AN: I don't know how this chapter came so fast but it did, I hope you all like it!
Chapter 27
The next months seemed to fly by, both being so busy. Even Rory's final spring break was spent in Chicago on business. Now, graduation was right around the corner.
"Paris, Are you here?" Rory said while knocking on the door of the townhouse she and Doyle moved into.
"Hi" Paris said after she opened the door "What's up?" she asked
"What's up?" Rory said in a panic "What do you mean, what's up? Graduation is in two days, we have so much to do" Rory said flailing her arms around
"What exactly do we have to do, we already picked up our grades, we both are graduating Suma Cum Laude, we picked up our caps and gowns this morning and finals are over. Rory there is nothing left to do, we are done with college" Paris said
"We're done" Rory said with a hint of sadness "Paris we are done" she said again
"I know" Paris said realizing what that meant, Paris was staying on at Yale for Medical School, but Rory was really done, no grad school or anything she was officially done with school. "Are you ok?" she asked her friend who was obviously flipping out
"I don't know, the past 17 years of my life has revolved around school and now I am done" she admitted "and what about us, I am so use to seeing you daily, what is going to happen know?" she added never thinking she would ever really miss Paris.
"Well, what do we do with the rest of the group that graduated last year?" Paris said "We go out to dinner once a week, no matter what. Right, well that is still going to happen now, we'll just have to do that and get together as much as possible beyond that dinner's during the week, maybe lunched and of course you and Steph can drag me shopping." She added for good humor.
"I guess I am just freaking out, in two days my life is going to change drastically" she admitted
"Why's that, besides the obvious" Paris asked
"Well we still have the obligation of being in London for a year" Rory said "and Logan and I have been talking about going this year to get it over with" she said
"Ok, so you go to London" Paris said "It's not like you'll be going alone, Logan will be with you" she said matter-of-factly.
"I know, but, I will miss my family and you guys." She admitted
"Listen, I am not one to flaunt it, but, we are all very rich! We will be able to see each other as much as our schedules will allow" Paris said trying to comfort her friend.
"I know Logan said the same thing" Rory admitted "I guess it's just such a big change, I mean even with us getting married and everything very little changed, I mean we still live in the same apartment but now the house is done, we are selling the apartment and now we are moving to London. So much is happening all at once." She said realizing what her true problem was.
"So that's it, Gilmore, the one who hates change, her entire life is changing including her continent" Paris said in a sarcastic tone trying to lighten the mood
"YUP" was all Rory could say
"Talk to Logan" Paris said
"I have, I told him everything that I have said to you!" she perplexed by the whole situation "I don't think he understands"
"Sure he does" Paris said, "but he would rather do it know while you are young and in a transitional phase and he probably looks at it this way, what happens if you stay here for a year then go to London next year and by some strange chance you end up pregnant, then what you, Logan and the baby go to London. Imagine how much you would miss all of us if you had a baby?" she said hoping to get her to calm down and look ahead
"That won't happen" Rory said "we aren't even going to try until after we are married for five years" Rory divulged, they had come to that decision a few months ago.
"Shit happens, just ask your Mom and Dad" Paris deadpanned
"Jesus Paris why do you have to make sense?" Rory said obviously aggravated
"Why else would you come here to me of all people fishing for advice" she said "if you wanted fairy tales and romantic ideas you would have gone to Steph or even Finn." Paris said laughing
"Thanks, your right" Rory said standing up from the table they were sitting at and said "I have to go, Logan will be home soon and we are going to my Grandmother's she wants to go over a few things for the graduation party this weekend. You and Doyle are still coming right?" she asked
"Of course" She said hugging her friend
Emily was planning a giant Graduation party for Rory at the Huntzberger compound on Martha's Vineyard. Rory and Logan both agree that she is going nuts because she didn't get to plan a big society wedding for them so she is making up for it with the Graduation party.
