AN- I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I've got this system going were I won't update AS until I send a new chapter of Nightmare to my beta. So, all of my Nightmare readers: It's being edited asap by my beta! But I've been sick this last week with Strep Throat and they were testing me for Mono… which apparently I had either a few weeks or even months ago and just didn't know it! How do you get Mono and not know it??? Anyway, this chapter is full of drama, and its extra long(4300+ words) cause when I wrote it a few weeks ago I was just so in the zone! I hope you enjoy it, and I apologize for any errors, I don't have the focus to read it over again. I just got a new computer, so some of my files are a little whacked from the transfer!Thank you to all my reviewers, I love when I get reviews or PM's whining that I haven't updated occasionally. It just makes me see how much people like my story! (However reviews/pms b!tching about it irritate me, especially if it's only been a week or two). Okay, I'm done!
Enjoy! xBree
Australian Summer
Chapter 7:
Trouble Comes In Threes
I don't exactly recall what happened next. The first clear memory is waking up on my side with my back against Finn's chest. His arm rested under my body, but came up across my breasts and stomach to rest on my opposite hip, one of the few things clothed. His other hand was clasped in mine, resting just above my nether region. We both were naked save for our underwear.
How we ended up there I wasn't sure. When Finn began kissing my shoulder to wake me up, I'd already been awake for quite some time. I'd been listening to his soft snoring. Steph was right, though I didn't find it offensive or bothering. I liked the sound. It was comforting.
But as I lay there, I'd thought. The only scene I remember from that night is somehow getting caught up in a moment. Every other kiss with Finn had mostly been gentle, never demanding. But the words I'd spoken sent him into a whirlwind. Every kiss, every touch, was given with a barbaric passion. We were as close as humanly possible that night. I don't think I'll ever experience anything like that again, even with Finn. We were in the heat of the moment when I froze. And in the next moment he'd gone from that animalistic creature to an angel. I know, it seems weird, but I can't describe it any other way.
The concerned look on his face, the way he whispered his worries, his gentle touch. That moment will forever be etched in my mind. The one when I felt the tears pooling in my eyes, and he didn't care. Not getting laid that night did not bother him. I know why I froze, he knew why I froze. I wouldn't know that he knew until later, so I'll save that for later in the story. It doesn't fit all that well here.
Regardless, though, he was amazing for stopping like that. We were close to sealing the deal, if you will. I'd feel ashamed admitting this in a school essay, to my peers who have deemed me as 'Mary', but that's something Finn's done to me. I don't care what others think anymore. And you asked for honesty.
I finally looked over my shoulder at him. He smiled lazily at me, his eyes twinkling with sleep in the dark room. It was somewhere around 9 in the morning, but the sky was still pitch black with the impending storm. Amazingly, no one came looking for either of us. The grandparents had gone to a social function the night before and where staying at a hotel. They wouldn't be back until the morning after this one. Colin and Stephanie apparently had watched Finn come into my room, Steph begrudgingly allowing it. Some may think what she was doing was wrong, and none of her business, but she was only acting in my best interest. It just so happened to backfire on her.
"Morning, beautiful." He mumbled into my shoulder.
"Morning, Finn." I smiled at him.
Still speaking into my shoulder, he asked, "How are you?", his voice filled with concern.
"I… I'm sorry for last night. I don't know what happened." We both knew I was lying, but it didn't matter. He finally lifted his head to speak normally.
"Well, while I admit, the object of my lust and affections freezing up right before the really fun part is a bit of a blow to my ego, I think it was for the best. I don't want you thinking this just a purely physical attraction." I had to smile as he tried to lighten the mood, mocking the situation.
"Well, I suppose our strictly platonic is out the window, huh?"
"I'd say. Besides, wasn't all that platonic, now was it?"
"True, true."
We spent most of our time that morning lying in bed, touching, kissing, teasing, talking, playing. Nothing serious then. When we finally decided to leave my room around noon it was still dark out, only have lightened up a bit. The storm was still coming, though.
"Uh, love?"
"Hm?"
"Are you going to put actual clothes on, or are you going to make me share that gorgeous body with me mates?" I was clad in my underwear and his hoodie. I smirked as I replied.
"Well, I'd of stolen your boxers, but they're currently on your cute ass." However my victory was short lived as he stood up, shedding them and throwing them at me. While I caught them, I had a stupefied look on my face as I took in his completely naked form. I pouted as he pulled his jeans on.
