Part 16: Letting Go
After her the awkward meeting with Dean, she started her walk home. She bit her lip thinking about the marriage and winced when her phone began to ring, she took it out of her pocket, smiling lightly when she saw Finn's name on the caller ID. Flipping it open she answered. "Did you grow up?"
"About a year or two." Finn sighed, laying on his bed and looking at the ceiling.
"You wanna tell me about the fight now?"
"You're going to be angry."
Rory nodded, as she started walking towards home. "Well, why don't you let me figure that out, and just tell me what happened."
Finn sighed, not quite sure how to go about it. "I was sleeping, and I woke up to someone opening my door, when I looked up it was a girl."
"A girl snuck on the boat and went into your room?"
Finn hesitated before saying. "Logan may have had part in her finding her way onto the boat."
Rory stopped, and took the phone from her ear, making sure it was Finn, before putting the phone back up to her ear. "I'm sorry; I thought I heard you say that Logan put a girl in your room."
He hesitated "I did, he did."
"Wh-what would…why?" she spluttered, not quite sure what she had just asked.
Finn sighed. "He's mad…or I just…I really don't know anymore but I talked to him about it, and we came to the conclusion that it was better if I left."
Rory frowned as she continued walking. "There's more to it than that isn't there?"
"Maybe."
"What were these words that were shared?"
Just as she reached the porch, her mom and Sookie came out of the house and smiled at her. "We're going to go talk to Michel, we'll be back." Lorelai said kissing her cheek.
Rory nodded, as she passed them and went inside, smiling at Sookie. She dropped her bag on the floor, and plopped on the couch, settling in to talk to Finn. She laid her head on the armrest and kicked off her shoes before stretching out on the couch.
"Finn, what were the words shared?"
She heard Finn sigh. "He doesn't think that we're going to last...he said that he didn't accept you as my girlfriend and a bunch of other little things."
"So you're leaving because of me?" Rory whispered.
"No...Yeah…Not really." Finn groaned frustrated. "I'm just tired of the way he talks about you. Or...doesn't talk about you."
Rory shook her head. "You're not leaving because of me. I won't let you. I'm not going to be responsible for breaking up a friendship Finn. You, Logan, and Colin are all so close, and for you to be choosing a girl over him is completely idiotic."
"But you're not just some girl Rory..." He couldn't find the words to tell her that she was the one for him. That she wasn't just some girl he'd picked up during the summer and decided to commit himself to. She was it for him. He knew it in the short time that they had been together that every other girl in the world would never be able to compare to Rory, and he didn't want them to.
But, staring at the ceiling from his bed, he kept his mouth shut, and heard her breathing on the other line. He could tell from the slight hitch in her breath that she was annoyed with him.
She hesitated briefly, wondering if he was going to say more to that statement, but he stayed quiet.
"I realize that I'm not just some girl Finn." She said quietly, sitting up and bringing her knees to her chest, hugging them and laying her cheek on her knee as she talked. "But I just don't feel comfortable that you and Logan are fighting about me. If he doesn't accept me, then who cares, I'm not too fond of him either, but I don't want that to affect your relationship with him."
"So what do I do?" Finn asked. "Ignore the fact that I have a girlfriend when I'm around him, tiptoe around the subject, act like his fucking best friend, help him get the girls and get drunk off my ass every day just to make him feel better and feel like he has his best friend back?" Finn asked, rather bitterly.
"I think that you guys should do what girls do." Rory suggested.
"And what's that?"
"Sit down and talk about how you feel." Rory ventured, glad to hear Finn burst out laughing.
"Right."
"No, I know that that may sound a bit girly, but maybe sitting down with Logan and really telling him everything might just make everything..."
"Better?" He teased.
"No...I was going to say a little less tense." She rolled her eyes. "You're not different Finn. If anything, this summer you became more aware of who you are, and decided to change your ways in a healthier route. But I know that the Finn I met at the beginning of the summer, and the Finn that Tristan, Colin, and Steph tell me about are one in the same. If Logan doesn't see that he's an idiot."
Finn smiled. "Thanks love."
"You're welcome. Now that you're feeling better, do you want to go to bed...or..."
"Tell me what you did today." Finn said, kicking off the covers of his bed and getting under them. Maybe he'd talk to Logan in the morning, maybe.
"Well my ex-boyfriend is going to get married and I'm apparently going."
"You are?" he asked surprised.
"He invited me, it was when you called the first time, I was talking to him...literally ran into him he invited me and really didn't give me a chance to say yes or no."
"Are you going?" Finn asked, yawning slightly.
"I don't know." Rory shrugged. "Mom and I are invited, so I'll ask mom later if she wants to go. I mean, just because me and Dean broke up doesn't mean we're not friends. It's just weird between us. I don't know." Rory shook her head. "But Luke likes you."
"I'm glad."
She smiled when she heard him trying to hide his yawn. "Baby go to sleep, I'll call you later."
"Are you sure? I can stay up for a few more minutes if you want to talk." Finn said, but she already heard him drifting.
"Go, I have to make a call anyway."
"All right, have a good rest of the day love."
"Night Finn." Rory smiled as she heard him hang up, sure that he had fallen asleep the minute the phone closed. She closed her own phone, before sighing and feeling the sense of irritation and anger build up. She'd pushed it aside when she'd first heard what Logan had done, because Finn had been upset, but now. Shaking her head, she dialed Tristan's number.
"Hey Mar."
"What's Logan's cell?"
"What?" Tristan asked confused.
"Logan's number Tristan, what is it?"
"You sound annoyed Mar, wanna tell me why you want Logan's number."
"I need to talk to the little gnat, want to give me his number?" She heard Stephanie's voice, and Tristan cover up the phone talking, before she heard his sigh.
"Got some paper and pen or something?"
"Yeah." She stood up and walked to the desk. She listened to Tristan tell her the number, she wrote it, repeated it back, the second he'd confirmed the number she hung up and dialed. Not caring that it was five in the morning in Fiji.
XxxxxxX
Logan stared up at his ceiling; he and Finn hadn't quite reached an understanding. After he and Colin had left the kitchen, Logan had stayed and grabbed something to eat, when Finn had barged in minutes later saying he was staying, that the Fiji trip wasn't just Logan's trip but his as well, glared then left.
At the moment they were barley tolerating each other, and he knew that he was the one causing the rifts between him and the Colin-Finn team. He was happy they had found someone that they could relate to. Happy that Colin had finally found someone that was even more obsessed with music them he himself was. And he was happy that Finn finally found someone that could deal with his dramatics and 'flaws'.
He just felt like being selfish this year. It was his last 'real' year with his friends. Before having to go back to school, and actually work hard. His father had given him an ultimatum. It was take the year off of school including the summer with his friends, goof off, get laid, and do whatever it was he wanted, before actually getting to work and preparing himself to become the Huntzberger heir. Or wait until they graduated and then take off a year.
