Chapter 54

A few mornings later Lorelai was making her way through town on her way to the diner. As Lorelai passed the newsstand she saw Patty and Babette in their usual morning gossip huddle.

"Morning ladies" Lorelai greeted them

Babette smiled "Hey sugar"

"What's news this morning?" Lorelai asked as she joined the group

"Well I heard Kirk's been grounded by his mother. Apparently Kirk was being rebellious and wouldn't clean his room when he was told so he's been grounded"

"Poor Kirk" Lorelai said trying to suppress a giggle

"Poor Kirk what about poor us" Babette laughed at Lorelai's confused look "So much happens to Kirk in a day I mean what are we going to talk about this afternoon if Kirk hasn't got stuck up a tree or fallen down a well or lost his pants"

"I'm sure you'll find something to talk about"

"So honey how is all the wedding planning going? You seem very calm" Patty asked

Lorelai smiled proudly "I am calm, it's almost all organized"

"Really? Wow I remember being stressed the whole time leading up to the wedding" Babette replied

"So was I… for all of mine" Patty agreed "There is so much that can go wrong. Weather, dress, shoes, losing the rings. Have you tired your dress on lately?"

"The other night" Lorelai admitted shyly

"Well good. Just keep doing that. You never know. When I was under wedding stress I ate more. I'm an emotional eater and when I tried my dress on two days before the wedding it didn't fit and it had to be let out"

Babette nodded "Anyway I'm sure you'll be fine. You off to see that gorgeous fiancé of yours"

Lorelai nodded and waved bye without saying a word. Lorelai ran all the way to the diner and rushed through the door. "We need to talk" she called out as she passed Luke on her way upstairs

Caesar looked at Luke "Looks like you're in trouble boss"

Luke narrowed his eyes at him "Just cover for me"

Luke ran up the stairs and into the apartment to find Lorelai pacing up and down.

"Hey what's wrong?"

"What if all goes wrong?" Lorelai asked without looking at Luke

"What goes wrong"?

Lorelai began to ramble, "The wedding, what if I trip or I fall, or my dress doesn't fit or your suit doesn't fit. Have you put on weight? That's it no more eating for either of us. We're both going on a diet. I need coffee"

"I think you've had enough. What's this about?"

"I'm thirsty"

"No the freak out"

"Apparently I'm too calm"

"Not at this moment you're not"

"I am, I'm too calm. I think everything is fine, everything is right with the world and I was stupid not to think about all the things that could go wrong. I mean I saw a few episodes of Bridezilla's. Maybe they weren't all crazy maybe that's how all brides are mean to be. What if the cake gets ruined? You know, some drunk relative stumbles on the dance floor and falls onto the table and brings the cake down on top of themselves, you see it on all those home video shows. What if that happens to us," Lorelai said still pacing

"We'll put the cake far away from the dance floor" Luke said trying to calm her

"Then there's the weather what if it 's too hot, what if it rains, what if..."

"What if your head explodes from all this worrying?"

Lorelai stopped and turned to Luke "This is not funny Luke."

"I know I'm sorry. But where has all this come from. We have it all under control"

"I thought we did and I wasn't worried until Patty and Babette..."

"Okay no good can come from this... Lorelai it's all fine. We've planned the best we can plan. We can't control the weather or the amount of drunken dancing that goes on. All we can do is do what we're doing making sure it's all organized and if something like that happens well, it'll be an amusing story to tell the grandkids." Luke took her arm and pulled her to him and hugged her tight "and if it'll make you feel better we'll get Sookie to make two cakes. A small one, just incase"

Lorelai smiled "I like the sound of that and if all goes right...more cake for me" She took a deep breath and hugged Luke again "I'm sorry about this. I'm not the freak out girl but I don't know I guess, Luke this is my first wedding…"

"And only wedding" Luke jumped in

"And only wedding" Lorelai smiled "And I just want it to be perfect and it was all going along perfectly until I heard tales of horror from Patty and Babette and I just thought maybe I should be freaking out you know. I've never done this before I don't know how neurotic I'm supposed to be. I'm sorry"

"Hey a few freaks out are fine, it's all for a good cause - giving you the total bride experience"

"You're amazing do you know that. No matter how stressed I get or how stupid I act or how mad I am, you always put up with me"

Luke shrugged "Cause I love you"

"Love me enough to give me coffee and a danish" Lorelai smiled hopefully

"Don't push it"

"Please Lukey, please"

"I thought we were on a diet?"

"We are a coffee and danish diet"

"So no different for any other day huh?"

"Hey that was crazy Lorelai talking before. You should know not to take what she says seriously"

"But it's so hard to tell which is which"

Lorelai playfully pushed him away and pretended to look hurt "Nice, very nice"

"Come on" Luke took her hand and walked back down to the diner. Luke walked behind the counter while Lorelai sat on a stool. Luke placed in front of her a large takeaway cup if coffee and a bag with a danish in it. Lorelai went to reach for them but Luke pulled them away "These come with a condition, you have to promise me that you won't listen to any more wedding stories from Patty & Babette no matter what"

"Deal"

Luke handed her the coffee and danish. Lorelai leaned over the counter and kissed him. "I've got to get to work and I'll talk to Sookie about the extra cake." She kissed him again "Thanks for the diet food. I'll see you after work"