Chapter 26: The Wedding

MEMORIES

From here on out are stories that happened between when Jen moved to Stars Hollow and the wedding. One-shots. In no particular order.

MARCH - 3 years after Jen moved to Stars Hollow

"Luke?" He heard the call coming from the back patio. "Luke! Where are you?"

He called back to Jen, "In the bike shop. I'll just be a minute." He finished unscrewing the back plate of the fan and set it to the side before he started inspecting the cord.

Jen appeared in the doorway. "I thought you were working today." She spotted the fan— an antique brass table fan that she had picked up at an estate sale. It didn't work, but Luke thought he'd have a shot at it. "Ooh! Think it's fixable?"

Luke was peering into the base. "Dunno. I thought I'd swap the cord out first to see if it's just an easy fix. I'm going to the hardware store today anyway so I want to see what I need to pick up…." He set the fan right side up and looked at Jen. "Yeah, I need to get going. What's up?"

She held up an envelope. "I was going to ask you to give this to Coach Hackett. He'll stop by the diner this afternoon."

Luke nodded. "Sure. What is it?"

"The final donations for spring training equipment," Jen said proudly. She was an avid booster of the high school football team. "We smashed the goal."

"Of course you did." Luke knew from experience that Jen could turn on the charm and wrangle a donation out of anyone. He was carefully replacing the fan screws when Jen stepped around him and looked at Luke's massive Indian motorcycle parked to the side, and the empty space next to it. He watched her with trepidation in his peripheral vision. This is it, he thought.

"I guess it's time to look for a new motorcycle," Jen said sadly. She had loved her little Triumph bike, but it had been destroyed beyond repair in the accident. It was more than a bike to her. It was a symbol of her independence, and to have it gone …. I don't need a symbol, she thought.

Luke looked up from the fan. "It's only been four months," he protested mildly. "Do you think you're ready?" The cast had come off her foot just four weeks earlier, and her ribs were still a little tender. Luckily her lung had healed quickly from the tear, and the concussion was not as severe as they had initially feared. Still, Luke was apprehensive. He knew she would ride again—he wanted her to—but the raw fear he had felt after her accident came bubbling up. Not yet.

Jen looked over at him and read the concern in his face. "Not yet … but soon. Let's talk about it later. You go to work."

They walked out of the garage together. Luke pulled the barn door shut and followed Jen up the stone steps to the patio, warmed by the ornate glass dome. He looked up. I can't believe I live here, he thought, as he did each time he walked through that fairytale garden. Jen had paused at the back door, holding it open for him, and as he approached her, he was struck with gratitude for all she gave him. She was a beautiful, fierce, generous woman. He suddenly remembered that day at the hospital, when he didn't know … he swallowed. It's been too long.

"Hang on a sec," Luke said, "Let's go to the Vineyard today."

"What? Why? What about work?" Jen asked.

Luke shrugged. "What's the point of owning the place if I can't call in sick once in a while? Let's stay overnight."

Jen grinned. "I think I'm a bad influence on you."

xxx-xxx-xxx

The drive to Martha's Vineyard was faster than usual. It wasn't season yet, and it was a cool, gray day as they pulled up to the beach. Jen called ahead for a reservation at one of the few properties that was open all year round, and they checked in before Luke suggested a walk along the waterfront.

"Sure," Jen agreed. Something is on his mind, she thought. He had been quiet on the drive.

They walked slowly, all the way down the boardwalk. It was not busy, though some of the businesses showed signs of waking up after the winter. Luke didn't say much, and Jen waited. She could tell he was working through a problem in his head. She also knew him well enough to let him take his time, so she just looked out at the Atlantic Ocean and enjoyed being outside. Luke's hand was warm in hers.

When they reached the end of a long pier, Jen took a deep breath. "It smells different here than in San Diego. And the ocean is a different color … more green, or maybe gray, I think. But it's still wonderful, isn't it? I could watch the ocean all day." She looked up at Luke, only to find him watching her. His blue eyes were ... not exactly troubled, but almost ... nervous.

Luke opened his mouth to say something, but Jen interrupted. "If this is about the motorcycle, I haven't even started looking yet. It can wait, if you really think I'm not ready."

He watched her for a second. "It's not about that. Not really."

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"No."

Jen's face clouded and her brow furrowed. "Luke, what's the matter?"

"No, honey, I mean everything is great," he started, but now Jen just looked confused. "Let me start over." She nodded.

