Author's note : I hope you'll enjoy this chapter... I did not have anyone proof reading it so I hope it's not too bad... my proof reader is on vacation but did not want to wait so here you go... Enjoy, review and as usual, I don't own nothing.


Chapter 4 : So whatever happened to the milkmaid…

Colin was sitting in his dining room having breakfast and reading the paper the Sunday after the wedding when his home phone rang.

Picking up the phone from its base he answered knowing very well it would be either family or friends.

"Hello"

"Colin, how are you doing mate... am I calling at a bad time?"

"It's almost 12 Finn... how could it be a bad time."

"I don't know, you keep secrets. How was your date last night."

"What? How? Who told you I had a date?"

"You did, well, actually she did..."

"Wait Rory called you?"

"What? Who?" Finn was not sure who Colin had just named.

"Finn … what are you getting at?"

"I heard your date yesterday while we were talking. You never mentioned anything about a new love interest Colin. You are hiding stuff from you best friend! Why? Is she that ugly?" Finn said trying to tease Colin.

"Right... Well, call it a social obligation." He did not want to say it was a social obligation for someone else, because he actually liked accompanying Rory.

"I do not believe you mate. You would have ranted about it if it was so. I think it was a date and you don't want us to find out with whom. That only means one thing... we know her."

Finn and Logan knew him way too much... he needed to change the subject or hang up.

"Finn, I gotta go..."

"Sorry man, did you get lucky and she just entered the room naked?" Finn teased him

"No." He answered.

"Ah... you struck out and came home alone."

"No, yes! fuck you are exhausting Finn."

"Yes, my wife says the same." He laughed at his joke. " So it was a yes you got lucky or yes it was a date?"

"Ok, got to go now... someone's on the other line." Colin answered

"You won't get away that easy..." Finn was saying but Colin hung up and sighed...

Less than 5 minutes later, the phone rang again. Colin picked up the phone, sure it was Finn again.

"No I am not going to tell you who I spent the evening with yesterday!"

"Hello to you too Mr McCrea" A female voice said.

"Sorry Rory, Finn was bugging me barely 5 minutes ago."

"Why didn't you tell him? Was I such a bad date?" She laughed knowing very well, Colin would feel bad with her thinking this.

"No! God Rory no. I had a great time with you last night... Even with the dancing."

"Well, thank you. I was wondering if you were busy this afternoon. I am unpacking and it's quite lonely here."

"I can join you; I did not have anything for today."

"Perfect... come whenever you want."

Colin joined Rory a few hours later and they unpacked and install all her stuff. As they were working, she suddenly remembered something about back then, in College, when Finn and Colin had helped her move back to Yale from her grandparents and she suddenly remembered when Logan Colin and Finn had returned from their trip in Europe.

"Colin, whatever happened to the Milkmaid?"

"The what?" Colin asked completely at a loss.

"You remember that time when you guys came back from Europe and you had brought back a MilkMaid saying she was your soulmate."

"I never said she was my soulmate."

"No you said, well I don't remember what you said… still I never knew what happened to her."

"Not my finest moment." He said laughing a bit. "Nothing, I paid for her to go back home. With enough to cover any expenses I could have caused. I never heard back from her."

"Is that a surprise?"

"No… damn I was a prick back then."

"You said it!"

"Well, you could disagree!"

"No, you were a prick back then." She said… both smiled.

They continue working and talking from time to time. When it was time for dinner, they decided on ordering pizza, wasn't it the best food for moving...

"Colin, do you know a good place for Pizza?"

"Yeah sure, I'll go and get one. What do you want on it?"

"All dressed will be fine."

"OK"

On that Colin left and Rory continue putting everything in its place. After 25 minutes, she heard the buzz indicating someone was at her door. She quickly pushed the button to let Colin in and she opened her door waiting for him and the Pizza. She was famished.

"Here you go" Colin said putting the box in her hand and they made their way towards the kitchen

"By the way, you should ask who is there before answering the door Rory."

"Yeah yeah… I knew it was you… hum… Colin, what exactly is this?"

"Didn't you want a pizza?"

"Yes, but that is not a pizza… it is a fancy bread with stuffing on it. It looks way too healthy to be any good."

"What?"

"This is not considered a pizza… where exactly did you get this?"

"At the Italian restaurant down the street… I often go there with clients. It is really good, on the fancy side but not too expensive."

"I'll show you what a pizza is…" Rory said as she picked her phone and dialed an already familiar number.

After she ordered her own pizza Colin looked at her and smiled.

"Before you criticize it once more… would you just take a bite?"

"Looks way to healthy for me… might makes me sick."

"Aren't we playing a bit dramatic… Come on, taste it." He said as he was cutting himself a slice.

"No way too fancy for me…"

"I'll take offence you know" He said teasingly

"Fine, but just a bite… so that your pride is not hurt."

She took one piece of it and tasted it.

"Hmm.. wow… this is…wow."

Colin smiled his victory smile…

"Wipe that smug look on your face. I still want my greasy pizza. But it is really good."

They continued eating it until Rory's pizza was delivered. She then ate a couple of pieces of hers while Colin could not believe the amount of food she was ingesting.

