Author's note : As usual... I do not own Gilmore Girls...

Chapter 10: Meghan's day on the sea.

Rory woke up to noises in her house. She had been sleeping like a baby. Half awoke, she started to get worried, someone was moving in her house. Suddenly, she remembered that Colin had slept in her guest bedroom. She sat on the side of the bed and got up heading for the bathroom to make sure she was presentable. She then went downstairs to meet with Colin. Going down the stairs, she realized that coffee was brewing. She entered and saw that Colin had gone to the bakery and brought back danishes, crescents and muffins.

"Oh, wow, you didn't have to. We could have gone to eat out." Rory said in a still throaty voice.

"This is better; you don't need to shower right away. The coffee should be ready now."

Rory headed in the kitchen and took two cups. She poured both of them coffee and handed Colin one cup before picking up a Danish from the plate on the counter. Both sat eating and drinking, talking about the previous day and of the week ahead. Rory needed to be back on Thursday to go shopping and find something for the event on Saturday.

"What time will you be at the house tomorrow? » Rory asked.

"I should be there around 3 pm. I will have done all the shopping so we should be ok for the first few days."

"Can you leave me the directions and phone number. I am going to leave them to my mother."

"Yeah no problem. Your cell is going to have reception anyway..."

"Nice to know."

"Rory, do you mind if I walk with you to Finn's. I'd like to talk to him before leaving."

"Yeah sure. I'll pack up after the shower and we can head out. It is already 10 anyway."

"Thanks."

They finished their breakfast and Rory went to get ready. She decided on a pair of khaki capris with a black fitted t-shirt, a jean jacket and flat shoes. She put her hair in a ponytail and put on minimal make up... a bit of eye shadow, mascara (water proof of course) and some lip gloss. She brought her nicest bikini and a towel, a warmer shirt just in case and a cap that she had no intention of wearing.

Colin was waiting for her and when he saw her he couldn't help but smile.

"Well, I never took you for the outdoorsy type."

"I am not. But these are really comfy for travelling. When I do for work, I sometimes have long bus rides to take."

"He's going to be speechless. We rarely saw you so laid back."

"I just wanted to be comfortable. I have no idea what type of boat Finn has."

"Humm... I believe you'll be pleasantly surprised. Ready to go?"

"Yes. Oh, a minute, I have something for Meghan."

Rory picks up a small wrapped box and puts it in her bag. They leave the house and head toward Finn's house. Rory rings and both wait for someone to answer.

"Rory!" Meghan shouts when she opens the door. « Dad, Rory is here, she's with a man. »

"Hello Meghan!" They could hear Finn shout "What?" from the back of the house.

Meghan shouted louder this time.

"Dad, it's Rory and she's with a man."

Rory can't help but laugh as she hears footsteps getting closer at a fast pace, she signs to Colin to hide on the side.

"Hey Rory! How are you? Who did you bring?" Finn asked hoping he was wrong and that she had not brought over that Dugrey guy.

"Oh, I brought a date so we could double, you and Meghan and me and..." On cue Colin came into view.

"Colin! It's nice to see you mate. What are you doing here? I tried to reach you so many times last week."

"I know. I am sorry... I was away for a while and then had to put in long hours."

« It's ok... not that I would mind but are you joining us? »

« No-no, I will leave you three for the day. Do you have time for us to go over your situation, at least quickly? »

« Yeah sure... Rory, you don't mind? »

« At all... go, anyway, me and Meghan have some girl stuff to talk about... Didn't you want to show me your dress? »

« Yes! Come to my room » Meghan answered and she took Rory's hand and pulled her into the house while Colin followed and he and Finn were headed to the office.

While Colin and Finn talked about the custody situation with Meghan and how to approach the situation, Rory and Meghan were in Meghan's room. She showed her dress and put it on.

"You really do look like a princess Meg. You don't mind me calling you Meg?"

"No! From you it is ok. I don't let my stepdad call me anything than Meghan but you are my friend so it's fine."

