Love, Marriage, and Moving Vans (11/12)
Title: Love, Marriage and Moving Vans (11/12)
Author: lorelaisquared
Rating: R
Characters:Lorelai, Luke, Rory, Emily, Richard
Word Count: 3302
Summary: Sequel to Secret Desires and Nameless Fears. Lots of changes are in store for Stars Hollow's favourite family: Luke and Lorelai finally tie the knot, Rory starts her new job, and someone in town is facing a big move. Second story in the Good Things Come in Threes series.
Authors Note: You all owe Jewels12 a huge thank you for this being posted so quickly. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, she's amazing.
Only one chapter remains after this one. It's almost written so it should be posted soonish. Thank you all for reading. Even though I'm behind on responding to reviews I do read and appreciate each and every one. Thank you.
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10
We're All in This Together
Summer turned to autumn in a flurry of brightly coloured leaves that dotted the lawn of the town square and caused Taylor to curse mother nature.
By the end of September, Luke and Lorelai had settled into a solid routine at the new house. Rory had departed for Yale in the last week of August and it was just the two of them. Much of Luke's spare time was occupied in finishing the preparations in the babies’ room. He had already painted the room, with Rory's help, before she'd left for school. The formerly beige walls had been spruced with two colours. The bottom was painted an earthy green, and the top, a pale yellow. Since then, Luke had added white chair rails at the point where the two colours met, creating a clean, yet old-fashioned effect.
In addition to the paint, Luke had assembled two cribs, and he'd built a large, custom change table and dresser, which he painted white to match the cribs. Two white book cases, which he had also built himself, sat along the wall with the change table. The final touch was an antique rocking chair that he'd bought from Mrs Kim without Lorelai knowing.
On the first Monday in October, Luke surprised Lorelai with the completed Nursery. She hadn't been inside since the painting had begun, and her eyes welled with grateful tears as she surveyed the room that her husband had so lovingly put together for her and their children.
“Oh, Luke, it's beautiful,” she told him, wiping at the tears.
Luke wrapped his arms around her from the back, and she leaned into his chest as she continued to take in her surroundings. “I didn't unpack any of the things from the baby shower that Sookie and Rory threw you last week. I thought you'd want to do that yourself.”
He felt, rather than saw, Lorelai nod her head. “Thank you, Luke. Our babies will love it.” She took his hand and pressed it to her stomach, much like she had done several weeks earlier. This time, Luke felt a baby move against his hand, and he smiled into Lorelai's hair. He kissed the top of her head softly as they stood entwined, revelling in the miracle of the lives they'd created.
xxxxx
At the first town meeting in October, Taylor announced that they would be hosting a county wide pumpkin festival. All of the neighbouring towns would be taking part and Taylor was anticipating thousands of visitors. Everyone had been assigned a role, and by mid-month, the town of Stars Hollow was buzzing with activity. Even Luke had been roped into participating, as a judge for the pumpkin carving contest.
“I don't see why I have to do this,” he grumbled to Lorelai one day when she was sitting at the counter in the diner. “You know I hate these town things.”
“Yes, I know, but the only other person available is Kirk, and you know how Kirk is when he has to make up his mind about something.” To prove her point, she gesticulated to the table in the corner where Kirk was staring at a menu and muttering to himself as he debated whether to order grilled cheese with white bread, or grilled cheese with brown.
Luke shook his head in disbelief. “So I'm paying for the fact that Kirk can't make a decision to save his life?”
“'Fraid so,” Lorelai said apologetically.
“Why can't you do it instead? People like you better,” Luke suggested.
“Can't. Patty needs me to help her make thirty-five pumpkin outfits of various sizes by next Friday's dress rehearsal for 'Dance of the Midnight Pumpkins.'”
Instantly, Luke's expression changed from one of indignation, to one of worry. “Thirty-five? That's a lot of sewing. Are you sure you can handle that? You've been so tired lately.”
Irritated, Lorelai brushed off his concern. “It's fine, Luke. I'll be sitting most of the time. You worry too much.”
