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"I think that's the last of them."

Lorelai lowered a large cardboard box to the floor and groaned, her face shining with sweat.

"Remind me why I did this."

"Because you love me and wanted to help your only daughter move into her own place."

"Oh, that," Lorelai grimaced, sinking onto a chair. "Next time I'll remember that favours for you ended with labour."

"Hey!"

"Painful favours, anyway," Lorelai said, stretching out. "Labour was worth the sore back."

Lorelai closed her eyes and Rory handed her a bottle of water. Lorelai swigged it gratefully and wrinkled her nose.

"It's warm."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. The refrigerator hasn't been plugged in yet."

"So you'll be living out of takeout boxes for a while," Lorelai said. "Guess you're used to that."

"You raised me well."

Rory took a seat beside her and looked around the small apartment. It looked somewhat sparse, bare apart from the table, chairs and couch which were already in the apartment. The previous tenant had been a woman who'd moved to New Jersey and the apartment seemed cheerful and clean. It looked a lot different without the throw pillows.

"Do you like it?" Rory asked and Lorelai looked up.

"Do I like it? I think it's fine. What about you? You're the one who's going to be living in it."

Rory shrugged.

"It's fine. It's a decent space, it's near work. It's fine."

Her mother nodded and Rory winced, wishing she could find another word. All the other adjectives; great, super, cool, seemed too peppy and false. She didn't know the apartment yet.

"I'll just say this," Lorelai said. "It's a hell of a lot better than the place you rented with Paris at Yale, with the gang members downstairs and the crazy locks. At least I won't have nightmares about you living here."

Rory smiled but she felt a little sad as she said,

"True. I liked it there though, even with the gang. You got used to the locks after a while."

"I didn't," Lorelai said darkly. She put down her bottle of water, stretched and groaned,

"My legs have seized up."

"Mom!"

"They have! I won't be able to drive!"

"Don't be so dramatic."

Lorelai made a face and then looked round as something was slid under the door. Rory got up and read it.

"It's a Chinese menu!"

"It is?" Lorelai exclaimed. She jumped up, running over to her, and Rory rolled her eyes.

"I think someone's recovered just fine."

"Your first mail," Lorelai beamed. "Let's order something."

"Mom!"

"You need to eat and this can be your first dinner! My treat!"

"Okay," Rory smiled. "Only if you stay."

"Of course," Lorelai said warmly. "I'd be honoured."

They made their order and shortly afterwards were sitting at the table, digging into boxes of noodles. For a while neither spoke, apart from asking to pass the eggrolls and sauce, and finally Lorelai set down her fork and sighed.

"Can I move to New York with you and live off Chinese food?"

"You already do that, it's just in Stars Hollow, not New York."

"New York is cooler."

Lorelai burped and giggled and Rory remarked,

"It may be cooler but your manners are worse."

"Oh, I'm sorry. It must be because I'm out of New England."

"Speaking of New England, shouldn't you be heading back soon?" Rory asked, putting down her own fork. "You don't want to be home too late."

"Trying to get rid of me?" Lorelai teased. Rory smiled weakly and her mother said seriously,

"Sweets, do you want me to stay? I don't mind going home in the morning."

"No, it's okay."

"You don't sound so sure about that."

"I don't want you to stay," Rory said firmly and then, "I mean, I don't need you to."

"I know you don't."

They were quiet for a moment and then Lorelai said,

"How about I stay for a movie? I'll miss traffic and I still won't be home too late."

"Yes, you will!"

"Okay, I'll be home late," Lorelai said, "but it doesn't matter. I'd rather hang out with my daughter."

Rory leaned over to hug her.

"I'd rather hang out with you, too."

She unpacked her laptop, took it to the living room and set it up on a spare chair. Rory opened the box of DVDs, slotted one into the computer and she and Lorelai sat on the couch to watch it, sharing a bag of doughnuts her mother had bought on the way after a desperate cry for sugar.