"Were you going to wear them or hold them?" I blushed but slid them on anyway. I heard him groan and smiled in satisfaction anyway.
When we finally entered the kitchen, he'd had his arms wrapped around me from behind, keeping me to him as much as possible. He kept saying how he was afraid I'd run off again if he let go. I had to smile at this.
Our newly found bliss didn't last as long as we'd hoped. An angry Aryn was waddling away from Logan. At almost 8 months pregnant, she was moving remarkably quick.
"Ari. Aryn. Aryn!" Finn immediately became alert behind as we turned to her.
"Bugger off, you bloody asshole!" Finn let go of my, quickly moving to his baby sister's side.
"Aribear, what's wrong?" Logan had caught up by now.
"Aryn, would you let me explain!"
"No! You want to know what's wrong, Finn? Ask that dickhead of a friend of yours!" She stormed off once more. Finn was torn as what to do. Run after his sister, or grill Logan. I helped him out. Quickly kissing him, I ran out after Aryn. Logan's face was priceless at that.
"What was that?" I heard him ask.
"What did you do to my sister, mate?" And Finn did not sound happy.
I found Aryn out in the tea room. She was watching the storm stirring, it would start soon. Lightning was already flashing off in the distance. But the down pour already started inside. Tears ran down Aryn's face.
"Ari? Are you alright?"
"He… I can't believe him!"
"What happened?" I asked gently. Being as observant as I am, I noticed her slightly labored breath and her hand placed firmly on her stomach.
"He… he told me he loved me… after we'd… slept together the first time. But when he went back to America… he was still the slut he's always been."
"How did you find out?"
"A girl called. She was wondering when he was coming back. She was in the mood for him. It didn't even faze her that another girl answered his phone. He swore to me, Rory. He swore. No more one night stands. That he'd be faithful. I didn't expect him to be perfect. One here, one there. But not like he used to be. But I went through his phone after that. Texts, voicemails, recent calls. There were tons of them. Even a few interesting pictures."
"Oh, Aryn." I wrapped her in a huge hug.
"He's just like that fucker of his cousin." She sniffed, but I hadn't much of a clue what she was talking about. All I knew was Logan was not very high on my list of favorite people. In fact, he was a few steps above Tristan.
The doorbell sounding through the house caught our attention. I excused myself to get the door, as I could hear Finn and Logan screaming at each other.
However, when I opened the door, what I found was not what I was expecting. A girl around Finn's age stood with a very disgusted look on her face.
"Wow, Logan's even screwing them here?"
"Excuse me?" Who the hell was this girl? Aryn had waddled out to the foyer by now.
"Rose?" Aryn seemed so shocked to see this girl. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quiet place it. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Finn." She said as she hugged the younger girl. My mind went into overdrive. Why did she want to see Finn? Having now taken in her appearance: way too tight jeans, and a thin, see-through sweater, her fiery hair intrigued me. Was she related to them?
"Oh."
Silence followed as we heard Finn and Logan yelling even louder.
"Do you think he'll kill him?" I asked only mildly concerned.
"I hope not." Aryn replied similarly.
"Who is that?"
"Logan and Finn."
"Jesus Christ, Finn! Ow!" We heard Logan scream. We all made our way to the kitchen quickly.
Finn held Logan up by his shirt against the wall. Logan had a bloody nose, and looked scared shitless. Finn looked ready to murder him. While the other two dared not to move near him, I naively took my chances.
"Finn." I coaxed placing my hand on his arm, which was tense with the amount of energy and strength it took to hold Logan up. I barely registered the shocked and concerned looks I received. "Finn, don't hurt him anymore. Really, he's not worth killing and going to jail for..." One could say I'd had practice with this particular situation. My best friend Jess tried to kill Tristan. Logan had exclaimed a soft 'hey' but was generally ignored. Finn dropped Logan to the floor, resounding in a small thud, followed by an ow. That Rose girl knelt beside him, seeing as Aryn was too busy glaring at him.
Finn had put his arms around me, burying his face into my shoulder. He mumbled a soft thank you against my throat.
"Ah, shit! What the fuck, Rose?" Logan cried. This brought our attention back to the situation at hand. "I know it's broken! You don't have to touch it!"
"But you love having it touched!" Aryn muttered bitterly.
