A/N: Yeah, I know Liz and TJ mysteriously dissapeared this chapter. Sorry. They'll be back. Promise.

How to Plan a Wedding Ch. 8

Jess sighed heavily. He was lying on the floor of their apartment, looking up at Rory, who was sitting on the couch. Liz and TJ and gone dragging around the city for the day, and wouldn't be back for some time.

"How many lists did you make?"

She tried to take stock of the stack of paper in front of her, and lost count. "…A lot…"

He sighed and sat up. "Okay…first list?"

"Pros and cons of having the wedding here in New York."

"Cons first," Jess told her.

Rory sighed. "It'd be super-expensive, finding a place to have it would be really hard, and people would be swarming around Lane and the guys…"

"Okay," Jess nodded. "Pros?"

Rory stayed silent.

He stared at her. "There are no pros?"

"I couldn't find anything!" Rory cried. "It just makes more sense to have it in Stars Hollow!"

"You found no positive aspects of having the wedding in New York?" Jess asked again.

Rory shrugged.

"That's just sad."

"Jess, everyone except Gloria, Jamie and Sofia are in Connecticut," she pointed out. "And it's not a long drive."

"But we live here."

"It's expensive," Rory pointed out again.

He sighed. "I just…always pictured getting married here."

"Here, where?"

"I don't know, I never actually thought of a specific location…"

Rory bit her lip. "I have."

Jess sighed. "The Stars Hollow Church."

She nodded.

"Fine."

"Really?"

"Yes, fine."

Rory smiled and got off of the couch to sit on Jess and kiss him affectionately. "Thank you."

"You owe me."

She kissed him again. "Anything."

"Anything?"

"Dirty!"

He grinned. "You said it. Not me."

She stuck her tongue out.

He rolled them over and she yelped and laughed.

0000000

"So…if this is Rory and Jess's engagement party…why don't I recognize any of the people here?"

Lorelai patted Luke's hand. "Because it's not really their engagement party. It's the party my parents are throwing for their friends to announce that their granddaughter is engaged."

Luke nodded. "I understand now."

"Good. Let's go get drunk."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"That's the only way we're going to be able to get through this without wanting to kill anyone."

Luke smiled at Lorelai. "Well…we can always leave."

She laughed. "Very funny."

"Hey, Mom, hey, Luke," Rory smiled, walking up to them. She was wearing a white, knee-length, scoop-necked dress. Jess trailed behind her, wearing a tucked in white dress shirt and black slacks with no tie or jacket.

"Hi," Lorelai smiled, kissing her daughter. "Son-in-law-to-be, where is your tie?"

"I ate it," Jess deadpanned.

"I tried," Rory said. "I did. I chased him all around the apartment, but he was so fast!"

"I don't do ties," Jess said.

"Oh, I can't wait until you say that to Emily," Lorelai grinned.

"The party can start!" called a voice from the door. "We're here!"

Rory turned around with a smile and a roll of her eyes. "Who invited them?"

"Ace!" Logan Huntzberger cried, rushing over. "Ace, you're getting married!"

She nodded, taking Jess's hand. "I am. You remember Jess."

"The guy who helped me get you drunk in college!" Logan grinned broadly. "Of course I remember. Jess, good to see you."

"You, too."

"Where's the booze?" Finn asked, walking over. "I want booze! And boobs!"

"Don't mind him," Louise Grant said, taking Finn's arm. "He pre-gamed."

"I didn't know grown men still pre-gamed," Lorelai said. "That seems a little college freshmen for you guys."

"I won't grow up!" Finn replied.

At that moment, Emily walked over with a polite smile on her face. "I'm glad to see everyone met up."

"Emily, you look lovely, as always," Logan grinned, taking her hand politely.

"Oh, you charmer," she smiled, and turned to Rory. "I always told you he was a charmer."

Jess looked down at his shoes and nodded to himself.

"Oh, he's a charmer alright," Rory nodded.

"He'll charm the pants off of any girl he can lay his hands on," Lorelai muttered.

Emily's eyes widened. "Lorelai!"

"He likes boys, too!" Finn stage-whispered.

"I should go find Richard," Emily said, slightly flustered. "Don't forget to mingle, Rory."

Rory sighed and turned to Jess. "Sorry."

"Not your fault."

"I wouldn't touch Ace with a ninety-foot pole anyway," Logan said. "Too much commitment. And too taken. I like my women single."

"And drunk," Finn added.

Logan gave him an odd look. "What is it with you tonight?"

"I speak the truth!"

