Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. If it was, Rory would never have turned down Logan's proposal, still can't believe it happened.

ooooo

"Welcome to my playground," Finn announced as he held open the SUV door for Angela to step out.

"We're at a golf course," she felt the need to point out, taking Morgan out of her car seat and handing her to Finn as Seth came around and took her hand.

"Yes, but the fun our boy here can have on the greens," he explained, Angela shaking her head, wondering if agreeing to accompany him and Finn to the country club for a round of golf was a mistake. Seth squeezed her hand reassuringly as they made their way through the country club and onto the fairway, the boys dragging their golf bags, Morgan returning to Angela's hip.

"So is it just the three of us? Aren't you supposed to have four? Or is that just a TV/movie thing?" she asked.

"Huntz should be awaiting us, and there he is," Finn spotted a familiar head of blond hair heading towards them. "Ahoy matey!" Finn called out, waving his nine-iron in the air, causing Seth to curse and grab his arm, stilling it.

"You can't do that, remember last time?" he hissed, yanking the club away.

"No," Finn answered honestly, shaking his head.

"You accidentally let go of the club and knocked my father out," Logan reminded him with a smirk. "That's why he refuses to golf with you anymore."

"Ah, yes, that was a good day," Finn grinned in remembrance.

"Yes, but I'm sure that Oz here would like to get through one round of golf without a hospital visit, especially since it is her fist," Logan reasoned, Finn pouting.

"Fine, no hospital visits," he agreed reluctantly, his spectacular plans dissolving.

"Thank you, from me and Cat," Angela smiled gratefully at Logan.

"From Cat? Ah, where is Button's Mommy this afternoon?" he asked, grinning and taking Morgan from Angela. "How come you don't have a cart, and you let the front desk see him?" he groaned at Seth when he just pointed at Finn.

"I forgot until it was too late," he shrugged with a grimace, Logan sighing.

"Great, there's no way any of us can get one now, oh well, it's done, let's get this show on the road. We teaming?" he asked as they approached the first tee.

"As a first-timer I feel the need to ask to be paired with someone other than Finn, that way I can actually learn something," Angela requested with a laugh.

"You take her Huntz, you're a better golfer and Finn has way too much power over you if allowed," Seth shook his head when Logan looked about to protest.

"Fine, but no territorial jealousy better occur, and I'm not helping her adjust her stance or anything," Logan warned, Angela blushing at the implication.

"That's okay, I'll muddle through without hands-on instruction. Wouldn't want Reporter Girl to come after me with a stick," she teased, Logan groaning.

"Are you guys ever going to let that go?" he asked, already knowing the answer as Finn and Seth grinned, shaking their heads.

"You aren't actually upset, so why back off?" Finn smirked over the rim of his sunglasses before approaching the tee. He let out a whoop and saluted with his club when he hit the green, several men nearby turning to glare at him.

"Because maybe I want to pick my own girl, not have her shoved down my throat?" Logan sighed, stepping up to take his turn.

"Yeah, not going to happen," Seth snorted at the possibility.

"And when you scare Ace off, who's going to be to blame?" Logan pointed out, taking a swing. Angela gave Morgan to Finn and stepped up to the tee.

"Robert," Finn and Seth answered instantly, Angela glaring at them.

"Would you leave him alone? I don't know what he did to you guys to make him the scapegoat and punching bag you treat him like but Beth really likes him and eventually you're going to really piss her off," she warned, grimacing when her shot went completely wild, narrowly hitting another golfer on the head.

"Fine, we'll find a new stooge," Finn agreed, knowing it was inevitable. If there was one thing he could guarantee it was that Catherine loved her sister and both of the Barr-Taylor's were fiercely protective of those they loved. A cornered lioness with cubs to protect had nothing on them.

"Hey, look, the person Oz nearly hit, isn't that Luke?" Logan pointed, seeing the very familiar scowl directed their way.

"It is, and he's with Richard," Finn frowned. "I didn't know he was masochistic."

"Somehow I doubt he had much choice in the afternoon's activity, he does not look like he's enjoying himself at all," Seth commented, the four automatically diverting towards the other hole, Seth's turn forgotten.

"So, have you put much thought into franchising?" Richard asked as they reached them, Luke looking completely panicked.

"Ooh, another diner? Could you put the first at Yale?" Finn requested, Richard turning in surprise.

"I'm sorry, this is a private, Logan? How are you my boy?" Richard noticed him and smiled, holding out his hand.

"I'm good, even better if we'll be getting access to Luke's burgers on campus, have you ever had one of his burgers Richard?" Logan asked, the guys exchanging looks as they immediately took stock of the situation.

"No, I can't say that I have," Richard paused, shaking his head.

"Well, that's silly! How can you endorse franchising something you have no personal knowledge of?" Finn snorted.

"We're stacking up. Let's go," Richard waved and began walking towards the next hole. Luke glanced helplessly at the foursome before following.

"Anyway, as I was saying, that diner of yours. Now's the time to jump. There are opportunities abounding in real estate right now," Richard informed him.

"Oh, are we buying a house? Good idea, eventually might want a bigger house, Lorelai's is a little small, especially if you're thinking of expanding the family," Finn rejoined the conversation, Richard looking irritated, Luke not sure if he should appreciate the input or not.

"Luke, since you're clearly not at home on the green, and Angela here is not taking to her lessons either, would you mind us stealing Richard for our fourth?" Logan asked, Luke sighing in relief.

