The occurrences of the past few weeks: dinners and parties, Nantucket, visiting friends and the sudden wedding plans had halted Rory's book writing. Ever since before Christmas when she'd sent out her proposal to a number of publishers, she's been hesitant to continue, not that there had been much time for it anyways, but she wanted some guidance on the direction her book should take. She had her own ideas of course but books tended to get molded by the publishing company in question, whether the author's liked it or not. It was just the way it was. And continuing without knowing where she stood exactly would most likely lead to a lot of wasted work. She was just finishing up another introduction to a hotel in Melbourne, trying to imagine something clever to add about Finn's hometown, but her train of thought was interrupted by a phone call.
"Rory Gilmore speaking," she answered her phone from an unknown number, for a moment thinking she'd soon need to get used to saying a much longer last name.
"This is Jamie Harper from Antrim books. I read your proposal over the holidays and while I personally think it is a wonderful piece of writing, however, since this is an interesting format we would like to meet with you in person before we decide on whether to pursue this," he said.
"Sure, that can be arranged. When did you have in mind?" Rory asked, suddenly as if woken from hibernation. Working for Finn's company was steady, safe and it never brought this kind of excitement like she'd grown used to as a freelancer. Offers to write to various big papers on topics that made her want to dive right into, was what she missed. However, in recent years, the number of such offers had begun to decline. Hence, getting some hope that her book might indeed get published, made her feel alive.
"I know it is a little short notice, but would perhaps Friday morning work for you?" Jamie asked.
"Not ideally," she replied.
"The next option would be on the 18th," he added.
"I would have to be really early in that case. I have another engagement at 10.30 this Friday," she replied, beginning to wonder whether turning up to the meeting in her wedding dress would be acceptable.
"The earliest we can do is 9.30 AM," Jamie said.
"Alright, I guess I'll just have to try to make it work," she agreed a little hesitantly. Their office wasn't too far from City Hall, surely she would make it?
"How was your day?" Rory asked, as Logan returned from work that evening, having been away overnight in New York for an early morning meeting.
"Other than the meeting, I've spent the past two days going through the inbox, there's a lot of catching up to do," he sighed, feeling the aftermath of the holiday season.
"I got a call from Antrim Books today, we set a meeting," Rory said gladly.
"That's great," he replied.
"But it's on Friday morning," she added hesitantly.
"Right," he replied sceptically, feeling he would rather have spent the morning with her.
"I know, it isn't ideal, but I haven't heard back from anyone else and their next slot was in two weeks," she said apologetically.
"It's fine," he said, kissing her temple.
"Oh, and I got the dress," she said happily.
"That's great, I'm sure it's beautiful on you," Logan replied.
"I sort of had a little breakdown at the shop. My hormones must be all over the place, it takes so little for me to burst into tears, just so you know," she said laughingly.
"You should've called," he said, feeling a little bad for staying away the previous night.
"I called mom actually, I couldn't keep it in. So she knows. She promised to keep it to herself, and she'll be there," Rory explained.
"Honor had some appointments that morning. It took me a while to talk her into rescheduling those. I promised to take her shopping, in exchange for not telling her why we're meeting. She's not easy," he added. "Oh, and I got the rings," he said, handing her a light grey velvet box. "Simple like we agreed," he said, opening the box to show her the two narrow brushed rings without embellishments.
"Perfect," she commented, giving him a gentle kiss.
"Go knock them dead, Ace," Logan said, dropping Rory off in front of the Antrim Books building at 9.25.
"And no peeking at the dress," she said, giving him one more kiss, trusing him to deliver the dress to City Hall for her.
"Don't be late," he smirked.
She hurried up the stairs wearing her casual knit dress and pair of brown ankle boots. This may have been a business meeting essentially but she figured her bump would cut her some slack on the dress code, besides having to change into her wedding dress at City Hall would be significantly easier if she only had to change the dress itself.
"Rory Gilmore to see Jamie Harper," she announced herself to the administrator.
"Sure, take a seat, he should be right with you," she replied.
Rory took a seat at one of the leather benches in the lobby, checking the time. Right on time.
"Ms. Gilmore?" a tall lean man asked.
"Hi, you must be Mr. Harper," she said as she rose.
"Just follow me," he said and they walked down the hall to one of the smaller conference rooms. Another older man and a woman, about her own age, already waited there.
"Hello, my name is Rory Gilmore," she held out her hand in greeting, skating their hands.
