A/N: Chapter Five is set in May. I hope you're enjoying this story, and that you're having a wonderful holiday period. I am pumped to be back to uploading on this story, and my other stories. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy. Happy New Year. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083.

The Year After the Year in A Life

Chapter Five: May

May 2017 – Six Months Pregnant

Lorelai, there has been some complications with the birth, we need to sedate you whilst we do some testing… on the first day of May, Lorelai had woken up, drenched in sweat. She got up, and went into the bathroom, running herself a bath, before returning to the bedroom, grabbing some of her new maternity clothes, and placing them on the sink. Luke had gone to work, dropping the kids off at school on the way, and Lorelai was supposed to be having a meeting with Sookie, Tom, and Michele' today, to discuss some features for the new Dragonfly expansion, if they wanted to get it opened in time for the summer tourist season. Since Luke had told her about his nightmares, she too had been having nightmares about either losing the baby, or herself, or both of them. They had then broadened, and she started worry about losing Luke, and Rory, and the kids…. It had panicked her so much, that she'd woken up in the middle of a panic attack, unable to calm herself down, until Luke helped her, and then she had experienced some slight pain before Dr. Heston just told her to rest. Luke felt bad about getting up early to go to work, leaving Lorelai on her own. He hadn't wanted to, in fact if he could have stayed with her all day, he would have, but Caesar is off sick, and Joe, Zac and the new waitress Billie are already working overtime, so he had to come in. It's a nice day outside, and he knows that the better days, usually bring more people into the Diner. Or more likely, they had heard from Patty that Weston's was shutting down for a remodel, and Luke's is the only place they can get food and coffee. He doesn't do all that café shit though, which he had explained to Liz when she had come in that morning, complaining that she couldn't get her chocolate eclairs from Weston's, and that TJ is going to be so pissed that he doesn't have any. Luke greeted his niece, Doula, as she entered, slumping down onto a table, where Luke just raised an eyebrow at Liz, who shook her head, just muttering the word 'kids' under her breath, before joining her daughter at a table. Doula is a year older than the twins, having been born in 2007. Luke was shocked when Jess came in and told him that Liz was having another baby… he was mostly shocked because it was Jess that had told him and not his own sister. Liz had eventually told him, claiming that she had been worried about telling him, because of what was going on in his life at that point, and she didn't want to make him feel worse than he was. She was probably right at that point.

Lorelai and Rory were spending the day together, sorting out the nursery, and things for the baby. It was the most that she could do, considering her best rest state, and how much she's panicking about all of this stuff. Rory tells her that she should get some summer maternity clothes, and Lorelai groans realising that she's going to be pregnant in the summer… again. Thinking about nothing but that beautiful little girl that she is soon going to hold in her arms. Nervous is what she is feeling, and it's not just because of what could happen. It's because in eighteen years, when this kid, their daughter, is eighteen, she will be in her sixties almost, and it's scary, because how long after that does she have? What if something goes wrong now, and she doesn't get to watch her kids grow up? Lorelai remembers back to that day when Sookie gave birth to Martha, and she had a pregnancy scare. What if she had of been pregnant… would it have changed anything? April still would have come into their lives… would they have been torn apart by it? Would they have gotten married sooner? Would anything have changed? Maybe it would have. Maybe they wouldn't all be sitting here together now. Rory knocks her out of her thoughts, telling her to not dwell on the 'what ifs' because she'll make herself crazy, and the last thing she needs right now, is more stress. Lorelai is in the nesting stage. Where she's not feeling like going out anywhere, but she's also not feeling like doing much of anything else. Apparently, Rory has some amazing Mother's Day thing planned for her, but she won't spill as to what it is. However, Taylor has also decided to throw the first ever Stars Hollow Mother's Day Festival. Lorelai had been salty about it since it was announced, mostly because she wouldn't be able to attend, because her husband is overprotective, and so is her eldest daughter. Also, Rory won't give anything away, about what her girls plan to do for her, so that doesn't make Lorelai feel any better, although she did hear that apparently, she and Eli were going to check out the festival, which had made Lorelai emotional, and they had to change the subject to something else. Luke had been talking with Rory about what they were going to do for Lorelai, as has been tradition for the last few years. This year though, because of her condition, she's confined to rest, although Luke was thinking of letting her attend the festival if she's feeling up for it, and she doesn't do anything overly strenuous. There aren't many pregnant women in Stars Hollow, so one of Taylor's games won't work, especially if Lorelai is there by herself. Sookie had also contacted Rory, about planning a baby shower, which Luke had groaned about to Liz, who had told TJ, who was apparently planning some guy's night, so that Luke could get away, whilst the ladies had their shower.

