AN: Okay everyone, this is it! I have painstakingly work to make sure this chapter is amazing. I hope you all like it and are happy with the ending. Please let me know how you like it. I know a lot of you don't review, but I would like your thoughts on this chapter, or the story as a whole. I am so happy that so many of you followed my story and I can't thank you enough for the reviews that I have received. I know that I caused some feels at the beginning of this story, but I hope I have made up for it along the way.

I hope to finish up one more story before starting any new ones; but keep your eyes open, because there will be more in the future.

May 24, 2008 (Saturday)

"Sissy, Sissy!" Rory could hear Caleb shouting from the audience as she crossed the stage to get her diploma. She looked towards her family and smiled. Her grandma was taking photo after photo (the Yale graduation bored refused to let her bring her own photographer; she had not been too pleased with that) while her grandpa and Luke took turns holding Caleb up so he could see, and Christopher who was barely holding back his tears.

When the ceremony was over Rory found her family in the crowd. Caleb had practically leaped out of Luke's arms when he saw her approaching. "Sissy you did it! Sissy you gaduateded."

"Graduated," Rory corrected as he picked him up. She knew that toddler talk was supposed to be cute, but she wanted her little brother to grow up with a proper vocabulary.

"That's what I said," he shot back playfully. "Daddy, sissy did it!"

Luke smiled and leaned forward to give her a kiss on the forehead. "Yes she did. We are all proud of her." he took Caleb from her in time for Christopher to wrap her in a hug.

"I'm so proud of you Ror." She could hear that he was still trying not to cry.

"Thanks dad."

When Christopher stepped aside her grandparents took their turns hugging her.

Her grandma was as poised as ever, showing no signs that she had probably cried the whole way to the ceremony. "Rory I am so proud of you. I knew that you could do it."

"Of course she could," Her grandpa's voice belted loudly, "She is a Gilmore after all."

"Thanks grandpa, thanks grandma. I couldn't have done it without your support."

Richard waved his hand in dismissal. "You don't need to thank us Rory. We would happily do it again. Now, if you want to thank us for this, you can." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope.

Rory took it grudgingly. "I told you guys that there was no need for gifts. You have given me so much already."

"Oh hush hush now and open the envelope," Emily said in a stern voice.

Rory tore into the envelope and pulled out the folded contents. As she unfolded the papers, she nearly dropped them. The papers were the information and deed to a condo in New York. According to the papers, the condo was paid off and in her name.

She struggled to find her voice. "I-I…Grandma, grandpa, this is far too much to accept."

Emily crossed her arms over her chest. "You certainly can, and will, accept. It is already paid for. Besides, this gift is not just from us. This gift is from your mother, and you will most certainly not decline her gift will you?"

Rory felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of her mom. "What do you mean the gift is also from mom?"

"Well, your mother had a fund set up for you," Luke explained. "She knew your goal was to make it as a reporter for the Times and she knew you would want to live in New York. So, she set aside a little money every chance she got."

"There was quite a bit in the account," Richard took over, "Your grandmother and I just supplemented the rest of the funds to get the condo. Your father and Luke also had their own hand in furnishing it."

Rory was speechless. Somehow, her mother was still being the best even though she was no longer physically here. She looked towards the man that was her father by blood and the man that was her father by choice. "You guys bought me furniture?"

Christopher nodded, "Well, I didn't know what you would like, so Luke and your friend Lane helped out. Luke bought you some appliances."

"You know, some simple kitchen gadgets that will help you make your own meals. Just because you can't cook doesn't mean you should eat out for every meal."

"But how did you know what kind of condo I would have wanted?"

"I'm afraid I'm the guilty one there, luv," she heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned and found Finn with a bouquet of daisies.

"Finny!" Caleb squealed. He managed to wiggle out of Luke's arms again and ran full speed towards Finn. "Finny, did you see sissy gaduateded?"

Finn laughed as he lifted the small boy into his arms. "I sure did. Isn't she just the smartest person in the whole world?" He whispered something in Caleb's ear and Caleb nodded enthusiastically in reply.

Finn set him on the ground and handed him bouquet. Caleb walked over to his sister and offered her the flowers. "Here you go sissy. These are from Finny and me."

Rory smiled and crouched down to accept the offering. "Why thank you Caleb." She gave him a kiss on each of his cheeks.

Finn approached her and wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Way to go luv, I knew you could do it."

