The breakfast
Back at the Dragonfly the morgen after Leia's birthday, 2021
"Head up high, love," Finn comforts April as they walk down the stairs to the breakfast room, hand in hand.
"Didn't I tell you two that breakfast was at 9 o'clock?" Logan reprimands Finn in his CEO-voice as he taps his Rolex with an obvious smirk.
"You did, Mr. Huntzberger, we just had something more important to do," Finn answers with a flabbergasted look at Logan, pulling April closer, knowing this banter would make her uncomfortable again.
"Come on, April, sit here," Rory says, gesturing to the two seats next to her. "Don't mind the guys, even though they're going on 40, they act like 20 when one of them has kissed a girl," she says, comforting her stepsister, who is clearly embarrassed by the whole "breakfast after spending the night with a boy" situation. "Coffee?"
"Please," April says, looking at Rory with gratitude as she sits on the chair Finn holds for her.
"Coffee, Finn?" Rory asks while pouring a cup for April.
"Plenty, love! Plenty!" Finn replies, holding out his mug for Rory to fill with one hand, while smoothly putting his left arm around April.
"Rough night there, Finny?" Robert teases as he enters the room with Juliet by his side.
"Robert!" Juliet exclaims, slapping his chest. "Don't be a jerk. You're embarrassing April with your childish manners," she scolds, looking harshly at him.
"Okay, okay, Jules," Robert surrenders with his hands raised. "Sorry, April."
As Robert and Juliet sit down, Steph, Colin, and their three kids come storming in from a trip to the playground.
"Oh my God, you two are the cutest ever!" Steph exclaims, clapping her hands the second she sees Finn and April. "I can't believe how adorable this is! Finn, holding a girl at breakfast," she pauses, then adds with a giggle, "Or Finn having a girl at breakfast, period."
Knowing there's no stopping her, Finn pulls April closer, kissing her hair as he whispers, "Don't mind Steph, love. She's married to Colin; she needs someone to bring romance into her life." He winks as he catches April's eyes.
"Hey, I heard that!" Colin says, playfully swatting Finn's shoulder with the Sunday issue of the Times.
"Ouch, that hurt," Finn pouts.
"Okay, can we all stop reminding me that my little girl had sex with Finn last night?" Luke pleads, looking around the room.
"Dad!" April shouts in shock. "I can't believe you just said that!"
"I kind of agree with Luke. Could we not talk anymore about the sex I had last night before I finish my first cup of coffee?" Finn adds, unsure if he's teasing April or Luke more. Both turn their heads toward Finn in disbelief as everyone else bursts into laughter, easing the tension in the room.
"What's so funny?" Lorelai asks, walking into the breakfast room with Leia in one hand and a strawberry smoothie in the other.
"Finn and April had sex," Laura, the 10-year-old daughter of Steph and Colin, announces as casually as if she were talking about the weather.
As everyone starts laughing again, Steph and Colin exchange disbelieving looks, but before they can reprimand Laura, Lorelai chimes in: "My stepdaughter and Finn, really? That means I'll need to find a new secret young Aussie lover?" Lorelai pretends to be outraged by the announcement.
"Afraid so, love!" Finn quips, sending Lorelai a finger kiss. April blushes at all the attention, unsure how to feel about her father and stepmother's comments.
"Lorelai!" April protests, clearly embarrassed.
"Sorry, April, hon," Lorelai says, hugging her stepdaughter. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad with those silly comments. Forgive me?"
"I guess you'll only know when you read my memoir," April responds with a playful wink.
"Oy with the puddles already!" Rory declares firmly. "Coffee, anyone?" She offers refills as the kids begin talking about their trip to the playground and beg their uncles to play basketball after breakfast. Logan glances at Rory, silently asking if that would fit into her plans. When she nods, Logan promises Cornelius and Anthony they can go shoot hoops if they eat their breakfast.
Noticing Finn completely absorbed in kissing and whispering to April, Logan adds, "If your father will play, that is. Uncle Finn will be busy playing with Auntie April."
Ignoring Logan's comment, Finn decides his sex life has been the topic of conversation for long enough. He shifts to his CEO-voice: "So, speaking of those poodles, is the Dark Lord going to win a seat in November?"