The problem with the second option was he knew Finn would most likely take over a hotel for his father right after graduation. Even if Finn didn't know if that was what he wanted to do, Logan knowing his friend like he did, knew he'd love every single minute of running a hotel and would most likely figure that out this summer and leave right after graduation. Or if he and Rory lasted, he'd probably end up in New York to be closer to her, and work from there, waiting for her to finish. The way this was going on, he wondered if not only was there going to be a graduation in their future, but a wedding.
He shook his head. Then Colin was planning on traveling with his father after graduation, because unlike the Huntzberger's, the McCrea's actually had a father-son relationship. Even if his father did remarry almost every year, Andrew McCrea never missed the summer Europe trip with his son. They contacted each other briefly throughout the year, and then spent the summer catching each other up. Even if it was an odd relationship, it was one.
It was why he'd taken the opportunity to take the year off. He knew that his friends would be able to convince their parents. Finn's only condition was that he had to visit his mother and Colin's was that he would be with them the year, then leave during the summer to do the father-son thing. Logan had grasped at the opportunity.
But now that they were on the trip, Finn spent most of the time in his room, on his cell, talking or texting, or on his computer and Colin spent most of the time muttering to himself about 'asking her' and calling Lane, hanging up every time her mother picked up which Logan had to admit was pretty amusing. But this defiantly wasn't shaping out to be the trip he'd envisioned.
While he would admit putting the girls in the guy's room, was stupid on his part. He needed to get the guys to loosen up. He wasn't talking about sex...but at least go out some. But Finn was always worrying about the sound of the clubs and not being able to hear of his phone rang which was the same with Colin. It was starting to irk him.
His thoughts were interrupted by a shrill ring of his phone. Wincing when the sudden sound went through the quiet of his room, he rolled over and grabbed the phone looking at the caller ID. Frowning when he didn't recognize the number he pressed ignore and lay back down.
Who the hell would call him? Finn and Colin were on the boat, and they each had their own tunes, same with Tristan and Steph. The other people he talked to like Robert, Lanny, and the other guys knew where he was and were all in his phonebook, meaning their name would show up.
The phone rang again and he saw it was the same number, frowning he answered, wondering just who it was.
"Hello?"
"Where the hell do you get off, putting a girl in my boyfriends room?"
'Rory. Fuck.' He thought. "Hey Rory, how are you?" He said weakly, sitting up.
"How...how am I??" she yelled into the phone. "My boyfriend called me and told me that you put a girl in his room to sleep with him! How the hell do you think I am Logan?! Please enlighten me!"
"I'm guessing your pretty pissed." he ventured.
"Pissed does not begin to cover it." Rory seethed.
Logan sighed. "Look, I'm sorry you're upset about this but it was just a joke."
"Just a joke?" she asked.
"Yeah, a joke, it's nothing to get yourself worked up about."
"Logan, I'm not the type of girl to get angry if you jokingly put a girl in my boyfriends room. I could care less. Hell even if you got her in his bed, as long as it's a joke. Like...Major Payne joke."
"I know you're not that type of girl" He said calmly not quite understanding the reference of Major Payne.
"But when my boyfriend calls me and tells me that you did it, because you wanted him to sleep with this girl, hurting me in the process, it's when I have a problem. Now I trust Finn but I don't trust you. Do you understand why I'm upset...do you see the difference?"
'Well that was honesty.' He thought before nodding. "Yeah, I understand why you're upset."
"You crossed the line Logan, I get that you don't like me, truthfully you haven't done much to get me to like you but I'm dating Finn and you're his best friend, so I act civil towards you, what you do to me is mean Logan. Trying to get Finn to cheat on me is... is so stupid that I wonder why Finn is even putting up with you."
"If you'd let me-"
She cut him off. "No, let me talk then you can explain. I like Finn, a lot, and I can't figure out what I did to make you hate me Logan. I don't know if it's' because you think I took Finn away, or because you think I made him say that if you said something bad about me he'd leave. But I didn't. I like Finn, but I don't want to tear him away from you or Colin. Like I know he wouldn't tear me away from Lane, or Tristan and Steph. I want him to stay. I've already told him that I shouldn't be the reason he leaves.
"He gave me a chance to ask him to stay Logan bet you didn't know that. He did the night before and a few minutes before he left. And while I would have loved to be able to see him every day, I told him to go Logan. Why? Because I wasn't going to have him skip out on a trip that you guys planned before he got with me. I like him a lot Logan, and I miss him a lot. But I hate that he's calling me, and telling me that he can't enjoy himself because you're the one ruining it for him."
"Now wait-"
"You are Logan, you're sabotaging your own trip and for what? Because Finn got a girlfriend?" Rory sighed as she sat on the couch, and heard the door opening. She watched her mom come in shaking her head and sat next to her. She frowned and Rory held up a finger. "I don't know you very well, because we never really gave each other the chance I guess but I don't like what you're doing."
"I understand."
"Don't placate me Logan." Rory said, standing up and going to her room. "Don't just push this aside. I'm trying really hard right now not to yell, and to talk to you calmly and rationally, but if you're going to treat me like a child I will yell."
"Rory, I like you just fine."
"Then why are you trying to get my boyfriend to cheat on me!"
"Look Rory, your boyfriend locks himself in his room, he's not acting like his old self, I want that Finn back."
"And that's my fault? I'm in New Haven Logan. I have no say in what Finn does! I never told him to stop drinking. I can call him and tell him to go get shitfaced if that'll make you feel better, but ultimately it's Finn's decision. I'm his girlfriend, not his wife and not his mother. I don't have a say in anything he does, or decides to do with his life. Finn is a big boy, he doesn't run things past me before doing them, just like he doesn't run them past you. He has his own mind and makes his own decision like everyone else. You decided to fuck some blonde; you don't run it by Finn first do you?"
"No I don't." Logan sighed.
"If Finn decided to not drink as excessively, or not go out with you to some club, it's not because I'm stopping him it's because he doesn't want to. Got it?"
"Yeah."
"So stop blaming me for Finn's attitude and talk to him about it. You're so upset with this supposed 'New Finn' don't you dare blame it on the fact that I'm his girlfriend and I'm the one changing him, because I haven't once told him to change. Got it?"
"Yeah."
"So quit trying to get back at me for something I haven't done, and own up to the fact that you fucked up. If I hear you talked about me behind my back, I won't send Finn to hurt you; I'll fly down to Fiji and kick your ass myself. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal." Logan ground out.
"Now stop sabotaging your guy's trip. And go talk to Finn about what's bugging you. If I have to use this number again Logan I will not be happy."
"Fine."
"Fine, nice talking to you Logan."
"Likewise." Logan muttered, before he heard the dial tone. Looking at his clock, he noticed that it was nearing six in the morning. Deciding he'd take a shower and then talk to Finn he left the room, contemplating the conversation he'd just had with Rory.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Rory stomped out of her room, and glared at her mother. "That boy is infuriating!"
"Finn?"
"Logan!" Rory yelled.
