Story: Somewhere Only We Know

Rating: Teen

Chapter Title: Somewhere Only We Know

Author's Note: I'm really sorry for the delay in the update...see, the chapter's actually been ready for weeks. I seem to have a bit of a problem.

You see, this is by far my favorite story I've ever written - Fan Fiction or not, as I've said before, I like to think that it could easily stand for a story on it's own if you changed the name and locales and scenarios a bit. And, being the slightly crazed, overly-attached person I am, I couldn't quite bring myself to post it. To quote Monica from Friends, "It's like the end of an era!"

Okay, okay, you probably think I'm being way overdramatic. But I'll miss this story. :(

So, thanks to all my loyal, helpful reviewers, and even to the loyal unhelpfuls, or just the unhelpfuls – whatever you did, it kept me going, and despite myself I still can't help but smile when I see that my review count has gone up by a "update soon."

Look out for new stories, although after this it might take a while to get some inspiration. I'm actually, like, in love with this story.

OH. That reminds me. So I made a joking note in a previous chapter that you know, in ten years from now when you see a movie that is SURPRISINGLY like this, don't worry, it's still me. Well, I'm writing a screenplay now, but given the fact that I'm still in high school, it might take a little while to hit the big screen. Haha.

Okay, okay, I'll stop procrastinating, you're right. Here it is. Review! Please! I really want to hit the 200 mark on this story and, well, this is my last chance. :( If you've been reading and not reviewing - SHOW YOURSELF! Thank you so much! Okay. Okay. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Okay, I give up. I WANT IT. I don't own it. But y'know, in past chapters I've been very succinct and given no indication that I do not want to own Gilmore Girls? Well. Guess what. I'M NORMAL. cries The show is, like, over. Can't I buy it now? Please? Pretty please? I'll write the next ten seasons by tomorrow…fine. I do not own Gilmore Girls, nor am I in any way affiliated, blahdeeblahblah.

Enjoy!

May 14th, 1993. Lorelai's bedroom. 7:15 am. 10 hours and 45 minutes until the wedding.

Lorelai jerked awake the second her alarm clock went off at least two hours before she ever woke up by choice. She winced as she felt the slight pain in her head. That was what she got for drinking two martinis at her bachelorette party the night before, but Sookie had cut her off after two, telling her that there was nothing worse than a hungover bride. For a second she wondered where Luke was, and then remembered that she had insisted he stay at his place out of tradition. She let her mind slowly accustom to being awake, and then she catapulted herself out of bed and into the shower, shocking herself to alertness. By the time she had scrubbed every inch of her body clean and was wrapped in her fluffy bathrobe with a towel on her head, she could hear Rory downstairs, so she went down.

"Happy wedding day!" Rory shouted in her face the second she got down.

"Happy my wedding day to you!" she shouted back, and instantly set about making coffee. She popped two aspirin to keep her slight headache at bay. "Got the list?" she asked Rory over her shoulder.

"Yep! Okay. Sookie is coming over in half an hour to do your nails and help with everything. Then you have to call the caterer, band, DJ, florist and place card people to confirm that everything has been delivered slash will be set up in three hours. Then you have to call Luke and remind him to pick up his tux, because they were late delivering it. Then you have to go to Luke's and march his butt, as you put it, to the tux shop. Then you come back and we have lunch. Then you and Sookie decide on a hair style, then you do your hair. Then you steam our dresses, and check on them to make sure the shower isn't doing it's spazzy thing and spraying them all. Then you nap. I know you hate naps, but you have to look awake, and not by coffee, so: nap. At four we fix your hair and do your makeup, as well as mine and Sookie's. At five the limo comes. At five fifteen you call Luke and make sure he's almost there and has his tux. Then you make your stupid forty-five minutes! squeals, and by the time you get off the phone it's five thirty. Then people start to arrive, and we hide. At six, the ceremony starts." Rory looked up from the list. "That's all."

"I'm pretty busy today, aren't I?"

"Yes," Rory said, "But that's okay. You're getting married." She shoved food that Luke had dropped off the night before and a bottle of body lotion at her. "Eat. Moisturize. Sookie's coming soon." Lorelai nodded and obeyed, eating the pancakes and fruit (Rory insisted) off of the plate. Then the morning went into fast-forward, and before she knew it she had the phone propped under her ear against her shoulder while Sookie painted her nails meticulously with peachy polish and filed them down.

