Chapter 30: Yale and happy surprise
"Home, sweet home." Jess exclaimed happily when they came through the door of their house.
"Thank God we're here. I missed you, house." Rory dropped her backpack on the floor and hopped on the couch, exhausted.
"Yes, thank God. I really believed that this flight would never end. Here at least we have 2 of our own bathrooms, where we can throw up in peace." Luke sighed heavily. The trip to Europe was of course amazing, but the last couple days were honestly horrible. They all ate some cannoli, which was apparently not too fresh. So a 10 hour flight with food poisoning was not ideal.
"Amen, brother." Lorelai agreed. "God, I don't remember ever feeling this bad. Jet-lag and food poisoning is an awful combo. I need to take a hot bath to clean all this grossness off and then I'm off to bed." She announced.
"Okay, babe. I will come upstairs in a second, I just need to get my strengths up, to get up from this couch." Luke said. Lorelai walked upstairs and Luke, Jess and Rory just sat there on the couch, silent and feeling insanely tired. "I hope that besides the obvious last 2 days of nightmare you had fun on the trip, kids".
"Are you kidding? It was freaking Europe. It was amazing. All those countries, all those different cultures, and all those different books, which are older than the whole country of the United States? I never would have thought I would get to experience this. Thank you so much." Jess said, honestly. He was truly grateful to be a part of this family And that he got to do this trip with them.
"Yes, dad, it was unbelievable. And I got to see so many places that I only ever read about - just mind blowing. It was the best summer ever." Rory agreed with Jess. "But speaking of which - I can't believe that summer is almost over. I have to be at Yale in a week." She felt a weird mixture of emotions. She was obviously excited to get to Yale, it was what she dreamt about for almost her whole life. But it also meant leaving home, which was her safest place in the world. It was silly, really - Yale was not that far away. And yet somehow it felt big and permanent.
"Yes, but not yet, kid. We still have a whole week together." Luke reminded her. He didn't want to think about his daughter moving out any sooner than absolutely necessary. So for now, the topic was dropped.
"Keep it steady. We have to turn right here." Luke warned Logan, as they were walking through the Yale dorms building. "Remind me again why we have to get her a new mattress?" Luke asked Lorelai who was walking beside him, empty-handed.
"Because we don't want her to sleep on some filthy mattress, which probably has been in this dorm for the past couple decades and hasn't been washed since." Lorelai explained.
"Man, I sleep on one of those mattresses." Logan groaned at the nasty image.
"Sorry to break it to you, buddy. You should definitely replace it." Lorelai advised him. "Okay, it's these doors."
"I still think we could've just waited for Rory to finish her orientation before we started bringing all of this stuff in." Luke said.
"No, we want her to come back to her new dorm and see it all furnished and homey." She argued.
"But I don't see you doing any furnishing." Luke noticed. "You're just instructing me and Logan around."
"Luke's got a point." Logan agreed.
"Because, it's obvious that I'm the best coordinator. Besides, you know I'm still a little sick." She reminded Luke. The food poisoning lasted for a few days, but it seemed to have a longer effect on Lorelai, which made sense considering she ate about twice as much of the bad food as anybody else. She spent all morning puking again, but there was nothing that could stop her from dropping her daughter off at college.
They finally walked into Rory's dorm and put the mattress on her bed. "So, did you meet any of her roommates?" Logan missed Rory this morning, when she first arrived in Yale with her parents - he had to be at the meeting with one of the professors. When he was finally free, she already started her orientation, so he came to Luke and Lorelai to help them unpack Rory's things.
"No, we were only here for a minute, before she had to go and the room was empty. But I think the orientation should end soon and they all should come here. I want to stick around for that and meet them." Lorelai said.
"Yep, but we're gonna have to go home after that. We don't want to embarrass her too much." Luke added, though at the thought of leaving Rory here, he felt a hollow pain in his chest.
"Please, you are easily the least embarrassing parents in the world. If you tried, you could even pass for students and live here." Logan joked.
"That's not such a bad idea." Lorelai chuckled. "We can get a double room, and watch Rory every day."
"Cause that wouldn't be embarrassing." Luke laughed. "But all jokes aside - Logan, I need you to take care of her. Can I trust you to do that?" He looked him right in the eyes and saw nothing, but honesty.
"Of course, Luke. I'll make sure she's alright." He promised. And it was a promise he knew he had to keep, no matter what.
"Okay, hon, I think you're all set here. I guess we're gonna go." Lorelai said, trying to hide her sadness as she and Luke got up from the couch. "It was nice to meet you girls. And, Paris, great to see you again." As it turned out, Paris did not only end up at Yale like Rory, but she also happened to be one of her new roommates. The other 2 girls were Tara and Janet, which seemed nice enough. Still, it seemed crazy to Luke and Lorelai that after 19 years of sharing a house, they were just supposed to leave Rory and go. Luke was at least glad that Paris was one of her roommates - she might be eccentric and sometimes rude, but she was Rory's friend and he was happy that she wouldn't feel too lonely.