"How bout we go to Luke's and you explain."
"No, to pissed to walk, I need to pace." Rory said, doing just that and pacing in front of the coffee table. Even though she felt a bit better by yelling at Logan she still felt angry. "That asshole put a girl in my boyfriend's room. A girl! Loosen up he says, it was just a joke he says. Then give Finn a beer and watch porn! As if it was that hard to get a guy to loosen up in any other why. He has no consideration for Finn's feelings or Colin's or mine! He's an asshole and I hate him and I want to squeeze the little gnat until his eyeballs just pop out of his ego driven head!" she yelled her voice having gone higher in pitch with every word.
"So…we're talking about Logan right?"
"Yes!" Rory shook her head falling into the chair in the corner with a sigh. "I accept that he doesn't like me, I just…I don't understand why. And it irks me."
"So really you haven't accepted it." Lorelai pointed out.
Rory sighed. "I guess."
"Rory as much I hate to say this, this isn't going to be the only time in your life that you're going to run into people that don't like you. I mean, as a mother, I like to keep my delusions that everyone loves my baby. But there are going to be more times in your life where you're going to meet people who just aren't going to like you and I guess in a way you should thank Logan for preparing you for the future."
"So you mean that there's going to be more times where I'm going to feel this sense of annoyance at not knowing what I've done to make a person hate me."
"Pretty much."
"Well that sucks."
"I'm telling you, you should thank Logan the next time you talk to him."
"If I never talk to him again, it'll be a good thing."
Lorelai laughed. "Yeah, I heard you yelling at him in your room."
Rory sighed feeling a bit lighter. "It felt good, to yell at him. It just…I needed to do it, and he needed to hear it."
"And you so rarely lose your patience; it's why I love it when you do."
"Glad to know I've been your source of entertainment today."
"Oh, you've made my day better." Lorelai smirked. "I had to deal with Michel today."
"Michel? How is my favorite French man?"
"Annoying, and he's going to be part of The Dragonfly."
Rory frowned. "I thought he already was."
Lorelai shrugged "We may have been pushing him out."
"Mom!"
"What? It wasn't intentional or anything."
"We've known Michel for years! He has to be part of The Dragonfly."
"And that's why he is, we went there with the intention of letting him talk us into it and somehow it got turned into a guilt trip and us begging him to come back," Lorelai sighed. "Geez, this whole work thing is hard."
"This whole relationship thing is hard." Rory muttered.
"Good thing we don't have anything planned for this weekend right?"
Rory bit her lip, "Yeah about that. We're going to Dean's wedding."
Lorelai raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Rory sighed and started the story of how she'd been at the gazebo and her battle with the table linens.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Hey!" Lane chirped as she stepped outside with the phone.
"Hey." Colin smiled. "I'm glad I got to talk to you today."
"Yeah, my mom's out advocating the perils of not going to church."
"Eternal damnation?" Colin asked with a smirk leaving his room and going upstairs.
"Got it in one." Lane laughed.
"And what do I get?" Colin asked bypassing Logan on the couch watching the news highlights.
"Hmm, my new limited edition Queen CD?"
"As if I didn't have it," Colin shook his head as he went outside climbing the steps to go on the top deck. "How about a rain check kiss when I get back."
Lane blushed and bit her lip. "I don't know if I feel comfortable kissing a person who's not my boyfriend, you know eternal damnation isn't just for those anti-church."
Colin laughed and found his opening. They'd been dancing around the subject since he'd left, but they either got interrupted by something that caused their conversation to switch or Lane would start ranting about something and while he loved to hear her rant, he would lose his nerve to ask her by the time they got back to the original topic.
Taking his chance he leaned against the railing looking out to the ocean. "And what if I told you I might be interested in settling down."
Lane laughed. "With who?"
It was Colin's turn to laugh. "You."
"Wow. You're a very funny man Mr. McCrea."
"I'm not joking."
Lane laughed. "You're looking to be the boyfriend of a nineteen year old Korean girl, who is a repressed audiophile still living with her mother, and going to Seventh Day Adventist College, all while secretly drumming in a rock band?"
"Yeah, are you looking to be the girlfriend of a rich and stuck up Hartford boy, who's been kicked out of over ten boarding schools, has too much money to spend and is also a repressed audio file, wishing he could ditch family obligations to play guitar in a rock band?"
"I didn't know you played guitar."
"You never asked." Colin pointed out. "So?"
"So?"
Colin rolled his eyes. "Look, it sucks that I have to ask you this over the phone, but its better this way then in an e-mail. But…Will you be my girlfriend?" before she had a chance to respond he continued. "I mean, I'm not going back to Hartford until a week before school starts next fall, I have this trip, then ditching the guys to roam around Europe with my dad like every summer, father-son thing, and we don't usually get back till the last minute. And that sucks, because even though I haven't known you for that long, I do miss you and I do really like you."
"Wow, and I thought Gilmores were the only ones that could rant like that."
"I rant with the best of them. So?"
Lane sighed. "This situation does suck the big one. But…I like you too. A lot. And I do miss you too. I mean who knows where I'll be this summer, maybe a record label will love us and I'll be on tour and you'll be in Europe and you'll catch a show." Lane sighed wishing that was true "But, that doesn't change the fact that I like you, and we have a lot in common, including great taste in best friends."
Colin laughed. "We do have that."
"So…I guess my answer is…"
"LANE!"
Lane looked up and saw her mother power walking towards her. "Oh crap."
"Lane?" Colin asked
"Mom alert. I got to go."
"Wait!"
Lane smiled. "Yes." she hung up before hiding the phone in the flower pot standing up to meet her mother.
Colin smiled at the phone before closing it and turning, He jumped when he saw Logan standing at the deck. "Hey."
"Hey." Logan nodded leaning against the rail next to him, his back to the ocean. "Lane?"
"Uh…yeah." Colin stuck his phone in his pocket. "I caught her just before her mom got home."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Colin cleared his throat. "Did you need something or…?"
"No…uh yeah, I was going to ask if you wanted coffee?"
"Um yeah, that'd be great thanks."
"Yeah, no problem." Logan walked back towards the steps and went down, Colin following him after a few minutes. When he walked into the kitchen, he saw Finn sitting at the table, nursing a cup of tea, while Logan started the coffee.
"Morning." Finn muttered his eyes still half closed.
"Morning." Colin said sliding in the seat across from him. "How'd you sleep?"
Finn shrugged. "Fine, you?"
"I think I'll sleep a bit lighter tonight."
Finn laughed. "You asked her?"
Colin nodded. "She said yes."
They heard the cabinet slam shut, both turning to see Logan staring at the wood, Finn turned back to Colin. "How do you feel?"
Colin shrugged. "Great, I mean, I know we haven't really known each other long, but she's great. I really like her and who knows it may last years, or weeks, but knowing Lane she'll be amazing."
"What about sex?" Finn laughed. "Can you handle being celibate?"
