Hello all! Excited to share this story with you, below I have written things that have changed since this is an AU story and yeah:) I created a website with pictures and characters on it and I'm posting the link to that in my bio, please check that out! Hope you enjoy, read, review, and follow!

~cullenscoffee

1) Rory is 17 in the beginning and graduating from Chilton

2) I have made up some of my own characters that you will (hopefully) love. There are some you will just have to be introduced to later, but importantly, I put Lorelai with another man-his name is Michael and he's pretty awesome. More information will be revealed about everyone's different lives later!

3) This is a Rogan/Sophie! But they have not yet met yet!

4) There is some language so this is the reason for it being rated T

5) Colin (Logan's friend in the show) is Rory's brother:)

The rest you will have to find out about by reading on! Also, credit to scenes and dialogue that I've taken and mixed up a little bit from season 5 and up!

Disclaimer: This is my only one for the whole story, I don't own Gilmore Girls or any of its content, as wonderful as it is

RORY'S POV

"Rory, get up!" Colin shouted in my ear as I groaned at the loud pitch of his voice.

"Shut the fuck up Colin!" I screeched and then proceeded to hit him multiple times with my pillow until he backed away into the hallway and I slammed the door in his face.

"Ughh, brothers..." I thought as I looked at my alarm clock to find it was 5:30! "Why'd he wake me up this early?" I thought, until it dawned on me...my last day at Chilton! School, my graduation, and then, finally, summer.

This summer was going to be the best one yet. I was going to Martha's Vineyard with my family, plus Finn and Stephanie. Every summer we might go for a week as family, but life had always gotten in the way. This summer, I had nothing to worry about, I was already accepted into Yale where I would be attending in the fall, and I knew that nothing would stop me from having the best summer ever.

"Rory! We're leaving in 5 minutes!" Colin shouted through my closed door, interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh, shit" I muttered and quickly threw on my Chilton uniform for the last time. I bounded quickly down the large staircase that led into the grand foyer and then turned right, left, and finally another right into our large kitchen. The long marble counters and the chestnut colored cabinets brought comfort to me, showing me I was home.

"Colin!" I exclaimed, running and jumping into his arms as if what happened this morning never did, I missed him so much in the week I didn't see him-compared to seeing him every day. We're best friends first, brother and sister second-and always have been, even through everything.

"Ready to leave that torturous bane of my existence?"

I rolled my eyes, Colin was never one for school-at least not like I was.

"It's not my fault you and Finn almost got expelled!" I defended as I sipped the cup of coffee he placed in my hands and he did the same.

"What do you mean? That was my favorite part of my Chilton experience! My least favorite being Mom trying to persuade them to not expel me!" He replied with his signature goofy grin as Mom walked in with our dad, Michael, and slapped Colin on the arm.

"Hey!" he joked as he gave Mom a hug as well as Dad too.

"Oh, my baby's growing up too fast." Mom sighed on the verge of tears as she enveloped me in a big hug.

"Save it for later, Lor. Ror won't be graduating if we don't get her to her last day of school." Michael warned dangling his keys with a sly grin.

"Okay, okay, let's go!" Mom announced and linked arms with dad as they walked out the door and off to the car leaving me and Col to follow.

"Excited for summer?" he asked with a smirk as I nodded and laughed.

"Let's go stupid." I said with a grin and pulled him along as I heard Lorelai yell "Shotgun!" in the distance.

….

I could barely pay attention to my last classes as teachers handed out old work and signed yearbooks. This year had been harder for me, more pressure, and my best friends, Colin, Finn, and Steph had been in their freshman year of Yale this year. I kept busy with college prep, Paris, and even some guys too. I still counted down to Saturday nights though, every Saturday night our gang still went out for dinner, no matter what, they were always there. Though we saw each other at many society events, Saturdays were only ours.

