A/N: This little story thing is getting a lot of nice feedback and I am so thankful to every single one of you reading. Even if you don't do all the fancy stuff like reviewing and favouriting, just the fact that you take the time to read these silly words that I write means so much more than you guys can imagine. It's such a strange thing, knowing that people are reading something, liking something, that I imagined in my head. I don't even know where this thing came from, it just sort of wrote itself. I tried to be a bit more on the classic Gilmore Girls humour side with this chapter, so I hope I did it justice. Because that was one thing that I simply adored about the show, that wonderful humour.
This is a two-part thing. When it gets to the end don't be thinking "Oh no! She's left us all hanging!" I haven't, I just definitely couldn't fit it all in this thing. Otherwise you would have gotten bored and never read anything again. It's funny how this was originally just supposed to be a one-shot, but now is going to be five chapters long. Makes me happy. Oh, there's a Gilmore Girls episode title somewhere in here. See if you can find it!
So please, enjoy this next installment of But Only For You. It was fun to write and I hope it's equally enjoyable to read. If you feel so inclined, review, favourite, follow and stuff. Don't worry about it, though, you don't have to. At all. Don't think I'm asking for it, just saying that if you want to, you can.
And with that really long authors note (I feel I'll be infamous for them), here we go.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls, nor do I own any lyrics that are present in this story. I own nothing!
Call It A Second Chance
It was always you falling for me,
Now there's always time calling for me;
I'm the light blinking at the end of the road,
Blink back to let me know.
She was never a drinker. Alcohol rarely excited her and usually the thought of it caused tremors in her stomach. So when she woke up to face a blinking alarm clock reading 11:23 a.m., her throat feeling as if something had buried itself in her stomach for centuries before deciding to just recently claw its way out of her mouth, and her head spinning, she was thoroughly confused. Although, her head hurt so much to the point she wasn't entirely sure if she was capable of confusion.
Her arm was numb and pressed underneath a heavy object. Said object dripped sweat and grumbled when she attempted to remove her tingling limb.
Rory opened her eyes dangerously slow, observing her surroundings. The walls were a sickly green, the light was blinding, and she was going to throw up any second.
She yanked her arm free from its captivity and blindly stood up. With no time to spare a glance at whoever shared a bed with her last night she frantically looked around for a bathroom, feeling the gurgle of bile slipping up her throat. Everything moved around her as she stumbled towards the the only other door in the small motel room.
It must be a motel room. The sheets on the bed were horribly cliché, the carpet was shag, the panels on the walls wore what looked like bullet holes, and the bathroom floor was musty. But Rory didn't care as she threw her head over the toilet bowl.
Flashes of last night blurbed through her head when she sat against the disgusting wall of the bathroom.
Neon lights, dancing, flirting, heart pounding, drinking.
"Oh, God," she sighed, clutching her throbbing head and twisting at her matted hair. She slowly stood up, watching as the room spun, and took a look at herself in the mirror.
Mascara smudged around her eyes like a raccoon and her lipstick was smeared across her cheek. She looked like a hooker. A hooker wearing someone else's clothes. Men's clothes. Button down shirt, no bra, boxer-briefs; the lot. Now, the question remaining, what the hell led to Rory Gilmore, engaged Rory Gilmore, being hungover in a motel room?
"Ace, is that you?"
Rory whipped her head to the side and came face to face with a naked Logan Huntzberger. She closed her eyes and clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling a laugh. Acid burned in her throat and her mouth tasted horrible and it felt like an elephant decided to take a nap on her brain, but at least she hadn't slept with some stranger.
"I think it's me, yeah," she replied, shaking her aching head. With the foul taste in her mouth, she bent over the sink and gargled some water before returning to her naked lover.
"I'm naked."
"I see that," Logan smiled at Rory's retort and she felt her cheeks flame up.
"How is it that you're not naked and I am?" He asked, gesturing to Rory's attire.
Rory's head exploded with revelation and she sucked in a breath. "You-" she pointed at Logan. "You are not supposed to be naked," she stomped over to him, poking his chest. "We," she said, gesturing between them, "we are supposed to be celibate. We made a promise to not have sex until the wedding night," Logan looked at her flabbergasted, his mouth hanging open. "God dammit, Logan. We had sex!"
She smacked his arm and watched his face twist in pain.
"What was that for, woman?" He asked, rubbing gently at the red mark on his arm.
She fumed, "We had sex! You know what sex is, right?"
He laughed then, scruffing her messy hair. "I think so," he mused, caressing his chin in mock thought. "It's the thing where my penis gets all up in your vagina, right?"