"Still hungry?" He asked as only half of the pizza was eaten.

"Nope… can't take anymore."

"Do you want me to go and put it in the trash?" since Rory's apartment had common trash disposal.

"No it's ok, I am going to keep it for tomorrow."

"But it won't be good tomorrow, you'll have to heat it up."

"No, I'll have it cold."

"Cold Pizza?"

"Yes. You should try it."

"Nope."

"OK, then more for me."

Colin looked at Rory and smiled. It was refreshing to be with someone so easygoing. He was used to society girls. He himself knew he was pretty high maintenance but he did not know better. They resumed unpacking her stuff and were done by 8 pm.

"Do you want to stay a little while and watch TV?" Rory asked

"Sure why not."

The settled on watching the Amazing race and before long Rory was sleeping her head on Colin's shoulder. He noticed as she was snoring slightly. He tried not to move too much but as the show was finishing his cell phone rang and it woke her up. Colin looked at her with a smile before answering it.

"Colin McCrea"

"Colin, it's Logan. Am I calling at a bad time. You are usually home and I tried calling you there."

"No it's ok. What's up."

"Not much. I wanted just to confirm that out little gathering in two weeks will take place at the Vineyards, my parent's cottage."

"OK. That is fine."

"You'll be there?"

"Yes, I will… and Oh, Logan, put me down for two."

"So… Finn was right… there is a lady that you are seeing."

"It's not like that…I am bringing a friend."

Rory looked at Colin while he was talking. She only heard his side of the conversation.

"Well, it is a lady friend isn't it."

"Yes Logan. She is."

"I need details." Logan laughed

"No. You don't need anything. Is that all?"

"Aren't we in a mood… or maybe you're at her place…"

"Something like that."

"Ok, I will let you go then, otherwise, you won't get any."

"God Logan, it's not…" Colin tried to answer.

"and give my best to your Friend." Logan finished hanging up the phone.

"I am sorry to wake you up. I'll get going; you need your sleep anyway."

"I'll be fine. I am only starting work in two weeks anyway."

"by the way, the weekend with the Yalies is at the Huntzberger's cottage at the vineyard. Ever been there?"

Rory looked taken aback.

"Hum… yes actually with Logan."

"Oh! Is that a problem?" Colin asked hurt by her reaction as he thought she was over Logan.

"No! Not that, it's just weird I guess. I haven't been on the Vineyard since then. Not even to my grandparent's place."

"If you prefer, you can stay at their cottage, if I recall correctly, it is not far, a couple of houses down."

"Yeah… might be better. It will give an excuse to everyone if I feel overwhelmed."

"Can I ask you a question…" Colin started and Rory looked up at him expectantly "no forget it. We'll keep it as this and you will be able to choose to stay with us or go to your grandparent's place." He wanted to ask if she really was over him. Maybe when they remet the first time she did not feel comfortable enough with him to say so… but in the end, was she now?

"OK, good. I will make arrangements with them. They might be down there anyway on that week-end. They will love having me over."

"Good then, it's settled." He said but he was disappointed that she would not be staying with them. And this was making him wonder what he was feeling towards Rory… Could he be developing something?

Rory on her side was oblivious to Colin's internal questions. She was happy to have an escape just in case emotion became too much. She knew herself enough to know there was a good chance she would need to bolt at a certain point and she did not intend to be stuck sleeping on the beach. She was secure in the thought of being over Logan but with everyone still questioning it, maybe, just maybe they were right… as long as she did not meet him face to face, she would never be able to close the lid to her Logan's box (figuratively speaking).

In the following week, Rory finished her installation in her new Condo and she made it her own. She had never really felt at home in any of her apartment. Even when she lived alone in them, she had never taken the time to make it hers. This time, she wanted it to feel like home, her home. She talked to Colin every other night over the phone and they had planned to meet over the week-end. She had invited Lane and Zach to visit her and she had gone out a few times, scouting the neighborhood and finding her places; her coffee shop, her bookstore. She now had her spots in Hartford. She had never had those but in New Haven while she was studying. It felt good to get that sense of belonging somehow.

On the Saturday she had gone to Colin's as they had agreed. She was taken aback when she found him with an apron preparing dinner for the both of them. It was not something too fancy but still, it reminded her of John who used to cook a lot for her. That evening, they talked and watch tv but she felt as if Colin was more distant than the previous week-end. Maybe she was imagining things.

They finished the evening with Colin walking Rory back to her condo complex and they decided they would be leaving for the Vineyard on Friday morning. The gang was to meet only for dinner but Rory wanted to settle herself first at her Grandparents who were only coming on the Saturday boat. She would have a few hours to prepare herself.

On the Friday morning, Rory was already at her fourth cup of coffee when Colin showed up with his car. They left quickly and as they were ready to embark on the boat Colin turned to her.

"Ready?"

"As I could ever be…" She answered. She had not been this nervous in a long time. What was it, she did not know… was it meeting all of them again? Was it only Logan? Was it the fact that she had not looked back on her years at Yale in so long she was afraid of what this week-end would bring up… if she was honest with herself yes, it was all of the above. But, ready or not, she needed to do it and finally stop wondering what if …