Disclaimer in first chapter.
Thanks for the feedback on the first chapter, they are all well appreciated!
"Okay people, the countdown to the ceremony has officially begun," Rory announced as she walked into what they dubbed the bridal room at the church. She turned towards her mother with a smile on her face, "Just under an hour before you boogie down the aisle."
"Boogie?" Emily echoed, a look of disdain on her face as she looked towards her daughter, "Oh Lorelai, what are you planning?"
"It's a joke Mom," Lorelai said with a roll of her eyes. She smiled, "Plus I don't think Dad would boogie down the aisle with me anyways. We'll stick with the traditional walk."
"Speaking of which, unless you plan on walking down the aisle in that ensemble I suggest that you go ahead and change into your wedding dress," Emily replied as her eyes scanned over her daughter's outfit choice for the day. She didn't wholeheartedly approve of it earlier in the day when they were at the salon but Lorelai said that's what you get when you hurry people.
From Lorelai's house this morning to the salon and now at the church, the day had been a flurry of activity full of primping, pampering, and polishing for the late afternoon ceremony. Despite the fact that everyone around her now were in their full wedding attire, bridesmaid dresses made by the bride herself, Lorelai still remained in her jeans and one of Luke's flannels that she accidentally shrunk in the washing machine one day.
Lorelai supposed it was time to finally put on her dress. She only waited this long as not to chance accidentally getting makeup on the pristine white material. But now that she was all dolled up, maybe just another swipe of lipstick to freshen things up right before the ceremony, it seemed like the perfect time to finally step into her dress.
Lorelai stood up from the vanity that she sat in front of and made her way towards the door of which her hung on, "I suppose you're right," she directed the comments towards her mother. "I'll change."
However before Lorelai could grab the dress off the back of the door, the door swung open narrowly missing hitting Lorelai in the face.
"Whoa," Lorelai exclaimed taking a step back. Since the door blocked her view, she couldn't see who had stepped into the room. "Whoever you are, you almost ruined the bride's face which would totally ruin the day since people know the wedding day is mainly about the bride. The groom is just the side attraction."
"Oh sorry dear, I knew I should have knocked first but I was excited to see the bride," came a voice that Lorelai recognized all too well.
"Mia?" Lorelai asked as she popped her head out from behind the door. She squealed when she realized that her voice recognition was spot on and Mia was indeed standing right in front of her. "Mia, you're here!"
Mia chuckled as Lorelai wrapped her arms around her in one the tightest hugs she ever felt. "Of course I'm here, you know I wouldn't miss this day for the world." She pulled back from the hug and held Lorelai at arm's length. "I couldn't miss seeing one of my babies get married. Where's my other baby?"
"Right here!" Rory chimed in as she took over her mother's place and hugged Mia tightly.
When the hug ended, Mia stood with her hands on her hips looking at the two girls she claimed as her surrogate daughter and surrogate grand-daughter. Despite have no genetic relation, they would always be her babies.
Mia smiled. With a slight shake of her head, she said, "You are both too beautiful."
"As always," Lorelai replied knowingly. The greeting was always the same when Mia would decide to drop by the Hollow.
"And this dress," Mia said as she gestured for Rory to spin around so she could further inspect the sapphire blue dress. "Did you make it or was this bought?"
"I made it," Lorelai declared proudly. She pointed across the room at Sookie whose dress was similar to Rory's but did vary slightly. "I made Sookie's as well."
"Hello Sookie," Mia greeted the woman before turning back to Lorelai. "The dress is absolutely stunning. Your sewing skills has vastly improved since the skirf."
"Oh, hey, the skirf," Lorelai said with a fond remembrance.
Rory nodded along with her mother, "Oh the skirf."
"Skirf?" Emily asked, she arched an eyebrow at the strange word in her daughter and grand-daughter's vocabulary.
Emily had watched silently as Lorelai excitedly chatted with her surrogate mother. She didn't hate the woman, she could never hate the woman because she was the one who took Lorelai in and cared for her and Rory when she couldn't. For that she would be eternally grateful which is why she stayed silent so Lorelai and Rory could have a little time with Mia. But with an obviously made-up word like skirf being thrown around, she had no choice but to speak up.