'I think it would be fun, it sounds like it's going to be,' Lorelai had said later that night when Luke had told her, as they were getting ready for bed

'You think going out with TJ and all his idiot friends sounds like fun? Are we talking about the same guy?' Luke asked, chuckling as he climbed in beside his wife, curling up to her immediately

'Give him a chance Luke. He's your brother-in-law. I got the nursery mostly set up. You and Jess can finish off the heavier things, but I want a baby shower. I never got one for the Twins or for Katie. Listen, if you don't want to go with TJ, you could always stay here at the shower. I don't care about the whole 'no boys' thing,' she said, kissing him, resting her chin on his chest

'Nah, you go. Have a fantastic time. I'll drag Jess and Eli along, then at least I'll have some decent company,' Luke said, smirking as Lorelai teased him.

On the fifth of May, Taylor threw the Stars Hollow Cinco De Mayo Festival, celebrating the Mexican Culture in America. Lorelai and Sookie had been excited about it, mostly because it's basically just another festival, and a way to fill in the month, before the big Mother's Day thing. When Rory had heard about it, she decided to write something in the Stars Hollow Gazette, after taking over the job as editor, after Bernie Roundbottom retired. Since she had taken over, the paper was going better than ever, and she still has time to work on her second book. Also, during that time, she and Sookie had been working to plan her mother's baby shower, and had scheduled it for the twenty-third of May, which is a day that Emily is also available, and would be coming in front Nantucket. She was going to stay with the Stones, which both Rory and Emily were excited about. Lorelai was just thankful that her mother had chosen to stay with Rory, because she was stressed enough as it is, she doesn't need to add the stress of her mother on top of the stress that Luke was already putting her through. Dr. Heston had recommended light activity, meaning that she would be able to walk around slowly, if she was careful, and didn't push herself too much, resting at least every fifteen minutes. Given that information, Lorelai decided to go with Sookie to check out the new festival and enjoy some of the Mexican culture in Stars Hollow. Luke was in the Diner, trying to mitigate the headache that was forming when Kirk came in and did his usual annoying behaviour of counting the number of fries on his plate. Lane had also become annoyed with this ritual, and on top of raising her own kids, had snapped at Kirk, who had figured that it was just something that all women did. However, the person that he was most scared of was Lorelai…. Especially pregnant. Pregnant Lorelai is the scariest Lorelai, and Kirk is terrified of the woman. However, Lane has a tendency to get angry the same way that Mrs. Kim gets angry, so Kirk is also scared of both of the Kim ladies. The Cinco De Mayo Festival was probably one of the worst ones that Luke had seen, especially because people kept coming into the Diner, asking if he sold alcoholic drinks, or Mexican Food. Al's Pancake World was filled with people, as he has a Mexican Food Menu, so he was losing business by sending them there, but it was better than having them all in here, when some much of this entire thing is ridiculous. Even his kids couldn't make this festival fun for him.

Rory and Eli had discussed the possibility of them having another baby, and they had decided to leave it up to fate. Rory had stopped taking her birth control, and that would be their guide. If she gets pregnant, then it's fate and it was meant to happen. Eli had been excited when his wife had told him this. Currently, they're hiding behind Miss Patty's, kissing as Rory presses herself against him. He runs his hands up her side, before reaching under her dress to pull her panties down, as she removes him from the confines of his jeans, and he holds her hips whilst she impales herself down on him, rolling her hips against him, as he sinks further into her, turning them so that he can press her back against the wall of the studio, and thrust into her. Rory suggested going inside the studio, having admitted to having sex in there once before, but she could tell that her husband was too close to do that, by the way he was grunting. He gets like that before he's set to come, and she can feel herself close as well. If anyone is near here, they can probably hear them going at it, but she's hoping that most of the town is nearer to the Square, where the festival is happening, so that they're not heard. Rory comes first, screaming Eli's named, fingers gripping his hair as he shoots into her, moaning her name as their lips meet in a feverish kiss. She's not trying to deliberately get herself pregnant, but her husband was looking mighty fine today, and she just wanted him. If she ever decides that she doesn't want to do this, Eli has given her an out… she can just start taking her birth control again. This method had worked for her mother and Luke. They had left Katie's conception up to fate, after her mother had a miscarriage the year before, they hadn't wanted to force it. So, when Katie was conceived, it was fate that made it happen, and both her mother and Luke would agree with that. Rory and Eli re-dressed themselves, Rory having just pulled her panties back up, and Eli having just tucked himself away, when Sookie, Lorelai, and Luke appeared as they had rounded the corner from the back of the studio. Lorelai raised an eyebrow at her daughter, smirking when she saw the messy hair, before Rory realised, and her eyes widened. Luke looked murderous, and Sookie just chuckled before the five of them headed back towards the Square. Getting caught having sex by your mother is one thing… but when it's Luke… the man you consider to be you father more than your actual father… she wanted to crawl in a hole and hide… and she's pretty sure that Luke is going to kill Eli.

