Disclaimer: This is an original story based upon the characters of Gilmore Girls. No profit will be made from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Thank you for the feedback. It's great to be back! I hope there will be lots of wonderful Gilmore fan fics coming soon to make us all feel better about the show ending. The girls still live through stories! I hope you enjoy the next installment of mine.

"You're doing it wrong," she said simply, making the frustrated piano player stop for the thirteenth time.

Richard sighed, "Alright dear, what am I doing this time?" he asked.

"That last note...you were off key."

"Darling, you are no Broadway star yourself," he said with a little bite in his voice.

"And when you say 'Wow' you look like you're having an aneurysm," she countered without skipping a beat.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, I really need to go. It's after 10, I think everything will go fine tomorrow," their accompanist said standing up and grabbing his jacket before Emily could object.

"Well, don't blame me if she's embarrassed," Emily said simply as she walked from the room.

"I'm sure it will be fine dear," Richard said, not trying to hide the little smile that crept up in his features. Oh how he loved this woman.

Parties were a terrific distraction. Emily had discovered this a long time ago when she was a new wife. Anytime she was feeling a little neglected, that the business came first, she would throw herself into throwing the biggest and best party on the block. As years went on, she had grown so accustomed to it, that she didn't realize when she gave parties as a distraction. But whenever she had a fight with Lorelai, there was usually a DAR luncheon within a few days. When Richard had forgotten their anniversary, she threw a block party. Now, she was throwing a graduation party for Rory, trying to distract herself from the fact that her other little girl was growing up, moving on, and picking out balloon color schemes and finalizing invitation lists were easier to manage than her feelings. She was quite pleased with herself, the party seemed a success and Rory was smiling. When Christopher came, she kept a close eye on him to make sure he and Lorelai didn't cause a scene. She would have been mortified if they had fought, but they appeared to being civil and even friendly. Suddenly Richard grabbed her arm and said, "Let's do it."

The song had everyone laughing, and Richard was still off key and looked like he was having an aneurysm when he said, "Wow!", but during the song, she locked eyes with Rory for a moment, and it just about did her in. She saw the look in Rory's eyes, the look that had been there when she was a child. She knew she was loved by this girl, not merely tolerated but loved. It warmed her heart and when Rory came up to them--red faced but beaming, she wondered what life would have been like without this girl. Her nostalgia turned to excitement as Logan made his proposal, and cursed under her breath when Rory wanted to take Logan outside. How could she make them wait like this?

"He's a Huntzberger! An offer doesn't come along like this everyday!" she exclaimed and Lorelai curtly reminded her that it was a marriage proposal and not a business transaction. She felt stupid then, for a moment she had forgotten all about Mitchum's mistreatment of Rory, and the showdown between her and Shira. All she knew at that moment was that Rory would be part of her world. Rory would finally have the fine things of life, things she had never had before. Most of all, it felt like Rory's marriage to Logan meant that she would always be connected to Emily. She watched Lorelai go out the door and prayed she would be able to talk some sense into her daughter.

Nighttime came and again she couldn't sleep. Lorelai and Rory hadn't come back to the party and she was worried. What if Rory threw it all away? Just like Lorelai. She was sitting on the top of the stairs, not really sure why she had stopped there in her pacings. She knew what Lorelai would say if she were here, "Mom, what matter's more, Rory's happiness or marriage to someone of good breeding? She's not a horse."

Emily sighed, she did want Rory to be happy but was it too much to ask to hold on to just one of her girls? She was sure things would change with Lorelai after Rory was gone. Oh, she would get a few phone calls here and there out of obligation, when Lorelai's conscience momentarily aimed her their way. She would probably get Thanksgiving and the Christmas party, but certainly no more Friday night dinners--unless, she wracked her brain to come up with something, anything that Lorelai might need. Obligation Friday night dinners made for a whiny Lorelai but she preferred that to no Lorelai at all. She was suddenly surprised to feel a strong arm around her and turned as Richard sat down next to her.

"Did I wake you up?" she asked.

"I never could sleep without you," he said, "Penny for your thoughts?" he asked gently.

