The Wedding

By Steph ()

A/N--This takes place during Sookie and Jackson's wedding. I thought that it was weird that Luke seemed to be the only person who either wasn't invited or wasn't attending the wedding. And you all know my obsession with Sookie and Luke being friends (see my last story "Baskets" as proof--and thanks for all the reviews for that story)… Oh and even though this takes place during the wedding I basically skipped the whole R/D/J plotline. This is an L/L for I am a Java Junkie at heart. It's also kind of long, a lot of dialogue and I'll probably go back and edit parts of it.

A/N #2--For those people who wrote asking how I can pop out stories so fast--unfortunately I am between jobs at the moment. So this is how I keep busy between job searches.

Rating--PG

"What are you doing here?" Luke asked.

"Is that anyway to treat a customer?" Sookie asked smiling.

"You're a customer?" he asked.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" she asked him.

"Well it's your wedding day and you're in your wedding dress."

"Okay, you got me. We ran out of cream for coffee for the reception. Can I borrow some?"

"Sure," he said. "Let me get some in back."

"Luke," she said seriously. "I was kidding."

"So you don't need cream?"

"No."

"So why did you leave your own wedding?" He looked at her for a second in surprise. "You are still getting married, right? You didn't leave Jackson at the altar?"

She laughed. "No, silly, the wedding ceremony was over awhile ago. And we did get married. See," she said showing him the ring.

"Congratulations."

"Do you know why I'm really here?" she asked.

"Well so far I know you're not a customer, you don't need cream and you didn't leave Jackson at the altar. I'm fresh out of ideas."

"Can we sit and talk for a second?"

"Shouldn't you be out there?"

"I'll be back out there in a second," she said. "I'm sitting down."

"You might get your dress dirty."

"Do you have anything I can sit on?"

"I don't know," he said. "Like what?"

"Can I sit on your shirt?"

"My shirt?"

"Your flannel shirt. I can see that you have a shirt on underneath. And it is clean, isn't it?"

"It's clean," he said.

He took off the shirt, folded it and placed it on a stool. She grinned. "Thank you." Then she giggled. "Look at all those muscles."

He ignored her last comment. "So what's going on?"

"Why are you in the diner when everyone else is outside at my wedding?"

"I have to work."

"Bullshit," she said quietly. "There's no one in here. I want you to be honest and tell me why you didn't come to my wedding. We've known each other for twenty years."

He wasn't expecting this. He looked everywhere but at her, before he muttered. "I didn't think I would be too welcome there."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever since everything…" he stopped. "The whole town hates me."

"That's not true," Sookie protested immediately. "You're exaggerating."

"Maybe I am. But I have been getting the cold shoulder from a lot of people."

"Since when did you care what anybody in this town thought?"

"I just thought it would be better for everyone if I stayed here."

"Better for you," she said. "Look, I'm the bride and I want you out there. The groom likes you and probably would like you out there too. And my maid of honor…"she stopped.

"What?" he asked sarcastically. "Your maid of honor what?"

"My maid of honor, who by the way looks more like she's at a funeral than at the wedding of her best friend, would be so thrilled if you talked to her in a friendly way that she wouldn't know what to do."

"What's wrong with her?" he asked, trying to act like he didn't care.

Sookie didn't buy his indifference. "Promise not to say a word?"

Who was he going to tell? "Yeah, promise."

"Okay so Chris, Rory's dad is in town. And he makes all these promises to both Lorelai and Rory about how they'll all be a family again. And then he goes off and leaves my wedding after telling Lorelai that he got his ex-girlfriend pregnant and is going back to her."

Luke didn't say a word. He was trying to picture Chris. If he remembered correctly, Chris was pretty skinny. Luke could easily snap him like a twig.

Sookie smiled. "She needs a friend right now."

"Don't we all," he said.

"Yes," Sookie said. "And I'm being your friend right now and saying that you need to go out there and talk to her. You two were best friends and I know she hurt you. But you have to be the big man and talk to her."

He frowned. "Are you going to stay here until I say yes?"

"Yes."

"And the wedding…"

"It's the reception. People are drinking. I doubt anyone's even noticed that I've left."

He shook his head. "I'm not dressed for a wedding."

"I'll give you fifteen minutes and if you're not out there I'll send a search party for you."

"I don't think so."

"You can't say no to a bride on her wedding day. It's a rule. Fifteen minutes."

"I need forty-five to shower and shave."

Sookie leaned in and sniffed. "You smell like hamburgers. I'll give you half an hour to shower. Forget the shave."

"I hope Jackson knows what he's in for with you."

She smiled. "I'm only bossy when I need to be. Half an hour you'll come down and talk pleasantly to Lorelai."

"Or what?"

"I'll think of something," she said.

"Fine. I'll be pleasant to her."

"Then you two will be friends again."

"I don't know if it'll be that easy," he admitted.

"You two will be fine. I have to get back."

"Okay."

