Jess and Luke waited nervously outside the Gilmore mansion for the maid to open the door.

"Remind me again why we are doing this?" Jess asked as he fiddled with his tie. "I feel really stupid. They all ready said yes."

"Just…" Luke began but then the door was opened by Richard Gilmore, not a nameless maid.

"Luke, Jess, come in," Richard greeted and opened the second door to accommodate Jess' wheelchair. "To what do I owe the pleasure this fine day?"

"Um, well, we, um, we wanted to talk to you and Mrs. Gilmore about…where is Mrs. Gilmore?" Jess asked, praying that he only had to deal with one of Rory's grandparents at a time.

"She's getting her hair done," Richard replied. "I felt it best to have this discussion between us men as I believe I've guessed by your attitude and attire as to why you are here."

Luke bounced his knees nervously, "Mr. Gilmore, Lorelai and I have known each other for some time now, going on nine years. We've seen each other through a lot of things, some good, and some bad. Lately, as you know, Lorelai and I have expanded out relationship beyond friendship and a few nights ago, I asked Lorelai to be my wife and she accepted," Luke explained. "And I'm here to ask for your blessing."

Richard was quiet for a moment taking in what Luke had just said. He knew this man loved Lorelai, he knew he was responsible and hard working, and he knew that he had his priorities straight. His financial situation was worrisome, but stabilizing. There was no need to worry about Luke Danes. In fact, he was relieved Luke was here asking and not Jess.

"Well, this certainly is no surprise," Richard smiled. "And I might add, it is somewhat of a relief. For a minute there I thought Jess would be the one asking," Richard chuckled but stopped when he saw neither Luke nor Jess was amused.

"Actually, Sir," Jess began.

"Son, I like you. Honestly, I do. Rory likes you, loves you even and anyone who would swallow his pride and ask virtual strangers for money to save his uncle's diner is worthy of my respect. You and Rory are young, she's still in college, you aren't even in college…I cannot give my permission or my blessing to what I see as an ill-fated union," Richard declared.

"Mr. Gilmore, Rory will finish school. I'll get my GED and I'll go to SCS with Rory," Jess told him. "I've researched it. I can get a job on campus and we can live in a couples' apartment."

"You're too young, Jess. One shouldn't consider marriage until after college. Have you even though about a career?" Richard asked.

"Yes, I even know what I want to major in once I get to SCS. I want to major in English and work at Hartford Rec Center with those kids who are in trouble," Jess said. "I want to marry Rory and live with her. I know we're young, but I'm in a pretty adult scenario here, and if Rory and I are still in love with each other enough to discount the obvious difficulties of this situation, I think we're in love enough to make a marriage work whether we're nineteen, twenty-nine, or fifty-nine," Jess declared. "I don't have much money, but I do have potential, and I'll promise to give Rory all the benefits of that."

Richard fingered his moustache, deep in thought. This was the boy Emily called a hoodlum that left Rory and broke her heart. Now he was here, telling him how much he loved his granddaughter. He didn't want to withhold his blessing because he knew Rory would marry Jess anyway, but at least he could attach conditions.

'All right, young man," Richard sighed. "I'll give you my permission and my blessing..."

"Thank you…" Jess began but was cut off.

'But under the certain conditions," Richard added. "First, you will complete the high school equivalency examine before the wedding date. Second, you will enroll in SCS, on a part time basis and will live in Hartford or Stars Hollow so you can work part time for my company. Third, you will continue your physical therapy and do you best to remain healthy enough to care for my granddaughter as a husband should. Are these conditions acceptable to you?"

Jess thought a moment about what Richard said. "Okay, on the GED thing and the part time school thing. I do counter on the working in your company, well at least with working for you."

"Why is that?" Richard asked.

"Because if you hand me the job, I want to work to keep the job," Jess explained. "I have some pride and I want a supervisor who doesn't care that I'm married to Richard Gilmore's granddaughter."

