Authors Note: Thanks Riska, Lore2, petriebird18, fox24, and Miss GoodManners for your encouraging reviews. Good to know you liked it.

Chapter 38: Second Proposal

I'm slowly waking up. Somehow I feel different, so warm, so light and – yes I'm lying in Richard's arm – it's not a dream. My head is resting on his arm and my hand on his chest. I'm looking up at him. He's already awake.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"You know that I love to look at you when you're sleeping, and I hadn't the opportunity to do so in a long time."

I blush. That he's still able to do that to me.

"Good morning Richard." I say before kissing him.

"Good morning Emily."

"Oh look at your arm – it must be numb, I've rested my head on it for the whole night, you really should've pulled it away." I say while rubbing it.

"I never would have done that. It was so good to finally have you in my arms. You know what - I'm never letting go of you again." he says winking at me.

"Oh Richard. - But you can't deny that your arm is numb now."

"Sacrifices have to be made. So how was your night?"

"Wonderful. How could it have been any other way? I can't remember the last time I've slept so well – and everything that happened before – "

"Yes same here." he says and kisses me again very passionately. "You know what I had to think of while looking at you?"

"No." I say looking questioningly at him.

"That this is how it's supposed to be – I want to be your husband. Nothing else."

"And I want to be your wife."

We're kissing again. After pulling apart I rest my head on his chest and he's stroking my hair.

"You know what date will be in one week?" he asks me.

"Of course I do – our 40th wedding anniversary." I answer while I'm caressing his chest.

In fact I'd even spent time thinking what we would do when we'd still be separated on that day, but thankfully that's over.

"Emily Gilmore, will you marry me?"

"What?" I say laughing a little.

That came out of the blue, but looking at him I can see that he's serious.

"Marry me."

"We are married Richard." I remind him.

"Re-marry me. Let's renew our vows at our 40th wedding anniversary. As a sign that the separation is truly over and as a new promise in our future."

That he's so romantic… not the typical proposal with going down on one knee and flowers, but I never had that, and this is definitely an improvement to the last time.

"I'll re-marry you, Richard. I want to become Mrs Richard Gilmore once again."

"Thank you Emily."

We kiss again. He's bending over me and kisses my face and my neck. My hands are fondling his back while his are exploring my body. I enjoy every single touch and the shivers that are running through my body. I'm not sure if it's possible to top yesterday night, but this morning is just magical. We become one once again. I feel him inside me, and I never want to lose this feeling…. Mrs Richard Gilmore…

"I love you Mrs Gilmore." Richard says and we're still in bed – it's 10 am now.

I can't even remember the last time I was in bed at 10 am.

"I love you Mr Gilmore."

"So do you think you can organize a vow renewal in one week?"

"Are you teasing me – of course I can do that." I say and I can see in his eyes that he is teasing me.

My head is resting on his chest and we're enjoying being together again.

"If only we could lie here forever." I sigh.

"Can't we?"

"Not when we want to celebrate our vow renewal in one week."

"And Lorelai and Rory are coming tonight."

"I can't wait to see their faces when they're hearing the news."

Again we're silent. Richard is stroking my hair.

"Emily?"

"Yes?"

"Would you mind if I'd stand up now?"

"Why would you do such a thing?" I ask disappointed.

"Because I at least have to cancel the meeting I'm going to have in one hour." he says hesitantly.

His business – of course. But he wants to cancel it, that's something.

"Oh – of course you have to." I say while lifting my head off his chest, so that he's able to stand up. "You know, you don't have to cancel – I don't demand that."

"I want to cancel Emily – today is our day. I just have some little things to do – I'll be back in one hour, two at most."

I nod – two hours, how often did he say something like that and never kept it.

"I'll start to organize our big day, after all I have a reputation to uphold. But we need to have a quick breakfast first." I say.

We kiss again. He's going to the bathroom and I'm going downstairs to tell the maid to make us breakfast. Breakfast for two.

I can't believe it. 90 minutes later I'm hearing the door and he comes in. 90 minutes! Should he really have changed? Isn't business that important to him anymore? Or is it just today? Whatever it is, it is at least a good sign.

