Love, Daisies, and Marriage
By: Tiffany
Pairing: Lorelai/Max
Rating: PG
Author's Note: This is the sequel to The Summer Of Yellow Daisies. It picks up the November after the previous story left off. I had written a different first chapter to this story and this was going to be the second installment but due to a case of writer's block I chose to make this the first chapter instead. I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 1: Would She Cry Or Would She Smile?

(Cut to the Gilmore house one night in late November where Lorelai and Rory are watching TV.)

"Did you know that I'm getting married in exactly 2 weeks?" said Lorelai.

"Yup," said Rory. "Are you getting nervous at all?"

"Sorta. I mean I am getting married a year earlier than planned."

"True. If you weren't nervous I'd be worried."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Any time. So when is Max moving in with us?"

"He's gonna bring some stuff over tomorrow."

"Okay. Is that why you cleaned and moved things around today?"

"Yup. He's going to move all his stuff by the wedding but he's not moving in officially till after we get back from out honeymoon."

"Okay gotcha."

"So what are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Well Lane and I were thinking about going Christmas shopping in Hartford. Can I borrow the car?"

"Yeah just as long as you promise not to hit any deer this time."

"Hey not funny!"

"I know but last time I let you borrow the jeep to drive to Hartford you hit a deer. If you ask me that's pretty funny."

"You have a sick sense of humor."

"I know but you're fun to tease!"

"Fine! See what I get you for Christmas this year!" Rory starts laughing along with Lorelai.

"Don't you just love me?"

"Do I have much of a choice?" The smile and hug.

(Cut to Gilmore house the next morning.)

"Coming!" yelled Lorelai as she ran down the stairs to answer the door. "Hey," she said when she opened the door to find Max standing on the porch.

"Hey," he replied with a smile as she grabbed her coat and put it on. They kissed and walked outside to his car.

"So just how much stuff did you bring today?"

"Not too much. Just my books and some clothes and things. It's only about 8 boxes of things."

"Okay. I just don't know where we are going to put the books."

"You can just leave them in their boxes if you want. I'm going to bring my bookshelf over on my way home from Stamford on Tuesday if that's okay with you."

"Sounds good. I moved the living room around yesterday so you would have room."

"That's sweet of you." They each grabbed a box and walked inside.

(Cut to downtown Stars Hollow that evening. Lorelai and Max are walking down the street hand in hand.)

"I smell snow!" said Lorelai as she looked up at the dark sky.

"You're crazy," said Max with a smile.

"I know." They walk into Luke's and seat themselves at a table near the window since Luke is nowhere to be seen. Luke walks out of the kitchen and sees the two of them kissing. He walks over to the table and stops in front of them. Lorelai and Max notice him standing there and break apart.

"Oh um hey," said Lorelai with a flustered look on her face. "We were just um we were uh it was the snow."

"The snow?" asked Luke with a bemused expression on his face.

"Yeah. I smell snow and you know how I get around snow. It's like catnip."

"Oh boy. Here she goes with the whole snow thing again!" He turned and looked at Max. "Do you know all about her infatuation with the snow?"

"Yup. She told me all about it the other day when it was flurrying outside."

"It's crazy isn't it?"

"Totally."

"Ok stop it," said Lorelai. "Luke I don't make fun of you because you are obsessed with plaid. And Max you're getting married to me in 2 weeks, you're supposed to be sticking up for me aren't you?" They all started laughing.

"What can I say?" said Max. "I can't help myself. It's funny."

"Fine," said Lorelai with a fake pout on her face. "Be that way."

"What can I get you guys?" said Luke with an amused smile on his face. "Oh wait. Let me guess you want coffee."

"Gee how did you know?" said Lorelai.

"Be cause the only time you guys ever come here is for coffee," said Luke.

"What can I say? We're addicted to the caffine! We need it to stay alive! We've become so dependent on it that if we don't get it soon we'll die!"

"Lorelai shut up," said Luke. He chuckled and went to get their coffee.

(Cut to elder Gilmore house the next Thursday evening.)

"Lorelai!" yelled Max. "Phone!"

"Coming," said Lorelai as she walked into the living room. Max handed her the phone and she smiled at him. "Hello?"

"Hello Lorelai," said Emily.

"Hey Mom. Sorry about that. Max is just over here unpacking some of his stuff. I was in the kitchen making coffee."

