Chapter 10: The Baby Birds Leave the Nest
One month later.........
[Ross]
Ross woke up at seven on Monday morning. Today was Lora's first day at Yale and he was really excited that his sister was going to be on campus with him. Sure, he was graduating this year, but it was still going to be nice to have her there. He had stayed home to help with the move.
He suddenly felt mischievous and he went quietly tiptoed down the hall way and into Lora's room. She was sleeping so peacefully. Ross leaned over her and made a loud fart noise causing Lora wake up and sit up in her bed as quick as lightening. Ross laughed so hard he had to sit at the edge of her bed.
"Hell is filled with people liked you," Lora said, flopping back on to her bed.
"Well, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Ross said, flopping next to her. "Because from what I hear, hell is a party."
"You must've regressed a few years back to age twelve," Lora replied, closing her eyes.
Ross pulled the pillow out from underneath her.
"Stop!" Lora said. "I'm a normal person! A normal person sleeps around here! Maybe you should look into it."
Lora grabbed the pillow from Ross and turned away from him.
"Look, we have to get up this early," Ross said. "You remember what today is, right?"
"The day I get arrested for killing my brother?" Lora asked.
"No," Ross said, chuckling. "It's THE day!"
Lora suddenly sat up wide-eyed.
"Oh, my god!" Lora said. "It's THE day! I'M GOING TO YALE, BABY! Was I supposed to wake up now?"
"No, you have five more minutes," Ross said.
"Damn, I could've used those five minutes. Now, I can't go back to sleep. Why the hell did you wake me up this early anyway?"
"Remember how we woke mom and dad up the day I went to Yale?"
A smile spread across Lora's face. "I hear ya," she said.
Lora threw the covers off and she and Ross quietly tiptoed down the hall to their parent's room. When they reached the door they ran in and started jumping on the bed. Ross came up with it because they used to do it when they were kids and although Rory and Dean hated to admit it, it really annoyed them. So, this was just a reminder of what they wouldn't miss when both kids were at college.
Lora and Ross kept jumping and making sure they weren't jumping on their parents until finally, Rory and Dean pulled the covers over their heads.
"Go away!" Rory said. "I thought Lora is eighteen and Ross is twenty- one."
"We are," Lora said, still jumping. "But, we have the spirits of five-year-olds."
"You are five-year-olds," Dean said, his voice muffled.
"Should we stop?" Lora asked Ross.
"Ten more seconds," Ross answered.
Finally, they stopped jumping and sat down in between their parents (or more like on top of them because they took up so much room being that they weren't five anymore).
"I'm going to Yale today," Lora said. "I'm so excited."
"I'll be you are," Rory said, groggily. "I was and so was Ross."
"Damn," Dean said, sitting up.
"What's with you?" Rory asked.
"I didn't have that experience," Dean said.
"Because," Ross said, encouraging Dean to finish.
"The first time I went to college I wasn't really that excited because I was also getting married," Dean said.
"Lindsay?" Ross asked.
"Yeah," Dean said.
Dean never really talked about his first wife before, but he'd told Ross and Lora about her a few times and what happened to him after they got divorced.
"It was like getting an apartment instead of going to college," Dean continued.
"Then, when you gave Lindsay the divorce papers your college experience sucked," Lora finished for him. "Everyone hated you and beat you up and Mom was the only person who cared about you, and blah blah blah blah blah."
"You should've transferred to Yale," Rory said.
Dean suddenly burst out laughing.
"Good one," he said, after a while.
"No, you should've," Rory said.
"I didn't have the grades," Dean said.
"Okay," Lora said. "Can you guys debate this tonight? Because I have to go to a little place called Yale."
"Yale's not little," Ross said.
"Who cares? I'M GOING TO YALE!"
Lora got up and ran into her room. Ross got up and walked out the door. When he was only a few steps away from the door he heard Rory and Dean say in unison, "she got that from you."
