Chapter 10 Weekend with Family

Having the parent's meet for the first time was a success. He had originally wanted to wait until they had been dating longer than a week, but he knew that he needed Lorelai and Luke on his side. His mother already approved of Rory. She didn't care who her grandparents were, but when she met her, and her mother and stepfather Amanda was thrilled. Amanda and Liam had a lot in common with Lorelai and Luke since both families were involved in the hospitality industry. Ashlyn, his sister, was intrigued by the story of the Dragonfly Inn and was anxious to go and visit it. She had heard the name Sookie St. James before and couldn't wait to meet her. A magazine had done an article about her and her food, and because of this article, the Dragonfly Inn had earned a five-star rating on all the travel magazines and was always booked.

Finn convinced Rory to spend that night at his apartment with him. She realized that she was ready for this to happen the next morning she returned to her home to shower and change. Finn planned on picking her up after his meeting. Robert had texted Finn that morning letting him know that they all had spent the night in the city and thanked him for the VIP passes. He also told them that Logan and Sloane had stayed with him.

Rory had returned home showered, changed and was relaxing reading a book when her doorbell rang. Thinking it was Finn she opened the door. Standing on her doorstep was Logan.

"Logan."

"Ace, you look beautiful. Can I come in?"

"Um..I don't know. Logan….I am seeing someone."

"Is he here? I would like to meet him."

Rory stepped out onto her doorstep and closed her door leaving it slightly ajar.

"No, he will be here soon."

She paused and then asked, "Logan, how did you find me?"

"Ace," he reached out to take her hand and she moved away.

Looking at her he said, "I happened to see your grandmother the other day at the country club and she told me. She gave me your phone number, but it doesn't work. Were you aware that it wasn't working Ace?"

"Oh, I had an accident and my phone was damaged. I had to get another phone. I went with a different cellphone company and they changed the number. I haven't had time to update everyone yet. They told me that they would forward my new numbers to my contacts, but I guess they haven't completed it yet."

He took a step closer to her, "Ace, May I come in? I want to talk. I am leaving tonight to go back to London, but I will be back next month for Robert's Gallery opening?"

"Robert? Is he in town too?" she asked him, "An Art Gallery? I never expected that Robert would be interested in Art."

"Well his family does, and he does photography. His work is amazing. I would like to take you to see it. We could get the old gang together again, Finn, Colin, Steph… just like it used to be."

"Logan. I can't I am seeing someone."

Rory heard her phone ring, "Listen Logan I've got to go. Send me an email or something. Maybe we can have coffee when you're in town again. The phone began to ring again, this time she knew it was her mother as soon as she heard the song "Walk like an Egyptian" by the Bangles.

"Logan I have to go,"

Logan pulled her hands into his and leaned in to kiss her. She turned her head so that he kissed her cheek. "Ace.."

"No Logan, I can't. I am with someone else."

She stepped back in her house and closed the door and leaned against it.

She sunk to the floor and silently cried. She got up and locked the door. She went over to the window and watched as Logan drove away. She went over to where her phone was on the table beside the chair that she was sitting at when Logan came. She wiped the tears from her face and looked at the recent call. The first was from Finn and the second was from her mother. She listened to Finn's voicemail. "Kitten, I will be there around 2:30. I am at a meeting and it is running late. I miss you, Love."

She looked at the clock on her phone and noticed that it was two fifteen and Finn would be here soon. She was glad that Logan left. She will have to tell him that he came over. She was not going to start this relationship with secrets.

She went into the bathroom and washed her face. As she was leaving the bathroom she heard the song "Walk Like an Egyptian" and knew it was her mother. As she answered the phone Finn rang the bell at her house.

"Where were you when the phone rang a few minutes ago?"

"Hold on mom.." She opened the door and saw Finn, she didn't hesitate, and she threw herself into his arms and kissed him.

"Ror, Ror? I want to give you a heads up."

"Sorry Mom, Finn just came in. I will call you later."

"Ror, listen."

"I've got to go." She hung up and hugged him tightly.

Holding her in his arms he said, " I can get used to this greeting every day."

She led him to the couch and held his hands.

"Finn, I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"Logan stopped by about thirty minutes ago."

"Oh, what did he say?"

"I wouldn't let him in, he said he wanted to talk but I told him that I was with someone. He tried inviting me to a gallery opening in New York next month, to Robert's gallery," without taking a breath she continued rambling, "Finn I don't want us to come between your friendship with him."