"Emily – I'm home."

"I'm in here darling." I call from the living-room.

I just made some calls. I already have us secured a 20 piece band, only the room is a little difficult. But nothing I can't solve. I've already started to pull some strings and they promised me to call back this evening.

Richard is coming inside with what I guess are 40 red roses. He's carrying them carefully and I drop the phone.

"Oh Richard – they're beautiful." I say touched.

"I know I should have probably waited until now to propose, but when I saw you this morning I couldn't help it – it just happened."

"This morning was wonderful. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way." I say while I'm reaching out my hands to take the flowers.

I'm bending over them to take in their sweet smell, when I see something glistening in one of them.

"What's that?" I say and I carefully pick a ring out of the center rose.

"You should never propose without having a ring for your bride. A little late but here it is."

I give him the flowers back to take a closer look at the ring. Platinum with a single diamond.

"It's beautiful Richard." I whisper. "Please." I say and I carefully take the flowers out of his hands to rest them on the chair next to us. "Please give me my promise ring."

He takes the ring back and I stretch my hand out to him. Tenderly he attaches it to my finger. It fits. I don't know how he did this in only 90 minutes but it fits.

"Thank you Richard." I say before giving him a deep kiss.

We're looking into each other's eyes – a deep look. That's why he had to leave, to buy presents for me – not because he had work to do. I love him so much.

My eyes are catching the roses again.

"Maxima, please get me a vase for the flowers." I call out for the maid. "Richard, I already have us secured a 20 piece band for Saturday, but the room is a little problem. I thought we should celebrate at the Windsor Club, the Rose Room is perfect for our renewal. However they're completely booked and even though I offered that we'd be very generous we haven't gotten it yet. They'll call us this evening."

"I see, you've already started to plan our big day, but I wouldn't have expected less." he says smiling at me.

"We just have to get the Rose Room, or do you want to celebrate somewhere else?"

"No, the Rose Room is perfect, and don't you worry, if you want to have it, you'll get it. Let me take care of the room." he says kissing my hand.

"Thank you."

We kiss again. I'm feeling like a teenager, but I can't get enough of his kisses.

The girls will be here soon. Richard and I spent the whole day together. I suggested that Lorelai could be my maid of honour and Rory his best man, and he agreed that this would be perfect. After all they're the ones who were mostly involved in our separation. Later I called Miss Celine to come over with every wedding dress she can get a hold on, and by now about a hundred dresses plus Miss Celine are in my dressing room. Lorelai will have to help me to choose one – after all she's my maid of honour.

Right now Richard and I are in the living-room and we imagine how next Saturday will be, while making fun of some of the guests who'll come. I can't but laugh when he mocks the 60th birthday party of one of his colleagues, were all the ashtrays disappeared during the evening. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to laugh so openly. Before I know it we're kissing again. Suddenly I hear a noise and we're breaking the kiss. The girls are outside. I wonder what they're thinking right now, they must have seen us kissing. Richard is going to them to open the patio door.

"Girls! Wonderful to see you."

"Hi."

"Come in, come in, come in." he says and I'm going towards them myself.

"Hi, you're just in time." I say while putting my arm around Lorelai's shoulder to usher her in.

"For what?" she asks.

"The celebration. Ah! Champagne. Perfect." Richard says while Maxima carries in a tray of champagne.

"What are we celebrating?" Rory wants to know.

"Uh, shall we tell them?" he asks me as he gives me the glasses.

"They're going to find out sooner or later." I answer whilst I'm handing out the glasses to them.

If they're smart they already know – why else would I kiss him? I stand next to Richard and he puts his arm around me.

"All right, then. - Lorelai, Rory, your grandmother and I have reconciled. We are officially back together." Richard tells them.

Rory is over the moon over this – that's easily to see.

"Really? Oh my God! That's great! I'm so happy." she says while running over to us to hug us.

Instead Lorelai's first reaction is a question.

"When did this reconciliation happen?"

"Yesterday." I state.