"It's alright. After all he is going to be my son in law in just over a week."

"Yup."

"Anyway I called because there has been a slight change of plans for dinner this week. You father has invited some guests but he won't tell me who. I wanted to tell you so that you could dress nicely to make a good impression on them. I think its some foreign business associates or something so I want to make sure that your father looks good in front of them."

"Okay. Thanks for telling me."

"You're welcome."

"Oh wait. While we're still on the subject of dinner Rory isn't going to be able to make it tomorrow. One of the kids from Chilton is having a Christmas party and she and Dean are going."

"It's okay. It's good that she is finally making friends at Chilton and besides I don't really think she would enjoy herself at dinner anyway."

"Ok thanks. Well I gotta go. Coffee is ready. Max and I will see you tomorrow night. Bye Mom."

"Goodbye Lorelai."

(Cut to Gilmore house the next evening.)

"Mom!" yelled Rory. "Come here for a sec!"

"What?" said Lorelai as she walked into Rory's room.

"How does this look?" Rory twirled around so Lorelai could see her outfit.

"Nice. I like the red pants and green sweater. Very festive."

"Thanks. So white hair clips?"

"Nah. Don't want to over do it."

"Okay. Which lipstick red or pink?"

"Definitely red." Rory puts on the lipstick.

"Ok thanks." Horn honks outside. "Well that's Dean. I gotta go."

"Bye sweetie. Have a great time!"

"Thanks. I'll be home by 11:30. Bye Mom." Rory grabs her coat and runs out the door.

(Cut to elder Gilmore residence later that evening. Lorelai and Max are standing on the doorstep.)

"Do I look alright?" asked Lorelai.

"You look beautiful as always," said Max.

"Thanks. Ready for a very boring evening?"

"Yup."

"Okay." Lorelai opens the door and they walk inside. "Mom, Dad! We're here!"

"In the living room," replied her mother.

"Okay," said Lorelai. She and Max hung up their coats and walked into the living room with their arms around each other.

"Hey Mom, Dad, Headmaster Charleston..." Her voice trailed off as she saw the headmaster and a look of shock came over Max's face.

"Hello Lorelai," said her mother. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah sure." Lorelai and Emily walked into the kitchen.

"Before you start to yell at me about who are guests are let me just tell you that I had no idea your father was inviting the Charleston's to dinner. I swear that man doesn't think sometimes. I'm so infuriated with him right now. I mean what was he thinking inviting Max's boss to dinner? He knows that Max almost was fired before when he was seeing you. He should have thought about it! I just can't believe him!"

"Wow."

"He just couldn't wait till after the wedding. God Lorelai I am ready to punch him! I swear that man has no brain sometimes!"

"Whoa Mom! I've never seen you this mad at him before."

"Well there's a first time for everything. I just hope that this doesn't screw up Max's career and your wedding."

"Thanks for the concern Mom but I think things will be okay. It's not like Max and I are gonna flaunt our relationship all over Chilton or anything and besides you guys are good friends with them. Friends don't fire their friend's daughter's fiancée's unless they are really holding a grudge and even then it's not a common thing."

"Okay. Well we better go back in there."

"Yeah and thanks for sticking up for me." Lorelai hugs Emily and they walk back into the living room.

(Cut to Lorelai's bedroom in her parent's house later that evening. She and Max are sitting on the bed talking.)

"Oh God Max," said Lorelai. "I'm so sorry! I had no idea that they were inviting the Charleston's to dinner."

"It's okay," said Max. "It's not you're fault. He was going to find out that we were getting married but this isn't the way that I was planning on telling him."

"I know. I feel so awful about this. I'm about ready to kill my dad!"

"It's alright Lor. I'm just glad it's over with."

"So what what exactly did he say?"

"Well he was surprised to see me a first and then when your dad told him we were engaged he looked pretty angry. He asked your dad to leave the room and them told me to sit down. He said that he was shocked that we were back together after all that happened last year. I told him that my probation was over and that I would make sure that our relationship stayed away from Chilton. He said that what I was doing was really risky but that he realized that I must really love you since we got back together in spite of all that happened. He told me that he hoped we had a good wedding and that he'd be keeping his eye on me. I was so surprised. I thought he'd fire me on the spot or something but I never expected this! I'm just so relieved."

