A/N I'm back. So I really can't wait for the new season and I guess that's
what has sparked me to write more. Anyway this chapter may be a bit choppy
and I will be skipping around....but its for the good of the story. And
once again feedback is always appreciated.
*It's the morning after Lane's wedding and Rory has asked Lorelai to meet her at the diner at 11.
*Upstairs: Luke's Old Apartment.
"Ok. So how do I Look?" Rory asks Jess, who is sprawled out across the couch.
"Fine." Jess shrugs.
"Maybe I should change."
"Rory, you're just going downstairs to the diner that you've spent 90% of your life in, and you're just going to talk to your mom, who honestly I don't think will care if you wear clothes or not."
"You're right."
"In fact I'm pretty sure she'd encourage you to go down there naked...me, I say that's a good idea..except you don't go downstairs and you just stay here...with me...naked." Jess smirks.
"Tempting as that is, I can't go another day without telling my mom, Jess."
"It's killing you isn't it."
Rory nods feverishly.
"Alright so go tell her real quick and then come back here and we'll stay in all day."
Rory shakes her head; "You know you're coming down with me right?"
"Nah. I'm staying here."
"If you stay here, she's just going to run up here herself, and she hasn't been in here in like a year, and she's never gonna want to leave she's going to snoop around looking for things to tease Luke about. But really it's your choice...a 30 minute discussion with breakfast included, or 3 hours with no escape." Rory smirks.
Jess groans. "Fine, you go first give me five minutes." Jess says gesturing towards his boxers, "I need to get dressed."
"No you don't, like you said, my mom won't care..." Rory grins.
"Go."
Rory bounds downstairs.
"Well if its isn't Holly Happy Pants!" Lorelai exclaims.
Luke Rolls his eyes at Lorelai.
"Hey mom!"
"So what's with requesting a meeting? You were very shifty about it last night."
"Well I'm going back to New Haven Tomorrow and I just wanted to talk to you before I left."
"Oh...but since when do you have to request a meeting in a public place with me, is this like when guys take girls to a restaurant to break up with them so they won't have a temper tantrum."
"No." Rory replies.
Lorelai breathes a sigh of relief, "Good because I don't think I have the energy for a temper tantrum."
Luke rolls his eyes at Lorelai, "Coffee?" Luke asks Rory.
"Please." Rory grins.
Jess enters the diner.
Rory ushers Jess over.
"Ok, lets get this over with." Jess says, putting an arm around Rory's waist.
"Excuse me?" Lorelai replies taken back. "Get what over with, is having lunch with me, a chore?"
"That's not what he meant, is it jess?"
Jess shrugs.
"That means he's happy to be here." Rory replies.
"So what's going on babe?"
"Luke, come here for second, I think you should here this too."
"Ok, get on with it." Luke replies, leaning against the counter.
"Mom, Luke....Jess and I are, we're."
"Getting married." Jess finishes.
Rory glares at him, "Rory, we would have been here all day at your rate."
Rory rolls her eyes at Jess before turning back towards her mother, "Well?"
Lorelai is wearing a look of shock on her face, Lorelai turns to Luke, "What did she just say?"
"She's getting married....to him." Luke says, astonished.
"Are you pregnant?" Lorelai asks seriously,
"What? No!" Rory replies.
"So you're not pregnant...and not dying and you two are getting married?"
Rory nods.
"Just like that?" Luke asks.
Rory sighs, "Why are you guys so surprised?"
"Honey, I'm sorry its just look at what your saying......I guess we just never thought it would happen."
Rory looks towards the floor, choosing not to reply.
Jess tightens his hold on Rory.
"Wow, my baby's getting hitched!" Lorelai squeals, causing Rory to grin.
"So you're ok with this?"
"I'm ecstatic, I just never thought he'd pop the question."
"Well it was kind of a last minute decision." Jess replies.
"Oh! Did he get down on one knee?"
"He wasn't going to, but I made him." Rory replies with a smirk.
"Good girl. Oh come on we have to go tell Sookie!"
"Ok!" Rory exclaims loosening herself from Jess' grip.
"Luke, Coffee to go!" Lorelai demands.
"Oh. I have to pee before we go, give me a minute." Rory replies, running upstairs.
Jess watches her disappear up the stairs.
Lorelai takes this opportunity to catch Jess off guard. While his back is turned, she pounces on him.
"Can I help you?" Jess asks, amused.
Lorelai lets go of him, and Jess turns to face her.
"Go ahead say something I know you're dying to."
"You did it!" Lorelai squeals. "You're going to marry my daughter!"
Jess smiles sincerely, "Yeah."
"You love her, you really do.....it wasn't just some conquest thing when you were 17, you love her...she broke the rebel with out a cause in you! Of course you never were quite up to James Dean Proportions "
Jess nods amusedly.
"You two are going to have the most beautiful kids, they'll have brown hair and blue eyes and have really bad attitudes....they can torture Luke!"
Jess laughs.
"I heard that" Luke says, leaning against the counter.
"You were meant to." Lorelai pouts leaning in to kiss Luke.
Rory reenters the diner.
"Ew, I'm never going to get used to that." Jess shakes his head.
Rory laughs from behind him, "Ready mom?"
"Yep! Lets go!"
Luke and Jess watch Rory and Lorelai skip out of the diner.
"You're in for it." Luke says, breaking the silence.
"Well if you can survive being married to a Gilmore, I'm sure I can too."
Luke shakes his head, "No way, I have it much easier....Lorelai still grew up in a grounded environment, she had stern parents, she wasn't a part of this craziness until she almost 18...Rory's been here practically her whole life, she used to spend hours after school at miss Patty's, she was having coffee on Sundays with Babbette when she was five...Rory's been subjected to these lunatics for her entire life.....so yeah, you're going to have it a hundred times worse then I do," Luke says with a grin.
"Damn, perhaps I need to rethink this.."
Luke glares at Jess, "No way, you break her heart, I break you."
Jess laughs, "I was kidding."
Luke's eyes go wide, "I just thought of something."
"What?"
"You're going to have to tell Lorelai's parents about this...and soon if they find out you've been engaged for more than a few hours without telling them, man you won't make it to your own wedding."
Jess runs a hand through his unkempt hair, "Can't we just elope and tell them after?"
"You'll never hear the end of it, Rory's their only granddaughter....I guarantee you, Emily's had her reception planned out since Rory was 8."
"But what about you and Lorelai, you guys didn't have a ridiculous wedding."
"We almost did, believe me it was just a matter of Emily getting too tired of fighting w/ Lorelai. Besides don't you remember the flower arrangements at $1,000 per arrangement, and the imported desserts?"
"Oh Man, I'm screwed."
Luke nods, "Just pray she's abandoned her dreams of a Romanov in Winter theme."
Jess groans, "Give me the phone."
Luke hands Jess the phone, Jess dials it.
"Hello, Lorelai Mariano 's phone." Lorelai answers Rory's phone, cheerfully.
"You two waste no time do you?" Jess replies.
"Not a second, hold on."
"Hey." Rory says happily.
"I think you and your mom should go see your grandmother or at least call her and let her know what's going on."
"Hold on." Rory replies, handing the phone to her mother
"Luke's been talking to you hasn't he?" Lorelai says, grinning at Rory.