"Well, when Rory was really little, my first sewing project was trying to make her a skirt," Lorelai explained feeling just a little bit strange about mentioning this to her mother.
"It was a disaster," Rory supplied.
"It was terrible. But Mia made me feel better by putting it on Rory's head and saying I created something new, called a skirf," Lorelai added on, she cast a meaningful glance towards Mia.
Mia turned so she was now facing Emily, "And as you can imagine, Rory looked absolutely darling in the skirf." She walked towards Emily and held her hand out. "Nice to see you again Emily."
Lorelai bit her lip as Mia stepped towards Emily. She knew she would have to introduce the two ladies at some point but also knew that it could very well be awkward introducing the lady you thought of as your surrogate mother to your birth mother. But hearing Mia say 'see you again,' just left her thirty shades of confused. And when Emily stood up and shook Mia's hand that just added a few more shades of confused to her emotions wheel.
"Again?" Lorelai questioned, she looked at Rory who looked just as confused as she did. "I'm sorry but you two know each other? Why didn't I know this?"
"We've met once before on my last visit to Stars Hollow," Mia said, she looked at Emily silently urging the woman to finish off the story.
"You mentioned that Mia was in town and I wanted to meet her. You've both talked fondly of her before so I wanted to meet the woman who helped to raise my daughter and grand-daughter," Emily explained.
Emily didn't go as far to explain that Mia sent her a couple boxes of pictures of the two and that she spent the next few days pouring over them and realizing just how much she missed. It was neither the time nor place to get into this, after all it was Lorelai's special day.
Mia stepped forward in order to get them all past this conversation. If needed they could discuss this later but for now, all the focus needed to be on Lorelai. And that focus needed to be on actually getting Lorelai into her wedding dress before the ceremony which was quickly drawing closer.
"Why don't we get you into your wedding dress?" Mia suggested to Lorelai. "Not too much longer until the ceremony now."
Lorelai smiled, her mother's revelation slipping from her mind. "Well I was trying to get into my dress before you tried to maim me with the door."
Mia chuckled. "Oh I would never hurt that pretty face. But I do need to see that pretty face in her wedding dress."
"Right away," Lorelai chirped.
With an actual skip in her step, Lorelai retrieved the wedding dress from the back of the door and stepped behind the changing curtain in the room. While Lorelai was busy changing into her wedding dress, Mia took the time to get caught up with Rory and Sookie both whom she missed dearly. Emily joined in the conversation at random intervals before Lorelai announced that she was all dressed and ready to come out so all attention must be on her.
Even though Mia was the only one to see Lorelai in her wedding dress for the first time, the gasps and 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the rest of the group made it seem like it was their first time seeing Lorelai in her wedding dress as well. The dress was a simple, strapless a-line dress with just enough beading along the bodice to give off a hint of sparkle under the right light. A beaded sapphire blue sash wrapped around Lorelai's waist, the color perfectly matched the bridesmaids dresses of her own design. The dressed flowed elegantly behind Lorelai as she moved from beside the dressing curtain and to the middle of the room to stand before the other ladies.
Lorelai put her hands on her hips and struck a pose, "And how do I look?"
Rory was the first one to speak up. "You look absolutely beautiful," she commented as she blinked back the tears that were about to make an appearance.
Lorelai recognized the signs of tears building up behind her daughter's eyes. "Hey no, remember our rule. No tears before the wedding. If you start now then I'll start and we'll both be a weepy mess."
Rory made a sound halfway between a giggle and a sniffle. "No tears now but I can't promise no tears later."
"Good," Lorelai said with a nod of her head. "We can be weepy messes later if need be."
"Rory's right," Sookie spoke up. "You look absolutely beautiful." She could feel tears starting to build up as well. "Am I allowed to cry or do we have the same rule?"
Lorelai chuckled. "No tears now. That goes for everyone. We'll have to redo our makeup. I can't marry Luke all red and puffy-eyed."
Sookie giggled, "No tears."
"Don't say things that are going to make me cry," Lorelai warned both her mother and Mia with a smile on her face.
