Six months had come and gone since Rory and Paul broke up for the second time. She couldn't believe what she was doing when she had called him on New Year's Day but had always felt guilty about the way she'd treated him while they were dating. With Logan completely out of the picture, she felt like this time around he'd get a fair chance. She'd be able to devote herself to him, instead of seeing someone else behind his back and constantly forgetting him.
After losing her baby shortly after her mom's wedding, she became severely depressed. She didn't want to do anything or see anyone. Basically, Rory shut herself in her childhood room when she wasn't at the Gazette. She hadn't even had time to get used to the idea of being pregnant, and it was gone in a flash of light. Despite the fact she was still in the very early stages, it felt as if a part of her was missing. She tried to think of it as a blessing in disguise because she wouldn't have to be reminded about Logan on a daily basis. Rory had tried hard to heal and move on after their goodbye. He wasn't an easy one to forget and thought that hopping back up on that horse would help. She didn't want to have to work hard to find someone, so she went back to the comfortable and safe...Paul.
Things went well for about two months, and she'd really made an effort in their relationship. Soon, she was wondering what she had seen in him in the first place. Although he was kind and sweet, he was also dull, boring, and very forgettable. By three months in, she'd forget dinner dates and meetings in the city. Before she knew it, she wasn't calling or texting him when she said she would. The inevitable was just around the corner with another break-up quickly approaching. She had even failed to send him a return text to confirm the termination. She just didn't really care.
Rory called Paris, who told her about several dates apps that were helpful for her. She'd been trying to jump back into the dating game since the divorce from Doyle was finalized. Rory wasn't sure why because they lived together and still slept together when he was in town. It had always seemed that they were perfect for each other, but Paris insisted on dating. At first, Rory resisted the idea of putting herself out online. She was sure there was no one worth meeting from those types of things.
About two weeks later, after much contemplation, she found herself sitting in front of her computer, and she was filling out a profile for a website called 'The Date'. There were no pictures allowed, only words, so your personality was based on several essay questions. Its premise was to connect you to people who were most likely compatible to you without judgment based on a picture and slightly modeled after the singing competition 'The Voice', where singers are rated for their voice without seeing their faces or look. She liked the anonymity of it but was still wary. She clicked submit and closed her laptop.
Finn had never been the type to even consider settling down, but lately, the urge kept creeping up on him, and he couldn't pinpoint why. He thought it had something to do with his best mates settling down and getting ready to start families. Logan had married, and Colin was set to get hitched. Even Robert, who had lived by the bachelor-for-life philosophy had found a woman to tame his wild ways. He was starting to feel like he was the odd man out at most functions because he usually went stag. It's not as if he couldn't find a woman, it was the fact he couldn't find any quality women. They all seemed the same to him, and he dreaded any sort of relationship with any of them. He found them to be shallow gold-diggers. His family was one of the wealthiest in Australia and owned a chain of hotels and other properties around the world. He loved the freedom it provided him as far as work was concerned, but he found it hard to stay in one place too long.
After years of traveling, Finn decided to give New York City a try for the long term. He'd loved the city and all it had to offer, except the winters. Those he could deal without, but he knew he could always escape if they became too cold or long. He found himself a place in Chelsea and fell into a nice routine: gym, work, and a wonderful happy hour walking distance from his new pad. He was surprised at some of the exceptional people he'd met at the local pub. Once or twice, he'd gone home with a random woman, only to discover she was the same as all the others. The last one had been a stage-five clinger and practically stalked him afterward. That had been his last local happy hour.
The first couple of days were hard, but soon, he was ok without the happy hours. Although, that meant he was home more and realized it was quite lonely. He tried to find some hobbies to fill the solitary hours, but nothing felt right to him. Finn didn't enjoy any of them and turned to the bottle a little more than usual. He would meet up with the gang when they were in town, but his life had suddenly become uninteresting and dull. Robert suggested a dating website called 'The Date'. It was the one he used to bag his blonde beauty. Finn was wary about using something Robert used because he'd never needed any help in the woman department as his friend often had. He thought it to be unnatural and awkward.
A couple weeks later, he was reconsidering the advice. Finn figured there was no harm in trying, and filled out his profile to get connected to women anonymously. This was the major upside to the online matchmaking scene. The potential mates wouldn't know that he was the heir to a billionaire's fortune. Once he'd finished, he submitted and waited to be connected to others. He surfed for a bit and went back to the site about an hour later to find he'd been matched to several women. Some were local and others were scattered along the Eastern seaboard.
While browsing through various profiles, he found one that caught his attention. It was a woman from Connecticut. They shared several interests and sounded quite intelligent, which was a welcomed change for him. She had a peculiar sense of humor that really drew him in. He was surprised to find that anyone like this would have an issue meeting people because she sounded like a person he'd love to meet and get to know. He carefully constructed a message to the lady, and patiently awaited her reply.
