Chapter 15: Sophomore slump or comeback of the year
Rory thought she arrived at the church in good time, but Stephanie thought otherwise, apparently. "Where the hell have you been" she almost shrieked at Rory, as she entered the room.
"What? I'm on time, I checked my watch like a million times, Steph" Rory defended.
"I've just spent three hours alone with my mother, without anything to drink at all! I'm going insane!"
"Oh… Well I'm sorry, I was out getting an early morning coffee with Finn…"
"Tell me everything and I'll forgive you" Stephanie said with a huge smile. "You know… You look different… Yeah, there is definitely something a little different about you."
"Well, I'm not wearing makeup" Rory offered, not sure she was liking the direction of the conversation.
"You got that freshly fucked face going on" Stephanie hooted. "Oh I knew it! You and Finn…" She made a rather rude gesture with her hands.
"Steph, we are not talking about this now!"
"Alright fine, be a buzz-kill. Did you talk?"
"Yeah we did. It was good."
"That's great! So what are you gonna do when Finn goes back home? Are you and Daniel coming with him?"
"Oh… Well, we didn't really…"
"Because Finn will probably want to spend some time with Daniel in Australia, show Daniel where he grew up, teach him how to surf, stuff like that. And with the holiday season coming up…"
Stephanie was blabbering a mile a minute and it was making Rory's head spin. Yeah, she and Finn had talked, but apparently they hadn't talked about anything important like they should have done. Finn had talked a little about his troublesome past and what he did when he got back home after graduating Yale. Rory had mostly talked about Daniel, shown him some pictures. They had gotten to know each other again, but they hadn't actually talked about themselves as parents to a child or how Finn would figure out his new role in life. "We haven't talked about that."
Stephanie sat down and gave Rory a serious look. "I know it's not my place, Rory, but you need to figure this out. And… I sided with once, so I think I owe Finn this: he called off his engagement to give this a chance and he lost out on seeing Daniel grow up. I think you need to be a little flexible this time around." She held up her hand, as Rory was about to protest. "I'm not saying quit your job and move down under or something like that, but maybe you could take some time off and help Daniel and Finn get to know each other? And trust me, Australia is amazing, you'll love it! Lots of hot surfer dudes with funny accents."
"You know you just described Finn, right?"
"Well, trust me, you'll love him being all surfer dude too. Just promise me you'll give this a chance and not run screaming the other way when things get a little complicated. Because they will!"
"When did you get so wise" Rory asked, trying to lighten the mood a little. She needed a good dose of reality and Stephanie had willingly given it to her, but that didn't mean it was easy to hear.
"Marriage will do that to you. That, and make you go all bitter and angry. At least, that's what happened to my parents."
"Is it still bad" Rory asked.
"Pretty bad, yeah… They're not speaking to each other right now and we've had to change the seating arrangements three times already. It's a nightmare, they make Colin's parents look good!"
"That bad huh? Steph I'm sorry, if there is anything I can do…"
"Just make this thing with Finn work out, ok? And keep my mother at bay while I empty a bottle of vodka."
"Steph, I'm not letting you stumble down the aisle… And when are the other bridesmaids getting here?"
"They'll be here shortly. And um… I should probably tell you that one of them, Whitney, is a former… acquaintance of Finn's."
"This isn't gonna be Logan's sister's wedding all over again, is it? Where pretty much everyone except the bride has slept with my boyfriend?"
"Oh my god, are you calling him your boyfriend? That's so cute" Stephanie cooed. "And well, technically I've slept with Finn as well. But no, it'll just be you, me and Whitney."
"Great" Rory mumbled. She had forgotten that Finn and Stephanie had slept together the first year of college and honestly, she preferred it that way. It wasn't that she was mad at them, she couldn't really seeing as it happened way before she met them, but it felt a little weird and she hoped they weren't gonna share "notes" on the experience.
"Look, I know it's a little weird, but… It's in the past, I just mentioned the thing with Whitney because she used to be like obsessed with Finn, so she might say something. Now you won't be surprised if she does."
"Gee thanks…" Rory sighed. "Let's get you in the dress."
Two hours, five attempted escapes by Stephanie, at least a dozen insults from one Whitney Whitetrash and several drinks later, Stephanie was in her dress and ready to go.
"He'll be there, right?"
"Who?" Rory looked around, wondering who Stephanie was referring to.
"Colin! He'll be there, right?"
"Be where?"
"At the altar!"
"Of course he will" Rory reassured Stephanie. When she didn't look reassured, Rory offered to call Finn and make sure the groom was indeed where he was supposed to be.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are not supposed to be calling me now, are you" Finn asked, as he answered his phone.
"Steph is freaking out. She actually tried to squeeze herself out of the bathroom window. She just want to be sure Colin is standing at the altar when she arrives at the church."
