The weeks passed and the "family secret" was kept quiet around Chilton. Soon school let out for the summer and the pressure to keep quiet was gone. Dean ended up spending the night on the Gilmore couch on more than one occasion a week. Lorly and Dean were soon so close it was as if they'd known each other their whole life. When summer came, Dean and Rory started discussing buying the house next door and starting a life together with Lorly. When it was put to a family vote it was unanimous and they started moving in by the middle of June. Lorly and Dawn became best friends and Rory and Paris ever started patching up their differences once they both agreed that Tristan DuGray was no reason to stop a perfectly good friendship.
On the night before they finished moving Lorly went to spend the night with Dawn so Dean decided to plan a special evening for Rory.
"Will you tell me where we're going yet?" Rory pleaded. The suspense had been killing her all day and Dean knew it so he made it worse by saying nothing.
"You'll see, we're almost there." He said pulling her into a remote area of the park. "Close your eyes" He said finally stopping. She closed her eyes and he led her around a group of trees and bushes into a clearing. "We're here." He said stopping again.
"Where's here?" she said as she opened her eyes and saw a candle lit picnic spread out on the grass. "Wow! You did this for me!" she said in awe of everything he set up.
"So do you like it?" he asked as they sat down
"Like it? I love it. And I love you!" she exclaimed as she kissed him. The two sat and ate dinner and talked then they lay down and looked at the stars.
"So are you ready for the next part?" Dean asked after a while.
"There's more?" Rory said as she sat up. Her mind was reeling as what more there could possibly be.
"Let's go." Dean said as he packed up everything and led her out of the park. When they got to the street he put the picnic stuff in his truck and put a blind fold over Rory's eyes. "It's a surprise." He explained as they left for part two after driving for a while they arrived at the surprise. Dean helped the still blind folded Rory out of the truck and led her to the sidewalk. When he removed the blind fold she was blown away at what in front of her.
"You… you kept it? You finished it?" Rory asked utterly surprised at the completely rebuilt car in front of her. "It was so long ago and you kept it? Why did you wait till now?" she asked as she walked around the car that he had first shown her years ago on their three-month anniversary.
"I just couldn't let it go. I didn't give it to you sooner because when I left it wasn't ready and when it was I hadn't found you yet. And I wanted to save it for a special moment. Do you like it?"
"I love it. I can't believe you built me a car!" she cried as she grabbed him and kissed him.
"Well get in!" he said after a minute. It was then that she realized they were standing in front of the house they would be moved into the next day. Their house. She into the driver's side of the car and Dean got into the passenger side.
"Boy this feels familiar!" Rory said with a laugh.
"But hopefully it will end better." Dean said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black box. "Rory I love you. I've loved you since the day I met you. I've spent the last 17 years in hell because you weren't in my life, and now that I have you back I never want to leave again. I know this might be a little rushed and if it is say so but in my heart of hearts I know you feel the same and I do. So Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, will you marry me?" he took Rory's hand and praying she would say yes.
"Yes! A thousand times yes! I love you and I never what to be away from you again." She exclaimed as a tear slid down her cheek. Dean slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her then got out and went around to her side of the car. He opened the door and lifted her into his arms and carried her into the house and up their barely unpacked bedroom.
As Dean set her down on the bed he kneeled before her and said, "I've waited to find you for so long. I never thought I'd get a second chance at happiness. I thought it was too late."
Rory took his face in her hand and whispered gently "it's never too late for second chances." and pulled him up onto the bed with her. The two had been tested, and love prevailed, now nothing would keep them apart.