Chapter 35: Last masterplan

Lorelai couldn't remember the last time she had been up so early out of her free will. Surely that must have been right after Rory's birth, when she had stayed up after the four o'clock feeding and had just stared at her sleeping daughter. This time she wasn't spending her time with staring at her newborn baby, because there was none, but she was staring at herself in the mirror, checking if her wedding dress still looked as good as the day she had first tried it on. It was only five o' clock in the morning, but she had been unable to sleep any longer. She had felt exhilarated when she had woken up and had literally jumped out of bed. Her first way had been to the bathroom, to freshen up and then she had changed into her wedding gown without a shower and without brushing her teeth before. She turned and twirled around in front of the mirror, her still a mess from sleeping, bet she didn't care. She fantasized how Luke would look at her when he would see her in her wedding dress and she imagined how he would look like. She had seen the tux already, she had even helped him pick it out, but she hadn't seen him wearing it yet. The thought of Luke in a tux. Clean shaven and standing in front of the altar made her heart beat faster. She didn't see the sappy smile on her face when she looked into the mirror, she didn't really see herself at all, because all she was seeing was the picture in her head about Luke and her seeing each other for the first time in front of the altar.

„Mom?" Rory's voice brought her back to reality and she hadn't even heard the door opening. „What are you doing?" her daughter asked when she saw her mother in front of the mirror, wearing her wedding dress.

„I'm getting married today", Lorelai beamed at her and twirled one last time. „And what are you doing here?" she asked her daughter with a sigh. She hoped that Rory wasn't having second thoughts, because it was strange that she was up that early.

„I wanted to wake you, so you wouldn't sleep in on your wedding day", Rory said.

„Wake me? At ..." she turned towards the alarm clock and then gasped. It was already half past seven. She had spend two and a half hours in front of the mirror, completely zoomed out. She sighed when she saw the time, then turned back towards her daughter. „Let's get ready", she grinned and hurried into the bathroom to get changed again. She would have breakfast, then she would shower, then the hairdresser should be over together with the make-up artist her mother had hired. And then, only then, she would get to wear her dress again. So she changed back into her sweats and T- shirt and then ran down the stairs. The sooner she would have eaten, the sooner the rest would start and the sooner she would wear her dress again and become Luke's wife. Mrs. Danes. She really couldn't wait.

Luke had strangely enough slept like a baby the night before the wedding. He had awoken slowly when the alarm clock had rung and then sighed in contentment. He missed Lorelai next to him and it had been hard for him to fall asleep without her in his arms, but once he had been asleep he had had wonderful dreams all night. He had seen their marriage, Lorelai in her dress, and their wedding night. Yes, dirty. He had sat up in bed and then taken first a cold shower, followed by a normal one.

Richard came over at eight and took him to his hairdresser to get him a shave and a new haircut. Together they had breakfast and then they picked up Buddy and Maizy, before Luke returned to his apartment to change into his tux. While he buttoned up the shirt he had to think of the sadness in Lorelai's eyes when her period had started the night of her bachelorette party. First she had wallowed that she was not pregnant, then she had wallowed that their wedding night would be ruined because of it. She had confused him with her comment, that if she was still on the pill she would have been able to control it, but he hadn't asked further and just reassured her that they would find a way to spend their wedding night in a pleasurable way. That had cheered her up a bit and she had started making plans what exactly they could and couldn't do. At one point Luke had pointed out that just because she had.. her days, didn't mean that they couldn't do.. it. They had discussed it until Luke thought his face would explode because of embarrassment and had decided that they would just see what they were comfortable with.

Afterwards they had faced Emily and had said goodbye and Luke hoped that his face had returned to it's usual color again and he didn't look like a lobster anymore.

When he was dressed he took the box with rings out of the dresser and opened it. They were simple white gold wedding bands and Lorelai's smaller one had a small diamond, while his was plain.

They both had inscriptions which the other one had chosen and Luke knew he wasn't allowed to look at his until they were married and so he closed the lid of the box again to not tempt himself further.

