Rory and Logan parted ways after the failed proposal and Rory is trying to get ready to start her career as a reporter following the Obama campaign. She finds the rocket, the one that meant 'true love' and that he would always wait for her she became furious, she packed it in its box and sent it back to him at his apartment. Now she can really move on.
Disclaimer: Still not mine, sigh.
A/N: I am truly touched by all of the thoughtful comments I have received, it thrills me how much you like it and that it makes you think beyond what I have written. Honestly sometimes I read a comment and it inspires addition to the next chapter, heck, I was so delighted in the comments, this fic grew by one. I also really appreciate the follows and favorites, I hope you all continue to enjoy this story!
Rocket Racket
Chapter 3 – The Truth Will Out
Rory had lived a relatively charmed life, she flew beneath the radar, a few people knew who she was, but for the most part she was anonymous. Her mother removing her from Hartford as an infant, being raised in the kooky berg known as Stars Hollow, it all led to her being forgotten; to a point. When she dated Logan, she used the Hayden name, it was more appropriate for the heir and carried more weight; thanks to her Supreme Court Justice grandfather. She never thought his proposal was forthcoming although in her heart; if she was honest; she had hoped and with a long engagement, at least two years. Now, after all the careful planning, the cat was well and fully out of the bag, she blamed Mitchum, maybe Shira, and most assuredly Elias, they were out to get her. They wanted her to pay for saying no, only she didn't say no, she said not now. She had wanted time to grow, to be the woman she believed Logan deserved; a woman who would put herself in suspended animation just so he came back to one person who loved him. Now that was lost, she so desperately wished some days she had been more like Stephanie, polished and poised, but she was like a society version of a truffle; ignored until it was discovered. She was more like the Bikini Atoll, you know they exist and that they are beautiful, you just prefer Fiji. She liked being mostly anonymous in the world of the elite. Sure she was valedictorian at Chilton, had her key from Yale and three sizeable trusts she would have full access to in when she turned twenty-five, but that was supposed to be when her destiny kicked in - not now and assuredly not like this.
Rory awoke after an exceedingly comfortable sleep, the beds in this hotel were absurdly comfortable, so much better than she had enjoyed in a long while. She threw on her robe and padded into the living area to begin a pot of coffee but was pleasantly surprised by a full breakfast cart. Finn was already dressed and ready for work.
"I hope you don't mind luv, but I have some early appointments and wanted to be sure you had a decent meal and superior coffee to help drown out the memories of the swill you have had to endure. I don't know your schedule, but please feel free to stay here as long as you want. I will be heading back to the Big Apple at three."
"Finn, that is so very sweet, but really the motel I originally booked..." He cut her off with a wave of his hand dismissing her suggestion.
"Is a dump, I own hotels across this land, and you will let me see to your accommodation from now on. I cannot allow you to continue to stay in such places as I found you in any longer." Finn stated firmly as he was not about to take no as an answer. " Please forward your itinerary to me and my secretary will handle everything - even the last minute changes; no sense arguing."
Rory's phone rang, it was the Oompa Loompa song, her mom's custom ringer, and she was grateful it shattered the slightly awkward air between them. "Hi Mom, to what do I owe the pleasure of such an early call?" Rory queried as she poured syrup on her short stack.
"It's not every day a mother wakes to find that her daughter is being squired by the Finn Morgan after crushing the Huntzberger heir." Lorelai singsonged."My scandalous child not only dined gaily with him at a posh Nebraska hotspot, but then when on to join him in his hotel for what I can imagine was some sweet..."
Rory gasped and stopped her mother before she heard the dirty presumption, "What are you talking about, I have known Finn forever, there is no squiring occurring...OH MY GOD! Which paper?! Does grandma know?" Rory was in a panic and Finn looked at her oddly. Rory listened waving frantically at Finn to be quiet while she downed her coffee and refilled it. This couldn't be happening, she would be fired for sure, her career, her wide future was crashing and burning, the world knew who she was. It was all coming apart, all because of a simple dinner with Finn, of all people, he was her downfall. "Mom, mom, MOM! I'll handle this, no I won't come home now, the plan was always that I graduate and become a roving reporter. I might have to freelance, but if the cat is out of the bag, I am probably 'voted off the island' as it were. No more comfy bus for me, my reporter friends are probably feeling like I am a joke. ARGH! I will call Hugo and see what he wants to do, thanks for calling mom, I will keep you posted." Rory ended the call and collapsed heavily against Finn. "Us, Enquirer, Page Six, my life as I hoped it would be is over." She turned and collapsed onto the sofa then hung her head holding it in her hands.
