Part 5: The Perfect Night
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
Rory pulled away from Finn and looked up to see Logan with his date on his arm.
"Stop being an ass, Logan," Finn said easily.
"Who's being an ass?" Logan asked, acting offended. "Surely not I?" Rose giggled as Logan led her back to the bonfire.
Finn rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry for Logan."
"It's okay, he doesn't like me, I can live with it." She checked her watch and smiled slightly at him. "It's getting late, I have to go before my grandmother sends out a search party for me." She stood up and Finn got up after her.
"I'll walk you back," Finn said. They went back to the bonfire, so Rory could grab her bag.
"Leaving already?" Logan asked.
"Unlike all of you who are on your own, I have grandparents I must get back to," Rory said in a sweet voice. She grabbed her phone from her pocket and put it in her bag.
"See you later, Rory," Steph said standing up and hugging her. Rory hesitated, but hugged her back. "We have to go shopping."
"If you're nothing like my grandmother, I'll take you up on that," Rory laughed. "See you guys later. Some sooner than others," she said casting a glance at Logan.
"I'll be back," Finn laughed, turning and leading Rory away. Without realizing it he grabbed her hand as he led her down the beach.
Colin smirked and looked at Logan. "Pay up."
Logan shook his head and returned the smirk. "The bet was that they would be together, not just kissing. Anyone can kiss a girl."
Tristan laughed and shook his head. "Rory isn't the type of a girl to just kiss a random guy, Logan. If she kissed Finn, it was because she liked him."
"Didn't she kiss you?" Logan asked.
"Yeah," Tristan said slowly, not sure where he was going with it.
"And she hated you," Logan said.
"Now wait. She had just broken up with Dean the day before and I had broken up with Summer five minutes before. We kissed and if I remember correctly, she left the room crying."
"Thus she can kiss guys that aren't her boyfriends meaning I pay nothing. Not until they're officially together."
"How long do you think it'll take?" Colin asked.
Tristan looked down at the beach where Rory and Finn were walking, hands linked and smirked. "My say is that they're both idiots and it'll take them at least till the end of the month to make it official."
"Finn's not making anything official," Logan said, staring at the pair as well. "He loves women as much as me. And Colin. Plus she's not a redhead."
"Logan, my man," Colin laughed, "I think he's making an exception."
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"Are they still staring?" Rory asked.
Finn laughed. "I don't give a damn, love."
Finn pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they walked back to her house. He liked her, that much was obvious, but was he willing to let loose all the other girls to be with her? Finn looked down at her, she was looking at the waves roll in, a slight smile on her face. He would never know unless he tried, right?
"Love?"
Rory looked up at him with a brilliant smile. "Yeah?"
"What are you doing tomorrow night?"
"Probably watch some movies, read a book and go to sleep from a sugar-induced coma," she laughed ."Why?"
"Well, I thought maybe you'd like to go out with me?"
"Like in a group?" She asked as they stopped at her back gate.
"No, like with just me?"
He watched as a blush crossed her features. "Finn, are you asking me out?"
"I believe I am."
Rory smiled. "Then I guess I will accept."
"Great. I'll pick you up at seven."
Rory smiled. "Go around front this time," she told him. "I think my grandparents might want to meet you."
"All right." He started to back away when she pulled him forward. "Yes, love?"
"Two things. One, what are we doing?"
"It's a surprise," he told her.
"All right, I'll bug you about that later, but I need to know what to wear."
"Something nice," he told her. "Though anything you put on will look amazing."
"Charm will get you everywhere," Rory laughed.
"The second thing?"
Rory bit her lip before kissing his lips lightly. He didn't get a chance to respond to the kiss as she pulled back, just as he gathered his senses to kiss her back.
"See you tomorrow, Finn," she said quietly, leaving him dumbfounded at her gate as she went towards her house.
Finn blinked watching her retreating back, expelled the air he hadn't known he'd been holding and walked back to the bonfire. With a smile he sat back down and grabbed another marshmallow, eight pairs of eyes watching him expectantly. Rose was looking elsewhere.
