Reception Part I
Chapter 49Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony, guests slowly proceeded down the aisle and under the arches to the main bar that was set up for the cocktail hour. A piano player was playing a variety of Christmas songs while guests gathered around the high-top tables that had been scattered around the room. Josh, Honor, and Rosemary quickly left their seats and followed the other guests. Walking slowly, Logan stopped to talk with Lucy, Aidan, Olivia, Seth, and his wife, Ronnie. When Rosemary realized that Logan wasn't behind them, she waited for him at the arches. Seeing her standing there, he became concerned. When he reached her, Logan said, "Rose, why don't you go ahead with Josh and find us a table where we can all sit together. I will be out in a few minutes."
Rosemary nodded and followed Josh and Honor out into the main bar. Waiters and waitresses from both the Dragonfly Inn and the Manor House were walking around the room, serving hors' d'oeuvres and taking drink orders. Josh looked around the room and found two empty tables along with eight chairs and walked over to it. As Josh pulled out the chairs for Honor and Rose, a waitress came over with a tray of bruschetta. The girls each took some and placed it on the napkin that she offered to them.
"Girls, what can I get you to drink?" Josh asked.
"I'll have a scotch on the rocks," Rose said.
"Honey, I would like a cosmopolitan," Honor told him, squeezing his hand.
Kissing his wife on the cheek, Josh left and walked towards the bar. While he was standing at the bar waiting for the drink orders, he noticed Lucy, Aidan, Olivia, and Logan entering the room. Since he had the bartender's attention, he included tonic water with lemon for Logan. When the others arrived at the bar, Josh asked them what they wanted to drink. Aidan turned to the girls and asked, "Girls, what would you like?"
"I would like a mixture of half Cranberry and half Orange juice on the rocks," Lucy said.
"Oh, you mean a Madras without the Vodka," the bartender said, smiling at Lucy.
"Yes exactly," Lucy said.
Olivia, who was standing beside Lucy, added, "I'll have a Gin Martini with two olives."
"And "I'll have a Sam Adams," Aidan replied.
Josh slipped ten dollars into the tip jar when the bartender returned with their drinks. Aidan picked up Rosemary's drink, while Josh picked up Honors and followed Logan, Lucy, and Olivia to the table.
Handing the drink to Rosemary, Aidan said," Thanks, guys. I appreciate that you went ahead to find a table for us to sit at. I was concerned when I walked in and saw the high-tops. I 'm sure Luce and Logan wouldn't be comfortable standing at one of those tables for over an hour." Aiden pulled out a chair for Lucy and sat down beside her.
" He's so sweet," she said, kissing him on the lips. "I assured him that I would be fine, but he insists on fussing over me."
Raising her drink, she said, "Cheers." They all clinked their glasses.
Aidan put his arm around her shoulder and accepted her kiss on his cheek. He felt like the luckiest man tonight. He was proud to be her escort and was floored when he picked her up and saw how beautiful she looked in the beaded, black jumpsuit. He was so happy that he had met her, even if it wasn't in the best circumstances. Sometimes fate had its way of bringing people together.
Honor looked at Lucy, smiling. "You look amazing in that jumpsuit. Is it a Dior?" she asked her.
"Yes, it is. My stepmother found it in a vintage store in the city for me. I called her to let them know I was going to this wedding and we discussed what I should wear. Lucy was able to pick it up for me, saving my parents a trip to Connecticut."
"Have you seen much of your family?" Honor asked her.
Lucy paused, looking at Olivia. Olivia knew how uncomfortable Lucy was talking about her father. After her accident, he became angry when she told him that she was going to go to the hospital in Connecticut rather than the hospital in the city. It caused her a lot of stress when her father refused to come to Connecticut while she was recovering. She knew that her father was filming his new movie and preferred to spend his downtime with his new family. But she was hurt that he wouldn't take the time to call or visit her. Her stepmother tried hard to have a relationship with Lucy and made a point to call weekly. She called again two nights ago and invited Lucy to join them for Christmas. But now Lucy had a better offer and decided she would rather spend it with Aiden.
"Not really. My stepmother calls me weekly, and the staff at the Rehab center have been amazing."
Logan understood the sadness and disappointment she felt since he also had a similar relationship with his father.
Cheerfully, Lucy continued. "I wouldn't have been able to get through this without Aiden, Olivia, Robert, Steph, Colin, and Logan. They are always visiting or checking in on me. Even Finn and Rory call or stop by to check-in. I really appreciate it since they have been so busy with the wedding. Then there is this guy." Lucy said, taking Aiden's hand and kissing the back of it. "He's been amazing."
"I'm glad we are able to help," Logan answered, watching the way she snuggled up against Aiden.
"You are lucky to be in their circle of friends," Honor replied. "I have watched Logan, Colin, Robert, and Finn grow up, and they would do anything for their friends. Right Rose?
"Yes, they always have had each other's back." Rose looked over at Logan and grinned. When Logan didn't respond, she asked Lucy, "What did you guys think of the wedding? They really put it together fast."
"It helps when you have someone in the business," Honor said. "I wish the Morgan's had owned this place when I got married. This hotel is the perfect venue for a wedding. I really enjoyed the music that Rory and Finn chose for the ceremony."
"Yes, I was so surprised when I heard Rory and Finn sing. Their song choices were perfect," Lucy responded.
As the girls talked about the wedding, Aidan and Josh tried to engage Logan into a conversation. Tristan, Juliet, Seth, and his wife came over to their table.
"Hey guys, thanks for saving us seats," Seth said as he pulled out chairs for both his wife and Juliet. A waiter appeared checking to see if anyone needed another drink.
