AN: So I had to break this chapter up because it was getting really long. Don't fret though, I will not make y'all wait too long for the next chapter. I'm already working on the 15th chapter. This chapter is pretty much to perk up the spirits from the last chapter and to set up the next one. I know things are moving slow right now, but after the next chapter things will pick up again.

On a side note I over looked the time line and the days. In 2004, when Rory was a sophomore, New Years Eve was on a Friday, not a Saturday; so for the sake of my story we'll just pretend that New Years Eve was on a Saturday. I'll fix the date later in the story.

As usual let me know what you think.

Finn and Rory walk out of the large house, hand in hand, into the large garden in the backyard. Usually there were hundreds of flowers, but the winter always killed them off. Right now flowers were the furthest thing from Finn's mind. Right now all he could think about was how he needed to get away; how he needed to be somewhere his psychotic family was not.

As they walked from the backyard around to the front, Rory took the lead and led him to her car. "Get in," she said softly. He wasn't about to argue about leaving this place.

He slid into the passenger seat and a moment later she was in the driver seat and pulling out of the driveway. He didn't know where they were going, but he didn't care. He was happy to just be with Rory.

Rory had switched on the radio and they were now listening to some pop song station. He didn't mind; in fact he found it cute how Rory knew all the lyrics to the songs that had played so far. He felt his mood lighten with each song that played. Soon his entire attention was on his beautiful girlfriend. He couldn't help but laugh when she started to dance in her seat.

"May I ask what is so funny, Mr. Morgan?" She tried to ask in a stern voice, but ended up cracking a huge smile.

"Not funny; cute. You're cute when you are being silly." He returned her smile.

"I like it when you smile."

His smile widened, "And why is that?"

"Well, I like your smile. It makes me happy." The pink in her cheeks were noticeable in the light of the setting sun.

Finn made a mental note to smile more around her. If his smile made her happy, then he would smile all day every day. He looked at the time on the dash clock and noted that it was only 6:00pm. It felt so much later than that. He noticed that they were no longer in Hartford, but did not recognize where exactly they were. "So, where are you kidnapping me to?"

She turned off the radio, making the conversation easier to be had. "We are going to Stars Hollow. I figured you needed to get some distance for a little while."

Finn felt a tinge of excitement flicker in him. He had been interested in seeing Rory's home town since she had told him all about it. All Finn had ever known was the society life. Even in Australia, the only people his family hung around were snooty, stuck-up people like the Huntzbergers. Listening to Rory talk about the wild personalities of Stars Hollow made him envious of her less complicated upbringing.

Rory had never had to deal with the constant judgement that society families dealt with. Finn could remember when he started with the wrong fork at a benefit gala when he was 12 and his mother was brutally judged for her child's 'lack of proper etiquette'. Of course his mother never really cared about what other people thought, but he had still felt bad.

When Finn spoke he tried to tone down the excitement in his voice. "So what are we going to do in the lovely town of Stars Hollow?"

"Well, we're going to go see the queen of cheering up. My mom is probably getting ready to leave her inn here in an hour, so we'll meet up with her at Luke's."

There was another familiar name. Rory had told Finn all about Luke and his namesake diner. Besides the inn her mother had first worked at Rory had said she grew up at Luke's diner. According to Rory, Luke's had the best coffee and some of the best food in town.

Another 10 minutes passed and they were entering the town. White Christmas lights were draped all over the place. The was a gazebo in the middle of a park that currently had several people moving around it setting up for some sort of gathering.

Rory pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned the engine off. "Come on, we can walk from here."

Finn got out of the car and Rory moved to stand by him as he stared at the commotion across the street. There was a tall skinning guy walking around shouting orders at people. From the looks of things, no one was listening to him, but he continued on as if everyone was complying.

Finn turned to Rory, "So what's going on over there?"

Rory looked in the direction Finn was. "Oh, that's Kirk. He thinks he's in charge of the party set up, but truthfully he has no responsibility in it at all."

Finn remembered some of the stories Rory had told him about Kirk. He was an interesting fellow who still lived with his mother and had worked just about every job in town. "So what's the party for?"

"The town's first ever town-wide New Year's party." She wrapped her arm around his and tugged him in the direction she wanted him to walk. "Taylor Doose thought it would be wonderful if the town got together and rung in the New Year together. So the whole town is taking part in making it a big thing. Sookie and Luke are going to provide all the food, Lane's band is going to preform, and Miss Patty and Babette and in charge of decorating. My mom is even making fun hats for everyone to wear."