"Ew!" Rose cried. Aryn and I rolled our eyes. I finally looked up at Finn. His body had gone tense and rigid, his eyes became cold and stoic.
"Finn? You okay?" He didn't answer. He just kept staring at her. I was getting very jealous, very quick. "Okay, since I have no idea who you are, and Finn isn't functioning. I'm Rory, who are you?"
"Rose, Finn's girlfriend." I must have looked like an idiot right then. I was baffled, why would a girlfriend be okay with another girl hanging on her boyfriend? And what did she mean girlfriend?
"Girlfriend?" I asked.
"Yeah, girlfriend." She replied snippily. I looked up at Finn, but he wouldn't look at either of us. I looked to Aryn for help, but she just looked away as well. I tried Finn one last time, "Finn?" I finally made eye contact with Logan who looked so remorseful at not being able to disrepute the fact. "Of course!" I backed away from Finn. "How could I think you'd be any different!" With that, I ran.
Again, Finn had been torn. I heard him call after me, but he wasn't the one to track me down, Logan was. I'd given up running, and sank down to the floor in a random hallway crying. Just as Logan reached me, lightening flashed, thunder rolled, and the lights went out.
-
-
Logan asked if I was okay. Of course I was! I'd just had my heart broken, again! He wrapped his arms around me in a friendly hug as I began crying into his shoulder. "He's just like Tristan! You're just like Tristan! My god, this is why I was supposed to stay away from society boys."
"Hey, at least I'm not running away from my mistake like Tris did. I'm here for her. My cousin just jumped at the chance to go to Military School to avoid it all." I stiffened.
"Your what?"
"My cousin, Tristan DuGrey. I assume you know how he got his 'Mary' pregnant, although you probably know her really name, whatever."
"Your, your cousin? Does Finn know him?"
"Yeah, Finn knows all about it." I was pissed. I was beyond pissed actually.
With my anger fueling me, and stormed away from Logan, who was frantically calling after me, trying to keep up.
"Rory, what are you doing? Why does it matter if Finn knows? Rory? Rory!" Amazingly, although I still get lost during the day, right now, in the pitch black except for the lightening, I made my way right back to the kitchen. I could hear them arguing.
"I told you not to come for a reason, Rose!"
"Well, maybe if you actually answered my calls, you could have explained it to me!"
"I didn't want to talk to you! I told you that the morning you called last week!"
"I'm so sorry you were in love and I wasn't! Did you ever think what that meant to me? We all have one door we're going to be pushed through, and we try to live it up as much as we can before then! Not everyone is Colin and Steph. Not everyone can go from being Friends with Benefits to being in love like them! I care about you, Finn. But you scared me when you said that-" I didn't care that she was still screaming at him. When I entered the kitchen I started yelling at him myself, effectively cutting her off.
"You knew! You bastard, you knew! Why didn't you tell me!" I was close to crying. Actually, I think I was.
"Tell you what, kitten?" He sounded so confused, so drained.
"You knew about Tristan! Before I told you, you knew! Why didn't you tell me! I know you were able to put the pieces together!" I screamed at him.
"Rory, love-"
"No, don't. I don't want to hear anymore excuses. I'm done getting hurt, Finn. Just, leave me alone! As soon as this storm is gone, so am I. On the first flight back to Stars Hollow, far away from you." Once again I left the room.
"Rory. Rory!" Finn was calling after me. I heard Rose call him, they weren't finished yet. "Fuck off, Rose. Rory!" He was running after me as I ran into the library. I tried to close the door and lock him out, but he caught the door and forced his way in. "Rory." He said pleadingly.
Tears were pouring down my face as the lightening illuminated the room and my face to him.
"I'm sorry, I just- what was I supposed to say? 'Oh, yeah, that's Logan's cousin. Wow, I guess they are really related! By the way, I know he knocked you up and you lost the baby.' Huh, Ror? Was I supposed to tell you I knew you weren't telling me everything? Was I supposed to tell you I know why you froze last night? Because you were scared? Because you still don't believe that I do want to be with you, not just fuck you?"
"Oh really, what about your girlfriend out there, Finn? A girl from High School, huh? Look who altered the truth!"
"This isn't about that, right now..." He replied weakly.
"No, it is. That's what started this! Because you never told me about her I looked like an ass when she introduced herself as your girlfriend while your arm was around me."
"Exactly! Around you! Not her. That was over a month ago with her. She made her choice, I moved on. I moved on to you! I've spent the last week going out of my mind as to why you were so willing that day but than the next you were complete avoiding me!"