"You're so - I can't - you - ugh!" Rory exclaimed, pounding her small fists against Logan's chest repeatedly. His laughter penetrated her eardrums and she frowned, imagining steam releasing from her nose, ears, and mouth.
"Rory, Rory, Rory," he pleaded, trying to stop her rigorous beating. She looked up at him and put her arms by her sides, waiting. "Right, I don't think we had sex."
"But-"
"I'm naked, I know. And sweating like a mad thing," she smiled at him. "But I know when we have sex. I get this feeling, this tingling feeling that has nothing to do with intense orgasms you supply me with, whenever we have, what are the kids calling this days? Oh, right, sex." He's mocking her, but she didn't mind.
If she thought about it, she understood him. Whenever they did it (had sex, made love, mated, had the sexy times), she felt a warm gush of energy soak through her. It lasted for hours and sometimes days. It was the feeling, the understanding, that she was sleeping with, making love to, the person who was always going to be hers. It was like God was saying, "you know, I usually don't allow people to have sex before marriage, but you two are so special and belong together that I'm going to let this one slide."
She imagined that was how God talked.
"We didn't have sex?" She asked, her voice squeaking at the end.
"No, I would remember. You were the one who was crazy drunk last night, Ace, not me."
"Stupid hen night. I hate my mother," Rory said tiredly, rubbing her temples slowly. "I need hangover food."
"We'll be making a stop on the way home. Tacos, right?" He asked and Rory nodded, a wide smile spreading across her face.
"I made a good choice in agreeing to marry you."
"That you did, Ace. Do you remember much about what happened last night?"
Neon lights, dancing, flirting, heart pounding, drinking.
"Kind of."
Logan stepped to her and guided her to the messy bed.
"You went batshit crazy," he said, rubbing a thumb absentmindedly across her knuckles. "By the time you had called me, saying all of these wonderful things that you loved about me, you were pretty drunk off your ass."
"Okay, but how did I get to that point?"
"Probably by drinking alcohol."
She smacked him again, "You said you caught up with us at some point. You must know what happened. At least some of what happened. I mean, where is my mother?"
Logan laughed and pulled Rory's head to his shoulder, "I dropped her home after you drunk dialed me and begged me to come out. She's safe and sound, Ace."
"But, why don't I remember any of this?" She was frustrated with herself. She was Rory Soon-To-Not-Be-Gilmore, not some floozy who got drunk on her hen night.
"Focus, Ace, you got drunk," Logan said mockingly.
"Yes, yes, I know," she said, patting his head. "But how. And I want a real answer."
"Right, okay, well, as I was getting your mother back into Luke's care she was going on about how her, Lane, Paris, Kathy, Honor and Sooki spiked your club sodas. You had about three, I think, and in each one they put a shot of straight vodka," Logan flinched, preparing his body for Rory's reaction, but it never came. She was frozen on his shoulder, her chest moving every now and again to signal she was still breathing.
"They poisoned me with vodka? Even Kathy?" She asked after some time wallowing in silence.
"Do you not understand the meaning of hen night?" Logan asked, running his hands through her increasingly matted hair.
"It's my last night of freedom. I wanted to remember it at least."
"Well, I'm sure they're very sorry. They got pretty pissed, too. Even Paris. Which was a weird sight," Logan shook his head as if attempting to disperse the images from his mind.
Rory sat up, lifting her head off of Logan's shoulder and feeling a sense of cold at the loss of her lovers skin. She eyed him carefully, drinking in the sight of him naked and next to her.
"You're still naked," Rory pointed out tiredly.
"And you're still extremely observant," Logan retorted, his face spreading in a warm smile that melted Rory where she was sat.
Rory stayed there for a second, thinking. In less than 24 hours, she would be a married woman. Tomorrow, she would wake up without Logan by her side only to be thrust into a never-ending romance with him. Her world was finally coming together, stitching itself at the broken seams. Ten months ago her life seemed hopeless and headed for nowhere. And then he came in and made it better, fixed it with sarcasm and smiles.
She felt like the version of herself that she embraced when Logan stepped up the first time during their years at Yale. Nervous jitters constantly gnawed at her and she couldn't help but feel whole when he was there.
"Wait a second," Rory interrupted the silence once more. "If you came to pick me up last night, what happened to your stag night?"
Logan looked at her sheepishly, running a hand through his ever-blonde locks, "I- uh -abandoned it to come save you. And everyone else. From, you know, dying. It was a worthy cause. The guys didn't mind," Rory frowned at him. "Okay, okay, they minded. But I didn't. I promise."
"Was Finn really upset? Collin? Jess? Uhh…" she broke off and looked at him quizzically. "Do you have any other friends?"