„How do I look?" Lorelai asked her mother and Rory when she emerged from the bathroom for the second time that day dressed in her wedding gown. Her hair was pulled up and some lose strands framed her face. The tiara matched perfectly with her hair-do.

„You look absolutely lovely, Lorelai", Emily said clearly stunned while she looked at her daughter. Out of a sudden impulse she walked over to her and kissed her daughters cheek.

„Thank you mom", Lorelai smiled and placed a kiss on her mother's cheek in return.

„You have everything?" Emily asked her.

„I've got tissues, a needle, deo spray, lipstick, glue... and Luke has the rings", she listed.

„Glue ?" Emily asked, wondering why on earth her daughter had added glue to that small purse of hers.

„Sure. If I stumble or get stuck and my heel falls off and then Luke will be able to save me by gluing my heel back into place. Or if we decide we never want to be parted we can glue our hands together. I mean it would mean some trouble when we both have to go to work, but what are some small troubles when you're in love?" Lorelai asked and sighed exaggeratedly.

„Why did I ask?" Emily said and rolled her eyes. „And I was not speaking of your whole household, I was more thinking of something new?" she clarified.

„The dress is new mom... and so are my stockings", Lorelai grinned. She loved it to embarrass her mother.

„Please spare me the details, I am still not over the infos I heard at your party", Emily said and shuddered.

„Hey, we agreed that you would forget you ever heard that!" Lorelai exclaimed.

„Believe me, I wish I could", Emily sighed. „ Rory should have taken her grandmother with her. I have the feeling she knew what was coming".

„Not the first bachelorette party in the Hollow", Lorelai grinned.

„You really shouldn't expose her to these things. Especially not now that she has her first boyfriend", Emily lectured Lorelai.

„Mom, could we please not get into this discussion now. Weren't you just asking something? We covered something new", Lorelai groaned.

„Something blue?"

„Yup", Lorelai nodded.

„What?" Emily asked.

„You don't want to know", Lorelai grinned.

„Okay, something borrowed?" Emily went on.

„ Your tiara mom", Lorelai pointed to her head.

„That isn't the something borrowed, that is the something old", Emily replied.

„But.. how... why... you can't... that is too much, mom", Lorelai stuttered.

„I give it to you and you give it to Rory once she gets married. I just thought we could start a tradition", Emily shrugged.

„Thank you", Lorelai said deeply moved and hugged her mother again. „But now I don't have anything borrowed", she said.

„Allow me", Emily smiled and handed Lorelai a chain with a beautiful locket. „Best friend", the inscription said. „I know it's not a heart and it doesn't say „True love" or something, but it was the friendship locket both me and Abby had. And I want it back after the wedding", Emily told Lorelai.

„Sure you will. And it fits, because I am marrying my best friend", Lorelai said and held it out to Emily, so she could secure it around her daughters neck.

„Wow, mom, look at you", Rory exclaimed when she suddenly burst through the door with Lane on her heels.

„I can get married like that?" Lorelai asked and turned around slowly one time.

„Yes! And your hair looks better than this morning", Rory laughed and hugged her mother before they all left the house together to get to the church. It was time to get married.

„You're ready?" Richard asked his daughter when they were standing in front of the church door. The music would start any second now. Rory and Lane were dressed up as bridesmaids and were waiting with them.

„Yes, I really am", Lorelai nodded and listened anxiously, because she wanted the music to start.

„Lorelai, let me jut tell you what I already told Luke this morning: I am sorry that I didn't step up and stop your mother from meddling with your lives. At first I thought her plan was good, it seemed ok. Friends getting married isn't a bad thing you know. But when she broke you up I should have said something. I am sorry I didn't", he admitted.

„We should just leave that behind us dad. We all made mistakes, some graver than others, but we all did. Maybe we should talk it out some day, but not today. Today I just want to be happy and celebrate with my family and friends", she said and Richard nodded.

„Luke is a good man", he said then when the music started.