"If you can I can." Colin teased, turned back to Logan. "Coffee ready?"
"Few minutes." Logan grumbled leaning against the counter, keeping his gaze averted.
Colin smirked, still turned towards Logan. "I…uh…I heard Rory yelling at you last night."
Logan looked up. "What?"
"Went to use the bathroom last night, heard you talking on the phone, heard Rory's name, I can only assume she was yelling at you."
Logan rubbed the back of her neck while Finn straightened in interest but kept his gaze on his tea. Logan sighed. "Uh yeah. Really reamed into me, kept talking over me. She said she'd give me a chance to talk, but hung up before I could explain."
"Not that you had much to explain." Finn muttered.
Logan nodded. "No, I guess I didn't have much to explain. What I did was stupid of me, and I'm sorry for it."
"No you're not." Finn said finally looking up to eye his best friend. "You're just saying that so that when I talk to Rory, I'll tell her what you said and you can avoid another conversation with her."
Logan smirked. "She scares me man."
Finn laughed and nodded slightly. "She scares me a bit too." he looked up at his friend seriously. "But I really like her."
"I know." Logan nodded pouring the coffee and going over to the booth sitting next to Colin setting down both mugs. "Look it's going to take me some time to get use to girls being in our life permanently, not sporadically like it use to be."
Finn sighed. "I realize that Logan, but Rory's not going anywhere anytime soon. I hope that you can really accept that, not just tell me and Colin you do but really accept her and Lane because like it or not we've got girlfriends Logan and we like it."
"You really haven't gotten to know the girls Logan." Colin told him. "Rory is perfect for Finn she keeps him level and Lane, well I've never met a person more matched for me then Lane. She knows who The Kinks are."
Logan laughed. "Yeah, I get that, just…give me some time and I'll try not to keep ruining this trip."
"Great." Finn nodded. "Now I'm going to go get dressed, need to go drop off that P.O. Box application. I'll be back in a few hours." He said getting up; downing the rest of his tea and putting it in the sink before going to his bedroom.
He grabbed a pair of jeans from the floor, and put them on, before grabbing an undershirt and putting that on. It was too hot outside for a regular shirt so he grabbed his wallet and phone before going back up. Colin and Logan were still in the kitchen, so he left without a word, them already knowing where he was going.
He jogged off the gangplank, and towards town, happy to get air into his system. The yacht was starting to get to him, he was one of those people that needed to stay active, and since half the activities he usually did to keep moving had to be taken off his list due to his taken status, he had to find some other way to move around.
Walking into the post office he got in line behind a young woman holding a box and stuffed his hands in his pockets rocking back on his heels.
He'd need to look up jogging routes soon. He needed to work off his sexual frustration somehow and taking it out on someone was not an option anymore. Five minutes later he turned in the application and had paid the fee. Walking out of the post office stuffing the three keys in his pocket he went towards the beach, smiling at the couples that were walking around.
Sitting down he slipped of his sandals and dug his toes in the sand before texting Rory the address of the P.O. Box, then calling his father.
"Hello?"
"Dad." Finn smiled.
"Finn! Son! How are you?"
"I'm fine, in Taveuni right now, needed a break so I decided to call."
"Good to hear son, got to say Friday night is not the same without you."
Finn laughed and looked down at his black nails. The polish had worn off awhile ago. "I'll paint them tonight if it makes you feel better."
"A bit."
Finn frowned and smiled lightly as he got an idea. "Dad, how would you feel if I sent Rory down there tomorrow for brunch? You can talk and it'll make up for the fact that I'm not there for Friday night guy night. I bet she'll even let you paint her nails."
"I don't know." Roland said hesitating. "A girl?"
Finn laughed. "She'll be a perfect temporary replacement and she adores you as you adore her."
"Well as long as she doesn't do it out of pity, I guess that's fine." Roland pouted. Finn laughed and looked down at the ocean. "Are you enjoying your trip son?"
Finn shrugged and grabbed a handful of sand before letting it fall from his fingers. "I guess."
"What's wrong? Missing your sheila?"
Finn smiled "That's half of it, and I guess the trip's not as great as we made it out to be. Logan's a bit bitter now that Colin and I have settled down."
"Colin? Really?" Roland asked in surprise.
Finn laughed. "Yes, Colin too with Rory's best friend Lane. They're great together dad."
"I'm glad. So Logan…"
Finn sighed. "He's my best friend dad, and he says he's going to try, but…I just have this feeling he's saying that to get over this fight we're all having. I don't know, part of me wants to come home, and another part of me wants to get Colin and our stuff, rent a yacht and just do this trip our way. Let Logan fend for himself. Then another part…"
"You have a lot of parts son."
Finn laughed. "The last part of me, just keeps hearing Rory's voice telling me to work everything out with Logan."
"I would listen to the Rory voice. She's a wise young lady."
"That she is." Finn sighed. "Thanks dad."
"For what?"
"Listening to me."
"Part of the job as your father son, now tell Rory I expect her bright and early for brunch."
Finn smiled. "I think I can do you one better. I'll talk to you later all right dad?"
"All right and son?"
"Yeah?"
"Enjoy your trip; don't let Logan ruin it for you."
"Thanks." Finn said feeling lighter since he'd talked to his father. He hung up the phone before dialing Rory.
"Hey love."
"Hey Finn."
He could hear the smile on her face and couldn't help the one that moved onto his. "I was wondering if I could ask you a favor."
"Of course, what's up?"
"My dad's feeling kind of lonely with me out here, I usually spend one day a week down there and he redoes my nails."
Rory laughed. "So what are you thinking?"
Finn winced. "As weird as it sounds, you mind spending the night over there with him? We usually just sit around the living room talking, and watching movies."
"Like a girl's night?"
"No it's not a girl's night."
"You paint each other's nails, you talk and share your feelings and watch movies, it's a girl's night." She teased
"I said nothing about sharing feelings." He said. "I said we talked."
Rory laughed. "I would love to spend the night over at your dads. He has better color nail polish then I do anyway. He never told me where he got that purple I saw at the party."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Rory said softly. "Let him know I'll go after the town meeting so around seven."
"I'll do that." Finn nodded, hearing her soft sigh he smiled "I miss you too."
Rory laughed. "I love that you read my mind."
"And love?"
"Yes?"
"Feel free to steal my shirts."
Rory laughed. "Goodbye Finn."
"Bye love." He said before hanging up. He looked out on the ocean with a smile, defiantly feeling lighter, before grabbing his shoes and walking back towards the yacht.
XxxxxxX
Rory pulled up to the Rothschild residence an hour and a half late. She parked in front of the garage, and grabbed her bag, making sure she had everything before getting out of the car, locking and making her way to the door.
She gave the door a few knocks while searching her bag for her pajamas. "Crap." She muttered as the door opened.
"Rory?"
She looked up and smiled. "Roland, I am so sorry I'm late, our town meeting ran later then it usually does, and then there was a situation with Kirk holding Lane's band hostage because he thought they were breaking in, and then Taylor the idiot…."
