A/N: Ok, last chapter folks and unfortunately it's quite short. I now it's been like forever, but I really just haven't been feeling like writing and I think I'm gonna take a break after this one. Again, I know it's a little short, but I think I just needed to finish this, otherwise it would be another two years before I would be able to finalize it, so I hope you'll forgive me. For all of you who have stuck by me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and you have always made me smile with your more than lovely reviews. So thank you for that, words can't express how much joy you guys have brought me!
I forgot to reply to any reviews last time, so to make up for that:
Doctor Smith: Awesome name, and sorry, but I won't be revealing anything else about the mysterious tattoo. You'll just have to use your imagination.
Fritzicles: Thanks, that very kind of you
Gogen: Thanks, I love that you love it and sorry about lazy updates
Roseinthegarden: I love the couple too, there needs to be more stories about them. And sorry about the slow updates
Summer2391: Thanks, it makes my day whenever someone says (writes) something like that
Master and Commander: I'm really worried about you! I know it's been forever between my updates and you didn't review the last time. I hope you're not dead!
Oriensbabydoll: Yes, mystery tattoo stays a mystery. I hope this satisfies you and unbreaks your heart.
Curley-Q: You are always so sweet thank you!
Imoran319: Yeah, Finn's kinda an idiot, isn't he? But aren't all guys sometimes idiots? And I think Finn is an adorable idiot
MaryBBlove23: Aaaaw thank you, you're always super nice!
Jlhf: And I love that you love it, hope this satisfies you
CloisDestiny: Yeah, Robert was sort of disgusting, wasn't he? I mean, who has a lifeplan like that?
Kiera 14: Yeah, sorry about the updates, but my life has been full of less than fun exams and other stuff, so I haven't really had the time. And thanks for your awesome review, that pretty much just made my day!
Chapter 16: Hum hallelujah
It had been three days since Rory had walked out early on Stephanie and Colin's wedding. She still felt bad about it, but both Stephanie and Colin had reassured her that they understood her reasoning. They had also both offered to "handle" the Finn-situation, as Stephanie had referred to it. Rory had declined their offers and instead opted to let Paris handle her communication with Finn (she felt he only deserved so much after his rather cold rejection). They had set up a few meetings with Finn and Daniel, where Rory was still present but kept her distance in order to let the two get to know each other. Other than that, she had steered clear of Finn, still reeling from a month full of emotional ups and downs. Lorelai had been by as much as she could, Luke had even stopped by once with food, but the emotional state Rory was in made him a little uncomfortable as he wasn't very good with crying women.
Rory had never thought she would feel like this, but she was actually happy that Paris had decided to crash in her apartment for a weeks time. Paris, being Paris, had taken complete charge of Rory's life in all regards except Daniel. She handled communication with both Finn and Ryder and made sure Rory actually got up and went to work and ate. It was kinda pathetic, Rory knew, and she acted normal around Daniel, but went he was tucked in at night, she just felt empty.
"I handed in the interview today" Rory said, as she and Paris tried to fill Rory's emptiness with scotch, three nights after the wedding.
"You actually managed to get something out of that?"
"I googled Finn at work yesterday and managed to fill it out with meaningless facts like his birthday and stuff like that. It's not my best work, though…"
"I'm sure you did fine, Gilmore" Paris said and downed her drink. "I really don't like scotch!"
"I know! Why do the guys drink it all the time?"
"Maybe they don't have any taste buds left" Paris suggested. "How are things with Daniel and He Who Must Not Be Named?"
"It's good, which is good… Daniel called him daddy yesterday, so that's good. Finn attended a soccer match, that's pretty good too. He's good with Daniel, from what I can tell. They've spent some time alone, which I suppose is good…"
"So to summarize, it's good?"
"I think I need more scotch!"
Paris handed her the bottle. "You do know this is completely pathetic, right?""Oh yeah…"
"And that you probably have to deal with Finn at some point?"
"As long as some point is a long long time away and there will be scotch involved" Rory said, pouring herself another glass. "I'm gonna regret this in the morning, right?""Probably! Have you heard from Monkey Girl?"
