Hey guys! So this is the last chapter of this story which is very sad BUT I will be writing a new story which will be a sequel to this story. Same characters, same storyline, same everything. I'm torn about whether or not to start the sequel story in season 2, season 4, season 6/7 or the revival. Please leave a review or PM me letting me know which one you'd prefer to read and I will decide based on that. The first chapter of the new story will be posted a in two weeks. Thank you for your support for this story and hopefully the sequel story too!

"How's your lamb, Lorelai?" asks Emily.

"Oh, he's good. Kinda bummed about the fact that he's dead though."

"Lorelai, please don't do that." says Emily.

"Do what?"

"Try to be funny." says Emily, dryly.

"Emily, the lamb is lovely." says Richard. "Rory, how's school?" Rory doesn't respond. "Rory?" Richard repeats.

"Oh, I'm sorry! What did you ask?" says Rory.

"How's school?"

"Oh. It's fine. Just very...plaid-y."

"Where's you head at, Rory?" asks Mia.

"New Orleans." says Lorelai, laughing at her own joke.

"Lorelai, you're doing it again." says Emily.

"What? New Orleans is a funny place. Or should've I have gone for Philadelphia? Is Philadelphia funnier?"

"Mhmm, Philadelphia is funnier." says Richard, finishing a mouthful of food and gesturing with his fork.

"Cus of the cheese." adds Mia.

Richard nods. "Exactly."

"I don't understand you." Emily sighs.

"Ok, so if people arrive at 5 what time should we get Mia here?" asks Lorelai.

"Six? Or is that too late. Maybe 5.30?" suggests Rory.

"5.30 sounds good. And food..."

"Is sorted. I got Luke and Sookie to work together and I think it's going to be a beautiful partnership." says Rory.

"I've done the guest list and most people have sent me an RSVP, including my parents. Mia, inn owner Mia, is driving up and Max has said he'll bring balloons and lights."

"Oh, And Babette told me earlier that she and Morey can make it." says Rory.

"Great. This is so exciting! I've never thrown a surprise party before! Mia's gonna love it."

"Hey there, boss lady." says Max, standing at the counter.

"She is not in charge, I am." says Michel, not looking up from the booking list.

"Michel. Do you want me to repeat that to Mia?"

"What do I care what you tell your spawn?" says Michel.

"Not 'my spawn' I mean original Mia. Mia the boss. How would she feel if she heard that. Maybe she'd feel like having one less concierge..."

"I will be leaving now." says Michel, walking away.

"So hey, you."

"Hey you."

"Not that's a not a pleasure to see you, but what are you doing in the Hollow today?" asks Lorelai.

"I had some business to take of in 'The Hollow' as you call it so here I am." says Max.

"Here you most certainly are."

"So what? Is kissing on the job forbidden?" asks Max.

"Well it's frowned upon." says Lorelai, in mock seriousness.

"By who?"

"The manager."

"Isn't that you?" asks Max.

"Yes. And I say we get frowned upon." says Lorelai, leaning over the counter and kissing Max softly.

"You disgust me." says Michel, from the other side of the room.

"So, you excited about turning ten?" Harrison asks Mia on their way into town.

"I guess..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we aren't planning a big party and maybe, now I'm ten, I'm too old for parties. I just think that's sad." says Mia.

"Well yeah but... you're gonna be double digits! That's exciting right? And you still get presents. What did you ask for?"

"A new bike." says Mia. "I love my bike but it's really small and, unlike the other Gilmores, I kinda like riding my bike. Hey, we can cycle to school together!"

"Yeah, that would be cool. I'd totally beat you in races though."

"Oh, he talks the talk but can he walk the walk..." says Mia. "We'll have to wait and see."

"Ok, you get party poppers from the market and I'm gonna go check with Patty what time we can start setting up in the studio." says Lorelai, she starts to walk away but notices that Rory isn't moving. "Rory?"

"It's Saturday." says Rory.

