Chapter 4- "Supplying the demand."

"Well, the same to you."

Rory shook her head as she looked at the person seated next to her. What had ever possessed her to invite Paris to Vegas, she truly didn't know? Maybe she had been having a low blood sugar attack when she had extended the invitation? Her first choice would normally have been Lane since 1)Lane was her best friend and 2)Lane knew both Luke and Lorelai extremely well. But since Lane had just recently gotten married herself, Rory had opted to ask Paris. Her slight regret wasn't because Paris was all that bad, it was just that Paris had a tendency to be . . . Paris. "Paris, the flight isn't all that long. Stop harassing the poor stewardess. We can get you some more peanuts when we land."

"But, it's not the same. I like the airplane peanuts."

Suppressing the need to roll her eyes, Rory handed her bag of peanuts to Paris, and then looked out the window. She could not believe she was on her way to her mother's wedding. Part of her was extremely happy that her mom and Luke were finally tying the knot. She knew of no two other people who belonged together more. But, if she were being completely honest, she would have to admit the other part of her was a bit sad and hurt that she hadn't been there to experience all of the wedding day events with her mom. In fact, if Luke hadn't invited her, she wouldn't have been there at all. She had always pictured her mom's wedding day and the days proceeding it as a time for her and her mom to go shopping and the spa and to just generally hang out, spending her mom's last moments as a single woman together. Now, all of this just brought back memories of how she learned her mom and Luke were engaged - Luke had been the one to tell her, not her mom. In times past, Rory would have been the first call Lorelai made and it would have taken place mere seconds after it happened. And while both the engagement and the elopement plans had very good reasons as to why she hadn't been told at once, it only seemed to make Rory realize how much she and her mom had grown apart. For so long it had always been just the two of them. Now she had Logan and her mom had Luke. She had always know this day would come. It's just, now that it had, she wished she could hold it off a while longer.

"I can't believe that Lorelai ran off to Las Vegas to get married. It's just so . . . pedestrian."

The sound of her grandmother's voice brought Rory out of her musings. She had been shocked when she had gotten to the airport and learned that not only had Luke got her first class tickets, but that he had also bought tickets for Sookie and Jackson, as well as her grandparents. She had wondered briefly if Jess was going to be there, but then decided not to borrow trouble before she knew for sure.

Again Rory heard her grandmother's voice from the seat behind her. "You know, this would have never happened before Lorelai met Luke."

Suddenly Rory had enough. She had listened to her grandmother put Luke down for years and had never said anything because she always assumed that once her grandparents got to know him, they would see for themselves just what a great guy he was. So far, that had not happened. She unbuckled her seat belt and swiveled her chair so she was facing her grandparents. "Actually, knowing mom, yes it would have. Don't blame Luke for something Mom decided to do. And none of us would even be on this plane right now if it wasn't for him. He knew how much Mom would want us all there, so he made it happen."

Emily just snorted, though that's not what she would have called it. "If she wanted us there so badly, why didn't she call herself? Or even better, why not wait to get married in a church, like she originally planned?"

"Ever since she and Luke postponed the wedding, Mom has thought that Luke didn't really want to get married, which couldn't be further from the truth. Luke was feeling overwhelmed about April and planning the wedding, but I know Luke wanted - no, wants - to marry Mom. Logan told me that Mom was all Luke talked about when we were all at the Vineyard over Valentine's. Mom probably thought this was the best solution - she would get to marry Luke and he wouldn't have to put up with all the stress of planning a wedding," Rory explained. As she said all this, she realized that her mom most likely never thought the whole elopement plan through. It was so like her mom to be spontaneous and not look at the bigger picture - that those she wanted at her wedding would not be there if she just ran off and got married. Thank goodness that Luke was more practical and took care of that for her. Her mom had been trying to fight for her relationship with the man she loved and saw nothing else but that. Just then, all the bad feelings Rory had about the whole situation vanished. After all, she understood what it was like to be that much in love with someone.

"Well, that may very well be true, but it's still just not how things are done," Emily replied.

"Then why did you even come?" Rory demanded, fed up with her grandmother's superior attitude.

"Because my daughter is getting married, even if it is to someone who is clearly not right for her."

It was the same old song and dance again and Rory had had enough. "Who is right for Mom, Grandma - Dad? Because let me assure you, no, he's not. You may think that he is, but I know better. I love Dad because he helped give me life and because he is a nice guy, but he is not who I wanted Mom to ever end up with. Luke is. Dad might have what YOU consider 'better breeding', but Luke is a much better man that Dad will ever hope to be. Dad was never there for us. I can't even begin to count the number of times that he promised me that he would visit, and then at the last minute call with some lame excuse as to why he couldn't show up. I can't recall a birthday party of mine that he EVER attended. Did you know that Luke makes me a coffee cake every year for my birthday because he knows it's my favorite? Luke came to my high school graduation. Dad didn't even bother to show up, and then he called me FOUR DAYS LATER to tell me he was sorry he couldn't be there. When I decided to drop out of Yale last year, Mom told me that Luke had been prepared to drive to Yale everyday and walk me to my classes because he knew it was my dream to go to school. Dad just told me to go backpacking and forget school. Luke tries to get mom and I to eat healthier, though he knows we will never be the health nuts he is. Did you know that he doesn't eat red meat?"