Mia took both of Lorelai's hands in hers and grinned at the blushing bride in front of her. "You are the most gorgeous bride that I have ever seen. You and Luke are going to have a wonderful life together. I'm so glad I'm here today to celebrate with you two."
Lorelai freed her hand from Mia's and used it to dab at the corner of her eyes where tears threatened to escape, "Well that's going to cause some tears."
"Well she's right, you are the most gorgeous bride," Emily commented. She turned and walked to the opposite side of the room before Lorelai had a chance to respond. "You're just missing one little thing now to complete your look."
"Oh right, the veil," Mia said realizing that a very important aspect of Lorelai's outfit was not sitting on top of her head.
Both Lorelai and Rory shot Mia a look when they noted her confused look, Lorelai went on to explain. "No veil, apparently my head is too big for veil, so I'm using Mom's tiara."
"A tiara is better suited for you," Mia agreed.
"Right?" Lorelai asked. "I feel like I should wear one all the time, remind people that I do have the qualities of a queen."
"I'm sure Michel would appreciate you wearing a tiara to work," Sookie chimed in. "He already thinks you boss him around too much. Add a tiara to you telling him to do his job and his reaction would be priceless."
"I might need to buy one then," Lorelai pondered.
"Sit, sit," Emily gently demanded of Lorelai as she all but pushed her back towards the vanity.
When Lorelai sat down, Emily opened the box and revealed the gleaming tiara. Memories from her own wedding rolled through her mind as she removed the tiara from the box and secured the tiara atop her daughter's head. She fixed a few of the curls that cascaded down Lorelai's back before resting her hands on her daughter's shoulders.
"There. Now you look perfect."
Lorelai placed her hand over one of her mother's, their eyes connected in the mirror of the vanity. She felt tears once again threatening to fall. "Thank you Mom."
"Of course," Emily replied, she too felt tears threatening to fall. She knew the tears would come later once the ceremony would begin but for now she was trying to avoid them.
Lorelai stood in front of the mirror staring at herself all dolled up for her wedding that was starting any minute now. The room was now silent as opposed to just a few minutes ago when everyone was bustling around trying to primp and pamper the bride at the very last minute. Last minutes touches were done to her makeup, perfume was spritzed on, necklaces were secured, earrings were put on, and hair was fussed over a few times to make sure it fell in place with the tiara.
Everyone decided to give Lorelai just a few minutes to herself before the ceremony. Emily and Mia were already seated. Emily offered and then demanded that Mia sit in the pew next to her and Richard during the ceremony since she was an important figure in her daughter's life as well as Luke's. Mia accepted, not that Emily gave her much of a choice. Rory and Sookie were just outside the door to the bridal room just waiting on their cue to walk down the aisle.
Lorelai picked up her bouquet that lay on the table next to her and clutched it in her hands as she smiled at herself in the mirror. From the tiara atop her head to the brand new pair of white pumps on her feet, it was everything she ever envisioned for her wedding day and she was more than ready to become Mrs. Danes. She just wished her father would come to the room already to tell her that it was now time to begin the ceremony.
As if on cue, the door opened and in the doorway stood Richard. Lorelai smiled at his reflection in the mirror before turning around to face her real father, not just the one reflected in the mirror.
"Hey Dad," Lorelai greeted as her father walked into the room and over to her.
Richard smiled at the sight of his daughter. "Oh Lorelai," he said, his voice wavered in the slightest way. "You look beautiful."
Lorelai grinned. "Thank you Daddy. You look very dapper. Loving the bow-tie."
Richard chuckled and straightened his bow-tie. "I bought it especially for today, just for you."
"Hmm," Lorelai mused. "I must be pretty special to warrant my own bow-tie."
"You are," Richard replied genuinely. "How are you doing?"
"Nervous, anxious, excited, ready to go," Lorelai rattled off rather quickly. "How's that groom of mine holding up?"
"Luke is fine, a little bit nervous, but he's just as ready to go as you are," Richard assured her. He lowered his voice and whispered conspiratorially. "You know as your father, I had to give Luke the traditional father to son-in-law speech earlier today."
Lorelai giggled just imagining her father and any speech he could give to Luke. "And what exactly did you say? You didn't scare him away now, did you?"