"Wow," Lorelai said as Rory leaned forward to start the film. "This may be the weirdest movie experience I've ever had."

"Shh."

"And the most uncomfortable, bar the time Luke was watching his dollhouse sized television in the diner, though I didn't watch it with him I just saw –"

"Mom! Julia Roberts is talking!"

"Oh, she says all the same stuff," Lorelai said but she put an arm around Rory and fell silent. They had seen the movie hundreds of times but still laughed at all the same scenes and accused the other of crying at the end. Rory took out the DVD, shut the laptop and noticed the time.

"Mom, it's after nine."

"Really?" Lorelai asked but she nodded. "I should hit the road."

"Thanks for everything," Rory said. "Helping me move and...thanks. Thank you, Mom."

"You're welcome, honey."

Lorelai picked up her purse to leave and looked one last time at her daughter.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

"Mom, we've already talked about this!"

"I'm not sure if I believe you!" Lorelai exclaimed. "Honey, I don't mind staying, really."

"I know you don't, but I'm okay."

"Are you sure? Because I didn't mind staying your first night at Yale and I don't mind staying now, I promise."

"I think I should stay here by myself tonight," Rory told her. "It's my first night in my new place."

"Are you just saying that because it's what you think you should do?"

"No," Rory said. "I mean, I do think I should, but I want to. I'm okay, Mom. I promise."

Lorelai checked her face carefully and then nodded.

"Okay. I guess I'll head off, then."

"I have work in the morning. I shouldn't stay up late."

Lorelai smiled and tucked a hair behind her daughter's ear.

"Yes, you do. I don't need to wish you any luck."

Rory nodded and for a moment neither spoke.

"We will have a sleepover soon," Rory said, breaking the silence, and Lorelai squealed, her high spirits returning.

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes, I promise. We can stay up all night talking about guys and makeup and eat a ton of junk and watch bad movies. I'll have figured out a more comfortable viewing situation by then."

"I like that," Lorelai said excitedly. "And we can share all our gossip about our boyfriends, except dirty stuff, because I don't want to her that from you, and –"

"Bye!"

"Someone sounds better," Lorelai laughed, kissing her cheek. "Bye, hon."

"Bye, Mom. Call me when you get back."

"I will. Goodnight!"

Rory waved and watched until her mother was safely downstairs and then went to the window to see her get in her car. Rory waited until she had driven away and stayed there still, looking out into the New York night. There were too many lights for stars but Rory felt she could see them all the same.

Finally, Rory tore herself away from the window and sat back down at the table. The apartment felt empty now that her mother had gone. Lorelai was right, it was much safer than the place she had rented with Paris and there was no need to record the sounds of an angry dog, but Rory felt a tug. She'd been happy renting with Paris and she'd never lived there alone. She'd never lived anywhere alone. Rory curled her hand around one of the empty Chinese boxes and heard the tap drip. She thought about going to the laptop and putting on some music but couldn't be bothered to get up. Rory felt horribly alone.

Music started playing after all and Rory started in surprise before realising it was her cellphone. She found her purse, dug it out and felt a spurt of happiness as she answered.

"Hey!"

"Hey," Jess said fondly. "How was the big move?"

"Done. Tiring and hot, but done. Mom's just left."

"Sorry I couldn't come to help."

"Jess, you were working late."

"I just got back."

"I was going to call you," Rory said and as he chuckled she said defensively,

"I was! I couldn't find my purse."

"I know. I believe you. So you're all moved in," her boyfriend said. "How does it feel?"

"It feels..." Rory's voice trailed off. "It feels weird. I want to say it feels great and independent but right now I just feel weird. Mom's just gone."

"Do you miss her?"

"Totally," Rory said, horrified at the burning behind her eyes. "Isn't that sad? She left less than a hour ago."

"Rory."

"I'm twenty-six. I shouldn't be crying about my mommy."

"Rory, she's your best friend."

