"if it's right for you then it's right for me too,"

--☆--☆--☆- -

The Gilmore household was filled with excitement. A feeling of relief and joy filled the twins. Excitement and terror about all their potential futures was on both their minds.

"The world was their oyster" Lorelai had told them when they opened their acceptance letters.

Rory looked down at hers: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth. She was so excited she could cry. Her dream of Harvard was coming true. It was all she'd thought about for years. Harvard. Now here she was with that acceptance letter in her hand.

Cassie was filled with just as much joy, a bit of shock mixed in as well. Yale, Columbia, Brown, Princeton. Each one of them felt like reaches when she sent in the application. Part of her always wondered if she was attempting the impossible. But the four acceptance letters in her hand said otherwise.

Even surrounded by the excited dances and cheers from her mother and sister, there was one person Cassie wanted. One person that she wanted to share this incredible news with. When the joy finally started dying down Rory and Lorelai went to sleep. Cassie couldn't stay still long enough to even lay in her bed. She was too excited to share her news and without even thinking about it she left her house.

She held her acceptance letters tightly to her chest as she walked. Using the key she had Cassie let herself into the diner. It was late, or early now. It was nearly 6 in the morning. Cassie took a stool down from the counter and waited, it couldn't be long now.

Cassie perked up when she heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs a little while later. That's when he appeared in the doorway to the diner.

"Jesus!" Luke put his hand over his heart, shocked to find the Gilmore Girl sitting in the empty diner. "Cassie? What the hell-"

"I got in," She interrupted him, not able to contain her excitement. Luke's eyes softened as he realized what she said. "Columbia, Yale, Princeton, and Brown. I got in."

Luke felt like he could cry. He quickly moved over to her, his arms going around her in a tight embrace. He gave her a quick kiss to the top of her head, "I knew you could do it. I knew it." Cassie laughed despite the tears in her eyes. Luke clapped his hands together, the proudest look on his face. "You stay there, I'm making you breakfast."

He turned quickly to get over the stove. "Luke," Her voice made him turn around. She was smiling at him, "Thank you... for never leaving me."

"I never will kid," He said and he meant every word.

Luke would do anything for her, absolutely anything. He might not be her blood, but she is his kid. When he looked at her he saw the world. And when she looked at him she saw a dad that actually loved her.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

"So what's it gonna be?" Ethan asked Cassie after she showed him each of her acceptance letters.

The two of them were walking through the quiet streets of Stars Hollow. Their relationship felt great, no unnecessary awkwardness or hidden feelings. They were friends, good friends who were mature enough to keep the friendship without the labels of boyfriend and girlfriend.

Cassie let out a long sigh as she shook her head, "I have no clue."

"Come on, when you were filling out the application, which one felt the most exciting?" He asked her as they crossed the street towards the gazebo.

"They all felt exciting," Cassie answered honestly, "It felt impossible and that made it seem like a dream. I never expected to get into all of them. But..." she trailed off and that's when Ethan perked up, "no, nevermind."

"No, no, no, jump back."

"Aw you referenced Footloose," Cassie smiled at him.

"Your fault," He told her and she knew it was, "but seriously what were you gonna say?"

Cassie looked over at him, hesitating again but then finally saying, "Yale."

Ethan raised his eyebrows, surprised she actually admitted it. "Yale?"

She nodded, "At first it was Columbia. Except I think I only said Columbia because I was worried about the reaction from my mom if I said Yale."

"She'll be proud no matter where you go," Ethan reminded her.

"I know that... It's just such a touchy subject because of my grandparents," Cassie pointed out and Ethan nodded. She'd told him all about the Yale incidents she'd faced with her mom and grandparents. "It's not too far, the campus is beautiful, I'd look great in that blue."

"You would," Ethan quickly agreed. "Cass," Ethan stopped walking, getting Cassie to look right at him, "It's Yale. It's always been Yale."

"Yeah?"

"I remember the look on your face when you sent in the application," He told her.

"You saw that?"

Ethan nodded, "And I saw all the brochures you hid and noticed your sudden new interest in the New Haven."

Cassie laughed softly, she knew he was right. She knew the answer was obvious. "It's Yale," She finally said the words, making herself smile. "I'm going to Yale."

"You, Cassidy Hayden Gilmore, are going to Yale."

Cassie turned her head, seeing Jess walking out of the diner. She hated that they still weren't talking. Her entire world was shifting into something amazing and she wanted to tell him. Ethan noticed her getting distracted and followed her gaze.

