A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. Just a couple of things about this chapter- the dress I'm picturing Rory in, is the one that Alexis Bledel is wearing in one of the photos in Flaunt magazine, the picture can be seen at luminary-Gilmore Girls site amongst others. Second thing- Ginny Turner is my original character and in my head Kristen Kreuk, also known as Lana Lang from Smallville, plays her. :) Thanks.
PART IX: The Art of Pretense
Pretense: "The act of pretending; a false appearance or action intended to deceive." -Dictionary dot com
"You look absolutely gorgeous hun." An amazed Lorelai said, taking in the sight of her daughter standing before her.
There she was, her Rory, dressed in a gorgeous nude colored dress with splashes of deep red and green throughout and lines of gold sequence that added just the right touch of sparkle. With a fitted bodice, held up by the thinnest straps and a skirt that flowed to the ground with an almost scandalous slit up one side. She had piled her hair high up onto her head, leaving her bangs to sweep seductively across her face. The whole ensemble was topped off with a slender gold necklace and a pair of strappy gold sandals.
Rory replied sheepishly, "Mooom."
"Wow. You're all grown up. When did that happen and how do I stop it from happening?"
"If you can find me a ticket to Neverland, we're both set. That or if only I could figure out how to invent that time machine we keep talking about."
"See I knew I should have forced you to do more of the science stuff. But noooo you had to coop up and read your Tolstoy and Sartre. Sartre, that's one of your fancy writer's right?"
Grinning Rory replied, "technically a philosopher."
"All those old book guys are the same to me." Lorelai quipped, "Okay so tell me, how do I get this Finn fellow to be my personal shopper?"
"Apparently all you have to do is be his date to some fancy party and he'll buy you a dress."
"Hmmm, I'm not sure that Luke would go for that."
"I'm not sure he would either. Plus Finn's a bit of a handful and a tad unpredictable, so after tonight, I'll let you know if having to be Finn's date is worth a beautiful dress." Rory replied with a nervous laugh.
"Well speaking of your date, I'm sure he's almost here, so we should go check to see if Lane's ready yet." Lorelai said, as she led them out into the living room.
Luke who had been sitting on the couch, looked up when the two entered. Upon seeing Rory he simply uttered, "oh my."
Lorelai smirked before warning, "Don't you go getting all Woody Allen on me Luke."
"Lorelai." Luke said with a sigh of exasperation before continuing, "Rory you look beautiful."
"Thanks Luke."
Suddenly a squeal of delight from the top of the staircase caused the three to flinch in surprise.
"Oh my goodness, Rory! You look amazing!" Lane piped as she came down the stairs.
Rory grinned at the sight of Lane; she was dressed in a crimson red strapless cocktail dress. It was simpler than Rory's, with a black ribbon tied just above the waist, the skirt swirling lightly around her knees as she walked. Lane's hair was swept half up, with the rest flowing down her back. "So do you Lane!"
Reaching the bottom of the steps the two hugged and began talking about the evening ahead when the doorbell rang.
"Alright you two go grab your coats." Lorelai ordered as she went to answer the door.
Opening it revealed Finn and Colin.
"My, my, who is this stunning beauty?" Finn asked with a swagger.
"Gentleman." Lorelai said with a tolerant smile, "I'm Lorelai, Rory's…"
"Sister?" Finn finished.
"Ah so quick with the complements, you must be Finn."
"Happy to make the acquaintance of such a lovely lady."
Colin who had also given Lorelai the quick one up and down replied, "Now we know where Rory gets her looks from."
"Such flattery will get you no where Colin." Lorelai replied.
Smiling Colin said, "and I presume she gets the quick wit from you too."
"Lovely Miss Gilmore. Any chance that you might be interested in the services of a willing younger man?" Finn asked with a wink.
"She's not interested in anything you two have to offer." Luke replied in an un-amused tone as he emerged from the other side of the door.
Lorelai couldn't help but smile up at Luke, who continued to glare at the younger men at the door.
Turning to Finn, Colin said, "She's taken."
"Of course she's taken. She's too exquisite not to be. Woe is me, and my shattered heart." Finn replied overemotionally.
"Finn, please stop hitting on my mom." Rory said, as she and Lane appeared.
"Oh don't worry love, I only have eyes for you." Finn quipped.
"What a fickle heart you have."