"Whoa." Roland said laughing and letting her inside. "I didn't realize you were late."
"You didn't?" she asked as he led her to the living room where Haunted Mansion was paused.
"I wasn't expecting company." He said waving his hand down to show his black silk pajamas. "Finns said you'd be over for brunch."
Rory laughed. "Finn told me to come over to tonight."
"I'll do you one better." Roland muttered shaking his head. "My son really does worry about me. Well I'd love the company."
"Oh great, for a minute I thought you'd send me back home."
"Of course not." Roland laughed leading her towards the stairs. "Now since I'm in my pajamas I'll let you get into yours and we'll reconvene down here for some movies."
"Yeah." Rory laughed as she followed Roland up. "I forgot my pajamas in my rush to get here I stuffed in two pairs of jeans a tank top and the movies I thought you'd enjoy."
"Not a problem." He laughed waving his hand. "I'm sure Finn has a shirt and some pants that'll fit you."
Rory smiled at the thought as he led her down the hallways and opened the door at the end. "You'll sleep here,"
Rory bit her lip and looked inside. She knew instantly who's room it was, she turned to Roland who was looking at her with a smile. "Finns room right?"
"Finn sounded like he missed you terribly when I talked to him earlier. So I can only imagine how you're feeling."
"I miss him. A lot." She admitted.
"Go ahead and raid his drawers. Meet me downstairs when you're ready."
"Thanks."
Roland smiled. "I think we're going to have fun tonight."
"So do I." Rory laughed as he closed the door behind him. She set her bags down on the bed and looked around the room. She knew he didn't stay here often, he'd told her as much. His nights were spent at Yale and only every other Friday and Saturday night were spent in this house, and most of the time he and his father ended up sleeping in the living room instead of making it into bed.
She looked around the room, it was defiantly Finn. Without the mess of course, she thought as she noticed the navy blue bedspread laid out the pillows plumped and covered in black satin pillow cases.
Walking over to the dresser she noted that the top was covered in loose pictures, some of them from the summer at Martha's Vineyard. Her fingers traced his face, the face she saw every morning in the picture she kept on her nightstand by her bed.
Not bothering to feel awkward, she opened the first drawers and saw his socks all out of pairs and loose in the drawer, shaking her head she opened the next ones and saw his undershirts, she took one out and gripped it in her hand, before opening the third drawer and finding his boxers. Biting her lip she grabbed a pair of blue plaid ones, hoping Roland wouldn't find her weird for wearing them and went to the bed to change.
She placed her cloths on the bed folding them before changing into the undershirt and boxers and grabbing the movies she's stuffed in her bag before leaving the room. Rushing down the stairs, she saw Roland clearing the coffee table; he smiled at her as she came down and motioned her to sit down across from him on the other side of the table as he set down a manicure set.
"I was about to start on my nails, they're getting dreadful, but we'll do yours first, I love working on someone else's nails and yours…" he took her hand and studied her nails. "Are worse than mine, you bite."
"When I'm nervous, bored, anxious, pretty much whenever I'm awake." Rory laughed, causing Roland to chuckle as he un-paused the movie.
Rory frowned as she watched Haunted Mansion play out on the screen. "I wouldn't take you for an Eddie Murphy fan."
Roland laughed as he took out his nail file. "I'm a fan of the old Eddie Murphy; Raw, Delirious, Trading Places, pretty much everything up until after Nutty Professor."
"Shrek?"
"I'll give him Shrek" Roland laughed.
"So what's with The Haunted Mansion?"
"It's on my DVR, solely for mocking reasons." Roland told her, causing her to nod.
"Totally know what you mean." Rory laughed.
"So tell me about yourself Rory."
Rory raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Well Finn's told me the basics of course, hometown, age, what your studying and where, but I want to know the juicy stuff."
Rory smiled. "Like what? Previous boyfriends? Speeding tickets?"
"Do you have speeding tickets?" Roland asked with a smirk.
Rory sighed "One, but it wasn't my fault! The guy in front of me was going twice as fast as I was."
Roland laughed. "It's never our fault."
"Roland! How many speeding tickets have you given?"
Roland smirked as he dug through the nail polish in his bin, "I'm lucky enough to be able to woo both the females and the male officers, so none."
"Oh if only I had that power."
"You do." Roland told her, patting her hand, "You just have to find your inner vixen, which I sure, with you being around Stephanie so much, it'll come out soon enough." He pushed the bin towards her. "Now pick a color."
She looked in the bin and dug around. "How did you get so many colors?"
Roland shrugged. "Mostly Finn and Shelby, I get darker colors for my personal pleasure and if I'm going to be in meetings with associates that aren't as comfortable with my lifestyle I go more towards the clear or skin tone colors. Finn and Shelby get me the more bright colors, so I've gotten quite the collection."
"I can see that," she said with a smile handing him a deep purple "Footloose that sounds like a fun one."
"So what about best friends?"
Rory shrugged. "Before this summer I would have answered my mom and Lane, but since this summer I don't think I can pick just them as my best friends. Steph, Tristan, Colin, even Paris in her own twisted way, have all become my best friends. It's hard to pick just one."
"No one, as much as they say they do, has just one best friend; I noticed you left Finn and Logan off that list of friends."
"Finn, I can defiantly consider one of my best friends, but I think as my boyfriend he's in a different category all together, as for Logan…well I'm not inviting him to sleepover anytime soon."
"Finn told me you two don't get along." Roland said as he painted her nails.
"I don't know what it is about me that he doesn't like, I'm not saying I'm perfect or anything, but I haven't done anything that would have make him hate me to the extent he does."
"It's nothing you've done Rory." Roland told her, starting on the other hand. "Logan has his own family obligations on his mind. I don't put pressures on Finn, mostly because he's not my first born, and even if he was, I wouldn't push him to do what I wanted him to do. He's got his own dreams and aspiration and I'm not one to tell him he can't go out and do them. Colin's family is the same way, only instead of breeding Colin to be a lawyer; law has always been his interest, so he doesn't mind joining the family business. He and his father, while they're not close like Finn and I, they do have a relationship that consists of them traveling Europe for three months, and catching up. It works for them, and Colin doesn't feel the family obligation lurking in the back of his mind."
"And Logan does?"
Roland sighed as he blew air across her nails and leaned back against the couch. "Mitchum means well as well as Elias and Shira in her own way, and I know they only want the best for Logan, but the Huntzberger's aren't convinced that a female heir would go over well with the company, so as much as Honor would love to take over, she's been delegated to be a trophy wife, and Logan's been thrust as the male and set heir to the Huntzberger wealth."
"But isn't that what he wants?"
"Don't judge Logan to harshly Rory, while he might enjoy the family business, he doesn't enjoy being forced into it and being reminded everyday by his parents what he's meant to become and what he's meant to do to achieve it."
"That doesn't explain his animosity towards me though."