"Would anyone like something from the bar?" the waiter asked, picking up empty glasses and placing fresh napkins on the table.
"Yes, I'll have a scotch, and my wife will have a cranberry cosmopolitan," Seth replied.
"Yes, I'll have a scotch, Macallan, if you have it, and Juliet will have the cranberry champagne cocktail," Tristen said, placing his arm across the back of Juliet's chair.
"Anyone else?" the waiter asked.
"Yes, you can bring me another Sam Addams and another virgin, Madras," Aiden added.
"Logan, would you like another tonic and lemon?" Josh asked him.
"No I'm all set," Logan responded, playing with the glass in front of him.
"Is it possible to bring a bottle of the Macallan over since so many of us are drinking scotch?" Josh asked.
"I'm sure that won't be a problem. I'll ask." The bartender left to get their drinks.
Looking around the room, Tristan saw waitresses stopping at the tables, offering them choices of food from their trays.
When a pretty young waitress appeared at their table, Tristan asked, "Is this the only food you have?"
The waitress laughed, "No sir, we have several food stations set up. Over to your right beside the ice sculpture, there is a seafood bar. The next station offers a variety of vegetable platters, cheeses from around the world, flatbreads, bruschetta, and crackers. Across from that, you will find the station that has three small barbies where you can grill your own skewers of chicken, lamb, or beef.
The bride and groom wanted a station of flights of four of the groom's favorite IPAs from Australia, along with four different sliders. You are welcome to go and help yourselves."
Tristan, Aiden, Josh, and Seth stood up. "Logan, do you want to join us as we check out the tables?" Seth asked.
"Thanks, but I think I will wait here and keep the ladies' company." Logan smiled, trying to hide the pain in his heart.
Seth patted Logan on the shoulder and said, "Be right back."
The men left to check out the seafood bar as a waitress came to their table with a variety of finger food on her tray. She set small plates and napkins in front of them when another waitress arrived with another selection. They each took a few choices from the trays and began to talk. As the girls continued their discussion about the wedding, Logan sat quietly, lost in his thoughts, crumbling the napkin he held in his hand. He thought about the moment he saw Rory walking down the aisle on her grandfather's arms.
"That should have been him standing under the arches waiting for her to walk down the aisle as she sang," he thought. She looked elegant. The gown she chose hugged her slender frame, and she appeared to float down the aisle on her grandfather's arm. Memories of her singing around the apartment, they shared, began to haunt him. She easily professed her love for Finn in front of everyone. He wasn't surprised that she quoted Emily Bronte in her vows, but he was surprised when Finn quoted Jane Austin. He never imagined that Finn would be familiar with the writings of Jane Austin. Knowing Finn, he never could sit still for any length of time to read the paper, let alone a novel. When Finn looked out to the guest and locked eyes on him, he had a feeling that Finn was daring him to stop the wedding.
"Logan. Logan?"
He felt someone touch his shoulder. He looked up and saw Ashlyn and Jess standing beside him. He wondered how long they had been standing there and dropped the shredded napkin on his plate.
Smiling, he replied," Hello, Ashlyn. You look beautiful today. Why don't you and Jess join us? Aidan, Tristan, Seth, and Josh are over at the buffet picking out some food for us."
Blushing, Ashlyn replied, "Thanks Logan. We will, but Robert asked me to get you and Olivia. He wants you both to meet him inside the main dining room where they held the ceremony."
" Do you know why?" he asked, wondering why Robert would want him.
" I'm not sure. I'm supposed to find Seth too." Ashlyn looked around the room and spotted Seth talking to some people at the seafood bar.
" Why don't you two go there now, while I go and get Seth."
" Come on Logan, let's go and see what Robert wants." Olivia stood up and waited for Logan. As they walked away, Rosemary turned to Honor and said, "I wonder what that's about."
Honor chuckled," It could be anything, knowing Robert."
Jess found some empty chairs and brought them to the table before walking to the buffet where the men were standing. Tristan returned to the table first, carrying a tray filled with an assortment of food.
Juliet began to laugh when she saw all the food on the tray.
"Someone must be hungry," she commented.
Kissing her on the cheek, he said, "Who knows how long it will be before we eat. Dig in. We can't let this food go to waste."
Olivia and Logan walked into the main dining room where Robert was lining up Rory's family with her and Finn in front of the fireplace. They walked over to Colin and Steph, who stood watching Robert organize the family so he could take the family picture. Every time Robert arranged them a certain way, Emily or Lorelai suggested another arrangement. Stephanie and Colin stood to the side, trying to suppress their laughter as they watched Richard and Rory roll their eyes. Colin turned when he heard footsteps heading in their direction.
"Logan, I'm so glad you are here. It's not every day we can see the calm cool Robert become rattled during a photoshoot," Colin whispered to him.
Watching the scene as Robert arranged two chairs for Finn and Rory to sit on as everyone stood around them, Olivia said. "I think I better go and help him before he blows."
Olivia walked over to him, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. Robert turned, and she whispered to him. He nodded, and Olivia quietly approached the family and arranged everyone.
Watching Robert and Olivia work, Logan asked Colin, "Do you have any idea why Robert asked us to come in?"
"I think Rory and Finn want some photos of all of us, including Seth."
"Okay," Logan said as they sat down on chairs in the front row.
Laughter filled the room when Gigi quickly stood up and shouted, "Dad, I need sustenance. Can we go and get something to eat?!"
"I need food, Luke. Do you think they still might have those little burgers that we suggested?" Lorelai said, leaning on her husband's shoulder.
Finn started laughing, "You both sound like Rory when she is hungry."
Christopher and Luke looked at the girls and laughed.
