AN: Sorry this took so long, I had a massive case of writers block and found the first part of the chapter very hard to write. This is it the final chapter, I hope you enjoy it. I will be doing a sequel, I am going to write a few chapter first then post; be on the lookout.
I do not own anything to do with the Gilmore Girls...
Chapter 30
Six weeks had passed and they were landing at the private air strip in Hartford. The trip was a huge success; Rory truly had a wonderful experience. The entire culture was something fresh and exciting.
"My favorite was Tokyo" Rory said out of the blue
"Really, I thought it would have been Beijing" Logan said
"Yeah, why is that?" she asked a little confused
"Well, you always did like Chinese food better than Japanese food" he said sarcastically
"Ha ha, very funny. You are just the funniest person in the world" she said in a similar sarcastic tone.
"We will be home soon, are your mom and dad meeting us at the airport" he asked curiously
"Of course, Mom can't wait for us to get back so we can put the final touches on the wedding..." she said from her spot next to him on the plush leather couch with her head resting in his lap.
Two hours later they landed at the private air strip and were surprised to see a limo waiting but no Lorelai or Christopher…
They climbed into the limo, still no sign of them. They sat quietly together on the short ride back to the house that would be their home for the next few weeks before they moved to London for a year then returns back to it for the rest of their lives together.
Rory was slowly getting excited at the fact that they would be living in a different country for a year; especially the country where her family was from. She had done some research and found that she still had family there and when she spoke to her grandmother and she had confirmed that they did in fact have family and promised her that she would contact them and let them know that she would be in London for a year and expect to be contacted.
When they walked through the front door of their home they were surprised to see that everyone was there to welcome them home. It was also a wedding shower for the engaged couple.
"What are you guys doing here?" Logan asked smiling and laughing as he went around saying hello.
"Well, we wanted to welcome you home and Lor and Chris needed a shower so we combined the two" Paris said in an unusually happy tone.
"Really and this shower is with only us?" Rory questioned
"Nope; everyone will be here at 6 o'clock, so that gives you guys two hours to settle in and change" Emily said from across the room in the living room they had all gathered in.
"Thank god the house is finished" Rory Joked
"Yeah because God forbid that I have my shower in some mansion that is unfinished" Lorelai added laughing.
They continued to laugh and joke as Rory and Logan gave everyone some details about the trip. Lorelai filled Rory in on the progress they made with the wedding; not counting all the emails that she had sent her while she was away. They settled on a small wedding to be held at the Dragonfly, the people from Stars Hollow would be there some friends of Christopher from Boston and a select few business associates from Chris and Richard. And of course the group of people who were gathered together today, they had all become more than friends, they were family.
Rory and Logan left the group to go up to their master bedroom to shower and change while the others saw to the last minute details of the party.
"I can't wait to see the bedroom" Rory said to Logan
"Yeah, everything really came together" Logan added
"I know you like the wood floors better than the marble" she said mockingly "It adds warmth that wasn't there before" she said in her salesperson voice
"Ror, you sold me on the floors months ago" he said laughing as he opened the double doors to their bedroom
"Oh my" was all she said
They walked in to find a their furniture that they picked out, the bed was a giant king sized enormous sleigh bed made of solid cherry wood with matching nightstands with granite tops along with the dresser and armoire to complete the suite. There was also a little sitting alcove off to the side with two oversized chairs and two small book cases to hold a few of their favorite books. For Logan, at the foot of the bed what looked to be a chest was actually the housing for a plasma television; with the push of a button the TV would make its entrance.
The bathroom was completed gutted and redone. They used earthy stone tiles, the shower had 12 jets surrounding the entire space and the tub was a two person Jacuzzi tub.
"I have died and gone to heaven" she said as she laid down on her custom made bedding set made with a muted gold French toile fabric with shams and decorative pillow abound on the bed. They whole room screamed French Country. They both loved it.
"Ace, this has to be my favorite room, I don't want to leave it" he said lying down next to her wrapping her in his arms and kissing her sweetly.
An hour had passed and the guests began to arrive; all of Stars Hollow was there as promised. A few of Richard and Emily's closest friends also joined the eclectic group and were surprised at the group that had assembled in the Huntzberger Mansion. Christopher's friends were a fun group and melded well with the others. All in All it was shaping up to be a wonderful party.
