I don't own Gilmore Girls!
Thanks for the reviews!
To My Readers,
So many of you have taken the time to ready my story and also to review! Thank you so much! They mean the world to me! Not to make excused but I am currently raising my child, working full time, going to school part time and of course dealing with the fact that my husband is deployed. So again thank you so, so, so much for sticking with my story and bearing with me! Hopefully I will have this finished soon!
~Jillyan
The limo slowly came to a stop in front of the impressive Hayden Manor. Logan, Colin, Finn, Stephanie and Rory had their jaws drop at the site of the home. It looked like a castle something that belong on the other side of the pond!
"Guys, you can quit gawking. We do have to get inside you know." Laughed Bella at her new friends
"Right!" Smiled Rory snapping out of her shock as quickly as possible
The three couples walked towards the main door, when it was quickly opened revealing a butler
"Good Evening Miss Hayden. Your parents are in the lounge." Smiled the butler
"Thank you William." Bella smiled as she led her friends to her parents figuring she might as well get the introductions.
"Mother, father…." Smiled Bella her society smile firmly in place
"Isabella." Nodded Strobe to his daughter
"Father, this is Logan Huntzberger and his date Stephanie Vanderbilt, You of course know Lorelai Gilmore, and her boyfriend Colin McCrae and this is my date Phineas Morgan. " Introduced Bella even though she was sure they had met at least one event
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. Now run along dear." Smiled Francine
With a nod the group disappeared. They knew that they would have to socialize at some point or another throughout the night but right now all they wanted was a nice stiff drink! They found the perfect place to sit and ordered one of the waiters to keep the drinks coming… being a Hayden most certainly had it perks.
"Rory Look!" Smiled Bella
Rory looked to where Bella was pointing and was shocked. There were her mother and father walking in arm and arm followed by her Gilmore Grandparents.
"Mom! Dad!" Rory called with a smile
"Hey squirt!" Laughed Christopher as he hugged his daughter
The rest of the Yale group watched shifting from side to side. Most of the parents they were around would never be caught dead acting that way with their children. After all children where just meant to be raised to take over the company.
"Mom, dad you guys know Colin, this is Logan Huntzberger his date Stephanie Vanderbilt, You guys know Bella and this is Finn Morgan" Smiled Rory to her parents as she introduced those who were slowly becoming some of her greatest friends
"Morgan? As in Captain Morgan?" Questioned Lorelai
"That would be me darling!" Laughed Finn
"OOOO and he's exotic! Hunny why were you holding out on mommy!" Laughed Lorelai as she advanced on Finn
"Rory, Love… save me?" Asked Finn
"Sorry Finny!" Laughed Rory
"Alrighty Lorelai hands off!" Laughed Bella as she grabbed Finn's hand and acted as the human shield
"Christopher! She is being mean! Tell her she has to share the hottie with an accent!" Pouted Lorelai as she started to pretend cry
"Oh really Lorelai! Please behave!" Scoffed Emily as she dragged Richard away to say hello to their hosts
"Its always been more fun to misbehave." Laughed Lorelai as she and Christopher walked towards his parents
Rory watched her mother and father walk off laughing. She turned to her date and friends and was waiting to see what the next move was going to be.
"So, I am thinking that we are going to form a sub-party." Smiled Bella as she looped arms with Stephanie and Rory and led the way towards another room
The sub-party was formed. The alcohol was flowing and they were well on their ways to forgetting who they were and who they represented! The sub party lasted till the "adult" party ended and the 6 drunken young adults stumbled their way back to their limo and back to the hotel that Bella had insisted that they stay at.
~ The Next Morning~
Bella was awoken by the most annoying ringing noise. Attempting to find it and stop it from interrupting her wonderful sleep she carelessly flopped her hand out. When she earned a humpf in return her eyes snapped open, mouth formed a perfect O as she stared at one Finn Morgan.
"Love, quiet please… the evil yellow ball is still up." Whined Finn
"Finn where is my phone?" Asked Bella as she realized that was in fact the culprit to waking her up
"Dunno love, but I suppose I am not going back to bed now am i?" Asked Finn sadly
"No." She laughed as she finally found her phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Belly, Lorelai and I are heading out soon. We thought we would take you kiddies out to breakfast beforehand… However no one is answering their phones. Any idea why?" Asked Christopher with a laugh
"Yes because you're annoying and we are hung over." Responded a grumpy Bella
"My daughter would not be hung over." Announced Lorelai through the phone
"If you say so. May I return to the comfortable arms that are awaiting me in my bed now? Or do you have more to say?" Asked Bella with an attitude
"Arms? Bed? What! Bella I am on my way over there!" Exclaimed Christopher panicking going into big brother mode and of course realizing that his daughter could be in a similar state entering protective daddy mode.
"Nigh, night Chrissy." Laughed Bella as she followed Finn back to the comforts of her bed.
"Perfect love."
Just as the two were entering the dream realm they heard banging on the front door of the suite. Knowing it was her annoying older brother Bella attempted to hide herself in Finn's arms.
"Love, I don't think that he is going away."