"And that surprises you? You should know by now that the Gilmore Girls are all about food, and Gigi learned from spending time with them when she was little.
Come on, you two, let's get you something to eat. How about you, Ror?" Luke said.
"I'm fine right now," she replied, snuggling into Finn's side as he placed his arm around her waist. "I'm too excited to eat."
The family began to talk loudly as they walked towards the entrance. Logan and Colin watched Finn and Rory stop to talk to Lorelai before they turned and followed Robert and Olivia.
" Thanks Mate, for joining us here. We want a few pictures of all of us together," Finn said to Logan, walking towards him.
"No problem," Logan said, standing. He shook Finn's hand and then kissed Rory on the cheek.
"Livy, " Robert said, handing her one of his cameras. "Will you take a picture of the five of us, then a few pictures of the four of us?"
They stood off to the side, talking as they watched Olivia interact with Robert.
Olivia reached out, running her fingers lovingly through Robert's hair, trying to tame it down. Robert leaned toward her. "Is it bad?" he asked.
"Mmhmm. That's better," Olivia responded once she smoothed his curly hair. She took the camera from him and looked around the room. "Where do you think you want to stand together for the picture?"
Robert looked around the room. "Let's stand in front of the tree by the fireplace?" Colin, Logan, and Finn walked with Robert and Olivia as Steph and Rory slowly followed.
"I think Robert is serious about Olivia, " Steph whispered to Rory.
Rory nodded. "I think so too. What about you and Colin? Are you two ready to tie the knot?"
" I am, but you know Colin. He's gun shy after watching his father marry so many times. We probably will live together until we are old and gray."
" Girls, what's taking you so long." Robert called to them. Steph grinned as they stopped and stood beside Olivia, looking at the handsome men dressed in their suits.
"Olivia, can you get a picture of them standing there?" Rory whispered to them as the men stood casually talking to each other. It seemed good to see Finn looking so happy talking with Colin, Logan, and Robert. They were teasing Finn good-naturedly, and he was laughing and teasing back.
"Come on, Love," Finn called to Rory, "The sooner we get the pictures finished, the sooner we get to the good stuff." Finn gave her a cheeky grin and wiggled his eyebrows at her as Olivia took the shot.
"Okay, where do you want me?" she asked innocently, causing Colin, Robert, and Logan to groan.
"Finn, don't even say it. " Colin and Robert yelled in unison, causing Rory and Steph to giggle. Olivia continued taking pictures of the guys as they teased Finn.
Finn walked over to Rory and put his arm around her waist, pulling her close while he whispered in her ear.
"I told you to behave," she replied, laughing as she pushed him away.
"What? I didn't do anything," Finn replied innocently.
Seth walked into the room and heard the conversation. "We know how you think, Morgan!"
The room burst into laughter as Rory blushed. Olivia took charge and quickly arranged them in front of the tree. She placed Rory in the center between Finn and Logan. Colin stood beside Logan. Robert walked over and stood beside Finn. Olivia had them move closer when instinctively, Logan put one arm around Rory's waist and the other around Colin's shoulder.
"It looks like the rose is between two thorns," Seth whispered to Stephanie. Stephanie nodded and watched as Finn slipped his arm around Rory's shoulder, kissing her on the temple.
Looking through the camera and lining up the shot, Olivia said, "Ready?"
Olivia took four pictures of them together. Robert stepped forward and checked the photos. "Okay, Seth. Come up and join us, then we will take a picture of just the guys."
Robert placed a chair in front of the tree for Finn to sit on and had Rory sit on Finn's lap with the four men standing behind them. While they waited for the guys to line up, Finn nuzzled Rory's neck. "Finn," she whispers to him.
"Love, I can't wait much longer."
Finn begins to kiss the side of her neck, causing her to wiggle. Olivia takes the pictures zooming on Finn as he teased Rory. She caught the expression on Logan's face when Finn pulled her in for a passionate kiss. Pushing her husband away, Rory stood up so that Olivia could take the photos of Seth, Logan, Finn, Robert, and Colin together. Finn winked at Rory while Olivia rearranged the men standing behind Finn as he sat holding his cane in front of him. Olivia finished the shoot by taking individual shots with Finn and his friends. Everyone was ready to leave when Robert called Steph over.
"Steph, could you join us, please."
Finn, Rory, Logan, and Seth left the area in front of the Christmas tree, walking over to stand by Olivia.
"What's going on?" Rory whispered to Olivia. Olivia shrugged as Robert came and took the camera from her.
"Steph, will you and Colin stand under the arches," he said, indicating the arch where Rory and Finn took their vows. Finn stood behind Rory and put his arms around her waist, pulling her close to his chest.
Steph lifted her dress so she could walk over to the arch in front of the fireplace.
"Okay, Steph, please face Colin," Robert directed them.
Seth and Logan stood quietly, watching Robert direct them. Steph gave Robert a funny look then turned facing Colin. Colin took her hands in his. Robert backed up and put the camera in front of his face framing the image in his lens.
"On three, one, two, three."
Robert began clicking the camera as Colin got down on one knee. Rory gasped as Colin held Steph's hand.
"Steph," Colin began, "As I watched our good friends, Finn and Rory, commit to each other, today, I decided that it's time that I commit myself to you. When I look in my heart, I only see you. If you can look into your heart and only see me, then we should spend the rest of our lives together. I like me better when I'm with you. Will you stay with me and wake up every morning as my wife?"
Steph put her hands over her mouth and got on her knees in front of him. Colin pulled out the velvet box from his pocket that held a platinum 3 carat 3 stone circular diamond ring.
He opened the box and said, "Stephanie, I love, love, love you. Will you marry me?"