Richard chuckled again as he shook his head. "I couldn't scare him away. He's not going anywhere." He reached out and took one of Lorelai's hands in his. "I wanted to make sure that my angel was in good hands."
Lorelai choked up at the use of the word 'angel', something he hadn't called her since she was very little. She blinked back tears and took a deep breath to keep her emotions in check. She smiled as she looked up at her father.
"Luke's a good guy. You know that I'm in good hands," Lorelai said confidently.
"I know you are. I trust him."
Richard looked over his shoulder as the faint sound of music could now be heard. He looked over his shoulder at the open doorway and when Rory and Sookie both gave him a thumbs up, he knew that it was time. He held his arm out in Lorelai's direction.
"You ready to go?"
Lorelai grinned brightly as she looped her arm with her father's and nodded her head. "I'm more than ready."
"Let's go."
Richard led Lorelai out of the room and towards where Rory and Sookie were currently standing. Sookie was the first one to walk down the aisle soon to be followed by Rory. Richard and Lorelai stepped forward while they waited for Sookie and Rory to each the end of the aisle. Lorelai took these few seconds to gaze around the room at just what months of planning had led to.
Twinkly lights were hung along the walls and a few select pews of the church to help give the room that winter wonderland feeling that Emily thought Lorelai deserved for her wedding. Attached to the end of every pew were small bundles of snow white roses with various small dark blue flowers mixed in. At the end of the aisle stood the twinkly-light covered chuppah that Reverend Skinner and Luke were standing so proudly under. There were doubts about getting the chuppah into the church but Lorelai made sure that they would get it in because it was essential to their wedding.
When the crowd of family and friends stood up and turned their attention towards Lorelai and Richard, Lorelai looked up at her father and gave him a quick nod before they strode into the room. Lorelai smiled at all the smiling faces of everyone she loved and cared for as she made her way down the aisle on her father's arm. However all the smiling faces in the crowd could not match the smiling face at the end of the aisle, Luke.
Lorelai didn't think it could but the smile on her face grew even wider as she watched a smile overtake Luke's face. She knew they both probably looked like grinning idiots who only had eyes for one another at the moment but that was okay. This was their wedding day and they were allowed to be grinning idiots if they wanted to be.
Luke had to remember to breathe once Lorelai stepped into the room. The sight of Lorelai in her wedding dress was simply breathtaking. With every step she took towards him, his heart began beating faster. The moment she began to walk down the aisle, everyone and everything else faded away. He only had eyes for her.
As Richard and Lorelai neared the chuppah, Luke stepped forward to greet them. Richard leaned down and placed a kiss on Lorelai's cheek before he placed her hand into Luke's open hand. When Luke led Lorelai to stand underneath the chuppah in front of Reverend Skinner, Richard strode over to his seat next to Emily. He took her hand in his and began to rub it softly when he noticed that she already had tears in her eyes. He took his handkerchief out of his coat pocked and passed it her way before turning his attention to the spectacle in front of them.
Luke bent his head down to whisper into Lorelai's ear. "You are so beautiful."
Lorelai turned her head to look at Luke. "You know, you're not so bad yourself," she replied which in turn caused Luke to chuckle.
They both looked back at Reverend Skinner as he began to speak.
"I can say with great confidence that today is one for the records books," Reverend Skinner said which elicited chuckles from the crowd as well as the bride and groom. "I'm just excited for this day as many of you are."
"Very excited," Lorelai said intending it to be a whisper but instead it was said a little too loud causing the crowd to laugh once again.
"Over the years we've all watched these two bicker over everything from Lorelai's coffee consumption to decorating the diner for different holidays. We've all witnessed when their fights escalated and learned to avoid the diner during that time," Reverend Skinner said with a smile, again making the Stars Hollow crowd laugh and nod knowingly. Lorelai and Luke couldn't help but laugh as well.
Reverend Skinner smiled at the loving couple in front of him. "And we've all watched and waited for these two to realize what was right in front of them all along. That day came last year to the delight of many, none more delighted by the revelation that the very two standing in front of me. Since that day we have all anxiously awaited this day."
Luke gently squeezed Lorelai's hand as Reverend Skinner continued on.
