Finn and Rory had been together for close to six months, and the holiday season was rapidly approaching. Finn and Rory were trying to decide what they wanted to do when it came to society holiday parties.

Rory was apprehensive about the possibility of any Huntzberger interactions over the season. She knew Finn had spoken to Logan, even met him for drinks on occasion since they had been together but Logan didn't know who Finn's girlfriend was, he just knew she existed. He probably thought it was a redhead.

Finn on the other hand was at the point he would happily shout it from the rooftops that they were together. He figures it was maybe time for them to deal with any potential fallout. Deep down he knew they were serious, it wasn't a fling, so he wanted to get it over and done with if they were going to have to deal with any animosity.

Rory was thinking they could attend the Morgan gathering together, along with the Hayden one. The Huntzbergers were never invited to any Hayden parties, and the Morgan one wouldn't really be a society party, just a work one. She was concerned about the Gilmore one. The Huntzbergers were always invited, while they didn't always go they thought they would come this year as Logan had just got married and they would want to try and flaunt it in front of the Gilmore's, there was still the perceived slight from when Rory turned Logan down.

Rory thought that for the Gilmore holiday party there were three options.

One - they could go together and deal with any fallout together, two - they could just not attend, or three - she could attend either alone or with a friend. Which they would choose was up for debate.

First party up was the Hayden one. Rory had to attend as head of the firm. The party was based in Boston so Rory and Finn flew there along with Francine and Chris. Everything went smoothly at the party. While the party was picked up on by the society pages the only picture ended up being Finn and Rory but Rory's back was to the camera, so that it wasn't obvious it was her. The caption said Finn Morgan and Leigh Hayden.


The next day Finn's phone was ringing off the hook. Some of the calls were from friends who knew Finn had been dating Rory, but didn't realize she was also Leigh Hayden, some were people who didn't realize Finn had a girlfriend at all. Finn answered Logan's call without having checked the caller id:

"Finn Morgan speaking."

"Finn, my man! I saw your picture in the paper. Why didn't you tell me your new girlfriend was Leigh Hayden? Talk about hitting the High Society Blue Blood's."

"She's not so new Logan, it's been six months pretty much."

"You never did tell me how you ended up with her."

"We were seated beside each other on a flight to London and it just went from there."

"I would have thought she had her own plane."

"She does, but she only uses it around the States and Canada. If she goes to Europe she likes to go commercial."

"Interesting. I'll have to meet her sometime. Maybe over the holidays. Will you be bringing her to any parties?"

"I'm not sure if we will go to any more of them. I'll bring her to the Morgan party. I think I'm going to try and bring her to Australia at some point over the holidays, if I can persuade her too.

What about you? Hitting the Society holiday party circuit?"

"Yes, I have the Huntzberger party and we have the Gilmore party. My parents are insisting I represent the family at that one."

"The Gilmore one? Have you attended that one since everything with Rory?"

"Yes, they are very insistent. The last time I went to a Gilmore party, it was as Rory's date."

"That could be interesting." Finn replied.

"It will be fine, I'm married, and no one has heard anything connected to Rory in five years. It's like she just vanished. Plus even if she did show up, I wouldn't mind seeing how big a trainwreck her life has become, she definitely isn't writing anywhere. "

"Logan I have to go, my Dad's calling on the other line."

Finn ran his hand over his face. Rory was right the Huntzbergers were planning to try and rub it in her face that Logan was married now, and that she had made a mistake saying no to him, at least in their mind. He just wasn't sure what to do.


Finn called Rory later that day and told her all about the call with Logan. Her response was to call Emily, and see what she thought they should do. After hearing what Logan had said on the call, Rory wanted to prove to him that she was happy and successful, but she wasn't so sure causing a scene at Society party was the way to go, especially one of her grandmothers, as she would potentially kill her for creating a scandal.