When Colin got on his knees, Seth pulled out his phone and began recording the proposal. Rory and Olivia were crying and wiping the tears that slipped down their faces.
With tears in her eyes, Steph nodded, answering, "Yes, Colin. I love, love, love you."
Rory turned to Logan and Finn wiping tears from her cheeks; she said, "I can't believe he did it."
Everyone walked over to Colin and Steph, congratulating them. Logan walked over and kissed Steph on the cheek.
"Congratulations, Steph. I never thought he would do this." Hugging Colin and slapping him on the back, he said, "Looks like my best friends are leaving me behind." Hugging him back, Colin replied, "Logan, it will happen to you."
Pulling away, Logan whispered, "No. I gave up the one true love I ever had." He smiled weakly and slowly walked out the door back to the bar area. As he returned to his seat, he whispered to Rosemary. "Do me a favor and get me a scotch but put it in a coffee mug." She nodded and left, walking to the bar.
As soon as the photoshoot was over, the doors open to the ballroom to let the guest enter. The six-piece band that the Morgan's hired played Christmas music as the guest entered the room. They stopped at an enormous snow-flocked fir tree, decorated with crystal snowflakes that had each guest's name and table number on it. Waiters stood beside the tree, ready to take down the guest's crystal snowflake and escort them to their table. A dozen more snow-flocked fir trees ringed the ballroom, and images of branches flickered on the walls. White toile was draped across the ceiling with a huge glittering globe that rotated projecting snowflakes around the room.
Aiden placed his hand on Lucy's back as they followed the waiter to their table of eight, where Tristan, Juliet, Seth, his wife Ronnie, Doyle, and Paris were sitting.
"This place is so beautiful," Lucy said to Aidan as they walked toward their table. Looking around the room, Aidan pointed to the wall where the images of branches covered with snow were displayed.
"This looks like the woods behind my home, in Vermont," Seth whispered to Lucy.
When they got to their table, Lucy introduced Paris and Doyle to Aidan. Glancing around the dining room, Lucy noticed a raised platform that had a table for two with an arch decorated with white toile fabric and twinkling lights in the middle of the room not far from their table. Aiden pulled out her chair, and behind him stood a waiter with a stool. The waiter set the stool under the table in front of her chair so she would be able to elevate her foot.
"I can't believe this," Lucy laughed when the waiter left. "Rory thought of everything."
Seth looked at Lucy, smiling," I am glad that Finn decided to take the leap and not let her get away this time."
"This time?" Lucy asked Seth, confused.
He nodded. Leaning in, he whispered, "I'll tell you about it another time."
The guest continued to arrive, and a waiter brought Logan, Rosemary, Honor, and Josh to a table where, Sophie, Miss Patty, Babette, and her husband Morey were sitting. A waiter arrived with a stool for Logan so he could elevate his leg. When the waiter slipped the stool under the table for him, Logan thanked him. "What a nice surprise," Logan said to Honor. He smiled at the other members of the table. Babette looked at Logan. " I remember you, aren't you Rory's friend from Yale?"
"Yes, and you lived next door to Rory in Stars Hollow," Logan replied.
"Yes, we did, until she started to work in Hartford. I miss my girl. Didn't she look beautiful today? I always knew she would. Remember when she was dating Dean. Oh, how Lorelai loved that boy."
Bringing a tissue to her eyes, Babette said, "Morey, our little girl is all grown up. "
Morey nodded, putting his arm around his wife.
Babette continued to babble, "And her husband, Finn. What a funny name that is. He looked so handsome, wearing that morning suit. Didn't he Miss Patty? He is such a good-looking man; he should be a model."
Honor put her hand over her mouth, hiding a smile as her eyes met her brothers while they listened to the two ladies at the table.
"Yes, he did. It reminded me of my fifth husband, Stanley, on our wedding day. It was a spring day; the birds were singing, and he met me in the park wearing a navy blue suit…." Miss Patty told her.
"Well, I can't wait for them to have babies. I think we should get the knitting club together to begin knitting them baby blankets. Oh, won't they have beautiful babies with her blue eyes and his curly reddish-brown hair," Babette babbled on.
Logan didn't reply. Instead, he reached over to take a sip from his cup that Rose filled with scotch.
Babette looked around the room. "Look, Morey, check out those snow people. It reminds me of our annual Winter Festival in Stars Hollow. Sophie, did you notice that two of the snow people look like Kirk and Taylor. I bet Lorelai had a hand in those decorations. She is so cleva'," Babette said to Sophie. They turned and looked over at the snow people that stood as a focal point between the two rooms.
Turning back to the table, Sophie held her hand out and said to Logan, "I'm Sophie, I own the music shop in town. How do you know the bride and groom?"
"Hello, I'm Logan Huntzberger," Logan replied, shaking her hand. "This is my sister Honor, her husband Josh Liberman, and my friend, Rosemary Philips. We are friends of Rory and Finn from college."
"Oh, she isn't your wife?" Babette blurted out.
Embarrassed, Logan chuckled, "No, I'm not married." Luckily the voice of the wedding planner interrupted the conversation.
"Welcome, everyone. Would you please follow me into the next room and form a semi-circle on the dance floor as I introduce the wedding party? "
The guests began to leave their tables following Paige past the artificial snowmen that stood beside a replica of the gazebo in Stars Hollow. She led them down an artificial snow-covered path lined with a hedge of white hydrangea and white branches dressed in silver and blue glass balls. The path led the guests into a lounge and bar area where white couches and low tables were arranged around the dance floor. White toile with twinkling white lights hung from the ceiling giving the room a magical quality.
