The day of Rory's graduation finally came, she spent the night at her Mom's house for old times' sake. She wanted to wake up in her room, the same room she woke up on the morning of her Chilton graduation. She was up before the sun, when she emerged from her bathroom she found Luke in the kitchen.
She smiled, "It's weird how it's both still shocking, yet feels totally right that you are here in your pyjamas," she said by way of greeting.
Luke smiled, "I'm up earlier than usual, I guess I'm excited for today. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Dad." Rory shocked herself and her eyes went wide.
Luke's expression shifted from confusion to happiness quickly. "I like that," he smiled.
The embarrassment and fear melted from Rory's face and she smiled shyly, "Me too."
Luke held his arms open and shrugged.
Rory walked into his embrace.
"I love you, Rory." Luke said against her silky hair.
"I love you too, Dad" she answered as she tightened her arms around him.
Luke sighed, "Now can I make you breakfast here or did you inherit your Mom's 'I have to eat Luke's breakfast AT Luke's Diner' craziness?"
Rory laughed as they pulled from their hug, "Breakfast would be great. I'm more than happy having my favourite chef right here in my very own kitchen."
"Perfect! I'll get started. Do you want something special?"
Rory thought for a minute and then smiled, "Chocolate chip pancakes, please."
"Coming up!"
"Thanks Dad," Rory smiled as she went to the cabinet to get the chocolate chips.
When Luke finished making the pancakes he placed a plateful into the warm oven for Lorelai. He then grabbed a powerbar from the cabinet and sat where Rory had left him some orange juice.
Rory was almost done with her pancakes when Lorelai came into the kitchen in her I Love Lucy pyjamas, "Good morning," she smiled. She hugged Rory from behind, "Happy Graduation Day, Baby!"
"Thanks, Mom." Rory replied with a full mouth of pancakes.
Luke pulled Lorelai's plate from the oven and placed it at her spot while she poured herself a coffee. Lorelai kissed Luke then took her seat, "So let's go over today's agenda. I know you want to," she smiled at Rory.
Rory wiped her mouth and smiled, "I have some news first."
Luke and Lorelai both froze, their cups halfway to their mouths. Both of them placed their cups down and waited. Rory smiled knowing both of them were nervous so she started, "Well actually I have two big pieces of news. First one is for you Mom. Luke and I were here this morning talking and I accidentally called him 'Dad'.
Lorelai couldn't stop the happy tears that formed in her eyes. She looked from Rory to Luke and saw that he was now wearing a huge smile. One that was reserved for the Gilmore Girls. When she looked back at Rory, her daughter was smiling just as big as Luke, they actually looked alike.
Rory continued, "Anyway, it felt really natural. So I think I'll be doing that more. I mean I want to do it all the time, but I know that it might not always come out because I'm so used to calling him Luke, but you know what I mean. I just wanted to make sure you're okay with it."
"Me!" Lorelai asked, taken aback. "I LOVE this."
"Good," Rory nodded. "Now for the news you both need to know. Logan and I spoke yesterday and I gave him an answer." Rory noticed how both Luke and Lorelai were trying to show no emotion on their faces. They were sitting still and quiet, Lorelai cradling her coffee mug and Luke had his hands folded on the table. Rory smirked and continued, "I'm going to marry Logan."
Luke turned to see if Lorelai reacted, her face was still and her eyes focused on her baby.
"We spoke about it a lot and after my graduation I'm still going to do the internship at the Times. In those six weeks Logan will get settled at his job and our new place. I'll move out there after I'm done at the Times. We're thinking that with all the changes and things we'll need to organize and plan for our life, we won't have the wedding until at least a year from now. Also, since I know you two want a short engagement I think that Logan and I waiting a year will avoid any conflict with dates. So I think that's all for now. You two can take a breath and tell me what you think."
"Did you make a Pro/Con List?" Luke asked.
"Of course," Rory responded. "Three of them."
"And this is really what YOU want?" Luke followed up.
Rory nodded.
"Well then I'm happy for you," Luke smiled and then turned to Lorelai.
Lorelai's eyes were filled with tears, "Promise me this is what YOU want. Promise me this isn't about who Grandma and Grandpa want you to marry. Promise me you will still be making your own career choices."
Rory reached out and grabbed Lorelai's hand, "I promise, Mom. I really do."
"And promise me you'll come home, A LOT," Lorelai added before bursting into tears.
Rory jumped out of her chair and wrapped herself around her mother. Lorelai pulled Rory into her lap and the two girls cried as they held each other. Luke watched on silently, wiping his own tears away.
Rory lifted her head from Lorelai's shoulder and saw Luke, "Oh Mom, Dad needs some hugs too."
"No, I'm fine," Luke said softly.
"He's lying!" Lorelai teased. The two Gilmore Girls made their way to Luke and captured him in a sandwiched hug. When the giggling stopped and they all were still holding on to each other in Luke's chair, Rory whispered, "I'll come home a lot. I promise."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Rory's Yale graduation was perfect. Richard was able to tell all of his Yale stories about each landmark to Luke. Emily was on cloud nine after learning that Rory would indeed marry Logan. She was even fine with the long engagement thinking it would give her time to plan the wedding. She was sure that Rory would be more open to her ideas than Lorelai ever would be.