"Just a little."
"Well he's a smart man, but of course he neglected to tell you that its never a good idea to announce stuff like this w/o all involved parties present, she's going to take it as a personal insult if you're not there squeezing Rory's hand as they go over wedding plans, she'll never forgive you."
"Point taken."
"Good. We'll give her a call, and see if all four of us can go out there tonight....because once Rory tells her the news, if somebody's not there to stop her, my mom will keep you there until 3am discussing the proper nail color for the bridesmaids." Lorelai replies seriously.
"Ok call me back, let me know what's going on."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye Honey!" Rory screams in the background.
"Haha you called Jess Honey!" Lorelai screeches as she hangs up the phone.
Jess hands Luke the phone, burying his face in his hands .
"And so it begins." Luke grins at Jess.
"Shut up." Jess barks.
*7pm: Gilmore Residence: Hartford.
*Dinner is over, and everyone has gone into the living room for coffee.
There is silence except for the clinking of spoons as the coffee is stirred.
Emily breaks the silence, "Dare I ask why we're all here, on a night other than Friday...because I know what an inconvenience its for both of you to be available on any other night." Emily says heavily.
"Well mom, Rory has some very exciting news."
Emily cheers up, "Really."
"Really." Lorelai replies.
"Well, Lorelai let your daughter tell me if it's her news, if it's that exciting I'm sure she wants to tell me herself."
"Right." Lorelai nods, biting her lip.
"Grandma, Grandpa, Jess and I are getting married." Rory says with a grin.
Emily puts a hand to her mouth, "How wonderful!"
"Congratulations," Richard says, shaking Jess' hand.
"Well I'll be, after all these years."
"Well, Emily, look at it this way at least they didn't wait as long as these two did to make it official." Richard says cheerfully, "Now come on, drinks all around."
"Now Rory, how wonderful would it be to have a Paris in the spring, themed wedding!" Emily asks, her mind going off in a thousand different directions.
"That'd be nice." Rory replies.
Jess nudges Rory.
"...But we were actually thinking of having the wedding a little bit sooner than spring."
"Perfect...A Winter Romanovs theme....oh Richard, wouldn't Rory look elegant in an ivory collared dress, w the long collared jacket over it, with a silk bodice."
Richard nods.
"Grandma..."
"And a tiara."
"Mom.."
"And Gigi could wear one of those dresses like the dancers back then wore w/ the ballerina type skirt and slippers."
"Grandma!" Rory raises her voice slightly.
Taken back, "What is it dear?"
"Jess and I want to get married as soon as possible."
Outraged Emily replies, "So what? You're just going to go to some lawyer and get the certificate and have the justice of the peace do it?"
"No, Grandma, no.....we just don't see the point in dragging this out, we were hoping to have a simple wedding maybe at the end of next month."
"Oh."
"I want you're help, I do, I mean no one has as much style as you do, its just I want my wedding to be about Jess and I and our relationship, I think it should reflect that, and there's nothing Russian about our relationship, banished tsars have to do with us."
"You're right, and I'd be honored to do whatever I can to make this a special occasion for you, for both of you." Emily smiles at Jess.
"Thank you." Jess says hoarsely.
"I just can't believe it, the two of you marrying men from the same gene pool, you really are two peas in a pod."
"Isn't it great!" Lorelai exclaims.
"It's something." Emily replies, sitting back.
*everyone laughs.
*3 hours later: Richard has gone to bed, Lorelai is asleep, her head resting on a drowsy Luke's shoulder, while Emily continues to discuss wedding plans with Rory and Jess.
Emily is going on about dresses matching the boutonnières , Jess checks his watch for the thousandth time.
Emily glances over at Jess, "And then of course we'll have to do something with his hair."
Jess perks up, "Excuse me?"
"Grandma, Jess likes his hair like that, its fine." Rory reassures Emily.
"You may be having a simple wedding, Rory but that doesn't mean the groom should have hair that looks like he's just fallen out of bed."
"Grandma, he'll use gel and make it look nice for the wedding I promise."
"It's not just the style, Rory what about the length, a groom should not have hair on the back of his neck the day of his wedding.....For God's sake, Luke even cut his hair for the occasion!"
Luke sits up, stirring Lorelai from her slumber, "Ok, I think it's time to go."
Lorelai yawns, "I said that two hours ago."
"It's just not proper, a bride should be able to see the face of her groom when they're up on the alter."
"I'm sorry grandma, but that's Jess' decision not yours."
"Goodnight mom." Lorelai says as She and Luke walk out the door.
"Come on Jess."
"Look, if it's really that big of a deal, I guess I could trim it a little bit." Jess says with a shrug.
"See Jess doesn't have a problem with it." Emily smirks.
"He's just agreeing to prevent a big fight with you." Rory replies, walking towards the door.
"Oh fine, do whatever you want, have a wedding cake made of twinkies for all I care, I'm just an old woman what do I know?" Emily sneers.
"Goodnight grandma, I'll call you when we get back to New Haven." Rory replies closing the door behind her.
Emily sighs as Jess' pulls out of the driveway.
*In Jess' car.
Rory is sitting in the passenger's seat with her arms crossed and an annoyed expression on her face.
Jess laughs, "Would you calm down, this is stupid."
"It's not stupid, it's irritating, of all the things to focus on, you're hair is fine to say its going to corrupt the whole wedding."
Jess grins.
"Stop that, you're supposed to be on my side, you're supposed to be outraged, why aren't you screaming, I was sure you were good for at least a tiny outburst in there."
"Rory will you listen to yourself? This is no big deal, at least we're not going to have ice sculptures of swans or odd imported Swiss chocolate dessert at out wedding.....if my hair is the only grievance your grandmother has, why not make her happy."
Rory uncrosses her arms, "Yeah, well I just don't want her to be so gung-ho about everything. Especially things she doesn't understand, I mean I like your hair, it's, it's you."
"Well Rory, at the risk of upsetting you, I think she might be right."
"What?' Rory replies w/ shock.
"Well I haven't cut my hair since January, it is in my eyes all the time, and how's that going to look in pictures, I don't have to cut it a lot, just in the back a bit, trim the sides, maybe get the sideburns groomed."
"Really? And you're not doing this for my grandma?"
"No, I'm doing it for you."
"Now, kiss me."
Rory leans over and kisses Jess' cheek.
"So now that we've told everybody we need to tell, and we've had all this drama do you think we can just go back to Luke's and stay in? Jess smirks.
"Is that all you've been thinking about today?"
"Like you weren't thinking about it all day yourself."
"I don't know it has been a long day, I'm afraid I might contract a headache before we get there."
Jess rolls his eyes, playfully "Alright I guess I'll just be ordering pay per view tonight."
"You do and I'll never touch you again." Rory cuts back.
"Yeah, but at the rate you're getting these headaches I'm never going be touched again anyway."
Rory swats his arm "Stop it!"
"Ok, ok, man that hurt."
Rory sighs, "We have been pretty busy these last few days...."
"And tomorrow night I go back to work, and I'm not off again until Sunday." Jess interjects.
"And I have school...."
"So really this could be our last opportunity to, stay in for the next week."