"Well that's good. Now I feel like nothing is standing in the way of our marriage."

"Exactly." They smiled and kissed.

"So I guess we should go tell my mom. She was pretty worried before."

"Okay." They got up and walked out of the room.

(Cut to Gilmore house the next morning.)

"Morning Mom," said Rory as she walked into the kitchen.

"Hey sweetie," said Lorelai. "Coffee is on the counter. It's still hot."

"Ok thanks." Rory poured herself a cup and sat down at the table.

"So how was the party last night?"

"Good. We danced all night and had a really nice time."

"That's good."

"Yeah. So how was dinner?"

"Ughh. Don't ask."

"That bad huh?"

"Worse. I would have given you the whole run down last night but you weren't home yet when I went to sleep."

"Yeah. So what's happened?"

"Well Mom told me that dad had invited some guests for dinner but she didn't know who they were. Anyway Max and I didn't think anything of it so we were shocked when we walked into the living room to find Headmaster Charleston and his wife sitting there."

"No!"

"Yup. Mom took me into the kitchen and apologized repeatedly. She had to idea that they were coming and felt really bad about it. Max talked to our old friend "il duce" and he said that Max wasn't going to be fired as long as our relationship stayed far away from Chilton. Max assured him that it would and he told us to have a nice wedding but that he'd be keeping his eye on Max. So it all turned out okay. I'm so happy you have no idea."

"I can tell. Well I'm glad things turned out all right."

"Me too sweetie. So how about breakfast? I'm starved."

"Okay. Last one to Luke's has to clean the fridge!" They both grab their coats and run out the door.

(Cut to Gilmore house the following Friday night. Lorelai is standing in front of her mirror in her wedding gown.)

"I'm getting married in the morning," sang Lorelai. "Ding dong the bells are gonna chime. I'm getting married in the morning. So get me to the church on time!"

"Excited about the wedding huh?" said Rory with a laugh.

"Yeah."

"I can tell. If you start to sing it usually means you're happy about something."

"I am kid. So just how much of that did you hear?"

"Oh only the whole version of Get Me To The Church On Time."

"Good. You missed me walking down the hall and singing Here Comes The Bride."

"I'm glad. I think I would've run if I'd seen you."

"You're so nice to me."

"I know. Well I'm going to bed and you should too! You have a huge day tomorrow and who knows what time you'll get to bed tomorrow night." Rory wiggled her eyebrows mischievously.

"Rory! I'm shocked!"

"Whatever. Goodnight Mom."

"Night honey." Rory walked out of the room and Lorelai started to sing again softly.

(Cut to Gilmore house the next morning.)

"Mom!" said Rory as she shook Lorelai awake. "Time to get up! Today's the big day!"

"Hmmpphh," grumbled Lorelai. "Go away."

"No. Get up! You're getting married in 6 hours!"

"Fine. What time is it?"

"8:30. I made coffee and Sookie is downstairs in the kitchen making pancakes."

"Alright I'm getting up." Lorelai got out of bed and she and Rory walked downstairs into the kitchen.

"Ah here's our blushing bride now!" said Sookie when Lorelai walked into the kitchen.

"Shut up," said Lorelai with a laugh.

"Are you nervous yet?"

"Yes and you asking me about it isn't gonna make it any better."

"I know but don't worry about it. Max is a great guy and I know you two are gonna be really happy together."

"I know. Thanks for the support."

"You're welcome. Breakfast is ready!" Sookie serves the pancakes and they all sit down to eat.

(Cut to Stars Hollow Church that afternoon. Lorelai is sitting in her gown staring in the mirror.)

"Wow!" exclaimed Sookie. "Lor, you look beautiful!"

"Thanks," said Lorelai.

"So are you ready to do this?"

"Yeah." Lorelai got up and she and Sookie walked towards the door. When they reached the door Lorelai stopped dead. "Wa wait," she stammered. "I um I don't know if I can do this."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know if I can go through with this."

"Are you crazy? You have a guy who loves you more than anything out there waiting for you."

"I know. I just don't know if I'm ready for this kind of commitment. It's gonna ruin my relationship with Rory if I get married."

"I thought you already went through this."

"I did but now all of a sudden I'm just freaking out." She starts to cry and Sookie hugs her.

"It's gonna be okay."

"I don't know Sookie. I just don't know if I can do this..."

To be continued!!