Author's Note: I had hoped to get this out sooner, but between vacation and the wonderful and thought-provoking feedback from the lovely KinoFille and Lula Bo, it dragged out a little longer than I'd planned. Thank you for the kind reviews and I hope you enjoy this variation on the events of the finale.
Luke watches the impromptu 'graduation' scene in front of him with mixed emotions. Logically, he'd known that Rory would move on in a more permanent way once she'd graduated from Yale, but the little tidbits he'd heard about her job search -- not taking the job in Providence and being turned down for the New York Times fellowship -- had made her leaving feel somewhat less immediate. So, as proud as he'd been when Lorelai had announced a few minutes earlier that Rory had gotten a job, he can't help but be surprised by it all. By how soon she'll be leaving and how far away she'll be much of the time.
Rory's been one of the few people, besides her mother, who's bothered to push through his gruff defenses. And yet, unlike the brute force of Lorelai's personality, it has always been Rory's quiet understanding that wins him over. It's what makes her a welcome presence, no matter what else is going on in their lives. And he's only just starting to realize how much he's going to miss her.
And then he realizes, if it's hitting him like this, he can only imagine what it's doing to Lorelai, because she's lived so much of her life for Rory and she's going to be lost without her daughter, without her best friend. Looking more closely as Lorelai makes great ceremony about handing the 'diploma' to Rory, he can see the little signs that betray Lorelai's anxiety. The too-tight smile that falls short of carefree. The slight brittleness in her lively voice. The actions that are a touch too animated.
She wraps up her performance, but even with Lorelai selling it as enthusiastically as she can and Rory dutifully playing along, their audience isn't satisfied.
"Hon," Lorelai says to Rory, shooing her across the diner," I think you'd better go explain who Barack Obama is so they understand you're not skipping out on your graduation for just any old gig. That only a future president is a big enough draw to beat out a Stars Hollow shindig."
"Skipping out?" Rory protests. "I graduated quite successfully in front of hundreds of people last week."
"Shh. Don't let them hear you say that."
Rory points an accusing finger at her mother. "This is your fault."
Lorelai raises her hands in innocence. "My fault? How is it my fault? They're the insane ones," she says, pointing at the gaggle of townspeople surrounding Babette.
"You encourage the insanity," Rory grumbles as she turns and walks away.
Lorelai's gaze follows her daughter for a moment before she turns back and catches Luke's eye. "Hey, I'm really sorry about the burgers and stuff for the party. You're sure you didn't order them yet? I can still pay you for them."
"Nope," he lies. "I was going to order them this afternoon."
"Okay, good," she replies, lifting her coffee to take a sip and dropping herself back onto the stool she'd vacated a few minutes earlier. When she sets her cup on the counter, he sees her shoulders slump; she lets out a soft sigh as she slowly traces her index finger around the lid of her cup.
"You okay?" he asks. He can't really imagine how she could be and he wishes briefly – before he can push the thought from his mind -- that he could take her hands and run his thumbs soothingly over her skin or pull her close and drop a kiss on her forehead.
She responds quickly, "I'm fine," but when he lifts his eyebrow in question, she lets out another sigh. "It's just so soon. We were going to go on all the roller coasters."
Throwing her a curious look, he asks, "Yeah?"
"It was going to be our last big Gilmore Girls event: an amusement park tour of America." She smiles ruefully. "But now she's going to see America without me. Well, at least the parts of America with a lot of electoral votes."
He gives her a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry you're not going to be able to go."
She looks up at him gratefully. "Thanks," she says softly. "You know, I know it's ridiculous, but it was really sweet that the town wanted this whole crazy re-enactment thing. That they care about her like that." Her voice is wistful, her lips curved into a sad smile, and in that moment he can see everything in her expression: the happiness that her daughter has achieved what they've both worked for all her life, and the realization that fulfillment of that dream requires that she let go of the most important person in her life.
They're interrupted by Rory, who returns to her mother's side a moment later, muttering about escaping before an elaborate kidnapping plan is hatched. He's not sure if it's because of the sadness itself or the fact that he's been allowed to see it, but as he watches Lorelai force a bright smile and consult their shopping list, he's already got a plan forming in his mind.
He's spent most of the party at the grill, watching her. Watching the love, pride, sadness, and joy play across her face. She looks radiant, and a little awestruck. He's not sure who had the forethought to invite her parents – Sookie perhaps -- but she seems to be pleased in spite of herself that they're here. There's a certain ease in their interactions that, though surprising, seems as though it's been a long time coming.