„The best", Lorelai nodded when Rory and Lane pushed the door open and they all stepped into the church. Lorelai grasped her father's hand tightly and the music and the gasps of awe of the people in the church became one blurry mess when she saw Luke standing in front of the altar, waiting for her. She had imagined that moment so many times, but nothing had come close to reality. It had been the same with Rory. All throughout her pregnancy she had imagined what it would be like when she would hold her baby for the first time, but when the moment had arrived she had been so overwhelmed by joy and love in a way she could have never imagined it.

„Slowly", Richard whispered to her when she sped up and wanted to hurry to Luke. Richard held her back, made sure they walked down in sync with the music. After what seemed like an eternity for Lorelai they arrived at the altar and she stared at Luke with wide eyes and he stared back. She saw some tears in his eyes and didn't realize that she was already crying and tears were running down her cheek. Richard handed his daughter over her groom and immediately their fingers linked.

„Dearly beloved. We are gathered here..." the reverend started but neither Luke nor Lorelai were paying attention to what he was saying because they were too focused on each other. At one point Luke reached over with his free hand and wiped away her tears. Lorelai smiled at him, raised their joined hands and pressed her lips to the back of his hand. When Buddy, who was Luke's best man cleared his throat they snapped out of their daze and realized that now it was their turn.

Reverend Skinner stared at Luke and although Luke had no idea what he had just said he replied „I do", and was relieved when the reverend nodded and turned to Lorelai to ask her the same question.

„I do", she replied as well and then Sookie, Lorelai's maid of honor handed the reverend the rings. With shaky hands they slipped the rings onto each others finger and couldn't let go of their hands anymore.

„... and now I pronounce you husband and wife. May god bless you", reverend skinner finished. „You may kiss the bride", he told Luke and smiled.

Luke smiled at Lorelai, who smiled back and was crying again.

„I love you", he told her and pulled her close.

„I love you, too", she replied and closed the gap between them and kissed him until Luke pulled back after a second.

„Hey, he said I could kiss the bride and not you could kiss me", he grinned and then kissed her soundly before she could reply. Lorelai slung her arms around his neck and her fingers stroked along his newly cut hair.

„My husband", she smiled at him when they pulled apart after a while and he just pulled her to him again and hugged her tightly.

„Mr. And Mrs. Luke Danes", Richard announced when they stepped out of the church and the chuppah was standing in front of the exit. Under the cheers of their friends and family they kissed again.

At first they had wanted to get married outside, but Emily had reason with them, that it was too cold to do that and either they or their guest would get sick. So they had given in and had decided that the chuppah should wait outside for them. Their friends rushed towards them and hugged and kissed them until Luke ended it when Patty had hugged him for the third time and pinched his butt in the process.

„You should have stopped this!" he said accusingly to Lorelai who just laughed.

„You want a jealous wife?" she teased him.

„Yes, when it comes to Patty I do", he nodded.

„Poor baby", she smiled, stroked his cheek and then kissed him again ,what caused the audience to erupt in cheers. The town's favorite couple had finally tied the knot.

The end

Nearly...

Epilogue: 2 years later:

„Luke! Could you hurry up please!" Lorelai yelled and then just burst into the bathroom impatiently, where Luke was just standing in front of the mirror and shaved. He had a towel around his hips and his hair was still slick from the shower.

„Jeez!", he jumped and cut himself. „Lorelai!", he said annoyed and took some tissues from the shelf and pressed them on the cut.

„I'm sorry, but I have to pee", she said, took the razor out of his hand and then handed him their one year old daughter, who was crying her eyes out. Then she hurried to the toilet.

„What's wrong with you?" Luke asked Abby and bounced her up and down to calm her.

„Her mean mother had to take her away from her toys because she has to pee because her brother is playing soccer with my bladder", Lorelai explained.

„Aw, poor princess", Luke said, kissed his daughters cheek and stroked over her brown curls.

„Daddy", Abby yammered and buried her face in his shoulder.

„Are you tired? I think it's time for your nap", he cooed and stroked her back soothingly what caused the toddler to yawn.

„I wish I had a camera now. This is such a Kodak-moment", Lorelai said.