"Oh, I brought you a surprise."

"What is it?"

Rory handed her a box. Meghan opened it and she found a pair of jewelry barrettes different shades of green, with a necklace, earring and bracelet.

"They are beautiful. But why are you bringing me a gift?" Meghan was raised in a rich environment but she was not used to adults giving her gifts except her father. Her stepfather never did give anything unless he wanted something in return. She really did not like the guy. She suddenly was questioning Rory's intention.

"Well, aren't you going to your first adult evening soon? I just thought they'd look great in your hair"

"Oh yes, and they are going to go great with my dress see?"

"Well, someone gave me a bit of information I must say. If you want I can come and help you with your hair and maybe a bit of makeup, but only if your dad agrees."

Meghan went running toward the office.

"Dad! Dad! Look at what Rory gave me."

"Show me Ladybug." Finn answers and looks at Rory smiling and whispering a Thank you.

"See, this will be perfect for the ball you are bringing me to! Look it looks perfect with my dress."

"You'll look just like a real Princess then. But now, will I be handsome enough to be your prince?"

"But you are my dad! But you could be Rory's Prince?" She said smiling to all adults in the place.

"Well, Rory is going with Prince Colin and you my Princess will have to do with your Dad then if I am no material for a Prince."

"Can Rory come and help me get ready next week. She said she could help me with my hair and makeup."

"Euh, makeup?" Finn asked looking at Rory quite unsure, Rory was not one for a lot of makeup; it surprised him that she would suggest it to a 6 years old.

"Don't worry Daddy… I will have her all subtle, blush and gloss, that's it honest… and I don't wear much more myself anyway."

"Come on Dad, Mom always puts lots of makeup when she goes out."

"I know but I'd prefer you looked like Rory here than your Mom. So OK. We could all leave from here anyway, you don't mind Colin?"

"Not at all. Finn, I think we'll need to meet next week on your matter anyway. I know! Why don't you come with Meghan and stay at my summer house. Meghan would love the beach. You can even bring your boat. I do have a dock, but no boat myself…"

"What do you say Meghan?"

"Oh yes, please dad, can we go?"

"Well, I guess we could… I can work a bit from there. But we will go by car… not the boat this time. Maybe some other time ok Meghan."

"Yes!"

Finn looks at Colin who smiles mischievously. Finn and Colin might have just started hanging out again but Finn was sure Colin had something up his sleeves.

Colin then looks at Rory and smiles broadly. "Oh well, look at the time. I'd better get going and let you get to the boat. Rory, you could drive down with Finn instead of you both driving down with each your car."

Finn looks at Rory. "You were headed to Colin's house this week?"

"Yeah, he invited me when I told him I would be on vacation."

"So I guess we'll be in for a road trip then."

Colin left soon after and the rest just gathered their stuff and were off to the Marina where Finn docked his yacht. Upon their arrival Rory was looking at the boats and wondered which one was Finn's when she saw one fairly large sized boat named "Meghan's dream". It had a flag of Australia on it. She was certain it must be Finn's boat. She was sure when she saw Meghan ran towards it.

"Rory, come and see it… I have my own room in it."

Meghan and Rory did the tour of the yacht while Finn got everything ready. Finn got three bottles of water out on the deck and once the tour finished Meghan and Rory sat down. Meghan was telling Rory of the trips they took the previous year as this was their first outing on the boat. Finn started the boat and they were on their way toward a nice almost isolated beach on an island where Finn anchored the boat. They all went to change into their bathing suits and swam for a while playing with Meghan. After a while Rory went to sit and relax for a while on the deck taking in a bit of sun and, of course reading a book. Not that long after both Meghan and Finn joined her. Meghan put on her headphone listening to her iPod and reading a book and Finn and Rory started talking.

Finn, curious to know why she had been crying the other night tried to find out about her date on the previous Friday. They were sitting side by side, Rory leaning a bit towards him her feet under her.

"So, how did it go on your date on Friday?"