"Obviously she changed her mind! And you can't just fall out of love in a month... believe me, I've tried!"
"Yes you can! Especially when you fall in love with someone else!" Everything stopped. Our screaming. The thunder. Everything. I didn't know how to react to that. But as quickly as everything had stilled, it came back like a tidal. A deafening clap of thunder resounded, followed by a faint scream. A moment later, Logan was yelling for us. With one last look at me, Finn dashed out of the room with me right behind him.
-
-
Aryn was having contractions. As if that day couldn't have gotten any worse. She still had 5 weeks until the baby was due, but with all the stress, she was going into labor early. Logan sat holding her, telling her how sorry he was. Telling her he loved her. Apparently, he just didn't bother to even answer the phone or check the messages and voicemails, something Aryn had overlooked. While he had a bunch of recent calls from these girls, they were either missed, or lasted the two seconds it took for him to hang up. The voicemails and text messages were all unheard and unread. She overreacted, being hormonal and all.
We'd tried to call an ambulance or something, but we couldn't get through on our cell phones. By the time we finally realized we could still use a land line as long as it wasn't a portable phone, the storm had gotten to it's worst point yet. It would take an ambulance an hour to get to us. There were three accidents in the area, one with another pregnant woman.
So we sat. I'd say patiently, but it was anything but. Finn held me to him. We hadn't so much made up as we had called a momentary truce. All of our focus was on Aryn at the moment. We were scared. None of us knew how to deliver a baby if it came.
"Rory? Finn? Logan? Aryn? Where are you guys?" We heard Stephanie yell through the house.
"Steph?" I called back. Finn and I made our way to where the voice was coming from.
"What the hell is going on?" A grumpy Colin asked.
"Well, there's a storm raging outside if you hadn't noticed, hence no lights." Finn replied sarcastically.
"Really, I never would have guessed!"
"Where have you two been?"
"Sleeping." Steph replied.
"Oh, well, to catch you up on all the days events: One of Logan's form bed mates sent Aryn into a rampage, she went through his phone, thought he was being unfaithful. While I was yelling at him, and occasionally trying to kill him, Rose showed up. Rory got pissed at me, Rose and I started arguing while Logan went after Rory just as the power went out, Rose and I started screaming at each other, Logan accidentally informed Rory of certain knowledge I possessed, Rory came back to the kitchen, screamed at me, ran out again, I chased her into the library where we screamed at each other, then Logan started yelling for us because Aryn's having contractions. Wow, that's a lot of screaming. How the bloody hell did you sleep through all that?"
Steph shrugged. "Colin snores, and the thunder..." Colin protested with an indignant, 'hey'. "Anyway," she moved the conversation foreword, "Aryn's having contractions? Why did no one come get me! Going to school to be a nurse, remember? Where is she?"
We led her into the living room where we had assembled. Finn sat in a chair, bringing me into his lap, while Colin took a seat next to Rose, who looked beyond uncomfortable. If she hadn't ruined my perfect day with Finn, I might have felt bad for her.
"How are you sweetie?" Steph asked Aryn.
"Um, in pain?" She replied smartly.
"Right, sorry. Okay, take deep breaths. I know it seems stupid, but seriously. Like this now, he, he, who... sounding. Good. How far apart are they?"
"About 10 minutes."
"Damn. Did you call an ambulance by any chance?"
"They won't be here for another 30 at least." Logan sighed.
"Okay, we need to be prepared to deliver this kid if need be. Finn, can you go get me some towels? Logan, go get a bowl of water and wash cloth or something, okay? Colin, get us some button downs we can ruin. Rory, Rose, I'm sure you don't like one another very much, but Huns, get over it, I'm going to need your help to deliver this thing. I know for a fact that neither Finn or Colin will want to help and Logan will be busy with Aryn's upper half." Everything kind of happened in a blur at that point.
-
-
The storm was dying down but chaos was still reigning inside. Aryn's contractions were very close. Steph said the baby would be coming soon. The hospital called at one point to let us know the ambulance would be there in about 20 minutes. However, 20 minutes wasn't long enough for little Aryn to wait to be born. Aryn cried out in immense pain, and Steph swore. "The baby's head is showing!" We quickly got ready to deliver. Aryn was pushing with all her might. Finally we heard crying, and out had come little Aryn. With one more push she was out completely. Just as we were getting ready to cut the umbilical cord, a loud, urgent knocking sounded against the door. The ambulance finally arrived.
