Why Yale is the Obvious Choice

by: Alyson Tierney

Disclaimer: I do not own the Gilmore Girls or anything related to them. Lorelai and Rory Gilmore and other characters are the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB Network. I am simply borrowing them to enjoy myself with.

Authors Note: I wrote this back in February 2003, when "The Big One" aired, and was pondering how Rory was going to choose, and reading spoilers I knew that Rory chose Yale, so this is how I envisioned it happening.

Rory Gilmore tossed in her bed. It was well past one in the morning, but she had lain awake for hours. She had finally, in the wee hours of the morning, decided on which college she wanted to go to. Instead of waiting until the morning to tell her mother, she decided to tell her now. She slipped out of bed, and padded out into the kitchen in her bare feet. Through the small hallway into the living room, and up the stairs she went, careful to miss the creaky eighth step.

She cracked open the door to her mom's room slowly, careful not to wake her mom. Not that that would be a problem. Her mother was one of the world's soundest sleepers. She never woke to any sound except that of her daughter's voice. Rory's voice always woke Lorelai immediately.

Rory crawled underneath the covers, and just lay there for a few moments, enjoying her mom's silent company. Then she put her head near her mothers and whispered, "Mommy?"

Lorelai was awake immediately, "Rory? Hey, sweetie, what's wrong? What time is it?" she asked.

"It's just after one. Nothing's wrong, in fact everything is right now. Mom?" Rory asked, looking into her mother's blue eyes.

"Yes, hun?" Lorelai asked, completely mystified. She ran her hand over her daughter's cheek.

"I know what college I'm going to." Rory said, simply.

"Which one, hun?" Lorelai asked, "You're killing me with suspense here."

"Yale. And before you say anything," Rory covered her mom's moth with her hand, "It has nothing to do with the fact that grandpa is an alumnus and it would be easier for me to go there. It's because..." Rory trailed off for a second.

"What, hun?" Lorelai asked again.

"I was thinking about what you said before, and I realized I'm not ready to be away from you yet. I love being with you and I think going to Yale will give me a better opportunity to be around you. Is that okay with you?" Rory asked.

"Oh, sweetie," Lorelai whispered and pulled her daughter close, "Of course that's okay. It's totally your decision, but I'm definitely not minding the fact that you're sticking around a little longer."

"You do know that Grandma and Grandpa are going to be totally gloating, right?" Rory clarified.

"Yes, I do know that, but I'm still okay with it. I love you, Rory." Lorelai said, giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead.

"Love you, Mom." Rory whispered, as she closed her eyes. With Lorelai rubbing her back, she soon fell fast asleep.