Logan shrugs. "I wouldn't count on it. Larson is popular in Hartford, and the voters here are as blue as it gets. But if anyone could turn Hartford into Republican territory, it's Mitchum Huntzberger."
Rolling her eyes, Stephanie says, "Maria, please take the kids out. The Life and Death Brigade has entered CEO mode. Go play hoops with your nanny, kids. You need to practice if you're going to beat Logan and Finn later."
"So, talking about Finn having sex in front of your kids is fine, but you draw the line at politics, Steph?" Rory teases, shaking her head with a smile.
"The Dark Lord in Congress is as PG-13 as it gets," Colin states, disgusted. "They've known Finn all their lives."
"What my husband said," Steph agrees, leaning into Colin's embrace and resting her head on his chest.
"The real problem isn't that my father has Trump's money, Bush's network, and Lincoln's smarts," Honor says as she and Josh join the breakfast table. "It's that he has the power to control the media."
"Soooo, from the silence, I'm guessing this room is full of Democrats?" April half asks – half states.
"She's a smart girl, this one," Robert says, winking at Finn. Finn just looks at April, holding her even closer – not paying Robert or his stupid comments any attention.
"Don't be a jerk, Robert," Logan snaps. Logan really frowns upon that kind of snobbery from his friends. Maybe because he used to be like that himself before Rory showed him the world without a trust fund. "Yeah, April, more or less. Some are more politically conscious than others. But no Trump fans amongst us, that's for sure," Logan explains, "And no one rallying for Mitchum Huntzberger as the next Republican Congressman in Hartford."
"So, in a room full of Ivy League graduates with million-dollar trust funds, who all made a huge economic success out of themselves in life and business, nobody believes in conservatism?" April asked, disbelieving. "Impressive crowd, sis," April says, looking at Rory with an approving nod. "So, what's the story with that? How did the apple fall that far from the tree at the Huntzberger mansion?" April inquires, looking first at Logan and then at Honor.
"Oh, I WILL get you all the dirty details, April," Honor promises, "If only you give the story of this," gesturing toward the tenderness in Finn's hold on April.
April sends Finn a shy smile, as if she's asking for permission to talk about them. Finn shrugs, sending her a crooked smile.
As the peace and quiet settle in the room, Colin looks at April. "Enlighten us, please!" he exclaims.
Feeling shy, April looks to Finn and Rory for help. Finn kisses her hair and pulls her closer, nodding to Rory to tell the story, which even Logan doesn't know.
"Well, just before Valentine's Day," Rory begins, "Logan was out of town for a meeting, and April came to visit me in New York. We'd decided to meet for lunch, go to the MET, have an early dinner, and then see Legally Blonde on Broadway in the evening. The perfect sister-date in the city!"
"We met at this 5th Avenue restaurant that we always go to. Sitting there, sipping white wine and waiting for the food, Finn came over to say hi. He was just leaving from a business meeting, so he sat down to talk for a few minutes. And that was when Maria called me. Leia was running a fever, starting to get little red spots, and crying for her mummy. I had a Royal Rory Breakdown right there – all full of early pregnancy hormones no one knew about – just babbling about my little girl being ill, and Logan was out of town. So Finn called his driver to take me home to Leia, offering to take my place for the day we had planned, so that April wouldn't miss out. I forwarded the tickets and bookings to Finn and went home to my baby, not even thinking for a second about why Finn would do something so nice. Actually, it didn't feel un-Finn-ly at all."
"That was until April called me up two days later, going on and on about Finn-this and Finn-that."
"And so?" Honor asks impatiently.
"Nothing really," Rory says with a perfect poker face.
"Rory! Spill it!" Honor pushes for more.
"As far as I know, nothing," Rory pauses. "At least until we all went out to dinner for April's birthday. You were all there! What did you see?" Rory teases, knowing that no one had noticed the flirting between Finn and April, or at least no one had recognized it as anything more than the usual Finn-thing.
Everyone in the room looks at Rory in disbelief. Then they turn to look at Finn and April.