Before heading back to work, Rory opened up her laptop and checked her dating profile. She'd been matched up with several men, and one in particular, caught her eye after he'd sent her a private message. He was in NYC and sound like the perfect match. He seemed too good to be true, but she wasn't getting any younger, so she wrote back to him.
They wrote back and forth for a solid three weeks before he suggested they meet in real life. She wasn't sure what she should do, so she called Paris. She was the only person who had used any of these types of things to meet dates.
"Rory, I'm kinda busy here," Paris said sounding very irritated that she'd called her.
"Oh, sorry," Rory apologized. "I just have a little problem and need your advice."
She could hear Paris saying something to someone, but it was extremely muffled as if she'd put her hand over the phone.
"Fine. What's your problem?"
"So, I took your advice and posted a profile on 'The Date'. I've been talking to this guy for about three weeks and he wants to meet up...in real life," Rory explained.
"Well, do you want to meet up with him?" Paris asked.
"I think I do. He sounds amazing and even lives in NYC."
"Keep in mind that people are not always what they seem online, Rory. Don't be naïve about this. He could be a serial killer rapist for all you know!" Paris warned.
"Then why in the world would you tell me to go onto one of these things?"
"All I'm saying is that you need to be smart about it. Make sure it's a public place and that you've got an out if you need one," she explained. "I could hang out at the bar or wherever you are going if you'd like."
"I'm not sure that would be necessary, but keep your phone close Saturday night," Rory replied.
"Ok, good. Now, I've got to get back to work. Another high profile client is in the works, and let's just say he's livin' la vida loca," Paris said.
"Thanks, Paris," she replied and ended the call.
Rory finished her message back to DownUnder82 to finalize plans to meet him in the city on Saturday night for their first official date. She was a little nervous and exhilarated at the same time. It felt good to put herself out there again and taking a chance helped break the monotony of her life in the Hollow. He must have been online at the same time because he sent a message back to her almost instantly. They were set to meet at Todd English Food Hall at eight.
Finn wasn't the type to throw all of his eggs into one basket, so he messaged a few women that had also caught his interest, but they didn't seem to click like the woman who had initially drawn him in. The other women were decent enough, yet they didn't ignite the same spark. A couple of them even reminded him of some of his one-night stands from many of his weekends. At first, they sounded intelligent and compatible but realized they were mostly shallow gold-diggers. He couldn't understand how he'd been matched and soon realized there were certain key words their profiles all had in common. Rather than waste any more time, he focused his energies on his first match.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Finn wrote back and forth with his mystery woman, BookWorm84, through 'The Date'. It was a stark contrast for him to connect with someone on a more personal level rather than jumping straight into a hormone-fueled physical relationship. He was rather enjoying himself and the new challenge that was before him. He hadn't realized how delightful the opposite sex could be when neither party was worried about sex or money. It was invigorating to get to be himself with another person.
After a short time, he found himself almost obsessing over when he'd get his next message from her, and it made him giddy when he'd get a notification from the app on his phone. Finn couldn't figure out what had come over him to start acting in this manner. He was hardly one for commitment. In fact, he had never even considered finding a long-term mate, nor had he wanted that. Yet, here he was acting like a swooning teenager. Elation overtook the normally calm Aussie whenever a message would pop up on his phone.
Finn was feeling pretty confident about how things were going and wanted to move forward rather than hiding behind a keyboard. He wasn't sure how to go about taking the next step but figured he could be as smooth in writing as he was in person. He offered to meet for dinner on Saturday night and patiently awaited her reply. He set about getting ready to go into the office and checked one more time before he left for work. To his surprise, she'd already replied and accepted his invite. He recommended one of his personal favorites, Todd English, at eight, and she agreed.
For the rest of the week, he was reeling from her acceptance. Finn practically floated on a cloud at work, and it was obvious to his colleagues that something about him had changed. He wasn't usually grumpy but tended to be much more serious, even around the holidays. No one was complaining, and he even let everyone go early on the Friday before Christmas. Part of the reason was that he wanted to make sure that he was ready for his big date the next night. He had shopping to do for himself and for his mystery woman. He picked up a little something for her because experience has taught him that being prepared isn't just for boy scouts.
Rory spent what seemed like hours picking out the perfect outfit, hairstyle, and make-up for her date. She wanted her carefully constructed look to appear effortless. After looking through her own wardrobe, she raided her mom's closet for something to wear. Eventually, she settled on elements from her own wardrobe. She opted for a royal blue silk top, knee-length black skirt, tights, and boots. She curled her hair and pinned it back just off her face, letting the soft curls fall on her shoulders. Her make-up was subtle, yet highlighted her cheeks and eyes.
Before she left home, she texted Paris.
Rory: Is it ok if I crash at your place if my date goes too late?
Paris: Sure, but fair warning that Doyle is here for the holidays.
Damn! I hate staying when he's there because they are so loud in bed, she silently lamented. It's a miracle the kids don't hear, but their bedrooms are on the top floor while the master suite and guest rooms are on the second level.
Rory: Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'll have to take my chances.
