PAIRING: Finn/Rory.

RATING: G

SPOILERS: Everything that has aired so far is fair game.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine. All characters are property of ASP and the WB.

NOTES: Whew. RL has been cra-azy. Thanks to those have reviewed so far.

Four: Meet the Sister

"Wow," Rory paused in the entrance way of the ballroom to let her eyes adjust to the tastefully dim lighting, "this here is a mighty fine shindig."

Finn wasn't as easily impressed, "Eh. It's alright. I tried to talk my mum into some flame eaters but she said no."

"I can't imagine why. Just one of those draperies probably costs as much as a car."

They were approached by a man in a uniform who nodded stiffly then asked, "Might I take your coats?"

Finn shrugged out of his and handed it to the man before turning to help Rory out of hers. She turned and it was his turn to be awed. "Wow."

"What?" Rory fiddled with her bracelet.

"That there is some dress."

"Oh," the dress in question was twenties in style, made of deep blue silk. The V-neck dipped lower in front than Rory was generally comfortable with and lower still in the back. The skirt flared slightly to end just below her knees. She hadn't been drawn to it in the store, initially. An older saleswoman had brought it to her dressing room and she'd tried it on to be nice. The saleswoman's instincts were far better than Rory's, if the look Finn was giving her was any indication, and she'd bought the dress on impulse. "Thank you," she replied, avoiding his gaze.

"Believe me, the pleasure is all mine," Rory willed herself not to blush as he handed her coat off to the man who was still waiting alongside them who then, with a nod, retreated. Finn looked around the room and spotted a familiar couple heading their way, "Oh no. I was hoping to have a glass of champagne in my belly and another in hand before this."

"Before what?"

"The wolves have spotted us and are drawing near. Eleven o'clock. The end is nigh," Finn stage whispered darkly. Then, before Rory could reply he pasted on a bright smile and exclaimed, "Ollie!" without a trace of anything to indicate that he wasn't overjoyed to see his sister. Finn leaned forward to kiss the woman's cheek and Rory watched with some amusement the long suffering eye roll the older woman displayed. "Rory Gilmore, I'd like you to meet my sister, Ollie, and her husband, Gerard Tanguy. Oh, champagne!" Finn grabbed two flutes from a passing waiter and handed one to Rory.

"It's Olivia, actually. But I'm sure he told you that."

"It's nice to meet you. Both of you," Rory offered her hand first to Gerard, who bowed slightly over it, then to Olivia.

Olivia took it and studied her shrewdly, "Likewise. So tell me, Rory. Exactly what are your intentions towards my little brother?"

Finn choked on a sip of champagne, "Olivia," he said warningly.

"Finn," she replied, not the least bit intimidated. "Why don't you and Gerard go find our seats? Rory and I will catch up in a minute."

"No."

Gerard sighed and stepped forward, "Finn, let her get this over with. Olivia, be nice, sil vous plait?"

Rory watched the back and forth between Finn and Olivia like a Wimbledon spectator. Her siblings were all much younger and so she'd never experienced this kind of interplay.

"I'm always nice," said Olivia with a smile that said otherwise.

"Fine. Five minutes. Don't make me tell mother who actually broke the Tiffany lamp in her library, okay? Rory, I'm so, so sorry. You can get a free shot in later. I'll take it like a man. Well, a manly wuss."

Rory laughed, "It's fine, Finn. Really."

Finn allowed his brother in law to lead him away with the promise of getting something stronger from the bar. Olivia clasped Rory's elbow gently and led her over to the side of the room where the crowd was less dense. "Now, back to my question. Would you like me to repeat it?"

Rory raised an eyebrow at the ever so slightly hostile tone, "No. You asked what my intentions were, correct? I can't say that I have any."

"I doubt that. Nice earrings, by the way. I bet they're new," Rory did not reply, "Yeah, that's what I thought. Finn's always been a sucker for a pretty face."

Rory bristled visibly and straightened her shoulders, "I don't want his money, if that's what you're implying. I've more than enough of my own."

"You were with the Huntzberger kid, for awhile, too, weren't you?"

"Yeah. In college. What's that got to do with anything?"

"Maybe nothing. But I think I know your type, Rory Gilmore."

"You know nothing about me."

"I know my brother cares about you. I know he tends to care for the wrong ones."

"Way to insult my intelligence, there, sister darling," Finn and Gerard had come back and Finn did not look pleased. He'd kept an eye on the scene and quickly doubled back when it seemed not to be going well. His instinct had been correct.

"Finn, I was just trying…" Olivia began, her voice placating.

"I know. And thanks, but no thanks. Rory would you like to dance with me?"

"Yes," she drank the last of her champagne and set the flute down, taking the hand Finn offered her and allowing herself to be pulled onto the dance floor. They arranged themselves and Finn began to lead her expertly in a waltz.

He looked down at her and shook his head ruefully, "Sisters. More trouble than they're worth."

Three hours later and the evening had gone much as Finn said it would, save for the encounter with Finn's sister and another with his younger brother. Rory had been greatly amused by Jasper, who was, as Finn had said, much like Finn's Yale era self. Outrageously flirtatious and glib, Rory had felt a little bit like a time traveler talking to him. Finn had glowered when she'd said that, sure in the belief that he'd never been quite that bad. She'd had three glasses of champagne (refusing a fourth), more canapés than was probably fashionable, and had made small talk with a number of people who knew her grandparents but whom she'd never met or heard of before.

She'd met more of Finn's family. His mother, a stately and imposing woman had been gracious, and Finn's father, a handsome distinguished seeming man, gruff and dryly witty. His nieces were cuter than cute and he clearly adored them. Funnily enough, no one had asked for clarification on the status of their relationship. Rory's rehearsed speech about how they'd rekindled a friendship after years apart was never used.

She caught Finn's eye and gave the agreed upon signal, sliding her bracelet off one wrist and on to the other. He nodded imperceptibly and began making the necessary excuses so they could leave. Half an hour later they'd collected their coats and were waiting for the car to pull around front. Olivia came striding out of the ballroom doors. Finn had purposely excluded her when making his goodbyes. He sighed upon seeing her. She was wearing her 'determined face.' She saved it for special occasions and he knew that Ollie would have no problem standing in front of the limo to prevent them from leaving. "Rory? Would you mind terribly waiting for me in the car a minute?"

"No problem. Good-night, Olivia," she nodded towards the other woman coolly and, with the help of a doorman, picked her way down the icy stairs and into the waiting car. Finn watched until she was safely ensconced in the car before turning to his sister, "This had better be good, Ollie."

"Finn. I'm sorry you're upset. I'm just looking out for you."

Finn snorted derisevly at her non apology, "Thanks for the sentiment, big sister, but in case you haven't realized it, I'm a grown man. Rory's been my friend for a long time and you practically called her a gold digging status whore!" His voice was increasing in volume and the desk staff looked over before hurriedly looking away. "Honestly, did you read that article? She's got family money. She's got a career. And had you bothered to ask me I'd have told you that she's not like that. Not at all."

"You're not always the best judge of that."

"Fine. Then ask anyone else who knows her. Phone Colin, or Stephanie. Logan, even. Hell, I'll dial."

Olivia watched him, comprehension dawning, "You're serious about her, aren't you?"

Finn scrubbed a hand through his hair, "I might be. If she'll let me."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. Good night," he went out into the cold without a backward glance.