"All right," Richard agreed. "I'll arrange it. Are the rest of the conditions acceptable?"

"Yes," Jess nodded. "But I want a health plan, that will cover my therapy and any procedure associated with my condition so Luke doesn't have to…"

"Done," Richard said. "So I take it we have a deal?"

Jess nodded and looked at Luke, who was smiling. "We do."

"Well, then welcome to the family," Richard shook Jess' hand. "Both of you."

At the Dragonfly Inn that same day, Lorelai, Rory, and Sookie were talking about the wedding ceremony and party.

"This is going to be so cool," Sookie exclaimed. "One gigantic Stars Hollow extravaganza. I'll do the food, Lane can DJ, Rev. Skinner can perform the ceremonies…"

"Um, actually Jess and I were hoping that Lucy could marry us," Rory spoke up. "And we never discussed the whole double wedding ceremony idea."

"I thought it would go without saying," Lorelai replied.

"For m it would, but we really should discuss this with Luke and Jess. They might not want big weddings or lively parties," Rory suggested.

"You get married you have a party, that's how it's done," Sookie countered. "Not even sticks in the mud like Luke and Jess can argue with that."

"I'm just saying, it's their wedding too and we shouldn't make any decisions without them here," Rory sighed. "It said in Modern Bride that's how 50 of all premarital spats start, with unilateral decision making."

"That is true. Remember my brief sojourn into Emilyland?" Sookie reminded Lorelai.

Lorelai laughed, "Okay, we'll wait for the boys. By the way, where are our boys?"

"Oh, they're in Hartford," Rory murmured.

"What are they doing in…Rory, no?" Lorelai exclaimed. "Tell me Luke and Jess aren't talking to my parents!"

Rory blushed and looked at the floor, "Just to Grandpa. It's important to me that we have their blessing. Grandpa likes Luke and Jess, he should be fine."

"Rory, your grandfather is not going to give Jess his blessing without strings attached, now when he hasn't even finished high school," Lorelai told her.

"Jess wants to get his GED and go to college. If he tells Grandpa that, it'll be okay," Rory replied.

"I hope for your sake that's true, Babe," Lorelai said.

"Lorelai, your parents aren't that bad," Sookie piped up.

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "Just you wait Henry Higgins."

Luke and Jess went to the diner after talking to Richard, "So how do you feel about starting work in the white collar world?"

"Okay, this will make Rory happy and that's all that really matters," Jess replied.

"You have to be happy, too, Kid," Luke reminded him.

"I will be happy as long as Rory is happy, and she wouldn't be happy without her grandparents' blessings," Jess answered.

"Speaking of blessings, you might want to consider calling your Mom and letting her know…"

"Nope," Jess said. "I don't want her here causing a scene, and I'm not asking Jimmy either."

"Jess…I want to ask Liz. She's messed up and she hasn't been around much, but she's your mother, my sister…family."

"I have all the family I need here," Jess countered."

"Jess," Luke protested.

"No! She wasn't around when I needed her, or when you needed her. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a mother anymore or a father. I have no parents; I was hatched from an egg, so there you go!"

Luke knew it would be useless to argue with Jess so he let it slide and continued kneeding pie crusts.

Jess stirred the warm apple mixture in silence for few minutes then, "If you want Lizzy at your wedding, invite her. I just don't want her playing any role in my half of the ceremony."

"You do realize Lorelai and Rory are going to want a big double wedding," Luke said.

"Yep, I also think a double is a good idea, economical, quick, we'll only have to wear the tuxes once…"

"And," Luke added. "We'll both have the same anniversary so we can remind each other not to forget it."

"That's the best reason yet," Jess agreed. "When do you want to tell them?"

"Oh, Luke1" Lorelai called.

"I guess now," Jess replied. "You talk to her, I'll make the pie."

Luke went into the main part of the diner and greeted the girls. He kissed Lorelai's lips.

