Disclaimer: This is an original story based upon the characters of Gilmore Girls. No profit will be made from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's note: Thank you for the reviews. It's been such fun to write this story and I'm so glad you like it. I hope you enjoy this next installment

Sookie met me at the door to the inn and followed me all the way upstairs as I tried to hide from the guests.

"Fourty-five minutes!" she shouted as soon as we were safe in the "bridal suite." "You said forty-five minutes and it was exactly seventy-two!" She stopped for a minute and put her hand over her heart. "You know something, the next time you get married, you will have to hire someone to be your best friend. I don't think I can take any more. I was down there pacing back and forth, imagining what I was going to have to say to the guests, not to mention Luke, not to mention to my two children why Auntie Lorelai wasn't going to live much longer—not to mention wondering what in the world I was going to do with three hundred spinach quiches!"

I let her rant as I gathered the things I needed together to get ready my final time. I was bending down to put a fresh pair of nylons on when she stopped, I looked over at her from my bent over position.

"Ya done Honey?" I asked. She looked as though suddenly it registered with her that I was actually there and hadn't run off.

"Yes," she simply said and then smiled.

"You're getting married!" she cried, putting her hands over her mouth and giggling.

"Yes Sweetie, I'm getting married." I assured her. "Now, don't you think you should go put your bridesmaid dress on?" She suddenly looked down at herself as though she was naked.

"Oh my gosh, you're right!" she cried and ran out of the room

A few minutes later Aunt Hopie knocked on my door.

"Come in" I called and she walked in.

"You ready for me?" she asked.

"I sure am," I replied.

She came in and I took off the old dress which by now was dirty at the bottom. "I'll have to get this cleaned." I said shaking my head.

"Okay," Aunt Hopie said. "Put your arms up."

I obeyed and Mom's dress came down over me. She zipped me up in the back and then stood back to look at me.

"I never realized what a gorgeous dress it was." I said, smoothing my hands over it.

Aunt Hopie said nothing, but sat me down at the mirror and began to brush my hair. She remained quiet as she gently fingered my curls and when she was done, she put her hand on the back of my head and reached down and kissed the top of my head.

"I love you Lorelai," she whispered. For a minute we just stayed that way, the connection growing between us.

"I love you too," I said back to this person I hardly even knew. Life had certainly taken a 180 degree turn for me. I could never have said that to her a few months ago. I barely even knew her. But now…I wasn't going to wait to tell someone how I felt about them.—ever, ever again.

She redid my makeup and then reached over and brought my tiara out of its box again. Reverently she placed it on my head.

"You look beautiful," she whispered, "I'll be downstairs," and then she walked out of the room.

I had about fifteen minutes before it was time and I was grateful to have a few minutes to get myself together. This was real, it was really happening this time. I was going to walk down those stairs and I was going to get married. Somewhere in this building was Luke and in just fifteen minutes I was going to marry him. Wonderful, kind, patient Luke. I thought back to that night so long ago when he had come and given me a Christmas present on the night that I felt I didn't have a friend in the world. I remembered back to the time when he carried my groceries home for me, remembered his face when Rory would come trick or treating on his door step, remembered the handiwork, the talks, and the shoulder to cry on when I needed it. He was truly my best friend and now I was going to have it—the partnership, the love I had always dreamed about. I was going to walk down those stairs and be Luke Danes wife.

I started pacing back and forth, so nervous and excited, I hadn't felt that way since—I gave birth. She wasn't coming. Even though there was a part of me that magically expected her to be there when I came walking down the stairs—I knew she wouldn't be. There had been so much between us over the past two years. What did I expect? It was strange though. I was sad she wasn't there, I missed her and would have loved to have had here with me, standing there beside me, she wasn't coming and that was her choice. I still loved her and I always would. It was so strange. Somehow the pain of Mom's loss had changed me. I just didn't want to hate anymore, didn't want to be angry anymore.