"No, Ace, just you, my two idiot collegiate buddies, and your ex-boyfriend," Rory couldn't believe the connection Jess and Logan had made since Logan's return. And it helped that Rory was in love with his now-wife, Kathy. "Oh, Josh was there."
Rory grinned, her belly getting increasingly warm. "Right, right, my soon-to-be brother-in-law. I don't know, though. We didn't discuss who was going to be at the Huntzberger stag night."
"Mhm, well, it wasn't just them. The two strippers we hired got the total up to seven, including me." Logan's smiling face transformed into one of agony when Rory flicked him on the side of the head. "What was that for, Ace? You've been overtly abusive this morning. Alcohol and you do not a good mix make. You're going to ruin me for our wedding photos."
It was there. He had said it. He had admitted it out loud while naked and sitting next to the hungover Rory.
"We're getting married tomorrow," she squeaked excitedly. Logan leaned down and pecked her cheek.
"And I am super happy about it."
"You better be, mister," she said, pointing a finger at his nose.
"Truly. Speaking of this wedding, I wrote a note to Lorelai saying I would drop you off at her place this morning to get preened and stuff before tomorrow. I called the guys and told them I'd get to Collin and Mackenzie's house by twelve. They live a little bit away, so maybe we should get moving."
"Still can't believe Collin is married. And hey, I look like I just won a UFC fight. Not really the 'going to see your mother look' I was going for. Besides, I don't even want to see her. She got me drunk last night!" Rory whined, thumping her head back onto Logan's shoulder.
"Oh, Ace," Logan sighed out. "You'll be fine. If you just wipe your face a bit, you'll look kind of presentable."
"Yeah, on this lovely subject of presentableness, you'll need clothes." Rory quirked an eyebrow at Logan, watching his eyes search her body. Her cheeks flamed with the childish giddiness she felt whenever he looked at her like that.
"You're wearing my clothes."
"What?"
"You deaf, Ace?" He asked, lightly pinching her ear. She smacked his hand away and he giggled youthfully. "I said you are wearing my clothes."
"Why am I wearing your clothes?"
"God, with all these 'why' questions I'm kind of wishing we had our own television show so I could show you exactly what happened last night."
"Just, answer the question, Logan!" Rory persisted, her face falling from grace.
"Okay, right. Well, you called me, remember?" Rory nodded her head, signaling Logan to continue and never stop until the entire story was out. "Yes, you did. And when I got there, after abandoning all my friends at my stag party, you were sort of…how do I put this delicately?" He took a deep breath and attempted to contain his oncoming chuckle. "Horny. You were horny. And you came onto me. I wouldn't have normally minded you begging me for sex, but you were drunk. I said no, of course. You were persistent, though. I wonder what drunk sex would be like with you."
Rory snapped her fingers in front of Logan's face, "Ugh, Logan! What does this have to do with me wearing your clothes?"
He blinked away his fantasies, nodding his head. "Well, when we got here, you started removing all of my clothes. I couldn't stop you, either. You were like some ferocious tigress ready for mating season," he put his hands up like paws and scratched at the air. Rory laughed at the idiocy of it all. "Funny, eh? Ahem, well, so while you were tearing my clothes off, you kind of, um, threw up. All over your dress." His face went grim and dark and Rory gagged.
"I threw up in front of you?" Rory put her head in her hands, flinching when Logan placed a hand on her back.
"Hey, at least it wasn't on me. But yes, on your dress and in front of me. I already had lost all my clothes, so I cleaned your face up a bit, brushed your teeth with the spare toothbrush I keep in my car, and put you to bed. I've got my trousers here, but you're wearing my pants." Rory examined her exterior. Definitely Logan's.
"So, will you just leave here with trousers on? No pants or shirt?" Rory asked, fiddling with the flint on her/Logan's button-down.
"I've got an undershirt. It'll be fine. Collin and I are roughly the same size. I'm sure he's got a bunch of unworn clothes in that huge house of his." Rory looked at her fiancé and smiled again, thanking that God person for all that she had.
"Then let's get a move on, Huntzberger."
She kissed his lips for a moment, losing herself in pleasure before getting up and preparing for her day.
"Mom, quit fiddling. I'm getting in the shower."
Rory was walking towards the bathroom with Lorelai in tow, nipping and swiping at all the grime on her daughter's body.
"I know, but you look like you just lost a UFC fight," Rory turned around, toppling a bit when Lorelai ran into her, and hugged her mother tightly. "Hey, kid, get off. You smell like vomit and a cheap motel room."
"Sorry, I just really love you."
"I love you too, but seriously, get off."