Emily had wanted a dignified ladies brunch for Lorelai's shower but she wouldn't allow it. She wanted something that reflected both her and Chris and a party did just that. They didn't need gifts, since they already had everything they needed, so in lieu of gifts everyone donated money to the American Cancer Association. Sookie had again catered in the Huntzbergers house and finished early enough to join the party. Lane's band played for them. It was a typical Lorelai Gilmore Party.
The next morning the house was already cleaned up and returned to normal, all the rooms were full to capacity as well as the den.
Rory woke up to see that Logan was already awake she glanced at the clock and saw that it was 10:15 then she heard something.
"Logan is that you?" she called out
"Yeah it's me" he said from inside their closet
"What are you doing?" she asked "It's too early"
"Go back to sleep, sweetie" he said
"Nope, what's going on in here" she said as she walked into the closet
"Just looking through some things" he answered her while pulling her into a hug and kissing her on the forehead
"Why" she deadpanned
"Well, I woke up and I wasn't ready to go down stairs yet, so, I took a shower and when I came in here to get dressed it occurred to me that we will have to pack up everything to bring to London. I was going through everything to see if there was anything that I really didn't have to bring." he answered her honestly
"Oh I see" she said "and you decided to do this while hung over" she added sarcastically
"I'm not hung over, I didn't drink a lot last night" he admitted
"Really" she was surprised "Every time I saw you, you had a drink in your hand" she added beginning to look through her own clothes
"Ahhh looks can be deceiving, my dear" he said teasingly
"But you had a good time right" she asked still a little shell shocked; Logan usually always drank at parties especially when all his friends were around.
"I had a blast" he said truthfully "Your grandparents and their friends where a little taken aback, wouldn't you agree" he asked laughing at the memory of Lorelai doing body shots off of Chris.
"That is the understatement of the year" she joined in the laughter "I was surprised they stayed as long as they did" she added
"So Ace, what's the verdict?" he asked as she was thumbing through her clothes
"I have know idea" she admitted "I will get Mom to help me next week" she said as she turned and walked out of the closet and into the bathroom to take a shower "I can't wait to use this shower, How was it?"
"You are going to love it; it was the best shower I have ever taken… Alone that is" he said cheekily
"Dirty" was all she yelled as she stepped in
Two weeks later Rory, Lorelai and Emily were sitting in the Country Club; they had decided to meet to go over the final details of the wedding that was in a week.
"When are you picking up your dress?" Emily asked Lorelai
"Actually, I am having it delivered to the Inn the day before the wedding" she said "I thought it would be easier, so we are going Wednesday to have the final fitting then they will stuff it, press it and deliver it on Friday" she explained
"Oh that sounds wonderful" Emily said gleefully
"Why is that wonderful, Mom" Lorelai asked confused
"Nothing really, I'm just glad you decided not to do everything yourself." She lamented
They talked over the final details, the flowers, music and of course the food. Sookie has fast become the family caterer for every thing. All the responses were in; all the details are set now they are just waiting.
Rory and Lorelai met a few days before and went through her closet and began packing up her cloths talking and drinking wine.
"So, what should I take?" Rory asked
"Why don't you take everything?" Lorelai answered
"Can't do that"
"Why not"
"That's too much" she replied "and it gives me an excuse to shop there" she laughed
"Ahhh the truth comes out; so are you going to shop in Harrods and Harry Nichols?" Lorelai said laughing at how similar they really are
"Yes of course and I was reading online and London has some really great vintage stores" Rory added excitedly
"So, London?" Lorelai said now sad
"Yeah, London" Rory said in the same tone "But I think it's going to be good, I am actually a little excited. It's not so bad, Dad said you guys are going to come visit after your honeymoon and we have to come back in October for the annual meeting in New York so you guys could come there for the weekend and then there is Thanksgiving then Christmas, so we will be seeing each other a lot." She finished
"You have this all figured out don't you?" Lorelai joked
"Did you expect anything else?" she questioned
So here they were a few days before the wedding and a week before they were leaving for a full year. Today Lorelai and Rory were going for her final fitting and Chris and Logan were going to their tailor to try on their tuxedos then they were meeting up to have lunch together then spending the rest of the day at Rory and Logan's house for take out and a movie night.