"Ugh trust me Finn give him 5 minutes and either security will be called or even better he will realize he has no idea where Rory is." Smirked Bella as she rolled to face Finn
Sure enough 5 minutes the banging stopped and they heard frantic banging several doors down. Laughing the two fell back into a blissful slumber.
~Rory
Opening her eyes slowly she realized just how much she would rather be laying in her boyfriend's arms rather than dealing with whatever was causing the banging at her hotel room door.
"Colin… makes it stop!" Rory whined as she attempted to push him out of the bed and towards the door.
"Seriously Ror?" Laughed Colin as he slowly started to wake up
"Door evil!"
Laughing Colin walked towards their hotel door.
"Alright, alright hold your horses! I'm coming!" Colin called as he approached the door
Now normally Colin is much more aware of his surroundings, but sadly for him this morning was one of those few that slipped through the cracks. As he opened the door he became painfully aware of the fact that he was now standing in front of his girlfriend's parents in nothing more than his boxers.
Lorelai didn't know whether to laugh or panic. She of course knew what was going on between Colin and Rory. She wasn't stupid they had been together for several months. Part of her wanted to laugh at the look of horror on the young man's face the other part of her the mother part knew she needed to defuse Christopher before he said something that caused their daughter to never speak to him again.
"Colin be a doll and go get our daughter." Smirked Lorelai as she dragged Christopher over to the sitting room portion of the hotel room.
"Whose here Col?" Asked Rory as she peaked her head out from the covers
"Your parents."
That simple statement sent Rory into a craze. Running around as quick as possible she dressed, applied minimal make up and was ready to go. Colin, at a much slower pace, followed her example. Soon the young couple was face to face with her parents. And for the first time in Colin's life he was actually nervous. He knew that no amount of money that he had would buy his way out of this.
Lorelai had always known that she had the worst timing as far as when to make a joke that was right or completely out of left field. Walking into the lavish hotel room that housed her daughter and her boyfriend seemed like the perfect time to crack a joke.
"Mommy taught you so well, hiding out in a fancy hotel with your boy toy."
"Really mom?" Rory asked as her cheeks turned red.
"Well it was either that or the lecture." She shrugged
"So what was the point of the rude wake up call?" Asked Rory as she tried to stifle a yawn
"Lore and I wanted to take you kids out to breakfast. I still have a baby sister to save but I figured you two can handle waking up the rest of your friends."
With that Christopher stood up and walked back to his sisters door to continue his banging until and very annoyed Hayden opened the door with a death glare.
"Breakfast 10 Minutes. You too lover boy!"
Bella rolled her eyes as she turned to her boyfriend and started getting ready.
"Love, do we really have to? I'd much rather stay here with you" Finn whispered as he pulled her closer to him
"Sorry Finny but we do."
Twenty-five minutes later the whole group was sitting in the hotel restaurant cursing the Hayden-Gilmore parents. While Rory may have the coolest parents in society no one really enjoys waking up with a hangover due to a pissed off father who has decided to torture his daughter and her friends.
Lorelai just watched the group of youngsters and couldn't help but think of how this could have been her life. She could have been the one being dragged to some society event and required to handle breakfast the next morning with parents. In her mind at least her and Chris where cool parents.
The rest of the breakfast was as smoothly as could be. All the time Rory was watching the way that her friends and family were interacting with each other. It was the best thing she could have pictured. Gradually everyone started going their own ways.
The group had returned to Yale not long after the party and things seemed to be progressing as normal. Logan was having his crazy flings, Stephanie was making everyone crazy with her shopping, Rory was obsessing over her school work and of course the YDN, Colin to was focusing on school. The only real change came in the form of Isabella Hayden and Phineas Morgan, somehow they had become a couple.
Several months passed and soon finals where upon them. They all knew that Rory was going to be battening down the hatches soon and going into her hermit study mode, so together they decided on one last crazy fun night before she disappeared for the next two weeks.
The pub was crazy. Apparently they weren't the only ones that had decided to let lose before they hit the books. Colin, Rory, Logan, Candy (Logan's flavor of the night), Stephanie, Brently (Stephanie's flavor of the week) and Finn were sitting around waiting for Bella to show up. Several hours passed and there was no sign of Bella. Rory was starting to get worried about her aunt. She may not have known the women for very long but somehow over the last couple of months she became almost as important as her own mother.
"Col, I'm going to run to Bella's quick, she probably lost her phone again." Laughed Rory tryin to shake off the feeling of unease
"Do you want me to come with?"
"No you don't have to." Smiled Rory as she stood ready to exit the pub
"I'll come with love. It'll make Colin feel better knowing you have a big strong man with you!" Laughed Finn though in truth he was just as worried about his girlfriend as her niece was.
The group stayed at the pub waiting for them to return.
"Colin you know what I just realized?" Asked Logan with a smirk
"What?" Deadpanned Colin knowing he was not going to like where this was going
"If Finn and Bells get married… and you and Ace get married… Finn would be your uncle!" Cried Logan as he started laughing hysterically causing many others around him to laugh as well.
