A/N: Well, here we are at the end of the story, folks. I think it's gone pretty well for a tale that started as a something that was only supposed to be based in California and just kind of got away from me! lol Thanks for all the reviews up to now. Here's how the story wraps up... and then I'll have a flashforward Epilogue for you tomorrow ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 28

It was a stroke of luck the way graduation worked out.

Honestly, Jess felt strange about the whole passing out of high school experience with a bunch of people he only met a few months ago, but he was ready for this. What he had been less ready for was the invitation to see Rory graduate Chilton, two days before. It had been kind of a thrill though, to sit there in a row with Luke and Lorelai, and watch the woman he loved make her speech and graduate top of her class.

"I was so afraid they would be the same day," Rory told him. "I really want to see you graduate and I wanted you to see me, and then there's Luke and Mom, they would've been so torn if we were having our ceremonies at the same time."

"Lucky it worked out," said Jess, nodding his head.

He meant to sound more enthusiastic than he actually did. He was almost as thrilled as Rory herself that she got valedictorian, and it was great that her loved ones could attend her grad and Jess' too, that they could see each other complete their high school education. What bothered Jess was not who would be in attendance when he ended his high school career, but rather those that wouldn't.

"You're sad," she said suddenly, pulling Jess from his thoughts. "Oh, I'm sorry. Your dad and Sasha and Lilly. You wish they could be there."

"Wouldn't suck." Jess shrugged. "But, hey, it is what it is."

Rory looked sad on his behalf now, and Jess hated that. He really didn't mean to bring her down at all. She had every right to be as happy as she was before. Valedictorian was a huge deal, especially for someone like Rory, and they should be celebrating that.

Of course, Jess felt altogether more celebratory when she came and sat herself in his lap and started kissing him. As comforting gestures went, it was a real winner. Then he remembered that her mom and his uncle were going to get back to the house any second, so quite honestly, now wasn't the best time for this. Probably a good thing they were balanced on her desk chair and not any closer to the bed, or the whole situation could've gotten way out of hand.

"Hey, not that I'm complaining, but breathing would be good," he said, pulling out of the kiss, but keeping a firm hold on Rory.

"Sorry," she told him, smiling as he tucked her hair behind her ear for her. "I just don't want you to be sad about your family, and I don't want me to be sad about you leaving, but that part's kind of impossible."

"It's not forever, Ror," he promised her. "I know it's going to be rough being so far apart, but we'll make it work. You know we will."

"I know," she agreed, nodding her head.

College had been a big decision for her, and in the end, Yale had won out over Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, and more importantly, Stanford. Of course, there was a part of Jess that hoped she would choose the one west coast school in the end, despite the fact it was him who told her it was a bad idea. Having Rory closer would've been incredible, but he just knew she would regret being so far from Lorelai and Luke. She was better off just twenty miles or so from home, even if it did kill Jess to know she would be thousands of miles from him for the better part of the next four years.

"You know, I've been looking forward to the backpacking in Europe with mom for so long, and I'm still glad we're going," Rory explained, "but honestly, the closer it gets, the worse I feel, because it means leaving and then coming back to a Stars Hollow without you in it."

"Rory, don't," Jess urged her. "You gotta stop thinking of this like an end. It's not going to be that way. Not unless you want it to be."

"You know I don't," she said fast. "We talked about this, Jess. Breaking up just isn't an option. I love you. I can't imagine feeling this way about anybody else, ever."

He smiled at that, it was impossible not to. Meeting Rory, falling for her, having her love him too, it was this amazing chain of events, especially with her connection to Luke and everything that had brought. It never failed to bowl Jess over every time he thought about how they had come to be together. When Rory said she loved him, he knew it was as true as when he said it to her. Forever seemed so ridiculous when they were only eighteen and hadn't even known each other a year yet, but it was real. More real than anything else Jess had ever known in his life.

"You're everything I want, Rory Gilmore," he promised her. "You changed my life."

"For the better, right?" she checked, smiling but somehow nervous at the same time.

"For the better," he promised, kissing her lips.

"Hello!"

The call from the front door was distinctly Lorelai's voice, and Rory was up out of Jess' lap at the speed of light. It wasn't as if Luke and Lorelai were unaware of how close Rory and Jess were. She had stayed over at the diner apartment several nights and it sure wasn't to play checkers. Still, the adults didn't need a free show from the kids, any more than Jess ever wanted to see Luke and Lorelai do more than give each other a peck on the cheek or whatever.

"Hey, guys" said Lorelai cheerfully as they emerged from the bedroom. "You been having fun?"

"Don't answer that," Luke cut in fast.

"What? I didn't mean it like that," Lorelai assured him with a look. "I really, really didn't," she insisted to Rory and Jess.

"We get it," he promised, nodding his head. "Er, I should probably get going anyway," he said, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. "Gotta get the rest of my stuff packed up."