"Yeah," Rory sniffled. "I guess."

There was a pause and Rory held the phone close to her ear, glad he had called her. She already felt a hundred times better than before.

"Do you want me to come over?" Jess asked. "I'm pretty adept at unloading boxes."

Rory laughed and he added,

"Plus I know some places around town and where sells the best pizza."

"Jess, aren't you tired? You had that big author's event today and then the dinner afterward."

"I'm not too tired to come see you."

Rory smiled and Jess said,

"I wanted to help you move. I wanted to see you."

"I did too."

"So I'll come over."

"Jess," Rory said, stopping him. "I do want to see you and I want you to see my new place, but not tonight."

There was a pause and Jess said,

"Okay."

"It's just..." Rory stretched her feet out, trying to explain. "I feel like I should spend my first night here alone. I need to. I want you to come after this and stay, for more than one night, but not tonight. I feel like I need to start off spending my first night by myself. I have to. Does that sound crazy?"

"I get it," Jess said and Rory went on,

"I've never lived on my own before. I lived with Mom, then with Paris, then with Logan and then I was back with Mom and now I have my own place. It's not going to feel like my own place if I spend the first night with someone else."

"Makes sense," Jess said and Rory asked anxiously,

"You aren't mad?"

"Rory, why would I be mad?"

"Because your girlfriend's told you she wants to spend the first night in her apartment on her own."

"You don't need to apologise for that," Jess said, surprised. "Of all things...I think it's wise."

"You do?"

"I'm sad that I don't get to see you," Jess said, "but I can see you another time. It's okay."

"I miss you," Rory said quietly. "Do you think it's weird to be excited about spending your first night alone in your own place and still be lonely?"

"That's being a person."

Rory nodded, without saying anything, and Jess said,

"Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll stay on the phone for as long as you want."

"Thanks," Rory said and then, with a wobbly laugh, "I'm really glad you got a cellphone."

"I was just thinking the same thing," Jess said teasingly. They chuckled and then Jess said seriously,

"I love you, Rory."

"I love you, too."

They talked a while longer and then Jess said,

"So, big day tomorrow."

"Big day," Rory agreed. "I'm taking on the working world or trying to, anyway."

"You'll love every minute of it. I know you will."

Rory smiled.

"Yeah. I hope."

"I know."

Rory cradled the phone close to her ear, as though it would bring Jess closer, and eventually said,

"I should go. If I'm taking on the working world I'll need some sleep."

"You run on 99% coffee," Jess said. "Have a cup in the morning and you're set."

Rory laughed.

"I'll be set but I'll be crabby. I should go."

"Okay," Jess said. "Goodnight, Rory."

"Goodnight, Jess. Thanks for – you know."

"Yeah," Jess said. "I know. I love you."

"I love you too. Goodnight."

Almost as soon as Jess hung up her cellphhone started to ring again. It was Lorelai, calling to let her know she was home safe, and Rory listened to her cry about traffic in New York and a pesky pothole on the way into Connecticut. After she hung up Rory felt a lot brighter. She put some music, got the bottle of wine she'd been given as a present and poured herself a glass. She drank it between unpacking boxes and, as she tacked up the last poster, felt that she was in a much better place than previously, if not at home. She switched off the music, sank down on her newly made bed and pulled out Slaughterhouse Five. It felt like it was time to read the rest. Rory curled her legs up, turned the pages and felt that Jess was closer to her with every note in the margin. As she reached the last page she read,

Rory,

I know this has been a hard time for you, a hard year, two, maybe most of your marriage. You can do anything. Remember that time in the car when you told me I could do more? You can do more. I know you will, just like you knew I could. You can do this, Rory. I can't say more than I feel just in words. Jess.

There were no kisses but none were necessary. Rory held the page close to her face, breathing in the ink, and fell asleep with the book on her chest. She woke with a start early the next morning and then smiled. It was time to take on the world.