Finn just sat beside her and pulled her close, he just held Rory and pet her head, "So sorry luv, never thought you being seen with me would be such a fiasco, I just saw you and wanted to be sure you were properly cared for; forgive me?"
"Nothing to forgive, but you may have to give Brooke a tumble in order to keep her in my good books." Rory smiled at him sheepishly, "What a mess, all I wanted was a little bit of time to be me before my real life caught up you know? Do I call Logan, do you? What is protocol?" Her phone rang, it was Emily, she let it go to voicemail.
"Well as far as Brooke goes, happy to take one for the team, everything else is breezy." Finn chortled and lifted his cup in cheers.
They ate breakfast in mostly silence while each contemplated the consequence of their simple dinner and her slight change of venue. Rory decided to shower while she contemplated what to do next, it was sure to be a media circus downstairs and she had to get Hugo's take on this. It was a bit of salvation that Logan had introduced them, this way he was not blindsided by her status, he had actually taken her on - in spite of it, Mitchum had warned him off, but he offered her the position anyway. The hot water and fragrant soap, helped clear her mind and she felt as if she could handle what was to come next, but first she had to do some serious adulting, suck it up and call her boss.
"This is Hugo." He answered without looking up from his terminal, ironically, he was editing the piece that Rory had recently submitted, he liked her style, witty, fresh and just quirky enough to make him chuckle, a true rarity in the political realm. He was so pleased with her approach, she was informative and friendly, a real 'girl next door' type. He had seen the morning gossip and wondered what she would want to do next.
"Hugo, it's Rory, sorry about the disaster that is Hartford. I am sure there is going to be plenty of backlash, how do you want to handle this, my profile is blown." She sighed wearily, just like that her life had gone from mushroom to mushroom cloud.
"Well, I am sure you never thought that a simple meal with Finn of all people would turn out so scandalous, although going with him to his hotel was probably not in your best interest", he sighed, "but I am sure there is really some PR from HPG behind this. Mitchum was content to have you a wallflower when it kept Logan in check, but with Logan in California and you gaining a voice on the road, this is him - he just had to try and throw a wrench in the works. How are you holding up kid, have you left the hotel yet?" His voice was kind and she felt his genuine concern for her.
"Well, I had a call from my mother, she is giddy, ignored calls from Emily, Logan and Stephanie, you are the first person aside from Finn I needed to discuss this with. I understand if you would like my resignation." She sighed and accepted Finn's gentle petting as she leaned heavily on his shoulder.
"Hold the phone, why resign? You can still cover the conference, you just may need personal security, I can sort that, stay in the nicer hotels, we adjust your mode of travel. I don't think you should let this be the reason you quit your dream." He reassured.
"Really, you think I can still be a reporter in spite of this bit of news?" She was genuinely surprised.
"Does it stop Anderson Cooper? He is a Vanderbilt and you don't see him shying away from the press. You have a voice, you are educated in the use of that voice, don't allow petty gossips to mute you. You have a conference today at one and then Denver the day after tomorrow, we can work on the logistics, but if you are willing to fight on; I am in your corner." Hugo assured.
"Thank you so much for the vote of confidence. I won't let you down, I am so grateful you are giving me this chance." Rory enthused truly feeling lighter than she had since the mocking call of her mother.
"Anytime kid, now go squash the gossip and be the reporter I know you are. Let me know if you need anything, I hope you know, I am not only your editor, but I count you as a friend." Hugo ended the call and Rory let out a sigh of relief, and relayed the content of the call to Finn.
"Well kitten, it seems that went better than you hoped, ready to make the other calls, I suggest Emily first." Finn rose and poured her a tall glass of juice, "You need the sugar luv, this first then coffee." He kissed her temple and she dialed her grandmother.
"Rory, what are you thinking running around with the Morgan boy so soon after your break up with Logan?" Emily started right off forgoing any pleasantry.
"I am not running around with him, he was out here checking on family properties and we simply caught up over supper,then he saw my motel and demanded I stay at one of his family holdings. There is nothing between Finn and I but friendship, never has been. He is one of Logan's best friends, mine too, it would be weird." She assured.
