AN: I'm updating as quickly as possible. Like I said earlier, the story is already written, and any changes now are just those requested by readers.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything – although I just bought a mobile on E-Bay – especially not the Gilmore Girls.
The banner is silver and black read Nathaniel & Theodora, together forever. Theo smiled coolly when she saw it. It was her engagement party; gifts wrapped in silver and black paper were piled on a table near the door. Henry and Claire had organised the entire thing, all Theo had had to do was show up in her black and silver brocade dress that clung to her in all the right places with Nate on her arm. They entered together and the guests took to their feet to welcome them. They were at Saffron again, where he had proposed to her. He smiled as he put her arm around her. They had dinner at their parents' table. Both their grandparents' were there as well. Henry and Claire were full of life, as they planned not just Theo and Nate's wedding, but their life together for the benefit of everyone at the table, which included the Huntzberger's, Cal DuGrey with his latest girlfriend and a local reporter covering the affair.
"Of course they both have two years left at college, so we'll get them married by the end of their final year. By that stage Nate will be ready to take over the European side of the business," Henry was loudly telling the reporter and Mitchum and Shira. Katherine raised her eyebrow and butted in,
"Excuse me Henry, but married so soon?" Henry turned, annoyed at being interrupted but trying not to show it.
"Well of course darling," Katherine cringed, she hated his habit of calling anything in a skirt darling. "Why have a long engagement when the outcome's the same? Anyway, as I was saying, they'll move to Europe and Theo can play around with her politics, I should be able to get her some role in the UN over there and then they'll be able to start having children" Katherine choked out her wine.
"Have you got the names picked out already?" She asked sweetly and Cal Du Grey laughed. Henry glowered.
"Well of course not Katherine" Jackson squeezed her leg to calm her down. "We have to leave that up to them"
"Well I'm glad something will be. Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom" She stood up and left the room quickly. Theo was staring into space, half shickered already, completely oblivious to what had just happened. Jackson looked at her worriedly.
After they'd eaten Theo and Nate found themselves sitting at the bar with the gang.
"What do you like love?" Finn asked her.
"Scotch" She replied without thinking. Nate stepped in and ordered her a glass of Sauv Blanc instead. He handed it to her.
"You like this darling"
"No she doesn't" Rory and Tristan say at the same time.
"She loves a good Sangiovese or a Brut," Tristan said forcedly, "not that flat, white puddle in a wine glass" Theo laughed at them and took a sip before making a face. She turned to Nate.
"They're right, I hate this stuff, I don't like white wine".
"Of course you do," Nate said. She silently accepted him and cradled the glass.
Rory was horrified by the display, and furious.
"Leave it Ace," Logan said, trying to soothe her.
"Oh God Logan, how can I? You were there"
"She's a big girl Ror, a big girl who makes her own choices you can't make them for her and I don't think she'd want you to"
"Well she seems ok with Nate making them"
"He's her fiancé"
"That's a dirty word" Rory responded petulantly. Logan laughed gently and hugged her but there was something cold in it and she could feel it.
The speeches were starting. And Theo and Nate took their seats again, their father's both made lovely if predictable speeches about children growing up over night and the next thing you know they're marrying each other. Then it was their friends, Rory made a lovely speech about butterflies, tying it Theo's dress at the ball. She said something about how, despite how small they are, butterflies soar to the most amazing heights, like she hoped Theo would with Nate behind her. There was a little bitterness in her voice then but she hoped nobody had noticed. Then it was Tristan. He was drunk as a lord by the time he got on stage and Rory watched him fascinated. It was like watching a blind man tapping his cane towards a parked car, you can see what's going to happen but in the seconds it takes for you to decide whether to say something, maybe take them by the arm and direct them away, it's too late.
"I have to say, I never thought I would be standing here, in front of this crowd at an engagement party for two of my closest friends. Of course, this is just the entrée; I still have the speech at the wedding. Of course, I have one over most best men, how many can say they bedded the bride before her husband did?" A gasp rippled through the crowd and Nate and Theo's mouths fell open. Tristan laughed.
"Come on, you can't begrudge the best man a tasteless joke in his first speech can you?" The crowd laughed uncertainly. He laughed again and strode across the stage.
"But seriously, this is a happy night, two of my…closest friends, together…happily. Having their lives planned out for them by Henry." The crowd laughed again but Tristan knew he was hitting chords with Theo and he pushed on.
"I've known Nate since we were in diapers, we gravitated towards each other, probably because we were such badly behaved kids…nothing's changed. We were dorm-mates through high school. I met Theo when she transferred to Chilton. And what a little spitfire she was…caused quite the stir in society. Who could forget the time that Nate saved her life when she plunged head first into my grandparent's pool at the vineyard after drinking a bottle of champagne when she was seventeen?" The crowd laughed again.
"She was always a beautiful girl, but for some reason, Nate had no interest in her at high school, or at least, not until she went blond. He takes after his father in that respect." Henry laughed heartily. Tristan sobered a little, his voice a little deeper, a little darker.
"Actually it's interesting, that even once he finally woke up to what an utterly…amazing girl he had, he kept it a secret. Maybe he just wanted to keep her all to himself, maybe not" He was staring hard at Nate now who looked like he was ready to kill someone. Katherine was grinning ear-to-ear. God she loved this boy. Tristan winked at her.
"So they finally told people, well, not me, or Theo's best friend, interestingly enough, we only found out a few weeks ago how in love they are…isn't that right Rory?" The crowd turned to Rory who looked mortified.
"Uh…yes" Logan was in hysterics next to her and she elbowed him.
"Right, so we were finally told and you know what, like Theo's parents, Katherine and Jackson, I just could not possibly be happier. Although, they might need a long engagement as a year doesn't appear long enough to get to know someone seeing as though Nate ordered the veal fettuccini and a glass of sauv blanc for Theo tonight when we know that she's a vegetarian who doesn't drink white wine" The crowd roared with laughter and Nate burned red.
"Anyway, in closing, to Nate and Theo…just so perfectly suited" He raised his scotch and downed it one gulp.
"That was very naughty Tristan"
"You loved it Katherine"
"The boy doesn't lie"
"The boy is drunk and is going to getting one hell of a phone call from Nate tomorrow"
"Was it worth it"
"Fuck yes" She laughed.
Theo and Nate made their way to the floor as Iris played. Neither had said anything about the speech. They danced slowly but this time she didn't rest her head on his shoulder.
And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am.
"The next time that you'll look so beautiful and we'll dance like this will be at our wedding" Nate whispered to her. She felt cold at his words, numb. Like she was out of her body, a feeling she was growing used to lately. Slowly she lifted her head to see Tristan at the other side of the room and they locked eyes across the crowd.
Cause you can't the tears that ain't coming,
Or the moment of truth in your lie…
AN: Let me know if you liked the speech. I loved it. Remember to R&R