A Gilmore Girls fanfic

Author: mz lynx

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls. Nor do I own any of the referenced music (extended musical info at the end).

Beta'd by dotk1988 of Perfect Imagination, who's been spotting my typos, correcting me and giving me valuable feed-back. The errors you don't see – those are thanks to her. The ones you do... are all on me. (Also, some vauable beta-tips on Chapter One came from Raych Petite.)

AN: And I'm back. I've been really busy (spelled b-a-b-y) but finally got my writting back in order again. This fic's the first in a loosely connected four-part series. I'll be posting on Fridays.

I'd like to point out a few things to act as "guidelines" for this story. It's season 5, starting a few days after episode 508, The Party's Over. I've made a few changes though. Some things happening in the show didn't, in my version, while others are written a little differently than what you've seen.

If you're a fan of either Chris, Dean or Logan, please be advised: to me they serve one purpose, and one purpose only. They're roadblocks, tools for plot development and simply handy for when I need a bad guy.

A favorite song I often listen to, the memory of someone I once knew… One day the two collided inside that maze otherwise known as my brain. Add the fanfic-writing, and this becomes the result...

Songs of Finn and Devotion, Part One

I'll Remember You

Chapter One - Hands

Someone was at the door. At least Rory thought so – the pounding was too loud to exist only in her head, right? It made her headache worse, though, and made her even more irritated than she already was. Since the oh-so-fun Rory-auction and the even less so dumping-by-Dean the previous weekend she'd been short-tempered. The fact that her grandmother had called her a grand total of 16 times (sixteen!) in the 48 hours since - trying to pry, trying to make her commit to dates with boys that had been present, trying to God-knew-what – hadn't made things any better.

Neither had the seven calls from the editor of the Yale Daily News, Doyle, looking for Paris earlier that day. Rory had her suspicions that it wasn't just articles he wanted to discuss with her room-mate, but she was keeping quiet on the matter. The explosion that would inevitably follow should Paris hear about it wasn't something Rory wanted, as was the possibility that Paris might act upon it. The relationship, and Rory still found herself supplying air quotes to the word, between the other girl and the late professor Asher Fleming had been quite enough, thank you very much.

So, if the person trying to break her door down was Doyle… Oh, he'd get a piece of her mind all right. Rory Gilmore with a headache was not something to be taken lightly. But maybe it wasn't the annoying editor. It could be someone else. Yeah, like Logan Huntzberger, her subconscious added – sounding way too happy. She groaned. If that's the alternative, then please let it be Doyle… The blond treated her rather decently, sure - at least recently and when in comparison to others - but she was soooo not in the mood for dealing with him at the moment.

If it's either of those two idiots, I'm slamming the door shut and calling campus police. I don't care what the result is. Problem is, I can't see who else it could be; grandma wouldn't show up this late and Marty's working, so who do I know that would come "knocking" at half past ten on a Tuesday night? She ripped the door open with a bit more force than necessary, not bothering to hide her scowl before barking at the person outside.

"What? Who in… Oh." Finn… "Huh? Uh, why…?"

"Hello, kitten. Saw the lights and thought I'd collect you. Though you seem rather under-dressed, I must say."

"Huh?" Finn's voice washed over her, warm and amused, like an audible caress. She shook her head softly, trying to get her bearings. Under-dressed? She looked down at her comfy pajama pants and her oversized Yale sweater without understanding. Maybe not exactly fashionable, but still. Since when do we have a dress code in our dorm?

"Logan said you were joining us at the pub tonight, kitten, and while I normally admire your casual style this might be a bit too casual even for you," Finn went on.

Oh. The Pub. Right. As if… Not tonight, buster.

"Sorry, Finn. I forgot. Look, I have a monster of a headache; in fact I'm prepared to kill anything that's even remotely annoying or loud, or possibly just alive. I'm not even sure I'm excluding myself. So I won't be going to the pub, obviously. I really, really don't feel like T2:ing it tonight."

"Terminator 2, kitten?" Finn's face was a study in non-understanding. "Do tell; how on Earth does an evening at the pub with us compare to trying to stop evil robots from ending the world?"

