, I hope you haven't had your baby yet. You've been my deadline in writing this :P. And I hope you have an easy delivery and healthy baby (and if it's happened already, silly tiny human being in a rush!).
Thank you for all the reviews and PMs and your general awesomeness.
And now, at the end of this very long note, enjoy and leave a review.
It's (still) a girl!
"Hi! How can I help?" The young nurse at reception greeted them with a smile a few minutes later and Rory glared at her, clutching Jess' hand.
"My wife's in labor."
"Aw, great!"
"Great? Really?" Rory snarled. "Which way to the epidural?"
"I'm sorry, we're going to have a doctor in triage see you so they can decide if you're staying tonight or not."
"Jess!" She let out a half whine, half hiss.
"I don't think 'if' is a possibility."
"How about I get someone here to show you the way to triage? Do you need a wheelchair?"
Rory shook her head, hands clutching the counter again as she started another contraction.
"Can you hurry up, please?" Jess urged the nurse, trying to rub Rory's back at the same time.
"Congratulations, you're in labor." The young doctor announced as he finished the exam.
"So that's what the stomachache is all about." She snapped at him.
"I'm going to see that you get into a room and then the on-call doctor will come see you and she'll explain what comes next."
"And get me an epidural?" She asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
"Yes." The doctor nodded reassuringly. "The nurse will come get you in a minute." He told them before leaving. Standing up off the table, she tried to adjust the hospital gown, pulling at its sides.
"God, this is terrible."
"I'm sure they'll let you change once you get to your room."
"They better." She whined, resting her head on his shoulder as she pushed the lower half of her body out. "Jess, I can't do this."
"Yes, you can."
"No, I really, really can't. Please make it stop."
"I'm sorry." He kissed her temple, watching her start her rhythmic breathing again as she dug her nails into his arms. Hearing her phone ring in her purse, she motioned towards it, letting go of Jess so he could pick it up.
"Hey."
"We're almost there, how is she?" Lorelai asked.
After glancing over at Rory who was now bending down so that her forehead was almost reaching the exam table, he stepped back towards her and put his hand on the small of her back, rubbing it. "In pain. We're waiting on the nurse to come get her into a real room."
"Tell her we've just gotten off the turnpike and we'll be there in twenty minutes, ok?"
"I will."
"Go take care of her!"
"Your mom's almost here." He told Rory as soon as Lorelai had hung up again, putting the phone in his pocket. "Twenty minutes."
"Ok."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Keep rubbing my back. That seems to be helping a little bit."
"Kick me off when it stops helping, ok?"
"Oh, trust me, I will." She told him. "They better have a machine that goes ping in the room they're sending me to." She tried to joke in an attempt to get her mind off the pain.
"And the most expensive machine - in case the Administrator comes." He added, finally getting a small laugh out of her.
"Hi! I hear you're in labor!" Laura announced as she walked in the room they'd been moved to a while later. "And on a night when I'm on call thus eliminating the need for them to call me from home."
"I planned it." Rory replied.
"How considerate." She laughed, sitting down on a chair as Rory kept pacing the room. "Hi, Jess. You holding out or should I have a doctor on standby for you?"
"I'm good." He nodded, his hands not leaving Rory's back.
"The intern tells me you're at four centimeters."
"Did he also tell you I'm about ready to throttle someone for any sort of pain meds?"
"No." She shook her head. "I'll make you a deal. You lie down on the table and let me examine you and I will go track down the anesthesiologist the second we're done."
"That is possibly the best thing anyone's ever said to me."
"Wait until the anesthesiologist gets here, you'll love him even more." She laughed waiting for Rory to get to the bed but she stopped, trying to ride out another contraction. "How often are they now?"
"About three minutes." Jess answered.
"Ouch." She grimaced. "I'll try to hurry up."
"Please do." He almost begged, distressed from his wife's pain.