Once everyone was dressed they all went to Luke's. His truck was outside all piled with Lora's boxes piled on it. He had offered to drive her stuff down to Yale and he also did it for Ross the year he left. The diner was closed because Luke was going to be gone all day and it was Caesar's day off.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Lora called as they walked through the door. "Coffee, please!"
"No!" Lorelai said, jokingly hugging the coffee pot to her chest. "Mine!"
Luke rolled his eyes and took the pot away from her.
"Look at me," Luke said, slowly as if he was talking to someone who was stupid. "You have had enough coffee."
Luke took the coffee pot and made Lora a coffee to go. Lorelai's eyes darted back and forth from Rory to Lora.
"What?" Rory asked.
"It's amazing how she inherited our love for coffee," Lorelai said.
"And our eyes," Rory added. "What amazes me is how much Ross looks like Dean."
"Yeah, except the hair is different. Thank god Ross decided to cut it short and not make it a floppy hair style."
Dean nodded and smirked. Ross knew it was just a joke and he knew his father could take them.
"Again, with the hairstyle joke," Dean said. "You guys haven't came up with anything new."
"Consider yourself lucky," Luke said, handing Ross and Dean coffee.
"I can't believe you're going to college, Lora," Lorelai said. "Hell, I can't believe both of you are going to be at Yale. It seems like just yesterday when Ross discovered Colonel Clucker."
Ross blushed. That was actually his earliest memory.
"I know," Rory said. "And when Dean dressed up-"
"Here we go again with the Prince Charming thing," Ross said. "I've heard about it one too many times. And I've had to watch it."
"Were you jealous because I didn't dance with you?" Dean asked.
"No," Ross said. "You can't dance anyway."
"Really?"
"Really."
Dean stood up and held his arm out. Ross at first didn't know what he was doing, but then he finally understood.
"No way," Ross said.
"Are you chicken?" Lora taunted.
"No," Ross said.
He pushed his stool up and grabbed Dean's hand. Soon, Dean started waltzing very gracefully and Ross fell into step with him.
"You're pretty good at this," Ross said.
"You, too," Dean said. "That's one thing you got from me."
"That's why he was my date for the debutante ball," Rory said.
"Oh, god," Lorelai shuddered. "Don't bring that up again."
"You know this is perfect," Lora said. "We have our very own pair of twinkle toes."
"Twinkle toes," Lorelai said. "I like it. I have to use that in the future."
"I hate to be a party pooper," Luke said. "But, since I already am, it's eight o'clock. Shouldn't we be going?"
"Oh, my god!" Lora said, running out the door.
"We'll meet you guys down there," Dean said.
[Lora]
Lora tried so hard not to bounce on the seat of the car. She was really excited. Sure, she'd seen the university before, but this time she was actually going to live there. The drive seemed like it was taking them a week, even though it was only a twenty-minute drive. The minutes seemed to pass slowly. Lora suddenly started bouncing on the seat.
"Do you have to use the bathroom?" Ross asked. "You've been bouncing like that for a while."
"Ha, ha," Lora said, flatly. "Mom, are we there yet?"
"Five more minutes," Rory said.
"Ugh!" Lora exclaimed. "It seems like forever!"
"I know how we can make it pass," Dean said, popping in a CD.
"I'm the Man who Murdered Love" by XTC started playing. Lora, Ross, Dean, and Rory all loved that song.
"Dad, you are so efficient," Lora said, patting Dean on the shoulder.
For the rest of the ride, they sang along with XTC. Just as the song was ending, they finally pulled into the parking lot of Yale University.
"WE'RE HERE!" Lora exclaimed.
Rory parked the car and Luke and Lorelai parked in the space behind them. Dean and Ross helped Lorelai and Luke unload the car while Rory and Lora went to Lora's dorm.
"Oh, my god!" Rory exclaimed. "You're in my old dorm!"
"Cool," Lora said, looking at a map.
"Let's go in," Rory said, opening the door.
"Fine," Lora said.
Lora walked in, but she didn't even looked up from her map.
