171Disclaimer: Nothing
A/N: Three years to write twelve chapters. I'm not proud of it, but like last time, I just want to thank all those who after six months of not posting anything, still took the time to read this story, review it and put it on their story alerts. And to all my faithful readers who have been with me since day one, and are going to read this chapter, take a moment to applaud yourselves.
Short recap from the last: We read about Luke and Lorelai's bachelor/ bachelorette night; Jess and Sasha broke up, and it ended with Rory going to sleep in Jess' bed.
This was supposed to be the last chapter, but it got too long. Hope its not TOO fluffly, but I've been so happy lately I think this chapter reflects that. The end is near I assure you. Well, now go ahead and enjoy!
The sun streamed in, indicating the beauty of the day ahead. She felt strong arms around her, a naked body pressed up behind hers. And she smiled.
Luke noticed the change in her breathing and let out a hoarse, "Good morning," causing Lorelai to turn around and greet him with a large grin.
"We're getting married today," he stated simply, the light in his eyes betraying his happiness.
"I know!" she giggled, giddily, leaning up to capture his lips in a kiss.
"Finally," Luke murmured, smoothing her hair back, and deepening the kiss, enjoying the last moments of his single life.
Lorelai moaned in approval, when a loud buzzing tore them apart.
"Damn! It's already 8:30!" she gasped, her actions increasing in speed. She jumped out of bed, running toward the bathroom, "I have to get my hair done and my make-up and get ready. And the bridal party. Where is the bridal party? Rory! Where is Rory?"
She came out of the bathroom a couple of minutes later, hands wringing, "She's supposed to be stressing out for me today! Luke! Get up!"
Luke, who had been lying in bed, head propped up, was laughing at her antics, but quickly sobered at the order. He meekly jumped out of bed and gathered his clothes.
"She's probably still at the apartment. I'll send her over," he reassured, stopping to drop a quick kiss on his fiancé's cheek.
It seemed to do the trick, because Lorelai grabbed his face, pulling him in for a real kiss. She then scrunched up her face and shot another order at Luke, "Go brush your teeth."
The sun streamed in, indicating the beauty of the day ahead. She felt strong arms around her, a naked chest pressed up against hers. And she smiled.
Rory breathed deeply, Jess' scent seeping in through her pores and relaxed. She perceived his arms tightening and nuzzled the crook of his shoulder in response. Instead of scaring her, today his muscled naked top half excited her.
Jess had spent the past fifteen minutes cherishing the feel of Rory's body in his arms, not daring to move, aware that she was still asleep. But the minute he felt her lips stretch into a smile against his chest – she must have turned in the night – he did not hesitate to tighten his hold and bring her closer.
"Morning," Rory mumbled, her head still buried in his body, and highlighted the word with a soft kiss in the hollow of his shoulder; which she duplicated at the side of his neck, and right underneath his ear, and finishing at his cheek.
Jess groaned: this woman would be the death of him. He could feel himself losing his self-control as the number of her kisses increased. One of his hands moved up to her hair as he let out her name, and he finally got to stare into her darkened blue eyes. He watched her eyes leave his for the briefest moments as they flickered down to his lips.
Rory couldn't help it. She knew it was still too soon – he had just broken up with Sasha – but all abilities of rationalizing had flown out when Jess stared at her like that. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, consciously aware that Jess' eyes were now on her lips.
Jess groaned again, the motionless getting to him. They were making it a habit of being stuck in this pose: about to kiss – but not. He effortlessly flipped them over, trapping her beneath him, pressing down on her.
"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he whispered hoarsely, eyes boring into hers.
Rory shook her head, the situation, his words lighting her body on fire.
And with that, Jess dropped his lips to her cheek, then to just below her ear, her neck and landing at the hollow of her shoulder, matching the destinations she had mapped out. But unlike her seemingly innocent kisses, Jess' were noticeably rougher, longer and definitely more passionate.
But before they could go any further, a noise broke through, halting their actions as Rory and Jess looked around and spotted Luke and April staring, identical grins plastered on their faces.
"Your mom needs you," Luke addressed Rory, laughter mingling between his words.
Rory nodded mutely, cheeks burning as she got out from under Jess, muttering an incoherent bye, as she walked toward the door. She was interrupted, however; by April calling her name.
"You sure you want to go out in that?" April chuckled.
