A/N: I forgot to cite the song the Audrey and Ryan danced to in the last chapter. It's called "Written in the Stars" preformed by LeAnn Rimes and Sir Elton John. I understand that a lot of you are upset over the loss of Luke in this story. Many of you are upset over the fact that I didn't let Lorelai say goodbye either. I had several resons for doing it that way. One, Luke and Audrey's relationship had been strained over the baby scare and I had to have a way for them to fix it. Trust me, I didn't like killing Luke off and no I wasn't doing it in spite of the season finale. I actully wrote Luke's death a week before the finale. I know this story hasn't had a lot of Emily in it. I just can't write her. But she will make an appearance in this chapter.

The conversation between Luke and Lorelai is taken from the season five finale, the argument on the stairs at the Dragonfly. I thought it worked so well that it is a memory for Audrey when she finds out her mom is going to take the job when she's four. A few lines are changed to make it fit in this better.

Anyway here is the final chapter of Collide. I hate to see this end but I have to. I have no where else for this story to go. Thank you to all my faithful readers: purplelollipop17, pixiechick12, bluedaisy05, izzpuppy, localizy, primesetter31, orengesherbert7, Alyssa1120, gilmoregrly4life, CrypicWolf, lilrabbitangel14 and I am sorry if I have forgotten anyone. Thank you all for making this such a delight to write.

Chapter 55: Audrey's Graduation Day

The Chilton graduating class of 2026 invites you to the commencement ceremony on Saturday the second of June at three o'clock in the afternoon. Commencement speakers: Miss America Audrey Danes, valedictorian; Hannah Rogers-Cancel, senior class president; and Kent Howards, National Honor Soceity president. Dinner reception to follow.

Audrey Avery Danes set the card on the ornate grave marker of her grandfather, Richard Gilmore. "Here you go Poppa. I did it, I graduated from Chilton, just like you wanted. I know you have liked both of your granddaughters to have gone to Yale but Poppa I chose Sara Lawerence. It's a great school. Well I have to go. I have to drop off a few more announcements. I love and miss you Poppa."

Audrey kissed her fingers and placed them on the cold marble stone and stood up. She looked down into her hand and saw she still had five more announcements left to deliver. Grandma and Grandpa Danes, Christian, Holly and Dad were written on the enevelopes. She made her way out of the Hartford cemetary and back to her car. Her beautiful blue Vette that her father had built for her. The last few months without her father in her life was slowly getting easier. Her cousin Jess had taken over the diner, still calling it Luke's and left the William's Hardware sign up. Audrey knew that her mother was not the same, no matter how much she wanted to act like she was.

Rory had been right, a part of Lorelai died the day Luke died. But this was not the Friday to be sad. Tomorrow, Lorelai Danes' baby girl was graduating from high school. Too bad her dad can't be here to see it. Tonight Lorelai and Audrey would be going to Rory's for dinner. Somehow, Rory had learned to cook. The whole family was going to be there. Rory and her six kids (three being foster kids), Jess and Annie and their kids.

Audrey pulled up to the Woodbury cemetary. She walked into the cold unfeeling place that was now home to her best friend. She found the marble stone that marked Holly Charlotte Matthews' final resting place. Audrey knelt down by the stone and pulled away a few of the weeds that have gathered. She placed the card on the ground next to the stone.

"Hey Holly," Audrey said, quietly. "I'm going to Sara Lawerence for college. I know what you're thinking, 'What about Yale? That's all you ever talked about.' Well I changed my mind. I have to get going, Rory's making dinner for all of us tonight. I know what your thinking, and yes Dad got to Rory and she can cook now. Don't laugh Holly, she can make something other than frozen pizza. I miss you all the time and I guess you have gotten to hang out with my dad now too."

Audrey patted the stone and walked away. It is hard for her to believe that it will almost be a year since Holly was killed. So much had happened since then. Growing up the way she did, Audrey always knew where she could turn. Even when Rory and Marty had been living so far away from the Hollow Audrey could still call her big sister and cry to her if something was wrong.

"Rory, when's Mommy coming home?" a four year old Audrey asked one night to her big sister Rory. "She's been gone so long."

"Audi, Mommy's working in Paris, you know that. Didn't you and Dad just get back from visting her there?" Rory said paiently to her litte sister.

"But she said she'd be home in three days and it's been three and she's still not home."

