Chapter One:  Promotions and Surprise Parties

Chapter Summary: Rory wakes up late, and almost misses an important meeting, but Dane delays their mutual boss long enough for her to make the meeting and she gets promoted.  On the ride to a celebratory dinner at Rory's, she invites him to spend Christmas in Stars Hollow.  Upon going home, she receives a phone call from Emily Gilmore, who is inviting Rory to her own surprise twenty-third birthday party.  Shortly after the call, she receives one from Lorelai, who invites Rory to the after-party for Emily's and reminds her to bring Dane to Stars Hollow for Christmas and Christmas dinner with the parents.

A/N: I'm not sure when Rory's real birthday is, so lets assume/pretend it is on December 21.  There's no Tristan/Rory in here, as they don't meet until the next chapter.  Yeah, it gets going a little slowly.  Be nice!

            One would think that with time, Rory Gilmore would get accustomed to waking up early.  God knows, she had done it almost daily with little exception for the past four or five years.  And yet, she still could not be roused without being shaken, slapped, screamed at, or dumped water on, and even if she did wake, it was almost guaranteed that she would let loose a string of expletives.  She shouldn't have been surprised, though.  Her mother was crawling towards her forties and still didn't rise without smacking the Snooze button several times.  It of course helped to have one of those infuriatingly loud alarms that would stop ringing only to begin again five minutes later.

            This particular morning, however, it was not the alarm clock that caused Rory to curse all living things, but rather the jarring sound of a telephone call.  Dane had fiddled with it one morning and it now did not ring, but rather played Jingle Bells until someone picked it up and since Rory did not have an answering machine, there was no end in sight to the Christmas tune torture.  Thus, her only option was to hope that the poor fool on the other end of the line would forget an important task and rush off to complete it.  But this person was obviously lacking something to do.  It was probably a telemarketer.

            Rory groaned and sat up, wincing at the unexpected light.  She blinked and rubbed her eyes until she no longer saw dark spots everywhere.  It was unusually bright for six o'clock in the morning.  Letting her gaze lazily stray to the clock, she realized that the reason it was so bright was that it was nearly eight-thirty.  She groaned again, the second time in less than a minute.  Today was already making itself out to be awful.  Trying to jerk awake, she pulled the comforter off of herself, and lunged for the phone.

            "Mmm."

            "Hello, Rory?" A low voice asked.

            "Mmhmm?"

            "Rory?"

            "Yes?" she mumbled, recognizing the voice. "What's up, Dane?"

            "Are you awake?" he asked, somewhat urgently.

            "Yeah."

            "Do you have any coffee in you?"
            "Nooo.  Coffeeee," she grunted.

            "Have you brushed your teeth yet?"

            "No"

            "Well, forget it.  Just chew some gum, change in the car, and get your ass over here." 

            Dane sounded sufficiently alarmed enough to cause Rory to focus.  "What happened?"

            "Um, it's not so bad, but I know you don't want to be overlooked again- promotion time just got here a few weeks early, thanks to certain people."

            "Certain…who?"

            "Donnie resigned."

            "Donnie?  When was this? Wasn't he going to retire in a month?"
            "Well, I guess he's going home a little early.  Fay told us- he had an argument with Ms. Conners last night.  Big argument.  By five o' clock this morning she had the papers on her desk."

            "Wow. We should go talk to him."

            "Ms. Conners?"

            "No, 'him'.  Donnie."

            "Okay, but we're having a staff meeting today.  You wanna' show up or should I make your excuses?"

            "Are you kidding me? I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

            Even across the phone line, she could feel his grin.  "Thought so. You have the Decarnt story done?"

            "No, I was going to wake up early this morning and finish it up.  Most of the story's already done, just have to look it over."

            "Oh, well.  Bring yourself.  I'll get you some coffee. Just get over here.  The meeting starts in ten minutes and I'll attempt to delay Ms. Conners, but it'll scar me.  You owe me."

            "I promise I'll repay the debt in full," Rory declared.

            "I'll hold you to that," he responded huskily and hung up.