Rory bursts out laughing, "Like we'd ever last an entire week."
Jess laughs, "We are kind of like rabbits aren't we?"
Rory stifles her laugh, "I love you."
"You're just saying that so I'll go to bed with you," Jess says, playing innocent.
"Yeah, but I really do." Rory says seriously. " I love that we can talk like this and still have serious conversations, I love that our relationship isn't just about sex."
"Even though our conversations usually do lead to that," Jess says with a smirk.
"Well that's just because I'm so hot you can't control yourself."
Jess smiles, "Yeah that must be it."
Rory giggles.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"I love you too."
Rory smiles genuinely at Jess.
"I'm so happy we're doing this" Jess says honestly as they pull up in front of Luke's.
Rory looks at him oddly, "Well Yeah..."
"I meant getting married, making it official."
"Oh." Rory smiles faintly.
"Your grandpa was right."
"How so?"
"I think it's just right that we get married now, I can't imagine waiting 20 years to marry you like Luke waited for your mom."
"Jess." Rory sighs.
"Ok, don't get all weepy, enough sentimentality." Jess smirks.
Rory laughs, "Come on."
"Lets go through the back, I don't want to deal with the comments."
"Huh?"
Jess points to the diner where Babbette and Miss Patty are having a late night chat over pie.
"Through the back it is!" Rory replies grabbing Jess' hand as they sneak around the building.
*Two weeks later: Rory's on the phone with Emily.
"So who is going to be your bridesmaids again?"
"Well mom's maid of honor, and the Sookie and Lane will be bridesmaids."
"Only two bridesmaids? Don't you have any friends from college or Chilton that you want in the party?"
"Oh! You're right, I almost forgot Paris add Paris Geller to the list."
"Anyone from Yale, Rory?"
"No. Well James is going to be a groomsman."
"Yes that's right how many groomsmen are there?"
"Well Luke is going to be best man so he and mom can dance together at the wedding, Jess' friend from work, Patrick is going to be a groomsman along with James and Dave, we asked Jackson but he said he's not comfortable standing up there for so long."
"Jackson, he's the odd gardening fellow, stuck in Eisenhower era?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, and you already picked out the cake...a very tasteful butter cream cake w mocha filling.....and that awful woman has ordered Georgia's dress..."
"Grandma...."
"What I'm not wrong even your mother agrees with me, that's some nerve insisting on what dress that little girl wears to your wedding, she's the flower girl you should decide!"
"At least she asked me what color I wanted her in grandma."
"She still tried to persuade you into changing your whole wedding party into wearing pink."
"Just let it go, it'll be fine....we picked out all the other dresses, every body will be wearing sage green dresses, except for mom who will be in a slightly darker green."
"Right, and light gray suits for the men, except for Jess who will be in a coal colored three piece suit."
"And the church is booked, and the Inn will be set up next Thursday, two days before the event."
"Well it looks like everything is done except for the last minute things, I checked out that florists' background and it looks like she'll be perfect...she did the DuGrey wedding a few months back."
"Tristan DuGrey?"
"Oh that's right you went to school with the boy didn't you? Yes interesting story actually seems he was smitten with this reporter or something---only went out with her once or twice, floozy broke his heart, month later he was starting the press work for his club, hired a pr agent, 6 weeks later they were married."
"Wow."
"Anyway, of course Your grandfather and I were invited....elegant affair very expensive, but the flowers were fantastic, so I hired this women and told her we want our arrangements to be a hundred times better than that."
"Thanks Grandma."
"Well I should go, I have a D.A.R. meeting to get to, I'll see you this weekend right?"
"Yeah, you're going to come to the party in Stars Hollow?"
"We were invited so we're coming, I'll see you there, Rory goodnight."
*Next Friday. *Rory is In Lorelai's room getting ready for the party Stars Hollow is throwing in honor of the wedding. Luke and Jess are waiting downstairs.
"This is so weird." Lorelai states, flopping onto to the bed."
"I know a week from tomorrow is my wedding."
"Wow Jess was your first and he's going to be your last...that's amazing."
"I never thought about it like that." Rory replies.
"Hey don't get upset.....do you need one last fling? I'm sure Brian will step up to the plate!" Lorelai giggles.
"Brian as in Brian from Lane's band? Ew."
"Ok then no fling for you."
"Fine."
"It's not like you've only been with Jess..."
"Mom lets stop talking about this." Rory says uncomfortably.
Lorelai's eyes go wide "Wait you've ONLY been with Jess."
Rory laughs nervously, "No, of course not, I just haven't been with anybody that's meant as much to me."
Lorelai sits up, suddenly interested, "Ok so there was Tristan who while extremely good looking, was just a substitute for Jess, and then there was John, the musician when you and Jess were broken up, ok so two guys that you'll probably never see again, I see your point."
Rory doesn't meet her mother's eyes.
"Oh my God there's more?!"
"Just one." Rory protests.
"Who?!"
"No, you're going to make a big deal and be really loud."
"Tell me now or I'm going to my mother that you passed on a DuGrey!"
"Ok, fine....jdskcv," Rory mumbles.
"Excuse me, I don't understand gibberish."
Rory sighs, "James ok, James."
"James! My son from another mother, James!"
"Yes."
"All my whining and pressuring and you going on about just being friends and after all that you had a one night stand."
"Mom we went out for like a month."
"No! you said you were testing out your feelings, that's not going out with somebody."
"Well we tested our feelings for a month.....and about a week a few months later but it was basically a comforting one another through depression type thing."
"And he's going to be in your wedding party?! Does Jess know about you two?"
"Well, no but Jess just started warming up to James, and there was never really anything there between us so what's the point of telling him."
"I guess it's just so weird to think about...."
"What is?" Jess voice breaks in as he appears in the doorway.
Rory jumps.
Jess laughs, "I'm sorry did I interrupt something I shouldn't have."
Lorelai shakes her head, "no, I was just talking about how weird it is to think about that you and Rory will be married in just a week."
"Oh, well it's 6:30, we should probably head over."
"O-ok, just give us five." Rory replies holding up her hand.
"Ok....are you alright Rory, you're shaking?"
"I just had my fifth cup of coffee....and haven't eaten since 2."
"Ok, I'll be downstairs."
"I hate you." Rory says to Lorelai once Jess is out of earshot.
"I just can't believe you kept this from me, I thought I knew you."
"Can we just stop talking about this, I have to get dressed, to go to a shower for my wedding.....to Jess!"
"Ok fine."
*12am: Jess and Rory stumble into Luke's old apartment.
Rory laughs as she bumps into the couch.
Jess grins, stifling his own laughter.
"What?" Rory asks happily.
"I just never thought I'd see the day when you got tipsy."
"It's a week before my wedding, leave me alone..I think it's the perfect way to relieve the stress of it all."
"So what? You're just going to be a lush from now until next Saturday?"
"No just tonight, I won't have time to get drunk the rest of the week."
Jess smiles, "Yeah this week is going to fly by....."
*Following Saturday."
"Rory." Christopher breathes in as he approaches his daughter, who is standing before a mirror in her wedding dress.
Rory turns around, "Dad!"
"You, you look amazing."
"Really?"
Chris nods.
"So, you sure this guy's legit?"
