A/N: I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who's followed along and reviewed so far. I truly appreciate the love this story has received. I also want to apologize for the roller coaster of emotions that is this chapter. PMS was fully to blame ;) Enjoy!

"Lorelai," said Emily with a sigh. "Are you absolutely sure your father and I can't set something up at the Windsor Club? It doesn't have to be the same room we used at our vow renewal."

"Mom," pleaded Lorelai. "What part of small and intimate don't you understand? Maybe, down the road one day, we'll do something a little bit bigger. This is 100% what we want. Okay?"

"Okay," said Emily in defeat.

It was Friday night dinner and Lorelai and Rory were seated at their usual places at the table. Luke had no one to cover the diner, so he wasn't in attendance much to Lorelai's disappointment. She wanted to call her mother and cancel on dinner, but she decided against it. It's not like she didn't have a valid reason.

The last two weeks had been completely exhausting. She ended up finding a gown at a vintage shop that she would be able to alter and add a little lace and fringe. "Bohemian Chic" is what she was calling it. After a couple of days, she had it finished. It definitely was not a traditional wedding gown which Lorelai loved. The only thing about it that was traditional was the fact that it was white. The dress was an ankle-length lace, boho gown with a halter neckline. It was fitted at the top, which accentuated her almost 12-week baby bump, and became more flow-y at the bottom where she added some fringe trim. After searching through three boxes, she found the flower crown that she had worn to Liz's wedding a year ago. She pulled out the pink ribbon and added a white one to match her dress. For Luke, they found a tan, linen two-button suit and a white button-down shirt to wear underneath it with no tie. They wanted to be as comfortable and casual as possible but still wedding appropriate.

"Did Mom tell you guys that I was able to get ordained online? It was pretty easy actually," said Rory trying to carry the conversation since her mother seemed to be in another world.

When Lorelai noticed her parents were both gaping at her she quipped, "Yeah I figured if she could be someone's best man then why couldn't she be my minister."

"Lorelai, that's hardly the same thing as-"

"Bah, bah, bah. I don't want to hear it," said Lorelai interrupting her mother. "Now, if you'll excuse me, baby Lime and I need to go to the bathroom again."

Lorelai stood and placed her napkin on the table as her mother sat in stunned silence. She couldn't help but smile as she left the dining room hearing her mother whisper to Rory in a hushed tone asking if she was really naming the baby Lime.

An hour later Rory was driving them home in her Prius. The rest of their dinner was pretty civil and Lorelai made sure to remind her mother that this would probably be her last Friday night dinner for a while. With her and Luke's wedding in a week and then her leaving for Maine two weeks after that, Lorelai wanted to relax as much as possible.

"So, are you excited about Monday?" asked Rory, breaking the silence about ten minutes into the drive.

Lorelai smiled. "I am. Are you sure you don't want to come with us? It's pretty funny to see just how uncomfortable Dr. Rosen can make Luke feel."

"I already told you that Paris and I are going apartment hunting and once you make plans with Paris there's no getting out of it. Besides, as much as I have come to terms with the fact that there is now a lime-sized human growing in your stomach, I think it should just be you and Luke."

"Yeah, yeah. Oh! Did you know that at twelve weeks he or she can curl its toes? There are teeny, tiny toes in here and-"

"Okay, new subject please," interrupted Rory with a shudder.

"Aww," chuckled Lorelai. "Big sister doesn't want to hear about your milestones, baby Lime."

"Milestones, yes. Teeny, tiny body parts, no thanks. Will the doctor be able to tell the gender during your ultrasound?"

"Not on the ultrasound. It's still too soon to see, but I had blood work done yesterday to check for any chromosomal disorders the baby might have. If we absolutely want to know, then the blood test can tell us."

Lorelai leaned her head against the passenger seat window. She had been stressed about the blood test since her doctor recommended she have it done. It wasn't the test itself that worried her. It was what the results of it could mean. Of course, the bright side to having the test done was being able to tell the gender of their baby a little bit sooner than possible with just an ultrasound. Still, her and Luke hadn't really decided if they wanted to know yet.

"How are your vows coming along?" asked Rory. She noticed a change in her mother's demeanor and quickly changed the subject.