"Well?" Steph asked. "What happened?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, love," Finn smirked as he blew on the toasted fluff ball.
"With Rory, you idiot," Tristan said. "What happened with Rory?"
"Calling me names will get you nowhere," Finn pointed out.
"Finn, just tell us," Colin sighed, knowing the it was probably good if their Australian friend was being this impossible.
"Well, I walked her back and asked her out," Finn said with a smile.
"She said no, right?" Tristan asked.
"No, she said yes. I'm taking her out tomorrow. Then she kissed me."
"And cried?" Tristan asked hopefully.
"Nope."
"Is she your girlfriend?" Logan asked.
"No," Finn said looking at the fire with a smile. "We're just going out on a date. Hopefully with more to follow."
"She's not a redhead," Logan pointed out.
Finn looked over at his friend, his smile fading. "What does that have anything to do with it?"
"You've had your fetish for redheads for years," Logan said. "You can't just... disappoint the redheads of the world now."
Finn frowned. "I am and I will. I like Rory."
"For now."
"No, mate," Finn said standing up. "I don't think this feeling is going to go away any time soon. I'm off. See you all later." Finn turned and walked up towards their house.
"Logan, leave Finn alone," Steph warned him. "He likes Rory and I think he's past the point of anyone talking him out of it."
"There's still time," Logan muttered.
"Why are you so against Rory, man," Tristan asked. "She's a great girl, perfect for Finn. If it doesn't work out for them, then fine, whatever. But if it does, it would be for the best. They both deserve someone like the other in their lives. And none of us has the right to say otherwise. So I say let it go. Rory's here to stay. Not just because of Finn, but because she's my friend, she's Colin's friend. Hell, once Steph gets to know her, they're probably going to be friends. So let it go."
"Fine," Logan said. "I still say it's a bad idea."
"And I still say that you should leave it alone," Tristan said, taking Steph's hand and helping her up.
"We're off, see you guys later," Steph said as she let Tristan lead her up to the house.
Colin sighed. "I'm tired, I'll leave you and Rose alone." He threw his roasting stick in the fire. "Finn's happy, Logan. If this thing with him and Rory works out, I think it might be the best thing that ever happened to him. Night."
"Night," Rose said giddily. Colin shook his head as he went up to the house, leaving Logan staring at the fire.
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Rory climbed down the stairs. She was going to watch some TV before joining her grandparents for lunch. She was about to go towards the TV room when she heard someone knock on the door. Not seeing the day maid in sight, she went to the door and answered.
"Hey girlie."
"Hey Steph," Rory laughed letting her in. "What are you doing here?"
"The guys were going down to the beach, to do all macho stuff. You know, the 'which way to the beach and flexing their muscles' crap. Except for Colin, he doesn't have muscles. Now Tristan… ha. He has some muscle."
"Nice to know," Rory laughed closing the door and leading her into the living room. "But that still doesn't explain what you're doing here."
"Do you really think I want to spend Tristan's money with Rose?"
"You want to go shopping?" Rory asked.
"Desperately. Plus we can get you an outfit for your date tonight."
"Date?" Emily Gilmore asked. "Rory, you have a date?"
"Sorry," Steph murmured as they both turned to face Emily.
"Yeah, grandma, I do."
"With who? Is it Logan?" She asked hopefully, causing Steph to snort. Emily looked at Stephanie in disbelief while Rory coughed to cover up her laugh.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Steph said with a smile.
"Of course."
"I'm Stephanie McCrea," she said sticking out her hand.
"Any relation to Andrew?" Emily asked shaking it.
"He's my uncle. " Stephanie nodded.
"Ah, good man. Richard does business with him."
"Only good words have been said about your family, Mrs. Gilmore. I was actually wondering, in light of Rory's date and all, if it would be possible to steal her away for lunch?"
"Of course," Emily said. "Rory, go on, have fun. You have your grandfather's credit card if you need anything."