"Loralie Leigh Gilmore-Huntzberger" said the dean as Rory walked up and received her diploma. The group of people were clapping while Loralie and Chris were crying and whistling… "Paris Eugenia Geller" the group roared again…
"The ceremony was wonderful my dear, I am quite proud of you" Richard said hugging his granddaughter "I can't tell you how much it meant to me that you attended and graduated from Yale." He added then kissed her on her cheek
"Thank you Grandpa" she said tearing up a bit at her grandfathers sentiments
"I am so proud of you, today was a perfect day" Emily added also hugging her granddaughter
"Thank you too, Grandma" she said wiping the tears from her eyes and having a feeling she was going to be saying thank you quite a bit today
All her friends walked over including Lane and Zack and they all said "Congratulations" in unison like it was rehearsed
"Thanks guys, I am so glad you could be here" she said hugging everyone.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw him; it was Luke standing behind a tree just watching.
"Excuse me" she said and turning and walking away from her group, Logan had seen where she was going and decided to keep Loralie and Chris busy.
"Hi Luke" she said excitedly and hugging him
"Hey Rory, Congratulations" he said "I hope you don't mind that I came" he asked, he was so surprised when she walked into the diner a few weeks ago and handed him a ticket to the graduation.
"I am glad you decided to come" she said, he wasn't sure he would come and had told her that when she gave him the ticket.
"Well, I thought about it and I feel like I have been through this with you like with Chilton, maybe not so much in the past year but the other three years" he said
"Thanks Luke" she said hugging him again
"Here this is for you" he said handing her a little box, which she immediately opened
"Wow, Luke it's beautiful" Rory said, it was an antique opal ring. "I love it"
"I am glad, I know it's your birthstone" he said "The woman at the store said that it's from the late 1800's and it possibly belonged to someone in the French Royal Family, I don't know if I believe that, but I thought you would like it." He said
"I do, I love it" she said "Thank you so much. Listen, do you want to come over and join us?" she asked knowing full well he wouldn't he hasn't spoken to Loralie since the split.
"No, I have to get back to the diner" he said quickly
"OK" she said sadly "Thank you Luke, for everything." She said hugging him and kissing him on the cheek
"Yeah, you too kid" he said "will I see you soon?" he asked
"Yeah, I will come in soon" she promised and said good bye and went and rejoined her group.
Logan met her half way "You ok?" he asked, he knew about her meetings with Luke they were pretty regular at least once a month.
"Yeah, he said he felt like he'd been through this whole Yale thing with me and wanted to be here then he gave me this" she said and showed him the ring
"It's beautiful" he said holding the box in his hand "Do you want me to hold it?" he asked
"Yeah, I am not ready to tell Mom about this yet" she said and he put the box in his suit jacket
"Come on we have to get you back over there your Mom and Dad have been looking for you, it took me and Finn to distract her" Logan said laughing
"Oh boy!" she said "Do I want to know?" she asked figuring the answer would be no
"Probably not, but he did show your parents the spot where you passed out last year in the ball gown after the LDB gala" he said laughing
"HE DID WHAT!" she Yelled "FINN"
"Yes Love" he said innocently
"Rory" Loralie said
She turned around and saw her mother and walked over to her "Hey" Rory said
"Hey you" Loralie said hugging her daughter "I am so proud of you, you did it"
"No Mom, WE did it!" Rory said tearing up and hugging her mother, "Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me, I love you "she added now crying and hugging her mother. They stood together for a few minutes both crying. Emily, Richard, Christopher and Logan just looked on.
"Well, all is as it should be" Emily said with tears in her eyes "My daughter is finally with the love of her life and my granddaughter continued the Gilmore Legacy and also found the love of her life" she said with pure happiness in her voice.
Rory and Loralie walked back over to the group, Paris and Doyle had now joined them and everyone was taking pictures of the two graduates.
"All right everyone" Loralie said "Meet us back at the Dragonfly in two hours for a party" she said
With that everyone left; Rory and Logan walked over to their apartment for some time alone and to grab a bag, Logan had rented out all the rooms at the Inn so no one had to drive tonight, and Loralie fought with him about it saying that he didn't have to pay, but then they agreed to a very discounted rate.