Rory laughs, "yeah, he's, he's a good guy."
"Who would have thought you and him, married."
"Well I guess I got my taste in men from mom, she always did go for the rebel type."
"Which is why she's now married to a man whose staple clothing item is anything flannel."
"For you're information, mom's gotten him to tone it down with the flannel."
Chris laughs, "Yeah well flannel or no, he's perfect for your mom."
"I think everything's worked out the way it's supposed to Mom and Luke, Me and Jess, you and...."
"We're getting divorced."
"What?!"
"I didn't want to tell you over the phone, we're getting a divorce."
"Why? Steven Dasher, That's why."
"She left YOU?"
"You surprised?"
"I just never pictured her the cheating type."
"We haven't been happy for a while, this guy, he's a workaholic, a lawyer makes $180,000, a year, perfect for her."
"Wow, I'm so sorry Dad."
"Don't be, I got Gi."
"You did?! Is she happy about that?"
"Yeah, I mean we're sharing custody, she's just going to be living with me. And we made a deal.....she only has to wear a dress on holidays and when she wants to.....I took her on a little shopping trip last week, bought her her first pair of jeans and a pair of converse....blue converse."
"Nice, so is she here?"
"Gi is, not Shellie, she's spending the weekend at his place."
Rory nods, "Well if it makes you feel any better....I invited my Classic Literature teacher...she's 37, single and used to own a Harley before being employed at Yale."
"She hot?"
Rory nods.
"Ok enough me talk, I here somebody's supposed to walk down that aisle soon."
"Yeah."
"You ready to go?"
"Not until I get a hug." Rory replies with a smile.
"How about a few hugs."
"Sounds like a deal."
*Inside the church The music starts, all eyes turn towards the back door.
Luke pats Jess on the shoulder as Georgia makes her way up the aisle.
"Hi Jess." The little girl waves as the bridesmaids make their way up to the front.
The opening notes to "Your song," play as Rory comes into sight.
Jess breathes in, "Rory."
Rory grins as her eyes meet Jess'.
Reaching the alter, Chris lifts Rory's veil and Kisses her cheek, "I love you."
Chris touches Georgia's shoulder lovingly on his way to his seat.
"Dearly Beloved." The Minister greets the congregation.
"We are gathered her today, to join two young souls in Holy matrimony."
*The Minister begins a long speech on the sanctity of marriage.
Rory and Jess look dreamily into each other eyes.
"You." Is all Jess can manage to whisper.
A single tear runs down Rory's cheek, Jess wipes it away with the back of his hand.
"Lorelai and Jess have chosen to write their own vows, Jess." The minister continues.
Jess takes a deep breath before speaking, "Lorelai, Rory, I knew the moment I set eyes on you that my life would never be the same. Our relationship has been an uphill struggle from the beginning; I've never fought so much for anything in my life as I have for your love. Everything that has happen over these last few years has been worth it. To be standing up her now, knowing that once this day is over I will have the privilege of waking up to your face every morning and the gift of your hearing your laughter for the rest of my life brings tears of happiness to eyes. Rory I love, I will always love you, Life means nothing with out you, so I stand here before you, and all of our friends and family waiting to become your husband so I can spend the rest of my days making you smile and spend all of nights keeping you warm as I read you to sleep. So please take my hand in marriage so we can start our lives together, be my wife so my life can truly begin." Jess finishes as his voice gets caught in his throat from attempting to suppress tears.
Rory smiles at him, "I saw those tears."
"Rory, go ahead." The minister's says.
"Jess," Rory begins, her voice dry and shaky.
"See its not so easy." Jess smirks.
Rory laughs, "Jess, you came into my life at a time when I wasn't expecting you. You taught me what it was to fight for something, you taught me what real love was about. You make everyday better, brighter. I look forward to waking up every morning just so I can hear your voice. Jess you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, I feel so lucky that I have been blessed with your love. When I was 17, I couldn't see what was going to happen between us and it scared me, but now I see everything clearly, I don't know what trials and tribulations we will endure, but I know that we will make it through because we have each other. Today our lives begin; all that we have been through has brought us here, ready to start our lives together. Jess I love you and I will love until the end of our days.
"Jess, place this ring on Rory's finger."
"Rory do the same."
*Rory and Jess exchange rings.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your Bride." The minister smiles at Jess.
Jess places and arm around Rory's waist and dips her into a long romantic kiss, hooting and hollering from the crowd pursues.
Jess pulls out of the embrace and grins at Rory, "I love you."
"We're married." Rory says wistfully.
"Um, I believe this is the part wear you walk down the aisle so everyone can go party." The minister hisses at them.
Rory laughs, taking Jess's hand as they make their way down the aisle.
*The reception was incredible. Held at the Dragonfly, the reception was both indoors and out so guests could enjoy the cool autumn air...while drinking wine and warm cider inside, the flower arrangements were Lilacs mixed with yellow tulips and roses, and deep orange colored leaves. Everyone in town came out to toast Stars Hollows' princess. Even Emily and Richard joined in the dancing. Lane and Dave's band played a few songs before handing the mic over to the small string band hired by Emily. The party went on until long into the early hours of morning and didn't end until Lorelai herself fell asleep on Luke's shoulder, mid-dance.
*2 weeks later:
"Flannel Emporium, How can I help you?"
"Hi mom!"
"You're back!"
"I am!"
"How was it? It was amazing, it was beautiful and romantic and you probably never saw the light except for the crack of sun that streamed through your hotel room at 6am."
"Funny, but we did go out.....for some of the time. Mom it was the most beautiful place I've ever seen, It was warm and tropical and we went for a walk through this little town, and it started to pour rain, but we just kept walking and the smell of the concrete just engulfed the whole place, it was incredible." Rory sighs.
"Sounds it, aw babe I'm so happy you had a good time.....honeymoons are supposed to be magical like that."
"It was, it really was, I'm so sorry I didn't call you we were just so...."
"Tied up with going at it like rabbits I understand completely." Lorelai says with amusement.
"Well mom, I have to go, we just got in a little while ago and rather than unpack with decided to ignore the mounds and mounds of laundry we have to do and go out for dinner."
"Fun! Ok babe, I love you and I'll talk to you soon."
"Well, what are you doing Saturday, we were thinking of stopping by."
"Well I'm sorry but I'm going to be tied up looking at pictures of my other daughters wedding and watching reruns of Three's company, I tell you I'm obsessed, I never really appreciated John Ritter until he was gone, such a shame."
"Rory laughs, Ok well I guess I'll have to show the slides from my honeymoon to my other mother then."
"You took slides?!"
"What can I say my mother always said they were a thousand times better than a picture because you get to play with a little clicker thing while reenacting conversations for each and every slide, making the picture viewing last for way more than 5 minutes."
"I have taught you well."
"Yes you have, goodbye mom."
"Love you kid, tell Jess to take you somewhere expensive."
"I will." Rory replies hanging up the phone.
"So? You ready?"
"Yeah, lets go."
Ok bad ending but come on I've been working on this all day its 10:30 and I just seeped onto my 35th page. I figured I'd make up for a shortage of updates enjoy respond let me know what you think. And I'm sure you all have an idea where this story is going as all my stories end the same b/c I'm obsessed w/ tying up all loose ends. So sorry to be repetitive but I promise there's only going to be like 2 more chapters
*It's the morning after Lane's wedding and Rory has asked Lorelai to meet her at the diner at 11.