A few minutes later, Laura stood up again, having finished her check. "It all looks good, baby's heartbeat is strong, you're moving along nicely. She's going to be here before you know it."
"Great."
"Now let me go find you some hard drugs."
"You're my favorite person ever." Rory smiled, relieved.
"I better be since I'm not even strapping you down to monitors until you're feeling better."
"Hulk smash!"
"Hah!" Laura laughed. "I'll be back." She announced before leaving the room. As soon as she'd closed the door behind her, Rory's phone started ringing again and he pulled it out, holding it out to her but she shook her head, curling up into a ball and biting her lip.
"Yeah?" He answered, stroking her hair with his free hand.
"What room are you in? The directions we got from reception are useless and Luke says we should go left and I say right and someone is going to die soon if I can't be there."
"Fourth floor, room 432. Turn right at the elevator and go in a straight line."
"Told you it was right!" He heard her tell Luke. "We'll be right there!"
"Ok." He hung up the phone again. "Your mom is here."
"Ok." Rory nodded, getting off the table again. "Fuck it, movies lie. There's no way anyone can put up with that pain while laying on their back all the time."
"Do you want some ice chips or something?"
"So I can pelt the nurses?" She shook her head, bending over again and letting out a low moan. Jumping up from his place, Jess tried to start rubbing her back again but she swatted his arm away so he decided to simply stand next to her. "S…" She tried to apologize a few moments later but he shook his head, kissing her.
"No need."
Hearing a knock at the door, Rory smiled. "That's probably mom! Come in!" She called louder and Lorelai barged in.
"Oh, God, I finally found you!" She rushed to Rory's side, immediately hugging her. "How are you doing?"
"Holding up. Where's Luke?"
"Outside staring at a wall or a plant or something. I think you might have to come drag him in yourself to convince him it's all right."
"Do you think he'll mind waiting? I'd rather not have him see me like this." She motioned at her hospital gown and socks. "I keep meaning to change, but I can't focus on anything."
"I think he might even prefer it." Lorelai assured her. "What can I do?"
"Nothing." She shook her head, starting to pace again.
"Is the walking working?"
"It's better than being still." She replied with a shrug. "Only time I'll ever exercise voluntarily. Hey, can you go down to the car and grab that damned bag so I can change?" She looked at Jess and he nodded.
"Anything else I can get you?"
"A time machine so I can go back nine months and make damn sure this didn't happen?"
"I can send Luke, it'll give him something to do and Jess won't have to leave." Lorelai offered. "Not sure he can find a time machine though."
"Then just the bag will do." Rory added before starting to huff again, holding on to Jess. Taking the key out of his pocket with one hand he threw it at Lorelai as he wrapped his other one around his wife, trying to comfort her.
"I hate you." She moaned between breaths.
"I know." He kissed her temple as Lorelai picked up the key from the floor where it had fallen, an apologetic smile on her face.
"Give me some warning next time." She managed to get out before almost running out the door and into Luke's arms. "Ok, this was a bad idea."
"What was?"
"Being here! My baby's in pain and I can't fix it!" She whined. "I mean I'm really proud of her because she's incredible and not even screaming her head off which she has every right to do but hell, it really sucks not being able to make it better. Ok, I'm all right, I had to get that out." She handed him the key. "They need the bag out of the car and I volunteered you so Jess could stay with her."
"Good, errands I can do. Anything else?"
"There was a mention of a time machine." She smiled. "Thanks, hon."
"Don't mention it. So she's…?"
"She's in labor." Lorelai sighed. "It's not pretty."
"And Jess?"
"Calm, giant kudos to him. I'm worse than he is which I can't say I saw coming." Taking another breath, she shook her head a couple of times, trying to clear it. "I should go back inside, thank you so much for helping."
"Let me know if there's anything else you need, ok?" He placed a small kiss on her lips.
"I will." She braced herself, opening the door again after a quick knock. "How's it going?"