Luke sighed in exasperation, "Lorelai, do not encourage him."
Rory giggled, before she and Lane headed out the door, gesturing to Colin and Finn to follow, she said, "Come on you two, let's go before Luke hurts you. Bye mom, Luke!"
As the foursome headed to the limo on the driveway, Finn turned back to Lorelai and dramatically declared, "I will secretly pine away for you dear lady. Please call me if things don't work about between you and the Brawny Man. Your daughter has my number."
Lorelai just shook her head in amusement, as she held onto Luke's arm to prevent him from going after the retreating Australian. She called out, "Bye. Have a good time."
Rory and Lane turned to wave, before getting into the limo.
As Luke and Lorelai watched them drive off, Luke growled, "Those two are trouble."
Lorelai laughed, "oh Luke, they're just being immature boys. Don't worry, I only have eyes for you." She cooed.
He grunted.
Watching the disappearing limo, Luke asked, "When did this happen?"
"What happen?"
"Rory. Lane. Growing up."
Lorelai gave Luke a sympathetic smile, "I just finished asking the same question."
"I remember the two of them sitting at the counter of the diner, their legs dangling from the stools, making a mess with their fries and ketchup. Now look at them." Luke continued flabbergasted.
Lorelai turned to him and with a tender smile said: "They grow. I don't like it any more than you do."
Luke sighed. "We're old."
"Hey Mister! Speak for yourself." She said, slapping him playfully on the arm.
He grinned back at her, "You do remember that you have a twenty year old daughter right?"
She scowled, "you better watch it old man, or you're not going to get any popcorn during the movie."
Luke scoffed, "Ha! Like I can ever get any before you eat it all anyways."
She simply smirked in return before pulling him back into the house, "come on Mr. Rogers. Let's go watch our movie." With that she closed the door behind them.
---------------------------------------------------
The limo pulled up to the Huntzberger residence and the occupants piled out.
"Wow." Lane said in awe, as they stood at the doorway of a house that could only be described as a mansion.
Rory nodded in amazement, "Wow indeed. I think this place is twice the size of my grandparents house."
"It gets less impressive with return visits." Colin deadpanned.
The door opened and the foursome entered to be greeted by a beautiful white marble foyer, tastefully decorated with winking white Christmas lights. Several maids in Santa hats immediately welcomed them before taking their coats.
A low whistle sounded from Finn's lips when he got a proper look at Rory. "Oh my Miss Gilmore, I knew that dress would look good on you, but I have to say you have exceeded all my expectations."
Rory couldn't help but beam, as Finn continued, taking her arm in his, "I believe I can say right now with one hundred percent certainty that I have the most beautiful date of the evening."
"Finn, you and your complements." She replied with embarrassment, as she allowed him to lead her through the house.
Lane who had been watching Finn and Rory's exchange, turned and smiled awkwardly at Colin who was staring at her. Walking towards her, he shook his head, "I have to disagree with Finn." He began, "you are clearly the most beautiful woman here."
She blushed prettily and mumbled, "thanks."
"So we didn't really get a chance to talk since you left me in my bed." Colin said with a teasing tone.
If possible Lane's face turned a darker shade of red, "Colin… it's just…"
He interrupted her stuttering, "You and your boyfriend are okay?"
She nodded.
"Good." He replied in a tone that seemed to imply that it was anything but good. Taking her arm in his, the pair started walking towards the party.
"So how do you think our plan is working?" Colin asked changing the subject.
"Well Rory and Logan are back on speaking terms and the flirtatious banter has returned…"
"But…"
"Well progress is halting," Lane admitted.
Colin nodded, "I agree, so I thought we might try and speed up the process. I let Finn in on our perhaps not so covert operations."
Giggling, Lane said, "Well this should be interesting."
He grinned in response, "He immediately said he had the perfect plan; the first part involved getting Rory here as Finn's date, which he clearly succeeded in doing and quite cleverly too. You should have heard his conversation with Logan, Logan came out convinced it was all his idea. Now the second part of his plan, I claimed was pedestrian but he stated empathically that simplicity was key."
Lane looking up at Colin expectantly, "Well?"
With a mischievous smile he replied, "the good old, tried and true, stereotypical, if not overused jealousy root."
Thinking for a split second, Lane asked skeptically, "Is Finn really going to try to make Logan jealous of him and Rory?"