He couldn't lie, the idea of her and Jess together never thrilled him. Ethan was a confident guy but he knew there was something about Jess Mariano that he didn't have. Something that Cassie liked in Jess. However, they're friends now. And he didn't like seeing his friend hurt.

"You should tell him," Ethan spoke up.

"Huh?" Cassie asked before realizing what Ethan had said. "Oh, I don't know."

"Can I ask what happened?"

Cassie let out a short breath, "You can ask but unfortunately I don't have much of an answer. He just kinda started avoiding me and when I asked about it... I don't know, things haven't been the same."

Ethan nodded his head, wondering if the theories he'd had were true. He always thought that Jess liked Cassie. Even when she insisted that he liked Rory, something just didn't add up. He never voiced this though, he didn't want to come off as the crazy jealous boyfriend.

"Things will never get back to normal if you don't talk."

"I just don't know what to say."

"So what? You're never gonna talk to him again and let the friendship just die?" He asked her. Cassie thought to herself for a moment. She absolutely did not want that. She shook her head. "Then go say something. If he's still a little bitch about it then you're better off but if you don't do anything you always be left wondering."

"You're right."

Ethan smiled, "I know. Just imagine how good my advice will be after I get a degree in Psychology."

"You'll become my full time therapist."

"Already am, no go, don't chicken out."

"Okay, okay," Cassie turned to where was. She nodded at Ethan one last time before walking away from him and crossed the street to where Jess was sitting on a bench with his book. "Hey."

Her voice shocked him, getting him to look up right away, "Uh, hi."

"You've been avoiding me-"

"Cassie," Jess sighed as he sat up and closed his book.

"No, no," Cassie held her hand up, stopping him from saying anything else. "It's my turn to talk. You'll get your turn in a moment."

Jess nodded his head as he continued to look up at her. He could see that she was nervous but powering through it.

"I don't know what I did wrong. I have been walking around trying to figure out what I did and why you suddenly can't stand to be around me. And I just... I don't know," She admitted to him, her voice shaking with nerves. "But I miss you. I hate feeling like I can't talk to you, like we can't be friends. I don't want to lose this, I can't." 

Cassie stopped talking and Jess wasn't sure if he could say anything yet. He waited, watching as she took a deep breath before meeting his gaze.

"If you really don't want me in your life anymore please just tell me now."

"I want you in my life, Cassie," Jess said to her, meaning the words more than she understood. She looked at him with curious eyes, like she wasn't sure if she believed him. Jess stood up from the bench, his eyes still staring into hers as he said, "I'm sorry."

Cassie moved first, her arms went around him and she held him close. Jess hesitated, only for a moment, then he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to him.

"I'm sorry too."

His arms tightened around her. He hated that he made her feel like this, "You have nothing to be sorry about."

She pulled out of the hug first. Both of them noticing a weird feeling as they moved out of the hug. A weird feeling that went ignored by both of them.

"So, uh, what's up?" Jess asked awkwardly, wanting her to say something to end the weird silence.

"I'm going to Yale," She said quietly and Jess' eyes widened with excitement for her.

 "Are you serious?" He asked her and she nodded her head. "Tell me about it."

Cassie smiled as they both sat down on the bench and she began talking, him listening and smiling. Just like it used to be.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this" Cassie whispered as quietly as she could. There they all sat, in Miss Patty's dance studio as a man dressed in all black recited The Raven to them. Everyone was trying to listen but it was so hard to pay attention.

"Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, by the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it worse, 'Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, 'are sure no craven'." The man rejected as he looked up at a stuffed crow.

Lorelai quietly leaned to her right, towards her girls, "That Poe was downright funalicious."

Cassie laughed quietly as Rory nodded, "He was a troubled man. He enjoyed a little bit too much of the hmm- hmm," She said as she made a drinking gesture.

"Mime?" Lorelai wondered.

Rory sighed, "You know what I meant."

"Oh mime," Lorelai perked up, "That reminds me. Yale, best drama school bar none. Put that in the pro column."

After the initial excitement of the acceptance letters began to wear off and the reality of a decision sunk in, Lorelai and Rory (mainly Rory) began working on a pro/con list for her top choices. They'd been adding things to each side all day.

Cassie told them she had been making her own. She hadn't found a way to bring up that she'd already made her decision. But if she didn't tell them soon one of the many people she did tell would eventually blab.

"I'm not taking drama," Rory reminded her.

"No, but it means you'll have the best on-campus productions. You'll get to see the next Meryl Streep all goofy and eighteen and doing crap like, 'Hey, name an occupation!' 'Plumber' 'Name a farm tool.'"

