A/N: So, folks, we have reached the summer and therefore the end of the story. Thanks for sticking with me this far and for all the lovely reviews. Y'all rock! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 31

"I can't believe it's over. Last final completed," said Rory as she stepped out of the building flanked by Jess and Paris. "We made it."

"Just a couple of days then graduation and it's all over. Our Chilton careers will have come to a close," said Paris thoughtfully. "Quite the historic occasion, especially since this year's graduating class contains the least blue-blooded person I ever met," she said, smirking at Jess.

"Hey, I'm proud of that title," he assured her. "And honestly? I am not sorry to be almost done with this place."

"Oh, come on!" Paris rolled her eyes. "Without Chilton's backing and superior education, do you really think you'd be headed for Yale in the Fall?"

"You're assuming I don't come to my senses over the Summer and realise I really don't wanna go to college."

Rory looked a little startled at that response, but relaxed the moment she glanced at Jess and saw him wink. He was just baiting Paris, not being serious, even though Rory was sure the thought had crossed his mind to ditch the idea of Yale and do something else. What worried her most perhaps was that Jess might like California a little too much and decide not to come back. She hoped that wouldn't happen and couldn't really imagine Jess taking on life as a surfer dude or similar, but there was a nagging worry in the back of her mind that she just couldn't shake.

"Jess! Rory!" called two familiar voices suddenly.

Madeline and Louise came bounding over with the biggest grins on their faces.

"Sign our year books!" Madeline instructed, thrusting her own book and a sparkly pen right into Jess' face.

"Seriously?"

"C'mon, Jess. It won't kill you to sign your name," his girlfriend advised, taking Louise's book and pen from her to do the same.

"Whatever," Jess sighed, doing as he was asked.

He really didn't get the whole year book signing thing. He got the book itself, though he wasn't sure why, but there were very few people in the school who's signature or goodbye message he was eager to get. Rory was into that whole thing, and that was fine. Her book sure did look impressive with all the messages congratulating her on getting valedictorian. Honestly, Jess was still amazed by how well Paris had taken that news. He expected her head to spin around and explode, but no. She congratulated Rory for winning a fight well fought and consoled herself that she was leaving this school with a higher GPA that any former generation of Geller to attend. That was enough for her apparently. That and beating Jess' own score. She made a very big deal out of that, and for once he let her do it without complaint.

"Done," he said, handing Louise's year book back to her now he and Rory had now signed both.

She and Madeline read the messages from their two friends, smiling at the kind comment from Rory and then each frowning at Jess' sentiment.

"Great. 'Cause what this book really needed was more Latin," said Madeline, making a face.

Rory peered over her shoulder to see 'Stultus Est Sicut Stultus Facit' written in Jess' familiar handwriting. Her eyes went wide, and she socked her boyfriend in the shoulder, even if she couldn't help but laugh. There really wasn't much to argue with. 'Stupid is as stupid does' kind of suited Madeline down to the ground!

"I'm not complaining about mine. Thanks, Jess," said Louise, smiling widely.

"You're welcome," he assured her, smirking hard as the girls walked away.

"What did you write?" asked Rory curiously, sure that Jess didn't mean to say anything at all pleasant to Louise of all people - she really bugged him.

"Not much," he told her, shrugging his shoulders. "Just a little something from Henry IV."

Paris moved fast after the girls and peered over their shoulders to see Jess' message in Madeline's year book as some other faceless student she cared nothing for wrote their own words nearby. Smirking, she returned to her friends.

"You are as a candle," she quoted with a look. "Really? She has no idea what the rest of that line is."

"The better burnt out," Rory completed, recalling it clearly from their extensive study of the play earlier in the year.

The girls laughed at that, even though they knew it was mean. It wasn't as if Madeline or Louise were ever likely to realise they'd been had, or care much if they did.

Thanks to his own finals and essay deadlines, Jamie just couldn't make it to Paris' graduation. He apologised profusely and sent her the most beautiful gift to make amends - a locket engraved with her name and graduation date - so she couldn't really be mad at him. In any case, she had more than enough support on this great day. Lorelai and Luke assured her they were as proud to be there for her sake as they were for Rory and for Jess, and that meant a lot, even to the usually unmoved Paris.

"You okay?" she asked Rory as they took their seats.

Both being Gs they got to sit together, whilst Jess was stuck a couple of rows behind, too close to Madeline for comfort, or so he had said. Rory turned to look at him and he shot her a winning smile, which certainly helped her nerves some.

"I will be," she assured Paris then. "Just a little worried I'll freeze mid-speech or cry or something stupid."

"You'll be fine," her friend assured her, making an awkward attempt at patting Rory's arm and looking encouraging. "You've got this."

"Yeah, I got this," she agreed, shaking a little in any case.

When Headmaster Charleston finally announced that Rory Gilmore was now going to make her valedictorian's speech, she found a deep breath dispelled much of her nerves. She stepped up onto the podium and looked out at the crowd, at her mom and Luke, her grandparents, and Sookie and Jackson. Then to the other side of the gathered crowd she saw a lot of friends from school, Paris, and of course, Jess. With all this support, it was no wonder she had achieved so much. With all of them here, urging her on, she could easily make her speech.

Rory spoke of the two worlds she lived in. How books had guided, helped, and entertained her, but also of the people in her life that supported and shaped her. Emily and Richard, great pillars of strength as Paris had noted a couple of weeks ago. Luke, Paris, Jess, and all her closest friends that were as dear to her as family. Finally, Lorelai, the mother who had created her, raised her, loved her and encouraged her like no other.

