Thank you for all your support! Here's the next chapter! :)
Chapter 31
"It's going to be a busy weekend." Jess commented as he, Charlotte and Jack walked into their flat having finally been able to bring Lizzie home.
"Yeah, I can't believe my dad's wedding is tomorrow. It's come so quickly. What with Lizzie coming home today and then travelling to Boston tomorrow morning, I can't believe it's all happening at once." Charlotte said. "Come on, we told my mom and Luke we'd drop by once we were back."
"Yeah ok." Jess said. He smiled down at Lizzie who was in a baby carrier. "I can't believe she's finally home."
"I know. Doesn't seem real, does it?" Charlotte smiled.
"No, not really." Jess said honestly.
"Come on, we should get ready to go. You know what my mom will be like if we keep her waiting any longer." Charlotte joked.
Jess smirked. "Oh yeah, I know."
About an hour later, they were pulling into the driveway to the Crap Shack and they were just getting Lizzie out of the car when Lorelai came rushing out. "There you are! About time!" She exclaimed.
"Sorry, we had a nappy emergency." Charlotte smirked.
"Well you're here now! Let me have a cuddle with my granddaughter!" She grinned, taking Lizzie off them and rushing back to the house, where Luke was now stood on the steps.
"Oh no, I'm fine thanks mom. I'm really excited to have Lizzie home." Charlotte said.
Jess smirked. "What did you expect? She was the same with Jack."
"True." Charlotte laughed. "Come on, let's head in. Come on Jack." She smiled opening the door for him to jump out. Jack rushed inside while Charlotte and Jess locked up the car before walking towards the house but stopped when they heard another car coming. "No way!" She exclaimed.
Jess smirked. "Surprise." He said.
"You knew they were coming?" Charlotte exclaimed, a beam appearing on her face.
"Sam messaged me." He said.
"Charlie!" Rory exclaimed excitedly jumping out of the car.
"Rory!" Charlotte grinned, running to give her sister a hug. "I thought you two were coming tomorrow morning and meeting us in Boston?"
"What, and miss my niece getting out of hospital? No way!" Rory smiled.
"I'm so happy you're here! I've missed you so much!" Charlotte said.
"Me too!" Rory said, giving her another hug.
"Let's go surprise mom!" Charlotte grinned.
"Well...uh...she might have already known I was coming earlier." Rory admitted.
"What, so everyone knew except me?" She said.
"Pretty much." Jess smirked. "Thought you deserved a surprise." He added. "Hey!" He smiled as Sam came to join them, giving him a manly hug.
"Hey!" Sam smiled. "Hey Charlotte!" He smiled giving her a hug too.
"Hey!" She grinned. "Come on, let's head in. Mom's already taken Lizzie hostage." She joked.
"What else is new?" Rory laughed as they all headed inside.
"You're staying over tonight right?" Rory asked Charlotte as they sat in the living room, Lizzie in Rory's arms, later that day.
"We weren't going to. We wanted Lizzie to have her first night at our place but seeing as you're here, we might stay." Charlotte smiled.
"Great, then we can all drive together tomorrow." Rory said.
"Sounds good." Charlotte smiled. They suddenly heard Jess and Sam laughing from the kitchen. "It's nice that they're able to hang out. I know Jess has missed Sam." She said.
"Likewise. Sam's been great and he likes his new job but I know he misses Jess." Rory agreed. "That's why I thought it would be nice to come a day earlier. When I heard Lizzie was coming out of hospital today, it definitely made my mind up." She smiled down at her niece. "She really is beautiful, Charlie."
"We like her." Charlotte smiled.
"Can I hold her?" Mia asked jumping up onto the couch next to them.
"Of course." Charlotte smiled at their youngest sister. "Put your arms out." She instructed. "And make sure you have one hand under her head at all times." She said handing Lizzie over carefully.
"Like this?" Mia asked nervously.
"Perfect! You're a natural!" Charlotte smiled at her, causing Mia to beam in delight.
"So can you actually believe that dad is getting married tomorrow?" Rory said.
Charlotte laughed. "I don't think I ever thought dad would get married!"
Rory laughed. "Don't be mean!"
"It's true though. He was into mom for such a long time and then he had relationships but they never worked out." Charlotte said. "But...it's nice he found Penny. It's nice to finally see him genuinely happy."
"Yeah it is. And Penny's great, isn't she?" Rory smiled.
"Yeah she is. Gigi loves her!" She said.
"We're just going to go grab some food for us." Sam said as he and Jess appeared from the kitchen.
"Ok! Get a lot! We're starving!" Rory grinned.
"What else is new?" Jess smirked, giving Charlotte a quick peck as Sam did the same thing with Rory. "See you in a bit."
"Bye!" Charlotte grinned.
"Luke, come on! You know I can't function without coffee!" Lorelai exclaimed following Luke downstairs.
"There is coffee." Luke said.
"Decaf! When have I ever liked decaf?" She exclaimed. "You're really going to deprive me of my coffee?"
"Uh..let me think...Yeah." He smirked, heading into the kitchen.
"You know I will find out where you've hidden it! I always do!" She called after him, following him.
"Go ahead." Luke said.
"Luuuke!" Lorelai whined, disappearing from view.
Rory grinned at Charlotte. "Oh it's good to be home." She laughed.
"It's good to have you home." Charlotte grinned.
"Dad!" Charlotte smiled as they spotted their dad in the hotel.
"Hey, you made it!" Chris smiled giving his daughters a hug.
"Like we'd missed today." Rory smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit nervous. But excited. Really excited." He smiled.
"We know the feeling." Charlotte grinned.
"How's my granddaughter?" He smiled looking down at Lizzie in her arms.
"She's good." She beamed. "She fell asleep on the way here."
