Disclaimer: I still don't own the Gilmore Girls. Although, I wish I owned Luke and Jess.

Chapter 28

Lorelai looked around and admired the place that was once the Independence Inn. It had been nearly three years since the fire and the property had been sold and turned into a dining hall quite some time ago. This was the first time Lorelai, Luke, Rory, and Jess were seeing the property. Richard and Emily were renewing their wedding vows there. It was time for the first dance and Luke and Lorelai watched as her parents danced to 'Wedding Bell Blues'. When the emcee invited the guests to join the couple on the dance floor, Luke and Lorelai immediately walked onto the floor.

"This is such a fun song," Lorelai laughed as Luke twirled her around.

"It's a stupid song about some crazy girl with an insane crush on a guy named Bill," Luke said. "Bill was probably some pretty boy with a gambling addiction two timing his wife with women he met on a booze run. The woman is probably a love struck puppy stalking him."

"That's horrible. This song is not about a playboy and his playmate. It's a romantic song about a woman wanting to be with the man of her dreams."

"You have your version and I have mine."

"If Bill were only here."

"Ah jeez. I can't believe you like this song."

"Like I said, it's fun and sweet. I like it," she said as she spun out.

"Well, in that case…" He gently spun her back into his arms. "Just call me Bill."

A smile crept across her face. "Are you serious?"

"If your father can be Bill for your mother, then I will be your Bill. Well, until the song ends."

"Thanks Bill."

"No problem." When the song ended, they walked off the dance floor and headed to their table. Luke suddenly froze. "I can't believe it. What's he doing here?"

"Who?" Lorelai asked.

"Him." Luke pointed to a man talking with Lorelai's cousin, Marilyn.

"He's Herb Smith's new business partner. Dad pointed him out to me earlier. Do you know him?"

"Yeah, I do. That's Nicole's father." When they turned around, they bumped into Floyd Stiles. "Oh, hello Floyd…Mr. Stiles," Luke stuttered, not too sure how to address the man.

"Hello Luke, Lorelai," Floyd greeted. "Lorelai, my best wishes on the engagement."

"Um. Thank you," Lorelai said.

"Luke, I'm glad I ran into you. There's someone I'd like you to meet." Before Luke could open his mouth to protest, they were at the table. "Hank."

Hank Leahy turned around and stood to greet his friend. "Well hello Floyd," he greeted.

"I'd like you to meet Richard's future son-in-law. Hank Leahy, this is Luke Danes."

Luke slowly looked up at his ex-father-in-law. Hank wasn't smiling. He extended his hand to the older man. "Hello Mr. Leahy," he greeted. He pulled his hand back and shoved it in his pocket when he realized Hank wasn't going to shake his hand.

"Hank, where's your wife?" Mr. AND Mrs. Leahy? Luke thought. How could things get any worse?

"She couldn't make it," Hank replied. "So I brought my daughter." That could be worse.

"Mr. Stiles, I've heard a lot about you," Nicole said, standing to shake Floyd's hand.

"Nothing but good word from your father I assume," Floyd said.

"No, actually, from your son."

"Hi Dad," Jason greeted as he returned to the table. He spotted Lorelai, then Luke. He knew he'd see her at the party, but with the diner guy? Richard and Emily must be living it! "Hello Lorelai."

"Digger," Lorelai spat.

"Who's your friend?"

"Jason, this is Luke Danes, Lorelai's fiancé," Floyd introduced. "Luke, this is my son…"

"Jason Stiles," Luke finished. "We've met. Unfortunately."

"I see. Well, Hank, why don't we get some drinks while these youngsters get reacquainted?"

"I suppose we can do that," Hank said hesitantly before he and Floyd left.

Lorelai slapped Luke's arm. "You know Floyd Stiles?" she asked in an annoyed tone.

"He's gone golfing with me and your dad. Stiles is a common last name. I don't think Leahy is."

"You act like I pay attention to anything my dad says. Look, let's just all be civil to entertain our parents. What's an hour out of our lives?"

"You're not serious."

"Tonight is about my parents. Whatever petty differences we have with Nicole and Digger are to be put aside tonight."

"Fine."

"I'd prefer to be called Jason, not Digger," Jason remarked.

"I'd like to call you a few things, but I'll hold my tongue." Lorelai shook her head. "I'm trying."

"Well, try harder," Lorelai said.

"Look here Jason, I don't like you and you don't like me. I will be civil with you tonight, but I suggest you don't piss me off."

"At least I know when someone's trying to manipulate me," Jason snapped.

"Excuse me?" Luke asked angrily.

"Do you honestly think the Gilmores would let their only daughter to marry a man like you?"

