I highly doubt I have any readers left at this point, and I sincerely apologize for how long it took me to get this right. In a strange way, I didn't want the story to end but I think I've finally written something that makes me feel like it is time to.

At any rate, I apologize again for the long wait. Enjoy!

Rory wondered if she'd ever been this nervous in her entire life as she eagerly searched the crowd. Racking her brain, she was almost 100 positive that she had definitely never been quite this nervous. She was finally graduating from Yale University; something that, for a while now, Rory mused, felt like it was never going to happen. But today had arrived and she was more than ready.

A familiar blonde figure caught her eye, and her stomach tightened in response. Much to her dismay, Yale selected Mitchem Huntzberger to give the graduation speech. However, Rory had decided she wasn't going to let him ruin her special day.

Once upon a time, she'd let him destroy her, in more ways than one, but the Rory Gilmore standing here today wasn't going to brought down so easily. But this didn't stop her from looking for Logan, if only for a moment. She finally spotted him a few people behind his father, the fake, plastic smile she knew so well plastered on his face.

She shifted her eyes away from the person who meant nothing to her now, continuing her search for her family until her blue eyes landed on a larger banner that read, "We love you, Rory!"

Her mother and a clearly uncomfortable Luke held up the banner, causing Rory to beam with pleasure. A quick glance beyond the sign confirmed what she had hoped: everyone she loved and needed sat in the stands, ready to watch her close one chapter of her life and move on to another.

She tossed a wave and the mixed reactions of her beloved family and friends caused her to laugh out loud. Her mother, Sookie, Jackson, their children, and Lane and Zach all waved back merrily, shouting words of joy and encouragement, while Jess, Luke, and April merely smirked at the group. Her grandparents watched the group with displeasure plainly written on their faces, though Rory could see their pride shining through nevertheless.

It's funny, Rory thought. When I pictured this moment, I never imagined it would be as wonderful as this…

Reflecting silently, the last two years of her life had been nothing short of amazing. After she and Jess had reconciled for the final time, they'd learned of Luke and Lorelai's own reconciliation and upcoming elopement. The Danes-Gilmore clan was finally as it should be, and it was hard to tell whom of the four was more thrilled about it.

The perfect summer had ended with Luke and Lorelai's town wedding, an enormous affair that no one in Stars Hollow was soon to forget, and the memory of Lorelai and Jess dancing together at the reception still made Rory smile. Her mother and boyfriend had developed a surprisingly strong bond, despite its basis in insults, and this pleased Rory to no end.

Once the school year began, Rory and Jess's relationship had become strained, as he was still living in Philadelphia and she was busy with school. However, later that year, a prestigious publishing company paid for the rights to his second novel, Equivocation, so the pair had eventually moved into an apartment close to the Yale campus. Jess was gone a lot, promoting his book, but Rory hadn't minded; he always came home to her.

Lorelai and Luke had quickly created a life together, and sometimes Rory found it hard to believe that they had ever been anything but together. About a year after being married, they'd announced their impending pregnancy, and nine months later (only three months ago, Rory reflected), the Gilmore-Danes clan had been blessed with a son. A red-faced, sweaty, but enormously happy Lorelai and a nauseous but pleased looking Luke had named him William, Will for short, after Luke's father.

After Luke's talk with Anna, April had fit smoothly into Luke and Lorelai's lives. She still visited when she could, and Anna slowly but surely developed a friendship with Lorelai. It was still hard sometimes, as Rory had heard Lorelai complain a thousand times, but once the two had gotten married, it'd became a lot easier to integrate the different families.

Not that the last two years had been entirely wonderful, Rory thought sadly. There was one person she wouldn't have minded attending the graduation, but Karen had lost her battle with breast cancer five months earlier. The death had hit Jess hard, much harder than even Rory had anticipated. After Karen and Jess's first meeting, Karen persistently tried to make contact, and he'd avoided her for the better part of a year until he'd finally let her in. Some days, when Jess was feeling angry or bitter, he raged about how worthless it was to have done so, but for the most part, on good or regular days, Jess knew it was worth it to at least know her for a little while.

