Hello all you dedicated readers! Last chapter, and then I'll post an epilogue! Enjoy!
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Rory watched as Ms. Patty and her mother ran around the house, frantically searching for Tristan's tie.
"Mom! Patty!" Rory yelled, coming down the stairs.
The two women stopped and looked at her. "What?"
"I'm getting married today," Rory stated, smiling.
Lorelai smiled at her daughter. "I know, babe."
Patty walked over to Rory. "It seems like just yesterday you were turning sixteen, and we were all gathered here to celebrate."
Rory smiled. "I know. And now here I am, marrying my high school enemy."
"Fate has a way of coming around and biting you in the ass," Lorelai said. "Look at Luke and me!"
The front door opened in an instant. "Rory!"
"Lane!" Rory exclaimed.
"Sorry, but Dave decided that he wanted to stay home and then there was a fight, and…" Lane sighed.
"Kids," Rory said.
"Oh, yeah. I told him he couldn't play video games if he didn't go," Lane replied. "That got him to get his butt in gear. Four year olds."
Rory smiled as she watched Lane's four year old twins, Dave, Jr., and Journey make their way over to the steps.
"Hey, Journey," Rory greeted. "Jemma's in her room if you want to go see her."
Journey's eyes lit up and she happily made her way to Jemma's room.
"Hi, Ms. Gilmore," Dave said.
"Hey, Dave," Rory replied. "I have some of your toy cars here. I think they're in the oven in the kitchen."
Dave smiled at Rory and ran into the house.
"You have a way with kids," Lane stated.
"I've had one for four years," Rory replied. "I grew used to hissy fits."
"I've had my kids for four years," Lane stated.
"You didn't have your kids right out of high school," Rory returned.
"No, I had them four months after…" Lane stopped speaking.
"No, you can say it," Rory said. "Four months after Jess left."
Silence filled the air, and Lane instantly felt guilty for bringing up the name of Jemma's father.
"Wow, for being born two months early they sure have a lot of energy," Rory stated, watching Journey and Dave running through the house.
Lane nodded. "Yeah."
"So, now that you're here all we have to do is wait for Paris and then we can go to the church," Rory stated.
"Alright, then," Lane said. "Hey, Rory, do you know about…"
"Paris and Dean's annulment?" Rory asked. "Of course, Dean told me."
"I feel bad for him," Lane offered.
"Me too, but Paris loves Jamie, and I can't really blame her for wanting to be with the person she loves," Rory stated.
"Thanks, Rory," Paris stated, walking over to her.
"When did you get here?" Rory asked.
"Just now," Paris replied. "Hey, Lane. Where are your kids?"
"Running around the house," Lane replied. "Can't get them to sit down. Pain in the butt."
"Here comes Auntie Lorelai!" Rory heard her mother squeal as she chased the kids around the house.
"Kind of like my mother," Rory said. "She's like a turtle on speed."
"I heard that!" Lorelai yelled from inside.
"Momma! Aunt Lorelai's fun!" Dave squealed, coming outside.
"That she is," Lane replied, smiling at her son. "Hey, Lorelai. Here's Dave's suit, and Journey's dress."
Lorelai gently took the clothes and led the children inside the house.
Rory looked at Paris and Lane. "Okay, I'm going to go talk to Jemma for a little bit, and then I'll meet you two at the church, okay?"
"Awesome," Paris replied.
"Cool," Rory said, making her way inside the house. "See you in a few."
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Jess had no idea why he was here. It was her wedding day. He was supposed to be going back to Texas. But no, he'd opted to stay here in Stars Hollow, hoping Rory would give him a chance.
"What are you doing here?" Lane asked.
"I'm here to see the wedding," Jess replied.
Lane made her way inside the church to the dressing room. Jess followed.
"I need her, Lane," Jess stated. "She needs me."
"My God, Jess. It's her wedding day," Lane said. "She's finally marrying someone who won't leave."
"She's the one who practically told me to leave in the first place," Jess replied.
"Look, Jess, I feel for you, but she has someone," Lane said. "Someone who loves her and Jemma."
