I sit quietly on the couch, waiting for Grandma to come down. When she does, her eyes seem almost to narrow. "Rory." She says coolly.

"Hi Grandma." I offer. "Are you going to listen to why I left, or are you just going to shut me out?"

"Not in front of company Rory."

I glance at Finn. "He already knows Grandma." I tell her softly. "And really, it's not as bad as you seem to think."

Her eyes flash briefly. "You left the dinner table without excusing yourself Rory."

I shake my head. "Finn told Grandpa he had an early class, and was paying for the cab. It was the truth. We could have stayed later, but I don't like hearing you and mom go at it." I pause. "I don't like listening to you hurt each other."

She sits in the chair next to me. "Your mother doesn't get hurt by what I say."

I close my eyes. "Yes, she does. She doesn't show it well, and neither do you. You both yell at each other instead. If you ever tell her I said this, I'll deny it, but you're very similar." I pause. "She got her stubbornness from you."

I notice her soften. "Rory…" she offers.

"Just…stop ragging on Luke, okay? He's the closest thing I had to a dad growing up, and you know it. Dad was never around when I needed him."

She nods. "I can do that."

"Give her time. She'll come back eventually, it just has to be on her terms."

She glances up as the maid walks in. "Dinner is ready." The three of us stand, and Grandpa walks in.

"Looks like I missed the fireworks." He comments lightly.

I smile. "There weren't any Grandpa."

He nods. "How was your week?"

I shrug. "Not bad. There were a few…interesting moments." I glance at Finn, who grins.

"She's extraordinarily easy to startle." He deadpans, and I feel myself relax as my grandparents laugh.


I pull into the driveway, and look over at him. "She's probably at Luke's." I tell him. "We can either wait here, or brave the town. Your choice."

"Braving the town implies that backside woman, correct?" he lifts an eyebrow.

I smile. "It does indeed."

He sighs, and climbs out of the car, coming around to my door. He opens it slowly, and helps me out. "In Omnia Paratus." He whispers.

I nod. "Good, because I haven't had a slice of Luke's pie in more than a month." I grab his hand, and tug him behind me. As we're crossing the town square, he pulls me to a stop. I turn to face him. "What's up?"

He seems to be lost in thought. "Logan mentioned something this morning, and I couldn't deny it. I'm hoping to test it though."

I feel my breath catch, and step towards him. "Did he?" I ask carefully.

He nods, and lowers his lips to meet mine softly. As he gently probes his tongue in my mouth, I feel my knees buckle slightly and grab his shoulders for support. His arms come around my waist tightly and I pull back carefully, my breathing shallow. "Fascinating." He whispers.

I touch my lips softly to his. "That's one way of putting it."

"So you're not averse to the idea of dating me?"

I shake my head. "Nope." I pause. "I do have one condition though."

"Coffee every morning?" he jokes.

I narrow my eyes. "That's not a condition Aussie boy, that's a necessity." I pause. "Try to limit the drinking to the weekends?" I ask carefully.

He smiles. "I'll go you one further." I feel his fingers in my hair. "I'll even limit the quantity to only being moderately tipsy if you promise to go to a few of the celebrations with me."

"A few?" I ask softly.

"I would never force you to change love." He whispers. "You're not made to party every week. It'll probably be good for my liver if we don't."

I stare at him. "You would skip parties for me?"

He nods. "So long as you're willing to go to a few with me, then yes."

I bite my lip lightly. "I could get used to this." I offer.

"Good to know." He whispers, fusing his lips to mine again.

I'm about to lose myself in him when I hear my name being called from across the street. I pull away to see my mom and Luke hurrying across the lawn. "Rory!" mom's voice shouts.

I scrunch my eyes. "Mom?"

She approaches. "Hello Finn." She says calmly. "We'll get to the apology at the house." She turns back to me. "Are you insane? Making out with your new toy in the middle of the town square? Patty nearly had a heart attack!"

I feel my eyes go wide, and I look beyond my mom and Luke to see nearly half the town assembled in front of Luke's. I wince. "But I wanted pie." I attempt.

Luke growls. "I'll send it with your mother. Go."

I pull away from Finn and hug Luke tightly. "Thanks Luke." I whisper.

His hands pat my back carefully. "Just go." He mutters.

I nod, and wink at my mom. "Sorry we're early."

"Run, Rory, Run!" she mocks, shoving us away.

Finn pulls me back down the street and I follow, leaning into him laughing as we stop on my front porch. "Why are we stopped?" I ask.

"Waiting to get in?" he asks carefully.

I reach over and open the door. "Unlocked. We locked it once, and the neighbors got so scared they had the volunteer fireman try to break the door down." I lead him in, and turn on a lamp in the living room.

We collapse on the couch, and he pulls me into his side. "Try to?"

I grin. "The volunteer fireman is Kirk. He's sort of scrawny." I shrug.

"So." He says suddenly.

I bite my lip. "You do that too?" I ask. "There's no 'so' Finn. We made out in the town square. That goes beyond 'so'."

"I suppose it does." He admits. "What do we do now then?"

I lean over and kiss him softly. "Now? Now we wait for pie."

He nods. "I can do that."


Thank you everyone for the fabulous reviews! For now, this is it for this story, but who knows? As you all know, I'm actually a Socialite writer (at least in GG), this just sort of came to me. I'm glad it went over well! Hugs to everyone who reviewed, and to everyone who read it too! Ang1