She giggled, taken aback by his question. And then an image struck her - Logan mangled like the evil terminator from the second movie, about to be melted, all while spouting bad pick-up lines. That did it. She started laughing full out. Minutes passed. Rory laughed, not caring what Finn must think or that her face was wet with tears. All that she could focus on was that image of Logan… When her mirth finally was containable, she tried to wipe away the tears with her hands, then realized the futility of it and used her sleeve. When she was done she looked at Finn again.

"I'm sorry. I am, really, it's just… I got these images, and oh… God, I needed that. I so needed that. It even helped a little with my headache!"

"Glad to be of assistance, kitten. Now, mind sharing the joke?"

"Oh, why not. 'T2' wasn't a cinematic reference, surprisingly enough, but a people one. See, back in high school there was this guy - blond, cocky, came from money. Figured himself to be pretty much irresistible, couldn't imagine a girl not being interested – had a string of bimbos a mile long that trailed around after him helping with that. My first day there he offered to lend me some notes – asking me exactly how 'grateful' I would be then. For the next year he tried to ask me out again and again, not accepting 'no'. And that was the only answer I had for him. See, he tended to 'date' a lot, and there were all these rumors – the kind that had to do with notches on the bedpost. Well, I had no intention of being one of his conquests. And then there was the 'small' fact that I had a boyfriend. But of course, he didn't believe that – that a girl would find a boyfriend somewhere else, when he was available? Unbelievable. So, when I brought Dean as my date for the Winter Formal – yes," she added when seeing Finn's questioning look, "that Dean – this guy actually tried starting a fight with him. Oh yeah, he was a real prize that one.

Kept getting into trouble, which he then promptly got out of again thanks to his family's connections, all the time. Didn't seem to be able to remember my name – I honestly doubt he'd been able to call me 'Rory' even if his life had depended on it. Remind you of anyone?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Quite. And I take it his name started with a 'T'. Huh. And here I was looking forward to a thorough analysis, comparing the shallowness of our lives with that of robots or such."

"Sorry to disappoint, Finn. Given a bit of time, and maybe a call to my mom..." Rory quickly shook her head, "well, I could probably whip something up for you, but for now the truth will have to do." She smiled, feeling a bit more human than before his arrival.

"The truth? Well now. That's a novel concept. Now, about that head of yours. Pretty though it is, the lines around your eyes really aren't helping. Have you been drinking?"

Rory stared at Finn. Drinking, of course. And why am I even surprised? This is Finn we're talking about.

"No. This headache's been building for 36 hours, Finn, and personally I really don't think alcohol's the way to cure a headache. Get one, yes, but not get rid of."

"I was thinking water, actually. I know, shocking, but I do know that water's good for more than surfing. Don't tell anyone I said that though; wouldn't want to ruin my image, now would we?"

Rory blushed. Had she really been that judgmental? Is it the headache talking, or am I really that stupid? Don't I normally give people more chances than that?

"Oh. Right, water. Yeah."

"And pills? The headache kind," he added with a teasing smile.

"Not since lunch. I took some this morning, placed some in my bag and double-checked that we had a full box left. But, apparently Paris is also suffering from something because when I returned from class the box was gone. I haven't had the energy to go out and get more."

"Right then. Sit." Finn ushered her to the couch, and Rory sat down with a feeling of having fallen through the mirror. Soon she had a glass – the largest they owned – full of water in her hand, and Finn was walking out the door. Leaving it open. For the white rabbit? A little while later he walked in again and handed her four white pills.

"Two for now, two for the morning just in case. Your next-door neighbor sends his condolences – something about Paris and C-span? Anyway, take them and make sure to drink all that water. Bathroom?"

"I don't need… Oh. Sorry. I'm being real stupid tonight. Must be the fact that my brain cells can't make themselves heard over the noise in my head… Right outside the door. I'll just sit here, drink my water and be quiet." And so she did – while simultaneously trying to ignore her brain's confused whining. It wanted to know what was up with Finn. But Rory knew that to try and figure out Finn would be hard work any day, and a day like this? Yeah, wouldn't exactly help with the pain in her head. Rather the opposite, and that she wasn't ready to deal with.

