A/N: Y'all liked April's intro, huh? That's cool. Thanks all for the fab reviews. Now, how about another wedding? ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see 1.)

7. With This Ring - 5th August 2006

"I feel like we already deja'd this vu," said Rory as she and her mom stood together in front of the full-length mirror, admiring their dresses for the wedding.

"No, this is a much bigger deal than before," said Lorelai with a sigh. "I'm not saying my wedding didn't matter, sweets, because it was one of the most special days of my entire life, but this? This is my baby getting her happy ever after ending. This is the greatest of all the days Stars Hollow has ever seen. This town's princess is getting married."

Rory laughed at how silly that sounded, and how sweet it was too. Oddly, it almost made her feel slightly guilty. The whole town had turned out for Luke and Lorelai's wedding and it was a huge affair in the town square for all to enjoy. Rory hadn't wanted to be centre of attention quite like that, and she knew for sure that Jess would hate it. They wanted a small ceremony, an intimate occasion with just their closest friends and family. Since there was no way to keep a secret from Stars Hollow at large, Rory and Jess had instead gone with a compromise.

A knock on the door made both Lorelai and Rory spin around and call 'come in' at the same time. Luke came through the door, starting to speak, but quickly stopping when he caught sight of his wife and step-daughter.

"Wow," he declared as he looked them over. "You two are... You're beautiful," he said definitely.

"Hey, we're always beautiful," said Lorelai with a smile. "Today we're wedding beautiful."

"That I'll agree with," her husband nodded as she went into his arms and kissed him hello. "How's Jess?"

"Weirdly calm," admitted Luke. "I mean, not that I expect him to be panicking. We all know what you mean to him," he told Rory definitely. "It's just, I don't know, aren't people supposed to be nervous on their wedding day? Even if they're sure about it? I was."

"Me too," Lorelai agreed. "And this one has been shaking like a leaf from the get go this morning."

"I have not!" Rory protested. "Well, maybe a little," she admitted then off her mother's incredulous look. "I don't know why. This is what I want. All I ever wanted, in some weird way. It was always Jess."

"I know, honey," Lorelai nodded. "I didn't want it to be true for a very, very long time, but the guy has proven himself. He stepped up when it counted, and now he's going to make an honest woman of my baby girl," she said as she came back over to Rory and took both her hands in her own. "Big day."

"Very big day," her daughter agreed.

"And as big a day as this is, we probably shouldn't be late for it," said Luke, checking his watch. "When I left, Jess was headed to the bridge with Jack, so..."

"So, it's time," Rory breathed, taking one last look at herself in the mirror.

She had on a simple but elegant ivory gown, hand made by Lorelai, with some family heirloom lace on the edges that Emily had given her. That covered the old and the new. For borrowed, Rory wore a bracelet Lane had leant to her, and for blue, a garter that Lorelai had been highly amused to present to her in front of Jess. Rory Gilmore was all set, ready to marry the man of her dreams.

"Oh, damn!" Lorelai exclaimed then as her cell phone rang loudly. "Sorry, hon. I thought I turned it off already. It's Sookie," she said then as he checked the screen. "It'll be a last minute reception catering thing... I'll take it downstairs."

Lifting up the edge of her flowing blue bridesmaid's dress, Lorelai hurried down the stairs to speak to her best friend. Sookie was in charge of the whole reception and the stress of it probably wasn't good for her, but she had insisted. She understood Rory wanting an intimate ceremony and actually volunteered to miss the wedding itself in order to take control of the after party, to which every denizen of Stars Hollow and beyond was invited. This was the compromise the happy couple had made. Private ceremony, public reception. It was the best thing for them.

"You really do look beautiful, Rory," said Luke then as he stood by her at the mirror. "I couldn't be more proud of you. The fact you asked me to be the one to give you away..."

"Who else would I ask?" she asked as she turned to look at him. "Luke, my dad just... he was never around, never a real part of my life. As much as I love my grandpa, it's a father's job to give the bride away," she smiled then, putting her arm through his own.

She had said something similar when she originally asked him to walk her down the aisle, but hearing it again now, in this moment, dressed up and ready for this very special occasion, it brought a tear to Luke Danes' eye that he really hadn't been expecting.