Roland bit the inside of his cheek before speaking. "You know when Finn asked me to go on this trip, I had to remind him that the last time he and the boys had taken the yacht out it had ended with him in the emergency room with his head split wide open. It wasn't until he explained to me that starting their senior year Logan wouldn't be able to hang out like he use to. See Finn, before I bought the hotel, didn't have plans for after college, he was getting his business degree but wasn't quite sure what to do with it. Colin was going to go to Yale Law, but was going to stay in New Haven, as well as Finn. Logan…"
"Was going straight to work." Rory finished.
"Still is." Roland pointed out. "The Huntzberger's gave Logan a choice. Either go this year with his friends, or wait until they graduated and take the summer to travel."
"Logan chose the year."
Roland nodded. "He chose a few months later when I showed Finn the plans for the hotel he'll be taking over this summer. Finn whether he admits it or not loves the business his family has created and I think Logan saw it too. He realized that by the end of their senior year their trip wouldn't happen, Colin would be traveling with his dad and Finn would probably follow me around to learn the ins and outs. This trip was their last hurrah."
"But it's not like I'm there telling Finn what to do, or delegating their activities, or ruining their fun."
"But Colin and Finn aren't focused on the objective Logan had originally had for the trip. This trip was meant for boozing, womanizing, and stupid stunts and as Logan watches Finn get one step closer to growing up and watches Colin accept his fate with open arms, Logan finds he's the only one fighting the fate he's been pushed into. So yes, you may not be the cause of Finn and Colin's distraction, but you are a factor. I know my son doesn't allow anyone, least of all you or myself, to delegate his life; if he wants to change he'll do it because he wants to not because someone makes him. So if Logan sees a change in my son, which I know he does, because I hear the change in him myself, it's not our doing its Finn's. Logan just doesn't want to accept that he's losing one of his best friends to a girl. A girl my son happens to love."
Rory blushed and watched as he grabbed the clear coat of polish. "Love, it's such an elusive thing for men of our wealthy stature, women too. So when they find it they tend to fear it. I did. Though I believe it had more to do with my repulsion of women then it did my idea of love." He said wistfully cause Rory to laugh.
"Finn doesn't seem to fear it." Rory pointed out
"Because he has you, you grew up with love and believe in it. It's more real to you then…this table." He said knocking on the wood. "I love my son, I love my daughters, I don't love my ex-wife, believe me, and there is no love lost between us. She's a homophobic bitch that clearly only wanted me for the name and status it came with. But…for all her faults and all our mistakes, we love our children. But Finn grew up with the idea that love wasn't forever."
"Same with Colin."
"Ah," he laughed. "So you've heard of the McCrae wives?"
"Colin mentioned some."
"Andrew adores Colin, ignores him for most of the year, but those three months they travel together, is probably the happiest I see my friend Andrew. Colin is his only child, and for that he tends to dote on Colin, he lavishes his young wives with attention for the year, summer is for his son, it's always worked that way, but the wives are ever changing and Colin also grew up with the idea that love wasn't forever."
"Logan's parents are still together."
"Logan's parents are the perfect example of a Hartford couple." Roland laughed. "Though the Huntzberger's are friends, they're the reason Logan fears love just as much as any child. His parents may have loved each other, but it's faded with the years that Mitchum has worked and years Shira has smoked away. Logan sees that their stuck and it's too late to end the relationship and he's able to see how they use each other, Mitchum for Shiras looks and the way she upholds their name and the fact that she bore an heir and Shira for the power and status and Huntzberger comes with. Finn, he looks at you and forgets what he grew up with and realizes that maybe all love isn't like that. Colin looks at Lane and sees the same thing. That love may be able to last for the long haul, that maybe, just maybe, they've found that person that will love them for who they are, not ask them to change and not use them for their money and name."
"But what about Tristan and Stephanie? I mean from the stories I've heard, Tristan's family life was worse than Logan's and Stephanie's mother and father are no picnic."
"Ah but Tristan and Stephanie see something in each other, that helps them deal with the love issue. They know what the other deals with, there's no fear of being used, or being asked to change or not being accepted because they come from the same background and that's what makes them work."
"Finn tells you everything doesn't he?" Rory laughed.
Roland laughed with her. "That and those kids have spent so much time in this house that I've seen them grow up and I know how they are. I was dubbed the 'cool dad' when Finn hit middle school, so I had adolescents all over this place"
Roland sighed as he leaned back again. "I understand that Logan does or says things that you might take personally, and I know Finn takes personally, but at least now you know where it might be coming from. But hey for all I know the reason I just gave you is completely and utter bullshit and the real reason is because Logan wants you for his own just doesn't know how to fight for you."
"I like the 'he's a poor soul' reason better."
Roland nodded with a smirk. "So do I."
"So Finn's never been in with a girl where he thought of love as…un-elusive?"
Roland shrugged. "Not that I've seen, he's never really brought a girl home, He's brought them to parties, but they'd never let me do their nails."
Rory looked down at her nails and smile. "Well you're welcome to do mine at any time."
"So what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Have you ever been within arm's reach of that thing we like to call love?"
Rory smiled as she pushed the bin towards Roland, "Choose your color, I'll choose the movie."
"Ah, avoidance."
"Is this even proper sleepover conversation with a boyfriend's father?"
Roland scoffed as he dug through the bin, he'd have to choose something other than black. Black was for father-son bonding, looked like Spearmint Pearl was a good son's girlfriend-father bonding color. "I don't know, how many sleepovers have you had with your boyfriends fathers?"
"I'd have to say this is my first, and not at all awkward like I thought it would be." She took the small bottle from his hand and smiled "Oh I like it," she said looking at the brighter teal color
"I would choose black but…"
"That's more of a Finn and you thing."
"He's told you."
"He was complaining about the fact that his nail polish had chipped on one of the e-mails he sent and hated doing it himself."
"Mm, he gets frustrated when one hand comes out better than the other. So…you haven't answered my question."
"And what was that question?" Rory asked starting on his right hand.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Rory bit her lip. "I thought I was. I think every girl believes they love their first boyfriend, and there's the lucky few that actually do find their soul mate in their first. I didn't."
"But you loved him."
Rory bit her lip. "With some part of my heart I did. I don't know, I thought I loved Dean, my first boyfriend, and I thought I could have loved Jess, my second boyfriend, had it not ended the way it did but with Finn, everything is so amplified and confusing. Everything I thought I knew about loving someone was changed with Finn."
"You love him?"
Rory laughed. "I couldn't even tell Dean I loved him after three months together, and now, it's been almost two months and I'm ready to tell him. I'm dying to, and for some reason it doesn't feel soon, it doesn't feel rushed."
"But…"
"But…it does feel too soon and it does feel rushed and even though it feels right, I don't think Finn is ready to hear those words."
"You'd be surprised, Rory, at what Finn is ready to hear." Roland winked causing her to laugh.
"He is so much like you, it's amazing. I think maybe that's why I feel so comfortable with you."