"And the centerpieces are the tulips, right? It was a last minute decision, but my mother – yes, exactly. They are? Great. And…oh, did the lavender turn up? No? That's fine, then – yes, purple and pale blue – white is fine, yeah. Okay, great. Thank you. Bye." She nudged the end button with her chin and motioned for Rory to take the phone. She recited the next number to her and then allowed Rory to carefully slide the phone under her chin. "Hello? Yes, this is Lorelai Gilmore. I'm calling to check that everything is being delivered. Great! The food's going to be stored at Luke's Diner – you see it? Good. No, he shouldn't mind, I told him about it. No, don't worry, I told him – yes. Make sure to leave room for the cake, someone will be delivering it later." She glanced at Sookie for confirmation, who nodded. "Okay. Thank you!" Rory repeated the motions, and they went through the confirmation process until she was sure that everything was under control. Then she could relax for a few minutes while her nails dried.

"So?" Sookie said once they were technology free. "How do you feel? Nervous? Excited? Terrified?"

"All of those things," Lorelai admitted. "Nervous that something awful will happen – like, a drunken cousin will knock over some big fancy sculpture or something, or that the food will give everyone food poisoning. Excited – well, mostly excited, really, because I'm getting married today! And terrified…in a good way. Like, I'm scared out of my mind about the next phase, not because I don't think we can do it, but because what we already have is so amazing that I don't know what's coming next. But I'm mostly excited. Definitely excited."

"Well, you should be," Sookie agreed.

"Yeah," Rory chimed in. "I mean, it's Dad."

"Yeah," Lorelai said softly, unable to contain her smile. "It is."

Lorelai burst into the diner with a bang, until she realized that it was entirely empty, given that Luke had closed for the wedding. She hurried upstairs and banged on the door to his apartment.

"Luuuke! Open up!" The door opened, and Luke's eyes lit up when he saw her. He kissed her hello and ushered her in.

"How's it going?" he asked. "Frantic yet?"

"Just a bit. Come on."

"Come on…?"

"To get your tux! I told you over the phone."

"You didn't have to come…I would have done it."

"Timely? No. Come on." She shoved him out the door and marched him to the jeep. They drove the ten minutes to the shop a bit out of Stars Hollow, Lorelai chattering the entire time about what was and was not going according to plan, and Luke sitting with a slight smile on his face. She looked over at him at a red light. "What?"

"Nothing. I just like seeing you so excited. It's nice." She grinned.

"I like being so excited." She pulled up in front of the store and got out. They entered the slightly stuffy store and were approached by an attractive man in a tuxedo himself.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"We're picking up a tuxedo under the name Luke Danes?" The man nodded and reappeared a few minutes later carrying a garment bag. "Try it on," Lorelai said.

"I'm sure it fits…"

"Just make sure. There's no margin for error today." He rolled his eyes but took the tux into a dressing room. When he came out a few minutes later, walking awkwardly, her eyes widened. "No, no, no!" she exclaimed. "What happened?"

"I don't know," he said stiffly, "But I think that maybe – maybe – you got my measurements wrong." Her hand to her mouth, she stared. The pants were at least five inches too short, and much too wide. The jacket, on the other hand, reached down to his knees, and the shoulders stretched tight across his broad ones.

"Wow. What strangely proportioned dwarf was this suit made for?" She groaned. "I knew something like this was going to happen. Why, why did I leave this to the last minute?" she cried melodramatically.

"Calm down," he told her. He turned to the sales assistant, who already had five suits on hand. "I'll just try these on. I'm not you. It can be off the rack." She winced but sighed.

Four tuxes later, he emerged in the right one. It wasn't the tux she had pictured – it wasn't a tux at all, but rather a black blazer and pants over a crisp white shirt, a black tie hanging smartly from his neck. She smiled.

"That," she said, "Is, like, my fantasy come to life." He raised an eyebrow.

"I look like an idiot."