"Not until you apologise for getting me drunk," Rory said, squeezing.
Lorelai dramatically gasped for breath, clawing lightly at Rory's hair. "Okay, okay! I surrender. Please forgive me for getting you wasted. It was an innocent thing!"
Rory released her mother and opened her mouth, shocked. "Innocent?" She questioned, placing her hands on her hips defiantly. "You got me blackout drunk! I tried to seduce Logan!"
"Honey, have you not had sex with him yet? It's been a while. Hey, look, you're not really mad at me for getting you drunk, you're just sexually frustrated!" Lorelai clapped a hand on Rory's shoulder, earning a growl from the smaller girl.
"Mom!" She shrieked.
"Okay, okay," Lorelai relinquished. "I'm sorry I got you drunk. To be honest, I don't really remember doing it, but I bet I felt horrible when it was happening."
"Right," Rory said unconvinced. Lorelai just stared at her with Bambi eyes.
"Get in the shower, kid, before I decide to just throw you in the imaginary pool we have out back." Lorelai kicked Rory's leg to push her forward.
"You'd just be throwing me in mud, mom. Not cool."
"Oh, you know you love me," Lorelai replied, slapping Rory's back as she turned away to get in the shower.
When Rory had phoned her mother eight months ago from Logan's place, a new engagement ring adorning her dainty finger, Lorelai had insisted that she and Luke return home immediately to help plan for the wedding.
Because Lorelai had never been the biggest fan of Logan, Rory's fears escalated when she realised she hadn't really ever said that she and Logan had even started dating again. She had said in passing that Logan was back in town and had become an English teacher. She mentioned that he helped her get her job at the Courant. But never did it slip through her lips that they were dating. Or that they were living together.
So, when she screamed through the telephone line to Europe that she was engaged, Lorelai was shocked. Flabbergasted. Startled. Slightly unsettled. Take your pick of synonym. And then slowly, ever so slowly, as the younger Lorelai spoke to her mother about love and passion and it all just feeling right, Lorelai Sr. began to understand.
The next day, Luke and Lorelai had booked a flight and returned home mid-November to Stars Hollow. The Gilmore home, with Logan and Rory inside, welcomed them back with crying, cheers of congratulations, and excitement.
Suddenly, the fact that Rory had been abandoned by her rock and her stepfather didn't matter. Her mother had rushed home, her mother was there, her mother was holding her. It was all coming together.
Luke immediately took back control of his diner from Kirk, the Dragonfly Inn welcomed Lorelai with open arms, and Rory couldn't have been happier.
After Rory had lathered her hair generously in conditioner and shampoo and had scrubbed her body down nicely, she left the bathroom with high spirits.
"Ah, the prodigal daughter returns," Lorelai greeted her. "You look much better now."
"Thanks, mom," Rory said sarcastically, throwing her towel and Logan's leftover clothes on the ground by her mother's feet.
"Hey, I don't want to clean these thing's up!" She called as Rory walked to her old room.
"I'm the one getting married in 22 hours, mom. Do what I say!"
"You wanted to have an early wedding. I didn't decide that 11:00 in the morning would be a good idea!"
"I think it's a good time," Rory said, sticking her head back into the hallway. "We get there at eight, get ready and stuff, do all the photos. Then people arrive at 10:30, ceremony starts at 11:00 and finishes before 12:00. Then lunch! Perfect."
Rory had the look of an angel on her face and Lorelai gave up, picking the wet and dirty cloths off the floor in a huff.
"Thanks, ma, you're the best," Rory declared as she sauntered off to her bedroom.
"Yeah, yeah," Lorelai mumbled.
As if it sensed that she was finally alone, the minute Rory closed her door, her phone began to ring.
Sparing no time to look at names, she swiped at the "ANSWER" button and spoke, "Hello, Rory Soon-To-Be-Huntzberger speaking."
"Ah, good, this is her fiancé, Logan," Rory could hear the smirk on his face.
"Logan!" She chastised. "You're not supposed to be talking to me. We've entered the last day of single-hood. Leave me alone."
"But-" he started. "You saw me naked just this morning." In the background, Rory heard more voices. She gathered fragments of their commenting, ranging from "Gross, Logan," to a very sarcastic "Oh, how sweet."
"Shut up. I'm hanging up now," Rory pulled the phone down, but heard Logan shout and brought it back up to her ear. "What? Are you okay?" She asked, worried.
"Hm? Yeah, yeah. I just wanted say that I loved you. I love you. There, I said it. I'll hang up first so you don't get the opportunity to say it back. Bye! See you tomorrow Almost-Mrs.-Huntzberger."