She vaguely wondered if her father was milling around with the thousands of other people at the graduation ceremony; they'd had very limited contact since that summer. It broke her heart to know that their relationship had ended this way, but having Luke around took away a lot of the pain. In some ways, Rory knew that Luke had always really been her father, in all the ways that mattered, anyway. She supposed Christopher most likely wasn't in attendance but then the faint sound of screaming reached her ears. She couldn't help the smile that formed on her face as she imagined her father struggling with GiGi. Maybe he was there after all.

A hush fell over the crowd as the opening music began, and Rory grinned as nausea and nervousness overtook her. Only two more hours, and she was a college graduate.

"This is quite some party," Paris remarked over the enormous noise filling Luke and Lorelai's house in celebration of Rory's graduation.

"Sure is," Rory responded. "Can you believe our time at Yale is over?"

"Yes, I can," Paris said simply and Rory laughed in return. Paris's distant attitude had long since stopped bothering her; in fact, she wasn't even sure what she would do if Paris were emotional.

"Well, I can't," Rory replied good-naturedly. "Where's Doyle?"

"Probably lecturing about the candidates for the Democratic ticket to one of your town's half-wits. He's become rather political these days."

The pair continued to converse until Rory fell silent, basking in the closeness of her family and friends. After a few moments, Paris excused herself as Lane approached.

"Well, look who it is. Rory, the college graduate." Lane teased. "And I can't believe that practically everyone in Stars Hollow can fit in this house."

"Yeah, I think it's a sign that Stars Hollow needs to repopulate," Rory joked while smiling at the party surrounding them.

Jess approached them, that wonderful smirk she loved so much gracing his face. "Do my ears deceive me? Did you dare suggest that this crazy bunch of loons procreate? Are you out of your mind?" he demanded.

"Of course I am," she shot back. "I agreed to marry you, didn't I?" The minute the words fell out of her mouth she stiffened, as Lane stared at the pair in shock.

"You're getting married?" she shrieked, bouncing on her heels with excitement.

"Shh," Rory and Jess intoned, dragging her away from some surprised looking guests.

"Just engaged," Jess whispered. "But we want a little time to get used to the idea before we tell anyone else. Besides, we already agreed to very long engagement."

Lane glanced at Rory, who nodded emphatically. "It's what we both want. But you need to keep it a secret, at least for now. Promise to keep it a secret?"

Groaning, Lane rolled her eyes. "Fine. But I get dibs, besides your mom and Luke, of course, on telling people. Deal?"

"Deal," Rory and Jess said together once more, causing Lane to roll her eyes again.

"Are you sure you're not married already? Speaking of married, I should probably go find my husband; I saw him with Miss Patty last, and I want to make sure I get to take home at least a piece of him."

As Lane strolled off, Jess shot accusing eyes at Rory. "'But Jess,'" he mocked. "'I don't want to tell anyone. Will you please keep it a secret? Please?'"

"Shut up," she muttered, leaning into him and breathing deep. He still smelt as good as ever, though she'd never bothered to inquire as to what he actually wore. It was nice just knowing that no one could ever smell quite that way, nor could any smell make her feel as light-headed as she did now.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She sighed contently and moved forward for kiss. He returned it, but pulled away slightly and murmured, "They're going to cut the cake soon."

She kissed him again, memorizing the way his lips felt against hers—as if she could forget—and let out a large sigh. "The cake I don't know about?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her head against him.

"Yeah," he replied. "That one."

The two stood in silence, watching their family, friends, and neighbors talk and dance, until a voice shouted a la foghorn, "Rory Gilmore? Do we have a Rory Gilmore in the house?"

Jess let his arms fall away and pushed her into the center of the room. "She's right here," he shouted, and Rory only had time to shoot a small, menacing glare at him as the crowd swept her away.

"I hate you," she cried, and he only smiled in return.

