Chapter Seven
An hour later guests started to arrive for the party, right on schedule.
Richard and Emily had the perfect house for a party. It was big enough for all their friends to be able to be in the same room. As Rory was talking to Lane and Paris, Logan pulled Clara aside, behind the bar,
"Clara, can I talk to you a sec?" Logan requested, quietly.
"Sure." Clara answered.
Logan pulled a small velvet box out of his suit coat and handed to her.
"Open it." He insisted. Clara opened it to reveal a golden band with a huge diamond on it.
"Logan, don't you think you it is a bit sudden for you to be asking me to marry you? "Clara joked. Logan laughed.
"No. It is for your sister. Clara, I am going to ask her to marry me tonight after the party. Do you think she will like it?" Logan inquired, putting it back in his pocket as Richard and Emily made their way through toward the foyer.
"Logan, I know she will." Clara smiled and she embraced him.
"You better go talk to your guests." Logan suggested as more people from Stars Hollow arrived.
As Logan started to walk away, Clara grabbed him by the sleeve.
"Logan, I am really glad that you are going to my brother-in law." She said and he smiled.
"Thanks." He answered and she walked over to join her sister.
At six -thirty on the dot, Rory noticed Luke's truck pull into the driveway. The house didn't look any different to Lorelai because Richard had everyone park around back. Luke knew what was going on, so he acted casual as he opened Lorelai's door. Rory told every one to hide as she, Clara, Logan, Richard and Emily hurried in to the living room. The maid answered the door as Luke knocked.
"They are in the foyer." The maid took their coats and Luke and Lorelai went with the rest of them.
"Hey, guys!" Rory exclaimed as they came in. Lorelai sat down next to Luke as Richard passed out the drinks.
"You three look awfully nice tonight." Lorelai pointed out, looking at Rory, Logan and Clara suspiously.
"Well, we wanted tonight to be special because you aren't going to just Lorelai Gilmore by this time tomorrow." Rory said.
"Tomorrow, you are going to finally be Mrs. Luke Danes!" Clara noted.
"I'll toast to that." Luke replied with a smile toward Lorelai. She smiled back.
"To Lorelai and Luke!" Logan said.
"To Lorelai and Luke!" Cheers broke out all over the place as all the party guests emerged from their hiding spots. April came up and hugged her dad as people filed around them.
"Oh my, who did all this?" Lorelai was shocked when she saw all of her friends standing around her.
"You do you think?" Sookie replied walking up to her. Lorelai hugged her.
"I planned this out weeks ago with the master party planners, those crazy daughters of yours." Sookie smiled.
"You weren't sick, were you?" Lorelai laughed hugging her. Sookie glanced over at Clara and Rory, who were beaming ear to ear.
"Richard and Emily were nice enough to let the girls use the house for the party." Luke smiled as he put an arm around Lorelai's shoulders. Lorelai wiped the tears out of her eyes.
"We couldn't have done it with out Grandma and Grandpa." Clara acknowledged Emily and Richard.
"You and Luke are very lucky to have such beautiful and very clever daughters." Emily said. April smiled.
"I didn't do much. But I managed to help as much as I could. Schoolwork took up most of my time. Plus Rory and Clara can drive. Surprise, Dad!" April explained. Everyone laughed.
"The girls were here hours ago helping to set up the party." Logan added. Lorelai looked over at them.
"That's what you get for not reading the newsletter. I did not even have school today." Clara giggled.
"Get over here." Lorelai whispered to them as she tried not to cry. Everyone clapped as Lorelai wrapped her arms around them.
"We love you, Mom." Rory said.
"And I love you both so much." Lorelai replied, releasing them from the hug.
"Let's get the party started." Babette cried out as Lane's band started to play. Everyone started to dance and talk. Rory and Clara gave each other a high five and went to go join the party.
When it was time to open their presents, Rory and Clara pushed their present toward them first.
"You two got us a present? You gave us the party, wasn't that enough?" Lorelai said, taking a red envelope from them. Clara and Rory smiled at each other. Lorelai ripped off the top of the envelope and two plane tickets fell out. Logan's family's private jet would be flying them to and back from for a five day stay at Martha's Vineyard.
"We knew you two weren't to go on a honeymoon because of work, so Clara, April, and I are going to run the inn and the diner for you. Sookie, Michel, and Caesar all pitched in on this too. We all wanted you two to have a real honeymoon." Rory said as Luke and Lorelai looked over the tickets in shock.
"I can't believe it. Thank you all so much." Luke said, getting up to hug them all.
As Lorelai and Luke were opening the rest of their presents, there was a loud knock on the front door. Rory rushed to answer it.