"Oh... it's Saturday. Rory honey, this town is very small. You know you're going to have to see him at some point." Rory doesn't reply. "Do you wanna go see Patty instead? Or I could come with you?"

"No, I'll go in." says Rory.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep." says Rory, taking a deep breath and striding into the market. She ducks around one of the aisles, keeping her head low and looking out for Dean. She grabs the party poppers then weaves her way to the exit. She pays and she's nearly out the door when she spots Dean, building a window display. They make eye contact. Dean smiles slightly and Rory turns and runs out of the market and across to Miss Patty's studio.

"Ok, Ok. Everyone shut up! She's coming!" says Rory, pressing her back against the wall. There's a lot of whispering and shuffling as everyone tries to find a hiding place.

Mia slides open the door to Miss Patty's. "Mom? Where's the town meeting?" she asks.

"Surprise!" Everyone yells and Rory flips the light on.

"Happy Birthday, baby!" says Lorelai.

"Mom, What is this? I thought we weren't having a party."

"No party? For your tenth? How little you know me! Now come with me, you've got a lot of presents to open."

"Hey Rory, get up it's 11.59." says Lorelai, shaking Rory awake.

"Why did she have to be born in the middle of the night?" asks Rory, groggily.

"I don't know but come on, let's wake her." says Lorelai. "Hey Birthday girl!" she says, stroking Mia's hair.

"How does it feel to be old?" asks Rory.

"Tiring." says Mia, rolling onto her back.

"Yeah, well, get used to it." says Rory.

"I can't believe my little girl is ten years old! It's hard to believe that a whole decade ago I was lying in a bed, a guest bed, at the Independance inn, screaming my head off and keeping everyone awake. Oh, I was quite a screamer and the midwife kept telling me to calm down..."

"And you asked her to take over for a bit." says Mia.

"Right. And she said no. I kinda blocked out a lot of that night but I know that Mia gave at least three refunds for that night. Anyway, suddenly you were here. You were a screamer too, wailing your head off. Then Mia handed you to me and you stopped. You were so beautiful, in a pink, slimy kind of way."

"Thanks."

"Oh but I loved you. I've never known love like it." says Lorelai, wistfully.

Rory slips into the market quietly on Monday, determined to see Dean again and not run away. She spots him at the till but her nerves get the better of her and she tries to run away. Dean sees her and runs to block her exit.

"Rory, what is this? What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, I just... I wanted to see you."

"Rory, why? You broke up with me remember? It hurts when I see you and I don't think you feel great about seeing me so why do you coming back here? Why?"

Rory doesn't answer so Dean sighs and turns back to go inside.

"Because I love you, you idiot!" she says suddenly. Dean stops turns around and kisses Rory. They break for a minute.

"I love you too." He whispers.

"Lorelai there is a delivery for you." says Michel.

"Michel can't you sign for it?"

"They said that you personally must accept it. May I make the point that this is a personal delivery and personal deliveries should not be made to the inn."

"Michel, I didn't order anything."

"Well someone did." says Michel, opening Lorelai's study door. Lorelai gasps and her eyes fill with tears. A thousand yellow daisies are sitting in the lobby of the Independance inn, swaying slightly in the breeze. Michel hands her the phone.

"What do you think?" says Max, from the end of the phone.

"Max..." says Lorelai, lost for words.

"I hope no one there has hay fever."

"Max, What is this?"

"Lorelai Gilmore, I love you. In Shakespeare's words 'I love thee with a love that shall not die, till the sun grows old and the stars grow cold.' In the words of Jane Austen 'My heart is, and always will be, yours.' 'Where there is love, there is life.' That's Gandhi. 'You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought' Arthur Conan Doyle. Do I need to go on?"

"Max..."

"My point is, all these people have said it so it must be true. I love you. And I intend to love you for the rest of my life. Lorelai Victoria Gilmore, will you marry me?"

Thanks for reading the final chapter! Please let me know what you think about when the sequel storyline should begin and leave reviews for this chapter. Thanks again and I hope you'll read the sequel.