Disclaimer: I do not own a single thing.

A/N: Any feed back is appreciated, please read and review. I know you are reading it, I know you are, and thank you, thank you, thank you for that, you are adding this little fic to your favs like crazy, now go ahead and let me know what you think. It makes me what to keep writing it!!!

Chapter Six: A Wedding Date

"So you're not going to be able to make it home for your birthday?" Lorelai said her whole body deflating with the news.

"I told you it was a slim chance and I just can't get back, I'm sorry mom." Rory knew she was killing her mother with the news.

"Its ok. I understand." Lorelai was let down but she got it.

"But, I think I have some news that will make you very, very happy." Rory continued.

"Oh?" Lorelai said perking up a bit.

"Yes. Now I know you are sad about not getting me home for my birthday, and I know you'll be sad when I tell you I can't make it for Thanksgiving either." Rory knew she was digging a hole with her mother but had high hopes of redeeming herself.

"You can't make it for Thanksgiving either? That's it I'm voting Clinton." Lorelai huffed taking a bit of her donut.

"Bite your tongue. We only have two days at Thanksgiving there is a big town hall meeting in Atlanta two days later. I wouldn't have time to get home so, I'm just going to go with Collier to his families." Some days Rory wondered why she even tried with her mother.

"Whoa whoa whoa, you're meeting the family now? When do I get to meet this clown?" Lorelai didn't like the idea of her daughter spending time with his family partly because that meant she wasn't and partly because she wanted to meet him first.

"I'm not the only one going there; about five of us will be there because there isn't time to get home. And I am trying to tell you when you'll get to meet him." Rory hoped the fact that it wasn't a cozy little family only dinner would help her mother relax a little about it.

"Ok, ok, this better be good." Lorelai knew her hands were tied and she could only hope for the best.

"We have almost five weeks off from December first to January fourth, so I will be all yours for all that time. I'll write a few POV stories from home but Obama is taking the month off to regroup and be with his family and if he is off, so are we." Rory continued.

"They won't just put you on another assignment?" Lorelai was looking for the hitch.

"Like I said I'll write some POV's on different things we've seen and done while on the road, and current events but other than that, I am off the hook for almost five weeks." Rory could hear her mother coming around.

"And you'll be here?" Lorelai asked.

"Yep." Rory chirped.

"In Stars Hallow?" Said Lorelai.

"Yep." Rory knew she could do this for hours.

"With your mommy?" Lorelai knew it was pathetic but she didn't care.

"Yep." Rory rolled her eyes at Collier as he came into the room and wrapped his arms around her.

"All the time?" Lorelai knew that last one was probably a little much.

"Well, I'd like to see some other people two, Lane, maybe Paris. Grandma, Grandpa." Rory said trying not to give away that Collier had started kissing her next. She pushed him back and playfully waved him off.

"Well sure, but you'll stay here, in my house, where I can keep you safe and warm." Lorelai was going to stop at nothing.

"Uh huh. Yeah speaking of, um there is something I need to run by you." She said smiling as Collier was waving her to come to bed.

"Uh oh, here comes the catch." Lorelais guard went back up.

"No catch per say, I just. I'd like to bring Collier home, not for the whole time, maybe just the last week. And I'd like him to be able to stay with us." With the mention of his name Collier rolled over onto his belly put his hands under his chin and batted his eyes at her. She'd never been with someone quite as goofy as he was.

Lorelai wasn't quite sure what to say, she didn't have any problems with Collier, she'd never met him and would love to. Rory only had good things to say about him but she worried that Rory was moving full speed from one guy to the next but if it was important to Rory it was important to her.

"Of course hon, we'll figure out something, make up the couch or something." Lorelai knew that wasn't going to fly, not with the kind of time Rory had been putting in with Collier, and every time they talked he gained more points with her.

"Mom." Rory said in the kind of tone that suggested she didn't want Collier staying on the couch.

"Oh right, well…I suppose you two can take your room I can get a cot from the Inn…" Lorelai was buying time at this point.

"If its ok with you we'll just share my bed." Collier acted out a very convincing death scene with Rorys last comment.

Lorelai wasn't at all prepared for what her daughter was saying, she wasn't nieve she knew that she had slept with people, she and Logan lived together for heavens sake but never was it in her house, under her roof. But eventually Lorelai was going to have to face facts her daughter wasn't a little girl anymore, she was a gown woman, with grown woman relationships.

Lorelai coughed. "Um well sure honey of course but your bed is a little small for guests isn't it?"

"It will be fine, we are used to sleeping two in our bunk, its cozy but it works for us." Collier couldn't believe what she was saying…he mouthed the words "Don't tell her that." But it was already too late.

"So you really like this guy huh?" Lorelai said fiddling with her ring.

"Yeah he's pretty amazing. He's so smart but not cocky, and funny, so funny and he has the biggest heart, he loves kids, and animals and books, and traveling. He actually is thinking about getting out of the political arena and moving on to travel writing. Where to go what to see, what to eat." Rory walked up to Collier as she talked, shed him with her finger and looked right at him as she listed all the things she liked about him.

"Isn't that a little bit of a step down." Lorelai asked.

"It could be a little but, it is where his heart is you know, and the small step down would be made up in how happy he would be doing what he really loves ya know. You've read his stuff he isn't ruthless enough for the political arena, he's much softer than that." Rory playfully patted Colliers stomach which thanks to a steady diet of road food and little time for exercise while on the road had become a little less tighter than when they'd first met. She got up from him and walked outside their room at the Best Western. She didn't want him to hear the next part of the conversation.

Lorelai had never heard her talk about a man like this before she sounded like…well she sounded a lot like herself when she talked about Luke.

