Flying Away

This is my first attempt at a fiction. It takes place after Bon Voyage. I don't know how long it will be. I have several ideas. I will do Luke and Lorelai and Rory on the campaign trail. I was excited that Rory was going to Iowa for her reporting job since I'm from there. We're not all corn and cows. Read and Review.

Rory and Lorelai arrive at the airport in Hartford after their last breakfast together at Luke's. Lorelai could not believe she would say good-bye to her best friend and daughter who she had not been separated for a long period of time. Sure, she was while going to Yale, but this was different. Yale was only a few minutes drive but where she was going now was states away in Iowa.

"Well, mom, I guess this is it." Rory said trying to hold back tears at the thought of leaving her mom.

"I know. I can't believe it. You're doing this. I will miss you kid. Remember what I told you about the zip lock bags and the shorts. I wish there was more time. Paul Anka and I will have a very long conversation." Lorelai said with a smile trying to hold back the tears as well

"I remember about the zip lock bags on the shorts." Rory responded and then laughed at her mom's comment about Paul Anka. "Sure, mom. Sure you will. I will miss you, Mom." Rory hugs Lorelai "I will miss you too much."

"You will have no idea, kid." Lorelai said trying to keep tears back. They release from hugging.

"Well, it sounds like my airplane is arriving." Rory noticed the sound of the announcement of her flight.

"I need more time." Lorelai responds. They hug again. Lorelai watches as Rory gets on the terminal to her gate and up the escalator and they wave.

After arriving back to Stars Hollow in her Jeep, she parks in front of Luke's Diner. She gets out and opens the door and sits at the counter. Luke comes behind the counter with a coffee pot and mug after seeing Lorelai at the counter. He pours the coffee in the mug and puts in front of Lorelai.

"Coffee?" Luke asked.

"Do you have to ask?" Lorelai answers. She takes the cup and sip it and then puts it down. "Well, my little bird flew away. Now my nest is empty." Lorelai says a little sadly.

"So, how was it?" Luke answers.

"I loved it and hated it." Lorelai smiles slightly, but she is still recovering from the good-bye.

"I figured as much." Luke answers calmly.

"I was so proud seeing her on her way to doing what she dreamed of doing all her life. I hated it because I will miss her so much. I know she will call but it won't be the same." Lorelai said still a little sad.

"I'm sure that was hard saying good-bye to her." Luke answered knowing this was a difficult situation having her daughter leave. He had always known how close Lorelai and Rory were. He was had seen Rory grow up and seen the many changes in her life.

"You have no idea. It was so hard. It seemed like yesterday Rory and I went on that road trip and toured Harvard. I guess a little déjà vu." Lorelai admitted remembering when she and Rory drove off after she decided she was not marrying Max.

"The one where you broke your engagement with Max." Luke admitted remembering that as well.

"Don't remind me." Lorelai said quickly. She knew that it was the right thing to do at that time. She did not love Max no matter how much she wanted to, it just was not right. In a way she liked the idea of getting married but it did not feel right. She knew this after her mother told the story of trying on her wedding dress every night and the talk between her and Luke about marriage after he gave her the chuppah, which was the one thing she still kept after she got rid of most everything that was Luke's or reminded her of him. But she still remembered the conversation.

Luke: Yeah, they were lucky. I guess if you can find that one person, you know, who's willing to put up with all your crap, and doesn't want to change you or dress you or you know, make you eat French food, then marriage can be all right. But that's only if you find that person.

Lorelai: Yeah, if you find that person.

"I have no intention of that." Soon the phone rang, and rang. "Sorry," He went to answer. "Luke's" "Oh, hi, Liz." Lorelai heard Luke say his sister's name.