"I love you too, Rory. Have a good time." She glanced over her shoulder once more, watching as Jess moved toward Luke. She silently vowed to wipe that smirk off his face later tonight. You've got it comin', Mariano.

After an incredibly embarrassing birthday cake and song (and many vows that she would never, ever forgive her mother), Rory finally made her way over to Jess. "Thanks for throwing me to the wolves," she murmured as she wrapped an arm around him.

"Oh my, look what we have here. Haven't I seen you pee somewhere?" He answered, watching as her face turned bright red.

"It's not funny. I was really young. And I really, really had to go," she muttered, watching as the party people munched on their cake and chatted. She couldn't believe her mother would use that picture – was it her fault that the plumbing had frozen that winter? She'd only been six; her bladder could hardly be expected to hold it all night long.

Jess only shrugged and kissed her forehead. "Oh c'mon, no one cares. These people have known you all your life. I'm sure one picture of you peeing outside won't ruin your credib-" he broke off, laughing too hard to continue.

Smacking his arm, she arranged a pout on her face and crossed her arms childishly. "Thanks for all your support. What a wonderful boyfriend you are."

"Not boyfriend." He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. "Not boyfriend," he repeated. "Fiancé."

Warmth spread through Rory's body at his words and sexy whisper. He was right; he was no longer just a boyfriend. They were engaged. She wasn't even sure what had prompted him to ask or what had caused her to say yes, but the more she thought about it, the more the entire idea made sense.

"Maybe we should tell people."

She glanced at him in surprise. "Why are you in such a rush to let everyone know?"

He shrugged, turning away from her. "Is there something wrong with wanting everyone to know you're mine?" he asked, his voice low.

Something about his vulnerability caused her heart to shiver, but she couldn't resist a small dig. "You don't own me now, you know. I refuse to play house-wife."

Her joke had its intended effect; he chuckled slightly. "Damn. And here I thought I was engaged to Donna Reed."

The reference—unbeknowst to Jess—caused a red flush to spread across her cheeks as Dean's face flashed in her mind. God, how young she had been. How desperate to please her first boyfriend. And now, six years later, she was engaged to his 'arch-nemesis' and hardly in contact with Dean. She knew that he lived in Seattle, working at an organic food store that he'd started with a few friends. He'd changed—so much that she hardly recognized him physically or personality-wise anymore—but not into someone unpleasant. He had become someone different the way that she had – necessary, mature change.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jess asked wryly, watching her emotions shift on her face. Something about her face and its movements was like a book – each crease and bend representing a word or feeling in a language only he could speak and decipher.

Grinning, Rory replied, "Whatever is smaller than a penny."

His eyes widen in remembrance of their moment in the diner; the tumultuous beginning with so much uncertainty had evolved into something both of them relied on everyday. How far we've come since then, Jess reflected. Not that he was going to start spouting clichés any time soon. He could live without her. Didn't want to, would be miserable, but he could. And she wasn't necessarily his everything; he had other parts of his life that she wasn't part of. She was just the part of his life he liked best.

"Mhmm," he murmured, entwining their fingers. "Any foreign currency then." Watching the way her thin fingers wrapped around his own, he realized something. It wasn't a perfect, storybook fit – their thumbs wanted to occupy the same space, sometimes her scratchy nails left battle wounds, and his calluses frequently caused her to bust out lotion. But they made it work, thumbs, nails, calluses and all. Just as he'd known they would.

He glanced back at her, only to realize she was calling everyone's attention with the foghorn.

"Hi everyone!" she shouted, and Jess winced at the loudness of her voice. However, the screams and yells in response were even louder.

She looked back at him, and he tilted his head questioningly. 'Up to you,' he mouthed and she turned back to the crowd.

"Well, I have a very exciting announcement to make. As of a week ago, Jess Mariano and I are engaged!"

The crowd surrounding her erupting into roars and cheers; her mother immediately tackled her, followed by an ecstatic Luke, and an exasperated Lane.