Cassie leaned forward, "Is that what goes on in the Yale drama school?"

"So I've heard. Oh, hey, there's Dean," Lorelai noticed the boy a couple seats ahead of them. "Hey, is that, uh..."

"Lindsay," Rory answered.

Dean turned his head, noticing the Gilmore woman behind them. He gave them all a friendly smile and wave. This caused Lindsay to turn around, her gaze much less friendly.

"I think she's ready to go to the ghetto on you."

"Daggers for eyes," Cassie agreed.

"Well, I don't have a problem with her. She's really nice. And, you know, once she-"

"Brought you a magnet shaped like Mark Twain's head?" Cassie finished her sister's sentence, already knowing where she was going. "We've heard the anecdote many, many times."

"Sorry."

"I think she should mellow. What's the problem?" Lorelai wondered as the Poe continued his reciting. "I don't remember The Raven being this long."

Rory nodded in agreement, "It could've used some editing."

"Did you put drama school on the Yale pro list yet?" Lorelai asked and Rory shook her head. "Do it or we'll forget."

"I don't have a pen."

"Jeez," Lorelai turned her head, spotting Luke and Nicole sitting in the aisle across from them. "Psst. Hi, Nicole."

"Hi, Lorelai," Nicole smiled but it wasn't entirely friendly.

"Hey," Luke leaned forward to see the Gilmores better, "How long is this thing?"

"He's got at least five nevermores to go."

Luke frowned, "Ah jeez."

"Do you have a pen?" Lorelai asked him.

"No."

Lorelai didn't believe him, "Come on, cough it up."

"I don't have a pen."

"You've got a restaurant. Where's the pen you take orders with?"

Luke scoffed at her, "I wasn't anticipating taking orders at the Poe reading."

Cassie's eyes widened in horror when the Poe looked in their direction. Apparently their whispering wasn't nearly as subtle as they'd hope. She quickly tapped her mom's arm, "Uh, Mom," Cassie pointed to the front where the Poe was giving them a stern look.

"Busted by a Poe."

"He's gonna put a curse on us."

"Hey, Lorelai," Nicole whispered, getting Lorelai's attention. She held out a pen to her and Lorelai gave her a thankful look as she took it. Before she could even thank her, Nicole said, "I'll need it back."

"Yeah, sure, thanks."

"Who crapped in her coffee today?" Cassie whispered with a judgemental look in her eye as she turned away from Nicole.

"She's got a little bit of Lindsay attitude going," Rory agreed.

"Not really," Lorelai responded but then she thought about it, "Really?"

"Hey," Miss Patty leaned forward from the row behind them, "How many nevermores do you think he's got to go?"

"We're guessing four."

Miss Patty sighed as she looked up at the Poe, "Poor Edgar Allen Poe. He suffered so much. And now we all gotta suffer along with him."

"Yale drama, got it."

Miss Patty looked down at the list in Rory's lap, "Rory, why do you waste your time on those pro/con lists? It's going to be Harvard, we all know it."

Rory nodded, "I know."

"If the list says it is."

"Right."

"When you were six and took my cheerleading class, you wouldn't even cheer for any other school than Harvard," Miss Patty reminded her.

"That's true," Rory realized before looking at her mom. "That is true."

"Well, then the list will reflect it."

Rory looked over at Cassie, who'd gone mysteriously quiet again. Rory wished she knew where Cassie's head was at. She knew Cassie's top 3, and she knew Harvard wasn't on that list, she just wished she had some idea of what her sister was thinking.

"And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor shall be lifted... nevermore."

The entire audience began clapping as the Poe finished. Relief washed over the room as a woman took the stage with the man.

"That was wonderful, wasn't it? Thank you very much for that rendition."

It was at this moment they noticed a bit of tension between the two Poes. The woman was standing between them, mediating, as it seemed.

"If the Poes start fighting does that punch a hole in the space/time continuum?"

"Ladies and Gentlemen," The woman took the stage again, "We have a special treat for you. It allows you to compare and contrast interpretations of Poe's most famous work."

"What did she just say?" Cassie gave her a horrified look.

"Oh no."

"Compare and contrast?"

"That can only mean..."

The woman smiled at the crowd as she said, "Please enjoy this second recitation of The Raven."

Lorelai gave her girls a nervous look, "Do we bolt?"

"Do we dare?"

The next recitation went by even slower than the first. And the vibe in the room... very Poe. Lorelai and Rory were getting side-eyed by two women. Cassie sat uncomfortably as she watched it happen, suddenly glad that no one in there seemed to hate her.

