Part 40: The Big Day
"Hey…" Lorelai whispered causing Rory to groan and cover her head with the blanket. "You're getting married today."
"I know. And in order to look beautiful, I need sleep. Sleep that you are depriving me of."
"You're beautiful already, come on, I want to show you something."
"Mom."
"Come on Rory, please." Lorelai begged.
Rory groaned and sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. "Fine."
"Put on your robe and slippers and meet me outside."
"Fine." Rory repeated getting out of bed, slipping on her slippers and grabbing her robe from her desk chair. She put her loose hair into a quick ponytail and walked out of her room. She walked out to the front porch where her mother was waiting, thankfully with a thermos of coffee in her hands.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?" Rory asked taking the thermos and following her mom out of their driveway.
"Well, today is your wedding day."
"Yep." Rory stated, a bit of bitterness in her voice, causing her mom to smile weakly and wrap an arm around her shoulders.
"And last night I got to thinking."
"Good time to start."
"Okay, miss quippy, do you want to hear it or not?"
"Yes, I'm sorry," Rory said.
"Well, you're getting married."
"A fact that you've stated three times now."
"And well, you're starting a new phase in your life." Lorelai continued ignoring Rory's interjection.
"Against my will mind you."
"And well, maybe before you end this stage, we should go back to where everything started." Lorelai said as they passed Luke's.
"What?"
"You'll see." Lorelai giggled as she led her down the back streets of Stars Hollow. Before Rory knew it, they were standing in front of the old Independence Inn, that her mother had worked at for at least seventeen years of Rory's life.
"Come on." Lorelai said as they headed towards the back and walked along the lake. Rory looked out and smiled as she saw a family of swans swimming. She remembered as a little girl, she would sit right near the lake and watch them and read. So caught up in the memories that she didn't notice her mother stop, causing her to run into her.
"We're here."
Rory looked up and smiled. "The old potting shed."
"Come on." Lorelai ran ahead, causing Rory to yell for her to wait as they ran to the door. Before she knew it, her mom had the door open and they were tumbling inside, laughing. Straightening they stared at their surroundings.
"It's exactly the same." Rory whispered, running her finger over the baby rosebud wallpaper.
"Down to the curtain around the tub." Lorelai said.
"You know." Rory began sitting on the small cot, crossing her legs in front of her. "Last month when I brought Logan to Stars Hollow and showed him the town, this was the one place I didn't take him." Rory admitted.
Lorelai sat down on the floor across from her. "Why, babe, I think he would have loved seeing where you grew up for the first 11 years of your life."
Rory shrugged. "'Cause it seemed like this place was just for you and me, you know. It's where you began your life. Our life. Like you said, this is where the Gilmore girls began." Rory said with a smile. "Maybe I want to keep it just the Gilmore girls."
"Do you think you'll ever bring him?"
Rory shrugged. "I don't think so."
"He'd like it."
"Do you think I'm ready?"
"For what?"
"Getting married." Rory said, moving to sit on the floor across from her mom.
"You want the truth or the lie?"
"Truth."
"Then the truth, I don't think I ever want you to be ready to be married."
"Mom!" Rory whined.
"Fine, fine, I think that yes, you and Logan are young. No, you guys don't love each other. But... maturity wise, I think you can handle it."
"So besides the fact that I do not love Logan or the fact that I'm twenty-one that in no way factors into me being ready at all. It's the fact that I'm mature enough to handle it.. Huh, never thought about it that way." Rory said dryly.
"Hey! You wanted my opinion."
"I didn't know your opinion was going to suck."
"See if I ever wake you up early again!"
Rory smiled. "So this phase in my life is over, huh?"
"At one o'clock today you will no longer be Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden. You will be Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden Huntzberger aka Rory."
"What a mouthful." Rory said tiredly, just listening to the name.
"Maybe you can Prince it, get a symbol instead of the name. But then the towels would be tacky."
"Towels?"
"The monograms, Rory. I mean every girl would die for the initials, LLGHH. on their towels."
"Okay, we're going now."
"Come on! Admit it! It would be perfect!" Lorelai laughed getting up and running after Rory.
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"Rise and shine!" Colin said opening the curtains to Logan's room, causing him to groan.
"Leave me alone." Logan muttered into his pillows.
"We should have stopped at the Jack Daniels." Colin told Finn.
"Blasphemy! No one stops at our good ol' friend Jack!" Finn yelled, causing Logan to wince and sit up, squinting as the sunlight hit his eyes.
