AN. And once again, another amazing episode of Parenthood mocked me and reminded me of what I was originally imagining for this fic. Really need to move on from that idea. Sorry this took so long, I got a little stuck, and I was sort of... busy for most of the week, not completley incomunicado, just, a little distracted and having way too much fun spending all my money. Anyway, enjoy.

Weeks went by, and turned into a little over a month as the colleges all over the country took their time deciding on which students they would admit and which would have to learn a trade. Many more movie nights were had at Lorelai's in an attempt to keep the kids minds off what they were desperately waiting for. And Rory even began to help out more at the inn.

After a big convention all through the previous week that involved the New England Historical Society taking over the entire place, things were quieting down, enough to allow Sookie and Lorelai to take in a long lunch which extended late into their afternoon. It hadn't taken long at all for them to begin talking about boys.

"I promise!" Lorelai insisted as they walked along the street, headed towards her apartment building. "I can watch Davey for a few hours, even the whole night if necessary. It'll be fun."

"Well, if you're really sure."

"I am! Now come on upstairs with me, I have a wrap that I think would look great with that dress you were telling me about."

"Did you want to check the mail first?" Sookie checked as they came in to the foyer.

"Nah, it's probably just a bunch of bills and catalogues." She replied, afraid to look and see still no word from any of the schools Rory had applied to. "I'd rather put it off for a couple more days."

"You don't want to sit down and browse through the catalogues? Who are you?" Lorelai chewed her lip as she stood on the bottom step across from the wall of mailboxes.

"Well, the world didn't end when I didn't check the last two days, so I'm sure it'll be fine." She explained, still eyeing the wall. "Oh fine! You talked me into it. Let's see what's on sale but still just out of the budget this week," she decided, crossing the entryway and pulling out her key. "Sookie! I need... you have to come – Now! – need you!" she babbled incoherently, gaping.

"What? What is it?"

"There's a-"

"Why on earth are we convening down here?" Rory asked, stepping inside and removing her back pack. "The comfy chairs and yummy coffee are upstairs."

Sookie screamed looking between the thing in Lorelai's hands and Rory, who stood transfixed.

"What? Is there a spider? A snake? What's going on?" The two women were silent, staring at Rory who was actually beginning to become very frightened. "You have to stop this now! What's wrong?" Lorelai stepped forward and handed over the thing that had started it all. "What is... Mom, where did you get this?" she couldn't take her eyes off the envelope.

"It was in the..." she pointed to the wall and Rory swallowed hard.

"It's a big one!" Sookie announced. "Big means yes, doesn't it?"

"I don't... I'm not sure what I..."

"Ok, we're going to take a seat over here. Just breathe for a bit, ok?" Lorelai instructed, taking Rory's arm and leading her to the steps as Sookie bounced with excitement. Rory nodded as she took in a few gulps of air. "Alright, do you want to maybe think about opening it now? I mean, Sookie's right - as far as I know they don't send out the rejection letters in big fat envelopes."

"I don't know."

"Well, honey, you gotta do it sometime. You have to find out what they have to say, and anyway, this is sort of like a practice run. There's every chance that you're going to get into way better schools and move far away from home instead of just across town, but still, you have to open this first to find out that the world is discovering your brilliance, ok?"

Pressing her lips together tightly and narrowing her eyes, Rory nodded before carefully opening the end of the envelope and slipping her hand inside to remove the contents.

"Dear Miss Gilmore, I am delighted to inform you that..." whatever else she was going to say was drowned out by an almost ear-drum shattering shriek – courtesy of Lorelai and Sookie - that caused a few tenants to call out down the stairs for them to shut up.

"I can't believe this." Rory finally said when everyone's breathing had returned to normal and the screaming had ceased. "I mean, I seriously cannot understand how this could have possibly happened. Why would they even consider-"

"Hey, hey! You are a great, super smart kid," Lorelai interrupted. "And this is only the beginning. If you think getting accepted to Southern Connecticut State is exciting wait until Harvard and Yale and all the others join the party. They'll bring chips and dip, drinks and tunes, all you have to do, as guest of honour is show up and be amazing. So be happy. Be very, very happy."

"I will, when this whole 'I'm having a stroke' idea passes and I can remember the order of the letters in the alphabet."