"Well make sure you bring her over to me when she's awake so I can have a cuddle." Chris said.
"I will." She smiled.
"Where's Jack?" He asked.
"Upstairs in our room with Jess. He's unpacking for us."
"Well I should finish getting ready. But I'm so happy you two are here. It wouldn't be the same without you." He said sincerely.
"We wouldn't miss it for anything." Rory said sincerely.
"Yeah, we're really happy for you, dad." Charlotte smiled softly.
"Thanks." He smiled touched. "So...I guess I'll see you at the church."
"See you at the church." Charlotte grinned.
"You did it!" Charlotte exclaimed as she and Rory rushed up to their dad at the party afterwards. The ceremony had gone smoothly and there were several tears as Chris and Penny exchanged their vows.
"It was so sweet for you to have Gigi up their with you while you did your vows. It was nice to include her in that." Rory smiled.
"Well today was as much about her than it was about me and Penny. I'm glad you two were stood up there as well next to Penny. It meant a lot to her." He smiled.
"Penny's great, dad. We're so happy you found her and you're so happy." Charlotte smiled. "It's so nice to...well...finally see you settled and happy."
"Yeah I know I don't have the best track record but as soon as I met Penny, I knew." Chris admitted. "I knew she was the one."
"That's great, dad. Really." Rory said softly. "And we really like Penny."
"Congratulations dad." Charlotte smiled softly.
"Yeah congratulations." Rory smiled.
"Thanks." Chris smiled just as music started to play for the first dance. "I think that's my cue." He said.
"Enjoy!" Charlotte said as they watched him go towards the dance floor and start to dance with Penny. "He looks so happy."
"Yeah. He does." Rory smiled.
Meanwhile, also watching by the side were Luke and Lorelai. Luke glanced at Lorelai. "You doing ok?" He asked.
Lorelai looked at him. "Yeah, why?" She asked confused.
"Well...watching your ex, a significant ex, get married to someone else. It must have been a bit weird." He said cautiously.
"I guess." She admitted. "But I'm happy for him. Him and Penny are so good together. I'm glad he's finally found happiness." She said.
"Yeah, they do look very happy." Luke said glancing at the happy couple. "Reminds you of our wedding day, doesn't it? That feeling..."
Lorelai smiled. "Yeah it does." She said softly, glancing at him. "It's a good feeling, isn't it?"
"A very good feeling." He smiled softly.
Lorelai watched as it was announced that Chris and Penny would like couples to join them on the dance floor. She smiled as she saw Jess and Charlotte, and Rory and Sam start dancing. Jack, Mia and Lizzie were with Emily and Richard who had also been invited to the wedding. "I'm glad the girls are on good terms with Chris now. That's all I've ever wanted." She admitted.
"Yeah it's nice they could be here." Luke agreed. He glanced at her and smiled. "Fancy a dance?" He asked.
"Why, Luke Danes, I thought you'd never ask!" She grinned, taking hold of his hand.
It was getting late and the party was in full swing now. Chris and Penny walked up to Luke and Lorelai. "Hey Lor, fancy a dance? For old times sake?" Chris asked.
Lorelai glanced at Luke who just smiled at her. "Sure, Chris." She smiled softly.
"I'll swap you." Chris offered Luke.
"Sure. But I'll have to warn you that I'm not the best dancer." Luke told Penny.
Penny laughed. "I find that hard to believe. I saw you out there with Lorelai."
"He just likes to pretend he's rubbish and then he'll get compliments." Lorelai teased.
Penny laughed. "Sounds like Chris!" She joked.
Luke glanced at Chris. "I think that's the first time people have compared us and actually likened us to each other." He smirked.
Chris chuckled. "You're probably right." He said as they all headed to the dance floor. Chris smiled at Lorelai. "Thanks for coming today, Lor." He said.
"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it, Chris." Lorelai said honestly. "I'm really happy for you. You and Penny...you fit."
"Yeah...thanks." He smiled, glancing over at Penny who was now dancing with Luke. "We've been pretty lucky, haven't we?" He said.
"How's that?" She asked.
"Well, we've both found someone who thinks the world of our kids and who would do anything for them." Chris said.
Lorelai smiled at that and glanced over at Penny and Luke who had now been joined by Charlotte, Rory and Gigi who were now dancing with their respective step parents. "Yeah it's pretty cool." She said softly. "It's a great feeling, isn't it? Being this much in love." She grinned.
Chris laughed. "Oh yeah! Definitely!"
Lorelai smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Things are only beginning, Chris. Enjoy the ride."
"I'm intending to." He smiled. They both started laughing as they saw Charlotte and Rory goofing around with their husbands now. "I still can't quite believe our girls are married." He said.
"Tell me about it! I still see them as sweet little 8 year olds!" Lorelai joked.
"You did a great job with them, Lor." Chris said softly.
"We did a good job with them." She smiled.
"I did nothing. You know that." Chris brushed her off.
"You may not have been there for them at the beginning as much as you'd have liked to have been but you are now and have been for years now. We both made them, Chris. And they really do think a lot of you now. They're so happy that you're in their lives now and that you want to be." Lorelai said softly. "Stop putting yourself down. We all make mistakes but you've more than made up for them."
"Thanks Lor." He said softly.
"So say it."
"Say what?"
"Say we did a good job." She smiled.
Chris smiled. "We did a good job." He said softly.
"Congratulations Chris. Today has been great." Lorelai said.
"Thanks." He said softly. "What do you say, should we go dance with our family?"
"I think that's a great idea!" She grinned. "Come on!" She grinned, grabbing his hand and they both headed over to join the dance party that was happening.
So I hope you liked it! :) Let me know what you think! Your support really does motivate me to continue writing so thank you so much! :)