Chapter 44 Gilmore Christmas Party
Emily hired a professional decorating company from Hartford for her annual Christmas party. The Ainsley Group came highly recommended by her neighbors and women in the DAR organization, so she made an appointment with the owners, Phil and Renee Ainsley, right before Thanksgiving. They brought photographs of homes and businesses that they decorated in the greater Hartford area. After looking through the pictures, they discussed the options and Emily decided to use the Nutcracker Ballet as the theme for this year's party. Emily adored the Nutcracker Ballet, and when Lorelai was young, they would go to see the ballet every Christmas Season in the city. Richard gave Emily her first Nutcracker the first Christmas they spent together, and since then, each year he would add to the collection. When Lorelai was born, Emily started a collection of ballerina decorations and put them in storage when Lorelai left with Rory. Renee showed Emily ideas on how she could use both sets of decorations this year.
The day before the party, Emily, Richard, and the maid carried up her collection of nutcrackers and ballerina ornaments to use in the decorating. They had set them up in the front foyer for Phil and Renee to use. At eight am, the morning of the party, Renee and Phil arrived to begin decorating the inside and outside of the Gilmore home. Phil's team oversaw the outdoor decorations while Renee collaborated with her team decorating the interior. Emily and Richard left the house letting the Ainsley group decorate their home.
Emily and Richard returned to their home at three-thirty after spending the morning and most of the afternoon shopping. As they pulled into their driveway, Emily noticed the lights on the bushes and the gate. Lumineers lined the driveway with wreaths hanging in each window. They saw two men putting the finishing touches on the fountain, and Phil was directing men as they loaded their vans. Richard pulled their car to the garage and parked beside the Dragonfly van.
"Oh good, Sookie is here. Richard, stop the car, I need to go inside to talk to her." Emily quickly opened the car door leaving Richard to park the car and carry in the packages that Emily had bought. Rushing into the house, Emily interrupted Sookie, who was directing her staff.
"Sookie, I want to go over the menu with you again. I need everything to be perfect."
Just then, Lorelai appeared from the dining room with Renee.
"Mom, Sookie, and I have everything under control. Why don't you go upstairs with Dad and put your packages away," Lorelai told her as she took some of the packages from her father.
"But, Lorelai...,"
Lorelai gently nudged her up the back stairway and carried the packages up to the spare bedroom. As Richard and Emily walked up the back stairway to the second floor, the delivery van for the liquor arrived. Emily and Lorelai were separating the packages into piles when her maid came looking for her.
"Mrs. Gilmore, the delivery for the liquor, just arrived. Miss Sookie wants to know where you want it."
"Oh, let me find Richard."
"Richard? Richard, where are you?"
"I'm right here, Emily, in the closet where you told me to put the packages."
"Oh, well, the liquor just arrived. You might want to check on it."
Richard turned and followed the maid to the kitchen, where the delivery man was talking with Sookie.
"Neil, I heard you have a delivery for me?"
"Yes, Mr. Gilmore. I was able to get that Australian Zinfandel you wanted along with the ingredients to make that special drink for the party."
Richard went through and checked off the items making sure everything was there that he ordered. Neil and his three helpers followed Richard into the dining room, where he explained how he wanted one bar in there, one in the formal living room, and of course, a small one in the front parlor. He then directed them into the kitchen, where Sookie had them store the liquor in the butler's pantry.
Emily and Lorelai came down the back stairway where they met Renee.
"Mrs. Gilmore, Mrs. Danes, would you both like a tour," Renee asked.
"Yes, I would. Are you coming, Lorelai?" Emily and Lorelai followed Renee into the dining room. As they entered the dining room, Emily noticed the mantle above the fireplace, had been decorated with seven of her nutcrackers in assorted sizes. Renee had placed two red and white striped taper candles on either side of the nutcracker. A bough of artificial greenery with tiny white lights and sparkling ornaments of red, green, and gold hung on the edge of the mantle, and an arch of the same greenery hung above it. In the middle of the room, a lace tablecloth draped her large table, and the red king nutcracker that Richard had brought home from Germany was placed on an oval mirror with woven faux greenery with small ornaments of gold, red, green and silver around its base. In front of the large patio window, a bar was being set up by Sookie's staff. Emily watched as glassware with paintings of the faces of nutcrackers were unpacked and placed on the shelf that was set up behind the bar.
Lorelai smiled at her mother as they followed Renee to the formal living room. The room sparkled with the decorations that Renee and her staff had spent time hanging. In the center of the room, a giant nine-foot balsam fir decorated with platinum pleated and gold lame wired ribbons curled down the sides and the back of the tree with twinkling lights. Hanging on the flocked white branches, were ornaments of white fairies, glittery pink and purple bulbs, and white swans. At the very top, a large fairy with translucent wings glittered in the twinkling lights. As Lorelai's eyes swept across the room, she noticed that the fireplace mantle had boughs from the fir tree entwined with twinkling lights and gold lame and platinum ribbon. An assortment of nutcrackers was placed strategically around the room with a six-foot nutcracker in a red and gold pattern standing at attention at the archway.
"Renee, please give me your card; I want to use you at the Dragonfly and Annex. We have many weddings there, and I no longer have the time to spend decorating it," Lorelai said as they walked into the lounge area. As they entered the lounge, Lorelai looked at her mother and stood still.
"Mom, I can't believe you kept those decorations?"
Lorelai's eyes filled with tears as she saw the white artificial tree decorated with pink ribbon, pearls and the ballerina ornaments that Emily had bought for her as a child. Around the tree, a pink tutu was used as a tree skirt, with pink ballet toe shoes set up around the base of the tree.