Still. In the past days she'd thought a bit about the lively Aussie, just as she'd thought about Logan and Colin – Colin hadn't been too complicated, and once she'd found the right angle, neither had Logan. Rory was sure that the blond would be pretty offended at the thought that he was an easy puzzle, but hey, she'd dealt with Tristin Dugray. Once she'd realized that Logan was pretty much only an older version of the Chilton playboy, well…

But Finn… The first times she'd met him he'd been with Colin and Logan, and all three of them had acted like arrogant and annoying snobs. Then at the Life and Death Brigade event she'd covered she'd found him seriously lacking; he'd come off as a spoiled, lazy and easily bored bratty rich kid. At her grandparents' party however, she'd gotten to see a slightly different side. Sure, at first he'd kept to his usual routine, but once Dean pulled his stunt… Finn had helped take care of her. At the time she'd figured it was because Logan had initiated it, or maybe because Finn was bored and cheering Rory up had been something new to do. This time however, she had no such excuses. Finn was helping her, without prompting, and he had absolutely nothing to gain from it. Right?

Her head throbbed viciously, as if to remind her that thinking was a very much prohibited activity.

When she heard the bathroom door open and Finn walk back into the room Rory was trying to make her head behave by resting it against the back of the couch with her eyes closed. She didn't open them, as Finn's steps came closer – it felt like the routine might actually work. Also, she figured it would help enforce her "I'm-so-not-going-to-the-Pub" policy. She stayed that way even as Finn started speaking.

"How's the head?"

"Still attached, sadly. But I'm sure it'll be better, soon. I appreciate the help, Finn, I do, but I'm not exactly going to magically bounce back and feel like going out. Maybe if you were to cut off my head, but I'm not quite desperate enough to try that yet. So…" She let the sentence disappear into thin air, not wanting to say it straight out. Her tone of voice however did it for her, saying something along the line of "Thanks awfully, now, why are you still here?"

"Oh, I have no doubt. Wouldn't believe you if you said you wanted to go. To be honest you look a little too much like death warmed over to manage that. Now, seriously? Unless you're prone to migraines, the cause for your headache is probably tension. The fact that you're holding your right shoulder slightly higher than your left supports that theory."

Rory wondered if she looked as surprised as she felt. Finn was analyzing her headache?

"I'm sure you don't see anything positive about how your head feels right now, but there is actually one thing: a tension-based headache is relatively easy to deal with most of the time."

The couch moved, and Rory realized it was because Finn had sat down next to her. She pried one eye open and sent a wary look his way. He noticed with a smile, and patted the place between his knees.

"Get over here."

"What?" She winced, again. Man, when am I going to learn? "Why, what are you talking about?"

"Come over here, and sit down on the floor in front of me." He must have sensed the argument coming, because he immediately started explaining, "You're tense, that's why your head hurts. Now, I know a few ways to take care of that for you, but in order to do that I need you to do as I say."

Rory debated the merits of listening to Finn for a few seconds, but in the end she followed his instructions. He'd helped so far, what harm could come from letting him try one more thing? As he pulled her closer and asked if she wore anything under her sweatshirt she asked herself that same question again, this time with more acid and doubt. Both were obvious in her next question.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, then I'd like you to take the sweatshirt off."

"What?" This time her voice was icy.

"Look, kitten, I'm not out to sully your honor or any such thing. I just want to help. And that sweatshirt is not just ugly; it's also in the way. Please."

Slowly, arguing with herself the whole time, Rory took the offending sweatshirt off. Then she steeled herself for the unknown that was to come.

"Relax, kitten. I won't hurt you. Now, let your neck fall a little forward, just by relaxing. Breathe deeply, slowly, and just focus on those two things. Breathing, and relaxing, okay?"

As she did her best to comply Finn placed his hands on her shoulders and started warming them with slow strong movements. Of course she tensed up at once.

"Shhhh, kitten. Relax. It's just a massage. Not the best treatment for your headache, but a damned good second. So. Try again - relax, and breathe."