'Do you have your panties on?' Lorelai whispered in her daughter's ear, as they linked arms

'Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. But we're um… leaving the whole 'baby thing' up to fate. Like you and Luke did with Katie,' she said, looking over at her mother

'Wow, so you've stopped taking the pill and you're… you know… trying… okay… if this is what you want Rory. It has to be right for both of you, not just for him,' Lorelai said, and she nodded.

'Yeah, I think when it happens, it will be right,' she replied, and Lorelai nodded, kissing her temple, before Luke appeared, carrying drinks for all of them.

On the morning of May fourteenth, Lorelai woke up to eight sets of eyes, staring at her. She sat up back against the cushions of her bed, whilst the Twins, Katie and Rory gave her presents for Mother's Day. Luke was sitting beside her and smiling. He loves Mother's Day. Probably more than Lorelai loves Mother's Day. Rory's girls had woken her up this morning, bright and early, to make her breakfast, and give her gifts, before going to school. The twins have the day off today, some teacher professional development day or something, but Katie is going to school with her cousins. Rory handed her mother a brightly wrapped box, and when Lorelai opened it, she gasped, hand over her heart to slow it down. Rory had gotten her a charm bracelet, the one that she had constantly pointed out to Rory when she was younger, the one that she had always said she would one day buy for herself. Luke knew of this story; Rory had told him once when she was seventeen…. It had been a busy day, and it was pouring rain outside. Rory Gilmore was at her usual table, studying for a test, when the bell of the Diner jingled, and she heard her mother's voice ring through the unusually quiet Diner. For a moment, Lorelai sat down opposite her daughter, before stating that she has to go to the Market to pick something up for their movie night and asking Rory if she'll be home soon. The young girl nodded, smiling at her mother as she exited the Diner. Things between the woman and Luke had been tense lately, and Rory doesn't know what to do. Mother's Day is coming up, and she knows what her mother wants. Every time Lorelai sees it in a catalogue, or in the window at the store, she tells Rory that she is going to buy it for herself. But she never does, and Rory can never afford it. She must have had a weird look on her face, because Luke walked over to her, asking her if she was alright. She pulled the catalogue, open to the page with the bracelet on it, out from under her books, and told Luke that it was what her mother wants for Mother's Day. Then she sighed. Luke looked at her, before Rory looked back up at him, now a determined look on her face. The Diner Owner raised an eyebrow at her, flinching slightly as Rory stood up quickly, facing him, poking his chest, and telling him that she is going to buy that for her mother one day…. Lorelai ran her finger over the bracelet, unable to hold back the tears that overflowed from her eyes, as Rory hugged her, kneeling in between the legs of her parents, holding her mother like it was the last time.

There had been some discussion about what was going to happen on this day. Luke had decided to cook a wonderful dinner for his wife, for his stepdaughter, and for his sister. They had even invited Sookie and Jackson along, and Emily was in Stars Hollow as well. All the mothers gathered in the living room, whilst the men (mostly Luke) cooked dinner. Jess was also here, he and his fiancée aren't parents yet, but Luke allowed them to stay, after much deliberation from the Diner Owner (he heard TJ, begged Jess to stay). The kids were running riot, and after the third time Lorelai had raised her voice to tell the kids to behave, Luke had scolded the other women in the room, for making Lorelai be the one to discipline, when their kids were just as bad, and Lorelai shouldn't be stressing herself. Sookie had agreed with him, and therefore took over the duties. Whilst they were all gathered together, Sookie and Rory began laying out the details for Lorelai's baby shower. Emily was excited as well, her hand was resting on her daughter's stomach, after Lorelai told her the baby was kicking. Rory watched her mother and Emily talking. They never would have talked like this before, and sometimes Lorelai still gets frustrated with Emily and vice versa, but for the most part, they have a good relationship. It was formed mostly by the pain of losing Richard. Lorelai had never [obviously] lost a parent but losing her father had hit her hard. Luke remembered when they got that news… Emily had called her daughter, barely able to tell her what was happening. Lorelai was in the Diner, she had dropped the cup of coffee she was holding, and Luke had caught her as she fell to her knees. It was terrifying, the way that she closed up, the way that she wouldn't speak about it. They way that she buried herself in helping her mother plan everything and refusing to deal with the fact itself. That night, she had collapsed onto the bed, Luke asking her how she is doing, and he just got… nothing… she said nothing, she did nothing, she just sat there. Wouldn't talk about it for days… and then she broke down one day, in the Diner, when Kirk had said something stupid. Luke had been there to catch her, but it had bonded her and her mother. Lorelai asked Emily for a fond memory that they have together, slightly offended when her mother had to think about it, before coming up with one. She shared it with the room, and it was funny. After that, Jackson came out to call them all to lunch, which had been set up on the back porch, overlooking the lake, and the beautiful garden and wooden things that Luke has been building.