"Ooh, that reminds me," said Lorelai, snapping her fingers and rushing from the room.

Luke looked as baffled as the kids until suddenly his wife was back with a small packet in her hands.

"Copies of the photos," she said, handing it to Jess. "From Prom."

"Cool. Thanks." Jess nodded, shoving the packet into his pocket without looking. "Sash and Lily will love seeing those... after I edit out the really embarrassing pictures."

He made a hasty exit after that, getting a brief kiss on the lips from Rory before he went. Jess wanted to spend as much time as possible with his girlfriend whilst he had the chance, but there was also a part of him that couldn't bear to draw out the agony. He kept on telling Rory they were going to be fine, that they had to be, because he couldn't be without her forever. Still, it bothered him to be parted from her for so long. They'd be lucky if they saw each other twice a year, and there was every chance that Rory would meet some real persuasive college guys that could convince her they'd be way better for her than some nobody from the west coast that she hardly ever saw.

Getting back to the diner, Jess let himself in and ran straight up to the apartment. Alone at last, away from all prying eyes, he pulled the photos from his pocket and stared at the packet a while. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he started to flip through the pictures.

Prom had been Rory's dream. Chilton was good for her education but she really wanted to attend the Stars Hollow High Prom with Lane, and her boyfriend, Dave. With Jess enrolled, it worked out perfectly. He was eligible for tickets and could bring Rory along. He didn't mind attending, especially when he saw how happy it made his girlfriend. In every picture she was grinning like a loon, and yet could not look more beautiful to Jess. It had been a pretty great night actually. Unfortunately, when it was over, that was when Rory started worrying on a daily basis about the future, and though he tried not to, Jess knew he felt much the same.

With a heavy sigh, he shoved the pictures back into the packet and tucked them into one of several bags piled up in the corner. Everything non-essential to his living the next few days in the apartment had been packed up ready for the trip back to California. He shouldn't have lied about still having to get it done, but Jess needed the alone time right now, just for a while.

Leaving Rory would be tough, but actually, he was going to miss plenty of other people too. Luke, Lorelai, Lane, some of the other kids in school, many of the townsfolk who seemed to love him so easily too. Of course, going home meant seeing his family, Jimmy, Sasha, and Lilly, and that was what had Jess so torn. He missed them so much, he couldn't wait to go home, but when he got back there, he knew he was going to be in just as much pain over those left behind in Stars Hollow.

Covering his face with his hands, Jess didn't know what to do. Praying for a miracle seemed to be maybe the only option, but even that didn't sit well with Jess. Not that he didn't believe there was someone or something watching out for everybody - his meeting Rory the way he did ought to prove that - but he felt wrong about doing it. There were people in the world suffering a much worse fate than having to live on the other side of the country than half the people they loved most.

"Suck it up, Mariano," he told himself then. "You just gotta man up, get through this," he said firmly. "Yeah, 'cause it's just that easy," he said then, shaking his head.

He already knew it was going to be anything but.

"This feels so weird," said Lane, wringing her hands and pacing some outside of the school building. "Do you feel weird?"

"In this get up? Sure," said Jess, making a face at the graduation robes he had been forced to wear.

"Not what I meant," she insisted, rolling her eyes.

Jess watched her as she stopped walking and looked at him properly. He was about to ask what that look on her face was for when she suddenly came rushing towards him.

"Oh, Jess, I'm so sorry," she told him, sitting down beside him on the steps. "I wasn't thinking. I mean, sure, Adventist College isn't going to be the greatest, but you're going so far away."

"I'm going home," he reminded her, finding a smile, "which doesn't suck, but I'll admit, there's a lot here to miss."

Lane looked sad, a similar expression to the one Rory had been wearing off and on for days now. It didn't help, but Jess also couldn't blame them for it. He was feeling much the same, just being a little better about hiding it.

"All the places I lived as a kid, we were moving all the time and I just got used to it," he explained. "Home was wherever me and Jimmy landed next and it never mattered, but now... I thought it was tough leaving California, I had no idea how I was going to feel about Stars Hollow," he said, looking out across the town square. "This crackpot town has got under my skin."

"Yeah," said Lane, smiling widely. "It does that, but you know, we're going to miss you too," she said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "It's not just Rory that wishes you could stay."

Jess smiled back at her.

"Thanks, Lane. You've been a good friend, and when 7th Day Adventist College is getting you down, I'm only a letter or an email away."

"I know," she agreed, nodding her head, "and hey, if things get too bad with Mrs Kim, I might just hop on a plane and come surprise you."

"That'd be okay too," he assured her, perhaps more seriously than he should.

Given Sash's tendency to take in waifs and strays, it would probably be okay if Lane showed up on the doorstep. Jess doubted it would happen, but it would almost be cool if it did actually.