The twins were first to leave, Lorelai wanting to linger so she and Luke could talk. This was the time. Cassie thought to herself. She could tell Rory first and Lorelai later. This is the way to do it.

"Ror?"

"Yeah?" Rory turned to look at her sister, immediately recognizing the anxious look on her sister's face. "What is it?"

"I..." Cassie hesitated but then she shook her head. This is an exciting decision, she reminded herself. Rory was going to be happy for her no matter what, she knew that. "I think I've made my decision."

"Oh." Rory stopped walking so she could look right at Cassie. "Well?"

"Yale," Cassie told her, "I'm going to Yale."

Rory nodded her head then smiled at her sister, "You're going to Yale."

"Yeah," Cassie smiled back and Rory moved over to her, giving Cassie a much needed hug.

"Come on," Rory and Cassie quickly walked back to their house and Rory gestured for Cassie to follow her. "Look," she quickly wrote something down then showed it to Cassie. On the pro side of Yale Rory had written, Cassie will be there.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

Rory was in her room, she wasn't far, Cassie reminded herself. She was sitting on the couch, waiting for Lorelai. Only two minutes had passed but it felt like an eternity had passed.

But as soon as she heard the door open her heart began to race. No need to be nervous, Cassie tried to tell herself.

"Hi?" Lorelai gave her daughter a confused look. "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you," Cassie answered honestly.

Lorelai had a nervous expression as she moved around the living room to get to the couch, "Okay. Is everything ok?"

Cassie nodded, "I have something to tell you."

Maybe it was a motherly instinct but Lorelai immediately went to the worst case scenario. She suddenly feared that Cassie was going to tell her she was pregnant. All she knew was there was a nervous look on her daughter's face and that made her nervous.

"I've made a decision," Cassie added, "about school."

Lorelai's shoulders fell with relief, "You did?"

"Mhm," Cassie hummed, then her eyes went behind her mom, seeing Rory sticking her head out from her room. Something about seeing her sister made her feel a little better. She was able to take a breath and look at her mom. "I want to go to Yale," She announced.

There was a brief moment of silence. Lorelai was digesting the news and Cassie was waiting for her reaction. To her surprise Lorelai smiled at her.

"My baby girl is going to Yale," She laughed to herself, feeling a sense of pride and amazement in her daughter's achievements. "You're going to Yale."

"Yeah," Cassie nodded, now smiling with her. "I am."

Lorelai inched closer to her and gave her a big hug, "Honey, I am so proud of you,"

Those words warmed Cassie's heart. A sigh of relief left her as she quickly wiped a tear from under her eye. "Thanks mom."

Cassie had fallen asleep on the couch. She and Rory were up late watching tv and when they were finally done Cassie couldn't get her legs to take her up to her room. So she grabbed the softest blanket within reach and fell fast asleep.

At least she had been fast asleep.

She wasn't sure what time it was when the phone started ringing. Her eyes opened slightly and when she realized it was still dark out she cursed whoever was calling and rolled over. The phone was in the kitchen, technically, Rory was closer.

Cassie could hear her sister's annoyed groan from her room. It stopped ringing and both twins hoped they'd be able to fall back asleep. Only for it to start back up again ten seconds later.

"Oh my god," Rory groaned as she stood up from her bed and walked out to the kitchen table. "Hello?"

The next couple of minutes were hectic. Rory had gone upstairs to take the phone to Lorelai. Cassie was still on the couch when Rory came running back down.

"Wake up," Rory gently tapped her sister's shoulder.

"No."

"Cassie, I'm serious," Rory spoke a lot more urgently this time and that made Cassie open her eyes, "There's a fire at the inn, we have to go."

"Oh my god," Cassie sat up as quickly as she could.

All three Gilmore women ran around the house grabbing jackets, shoes, keys, and then they were running out the front door. Lorelai drove to the inn as quickly as she could. Her heart pounding in her chest, all the worst case scenarios running through her mind.

When they got there all of the inn's guests and staff were standing outside. Cassie looked past them to where all the firemen were running around, doing whatever they could to get the fire out.

The Gilmores rushed to the crowd. Lorelai checked in on a few of the guests before quickly making her way over to Sookie and Michel, they'd both gotten there only before.

"Lorelai, thank god."

"Hey," Lorelai walked up to Sookie, "What's going on?"

Sookie turned to one of the firemen, tapping him on the shoulder, "This is Lorelai Gilmore."

"What's going on?" Lorelai asked him, nearly knocking him down as she tried to get information.

"In a minute, ma'am," He said to her before walking away with one of his men.