"I was that person for so long, and she turned me down," Jess whispered. "God, Lane, I love her so much."
Paris walked into the room. "Then I suggest you get her back before it's too late."
"Paris?" Jess asked. "You're encouraging this?"
"What, you think I should be the one to tell you that you can't have her?" Paris asked. "Hello, I'm the one who got her marriage annulled because she never got over her ex-boyfriend."
"Where is she?" Jess asked.
"She's in the other dressing room down the hall and to your left," Paris replied. "She's already in her dress, so you don't have to worry about her being naked when you walk in."
Jess nodded, and ran down the hall. He needed Rory.
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Jess opened the door to the room. "Rory, we need to talk."
"Jess?" Rory asked.
"Rory, we need to talk," Jess repeated.
"Jess, what are you doing here?" Rory asked. "I'm getting married today."
"I'm well aware of that, Rory, but let me ask you this," Jess said.
Rory hesitated. "What?"
Jess kissed her, and she eagerly kissed him back. Slowly, reluctantly, they pulled away from each other.
"Does he make you feel like that?" Jess asked.
Rory looked at him, afraid to answer. She knew what she had to do.
"If you really love him as much as you say you do, tell me, and I'll leave. I won't come back," Jess said. "Ever."
Rory's lip quivered, and tears were clouding her eyes. "I… I… I'm getting married today."
Jess nodded, and left without saying a word.
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Tristan stood outside the church smiling. He was getting married today. And he was happier than ever.
He couldn't believe he was marrying Rory Gilmore.
The love of his life.
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Rory sat at her bureau and brushed her hair. She looked in the mirror and knew what she had to do.
She got up and quickly ran to her car.
And straight into Tristan's arms.
"That anxious to see me, Mary?" he asked.
Rory looked at Tristan. No, I can't marry him. It's not fair to him, or me.
"Tristan, we need to talk," Rory said.
"Why do I not like that tone?" he asked.
"Tristan, I…" Rory's words trailed off.
She couldn't bring herself to say those words, no matter how much she loved Jess.
Tristan nodded. "It's Jess, isn't it?"
Rory looked at the ground. "I can't get over him. No amount of wallowing can do that."
Tristan lifted Rory's chin. "I understand."
"Thank you," Rory said, hugging him. "Thank you so much."
Tristan hugged Rory. "Go get him."
Rory smiled, and ran faster to her car. She knew exactly where she would find him.
Tristan pulled out his cell phone. "Hey, Lorelai? It's Tristan…"
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Jess sat at the bridge with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. He couldn't believe he'd lost Rory Gilmore again.
He stared out at the water, lost in thought. He didn't even notice someone walking on the bridge.
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Rory stared at Jess, and smiled at him. "Hey."
Jess looked up, and had to do a double take. "Rory."
"That shit's going to kill you one day," Rory stated. "And Jemma needs you around."
Jess nodded, still smoking the cigarette. "Yeah, but --"
Rory sat down. "And I do, too."
Jess sighed. "Rory --"
"I realized something after you left, Jess," Rory said. "I love you, more than anything. And no amount of wallowing or finding someone else will help me to get over that."
Jess looked at Rory. "I love you."
They leaned closer together and kissed each other.
Rory wrapped her arms around Jess' neck.
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Jess and Rory made their way into town and over to Luke's Diner. Rory carried a new diamond on her hand. This one from Jess.
"Surprise!" They heard.
Lorelai, Taylor, Luke, Ms. Patty, and the rest of the town stood in Luke's Diner holding champagne glasses, and the children were holding their juice boxes.
Jemma made her way over to Jess. "Daddy?"
Jess crouched down to face Jemma. "Hey, kiddo."
Jemma hugged Jess, and he returned the gesture.
Jemma ran back to Lorelai, and the song that played could not have fit the moment better.
Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember,
I'll always remember the sound of the stereo,
The dim of the soft lights,
The scent of your hair that you twirled in your fingers
And the time on the clock when we realized it's so late
And this walk that we shared together.
Jess pulled Rory to him and they shared this dance.