"You look absolutely gorgeous," she corrected him. "Please, please ditch the flannel and wear that every day." He glared at her and looked in the mirror, tugging uncomfortably on the sleeves.

"I don't know…"

"Luke," she said into his ear, coming to stand behind him. She slid her arms around his shoulders and adjusted his collar, and then rested her chin on his shoulder. "You look so sexy in that, that if we hadn't agreed not to have sex before the wedding night, I would do you right here and now. That enough confirmation for you?" He blushed but grinned a little.

"Gee. I sure hope you can control yourself." At her look, he laughed. "Okay, okay. Let me take this off." A few minutes later they were back in the car, the tux laid across the backseat. "You're speedy today," he commented. "We couldn't have been in there for more than ten minutes."

"Time's a'wasting," she said. "I have to get back. Sookie, Rory, your sister, my mother and I are having brunch."

"Brunch with your mother? Really? My sister? Really?"

"A wedding thing," she said with a wave of her hand. "And I love your sister! Besides, it's only appropriate that all the women of the party are there."

"But your mother and my sister aren't in the wedding."

"So? Doesn't mean I don't want them to come. I mean, sure, I don't always get along with my mom, but it's my wedding day. I can do with a brunch." He grinned subtly and, when she stopped to let him off at the diner, kissed her on the lips.

"See you at our wedding," he said when they broke apart.

"See you," she said with an involuntary smile, and when he was out of the car she drove back to the house.

"To Lorelai," Sookie proposed, raising her tea. "On her special day. Knock 'em dead."

"Amen," Lorelai agreed emphatically, and the five women clinked glasses and sipped their drinks. She set down her iced coffee and smiled contentedly.

"So? How are the last minute plans going?" Emily asked. "Do you need help?"

"No," she said forcefully. It had taken enough convincing to get Emily out of the idea of a party planner – she had to remind her that she herself, in fact, had planned countless wedding as the Independence Inn. Another round of convincing had let Emily know that she could handle the wedding day arrangements by herself, yet her mother still did not seem to get the picture. "Everything is under control. We had a little tuxedo mishap, and the DJ had some sound problems, but they're all taken care of. Don't worry."

"I'll tell you," Liz said, "If this were my wedding? I would be a nervous wreck! I was," she amended.

"You've been married?" Rory asked, interested.

"Yeah. Once."

"Well why did you break up?" the eight year old asked, clearly perplexed.

"Those things don't always work out, honey," Lorelai stepped in quickly.

"You and Daddy won't break up, though, right?"

"That doesn't seem like part of the plan."

"Good," Rory decided. Lorelai took another bite of her cake.

"Got the jitters yet?" Sookie wanted to know.

"Are you kidding me? I've been shaky all day. It's not cold feet jitters, though. Just, I-hope-the-cake-doesn't-have-a-bomb-in-it jitters."

"Hey!" Sookie protested. "I would never put a bomb in your cake!" Lorelai smiled.

"Speaking of which, Lorelai," Emily chimed in, "I can't see why you're having cake for lunch when you really should be eating something healthier. It is your wedding day, after all."

"And why should I suffer on my wedding day?"

"Amen," Rory said, imitating her mother's reaction of just a few minute ago.

"Really, Rory," was all Emily said with a shake of her head. "So everything is going according to plan?" Lorelai nodded, her mouth full. When she had swallowed, she said,

"Yeah. Everything's being delivered, and being set up as we speak." She nodded out the window, to where the town square was being transformed into the party space.

"It's going to be a beautiful wedding," Liz said.

"It really will be," she said dreamily, her eyes transfixed on the scene outside. She nodded. "Yes...it...will."

"Stop moving!" Sookie ordered as she fixed Lorelai's mussed hair. She had been supposed to nap, but had been so excited that she'd only gotten about ten minutes of shut eye. As Sookie recurled the loose ringlets and brushed them out so her brown hair fell in glossy soft curls to her shoulder blades, Lorelai peered into the mirror that was part of the makeshift salon they had transformed the living room into. She reached out without moving her head to hold her brown eyeliner pencil over the radiator – a trick she had learned as a teenager - to melt it so that it went on thicker and smoother. She applied a very thin layer to her lower lid and then another. She put a third layer just in the outer corner of her eye, and then winced as she did the upper lid. She moved on the second eye. Then came two coats of mascara, then the carefully planned out eyeshadow scheme – champagne, peach and rose – then liquid foundation, then powder, then blush. She smeared lip balm all over her lips and mashed them together, and then coated her lips in pink lipstick. She finished it off with a layer of clear gloss, and smiled at her reflection.

