Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Gilmore Girls, actors, characters, plots, etc, that would be the wonderful people at WB. Although if I did, I'm pretty sure they'd be some big changes coughChadcough. Anyway if you do feel inclined to sue me, some people have strange urges and we must accept them for who they are, I'm currently flat broke so all you will get is a used textbook, on organic chemistry.
AN: I'm really really really really sorry I haven't updated in sooooo long. I know you don't want to hear the excuses (and believe me, I have a lot of them) so please except my apology of a brand new chapter. Also, many thanks to my reviewers, you girls (and guys) rock my world! Thanks to:
RockroseMongoose 187: stick around, Tristan's not gone forever.
Heavenleigh88
Mrmp
Melako17: thanks, darling!
LoVe23
Smilefortina
Coffeeaddict1515: I think I might have already explained why Logan is the father, but here's a quick recap. Tristan and Rory were safe in terms of contraception, but Logan and Rory given the number of times they had done 'it' had a higher probability of slipping up, if you will. Also Rory mentions that she forgot to take the pill upon her return from New York, and missing even one pill, throws the cycle out of whack. Hope that helps.
Rish:D: Hopefully this chapter might hold some explanations as to why Rory agreed to marry Logan.
Photoboothromance: Oh dear! I didn't mean for you to hate Rory, she's just conflicted. And as for the secretary giving out the info, actually I doubt she would be breaking any laws given the nature of the call and who she was (intending) to call. However let's just chalk that one up to Tristan's persistence and the secretary's nervousness.
FairyGirl07: oh and it's no over yet… cryptic, I know, but it'll soon make sense.
Fallen Heart
Chelle5
GGluvr1987: Unfortunately for Tristan, I happen to love tortured hot guys, blame it on my star sign (my friends call it the Oh-Poor-Baby Syndrome), so I really enjoy (without been sadistic) writing Tristan in pain.
Iamlorelei
The chapter is dedicated to all the people who love this story because I love you all!
Chapter 25 (V2)
Who knew living in a four bedroom house by yourself could be so lonely? Tristan had not been the loudest person to live with, but since his departure three days earlier, Rory felt like she was living in a vacuum. She tried turning the radio or television on, just so her own footsteps would not sound as loud, but the erratic noises upset Lori, even though they had never annoyed her previously. And it was not just the quiet that unnerved Rory. She discovered she couldn't eat in the kitchen, Tristan had left all his cooking utensils and even sitting at the table reminded her that he was gone.
Collecting her mug filled to the brim with steaming, hot coffee, Rory entered her daughter's room, settling into the rocking chair by the window. She watched her daughter sleep as she sipped the hot beverage.
The tiny tuft of brown hair that Lori had been born with had grown into the softest, silkiest hair Rory had ever seen. Lori's huge blue eyes that stared out into the world like two perfect sapphires whenever she was not sleeping. Her smooth cheeks, with two symmetrical dimples every time she smiled. Lori was the most beautiful baby in the world and she was Rory's. And Logan's.
Rory closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. Logan Huntzberger. The father of her precious child and her husband-to-be. Part of her knew that this latest venture was fraught disaster, she might have once loved Logan, but not any more. Did she love Tristan? Rory had no idea, she had not really considered it, partly because she was afraid of what the truth might be.
Why had she agreed to the marriage despite knowing it was doomed? Christopher Hayden. Her own father's role, or lack therefore or, in her childhood and even adulthood, was why Rory had accepted the Huntzbergers' proposal. She didn't blame her mother, Lorelai had had her own, valid reasons, but Rory had for years longed for her parents to marry, to live in the same house, to share her life and theirs. The idea of putting Lori, her own flesh and blood through all that, especially knowing what she did, was unbearable. Logan and his family would respect her, she and Lori would have a stable, secure life and even the marriage was loveless, at least her baby would have her parents together.