He leaned across the counter to cup her chin. “I just don't want you to push yourself too hard, that's all.”
She softened. “I know. I'll be careful; I promise.”
He kissed her gently. “That's all I'm asking.”
xxxxx
Lorelai sat at the sewing machine, fighting with the stubborn orange fabric, while she tried to ignore the aching in her back. She'd been elbow-deep in pumpkin suits for almost a week, and with only five left to sew, she just wanted to get through to the end.
She wrestled the next pumpkin through the machine, and it was nearly complete when the first sharp stab of pain hit her. She tried to ignore it, but a second stab of pain at the base of her spine caused her to cry out in agony and she was forced to stop sewing. A wave of panic swelled over her, as she began to worry that something was wrong with her babies.
The third stab brought on tears and Lorelai's concern grew. She held her abdomen protectively as she tried to overcome the pain long enough to walk to the phone. She dialed the diner, as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She breathed deeply, trying to stay calm, knowing that stress could hurt the babies even more.
Caesar answered the phone and again, Lorelai had to fight panic. “Caesar, I need to talk to Luke.”
“Luke's not here,” Caesar said casually.
How can he be so calm when something is wrong with my babies? she wondered, but when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly composed. “Where is he?”
“He had to make a delivery to Woodbridge. He should be back in two hours,” Caesar told her.
Two hours? I don't have two hours. Lorelai managed to thank him and hang up the phone, as anxious tears rolled down her face. She wracked her brain for other people to call. She tried Sookie next, but there was no answer. Panic was beginning to take root in her lungs as she contemplated her options. Rory would be in class, so she couldn't call her. Realizing she had no other choice, Lorelai picked up the phone with shaking hands and dialed her parents' number.
“Gilmore residence,” her father said.
“Hi, Dad. Is Mom there?” she asked in a voice that didn’t sound like her own.
“Lorelai? Is that you? Your mother is at her weekly hair appointment. She just left, in fact.”
In response, Lorelai cried out involuntarily as she was plagued by another stab of pain.
“Lorelai? Are you all right?” Richard's tone was filled with concern.
Lorelai slid to the floor, no longer able to stand. “Daddy? Something's wrong. Something's wrong with my babies, agh.” She clutched her side, sobbing openly now. “I can't reach... ugh... Luke, or Sookie. Ahhhh... I think I need to… go to the hospital. Daddy, I need you,” she finished in a whisper.
Richard immediately sprang into action. “Lorelai, I'm calling you an ambulance. I'll meet you at the hospital. Everything is going to be okay.”
“Thank you.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “And Daddy? Hurry.”
xxxxx
Richard hung up the phone, his chest as cold as ice. She needed him. For the first time in years, his baby needed him, and he was frozen, terrified for her and his unborn grandchildren.
He managed to keep going, despite his terror, calling 911 on his cell phone as he ran to the car. Once he was certain that they were on their way, and he'd confirmed which hospital they'd take her to, he called his wife at the salon to tell her what was going on. Then he drove, much faster than he was supposed to, praying that Lorelai would be okay.
After arriving at the hospital and checking in with reception, Richard was ushered to Lorelai's side.
She looked so pale and helpless as she lay on the gurney, that Richard felt his heart breaking. He grasped her hand tightly as the doctors examined her and hooked her up to all kinds of machines. “Lorelai, I'm here,” he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Daddy?” she murmured, closing them again as a contented smile pursed her lips.
Richard watched in wonder as a nurse exposed Lorelai's belly and applied the ultrasound wand to it. Suddenly, he heard a gentle whooshing sound as the babies’ heartbeats filled the air. A fuzzy image appeared on the screen and Richard could see both of his grandchildren.
Lorelai's eyes opened and she glanced anxiously at the screen. “Are they okay? Are my babies okay?” she asked, frantic.
“They both have a steady heartbeat, so that's good. One of them seems to be beating a little irregularly , though. Do you hear that? There's an extra beat in between. We'll monitor that to see what's causing it, but the vitals for both babies are stable.”
Lorelai relaxed at the news and turned to her father. “Thank you for coming, Dad.”
