Starts from the Luke and Lorelai's interaction during the Bon Voyage party.

*Also yes, this is the exact, word from word dialogue for the JavaJunkie scene, but I added it here because it helps the story*

--------

Luke had planned this. Luke had planned this entire Bon Voyage party in honor of Rory's departure from Stars Hollow. Lorelai was surprised.

Well, she wasn't that surprised. She knows the kind of person Luke is and how much he cares about Rory. But even after everything that has happened with them, he still finds it in his heart to care so much about the Gilmore girls. That's why once Lorelai was finished speaking with Sookie, she started walking towards the diner.

As she walked across the street that was left wet from the rain, the diner door closed and Luke walked out.

He was carrying something that was probably meant for the party going on but Lorelai wasn't paying attention. She only saw him. And he only saw her.

"Hey," Lorelai said.

"Hey," Luke replied, almost immediately.

She sighed. "Thank you."

"Oh... it's no big deal," Luke said, noncommittally.

Lorelai shook her head slightly with a small smile on her face. "Luke..."

Luke just exhaled, his eyes never leaving her face, and slowly shook his head. "I just... like to see you happy."

Lorelai smiled. And before they could stop themselves, they simultaneously gravitated towards each other and wrapped each other into a passionate kiss. Luke brought his arm around her back, keeping her close to him. And Lorelai brought her hands up to his arms.

This kiss conveyed everything. Every "I'm sorry". Every "I Love You". Every regret and all the pain they put each other through in the last couple of months. They had each other again and, this time, they weren't letting go.

--------

Rory walked her grandparents back to their car. In typical Gilmore fashion, Richard had offered to loan Rory some money to start her off for tomorrow, but Rory declined and said she wanted to use what she had and go from there. Emily was very insistent and stubborn on another matter entirely.

"And you'll keep me updated? I hardly know what I'm going to do knowing that you won't be joining Friday Night Dinner's with your mother anymore. I must confess that I enjoy them and will be happy with them resuming, but how will I be able to handle her continuous chatter about the most random of stuff? At least with you there Rory, you were able to level each other out. But regardless, you must keep me posted on what's going on and where you're going!" Emily finished her Gilmore length rant with a sigh.

Rory let out a small laugh. "I will, Grandma. You both will be the first I call, after Mom of course."

Emily seemed satisfied with that. "Yes. Well, we must be going." She then walked to the car door.

Before he left, Richard pulled Rory aside for a second.

"Rory, I know I have already said this, but I don't care and I am going to say it again." Richard inhaled and looked Rory right in the eye and smiled. "I am so proud of you. Of you and your mother. Of the life you have built here, the things you have accomplished and what you are going to accomplish in the near future. You have made me very proud, Rory Gilmore and I know that you will continue to do so for as long as I'm alive."

Rory didn't even try to cover up the tears that were falling from her eyes. She tried to wipe them away discretely, but it wasn't worth it. "Thank you, Grandpa," she choked out with a sad smile.

Rory reached out and gave her Grandfather a hug. Once they pulled away, he held her at arms length and smiled once more before joining Emily in the car and driving off. Rory stood out in the streets for a couple of minutes after they left and made a turn to walk back to the gazebo where the remainder of the party was at.

She was going to go back, but she wanted to have a walk around town one last time and gather her thoughts. It's like she told Lane a day prior: she wasn't giving herself enough time to really think about the fact that she was leaving tomorrow. Leaving Stars Hollow, leaving her home, leaving her mom. It was all happening so fast.

Rory was excited. Of course she was! She was going to go on a campaign trial for our possible future president. She was going to be a part of the whole trial process. And, as an added bonus to being her first, real journalism assignment, she would get amazing credentials and it would help further her career in the future.

She was so far in thought that she didn't even realize that she had made it to the lake. The same lake that she used to go to, mostly when she needed to think and just get away. She would usually go to the bookstore, but that wasn't always a good option. By it not being a good option, she means the times when she doesn't want to be distracted by wonderful books and basically encouraged to spend lots of money on ones she either has or doesn't need at the time.

Nonetheless, Rory stood in the centre of the boardwalk and looked down at the water. It was particularly shiny tonight, with the moon shining above, and it made her feel calm. Soothed, even. She didn't even realize that someone else was walking towards her.

The wood creaked beneath someone's feet and it wasn't hers. So, she quickly looked up, and her eyes landed on the one person she wasn't expecting to see. Tonight of all nights.

"Jess," Rory said, with much surprise evident in her voice.

Jess gave her a small smile in response. "Hey, Rory."