Paris: Just let me know. Oh, and the subway station nearest to our house is closed, so you'll have to take a taxi or an uber. I guess you could walk too, but it's like ten blocks from the next closest station.
Rory began chuckling when she started thinking about Kirk's failed rideshare company and could hear him say ooober over and over in her head.
Rory: Good to know. Thanks for helping me get back out there.
She went back to the mirror for one last glance before she went to meet her ride to Hartford. Rory stuffed a few essentials in her purse, including make-up and a book. Now that she had the time, she wanted to get back into the habit of reading. Because she was completely enthralled in a new story, the train ride to New York City seemed to fly by.
It was just before eight when Rory arrived at The Plaza. She looked all around for a man with dark hair who was about six feet tall and would be wearing a red rose to signal his identity. This was her idea as it reminded her of window shopping with her mom in Hartford. About ten minutes later, a man fitting her date's description walked in. He wasn't as good-looking as she'd envisioned, but it was his personality that she found attractive. She knew better than to judge a book by its cover, so she made her way over to him and introduced herself.
"DownUnder82?" she asked cautiously. He nodded slightly. "I'm CuteAsPushkin1779. I mean, I'm Rory."
She held out her hand to shake his. He returned the shake and said, "I'm John. Shall we?" He gestured for her to go before him. She flashed a quick smile and walked into the restaurant. His conversation with the hostess indicated he'd made reservations, which was a bonus in her book. They were shown to their table, and it was a small, romantic booth in the back of the establishment. At first, it felt almost claustrophobic to Rory as they were nearly sitting on top of each other, and suddenly, she started to get an uneasy feeling. It was one of those where instincts kick in, telling her that things weren't quite right. She tried to ignore it and give her date a fair shot.
Before the hostess left them with menus, he ordered a bottle of house wine. She knew it was likely the least expensive wine on the menu, and it's not as if she needed anyone to impress her with expensive wine, but she'd like to be considered when ordering. Strike one, she thought. The feeling didn't disappear when he suddenly developed an inconsistent Australian accent after Rory asked if he was an Aussie. John also became evasive about answering any personal questions about himself. From years of friendship with Finn, she knew his accent was as fake as his online profile. Strike two, she thought sadly.
For the next hour, John kept trying to persuade Rory to drink more wine after she nixed a second glass. He tried to touch her in a flirty manner at any opportunity. He was practically sitting on top of her after they'd finished eating, and she was feeling more uncomfortable than the time Taylor used her image as the face of censorship at the video store. She'd finally had enough when his hand settled on her thigh and he tried moving it up under her skirt.
"Excuse me! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she said in disgust as she firmly stopped his hand and pushed it off.
He didn't even act surprised. "Oh, don't be a prude! We both know why we're here!" he said in the fakest Australian accent she'd ever heard. He put his hand back on her leg as he moved closer.
Rory removed his hand a second time and separated herself from him with as much distance as possible. "I think I know why you're here, but I certainly did not have this in mind!"
"I thought my name gave it away - Down Under..." his voice trailed off.
"Oh, EW! And the fake accent?"
"You suggested it, and I went with it. I thought it was part of the role play, baby! Now, let's forget about all of this and go upstairs..." he replied with a creepy wink that said to Rory that he had no intentions of getting to know her and had booked a room thinking she'd sleep with him tonight.
"John, if that's your real name, I'm going to pass on that lovely offer," she said sarcastically. "You are definitely not what I'm looking for!"
"Oh, come on! Let's have a little fun," he urged and tried to touch her again.
He didn't get a hand on her before she gave one final warning. "Don't. Even. Think. About it!"
Rory stood up and threw some money on the table. "Here, this should cover my part of the bill." She walked away before he could say anything else, leaving him in stunned silence. What a creep! She thought.
Finn had bought himself a new shirt to go with his favorite suit. The blue in the shirt really brought out his eyes and the lighter shade accented his naturally tanned skin. He left the top few buttons undone to let his date catch a glimpse of his chiseled chest. Despite his less than healthy lifestyle, he was blessed with good genes that helped him maintain his muscled physique. His dad was generally quite fit without much effort as well, and he was thankful this trait had been passed down to him. It had always helped Finn where the opposite sex was concerned, and in a few instances, the same, but it didn't bother him to be attractive to both genders.
Staring into the full-length mirror in his suite, he checked and rechecked himself several times before he was satisfied with his look. Because his family owned the hotel, he opted to stay at The Plaza where Todd English was located, and thanks to the last minute cancellation, he had one of the premium suites. It wasn't often he got to utilize the Grand Penthouse Suite. It's not that he expected his date to spend the night with him, but he was filled with optimism after the enjoyable online chats. If not, he'd enjoy the room service and comfortable beds the hotel offered.