The guest formed a semi-circle on the edge of the dance floor and watched as the stage rotated where the Hep Alien band began to play the intro to "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge. Standing behind Lucy, Aden wrapped his arms around her waist. Lucy smiled up at him placing her hands on top of his as they swayed to the music. Logan standing between his sister and Rose watched them, feeling a sense of jealousy.
The door to the lounge area opened. "Please put your hands together for the mother of the bride and matron of honor; Lorelai Gilmore Danes and Rory's fathers Christopher Hayden and Luke Danes."
As Lorelai came into the room, holding hands with both Christopher and Luke. Zac, Brian, and Gil began singing the vocals for "We Are Family". The guest clapped along with the music when Luke and Lorelai began to dance. Luke twirled Lorelai and Christopher took her hand and began to dance with her. The guest loudly clapped as they moved to form a line in the middle of the dance floor.
"Next, we have the parents of the groom, Amanda, and Liam Morgan." As they entered the room, Logan smiled as he heard the whistling and clapping of the guest. Lorelai danced over to Amanda, and the three of them danced together before they joined Christopher and Luke in the middle of the room.
"Let's give a warm welcome to the grandparents of the bride, Mrs. Francine Hayden, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gilmore." Richard escorted the two women proudly into the center of the dance floor, where he twirled them both under his outstretched arm before joining the others.
"Let's welcome the ring bearer David Belleville and flower girl, Georgiana Hayden." Jackson whistled when his son and Gigi walked quickly into the room. Lorelai and Christopher met them in the middle of the dance floor, where they held their hands as they danced with them. Pausing briefly, Peyton chuckled, watching the children dance together before she announced. "Now we have the newly engaged couple and best friends of the bride and groom, Stephanie Vanderbilt and Colin McCrae."
Honor, who was standing beside her brother, turned to Logan and asked. "When did that happen?"
Clapping and whistling, Logan replied, "Just a few moments ago. When I went with Olivia to have our pictures taken, Colin and Robert planned for me to be there when he proposed to her."
"I'm so happy for them. It was nice that Colin wanted you to be included. You have been best friend since boarding school."
Logan smiled, nodding as he watched Colin twirl, Stephanie, in the middle of the dance floor, dipping her before giving her a kiss. Logan thought about the day, which changed his life forever. Rory was in the Library bathroom when she saw a drunk Stephanie wearing a ball gown and gorilla mask, rushing into the bathroom and giggling. Logan's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Paige announce the next couple.
"Next, we have the brother of the groom and best man Angus Morgan accompanied by his lovely wife, Mia Morgan." The crowd cheered as the two of them danced into the room. The room became quiet, and suddenly the doors swing open, and Hep Alien begins to play, "I Gotta Feeling ".
Finn and Rory enter the room, holding hands singing:
I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good, good night
The guest began to clap as they entered. Peyton went to the microphone and said, "For the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Finn Morgan."
Gil stepped up to the microphone singing,
Tonight's the night
Let's live it up
I got my money
Let's spend it up
Finn and Rory joined the wedding party dancing around the dance floor, bringing their friends and family members out on the dance floor to dance with them. When the song ended, and everyone was standing on the dance floor, Hep Alien began the intro to "Just the Way You Are."
Peyton smiled and said, "Now for their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Finn Morgan."
Everyone moved and formed a circle around them as Finn pulled Rory into his arms.
Rory reached up and put her arms around Finn's neck as they dance slowly in the middle of the dance floor. The lights dimmed, and the globe that was hanging in the center of the dance floor rotated, displaying snowflakes swirling around them. The room fell quiet as everyone watched the happy couple dance together.
Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me, "Do I look okay?"
I say…
Logan, standing at the front at the edge of the dance floor, watched them dance thinking about the first day that he met her.
He remembers the moment he saw her standing in front of a bulletin board, pinning up a poster about the memorial they were having for a professor that died. Finn was writing his number on the whiteboard on her dorm room door. Her simple innocents and natural beauty attracted him to her. He remembered how they verbally sparred that first time. No other woman he ever dated could keep up with him the way she did.
Logan watched as Finn leaned down, whispering in her ear. Rory laughed at her husband. Her sparkling eyes never left Finn's face as they moved in sync across the dance floor. Logan noticed Robert walking around the room. He took pictures of the happy couple dancing then he slowly returned to where the guests were standing. Robert came up behind Olivia and pulled her close to his chest. Olivia looked up into his eyes and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. With Finn now married, Colin engaged, how long will it be before Robert and Olivia married, Logan wondered.
Everyone clapped when the song was over. Smiling, Finn took Rory's hand and led her off the dance floor. They started toward the main dining room when his parents and relatives stopped them. Logan watched as Rory hugged Ashlyn and Jess and laughed at something that was said.
Logan slowly walked back to his table, listening to his sister and Rosemary talk.
Rose noticed that Logan was quiet, so stopping beside him, she whispered, "Would you like me to refill your coffee cup?"
"Yes, please. It's going to be the only way I can get through today." Leaning into him, she brushed her tongue across his lower lip and replied, "I'll help you with whatever you need." She left his side and walked over to the bar.
Holding hands, Rory and Finn walked to their table under the arch in the middle of the room. The waiters appeared serving the guest their choice of a mixed green salad, beet salad, or an heirloom tomato and carrot salad. They took their order for the entre, which included a selection of Crusted Red Snapper, Roasted Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, or a three-cheese ravioli in a fresh Basil Tomato sauce.
As the meal arrived, the room was filled with laughter and chatter as the guest enjoyed each other's company. Logan remained quiet, hardly saying two words at the table. Rosemary returned with Logan's cup filled with scotch.
