Hello! Here's your 1st of 3 chapters this week! I hope you enjoy :) I love hearing from you all so thank you.

Chapter 32

Rory woke the next morning, someone was combing her hair with their fingers. Their voice calling her name softly in a gentle accent.

"Janice?" Rory blinked confused. "Is Finn, okay?" She asked sitting but pulling the sheets with her, she was all too aware of her nakedness.

"He's fine. He's in the living room with the others. Are you okay?" Janice asked softly brushing Rory's hair once more before taking her hand back. She was on Finn's side of the bed. Janice had her nose ring in today, her hair was spiked and she was in jeans and a plain black t-shirt.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Rory blushed.

"Good. The lawyers here, along with a few other people wanting to make sure you're okay." Janice said.

"Oh, I'll get dressed and be right out." Rory said nervously.

"Coffee will be waiting for you." Janice smiled at Rory and left.

Rory got dressed feeling anxious. She wondered what the lawyer would say, would she be facing charges? She was anxious to see Finn with her own eyes as well.

Rory started as she walked into the living room. There was Phineas and Janice of course. A large man, with a bald head and beady eyes in a suit, who must have been the lawyer sat talking to Josh. Her mom, dad and Luke were sat together near Mia who was holding hands with Colin, her feet in his lap. Robert was also present sat next to Finn who, Rory saw, thankfully looked okay. Paris and Doyle also sat on the couch, Paris watching everything shrewdly. Rory was glad for such a large couch, not for the first time. It was being pushed to its limits today.

"Hon, are you okay?" Her mom was the first to notice her.

"Yeah, fine. Hi." She said to everyone else who was looking at her, feeling her cheeks burn.

"Miss Gilmore?" The guy she was sure must be the lawyer asked standing up.

"Yes, hello." Rory replied awkwardly.

"I'm Timothy Rocket." Timothy introduced himself. "Apparently you may have need of a lawyer."

"Erm. Yeah." Rory said fidgeting with her top.

"Come and sit-down love, I have coffee." Finn said to her.

Rory walked round the couch to sit next to Finn, taking a coffee in her mug and eagerly sipping the still hot drink.

"So Finn, Josh and Robert have given me a lot of information so far. From what I've heard it will be a very clear case of self-defence, it helps that we've documented the injuries from Finn and Lanchester. Then there's the two separate restraining orders you took out, the taunting and threats he's made. I will walk away from my profession if I can't get you off, that's if this Matthew Thompson presses charges at all. However, that is if what I have been told is the truth. Things can crop up, videos from witness you may have not seen. Security footage. That kind of thing. So with that in mind, Ms Gilmore, I need you to tell me truthfully and in your own words what happened." Timothy said.

Rory looked to Finn and Josh who both nodded at her.

She told the lawyer everything she could remember. Including the fact that Mary could have been going for the knife, but she wasn't sure. She'd just reacted, been angry and scared and shocked.

She saw her mom holding both Luke's and her dad's hands, her face full of worry. The two men's faces were almost identical masks of anger.

Finn held her hand through her story, squeezing it gently when she faltered as if he was giving her a reminder that he was okay, he was there.

"We can work with this. I'm extremely confident, unless a video pops up of Mr Huntzberger and the others holding Mr Thompson down and you jumping up and down on Mr Thompson that this will be a walk in the park. Self-defence. A clear case." Timothy said and the room seemed to let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you." Rory said sincerely.

"Not a problem. I'll also be pressing charges to the fullest extent of the law against Mr Thompson on behalf of Finn, Lanchester and if you agree, yourself." The lawyer said picking up his own mug of coffee that Josh had refilled from a pot on the kitchen counter.

"Yes, I agree. I want him locked away where he can't do this again." Rory said firmly.

"Don't worry Ms Gilmore, I don't like to lose and this case is very clear cut." Timothy chuckled.

"Rory." She said smiling at the lawyer.

"Very well, Rory." Timothy nodded. "Right, well I have to go. I'll be in touch soon."

"Thank you." Rory said as Josh stood to see the man out.

Timothy nodded at them all as he left.

"Are you okay?" Rory asked Finn.

"I'm fine love. Nothing a few drinks won't cure." Finn smirked.

"Idiot." Mia smiled fondly at her brother.

"You're lawyer's a shark. I looked him up. I'd hire him to get me off a cold blooded murder charge." Paris said matter of factly. From Paris there wasn't a much higher compliment.

"She's right." Colin nodded.

"Like that was ever in debate." Paris muttered.

"So when we will know? If he presses charges? Will Rory be arrested?" Christopher asked.