He smiled as she painted his nails with ease as Juno played in the background. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"Well, after breakfast I have to go back home and get ready for a wedding, then after that I have no idea."
"Wedding?"
"Mmm," she nodded. "Dean's."
"Dean's." he muttered, "You're ex-boyfriend?" he asked.
She blew lightly on his nails before leaning back on her hands to let them dry, before nodding. "Yeah, we're sort of friends; I don't know it was all sort of weird. I ran into him earlier today when I went to go visit Lane, literally, ran into him. And we started talking, and well, since he and the bride are practically taking over the center of the town with their wedding, it came up. He invited my mom and me."
"And you're going?"
Rory shrugged. "I guess, I mean…what's the protocol when you're ex-boyfriend gets married?"
"Do you get along with the bride?"
"She bought me a magnet on a school trip."
"When was this?" he laughed.
"Elementary school." Rory shrugged. "I don't know, I guess things with Lindsey and me are awkward." She sighed. "I guess things with me and Dean are awkward if I'm being honest."
"Does Finn know?"
"That things with me and my ex are awkward?"
Roland shook his head with a laugh. "No, that you're going to the wedding?"
"I told him, he seemed okay with it, though he was half asleep at the time."
"Do you want to go?"
"I don't know. I guess?"
"That's not very convincing love."
Rory laughed. "I think the part that's telling me not to go, is the part that disagrees with the whole union?"
"Jealously?"
"Oh no!" she denied quickly. "I just don't see why they're getting married so young. Dean only got together with her a year in a half ago, and even though it's a small town, I think it's too soon, too young. Dean has so much potential and I really don't think he's going to be able to achieve it if he's married."
"Marriage has an upside."
"Yes, but only if you're ready for it, now hands on the table."
Roland did as she asked, as she grabbed the clear coat. "May I offer you some advice?"
"If I say no, you're still going to tell me aren't you?"
"Probably." Roland shrugged.
"Then go ahead."
"I think that if you're so opposed to the union you shouldn't go."
"I want to support him though and wouldn't it be rude not to show up after I said I would."
"Not necessarily, it was last minute so it's not like he can blame you for not going."
"There's more to your little advice isn't there?"
Roland sighed, might as well be honest with the girl, he thought "With the awkwardness on his part that you're telling me about, and the bride not liking you, I think he may have some left over feelings for you."
"No." Rory said waving off the suggestion. "No, no, no, Dean and I broke up almost three years ago, there can't be feelings left."
"Don't you still feel something for him?"
"Well sure, but…"
"Ah…but you broke up three years ago and you still feel something, it disproves your point."
"I guess…" she trailed off.
"I'm not telling you not to go Rory," he said quickly, not wanting to offend her or overstep his bounds. "Look, if by the time the wedding rolls around tomorrow and you still have those torn feelings, don't go but if you're there to support his decision as a friend wholeheartedly then go. Don't go with half a feeling Rory, they don't need that on their wedding day, I'm pretty sure their parents about to happy about this anyway."
"I guess."
"You'll think about it?"
Rory bit her lip and nodded. "I will defiantly think about it."
"Good." He stood up shaking his hands and blowing on them. "Now I'm going to go put one of those microwavable pizzas in the oven, then we're going to start this movie night officially."
Rory laughed as she watched him go, before it clicked. "You have pizza?!" she asked standing up and following him.
XxxxxxX
"His dad stockpiles frozen pizzas." Rory said as she sat on Lane's bed.
"I can't believe you spent the night with Finn's dad." Lane whispered as she pulled on a "Jesus is love" shirt.
"When you put it that way it sounds dirty!" Rory said with a laugh. "Either way around 3 in the morning I ended up in Finn's bed."
"How was that like?"
"Made me miss him even more." Rory sighed. "His bed smelled so much like him."
"Well obviously he sleeps in it."
"I ended up stealing like five of his shirts."
Lane laughed as she pulled on her shoes. "You're kidding?"
"No, I stuffed them in my duffle bag with my clothes in strategic parts so that his smell rubs off on my cloths and I end up smelling like him to. Oh god I'm turning into a freak."
Lane laughed. "No worse than my hair touching days. Okay let's go."
Rory got off the bed and followed silently after Lane down the stairs. They walked out the door without alerting Mrs. Kim of their presence.
"So all in all good night?"
Rory shrugged. "I got some insight on why Logan might hate me, so yeah I guess. What about you?"
"Well, I am officially off the market."
Rory squealed and hugged her friend. "He asked?!"
"Yeah, did you know he plays guitar?"
"No idea." Rory laughed.
"He's amazing Rory and hey, at least now we're both in long distance relationships so we can bitch to each other."
"Very true." Rory said with a nod. "And guitar practices?"
"Ugh don't even get me started." Lane said. "No one is as good a Dave and I don't think we'll ever find anyone."
"So, a total strikeout, huh?"
"Total and, you know, at first, I felt bad for them, so lacking in talent, yet so clueless. Then I just felt bad for their guitars."
Rory shook her head. "Where are all the good young musicians these days?"
"Fiji apparently."
Rory laughed. "Hey, he might be able to play but who said it's good."
"True." Lane nodded. "I'm gonna head to the music store real quick, look at things I can't afford, again. Wanna come?"
"Nah, I have to go stop mom from buying a salad spinner."
"So you're really not going huh?"
Rory shrugged. "It's just not right you know? If I don't support the marriage in its entirety its best I don't send my negative vibes out there."
"Since when did you start believing in negative vibes?"
"Ugh, since last night when Roland dared me to eat a tube of cookie dough that was stuffed with Jelly Belly's and not the regular Jelly Belly's either, those Harry Potter ones, with flavors like booger and ear wax."
"Ew."
"Yeah, worst part; I can't even remember what caused us to even do that."
Lane laughed. "Well you go stop Lorelai, I'm gonna go into a self induced depression."
"Have fun." Rory called as lane turned to go.
"Yeah you too." Lane called back. Rory turned away and was about to walk towards the store her mother had said she would be when she saw Luke come out of Doose's. She smiled at him and waved.
"Hey Luke."
"Hey Rory, um, where's your mom?"
"Uh, around somewhere, why?"
"I thought I'd find her at Doose's. Did she go back to the inn, or…" he trailed off, Rory frowned as she noticed the way he was shifting nervously, and avoiding eye contact, much like the way he was acting when he was hiding the fact that Jess was no longer in Stars Hollow.
"She was going to go back to the inn and then was picking up a wedding present for Dean but…"
"She have her cell on her?" Luke cut off
"I think it's dead. What's going on?"
"Or a pager or something?"
"Is something wrong Luke?" Rory asked with a frown
"Don't go to the wedding." Luke blurted out.
Rory took a step back. "What?"
"Uh, don't go to Dean's wedding."
"Why?" she asked, she'd already planned on not going, but if Luke was telling her not to go, then something was up.
"I just…don't go. Trust me."