Chris and Lorelai were going to Paris on their honeymoon and Chris promised that they would add a week to their honeymoon and stop in to see their new house and offices.
They enjoyed their day together and when they got back to the house Chris and Lorelai settled into the guest room and Rory and Logan went to theirs they all agreed to shower and change into their pajamas then meet in the theatre room to christen it with the first Gilmore-Huntzberger-Hayden movie night. Logan ordered Pizza, the entire Chinese food menu and a select few Indian food dishes.
They settled into the plush leather theatre seats in the media room that Logan took a special interest in, he wanted it to be perfect for his wife there were oversized leather theatre seats that were big enough for two people. The room was set up with a real movie screen and the projection and sound system was a complex computer system. There was a subzero refrigerator and freezer built into the wall with cabinets that were full with all her favorite junk food, a microwave for the popcorn and of course the coffee pot. The freezer was filled with Ben & Jerry's and the fridge was filled with all types of soda and beer. It was amazing and Rory loved it.
They food arrived and they settled into the chairs.
"So what movies did you and Dad bring?" Rory asked her mother
"Well, Rory, we thought a tribute was in order" Lorelai said knowingly
"A tribute, to whom" Logan asked chuckling at Lorelei's mischievous grin.
"I have brought a myriad of films first we have a classic The American Werewolf in London then we have a romantic comedy with Knotting Hill and two comedies in the form of an original and a sequel with Bridget Jones' Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and the classic Monty Python & The Holy Grail and last but not least Pride & Prejudice because it is based on your favorite book" she concluded
"So the tribute is too…." Logan asked confused "Ohhh wait London" He finished sarcastically
They all laughed sat around ate the food and watched the movies. Rory just looked around and smiled sadly.
Friday night Rory, Lorelai, Sookie, Paris, Lane, Steph and Rosemary all gathered at the Inn for a girl's night in. The dresses were delivered and were hanging in the biggest suite at the inn.
"Are you excited, Lor?" Steph asked, since Rory and Logan got engaged Steph, Paris and Rose got really close with their friends mother, she was like an older sister to them all, especially Steph; they really clicked
"Yeah, I can't believe it's really happening" she admitted "I mean come on our daughter is going to be 23 years old and she is married; now we finally got on track and are doing what we should have probably done all those years ago"
"Yes, but then you and Rory even Chris for that matter wouldn't be the people you are today, you all needed to go through what you did to become better people" Steph said logically, surprising everyone in the room
"Wow Steph that was deep" Rose said
"Hey even a blind bird can find a crumb" she said laughing
"OK enough, I say we start our little toasts to the blushing bride" Sookie began "To Lorelai, my partner, my best friend, my sister you have always been there for me from me almost killing myself and others in the kitchen at the Independence Inn and our own Inn, repeatedly, to my wedding, getting through my insecurities of my marriage, helping me through the 4 in 4 fiasco, finding out I was pregnant and giving birth to both of my children. You have never faltered; I will always be here for you, no matter what. All I ever wanted for you is to be happy; seeing you know, like this, proves that it has all been worth it, all the past… um relationships have brought you to this place: Happiness. To you, Lorelai, to finding your happiness"
"To Happiness" everyone said with tears in their eyes and Lor was balling like a baby, hugging her best friend and thanking her
"Well, I don't know if I can top that, but I will try. To my Mom and my best friend, you have given me so much, your constant encouragement has been my rock to which I have always anchored myself to. Dad hasn't always been there for us, but deep down I always new how much you loved each other and you two would end up together. I love you Mom, thank you for being my constant support, even through the hard times." Rory said hugging her still crying mother.
"Lorelai, you were always like a second mother to me, thank you for helping me discover who I really am. With out you and Rory I would have gone to that Seventh Day Adventist College and never had the courage to go against Mama, so thank you for being you"
Lorelai was overwhelmed; all these kind words were causing her to cry like she hadn't cried in a very long time.