"The suite is exactly the same," Rory said. "Wow! They still have the DVD player and TV!"
"So, Ross's room is above mine," Lora said, not looking up from the map. "That's good."
Rory went into Lora's room (her old room) and Lora followed her, but Lora still didn't look up from the map. Rory grabbed Lora's wrist and pulled her outside the dorm.
"Did you see any of that?" Rory asked, taking the map out of Lora's hand.
"No," Lora said, suddenly feeling a little guilty.
"Okay," Rory said. "Grandma had to do this with me and I guess now I'm doing this with you, too. I'm putting you back in the moment."
"Give me back my map," Lora said.
"After you see your room," Rory said.
Rory and Lora entered the dorm again.
"Wow," Lora said, looking around.
She walked into her room and Rory followed her.
"Wow," Lora said again. "This is my room."
"This is my old room," Rory said.
"I heard that part," Lora said. "Which one was your bed?"
"That one," Rory said, pointing to the bed by the door.
Lora flopped down on the bed. "I hereby declare this bed in the name of Lorelai Regina Gilmore Forester and many of the Lorelais to come," Lora said.
Rory laughed. "You know we're getting you another mattress, right?" she asked.
"Right," Lora said, standing up and hugging her mother. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Rory said.
Lora suddenly felt a little homesick, even though her family was there. She was going to miss them. Sure, she would visit every weekend, but she was going to miss them. Except for Ross. He would be here all the time.
"A little help over here!" a voice called from the doorway.
Rory and Lora went into the suite to find Dean and Ross struggling with a mattress. After a few hours of unpacking, Rory took Lora to a courtyard where they stopped by a tree.
"What did you want to show me?" Lora asked.
"This," Rory said, pointing at the tree.
"A tree?"
"This was my study tree?"
"'Your study tree?'"
"Work with me."
"Sorry."
"I'm giving it to you."
"You're giving me a tree?"
"I have gotten a lot of studying done during my four years of college. It has served me well and it will serve you well, too. Go sit against it."
Lora sat down and leaned against the tree. It was so comfortable.
"Wow, that's comfortable," Lora said. "I could live here."
"You know you can't really, right?" Rory asked.
"Yeah," Lora said, getting up and hugging her mother. "Thanks for giving me the tree."
"Your welcome," Rory said.
They walked back to the dorm where they found Ross, Dean, Lorelai, and Luke talking to a young blonde-haired girl with a couple in their mid- fifties.
"That's her," Ross said, pointing at Lora.
The blonde-haired girl walked up to Lora and shook her hand.
"Hi," she said. "My name is Allison Peters. Nickname Allie."
"I'm Lorelai Gilmore Forester," Lora said. "Nickname Lora."
"Just to let you know in advance," Allie said. "I'm not a loud person and I don't snore."
"Okay," Lora said. "Well, neither am I."
The two of them laughed.
[Dean]
It was almost four o'clock. All parents had to be gone by then. All of Lora's stuff was unpacked and she knew the fastest way to get to Ross's room. Luke and Lorelai already left. Now Dean and Rory had to leave. Dean, Rory, Lora, and Ross stood in the doorway. Lora and Rory gave each other a hug while Dean and Ross embraced each other.
"Dad, we've been through this before," Ross said.
"I know," Dean said. "But, that doesn't mean you don't deserve a hug, too."
Finally they pulled away and Dean tousled Ross's hair.
"I love you, buddy," he said.
"Love you, too, Dad," Ross said.
Rory and Lora were about to pull away, but Lora's long brown hair got caught on one of the buttons on Rory's corduroy jacket. Rory helped her fix it and then Rory gave Ross a hug so Lora gave Dean a hug.
Dean kissed the top of her head. He was so proud of Lora, but he was having a hard time letting go. He squeezed her tighter.
"Uh, Dad?" Lora said. "I can't breathe."
Dean squeezed her tighter until Rory tapped him on the arm.
"Sorry," he said, releasing her. "I love you, kiddo."
