A/N A bit of a filler chapter, I needed to have Finn meet everyone to help continue the rest of the story
Almost a month had passed since they had gone to Orlando for Labor day weekend, and Finn and Rory had only continued to grow closer. He had visited her midweek while she had worked in boston, and she had travelled to him on weekends when he had been stuck at hotel events in other states.
Rory's birthday was coming up and Finn was trying to decide what to get her or do for her. This is what he was concentrating on one night while waiting for Rory to arrive after work.
"Hey Finn," Rory said, coming into his apartment greeting him with a kiss. They were at the point both of their doormen just let them up to each other's apartments without announcing them.
"Hi Kitten," he said, tightening his arms around her as he deepened the hello kiss.
"Finn, let me get changed out of my work clothes, are we just staying in tonight?" Rory was already walking to the bedroom, where she had a few changes of clothes and pyjamas.
"Yes, I thought a movie and thai food if that works?"
"Swap the thai for indian and i'd be all over that." she shouted from the other room.
"Done, I'll order while you finish." He said moving to get his cell to order.
"Finn?" Rory started while looking up at him with the doe eyes.
"Yes? What do you want? You're using the doe eyes?"
"A few years ago I made a deal with Grandma to always have a family dinner the weekend before my birthday in exchange for my freedom on my actual birthday. That birthday dinner might be on Friday night. My mom may have let slip that I have a boyfriend and Grandma is insisting that I bring you to dinner." Rory rambled out so fast Finn thought she might keel over.
"Is that all? Of course I'll go to dinner with you and your Grandparents."
"And my Dad, Grandmother Francine, Mom and Luke." Rory rushed out.
"Oh a full family dinner? I think I can pull up my big boy boxers and make it work, Kitten, don't look so nervous, I can be charming."
"I know you can Finn, it just feels like an unfair amount of pressure to put on you."
"Remember Emily and Richard already know me."
"Do you want them to think of their granddaughter dating Yale Finn or grown up Finn."Rory smirked at him.
"Alright Kitten, you might have a point there. Still it will be fine, a society mask for a night and the freedom for your birthday? Does that mean I can plan something for your birthday?"
"Okay but I don't want to leave New York that weekend. I don't want to spend it on a plane or travelling. Can you promise to stick to that one rule?"
"And that would be the only rule?" Finn asked cautiously.
"Yes."
"Deal!"
Friday night came and Finn picked Rory up from her apartment, he was in a navy suit with an open neck dark blue shirt.
Rory came down and met him in the lobby of the building instead of him coming up to the door. She was in a navy cocktail dress and heels.
"Hi Finn."
Hey Kitten, you look gorgeous," Finn said, greeting her with a kiss.
"Hey we match!" She said, looking Finn up and down. "We didn't even try."
"I must confess, I saw you had moved that dress in the closet so I guessed you were going to wear it tonight, so I decided to match it."
"Thank you Finn, that's so sweet," she said, kissing his cheek as she climbed into the town car that was going to take them to Hartford.
Once they got to Hartford, as they pulled into the Gilmore driveway. Rory leaned over and gave Finn a final kiss and said
"I apologize in advance for anything said to you tonight. Just remember how anyone in there feels about you doesn't change how I feel about you."
"Rory, it will be fine. I think we are all mature people and we can act like it." Finn kissed her and led her out of the car.
"You can ring the bell," Rory said, staring apprehensively at the door of the Gilmore Mansion.
"Seriously? You won't even ring the bell?"
"Finn the meet the boyfriend dinner at this house has never gone well, like ever."
"Kitten tonight will be different." he said, giving her a quick kiss and ringing the bell at the same time.
The maid let them in and took Rory's jacket and led them into the parlour. They were the last to arrive. Richard and Emily were on one loveseat, Lorelai and Luke on another, and then Chris and Francine were each in an armchair each. It left one love seat for Rory and Finn to sit in.
They greeted everyone, Rory greeted them all with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, while Finn gave all the men handshakes and all the ladies kisses on their cheeks.
"Scotch Finn?" Richard asked.
"Yes please, if it's no trouble."
