A short take on the graduation and time afterward ... happier version than season 7

"Paris Geller"

Rory was fidgety with the ring, spinning it on her finger as she watched Paris cross the stage. She heard her Mom cheer and it brought a smile knowing that Paris had gone from being her arch-enemy to one of her best friends. As she listened to the other names being called out she pictured the craft corner and then the printing press in their dorms, her daydreaming continued until she felt a nudge in the back and heard her mother screaming …

"I repeat … Lorelai Leigh Gilmore graduating with honors"

She walked over and accepted the diploma in her left hand while reaching across to shake the hand of her Dean.

"Thank you" was barely whispered.

"Congratulations Ms. Gilmore"

Lorelai drew in her breath, Emily squealed and grabbed Richard's arm, and Logan two rows back beamed. The light caught the ring as she accepted the diploma making it clear to every person in attendance that she was engaged. As she shyly turned toward her family she saw all of the different reactions walking off the stage. Inwardly she realized that there was only one person looking disappointed, her mother. She knew it was going to take time, but hopefully, with Logan having left HPG and striking out on his own he would win over her mother and the long engagement. As she gazed out, Logan caught her eye and she knew she had made the right decision. His eyes were shining and her face lit up into a smile. Today was a great day.

"Well, young lady, Congratulations!" Rory didn't think she had ever seen her Grandfather so proud of her, she reached up to hug him and felt like everything was right with the world. A Yale graduate, a job, not the one she planned on, but still traveling, and reporting. As she pulled back, he handed her an envelope. "Rory, your Grandmother and I could not be more proud of you than we are right now."

"Thank you, Grandpa. It is exciting to be an Eli." She accepted the envelope and gave him another hug.

"Oh, Rory, I am so happy for you! An Eli today! And what did I see catching the sun on your left hand?" Emily was hugging Rory and then slid her hand down to look at the left hand as Rory blushed.

"I said yes," she whispered in her Grandmother's ear

"I would certainly say so, he has such good taste - in jewelry and women," Emily whispered back. Then she took a good look at the ring and turned toward Logan as he joined the family, waiting respectfully for all of the family to say their congratulations.

Rory turned toward her mother and gave a little shrug of her shoulders and a small smile, "I said yes, but already knew that. Mom, please .. "

Lorelai wrapped Rory up in a hug, "congratulations on everything - big day huh? I love you Kid, I really do love you, I'm all in - for a 20-year engagement." She pulled back looking at the ring and smiled "or 5-year engagement, but a long engagement."

"Right, a long engagement." Rory rejoined.

"Oh, two years is appropriate, but 20 Lorelai?" Emily's tone dripped with derision "The idea of the engagement being more than two years, planning will be at least eighteen months, but not 18 years."

Rory squeezed her Grandmother's arm "she is joking".

"Oh, Mom, it won't take Rory that long to become the next Christiane Amanpour."

"Well, of course not, but Christiane Amanpour would be lucky to be as good as our Rory" Richard's voice boomed with pride. He could never picture Rory wanting to be anyone other than herself, in his eyes she was the best. His eyes twinkled when they looked at her.

Logan chimed in, "Richard, I couldn't agree more."

Richard turned to Logan, "Well, my boy, looks like I was right to welcome you to the family after your declarations in Dr. Bell's class."

Logan smile faltered and Rory laughed as she and her grandfather tapped their noses and ignored the questions coming from the other two ladies.

"Dad!" Rory turned to hug Chris.

"Hey Kid, congratulations! No Princeton, but Yale is ok." Chris ribbed her good-naturedly while also slipping her an envelope. Turning "Logan, looks like we will have a chance to tell more boarding school stories in the future" he extended his hand "Congratulations, you have the best of the best, better take care of her."

"Yeah, better than her father." Lorelai quipped.

"Hey" Chris looked sheepish, "I deserve that."

Richard turned toward Emily, "Well my dear, shall we head home, let them go."

"Oh, nonsense Richard, we are all going to lunch and then heading out," Emily replied.

Lorelai looked caught, "we are all going to lunch?"

"Of course we are - there is a lot to celebrate." Emily replied, "Plus I made reservations at Atticus Bookstore Cafe - it seemed appropriate." Emily smiled and gave Rory's arm a small squeeze. She was walking on air knowing that Rory was engaged. Rory smiled back, she knew that there were a few more bits of news to deliver at lunch.

Rory turned to Logan, "I know it is a lot to ask, but can I catch up with you at the cafe? I think I need to talk to my Mom, she doesn't know about Hugo, and well."

"Absolutely! We need to coordinate some stuff, but that can happen after you touch base." Logan was hoping that the more time he gave Rory and Lorelai the more he would win over his future mother-in-law. Best to have one set of parents on their side.