"But," Richard frowned, Seth just stepping up to the tee while Angela pulled Luke to the side.

"I'm Angela, and this is Morgan, can you say hi Morgy?" she waved Morgan's hand at Luke.

"Hi, hi, hi!" Morgan cooed with a big grin, Luke's gruff demeanor melting instantly at the two-toothed smile.

"Hey little one. Now, she's the redhead's, right?" he asked, Angela nodding.

"Cat's her Mommy, yep."

"And the freaky Australian's her father?" Luke clarified, seeing Finn watching them with a protective eye.

"He's her Daddy the way you're Rory's," Angela summed up, Luke's jaw dropping at the assessment. "Hey, I may not be in tune with everything around campus, but I did pick up on that."

"I," Luke swallowed, looking away to hide the emotions being called Rory's Daddy caused to surface.

"Here," Angela handed Morgan over as Seth joined them, his arms encircling her waist easily. Finn, seeing Luke bouncing a laughing Morgan grinned and turned to Richard as Logan took his turn.

"Look at him mate, and tell me what bloody right you have to tell him he's not good enough for your daughter?"

"What's between Luke and I is none of your business," Richard ground out, not looking over.

"When it has the chance of making Rory cry, yes it bloody well is!" Finn snapped back, pissed off now. "That man raised her, he's more of a dad then her philandering, wandering soul of a biological father!"

"Okay, before you club Richard, let me try," Logan stepped between them, knowing most of Finn's aggression was directed towards Bachman and he was just vicariously defending himself through Luke.

"Whatever," Finn stomped away towards the clubhouse and Logan sighed, wondering how he was supposed to cheer up the cheerer-upper of the group.

"Look, Richard, I get where you're coming from, I do, you just want what's best for your little girl," Logan began diplomatically, Richard relaxing slightly. "But Luke over there, he's what's best for her, ball cap and all. And I suggest you change your tack of Higgins-ing him before Rory finds out. All you're going to end up doing is angering her and driving her away. I'd expect high-handed snobbery like this from my father or Elias, but I thought you were beyond that," Logan shook his head, disappointed. "For Rory's sake I'm going to forget what we overheard and hope you wake up. Luke, let's go grab a drink in the bar. I'm sure Richard here would love to hear some stories about Ace when she was Button's age."

"Ace? Button? Do you guys ever call anyone by their real name?" Luke asked, Logan clapping him on the shoulder with a laugh, guiding him back towards the clubhouse, Seth and Angela behind them. Richard watched them go, then took a deep breath as Rory's face appeared in his mind and he took up the rear, figuring it wouldn't hurt to genuinely get to know Luke before he judged him too harshly. After all, in the past he'd been a stand-up guy, and Rory had never spoke anything but highly of him.

ooooo

"Would you like a drink sir?" the waiter eyed Luke's attire with a jaundiced eye, making him squirm.

"Guinness!" Finn cried, a phone call to New York's Upper East Side having improved his mood immensely. Especially when a police uniform was mentioned.

"Uh," Luke hesitated, the words 'nitwit juice' flashing through his mind.

"They also have Corona and Sam Adams," Logan suggested. "Most of their hard liquor is pretty potent if you're driving."

"You drink beer?" Luke was shocked.

"Amazing, isn't it? Richie Rich drinks tap," Seth laughed, Logan flipping him.

"Up yours Merlin. I'll have a Guinness, and a Sam Adams for Luke here. Oz?"

"As much as I'm sure this will upset Finn here, do you have Foster's?" Angela asked hopefully, Finn curling his lip.

"Yes, of course," the waiter nodded, his gaze flicking to Seth and Richard.

"Bourbon and water."

"Just water for me," Seth dismissed the waiter.

"Oi, some milk for the munchkin!" Finn yelled after him when he was halfway across the room, smirking when he stiffened. "I love messing with their heads!"

"So, Luke, how do you know Logan and Finn?" Richard asked, trying to bring some semblance of order to the chaos that their golf date had disintegrated into.

"They've been to Stars Hollow," Luke stated plainly, his defenses up, not sure when this was going to turn into a personal attack or interrogation. He doubted the extra presences would do much to deter the inevitable.

"Lovely place, violent women," Finn commented, Luke frowning briefly, and then laughing in realization.

"Ah, you met Miss Patty," he nodded. "She likes them young. Been married almost as many times as Elizabeth Taylor."

"There's a reason I won't go back there without protection," Finn shuddered to think of the potential for molestation.

"You can't hide behind Cat forever dude," Logan shook his head, missing the quick exchange of smirks between Seth and Angela at the all-too-true assessment.

"How about we leave me alone and talk about Bambi, that is why we're all at one table, am I right?" Finn asked, looking from a stupefied Luke to an irritated Richard.

"Sorry Richard, he's an easy target," Logan apologized, Richard brushing off his concern with a smile.

"Not to worry Logan. It was a while ago, but I do remember what it was like to be your age and with friends. I am interested in hearing some stories about Rory as a little girl Luke, if you're willing to share them," Richard requested, setting his pride aside.

"Be happy to, and the next time you're in Stars Hollow I have plenty of pictures," Luke offered, Richard beaming back. Logan and Finn exchanged smug looks as Luke began talking about Rory's 5th birthday and the Willy Wonka cake he'd made her after she demanded a trip to the chocolate factory she insisted was real.