'All right everyone, sit down. I'd like to make a toast: to all the mothers here today, and to all the mothers not with us here, but looking down on us, we love you, and we thank you for everything,' Jackson said, raising his glass in a toast, the others doing the same

'Mom, are you feeling alright?' Rory asked, noticing that her mother had gone a little pale

'What? Oh yes Rory, I'm fine. Eat your lunch,' Lorelai had said, standing quickly to head back inside, Rory shot a look at Luke, who was too involved in a conversation with her own husband to pay attention.

'Men… useless…' she had muttered, shaking her head, thankful when her mother returned moments later, but just didn't eat certain things, before finally pushing the plate away.

On the twentieth, Lorelai's baby shower was being held. All the ladies gathered in the living room of The Lake House, dressed in their best, carrying gifts for Lorelai, and for the baby. Luke had been reluctant to leave the house, when TJ came over, and tried to convince the women that they're going to a strip club, which had made Lorelai's emotions flare up, and she had threatened to 'dismember and burn him' if he came home smelling like skank, with glitter all over him. Luke swore to his wife that they weren't going to a strip club, just to the bar to watch the game. Rory promised that she would keep an eye of Lorelai, who had been feeling off the last couple of days, since Mother's Day, and Luke had been even more worried, when she had told him she'd had some spotting. Having read, and re-read his pregnancy books, he was aware of what that was. They have a doctor's appointment set for tomorrow morning; he's just hoping that it's nothing too serious before then. But as he exited the bathroom to head downstairs, he stopped. Lorelai was standing side on to the mirror, running her hands over the dress she was wearing, that accentuated all of her curves… including the breasts, which Luke had missed touching. Lorelai looked like she was in pain, and he asked her about it, only to have her tell him that she looks 'frumpy, and she feels ugly'. Luke had gone over to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, resting them on her bump, and telling her that she's beautiful. Then he whispered something dirty in her ear, ran his hands over her breasts, and smirked at the look on her face, before she whacked his arm, and told him to get. Sookie is running the show today, and Rory had whispered to her mother when she arrived that she's thankful she doesn't think that 'green is the new pink', which had made Lorelai smirk, remembering back to that moment. Lorelai had gone for a pastel colour theme, as that was also the colour that was in the baby's nursery. Liz told them the story about when she found out she was pregnant with Jess, which intrigued Taya [Jess' fiancée], and also Rory who hadn't heard the story. Everyone was intrigued, including Miss Patty, and Lorelai felt kind of sorry for her sister-in-law, knowing that story would be around the town before they could blink their eyes. Just like when the news that Lorelai was having another girl somehow got around town, and she knew that Luke must have told someone, because she certainly didn't. Per the doctors' instructions, Lorelai was sitting on the lounge chair, a blanket draped over her waist, and holding a glass of orange juice that Emily had gotten for her. Rory took a picture of her mother, who smirked at her afterwards.

The party was fun. Sookie had organised games for them all to play, but the physical ones Lorelai had to just watch. She laughed at her friends and daughter and thought back to a time when she didn't think she'd have this. Getting pregnant at fifteen doesn't really warrant your friends throwing a baby shower, especially when you're from a prominent family like the Gilmore's who tried to brush everything under the expensive rug. But this is both fun and entertaining. Lorelai pulled out Rory's baby book, showing the pictures of little Rory, some from when they lived at the Inn, from when Rory had tried to do ballet, [somehow her own daughter was better at ballet than she was], then there was the pictures from when they had first moved into the Crap Shack. Rory's first night in her own room, Rory's first day of school, of highschool, the first time she had gotten an A on a test… then there were the older ones, their first time at the lake, highschool graduation, first day of college… Sookie flipped through all of them, listening to Lorelai tells stories about everything. There was a picture in there that she had forgotten about, and it was one of Rory and her grandparents. Emily looked at the picture, smiling when she realised that Lorelai had taken it, just before Rory had gone away on her journalist job. After they had finished looking at Rory's baby photo's, Emily pulled out the few remaining ones she had of her daughter, before other people started getting antsy, and Sookie ran into the kitchen, coming back with a cake. Everyone cheered, and Lorelai just lovingly rolled her eyes at her best-friend, only Sookie would make a fancy cake for a baby shower. After they had cake, the phone rang, and Rory ran to answer it, her being the closest, hearing Eli's voice on the other end of the phone. He sounded… odd… she questioned him as to where he was, and why he was whispering, but the shouting of the word 'what' seemed to belay that point. Apparently, the guys had done what they said they were going to do, they had gone to the bar to watch the game, then TJ, the idiot, had started an argument with some guy, and a fight had broken out, and in trying to break up the fight, Luke and Eli had gotten hurt. Rory called her husband and idiot but promised they would come pick them up. Hanging up the phone, Rory explained what had happened, seeing her mother's face pale when she mentioned Luke, promising her that he's alright. Sookie and the other ladies decided to end the party (it was ending anyway), and hugged Lorelai on their way out, before the two Gilmore Girls went to pick up their idiot husbands. Upon arriving at the hospital, and locating the guys, Rory crossed her arms.

