April came into the apartment that was now surrounded by boxes and various sorts of luggage– duffle bags, suitcases, and Bloomingdale's plastic garment bags. "Wow! Look at this place! You guys really made a lot of progress after I left."

"Yeah, once you left, there was less talking and more working," Jess answered.

April smiled and lightly slapped her hands to her cheeks. "Aww, the warmth and affection I get from you, Cousin, is just so heartwarming!"

"Yeah, yeah," he said.

Suddenly, Luke came out of the bathroom, "Okay, how do I look? This is as good as it gets!"

Luke had a professional shave and haircut earlier as his soon-to-be father-in-law insisted that he have on his wedding day. He had on the Hugo Boss navy suit that Lorelai found for him one day when they went shopping for wedding suits. She said she had in mind exactly how she wanted him to look, and this suit was exactly what she pictured. He didn't even have a chance to argue that he generally didn't wear European designer suits. The suit was even marked down 40% since they bought it right after Christmas. Lorelai said it was practically a miracle to find a Hugo Boss on sale in his size. Supposedly, 42 Regular was a very popular size in European-made suits. Luke had on a formal white shirt with French cuffs and gunmetal cufflinks. And he wore a metallic navy tie that made the suit look even more formal. Lorelai encouraged that he buy formal black Oxfords with a very high gloss leather finish. Those black, thick loafers, which he always wore with his suit would not be suitable with his wedding suit. That was what Lorelai and all the sales associates assured him.

"Oh my God, Dad! You look SPEC- TAC-ULAR!"

"You sure don't look like you wear flannel shirts and jeans everyday for work," Jess said.

"Absolutely!" April remarked. "You look like you could be going to the Academy Awards!"

"I would settle for I look like I'm getting married today."

"Definitely that too!" April exclaimed, still dumbfounded by her father's appearance. She kept bobbing her head up and down as she took in how elegant and sophisticated he appeared. "You look better than any movie star I've ever seen!"

"Now come on!" Luke said. "I know I look pretty dapper, but I'm certainly not one of those pretty boys! I'm no George Clooney or Ben Affleck!"

"No doubt you're much more handsome than either of them!" She exclaimed.

"I think you have to have those new glasses of yours checked! But I appreciate your enthusiasm."

"No, I'm serious, Dad. You clean up very well! Fortunately for me, half my DNA comes from you."

"You certainly don't look like you flip burgers for a living," Jess said.

"See," April said, gesturing at Jess. "If he says it, you know it's the truth! Jess doesn't seem the type to me to give false compliments."

"Hello, Everyone!"

Entering into the apartment was Luke soon-to-be father-in-law. "Ahhh- Hello, sir."

"Oh, come on, Luke! We're about to be family! You can't call me "Sir"! It's Richard or Dad if you prefer!"

"Richard, hello. You remember my daughter, April and my nephew, Jess."

"Of course, I do, we all conversed the other night at your rehearsal dinner. I'm sorry I had to miss your bachelor party last night, Luke, but something I ate earlier in the day just didn't sit well at all in me."

"Don't worry about it, S – Richard," Luke answered.

"Wow! You certainly gussied up for the big event! You look positively resplendent!"

"Thank you, S – Richard." Luke was starting to feel very self-conscious and didn't really know how to change the subject.

"Where's the rest of your wedding crew? I'm told that Lorelai has a heavy crew there leading before her down the aisle. You must have more than your nephew here!"

"Yes, I do. Fortunately, I got the others to go their respective homes to get ready and leave me in peace. I told them to meet me at the gazebo at 15:00 hours for the first round of photos. Until then, go bother their wives and children."

"I see," Richard answered. Richard looked around the apartment. "This is an interesting place where you live, or I should say lived. Very functional and home-y in its way."

"Thank you. My father used this as his office when he ran his hardware store, where I now have my diner. It felt more like home to me when he passed away, since he had spent so many hours here in this office, when he wasn't running his store."

"Yes, I understand," Richard said, shaking his head up and down. "Speaking of fathers and sentiments, would it be an inconvenience if you and I had a few moments alone before I have to go to see to my daughter?"

"Of course," Luke said, as he patted down the sides of his suit and then stretched his hands out. "I mean, it wouldn't be an inconvenience at all!"

"I have to continue tending to my bridesmaid's duties as well," April said as she started to head towards the door.

"April, sweetie," Luke quickly added before she left, "you look spectacular too."