"Oh my gosh, hi. I am so glad you could make it. She is going to be so surprised." Rory grabbed the wrist of the guest and dragged them inside. Clara sat down next to Lorelai and Luke and hugged them.
"Where did you get this necklace?" Lorelai asked examining Clara's silver heart.
"Grandma gave them to Rory and me before the party started. Mine fits inside of Rory's, and Rory's fits inside of…" Emily finished Clara's sentence.
"Yours." Emily handed Lorelai a velvet box. Lorelai opened and inside was her silver heart.
"Mom, thank you." Lorelai said. Emily smiled.
Rory called out for everyone's attention.
"Now, I know this party is all about Luke and Mom. And who isn't glad they are finally getting married." Every one clapped and cheered. Rory continued.
"But Luke isn't the only one legally joining our family. As you all know, Clara been living with us for almost three months and this week, she is finally going to a Gilmore Girl." Rory announced. Everyone smiled.
"And of course a Danes." She added, looking at Luke.
"Rory, what are you doing?" Clara muttered. Rory smiled and went on.
"Well, I pulled a few strings to get my newest little sister the best present she could ask for... her boyfriend!" Rory smiled as James walked out behind Clara and everyone cheered. Clara did not understand why they were looking at her. Lorelai pointed over her shoulder and Clara turned. She sat there shocked.
"You look beautiful." James said, leaning down to kiss her.
"Oh my gosh!" She started to say but James interrupted her with a kiss.
"How romantic!" Babette and Miss Patty gushed, putting handkerchiefs to their eyes. Clara jumped up and hugged him.
"You idiot, next time you don't answer my emails, I am going to kick your butt!" Clara exclaimed, right as Hep Alien began to play again.
"Well I wanted to tell you in person…" He sat down in one of the chairs and Clara sat on his lap, confused.
"Tell me what?" Clara asked as she wrapped her arms around him. He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her too.
"That I am moving back. To Stars Hollow anyway. I was offered a scholarship to the community college theatre program and a teaching job at the Kids Community Theatre in Hartford. And I missed you so much, I couldn't stand it. New York is not really my territory just yet…" James explained.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it. You're moving back." She squealed kissing him. Luke cleared his throat fatherly.
"Maybe we should talk later." James mumbled, getting the hint. Clara nodded. Clara got up and hugged Rory,
"Thank you, Rory." she whispered in her sister's ear.
"Your welcome, Clara." Rory smiled as they broke apart.
The party ended a hour later and everyone left, except for James, Clara, Rory, Lorelai, Luke, April, Logan, Richard and Emily.
"It was a fabulous party, girls." Lorelai smiled as her two daughters sat down on either side of her.
"Thanks, it was just to show how much we care." Clara replied.
"And how much we really want to you to marry Luke." Rory beamed.
"Well, I think this has been the best Friday night dinner ever." Emily stated. Everyone agreed as Richard pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
"Lorelai, Luke, we know no present could top the ones from your daughters. But this is your wedding present from us." Richard handed Luke the envelope. He opened it and gasped.
"Richard, I do not think we can accept this." Luke exclaimed as Lorelai snatched the paper from her fiancé.
"Dad, this is a check for a quarter of a million dollars." Lorelai was stunned. Rory and Clara leaned into look at it.
"We know, Lorelai. We want you to have it. Use it for anything you like." Richard explained.
"Lorelai, we want you to use the money for your family's benefit. College funds, adoption fees, a new house, or renovations to your house now, new cars, vacations, anything that will make you all happy. The only thing we don't want you to do with money is buy Clara a car." Emily added. They all looked at each other.
"How come I can't get a car?!" Clara inquired.
"We were going to ask your parents if that could be your adoption gift. But it is up to them." Emily replied.
Clara looked over at her parents.
"Mom, what are you two doing all this for? Necklaces, checks, and now a car, I don't understand." Lorelai said.
"Lorelai, we want to provide for our family like we should have done a long time ago. We want you to have everything you could ever possibly want for you and your family."
"Thank you both so much." Lorelai was so appreciative.
"And the car!?" Clara cried, looking over at Luke and Lorelai. James, Rory, April, and Logan tried their best not to laugh. Emily and Richard grinned at each other.
Lorelai and Luke glanced at each other and smiled.
"I guess if Grandpa and Grandma offered, than…" Lorelai started but before she could finish, Clara flew into their arms.
"Thank you, thank you!" Clara cried, hugging them. She turned to embrace her grandparents. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Emily smiled.
"Well, since we seem to be giving out gifts now." Logan started as Clara sat down on James' lap.