“You're welcome,” Richard said. “I called the diner again. I asked Caesar to send Luke to the hospital once he gets back.”
Lorelai smiled again. “Thank you, Dad. I really appreciate you being here for me.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “I couldn't handle this alone.”
Richard gripped her hand more firmly and smoothed her hair tenderly with his other hand. “You are not alone.”
xxxxx
Luke arrived a short time later, with Rory right behind him. Lorelai had been moved to a private room and the first thing Luke noticed was how small she looked as she slept, hooked up to all the machines.
He flew to her side, gently hugging her and planting a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Lorelai,” he breathed, his voice cracking from the strain of his concern.
When Caesar had told him that Lorelai was in the hospital, Luke had felt as though his heart had stopped. He felt so guilty that he hadn't been there for her when she'd called, that she'd had to face this alone.
He noticed Richard then, sitting on the other side of Lorelai's bed, hand clasped in hers as he watched over her with bloodshot eyes. The realization that she hadn't been by herself made Luke feel a bit better.
“Luke?” Lorelai called, her voice hoarse.
“I'm here,” he assured her, squeezing her hand as she turned to face him. “Rory's here too.”
Lorelai smiled wanly, though it appeared to be taking a lot of effort.
“Shhhh, you rest. We'll be here when you wake up.” Luke kissed her temple and settled himself into the chair beside her as she drifted back to sleep. He vowed in that instant, that he would never leave her side again if he could help it.
xxxxx
Rory sat at the foot of the bed and watched her mother sleep. She wasn't used to seeing her look so helpless and frail. She glanced at the monitor that showed the babies’ heartbeats. She was glad that her future siblings were okay, but she was even more grateful that her mother was all right. She'd been terrified when she received the voicemail from her grandmother telling her that Lorelai was in the hospital. It was way too early for the twins to be born and she knew it must be bad if her mother had called her parents’ house for help.
A wave of guilt rushed over Rory as she contemplated the reasons why her mother hadn't called her when the trouble began. Apart from the baby shower, they hadn't seen much of each other since Rory had left for school. A week after returning to Yale, she'd received a phone call informing her that, unfortunately, she had not been accepted for the position at the Stamford Eagle Gazette. The news, combined with the knowledge that Jeffrey must have been offered the position instead, had sent her spiralling into a bit of a funk. After that, she'd unintentionally withdrawn from her friends and family as she nursed her bruised ego. Now she was regretting all the times she could have called her mother, but didn't, and could have visited home, but chose not to.
Rory glanced up as the door opened and her grandmother walked in, looking stressed and gaunt. Worry was etched in the creases around her eyes and mouth, and if Rory had ever doubted that Emily Gilmore loved her daughter, those doubts were now thoroughly erased.
“Emily,” Richard greeted her. “She's okay.”
Emily glanced anxiously at her daughter's sleeping form. “And the babies?”
“Also fine,” Luke answered. “They're keeping her overnight for observation, but the doctor sounded confident that she'd be able to go home tomorrow.”
“What exactly happened?” Emily asked.
“We're not sure,” Rory told her. “It seems she had some sudden pains, like fake labour or something, but the doctor isn't saying much else. He said he wanted to wait until she's awake and give us the news all at once.”
“Well, that's ludicrous. We're her family. We have the right to know what's going on.” Emily marched toward the door. “I'll sort this out.”
xxxxx
The next morning, Lorelai was wide awake and feeling much better. She glanced around the room and smiled as she saw her loved ones surrounding her. Her mother and father were asleep in a large lounge chair, holding each other for comfort. Rory was sprawled across her legs, curled into a tiny ball, sleeping the way she used to when she was really little.
Only Luke was awake. He smiled at her. “Good morning, sleepy head.”
“Luke! I didn't dream it, you really are here.”
“Of course I'm here.”
“It's just, I couldn't find you yesterday when I needed you, and I was so scared, so much pain...” she trailed off, tears dotting her eyes again.