"I love you, too," Lora said.
"We'll see you guys on Friday for movie night," Rory said.
"We'll be there," Ross said.
The four said good-bye and Rory and Dean turned and walked down the hallway. Just as they were about to walk out the door, Dean heard Lora call them. He turned around Lora ran down the hallway and flung her arms around Dean and then moved one arm around Rory. Ross came over and put his arms around all of them. They stayed like that for five minutes until Lora pulled away.
"We'll see you Friday," she said.
"Friday," Dean repeated.
Lora and Ross turned to go. Ross slung his arm around Lora's shoulder as they walked back to Lora's room. Dean did the same with Rory as they walked to the car. He felt a little sad, but he couldn't have been more proud of them.
[Rory]
Rory first went into Lora's room and then into Ross's. They were both gone. She couldn't believe it. She was very proud of them, but it was still sad. But, it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be. Rory thought she would be crying, but she wasn't. I guess I'm too happy for them to cry, she thought. Suddenly someone came over and hugged her from behind and kissed her on the cheek.
"You okay?" Dean asked.
"Yeah," Rory said.
"I miss them, too," Dean said.
Rory and Dean just stayed like that, staring at the empty room.
"I have a little something planned tonight," Dean said.
"Dean, I'm not in the mood," Rory said.
"For what?" Dean asked
Rory gave him a look.
"No, that's not what I had planned," Dean said. "You know how before Ross was born we never finished Casablanca?"
"We watched it twenty-one years after that," Rory said.
"Yeah, but I thought we could have our own movie night and finish it," Dean said.
Rory smiled at him. "Let's get ready for movie night," she said, planting a kiss on his lips.
At six they had set up the pizza and the popcorn and they had their wine. Now they sat snuggled on the couch.
"Don't eat all the popcorn," Dean joked.
"If I want to eat all the popcorn, then I'm going to eat all the popcorn," Rory joked back, starting the movie.
To Be Continued.....
A/N: Sorry if it was OOC. Don't stop reading! There's an epilogue.
One month later.........
[Ross]
Ross woke up at seven on Monday morning. Today was Lora's first day at Yale and he was really excited that his sister was going to be on campus with him. Sure, he was graduating this year, but it was still going to be nice to have her there. He had stayed home to help with the move.
He suddenly felt mischievous and he went quietly tiptoed down the hall way and into Lora's room. She was sleeping so peacefully. Ross leaned over her and made a loud fart noise causing Lora wake up and sit up in her bed as quick as lightening. Ross laughed so hard he had to sit at the edge of her bed.
"Hell is filled with people liked you," Lora said, flopping back on to her bed.
"Well, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Ross said, flopping next to her. "Because from what I hear, hell is a party."
"You must've regressed a few years back to age twelve," Lora replied, closing her eyes.
Ross pulled the pillow out from underneath her.
"Stop!" Lora said. "I'm a normal person! A normal person sleeps around here! Maybe you should look into it."
Lora grabbed the pillow from Ross and turned away from him.
"Look, we have to get up this early," Ross said. "You remember what today is, right?"
"The day I get arrested for killing my brother?" Lora asked.
"No," Ross said, chuckling. "It's THE day!"
Lora suddenly sat up wide-eyed.
"Oh, my god!" Lora said. "It's THE day! I'M GOING TO YALE, BABY! Was I supposed to wake up now?"
"No, you have five more minutes," Ross said.
"Damn, I could've used those five minutes. Now, I can't go back to sleep. Why the hell did you wake me up this early anyway?"
"Remember how we woke mom and dad up the day I went to Yale?"
A smile spread across Lora's face. "I hear ya," she said.
Lora threw the covers off and she and Ross quietly tiptoed down the hall to their parent's room. When they reached the door they ran in and started jumping on the bed. Ross came up with it because they used to do it when they were kids and although Rory and Dean hated to admit it, it really annoyed them. So, this was just a reminder of what they wouldn't miss when both kids were at college.