"We have to go tell people." Lorelai decided.

"Oooh! Yes!"

"What? Who? Why would you tell anyone this?" Rory asked, paling. "Shouldn't we hold off for a little while? Just in case they retract the offer, like they meant to tell a Ronnie Gilmore that she was in."

"Ronnie? Who-who's Ronnie? Is that even a girl's name?"

"Short for Veronica,"

"No. Ronnie Gilmore is not getting your spot. No one has worked harder than you these last months; therefore no one deserves this more than you. So we will tell people, we will celebrate and we will repeat the process when all the other offers come pouring in. You got it?"

"Ok. I guess we're telling people then."

"Oh thank God! I don't know if I would have been able to keep this one in." Sookie added as Rory stood up slowly.

"Can we just take it slow, though, be selective about this? I really don't want to be yelling at randoms on the street."

"Ok, you point out the ones you want to tell and we'll take it from there."

"Coffee!"

"You want to tell coffee? Makes sense, you're a Gilmore after all,"

"I want to drink coffee. Actually, need to, so can we just go and get some coffee now and then think about what all of this means?"

"Sure honey, we'll go by Luke's and you can practice your announcement on him first after you get your coffee. Sound good?"

"Ok."

Rory walked a little bit ahead of her mom and Sookie as they reached the diner and went straight over to where Jess stood behind the cash register.

"I have to tell you something!" Rory said at the same time as Jess did as she crossed the room towards him with purpose.

"You should let him go first," Luke suggested. "It's pretty big."

"Rory should go first." Lorelai insisted. "Hers is bigger."

"I really don't think that-"

"I got into Yale!"

"I got into Connecticut State!" the two teens yelled at the same time, trying to be heard over all the other noise.

"What?" Luke asked, gaping at Rory.

"You did?" she asked Jess, grinning at him.

"Yeah, did you just say...?"

"Connecticut State!" Sookie cried out, clapping, "she said Connecticut State, and you said Yale!"

"Thanks for the commentary there Sook,"

"Wow."

"Unbelievable, right? That's what we're all thinking, I'm sure. That I was accepted to any college at all, I mean-" Jess just shook his head and took a step closer, kissing her.

"Do you have it with you?" Luke checked, talking to Lorelai, trying his best to ignore what was happening right beside him. "Wow, that's really... congratulations!" he said to Rory once she removed her face from Jess'.

"Thanks," she continued beaming as Jess slipped an arm around her waist. "Does your mom know yet?"

"No, she took the baby to go visit TJ at work for a while. Left a note saying she'd bring home dinner, I'm thinking I'll just leave it out on the table and act like I don't know anything about it."

"Oh, that sounds fun. Ok, well, I guess I should go change upstairs, since the lobby of our building had crazy screaming women in it, making it impossible for me to get up to where the majority of where my clothes live."

"Oh! That reminds me, Luke we need coffee." Lorelai told him. "And some kind of celebratory food; what's your cake-pie situation today?"

"We've got peach pie, or an assortment of muffins and donuts."

"Peach? Why do you have peach? Don't you know that no one ever eats the peach?"

"I guess that's why it's still there then."

"Sookie, is there any way you could-"

"Already on it." The chef replied, whipping out her cell phone and speaking Spanish after a few moments.

"What is she doing? Is she having outside food brought to my diner? Why is-"

"This is riveting stuff, really," Rory interrupted, "but I'm going to go now," she moved off towards the stairs as Sookie put her phone away.

"Pedro will be here in ten minutes. I was experimenting with a couple of different pie crusts this morning, see if you can give me a little feedback on them when he gets here, ok?"

"One of these days I'm going to ban you from coming in here, you're aware of that, aren't you?"

"Oh, Luke, you've been saying things like that for years. It's never going to happen."

"You keep pushing and we'll see."

"Play nice kiddies. I don't want to have to send you off to separate corners." Lorelai warned them. "Now, Luke, about that coffee?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry." He turned and reached for the pot. "Can you show me that again?" he requested as Lorelai sipped her drink. "Wow, she really did it, huh?" he said, obviously proud of Rory's achievement, as he read through the information.