"Peachy." Rory replied, pacing again. "You had two kids? You're insane!" She told her mother, only half joking.
"Why do you think I waited twenty seven years?"
"Not long enough. Can I kick you?" She looked at Jess and he nodded in reply.
"Yes."
"Too bad I can't lift my legs."
"I can do it for you!" Lorelai volunteered.
"Nah, I don't think it would be as satisfying."
"Plus you'd take too much pleasure in it." Jess added.
"Given how much you annoy me, it's a miracle I haven't hit you yet."
"Where the fuck is that doctor?" Rory groaned, clinging to Jess again. "Aw, shit."
"She does know some bad words." Lorelai joked, taking a tentative step closer. "What can I do?"
Rory motioned for her back in reply, eyes closed as continued to breathe.
"How about now, should I hit him now?" Lorelai asked jokingly, pushing her palms into Rory's back.
"Uh-huh." She moaned in reply, clutching Jess's shirt. "And then murder the doctor for not being here!"
"I'm sure they'll be here in a minute." She tried to calm her daughter. "Do you want me to go find someone?"
Rory shook her head in reply, releasing her grip a little bit. "My feet are freezing."
"D'you want my socks?" Jess offered with a small smirk, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Come on, one time offer."
"I'll wait for Luke to get here, thanks."
"Try to be nice." He kissed her, wrapping his arm around her quickly. "You're amazing." He added, whispering so that only she could hear.
"Liar." She replied just as softly, kissing him again before turning around to look at her mother. "Have you called everyone?"
"Yes. It's all good. Your dad and grandparents are driving over, but they're under strict directions to stay at their hotels unless told otherwise."
"Right, 'cause grandma…"
"Didn't tell her what hospital you're at." She grinned. "I don't make rookie mistakes, babe."
"What if she calls all of them?"
"Then I will personally kick her out of here."
"Keep talking." She urged her, holding on to Jess again.
"Already?"
"Blame your daughter." She winced.
"Lane said you should call her as soon as you feel like it and she's keeping her fingers crossed, Liz and TJ are at some fair in a town I've never heard of but they said they can be here tomorrow if you want them to and to also give them a call whenever, Sookie is over the moon and Babette practically pounced on me when we left to go drop Will off like she's been doing for the past two weeks so the entire town knows by now." Lorelai rambled, not stopping her massaging.
"Ok."
"Hi, I have the bag!" Luke called from the other side of the door.
"Be there in a minute!" Lorelai replied. "Hey, socks."
"Yay." Rory managed to squeeze out, completely devoid of any enthusiasm.
"That's the spirit." Jess joked, kissing her forehead.
"Ok, better." Rory announced.
"You're doing great and I will be back in a second." Lorelai smiled, smoothing her daughter's hair down before heading to the door.
"Can I do anything else?" Jess asked when they were alone.
"You're amazing." She told him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. "And I love you so please ignore anything else I say."
"Ok." He smiled.
"Socks!" Lorelai called as she entered the room again, holding the bag in her hand. "I have socks and clothes and whatever else you may have packed in here."
"Half the house." Jess said, taking the bag from her and opening it. "Long blue shirt?" He asked, picking up the item.
"And the fuzzy socks."
"Pink and yellow stripes. Nice." Lorelai giggled. "Do you need help changing?"
"If one of you can undo the stupid knot I triple tied to make sure my butt doesn't hang out I'll be eternally grateful."
"Pft, you're not really in hospital if your butt isn't showing." Lorelai said, her fingers working on the string at the same time. "Done." She announced after a few seconds, taking a step back and turning around.
"Thank you." Rory replied, starting to take the hospital gown off with Jess' help. "God, this feels so much better."
"You'd think someone would have figured out a way to make those stupid gowns comfortable." Lorelai quipped turning around again. "Aw, you look pretty."
"You lie, but I'll take it."
"I never lie!" She replied, trying to fake a shocked voice. "Socks?"