*Upstairs: Luke's Old Apartment.
"Ok. So how do I Look?" Rory asks Jess, who is sprawled out across the couch.
"Fine." Jess shrugs.
"Maybe I should change."
"Rory, you're just going downstairs to the diner that you've spent 90% of your life in, and you're just going to talk to your mom, who honestly I don't think will care if you wear clothes or not."
"You're right."
"In fact I'm pretty sure she'd encourage you to go down there naked...me, I say that's a good idea..except you don't go downstairs and you just stay here...with me...naked." Jess smirks.
"Tempting as that is, I can't go another day without telling my mom, Jess."
"It's killing you isn't it."
Rory nods feverishly.
"Alright so go tell her real quick and then come back here and we'll stay in all day."
Rory shakes her head; "You know you're coming down with me right?"
"Nah. I'm staying here."
"If you stay here, she's just going to run up here herself, and she hasn't been in here in like a year, and she's never gonna want to leave she's going to snoop around looking for things to tease Luke about. But really it's your choice...a 30 minute discussion with breakfast included, or 3 hours with no escape." Rory smirks.
Jess groans. "Fine, you go first give me five minutes." Jess says gesturing towards his boxers, "I need to get dressed."
"No you don't, like you said, my mom won't care..." Rory grins.
"Go."
Rory bounds downstairs.
"Well if its isn't Holly Happy Pants!" Lorelai exclaims.
Luke Rolls his eyes at Lorelai.
"Hey mom!"
"So what's with requesting a meeting? You were very shifty about it last night."
"Well I'm going back to New Haven Tomorrow and I just wanted to talk to you before I left."
"Oh...but since when do you have to request a meeting in a public place with me, is this like when guys take girls to a restaurant to break up with them so they won't have a temper tantrum."
"No." Rory replies.
Lorelai breathes a sigh of relief, "Good because I don't think I have the energy for a temper tantrum."
Luke rolls his eyes at Lorelai, "Coffee?" Luke asks Rory.
"Please." Rory grins.
Jess enters the diner.
Rory ushers Jess over.
"Ok, lets get this over with." Jess says, putting an arm around Rory's waist.
"Excuse me?" Lorelai replies taken back. "Get what over with, is having lunch with me, a chore?"
"That's not what he meant, is it jess?"
Jess shrugs.
"That means he's happy to be here." Rory replies.
"So what's going on babe?"
"Luke, come here for second, I think you should here this too."
"Ok, get on with it." Luke replies, leaning against the counter.
"Mom, Luke....Jess and I are, we're."
"Getting married." Jess finishes.
Rory glares at him, "Rory, we would have been here all day at your rate."
Rory rolls her eyes at Jess before turning back towards her mother, "Well?"
Lorelai is wearing a look of shock on her face, Lorelai turns to Luke, "What did she just say?"
"She's getting married....to him." Luke says, astonished.
"Are you pregnant?" Lorelai asks seriously,
"What? No!" Rory replies.
"So you're not pregnant...and not dying and you two are getting married?"
Rory nods.
"Just like that?" Luke asks.
Rory sighs, "Why are you guys so surprised?"
"Honey, I'm sorry its just look at what your saying......I guess we just never thought it would happen."
Rory looks towards the floor, choosing not to reply.
Jess tightens his hold on Rory.
"Wow, my baby's getting hitched!" Lorelai squeals, causing Rory to grin.
"So you're ok with this?"
"I'm ecstatic, I just never thought he'd pop the question."
"Well it was kind of a last minute decision." Jess replies.
"Oh! Did he get down on one knee?"
"He wasn't going to, but I made him." Rory replies with a smirk.
"Good girl. Oh come on we have to go tell Sookie!"
"Ok!" Rory exclaims loosening herself from Jess' grip.
"Luke, Coffee to go!" Lorelai demands.
"Oh. I have to pee before we go, give me a minute." Rory replies, running upstairs.
Jess watches her disappear up the stairs.
Lorelai takes this opportunity to catch Jess off guard. While his back is turned, she pounces on him.
"Can I help you?" Jess asks, amused.
Lorelai lets go of him, and Jess turns to face her.
"Go ahead say something I know you're dying to."
"You did it!" Lorelai squeals. "You're going to marry my daughter!"
Jess smiles sincerely, "Yeah."
"You love her, you really do.....it wasn't just some conquest thing when you were 17, you love her...she broke the rebel with out a cause in you! Of course you never were quite up to James Dean Proportions "
Jess nods amusedly.
"You two are going to have the most beautiful kids, they'll have brown hair and blue eyes and have really bad attitudes....they can torture Luke!"
Jess laughs.
"I heard that" Luke says, leaning against the counter.
"You were meant to." Lorelai pouts leaning in to kiss Luke.
Rory reenters the diner.
"Ew, I'm never going to get used to that." Jess shakes his head.
Rory laughs from behind him, "Ready mom?"
"Yep! Lets go!"
Luke and Jess watch Rory and Lorelai skip out of the diner.
"You're in for it." Luke says, breaking the silence.
"Well if you can survive being married to a Gilmore, I'm sure I can too."
Luke shakes his head, "No way, I have it much easier....Lorelai still grew up in a grounded environment, she had stern parents, she wasn't a part of this craziness until she almost 18...Rory's been here practically her whole life, she used to spend hours after school at miss Patty's, she was having coffee on Sundays with Babbette when she was five...Rory's been subjected to these lunatics for her entire life.....so yeah, you're going to have it a hundred times worse then I do," Luke says with a grin.
"Damn, perhaps I need to rethink this.."
Luke glares at Jess, "No way, you break her heart, I break you."
Jess laughs, "I was kidding."
Luke's eyes go wide, "I just thought of something."
"What?"
"You're going to have to tell Lorelai's parents about this...and soon if they find out you've been engaged for more than a few hours without telling them, man you won't make it to your own wedding."
Jess runs a hand through his unkempt hair, "Can't we just elope and tell them after?"
"You'll never hear the end of it, Rory's their only granddaughter....I guarantee you, Emily's had her reception planned out since Rory was 8."
"But what about you and Lorelai, you guys didn't have a ridiculous wedding."
"We almost did, believe me it was just a matter of Emily getting too tired of fighting w/ Lorelai. Besides don't you remember the flower arrangements at $1,000 per arrangement, and the imported desserts?"
"Oh Man, I'm screwed."
Luke nods, "Just pray she's abandoned her dreams of a Romanov in Winter theme."
Jess groans, "Give me the phone."
Luke hands Jess the phone, Jess dials it.
"Hello, Lorelai Mariano 's phone." Lorelai answers Rory's phone, cheerfully.
"You two waste no time do you?" Jess replies.
"Not a second, hold on."
"Hey." Rory says happily.
"I think you and your mom should go see your grandmother or at least call her and let her know what's going on."
"Hold on." Rory replies, handing the phone to her mother
"Luke's been talking to you hasn't he?" Lorelai says, grinning at Rory.
"Just a little."