"He could press charges whenever he wants. If he does then yes, Rory will be arrested." Phineas said calmly. "If it's decided that bail is to be paid for her release that will be posted straight away of course. We'll get her out of there quickly if this does happen."

"Thank you." Rory said quietly feeling worried but grateful.

"Don't be an idiot. Your family." Mia scoffed.

"Not quite how I'd put it but the sentiments there." Phineas chuckled.

"So we just have to wait and see?" Lorelai asked unhappily.

"Unfortunately, yes." Janice nodded.

"Huh, so that sword of Damocles is really hanging then." Rory tried to joke but it fell flat.

"There's nothing to worry about love, look around you. We've all got your back." Finn said squeezing her hand.

/\\\/\\\

"Paris." Rory knocked on her friend's door.

"Yeah?" Paris answered.

"You need to come and help me." Rory said trying not to laugh.

"What, why?" Paris frowned.

"The guys are trying to build furniture." Rory explained.

"I'll get my tool box." Paris said.

Together Paris and Rory made their way to what would be the nursery for baby McCrea. They stopped in the door way and watched for a few minutes as Colin and Finn completely failed to accomplish anything at all.

"Alright. Out!" Paris barked.

"What?" Colin frowned looking up.

"What the lady said. You two, out." Rory said.

"Love..."

"Nope. Out. You two have many talents, yes, those talents too Finn. This is not one of them." Rory said.

"And it's one of yours?" Colin asked incredulously.

"We built houses, we're more qualified than you." Paris said matter of factly.

"Alright then." Colin said putting down his tools and stood up. "But this thing is impossible."

"Uh huh." Paris said impatiently. "Out. Bring food and coffee in half an hour."

The guy's left muttering as they did. Paris and Rory smirked at each other before cracking on.

"Flat head screwdriver." Paris asked after a few minutes.

"Alan key." Rory asked not long after.

"We need to flip it." Paris said.

"Put it on its end now." Rory said finishing her side and wiping sweat from her forehead.

"Alright ladies. Your food and drinks are here." Colin announced opening the door.

"Well, that's emasculating." Finn said carrying two steaming cups of coffee.

"How did you do that?" Colin frowned at the crib they'd put together.

"Girl power and all that crap." Paris said taking the food off Colin.

"What's next? The drawers or the changing table?" Rory asked putting a screwdriver in the pocket of her jeans.

"That's kind of hot now love." Finn chuckled and passed her the coffee.

"Yeah, yeah. Next? Draws or changing table?" Paris barked.

"Draws." Colin said.

"Alright. Out. Bring more drinks every half an hour, we need to hydrate." Paris said and the guys were gone.

"They underestimate us." Paris said as they starting putting together the draws.

"But the look of shock on their faces is fun." Rory grinned.

"Finn shouldn't have even been doing this, he could have pulled his stitches." Paris frowned.

"I tried telling him. He didn't listen." Rory shrugged, he'd put up with her nursing him for a day and even then, he hadn't taken it with good grace. He just kept pushing her away, saying he was fine. It was nothing just a scratch.

"Men." Paris tutted.

"Sing it sister suffragette." Rory laughed.

"How's it going with him, Finn?" Paris asked as they finished assembling the last draw.

"Perfect." Rory smiled happily. "How are things with Doyle?"

"I'm going with perfect too." Paris gave Rory one of her rare true smiles.

"Aright, changing table?" Rory asked.

"Let's do it." Paris agreed.

Two lots of drinks were brought to them before they had finished.

"Good job Gilmore." Paris congratulated her as they moved the furniture into place. The guys could move it if Mia didn't like it there.

"Right back atcha Geller." Rory smirked.

They left the room after packing away the tools they'd used and tidying up the packaging.

"All done." Rory said happily taking the cups and plates to the kitchen.

"Already?" Finn asked sounding impressed.

"You build the bottom story of a three-bed house in a day, a couple of pieces of furniture isn't a problem." Rory smiled happily.

"You have hidden talents Ms Gilmore." Finn came behind her and his hands wrapped around her waist. Rory couldn't help the shiver of desire that flashed through her.

"I'm still waiting for you to cook for me to prove your own talents." Rory said leaning back and kissing his neck.

"I'll cook tonight kitten. Until then... want me to prove to you just how talented I am?" Finn asked nipping her ear.

"Maybe... I'm kind of stiff though." Rory admitted, her back aching from bending down for two hours.

"Then I can introduce you to another one of my talents love. Fancy a massage?" Finn asked kissing the back of her neck. Rory tried to hold in a moan.

"Yes." She hissed, following Finn gladly as he took her hand and led her to the bedroom.

