Title: Take a Chance on Me

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any music, movies, places or people mentioned.


Background

Everything in Rory's life is the same as in the series. Logan proposed; she turned him down to figure out life on her own and he moved to California. She followed Barack Obama around the campaign trail and wrote for the online magazine until he accepted the Democratic nomination. Rory chose to write under the name R. G. Hayden because she didn't want Mitchum to have any influence in her future. She suspected that her lack of job offers after graduation was because of him. Due to the success of her writing, which of course was informative, witty and full of pop culture references, she was offered a position with the New York Times in both the Arts and Leisure and the Travel departments. The Times was hoping renew their reader base through her writing; so Rory was able to see the world, exploring various cultures and sharing her experiences with a younger generation. After traveling and writing for two years, Rory has become an associate editor and still writes, but not as much.

Finn Westfield is heir to the Westfield Group, the largest retail property group in the world. He travels the world helping to oversee shopping centers and looking for new opportunities. Rory goes with him often so she can get the inside scoop on the exciting parts of many different cities. Finn always knows the best places to be. Finn is dating a beautiful red-head, Caitlin Kelly, who works with Rory.

Tristan went to Duke University in North Carolina after military school. He had a few relationships, nothing that really developed much. Tristan is an architect working for his grandfather Janlen's development company. He moved to New York City to start taking over the business for his grandfather. One of their biggest clients is the Westfield Group. Tristan's father is a lawyer because he had no interest in the family business when he was younger.

Lorelai and Christopher are happily married. They decided that they did want more kids and had identical twin boys, Alexander Richard Hayden (Alex) and Christopher Benjamin Hayden the second (Ben) about a year after they were married.

Luke and Anna Nardini started to date again and got married around the same time Lorelai and Christopher did. There was no custody battle with April.

Luke and Lorelai realized what they had in the past was just that, the past and that they were happy with how life had turned out for them both. They are now friends and Chris and Luke, while not best friends, can at least tolerate each other. Luke moved to Anna's house in Woodbridge but still runs the diner.

Sookie and Jackson's third child was a daughter named Julia Carolyn (after Sookie's inspiration Julia Child).

Since Lorelai and Christopher's marriage, Francine has made amends with Lorelai and Rory and they all now have a good relationship.


Chapter One

Rory walked into her apartment and went straight to her kitchen to start a pot of coffee. She noticed the light blinking on her answering machine. Groaning she went to it and pushed play, thinking, 'I hope my day doesn't get any worse.'

"You have two new messages."

"Rory this is your Grandma. Your answering machine message is highly inappropriate. What were you thinking? What if a potential suitor was calling? You know you aren't getting any younger, soon you will be 30 and then you will never find a man. Why you let Logan get away I will never understand. The reason I am calling is to let you know that your Grandfather and I need to go to London this weekend for business and so we will need to reschedule our monthly dinner. I will call you when we return to set another date. Goodbye Rory."

Rolling her eyes, Rory pushed the delete button.

"Hello oldest daughter who never answers her phone. So I woke up this morning and decided I wanted to wear my favorite, super adorable, black and white heels to work. When I got to work Michel was acting weirder than normal and didn't want to play. Then as I was looking out the front window it started to rain, but the sun was out, you know like in that song by John Fogerty? Well Cletus must have thought it was weird too so he decided to walk into the lobby again. Michel refused to take him back to the stables even though I told him my cute shoes would get all muddy if I did it. So I went to the closet to put on my yellow fisherman boots. When I came back in I took off my boots and found Paw-Paw with my heels, as if they were Jimmy 'Chew toys'. The Chow ate my Choo's! I went home at lunch to find my second favorite black stilettos and didn't see them even though Paul Anka had all my shoes lined up by color. So, did you take them? Please call Mommy back!"

Rory cringed as she started to dig through her purse for her cell. Just as she found it, it started to sing, "I come from a land down under where beer does flow and men chunder." Smiling at her friend's theme song she answered.

"Finn, you had better be calling me with some good news because I have had a horrible morning already. I got dressed up in my favorite flippy black skirt, the shirt that matches my eyes and the stilettos that I stole from mom all because I wanted to look good for the departmental board meeting. Plus I only got one cup of coffee before I had to leave. After stopping at the Starbuck's across the street from work I took a step into the road and out of nowhere a bike messenger cuts me off. By the way who still uses bike messengers in the day and age of instant communication? I jumped out of his way and my heel got stuck in a manhole cover just like Jennifer Lopez in the Wedding Planner and my beloved coffee spilled all over my shirt. Unlike J-Lo I was able to get my heel out of the manhole cover but it was broken.