"So how was Hell?" Lorelai asked.

"Lovely," Luke teased. "We talked, we bargained, we decided that I get some linens and a couple hundred bucks for taking you off his hands.."

Lorelai's face was contorted in an expression of disgust, "You are kidding."

"Of course, I'm kidding," Luke told her. "Jess was the only one who had to make bargains."

Rory's face went pale, "Oh no. Where is he?"

"In the kitchen," Luke replied and Rory was off.

Lorelai's cell phone rang, "Hello," she said into the receiver on her way out of the diner.

"Lorelai, this is your mother," came through the phone.

"Hi, Mom. How are you?"

"I'd be better if I didn't just find out from your father that Luke and Jess were here today asking permission to marry you and Rory. Please, tell me I didn't hear right," Emily ranted.

"Yes, Mom, you heard right. Luke and Jess proposed to us a few days ago," Lorelai replied.

"Jess is not a proper husband for Rory. He can't look after her or take care of her properly…"

"Yeah, he can, Mom. Jess love Rory, and she loves him. They take care of each other," Lorelai countered.

"What will our friends think? Our only granddaughter marrying a crippled blue collar…our brilliant Ivy League granddaughter. You were a lost cause long ago, but I had high hopes for Rory. How could you let her…"

Lorelai cut Emily off, "Because I love her Mom. I love my daughter and I want to see her happy. If she's happy with Jess, I'll be happy for her. I wish you would be too."

Emily was silent for a long moment, "I'll try Lorelai, but I can't promise anything."

"That's fair enough. This is Rory's choice, Rory's life. I'm thrilled she's with Jess. He's good to her and he loves her, but even if I didn't support this decision, I still support Rory," Lorelai declared.

"So, we'll see you Friday for dinner?" Emily ventured.

"Actually, Mom, Rory and I wanted to have a dinner at the inn Friday with all the people who'd be involved in the weddings. We'd like you and Dad there," Lorelai said a bit nervous.

"Um, we'd love to be there," Emily said in an emotionless tone. "We'll see you then."

Later that night, as Rory and Jess lay in bed Rory started giggling again. "It's not funny," Jess protested. "I hate suits."

"It's not funny," Rory agreed. "But it is sweet."

Jess quickly kissed her, "It could be cool."

"Could be or it could be awful," Rory sighed.

"Awful like the tickle monster awful…" Jess teased and began to tickle Rory's side. She shrieked and tried to get away.

"Hey!" Luke called. "Pipe down.'

Jess pulled back and he and Rory tried to stop laughing, "Sorry," he called out. "Night, Luke. Goodnight, Lorelai."

"Goodnight, Jess," they chorused.

Rory kissed Jess again softly, "My sentiments exactly." With that she snuggled close and went to sleep.

A/N: I want to do the wedding in about four chapters. I've decided that Luke and Lorelai's song will be Reflecting Light. I want the readers to vote on Rory and Jess' song so at the end of each chapter I will put two choices. The winner of each chapter's vote will go against another song until I see the consensus. Looking forward to your feedback. Tell me which of the two best fits our favorite couple.

I Just Called to Say I Love You By Stevie Wonder

No New Year's Day to celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring
No song to sing
In fact here's just another ordinary day

No April rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

No summer's high
No warm July
No harvest moon to light one tender August night
No autumn breeze
No falling leaves
Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies

No Libra sun
No Halloween
No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring
But what it is, though old so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart, of my heart,
of my heart

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart, of my heart,
baby of my heart

Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash

Love is a burning thing
and it makes a firery ring
bound by wild desire
I fell in to a ring of fire...

I fell in to a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns,burns,burns
the ring of fire
the ring of fire.

The taste of love is sweet
when hearts like our's meet
I fell for you like a child
oh, but the fire went wild..

I fell in to a burning ring of fire

I went down,down,down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns,burns,burns
the ring of fire
the ring of fire.