Emily was glad that Rory came to her for advice. Emily told Rory that maybe creating that kind of scandal for just a boyfriend wasn't worth it, she implied it would be more acceptable if they were engaged. Her idea was that Rory either brought a friend as a date, or that she would allow her to skip the party.

Rory and Finn discussed the options over Indian food and a movie. They both agreed that Rory not going at all might make the Huntzbergers think they had won. So they compromised and decided Rory would bring a friend as a date and Finn would just see her afterwards.


The night of the Gilmore Christmas party arrived. Finn was at Rory's, he wanted to see her off. He figured she might need a support boost before leaving.

Rory came out of her bedroom, almost fully ready to go.

"Finn, can you zip me up?" She asked. She was holding the back of her dress together with one hand.

"Of course, I usually prefer unzipping but just this once I will zip up instead." He said with a smirk, he gently brushed her hair aside and left a trail of kisses on her neck as he finished with the dress. He turned her around and gave her a quick peck, he didn't want to mess up her makeup. Rory was in a knee length red, fit and flare, sleeveless dress.

"You look very sexy and hot, kitten, I don't know if I can let you go without me." Finn said with a pout keeping her encircled in his arms.

"Oh Finn, you know you are the only one I want, and if you stay here while I'm gone. You can see what I've got on under this dress that's for your eyes only."

Finn looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Well I think we both know I will be at the door waiting on you coming back with baited breath. I can't even kiss you goodbye properly without messing up your makeup." he said, as the doorbell rang.

"I didn't put any lipstick on yet, I knew we would need to say goodbye properly."

"God, my girlfriends smart." And with that his head ducked and he kissed her like his life depended on it.

"Wow." Rory said as he released her, her knees had almost buckled under the intensity of the kiss.

"I had to make sure you won't decide not to come back to me tonight."

"That could never happen," Rory said as she opened her door for her date for the night.

"Hey Tristan, come in, I just have to grab my bag."

"Du Grey."

"Morgan"

"Now you better bring her back in one piece and just as she left here. I'm trusting you to keep an eye on my girl while I can't," Finn started.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't let anything happen to her. You don't need to give me a warning."

"And just remember to keep your hands to yourself!"

"Believe me Finn, Louise gave me a much scarier warning than that before I left our apartment." Tristan smirked at the man. He was glad Rory had someone who cared enough to warn friends off.

"Ok boys, I'm ready to go. Finn, I will see you later. Love you, you know where everything is." Rory gave him a final kiss before turning to Tristan.

"Come on Mary, it may have taken me eleven years, but I finally got you to beg me to take you on a date."

"Hands to yourself Du Grey!" Finn shouted after them.


"Ok, so we are only here as friends tonight and that's all we are telling anyone. No need to even pretend to be proper dates. This is purely for moral support." Rory rambled as their car pulled into the Gilmore Estate.

"I know, Mare. I have known you for eleven years now, I can be your friend for the night. It's time to take a deep breath and calm down."

"I spent a good five of those years despising you bible boy."

"Yet look where we are now, I'm having deja vu, it's like being back at your sixteenth birthday party." Tristan said, blowing her an air kiss, as they walked into the foyer of the Gilmore house.

Rory couldn't help herself, at that sight mixed in with the memory of him doing the exact same thing at said party, she burst into a loud fit of laughter. Instantly drawing attention to the couple as they walked arm in arm, loudly giggling into the main party. Several pairs of eyes turned to the couple, who were obliviously heading towards the bar.

"Can I get an espresso martini and a scotch on the rocks, please?" Tristan said, ordering for the two of them. "Do we have a game plan?"

"Get in, get an apple tart, avoid discussing work, get out and home to our other halves unscathed?"

"Sounds like a plan Mare, Cheers," he said, handing her her drink. They each took a drink, a deep breath and then Tristan placed his hand on the small of Rory's back to turn her and lead her further into the party. As he did this they both stopped short.

"Hello Ace."

"Hi Tristan."

"Hello Logan, Summer"