AN aw sniff it's here the end of this chapter to the series, and to all those that reviewed thank you so much.
Jess grabbed Rory by the hand and pulled her towards the tree, her back leaned against the bark as his finger glided across her cheek.
"Do you know how beautiful you look today?"
"No I didn't, but I won't get tired of you telling me today." She smiled against his palm.
"Well I will say it, and I will say it every day until were old if you want me to?" Rory stared into those brown eyes, and saw something she hadn't seen before. "Rory I…"
"Group pictures everyone, maid of honor, best man?" The photographer clapped his hands; Rory smiled apologetically and pushed herself away from the tree.
Weather permitted on this day and the pictures and reception were taken outside, instead of inside like originally planned. A makeshift dance floor was created on the grass, while the live band was set off to the side. Rory excused herself and wandered over to where her mother and Sookie were standing, they both were placing glasses of champagne on the table.
"Hey mom, Sookie the food looks amazing." Lorelai rubbed her shoulder.
"Thanks, but you're a little biased I think."
"Biased. Look at the cake Sookie." Rory pointed to the six tier cake in the middle of the table, white icing decorated with blue and green flowers.
"The cake is pretty awesome." Lorelai agreed, Sookie grinned and adjusted the salmon puffs on the tray, while Rory and Lorelai shared a look.
"Yeah it guess it is, so how is the maid of honor?" Sookie rubbed her hands on her apron.
"Great, everything's amazing, only Jess is acting really weird. He's really quiet and when he says anything we get interrupted and he shuts right up. Anyway I better get back." Rory kissed her mother on the cheek and walked away.
"Poor Jess, do you think he'll ask her today?" Sookie pouted as she watched Jess standing off to the side his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Let's hope so hun."
Rory took her seat next to Jess at the top table and took the glass of champagne, sipping it silently before she set the glass back down. Jess cleared his throat and looked away when Rory turned to him, brushing his hair away from his face.
"Your very quiet today Jess, is everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's just fine." Jess pulled on his collar, wishing he could take the monkey suit off." Actually no, I need to ask you something."
Rory turned back to face him, waiting for him to speak. She was tapped on her shoulder, turning to face Cassie she leaned closer.
"Dude, the speeches."Matt whispered loudly over the table, Jess dropped his head and his fork clattered onto his plate.
"I'm going to kill you." He whispered loudly enough for Matt to hear. "Excuse me, Ladies and gentlemen."Jess waited for the murmuring of the guests to become quiet before he spoke, taking a sip of the water in front of him.
"I haven't known Matt that long, not as much as his other friends. Who might I add was very eager to tell me about his admiration for farmyard animals." Cassie laughed and Matt turned red as the other guests laughed including a raucous laughter from his friends.
"But today, is the day two people, shared with their family and friends that they have found their soul mate. Want to share one of my favorite sonnets from William Shakespeare.
Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! It is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
I myself didn't believe in love or that there was a force so strong, that connected you to another person. But obviously I was stupid enough not to realize that she was in front of me all along." Rory dropped her head when Jess looked directly at her, the flush of embarrassment on her cheeks.
"So I want you all to join me in congratulating them, to Matt and Cassie!" Jess finally raised his glass and all the guest stood and congratulated the couple.
Rory laughed as she twirled around the dance floor, by the father of the bride. Jess stared at them from his seat, there she was her eyes smiling every so often glancing up at him.
"Come on Jess, dance with me?" Cassie tapped him on the shoulder, smirking he pushed his chair back and led the bride to the dance floor.
"I'm going to warn you now Cass, I can't dance." Jess said grabbing her hand.
"Just as long, as you don't stand on my toes." Cassie held onto his shoulder as they moved around the dance floor.
Cassie twirled on the spot and landed in front of her father, and Rory moved towards Jess and into his arms.
"You know that was a lovely speech, you recited my favorite poem." Rory held him closer.
"I know it was mine too." Rory turned her head to see Cassie being handed over to Matt.
"They look happy don't they?" Rory turned back round to face Jess.
"Yeah they do." Jess suddenly grabbed Rory by the hand and pulled her off the dance floor, he didn't stop until they were under the tree.
"Rory!" they both to see Lorelai jogging towards them carrying Rory's cell phone.
"Your cell phone keeps ringing; a girl called Jude wants to speak to you." Rory took the phone from her mother and stepped away.
"So how's it going?" Lorelai tapped his arm.
