A/N Thank you to all who are still reading and reviewing this story. It is good to know that you're still invested. I hope you enjoy this small bit of fluff. Inscription and private vows are delivered. Enjoy.

I own nothing.

Ch 45 Vows and sighs

After the interminable numbers of pictures Lorelai and Luke walked into the main hall where they began to receive their guests. They had stopped before they entered and Lorelai and Rory removed the train and the hood from her dress, she went in the hall with just her dress which was beautiful. As they worked the line of well wishers, Lorelai noticed that Luke hadn't let go of her hand since they had finished pictures and he refused to let go even when she tried to shake the hands of Tom and Annie.

When they were on the way to their table Lorelai whispered, "Luke, do I get my hand back sometime this evening?" She smiled at him.

He grinned back and held on tighter. "Nope. I've got you and I'm not letting go."

"You're going to make it difficult to eat dinner." She was joking, but she recognized this behavior from when they'd been in New York and he was constantly touching her all day, like he was making sure she was still there. "Are you concerned this isn't real babe?"

Luke ducked his head and nodded indiscernibly. "I don't want to wake up and find myself alone again."

Lorelai stroked his cheek. "You've been dreaming about this day?" she cooed. "That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

"I'm not sweet," he growled. "I've just had dreams about this wonderful day and then when we're ready to leave to go on our honeymoon you disappear. I can't find you anywhere. I can't do that in reality so I'm not letting you out of my sight. We're together until we get to our destination."

"Fine, but this is real and I'm not letting you go ever." Lorelai leaned in and kissed him gently.

The evening started to really wear on Lorelai and she could only imagine what it was doing to poor Luke. Miss Patty and Babette tried to get Luke's butt, however he was quick with his moves and made sure he was up against a wall or one time even butt to back with Lorelai who whispered over her shoulder, "Hon, we'll never get pregnant like this."

To which he of course replied, "Aw, jeez!"

Finally the band started to play. Luke reluctantly let go of her hand but never took his eyes off of her when the lead singer called out to Richard and Lorelai to dance to My Father's Eyes. When Lorelai heard the first line, 'I may not be every mother's dream for her little girl' Lorelai almost started laughing except that her dad had a single tear going down his cheek.

"Dad, you ok?" Lorelai whispered as they waltzed around the floor. Richard nodded but didn't say a word. The band leader invited all fathers and daughters onto the floor.

Lorelai started to tear up herself when she saw Luke lead Rory onto the dance floor.

"Oh, Dad, look at that," she whispered.

Richard smiled at Lorelai and said, "He treats her like his own Lorelai. That's one of the reasons that I accepted Luke. I don't give a damn about who his grandfather was, it's good to know that you'll never want for anything, but most importantly was how he treated you and Rory."

Lorelai leaned her head on her father's shoulder. "Thanks Daddy. I know Luke loves us both."

The dance ended and the band leader announced the first dance for Mr.& Mrs. Danes. Lorelai giggled as Luke came back to collect her. Lorelai whispered to Luke, "Did you pick the song?"

Luke gathered her in his arms and said, "Yep." As the band started to play Rod Stewart's 'Have I Told You Lately.'

Luke grinned at her and said, "So have I?"

Lorelai giggled as they danced, "I think it's been at least half an hour. I can't believe how well you dance and you've never taken me dancing before."

Luke smiled, "You make me look good. Besides, where in Stars Hollow would we have found a place to go dancing? KC's? I don't scoot any boots."

Lorelai laughed, "Did you just make a country music reference?!"

"Ignoring you now."

"Huh! Not married two hours and you're ignoring me! What kind of life am I looking forward to?" Lorelai teased.

Luke whispered along with the song, "Have I told you lately that I love you?" Then he kissed her gently.

"I love you too." Lorelai cooed and snuggled into his arms. She was fading fast and Luke could feel the pressure of the day weighing on her.

The rest of the evening went by quickly, they cut the cake without incident and Lorelai threw a substitute bouquet. Luke grumbled that taking a garter off his bride to throw to a pack of single guys was barbaric. A young school teacher Andrew had brought as his date caught the bouquet and Kirk had somehow walked into the room just as the garter was thrown and it landed right in his hand.

