Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this chapter. The story idea is mine.

Chapter Two : The First Night

Rory and Lorelai were running around the Gilmore home trying to pack everything. Today was the big day. The day Rory Gilmore would go out to another college and wow them with her brilliance.

"I can't believe I'm going to NYU today!" Rory shrieked in excitment as she stuffed her last piece of clothing into an already full trash bag.

"I know, I'm going to miss my little girl!"

"Mom!"

"My little Rory, off to see the world, one college at a time!" Lorelai stated as she moved her arm across the room as if she was dancing to 'Grease Lightning'

"Oh boy, here we go again."

"What do you mean here we go again!" Lorelai questioned, almost as if she was offended.

"I mean, you did this last time, when I was going off to Yale," Rory explained.

Lorelai looked at her daughter while trying to think of a comeback to defend herself, but she couldn't find one. Rory was right.

"No..."

"Ok mom.. sure."

Rory and Lorelai had just arrived at the apartment complex in New York. They're walking around looking as if they'd never seen anything like it before. Rory looked at each door as if she didn't know what to find behind them. Lorelai did the same, only she didn't seem so frightened by them.

"This must be it, 52B."

"52B..."

Lorelai walked ahead of her daughter, once she realized how nervous she was. This was definately different from starting Yale. When Rory had started Yale, her mother was a call away. She knew that if she needed her for anything, all she had to do was call, and she'd be over in twenty minutes. Now that Rory was going to be living in New York, it was different. Her mom wouldn't be right there. "Here we go..." Lorelai pushed the key in and turned the nob.

"Wow, it's nice!" All the previous thoughts of life without her mother just a call away had disappeared. As soon as Rory saw her new apartment, she was completely excited. All she could think of was where the bed was going to go, and how she would decorate. She no longer dwelled on life in New York, and how different it would be from life in Stars Hollow.

"Yeah, ritzy!"

Rory smirked as a look of realization came upon her face. "Hey, I was in the moment this time!"

Lorelai looked at her daughter in confusion. "What?"

"Remember when I first went to Yale we had to re-do entering my suite 'cuz you said I wasn't 'in the moment' "

"Oh right" Rory could tell her mother had no idea what she was talking about, but she let it go. She was too excited about her new apartment to dwell on it. "so... your own place... until you find someone to share it with anyway."

"I know, I've never had my own place before. I mean at Yale there was still Paris, Tauna, and Janet."

"Yeah, it's a big change, but I think my girl can swing it. So what should we do first?"

"What if we unload everything first, before it gets too late, and then we can scope out the good coffee and food."

"Sounds perfect, let's go I'm starving!"

Rory and Lorelai get back to the apartment, laughing with icecream from 'Chillie's' in their hands.

"Oh my god, I think I can get used to living in New York!"

"I know, I mean, think of all the shopping you can do!" Lorelai was completely wired from all the caffiene and sugar she had in her system.

"Yeah, and the books I can read, I mean, there must be millions of book stores out there. I don't know about you, but I think I counted thirteen, and that's just on one street!"

Lorelai stopped dead in her tracks, and started laughing.

"We were out walking around in New York and you counted book stores?"

"N-no... no it was just a guess..."

"You sooo counted them."

"So what if I did!" Rory looked at her mother with a smirk.

"Glad to know some things won't change no matter where you are..."

Rory and Lorelai looked at each other with matching smiles. "So what next?" Rory asked.

"I don't know, want to unpack a little so we can sleep and you can find stuff in the morning?"

"Sure, but we're definately going to 'Dukes' in the morning for coffee!" Rory yelled as she walked off down the hallway to start unpacking.

"Definately, it's like a city version of Lukes!" Lorelai turned around and bent over to start unpacking.

"Ok, so that was the best night's sleep I've ever had," Lorelai shouted from the bathroom as she finished getting ready to head out to 'Duke's'

"I know, I think I'm going to like it out here..."

"I'm sure you will. Wait no, I know you will... Just don't forget us little people in the Hollow once you become a city girl.."

"I'm sorry what did you say? I don't talk to small town residents, " Rory looked at her mom with a smile a mile wide.

"Ooh, you're a funny one."

"I know, I know."

The tow had just finished eating breakfast at Dukes and they were on their way back to the apartment. They were standing at Lorelai's jeep, saying their goodbyes.

"Thanks for all your help mom."

"Aww, not problem babe. Now call me if you need ANYTHING!"

"I will, love you mom."

"Love you too kid."

Lorelai gets in her jeep and waves as she pulls out of the parking space, leaving Rory alone to start her life in New York. Rory stared at her mom as she pulled away. She couldn't believe it. She was living all on her own. In New York! She turned around to head up to her apartment.

Lorelai just got home from New York and she walked in her house. Putting down her keys, she looked around at the empty house. She remembered coming home to an empty house after Rory started Yale over a year ago. She sat on the couch, just thinking. All these thoughts run through her head as she tried to think of anything but being with her daughter, which at the time, she thought would make her miss her more.

At the same time, Rory is laying in her bed, thinking of Stars Hollow. Her mom, in particular. She remembers her first night alone at Yale. She layed there thinking of how different living in New York and going to NYU would be from living in New Haven and going to Yale. The more she lied there and thought, the more she missed her mom. Rory stepped out of bed and walked into the living room in search of a book to read. Once she found one, she got back into bed. "This is going to work," she thought.

"This is going to be alright," Lorelai though aloud before she turned the light off and fell asleep.