The line clicked dead. Exhausted from the emotions boiling inside of her, Rory fell onto her childhood bed and closed her eyes, slipping into a realm of fantasy and wonder.
The Next Day
"Rory," someone was shaking her.
"Mmmblbm."
"Rory, hon, those aren't real words."
"Then go away," she said in the most immature way she could muster.
"It's six a.m. darling. You asked for the wakeup call," Lorelai pushed on Rory's shoulder, but the smaller girl stayed planted.
"No I didn't," she whinged, smacking away her mother's hand.
"You said you would say that, and told me to say, and I quote, 'Just get me up, mom. I'll be happy to be awake at six for the wedding'."
Rory sat up quick, nearly banging her head on the shelf that had magically appeared above her bed.
"The wedding," she mumbled tiredly, rubbing her eyes. Getting up, she blew past Lorelai and went into the kitchen. A bouquet of flowers with a note attached adorned the kitchen table. She quickly waltzed up to them and grabbed at the note, but something snatched it from her grasp. "Mom!" She cried, reaching once more for the card.
"Ah pah pah, no you don't. He gave me strict orders to not let you read this until you're ready to walk down the aisle. And yes," Lorelai interrupted her daughter's attempt to speak. "I gave him his gift as well."
"You're a good mom."
"I try my best."
Rory tapped her mom on the head, "You succeed. So, what's first on the to-do list?"
Lorelai tapped her chin with her index finger and observed her daughter. Rory shrank under the gaze, "Well, Kathy's on her way to do your hair and makeup, Sooki and Luke are getting all the final arrangements in for the lunch, Paris, Honor, and Lane are currently setting up the ceremony in the town square, and I am here getting you up."
"What a hard job you have," Rory teased, walking over to hug her mother.
"It is hard. You refused to wake up."
"Yeah, but, for like, one second," Rory said as she extracted herself from the embrace.
"One second is a long time in mom years. Just ask Kathy when she gets here. Hey, how lucky is it that Jess married a makeup artist, huh?" Lorelai asked while she prepared Rory some coffee.
"Very lucky," Rory agreed. "I'm gonna get in the shower, okay? Tell Kath that's where I am if she gets here before I'm out."
"Who's Kath? I only know a Kathy. Kath sounds like you're referring to a catheter. Are you referring to a catheter?" Lorelai asked.
"Yes, mom, I'm asking you to tell a catheter that I'm in the shower and to wait for me until I'm out," Rory mocked.
When she stepped under the stream of hot water, Rory noticed all the little things. This was the last shower she was to take before being a married woman. The last morning she would wake up without a wedding band twisted around her finger. The last day she would be a Gilmore. Well, sort of.
"I'm not changing my name," Rory had said.
"Wouldn't expect anything different from my Ace," Logan had replied, feeling her creep up to him in the bed.
"Are you okay with me staying a Gilmore?" She had asked, worry rippling through her.
"I didn't fall in love with a Huntzberger, I fell in love with a Gilmore. You are Rory Gilmore, not Rory Huntzberger."
"I won't be one of those crazy people who says 'no, you must call me Gilmore!' I promise you."
"Good, good. I was getting worried," Logan said as he turned around to face her. His eyes were glistening in the moonlight and she reached out to smooth her fingers down his cheek. His lips puckered, kissing her palm lightly and sending shots of pleasure through Rory.
"How about I do change my name, but have it be Huntzberger-Gilmore?" Rory questioned, running her thumb across Logan's lip. His whole body quivered at the touch.
"No, no, you gotta have Gilmore first," Logan implored.
"But then people would call me Huntzberger. I kind of want your name to become mine. Huntzberger-Gilmore so people call me Gilmore. How does that sound?"
"Lorelai Huntzberger-Gilmore. That's one hell of a mouthful."
"I love you, Logan," she whispered, brushing her nose against his, their breath mingling, dancing together in the air.
"And I love you, Ace Gilmore. There, how's that? Instead of becoming Huntzberger, you let me change your first name to Ace?" His eyebrows shot up with elation.
"Down, boy. No," she scolded playfully.
"Awe. I guess I understand. Besides," he sighed. "I like being the only one to call you that."
Her tears mixed with the water as emotions, built up from the day Logan walked into the bookstore, poured out of her like a waterfall. They crashed and sloshed around her belly, head, and fingers. Everything tickled. Everything ached.
Her heart was so full of love and longing that she nearly thought it would burst before she ever got the chance to walk down the aisle. Every second was counting down until she would see Logan, standing in some suit with all his buddies lined up. Her body almost couldn't bear it.
But she was getting pruney now and Kathy would not appreciate a wrinkly bride.