"Renee, I think this is my favorite room," Lorelai responded. "My daughter will love this room, especially when she sees the candy on the mantel." On the fireplace mantel, a garland with pink and white fairy lights and artificial Christmas candy hung on the ledge. In the center stood the nutcracker that Richard had bought for Lorelai when she was fourteen. The red nutcracker soldier with a pink cupcake on his head, stood in the center between hurricane vases filled with candy canes and red and green M & Ms. In front of the window stood a long table with the two-story gingerbread house decorated in the pink and white frosting that Sookie had made. Around the gingerbread house, gingerbread and sugar cookies in shapes of ballerinas, and soldiers were placed. On either end of the table, brightly colored trays were ready to be filled with the delicious cookies, tarts, truffles, and other pastries that were made by Ashlyn and Sookie. Emily and Lorelai stood there looking around the room in amazement.
"Now, there is one more place I want you to see," Renee said as she led them to the front entranceway where the staircase was. Renee's team had hung garland with tiny lights and red berries on each side of the railing with a beautiful red and gold bow at the base. Beside the stairway a smaller tree was placed inside a red drum trimmed in gold. Tiny white blinking lights, red and gold ribbon, and nutcracker theme ornaments in all shapes and colors were hanging on the tree.
"Renee, I don't know how to thank you. The house is beautiful."
"I am so happy that you are pleased with it," Renee replied. "We will be back the first week of January to take your decorations down and repack them. We also will remove the lights from the outside of the house." Emily thanked her again and walked her to the door.
As she closed the door, she heard the chime on the clock in the hallway and realized it was five o'clock already. "Lorelai," she turned to her daughter, "Are you and Sookie ready to go upstairs to get ready?"
"You go on ahead, Mom, Sookie, and I will be there in a minute." Lorelai hugged her mother.
"Lorelai, do you think the Morgans will like it?"
"Mom, you don't need to worry. The party will be a success, and your friends will be talking about it for many weeks."
The Gilmore house shimmered in the twinkling glow of the decorations that reflected on the snow. Outside the house, the driveway was ablaze with the Lumineers that greeted the guest as they drove to the front entrance of the Gilmore Estate. Two valets were available to park the cars for the guests as they pulled up in front of the house. As the guest exited their vehicles, they were greeted by a five-foot-tall musical nutcracker with blinking lights on his belt, hat, and drum while his hands moved to a selection of eight Christmas carols.
Rory, Finn, Jess, and Ashlyn stepped out of the town car that Finn had ordered for the four of them. As they walked up towards the door, Rory jumped when she heard the music "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" coming from the five-foot-tall nutcracker that she had passed. Jess, Finn, and Ashlyn began to laugh.
"Is your grandmother participating in the Great Holiday Light fight this year?" Jess asked, looking around the property in amazement. White lights outlined the house, with twinkling white lights entwined in the wreaths in each window. Inside the fountain, blue and white motion lights were moving to music, giving the illusion that it was spraying water.
"Tell me she doesn't have seven swans a swimmin' in the pool outback, because if she does, I'm out of here." Jess began to back away from the house, ready to head for the car.
Rory grabbed his arm, giggling. "Don't worry; I will have my camera ready to take a picture if you get attacked again."
"Not funny, Ror," Jess scowled.
"I sense there is an interesting story here," Ashlyn whispered to her brother. Finn slapped Jess on the shoulder and said, "No worries, Mate. What can a white swan do anyway."
Rory began to giggle again and finally said, "Seriously, Jess and Ashlyn, I don't know what my grandmother has been thinking. Lately, she has been going overboard, like she is trying to impress someone. Last week when Finn and I walked into the house, it smelled like a funeral parlor. I had asked her to help me choose the flowers for the wedding. She had every room downstairs filled with flowers.
"Fair dinkum Finn?" Ashlyn asked, starting to giggle.
"Too Right, Ash. I expected to see a casket set up in the front parlor. I wouldn't be surprised to see the maids dressed in Elf costumes," Finn remarked, causing the group to laugh.
A maid wearing black pants and a crisp white shirt with a red Christmas tie decorated with dancing nutcrackers opened the door, when Finn pushed the doorbell. Three maids dress similarly waited behind her to take their coats and gifts.
"See, I told you that Rory's family could be a little over the top. If you think this is bizarre, you should go to Stars Hollow," Jess told Ashlyn. "Ror, I think your grandmother and Taylor have been commiserating."
Rory laughed joyously at Jess's remark as they removed their coats. Smirking, Jess winked at Finn, as he helped Ashlyn with her wrap. Ashlyn turned and looked at Jess with mischief in her eyes. "Do you like?" she asked.
Jess's eyes traveled down Ashlyn approvingly. She was wearing a gold metallic lace dress that went to her calves with fringe on the bottom and a thigh-high slit. On her feet, she wore a pair of gold metallic open-toe stilettos. She twirled around. Jess placed his hands on her waist and pulled her towards him kissing her; he whispered, "You look breathtaking tonight."
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself," she replied, kissing him back.
Taking her hand he put it in the crook of his arm, and they walked toward Finn and Rory, who stood in the archway under the mistletoe. Jess had never seen Rory look so stunning. Like Ashlyn, Rory was wearing a dress made from a gold metallic material that shimmered in the twinkling lights in the room. The dress had an asymmetrical hem with a thigh-high slit and a draped front halter neckline. On her feet, she was also wearing stilettos in a gold and black sequin material that made her legs look longer.
"Whoa! Look at you! Did you and Ashlyn coordinate your outfits? You both seem to glow. Finn and I might need to get out our sunglasses."
Finn started laughing, "Don't they look, gorgeous mate?" He kissed his sister on the cheek, winking at her. Finn lifted Rory in his arms twirling her around. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she slowly slid down his front, kissing him.
Jess cleared his throat, and they broke their kiss. The four of them walked into the dining room. Looking around, Jess suddenly pauses, a chill ran down his spine, and he shivered. The girls were in front of the men chatting when Finn noticed Jess's behavior.
"What's wrong, mate?"