Rory glanced down at her self clad in Jess' shirt and boxers and shuddered at the questions and rumours that would have spread through Stars Hollow. She shot her soon to be sister a grateful look before grabbing her clothes and hurrying to change.
April and Luke turned their attention toward Jess, who had not moved since Rory had left the bed, his face drowning in the sheets.
"As my best man," Luke spoke, "I find you completely unhelpful lying there."
Jess simply lifted his head to glare at Luke, before grudgingly getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom at the exact moment that Rory got out. Her cheeks were still red, but she smiled at Jess who was blocking her way to the door.
"I'll see you at the wedding?" he asked nonchalantly, his demeanor reducing her blush, as he dropped a quick kiss on her cheek.
Luke was reminded of déjà vu, especially when Rory looked back at Jess, scrunched up her nose and said, "Go brush your teeth."
Rory ran to her house, forcing Jess out of her mind and focusing on her mother instead. She burst in through the door, shouting for her mother who greeted her at the top of the stairs, hair wet and fresh faced. Lorelai had just stepped out of the shower.
"Oh Mom! I'm so sorry I'm late, but don't wor-
Lorelai cut her off, hand held up in the air and asked, "Did you and Jess sort things out?"
Images of last night and this morning rushed into Rory's head, returning the blush to her cheeks.
Lorelai gasped, and lowered her voice to an accusatory whisper, "You had sex!"
"What? No!"
Lorelai let out a breath and asked, "Did you at least kiss him?"
"No," Rory replied wistfully, "we were about to, well at least I think we were, but then Luke interrupted."
Lorelai sighed in disappointment, "I must have a word with him. He was always eager to stop the two of you from doing anything."
"Forget it. There's plenty of time for us. Anyways, today is about you. We can talk about me any other time." Rory retorted assertively, pushing her mother back into her room.
"Rory? Lorelai?"
"Up here," Lorelai called back.
A few minutes later, Lane and Sookie entered Lorelai's bedroom, excitement shining on their faces.
"Time to make you into a blushing bride," Sookie squealed and clapped her hands.
Lorelai rolled her eyes at her daughter, but it could not conceal her enthusiasm.
Luke stepped out of the shower to a clean apartment, one nephew and minus a daughter.
"April leave already?" Luke asked, taking a seat at the table, where Jess was reading his copy of Mad Shadows and slowly eating cereal.
Jess nodded the affirmative absent mindedly, not tearing his eyes away from the novel.
"You going to get ready?" Luke questioned, warily staring at the boy was lost in the world of literature.
"It's only," Jess glanced at a clock, "Nine-thirty. The ceremony starts at twelve. There's plenty of time." And he returned back to reading.
"That's what you think," Luke stated calmly, taking the book away from his nephew. "Kirk and Zach are going to be here soon and you won't be able to do anything after that."
Jess scowled as he finished up his cereal so he could take a shower, "Remind me again why did I agree to do this?"
Luke shrugged, "Who knows. But wait, Jess, I need to talk to you."
"Again? Monosyllabic man has been reprogrammed by the Gilmore girls."
Luke ignored him, "You and Rory, today-"
"We didn't do anything," Jess slumped back into his chair, resigned to the fact that he had no choice. "We might have," he smirked cheekily, "If Uncle Luke hadn't interrupted."
"Jess," Luke warned.
Jess sighed getting serious.
Luke simply looked at his nephew. He saw the troubled teen flash before his eyes, who had so obstinately and stubbornly gone after Rory. The same person who had hurt her. And then he saw the grown man: one of the few people who Luke admired.
And he felt a surge of fatherly pride for the man in front of him.
"Take care of her. Make her happy. And don't hurt her anymore. Or yourself."
With those few words, Luke got up and clapped Jess on his back, quickly moving away. Damn that piece of dust that got stuck in his eye and made it watery.
Jess sat shocked for a moment. Then he got up after Luke. He reached his uncle placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him in for a hug.
They let go after a brief couple of seconds, Jess spewing something about a shower and Luke was talking about a tux. But once Jess had reached the door of the bathroom, he turned back to Luke.
"Hey, uh… Luke," he voiced.
"Yeah?" Luke answered gruffly.
"Thanks. And uh… congrats for today. For getting your girl."
Luke smiled at a closed door.
Somehow both the male and female parties had managed to get ready without any major hitches and had arrived at the church. The guests were slowly making their way in, filling up the pews of the small building. Luke and Jess stood behind the side doors of the church, shielded from everyone's view, not really talking, not really nervous: just standing around relaxed, waiting for the clock to strike twelve.