"I am so proud of you Ace" Logan said walking with his arm around his wife
"Thanks" she said leaning her head onto his shoulder "Couldn't have done it with out you" she said sweetly, they walked into the building they called home
When they got up to the apartment to get their bags, she saw a wrapped box on the pool table "what's that?" she asked
"Open it and find out" Logan said
She ripped at the paper and lifted the lid off the box and saw books, but not just any books "ASIA" she said surprised
"Yup, we leave in a week and a half" he said
"Oh Logan" she said running over to him and jumping into his arms "How did you do it, I thought we had to be in London in a month" she said
"Yeah well I pushed it back, we have to be there by August 15" he said "we have to finish packing up here and pack for the trip, then, Colin and Steph are going to handle the move for us. We will be gone for 6 weeks then it's back here to unpack what's left, the maids will probably do most of it, but we then have to get everything together for London. We will probably have three weeks before we have to go." He explained
"Thank you so much Logan, I really wanted to go on this trip." She said excitedly looking through the different dictionaries and books Logan had picked up besides the books she already had. "Wow, we are really going" she said in wonderment
"Yup, we are really going" he said Rory kissed him and ran towards the desk and picked up the phone
"Steph" Rory said into the phone
"What's up Rory, aren't you on your way to the party?"
"Yeah, but Logan just gave me my gift"
"Do you like it?"
"You knew?"
"Of course, so when do you want to go shopping?"
"How did you know that is why I called you?"
"What can I say, I'm good"
"Well we leave for the vineyard the day after tomorrow, so why don't we go tomorrow… wait. Logan do we have any plans for tomorrow?"
"NO! Why?" Logan said
"Why don't the four of us go shopping together, we could fly down to New York spend the day and then fly to the vineyard from there" she said to both Logan and Steph
"Let's talk about it with them when we get to the party" Logan reasoned
"Sure"
"OK, Steph I have to go, we need to leave"
"See you in a bit, I will run it by Colin now"
"Sounds good, bye" Rory hung up the phone and ran into the bedroom
"Ace, come on we have to go" Logan called after her
"I know, I am just grabbing each of us another outfit for New York"
"What, come on we are packed, we have plenty of stuff if not, you can buy another outfit there" he promised
"OK" she agreed
"Good now let's go" he said and pushed his wife out the door
The entire car ride was full of talk about graduation, the party, Asia but mostly London.
"What is the house like there?" Rory asked, she knew the Huntzberger's had a house there but had no idea what it was like
"You'll love it Ace" he said "It's a beautiful town house that is not to far from the office and it is attached to a private park." (AN: Think Notting Hill)
"Really, it's not a mansion?" she asked surprised
"Nope, granted it's not small but it's not a mansion, it has 4 bedrooms and three bathrooms and it even has a study with a small library" he said
"Really, it's sound nice" she admitted
Before they new it they pulled up to the Inn and the party was in full swing.
"I don't understand, we are not late, we are actually 5 minutes early" Logan said
"Yeah but Sookie probably had everyone here an hour ago" Rory said laughing
They walked in the front door and the party truly was in full swing, people were dancing, drinking and truly having a wonderful time.
"There's Mom" she said they walked over towards her mother and father
"Hi Mom" Rory said "Where's Dad?" She asked after she hugged her mother "Couldn't he hand the insane asylum?" she joked
"HA! Good one kid" Loralie said "No, he was just here I don't know where he went" Suddenly the microphone made a screeching sound and Rory and Logan gave each other a knowing look.
"Excuse me, can I have your attention please" Christopher said "As you all know we are here to celebrate our daughter's graduation from the fine institution called Yale" he paused and everyone clapped "Now most of you know that Loralie and I have known each other all of our lives, we are truly soul mates, I screwed up I ran when she ran but in the opposite direction, when she left Hartford I took it as she was leaving me, not society" at this point Loralie was totally confused why was Christopher telling all these people their story "It took us 22 years to get here Loralie and I am not going to let you get away again" he said walking towards her when he stood before her their eyes locked and everyone else disappeared and he got down on one knee "Loralie Victoria Gilmore, after all these years, Will you do me the honor and make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?" the room went completely silent waiting for her response
"Yes" she said and Chris jumped to his fit and pulled her into his arms and swung her around kissing her.
"Congratulations" Finn yelled from the group then the rest of the group joined in "Congratulations"