Rory padded into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She knew Mitchum would be here very soon, so she pulled out her phone and spoke to her friend. Maddie didn't know she was pregnant yet she was meeting her and Paris with Steph the next day and was going to tell the girls then, but things couldn't wait. She stepped into the shower letting the spray run down her back and over her face, she gently placed a hand on her tummy, other people wouldn't notice but she could feel the start of a small baby bump. She couldn't wait to start feeling her boys move about. She smiled and drifted into thought.
When the news was broken to her of course a part of her was concerned, it was an odd feeling that someone had been watching her, being so high up she never shut the curtains, naively thinking people couldn't see in, that would have to change now. She's lucky there wasn't pictures of her and Logan! They had sex everywhere in that apartment. The thought made a shiver run down her back. She thought it was odd that someone would portray this friendship to be something that it isn't, but it wouldn't be the first time and most likely not the last. People didn't understand Finn. It wasn't just her; Steph had been in the firing line too with crude comments being muttered along the hallways of yale. Rory always brushed it off, you can't please all the people all the time, she knew the truth and never felt the need to try and convince people of anything different. Rory had woken up early hours and her mind was going over all the people she thought would go to such lengths. Her or Logan had never had a serious partner before each other, and the fact that it was a male excluded a scorned female in Rory's mind. She never had any other close male friends apart from Tristan, and it wouldn't be him, he would never want to humiliate Rory like that and him and Logan actually got on really well. So she shifted her mind to Finn. Like Logan he never had a serious girlfriend until Maddie came along, and they were on and off like a tap. It just didn't make sense. When she woke up to Logan's phone ringing and his dad said the voice was British it was like a switch flicked on in Rory's mind. She should have thought about it before thinking logically but she didn't. As she began washing she was replaying the conversation her and Maddie had a few years ago, and Rory felt guiltythat now this would become common knowledge. No one knew what happened in London. The real reason she came back to the states.
"What's up mads, you know anything we say will never leave this room"
"I don't know what to do Ror, there's something I haven't told you"
Madeline was on the verge of tears, they were sat in the house they all shared but it was only the 2 girls there. Maddie had been a bit off, everyone thought she was always so happy and oblivious to certain things but much like Finn Maddie saw a lot but chose to brush it off. Rory placed a hand on her friends' knee, she was concerned. Maddie looked up took a deep calming breathe and began to talk.
"You know when I was in London at oxford, I never planned how long I would or wouldn't stay but England was great, the people, the lifestyle and I enjoyed the schooling. I met a boy there, he was a true cockney, that's what they call it across the pond, talking like a Londoner. I was like putty in his hands, within a month we were inseparable but things started to change. He didn't like me calling home, going out with the girls and even tried to say I was dressing like someone single on the hunt for a husband. I of course told him how stupid he was, but George wouldn't have it. Things started to get quite bad, he never laid a hand on me or anything like that but he got in my head, I tried to break things off after 6 months but he was having non of it. He started the charm again bringing me flowers, begging for forgiveness saying it was just because he loved me so much and I was stupid enough to believe him! A part of me wanted to believe someone loved me that much Ror, how stupid was I! Things soon went back to how they were and I decided the only way to truly get away was to come back and finish my last 2 years at yale. I made out it was family obligations to him, he didn't understand high society, they had rich people in England obviously but they didn't live like we did if that makes sense, so I came home, thought that was the end of it, then last night I received all these awful texts from him telling me how I'm a whore and he had seen me with you guys and more to the point Finn, insinuating that I'm some sort of swinger! I don't have a clue what he's even doing here. I told him it was non of his business that we are all friends and that's it and he needed too back off. I blocked his number and rang the phone company this morning to have my number changed"
Rory was in shock; she knew Mads had had a boyfriend but didn't realise things had gone this sour. She felt for her friend and they spent the next hour talking things over and promised they would never tell anyone, unless they really needed to. Rory had spoken to her pop and he had some security out around the apartment unbeknown to anyone else but the two girls and thankfully nothing else ever came of it.