"Well, I guess a photo doesn't necessarily mean what it looks like, I will run interference over here as I can, I will tell that dreadful Falon woman that it is a clear misunderstanding. She is faster than a blast email at spreading gossip. I will talk to you later and let us know if you need anything. Rory, I know it's a sore spot, but perhaps now grandpa and I will be permitted to assign you a bit of security, they may have been able to nip this in the bud you know." Rory relented, and Emily ended the call; Rory sighed.
She finished her juice and opted for a water much to Finn's pleasure, as she was making her calls he had been putting out fires on his end and Morgan PR was clearing up the confusion as fast as they could.
She next called Logan,it would be the first time they spoke since he left her standing at graduation "Hey Ace, so you and Finn, never saw that coming." He chuckled good naturedly.
"I knew you would understand, I would never choose Finn over you, how have you been." She smiled, and Finn gave her a thumbs up.
"Missing my favorite brunette who cryptically returned my rocket, what was that about, what does it mean Ace?" He seemed genuinely curious.
"That is a conversation for another day, a face to face kind of thing, I hope you don't mind if we set it aside given the current crisis." Her tone was pleading.
"Sure Ace, what can I do for you?" He sighed in frustration. He knew that she knew the conversation needed to be had, she just didn't have the strength; or really even the words to begin.
"Can you send a blurb out through HPG, that there is nothing between Finn and I, that you are I are still in good books and that a dinner between friends should not be open to such speculation? You know the hotel was just Finn being protective right? He saw my motel and - well, it simply was not someplace he wanted me to be, he insisted I allow him to upgrade me and well...but seriously if it had been Steph or Paris there would have been nothing to blow out of proportion." She sighed.
"I know Ace, double standards and all, so are you going to keep reporting, or did this kill your chances?" His concerned tone touched her.
"Honestly, Hugo is convinced we can take it in stride, that the name I have started to build over the past two years can hold fast, he is really being terrific. Finn is going to handle my room accommodations, Emily will square security and once all of our family's send out appropriate notice this part is sure to be squared. I just hate that I am going to be seen as some precious princess who is only here because of my connections. I will give it my best though." She assured him. They exchanged a few more words and ended the call.
Rory laid her head back against the top of the sofa, "Finn, do you think I can do this, I mean really do this? Now that the hint of my net worth is out there is it even worth it, I could always work in Hartford, report on social events as Mitchum advised, maybe it is better for everyone."
Finn's eyes were gentle and his heart broke for the determined beauty before him,"Now luv, I have known you a very long time, and while that may be what others want, it isn't what you want now is it?" He quirked his brow, "What good is it to have come this far to let a little gossip send you running, you are made of sterner stuff Ms. Gilmore, show them that. Who jumped off the seven story scaffold, won a scavenger hunt hosted in an abandoned train station and even managed to drop out of Yale then return to graduate on time?" he smiled at her impishly and pointed.
She blushed and accepted his encouragement, "You are such a good friend Finn, I don't know what I would do without you." She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"You will never have to know, now go get dressed and let us prepare a statement for the vultures in the lobby." He helped her up and shooed her towards her room.
The day was a blur and Rory felt all eyes on her as she entered the conference and sided up to Brooke, "So you're some kind of heiress huh? You looked so normal."
Rory smiled at her friend, "I know right, I worked so hard to keep it quiet and then a simple dinner - blows everything up."
"It wasn't the dinner silly, it was the hotel." Brooke confirmed.
"The hotel? What do you mean?" Rory was genuinely perplexed.
"Come on Rory, you are a complete ice-queen, then hot Aussie shows up and the two of you hole up in his suite until noon?" Brooke wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"No, Brooke",Rory rolled her eyes and sighed, "just so you know, Finn is like my brother, really, he is the best friend of my ex since diapers and mine since Yale, he was like a gift with purchase, well not purchase since I passed on that part. Seriously though, all that happened last night was Finn slept in his room and I slept in mine then we had breakfast and then worked through a PR nightmare. Good times." Rory sighed and gave the double thumbs up in true sarcasm. "On the uptick, how do you feel about rooming with me in Denver, I have nice digs and two rooms?"
"Yippee! I knew I liked you for a reason!" Brooke giggled.
The conference continued, Rory was ignored, and it seemed all was righted again.