He has a fleeting urge to step up behind her and wrap her in his arms. It makes him wonder, were things different, if he could be a part of this scene, if he could whisper words of congratulations and comfort and love in her ear. But this night isn't about his wishes and hopes, so he stays in the background and lets what he's already done be enough.
She does spend some time hovering near the grill, near him. They haven't resolved anything, but she's wearing his necklace and throwing him little smiles, just like she's been doing all week.
She hasn't worn it every time he's seen her in the last week since he'd given her the necklace. The very next time she'd been to the diner it was there around her neck. It was the first thing he'd noticed during her quick coffee stop, and when she had noticed him noticing, she'd thrown him a quick, quiet grin. He had slid her to-go cup across the counter and they'd exchanged some lively banter while she'd taken her first few sips of coffee. Before she'd gotten up to go, he'd leaned toward her, brushing his fingers on the back of her wrist as he whispered, "It looks good on you."
She'd blushed, though whether from the compliment or from the touch he's not sure. "Thank you," she'd whispered back. "You do know how to pick them."
He'd shrugged, suddenly a little shy himself. "It looked like you."
As he and Lorelai exchange another long look over the grill now, he marvels at how natural it feels already. There have been a few moments this week that have been reminiscent of that shy, awkward time right after he'd first asked her out three years ago. But what he's felt even more is how comfortable it's all been. He hadn't noticed until this past week how careful their conversations had been ever since he and Lorelai had begun talking again, hadn't been fully aware of the unspoken rules they apparently had for what they talked about and what they didn't.
But ever since admitting their feelings the night he'd given her the necklace, much of that has dropped away. It's not that he hadn't suspected what she'd felt after watching her sing, but to hear her say it out loud, to not shrink away from the words and what they might mean, is what had really fed his hope. Since then he's not even sure he could explain in words what's different, but it feels like she's letting him back in, letting him see what's really going on behind the bright façade she puts up for most everyone else. That maybe she's even letting herself need him. And that, more than anything, has made him confident that they can work it out – that she wants to work it out -- even if things are still up in the air between them.
Before Lorelai has a chance to ask for something to eat, she's interrupted by Emily. Throwing Luke an apologetic glance, Lorelai follows her mother and he takes the opportunity to go back to the diner for some charcoal. On his way back he sees her heading toward him, looking fiercely determined. Before he can say anything she says quietly, "You did this. You did all this."
It's not a question but he nods anyway.
"Luke." It's hope and warmth and a plea all in one, and then she's leaning in and so is he and the charcoal is on the ground and her lips are on his. He can feel her stretch up on her toes to lean in closer, feel her hand gripping his arm. Looping his arm around her neck, he holds her there until he can't pull her any closer.
He feels her fall back on her heels and he loosens his grip, dropping his hands to her waist.
"Thank you," she whispers, her voice full of emotion.
"I just like to see you happy," he admits, the words gravelly with feeling.
She takes a deep breath, her voice a little shaky when she speaks. "I am." She bites her lip. "I mean, not about the soon-to-be empty nest, but…"
"I get it." He pauses. "I am too."
They stand there for a moment, both seemingly at a loss for words. Giving a grim smile, she says with apprehension, "We still have to talk."
He nods in agreement and admits with a sigh, "Yeah, we do." Watching as worry flits across her eyes, he can see that whatever hesitation she's shown hasn't been about reluctance, but about fear of failing yet again. But this is it, he knows, this is their chance, so he smiles back at her reassuringly and says, "We need to talk about how we're going to make it work this time."
A bright smile dawns across her face and he can see the fear start to fade away. There's a teasing note in her voice when she asks, "Yeah?"
He nods seriously, then smiles. "No more farting around."
Her eyes grow wide in surprise and she sputters, "Farting around? Oh, is that what we were doing?"
"Well, we were…" He hesitates, shaking his head. "Not now. Go back to Rory's party. We can talk later."
"About making it work?" she confirms.
"Yep."
"Just like that?"
He grins confidently. "Just like that."
She grabs his hand and leans in to kiss him again before he picks up charcoal and they walk back to party. He drops the bag next to the grill and she pauses, as if she's unsure what to do next. "Go find Rory," he says, brushing his closed fist against her hip. "I'm not going anywhere."
Fin