Downstairs, he arrived just before eight, in anticipation of her already being there. She'd made it a point to tell him about her punctuality, and he relished having a bit of an entrance. Unfortunately, there was no sign of her. Finn waited around for another thirty minutes before nearly giving up altogether. She hadn't even bothered to send a message through the app to give him a heads up about her late arrival. He was slightly irritated but chalked it up to the city transportation being the culprit. He'd experienced many times himself and knew how confusing it could be, especially for outsiders. She said she didn't travel to the city that often, so he gave her the benefit of the doubt. He continued to look around for a brunette with a white rose tucked into a book.
Once she arrived, thirty minutes later, Finn immediately went to the hostess to get their table before it was given away to one of the many guests patiently waiting for a table. They were seated in the midst of all of the action in the restaurant, and his date began to look uncomfortable immediately. He felt bad, but it was his favorite table because he loved watching all of the people around him.
"Oh, where are my manners? I'm Finn, aka MenAtWork4," he introduced himself and flashed a soft smile.
"Oh, I'm...um...BookWorm84...um, I mean I'm Henrietta," she stuttered through her own introduction.
"It's lovely to meet you, Henrietta. Would you care for some wine with dinner?" he said suavely.
"Oh, yes, please!" she accepted excitedly.
"Anything you'd like," he replied and handed her the wine list.
Finn watched as she perused the list carefully, and made note that she wasn't normally his type. She acted almost shy and mousy, which was not something that was attractive to him. He liked women who were outspoken and spunky. When the waiter came back, Henrietta's personality seemed to have changed as she ordered the most expensive bottle of wine to go with the most costly entrée. After the waiter left, she turned off the switch and went back to the way she'd been a few minutes previous. He found it strange and it gave him bad vibes, but he pushed it to the back of his mind as he tried to give his date a fair shot.
Recalling many of their online conversations, Finn attempted to make her feel more comfortable by chatting about things she seemed so passionate about online. Her responses sent off alarms. Henrietta seemed almost ignorant of their previous discussions, and the subjects for that matter. She even messed up details about herself, which is what led him to believe that she wasn't the same person he'd been chatting with. To top it off, she knew more information about him than what he'd revealed. He wasn't sure if she'd pretended to be someone else, or if someone was playing him in all of this, but it was starting to make him angry. Embarrassment swept over him as the realization sank in. He couldn't believe he'd been so excited over this, and looking back, he saw all the warning signs that it was too good to be true.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Finn managed to come to terms with his situation and decided to try to make the best of it. He had put far too much time into this to throw it all away. He attempted to let her off the hook and get to know the real her. He wasn't about to throw away the opportunity to get to know a beautiful woman, even if she'd played him. He had to give her credit for sticking to her story but knew she was lying. He pushed a little more until her timid persona melted away. Suddenly, she was all over him as if he were a rock star, and this was her last chance to impress him so he'd sleep with her.
Now, he was the one who was feeling uncomfortable. At this point, Finn knew he needed to cut all ties with this unstable woman. He didn't know what was real and what was fake. He'd made a mistake trying to give her a fair shot. It should have been clear to him that things were wrong from the first bad feeling. He'd had enough, so he quickly paid the bill and excused himself. To his surprise, she jumped up and followed him as he tried to leave. Just outside of the restaurant, he turned to her.
"Please stop, Henrietta. Don't make a scene. Just save some dignity and leave," he said quietly to her and she immediately burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry! I just wanted to impress you and get to know you. You seem like a really great guy. You're interesting, good-looking, and rich -" she slapped her hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that.
"Sorry, it's just not going to work," he said, and she practically sprinted in the opposite direction.
It all clicked. Finn realized that she knew who she was talking to online, and was trying to land a whale. He couldn't believe he'd been so naïve as to think that his identity was shrouded in anonymity. For the second time that night, the anger began to rise, and he tried to quell it. He wasn't sure what made him angrier, the fact she was playing him, or that he had fallen for it. All he did know was that he needed a stiff drink, so he took a seat at the dark end of the bar.
Rory sat at the bar and ordered a drink.
"Make it a double," she instructed the bartender.
"Sure thing, Sweetheart," he replied sounding a bit like Humphrey Bogart. It helped her lighten up a little bit after the terrible date. While she waited, she texted Paris.
Rory: Wow - that was a bust! The guy just wanted to hook-up. What a waste of time!
Paris: I had a feeling about it. He sounded too good to be true. So, we can expect you to stay here tonight?
Rory: Most likely. I'm going to have a drink or two at the bar, and plan to head over to your place.
Paris: We won't wait up. You know the code.
Rory: Thanks, Paris!
She took out her book and began reading as she sipped on her drink. She didn't realize how fast she was drinking because before she knew it, her glass was empty. Rory ordered a second and went back to her reading. She felt herself beginning to relax as the alcohol started hitting her bloodstream. She knew she'd better stop, or she'd never make it to her friend's place.
"What the hell," she said softly. "I'll have one more for the road."
She tossed some money onto the bar to pay for her tab, but the bartender pushed the money back towards her. She had a confused look on her face because she was sure she hadn't paid for her drinks yet.
