Alright friends! The moment you have all been waiting for! The wedding! However, this will be in multiple parts because it is soooo long! Here we go!

Lorelai was running around the town square frantically. Tables and chairs covered in simple blue and silver tulle were set up around the gazebo. A dance floor was placed off to the side. Sookie was currently trying to find a fridge close by and tall enough to store the wedding cake. The sun was way too strong today for it to stay out in the warmth that had grown throughout the morning.

"Sookie? Have you seen Luke? I need his help with this," Lorelai said, trying to sling up some flowers on a beautiful chuppah standing in front of the gazebo. She looked around wildly before he was spotted coming out of the diner, fumbling with his tie.

"Lorelai! I can't get this damned tie tied!" Luke yelled across, agitated. He walked to Lorelai, and he appeared to be very anxious. Max watched as Lorelai smiled and fixed Luke's tie.

"Don't be so nervous," Lorelai told him. "She needs you to be on your game today."

"I don't know why she asked me to do this. I'm going to do it wrong or something." Max wanted to know what they were talking about, but was interrupted by a voice he remembered.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Max Medina," Sookie said, coming up beside him and opening her arms.

"Sookie! How are you?" Max said, giving in to her hug.

"I'm good, I'm good. And you?" She asked, nudging him with her elbow.

"I'm doing okay," he replied. "I take it Rory told you I was coming today?" Sookie looked guiltily at him.

"Yeah. She wanted me to know so I could help Lorelai deal with the surprise of you being here," Sookie explained. Max sighed.

"I was afraid of that," Max stated. "She never told Lorelai?"

"No. I tried talking Rory into that, but I think she is afraid to tell her," Sookie said, sadly. Max ran a hand through his hair.

"Come on," Sookie announced, taking his arm. "Let's face the music and get this over with." Max felt his chest tighten and he felt the urge to flee. Sookie, always observant, strengthened her hold on him, and squeezed his shoulder.

"It's going to be fine," she said, smiling encouragingly. Inside, she wasn't so sure. They approached Luke and Lorelai at last and they were trying to finish decorating the chuppah with flowers. The chuppah confused Max slightly, as he knew that the Gilmore Girls were not Jewish.

"Hey, Lorelai, Hun? You have a sec?" Sookie called up to her friend, who was standing on a ladder.

"I'm a little busy, Sook," Lorelai responded. Her voice sounded like bells to Max. He braced himself for actually seeing her, talking to her.

"This is important. Besides, you shouldn't be up there doing that! Let Luke finish it and get down here!" Sookie demanded.

"Yes, mother," Lorelai said, giving up. Clutching the remaining flowers to her chest, she climbed down the ladder. Max stood slightly behind Sookie so he would not immediately be seen. She got down and turned around, glaring at Sookie. Max could see that she was nowhere near ready for the wedding. She was wearing tattered jeans and a t-shirt that had clearly seen better days. Everything looked big on her, but Max supposed that they made for great work clothes. Her hair was disheveled and pulled back carelessly and her face was make-up free and streaked with dirt from decorating. Still, she looked beautiful to Max.

"Alright, Sook," Lorelai said impatiently. "What is it?"

"I just, um, wanted to tell you that the first guest has arrived," Sookie answered cautiously. Lorelai's face was stricken with panic.

"What? Are you sure? It's only 10am! The wedding isn't until 3! What are these people thinking? Who would dare show up five hours early?" Lorelai demanded, fuming.

"Well…" Sookie started, glancing behind her. Max took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"That would be me," Max said. Astonished could not begin to describe how Lorelai looked and felt. It had been what? Seven, eight years since she had seen Max? She looked at him carefully, taking in his appearance. She wondered, why, in God's name, he was there. He didn't look very different. He was thinner and he had fine lines around his eyes. He was also starting to sport a salt-and-pepper hair color. The gray was very faint, but it was still there. He looked very tired, a frown line permanently creasing his forehead. She noticed the absence of a band on his ring finger and felt somehow guilty that its non-existence and his appearance were her fault. She tried to ignore that feeling and convince herself that some people just don't always age as gracefully, but, she was lying to herself. He was still incredibly handsome, and her heart did flutter slightly at the sight of him. He just looked, well, defeated, like Rory had when she and Logan had parted ways three years ago. She really hoped she was not the cause, but, there would be time to discover that later. First, she had to figure out why, of all days, he was there, in Stars Hollow.

"Hi, Lorelai," Max said softly, a small smile on his face.

"Max? What? How? Why?" She struggled to compose herself. "What are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too," Max answered, laughing uncomfortably. "Rory invited me."

"What? Rory? But, she wouldn't even know where you were, where you lived. Why would she have done something like-"she gasped. "You are the surprise guest! I will be right back." And Lorelai turned on her heel and half-jogged away. Max stared after her and Sookie came up beside him.

"Well, that's about what I expected," Sookie explained sadly, following Lorelai with her eyes. "Forgive her, Max. This has been a really hard ordeal for her."

"Where did she go?" Max asked.

"Probably back to the house to talk with Rory," Sookie answered. "I-"

"Sookie! Why is Lorelai heading to the house? And did I hear that a guest has already turned up?" Luke barked as he climbed down the ladder. When he got to the ground, Max was standing before him. He looked puzzled for a moment then he realized who Max was.

"Hi, Luke. I don't know if you remember me, but I'm-"

"Max Medina," Luke said, realization dawning upon him on what must have happened. "If it weren't Rory's big day, I'd kill her, no offense. It's good to see you, really." Luke really didn't mind that Max was there. He knew that Rory must have her reasons. At one time, he would have been jealous, but, he had won Lorelai's heart, and he knew that no one would be able to take it from him.

"Sookie, should I…?" Luke started.

"No, I'll go to her. It's about time she and Rory got ready anyway. You finish decorating, just don't get your tux dirty," Sookie ordered. "Max," Max looked at her. "Why don't you head to Al's or Weston's to get something to eat? You'll be hungry if you wait until dinner." Sookie then turned and headed back to the house.

"Well, I guess I'd better finish getting this decorated," Luke said, gesturing to the almost completed chuppah.

"Do you need any help?" Max offered, desperate to do something to help. Luke smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

"I think I'm good, but thank you. Really, though, you should eat. I'd go to Weston's, though. Al's has been a bit off lately. I'd suggest my diner, but we just closed to get ready for the wedding," Luke replied. Max decided to take his advice and head to the bakery for a cup of coffee.