He looked at her and smiled. How did he find this beautiful caring person. Kissing her on the cheek he said, "It won't Rory. Do you feel anything for him?"

"No, I don't have any feelings for him."

That's all he needed to hear, he kissed her and pushed her back on the couch.

Later while they were cuddling on the couch, she returned her mother's call.

After four rings her mother answered the phone.

"Timing Loin fruit, you have the worst timing. "

"So do you, I am returning your phone call," She responded smiling at Finn while he played with her hair, "What was so important that you wanted to tell me."

"I had wanted to warn you that your grandmother had given your address to Logan."

"Yes I know. Logan was at the house when you called. In fact your phone call was how I got him to leave. I insisted that I had to answer the phone and shut the door and locked it."

While she was telling her this Finn had pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. He was stroking her hair wrapping the silky strands around his fingers and kissing the top of her head as she spoke to her mom.

"I called as soon as I found out. I am sorry, Rory. You know how the name of Huntzberger blinds your grandmother."

"I guess. I need to speak to my grandmother about boundaries," she responded.

"Good Luck getting your grandmother to respect boundaries, I had to move to Stars Hollow with you and still she managed to cross those boundaries ."

"Mom, I don't plan on attending any Friday night dinners for a while until she apologizes. I hope that won't put you and Luke in an uncomfortable setting."

"No, Kiddo, believe me we understand. Rory we will miss you."

Finn and Rory spent the rest of September together. During the week, Finn would stay with Rory at her home. They would sleep in each other's arms and wake up to each other every morning. He would make sure she had coffee and something other than a pop tart in the morning for breakfast and send her on her way to school. He would then leave for the hotel, change and begin working. Their success in the new hotel brought them a lot of work. His parents decided to stay in Hartford for the fall until Christmas and when they would return to their Mandalay home in Australia from Christmas until March, preferring the warmer winters of the Gold Coast than the cold New England Winters.

In the evenings Finn and Rory would cuddle on the couch either reading or discussing the book that she was having her students read at that time. She had started the Fall semester off with Romeo and Juliet. Finn's comment that first night when he left her after their date inspired her to do a lesson on Romeo and Juliet comparing the classic story with West Side Story. Finn re-read the Romeo and Juliet and then they watched the movie on Netflix. The next evening she convinced him to sit through West Side Story so that they could compare the two movies. That was a mistake because Finn enjoyed the music so much that he would go around and sing the lyrics to the songs whenever they were together. When she finally told him enough, to his rendition of, "Officer Grumphie", she experienced her first pout from Finn.

She hadn't gone to Friday night dinners at the Gilmore for the rest of September. When her grandmother got her new number from Lorelai, Rory refused to answer the phone messages from her grandmother. She was still angry at her for giving out her personal information.

It was September 28, when her mother called.

"Hey kiddo, have you spoken to your grandmother yet?"

"No and I wasn't planning on it."

"I understand honey, but they miss you. Maybe you can come by for dinner to talk or call?"

Rory was quiet and didn't say anything, so Lorelai decided to change the subject.

"Ror, you know the Fall Festival is coming up. I was wondering if you will be coming home for it? Lane has been asking about you."

"Yes I know. Finn and I have talked about it and we are planning on coming to the Fall Festival. His parents are interested in coming too. Will that be ok?"

"Oh that will be wonderful. I will reserve some rooms for them so that they can spend the night at the Inn. Why don't you plan on coming on Friday when you get out of school."

"Well I will talk it over with Finn and see what works for him and his parents. Bye Mom and I love you."

"Love you too, Kid."

Finn had walked into to her home just as she ended her call from her mom.

"What's bothering you?" he asked her as he pulled her into his chest for a hug.

"That was my mom. I guess I will have to talk to my Grandmother sometime soon. They miss me, and I do miss my grandfather. I shouldn't punish him for her behavior. I am so mad at her. How could she give out my personal information like that. Doesn't she realize that there are parts of my life I may not want to share with her? It was better when I was across country traveling and she couldn't interfere."

Rory continued rambling for another few minutes before Finn interrupted her by kissing her soundly on the lips.

"No dramas Love. Talk to your grandmother but don't cut them out of your life completely. You will regret it."

"You're right, I guess I will talk to her when I am not as mad. Maybe we can go to the next Friday night dinner."