Lorelai thought about Rory and seeing the new adventures and new people she would meet. It was one wonderful dream-that her daughter, Rory had experienced everything that she herself did not get to experience and would gain much knowledge in the process. She was excited at the idea but also saddened because she would lose a best friend and not just a daughter. She knew she had the townspeople of Stars Hollow, Sookie, of course Luke now that they were getting closer after their apologies in the hay bale maze and after she had divorced Christopher, and of course especially after the surprise party he planned for Rory and her along with the help of the all the townspeople. She could not believe that the day before she had even considered thinking she was over Luke and that he did not do anything and to respond after her "I Will Always Love You" song at the karaoke night. Now that she thought about it more, he had always shown he cared. He was with her at the hospital when her dad had problems seven years ago, he supported her in her goals for the inn, he gave her the chuppah when he thought she was going to marry Max, he fixed things around the house, he was there for her when she thought she was failing with the inn, and he had invested much needed money in the inn to make the dream a reality and so much more. At the moment that Sookie confessed that Luke was the one that pulled the going away party off she thought of every time he was there for her and Rory throughout the years. She forgot all about the last year with what happened with April and the whole Chris situation. She knew she had to show her gratitude. She had walked away and headed down to the diner and there he was, the man that had shown his love in so many ways. She knew she had to thank him some way. They stopped and stood in front of his diner.

"Hey" Lorelai responded.

"Hey" Luke answered back.

"Thank you" Lorelai answered in a very grateful voice.

"Ah, it was no big deal." Luke answered in his usual humble way not making it a big deal. Lorelai knew what a big deal it was to have him plan the party and work all that time for her and Rory. She knew it was not just for Rory. It was one of the best gestures he could have done to prove that he cared and that he would always care. As soon as she heard him say that, she just said his name.

"Luke" Lorelai shaking her head informing him it was a big deal.

"I just like to see you happy." He answered honestly and she knew at that moment that this man had truly loved her no matter what and that she would always love him as well. She went forward and signaled and he followed and they started kissing the first time since their breakup and soon she felt his arm around her and knew she felt right at that moment.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Luke say "good-bye" to Liz. She had not really heard what was the conversation was about, since she was occupied with her own thoughts.

"So, that was Liz." Lorelai asked inquiring about Luke's sister.

"Yes. She and TJ are getting ready to go out on the Renaissance fair circuit and she wondered if I could check on their house. She listed off everything in the world to do, so that's why the call was so long." Luke admitted.

"Oh, yeah. So are they bringing Doula?" Lorelai asked.

"Yes, they are. I don't think they could go without her for three months. Oh, she asked how you liked the necklace." Luke grinned.

"I love it. I love Liz's jewelry." Lorelai smiled back. "Well, wish her a good time. I have to go to the inn."

"See you later." Luke smiled.

Lorelai left smiling now. She knew she would get through this time without Rory.

Des Moines International Airport-arrivals

Rory thought about her life recently and all the changes she had gone through her life in Stars Hollow. She remembered the first day at Chilton where she did not know anyone and the bad experience with meeting Paris Gellar who she would be in school with all seven years and she even had to live with her. She and Paris eventually became friends slowly. She had to admit she would miss Paris. She would of course miss Lane and Zach and their twins. She was so grateful to have such a great friend in Lane for such a long time. She knew she would miss all the townspeople that had just the day before had said "Bon Voyage" in a party that they all planned at the last minute. She was so happy that they had cared for her so much and wanted to wish her good luck in her future. She would miss her grandparents even though there had been some rough spots but she owed them a huge thanks for paying for Chilton and Yale. She would miss her dad even though he was not around that much when she grew up. She knew he did his best to be around now. The person she would miss the most would be her mom. Her mom had given her everything and loved her unconditionally. She was still a little sad after her break-up with Logan but she knew after he proposed she was not ready to be married. She wanted to experience her life and job before making such a big decision. She was still young and she would have plenty of time to live her life before being ready for marriage.

When she stepped into the airport in Des Moines, she knew she was going to be met by the editor of the magazine to drive her to the location and in a couple of days she would meet the Barack Obama campaign trail. She was really excited that she would be following the presidential candidate and write about all the experiences all over the US. She was supposed to find a woman with a Barack Obama sticker and red hair.
"Rory Gilmore, is that you?" Rory heard a yell. Then she saw a red haired middle aged woman come up to her.