"Here, this will help." Rose said, smiling and squeezing his hand. Rose turned her attention to Honor and began a conversation with her. Not having an appetite, Logan picked at his salad in front of him. Glasses began to clink, and he watched Finn put his hand on the back of Rory's neck, giving her a passionate kiss. The guest cheered as Logan lifted his mug and finished the scotch that was in it. The waiters appeared removing their salads and bringing in their entrees while the band began to play "Marry Me" by Train. The lead singer had a soulful voice and began to sing:
"Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now, we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me"
Listening to the music, Logan remembered the day he proposed to her. He had it all planned and wanted to tell her as soon as she said yes. He would quit HPG move to California to the house he had already rented for them. If only she hadn't hesitated. That's when he knew that he had lost her, his last trip to Vegas had pushed her away. Watching them kiss, he wondered what he was going to do with his life now. Should he stay here in Hartford, go to New York or return to London and immerse himself in the paper?
Lucy turned and noticed that Logan wasn't eating. She pushed her chair over beside him and touched his shoulder. He turned and looked at her and said, "Hi Luce."
"Are you okay? I noticed that you aren't eating, and you seem like your far away."
"I was just thinking about what I should do now that I am out of rehab."
Lucy tilted her head. "What do you mean? Don't you have months of rehab here?" she asked him, confused.
"Yea, but I'm sure I can do rehab in England."
"Oh," she responded. Logan picked up her hand and placed it on the table under his.
"What's wrong?" he asked her, squeezing her hand.
"Logan, I know that you still love her, but it will be alright," she lowered her voice leaning close to him.
"Luce," Logan said, leaning his head towards hers. "How can I stay here and watch them together. I made such a dumb mistake." Logan felt his hand begin to tremble as he went to take a drink from his coffee cup. Lucy squeezed the fingers of his hand that was still on top of hers.
"It's okay. I'm here, and I think you should stay and be my rehab partner. I'll help you get through this."
"Luce…"
Rose watched their interaction and frowned. She was going to interrupt their conversation when Angus stood up, clinking his glass, trying to get everyone's attention. Logan and Lucy stopped talking and brought their attention to where Angus was standing beside Rory and Finn.
"Welcome, everyone, and Merry Christmas. Rory, I want to officially welcome you and your family into the Morgan family." The guest clapped, and Angus waited for the applause to die down.
"As most of you know, I'm Finn's handsome brother and only sane member of this family." Everyone began to chuckle. Finn looked at his brother and said, "You wish."
Smiling at Finn, he said, "I have had the task of trying to keep this guy in line since I was two and a half, and let me tell you it hasn't been easy. Even as a little guy, he was following me around and getting me into trouble. Rory, I just want to say that I feel sorry for you, but he's your problem now."
Finn turned to his wife and said, "Here that Love, I'm all yours now." Rory smiled and patted Finn on the cheek.
Angus paused as the guest chuckled while the lights began to dim. A screen came down from the ceiling in front of the table where Rory and Finn were sitting. Angus moved a chair and said, "Finn, Rory, would you please come down here." When they stepped off the platform, Finn sat in the chair, pulling Rory onto his lap.
"Many of our guests heard about the infamous Gilmore Girl Movie nights. While Rory was growing up, Lorelai would have movie nights with her daughter, where they would watch their favorite movies.
"Today for your viewing pleasure, Robert put together "The Gilmore/Morgan Movie," starring my brother Finn and his beautiful wife, Rory. "
Everyone clapped as the room became dark, and the song Waltzing Matilda played as images of Finn as an infant and a young child dressed as a superhero came across the screen.
"As everyone knows, Finn has always loved dressing up and participating in sports. The most extreme the sport was, you would find Finn signing up and convincing you to participate too. Am I right, Logan and Colin?"
The two men laughed, nodding their heads.
"Are you telling me it was your idea to do the cliff jumping and leap off the seven-foot scaffold?" Rory asked her husband.
Smiling at his wife, he said, "Remember that you love me." Finn nodded and began to kiss Rory behind the ear.
Angus looked at his brother and rolled his eyes. "Can I finish, Finn?" Rory stood up and giggled. Finn pulled her back on his lap and whispered, "Stay here so Angus can continue. This movie is about me."
"My brother showed no fear. Even as a little guy, he believed he was invincible. I still remember the day that I got in trouble because he jumped off the garage roof wearing a cape that my mum had made me. That leap knocked the wind out of him. When he sat up, he asked my mum why his cape didn't have superpowers like Superman." The room chuckled, and the image of a curly-haired three-year-old with a cape fluttering behind him appeared on the screen. Then a collage of photos appeared. There were family photos of Angus and Finn holding their baby sister, Finn standing beside an 8-foot Christmas tree, Finn playing soccer at ages 6, 11, 16, and Finn playing soccer at Yale. There were photos of Finn wearing his Rugby uniform, playing cricket, hang gliding and parachuting. A collage of photos appeared of Finn wearing his short pants, blazer, and cap that was his elementary school uniform. Another photo appeared of a handsome thirteen-year-old wearing his first suit at a dance. Then spinning across the screen came the professional photos from his modeling portfolio, including the ones for a shoot where he appeared dressed all in black, which included black eyeliner and black nail polish.
The music changed to Wipe Out as images appeared of the beautiful beaches in Australia. There was a short video clip of Finn surfing in a competition that he won, another of him standing beside a large fish with his spear gun in his hand, with the top of his wet suit hanging at his waist. A photo appeared of Finn standing on top of a cliff ready to dive into the ocean below and of him standing on a tall diving board at an Olympic size pool in Sydney. A video clip ran of Finn diving off that diving board and winning his first freediving competition. His father stood beside him, handing him his medal as a handsome young Finn Morgan stood proudly in his speedo and diving cap. Many women's voices were heard oohing and awing when this picture appeared.
