Chapter 8: The summer's flying by

It was a great summer with some really nice events. First there was the Luke and Lorelai's anniversary. Luke took her away for the entire weekend. He rented a cabin at a silent but romantic place at a lake. It was a few hour drive but it was worth every minute of it. They enjoyed spending the time together in peace, without the rush of the diner or the Dragonfly. Saturday afternoon he even took her for a picnic, even thought he didn't officially liked them, he loved spending the time with her. And knowing that she loved it, made him love it too. They discussed moving in together. Unofficially they were already living together and with the baby it was time to make it official. They decided to move into Lorelai's house. Luke's apartment wasn't an option. It was to small for an entire family living there. Besides, Lorelai had a spare bedroom which was perfect for the baby. There where a lot of memories in the house and as the house was big enough for all of them it didn't make sense to buy another house. They discussed remodelling. Luke told her that it wasn't necessary but she wants to though. She wants him to feel at home. He told her he already did but that wasn't enough for her. Most of the things in the house where hers and Rory's and it was already her house so there had to come some things that where his. That was the way to make it their place instead of just hers.

After their anniversary there was the anniversary of the opening of the Dragonfly. There was a huge party with lots of quests. The place was booked for the entire weekend by friends and even Richard and Emily rented a room. They got a real room this time, not the one outside the building.

Rory spent the entire summer at home. She helped out in the Dragonfly as it was the busiest season of the year. She helped out with the remodelling of the house so Luke could y move in officially. Lorelai loved having Rory at home all the time. This summer was a lot better than last years with Rory at Europe and Luke in Maine. Thinking about that made her think about the year that was about to come. It would be an interesting year with the baby and all, but it would be a year without Rory. She couldn't even image what it would be like to spend an entire year without her daughter. They enjoyed the time they had together, even though there wasn't much time off. Luke understood that she had to spend a lot of time with her daughter, knowing he had her to himself after the summer. He thought that would be a good thing, but he knew it wasn't. He loved Rory a lot and knowing how he felt about Rory being gone for a year made him realize that he couldn't even understand how Lorelai must feel.

At the end of the summer Lorelai couldn't fit in her own clothes anymore. She loved the fact that she was starting the show, even though now she had to tell the town about the pregnancy. The morning sickness faded and the town took the news very well. They loved the thought of having a new town member. Even Taylor told Luke and Lorelai that he was happy with the news. That was a big step!

At the 31st of august Rory had packed all her stuff. She had a total of 3 suitcases which wasn't bad at all, considering she was leaving for an entire school year. She packed most of her clothes, the books that where most important to her and the things that she couldn't live without. Pictures of Lorelai, Luke, her grandparents, most of her friends and even of her father, his wife and her little sister. (A/N I know that Sherry left Christopher but I don't like the thought of what could happen because of that. I know that Luke and Lorelai are meant for each other but if Sherry stays with Christopher we'll know for sure that there won't be any problems) Lorelai had organized a farewell party for Rory at the diner. Everyone showed up to say goodbye to Rory. This is when Rory first realized the consequences of going to London. She realized how much she would miss everybody, her mother in particular. She enjoyed her party and tried to keep in all the emotions. She did a good job till everybody had left. Luke was cleaning up and Lorelai was helping him. She looked at her mother when tears filled her eyes.

"Mom."

Lorelai looked at her daughter and saw the sadness in her eyes. She walked towards her and took her in her arms. She hold her for a while before she finally spoke. "I'm going to miss you Rory."

"I can't go mom."

"Yes you can." She pulled back so that she could look Rory in the eyes. "You worked so hard to get in this program. You do want to go. I know it will be hard to be apart for a year but you will make friends there. You will have the best time of your life. And we're going to call every day and we'll write letters to each other. I'll write you the longest letters you've ever read. And there's email." With that she stood up and walked into the storeroom. She came back with a couple of presents wrapped in pink paper. "Here, Luke and I got you some presents."

She sat down next to her daughter and Luke took another chair.

Rory opened the first present. It was a web cam. "Mom?"

"I got one for myself too. If we're online at the same time and we turn on the web cam you we can see each other."