"That sounds like it's going to be fun." Finn felt a pang of jealousy; all he had to look forward to tomorrow night was a bunch of judgmental stares and his wicked witch sisters.

"You should come," Rory suddenly said. By the look on her face Finn couldn't tell if she meant to ask him, or if she was just trying to be nice. He didn't know if she was ready to introduce him to her whole town just yet.

Before he got the chance to inquire about it, they turned to enter the door labeled 'Luke's'. Once inside Finn immediately saw Lorelai. She was sitting at the counter, with an incredibly large cup of coffee in her hands, talking to the man behind the counter. If memory served him correct, and the backwards baseball cap told him anything, this was Luke.

In their many library meetings Rory had told him all about how Luke was pretty much her Father. He had been there when her birth father hadn't, and had always made he feel loved.

She had also told him how her mom and Luke had dated, but broken up because of her grandmothers meddling. Finn wasn't the best at judging situations, but he could definitely see the tension between these two.

Finn felt Rory release his arm, but then felt her fingers lace through his. He tried to control the smile on his face to look natural and not like a kid that has free reign in a candy store. The two of them made their way over to the counter.

Luke was the first to spot them. "Rory, Coffee?"

"Please. Hi mom, you remember Finn?" Rory took the stool next to her mother.

Finn didn't know if he should shake Lorelai's hand, hug her, or just nod a friendly hello. He decided it was just best to nod and smile. A hug was too friendly for someone you had only met twice, and a handshake was too formal for your girlfriend's mother.

"Finn," Lorelai practically shouted. "Come sit." She patted the stool on the other side of her. "How is Amelia? I meant to talk to her today, but all the town planning has just kept me so busy. I need to find out if she is still good for the 13th. We have been trying to get together for the past week." She was talking a mile a minute. "Are you ready for school to start back up? I think Rory has a countdown calendar in her room. That girl has always loved school."

"Mom!" Rory interjected. "Slow it down. Finn has not been around you much. You have to give people the chance to adjust to your speed."

Lorelai laughed. "I'm sorry, Finn. Let's start with, how are you doing?"

Finn smiled, "I'm well, and yourself?"

"Well, I'd be much better if Luke would give me my second cup of coffee." She raised her voice on the last half of her sentence.

Luke appeared back at the counter. "Don't blame me when you die from caffeine overdose." Finn could tell that there was no real intent in his words.

From the look of it this was an ongoing thing they had. Luke's gaze shifted from Lorelai and landed on Finn. He knew exactly what this was; it was the 'dad stare'. Luke had seen Rory holding Finn's hand and wanted to know who this guy was.

Finn offered his hand, "Pardon my manners. I'm Finn Morgan."

Luke took the offered hand in a firm, almost tight, hold. It didn't bother Finn. He knew this was what fathers, or father figures, did. They were protective, instinctual, and above all easily pissed off when it came to anything dealing with their little girls.

During the handshake silent conversation passed between the two men.

Don't you even think about breaking her heart.

Wouldn't dream of it.

Good, then we don't have a problem.

Not at all.

After a moment Luke released Finns hand and resumed his casual look. When they turned their attention back to the ladies they found that they had been discussing the New Year's Eve party that was happening tomorrow.

"I know they are doing a lot of their own songs, but they are also planning on doing some covers. They have three sets planned out and in between they are going to have a DJ playing music so that they can enjoy the party." Finn caught on that they were talking about Rory's best friend's band.

"Is Paris coming?" Lorelai asked.

Rory shrugged, "I invited her. She said as long as she in in the country. Her parents are in are vacationing in France, and she says that she might join them this time."

"What about you handsome?" Lorelai turned her attention to Finn. "Are you coming to the party?"

"I would absolutely love to. But my mother has been planning her party for the last 6 months. If I'm not at it those DAR hags are sure to say something."

"Oh shoot!" Lorelai pounded her fist on the counter. "She invited me to that. I have been so wrapped up with the Inn and the town's party that I completely forgot."

"She'll understand if you can't make it," Finn said, trying to sound reassuring. "She knows that you two don't really care for that crowd anyway. She knows that I don't really care for that crowd, but as her son I must make an appearance."

"I have an Idea," Rory spoke up. "Why don't we all go to your mom's party first, but ditch it early and come here for the remainder of the evening?"

Finn nodded, "That could actually work. My mother usually lets me retire to my room before midnight even hits. I doubt she'll care if I leave with my girlfriend and her new best friend."

"It's a plan then," Lorelai smiled.

Finn was feeling better than he had an hour ago. In fact he was now looking forward to tomorrow night, regardless of the fact that he would have to deal with his sisters when he got home.