Colin just stared at his soon to be ex-best friend in horror. Heaven forbid it get to that stage! He could only imagine the jokes, the comments and the horror that he would feel at having Rory introduce people to her aunt and uncle and the field day that Finn would have with that small piece of information. The laughing died down and eventually Colin's phone started playing a song that he knew was only there because of his wonderful girlfriend.
"Hey Ror you guys on…" Colin stopped, "What do you mean gone?"
Colin know had everyone's attention and the worry was starting to overpower the alcohol that was flowing.
"Alright, yes, yes we will be right there." Hanging up his phone he turned to the table, "Bella is gone. We have to get to her dorm now."
Without response Colin took off towards his distraught girlfriend. It only took a few minutes for the other to follow and eventually catch up with him. Entering the hallways of Bella's dorm they could feel the doom and gloom vibes.
"Ror?" Colin asked softly as he pushed Bella's door open
The sight that greeted the small group was depressing. Finn was sitting in the middle of the floor clutching what looked like a letter sobbing while Rory tried her hardest to get him to calm down. Stephanie quickly replaced Rory allowing her to seek comfort in her boyfriend's arms.
"What happened?"
"We came in and all her stuff was gone. There were two notes." Sniffled Rory as she handed the note over to someone
"Rory,
By the time you are reading this you will have realized that I am not in fact meeting you at the pub. In fact you probably wont see me for a very long time. You're the best niece I could have asked for and I am so very thankful for everything you and our friends have shown and taught me.
Ror, do me a favor, look after Finn. If he wants to share his letter you might understand better but if he chooses not to, please don't force him. Just be there for him and don't let him forget how much I love him.
I will miss all of you guys.
Love you all
Bella." Logan finished the letter and they were all very, very confused.
"Finn. I know Bella said not to ask you, but man what is going on?" Asked Colin
Finn was inconsolable but he refused to let the letter leave his hands. Walking back to his dorm he walked into his room and slammed the door shut. The other just watched with varying looks of pity.
Together the group finished out their junior year at Yale. As the summer came about they each got ready for their own thing. Logan was off to avoid his responsibility to his work, Stephanie was on a mandatory girls shopping spree or so she claimed, Rory and Colin where going to visit some of Rory's relatives and Finn, well no one really knew what he was going to be doing. They assumed though that it would be looking for Bella.
"How are you doing Ror?" Colin asked after their plane had reached cursing attitude
"Fine."
"Ror… Come on its me! How are you really?"
"Angry, confused, and a whole lot of other things. How could she just leave like that? And why wouldn't Finn tell us what was in the freaking letter! Bella wasn't just my aunt she is my friend too. I don't like being worried about her." Rory sighed laying her head on Colin's shoulder
"Im sure she had a good reason Ror."
The two sat in silence for much of the remainder of the flight. After an uneventful flight they reached their destination. A summer in England meant a summer of unknown weather, museums and of course checking out the hottest night life, or so Colin thought.
"So since you didn't let me plan anything," Colin sent a glare her way, "Where exactly are we going to be staying?"
"With my grandfather's sister."
Colin continued to ask questions without and success of an answer and before he knew it they were pulling into the gates that protected a beautiful, large English mansion. The grounds were large and extremely well kept, the house was white with such a grand feel to it that Colin almost felt intimidated by it. As they came to a stop in front of the grand staircase Colin smiled as he watched Rory's eyes light up with excitement and she rushed from the car.
"Auntie Grace!" Smiled Rory as she rushed towards the elderly woman
"Oh Lorelai darling just look at you!"
The two continued their little conversation which to Colin appeared to be the readers digest version of them catching up on everything that had happened sicne the last time they were together.. which apparently it had been awhile. Then finally Rory seemed to remember him.
"Oh how horrible of me! Auntie Grace this is my boyfriend Colin McCrea, he is from Hartford too and we both are at Yale. Colin this I my great Aunt, Lady Grace Kent." Smiled Rory as the connection between the title and her family came into play across Colin's face.
"Umm it is a pleasure to meet you…." He looked at Rory for help
"Please call my Aunt Grace, though since you are obvious a polite young man, my lady would be the correct term." Laughed Grace as she locked arms with Rory and Colin and dragged them both into the house.
Rory and Colin spent the summer not only exploring England and having a good time, but also attending Royal functions, meeting people that Colin never in a million years expected to meet or socialize with. He smirked every time he thought about how his father would react to finding out just who he had spent his summer rubbing elbows with. At once party Rory and him were even introduced to Prince Harry!
But like all good things, their summer together was coming to a close. Their last junior year at Yale was around the corner. (A/N I decided that they should all be the same age!) Leaving London was harder than Rory thought it would be after all not only was she leaving a favorite family member she was also going back to sharing Colin with his crazy friends. She also knew that it would raise questions about what happened to her aunt. Questions that no one seemed to know the answers to.
Oh wow! I can honestly say I did not think I would get this one out! But I have had so many great reviews that I really do want to try to finish this one for you guys!
Now with Bella I can either keep her out and have you briefly find out why, and do a separate story about what happened there, or I can mash it into this one… let me know your thoughts!
Thank you again for sticking with this story!
~Jillyan