Taking Chances: The Rest of Our Lives

"Kid, you know I couldn't be more proud of you." Lorelai offered after helping her daughter put on her wedding dress. Lorelai stood behind her daughter as they looked into the mirror. Rory smiled with a laugh, admiring her mother's work in the mirror. Her dress was more beautiful then something you would see being displayed at a wedding shop. And she was proud to know that her mother had offered a great sacrifice to make sure that it was the best one that she would ever see.

Rory's dark brown hair was curled up in a wonderful formation of soft curls and sweet smelling hold of flowers and lavender. "I can't believe. I'm really doing this." She turned towards her mother and smiled in thanks, before wrapping her hands around her mother in appreciation. "Thank you."

"For what?" Lorelai inquired raising her eyebrow in surprise, although she was grateful for the last moment with her daughter. Peering into the mirror, she smiled at the bittersweet reflection.

"For everything." She exhaled, looking into her mother's eyes that were searching hers. "Being my best friend, having conspicuous movie nights, staying up with me at all the nights of the hour." Rory turned her eyes towards the wall feeling the bittersweet moment bringing out all kinds of emotions, including parts of her wedding speech. Trailing off she laughed lightly, "And that was part of my wedding speech."

"Ah sweets." Lorelai wrapped her arm back around her daughter, tears welling up in her eyes. "You're doing the right thing." She added quietly, embracing her daughter. "Now come on, everybody's waiting."

xxxxx

He stood tall in a black tuxedo, a path away from her. His eyes fell upon hers as he got the first glimpse of her dressed in a white wedding dress. Her dress was strapless, hugging her body as the patterns of the dress flowed into a poofy outflow of beauty, grabbing attention and out as she walked. Her long legs took stride in silver sparkly heels that matched the tint of the under layer of the dress.

Jess Mariano lit up with a smile as he exchanged glances with Rory. Her cheeks were glowing, his smile grew wider at how even more beautiful she looked in a wedding dress, and a feeling sparked after he realized once more that they were about to be man and wife, their hearts connected together as one.

"Rory Gilmore. Do you take this man to be your husband, through sickness and health?" Out of the corner of her eye she peers out into the crowd, but her focus does not break from his.

"I do." Lorelai wipes away a tear from her eye as she sits in the crowd, her hand wrapped around Luke's. Her daughter looks beautiful and she couldn't be any happier that her daughter is finally with the man that she loves. And not just that but she's proud for Jess, How much he's grown up into the perfect man, the same man who's going to spend the rest of her life with her daughter because he makes her happy.

"Jess Mariano, do you take this woman to be your wife, through sickness and health?" Luke feels her arm around his and he smiles, watching her wipe a tear with her hand as she watches closely.

"I do." Jess answers, with a smile that only Rory can understand the meaning behind. Squeezing her hand three times, he mouths, 'I. Love. You, symbolizing his love for her.

"I love you too." Rory whispers, stepping closer. Her breath tickles against his face as the man pronounces them man and wife, concluding with a short pause and a 'you may now kiss the bride' He steps closer, their lips locking as they take their first kiss as a couple. Pulling out a camera from his pocket he centers it and clicks the button.

Together they sit on the edge of the bed; he shows her the picture that he took of them. She exhales happily, "You know you should really become a photographer."

"Really the only thing I intend to do is frame this picture and put in our private collection." He answers, turning off the camera and putting it back in his pocket.

"The same one I'm sure that our children will discover one day." He raises his eyebrow, on a note of discussing children the day that they just got married.

"Whoa there, one step at a time." Jess teased, facing her. "I'm pretty sure there is plenty of time to discuss the children." Grabbing her hand he pulls her up off the bed and into his lap as he wraps his arms around her and tips her back as his lips collide with hers. Grasping for air, they break apart. "In fact I'm pretty sure we have the rest of our lives."