"Just got a chill, something is not right. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yea, but no worries, mate. Everything is as right as rain. My parents have already given you approval to date my sister, and don't worry about Angus."
"Thanks, Finn, but this is the Gilmore house, and every time I have been here, something happens." Jess began to look around and noticed Luke and Lorelai standing by themselves in front of the fireplace.
"I see Luke and Lorelai. I think I will go over and introduce them to Ashlyn," Jess said. Placing his hand on the small of Ashlyn's back, they weaved their way through the guests. A waiter came by with a tray of champagne, and they each took a glass.
Finn chuckled, "I guess he doesn't know that Ashlyn already knows them," he whispers to Rory.
"No, I guess not," she said. Finn placed his hand on her back and gently rubbed her bare skin with his thumb. She looked up at him smiling as he caressed her as they walked toward the bar.
"Good evening," the bartender greeted them. "Would either of you like to try tonight's signature drink?"
"What is it?" Rory asked as she watched another bartender mixed a drink in a martini glass. Shivering Rory had flashbacks of "The Rory," her grandmother had served for 21st birthday.
"At least it's not pink," she whispered to Finn as she saw the purple concoction being poured into a martini glass.
The bartender explained, "It's called the Sugar Plum Fairy made withPlum Wine, Pomegranate Vodka and Whipped Vodka."
"Thank you mate, but I think we will pass.," Finn responded. "My wifey will have a tall glass of sparkling water with lemon, and I will have three fingers of scotch with extra ice."
Finn handed Rory her drink and kissed her cheek. "I was supposed to make sure you ate before you left," he said, rubbing his nose on hers.
"Don't worry, before you came home, I made some toast with peanut butter and ate it."
Placing his hand on her waist, he pulled her closer to him. They were about to kiss again when they heard someone clearing their throat. Finn dropped his hands from Rory's waist then turned. Emily was standing behind them.
"There you are, I've been looking all over for you two, why aren't you drinking the Sugar Plum Fairy tonight?" Emily turned to the bartender. "Please make my granddaughter the Sugar Plum Fairy." The bartender looked at Finn who shook his head no.
"Emily, do you need us for something?" Finn asked her.
"Yes, I want you both to meet some of my friends. Finn, would you be a dear and bring her drink to us when it is ready?" Emily said as she took her granddaughter by the arm and began to circulate the room with her.
"Grandma…"
"Finn will bring you a proper drink. What are you drinking anyway?" Emily asked as she removed the glass from her hand and placed it on the edge of the bar as they walked away.
"My favorite drink, sparkling water with lemon. I don't feel like drinking alcohol tonight."
"Well, I think you should try my signature drink. What's taking Finn so long?" Emily asked as she looked around the room again. Emily took a moment to look at how Rory was dressed, examining her from head to toe. Scowling Emily asked, "Why did you choose this dress to wear tonight?"
"What's wrong with my dress?"
"It looks like something a man would pick out for his Mistress."
"It was a gift from Finn, and I love it," Rory responded, glaring at her grandmother.
"It's not appropriate. What was he thinking? Let's go see what your grandfather thinks," Emily said leading her across the room.
Finn stood at the bar watching Emily parade Rory around the room like she did many years ago at the Yale "Male Sausage" party she had hosted. Looking around Finn noticed that some of the same men were at that party tonight. Finn stood leaning against the bar with a big Cheshire grin on his face.
"What are you grinning at?" Colin asked him.
"I was watching Emily parade Rory around as she did at the Sausage party, she threw for her when we went to Yale. I realized that I am the lucky bloke that will be marrying her."
"Sausage Party? Why don't I know that story?" Steph asked as she moved in beside Colin.
"It was a party that Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore gave to introduce their Rory to perspective males that went to Yale. It was our Junior year, right Finn?" Colin responded.
"Yes, it was the year that we returned from our Fiji. We met Rory earlier that semester at the coffee cart," Finn replied as he watched Rory scowl at something her grandmother said. She did not look happy anymore.
"Hey man, where's Rory?" Robert asked. Lucy was walking on her crutches as Robert cleared the way in front of her with Aidan and Olivia walking beside her.
"Her grandmother has her at the moment," Finn replied as he pulled a chair over so that Lucy could sit down. "Here Lucy." He helped her in the chair and gave her a kiss on the cheek before he gave Olivia a hug and kiss.
"I love your dresses," Steph said, admiring the plum metallic dresses the two girls were wearing.
"Thanks, Steph," Lucy said. "Olivia picked them up for us. I think she bought them on Fifth Ave."
"Yes, I walked into this little boutique that just opened and fell in love with the berry color of the dresses," Olivia continued.
"Excuse me, girls, Lucy, Olivia, what would you like to drink?" Finn asked them.
"What are you drinking, Steph?" Lucy asked her as the bartender handed her a martini glass filled with a pretty purple color and a sugar rim.
"The signature drink called a Sugar Plum Fairy," she replied and took a sip.
"Mmm, it's pretty good."
"Okay, I'll have what she is having," Lucy answered.
"I would like a Gingerbread Martini," Olivia said.
Finn put in their drink order and looked again toward Rory. Something was going on between Rory and her grandmother. She looked like she was arguing with her. He looked around for Lorelai or Luke and didn't see them.
"Excuse me, mates, but I think I need to go and rescue my girl," he said leaving his friends at the bar. He quickly walked across the room. As he got closer, he heard Emily whispering loudly to Rory.
"Rory, how could you wear something so inappropriate. Do you realize the message that you are giving out? You are an engaged woman about to be married into the Morgan Family. I want you to go upstairs and change into something more appropriate. You look..., "
Finn saw his mother and Mia walking quickly towards Rory.
"Rory, you look beautiful tonight. Where did you get that Misha dress?" Amanda asked. Amanda was standing with Mia when she overheard Emily criticize her future daughter in law. She saw her son walking over and winked at him.