"That's it, I fire you both as my best friends." Logan announced before laying back down and covering his head with a pillow.
"Logan, it's ten o'clock, you're getting married at one." Colin reminded him.
"Don't remind me." He groaned.
"We're in New York, we have to leave now if we want to make it to St Paul's to get ready at an appropriate time according to your mother."
"Did she call?" Logan asked looking over at Colin.
"Five times." Finn answered.
"Give me twenty."
"Pushups?" Finn asked.
"Minutes." Logan groaned rolling onto his side and sitting up, putting his feet firmly on the floor and making his way slowly to the bathroom. He closed the door firmly behind him and turned on the hot water in the shower. He went to the mirror and leaned on the counter, staring at his reflection.
He was getting married in three hours. He was getting married to a girl that he didn't love, not yet at least. He was getting married, because his parents and her grandparents thought it was a good business merger between the families. He was getting married and there was nothing he could do about it.
He watched the mirror slowly steam up from the hot water. He stripped and got into the water.
They had asked him last night what he thought of Rory and he had said she was cool, that they understood each other. There was no way to describe what he felt for Rory. It wasn't love. Not yet. They had barely known each other a month. They barely trusted each other, let alone loved each other. They had just come to an understanding of each other, what some might call a friendship. And with this marriage, their friendship could either grow stronger, which he was hoping for, or it could crumble.
He sighed as he rinsed off, turned off the water and wrapped the towel around his waist. He was getting married to a woman who, from what he knew about her, wouldn't have even looked twice at him, wouldn't have cared how much money he had in his account or what his last name was.
He was getting married to a woman who was a coffee addict, had a close relationship with her family and kept her friends close, always turning to them when she was down.
He was marrying a woman that with just a bat of her eyelashes and a smile could get any male to do anything.
He was marrying a woman that was happy staying home in her pajamas, watching old movies with popcorn and candy instead of going to parties and drinking the night away.
He was marrying a woman who put her shoes in microwaves and ovens for storage.
Damn it all to hell, he was marrying a woman he might actually love.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Oh great, you're here." Emily Gilmore's voice greeted them as they entered the wedding hall.
"Yeah, sorry we're late, mom." Lorelai said shifting her dress bag onto her other arm. "Traffic was hell."
"Where's Rory?" Emily asked, looking behind an uncomfortable looking Luke.
"She's out bar hopping, you know, trying to squeeze in one last impure moment before getting hitched." Lorelai said with ease, enjoying the look of horror that passed on her mother's face.
"I'm right here, grandma." Rory said as she walked through the door and sent a playful glare at her innocent looking mother.
"God, Lorelai, your sense of humor sometimes." Emily admonished, glaring at her daughter. "You're late. Logan arrived an hour ago."
"Yes, well, he had a plane, we had the jeep." Rory laughed. "Where are we getting dressed?"
"Follow me." Emily said walking away.
"Luke, will you be okay?" Lorelai asked. Rory turned to her soon-to-be stepfather.
"Yeah, don't worry about me." He kissed Lorelai. "Go."
"We'll see you later. Come on before Adolf comes back." Lorelai said with a raise of her eyebrow causing Rory to laugh and follow her grandmother's retreating back down the hall. Emily led them to the back of the church and down the hall.
"All right, everyone is in there." Emily said as she opened the door. Rory was about to ask where the boys were when she heard Logan's voice.
"Finn! Leave Colin alone! Dammit Finn!"
Rory smiled. They were right across the hall. She walked in after her mother and saw Lane, Paris, Steph and Evie sitting around still in jeans and shirts instead of their wedding clothes.
"I'll be back in a hour to check on you girls. We start promptly at one, Rory." Emily said as she closed the door. Rory rolled her eyes.
"It's like we're going to a party instead of me getting married." Rory muttered hanging up her dress and sitting next to Steph.
"Two hours and you will be Mrs. Logan Huntzberger." Paris said.
"Nice way to lighten the mood, Geller." Evie said dryly causing Rory to laugh.
"All right, girls, what do you think we should do? We have an hour before we should at least be in our dresses." Lorelai asked.
"We could order strippers." Steph suggested.
"Oh yes, 'cause Emily would so approve of that." Evie said.
"Well, I brought my CDs. Mood music if you will." Lane said digging into her bag and producing a stack of CDs. She walked over to the CD player at the end of the room, put a CD in and turned up the volume. The Shout Out Louds filled the air, causing Rory to smile.