Of course the photographer got the picture of the two of them together and Lulu looked at Kirk saying something about a man in uniform as Andrew looked on very upset. Kirk was having difficulty saying anything because Lulu was seated on his lap for the picture.

Finally Luke gathered a wilting Lorelai and they said their goodbyes to Rory and Jess. Emily and Richard had agreed to let Jess stay in the pool house and Rory would stay in the main house for the week they were on their honeymoon. The kids weren't on spring break so the Gilmore mansion was closer for both of them and the Gilmore's were very accommodating.

Rory and Lorelai said goodbye by the main door. "Mom, I'm gonna be fine with grandma and grandpa. You and Luke have fun."

"I don't even know where it is we're going," Lorelai said.

"You're going to love it. I promise." Rory said grinning.

"You know and you didn't tell the mommy!?"

"Luke asked me not to. He wants to surprise you. But he wanted us to know where you were incase we need to get a hold of you." Rory was enjoying this a lot.

"Fine, I was going to tell you how much I was going to miss you and not to grow any while I was gone and to make sure you drove your grandparents up a wall. But because you keep secrets I'm not going to say any of that." Lorelai grabbed Rory in a bear-hug and held on.

After about two minutes Rory started to pull away and Lorelai said, "Not done yet." She continued to hold onto her until Luke gently pried her off and she switched her death grip to Luke.

"Lorelai, we'll be home in just a few days. It'll be OK. Please loosen your grip on my neck, I can't breathe very well." Luke had his arms around Lorelai and she let go just a bit.

Jess was standing by the sidelines just taking this in. "You think you're getting her out of here tonight?" he said to Luke. Luke shrugged and started to rethink their departure.

"Lorelai, do you want to wait to go away? We can wait until tomorrow or even in the summer? What do you want to do?"

Lorelai dropped her hands to his arms and with her head still hanging down shook her head. "It won't be easier tomorrow. Rory and I've never been out of the same city let alone wherever we're going to be. In a few years she's going to college and somehow I think the university and you would be unhappy if I went with her. One more hug and we need to go."

Lorelai held Rory as Luke said goodbye to Jess. "Don't bother Emily or Trix, all right? I know they're not your favorite people but it's only one week."

Jess grinned. "Gotcha Uncle Luke, you and Aunt Lorelai have a wonderful time and just so everyone's clear, no details will be appreciated."

"Aw, jeez!" Lorelai laughed at Luke's reaction and started to feel better.

"You know Jess, I forgot for a bit that I already have a nephew! I've never been an aunt before. Thanks for making me laugh and I promise, no information other than we had a lovely time. How about that?"

"Perfect, now get out of here before your mother comes looking for you." Lorelai lifted her skirt and headed out the door. The others laughed as she hurried to the limo.

Henry opened the door and welcomed her. "Congratulations Mrs. Danes."

"Ooo Henry! You're the first person to call me that! I like the way it sounds," Lorelai laughed.

Luke helped her into the limo and adjusted the cape he'd given her for Christmas. "You sure you got everything you'll need from your room? We're not going back."

Lorelai nodded, "Rory brought down my bag earlier and she gave it to Henry. He has my suitcase in the trunk."

Luke raised an eyebrow, "I really got you to pack only one suitcase?"

She smiled wickedly, "What my husband requests I give."

Luke chuckled, "Dirty and I'll believe it when I see it."

Luke and Lorelai settled back into the limo for the ride to the airport. Lorelai turned to him and whispered, "You still sure about kids right away?"

Luke looked a little surprised and nodded. "Why?"

"Well, I should start my new round of birth control pills the day after tomorrow and if we're planning on trying from the start then this would be the beginning. If you want to rethink the timing then I brought this month with me and I'll just continue the schedule on Monday."

"Do you want to rethink it?" Luke was surprised that the first discussion they were having as a married couple was this.

"No, I just didn't want to blindside you by making all the decisions for us. Rev. Hackett said we need to look to the future together, so I want to make sure we're both on the same page." Lorelai smiled sweetly.