"Rory, you do look beautiful tonight. I notice that Ash was wearing a metallic Misha too." Mia said linking her arm into Rory's as she guided her away from Emily. "You both have the perfect figure to wear her designs. Did you know that Misha was a classmate of mine in Australia?"
"Rory, where are you going?" Emily called out after her as Rory walked away with Mia.
"Emily don't worry about the girls. Tell me who did the decorations. What a wonderful idea to use the nutcracker theme for your party this year. The decorators have done a marvelous job and that fountain outside is amazing. I must get their names." Amanda took Emily's arm and led her to other guests who began to compliment Emily on the assortment of food and the decorations.
"Mia, thank you so much. Finn surprised me with this dress tonight, and it seems my grandmother doesn't approve," Rory told her future sister in law.
"Rory, you will love buying Misha's clothing. They are so comfortable and fun to wear. I will get us tickets to her next trunk show." They walked in the opposite direction of Emily towards Angus who was standing beside his father and her parents. Kissing her husband on the cheek, she asked, "Angus, what do you think of the dress Rory is wearing? You never would believe it, but your brother bought this for her."
"You look beautiful tonight, Rory," Angus answered, smiling. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Finn does enjoy shopping."
Finn came walking over with his drink and smiled, pulling Rory into his side kissing her temple. "Doesn't my wifey look ravishing tonight?" he asked his brother.
"Yes, she does," Angus admitted. "I just heard you bought the dress for Rory. I see you bought yourself another dinner jacket?"
Finn struck a pose and twirled around. "What do you think? I picked up this Tom Ford dinner jacket when I was in the city. I happened to see this dress in the window and knew that Rory would look radiant in it. "
Angus rolled his eyes at his brother, "You and your damn clothes. Dad, I have no idea why you ever let him go into modeling. I bet he has more clothes than Rory."
Rory and Mia began to giggle as Rory nodded her head yes.
"Rory, I don't believe you have met my parents yet," Mia said as she began the introductions.
"Mum, Dad, this is Finn's fiancée Rory. Rory, this is my mother, Margo, and my father, Alec Hollister."
"It's so nice to meet you both, I have heard so much about you," Rory said as she leaned in to kiss them on the cheek.
"Welcome to the family," Alec said as he hugged her.
"So, how did you and Finn meet?" Margo asked Rory.
Rory wrapped her arm around Finn's waist. "It is a funny story. I met Finn and his friends at a coffee cart at Yale. After graduation, we lost touch, and then recently, we bumped into each other at a coffee house here in Hartford."
"I saw her again, and I knew that it was fate that brought us back together. So I wasted no time and asked her to marry me," Finn said gazing down into her face.
"So did you two date in college?" Margo asked them.
Rory started to answer when she and Finn heard a familiar voice behind them.
"Ace, you are glowing tonight… that dress is stunning," Logan said as he came up behind them on his crutches, followed by Honor, Josh, and his parents.
Rory turned, and Finn put his arm protectively around her waist.
"Logan…" Rory said in surprise. Angus and Liam immediately walked and stood protectively behind Rory and Finn.
Smiling and staring into Rory's eyes, he took the liberty to lean forward, kissing her on the cheek.
"Hello Logan," she replied feeling Finn's hand squeeze her waist. "You look very handsome tonight too. I am glad that you were able to come tonight. " Rory looked up noticing, Honor and Josh standing behind Logan. She gave them each a hug. Mia stood closer to Rory, seeing Shira and Mitchum glaring at Rory and Finn.
"Finn," Logan said as he put out his hand. Finn and Logan shook hands. "It's good to see you, Liam, Angus," Logan said shaking their hands too.
"Logan, I want you to meet my father and mother in law, Alec and Margo Hollister," Angus said to him. "They are joining us this year for the Christmas Holiday and the wedding."
"It's nice to meet you both," Logan replied smiling at them and shaking their hand. "This is my sister Honor, her husband, Joshua and my parents Shira and Mitchum Huntzberger."
Shaking hands, Alec said, "G'day Mate."
"I detect an accent," Honor said, smiling at Margo. "Where are you from?"
"This is our first trip to the US, we live outside of Sydney Australia, and we are staying until the first of the year," Margo responded. Honor and Margo began to talk about Australia. Across the room, Ashlyn noticed that Finn and Rory were talking to Angus and decided it would be an appropriate time for Jess to meet her brother with Finn and Rory there.
"Let's go talk to Finn and Rory," she told Jess.
They walked toward the group when Logan looked up and saw them approach. He was surprised to see that Jess was holding hands with Finn's little sister.
"If it isn't Dr. Pain," Logan smirked as he saw Jess approach with Ashlyn.
"Logan," Jess said. "Shouldn't you be drinking water?" Jess was concerned about Logan drinking and hoped that it wasn't scotch.
Logan winked at Jess, "I added ice," he responded.
"Ashlyn," Logan turned, looking at her. "I haven't seen you in ten or twelve years. What are you doing with this bad boy?" Logan leaned forward on his crutches giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hello Logan," she responded and gave him a hug and peck on the cheek. "I take it you know Jess."
Jess and Ashlyn turned to Finn and Rory. Finn winked at Jess as Rory kissed Jess on his cheek. Jess whispered in her ear, "Are you okay?"
Finn, Jess, Ashlyn, and Rory stood close together. Worried, Rory glanced at Mitchum and said to them, "Promise me, you two won't make a scene."
The men both grinned briefly and nodded their heads. Jess reached over and put his arm around Ashlyn's waist. She leaned her head on his shoulder, whispering, "What's going on?"
"I'll explain later," he whispered back kissing her temple.
Angus was watching Ashlyn and Jess. Angus eyed him suspiciously, and without hesitating, he took a step forward. "I don't believe we met."
"Jess Mariano," Jess said, putting his hand out to shake Angus's.
Logan watched, biting his lip trying not to laugh at Angus as Ashlyn and Rory watched in surprise at Angus's behavior.