"With your wealth, all you have to offer me is a penny?" she said smiling

Richard looked contemplative, "Alright, 'One thousand two hundred and seventy eight dollars and sixty three cents for your thoughts?" he replied smiling.

She laughed lightly and then waited for a few minutes, "I'm worried," she said simply.

"About Rory?"

"Yes, I've been looking forward to this for so long. I thought for sure when he asked her that she was going to say yes right away," Emily sighed

"It's a big decision," Richard said simply. "She needs to be certain."

"Three years, she's been dating him for three years," Emily countered.

"But the boy has had some set backs. I don't know if he is good enough for her."

Emily rolled her eyes, "Richard, you are never going to think anyone is good enough for her."

He simply smiled, reached down and took her hand. "She'll be alright Emily. No matter what happens, they both will."

She nodded and for a moment they just sat in silence.

"Its graduation day tomorrow," she said after a few minutes.

"Yes," he replied.

"Do you...do you still think about it Richard, I mean...the way things might have been, the way things were supposed to have turned out?"

He gave her hand a squeeze, "Yes...Yes darling I do."

"That's it," Richard said softly, supporting her with his strong arms. "One step at a time."

"Richard I'm not a cripple, not am I four years old kindly stop treating me like I'm either," she said sharply but quietly. She was amazed at how little energy she did have, and despite her criticism, Richard's arm did feel good around her.

"She was going to call today," she whispered, much more than a whisper took too much breath. "She was supposed to call today why didn't she call?"

Richard sighed as he helped her into a chair, "No Darling, she called last Thursday, it's every other one, she'll call again next Thursday. Can I get you anything? A drink?"

"No," she said, "Let's go," then looking up seeing his face, the worry creased in his forehead, his large sad eyes, she managed a smile. "This will be good for us Richard, to get out like this, I'm looking forward to it."

He sighed with relief, "I'll get your sweater,"

She looked around the room after he was gone--the maid's hadn't kept up, she could see dust on her antique walnut hutch. It was hard to believe she hadn't been in this room for a month. Suddenly she felt ashamed of herself for making such a fuss, scaring poor Richard, If her daughter didn't want to come back, she wasn't going to come back. She had to accept it, she had to move on.

And then she turned and saw the portrait.

Her eyes locked on with the blue eyes of the young Lorelai, and a fresh batch of tears stung at her eyes. Her whole body started trembling and she turned and pointed to one of the maids. "You," she said sharply, "Take down that portrait and put it upstairs in the attic."

"Mrs. Gilmore?" the maid asked in confusion.

"Just do it!" she snapped so harshly that it brought Richard out of the other room. She covered her face to keep from showing her tears. "Just get it out of my sight," she said.

Richard went to her, putting his arm around her, "Let's go," he said and helped her out the door.

They had a lovely dinner at Shayzan's, and for the first time in a long time they were able to have a conversation about something other than their daughter. Richard talked about business, and then they talked about their Europe tour, they planned a full month in Paris, to the delight of Emily, who hadn't seen her sister in over a year. They would visit Greece, touring all the ancient sites, and then two weeks in Venice. When they left the resturaunt, Richard's heart beat fast with relief as he saw the color in his wife's face for the first time in a month. He reached down and held her hand as they walked out to the car.

"What do you say to a movie?" Richard asked as they started the car.

"A movie?" Emily replied incredulously.

"Yes, buttered popcorn, coke, milk duds...making out...the whole nine yards."

Emily blushed, "Richard Gilmore, we have not...done that...in a movie since we were engaged."

Richard smiled, "What do you say?"

She nodded, "Alright,"

Richard turned the car to go towards the movie theater. They were about half way there when they realized that they had to drive past Lorelai's old school. Richard looked over at Emily anxiously.

"It's alright Richard, I'm fine," she said.

It wasn't before long that they reached the school. They had to stop because there was so much traffic.

"What in the world?" Emily asked, and then both of them were silent as they saw the commotion at the school. There were students all around, hugging each other and taking pictures, Lights were pouring out of the school, and lights from a disco on the bottom flour spilled out into the night sky. There was a big banner outside that said, "Congratulations Class of 1987!," and on the school sign, the announcement was in red and gold letters, "Graduation, 3:00 today."