"Lorelai is a big girl. She can do whatever she wants and in two weeks, she'll be marrying me."

"You are so naïve. Look at yourself. You own a diner, drive a truck, and dress like a lumberjack. And yet, here you are, rubbing elbows with members of high society. Richard Gilmore is allowing you to marry his daughter because he's turning you into a younger version of himself by taking you golfing, dressing you in expensive suits, and getting you to use big words. That way, he won't have to be embarrassed to call you his son-in-law."

Luke clenched his fists until his knuckles were white. "I'd watch what I'd say if I were you."

"If I were you, I'd know my place."

"Luke, he's just trying to get a rise out of you," Lorelai said. "Just keep a cool head."

"You don't belong here Danes, so why don't you go where you do belong."

"Your girlfriend didn't seem to mind being with a diner owner when she married me."

"She's with me now isn't she?"

"Her standards sure have lowered. But then again, she'll probably get bored of you sooner or later. She tends to do that."

"Hey," Nicole yelled, jumping to her feet.

"I'm sorry. Did I offend you with the truth?"

"I tried to make it work between us."

"Oh and I guess sleeping with another man was going to fix our marriage?"

"What else was I supposed to do? I don't like being second in my husband's life."

"Luke, stop it. You're going to cause a scene," Lorelai said.

"I don't care! I'm not going to stand here and pretend to be nice to this jackass and her. I'm going back to the table and in twenty minutes, I'm going to the car. Five more minutes and I'm going home. I don't care where you meet me, just meet me so we can get the hell away from them! Here's some advice Digger. Make sure you're wearing your own socks." With that, Luke turned and headed to his table.

"Maybe the reason Nicole started having an affair and left you was because you couldn't satisfy her like a real man," Jason yelled after Luke.

That caught Luke's attention, along with everyone else. He angrily made his way back to the table. He reared back to give Jason hell, but Lorelai intervened. She stepped in front of Luke and held him back. A physical fight had been avoided, but the shouting commenced.

"Does Luke know?" Rory asked as she sat with Jess on the bridge with their legs swinging back and forth over the edge.

"Nope," Jess sighed.

"What about your parents?"

"If I didn't tell Luke, what makes you think I'd tell Liz and Jimmy?"

"I'm the only one that knows?"

"Different subject please."

"Fine, I'll just complain to you about not getting those plane tickets for Mom and Luke's honeymoon. Luke's going to hate it."

"Luke hates everything."

"This is a cruise we're talking about. He hates cruises. He's going to hate it."

"If it's coming from you, he'll love it." Jess took a deep breath and looked down at his hands. "Let's talk about Logan."

"Ok, I'm pulling the different subject card now."

"I think you should give him another chance."

"I'm the one that should be asking for another chance. To be realistic, I hurt him and I don't think I deserve one. He probably thinks that too."

"I think he wants you back. I also think he's been waiting for the right opportunity to ask you back." Rory eyed Jess suspiciously. "Hey, if you don't believe me. Just ask him." She turned around to see Logan standing at the end of the bridge. "I'll let you guys talk." Jess stood up and left. He said something to Logan as he passed by.

"Hi," Logan greeted as he slowly made his way toward Rory.

"Hi," Rory said. "What are you doing here?"

"My folks were invited to the shindig and they dragged me along."

"I meant here. On the bridge."

"I ran into Jess inside and he told me to meet you here."

"You talked to Jess?"

"Yeah and he told me everything."

"'Everything' everything?"

"'Everything' everything. I miss you Ace. I can't eat, I can't sleep. Finn and Colin can't even get me to go out and party with them. I don't like being jealous. I don't want to be that idiot that lost the greatest thing to happen to me because of my stupid ego. I'm sorry Rory. Could you ever forgive me?"

"I'm the one that should be sorry. I knew I wanted to be with you, but I was scared. I was scared so I ran. Now I know I was just running from the greatest thing to happen to me."

"Does this mean we're back together?" Rory kissed Logan. "I guess that's a yes."

Rory pulled Logan in for another kiss. When she pulled back, she noticed they had company. Seeing the expression on Rory's face, Logan turned around to see Dean at the end of the bridge. "What are you doing here?" Logan asked as he got up.

"I work for the maintenance crew," Dean replied, walking closer to the couple. "Word around town is you two called it quits. I guess you didn't take my warning seriously."

"Warning? What warning?" Rory asked. "What did you do Dean?"

"Dean said Jess had a plan to take you away from me. That he always had a plan and I needed to keep you from him before he took you from me. But do you know what I realized? I don't think it was Jess that had a plan all along. I think you were the one with the plan."

"What are you talking about?"

"You heard me. You're the one with the plan. You're the one trying to tear me and Rory apart. This whole time I was worried about Jess when I really should have been watching out for you."

