Three weeks later, Stars Hollow was in the midst of another heat wave.  The temperatures had been in the high 90s for days.  Rory was a week away from her due date and miserable.  She refused to leave the house and air conditioning.  She made an exceptions only if Logan started the mini van and cranked the air conditioning. It had to be cold before Rory would waddle out of the house to the van. 

Logan was thankful they didn't have many places to go.  It was quite the production getting Rory anywhere in the scorching weather. He had to wait while she debated clothing choices.  In the end, she got angry and concluded she was too fat for anything and wore the same purple tank top and black shorts that she wore nearly every day.  Then she had to make a very last minute restroom stop.  Finally she would make the trek to the van while complaining the whole time.  The first five minutes of every trip was spend debating whether the A.C. was actually working or not.  Logan kept sweatshirts all around the house and in the van.  He knew the A.C. worked very well. 

But, despite Rory's complaining and demands, Logan was more than happy to accommodate her any way he could.  He kept the temperature as cold as she wanted it.  He kept the frig and freezer stocked with her favorite craving and binge foods.  He rubbed her swollen ankles every night as she dozed on the couch while trying to watch the news.

 The day before had been Logan's last day of work in the office.  He had arranged his schedule and projects in such a way that he could work from home up until the baby arrived.  Then he arranged to have several weeks off completely.  He wanted to be around Rory for the last week just in case she needed him or went into labor early.  And after the baby was born, he wanted to be able to concentrate fully on Rory and their new addition.

Logan had convinced Rory to get out of the house and visit her mother.  He thought a little activity would be good for her.  At home, Rory just organized and reorganized the baby's clothes and books all day.  She had folded each tiny outfit at least thirty times.  Logan felt he should break her away from it for a while.  When Lorelai had called and asked them to come for lunch, Logan did all he could to persuade Rory to go.  He finally succeeded by ruining the surprise and telling Rory that Lorelai had set up a nursery at her house.  Logan figured Rory was excited to go fold clothes in a new room for a while.

"Are you ready to go?  We did tell your mom we would be there by now,"  Logan gently coaxed her along.

"I'm just about ready.  I couldn't find anything to wear.  Nothing fits anymore!  How do I look?"  Rory asked showing him her outfit of a purple tank top and black shorts.

Logan tried not to laugh.  He said, "You look wonderful."

"Ugh, no I don't.  Alright, alright, did you start the van yet?"  she asked.

"Yup, it is on with the air cranking,"  Logan said.

Rory nodded and said, "I have to make a quick bathroom stop and we can go."

Again, Logan tried not to laugh.  It was the same routine every time.  Instead he just nodded his head and waited patiently.

Once they were finally in the van, Rory fanned her face and said, "Man, it is hot!  Is something wrong with the air conditioning in here?  It doesn't feel like it's working."

Trying not to shiver, Logan said calmly, "It feels like it's working to me."

"I don't think it is.  It's so hot in here,"  Rory said still fanning herself. 

"Uh, just give it a minute.  I'm sure it will cool down,"  Logan said.

By the time they pulled up in front of Lorelai's house, Logan was sure his lips were blue.  His fingers felt like ice cubes.  He could not wait to get out of the ice box van.  Rory, on the other hand, was sitting comfortable and reluctant to get out into the heat again.  She slowly opened the van door and got out mumbling, "I hope Mom and Luke have the house cool enough.  They never have it cool enough anymore."

Lorelai appeared at the door.  She was wearing shorts, but had on a long sleeve shirt.  She called to Rory, "Hurry up, Mama.  We're letting all the cold air out."

Rory gave her a half smile as she waddled in the door.  As Logan passed Lorelai, he grinned at her long sleeve shirt.  He said quietly, "I could have used a parka in the van. She's extra hot and  cranky today."

Lorelai patted him on the back and said, "Almost there.  Any day now.  We'll have our Rory back soon."

"Thank God," Logan said.

"Are you guys going to talk out there all day?  I'm sitting in here by myself!"  Rory yelled from the living room.

"Sorry, hon.  Here we are,"  Lorelai said entering the room.  "So, Luke should be back soon with all your favorite diner staples.  I know you haven't gotten much Luke's food lately, thought you might enjoy a good burger.  And I have a surprise for you when you get up for a bathroom break!  I won't make you get up now, but can't wait to show you when you're ready."

"I'm not super hungry today, but a burger sounds good.  And I can't wait to see the nursery,"  Rory said.

Lorelai glared at Logan.  She said, "You told her?"

"It was the only way to get her here!  I had to give her a good reason to leave the house!"  Logan said defending himself.

"And you gave in and ruined my surprise?  I thought you were stronger than that, Logan,"  Lorelai said looking disappointed. 

"It's alright, Mom.  It's really sweet of you.  I can't wait to see it.  I have been trying to get the baby's room at home just right.  It just doesn't seem right yet,"  Rory said.

"That's because there's no baby in it," Lorelai said with a smile.  "When I saw it the other day, it looked great.  I don't know what else you could possibly do to it.  It will all come together and feel right when the baby is in it."

"Yeah, I guess so.  I just want it organized and neat so everything goes smoothly,"  Rory said.

"Sweetie, you can organize all you like, but when the baby arrives, it will take over and trash your organization!"  Lorelai laughed. "Just you wait and see.  That little thing will be the one in control!"

