AN: I'm back baby! That's right! I only waited this long to update to, you know, keep you on your toes. It had absolutely nothing to do with my neglect for this story. Its not my best, but what ever is? Anyway, enjoy the most recent installment. Oh! And go read my first One shot (unless you don't like gay people).

Chapter Fourteen: See How They Run!

The rest of the Stars Hallow weekend went off with out a hitch, not including the antics of Finn when he jumped in and tried to join the 'Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer' Barbershop quartet. Rory and Finn returned to Boston on Sunday, with their respective kids in tow, who had spent the weekend doing everything together and had become great friends despite the few years of an age difference.

"So," Finn began halfway into the mostly silent ride home. "I think that went well."

"I'd have to agree with you on that one." She turned in the front seat to look back on the two boys in the backseat leaned against each other as they slept.

Over the next months, Finn and Rory spent almost all of their free time together. Their kids developed a brotherly bond, much to the happiness of Rory and Finn. Finn began sleeping over at Rory's house almost all of the time he didn't have Charlie. On the weeks he did, however, the sleepovers were less frequent, and made both Rory and Finn long for their time together. It wasn't until months later that Lorelai finally burst into their protective little bubble with reality when she asked Rory to come home for Thanksgiving.

"Hello?"

"Hello," Lorelai said. "This is Mrs. Magilicutty next door. I was just wondering what was going on with you and that saucy Australian."

"Mom…"

"I mean, I see him all the time in the morning getting the paper, or taking the trash out, without a shirt on mind you."

"Mom..."

"To be completely honest, if I didn't know any better then I'd say that he was spending the night. Which couldn't be the case, because unless you haven't told me, you're still unwed?"

"Okay mom. I got it."

"Sorry kid, just messing with you. What's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"Well okay then. I guess now would be as good a time to ask you as any then."

"Shoot."

"Got any plans for Thanksgiving?"

"I was going to come home. Why, am I not invited?"

"No, no, no. I was just making sure you were coming. What about Finn and Charlie?"

"Are you inviting them too?"

"Do you want to?"

"Charlie's with Cindy for the holiday."

"Well then you should definitely invite Finn. You guys can stay at the house. It'll be fun!"

"Mom, you really don't need to sell me on this. I already said I was coming."

"Yeah, but I want to make sure Finn comes."

"Why?" Rory was interested as to why her mother wanted her boyfriend there.

"I may have neglected to tell you one little thing."

"Which would be…"

Lorelai mumbled something inaudible into the phone.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your grandparents are coming."

"So why does Finn need to come?"

"Well, I sort of, already told my mom he was coming."

"Mom!"

"What was I supposed to do? You know how she gets. That woman's like a pressure cooker."

"What'd she say?"

"She said, 'I'm just dying to meet Rory's new boyfriend.'"

"So what did you say?"

"I said, 'Great, cause he's coming to Thanksgiving dinner.'"

"Mom! What if he has other plans now?"

"He won't. And if he does, you can tell him that failure to show up will force me to force Luke to recount all of the sounds he heard coming from your bedroom the last time you visited."

"He told you!"

"Yes and as your mother, I have to say, I'm ashamed. Of the record, I'd like to be the first to congratulate you. Even I've never had sex in my parents' house with the knowledge that they were home, not to mention two doors down."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Okay, so. Are you gonna tell Finn that he's coming."

"I'm going to ask if he'll come."

"And then?"

"And then if he says no, then I'll have to force him to comply."

"You're truly your mother's daughter. Call me later."

"Okay, bye mom. Love you."

"Back at ya kid."

"Finny," Rory began later that night after she and Earnest had eaten dinner at his house. "How much do you love me?"

"Not much. You look kind of funny when we have sex."

"Shh! The kids are right in the other room!"

"They can't here us. Especially if we go into my room and shut the door…"

"Focus!"

"Right-o. What did you need darling?"

"Do you have plans for Thanksgiving yet?"

"Well Jack and Cindy said I was welcome to join them, but nothing's concrete."

"So you'll come to Stars Hallow with me?"

"I guess so. Why are you freaking out so much? I've already met everyone haven't I?"

"Everyone but my grandparents, who my mother conveniently told that you were coming to dinner and who are now expecting to see you at dinner."

"Rory, I've met your grandparents before. Remember…? Me. Trust fund brat? Full fledged member of Hartford High Society for five whole years. I used to see them all the time."

"Right, you've met them, but you haven't met them. They've insisted on meeting every one of my boyfriends formerly irregardless of whether or not they've already met."

"So I have to re-meet them?"

"Didn't I just say that?"

"Just clarifying Schnuck'ems."

"And make sure you don't call me any weird pet names in front of my grandparents like you seem to have a habit of doing."

"Oh come on! It was one time! How was I to know your boss was gonna walk up behind us?"

"It was at my work!"

"Exactly! They shouldn't just barge into your private office without knocking."

"It was in the hallway Finn."

"Well," his face contorted slightly as he looked for another angle for his pointless argument. "Fine then."

"So it's agreed. No pet names in front of the grandparents."

"Uh, uh, uh! Not so fast!"

"What?"

"You said no weird pet names."

"Finny, all of your pet names are weird."

