Ah, the next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy it.

Rory POV

Before I knew it, it was merely days before my freshman orientation at Yale.

I was about to be a bulldog through and through, and I couldn't wait for it to happen.

The day before freshman orientation, I went to the Inn at around ten. I wanted to help Lorelai with anything I could.

As I walked in, I saw her at the reception desk.

"Hey, you!" She said, giving me a hug.

"Hey! Do you need any help? I can answer phone calls at the front desk if you need me to?"

"That would be awesome! Excited for tomorrow?"

"Extremely. Ok, boss, you go do whatever it is you need to do. I'll be here."

"Love you hun!"

"Love you, too!"

Lorelai escaped to her office and I was with Michel at the front desk. I was trying so hard to try to figure out the snarky Frenchman.

But then again, neither could anyone around the Hollow. At lunchtime, Lorelai and I decided to catch up with Sookie in the kitchen.

"Have you guys really gotten out since the last town meeting?" Sookie asked.

"Not really, unless you want to count my parents' house as an outing."

"I can't believe Kirk said that!"

"I know, Sook." Lorelai said, putting an arm around my shoulder.

"He is vile and disgusting. But Luke really did step up to the plate." I grabbed Lorelai's hand upon saying that.

After lunch, Sookie and Lorelai stayed back to talk for a minute. I had work to do.

Later on, Luke and Lorelai met up with me at the house. We figured out a game plan for the next day.

Since orientation was my first step into becoming a bulldog, I was excited.

But there was a part of me that wanted to spend some more time with mom.

Holy shit, I just referred to Lorelai as mom.

While that was a weird thought, it was one I was oddly comfortable with.

But when was too soon to do it? And did I just come out and call her mom? And what was Luke? Was Luke dad?

Whew. Take a breath, Rory.

You've got this.

I inhaled deeply and calmed myself down.

I needed to find a therapist up here.

But before I was to do that, I desperately needed to figure out the whole mom thing.

And get ready for Freshman Orientation.

Let's do it, Yale.

The next morning, Lorelai and I go up bright and early and headed for the diner.

Luke was cooking us a big breakfast for the long day, something both of us were grateful for.

When I got in the diner, Luke already had pancakes waiting. He'd worked his pancake artist out because they were in the shape of a Yale "Y."

"Luke, thank you so much!" I said.

"No problem, Rory. We're both really proud of you for going to Yale."

Lorelai put her arm around Luke's waist.

"Luke! Let me in, Luke!"

I heard Kirk from the outside.

Luke abruptly let go of Lorelai to escort Kirk off of the diner sidewalk.

"Why can't I come in, Luke?" Kirk asked.

"Really? You call my wife a whore and in front of the town, and expect to be treated with respect? Get out of here."

I can't make this kind of crap up, I tell ya.

Before long, Lorelai and I were New Haven bound.

"You know, this is a crazy thing I never thought I would be doing."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Bringing you to freshman orientation. I never thought it would happen."

"Me neither."

A beat.

"You know, Yale is only 22.8 miles away."

"Lorelai, how do you know that?"

"I have sources."

"Oh, you totally looked it up!"

"I have my ways."

"You were going to miss me that much."

Lorelai smiled.

"Yeah."

For the rest of the ride, we talked, laughed, and ate gummy bears.

Having Lorelai as my mom was the coolest thing ever.

When we got to campus, we saw a plethora of fellow freshmen.

I was one of them.

Lorelai parked the car and we walked to Old Campus together.

I signed in, while Lorelai went by the parent orientation table.

Right after, we hugged before parting ways.

"Text me if you need anything, okay?"

"I will. I love you."

"Love you, too."

We parted ways and I felt a little sad when she walked away.

As I went to my orientation group, I got a text from my roommate asking what group I was in.

Her name was Paris and I didn't exactly know how she and I were going to get along.

That aside, we ended up in the same group.

I tapped on her shoulder.

"Hey, Rory. It's good to meet you."

She seemed cold yet oddly warm? I don't know.

We talked before our guide gave us a tour of campus and we took ID pictures. After getting my card, I was repulsed. It wasn't a good day in the life of me and my picture taking skills.

However, since Lorelai was unaware that orientation ended early, I headed to the bookstore for some retail therapy.

There was so much blue that it was almost overwhelming. But it certainly put me at ease.

I knew what I wanted, it was just a matter of finding it.

Lorelai POV

After the short orientation was over, Rory texted me. I was lost and so was she, but that didn't really matter, did it?

Anyway, we met up, and she had a bag in her hands. I was curious, but didn't ask.

We drove back to Stars Hollow and she yammered on about how excited she was to start school in a few weeks.

I was so excited for her.

When we got home, she gave me the bag.

It had a blue "Yale parent" shirt.

"I love you, mom."

Hope y'all liked this chapter. Please review!