Until now. As soon as Mitchum had said the word Britain Rory knew. This was nothing to do with her, it was to do with Madeline, she was thinking along the lines if this 'George' truly wanted Mads back he needed her away from Finn and the rest of the group and what better way than to try and accuse two of them of sleeping together, two birds one stone, no boyfriend in the way and her closest friends out the picture as well. She could be off the mark, but gut feeling told her she wasn't. If this was the case then George needed dealing with once and for all and lucky for them both herself and Colin came from families in law and Mitchum would be out for blood she knew this. Especially now Rory was pregnant. Mitchum was a lot softer now than he ever had been and she could only imagine his joy at becoming a grandad. Everyone thought Honor would have had children by now, but they hadn't, whether the timing just wasn't right, or they had actually been trying and it hadn't happened yet she didn't know, she wasn't one to pry it wasn't her business. She stepped out the shower grabbed 2 towels one for her hair and the other for her body, she wrapped them around her and went into the bedroom to get dry and dressed. Hopefully today would get this situation sorted, she knew Logan didn't need this hanging over him, he was already treating her like a doll that could break, and maybe this would be just what Finn and Maddie needed to get their acts together. The two were perfect for each other but neither wanted to be the first to admit it and get their hearts broken.
Logan went to wake everyone. Steph and Colin were the easy pair, Colin was a natural early riser and Steph just went with the flow, he knocked and waited at the door until Steph shouted come in. He quickly gave them a run down on what was going on and left. Now for Finn, he sighed to himself. Finn really did hate mornings and the sun! People thought it was a joke, but the guy could sleep till teatime and be up all night if he got the chance, since he was working at the Morgan hotel he had gotten slightly better, but swapped alcohol for coffee. Rory had definitely rubbed off on him. He knocked on the door loudly and shouted him, he heard some moans and grunts and decided he needed to be a bit more forceful with Finn, so he slowly opened the door and peered through making sure Finn was decent. He laughed to himself, it didn't make a difference what state he was in, Logan had literally seen it all before, but he still wanted to be respectful. Finn was sprawled out on his belly like a star fish, face completely emerged into the pillow, Logan tried to rouse him again but to no avail so decided to just dive onto the bed. Finn screamed and it still amazed Logan how he managed to get his voice so high, he tangled himself into the bed sheet waving his arms and legs about and eventually landed on the floor with an almighty thump. After untangling himself he rubbed his eyes trying to focus on the person now sat on his bed laughing.
"Bloody hell mate! I could have attacked you! What ever happened to a gentle nudge"
He was moaning and groaning and stood up rubbing his elbow, he peered at the clock on the nightstand and his eyes had clearly adjusted! They went wide and his face turned to Logan with a grim expression. Logan was still laughing but the look on Finns face soon made him think twice and get his wits about him. Logan sat up a bit straighter and cleared his throat after Finn raised an eyebrow.
"Before you start Finn you know I wouldn't wake you up this early for nothing, I've had my dad on the phone with some news, he's coming over here to discuss everything with us, but ace reckons she knows who it is. Andmaddiescomingover"
He finished the last part in rapid speed, he wanted to give him full disclosure but wasn't sure how he would react, he knew he would have to say it again slower but tried to get away with it.