"I don't feel comfortable using it, grandma."
"Nonsense! Use it, we trust you."
"Are you sure?" Rory asked.
"You heard the woman," Steph muttered. "They trust you, now take the money and let's go."
"Go on, have fun. We'll see you later," Emily smiled.
"All right," Rory said. "Let me go grab my purse and we'll go," she told Stephanie.
Rory rushed up and after getting her purse and bidding good bye to her grandmother, she ran out of the house with Stephanie. They got into her black sports car and sped into town.
"So your grandmother is trying to set you up with Logan?" Steph laughed.
"Apparently."
"Do they know that he-" Steph trailed off, not sure if the brunette knew of Logan's dislike for her.
"That he hates me? No, I don't think she knows."
"Ah, but you do," Steph pointed out.
"Yes, it hard to ignore the veiled insults."
"Logan is a master at them. They all are, but Logan is, well, Logan."
"I don't see what all the girls see in him. He's not all that cute."
"Bite your tongue!" Steph laughed. "If you say that anywhere near the girls he dates-"
"They'd attack?"
"Claws, baby," Steph laughed.
Rory laughed as well "You know, Steph, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"My thoughts exactly," Steph laughed as she gunned the engine down the small streets of Martha's Vineyard.
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"Hey babe," Tristan greeted as they walked into the house to see Steph watching TV, her feet propped up on the table. "How was your day?"
"Me and Rory had lots of fun," Steph told him as the guys all sat down.
"What'd you do?" Colin asked.
"Well, I picked her up and we went for lunch, down at the Sea Shore Shack. Man, that girl can pack it in."
"We know," Tristan laughed.
"Then we went shopping." Steph grabbed her purse from the table and rummaged through her purse, pulling out a credit card and handing it to Tristan. "Thank you."
Tristan looked at it sadly, turning it over in his fingers. "It looks tired."
"Trust me, Rory's feels the same. That girl was very hesitant to spend money, but ten minutes with me, top of the line clothes and a dressing room, she can spend like no other."
Finn shook his head. "You're terrible, love."
"Ah, ah, ah," Steph negated shaking her finger at him. "You won't be saying that when you see the outfit she got for your date. Oh, FYI she likes sunflowers."
"Thanks," Finn said.
"Oh, by the way," she turned to Logan who had been silent through the entire conversation. "Her grandparents want to set you two up," she told him. "But she's against it. Apparently she doesn't think you're that cute."
The guys laughed while Logan scowled. "Yeah, well-"
Steph raised her eyebrow. "What, no comeback?"
"Shut up, Steph," Logan muttered.
Finn looked at his watch and got up. "I have to go get ready."
"Sunflowers, Finn," Steph shouted after him as he climbed the steps.
"Thanks, Steph," Finn shouted back.
Steph gave a smile of self-satisfaction.
"What are you so smug about?" Colin asked.
"I'm just thinking how great Finn and Rory look together."
Logan gave a growl of dissatisfaction before getting up and climbing up the stairs.
"And I love goading Logan," Steph laughed, causing Tristan to shake his head at his girlfriend.
"Sometimes you are too evil for your own good."
"And you love me," she said kissing him.
"Gross," Colin muttered looking away.
"Ah," Steph sighed, leaning back. "Now to get Colin a girl... or a guy. I mean... how are you swinging these days, Colin?"
"Shut up, Steph," Colin glared, causing her to stick out her tongue at him.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Rory walked out of the bathroom in her blue robe, towel drying her hair. Opening her closet she got out the dress that her and Steph had picked out for her date and smiled.
Steph had not only proven to be the perfect gal pal, but a perfect shopping partner. Though Rory loved Lane, being her best friend and being able to do everything and talk about anything with the Korean drummer, Lane lived in Stars Hollow and now that Rory was going to Yale, she knew that visits and calls would be far and few in between.
And though Paris was crazy and neurotic... well, Paris didn't really put out that bosom buddy front. Luckily, Paris was going nowhere near Yale.
