2041

Rory wandered around the lower floor. It was still early in the morning, she already turned on the coffee machine and heard it bubbling from a distance. This house will never feel like it felt before. She sighed while she carefully touched the doorframes. With her inner eyes she saw all the things that happened here. She saw Emma, her stubbornness, her endless discussions, that little wrinkled fold between her eyes, her first time of having lovesickness, the attempts to soothe her, the countless laughters, the card playing, the hip hop dancing classes in the kitchen with Harlow and Vivianne. She saw Rick, his first steps in the bathroom, between the tub and the toilet, his wild and yet soft character, the dark eyes he shared with his father, always keeping some mysteries. And there was Luke, taking him fishing, being best buds, being the best grandpa a child can ask for. She heard Jess chuckling while she herself complained to him about catching Rick with a girl, how he was squirming when she confronted them, but still having a saucy grin on his face.
She remembered cleaning up the living room and finding a sketchbook, curiously flipping through the pages, where she found wonderful artwork, abstract but still touching. In the lower corner she read "Rick Mariano", written in uppercase letters.
So many memories, good and bad. She saw herself crying and crouching on the sofa, after she got this horrible phone call from her mom, telling her that grandma didn't make it. The next minute she felt many hands, many hugs, and her daughter whispering: "We're here. Remember, it's the four of us. We never leave someone behind."

A door opened and her husband entered the room. He smiled slightly at his wife, putting his arm around her. "So, you plunged deep down into self-pity?"
"Like totally. But don't blame me for it. It's strange to know that we'll live here alone now. I'm gonna miss them so much."
"I know. Me, too. Thought it's easier the second time, but now it is more... concluding."
"Oh geez, please. Are you already crying over me?", the voice of their son appeared. He was coming out of the bathroom, still drying his hair with a towel. "Please ignore it for the next hour until I'm leaving. And then you can call Grams and start one of your emotional movie nights with tissues and pizza."
Without saying a word, his father offered him a shirt. Rick looked confused. "What's that?"
"Just take it." Jess smirked.
Rick spread the shirt and started grimacing. "You're fucking kidding me, right? I don't care that the women of our family are crazyheads with their traditions and stuff, but Dad, I've always held much of you."
Rory started laughing as she saw what the black shirt said: "rick's going to nyu tisch"

While the three of them had their last coffee together, joking around the round kitchen table, Emma arrived at the front door. She hesitated to ring the bell or, easier, using the key. She looked around, saw the porch swing and sighed. So many times she sat there with so many mixed emotions.
She and her mum, telling her all about Matt, how he made her feel like she's special, about the fightings with Harlow, listening to mum's stories from the past. Stars Hollow, Chilton, her great-grandparents, how she met dad, how they both screwed up in different parts of their life, how they fixed it.
She and her dad, sharing a root beer, explaining to him why she wants to go to California, listening to his stories from Venice Beach, about his step-sister Lily, about Jimmy, about the things he learned about himself while being there.
One time it was also her other dad, who was sitting with her in that old-fashioned swing, right after her birthday weekend in Marthas's Vineyard, where she was invited to stay at his place. He dropped her off and she asked him to stay a bit longer. So they both sat down, gently rocking back and forth. "I liked it, thanks for the invitation", she said quietly. "No big deal. It was nice having you around for some days, sweetheart", her father answered, "and now, what's your new plan with being sixteen?". She rolled her eyes. "Surviving the next day without punching someone in the face", she replied. He laughed and put his arm around her. "Listen Em, I'm sorry for not being here every day. I would like to see you more often, you know that. And I know that you're happy and you have a lot of good people in your life. But I really want to know what is going on in your life. I wanna be included. So thanks for being so open this weekend. And I'm totally supporting Berkeley. Not only me, but also the trust fund." Emma smiled. "Thanks, dad. I know. I'll keep you updated."

One last deep breath and she rang the bell. "It's open" she heard a mumbled voice from afar, while pushing the door and following the sound of the voices. Three surprised faces looked at her. She waved and giggled at their expressions. The next minute there were chairs being moved and she felt herself in the arms of her mother. "What are you doing here?"
"I cannot miss the dramatic farewell of my little brother." She winked at Rick, while she still was entangled with Rory.
"Overprotecting sister, gonna miss it" he said with clenched teeth.
Emma released herself from her mother, leaned over to kiss Jess on the cheek and grabbed his cup of coffee. "I know you don't mind, old man. So Rick, what's up with Aimee? She's also going to New York?"
"Nope. We broke up. I'm now a freshman, that calls for fresh girls."
"Gross." Em made a disgusted face.
"No, don't worry. She's alright. We stay friendly." He winked at his father.
"What is that winking all about? Please, I hope you didn't got dating advices from your dad!" Rory groaned.
Both men just smirked at each other.
"So, one last photo please. Before the tears make us swollen and puffy." Emma took her camera out of her purse.
"No tears, you crazy people", Rick grumbled.
They took their position, Emma set the self timer, Rory placing herself proudly next to her tall son, who was pretending to play cool, Jess waiting for Emma to take her into his arm. Click. A next chapter began.