I got into my office only 3 minutes before the meeting was supposed to start. I slipped on my spare black ballet flats and turned to the closet to get my extra work shirt that I keep for emergencies thinking fate was finally on my side; but no, fate had a little help from my mother today. I found that my work appropriate shirt has been replaced by my mother's shirt with the rhinestone penis on it. I put the shirt on because I had no other option and then rushed to the board meeting. The ten 40-60 something year old board members gawked at me when I entered causing me to look down at my shirt and say, 'Well, based on your reactions I would say that while the younger generation is beginning to change what is appropriate to wear to work, the corporate world is not quite ready for phallic symbols, no matter how sparkly!

Sorry to test this idea today but I thought it might make a good story.' They seemed to accept that as a good enough reason to wear the shirt. After the meeting I decided to call it a day only to arrive home to a message from my Grandmother reminding yet again that I am single and that 25 is knocking on the door to 30 and why did I let Logan get away. So please Finn, tell me my day is going to get better."

Finn laughed and then said, "Well hello to you too love. I am calling to make your day better. Pack your bags, grab your passport and meet Caitlin at the Starbuck's downstairs in 45 minutes and Joe will be there to pick you both up in an hour to take you to the air strip. I have your next story and vacation all ready for you."

Rory sighed and said, "Finn, I need more information than 'pack your bags,' if you expect me to be ready in 45 minutes. Where are we going and for how long? Also, am I on speaker phone, I hear a lot of background noise?"

Finn set two glasses on the bar in the limo and answered, "I am looking into some development opportunities in Mexico and I want you and Caitlin to come too for the next week. And since I am in Mexico I thought I would start enjoying the drink of the culture before you got here, so I am making margaritas in the limo, thus the speakerphone."

"You're the best Finn! I will see you later tonight, but now I must pack! Bye!" Rory smiled as she ended the call. She grabbed a cup of coffee and went to start packing. She quickly changed into a strapless blue sundress that appeared to have been made just for her, both in color and fit. After staring into her closet for a couple of minutes trying to decide what to pack, she sighed and said, "In Omnia Paratus," and quickly picked out clothes for all occasions.

Finn hung up the phone and looked at the shocked face of one of his closest friends and now business associate, Tristan DuGrey.

Laughing, Finn handed him a drink and said, "And that was the lovely R.G. Hayden. I am looking forward to you two meeting. I know you are her type with that blond hair of yours and I know she definitely is your type. She is gorgeous, has long brown hair, incredible blue eyes and while she can talk your ear off and get you so confused you don't know which way is up, she is bloody brilliant."

Tristan smiled and thought to himself, 'I wonder how this one will compare to the only girl in my life that has ever been worth it. Based on that phone call she is one step closer than any other girl has ever been to my Mary. They at least ramble the same way.'

Throwing her sunglasses into her purse, a sweater over her shoulders and heeled sandals on her feet, Rory turned off her coffee pot and locked her apartment door. As she got into the elevator to head to the Starbuck's conveniently located in her building she called Lorelai.

"You have reached the Hayden residence. We are unable to answer the phone right now, but if you leave your name, number and a brief message we will return your call."

"I will assume that Grandma attacked your answering machine message too, because unless dad moved you to Stepford without telling me, that is the only excuse for something that boring to be your greeting. I am calling for two reasons. First, yes I did take your stilettos, and I would love to return them. However, as of this morning the score stands at manhole cover: 1, pretty black stilettos: 0. I would feel bad, but after spilling my precious coffee all over my work shirt in that great war I went to change before my important departmental board meeting only to find that you decided to replace my spare shirt with one with a penis on it. So I think we are going to call this even. The second reason I am calling is to let you know that I am meeting Caitlin as we speak to get on Finn's plane to meet him in Mexico for the next week. I will call you when I get home. Love to all of my favorite Haydens!"

Rory walked into Starbuck's dragging her luggage behind her and immediately saw the stunning redhead in an emerald green sundress waiting on the couch by the front window.

"Caitlin!" she squealed quickly dropping her bags and hugging her friend.

Caitlin Kelly smiled and said, "I am so glad you are coming. Finn called and told me that he is looking at some properties with his good friend whose family owns JD Corporation, the development company that designs and builds the Westfield Group's properties. I love Finn, but I am not sure I can handle him and his friend alone."

Rory nodded in understanding. Just then Joe arrived and took their luggage to the limo while both girls got some coffee for the ride to the air strip.

Rory and Caitlin didn't stop talking until they were in the air and both decided to take naps to prepare for what they were sure would be a fun night with Finn and his friend.

As she drifted off to sleep Rory thought back to her grandmother's message and wondered if there was someone out there for her.