"Yeah, they're in France right now. Stephanie has talked to Finn a little and Colin has offered to represent me, if Ryder suddenly decides to do something.
"Paris frowned. "You think she would?"
Rory shrugged. "I don't know, I hope not."
"Have you…"
Rory held up her hand. "I don't know!"
"Okay fine, whatever. Sue me because I want to be prepared." There was a moment of silence between them. "Can I see the article?"
"Oh, yeah sure. Why?"
"If he's gonna be Daniel's father, I should approve."
Rory looked somewhat sceptical at that, but managed to get up on shaky legs and find a copy of the article. "Just so you know, he's not "gonna be", he is Daniel's father, approval or not."
Paris just muttered something and started to read the article. "How someone who've spent so much time being a complete alcoholic surf bum can become a Forbes millionaire is beyond me. But nice picture."
Rory shrugged. Okay, so perhaps she had spent an indecent amount of time googling him, just so she could use the worst picture (he resembled a drunk Slash in it), but he had hurt her feelings and she didn't feel like making him more appealing by using a picture of him posing with a surfboard wearing nothing but board shorts.
"You didn't mention yourself or Daniel."
Another shrug. "I thought it would be weird, like, I was writing about myself."
Paris nodded. "Good for you, let him announce it, if he want to." She downed her drink. "Who needs men anyway? I just checked my mail and still no reply from Dr. Jennings."
"Who's Dr. Jennings?"
"My professor, the one I told you about."
"Oh Paris. Look, I know I'm the last to give you dating advice, but maybe you should, I don't know, date someone a little younger?"
"Why? Why should I have to settle?"
"Guys your own age is settling?"
Paris shrugged. "They don't get me, and I want to be with someone who get's me." Rory didn't have the heart to tell Paris that would probably never happen.
"Hey Rory. There's a package waiting for you on your desk" Caroline greeted Rory, as she stepped out of the elevator at work the next morning.
"Oh… What is it?"
Caroline smiled. "Go see for yourself."
"Okay fine" Rory mumbled, walking towards her desk. And boy was she in for a surprise.
"You know, love, it's rude to ignore people" Finn said with a smile.
"What are you doing here?"
"Embarrassing you, obviously. Seeing as you won't talk to me in person or take my calls, I decided to corner you. And love…" He took out a copy of today's newspaper, containing the interview with him, "obviously you have some things you need to say."
"I think you said them all at the wedding" Rory said, crossing her arms. She was aware they were probably causing a scene, but seeing as Finn didn't care, why should she?
"Is that so? Well in that case, I would like to add a few things."
"Finn, I really don't think that's a good idea. And this is not the place either…" On second note, Finn didn't have to work with any of these people, so maybe she should try to move this along?
"Had you actually bother to do your homework on me, you would know that I seldom let place determine my actions. Hence the very public scene I'm about to make. Love, your grandmother is perhaps the most scary person I have ever met! And I must remind you, I spent nine months in a womb with Ryder. So maybe I freaked out a little, because she wanted to know if my intensions were honourable, which I must say, they seldom are! And she might have been very keen on the whole "marry" thing, which I am not at all ready to do, because I jumped into that too fast with Jane and I think I'm still reeling a little bit from that as well. So I was stupid and scared and maybe a little bit tired of everything at that moment…"
"Could you just get to the point! Rory interrupted, feeling more and more embarrassed by this.
"Yes, of course. Rory, perhaps the love of my life and most certainly the mother of my born child, I am sorry that I hurt you, especially since it is the last thing I wanted to do. In fact, I am so sorry I insist that you let me sweep you off your feet to a trip down under. Figuratively speaking, of course, not metaphorically, although perhaps we should explore…"
Rory held up her hand. "Finn! I have to work here!"
"Right… But I insist. And Australia is quite lovely this time of year. Well, anywhere is quite lovely when you're with me, I suppose, but Australia is especially nice."
"I'm not going to Australia with you" Rory said.
"I had a feeling you might say that, which I why I prepared an alternative. There's a coffeeshop around the corner…"
Rory closed her eyes for a second a took a deep breath. She was doing just fine (lie) pretending that Finn didn't exist, she was coping (lie) and she was getting better (lie, lie, lie!). This just made it that much more difficult for her. "I don't love" she said in a small tone.
