Heavy snow fell down the sky as branches already hung low with the weight of the snow on New Year's Eve. Not the best night for fireworks.
Rory and Logan sat at their dinner table at 7 PM celebrating New Year's eve in London time with Leah. They'd decorated the house with Union Jack's, balloons and cute little toppers on top of cupcakes that they had made together. They watched the broadcast from the Tower Bridge covering the fireworks, and Leah definitely appreciated the flashing colorful lights, giggling at each one.
"So what do we hope for the New Year?" Logan asked, after Leah had dozed off a few hours later.
"That everybody is healthy and happy?" Rory replied.
"Obviously that. Fresh beginnings?" he said, handing Rory a glass of non-alcoholic apple cider for the toast.
"To fresh beginnings," she reflected, clinking their glasses.
The two settled into the couch that evening, probably the first calm New Years eve without having to wear a tux for Logan.
"Logan, I think it's time I tell you, as much as I understand it at least, of what has been going on with me," Rory began, snuggled up in his arms.
Logan observed her tentatively, unsure what to reply.
"It's sort of a loss of direction I think, a large part of this is figuring out who is this person I am, why I feel so influenced by a lot of people in my life and how to move past that. I want to understand what part of my decisions has been the PPD, or some other form, and what is real. Richard's death derailed me, and everything that happened with you soon after, then the career rut and Leah was born soon after. It was a year that was so out of control. I've been a mess for a long time. Cara's been trying to get me to focus on myself in the present, mapping out what makes me, and who I want to prove myself to. She's pretty good," Rory explained.
"And I guess there's anxiety involved in dealing with some of these issues, more than there probably should be. When it gets too much, I'm supposed to swift my position and do some counting breathing exercises to stop it from getting overwhelming. I am just telling you so you know how to help, if I can't help myself," she added.
"Like if you're sitting, stand up and move around?" he asked.
Rory nodded.
"Thank you for telling me, Rory," he replied. It wasn't the long in depth-version, and he certainly wanted to understand what their fight with Lorelai had been about, but it was enough for now. She had left the door ajar for him.
At the same time Colin, Robert and Finn satt at Finn's kitchen counter trying to blind-guess the age of the scotch in question. Finn's collection had grown over the years, but his consumption had in fact decreased, leaving several of his valued bottles collecting dust and the guys had generously offered to help, and in combination with New Years Eve, the outlook wasn't poor.
"I like my whisky old and my women young," Colin announced.
"Errol Flynn was it?" Robert guessed.
"I believe it was," he replied.
"Hey, I heard that, I'm not getting any younger," Stephanie scolded as she walked in from the adjacent hallway. Apparently Colin and Stephanie were now an item.
"Definitely 20," Robert commented on the drink at hand.
"Oh, that must be Paris," Finn rose at the sound of the doorbell.
"I'm sorry darling, but we just couldn't wait any longer, the caps flew off the scotch an hour ago," he answered the door, jokingly.
"That's alright, I brought reinforcements," she added, showing him a gift basket of cheese and sauces, before giving him a quick kiss. Her office was flooding with gift baskets of all varieties this time of year, most often accompanied by baby pictures.
"I'm sure this will be appreciated," Finn replied.
"So everyone, I think you remember Paris," Finn announced, as they stepped into the kitchen. "There's Colin, Robert and Stephanie, I think you've met them all briefly," he added politely.
The trio waved or greeted in return, continuing their scotch tasting.
"This one can't be more than 10," Colin commented, "it's definitely under the legal age," he added, pouring the barely opened bottle down the drain.
"Paris, can I get you a drink?" Robert offered.
"Sure, but something better than that," she replied, gesturing towards the sink.
"The lady speaks much wisdom," Robert commented laughingly.
"And she brought food," Finn added, opening up the cellophane.
"Excellent, I already thought we were going to have to go on a pizza hunt," Colin cheered.
"Hey, my pantry is not that empty these days, I entertain and feed a toddler on half the days," Finn reprimanded.
"So, Paris, what is it that you do?" Colin asked. "All we know is that you're Rory's friend, you went to Yale and Finn likes you," he added plainly.
"Well, I own a couple of fertility and surrogacy clinics. Dynasty makers, maybe you've heard of it?" Paris explained, adding, "hence the twins in the gift basket," referring to a photo stuck between two jars of cheese jam."
"That's a serious business," Stephanie commented, "I think I actually have some friends who used your services," she added.
"It's decent," Paris replied, taking another sip.
"What about you guys?" Paris continued, almost wanting to add Still living off trust funds? But she managed to stop herself, she was there to make friends or at the very least find common ground for Finn's sake. While she had grown up living well off, she had always pushed as if she hadn't, and the couple of years she had to manage on her own had really brought her down to the real world. Her own trust fund had only kicked in just when she needed to start her own business.
"I own hotels," Colin replied briefly.
"He doesn't just own hotels, he owns a lot of them, you've probably stayed in them," Finn hinted, taking a sip of scotch.
"Do you just own them or do you actually work?" Paris added, she couldn't help herself.
"Fair question," Colin laughed, "honestly I work as little as possible, but as much as I have to," he added.
"You're such a show-off, Colin," Robert commented, "and what he spends his time with is basically ludicrous shopping. It's an addiction, I tell you," he added, already clearly sounding a little drunk.
"I wouldn't call buying another bed-and-breakfast ludicrous, it's an investment," Colin corrected him.
"You keep telling yourself that," Robert added.
"Robert's family business produces recreational vehicles, he went to law school with me," Finn explained.
"I just play around with photography a bit, nothing so high profile as these guys," Stephanie added, modestly.
"Obligatory round made, how about we now open a bottle of that 40 year old Finn keeps in that oak box," Colin suggested.
"Oh, no you don't, I've saving that for my wedding," Finn blurted, before realizing the awkwardness of that statement.
"So how do you know Rory exactly?" Stephanie asked.
"We met at Chilton," Paris replied, adding "later ended up as roommates in Yale,"
"So what's the craziest story you can tell us involving Rory, she's always such a good girl, we sure could use some embarrassing stories on her," Stephanie continued.
The conversation continued well into the night, pausing for toasts in Finn's back yard at midnight accompanied by poorly visible, but audible, fireworks. Even to Paris' surprise she had enjoyed herself.