"Earrings," she sid to Rory, who handed her the chandelier earrings she would wear with her dress. Sookie dropped the last curl from the curling iron and brushed it out.

"Look at yourself," her friend told her, and flipped the mirror so it went away from the magnifier and to the normal mirror. Lorelai couldn't help but smile. She really did look good. After a moment, she stood up.

"Your turn," she said, and began on their hair.

"So you're on the way?" Lorelai said into the phone, unable to keep her fingers from nervously tapping on every surface they found.

"Yeah, don't worry. I'll be there in a few minutes, I just have to dry my hair," Luke's voice came through the earpiece

"What a girl," she teased with a smile. "Hey, guess what."

"What?"

"The next time we see each other, we'll be getting married. How cool is that?"

"Very cool," he allowed. She glanced at the clock.

"Hey, Luke."

"Hey, Lorelai."

"Thirty two minutes!" He made a mocking squeal and then laughed.

"See you soon."

"Bye." She hung up the phone and walked to the full length mirror at the other end of the room. There she was. A bride. She hadn't ever had the chance to see herself as a bride before, and the effect was a little daunting. Her dress – no poof, but an a-line skirt and thin spaghetti straps – was absolutely perfect, this she had decided months ago. She couldn't stand poofy, ridiculous confections that looked like something out of a cupcake factory, but she didn't want to look like she was in her nightgown. The dress itself wasn't quite white, but had a slight cream tinge, and the shoes died to match peeked out from the skirt.

"You look so pretty, Mommy," Rory said, standing next to her in her lavender bridesmaid's dress.

"Thanks, sweetheart," she said, giving her daughter a squeeze on the shoulder. Sookie came back from her post peeking out at the church.

"People are starting to arrive." Lorelai bit her lip to keep from bursting out in excited squeals.

"This is actually happening," she marveled. "I mean, it took us ten-odd years, but it's actually…I just can't believe that after today, there'll be no more worrying, you know? No more stupid teenage games. It's forever, and that's…that's amazing to me."

"That's so beautiful," Sookie squeaked, and Lorelai giggled. Emily poked her head through the door and then came in, looking perfectly regal in a royal blue dress. She carried a white box.

"Hello, Sookie. And Rory! Well, you just look darling. Would you two mind giving me a moment alone with Lorelai?"

"Um…sure!" Sookie agreed, and took Rory into another back room, leaving Emily and Lorelai alone together.

"You look beautiful, Lorelai," Emily said, walking to stand before her daughter. "Much like I did when I married Richard, in fact. You have the same glow about you." Lorelai smiled.

"Thanks, mom."

"You already know," she said, "That I've had my doubts about this marriage…after all, Luke isn't from our world. But then again, neither were you, really, not ever. And I look at what you two have…it's astounding, really. But I've said that already" Emily sighed. "Anyways, I wanted you to have this." She opened the box, revealing a wedding veil.

"Oh, mom…"

"I know you didn't want to wear a veil, but…here." She slid the headband onto her daughter's head, and then flipped the veil back over her hair. "That way you don't have to have your face obstructed if you don't want it to be. This was my wedding veil," she added. Lorelai turned to the mirror. The veil had floating pearls that made her look almost charmed. It was beautiful.

"Thank you," she said honestly. "Really, mom…" then she sighed. "Can you get dad?" Emily looked at her knowingly and nodded, before disappearing back into the church. A few minutes later, Richard appeared.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Look, Dad," she said, pacing the tiniest bit. "I know that when I asked before you said no because you don't approve and all that, but just listen to me, okay? Even mom sees it, that Luke and I are just so in love, and it's not infatuation, it's more than that. I know that this is meant to be, even if you don't approve. But I wish you would, because…just, I'll ask again, would you please give me away?" She tried her hardest not to sound like she was begging. "I couldn't stand it if everyone saw you in the audience and knew there was a reason why you weren't. This is a big day for me. I don't want you to not be a part of it. Please, Dad." Richard sighed heavily.