"Perfect mood music." Rory said as Lane sat back down.
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"Hey uncle Luke." Jess said as he walked down the hall to see Luke looking around the church.
"Jess, Tristan. Come together?" Luke smirked.
"All right, it's one thing when Rory does the gay jokes, it's completely another when you do them." Tristan said with a smirk.
"Where are you two headed?" Luke asked, ignoring Tristan's comment.
"We were going to hang out with Logan and his friends. We have nothing better to do." Jess stated with a shrug. "Wanna come?"
"Why not, might as well freak out the little bastard." Luke muttered following them to the back of the church. They walked down the hall and heard music coming from one side of the hall and girls laughing, then Lorelai tumbling out and the door closing.
"Hey! This is no way to treat the mother of the bride and the maid of honor!" Lorelai yelled with a laugh as she hit the door with her fists.
"Lorelai?" Luke asked. Lorelai turned and smiled.
"Hey guys."
"Did they kick you out?" Jess asked.
"Yes, what of it?" She said mock glaring at Jess, her arms crossed over her chest. "What are you guys doing back here?"
"Nothing better to do, we're going to go hang out with the guys." Tristan answered.
"Finn!" The door to the guys' room opened and Finn ran out in his white dress shirt and boxers and went into the girls' room which produced a series of screams. Logan ran out as well, in his dress pants and his dress shirt, unbuttoned, Colin after him.
"What's going on?" Lorelai asked
"Finn stole the rings." Colin said as Logan banged on the door.
"Finn, get out here!" Logan yelled.
"Hide Rory." They heard from the other side of the door. Logan rolled his eyes.
"Why, he's already seen the dress." They heard Rory ask. "What's Finn doing in here?"
"Finn!" Logan yelled, only to be answered with a surprise scream. A few seconds later a very smug Finn walked out, a smirk firmly in place.
"Where are they?" Logan demanded as Finn walked into the guys' room.
"Ask your fiancée." Finn smirked. Logan rolled his eyes. Rory came to the door holding up her dress with one hand.
"Okay, we are breaking all sorts of rules here!" Lorelai yelled.
"It's not my fault Finn put the rings inside my dress." Rory protested as she handed the rings to a grateful Logan.
"Thank you."
"Tell Finn that if he ever sticks his hand down my dress or shirt again, it's coming off." Rory said.
"Will do, Ace." Logan said as he handed the rings back to Colin.
"What is going on back here!" They all turned to find Emily and Shira standing at the end of the hall, walking towards them.
"Logan, you aren't supposed to see the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding, it's bad luck." Shira admonished.
"That doesn't count anymore seeing as I've already seen Rory in her dress, mom." Logan said.
"Doesn't matter, now go back to your own room. You too, Colin." Shira said. Both boys made their way to the room without a word.
"Rory, go put your dress on right. You only have an hour left."
"Yes, grandma." Rory said going back to the room. Lorelai winked at Luke before going in after her.
"Who are you?" Shira asked.
"This is Luke." Emily said, the disdain evident in her voice. "Lorelai's fiancé."
"Hi." Luke said shifting uncomfortably.
"And you two are?"
"Friends of ours." Logan said opening the door again and motioning them in. They went willingly.
"All right, start getting ready, Logan." Shira said.
"Half done, mother." Logan muttered going back in and closing the door.
"Thanks." Tristan said sitting down on the couch.
"No problem, you guys seemed trapped. You guys remember Tristan, right?"
Colin and Finn nodded. "Yeah, nice to see you again." Colin said.
"Same here." Tristan nodded.
"Then this is Jess, Rory's friend." Logan introduced, buttoning his shirt.
"The ex." Finn said with a nod. "Nice to meet you. More formally anyway."
"And you're... Rory's told me about you... can't place the name though." Jess said snapping his fingers trying to remember.
"Finn, and Colin." Logan stated. "Then Rory's step dad, Luke."
"Soon to be." Luke corrected.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Collin said as he got his own shirt on.
"Rory's spoken highly of you." Finn said as he put his pants on. Tristan, Jess and Luke were already dressed in their suits for the ceremony.
"Has she?" Luke asked, surprised.
"Yep. Talked about how you went to a caterpillar's funeral for her." Colin said getting his bow tie out of the box and going to the mirror to tie it.
"She still talks about that?"
"She loves you, mate. Said you were and still are a father figure to her. Felt bad about you not being able to walk her down the aisle." Finn said tucking his shirt into his pants.
