"Mom, I've got something I want to talk with you about…" said a nervous Rory.

"Oh god, you're pregnant! You and Logan couldn't wait another three months until after the wedding to begin popping out babies. Ohhh your grandmother is going to be very upset young lady…you know she doesn't like it when people screw with her party plans. We're going to have to resize your dress, now just how far along are you? Are you still going to want to wear white? Logan already knows right? I sure hope you told him…" Lorelai continued to ramble on until Rory finally managed to get a word in.

"Mom! I'm not pregnant"

"Oh," said Lorelai, "Well then what's up?"

"Well, Logan and I were discussing the wedding ceremony last night and the whole 'who's going to walk me down the aisle' issue came up again…"

"Oh honey, I'm sure you dad…"

"Mom, no. No more excuses. He has gone too far this time. I knew it would be a new kind of awkward after you two got divorced. But there is no reason for what he has done…"

"Babe, your dad loves you…"

"Yeah, maybe, but he's gone. He took Gigi and moved to Paris to get back together with Sherry. We haven't seen or heard from him since the divorce papers were signed."

"He just needs some time…"

"No mom, stop. I sent the wedding invitation three months ago! He is the only one who hasn't responded. I may share some of his DNA, but he is no longer my dad in my opinion," sniffed Rory, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Shh, honey, it's ok, I am sooo sorry," comforted Lorelai, pulling Rory into a strong embrace. "Ok, shh, so what did you and Logan decide to do? Are you going to walk by yourself? You know I'd do it, but as your maid of honor, I do have other responsibilities during the ceremony…"

"No it's ok, I know that you would do it if you could," Rory whispered, still clinging to her mom, "you have been so great planning this wedding with me. I mean you and grandma are actually getting along. I never could have gotten to this point without you. It's just… I don't know how you are going to react to our decision."

"What is it Rory? I'm sure I'll support whatever you decided. Unless you are deciding to have a naked wedding…because I can just not stand to think of my mother…"

"We decided on Luke," interrupted Rory, anxious for her mother's reaction.

Suddenly Rory felt Lorelai stiffen in her arms.

"What?" questioned Lorelai, pulling out of their embrace. "Luke? What about him?"

Lorelai suddenly felt herself losing cognitive control. She had been suppressing thoughts of him all summer. He had been gone for the past three months, out on his new boat, with April, his sweet daughter, whose existence had led to their slow demise as a couple. Lorelai was suddenly flooded with memories. The electricity of his touch, the passion in his kissed. Lorelai felt the color rise to her cheeks as she remember all the times she and Luke had made love on this very couch., the very one that she and Rory were currently sitting on. But as quickly as those memories came, they were gone, replaced by an empty feeling of both sadness and lonliness. Her heart ached knowing his boat trip was meant to keep him away from her. It had been months since she had even laid eyes on him. If she could only look at him again, just to stare into his intense blue eyes, or if she could only touch him again, if only just to feel whole again…

"Mom? Hello? Did you hear me?"

"Hmmm?" Lorelai slowly pulled herself out of the dream.

"I said did you hear what we decided?"

"No babe, what was it? You mentioned Luke?"

"Yeah I want Luke to walk me down the aisle. He's always been a father figure to me and honestly I would rather he do it than Chris."

"Wow," Lorelai said, speechless and slightly stunned.

"Say something Mom…" Rory begged.

"Wow," Lorelai repeated. "Have you asked him yet?"

"No, that's the thing…" Rory began.

"What?" Lorelai questioned.

"Well, the paper is sending me on location to California for the next two weeks and I know Luke comes back from his trip tomorrow…I was hoping that you could…"

"Rory, no…you can not possibly be asking me to talk to him? The man avoids me like the plague, and I don't blame him. I would avoid me too! I haven't even been to the diner in over a year and a half."

"Mom, I know this will be hard for you, but you guys don't have to talk about anything but the wedding. Just tell him about my dilemma and how I really want him to do this for me. Please Mom…"

"I don't know, Kid. There's just so much pain between us…I came to the realization long ago that I will always love Luke. And it's just too hard to face that when I know he's gotten over me. I just can't. I'm sorry.

"Mom, please…I wouldn't have asked you to do this if I wasn't desperate…I believe you can do this…Please?"

Lorelai took a deep breath, contemplating the want to help her daughter versus her fear of facing the man she still loves.

"Fine, ok. I'll go talk to him. But you owe me big time. Maybe even your first born child," Lorelai quipped.

"Oh thanks Mom! See you made a joke…you can do this."

"Yeah we'll see," Lorelai let out a deep sigh. "I think he will be thrilled and extremely honored to do this for you, hon. Even though we aren't together anymore, I know he will always be such a big part of your life."

"Thank you so much mom. Ok I need to get home, Logan is expecting me home for dinner and then I am catching the red eye to LAX. I love you Mom," said Rory as she leaned over to and gave Lorelai a quick kiss on the cheek. "Let me know how it goes…I'll have my cell on."

"Sure thing babe," muttered Lorelai, as Rory rushed out of the house.

As Lorelai remained on the couch, a new sensation was coming over her. She tried to ignore it but she knew what it was. It was a twinge of hope and excitement. She was going to see Luke. Luke. Her Luke. A small smile spread over her face. However, it quickly disappeared when she realized that she would not receive a warm welcome from Luke. He would be cold and distant. She just hoped that he would listen long enough to hear Rory's request. Deep down she knew he would do it.

Another sigh escaped Lorelai's lips. She absentmindedly reached down and patted Paul Anka's head.

"Mommy's got to be brave Paul Anka. Tomorrow is a very big day."