“I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere.” He hugged her fiercely. He didn't hug her nearly enough. -
The door opened and the doctor appeared. He beamed at her. “You're looking much better this morning, Mrs. Danes.”
“Thank you.” Lorelai offered him a strained smile. “What about the babies? Someone said they are okay, but what happened?”
The doctor glanced anxiously at Rory and the Gilmores who had all awakened. “Perhaps we should discuss this in a more private setting?”
Lorelai shook her head adamantly. “No. They're family, they can stay. Please, just tell me what is going on.”
The doctor nodded and settled into one of the chairs by the bed, his clipboard sprawled on his lap. He took a deep breath. “It appears that you have a mild case of a condition referred to as 'Twin-to-twin Transfer Syndrome'.”
Before he could continue, Rory gasped, her hand over her mouth in horror. “No,” she whispered.
Lorelai frowned at her. “What? Is it bad?” Her panic was rising again. “What’s wrong with my babies?”
The doctor glared at Rory and placed his hand on Lorelai's arm to calm her. “Nothing is wrong with your babies. Like I said, this is a mild case.”
“But what is 'Twin-to-twin Transfer Syndrome'?” Luke asked, squeezing Lorelai's hand, more to comfort himself than anything else.
“'Twin-to-Twin Transfer Syndrome, or TTTS as it's commonly referred to, occurs when identical twins share a placenta. Often when that happens, one baby will get more of the nutrients than the other, so one baby is often bigger than the other. In severe cases, it can be life threatening, but in your case, it's only beginning to develop. So, as long as we monitor the babies closely for the remainder of your pregnancy, and keep you stress free, I don't anticipate it being a problem. That does mean, of course, that you will be on strict bed rest until the babies are born.”
The room was silent as everyone processed the news. Rory was the first to speak. “Mom? I'm sorry I scared you. It's just that I researched TTTS for my story on multiple pregnancies earlier this summer, and the case I profiled was pretty devastating. I read that the later in the pregnancy it appears, the less damage it is likely to cause. Is that true?” she directed the final question at the doctor.
“Yes. It's true. And Lorelai, you're already in your third trimester. The babies have grown well up until now, and all of our tests yesterday show that they are both healthy. The imbalance hasn't caused any major problems, though it is what caused your pain yesterday. Abdominal pain and premature contractions are common in TTTS cases.”
“Will I be able to go home?” Lorelai asked.
The doctor nodded. “I think so. As soon as we check everyone's vitals again, just to be sure. But I meant what I said about the bed rest. You're not to do anything that could cause you or the babies stress.”
“Don't worry, Doctor,” Luke assured him. “I'll make sure she and the babies are well taken care of.”
He smiled at Luke. “I know you will.” He stood up. “I'll be back in about an hour to do a final check and then we should be able to discharge you.”
The door closed behind him and the five of them sat still, stunned.
“We'll hire you a nurse,” Emily announced. Lorelai started to protest, but she continued. “Don't argue, this is a potentially serious condition and I don't want anything to happen to you or my grandchildren. I think we'd all feel better about this if we knew that you had steady medical attention.”
Richard took her hand. “I agree. Luke has the diner to run and Rory's at school. It's a good idea to have someone there at all times.”
Lorelai was touched by her parents' concern. And truthfully, if her children's health was at risk, she didn't want to take any chances. “Okay.”
Four sets of eyes stared at her. No one had expected her to agree so quickly.
After a moment, Emily recovered. “Thank you. I'll make the arrangements right away.” She approached Lorelai's bed and made an awkward motion as though wanting to give her a hug, but deciding against it at the last moment. Finally, she just patted Lorelai's hand and left the room. Richard bent down and quickly pecked her forehead before fleeing after his wife.
“I'm just going to go say goodbye.” Rory gestured after her grandparents and soon she was gone too.
Luke lay on the bed beside Lorelai and wrapped her in his arms, burying his face on her shoulder as he tried to control the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He slid his hand over her stomach protectively as he heard her sniffling softly. He lifted his head, smoothed the hair off her face and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Shhh. We'll get through this. We're in this together. Everything will be all right.” Then he hid his face in her hair and wept with her.