"She was going to ask you." Logan said. "But Shira and Emily asked Chris before she had a chance to say anything. The door flew open to reveal Lorelai.
"Do any of you have pliers?" Lorelai asked.
"What for?" Jess asked.
"The zip..."
"Never mind, we got it!" They heard from across the hall.
"You sure?" Lorelai asked closing the door without a backwards glace.
"Your fiancée is a weird one." Tristan smirked.
"That she is." Luke responded with a smile.
"So Finn, have you made the move yet?" Logan asked with a smirk as he sat down to put on his shoes.
"Move on what?" Finn asked sitting down on the other couch.
"Evie, idiot." Colin responded, leaning against the counter that was attached to the mirror.
"If you're asking if we're sleeping together, the answer is yes."
"We know that one." Logan said with a roll of his eyes.
"You're none too quiet." Colin muttered.
"You two love it." Finn smirked. "And if you mean have I asked her to be my girlfriend, as a matter of fact I have, thank you very much."
"Have you now? And when was that?" Colin smirked.
"You remember when we all slept over at Logan and Rory's? After the party?"
"Yeah." Logan said.
"Remember all those slapping sounds you heard on our end of the room?"
Colin smirked as he nodded. "Yeah."
"I was propositioning her."
"Should I be hearing this?" Luke asked, uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation.
"He'll save you the unsavory details." Logan laughed. "Go on, Finn."
"And after many failed attempts, I asked her and she said yes, thank you very much." Finn said getting his socks on and facing towards the floor to hide the blush.
"Our little Finn is growing up." Colin teased.
"Oh, bugger off, mate," Finn said glaring at Colin. "I bet you and Steph haven't even had that talk."
Colin's response was to turn around and fix his bow tie causing Finn and Logan to smirk.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"So you are now officially Finn's girlfriend?" Steph asked.
"As of a week ago."
"How does it feel?" Rory asked teasingly
"I feel no different," Evie replied, playing along. "Except I wake up every morning pushed to the side of the bed while Finn is sprawled all over it."
"He hogs the blankets?" Lorelai asked.
"No, the bed." Evie said. "Luckily, my Finn doesn't sleep with blankets... or anything else." The girls erupted in laughter.
"All right, sweets, your hair is done." Lorelai said putting in one more bobby pin in Rory's hair. Her hair was swept up in a loose twist leaving her bangs to hang around one side of her face. Rory stood up and went to the three way mirror.
She was wearing her dress, but instead of the diamond necklace her grandmother had wanted her to wear, she wore a long strand of pearls to match the dress, twisting them around three times to have them hang around her neck to below her breasts.
The girls were all in their dress as well, which had been a wedding gown, but had been made bridesmaid dresses for the occasion. They were all a light purple color. The dress was simple, flared down, the sleeves were off the shoulders and the bodice had an intricate design of pearls swirling. The girls' hair were all up and each wearing a diamond hair band to pull it back, loose curls around their faces and in the back.
"Are you girls ready?" Emily asked as she walked in.
"Yep, we're ready, just need to apply a little lip gloss." Lorelai said handing a tube to Rory.
"Peach?" Rory asked.
"That way you taste good for Logan." Lorelai whispered, causing Rory to laugh as she applied it.
"Rory, what are those?" Emily asked.
"What are what, grandma?" Rory asked, handing the tube back to her mother.
"Those around your neck?"
"My necklace." Rory said fixing the gown around her waist.
"What happened to the diamonds I gave you?"
"I didn't want to wear them." Rory said simply as she sat down carefully and put on her white heels on her feet.
"So you decided on those?"
"Yep."
"Rory, you look like a hippie with those."
"They match the dress better, grandma." Rory said. "I had planned on wearing these anyway. The diamonds are too heavy. I felt like pulling a Titanic."
"Titanic?" Emily asked confused.
"Throwing them in the ocean, mom." Lorelai helped.
"What?"
"See, mom, in the movie 'Titanic'..."
"I've seen the movie, Lorelai." Emily said. "What I don't understand is why my granddaughter won't wear those diamonds? That was supposed to be the something old and something borrowed. I wore those on my wedding day."
"We've already got that though, grandma." Rory said.
"Oh really?"
"Yes. See, the something borrowed are the Hello Kitty earrings." Rory said pushing back her hair to show off the pink cat earrings. "Then the something blue is my bouquet."
"Blue roses, dyed just for Rory." Steph said holding up the bouquet.