"Angus, her big brother," Angus said, squeezing Jess's hand. Jess didn't flinch and squeezed his hand back. Finn shook his head reprovingly and grinned as he considered his brother's behavior was some sort of a joke.
"Jess don't mind him. Angus has always been overprotective of Ashlyn," Logan replied, smirking. Finn rolled his eyes then kissed Rory on the cheek whispering, "You don't know how lucky you are that you don't have an older brother. If you did, I'm sure, Logan and I would have been in trouble."
"I may not have had a brother, but I always have someone watching out for me." She winked at Jess then said, " I think he approves of you." Jess gave her his crooked smile when he overheard what Rory said to Finn. Ashlyn put her arm around Jess's waist, leaning into his side.
"Now the introductions are over, Angus, what would you like to know?" Ashlyn asked her brother smirking.
"How long has he known Logan and Finn?" Angus asked, looking at Finn, Logan and Jess.
"I met Logan, when I went to visit Rory at Yale, but I just recently met Finn."
"Are you the boyfriend that broke up with her while she was at Yale?" Angus asked Jess.
"How did you know about that?" Rory asked Angus.
Logan started to laugh. "It wasn't me, Ace… Finn?"
Standing behind Rory with his hands around her waist Finn whispered, "Love, I was heartbroken. I went home and called Angus that I told you to choose me, but you didn't."
"You were drunk that night."
"Oh, but love, was I drunk, or was I pretending. But no worries, you chose me now," he then pulled her back into his chest leaning down and kissing her lips.
Jess smirked, "To answer your question, Angus, Rory, and I grew up together in Stars Hollow. We dated for a few months when we were in high school. We remained close friends, and now we are family since my uncle is Rory's stepfather. Hey Ror, Does that make us kissing cousins?" Jess asked teasing her.
"I don't think so, Jess, but you better check with my mom," Rory said, laughing.
Finn looked at Rory and Jess as they both started laughing.
"Come on Rory, you don't need to stay here and answer Angus's questions."
Jess heard Rory laugh as Finn was grumbling, "Kissing cousins? Who ever heard of that? If he thinks he can date Ashlyn and kiss you…." Rory took Finn by the hand leading him towards her grandmother Hayden who was talking to Lorelai and Amanda.
Angus started laughing. "Good one, Jess. So are you Logan's doctor now? I heard him call you Doctor Pain."
"Angus enough questions," Ashlyn told her older brother, becoming irritated.
"No, it's okay, " Jess replied. "Technically, I'm a physical therapist. I recently received my license to be an Acupuncturist. Right now, I am treating Logan with acupuncture. "
"So you use those little needles to poke him? Tell me, do you think they could help me? I have this pain in my neck," Angus started to say.
"It's called Finn," Ashlyn remarked, and the group started laughing.
Mitchum and Shira, who had been standing between the two groups talking, were quietly listening to the conversation between Jess and Angus. The groups broke apart when Honor and Josh excused themselves, leaving to go and speak to Tristan and his girlfriend Juliet, who just arrived. Liam had been observing Mitchum and Shira.
"Alec, Margo, I want to introduce you to Ashlyn's new beau," Liam told them. He walked towards Mia and Ashlyn as they stood laughing at Jess, Logan, and Angus. Liam touched his daughter's shoulder and said, "Jess, I don't think you met Mia's parents. Alec, Margo, this is Ashlyn's new beau and a close friend of Rory's, Jess Mariano." Liam said to them. Alec looked at Jess and said, "You know I've seen your face before. Wait, Margo.., isn't his picture on the back of the book I was reading on the plane?"
Margo looked at Jess closely, "Oh my god, I think you are right Alec. Are you J Mariano, the author of the Subsect series?"
"Yep, the same." Jess replied sipping his club soda,
Ashlyn reached over and laced her fingers in his hand, smiling up at him. She knew Jess was exceptional, not only was he a physical therapist and an acupuncturist, but he also was an author. She was so glad that Rory introduced them.
Mitchum moved closer towards them and looking at Jess.
"Wait, you're that young author J Mariano who wrote his first book in 2006. I tried to get you to sign with HPG. I didn't realize that you were also a Physical Therapist?" Mitchum stated.
Lorelai glanced across the room and noticed that Jess was talking to Mitchum. She didn't trust Mitchum nor his wife, so she suggested to Finn, Luke, Christopher, and Rory that they walk over to them. As they approached, Lorelai heard the question Mitchum asked Jess. Lorelai walked over and stated,
"Jess has many hidden talents, Mitchum. I always knew he was special."
"Like eating crayons special?" Logan said, teasing Jess.
"You wish," Jess mumbled to Logan, who laughed.
"Anyway, Jess, Finn wants me to clarify Kissing Cousins. What do you think it means?" Lorelai said kissing him on the cheek and winking at Ashlyn.
"Well, Lorelai, I'm just saying, you married my uncle, and Rory is your daughter, so that makes you my aunt, and Ror would be my cousin. What do you think Finn?"
Finn walked up to Jess and planted a big wet kiss on Jess's cheek. "Guess that makes us kissing cousin's too, mate."
Everyone started laughing as they watched Jess's face turn beat red.
"Gotcha," Rory and Lorelai said to Jess in unison
Richard, Luke, and Christopher joined the group. "What's going on over here, sounds like a rowdy bunch." Richard then shook Liam and Alec's hands.
"Payback is hell, Ror," Jess said to her.
Rory chuckled and laced her fingers in Finn's hand.
Christopher smiled, shaking Jess's hand. "Jess, it's good to see you again. It's been a long time. How is the Publishing company doing?"
"Good Chris, but I'm working full time now at Hartford General. I am now a silent partner at Truncheon Books."
"Yes, Rory did mention that she saw you at the hospital. Good for you. I'm so glad to see you found something you enjoy." Then turning to Logan, Chris said, "Logan, it's good to see you too. I am sorry to hear about your accident."