A slight knock on the door had Rory walking over and smiling at her grandmother.
"Your mother's on the phone," Emily told her.
"Oh thanks, grandma."
"I'll be downstairs. Will your date be picking you up in the front or through the back, seeing as that's where everyone seems to be picking you up lately?" Emily asked as she handed Rory the phone.
"The front, at seven. He's very punctual, grandma."
"We'll see about that." Rory watched as her grandmother walked down the hall. Closing her door she put the phone to her ear.
"You're calling early." Instead of hearing her mother's response, she heard a slight scream and a thump, causing Rory to wince. "You okay?"
"Jesus! You scared me!"
"Sorry."
"I mean, I'm put on hold for ten minutes, then this voice appears out of nowhere and tells me I'm calling early! If that's not a sign from god, I have no idea what is!"
Rory rolled her eyes at her mother's dramatics. "Once again I apologize."
"It's all right."
"So you called early?" Rory asked.
"Well, I had to talk to your grandfather about some stuff for the inn."
"Stuff?"
"Insurance policies, all boring."
"Oh."
"And then I got handed to mom who told me you were going on a date!"
"Oh that."
""Oh that!' she says," Lorelai exclaimed. "Not only am I an afterthought now, but I had to hear about this from my mother. My mother!"
"Sorry."
"'I'm so glad that Rory is finally going out, Lorelai.' 'I know mom, she's made some great friends down there.' 'Oh, I don't mean her friends, Lorelai.' 'Well, then what, mom?' 'I mean her date.'" Lorelai said, changing her voice to effectively reenact the conversation that had probably taken place not five minutes earlier.
"I'm sorry, I meant to call and tell you."
"You meant!"
"I just got busy," Rory explained going to the bathroom and turning on the curling iron while combing out her hair. "I came home last night and went to bed. Then today I ended up spending the day shopping with Steph."
"For?"
"For?" Rory repeated confused.
"What did you shop for? My god, you're slow today."
"Sorry, excited. Steph and I went shopping for clothes and ended up getting an outfit for my date."
"Then I forgive you," Lorelai said. Rory sighed, all that had been for nothing. "So who's the boy? Oh wait! Let me guess! Finn!"
"Yeah, it's Finn."
"Ah, Rory, you like him!" Lorelai accused.
"A lot. He kissed me last night."
"Good kisser?"
"It wasn't like..."
"Tongue in mouth?"
"No!" Rory exclaimed, a bit uncomfortable with the turn in the conversation. Though she and her mother talked about everything, kissing techniques and sex... were awkward. As it was with any mother or father. It was awkward.
'Then what?"
"It just was…" Rory smiled putting her brush down, "It was perfect."
"You sound giddy."
"I am giddy," Rory laughed.
"Well then, I'm going to let you go. Only because I want you to look perfect for your date! But!"
"I knew there was one coming," Rory said getting out her dryer.
"You have to call the minute you get home! I don't care what time it is!"
"Promise."
"Good, have fun, babe."
"I will, bye mom."
"Bye sweets."
Rory hung up the phone and looked at herself in the mirror. Excitement and happiness filled her features. Smiling at herself she turned on the dryer and started to dry her hair running her fingers through the long locks. This was going to be great.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Finn pulled his black SUV in front of the Gilmores' summer house and turned off the car. Looking at the house and taking a deep breath he grabbed the two bouquets of flowers and the box of cigars out from the passenger's seat before getting out of the car and walking to the door.
Taking another deep breath he knocked. He couldn't remember a time he was this nervous in meeting parents or grandparents. Then again he always skipped this step and just took the girls out, avoiding any parental figure at all costs. He wasn't the only one, Colin did it as well. And well, Logan avoided parents like the plague, even his own whenever possible.
The door opened and Emily Gilmore smiled at him.
"Eugene, correct?" She asked letting him into the house.
Finn nodded walking in. "Yes ma'am. Though most people just call me Finn. Short for Finnegan."
"Which is?"
"My middle name, ma'am."