"Something old..." Rory said.
"My corset that Rory is wearing." Lorelai said proudly. "The one I wore in my teen years my very own chastity belt, the only thing that kept my virginity from Chris." Lorelai laughed.
"Which isn't saying much." Emily muttered causing Lorelai to glare and Rory to roll her eyes. "What about the new?"
"The pearls." Rory said fingering the strand.
"Very well, I guess I can accept that."
Rory rolled her eyes once again as she stood in front of the mirror making sure everything was okay.
"All right, girls, go line up in front of the door. Shira is out there waiting for all of you to put you in the right position. Shame we couldn't do that rehearsal dinner like we wanted."
"Logan and I were busy." Rory lied. Truth was, she had been studying for a test while Logan had a poker night with the guys. They both hadn't wanted to go, so both said that school was keeping them busy. She watched as the girls left the room. Lorelai smiled at her before closing her in with Emily.
"You make a beautiful bride, Rory." Her grandmother said standing next to her. "I'm sorry that it had to come to this."
"Come to what?" Rory asked crossing her arms over her chest.
"To this, arranging your marriage. Lord knows we tried to convince Francine and Straub to do the same with Lorelai and Christopher and look how that turned out. Your mother is marrying that diner man and Christopher has yet another illegitimate child."
"Is that what I am to you, grandma, an illegitimate child?"
"Of course not." Emily said waving off the comment. "Logan is a good man, he'll make you happy."
"Yes, he is a good man." Rory agreed. "But he's not the one to make me happy."
"Are you still sore about this?"
"You arranged my marriage, grandma!" Rory said turning to face her grandmother. "You hooked me up with some random guy that I only met a month ago!"
"Rory, keep your voice down." Emily said.
"No. God, you don't understand, do you? You got to choose grandpa, you got to choose love, grandma. I don't love Logan, I didn't get to choose Logan."
"Who would you have chosen, Rory?" Emily asked. "The bag boy? Or that miscreant?"
"Jess was not a miscreant." Rory said rolling her eyes at the word. If there was any word to describe Jess, it certainly wasn't miscreant.
"Logan is the perfect match for you. We made the right decision, he's headed down the right path. He's going to take over..."
"I know what he's taking over." Rory interrupted.
"When your grandfather and I talked about this, we made sure to consider you, Rory."
"Consider me?"
"Your aspirations, your dreams."
"My dream was to be an overseas correspondent, grandma."
"And we took that into account. Logan is going to be head of Huntzberger Publishing soon enough. He'll own newspapers, one of them will very willingly take you on. And Mitchum already gave you that paper, The Stamford Gazette was it?"
"Being an overseas correspondent and being a journalist are two different things, grandma, and I made it perfectly clear to Logan that I refused to take any handouts his family gives me. See, what you don't understand is that I want to earn my right as a reporter, I want to travel, grandma. I want to report on things that went on all over the world."
"Logan will travel." Emily said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Obviously you'll go with him."
Rory looked at her grandmother in disbelief. Was the woman so blindsided that she didn't see how unhappy this was making her?
"Now finish getting ready." Emily said. "You have five minutes." Emily tapped her fingers on the vanity before exiting and leaving a shocked Rory. She plopped down on the couch and heaved a sigh.
She was getting married. And there was nothing she could do about it. In five minutes she would be Mrs. Logan Huntzberger.
She heard a knock on the door. Reluctant to have anyone to disturb for five minutes of solitude, she got up and answered the door slowly to find Logan on the other side.
"Hey." She said.
"Hey, can I..." He trailed off and pointed inside.
"Yeah." She opened the door wider and let him in. He walked in and she closed the door. "You know," she began as she turned around and leaned against the door, "It really is bad luck to see the bride."
Logan shrugged and smirked. "Nothing about this marriage is tradition, why start now?"
"Very true, what'd you want?"
"Just... I don't know. Five minutes."
"Yep."
"And we're married."
"Yep."
"You freaked out?"
"Like you wouldn't believe." Rory admitted as she crossed the room and sat down on the couch.
Logan sat across from her on the small foot stool and grabbed her hands. "All right, I want to say something."
"Better make it quick, we have four minutes."
"I don't love you."
"Just the thing every bride wants to hear from the groom four minutes before they're due to get married." Rory said dryly.
Logan laughed. "And I can't promise you that this is going to be easy, but I can try to make you happy, Rory."
"Logan."
"I know you're giving up a lot because of this."