/\\\/\\\

Friday night and Rory was getting ready for Friday night dinners at her grandparents while Finn was getting ready for a party he was going too. She was putting on her makeup as Finn was pulling on a very loud flowery shirt that Rory thought should be relegated to ugly clothes when a knock came from their door.

Rory stood up and answered, only one eye lined.

"Er, Rory the police are coming up. They've got a warrant for your arrest." Doyle said from the doorway looking sad.

"Oh. Okay. I'll er... put some shoes on." Rory said in a daze. They'd figured this was coming. She'd worried about it for days but... now she was just blank.

"Can you call my mom and let her know I won't be at Friday night dinner please?" Rory asked Finn pulling on her sling backs.

"Love?" Finn said quietly.

"Yeah?" Rory looked up.

"It'll be okay. You'll be out in time to party the rest of the night away. Don't worry." He said taking her hand and walking with her to the main room.

"Yeah." Rory tried to smile.

"I'll call the lawyer and your mom." Finn promised as two policemen stood in the main living area.

"I've only lined one of my eyes." Rory whispered to Finn, worried about that over everything.

"And you're still the prettiest girl I've ever seen." Finn smirked pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Rory Gilmore?" One of the policemen asked.

"Yes, that's me." Rory said, her voice barely trembling.

"You are under arrest..." Everything else was a blur. A blur of being taken to the police station, mercifully without handcuffs. Of being interviewed again. Of Timothy the lawyer arriving. Of her fingerprints being taken and her picture, sorry mugshot. Of being released on a POA. Promise to appear.

It was a familiar sight being led back out to the waiting room, and wasn't that just fantastic that this had happened for a second time? Her mom was going to start calling her Andy at this rate.

Her mom, Luke, Phineas, Finn, Janice, Mia and Colin were all waiting for her. She could give them no more than a wan smile.

Finn stood, he had bags under his eyes but he instantly caught her as she flung herself at him, trying not to cry. She just wanted to go home and crawl into their bed. To have him hold her. To shower and wash away this day.

"You okay love?" Finn whispered in her ear.

"Yeah. I just want to go home." Rory whispered back.

"Hon?" Her mom said sadly and Rory moved regretfully out of Finn's arms, her plastic bag with her phone and jewellery in it clutched in her hand.

"Mom." Rory gave her a hug.

"Let's get you home sweets." Her mom said and it took Rory a moment to realise that her mom didn't mean the apartment, she meant Stars Hollow. It jarred Rory to realise that Stars Hollow wasn't home anymore, it was the small bedroom she shared with Finn. It was the living area where she bickered with Paris and Colin, where she danced with Mia then rubbed her best friends swollen feet. How could she ever explain that to her mom? Her mom who would be so hurt to know that.

"I can't mom, I've got the meeting for the paper in the morning, remember?" Rory smiled painfully. "Paris won't let me out of it for something as minor as being arrested."

"Oh, yeah. Of course." Her mom said and she knew that her mom was hurt.

"Hey, why don't you stay the night? We've got two guest rooms." Finn suggested and Rory's heart beat harder, he really was perfect.

"Oh, well, yeah sure. Luke?" Lorelai said sounding shocked.

"Erm, yeah. I guess... I don't have anything to wear though." Luke said awkwardly.

"I can lend you some pyjamas." Finn offered.

"Oh, yeah. Great thanks." Luke said adjusting his baseball cap.

"Room for two more?" Phineas asked with a smile, his hand holding Janice's.

"No. You'll drink all our alcohol." Finn laughed.

"You've drank all mine enough times son." Phineas laughed right back. "Come on."

/\\\/\\\

"We're never doing this ever again." Finn slurred climbing into bed next to Rory.

Phineas, Luke, Lorelai and Janice had spent the night laughing, joking and drinking pretty much all of the alcohol in the flat as the actual occupants watched on bemused and fairly entertained.

"You offered." Rory pointed out.

"Yes, but I did not expect to go into the bathroom to find..." Finn shuddered.

"No!" Rory gasped. "Who?"

"You really want to know love?" Finn raised his eyebrows.

"No." Rory winced, that had answered for her and she really didn't want to think about it.

"How you doing love?" Finn asked pulling her to him.

"Not great." Rory told him laying her head on his shoulder.

"Timothy has got this." Finn said.

"I just don't want to think about it right now." Rory sighed.

"You want me to take your mind off it kitten?" Finn asked his hand slipping from her shoulder and trailing down her spine.

"Well, if it's not too much to ask." Rory said with a smile.

"Well... I suppose I could." Finn smirked rolling her so she was on top of him. "You are going to owe me for this angel." He kissed her chest.

