Rory opened the door to her apartment and held it open for Finn and helped him drag their luggage inside. She pulled her suitcase to the side, and walked to the kitchen to put a pot of coffee on.
"Coffee Finn?" Rory asked, she had managed to sleep a lot on the return flight. The private plane and being in Finn's arms doing wonders for her. She was wide awake and going to try to get back on a normal schedule quickly for returning to work.
"No thanks Love, I'm just going to grab a soda," Finn said, opening her fridge. By now he knew his way around her apartment almost as well as his own, and they both always made sure to have each other's favourite things.
"What are you thinking, Kitten? I can see the hamster running on its wheel from here," he asked as he leaned back against the island.
"I just realised that my suggestion that we wait until after Colin and Steph's wedding might make you think that I'm choosing someone else's feelings above yours. Or even that I'm ashamed of you." Rory looked at Finn, then averted her eyes again, biting her lip. "I hope that you know that nothing could be further from the truth. I would have married you in Australia and it kills me to feel like I can't shout it from the rooftop that I'm in love with Finn Morgan and get to spend the rest of my life with him."
Finn pushed himself off the island and walked over to Rory pulling her into his embrace, and tipping her chin so she had to look him in the eyes.
"Rory, Kitten, take a deep breath," he said, giving her forehead a kiss before pulling away to speak again. "I know how you feel about me, and I trust you fully with my feelings. I love that you are such a kind hearted person that you want to make sure that our happiness won't ruin someone else's day. But remember it wouldn't be us who ruined it, it would be Logan if anyone. I'm not planning on rubbing our relationship in his face, although I do struggle to resist you."
"Should we have Colin and Steph over to discuss it? Tell me what you want to do Finn, and I'll do it. Marry you at city hall next weekend?"
"While that option sounds awesome, I think our families may kill us."
"Mine wouldn't care as long as I have a prenup, other than Emily that is." Rory said quickly before realising what she said.
Finn looked at her, he was slightly shocked to hear those words come from her, but before he could question her Rory continued.
"Finn, I would need you to sign a prenup to protect you from having to accept any liability with my businesses, so that if I get sued or anything happens you are safe. A law firm and an insurance firm aren't exactly liability free."
"I understand, even if that wasn't the reason it's okay Rory, they are expected in our circle." Finn was rubbing his palms up and down her arms to calm her, while she leaned into him.
"I would only want it for the business side, I'm ok with mayking everything else fifty/fifty. Just none of the children clauses where wives get more money for boys than girls, none of the bullshit."
"I agree Kitten," Finn leaned down and kissed her before breaking away. "I'm going to call Colin, see where they are, you drink your coffee I'll be right back."
Two hours later Finn and Rory, were joined by Colin and Steph in Rory's theatre room. Colin and Steph had brought pizza with them.
"So how was Australia? I'm jealous you are back with a suntan in January." Stephanie was saying.
"It was amazing, Finn's apartment is in a great location, we went to the beach, opera house. We watched the fireworks from a yacht in the Sydney harbour, it was magical."
"I'm jealous, Colin, how come you never sneak me off on holidays over Christmas time?"
"Maybe because we both have all of our families here?"
"Did Rory tell you we detoured to Japan?"
"WHAT! No Way! I was already jealous enough." Stephanie was full on pouting now.
"Why, what did you do there?" Colin asked.
"We went on a go kart tour of Tokyo with Finn dressed up like Yoshi, Hello KItty land, saw some temples, ate some sushi, and visited Disneyland Tokyo. It was amazing," Rory gushed, looking at her fiance.
"I'm not sure we're even needed here Steph," Colin started, "We should leave the lovebirds to it, they just want to brag."
"Well, we actually had something we wanted to discuss with you," Finn said, pulling Rory flush against him on the couch.
"Yes, while we were in Sydney, Finn planned another surprise." Rory said sheepishly, looking at her fiance urging him to continue.
"What Rory is trying to say is that I managed to catch her in a moment of weakness and this lovely lady here agreed to be my wife."
"What! Why didn't you tell me you were going to ask? I told you before I asked Steph"
"Oh My God! Let me see the ring!"
Steph was up like a shot, she pulled Rory up to give her a tight hug before pulling her left arm out to inspect the ring. "Did he pick this by himself?"
"Yes, no one knew what I was planning."
"The boy did good," Stephanie gushed, "I'm so excited, tell me everything. How did he do it?"
"Yes how did you do it," Colin asked after hugging Rory and Finn himself and pulling his own fiancee back to his side.
"I took her on a sunset hot air balloon ride over the mountains and vineyards while you could see the city in the distance. I asked her and then we had champagne as we floated around. It was very romantic even if I do say so myself." Finn said proudly.
Rory leaned over and kissed her fiance. "He's right, it was very romantic, it was perfect."
"So while this is great news, what does it have to do with us?" Colin asked.
"Well you both know, certain families, the Huntzbergers, have been kept in the dark about our relationship."
"Yep, understandably so." Steph remarked.
"Now Finn and I are engaged, and both of us plus Logan are in your bridal party."
"Oh, I think I'm beginning to see."
"Yes, well we have talked and if you think it would make your lives simpler, we are willing to keep our relationship and therefore our engagement quiet until after your wedding so that you can have the wedding and wedding party that you always envisioned with minimal drama." Rory rambled out.
"We can't ask you to do that," Stephanie said, shocked.
"You aren't asking, we are offering," Finn replied.
"Seriously Steph, we discussed this the day after we got engaged. We are ok with whatever you and Colin would like us to do." Rory reconfirmed.