Over the phone line Rory could hear the door open and then the phone drop and a squeal of happiness could be heard. The phone was then picked up and Luke, the man that had become her father said, "Sorry about that kiddo."

"It's ok Dad," Rory answered. "I was the same way with Mia when Mom was working late at the inn. Love you Dad."

Then when Jess and Annie moved to town, Audrey had somewhere else she could go.

"Ok Audi, a little more to the left. There. That's perfect. Now drop it," Jess said to the8 year-old Audrey.

Audrey dropped the water balloon that she was holding above the diner. It made a lovely sound when it splattered all over Taylor. He looked up too quick for Audrey and Jess to duck out of sight. Of course that didn't stop them from laughing.

"Audrey Danes! I am going to have to speak to your father about this!"

Audrey ran for the back steps that led back down to the diner and waited on the steps to hear a patented Luke-Taylor spat.

"Luke!" Taylor yelled.

"Get out Taylor," Luke said without looking up from the coffee machine.

"Luke that daughter of yours is out of control! She and that thug you call a nephew are dropping water balloons on innocent Stars Hollow citizens!" Taylor yelled.

"I don't know what you're talking about Taylor. Audrey is upstairs studying with Annie, Jess' new girlfriend. So why don't you just go home and put your feet up. It'll do you some good," Luke said turning around. "When did it start raining?"

"Did you even listen to a word I said?" Taylor quipped. "Your daughter and Jess dropped a water balloon on me!"

"I stopped listening to you 20 years ago Taylor."

That was the best gravity lesson Audrey ever had. Audrey loved growing up in that crazy town. She was always hanging out somewhere in town. At three she was having lunch with Babbette, cookies with Miss Patty and despite her parents best efforts she even hung out with Kirk on occasion. She loved to follow him around town as he went to his many jobs. She would be the annoying kid stepping on his heels and asking him a thousand innane questions.

Pulling into the parking lot of the Stars Hollow cemetary she walked to the shaded place where her family lay. She placed the cards next to each stone. She stopped at her father's and was unable to contain her sadness any longer. She dropped on the ground and cried into the grass. Nothing was the same without him in her life.

"Daddy, how can you be gone?" Audrey cried. "How could you just leave me and Mom and Rory all by ourselves? Mom's a mess. She's barely eating, she stopped drinking coffee, she won't even look at the diner. Daddy she misses you so much and Rory and I don't know how much longer she can go on without you."

There was a rustle in the leaves behind her and she turned. Walking through the trees was her father. Audrey picked herself up from the ground and ran into the arms of her father. She cried into his chest and held him close to her. There was no one that Audrey loved more than her father. They were pals, buddies, the healthy eaters of the family.

"Audrey don't cry kiddo," Luke soothed. "I'm fine. I'm with Nanna and Poppa Danes and with Christian. I don't want you to be sad that I am gone. I'll always be with you Audrey. Always."

"Daddy," Audrey cried. "Why did you have to go?"

"I can't explain it princess. I wish I could but I can't. I wish I could take away this pain that I have put on you, your mom and sister. I can't imagine how you three must be feeling."

"I miss you so much Daddy," Audrey whispered. "It's so hard without you here with us."

"It doesn't have to be, baby girl," Luke soothed. "What you need to do is carry with you all the memories we shared and remember that there was never a father who loved his girls more than I did. There was never a time in my life that I wasn't glad that I had you, Rory and Lorelai in my life. You three are my entire world. I'll be watching out for you, just like your brother has these last 18 years. Goodbye my sweet princess. I'll always be with you."

And as quickly Luke had appeared before her, he vanished.It wasn't fair. There was a part of Audrey that wished she didn't have this gift to be able to be visited by the ones who have gone ahead. If she couldn't she would have to deal with all the pain that she deals with when seeing them. But then again if she wasn't able to see them, Audrey wouldn't have known that Holly was all right and that Christian was with her.

On her drive home she thought about all the wonderful times she had with her family. Her memory goes to the night that her parents argued over Lorelai taking the job with the Durham Group.

"What's all this stuff?" Luke asked, referring to the large gift basket on the kitchen table.

"That is my big fancy present," Lorelai replied, pulling out a coffee cup.

"From who?"

"From Mike Armstrong."

Luke gives her a strange look. "Who the hell is Mike Armstrong?"

Audrey slipped into the hallway and was listening to her parents talk.