"Oh Dear God," Emily said, taking in a sharp breath as her voice broke.

Richard said nothing; just turned the car around and headed for home.

Yale campus was beautiful. Emily was glad Rory had gone to a place where the grounds were well kept. She was glad to be done with the awful commencement speaker, and was it a rule that all commencement's had to be hotter than Hell itself? She had been pumping Lorelai mercilessly for information on Rory and Logan and couldn't believe that Lorelai knew no more than Emily herself. She could tell Lorelai was getting annoyed with her, but she didn't care. Curiosity and complaining were two other means she had of distracting herself and she was using both in full force. Not only did she not want to think about Rory growing up, but the "What might have been" question was deep on her mind. Even after all this time, she still felt disappointed that it wasn't her daughter that was graduating with honors from some prestigious school and getting ready to set the world on fire. There was a part of her that had been hurt too, although she had no idea why, when Richard had suddenly referred to Lorelai as "Sweetheart." He used to call Lorelai that all the time when she was a little girl, to him she was "sweetheart," and to Emily she had been "angel." She couldn't remember the last time she had called her angel. Strangely, she felt jealous. It seemed as though Richard and Lorelai's relationship had been so much better since he had been released from the hospital. She shook her head at herself for thinking such ridiculous thoughts. She was jealous of Richard's heart attack--how it had changed the relationship he had with his daughter. So, she complained about the stupid speaker, and the Ray Charles woman sitting in front of her.

"Enjoy your daughter's graduation," Richard told Lorelai as she panicked about marking the time. "This is as much your moment as it is Rory's." he said and Lorelai Leigh Gilmore's name was read. She walked across the stage, so graceful, so elegant like. Lorelai stood up and clapped and Emily could see she was crying. "Congratulations Lorelai," she thought to herself, "You deserve this."

"Rauol," she whispered sharply and pointed to Lorelai's row. She could imagine Lorelai's face when she saw the camera, but she didn't care. It was really happening, she was going to see her daughter in a cap and gown and get her diploma. She sat up so she could see Lorelai walk up to the stage and Richard leaned over and took her hand.

"This is your moment too Emlly," Richard whispered, "You raised her well."

Her eyes were focused on Lorelai, "I didn't do anything special Richard," she said, her voice breaking,

He leaned in more and kissed her, "Just look at her Emily," he whispered.

"Lorelai Victoria Gilmore," the announcer read and tears streamed down her cheeks. She came close to losing it when she saw Richard's face, the adoration he still held in his heart for his little girl, apparent in his beaming eyes. She gave up trying to fight off the inevitable when Lorelai stopped and looked at them.

"I love you," Emily thought, "I love you more than I have ever loved anything,"

She reached in a got a tissue out of her purse, trying to regain some sense of control.

"Mom? Mom are you planning on putting down stakes here?" Lorelai asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.

She looked up and saw that people were leaving. "My goodness, is it over?" she said, "That was too long. It's time for pictures...where's our Yale graduate?"

They all watched in anticipation as Rory and Logan talked, and Emily's heart sank as Rory handed the box back to Logan. She was about something to Lorelai about Rory getting her fear of commitment from her when she saw Logan walk away and Lorelai muttered, "Oh no."

Rory came back to the group and Lorelai hugged her, "I'm sorry Sweetie," she said. Rory smiled after they had separated; the sadness in her eyes palpable. "Who's up for ice cream?" she said brightly.

"I'm in," Emily said with excitement, trying to distract Rory now. "Where shall we go?" she asked.

"I want to go change real fast, I'll be right back," she said turning to leave.

"We'll wait," Lorelai said.

She turned to run and the rest of the group started to walk away and then Rory turned back and called out for Emily.

"Yes?" Emily said, turning around.

"I'm sorry. I want you to understand...I mean..."Rory stammered

"Rory, are you happy? That's all that matters to me," Emily replied and she really meant it.

"I will be," she said.

Emily reached down and squeezed her hand, then turned to join the others.