"So are you." Rory said thinking of the dreams he wouldn't share with her.
"Not as much as you. You knew where you were headed from the minute you stepped into school, you knew what you wanted to do and how to get there. And with one word that was all taken away."
"It was more than one word." She muttered.
"Just know that I am going to try my hardest to keep you happy."
Rory smiled. "You don't have to do that, Logan."
"Oh, I do." He said, a smirk finding its way onto his lips. "Because if that means I need to crawl into your bed a few nights a week and do unthinkable things to you to keep you happy, well then, I'm all for it."
Rory looked up at him in shock before blushing and laughing. "Get out of here, Logan."
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "See you in two." He whispered before leaving the room. Rory stared at the closed door in wonderment.
"Damn it." Now she didn't know if he was serious or not.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Logan walked out to the front of the church and stood on the step down from the priest. Colin was behind him.
"You okay, man?" Colin asked.
"Yeah, fine, you have the rings?"
"Yeah."
"Good," Logan said exhaling.
"So where were you?"
"When?" Logan asked turning to face Colin. The church was filling up and he could see the wedding party starting to line up at the doors.
"Just now."
"Oh, with Rory."
"With Rory or with Rory." Colin smirked.
"Shut up." Logan laughed turning back around to face the door to the church. He watched as Emily and his mother paired everyone up just right. He looked down at his watch: thirty seconds. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. This was it.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Rory, there you are." Emily said rushing over to her and putting her at the end of the line where Christopher was waiting.
"Hey kiddo, you okay?"
"Peachy." Rory answered with a weak smile. "Nervous, a bit nauseous."
"You sure you're not pregnant?" Lorelai teased smiling over her shoulder at her daughter, but whipping around when she saw the stern look on her mother's face.
"No, I'm not pregnant." Rory answer with a small laugh.
"All right, this is it." Shira said with a clap of her hands. "Oh, this is exciting. Come, Emily, let's go sit."
"Right, right. Rory stand up straight." Emily said as she walked out and took her place.
She heard the music start and took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. This was it.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Logan heard the music start and watched as the ring bearer and flower girl came in. The ring bearer being Sookie's son Davie and the flower girl being a distant cousin of Logan's. He watched as the bridesmaids came in with an escort, each holding a bouquet of deep purple roses that contrasted with their dresses.
He saw Lorelai come in with Luke, Luke sit down in the front pew while Lorelai stayed standing; Lane come in with Jess, Lane stood behind Lorelai as Jess sat with his uncle; Paris and Doyle, then Steph with Tristan and Evie with Finn. Evie stood behind Steph in the bridesmaids' line as Finn took his place behind Colin.
"She's beautiful, mate." Finn whispered.
"Who?" Logan asked, already having a good idea of who he was talking about. Just then the wedding march started and the crowd stood up as Rory came into view, Christopher Hayden escorting her down the aisle.
It hadn't mattered that he had seen her just before the wedding started or had seen her in the dress three times before. Logan still thought she looked as amazing and angelic as ever.
Before he knew it, she had reached the front of the church. He stepped down and waited. Chris whispered something in her ear causing her to smile and kiss his cheek before turning to Logan and taking his hand. He gave her a reassuring smile before leading her up to the priest. She smiled back and turned to give her mother the bouquet before turning back to him.
"Still speechless, Huntzberger?" She whispered causing him to smirk.
"Always, Gilmore."
A slight coughing made them turn to the priest who was looking down at them before he looked up at the crowd and began his speech.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Logan Elias Huntzberger and Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden in the holy bonds of matrimony.
"Marriage is a meaningful word. Meaningful because it means the end of looking for that special someone, the person you have dreamed of to complete your life; and speaks to us about the fulfillment we have found and the love we have given to each other..." The priest rambled.
Rory stood there, looking at the priest, certain points causing her to look at Logan who would be looking at her. It was amazing the way everything was said, so it was as if they had chosen to get married, no one was the wiser that this was an arranged marriage. Simply amazing, she thought.
Logan had tuned out the priest the second he had finished rambling about the meaning of marriage. Only because to him it was a bunch of bullshit. They hadn't found each other. Hell, they hadn't even been looking for that 'special someone' to complete their lives. They had been completely content on how they had been living it without the interference of their families.
He felt Colin hit his back with his elbow. He turned and found Rory biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"Logan, say something!" His mother hissed.
Logan blinked. "Can you repeat the question?"
The priest coughed, but nodded. "Do you Logan Elias Huntzberger take Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep her? For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both shall live?" The priest repeated.