Logan is the first to speak: "And for four months, you really didn't tell me this, Ace?" he says, trying to sound mock-offended as he looks at his wife.
"What was I supposed to say, honey? Finn is flirting with my sister, and she's flirting back? Would that really be newsworthy to you, Mr. Journalist?" Rory teases Logan, who shrugs in agreement; after all, Finn flirts with every woman he meets.
"Excuse me, Rory," Robert interrupted. "Did I hear you correctly? Did Finn volunteer to take your super smart sister with a PhD from MIT to see Legally Blonde? The Musical?" He gave Rory a disbelieving look.
Rory laughed, nodded, and smiled back at Robert. "You did hear me correctly—that was exactly what happened."
"Well," Steph said, looking at Finn, feeling speechless. "To quote the very wise owner of this Inn: Oy with the poodles already! Did anyone need some coffee?"
Full stop! Honor put up her hand to signal that the conversation wasn't over. "So, what DID happen in NYC back in February?"
"Nothing, Honor my love, nothing happened," Finn answered honestly.
"Nothing? Finn Morgan, as much as I love you and want to believe the best in you, are you telling me that you volunteered to take an absolutely stunning 25-year-old university student to the MET and Broadway ALONE, and nothing happened?" Honor asked as if this was the biggest joke ever.
"Really, Honor, nothing happened," Finn tried again, looking very determinedly at Honor. Honor held Finn's eyes in an attempt to break him down and make him spill the truth.
"After lunch, we went to the MET. April showed me an exhibition on Dutch seventeenth-century paintings. She talked me through a room full of Rembrandts and all the stories of the people painted. She had me mesmerized with her knowledge and storytelling. I was barely able to flirt, Honor," Finn explained with a wink as he squeezed April's hand.
"As you know, time flies in good company, and after dinner, we went to the Palace Theater and saw Legally Blonde," Finn continued.
"Okay, okay. Let that one go. So, back to my original question: What is the story of this?" Honor pointed to Finn and April.
Finn kissed April softly on the lips, and as he let go of her, he asked her, "We're not getting out of this 'Honor Huntzberger inquisition,' love. Will you, or shall I?"
"You do it," April answered, knowing very well that her boyfriend had a lot more experience resisting the "Honor Huntzberger-inquisition," which was only rivaled by the "Stephanie Vanderbilt McCrae-inquisition" that Finn had dealt with since freshman year at Yale.
"Well, Honor, the one good thing about taking a beautiful girl to see a romantic musical is that the dark of the theater creates a perfect atmosphere to take a chance on a flirt. So, as Elle Woods dressed Emmett to reflect what was already inside him, I snuck my hand into April's, and by some miracle, she didn't walk out on me," Finn told them. "Nothing had happened. But we both knew that something could have."
"The next time we met was at April's birthday dinner two months ago. You were all there; we were never alone to talk about anything as private as the 'Do you feel it too?' talk. So, when the butterflies came back the moment I saw her yesterday at Leia's party, I knew I had to act on it. I guess Leia knew too, because she played matchmaker by insisting that Uncle Finn and Auntie April had to come make paintings with her. And I don't think I need to walk you through any more of yesterday," Finn smirked.
"But you could walk us through it," Honor teased Finn.
"OMG, Honor, please, please, please stop yourself and take Josh to your room while we watch the kids," Rory laughed. "I really do not need pictures of Finn and my sister in my head because of you sneaking in on some vicarious romance on a Sunday morning."
"Okay, okay, okay!" Honor held up her hands in surrender as she laughed. "I can appreciate a good argument when I hear it, and I really don't want pictures of you and my little brother in bed in my head either."
April hadn't said a word while Finn told the story about their budding romance, but now, as it seemed that Honor was happy with what she got, April decided to claim the returned favor. "And now, for the story about the "beautiful 15-year-old "Honor-mini-me" sitting next to you and her plan to take over as media-mogul" April inquired.
Honor nodded her head at April, then glanced over at her daughter in question, Mary, to get her permission. Mary raised her hands to signal she had nothing to hide.