/\\\/\\\

"Thanks for doing this." Mia said for the thousandth time that day.

"It's fine Mi." Rory said back, also for the thousandth time that day.

"Colin can't skip his class, not this one. He has to get into law scho-"

"Mia, it's fine I'm happy to do it." Rory said firmly. "You're my sister, I'd do anything for you. Except be in that delivery room because I don't need to see that. Ever. If I have a baby one day, I don't want to be in the room while giving birth."

"I... have no idea how to respond to that." Mia giggled as they sat down on yoga matts and waited for the class to begin.

They were at an antenatal class; Mia was five months pregnant approaching six months. Her feet swelled regularly, her back and boobs hurt a lot and her bump hurt too, her bump which was an impressive size for how far along she was, according to her doctor. Rory, Colin and Finn did everything they could for her. Rubbing her feet, fetching pickles and beetroot, running warm baths and generally running around after the expectant mother.

Rory often joked that it might be worth getting pregnant to have slaves. Finn always got twitchy when she did which both her and Mia thought was hilarious.

The class started and Rory held Mia in lieu of Colin, breathing with her and holding her from behind. Supporting the places that needed supporting and rubbing her best friends back.

"I kinda feel like I should take you out on a date now." Rory laughed when the class had finished.

"Oh, let's go for Italian. And ice cream." Mia said excitedly.

"Alright a date it is. But I don't put out on the first date, just so you know." Rory laughed.

"Let's go back and get changed first. I'm in Yoga pants. If I've got a date with Rory Gilmore, I need to look my best." Mia fluttered her eye lashes.

"Still not putting out Mi." Rory giggled.

"Fine, I suppose Colin will do as stand in at the end of the night. Though I'm very disappointed by this turn of events Rory, I had thought we were bound for better things." Mia shook her head sadly as they made their way to Rory's car. "You know what car would really suit you?"

"Mia, no. We've been through this a thousand times. I'm not changing my car. I like my car. I don't care if other cars have a faster whatever." Rory rolled her eyes. They had this conversation every other week it seemed like.

"You and Finn are perfect for each other. He doesn't give a damn either." Mia sighed.

"And here I thought you were trying to woo me and yet you're handing me over to your brother. I don't know if I want to date anymore." Rory said starting the cat up and heading home.

"I'm sorry. Please take me out tonight?" Mia asked.

"Well okay." Rory relented smiling.

"We're home!" Rory called out as they got back to the apartment. Apparently just to Pepper who came running up to see them both.

"Right. I'll pick you up in an hour." Rory smiled at Mia before heading to her room to get ready.

Rory put on a nice cocktail dress she'd brought but hadn't worn yet, did her hair and makeup and put on the heels that Finn called her 'fuck me' heels. Finn liked the heels.

"Hey." Finn said walking I'm the room. "Wow, hi. You look stunning love, have we got plans? It's not your birthday till next week, right? I haven't slept for a week or something?"

"I have a date." Rory grinned at him in the mirror as she put in her earrings. The diamond ones that Mia had brought her.

"Sorry kitten, I think I misheard you then." Finn frowned.

"Mia and me are going on a date. After I spent most of this afternoon with my hands all over her, I thought I owed her dinner." Rory explained.

"I hope you told her you don't put out on the first date love." Finn said happily.

"I did. She's very disappointed." Rory said.

"I can see why." Finn said his eyes roaming her body as she stood up. "Have fun love, leave the heels on when you get home, hey?"

Rory turned and kissed him quickly on the lips.

/\\\/\\\

"Oh, he is good." Her mom said opening the door to the suite they'd got at the Morgan Hotel Atlantic City, on family rates of course, which meant they weren't paying at all.

"What?" Rory asked behind her trying to look in. They were in Atlantic City for two days to celebrate Rory turning twenty-one. Just her and her mom as they had planned all those years ago.

Lorelai moved and Rory looked at the room her mouth opening. There must have twenty or so bunches of sunflowers decorating the lounge area.

Her mom was right, Finn was good. She couldn't stop the smile from spreading as she walked in.

"There's twenty-one vases of sunflowers." Her mom said looking misty eyed. "Oh, here card. Read it. Read it aloud!"

Rory took the card her mom passed her with her name written on the front.

"Kitten, I hope you have an amazing time. Drink too much, have lots of decadent fun, get those twenty-one phone numbers. I love you. Your handsome, exotic, loving, boyfriend." Rory read aloud with a smile.

"I'll say it again. He's good. Do you think he'd teach Luke the way of his people?" Her mom said.