Finn had managed to become a permanent fixture in Rory's life. Her grandparents, Luke and Caleb had gotten to know him quite well over the last couple years. When Luke needed a babysitter Rory would gladly volunteer for the job and Finn was usually there to help. Caleb had become like Finn's shadow. He wanted to be just like Finn and do everything Finn did.

It had been though Finn's and her grandparent's encouragement that she returned to school. She started back just before the one year anniversary of her mother's death. She had decided that it would be better to honor her mother's memory by finishing her education rather than ruining her life any further. She wished that she had been this clear minded before dropping out of school, but like her support group counselor had told her time and time again, she couldn't change what has already been done; all she could do is do her best as she moved forward.

Richard approached Finn and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "So dear boy, will you be joining us for Rory's graduation party tonight?"

"Yes sir," Finn replied with a smile. "Rory and I will be at your house after our visit to the cemetery."

Caleb looked up at Finn, "Are you and Sissy going to see mommy?"

Finn kneeled to the ground at eye level with the 3 year-old. "We sure are. Is there anything you want us to tell her when we are there?"

He looked from Finn to Rory. "Can you tell her I love her, and I hope she is happy in heaven."

While neither she nor her mom had been very religious growing up, Rory and Luke had found that being able to believe in something, helped them grieve and move past their hurt. Luke had also decided to start taking Caleb to church and said he would let him decided later in life what his own beliefs were and if he wanted to continue going to church. So far, Caleb enjoyed church and all it taught him.

Rory felt a pang in her heart for her little brother who would never fully know how wonderful his mother was. She scooped him up in a tight hug, "Of course I will."

Rory made her way to her mom's grave with Finn following closely behind her. They had done this exact thing two years ago after Finn's graduation, but instead they were visiting Madison. They had sat down and just talked, like they planned on doing today.

She knew that her mom was with her. She may not be with them physically anymore, but she carried her mom's spirit with her everywhere she went. Her journey had been rough, but made easier with Finn's help. She knew that she would never be like she was before, but she also knew that she didn't have to remain entirely broken; she could be happy about life while remembering her mom with loving fondness.

When they got to the headstone Rory sat down with her legs crossed in front of her. Finn sat beside her and she linked her arm with his. They sat, not talking, enjoying the quietness of the cemetery for a bit. The sun was out, but a cool breeze prevented them from becoming too warm. Rory leaned her head over and rested it on Finn's shoulder.

"I can't believe I have a condo in New York full of furniture and kitchen appliances waiting for me." The whole of her surprise was still processing in her mind. "I'm nervous."

She felt Finn nod, "It's okay to be nervous, it's natural. You are entering a new stage of life luv. You'll be doing things you've never done before."

"I still wish she was here, you know," she sighed, "to tell me what to do."

He nudged her, "Hey, that's what I'm here for now. You know I love to boss you around."

Rory grew sad suddenly. She lifted her head and looked at him, "Yeah, but I'll be in New York. That's a like a million mile away from New Haven," there was a melancholy tone to her voice.

Finn laughed. "Luv, it's only 50 or 60 miles. Besides, you don't need to worry about how far away New York is from New Haven. My father decided I needed to stop 'goofing around' and is letting me manage his New York corporate office, which means you don't need to worry about me not being around. In fact, I'm your next door neighbor. "

Rory felt herself grow happy again. She moved and wrapped her arms around his neck, effectively knocking him onto his back. "You don't know how happy that makes me." She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, a smile stretched across her face.

He, with a smile equal to hers, embraced her and held her tightly to him. "I know luv, it makes me just as happy."

She knew that she was slightly dependent on Finn, but she knew he didn't mind. He was there for here when she needed him and she was there for him the few times he need her. She knew that if it were for him she wouldn't be as okay as she was today. The thought of seeing him every day and living so close to him brought her joy. She knew that there was no one else she would rather have this close to her in her life.

He knew that he saw a bit of Madison's light in Rory; it was partially what drew him to her. He felt so much better about life when she was around. He knew that telling any other girl that he was following them to New York and moving next door to them would have them freaked out, but not Rory. She always enjoyed having him around and never made him feel unwanted. She had grown a lot since her mother's accident, and he was happy to have been able to be there with her and for her.

They both knew there was a spark of something extra between them. Neither of them had talked about it, but they knew it was there. Neither knew whether or not they would ever talk about it. They both feared ruining what they had and would rather remain friends than risk it. Only time would tell if they could ever be more.