"And last night. And this morning." Richard says and he's stroking my back in little circles as he's making this announcement a little triumphantly.

I can't believe it – they surely don't have to know about this.

"Richard!" I exclaim.

"Don't ask questions. Don't ask questions. Don't ask questions!" Lorelai mutters to herself and Rory and I can understand her.

"And next week your father and I are going to renew our wedding vows." I continue to come back to our original announcement.

"A week from tomorrow, on our 40th wedding anniversary." Richard finishes.

"Aw!" Rory is resting her head dreamily on Lorelai's shoulder.

"Wow. That's great!" Lorelai finally says.

"And you're going to be my maid of honour." I inform her – I figured that it would be best not to discuss this.

"Uh, wha -" she begins to protest but thankfully Robert is interrupting her right now – perfect timing.

"Excuse me, Mr Gilmore. Mr Jeffries from the Windsor Club for you." he says to Richard as he hands him the phone.

Interesting – I wonder what they'll say to our offer.

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Robert." Richard takes the phone and Robert exits. "Oh, by the way, I'm firing Robert next week."

"You won't need him." I say smiling at him – I feel like I'm smiling the whole day, especially at him. I wasn't that happy in a long time. But how he was able to employ Robert this long is a miracle to me. I never find a maid who's good enough to employ her for longer than two weeks.

"No, I won't. - Richard Gilmore here. - The Gold Room? Ah, yeah, would you hold on for a moment, please? Uh, Emily, they say they can free up the Gold Room."

Didn't I say I want the Rose Room?

"How are we supposed to get a twenty piece band into the Gold Room? No, we need the Rose Room."

"Right. - I'm afraid the Gold Room won't do. We need the Rose Room. - Well, perhaps they'd be willing to switch dates. We'd certainly be happy to make it worth their while. Of course,

I'll hold."

While he's speaking on the phone I'm smiling at the girls who sat down by now. Rory smiles back, but Lorelai doesn't look so happy. I can't worry about that now, so I'm looking back at Richard.

"Richard, we just have to get the Rose Room."

"Don't you worry, our company insures that building. We don't get that room, suddenly they have a very expensive foundation upgrade to go through."

That's brilliant – I really don't have to worry about the location anymore.

"I married a wonderful man, girls."

"Yes, you did." Rory agrees and Lorelai finally smiles either.

"Uh, Mom, hey about this whole, um, maid of honour thing?"

Right I nearly had forgotten about Miss Celine.

"Oh, yes. Richard, can you spare us a moment? I want to take Lorelai upstairs."

"Why?" Lorelai asks suspiciously.

"Of course." Richard says.

"Wha- why do you want to take me upstairs?"

"Wonderful, we'll be right back." I say as I pull her up.

"Why doesn't Rory have to go upstairs?"

Please Lorelai. I won't discuss this with you. I'm dragging her along.

"I'll finish this phone call and then Rory and I will discuss the possibility of her being my best man." Richard tells her.

"Really? I'm going to be your best man?" Rory says delighted.

"What's upstairs?" Lorelai asks afraid.

Please don't be so dramatic – look at Rory, she's nothing like you. I have to literally push her up the stairs. Deciding not to fight with Lorelai I ignore all of her comments until we're in my dressing room. Lorelai gasps as she sees the hundreds of wedding dresses.

We're both looking around a little while Miss Celine is talking of the dresses Susan Hayworth once wore and once again she is calling Lorelai Natalie. I'm searching through several dresses before picking one and holding it up.

"I think this has too much lace, Celine."

"Nah, there can't be too much lace, as long as it's Italian. What do you think, Natalie?"

"What do you think?" I ask Lorelai – after all that's why we're here.

"Whatever you want, Mom."

"Lorelai! You're my maid of honour. I need your opinion here."

"Well, I kind of like that one, or even the one next to it."

That doesn't sound very convincing, but I'm too happy to fight with her.

"I'll try them both." I say and I take the two dresses with me to try them on.