Rory sighed, "I guess so.  Ok, I have to use the bathroom.  So, go get it all already.  I'll check it out after I make a quick stop."  Rory rolled off the couch and slowly made her way down the hall to the bathroom.

Logan looked at Lorelai.  He said, "Nothing is quick anymore."

"I noticed you made sure she was well out of earshot before saying that.  Smart man," Lorelai said.

They waited by Rory's old bedroom door until the mom-to-be emerged.  "Ok, I'm ready," she said adjusting her tank top.

Lorelai dramatically opened the door and allowed Rory and Logan to walk in first.  "Oh wow, Mom!  This is cool!  So colorful!"

"Yeah...see about that... I was trying to decide what to do and kept focusing on pink or blue.  But, we don't know if it is pink or blue.  So I tried to think of other colors to do the nursery in.  And I just couldn't decide!  Luke kept grumbling at me to just pick a color.  I yelled back at him that I couldn't, that I wanted all colors!  That's when it hit me to do a rainbow theme!  It's fun.  It's bright.  I'll be the fun Nana!  I debated having Kirk paint a giant rainbow on the wall, but decided to hold off on that.  I may make it a little more pink or blue after the baby is here, haven't decided yet,"  Lorelai explained in one long breath.

"It looks perfect as it is.  You don't have to add a rainbow or anything else,"  Rory said.

"Yeah, Lorelai, it looks great," Logan said.

"Maybe I should have done this or something like this.  Maybe that's what's wrong.  Maybe the neutral colors I picked are all wrong!"  Rory said wandering the room and touching all the brightly colored objects her mom had set around.

"The nursery at your house is beautiful.  It's soft and comfortable.  No, I think it is perfect for the baby's main room.  This will just be for a fun escape.  You can't have a three foot clown and big poofy balls hanging from the ceiling for every day.  This is a special treat room," Lorelai said trying to make Rory believe her room is perfect as it was.

Rory spun around clutching a large yellow smiley face pillow and said, "But maybe more color would have been good.  I mean this is bright and cheery.  My room is kind of blah and bland.  I think we need to redo it, Logan!  We have a week!"

Staring at her, Logan calmly said, "Ror, I don't know if a week is enough time.  And Lorelai is right, the baby won't want to live in a funhouse.  It will be a treat coming here."

Rory started shaking the smiley face pillow at him.  She yelled, "I want color!  I want fun! I want...I want..." her voice trailed off as she clutched her stomach and looked down.  "Oooh. What? Oh my God...Mom!"

Lorelai and Logan both stared at the  puddle under Rory's feet. "It's ok, it's ok.  Your water broke.  I think we can probably discuss color schemes later.  I think we should probably get you to the hospital,"  Lorelai said calmly.

"I'll go start the van!  It has to be cool.  I'll go make it cool! Let Rory use the bathroom.  That's the order.  That's how we do things before we leave the house.  I start the van.  She pees,"  Logan said frantically as he dug in his pockets for the keys.

"Ok, ok, go ahead then, start the van.  I will get Rory ready to go,"  Lorelai said to Logan.  Logan nodded his head violently and ran from the room to start the van.

"I don't have to pee," Rory said when he left.  She looked at Lorelai terrified as another contraction began.

"That's ok, sweets.  You don't have to," Lorelai said as she supported Rory against the wall and let the contraction pass.  Rory was early in labor and the contractions weren't very strong yet.  But Lorelai knew they did not feel good.  "Let's go gather your purse and head out to the nice cool van,"  Lorelai said and led Rory back towards the living room.

The front door opened.  They expected to see Logan, but saw Luke instead.  He had two large Luke's bags in his hands.  He looked at them and asked, "Why did Logan just tell me Rory was peeing and the A.C. is on high in the van?"

"Well, because that's what you do when your wife is in labor,"  Lorelai said.

"In labor?  Rory's in labor?  We need to go to the hospital.  She needs to go to the hospital, Lorelai!"  Luke said setting the bags down.

"I am so very glad you came home.  Now we know what to do next. Here I was thinking of doing a load of whites,"  Lorelai said grabbing her purse and Rory's handbag. 

Luke shot her a look and rushed to Rory's side. He supported her as she walked to the van. Rory had one more contraction on the way to the van.  Luke paused and held her until it passed.  He helped her into the passenger's seat.  Logan was waiting behind the wheel.  He looked at Rory and said, "A.C. is on, Ace. It's nice and cool in here."

Luke looked at Logan with an identical petrified expression and asked, "Are you sure it's working?  Doesn't feel very cool."

Lorelai groaned and pushed Luke out of the way.  She looked at Logan and said, "Hey son-in-law, how about I drive?  You can sit behind Rory and time contractions.  It's pretty important.  I'm sure the doctor will want to know."

Logan leaped out of the driver's seat and took a new position behind Rory.  He leaned forward and rubbed her shoulders as a new contraction began.  He fumbled with the stop clock on his phone.  He almost dropped it and said, "Wait!  Wait!  I haven't started the clock yet!"

"I cannot wait, Logan!  Figure out your damn phone!"  Rory yelled back.

"Alright, Luke, hop in behind me.  This fun bus is pulling out!" Lorelai said. "Next stop, Labor and Delivery!"