Rory smiled as she heard the story, as little as she felt like smiling. Luke looked mortified as he finished the story, wringing his cap in his hands and removing and replacing it over and over again.

You neglected to mention that before.



So that day? The day she fell?

Two weeks before our one year anniversary.



They were both silent. Rory searched for more words. Do you live-

At your house? Rory nodded, although she had been planning on calling it her house. Lorelai's house.

I did... for a while at least. About... five months after we... got together.

Rory added, smiling. Luke smiled back, weakly.

I moved into an apartment closer to the hospital after she... fell.

Oh. Why not back to the diner?

I had already rented out the apartment.

Oh... that guy who was there...

You, uh, went to the diner?

Yeah, I met the new owner.

New owner? I still own it... he's just running it for me.

Rory thought back, puzzling over the conversation she had had with the guy in the diner. Oh... I guess he said that...

So... you met? Luke was watching her, looking for her to answer some other question, Rory was sure, but she couldn't figure out which one.



Oh. That's good, I guess. Must have been weird for you.

Yeah, it was, a little. I was so confused when I got back. Rory sat back further against her seat and watched as the scenery along the highway sped past. I guess I was expecting time to have frozen here. I changed, of course, but I always expected to be able to come home to Stars Hollow. The name of the town came easily out of her mouth, but she sat back in shock afterwords, listening to the words as they echoed in the air. They were almost stale, but preserved, as she had expected the town to be. They came out like a winter coat after the summer months. It seems so strange and so new, coming back out of the closet, but then, after mere moments, it feels right.

It's not all that different, Luke said, I mean, except for this...

Rory prompted, I didn't see anyone I knew...

Oh... you probably came back during the vigil. Around three?



Yeah, they hold a vigil in town for her every day at the church. That's why you didn't see anyone you knew.

They all go?

Of course.

Wow... that seems so... surreal.

She's well-loved Ror.

Rory nodded. So... they all still live here?

Pretty much, Luke said, nodding. Sookie and Jackson had two more kids. Davey's, let's see, 12 now, and Claire is 4 and Ellie is 2.

Wow... Davey's so...old.... Rory marvelled at what she had missed, smiling in spite of herself.

And... let's see... Lane-- is it OK if I talk about this? Luke looked over, obviously concerned, but Rory just smiled and nodded.

I want to hear about it.

OK. Well then. Lane... well, she got married, just like Mrs. Kim always wanted.

A Korean doctor?

Yeah, an opthomologist if I remember correctly. She met him after college... when she was on tour.

On tour? Rory asked in almost a whisper. She couldn't believe that she didn't know about this. That she had missed it.

Long since retired, but yeah, Follow Them to the Edge of the Desert had a pretty good fanbase. It was a small tour, just in the continental US, stopped at all the big cities and they did one night in Stars Hollow in the town square. Luke smiled as he remembered it. They already had fans, groupies and stuff who were following them around, and Taylor had a fit. It was great. They put out one album, but then Lane met Tae-Woo, so she left the band. One of the boys, the young blond one, he had a pretty good solo career going for a while, but they're all married now.

How do you know all of this?

The diner was their stomping grounds for a while, and they still come in now sometimes. They all still live in the area. The Kims come in at least once a week still.

Wait... Kim? I thought she got married...

Yeah, she did. To a guy named Tae-Woo Kim. Didn't have to buy new stationery. Luke shrugged. They have a kid and everything. Her name is Jay... she's two.

Lane with kids... Rory muttered under her breath. Who else?

Well, Kirk got married too. They live with his mother. No kids, but they have a lot of cats...

Rory giggled in spite of herself. She then stopped and sat up straighter as she saw the sign that announced that they were entering Stars Hollow.

Luke started, Where do you want to go?

Are there going to be people in the diner? Rory asked.



Is there food at my house?

There should be. I keep it stocked for when I come back about once a month. You know, for maitenance and stuff.

Could we just go back there then?

You're going to have to face them eventually, Luke said, turning down the road Rory had requested. That is why you came back, isn't it?

She didn't even know anymore.