"I think Luke's good, with the necklace, the DIY list, the fancy New York dinner, the daisies. He did alright for your birthday, although nothing will beat the largest pizza." Rory smirked.

"You're right. I won't trade him in just yet. And yes the pizza was good. Though not the largest." Her mom said teasingly.

"Hey, Kirk got third degree cheese burns for that pizza."

"That's what you get for involving Kirk. Why did you think I brought you far away from him?" Lorelai said.

"To get me drunk and gamble."

"Apart from that." Her mom said. "Okay, so we need to get changed and then we go eat followed by sleep so we can be up, ready for four am. Then it's gambling, drinking and chatting up men for twenty-one hours."

"Alright, are we eating here?" Rory asked.

"Yeah sure. Bound to be good food at least. Unless it's really fancy small portions, then we find a burger joint." Lorelai said.

"Good plan."

"Half an hour Gilmore. So that's oh twenty hours. Hey maybe we should wait like an hour and a half so then it's oh twenty-one hours?"

"No, then we won't get enough sleep in and we'll be too tired to say up for twenty-one hours and we are women on a mission." Rory said.

"Okay Cruise, twenty hundred hours it is. Copper boom."

/\\\/\\\

"-swearing like a sailor."

"On leave."

"On leave." Her mom agreed softly.

Her mom was telling her the story of her birth again, as she had done for past twenty years. They were cuddled up in Rory's bed in the hotel. Sleepy and happy.

"Was that someone at the door?" Her mom said suddenly as they were drifting back to sleep.

"At... four twenty-five in the morning? Doubtful." Rory murmured.

"There is. There's someone at the door." Lorelai said getting up off the bed.

"What are you doing?" Rory asked sitting up.

"I'm answering it." Lorelai said.

"What if it's an axe murderer or HH Holmes?" Rory asks.

"Who knocks politely?" Lorelai asked leaving the room. Rory got up and followed, just in case, her phone in her hand.

Lorelai opened the door and there was a bell boy there.

"Hello?" Lorelai said confused.

"Good morning, I have room service and a delivery for you." The bellboy said with a smile.

"Erm... I think you've got the wrong room; we didn't order anything." Her mom replied, but Rory had a feeling that he hadn't got the wrong room.

"This is for the Gilmores?" The bell hop said.

"I guess you have the right room after all. But we really didn't order anything." Her mom continued.

"No ma'am this was ordered by a Mr Morgan."

"He is so good." Her mom shook her head with a smile. "Thanks, bring it in I guess."

There was a veritable feast brought in followed by bags and boxes.

"Coffee and breakfast mimosas! Ooh, and two different types of pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages. Wow!" Her mom said looking over the breakfast. "Well, I was going to buy you your first alcoholic drink ever. But I'll settle for drinking your first ever alcoholic drink with you. Because this is of course your first ever real drink."

"Of course." Rory played along.

"Bless you for lying to me." Lorelai bowed. "Wow, this coffee is awful."

Rory took a sip and pulled a face. It really was terrible.

"I'm telling Jan. I mean they need to get a better coffee supplier." Lorelai said.

"I agree. The coffee at the gas station is better." Rory said sipping it again, it just got worse.

"Breakfast is good though."

"Breakfast is fantastic!" Rory said through a mouthful of bacon.

"Okay, open your presents. I've been counting. Guess how many there are?" Her mom sat on the couch.

"Twenty-one?" Rory said smiling gently and picking up another piece of bacon. It was really good bacon. Almost good enough make up for the sucky coffee.

"And that's why you go to Yale, your just so smart!" Lorelai grinned.

Rory grabbed a present at random and opened it. There was a little blue box, in the blue box was a charm for her charm bracket, a 21. Smiling she added it with the others on there. The F , the angel, the butterfly, the bunny and now the 21.

There were lots of presents and he'd gone overboard as always. There was also a present for her mom. A new dress that while didn't match Rory's new dress did go fabulously with it. Rory suspected Jan and Mia had helped. A suspicion that was almost definitely confirmed as she opened a pair of beautiful Jimmy Choo's.

"Look, he brought us dresses to be all pretty and get other men's numbers. He's so perfect." Lorelai sighed holding up her dress reverently.

"Yeah, he is." Rory agreed as she opened the last present, a picture framed of the two of them together, their backs facing the camera as they cuddled up together on the beach, looking out at the sunset. The night in Australia where they'd watched stars come out.

"You made a deal Ror. No ringing him till your very drunk." Her mom said warningly.

"No, you and Finn made the deal. I just sat and watched." Rory laughed.

"Come on, let's drink mimosas and gamble."