"These are Gwen Matheson and Jason Williams, Gwen works in fiction and Jason in non-fiction," he explained.
"So do I understand correctly that you're struggling with placing my book in either category, " Rory jumped right to it, realizing she didn't have much time.
"That's right, would you please tell us which one it truly is?" Gwen asked.
"It's non-fiction with some minor adjustments, wording, some minor details, leaving out a couple of private or embarrassing aspects," she explained.
"There's plenty of fiction out there that's based on a true story," Jason commented.
"Yeah, but if this is true, then it's almost too good of a story not to sell as non-fiction, it makes it more personal, more easier to sell, I think," Gwen added.
"As far as I've understood, fiction tends to sell better," Rory added, trying to sound like she knew what she was talking about.
"You've done your homework, good," Jamie commented.
"How's your time frame looking? How much have you written, and I see you have a personal due date as well," Gwen asked, referring to her belly.
"I'm about one third ready with the book, surely there'll be adjustments after editing but I expect it'd take me about 4 months to finish I suppose. The baby isn't due before the beginning of July," Rory said.
They continued to discuss a few more details concerning the way the book was built and what types of events were expected in the following chapters. Rory could tell even without them spelling it out for her that they were indeed interested. She peeked at the time on her phone, and it was becoming clear that she needed to leave.
"I'm sorry, but I have another appointment that I really need to get to. I'm getting married today, actually," she said with an apologetic smile.
"Oh, of course, I'm sorry, we didn't know," Gwen rose. A round of congratulations and best wishes followed.
"How about we just send you over our standard contract for you to look over and you can get back to us by the end of next week, if needed, we'll meet again on the 18th," Jamie suggested.
"That'd be great, thank you," she said, adding, "it was lovely meeting you all," as she shook their hands again and hurried down the hall.
Her mother's Jeep already waited for her at the no-parking zone.
"Cutting it close, hon," Lorelai called, as she hopped in and Lorelai drove off.
"Little brother!" Honor exclaimed from the distance, trying to get her brother's attention, as she approached him hastily, running a few minutes late. It was 10.40 already.
"Hey sis," he greeted, "good to see you," he added.
"Is this for me?" she asked a moment later, gesturing towards the white garment bag Logan was holding.
"Actually, this is for Rory, we're meeting her in a few minutes," he replied.
"Wait, what's going on here," she began to ponder, noticing Logan was a little overdressed for a casual lunch-outing.
"What do you think?" he teased.
"Is that what I think it is?" she asked, referring to the garment bag again.
"Depends what you are thinking," he smirked, keeping her quessing for the fun of it.
"And we're going in there?" she gestured towards the City Hall.
"We are," he replied with a wide grin.
"You sneaky devil," she scolded. "You should've told me, I'd worn something nicer," she added, as they walked towards the City
Hall.
"I couldn't, I couldn't risk you outdressing Rory on her special day with your fancy designer outfits, you know how she is. She wanted this small and humble," he explained, finding a good excuse other than being afraid she'd spill it before she got there.
"Hey Logan," Lorelai greeted him at the lobby.
"Hey! Rory's here?" he inquired.
"She is, just doing her makeup, I'll bring her the dress," she offered.
"Oh, and this is Honor, my sister," he introduced, adding, "this is Lorelai Gilmore, Rory's mother."
"Very nice to finally meet you, I've heard great things," Honor replied politely.
"Alright, I better get going with the dress. Logan, you better go hand over the licence to the officiant before you lose your slot," Lorelai suggested.
Ten minutes later Rory was almost ready, feeling a little anxious.
"Zip me up," Rory said, turning her back to Lorelai.
"Let me look at you," she said as she finished zipping her up, taking a step back, as Rory turned around.
"I love the dress, looks really good," she added, placing the last loose strand of hair into her simple Fresh Twist she had helped Rory with just a few minutes earlier.
Rory took a deep tactical breath, trying to stop her heart from racing. The past thirty minutes had been hectic.
"Cold feet?" her mother asked. It was her job to ask these things.
"No," she replied. It felt right.
"Good. I love you, kid," Lorelai said as she hugged her.
"I love you too," Rory replied.
As they approached the ceremony room down the hall, she saw Logan pacing behind the door of the officiant, looking at the floor tiles. She waved to Honor briefly from the distance in greeting.