She stood up and handed him his flannel shirt back. "Thank you."

"Sookie?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"You look beautiful. Congratulations."

"If you're trying to butter me up so I'll change my mind Luke, it won't work. Half an hour," she said leaving.

Half an hour later, Luke walked to the reception, clean yet unshaven. Sookie was sitting with some relatives he didn't know.

"I'm here," he told her.

"Good," she said. She pointed out Lorelai to him. She was dancing with Rory and Lane.

"She doesn't look too unhappy."

"She's putting on her happy face," Sookie said knowingly. "Come on, Luke let's dance."

"I don't dance. Where's Jackson?"

"He's dancing with his sister. Dance with me and I won't ask you anything else today."

"Promise?"

She stood up. "Come on."

He followed her, uncomfortable. He really didn't know how to dance.

"Relax," Sookie said as they began dancing. "Hey look, now Jackson and Lorelai are dancing."

He groaned. "I hate you."

"I didn't plan this," she said smiling. "Looks like fate."

"Lorelai," Sookie called. "You're dancing with my husband."

"That I am, Sadie, that I am," Lorelai said.

"Sadie?" Luke asked. "No, I changed my mind. I don't want to know."

"I want my husband back," Sookie said.

Jackson laughed. "I love you too, honey."

"But we just started dancing," Lorelai said. "I won't give him up for free. What will you give me in return?"

Sookie pretended to think. "I'll give you a grumpy diner-owner who is cap-less and flannel-less for the first time in his life."

"I really hate you," Luke muttered.

"And he just showered too. He smells good."

"Never set foot in my diner again," he said in a low voice.

Sookie smiled at him. "You're all talk. Hey, what do you say, Lorelai?"

"Okay," Lorelai said. "Time to trade."

Jackson and Sookie left their respective partners and began to dance.

"I hate everybody in this town," Luke muttered.

Lorelai laughed, happy that he was at least communicating with her. "Well, that's a good attitude to have. You're going to dance with me, right?"

"I don't dance."

"I just saw you dancing with Sookie. And I traded a perfectly good fruit-and-vegetable guy for you. I might as well get my money's worth."

"What money?" he asked. "I didn't see any money exchanged."

"Just an expression, Captain Literal. So how about it?"

He frowned. She pouted. He growled. She batted her eyelashes. He sighed. She grinned and placed her arms around his neck.

"So why do you hate everyone is this town?" Lorelai asked as they began dancing. "The usual reasons or did something just come up? Just tell me who made you mad and I'll get them. I've got your back, champ."

"Do you?" he asked.

Lorelai looked at him and she realized something suddenly. Something that was missing from her letter of apology, from all her rushed, emotional apologies.

"Yes," she said. "I've got your back. You're my friend and I'm on your team. Well, not really a team, Captain Literal. I'm not the kind of athletic, active type of gal you would want to have on a team. Think of me as a cheerleader. But not a ditzy one or a slutty one. I made some bad mistakes with you and accused you of things that you weren't guilty of. I was wrong to do that and I want to make it up to you. I miss you, Burger Boy. Be my buddy again and I won't make the same mistake twice."

It was just what he wanted to hear. Well, it was once you took out all the stuff in the middle about ditzy, slutty cheerleaders.

"That was right wasn't it?" Lorelai asked softly. "You wanted me to tell you that I would be on your side, your team. You and me against the world. That's what was missing."

"It is nice to hear," he said just as softly.

"Why weren't you here for the ceremony?"

"I didn't think I was welcome."

"That's so sad," she said stepping back to look at him.

"It's okay. Sookie dragged me out here."

"Yeah. She had asked me to get you, but I said no."

"Why?"

"I…I had a bad morning and I wasn't brave enough to face you."

That made him feel horrible. "I haven't been very nice to you, have I?"

"I deserved it," she admitted. "I wasn't a good friend."

They were quiet for a second. Lorelai met his eyes and saw something unexpected. The way he was looking at her…she suddenly stepped back.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said. "I have to talk to Sookie for a moment. Stay here. Don't leave."

"I'm not standing in the middle of a dance floor by myself," he said, confused as to what just happened.

"Well if I can pull Sookie away for a second, you can talk to Jackson. Okay?"

He sighed. "Fine."

"Honey, what's wrong?" Sookie asked looking at Lorelai.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Lorelai asked. "I'm sorry," she said to Jackson.

"I'll just be a second," Sookie said. Jackson nodded and went back to dancing with a relative. "Is everything okay with Luke?" Sookie asked, leading Lorelai away.

"Shoot, Luke," Lorelai said muttering. She didn't want him to leave the dance floor. She needed to get him a dance partner. She wandered through the tables looking for a familiar face. She found her mother.

"Mom, thank goodness."

"What's wrong, Lorelai?" Emily asked surprised at the sight of the bride leading her daughter away from the ceremony.

"Mom, will you do me a huge favor? Please?" Lorelai asked.

"What is it?"

