Title: A Wedding Story, Chapter 11 – The Wedding

Author: Gluglug

Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late Fourth Season

Rating: PG-13

Summary: His sister's impending wedding leads Luke to make some decisions about his own life. SPOILER WARNING

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.

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Liz looked at herself in the mirror, not quite believing that it was finally here - her wedding day. She was standing in the middle of Carrie's guest room in her wedding dress. She was wearing a long sleeved green silk empire-waist gown and Carrie had just put a wreath of flowers on the crown of her head.

"Oh Liz, you look just like Princess Fiona!" Carrie exclaimed.

"From Shrek? Day Fiona or night Fiona?" 'Cause this morning I looked like night Fiona."

"Oh day Fiona of course." Carrie assured her.

Just then there was a knock on the door. "Who is it? It better not be the groom!" Carrie yelled.

"It's Luke."

Carrie opened the door and looked him up and down. "Well, Butch, I thought you really cleaned up good last night, but this – is it hot in here or is it just you!" She flirted, fanning herself.

Luke blushed. "Uh, thanks Carrie, I'm here to see Liz."

"Sure, I'll leave you two alone." She said and closed the door.

Liz smiled at her brother and gave him a hug. "Carrie's right, you do certainly look handsome. Nice suit you got there."

Luke pulled back and smiled at his sister. "Thanks. Uh, you look beautiful, Liz, you really do. Are you nervous?"

"Well, I threw up this morning but I think it's due to morning sickness and not nerves. I'm not nervous, probably more excited than anything."

"Well it's your wedding day, you should be." Luke said. "Are you ready to go to Patty's?"

"Not yet, I want you to sit with me for a minute." They sat on the bed and Liz had a sober look on her face.

"Luke, I want you to know how much it means to me that you're giving me away today. I know I haven't been the best sister to you over the years but you have to know that I've always appreciated what you've done for me. You've always been there to bail me out and you even took Jess in when I couldn't handle him anymore. You've been kind of like my personal superhero and I know that I'm very lucky."

"Liz you don't have to..." Luke started. Liz interrupted him, "Let the bride finish!"

She continued, "But now I want you to know that those days are over. I have a new hero in my life and he's gonna take care of me and I'm gonna take care of him. You don't have to worry about me anymore. I finally have what I want – a man who loves me and a new baby on the way. I just hope that someday you'll find the happiness that you're looking for. Because nobody deserves it more than you. You're the best brother in the world and I love you."

Tears were streaming down Liz's face as she finished. She could've sworn that she saw a tear or two that managed to sneak out of her brother's ducts as well.

"I love you, too Liz." Luke said, his voice thick with emotion as he pulled his sister into another hug. "And thanks for saying that."

"You're welcome." As they pulled apart, she reached for the tissue box and handed one to Luke. "If only mom and dad could see us, I'd think they'd be proud."

"I think so, too." Luke agreed, wiping his nose.

Liz grabbed a few more tissues and handed them to her brother.

"You better hang onto those, Luke. I think it's gonna be one of those days."

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Miss Patty's studio was abuzz with anticipation as the string quartet began to play. The justice of the peace (a friend from the renaissance circuit) stood under the simple archway chatting with the groom.

The room was filled with friends and family members, some from Stars Hollow, some from New York and the rest were some folks from the renaissance circuit. Lorelai sat with baby Davey on her lap next to Sookie and Jackson in a row near the back. Lorelai craned her neck to look for some familiar faces. Among them, she noticed Nicole sitting alone in the front row dressed in a simple flowered print dress.

The quartet began to play the familiar wedding march refrain and the guests stood. First, Carrie and TJ's brother Eric appeared and walked down the aisle together followed by Mr and Mrs. Deloiuse. Finally the moment everyone waited for arrived. A glowing Liz appeared, hanging on to Luke's arm as they strolled down the aisle. Liz was looking straight ahead at the man she was going to marry.

Lorelai and Sookie both noticed how proud and handsome Luke looked. Lorelai didn't recognize the suit he was wearing - it looked very stylish and expensive. Maybe Nicole had bought it for him? Lorelai mentally shook herself of any jealous thoughts and tried to focus on the ceremony itself as she watched Luke kiss his sister on the cheek and joined Nicole in the front row.

Liz and TJ joined hands as the justice of the peace started the ceremony. He announced that Liz and TJ had written their own vows for the occasion.

TJ began. "Liz, from the moment I met you I knew you were special. You were just crazy enough to make me sit up and notice you. We began as friends but one day I woke up and I realized that I was in love with you. And that I didn't want to spend my life with anyone but you. I'd follow you anywhere, whether it's to sell your jewelry or to raise a family. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life being the best husband I can be to you."

The room audibly "awwed" and Lorelai felt her eyes fill with tears. Beside her, Sookie and Jackson held hands and looked lovingly at each other. In the front row, Nicole reached for Luke's hand and squeezed it. Luke just looked straight ahead at his sister's beaming face as she began her vows.

"TJ, when I first met you I had pretty much given up on love. I had been through so many losers and was beginning to give up on that dream. But very quickly you changed my mind – you never asked anything of me, except for my time. All you did was give and it was your generosity and kindness that made me fall for you. You restored my faith in love and because of that I want to spend the rest of my life as your wife. You're my knight in shining armor and I love you."

Lorelai was touched that Liz had echoed a sentiment that reminded her of Luke. She figured it was a nod to their renaissance fair connection but she couldn't help but identify with what Liz was saying. She looked over and noticed that Nicole was whispering something in Luke's ear and he seemed to be smiling. She tried again to shake her jealousy but it was no use. She hated seeing them together pretending to be the happily married couple. Or were they pretending? Lorelai wasn't so sure anymore.

