Lorelai woke up on the morning of her wedding decidedly calm. Well, she panicked at first, noticing the expanse of empty bed next to her and not remembering a good morning kiss, but once she remembered why she was alone, she was decidedly calm. She rolled over to read the alarm clock stationed on her nightstand, and saw that it was only 7:30. Early, but she still decided to get out of bed, knowing she'd never get back to sleep now. She tiptoed down the stairs, not wanting to wake Rory, and started a pot of coffee. She puttered around the kitchen while it brewed, making herself a few pieces of toast before pulling one of her favorite mugs out of the cabinet. She sat at the kitchen table, going over the schedule of the day her daughter had drawn up weeks ago as she drank her coffee and ate her toast. After a little while, Rory stumbled out of the kitchen, clearly drawn to the smell of the coffee, the etchings of a good night's sleep still written on her exhausted face.

"Mom, you're up." Rory said, surprised.

"So are you," Lorelai pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I just thought-"

"Who did you think made the coffee?"

"Just wasn't thinking, I guess."

"Drink," she said, extending her coffee mug to her daughter.

"I'll get my own, thanks." Rory smiled. "I'm surprised you didn't wake me."

"Didn't really see the point. Our hair appointments aren't until ten."

"Oh, well, I know, I guess I'm just surprised you didn't jump onto my bed at six this morning singing about going to the chapel."

"Gonna get married," Lorelai sang, smiling and putting down her coffee mug so she could show off some truly impressive jazz hands.

"So you're excited?"

"Of course I'm excited."

"Thank God. No running. Luke and I couldn't take it."

"No running."

"Good." Rory smiled.

"It's too bad a blue ball cap wouldn't go with the dress. We could skip these hair appointments."

"Well, you could put one of Luke's flannels on over the top of the dress." Rory teased.

"I think Luke would be mad if I made him get all dressed up and then showed up in pajamas."

"Not to mention, Luke's gonna fall over when he sees you in the dress."

"I hope not. I'll accept a smile, and even some manly tears but there will be no medical emergencies at my wedding ceremony. My brief stint at the hospital is as close as anyone in this house is getting to that place for a very long time."

"Okay, if my tire blows out and I need stitches I'll just bleed out." Rory teased her mother.

"Don't be mean to Mommy today."

"Never ever. Are you feeling okay?"

"A little sore, but nothing the adrenaline rush of a wedding can't fix."

"Good. Take some advil and finish your breakfast so we can work on getting you pretty."


Several hours later, Lorelai had been primped, preened, and prettied on every square inch of visible skin. She gave herself a once-over in the mirror, feeling satisfied. She'd gone for a pretty natural look with her makeup, knowing Luke would prefer seeing her freckles shine through a more fresh face than he'd prefer something that looked painted on. She fidgeted with the short lace sleeve-strap on her shoulder; it did a pretty good job of covering her stitches, and Lorelai had supplemented the area with makeup. The dress was altered and luckily still fit perfectly, her hair was down in big, loose curls, the way she knew Luke liked it. Everything was perfect. She was distracted from her reverie when there was a knock on the door of the small changing room.

"Everything okay in there?" She heard Sookie ask her, although it sounded a million miles away.

"Everything's perfect."

"You gonna let us take a look at you or are you hiding out?"

"Oh, sorry, sorry." Lorelai said, coming out of the dressing room to see Sookie and Rory standing with her parents.

"Lorelai, you look lovely." Richard said, smiling brightly and not bothering to hide the tear that was threatening to escape.

"Thank you, daddy." She said, choking up a little herself.

"Now, now, none of that yet. You don't want to be red-eyed and puffy when Luke sees you." Emily said. "You look beautiful, Lorelai. But no crying. I've got to go take my seat, I'll see you out there I suppose."

"Yes, mom." Lorelai laughed, recognizing her mother's tone from cotillions past.

"Mom, I've got to go in a few minutes. Almost showtime. Sookie's waiting in the hall with Jackson."

"Okay. Make sure Jess doesn't let you trip on the way out." Lorelai said, referring to Luke's nephew who had come into town with his mother for Luke's wedding.

"Wouldn't dream of it. Mom, I'm so, so happy for you. You deserve this."

"Which part of it?" Lorelai teased her daughter.

"I've got to go. Remember, you can't get all red and puffy." Rory teased as she dashed out.

"I guess that just leaves the two of us, then." Lorelai said, giving her father a watery smile.

"I guess it does."

"Have you seen Luke?"

"You think he's going to run?" her father teased.

"No, it's just weird. Feels like the longest stretch of time we've spent apart in a long time."

"I have seen him, he isn't running, and he's even more anxious to see you than you are to see him." Richard answered.

"Well, let's go then," she smiled, standing up from the small couch in her bridal suite.

"No, let him sweat a little while longer. I've got something for you."

"If it's anything like the note you got from your mother on your wedding day, I don't want it."

"No, it's nothing like that. It is from Trix, however," Richard said as he pulled a jewelry box out from the interior pocket of his tuxedo.

"Oh, dad." Lorelai said.

"The past five generations of Gilmore women have worn this on their wedding day. Of course, I have no sisters, so it skipped a generation, but Trix wanted to make sure it got into the right hands. Or onto the right wrist, as it were." He continued, opening the box to reveal a delicate diamond cuff bracelet.

"Daddy," Lorelai said softly.

"Now, I would be remiss not to inform you that this will have to serve as your something borrowed, as someday it will belong to Rory."

"Someday far far far far away from now." Lorelai giggled as her father slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

"There. Now, you're ready to get married."

"Now, I'm ready to get married." Lorelai smiled.

"Let's go knock 'em dead."