"Everything is great. These last few years have been amazing. I think you settled in to Stars Hollow so well. It seems like you're happy with me, right? And all those places we go," he shook his head, "It's been the best time of my whole life."

"So, what's wrong?" Jen asked.

Luke took a deep breath. "After your accident, when you were in surgery … all I could do was sit in the waiting room. I couldn't help — and I hated that. And I was scared, Jen. I was so scared I would lose you —." His voice broke, and he paused to compose himself. "Look, I'm not crazy about the idea of you riding again yet, but I would never forbid it, even if I could. But if I ever get another phone call like that …."

Jen looked apologetic, but when she tried to speak, Luke cut her off. "That's not what I want to say right now. What I'm trying to get at is that when you were in the hospital, I realized that I cannot live for one minute without you." He looked directly into Jen's eyes. "We've been engaged for three years. I know I rushed that part, but we've built a life together. A good one, I think. And it's time, honey. Marry me. Soon."

Jen's brown eyes held Luke's for a second before she looked down at her black diamond engagement ring.

Luke furrowed his brow, then moved his hands to her shoulders. "What? You don't want to marry me?"

Jen shook her head. "No! I mean, yes, I do … I do. I just ... Luke, I don't want things to change," she confessed. "It's perfect now. Just like you said."

Luke looked down at her face earnestly. "It won't change. You've got your routine, your own friends now. I already pretty much live at the Alamo. If you're worried about money or property, we'll get a pre-nup." Jen had significantly more assets than Luke. "I don't care about any of that. I don't want anything but you."

She smiled at him. "You have me. And I don't want a pre-nup. What's mine is yours."

He didn't smile back, but his eyes filled with warmth. "Jen, I want it to be official. I want you to be my wife. It's important to me."

Jen nodded. "Okay … if it's important to you, it's important to me. When?"

Luke pulled her close. "How long do you need?"

"Just us? Just the family? Not long at all."

xxx-xxx-xxx

Luke was snoozing in front of the television in the small den at the back of the house when Jen bounced down next to him.

"Oof," Luke grunted.

Jen glanced at the screen, then back at Luke. "You always fall asleep when you watch baseball."

His eyes were still closed. "Just resting my eyes."

"Well, open them for a minute."

Luke shifted and sat up a little straighter. When he opened his eyes, Jen was holding a small box out to him. "What's this?"

She grinned and flipped it open. A shiny, dark ring was sitting in the box. He looked up.

"It's your wedding band," she said happily.

Luke struggled to shake the sleep out of his head and catch up. "My wedding band …" it clicked. "Oh! Honey, did you pick a day?"

"Three weeks from today. Is that okay? Dad and Brian are coming, but I don't care about anyone else. Do you want to invite anyone?"

Luke reached over and closed the ring box. He didn't want to tempt fate. "Well … April is in Europe. Liz and TJ are somewhere in the Midwest on the Renaissance tour. You weren't thinking about a big wedding, were you?"

Jen shook her head. "Actually, I was going to ask you …. I'd rather it was small. It's my third trip down the aisle, it feels silly for me to play the blushing bride. But if you want the big white wedding, I'm okay with that, too."

Luke looked relieved. "God, no. Just us." He rubbed his neck and raised an eyebrow. "Three weeks, huh? Is that enough time? Should I get you another ring, too?"

"No way. This one is absolutely perfect."

He grinned. "Okay. Three weeks. What do I need to do?"

"Call the courthouse. Get your suit cleaned."

Luke nodded, "Okay."

Jen looked expectant, "…and ...do you think you can take some time off after?"

Luke leaned over to pull Jen next to him. "Absolutely. Do you want to plan the honeymoon or should I?"

Jen was an expert at planning travel. "I'll do it. Let's go to Greece."

"Anywhere you want." Luke reached over to tilt her face toward him and kissed her. "Thank you."

xxx-xxx-xxx

Brian and Jim arrived two days before the ceremony, and Jen picked them up at the airfield while Luke stayed home to make dinner. He had just closed the door on a pair of chickens in the oven when he heard the garage door lifting, followed by laughter. I never get tired of hearing her laugh, he thought to himself. He wiped his hands on a dishtowel and dropped it on the counter as Jen came in the side door, followed by her brother and father. They were laughing hysterically about something.