"Absolutely. Kind of give Logan a taste of what would life be like if Rory took interest in someone other than him. Finn even thinks that somehow he's going to be able to convince Rory that it was all her idea. Ah Finn, the regular Pan."
"Oh oh. This could get messy."
"Don't worry Finn won't let it get out of hand."
Lane gave him an incredulous look, causing him to laugh. "Okay he promised he would try not to let things get out of hand."
She ginned back at him before asking, "How come you two didn't just convince him to ask Rory himself?"
Colin simply flashed her a look and guiding her to the bar said, "That's a long and sordid tale. Let's get a drink and I'll regale you with it..."
----------------------------------------------
Rory took in her surroundings as Finn had left her to obtain what he had called the absolute requisite to surviving a Hartford elite gathering: drinks.
She was still amazed by what she saw. While her grandparents often threw what she had thought were extravagant party, they were nothing compared to this. Regularly, the house in itself must have been a sight to behold, filled with so many priceless paintings and art pieces but currently decorated for the Christmas festivities it almost glowed in grandeur. The rooms were filled with beautifully dressed guests, as servers moved through them with Santa hats serving bite sized masterpieces and a lovely orchestra played in one corner.
Her observations were interrupted when a voice called her name through the crowd.
Rory let out a minute sigh; she should have known. Turning to greet the figure she smiled, "Hi Grandma."
Emily Gilmore beamed at the sight of her granddaughter, "My goodness Rory. You look stunning."
"Thank you. Where's Grandfather?"
"You know him, business all the time. He's probably currently holed up in some office finalizing some deal." She replied in an annoyed tone, before a sly smile appeared on her face, "So where's Logan?"
Rory stared blankly back at her Grandmother, "I haven't seen him."
"What? Didn't you come together?"
Rory shook her head.
Emily looking indignant began ranting, "Did Logan actually have the audacity to make you meet him here? He couldn't even come to pick you up? Oh I'll have to have a talk with Shira about her boy's manners."
"Grandma," Rory said interrupting an annoyed Emily Gilmore, "I'm not here with Logan."
"What?" She demanded.
Rory shook her head clarifying, "I'm not Logan's date."
"What?" Emily repeated, "then who are you here with?"
"Finn."
"Finn? Who's Finn?"
"He's a friend of Logan's."
"What's his last name?"
Rory paused before laughing, "I'm not sure."
"That's absurd. How can you be here with a boy whom you don't know the last name of? More importantly why would you come here with a friend of Logan's and not Logan himself?"
"He didn't ask me." Rory replied simply.
Emily scowled suspiciously, "Why not?"
Rory couldn't help but wonder the same thing, but all she could do was shrug.
Turning from her granddaughter, Emily surveyed the room before suddenly letting out a triumphant, "Aha!"
"What is it?" Rory asked turning to see what Emily was looking at. For the first time that evening, Rory saw Logan. Looking dapper in his tux, he was chatting with a couple whom she assumed was his parents as she recognized Mitchum Huntzberger from a picture, and another couple, a beautiful dark haired woman on his arm.
Rory began to feel a familiar feeling inside her; a feeling she didn't want to acknowledge to herself as jealously because that would confirm that she was developing feelings greater than friendship for Logan and she was just not ready to admit that.
But there, seeing him laughing comfortably with this woman with the long dark hair, big brown exotic eyes and a friendly smile on her face, made Rory worry.
"I should have known." Emily said, nodding in comprehension.
Turning quizzically back to her grandmother, Rory asked, "Known what?"
Gesturing with a nod towards the group, Emily began to explain; "Over there is Logan with his parents. The other couple is Meena and Wallace Turner. The young lady on Logan's arm is their daughter, Ginny Turner. Wallace and Mitchum met at Yale and became best friends. Mitchum as you already know now owns his newspaper empire and Wallace on the other hand acquired his own global media conglomerate when he married Meena Ming, merging his North American companies with Meena's father's, who owned various television and internet companies throughout Asia.
From the day Ginny and Logan were born, the Huntzbergers and Turners have been planning their wedding, it's been said that it would be the perfect business merger. Too bad their children have always been less than cooperative."
Rory, who had been listening to her grandmother's story intently, asked curiously, "what do you mean?"