Setting the now empty mug on the floor beside her and picked up a peach-coloured, terry-cloth teddy bear from the toy chest. She smoothed the material across the belly of the bear. It was the first teddy bear Tristan had bought for Lori, the first of many and seeing each one now, compounded her guilt and regret for everything she had put Tristan through. The worst part was that Tristan had predicted this exact same situation months before. But like Tristan had said a few nights prior, she had made her choices, now she had to stand by them, she would do anything for Lori.
Rory was so lost in thought, she almost missed the doorbell ringing. Hurrying out of the nursery, she opened the front door to find a very familiar face, one she had not seen in a while. Sunglasses firmly in place, hair a mess, clothes mis-matched.
"Finn?" Rory's eyes widened with surprise.
"Er, do you have a minute?" Finn asked sheepishly.
"Sure," Rory nodded, opening the door wider for Finn to enter, "I've got to leave for Stars Hollow by 11 o'clock, but until then, I've got some time."
Finn nodded his acknowledgment as he sidled past her.
"Long time, no see," she said brightly as they entered the living room
Seeing Finn again immediately lifted her spirits despite the fact he looked like he had the world's biggest hangover.
"Something like that," he mumbled.
Rory frowned slightly, watching as Finn took his time, getting comfortable on a sofa.
"So what brings you by?" Rory asked finally.
"How are you Rory?" he asked, his tone formal and quite serious.
"I'm fine," she replied quickly.
"Right," Finn nodded but his tone betrayed his doubt.
"If you're here to lecture me – " Rory began, her voice rising with annoyance.
"No, no, I'm not," Finn hastily interrupted, "I'm just… concerned."
"Well there's no need for you to be concerned."
"Isn't there?" Finn asked pointedly, "That's why you've agreed to this shot gun wedding? Why not just skip the whole planning thing and head straight to Vegas? Hell, grab a set of divorce papers while you're at it, save time."
"How dare you!" Rory exclaimed.
"Perhaps it should be 'how dare you?'" Finn asked quietly
For a second Rory was speechless, unable to believe what she was hearing, from Finn of all people. And it hurt.
"That was out of line," Finn sighed, "Sorry."
She still couldn't speak, staring at him wide-eyed with shock.
"I've made a mess of this," Finn muttered to himself, "Gees, Rory I'm sorry, that's not what I planned to say. Please, can I start over?"
When she didn't respond, he continued anyway.
"What I wanted to say was, I'm sorry for not visiting more… often," Finn said, "I've just been all over the place. It's been like a human-bloody-tug-of-war. I was going to visit you, really I was, but then I heard you agreed to the paternity test and I was completely thrown. I didn't – no, I don't understand, Rory. Actually that's wrong, I kind of do understand. I mean it's better to clear that one up before Lori is old enough to remember, that would make helluva twenty-first party."
Rory gasped and Finn looked pained again.
"Sorry, that was rude of me," he did his best to look apologetic, "Anyway, I had an epiphany. I realised that despite being Logan's friend for years, and yours too, I really wanted Tristan to be Lori's biological father. And then I heard about the proposal and Tristan leaving and I was devastated, for him… and for you."
"Finn – " Rory finally found her tongue again.
"Wait," Finn was quick to interrupt her, "But what's done is done, and I just want you to know that despite not agreeing with what you did, I will support you, as a friend. You've made your choices, you've got to stand by them"
Rory's eyes widened as Finn repeated a line, the exact line Tristan had told her before leaving.
"Yeah, I kinda borrowed that line from Du Gray," Finn admitted, seeing her expression, "I paid him a visit yesterday. Told me I should quit bothering you and start supporting you, like a proper friend."
"You've seen Tristan? Where is he?"
"At his grandfather's, but I'm not sure for how long."
"What do you mean?"
"He mentioned something about going back to California," Finn replied, trying to sound vague, he looked away, not meeting her gaze.
"Stanford?" Rory pressed anway.
"Stanford, his ex, maybe try to pick up the pieces," Finn half shrugged, "He's pretty torn up."
Tristan had every right to be angry, she was the first to admit that, but her baby was her priority now and for Lori, she would do anything.
"I cam here to say I'm sorry for being a bad friend," Finn said, "And if there's anything you need me to do for you…"
"Thanks, Finn," Rory gave him a small smile, she needed to hear that.
