(The next day, Finn, Logan and Steve head back to work since one of the owners had been gone for three days, the other two for a day and a half. Rory decided to call her mother and inform her of the good news. She was a little bit nervous due to the fact that the last time Rory disclosed life alternating news concerning the ending of her relationship with Steve the two of them had ended up in an awful fight. Rory knew that it was a bit childish to be nervous considering that her and Steve had broken up almost five and half years prior, she just hoped that her mother would approve of the man she was about to marry.)
"Hey mom."-Rory
(sounding excited to hear from her daughter. It had been about six months now since the two of them had conversed with one another) "Rory, are you okay? Did something happen?"-Lorelai
"Actually yes something did, but could we meet up at Starbucks to get some coffee? It is the type of news that you need to hear in person."-Rory
"Of course. I'll see you in about half an hour."-Lorelai
"Alright."-Rory
*At Starbucks*
"Okay so what is the news that you need to tell me hun?"-Lorelai
"Finn proposed to me yesterday at Six Flags."-Rory
(her mom just freezes about to take a sip of her coffee. She is quite for a few moments)
"Mom?"-Rory
"Are you sure this is what you really want, Rory? That Finn is who you want?"-Lorelai
(with a hint of anger in her voice) "Don't, don't you dare question the love that I have for Finn."-Rory
"It's just that."-Lorelai (then her daughter cuts her off)
"Mom, you can either stand by us or walk away and not take part in the wedding or the life that I have with him it's that simple."-Rory
"What about Steve though?"-Lorelai
"What about him?"-Rory
"I always kind of thought that the two of you would get back together at some point. You've never fully explained why the two of you broke up all those years ago."-Lorelai
"Mom, it is something simple I will explain it one more time and that is IT. The age, there it is. Now, we are not having that conversation again, not here, not now nor ever again. I'm going to head back home. If you have something half way decent and worth while to say call me until then please don't ruin this for me okay?"-Rory
(Rory walks off in a fight of anger, while her mother just sits there for a few more minutes before walking back to her car and heading home. The daughter decides to head into her job early as well to go for a swim before any clients came in. She had just gotten done and walked up to the Concierge desk when she saw Steve and silently swore because no matter how hard she tried, he would be able to tell that she was still tense)
"Hey, Rory. What's going on?"-Steve
(she sets down her stuff and gently sits on the chair next to him) "Not much. You have any clients today?"-Rory
"Have one coming in about twenty minutes followed by a short half an hour one than I'm free for the rest of the day. At least so far. How about you?"-Steve
"One coming in about an hour, so I'm probably just going to set up for her then clean and organize like I normally do when I am here because semi low supplies don't seem to bother the other one's like it does me. In fact, I'm going to head to Harmony and start with that now. Unless it will interfere with your client?"-Rory
"No, I'll be in the back room anyway so go ahead."-Steve
"Okay, I'll see you soon."-Rory
(he smiles at her while she walks away. However, he can sense that something is wrong with her and decides to bring it up properly when he is done with his clients.)
*In Harmony Room*
(Rory's cell phone goes off) "Hello"-Rory
"Hey baby, how did it go with your mom?"-Finn
"Horribly. I'm at work though and have a client coming in, in about forty minutes so I'll fill you in on all the details when I get back home."-Rory
"Rory."-Finn
"I know Finn and believe me just hearing your voice has helped me relax more than you know."-Rory
"Okay, just don't take it out on your client."-Finn
(the two share a laugh because even on her worst days, Rory has an amazing ability to cover up her emotions and appear happy go lucky)
"Trust me I will be fine."-Rory
"I know that you will be. On to a different topic, when will you be home?"-Finn
"Probably by 3:30 or 4:00 depending on traffic."-Rory
"Alright, I shall see you then honey. I love you."-Finn
"I love you too. Bye"-Rory
(she hangs up, then finishes taking care of the Harmony room supplies, nail polish colors etc. It took her about half an hour then her client came in so she took care of her, and checked her out at the front desk. After she cleaned up and restocked once again she went back to the front area to check her email, and a few other accounts, which quickly did pass the time. Before she knew it, Steve was back up at the desk checking out his client. He got done then quietly asked for Rory's hand which she took after a moments hesitation)
"Where are we going, Steve?"-Rory
"You will see."-Steve
(the two of the them head outside and just start walking the path they were beyond familiar with at this point. It had been somewhat of a routine about a year ago that whenever they didn't have clients until later on in their shifts or weren't booked for the rest of the day that they would take at least an hour walk, to talk, or just relax)
"So, what's really going on?"-Steve
"How do you manage that?"-Rory
"Rory we dated for three years, have been friends longer than that, now we work together. Come on I'm bound to know when you are upset. Even if I faltered and no longer knew nor noticed the little things that did give away your mood the way you hold your tension in your body is a dead give away for how upset you really are. Now come on talk to me."-Steve
(she sighs then gives in to tell her the story with her mother) "I told Lorelai about the engagement."-Rory
"And"-Steve
"Far from being surprised she asked me if I was sure if I wanted to marry him, if I really did love him."-Rory
"Which you do. Any idiot with two eyes attached to their head can see that. But go on."-Steve
(she just laughs before continuing) "Which is basically what I told her. But then."-Rory
(she had faltered with her story, which caused him to stop walking) "Rory, what is it?"-Steve
(she had started to tear up, but managed to stay in control of her emotions for the time being) "I can understand why she asked if I was sure that I wanted to be with him. Dating an alcoholic has been anything but easy, and there are a few times that I did desire to just throw in the towel and walk away but I couldn't my love for him runs too deep to do that. She knows that as well."-Rory
"Then, what has you so upset."-Steve
"She asked about you."-Rory (and she no longer could hold in the tears nor did she want to.)
"I'm still confused though. Why would she ask about me?"-Steve
(then it hit him, and all he could think to do was hold his friend)
"Lorelai thinks that you and I should still be together doesn't she?"-Steve
"Yes, which makes no sense to me whatsoever. She knew the problems that you and I had. Even if we did ever have those feelings for one another again and attempted to get back together, the main problem would still be for we can not fix that."-Rory
"I know, believe me I know. Rory, you and I didn't break up due to a lack of feelings for one another. We broke up simply because the age difference was too great. Yes, we had a lot in common hell we still do, but we wanted two different things out of life and I didn't want you to have to sacrifice anything else in order to be with me."-Steve
(her crying had calmed a little bit and she was able to look him in the eye better when she responded a few moments later) "The things I gave up at the time seemed logical, proper even. But I didn't want us to grow old together and end up resenting one another for things we lost out on. We agreed on that and broke it off when it was the best time to do so. I don't regret it for if we had waited any longer we wouldn't be where we are today."-Rory
(they just smiled gently at one another and she did manage to feel a lot better at the moment) "Hey why don't we head back in to see if we have any clients and if not we can block ourselves out and go for a swim just the two of us."-Steve
"That sounds like a splendid idea."-Rory
(the two begin to walk back but she hesitates) "What's up?"-Steve
"Thank you, for everything."-Rory
"Sure."-Steve
(the two head back to the spa. Fortunately for them, in the time that they had been gone, each of them had gotten one more client for the day then had simple twenty minutes left for the both of them so they decided to just leave instead of blocking themselves out because there wasn't enough time left for them to do a service. They finished out the work day together but still went for the swim afterwards. Rory did call Finn to let him know that she was going to stay behind for her daily swim before heading home. He was very understanding and finished making dinner for the two of them that way she would have something to eat waiting for her when she got back.)