Zach and Kirk were at the back of the church, taking their roles as part of the wedding party extremely seriously. They were handing out wedding pamphlets (courtesy of Emily) and ushering people to their seats.
The bridal party on the other hand, was waiting in a side room, hidden from everyone else.
"You ready, Lorelai?" Sookie asked, handing her the bride's bouquet of blue and white lilies and roses.
The bride's eyes sparkled as she nodded the affirmative. Sookie turned away, smiling to herself at the confidence in Lorelai that was a stark contrast to the time she had been engaged to Max.
Emily entered soon after, barking orders at everyone. She was moving so fast, with so much force, Lorelai could have sworn that tiny puffs of smoke were issuing from her ears.
"Sookie, Lane," Emily snapped, her words crisp and piercing, "This is no time for lounging around. Line up, it's almost time."
Nobody dared disobey her, and promptly took their positions.
"April, straighten your strap and smooth down that dress," Emily ordered, like a sergeant going through an inspection.
"Lane fix your lipstick, it's smudged. Honestly, one would think you were still a teenager. And Sookie, for god's sake pin that strand of hair back. You keep flipping it out of your way. It looks like you have an abnormal head twitch."
She moved down to her granddaughter whose laughing eyes betrayed her serious front. "This is no joking matter Rory. This is a wedding and it must be perfect. Hold that bouquet straight or else the petals shall fall off. If we wanted a trail of loose petals stuck to our feet, we would have had a flower girl. And you, Lorelai –"
She stopped short as her eyes fell on her only daughter, fighting back her glee at watching Emily yell at others.
Her only daughter glowing with love and laughter.
Her only daughter standing before her in her wedding dress.
Emily was overcome with a rare pride toward Lorelai and was rendered speechless as she took in the bride.
Lorelai noticed the change in her mother and the emotions her eyes revealed. She smiled softly taking Emily's arm, "Come on Mom. Everything's fine. Why don't you just relax now and watch me marry that backwards baseball cap, diner guy?"
Emily rolled her eyes in exasperation, an act not unnoticed by her husband and Rory, who shared a small smile at the temporary union between the feisty pair.
Just then a woman from the church walked in to inform them that it was time to start.
Lorelai wiggled giddily, sending out a whoop of excitement, and not even Emily had the heart to tell her to behave.
Soon Lane had walked through the doors, taken Zack's arm, who was waiting for her, and together the two walked up the aisle. Zack was exceptionally demure as he guided his wife to the altar, not even flinching when they walking by their children who had pulled grotesque faces at their father. The two split at the altar each lining up on their respective sides.
Kirk and Sookie followed them four beats of music after. Kirk walked up the aisle rigidly, determined to outshine Zack, and when he went to his place in front of Zack, he shot him a nasty glare.
It was April's turn next. She made her way alone, because Lorelai had insisted that she be part of the wedding party; however Luke did not want to find another man to be her partner – and she was too old to be a flower girl. So they had settled on her being a lonely bridesmaid, which had suited Luke just fine. And now, Luke could hardly believe his eyes as his daughter approached. Gone was the first nerdy, helmet head vision he had of his daughter, and instead he saw the beautiful woman she was becoming. He smiled softly at her as she took her spot before Sookie.
The guests were turning around in their seats now, aware that the bride was soon to come. They caught a clear view of Rory stepping into the center of the doors, and saw her disappear a second later. She had gone to her mother to give her a quick kiss and whisper a 'Go get him Mom.' She returned a few moments later, all smiles and excitement, and took her first step toward the altar.
It was too bad that everyone had their eyes on the maid of honour, a vision in the deepest blue because they would have surely enjoyed watching the best man at that moment. Sure Jess had already seen Rory in the dress, had in fact zipped her up, but this… now… it was different. She was still beautiful, but… the way her hair, done in soft waves framed her face; the way her blue eyes captured his and sent rolls of heat and desire coursing through him; the way her pink lips, so tender and full were set in a charming smile. He could feel his sweaty palms and was pretty sure his pupils were dilated.
Just then, when Rory was a couple steps away, Luke turned to his nephew and smirked, "Why don't you close your mouth. I can see some drool starting to fall."
Jess glared at him, breaking eye contact with Rory, who instead of walking to her spot opposite Jess, she went up to Luke and kissed him on his cheek.