Rory swiped at the fogged up mirror, that tingling sensation still manifesting itself in her fingertips. Her face looked the same. Blue eyes bright, red lips still shaped perfectly. But see felt an entirely different person. Like all of it, all of life, had been culminating up to this day. All the shit she had endured was just testing her, getting her ready for pure happiness. Getting her ready for a life of love and content.
She got out of the bathroom still in her towels. One atop her head and one covering her body. Kathy stood in the living room with her supplies set up, a steaming cup of coffee waiting. She was poured over Rory's notes regarding what her makeup and hair was to look like today.
"Is that coffee for me?" Rory asked. Kathy flinched, the papers dropping to the floor. "Sorry."
"It's your wedding day, Rory, no need to apologise. Now, let's get you ready. Sit," Kathy ordered, pointing to the chair. Rory's smile wouldn't go away. It was her wedding day. "It's not long before you'll be married. And yes, that coffee is for you."
"Oh, thank God," she said gratefully. "Thanks for doing this for me, Kathy. It means the world."
"Let's just hope I make you beautiful."
"You will do. I have faith," Rory said sweetly, smiling a bright smile before downing her coffee.
"Well, you are very welcome. You've become like a sister to me since Jess and I moved here. It's the least I could do," Kathy said as she prepared all of her supplies. "Oh, and we'll save the lips for last so you can brush your teeth."
Kathy pointed at the coffee mug and Rory laughed embarrassedly. "Right, that would be bad. You may now kiss the bride whose breath smells like stale coffee."
Katherine giggled like a little girl as she got started on Rory's face. It took a lot longer than Rory had expected. Lorelai kept on coming in only to turn away again. Rory could hear her mother crying in the next room and couldn't suppress the smile that lingered on her lips.
From the looks of it, Rory was the last to get ready. Lorelai, Sooki, who had arrived not to long ago, and Kathy all had their bridesmaid dresses on.
Her hair didn't take as long, pinned into an extravagant braid with a few wisps of chocolate hair blowing across her forehead. It mixed well with her marriage makeup. Heavy eyes, faded pink lips, and rosy cheeks.
She slipped on her dress after all of her bridesmaids appeared. The ceremony was set up, the boys had arrived, and everything was coming together neatly.
They all watched her slide into her dress. The simple white thing fit her snugly and the blue flower, one cut from the bouquet from Logan, that fitted at the sashed waist made her eyes glow.
"I think you're ready, sweetheart," Lorelai whispered through her tears. She shakily went and got the note that Logan had said Rory could read once she was ready.
"Thanks, mom," Rory said unsteadily, her voice not wanting to escape. "And thank you to you guys. You all made today possible in more than one way. I'll keep this brief, but as this is the last time we'll all be together until the ceremony, until I'm married, for crying out loud, I just want to say a few words. Each one of you helped, in your own individual ways, my relationship with Logan. Honor, you kept him in line while he was away from me, shaping him and making sure he was a good man while he waited for the opportunity to sneak up on me again. Lane, you made sure I stuck with Logan whenever he'd do something stupid. I could always call you with a problem or a solution and you'd listen like only a best friend would.
"And my wonderful friend Paris, you, well, you've always been special to me. Logan and I worked with you on the paper at Yale and if you hadn't kicked me out, Logan and I never have moved into together and moving in with Logan was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Katherine, you've been a stable ground for me since we met. Telling me all about what to expect with marriage and all that. Thank you for helping through all of this planning stuff. Sooki, thanks for being like a second mother to me all my life. I don't know where I would be without you."
Rory took a deep breath, tears already spilling down her face, and turned towards her mother. "And mom," she said, her voice wavering extremely. "You, you are the most amazing woman, nay, the most amazing person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Without you, I would not only be nonexistent, but I would not be who I am today. You sculpted me to be this woman who stands before you now in a wedding dress with a stable job and perfect man. We've had our fights, our falling outs, and our distance, but you have always and always will be my mother, my bestest friend in the whole wide universe. I don't know what I'd ever do without you, mom. Thank you so much for not getting rid of me. Thank you so much for loving me and for saving me time and time again. But most importantly, thank you for being my mother."
Lorelai was already strapped to Rory by the time she had finished. Everyone was wailing, their makeup running like their noses. Kathy ordered them all around to fix up their smudges when the tears had finally stopped rolling.
When the girls had left Rory to her own devices, she pulled out the letter from Logan:
Rory,
I could fill this piece of paper with sarcasm and jokes, but I want to take a moment to be sincere. It's not often that I'm sincere, but I think that since you are the one marrying me, you deserve a little bit of my soft side.