"As far as the DAR gossip goes, Logan and Ginny have led fairly separate lives, no matter how much their parents have tried to push them together. They couldn't even get them to go to the same college. Wallace was devastated when his daughter chose to go to Harvard instead of Yale. In fact they had quite a battle over it. It was all very scandalous. But here Ginny and Logan are, together, the obvious handy work of Meena and Shira. I don't understand why they don't just let their children be."
Rory couldn't believe what she just heard, was her Grandmother actually scolding someone for interfering with their children's lives. Rory made a mental note to share this ironic tidbit with her mom.
"In any case Rory. You don't have to worry. Ginny won't be any competition to you for Logan's affections."
"Grandma, I'm not competing for Logan's affections." She replied with a sigh of exasperation.
"That's right. She has no use for Logan now that she has me." A voice interrupted.
Rory turned to find Finn back by her side, with a delighted glimmer in his eye, holding out a glass of champagne for her.
Rory grinned as he bowed to her grandmother, "Mrs. Gilmore, lovely to see you again."
"You must be Finn." Emily replied with her patented icy smile. "Have we met?"
"Yes, I was at the lovely party you threw for your granddaughter earlier this year. Although we have met on other occasions."
Emily raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, "Have we? I don't recall. Did I hire you to serve at one of my other parties? I can never remember the names and faces of the hired help."
"Grandma." Rory warned.
"No, no." Finn replied easily with a laugh, "I believe you know my parents."
"Do I?"
"Yes Marigold and Kerry Wentworth?"
Rory's eyes widened, when Emily's face went pale and she uttered, "The property barons from Australia."
"Yes the very same. I will be sure to let them know you said hello." He replied smoothly. Before Emily could form a reply, Finn continued, "Now Mrs. Gilmore, if I could please steal your exquisite granddaughter. I must go and show her off." With that he took Rory away, leaving a speechless Emily Gilmore behind.
"Now that was unexpected." Rory said, "very few people have the power to render my Grandmother speechless."
"I cherish my ability to surprise people. Now come darling, let us go make our presence known."
"Known to whom? Finn, where are you taking me?" Rory asked as Finn guided her through the party.
"It's a surprise love. You know how I love surprises."
"Yes well I don't." Rory declared and as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she didn't much like this one either, as she found herself in the company of Logan and his date.
The pair was currently engrossed in conversation, before Finn interrupted, declaring, "If it isn't the evenings most famed and fated couple."
Logan looked up and grinned upon seeing Rory and Finn. "Oh good, you've made it. I half expected Ace to bail out on you."
"The thought did cross my mind but I like having you owing me a favor." Rory replied smugly.
"I'm sure you do. I'm just hoping I won't come to regret it."
"I always thought you felt above regret."
He simply smirked, "Again with a stereotypical characterizations. Ace, how disappointing."
"Now, now you two are being rude, leaving poor Gin out of the loop. Gin, darling, leave Huntzberger and come run away with me, I'm much better looking and I have an accent." Finn said as he pulled Ginny into a hug.
She laughed, "Good to know the years have not affected your level of maturity." Pulling away, she turned to Rory, "You must be Rory."
"Oh right, sorry." Logan interjected, "Ginny Turner. This is Rory Gilmore. Rory, Ginny."
"Hi Ginny, it's nice to meet you." Rory replied smiling, the two shaking hands.
"Call her Gin, she loves it."
"No Finn, you love calling me that because it also happens to be your favorite alcoholic beverage." Ginny said with a smirk before continuing, "Rory that's a beautiful dress."
"Thank you." Two voices replied simultaneously.
Rory rolled her eyes as Finn said, "Well I did pick out the dress and just as people should give credit where credit is due, conversely people should take credit where credit is due. Although in this case, I may have to give quite a bit of credit to Miss Gilmore here, because whilst the dress is indeed beautiful, she makes it look stunning." Finn finished, putting his arm easily around her shoulders and pulling her gently to him.
Rory just shook her head again, smirking up at Finn, who gave her a wink and a smile.
Logan watched the pair and felt a twinge of mixed emotions, pausing, he said, "So the sub-party is already in the works. Say two hours time, east wing parlor."
"Two hours?" Finn whined, "Huntz why do you insist on keeping everyone waiting?"
"Unfortunately duty is calling very loudly this evening for Ginny and myself. We were given a strict lecture on our responsibilities."