Next Chapter
Author: lorelaisquared
Rating: R
Characters:Lorelai, Luke, Rory, Emily, Richard
Word Count: 3302
Summary: Sequel to Secret Desires and Nameless Fears. Lots of changes are in store for Stars Hollow's favourite family: Luke and Lorelai finally tie the knot, Rory starts her new job, and someone in town is facing a big move. Second story in the Good Things Come in Threes series.
Authors Note: You all owe Jewels12 a huge thank you for this being posted so quickly. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, she's amazing.
Only one chapter remains after this one. It's almost written so it should be posted soonish. Thank you all for reading. Even though I'm behind on responding to reviews I do read and appreciate each and every one. Thank you.
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10
We're All in This Together
Summer turned to autumn in a flurry of brightly coloured leaves that dotted the lawn of the town square and caused Taylor to curse mother nature.
By the end of September, Luke and Lorelai had settled into a solid routine at the new house. Rory had departed for Yale in the last week of August and it was just the two of them. Much of Luke's spare time was occupied in finishing the preparations in the babies’ room. He had already painted the room, with Rory's help, before she'd left for school. The formerly beige walls had been spruced with two colours. The bottom was painted an earthy green, and the top, a pale yellow. Since then, Luke had added white chair rails at the point where the two colours met, creating a clean, yet old-fashioned effect.
In addition to the paint, Luke had assembled two cribs, and he'd built a large, custom change table and dresser, which he painted white to match the cribs. Two white book cases, which he had also built himself, sat along the wall with the change table. The final touch was an antique rocking chair that he'd bought from Mrs Kim without Lorelai knowing.
On the first Monday in October, Luke surprised Lorelai with the completed Nursery. She hadn't been inside since the painting had begun, and her eyes welled with grateful tears as she surveyed the room that her husband had so lovingly put together for her and their children.
“Oh, Luke, it's beautiful,” she told him, wiping at the tears.
Luke wrapped his arms around her from the back, and she leaned into his chest as she continued to take in her surroundings. “I didn't unpack any of the things from the baby shower that Sookie and Rory threw you last week. I thought you'd want to do that yourself.”
He felt, rather than saw, Lorelai nod her head. “Thank you, Luke. Our babies will love it.” She took his hand and pressed it to her stomach, much like she had done several weeks earlier. This time, Luke felt a baby move against his hand, and he smiled into Lorelai's hair. He kissed the top of her head softly as they stood entwined, revelling in the miracle of the lives they'd created.
xxxxx
At the first town meeting in October, Taylor announced that they would be hosting a county wide pumpkin festival. All of the neighbouring towns would be taking part and Taylor was anticipating thousands of visitors. Everyone had been assigned a role, and by mid-month, the town of Stars Hollow was buzzing with activity. Even Luke had been roped into participating, as a judge for the pumpkin carving contest.
“I don't see why I have to do this,” he grumbled to Lorelai one day when she was sitting at the counter in the diner. “You know I hate these town things.”
“Yes, I know, but the only other person available is Kirk, and you know how Kirk is when he has to make up his mind about something.” To prove her point, she gesticulated to the table in the corner where Kirk was staring at a menu and muttering to himself as he debated whether to order grilled cheese with white bread, or grilled cheese with brown.
Luke shook his head in disbelief. “So I'm paying for the fact that Kirk can't make a decision to save his life?”
“'Fraid so,” Lorelai said apologetically.
“Why can't you do it instead? People like you better,” Luke suggested.
“Can't. Patty needs me to help her make thirty-five pumpkin outfits of various sizes by next Friday's dress rehearsal for 'Dance of the Midnight Pumpkins.'”
Instantly, Luke's expression changed from one of indignation, to one of worry. “Thirty-five? That's a lot of sewing. Are you sure you can handle that? You've been so tired lately.”
Irritated, Lorelai brushed off his concern. “It's fine, Luke. I'll be sitting most of the time. You worry too much.”
He leaned across the counter to cup her chin. “I just don't want you to push yourself too hard, that's all.”