"All right." Her face lit up and she flung herself at him.

"Thank you," she murmured into his shoulder, before releasing him. Richard kissed her cheek and opened the door so Sookie and Rory could come out. Sookie and Rory reemerged from the bathroom and assumed their posts by the door, spying into the hall. Within a few minutes, the tell-tale music that would signify the first portion of the wedding began to play, and Lorelai knew that Luke was emerging from a side door to stand at the front of the hall.

"He looks good," Sookie declared. "Did you pick that suit?" Lorelai nodded and put a finger to her lips. She wanted to listen. "Oh! Our turn." Sookie and Rory flung open the doors importantly and began their walk down the aisle, holding their bouquets of lavender and white flowers. Lorelai's heart fluttered in her chest as she assumed her own position by the door. This was it. Any minute now, the song would play and she would emerge. Sure enough, the wedding march started up, and she heard the rustle of everybody standing. Her father came and linked arms with her, and they opened the doors simultaneously. She took in the scene before her, stricken. Everybody stared at her in awe, maybe even envy. Rory and Sookie were arranged just so at the front of the church, and the Reverend stood between them and Luke. And Luke…he looked as though he could see no one but Lorelai – and he probably couldn't. She smiled subtly at him and winked, before her father paused to kiss her cheek and take his seat beside Emily, who patted his arm reassuringly. Lorelai continued her walk of fame up to the front, where she handed her bouquet to Rory and turned to face Luke. And then he had the same effect on her that she must have on him – everything and everyone else faded away into fuzz, and she saw only him. She heard the audience sit, and the world came back into focus as the Reverend began to speak. Portions of his speech got lost as her mind focused and refocused on Luke, and what today was.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony…"

"…to witness the joining in marriage of Lucas Danes and Lorelai Gilmore…"

"…for love, loyalty, honesty and trust, but most of all for friendship…" She snapped back to when she heard Luke say her name. They had agreed not to recite the story of their mystical journey to the masses, but had also agreed that the traditional wedding vows were far too traditional for them, the long-lost teenage parents of a kid who were only now, ten years after the fact, getting married.

"Lorelai," he said, smiling entirely in his eyes, which were a twinkling blue – unusual. "I've known you for over ten years, but I still feel like every day I'm learning something new about you. Whether it's that you only like apple pie with cinnamon, or that you want to cry every day when you send Rory to school because you know that one day it will be forever – whatever it is, I love that I'm still getting to know you, even after all these years. I feel like you know me better than I've ever let anyone get to know me, and…I love knowing that no matter what happens, no matter how we feel about each other, we can always go…somewhere…and just talk about it. I love that about you," he said, and she smiled shyly. "And I love you," he finished, and slid the thin woven gold band onto her finger. The reverend nodded at her, and she raised her eyebrows at Luke, smiling.

"I honestly never thought that this day would come," she started. "Because it's like, however well I think I know you, there's always that one thing that I'd never see coming - " she gave him a knowing look " - that will set you off. But we always get through it, even if it takes six years. But now this day has come, and I'm just so…so happy, Luke. Since I was fourteen years old, you were the one person for me, even if I didn't know it at the time. However confusing it is, I love that I can't discern friendship from love with you. That makes one or the other that much better. And I love you too." She in turn slid the matching ring onto his finger. There was a quiet moment, in which she heard a surprising, loud sniffle from her mother, and exchanged a look with Luke. Then the reverend spoke again.

"Lucas, do you take Lorelai for your lawfully wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Do you promise to love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?" Looking right at her, that subtle smile on his face, Luke said softly,

"I do."

"And Lorelai, do you take Lucas for your lawfully wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Do you promise to love, honor, comfort and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," she said, her voice cracking the tiniest bit. The Reverend continued on again, and then it was Luke's turn.

"…and now, by the power vested in me by the state of Connecticut, I pronounce you husband and wife. Lucas, you may kiss your bride." Brimming with barely controlled glee, the two met, their lips locking and their arms entwining, as the audience applauded. After a few long moments they broke apart, and almost simultaneously blurted out,

"I love you…" then they looked at each other and laughed, and kissed again while everyone else filed out of the hall to the town square, where the party would take place.