Rory whispered to her husband, "Show off."
Finn laughed and pulled her closer, kissing her. Then another video clip appeared with Finn in his bicycle pants that were very revealing. It was from a go pro that was attached to Angus's helmet and showed one of his annual mountain bike adventures with Harry and Angus.
"Oh, I could just give those buns a pinch," Miss Patty said out loud.
"Miss Patty!" Lorelai said.
"Watch yourself, Finn, when you come back to Stars Hollow," Luke teased.
The room broke up in laughter as Finn blushed.
More photos appeared of Finn, Colin, and Logan sailing on a forty-foot sailboat in their board shorts off the Golden Coast, hiking through Switzerland and another of Finn and Logan chasing a wheel of cheese as Colin stood laughing with his arm around an attractive German girl.
The final photo is Finn, Logan, and Colin wearing their blazer, white shirt, tie, and khaki pant from their boarding school. Finn is standing in the middle with his arms around the shoulders of Logan and Colin. Lucy squeezing's Logan's hand that she had been holding when the lights went off.
The lights come on, and Lucy removes her hand from Logans. Angus is sitting down, and Lane is standing beside Rory and Finn. Looking at Finn Lane said, "Rory, you never told me that Finn is multitalented."
"Lane, I only know about one of his superpowers. Sorry girl, but I don't kiss and tell," Rory replied.
"Wait… what about all those secrets we share. All our firsts.."
"Shush, he doesn't need to know," Rory said, looking at Finn with a smirk.
"I have ways to find out about those secrets, love," he told her, making her giggle.
"All I have to say is Finn; it's a good thing you didn't appear in Stars Hollow when you were in high school because, Jess, Tristan, and Dean would never have a chance with her."
Jess and Tristan started laughing, and then Tristan shouted, " Dean never had a chance, once she met me?"
"Keep dreaming, Tris," Rory said. The room started laughing, and Finn growled, "Who's Dean?"
Rory laughed, kissing her husband, "He's someone you met a long, long, long time ago."
When the crowd stopped laughing, Lane said into the mic, "Hello, everyone. For those who don't know me, I"m Lane Van Gelbirg, drummer for the band Hep Alien." Rory and Lorelai clapped and whistled as the guest joined them.
"Thank you. As Rory's best friend since the first day in Kindergarten, Robert asked if I would introduce this next part of the movie. Rory and I were inseparable from the first day in Kindergarten until she left and went to work on the Obama trail. We shared many things, including our passion for music, records, our secrets, and all our firsts." She wiggled her eyebrows at Rory, who laughed.
"In high school, Rory's life changed when she left Stars Hollow High and attended Chilton Academy. There she met new friends and faced many challenges. Fearless, like her mother, Rory never gave up on a problem and found it motivated her to do more and be better. She graduated Valedictorian of her class and was accepted at Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. For years Rory dreamed of going to Harvard, but after visiting Yale with her mom and grandparents, she decided that Yale was where she belonged. "
The lights dimmed, and the guest heard the song Turn Around, play in the background as images appeared of Rory as a toddler wearing bib overalls and carrying a stuffed chicken."
"Mr. Cluckie," Rory shouted, "He's in a box in my mother's house."
Smiling, Finn pulled her to his chest, whispering, "You don't need that anymore, love. I'm your Mr. Cluckie now."
Rory started laughing and watched as more images of herself appeared on the screen. There were pictures of her, and Lane dressed as Pilgrims, and flowers at the fall and spring festivals. Another photo showed Rory and Lane holding hands wearing paper graduation caps holding their Kindergarten diploma. Then came a collage of photos that appeared of Rory sitting at Luke's drinking coffee, her sixteenth birthday party at the Gilmores, and her party at her home wearing the pink boa and plastic tiara on her head. There were photos with Christopher at the cotillion and sitting on the back of her father's Harley. There was a photo of the car that Dean restored for her and Rory in her cast when she broke her wrist.
Jess leaned into Ashlyn and said, "It was my fault she broke her wrist."
"What did you do?" she asked him.
"Rory was tutoring me, and I convinced her as a reward we should get some
ice cream. I was eating my cone and I lost control of the car, and it crashed."
"Was Rory upset?"
"No, but her mother and father were."
Ashlyn kissed him and said, "It was an accident. We all have them."
Next, a series of photos appeared of Rory at Chilton: Rory with Paris, Louise, and Madelyn standing together wearing their uniforms, Rory holding up the hammer her mother decorated for her, and Rory with Dean in the blue gown she wore for her first formal at Chilton. There were photos of Rory and Paris in costumes dressed as Juliet and Romeo for their English project. Then the next image showed Tristan leaning close to Rory as he talked to her at her locker in Chilton.
Finn noticed their uniforms and whispered, "Luv, didn't you wear that at my birthday party? Do you still have it?" Finn said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Rory started to blush when Robert and Colin both noticed the uniform and yelled out, "Oh yes, I remember when she wore that uniform at one of Finn's classic Birthday parties. "
"She went to the party with me," Robert said.
"Yes, and even then, Finn kept hitting on her!" Logan yelled.
Without missing a beat, Finn turned to Rory, giving her his cheeky smile said, "Have we met?"
"Shush you," she told her husband, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
Her friends who went to Yale all began to laugh. Rory stood up and looked at Robert with her hands on her hips. "Robert, where did you get that picture?" she asked him
"Let's just say you have friends that were willing to share pictures of you at Chilton."