'You are idiots,' she said, looking from Jess to Eli to Jackson

'Hey, TJ started this whole thing okay. Then of course, he ran off, leaving us to clean up his mess,' Eli said, standing and moving over to Rory, who looked him over, before punching his good arm

'Where is Luke?' Lorelai asked, her voice laced with emotion, looking around the room, not seeing her husband, Eli just pointing her towards a room on the other side of the hall. Rory went with her mother into the room.

'Lorelai, it's not as bad as it looks. I didn't realise that it had even happened until I got here, and the doctor said that it's just a flesh wound, it will be sore, but should heal in a few days… and I have a slight concussion, some bruising…' Luke stopped when he saw the expression on his wife's face, before she collapsed, Luke managing to catch her before she hit the ground, shouting for help.

Lorelai woke up in a hospital bed, with her husband, daughter, and Dr. Heston standing over her. She could hear beeping, and groaned, wanting the noise to stop. Lorelai tried to sit up, but she was pushed back down by the doctor, who told her that she needed to calm down, she's in the hospital, she collapsed, but Dr. Heston is worried about her and the baby. Lorelai looked over at Luke, seeing the bruised face of her husband, and angrily told him that she had been so worried that he was hurt worse, that she would get here, and they would tell her that he's dead or something. Luke promised her that he's okay, kissing her forehead, hand resting on her bump, apologising for scaring her. He wiped the tears from her eyes, swearing that he's okay, it's just some bruises, which seemed to console his wife enough for her to calm down. Lorelai asked Dr. Heston what was going on, why she's in a hospital bed, and her Dr. explained that she had collapsed, her blood pressure was low, and she had some bleeding. Lorelai asked about the baby, was told that everything was good, the heartbeat is still strong, pointing to a smaller monitor, that was connected to the patch on her stomach. Lorelai nodded, resting back on the hospital bed, taking a deep breath, and closing her eyes. She must have drifted off, because when she woke again, Rory was in the room, on the couch with Eli, and Luke was dozing in the chair beside her. She made a noise to alert the occupants of the room to her waking, and Rory shot to her feet, telling her mother that Dr. Heston had wanted to keep her in for a few days, for observation, and that Luke had agreed with her. Rolling her eyes, Lorelai reached out to run her fingers through Luke's hair, before smiling. Rory then pulled out the good food, and placed it in front of her, telling her to eat it before Luke wakes up, otherwise he'll make her have a salad. Smiling, Lorelai asked Rory about Eli, and her daughter told her that he is fine, the kids are fine, Sookie has them, and she's also mad at the boys for doing this, but Liz… Liz was furious with TJ for starting this whole thing, and apparently there was a huge fighting match between them, and because it's Stars Hollow, the entire town heard it, and are now on the lookout for anything unusual. Apparently, TJ had said something insulting to one of the other guys in the bar, and that guy had reacted badly, so then TJ threw water at him, before running away, leaving Luke to take the brunt of it. Lorelai wanted to murder TJ, but her daughter made her promise that she wouldn't because they all need her. Lorelai chuckled, and soon she and Rory were just cackling with laughter, like they hadn't before, waking their respective husbands, who looked at each other, then at the girls, before rolling their eyes, asking both of them if they've lost their minds. But Luke didn't really mind, he hasn't heard Lorelai laugh like that in a while. It was nice to hear.