When my class was over I gathered my books and started to walk down the hall. When I saw her standing there with a smirk on her face, mine broke into an even larger grin. I dropped my books in the hallway and ran towards her like we were starring in a romantic comedy until Steph and I hugged. We jumped up and down, turned, squealed, and giggled giddily in the hallway. I was so glad to be together with Steph, yet again. We had always been inseparable and being away from each other for the past year at different schools had been hard-but nothing would ever strain our friendship.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, you're here!" I exclaimed.

"Of course I am Rory!"

"Oh, S, I missed you so much."

"Missed you more...and it's only been like a week." Steph giggled and then turned to look at the people in the hallway staring at our encounter, "What do you think you're looking at? Geez, get a life" she said with a roll of her eyes as I laughed at her actions-that was Steph alright.

"Okay, we've only got an hour to make you look all pretty." she stated as we linked arms and walked towards the boys.

"Geez, you'd think they hadn't seen each other in a year." Finn scoffed looking at Colin until I ran towards him giddily.

"Finny!" I screeched with a laugh as he picked me up, and then giggled and squealed just as me and Steph did.

The four of us put our arms around each other and walked out of Chilton for the last time, imitating just as we had always done many times before.

"So, Finn, glad to be one of the girls?" Colin taunted.

"Asshole"

"Hypocrite"

Steph and I just laughed at the boys fighting like children-as they always had."It was going to be a great summer..." I thought to myself and didn't notice the grin forming on my face.

"What are you smiling about?" Steph asked curiously

"Summer..." I reminisced and stared off into the distance as we walked towards Colin's car.

….

I laughed as Steph twirled me around in my blue and white Dolce & Gabbana dress I bought especially for my graduation. Though we weren't together that year at Chilton, she had always made sure I was alright. We'd been best friends since preschool and I couldn't imagine my life without her. She'd made such an impact on my life and no good memory I had was without Steph's face.

"Excited for the vineyard?"

"Totally, it's going to be a summer of relaxation, books, friends-"

"Guys, parties, bikinis..." she said with a sly smile, cutting me off as I rolled my eyes at the blonde.

"Typical Steph..." I thought to myself as she changed into a floral skirt and cropped white halter top to go with. I then put on my cap, gown and yellow tie around my shoulders to indicate I was valedictorian.

I was modest, unlike Steph, I never bragged, gloated, or showed off about my achievements. But I had to admit, I had done really well in my four years at Chilton. I dealt with crap from friends, guys, and family while at the same time, ending the year on the honor roll and as valedictorian. I was accelerating through and I was even more excited to broaden my horizons at Yale and hold up even higher expectations, I believed in myself, just like everyone else had been telling me and seeming to think.

"Girls, we need to get moving! Oh Steph, it's so good to see you honey. All you kids away at college is killing me." Lorelai said and walked over to give Steph a big hug. Steph grew up in a cold home environment like most kids in society, but she had always found comfort at our household. My parents were like parents to her and though our house was just as big as hers-maybe bigger, something about the feel and decor of it was home to her and Finn. And Lorelai and Michael knew that they needed that in their lives. All people in society had troubles, but their biggest trouble was pretending like they didn't have any.

"Oh Lorelai, I promise to come back more next year-and I'll bring Rory too!"

"I'm going to hold you to that!"

"Okay, Ror and I will be down in a minute!"

"And before Colin comes and drags you two down, you know him." she said with a roll of her eyes and walked out of the room.

"Ready to be a graduate girl?"

"I think so" I said with a smile and gave Steph a hug as she saw she was tearing up already.

"Save it for the actual graduation!"

"Okay," she sighed with a sniffle and wiped here eyes, "my baby's all grown up."

"Let's go, S" I said and then linked arms with her as we descended the grand steps.

...

I laughed nervously at the sight of all six of us piling out of the car once we were at Chilton. I was surrounded by all the people who meant so much to me and that felt like home too.