Though it couldn't exactly be said that there was not a dry eye in the house, the row of adults attending for Rory's sake were all certainly moved by her wonderful speech. Rory might have cried herself if she weren't smiling and even laughing at all the applause she was receiving, plus Luke and Jess both had their fingers in their mouth to whistle in a way that was making half the faculty, as well as Emily, wince, and nobody could have been clapping with more gusto than Paris. It meant an awful lot to Rory and she didn't care who knew it.

The ceremony continued with each row of students called upon to go up and receive their diplomas. Pictures were taken, tassels were moved on hats, and it was done. The 2003 Senior Class of Chilton Prepatory School had graduated, and all were proud to be able to say as much.

After the joy of first Luke and Lorelai's engagement and then graduation came the sadness of parting ways. Just a day after the celebrations that ended the school careers of Rory, Jess, and Paris, it was time for them all to head off in different directions for the Summer. Luke was stowing the last of Rory and Lorelai's luggage in the truck in preparation for driving them to the airport. Their flight to Europe left in a few short hours and they would be gone for most of the Summer break. Tomorrow, Luke would make a similar trip to take Jess to the same starting point so he could catch his plane to LA to stay with Jimmy. It meant saying goodbye for now for too many people who were used to being together all of the time.

"You have a great time in California, okay, Jess?" Lorelai advised. "But not so much fun that you don't want to come back."

"I'll be back," he told her definitely. "So long as you will," he said, eyes shifting from Lorelai to Rory.

"That's a definite yes," his girlfriend told him, trying her best not to let tears overcome her.

She was so excited to go back-packing in Europe with her mom, but at the same time, travelling away from Jess, as well as Luke and Paris actually, was kind of a wrench.

"Try to fit in a least a little culture on your trip," Paris advised her friend. "I heard your mom practising her phrases. 'Does Antonio Banderas live around here?' should not be the most important question."

Rory laughed at that, glad Lorelai and Luke were in the truck now and completely missed that comment.

"I promise we'll see everything we ought to see, Paris."

"Okay then. Have a great time," she said then, looking very awkward before finally deciding to give Rory a brief hug. "I'll be inside," she told Jess, going into the diner.

"Luke is going to have so much fun this Summer," Rory noted with a smile she couldn't help.

"God help him!" Jess rolled his eyes, though he was smiling just the same.

He had invited Paris to come to California with him. After all, as he told her, she was more like family to him than Jimmy in some ways. It wouldn't suck for them to get acquainted. She seemed to seriously consider the proposal but in the end she had refused. She thanked her brother for the sentiment, but the fact was Paris believed it was important for father and son to bond without interference. She was fine with staying behind and had in fact offered her services to Luke at the diner. He would be a man down with Jess away and lonely without Lorelai and Rory. Besides, she actually found she quite enjoyed the varied and unfamiliar diversion of waiting tables at Luke's. Though he looked a little dumbfounded by the way Paris phrased her offer, Luke had eventually agreed that she could help out with a few shifts if she really wanted to. He figured he was doing them both a favour in the long run, saving them both from being lonely without their loved ones around.

"So," said Jess, facing his girlfriend then.

"So," she echoed, looking down at his fingers entwining with her own. "I guess I'll see you in a few weeks."

Jess nodded his agreement then leaned in closer until their lips met. They kissed like no-one was watching, hoping rather believing that was true. When they reluctantly parted, they refused to say goodbye or even I love you. The look they shared covered everything as Rory's fingers slipped out of Jess' grip and she walked away.

The truck moved off from the kerb and was soon gone from sight. Jess let out a long breath and headed inside, finding Paris bickering with Kirk already.

"Luke always lets me take as many as I want," he insisted, a death-grip on at least six or seven sugar packets.

Paris likewise had a similar grip on his wrist, squeezing very tightly.

"Why do I think you're lying to me?" she asked rhetorically. "I'm guessing it's because you're male and your lips are moving."

Kirk looked at Jess in desperation but he only held up his hands and shook his head.

"Hey, man, you got yourself into this mess, you can get yourself out."

"Ow!" Kirk exclaimed as Paris shifted his wrist back another quarter inch.

"Do you know how many pounds of pressure it takes to dislocate a wrist?" she asked him. "It's actually a much smaller number than you'd think. Only eight pounds of pressure per square inch."

Jess was laughing as he passed through the curtain to head upstairs and finish packing.

"Jess, please! Help!" Kirk called to him.

"Paris is in charge until Luke gets back!" he yelled back, suddenly popping his head back around the curtain. "Hey, Paris? Just try not to get blood on the floor, okay, sis?" he told her with a wink.

She smiled at the last word as much as the humour in his tone.

"You got it, brother," she said, shifting her grip on Kirk's wrist just a little before leaving go entirely, snatching the sugar packets from him with her other hand whilst he moaned. "I actually think I'm going to enjoy this Summer."

The End

A/N2: Now, when I say 'The End', that's just for this story. As I think I've mentioned before, this is the second story in a trilogy and the third part will be coming along soon. It will be the first year at Yale for Rory, Jess, and Paris, but will contain canon elements of Seasons 4 & 5 (and maybe even 6) of the show, partly because this series could go on way longer than intended if I don't mix-and-match, and partly because my version of previous events means large parts of Season 4 canon no longer apply! Catch ya all on the flipside ;)