"Done."

"Really?" asked Rory incredulously. "Three days ago you hadn't even started."

"Well you'd be surprised what words and emotions you can conjure up when you're super hormonal."

"And Luke? Has he started?"

Lorelai shrugged. "I have no idea. I suggested he talk to Jess. I mean, the kid reads as much as you do, so I figured he could give Luke a quote or two."

"Yes, but I don't think you want Luke quoting Kerouac or Kurt Vonnegut on your wedding day." Rory smiled at the thought.

Lorelai turned in her seat to face her daughter. "Hey, are you sure you're okay with Jess being at the wedding? If you need me to be a buffer or a bodyguard just say the word."

"No, I'm fine with it. I swear. It's been over a year since that awkward run-in and I know how much it means to Luke to have Jess there. I promise. All is good."

"Luke!" Lorelai called out. It was Saturday morning and Luke had promised her that he would take the weekend off since he had been working so much lately. The house was quiet when Lorelai awoke and she was hit with a slight pang of disappointment. She roamed around the house checking each room before grabbing the cordless phone. She was about to dial the diner when she heard the sound of a miter saw coming from outside. After placing the phone back on the cradle, she headed for the garage.

"Hey there, lumberjack. I didn't know where you were." She surveyed the garage and noticed a bunch of different-sized wood leaning against the wall.

"Sorry. I couldn't sleep, so I drove out to Woodbridge and bought a bunch of wood and some stain. I thought maybe I'd build you something. Take my mind off of things."

"You know, some people go for a run when they need to clear their head or maybe even read a book. I think you're the only man I know that prefers to build things when something is bothering him. You want to talk about it?" Lorelai took a seat on one of the lawn chairs placed in the corner of the garage.

"Ah, it's no big deal. With everything that's happening, I've been finding myself thinking about the people that aren't here to celebrate with us. My mom and dad and even your crazy grandmother. I'm fine. I think it's just your hormones rubbing off on me." Luke smirked at her before picking up another piece of wood.

"Is that why you've been working so much?" When he didn't answer she knew she was right. "Luke, it's okay to get emotional about things. You can't just bottle it up and push it aside and hope that it goes away. It'll make it worse."

"I said I was fine, Lorelai," said Luke in a low but calm voice.

"Okay." Lorelai learned a long time ago that Luke wasn't one to be pushed when he didn't want to talk about something. They were both stressed out about her upcoming doctor's appointment and with the wedding only a week away emotions were at an all-time high.

She picked up a narrow piece of wood that was about arm's length with one rounded side and detailed carvings down the middle. She smoothed her hand over it appreciating the craftsmanship in Luke's work. It suddenly dawned on her what it was he was building and she couldn't help but smile.

"Luke Danes. You're building me a rocking chair, aren't you?" she asked as she stood the piece of wood back up against the wall.

He looked up at her and smiled without answering.

The weekend went by at a snail's pace. Although Luke had promised to stay away from the diner, he spent the majority of his time in the garage. Lorelai tried not to take it personally. She knew he was dealing with his emotions the only way he knew how: by avoiding mostly everyone. It reminded Lorelai of his Dark Day only she wasn't able to pinpoint exactly what it was that was bugging him besides what he had told her that Saturday morning. There was something more and she knew it. Her anxiety only amplified as they left the house that morning to head to her doctor's appointment.

"Your blood pressure is a little higher than I'd like to see it, Lorelai. But the good news is that there isn't any sign of protein in your urine. Nerves maybe?" asked Dr. Rosen as she looked up from Lorelai's chart with a knowing smile.

"I know you told me not to dwell on it, but that's like giving a kid a present and telling him not to open it for a few days. I just…I have to know if everything is okay so far." Lorelai squeezed Luke hand as she watched her doctor place her chart down on the counter.

Dr. Rosen clasped her hands together and leaned forward in her chair. "Everything looks good. The tests came back negative. You have a healthy baby so far, Lorelai."

Lorelai released the breath she was holding and leaned back on the exam table as happy tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this many emotions all at once. Fear, relief, happiness, shock. She looked over at Luke who looked just as mixed in his emotions as she felt. She tugged his hand and whispered, "Come here."