"Rory, Finn, we honestly can't make this decision for you. But I will say we have four months until our wedding. If you announce your engagement anytime in the next month that gives him three months to get over it. If it takes more than that, its his problem. Its been years and he is already married, with two known mistresses," Colin said emphatically.
"Two? When did he pick up a new one?" Finn asked.
"Not the point Finn," Rory said gently chiding her fiance.
"Sorry Kitten," he said, kissing her cheek. "So should we unleash the hounds?"
"You mean Grandma Emily?"
Finn nodded.
"I was actually thinking that maybe Grandmother Francine might want to host a party announcing that Leigh Hayden is engaged."
"You are evil, Kitten. I'm glad you are on my side."
"I think this means there is a trip to Hartford in your future, before you return to work Monday." Colin smirked at the couple.
"Maybe we need to revisit that eloping plan, Finn?"
The next day Rory and Finn headed towards Harford, they had managed to get in touch with Emily the night before and had asked her if she was okay to host an extended family brunch that morning, and for once Emily just rolled with it.
Rory and Finn purposefully arrived at the Gilmores ten minutes late. This ensured that even Lorelai and Luke who were always the stragglers had arrived. Riry had worn a dress with pockets so that she didn;t have to take her engagement ring off, she could just hide her hand until they had a break in conversation to bring up their news, which they hoped would be well received.
Finn was suddenly worried, he hadn't asked anyone's permission before asking Rory to marry him, having always seen her as too independent for that, maybe that was the wrong move.
"Rory? Is anyone going to be mad that I didn't ask for your hand?" he asked, looking at her sheepishly as they walked to the door.
"No Finn, I didn't expect you to, and I hope they know me well enough to know I wouldn't want that. No turning back now," she said, giving him a kiss as she pressed the bell.
"Rory, Finn, you're late." Emily scolded opening the door to the young couple.
"Traffic was worse than we expected leaving the city on a Sunday, Emily. We are terribly sorry for any inconvenience our tardiness may have caused, especially as you are already going out of your way to host this brunch on our behalf." Finn gushed, as he gave Emily's cheek a swift peck.
"It's fine, Finnegan, it was no trouble." Emily brushed him off as she walked ahead of them to the dining room.
"Suck up!" Rory whispered to Finn, he just winked at her in response. They quickly greeted everyone as they walked around the dining room giving out hugs, handshakes, and pecks on the check as appropriate.
Soon everyone was seated around the table eating a variety of breakfast food. Even with the short notice, for a change everyone was there - Chris and Gigi, Lorelai and Luke, Emily and Richard, along with Francine.
"So Rory, Finn, not that it isn't a delight to see you both after your vacation, what is this little meeting about?" Francine started.
"Well Mrs Hayden-"
"Francine, Finn, I've told you lots, Francine."
"Very well, Francine while we were gone I arranged various surprises for Rory here, that she thankfully enjoyed all of. One of those surprises is something which we think you would all like to know about." Finn started, he looked at his fiancee for encouragement to continue, which she subtly gave him with an under the table hand squeeze.
"On our last day in Australia, we went on a hot air balloon ride and while we were in the air above a vineyard. I asked the lovely Rory if she would do me the honour of becoming my wife and she said yes." Finn rushed out the final sentence before watching the table for reaction.
Lorelai and Luke looked at each other before both starting "I told you so!"
Emily jumped up to hug Rory, swiftly followed by Francine. Richard was shaking Finn's hand giving him a manly clap on the back.
Chris was watching his two girls. Gigi was beside him determinedly eating her french toast. She didn't care about what was going on, while Rory, his firstborn, was standing beside the man who would be her husband, glowing with happiness. Once Chris saw how happy Rory was, he was spurred into action and jumped up to congratulate the couple.
After the first batch of congratulations had finished, Rory quickly spoke up.
"Before we get any further and disappoint anyone with plans they make without consulting us. Finn and I have discussed this and we would like it if Grandmother Francine could host an engagement party for Finn Morgan and Leigh Hayden on the last weekend of January?"
"Are you announcing your engagement under your work name?" Emily started.
"We just want that stated on the party invites Grandma, and we would prefer if no engagement announcements ran until after the party. Then all announcements could run as Lorelai Leigh 'Rory' Gilmore-Hayden the third engaged to Finn Morgan the third."
"We would like to be able to see the Huntzbergers' faces in person, when they realise that Leigh Hayden and Rory Gilmore are one and the same." Finn continued for Rory.
"You evil Genius," Lorelai laughed.
"Is that wise?" Francine asked, looking at the couple.
"I haven't been hiding from the Huntzbergers for the past five years, I simply stopped moving in the same circles as them. Being with Finn has brought us back into each other's orbits again, even if unknowingly on Logan's side. We worked around it coming up to the holidays, but now we are engaged Finn shouldn't have to hide me from one of his best friends." Rory gave Finn's hand another squeeze.
"We were drifting apart long before we got together, Kitten. I've told you. If anything, how he acted before your graduation from Yale started the drift, I realised then our long term family values were fundamentally different." Finn said, looking earnestly at Rory.
"Plus Colin and Stephanie's wedding is in a few months and all three of us are in the wedding party. I don't want to bring a fake date or hide my fiance at that. We have discussed this with them as well. Finn and I wanted to tell them in case it affects their day."
"Well it sounds as though you both have given this a lot of thought, now how about we go into the parlour and celebrate this new with some Mimosas?" Richard asked, motioning everyone out of the dining room as they welcomely followed his suggestion.