"I'm going to need to…" She gesticulated, looking for Jess' hand with her other one. "There's only really time to do one thing between these things." Sitting down on the edge of the bed as soon as she felt better, she picked up one of the socks before looking hesitantly at her feet. "Can I get some help? I'm too tired for the contortionism this requires."
"I got it." Jess told her, kneeling down in front of her as Lorelai rubbed her arm gently.
"It's ok, honey, the doctor will be here in a minute." The second she finished her sentence there was another knock on the door followed by Laura and a man in a lab coat walking in. "Man, I'm good. I will win the lottery tomorrow." Lorelai mumbled.
"Hi, everyone!" She pointed at the new man. "This is John, also known as Dr. Ecker and he's a very nice man who's going to make sure you stop being in pain." She addressed Rory.
"Hi… Rory." He finished after a short pause, reading the name off the chart. "I see you've signed everything, that makes it easy."
"Yeah, somehow I figured reading would be the last thing I'd want to do right now." She tried to smile.
"Ok, I'll talk you through this while I get everything ready."
"If I'd known drugs felt this good, I would have taken some in college." Rory giggled half an hour later when the doctors had left again. Pulling the sheets up as she lay on the bed, she stared at the machine attached to her, not being able to stop her awe. "I can't believe that thing says I'm having a contraction."
"Never once did you take anything?" Lorelai asked from her seat next to the bed, everyone finally relaxed not that Rory's pain was gone.
"Nope."
"I feel like I failed a bit in raising you."
"Sorry, mother, was I supposed to develop a cocaine habit?"
"It would have gone with your boat stealing ways." Jess smirked, his hand not letting go of Rory's.
"Did you at least smoke a cigarette?"
"Nope."
"Definitely failed." Lorelai laughed.
"Oh God, I was so mean to the receptionist." Rory blurted as the realization hit her. "And the first doctor."
"Was she?" Lorelai asked, surprised and Jess nodded.
"A bit. I'm sure they're fine."
"I don't care, I need to apologize. One of you needs to remind me to apologize as soon as they let me out of this bed again!"
"Did you call someone Doogie Howser and ask for a grownup instead? Because if you didn't, I still have you beat."
"I can't remember what I said, but I know it wasn't very nice. And Jess didn't even offer to buy me a pony."
"I'm officially lost now." Lorelai said.
"Inside joke." Rory tried to explain. "Please remind me to apologize?"
"If you forget, which I'm sure you won't given that you're about to worry yourself into a panic attack here, I will." Lorelai told her, trying to calm her down. "I'm going to go check on Luke, you two behave."
"Luke! I forgot about him!"
"It's fine, honey, you're not allowed to worry about anything but giving birth, ok? I think Will's birth traumatized him enough, being in here might push him over the edge." She added before slipping out the door, not giving her a chance to reply.
"How are you?" Jess asked, kissing her forehead.
"Good." She laughed in reply. "So good. You?"
"Hanging in."
"Are you ok with mom being here?"
"Yes, don't worry." He kissed her forehead again. "I'm probably better since she got here knowing that if I faint or something she can take care of you."
"Oh, and the team of doctors were insufficient?"
"Not the same." He smiled. "You better be worth the trouble, spawn." He put his free hand on her stomach between the monitor's straps.
"Well, she's not going to be born today." Rory pouted, looking at the clock on the wall. "How's the twelfth for a birthday?"
"Any chance it could happen after the twenty four hour window ends so I don't have to fight you over giving her coffee when she turns twelve?"
"Ten and no." She smiled. "I've waited long enough for her to get here."
"Damn." He chuckled. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." She smiled back at him, pressing her lips to his. "Now go get some food, you've got a long night ahead and one of us should enjoy the vending machines."
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't had any food since lunch."
"Fine, let me rephrase that. I'm not going anywhere."
"Yes, you are." Rory said as Lorelai walked back in the room.
"Yes he is what?"