"How come you didn't tell me?" Lorelai shrieked excitedly while hugging her. "I gave you the gift of life! And this is that thanks I get in return?"

Luke shook Jess's hand, but Jess surprisingly pulled Luke into a manly hug. "I'm so proud of you," Rory heard Luke whisper, causing small tears to form in her eyes. Those two… seeing them together always just did something to her.

Lane smacked both Rory and Jess on the head, crying, "You promised!" But it was happiness shining in her eyes, not anger.

After that, so many people came up to congratulate the couple that some became a blur in her haze of happiness. April embraced both Jess and Rory and said, "Now we're really family!" Miss Patty emphatically spouted Jess's virtues, labeling him a 'keeper'. "Way to go, dude," Zach said, shaking Jess's hand. Kirk immediately asked if they had purchased an engagement ring, because if not, he had a lovely collection. Oh, and if they needed help with the wedding, well he was actually considering a career as a wedding planner, so… both of them exchanged nervous glances at that point, but luckily the tide of people swept Kirk away.

As the chatter finally began to die down, Lorelai picked up the foghorn. "I'd like to make a musical dedication. Maybe some of you don't know this song, but I think the people who matter will." she said cryptically, causing Rory to stare at her curiously. "Hit it, Kirk!"

As the strains of Cheap Trick's "The Flame" filled the air, Rory felt more tears reach her eyes. "You remembered!" She embraced her mother warmly. "I can't believe you remembered!"

"How could I forget? You said you would punch me if I forget," Lorelai joked. "And child of mine, boy, do you pack a punch."

Luke groaned loudly, but Jess's smile was wider than ever. "Oh dear uncle. I do believe that is 20 dollars that you owe me." Luke groaned again, reaching into his pocket for his wallet with a grimace. "I cannot believe this…"

"What?" Rory asked curiously.

"Did you… did you bet on this?" Lorelai asked delightedly. "Were there any conditions?" At this, she glanced at Jess, who only laughed.

Handing the twenty dollars to Jess, Luke replied, "I thought for sure there was no way you would remember. And no, there weren't."

"Oh, so I suppose the fact that Jess happened to mention that night, only to cue my memory of this promise, isn't important?"

Both Rory and Lorelai burst out laughing at Luke's shocked face.

"That's… that's cheating!" he sputtered but Jess only coolly replied, "Hey. It's like you said, there were no conditions."

"Oh c'mon," Luke grumbled. "Give me my twenty dollars back." He laid his hand out, but Jess shook his head.

"I'm afraid all sales are final."

"Hey," Lorelai cried into the foghorn. "Can you start the song over? I want to enjoy it this time." Kirk, who was still standing by the stereo, nodded and 'The Flame' began once more.

There was no denying the cheesiness and 80-ness of the music and lyrics, but somehow, the song was just what she wanted to hear. More and more people began to sing along as well—at least the people who knew the song—and she smiled. How well she knew this group of zany, crazy people.

Her mother knew each and every word, proudly 'singing' as loud as she could in the foghorn. Both Jess and Luke sang very, very quietly with minimal lip movement and the looks on their faces indicated that any teasing was going to put a stop to their efforts immediately. Grudging Lane sang along ("It's really not really rock and roll" she grumbled), while Zach ignored her and belted it out. Sookie and Jackson were slow dancing, which while appropriate for the song's slow sound, seemed a bit weird in the huge mass of people. April was, surprisingly, singing along as well, causing Rory to note that 80's music must be cool again.

"Another night slowly closes in and I feel so lonely,

Touching heat freezing on my skin, I pretend that you still hold me.

I'm going crazy, I'm losing sleep,

I'm in way too far; I'm in way too deep over you,

I can't believe you're gone."

"Oh my favorite line is next!" Rory cried, and everyone who meant something to her sang as loudly as they could, "YOU WERE THE FIRST TO BE THE LAST!"

The sound was deafening, but Rory only snuggled next to Jess and sang her heart out, knowing that a more perfect moment never existed.