Lora and Ross kept jumping and making sure they weren't jumping on their parents until finally, Rory and Dean pulled the covers over their heads.
"Go away!" Rory said. "I thought Lora is eighteen and Ross is twenty- one."
"We are," Lora said, still jumping. "But, we have the spirits of five-year-olds."
"You are five-year-olds," Dean said, his voice muffled.
"Should we stop?" Lora asked Ross.
"Ten more seconds," Ross answered.
Finally, they stopped jumping and sat down in between their parents (or more like on top of them because they took up so much room being that they weren't five anymore).
"I'm going to Yale today," Lora said. "I'm so excited."
"I'll be you are," Rory said, groggily. "I was and so was Ross."
"Damn," Dean said, sitting up.
"What's with you?" Rory asked.
"I didn't have that experience," Dean said.
"Because," Ross said, encouraging Dean to finish.
"The first time I went to college I wasn't really that excited because I was also getting married," Dean said.
"Lindsay?" Ross asked.
"Yeah," Dean said.
Dean never really talked about his first wife before, but he'd told Ross and Lora about her a few times and what happened to him after they got divorced.
"It was like getting an apartment instead of going to college," Dean continued.
"Then, when you gave Lindsay the divorce papers your college experience sucked," Lora finished for him. "Everyone hated you and beat you up and Mom was the only person who cared about you, and blah blah blah blah blah."
"You should've transferred to Yale," Rory said.
Dean suddenly burst out laughing.
"Good one," he said, after a while.
"No, you should've," Rory said.
"I didn't have the grades," Dean said.
"Okay," Lora said. "Can you guys debate this tonight? Because I have to go to a little place called Yale."
"Yale's not little," Ross said.
"Who cares? I'M GOING TO YALE!"
Lora got up and ran into her room. Ross got up and walked out the door. When he was only a few steps away from the door he heard Rory and Dean say in unison, "she got that from you."
Once everyone was dressed they all went to Luke's. His truck was outside all piled with Lora's boxes piled on it. He had offered to drive her stuff down to Yale and he also did it for Ross the year he left. The diner was closed because Luke was going to be gone all day and it was Caesar's day off.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Lora called as they walked through the door. "Coffee, please!"
"No!" Lorelai said, jokingly hugging the coffee pot to her chest. "Mine!"
Luke rolled his eyes and took the pot away from her.
"Look at me," Luke said, slowly as if he was talking to someone who was stupid. "You have had enough coffee."
Luke took the coffee pot and made Lora a coffee to go. Lorelai's eyes darted back and forth from Rory to Lora.
"What?" Rory asked.
"It's amazing how she inherited our love for coffee," Lorelai said.
"And our eyes," Rory added. "What amazes me is how much Ross looks like Dean."
"Yeah, except the hair is different. Thank god Ross decided to cut it short and not make it a floppy hair style."
Dean nodded and smirked. Ross knew it was just a joke and he knew his father could take them.
"Again, with the hairstyle joke," Dean said. "You guys haven't came up with anything new."
"Consider yourself lucky," Luke said, handing Ross and Dean coffee.
"I can't believe you're going to college, Lora," Lorelai said. "Hell, I can't believe both of you are going to be at Yale. It seems like just yesterday when Ross discovered Colonel Clucker."
Ross blushed. That was actually his earliest memory.
"I know," Rory said. "And when Dean dressed up-"
"Here we go again with the Prince Charming thing," Ross said. "I've heard about it one too many times. And I've had to watch it."
"Were you jealous because I didn't dance with you?" Dean asked.
"No," Ross said. "You can't dance anyway."
"Really?"
"Really."
Dean stood up and held his arm out. Ross at first didn't know what he was doing, but then he finally understood.
"No way," Ross said.
"Are you chicken?" Lora taunted.
"No," Ross said.
He pushed his stool up and grabbed Dean's hand. Soon, Dean started waltzing very gracefully and Ross fell into step with him.
"You're pretty good at this," Ross said.