"I wasn't asking you to. I'm asking you out for coffee. And I don't mind playing dirty, so let me remind you that you neglected to inform me about Daniel for five years, so I think you owe me that."
"Are you gonna keep on doing that? That owe-you thing?"
"If it works" Finn said with a smirk.
"It doesn't."
"Fair enough. But I am sorry I hurt you, and you should know that I hurt myself as well when I pushed you away. It was stupid and I regret it. But now you're being stupid, not me!"
"I am not the stupid one here" Rory pointed out.
"Well love, you kinda are, because you're turning me down right now and that, honestly, is just plain stupid! Because I am quite the catch, Rory Gilmore! I can see you laughing right now, but I am; I am an excellent kisser, I work out and take care of myself, I am quite wealthy, I love puppies and babies and stupid stuff like that, I have a somewhat great relationship with my parents, I don't drink, well I hardly don't drink anymore, I have a great house in Sydney and a mansion outside Sydney, I know how to surf…"
"You think surfing is a redeemable quality" Rory asked, trying not to smile.
"Of course it is!"
"Well ok, but you also have an insane sister with some seriously bad bedside manor."
"Well yes, there is that, but I also have a very sweet sister, and I have an accent."
"Again with the accent?"
"I swear to you, it works!"
"If you say so." It was becoming harder and harder for Rory not to smile now.
"And I love Daniel, I really really do. And I'm great with him, I love spending time with him and I know he wants to spend more time with me."
"Yeah with the accent and all" Rory mumbled.
"So, Rory Gilmore, possibly the love of my life.. Will you please go out with me?"
"Do it" someone cheered from behind Rory and other's chimed in.
"This isn't fair" Rory said, still smiling. "It's peer pressure."
"I know, love…"
"Rory, come on. Hot guy with an accent, why are you even thinking about it" Caroline egged her on.
"Yeah Rory, come on" Finn agreed.
"Well, how can I say no to someone who knows how to surf and has one nice sister?"
"Exactly my thought. So we're going to Australia?"
"No, we're going to get coffee" Rory replied.
"Oh well, just as long as you know coffee isn't as fun as Australia" Finn pouted, as they got in the elevator together to cheers from Rory's co-workers.
"So, Mr. Morgan, that was quite a performance" Rory said, as she was sitting across from Finn, drinking coffee.
"I needed to get your attention."
"Well you certainly got it."
"Love, I truly am sorry for what I said" Finn apologized again. "But your grandmother had me all freaked out and afraid, I think I panicked."
"I get that" Rory said. "But it hurt, you acting all… like that."
"I know." Finn cleared his throat. "But I also need you to know that I meant some of what I said. I'm not gonna leave Australia, I have responsibilities, just like I know you won't leave the states."
"Oh…" Rory nervously fiddled with her cup. She thought back to the talk she had had with Stephanie before the wedding. "I suppose I could take some time off. Daniel should know a little about where he's from. Well, partly from."
Finn's smile could have lit up the entire city on New Year's eve. "Really?"
"Really. I understand that I need to be a little flexible, giving everything that has happened. And I always had this secret fantasy of learning how to surf."
"Is that so, love?" He gave her a smirk. "You'd have to put up with a lot of Ryder."
Rory shrugged. "I suppose I could live with that, as long as you promise not to give me some silly nick-name like Koala or matey or something."
"Nah love, we don't do that, I'll call you Sheila if we're in a tight spot."
Rory smiled. "So Australia?"
"It'll be for the best anyway, we'll be far far away from your grandmother and Logan, who has left several rude voicemails on my phone. You know, he really has quite the potty mouth!"
They both got up from the table and Finn put an arm around her and Rory had to admit that it felt natural having him that close. A trip to Australia was definitely out of her comfort zone, but she was beginning to understand that being with Finn meant constantly being out of one's comfort zone and she might as well get used to it.
"Just one thing." She gave Finn a serious look. "Ryder can't sit next to me on the plane!"