"I want nothing more than to start our life together and being open to children now is part of that future. If we're not ready now we'll always have some reason to put it off. So my thought is we begin this week." Luke grinned wickedly at Lorelai.

She giggled, "So, kids are good?"

"Kids are good." Luke held her tightly.

They pulled into the airport and Lorelai laughed. Luke looked at her and said, "What?"

"I'm just thinking how strange it's going to be to get on a plane wearing our wedding clothes. I didn't even think about changing. I wonder what people will say?" She chuckled at the thought.

Luke looked at his feet and started to rant, "Well, it was difficult to book a time for our departure since I wasn't sure how you'd react to leaving Rory, and I don't expect to do this often, but since Tom has to fly to California tomorrow evening and the jet was going to be in Hartford anyway…"

"Oh, my God we get to use the company plane?!" Lorelai was laughing. "My mother would be so proud."

"Yeah, well we could just not tell her." Luke rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry babe yep we'll keep that bit of information between us. Just like Belinda, my lips are sealed. This is cool I've never been on a private plane before. Oooo like the president! Or Elvis! Oh, is there a bedroom with mirrors on the ceiling?" She lowered her voice. "We could become members in the mile high club! What do you think Luke?"

Luke sighed, "Lorelai it's a jet for business. No, there's no bedroom, certainly not one with a mirror on the ceiling and there is no way in hell I'm going to join that club. Definitely not the night I get married. It's a defilement of what we just professed to each other to take this union lightly."

He lowered his voice so that Lorelai had to strain to hear. "Tonight I make love to my wife for the first time. I'm sorry if I find that to be a sacred moment. I may have found myself in situations I never before would've since we've been together, but this is something that I just can't be budged from. So call me old fashioned or a prude, but this evening in front of all our friends I vowed to honor you with my body and I take that seriously. This just doesn't feel like it would honor either of us. Does it to you?"

Lorelai had a sharp intake of breath. "Oh, Luke, I'm sorry babe. I was just playing. I think it's wonderful that you're so aware of what a huge change has occurred in our lives. I don't think you're a prude and while you're a bit old fashioned it's in the most wonderful, caring way. I love who you are and I may push you a bit to get a rant out of you now and then, but I never meant to let you think I took our vows lightly." She started to feel tears against her eyes, she felt like she had let Luke down.

He gathered her in his arms and kissed the side of her head. "I'm sorry Lorelai. I know you don't and I don't want you to feel that we won't have adventures in the future, but tonight is just so reverent that I don't want to treat this as just another night. You know?" He smiled gently at her and Lorelai nodded her head.

"Our first argument as a married couple," Lorelai chuckled.

"Not an argument, a tiff. Not even a tiff, a heated discussion." Luke smiled.

"Yeah, I think we'll continue to have heated discussions for the rest of our lives. As long as we continue to discuss we'll be good." Henry opened the door for them and helped Lorelai up the stairs to the waiting jet.

They strapped into their seats and waited for the plane to taxi to the runway. Lorelai grabbed Luke's hand and whispered, "It's been a while since I was on a plane."

Luke held her hand tightly as they started to ascend. When the plane leveled out a flight attendant came out and said, "Congratulations Mr. Danes, Mrs. Danes. Would you like something to drink while we're in the air?"

She was very beautiful and Lorelai figured she was probably her age. Suddenly she felt the green-eyed monster rear it's ugly head. Luke asked for tea and turned to Lorelai expectantly.

"Lorelai do you want something to drink?" He still held her hand and was rubbing it with his thumb. Lorelai shook her head and Luke turned to the attendant.

"I guess not, just tea for me. Thanks Sweetie." He turned to address Lorelai who had a shocked look on her face.

"What did you call her!? How could you call her that?!" she hissed.

Luke looked genuinely confused. "What are you talking about? I called her by her name, she works for me and it's nice when your boss knows your name, right?"

Lorelai was very self righteous and said, "So you're telling me that her name is Sweetie?"