Honor smiled proudly, her eyes drifting to Mary before she turned to April with an expression of pure admiration. "Well, where do I even start with Mary? She's only 15, but if you asked anyone who knows her, they'd tell you she's already running the world—or at least planning to. She just finished her first year of high school, but honestly, she carries herself like she's already in college. Yale, of course—that's where she's set her sights. Journalism and business, just like her uncle Logan and aunt Rory."
Honor paused, her voice warm with a mixture of pride and amusement. "She's got this vision, you know? Taking over Huntzberger Publishing when Mitchum finally steps down. It's the position that's been meant for Logan, we all know that, but Mary… well, Mary has her own ideas. She's determined to be CEO one day, and frankly, I wouldn't bet against her. She's been shadowing Rory and Logan for the past year—sitting in on meetings, following the business side of The Magna, even picking up on the journalistic nuances from Rory. It's funny how she can sit through hours of intense media strategy discussions and still look completely unfazed, like she belongs there. And honestly, she does."
Honor glanced at Logan briefly before continuing. "You know, it's not just about inheriting a title for her. She's already learning what it takes to run a media empire. She's been sitting at Rory's side in editorial meetings, soaking up every word, every detail, and asking the kind of questions that make you realize just how sharp she really is. I mean, this girl is writing articles—actual published pieces under pseudonyms. She's been working on them with Rory's guidance, of course, but the voice, the insight? That's all her."
Honor leaned in slightly, her tone becoming more conspiratorial, as if sharing a family secret. "And the way she approaches business? You'd think she's been reading business reports since birth. She doesn't just want to tell stories; she wants to control the narratives, and she knows that means understanding both the journalism side and the business side. That's why she's so focused on following Logan's footsteps, studying the ins and outs of the media world. She knows the industry is changing, especially with everything Logan's doing at The Magna, and she wants to be the one at the helm when those changes come to fruition."
Honor's smile softened, though her pride was still evident. "Of course, she's not blind to the family dynamics. She's seen how Mitchum's congressional run is causing tension with Logan, especially with the whole issue about The Magna, and she knows what it means to be a Huntzberger in a family like ours. There's this… awareness in her, like she's always ten steps ahead. And yes, it's true, the position Mitchum has in mind is for Logan, but Mary's been watching it all unfold, learning from the best, and figuring out how she's going to make her move. And trust me, she will. She's already started."
Honor glanced at Mary, who sat quietly, her expression calm but with that familiar glint in her eyes. "She doesn't say it outright, but she's positioning herself. She's smart—smarter than any of us at that age. And she's fiercely determined. It's not that she's waiting for things to be handed to her; she's making her own path. She knows Logan has his sights set on The Magna, and she respects that, but she's not afraid to let it be known that she has her eye on Huntzberger Publishing. The way she talks about strategy, the way she approaches problems—it's like she's already thinking like a CEO."
Honor chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "And it's not just ambition, it's personal. She's grown up watching Rory and Logan turn The Magna into this powerhouse of online media, and that's shaped her. She's seen how they've built something from the ground up, something with meaning, and she wants to do that, too, but in her own way. Mary has this… way of watching everything, absorbing it all, and then figuring out how to do it even better. She's determined to make her mark, and I have no doubt she will."
With a quick glance toward Mary, who still remained quietly observant, Honor added, "But don't let her calm demeanor fool you. Beneath it all, she's a force. I've seen her debate with Logan about media trends, and let me tell you, she can hold her own. She has this way of looking at the future—how journalism is evolving, how business models are shifting—and she's already thinking about what she can do differently, how she can be the one to lead that change. She's not afraid to take risks. Honestly, I think she's going to be the one to shake things up more than any of us ever did."
Honor looked back at April, her smile widening. "So, yes, this 'mini-me' sitting next to me isn't just following in the family footsteps—she's getting ready to outshine all of us. The real question isn't if Mary will take over Huntzberger Publishing, it's when."
As the conversation around the table began to settle, Finn, always perceptive, glanced at Logan. His usual playful demeanor gave way to concern, and he leaned forward. "Logan, mate," he began carefully, "I've heard bits and pieces, but what's really going on with your dad? What's the deal with Mitchum?"