"Mom he just, he makes me happy ya know. And there is no trick up his sleeve, he isn't about the big shows, he listens and does the little things ya know. I know its fast mom but I am really truly falling for him." Lorelai could hear her daughter smiling as she spoke.

"Wow falling for him that's some big stuff." Lorelai said trying not to sound forced.

"Its true mom, and I know you are probably wigging out over there, but you'll see he's great to me, he's a great guy, you're going to really love him."

"I am sure I will hon." Lorelai said putting her feelings aside. She knew her daughter had a good head on her shoulders, it was just hard to let go and it seemed to her that all she was doing with her lately is letting go.

That night at dinner Lorelai let Luke in on the news about Rory coming home.

"So I talked to Rory today." She said setting two glasses on the table.

"Oh yeah how is she? Where is she?" Luke thought he should have come up with a better question but he didn't.

"Um somewhere, we actually didn't really get into it. She actually had some really good news. She is getting some time off in December actually about five weeks." Lorelai decided easing Luke in was the best way, this came from years of experience and she also knew that when it came to Rory there was no one more protective than Luke.

"Really that's great, she's coming back here right, staying here, we should wash her sheets and give her room a spruce, we've hardly been in there, I'll take a look tomorrow and make a list." Luke said getting more excited that she had anticipated.

"Great, that sounds great, and hon, she is going to have her new boyfriend come up, for at least part of the trip, not sure what part we didn't really discuss it but he'll stay here too." Lorelai said setting two plates on the table as Luke pulled a hot lasagna out of the oven.

"So we get to meet the new guy huh, that's cool, you can bring in a cot from the Inn then or…" Luke said pouring each of them a glass of wine.

"Well no, I thought what we might do is get rid of Rorys old bed and put your bed in there. You know cause you aren't living at your apartment anymore we might as well move the rest of your things over here." Slow and steady Lorelai thought to herself.

"Yeah sure but where are we going to put this Collier guy?" Luke asked for a moment then it hit him. "You mean…he and Rory." Lorelai nodded him along in his thought process. "Are going to stay in there." He said pointing. "In my old bed." Lorelai continued to nod. "Together."

"Yeah pretty much." Lorelai said serving them both their meal. Luke took up some salad and put it on eat plate. Lorelai looked at the lettuce as if it was from outer space before giving in and grabbing the ranch dressing.

"Wow, I guess, I mean she's going to be twenty three soon. Speaking of what do we do now, do I still get her something and you, or do we do something together, cause I'm down for whatever, I just need to know cause ya know its soon, and I want to get something for her, you might have to help a little but, I want to cause you know." Luke rambled, it seemed she brought out the ramble in him, but as long as he rambled he normally came around to whatever crazy idea she was selling.

"I know hon, we can get her something together or you can go on your own whatever you want." She knew Luke loved her daughter, had long before there was a ring on her finger, took care of her, but it still made her smile when he talked about her the same way she did.

"So wow yeah, I mean she is twenty three, I know what I was doing at twenty three I guess she is probably doing the same things and this guy do we like him? I mean I know we don't know him but he's a good guy right? And I mean we stayed with her and Logan that one time and that wasn't so bad. So yeah ok, I'll get the bed and bring it over tomorrow." Luke finished and took a bite of his salad.

Lorelai stood up from their dinner and sat back down on his lap, took the hat off his head and looked at him.

"You know what I love about you." She said playing with his hair.

"My boyish good looks?" Luke teased.

"I love the way you know what is important to me and make it important to you. And you love Rory, like she is your own daughter and you are protective of her, but you trust me and follow my lead with her." She said looking at him square in the eye.

"I love you too." Luke said.

"So tomorrow." Lorelai said hopping up and grabbing the extra cheese for her food. Luke watched as she added it and held in the fifteen things he'd like to say to her about slowly killing herself.

"Tomorrow I'll get the bed and bring it here." Luke said getting back to his salad.

"I will buy her some new linens, no offense but she might like something a little less manly." Lorelai said returning back to her chair.

"Wait a second. When will she be here?" Luke looked like he had an idea.

"December first to January fourth." Lorelai looked at him confused.

"April will be here part of that time from the twenty seventh to the sixth." She wasn't sure where he was going with this line.

"We'll figure something out, she can bunk in the living room on a cot, or we'll figure out something." She thought maybe he was concerned about sleeping arrangements.

"No, the wedding. I mean yes, we'll have to figure that out, I didn't even think about that but she'll be here, Rory will be here…why not…" Luke said.

"Get married." Lorelai said eyes widening and pounding the table with excitement.

"We've got the place." He continued.

"The Inn." Lorelai beamed.

"And Sookie can handle the food." He supposed.

"That she can." She could hardly stand it.

"You think Lane would DJ a reception?"

"I think she could be talked into it."

"Everyone we'd invite lives here. And if they don't all that really matters is the kids will both be here." Luke said stopping a moment he'd never said that before, the kids…he like the way it sounded.

"They do."

"Now all we need is the day." Lorelai said jumping up and grabbing the calendar from the wall. "The 29th, it has to be the twenty-ninth." Lorelai picked up the phone and dialed the Inn.

"Dragon Fly Inn Michel speaking."

"Michel please on all that is Holy tell me that there isn't a wedding scheduled for December 29th."

"Lorelai." He said in his usual half disgusted tone.

"Yes its Lorelai, just tell me."

"OK, I am looking…December 29th, there is no wedding scheduled."

"Great. Reserve it for me please."

"Under what name." Michel was annoyed.

"Gilmore-Danes wedding."

"Shut-up." Michel said suddenly perking.

"You shut up." Lorelai replied.

"You and diner man are really going to get married, I cannot believe it."

"Well believe it." Lorelai said hanging up the phone.

I could be evil and leave you hanging…I need to know you want it…let me know what you think!