"Well he's a smart man, but of course he neglected to tell you that its never a good idea to announce stuff like this w/o all involved parties present, she's going to take it as a personal insult if you're not there squeezing Rory's hand as they go over wedding plans, she'll never forgive you."
"Point taken."
"Good. We'll give her a call, and see if all four of us can go out there tonight....because once Rory tells her the news, if somebody's not there to stop her, my mom will keep you there until 3am discussing the proper nail color for the bridesmaids." Lorelai replies seriously.
"Ok call me back, let me know what's going on."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye Honey!" Rory screams in the background.
"Haha you called Jess Honey!" Lorelai screeches as she hangs up the phone.
Jess hands Luke the phone, burying his face in his hands .
"And so it begins." Luke grins at Jess.
"Shut up." Jess barks.
*7pm: Gilmore Residence: Hartford.
*Dinner is over, and everyone has gone into the living room for coffee.
There is silence except for the clinking of spoons as the coffee is stirred.
Emily breaks the silence, "Dare I ask why we're all here, on a night other than Friday...because I know what an inconvenience its for both of you to be available on any other night." Emily says heavily.
"Well mom, Rory has some very exciting news."
Emily cheers up, "Really."
"Really." Lorelai replies.
"Well, Lorelai let your daughter tell me if it's her news, if it's that exciting I'm sure she wants to tell me herself."
"Right." Lorelai nods, biting her lip.
"Grandma, Grandpa, Jess and I are getting married." Rory says with a grin.
Emily puts a hand to her mouth, "How wonderful!"
"Congratulations," Richard says, shaking Jess' hand.
"Well I'll be, after all these years."
"Well, Emily, look at it this way at least they didn't wait as long as these two did to make it official." Richard says cheerfully, "Now come on, drinks all around."
"Now Rory, how wonderful would it be to have a Paris in the spring, themed wedding!" Emily asks, her mind going off in a thousand different directions.
"That'd be nice." Rory replies.
Jess nudges Rory.
"...But we were actually thinking of having the wedding a little bit sooner than spring."
"Perfect...A Winter Romanovs theme....oh Richard, wouldn't Rory look elegant in an ivory collared dress, w the long collared jacket over it, with a silk bodice."
Richard nods.
"Grandma..."
"And a tiara."
"Mom.."
"And Gigi could wear one of those dresses like the dancers back then wore w/ the ballerina type skirt and slippers."
"Grandma!" Rory raises her voice slightly.
Taken back, "What is it dear?"
"Jess and I want to get married as soon as possible."
Outraged Emily replies, "So what? You're just going to go to some lawyer and get the certificate and have the justice of the peace do it?"
"No, Grandma, no.....we just don't see the point in dragging this out, we were hoping to have a simple wedding maybe at the end of next month."
"Oh."
"I want you're help, I do, I mean no one has as much style as you do, its just I want my wedding to be about Jess and I and our relationship, I think it should reflect that, and there's nothing Russian about our relationship, banished tsars have to do with us."
"You're right, and I'd be honored to do whatever I can to make this a special occasion for you, for both of you." Emily smiles at Jess.
"Thank you." Jess says hoarsely.
"I just can't believe it, the two of you marrying men from the same gene pool, you really are two peas in a pod."
"Isn't it great!" Lorelai exclaims.
"It's something." Emily replies, sitting back.
*everyone laughs.
*3 hours later: Richard has gone to bed, Lorelai is asleep, her head resting on a drowsy Luke's shoulder, while Emily continues to discuss wedding plans with Rory and Jess.
Emily is going on about dresses matching the boutonnières , Jess checks his watch for the thousandth time.
Emily glances over at Jess, "And then of course we'll have to do something with his hair."
Jess perks up, "Excuse me?"
"Grandma, Jess likes his hair like that, its fine." Rory reassures Emily.
"You may be having a simple wedding, Rory but that doesn't mean the groom should have hair that looks like he's just fallen out of bed."
"Grandma, he'll use gel and make it look nice for the wedding I promise."
"It's not just the style, Rory what about the length, a groom should not have hair on the back of his neck the day of his wedding.....For God's sake, Luke even cut his hair for the occasion!"
Luke sits up, stirring Lorelai from her slumber, "Ok, I think it's time to go."
Lorelai yawns, "I said that two hours ago."
"It's just not proper, a bride should be able to see the face of her groom when they're up on the alter."
"I'm sorry grandma, but that's Jess' decision not yours."
"Goodnight mom." Lorelai says as She and Luke walk out the door.
"Come on Jess."
"Look, if it's really that big of a deal, I guess I could trim it a little bit." Jess says with a shrug.
"See Jess doesn't have a problem with it." Emily smirks.
"He's just agreeing to prevent a big fight with you." Rory replies, walking towards the door.
"Oh fine, do whatever you want, have a wedding cake made of twinkies for all I care, I'm just an old woman what do I know?" Emily sneers.
"Goodnight grandma, I'll call you when we get back to New Haven." Rory replies closing the door behind her.
Emily sighs as Jess' pulls out of the driveway.
*In Jess' car.
Rory is sitting in the passenger's seat with her arms crossed and an annoyed expression on her face.
Jess laughs, "Would you calm down, this is stupid."
"It's not stupid, it's irritating, of all the things to focus on, you're hair is fine to say its going to corrupt the whole wedding."
Jess grins.
"Stop that, you're supposed to be on my side, you're supposed to be outraged, why aren't you screaming, I was sure you were good for at least a tiny outburst in there."
"Rory will you listen to yourself? This is no big deal, at least we're not going to have ice sculptures of swans or odd imported Swiss chocolate dessert at out wedding.....if my hair is the only grievance your grandmother has, why not make her happy."
Rory uncrosses her arms, "Yeah, well I just don't want her to be so gung-ho about everything. Especially things she doesn't understand, I mean I like your hair, it's, it's you."
"Well Rory, at the risk of upsetting you, I think she might be right."
"What?' Rory replies w/ shock.
"Well I haven't cut my hair since January, it is in my eyes all the time, and how's that going to look in pictures, I don't have to cut it a lot, just in the back a bit, trim the sides, maybe get the sideburns groomed."
"Really? And you're not doing this for my grandma?"
"No, I'm doing it for you."
"Now, kiss me."
Rory leans over and kisses Jess' cheek.
"So now that we've told everybody we need to tell, and we've had all this drama do you think we can just go back to Luke's and stay in? Jess smirks.
"Is that all you've been thinking about today?"
"Like you weren't thinking about it all day yourself."
"I don't know it has been a long day, I'm afraid I might contract a headache before we get there."
Jess rolls his eyes, playfully "Alright I guess I'll just be ordering pay per view tonight."
"You do and I'll never touch you again." Rory cuts back.
"Yeah, but at the rate you're getting these headaches I'm never going be touched again anyway."
Rory swats his arm "Stop it!"
"Ok, ok, man that hurt."
Rory sighs, "We have been pretty busy these last few days...."
"And tomorrow night I go back to work, and I'm not off again until Sunday." Jess interjects.
"And I have school...."
"So really this could be our last opportunity to, stay in for the next week."
Rory bursts out laughing, "Like we'd ever last an entire week."
Jess laughs, "We are kind of like rabbits aren't we?"