            Ten minutes later, Rory was outside in the frosted Boston winter.  Shivering, she pulled the thin material of her coat tighter around herself and began to run towards her car, which was parked at the end of the apartment complex.  Unlocking it as she ran, she opened the door, and slid in.  After turning the heat on full blast, she drove the two miles to the Globe building and went around to the parking lot.  Unfortunately, there were no parking spots close to the door, so she had to park way in the back and walk in the below zero weather. 

            "Dammit, dammit, dammit…" she chanted to herself as she entered the building, knowing that she was late to the meeting.  She pulled off her coat and ran to the elevators at the same time, pounding on the up button as if that would make the elevator come down faster.  Knowing that it would probably end up not coming for a while, she opted for the stairs, and when she was only a few steps up, she heard the 'ding' of the elevator door as it opened. 

            "Dammit…" By the time she was upstairs, and had discarded her coat on her desk, the meeting was well under way.  She realized that going in now would only be to her disadvantage and make her look bad.  Sighing, Rory decided that she'd better go home and call in sick, pleading a horrible flu.  Taking one more look through the window to see if Dane was inside, she noticed that there were a few seats empty- Dane's, Ms. Conners, and some others, but Ms. Conners' seat was the one that mattered.  She had made it!  With a silent thank-you, she walked composedly into the door, and took her seat.  Perhaps her day was looking up after all.

            A mere five seconds later, the door opened to let in Dane, who was carrying a cup of coffee in his hand, with Ms. Conners following closely behind.

            "I apologize for my lateness.  Now, let's get started.  As you all know, our dear friend and colleague, Donnie Jenkins has retired…"

            Dane handed her the coffee and slid into the seat next to Rory.  Shooting him a grateful look, she sipped the warm liquid, letting it seep into her and warm her bones before she concentrated on what Ms. Conners was saying.

*************************************************

            "We should celebrate," Dane said, one arm casually thrown around Rory's shoulders.

            "Are you kidding me?  It's only ten, and I have so much work to do."

            "You just got a promotion," he incredulously responded.

            "All the more reason to get back to work." Rory obstinately declared.

            "My very own workaholic," he teased, chucking her under the chin.

            "Hey!"

            "What?" Dane innocently asked. "Please, please, please!  Let's celebrate.  Don't you owe me something for delaying Ms. Conners?"

            "What did you do anyways?"

            "Why?  Jealous?"

            "No, glad to have someone take you off my hands."

            "C'mon…" he whined, pouting.

            "Not if you ask that way.  Besides, I already had breakfast, it's too early for lunch, and dinner is hours away."

            "But it's brunch time!"

            Rory rolled her eyes.  "Not now.  Maybe we can have dinner later…you know, when work is over."

            "Please…?"  Looking at her set face, he asked, "Maybe one kiss?"

            Rory smiled, and placed her hands on his shoulders as bent down and kissed her.  At first, it was a light kiss, a chaste close-mouthed one, but very quickly became more.  Dane's strong arms went around her waist and pulled her closer as her arms moved around his neck and played with the hair at its nape.  Rory allowed herself to get lost in it, the liquid heat flowing through her veins as she pressed herself against him.  His tongue traced her lips before she allowed him entrance, and she emitted a moan as Dane deepened the kiss.  Just as she was going to discard all plans of staying at work for any longer, he pulled away, leaving both of them breathing heavily. 

            She moaned in protest, and he smiled briefly, although the desire was darkening his already almost black eyes.  "Just one kiss," he reminded her, as the elevator dinged open.

            "You, sir, are a beast," she said ruefully, straightening her mussed hair, and walked back to her desk to get some work done.

            By the time she had finished up the article on Roger Decarnt, a dedicated pro-choice politician who was commenting on the strict abortion policy just passed by Congress, she was exhausted, and very willing to go home and see the insides of her eyelids.  It was five o' clock and she had spent most of the time after Dane left packing up her things and moving them to her office.  Her office!  It had such a wonderful ring to it.  As soon as she got home, she would have to call her mother and tell her.

            Packing up her stuff into her backpack, she made sure that nobody was still around the office and gave into her urge to skip around like a little girl.  Suddenly a hand encircled her wrist and she was yanked into an empty office.  Dane's empty office. 