„Yes how romantic. I am soothing my crying daughter who needs a fresh diaper while I am only wearing a towel and you're peeing. I totally see the opportunity", he deadpanned.

„Well, I guess that's reality for ya. In the films pregnant women always look stunning, babies always do smell great and husbands look sexy in their towels after the shower and don't have tissues glued to their cheek", Lorelai laughed.

„Yeah, life is hard", Luke sighed and then winked at Lorelai. „ I think I'll go and changed her before she falls asleep", he said then and walked out of the bedroom. He placed his daughter on the bed and put on some shorts and a t-shirt before he picked the crying toddler up again and walked with her into her room to change her diaper. When he was done it only took him a few minutes to rock her back to sleep and he went back into the bathroom, where he found Lorelai still, this time stripped naked.

„I hope you don't want a quickie in the shower in your condition", he teased her.

„Yeah sure, because that would work this way", she said and pointed to her pregnant stomach.

„What are you doing?" he asked her, took the tissue from his cheek and shaved the last of his stubble away.

„My skin needs some more of that oil. I can literally feel it stretch over my stomach and my breasts", she said and grabbed the bottle from the shelf. „Why do we women have to look like whales when we are pregnant?" she complained and started to apply the oil to her stomach.

„You do not. Call me a pervert, but I like you pregnant", Luke grinned and put his arms around her from behind and started rubbing the oil into her skin.

„This is number two in two and believe me when I say that there won't be three in three", Lorelai snorted, but leaned back against him.

„No, that would be too much. Your body will need some rest after a pregnancy so quick after the other", he nodded.

„So you want a third kid, although númber two hasn't popped yet?" she asked him and looked at him.

„We'll see. Let's take one step after the other. I am grateful for what I have", he told her and kissed her.

„Happy anniversary", Emily and Richard said when they entered the house an hour later. It was Friday and dinner time. But because of their second wedding anniversary, Lorelai being eighth months pregnant and Abby had just learned to walk they had decided to have dinner at Luke and Lorelai's house. They had moved into the house her parents had bought her when they had found out that she was pregnant and they didn't regret it. It was bigger than the crap shack and every kid could have it's own room.

„Thank you", Luke said and led his parents in law into the living room.

„Hey, grandma, grandpa", Rory greeted and walked over to them, Abby toddling beside her while she held her sisters hand. After her short nap she was in a much better mood and smiled when she saw her grandparents. Richard picked the girl up and laughed when she attacked his tie immediately and tried to rib it off.

„Hello, welcome to the house of chaos", Lorelai greeted her parents when she waddled into the room and Luke helped her to sit down on the couch.

„Goodness Lorelai. You certainly got bigger since we saw you last time on Christmas", Emily exclaimed.

„I know, I know. This kid is a freaking elephant and moving around like he is dancing in there, of course never missing the fun of kicking mommy's bladder", she complained and Luke patted her thigh soothingly. „Don't give me that sympathetic look, mister. This is your fault", she told Luke accusingly and pointed to her stomach.

„ I know", he grinned and gave her a quick peck on the lips before he rested on hand on her belly and tried to calm his kicking son with his touch.

„Mommy,daddy", Abby screeched when she saw her parents and felt left out. Richard handed her to Luke and he and Lorelai cuddled their daughter in between them and she rested her head against Lorelai's stomach and held onto her father's hand.

„You decided on a name now?" Emily wanted to know and sat down in the armchair.

„Yup", Lorelai nodded while she played with her daughters fuzzy curls.

„Oh Lorelai, then tell us already", Emily said unnerved.

„Nope, you'll have to wait until he is born", Lorelai grinned.

„I guess I will have to accept that", Emily muttered. „But I have thought about when you go into labor and the first week and I came up with a plan. I thought that..." Emily started and Lorelai held up a hand to silence her.

„No more master plans from you mother. One was enough for the next ten years", she grinned and then kissed Luke tenderly, „ we all see how that last one turned out", she finished her sentence and pointed first at Abby and then patted her pregnant belly, where William seemed to be finally asleep.

The end.. for real this time

Thank you so much for your reviews and your encouragement for this story. I hope you liked it.