A/N so this is set just after the finale, everything the same happened e.g. still April, Rory and Logan still broke up. Also I know nothing about journalism so I'm sorry if any of that stuff is completely out of whack. Enjoy

Rory Gilmore, former editor of the Yale Daily news, recent Ivy League graduate, one of the best writers in the country was terrified. The bus was crowded and noisy. Because she was running late she had not been able to find a good seat. All the young reporters were in the back, conversing and networking loudly and enthusiastically. Up the front were all the serious reporters who she could tell wanted to be the best, just by the way they sat, focused on their laptops. She inwardly cursed her alarm clock for crapping out on her. She hated to be late. With a sigh she found one of the only available seats left, next to an overweight, middle aged woman. She tried to push her massive book bag under the seat and accidentally knocked her seat-mate's leg. Rory was so embarrassed.

"Oh excuse me, I'm sorry I didn't mean to knock you."

The lady just glared at her and returned to her book. Rory blushed and pulled out her book and headphones, feeling for all the world like her shy 16 year old self who had resorted to listening to her discman in her first few lunch hours at Chilton. She only hoped that things would get better. And at least she had her Proust.

XXX

Lorelai Gilmore was running early for once. This thing with Luke, whatever it was, was keeping her awake. She decided that instead of lying in bed going over it again and again like she had for the past two mornings she would get up and go for a walk before work to clear her head. Kissing Luke on the night of Rory's party that he had organised had been amazing. And she was in love with Luke, she always had been. But she just wasn't sure what he felt. For all she knew he could have been caught up in the moment – pleased that his idea had paid off. And there was so much baggage between them that their relationship would never be simple.

Lorelai laughed at herself. Those reasons weren't good enough. She knew deep down that she and Luke were meant to be together. She was just frightened. When they had broken up she had fallen, hard. And besides she couldn't avoid him forever, she was running out of good coffee. On an impulse she decided to look at the magazine stand, just in case there were any articles on Obama which might help Rory out with her campaign. Not that that was likely in Stars Hollow. As she was strolling up to the stand she saw Babette, Miss Patty and Eastside Tilly chatting away. She smiled at them as she walked past. The three ladies all stopped talking and looked at her knowingly. Miss Patty smiled cheekily "good morning sweetheart, that was some kiss the other night." Lorelai rolled her eyes. Some things never changed.

The Dragonfly Inn still gave Lorelai the shivers every time she saw it. It was a symbol of all her hard work, and that she could succeed without her parents (almost!). After her usual verbal sparring with Michel she went into the kitchen in search of Sookie and coffee.

"Hello, hello, hello!" Squealed Sookie as she came over to hug her best friend. It was a struggle since she was heavily pregnant, but she managed ok.

"Hello back at you, Sookie. You're certainly um happy this morning." Sookie just playfully punched Lorelai on the shoulder

"I can't believe it, I just can't believe it. It finally happened, hallelujah. Despite the absolute chaos you and Luke have been through you're finally both on the same page. It's going to work this time hun, I just know it!" Lorelai groaned inwardly. She loved Stars Hollow, she really did. But sometimes she would love to live somewhere where not everyone knew her entire business. Sookie noticed that Lorelai was nowhere as excited as she was.

"The two of you are back together aren't you?"

Lorelai was silent.

"Lorelai?" Sookie's voice was much quieter now. "What did Luke say yesterday, the day after the kiss? What did you talk about?"

"We, we haven't talked."

Now it was Sookie's turn to be silent. She crossed her arms and gave Lorelai a long hard stare. "Why not?"

"I've just been too busy, you know with the Dragonfly and Rory leaving, you know stuff." Lorelai realised how stupid it sounded as soon as it left her mouth. Sookie was her best friend in the world and there was no way that she was going to fall for that. Sookie just kept staring at her, which impressed Lorelai quite a bit. Sookie usually couldn't focus on anything for more than a few seconds.

"Ok, ok, I'm scared if you have to know. So I've been putting off going to see him. It's just that we've had so many obstacles: what if this isn't any different?"

"Oh hun, I can't answer that but I can ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Would it be worse to give it another try and it not work out, or to never try again?"

Lorelai pretended to think about it, even though she knew the answer. "To never try again, because it would mean giving up which I'm not ready to do yet."

"Well there you have it."

Lorelai smiled and hugged Sookie "that baby is lucky to have such a wise mummy."

"Well he or she will have a pretty amazing auntie too. So you'll see Luke today?"

"I promise: I'll go in my lunch break."

"Atta girl, and if it doesn't work out there will be cake waiting for you back here."

XXX

After what seemed like an eternity the bus pulled up outside Rory's hotel. She was one of the last to get off because the bus had stopped at the nicer hotels first. Although Rory's one didn't look too bad. She quickly unpacked, went down to the cafeteria and grabbed a quick short black. Before she knew it, it was time to change into her suit and prepare herself for Obama's address. After finally deciding on a black pantsuit with a ponytail she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked at herself in the professional-looking outfit with her killer heels and just-right makeup. As nervous as she was, she was also satisfied. Her dream was coming true, she was finally a journalist.

