Six Years Later:
"Mom, do I have to wear this dress for much longer?" little Amelia asked in a slightly sulky tone.
"But don't you think it's pretty?" her mother asked, holding her daughter on her lap, crushing the carefully puffed skirts on her white gown.
"Yeah, it's pretty," her daughter conceded. "But I don't want to wear it any more."
"All right," Lori said. "Go find your Nana, and tell her you want to change. She'll walk you home."
"Yay!" Amelia quickly jumped off Lori's lap and began weaving through the crowd in the square, searching for her grandmother.
"Squirt getting squirmy?" Jess murmured into her ear.
"She really doesn't like dresses," Lori laughed. "I can't say I blame her. The way she moves around, skirts aren't the best clothing choice for her."
"She has to get her energy from someplace," he said. "I can't imagine where it is, though."
"Just because you're lazy doesn't mean our daughter is," Lori said with much affection in her tone.
"I'm not lazy," Jess said, trying to muster up some form of anger or indignity at that, but he was too happy. "And just to prove it, are you up for another spin around the dance floor?" he asked, grabbing Lori's hand.
"We've already danced all but this one," she protested, though only slightly. Jess had taken dance lessons on the sly from Miss Patty just for today, and she hated to disappoint him. She stood readily enough.
"And the bride and groom take to the dance floor once more," Taylor announced cheerily.
"Tell me why he's our DJ again," Jess asked. "He's not going to play any music we like."
"He's not the DJ," Lori said. "He just won't let Mom near the stereo."
Jess nodded in comprehension. "I guess he's still upset that she decided to have a dance instead of the movie night."
"I think that didn't bother him as much as the mosh pits and slam dancing."
"But it was so much fun! Besides, that was three years ago. You'd think he'd be over that by now."
The two danced in content silence. Over Jess' shoulder, Lori could see the gazebo. "I can't believe how all this has turned out," she murmured, thinking back on the day the two of them had sat in the gazebo and she'd told him the news that had changed both their lives. "I don't even want to think about any alternative path," she added, "because this couldn't have turned out any better than it has."
Jess squeezed her momentarily. He smiled when he saw Amelia swinging between Luke and Lorelai, obviously chatting up a storm. The adults were grinning at her fondly, and then smiling broadly at each other. "When are they not going to be oblivious?" he asked Lori rhetorically, knowing she would see them, too. "It's obvious to everyone in town that they're crazy about each other."
Lori sighed heavily. "We all just have to wait until they realize it for themselves," she said. "Who knows how long that'll take?"
Jess sighed and dismissed his uncle's love life from his mind. He went back to happier thoughts. "You know, Lori, I'm glad you insisted on waiting until Amelia could participate in the wedding. Even if she is a squirt, she's our squirt, and she deserved to be a part of this."
Lori smiled against his tuxedo. "I know," she said, trying not to sound smug. "Just because you're a published author doesn't mean you're smarter than me."
Jess sighed, but he smiled as well. "Look, the contract isn't even finalized yet. Let's not start counting our chickens before they hatch." They were silent for a while, swaying to the not-so-horrible music and enjoying the party.
"You know what?" Lori said suddenly.
"What?"
She smiled broadly up at him and kissed him gently before saying, "It's another beginning."
"How many of those are we going to have?" Jess asked her, grinning at the thought.
"A lifetime."
Thank you all so much. The reception of this story has been beyond my wildest dreams. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you've all read this and enjoyed it.
Now, onto the thank yous: Thank you, first, to my lovely betas, Jenn and Emily, who gave me the confidence to post this story while they were making it better. Thanks to my sister, who planted the idea in my head a long, long time ago (hey, in a fandom, ten months is quite a long time...). And finally, thanks to all my readers, and all my reviewers. You're all wonderful people.