"I'm so happy, and so proud of you both," she relayed to her soon to be step-father.
Luke returned the gesture and squeezed her arm, momentarily forgetting he was standing before a crowd and did not partake in public displays of affection.
And exactly when Rory stopped moving in her place before April, the music changed, signaling Lorelai's cue to enter.
Jess and Rory forgot about the other as they, along with everyone else focused on the bride, who had just entered the church, accompanied by her parents on either side, who were both giving her away. But they might as well have been invisible, since neither the bride nor groom seemed aware that others were in the sanctuary with them. Lorelai could barely contain her happiness; her smile stretched wide, her eyes spilling with glee. Luke, despite his large smile and joyful eyes, looked much more composed and dignified than his soon to be wife. Perhaps it was the absence of the baseball cap.
As Lorelai reached the foot of the altar, and kissed her parents, Jess took the opportunity to lean into Luke and retort, "Now whose drooling?"
But Luke was too busy to send him a scowl as Richard had just taken his hand and placed Lorelai's in it.
The unusual perfection of the day didn't go unnoticed by Rory. Weddings were usually always accompanied by fighting relations, unexpected mishaps, overflowing tears and childish tantrums - if not all of the above, at least one. But this one, Rory mused, watching Luke and Lorelai join their right hands as the celebrant told them to state their vows, this one was almost borderline, cheesy, fairytale perfection. And as she heard Luke solemnly swear to always love and honour Lorelai, though sickness and health, for rich and for poor, till death do them part, she figured this perfection was just fine. After all, the couple who had now successfully exchanged vows, deserved nothing less – especially after all they had been through.
The celebrant asked for the rings, which Jess dutifully produced: two matching, plain white gold bands, with the date and their initials engraved on the inside. Luke took the smaller of the two, and slid it onto Lorelai's finger while he professed his love and fidelity that the ring symbolized. Lorelai reciprocated the act, and punctuated hers with a small wink, that sent Luke smiling. Then the priest was telling them that they could kiss, which the couple was only too happy to oblige, sharing a sweet, chaste kiss that hinted of much more to come. And before they knew it the celebrant was looking out toward the crowd and saying, "It gives me great pleasure to introduce the newly-weds: Mr. and Mrs. Luke and Lorelai Danes."
There were loud cheers and whistling from everyone in Stars Hollow. It had taken more than enough of years for those two to make it to the altar, and the applause was mixed with as much relief as joy.
Luke, Lorelai, Rory and Jess spent the next couple of minutes signing papers, the act being prolonged by Emily insisting the photographer capture it all. And after it had been made official by law, Lorelai eagerly took her bouquet from Rory, pumped her hand in the air happily, and walked with her husband toward the doors of the church.
They were followed by the rest of the wedding party, all affected by Lorelai's infectious demeanor.
"They're happy," Jess stated simply, hands in his pockets as he walked Rory out behind his uncle and… aunt.
Rory nodded the affirmative, her eyes sparkling as he met his. This time she wasn't angry at him and she mentally documented every moment – from his handsome appearance in that tux, to the way his arm flexed when she squeezed it.
"You're happy," Jess looked at her.
"So are you."
"You're proud of them."
"So are you."
"You were checking me out," he smirked.
"So were you," she gave back.
"You're beautiful," he admitted seriously, and at the same time hoping to catch a compliment from her preprogrammed answers.
She took in the genuine compliment, and as they reached the end of the aisle and the doors, she smiled playfully and grazed his cheek with her lips, murmurring a "Thank you."
And with a cheeky grin, she raced off to congratulate her mom and new father.
"Now that's just not fair," Jess called after her in mock dismay.
A/N: Well? Thoughts? I'm a bit rustic, after not having written in a long time. Since this chapter and the last, I've placed second at an international business competition, travelled to Montreal with my friends, turned 18, graduated highschool, organized a Relay for Life at my old highschool, moved houses. So like I said before - if this chapter is just too fluffy, its a genuine relection of my status right now.
I promise - well how about I hope - that this will be finished before the end of this month. Because I really do want to complete this fic before I start university. I want this fic to be a part of my highschool life. So that's a huge incentive for me to get this done.
And like I said before, only one more chapter left (unless you want an epilogue?), which takes place at the reception. I had initally planned to include that in here too, but then you'd be reading a 7000 + word chapter.
Right... so I'll stop now, and allow you the opportunity of reviewing... please? Makes me happy:D
fishyfin1