"C'mon, Miss Gilmore," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Time to become Mrs Mariano."

"I've never been more ready for anything in my entire life," she declared happily, meaning every single word.

The car pulled up just beyond the trees, it was impossible to get any closer to the bridge. Luke had Rory and Lorelai on either side of him, one on each arm as they appeared in view of the small crowd gathered on the other side. Originally, they had considered having the ceremony on the bridge itself, but even a small crowd would be risking someone falling in or worse the bridge collapsing from the weight. Instead it acted as the aisle that would take the bride to her groom.

Reverend Skinner stood with Jess and little Jack in place as best man. Lane held onto his hand, just to be safe, wearing a blue dress quite similar to Lorelai's own, and Paris was in a more conservative version of the same. The grandparents completed the group, Emily, Richard, and Mrs Rossini too.

As they reached the end of the bridge, Lorelai slipped away from Luke and fell behind the bride and her 'father'. Lane hit a button on the I-Pod in her free hand, and Rory was caught between laughing and crying as she headed towards Jess to the strains of XTC's Then She Appeared. For Jess himself, he was hearing nothing, seeing nothing but Rory. He always knew she was beautiful, from the very first moment he laid eyes on her, but right now she had never looked more perfect.

Luke brought the bride to her groom, taking Rory's hand and putting it into Jess' own, before both of them turned to Reverend Skinner, and Lane killed the music. It was the most touching moment, broken only when Jack spoke up.

"Hi, Momma!" he greeted Rory happily.

"Hello, baby," she smiled down at him. "You look very handsome."

"And Momma pretty," he grinned, grabbing a handful of her dress and leaning into her.

"Momma very pretty," Jess agreed in a whisper.

"Daddy very hot in the suit, as always," she whispered back, blushing when the reverend cleared his throat, clearly having heard all.

The ceremony began then, with rings and vows being exchanged. There had been some debate over what words would be spoken, be they traditional or specific. In the end that had been compromised too. Rory and Jess spoke most of the vows that were traditionally made in marriage ceremonies through the ages, but also wanted the opportunity to say their own thing. Rory went first, a shake in her voice as she gave her speech from memory.

"Jess, I was not expecting to fall in love when I met you. For the longest time, I tried to believe I didn't even like you, but in the end there was no denying that we were meant for each other. It hasn't been easy, and I don't except our future to be drama-free because life just isn't like that, but what I've learnt is that there's nothing we can't do if we're together. I love you, Jess, like never before and never again," she smiled, even as tears welled in her eyes and threatened to fall.

If she had a mind to look, she would've seen that she was surrounded by men and women alike trying not to cry too, and that would only get worse as Jess was asked to speak his piece.

"Rory, I knew from the moment I first saw you that you were the only woman in the world for me. I never felt anything like that before, and I still haven't. You were different to any other person I ever knew, you always have been, and I guess you always will be. I could quote you a hundred lines about love and commitment from your favourite authors and mine, but I won't, because this has to be from me to you, and nobody else. I love you, Rory, and no matter what else happens, I can promise to love you forever, because I honestly don't know how to stop."

The phrase 'not a dry eye in the house' would certainly have become very appropriate in such a moment, if everybody were not outside. Even Reverend Skinner had to take a moment to compose himself before he could speak and finally announce that Jess and Rory be man and wife together.

"You may kiss the bride," he told Jess who moved in closer and put his lips to Rory's own.

He seemed to think he was getting away with a sweet little peck since they were in front of Rory's family and all. She had other ideas and had warned him as much before today. Still, he didn't think she was serious until her arms wrapped around him and she pulled him to her until he practically toppled over. They were inches away from falling into the water when she finally let go.

"That's how you seal marriage vows," she said softly when they parted, grinning all over her face.

Jess leaned closer again to whisper in her ear; "Nope, that happens tonight, in private."

She shuddered at the suggestion, even after all this time. There was a reason why Jack was sleeping at the Crap Shack tonight. His parents were getting some seriously romantic alone time, no doubt.

Ready to face their public, Jess leaned down to pick up Jack and put him on his hip, then grabbed Rory's hand and gave her a look as if to say 'You okay?'. The smile on her face proved she was better than okay, better than good. This was just about as perfect a moment as she could wish for.