"Thanks, Chris, Jess has been helping me, he's my physical therapist."
Richard turned, noticing Mitchum and Shira standing in the group. " Mitchum, Shira, I'm so glad you were able to join us this year."
"I wouldn't have missed this party for the world," Shira said. "Richard, the house looks so beautiful, and these drinks are divine.' Shira finished her Sugar Plum Fairy and placed her empty glass on the table beside them.
"That's all Emily. I see you have met Jess. Have you read any of his books? Rory got me a signed copy when it was first published," Richard said to Mitchum, winking at Jess and Rory.
"Yes, I tried to get him to publish with us," Mitchum said, smiling at Jess.
Jess whispered into Rory's ear and said, "Ain't gonna happen."
Finn and Angus heard him, and both started snickering.
"Mitchum, Liam, have you spoken to Oscar yet? Come with me and let me get you another drink," Richard said leading them away from the group. Shira noticed Emily and walked over to her and began talking to her about her home and the party.
Jess looked at Finn and shook his head, "Rory told me that you were the character of the group. But if you kiss me again…"
Finn started laughing, "Mate, no worries. That won't happen again. It was Rory's idea."
Jess and Finn looked over at the girls who were busy talking.
"Hey, does her grandfather know what Mitchum did?"
"He does now. Lorelai and Chris were telling him about it. Come with me; it's time I introduce you to some of my blokes,"
Finn winked at Rory as he and Jess walked away. Rory stood there for a moment watching her mother, father, and Luke talk to Alec and Margo. Smiling, she turned to Mia and excusing herself, she left to go and speak to Lucy who was sitting on a chair beside the bar with Aidan. Lucy looked stunning tonight. Aidan was sitting beside her and had placed her ankle on his knee so that it was elevated as he gently rubbed it. As Rory walked towards them, she felt someone touch her hand.
She turned and saw it was Logan.
"Ace, can we go for a walk? "
"Where?"
"The pool house?"
Laughing at his suggestion, she answered, "Logan, I don't think that I should go to the pool house with you. Listen if you want to talk, let's go over to the lounge, I don't think there will be many people in there, and I am sure there are some comfortable chairs for you to sit on." He looked down and smirked. "Yea, you're right, I could go for sitting down in a comfortable chair. My armpits are getting sore leaning on these crutches."
Together they slowly walked into the lounge where the pink Christmas tree stood proudly in the room. Logan sat on the wingback chair while Rory sat down on the couch across from him.
Logan stared at the couch. "I remember sitting beside you on that couch. This house brings back so many memories of us together."
"Logan, please don't go there. Our lives are different now and we need to keep the past in the past and remain friends. I don't want my marriage to Finn come between the two of you..."
"Rory, I don't think I can do that. I realize that I was a fool not calling or going to see you the next day."
"Why didn't you call, Logan?"
"I figured that you needed some time, and when you were ready, you would contact me."
Rory got up from the couch and walked over to the tree. He stood up from the chair, noticing that her eyes were filling with tears.
"Logan… I "
Rory heard voices, turning away from Logan she looked closely at the decorations on the tree. Logan stood behind the wing back chair not sure what to do. The gang walked into the room.
"We have been looking for you," Lucy said. Using her crutches, Lucy slowly made her way towards her beside the tree with Aidan closely behind her. Olivia, Steph, Colin, and Robert walked over to Logan who had sat down again on the wing chair. Finn walked towards the tree where Rory was standing.
"Everything okay, Love?" he asked her.
"Yes, we came in here to look at the tree," she answered gently holding one of the ballerinas in the pink tutu in her hand.
"Your grandmother's home is beautiful… Rory, why didn't you ever bring us here when we were in college," Olivia asked walking around and looking at the paintings
"This tree is so unique. Were you the ballet dancer?"
Rory started to laugh, "No. Miss Patty tried to get me to dance, but I had two left feet. These ornaments used to belong to my mother when she was a child," Rory said, admiring them. "I think the ballet slippers might have been hers, but I am not sure." Lucy walked over to the love seat and sat down.
"I took ballet when I was little, but I think my dancing career is over," she said.
"Don't say that," Logan replied. "You should start acupuncture. It has made a difference with my injury."
"Mary, don't you look dazzling tonight." Tristan and Juliet came into the room and walked towards her into the lounge.
"Your grandfather said he saw you in here." Tristan and Juliet walked towards her and Finn who were standing beside the tree.
"I am so glad you both came. You can stop calling me that," Rory told him when she hugged him.
"Never, you will always be Mary to me," he whispered and kissed her on the cheek.
"Did he just call her Mary?" Lucy whispered to Olivia. Juliet walked over to Steph, Lucy, and Olivia and gave them each a hug.
"Mary. The last time I was here was for your sweet sixteen party. It was epic," he teased. "You know Mare. You owe me for those tickets to PJ Harvey."
"You never liked PJ Harvey," she teased back.
"Yes, but I would have liked taking you to that concert," he winked.
"Tristan, I don't believe you have met Aidan De Lago, Aidan this is Tristan Dugray and his lovely date Julie Mayfield," Finn said, introducing them to Aidan.
Aidan shook Tristan's hand then walked over to Logan.
"It's good to see you again, Logan. It's been a while; Lucy was telling me about your accident. I guess I won't see you on the slopes this winter."
"Not for a while, if ever," he responded leaning on his crutches as he shook Aidan's hand.
"Tristan, I didn't realize you knew Rory too. Did you two date?" Logan smirked when he heard Tristan call her nickname Mary and wondered if Tristan was the reason Rory wasn't a Mary when they started dating.
"No, I never had a chance with her. We did have that kiss, though." Tristan said teasing her. He grinned when he saw her blush.
Putting his arm on Rory's shoulder, "Mare, should I try to explain it, or should you?"