"How charming," she laughed. "Please, come in." She led him into the living room where Richard was sitting. Upon seeing him enter, Richard stood up with a smile.
"Ah, Eugene I presume?"
Finn held in the wince. How they had found out his first name he'd never known. As far as he was concerned, he had those documents hidden.
"Please, call me Finn, sir."
"No 'sir', call me Richard."
"I brought these for you," Finn said, handing the cigars to Richard.
"Romeo y Julietas! These are my favorites, hard to come by."
"I have connections." And had spent an hour begging Logan to get them to him. "And these are for you," he said handing the bright mixture of roses to Emily.
"My, these look wonderful. Brighten up the room, don't they, Richard?"
"They certainly do," Richard smiled.
"I'll go get Rory," Emily said going to the stairs.
"So Finn, Rory tells me you go to Yale," Richard said gesturing for him to sit. Finn nodded as he sat down, Richard sitting across from him.
"Yes, sir. I'm going to be a junior though my friends and I are taking the next year off."
"Yes," Richard laughed. "Rory is probably more excited about it than you yourself are."
Finn laughed. "Yes, she's been wanting to know everything we have planned ever since she found out."
"She's a traveler that one, it's a pity she couldn't experience Europe like she had wanted. But her grandmother is very manipulative when she wants to be. Can't love Emily less for it though."
Finn smiled and nodded. "I can't say I'm not glad Rory didn't go off to Europe, probably wouldn't have met her if she had."
"I like your thinking, son. You know, you and your father are very much alike."
Finn brightened at the comment. "My father's a good man."
"That he is, a bit eccentric from the times I met him, but a good man nonetheless."
Finn laughed, not taking the comment offensively. "If anything, my father is eccentric."
"Rory's coming," Emily said coming down the stairs. "She said she couldn't find her shoes. How she can find anything in that disaster of a room, I will never know."
"Oh grandma," Rory said coming down the stairs, causing Finn and Richard to stand. "It's not that bad. You should see our house on a laundry day, now that is a disaster," she laughed. She smiled at Finn. "Hey."
"Hey," he said expelling the breath he had held in when he saw her walking down the stairs.
She was wearing a loose strapless white dress that fell to her knees, her brown hair loose and curling around her shoulders, a diamond headband holding the hair away from her face. If she had makeup on, he couldn't tell. All he could see was the lip gloss she had on her lips making them look slick and more pouty than they usually looked. All in all she looked even more innocent and pure than normal, He'd have to thank Steph for that.
He leaned down and picked up the sunflowers he had gotten for her. "I heard you liked sunflowers."
Rory smiled taking them and cradling them in her arms. "Thanks, Finn."
"Here, I'll put these in water," Emily said taking them out of Rory's hands. "And put them in your room."
"Thanks, grandma."
"You're welcome. Now, if Richard is done grilling the boy..."
"I was not grilling the boy, Emily," Richard said buttoning his suit jacket.
"Of course you weren't," Emily said rolling her eyes. "Go you two, have fun."
"Thanks, grandma."
Finn turned to Emily, not sure how to phrase the question on his lips. "I was wondering…"
"Yes?" Emily asked.
"If you wanted Rory home by a certain time?" Rory stopped and looked at Finn, a slight smile on her face. Emily looked at Richard who also smiled. She turned back to Finn and shook her head.
"A reasonable hour. She has a key if she's home late."
"Yes, ma'am," Finn said. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome." Emily led them out, practically pushing them out the door. "Have fun." She closed the door and turned to Richard.
"Well, I'll be damned, when was the last time a boy asked that?" Richard asked.
"I like him, Richard."
"So do I, Emily. So do I."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Finn opened her door and held out a hand to help her in. Before stepping into the car she turned and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"What was that for, love?"
"With one question you just got my grandparents to like you."
"What?" He asked confused. She shook her head and got in the car with a smile. Still confused he closed her door and ran around getting behind the wheel.
"So where are you going?" She asked buckling her seatbelt, then turning to face him.