"Going to go get some food." She tried to convince him, pulling his hand as she tried to get him to stand up. "Go. You can't say no to your wife when she's in labor, it's in the rules."
"She's right." Lorelai told him. "Go, I'll be here."
"Ten minutes." Jess conceded, standing up.
After looking at her one more time hesitantly only to be met with a shooing motion, Jess stepped outside, collapsing in a chair next to Luke almost immediately. Burying his face in his hands, he motioned for his uncle to wait a minute as he tried to pull himself together.
"This is about as close to hell as it gets, isn't it?"
Giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, Luke smiled. "It gets better real soon. Do you need a pep talk?" He asked his nephew and he shook his head in reply.
"I'm fine now that Rory's not in pain anymore." He answered. "She...this whole thing...it's mind blowing." He looked at the door, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah, it is."
"I'm going to get some coffee and a chocolate bar or something, do you need anything?" He announced, standing up.
"The machines are right there." Luke pointed to the ones a few feet down the corridor from the chairs. "There's a better selection if you go that way."
"Is this what you've been doing? Scouting vending machine locations?" Jess asked, standing up and looking through his pockets for change.
"That and answering calls."
"Who called?"
"Everyone."
"How many did you yell at?"
"Only Taylor." He replied with a smile as Jess took the full coffee cup from the machine, taking his seat again.
In the meantime, inside.
"You're going to be a mom really soon." Lorelai gushed, pulling her chair closer to her daughter. "God, kid, I'm so proud of you."
"Even if I didn't do drugs?"
"Never said you're perfect."
"I'm so tired." Rory yawned, rubbing her eyes. "I can't even remember how long I've been awake for."
"Then take a nap." Lorelai suggested.
"But it feels weird. I'm not supposed to be sleeping while in labor."
"The more rested you are, the easier pushing that baby out is going to be. Trust me. Plus this way you get to spend tomorrow staring at your beautiful baby girl instead of wishing you were dead when the adrenaline rush finally wears off."
"Please, the second she's out I'm drinking the biggest cup of coffee in the world. That'll probably keep me awake for another day."
"Maybe, but there's no reason you can't do both. Nap now, coffee later." Lowering her voice like she had a secret, Lorelai grinned. "I made Luke stop by the diner and fill a thermos with coffee. It's probably going to be cold by the time you'll want it, but it's better than the stuff they have here."
"You're a genius."
"Figured your first cup of coffee in a while has to not be horrible. Now go to sleep."
"Fine." She conceded, trying to get comfortable in the hospital bed.
"Hi." Laura walked in the room later that night. "How are we doing?"
"We're good. Great. Excellent. Trying to find a divorce lawyer so that I can get rid of Jess and marry the anesthesiologist."
"He's already married."
"Damn. Looks like you're stuck with me." She squeezed Jess's hand.
"Where's your mother?"
"Went to get coffee."
"Ok, let me do a quick check and see how things are going." Laura said as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Hopefully you can have this baby soon."
"I don't know, I'm actually enjoying it now. I haven't slept this well in a while."
"No rush then?" She said. A few minutes later, she took off the gloves, a big smile on her face. "I've got some very good news. You're at ten centimeters. Any pressure?"
"A bit." She nodded.
"Ok then, how would you like to push this baby out?"
"Seriously?" She asked, mouth half open in shock.
"You're good to go."
"I…uh…can we wait for mom to get back?" She replied when she managed to form a coherent thought again.
"Sure. I'm going to go get a nurse, I'll tell her to get back here if I see her." Laura said before leaving the room.
"Ok, now I'm scared." Rory admitted and Jess kissed her hand.
"You'll be fine."
"Big baby, tiny space!" She whined. "What if I can't do this and I end up pushing for hours and then they have to give me a c-section anyway?"
"Breathe." Jess told her, giving her a quick kiss. "You're going to do great like you have so far and she's going to be here in no time and nothing bad is going to happen."