"Greet the guest. Make the rounds. Stick around." Ginny listed in irritation, "why could I have not been born a man?"
Logan and Finn both glanced at her with raised eyebrows, as she clarified, "if I were a man, then your parents and my parents wouldn't be insisting that we have a spring wedding."
Grinning, Logan slipped his arm around her waist, giving her an affectionate squeeze, a action that did not go unnoticed by Rory, as he quipped, "true, but then we would have missed out on all the fun we had playing doctor."
"Logan Huntzberger, that never happened. Do not give Rory a bad impression of me."
He just laughed in reply, "don't worry, Ace here is quite accustomed to our well timed inappropriate comments."
"It's true." Rory nodded. "Have they always been like this?"
"Well Logan and Colin were fairly well brought up boys, as both Steph and myself were around to keep them in line, but then a certain Australian came along and let's just say the old adage that 'all hell broke lose' was a very big understatement."
"Now Gin, who's giving who a bad impression?" Finn said with a pout.
"Finn, she does have a point."
"Huntz, you ungrateful bastard." Finn said with smirk, "Come now Rory, love, you mustn't believe a word they say."
"I'm sorry Finn. But from what I've seen, what they're saying seems to have a ring of truth." Rory replied, smiling.
The group laughed while Finn continued to pout. "I will prove them wrong. Come Rory." He said, grabbing her hand, "Colin will vouch for me. He has loyalty. Something Logan clearly doesn't understand the concept to."
With that, Finn dragged Rory away, causing Logan and Ginny to burst out in further laughter.
When the laughter died, Ginny turned back to Logan, "So Rory seems nice."
Logan gave Gin a wary look, "don't you 'So Rory seems nice' me."
"What?" She asked innocently.
"You were using a tone of voice that implied that you think that something is going on. When nothing is going on."
"You're awfully suspicious Logan. I was simply making an observation that I thought that Rory seemed like a nice person. I was not implying anything else, unless of course there is something else to be implicated." She answered with a grin.
He shook his head with a small smile repeated, "nothing is going on. Ace and I are friends."
"Since when is Logan Huntzberger ever just friends with a woman?" She asked skeptically.
Logan gave her a look.
Gin sighed, "I mean friends with a woman you didn't grow up with. So that excludes Steph and I."
"Okay so this would be a first. But Ace is different."
"Oh."
"There's that tone again." Logan warned.
She just shrugged, "So what's with the whole Ace thing?"
"It's a nickname."
"It's a term of endearment."
"Gin, has Harvard warped your mind? Ace, is a nickname. I call lots of people by their nicknames."
"Like who?"
Logan paused, "Finn."
"Everyone calls Finn, Finn."
"Steph."
"Everyone calls Steph, Steph."
"Gin."
She rolled her eyes, "Finn insists on calling me that, so everyone calls me that. But only you call Rory, Ace."
"And?"
"She's the first woman you have ever, as far as I know from our twenty-one years of friendship, wanted to be friends with, you have coined her a term of endearment, which you say with great affection and I definitely saw the sparks flying between the two of you." She paused, "then again…"
"What?" He asked somewhat impatiently.
"I thought I saw some sparks fly between Rory and Finn as well. So what do I know?" She stated casually.
Gin watched as Logan frowned, remaining silent.
"Ha!" She cried. "You're jealous."
He internally kicked himself. Gin was another one of those few people in his life that knew him a bit too well for his own liking. Her smirk of triumph was also not helping the situation.
"Our time apart has clearly depleted your ability to deduce my various facial expressions."
"Ah the famed Huntzberger distract and avoid tactic. How predictable."
Logan just smirked.
"Oh oh."
"What is it?" Logan asked the smirk leaving his face.
Gin peered over Logan's shoulder, "My mother is giving me a look."
"A look, or the look?"
"Definitely the look. Now she's making some weird gesture with her finger."
"I don't think I like that sound of that."
"The gesturing seems to indicate that we should start circulating the party. The look is definitely, 'Move your Asses before I kick your Asses.'"
Logan laughed. "Well, I guess we have no choice."
Gin scowled. "This conversation about Rory is not over."
He simply nodded with a smirk, "I've been saved by your mother. Next thing you know hell will freeze over."
"Or Rory will start dating Finn." Gin replied with a smug expression.
