Lorelai was ready the next day at eleven when Hunter knocked on the door. She opened the door. The sitter was staying with Hailey while Lorelai was gone. The two of them headed to the mall.

"Feel weird to be out without Hailey?" Hunter asked

"Yes. A little. But it's good for her and me. Get adjusted a few hours at a time." Lorelai said

Hunter nodded.

At the mall, they walked around going into several shops and did some shopping.

"We should plan a double date. Somewhere we have to dress up. Make them dress up for us." Lorelai said with a smirk.

"And we buy them the same shirt right?" Hunter said with a smirk

"Yes!" Lorelai said with a chuckle

"And we will need to find outfits for us too of course," Hunter said.

They did just that. They took a break around lunchtime to get something to eat at the food court.

Lorelai rubbed at her wrist.

"Hurts still?" Hunter asked

"Yes," Lorelai said. She took a breath. "I know John says you both don't blame me. Is that true?"

"Yes. Lorelai. We know what happened. We are both just glad both you and Lennox are okay." Hunter said

Lorelai nodded. "Okay."

They both had lunch before going and doing so more shopping. Finishing up around two and heading out to Hunter's car with a few bags each. Hunter started the drive back to her place.

"John and I talked about it last night. Just want to give you a heads-up. We are going to tell Lennox the connection to you. We won't tell her details, but she has had a lot of questions she might turn those questions on you. Of course, you don't have to answer any if you don't want to." Hunter said

Lorelai nodded. "I can't promise to answer all. Kind of depends on the questions. But I will answer what I can and what I think is age appropriate."

"Okay," Hunter said

"And if you or John want to be there if you feel more comfortable with it," Lorelai said.

"If we are there great but we trust you we don't -need to be there," Hunter said

Lorelai nodded

"This situation changes nothing between us and you and Spencer. I promise." Hunter said

Lorelai nodded again.

He pulled into the driveway. They both got out. Hunter helped her into the house with the bags. "I'd stay but I have to get home for the kids."

Lorelai nodded. "No. I get it, go."

Hunter went.

Lorelai went and found the sitter and Hailey playing in the living room.

The sitter looked up and smiled. "She was a perfect angel."

Lorelai smiled. "She's too young to cause trouble. If she's anything like her mother give her just a few years."

The sitter chuckled and stood up. Picking up Hailey as well.

Lorelai took her. "But you're going to take after your daddy right? Super smart and well-behaved?"

Lorelai told the sitter she would send her the money and let her leave for the day. She got the baby set up in a playpen with a few toys before she unpacked the stuff she bought and started to make dinner. She got a text from Spencer saying they had gone out of state for a case.

She got the baby fed and she ate as well. Afterward, she got the baby ready for bed and rocked her to sleep. "I love you, Hailey, And someday I will tell you all about the woman you got your name from. She would be your grandmother. And would have loved you so much." Lorelai said softly. When Hailey was asleep Lorelai set her in her crib and went to the kitchen and made herself some tea.

She sat and relaxed in the silence. She was almost asleep when Hailey started to cry. Lorelai had the baby monitor with her, and it woke her up. She went into the room and picked her up. Lorelai could tell she was warm.

"Oh no. You're getting sick." Lorelai said concernedly. She took her to the changing table and grabbed the thermometer. She stuck it in her ear and Hailey started to scream.

Lorelai took it out. "It's okay." She said softly. Lorelai looked closer at Hailey's ear. "Oh, baby. I'm sorry. You have an ear infection." She said. She checked her temperature in the other ear. It was a mild fever.

Lorelai grabbed some baby Tylenol and gave Hailey some before sitting in the rocking chair and rocking her crying baby.

"I know baby. I'm sorry. I know you're in pain. The medicine will help. Just give it time." She said softly.

But Hailey kept crying and when Lorelai checked her temperature about an hour later it had gone up. Lorelai took a breath "Okay. Time to go to the hospital." Lorelai said. She got the baby bundled up before she called a cab, and they went to the hospital. She was taken in right away and seen pretty quickly and an IV was started.

"I think it's an ear infection, but baby Tylenol did nothing to help the pain and her temperature went up instead of down," Lorelai said.

The doctor checked her ears and temperature. "Yup. Bad ear infection." "She allergic to any medications?" The doctor asked

"Not that I know of. She has never had any outside of the Tylenol I gave her tonight." Lorelai said

The doctor nodded and has some ibuprofen and amoxicillin be given through the IV.

"Amoxicillin & ibuprofen is what is going into the IV right now. Might work better that the acetaminophen." He said, "I will be back in a bit to see if it's working and such." The doctor said

"Thank you," Lorelai said as she stood next to the bassinet holding her baby's hand.