            "I always collect on debts owed," muttered a low, husky voice in Rory's ear.

            "I gave you a kiss," she said, smiling up at him.

            "A kiss…hah! I'm high maintenance."

            "I'll bet you are.  Just one more kiss, then," she said, the memory of the morning's rendezvous still sharp in her mind.  He laughed, and pressed her against the door, burying his face in her breasts.  Rory shrieked, and pushed him away.

            Dane shrugged.  "You said one kiss.  You didn't say where."

            "There might be people here."

            "Party pooper.  Fine then, let's go."

            "Okay," Rory said thankfully, but she couldn't help wondering what it would have been like…if it had been another man, he would have disregarded the words- she needed little urging.  Still, it was what she loved about Dane.  He always listened to her, even when she didn't want to be heard.

            "What do you want to eat for dinner?" Dane asked her a few minutes later, as they were walking out to their cars.  "Are you cold?" he added, as he saw her shiver.  "You need a new coat."

            "Yeah," she agreed, and let him wrap his arms around her to keep her warm.  "How about we eat at my place?"

            "Cool.  You gonna' cook?" he asked.

            "No, you are," she responded playfully.

            "Pizza, it is!  Where's your car?"

            "All the way that a' way," she said, pointing to the end of the lot.

            Dane groaned.  "Too far, come in my car."

            "Okay, but you'll have to stay over and drive me tomorrow."

            "Why, Ms. Gilmore, is that an invitation?"

            "I suppose so," she smirked.  He held the car door open for her and then raced around to his own side.  When he turned the engine on, his 12 Stones CD started playing.  Disregarding it, he turned on the heat, and pushed two of the vents toward Rory. 

            "Snow is magical," Rory said, then listened in silence to the music. "12 Stones.  I never took you for the type?"

            "What can I say?  I'd be boring if I didn't have some twists."

            "Too late. You already are," she answered.

            "Fine, fine.  My sister thinks Paul McCoy is hot."

            "How is Lina?"

            "She's fine.  She's not going to be home for Christmas this year- she's going to Cancun with some friends."

            "On winter break?"

            "You're out of touch, Rory.  People don't party hard in spring break anymore, it's all about the getting down and dirty in the snow."

            "What about your folks?"

            "They're throwing a party for some of their friends."

            "How do they like it in Arizona?"

            "It's fine.  Helluva' dry place though."

            "So what're you doing for Christmas this year?"

            "Not much."

            "And by that you mean nothing, that you're going to watch reruns of the Simpsons in your underwear?"

            "You know me too well."

            "You want to come out to Stars Hollow with me? I can show you off to all the townspeople."

            "Sure." Dane shrugged.  "Don't have anything better to do."

            "You're going to rue your words."

            "Why so," he asked, turning to look at her.

            "You're going to be interrogated, and when you're found lacking, kicked to the curb."

            "You'll save me, though, right, Rory?"

            "Sure I will," she said, and proceeded to laugh maniacally.

            He glanced at her.  "Something tells me that these holidays are going to be my last."

            "Naw, they're all really cool.  My mom wants to meet you." Dane had come to Hartford once, but after a disastrous meeting with Richard and Emily Gilmore, had gone home without meeting Lorelai.

            "So my reputation precedes me?"

            "Don't worry, all bad."

            "Damn.  This close," he said as he pulled into her apartment complex and parked in front of her building.  They got out, and there was a comfortable sort of silence as they walked toward the building.

            "The door's stuck," she said as she attempted to unlock it.

            "It's probably just frozen or something.  Kick it."

            "Why don't you?"

            "Because…I'm weak."

            "Yes, I know that, but…I'm freezing."

            Dane rammed his shoulder into the door, wincing as they connected with a solid thump and a searing pain. Thanks to his efforts, the door did open.

            "How very Prince Charming of you," Rory teased.

            "Yes, well I'm your hero and I think you're swell."

            Rory paused for dramatic effect.  "You're my hero, Billy."

            "And I think you're swell, Sally May," he responded.

            "Ooooh, oooh, we should have a movie night tonight.  And rent that, definitely."