He stood next to her as she pulled him down for a quick kiss and a fierce hug.

"Are you ready to see your baby?" asked Dr. Rosen as she turned on the ultrasound machine.

"Of course," said Lorelai with a sniffle as Luke reached over to grab her a tissue.

Dr. Rosen squirted a generous amount of cold gel on Lorelai's lower abdomen and glided the probe around until she caught sight of the baby. And this time, the image looked a lot different.

"Oh, wow," breathed Lorelai. "Look at the tiny legs and arms, Luke. Baby Plum looks like an actual person now."

"I can see the nose too," said Luke with a smile.

"Plum must have a Danes nose," chuckled Lorelai as she grabbed Luke's cheek playfully and gave him a squeeze.

"Did the two of you decide if you want to know the sex of the baby? I know you said it would depend on the results, but I don't think you can ruin good news with more good news." Dr. Rosen hit a few buttons on the screen to freeze and print out a picture. "I'll give you two a moment."

After the doctor stepped out, Luke sat on the edge of the exam table and studied Lorelai's expression. She stared happily at the image on the screen and he realized it was the first time he had seen her genuinely smile in days. Since the moment they found out about the baby, Luke had tried his hardest to be supportive of the situation and to follow Lorelai's lead. He wanted to be her rock and support system more than anything. But lately the cracks were starting to show. The feeling of self-doubt was starting to seep into his mind and he just couldn't turn it off. Lorelai squeezed his hand gently interrupting his thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked softly.

Luke gave her a small smile. "Whether or not Dr. Rosen thinks we're naming the baby Plum."

Lorelai laughed out loud and it was music to Luke's ears. "Nah, she'll catch on when we come back in a month and I'm calling the baby Avocado. Unless we find out what we're having and then the baby can be called by his or her actual name because I'd hate to refer to our baby as something as gross as an avocado. What do you think?"

"I'm fine with it if you are," said Luke as Dr. Rosen entered the room holding their sonogram.

"So, what did you decide?" she asked as she handed the picture to Lorelai.

Lorelai took a deep breath and exhaled. "Yes. We wanna know."

Dr. Rosen smiled and gathered up Lorelai's chart. "Congratulations, you two. You're having a boy."

A son. I can't believe I'm gonna have a son, thought Luke as he lie awake the next morning. It was just after 2:00 AM and for some reason he could not get his brain to shut off. He looked over at Lorelai sleeping peacefully on her side with her t-shirt tugged up exposing her belly. He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her stomach and smoothed a curl of hair out of her face before climbing out of bed.

When they left the doctor's office the morning before, Luke was at a loss for words. Neither one of them had discussed what they each thought the baby might be. It was obvious to Luke that Lorelai would most likely have another girl. He just couldn't picture her having anything else. But when the doctor said the word "boy" something in Luke stirred up. It was sort of a panicked feeling that he couldn't quite place. The feeling only intensified when Lorelai jokingly suggested Lucas Jr. as a name. Maybe it was natural to feel panicked at being a first-time father. Maybe it was because they would both be experiencing what it was like to raise a son. Only, to Luke, he had experienced it somewhat. With Jess. And that experience wasn't the best.

How can I be a kid's father when I did such a shit job at being someone's guardian, thought Luke as he quietly dressed and made his way downstairs. He searched the desk by the phone for a pen, scribbled a quick note to Lorelai on her Hello Kitty notepad, grabbed his coat off the rack in the foyer, and locked the door behind him.

Lorelai awoke four hours later to a cold, empty bed. She thought that Luke said he was working the lunch shift today, but her pregnancy brain couldn't remember for sure. She went about her morning routine and it wasn't until she came downstairs that she remembered, or thought she remembered, hearing his truck start up earlier in the morning. She chased her prenatal vitamins with a small glass of orange juice as she walked towards the living room. She stopped short when Luke's note on the desk caught her attention. Had to take care of something. Call you later -L. Her head screamed at her to call him and see what was going on and where he was at, but her heart told her that he would call when he was ready to talk. She knew it had to have something to do with his mood lately. She just wished she knew how to fix it. Her growling stomach interrupted her thoughts.

