*Steve's House*
"Hey did you remember to call your mom back to set up an appointment for lunch?"-Steve
"No, I didn't actually, I did grab my calendar, just slipped my mind to give her a ring."-Rory
"Why don't you go do that, call Finn afterwards and I will have dinner ready by the time you get out."-Steve
"Shall do. See you shortly"-Rory
"Sounds good."-Steve
(she heads to the guest room to call her mom which was a short talk because she was about to head out for a date with Luke. After ending that conversation she dialed her boyfriend)
"Hey, Finn how is it going?"-Rory
"Good evening baby! I wasn't expecting you to call this early."-Finn
"Is it alright that I did? Do you want me to call back later?"-Rory
"Actually, if you could that would be great. I just have a therapy session to head to in about twenty. How about I call you afterwards, and we can talk for a decent amount of time then?"-Finn
"Okay. Good luck in therapy. Talk to you soon. Love you"-Rory
"Love you too bye. O wait"-Mike
"What's up are you okay?!"-Rory
"You are at Steve's right? I just don't want you to be alone the first week of treatment. The last time that happened well you know."-Mike
"That event didn't occur until a good three weeks after you vacated the area before. But I do know what you are referring to and the answer to your question is yes I am with Steve. We both more than appreciate you looking out for us but take care of you at the same time okay baby."-Rory
"Sure thing. Bye"-Mike
"Bye."-Rory
(she hangs up quickly changes into a different set of clothes and headed back to the kitchen)
*In the Kitchen*
"Would you like some hot chocolate, Steve?"-Rory
"What, no apple cider, or latte this evening?"-Steve
"Not tonight maybe later on. It's the type of weather, type of evening that is best suited for hot coco."-Rory
(he could sense a hint of tension in her voice) "You alright?"-Steve
"Sure."-Rory
"I couldn't help but notice that your phone call with your fiance was remarkably short. The two of you doing okay with the situation?"-Steve
"Yes we are fine, he has a therapy session to go to so I will be calling him back later."-Rory
"Rory, what else is going on here?"-Steve
"Can we finish making dinner than I will gladly tell you."-Rory
"Promise?"-Steve
"You know me."-Rory
(they finished preparing the food but her cell phone rang before they could get to their discussion.)
"Hello."-Rory
"Hey honey. Is now a good time?"-Finn
"Of course, let me go to the guest room though and then we can talk."-Rory
"Sounds good."-Finn
(a few moments of silence pass by while she walks to the new location, gently closes the door and sits down on the bed)
"Okay, in the other room. What's up you sound a lot more tense then when I called you the first time."-Finn
"I just read the email that you sent me about John being released next week on parole. Do we need to get a restraining order against this guy to keep him away from you? Actually scratch that I'm not asking this time you are doing it point blank."-Finn
(she smiles at his urgency to make sure that she was safe while he was away) "Honey, I already filed for one so please do not fret about it. Going to the police department and picking it up before I do my shift at the Spa. Finn?"-Rory
"The session went fine, we went over my past DUI's, why I think I began drinking in the first place. You know all the fun parts of life."-Finn
"You have to start healing from some point and why not start with what triggered it you know?"-Rory
"I know, it makes perfect sense. It's just you know me. I'm not a huge explain every emotion or feeling that goes through my mind kind of guy."-Finn
"O believe me I know, but you aren't going to get any better if you don't do rehab properly this time you are going to lose out on so many things."-Rory
"I know that honey. Anyway fill me on your day other wise than the new information on John."-Finn
"Work went by pretty quickly got a few clients which is great makes it worth going there."-Rory
(laughs, the two of them continue on with their conversation for a good hour before he has to head to bed. She goes back to the living room to see Steve halfway asleep on the couch his dinner already eaten but his hot drink long forgotten. Rory quietly walks over to him and lightly touches his shoulder)
(he jumps slightly) "Rory?"-Steve
"You were falling asleep on the couch. Why don't you go get some sleep you clearly need it. I'll clean up."-Rory
"Thanks, sorry about that. It's just been a stressful few weeks and I guess it finally caught up with me."-Steve
"Don't worry about I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Steve"-Rory
"Night, Rory."-Steve
(about two and a half weeks go by in which Finn was finally making great strides in treatment and he would call Rory each night to check in with her. He also checks in with Logan on a daily basis just to make sure that the business is running smoothly. Steve finally got his stress levels under control a little bit better and also found out about the restraining order against John since he was getting out of prison. He wasn't happy about the situation but there wasn't much that he could do to change it so he and Rory decided not to talk about it. At the moment the date is October 23rd and Rory had just walked into the other Spa that Steve worked at and was greeted by the receptionist)
"Hey, Rory how are you doing?"-Anna
"Can't complain."-Rory
"That's good. What are you looking to get done today?"-Anna
"Actually I was wondering if Steve had any openings for this afternoon?"-Rory