"Yes, I'm Rory Gilmore. Are you Sandra Johnson?"

"Yes,.it is great to have you come so soon. I'm sure it was rather unexpected, but we were leaving right away."

"That's fine. It was surprising. I'll have to get my luggage now."

"Oh, yes. So, how was your flight from Hartford?"

"It was fine. I just miss my mom a little. That's all."

"Well, I'm sure she misses you. Okay, well let's get your luggage and I'll take you to my van."

After 20 minutes, Rory and Sandra were on the road. "We're staying tonight at a hotel room for the night and the buss picks us up at 8:30. I hope you're ready." Sandra admitted.

"Yes, I am." Rory confessed excitedly.

"So, you're from Connecticut, right?" Sandra asked.

"Yes, I'm from a small town of Stars Hollow, it's about thirty minutes from Hartford. I grew up there with my mom but my grandparents live in Hartford." Rory said, trying to be polite.

"Well, Eldridge is a small town too, but it will suit you. Okay, we are here." Sandra said as she pulled into Heartland Inn. Rory followed this woman and took her bags in.

Stars Hollow- The Dragonfly Inn.

Lorelai entered the Dragonfly and went to the front desk where Michel was yelling on the phone in French. Soon he hung up and gruffly put his sneer towards Lorelai.

"Bad day, Michel." Lorelai smiled.

"People are being particularly stupid today and you are late. Is your offspring gone?" Michel asked in an annoyed voice.

"Oh, the love is back. She's on her way to Iowa. Actually I think she should be there now." Lorelai smiled mischievously.

"Oh, where the filthy cows roam and the state is full of corn. That's outrageous." Michel said in a loud voice.

"Is Sookie here?" Lorelai asked.

"In the kitchen." Michel answered coldly.

Lorelai walked into the kitchen and saw Sookie busy cooking. "Hey, Lorelai! How was the sendoff to the most brilliant kid."

"Oh, Sookie, it was great and sad at the same time. I seriously don't know what I'll do. I miss her so much already." Lorelai admitted.

"Oh, she will be fine. I know everyone will miss her. So, have you stopped into Luke's today? I heard all about it-the kiss at the party." Sookie grinned.

"Rory and I went to Luke's for early morning breakfast today. Then we drove to Hartford and she's now on her way. I stopped at Luke's after I came back. I'm not sure where we stand yet. You know about it?" Lorelai questioned. Somebody must have seen it.

"Yes, I know about it. After you left me I assumed you wanted to find Luke Just give it some time. Has Rory called yet?" Sookie asked.

"No, she's probably too busy to call her mommy now. Somebody probably already has her working on some fantastic article." Lorelai admitted sadly.

"I'm sure she will call her mom, Lorelai. Are you ready for the wedding for tomorrow? Sookie asked. That weekend there was a wedding party.

Crapshack

After arriving back home for the night, Lorelai realized the empty house without her daughter. It was not the same. She knew Rory would call but it seemed like a lifetime of waiting for her. She went inside her room and laid down on the bed her daughter once slept in. After a little while she could feel tears running down.

The Inn

"Michel! Michel! Where are you?" Sookie yelled trying to find the unpleasant French desk clerk. She had been frantically trying to find Lorelai. She was supposed to be in by now.

"What is it, Sookie? I have no time to hear your complaints." Michel said in an unpleasant.

"Where is Lorelai? She was supposed to be here. The guests are here and she had activities planned and everything.

Sookie went to Lorelai's house and heard crying coming from Rory's room. Lorelai had said she was fine after Rory left. Lorelai was a mess now.

"Are you okay?"

"She hasn't called. She hates me now. I don't know where she is and I don't know where to call. Oh, Sookie. The guests! Are they there? I need to get there?"

"Lorelai, it will be fine. We're taking care of them. I will be right back and call Michel to have him take over now." Sookie came out of Rory's room and went on the porch. She called Michel and then realized the person that would help the most. "Hey, Lorelai is going to need you. She's not doing well."