"Are you hungry, P? I'm sorry, but Plum sounds a little too feminine for my tastes so we'll go with P until next week. What do you think?" She rubbed soothing circles on her belly as she made her way to the kitchen. "Looks like we're on our own for breakfast. Let's see if you can handle the sweet goodness that is the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart."

Luke parked his truck on the side of a street sandwiched between several tall, red brick apartment buildings. He walked up two flights of stairs until he found the apartment he was looking for. He took a deep breath and banged on the door three times. He waited a minute and was about to bang again when he heard shuffling noises from inside the apartment. The door whipped open and a half-dressed, half-asleep Jess stared at him in confusion.

"Luke? What the hell? It's like six in the morning."

"Lorelai's having a boy. I'm going to have a son and I don't think I can do this," said Luke in a rush.

"Woah, woah. What do you mean you…hold on," said Jess as he stepped back into his apartment, pulled on a t-shirt, and motioned for Luke to follow him downstairs. Once they were outside Jess continued, "What do you mean you can't do this?"

Luke sat down on the stoop and rested his arms on his knees. "How can I be someone's father when I couldn't even keep you in line. You wrecked Rory's car, you quit going to school, you lied to everyone around you including the girl you cared about more than anything. I failed."

"Luke, you did not fail. I was a stupid kid who was mad at the world and just wanted to be left the hell alone. I was that kid before I got sent to live with you. And, yes. I screwed up. A lot. But my life would be completely different had you not stepped up and did what you could. And maybe I didn't graduate from high school like you wanted me to, but you did teach me to work for the things that I want."

"You mean you actually want to be living in this dump?" asked Luke with a snort.

"I mean it's no apartment above a diner, but it's a place to sleep at night," said Jess sarcastically earning him a pointed look from his uncle. "My point is that without you and your dumbass rules and your cynical work ethic I probably wouldn't be here in Philly and I probably wouldn't have just put all of my savings into opening up a publishing house."

"You what?" Luke stared at his nephew in disbelief.

"Yep. My buddies Matt and Chris secured the building and handled the business side of things since they actually went to college. I invested what I could and long story short, Truncheon Books is open for business."

"Jess, that's great. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Considering I was planning on being in Stars Hollow in a couple days, I wanted to tell you in person. I mean it, Luke. I couldn't have done it without you."

Luke looked at this young man sitting beside him. He was no longer the teen hooligan he was forced to look after four years ago. He wondered how it was possible to be a decent father-figure even though you are so sure that you're screwing everything up. Then his thoughts drifted to his own dad and the relationship they had. He was the one who instilled in Luke that family was always first and that you do what you can for the ones you love. And then his thoughts drifted to Lorelai. His beautiful fiancée who was always a bright spot even on his darkest days and he realized that she made him a better man from the very beginning. A life without her and the baby they created wouldn't be a life worth living.

A thought occurred to him suddenly as he stood and jogged over to his truck. He searched it frantically for a few seconds before Jess joined him on the side of the street.

"What are you looking for?" asked Jess.

"Paper. I need a piece of paper. Don't just stand there! Find me a piece of paper, any paper," said Luke as he located a pen in his glove box.

Jess ran into the lobby of his apartment building a pulled off a flyer that was tacked onto a board. "Here. Paper. What do you need it for?"

"My vows."

It was just after noon and Lorelai still had not heard from Luke. She was thankful when she received a call from Rory saying she wanted to come to the inn for lunch. The distraction was definitely welcome.

"So, Logan just left you at the restaurant and took off?" asked Lorelai before taking a sip of water.

"Yes! He was so mad about the fact that my ex-boyfriend is invited to the wedding and he's not."

"First of all, he's Luke's nephew. Not just an ex-boyfriend. And second of all, if he's gonna bail over something like this then let him bail, Rory. What's the point of a relationship if you can't trust each other? And I never said he wasn't invited. He's more than welcome to come for brunch afterward. You know Sookie always makes way more food than necessary." Lorelai tried to finish her salad even though her stomach was in knots. She felt slightly guilty for telling her daughter how important trust was in a relationship when it was killing her to not know where Luke had run off to.