"There she comes," Honor replied as she noticed her, with a wide smile.
Logan's eyes glanced over her noticeably, his words stuck in his throat. Saying that she looked beautiful would've been an understatement. She was pure and elegant, and he was mesmerized by her radiant glow. This was his Ace alright.
He didn't look bad himself, wearing a dark grey slim fitting suit, with a narrow dark tie on a white dress-shirt. Rory felt excited just by the sight of him, hurrying her step, almost skipping. This made Lorelai smile.
"Come here," he pulled her close. "You look amazing, Rory," he whispered to her ear, her hand still wrapped around her, unwilling to let go.
"Easy there," Honor lectured, "you're not married yet," she added.
The door opened and they were gestured in.
"You ready?" he asked, taking her hand.
"Ready," she replied, looking him straight in the eyes.
A minut later the doors closed and their small wedding party had taken their seats.
"We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Logan Elias Huntzberger and Lorelai Leigh Gilmore. Their relationship has span years and continents*, withstanding obstacles and challenges, turning them into the couple you see before you. Now, they are ready to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife. A true marriage begins well before the wedding day, and the efforts of marriage continue well beyond the ceremony. A brief moment in time and the stroke of a pen are all that is required to create a legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and compromise to make marriage durable and everlasting. Today you declared your commitment to each other before your guests.
"Do you, Logan Elias Huntzberger, take Lorelai Leigh Gilmore to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?" the officiant asked.
"I do," he said with a wide grin.
"Do you, Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, take Logan Elias Huntzberger to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?" the officiant turned to Rory.
"I do," she replied hastily.
"And now it's time for the vows to one another," the officiant said, leaving Rory a little startled. She hadn't prepared anything. She looked up to Logan with fright, but relaxed as she saw his eyes. Yet he began to speak without notes.
"Rory, you are my best friend and partner, my love. I have not always lived up to my full potential, but you are the person who has helped me grow, to shape me into the man I am today. I promise to try my hardest, read every book, take every class, whatever it takes to be the very best husband and a father. You've given me so much unconditional love and support throughout the years and I'll forever be in your debt. I will always remember the feeling of trying to find the right words to get you here today, whichever time you prefer to recall," he said with a small burst of laughter. "With you, the world feels right, even when everything else is wrong. This is how and why I know you are the one, and I love you from the bottom of my heart. I know, it's easy to get scared at the things life throws at us, Rory, but with you I am truly ready for anything, I hope you are too**," he added.
Rory hesitated a moment, still blown away by his words. A tear already glimmered at the corner of her eye. Frankly she was surprised she'd made it through the entire vow at all, perhaps it was the adrenalin from knowing that she was next. Despite not knowing Logan was going to do that, she found the words easily in herself. "Logan, I love you. I want all of you, I always have and always will, can't wait to be your wife. I promise to be by your side no matter what, always tell you what I think, even when I think you are behaving like a buttface miscreant," she said with a laugh. Logan smiled at her. "I will follow you to the end of the world if I have to, I'd place myself in suspended animation if I have to," she sighed through her tears that had been released. "You've always supported me, even from far away. You know me better than anyone, you know how to push me just beyond my comfort zone while still making me feel safe. Being with you is the most natural thing in the world and I am sorry I wasn't able to admit it sooner," she finished taking a deep breath, trying to wipe her tears away with the back of her hand, until Lorelai handed her a napkin.
"Rory," he began, taking her hand, his words stuck in his throat after everything she'd just said. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love," he said, placing the ring on her slightly trembling finger.
"Logan," she sighed, "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love," Rory said and placed the ring on his finger, not letting go of his other hand.
"By the power vested in me by the State of Connecticut, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss," the officiant announced.
Their bodies clashed together as if being kept apart by chains all this time. She laid a fierce kiss on his lips, tears of joy still pouring down her cheeks. He wiped her cheeks clear with her thumb as the kiss parted, taking her hand again and turning to Honor and Lorelai, both of them weeping their eyes out.
"I present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Huntzberger-Gilmore," the officiant declared, causing Lorelai's and Honor's mouths to drop open. Lorelai recovered sooner, the corners of her mouth curving quickly upwards.
AN:
* Small reference to Veronica Mars, another one of my favorites. Hi to fellow Marshmallows!
** Not a direct quote but an adaption of Kodaline - The One, I know I've used that song before in some ways in my stories, but it's like a bullseye with ROGAN.