There was a knock at the door and I stood up—knowing who it would be. "Come in" I called and Dad walked in. For as long as I live I will cherish the look on his face when he saw me.

"You look lovely," he said and I smiled. He turned to his side and offered me his arm.

"Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded and took his arm. We walked slowly to the top of the stairs and waited. I looked up at him, my big strong dad. We were hardly "Butterfly Kisses" material but I guess something happens to you when you only have one parent left. Looking up at him, I realized how much I loved him and how much I always had. The music started playing and with a little push from Sookie, Martha and Davey walked in holding hands. Then Liz started into the room on T.J.'s arm, and then Sookie on Jackson's arm. It was our turn. I started down the stairs but Dad stopped me. I looked up at him.

"Lorelai…" he said, his eyes bearing into me. "It wasn't your fault. Don't ever think that."

I looked up at him and smiled gratefully. We slowly walked down the stairs and as the bridal march began Dad started into the room but this time it was me that stopped him.

"I love you Daddy," I said and I saw the tears come into his eyes.

"I love you too Sweetheart," he whispered and then together we started into the room.

It was beautifully decorated, with white ribbons and netting, and white roses everywhere. The room had windows on all sides of it, so Mom's contribution to the day was in full glory as the snow kept falling on my perfect white world. I smiled at the guests as we walked down the aisle and then I turned forward towards Luke and my new life. My heart went into my throat as I did. Luke was there, his eyes sparkling like mine

And there standing on the other side of Luke…

…in the maid of honor spot…

…was Rory.

She was dressed in a beautiful light blue gown, her hair in long beautiful curls and she was smiling at me. I made no attempt to hide my tears then. She was here—my beautiful, baby girl. She was really here. We made it to the front of the room, and Dad took my hand and gave it too Luke. He winked and smiled at me as if to say, "I'm giving you away but you're still my girl." I smiled back at him and then turned to give my flowers to Rory. She took my hand and squeezed it and then I turned to Luke and the three of us, Luke and me and Rory became the legal family we had already been for years. I listened to the vows and when it was time for me to say my part I almost shouted it because I had never been more excited to "do" anything in my life. The preacher said, "I now pronounce you man and wife," and I saw Luke's face coming closer and closer to mine I met him half way and we sealed what we had just done with the kiss—our first kiss as husband and wife.

"Ladies and gentlemen I now present to you. Mr. and Mrs. Luke Danes," the preacher said and we turned to face the crowd. They were all standing and clapping, most of them crying. We walked through the crowd—our wonderful wacky townspeople and out into the foyer.

Luke put his arm around my waist.

"I love you, I will love you forever," he whispered.

"I love you too Luke," I replied, "More than you'll ever know."

He hugged me to him and then kissed me again, our lips staying together longer this time.

"Uh –hum," we heard a little throat clearing behind us. We turned around and there was Rory smiling at us.

"You still have to do the reception you know," she said and then came up to hug us.

She hugged Luke first and he wrapped his arms around her—the girl who had been the daughter of his heart since she before she could see over the counter at the diner.

"Congratulations," she said, reaching up and kissing his cheek.

"Thanks Hon," he said softly.

Then she turned to me. I looked at Luke and he headed back into the swarm of guests.

"I guess we have a lot to talk about," I said. I didn't want her to feel like I was pressuring her, that suddenly I thought everything was fine. My little girl was hurting and I knew it would take a long time before she would be okay.

"Yeah," she replied. "But today was a start. I wasn't going to come. I wasn't ready, but then I saw that it was snowing and you always told me that magical things happen when it snows—even forgiveness."

I smiled

Thank you Mommy

She stepped forward and threw her arms around me. We held onto each other oblivious that all the talking in the other room had stopped and all eyes were now watching us.

Rory reached up and whispered something in my ear and then the crowd descended upon us. Luke handed me a glass of champagne as I wiped my tears away.

"What did she say?" Luke asked. I smiled through my tears as I watched her mingle with the guests.

"She said, 'I'm back" I replied. "She said, 'I'm back."