Rory sighed. "Nah. I think it's better this way. Besides, his father has him on a pretty tight leash since it's his last year of school, so he hasn't exactly been a joy to be around." She took her last bite of Sookie's famous brine-y pork chop and watched her mother pick at her salad. Before she could ask Lorelai what was bothering her, Rory looked towards the lobby as the front door opened.

"You didn't tell me Luke was coming. I would have waited to order."

"What? Luke's not-" Lorelai turned to see the man himself standing beside her. "Hi," she said softly while shooting him a confused look.

"Hi," he responded, unable to look her in the eyes. "Hey, Rory. I didn't know the two of you were having lunch today. I would have…called." He cringed inwardly as he remembered the note he left for Lorelai earlier that morning saying he was going to call her. That definitely explained the look she was giving him at the moment.

"I think we're about done anyway. Mom's been picking at that same piece of lettuce for the last ten minutes," said Rory just as her cell phone started ringing. "Ugh, it's Paris. I'll take this outside."

As soon as Rory left the dining room, Luke took a seat at the table next to Lorelai. He stared at his lap for a moment before forcing himself to look up at her.

"You know, last year when you left town to help out Liz and T.J. I didn't mind that you told me after you were already gone. Who was I to be upset about that when I wasn't even sure about what we even were at the time?"

"Lorelai-"

"But now we're engaged and I'm carrying your child and I wake up to a note that says you had to take care of something. And that would be fine if you haven't been shutting me out the last few days. Or if I knew what was going on with you." She closed her eyes tightly willing herself not to cry.

"Sorry about that," said Rory breaking the tension in the air. "We got the apartment, so I have to meet Paris in New Haven to sign the lease. I'm sorry to eat and run, but I'll see you both tonight."

After saying goodbye to Rory, Luke and Lorelai sat at the table for a moment before Luke finally spoke.

"Hey," he said softly as he reached out for her hand. When she lightly touched his fingers with hers and met his gaze he continued, "I'm so, so sorry, Lorelai. Can we go for a walk?"

Lorelai thought about it for a moment and then nodded. They went out the front door and around the side. There was a foot path that led passed the kitchen entrance behind the inn and around to the garden. Further down the path were two, huge Willow trees that were planted by the lake whose branches hung low over the water. They took a seat on the bench in between the trees.

"I panicked, Lorelai. The thought of us bringing a son into this world, a son that would need me to be his role-model, scared me. I thought about Jess and all the ways I thought I failed with him and…I didn't think I could do it. So I went to talk to him. I drove to Philly and banged on his door at six o'clock this morning." Luke rubbed his hands together nervously as he felt Lorelai's penetrating stare.

"And what did he say?" asked Lorelai, her voice barely audible.

He finally looked up at her. His eyes shining with unshed tears. "He said I was wrong. That he wouldn't be where he was had it not been for me which at first I took as an insult because his place was such a dump. But then he told me he started his own business, a publishing company, with a couple of guys and at that moment I knew. I knew it would all be okay. I knew it would be hard but worth it. And I knew that I could have never done it without you, Lorelai. And then I wrote this." He took a folded piece of paper out of his shirt pocket and held it up for her to see. "I was feeling so guilty that I couldn't come up with something to say, but after talking with Jess, the words just came to me."

Lorelai studied his face for a moment. Although he looked like hell, she could tell he was somewhat at peace over all the things that were weighing on his mind. She leaned in and kissed him softly. After a moment she pulled back and locked her blue eyes with his and said calmly, "I'm sorry you were having such a hard time and I totally understand the need to get some perspective, but please don't ever do that to me again."

Saturday morning Luke and Lorelai stood underneath the chuppah waiting for their friends and family to take their seats. Lorelai was serious about not wanting anyone to walk her down the aisle. She was not a thing to be handed over. She was a person who just wanted to commit to another person. It was as simple as that.

Her eyes swept over Luke's trimmed hair and clean-shaven face. To the tan, smooth skin of his neck where the first few buttons of his crisp, white button-down were undone. To the pink boutonniere he wore that matched the tiny, pink roses in her flower crown. Finally her eyes landed on his hands. Those strong hands that would always protect her, always fight for her, and would never hurt her. She reached out and intertwined her fingers with his.