Liz and TJ exchanged their custom made rings and then the justice pronounced them husband and wife. They kissed and the room erupted into applause.

"May I now present Mr. and Mrs. Gary Delouise," the justice of the peace announced and the happy couple turned around and walked back down the aisle as the guests showered them with confetti.

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After the ceremony, Jackson and Sookie took Davey home because he was teething and was feeling cranky. Lorelai was a bit cranky herself and didn't feel like staying. She didn't have a date to distract her and she didn't want to watch Luke and Nicole play the happy couple all afternoon. Besides she still had some things to take care of at the Inn. It could probably wait until Monday but she figured it was time to take her mind off things.

She spotted Luke and Nicole talking to TJ's parents, hoping for an opening. Sure enough Nicole excused herself and headed to the bathroom, leaving Luke alone for the moment.

He saw her sitting alone in the back row and headed over.

Lorelai stood up and smiled. "Hey, it was a lovely ceremony. I cried."

Luke looked sheepish. "I did too. I hope you brought tissues."

"I always bring tissues to weddings. And nice job giving the bride away, by the way - I'd never know this was your first time."

"And hopefully it'll be the last. But I have a good feeling about those two."

"Yeah, me too. They're really in love. It's nice to see." Lorelai said wistfully.

"Hey, are you coming to the reception? It's at the diner, you know. Burgers and fries, it's a real high class affair."

"Oh, when you put it that way, Luke.....no, I really can't - I have some stuff to take care of at the Inn – we have our first guests this week. Please give TJ and Liz my regrets, okay?"

Luke looked disappointed. "Sure, I'll give them the message. But you'll be missed."

"Oh, I'm sure they can survive without me." Lorelai said. "I'll see you, Luke."

"Not if I see you first." He smiled at her and watched her leave the studio.

Just then, Nicole appeared at his side. "Was that Lorelai?" She asked.

Luke turned to her, a bit startled; he always seemed to forget about Nicole when he was talking to Lorelai. "Yeah, she can't stay for the reception. She was just giving her regrets."

"Well, we can survive without her. Let's go." Nicole said, linking her arm in Luke's.

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Later that afternoon, the reception waned and TJ and Liz had gone to get ready for their trip to Dollywood. Luke went upstairs to change out of his fancy suit and found Nicole sitting on his couch.

"Nicole, there you are, I wondered where you were." He said, loosening his tie.

"Well, I wanted some peace and quiet and I really couldn't get it with all of those renaissance freaks downstairs."

Luke chuckled. "Yeah, I know what you mean....so you were thinking about Chicago?"

"Yes, and I've made a decision. I'm going to take the job. Like I said yesterday it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"And you're sure about this?" Luke asked. "What if....you wind up going there alone?"

Nicole stared at him. "What are you saying Luke?"

Luke sighed and sat down next to her. "Nicole, I can't move to Chicago."

"What do you mean, you can't? Why not?" Nicole demanded.

"Nicole, please try to understand. My life is here in Stars Hollow, the diner, the people. I've lived here my whole life and as much as I complain about this crazy town, I don't want to live anywhere else."

"But you've never lived anywhere else. Wouldn't it be nice to try something new? Chicago is a great city, there's so much opportunity there. You could really succeed there, if you tried."

"But I don't want to, Nicole. I like my life here and I don't want to move. I'm sorry."

"You know, it's funny. I was listening to TJ's vows today to Liz and he said something that stayed with me. He said that he'd follow her anywhere because he loved her. Why can't we be like that?"

Luke shook his head. "I don't know. We're not TJ and Liz."

"No, we aren't. But I think I know of someone you would follow anywhere." Nicole stated. Luke's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Oh Luke, don't play innocent with me. I'm talking about Lorelai. I saw the way you were watching her today after the ceremony. I always seem to be interrupting some private moment between you too. And I saw how disappointed you were when I asked you to spend my birthday with me when you'd rather go to her party."

"But I'm spending your birthday with you, Nicole aren't I?"

"Yeah, but under protest. You know what? You should go to that party – you don't have to go with me to the spa."

"But we agreed, Nicole. I don't understand."

"Luke, let's lay out the facts here. I want to go to Chicago and you want to stay here. You love another woman and well...I'm just playing the fool...which leads to the only logical conclusion... I think we need to officially separate and follow through with the divorce."

Luke was dumbstruck. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious. I thought we were getting on the right track right before I left for Chicago, but today at the wedding it all made sense. Listening to your sister and TJ commit their lives together made me see how hollow our own vows really are."

Luke nodded, relieved. "You're right, Nicole. I thought the same thing when I was listening to the ceremony. I'm glad I wasn't the only one."

They sat there in silence, just letting the truth sink in. For once they weren't playing games or pretending. It was all out in the open and Luke was relieved until he heard Nicole sniffling.

He turned to her and saw tears streaming down her face, the truth hit hard and it hurt.

Luke reached into his pocket and handed her a tissue that Liz had given him earlier.

"It's clean." He said.

She chuckled at his chivalry and wiped her eyes. "I think I better get going, Luke. I'll have my lawyers set up a meeting with your lawyer, before I go back to Chicago."

Luke nodded. "Sure." He stood up and walked Nicole to the door. She looked up at him, wanting to hate him but she couldn't. She kissed him on the cheek and left.

TBC