Logan shot her a look, which only made her laugh and him scowl. "Come on Logan. Let's go do our duty."
-------------------------------------------
Two hours later, Logan found himself alone at the bar in dire need of a drink. Gin had slipped off to the ladies room and Logan hoped she hadn't abandoned him to fend for himself.
The round of social pleasantries had been rather painfully redundant. Everyone Gin and Logan had spoken with seemed to have the same topics of interest on their minds when it came to the younger Hunztberger and Turner: Logan's eventual takeover of the Huntzberger company (Any day now son, I hope you're ready for such a big responsibility), Gin's somewhat inopportune choice of schooling (Dear, I'll never understand why you chose Harvard over Yale, don't you want to be closer to Logan?) and of course the possibility of a spring wedding (Have you set the date?)
Receiving his drink, Logan happily downed it and began surveying the room to look for a possible route of escape. Instead he found Rory chatting with Lane and Colin. From a distance it appeared as though Colin was in the process of amusing the ladies with some anecdote. He watched the interplay between the three, Colin enjoying the attention; Lane smiling and laughing happily and then there was Rory.
He watched her break into laughter, but there was a way about her, even when she laughed she appeared to be holding something back. There was a reservation about her that Logan found intriguing.
Logan had recently found himself enjoying the fact that he had begun to pick up these little things about her. The way her eyes would glimmer mischievously then a moment later be clouded with doubt, just to follow it up with a stubborn determination. Or when she would try to break awkward pauses with inconsequential anecdotes, just as she would do if she were nervous. He didn't understand why he noticed these things or why he cared about these things. One thing he did know was she confused him, made him uncertain and he didn't like that.
His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of fellow L&D Brigadier Robert by his side, "Extravagant party, Huntzberger."
Logan with a forced smile, replied, "I'll be sure to let my mother know you sent your approval."
"So where's Ginny?"
"Bathroom."
"Oh I was worried you had lost her already." Robert replied haughtily.
With just the slightest hint of sarcasm, Logan replied, "Well, I'm happy to quell your worries."
"It'll never cease to amaze me the beautiful women that seem to flock to your side. It's quite inexplicable."
"What can I say, I'm an enigma."
Robert snorted, "Right. So I noticed Rory Gilmore here." He continued nodding his head in Rory's direction.
"Why Robert, what observational skills you have."
"Indeed. Using these same skills I've concluded that she's clearly not here with you."
"Clearly." Logan replied tersely. He was tired of this conversation; of all the people he had to speak with after the previous couple of hours, Robert did not place high on his list.
"I just wanted a verbal confirmation from you that you two aren't together."
"We're not together. Although I don't see why that's of interest to you."
"It's of great interest to me actually." Robert replied indifferently.
Logan paused for a moment when he realized he was gritting his teeth in annoyance, "And why is that?"
"I would think it was shockingly obvious."
"No Robert, it isn't. Care to enlighten the uninformed?" Logan retorted.
"Huntzberger, my goodness the drinking must be dulling your wits. I'm simply making sure that I wouldn't be stepping on anyone's toes if I had a conversation with Rory."
"You'd be stepping on mine. In case you didn't notice Robert, the lovely Miss Gilmore is here with me." Finn cut in as he appeared by Logan's side with his ever-present smile and easy demeanor.
"Finn. Lovely of you to join in the conversation." Robert replied sarcastically.
"Yes, I've always been quite the good joiner. So I heard you two talking about my date."
Logan nodded, "Robert seemed to be inquiry about the availability of Ace."
A rare forced smile appeared on Finn's face as he stated, "She's taken."
"Is she?" Robert asked innocently.
"Yes she is mate," Finn replying almost forcefully.
Sensing the sudden less then friendly demeanor from his fellow brigadiers, Robert smiled coolly, "Ah duly noted. Gentleman, please excuse me."
Watching Robert walk away, Finn quipped, "I hate that guy."
"I know you do." Logan replied with a smirk.
"Remind me again why we put up with him?"
"Because as you've so conveniently forgotten Finn, he's part of the Life and Death Brigade and he's good friends with Colin."
Finn made a face, "Colin has such abhorring taste in friends. Present company excluded of course."
"So Ace is taken huh?" Logan asked casually.
