A/N: Time to wrap this thing up, kids! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 46

"Turns out high school is actually pretty cool. Sometimes I forget that I skipped a grade. It just feels normal now, to be in classes with Kwan, Steve, Jaime, and Billy. Of course, Dad is not letting me forget that I'm not even fifteen yet, especially when it comes to Dax. Speaking of, he's supposed to be home in a couple of days. I can hardly believe it's more than a month since he went away. I mean, I missed him, of course I did, but there's been so much going on this Summer, it's hard to be really sad about his not being here, except for the fact that he's missing out on all the fun that I've been having. Mom says it's cool because we'll have plenty to talk about when he gets home. I guess she's right.

What else? Well, Martha and Alex are still pretty solid. Last week they went on a double date with Jack and Becca, another pairing that is going really, really well. It's awesome to see him so happy after all that stuff with Alison Forester. Nobody misses her or her parents, that's for sure. Billy and Tara have been spending a lot of time together too - practically joined at the hip, or more accurately the lips. It's nice though, that everybody is so happy. Doula had her week in NYC and has pretty much talked about nothing else since. She says that when she gets done with school she really wants to move to the city just as fast as possible. Dad is a little nervous about what will happen to her if she does, but D is way more grounded now than she ever was before. Kwan helps with that, which is a little crazy when you consider how over the top he can be sometimes.

Steve had a great time at Bible Camp. Aunt Lane says he did amazing things there and I don't doubt it. He really wants to help people and do God's work, and I think that's great. As for me, I really don't know what my future is going to hold. I meant what I said before about doing something with this whole poet/lyricist thing, but that's really hard to make a career out of that actually pays. I figure I'll study hard in school, maybe major in English in college and see where life takes me. I don't have to have everything figured out right now, at least that's what Dad says. He's proud of me no matter what. They all are, which is pretty cool.

Y'know I was thinking the other day about something you said to me years ago, you said 'Victoria, bella, life is for living, and it is too short to waste'. Even though I knew from the way you said it that it was important for me to remember, I don't think I really understood it until now. Maybe I just reached an age where it makes sense. Maybe it's all the drama the family has been through lately, I don't know, but I get it now. You lived more than ninety years, you experienced true love, even if it didn't last long, and you ended up surrounded by so many family and friends. You were the life and soul right to the end, Mrs R, and that makes you a really great example to live by. I have all these great role models, so many amazing chances in my life, and I feel like I've spent way too much time sweating the small stuff, thinking too hard about things I can't control or that don't really matter. From here on out, I just wanna live. I wanna throw myself into everything, follow my instincts, enjoy every moment with each person while I have the chance.

I guess what I'm saying is, I might not be around to talk as much in the future, and that's not because I don't love you or because I don't want you to know what's going on with us, but I know you can see anything you want from where you are anwyay. You don't need the colour commentary, and I should really be living my life instead of sitting around recounting it like this. I know if you were here, that's what you'd be telling me."

Tori Mariano levered herself up off the ground, not looking to the headstone she had been sitting by now but up towards the Heavens where Mrs Rossini really was. Kissing her hand, she blew that kiss up into the sky, and then she smiled.

"Hey, Toria," said Jack as he approached her then. "You okay?"

"Better than okay," she told her brother happily. "You?"

"Yeah, I'm cool," he promised. "Everybody is in the town square for the Summer Festival. Mom was a little freaked that you weren't around. She knows how much you love this crazy thing."

"Junk food, carnival games, and ridiculously repetitive songs. What's not to love?"

"Good point." Jack laughed and slung an arm around her shoulders as they walked into town together. "I'm guessing some of the happy is coming from the fact your boyfriend will be back in a couple of days?"

"It does not make me unhappy to know Dax will be home soon," Tori confessed. "But he's not my only reason for smiling. It's Summer, we've got a family and friends that love us, the town is having a crazy shindig, and we get the chance to enjoy it all. I repeat, what's not to love?"

Jack would've called her sappy or made some sarcastic comment, but quite honestly, he didn't care to. Tori was right, they were really lucky, and right now, life was pretty damn good. As they arrived in the town square, he looked around at all the fun and hilarity playing out under the bright blue sky. It wasn't always so idyllic and joyful, not even in a happy little town like Stars Hollow. These past six months had their fair share of drama for almost everyone at various times, but for now, all was good.

"Hey, there you are!" said Rory as she came over to hug her children.

She grabbed them with such enthusiasm she nearly knocked them flying.

"Wow, Mom," Tori gasped, hugging her back. "We love you too," she confirmed, as she was squeezed within an inch of her life and kissed all over her cheek for good measure.