The air in the room shifted. Everyone, even those casually sipping their coffee, turned their attention to Logan and Rory. The laughter, the lightness—everything seemed to fade away in an instant. Logan sighed heavily, and Rory squeezed his hand, as if bracing herself for what they were about to share.
Logan straightened in his chair, his voice calm but laced with a frustration he couldn't quite hide. "It's not a secret that Mitchum's running for office. He's already announced his candidacy for Congress." He paused, and everyone listened intently. "But the real issue is... what he's asking of us."
Rory nodded, taking over. "Mitchum wants us to sell The Magna. He's been pushing for it, hard. He thinks having us connected to a liberal media outlet will hurt his campaign." Her voice was steady, but the tension in her words was unmistakable. "And it's not just that. He's not asking us to step back for our own sake. He wants us to join his political team, work with him on this campaign and beyond, to use our influence to support his agenda."
The room fell silent, the weight of what Logan and Rory were saying sinking in. This wasn't just a casual family disagreement—it was a power play from Mitchum that put everything Rory and Logan had built at risk.
Honor, always the first to speak up, leaned forward. "He wants you to sell The Magna?" she asked, her voice incredulous. "But that's... that's your baby. You and Rory built it from the ground up."
Logan nodded, his jaw tightening. "Exactly. The Magna isn't just a business to us. It's what we believe in. We've put everything we have into it—our time, our energy, our values. And now Mitchum wants us to just... give it up. He's trying to make it sound like he's doing us a favor, offering us positions on his team, saying it'll be better for our family. But it's not about us. It's about him. And what's worse, he doesn't care what we stand to lose."
Rory's eyes flashed with determination. "We've already decided we're not selling. We're going to fight to keep The Magna. But Mitchum... he doesn't take no for an answer. He's going to make this ugly, and it's going to affect everything—our family, our careers, even our friends."
Colin leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Mitchum doesn't play fair. If you go against him, it won't be just a battle—it'll be a war."
Mary, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, her voice steady but serious. "I've seen what he's capable of. He has connections, influence... if he wants to make your lives difficult, he will. But that doesn't mean you back down. You can't give up The Magna—it's too important."
Steph nodded in agreement. "We've been through too much together to let Mitchum pull something like this. Whatever he throws at you, we'll be here. You're not alone in this."
Finn, who had started the conversation, was resolute now. "Mitchum may think he's the smartest one in the room, but he doesn't know us. You've got the Life and Death Brigade on your side, mate. He won't know what hit him."
Honor looked around at everyone, then back at Logan and Rory. "Mitchum might think he's got all the cards, but we've faced worse than him. We'll fight with you, every step of the way."
Rory, her voice quieter but no less determined, said, "We're going to need you all. This isn't just a family feud—it's about everything Logan and I have worked for. And Mitchum... he's ruthless. If he thinks we're a threat to his campaign, he won't hold back."
Logan nodded, his eyes meeting each of theirs, one by one. "This isn't just about The Magna anymore. It's about standing up for what we believe in. If we give in to Mitchum, we lose everything that matters to us. And we're not going to let that happen."
The room was silent again, but this time, it wasn't the silence of shock or confusion. It was the silence of resolution. Logan and Rory weren't alone. Their friends, their family—they were all ready to stand by them, no matter what Mitchum threw their way.
Steph spoke up again, her voice firm. "He may think he can control this, but he doesn't know us. We're in this together. Whatever it takes."
Logan looked at Rory, their hands still intertwined, and for the first time in what felt like days, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "We're going to fight," he said, his voice strong. "And we're going to win."
The room sat heavy in the weight of what Rory and Logan had just revealed. The quiet determination from their friends and family was palpable. The magnitude of what Mitchum was asking of them—what he was trying to force—wasn't just a personal or professional threat. It was an attack on everything they had worked for, everything they stood for.
Logan leaned back in his chair, exhaling as if the confession had lifted a weight off his chest, though the burden remained. "We're prepared to fight," he said, looking around the room, "but it won't be easy. Mitchum has connections, influence… He's already making moves, trying to isolate us. It's going to be a battle."
Mary, sitting quietly until now, suddenly spoke up, her voice calm but resolute. "Then let's make sure we fight smart." All eyes turned toward her as she sat forward, her expression sharp, calculating. "We know Mitchum's game—he's using his political campaign as leverage, trying to undermine your credibility and weaken The Magna. But what if we used that against him?"