"The gentlemen at the end of the bar," he said and nodded to the dark end.
Rory looked, but there was no one there. Then she felt someone standing behind her. Oh, great. Another creep to top off the night, she thought, and she couldn't have been more wrong.
"I'm afraid your money's no good here, Love."
She heard the unmistakable voice of her favorite Aussie emanating from behind her.
"It's gonna take at least two more drinks before I'll even consider going home with you," she replied in jest.
"Because you'd succumb to my arrogance and charm sober?" he jokingly asked as he sat down next to Rory. They both had a good laugh, which was definitely needed.
After relaying their own terrible date stories, the friends started catching up on their lives from over the last year. Rory was stunned to learn that Colin was about to be married and even Robert was on the same path. By the time they were onto the next round, a man clad in a hotel uniform came up to Finn and began firing off questions quickly. They were talking quietly, and she tried to give him the privacy he needed to handle what seemed to be a work problem. When he turned his attention back to Rory, he looked a little worried.
"Is everything ok?" she asked.
"Yes and no. It seems there's a bit of inclement weather that's wreaking havoc on the city as we speak," he answered. She looked a little confused since there wasn't any bad weather forecasted. He nodded his head towards the windows at the front of the restaurant. The snow was falling fast and heavy. It looked like beautiful chaos as it turned the world white and disastrous.
"Oh, crap! Crap, crap, crap!" she exclaimed.
"What?" he asked.
"It's just that I'm supposed to catch a cab to Paris's, but with this snow, I'm going to assume it's going to be impossible to get anywhere above ground," she clarified.
"Nonsense. I've got a suite upstairs. It's all yours, and I can take the subway home," Finn offered.
"You aren't made for the snow," she said with a knowing smile.
"Truer words were never spoken! I hate the white stuff," Finn replied with a chuckle.
"I'm going to guess that your suite has at least two rooms."
"Normally, I wouldn't, but thanks to a last minute cancellation, I have the Grand Penthouse Suite!" he said with a huge grin. "Then it's settled. I'll grab us some scotch and we'll order room service!"
"Oh, thank god! I'm starving! My so-called date ordered for me and got the cheapest appetizer on the menu to go with the cheap wine," she replied with relief in her voice.
"You know that's not a problem with me, Love," he said with an even bigger smile.
Rory was truly grateful that she'd run into Finn after the horrible night she'd had up to that point. She didn't realize how late it was until she saw the time on her phone as she texted Paris to let her know that she wouldn't be there. Before she knew it, they were at his suite. She'd stayed at The Plaza before, but the room took her breath away when she walked in.
Finn poured the scotch while Rory made a list for him to order from room service. He didn't even bat an eye at the sheer number of items because he remembered that she could definitely out eat just about anyone he knew. He added a few things including a couple of bottles of wine. They began chatting and only stopped when the food arrived. Rory couldn't believe how much ground they'd covered in such a short amount of time, and Finn found himself enchanted by her company. They'd been friends for so long, yet they didn't seem to know all that much about the other. Before they knew it, it was well into the next day.
"I should really get to sleep so I can get up and get back to Stars Hollow tomorrow for Christmas with my mom and Luke," Rory said after noting the time.
"I had no idea it was so late," Finn replied. "Which room would you like?"
"I'll take the one upstairs," she said and paused. "Thanks for being the friend I needed tonight, Finn. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!"
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a long hug. She flashed him a big smile and started up the stairs.
"Rory," he started. "I know how much you appreciate it because I needed the same thing tonight."
"Goodnight," she said softly.
"G'night, Love," he replied with a smile.
The bedroom upstairs had a pair of pajamas lying on top of the bed. She didn't know when Finn had the opportunity to get them, but she was thankful, and quickly put them on. She cuddled up in the plush covers and began to think about her day.
I can't believe the guy from that stupid website was so creepy. I'm so angry at myself for falling for his act, she thought. Thank God that Finn happened to be here tonight. I probably shouldn't have agreed to this since I said goodbye to everyone after New Hampshire, but I wasn't thinking clearly. Maybe I shouldn't have let everyone go, but it was the only way for me to move on.
I couldn't believe we had such an amazing conversation tonight. There was so much more to him than I ever knew. He's intelligent, kind, and so supportive. I've never really seen him like that before. I mean, when did he get hot? Or was this the alcohol talking? We had some spirited discussions and conversations about so many personal things tonight. It's been so long since I've connected with someone so intimately. It felt so right, yet so wrong. I'm probably reading too much into all of this anyway. A good night's rest will do me some good. I'll have a fresh, sober head in the morning, she pondered.
Within minutes of closing her eyes, Rory was fast asleep.
Finn took the last drink of scotch from his glass and headed into the other bedroom. Earlier in the day, he'd taken the liberty of having some pajamas delivered to the hotel, and when he called for room service, he had them bring some up for his surprise guest, Rory. He'd been caught a little off guard seeing her tonight, but it was exactly what he needed. She was someone who could understand without being judgmental.