Rory stifles her laugh, "I love you."
"You're just saying that so I'll go to bed with you," Jess says, playing innocent.
"Yeah, but I really do." Rory says seriously. " I love that we can talk like this and still have serious conversations, I love that our relationship isn't just about sex."
"Even though our conversations usually do lead to that," Jess says with a smirk.
"Well that's just because I'm so hot you can't control yourself."
Jess smiles, "Yeah that must be it."
Rory giggles.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"I love you too."
Rory smiles genuinely at Jess.
"I'm so happy we're doing this" Jess says honestly as they pull up in front of Luke's.
Rory looks at him oddly, "Well Yeah..."
"I meant getting married, making it official."
"Oh." Rory smiles faintly.
"Your grandpa was right."
"How so?"
"I think it's just right that we get married now, I can't imagine waiting 20 years to marry you like Luke waited for your mom."
"Jess." Rory sighs.
"Ok, don't get all weepy, enough sentimentality." Jess smirks.
Rory laughs, "Come on."
"Lets go through the back, I don't want to deal with the comments."
"Huh?"
Jess points to the diner where Babbette and Miss Patty are having a late night chat over pie.
"Through the back it is!" Rory replies grabbing Jess' hand as they sneak around the building.
*Two weeks later: Rory's on the phone with Emily.
"So who is going to be your bridesmaids again?"
"Well mom's maid of honor, and the Sookie and Lane will be bridesmaids."
"Only two bridesmaids? Don't you have any friends from college or Chilton that you want in the party?"
"Oh! You're right, I almost forgot Paris add Paris Geller to the list."
"Anyone from Yale, Rory?"
"No. Well James is going to be a groomsman."
"Yes that's right how many groomsmen are there?"
"Well Luke is going to be best man so he and mom can dance together at the wedding, Jess' friend from work, Patrick is going to be a groomsman along with James and Dave, we asked Jackson but he said he's not comfortable standing up there for so long."
"Jackson, he's the odd gardening fellow, stuck in Eisenhower era?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, and you already picked out the cake...a very tasteful butter cream cake w mocha filling.....and that awful woman has ordered Georgia's dress..."
"Grandma...."
"What I'm not wrong even your mother agrees with me, that's some nerve insisting on what dress that little girl wears to your wedding, she's the flower girl you should decide!"
"At least she asked me what color I wanted her in grandma."
"She still tried to persuade you into changing your whole wedding party into wearing pink."
"Just let it go, it'll be fine....we picked out all the other dresses, every body will be wearing sage green dresses, except for mom who will be in a slightly darker green."
"Right, and light gray suits for the men, except for Jess who will be in a coal colored three piece suit."
"And the church is booked, and the Inn will be set up next Thursday, two days before the event."
"Well it looks like everything is done except for the last minute things, I checked out that florists' background and it looks like she'll be perfect...she did the DuGrey wedding a few months back."
"Tristan DuGrey?"
"Oh that's right you went to school with the boy didn't you? Yes interesting story actually seems he was smitten with this reporter or something---only went out with her once or twice, floozy broke his heart, month later he was starting the press work for his club, hired a pr agent, 6 weeks later they were married."
"Wow."
"Anyway, of course Your grandfather and I were invited....elegant affair very expensive, but the flowers were fantastic, so I hired this women and told her we want our arrangements to be a hundred times better than that."
"Thanks Grandma."
"Well I should go, I have a D.A.R. meeting to get to, I'll see you this weekend right?"
"Yeah, you're going to come to the party in Stars Hollow?"
"We were invited so we're coming, I'll see you there, Rory goodnight."
*Next Friday. *Rory is In Lorelai's room getting ready for the party Stars Hollow is throwing in honor of the wedding. Luke and Jess are waiting downstairs.
"This is so weird." Lorelai states, flopping onto to the bed."
"I know a week from tomorrow is my wedding."
"Wow Jess was your first and he's going to be your last...that's amazing."
"I never thought about it like that." Rory replies.
"Hey don't get upset.....do you need one last fling? I'm sure Brian will step up to the plate!" Lorelai giggles.
"Brian as in Brian from Lane's band? Ew."
"Ok then no fling for you."
"Fine."
"It's not like you've only been with Jess..."
"Mom lets stop talking about this." Rory says uncomfortably.
Lorelai's eyes go wide "Wait you've ONLY been with Jess."
Rory laughs nervously, "No, of course not, I just haven't been with anybody that's meant as much to me."
Lorelai sits up, suddenly interested, "Ok so there was Tristan who while extremely good looking, was just a substitute for Jess, and then there was John, the musician when you and Jess were broken up, ok so two guys that you'll probably never see again, I see your point."
Rory doesn't meet her mother's eyes.
"Oh my God there's more?!"
"Just one." Rory protests.
"Who?!"
"No, you're going to make a big deal and be really loud."
"Tell me now or I'm going to my mother that you passed on a DuGrey!"
"Ok, fine....jdskcv," Rory mumbles.
"Excuse me, I don't understand gibberish."
Rory sighs, "James ok, James."
"James! My son from another mother, James!"
"Yes."
"All my whining and pressuring and you going on about just being friends and after all that you had a one night stand."
"Mom we went out for like a month."
"No! you said you were testing out your feelings, that's not going out with somebody."
"Well we tested our feelings for a month.....and about a week a few months later but it was basically a comforting one another through depression type thing."
"And he's going to be in your wedding party?! Does Jess know about you two?"
"Well, no but Jess just started warming up to James, and there was never really anything there between us so what's the point of telling him."
"I guess it's just so weird to think about...."
"What is?" Jess voice breaks in as he appears in the doorway.
Rory jumps.
Jess laughs, "I'm sorry did I interrupt something I shouldn't have."
Lorelai shakes her head, "no, I was just talking about how weird it is to think about that you and Rory will be married in just a week."
"Oh, well it's 6:30, we should probably head over."
"O-ok, just give us five." Rory replies holding up her hand.
"Ok....are you alright Rory, you're shaking?"
"I just had my fifth cup of coffee....and haven't eaten since 2."
"Ok, I'll be downstairs."
"I hate you." Rory says to Lorelai once Jess is out of earshot.
"I just can't believe you kept this from me, I thought I knew you."
"Can we just stop talking about this, I have to get dressed, to go to a shower for my wedding.....to Jess!"
"Ok fine."
*12am: Jess and Rory stumble into Luke's old apartment.
Rory laughs as she bumps into the couch.
Jess grins, stifling his own laughter.
"What?" Rory asks happily.
"I just never thought I'd see the day when you got tipsy."
"It's a week before my wedding, leave me alone..I think it's the perfect way to relieve the stress of it all."
"So what? You're just going to be a lush from now until next Saturday?"
"No just tonight, I won't have time to get drunk the rest of the week."
Jess smiles, "Yeah this week is going to fly by....."
*Following Saturday."
"Rory." Christopher breathes in as he approaches his daughter, who is standing before a mirror in her wedding dress.
Rory turns around, "Dad!"
"You, you look amazing."
"Really?"
Chris nods.
"So, you sure this guy's legit?"
Rory laughs, "yeah, he's, he's a good guy."
"Who would have thought you and him, married."