Rory smiled through her tears. "Thanks mom, it's a great present."

"Open this one now."

Rory took of the paper and was surprised to fine an expensive digital photo camera in there. "Mom, this is to much."

"Of course not. This way you can e-mail me the pictures you make. I could have given you a scanner but this is easier." Lorelai smiled at her daughter. "You deserve this Rory. I want to know everything you do in London. I expect you to make pictures of everything you do now."

"I promise I will."

"Good."

There was one more present left. It was a looked flat. Rory opened it and found a picture frame. She turned it around and found a black and white ultrasound picture.

Lorelai started to explain: "Luke and I saw how you packed pictures of everyone. So when we had the appointment at doctor Elders yesterday we asked if she could do an ultrasound. It was officially planned at the next appointment we have but we asked if she couldn't do one now. We explained that you where leaving and we wanted to give you a picture of the baby. So she made the ultrasound. It's to early to tell if it's a boy our a girl and we don't want to know anyway. Well, this is your little brother or sister so now you officially have a picture of everyone."

"Mom, that's amazing. She looked at the picture. "The baby looks so complete already. This is so cool. Wow, this is the best present I ever got." With that she stood up and hugged her mother. She kissed her mother and hold her tight. After that she walked to Luke and did the same thing again. "Thanks so much you guys."

Luke looked at Rory and told her: "We're really going to miss you Rory but I am so proud at you. I um.. I love you Rory."

"I love you too Luke" Rory's eyes filled with tears again. But this time they where happy tears. She knew everything would be okay. It would be a difficult year but at least her family would be there when she came back home. Thanks to e-mail and telephone they would be a lot closer to each other, even though she would be at another continent. It would be hard, of course it would be, but it would work out. And that's what is important. It will be very interesting.

Rory's plane was leaving the next day at 5 p.m. Luke and Lorelai took Rory to the airport in New York City. They left early enough to make sure that they would be at the airport in time. Rory was very enthusiastic on the way to the airport. Lorelai tried to show enthusiasm for her daughters sake but Luke noticed that this wasn't what she felt inside.

They arrived at the airport at 2 p.m. The check-in desk was already open so the first thing they did was checking Rory in so she could get rid of the suitcases. They gave her a great window seat. After she was checked in they had lunch. They ate in silent because they knew what would come next. They waited as long as possible but in the end they had to say goodbye. Rory's plane was leaving in an hour.

Lorelai looked at her daughter. "Promise me you take good care of yourself."

Rory nodded in respond.

"Promise me you call me every day and write me letters and e-mail and send me pictures and everything."

Again Rory just nodded in respond.

"Promise me you let me know everything you're doing there."

Nodding Rory said: "I will."

"Promise me you call me as soon as you get there."

Tears filled Rory's eyes as she answered. "As soon as I get there."

"Promise me you call me if there's anything, no matter what time."

"I promise."

"I'll miss you kiddo."

"I'll miss you to mom."

Lorelai couldn't hold in her own tears anymore. She took her daughter in her arms. She holder her tight for a few minutes till she pulled back. She took Rory's head in her hands and kissed her.

"I love you."

"I love you to mom."

They kissed again. Than Rory turned to Luke. "I'll miss you too."

"I know, and I'll miss you."

"Take good care of my mother."

"I will."

"I know you will." She hugged Luke and whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too Rory." He kissed her forehead. When she looked at him she could see that he had a few tears in his eyes. He let her go. Rory turned to her mother once more, giving her another hug. Than she turned around and walked away. After she walked a couple of feet she turned around once more. She saw how Luke had pulled an arm around Lorelai, her head resting on his shoulder. She waved while she whispered. "See you in June."

Lorelai waved back at her daughter. She waved till she couldn't see her daughter anymore. Than it hit her. Even though it's only September this is the last time she would see her daughter this year. She wouldn't see her again until June. She started crying. Luke noticed this and turned around so he could hold her. She cried while he hold her close, her head resting on his chest. They remained like that for minutes until she finally pulled back. She took his hand and with her other one she wiped the tears away. She started walking and whispered: "Let's go home."

A/N That's it for now. Please tell me what you think than I'll keep writing!!