"So far we've only had one serious attempt to escape. Tristan and me tackled him before he got to the door."
"Good. So he'll be there?"
"He will be at the altar, looking a little less dapper than his devilishly handsome best man." Rory could almost picture Finn smiling into the phone as he said it. "I had fun this morning."
"Me too… We should um… Talk, later, I think. About some things."
"Sounds ominous, love."
Before she could answer, there was a scuffle on Finn's end and muffled voice yelled out and then he hung up. She stared at the phone a few moments, before remembering this really wasn't about her right now, it was about getting Stephanie down that aisle before she passed out or knocked out a bridesmaid trying to escape.
The wedding came and went without any major accidents. One of the bridesmaid slapped Logan on the way out of the church and Rory noticed that Stephanie had actually strapped a flask to her right thigh an was now guzzling down booze. Rory sighed, but at least they both made it down the aisle and said their "I do's" before hitting the liquor. And as Tristan so joyfully yelled when everyone had exited the church: "It's party time!"
The hotel where they party was being held was beautifully decorated and somehow, the waiters even managed to keep all the fighting parents apart. Rory hoped that whoever was paying for the wedding party would give the waiters a hefty bonus, they were certainly kept busy.
"Hello Rory."
Rory almost jumped at the sound of her grandmother. She had completely forgotten that her grandparents were invited to the wedding. "Hey grandma. How are you?"
"Oh just fine, thank you for asking." Her tone worried Rory, who just smiled a little. "Especially since you couldn't be bothered to answer your phone, even though I called you at least a dozen times to ask you about those horrid pictures on the internet of you and some man."
Rory swallowed. "Oh yeah… I um… I've just been busy with the wedding, you know. I'm sorry grandma, I meant to call you back, but…"
"But you didn't think it was important enough? Or that we needed to know what was going on in your life? After all, we only helped put you through Yale, we took you in when you had that fight with your mother, we helped you after you got yourself pregnant."
"Grandma please, I'm sorry you feel left out and I promise I will explain myself, but this is hardly the place" Rory said in a hushed tone. She took another deep breath. "His name is Finn and he's an old friend. I'll explain everything later, I promise."
"Fine…" Emily gave Rory a somewhat scary smile and turned on her heel to find Richard.
"That was a bit intense, wasn't it?"
"Ryder, you shouldn't sneak up on people" Rory said, hand over her heart.
"I'll wear my squeaky shoes next time" Ryder said with a dazzling smile. Rory imagined that if she hadn't been so intimidating, she would have been absolutely gorgeous. "So, the old folks giving you a hard time, eh?"
"Something like that. They've bailed me out a few times and now my grandmother feels entitled to know every little thing going on in my life."
"Well, they probably mean well. All grandparents do." Rory just nodded. "Have you looked over the legal papers I gave you?"
"No, I'm sorry, I've been busy."
"Doing my brother, yes I heard. Listen, I like you, but I love my brother, so if I have to twist your arm, I will."
Rory had no doubt she meant it. "You don't. I'll look them over and work things out with Finn." Rory fumbled a little with her hands. "What happened to Jane?"
"She went home" was Ryder's cryptic answer.
Finn had had a busy day. The day had started off great; spending time with Rory was nice and he was almost giddy about the prospect of finally getting some time with his son (he'd have to get used to using that word as well). He had expected Colin to be a little difficult before the wedding, but he had not expected Colin to almost knock out Logan and having a complete hissy fit in the bathroom. Honestly, Colin should have been born a woman, Finn thought with a smile. His thought were interrupted when someone cleared their throat in front of him.
"Finley, I presume?"
"Yes ma'am" he said, not immediately recognizing the woman.
"I'm Emily Gilmore, the grandmother of the girl you so very publicly had a tryst with."
"Oh… Right…" Finn suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, he could easily remember Emily Gilmore now. "And it's just Finn, please. Only my mother calls me Finley and only when she's angry with me" Finn said and tried to give the older woman a charming smile.
"Yes, well, I'm sure she's had plenty of opportunity for that" Emily said in a cold tone.
"Yes well…"
"I wanted to ask you what your intentions were, regarding my granddaughter." Before Finn could even begin to think about an answer, a tall man joined them. Finn guessed that would Richard Gilmore, Rory's grandfather.
"Finley, right" he asked.
"No Richard, just Finn. He obviously feels very comfortable around us" Emily said in a false tone.
"He's certainly emptied enough bottles of my fine scotch to feel comfortable" Richard lamented. "What are your intentions towards Rory?"
"I uh…" Finn stammered.
"You know she used to date Logan Huntzberger? She did, you know, for a long time" Emily said.
"And she has a young son. Rory is very responsible, she won't let just anyone into his life" Richard added.
"You know, you look just like one of those surfer-types you see on TV everyday. Are you one of those" Emily asked.