Luke smiled and shook his head, "Amazing, you're jealous. For the record, I don't know why but yes, her parents named her Sweetie. I would've gone with my middle name if I were her, but I'm not and that's what she wishes to be called. Lorelai, I'll never give you reason to doubt my love or commitment. I waited for you and I'm not letting you go. OK?"

Lorelai nodded her head and Luke held her as he felt her fade towards sleep. Even though it was just an hour flight he knew she needed to get some rest. As they were approaching their destination Luke was torn between waking her up or having her wake as they would touch down. If she woke up while they were landing it might frighten her too much. She must have felt the engines shift because she ended up waking on her own.

She looked up at Luke and smiled sleepily. He said, "We're almost there so it would be good to put your seatbelt on. After we land there will be a car waiting for us that we'll use for the week."

"So, where are we? See how good I've been in not harassing you about where we're going?" Lorelai grinned widely.

Luke chuckled, "When have you not harassed me? For the past month you have tried to get this out of me. You have called me in the middle of the night to try and get me to tell you when I'm sleep deprived, you've even sent Kirk to harass me, you've done everything you can possibly do to get me to crack, so how have you been good?"

"I've never withheld favors from you." Lorelai grinned wickedly.

"How is that benefiting only me? You've never withheld because you would have suffered too." Luke laughed.

Lorelai frowned, "You're right. I get as much out of our encounters as you do so I'll never be able to hold that over you. Knowing you, you'll be able to hold out longer than I would and then I'd suffer. Damn, one of my womanly wiles shot to hell." She smiled looking up at him.

They deplaned in weather that was similar to what they had just left. "Well, we're not south that's for sure." Lorelai commented. Luke loaded their luggage into their Land Rover and drove them off the tarmac towards some city lights.

Luke knew where they were going and in about ten minutes they were pulling into a very pretty house that looked like a cape cod.

"Ok, we're here, wherever here is. So where are we?" Lorelai was getting frustrated as it was late and she was tired.

"We're at Bar Harbor, Maine. I rented a house for us on the ocean for the week." Luke grinned at her.

"On the ocean?! Oh, Luke that's wonderful! I can't wait until tomorrow to see the view, but right now I want to get inside and go to bed."

Luke gathered her in his arms and said suggestively, "Are you tired?"

She giggled, "Too tired for some things, not too tired for one specific thing."

Luke swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He set her down and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Stay right there, I'll be back in a second."

He brought their luggage just inside the door and locked it then bounded back up to their room. Lorelai had pushed the button next to the fireplace that lit the gas so a nice fire was waiting Luke. She looked at him and grinned, "See, I can make a fire too. I can take care of my big strong husband."

Luke chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. He sighed deeply amazed that she was here with him, pledged to him forever. He grinned and kissed her deeply. "My wife."

She placed her hand on his cheek and stroked his five o'clock shadow. "My husband."

Luke removed his overcoat and her cape and held her away from him to look at her. "So beautiful, so ethereal." He bent to kiss her neck and she moaned.

"Shh," he said. She felt it too. This night was sacred, the feel was different.

Luke took off his suit coat and tie and cummerbund. He kicked off his shoes and undid his shirt. Then he reached around Lorelai and silently undid her zipper as he looked into her eyes. The intensity and love she saw there took her breath away. Her dress fell in a soft whoosh as it pooled at her feet. She heard Luke's sharp intake of breath and saw him smile as he gently trailed his hand from her neck to her shoulder and around her back to undo her bra. She felt the material release it's hold and fall to the ground. Luke shrugged off his shirt and took off his undershirt.

He undid his dress pants and led her to the four poster bed. They sank down into a very soft pillow-top mattress and Luke reached down to remove her stockings and panties. Then he removed his boxer-briefs and kissed her deeply. He was frustratingly controlled in all of his movements and never went farther south with his hands and mouth then her breasts but Lorelai couldn't remember when their lovemaking had been this intense. The night was too sacred for any words and even the moans were soft and hushed.

He finally joined with her and when they fell together he spoke for the first time. "Lorelai." That was all he said, pulling the word from the depths of his soul, pouring all of his love and commitment into that one moment.