Turning on the car and putting on his own seatbelt he smirked as he drove out of the Gilmore estate and down the street.
"Somewhere."
"You're good at the vague, but not good enough. I have broken many a person whenever they try to hide something from me."
"I doubt that," Finn said turning at a corner.
Rory smiled. "I can be very annoying when I need to be."
"That I do not doubt. Now, tell me what you meant with the one question thing?"
"You're going with distraction, very well, I'll play along."
"I'm not going with anything," Finn said, glancing over at her smiling figure. "I am genuinely curious."
"Of course you are," Rory said rolling her eyes. "I'll tell you anyway. You asked the one question that almost no guy asks."
"What's that?" Finn asked.
"'What time should she be home by?'"
"I didn't want to keep you out if you had to be back by a certain hour. I know that you usually leave our gatherings early in case your grandparents worry."
"I know, Finn," Rory reassured him, placing a hand on his arm. "But almost no guy asks that. I know that my dad probably never asked my grandparents what time he should bring my mom home by, and I know my mom usually told Dean what time to bring me home by, and Jess never bothered with the particulars, mostly because he worked late so we saw each other whenever."
Finn glanced over at her, she was still smiling at him.
"And then you walked in," Rory continued. "Probably charmed the pants off my grandpa."
"Not even I'm that talented, love."
Rory laughed. "Got my grandmother to like you, and then you ask one simple question and they love you. Trust me, you did a very good thing, Finn."
"Huh," Finn said pulling into a parking lot. "Who knew a simple question like that would get me accepted. I'll have to share that with the guys," he smirked at her and unbuckled his seatbelt.
"We're here?" Rory asked looking out the window.
"How was that for distraction?" Finn asked as he got out of the car, pocketed the keys and walked over to her side opening the door and helping her out. He locked the car and led her inside a small private restaurant, telling the waiter his last name. They were ushered to a small private table in a secluded corner of the restaurant, lit by a dim overhead lamp and a candle.
"Here you go, Mr. Rothschild," the waiter said. Finn held out Rory's chair as she sat pushing it in for her, then sitting down across from her at the table for two. "Would you like a drink?"
Finn scanned the drinks menu and looked at Rory. "Do you want something?"
"Club soda," she told the waiter.
"Mr. Rothschild?"
"The same," he said.
"Finn, get something to drink, I don't mind," Rory told him.
"Club soda is fine," he told the waiter as he hesitated at the table. He nodded and left to fulfill the orders.
"Finn, you could have gotten something."
"I'm fine," Finn laughed. "Just because I'm twenty-one, it doesn't mean I have to drink every minute of the day."
"I think you hold back because of me, but I'll let it slide," Rory laughed.
"Thanks, love," he smiled at Rory. "You know, I don't think I've told you how wonderful you look tonight." He had the pleasure to see a blush tint her cheeks.
"Thanks, you don't look bad yourself."
Finn looked down at his appearance of black dress jeans and a dark blue button down shirt, the first few buttons undone.
"Thank you," Finn laughed.
They slid into a familiar conversation, talking about their days, how much fun Rory had had with Steph that afternoon and how the guys had just fooled around at the beach. They talked about their families and Rory's conversation with her mother and about the conversation Finn had with his father earlier in the day.
"My family is fucked up, love," Finn laughed.
"You say that like it's a good thing," Rory said taking a sip of her club soda. She thanked the waiter as he put her food in front of her and Finn gave a nod and a smile as his food got placed in front of him.
"Anything else, just call," the waiter said before walking away.
"My family is unique," Finn told her getting his fork. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
"You know, you haven't told me much about your family. I know bits and pieces."
"Ah, only the normal bits and pieces, the sordid details I left out."
"Oh," Rory said leaning forward. "Do tell." Finn hesitated a bit, causing Rory to lean back. "Of course if you're comfortable with it."
"Oh," Finn said laughing. "I'm very comfortable talking about it. I'm just not sure what your reaction will be to it."