"And he actually fell in the fire," Jim finished a story with a belly laugh. "I mean, if he had been really hurt it wouldn't have been as funny, but those fancy boots he was so proud of sure were wrecked." Jen laughed again as she walked through the kitchen.

"Look who I found," she told him as she gave him a quick kiss.

Luke held out his hand. "Jim, how have you been?" He shook hands with Jen's father before he offered his hand to Brian. "Who's boots? Let me guess ... Chris?"

Jim doubled over again. "Who else?"

Luke shook his head with a grin as he offfered his hand to Brian, "How was the trip?"

Brian responded warmly. "Good, good. How are you, Luke? Nervous for the big day?"

Luke shook his head. "Not a bit. Thanks for coming."

Jim chuckled good-naturedly. "Miss my little girl getting married? No way!" He looked over at Jen. "What is this, four or five?" he teased her.

She grinned. "Third time's a charm, Daddy. Everybody knows that."

Brian looked at Jen, but addressed Luke. "You're a brave man. You know she's a black widow."

Jen just glared at her only brother. "Brian!"

"Put your bags away," Luke said loudly over Jen's choicest comments. "Dinner is still a few minutes out."

And the three of them shuffled into the hallway, again shouting and laughing. Luke grinned to himself. A self-described family man, Luke loved being a part of Jen's.

xxx-xxx-xxx

It had been a merry, happy evening as Jen basked in the attention of her family. Luke considered himself a fairly stoic man, although, he had to admit he had lightened up considerably over the past few years. Lorelai had started the thaw, but Jen had really taught him about living in the moment. I've laughed more since I met her than I did in all my life before, he thought. And the thought made him laugh.

Jen and her dad had both retreated to bed. Luke and Brian were sitting at the bar having a glass of whiskey. Brian looked around the house appreciatively. "The place really looks great."

Luke nodded. "It's all Jen's doing. I just move the furniture where she tells me to."

Brian laughed, then ran his hand over the bar. "This looks familiar, though. Where did you get the bar?"

Luke shrugged. "She bought it at an auction in New Orleans. Some oyster joint got flooded and their insurance made them replace everything. There's a plaque up top … I think the place was called Big Jake's—"

"Big Jake's on the Half Shell!" Brian almost shouted. "I'll be god-damned. We used to crawl up to that place drunker than skunks late at night … it was high up Bourbon Street, near Jean Lafitte's. I can't believe she snagged the bar." He looked up and down the bar admiringly. "If I had known, I might have bid against her for it."

Luke grinned, "Jen would have loved beating you."

Brian grinned back, "Amy would have killed me if I won."

Brian looked up at the bar again, then finished his bourbon with a little salute before he went behind the counter to refill his glass. He offered the bottle to Luke, who waved it away. "No, thanks."

Brian sat down again and looked at Luke seriously. "I'm really happy for you, Luke."

"Thanks, Brian," Luke said quietly.

"And … I want to thank you ... properly. For taking care of Jen after her accident," Brian's eyes glazed with tears ever so briefly, "... but mostly for making her light up again. She's back to being the person she used to be."

Luke shrugged. "No thanks necessary. I'd do anything for that girl, you know that."

"Yes, I do," Brian said. "You know I love my sister more than anyone on this earth. She got a raw deal — between our mom dying so young, and then Tony getting shot down, then that asshole Jason — Jesus, Luke, she deserves to be happy." He looked around again. "You've built a home here, together. I can't thank you enough for being the man that's finally brought her happiness."

Luke choked up a little. He admired Brian immensely, and to hear him give that kind of blessing was more than he could have imagined. "I'm the one that should be grateful. She changed my life."

Brian just nodded. He pulled a flat box out of his jacket pocket and set it on the bar in front of Luke. "I want you to have this."

Luke picked up the box and opened the lid. Nestled in a bed of worn silk was a silver pocket watch, a little tarnished and clearly used, but well cared for. Luke looked up at Brian questioningly.

"It was our grandfather's. He was a conductor on the Union Pacific in San Francisco—this was his watch. He always said, 'it's nice if the trains run on time, but there's hell to pay if I'm late for dinner.'" Brian grasped Luke by the shoulder. "Time isn't worth a damn if you're not spending it with the one you love. Don't forget that."

Luke nodded. "I won't."

Brian stood up and let go. "Good man."

"Thank you, Brian," Luke said, "Good night." He watched him walk down the hall toward the guest room.

Luke sat where he was for a long time, looking at the watch. Finally, he snapped the box shut. "I won't."