April smiled. "Thanks, Dad." Under her good, burgundy wool coat, she wore a long, navy satin bridesmaid's dress. She had her hair in an updo with curly dark tendrils hanging down either side of her head, and her makeup made her face sparkle and highlighted her dark eyes with dark eye shadow on her eyelids. She also wore the dainty, dangling pearl earrings and a double-strand pearl choker that Lorelai picked out for all the bridesmaids and maid of honor to wear. The final touch were the silk pumps that were dyed to match her dress. "I'm going to try to take my glasses off walking down the aisle and then again for the posed photos."

"Whatever you want," Luke said. "But you look beautiful even with the glasses. You can barely notice them on your lovely face."

Richard said, "Yes, I agree with your father. You look ravishing even with the glasses. Lots of beautiful women wear glasses now. It's not such a stigma as it once was in my day. And nowadays, they have such sophisticated frames, such as yours, that compliment a woman's features. That comedienne I've been seeing a lot of in the news and on the TV, Tina Fey, she's a very attractive young woman and I always see her in her glasses."

"Thanks," April said as she headed out. "I'll think about it."

Jess followed right behind her. "I'll come with you," he said as he ran out and closed the door.

"I know you have to be heading over to the tent very shortly," Richard said to Luke, "so I won't keep you long. But I just wanted to speak with you briefly before you marry my daughter."

"Of course," Luke said.

"I know a few years back, you didn't receive such a warm, welcoming greeting from my wife and I when you started seeing Lorelai as beyond friends… I'm truly sorry about that. If it's one thing the last few years taught me, it's to keep your loved ones near you and to appreciate them. The ones that love you the most will stay by you when the chips are down. I know you love my daughter more than Emily and I ever realized and she loves you just as much. It wasn't fair that we tried to push her towards Christopher when it was obviously you who made her happy."

"Thank you, Richard. I really appreciate your kind words, but we went through this a few months ago, when Lorelai and I first got engaged."

"I know. I'm sorry to repeat myself, but I'm trying to segway myself into what I really need to discuss with you."

"Sorry. Please, go on, then."

"Yes, well. Let me just add that Emily and I are so relieved and thrilled today because Lorelai's finally the happiest I've ever seen her. This is the kind of happiness I always dreamed for her. And so I thank you for all you've done for her and my granddaughter, and even myself when I was in the hospital last year. You've certainly proven yourself to be the kind of son-in-law a man could be proud of."

Luke cleared his throat. "Thank you, Richard. I don't know what to say, but thank you. And you're right that I love your daughter more than I ever thought I could love someone. She has been my better half long before she or I ever recognized it."

"I understand that, Luke. I do. And it's because of that, and since I don't have any sons of my own, and just my one daughter, that I think you should have these," Richard pulled out of his pocket a black velvet box and handed it to Luke.

"Richard, you didn't have to give me anything, really."

"Please, just open the box."

Luke opened the box and there were a pair of silver cufflinks that were clearly quite old but well maintained. They were elegant but simple. They each had a script "G" engraved in the middle of them.

"They belonged to my great grandfather. In that day, it was much more common to have gold cufflinks, but my grandfather had an infinity to silver collectibles. In fact, he collected antique silver candelabras and all kinds of silver pieces with great history to them and he wanted silver cufflinks to wear for the right occasions. Then when, my father got married, he gave them to him on his wedding day, and then my father had instructed before he died for my mother give them to me on my wedding day, and now I want you to have them. I know it's not your initial, but I hope they'll make you feel like part of the family. Because in my mind, today you're becoming a Gilmore."

"I don't know what to say."

"Just say, 'Thank you,' and that you'll wear them. You and I have another commonality. My father was long gone when I got married, and I know your father passed quite a few years ago. I understand that there's a part of you that's very sad that you father and your mother can't be here for probably the most important day of your life. So even though you are unbelievably happy, there's a great sadness and longing too."

"Yes, well. There's not much that can be done about that. I do think they would have loved Lorelai. How could they not? Everyone loves Lorelai! Even the UPS delivery man loves Lorelai!"

"People do seem to gravitate towards her, don't they?"

"That they do. Thank you, Richard. I'll definitely wear these." Luke already began removing his gunmetal cufflinks.

"I hope you don't find this condescending or overstepping myself, but I just want to also say that I know you and Lorelai didn't have a quick and easy road to get to this day. And everything you've done and become to get here, I'm proud of you."

Luke sighed and smiled with relief. "Thank you, Richard." Luke held out his hand, and Richard shook it with both his hands.

"I'll leave you now," Richard said as he started to turn around and head out. Before he left, Richard said, "Good luck, Son."

Luke smiled. "Thanks."