She softened. “I know. I'll be careful; I promise.”
He kissed her gently. “That's all I'm asking.”
xxxxx
Lorelai sat at the sewing machine, fighting with the stubborn orange fabric, while she tried to ignore the aching in her back. She'd been elbow-deep in pumpkin suits for almost a week, and with only five left to sew, she just wanted to get through to the end.
She wrestled the next pumpkin through the machine, and it was nearly complete when the first sharp stab of pain hit her. She tried to ignore it, but a second stab of pain at the base of her spine caused her to cry out in agony and she was forced to stop sewing. A wave of panic swelled over her, as she began to worry that something was wrong with her babies.
The third stab brought on tears and Lorelai's concern grew. She held her abdomen protectively as she tried to overcome the pain long enough to walk to the phone. She dialed the diner, as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She breathed deeply, trying to stay calm, knowing that stress could hurt the babies even more.
Caesar answered the phone and again, Lorelai had to fight panic. “Caesar, I need to talk to Luke.”
“Luke's not here,” Caesar said casually.
How can he be so calm when something is wrong with my babies? she wondered, but when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly composed. “Where is he?”
“He had to make a delivery to Woodbridge. He should be back in two hours,” Caesar told her.
Two hours? I don't have two hours. Lorelai managed to thank him and hang up the phone, as anxious tears rolled down her face. She wracked her brain for other people to call. She tried Sookie next, but there was no answer. Panic was beginning to take root in her lungs as she contemplated her options. Rory would be in class, so she couldn't call her. Realizing she had no other choice, Lorelai picked up the phone with shaking hands and dialed her parents' number.
“Gilmore residence,” her father said.
“Hi, Dad. Is Mom there?” she asked in a voice that didn’t sound like her own.
“Lorelai? Is that you? Your mother is at her weekly hair appointment. She just left, in fact.”
In response, Lorelai cried out involuntarily as she was plagued by another stab of pain.
“Lorelai? Are you all right?” Richard's tone was filled with concern.
Lorelai slid to the floor, no longer able to stand. “Daddy? Something's wrong. Something's wrong with my babies, agh.” She clutched her side, sobbing openly now. “I can't reach... ugh... Luke, or Sookie. Ahhhh... I think I need to… go to the hospital. Daddy, I need you,” she finished in a whisper.
Richard immediately sprang into action. “Lorelai, I'm calling you an ambulance. I'll meet you at the hospital. Everything is going to be okay.”
“Thank you.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “And Daddy? Hurry.”
xxxxx
Richard hung up the phone, his chest as cold as ice. She needed him. For the first time in years, his baby needed him, and he was frozen, terrified for her and his unborn grandchildren.
He managed to keep going, despite his terror, calling 911 on his cell phone as he ran to the car. Once he was certain that they were on their way, and he'd confirmed which hospital they'd take her to, he called his wife at the salon to tell her what was going on. Then he drove, much faster than he was supposed to, praying that Lorelai would be okay.
After arriving at the hospital and checking in with reception, Richard was ushered to Lorelai's side.
She looked so pale and helpless as she lay on the gurney, that Richard felt his heart breaking. He grasped her hand tightly as the doctors examined her and hooked her up to all kinds of machines. “Lorelai, I'm here,” he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Daddy?” she murmured, closing them again as a contented smile pursed her lips.
Richard watched in wonder as a nurse exposed Lorelai's belly and applied the ultrasound wand to it. Suddenly, he heard a gentle whooshing sound as the babies’ heartbeats filled the air. A fuzzy image appeared on the screen and Richard could see both of his grandchildren.
Lorelai's eyes opened and she glanced anxiously at the screen. “Are they okay? Are my babies okay?” she asked, frantic.
“They both have a steady heartbeat, so that's good. One of them seems to be beating a little irregularly , though. Do you hear that? There's an extra beat in between. We'll monitor that to see what's causing it, but the vitals for both babies are stable.”
Lorelai relaxed at the news and turned to her father. “Thank you for coming, Dad.”
