Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this chapter. The story idea is mine.

Chapter One : The Big One Returns

Rory had been running around the Gilmore house for an hour and it still didn't seem like anything had been absorbed in her brain. For some reason it seemed as though she couldn't possibly concentrate while she was patiently awaiting her letter. That's right, a letter, not from Lane, telling her all about her band and how they'd been doing, but a letter from New York University. That's right, Rory Gilmore had applied to NYU. She was so excited. She couldn't wait for the letter to come. She was hoping to try something new, and college in New York seemed like just the ticket.

"Rory, the mail just got here!" Lorelai yelled as she ran inside the front door, leaving it open.

Rory came out of her room with a look of anticipation and nervousness on her face. "Quick, is it there?"

Shuffling through the pile of mail Lorelai had in her hand she finally found the envelope they'd both been waiting for. She pulled the single envelope so violently, freeing it from the pile as Rory watched all the rest of the mail fall to the ground. "Oh my god! It's here!" she screamed.

"Here goes nothing..."

Rory stood there for a few moments just staring at the envelope in her hand. She finally flipped it over and began tearing away at the one thing that stood between her and the future, that envelope.

"Dear Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, It is our pleasure to inform you that your request to join us at New York University for the following three semesters has been accepted...oooooh my..."

"You did it again babe, you got in! Im soo proud of you!" Lorelai said in a high pitched squeak, while jumping around her.

"New York, here I come!"

"We have to celebrate, to Lukes?"

"To Lukes!"

Luke was walking around the diner taking peoples orders and avoiding small talk by running in the kitchen every two minutes checking on their orders. He was just about to run in the opposite direction to dodge a conversation with Kirk when he heard the bell above the diner door ring and two overly excited people laughing and screaming as they entered. He knew just who it was. Even before he turned to look he knew it was the Gilmores.

"Ok, now don't get me wrong, I know you're always crazy, but you're way over the top today, even for you two. What happened?" Luke paused for a moment awaiting the caffiene crazed answer.

"Mom, you tell him I need to breathe!" Rory bent over, her hands on her knees breathing hard.

"You ready for this? Another US University wants to get to know Lorelai Leigh Gilmore. One's just not enough. Everyone needs to know about her. She got accepted to NYU for the next three semesters!" Lorelai bent over herself, amazed at how much she was capable of getting out in one short breath.

"Wow that's just -- wow," Luke paused, unsure of how to react or what to say.

"Yeah, wow! I mean I knew she could do it, but wow! Two LARGE cups of coffee to go please," Lorelai stated placing great emphasis on the word large.

"To go? Why to go? We can stay here for awhile."

"Are you kidding me, we need to start apartment hunting!"

Rory rolled her eyes in amusement, "I don't need an apartment, I can just stay on campus..."

Lorelai looked at her daughter with a look of shock, almost as if she expected her to know Lorelai wouldn't dream of sending her to live in NY in a dorm room. If Rory was going to live in NY, she was going to get the full experience, her own apartment included. Rory looked at her, and realizing that she was about to burst out in protest at any given moment she quickly changed her mind on the situation and replied with ease, "Or if you insist on me having an apartment of my own, I don't see what would be so horrible about that..." She stopped to look at her mom and realized that her moms expression had changed from confusion to excitement.

Rory and Lorelai arrive at the elder Gilmore home. Lorelai reached her hand out to ring the doorbell.

"Hi, we're the daughter and the granda- Oh! Mom! Why are you answering the door?"

"I swear, you'd think Lucinda had ADD, one minute she's getting the door, and the next she's checking on the dinner!" Emily said in disgust.

"Glad to hear you've got everything under control, Grandma!" Rory replied with a smirk in Lorelai's direction.

"So what's new girls, anything different, exotic?"

"Well mom, actually I was just about to ask you to turn on some music I brought with me, it's somewhere in my bag..." Lorelai's stated her voice fading as she rummaged through her purse for the non-existant cd. "Oh,wait here it is. Buried under something, I want to show you my new salsa dance I've been learning," Lorelai stopped and sat down when she looked up to see the glare on Emily's face.

"Honestly Lorelai, have you ever answered a question with a serious response your whole life?"

Lorelai didn't answer, instead she sat down next to Rory and gestured towards Emily, encouraging her to spill the beans.

"Well... Grandma.."

"Rory got accepted to NYU!" Lorelai screamed impetuously.

"NYU! I had no idea you were looking into NYU! That's wonderful Rory, really," Emily congratulated her with a pleased look on her face.

"Thanks Grandma."

"Oh my, silly me, if you're going to be in New York you'll need an apartment!" Emily concluded with excitement.

"Oh well Gra-" Rory tried to stop her, but Emily was way ahead of her.

"Richard! Bring a check out here!"

"A check? Wait Grandma, no! You don't need to-"

Emily looked over at her granddaughter with a look of amazement before demanding that she accept the check. "Of course I do! I'll write you a check for the apartment, and the first two months rent, you can contact me after that."

"Bu-" Rory put in yet another attempt at stopping her grandmother.

"And don't you dare trying to talk me out of it, at least let me pay your rent until you find someone to share your apartment with."

Rory stopped, considering what her grandmother had just told her. She realized Emily was right. There was no way Rory would have payed for the apartment all by herself. She would need to find a roommate. She decided it was a good idea after all. "Ok Grandma, Thankyou, really."

"Of course, that's what Grandmothers are for!" She looked at Rory with a huge grin spread across her face.

Rory flashed her mom a smile and then turned back to her grandmother to answer her constant questions about NYU.