            "Really, I was thinking there was more fun things to be done."

            By this time, they had climbed the stairs to Rory's second-floor apartment and Rory walked inside, leaving her shoes by the door.  It was a habit of Dane's that had caught on to her- not wearing shoes in the house.  He left his boots next to hers.

            "That's where my shoes went!" he exclaimed, looking at a pair of scuffed dress shoes.  "You stole them," Dane accused Rory.

            "I did not! You left them here."

            "Sure, deny it.  But I have proof."

            "What proof do you have?"

            He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, the phone rang, sending the Jingle Bells tune into the air, and he laughed instead.

            "Saved by the Bells," she said.

            "I can't believe you haven't turned that off yet.  I programmed that during July," he said, cracking up, and throwing his coat on the couch.

            Rory shot him a glare and then picked up the phone.

            "Hello?"

            "Rory, darling, how wonderful I caught you."

            "Hello Grandma.  How have you been?"

            "Wonderful! And you?"

            "Fine.  I just got a promotion."

            "That's excellent news.  Richard, Rory got a promotion," Rory could hear Emily telling her grandfather.  "He says that's excellent news and he knew you would soon."

            "Tell Grandpa thank you."

            "I will, but that's not the reason I called."

            "What is the reason?"

            "I am throwing you a surprise birthday party, Rory!  It's going to be so exciting.  I'm inviting all the families in the area- it's going to be wonderful and grand.  There'll be a lot of people from Chilton and Harvard that you haven't seen in so long.  Those people whose families we know, of course."

            "But Grandma, it's not a surprise birthday party anymore."

            "Of course it is.  You'll come in, everyone will be hiding behind couches, they'll scream Surprise and you'll be pleasantly surprised."

            "But I know about it."

            "Well of course you know about it.  How is one supposed to throw a party when the guest of honor is unaware? I mean, you might of come in wearing some old work clothes or something of the sort.  Anyway, it's on the day of your birthday-"

            "But I was going to spend my birthday with Mom and everyone in Stars Hollow."

            "You can do that during the day.  The party starts at seven o' clock sharp, but you'll have to show up at seven-thirty.  Better make it seven-forty actually.  It's formal dress.  Don't be later.  It's at our house"

            "Okay, Grandma."

            "I knew you'd love it.  Lorelai kept insisting that it wasn't a good idea, but I knew better.  We've already sent out all the invitations. Lots of eligible bachelors," she said.

            "Grandma, I'm already seeing someone.  I told you about Dane.  Dane Herrington."

            "Is he the lanky one?"  Emily didn't quite like Dane, despite having met him only once.  She thought the boy was a sloppy dresser, and rude, and poor.  He was the first and third, but his rudeness was only a retaliation to the interrogation he received.

            Rory bit back a chuckle.  "Yes, Grandma, he's the lanky one, with dark hair and dark eyes."

            "Tell him to cut his hair, it gets in his eyes."

            "Will do."

            "And you never know Rory, maybe you'll meet someone better and change your mind about seeing Dane."

            "I highly doubt that," Rory answered.  "Thanks for the party, Grandma, but I'm very tired.  I've had a long day.  I'll talk to you next week."

            "Alright, Rory, bye.  And remember, December 21, 7:40 PM, our house."

            "Bye, Grandma," Rory said wearily, and hung up.  At Dane's questioning look, she sighed.  "My grandmother is throwing me a party.  A surprise birthday party."

            "Yeah, I heard that part."

            "Hmmph.  Eavesdropper."

            "You practically shouted it in my ear.  God, Rory, you're so loud," Dane teased.

            "God, Dane, you're so weird."

            "I learn from the best.  Now what were you saying about me and my dark hair and eyes?"

            "My grandmother thinks I should leave you and go for a rich not-rude man."

            "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not rude.  I'm a brooding artist."

            "Yeah, yeah, make your excuses."

            "Fine, then, I will!" he said in mock anger.

            "Okay, order some pizza.  I'm going to change."

            "Alright.  Pizza Hut?"

            "Blech.  Little Caesar's.  Lots of breadsticks too.  And get some movies."

            "Someone enjoys control a little too much."

