Disclaimer: Amy-Sherman Palladino owns these characters, not I.
PLEASE review, I want to know what you like/don't like so I know what to write in the future. There's gonna be a lot of Finn as I heart him.
(this is just chapter 1.... I intend to write more.
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Setting: Rory is living in New York, in an apartment alone, working for the New York Times. Approximately 5 years after season 7. Rory's 26.
Rory sits at her computer writing quickly, then turns to a pile of papers beside her, flicking through them then turns back to the screen. Her hair is in a messy bun and she's wearing jeans and a button up shirt.
The door bell rings
"Just a minute!" she calls quickly typing. "And done!" she says to herself.
The door bell rings again
"I'm coming, I'm coming, yeesh!" Rory walks to the door and opens it to find a tall tan-skinned man with cropped brown hair standing at her door stop.
"Have we met?" he begins
"Finn!" Rory bursts, ignoring his joke and throwing her arms around him.
"Well well, I knew the lady couldn't resist me"
Rory ignores him again "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in years!"
"Just got back from the airport – visiting family in Australia, and I was informed of you're residency in the lovely city and wondered if you would like to get absolutely hammered with me?"
"I few drinks wouldn't hurt I suppose…lemme just get my purse"
"Take all the time you need"
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At the bar
Rory and Finn have a catch up and when it feels like there's nothing left to say, Finn asks; "So, Rory, you're still single?"
"I'm focusing on my career" she replies stiffly. "How about you?" she says eager to shift the focus "anyone in your life, you know, any milkmaids or anything?"
"Hey that was Colin not me! But no, unfortunately no women are worthy of the stunning creature before you at present. Get a few more drinks in to me, and you never know Gilmore, you may be in the running."
Rory laughs "well then another round!"
After a few moments of silence Finn looks to Rory and says "they where the best days of my life you know Gilmore?"
He doesn't need to explain further, "Mine too" Rory agrees.
They finish their drinks and then Finn starts the conversation again
"Hey so I've heard of this…place…just downtown, it's supposed to be amazing at night, was thinking of having a look, care to join?"
"Ooo 'this place' sounds cryptic"
"Well what can I say Gilmore, I'm a cryptic kinda guy"
Rory looks at her watch "well…it's already way past my bedtime…no use in going home now"
"I knew I liked you for a reason" Finn says with a smirk
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Walking along a street of New York
"So Gilmore, you enjoying NY?"
"Yeah it's okay, I miss mom a bit but now her and Luke are married I'm sure she's holding up"
Finn nods, they keep walking, in silence.
"Rory do you know why I brought you out tonight?" Finn says breaking the silence.
"Um…to catch up?"
"No. Well yes…but…do you know what tonight is?"
"Um…no I don't…" Rory replies curious
"It's the 5th year anniversary of our graduation"
"Oh…so it is"
Finn smiles… "quick, follow me"
They start running "Finn! Wait! Where are we going?"
"You'll see!" he shouts back, slightly ahead of her.
He comes to a halt at what looks like an abandoned factory. "we're here" he says looking at the dusty doors in front of him. "But it's not time yet" he says, one finger in the air accompanying the smirk on his face. He walks around the side, gesturing Rory to follow him. There is a dumpster around the side of the building and from beside it he pulls two ratty looking cardboard boxes. "Ah here we are…one for the lady" he says giving her a box "and one for the dashing fellow accompanying her" he says with a grin.
"Finn I don't get it!"
"Alas!" he says dramatically "but you will". Rory looks back confused. "Now," he continues, "go in there and open you're box," he says pointing to a dodgy looking female bathroom tacked on to a restaurant "you'll know what to do…I'll meet you back around the front when you're done"
"And why should I trust you?"
"Come on Gilmore, have I ever led you astray?...don't answer that"
Rory chuckles then enters the bathroom. She pulls the flaps open of the cardboard box. Inside is a dress. It's long and elegant, made of red satin. She puts it on with the accompanying shoes and grabs the clutch in the bottom of the box. She looks in the mirror and takes out her hair. She reaches into the bag she brought and searches for some make-up. She finds mascara and a lip gloss "This will have to do" she says. She transfers her phone, ipod, keys etc into her clutch then shoves her old clothes and bag back in the box. She walks out of the bathroom and places the box back by the dumpster, on top of Finns.
She walks back around to the front to see Finn in a tuxedo. He smiles, "After you my lady" he says opening the huge creaking door in front of them, some dust falling in the process.
Revealed is an enormous room. It's well lit by a hanging chandelier and candles that sit on the walls and tables. It is filled with people, around 100, all wearing beautiful gowns and suits and sipping expensive champagne. The walls are lined with food, and the newly polish floorboards prompt tapping from the heels that are worn by about half of the room.
"Welcome," Finn smiles, "to the alumni of the Life and Death Brigade"
Rory looks around in amazement but something catches her eye. The chattered room now turns silent in her mind as she focuses.
On Him.
The man, as she had convinced herself many years ago, she would marry.
She had shoved those feelings away – however true they where – into a file in her mind that was covered by layer upon layer of whatever she could think of placing on top of it. From the moment they parted she dared not think his name.
Until now.
Logan.