"Rory knows, well who the bloody hell is it! I want that bastard to myself for what he's done! And what was the last bit... I'm not sure I heard you correctly Huntz"
"Maddie's coming over, I know this may be awkward, I wanted to give you a heads up, I didn't know what was or wasn't going on with you two at the minute but as soon as my dad had finished talking Rory went to get showered and called Mads"
"Logan, it won't be awkward me and Mads have been talking, you know what we are like, things with us just get a little... blurred at times. It will actually be a nice chance to maybe talk. We need to get our shit together, all or nothing. It can't go on like this, and I know before you say it you've all been saying this for years, but we just needed to find our feet"
Logan just simply nodded, he knew it was hard for Finn to talk like this and he knew he loved Madeline. They both loved each other but never went in completely. Maybe this would be what they needed. If it didn't work, it didn't work but at least they could both say they gave it their all. He left the room and went into the kitchen to make coffee. It was decaf all round. If Rory couldn't have caffeine, no one could, and he didn't mind he wasn't a coffee lover like his wife anyways. Colin and Steph were in the room and Finn just emerged when the door went. Logan greeted Maddie and invited her in, she spoke to everyone and just like Finn had assured him there was no awkwardness. A few minutes later Rory emerged and ran and greeted Maddie, she then asked if they could speak alone and took her into the bedroom. The group all shared a look then shrugged it off. Another 20 minutes passed, and the door went again and Logan knew it had to be Mitchum, his dad stalked in, tense as ever and immediately was looking for Rory. Before he could ask Logan announced he would go get her. He knocked on his bedroom door and walked in. It looked like Madeline had been crying but was composing herself. Rory shook her head indicating not to say anything so he simply told them his dad was here and Rory told him they would be straight out. A few minutes later the girls emerged and Mitchum shot to his daughter in law hugging her. He congratulated her on the pregnancy and Rory told him they were having twin boys. If Logan didn't know better he would have thought his dad was going to shed a tear. Mitchum soon got himself together and got down to business. He told the group before anything was discussed he would play the audio, and he did. Logan noticed Maddie and Rory sharing looks and Maddie simply nodded at her. He wondered if this was something from Chilton he didn't know about. Rory spoke up and told Mitchum to stop the tape, that she had heard enough. His dad looked shocked but did as she asked, it was then Madeline that began talking.
"That voice is George Harris. None of you know him and only Rory knows the story of him, we were together in London, I won't go into details but we ended up not together and I decided I wanted to come back to the states, after I moved in with you guys and me and Finn were on and off I started receiving texts and phone calls from him, name calling mostly saying our relationship as friends was all weird and things like that, in the end judge Hayden actually had someone around the apartment for a few months to make sure he wasn't hanging about, he's clearly doing this because he will thinks if your all out the picture I'll run back to him. I haven't heard from him in years and if I'm honest never even thought about him, so I can't help that way but I'm sure if you speak too Rory's pop he will be able to help, as for it happening all I can do is apologise Rory the last thing you needed was this shit! Your pregnant with twins and I'm so sorry my drama got pushed your way, all for being a good friend to me and Finn"
Rory grabbed hold of her friend and reassured her everything was okay; it wasn't her fault and no one would ever blame her! Mitchum decided Straub was definitely the man he needed to speak to, he felt a weight starting to lift. He never for a second thought there was any truth to the allegations but felt relieved it wasn't a direct attack on the Huntzberger's. He soon said his goodbyes after a few more minutes of talking and left the group. He was a man on a mission, he had a name and a judge on his side, the pair would get this sorted, quickly.
The group decided they would go for a late breakfast and have a proper catch up and Madeline and Finn decided it was time to hash it out and after breakfast took off on a walk to the park, Steph wanted to go baby shopping but Rory wanted to hold off until the 12 week scan, so they decided they would browse and not buy just yet. Colin headed back to yale that afternoon ready for classes in the morning, Steph decided to stay as she was having lunch there the next day anyways. Logan was meeting with his dad that evening to iron out staying in New York and the girls had a girlie night watching movies and eating piles of junk food. When Logan finally got back that's how he found them, fast asleep, tv playing to itself and a few bits of food left. He gently roused Steph and silently told her he was taking Rory to bed, she stood gave him a kiss on the cheek and told him goodnight and headed to bed herself. He once again carried his wife to bed and laid her down, he stripped off and crawled into bed next to her. The last few days had been a whirlwind and the plan of action going forward to deal with George could wait until tomorrow. His dad had it under control. Rory turned and automatically sort out Logan, head on his chest and arm around his waist. He cuddled up to his wife kissed her head and soon sleep took him as well.