The town hall was going to be packed, if the swarms of press waiting outside had anything to do with it. They were eventually let in and it was nothing short of a stampede full of people pushing and shoving each other to get in. Rory was taken aback. She wasn't the pushing sort and she had never shoved anyone in her life. Naturally she ended up one of the last in and had to resort to sitting right by the back. She was so far back she doubted she would even be able to see the senator let alone hear him.

It wasn't quite as bad as Rory feared. She could hear Obama just fine but she was so far back that he never saw her hand raised when she wanted to ask a question. It got worse once the interview ended and Obama's agent asked for the first 20 members of the press into a more private interview area with him. Rory was prepared to run this time but her attempt was futile. She was so far back that she didn't even come close to reaching the room first. And to top it off she stubbed her toe. Rory was close to tears. Today had been a disaster. She just wanted her mum. She would make this all ok. Hobbling back to the bus she swore she would never where heels this high again.

When Rory returned to her room she got into her pyjamas and curled up in bed. Her first day in a real job and she didn't even have any probing and meaningful material on Obama. How could she have stuffed up this early on? She knew that people who wrote had to work twice as hard to keep their stories interesting because readers could so easily switch to another site with a click of the mouse. And to top it all off she hadn't heard from her Mum or Lane or even her grandparents. They all had known it was her first day today. Rory knew that she was acting spoilt but the day had gone so badly that she just wanted to talk to someone. Just as she was thinking that her cell phone rang. She didn't recognise the number.

"Hello, Rory speaking."

"Gilmore, how's it going, I was just wondering how your first day went."

"Paris! How are you, how is India?"

"I'm actually in Portugal with Terrance and Doyle."

Rory coughed to hide a laugh. As bad as things were, at least her life wasn't as bad as Doyle's. He must really love Paris if he was going to put up with her life coach, on their summer holiday no less.

"Wow, that's nice. And are you looking forward to starting Harvard in September?"

"Absolutely, although they don't deserve me after what they did all those years ago, anyway, you didn't answer me. How was your first day?"

Rory sighed into the phone. She thought it would be best to be honest with Paris. She could sniff out a lie anywhere, even half the world away. "Not so well, I ended up at the back, no one called on me when I raised my hand and then I missed the more private interview. All in all I have nothing on Obama that the rest of the press didn't hear. And to top it off I stubbed my toe."

"Oh spare me the sob story, Rory. So you didn't get any personal stuff, who cares? Hardly anyone does. You need to put your own spin on it. Talk about how you felt your voice didn't count and how there are people like that in this country etcetera. Analogise, use metaphors. You're a writer for chrissake you know that it's the angle not the content that matters."

Rory smiled. That was what she needed to hear: rough, practical advice that wasn't sugar coated. "Thanks, Paris. You know I'm going to miss not having you around to toughen me up."

"I feel the same way about not having you around to calm me down and see the best in people."

"I guess we make a good team, huh?"

"I guess so. And Rory?"

"Yes?"

"Good luck. You can do it. And you will do it."
"Thanks Paris."

XXX

Lorelai crept up to the diner's door, she almost opened it but she backed away. Luke was talking on the phone and had his back to her. Lorelai looked at Luke, her soulmate. She knew she couldn't just walk away from him. And plus, he had the best food in town. Taking a deep breath she marched up to the door, opened it and said, "Hi Luke" trying to sound confident.

Luke hung up the phone, and spun around. His stubbled face blushed.

"L-L-Lorelai, I'll be right with you." He picked up a plate that had a burger and fries on it and walked over to the table where Kirk was sitting. Just before he reached the table he suddenly dropped the plate and it landed all over Kirk.

"Oh jeez Kirk I'm so sorry."

"Don't be mmm, this is great, cutting out the utensils: plate to mouth in one easy step." He slurred as he picked up some lettuce off his lap. Luke rolled his eyes before turning his attention to Lorelai.

"Yes Lorelai?" Luke looked even more nervous than Lorelai felt.

"I guess I just wanted to tell you that I'm in." Lorelai said before turning and walking out of the diner. Luke beamed.

"Caesar, mind the shop I'm heading out!" Luke yelled before chasing after Lorelai.

He caught up with her about a block down the street. "Lorelai, Lorelai!" Lorelai turned around, seeing that it was Luke she smiled her widest smile. She ran into Luke's arms. Luke picked her up off the ground and spun her around, he knew he looked cheesy but he just didn't care. He had his Lorelai. Lorelai couldn't stop laughing. Eventually Luke put her down. He looked into her blue eyes. "You know there's been something I've been meaning to ask." Lorelai looked at him

"Lorelai Gilmore, will you marry me?"

A/N Well there's my first attempt. What did you think? Also do you want Sookie's baby to be a girl or a boy? Who do you want to see Rory with? And most importantly, should Lorelai say yes?