He slipped out of his suit, carefully hung it in the closet, and slid under the cozy covers. As he thought about his day, his mind kept drifting to the part when he saw Rory at the bar. Henrietta, or whatever her name really was, played me, but I'm not more angry about it, he thought. I should be pissed, yet I just don't care. I can't believe I ran into Rory after she said goodbye over a year ago. Tonight, there was something different that I can't put my finger on. Sure, there was enough booze to get an elephant drunk, but it wasn't like that. There was a certain intimacy between us that's never been there before, even though we were good friends.
I've never looked at her in that kind of way, and now, I can't help but see her in only that light. She looked more beautiful, more gorgeous than I've ever seen her. Tonight, she wasn't 'mother'. No one else seemed to matter, and there was nothing more important than Rory and her happiness. When she hugged me, I thought I might be done for, as if it was all she needed to cast her final spell. On the other hand, I had never seen anything more clearly. It wasn't the feeling of the wrong head doing the thinking, rather it was the right head in conjunction with the heart. Her touch was electric, but, perhaps, I'm thinking about this too much, and should reconsider when my brain is out the liquor fog, he wondered and fell fast asleep.
The next morning, Finn awoke to the bright glare of the mountains of snow outside. He'd forgotten to close the curtains last night, and even though the sun was still hidden behind the clouds, it was still bright thanks to the abundance of snow that covered the city. Upon closer examination, he could see the snow hadn't stopped falling and continued to accumulate. After slipping on a robe, he went into the main room and started a fire. Then, he ordered room service, put on some coffee, and went up to Rory's room. He gently rapped on the door to see if she was awake.
"Come in," she said, and it sounded like she was far away.
He opened the door and went inside. He felt a blast of cold air when he saw she had the terrace door open and was standing outside. He wasn't paying attention and was nailed in the chest with a snowball. He gasped loudly as the cold shocked him, but managed to close the door just before he got hit with another one. Rory came over and pounded on the door.
"Let me in!" she called from outside.
"No," he replied calmly and shook his head to reinforce his position.
"Please," she started begging and sticking out her bottom lip in a fake pout.
He quickly gave in and opened the door with a big smile.
"Come out here," she said. "This is the most breathtaking view of the city!"
He was apprehensive. He disliked the snow and was only clad in a robe. She held out her hand, and he couldn't resist feeling her touch. He thought about how wonderful her hug had been last night and wondered if he'd feel the same now that's he'd sobered up. He gently put his hand in hers and stepped barefoot into the snow. Sparks shot through his hand and up his arms, spreading throughout his body. He quickly moved to the balcony and looked at the blanketed city below.
"You're right, Love," he said. "This is amazing, even if it's covered in this stupid white crap!"
She laughed and picked up some more snow while he was surveying the view. Rather than make another snowball, she dumped it down the front of his robe that was half open, giving her an eyeful of his toned chest.
"You little -" he said as he grabbed some snow, pulled her top out a bit, and let it fall out of his hands down her front.
"Uh! It's on!"
They began throwing fistfuls of snow at each other, laughing and moving around to avoid the other. Within a few minutes, they started realizing their own mortality as the cold began to set in. She caught him once more before they got inside.
"Cold. Cold. Cold," Rory said as she shook the snow out of her pajamas.
"You're telling me!" Finn replied. "Fire!"
"There's a fire?" she asked sounding a little confused.
"No, I started one downstairs before I came up to get you," he clarified.
"Oh, that sounds nice, but, thanks to a certain someone, my pajamas are cold and wet," she said giving him a playful look.
"I bet there are dry ones in the drawer," he said with a wink.
He bounded down the stairs to his own room and quickly dried off. He slipped into his own casual clothes that he'd brought with him and went out to the main room, where he called down to the front desk for some warm blankets. It was a perk of being one of the owners. He loved blankets fresh out of the dryer and knew they'd bring them for him.
By the time Rory came down, they'd delivered the warm blankets and room service. He poured a couple of cups of coffee and set them on the table nearest the fireplace. The room service was on a tray near the couch and blankets were on the couch.
"Come, have a seat," he said and patted the cushion next to him.
She took a seat and pulled the blanket over herself.
"Oooooh, this is warm! How did you do that?" she reacted with a little squeal.
"It's a secret, Love," he replied with a wink. "Now, what would you like to eat?"
"Some of everything, especially coffee!"
She set the plate down and wrapped her hands around the mug as she brought it to her nose inhaling the intoxicating aroma. She let the mug's heat warm her cold hands. She took a sip of her life's blood in an attempt to warm herself from the inside.
Finn watched as she snuggled into the blanket a little deeper. He got up and put a couple more logs on the fire. Immediately, the heat output increased. He could feel the chill start to fade as he crawled under the other blanket. For a moment, he found himself just watching Rory as she ate and drank her coffee. It wasn't just the alcohol playing tricks on me, he thought. She looked amazing and was so much more than I ever knew before. When we touched, it was like fireworks going off, but there's no way she'd think of me as anything more than a friend, or even consider it for that matter.