"You, too," Dean said. "That's one thing you got from me."
"That's why he was my date for the debutante ball," Rory said.
"Oh, god," Lorelai shuddered. "Don't bring that up again."
"You know this is perfect," Lora said. "We have our very own pair of twinkle toes."
"Twinkle toes," Lorelai said. "I like it. I have to use that in the future."
"I hate to be a party pooper," Luke said. "But, since I already am, it's eight o'clock. Shouldn't we be going?"
"Oh, my god!" Lora said, running out the door.
"We'll meet you guys down there," Dean said.
[Lora]
Lora tried so hard not to bounce on the seat of the car. She was really excited. Sure, she'd seen the university before, but this time she was actually going to live there. The drive seemed like it was taking them a week, even though it was only a twenty-minute drive. The minutes seemed to pass slowly. Lora suddenly started bouncing on the seat.
"Do you have to use the bathroom?" Ross asked. "You've been bouncing like that for a while."
"Ha, ha," Lora said, flatly. "Mom, are we there yet?"
"Five more minutes," Rory said.
"Ugh!" Lora exclaimed. "It seems like forever!"
"I know how we can make it pass," Dean said, popping in a CD.
"I'm the Man who Murdered Love" by XTC started playing. Lora, Ross, Dean, and Rory all loved that song.
"Dad, you are so efficient," Lora said, patting Dean on the shoulder.
For the rest of the ride, they sang along with XTC. Just as the song was ending, they finally pulled into the parking lot of Yale University.
"WE'RE HERE!" Lora exclaimed.
Rory parked the car and Luke and Lorelai parked in the space behind them. Dean and Ross helped Lorelai and Luke unload the car while Rory and Lora went to Lora's dorm.
"Oh, my god!" Rory exclaimed. "You're in my old dorm!"
"Cool," Lora said, looking at a map.
"Let's go in," Rory said, opening the door.
"Fine," Lora said.
Lora walked in, but she didn't even looked up from her map.
"The suite is exactly the same," Rory said. "Wow! They still have the DVD player and TV!"
"So, Ross's room is above mine," Lora said, not looking up from the map. "That's good."
Rory went into Lora's room (her old room) and Lora followed her, but Lora still didn't look up from the map. Rory grabbed Lora's wrist and pulled her outside the dorm.
"Did you see any of that?" Rory asked, taking the map out of Lora's hand.
"No," Lora said, suddenly feeling a little guilty.
"Okay," Rory said. "Grandma had to do this with me and I guess now I'm doing this with you, too. I'm putting you back in the moment."
"Give me back my map," Lora said.
"After you see your room," Rory said.
Rory and Lora entered the dorm again.
"Wow," Lora said, looking around.
She walked into her room and Rory followed her.
"Wow," Lora said again. "This is my room."
"This is my old room," Rory said.
"I heard that part," Lora said. "Which one was your bed?"
"That one," Rory said, pointing to the bed by the door.
Lora flopped down on the bed. "I hereby declare this bed in the name of Lorelai Regina Gilmore Forester and many of the Lorelais to come," Lora said.
Rory laughed. "You know we're getting you another mattress, right?" she asked.
"Right," Lora said, standing up and hugging her mother. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Rory said.
Lora suddenly felt a little homesick, even though her family was there. She was going to miss them. Sure, she would visit every weekend, but she was going to miss them. Except for Ross. He would be here all the time.
"A little help over here!" a voice called from the doorway.
Rory and Lora went into the suite to find Dean and Ross struggling with a mattress. After a few hours of unpacking, Rory took Lora to a courtyard where they stopped by a tree.
"What did you want to show me?" Lora asked.
"This," Rory said, pointing at the tree.
"A tree?"
"This was my study tree?"
"'Your study tree?'"
"Work with me."
"Sorry."
"I'm giving it to you."
"You're giving me a tree?"
"I have gotten a lot of studying done during my four years of college. It has served me well and it will serve you well, too. Go sit against it."