Lorelai was simply happy, she walked the grounds of Yale with her arm linked through Luke's. The foursome was making their way to the outdoor area where Rory would be getting her diploma and Lorelai was trying to take pictures and mental notes of things for the crazy (and ridiculously sweet) townsfolk that want to reenact Rory's graduation.
Just when Lorelai thought Emily couldn't be happier, Logan joined them to sit and watch Rory graduate.
"Tell me Logan," Emily smiled. "What time of year are you thinking the wedding will be? It will be here and not in California, right? Does Rory know her colours yet? Is your mother excited?"
"Geez Mom," Lorelai shook her head. "Take a breath! Let Logan think. They JUST got engaged, give them a second to enjoy that. Oh, wait, wait. Oh, shoot.
"What's wrong?" Richard asked.
"I promised Patty and Babette that I would get lots of extra programs for the re-enactment."
"Do you want me to run back and see if I can grab some more?" Luke offered.
" Oh here. You can have mine," Emily said, handing her a folded up program.
Lorelai groaned.
Emily shrugged, "What? It was hot. I needed a fan."
"Sweetheart, I'm sure I can use some of my many contacts to procure as many programs as you need." Richard couldn't remember a time when he was happier or prouder. His good mood was evident and Lorelai loved it. It reminded her of the day she helped him set up his office.
"Really? Could you? That would be great," she smiled and visibly relaxed.
"Can I have my program back, then? As my friend Sylvia Rosenblat is saying, I'm 'Shavitzing'," Emily smiled, also happier than Lorelai ever remembered seeing her.
"Shvitzing, Mom. Shvitzing," Lorelai corrected and Emily just shrugged.
For a few moments the group was quiet, all in their own thoughts or reading the program. Logan was at the aisle seat beside Emily, then Richard, who was wearing a nice grey suit with a Yale Blue bowtie which matched Emily's dress perfectly, beside him was Lorelai who kept getting anxious when she would remember something else about the party and Luke who was beside her kept taking her hand trying to calm her.
To try to get rid of her nerves, Lorelai turned to Luke, "Are you ready to be parents of a Yale graduate?"
Luke smiled lovingly, "I had Kirk make me a shirt!"
"You did not!" Lorelai laughed.
"Am I?" Luke teased.
The Gs had begun to accept their diplomas and the group clapped politely with the crowd.
"This chair is faulty. Every time I lean from one side to the other, I almost slide off," Emily complained.
Lorelai started to get up, "Do you want to switch seats?"
Richard stopped her, "Now Lorelai, you don't need to switch. Emily, your chair's fine. Just don't lean.
"I have to lean. This woman keeps rocking back and forth. It's like sitting behind Ray Charles."
The group stifled their giggles and Logan swiftly and quietly switched spots with Emily.
Paris was called up and Lorelai made sure to get a bunch of pictures knowing that Paris' family couldn't be counted on. She then cheered loudly and Paris looked out to see who it was. The stoic and serious demeanour melted away and Paris smiled brightly at Lorelai. She then waved at Doyle, Nanny and her kids.
"You know Logan, I was reading in the New Yorker that women are having children earlier these days and if you two want kids I would bet Rory would want to be close to her family. Just how long do you intend to stay on the West Coast?"
"Well, um …"
"Emily, please! Rory is next," Richard scolded.
Lorelai turned to Luke, " Honey, tell me what time it is. I told everyone I'd notice the exact time so that when we do the re-enactment they would have the…"
Richard sighed and touched Lorelai's arm, "Lorelai, I will note the time. I will take the photo. You just sit there and enjoy your daughter's graduation from Yale. This is as much your moment as Rory's. Enjoy it."
The man at the podium called, "Lorelai Leigh Gilmore".
Logan clapped loudly, Emily dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, Richard had noted the time, took a bunch of pictures and beamed with pride. Lorelai was out of her seat cheering and crying. Luke stood beside her, clapping and smiling with all the pride in the world. When Rory smiled at them it hit Luke like a ton of bricks that he wanted a child with Lorelai. He always knew he did and they had already agreed to it, when the time was right. But looking at Rory now, remembering her as a little girl, he wished he was there for more of it. Anna had robbed him from having that with April, and he really wanted to have a family to pass on some of his own family traditions.
Lorelai watched her baby walk across the stage, accept her diploma and wave to them, looking so grown up. Rory looked confident, in charge and best of all, happy. She was so proud of who Rory had become, her first pancake was perfection. She wiped away some of her tears as she and Luke reclaimed their seat, she turned to smile at him as he squeezed her knee. She sighed, folded her hands in her lap and rested her head on Luke's shoulder.
"You did good," Luke said.
"You certainly did," Richard agreed.
More tears spilled down her cheeks and she turned to Richard, "Thanks Daddy," she said in a soft, choked voice.