"Really? You haven't come in for a service for about a month."-Anna
(they laugh because she used to come in a bit more often but not so much anymore since she has been living with Steve thus getting massages done at his place instead of paying for the past three weeks so she had no need to go in)
"I know, I've missed this place but due to the living situation it seemed a bit pointless."-Rory
"Fair enough point there. How is Finn by the way?"-Anna
"He's doing much better thanks for asking."-Rory
"Steve does have an opening actually he can take you right now, if that works."-Anna
"That would be great."-Rory
"Are you looking for a sixty or ninety minute Swedish?"-Anna
"I normally do a ninety minute with him."-Rory
"Alright I'll let him know that you are here."-Anna
"Thank you."-Rory
"Anytime."-Anna
(about two minutes go by and he walks out to greet his client. The surprise was obvious on his face)
"Rory, hey! What are you doing here?"-Steve
"I wanted to see you so here I am."-Rory
"You would be seeing me at home in about six hours. Why not just wait for then?"-Steve
"Don't argue with me on this one silly you know you will lose"-Rory
"Fair enough point there. Alright well you know the routine I'll see you back in the tranquility room shortly."-Steve
"Excellent."-Rory
(she goes to the locker stripes down to nothing but her panties and heads out to the room when she is ready. Steve covers her up with a small blanket and gets the rest of the room ready then comes back and gets her)
"So, how have you been? How was work?"-Steve
(doesn't say anything for a few moments) "That's a long story in and of itself."-Rory
"Well then we will wait until we are started with the massage to discuss it then."-Steve
(he gives her the scent options for the service then he stands in front of the massage table)
"Breath in (which she does) and breath out."-Steve (Rory obeys)
"One more time breath in and breath out"-Steve
(as usual the first half of the massage goes by without either one saying much to the other but then he has her turn over and the conversation starts)
"So have you been, keeping yourself busy?"-Rory
"I have actually, gotten a few more photo shots which has been nice staying busy here otherwise than that not really up to anything else. How about you? How are you doing?"-Steve
(even though the two had been living together for the past few weeks they were usually rather busy and didn't get to spend much time together except for at night time.)
(she tenses up a little bit and hesitates before responding) "I like the topic of you better"-Rory
(he laughs) "I'm trying to think otherwise than the photos I haven't really done anything else. (he pauses) How is it going at the Spa?"-Steve
"I wouldn't know."-Rory
"What do you mean?"-Steve
"I'm not there anymore."-Rory
"What happened if you don't mind me asking."-Steve
"Nothing major, you know how I feel about the flu shot and they were enforcing it there so I decided to leave."-Rory
"Permanently or temporarily?-Steve
"Temp, I've thought about it and what's the worst that can happen I plan to get the allergy test to make sure that I can get it then have the shot then be put back on so it won't be a huge loose of income at the moment you know?"-Rory
"Good point there."-Steve
(he notices her grimace while he is working on her left arm) "You okay?"-Steve
"It hurts, I pulled a few muscles cleaning yesterday."-Rory
(laughs a little bit but manages to sound stern at the same time) "Why didn't you tell me?"-Steve
"I didn't think to, sorry."-Rory
(he worked on that arm for about another five minutes then switched to the other side, they continued talking)
"You didn't get any shots in this arm did you?"-Steve
"Actually I got my blood drawn from that arm."-Rory
"Geeze."-Steve
"Yeah, so on top of the job situation I also had to go to the doctor to make sure that my vitamin levels are improving."-Rory
"And are they?"-Steve
"I don't know yet. I just got the tests done yesterday."-Rory
"O okay. Well if you are, you are young you have time to change it. Just eat healthy."-Steve
"I know it's just going to be hard is all."-Rory
"Fair enough."-Steve
(they continue talking about their parents, Logan's business and other things until the massage was over. Steve and Rory are now in the Tranquility room)
"So, remember to drink a lot of water through the day, relax more go on some walks things like that. And I will see you when I get home"-Steve
"Thanks for this I feel a lot better. O and I'm making dinner this time."-Rory
"Anytime, and I like the sound of that."-Steve
(the two go their separate ways for the next few hours her taking care of a few different errands as well as getting some groceries doing laundry at her and Finn's house and getting it set up for when he comes back home the following week. The group was surprised by how quickly the month had gone by for all of them. Time really did fly when they kept themselves busy. Steve joined her back at his place around 7:45 after he was done with his final client for the day and getting through traffic. He came home to a wonderful meal of comfort foods which included a chicken Caesar salad with a side of roast beef, mac and cheese with a ham pocket as well as mashed potatoes for her, and for the most important part of the meal dessert they had pumpkin flavored as well as caramel cheesecake with wild berry iced tea to drink. Rory and Steve enjoyed a home cooked meal as well as an evening watching Hoarders, Intervention, as well as Mystery Diners.)