"Finn, are you alright?" she asked, and he snapped back to reality.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, just lost in my own little world," he said trying to play it off.
"It's ok. I just asked if you knew when this snow was supposed to let up," she replied.
"I'm not sure. I'll check," he answered, pulled out his phone, and scrolled through his weather app.
"Bad news, Love," he said after a moment.
"Oh?"
"Looks like it's supposed to get heavier, and won't taper off until the middle of the night."
"So, I'm not getting home today?" she asked with a sad look.
"Not unless you can teleport yourself, or have some sort of magical abilities," he replied.
The sad look only got sadder with this news, and the joke did nothing to lighten her mood. He knew that she was close to her mother, so that was likely the source of her disappointment in being stuck in the city for the holiday. He couldn't really relate but knew he had to do something to help her make the best of the unfortunate situation.
Rory was faced with the fact that she wasn't going to get to Stars Hollow for Christmas. It's not that she hadn't missed holidays in the past, but after the last couple of years, she'd been feeling closer to her mother than ever. Family had become a top priority, and she wanted to share in the festivities at home. She knew she had to call Lorelai and explain the situation to her. When Finn left the room, she used the opportunity for a quick call.
"Lorelai's North Pole workshop. Have you been a good girl or a bad girl?"
"Hey, Mom," Rory said with a chuckle. Her mom always seemed to have funny things to say when answering the phone.
"So, why didn't you call and tell Mommy about your date last night? I waited up half the night for you to give me the juicy details of your very own Prince Charming. Since you are just getting around to calling me, I'm going to assume it went very well," Lorelai replied.
"About that..." her voice trailed off.
"Oh, no. That bad?"
"This guy was a major creep. I couldn't believe someone would go through so much trouble just to hook up with someone," Rory elaborated.
"So, you ended up at Paris's place? I mean, I saw the reports about New York City getting dumped on last night. No one got in or out of the city."
"Not exactly. I ended up running into Finn," she said apprehensively. She knew her mom wouldn't exactly approve of this kind of situation after all of her drama over the last year.
"Finn? Like Logan's best friend, drunken Aussie Finn?" her mom asked for clarification.
"The one and only," she replied.
"I didn't know you were still in touch. I thought you cut all ties with the rich playboy crew.
"Mom, they aren't like that, and I wasn't in touch with any of them. I met my creepy date at one of the restaurants at The Plaza. Finn's family owns that chain of hotels, and he happened to be there with a terrible date as well. Long story short, we had some drinks and by that time, I was pretty much trapped there. So, he offered one of the rooms in his suite," Rory recounted.
"Rory..."
"Mom, I'm trapped in the city and a friend helped me," she countered. "And from the looks of it, I'll be stuck here another night, so I won't be home to celebrate with you guys."
"Can't you get over to Paris's?"
"Look, I'm really disappointed that I can't get home, but I promise we can celebrate when I get home," she said trying to move past the fight that seemed to be approaching. She knew her mom was having bad feelings about this because of her complicated past with Logan and the guys. It's just an innocent situation, and I'm in no real danger, she thought. I can't control the weather, which is how I got stuck here in the first place. At least I had somewhere to go! Although I wasn't trying to get out of here, it was significantly better than listening to Paris and Doyle fighting and having loud sex.
"Ok, Rory. Hopefully, you'll get out tomorrow! Merry Christmas, Kid!"
"Merry Christmas to you and Luke, too!"
She ended the call. She'd tried to hold it together on the phone, but she couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of sadness of being away from her mom for the holiday. Stupid crappy date, she thought. She looked forward to stringing a popcorn and cranberry garland. They couldn't do it ahead of time because Paul Anka, the dog, would eat it right off the tree, and they found out the hard way that the string didn't digest in dogs. It was an image she'd never get out of her head.
Rory hadn't noticed that Finn came back into the room. She tried to hide the disappointment, but it was too late. He'd already seen it flashing like a beacon.
"Everything ok, Love?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's fine," she replied forcing a smile.
"No, it's not. I know you better than that. I thought I heard you say something about missing Christmas with your family," he said.
"It's no big deal. It's not like I haven't missed a million other holidays," she tried to play it off.
"But..."
"For some reason, this one is hitting me harder and I don't know why" she admitted.
Finn sat next to her quietly for a few moments, and she could see the wheels were turning quickly. He leaped up and went to the next room. When he emerged a few minutes later, he was in the suit from the night before. He flashed her a smile as he headed for the door. She noticed a twinkle in his eye.
"I've got some errands to run, Love, but I promise to be back soon!"
"Errands? In this crappy weather? I thought the whole city was practically shut down," she replied.
"Don't worry. I've got it all under control," he said with a wink and few out the door.
What in the world could he have up his sleeve? she wondered.
Finn flew out the door of the suite on a mission. He was determined to give Rory a Christmas since she couldn't get home to be with her loved ones. The hurt look struck a nerve in him, and he knew he could make it happen with a little creativity.