"Seriously, Ror, let 'em breathe," Jess urged her, arriving on the scene just in the nick. "Here, drink your coffee," he said, encouraging the paper cup into her hand.

Jack looked questioningly at his father. "Miss Patty's punch?"

"How'd you guess?" said Jess, rolling his eyes. "She'll be fine. She's just very, very happy."

"Seems to be contagious today," said Jack, glancing at Tori.

Jess looked concerned. "If I find out you've been near the punch bowl..."

"Not a chance, Dad. I promise," his daughter swore to him.

Her cell started ringing in her pocket then and she made a grab for it, grinning all the wider when she saw who was calling.

"Hey, Dax," she said as she wandered away, smiling wider than ever.

"I said I'd meet Becca at the pretzel stand," said Jack then. "I'll see you guys later."

"They both look so happy," said Rory with a sigh. "I love our kids."

"They're not bad," Jess dead-panned, pulling her into his arms. "Drink your coffee."

"Yes, sir," she agreed, gulping some more down fast. "Did I mention I also love you? A lot."

"I got that impression." Jess smirked, pushing her hair back off her face for her. "When you're done with that coffee, I'll get you another. Maybe next year we can keep you out of Miss Patty's punch 'til later in the afternoon."

"Don't you say that every year?"

"Never works, does it?"

"Not so much. It just tastes so good!"

He laughed at her enthusiasm that was hard not to find amusing and didn't mind at all when she leaned in to kiss his lips. She tasted more of coffee than the punch anymore, but that was okay.

"I always have the best time at these things," she said, looking around at all her family and friends having fun. "It's so great to have everybody together, enjoying the Summer."

"Yeah, I guess so," he agreed, as if it pained him to do so.

Rory didn't mind. Jess was never going to be enthusiastic about town events, but she knew he loved being here really. He was happy when everybody he loved was happy, same as her. It had been a heck of a six months, but finally things seemed settled and good.

Walking back into the frenzy of overly happy people with their arms around each other, Rory and Jess heard Billy calling for the attention of the other kids.

"C'mon, now I finally figured this out I wanna try it out," he told them, as the teens assembled together.

"Figured what out?" asked Rory curiously.

"Billy has been obsessing over all the functions on his new cell," Doula told her, rolling her eyes. "It's taken more than two months, but he thinks he finally knows how to make the panoramic thing work."

"The one that he used to give Babette's cat fourteen legs the other day?" said Jess with a smirk.

"That'll be it", his sister confirmed. "So expect us all to have three heads each when we get done here."

"Come on, D!" Martha called to her. "Get in here."

Steve ran off to find Jack and Becca, as Billy lined all the other kids up in front of the gazebo for his epic picture. Tara was by his side, assisting with composing the best shot, when suddenly she had a thought.

"Hey, if you take the picture, you won't be in it," she noted. "Let me do it."

"Then you won't be in it," he told her.

"That's okay. It can be like a family portrait."

"Well, then I have to go get my parents."

"How about a portrait of just you guys. All the kids together?" Rory suggested.

Billy considered that a moment, as Doula called for him to hurry up already before they all stopped being kids and started drawing social security.

"Hey, Billy, just give me the cell, then you can all be in your picture," Jess insisted. "Which button?"

Billy showed him how it worked and then grabbed Tara's hand and went and got into the scene. Rory and Jess stood and watched in amusement as Billy and Tara were ordered into the line between Jack and Becca, and Kwan and Doula. Steve and Alex bunched in with Martha, who dragged Davey and Jaime into the shot. It was only then they all realised they were missing Tori.

"Hey, guys!" she yelled happily as she appeared, dragging Dax by the hand behind her. "Are we missing something?"

"I thought you weren't getting back for a couple of days?" said Jack to Dax, stepping out of the group ready for the picture.

"I wanted to surprise Tori," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "It worked."

"I'll say," she agreed, happily grinning. "And apparently you made it just in time for a picture."

They were soon being dragged into the scene and everyone reordered so they fit a little better.

"Looks good," said Jess, telling them all to get ready as he aimed the camera lens at them.

"It really does," said Rory, smiling fondly, as the assembled kids smiled and cheered whilst Jess panned by them with Billy's cell and took the picture.

"That's it," he said when he was done. "Stars Hollow, the Next Generation."

The End

A/N2: And that's the end of that, for now. Well, kind of. That school reunion idea I had kinda came to fruition - expect to see that this weekend. For the most part though, I'm kinda done with this 'verse for the forseeable. I need a break, reader peops, but I really hope you've enjoyed this epic. If your previous reviews are anything to go by, I don't think I've disappointed you. Thanks all :)