It Was Never Really Goodbye - Gilmore Girls

Chapter 7

Logan was walking around the party with a glass of scotch, looking for his friends. Finn had told him that they were taking a limo together. He was thankful to have them all here to support him, even though the announcement would be a surprise to everyone but Finn. After making his way around the room, greeting people as he went, he finally found them at the bar, no surprise there. What did surprise him was that there was a dark haired woman standing next to Finn, and he had his arm around her. He hadn't realized that Finn was bringing a date, he had been under the impression that they were all going stag. There was something familiar about her, but he wasn't quite sure what it was.

He was only a few feet away when the woman turned around and he froze...so did she. He barely noticed his other friends turning around as well.

Finn finally spoke, "Logan, didn't take you long to find us."

"About as long as it took you to find the bar," he said back but didn't take his eyes off of her. "I didn't realize that you were bringing a date."

That was the point when she finally spoke, "actually, he's my date. Nobody told you I'd be here?" He shook his head. "I guess that makes two of us then."

"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me." He didn't know what else to say so he just tried to get as far away from her as he could, as quickly as possible. He made it out into a deserted hallway before he realized that he had been followed. He turned around and saw his best friend. "What the hell is going on Finn? From where I was standing, no one looked shocked aside from me and her!"

Finn took a deep breath. "I was sworn to secrecy mate."

"By who?"

"The dark lord himself."

His father?!?  "What the fuck, Finn?"

"I'm the only one who knows about your new position with the company and, when I found out what I know about Rory, I confronted him."

"Be a little more cryptic, why don't you?"

Finn rubbed his face, "look you're going to find out when he makes the announcement. Can't you just wait?"

He wasn't exactly surprised that Finn was hiding something, he hid everything to do with Rory after all. "Finn."

"Ok, Mitchum made contact with Rory right before you apparently.  He offered her an interview for a position heading up a new department at HPG."

He looked at Finn incredulously, "and she took it?!?"

He nodded, "you know that your father is awfully good at convincing someone when he wants something."

If that wasn't true then he wouldn't be back here, "and why her?"

"If you had bothered to look her up ever, you would know that she is amazing at what she does and will be an incredible asset to the company!"

There was no doubt in his mind that she was probably the best in her field, that is why she turned him down in the end, right?  "You know damn well that it has taken everything I have not to go down that rabbit hole again. I wouldn't survive it, Finn." He noticed his friend soften at that comment and, thankfully, so did the pain in his heart.

"I know man. I'm sorry. Look, she doesn't know anything about you being back. It's just as much of a shock to her."

He thought through what Finn just said. He realized that if she reacted even half as badly as him to this news, that it would still be bad to have it happen up on stage. "You have to tell her Finn. She shouldn't find out at the announcement."

"Maybe I'm not the one to tell her."

"Seriously Finn? Who else? You're her damn date!"

"We're friends, you idiot! And, yes, maybe I should tell her, but you're going to be working together. Maybe you should start talking to each other now, in private, rather than in a room full of people. Start things off on the right foot."

He thought about what Finn said...he was right. He didn't really want an audience for their first conversation in four years. "Ok."

"It really is the right thing to do mate. I'll go get her."

—————————————

Rory stared at his back until she couldn't see him anymore. She finally turned to her friends, "what the hell?"

Colin looked down at his glass and muttered, "well it is a Huntzberger party."

She glared at Colin and the rest of them. "That's not all this is. He obviously didn't know I'd be here. Anyone? Come on!" Her heart was about ready to beat out of her chest. She would have liked some warning before she saw him for the first time again. She chuckled when nobody said anything and downed her drink. "Bartender, scotch on the rocks please."

She looked around at them. They looked ashamed, but no one would talk. She shook her head and took a drink. Being around Finn, she had eventually grown fond of scotch. It seemed only fitting that it be part of the shit show that was about to ensue tonight. Finally, she saw Finn coming towards her. "So are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Something like that, come with me."

She nodded and put her hand in his. "Thank god, nobody will say anything!"

"That's because they don't know much, love. Don't blame them, I told them to keep what little they do know to themselves."

She looked at him incredulously but continued walking with him. "Why Finn?"

He stopped at the end of a hallway, and she saw Logan waiting for them. She looked at Finn, why wouldn't he say anything?

"A-...Rory."

She barely heard him. She looked at Logan then back at Finn.

"Let him talk, love." He hugged her and kissed her on the head. "It will be ok, I promise."

Then she was left alone with him. "Logan." She couldn't help the tears that were forming in her eyes and cursed herself for not being stronger. All of a sudden, she felt his hands on her shoulders, pulling her in, and hugging her tightly. How was this happening? She finally stopped the tears after a few minutes and pulled out of his arms. "I'm sorry, I must look like a complete mess!"

"Don't be...you even cry pretty." She looked up and saw the smirk that she had fallen for so many years ago. She knew she had to be careful or she would again.