"I'm a very open-minded person, Finn."
"I know that," Finn nodded. "Let's start with the reason behind my parents' divorce."
Rory smiled at how easily he talked about it and leaned forward, grabbing her own fork and starting in on her food.
"Do tell."
"Well, it all began when my mother caught my father one day in their room, him with one of her dresses on, and no, it wasn't Halloween."
"You mean-"
"Yes, my father is a cross dresser," Finn laughed. Rory gave a light chuckle and shook her head. "I don't love him any less for it. In fact, I've become quite used to it."
"I can only imagine."
"Well, my mother is a very well cultured lady, she was appalled by my father's behavior and quickly and quietly divorced him. My father left for Hartford and shortly after I followed. Apparently my mother was afraid I'd follow in his footsteps."
"But you didn't?"
"Not in that sense, no," Finn told her. "But my father is a good man, I get a lot from him."
"Really?"
"Of course. I always won costume contests at my schools."
Rory laughed. "I'm just imagining you at fifteen and you and your father going through racks of costumes, finding the best one."
Finn nodded. "I admire my father," he told her. "He's very professional when it comes to work. Though many know his fetish with women's clothes, it doesn't change the fact that he's good at what he does."
"What does he do?" Rory asked.
"We Rothschilds own hotels. The best of the best and in the most exotic and convenient places."
"What a coincidence, what with my mom owning an inn and all."
"It's fate."
"Fate," Rory repeated with a nod. "You father sounds like an interesting man."
"Oh, he is. You'll have to meet him sometime."
"I would love that," Rory told him. "But what about your mother?"
"You want to meet my mother?" Finn asked
"No," she laughed, then shook her head. "I didn't mean that. I meant... what is she up to?"
"Oh, my mum lives in Australia, like I told you, with my sisters. Though my oldest sister moved out a few years back. She owns all properties that my dad owned there before he moved. So the hotels he owned now belong to my mum and are run by my sister."
"Are you planning on taking over the ones that your dad owns here?"
"I'm not sure," Finn said scratching his jaw. "My father and I have talked about it. He's more open about my future than Logan and Colin's parents. He's open to anything. If I want to take over, he's fine with it. If I want to do something else, he's fine with that. Mostly because I'm not the firstborn. Mila is. Secondly, because he loves his work and wouldn't want anyone taking over from him unless he's in the ground."
Rory nodded. "I know what you mean. My mom is loving the idea of owning and running her own inn. I don't think she would sell or let anyone take on the responsibility. She loves it too much to give it up."
"Looks like we have a lot in common, love."
"That we do," she smiled.
The ate in a comfortable silence, saying a few choice words here and there, commenting on the food or little things about themselves. While they were waiting for dessert, Rory had asked Finn about his high school and ended up discussing prom.
"Ah, I was in Switzerland that year. Zugerberg, with Colin and Logan."
"God, that must have been great."
"Beautiful area," Finn nodded. "Beautiful women."
Rory gave a light chuckle. "Of course."
He loved that she wasn't uncomfortable with his talk of the girls he dated. She seemed at ease with it. He liked that. Most girls would have been uncomfortable talking about the women he had dated in the past.
"So tell me about your prom," Rory prompted.
"I took a redhead, Camille, I believe her name was. Beautiful young lady. Danced the night away, ate, drank the smuggled scotch and fell into bed around four. Woke up around four the next afternoon and had pancakes in bed," Finn laughed. "Best night of my life thus far. This is coming a close second." He watched the blush creep back on her face. He loved making her blush, he found it quite easy to do.
"What about yours, love?"
He watched her eyes cast downwards and start chewing on her lip. When she looked back up, she gave a light smile. "I didn't go to prom. Jess..."
"Right," he gave a nod, remembering the first day he had met her and the story of Jess leaving before prom.
"But," she continued, "My mom, being the wonderful woman she is, blasted music in our house, covered it in tacky decorations, got all the junk food we needed and we danced around our living room in our pajamas, bright pink feather boas and plastic crowns, falling where we landed in sugar-induced comas and waking up with back and neck aches around three the next afternoon, with sugar hangover and begged for coffee at Luke's."