"Tristan." Rory playfully slapped his arm.
"No worries, Babe, it's an appropriate time for the secrets come out before we get married," Finn teased. He had heard this story before, and he knew that their relationship was innocent.
Jess and Ashlyn walked into the room. Ashlyn said, "So is this where the sub party is?" Jess saw Tristan and their eyes locked.
"No but it's time for secrets to be revealed," Steph said looking at Colin.
Tristan squeezed Rory's shoulder. "Mare, it's like old home week. All we are missing is Bag Boy and Paris."
"You're not kidding," Jess replied.
Logan sat back in the wing chair and smirked, "Ace, so how do Tristan and Jess know each other?"
"I met Jess when I went to visit Rory in Stars Hollow. Rory and I went to Chilton together. "How are you doing man, it's been a long time." Jess shook Tristan's hand, and they began talking.
Finn stood behind Rory and wrapped his hands around her waist, spreading them out protectively over her belly. "Are you two finished with the brotherly love?" Rory said shaking her head.
"Rory, does your grandmother hold parties like this every holiday?" Olivia asked her as she picked up a cookie off the dessert tray.
"Rory's grandmother loves to throw parties. I never heard about her sweet sixteen, but I have been to a few of the parties she has hosted here. The most memorable one was the Yale Sausage Party," Logan said to the group. "You remember that one, Colin."
"Yale Sausage Party?" Jess and Tristan said, looking at Rory.
"You've got to be kidding," Tristan said.
"Yea Emily wanted to introduce Rory to the approved eligible men whose parents were Yale alumni. So who was her boyfriend back then, was it you Tristan?" Colin said, laughing.
"It wasn't me. Emily loved me. She and my grandparents were close, but I was at Stanford when she went to Yale. It must have been you, Jess," Tristan answered.
"Nope, I was in California… it had to be Dean. The last time I came here, I was invited to come for Friday night dinner, to meet the grandparents. It didn't go as planned. I arrived late with a black eye. Rory and I broke up soon after that because I was too embarrassed to tell Rory how I got the black eye. She thought I fought with Dean."
"Did you fight with Dean?" Logan asked, "Because I know when I saw him drive away from that party in the truck, I wanted to punch him," Logan replied, looking at Colin and Finn.
"Farm Boy, that was the guy in the truck?" Colin said laughing.
"Seems we all wanted to punch Dean," Tristan laughed. "I did get a few swings in him. He had a habit of making Mary cry."
"So how did you get the black eye?" Ashlyn asked Jess.
Rory whispered, "Swan."
Ashlyn looked at Jess and giggled. "A swan?"
"I'll explain later," Jess told her.
"So who is Dean, and what does this have to do with the sausage party?" Lucy laughed.
"Girl, you always acted so innocent at Yale," Steph teased. "Tristan calls you Mary, and your grandmother threw you a sausage party. You have a lot of secrets. Spill, Gilmore."
Rory rolled her eyes and said, "I'll let Logan explain it to you later because I don't want Finn to repeat his performance."
Logan and Colin started laughing.
"What's wrong, love? Don't you like my interpretation of the Passion of Christ?" Finn asked in mock horror.
Ashlyn moaned and asked, " I think we better leave. Is anyone hungry?"
"All this talk about sausages is making me hungry. Finn, I think it's time we go and check out the buffet. I need sustenance." Rory wiggled her eyebrows at him, and he started laughing.
"Sorry, mate, my wifey needs food or a sausage." Rory playfully slapped Finn's arm, and they started laughing.
"That's another thing, Aidan. Rory doesn't eat like the typical society girls. She likes food, especially junk food," Logan added.
Laughing, the group left the room and went over to the buffet line. Finn stood beside Rory as she placed a piece of meat on her plate and a large piece of Italian bread.
"Love, I thought you were hungry. Is that all you're going to take?" Finn asked.
"Babe, I'm fine, it's just that nothing is appealing to me "
"Here, love, try some of this." Finn placed a scoop of Jell-O with marshmallows on her plate. She smiled up at him and shook her head.
"It's green…."
"I know. Look, it has marshmallows in it, and Sookie made it." Finn showed her the marshmallows then kissed her on the forehead. Logan was standing across from them and felt a pang of jealousy as he put food on his plate and watched Finn kiss Rory. Logan finished filling his plate. Ashlyn was standing behind him and said, "Logan let me take that for you."
"Thank you," he told her and followed her to the table where Josh, Honor, Lucy, and Aidan were sitting. There were three chairs there, so she and Jess joined them. As they ate and talked, Logan found out more about Jess, his writing, and career change, to PT and acupuncture. The more they spoke, the more he liked him. Colin, Robert, Tristan, Juliet, Steph, and Olivia all went to the table where Finn and Rory were sitting. Rory picked at her food and drank the glass of water that Finn brought over for her.
"Love, are you feeling okay? Are you still feeling sick?" Finn looked at her concerned and remembered how she felt this morning. She suddenly looked pale. "Would you like me to get you another glass of water or ginger ale?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine. I need to go to the washroom," she replied. Finn started to get up and said, "Love, let me walk with you," he told her.
"No, don't be silly. I'm ok." She kissed his cheek and got up and walked toward the powder room beside her grandfather's study. Steph looked at Finn, asking, "Is she okay?"
"I'm not sure. Let's give her a few minutes. Then I will go and check on her."
The door of the small bathroom was close. Rory knocked, then stood beside the wall and waited. The door opened, and Shira walked out.
"I see you got yourself attached to Morgan's son now. Logan didn't want you, so now you go after his best friend," Shira sneered at her.
"Excuse me? My relationship with Finn has nothing to do with Logan and your family."
Shira leaned towards Rory. "I want you to leave my son alone, you hussy. You ruined Logan's engagement, and he was so upset. You are the cause of his accident. I want you to stay away from him and his friends."