Her beauty took his breath away. Those bright blue eyes that he could get completely lost in. Her pillow-soft lips that spoke such nonsense most of the time but also words of encouragement and love. Soft curls fell over her bare shoulders just the way he loved it. He couldn't wait to kiss each and every freckle that dotted her exposed collarbone. His gaze trailed further down her body to where her dress hugged the curve of her belly. After three months, it was still hard to believe sometimes that they unknowingly created a life. A son.

Rory cleared her throat and thanked everyone for coming before looking at her notes. "When my mom first asked me to officiate her wedding, my first thought was 'That sounds completely crazy'," said Rory as she paused for a few chuckles. "But then I thought 'It's not crazy. It's unique'. Our relationship has always been defined by its uniqueness and not by what's supposed to be traditional. Let's face it. Nothing Mom does is completely traditional and that's what makes her so amazing. So not only am I honored to be the one standing up here while she marries the greatest man we've ever known, I am honored to be her daughter."

Rory looked up from her notes and was shocked to see almost everyone in tears. "No, no. I wasn't trying to make everyone cry. It was supposed to be a little sentimental. If that made you cry, get ready. These two wrote their own vows. Luke, you're up Slugger."

Luke laughed nervously before clearing his throat. He looked over at Jess who gave him an encouraging nod and then pulled his folded piece of paper out of the inside pocket of his jacket. He unfolded it and took a deep breath. "Lorelai. Outside of you, I have no need for anything. Without you, I am nothing. There are no words and no proper emotions for what I feel today. The idea that you are to be my wife is truly overwhelming. I am the luckiest man alive. I promise to take care of you and to be there for you. From this breath to my very last, I am yours."

"Luke," whispered Lorelai in awe as she wiped a tear off of her cheek. It took everything in her not to throw her arms around him and kiss him with everything she had.

When Rory announced it was her mother's turn, Lorelai all of a sudden became a little nervous. Rory handed her her piece of paper and her hands trembled slightly as she took it and unfolded it. "Man," chuckled Lorelai. "I don't think I can top that, but here it goes. Luke. You are my love and my guide. A true partner. A man that I will love, hold close, honor, kiss, and cry with for all the days of my life. I know I am not perfect, but I love that you treat me like I am. I give you my hand, I give you my heart, and I give you my word that I will be a loving and devoted wife."

She handed the piece of paper back to Rory and took Luke's hands in hers.

Rory raised her left arm up over Luke's head and said, "Okay, show of hands. Who thought Luke had the best vows?" Everyone laughed except for Emily who sat in stunned silence. "Just kidding. It was getting a little too serious and Mom made me promise to keep things light." She flipped to her next set of notes and continued.

"Luke, in front of all those gathered today, do you take my mom to be your wife? To stay by her through sickness and health, through failure and success, through times of sorrow and times of joy, so long as you both shall live?"

Luke stared into Lorelai's bright blue eyes filled with unshed tears and answered, "I do."

"Mom, in front of all those gathered today, do you take Luke to be your husband? To stay by him through sickness and health, through failure and success, through times of sorrow and times of joy, so long as you both shall live?"

"I do," answered Lorelai softly unable to stop herself from smiling.

"Here are your rings," said Rory as she opened up her hand palm up. She waited for them to take each other's rings and place them on the appropriate fingers before finishing. "By the power vested in me by the ULC and the state of Connecticut, I am happy to pronounce Luke and Lorelai as husband and wife. Luke, you can kiss the bride, but don't make it gross."

Luke smiled and wrapped one arm around Lorelai's waist pulling her close while he grazed her cheek softly with his other hand. He cupped the back of her head gently and touched her lips with his. It was sweet at first until Lorelai snaked her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. The applause and cheers from the small crowd quickly brought them back to reality.

Lorelai pressed her forehead against Luke's and whispered, "Those were some vows, Mr. Danes."

"I meant every word I said, Mrs. Danes," he responded in a low, gravelly voice that sent chills down Lorelai's spine.

Lorelai smiled. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that."

"Good." Luke gave her one more kiss before reluctantly pulling back. "Let's go eat before you get cranky."

Lorelai looped her arm in his as they made their way to the table that was set up outside in the garden. "Look at you. Not even married two minutes and you're already taking care of me."