“You're welcome,” Richard said. “I called the diner again. I asked Caesar to send Luke to the hospital once he gets back.”
Lorelai smiled again. “Thank you, Dad. I really appreciate you being here for me.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “I couldn't handle this alone.”
Richard gripped her hand more firmly and smoothed her hair tenderly with his other hand. “You are not alone.”
xxxxx
Luke arrived a short time later, with Rory right behind him. Lorelai had been moved to a private room and the first thing Luke noticed was how small she looked as she slept, hooked up to all the machines.
He flew to her side, gently hugging her and planting a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Lorelai,” he breathed, his voice cracking from the strain of his concern.
When Caesar had told him that Lorelai was in the hospital, Luke had felt as though his heart had stopped. He felt so guilty that he hadn't been there for her when she'd called, that she'd had to face this alone.
He noticed Richard then, sitting on the other side of Lorelai's bed, hand clasped in hers as he watched over her with bloodshot eyes. The realization that she hadn't been by herself made Luke feel a bit better.
“Luke?” Lorelai called, her voice hoarse.
“I'm here,” he assured her, squeezing her hand as she turned to face him. “Rory's here too.”
Lorelai smiled wanly, though it appeared to be taking a lot of effort.
“Shhhh, you rest. We'll be here when you wake up.” Luke kissed her temple and settled himself into the chair beside her as she drifted back to sleep. He vowed in that instant, that he would never leave her side again if he could help it.
xxxxx
Rory sat at the foot of the bed and watched her mother sleep. She wasn't used to seeing her look so helpless and frail. She glanced at the monitor that showed the babies’ heartbeats. She was glad that her future siblings were okay, but she was even more grateful that her mother was all right. She'd been terrified when she received the voicemail from her grandmother telling her that Lorelai was in the hospital. It was way too early for the twins to be born and she knew it must be bad if her mother had called her parents’ house for help.
A wave of guilt rushed over Rory as she contemplated the reasons why her mother hadn't called her when the trouble began. Apart from the baby shower, they hadn't seen much of each other since Rory had left for school. A week after returning to Yale, she'd received a phone call informing her that, unfortunately, she had not been accepted for the position at the Stamford Eagle Gazette. The news, combined with the knowledge that Jeffrey must have been offered the position instead, had sent her spiralling into a bit of a funk. After that, she'd unintentionally withdrawn from her friends and family as she nursed her bruised ego. Now she was regretting all the times she could have called her mother, but didn't, and could have visited home, but chose not to.
Rory glanced up as the door opened and her grandmother walked in, looking stressed and gaunt. Worry was etched in the creases around her eyes and mouth, and if Rory had ever doubted that Emily Gilmore loved her daughter, those doubts were now thoroughly erased.
“Emily,” Richard greeted her. “She's okay.”
Emily glanced anxiously at her daughter's sleeping form. “And the babies?”
“Also fine,” Luke answered. “They're keeping her overnight for observation, but the doctor sounded confident that she'd be able to go home tomorrow.”
“What exactly happened?” Emily asked.
“We're not sure,” Rory told her. “It seems she had some sudden pains, like fake labour or something, but the doctor isn't saying much else. He said he wanted to wait until she's awake and give us the news all at once.”
“Well, that's ludicrous. We're her family. We have the right to know what's going on.” Emily marched toward the door. “I'll sort this out.”
xxxxx
The next morning, Lorelai was wide awake and feeling much better. She glanced around the room and smiled as she saw her loved ones surrounding her. Her mother and father were asleep in a large lounge chair, holding each other for comfort. Rory was sprawled across her legs, curled into a tiny ball, sleeping the way she used to when she was really little.
Only Luke was awake. He smiled at her. “Good morning, sleepy head.”
“Luke! I didn't dream it, you really are here.”
“Of course I'm here.”
“It's just, I couldn't find you yesterday when I needed you, and I was so scared, so much pain...” she trailed off, tears dotting her eyes again.
“I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere.” He hugged her fiercely. He didn't hug her nearly enough. -
The door opened and the doctor appeared. He beamed at her. “You're looking much better this morning, Mrs. Danes.”