"I do." Logan said.
"Thank god." He heard his mother mutter.
"Do you Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden take Logan Elias Huntzberger to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him? For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Rory said with a nod.
"Right then," he turned to Logan. "Do you have the ring for the bride?"
Colin handed him the ring and he showed it the priest.
"Place it on her finger." Logan did so, sliding the silver banded diamond ring onto Rory's finger.
"Geez, it's heavy." She muttered, causing Logan to smirk. The priest turned to Rory.
"Do you have the ring for the groom?"
Lorelai handed Rory the silver band and she showed it to the priest.
"Place it on his finger." She slid it on to Logan's ring finger and wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"As you wear these rings," the priest began, "Remember they are the visible symbols of your love for each other. Being round in circumference they remind us that our love is to be without end. Being of precious metal reminds us of the preciousness of our love that we have placed in each other's trust.
"This is because when two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spiritual bond unique to themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise. A potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfill. Now repeat after me, Logan.
With this ring I marry you."
"With this ring I marry you." Logan reiterated.
"I join my life with yours."
"I join my life with yours."
"All that I am, all that I have."
"All that I am, all that I have."
"And all of my love, I truly and freely give to you."
"I'm not so sure about the freely part." Logan muttered.
"I'm sorry?" The priest asked.
"And all of my love, I truly and freely give to you." Logan repeated. Rory gave a small laugh having heard what he had muttered.
"Right. Rory, repeat after me then. With this ring I marry you." Rory went through repeating the verses, hesitating slightly on the freely part, but repeating it anyway.
"Well then." The priest said closing his Bible. "By the powers vested in me by the state of Connecticut I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Rory felt her mother give her a small push closer to Logan. Logan gave chuckle as he put his hands on her hips.
"Is it okay?" He whispered. Rory gave a nod as she placed her hands on his chest. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers ignoring the applause that broke out from the church. She tasted good, like peaches.
He pulled back and raised an eyebrow. "Not too bad?"
"I'll live." She laughed as they turned around and walked down back down the aisle and out the church, only to be greeted by reporters and cameras. They bypassed them and got into the limo that was waiting for them.
"We'll meet you at the Windsor Club." Emily said as she shut the door with a smile. They felt the car lurch forward.
"Well, it's done." Logan said running a hand through his hair.
"Our families must be elated." Rory said looking at him from across the seat.
"Think of it this way, Ace. Only five hours till we're out of Connecticut and of the States."
"So what's the plan for the honeymoon?" She asked.
Logan shrugged. "You said you wanted to meet my grandfather."
"I did."
"Well, I thought we could spend a couple of weeks down there, then to Venice for the other half of the month."
"Sounds nice."
"Relaxing."
"Not with all the work I'm going to be doing." Rory said plopping her feet on his lap.
"Right, papers and articles."
"Doyle has taken it upon himself to give me articles to write during our honeymoon, so it's his fault."
"I'll kill him later." Logan grinned.
"So what, pray tell, were you thinking about when the priest was telling you our vows?" Rory asked, a teasing lilt to her voice.
"How that crap about marriage didn't apply to us."
"Huh, me too. But at least I knew when to say my vows and my mom didn't have to almost push me over to get me out of my head."
"Colin didn't almost push me over." Logan protested.
"Yes, he did." Rory laughed. "You almost fell on me."
"I did not!'
"You did too! It's too bad you were caught up in your own thoughts," Rory said with a laugh.
"Why's that?"
"You know the part when the priest says if anyone has objections to the marriage, may they speak now or forever hold their peace?"
"Yeah."
"Well, turns out that was the loophole."
What?"
"The Gilmore and the Huntzbergers never put anything in the contract about people objecting!"
"What!"
"Oh, you should have seen my grandmother's eyes widen in shock and Shira pale! Oh! And I'm assuming Finn noticed and was about to say something, but something stopped him."
"I can't believe we missed that."
"I can't believe we never thought of paying someone off!" Rory said.
"Damn it!"
"Hey, it's not so bad being married to me!"
"No, it's not. But then I wonder if we'll be saying that in six months."
"Who knows?"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Now, for the first time presenting Mr. and Mrs. Huntzberger!"
Logan and Rory walked into the Windsor Club holding hands as everyone clapped for them. They sat down at the head table and kissed each other lightly for show.
"Congrats, babe." Lorelai said from next to her.
"Thanks, mom." Rory smiled.
