A/n: This is the last chapter, but an epilogue and sequel are on the way!

Chapter nineteen

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Searching

It was finally here.

She'd waited so long for this and it was finally here, her wedding day. She'd thought it was never going to happen, what with the mythical June 3rd and all and yet here it was. She just wished she didn't have such a headache.

Rory had left a couple of minutes ago having done her hair and make up, insisting that if Lorelai was anymore unorganised she would never get out of bed in the morning but she had finally managed to banish her daughter just before the ceremony. She just wanted a minute alone, searching.

She was searching for that feeling that she got the last times she had almost got married, the feeling the wanted out, the feeling that made her run away both times, though Emily and Richard played a part in why she ran away the first time. It took her a while to realise it wasn't there, this is what she wanted, more than anything, she was happy.

Rory suddenly entered the room, "Mom, we need you out there in two minutes."

"Okay, hun."

"You okay?"

Lorelai smiled, "Yeah, I am."

"Good." Rory said before going out again, leaving Lorelai to make her final adjustments.

As she walked out she caught Jess' eye and they linked arms and walked down the aisle towards Luke, who was looking rather uncomfortable in his tux.

Rory tried to maintain her smile while trying not to let her awkwardness show and trying not to blush at the feeling the contact with Jess gave her at the same time. They finally reached the altar and broke apart as Rory breathed a sigh of relief. She watched Richard walk Lorelai down the aisle, smiling genuinely, her mom looked so happy. When they drew level, Richard backed away and Lorelai stood to face Luke and they started reciting the vows.

Lorelai started, "Luke, during the eight years we were friends, I saw you as my rock, the most dependable guy in my life, more than a father to Rory, everything a best friend should be and more. A couple of years ago, you showed me that you could be more than that to me, and I fell in love with you. You became far more than a best friend to me, you understood me, you loved me, you treated Rory as your own and you were always loyal to me even when I was at my most stubborn. I love you, Luke, and I will never stop loving you and now I'm going to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you and I couldn't be more happy."

Luke cleared his throat, "You know as well as I do that I'm not the best guy for expressing emotions but I know one thing, which is that I love you, I never didn't love you. Everyone else saw it, I knew it the day you first set foot in my diner, you are an amazing woman and I don't know what I did to deserve to marry you, and now that I am I'm thinking I'm the luckiest guy on earth. I will always be there for you as your friend, as your husband as whatever you want me to be."

Rory tried to blink tears out of her eyes as the wedding proceeded.

Gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

The reception was huge, it was spread out throughout the town square and everyone was there. Rory looked over to the gazebo to see Lorelai and Luke dancing happily, as if no one else was there. She grinned to herself and went over to get more cake.

Her eyes kept scanning the area for Jess, but she gave up the ninth time, deciding he wasn't there and sitting down resignedly on a bench with a book and a piece of cake. A few minutes later, she heard someone sit down next her.

"I'm sorry, is my wedding party boring you?"

"Not at all." Rory said, looking up at her mom.

"Then what's with the book, lady?"

"I was just waiting for my lovely mother to tear herself away from her newly wed and offer me but a few minutes of her precious time."

"Shucks, darlin'."

"Tell me if you see her anywhere."

"Hey!"

"And what are you doing over here anyway, I thought you'd be over at the bar by now."

"First you verbally disown me, now you're calling me an alcoholic?"

"Oh, the troubles of a single mom no longer single."

"It's awful, isn't it?"

"So, you excited?"

"About what?"

"You're going to Paris!"

"Oh yeah, I am, aren't I?"

"Yep, which should be interesting considering you don't know a word of French."

"I know bonjour, isn't that good enough?"

"Oh yes, that'll be all that's required of you."

"Glad you see things my way."

Rory saw something, someone in the corner of her eye and looked over towards Luke's and there he was, "Mom, I've got something to take care of, I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Okay, where you going?"

"I'm just gonna go grab a coffee."

"Okay, see ya in a minute then."

"Yeah, bye." Rory said, getting up and heading for Luke's.

Jess' head shot up as he heard the ringing of the bell, he hadn't expected anyone to come in today, what with the wedding and all. He looked back down again when he saw who it was who entered.

"Hey, Jess." Rory said, entering the diner.

"Hi."

"How come you're not out there?"

"Not really-"

"-your thing, I know, but I just thought, since you were at the wedding…" she trailed off, "Are you helping out here until Luke gets back, then?"

"Look, Rory, I'm not really interested in your small talk."

"Oh." Rory paused, "Can I talk to you upstairs?"

Jess rolled his eyes, "Fine." He followed her upstairs, "Yeah?"

"I know you're probably still mad at me but I was stupid then, and scared and I just don't want to leave when we're on bad terms."

"Why not? We weren't exactly the best of friends before I saw you in that bar, why's it so important to you that we leave on good terms?"

"Because…"

"Yes?"

"I'm just sick of us fighting."

"And that's it."

"I- I don't know."

"Okay, do you want to come back when you do know?"

"Jess, stop, please, just say we're friends."

"I seem to hear that a lot from you lately, why should I continue this cycle that you seem so fond of?"

"You don't have to completely isolate me from you!"

"Look, there's no point in this talk, we are what we are, I'll go back to Philadelphia in a couple of weeks and then we don't have to see each other anymore."

"No."

"Why?"

"Just, no, okay?"

"Look, this isn't going to change anything, I should-"

"I love you."

"What?"

"I love you, I don't want you to leave."

Jess stared at her from a minute, before closing the space between them with a fierce kiss. Rory responded, happily, but once again he pulled away. She raised her eyebrows.

"I love you too, by the way."

"Yeah, I kinda got that." She said, laughing before kissing him again.