"You're not allowed to look. Eyes on my face at all times. That is not the visual I want you to have of my body for the rest of your life."
"I promise."
Taking a deep breath, Rory looked into his eyes, squeezing his hand even harder. "Tell me one more time it'll be fine."
"It will be fine. And we're going to meet our baby very soon. Keep thinking of that." Jess whispered in reply, kissing her temple. "I love you."
"Ok, that helps. Love you too."
"What did I miss?" Lorelai asked, walking back in the room.
"Almost the birth."
"What?" She asked, this time shock taking over her.
"Doctor was here, turns out I'm at ten centimeters so you know, baby's about to make an appearance." As soon as she finished her sentence there was another knock at the door and Lorelai opened it, letting Laura and the nurse in.
"It's time!" She mouthed to Luke in the hallway before closing the door again, trying not to squeal with joy.
"Good, mom's back." Laura said as she sat back down on the end of the bed. "You're both going to help with this?"
"Yes." The replied in unison.
"Then grab a leg. Rory, you ready?"
"If I say no, will this stop?"
"Not really."
"Then I'm ready." She giggled, trying to hide the panic in her voice.
"Ok, here's how we're going to do this – we're going to do three counts of ten with small breaks in between while you push. Then you can have a longer break before we start again. Is that clear?"
"Yes." Rory nodded, pushing her hair back before taking Jess' and Lorelai's hands again.
"Good, we're going to start at the next contraction." She exclaimed, keeping an eye on the monitor. "This is it, folks. Push!" She urged Rory and she dropped her chin to her chest, holding her breath as she tried to push as hard as she could. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." Laura counted and Rory took a breath when she reached the last number, trying to get as much air in as possible. "And again. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." She spurred her on again. "Last one. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Great job, Rory." She told her when she was done and Rory threw her head back against the pillow.
"This is hard work."
"You're doing a brilliant job." Laura reassured her.
"What she said." Lorelai nodded.
"Round two." Laura told everyone. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." She paused, motioning for Rory to take a breath. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Good, you're doing great, and again. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." As soon as she was done, she smiled at Rory again. "How are you?"
"I don't know." She bit her lip, tightening her grip on Jess' hand.
"Let me know if you need to rest."
"I don't think so."
"In that case, let's try it again." As soon as the monitor started showing another contraction she looked at Rory, giving her a nod to let her know it was time to go. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Deep breath, One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and one last time and then you can have a break. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." She let out a small chuckle when everyone in the room let out a breath at the same time.
"You're doing so great, Rory." Lorelai cheered her on.
"Uh-huh."
"Aw, no, you can't quit on me now." Laura said. "Again or do you want a break?"
"Again."
"That's the spirit. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, breath, One, two, three, four, five, six..."
"I can't do this." Rory whined as she let out a breath, looking at Jess and he leaned over, kissing her forehead.
"Yes, you can. I know you can, ok?"
"But…"
"Hey, trust me." He told her, looking straight into her eyes. "I love you."
"Let's go." Rory told the doctor, a new-found confidence in her voice.
"Take a moment and breathe. You good for the next contraction?"
"Yes."
Looking up again some time later, her smile even bigger than before, Laura brought one hand up, her index and thumb nearly touching. "You are this close and boy, she's got hair. Now one more time, big, strong pushes and you're going to meet you daughter. Give it all you've got, ok?"
"I'm trying."
"Let's go. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." Barely stopping, Laura made a circular motion with her hand, trying to keep it going. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Big breath and one, two, three, four, five, six…stop." She exclaimed, barely containing her excitement. "Head's out!"
"I don't suppose you can yank her out now, can you?" Rory asked.
"Sorry, you have to do this yourself. But I promise you're going to be done in one more big push, ok?"
"Ok." Rory nodded, closing her eyes briefly.
"Last time. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, done!" Laura counted, taking the baby carefully in her hands with the last word and holding her up for Rory to see. "It's a girl!"