"Lila Garner" announced the principal as they went alphabetically and by last name down the long row of girls and boys fidgeting nervously and yet excited to be done with high school. Paris and I were always together because of the alphabetical order of our last names, so it was a little comforting to have someone I knew standing next to me-but hey, it was still Paris.

"Michael Gunn"

"Paris Gellar" he announced as Paris strode confidently to the podium while looking proudly at the crowd as pictures were taken.

"Lorelai Gilmore" and with that I walked up to the principal and then looked out the crowd and saw my mom, dad, Colin, Steph, and Finn standing up, cheering, and crying. It brought tears to my eyes as they all took out their cameras (including my grandparents) and snapped many pictures of me with my diploma. I turned to my mom and stuck out my tongue like we had planned and then turned to Steph and winked, and then turned to take my seat in the crowd next to Paris and my other classmates, listening to the long string of names Headmaster Charleston called.

As the long row of students became shorter and shorter, I took a deep breath and counted to 10, I had to get ready for my speech as valedictorian.

"And now for our valedictorian, Lorelai Gilmore."

I nervously stood up and walked to the podium where I shook hands with my teachers and Headmaster Charleston before taking my stance. Hundreds of expectant eyes stared back at me, but when I looked towards my friends and family, I felt relaxed and ready.

"Headmaster Charleston, faculty members, fellow students, family and friends, welcome. We never thought this day would come. We prayed for its quick delivery, crossed days off our calendars, counted hours, minutes, and seconds, and now that it's here, I'm sorry it is because it means leaving friends who inspire me and teachers who have been my mentors - so many people who have shaped my life and my fellow students' lives impermeably and forever. I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I've been a resident of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann's Way. It's a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything. My best friends Stephanie and Finn who teach me something new every day, yet they always make me laugh. To my dad, Michael, who is more of a father to me than my biological father ever was and for that I am eternally grateful. Richard and Emily Gilmore are kind, decent, unfailingly generous people. They are my twin pillars without whom I could not stand. I am proud to be their grandchild. And to my brother Colin, my lifelong friend and worst enemy. But my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life's blood, Lorelai Gilmore. My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. She filled our house with love and fun and books and music, unflagging in her efforts to give me role models from Jane Austen to Eudora Welty to Patti Smith. As she guided me through these incredible eighteen years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her. Thank you, Mom. You are my guidepost for everything.

As we prepare ourselves today to leave, many goodbye's will be said and many tears will be shed, but we should not look back or dwell on the past, though memorable, isn't important now. Focus on your future, with the people here with you today, and many more to come. As Mary Ellen R. said in A Tale of Two Cities, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.'"

And with that, I ended my meaningful speech with a smile, but what set me really happy was looking out into the crows to find all my family and friends sobbing, including Colin. I laughed as I felt tears starting to form in my own eyes and I sat back down in my chair as people were still cheering and whistling.

There were more speeches from Headmaster Charleston, teachers, and guests, but all I could think about was summer-I was finally a graduate, last, but not least!

As I walked away towards my friends and family shyly with my cap in hand, I was stuck in a giant group hug. Laughs, cries, and smiles went around the circle until we all broke away reluctantly.

"Alright, let's go back to home base"Mom yelled

"No, pictures!" Steph called as they all groaned jokingly but let her pair them into groups and poses. After 20 minutes of this, I spoke up and motioned to Steph that we should probably go soon, and I got many silent "thank you's" from everybody who's jaws hurt from smiling too much.

"Shut up, Rory" she replied and then walked over to Colin reluctantly, handed him her camera and ordered him to take pictures of us.

"Geez, woman.."

"I heard that!" Steph called back in a singsong voice as we posed in many positions and with many faces and expressions.

"Just one more, please Col!"

"Fine, but we're already running behind schedule, so-"

"Stop being a tight ass, Colin." I called interrupting their rattling banter.

Once the last pictures were taken, the groups piled back into their cars, and Mom drove back to our house-rather slowly...

Steph linked arms with me and we started talking about superficial topics until we stepped into the house.