"You think you're the man for her with your love 'em and leave 'em policy?"

"That was the old me, but I guess some things never change. Do they Dean?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I know all about you. I heard you bailed out of your marriage before it started. You didn't even wait to get a divorce before you started sleeping with Rory. It sounds to me that you're not the kind of man for her."

"Watch what you say pretty boy."

"Or what?"

"Or else."

"I'm so scared. The jolly green giant's making threats."

"Let me ask you something Richie Rich. Did you pay Luke to get him to like you?"

"I didn't have to. I wasn't married and having an affair with my ex."

"You're really starting to get on my nerves."

"You've been on my nerves since the first day I saw you. You walked out on Rory at that party a year ago. You're not good enough for her. You never have been and you never will be. So keep on walking!"

Jess spotted Dean at the bridge with Logan and Rory. Knowing his real plan was about to turn sour, he ran toward the group. "What's going on over here?" Jess asked . He could feel the tension between the two men and saw the frightened expression on Rory's face. This couldn't be good. "Rory, is everything ok?"

"This doesn't concern you Jess."

"It has everything to do with Jess," Dean spat.

"What'd I do?" Jess asked.

"Nothing," Rory replied. "Jess, just go back inside." She tried to push Jess away from the fight as Dean and Logan started to yell at each other again. Before they knew it, Logan and Dean's shouting match had turned into a fist fight.

"Hey!" Jess yelled, moving Rory out of his way to head toward the fighting men. "Break it up! I said break it up!" Jess tried to pull them apart, but it wasn't working.

"Hey! What's going on down there?" Kirk yelled from up the hill. One of his many jobs in town was being an on-call security guard and he had been called to work the Gilmore party.

Rory was about to tell Kirk to get help when Dean shoved Jess into Rory, sending them both over the edge of the bridge and onto the frozen lake. Rory's scream brought Kirk running. Jess and Rory lay perfectly still on the ice. Jess was coming to and could hear Logan, Dean, and Kirk's muffled voices. Logan and Dean were calling out to Rory, but Kirk was telling them something about the ice. Jess tried to make it out, but he couldn't understand the words. He turned his head toward Rory. Her eyes were still closed and she wasn't moving. He slowly started to move to reach for her and that's when he heard it. There was a crackling noise coming from under him. He knew what Kirk was saying now. He was telling them it was thin ice.

"Rory," he called softly. "Rory, wake up. We need to get off the ice. Rory. Rory, please. Get up." He could hear the ice beginning to break under them. The crackling was quickening and he was beginning to panic. "Rory! Wake up!"

Rory slowly started to stir back into consciousness. "Huh?" she asked hazily. "What's going on?"

"We have to get off the ice."

"Why?"

"Because it's breaking! It's thin ice!" When she heard the crackling, her heart began to beat faster and she too began to panic. "Rory! We have to get off the ice right now!" It was too late. The ice under Rory gave in and with a horrifying scream she fell into the icy cold water. "Rory!"

"Luke, please, calm down," Lorelai begged. Lorelai knew this verbal sparring match between Luke and Jason would turn physical at anytime.

"I'll calm down once I kill him," Luke growled.

"I'd like to see you try!" Jason shouted.

Luke and Jason struggled against their dates. They were about to get past them, when Kirk came running into the hall. "Luke! Lorelai! Where are they?" Kirk yelled as he frantically looked through the crowd.

"Kirk?" Luke called.

Kirk spotted the couple and rushed toward them. He bent over and tried to catch his breath. "Thank…God…I…found…you. You have to come…quick."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Jess…Rory…thin…thin…"

"Thin what? And what about Jess and Rory?" Kirk continued to take deep breaths and tell Luke about the tragedy. Getting very frustrated, Luke grabbed Kirk by the collar and lifted him off the ground. "Kirk! What happened to Jess and Rory? Thin what?"

"Thin ice! Jess and Rory were on thin ice!"

"Were?" Lorelai asked. She grabbed Luke's arm. "Luke, something's wrong."

"Rory fell through the thin ice. Jess was trying to pull her out when I left to get help, but you should come right now."

Luke put Kirk down. "Where are they? Where are they?"

"The bridge. They're by the bridge."

"Kirk, go find Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore. Tell them to meet us at the bridge. Lorelai, come with me."

With that, Kirk went to find the Gilmores and Luke and Lorelai ran as fast as they could to the bridge, praying to God they weren't too late.

Next time on "Meet Me at the Chuppah": While waiting for news on Jess and Rory and under a lot of pressure, Luke blows up at everyone. Rory tells Lorelai what happened between her and Jess the night she ran to him. Jess tells Luke he has cancer and makes a plea with him.