I write this knowing that in less than five hours, I will be watching you walk down the aisle in a gorgeous dress that none of your wedding party has described to me in the slightest. You will stand in front of me, hold my hands, and tell me how much you love me. How much you adore me and this life we're about to live.
I have vows written, I promise, but there is one thing I excluded that I want to say right now.
Your eyes, Rory, give me hope all day long. When we were apart, during my lost years, I would think about those blue orbs of light and they would fill me with strength to go on, knowing that if I could just make it through one more day, one more essay, one more book, I could see you again. I could see those beautiful eyes.
My favourite colour is your eyes. I can't really explain it, but they're like the sky that surrounds a burning sunset. Right in front of you, there's red and purple and orange. But if you look beyond the center of the storm, the sun itself, it's all surrounded by blue. A blue that reflects the ocean. A darkening sky waiting for the sun to slip behind the shore, waiting for its opportunity to reign over the world. You are the hidden beauty. The sky that I was nearly too blind to see. I will never be able to express my gratitude to whatever brought you to me, whatever opened my eyes enough to get the full picture. To get you.
Forget the sunset. Forget its classic, romantic beauty. Since you, I have always been searching for the outskirts of the burning sun.
My life didn't really begin until I met you. And as cheesy as it sounds, I will always be looking at the surroundings. In all things, I will examine the frame and not the picture.
Today, you will become mine forever.
You will be my surrounding sky, the only thing I see.
Your future husband,
Logan.
Beautiful. That was all she could think as she choked on tears and the knot in her throat.
Beautiful, wonderful, heartbreakingly fantastic. Damn the bastard and his superb writing skills.
"We're gonna be late, Rory," Paris called from kitchen.
Rory cleared her throat and dabbed at her eyes, "Coming, coming," she said as she hiked up her dress and stomped her way to the side door. Her heart thrummed like a hummingbird's wings.
The drive to the town square was full of speeches regarding Rory and Logan's relationship. How everyone "knew" that from the moment he entered the picture, they would get married. They then all laughed at the absurdity, but quieted at the hidden reality. Because the two people who were getting married in Stars Hollow had shaped each other much like Lorelai had shaped Rory. Without the other, who knows where they would have ended up.
Honor kept on telling Rory how she never imagined Logan would ever get married. Or at least not to anyone he actually liked.
Lane continuously said that she never expected Rory to marry after Logan left her and was happy beyond belief that Logan had showed up once more to fill her best friends life with long and satisfying days.
They got to the town square faster than Rory had hoped. It was happening now. Not that she had experienced cold feet (she could only imagine how freezing Logan's feet were), but she was stressing. Hoping, praying, that it would all work out. That there would be no hiccups.
She kept replaying Marshall and Lily's wedding in her head from How I Met Your Mother. Everything went wrong in their wedding. Everything. She prayed Dean wouldn't just show up like Scooter. And she was thankful she had decided against the vail.
All her fellow women got out of the limo first, leaving her to ponder a second before Lorelai appeared at the door, "Ready to go my sweet?" She asked, holding her hand out.
Rory took it gladly, feeling her sweaty hand slide in her mothers.
"Thank you," she said once she had gathered her remaining skirt from the limo.
"For what, kiddo?"
"For not telling me that I'm making a huge mistake. It means a lot."
Lorelai stared at her young daughter, who she supposed wasn't so young anymore. "Oh, right," she said, lightly chuckling. "Just wait until you hear my matron of honour speech."
"Mom," Rory scolded.
"I know, I know. Sorry. The truth is, I know you aren't making a mistake. Logan may have been on my bad side for years, but he makes you so happy. You are so happy. And he's been really good lately, he deserves my forgiveness."
Lorelai hugged her daughter tightly and Rory could feel the stress begin to melt away.
"Now let's go get you married!"
"Right behind you, ma," Rory and Lorelai skipped the way to the ceremony, stopping to drink in the sight.
It had been transformed. White and light blue flowers embellished everything. The gazebo was dressed in beautiful white. A few hundred chairs decorated the street for the guests and a white walkway spread along the street, reaching the gazebo in perfect length.
In a couple of hours, she would be standing in front of that exact gazebo and would exchange vows with Logan Huntzberger.
"It's beautiful, mom," Rory gasped.
"I didn't do it. It was your bridesmaids."
Rory turned to the girls she'd come to know as her best friends and took a turn hugging each, trying her best to not cry again.
"Rory, Lorelai!" Luke's throaty voice called to the two Gilmore girls and they both turned their heads. He was walking with Christopher and GiGi, who was dressed up to match the bride as the flower girl.
The bride abandoned her friends to go see her two fathers and her sister who seemed to be growing each day.