"Martini Rory?"
"Yes please Grandpa."
"So Rory, how was work this week?" Francine started.
"It was ok, Grandmother, I was in Boston Monday and Tuesday for some mediation clients, which I got resolved in the two days, the rest of the week I was in the New York office.I have to do a day in Hartford next week."
"What about you Finn, how was your work week?"
"It was steady, I went with Rory to Boston, I had to check on a new property renovation there and also resolve some issues with management at an existing property. A busy but not very exciting week."
"How nice that you can manage to occasionally travel together." Emily said.
"Yes it is a nice perk." Finn said while looking tenderly at Rory.
"So Finn, Rory says you are a VP in the Morgan company?" Chris asked.
"Yes, my Father still wants to work for a few more years so he is still CEO, Mother helps him with marketing and my sister helps with everything on the culinary side."
"Sounds like a proper family business." Richard commented.
"Yes it is, we all enjoy working together and being involved. There wasn't any pressure to actually go into the business. My parents were always clear that we could choose any career with their support."
"Well that's refreshing in society," Lorelai said.
"Lorelai, don't start," Emily said, rolling her eyes.
"I honestly wasn't starting Mom, I was being honest. It is a nice and refreshing attitude."
"So Rory, you went to Florida for Labor day?" Chris asked, taking a sip of his scotch.
"Yes Dad, Finn and I, went with two friends to Disneyworld for the weekend."
"Which two friends?" Emily interjected.
"Colin McCrae and Stephanie Vanderbilt." Finn responded.
"McCrae as in Andrew McCrae?" Francine asked.
"Yes Grandmother," I've known Colin since my second year at Yale.
"Interesting. Ive heard that they are recently engaged?" Francine asked.
"Yes at the start of summer." Finn replied, "I had to help Colin with the ring shopping."
"You never told me that." Rory said, looking at Finn.
"You already know I have great taste in jewelry, so I figured it was obvious." Finn shrugged.
The maid appeared at this point and summoned them to the dining room for supper. Conversation stayed on light topics throughout supper and flowed nicely. Finn was beginning to think Rory had exaggerated about these dinners.
"So Rory, what are your plans for your actual birthday this year?" Richard asked.
"I don't actually know, I have given Finn full control of it."
"Is that a good idea?" Lorelai said.
"Yes, I trust him. I gave him some basic rules."
"I'll stick to them as well, Kitten, scouts honour." Finn piped up.
"You were never a scout," Rory said, smirking at him.
"I'm hurt! I was a boy scout. For 2 weeks and then I quit."
"See," she said laughing. Rory leaned over and kissed his cheek as she laughed at him and his fake pout.
Everyone at the table was shocked, they had never seen Rory be so freely affectionate with a boy in front of them before.
"So what are the rules?" Luke asked. He had stayed quiet for the majority of the evening. He had learned years ago that was the best way to survive a family dinner unscathed.
"As far as I remember the only rule you gave me was that we can't leave New York." Finn looked at Rory.
"Yes that's right"
"Not many rules, kid," Chris said.
"Believe me Dad, that limits what he was thinking of quite a lot."
"That's true," Finn intoned.
Dessert was served in the form of a chocolate coffee birthday cake for Rory. After cake Rory and Finn managed to excuse themselves citing plans in the city early the next morning.
Once they had left. Everyone else was having coffee in the parlor.
"I think we have just seen who Rory will marry." Emily started.
"Mom!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"Emily it is much too early to be thinking like that," said Francine.
"Thanks Mom," Chris said.
"However," Francine continued as if Chris had never spoken. "I think you are right."
"Mom!" It was Chris' turn to exclaim.
"I agree ladies," Richard said while swirling his snifter of brandy.
"I wouldn't be shocked if they were engaged by the end of the year." Francine said.
"I wonder if we should put a hold on the Rose room at the club?" What do you think, Francine?"
"I think that as much as we might like that idea, that will never be Rory's ideal wedding, so we may as well accept that now. Who knows they could even get married in Australia?"
On that note Francine bid them all a good night, and the remaining adults followed shortly soon after.