"He's my other lover. He ownsa diner in Woodbury. I didn't want you to find out like this-"

"The Durham group?"

"Yeah. They're the hotel chain that wanted to buy the inn," Lorelai replied, pouring herself some coffee.

"What are they sending you gifts for, again?"

"Well either they are dispotionally worried about my cuteclies or they can't live without me and they are begging me to accept their offer."

"To buy the inn."

"Yeah they've been after me ever since that meeting."

"What meeting?"

"The meeting with Mike Armstrong."

"I didn't know you had a meeting with Mike Armstrong," Luke said puzzled.

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes you did. You told me to have a meeting with Mike Armstrong."

"I know but you never said anything, so I figured it went away."

Lorelai walks towards the living room. Audrey ran up the stairs and listened from the top.

"I had a meeting with Mike Armstrong."

"And?" Luke asked following her, reasonably confused.

"And what?" Lorelai replied, sipping her coffee.

"And what happened?"

"Same as last time. He talked, I listened. I told him I'd think about it."

"Think about it."

"Yeah."

"About selling the inn? And then, after you sell the inn, then what?"

Lorelai sat down on the couch and opened a magazine. She really didn't want to talk about a job she wasn't sure she was going to even take.

"I've told you this before. I'd be like a consultant for their company."

"Is that what you want? You know I'd support you in anything you want to do."

"I don't know. It wasn't before, but now that we're married, I don't know."

"Are you going to take this job?"

"Probably not. I'm still mulling."

"Mulling! You're still mulling? She's still mulling."

"Why are you so upset?"

"I'm not upset. I just can't believe your still mulling. I thought we had this discussion five years ago."

"Luke, will you calm down. I'm not sure that I even want to do this."

"I mean you're seriously considering selling the inn and taking this job. Where's their office anyway?"

"They have a bunch of them. I don't know exactly where I'd be."

"Shouldn't you ask?"

Audrey sat at the top of the stairs listening to her parents argue. She knew that her mother loved her job here and loved her, but the thought that she wanted to leave her was too much.

"Hello, mulling."

"They could send you anywhere!"

"I am well aware of that Luke! I'm not even sure if I really want to take this job. I love the Dragonfly, I love this town. What are you freaking out about anyway?"

"What about Audrey?"

"What about Audrey, Luke?"

"Have you thought at all about how she's going to take this? She's at a pivitol point in her life when she needs both of her parents," Luke argued.

"I know that Luke! I'm not going to take this job! I love my inn. I don't want to sell it to some big company with their corproate designs. I want to stay here and watch my daughter grow up. I don't want to be like my father, absent. I don't want that for Audrey."

Luke walked over to her and sat next to her on the couch. He takes her hands in his. "Lorelai, I love you. I don't want you to give up great chances to advance in your career because of me or our family. Please, baby, just think about it. You don't have to sell the inn, just see what else they can offer you. You've been talking about restoring the Independence. If you took this job, you could get the money to start on it."

"Oh Luke," Lorelai whispers, leaning into him.

The memory stops there. Audrey remembers the next few months vividly. Her mother packing up her suitcase to go to Paris. She remembers her and Luke going to the airport to see her off. She remembers standing at the window waving to her mother's plane as it takes off to go far away from her. She remembers sitting next to her father on the plane to visit her mother in Paris.

She really did have a wonderful, full life. She was never without anything, ever, when she was growing up. She knew that she had the oldest parents at school and she didn't mind. She loved getting to be her sister's flower girl. She was her parent's pride and joy.

Saturday morning was a busy day for Audrey Avery Danes. She had her senior breakfast, then she had to get back home and get ready for the ceremony. Her mother had left early to get Grandma Emily from the rest home they had to put her in after she had a stroke last summer. What surprised everyone, was how attentive Lorelai was to her aging mother. Everyone who had known the two elder Gilmore Girls could have sworn that they would never get along. But things had changed.

Now Emily and Lorelai were driving to Chilton one last time, to see the last Gilmore grandchild graduate from high school. The row for Audrey was a lot fuller, but felt more empty than Rory's had. Sookie and Jackson were there, Rory and her family, Jess and his family, but all could feel the missing presence. Audrey was easier to spot coming in too, because Paris was true to her word. She allowed Audrey to wear her Miss America crown, instead of the stupid flat hat.