Lora sat down and leaned against the tree. It was so comfortable.
"Wow, that's comfortable," Lora said. "I could live here."
"You know you can't really, right?" Rory asked.
"Yeah," Lora said, getting up and hugging her mother. "Thanks for giving me the tree."
"Your welcome," Rory said.
They walked back to the dorm where they found Ross, Dean, Lorelai, and Luke talking to a young blonde-haired girl with a couple in their mid- fifties.
"That's her," Ross said, pointing at Lora.
The blonde-haired girl walked up to Lora and shook her hand.
"Hi," she said. "My name is Allison Peters. Nickname Allie."
"I'm Lorelai Gilmore Forester," Lora said. "Nickname Lora."
"Just to let you know in advance," Allie said. "I'm not a loud person and I don't snore."
"Okay," Lora said. "Well, neither am I."
The two of them laughed.
[Dean]
It was almost four o'clock. All parents had to be gone by then. All of Lora's stuff was unpacked and she knew the fastest way to get to Ross's room. Luke and Lorelai already left. Now Dean and Rory had to leave. Dean, Rory, Lora, and Ross stood in the doorway. Lora and Rory gave each other a hug while Dean and Ross embraced each other.
"Dad, we've been through this before," Ross said.
"I know," Dean said. "But, that doesn't mean you don't deserve a hug, too."
Finally they pulled away and Dean tousled Ross's hair.
"I love you, buddy," he said.
"Love you, too, Dad," Ross said.
Rory and Lora were about to pull away, but Lora's long brown hair got caught on one of the buttons on Rory's corduroy jacket. Rory helped her fix it and then Rory gave Ross a hug so Lora gave Dean a hug.
Dean kissed the top of her head. He was so proud of Lora, but he was having a hard time letting go. He squeezed her tighter.
"Uh, Dad?" Lora said. "I can't breathe."
Dean squeezed her tighter until Rory tapped him on the arm.
"Sorry," he said, releasing her. "I love you, kiddo."
"I love you, too," Lora said.
"We'll see you guys on Friday for movie night," Rory said.
"We'll be there," Ross said.
The four said good-bye and Rory and Dean turned and walked down the hallway. Just as they were about to walk out the door, Dean heard Lora call them. He turned around Lora ran down the hallway and flung her arms around Dean and then moved one arm around Rory. Ross came over and put his arms around all of them. They stayed like that for five minutes until Lora pulled away.
"We'll see you Friday," she said.
"Friday," Dean repeated.
Lora and Ross turned to go. Ross slung his arm around Lora's shoulder as they walked back to Lora's room. Dean did the same with Rory as they walked to the car. He felt a little sad, but he couldn't have been more proud of them.
[Rory]
Rory first went into Lora's room and then into Ross's. They were both gone. She couldn't believe it. She was very proud of them, but it was still sad. But, it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be. Rory thought she would be crying, but she wasn't. I guess I'm too happy for them to cry, she thought. Suddenly someone came over and hugged her from behind and kissed her on the cheek.
"You okay?" Dean asked.
"Yeah," Rory said.
"I miss them, too," Dean said.
Rory and Dean just stayed like that, staring at the empty room.
"I have a little something planned tonight," Dean said.
"Dean, I'm not in the mood," Rory said.
"For what?" Dean asked
Rory gave him a look.
"No, that's not what I had planned," Dean said. "You know how before Ross was born we never finished Casablanca?"
"We watched it twenty-one years after that," Rory said.
"Yeah, but I thought we could have our own movie night and finish it," Dean said.
Rory smiled at him. "Let's get ready for movie night," she said, planting a kiss on his lips.
At six they had set up the pizza and the popcorn and they had their wine. Now they sat snuggled on the couch.
"Don't eat all the popcorn," Dean joked.
"If I want to eat all the popcorn, then I'm going to eat all the popcorn," Rory joked back, starting the movie.
To Be Continued.....
A/N: Sorry if it was OOC. Don't stop reading! There's an epilogue.