Rory looked at Tristan, glaring at him. He shrugged and said, "It wasn't me, Mary. That's one picture of the two of us that I would like to have. You must agree we made a good-looking couple."
"Give it a rest, Tristan," Paris said to him.
"I thought you said you two didn't date?" Juliet asked Tristan.
"I tried. Right Mare? But she always turned me down."
Lorelai and Rory started to laugh. "My daughter had standards," Lorelai answered.
Paris leaned across the table and said, "Yup, Rory always had a type; if you had stuck around instead of being kicked out, you two probably would have dated."
"And what type was that?" Tristan asked with a grin."
"Blonde trust fund babies," Paris replied.
Jess started laughing. "Snap! You got him good, Paris." They high fived each other across the table. Logan sat back and watched them.
"Except for the blonde hair, she married another Trust fund baby," Rose whispered. Logan glared at her and turned his attention to Lucy. Lucy took his hand in hers and held it again.
When the image of Rory standing in her cap and gown at Chilton appeared, Lorelai handed Emily a tissue as they both started to cry.
Colin and Robert walked over and stood beside Lane. She handed the mic to them.
"You know Robert, as I watch the video, Finn is the Ying to Rory's Yang."
"Your right brother, and Rory, you have your work cut out for you with this guy. I wonder what adventure he will take you on next."
Rory laughed, and Finn chuckled. "I have a few plans for her."
"It's not too late, Rory…" Robert said, and the room started to laugh.
"For those of you who don't know me, I'm Colin McCrae, and this handsome wild hair man is Robert Holmes. We are two of Finn's best friends and amigos. I met Finn at boarding school when we were twelve years old. Even then, the girls were crazy about Finn, and soon he had his opening line perfected when he met a girl he was interested in. It was, "Have We met?" I think he used it on Rory every day after we met her at the coffee cart at Yale."
The video starts again with the Yale Alma Mata playing. Finn, Rory, their classmates, and her grandfather stand singing along with the lyrics as they appear on the screen.
Bright College years, with pleasure rife,
The shortest, gladdest years of life;
How swiftly are ye gliding by!
Oh, why doth time so quickly fly?
The first images are their dorms, the campus square, and the library.
As the photos of the Yale Campus came across the screen, Robert stood up and said, "Rory joined our band of brothers, when she crashed an LDB event to write a story. She ended up leaping off a seven-story scaffold, replacing her husband, who injured himself being a human target at the paintball event. "
Angus and Harry started laughing. "Hey mate, is that how you broke your ankle, and we couldn't do the mountain bike race that summer?"
Finn looked at him and nodded, shrugging his shoulder.
The seasons come, the seasons go,
The earth is green or white with snow,
But time and change shall naught avail
To break the friendships formed at Yale.
A video clip appeared of Rory wearing a vintage blue ball gown holding an umbrella in one hand and Logan's hand in the other as she floated down to the ground. Emily gasped. "Lorelai, did you know about this?"
Rory giggled as she watched the images of herself sitting at Poor Richard's Pub at Yale talking with Rosemary, Steph, and Juliet. Photos spun across the screen of Paris with Rory and Doyle wearing their paper news hats at the Yale Newspaper, Rory with her news crew when she was editor, and sitting beside Logan working the phones to save the paper. More photos of Rory slide across the screen. Rory and Paris in their first dorm room with Janet and with Doyle in the apartment they shared. Pictures of Rory on spring break with Paris and a photo of Paris, Rory, and Lane drinking Miss Patty's punch. There were pictures of her with Lucy and Olivia standing together at the art show and at the Crap Shack after they streaked their hair. Then photos of Rory appeared at the parties at Yale: Finn's birthday party where she wore her Chilton Uniform, Lucy's birthday party, Rory playing poker with Logan, Robert, Colin, and Finn and the going away party for Logan. Rory looked over at Logan and gave him a weak smile.
In after years, should troubles rise
To cloud the blue of sunny skies,
How bright will seem, through mem'ry's haze
Those happy, golden, bygone days!
Oh, let us strive that ever we
May let these words our watch-cry be,
Where'er upon life's sea we sail:
"For God, for Country and for Yale!"[
The final pictures came over the screen of Rory wearing her cap and gown from Yale and the going-away party that Luke had thrown for her at Stars Hollow. The last image appears of the coffee cart where they first met. Rory felt tears form in her eyes when she laid her head on her husband's shoulder. Colin took back the mic looking at the two of them.
"We lost touch with each other after graduation. But the circle of life brought Finn and Rory back together...and to think it all started with coffee."
Suddenly the waiters appeared passing out a shot glass with a brown liquid inside it. "As you can see, there is nothing traditional about Finn and Rory. With that in mind, I would like each of you to raise your shot glass of Coffee Vodka, Rory's favorite drink. "
The guest stood up and held the shot glass in the air, "To Finn and Rory… May your life continue to be amazing and full of adventures. To love, happiness and long life filled with many little Finn's and Rory's."
"Don't you think one Finn is enough?" a guest shouted.
People started laughing as they drank their shot of Coffee Vodka. Finn and Rory stood up. Lorelai began to clink her glass, and soon everyone was clinking their glasses. Finn smirked and took his wife in his arms, dipping and passionately kissing her.
One of Finn's cousins yelled out, "Get a room, mate!"
"Not a bad idea," Finn replied, picking up Rory over his shoulder, heading for the door.
Squealing with laughter, Rory shouted, "Not now, Finn."
Finn slowly slid her down the front of him. She put her arms around his neck.
Finn took her face in both of his hands, tilting his head, he joined his mouth to hers. Rory leans closer, returning his kiss and forgetting where they are.