"It was nice." She did not want to go into detail on how it ended and why.

"Are you going to see him again?"

"Well, I am going to see him at the even for the Magazine next week but no, not as in dating. We kind of realized it wouldn't work."

"Oh, I am sorry."

"Don't be, it was all me. I told him that although he was nice and yes, gorgeous, there was someone else so I couldn't lead him on."

"Oh! And who else is there? Colin?" Finn asked since he knew Colin and Rory were going to the event together and he knew Colin was not indifferent to her… they had talked about it… wondering what it was in that girl that had all three of them (Colin, Logan and himself under her charm).

Rory blushed… she shouldn't have opened the door… and Meghan just a few feet away.

"No, it's not Colin." She did not want to blurt it out.

Finn was silent, he was lost. He was as oblivious of her feelings towards him as she was of his. He did not dare hoping as, after Rosemary, he really did think he would not trust anyone. Rory was different; she was so caring, even with Meghan.

Rory could see Finn was trying to figure out. In the light of what Colin had implied and trusting that Finn would not use it against her she took the plunge.

"It's you Finn." She quickly said and looked away her cheeks burning and it was not because of the sun. She added quickly before he could say anything "I know we are just friends but I could not be with him and hope I was kissing you." She then looked up to him and saw a smile she had never seen on him.

"Rory, Kitten, if you could only know how I wish I could kiss you right now. I've wanted to since we've met at the restaurant. But with Meghan here, I can't. But if you wouldn't mind taking it slow, I'd like to take you out for dinner some time."

Rory had trouble understanding the feeling she was having right that moment. She remembered her mother and her rule not to involve any boyfriend with her when she was younger. She knew what Finn was referring to.

"I would love it." She answered and smiled at him.

They stayed like this, looking at each other for longer than they would believe. Just enjoying the proximity and both hoping, wishing for more contact, for direct contact for a way to give into the desire they both suddenly were aware of. After a while, they started talking again.

"So, do you think it is to give us a little push that Colin invited you for this week?" Rory asked Finn.

"I would not put it past him. He knew how I felt. We kind of talked about you a lot lately. Maybe he wanted to make sure that we would be courageous enough to act on our feelings."

"Humm… yes, I think so too… he read through me like a book this weekend. I just wish he'd also find someone. With him starting to hang out with Steph and Logan, then the maybe you and me…"

"Maybe?"

"You know what I mean…"

"Yes, and I was there with we learned about Steph and Logan, it was not pretty. But he matured a lot since then."

"Yeah… talking about Logan and Steph, do you think you'd want to see them again? I am sure they would want to?"

"Rory, they cut off contact with me. If they do want to start talking again, they'll need to contact me first. But still, I don't guarantee."

"I understand. For what it's worth, they seemed to wish you were there also yesterday."

"Well, not enough to have invited me."

At that Meghan took off her headphones and looked at both adults.

"Are we going to eat sometime or not?"

"Sure Ladybug… why don't you continue entertaining our guest and I'll go down and prepare everything. I guess you'll want coffee?"

"You only guess? That is a given…"

"Hey don't bite; I have the same as we serve at my work by the way so I would be nice if I was you… you are stuck on a boat with us." Finn said with a mocking tone. He got up and went inside to prepare the lunch they had bought the previous day.

After a while Finn came up with a plate full of Panini sandwiches, salads a complete coffee pot for Rory, juices for Meghan and water for himself. They ate and talked. Meghan was completely innocent of the sexual tension between her dad and Rory. She kept asking question about when they had met when they were young and found it really funny that Rory was Logan's girlfriend then. She then asked how come Rory was not on her parent's wedding picture.

"That is simple. I was not with Logan anymore and did not have contact with your dad at that time."

"But now, we see you all the time." Meghan asked in pure kid's fashion.

"Does it bother you that Rory is often with us?" Finn asked concerned about the way the conversation was heading.

"No, I wish she would have been around more often before. She makes you smile all the time." Meghan answered.

