Rory and Finn awoke back at the Dragonfly on Friday morning, both still tired from the previous evening. They had celebrated Rory's birthday in grand Stars Hollow fashion with a party in the town square. The entire town had shown up to celebrate Rory turning 25. The night was filled with friends, neighbors, laughter, enough alcohol to serve the entire Life and Death Brigade, and the sounds of Hep Alien playing on the makeshift stage in front of the gazebo. It had been a wonderfully fun night. Finn had interacted with the people of Stars Hollow with ease, quickly earning acceptance from the residents of the quirky hamlet.
They had decided earlier in the week to enjoy a decidedly relaxed and quiet Friday morning and afternoon, knowing that Friday evening was going to be crazy with the society hoopla that went with a double heiress turning 25. Rory's family had always done their best to keep her out of the media spotlight, but her reprieve would end tonight when it was announced that she was the Hayden heiress. Most people had assumed that it would be Chris or Gigi, but after they had finally reconciled Francine had decided to name Rory as their successor.
"Good morning, love," Finn whispered huskily as he pulled her closer to him and kissed her.
"Morning, baby. You know, spending an entire week with you spoils me. I'm not going to know what to do next week when I have to go back to work without you," Rory replied as she nuzzled his neck contentedly.
"Me either, love, but we're down to just a few weeks left and then you'll be in the City with me. Are you ready for tonight?"
"I'm ready as I'm going to be," Rory sighed. "I don't know how you deal with the craziness that comes with being an heir to a multi-billion dollar corporation."
"I'll be there every step of the way, Ror. You won't have to do any of this by yourself, okay?"
"Thank you, Finn. I don't know what I would do without you in my life. I know it's only been a month, but in some ways I can't remember life before you."
"I feel the same way, kitten. Now, let's go hop in the shower together and then we'll go grab breakfast downstairs. I hear Sookie has something delicious planned for you. This entire day is all about you relaxing."
"Well, when you put it that way, who am I to argue? You know, there is that one thing that you do quite well that makes me feel quite relaxed..." Rory trailed off as she got up and walked to the bathroom, throwing a wink over her shoulder.
"I'm at your service, doll," Finn smirked as he followed her into the bathroom.
Neither one seemed to be able to get enough of the other one, and he loved it that way. He loved spending every possible moment with the amazing woman standing in the shower waiting for him, whether they were talking over a cup of coffee, she was writing a story, or they were doing something that would undoubtedly merit a "dirty" from Lorelai. She had intrigued him for years, and he couldn't help but feel as though he would never retrieve his heart from Rory Gilmore. Strangely enough, that thought brought him nothing but immense happiness and peace. If this was what it felt like to begin falling in love, sign him up.
The couple emerged in the dining room an hour later, relaxed, happy and completely satisfied by their morning romp in the shower. Sookie had prepared a feast for the morning, making bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, waffles and hash browns, along with copious amounts of coffee. Neither Finn nor Rory saw Sookie and Lorelai watching them as they ate breakfast together.
"She looks really happy, Lor," Sookie observed.
"She is, Sook. I've never seen her like this."
"What do you think of the Aussie?" Sookie asked.
"He's great for her. He takes such good care of her, and she actually lets him. It seemed to bother her with other guys in the past, but she enjoys letting him do it. I've never seen her so relaxed and content."
"You're totally right. I think they're great together, too. Has Rory asked for your opinion of him?"
"Yeah, she actually did when he flew me out to Des Moines for a few days to spend time with them," Lorelai answered.
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her that I thought my baby girl had gone on her last first date. I think he's the one, Sookie," Lorelai whispered, fighting back tears as she realized just how much her baby girl was growing up. "I mean, look at him. He obviously thinks that she hung the moon, he supports her dreams, he doesn't expect her to change for him, and he fits in here in the Hollow as well as he fits in society."
"Do you think either of them realize that they're in love yet?" Sookie asked as she continued to observe the couple.
"I think they're starting to," Lorelai answered slowly. "I give it six months until they're engaged."
"I'd offer a wager, but I think you're right," Sookie giggled.
Finn and Rory relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, spending time talking over coffee, lounging on the grounds of the inn to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather, and cuddling together in their room. Finn asked Sookie to send up a light early dinner for them, knowing full well that Rory would be pulled in a million different directions tonight at the gala and that she should eat something before they leave, and they enjoy their last few minutes of peace together before they have to get ready for all of the chaos. Rory commandeers the bathroom in their room and showers before drying and curling her hair and applying her makeup. She slips into the dress that Finn had picked out for her while they were shopping in New York and walks out of the bathroom to find him.
"Can you zip me up, Finn?" she asks as she walks out of the bathroom. He's facing away from her and his breath hitches as he sees her.
"You look amazing, love," he whispers as he walks over to her and zips her up.
"Well, I should hope you'd think so. After all, you picked out my dress," she teases back at him. "Help me pick out my jewelry?" she asks as she walks over to her jewelry box. Finn simply walks up behind her and takes a Tiffany blue box out of his pocket, holding it in front of her.
"Oh no you don't, mister! You already bought me this dress. It's too much," Rory refused stubbornly.
"You don't even know what's in there yet, kitten. It could be from a Cracker Jack box," Finn pouts.
"I highly doubt it!"
"Look, let's make a deal right now, Ror. You know that I don't ever have to worry about money, right?"
She just nods slowly to him.
"And do you realize how much you're worth as of today?"
"Not really," Rory answers quietly.
"I don't know either, but it will all be revealed tonight. Let's just leave it at saying that you'll never have to worry about money either, right?"
"Sure, that sounds about right."
"So let's agree right now that while we're not together because of the money, we'll both happily accept it when the other spends money on us, okay? I know you love being independent, and I love that about you, but I also love taking care of you."
"Okay," Rory answers firmly.
"Okay? Really?"
"Really!" Rory giggles. "Now, how about that present?"
She takes the box from Finn and opens it, finding a gorgeous Tiffany T-Drop necklace and matching earrings.
"Oh my...it's...wow," Rory whispered as she took in the gorgeous gift.
"You like it?" Finn asks hesitantly.
"Oh no, I love it, Finn. It's absolutely stunning," she answers reverently.
"Well then, I chose well. Stunning jewelry for my stunning girlfriend. May I?" he asked as he took the necklace from her and removed it from the box. She turned and held her hair off of her neck and Finn fastened the necklace around her neck. She put on the earrings and turned to look at Finn.
"How's it look?"
"You look ravishing, darling," Finn answered softly. "Now, let's get Cinderella her shoes and get to the party!"
Finn retrieved her shoes from next to the bed and knelt down to slip them on her feet and then rose and pulled her close to him.
"Look at me, Ror," he commanded softly as he held her. "I know that tonight isn't your thing, and I know that you don't like being in the spotlight. I'm not leaving your side. Let me take care of you, okay?"
Rory wiped a small tear from her eye as she looked up at this man who she cared for so much.
"God, Finn. How did I ever get this lucky?" she asked rhetorically.
"I'd say we're both lucky, love. Now, shall we?" he asked as he offered his arm.
"We shall," she chuckled.
The pair walked out of their room to the stairs of the inn, immediately spotting Sookie, Michel and Lorelai standing at the bottom watching her.
"Wow, kids. You two look amazing together," Lorelai said as she saw them. "Hold it there for a couple of pictures. This night deserves to be documented."
Finn and Rory smiled and posed for the pictures, knowing that they would deal with much worse from the press and Emily Gilmore at the event, and then set off in Finn's limo for the Gilmore estate.