"Well I guess I got my taste in men from mom, she always did go for the rebel type."
"Which is why she's now married to a man whose staple clothing item is anything flannel."
"For you're information, mom's gotten him to tone it down with the flannel."
Chris laughs, "Yeah well flannel or no, he's perfect for your mom."
"I think everything's worked out the way it's supposed to Mom and Luke, Me and Jess, you and...."
"We're getting divorced."
"What?!"
"I didn't want to tell you over the phone, we're getting a divorce."
"Why? Steven Dasher, That's why."
"She left YOU?"
"You surprised?"
"I just never pictured her the cheating type."
"We haven't been happy for a while, this guy, he's a workaholic, a lawyer makes $180,000, a year, perfect for her."
"Wow, I'm so sorry Dad."
"Don't be, I got Gi."
"You did?! Is she happy about that?"
"Yeah, I mean we're sharing custody, she's just going to be living with me. And we made a deal.....she only has to wear a dress on holidays and when she wants to.....I took her on a little shopping trip last week, bought her her first pair of jeans and a pair of converse....blue converse."
"Nice, so is she here?"
"Gi is, not Shellie, she's spending the weekend at his place."
Rory nods, "Well if it makes you feel any better....I invited my Classic Literature teacher...she's 37, single and used to own a Harley before being employed at Yale."
"She hot?"
Rory nods.
"Ok enough me talk, I here somebody's supposed to walk down that aisle soon."
"Yeah."
"You ready to go?"
"Not until I get a hug." Rory replies with a smile.
"How about a few hugs."
"Sounds like a deal."
*Inside the church The music starts, all eyes turn towards the back door.
Luke pats Jess on the shoulder as Georgia makes her way up the aisle.
"Hi Jess." The little girl waves as the bridesmaids make their way up to the front.
The opening notes to "Your song," play as Rory comes into sight.
Jess breathes in, "Rory."
Rory grins as her eyes meet Jess'.
Reaching the alter, Chris lifts Rory's veil and Kisses her cheek, "I love you."
Chris touches Georgia's shoulder lovingly on his way to his seat.
"Dearly Beloved." The Minister greets the congregation.
"We are gathered her today, to join two young souls in Holy matrimony."
*The Minister begins a long speech on the sanctity of marriage.
Rory and Jess look dreamily into each other eyes.
"You." Is all Jess can manage to whisper.
A single tear runs down Rory's cheek, Jess wipes it away with the back of his hand.
"Lorelai and Jess have chosen to write their own vows, Jess." The minister continues.
Jess takes a deep breath before speaking, "Lorelai, Rory, I knew the moment I set eyes on you that my life would never be the same. Our relationship has been an uphill struggle from the beginning; I've never fought so much for anything in my life as I have for your love. Everything that has happen over these last few years has been worth it. To be standing up her now, knowing that once this day is over I will have the privilege of waking up to your face every morning and the gift of your hearing your laughter for the rest of my life brings tears of happiness to eyes. Rory I love, I will always love you, Life means nothing with out you, so I stand here before you, and all of our friends and family waiting to become your husband so I can spend the rest of my days making you smile and spend all of nights keeping you warm as I read you to sleep. So please take my hand in marriage so we can start our lives together, be my wife so my life can truly begin." Jess finishes as his voice gets caught in his throat from attempting to suppress tears.
Rory smiles at him, "I saw those tears."
"Rory, go ahead." The minister's says.
"Jess," Rory begins, her voice dry and shaky.
"See its not so easy." Jess smirks.
Rory laughs, "Jess, you came into my life at a time when I wasn't expecting you. You taught me what it was to fight for something, you taught me what real love was about. You make everyday better, brighter. I look forward to waking up every morning just so I can hear your voice. Jess you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, I feel so lucky that I have been blessed with your love. When I was 17, I couldn't see what was going to happen between us and it scared me, but now I see everything clearly, I don't know what trials and tribulations we will endure, but I know that we will make it through because we have each other. Today our lives begin; all that we have been through has brought us here, ready to start our lives together. Jess I love you and I will love until the end of our days.
"Jess, place this ring on Rory's finger."
"Rory do the same."
*Rory and Jess exchange rings.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your Bride." The minister smiles at Jess.
Jess places and arm around Rory's waist and dips her into a long romantic kiss, hooting and hollering from the crowd pursues.
Jess pulls out of the embrace and grins at Rory, "I love you."
"We're married." Rory says wistfully.
"Um, I believe this is the part wear you walk down the aisle so everyone can go party." The minister hisses at them.
Rory laughs, taking Jess's hand as they make their way down the aisle.
*The reception was incredible. Held at the Dragonfly, the reception was both indoors and out so guests could enjoy the cool autumn air...while drinking wine and warm cider inside, the flower arrangements were Lilacs mixed with yellow tulips and roses, and deep orange colored leaves. Everyone in town came out to toast Stars Hollows' princess. Even Emily and Richard joined in the dancing. Lane and Dave's band played a few songs before handing the mic over to the small string band hired by Emily. The party went on until long into the early hours of morning and didn't end until Lorelai herself fell asleep on Luke's shoulder, mid-dance.
*2 weeks later:
"Flannel Emporium, How can I help you?"
"Hi mom!"
"You're back!"
"I am!"
"How was it? It was amazing, it was beautiful and romantic and you probably never saw the light except for the crack of sun that streamed through your hotel room at 6am."
"Funny, but we did go out.....for some of the time. Mom it was the most beautiful place I've ever seen, It was warm and tropical and we went for a walk through this little town, and it started to pour rain, but we just kept walking and the smell of the concrete just engulfed the whole place, it was incredible." Rory sighs.
"Sounds it, aw babe I'm so happy you had a good time.....honeymoons are supposed to be magical like that."
"It was, it really was, I'm so sorry I didn't call you we were just so...."
"Tied up with going at it like rabbits I understand completely." Lorelai says with amusement.
"Well mom, I have to go, we just got in a little while ago and rather than unpack with decided to ignore the mounds and mounds of laundry we have to do and go out for dinner."
"Fun! Ok babe, I love you and I'll talk to you soon."
"Well, what are you doing Saturday, we were thinking of stopping by."
"Well I'm sorry but I'm going to be tied up looking at pictures of my other daughters wedding and watching reruns of Three's company, I tell you I'm obsessed, I never really appreciated John Ritter until he was gone, such a shame."
"Rory laughs, Ok well I guess I'll have to show the slides from my honeymoon to my other mother then."
"You took slides?!"
"What can I say my mother always said they were a thousand times better than a picture because you get to play with a little clicker thing while reenacting conversations for each and every slide, making the picture viewing last for way more than 5 minutes."
"I have taught you well."
"Yes you have, goodbye mom."
"Love you kid, tell Jess to take you somewhere expensive."
"I will." Rory replies hanging up the phone.
"So? You ready?"
"Yeah, lets go."
Ok bad ending but come on I've been working on this all day its 10:30 and I just seeped onto my 35th page. I figured I'd make up for a shortage of updates enjoy respond let me know what you think. And I'm sure you all have an idea where this story is going as all my stories end the same b/c I'm obsessed w/ tying up all loose ends. So sorry to be repetitive but I promise there's only going to be like 2 more chapters