"I'll walk you to your car. You want to come too, Logan?" Rory asked, as she got up from the couch. He nodded and followed her. He could see her mood clearly - even though she tried to mask it. She felt overwhelmed and was already getting home sick. He took her hand and squeezed it to show her some support. When he started Yale, the only people he knew he would miss were Rory and her family and friends, and of course, Honor. But he was really glad to be able to get out of his parent's house. So he couldn't really imagine what Rory was feeling right now.
She put on a brave face and smiled weakly.
"Okay, guys, drive safely. I'll see you on Friday at grandparent's house for dinner. I'll bring Logan, too." She hugged them tightly. "Please, remember to check Jess' room weekly for any leftover food, otherwise the whole house will smell. And tell him that he should stay out of my room - I know it's bigger, but just because I live here now, doesn't mean that he can have it. And mom, go to the doctor, if you're still getting sick after a week. I know I'm your kid and you're the ones that are supposed to be worried, but I still can worry a bit."
"We'll be fine, kid. And you focus on getting smart, here. But also remember to have fun. College is supposed to be fun. Go to some parties, drink a little. But always stick with Logan or Paris or any of the new friends you'll make. You'll have the best time here, I promise." Lorelai said, trying to avoid crying.
"And call us, if you need anything. At any hour of the day or night. And one more thing - I know Luke's doesn't make deliveries, but I'll make an exception for you. So if you feel like eating one of your dad's famous burgers, just give me a call." Luke smiled sadly. It was all too much for Rory to handle. She suddenly burst out crying.
"Oh my god! Look at me, I'm pathetic. I'm crying after my parents like I'm 5 years old. I miss you like crazy, and you didn't even leave yet."
"Rory, there's nothing embarrassing about it." Logan tried to sooth her. "I'm actually jealous - you have such amazing parents that you know you're gonna miss them. And that's a good thing."
"But it's not supposed to be this way. How many nineteen-year-old people cry for their mommy and daddy on the first day of college?"
"Who says what is the right way here? We can stay longer, kid, if you want to. And it's nothing to be embarrassed about." Luke said and Lorelai nodded eagerly.
"Yes, we can even stay the whole night if you want us too." She suggested.
"That's a great idea." Logan said, before Rory had a chance to protest. "We can have a first-day party, get to meet the people in your building, so you won't feel so alone. And then your mom can sleep in your room, and Luke can sleep in my dorm." Rory didn't say anything. She still felt that it was slightly embarrassing but she also couldn't deny that the thought of having her parents with her on the first day of school sounded really comforting. Logan could see in her eyes that she really wanted it. "Okay, then. It's settled. Let's get this party started."
"It was good that we stayed." Luke decided when he and Lorelai finally got inside their car the next morning and started driving back to Stars Hollow.
"Yes, she needed it." Lorelai agreed. "And I think we needed it, too."
"Definitely." He nodded. "It really is crazy that such a small distance can make all the difference. At least we still have Jess for 2 more years before he's off to college."
"True. After 19 years, a house without any kids just seems weird." She said. Suddenly, she felt another wave of nausea. "Jesus, those cannolis are gonna be the death of me. You need to pull over, hon, I need to throw up." He did as he was told and got out of the car to hold her hair. "Eww, this is so gross. Why did it pass already for everyone else, but I'm still getting sick?"
"I think Rory may be right, babe. Food poisoning isn't supposed to last this long. You should call the doctor." He said, concerned.
"You're right, I will call her as soon as we're home." She agreed. She was still pretty sure that it was just food poisoning, but at least the doctor could prescribe her something for it.
After Lorelai left the doctor's office she felt a very wide range of different emotions. Confused, surprised, concerned, worried. Then overwhelmed. And finally insanely happy. She couldn't believe she hadn't thought of this before. After all, it was not her first rodeo. She should've understood the signs. But she and Luke haven't talked about another baby for so long, that she forgot that it was even possible. And yet here she was, pregnant again. They haven't been really trying for years, but they weren't exactly careful either, so it all made sense. First came surprise and worry, because she started wondering if it was really the best time for another baby. She and Sookie just bought the inn, it was gonna take a lot of time and a lot of money. Rory just started college - and even with partial scholarship and money from William, it was also expensive. Jess would also be in college soon and they had to pay for it, too. And in the middle of it all they were having another baby. But soon, she decided that if they got through it the first time, while still in high school and barely being able to afford baby clothes, they could certainly do it now. All those issues were just small fixable details. The most important thing was that they were gonna have a baby. A baby, which they always wanted to have, but somehow never got around to it. And she couldn't be happier.
She walked inside the diner with a huge smile on her face. Luke walked out of the kitchen when he heard a noise.
"Hi, there. What did the doctor say? Is everything alright?" He asked, worried.
"Well, it wasn't food poisoning." She answered simply.
"What was it then?"
"I guess we don't have to worry about a house without kids anymore. At least not for another 18 years." She answered. He, of course, understood immediately.
"Are you, really?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yep" she nodded with a smile. He kissed her eagerly, overjoyed by the news.
"Lorelai, this is amazing. It's gonna be great." He said. And she knew he was right. There was something ironic in the fact that she found out about her pregnancy the day they dropped Rory off at college. It seemed like it was meant to be. That this baby came to their world in the exact moment they needed it the most. And she couldn't wait for this next adventure.