"You happy?"
"About the situation... no. " Rory responded. "But at the moment, yes."
"Someone got lucky." Lorelai teased.
"Shut up, mom."
"Logan!" Logan looked up from his conversation with Colin and Finn to see his mother and father standing before him.
"Someone's in trouble." Rory muttered causing Logan to playfully glare at her.
"Yes, mother?"
"What was that?" Shira almost screeched.
"What was what?" Logan asked innocently.
"The wedding! 'Can you repeat the question?' Logan! I can't believe you ruined this perfect wedding."
Logan crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "We got married, mom. Nothing in the papers states the way in which we should get married. The priest had a monotone voice, not my fault my thoughts drifted. It's yours for getting the priest."
Shira glared at her son before storming off. Mitchum sent Logan a look. "We'll talk later."
"Looking forward to it, pop." Logan said sarcastically. Mitchum shook his head as he went after his wife.
"I found your little show hilarious." Lorelai said. "So kudos."
"Thank you, mom. May I call you mom?" Logan asked with a smirk.
"I'd be offended if you didn't." Lorelai laughed as she turned to Luke. Rory shook her head with laughter.
"What?" Logan asked.
"I cannot wait to see the wedding tape." She laughed.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Logan led Rory out to the dance floor as the DJ announced it being the first song as husband and wife.
"So did you get a choice of the song?" Logan asked as he brought Rory to him, his hands on her hips, her arms around his neck.
"Yep."
"Which one did you pick?"
"You'll see."
A man's voice filled the speakers and Rory frowned as the song started.
Turn out the light
Just say goodnight to yourself
"What?" Logan asked as he moved her around the dance floor.
"This isn't the song I picked." Rory said.
May I remind you
When you find you,
You're all alone is when you've
You've got to be strong
Cause that's when they call you, in the night
He's got your picture in his mind
He's got your number
on a paper at his disposal anytime
Logan frowned when he saw Finn and Colin smirking near the DJ.
"I think I found who picked our song." Logan said pointing to his two friends and turning Rory so she could see.
Colin and Finn winked at her before walking back to their table.
Is it really true
Could you save yourself
for someone who, could loves you for you
So many times we just give it away,
To someone who
Someone who you
"Logan and Rory would like to invite all those couples in love to join them on the dance floor at the time."
Logan and Rory didn't even hear the announcement as they listened to the song that their two friends picked for them.
Met in bar
The back of a car
And for a moment
you felt important but not in your heart
My self esteem, it's been low,
go ahead and count it's been lower than low
I know the feeling
of it stealing life out from under me
'Cause I want to learn,
how you save yourself for someone who,
loves you for you
So many times we just give it away
to someone who,
couldn't even remember your name
Could you save yourself for someone who,
loves you for you, loves me for me
Give it away to someone who
Someone who
will cherish your name
Cause I want to learn,
can you save yourself for
Someone who
will love you for you
so many times we just give it away,
to someone who,
couldn't even remember your name
Could You save yourself for someone who,
loves you for you, loves me for me
Give it away to someone who,
Someone who will
Cherish your name
Cherish your name
"Wow." Rory said as she pulled back.
"I like it." Logan said with a nod as the music changed from slow to fast paced.
"So do I. I'm going to go get a drink."
"All right." Logan said as she slipped out of his embrace and went to go get a drink. He went over to where his friends were standing.
"What'd you think?" Finn asked.
"Thanks, guys, it was perfect." Logan said.
"We thought so." Finn and Colin smiled as they watched Rory talk with her friends.
"Thanks, Rory liked it." Logan said as he walked off.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
AN: Hope you guys all enjoyed that! I finished it Monday night and I'm happy with how it turned out.
The song was by Sense Field called "Save Yourself". I was listening to my Roswell soundtrack and I've been looking for the perfect song, and then this one came out and it reminded me of them. When I read the lyrics and relistened to it. It sounded like they're talking about a hooker. But when you take it out of that context, you sort of see Rory and Logan's somewhat lives in it.
Logan's life as a playboy and Rory's affair with Dean. I liked it and I hope you did too.
Again, I enjoyed writing this chapter. I think I could have added a bit to the dance, but truth is I'm tired lol.
Next chapter is the last! I'm so happy! I finally get to write the sequel! EE!
Hope you enjoyed and stayed tuned next week for the last chapter of TB!
Kassandra
P.S: If any of you would like the wedding song...i will find someway to get it to you. Just let me know! It really is worth it!