"Yeah, Mom, let him do his thing," Rory advised as she pulled Lorelai back a step.

Lorelai nodded, "You're right," she tried to take a deep breath before turning away from her daughters, "Sookie, Michel, is everyone out?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We're sure. The fire department's sure, we did a head count," Sookie assured her.

Lorelai nodded her head slowly, "We need to double check, triple check. Julio," she suddenly remembered and immediately began scanning the crowd, "He doesn't start until six but sometimes he comes here early because his sister Rita gives him a ride on her way to work."

"There," Sookie pointed to Julio who stood safely among the crowd.

Without wasting a second Lorelai walked over to her employee, embracing him. "Julio. I'm so glad to see you, you beautiful man."

Rory walked over to her sister. Cassie was staring in the direction of the inn, she'd barely said a word since they left the house. "Hey."

The sound of Rory's voice brought her attention back to reality. "Hi."

"You ok?"

Cassie nodded, "Yeah, it's just... we grew up in there."

"Yeah..."

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

Lorelai quickly enacted phase 2 of keeping the inn's guests happy. The group flooded Luke's diner while Rory and Cassie were attempting to entertain their kids with sock puppets. It's safe to say the twins didn't have a knack for their imaginary skills.

The townspeople of Stars Hollow gathered together to find beds for the guests to stay in. Both Cassie and Rory give up their own beds to Fred, his wife, and their son.

Cassie quickly gathered up her things. Hiding anything that an eight year old boy might possibly get into, but luckily Fred Jr seemed happy laying with a comic book. She grabbed her backpack and walked downstairs, trying not to feel weird about a stranger in her room.

"Stop saying Yale," She heard Rory say as she made it to the bottom step.

"It has double the pros of the other two," Lorelai told her daughter.

"I wouldn't say double."

Cassie stood outside in the hall, not sure what to think. She knew Rory was being hesitant with deciding but Cassie did not expect her to actually consider Yale. On one hand it seemed great, they could be together taking on this new adventure. On the other hand, Cassie was excited to break out on her own, be her own person without her sister there. Now she didn't know what to think.

"Triple over filthy, dirty Princeton," Lorelai joked.

Rory hesitated for a moment, "But I'm not done collecting my data yet and... look at my wall."

"So?"

"So that wall says something," Rory said as she looked at her Harvard covered wall. "How can I go to Yale with my wall looking like this?"

"It's a wall," Lorelai reminded her, "Look, honey, Luke was right. The pro/con lists have to come to an end eventually."

"But it was supposed to be Harvard regardless of what the list says. Everyone thinks that."

"I don't. I don't. I know I'm the one who said no to Yale loudly and a lot, but not anymore. Really," Lorelai hoped to assure her, "I just want what's right."

"I know. But it has to be right for all of us," Rory replied, "and Cassie. Yale was her thing first, it wouldn't be right for me to-"

"Rory, if it's right for you then it's right for me too," Cassie stepped into the room, making her choice. "I don't want you to not pick Yale because of me."

"Really?"

Cassie nodded, "Really. But we're not dorming together, we've bunked together for too long already."

"Deal," Rory agreed with a smile. "And what about you?" Rory looked over at Lorelai.

"If it's right for both of you, it's really really right for me too." Lorelai put an arm around each of her daughters. Secretly glad they both decided on the same place.

The twins smiled at each other. Grateful that this could be something they do together. They haven't been separated quite so soon.

"Oh," Fred and his wife awkwardly stood in the doorway when they realized they were interrupting a heartfelt moment. "Are you not ready for us yet?"

"Oh, we're ready for you, Fred."

"We have to put you out."

Lorelai waved a hand, "No, it's perfectly okay," she assured them as she and the twins left the room.

The girls said a quick goodbye to their mother before walking out the backdoor. Luckily Mrs. Kim was allowing them both to spend the night. Lane normally isn't allowed to have guests on a school night but this was an exception.

"So you're really ok with both of us at Yale?" Rory asked her, wanting to be absolutely sure.

Cassie sighed with a smile, "Yes, I'm really ok with it."

"Really? Because if you aren't-"

"Rory," Cassie interrupted her, "Really."

Rory smiled, "Okay," she nodded her head, "I'm glad."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, even thinking about being far from you seemed..."

Cassie smiled at her sister, knowing exactly how she felt, "I know. We've never been-"

"No, we haven't. I don't think I'm ready to be separated from you," Rory confessed, and Cassie was secretly glad Rory was the one to say it. She'd always dreaded the day she and Rory would one day be living separate lives. But not yet, for now they stick together.