She tried to do exactly that as Finn's fingers dug into her tense muscles. Not too hard, not too fast, not using too much pressure – it was just perfect. Rory found that relaxing was getting easier by the minute. She sank deeper into an almost-trance where all that existed for her was her breathing and Finn's hands.

~ * ~ * ~

When the massage stopped Rory almost moaned in protest. Her headache was gone, along with a previously ignored ache in her neck and right shoulder. She felt good. Though, seeing as Finn's hands were responsible… She blushed slightly.

"So, headache all gone? Good. Remember now, like I said this is only the second best way to get rid of a tension headache. Next time, maybe we'll try the best way?" he asked with a smirk and one eyebrow slightly raised.

Rory was about to ask what that was, but stopped herself at the last second. Even her groggy brain managed to realize the minefield that lay down that path. Not why there was one, mind you, but the existence of one. Still, she wasn't able to stop herself completely and so called his name softly, hesitantly. "Finn? Why do you keep calling me 'kitten'?"

And there she had all the necessary proof that she had been stupid; it was evident in the amusement that blossomed in his eyes, in the one twitching corner of his mouth… Not a smile, not a smirk – just an upturned corner. And Rory faced the absolute knowledge that she'd just gone off the deep end.

"Simple, kitten," he drawled, pausing for effect before continuing: "because I want to make you purr." A full-out smile now, followed by a swift appraising look at the blush spreading on her face, and then he was gone. Rory shook her head, softly, trying to understand but not quite knowing what to make of Finn. Instead she wandered off to bed thinking that she had in fact been on the verge of purring just minutes ago. That had been a good massage.

A little later, on the verge of sleep, she remembered something. An article Paris had been reading, about headaches as an excuse not to have sex. Instead, the article had stated, of women saying "Not tonight, honey, I have a headache" they should be saying "Honey, I have a headache; let's have sex" since most headaches were tension based and sex relieved tension. Or well, good sex led to orgasms and that relieved tension.

She blushed again, and had she not been so beat she would've been unable to sleep due to her realization of what Finn had hinted at. However, not even that could stop her exhaustion from taking over. Seconds ticked by; one, two, five, ten… And she was asleep.

~ * ~ * ~

The next morning Rory awoke without headache or pain, and when she twisted her body across the bed in a catlike stretch no part complained. She got up, singing Finn's praise internally, and thought that if this was what it meant to be on friendly terms with Finn, then she sure wasn't going to protest. The smile on her face soon froze though, as she remembered not just what Finn had done but also what he'd said. "This is only the second best way to cure a headache."

Rory could feel her face heat up, and knew she probably rivaled a forest fire right then. Surely he hadn't suggested… It was Finn, for crying out loud! Finn, who'd actually surprised her not only by remembering that they'd met before but also by knowing where she lived. It was just teasing, she told herself firmly – or well, in what was supposed to be a firm tone. Sure, rather sexual teasing – "I want to make you purr" – but still. Teasing. Boys being boys and all that. Right?

No matter how she tried, she still couldn't make Finn's words mean anything else – that first interpretation stayed. Finn sure had seemed to suggest that the next time she had a headache he'd cure it by having sex with her. Unbelievable though it seemed Rory's blush grew even fiercer. Sex with Finn? Sex with Finn! Okay, so the guy had amazing hands, he had almost made her purr, and judging from how good he'd made her feel during the massage, well… She groaned, shook her head and dug her mental heels in. She did not want to go there. Sex only equaled trouble. Sex like that, something physical only? That just had to equal even more trouble.

Try as she might though, Rory found she couldn't help thinking about Finn's smile, Finn's hints and most of all Finn's hands several times over the next few days. Those thoughts were almost always accompanied by an interesting shade of pink.

~ To Be Continued ~

~ * ~ * ~

AN: As stated, story is triggered/inspired partly by the song for which it is named; "I'll Remember You", written and performed by Sophie Zelmani.

Chapter titles comes from the lyrics. "Songs of Finn and Devotion" is a paraphrase of "Songs of Faith and Devotion", an album by Depeche Mode.

My extent of ownership amounts to exactly one copy of each album, and absolutely nothing Gilmore Girls-ish.