A nurse looked at her. "You should sit. You look exhausted. Is there someone I can call to come and sit with you?"

"No. My husband is away for work. As is my father and most of the people I call my family. My sister is watching our younger siblings while our parents are out of the state. Everyone else has kids and such. Don't want to bother anyone else." Lorelai said

"Okay. If you're sure." The nurse said.

Lorelai did sit down and take out her phone and called Spencer.

"It's late. Everything okay?" Spencer answered.

"Hailey has an ear infection bad one. We are at the hospital waiting to see if some painkillers kick in and also for the amoxicillin to start working. I wouldn't bother you, but I'd want to know." Lorelai said

"It's not a bother Lor. She is my daughter too. I'm glad you called me." Spencer said

"She is calmer now. I think the Ibuprofen is working already." She said

"Good. Who is with you?" Spencer asked

"Who can I call? You are all out of state." She said

"Becca?" Spencer said

"She works long days. If she isn't still working or doing homework she should be in bed." Lorelai said

"Hunter? John?" Spencer said

"They have kids," Lorelai said.

Spencer sighed. "You are sure you're okay on your own?"

"I have to be," Lorelai said. "Shouldn't be too much longer."

"Okay," Spencer said. "I love you both." He said before they hung up. Spencer knew she would be annoyed but she didn't sound okay. He called John and apologized for the late call but explained the situation and John went right away. He went into the room to Lorelai rubbing at her wrist.

"How bad is the pain?" He asked

Lorelai looked up and sighed. "I told him I didn't want to bother you."

"Not a bother," John said. "How bad is your wrist pain?" He asked

"A four," she lied.

He checked the baby over. "She seems to be okay. Right now."

"Yeah. I think the Ibuprofen is working better than the Tylenol I gave her at home." Lorelai said

"Good." He said sitting next to her. "Now let me see your wrist." He said

"It's fine." She said

"Wrist or I call Spencer," John said.

Lorelai sighed and handed him her wrist.

He unwrapped it and took a look "It's pretty swollen. Have you been icing it?" John asked

"Yes," Lorelai lied.

"You're not lying to me are you?" John asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow

Lorelai chuckled. "I swear that's a look that comes with becoming a dad. Spencer could never do that till Hailey was born."

"That doesn't answer my question," John said.

"Fine. No. I haven't been icing it." She said

"Why?" John asked

"I just have been busy," Lorelai said.

"Bull. You have time to ice your wrist a few times a day for 15 minutes. It won't heal if you don't." He said. He rewrapped it for her. "Ice it. Doctor's order."

The doctor came back in and smiled. "Doctor Black. What brings you here?"

"Lorelai is a friend. Nope. Correction. Lorelai is family. Just came to keep her company." John said

"Ah. Okay." The doctor said. He looked over at Hailey and checked her temperature. "Down to normal." The doctor said

Lorelai let out a breath of relief.

"Nurse will come to take the IV out and you can take her home. Get the antibiotics prescription filled. Use baby Motrin for her fever and pain." The doctor said handing her a prescription form.

"I will. Thank you, doctor." Lorelai said.

The nurse came in and took the IV out and Lorelai picked her up and got her back into her car seat and wrapped a blanket over her. John picked up the car seat and led her out to her car and got the car seat buckled in.

John started to drive to the pharmacy. Lorelai took out her phone and called Spencer on speaker.

"Hey. How's it going?" Spencer asked

"On the way to the pharmacy to get her prescription filled. She is asleep. In the back of John's car." Lorelai said

"I know you said you were fine, but I heard in your voice… You weren't." Spencer said

Lorelai took a breath. "I'm not angry."

"Okay good," Spencer said.

"Her wrist is still pretty swollen," John said.

"You've been icing it right?" Spencer asked

Lorelai looked up at John

"No. I will not lie for you." John said

Lorelai sighed. "No…"

"Lorelai. Why not?" Spencer asked

"I've been busy okay?" Lorelai said a bit snippy

"Lorelai. That's not an excuse." Spencer said

Lorelai sighed. "Fine. I'll ice it more." She said. Sounding and feeling defeated.

"Okay," Spencer said. "Thank you John for being there when I can't," Spencer added

"What is family for?" John asked

They went to the pharmacy and got the prescription before John drove Lorelai and Hailey home.

John helped her get the car seat inside.

"Call me tomorrow and let me know how she's doing," John said before hugging Lorelai and leaving.

Lorelai got Hailey changed into clean clothes and got her back into her crib once she was asleep before grabbing an ice pack and laying down to fall asleep.

She had set her alarm to wake up to give Hailey her antibiotics when it was time to do so.