Rory backed up when she smelt the alcohol on Shira's breath.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Mrs. Huntzberger. I wasn't around Logan the day he had his accident."
Rory tried to walk into the bathroom when Shira pushed into her. Feeling dizzy, Rory lost her balance and started to fall backward hitting her head on the wall. Finn was showing Alec where the washroom was when he noticed Shira push past Rory causing her to fall and hitting her head on the wall. Finn went rushing to Rory, who was sitting on the floor, holding her head.
"What did you do?" Finn said accusingly at Shira. "Why did you push my fiancée. Rory, Love, baby, I'm here."
Shira looked at Rory and turned and walked out of the room. Alec, who was a paramedic in Australia, quickly knelt beside Rory checking her pulse and checking her over.
"Finn, she's got a gog on her head. Rory, love, can you hear me?" Alec asked her.
Rory was sitting on the floor, holding her head whimpering.
"Alec, go and get my mum," Finn told him. "Babe, I'm going to lift you and carry you upstairs."
Finn lifted Rory, carrying her to the first bedroom on the second floor.
He went into the bathroom and got a wet cloth and placed it on her head.
"Babe, are you ok? Why did Shira push you?"
Rory closed her eyes and said, "She accused me of causing Logan's accident." Lorelai and Amanda came rushing into the room and saw her lying on the bed.
"Alec said some blonde lady pushed her and she hit her head," Amanda said concerned. Finn looked up at his mother and Lorelai, his blue eyes black with anger.
"Shira Huntzberger pushed her. I was showing Alec where the washroom was when we saw Shira push Rory, backward where she hit her head on the wall?"
Lorelai looked at Finn, "I will be right back."
Lorelai quickly left the room, rushing down the stairs with fire in her eyes. She saw the Huntzbergers talking and immediately went up to them.
"I think you better leave." Lorelai glared at Shira, pointing her finger at her.
Shira and Mitchum just looked at Lorelai, ready to say something when Luke, Liam, and Christopher walked over and stood behind Lorelai.
"Lore, Alec just told us. How bad is she hurt?" Christopher asked Lorelai.
"Who's hurt?" Mitchum said, confused.
"Your wife just pushed my daughter, causing her to fall. She hit her head against the wall. What is wrong with you people! You," pointing her finger at Mitchum, "Grabbed my daughter at the hospital leaving marks on her arm. So I suggest you leave now before I call the police."
Richard noticed that Lorelai was arguing with the Huntzbergers, so he walked over.
"What's the matter Lorelai, what's going on here?" Richard said.
"Richard, Rory is upstairs. One of your guests pushed her causing her to fall, and she hit her head," Liam told Richard looking at Mitchum and Shira.
"Is this true?" Richard said, looking at Shira, who just crossed her arms and raised her chin in the air.
"I think you better leave. Ingrid, please bring the Huntzbergers coats, they are leaving." Richard told the maid when she walked by.
"Lorelai, go to your daughter," Liam told her, gently pulling her away. "We will take care of this." Lorelai nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
Robert, Colin, Steph, and Olivia were sitting beside Logan, eating dessert talking when they saw the commotion in the entranceway to the foyer.
Colin looked at Logan in shock, "What is going on, Logan?"
"I'm not sure," Logan responded. He went to get up, but Robert stopped him.
"You stay here, and I will go and find out." Pushing his chair back, Robert left the table towards the foyer. He watched as Liam, Luke, Richard, and Christopher walked outside with the Huntzbergers. Robert saw Ingrid and asked her where Finn was. She told him he was upstairs with Miss Rory. Robert quickly rushes up the stairs two at a time, and when he got to the top, he headed toward the room where he heard voices.
"Finn, Rory's arm is bleeding," Robert said noticing the blood slowly dripping down her arm. Finn gently laid her on the pillow and holding her arm he saw scratches. Robert went into the bathroom and got another wet towel and handed it to Finn.
"Finn, I am not feeling well. I'm worried."
Finn looked at Robert and said, "Stay with her. I'm calling an ambulance."
Finn opened his phone and walked out of the room to call 911.
Robert sat beside Rory and took her hand. You're going to be fine; Finn has gone to call an ambulance. "What happened?"
"Shira accused me of causing Logan's accident and told me to stay away from him and his friends. She pushed past me, and I lost my balance. Robert, I don't feel well."
"Don't worry; everything is going to be okay."
"But you don't understand, something is wrong."
Luke and Christopher escorted the Huntzbergers out to their car. As they got in, Chris looked at Mitchum and said, "If my daughter has a mark on her body, like the last time, you will be hearing from my law office tomorrow."
As soon as the Huntzbergers got into their car, Christopher went up the stairs to check on his daughter. He saw Finn standing in the hallway, talking on the phone.
"Finn, what's going on?" he asked him with concern in his voice. Luke was downstairs with Liam, Amanda, Richard, and Lorelai.
"Is Rory okay?" Chris asked.
"I'm not sure, so I called an ambulance; they will be here shortly. I told them not to use the sirens. Is there a back staircase in the house?"
"Yes, I'll show you where it is."
Finn carefully helped Rory on with her coat and gently lifted her in his arms and followed Christopher down the back staircase to the large kitchen. Robert went downstairs to tell Colin, Steph, and Logan, what was going on. Sookie was standing in the kitchen and was surprised when she saw Rory in Finn's arms.
"What happened? Is she okay?"
"She fell," Christopher told her. "Where's Luke?"
"I'm here," he said, walking into the kitchen with Lorelai.
They followed Finn outside, where the ambulance parked near the back door. Finn placed Rory on the gurney and explained to the EMTs what happened. They checked her over and noticed that her blood pressure was up. With tears in his eyes, Finn quietly told them that she was ten weeks pregnant and had fallen. They immediately put the fetal monitor on her and Finn climbed into the back of the ambulance as it left to take them to the hospital.