"Sounds fun," he laughed.
"That's my mother for you," Rory said playing with her fork. "It was great, but a part of me still wishes I could have experienced the traditional prom. Going in a limo, dressing up in an amazing dress, dancing and making fun of people. Lane and me had it all planned. But my mom made it perfect."
"I bet she did," Finn murmured, squeezing her hand. The waiter came with their dessert and set it down, along with the check, placing it face down. Before Rory could reach for it which he knew she would, he grabbed it and looked at it, taking out his wallet and taking out his card.
"Finn, let me pay for some."
"Funny girl," he told her, sending her a smirk. "You always know how to make me laugh."
"I'm serious!"
Finn laughed. "You're a crack up."
"At lease tell me how much it is," Rory asked.
"Nope." He waved the waiter over and handed him the check and his card instead of putting it back on the table and waiting. If he left it on the table, he knew Rory would look at it and probably demand to pay for some of it.
"I'll be back with your receipt and card, Mr. Rothschild."
"Take your time," Finn told him as he walked away. He turned back to her and smiled at her annoyed face. "What?"
"I don't like when guys pay for the whole meal. I eat a lot and I feel bad about people paying."
"It's a date, the man pays."
"That is sexist. Nowadays the women pay as well."
"Ah, but the first date rule still stands."
"What first date rule?" Rory asked confused.
"You see," he said leaning in as if it were an FBI secret. "In the man's world, all men have to pay on the first date. See, then in the women's eyes it looks like we're willing to pay all the time. Sure, we'll pay on the second date and the third date, but then, once a man feels comfortable with the woman, we start splitting checks, then once you become comfortable with that, we start forgetting our wallets. It's all a master plan," Finn told her.
Rory leaned back and widened her eyes as if amazed. "It's genius," Rory told him. "Pure genius. I have to tell Steph about this."
"No!" Finn told her. "You see, if women know about this, then the scale is tipped and then there would be more skipping out on checks."
Rory laughed. "The way your mind works."
"Ah, but you see, I'm different."
"Really, how so?"
"On a date, no matter how many times I go out with a woman, I never let her pay. It's only the gentlemanly thing to do."
"Plus," Rory added, "It probably increases your chances on getting laid."
Finn laughed and nodded. "And there's that."
"It amazes me how much of a charming pig you can be."
"Thank you," he said bowing in his chair.
They finished their dessert, the waiter came back and handed Finn the card and receipt back. Once Rory had gathered her things, they left. Finn led her out and helped her once again in the car and drove her home, falling into the quick banter they were fond of. Once back at the house, Rory checked her watch.
"Eleven o'clock. Very reasonable," she told him.
"I planned it that way," Finn told her egotistically. Rory rolled her eyes.
"Thank you, Finn, this has been perfect."
"You're very welcome. I can only hope you will grace me with your presence again."
"It would be an honor," Rory told him truthfully. "Thank you."
"It was fun, I enjoyed this."
"I did too."
He walked her to the door, she got the keys out of her purse and opened the door, stepping in.
"Any chance of a goodnight kiss?"
"I don't know," Rory said leaning against the doorjamb. "I'm not a girl that kisses on the first date."
"Ah, well, I'm not a man that kisses and tells."
"Well then, it'll be our secret." Rory leaned in and kissed him lightly, both knowing it wasn't the time or place to take it further than innocent kisses.
"Good night Rory," he told her.
"Night Finn." She watched him get in his car and gave one last wave before closing the door, locking it and running up the stairs. She quickly got out of the dress and put on her pajamas, washed her face and got under the covers of her bed all in ten minutes as she dialed her cell phone.
"Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" Lorelai answered giddily.
Rory sat up and moved her legs excitedly before bringing them up to her chest. "It was perfect," Rory told her.
"Details! I want details!"
"Well, it all started with-"
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