"She did it Luke! She really, did it!" Lorelai crowed later that week, he just laughed, seeing her so happy. In the two days since Southern Connecticut state's acceptance had arrived, another three had also come in the mail – the biggest one so far being Yale, making it possible for the teens to at least entertain the idea of spending the next four years together. "She's not going to end up like me; she's going to get somewhere!"

"You're not so bad," he objected. "She could do worse than to turn out like you."

"You're very sweet to say that, but she could do much better, too. I'm just so proud of her, you know?"

"I know." she dropped onto his bed, towelling her hair.

"Oh god! We've got to tell my parents now."

"You forgot about that?"

"Little bit, yeah." Luke laughed again, setting his alarm clock back down on the bedside table. "Well, anyway, its Rory's news, I don't really have to say anything or be a part of it at all."

"You will though." He replied. "When she mentions getting accepted to Yale and your father starts going on about the great honour and how it's a Gilmore tradition, I'm sure you'll put your two cents in."

"I could surprise you all and stay quiet."

"Mmhmm,"

"There's a first time for everything, you don't know."

"I really don't see that happening, but you go ahead and pretend."

"You're not allowed to be mean to me today." Lorelai pouted.

"Why?"

"Because my kid got into college and this is a happy, happy day." She explained, draping the towel over a chair.

"Alright, I won't be mean, how about I extend this happy, happy day a little while – be nice to you till the weekend?"

"I like that deal."

"Good, can you get the light?" she nodded and switched it off before returning to the bed, grinning foolishly.

Jess walked in to the house on Friday afternoon and curbed the impulse to call out to his mother – since Doula had been born he'd been trying to remember that yelling for no reason or cranking music was under no circumstances an option anymore. At least not until she was a little older. Instead he dropped his backpack on the couch and walked through to the kitchen, loosening his tie as he went.

"Hey Mom," he smiled at her as he headed over to the coffee pot.

"Hi Honey, how was school?"

"Not bad. I'm going to be late getting home most of next week – Paris has all these big plans for the Franklin, which seems to mean the rest of us have to suffer with her." He explained, taking his cup and returning to the table.

"Oh, ok. Thanks for the heads up."

"Sure, so, uh- has that been there this whole time?" he asked, staring at the table.

"Certainly has."

"And why didn't you tell me?"

"Payback my child." She replied simply, holding the letter out to him. "You were all nonchalant about Yale, I figured I might as well give you a taste of your own medicine."

"Huh," he dropped into a seat opposite her, holding onto another big envelope – they'd been arriving all over town all week long, but this one was probably the most important yet.

"Well? Are you going to open it, or just pretend for the rest of your life that Harvard never meant anything to you?"

"I'm gonna... I'll..." Jess nodded and ripped open the envelope – everything his mother had said about feeling the weight of importance and absorbing the enormity, all gone.

"So?" Liz demanded. "Are we happy or are we suing their ignorant stupid butts?"

"We... we're very happy!" Jess exclaimed, jumping out of his seat. "I got into Harvard!"

"Aw, Baby I'm so happy for you. Show me, let me see." She took the acceptance letter they'd been waiting years for off of him and grinned. "You don't have to marry rich, this is very good. It's amazing, you're amazing! You should call your dad. Now. Do it now before I have to go check on your sister."

"I don't even..." Jess shook his head, looking a little dazed.

"You forgot how the phone works? Jess! They'll rescind the offer if you can't do something as simple as make a call." Liz chastised him, just as Doula began to stir over the monitor. They both watched it, holding their breath almost, until she began to wailing and Liz frowned. "Ok, I'll take care of this, and then I'll give you a refresher course on the telephone. After Jimmy's done telling you that you rock, we'll go out and let everyone else do the same. Got it?"

"Got it." Liz nodded and started for the door, but then turned back to give Jess a quick hug.

"I love you." She told him, her arms around his neck.

"Love you too, Mom," he replied, reaching up to hug her backwards. "Now go sort out the screamer."

"You've both been very quiet," Emily observed as the maid left the room, retreating to the kitchen. "Tell us what's been happening with you this week." She instructed.

The girls shared a look across the table before Rory shifted in her seat, raising herself up a little. "Actually, I do have some pretty exciting news." She told her grandparents, glancing from one to the other.