"It's not." Jess replied fingering the velvet box that was still hidden in his pocket, Rory closed the phone and walked towards them.
"I had an assignment due on Wednesday and they need it this weekend, luckily I already finished it. So I said I will fax it over after the wedding." Jess nodded and thrust his hands into his pockets; Lorelai sighed and left them walking back to the party.
Jess stepped away from Rory and stood by the bank of the river, Rory followed him her heels sticking in the ground with every step. Rory let out a yelp as she stepped and her ankle shifted, Jess turned around and grabbed her by the elbow to stop her from falling.
"I'm a klutz today."
"You only tripped once." Jess pointed out.
"Yeah, I was glad you were there to catch me."
"Rory, I don't if you noticed but I've been trying to talk to you. To, ask you something."
"Oh?" Rory followed his movement of his hand as he reached into his pocket.
Pulling out the black velvet box, he slowly opened the lid. Rory gasped as she looked at the platinum band, with three diamonds that shone in the sunlight. She looked into his face as he took a deep breath, she had thought of this moment and now it was here she wanted to every little detail.
"Rory, I never have the right words to explain exactly how I feel. I just know I want all of you. Will you marry me?" Jess exhaled slowly waiting as she stared at the ring.
Rory glanced at the ring to his face, her heart beating erratically. The blood pumped through her body, the sound humming in her ears. That's when she felt the tapping on her shoulder, turning her head she saw one of the bridesmaids standing behind her. She turned back and opened her mouth to say something, anything. But no words would come, her throat felt tight. Rory felt herself being pulled away and back towards the bridge, Jess stood still and closed the box and placed it back in his pocket.
Rory's feet felt heavy against the grass, every step was heavier than the last. Jess had just proposed and she hadn't said anything, her mind was screaming at her to say yes, but her voice had lost all of its energy.
Standing in front of the crowd of guests, she noticed Cassie carrying a large bouquet of flowers and a microphone. Clearing her throat she moved the veil back over her shoulder.
"Firstly I want to thank everyone for attending today, and sharing our day. I want to also make a special mention to Rory, who was kind of the driving force of this wedding. And even graciously, stepped in as my maid of honor." Rory smiled politely as she was patted on the back. "So Rory can you come up here?"
Cassie grinned and made her way through the dance floor and to the front where Cassie was stood. Kissing Cassie on the cheek, as she accepted the flowers, standing in front of the microphone.
"Thank you to Cassie and Matt, I feel really honored to share this day with you. This place is very sentimental to me; I spent many of my teenage years watching people spend their wedding here."
Jess moved slowly through the crowd and stood at the front, his eyes fixed firmly on Rory. She looked up and saw him there; she could feel everyone watching her as she halted.
"Yes." The one word echoed through the microphone and Jess stood very still, Cassie watched the two of them and placed her hand on her chest.
"Jess, I said yes." Cassie watched as the smile split Jess's face in two.
"Matt, he did it. He asked her." Cassie clapped her hands together as Matt rushed to the side of the dance floor and stood next to his wife.
Jess rushed across the dance floor and gathered Rory into his arms and kissed her, the flowers crushed between them. Grabbing the box from his pocket, he took the ring with shaking fingers and placed it on her finger. Lorelai placed an arm around Sookie who was now crying, Lorelai watched them kiss, and she thought she had never seen her daughter so happy.
Rory sat under the Willow tree, Jess's head resting on her lap as they both watched the early evening sun reflect against the water. Sighing contentedly Rory lifted her finger, mesmerized by the kaleidoscope of colors shine against her ring.
"Still getting used to it?" Rory looked down at Jess who was staring up at her.
"Yeah, who knew you had romantic sensibilities." Jess frowned and sat up, his thumb touching her finger.
"Can we please leave the Austen references alone?"
"Why? We are so like Persuasion."
"Rory." Jess stood up and placed his hands in his pockets.
"You're like, Colonel Brandon and Captain Wentworth all in one." She stood up and stepped forward, as he stepped back.
"Colonel Brandon! Are you serious? He didn't motivate himself, and watched her fall in love with someone else." Jess fumed, taking another step back.
"Yes, but it shows it was worth the wait he got the girl, and Willoughby had to live out his days married to someone he despised." Jess smirked as she gave him a shy look, he reached for her hand and she stepped into his embrace.
"Okay so it doesn't sound that bad." Kissing her on the lips as they headed back to the party.