"Oh, Luke" Lorelai whispered. They laid together collecting themselves. She chuckled at the thought that this was the most white bread style of sex they had ever engaged in, at the same time it was one of the most intense.

As they cuddled together not saying a word Lorelai played with their hands that had the rings. "You look pretty in your wedding band Mr. Danes." She giggled.

"Men shouldn't look pretty Mrs. Danes. It's a functional ring and I love what it represents." Luke tried to be stern with his answer but ended up grinning.

"Do you want to see what I had inscribed?" Lorelai went to pull his ring off and he jerked his hand back.

"No!"

Lorelai looked at him surprised. "What's wrong Luke, the inscription is on the inside so it shouldn't get filled with grease."

"I'm sorry Lorelai. I just never intend on taking this ring off. Once you put it there when we committed ourselves I never want to remove it. Why don't you tell me what it says?" Luke said gently.

Lorelai was still surprised. She never thought Luke would have such a strong attachment to his ring. "Ok, I had it inscribed, 'My Hero, My Heart, My Husband.' It sounds kinda funny saying it out loud. It looked better written. Is that too cheesy?" She was feeling kind of silly saying it out loud.

Luke took her in his arms and whispered, "Not at all. I don't know if I'll be able to live up to that but I'm humbled that you think that."

Lorelai hugged him tightly. "Hey mister, weren't you supposed to give me private vows tonight? We went traditional which were perfect, but I want my mushy stuff."

Luke chuckled as he looked at her. "OK. Mushy stuff coming up."

He rand his fingers over her cheeks and outlined her mouth. "Lorelai, never in my life did I expect to find such happiness as I have found with you. You see the goodness buried deep down inside me and you always push me until I'm annoyed at you to the point of pain. Yet you never stop there and the next shove moves me from my comfort-zone into a new world. A world of love and excitement and bliss; you've shown me how to love. Not with the stingy part that most people use, but with the outlandish over the top love of life that can bring goodness and laughter everyday."

"I used to live a life of duty, I took care of Liz and Jess because I knew it was what my mom and dad would want. I ran my company ethically and morally because I knew again it was what my mom and dad would have wanted. Because of you I've gotten to know Jess as a wonderful young man who I'm proud to call my nephew. I've started to see how running the company affects individuals and helps them. I've started to live my life seeing the gifts I've been given instead of the responsibility put upon me and it's all because of you and your love. So I promise that I'll try to live up to all those beautiful words you lovingly inscribed, Hero, heart but most importantly, husband." Luke gently kissed her.

"Wow." Lorelai was blown away. She never expected Luke to bare his soul so dramatically.

"So," he chuckled. "How about mine? Do I get mushy stuff from you?"

"I'm sure I can't top that. Words are usually my buffer with people. Since you've been in my; correction our lives, I've felt safe. Even when we were just friends I knew you'd be there no matter what. If I needed anything you would make it happen. I still shudder to think how much business you lost closing down just to come over to fix my sink, or stove or roof or porch. I felt safe working at night because I knew Rory could go to you if something happened. You're the first man I ever was attracted to who I think liked Rory before he ever liked me. That meant so much to me, knowing that you would be there for her even if we fought. Again, it made me feel secure."

"I've never felt so loved and wanted in my life. You know who I am more than anyone else, even Rory at times. I never thought someone would love me as I am. I expected he would want me to change and become something else. Thank you for loving me, for being who you are because you also support me in all I do. You make me feel as though what I do is important and not a step up from a maid. You put my schooling ahead of even getting married because you know it's important to me. I never thought I could be loved so intensely and I never thought I could love so deeply. I promise to always love you and never take you for granted." Luke hugged her to him tightly.

"I'm glad we waited to say these tonight. I don't think I'd be comfortable expressing my gratitude to you for what you said in front of a crowd." Luke whispered to her as he gently kissed down her neck.

"So this is going to be a soft thank you or are we doing the shouting from the rooftops thank you?" Lorelai's voiced hitched as Luke continued his ministrations on her body.

He looked at her wickedly and grinned.

"OK, going with the rooftops it is," she giggled and then moaned as he got to a very sensitive place.