            "If I don't hold you on a tight rein, you'll misbehave."

            "Fine, I'm going, I'm going."

            "Thank you.  Oh, and by the way, you're coming to my surprise birthday party to ward off the bad scary rich men."

            "Nooo.  Well, at least I can play the jealous, intimidating boyfriend."

            "Intimidating?"

            "Okay, jealous.  Wait, I can intimidate people that are shorter than me.  It's a gift."

            "Okay, shoo.  Off, with you.  Ciao."

            "Someone can't wait to get rid of me.  I bet there's a man in the closet," Dane said, but grabbed his coat and left nevertheless.

            By the time he had come back with the movies, the pizza had arrived and was open, and Rory was curled up on the couch with a slice in her hand.  She stood up when she saw him.

            "Well thanks for waiting for me."

            "It was calling out to me.  I didn't want to hurt its feelings.  And besides, it was getting cold."

            "What about hurting my feelings?" Dane pouted.

            Rory swallowed the last bite of pizza, and grabbed the front of the sweatshirt he wore.  She practically pounced on him, pushing him down onto the sofa and letting her lips graze his forehead, his nose, his cheek, before kissing him.  Immediately, Dane's arms went tightly around her, and she let her fingers play with his too-long dark hair.  When they came up for a breath, she wrinkled her nose.

            "You need a haircut."

            "You taste like pizza," he said, before pulling her towards him again, and kissing her.  He deftly flipped her over so that she was no longer in control and deepened the kiss, letting their tongues duel.  Pulling away only to rain kisses on her neck and chin, Dane heard her moan.

            "But…but I like to be on top," she said breathlessly.

            Dane was too busy with her neck to respond.  Slowly, his mouth descended lower and he began to unzip her sweater.  Underneath, she wasn't wearing anything.  Smiling against her skin, he made a trail back up to her mouth and-

            The phone rang.  Rory sat up straight, and Dane tumbled off of her.

            "Ow," he said.  "That was a bit of a mood-spoiler."

            "Sorry," Rory said guiltily, and dove for the source of the Jingle Bells.  "Hello?"

            "Well you sound out of breath.  I bet I interrupted something," said Lorelai.

            "Hey, Mom.  Bad time.  Bye."

            "Not so fast, my darling child.  Put Dane on."

            "He is not over here."

            "Yes, he is."

            "No, he's not."

            "Either he is, or you're cheating on him."

            "Fine.  Here," she said, giving the phone to Dane, and listening to his part of the conversation.

            "Hello?  Oh, hi Ms. Gilmore.  Sorry.  Hi, Lorelai.  Yeah.  No.  Yes.  Yes.  Sorry, can't help you there.  Well, I can dance.  Not very well, though. Okay."  He handed the phone back to Rory. 

            "What did you ask him, mom?"

            "Oh, nothing…"

            "Mo-om!"
            "Whenever did I raise such a whiny daughter.  Suck it up, oh product of my uterus."

            "That's even worse than fruit of your loom."

            "Well, I thought I was getting predictable."

            "Anyway, why are you calling?"

            "I suppose my mom has called you about the so-called surprise birthday party?"

            "Yeah."

            "Sorry, babe.  I did my best.  But she pulled the guilt card out- you know, how she hasn't thrown you any parties for a while and she misses you and is just trying to do something nice for an important birthday."

            "It's alright.  It'll be nice to see some of my high school classmates."

            "Humph."

            "Mom?"

            "You're too nice.  It must be painful. Stop that.  And don't worry, we're having an after-party at our house.  All the cool people will be there.  We can even hire male strippers.  I was going to save a bunch and get your hunk of burning love over there to be our stripper, but he doesn't have a costume.  But I did extract a promise from him that he would be there, and at Christmas dinner."

            "Wow, mom.  That's skill.  Oh, guess who got a promotion today!"

            "Congratulations, honey.  That's wonderful news!"

            "Alright, I've got to go now."

"Okay, okay, get back to the groping." 

            "There was no groping."

            "Bye, honey."

            "Bye, Mom," Rory said, hanging up and turning to Dane. 

            "Now, where were we?"