"It gives me great pleasure to introduce our first speaker of the afternoon. This student was a third year transfer student from a modest school where she showed great promise and achivement. This student's extra activites have won her numerous awards and prestiges. May I present, Miss Audrey Danes, Miss America 2026," Paris annouced.

"Thank you Ms. Geller. Welcome friends, family, and those who can't be here today. I can't believe that today is finally here. To be honest Ms. Geller, I was more excited about taking the stage in Atlantic City than I am about graduating from high school. Because that night, participating in the final night with all my family there watching was the best night of my young life. I have two passions in my life, community service and theatre. Luckily, I grew up in a walking theatre," Audrey spoke. "Stars Hollow, a town that you could stuff in an envelope and mail for a dollar forty, according to my mother, is a social activity in itself. My father used to say that it needed to be locked in a rec room with pino pong balls and hand puppets."

Audrey's eyes welled at the memory of her father. She was forgetting the rest of her speech. "My parents never gave me any idea that I couldn't be anyone that I wanted to be. My father used to tell me that I would be the first woman pitcher for the Yankees. My mother would drive all over the state taking me to all sorts of beauty pageants."

Audrey was racked with the memories of her life. Baseball in the park with Luke, gravity lessons via water balloons with Jess, sleepovers with Holly and Camille, dinners at the Gilmores. "I am now graduating from high school, the same high school that my older sister graduated from, some 23 years ago. Her family was smaller then, but just as warm and inviting as mine is now. There is nothing that my family wouldn't do for each other. I love them all."

Audrey went on to talk about how much she had done for the community as Miss America and what being Miss America meant to her. When she had finished her speech she took her seat and listened to the other class elected speakers. Soon she was in line listening to the names of her friends being called. And then, the one name that meant the most to her.

"Audrey Avery Danes."

Cheers and whoops came from Audrey's cheering section. In the true Gilmore fashion, after recieving her diploma, Audrey made a funny face at her mother and sister. Lorelai and Rory made a face back at her.

"Tarah Annelle Leahy-Worth. Andrea Lynn Michaelson. Katie Hannah Rogers-Cancel. Ryan Michael Turner. James Andrew Tyler."

"Congratulations Class of 2026. May your lives be blessed," Paris said, ending the ceremonies.

The hats flew up into the air and that's when the hugging and crying began. Friends would now be parting, old alliances crumbled, and for some couples their reign as King and Queen of Chilton would be passed on to the next generation. Audrey, Tarah and Hannah shared a tight hug, all promising to stay in touch as they went on to their various schools. Once she broke away from the hug there was a tap on Audrey's shoulder. Audrey turned around and faced her once arch nemisis.

"No hard feelings?" Andie asked, offering her hand.

"No hard feelings," Audrey replied shaking her hand. The two girls then shared a hug.

"Excuse me?" a voice called to Lorelai. "Hi Lorelai."

Lorelai turned around and looked at woman she hadn't seen in a very long time. Granted there was still a picture of this woman and the love of her life on the mantle in her house.

"Hi, Nicole. I was wondering when I would run acrossed you," Lorelai said warmly.

"I'm sorry about Luke," Nicole said. "It must be hard. I couldn't possibly understand what you're going through."

"It's slowly getting better. You get used to waking up to the same person everyday for ninteen plus years and then to not have it anymore is hard. You've got a great kid there Nicole. Of all of Audrey's Chilton friends Tarah was by far Luke's favorite. Too bad we never got the chance to have dinner together. I know Luke would have liked that. Well I need to go find Miss America and take our seats for dinnner. It was really nice to see you again."

"Yeah you too, Lorelai."

The two women parted, most likely the last time they would ever see each other again. Lorelai turned to walk away and into the long halls of Chilton on her way to meet with her family. So much had changed in Lorelai's life. When she had gotten on the bus that led her away from her parent's life she had no idea what fate had in store for her. 40 years ago she came to Stars Hollow with a tiny little girl, barely a year old, ready to make it on her own. She met people who had influenced her life greatly. She met the man that would become her best friend, lover and husband. She watched that tiny little girl grow into a remarkable young woman. If someone had told 17 year old Lorelai Gilmore that everything was going to be all right, that everything would work out for the best she wouldn't have believed them. Her life was her own and for that she was glad. She learned to stand on her own two feet, a trait she successfully passed on to her daughters. She really was Wonder Woman, in more ways than anyone could count. And that made her smile.

The End

A/N: Thank you again for reading this story. I will be starting on another one very soon.