"Yes?" Richard pressed.

"I heard back from some of the schools I applied to,"

"And?"

"Both Harvard and Yale said yes," she explained, choosing to omit the smaller schools, at least for the time being, they wouldn't be quite as impressed by those.

"Rory that is wonderful news!" Richard told her, pushing his chair back and rushing to hug her.

"Have you made any decisions yet?" Emily asked, wrapping her arms around the girl as well.

"No. That's going to take some time I think, it's all still so surreal at the moment. I'm going to think it all over for a while longer and weigh up my options,"

"A wise decision," Richard praised.

"This is certainly a cause for celebration," Emily told her. "I wish I'd known earlier. So I could have planed a more exciting meal." She added, glancing down at the avocado salad on her plate.

"Your meals are plenty exciting Mom," Lorelai replied.

"Yeah," Rory put in. "Aside from Mom's forays into the kitchen, they're the most adventurous times we have with a fork."

"You're very sweet to say so, Rory, thank you. But next week I'll do much better."

"Ooh, do we get pudding again?" Lorelai asked, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm sure I'll come up with something you'll enjoy."

"Let me help you – pudding!"

"Really Lorelai, is it too much to ask for a modicum of seriousness this evening?"

"Uh, well, not with any other person in the world, but with me, yes. Far too much."

"I would like to propose a toast," Richard announced, lifting his glass of wine.

"Grandpa, please don't. It's really not necessary." Rory interrupted him.

"Nonsense! If ever there was a moment in need of commemoration, this would be it my girl."

"Well just make it a quick one then, please."

"All I was going to say is that we're very pleased with all that you've achieved, and I highly doubt you could have done much better than you have."

"You're doing beautifully," Emily added. "And we'll deliver the real speeches when you graduate."

"Oh, good. Something to look forward to." Rory groaned. But she couldn't help but smile a little.

"I can't believe you." Rory jumped at the sound of the voice behind her, but laughed as Jess came towards her. "It's almost as if you're trying to steal my secret spot, or something."

"Or something? I totally own this spot now. It's all mine." She responded as he sat down beside her and draped an arm around her.

"So all those years that I was coming here before you even knew about it, that doesn't count for anything?"

"Sorry. No."

"You could have at least told me."

"I just did." Jess shook his head as Rory grinned at him. "So, it looks like just about everyone we know is under the impression that we're going to end up Ivy League graduates."

"That does appear to be the consensus. Tristan called while you were at dinner to – he got the trifecta."

"Really? So, no matter where you end up, he'll be there? You poor thing,"

"You too, don't forget."

"I haven't heard from Princeton yet."

"He's not going to Princeton he only applied there to shut his father up."

"Oh that's right. Well, I know who just went to the top of my list – as soon as I get my acceptance, that's where I'll be."

"You would send me off to Harvard all alone?"

"Of course not, you'll have your little buddy."

"So what did your grandparents have to say?"

"'Go Yale, Dan's the man, you look wonderful in blue, Rory.'"

"You realise we won't be able to speak on game days right?"

"Game days?"

"The game! The Harvard-Yale game. It just wouldn't be proper, with you in blue and me in crimson,"

"Who says I'm going to be in blue?"

"Well no self-respecting Yale supporter would arrive wearing anything but the Yale colours."

"I mean, I might not be a Yale supporter. I still have no idea, it's only been a couple of days. And unlike you I haven't had this all planned out since I could walk. There's also every chance I could be inundated with calls and emails tomorrow saying it was all a big mistake and they're taking back the offer. Harvard too."

"Well that doesn't matter, we already came up with a way around that, remember? Suitcase?"

"Oh, right. Cool. All sorted then."

"But there's no way that's going to happen."

"Been fine-tuning your fortune telling?"

"Yes I have. There will be suitcases, or at the very least, a duffel bag, but you won't be in it.

"I like that. Not sure my back could handle being squished up like that."

"Well you're lucky you have me to tell you these things, then aren't you?"

"I surely am." Rory grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

AN: I know where everyone's going, do you? Wanna take a guess? I'll probably (most definitly) be mean and won't answer, but feel free to give it a shot. Hope you enjoyed, review!