Luke had been told by the doctor, to go home, that he could come back the next day (today) to see his wife. As a surprise, April had flown in to see him, and also Lorelai for Mother's Day. He explained what had happened, and the two of them went to the hospital together, seeing that Rory was there with the kids. April greeted her siblings, and then popped her head into Lorelai's hospital suite (Emily had demanded her daughter be upgraded to a suite – typical), smiling and waving to the woman, who cheerfully greeted her, extending her arms out, as April bent down to hug her, asking her how she is, and if the baby is okay. Lorelai nodded, hands on her bump, telling April that she's getting another little sister, before placing her stepdaughter's hands on her bump, where April felt the kick. It was amazing, that feeling. Lorelai smiled, and she and April chatted for a while, about names, and Lorelai told her that she's thinking either Lilly, or Belle. April made the bold statement of using both names together, Lillybelle, and then they can just nickname her 'Belle'. Lorelai thought about that for a moment, then smiled, deciding to run it by Luke. After April had caught up with Lorelai, the rest of the Danes/Stone family joined them, the Twins and Katie climbing up on the bed, asking their mother if she's okay, before Eli decided to take them all for ice cream, his black eye protruding out of his face. Rory had been mad that TJ had done all of this, and had confronted the man, who had never dealt with Lorelai Leigh Gilmore before, and was scared. Kirk had found it funny, but everyone else had backed Rory up. Liz had even backed Rory up, that her husband could do something so stupid just because he was 'bored'. Luke's face is worse than Eli's, but at least his black eye isn't as protruding. Rory waited until the kids were gone, before climbing onto her mother's bed, (much to Lorelai's surprise), and sitting up next to her, leaning her head on her shoulder, and asking her if she's really okay. Luke took his wife's hand, and Rory noticed this, sitting up a little, asking them what they're hiding from her. That she deserves to know, she's old enough to know if her mother is sick. Luke told her that she's not sick, there are just some… complications…with Lorelai giving birth when the times comes, and that things have been touch and go recently. Rory gave her 'I demand to know what you're hiding', and Lorelai sighed, taking her daughter's hand.

'Rory, Dr. Heston has told us that if I try to give birth naturally, I could bleed out, and both the baby and I… there is a chance one or both of us, won't survive,' Lorelai whispered, looking up at Rory

'Okay, so have a C-section, right? That means that you won't bleed out, and the baby will be fine… right? Right Luke?' Rory asked, looking between her parents

'Rory, even with a c-section, there are higher risks, because of my age. A c-section will allow them to get the baby out safely… but there is no guarantee that I will survive,' she replied, and Luke squeezed her hand, whilst Rory took in the information, leaving the room to take it all in

Dr. Heston had given Lorelai all clear and had even allowed Luke to go ahead with his suggestion, of taking the family away for Memorial Day, stating that as long as she takes it easy, it will be fine. Lorelai was released from hospital on the twenty third, and Memorial Day is on the twenty ninth, so Luke had planned for the family to go to Caledon, to the Family House that has been owned by the Danes family for years, for Memorial Day weekend. Back in Stars Hollow, Rory had been avoiding her mother for two days, and Eli had been the go between, so when Luke had spoken to him that morning, when he came into the Diner, Eli had jumped at the chance to come with them to Memorial Day weekend, stating that he's 'really sick of Rory ignoring her mother', and Luke stating the same thing. He understands why. When Dr. Heston had told him the news, he had wanted to run as well. In fact, he did, he ran to the Diner, and he ignored Lorelai, which in hindsight, only made things worse, because it put more stress on her. He also knows of the relationship between his wife and stepdaughter and knows that he needs to fix it straight away. At the Lake House, Lorelai was sorting out the things she got for her baby shower, with Sookie's help, whilst they chatted, and Sookie made sure that her best friend was alright. Tomorrow, Lorelai is going back to work. She's so excited, she had been bouncing on the balls of her feet. It's only for a half day, but Dr. Heston had given her all clear to do some light work, so she and Sookie have some meetings tomorrow that will keep her off her feet, and apparently, Michele has been 'missing her', and has something special for her, because he wasn't invited to the baby shower, and is now mad at Sookie. Lorelai just hugged her best friend, telling her that she has missed the drama, and can't wait to be back. Sookie asked about Rory, and Lorelai just shook her head. Her eldest daughter hasn't spoken to her in two days, and it's wearing thin on her. Even her mother had called to ask her how she is. She knows that Rory inherited Lorelai's tendency to run away with things get tough, but both she and Luke have been working hard to break out of that pattern, although it's not as bad as it was before. Katie ran into the room carrying a book, asking her mother if she would read it to her, before spotting her Auntie Sookie, and asking her about her cookies. Sookie chuckled, leaning down to talk to the current youngest member of the Danes family, before Katie begged her aunt to read her a book, simply shouting 'bye mommy' as she led a chuckling Sookie out of the nursery.