"Looks like this is it," she said then, gesturing to where the rest of their class were assembling. "Time to graduate."

"Apparently," Jess agreed, looking towards the diner as Luke emerged with Lorelai and Rory in tow.

It was great that they were going to see him graduate, but Jess couldn't help but think of the rest of his family, the ones that weren't here. Shaking his head, he tried not to be so maudlin. It wasn't helping. He was here in the Hollow, with family who loved him and friends to share this day with. He was getting out of school with his diploma in hand, and then he was going home to see his family again. There was really nothing for Jess to complain about and he knew it.

Sat in his row as the speeches were made, Jess glanced back once to smile at Rory. She waved, Luke raised a hand too, and Lorelai gave him a thumbs up. It helped a little. Then the names started to be called. Lane went up and Jess applauded as loud as he could for his friend, knowing her parents were not exactly going to be vocal in their praise. Then came his row, and as Jess stood up with the Ls through Ns, he heard someone yell.

"Jess!"

He knew that voice and turned around fast with wide eyes at the sight of Lilly at the end of the aisle, waving like a crazy person. It Sasha didn't have a hold on her, Jess was sure she would be running to him already. Beside them both was Jimmy, smiling and proud as any father ever could have been.

People jostling him to move made Jess take notice and head up to the stage to get his diploma. He shook the Principal's hand, received the scroll, and moved the tassel on his hat, all on automatic. His eyes kept straying to his family, one set and then the other, as the whole ceremony passed by.

The moment he was allowed his freedom, Jess ran towards Jimmy and Sasha, Lilly crashing into him on the way and hugging him as if she never wanted to let go. He didn't mind at all.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, reaching his parents.

"You think we were gonna let you graduate without us?" said Sasha, shaking her head. "You think that then, in your words, you're cracked," she told him, laughing and crying at the same time as Jess threw his arms around her.

They hugged each other tightly and then Jess looked to Jimmy.

"Means a lot to me that you're here," he told him, swallowing hard. "A lot."

"We missed you, son," said Jimmy, reaching to hug Jess to him as hard as he could.

"Sorry to interrupt," said Lorelai somewhere behind him.

Jess turned to find her and Luke, hand-in-hand, with Rory hovering beside them.

"Did you know about this?" he asked them, still in awe apparently.

"No, not at all," Rory said honestly, shaking her head.

"It was kind of a last-minute thing, hence the less-than-formal attire," said Sasha, pulling at her clothes. "We just realised that we couldn't possibly miss such an important day," she said, her hand at Jess' cheek.

"It's so cool that you're here," he assured her, and though he didn't actually say he had missed them, he had a feeling she must've known anyway, Sash always knew.

"You guys must be starving. Come over to the diner, we were going to eat anyway," said Luke, leading the way.

"You sure?" asked Jimmy, seemingly uncertain.

"I'm sure," Luke promised, nodding his head. "We're all family here, right?"

"Right." Jimmy smiled and nodded also, taking a hold of Lilly's hand to walk with her across the street.

"We'll give you guys a minute," said Sasha, falling in behind and letting Rory and Jess have a moment alone.

He turned from the sight of his retreating family to his girlfriend who had tears in her eyes already.

"Hey, I thought you'd at least save the waterworks for a couple of days, until we actually leave," he said, reaching to wipe the stray tear from her cheek.

"It's just so great that your family showed up for your graduation like that," she said, looking embarrassed about her overemotional state and yet not being able to help it by the seem of things, "but it also just reminds me again that this is it. You're going home in the next couple of days and then... and then that's it."

"Rory, for that last time, that's not it," he insisted, pulling her into his arms. "We're not over. That's not happening."

"I know," she said, nodding her head, setting free more tears that tumbled from her eyes. "I just... I thought it was tough leaving you after the summer, and it was, but after spending so much more time together, realising just how much I love you, and knowing that... that we're not going to be on the same side of the country for such a long time."

"You'll visit, and I'll visit. We'll call and we'll write, and I know it won't be the same as this past year, but we'll make it, Rory. I swear we will," he promised her. "I have no faith in my mother to give a damn about me. She couldn't even be bothered to show up today, and honestly, I'm glad she didn't, but I know that Luke and Lorelai will stay in touch, and I know that you and me are going to be okay. I believe that. Don't you?"

"Of course, I do, Jess," she promised, holding him tight. "I just wish it were easier."

"The good stuff in life never comes easy," he reminded her, pushing her hair back off her face, "but it's always worth fighting for."

"Agreed," she said shakily, swallowing hard one more time. "I love you, Jess Mariano," she promised him. "Always."

"I love you too, Rory Gilmore," he vowed just the same, moving in to kiss her lips, determined that although this seemed like an ending, it was only going to be the beginning of their next chapter in life together.

Epilogue to follow!