The Scarecrow

Chapter 9

Finn ordered a car to take them to The Slanted Door, a waterfront Vietnamese restaurant not far from their hotel.  Rory was unusually quiet on the ride over.  She seemed lost in thought.

"What's wrong, Love?" he asked touching her leg.

She pulled out her phone and showed him the message from Logan.

"That's low, even for him."

"I know.  He just really knows how to prey on my hormonal weaknesses," she replied nearly crying.

Finn put his arms around her.  She buried her head into his chest.  He held her, stroked her hair.

"You're going to get through this.  No.  We'll get through this," he said.

"Are you ok doing that?" she asked quietly.

"Rory, he's being an ass, and I'm not afraid to call him on it!  He can't keep treating you like this!"

"But, he's your friend, your best friend.  You were his best man at his wedding."

"All the more reason for me to have a chat with him," he replied.

"I guess, maybe, but he'll flip out about us," she responded softly.

"Perhaps, we shouldn't break that news to him quite yet.  He needs to get over this first.  We can keep it to ourselves until he gets used to our friendship," Finn suggested.

"He's going to find out, and he'll be pissed," she responded.  "This doesn't affect just us.  It's going to affect the baby, and it may effectively kill my writing career."

"Do you think he'd really do that?" he asked worriedly.

"I don't know what he'd do anymore, to be honest.  You know 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'?  Congreve really should have changed woman to Huntzberger," she replied.

"You may be right.  The Dark Lord has quite the temper, trust me.  I remember how angry Logan was the other night," he replied even more concerned than before.

"So, we need to tread lightly.  I think I should be the one to handle him for now.  I hope he'll be more responsive to me."

The car stopped, and the two got out, headed into the restaurant.  Rory thought it smelled wonderful.  She was able to relax during dinner.  By the end of the meal, she'd nearly forgotten about her problem back home.

Afterwards, they went back to the hotel and ordered dessert from room service.  They changed into some comfortable clothes and sat down to enjoy a movie.  About ten minutes later, their confections arrived.  They ate their treats while watching the movie.

"That looks really good, Finn," she said hinting she'd like a bite.

"It's phenomenal, you should have ordered it.  You would love it," he teased and smiled.

"You think this is funny?  Food, especially dessert, is no joking matter in the Gilmore universe!  I don't think you're ready for the repercussions associated with such a crime!" she warned.

"Are you going to spank me?" he replied with a smirk.

She burst out in laughter.  "No, Finn."

"Damn!" he said holding up a fork with a bite.  "Here you go."

She took the bite.  "You're right!  I should have ordered that," she replied, winking.

After they finished, she slid closer to him and he put his arm around her.  She relaxed against him and put her hand on his leg.  When the movie was over, she turned her attention to Finn.  She climbed onto his lap, facing him.  She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, letting her fingers run through his hair.  Then she kissed him passionately.  He wrapped his arms around her, returning the kiss.  His hands ran up and down her back as they continued kissing.  She pressed herself against him.  He let his hands roam down her hips until they were dangerously close to her bottom.  He could feel her grinding against him.  He wanted so much more from her, but he didn't want to go too far too soon.  She was still vulnerable, and he didn't want to exploit that, no matter what their bodies were telling him.  He pulled back.  Rory looked embarrassed.

"I'm sorry.  I thought you wanted this," she said nervously and blushed.

"Trust me, Love, I do, but I don't want us to cross that line too soon," he explained trying to clear up her confusion.

"I guess I hadn't really thought of that."

"It's just that I care about you, a lot.  More than I've ever cared for anyone else," he admitted.

"I'm ok, Finn.  I promise, but I don't want to do anything you're not 100% comfortable with," she replied after a few minutes.  "Although, I'm a bit shocked that the legendary Finn doesn't want to have sex with me."

"Believe me, I want to have sex with a beauty like yourself, but with you, it's more than just having sex."

"Finn, that's so sweet of you," she replied.  "I should apologize because my pregnancy hormones are out of control.  They are throwing my libido into overdrive, and this pregnant lady has some serious needs."

"I guess I could possibly make an exception in this case.  You know, help tame the pregnant lady's unruly hormones," he replied with a wink.

"I don't want to pressure you into something you don't feel is right."

"I really do feel that waiting is the right thing to do, Rory.  As much as I want to ravish you, it would be best to wait," he reiterated.  He was trying to convince himself that it was the right course of action, but his body was screaming just the opposite.

"While we won't be taming any hormones tonight, would it be too much to ask you to stay with me tonight?"

"Not in the least, Darling," he replied, smiling.

"Shall we?" she asked, nodding her head toward her room.

"Let's go to my room.  It has a bigger bed."

Rory crawled into bed next to Finn.  She put her head on his bare chest and put her arm over him.  He wrapped his arm around her.  This was so new to him.  He'd never really fallen asleep with a woman in the bed next to him.  It was usually more of a pass out after drunk sex.  He had to admit that he was enjoying it.  He kissed her on the head.

She looked up and pulled his face to hers.  She kissed him with a fervent desire.  He'd never been kissed like that.  He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her up on his chest.  She used her arm to prop herself to kiss him again.  She let her other hand wander on his chest, trailing down his torso with one finger.

Damn this sexy woman in my bed!  She's definitely persistent.  If she goes any lower, I'm in real trouble, he thought.

Rory jumped up quickly, slapped her hand over her mouth, and made a dash for the bathroom.  Finn got out of bed and headed the same way.  He could hear her retching from outside the door.

"Are you ok, Rory?"

"I think so.  Probably a little lingering morning sickness," she was cut-off by another wave of nausea.

Finn went in and grabbed a cool, wet washcloth.  He brought it over and sat next to her.  He pulled her hair back to keep it out of the way.  He dabbed her forehead with the cloth between episodes.  He gently stroked her back.

"Are you sure this is just morning sickness?" he asked as he watched her clutching her stomach.  He quickly ordered a car.  He knew it would be quicker than an ambulance.

"No, I'm not.  My stomach is starting to hurt and feels crampy," she replied.

"Love, I'm really worried about you and the baby.  We're going to the hospital."

"Finn, I'll be fine.  Don't worry about me."

"You don't have a choice, Rory.  We're going to make sure you and the baby are ok," Finn ordered.

"Thank you for being so great to us," she replied, mustering a weak smile.  She tried to move but was too feeble.

Finn looked at his phone when it buzzed.

"Time to go, Love.  The car is here," he said as he picked her up and carried her to the car.