"I beg your pardon!" He said indignantly. "I'll have you know that it is perfectly normal to have pet names! It's the sign of a healthy relationship."

"I'm not arguing. Just saying that it is definitely not the right way to start out with my grandparents."

"I suppose I can refrain for one night then. Happy?"

"Ecstatic."

"Well that's good snuggles. I guess since I can't use my pet names that night, I'll just have to make up for it from now until then, sound good boo?"

'My mom owes me so big for this.' Rory thought to herself at the notion of hearing an excess of the sickeningly sweet pet names for the next week.

Before either of them knew it, the week had flown by and it was the following Wednesday on which they were to drive to Stars Hallow. They were again taking Finn's SUV to accommodate the huge amount of stuff Rory insisted on taking. Finn arrived at Rory's house early to speed up the process of what he knew would be frantic last minute packing. He let himself in the front door with his key, and walked into the family room where Earnest was sitting in front of the TV watching Sesame Street.

"Where's your mom bud?"

"Upstairs."

"Packing frantically?"

"Yup."

"Alright. I'm gonna go try and speed up the process. Hopefully I'll be back in a few minutes."

Earnest glanced up from the TV skeptically.

"I said hopefully."

He climbed the stairs and called out hesitantly, "Rory?" When she didn't answer he went into her bedroom which looked as if it had been torn apart.

"Rory?" He said again.

"Hmph," came the muffled reply which appeared to becoming out of a stack of clothes.

Finn chuckled to himself as he walked over and removed a pair of jeans from the top of the stack to reveal Rory's face.

"Hi," she said sheepishly.

"Hi," he replied with a smirk. He began to remove the rest of the clothes. "How did this happen?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Aw, sweetie, was the closet bullying you again?"

"Haha, you're such a comedian."

"Alright, alright. I'll stop." He offered her a hand to stand up from the bed. "Are you packed?"

She glanced around the room to check for anything else she could possibly need. Upon finding nothing, she gave up. "I guess so."

"Alright! So where are the bags?"

"There." She pointed to the door, where one large duffel bag sat.

"Where's the rest of it?"

"That's all."

"You're joking," he said with a look that was completely disbelieving.

"What? I can pack light." He again repeated the look. "I can!"

"Alright. I believe you! Let's get going then, shall we?" He picked up the duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder.

He was halfway down the stairs when Rory stopped him. "Wait! Can you help me with Earnest's stuff too?"

"Oh. Alright then." He walked back up the stairs and into Earnest's room. Stacked neatly by the door was a complete set of luggage. "Rory!"

"What?"

"What is all this?"

"I told Earnest to try and slim it down, but hey. You can't really blame him. He's not nearly as experienced as I am at packing light."

"I can't believe you're trying to blame this on him."

"Blame? Blame what? He just doesn't know what to take and what to leave."

Finn unzipped for the nearest bag and pulled out a red dress. "And this can be attributed towards Earnest's habit of cross dressing…?"

"I don't judge!" Rory said as she grabbed the dress from Finn and put it back into the suit case. She grabbed a couple of bags. "Think you can handle the rest?"

"As long as I didn't get Earnest's shoes and makeup bags, I think I'll be okay." He leaned over and grabbed the handles of the bags and cringed. "Oh thank God. I only got the bags of bricks!

When the car was packed, and Earnest was situated in the car, Finn prepared to get in and leave for Stars Hallow.

"What are you doing? We haven't gotten snacks yet." She turned back towards the house and Finn thought he heard her mumble the word 'amateur' under her breath.

"Stop right there Missy! I'll have you know that this car is fully stocked with every road trip amenity you could ever think of."

"Ah hah! You're not nearly the fool I thought you were."

"Um, thanks. But as I was saying, climb on in and we can get this show on the road."

They both got into the car and into comfortable positions as Finn started the engine and pulled away from the curb.

"So do you really have everything?"

"That I could possibly think of, yes."

"Like what?"

"Try me."

"Pop tarts?"

"Of course!"

"Chips?"

"Every variety they had in the store."

"Alright. I'll give you 'props' for the food preparation. I'm not even going to ask if you got coffee because you're smarter than that. What about means of entertainment?"

"One step ahead of you," he said as he pointed to Ernest in the backseat who was watching a movie on a potable DVD player and headphones.

"Pretty snazzy. What about entertainment for me?"

"I was just hoping you'd ask," he said as he reached into the backseat and pulled out a magazine and handed it to Rory.

"Cosmo? How'd you know I like reading Cosmo on road trips?"

"How could I not after you complained for half the trip back last time that you left your Cosmo at your mom's house?"

"I take back the part about you only being a partial fool. You're not a fool at all!"

"Can I at least get a little sugar then?" He said and pointed to his cheek.

She giggled while she leaned over and kissed him. "Oh and Finn?" She said into his ear before she drew away from his face.

"What's that kitten?"

"You cannot pull off the expression 'give me some sugar'. You're just too…Australian."

AN: Dumb ending place, but if I went into the arrival at Stars Hallow, I'd feel like I need to include Thanksgiving dinner, which would not only be an incredibly long chapter, but it'd take a really long time to write. I want to be optimistic, but I probably won't update this story for a while, what with my abnormal amount of summer homework which I have completely neglected. I'll try though. Please review if you want to tell me what you think about this chapter.