"Did I mention that you look absolutely beautiful?" Luke murmured in her ear.

"No, you didn't," she said with a smile, "But I think it would have been highly inappropriate during the ceremony, anyway…Lucas." He snorted in annoyance and kissed her yet again. "I can't believe we actually got married!" she exclaimed.

"I know." She saw Sookie and Rory lingering by the door, and motioned them on.

"Go ahead. We need a moment, anyways." Once they were gone, she threw her arms around his neck and let him twirl her around once before setting her down. "I am so happy right now," she told him, unable to get the goofy grin off of her face. After a few minutes of kissing and rejoicing, she took his hand. "We should probably go outside. It is our party, after all." So, hand in hand, they left the church and were greeted by cheers of everyone congregated on the steps. They were nearly chased to the town square, laughing, their hands never once unlocking. As everyone settled down, finding their tables and chattering loudly, the DJ – the one DJ they could find that was not crude, overly loud, and would play what music they liked without flashing ridiculous strobe lights or anything of the sort – tapped the mike and then asked everyone to be quiet while Luke and Lorelai had their first dance as husband and wife. She glanced at Luke and grinned, before he lead her to the dance floor as the opening chords of Thank You by Led Zeppelin began to play. He took one hand in his and put the other on her waist; she put hers on his shoulder, and they began to dance.

If the sun refused to shine,
I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea,
There will still be you and me.

"I love you so much," Lorelai murmured into Luke's chest where she had rested her head as they swayed and stepped from foot. Not quite a waltz, not a junior-high slow dance, but something in between. She moved so that she could see him, and he kissed her, a long one this time.

Kind woman, I give you my all,
Kind woman, nothing more.
Little drops of rain whisper of the pain,
Tears of loves lost in the days gone by

"You know what this means, don't you?" he asked, a smile in his voice.

"Hmm?"

"That we're actually conventional."

"How's that now?"

"Well," he said, "We have a kid together…and we're married."

"Oh, my god, the horrors!" she joked, smiling. "But then, take the fact that we're only approximately two decades older than Rory…and the fact that the amount I love you and you love me is so not conventional."

My love is strong, with you there is no wrong,
Together we shall go until we die.
My, my, my, an inspiration is what you are to me,
Inspiration, look see.

"You know," he said musingly, "I never would have pegged you as a Led Zeppelin fan. Old."

"Are you kidding me?" she asked, looking up at him. "Clearly you have never met me."

"It's a good thing we just got married, then." And then they danced quietly for the rest of the song, their eyes never leaving each other.

And so today, my world it smiles,
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done,
For you to me are the only one.
Happiness, no more be sad,
Happiness...I'm glad.

And then she was lost in memories, as if a montage of her life was playing along with this song, complete with graphics, transitions and everything. Funny how her brain worked.

When they first met. How she knew right then that some small part of her life, not at that time huge, was about to change. How she had been on the brink, slowly realizing that her "friendships" were shams, her family life was crap, and how this one person had saved her from herself.

Their teenage years. Discovering themselves, maybe. As he matured, grew stronger and at the same time more withdrawn, she had needed him more than ever. He had been the one person she could turn to with any problem, and as she still said, he was the only person other than Rory who she could just spill her guts to and know it would be okay. He had helped her with everything from school problems to love problems, to – even though it was against his own will – picking out the dress for her sophomore Homecoming.

Of course, she thought back to November 28th. How now, as an adult, she realized how rare this was. Not only that her first time was more than two minutes, actually felt like something, and was with the person who she loved then and would, really, love forever.

She sort of skimmed over the six years apart, because the only fixture Luke had in her life then was the fact that he wasn't there. Then the fight behind the diner. That tearful, raging fight where every angry thought she had had towards him the past six years had come spilling out. How could you do that to me? What the hell were you thinking, sleeping with me and then not speaking to me? What had I done to deserve that, you bastard?
After that, things had gone uphill, and that part was crystal clear in her mind, the past three or so years. From that amazing second-first kiss in her kitchen that had lasted for maybe hours, days – to their second-first time. Their second-first I love you. Sure, Luke had been reluctant with those to start out with, but now they came spilling off of his tongue daily, something she applauded herself for. Maybe she and Luke knew each other well enough that they didn't have to change each other, the changes were rooted in the bone, but at least she knew that they were still changing. Always changing.

