The Legend - A Gilmore Girls Fan Fiction

Chapter 25

We got home, and we had about a half an hour before Emma's bedtime, so she decided she wanted us to all play in her room with her toys together.  Trying to save Finn the embarrassment, I attempted to talk her out of it, but Finn wasn't embarrassed at all.  In fact, he sat down cross-legged on the floor, and asked Emma for further instructions.  I shook my head in disbelief.  He never ceases to amaze me with her.  I watched the two of them together, playing and laughing, and I was so happy I could burst – and I did – as tears came to my eyes.  I was so mad at myself for allowing myself to getting emotional about it.

"Come on, Mommy!  Play with us!" she begged, getting out her Barbie's.

Finn looked up and noticed the sad look on my face.  "Hey, is everything okay, Love?" he asked in concern.

I nodded.  "Yeah, everything's...perfect, actually.  Don't worry" I whispered, and was able to shake it off and sit down with them, pretending nothing was bothering me.

We played for a while, but then we were interrupted by a ring tone that I didn't recognize, so it must've been Finn's phone.

"Oh...it's Logan...do you mind if I take this?" he asked respectfully.

"Daddy?" Emma asked in full alert.

"Of course, Finn, go ahead" I said, and he answered the phone.

"Hey, Mate.  How are you?" Finn asked cautiously.

"Not too bad, but I feel like I never hear from you anymore.  What's been going on with you, man?" Logan asked.

Emma was laughing with me in the background, as we played.

"Um, nothing too much, really" Finn tried to say vaguely.

"Where are you?  And are you free tonight, man?  I was wondering if you wanted to go grab a drink?" Logan asked.

"Oh, uh, no...  I'm not really free tonight, I'm sorry...  I'm actually hanging out with Emma and Rory, playing Barbie's before we put Little Love to bed" Finn said cautiously.

"With...Emma and Rory..." Logan asked tonelessly.

"Yeah, Mate, things have been going well" Finn said.

"Well, I'm happy for you, I guess.  So you're dating then?" Logan asked.

"Well, no..." Finn said.

Logan laughed lightly.  "So I guess things aren't going all that well – that is what you want, isn't it?" he asked.

"You have no idea, Mate" Finn groaned.

"I have a bit of an idea.  I used to be head over heels for the girl, too, remember?" Logan said with a laugh.

"Okay, yeah, true point, Mate.  Hey, are you sure you're okay with...this?" Finn asked, trying not to give too much away to Emma and I about what they were talking about.

"The truth is, I trust you more than anyone.  If there's any guy other than me that I want around playing Barbie's with my daughter, it's you.  But just know if you hurt her – either one of them – we will have issues.  And I mean that" Logan said.

"I don't see that happening, mate.  Not ever.  So you have absolutely nothing to worry about, Mate" Finn said.

"Good, because I'd hate to have to kill my best friend" Logan said with a laugh.

Finn laughed too.  "Take care, Mate.  We'll talk soon" he said, hanging up the phone.

The alarm on my phone went off to tell me it was eight o'clock, and bedtime.

"Aww, but mommy!  Uncle Finn didn't even get to play with me much!" she complained.

"I know, sweetheart, but you've got to get up early for school tomorrow" I reminded her.

"I know, I know, I know" she said, rolling her eyes, grabbing her pajamas and walking to the bathroom.

"The attitude on that girl sometimes" I said with a laugh.

"I kind of feel bad though that I never made it back to play with her" Finn said, standing up and taking it upon himself to make Emma's bed for her for when she comes out of the bathroom.  I smiled softly realizing how much he loves this little girl.

Emma walked out and went to her bed, where Finn and I both tucked her in together.  "Goodnight, Little Love.  I promise you, you and I will have a chance to play again real soon.  I'm sorry we were cut short tonight" he said, sitting down beside her on the bed.

"That's okay, Uncle Finn.  Can I tell you a secret?" she asked.

"Of course, you can tell me anything" he promised, bending down closer to put his ear down beside her.

"I want you to be my stepdad" she said, thinking she was whispering, but not knowing the meaning of the word 'quiet'.

"Uh – Em..." I started, but Finn swooped in like a pro.

"So you really want a stepdad, huh?  How come?" he asked.

"Because I want Mommy to be happy, and have someone here with her when I'm at Daddy's" she said.

He smiled.  "Tell you what.  I can't promise anything about being a stepdad, but what if I come over when you're at Daddy's and keep your mum company?  That way she never has to be alone again?" he asked, his blue eyes piercing into mine.

Emma smiled.  "I would like that!" she said happily.

"I'll take care of your mum as long as she'll let me, Sweet Girl.  I can promise you that much" he said with a smile of his own.

I didn't know what to say, I could only just stand there, my own arms wrapped around myself, hugging myself tightly.  I couldn't believe how incredibly lucky I felt to have such a wonderfully protective guy in our lives – even if I wasn't ready to admit it to myself yet.  I was just scared of getting close enough to him, for him to break our hearts – although I think we've both already come too far and it was far too late for that.  My heart was already too invested, and I hated myself for allowing myself to get attached.  Finn could leave at any time, we're not together, and he has no roots here.  He has never had a serious girlfriend – hell, I don't even think he's ever had a girlfriend at all.  So the idea of taking such a big risk, and accidentally falling for someone so dangerously able to crush me, made me so angry.  And not to mention all of the odds stacked up tall against me.

After he gave her a hug and a kiss on the forehead, Finn stood up to give me a chance to tuck her in.  "I love you, Mommy" she said, pulling me in for a hug.

"I love you too, sweetheart" I whispered, giving her a kiss.

"Uncle Finn loves you too, I just know it!" she whispered in my ear.

I laughed out loud, I couldn't help it.  "Goodnight, Em.  Get some good sleep" I said.

I stood up, and Finn put his hand in the small of my back to lead me out of the room.