"Of course not. But Robert doesn't need to know that. I'm just trying to save the poor girl from having to endure the torture of being in the company of Robert."
"You're awfully protective."
Finn shot Logan an impatient look, "by god, what have I done to endure the current torture which is the company of a jealous Logan."
"Finn." Logan warned.
"In case you have conveniently forgotten, it was your idea I bring Rory here. If you wanted to her to be your date, you should've just asked her."
"It's not that simple Finn."
"Of course not." Finn replied with a shake of his head. He turned around to look for Rory and sight that he was greeted with caused him to shake his head in disgust, "that little bloody git."
"What is it?" Logan asked, turning to see what had bothered Finn, he too wasn't pleased by what he saw.
Robert had sidled his way to Rory's side and he was currently engrossing her in conversation. The thing that was probably the most troublesome was from where they were standing, it appeared to Logan and Finn that Rory was actually enjoying herself.
"Clearly that boy needs a good talking to, or flogging." Finn's face brightened, "Yes that's a novel idea."
"Finn, remember your manners." Logan replied, although he wouldn't mind giving Robert a good flogging as well.
"Well, I'm off to be the white knight." Finn declared as he stomped off leaving a perplexed Logan.
Finn upon reaching the couple, said, "Rory honey. There you are, I've been looking all over for you."
Rory looked strangely up at Finn, who had placed his arm around her shoulders again, "You've been gone for five minutes and you told me you were going to get drinks."
Finn shaking his head at Robert whispered conspiratorially, "Don't listen to her, she's had bit too much to drink, makes her lose her short term memory."
"Right Finn. Good of you to join into this conversation as well." Robert replied dryly.
"Yes like I said, I'm a good joiner." Winking at the obviously displeased Robert. "Sorry mate, I need to whisk my darling away. There is much dancing to be had." He simply smiled before leading Rory away.
"What was that all about?" Rory asked as the two began waltzing around the dance floor.
"Darling, I was just your knight in shining armor."
Still utterly confused, she asked, "In what twisted fairytale?"
Finn pouted, "I'd make a damn good knight."
Rory laughed, "I don't disagree with that. I just mean in what kind of fairytale does Robert play the bad guy."
"All of them."
"He seems like a nice guy and isn't he your friend?"
Finn simply shook his head sadly at Rory, "Oh poor naïve Rory Gilmore. You're even more innocent then I thought."
She made a face in disgust, causing him to laugh, "What was that grimace for, love?"
"Being called naïve or innocent. It's becoming redundant."
"Let me guess, to quote my all time favorite dancing school girl, you're not that innocent?"
Rory simply shook her at the grinning Finn, "You always seem to have the perfectly timed retort."
"It's all part of my charm darling, or haven't you noticed?"
There was a momentary silence, before Rory changed the subject, "So Gin seems really nice."
It was a genuine statement; Rory had bumped into Gin on the way out from the powder room and the two had a brief conversation involving whether or not Gin should leave Logan behind and make a get-away to the sub-party. The two had a good giggle about it, before deciding the honorable thing was to stick by his side.
Finn eyed Rory warily, "Not very subtle Gilmore."
"No, I was simply making an observation." She protested.
"Well then, yes Gin is a lovely girl."
She paused again, "And she's pretty."
Finn knew exactly where this conversation was going, but he played along anyways, "Yes, absolutely stunning."
"Right." Rory nodded.
"Rory, are we going to continue to describe Gin's various attributes, or are we going to talk about what is actually bothering you?"
"I don't know what you mean." She replied casually.
Eyeing her critically, he replied simply, "Logan."
"What about Hunztberger?"
"Oh Rory, Rory, Rory…"
"Is there a reason you're repeating my name in that tone of disapproval?"
"Yes love, I tire of this game we're playing. There is no harm in admitting that you have feelings for Logan, I've been told he's considered quite the catch by those of the female persuasion."
Rory couldn't help but sigh as well, for the reason that she too was tired; tired of those accusing her of having feelings for Logan and tired of denying that she may actually have feelings for Logan.
Taking the smallest leap of faith, she asked, "Say hypothetically, one does develop certain feelings for Logan…"
"Yes." Finn nodded encouragingly.
Rory hesitantly continued, "How would one know if these feelings are reciprocated? Even the casual viewer has seen Logan's many admirers, many of which end up on his arm and no doubt in his bed. So, why would he choose this hypothetical girl?"