"Today Luke and Lorelai are here to celebrate their love. Today they are here to say 'I love you today,' but also, 'I promise to love you for all of our tomorrows.' Marriage is a precious gift and not to be taken too lightly. They will make a lifelong commitment to one another today, a commitment to stand beside one another through both good times and bad, a commitment to bring out the very best in one another." He nodded to both Luke and Lorelai. "Luke, Lorelai, would you please join hands."
Lorelai turned towards Rory and passed off her bouquet. When Lorelai saw the tears already threatening to fall from her daughter's eyes, she took Rory's hand in hers and squeezed it softly. "I love you."
Rory smiled. "I love you too."
With unshed, happy tears causing her bright blue eyes to sparkle, Lorelai turned back around to face Luke. She placed her hands gently into his strong hands. She gazed up at him adoringly when she felt him squeeze his hands.
Reverend Skinner turned slightly towards Luke who didn't dare take his eyes off of his bride. "Luke, do you take Lorelai to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her for as long as you both shall live? Do you promise to keep her in sickness and health, in prosperity and adversity, and forsaking all others and holding only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
Luke's voice was strong and steady as he answered, "I do," which earned him a broad smile from is beautiful bride.
Reverend Skinner then turned to Lorelai, "Lorelai, do you take Luke to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him for as long as you both shall live? Do you promise to keep him in sickness and health, in prosperity and adversity, and forsaking all others and holding only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Lorelai answered eagerly barely giving the Reverend time to finish reading off the vows.
Both Luke and Reverend Skinner laughed at Lorelai's eagerness to which she responded with her brightest smile.
Reverend Skinner turned to Jess, the best man, who was in possession of the rings. "May I have the rings?"
Jess retrieved the rings from his coat pocket and placed them down into the Reverend's palm. He took a moment to silently bless the rings before he took one in each hand and held them up for everyone to see.
"These rings are a symbol of marriage, an unbroken circle of love. Whenever you look down at the ring remember today and the vows that you made to one another today," Reverend Skinner said. He handed Lorelai's silver band off to Luke. "Now Luke, repeat after me," he said before he led him through the ring ceremony.
Luke's gaze didn't waver from Lorelai's and he took her left hand in his and slid the ring onto her finger as he spoke. "Lorelai, this ring I give to you as a token of my love for you. A promise that I will love you and honor you all of the days of my life. With this ring, I thee wed."
Reverend Skinner turned to Lorelai and handed her Luke's ring before he led through the ring ceremony. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall as she listened to the Reverend's words, all the while never taking her eyes off of Luke.
Lorelai sniffled but smiled as she took Luke's left hand in hers and began to repeat the Reverend's words. "Luke, this ring I give to you as a token of my love for you. A promise that I will love you and honor you all of the days of my life. With this ring, I thee wed."
Reverend Skinner could barely hold his excitement back as now all there was to do was declare them as husband and wife. The couple's adoration for one another shone in their eyes as the Reverend began to speak.
"In the eyes of the Lord and all of your friends and family, by the power vested in me by the State of Connecticut, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Reverend Skinner's grin grew wider as he happily said, "Luke, you may finally kiss your bride."
This was the exact moment that Luke had waited for since the day he realized that Lorelai was the only one for him. He wasted no time on sweeping her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers. He kissed her slowly and tenderly pouring all the love he felt for her into that one kiss.
All of the congregation broke out into cheers and applause. Lorelai could swear that she heard a few people say the word 'finally' along with their cheers for the happy couple. She let out a small giggle as she and Luke broke apart and turned to face their friends and loved ones.
Reverend Skinner cleared his throat, "Ladies and Gentleman, it is with great honor that I can now introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Luke Danes."
Lorelai and Rory shared a hug as Rory handed her mother's bouquet back to her. Music swelled once again as Luke and Lorelai began to make their way back down the aisle followed by the couples of Jess and Rory, and Jackson and Sookie.
Luke and Lorelai were stopped by a few people on their way back down the aisle all wanting to hug and congratulate them. When they reached the end of the aisle, Lorelai led Luke to the same room that she resided in before the ceremony. It was all a part of her plan for them to have a few minutes alone before heading to the Inn for the reception.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Lorelai wrapped her arms around Luke's neck and leaned into him. "Hello Mr. Danes."