Honor's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. "Go on, Mary."
Mary glanced at Logan and Rory, her determination unwavering. "The Magna has built its brand on transparency and trust. You've cultivated an audience that values honesty, accountability. Mitchum's tactics are rooted in secrecy and manipulation, but if you shine a light on that, you could flip the narrative. He thinks he can bully you into submission, but if you make it public—if you control the story before he does—it could cripple his campaign before it even gets started."
Logan raised an eyebrow, impressed but cautious. "You're suggesting we go public with this?"
Mary nodded. "Not everything. Not yet. But enough to let people know that Mitchum is trying to silence independent media. You're journalists. You've always been about uncovering the truth. Use that to your advantage. Highlight the importance of keeping The Magna independent, uncorrupted by political interests. It's what your readers believe in. You'll rally support from them and from anyone who values a free press."
Rory, her brow furrowed as she considered Mary's words, nodded slowly. "We'd have to be careful. If we go too far, Mitchum will paint us as obstructionists, undermining his campaign for personal gain."
Mary leaned in, her voice firm. "Exactly. We give just enough. We don't make it about you versus him—we make it about the principle. About The Magna standing for journalistic integrity. If people see him as someone willing to compromise that for his own political ambitions, it'll hurt him."
Colin, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "She's right. Mitchum thrives on controlling the narrative. If you expose even a hint of his strong-arm tactics, it'll put him on the defensive. He'll have to spend time managing the fallout instead of focusing on his campaign."
Steph chimed in, her voice filled with resolve. "And you're not alone in this. We'll all stand with you. The Life and Death Brigade can still shake things up when needed." She gave a half-smile but the determination in her voice was clear. "Whatever you need, we're here."
Logan's gaze flicked to Rory, and they shared a moment of silent communication. He could see the wheels turning in her mind, processing the risks, the strategy, the possible outcomes. Finally, she nodded, a small but powerful gesture.
"We'll fight," Rory said, her voice steady but fierce. "And we'll fight smart."
Logan turned to Mary, admiration in his eyes. "You're proposing we make you part of this, aren't you?"
Mary didn't flinch. "Absolutely. You're not just fighting for yourselves—you're fighting for the future of The Magna, for what it represents. And that includes me. I want to be involved, not just because I'm family, but because this is my world too. I've been learning from you both for years, and I'm ready to help in any way I can."
Honor smiled proudly at her daughter, and even Josh, usually more reserved about these matters, gave a nod of approval. "She's right," he said. "We've got influence, resources, and connections. If Mitchum wants a battle, he's going to get one."
Logan felt a surge of something unfamiliar in the face of his father's opposition—hope. With Rory by his side, with Mary's sharp mind and the unwavering support of their friends, they weren't walking into this fight alone. This wasn't just about standing up to Mitchum's manipulation; it was about protecting everything they'd built and believed in.
"We're not just fighting for The Magna," Logan said, his voice rising with a renewed sense of purpose. "We're fighting for the kind of world we want to create—for journalism, for integrity, for everything we stand for."
Rory leaned into him, her hand squeezing his. "We'll fight for as long as it takes."
Finn grinned, his familiar mischievous twinkle returning. "Well, then. Let's make sure Mitchum regrets ever thinking he could take us on."
The group collectively nodded, each of them knowing this was just the beginning of a long, hard battle. But with every person in the room, there was a shared strength, a bond that Mitchum couldn't break. Whatever happened, they were going to give it everything they had.
As the evening wore on and the conversation began to shift to strategy, Mary leaned forward again. "I've been working on something, actually. A way to build a stronger digital presence for The Magna. It'll give us a bigger platform, a wider audience. We can leverage that to build even more public support—especially among younger readers who care about independent journalism. If we can rally them, we'll have an army behind us when we go public with the story."
Logan smiled at her, impressed and a little taken aback. "You've really thought this through, haven't you?"
Mary's smile was small but confident. "I have. And if we play this right, we won't just protect The Magna—we'll make it stronger than ever."
7