"Then why does he serve such horrible food at his diner?" Emily inquired, stumbling noticeably over the word 'diner'.

Sookie suddenly spoke up. "He actually tried to add some healthier food to his menu once like veggie burgers and gourmet salads, but not one ever bought or even tried them. Luke was forced to give it up and go back to his old menu."

"Supplying the demand," Richard added.

"Luke is doing the same thing. Luke is filling the void that Dad left wide open. And even when Dad finally start trying, it just didn't feel right. He and mom don't belong together. They are too much alike. Mom needs someone like Luke. He add stability to her life and she adds fun to his. They just work together. I wish you could see him, Grandma. I mean look past the flannel, the backwards baseball cap, and day old stubble - which I personally like on him - and really and truly see HIM. He is such a good man. Stars Hollow would not be the same without him. Mom wouldn't be the same without him. I wouldn't be the same without him. Whether he knows it or not, he helped shape me into the person I am today. And if you want to know the truth, I see him as more of a father-figure than I ever did Dad. When I was twelve, Luke was the one who bandaged my knee when some bully pushed me down and he was also the one who then went and yelled at that bully for me. He built me bookshelves for all my books. He listened to my speeches for debate class even though I'm sure they bored him out of his mind. He forgave me when he knew that I was one of the reasons Jess had to leave Stars Hollow the first time. He gave me his mom's pearls for my 21st birthday. His opinion and approval matter more to me than Dad's does. Luke is the type of man that most mothers dream of their daughters marrying and yours is. You should be happy for them, not condemning them because they aren't getting married in they way that you think is proper." As Rory finished, she took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. She wiped at the tears that were starting to form at the memories of all the things Luke had done her, just her, over the years. She hadn't really realized that she thought of Luke as a father-figure in her life, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was true. That was one of the reasons she had been so cautious when her mom first started dating Luke, because if they had broken up, she would have lost Luke, too. She would have lost her dad.

Emily just sat there for a moment, looking like she was trying to process everything Rory had just said. When she spoke again, it was in a quiet, subdued voice. "I always knew that Luke was an important part of your and your mother's life. I just never realized how big of a part. Your mom always seemed so happy whenever your father was around and since he already had connections and a good family name, I always encouraged the match."

"But you never saw her every time Dad promised us something, and then flaked out on us. It crushed her, Grandma. It made her doubt herself and it was never her fault. It never would have worked. It would have harmed them both, and me if it had happened when I was younger. And I know you think that Luke doesn't fit into your world, but, in the end, does that really even matter? You have to give him credit for trying. He is not comfortable with the whole high society atmosphere, but he ventures in occasionally because he knows how important it is to you. He wants to be the type of man that you want for your daughter, but what you don't realize is that he already is and do much more. Luke is all the things that you think Dad is, but isn't, and Dad is all you think Luke is. Luke has always been there, through whatever we've needed him for. He's been one of the few constants in my life. I love him and Mom loves him. Shouldn't that be enough?" Rory asked, quietly.

Emily was again quiet for a moment. "I don't know if I will ever approve of their match, but you've given me a lot to think about."

"All I ask, Grandma, is that you truly give Luke a chance. I think he will surprise you." With that, Rory turned her seat back around. She sat leaning her head back in her chair, hoping that her frankness hadn't caused her grandparents to alienate Luke even further. They never liked it when she spoke up to them and tended to lash out at the cause. Sighing deeply, she would just have to trust that her grandmother truly would think about what she had said. Suddenly, she felt Paris starting at her. "Yes, Paris?"

"I was just wondering, have I ever met this Luke person?"

Author's note: Sorry, I couldn't help throwing in the last line. I actually kind of like Paris. I like that her bravado is hiding a person who just wants to be accepted. Okay, you have to dig down REALLY deep to find it, but she does have a heart. Anyway, I like the fact that every time Paris meets Luke, she can't seem to remember who he is. It's sooo Paris, that I had to include it here.

I've noticed that I tend to have the characters stare out the window a lot. It will happen twice more in future chapters. Maybe I should have subtitled the story, "Rooms with a View."

I can't recall if Chris did call Rory for her graduation or if Luke does eat red meat. If I got either of these things wrong, please forgive me and consider it artistic license. : )

At last look, I am above 2200 hits on this story, but not that many reviews. I don't want to beg, but I am a needy writer who thrives on the accolades of others. ; ) Well, though that is partly true, I really would like to hear your feedback on the story. What things did you like? What things didn't you? What you would like to see more of? This is my first time writing a fanfiction for the Gilmore Girls, so how closely am I capturing the characters? Please let me know because I truly want to improve.

I think, by my estimate, I have three more chapters following this one, and then maybe an epilogue. I was also thinking of doing a sequel, but it would truly depend on if people would like to read one. I guess we'll see how the rest of the story goes.