After she had finished putting things away, she had gone to find Katie and Sookie. Her daughter and best friend were sitting on the sofa in the living room, and Sookie was animatedly reading to her, whilst Katie watched her, wide eyed, smile on her face. Like her big sister before her, Katie had shown an interest in books. But she also loves to watch sports with her father and brothers, something that Lorelai had been surprised by. She stood by the doorway to the living room, just out of sight, watching the two of them, clapping when Sookie ended the book with a curtsey, and a laugh. Katie ran over to her mother, telling her about the story, and what her aunt had done, and how Sookie was funny. Lorelai chuckled, sitting down on the couch beside her daughter, who climbed up beside her, and asked if they could watch a movie. Sookie made sure that Lorelai was okay, before telling them that she has to go, pick up her own kids, before saying goodbye, and that she is excited that Lorelai will be coming back to work. To be honest, she has missed her Inn… and she has missed Michele'. Katie chose the movie, and snuggled up to her mother, which is how Luke found them an hour later, when he got home from work, entering the living room. He chuckled, grabbing the camera to take a picture of the two of them, before Katie woke up, frowning at her father, as he pointed the camera at her, and took another picture. She asked him where the boys were, and he told her, then asked her if she wanted to come help him make some snacks for them, Katie bolted into the kitchen, before he could finish the question. Chuckling, Luke bent down slightly to press a kiss to his wife's cheek, covering her with a blanket, before hearing a crash come from the kitchen, and bolting after his daughter. In the kitchen, Katie and Luke began putting together some snacks for the boys when they got home. Tonight, is Liam's first baseball game, and the whole family is attending. He's so excited about it, both Luke and Lorelai thought their son would spontaneously combust before the day was even out. But he had managed to keep it together, and this afternoon, it's Baseball time. Lorelai had even forked out the money for each of them to have a hat with the team's name on it. Luke thought it was cute, seeing his wife in a Baseball cap was kind of a turn on for Luke…not that he would tell her that… or maybe he will… make her wear something stupid whilst they're having sex…

'So, Katie Kat, are you excited for your brothers game tonight?' Luke asked his daughter as she took the oranges he'd just cut for snack, and put them in the container

'Yep. Liam is so good at Baseball, and he's going to have so much fun, and Momma and I are going to wear our hats, and cheer him on,' she said, grinning

'How was hanging out with you Aunt Sookie today? Did you have a good time?' Luke asked, lifting her off the chair

'Yes, she's funny. Momma is happy when Aunt Sookie is here, they laugh a lot too,' she said, grabbing the water bottles from Luke and putting them in the bag, whilst the Diner Owner just smiled, nodding in agreeance.

On the twenty eighth, the day before Memorial Day, the Danes/Stone family piled into their respective cars, and headed towards Caledon, where the Danes Family Lake House is located. It's about a four-hour drive, and although Dr. Heston had cleared Lorelai to travel, Luke was still hesitant about it, wanting to get it done as easily as possible. Rory had offered to drive her mother, but Luke wanted to keep her close, and instead Katie had gone with Rory, Eli and the girls, and the boys were with their parents, the new car that Lorelai had brought after the twins were born ran like a dream, mostly because Luke was always looking after it, and Gypsy would make sure that everything was done correctly. There had been some animosity between Rory and Lorelai lately, and Luke didn't want to get in the middle, meaning that he was out of the loop, and he took that out on his wife, who had burst into tears, the hormones taking over, as she demanded to know what he wanted, if he didn't want to know, but also wanted to know. In the end, Rory had come to tell him what was going on and had diffused the fight between her parents. The twins had taken Lorelai's lead, and had fallen asleep on the drive, Luke had glanced over at his wife, and smiled. She is beautiful always, but even more so when the sun is shining over her, making her glow brightly, light she is an angel. His boys were dozing in the back as well, in exactly the same position as each other. Behind them, in the next car, Rory was driving, whilst Eli was fiddling with his phone, and the girls were sleeping in the back seat. Since meeting Eli, Rory has been introduced to many different styles of music, and she can't say that she likes them all. In fact, most of her husband's taste, if atrocious… and that doesn't count the times that her kids pick the music, and it is always constantly Frozen which Rory had come to hate, even going as far as to burn the CD, or threaten to throw it out the window. There is only so many times that you can listen to 'Let it Go' before you want to let it go… into the fire… Eli's cell phone rang in his hands, and he jumped slightly, causing Rory to laugh, and him to glare at her, a slight smirk on his face. He answered it, their friend George on the other end of the line. Rory had introduced Paris to Eli when they had first begun dating… he has a friend like Paris… his name is George. George and Paris hate each other… but they love their respective friends.