"But I don't think I'll be at the wedding," he continued apologetically, "I might punch someone, probably Logan."
She wanted to ask him to come anyway, just for her, but she said nothing, staring at the heirloom engagement ring on her hand.
"Didn't you say you wanted to leave by eleven o'clock?" Finn asked suddenly.
"Yeah," Rory nodded, "I've got to meet my mother and grandmother. Wedding plans."
"Well, I should let you get ready," Finn said, standing, "Sorry again, about what I said before."
"It's okay and thanks," Rory replied, also standing, "For coming over. It was nice to see you again."
"Yeah, you too," he nodded
"Don't be a stranger," it was a lame farewell, but an awkwardness had fallen over them anyway.
"Restock the alcohol and I'll be back before you know it," he offered her a smile, which she couldn't help but return.
--
Lorelai groaned softly seeing her mother's silver Lexus turn into the driveway, this was one meeting she was definitely not looking forward to. Since when did Emily require help to organise anything, Lorelai thought, much less the event the elder Gilmore had been planning for the last twenty years. Knowing Emily Gilmore, Lorelai was willing to bet she had already picked out the colour palate, the china pattern and the floral arrangements. No doubt the woman probably had a private library stocked with every single bridal magazine ever printed.
"Lorelai, what on earth are you doing?" Emily asked entering the house, a large bag in hand, only to catch her daughter staring out the front window, "And do you ever lock the front door? Goodness, you would think you were born in a tent."
"Yes, mother, I was in fact born in a tent. Did you miss the memo? Oh well," Lorelai replied flippantly, stepping away from the window and twitching the lace curtain back in place.
"I'll let that one pass, given the early hour," Emily sighed, "Help me with these will you?"
She held the bag out to her daughter and Lorelai reluctantly accepted it.
"I've brought the latest issues of all the bridal catalogues," Emily continued, clearing the coffee table of the piles of dvds and trashy magazines that normally called it home, "Of course I don't want Rory choosing a dress that has already been made, but perhaps she'll get some ideas."
"Mom, there's something I want made perfectly clear before Rory gets here," Lorelai said, the seriousness of her tone made Emily look up in surprise."
"Yes?"
"I want you to know that I do not in any way, shape or form agree what you, dad and the Huntzbergers are making Rory do."
"But –" Emily began, straightening, she let the trashy magazines fall from her hand back on to the coffee table
"No, let me finish," Lorelai cut her off, "I will however sit through any and all of these pre-wedding preparations for my daughter's sake. I'll smile and nod and do whatever merry dance Rory wants me to do, because I am her mother and if that is what will make her happy, I will do it."
"Fine," Emily replied when her daughter had finished.
"That's it? You're not going to give me a lecture?" Lorelai's eyes widened as she realised her mother was letting the matter go.
"I don't have time, Rory will be here any minute," Emily said resuming her cleaning and reaching for the bag she had brought.
She took out a stack of bridal magazines, along with several other catalogues, which she proceeded to lay out on the table.
"Here," she said, offering a catalogue to Lorelai, "It's got several floral arrangement ideas I want Rory to take a look at. The purple tags mean perfect but a little pricey and the blue tags mean worth-a-look, but not quite right."
"And what am I supposed to do with it?"
"The last thing Rory needs is for you to seat there scowling, at least you can pretend to have taken an interest," Emily shot her daughter a meaningful look.
"Fine," Lorelai sighed, taking the magazine and sinking down into the sofa.
"Oh, I think I hear a car pulling in," Emily said with a clap of her hands, "That must be Rory."
Lorelai didn't respond, staring at the magazine in her hands, on the cover was a woman in a white gown, a bouquet of red roses in her hands. Even though she was a model, the pretend-bride seemed to glow, her smile radiant. As she heard her daughter and mother chatter as Rory entered the house, Lorelai felt something twist inside herself.
--
AN: A bit of a longer chapter to make up for the extremely long delay in updating, hope no one has abandoned me in my absence. As always, please, please, please, review. Oh and one more thing, the end is nigh…