Rory looked around her and breathed in the scent of Jess. This was Heaven.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Rory watched as Ms. Patty and her mother ran around the house, frantically searching for Tristan's tie.
"Mom! Patty!" Rory yelled, coming down the stairs.
The two women stopped and looked at her. "What?"
"I'm getting married today," Rory stated, smiling.
Lorelai smiled at her daughter. "I know, babe."
Patty walked over to Rory. "It seems like just yesterday you were turning sixteen, and we were all gathered here to celebrate."
Rory smiled. "I know. And now here I am, marrying my high school enemy."
"Fate has a way of coming around and biting you in the ass," Lorelai said. "Look at Luke and me!"
The front door opened in an instant. "Rory!"
"Lane!" Rory exclaimed.
"Sorry, but Dave decided that he wanted to stay home and then there was a fight, and…" Lane sighed.
"Kids," Rory said.
"Oh, yeah. I told him he couldn't play video games if he didn't go," Lane replied. "That got him to get his butt in gear. Four year olds."
Rory smiled as she watched Lane's four year old twins, Dave, Jr., and Journey make their way over to the steps.
"Hey, Journey," Rory greeted. "Jemma's in her room if you want to go see her."
Journey's eyes lit up and she happily made her way to Jemma's room.
"Hi, Ms. Gilmore," Dave said.
"Hey, Dave," Rory replied. "I have some of your toy cars here. I think they're in the oven in the kitchen."
Dave smiled at Rory and ran into the house.
"You have a way with kids," Lane stated.
"I've had one for four years," Rory replied. "I grew used to hissy fits."
"I've had my kids for four years," Lane stated.
"You didn't have your kids right out of high school," Rory returned.
"No, I had them four months after…" Lane stopped speaking.
"No, you can say it," Rory said. "Four months after Jess left."
Silence filled the air, and Lane instantly felt guilty for bringing up the name of Jemma's father.
"Wow, for being born two months early they sure have a lot of energy," Rory stated, watching Journey and Dave running through the house.
Lane nodded. "Yeah."
"So, now that you're here all we have to do is wait for Paris and then we can go to the church," Rory stated.
"Alright, then," Lane said. "Hey, Rory, do you know about…"
"Paris and Dean's annulment?" Rory asked. "Of course, Dean told me."
"I feel bad for him," Lane offered.
"Me too, but Paris loves Jamie, and I can't really blame her for wanting to be with the person she loves," Rory stated.
"Thanks, Rory," Paris stated, walking over to her.
"When did you get here?" Rory asked.
"Just now," Paris replied. "Hey, Lane. Where are your kids?"
"Running around the house," Lane replied. "Can't get them to sit down. Pain in the butt."
"Here comes Auntie Lorelai!" Rory heard her mother squeal as she chased the kids around the house.
"Kind of like my mother," Rory said. "She's like a turtle on speed."
"I heard that!" Lorelai yelled from inside.
"Momma! Aunt Lorelai's fun!" Dave squealed, coming outside.
"That she is," Lane replied, smiling at her son. "Hey, Lorelai. Here's Dave's suit, and Journey's dress."
Lorelai gently took the clothes and led the children inside the house.
Rory looked at Paris and Lane. "Okay, I'm going to go talk to Jemma for a little bit, and then I'll meet you two at the church, okay?"
"Awesome," Paris replied.
"Cool," Rory said, making her way inside the house. "See you in a few."
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Jess had no idea why he was here. It was her wedding day. He was supposed to be going back to Texas. But no, he'd opted to stay here in Stars Hollow, hoping Rory would give him a chance.
"What are you doing here?" Lane asked.
"I'm here to see the wedding," Jess replied.
Lane made her way inside the church to the dressing room. Jess followed.
"I need her, Lane," Jess stated. "She needs me."
"My God, Jess. It's her wedding day," Lane said. "She's finally marrying someone who won't leave."
"She's the one who practically told me to leave in the first place," Jess replied.
"Look, Jess, I feel for you, but she has someone," Lane said. "Someone who loves her and Jemma."