"I promise if you say yes, I will attend any two social engagements you pick. I will be in proper attire and without sarcastic comments."

"Well, that'll be a first. What do you need?"

Lorelai looked and saw Luke walking away from the dance floor. "Will you please dance with Luke?"

"What?" Emily asked. "Dance with the Iceman?"

"I'll explain later. I just need him on the dance floor while I talk to Sookie for a second. Please?"

"And I get to choose the events?"

"Yes."

"Fine," Emily said.

Emily found Luke standing awkwardly near the dance floor. "Hello, Luke."

He turned around. "Hello, Mrs. Gilmore. I didn't realize that you would be attending today."

"Yes, it was a very last-minute invite."

"Oh," he said uncomfortable.

"My daughter wants me to dance with you."

"What?" he asked. He couldn't have heard that right.

"She told me to dance with you until she came back from talking to Sookie."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"I'm not a good dancer," he said, trying to stall for time. "Actually I'm helpless."

"Well, there's only one way to get better," she said. "Shall we?"

"Why did you ask your mother to dance with Luke?" Sookie asked.

"I wanted him to stay where he was. It made sense in my head for a little while."

"Lots of things do," Sookie said good-naturedly. "So what's wrong? Are you and Luke friends again?"

"Sort of," Lorelai said. "We're getting there, but we're dancing and talking a little bit…"

"Sounds good so far," Sookie said.

"That's what I think and then I look in his eyes and I see it."

"See what?"

"What you told me would be there. Just the way he was looking at me I could tell…"

"That although he's thrilled to be friends with you again, he would be even more thrilled if you were something more?"

"How did you know that?"

"Sweetie, he's been looking at you like that for years."

"Why did I just notice this now?"

"Maybe you weren't ready to notice it until now. I mean think about what happened today with you and Chris and now that you and Luke are friends again…"

"But what if we try and I screw it up and lose him as a friend again?" Lorelai asked

"I think you two should talk about it. And we should get back to the wedding."

"Oh Sookie," Lorelai said feeling terrible. "I keep pulling you away."

"Don't worry about it," she said. "Now keep me posted. Let's go."

He really was a horrible dancer, Emily thought, not unkindly. He wasn't talking much and she could almost hear him counting out steps in his head.

She was actually glad that he wasn't talking. She had no idea what to talk to him about. The price of hamburger meat these days? Why he hadn't shaved for the wedding? Where he had been for the whole first half of the event? Whether he was dating her daughter?

"Watch it," she said as he stepped on her foot.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gilmore," he said. "I told you I couldn't dance."

"Okay just watch what I'm doing. And try to follow along," she ordered.

They both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Lorelai. They broke apart from each other.

"I apologize again," he said.

"Just remember what I did," Emily said smiling at him and her daughter. "You'll be much better at the next wedding you attend."

Luke and Lorelai walked away from the crowd.

"What did you need to talk to Sookie about?" he asked her. "Is everything okay?"

"We need to talk."

"Okay," he said. "What about?"

They went into the empty diner and sat at a booth. "Lots of things," she said. "First, before I say anything first that humiliates me further, are we friends again?"

He didn't like where this was going, but nodded his head.

"Good. I had a horrible morning," she said. "Someone who I really shouldn't rely on made me a promise that I believed. And I got my hopes up only to be let down again. And I am both mad at him and mad at myself for believing him."

"Oh," he said softly.

"But that's done with. Then there's this issue with you."

"What issue?" he asked.

"I know now," she said. "I know why you always help me, why you've done so many nice things for me and Rory."

"It's because we're friends," he said.

"I know, but it's more than that. Sookie has said things and my mother has said things about you…about your feelings for me and I never saw what they saw until today."

"Oh," he said embarrassed.

"It's true, isn't it?" she whispered.

He had been found out. The secret was out. She would know if he lied. "It's true," he said. "I'm sorry." He didn't know what he was apologizing for.

"No, don't apologize," she said.

"What do you think?" he asked her after a few seconds passed.

"I can't believe that I just figured it out."

"It's okay," he said.

After a few more seconds, she asked almost shyly. "Do you think that we could take things really slow?"

"What?" he asked her. He must have misunderstood her.

"Today was really bad…I mean with Chris. And I feel if I just jumped into this with you, I would do something without thinking and I would screw everything up."

"Oh."

"And I don't want to. If we tried…I would want it to work."

"Me too."

"Will you wait for me?" she asked.

"How long?" he asked. He had waited so long. A little more time wouldn't matter.

"Not very long. I promise. A week or so," she said. "You want to shake on it?"

"Wow, that really is going slow," he said.

"How about a hug then?" she asked.

He leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back.

"Much better than a handshake," she said.

"I agree," he said.

"We should head back," she pointed out.

They shared another kiss and walked back to the reception.

The end

A/N--I'm not too thrilled with the ending. Should this end like this or should there be a sequel? I couldn't decide. Please R/R and let me know. Thanks.