"Surprise!" yelled hundreds of my family and friends to celebrate me, the graduate! I knew Finn, Colin, and Steph had had parties like these, but I never knew mine would happen and be so huge! And now, surrounded by all the people I loved and held very dear to my heart, I felt so beloved, more than ever before.

"Excuse me, everybody, I would like to make a toast to the graduate, my daughter-Rory Gilmore. All I can say is that Rory is an amazing girl who amazes me and all of you every day. We are all entirely blessed to be in her company, to Rory!" Mom said with a smile and raised her glass to all the guests in the room. They followed in suit, and I was surrounded by a chorus of "to Rory's" and the clinking noises of shining champagne glasses. I mouthed the words "thank you" to mom as she mouthed "I love you" back.

I made the rounds at the party, saying my hellos, goodbyes, and good to see you's to everyone that came. I still couldn't believe all these people had come for just me.

"Rory, I am so proud of you!" I heard a voice say from behind her and was relieved to find my Uncle Luke standing there.

"Luke!"

"You're looking so much like your mom, and even more like Cassie-in more ways than looks." Luke said with a sad smile. I turned to look at him while mirroring his sad yet hopeful expression.

"Thank you Luke, that means a lot to me." I replied and then turned to see Mom motioning me towards her.

"Alright, Luke, the mother calls for me."

"Bye Rory, I'll come say goodbye later."

"Okay, please do that! It was so good to talk to you." and I walked away towards my mother.

"What's up Doc?"

"Okay, I have some good news, bad news, and some news you could interpret either way."

"Okay, umm...bad news."

"Oh actually two bad news', do you want them both at once, or I could spread them out around some good-"

"Mom, tell it to me straight!"

"Okay, worst news is we can't leave tomorrow for the vineyard, we have to leave in two days."

"What? Why? Mom!" I asked impatiently.

"Okay, that leads me to my other bad piece of bad news. So I sort of lost our invitation to this bag gala that's tomorrow-"

"Again!? Seriously? I don't think our mailman hates us that much Mom..."

"Okay, okay, let me talk missy. This thing is going to be HUGE apparently, people from all around the world and all that nice stuff. Emily Gilmore said no obligations," she said sarcastically, "I'm really sorry kid."

"Ughh. Okay, I need some good news please."

"I thought you would say that. And that my daughter is why I have created a brighter side to the situation."

"And..."

"Yeah, yeah. You have my permission to drag Colin and Finn shopping with you and Steph tomorrow for the gala! Oh and please keep her from breaking her ankle this time, you know how she gets. Oh, they'll be here tomorrow at 8!"

"Thanks so much! I feel better, really."

"Ah yes, the reaction I hoped to get from this good news I created. I mean who doesn't enjoy dragging Colin and Finn places?"

"Wait, you forgot the 'interpret it good or bad news'"

"Oh yeah, okay, instead of going to the vineyard this summer, your dad and I are going to Europe! I trust that you guys will be safe and responsible, or the maids will tell me what's up."

"Seriously?!" I asked excited, almost bouncing up and down.

"Wow, don't be so depressed or anything...it's only three months without me..."

"Oh, don't worry-I'll miss you so, mother."

"And you too daughter, farewell, for I may not see you for too long, child. Okay hun, I have to go say hi to Luke. Haven't talked to him yet, see you round!" and she turned around only to look back at me apologetically and say, "Oh, and you're having lunch with Colin and Grandma at the club tomorrow."

"But-" I yelped, but stopped when she noticed she was already talking to Luke happily.

The party went on for many more hours until everyone had left besides Steph and Finn.

"Rory, you're being kidnapped!" Finn said as he picked me up and laughed as he plopped me down easily onto the backseat next to Steph, while Colin was in the drivers' seat.

"To Luke's!" Colin shouted and he revved the engine, speeding off towards Stars Hollow. I knew that we would talk for hours over pie, milkshakes, and flasks of liquor as always.

Home was with each other.