The first stop he made was the front desk to retrieve keys for storage. He was positive he'd find loads of decorations, and maybe even a tree to bring to the suite. Once he'd rounded up several items, he set them off to the side. He couldn't decorate with her in the main room. He needed a way to distract her upstairs while he created a holiday wonderland in the suite.
So, he decided to make a few phone calls. He knew Rory was without basic necessities and clothes. While most of NYC was closed, he could still get things he needed at his own hotel. He made a list of things she'd likely need and went down to the shops. When he went to pay, he realized he'd probably gone way overboard, but it didn't really matter to him. It had been a while since his credit card had gotten a good workout.
After stashing most of his purchases with the decorations, he gave instructions to the staff who would be helping him. Bags in hand, he went back up to the room where he found Rory sitting in front of the fire reading a book. This might not be so hard, he thought.
"Where have you been?" she asked curiously.
"Nowhere," he said trying to hide a sly grin.
"The bags in your hand tell a different story. No way you're going to get that past me," she chuckled.
"These?" he asked holding up the bags. She nodded her head.
"For you," he said handing them to her. "Since you had nothing with you, I got you a few things to get you by."
"You did not have to do this," she said firmly yet gratefully. "Thank you!"
She graciously accepted the bags and took a peek inside. Her face lit up, and it instantly brought a smile to Finn's face. She rushed over to him and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek.
"Up the stairs with you, and don't come down until I call for you," he ordered.
"What? Why? What's going on, Finn?"
"Don't worry about. I've got it all under control!" he grinned and began to shoo her up the stairs.
Once she was out of sight, he went back to the storage and radioed his helpers. They all snuck into the suite. Carefully and quietly, they decked the halls, tree, and fireplace. Finn even managed to round up a couple of stockings in the stores downstairs. He felt a bit like Santa and his elves as they made quick work of the holiday festiveness. When they were done, he surveyed the work and was happy with the turnout. He thanked everyone and sent them on their way. He also saw to it that his helpers would have a nice reward for their hard work.
For the final touches, he placed his presents for Rory under the tree and added some logs to the fire. He thought it added to the ambiance of his homemade Christmas celebration. Finn took a few more minutes to make sure that everything was exactly how he wanted it. He was pretty proud of what he did in such a short amount time. He went upstairs and gently tapped on the door.
A moment later, Rory answered the door in the new clothes he'd gotten for her, and he had to admit that she looked even better than he'd imagined she would. Stop! Quit thinking like that, he chastised himself silently. That's not what this is about.
"Can I come down out of my tower now?" she asked jokingly.
"Oh, it wasn't that bad, was it?" he replied with a wink.
"No, it wasn't," she said. "You've got really good taste, and a good eye."
"It's a gift, really," he said with a smile.
"But you didn't have to do that," she replied. "I could have just worn what I had on last night."
"Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed with what I've done."
"Oh, no," she said with a sound of sheer disappointment.
"Don't be so quick to judge!" he warned and handed her a black silk scarf. Almost instinctively she tied it around her eyes. He gently guided her down the stairs as he held her hand and let his other rest against the small of her back. Despite the sound of dissatisfaction she'd had only moments before, Rory had a big grin on her face. It was infectious and soon, he found himself sporting a similar cheesy grin. When they got to the bottom, he stopped, untied the scarf, and watched intently for her reaction.
Rory's reaction wasn't the shock and awe he was expecting, rather it was a slow build as she took in every part of the room. She took a few steps forward, and Finn moved with her. Her eyes grew large, and her expression was definitely one of surprise. She kept looking all around in wonder. Her gaze fell on the decked out tree, more specifically what was under the tree.
"You did all of this for me?" she asked curiously.
"Nah, it comes standard with all of the fancy suites in the hotel," he answered jokingly.
"And presents?" she asked in disbelief. "You didn't have to go to all of this trouble..."
"If you couldn't get home for Christmas, I figured I'd bring Christmas to you in the city," he explained. "Trust me, I considered a chopper to get you back to Stars Hollow, but with this snow, there was no air travel."
She stood in front of Finn for a moment, and he could see the appreciation written all over her face.
"Thank you, Finn, for everything!"
At that moment, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big, long hug. He reciprocated and enjoyed having her in his arms. It brought him great joy to make her so happy, and he'd never felt like that with anyone else. Finn felt Rory starting to pull away a little, but she didn't break the embrace. Instead, she was looking deep into his eyes until her gaze settled above his head. She began to giggle.
"What's so funny?" he asked and she nodded her head upward. He looked up and saw the mistletoe dangling above his head. I'm sure I didn't put that up there, he thought. It must have been one of my elves.
"Merry Christmas, Finn," she said softly with a smile.
"Happy Christmas, Love," he replied as he gazed into her eyes.
Their faces moved closer together and their eyes closed. And there, under the mistletoe, their lips met in a gentle, passionate kiss.