"I was that person for so long, and she turned me down," Jess whispered. "God, Lane, I love her so much."
Paris walked into the room. "Then I suggest you get her back before it's too late."
"Paris?" Jess asked. "You're encouraging this?"
"What, you think I should be the one to tell you that you can't have her?" Paris asked. "Hello, I'm the one who got her marriage annulled because she never got over her ex-boyfriend."
"Where is she?" Jess asked.
"She's in the other dressing room down the hall and to your left," Paris replied. "She's already in her dress, so you don't have to worry about her being naked when you walk in."
Jess nodded, and ran down the hall. He needed Rory.
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Jess opened the door to the room. "Rory, we need to talk."
"Jess?" Rory asked.
"Rory, we need to talk," Jess repeated.
"Jess, what are you doing here?" Rory asked. "I'm getting married today."
"I'm well aware of that, Rory, but let me ask you this," Jess said.
Rory hesitated. "What?"
Jess kissed her, and she eagerly kissed him back. Slowly, reluctantly, they pulled away from each other.
"Does he make you feel like that?" Jess asked.
Rory looked at him, afraid to answer. She knew what she had to do.
"If you really love him as much as you say you do, tell me, and I'll leave. I won't come back," Jess said. "Ever."
Rory's lip quivered, and tears were clouding her eyes. "I… I… I'm getting married today."
Jess nodded, and left without saying a word.
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Tristan stood outside the church smiling. He was getting married today. And he was happier than ever.
He couldn't believe he was marrying Rory Gilmore.
The love of his life.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Rory sat at her bureau and brushed her hair. She looked in the mirror and knew what she had to do.
She got up and quickly ran to her car.
And straight into Tristan's arms.
"That anxious to see me, Mary?" he asked.
Rory looked at Tristan. No, I can't marry him. It's not fair to him, or me.
"Tristan, we need to talk," Rory said.
"Why do I not like that tone?" he asked.
"Tristan, I…" Rory's words trailed off.
She couldn't bring herself to say those words, no matter how much she loved Jess.
Tristan nodded. "It's Jess, isn't it?"
Rory looked at the ground. "I can't get over him. No amount of wallowing can do that."
Tristan lifted Rory's chin. "I understand."
"Thank you," Rory said, hugging him. "Thank you so much."
Tristan hugged Rory. "Go get him."
Rory smiled, and ran faster to her car. She knew exactly where she would find him.
Tristan pulled out his cell phone. "Hey, Lorelai? It's Tristan…"
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Jess sat at the bridge with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. He couldn't believe he'd lost Rory Gilmore again.
He stared out at the water, lost in thought. He didn't even notice someone walking on the bridge.
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Rory stared at Jess, and smiled at him. "Hey."
Jess looked up, and had to do a double take. "Rory."
"That shit's going to kill you one day," Rory stated. "And Jemma needs you around."
Jess nodded, still smoking the cigarette. "Yeah, but --"
Rory sat down. "And I do, too."
Jess sighed. "Rory --"
"I realized something after you left, Jess," Rory said. "I love you, more than anything. And no amount of wallowing or finding someone else will help me to get over that."
Jess looked at Rory. "I love you."
They leaned closer together and kissed each other.
Rory wrapped her arms around Jess' neck.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Jess and Rory made their way into town and over to Luke's Diner. Rory carried a new diamond on her hand. This one from Jess.
"Surprise!" They heard.
Lorelai, Taylor, Luke, Ms. Patty, and the rest of the town stood in Luke's Diner holding champagne glasses, and the children were holding their juice boxes.
Jemma made her way over to Jess. "Daddy?"
Jess crouched down to face Jemma. "Hey, kiddo."
Jemma hugged Jess, and he returned the gesture.
Jemma ran back to Lorelai, and the song that played could not have fit the moment better.
Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember,
I'll always remember the sound of the stereo,
The dim of the soft lights,
The scent of your hair that you twirled in your fingers
And the time on the clock when we realized it's so late
And this walk that we shared together.
Jess pulled Rory to him and they shared this dance.
Rory looked around her and breathed in the scent of Jess. This was Heaven.