"You'll try them all." Miss Celine says before once again telling her stories of celebrities. I can't say that I'm listening very closely to it, but I'm paying attention again as soon as she's asking Lorelai if she's married. Of course this question had to come.

"Oh, no, not yet." Lorelai answers.

"Actually, Celine, she just opened her own business. She owns an Inn now." I clarify proudly.

"Hmm, an Inn, how charming." Celine answers.

I'm looking again at the dress I'm currently wearing – I'm sure it has too much lace. Celine is asking me if I need breasts, but that isn't the problem with this dress – it's all that lace that's bugging me. I'm coming out to present myself to them.

"Oh, my God, you're Mary Martin. Take it off immediately." Celine exclaims.

"Oh, dear." I say – I knew it.

I want to go changing again, when Lorelai is giving me another dress.

"Here, try this one on, Mom."

That looks nice – after the first shock she really seems to be helping me. While I'm trying this much better dress on I'm discussing with Celine whether or not I should wear a hat or something like that. Of course she's not answering me, but telling another story – this time Marylin and Arthur.

"You wear whatever you want, Mom." Lorelai says as I'm fighting with the zipper – it's not working.

"Celine, I'm going to need some help with this zipper." I say coming out again.

Celine is admiring my dress, but Lorelai doesn't even look at it. She is standing in front of a mirror holding a dress up to herself. A simple but beautiful one. Seeing her like this I can't but think that she's thinking of marriage, too. What did she answer when Celine asked her – not yet? She honestly seems to become serious. Usually I'd be thrilled about it – I'd love to see her married, but of course she's thinking of Luke, and I don't think that I like that. But I have to admit that it's cute to see her like this. If only I could do something about it…

"Here, try the Dior just for giggles, hmm?" Celine says interrupting my thoughts.

"All right." I say and I'm trying on the third dress.

When I'm coming out again, Lorelai has put 'her' dress aside.

"That one looks really good Mom."

"You think?"

"Absolutely Emily, this one is made for you." Celine agrees with her.

"But the one you gave me wasn't bad either." I say looking at Lorelai.

"Uh yeah, but this one is beautiful, too. You know Mom, wear whatever you want, Dad will love you in anything."

Right – so she's not admitting that she wasn't paying attention when I came out the second time.

"You know what Lorelai – you can try one on either. Just for giggles." I say to her.

"Uh – I don't think I should do that Mom – "

A knock is interrupting her.

"Who's there?" I demand to know – Richard isn't allowed inside here, but he knows that.

"Rory."

"Come in." I say.

"Dinner is – wow, Grandma that's gorgeous."

"It's Audrey, I'm so glad to see you again." Celine says going to Rory.

"What do you think of this one Rory?" I say pointing to the Dior dress I'm currently wearing.

"Beautiful, Grandma."

"You know you can try on dresses too – just for fun. I was just saying the same to your mother-"

"Rory what did you want to say – dinner is ready?" Lorelai interrupts me.

"Yes. Dinner is ready."

"Well we shouldn't let Dad waiting."

"Yes, I suppose we shouldn't." I say looking longingly at her, before changing into my clothes again.

When we're coming downstairs, Richard announces that we're getting the Rose Room.

"Thank you darling." I say and I'm giving him a quick kiss.

This evening is wonderful. We're joking, laughing – I haven't felt that good on a Friday Night Dinner for a long time. Just seeing Richard across the table makes all the difference. I'm so happy that we're back together.

After dinner I once again convince the girls to come upstairs with me. The Dior dress it is. But I can't but notice that Lorelai still has a dreamy look on her face when looking at the dresses.

"Did you enjoy our first day back together Emily?" Richard asks me when we're about to go to bed.

"Of course I did - and you?"

"One of the best days I ever had." he says and he's pulling me close to him to kiss me.

Just to feel him so close makes everything around me spinning. He's touching my breasts – squeezing them a little and I'm moaning slightly when his hand is moving towards my thighs.

"I wouldn't mind ending this day the same way it started." he whispers into my ear.

"I wouldn't mind either." I say before slipping my tongue into his mouth.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And please don't forget to tell me your thoughts. I can't wait to read them.