Finally, at one pm, they arrive at the house, and Rory can't believe it. It looks amazing, overlooking the small town, the house is large. Luke tells them about his father purchasing it when it was just a bit of land, and each time it was passed on, it was updated. Luke updated it himself many years before… in the hopes that one day, he would bring his own family here to enjoy it… Lorelai smiles at him, wrapping an arm around his waist, as he leans down slightly to kiss her, and it's nice, until the younger kids start making gagging noises, and begging them to stop kissing. Luke chuckles, resting his forehead against his wife's, before Eli asks him if they're going inside, or they're sleeping on the grass. Luke rolls his eyes, taking Lorelai's hand, he leads them up the front steps, to the door. Rory and Katie are talking about what they can name the house with Lori pitching in some ideas, and Luke telling them that they're 'not naming the damn house'. Once the kids were settled in the living area, with activities and cartoons, the adults took their leave to the balcony out the back, and had some lunch, looking over the small town of Caledon, and the beautiful lake that runs behind the house. Rory, Katie, and Lori had affectionately named the house 'Sage' due to it's sage green colouring. Despite his best efforts, Luke was unable to prevent this from happening. Eli was still on the phone, this time with someone else, because he was rubbing his forehead, and he only does that when he's frustrated. He's most likely talking to his father. Rory watches her mother, sitting quietly beside Luke, fiddling with a button on his flannel, as he tells a story about Summers spent here with Liz, and his family. How his mother would come out in the morning, watch the sun rise, then delight them all with breakfast and an idea for an activity. Not hearing her mother worried Rory, usually she dominates all conversations, but lately, since she got out of hospital, she's been quiet. Luke had invited Liz and TJ to come along as well but given how mad the girls were with TJ at the moment, he had declined the invitation. Memorial Day in Caledon is done up right. They have a small fair in town, and a parade. It's a small town, smaller than Stars Hollow, but they do it up right with the celebrations. At three, the nine of them went down to see the lake, Lorelai found a small stump to sit on, whilst the others ran around, laughing at Luke when his sons kicked water at him, drenching him from head to toe, and he then grabbed them around the heads, and dragged them out of the water, where they wrestled, before declaring a game of chasey.

'Come on hun, you're losing to two eight-year-olds,' Lorelai said, smirking at her husband

'Exactly, they're eight, and I'm not as agile as I used to be,' he replied, stopping for a moment to catch his breath, Lorelai leaned over and whispered into his ear

'You seem pretty agile in the bedroom still,' before standing and moving over to where Rory was with Moni

'Ah jeez Lorelai,' he said, before Liam and Ben tackled him, and Katie as well, leaving him to chase the kids around again.

On Memorial Day, the two families made their way into the small Caledon town centre, to watch the parade, and attend the small market that was happening. There were so many things for the kids to do, which kept them occupied, whilst the adults relaxed at the small park area. Rory and Eli were having some kind of disagreement, which Lorelai had caught onto, when her daughter snapped at her husband in front of them, before storming off, leaving the man frustratedly handling the two girls, and the bags. Luke had pulled him aside, asked what was going on, but he'd refused to involve them in it. Rory however, [of course] told her mother, who informed her that she's not wrong to want Eli to stop working for the day, it's meant to be a mini-vacation, and that maybe they shouldn't have come away together. Rory was just mad because Eli was making plans with their friends without first talking to her, and he's making them in August, which is when her mother is due to give birth, and she's adamant that she is not missing her baby sister's birth. She wants to be here. She was here for the twins, and she's going to be here for her new little sister. Also because of what the doctors were saying, she wants to be here to make sure that her mother is alright, that nothing goes wrong. The kids had made their way around the entire market fair and gathered all the things they could from the stalls, before hitting the park where their parents were sitting. Moni climbed up onto the seat, and wrapped her arms around her grandmother's neck, before patting her protruding belly and asking her questions, which Lorelai answered with a smile on her face. The young girl, satisfied with her grandmother's answers, asked her mother if she could go and play, running off to join the others whilst Eli's cell rang again, and Luke saw Rory rolling her eyes, and she pulled out her book, whilst Eli just stared at the phone, as if he was poking the bear by answering it, knowing that Rory is upset with him. Luke was shaking his head at him, whilst Lorelai begged him to 'either answer the damn thing or shut it up', rubbing her forehead, trying to make her headache go away. Eli turned the phone off, and pressed a kiss to Rory's cheek, before getting up to get some food for the group of adults. Luke placed his hands on Lorelai's stomach, smiling at her as they enjoyed their weekend, together as a family.

A/N: Happy New Year. I hope your holidays have been wonderful, and that the new year brings you amazing things. Thanks to MakesYouSeeTheLight0900 for all their help with this story. D.