The EMT's cut the cord for us, and quickly put Aryn and the baby in the ambulance to be taken to the hospital, along with Logan, who looked as white as a ghost. We piled into the SUV, Colin driving, as he was the only one not shell shocked from it all. Unfortunately, that forced Finn, Rose and I into the back seat. Steph apologized for this later, but still, the damage was done.
"Did my little sister really just have her baby?" Finn asked after a while.
"Yeah..." I replied, laying my head on his shoulder. He laid his head against mine, grabbing my hand.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you."
"No, I'm sorry. I over reacted. I wasn't being completely honest, why should you have been? And you're right. How would you have said anything? Things would have just been completely weird after that."
"So, are we good? Can we go back to this morning?" I smiled
"Yeah." I titled my head as he leaned down to brush his lips over mine. A frustrated groan came from the other side of Finn. We'd forgotten Rose was there.
"I should also apologize to you, Rose. It wasn't fair of me to do that to you. But it also wasn't fair of you to show up out of nowhere when I asked you not to come. Especially not after our last face to face encounter."
"Finn-"
"No, Rose, I get it. Okay? I really don't want to hear about why you ran from me and into Robert's bed." He replied cynically.
"You slept with Robert?" Stephanie and Colin exclaimed at the same time. I squeezed Finn's hand a little.
"Hey, I was desperate, and drunk at that point!"
"At least it wasn't that Doyle guy..." Steph shuddered at her thought.
"Speaking of alcohol.. I could use a bloody drink right now!"
"How are you holding up, right now?" Colin asked.
"Well, I've had my girlfriend scream at me, break up with me, and get back together with me, then I had my ex-girlfriend also screaming at me, bringing up bad memories, and causing aforementioned break up with current girl, my baby sister almost had me kill her boyfriend who happens to be one of me best mates, then she went into labor and we had to deliver the baby... how the bloody hell do you think I'm holding up without alcohol?" Now, I know that our day has been retold about seven hundred times it seems like, but really, it was.
Even without Finn' long reminders of our day, we all knew what happened, it was all looming over us. Although, Colin choose to comment on the one piece of information only Finn was privy to before.
"Girlfriend, huh?" Expressing my own inner questions as well.
"Well, uh, we still have a lot to talk about, and go through, but... uh." Finn was blushing. It was utterly adorable too.
"Yes, his girlfriend, Colin." I decided to save him from the hell that Colin would put him through.
"Congrats." Colin replied, unsure of how to actually answer that.
"About bloody time." Steph exasperated. 'Oh, too much time in the Morgan household."
"What's that suppose to mean?" I asked, referring to the earlier statement.
"I said bloody, like Finn and Aryn and Gramps do. Happens every time I'm around them for too long."
"Hey, now!" Finn cried.
"I meant, what was the 'About bloody time' about?"
"Oh! Sorry. Just since you first got here, there has been soooo much sexual tension between you two, and then the whole avoiding thing. I really didn't expect it to take Finn a week to actually point out that you were avoiding him. For once in his life, the boy was slow." At this point I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "But really that's a good thing. He kept coming back for more. Normally after the second day he would have walked away or gotten her piss ass drunk to confess why she wouldn't sleep with him. Wait, you didn't get her drunk did you?" Steph turned in her seat to glare at Finn with a raised eyebrow.
"Doll, for once in my life I've actually confronted my problem, sober."
"Yeah! I love you, Rory."
"I love you, too, Steph." It amazed me, I'd only been here a bout a month, and here I was, with a new best friend. Aryn, Steph and I had all gotten very close. While Aryn and I were just about the same, Steph was different, and a fun change. I'd acquired almost a sister in Aryn, and a new best friend in Stephanie.
having finally reached the hospital, we all ambled out. Finn reached for my hand as we walked.
-
-
About an hour later, all the tests were done, Aryn was sleeping, and Logan had come to retrieve us. We went to the nursery to see Little Aryn. As we crowded the window, everyone's hearts kind of collectively melted as the nurse showed us Aryn Amelia Huntzburger
At some point someone remembered our grandparents and parents and we all phoned them to let them know the great news. However, when Mr. Rothchild entered, he was not pleased to see Logan standing next to his daughter, holding a tiny pink bundle.