"Well, ma'am" Finn started, but was once again cut off.
"What exactly do you do? Because Rory does not spend time with people on welfare" Richard told him in a stern tone.
"And where on earth are you from, you look weird" Emily said.
"I am from Australia, ma'am" Finn finally managed to get in. "I uh… I went to Yale with Rory and uh…"
"You know, stuttering is such an unattractive characteristic" Emily said.
"I don't usually stutter" Finn muttered, frantically looking around for someone to help him get out of the situation, breathing a sigh of relief when he spotted Rory almost sprinting their way. She almost tackled Finn to the ground, before giving her grandparents a rather flustered smile. "Hey granddad, how are."
"I am just fine, Rory. I was just asking this young man who he was."
"He's Finn, an old friend from Yale" Rory said, still smiling nervously.
"That hardly explains why you were kissing him outside some seedy club" Emily said in a hushed tone, like it was some big secret. Rory imagined pretty much everyone in the room had at least heard of the pictures, if they hadn't actually seen them with their own eyes.
"Well um…" Rory tried to give Finn a look of reassurance, but he looked like he was about to face the firing squad. "Finn here is…" She gave him another look, but he was busy staring at his shoes. "He's um… Well, he's Australian" Rory offered rather lamely.
"And he stutters" Emily said, almost willing Rory or Finn to deny it.
"He does?" Rory shook her head. "Finn, um, Steph probably needs a little intervention right about now, go help her." Finn almost ran away from the little group and Rory felt more than a little embarrassed about everything.
"What a strange person" Richard said, looking at Finn's escape.
"He's probably just a little nervous. You can be a little intimidating."
"Well, I hardly think it's go much to ask to at least know who the man that our granddaughter is dating, is" Emily reasoned. Rory was just about to object, when Emily continued: "And since you didn't want to tell me anything…"
"Grandma, it's not like that." Rory sighed yet again, it was becoming pretty apparent that there was no getting out if this. "His name is Finn Morgan and…"
"Morgen? As in the Morgan-group" Richard asked, suddenly looking a lot more interested.
Rory, on the other hand, only looked confused. "I don't know. His father is sick, so he's running the company for now. And you know his grandparents, I think…"
"Really?" Now Emily looked interested as well. "Claire and John Morgan?"
"Yeah, so you know him, he just looks a little different now, without the sunglasses and nail polish and hangovers. Perhaps we can talk more about this another time? I don't want to steal the attention from Steph and Colin."
"Of course Rory" Emily said and finally managed to give her an actual smile.
Rory smiled back and went looking for Finn. She found him in the bar with Robert and Logan. "Hey, sorry about that,"
"Your grandmother hates me."
"Yes, but don't feel special, she hates a lot of people" Rory reasoned.
Finn snorted. "She made my third shrink seem like a nice person."
"You know, Emily always loved me" Logan snickered.
"Yeah she liked your money" Rory said. "Anyways, apparently you're a part of the Morgan group, whatever that is."
"Yes, it's this thing my family has" Finn said, not really feeling like explaining it.
"Well, they both really liked that and they know your grandparents, so I think you're in."
"Oh wow lucky me" Finn said, looking completely miserable.
"Finn I am so sorry, they're just overzealous" Rory said.
"Well, look at it this way" Logan laughed, "when you go back home, there'll be a whole ocean between you."
"Not enough" Finn muttered, downing the rest of his beer.
"This is why I don't date" Robert said.
"Robert, you don't date because you're huge tool" Finn snarked. "And we are not dating."
Rory had a feeling she looked like she had just been hit with a bucket of water, at least judging by the look Logan was giving her. "You sure about that Finn? Because Rory's face says differently" he pointed out.
"Maybe this is a conversation for later" Finn suggested.
"No, let it all out. So what are we, if we're not dating. Friends with benefits? Acquaintances? People who happen to just have a kid together?"
"What?" Both Logan and Robert looked shocked.
"Oh…"
Finn rose from his position and put an arm around Rory. "That, love, is what we call a major fuck up."
"What the hell, you two have a kid or what?" Logan sounded furious and seemed to be more than ready for a confrontation, while Robert had wisely taken off.
"Mate, if you want the whole bloody city to know, you have to yell a little louder" Finn said. "But yeah, we do."
"I can't believe this. Ace, what the hell? How could you do that?"
"Do what? It's not something I chose to do, it just happened. And it's not like you have any saying in what I do or don't do" Rory said.
"Some friend you are" Logan muttered to Finn and took off with his drink.
"Well, I think that went much better than suspected" Finn said with a smile. Rory, however, didn't look nearly as happy. "Oh, relax love, he'll calm down, trust me. Logan is all about the drama. He should have a Vegas show or something."
"We're not together?"
"Excuse me?"