"Okay." Rory said slowly. "I had already decided not to go. I was actually trying to find mom before she found a present for them."
"That's good, that's very good, it's better that way."
"Okay."
"So you're not going?" he asked again, making sure.
"Nope."
"Good, I'll see you guys later."
"Yeah Luke, I'll see you later." Rory nodded.
"Okay." He said patting her arm awkwardly before going back to the diner, Rory frowned after him before shaking her head.
"Well that was weird." She muttered, before walking off to find her mom. A few minutes later she found her mom walking down the sidewalk with a wrapped present in her hands.
"Darn I'm too late."
"With what, sweets?"
"You got a present."
"Yeah and I think I found the perfect one. It's sweet, not too personal, classy, yet cheap."
"We're not going." Rory said.
"What?" Lorelai asked in confusion.
"Yeah, Finn's dad and me talked about it last night, and I think it's best if I just skip out on this one, that and Luke was looking for you and ran into me, and he was all nervous and everything, and then he finally just said we shouldn't go."
"What does that mean?"
"It means we're not going."
"Did he give a reason?"
"Yeah Roland said that if I were to go then I'd should go support this marriage wholeheartedly and I don't, so I think it's best if I sit it out."
"Not Roland, though he is a very wise man, Luke."
"Oh, no, not really."
"Hmm, that's weird."
"He seemed pretty serious and I think if you saw him you'd feel the same way. Luke was kind of upset."
"About the wedding?"
"Yeah."
Lorelai sighed. "So we're not going?"
Rory shrugged. "I've decided its better we don't."
"Okay, mystery though, the Luke part, not the Roland part."
"Yeah."
"Well, at least you've got your nothing-to-do weekend back."
Rory smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I did didn't I." she frowned when she heard the sound of an electric car following them, turning she saw Kirk following them in a small one seat car.
"Um…mom, Kirks following us in a little clown car."
Lorelai smiled and looked back at him before wrapping her arm around her daughter. "He's watching out for us."
"Okay." Rory laughed.
"So what are you going to do?"
Rory shrugged. "I don't know, Finn doesn't wake up for another three hours I think I might just hang out at the house, do laundry and head back to Yale. If all else fails, Steph and Tristan will want to do something."
"Very true."
Rory turned back to Kirk then at her mom, "As much as I like that Kirk is watching out for us, it's a little creepy him following us like this."
"Just a little." Lorelai admitted, "But very sweet."
"Very, so what are you doing?"
"Well after beating on Taylor, yelling at Luke and having an epiphany and what it means to be a business owner all with one cup of coffee and at six in the morning, The Dragonfly is officially able to go into its remodeling stages tomorrow."
"Oh mom that's great!"
"Amazing kid. So Michel, Sookie and I were going to head over there after the wedding and really nail down some plans, but since I'm not going anymore, I think we might just go do that now, I mean unless you want to do something."
"No," she said as they reached the house. "You go. I'll be fine. I'll put on my pajamas, do my whites, and watch some movies before waking up the boyfriend."
"All right." Lorelai smiled at Kirk. "You can go now Kirk."
"You sure? I can stay and patrol the area."
"I'm sure Kirk. Thank you."
"Not a problem Lorelai." Kirk said tipping his hat before driving away.
"I don't even know where to start with that guy." Lorelai said with a shake of her head.
"He means good." Rory shrugged. "Now go."
"All right all right, Hey, I was in your room looking for some socks, and your duffle was open, what's with all the guy's undershirts?"
Rory laughed. "It's a long story."
"You miss Finn."
"Apparently not that long and I got permission to steal them, so technically not stealing but borrowing."
"Hm." Lorelai said as she got in the Jeep. "I'll see you later babe, if you decide to go back to Yale early, give me a call okay?"
"You got it."
Lorelai blew her a kiss before backing out of the driveway. Rory looked up at the house, and not wanting to go in just yet started walking back into town, before she knew it, she was leaning up against a tree, watching the doors to the church.
She knew she didn't like Dean the way she had when she was sixteen, not anymore, she was with Finn, wholeheartedly and without any lingering feelings for any of her boyfriends. But, she thought as she watched as Dean and Lindsey ran out of the church laughing and hugging, and finally kissing in front of their guests, she couldn't help but feel sadness for Dean and the potential he had that she knew would be pushed aside.
Biting her lip she looked at the ground kicking the sole of her shoe into the dirt before looking up again and smiling slightly at the quick vision of her in a wedding dress and Finn in a tux and them kissing in front of all their guests. Shaking her head she saw Dean and Lindsey again, heading towards the gazebo for the reception.
"Too fast Rory." She said to herself. "You haven't even told him you love him." She turned away and feeling her pocket vibrate, taking her phone out, she smiled.
"Speak of the devil." She said.
Finn laughed. "Were you speaking about me love?"
"Thinking, does that still count?"
"Only if you were thinking good things."
"Mmm, very good." She admitted.
"So…"
"So…"
"I talked to my dad."
Rory laughed. "And what'd he say?"
"That you left the house with half my underwear drawer!" he accused.
"One it was only five shirts and a pair of your boxers and two you gave me permission."
"Very true," he laughed. She smiled widely at the sound of his laughter, with a quick glace she turned and saw the couple sharing a kiss, shaking her head she felt nothing but happiness at hearing Finn's voice, she really felt nothing for her ex and that made her feel lighter.
"Love?" he asked.
"Sorry Finn, I'm here." She smiled before turning back to the phone call and home. "I'm right here."
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A.N: Holy crap, one year exactly five days ago and it hit a year since this has been updated. I actually had this chapter finished about two months ago, but some stuff came up and I wasn't able to edit and post it till now. Just know that I edited this myself so if there are errors, just let me know and I'll fix them, I read it through like three times, but I can't always catch everything.
This chapter was hard to write, only cause I knew after this chapter I was going to start deviating off the transcripts in big ways and once I know what I want to happen in the future it's hard for me to get back in the present and finish what I started in order to get to where I'm excited to get.
The next chapter I have able two thirds of the way finished. I've decided to split what I already have in half to post it next week, so the next three chapters I've been excited to write for some time. It really shows that it's not all ups for Rory and Finn and long distance relationships aren't meant to be easy, no matter what you do to ease the other person.
I do want you all to know that I have a new website that I am in fact up-keeping this time, and it has photo galleries of all the multi-chapter, stories I've posted, including this one. The galleries are still under construction, turns out half the pictures I had for stories, got lost so I've been slowly going back and finding the clothes and as a bonus stories are being reedited, little by little.
The link is on my profile. Also I have a twitter, for all you Tweets out there, it's under PDLDRogan, I'm quite obsessed with it and updated it constantly, with random stuff as well as when I post and when I put up pics in the gallery, or when I update my blog.
Anyway, let me know what you guys think, and have a fantastic week (for all you guys starting school on Monday…I feel your pain and I send everyone great first day vibes!)
Kassandra
P.S. This is for Flynn who I hope feels better soon because I miss her like hell!!