This comment made Finn stop abruptly in the middle of the dance floor. She looked up at him in confusion, as he said with unexpected seriousness, "Because I believe said hypothetical girl is both beautiful and intelligent, and the lucky chap dancing with her is the envy of every gentleman in this room."
"Finn…" Rory protested, blushing.
He stopped her, "And if I weren't the honorable mate that I am," he said with a wink, "I would be pursuing her with the utmost vengeance. But alas, I saw her only a second too late."
Rory looked up at him in surprise and for a brief second he wondered if she heard the hint of regret in his voice.
Breaking the moment, he asked with a grin, "Does this hypothetical girl want me to prove Logan's affection for her?"
"Can we stop calling her the hypothetical girl?" Rory asked resignedly.
"Of course, if said hypothetical girl is willing to admit that she is real."
"Finn…" She warned.
"Alright then, do you want me to prove that Logan has feelings for you?"
Eyeing Finn wary, she thought of the situation at hand. The cautious side of her was telling her this was a bad idea; seeing as it was a Finn idea made the warning that much louder. Yet the other side of her wanting to know or even needed to know, so she asked cautiously, "How?"
He grinned and pointing said, "Look up."
She did and there they were standing under the biggest ball of mistletoe.
"How predictable." She muttered.
Finn simply winked in reply, "If you want proof that Logan has feelings for you, just kiss me darling. Logan will be over here cutting in before this song ends."
"How clichéd Finn. Mistletoe? It's like something out of a movie, or by an uncreative fanfic writer." Rory shook her head in disapproval.
"Fanfic writer?" Finn asked.
"Yes, you know Fanfiction. Fans of things like television shows, write their own stories based on the characters of the shows?"
He stared back at her blankly. She simply sighed, "Never mind Finn."
"What?" He sulked, returning the topic back to his plan, "Simplicity is key. A kiss cuts straight to a man's heart and undoes all doubt. Or are you just afraid to know the answer?"
"I'm not going to be goaded into kissing you."
"Am I that un-kissable?"
"No, it's not that…"
But her words were cut off when Finn simply pulled her to him and kissed her.
For a moment she was surprised, but they were both even more surprised when she returned the kiss. Her arms came up to wrap around his neck as his came around her waist pulling her closer to him, deepening the kiss.
After a moment they pulled apart. Standing in front of one another in disbelief.
"Wow." Rory said staring amazedly up at Finn, temporarily forgetting the point of the kiss, before blurting out, "Paris was right."
Finn collecting himself, simply grinned, "What was the fiery Paris right about?"
"I refuse to answer on the account that it will only further inflate your ego."
Finn intrigued, said, "You best spit it out Miss Gilmore, or I'll only prod it out of you and I also have a knack for prodding."
Rory paused. "She said you were a good kisser."
"Did she?" He replied smugly.
"Well she didn't actually say the words, but she definitely implied it."
"And I take from your reaction that you agree with her."
Rory simply rolled her eyes, "I'm taking the fifth."
"Oh darling, your answer is telling." Finn replied with a wink, before sweeping her into his arms again to waltz her around the room.
Remembering the point of the kiss, Rory tried to subtly scan the room, but Logan was no where to be seen, "A failed plan."
"Well I certainly gained from it." Finn replied happily.
She couldn't help but laugh, as he continued, "But don't be so sure."
Rory tilted her head, her eyes wide, "Is he…?"
He simply grinned, "Let's give him to a count of ten shall we? One. Two. Three. Four…"
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A/N part 2: I know, you're probably cursing me for the lack of Rory and Logan interaction but I can explain:) This is not where I wanted to end this chapter, I wanted it finished at the end of the party, but the last couple of scenes won't go from my head down on to paper. So I thought I would post this first and then continue to try to get this last bit of the party down.
That last little uncreative fanfic writer comment was a jibe at my own writing only, so please fellow fanfic writers do not take offense!
I also threw in a hint of PDLD as a shout out to all those awesome PDLD writers; you guys almost make me want Rory to be with Finn over Logan. :)
Last thing- those who didn't read the a/n at the beginning, Rory's dress is the one that Alexis Bledel wore in a picture from Flaunt magazine and if I had my way Kristen Kreuk would play Gin.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you'll take a second to review.