Luke's arms encircled her waist as he pulled her even tighter against him. "Hello Mrs. Danes."
"Mm," Lorelai hummed, "That sounds so good. Say it again."
Luke chuckled. "Hello Mrs. Danes." With his arms still on her waist, he loosened his grip and put just a small amount of space between them. "You look..."
"That amazing that I left you speechless?" Lorelai interrupted, a grin on her face. When Luke nodded in response, she reached up and cupped the side of his face with her hand. Her fingers trailed along the smooth skin. "And you look very handsome my husband."
When Lorelai noticed that Luke was pulling her back to him, she arched an eyebrow. "Really? You're going to kiss me now? You're so incredibly predictable."
Lorelai didn't get a chance to say anything else before Luke's lips were on hers once again. The kiss was slow and passionate both held onto each other as tightly as they could. They only broke the kiss when that pesky thing known as oxygen became essential.
Lorelai pressed her forehead to Luke's. "I love you so much."
Luke smiled, "I love you too."
Once most of the guests dwindled out of the church and were en route to the Inn for the reception, the happy couple's alone time was interrupted by none other than Rory and the bridal party who needed to collect their coats before heading over to the Inn. Since the church was now cleared out, Luke and Lorelai knew it was their time to head to the Inn as well.
After telling Lorelai that he arranged for a special way for them to ride to the Inn, Luke led her out of the church doors. He made her close her eyes as not to ruin the surprise as soon as they stepped outside.
"Can I open my eyes yet?" Lorelai asked. "Walking with your eyes closed in heels is not the easiest thing to do," she said even though Luke's arm was around her waist supporting her as she walked.
"You can open your eyes now," Luke said when they came to a stop.
Lorelai opened her eyes and immediately a smile spread across her face. In front of her and Luke was a horse-driven sleigh decorated with the same scheme of flowers that the church was decorated with. With fresh tears brimming in her eyes, she turned to Luke.
"You did this?" Lorelai asked. "When did you do this?"
"I may have had a little chat with your mother at a Friday Night dinner while you two were still planning the wedding," Luke replied.
"So now you're plotting with my mother? My how far we've come," Lorelai added cheekily.
Luke held his hand out to Lorelai, "Your sleigh Mrs. Danes."
"Thank you Mr. Danes," Lorelai said as she placed her hand in his.
Luke helped Lorelai maneuver her dress so she wouldn't step on it as she climbed into the sleigh. When he sat down next to her, she wrapped the blanket that the sleigh provided and wrapped it around the both of them to shield them from the chilly night air. She snuggled up against his side as the driver began to steer the sleigh away from the church.
Suddenly Lorelai sat up and looked up towards the sky. She sniffed the air just once then smiled. "I smell snow."
"You smell snow?" Luke asked.
Lorelai turned her head to him and nodded. "I smell snow. It's going to snow. It's going to snow on our wedding day Luke."
"The forecast said nothing about snow," Luke reminded her.
"Forecast is wrong, my nose is never wrong," Lorelai corrected him. "Just give it a minute."
Luke wasn't going to ruin the moment. Lorelai and her nose had accurately predicted snow before even though he always liked to tell her that she couldn't smell snow. It was one of their bits. He did as Lorelai said and just waited. Sure enough, just a moment later, snowflakes began to fall from the sky and twirl around them.
Lorelai grinned giddily and bounced in her seat. "Snow! Luke, it's a wedding day miracle!"
Luke chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close to him as he continued to stare up at the snow falling down on the them. They were silent as Lorelai took the time to appreciate her wedding day present. After a few minutes, she laid her head down on Luke's shoulder.
"I told you that good things always happen when it snows, this is just another one to add to the list," Lorelai commented.
Luke smiled. "Great things happen when it snows."
"Right, great things," Lorelai corrected.
As the sleigh continued to drive them to the Inn and as the snow swirled to the ground all around them, the couple shared another sweet, loving kiss.
I always planned on snow on their wedding day. But to Ultra: I did use your words of 'a wedding day miracle,'. When I read that review, I wanted to use those exact words to describe the snow so thanks for that!
You know the drill, review please.