"Ready to get married?" Christopher asked, a goofy grin matching his bright eyes.
"Depends if you two are ready to drag me down the aisle," she replied, matching her fathers smile.
"Well, we just came to collect you for Logan. It's time to see him," Luke said softly. The only other time Luke had looked so happy was when he married Lorelai, and that was six years ago.
Rory tried not to freak out as she nodded her head and got pulled away to meet her man. GiGi kept giggling and stealing glances at the terrified Rory, which calmed the soon-to-be-Huntzberger considerably. But all too soon they were at Luke's diner and she could see the back of Logan's head.
He was standing alone among the decorated chairs and tables for the lunch that would be occurring after the ceremony. Rory took a deep breath, turned to face her two fathers, and smiled.
"I'll see you guys in a second, okay?"
"Right," Christopher and Luke said at the same time. GiGi just giggled some more and followed her dad away.
Rory knew the minute she pushed the door, that bell would chime. What she didn't know was if Logan would immediately turn around or wait for a moment to see her.
She pushed open the door and froze. Logan stood with perfect posture, simply waiting for her to come up to him. While her nerves increased and her tears welled, she had to walk, tap his shoulder, and sit tight until he turned around.
His face, which had been concentrated for a moment, slipped. His mouth fell open and his eyes widened into saucers, a wetness forming around the rims.
"Hi, Logan," Rory said breathlessly, admiring his sleek, dark blue suit.
"Ace, you look…" his voice trailed off and she laughed sheepishly, turning her eyes down. "Breathtaking. Literally breathtaking. You have stolen my breath, Rory."
"You don't look so bad yourself."
He smirked before pulling her to him. Her head fitted at his shoulder and he stroked her bare back lightly.
It was happening. She was getting married to this man today.
"I can't wait until I can call you my wife," he said suddenly.
Rory simply laughed into his neck. "I know what you mean, Huntzberger."
"Did you get my note?" He asked, pulling away to look her in the eye.
She stared helplessly into his own. "I did, yeah. You get my present?" He grinned and pulled his hand to show her the ring she had gotten him from her trip to England a few months ago with her mother. It was gold and had the words in omnia paratus inscribed in perfect lettering.
"Makes me feel lousy for just getting you flowers."
"You're giving me your life. Willingly, I might add. This was just something I thought would be a good gift."
"It is definitely," he said, examining the ring closely. "Clever, too. Do you think without the Life and Death Brigade we'd ever have crossed paths again?" He asked.
"Maybe. But that's kind of the symbolism behind me getting you that inscription and not Master and Commander."
Logan chortled, probably remembering the same thing as Rory.
"I was lost before I could remember your name, Rory. I hope you know that."
"I know it, Logan," she said, feeling the need to somehow secure him in this area. She and him, it was a forever kind of thing. They both knew it, they just wondered if the other really understood it.
"Hey, before we have to go and actually get married, I have something for you."
Logan reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a box.
"You already proposed to me, Logan. It's kind of our wedding day," Rory said sardonically.
"Quit it with the sarcasm, lady. I'm trying to be sentimental."
"Right, okay, what is it?" She asked as he opened the box. Inside was a necklace. A blue diamond, the size of a pupil, inside of a worn silver chain. "Logan, what is this?"
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. All four in one trinket. How awesome is that?" He asked as he told her with his eyes to turn around. She complied and felt a spark of energy as his fingers graced her neck when he put the chain around her throat. "It's yours. Your mom wanted me to give it to you. It was Emily's."
At the sound of her grandmother's name and the touch of Logan's lips to her shoulder, Rory whimpered. It was mix of pleasure and pain that Logan recognized well. He turned her around and hugged once more.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she repeated into his ear.
"You're welcome, Ace. Now, let's go get some pictures taken so we can finally get this marriage thing over with. Sound good?"
"Sounds absolutely fantastic."
A/N 2: Yeah, how about them apples? Huh? Yeah? I feel I should clarify some stuff: Jess and Katherine (his fiance and baby mama from last chapter) have moved to Stars Hollow. Jess and Logan became really good friends and now Jess is one of the groomsmen. Honor is there (you know, Logan's sister) and is one of the bridesmaids. Luke and Christopher will be walking Rory down the aisle.
The song at the beginning is Always by Panic!, of course. I couldn't really use "The Calendar" for this chapter because that song is about Ryan and Jon leaving the band. Although, I guess the whole idea behind that song is a new beginning. Ah, well. "Always" is a romantic song, check it out after you read this.
Hope you all liked it and I suppose I should say TO BE CONTINUED...
Yours truly,
(insert name here)