"Lorelai, I also saw you as a mother figure, ever since that Bangles concert we went to with you I have looked up to you, I respect you immensely and couldn't be happier for you. Good Luck, Lor" Paris added to the emotional scene that was playing out in front of the small group
"Well, I don't want to add more to this scene than I have to, that being said, over the past year and a half or so you have become like a sister to me, I never had a great relationship with my family but when I met you, you were so open and willing to take the lot of us in, thank you for that, I am glad to call you my friend and I am truly honored that you asked me to share your day with you. Thank you so much Lorelai" Steph said only adding to the overwhelming sentiments
"OK, I am not doing the whole emotional thing, I love you Lorelai, You are great and I am also honored that you chose me to be in your wedding. I am sure we will have a lot of laughs over the memories we have made and more to make in the future, I hope you and Chris find the happiness you always wanted" Rose said trying not to cause anymore tears. "Now you need to stop crying or else your eyes are going to be so puffy in the morning" She added for good measure.
With that they all started to laugh. The rest of the night was spent drinking wine and talking of their lives, weather together or not.
The wedding was absolutely amazing, from the window of the suite the girls were in Lorelai stood at the window and watched as the planner her mother insisted upon was ordering everyone around to make sure everything was being done to her specifications. Lorelai was pleased with the out come of their plan, They set everything up in the garden of the Inn tables were everywhere donned in white linen table cloths, set with Wedgwood china and Waterford crystal, the centerpieces were an arrangement of roses paired with calla lilies and with grapes and pears all in the same soft yellows and greens to blend in but stand out in their surrounding.
The Bouquets and Boutonnières were delivered and they were more beautiful than she remembered they were the same soft yellow as well as a darker yellow that was in the centerpieces but they were only calla lilies tied in a simple white silk ribbon. The boutonnières were one simple calla lily the groom's man who were, Logan as the best man, Finn, Colin, Doyle and Chris's friend Michael form Boston, they had the pale yellow and Chris had the darker yellow.
Rory was her matron of honor and her bridesmaids were Sookie, Paris, Lane, Steph and Rose. She felt very close to them and decided to have them in the wedding their dresses were simple strapless a-lines dresses that Lorelai had made, they were in the palest yellow she had ever seen. Everything had come together. They hair dressers and makeup artists came in and had everyone ready in no time; before they knew it dresses were on and they were being called down to the garden for the quick ceremony. Richard was waiting at the bottom of the steps to do the thing he had always wanted to do since she was a little girl: walk his daughter down the aisle. His breath was caught in his throat when he saw her, 38 years old and still as beautiful as she was when she was sixteen. She smiled at her father and kissed his cheek. The photographer that was hired caught every moment.
They walked through the Inn and down the rear steps to the await group and Christopher, there were a lot of ohh and ahhh as she came into view, but Christopher was speechless, Logan patted him on the back and leaned up and whispered in his ear to breath. The day was a complete blur; everything was perfect, Lorelai had never been so happy.
Logan and Rory were dancing on the dance floor when the band began playing Moon River, of course.
"So, was it everything your mom wanted" Logan asked
"And more" she said as she kissed his cheek, and out of the corner of her eye she saw him; Luke was standing at the top of the small hill above the garden just watching the party, Rory gave him a small wave, he waved back and turned and left.
Rory walked over to her mother "Happy?" she asked
"You have no idea, kid" she said with the biggest smile Rory had ever seen.
"I am happy for you and Dad" Rory added while she hugged her mom
The party was winding down the guests were leaving and the group headed up to their rooms. They left Christopher and Lorelai on the dance floor dancing not noticing anything or anyone around them, they finally had one another, and that's all that mattered.
Rory and Logan were getting their final things together they were leaving first thing in the morning, they saw Lorelai and Christopher on Monday morning and their friends had just left from the dinner party they had tonight. They were going to miss everyone, but they all promised to visit and call often.
They boarded the plane with smiles on their faces excited to what the next year was going to bring.
"Ready Ace?" Logan asked
"With you I am always ready" Rory responded to her husband.
FINISHED
AN: I just wanted to thank all of you who read the story and enjoyed it, it has been a great experience. Thank you so much.