"I think it's time we adjourned to the pool house," Louise said. "He's less likely to make a fool of himself."

"You guys go ahead," Rory nodded. "Jess and I have to mingle before we can actually have fun."

Lorelai pouted. "What about us?"

Rory smirked. "Please. You were gonna sneak out your bedroom window anyways."

"Not true!"

Rory raised an eyebrow.

"Okay!" Lorelai cried. "Completely true, but so not the point."

"What!" Luke snapped. "I am not sneaking out a window."

"But it's so much fun!"

"Lorelai…"

"What's wrong with sneaking out a window?"

"We're not seventeen."

"But it's fun to pretend!"

Rory rolled her eyes.

Three Hours Later…

Logan wobbled on his feet a little in the pool house. "Do you…Lor'lai Leigh Gilmore... take Jess Mariano to be your law'fly wedded wife? To have and to…Damn…to…fold! For as long as you both shall live?"

Rory giggled from her spot next to Jess on the couch. They were all slightly tipsy, and it was all Logan's fault.

"I do!" she cried.

"And do you…Jess…Dude, what's your middle name?"

"Benjamin!" Rory giggled.

"Oh, man. That's just…you have a sucky name, man," Finn laughed.

"Shut up!" Jess cried.

"Do you…Jess…Benjamin Mariano take Rory to be your law…fly wedded husband? To have and to…bold…for as long as you both shall live?"

"Yes! Can I kiss her yet?" Jess asked. "This isn't even the real wedding."

Logan waved his bottle of wine around. "Fine! By the power invested in me by this…bottle of Pinot Grigio…I now pronounce you…yeah, you're still just engaged."

Rory giggled and planted a kiss on Jess's lips.

"You're drunk," he accused.

"I'm not!"

"You are!"

"So are you," Rory accused.

"Nope," Jess shook his head.

"No worries!" Louise smiled. "We've got the limo."

At that moment the door opened and Paris walked in. "There you guys are! What's-…You're all drunk."

"I'm not drunk," Jess said.

"He is," Rory nodded. "He's the drunkest of all of us."

Jess rolled his eyes. "That, I think would be Finn…"

"Finn's not drunk!" Logan said. "He's just…passed out!"

Paris groaned. "Rory, your grandmother's looking for you."

She giggled. "Uh-oh…"

"Rory?" Richard called, walking up behind Paris. "Rory, there you are, we've been looking all over for you."

Rory got unsteadily to her feet. "Hi, Grandpa."

"Oh, my," he said grimly. "Someone has hit the bottle a little too hard."

"I take responsibility, Mr. Gilmore," Logan spoke up. "I kept refilling everyone's glasses. I just think it's funny to see Rory really drunk."

Richard raised an eyebrow at Logan, and then turned to Jess, who got up off the couch without a problem.

"I'm the designated driver tonight," Jess said. "I didn't have enough to mess me up."

Richard nodded in approval. "Well, that's good to hear. Rory, are you alright?"

Rory nodded. "Yup! I'm great!"

"Alright," Richard said. "I'll just tell your grandmother that you're in the middle of helping Logan get home, which I hope you will, and that you send your regards to all of our guests."

Rory nodded with a smile. "Sounds good."

Richard nodded and left.

When he was out of earshot, Logan, Louise and Rory burst into giggles.

Paris rolled her eyes, and Jess couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face.

000000

The next morning, Rory woke up with a headache and no clothes on. She sat up slowly and glanced at Jess, who was reading beside her. "You took advantage of me!"

Jess smirked and turned to her. "Did not."

"Why am I naked?"

"Because after I got you out of your dress, you wouldn't let me put you into your nightshirt. So you slept naked."

She blushed and pulled the sheets up to her chin.

Jess grinned and reached over to kiss the corner of her lips.

She flopped back down onto the pillows. "I hate Logan."

"He didn't force you to drink."

"No but he's persuasive," Rory muttered. "And he has a talent for filling your glass when you aren't looking."

Jess grinned and kissed her again before getting up. "Aspirin and coffee?"

Rory nodded.

He left the room and came back moments later with a mug and a bottle. He set them on Rory's nightstand, and sat down on the edge of the bed. He patted her hip gently. "Come on. You didn't drink enough to throw up…"

She sat up slowly and pushed some hair out of her face with a pout. "My head hurts."

He opened up the bottle of painkillers and shook three out into her outstretched hand. He then put the bottle back down and handed her the mug of coffee.

She took it and downed the tiny pills. "No more alcohol for me."

Jess grinned and nodded. "As you wish."

Rory smiled and kissed him.