"That she does Ladybug. Rory here is become a very good friend to us both. She will make sure I don't turn you into a tom boy." Finn answered.

They then had dessert and continued talking and answering Meghan's questions that were mostly asked to Rory about her life, her work, her family, why she was not married, etc. After Finn asked if they wanted to have one last swim before they needed to head back to dock since they needed to pack for the week ahead. Rory stayed on the boat while Finn and Meghan went back into the water. She watched them play around. Finn was really still a kid at heart. But you could see the love he had for his little girl. He was the type of father she wished her own father had been.

After, they all changed back into their clothes and hung out a bit more before starting to head back towards New York. Meghan ended up sleeping her head on Rory as Rory was playing into her hair. She felt a pang for not having had the opportunity to have a child yet. She hoped she could, she hoped even more so that she could with Finn.

Finn was able to see both girls while driving the boat to the docks. He loved the way Rory was interacting with Meghan, as if she was her own. She cared for her, it showed. Could he really be already in love with Rory? He thought back to University when Logan and she had started, he remembers not really understanding how Logan could fall so quickly. Yes, he had denied it for a long time, but they all knew before he said so, hell, probably even before he realized it himself how he had already fallen for Reporter Girl as they used to call her. And now here he was, falling for the same one. But he did not deny it, he wanted to love her. He wanted to make her his. This felt like they belonged together. He wondered if he had been sober in College, would he have felt the same for her. He would never know and he had learned there was no use in looking back and having regrets. He needed to look forward and cease opportunities.

Once he had stopped the boat he saw Rory struggling to move. He came to let her know he would take care of everything she could stay here with Meghan and he'd be back soon. It was getting dark but not so completely. He brought all the leftover to the car and all of their bags and came back for Meghan and Rory. Rory had drifted off while he was carrying all their belonging. He stared at her a few minutes before waking her up. She opened her eyes and looked directly into his.

"Hi, did I fall asleep too?" Rory asked still in a daze.

"Yeah. It's ok. You looked peaceful. I wish I hadn't had to wake you up." He answered and smiled at her. He was already bent over to pick up Meghan but was keeping his eyes on Rory. As she licked her lips he just acted without thinking and closed the distance.

Rory felt his lips touch hers softly. This kiss was better than anything she had ever dreamt it could be. It was less passionate than in her dreams. This kiss was full of promises; gorged in feelings and completely unexpected. His lips felt soft, butterflies running not only in her stomach but filling her own body. As they were about to give in and deepen it both felt Meghan stir. They had been lost in their embrace, completely forgetting the little girl asleep between both of them. Finn pulled away and smiled still looking straight into Rory's eyes. She smiled back and bit her bottom lip.

"So long for taking it slowly." Finn whispered.

"Well, on my part, no regrets." Rory answered

"None here too. But we do need to get the Ladybug into her bed. And I do want to keep it under wraps with her until everything is settled with her mom."

"I understand. I lived this remember?"

"Yeah, you mentioned it the other week."

Finn picked up Meghan who opened her eyes but nestled her face into his neck and fell right back to sleep. Rory picked up her book and both went toward the Finn's car in the parking lot. He dropped Rory off at her apartment before heading back home. They had agreed to ask Colin to babysit Meghan once during the week for them to have a bit of time. Anyway, as Finn put it… Colin was probably planning something to get them together. He had a feeling. They agreed to have a bit of fun with him on the first few days and not tell him they had talked or kissed.

That night Rory and Finn went to sleep dreaming of their upcoming date while Meghan dreamt of her father and Rory together.

Author's note 2 : Let me know what you think of where this is going... pairing is now definite... unless my mind plays tricks again... but it won't be smooth sailing all the time... I need to send them curve balls otherwise, it will get boring.

Thanks for the great reviews I recieved on the last chapter... It really does makes me write faster... although I started a blog a month ago and it does interfere with my fanfic writings... But I will continue my two unfinished story and I won't butcher it to complete them before they are ready to be so... that is a promise and I tend to keep them.