“Thank you.” Lorelai offered him a strained smile. “What about the babies? Someone said they are okay, but what happened?”
The doctor glanced anxiously at Rory and the Gilmores who had all awakened. “Perhaps we should discuss this in a more private setting?”
Lorelai shook her head adamantly. “No. They're family, they can stay. Please, just tell me what is going on.”
The doctor nodded and settled into one of the chairs by the bed, his clipboard sprawled on his lap. He took a deep breath. “It appears that you have a mild case of a condition referred to as 'Twin-to-twin Transfer Syndrome'.”
Before he could continue, Rory gasped, her hand over her mouth in horror. “No,” she whispered.
Lorelai frowned at her. “What? Is it bad?” Her panic was rising again. “What’s wrong with my babies?”
The doctor glared at Rory and placed his hand on Lorelai's arm to calm her. “Nothing is wrong with your babies. Like I said, this is a mild case.”
“But what is 'Twin-to-twin Transfer Syndrome'?” Luke asked, squeezing Lorelai's hand, more to comfort himself than anything else.
“'Twin-to-Twin Transfer Syndrome, or TTTS as it's commonly referred to, occurs when identical twins share a placenta. Often when that happens, one baby will get more of the nutrients than the other, so one baby is often bigger than the other. In severe cases, it can be life threatening, but in your case, it's only beginning to develop. So, as long as we monitor the babies closely for the remainder of your pregnancy, and keep you stress free, I don't anticipate it being a problem. That does mean, of course, that you will be on strict bed rest until the babies are born.”
The room was silent as everyone processed the news. Rory was the first to speak. “Mom? I'm sorry I scared you. It's just that I researched TTTS for my story on multiple pregnancies earlier this summer, and the case I profiled was pretty devastating. I read that the later in the pregnancy it appears, the less damage it is likely to cause. Is that true?” she directed the final question at the doctor.
“Yes. It's true. And Lorelai, you're already in your third trimester. The babies have grown well up until now, and all of our tests yesterday show that they are both healthy. The imbalance hasn't caused any major problems, though it is what caused your pain yesterday. Abdominal pain and premature contractions are common in TTTS cases.”
“Will I be able to go home?” Lorelai asked.
The doctor nodded. “I think so. As soon as we check everyone's vitals again, just to be sure. But I meant what I said about the bed rest. You're not to do anything that could cause you or the babies stress.”
“Don't worry, Doctor,” Luke assured him. “I'll make sure she and the babies are well taken care of.”
He smiled at Luke. “I know you will.” He stood up. “I'll be back in about an hour to do a final check and then we should be able to discharge you.”
The door closed behind him and the five of them sat still, stunned.
“We'll hire you a nurse,” Emily announced. Lorelai started to protest, but she continued. “Don't argue, this is a potentially serious condition and I don't want anything to happen to you or my grandchildren. I think we'd all feel better about this if we knew that you had steady medical attention.”
Richard took her hand. “I agree. Luke has the diner to run and Rory's at school. It's a good idea to have someone there at all times.”
Lorelai was touched by her parents' concern. And truthfully, if her children's health was at risk, she didn't want to take any chances. “Okay.”
Four sets of eyes stared at her. No one had expected her to agree so quickly.
After a moment, Emily recovered. “Thank you. I'll make the arrangements right away.” She approached Lorelai's bed and made an awkward motion as though wanting to give her a hug, but deciding against it at the last moment. Finally, she just patted Lorelai's hand and left the room. Richard bent down and quickly pecked her forehead before fleeing after his wife.
“I'm just going to go say goodbye.” Rory gestured after her grandparents and soon she was gone too.
Luke lay on the bed beside Lorelai and wrapped her in his arms, burying his face on her shoulder as he tried to control the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He slid his hand over her stomach protectively as he heard her sniffling softly. He lifted his head, smoothed the hair off her face and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Shhh. We'll get through this. We're in this together. Everything will be all right.” Then he hid his face in her hair and wept with her.
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