"I have Lorelai and Luke's present at Yale and was going to bring it to the wedding. So I guess the only present I have to give is to Rory." Logan walked over to where Rory sat next to her sister. Logan smiled at Clara and she winked. Rory looked at the two of them and raised an eyebrow.
"What is going on?" Rory asked.
"Rory," Logan started, "Ever since the day I first laid eyes on you, I think I was in love with you. I may not have shown it then but I did. You are beautiful, smart, and funny, and one of the best writers I have ever known. And tonight, I am asking you if you would please, be my wife." Logan pulled the ring out of his pocket and handed it to Rory. She looked around at her family and started to cry a little.
"But what about London?" she asked, crying.
"By the time we get married, I won't have to be in London anymore and we can be together…forever." Logan said, taking her hand. "So what do you say?" he asked.
"I say…yes!" Rory exclaimed and Logan immediately kissed her passionately, a smile radiating over his face. Everyone grinned at one another, happily.
"I love you, Rory Gilmore, you know that, right?" Logan whispered.
"Yes I do. And I love you, Logan Huntzberger, with all my heart." She kissed him and he placed the ring on her finger.
"Oh my gosh, I am getting married." Rory exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh, you're getting married." Lorelai cried and threw her arms around her oldest daughter.
"Oh Mom, I can't believe it. I mean I didn't ask you if I could get married so ..?" Rory waited as Lorelai brushed tears out of her eyes.
"Oh, honey, you are way beyond the point of having to ask me if you can do something, I want you to be happy." Lorelai answered. Rory hugged her mother.
"I think this calls for a toast." Richard handed out champagne to those able to drink it and sparkling apple stuff to the ones underage.
"To Rory and Logan." Richard and Emily raised their glasses.
"To Rory and Logan!" they all chime into together. They raised their glasses and drank to the newly engaged.
On the way out of the Gilmore House, Luke and Lorelai divided the kids, the girls with Lorelai and the guys with Luke.
As Luke and Lorelai kissed good-bye, the five others acted as if the public display of affection was horrific, groaning and trying to pull them apart.
"Do you know any of these kids?" Luke laughed as James and Logan pulled him away.
"I am more worried about their criminal records." Lorelai called as April, Rory and Clara pulled her the other way. When they had gotten Luke and Lorelai in their rightful vehicles, Rory and Clara met back up with Logan and James in the center of the driveway.
As the girls started to kiss their guys, they heard the cars start up and drive away.
"See you tomorrow!" they called as they broke apart and ran toward their respected cars. April laughed when Rory and Clara got in the car.
"You should've seen the look on your faces." April laughed hysterically. Clara put her hand over April's mouth as Lorelai pulled out of the driveway.
"Do you think her mother would mind if we dropped her in a ditch on the way home?" Clara asked as April continued to laugh. Lorelai and Rory giggled as they headed toward Stars Hollow.
Late that night, when she had gotten April settled on the couch, Lorelai crept into her closet and slipped into her wedding dress. Clara and Rory had heard her moving upstairs and they snuck up the stairs to her room to spy. Paul Anka was lying on the bed when they entered and he started to bark. Lorelai rushed out into her room panicked, and sighed with relief when saw it was only Rory and Clara.
"Oh my gosh, what are you two doing up here?" she asked sitting down on the bed, to regain her normal breathing pattern.
"We couldn't sleep and besides we could her you moving up here." Rory explained as Lorelai stood to examine herself in the full-length mirror. Lorelai sighed with happiness.
"You look great, Mom," Clara said as Lorelai sighed again. Rory nodded.
"This all seems so right." Lorelai whispered quietly.
"That is because it is." Rory assured her, fixing the back of the dress.
"I know it is. I mean so much has happened lately. I am getting a husband, another daughter, a stepdaughter, a son-in-law. And the truth is… it feels like my life is just now starting. If that makes some kind of weird sense." Lorelai laughed as she changed in to her pajamas.
"I know what you mean. My life seemed very empty until I became a part of your lives and you all became a part of mine. I really only had James for most of my life. And now, I have everything I ever wished for and more." Clara said, getting under the covers of Lorelai's bed. Rory followed her.
"Thank you, sweetheart. But I have some bad news. Neither of you are staying up here tonight. Scoot!" She ordered, climbing in to her bed.
"Mom, please just for a few minutes?" Clara begged.
"Yeah, please, Mom?" Rory begged while the two girls tried not to laugh.
"What are you two, three years old?" Lorelai asked while the girls continued to beg.
"I guess you guys can stay up here." Lorelai rolled her eyes. Clara moved to the head of the bed so Lorelai could lie down and Rory moved over.
"Night, Mom." Clara said, kissing her mother.
"Night, Mom." Rory said, kissing her too.
"Good Night, girls."