"You just said that we aren't dating. So what are we" Rory asked.
"I believe you actually have to ask someone out on a date in order to actually be dating. And I haven't asked you anywhere. So I guess we're nothing, right now, except for the parenting thing, I take that quite serious. Love, I would love for us to be more, but unfortunately, inside this irresistible body lies a cold and realistic heart. I'll return to Australia at some point and I don't think you'll come with me. So as much as I would love for us to be more, I doubt neither of us is ready to make the necessary sacrifices it requires."
"So, what? That's it? You had fun this morning and that's it?" Rory was fighting the tears.
"Love, you're not listening…"
"No, I think I heard you just fine. Tell your sister I'll sign her papers and send them to her or something" Rory said in a small tone and walked away. It would be wrong to have a complete meltdown at her best friends wedding, to even bother said best friend with something like this, so instead Rory set out to find Paris.
"What happened?"
"I think Finn just broke up with me" Rory said, still trying not to cry.
"Are you alright?" Paris led her through the crowd and into the lobby of the hotel. "What happened?"
"We were just talking and I… I don't know, but he doesn't think we should be together and oh god…" Rory collapsed on a sofa and furiously wiped away the tears. "God, this is so stupid, I'm so stupid, all this is stupid. How could I even think for a second this thing between us would work out."
"Well obviously Finn is a huge idiot who needs to have his ass kicked" Paris said, handing Rory a Kleenex and three different pills. "You want me to kick his ass? Because I will, Rory, I swear I will. I will Krav Maga his ass all the way back to the outback!"
"No just… I feel so stupid right now. I really thought we had something…"
"What the hell is going on" a high-pitched voice interrupted them. Paris and Rory turned to look at Stephanie. "Why are you…. Oh my god, what did Finn do?"
"Steph, please go back to your party, we can talk about this later" Rory said, feeling even worse because Stephanie was standing in the lobby, dealing with her, instead of celebrating her first marriage, as Stephanie so fondly refered to it.
"I most certainly will not when my maid of honour is sitting out here, crying. What did he do?"
"He broke it off. Before it even began!"
"What? Why?"
Rory wiped her eyes with the Kleenex. "He said that there's no point in trying, when neither of us will give up our life and move. Which I suppose in some way is right, but… I guess I just thought…"
"I am going to kick his surfbumb ass well into next year" Stephanie raged.
"I think I'd prefer to just forget all about it" Rory sniffled.
"But what about Daniel" Paris asked. "Is he at least going to take a little responsibility?"
"Yeah, I think that's what the papers Ryder gave me is about. I guess he'll stay here for a while and spend time with Daniel and then Daniel will have to travel back and forth."
"Rory this is just Finn being Finn. He's obviously trying to protect himself or something equally stupid. Someone just needs to knock some sense into him" Stephanie reasoned.
"Steph would it be horrible if I just went home? I kinda spilled everything in front of Logan and Robert and I'm not sure I can go in there again."
Stephanie looked disappointed, but nodded. "Sure, I'll call you later, okay? And chin up, at the bottom line, Finn is just a stupid boy who clearly doesn't understand what he's missing out on!"
Rory nodded. "Yeah I guess I just thought we could make this work."
"I'll call a cab" Paris offered. She wasn't really that great dealing with emotional stuff anyway.
Stephanie gently caressed Rory's hair. "I'm so sorry, Ror. I really thought Finn was serious about this. Colin too. We talked about how great it would be for you all to a family."
"It's okay" Rory said, leaning on Stephanie shoulder. "I'm sorry I ruined your party."
"Silly girl, the party doesn't matter. It's what comes after the party that's important. I feel horrible for pushing you on Finn…"
"Don't. It's not your fault, I really wanted it to work to, but I guess he didn't."
"I'll call you later, and we'll talk some more."
"Steph no, it's your wedding night. Go, enjoy it, you deserve it. I'm so happy for you and Colin."
"I love you, Gilmore" Stephanie gushed, which tipped off Rory that she was probably a little bit drunk, but she still appreciated it.
"I love you too, McCrea."
"That sounds really weird" Stephanie said.
"Well, you better get used to it."
"What are you gonna do now?"
"Sign the damn papers and work out a plan for Daniel and Finn. Work a lot!"
"Well, there's always Robert, if you're lonely.""I'll keep that in mind" Rory said with a little smile.
A/N: So yeah… A month… Sorry about that. I wish I had a really great excuse, but I just got caught up in other things. I recently "broke up" with a someone I thought was a really good friend and that took some time to get over, I think, and I didn't really feel like writing. But anyways, I'm sorry and I hope no one is too mad at me. Oh and thanks for all the amazing reviews. Despite me being a crap writer and even worse with a deadline, you guys still review and have nothing but kind words. It is much appreciated, trust me!