If the sun refused to shine,

I would still be loving you.

When mountains crumble to the sea,

There would still be you and me.

The final chords faded out until there was nothing left, and Luke dipped her back and kissed her, the perfect cheesy movie-style kiss that she never would have expected from him. She had to laugh a little, and then the next song started up, a fast swing song played by the band, and he dipped her back up and twirled her as the DJ invited everyone else to come onto the dance floor. They twirled and dipped, and while Lorelai tripped, Luke was sure in his every motion. He could dance – actually dance, not just sway from side to side – and that was something she hadn't known about him. She liked that – that he was full of surprises.

The rest of the evening passed in a beautiful blur of champagne, lights, dancing, food, cake, kissing, laughing. She was thrown from man to man on the dance floor – from her father to some cousin and even to Joe from high school, who had come with Aimi – who, apparently, had left her old husband. By the time the night was over it was past midnight, and, back in their street clothes, they were jostled through a line of well-wishers as they headed for the car that would bring them to the airport. Finally she reached her parents. Her mother looked at her for a long moment and then kissed her on both cheeks, whispering a heartfelt congratulations in her ear. Her father simply hugged her, and she blinked in surprise at this unlikely display of affection from him. He shook Luke's hand rather stiffly, and then they were swept into the town car containing their luggage they would bring on the honeymoon. With the door closed and the noise of the wedding behind her, Lorelai finally exhaled.

"Wow," she said, leaning her head back against the seat. "I can't believe that just happened. I can't believe it's over!" He kissed the side of her head.

"The good part's just beginning," he whispered so the driver couldn't hear. She turned her head to face him.

"Aww," she cooed. "You're all cheesy and sweet tonight. I like it."

"Well, I figured you deserved some movie-star magic tonight," he reasoned.

"Luke…" she smiled, biting back happy tears. "I'm gonna go with your cheesiness and say that every single moment I spend with you is movie-star magical, even if we're fighting, even if all we're doing is eating breakfast…I love you."

"Yeah, me too," he said, pushing back a curled lock from her face. "I love you, too." She leaned forward and he kissed her. Long, sweet, perfect – everything that all of his kisses were, really. Once they had broken apart, the driver asked,

"Where's the first stop, miss?" She looked out the window.

"You can let us out right here," she said, spotting the familiar road sign. "We'll be back." She grabbed Luke's hand and lead him out of the car. They walked down the shoulder of the road until her trained eye spotted the small path, and they then emerged into the clearing. Instead of going to her usual place on the boulder or under the tree, they stood smack dab in the middle, their hands still linked. "Nice reference to that somewhere in your vows, by the way," she said, and he chuckled softly.

"Couldn't leave it out, could I?"

"No, I guess not." She tipped her head up to look at the sky, and he did the same. The sky was completely clear, and the stars almost seem to spell out words. He lifted her hand and pointed at a star.

"You see that one?" he asked, and she nodded. "On November 27th, I was here. It was night, I was lying right about here, and I chose that star and named it after you."

"November 27th?" she questioned, and he nodded.

"Funny how those things work sometimes, huh? There was no way I could have known you were going to show up the next night…"

"…but somehow you did," she finished, and turned to face him. She entwined her other hand with his as well, and he looked right into her eyes before kissing her. Their arms encircled each other as they swayed slightly on the spot until they found their balance, finding that familiar rhythm they had known for years. Maybe even forever.

They had come so far, for so long, and the second chapter of their lives began exactly where the first had started. Because, indeed, their lives had not really started until they met each other, and now that the struggle, the terror and the newness of each other had passed, they could begin again. Together. No more separations, no more angst, no more false impressions. Just them. Sure, it wouldn't always be easy. Maybe sometimes it would be heartbreakingly difficult. But now that they had that trust, that drive, and that joy, they could pull through it. This time around. And so we leave them here, in that place that only they knew, kissing under the stars.